Rhymes and Everything - 20 April 2021

CHIP SHORTAGE TO LAST INTO 2023The automotive chip shortage is expected to last into late 2022 and even 2023 according to some semi conductor manufacturers. This will add pressure to OEMs already trying to recover from a year of lockdowns across global markets. To read more, click The Register article here. There is some good news, though, with the Japanese factory that was damaged in a fire is expected to be back at full capacity by the middle of May. To read about the remarkable recovery, click here for The Registry article. RICHARD PARRY-JONES HAS PASSED AWAYFollowing a tragic accident on his farm, Richard Parry-Jones has passed away. He was the man heralded as turning modern Fords into enjoyable, fun driving cars rather than just cost-conscious boxes. Many throughout the industry have shared stories and their deep admiration and respect of both what he achieved and who he was as a person. To read more, click the TopGear article here. NEW NEW CAR NEWSDue to the Shanghai Motor Show taking place this week and that being the first mass gathering of manufactuers, in the world, for over a year, news is thing on the ground. This week we’ve moved the New New Car News segment to the first part of the show, as a result. DS 9 - DS announced their new flagship model, the DS 9, a premium saloon, which has a very DS interior that the chaps are all excited to see. The external looks are less dramatic but still handsome. However, they do wonder who in the UK may buy such a car. To read more about it, click the Automotive Management article here. Toyota bZ4X Concept - Toyota has revealed their first every purely battery electric concept, which is a sporty looking SUV, that shows it is different whilst still obviously a Toyota. The driver is in for a real treat in this thinly disguised production ready model, as they has a new design wheel, drive-by-wire system and display binnacle. To read more, click here for the Toyota press release. Nissan X-TRAIL - The next generation X-TRAIL has been revealed by Nissan. Externally it continues the brand design language that we’ve seen on the latest Juke and Quashqai. The X-TRAIL will take advantage of the clever e-POWER system, that has the petrol engine charging a battery, when needed, which powers the electric motors to drive the car. To read more, click the Nissan press release here. Audi A6 e-tron Concept - Audi has revealed their latest concept, an all electric A6, which has been designed to be very aerodynamic, fast charging and a range of up to 700km. To read more, click here for the Audi press release.Genesis EV G80 - Genesis has shown off their electric flagship model, the G80. The technology will be shared from other Hyundai Group vehicles, allowing for a good 300-ish mile range, quick charge ability and a lovely charging port cover which is integrated neatly into the front grille. To read more, click the Autocar article here. Mercedes EQS - Mercedes has taken the wraps off their first luxury EV only model, the EQS. There are some incredibly impressive technical features to this vehicle, but one price is the weight due to the amount of batteries required to allow for a 711km range. Much is made of the quietness within the cabin, as this is the EV equivalent of the S Class, just how quiet can it be? To find out more, click here for the Mercedes press release. Geely - As the Shanghai Motor Show is a home show, Geely was ut in force with many of the group’s brands attending. The new plug-in hybrid version of the Lynk & Co 05 and the Volvo XC40 were shown. But also they made announcements which were interesting. To find out more, click here for the Geely press release.Hyundai Pony EV Concept - This was not at Shanghai but we still need to mention this gorgeous looking repagination of the Pony for the electric age. The changes are very subtle but superb, with lights and a clean look to the original Giugiaro design. The interior is a place of wonder, mixing minimalism with superb details and finishes. To see more, and do see more, click the CAR Magazine link here. _____________________________________________If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST——————————————————————————-WRC: RALLY CROATIA TO BE SPECTATOR FREEFollowing an announcement by the Croatian Government, Rally Croatia will have no spectators. The hope was some would be allowed on the more rural stages but that is now not possible. To read more, click the DirtFish article here. WRC: 2022 HYBRID SYSTEM PAUSES TESTINGCompact Dynamics made the three Rally1 Teams stop testing the 2022 hybrid system and return them to their base in Germany. There is an undisclosed issue with the battery element. We do not now how much testing has actually been undertaken by the Teams. We will have to wait for more news to see if this impacts the development and use of the system in 2022. To read more, click the DirtFish article here. DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: CHANGES AT DACIA AND ALFA ROMEOAlejandro Mesonero-Romanos has left his position as head of Dacia design, less than a year after starting in post, to move to Alfa Romeo. David Dourand will temporarily replace him, being seconded from Renault Group Global Access design chief. To find out more, click the Autocar article here. LUNCHTIME READ: DESIGNERS ARE FROM NEPTUNE AND ENGINEERS ARE FROM JUPITER Nir Kahn has written another excellent piece about another aspect of a designers job, this time collaboration with engineers, or it should be. Click the link here, to find out why he is a proponent for such a move and some of the excellent cars we’ve had as a result. LIST OF THE WEEK: 20 YEAR OLD CAR FEATURES WE MISSAntony Ingram has written an marvellous list, allowing us to reminisce on features we used to like, in the main, on our cars in days gone by. Click the link here for the Hagerty article and don’t forget to tell us the one feature you miss most! AND FINALLY: A MOVIE RECOMMENDATION PetrolBlog makes the case for us all switching on subtitles and watching the French...