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Uber reportedly wants to offload self-driving division

Uber is looking to sell its self-driving technology division known as Uber Advanced Technology Group, according to media reports.

Citing three people familiar with the matter, TechCrunch reported last week that Uber is in talks to sell the Uber ATG division to Aurora Innovation, a much smaller rival in the self-driving technology space.

Uber ATG as recently as 2019 received a $1 billion investment from a consortium of Japanese firms that included Toyota and automotive supplier Denso. At the time, Uber ATG was valued at $7.5 billion.

But the division, which in 2018 saw one of its prototypes hit and kill a pedestrian, has been burning through cash as it seeks to develop a self-driving system, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, which could potentially be too costly for Uber as the ride-hailing giant continues to deal with the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

As for Aurora, the company was established in 2016 with Chris Urmson, one of the early heads of the Google Self-Driving Car Project, now Waymo, among the co-founders. Another co-founder, Sterling Anderson, was in charge of development of Tesla’s Autopilot self-driving system before he quit to join Urmson at Aurora.

While the company initially made headlines with deals with Volkswagen Group and Hyundai, things have been quiet recently and VW Group and Hyundai have since gone on to establish more substantial deals with rival self-driving technology companies Argo AI and Aptiv, respectively.

Unlike Uber, Aurora doesn’t plan to offer a self-driving service. Instead the company wants to sell or license its self-driving system to other firms. As a result, any deal between Uber and Aurora could see Uber end up using a self-driving system from Aurora in the future.

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November 16, 2020
Mercedes G-Wagen Intruder is part G-Class, part SLK, all strange

An unusual concept vehicle based on Mercedes-Benz G-Class running gear is currently up for sale in the United Kingdom. It’s the Intruder concept, a roadster-bodied G-Wagen built by now-defunct French firm Heuliez for the 1996 Paris International Motor Show.

Founded in 1920 by Adolphe Heuliez, the company started out as a coachbuilder, but as that market dried up, it moved into specialist production for automakers, taking on small-batch projects like the Renault R5 Turbo and the folding-roof mechanism for the Peugeot 206 CC.

The Intruder concept also took inspiration from the Mercedes-Benz SLK, which was revealed just four months before the off-roader at the 1996 Turin Motor Show. Like the SLK, the Intruder sported a folding-hardtop convertible body, but underneath was the chassis from a G320.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class Intruder concept by Heuliez

Heuliez retained the G-Wagen’s inline-6 engine and four-wheel-drive system—complete with locking differentials. The roof took 30 seconds to lower, according to the listing over on Piston Heads.

The listing also said the Intruder was subject to a 280,000 euro (approximately $330,000) restoration, including servicing of the engine and convertible-top mechanism, but did not say when that was done. The concept was originally shown in silver, but was repainted white and red at various points. It’s now back in the original silver, with just over 1,000 miles showing.

The Intruder served as a prototype for a vehicle known as the OPAC Contender. Five of these were built, but as coupes, not convertibles. Heuliez itself disappeared in the early 2000s, as the specialist work it relied on dried up. The past two decades have been difficult for coachbuilders and automotive design houses; even legendary names like Bertone have dissappeared.

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November 15, 2020
Porsche hypercar concepts, Rezvani Hercules 6×6, BMW iX: This Week’s Top Photos

Porsche shocked the automotive world this week by revealing many of its secret design studies and concept cars developed over the past 15 years. One of them was this Vision 918 RS which was developed last year as a vision of a successor to the 918 Spyder.

Ferrari SF90 Spider

Ferrari showed us its new SF90 Spider, the open-top version of its SF90 Stradale plug-in hybrid supercar. The convertible features Ferrari’s retractable hard-top roof, and as a result makes the coupe a bit redundant as it offers the best of both worlds.

Rezvani Hercules 6×6

California’s Rezvani returned with a new model, and this one is bigger than anything else the coachbuilder has shown us in the past. It’s also more powerful thanks to what’s lurking under the hood—a tuned version of the supercharged V-8 normally found in a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon.

2021 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4-Door Coupe

Even though Mercedes-AMG is testing prototypes for an updated version of its GT 4-Door Coupe, the Affalterbach tuner continues to fine tune the current model. In fact, AMG has made its GT 4-Door Coupe faster around a racetrack without having to resort to adding more horsepower.

2022 BMW iX

BMW this week revealed a battery-electric SUV called the iX. Previously referred to by its iNext code name, the iX will challenge the likes of the Tesla Model X and Cadillac Lyriq when it reaches showrooms in early 2022.

2021 Land Rover Discovery

A refreshed Land Rover Discovery boasting revised styling, a new infotainment system, and mild-hybrid tech was also revealed this week. It’s due to reach showrooms early next year.

Rivian R1T

EV startup Rivian released pricing and additional specifications for the battery-electric R1S SUV and R1T pickup truck. Deliveries are set to begin in summer of 2021. Launch Editions for both vehicles are coming first, with the R1T Launch Edition starting from $75,000 and its SUV counterpart from $77,500.

Maggiore 308M based on the Ferrari 308

And finally, an Italian company by the name of Maggiore revealed a stunning restomodded Ferrari 308. Though the car looks almost stock, only the chassis, engine block and doors were left untouched.

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November 14, 2020