Oh, Monday, we meet again. But at least now there is something to look forward to: a new football season! And the latest on the automotive front, of course, which includes new-model debuts because, really, we can never have too many cars, amirite?
Plus, the first criminal charges are made in the Volkswagen emissions saga, the U.S. government decides to take official action on Internet of Things cyber threats and Dodge confirms the RIP dates for two vehicles. Whew.
Thanks for starting your Monday morning madness with this edition of the Daily Drive-Thru.
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Nissan keeps the summer heat on with Miami debuts of new 2017 Rogue, Sentra SR Turbo
Summer may be winding down but Nissan continues to keep its grill sizzling by cooking up two debuts during this weekend’s Miami International Auto Show, the first event of the show-and-shine season.
North America’s newly-crowned best-selling vehicle segment has become a little bit shinier with the new 2017 Rogue and first-ever Rogue Hybrid joining the compact crossover party. Already a sales win for Nissan, the brand anticipates these latest iterations will make the model line its sales leader. The new Rogue receives styling enhancements throughout and offers new features, including a slew of added safety technologies with regards to lane departure, cruise control and autonomous braking.
The Rogue Hybrid, which will go on sale later this year, will feature a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder gasoline-electric engine with a hybrid system net power of 176 horsepower. The hybrid will have an estimated fuel economy of 33 mpg city, 35 mpg highway and 34 mpg combined. The 2.5-liter, four-cylinder 170-horsepower engine remains standard for other Rogue models.
Also announced was the 2017 Sentra SR Turbo, a new performance-oriented variant which will feature a new 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that produces 188 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque. The SR Turbo boasts 64 horsepower and 52 lb.-ft. of torque more than the 1.8-liter engine Sentra SR. An advanced Xtronic manual transmission as well as adjustments to the suspension, steering and brakes will also be unique features of the SR Turbo.
For more information on the Nissan debuts, check out our gallery.
Source: Nissan
Volkswagen engineer pleads guilty to regulatory conspiracy charges
With consumer settlements being confirmed and undergoing final approvals, criminal charges are now being brought upon the individuals allegedly behind Volkswagen Group’s worldwide diesel scandal. A year ago, the U.S. Justice Department instituted a policy requiring all corporate cases to include a plan to charge individuals, stating that corporations wanting recognition for cooperating with investigators must also identify individuals they hold accountable for any misconduct.
James Liang, a longtime VW Group engineer, is the first to be charged in connection with emissions rigging and pled guilty to one charge of conspiracy to commit fraud against U.S. regulators and customers. According to the lawsuit, Liang was one of the engineers based in Wolfsburg, Germany, who was directly involved in developing the emissions defeat device used in Jetta models. Liang is said to be cooperating with the investigation, which could increase pressure on high-ranking company officials. He faces a penalty of up to five years in prison.
Source: Bloomberg
U.S. Justice Department creates cyber security group, analyzes potential threats of “Internet of Things”
In a move to address the potential security challenges internet-enabled devices could pose, including self-driving vehicles, the U.S. Justice Department has formed a threat analysis team. This is a significant step in securing the Internet of Things, a catch-all phrase referring to our increasingly connected network of devices, buildings, vehicles, etc.
As evidenced from a series of headline-making hacks – from cars to corporations – the IoT, which has become deeply embedded in our everyday lives, is not without its vulnerabilities. And more than just our bank accounts are at stake when it comes to cyber security.
From an automotive standpoint, the push for driver-assistance features is relentless and autonomous vehicles are already on the road. But technological advances seem to be moving at a far faster pace than security measures, which the Justice Department hopes to tackle before vulnerabilities are exploited.
Source: Automotive News
Ooh la la: Lexus to unveil new concept vehicle in Paris
Auto show season has begun and so has the distribution of no-sense-of-scale teaser images. According to Lexus, its UX Concept will debut during the Paris auto show and is meant to “appeal to a progressive, urban audience.” However, the accompanying rear three-quarter rendering provides little in terms of proportion but does showcase a bold-for-Lexus design language and an even bolder wheel-and-tire package better suited for an urban apocalypse.
Car and Driver labeled the concept a subcompact crossover, most likely along the lines of corporate sibling Toyota’s C-HR. Regardless of which vehicle segment the UX crossover-hatchback SUV fits into, the concept is more likely a design exercise rather than a preview of an upcoming production model. Though here’s hoping some of the more distinctive design elements find their way into future Lexus vehicles.
Source: Lexus, Car and Driver
Dodge details future of lineup
This week, Dodge announced updates to the future of its current lineup. One vehicle without a future, however, is the Dodge Dart. We’ve known the vehicle’s demise was imminent for some time, reporting it here, here and hinting at it here with the production end of the Chrysler 200. But now it’s official: the Dart will be dashed at the end of this month. The crowded and competitive compact car segment proved too much for the high hopes of its 2013 debut
Other announcements included:
Barracuda – This new two-door convertible will debut in 2021 and share a platform with the Charger/Challenger.
Charger – The full-size, four-door sedan will be redesigned onto the Fiat Chrysler’s new Giorgio platform in 2018, possibly shedding more than 400 pounds from the current model.
Challenger – The full-size, two-door sedan will be redesigned along the same schedule as the Charger and is expected to lose 500 pounds from the current model. Until then, Dodge will introduce the GT AWD this fall, which will be the first V6 all-wheel-drive variant of the vehicle.
Durango – The large SUV will receive a refresh in 2017 and add a model-first SRT version.
Grand Caravan – Production of the minivan continues but most likely as a fleet-only model into 2019.
Journey – Production of the current generation will be extended to 2018 as plans to move the compact SUV onto a shared platform with the now-scrapped Chrysler 200 were canceled.
Viper – This will be the sports car’s last generation as production is scheduled to end August 2017.
Source: Automotive News
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