Reports – VinnysMotorcycles.com – Advice on Car Safety and Anything Automotive

Ora Good Cat Owners Upset Cars Have Intel Processor From 2016 Rather Than New Qualcomm Chip

Chinese automaker Ora has come under fire from owners in China for installing an outdated computer chip on Good Cat models.

The Ora Good Cat has been brought to life by the Great Wall-owned car manufacturer which recently launched in Europe. However, Ora has been shipping Good Cat models to owners in China with an Intel processor that was released in 2016, rather than the octa-core Qualcomm processor that the EV was advertised as having.

The Straight Times reports that owners have complained about the processor on WeChat and are considering legal action, accusing the car manufacturer of consumer fraud. Owners say Ora had offered subsidized charging, free software updates, and app memberships to appease them but that wasn’t enough for some who want new chips installed or, otherwise, full refunds and compensation.

Owners state that the old Intel processor means that the car’s infotainment system doesn’t operate as it should, with fewer third-party applications available and, according to one owner, no ability to update the Gaode navigation app, China’s equivalent of Google Maps. In addition, the same owner says the in-car voice assistant frequently malfunctions.

Ora conceded on November 22 that early Good Cat models had indeed reached customers with old Intel processors rather than the Qualcomm chips that had been advertised.

“We would like to express our deep apologies to Ora Good Cat owners for the trouble brought about by the Ora Smart-cafe OS (operating system) advertising content,” the company added in a statement.

Executive director at Queen & Low Law Firm in Beijing, Lin Lihong, has been speaking with owners and says a court case is being readied.

“In my opinion, this is a typical case of consumer fraud,” she said. “It was explicitly written in the car configuration files that a Qualcomm octa-core processor would be equipped in the vehicle. However, after deliveries were made, owners discovered that the vehicles were not consistent with what was advertised. The advertisement of the type of chip – which is a key configuration in a smart car – directly influenced the consumers’ purchasing decisions.”

On its part, Ora stated that replacing the Intel chips could be “difficult” and admitted that it couldn’t guarantee future Good Cat models would have the Qualcomm chip due to production constraints.

Bentley’s Mulliner To Unveil A New W12-Powered, Continental GT Speed-Based Coupé With A $2.6 Million Price Tag

The Mulliner division of Bentley is doing pretty well in the sales department concerning the highest trim levels of series production vehicles (Continental GT, Flying Spur, and Bentayga), and the bespoke creations like the Bacalar coachbuilding project. As a follow-up to the latter, the company is already developing its second model which will reportedly be a W12-powered coupé based on the Continental GT Speed.

All of the 12 units of the Bentley Mulliner Bacalar convertible were quickly sold out despite the $2 million price tag. Thus, Autocar reports that its coupe successor will be produced in 25 units, and cost between £1.5 and £2 million ($2 and 2.6 million), although most units will exceed this price range due to personalization options.

Design-wise, the second Mulliner will look similar to the Bacalar, taking inspiration from the 2019 EXP 100 GT concept. This means it will likely inherit the oval-shaped LED headlights, the classic Bentley grille, the large intakes, a muscular body, and thin LED taillights. Autocar reports that this will be the first project led by designer Andreas Mindt who took over from Stephan Sielaff as Bentley’s director of design in early 2021.

The new Mulliner will be sharing its chassis with the Bentley Continental GT Speed, which means it will get a stiffer suspension setup, four-wheel-steering, an electronically controlled limited-slip differential on the rear axle, and carbon-ceramic brakes. Just like the Bacalar, it will be fitted with the twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12 engine producing 650 hp (485 kW / 659 PS) and 900 Nm (664 lb-ft) of torque mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel-drive.

Mulliner’s new model will reportedly be unveiled in production form in 2023, marking 80 years of collaboration with Bentley. The limited-production coupe will likely be one of the last W12-powered models before the automaker retires ICE motors and focus on electrification.

The entire range of Bentley will be electrified by 2026, a process that has already started with the Bentayga Hybrid and the Flying Spur Hybrid. The British automaker is also working on its first fully electric model that will be based on the Artemis platform and is expected to inherit the design language previewed by the EXP 100 Concept.

For GREAT deals on a new or used Chevrolet check out Sierra Chevrolet TODAY!

BMW Doesn’t Think Its EVs Need More Than 373 Miles (600 Km) Of Range

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly common and with the ongoing EV boom, car manufacturers are looking to eke out as much range as possible from their new models. BMW, however, it doesn’t plan on producing EVs that have a range greater than 393 miles (600 km).

While recently speaking with Australia’s Which Car, BMW i4 project leader David Ferrufino said the development of charging infrastructure around the world means BMW doesn’t need to make EVs with extraordinary long ranges to rival vehicles like the Lucid Air.

“One thousand kilometers of range is not a target we have with our fully-electric cars,” Ferrufino said. “We are aiming for 600 kilometers [of driving range] for our fully-electric cars, and 100 kilometers with our plug-in hybrids in everyday driving.”

Ferrufino added that the range BMW gives an EV is dependent on the segment that it competes in.

“For example, we don’t think a range of 600 kilometres will be suitable for a BMW i3 as an urban car, but when it comes to the BMW iX or i4, we think that around 600 kilometres is a very customer-friendly solution.”

The 2022 BMW i4 can travel up to 590 km (367 miles) on a single charge and when plugged into a 200 kW DC fast charger, its battery can be topped up from 10 to 80 per cent in 31 minutes.

“We not only have the advancements in battery technology, we also have the public charging network – which is growing rapidly. Going cross-country in Europe from Norway to Italy is already a joyful experience when you do it in an electric car,” Ferrufino added.

Ram Dakota Not Dead After All?

Automakers largely wrote off the mid-size truck segment, but it’s been picking up steam in the past few years.

This caused Ford to bring back the Ranger and Nissan to redesign the Frontier. FCA even got in on the action as they introduced the Jeep Gladiator in 2018.

The Gladiator was expected to share its underpinnings with an all-new Ram Dakota, but a report surfaced last month indicating the model was axed. Fast forward to today and Automotive News is reporting the opposite as a source told them the truck is “still moving ahead.”

Also Read: 2022 Ram Dakota – Everything We Think We Know About FCA’s Midsize Truck Revival

Stellantis is staying tight-lipped, but it would be a little surprising if the truck was killed off. Jeep Gladiator sales nearly doubled last year to 77,542 units and sales of the Ford Ranger were up nearly 12,000 units. While sales of the Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma declined, that’s not too surprising given the coronavirus pandemic.

The fate of the Dakota is still shrouded in secrecy but, if it goes into production, it would likely come standard with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine that produces 285 hp (209 kW / 289 PS) and 260 lb-ft (353 Nm) of torque. It could be joined by a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 pumping out 260 hp (194 kW / 264 PS) and 442 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque.

While the Dakota and Gladiator would likely be similar, the two would presumably have vastly different price points. The Gladiator starts at $33,565 which makes it much more expensive than competitors such as the $24,820 Ranger, $25,200 Colorado and $26,250 Tacoma. The Dakota would probably slot in somewhere around there, but only time will tell if the model is headed for dealerships.

For GREAT deals on a new or used Cadillac check out Michael Stead Cadillac TODAY!

Ford Mustang Mach 1 Will Reportedly Be Sold Globally

Ford has confirmed that the 2021 Mustang Mach 1 will be available to enthusiasts around the world.

The Mach 1 will fill the void left by the Shelby GT350 and GT350R that are now heading for retirement. Only North American buyers had the opportunity to experience the GT350 twins, so it’s good news that other markets will be able to purchase the Mach 1.

Ford Authority received confirmation about the global sales plan for the Mustang Mach 1 from the car manufacturer itself. While it has yet to be revealed precisely which markets outside North American will receive the car, a prototype was spied by Which Car in right-hand drive configuration a couple of months ago, indicating it will be sold in markets like Australia and the UK. Meanwhile, Europe can be expected to get left-hand drive models.

Ford first hinted at its plans to make the Mach 1 global during its debut back in June.

“This is one of those special Mustangs that truly brings a smile to the faces of our owners, enthusiasts and fans – including me – so there’s never been a better time to bring back Mach 1 and have it go global too,” Ford chief executive Jim Farley said in a statement.

Powering the Mustang Mach 1 is a 5.0-liter Coyote V8 that has been modified to provide 480 hp and 420 lb-ft (569 Nm) of torque, the same figures as the Bullitt. Paired to this thumping V8 is a Tremec manual six-speed with a rev-matching function or a 10-speed automatic transmission.

For GREAT deals on a new or used Cadillac check out Ghent Cadillac TODAY!

Lotus To Start Production Of Its Long-Awaited SUV This Year?

Lotus has been rumored to be readying an SUV for years and, according to a new report, it might just be around the corner.

As Lotus is now owned by Geely, it is claimed that production of the SUV could start before the end of the year in Wuhan, China. It could also be dubbed the Lambda, which would make it the first Lotus model with a name that doesn’t start with an ‘E.’ However, as Hyundai builds an engine known as ‘Lambda,’ we’re not convinced Lotus will be allowed to use the same name – that is, provided that they wanted to in the first place.

Either way, AutoWeek claims that the Lotus SUV will be underpinned by the same SPA platform that’s used by various Volvo models like the XC90, S90, XC60, S60, and V60. Not only will using a Volvo platform help reduce development costs, but it will also allow Lotus to offer a number of different powertrains should they choose to.

Watch Also: See The 1,972 HP Lotus Evija In Action At The Carmaker’s Hethel Test Track

Specifics about the engines remain unclear, but it is reasonable to assume that most variants of Lotus’ first-ever SUV will feature turbocharged four-cylinder mills, while a plug-in hybrid is also said to be in the works.

It was almost exactly three years ago when patent drawings of the Lotus SUV were leaked online by Chinese media. While the British car manufacturer has never verified the authenticity of these drawings, they are believed to be the real deal and show what the production-ready model will look like.

In mid-2019, our own spy photographers snapped what they believed to be the first prototype of the Lotus SUV hidden under the skin of a Lynk & Co 01. That prototype is thought to have been a plug-in hybrid.

If the report that production of the new SUV will start before the end of the year is accurate, we can expect to see Lotus unveil the model sooner rather than later.

For GREAT deals on a new or used Buick or GMC check out Motor City Buick GMC TODAY!

Musk Says Tesla Roadster Will Be Delayed Until After The Cybertruck’s Launch

The second-generation Tesla Roadster has been all over the Milky Way Has yet to land in dealerships on this earth.

When the all-new Tesla Roadster was first introduced in November 2017, it came with the promise of a market launch in 2020. In the future, Musk said Roadster sales would certainly begin after the launch of a revised Model S car, extensively expected at the end of 2020.

People that paid reservation costs ought to equip themselves with even more patience as the new Roadster will not happen this year as well as most likely not next year either. In a two-hour podcast interview with Joe Rogan released on Thursday as well as gave our focus by Reuters, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the intended Roadster cars would be delayed to permit the business to bring more important designs to market first.

See Also: Tesla Says Production Roadster Will Be Better In Every Way Than The Prototype

When Rogan asked when he could purchase a Roadster, Musk responded he might not supply a day, adding that the ramp-up in production of Model Y SUVs as well as the building and construction of a setting up plant in Berlin were priorities. “Roadster is sort of like dessert. We got ta obtain the meat and potatoes and eco-friendlies and also things, “Musk claimed. So does that mean that after those 2 things are done, Tesla will concentrate on the Roadster launch? Umm, not truly. The CEO added that Tesla ought to additionally build the Cybertruck before working on the Roadster.

Taking into consideration that the Cybertruck is set up to be released in late 2021, this probably means the Tesla Roadster won’t get here sooner than 2022.

When Tesla introduced the battery-powered four-seat Roadster at the end of 2017, it claimed the cars would be quicker than any kind of street-legal manufacturing automobile. The quoted 0-60 miles per hour(0-96 km/h)time of 1.9 secs, quarter mile time of 8.9 secs, and 250 mph (402 km/h) full throttle would certainly give it boasting legal rights, yet that’s to state these numbers will still be good enough in 2022 or later on?

In the Joe Rogan Experience interview you can enjoy in its entirety after the dive, Musk again lashed out at stay-at-home orders imposed by the U.S. states to suppress the spread of the coronavirus. He classified lockdown orders as “unconstitutional” and claimed they would certainly not hold up before the U.S. Supreme Court if tested.

A lot of the interview focuses on expert system and also Musk’s Neuralink company, which creates implantable brain-machine user interfaces. This was Musk’s 2nd appearance on Rogan’s podcast after the September 2018 meeting in which the Tesla CEO notoriously smoked a cannabis joint with the host.

For GREAT deals on a new or used Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC check out Reynolds Chevrolet Buick GMC TODAY!