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British automakers take costly precautions as Brexit 'no deal' fears grow

LONDON — Carmakers in Britain have triggered some Brexit contingency plans, such as certifying models in the EU, and are working on redrawing production schedules and stockpiling more parts to defend against any loss of unfettered trade after Brexit. The moves are aimed at ensuring plants, which rely on the just-in-time delivery of tens of thousands of components, can keep operating after Brexit on March 29, but will add costs and bureaucracy which could risk their long-term viability. London and Brussels hope to agree a deal by the end of the year to avoid tariffs and trade barriers, but Prime Minister Theresa May's proposals have been criticized by both Brexiteers, who want a cleaner break from the bloc, and the European Union. McLaren Automotive is looking at having its cars certified by both a British and an EU agency to smooth sales. It is also planning to stockpile critical components and change shipments into the EU around Brexit if there is disruption. "I will sell a little more in January and February and plan to pick the volume up in May and give us a leaner period through the change point," Chief Executive Mike Flewitt told Reuters. BMW, which said last week it would move the annual summer-time shutdown of its British Mini plant next year to April, is looking for lorry parking areas and warehousing on both sides of the channel and is seeking to sign contracts to lease certain locations, a spokesman said. It is also investing in IT systems to handle any new red tape as carmakers estimate tens of thousands of new documents could be needed if tariffs and customs are imposed. The German carmaker's Brexit plans are costing millions of pounds, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. But Honda, which builds 10 percent of Britain's 1.67 million cars at its Swindon plant in southern England, is not in the market to buy "huge amounts of warehousing space," its Europe boss Ian Howells told Reuters. "It's been a very precise calculation or estimation of what components need to be brought in," he said, adding the firm could also alter its output to sell more into the EU at the start of next year. Waste of money? Many British carmakers have also asked suppliers to look into how they would handle delays at ports, executives told Reuters, as thousands of parts, engines and finished models move between Britain and the continent every day.

2017 BMW 3 Series GT update includes two new engines

BMW has treated the hatchback 3 Series Gran Turismo (not to be confused with the hatchback 4 Series Gran Coupe) to some updates for the 2017 model year. The biggest change is the introduction of the company's latest four- and six-cylinder engines, but along with them come some updates to appearance and equipment. Of the 18 powertrains BMW will offer globally in the 2017 3 Series GT, the United States will once again receive only two. Both of the new 3 GT engines come from BMW's latest modular engine architecture, which spits out three-, four-, and six-cylinders. Replacing the previous 328i Gran Turismo is a new 330i, powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four good for 252 horsepower (instead of 240) and 258 pound-feet of torque (up modestly from 255). The outgoing 335i is replaced by the new 340i, with a 3.0-liter turbo six rated at 326 hp and 332 lb-ft, up from an even 300 hp and 300 lb-ft for the outgoing 3.0-liter six. Both models come standard with xDrive all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic as before. The 340i and its new engine have already made it to the refreshed 3 sedan launched last year, while the 330i and its four-cylinder are not yet part of the sedan or wagon lineup (or the 4 Series, for that matter). We expect the engine and name change to migrate to them in the next year or so. In addition to the engine updates, the 2017 3 GT also receives visual tweaks like those on the 2016 sedan, including new LED headlights, taillights, daytime running lights, and fog lights. Matte chrome exterior trim now comes standard, and there's a new rear bumper design. The interior gets chrome accents and a few other changes that we found helped make the sedan feel a bit more rich, fixing the downmarket feel of the early 3s of this generation. The latest iDrive infotainment, version 5.0, is also included with the navigation option. Buyers will again be able to select from a variety of option bundles including Luxury, M Sport, Lighting, and Cold Weather packages. The car's structure remains unchanged, which means the same hatchback body and longer wheelbase that bridge the gap between the sedan and wagon. It's a style-practicality compromise that continues to be polarizing, but at least the 3 gives you options. Related Video: The new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo. BMW is preparing to launch the latest BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo in time for the start of summer.

BMW's fuel cell coming after 2020

Honda made news earlier this week at the Tokyo Motor Show by announcing details of the what will be its first production hydrogen fuel cell vehicle earmarked for the US next year. As for BMW? Not so fast. The German automaker might start working on a fuel cell vehicle for one of its larger sedan lines, but don't expect it to see the light of day before 2020, Reuters reports, citing remarks made by BMW executive Merten Jung in Tokyo. Bimmer has been collaborating with Toyota on advancing fuel-cell technology since 2013, but any production vehicle from BMW would take place after that collaboration expires. In fact, one point Jung made was that the BMW fuel cell would be able to go further on a full tank (of hydrogen) than the Toyota Mirai's 300+ miles. Earlier this year, reports surfaced that BMW may have a fuel-cell vehicle ready before the end of the decade, and that it would likely be sold under Bimmer's i brand of advanced-powertrain vehicles. Additionally, this summer, videos started coming out showing a hydrogen fuel cell i8 prototype (a rather sporty one, actually) as well as a 5-series prototype, so getting a handle on BMW's plans for fuel cell vehicles is a bit of a moving target. As for Honda, the Clarity will be earmarked for fleet and business customers in Japan first before marketing starts for everyday drivers. We've got some brief first-hand impressions of what it's like to drive a Clarity prototype here.