A biweekly roundup of automotive news, good, bad and just plain weird:
Beetle, Golf, I.D. : VW’s electric future
In a way, the diesel scandal has been the best possible thing to happen to Volkswagen. On one hand, the brand finds itself deeply wounded by the taint of failure and cover-up. On the other hand, there’s nowhere to go but up.
Part mea culpa for trying to game the system, part vision of the future, VW’s newly released I.D. Concept is possibly the most important car since the VW Golf. The company was founded on the simple, honest nature of the Beetle. It grew with the front-drive modernity of the Golf. Now, Volkswagen looks to the horizon with a modular electric platform, starting with the I.D. hatch.
Both the Beetle and the Golf became icons because of their charisma. The former was the Love Bug, the latter had the GTI. The I.D. won’t make waves in the same way: it’s not going to be a driver’s car, but an autonomous EV. Initial range is intended to extend to 600 kilometres. A launch is planned for 2020, with autonomous models by 2025.
A company with the R&D resources and production capabilities of VW has the ability to effect huge change in a short time. Expect the I.D. to be the next wave of the people’s car.
Or how about a Tesla Model S Hearse?
Are you dead? Sorry, silly question. Are you nearly dead? Concerned about being ferried to the morgue in a gas-guzzling Cadillac? Not to worry: now you can glide to your final resting place on electrons only.
Built by Dutch coachbuilding company RemetzCar, the Model S hearse features a glassed-in rear canopy and plenty of room for an environmentally oriented stiff. Thanks to the Tesla’s low-mounted battery pack, there’s still space for two living passengers, and a large rear greenhouse.
Let’s just think about this further for a second. The Model S has been out for a while now, and with well-heeled owners eagerly switching to the latest model as fast as they come out, there’s soon to be a glut of used Teslas on the market.
So why not turn them into working cars? You could have Tesla bread delivery trucks, Tesla minivans, Tesla pickups. If I was building one, I’d strip off the bodywork and make a six-seater convertible. Why not? Life, as proved by our EV hearse, is too short not to try new things.
BMW planning EV version of Mini Cooper
From the “why haven’t they already done this?” file comes news of an all-electric Mini variant. If the Mini Cooper is supposed to be an ultra-urban runabout, why wouldn’t it plug into the wall?
With the i3 already boasting a useful 180+ km range, an all-electric Mini could be arriving at just the right time. Already, Mini buyers are willing to pay premiums for style and features – adding in solid torque and the ability to run on electrons only just makes sense.
Dodge Ram Rebel TRX is the offroad Hellcat
Electric vehicles are likely the future of transportation. In the meantime, let’s get some supercharged V-8s in here, am I right? Yee-haw, etc.
The Ram Rebel is a counter-salvo to the Ford Raptor, but it currently lacks a little steam. Actually, it’s fine as is, but in the world of pickup trucks, less isn’t more. More is more. That’s why it’s called more.
The Ram Rebel TRX is essentially a pickup truck with a Hellcat engine. Detuned to produce a little more low-end torque, its 6.2-litre V-8 makes a healthy 575 horsepower, with an eight-speed transmission putting the power down. Add in a long-travel suspension and skid-plating, and you’re looking at the new shortcut between Harrison and Pemberton.
The return of the Honda Civic Type R
A Honda can receive no higher award than the Type R badge. Whether it’s an Integra, an NSX, or a Civic, adding the vaunted R to a Honda product means it’s the best the company can produce. After decades of drought, it’s coming back.
At first glance, the new Civic Type R concept looks a lot like a Subaru STI. There’s a big wing, there’re plenty of flares and scoops, and the styling is way over the top. For maximum crazy factor, you even get a trio of exhaust pipes out back a la Ferrari F40.
Subtle it is not. However, we are getting the Type R Civic and that’s great news for all Honda fans. If the max-attack car is too much, there’ll likely be a dialled-back Si version with most of the performance.
Thanksgiving classic car run
Never mind the weather: this Monday, Oct. 10, get up early and join the classic cars headed up to Squamish for the annual Thanksgiving run. A charity event held to support local food banks, the Thanksgiving run is a perpetual favourite, and a great way to sign off for the year if you’re going to put your vintage car in storage for winter.
If you’re interested, meet up at Capilano University on Monday at 8 a.m., then cruise up to Squamish in style. Make sure to bring along a non-perishable food item for the food bank.
Watch this space for all the best and worst of automotive news, or submit your own auto oddities to [email protected].
