That’s A Wrap! The Latest Automotive News From Around The Web – April 8, 2021

Highlights from this week include: Mercedes announce a product launch date – and then give us all the details 2 weeks before it; the Nissan 400Z is dead; Hummer show us their EV SUV at an eye-watering price; the M-B 2022 C-Class gets a BIG improvement; VW think we’ve forgotten about Dieselgate and give us Volts-gate; Lexus drops a video proving driving and texting don’t mix and more…

Nissan

Who doesn’t love any or all of the iterations of the Nissan Z family? We loved the 280Z and especially the 370Z, but we’ve been seeing pictures of the soon to be released 400 Z for a while now, but Nissan have not been very forthcoming with information. Motortrend have gotten some info – unconfirmed by Nissan naturally, but here’s a little of what they’ve got…

the next Nissan Z car won’t be called the 400Z – the name is just “Nissan Z.” I wonder what happened to the “Proto” name we were seeing lately. There will be a 400-hp version of the 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 engine under the hood and here will be two transmissions available: A six-speed manual is standard and, apparently, a Mercedes-Benz-supplied nine-speed automatic. The next Z’s underpinnings will be largely carryover from the current 370Z. There’s plenty more info in the article, so check it out HERE. More pictures at the end of today’s article.

Mercedes-Benz

Well we were told that there was going to be a big launch of the EQS flagship from M-B on April 15 (see picture), but then on Saturday morning we get a press release…about the EQS along with some pictures. The EQS is the stand-alone, all-electric member of the new S-Class range and will be launched in Europe in August, with ranges of up to 770 km (according to WLTP). Top speed limited to 210 km/h. The EQS can be charged with up to 200 kW at fast charging stations with direct current. At home or at public charging stations, the EQS can be conveniently charged with up to 22 kW with AC using the (optional) on-board charger and it can get 300 kilometres (WLTP) is recharged in just 15 minutes. We don’t know what other info we’ll get when the launch comes along next week other than price and availability. We’ll let you know.

GMC Hummer

The 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV was unveiled during the NCAA’s Final Four basketball tournament on Sunday. Boasting 830 hp, 11,500 lb-ft of torque and 483 kms (300+ Miles) of range. Acceleration is pegged at 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in approximately 3.5 seconds. Delivery is projected early 2023 and the starting price for the initial Hummer EV SUV Edition 1 will be $110,595 U.S. Lower priced models (from $79,995) will quickly follow. Lots more information HERE

GM announced on Tuesday that the Chevy Silverado EV (with 644 kms / 400 miles of range) would be built alongside the Hummer EV at the automaker’s Hamtramck, Michigan factory.

Lexus

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in the U.S.

How long do you think it takes to glance at a text message when you’re driving? One second? Two seconds? How about 4.6 seconds. Watch this video from Lexus. Most drivers believe that texting and driving creates only a momentary distraction, so on April 6, or 4.6, Lexus has released a new video to shatter this common misconception.

The average length of time it actually takes to send or receive a text message when you’re behind the wheel is 4.6 seconds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In the new video called “Driving Disrupted,” Lexus demonstrates exactly what happens when drivers can no longer see the road for 4.6 seconds. It’s only 3 minutes long – please take the time to watch it and share it. Video link HERE

Mercedes-Benz

AMG has been tasked with developing the next generation of the iconic SL, which will be sold alongside the future-generation GT sports car. The current GT Roadster will be phased out with the future model becoming exclusively as a two-seater coupe.

The next SL is currently expected for later this year, and will feature 2+2 seating and will remain a convertible. The SL will replace the S-Class Coupe.

Sticking with M-B, they released pictures of the new 2022 C-Class. Clicking the link on Twitter takes you to the slick web page, but if you click for more info, you get taken to the 2021 version website. Not satisfied with that, we did a bit of digging and found the site for the NEW 2022 version which has a substantially improved interior. Click HERE to go to the hard to find site. Plenty of pictures will be included at the end of this article.

Remember ‘Voltswagen’ Stunt from last week? Well apparently it wasn’t an April Fool’s joke – it was just a ‘joke’ that was released around that time. According to an Autonews report, “VW’s top management decided that the risk of brazenly misleading reporters and the public – again – was worth the potential reward.” But the big question going forward is: how long it will take VW PR to regain their credibility with the same people they made look foolish. They flat out lied to the media outlets like Reuters and AP, not just the little guys like bloggers.

Volvo

“Internal combustion engines are yesterday’s technology.” says Håkan Samuelsson, the head of Volvo Cars, adding, “By 2025, half of our cars will be fully electric, with hybrids accounting for the other half. From 2030, we will sell only electric cars.”

Electric Trucks Are ‘Very Close’ To Challenging Diesel Vehicles

A new study from think tank the Stockholm Environment Institute says the tipping point where electric vehicles (EVs) become more competitive than fossil fuel vehicles is now in sight. The absence of a network of fast, high-capacity EV charging networks for heavy-duty vehicles is the final hurdle standing in the way of zero emission trucks being less expensive to operate than diesel vehicles, according to the study.

“Electric trucks need the same sort of fast charging that is becoming widely available for personal electric cars,” Nykvist said. “If this infrastructure is put in place, it invalidates the old argument that electric trucks can’t match the range of diesel trucks. This makes electric trucks much more realistic.”

and finally… Pictures

Nissan Z