Slippery When Wet - 19 October 2021

Motoring Podcast - News Show

FOLLOW UP: VOLVO P1800 GASSER IS UK’S HOT WHEELS

The judging of the UK’s Hot Wheels candidate took place last weekend. A Volvo P1800 gasser was chosen to represent the UK in the Hot Wheels Legends Tour. To watch the Car Throttle stream of the event, click the link here.

To read more about the result, click the Elan PR article here.

FORD INVESTS IN HALEWOOD PLANT

Ford is investing £200 million in converting their Halewood transmission plant to an EV focused production line. This will safeguard 500 jobs at the plant and is a real boost to UK car manufacturing. The Government is part funding the investment. To find out more, click The Telegraph article here.

TOYOTA SUED BY STEEL SUPPLIER

In an incredibly rare more a Japanese supplier has sued Toyota and Chinese supplier over their use of steel technology, which Nippon Steel argues is their patent. The claim is for $177 million and for a ban on Toyota selling any cars that use the disputed technology from any other supplier buy Nippon Steel. To read more, click here for the AP News article.

NISSAN ORDERED TO PAY JOIN-VENTURE PARTNER IN UAE

Nissan’s joint-venture partner, Al Dahana FZCO, won their case that Nissan had not fulfilled it’s part of their agreement for the distribution of vehicles in the region. The Japanese company has been ordered to pay $345 million in compensation. To find out more, click the Arabian Business News article here.

CASTBOX PODCAST APP ON MORE OEM APP STORES

Castbox, an iOS and Android, podcasting app has partnered with Faurecia Aptoide Automotive, who power most of the car manufacturers own infotainment systems and app stores, thus making it available on the car’s own app store. This could help those who don’t use CarPlay and Auto to power their infotainment needs but who still want to listen to podcasts. To find out more, click the Faurecia Aptoide article here.

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NEW NEW CAR NEWS

Ford Focus

A mid-life refresh is happening to the Focus range, with an improvement in technology, connectivity and changes to the drive-train options. The suspicion was that the diesel engine would get canned, in line with recent changes to the Ford range, but it stays. However, hybrid power trains are more available, including a 48v version being mated to the 1.0 EcoBoost to give nearly 52mpg. Ford have gone for the massive screen, as part of the improvements to the interior. But heating controls have gone button-less, now being accessible only via the touchscreen. To find out more, click the Motoring Research article here.

Nissan Leaf

Nissan has revealed very early sketches of the third generation Leaf, which will be a SUV, ditching the small hatchback that the first and current models have been. In the announcement they also confirmed they will not be pursuing a hydrogen strategy, sticking solely with electric. To find out more, click the Autocar article here.

Foxxconn

Foxconnn are the Taiwanese supplier to the likes of Apple and they have revealed a couple of EV models in a push to become a global car maker. The SUV and saloon were revealed via a livestream event earlier this week. To find out more, click here for the Autocar article.

WRC: RALLY SPAIN

The fabulous Rally Spain took place over the weekend, with Hyundai on the top step, thanks to Neuville’s brilliance on the tarmac. Sordo was in third for Hyundai, making it a very good weekend for the Korean team and Evans in second chipping more points from Ogier, who was fourth. You can read more about what happened, by clicking this DirtFish article here. It is all to play for at Monza!

Talking of Ogier, he was fined, again, this time for a road traffic violation, by overtaking on the hard shoulder between stages. Another silly penalty. To read more about that, click here for the DirtFish article.

For Colin Clark’s What We Learned article, click the DirtFish link here.

WRC TO USE AI DETECTION FOR STAGE SAFETY

Following a FIA initiative in using cameras and AI detection software, from 2022 WRC cars will be fitted with a system that will scan the roads ahead for possible spectator intrusion, allowing the organisers to quickly address any potential safety risks for drivers and those watching. To find out more, click the Jalopnik article here.

GOODWOOD ANNOUNCES 2022 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Goodwood Road and Racing has announced their 2022 calendar of events for the Member’s Meeting, Festival of Speed and Revival. The big news is the FoS will be moving to 23 - 26 June. To find out more and possible buy tickets, click the Goodwood link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: THE MISGUIDED WAR OF ELEMENTS

Gill Pratt, who is the CEO of the Toyota Research Institute has written a very interesting piece on why the arguments of electric over hydrogen, and vice versa, are pointless. This echoes what we on the Show often say, there is much more nuance and detail to this than 240 characters in all caps can deal with. To read this fascinating article, click the Medium link here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: LUXURY CARS WE FORGOT ALL ABOUT

There are a large number of cars to peruse, in this List of the Week. You will see why we have forgotten some of these but others deserve some time in the limelight again. To run through the list yourself, click the Autocar link here. Don’t forget to tell the chaps which one you would have!

AND FINALLY: UK’S FIRST HYDROGEN POWERED RC CAR

A trio of companies have got together to procude the UK’s first hydrogen powered radio-controlled car. Tamiya, Bramble Energy and Toyota have created a 1/10th scale Mirai. To find out more about this cool project, click the Toyota Press Release here.