BMW to Launch Tesla Model S Fighter in 2018

BMW to Launch Tesla Model S Fighter in 2018
NHTSA Wants Two New Defect Divisions
2015 Ford Mustang Earns Top NHTSA Safety Rating
2016 Mazda6, CX-5 Pricing Announced
Ford Interceptor Utility Gets Facelift, New Features
McLaren 675LT Leaked

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BMW is planning an range-extended electric vehicle to fight Tesla.

Potentially called the i5 or i7, the car will arrive sometime around 2018 and be based on the new long-wheelbase 5 Series that is being built for China. Base pricing will start just below the Model S, though it will span up to about $125,000.

Unlike the i8 (pictured above) which has one e-motor, the i7/i5 will feature two electric motors in the rear and a small gas-powered range extender in the front that will make it possible for the car to be electric front-wheel drive, electric rear-wheel drive or gas-electric all-wheel drive depending on the driver's needs. Power will sit right around 540 hp, while the car is said to have an electric range of about 80 miles.

The new 5 Series is being built on BMW's new Cluster Architecture, a modular platform that will eventually underpin everything from the 3 Series to the 7 Series. This will allow the i7/i5 to use the same suspension, steering and brake components as the 5 Series with a different powertrain altogether.

The 2018 arrival is no coincidence, as 4.5% of all vehicles sold in US CARB states must be zero-emissions by 2018. That number will increase in annual steps up the 22% by 2025. Manufacturers that don't comply with this will not be able to sell cars in these States, or they will be forced to buy clean-air credits, the largest seller of which is Tesla.

[Source: Car Magazine]

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NHTSA Wants Two New Defect Divisions

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to create two new divisions to help spot safety defects.

Mark Rosekind (pictured above), NHTSA's administrator, praised the White House budget proposal that calls for tripling NHTSA's defect investigation funding. If approved, Rosekind will create a new trend analysis division that will look to catch major defects in cars early on as well as a new crash investigation division. A crash investigation unit already exists at NHTSA but it is part of the larger statistics and analysis group.

"Let's say it's a NHTSA go-team for defects — when there's a hot issue, you have a specialized team to go collect our own data," Rosekind said.

This follows harsh criticism of NHTSA over failing to catch the GM ignition switch defect early on. NHTSA "lacked the focus and rigor expected of a federal safety regulator. The agency's repeated failure to identify, let alone explore, the potential defect theory related to the ignition switch — even after it was spelled out in a report the agency commissioned — is inexcusable," said a House Republican report.

NHTSA's funding has remained flat for over a decade. If the new proposal passes, NHTSA will boost its entire team from about 50 to over 100.

[Source: Detroit News]

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2015 Ford Mustang Earns Top NHTSA Safety Rating

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The new Ford Mustang has earned top safety marks from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

A five-star overall rating was given to the Mustang after running the car through NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). In each individual category, including side and front crash tests along with rollover testing, the Mustang earned five stars.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Ford Mustang Mega Gallery

Safety features on the Mustang include inflatable airbag restraints, crash sensors all around and adaptive cruise control. The 2015 car also gets double the amount of airbags as the previous car.

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2016 Mazda6, CX-5 Pricing Announced

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Mazda has announced pricing for two of its updated 2016 models.

The 2016 CX-5 carries a base price tag of $21,795 excluding delivery charges, while the 2016 Mazda6 is priced from $21,495, also excluding delivery fees.

For 2016, the CX-5 gets a modest facelift that includes new LED accent lights as well as upgraded paint options, with nine hues now available. New 19-inch wheels are also offered, while the suspension setup has been revised to deliver more comfort and interior quietness. Two engines are offered, the base 155-hp 2.0-liter or the 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 184 hp.

Three trim levels are available for the CX-5: Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. The base sport model is equipped with a manual transmission and bumping up to the automatic raises the price to $23,195. A Touring model goes for $25,215 while the top-trim Grand Touring sells for $28,220. Adding all-wheel drive to any of these models will set you back $1,250.

Like the CX-5, the 2016 Mazda6 has been given some styling enhancements along with a restyled interior with reduced road noise.

SEE ALSO: 2016 Mazda6 Details

Pricing for Mazda6 tops out at $30,195 for the top-trim Grand Touring, under which sit the Touring and Sport models. Touring models with the manual transmission start at $23,945, while opting for the automatic brings the price to $24,995. Power for the Mazda6 comes from a 2.5-liter four cylinder that makes 184 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque.

GALLERY: 2016 Mazda CX-5

GALLERY: 2016 Mazda6

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Ford Interceptor Utility Gets Facelift, New Features

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Ford's Interceptor Utility is being refreshed with new style and a handful of added features.

The Interceptor utility vehicle went on sale in 2012 and since then has captured 55 percent of the U.S. police vehicle market, Ford said today. The Dearborn-based manufacturer is the only company that offers a pursuit rated mid-size crossover.

Updates to the model include a more robust electrical system than can better distribute loads from the equipment police rely on along with a new instrument panel. Ford also updated the exterior design with a new front fascia and different headlights.

Ford also added a liftgate release switch that front seat occupants can reach. It unlocks the cargo area, allowing officers the ability to open the rear before timing out after 45 seconds and locking again.

As you might remember, Ford also offers a surveillance mode that will alert the driver if someone is approaching the car from behind, locking the doors and rolling up the driver side window.

"From the heavy-duty suspension and powertrain offerings, to the unique steering and transmission calibrations, Ford Police Interceptor Utility is built to provide any law enforcement agency a vehicle ready to meet extremely demanding needs," said Arie Groeneveld, chief engineer for the new Police Interceptor Utility.

As was the case with the previous model, all-wheel drive is standard and there are two engines available: a naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6 producing 304 hp and 279 lb-ft of torque and a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 with 365 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque.