It was roughly three years ago that Acura previewed a new compact crossover with its SUV-X concept car.
Today at the 2016 Beijing Auto Show we were graced with the unveiling of the production version, the CDX.
The CDX is the first Acura manufactured in China and may at some point be exported to other markets, judging by previous comments made by a senior engineer. However, at the unveiling Acura said the vehicle was designed primarily for the Chinese market.
The CDX is related to Honda’s HR-V already on sale in the United States, so there’s a chance we may see it yet. If sold here it would target the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Lincoln MKC and Mercedes-Benz GLA.
It features the latest take on the Acura’s Precision Crafted design
principles, though on the tiny form of the CDX the enlarged grille,
Acura symbol and headlights look a little out of proportion. We haven’t
been shown the interior just yet but expect it to resemble the layout
and design of the HR-V’s cabin.
Power comes from the new turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine of
parent company Honda. The engine is mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch
transmission and can power either the front wheels only or all four.
Sales commence in China in July of this year.
Honda also had a new crossover in Beijing. Called the Avancier, the
new crossover is a mid-size model whose design has been inspired by the Concept D unveiled a year ago, a rakish crossover not unlike the unsuccessful Honda Crosstour.
The Avancier features a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and has
been developed exclusively for sale in China. It’s due to go on sale by
the end of the year.
For more from the Beijing Auto Show, head to our dedicated hub.
Back in 2013, Honda released its highly-anticipated third generation of the Honda Jazz–what we know in America as the Fit.
What you may not realize is that at the same time, Honda used that
opportunity to unveil its EXCITING H DESIGN!!! language, which was
employed in the updated design of the subcompact city car. Since then,
this design philosophy has affected all of the brand’s automobiles around the globe.
Intended to build a stronger global presence and unique character in
its models, Honda’s EXCITING H DESIGN!!! may merely sound like
overly-excited Japanese advertising, but it actually has deliberate
thought behind it.
What Is Honda’s EXCITING H DESIGN!!! All About?
Those new Honda models at your local dealership and on display at
national auto shows have all been influenced by the automaker’s EXCITING
H DESIGN!!! approach, which was launched back in 2013. The philosophy,
affecting both the interior and exterior of Honda’s vehicles, strives to
make the company’s products more…well, exciting.
Those three exclamation points aren’t just arbitrary enthusiasm,
either. Each one has a special meaning: High Tech, the brand’s
innovative spirit; High Tension, the brand’s pursuit of beauty in its
designs; and High Touch, the brand’s mastery of surfacing and textures.
This affects the exterior model designs by employing the “Solid Wing
Face” design identity, framing the “H” badge in a single swooping front
grille. The “Athlete Form” proportions and “Dramatic Surfacing” form
also guide the exterior’s creation. Inside, “Advanced Interface” adopts
the latest technology, “Personal Cockpit” ensures the driver is the
focus behind the wheel, and “Craftsmanship” strives to use precise
textures in cabin construction.
Now that you know the approach behind how Honda styles its vehicles,
perhaps the conservative Japanese automaker won’t seem so conservative
anymore.
Honda's supremely popular crossover grows a bit and adopts a slightly less minivan-like look.
By JOSEPH CAPPARELLA
What It Is: The fifth generation of Honda’s supremely popular CR-V crossover, likely based on the new platform that underpins the recently redesigned Honda Civic.
The new CR-V is rumored to grow a bit compared with the current model,
with the possible addition of an optional third-row seat to help bridge
the gap between it and the significantly larger Pilot.
The CR-V also looks to adopt a sportier and more upscale look based on
these spy photos, which show a larger, more aggressive front grille
along with a longer hood and a less minivan-like stance. The CR-V’s
signature vertical taillights are clearly visible, and the headlights
look like they’re taken directly from an Acura. We can’t see much of the
crossover’s interior, but practicality and spaciousness will surely
remain a priority.
Why It Matters: The CR-V has sat atop the growing
compact-crossover sales heap for the past several years, but its lead is
eroding as new competitors arrive with more-advanced technology
features and improved driving dynamics. The Ford Escape and the Toyota RAV4,
for instance, are ahead of the CR-V in the sales race so far in 2016.
With this redesigned CR-V, Honda surely will be looking to take back its
crown, with class-leading fuel-economy figures, tech offerings,
interior space, and—if the new Civic’s great chassis is any
indication—driving dynamics. It’ll have to beat the Mazda CX-5, our current favorite among small crossovers, in that regard.
Platform: The new Honda Civic’s modular chassis, which will also
underpin the next-generation Accord sedan. The current CR-V’s 103.1-inch
wheelbase will likely grow, possibly to match the 2016 Civic sedan’s
106.3-inch wheelbase. Also expect changes to the Civic’s basic
architecture to accommodate mechanicals for the all-wheel-drive system
that will be optional for the CR-V.
Powertrain: With Honda’s push into turbocharged technology, the
Civic’s new 174-hp 1.5-liter turbo four will probably be the CR-V’s
standard engine. It may be tuned for more emphasis on low-rpm torque for
use in the heavier CR-V (the current model’s 2.4-liter four-cylinder
makes 185 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque). Although the Civic lineup will
soon offer a six-speed manual paired with this engine, a continuously
variable automatic transmission will likely be the only choice for the
CR-V. As before, front-wheel drive will be standard with all-wheel drive
available as an option.
Competition: Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5, Chevrolet Equinox, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester
Estimated Arrival and Price: Look for the new CR-V to arrive sometime in 2017 as a 2018 model. Pricing shouldn’t change much compared with the current CR-V,
which starts at $24,645 for a FWD LX and ranges up to $34,295 for a
loaded, AWD Touring model, although the possible third-row option could
drive the stickers higher for those packages that include it.
Next-generation two-motor hybrid powertrain expected to receive class-leading EPA fuel economy ratings; including 49 mpg city
Most powerful and refined midsize hybrid sedan with 212 total combined horsepower
Honda Sensing™ safety and driver-assistive technologies standard
Doubled production capacity for expected sales increase
Honda will bolster its Accord lineup with the launch of the 2017
Accord Hybrid this spring, featuring a more powerful and efficient
second-generation two-motor hybrid powertrain that has the highest EPA
fuel economy ratings of any midsize hybrid sedan and delivers the most
power. With improved production methods and supplies of hybrid
components, Honda is anticipating significant growth in sales of Accord
Hybrid and is targeting annual sales to be more than double its previous
best of just under 14,000 vehicles in 2014.
"The new Honda Accord Hybrid is the ultimate Accord – the most
refined, technologically sophisticated and, of course, most fuel
efficient in the lineup," said John Mendel, Executive Vice President of
the American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "With Accord already America's most
popular car three years running and the best-selling midsize car to
younger buyers, we think this new hybrid model will add considerable
momentum for the Honda brand."
In addition to its more powerful and fuel efficient hybrid
powertrain, the 2017 Accord Hybrid carries the substantial upgrades made
to the entire Accord lineup for model year 2016. This includes the
latest technology Honda has to offer, including the available Display
Audio with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, and the Honda Sensing™
suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies, to be
offered as standard equipment on all new 2017 Accord Hybrids.
Hybrid-exclusive design features include a special aluminum hood and
wheels, blue highlighted LED headlights and taillights and "Hybrid"
exterior badging. A more compact hybrid battery pack increases trunk
capacity to a midsize hybrid class-leading 13.5 cu.-ft.
Combining the next generation of Honda's two-motor hybrid system with an ultra-efficient 2.0-liter i-VTEC
Atkinson Cycle engine, the 2017 Accord Hybrid powertrain will achieve
peak combined output of 212 horsepower, the highest of any midsize
hybrid sedan and up 16 horsepower over the 2015 Accord Hybrid. EPA fuel
economy ratings of 49/47/48 (city/highway/combined)1 put the
Accord Hybrid at the top of the class for ratings, making it the most
powerful and fuel efficient midsize hybrid sedan in America. These EPA
fuel economy ratings are based on new, more stringent ratings
requirements enacted by the U.S. EPA for the 2017 model year. Based on
the new requirements, Honda estimates the 2015 Accord Hybrid ratings
would be 48/45/47 (actually rated at 50/45/47 under the previous
method), indicating a +1/+2/+1 increase for the 2017 model over the
previous version.
The Accord Hybrid's two-motor hybrid powertrain takes an elegant and
innovative approach to hybrid power, eliminating the need for a
conventional mechanical transmission. The Accord Hybrid's powertrain
seamlessly transitions between three operations:
EV Drive – using its electric propulsion motor and lithium ion
battery pack drives the front wheels for short distances under light
loads (with the engine turned off)
Hybrid Drive – the electric propulsion motor drives the front wheels
while the gasoline engine powers a second motor/generator to supplement
electrical current drawn from the battery pack
Engine Drive – using a lock-up clutch mechanism to connect the
engine and propulsion motor, the front wheels are driven by both the
motor and gasoline engine.
With its next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™)
body structure and Honda Sensing™ technology, the 2017 Accord is
anticipated to receive the highest available crash safety rating from
the U.S. government – a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the NHTSA –
and a similar top rating of TOP SAFETY PICK+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The 2017 Accord Hybrid will be available in three trims – Hybrid,
Hybrid EX-L and Hybrid Touring – and all grades will feature increased
levels of standard and available equipment. New standard features
include a wide angle rearview camera, remote engine start and Honda
Sensing™, which includes Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™),
Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Road
Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Forward
Collision Warning (FCW). Available new features on upper trims include a
7-inch Display Audio touchscreen with Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlayâ
compatibility, heated rear seats, and front and rear parking sensors.
The Accord has been named a Car and Driver magazine "10Best"
an unprecedented 30 times and has been the most popular car in America
with retail car buyers for three consecutive years.2 The
Accord is on track to earn a fourth straight year as America's most
popular car with sales up 12.3 percent through the first three months of
2016. Accord also is the most popular midsize car with Millennials and
has been #1 with under-35-year-olds for four consecutive years and leads
all other cars in America, except Honda's own Civic, in sales to under
under-35 car buyers since 2010.3
The 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid will make its first public appearance at
the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif., as part of the
aquarium's Earth Day weekend celebrations on April 23-24.
About Honda
Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive
vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through approximately
1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit,
Civic and Accord passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V and Pilot
sport/utility vehicles, the soon-to-be-launched Ridgeline pickup and the
Odyssey minivan.
Honda has been producing automobiles in America for 33 years and
currently operates 18 major manufacturing facilities in North America.
In 2015, more than 99 percent of all Honda vehicles sold in the U.S.
were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.
Honda Commitment to the Environment
Based on its vision of "Blue Skies for our Children," Honda is
working to advance technologies that address society's environmental and
energy concerns. Honda is targeting a 50 percent reduction in its total
company CO2 emissions on a global basis by 2050, compared to 2000 levels.
Honda will introduce a new 2017 Accord Hybrid and the Clarity Series
of advanced alternative-fuel vehicles, beginning with the new,
hydrogen-powered Clarity Fuel Cell later in 2016, followed by new
Clarity Battery Electric and Clarity Plug-In in 2017, as the company
strives to realize significant growth in sales of electrified vehicles.
The company is also demonstrating its vision for zero-carbon mobility and
living though initiatives like its Honda Smart Home US, in Davis,
California, which is designed to operate with half the energy use and CO2 emissions of a typical home in that region.
Honda and the Aquarium of the Pacific
The Aquarium of the Pacific is a non-profit organization committed to
"instilling a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacific
Ocean, its inhabitants and ecosystems" by providing engaging,
entertaining, educational and empowering exhibits and programs on the
Pacific Ocean and the lives of its inhabitants.
As a founding sponsor of the Aquarium of the Pacific, Honda supports
this world-class venue for education and environmentalism that is
visited by over 200,000 school children and nearly 1.5 million visitors
each year. Honda's financial donations to the Aquarium assist in its
efforts for marine conservation, education and community-outreach
programs. Honda's initial sponsorship consisted of the 150-seat Honda
Theater. In 2012 Honda became sponsor of the "Blue Cavern presented by
Honda" where on-site daily dive educational lectures are held and
explain how some of the animals in the exhibit are collected using
aquarium collection boats powered by Honda marine engines.
In 2016 Honda is entering into an agreement to become the title
sponsor for Pacific Visions Theater, a 14,000 square foot 300-seat in
the round theatrical 4D experience, due to open in 2018.
Clarity Fuel Cell gets two electrified siblings – the Clarity Electric and the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid – both launching in 2017
New trio of Clarity vehicles provide unparalleled choices to customers through three different electric powertrain options
All Clarity vehicles will offer spacious, five-passenger
seating, premium features and interior appointments; consumers can learn
more at http://www.automobiles.honda.com/Clarity
DETROIT – Honda today announced that the upcoming
Clarity Fuel Cell will be joined by two additional variants, the Clarity
Electric and Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, launching in the U.S. in 2017. The
addition of two new Clarity vehicles, based on the same platform
underpinning the new Clarity Fuel Cell, makes Clarity the first vehicle
in the industry to offer fuel cell, electric and plug-in hybrid
technology on one model platform, offering Honda customers an expanded
array of electrified vehicle choices to suit their individual tastes and
driving needs.
Following the U.S. launch of the Clarity Fuel Cell in late 2016, the
Clarity Electric will go on-sale in 2017. The Clarity Electric will be
the first affordable, midsize, five-passenger battery electric vehicle
(BEV) to offer premium content and features. The third vehicle in the
Clarity series, the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, will launch in all 50 states
later in 2017 and will be the volume leader in the series, seamlessly
combining an all-electric driving range in excess of 40 miles with a
hyper-efficient gasoline-hybrid extended range mode.
With elegant exterior styling, the Clarity series of vehicles will
also offer spacious interiors outfitted with premium,
environmentally-responsible materials and thoughtful, stylish design
cues. The Clarity series will also feature advanced technologies,
including Display Audio with Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™ as well as
standard Honda Sensing™ safety and driver-assistive technology.
"The Honda Clarity Series will provide customers with a
well-equipped, premium, midsize vehicle with range of ultra low-carbon
powertrain options to suit their lifestyle needs," said John Mendel,
executive vice president, Automobile Division, American Honda Motor Co.,
Inc. "This Honda trio of dedicated, advanced technology vehicles,
along with the expanded application of two- and three-motor hybrid
systems to our core models, represents a strong commitment to Honda's
future and will help create a new volume pillar for electrified vehicle
sales."
All of the Clarity models will leverage the platform that has enabled
the Clarity Fuel Cell's low, wide and aerodynamic proportions and
spacious five-passenger cabin. This shared platform strategy also
enables flexibility in responding to infrastructure and market
developments, and the ability to provide customers nationwide with an
ultra-low carbon vehicle that meets their lifestyle needs while
expanding the market for Honda advanced technology products. The first
of the Clarity Series to launch will be the Clarity Fuel Cell, Honda's
most technologically advanced vehicle ever, slated to begin deliveries
to customers in select California markets in late 2016. The Clarity Fuel
Cell will have a targeted monthly lease price of under $500.
Technological innovations to the Clarity Fuel Cell include a fuel
cell stack that is 33 percent more compact than its predecessor with a
60 percent increase in power density compared to the outgoing Honda FCX
Clarity. The more compact fuel cell and integrated powertrain,
comparable in size to a V-6 engine, now fit entirely under the hood of
the car, allowing for a more spacious cabin with seating for five adult
passengers. The new Clarity Fuel Cell will feature an anticipated U.S.
EPA driving range in excess of 300 miles, with a refueling time of
approximately three to five minutes, roughly equivalent to customers'
experience with gasoline refueling.
In addition to the Clarity series, a reengineered 2017 Accord Hybrid
will go on-sale this spring, delivering both top-of-class power and fuel
efficiency in a midsize hybrid sedan, as Honda seeks to grow sales of
electrified vehicles – hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric
vehicles and fuel cell vehicles. On a global basis, Honda is aiming to
have electrified vehicles account for two-thirds of its vehicles sales
around 2030.
Customers interested in the Clarity vehicles are encouraged to visit http://www.automobiles.honda.com/Clarity where they can receive more information and sign up for the opportunity to become a Clarity Fuel Cell customer.
An engaging coupe from the one-time maker of engaging coupes.
By TONY QUIROGA
Photography By SEAN C. RICE
Instrumented Test
From the May 2016 issue
The old Civic coupe
is a minivan. Not literally. But after driving the new one, last year’s
model feels—there’s no nice way to put this—like a gigantic Cheerio
depository.
Gone are the thick and distant A-pillars, and the busy two-tier
instrument panel is also out, replaced by a big tachometer front and
center with a digital speedo inside. Honda moved the hip point—where
your glutes hit the seat—way down. As you sit closer to the ground, the
narrower A-pillars and the simple and elegant dashboard work to erase
that old minivan feeling. The mom jeans are off; the Civic is back to
being a car, a very good one.
Taut suspension tuning means body motions are quickly damped, and the steering is alive. There’s a Volkswagen GTI–like
eagerness to the turn-in, complemented by excellent cornering
stability. Skidpad grip is an unimpressive 0.83 g, mostly due to the
all-season rubber, but every bit of that grip is accessible and easy to
modulate. A firm brake pedal provides the right amount of initial bite,
although the brakes did exhibit slight fade at the track. In testing,
the sixth successive stop from 70 mph measured 10 feet more than the
first stop, but the pedal pressure remained constant and secure.
A new structure lies under the new skin. Honda claims it’s 25 percent
stiffer than before. The structure dispatches big jolts with the brief
tuung! of a tightly tuned tom-tom. Its predecessor had a hollow and
weedier structure that couldn’t adequately suppress the engine or the
suspension. Tire noise is still intrusive on concrete freeways, but the
engine seems farther away now, and there’s virtually no wind noise. You
don’t hear much at 70 mph, just 67 decibels of tire and mechanical hum,
a five-decibel improvement over the old coupe.
Honda claims that the coupe’s unibody is 76 pounds lighter than before,
and it may be. But with all the pieces attached and a new turbocharged
1.5-liter four, this car weighs 2882 pounds, or 31 more than the last
coupe we tested. That slight weight gain is more than offset by the
engine, which makes 31 more horsepower and 33 more pound-feet of torque
than the old 1.8-liter. Acceleration to 60 mph takes 6.6 seconds, a full two seconds quicker than before.
At this point, Honda’s CVT automatic is the sole transmission for the
1.5-liter turbo. A big serving of turbo torque starts below 2000 rpm and
keeps the CVT from having to zing into the higher revs in normal
driving. In drive or sport mode, the transmission “shifts” virtual gears
and the changing revs eliminate the unrelenting high-rpm wail
characteristic of CVTs. In low mode, the CVT does hold the engine near
the redline from about 40 mph until the governor engages at 125 mph. We
achieved the quickest acceleration times with the transmission in low.
Stepping through the fake gears added a couple of tenths to zero-to-60
runs. And unlike the previous car’s CVT, there isn’t any way to select
or hold “gears” if you wish to shift for yourself.
For now, manual enthusiasts have to settle for the naturally aspirated
158-hp 2.0-liter. Paired with the manual, the 2.0-liter has the
rev-happy character of Honda engines past. But the easy torque and the
extra horsepower of the turbo engine is seductive, so you may want to
wait until later this year when Honda will offer a six-speed manual with
the 1.5-liter turbo four.
In our hands, the EX-L with the 1.5-liter returned 29 mpg. EPA estimates
are forthcoming, but we are told by Honda to expect an improvement: 31
city and 41 highway. (US numbers).
In addition to the old alien-spacecraft console, designers wisely threw
out every other aspect of the previous generation. Material quality is
hugely improved and the electric parking brake allows for a cavernous
center console, but we’d still like to have a volume knob instead of
having to swipe the border of the touchscreen. The seat cushions are
Porsche firm, but some riders might find the lumbar support excessive.
Much of the exterior seems to have been designed to highlight the
Civic’s 1.8-inch-wider body. A chrome nose ring sits just above knee
height, and the rear fenders flare out below the pinched-in rear window.
The wheelbase has grown by 3.1 inches to 106.3, but the overall length
is down an inch. Along with the added width, the longer wheelbase
shortens overhangs and yields an assertive stance. The rear end is
perhaps the oddest part of the styling, bulging outward in a way that
may conjure up images of a robot with a full diaper.
The Civic coupe is a return to form for Honda. But as good as the Civic
is, we would wait for the turbo to hook up with the manual before
signing any forms.
Dismayed by his unreliable 1982 Buick Skylark,
Colin Duke grudgingly took his friend’s advice and kicked the tires of a
new Honda Civic hatchback in 1985.
“I quickly became impressed by its build
quality and performance, and ended up buying my first Honda and have
never looked back,” Duke wrote to us. His family buys a new Civic every
few years, making them charter members of Civic Nation.
But all is not well in the land. Some have condemned the ninth-generation cars, calling them “unHonda-like.”
“The interior materials are very cheap;
everything squeaks. I burn oil, my tires are wearing fast, the battery
died, second gear is very hard to get into. Not as good as they used to
be,” reads one online lament.
CONFIGURATION
After six long years, the eighth-gen Civic was
finally replaced by a redesigned sedan and coupe for 2012.
Aerodynamically smoother with a raked windshield and cleaner floorpan,
its wheelbase was actually shortened by 4 centimetres, yet it yielded
more legroom for rear-seat occupants.
Changes to the front strut suspension and
multi-link rear setup provided more wheel travel and a creamier ride.
The electric power steering returned, but it felt less responsive. If
the intent was to move the Civic upmarket, it lost some of its verve in
the transformation.
The unique two-tier instrument panel returned,
too, with a massive tachometer and digital speedo display. The sculpted
front bucket seats with their shapely bolsters and forward headrests
were the subject of the loudest complaints by owners, who called them
uncomfortable, even punishing. Clearly, try before you buy.
The standard Civic engine was a 1.8-litre four
cylinder with 140 horsepower and 128 lb-ft. of torque, essentially a
carryover with slightly better torque and less internal friction. It
worked through a manual gearbox or automatic, both with five forward
gears. The sporty Si used the Acura TSX’s 201 horsepower 2.4-litre four.
The new Civic was widely panned by the press
due to the obvious penny pinching. One report called the carpet “dish
scrub brush” material — and for the first time it failed to earn a
recommendation from Consumer Reports. Unaccustomed to mockery, Honda
scrambled to fix the deficiencies.
The 2013 sedan got several new updates,
including stiffer springs and bushings, thicker roll bars and a revised
electric power-steering rack. The cabin earned improved materials and
assembly. Thicker glass and added soundproofing quelled the din inside.
The coupe received the styling and suspension
updates for 2014, while all models got more interior upgrades. The
revised 1.8-litre four put out 143 horsepower and 129 lb-ft. of torque,
working through an optional continuously variable (CVT) automatic
transmission in place of the previous conventional slushbox.
DRIVING AND OWNING THE CIVIC
Despite the critics, consumers largely found
the Civic to be composed and agreeable. The wee engine worked hard, but
smoothly, to keep up with traffic.
The Civic exhibits some handling prowess, yet
the electric steering is overboosted and too quick, resulting in
tiresome darty behaviour on the highway. The suspension was judged too
soft and numb in 2012, but nicely improved in the newer models.
Part of the Civic’s appeal among Canadians is
its ability to sip rather than guzzle. Owners report mileage in the 7.5
L/100 km range in mixed driving and even better under optimal
conditions.
Mechanically, the ninth generation Civic
upholds the nameplate tradition and runs long between service
appointments. However, there are a few nits to pick.
The CVT in the 2014-15 models has been known
to fail. NHTSA recall 15V-574 prescribes a software update to reduce
transmission stress.
Honda’s manual transmission is notorious for
its crunchy master and slave cylinders. There have also been reports of
the electric steering system shutting down while driving.
Other weaknesses include short-lived
batteries, faulty air conditioners, poor-wearing Firestone Affinity
tires, chipping paint and annoying interior rattles.
What’s Hot: Efficient runner, minds its manners, Honda lightness of being
What’s Not Seats don’t suit some riders, noisy at speed, CVT may not be durable
Kim Reynolds Words, Garrett DeBry Design, Roman Mistiuk Digital Model, Mind Over Eye Rendering
Exploring the Potential Impact of Apple’s Project Titan
The Apple Car and the Future of Self-Driving Vehicles
Hello.
It’s
a moment we’ve all had with an Apple product. When the ordinary
awkwardness between you and an electronic device becomes a relationship
between you and a friend. Mine happened way back when I used an early
Compaq computer. The keyboard clacked. You typed things that looked like
C:>find /V into DOS. And stories extruded across a murky screen in a
green, constipated font. Then a friend let me use this thing called a
Macintosh while she was away. I slowly circled my right hand to get used
to its strange, plastic clicker-box.
Suddenly, the screen blinked “Hello.” In script.
I’m
not sure if I said hello back, but I might have. Encounter by
encounter, Apple has woven a series of obtuse electronic tools into the
fabric of our lives. How many times has somebody held up their iPhone
and said, “This IS my life!” The automobile of today is a Compaq
computer. And Apple knows it.
Steve Jobs knew it way back in 2008,
too, when Apple was at an early iPhone crossroads. What to focus on
next? An electric car reportedly shared the short list with the maturing
multitouch smartphone. Given Cupertino’s less formidable, 2008-era
resources, Jobs’ final pick proved insanely right: Its iPhone-fueled
piggybank is now a brain-boggling, $216,000,000,000. That’s BILLLLion
dollars, as Carl Sagan used to eccentrically over-pronounce it, stashed
all around the world. What’s that mean to paycheck-to-Taco Bell types
like us? It’s enough to purchase all the stock of GM, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler. Combined. And then buy Detroit again. Some of Apple’s shareholders have been clamoring for Cook and company to snap up Tesla with its loose change.
And
sometimes, Apple has nonchalantly jangled that change. In late 2013,
Elon Musk met with Apple’s head of acquisitions and later huddled with
Jony Ive, Apple’s chief design officer, at a post-Oscars party. Adding
to the warm visuals, Laurene Jobs returned her husband’s famously
plateless Mercedes-Benz
SL55 AMG, getting a Model S. But Musk doubts an Apple deal will advance
his goal of creating a compelling mass-market EV. “I don’t currently
see any scenario that would improve that probability,” he said.
Read more about our exclusive take on the Apple Car:
