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nuTonomy beats Uber to market with self-driving taxi rides, and the latest Corvette ZR1spy shots | Autoblog Minute

Software developer nuTonomy beats Uber to market with self-driving taxi rides in Singapore. A 124 Coupe could soon join Fiat's roadster lineup, and we have the latest spy shots of the new Corvette ZR!. Senior Editor Greg Migliore reports on this edition of Autoblog Mintue. Senior Editor Greg Migliore reports on this edition of Autoblog Mintue. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] Massachusetts based software company, nuTonomy, launched its self-driving taxi service in Singapore this week. nuTonomy specializes in developing software for self-driving cars. Testing of the companies ride-hailing smartphone app occurred in Singapore, where riders were able to book a free driverless ride. nuTonomy's robo-taxi fleet is comprised of Renault Zoes and Mitsubishi i-MiEVs. Engineers from nuTonomy were present at this public launch as a safety measure. [00:00:30] The company will now continue to collect data and conduct more testing with its self-driving cars in Singapore, Michigan and the United Kingdom. nuTonomy has plans to offer widely-available commercial service in Singapore in 2018. nuTonomy's aggressive play in Singapore has put Uber and its partner Volvo in the unlikely position of playing catch-up. Autocar reported this week that we should expect FCA to add a Coupe [00:01:00] to it's 124 roadster lineup. When? Well, seeing as the 124 Spider just recently made it US dealers we may have to wait until next year to see a hardtop Fiata. It's tough to predict what kind of performance we can expect out of a 124 Coupe but in the U.S. the Spider has 160hp using a 1.4-l turbocharged engine. So the car you see in these pictures is actually Fiat's 124 Rally car that will be used for competition. [00:01:30] Now that's not exactly how the street car will look but it gives you an idea of what a 124 with a fixed roof is gonna look like. This week we got another look at what we think is the Chevy Corvette ZR1 and its massive rear wing. Now to be clear, the images that we're seeing are actually demonstrations. The car was actually captured without the rear wing. However, our spy photographers photoshopped the wing, which we've seen before, on some of these new shots just so you could get [00:02:00] a sense of what the car looks like driving around in it's most recent state. Now we think this car will make more than 700hp, which is kind of a magic number. The Hellcats from Chrysler make 707 so certainly GM wants to beat them.

Chevy 'committed to marketing Bolt the right way'

The 2015 edition of the annual AltCar Expo in Santa Monica, CA in September was a relatively quiet affair. Attendance felt light compared to previous years. But that didn't mean there wasn't something happening that might have just as big an impact on the plug-in scene as anything that's ever happened in previous years at the Santa Monica Convention Center. I say this because of what GM's Shad Balch told me about Chevy's plans to market the upcoming Bolt electric car. This is GM's next-gen electric vehicle, which will have a roughly 200-mile range and may cost about $30,000 after tax incentives (maybe). To say he's excited to start selling this car is an understatement. Set aside the obvious challenge Chevy will have with cars named both the Volt and the Bolt, especially when some languages exchange the pronunciation of the letters B and V. Set aside the fact that, for now, Balch is dealing with his own company actively advertising against the product he's trying to get people excited about. Balch, GM's manager of new product and public policy communications, is tremendously positive about the Bolt's chances in the marketplace when it arrives in 2017 or 2018. "Driving an EV is, in every proof point, better than a gas-powered car, except for charging." - Shad Balch AltCar and the concurrent National Drive Electric Week represented the Bolt's West Coast debut, and Balch told me that the car's arrival in California shows how "Detroit recognized that they need to send it out to their number one market." The car's appearance outside of the Motor City was "The most encouraging part for us out here, being in the market ... to be able to explain that we are committed to marketing this car the right way. ... We're trying to make that known as much as possible, because that is the number one criticism that we hear. That's why events like these are so important, because we can't wrap up into a 30-second spot what these cars are capable of. I can't even explain it to you in 10 minutes what it's like. But the thing is, driving an EV is, in every proof point, better than a gas-powered car, except for charging." Now, there's a fairly decent chance that GM will hit the 250,000-vehicle limit for the $7,500 federal tax incentive right about when the Bolt comes to market, so I had to ask how the Bolt gets marketed if the price tag jumps up a few thousand dollars. Balch was straightforward. "Well, we would sell fewer cars," he said. "It's pure and simple. ...

GM drops price of Spark EV to $25,995; lease to $139/month

The drive to lower EV prices continues. GM announced today that the base model 2015 Chevy Spark EV 1LT would get a price cut to $25,995. That's $1,500 less than it used to be but the bigger news might be the lowered lease price. Instead of $199 a month, all that Chevy is asking for to get you into an all-electric Spark now is $139 a month (39 months, with no money due at signing), down from the 36-month, $199-a-month lease cost with a $999 down payment. Sadly, the number of states where the Spark EV can be bought is almost as small as the lease payment: the car is available only in California, Oregon and Maryland (well, Maryland won't be ready until the summer). GM is doing more than just lowering the MSRP. On top of the federal and state tax incentives available, GM is offering bonus cash in all three states ($1,000 in California, $1,200 in Maryland, and $3,500 in Oregon). If you're wondering why those numbers vary so much, take a look at the already-available state EV incentives in play: California offers $2,500 and Maryland $2,300. Somehow, they all balance out. If you do some addition with the $7,500 federal tax credit, you see that the Spark EV can be had for $11,000 off the MSRP no matter where you buy. If you qualify for everything, $14,995 is a darn good deal for an EV, especially one as fun as the Spark. Related Video: 2015 Chevrolet Spark EV Repriced to Offer Greater Value As low as $14,995 after full federal and state tax credits and Chevrolet Bonus Cash 2015-04-14 DETROIT – Chevrolet announced today Spark EV 1LT's new manufacturer's suggested retail price would start at $25,995. Depending on an individual's tax situation, the Spark EV is eligible for federal tax credit up to $7,500. "Chevrolet is committed to making EV driving more accessible, affordable and fun" said Steve Majoros, director of Chevrolet Car and Crossover Marketing. "The Spark EV is already the most efficient – and one of the most affordable – EVs you can buy. 2015 Spark EV customers will benefit from an impressive blend of technology, capability and low cost of ownership, now at an even more impressive price." California and Maryland Spark EV owners may also qualify for a $2,500 California state rebate or $2,300 Maryland excise tax exemption. Additional Chevrolet bonus cash is also available: $1,000 in California, $1,200 in Maryland, and $3,500 in Oregon. After full federal and state tax credits and Chevrolet bonus cash, the Spark EV could be as low as $14,995.