It was a fun week in the automotive industry, with plenty of exciting news, including a new presidential limo and big numbers for a smaller Chrysler sedan.
Also, find out how the University of Michigan plans to enhance autonomous driving, and how Ford plans to put a Mustang at the top of the New York City skyline.
This Week’s Top Stories
Mustang Headed to the Top Floor: Ford plans to recreate a tall feat in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Mustang launch. In 1965, Ford divided the car into three sections plus the windshield and reassembled it at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City. This year, Ford will divide it into 6 sections and take it to the top via the elevator.
Cummins on the “Most Ethical” List: According to the Ethisphere Institute, Cummins Inc., manufacturer of diesel engines for Ram trucks, in one of the top three most ethical companies in the automotive industry. The honor reflects a high standard of corporate ethics, leadership, social responsibility, and reputation.
The High Cost of Fuel Cells: Toyota and Honda are getting ready to sell fuel cell cars but according to a Japanese newspaper, initial prices for the vehicles will be just under $100,000. The automakers plans to sell these vehicles in America and Asia and hopes to bring the price down over the next decade.
Pentastar V6 Moving on Up: The popular 3.6L Pentastar V6 is moving to higher trim packages on the Ram 1500. The Chrysler Group says the decision to put the engine in the Laramie Longhorn and Laramie Limited is based on customer demand, noting that many customers have been impressed by the engine’s performance in other Ram models like the Outdoorsman and Big Horn. Learn more about the Ram 1500 engines here.
Wolverines Building an Autonomous Test Track: In an effort to become the center of self-driving cars, the University of Michigan has approved designs to build test track for autonomous and connected vehicles. The school plans to create a simulated environment on 30-acres that will include 3 miles of paved roads complete with traffic lights, sidewalks, buildings, roundabouts, and more.
Seeking the Next Presidential Limo: The U.S. Secret Service is taking bids to replace the 2009 Cadillac limousine used to chauffeur the president. All U.S.-based brands are welcome to apply, but Autoweek predicts that the next limo, known as “The Beast”, will be another Cadillac due to the exceptional performance of the current version.
Chrysler 200 Fuel Numbers Released: Chrysler has released the fuel-economy averages for the 2015 Chrysler 200. With the standard 2.4L engine, the 200 reaches 36 mpg highway while the more powerful 3.6L V6 delivers 32 mpg. This makes the 200 one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the road.
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