Tag: Market

AUTO REVIEW Audi A3 Sedan An A3 Sportback E-Tron hatch supposedly returning, too. The fourth-generation Audi A3 Sportback hatch debuted earlier this month, and Audi doesn't plan to waste time getting the trunked version here, according to Car and Driver, which adds that the sedan likely shows in late 2020 as a 2021 model. The sedans will deliver everything we saw in the latest hatchback from the front fascia to the rear doors, picking up the brawnier looks and even sharper S line features. The new hatch grew about 1.2 inches compared to the third-generation; a small growth spurt for the sedan shouldn't come as a shock. The engines in all three standard models don't change from the present units, but they will receive aid from 48-volt hybrid systems. As of now, our A3 lineup is broken into two models, a 184-horsepower Sedan Sport and a 228-hp Sedan S line. C/D says the 2021 version begins with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder putting out a whopping 240 horsepower in the entry-level trim. It's possible Audi's switching up the A3 offer to mimic the Q3, the crossover also coming in two trims — Q3 45 and Q3 S line 45 — both powered by the same 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder making the same 228 hp and 258 pound-feet [...]

News / Market Sales Auto sales forecast to drop 22.0 percent, with risk for further deterioration Impacts to global auto demand in the wake of COVID-19 have rapidly progressed to severity levels higher than the 2008-2009 recession, and significant uncertainty around prospects for a meaningful recovery remain. Global light vehicle sales in 2020 are now forecast to drop to 69.6 million units, 22.0 percent lower than in 2019, with risks to the forecast still skewed to the downside. "The pandemic remains a clear and present danger to the autos sector, with months of uncertainty expected to cloud hopes for global recovery prospects," "The expected cycle of decline, stabilization and recovery for autos varies by market, reflecting variations in containment strategies and policy responsiveness," said Colin Couchman, executive director, global autos demand forecasting at IHS Markit. In recent weeks, Mainland China is seeing green shoots of recovery, while much of the rest of the world remains in lockdown. The IHS Markit forecast for Greater China sales in 2020 sees volume at 21.4 million units, a drop of 15 percent from 2019 levels. Though government incentives could help underpin a more orderly recovery profile, these are not [...]

News / Auto Makers

BMW has updated its logo for the first time in 23 years, but the automaker is stopping short of making the change on its vehicles, it said in a statement.

The update, which began rolling out this week, is for "online and offline communication purposes," the brand said, positioning its new look as "better-suited to the digital age."

The biggest change is that the thick outer ring in the circular logo went from a solid black to transparent. So whatever color the logo is set against will appear in that portion. The design was also made simpler and flatter, a change from the slightly rounded look of the old logo, which made it look more three-dimensional.

The automaker follows other brands, such as Volkswagen, that have gone to a flatter look for digital media reasons.

"BMW is b [...]

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News / Global News London's transport regulator has refused to renew Uber's operating license in the UK capital, according to The Verge. Transport for London (TfL), which had been extending Uber's provisional licence in recent months, said it has identified a pattern of failures by the ride-hailing company that places passengers at risk. A TfL spokesperson said, "Despite addressing some of these issues, TfL does not have confidence that similar issues will not reoccur in the future, which has led it to conclude that the company is not fit and proper at this time." One of the identified issues is that the Uber's system allows unauthorised drivers to upload their photos to other Uber driver accounts, enabling them to pick up passengers as if they were the original drivers with whom the trip was booked. According to the TfL spokesperson, around 14,000 trips have witnessed this failure with some of the journeys taking place with unlicensed drivers, one of whom had previously had their licence revoked. According to The Verge report, Uber plans to appeal against the decision. Uber's regional general manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, Jamie Heywood, said, "TfL's decision not to renew Uber's licence in London is extraordinary [...]