VW flips switch on I.D. Buzz minivan
Although not unexpected, the Sleuth was nonetheless pleased to hear that Volkswagen’s “I.D. Buzz” compact minivan concept that was first shown in 2016 will enter production for the 2020 model year. The Microbus’s drive system will consist of two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack that will produce the equivalent of 369 horsepower. VW states that the Microbus will have a range of up to 430 kilometres, which should be acceptable for most folks for commuting and errand running. Perhaps the van’s biggest advantage is that it will be set up to operate autonomously. The Spy Guy hopes that the I.D. Buzz’s high-style living-room-style interior and panoramic glass roof make it to the production Microbus. More passenger space for the RX: The Sleuth’s intel gatherers are revealing that Lexus’s popular five-passenger tall wagon is about to get an optional extra collapsible bench seat, possibly as soon as next year. However, instead of extending the distance between the front and rear wheels to make room, the designers who toil at Toyota’s upscale division will apparently extend the body of the RX by several inches behind the rear axle and square off the roofline to hold two extra bodies. The resulting RX L will be sold alongside the standard-length RX and will presumably use the same 295-horsepower 3.5-litre V-6 as well as the optional 308-hp gasoline-electric hybrid system. The RX L is expected to debut this fall at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show and will likely be available in North America by the first quarter of 2018. Hyundai paves the way for a new Santa Fe: The Sleuth’s sources are reporting that the Koreabased automaker will make a bold move with its next-generation (2019 model year) tall wagon. Word is that, size-wise, the seven-passenger Santa Fe (not to be confused with the fiveseat Santa Fe Sport) will grow to match the capacity of vehicles such as the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot, along with newcomers Volkswagen Atlas and Subaru Ascent. The Santa Fe’s overall looks will have nothing in common with the current model. There’s even talk that Hyundai will revive the long-dormant Veracruz name and use the appellation for a top-of-the-line luxury model. Both I-4 and V-6 versions will be offered, along with a probable hybrid-powertrain option. The Mustang gets a makeover for 2018: Fans of the fabled pony car will see minor styling and content revisions when Ford reveals all later this year. According to the Spymaster’s sources, some increases in output are in store for the Mustang GT’s 5.0-litre V-8 and turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder that currently produce 435 and 310 horsepower, respectively. No changes are expected for the 300-horsepower 3.7-litre V-6. The GT’s content is also expected to include new 19-inch wheels, a sportier suspension and revised driver-controlled settings for the shock absorbers as well as the steering and exhaust systems. No major adjustments will be made to the hot-handling Shelby GT350, although rumours persist that a supercharged version of the Shelby’s 5.2-litre V-8 will be installed in a to-be-announced GT500. Will the Audi R8 sports car be phased out?: That’s the scuttlebutt coming from the Trenchcoated One’s operatives, who claim that higher-ups in Audi’s management food chain are making noises about axing the halo model. Apparently the entire Volkswagen Group’s increasing focus on electrification in the coming decade means that some low-volume models, such as the Audi R8 — that have only limited global appeal — could become extinct. However, Audi’s commitment to performance models and to its motorsport programs means that derivatives of the company’s coupes and sedans with higher-output powerplants will likely take up any slack from the R8’s departure. Hyundai Azera a goner for U.S.: What should have been the automaker’s flagship sedan in the United States never really attained that status, being overshadowed by the Genesis models as well as fully loaded (and less expensive) Sonatas. The next-generation Azera will launch for 2018 in Europe and Asia, which means that 2017 will mark the model’s swan song in the United States. The Azera was never offered in Canada. Self-driving capabilities are growing: To show off the new-for2018 S-Class sedan’s capabilities, Mercedes-Benz arranged for the first completed car to start on its own, drive off the factory floor and travel roughly 1.6 kilometres to a staging point to await shipment. In similar news, Audi announces that its 2018 A8 flagship sedan will be available with Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities, which means that the car will be able to function fully without any driver input.