Back to your regularly scheduled mediocrity. The news boy has been offline until this week. I recently moved into an apartment that my ISP said did not exist, even though their equipment was installed by their technician while I was there. That was fun. Anyways, this week: Hyundai stuns with IONIQ 6, Acura gives TLX Type S the PMC Edition treatment, Ford celebrates 75 years of the F-Series, and Red Bull confirms development of a hypercar.
Hyundai IONIQ 6
Auto manufacturers seem to think the best way to stand out in the EV space is to make a wild, futuristic, and unconventional design. Few brands seem to be doing that as well as Hyundai/Kia/Genesis and we got more proof of that this week. Hyundai has taken the covers off the new IONIQ 6, a battery electric vehicle that they describe as an Electric Streamliner. Checks out for sure.
As Hyundai usually does, this first press release is just for show. No powertrain specs or range information was provided. Just a sample of press photos that embrace the synthwave/retrowave aesthetic. They definitely knew what they were doing with that. The streamlined silhouette serves an aerodynamic purpose that’s worth the effort, as its drag coefficient of 0.21 is about as low as it gets for a car. That puts it in Mercedes EQS, Lucid Air, and Tesla Model S territory. And it’s a Hyundai.
They achieved that with a low nose, active air flaps at the front, wheel gap reducers, and slim digital side mirrors in markets that are cool enough to allow that. The rear features an elliptical spoiler, slight boat-tail structure, and separation traps on both sides of the rear bumper. Meanwhile, a fully covered undercarriage, reduced wheel-arch gap, and optimized deflectors create a floor that’s just as slick as the surface. They’re also big on Parametric Pixels because there are over 700 of them on the surface for the headlamps, rear combination lamps, front lower sensors, air vent garnishes, and elsewhere.
The cabin is defined by a cocoon-shaped layout filled with sustainable, eco-friendly materials and a bunch of lights and stuff. AS modular touchscreen dashboard features a 12″ infotainment display plus another 12″ screen for the gauge cluster. Dual Color Ambient Lighting provides a spectrum of 64 colors and six dual color themes. The eco-friendly materials used depend on the trim level, but that can include recycled pigment paint from end-of-life tires, eco-process leather, recycled PET fabric, bio TPO skin, paint derived from vegetable oils, and recycled fish net carpet.
They say we’ll know more sometime later this month, including full specs, features, and the tech on board. You have our attention, Hyundai.
[Source: Hyundai]
Acura TLX Type S PMC Edition
Acura is offering up a special version of the TLX Type S that’s inspired by the most recent NSX. Handcrafted in Acura’s Performance Manufacturing Center, it’s a TLX Type S offered in NSX colors with unique wheels and some bespoke exterior and interior finishes.
Just in time for the 4th of July weekend, the three colors available on the TLX Type S PMC Edition are pulled straight from the NSX. They are Curva Red, 130R White, and Long Beach Blue. Each is painted in premium “nano-pigment” paints and features contrasting Berlina Black paint for the roof, antenna, and door handles. The car rides on NSX-inspired Y-spoke 20″ wheels painted in a copper finish, a first for an Acura model. Exterior enhancements are capped off with a carbon fiber decklid lip spoiler, carbon rear diffuser, lower side sill garnish, gloss-black badging, and black-chrome quad exhaust finishers.
The cabin gets carbon fiber trim panels, illuminated door sills, and “premium” floor mats. The color scheme inside depends on the paint – Curva Red is paired with Ebony with red contrast stitching, Long Beach Blue uses Orchid with blue stitching, and 130R features what else but a red interior. Milano leather seats with Ultrasuede inserts are standard.
The TLX Type S PMC Edition then gets the same quality control process as the NSX. That includes a dyno check, paint inspection, and rough-road simulation. Shipment is done in an enclosed single car carrier with a specially designed car cover to protect the paint. Pricing is anyone’s guess.
[Source: Acura]
Ford F-150 Heritage Edition
For the 2023 model year, Ford is celebrating a major milestone for what is probably the single most successful automotive line in history – the Ford F-Series. Its 75th anniversary is being marked with a Heritage Edition F-150 for this model year only.
It’s just a two-tone paint job. And it’s not even the sort of two-tone design that you’d think associate with an old truck. They say it’s a “modern take on the timeless 70s and 80s” designs. If by “modern take” they mean something far different, sure. It’s only available on XLT trucks and also adds distinct seat trim covers and logos. Five color options are available – Race Red, Atlas Blue, Antimatter Blue, Avalanche, and Area 51 – and the accent color varies between Carbonized Gray and Agate Black.
This will probably be a fairly cheap option, or at least it should be. Regardless, dealers will still ask $90,000 for them because they’re dicks. Maybe it’ll be worth something 25 years from now on Bring a Trailer. I like Ford, obviously. I own two of them. But this is kind of a miss.
[Source: Ford]
Red Bull confirms hypercar development
Knowing what Red Bull and specifically their Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey, is capable of, I’m not even sure calling this a hypercar is doing it justice. Red Bull Advanced Technologies has announced the RB17, a two-seat hypersupermegacar designed, developed, and manufactured entirely in-house. Nearly.
Certain things like the engine, a V8 hybrid unit developing over 1,100 horsepower, is being constructed by a third party. Probably Porsche if I had to guess, seeing as how a Red Bull Porsche collaboration is F1’s worst-kept secret. But every other major component is all done by the geniuses behind one of F1’s most successful teams and last year’s champion. Other details that they’ve mentioned include a carbon-composite tub and the most advanced ground effect package available in a series production car. And it will be a production car. Maybe not entirely road legal, but it would never be driven on the street anyway. 50 of these are confirmed for production at £5M each with production taking place at their Milton Keynes campus.
Adrian Newey commented: “The RB17 distills everything we know about creating championship-winning Formula One cars into a package that delivers extreme levels of performance in a two-seat track car. Driven by our passion for performance at every level, the RB17 pushes design and technical boundaries far beyond what has been previously available to enthusiasts and collectors.”
Christian Horner, CEO of Oracle Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Advanced Technologies, echoed that sentiment. I only mention him so the rabid F1 community on Twitter find this article and give us a numbers boost.
Anything Andrian Newey is involved in turns into a masterpiece. There’s nobody else in the industry like him. If he’s given the resources and the opportunity he’ll create something out of this world. So we’ll be following this RB17 project closely.
[Source: Red Bull Advanced Technologies]
What’s your automotive news?
That’s all I’ve got for you this week, so now it’s your turn. If you saw anything, fixed something, broke everything, or otherwise did anything even remotely car related that you want to share with your fellow hoon, sound off in the comments.
Have a good weekend.
Leave a Reply