The excitement surrounding the launch of the mid-engine 2020 Chevrolet Corvette is high, but the wait is almost over. Chevy has confirmed the covers will come off in July and this week we learned that production capacity is being dialled up the Bowling Green plant in Kentucky in anticipation of the new car.
A prototype for Nissan’s next-generation Versa has been spotted. The subcompact sedan was last redesigned for 2012 and is certainly showing its age against newer rivals like the Hyundai Accent and Toyota Yaris. This new model is expected late in 2019 as a 2020 model. Judging by the prototype, the redesigned Versa will feature a sharp new look influenced by the design of the latest Altima. We can also see that the designers have moved the side mirror caps to the doors instead of at the base of the A-pillars. It isn’t clear what Nissan has planned for the mechanicals but hopefully, we see a little more power on offer. The current Versa’s 1.6-litre inline-4 delivers an underwhelming 109 horsepower and 107 pound-feet of torque. With any luck, we’ll see the 1.6-litre engine from Nissan’s Kicks added. The mill is rated at 125 hp and 115 lb-ft. Drive should be to the front wheels only.
Ford will invest $500 million in Rivian and tap the EV startup’s modular platform for a future model, the companies announced Wednesday. The investment will only see Ford become a minority stakeholder in Rivian, but it is enough to get one of the automaker’s staff on the board of directors, in this case, Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president of global operations. Rivian’s platform is the now-familiar skateboard design for EVs where the batteries lie flat in the floor and electric motors sit at the axles. Rivian will help Ford to develop its vehicle on the platform which boasts industry-leading specs. For its R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV unveiled last November at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show and due to start deliveries in 2020, Rivian promises battery sizes ranging from 105 to 180 kilowatt-hours, the latter claimed to deliver over 400 miles of range on a single charge. Power in the mid-size vehicles will range between 400 and 750 horsepower, with the output dependent on the battery size.