It's happened before.
A new technology comes in, and what seemed like it had always been and always would be quickly becomes old-fashioned, unwanted, and a hard way to earn a living. Just ask your friendly neighborhood milkman or the owner of a corner Fotomat. In transportation, where change generally comes slowly, automakers' recent declarations that they plan to stop developing internal-combustion engines (ICE) and pivot to electrified lineups represent a real sea change. Arguably, the last radical move in the automotive industry occurred in the 1980s, when fuel injection wiped out carburetors, which was prompted by emissions regulations and high fuel prices. Sound familiar?
There have been plenty of ICE advancements since then, but they've been largely incremental: more injectors, more turbochargers, more sensors everywhere. Nothing to force an engineer back to the classroom. Now a big wave is about to crash on the industry, and everyone can either surf it or drown. This is no big deal for folks in marketing, who love a fun new trend, or even those in design electric platforms open up new spaces and shapes to play with. But what about those with engine right in their job title? Will engineers working on piston power find their careers stalling out like an emissions-era carburetor? Will students mid-degree find their diplomas as hard a sell as a steam car in 1930?
In 2021, CEO after CEO announced plans for electrification. The consulting firm McKinsey & Company predicts that EVs (battery and fuel-cell) will make up more than 40 percent of new-car sales in the U.S. by 2030. They currently constitute less than 3 percent, which means a lot of models would need to be designed, engineered, and purchased in the next eight years.
Denne historien er fra May 2022-utgaven av Car and Driver.
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Denne historien er fra May 2022-utgaven av Car and Driver.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Drivelines - Refreshed but Not Revitalized. The Forester has long begged for more driver interaction, anything to differentiate it.
Refreshed but Not Revitalized. The Forester has long begged for more driver interaction, anything to differentiate it. But its innate funkiness has been discarded in a roadside ditch. Sure, it’s practical. But if that’s what you’re after, go hug your dishwasher. This redo feels half-hearted when what the Forester really wanted was a whole new hear
Selective Evolution
Now hybrid only, the Toyota Camry features careful tweaks for its ninth generation.
Stress Reliever
IN THE LINCOLN NAUTILUS, the loudest sound you hear at highway speeds is the rhythmic respiration of the massaging seats. With just 66 decibels of interior noise at 70 mph, this slick-looking new Lincoln is on a mission of zen.
Mega Bus
A three-row mid-size SUV trying to look and feel bigger, the latest has size on its side but still lacks charisma.
Going to Extremes
The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT pulls out all the stops in its quest for EV supremacy.
What the Tech?
IT’S NO COMPLAINT TO SAY that given the slow visual evolution of the Mercedes-Benz E-class, many wouldn’t notice that the stately three-box sedan has entered a new generation this year.
The Full Monty Carlo
EVERYONE IS NAKED. Just putting that out in the open.
THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
THE MAZDA MX-5 MIATA RF CLUB AND THE SUBARU BRZ IS MAY BE SMALL IN STATURE, BUT THEIR PERSONALITIES ARE LARGER THAN MOST.
Sterrato > Dirt Road
Nothing lost in translation here. Might as well call it what it is: the best Lamborghini Huracán ever.
DEAD OR ALIVE?
Is the new 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser the real deal? We venture into the wilds of Utah to find out.
