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Recharge Wrap-up: Hyundai/Kia fined $755M for exaggerated MPG ratings; BMW dealers want more i8s

The fine against Hyundai and Kia has grown to $755 million for overstating fuel economy ratings. $360 million of that fine comes from the EPA for violation of the Clean Air Act: $100 million is a civil penalty, $210 million is a forfeiture of greenhouse gas credits and another $50 million will pay for independent fuel economy audits on future models. The remaining $395 million is a settlement for customers who purchased the affected vehicles. A slew of 2011 to 2013 models were found to have fuel economy ratings overstated by one to six miles per gallon. Customers will be awarded funds to offset the unexpected fuel costs or to put toward a new Hyundai or Kia vehicle. Read more at Hybrid Cars. BMW dealers are awaiting details on new dealership standards - and BMW i8 models for their showroom floors. According to BMW National Dealer Forum Chairman Steve Late, BMW dealers are anxiously waiting to see what sort of updates they'll need to do to get in line with BMW's Future Retail 2016 program. As for the new EVs, Late says that the BMW i3 sales were slow to start, but that once people learned more about it, "wham, bam, it is taking off." The i8 shortage is a bigger problem: "I was allocated three for 2014, and I have a waiting list of 47 people. This year, maybe I will get eight or 10, and I still won't be able to fulfill them." Still, Late says he won't sell the cars at an upcharge. Read more at Automotive News. Opel is reportedly planning an electric version of its Karl hatchback. According to German automotive magazine Autobild, Opel will begin selling the diminutive Karl EV by the end of 2018. The electric car will offer a driving range of about 93 miles. The gasoline-powered version is expected to begin deliveries this June. Read more at Automotive News Europe. PSA Peugeot Citroen says it will keep its Hybrid Air program alive as it looks for a cost-sharing partner. Hybrid Air technology uses a compressed air hybrid system to improve fuel economy as we saw in the Peugeot 208 Hybrid Air concept. A French newspaper reported that Hybrid Air won't make it to commercialization, and that the program's team of engineers has been reduced. A PSA spokesperson confirms the change to the program, saying, "We are now waiting for another partner to help us begin the production stage." Read more at Automotive News Europe. Related Video:

The importance of Angel Eyes, Ventiports and four round taillights

Just the other day, we told you about how Lincoln isn't really a luxury brand, according to Ford's head design man, J Mays. His argument was that Lincoln lacked the unique DNA to differentiate it from the rest of the market, although the arrival of the MKZ is beginning to change that. Now, we have this video from Autoline Detroit, where Jim Hall, an analyst for 2953 Analytics who was quoted in yesterday's Lincoln story, explains the influence of certain styling cues and how they impact the brands.
Using BMW (Angel Eyes) and Buick (Ventiports) as examples for small, simple touches that serve to distinguish the brand's vehicles on the road, Hall then points out how changing trademark styling features, as Chevrolet has done on the new Corvette Stingray, can hurt the vehicle's public perception. Take a look at the full video below for an interesting dive into what these styling features mean to their individual brands.

BMW sees shortage of crossovers in the United States

BMW of North America CEO Ludwig Willisch is anxious to get the Bavarian brand's $1-billion upgrade at the Spartanburg, SC, factory done because the automaker can't keep up with demand for its crossovers. The expansion should boost total capacity there to 450,000 units a year and support production of the upcoming X7. Still, Willisch would love to have more crossovers as soon as possible. "That is a constant battle now, to get more X3s and X5s," he said in an interview about the company's future in North America to Automotive News. If they the supply were available, Willisch predicts he could sell at least another 10,000 of the CUVs. Willisch sees getting the X7 on the market as a big win for the brand, too. "We were able to convince the company that this is exactly what we need in the United States," he said to Automotive News. However, there is a bit of a wait. The model rides on BMW's next-gen platform, and is at least two years away from challenging the Land Rover Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz's renamed GLS-Class (previously the GL-Class). The fullsize CUV reportedly shares development with Rolls-Royce and might offer the best interior of any model bearing the blue and white roundel. The boss also talked about other future product plans for this continent. For example, Willisch reiterated BMW will not bring the 2 Series hatchbacks here, citing a lack of a market for them. There will be plenty more plug-in hybrids available at dealers, though. Due to "legal requirements" and popularity, Willlisch says PHEV versions will be offered throughout the lineup by 2017. Although, the i sub-brand will stick with the i3 and i8 through that time.