Daily News: Monday 10/23/17

Mustang GT Performance Pack Level 2: Ford’s Answer to ‘1LE’ Camaro’s

Ford loves their ‘Skunkworks’ projects: the new Ford GT was developed covertly, various racecars have been developed in hidden rooms, and now the Mustang is receiving a new optional Performance Pack which was developed ‘off-the-clock’. Imaginatively named the “Mustang GT Performance Pack Level 2”, the focus of the developmental efforts has been spent on the wheels and tires holding the car to the ground.

Featuring new split-fitment aluminum wheels measuring 19×10.5-inch in the front and 19×11-inches in the rear, the headliner of the Level 2 Performance Pack are the tires wrapped around these wheels. Building off of the bespoke tires developed for the Ford GT hypercar, the Level 2 Pack comes shod in 305/30/R19 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tire, which are 1.5in wider than those found on a Performance Pack Level 1 equipped car.

As grip is the name of the game, the rest of the modifications help contribute to the increased traction the car gains with the Level 2 Pack. The MagneRide suspension has been custom-tuned, and the steering has been recalibrated to be quicker, leading to a more aggressive car.

Further increasing the aggressiveness of the Mustang, a new front splitter and rear spoiler–accented in black details–add measurable downforce at usable speeds. These parts were rapid-prototyped using a 3D printer and the experience gained from the previous Boss 302 Laguna Seca model.

Lastly, customers can opt for either cloth or leather Recaro performance seats, a unique position among Mustang owners. The Performance Pack Level 2 is now available for order, just in time for winter.

Volkswagen Considers Reviving the Kübelwagen–The Thing–as an EV

Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess recently dropped an unexpected insight into Volkswagen’s product planning, by stating his desire to bring back the Kübelwagen, the German military equivalent of the Willys Jeep. He contined by saying that the brand’s new MEB (Modular Electrification Toolkit) battery-electric architecture is modular enough to allow them a great lee-way in design.

“MEB is flexible—rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive—and we have so many emotional concepts,” Diess told Car and Driver. “I don’t know if you remember the Kübelwagen. This Thing is a nice car. Then there are all the buggies, the kit cars. We have the bus. We have the various derivatives of the bus. We have so many exciting concepts in our history that we don’t have to do a Beetle.”

As ‘the bus’–the I.D. Buzz concept EV–is already confirmed for production, there is nothing stopping VW from further capitalizing on its growing retro appeal. Sadly–or maybe not–the Beetle will more than likely not get a reboot, mainly due to the lack of popularity with the two previous modern models.

MotorTrend Reports: Tesla to Build Factory in China

From MotorTrend, who did the hard work compiling various reports to build their story:

“Tesla is gearing up to launch its own manufacturing plant in Shanghai, reports The Wall Street Journal. According to people briefed on the plan, who remain unnamed in the story, the automaker has entered into an agreement with the local government to build a factory in Shanghai’s free-trade zone.

WSJ calls the deal “the first of its kind for a foreign auto maker.” Unlike other carmakers that partner with local manufacturers to build cars in China, Tesla will have its very own factory. It’s likely Tesla will be subjected to China’s 25-percent import tariff, although producing cars in Shanghai is key to helping the automaker reduce production costs as it serves the Chinese market.

As The Verge points out, China is eager to accelerate the adoption of EVs on its roads. In fact, it recently confirmed it wanted to eventually stop selling gas and diesel cars, much like France and Britain.

In truth, the news comes as little surprise. Earlier this year, Tesla admitted it was working with the Shanghai government on an agreement to build a plant. At the time, Tesla said that most of its production would remain in the U.S., however.

Last year, more than 15 percent of Tesla’s total revenue came from the world’s biggest auto market. The company’s revenue tripled to $1 billion in China, which could eventually become the company’s biggest market.”

Read the original article HERE.