Speaker 1: This is Utoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry. Elon Musk's involvement in politics has
cost Tesla billions of dollars in lost vehicle sales. According
to a study from the National Bureau of Economic Research by Yale University economists, Tesla's US sales between October of twenty twenty two, when Must purchase Twitter in April of twenty twenty five, would have been one to one point two six million units higher if it weren't for Elon donating to Republican candidates and leading the Department of Government efficiency under President Trump. The study estimates that EV and
hybrid sales of Teslas's competitors increased by seventeen to twenty two percent because must partisan politics pushed away Democratic leaning buyers, who are Tesla's strongest customer base. And speaking of EV sales,
JD Power is forecasting a big drop in US EV sales this month, and it all has to do with the federal tax credit going away.
Speaker 2: It's projecting just.
Speaker 1: Under fifty five thousand electric vehicle retail sales in October, down forty three percent compared to a year ago. EV
market share is also expected to fall to five point two percent, down from eight and a half percent a year ago and September's thirteen percent, and that slump is part of the reason the overall market.
Speaker 2: Is expected to be down as well.
Speaker 1: JD Power estimates one point twenty five million sales this month, down seven percent from a year ago.
Speaker 2: Japanese electronics company.
Speaker 1: Sharp is following in the footsteps of China Shoomi. It
revealed the second version of an EV concept called the Ldkplus, which it refers to as a compact minivan. While Sharp
might be best known for making TVs, it also produces kitchen appliances, AC units, washers, and dryers, and with the use of AI, wants owners to be able to control all of those things from inside the LDK Plus, which is just like Shaumi Plus. Sharp also make smartphones. Fox
Con bought a controlling stake in Sharp in twenty sixteen and is expected to manufacture the production version sometime in twenty twenty seven, since the concept is based on fox CON's Model A. The first concept version of the ldkplus
was revealed last year, but its shape looked more like a Volkswagen Vanagin For the first time in a decade.
Electric vehicles won't be included in China's five year development plan for twenty twenty six to twenty thirty.
Speaker 2: New energy vehicles, which includes.
Speaker 1: BEVs, plug in hybrids and extended range electrics, had been one of the strategic industries included in China's recent plans.
While the country has become the number one EV market in the world, it's currently struggling with overcapacity, too many brands, and a price war. China's president said that with the
new five year plan, which will be revealed in March, that the country needs to avoid developing and investing in the quote same new productive forces.
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Speaker 1: Another automaker is partnering with a Chinese company to avoid paying CO two fines in Europe. Mazda announced that it's
teaming up with its Chinese joint venture partner Changan to pool emissions instead of paying fines. Automakers that don't meet
CO two targets are allowed to combine emissions with companies that have earned credits from selling evs. Mazda also has
a different pool at formed with Tesla that Stilantis and Ford are also part of. Earlier this month, Nissan pooled
its emissions with BYD, Mercedes is pooling with Jili, and saying Yong from South Korea, which was renamed KG Mobility.
Speaker 2: Is pooling with Chipang. So not only do.
Speaker 1: European automakers have to compete with Chinese automakers in their own market, they may have to pay them.
Speaker 2: Billions of euros for CO two credits.
Speaker 1: Infinity's flagship SUV, the QX eighty, is getting the Nissan GTR treatment. The company is showing off a concept version
at the SEMA Show that's powered by a modified version of the GTR's three point eight liter.
Speaker 2: Twin turbov six.
Speaker 1: It's able to crank out one thousand horsepower thanks to custom turbos, intercoolers, exhaust, and an upgraded fuel system. In
addition to the engine, the model also features the GTR ceramic brakes and GTR inspired wheels. The Jeep Grand Cherokee
is getting a styling refresh and an all new engine option, but instead of turning to the Hurricane inline six cylinder, Stilantis developed a brand new, clean sheet two liter four cylinder turbo that will first debut in this new Grand chap It has the same boring stroke as that Hurricane six, which is why it's called the Hurricane four.
Speaker 2: But that's about where the similarities end.
Speaker 1: Stillantis was kind enough to invite us out to the Dundee Engine plant where this new power plant is made.
And here's a Shiesh do Be, the chief engineer of the Hurricane four describing what is probably its most unique feature.
Speaker 5: Looking at different mechanisms, efficiencies, performance, integration, cost and complexity, we narrowed it down to turbulent jet dignition. So Masuradi
started it on a call it production vehicle program. We
are taking it mainstream. Now this is going to be
high volume taking motorsport technology to every Jep customer. They
can get one turbulent jet ignition. It's a passive pre
chamber technology where you have.
Speaker 1: You've got to display right here that be awesome to show the people.
Speaker 5: So this is what Masuradi started with pre chamber. It's
a passive design where you don't have a fuel injector, you just have a spark plug which sits right inside the pitch umber. And this is what we ended up
with Hurricane four. So you can see the day night difference.
Speaker 2: Yeah, between the two size difference.
Speaker 5: The top where the combustion happens, it's almost identical. But
how we adapted it because again for us, it was important that we account for what Jeep customer does. Jeep
customer always also replaces spark plug in the garage. A
Mazati customer may not do it right. So all those
things on, how do we make sure that it is the right adaptation for Jeep customer, for a North America customer.
That's what we tried to do here.
Speaker 1: But there's still a lot more to the sangin beyond TJI or turbulent jet ignition It has two plugs per cylinder and both port and direct injection.
Speaker 2: Those plugs can.
Speaker 1: Each be fired on their own or together, while both injection systems can spray fuel individually or together. Stalanta says
getting the software just right was the art is part of this new engine program, but in the end it makes twenty percent more power and uses ten percent less fuel than the current two liter engine. The Hurricane four
officially makes three hundred and twenty four horse power and three hundred and thirty two pound feet of torque, and in the new Grand Cherokee it gets twenty three miles to the gallon combined. I'll be posting more of that
interview with Ashiesh, so if you want to deeper dive into this new engine, be on the lookout for that video.
But that brings us to the end of today's show.
Thanks for tuning in.
Speaker 6: Auto Line Daily is brought to you by Bridgestone Solutions for your Journey CSP, the composites solution partner Intrepid Control Systems over the YEIR Engineering Boost your game and thanks to the following YouTube and Patreon members.
Speaker 7: At CSP, we work with OEM engineers across the country on their journeys to lighter, safer, and more eco friendly vehicles.
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About this episode
Elon Musk's political activities have reportedly cost Tesla billions in lost US sales, as partisan divides alienate key customers. JD Power forecasts a sharp drop in US EV sales due to the federal tax credit expiration. Sharp unveils a compact EV minivan concept with AI home integration, aiming for production by 2027. China excludes EVs from its next five-year plan amid market saturation. Mazda and other automakers are pooling emissions credits with Chinese partners to avoid EU fines. Infiniti showcases a 1,000-hp GTR-powered SUV concept, while Stellantis debuts a new two-liter turbocharged engine with motorsport tech for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, improving power and efficiency.
- Elon's Politics Cost Tesla Billions - U.S. EV Sales Could Collapse - Foxconn to Make EV Van for SHARP - China Drops EVs from Development Plans - Mazda Pools w/ Changan to Avoid EU Fines - 1,000-HP GT-R Engine Stuffed into Infiniti QX80 - Stellantis Puts F1 Tech in All-New Engine