My view on Renault-Nissan and Dongfeng partnering to build electric cars for China (Via TechCrunch)

I’ve never liked China that much, regardless of situation.

Written by Darrell Etherington:

Another major automaker is setting up a dedicated joint venture to build EVs for the growing demand in China, joining Ford and Volkswagen: This time, it’s Nissan-Renault, which will work with China’s Dongfeng Motor, an automaker it partnered with last year to open its first factory in China.

Automakers from outside China basically need a local dancing partner in order to make and sell vehicles in the country, without incurring huge import taxes that would basically render their operations unsustainable. Previously, automakers were limited to setting up two joint ventures with Chinese partners to produce cars in-country, but Beijing has allowed the creation of a third joint venture – provided it’s dedicated entirely to EVs.

Renault-Nissan’s new partnership with Dongfeng is called eGT New Energy Automotive Company, and it’ll be split between Nissan with 25 percent ownership, Renault with another 25, and Dongfeng with the remaining 50, according to Reuters. The first vehicle from the JV will be a new electric vehicle based on one of Renault-Nissan’s subcompact crossover SUV platform designs.

Automakers are racing to build out their EV construction and sales capacity in China thanks to strong incentives put in place by the Chinese government for the market. China is also enforcing strict quotas on overall vehicle sales, requiring that a full 8 percent of any automaker sales in the country be either pure electric or plug-in hybrid by 2018, with incremental increases in that percentage every year after that.

This could end up helping with electrification abroad, too, since it’ll help automakers reconfigure their operations to focus on developing EV tech and electric-specific vehicle designs.

My View:

Electric specific sounds futuristic, but let us reflect on the old days, especially the days of our schooling when we were told about CFC’s and their deadly effects on the Ozone layer as well as the carbon footprints from fossil fuels. Carbon footprints will be everywhere, whether we drive a car with fossil fuel, whether we use an LED TV or whether we drive a hybrid Toyota Prius.

Carbon footprints from fossil fuels contain carbon that is beneficial for the earth’s atmosphere and for the ozone layer as well. Carbon footprints from modern devices produce carbon that is not beneficial at all, and in fact can harm the atmosphere in serious ways. Of course, the world is advancing but these advances will render humans unemployed, hungry, desperate and destitute. Should we advance in technology? Let’s keep the new machines as simply drawing board concepts!

People’s Republic of China however, is in need of electric vehicles, given the fact that the level of pollution in the country is way out of bounds and way beyond normal levels. Another problem is that, the Chinese have recently discovered their new found wealth and that will cause a lot of problems. From ugly women rebranding their looks to women remaining single and independent, the mindset of the Chinese is clearly cloudy, murky and damaged. With the Communist Party of China remaining holed up in power, it is likely that China will turn into the world’s largest dump.

Via TechCrunch: Aston Martin’s vehicle lineup will be 100% hybrid by the mid 2020s

Written by Darrell Etherington:

Another automaker is vowing to turn its entire lineup a little more green: Aston Martin told the Financial Times that it’ll offer vehicles exclusively with hybrid and electric cars by the middle of next decade.

It’s not as audacious a goal as it might’ve seemed even just a few years ago; Volvo has committed to selling only hybrid or electric cars by 2019, and Britain and France have both outlined plans to ban the sale of non-electric or hybrid vehicles by 2040.

Aston Martin’s announcement is significant because it’s a high-end luxury performance car maker, however, whose target demographic is precisely motoring enthusiasts. Aston Martin had previously announced plans to launch its first fully electric car, the Rapid-e, by 2019.

Don’t expect news of automakers intending to focus solely on hybrids and electrics to stop anytime soon; the writing is on the wall, now it’s just a question of in what order the dominoes fall.

My View:

Hybrid cars are certainly the future, but I am still quite skeptical about whether Hybrid cars will be easy to repair or not given the fact that advancements in technology are not keeping up with the intellectual, educational and human development of many nations worldwide. Secondly, with many in the United Kingdom reliant on welfare, welfare dependent households are most likely to produce blue collar kids who may not be able to easily fix hybrid cars if they decide to become mechanics. Though the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf Cooperation Council (G.C.C) Economies are becoming advanced, technical, educational, academic and intellectual gaps persist and that too in larger margins.

Hybrid vehicles have a dangerous carbon footprint and traditional fossil fuel based cars were much better. Reason being, the carbon footprint they produce is beneficial for the atmosphere and for the ozone layer. Sadly, liberal politicians are just looking for ways to gain political foothold and embezzle cash at the lives of the common people.

It would be wise for Aston Martin not to go completely hybrid, regardless of circumstances.

 

Read original article: https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/29/aston-martins-vehicle-lineup-will-be-100-hybrid-by-the-mid-2020s/?ncid=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29

Infiniti QX80 Limited Review – via Mind over Motor

I believe the term is “Land Yacht.” A massive, expensive way of getting from place to place for people who like to take up their slightly-more-than-fair share of space in the world. It also works great if you have a large family, although, most forms of birth control are a lot cheaper than this $90,000 behemoth.

Either way, if this is the way you want to get around in the world, then the Infiniti QX80 Limited will do a lot to float your boat. Maybe a Cadillac Escalade is too “Tony Soprano” for you. Maybe you’d like a Mercedes GLS, but, unfortunately, your local dealer just sold their last one to another real estate agent who’s drowning themselves in payments trying to “project an image of success” to their clients. Have no fear, the QX80 is here to save the day, and you just might be glad you didn’t get the others.

Why do I say this? Because the QX80 Limited does a lot of things right. Sure, it looks like a fancy whale on the outside, and that may take some getting used to, but it’s also REALLY nice. The interior on the Limited model is absolutely breathtaking, with its brown quilted leather and fine wood appointments. It’s very comfortable to be in, and there’s a lot of room to stretch out (one of the perks of being a land yacht).

On the road the QX80 drives like a smooth truck. It’s definitely massive, but it actually handles pretty tight for its size. It’s 5.6L V8 has some nice punch too, with 400hp on tap. It should have no trouble getting up to speed on the highway, or bulldozing Priuses out of the left lane.

The QX80, like all of these land barge SUVs, is meant to be an immaculate cruiser for you and a few friends. If you can stomach the fuel costs (which will be hefty), this mighty Infiniti is great for long trips.

Dollars and Sense

This Infiniti QX80 Limited is the top-of-the-line model, and as I said earlier, runs about $90,000. The good news is it already has every feature that’s an option on lower QX80 models, so you don’t get nickel and dimed further. Just on principle, I have to respect Infiniti for that.

For me, the closest competitor for the QX80 Limited has to be the Lexus LX570, which is the legendary Toyota Land Cruiser in a fine suit. Infiniti definitely has a better reputation for reliability than Cadillac or Mercedes, but Lexus, they’re the last word in long term quality for the entire industry. That said, the Lexus does climb in price toward the $100,000 mark, but that’s still near-as-makes-no-difference for buyers in this range.

I guess it comes down to how you’ll be using your plush utility vehicle. The Lexus is an insanely competent luxury off-roader, capable of taming the Moab without asking you to break a sweat. The Infiniti, on the other hand, is based on a pickup truck chassis, and may be a better daily cruiser for those staying on tarmac.

Verdict

I think the Infiniti QX80 Limited is a solid way to spend your money if you dream about a massive luxo-barge in your life. I can’t say it’s the absolute best option, but it’s certainly a good value, all things considered. The QX80 is a sumptuously plush vehicle that ticks all the boxes, and I’d totally understand why anyone would choose it.

To be honest, Infiniti has made one of the best cars this world has to offer. Modern, digital, plush, smooth, strong and savvy. I mean sure some would stick with a land cruiser but believe me I’d go with the Infiniti QX80 Limited.