#Apple Pulls Plans For Self-Driving EV

[Auto Styling News]

Apple has canceled its plans to release an electric car with self-driving abilities, a secretive product that had been in the works for nearly a decade, the BBC reports.

The company has plans to cut more than 600 jobs after reportedly dropping its self-driving car plans.

The majority of the cuts come from the address of the site which was working on the recently abandoned self-driving car project in California, according to Bloomberg.

The state's employment department was notified on March 28 that 614 staff will be laid off in May.

Artists renderings of the proposed, now stalled, vehicle, show a far chunkier and swoopy vehicle, but otherwise resembling many high-end EVs on the market or currently in development. Several more established automakers, including Tesla, are scaling back production, slashing prices or even in some cases,  such as Apple, are seemingly abandoning EVs in the face of lackluster sales.

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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

#Electric Automaker #Fisker, Poss. On Verge Of Bankruptcy, Pauses Car Production

[Auto Styling News]

 

Following recent reports that Fisker, a California-based EV automaker, has been preparing for a possible bankruptcy filing, yesterday the embattled automaker announced that it is suspending all manufacture of its vehicles.

“Fisker will pause production for six weeks starting the week of March 18, 2024, to align inventory levels and progress strategic and financing initiatives,” the company said in a statement, reported several media outlets, including Wired.

For its part, the company had issued a press release earlier in the week saying, "Fisker is focused on raising additional capital and engaging in a strategic partnership with a large automaker. The company is also continuing to pursue its shift to a Dealer Partnership model in both North America and Europe. The leadership team is laser-focused on these efforts."

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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

#2025 Electric Dodge Charger is EV Muscle [auto styling news]

[Auto Styling News]

The 2025 electric Dodge Charger concept car is undeniably a Dodge muscle car but takes a more sleek, futuristic approach. 

Check out the front end. Notice the open space around the headlights and that dip in the hood? This is to let air flow through the pass-through R-Wing and glue the body to the road with aerodynamic mastery. This also occurs through the carbon-fiber side fascia intakes.

New wheels and body lines that pay tribute to the first Charger muscle car's side profile pull the look together with a bang. From the lightbar in the back to the bucket seats inside, the new Dodge Charger electric concept mixes classic cues with sci-fi style.

The Dodge brand is reportedly going 100% electric by 2028. Release date for this EV had not been announced.

 

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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

#Hydrogen Start-up Claims 700 Mile Range Will Cure EV Range Anxiety

[Auto Styling News]

A US start-up is now taking pre-orders for a plug-in hybrid passenger vehicle that runs using both a hydrogen fuel-cell and a battery, which it claims has a range of 700 miles (1,127km). "Range anxiety" (especially on long distance trips) is preventing many American consumers from tallying the leap and buying EVs and other vehicles that aren't gas powered.

Hydrogen Insight reports, that Virginia-based Revo Zero’s “model Energy” uses a battery as the primary power source, with the hydrogen fuel cell kicking in to power the vehicle and thereby extend its range.
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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

Ford Cuts EV Prodution. "Too Expensive," Says CFO [Auto Styling News]

[Auto Styling News]

Last Thursday, Ford announced that it would reduce the number of electric vehicles it had planned to produce, because there weren’t going to be enough customers who could afford to buy them. 

Ford CFO John Lawler said that because EVs are “too expensive” for most car buyers, the company was “going to balance supply with demand” by reducing its supply. 

Instead of turning out 600,000 electric cars and trucks by the end of this year, it would hit that mark at the end of next year. Instead of producing two million such vehicles by the end of 2026, it would turn out that many at some later date.
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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

Cadillac's 2024 CELESTIQ Is A Badly Needed Beapoke Halo Car

[Auto Styling News]

Cadillac is set to release an all-electric bespoke halo vehicle that will come in just over $300,000.  Each all-Electric CELESTIQ will be a bespoke, fully customizable vehicle on the level of the Bentley Continental or Bentayga and will have a similar price point.

Cadillac gushes that the car will be "the ultimate manifestation of ultra-luxury redefined through the spirit of futurism and the avant-garde." And it looks like that isn't an exaggeration at all.

A Cadillac lowest-ever coefficient of drag coupled with Cadillac’s most technologically advanced suspension ever - including Adaptive Air Ride with the latest generation of Magnetic Ride Control - will create, says the American brand, "an addicting intensity."

As you can see from these photos, the cars exterior and even interior are absolutely gorgeous. Like the Bentley, they will likely be thousands of individual combinations of materials and colors inside and out of each of these, making them utterly unique and customized to each individual buyer. 

As for styling, this vehicle will stand out on whatever road it chooses to drive on. The gorgeous rear featuring massive tail lamps and a gently sloping bobtail that gives it it's incredible drag coefficient alone make it stand out. But it's front grill is large and impressive, reflecting a natural evolution of Cadillac styling that nonetheless is somewhat surprising, in a pleasant way. 

That's not a given in the auto industry, as a decade of horrendous Acura front ends, with a buck tooth grill that was distracting and not at all upscale, will testify to. And BMWs recent laughable foray into massive grills will haunt the German automaker for the next decade if they don't do a major design U-turn in the mid-20s. 

A bespoke Halo vehicle is long overdue for a so-called luxury brand like Cadillac, which has in recent decades falling into a potentially brand killing process of nameplate switching with other GM vehicles like GMC, Buick, and others in the GM stable. The vehicle will never be a mass market blockbuster seller, but that's the point.

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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

Lucid Joins Tesla In Price Cutting War

[Auto Styling News]

 

Lucid is setting new standards with the longest-range, fastest-charging electric car on the market, today announced that customers can receive a $7,500 EV credit on the purchase of the award-winning Lucid Air. Starting today, this limited time offer is available for select configurations of Lucid Air Touring and Air Grand Touring models purchased by March 31, 2023.

“We think our customers still deserve a $7,500 credit for choosing an EV,” said Zak Edson, Lucid’s Vice President of Sales and Service. “Lucid Air owners have told us how much they love this car, from the world-class driving experience to the elegant design and spacious interior. With this limited time offer, we hope to get Lucid Air into the hands of even more customers so they can experience the best for themselves.”

With this, Lucid joins Tesla in a price cutting war that will likely give more consumers access to electric vehicles in near term.
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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

EV Maker Canoo Burns Thru Cash, Lands Walmart Deal

[Auto Styling News]

Canoo is yet another electric vehicle maker that is burning through cash and not producing many vehicles. Yet there is hope on the horizon for this company, which has just cut a deal with walmart, the world's biggest retailer, for 1,000 electric vehicles to use in a new delivery service.

Fortune reports: The push for the use of electric vehicles in the U.S. is ramping up. Especially in California as the state just put a ban on gas-burning cars by 2035. Tony Aquila, the CEO of Canoo, a public EV company, is certain he can compete with brands like Tesla. But there’s one hurdle—Canoo hasn’t yet generated any revenue. .

Indeed, Fortune reports that the company burned through $164 million in its second quarter this year
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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

EV Maker Rivian Reports $1.7 billion 2nd Quarter Loss

[Auto Styling News]

EV automaker Rivian Automotive Inc. reported its net loss in the second quarter nearly tripled to $1.7 billion, further pressuring the electric-vehicle startup to conserve cash and move quickly to fill customer orders.

The California-based SUV and truck maker said revenue for the quarter was about $364 million as it increased production and deliveries of its first three models. Rivian started manufacturing vehicles for the first time late last year.

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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

#Lucid Air Is Winning Awards And Delivering EV Luxury

[Auto Styling News]

Lucid Air was awarded MotorTrend’s Car of the Year late last year, competing successfully against a formidable field of 24 competitors from major manufacturers.

The win marked the first time that the initial product from a new automotive company has been awarded MotorTrend’s flagship Car of the Year award.

Designed in Silicon Valley and built in Arizona, Lucid Air delivers an industry-leading 500+ miles of range from Lucid’s proprietary powertrain technology, which is designed and built in-house.

The announcement followed the start of customer deliveries for the fully-reserved Lucid Air Dream Edition, a car that retails at $169,000. The lower end Air is a bit cheaper, at 77,000, and reservations for the Dream have already closed.

The dream comes with a mind-blowing 1, 111 horsepower, which blows almost anything off the road except a Tesla Plaid, which is just about it's only EV competition.

The exterior styling of this beautiful car immediately tells you that it is a luxury vehicle.

Not only is Lucid Air simply stunning, it’s also among the most aerodynamic cars in the world — with a 0.21 coefficient of drag. Inspired by the elegant shape of aircraft, we aimed for clean lines in every detail to create a phenomenally fluid form. Even functional features like the autonomous driving sensors were sculpted in seamlessly.

Exterior lighting is another way Air gets its wow factor. Designed entirely in-house, the Intelligent Micro Lens Array headlights are dazzling. And at the rear, a sweeping speedform taillight creates an uninterrupted impression of light and depth.

And this luxury EV is winning hearts and minds. Legendary Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, a disenchanted former Tesla owner, recently took delivery of his Lucid Air.

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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

EV Automaker Rivian Sees Stocks Plummet After Bad Fourth Quarter

[Auto Styling News]

Rivian, the U.S. electric automaker that went public late last year, reported its fourth-quarter financial results and calendar 2021 outcome, results that along with its production forecast for 2022 disappointed Wall Street and sent shares to a new low, according to TechCrunch.

The company (trading as RIVN) are holding steady at just below $36 a share, after losing 12% of its value in after hours trading on Thursday. That followed losing 6% of its value Thursday during daily trading.

A worldwide computer chip shortage, lingering doubts about future energy supplies, and range anxiety are all creating a perfect storm that is causing EV adoption hesitancy in the electric car market, despite a great deal of hype from the auto industry itself.

That is having a serious effect on startups like Rivian and lesser known companies like Canoo (GOEV) an electric automaker that has also has seen its stock plummet in recent months (it stands at $5.76 a share, down 1.35% Thursday) despite a new factory having been constructed in Oklahoma and promises of their van-like Lifestyle vehicle being produced by the end of the fourth quarter of this year - the seemingly ambitious goal that is also being doubted among those watching Rivian.

Nevertheless, Rivian produced just over 900 vehicles by the end of 2021, despite the fact that this was not enough to turn a profit.
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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

#Canoo Inks Battery Deal With Panasonic

[Auto Styling News]

There was a time when many auto industry insiders were concerned that California-based EV startup Canoo was not going to make it. 

Last April, Hyundai withdrew from a previously signed deal to help develop Canoo's skateboard multi-purpose EV platform. No doubt this was a major hit for the start-up, but it refused to give up.

This week, Canoo announced it's signed an agreement with Panasonic to supply batteries for its curvaceous, yet box-like Lifestyle Vehicle. Canoo is also developing a Tesla Cybertruck-rivaling truck, MPV, delivery van, and a sedan, all from the same platform.

2023 is still the rather ambitious sale date for these vehicles, and the plants have not been built in which they will be produced.

Yet, it's easy to find yourself reading for them, and hoping they can make it go of it. If they do, Canoo who have brought an electric van to market before Volkswagen, which has promised a Boomer-pleasing, nostalgic electric van every year for the past 10 years. But that project always seems 5 to 10 years away.

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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

In Third Quarter, Tesla Delivers A Record Number Of EVs

[Auto Styling News]

Tesla says it has delivered a record number of electric cars in the third quarter, beating Wall Street estimates after CEO Elon Musk asked staff to "go super hardcore" to make a quarter-end delivery push.

Tesla has weathered the microchip shortage crisis better than rivals, with its overall deliveries surging 20% in the July to September period from its previous record in the second quarter, marking the sixth consecutive quarter-on-quarter gains.

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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

Lucid Group Plans October Delivery Of Its First EV

[Auto Styling News]

Electric startup Lucid Group Inc. said Tuesday that it will start delivering luxury electric sedans with a Tesla-beating driving range in late October, posing a major new challenge to the market leader.

The company noted it has received more than 13,000 advance reservations for its Lucid Air model.

The California-based Lucid began production of the long-delayed Lucid Air vehicles at its Arizona factory this week, and said it plans to ramp plant's capacity up to 90,000 vehicles annually in the next two years - an ambitious goal, for sure.

The first Lucid Air will come at a hefty price tag, but many will believe the 1,000 hp performance, which takes it from zero to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, earns every penny.

A high-end model, the Lucid Air Dream Edition, priced at $169,000, received an official U.S. government rating of a 520-mile driving range. That's 100 miles more than its closest rival, Tesla's Model S, which is priced at $89,990.  And the company says it will take a mere 20 minutes to charge a vehicle so that it will go 300 miles.

Lucid says cheaper models will follow, including the Lucid Pure, which will go for a mere $77,000.

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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

Gov't Considers Raising Electric Car Tax Incentive, Except for Teslas

[Auto Styling News]

A new bill to reform the federal electric car tax incentive in the US has passed the US Senate Finance Committee, the Electrek blog reports.

It includes increasing the electric vehicle tax credit to up to $12,500, but it was expertly crafted to give $2,500 less to Tesla vehicle buyers, explicitly because Tesla factories do not employ union members of the United Auto Workers Union.

The main goal has been to lift the cap of 200,000 electric car deliveries per manufacturer, which has put Tesla and GM at a disadvantage simply for being early in producing electric vehicles.

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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

#Chrysler Has "10-year Window" To Prove Itself, Says New Owners

[Auto Styling News]

Chrysler has 10 more years to prove itself as a viable brand, says it's new European Masters, Stellantis.

CEO Carlos Tavares says he's giving his brand execs a 10-year window to prove their worth. He says all 14 brands (Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram and Vauxhall) are being "given a chance."

“We’re giving each a chance, giving each a time window of 10 years and giving funding for 10 years to do a core model strategy. The CEOs need to be clear in brand promise, customers, targets and brand communications. If they succeed, great. Each brand is given the chance to do something different and appeal to customers.”

As you may or may not know, Chrysler currently has an anemic lineup of just two name plates, the Pacifica minivan, which comes both as a combustion engine and electric version as well as a stripped-down version they're calling the Voyager. 

They also have one car, the 300, which, while it has been updated several times, essentially is the same four-door sedan as when it was introduced in 2005.

If Tavares is honestly giving this brand a chance, he needs to seriously rethink the strategy of the previous owners, FCA.

To succeed, Chrysler will have to somehow developed a mini ute - the most popular vehicle in America right now, which is for some reason lacking in its lineup. It will also have to develop an electric strategy because many cars, if not most, in the 2030s will be electrified.

California is looking at going with a ban on all combustion engine car sales in the 2030s, as are several nations in Europe, such as Ireland and Germany.

Chrysler should look to other luxury car brands and see them as competitors once again. Clearly, the brand has lowered its standards and saw itself as a competitor to the likes of Ford and Chevy in the past few years. They need only look at Genesis to see how to build a highly successful luxury brand in this segment.
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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

#Tesla Delivers 185,000 Cars In First Quarter, Beating Record Set In Fourth Quarter

[Auto Styling News]

In the first quarter, Tesla produced just over 180,000 vehicles and delivered nearly 185,000 vehicles, the company said in an SEC filing.

In the final quarter of 2020, Tesla made a record 180,570 deliveries.

All of the electric vehicles it produced  in this first quarter were Model 3 sedans and Model Y crossover SUVs, and it didn't produce any of its more expensive Model S sedans and Model X SUVs.

It delivered just 2,020 Model S and Model X vehicles from inventory, however representing just 1% of its total deliveries. 

In a statement, Tesla wrote that with "new equipment installed and tested in Q1" the company is now "in the early stages of ramping production" for updated versions of the S and X.

The company says they are encouraged by the strong reception of the Model Y in China and are quickly progressing to full production capacity.  

The new Model S and Model X have also been exceptionally well received, with the new equipment installed and tested in Q1 and we are in the early stages of ramping production.

(More here.)

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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

#Canoo EV Manufacturer Introduces Pickup Truck

[Auto Styling News]

Electric vehicle manufacturer Canoo (Nasdaq: GOEV), has debuted its fully-electric pickup truck during the Motor Press Guild’s Virtual Media Day. 

The production version of the pickup will open for pre-orders in the second quarter of 2022, with deliveries beginning in 2023.

“We are so passionate about building vehicles that can change people’s lives,” said Tony Aquila, Executive Chairman, Canoo. “Our pickup truck is as strong as the toughest trucks out there and is designed to be exponentially more productive. This truck works for you. We made accessories for people who use trucks – on the job, weekends, adventure. You name it, we did it because it’s your platform and she’s bad to the bone.

Canoo’s pickup truck was built with several unique features to help customers do more with their vehicles:

Pull-out Bed Extension: The pickup truck bed is six feet long and can extend to a fully enclosed eight feet, allowing big items such as a 4 by 8 ft sheet of plywood to easily fit inside. The pull-handle bed extension also helps with loading and unloading the truck. The extension also serves as a license plate holder. When the bed is extended, a second layer of tailgate doors can be swiveled out. The bed extension also houses a secondary lamp, containing all tail lamp functions, so the truck can be driven while the bed space is maximized.

Fold Down Worktable + Cargo Storage: To offer the greatest customer utility, the pickup features a front cargo storage area that can hold tools or gear, also includes a fold down worktable with electrical outlets. The workstation table is extendable to allow customers to have maximized work surface on the go, in addition to providing an area to put on gear before heading out exploring.

Flip-Down Side Tables: Both sides of the vehicle house a flip down table in two expandable depths. Built into the side panel of the truck bed, the flip-down side table becomes a workbench with multi-functional power sources in close proximity.

Side Step + Storage: On the side of the vehicle there is a hidden step to allow quick and easy access to the truck bed. Underneath the step is a flexible storage area for items including: a first-aid kit, cooler for snacks and drinks, lockable laptop storage and more. This space efficient feature is only possible due to Canoo’s ultra flat platform.

Modular Bed with Space Dividers: The truck bed is modular with the use of Canoo’s space divider system designed to keep items separate and secure. The bed wall also incorporates modular wheel chocks to secure bikes and configurable tie downs for ladders, large equipment and other materials.

Multi-Accessory Charge Port: The pickup truck can double as a powerplant with exportable power accessible on all sides of the vehicle. Power can last all day for tools and devices, which only has a 10% impact on vehicle range.

Integrated Overhead + Bed Perimeter Lighting: The third break light doubles as an overhead light to see inside the cargo bed at night. The vehicle is also equipped with perimeter lighting on all sides of the bed wall for added visibility.

Roof Rack: The pickup truck has optional roof racks in variable sizes for added cargo storage. The roof rack is easily accessible from the flatbed or via the sidestep.

Camper Shell: The pickup truck has been designed to accommodate a variety of camper shells to fit as many uses as possible.

The pickup truck is the third vehicle that will be based on the company’s proprietary multipurpose platform architecture, enabling the accelerated development timeline. 

Canoo’s EV platform functionally integrates all the critical components of an electric powertrain to be as flat and efficient as possible. 

Traditional EV platforms have power units, shock towers and mechanical steering columns that protrude into the vehicle and take up space. By incorporating steer-by-wire and other space-saving technologies, Canoo’s thin platform ("skateboard") with no need for an engine compartment, allows the company to offer a flatbed size comparable to America’s bestselling pickup truck on a smaller footprint. This makes the vehicle easier to maneuver and more convenient to drive and park in any terrain.

Canoo designed its pickup truck to be the most cab-forward and space efficient on the market, with massive cargo capacity on the smallest footprint possible. Thanks to the flexible platform and steer-by-wire, the passenger compartment was able to be shifted forward to maximize driver visibility. Canoo’s designers gave the pickup added stance and durability with increased wheel spats to support larger wheels, which provides improved stability and gives it a rugged profile. Advanced lighting technology provides adaptive safety, and the company’s iconic signature headlights and taillights serve as core brand identifiers without the need for a logo. Beyond just storage, the front surface of the vehicle has been extended to better protect the headlights and windscreen.

The bumpers are designed for maximum functionality and durability with integrated tow hooks and metal skid plates on both the front and rear. The vehicle's fog lamps are also integrated seamlessly into the bumper design to offer the driver additional visibility and safety. Lined with trim and materials selected for durability, the extended cab vehicle has two seats in the front with a customizable rear compartment that can accommodate two additional seats or support additional purpose-built use-case configurability.

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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

As Stellantis Takes Over Chrysler, Can the Storied Name Be Saved? (Yes! Here's how!)

[Auto Styling News] 

Stellantis is the new owner of Chrysler. And very likely its last one.

The new brand name (created by marketers from the Latin word "stello," meaning, "to brighten with stars") consists of a mish-mash 14 Italian, French, German, British, and American automakers including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS, FIAT, Jeep®, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, RAM, and Vauxhall.

The newly minted brand name takes over this month from FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) a company that oversaw extremely weak US sales not only for Chrysler, but for FIAT, Abarth, and Alfa Romeo. FCA Group acquired Chrysler in 2014.

Chrysler Corporation was of course founded as an American company in 1925 by Walter Chrysler from the remains of the Maxwell Motor Company. In 1998, it was acquired by Daimler-Benz, and the holding company was renamed DaimlerChrysler. 

The German-American union was not a happy one, with many differences coming to the surface about the direction of the company. In short, it was a really bad fit.

After Daimler divested Chrysler in 2007, the company briefly existed as Chrysler LLC (2007–2009) and Chrysler Group LLC (2009–2014) before merging in 2014 with the Italian holding company Fiat S.p.A. and becoming a subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

Chrysler has clearly fallen on hard times. It has two nameplates, the aging 300 sedan (first introduced in 2005) and the Pacifica van (it has an electric version of the van and a stripped-down model now using the iconic Voyager name, but these are just badge-engineering exercises. They have two.)

That's really sad for several reasons, not least is which that company has a recent history of innovation and large, exciting lineups. Lee Iacocca revived the company from bankruptcy and (paid back government loans - early!) with the K-Car line. In the 1990s, the company had success after success with exciting concept cars that they brought to market. Among them was the PT Cruiser, which sold in the millions.

The 300, back in the day, was also a huge hit. The Crossfire fired imaginations, and the LHS was a gorgeous car that made it to production as a beautiful vehicle, part of the "cab-forward" design style that captured America's imagination. They introduced many new nameplates that sold well in that era.

The company could use a dose of the spirit of the '90s and early 2000s right about now - a spirit that showed many concepts taken to the market, a daring can-do spirit that showed it was a bold car designer, not just a retread, recycling old nameplates on boring vehicles, as they are now.

The once-luxury brand has no top-of-the-line "halo car," no SUVs, no mini-Utes (the hottest vehicle type on the market) and no sports cars for middle aged men to buy during their mid-life crises.

Last year sales were anemic. It sold around 110,500 vehicles, about one-third its volume in 2015, according to company figures.

Fiat, a maker of small cars reintroduced to the US in 2011, also saw a sharp drop-off in sales.

Experts believe there is a consolidation of the new car conglomerate's 14 brands coming, and that doesn't bode well for Chrysler.  One news site suggested that Chrysler was already dead (as a name, anyway) when their sign was replaced with the Stellantis one at their storied Auburn Hills, Michigan headquarters.

Regardless of when it happens, it almost seems inevitable that the brand is going to fade away, unless someone in the new company's Amsterdam, Holland headquarters decides to revive it in a BIG WAY.

It's not hard to see how it could regain its footing. It must launch a solid, stylish luxury SUV. It must launch a dependable mini-UTE that actually stands out from its many vanilla competitors, and it must launch a hot sports car that captures imaginations.

That's a tall order, since new vehicles take 2-5 years to produce through the traditional  auto design pipeline. But these are not ordinary times, and innovation is called for if Chrysler hopes to survive to see its 100th birthday.

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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.

New Fleet-Focused Electric Truck, #Lordstown Endurance, Garners 100k Pre-Orders

[Auto Styling News] 

Lordstown Motors Corp., an emerging producer of electric light duty trucks focused on the commercial fleet market, says it has received more than 100,000 non-binding production reservations from commercial fleets for its Lordstown Endurance all-electric pickup truck, with an average order size of nearly 600 vehicles per fleet.

“Receiving 100,000 pre-orders from commercial fleets for a truck like the Endurance is unprecedented in automotive history,” said Steve Burns, CEO of Lordstown Motors. “Adding in the interest we have from federal, state, municipal and military fleets on top of that, I think you can see why we feel that we are about to revolutionize the pickup truck industry.”

The Lordstown Endurance is a full-size, all-electric pickup that has a range of 250 miles, the equivalent of 600hp and can tow up to 7,500lbs. After successful prototype and Alpha builds, Lordstown is now building the first Beta Endurance vehicles and is on track for start of production in September of this year. The initial Endurance is a crew cab configuration with medium bed length, priced at $45,000 after federal rebate.

Lordstown Motors, an Ohio-based original equipment manufacturer of light duty fleet vehicles, was founded by CEO Steve Burns with the purpose of transforming Ohio's Mahoning Valley and Lordstown, Ohio, into the epicenter of electric-vehicle manufacturing. 

The company owns the 785 acre, 6.2 million square foot Lordstown Assembly Plant where it plans to build the Lordstown Endurance, believed to be the world's first full-size, all-electric pickup truck designed to serve the commercial fleet market. 

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Auto Styling News is a blog that covers car concepts, newly released models, and the auto industry.