Auto Industry News: SEMA360, FCA-PSA Merger, 4×4 Teases and EV Happenings
From the automakers to the aftermarket, one thing seems to be on today’s menu: Recovery. Despite presidential election tension and rising COVID cases, auto industry professionals remain laser-focused on innovating new products, strengthening supply, and staying ahead of the curve. From big mergers and strategic forays into EVs, to exciting new vehicles and racing series, there’s plenty to cover today.
SEMA360 Kicks Off
With the 2020 SEMA Show live event in Las Vegas not taking place this year, an online-only version has taken its place.
SEMA360 kicked off today with a live keynote by Mike Rowe (creator and host of “Dirty Jobs”) and Tanner Foust (American professional driver and TV host). Rowe and Foust started the week-long aftermarket extravaganza with insight on the current state of industry affairs, as well as the importance of inspiring more people to get involved in the aftermarket trade.
Like the traditional in-person show, SEMA360 isn’t open to the general public. So, be sure to check in right here at The Engine Block for updates on the hottest new products, trends, and vehicle builds this resilient industry has to offer!
Updated 11/3: SEMA announced the industry’s Best New Products Award winners, which were selected from more than 2,200 products in the SEMA360 New Products Showcase. This distinction honors the most innovative and cutting-edge automotive aftermarket products that will be consumable in 2021.
Collision Repair & Refinish Product
Winner: adasTHINK, adasTHINK
Runner Up: CollisionRepairTools.com, FAN™ 220 MIG / MAG / Brazing welder
Runner Up: P&S Detail Products, Iron Buster Wheel Decon
Engineered New Product
Winner: AEM Performance Electronics, VCU300 EV Control Unit
Runner Up: AFCO Performance Group, AFCO Air Adjustable Eyelet System
Runner Up: QA1, New 3″ MOD Series Shocks
Exterior Accessory Product
Winner: Curt Group, Tri-ball Universal Coupler Lock
Runner Up: Go Rhino Big Country Truck Accessories, SRM 500 Roof Rack
Runner Up: TrailFX, Roof Rack for JEEP(R) JL
Interior Accessory Product
Winner: Speedway Motors, Omega Avant 6 Gauge Set Electric
Runner Up: T.V.K. Industries, Inc., SURESHIFTER
Runner Up: Dometic, Dometic CCF-T Center Console Refrigerator
Merchandising Display
Winner: Go Rhino Big Country Truck Accessories, Go Rhino Point of Purchase Display Rack
Runner Up: Quadratec, Inc., Quadratec Merchandising Promo Kit
Runner Up: RaceDeck, RaceDeck Charred Oak Showroom & Garage Flooring
Mobile Electronics Product
Winner: Cedar Electronics – ESCORT/Cobra, ESCORT Redline 360c
Runner Up: AutoMeter, DashLink 2.0 with late model Ford enhanced PIDs
Runner Up: Energizer Holdings, Energizer Arc3 Lithium-iron Phosphate 300Wh, 350W Portable Power Station
Off-Road/4-Wheel Drive Product
Winner: Warn Industries, Inc., HUB Wireless Receiver & App
Runner Up: ARB 4×4 Accessories, Air Compressor – Pressure Control Unit
Runner Up: Westin/Superwinch, Overland Cargo Rack
Packaging Design
Winner: TS Booster, TS Booster
Runner Up: All-Fit Automotive, All-Fit Rim Trim – V2
Runner Up: AERO Detail Products, AERO SHIELD FLIGHT Ceramic 6 PACK
Performance-Racing Product
Winner: AEM Performance Electronics, PDU-8 Power Distribution Module
Runner Up: Performance Electronics, Dual Channel PE-Wideband O2 Kit
Runner Up: Performance Electronics, PE3-IG8 Ignition Controller
Performance-Street Product
Winner: DashLogic, SensorTap IAT / Baro Relocation Module
Runner Up: Red Roberts Inc. dba Driveline Component Co., ACCUVALVE
Runner Up: Edelbrock Group, Powerhouse® Retainer Degree Gauge Tool
Powersports Product
Winner: Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels, Baja Pro X
Runner Up: Brandmotion, SummitView™ UTV Dual 1080p Camera System with High Definition 7″ DVR Monitor SUTV-2020
Runner Up: Wehrli Custom Fabrication, 2019-2020 Honda Talon 2 or 4 Seat X/R Front Bumper, without fair lead mount
Street Rod/Custom Car Product
Winner: FRI Exhibits/Flaming River Industries, MICROSTEER ELECTRIC POWER STEERING with speed sensor
Runner Up: Speedway Motors, LS Swap Radiator Hose Adapter
Runner Up: Vintage Air Inc., FrontRunner for the LT1 and LS
Tire and Related Product
Winner: Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels, Baja Boss A/T
Runner Up: Bartec USA, Tech600Pro
Runner Up: ATEQ TPMS Tools, Quickset X Summer/Winter Tire Reset Tool
Tools & Equipment Product
Winner: Colourlock North America, Colourlock Scanner
Runner Up: Beta Tool USA, Beta Tools C27 S-Green Folding Tool Cart
Runner Up: CollisionRepairTools.com, ASTRA PowerLift & Move
Van/Pickup/Sport-Utility Product
Winner: Tire Stickers, Cerebrum Boost – Smart Tire Sensor Solution
Runner Up: Warn Industries, Inc., WARN Ascent XP Bumpers
Runner Up: AutoMeter, 95-98 Chevy Truck InVision Dash
Wheel and Related Product
Winner: Forgeline Motorsports, F01 Flow Formed Wheel
Runner Up: Design Infini, Drifz D09
Runner Up: BBS of America, BBS CI-R Bronze Anniversary Edition
Fiat-Groupe PSA Merger Given EU Green Light
After months of waiting on pins and needles as a result of anti-trust concerns, Fiat Chrysler and PSA have received approval from the European Union to finalize their $38 billion merger. The resulting partnership will create the world’s fourth-largest automaker, expected to be called Stellantis.
According to Reuters: “To allay EU antitrust concerns, PSA has offered to strengthen Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp 7203.T, with which it has a van joint venture, by ramping up production and selling it vans at close to cost price, people close to the matter said. FCA and PSA will also allow their dealers in certain cities to repair rival brands.”
The merger brings brands well-known to North American consumers like Fiat, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, and Maserati together under the same roof with European car brands like Peugeot, Opel, and DS. It will also target annual cost cuts of $6 billion, in an effort to confront stricter emissions regulations, new driving technologies, and financial pain points brought on by the global health crisis.
FCA and PSA have said the merger will happen officially in March 2021, during the first quarter of the fiscal year. Together, the two automakers are set to produce an astounding 8.7 million cars a year.
4×4 Teases
Keen-eyed F-150 fans got their first look at the rumored Tremor off-road package this week. Slotting in between the entry-level FX4 rugged package and the range-topping Raptor, the Ford F150 Tremor will likely arrive by next summer.
Taking after the Tremor package available for the Super Duty and Ranger, the new F-150 Tremor package offers a suspension lift as its primary feature. The spy shots that hit the web last week showcased the XLT trim level, a unique grille, knobby all-terrain tires, and a dual exhaust setup not yet debuted on any 2021 F-150 to date.
Ford fans were treated to some other exciting news this month, as well. Hennessey Performance Engineering announced it will produce 24 VelociRaptor V8 Broncos, taking the new 4×4 to the next level when it goes into production next year.
According to the Texas tuner, the VelociRaptor V8 Bronco will sport a 750-hp supercharged 5.0 liter Ford V8 engine mated to a Ford 10-speed automatic transmission, lowering this model’s 0-60 mph time to just 4.5 seconds. Other upgrades include: custom hood with scoop, larger wheels and tires, upgraded suspension system, custom Hennessey leather interior, VelociRaptor V8 racing livery graphics, upgraded stainless steel exhaust, and more.
All 24 exclusive Broncos will be available in both two-door and four-door versions.
Lewis Hamilton Becomes F1’s Winningest Driver
Lewis Hamilton made history in late October, beating out Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas by 5.7 seconds to win the Portuguese Grand Prix, clinching a record-extending seventh straight F1 title for him and his team.
“Seven times champs, something to tell my grandchildren,” said Hamilton after the race. “It is very overwhelming right now.”
That title was only part of the story, however. The win also secured Hamilton’s 92nd victory as an F1 driver, breaking the record previously held by Michael Schumacher for most all-time.
Additionally, this past weekend at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Italy, Hamilton again sailed to victory, marking his ninth win out of a total 13 F1 races this season. It was also Hamilton’s 72nd win for Mercedes, as well as the badge’s 500th podium finish as an engine supplier in F1.
EV News to Keep an Eye On
With times as crazy as they are, and headlines changing by the minute, it’s easy to miss some interesting EV news every now and then. Here’s a quick round-up of industry-related content you may have missed this past week.
Ford to Release Electric Transit Van in Early November
In line with Ford’s plans to electrify its most iconic nameplates, the Blue Oval announced an all-new E-Transit, a fully electric version of the automaker’s best-selling Transit cargo van.
Making its official debut November 12, the new E-Transit is for commercial customers. It should go on sale in 2021 as a 2022 model. Plans for the electric model were first announced in March, with Ford stating the E-Transit would be pivotal in helping companies achieve their environmental sustainability goals. Now, as data rolls in on the surge in pandemic-driven delivery services, it’s clear Ford’s plans were well-formed.
It is also worth noting this announcement comes amid reports that Ford posted net income in the third quarter of $2.4 billion compared with $400 million a year earlier. That’s six times more than the automaker reported in Q3 2019! You know, when there was no pandemic, struggling economy, or contentious election.
While much of that success is owed to the new F-150, it seems to support Ford’s decisions to both abandon sedans for a truck and SUV-heavy portfolio, as well as embrace EVs in a $11.5 billion commitment to investing in electrification.
CNET Test Drives the New Rivian R1T
CNET got its hands on the brand new Rivian R1T and took it on a grueling eight-day-long off-road test to see if it was the real deal or not. (In fact, it was part of the 2020 Rebelle Rally. You can read more on this incredible ladies-only off-road endurance competition HERE.) Describing it as a “serious off-road machine,” a “game-changer,” and “like no other truck out there,” we’d say the reviews look pretty positive.
“If you’ve never had 826 lb.-ft. of instant, electric torque under your right foot, I can solidly say that you haven’t lived,” writes Emme Hall, Editor of Roadshow at CNET. “The R1T might not have locking differentials, a two-speed transfer case or any kind of tough-guy wizardry you’d associate with off-road prowess, but … the sophisticated traction control system moves the torque where it’s needed most, and before I know it, the R1T hits the top of a peak while the Jeeps behind me are still switching into low gear.”
Check out Hall’s full review here. She’s refreshingly honest about her experience with the R1T—both its impressive capabilities as well as its not-so-great pre-production bugs.
Waymo Releases Safety Data
Breaking the usual default position of secrecy and obfuscation that most riding-sharing “tech” companies choose to take, (*COUGH LYFT COUGH UBER COUGH*) Waymo released a comprehensive report on 6.1 million miles of self-driving car data. The report, which The Verge called “the deepest dive yet into the real-life operations of the world’s largest autonomous vehicle company,” goes into detail about the safety of self-driving cars.
According to the report, Waymo autonomous vehicles were involved in 18 crashes and 29 near-miss collisions during 2019 and the first nine months of 2020. Those crashes included rear-enders, vehicle swipes, and T-bones in intersections, with Waymo claiming “nearly all” of the collisions were the fault of the other driver.
Now, let’s be clear about something. There’s going to come a point where driverless, fully-autonomous vehicles are the norm. A time when the streets will be full of them and people can happily climb into the back of their robot taxi service and scroll through social media instead of keeping their eyes on the road.
But now isn’t that time.
We here at the Engine Block are all for convenience and steps in the right direction, of which this report is clearly one. But, let’s be clear, we’re going to need a lot more than “a few positive steps forward” before giving up the joy of driving.
New All-Electric Crossover SUV Racing Series
SuperCharge, a brand new fully-electric crossover road-based motorsport series has announced its plans to launch in 2022.
The series will feature 16 drivers operating cutting edge, next generation, fully-electric racing cars capable of pushing 670 horsepower and speeds similar to F1 cars. The series is targeting eight events all over the globe. Each event will feature a maximum of six laps over a short-circuit track under a mile, as well as high jumps and a low friction zone and a water gantry to create dry-to-wet areas on the track.
“Developed in consultation with leading global car manufacturers, SuperCharge offers an ideal platform to showcase the latest and future electric cars and battery technology (including smart energy management systems), to fast-track global uptake of electric vehicles,” series organizers said in a statement announcing the series.
This is a cool idea to help normalize EVs to a global audience. It also showcases just what battery-operated cars can do in a competitive environment.
