Nissan鈥檚 new small wagon will soon be arriving in Canadian dealer showrooms at a starting price of $18,000, plus destination charges. In the looks department, the Kicks stacks up well against the Hyundai Kona, Honda HR-V and Ford EcoSport. But the one thing missing that the others possess is an all-wheel-drive option. Your Trenchcoated One was told by a senior exec at Nissan that the Sentra sedan platform upon which the Kicks is built is simply not capable of handling the necessary hardware needed to send power to the rear wheels as well as the fronts. Assuming the Kicks sells in sufficient quantities, the Nissan source indicated that modifications to the existing architecture 鈥� or possibly a whole new platform 鈥� could allow for all-wheel-drive to become available, perhaps in the next two to three years.
Sedan abandonments continue
The Sleuth鈥檚 sources report that General Motors will follow Ford鈥檚 lead and reduce the number of sedans (plus others) in its lineup over the next couple of years. The endangered-species list includes the automaker鈥檚 line of full-size sedans, including the Chevrolet Impala, Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac XTS, all of which share the same platform. As well, the Cadillac ATS sedan and Chevrolet Sonic sedan and hatchback are also bound for retirement. There鈥檚 no word as to when production ends for these vehicles, but it will likely begin fairly soon. The one surprise on the list is the battery-powered Chevrolet Volt sedan that has been the star of GM鈥檚 鈥済reen鈥� movement, with a unique drivetrain plus accompanying gasoline-engine electricity generator. Some of the Volt鈥檚 technical wizardry has spilled over into the Malibu hybrid (a Chevy sedan that appears to be sticking around), which could indicate that the technology might eventually be used in other GM models.
Toyota takes autonomous-vehicle development to the track
The Spy Guy doesn鈥檛 mean a racetrack, but rather a research-and-development test course in Michigan that鈥檚 slated to be completed later this year. The property has been designed for engineers to conduct emergency manoeuvres involving other vehicles and pedestrians in simulated urban and extra-urban traffic environments. With a small but occasionally lethal number of incidents involving autonomous cars on public roads, the Sleuth is encouraged by Toyota鈥檚 decision to perfect the complex guidance systems for such models in a far safer environment, that is to say: not on public roads.
Dodge is in hot pursuit of the squad-car business
According to the Sleuth鈥檚 in-the-know types, this division of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is unveiling a version the Durango sport utility vehicle that鈥檚 specifically outfitted for law-enforcement duties. The Durango Pursuit joins the Charger Pursuit that FCA claims is the best-selling police car. Like the big sedan, the Durango will be equipped with a 360-horsepower 5.7-litre V-8 and all-wheel drive, but will have the added advantage of extra room and a 3,270-kilogram tow rating. The Sneakster notes that many police forces are now opting for utility vehicles in place of traditional sedans. The Durango will be competing with the Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Tahoe for its share of this lucrative business.
Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra get new four-cylinder turbo engines for 2019
In an effort to literally boost fuel economy, both General Motors鈥� 1500-series pickups will be available with a new 307-horsepower turbocharged 2.7-litre four-cylinder engine. It will also come with cylinder deactivation, which means it can operate on just two measly cylinders under light load conditions (i.e. coasting or when idling). There鈥檚 no word yet on fuel consumption other than a comment from General Motors that both pickups will beat both the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500.
The return of the Yenko Camaro
Former Pennsylvania Chevrolet dealer Don Yenko took 1960s Camaros and stuffed 427-cubic-inch (7.0-litre) V-8 engines under their hoods. Today, those Camaros are worth a small fortune. To celebrate the Yenko Camaro鈥檚 50th anniversary, Brand New Muscle Car (BNCC) is building, under licence, a limited number of authentic continuation models. The cars are essentially new 1960s models. Purchasing an original Yenko Camaro at auction could cost you $250,000 US, but a new-old BNCC version has a more reasonable $150,000 US base price.
Georgia becomes the 16th U.S. state to outlaw cellphone use while driving
While laudable, it means that there are still 34 states that allow it. That鈥檚 shocking in light of the number of deaths attributed to talking and texting while behind the wheel.e
