A biweekly roundup of automotive news, good, bad and just plain weird:
Tesla unveils Model 3, everyone goes nuts
The Model 3 is the long-awaited entry-level car from Tesla, a brand that is extremely popular on the North Shore. BMW, Mercedes, Porsche: all the established brands would kill to have fans like the Teslarati, almost all of whom seem willing to believe anything Tesla CEO Elon Musk says.
I like Tesla’s products, and electric vehicles in general, or at least the Model S. Despite a few teething woes and some occasionally shoddy assembly, the Model S has indeed changed the automotive landscape for the better. It has positioned electric vehicles as a premium choice, and that’s excellent.
The Model X is less good, mostly because it looks a bit weird, and the rear doors are silly. Tesla already admitted they got carried away a little here, but the vehicle itself is at least as functional as the Model S.
The problem is that most people can’t afford the hundred grand that a well-equipped Tesla product commands. Thus, the huge interest in the Model 3, which was to come in at a promised $30,000. Instead, the long-range 80 kilowatt version, which can travel a claimed 500 kilometres on a charge, will cost more like US$44,000, plus extras. The shorter-range version will not be available until late 2018.
Reviews of the car have been, well, raving doesn’t cover it. Colour me unconvinced: most of the drives were just minutes long. The Model 3 is probably going to be a decent car, but it does not deserve the crazy hype, especially because you could easily just go buy a Chevy Bolt instead, a car that’s available right now.
However, car purchases are rarely based on rationality. Tesla continues to surf the waves of popular fanfare, all while burning billions of cash reserves. Cynics and skeptics would be well-served to watch for surfboard wobbles.
Mazda makes an engine breakthrough
Meanwhile, over at Mazda where things are almost too rational, engineers working on the venerable old combustion engine have made a breakthrough. Their technology combines the efficiency of a diesel with the ubiquity and affordability of a gasoline-powered car.
Here’s how it works. At low engine loads, Mazda’s new engines will run without firing the sparkplug, just as a diesel engine does. Combustion occurs as a result of the pressure in the combustion chamber, which has the effect of harnessing more of the fuel’s potential.
Mazda claims a 20 to 30 per cent increase in fuel economy. That’s huge, especially as it means Mazda isn’t relying on smaller turbocharged engines, which often do well in laboratory testing, but suck gas in the real world. In comparison, Mazda’s current engines consistently perform on the road.
Another reason the move is important is that it provides the European market with a replacement for diesel, which currently has soot all over its face. Combine with a brand new partnership with giant Toyota, and little Mazda looks like they’ve managed to pull off the coup they need to weather the uncertain future.
Mazda restoring old Miatas
Of course, many Mazda fans are just as fervent as Tesla’s, and its mostly thanks to this little car. Launched in 1989, the Miata resuscitated the classic sports car experience, and preserved the elements of pared-down driving.
Now, in Japan, the car is finally getting some of the respect it deserves. If you’ve got the cash, Mazda will restore your Miata to factory spec, not unlike similar programs from luxury marques like Lamborghini and Ferrari.
On this side of the pond, the Miata is now more than 25 years old, and I’ve been seeing more of them popping up with collector plates. It’s not your usual classic car, as so many of the early Miatas seem to be basically unkillable. However, it’s a genuinely important machine, and one worth preserving.
Nissan Leaf provides cheap EV transport
The Nissan Leaf, which has quietly become the most successful EV around the world, is due for its next generation. Details are leaking out, including pricing, which shows that the base car will come in at less than US$30,000. Add in rebates, and you’re looking at a machine that’s low on hype, but delivers as a clean commuter.
With 147 horsepower, 236 foot-pounds of torque, and a 40-kilowatt battery, the Leaf is going to have modest performance. However, it’s an improvement over the old model, and should work for anyone whose commute is constrained to the Lower Mainland.
Will it be exciting? Will Elon be there to hand over the keys himself while fireworks explode? No. It’s just going to be a simple little car that will get you to and from work without fuss, for not too much money. This plus a classic Miata for the weekend sounds like a great real-world fantasy garage for people who care more about driving than what the neighbours think.
Watch this space for the best and worst of automotive news, or submit your own oddities to mcaleer.nsnews@gmail.com
