Daily News: Wednesday 10/4/17

Range Rover Announces Hybrid Range Rover Sport P400e Yesterday, Range Rover announced the details of the upcoming 2018 model year(MY) Range Rover line-up, as well as announcing the arrival of there first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, which will be released in summer of 2018, badged as a 2019MY.  The 2018 models are essentially more of the same, with the standard nip/tuck performed to make a facelift model.

An updated grill surrounded by LED headlights change the front end, while a new bumper makes the whole styling more aggressive. Inside the cabin the new Touch Pro Duo infotainment system is added which includes two high-definition 10-inch touchscreens.

An interesting feature is the new Gesture Sunblind, which is opened and closed by an advanced gesture control system that senses an occupant’s hand movement. All it takes to open the blind is a rearward swipe in front of the rear view mirror, and a swipe forward to close. Whether this will be better than a simple switch, remains to be seen, particularly how it ages 10 years from now.

Badged the P400e, the first PHEV released by Range Rover will be powered by combining a 296hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder Ingenium gasoline engine with a 114hp (85kW) electric motor. This combination sends 398hp and 472lb-ft of torque to the ground through a permanent four-wheel drive system using a ZF eight-speed automatic.

Look for the updated 2018MY Range Rovers soon at your local dealer, while the PHEV P400e arrives in the summer of 2018.

2018 Acura ILX Gains Special Edition, On Sale Today Beginning today, Acura dealers will have a new trim line on the lot among their ILX’s; the new Special Edition. Starting at $28,900 MSRP, the Special Edition is only $800 above the $28,100 MSRP of the base ILX.

The Special Edition includes 18-inch wheels, side sills and a rear spoiler from the A-Spec package, and shares the 2.4-liter direct-injected 4-cylinder engine sending power to a Sequential SportShift 8-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission, with all of the ILX models. Unique ‘Special Edition’ badges are also included.

Amounting to the only change for 2018, the ILX line remains largely the same, with pricing and MPG ratings as follows:

Ken Block’s Hoonigan Racing Team Is Quitting FIA World Rallycross ChampionshipThe Ford Performance-backed Hoonigan Racing team of Ken Block and Andreas Bakkerud will end its FIA World Rallycross Championship program at the end of the 2017 season, according to a statement released by Ford on Wednesday. This decision is due largely to the retiring of the 2-year old Focus RS RX rally car, which is being forced out due to uncertain rules.

It was this uncertainty combined with the cost of developing a totally new race car so quickly that led Ford to the decision:

“Although we have thoroughly enjoyed competing in the exciting FIA World Rallycross Championship, it’s a natural time for us to take a break as the future of the series takes shape,” said Dave Pericak, Global Director of Ford Performance in the statement. “To continue in [the championship] would have required the development of a new race car, and with so much discussion happening around the future of rallycross from a powertrain package standpoint, it made sense for us to pause until it’s better defined,” he added.

Ken Block will also be leaving the World Rallycross Championship with the departure of his team sponsor, Ford, however his relationship with the company will stay the same as it always has, with him competing in various motorsport events and creating Gymkhana videos.

“Both myself and Ford Performance have learned a lot from this program,” said Block. “While we both would like to continue with the effort, it simply doesn’t add up at this point.”

Sadly, this looks to be a simple, realistic business move on Ford’s part, with its drivers going along for the ride.