MAMA News

“Cars aren’t dead; commodity products are.” This was a key theme throughout Dodge’s presentation to MAMA media members during MAMA’s latest eMeet.

Tim Kuniskis, Global Head of Alfa Romeo and Head of Passenger Cars – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA – North America, led the presentation on the new Dodge/SRT performance lineup. According to Kuniskis, while cars only make up 28% of market share, Dodge/SRT performance vehicles attract buyers because they have that “want” versus “need” appeal.

An example of this is the 807-hp Challenger SRT Super Stock. Dodge says it’s the world’s quickest, most powerful muscle car, capable of sprinting from 0-60 miles per hour in 3.25 seconds and running the quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds. Perhaps it’s true that people don’t exactly need this car, but it’s certainly fun to drive.

New for 2021 is the 710-horsepower Durango SRT Hellcat model, which Dodge says is the most powerful SUV ever. In addition, the entire 2021 Durango lineup gets an exterior-styling refresh for a more aggressive look; a new interior with a Challenger-inspired, driver-centric cockpit; the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system on an available, largest-in-class 10.1-inch touchscreen; and a new Durango R/T Tow N Go package—as well as best-in-class towing across the lineup and more performance than ever.

Additionally, Kuniskis shared updates on the new-for-2021 Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye. It puts out 797 horsepower and is capable of a top speed of 203 miles per hour, which makes it the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world.

“Fast” and “powerful” are key words used to described these vehicles, which tug at the “want” part of the brain versus the “need.” That’s how the brand continues to be so successful in this space, according to Kuniskis. “If you can be the big fish in the smaller pond, that’s good business. The muscle car segment isn’t a big one, so it’s a good segment for a brand like Dodge to do well.”

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, people were buying these vehicles. So much so, that inventory was low and orders were put on hold. However, Dodge is now able to fulfill most of the orders that were placed a few months ago.

Looking to the future, Dodge acknowledges that it will need to grow with the times for its products to remain relevant, adapting to CAFE standards and adding more offerings to its current vehicle lineup. But for now, Dodge’s strategy seems to be working. For example:

• J.D. Power ranks Dodge #1 for quality and appeal
• Consumer Reports Top Ten Most Reliable Brands
• ALG residual value leader
• #1 segment share
• Top performance, best-in-industry claims (across all models)
• Unique customer demographics including young, family-oriented, diverse, loyal and engaged

MAMA’s next eMeet is with Toyota on the all-new Venza, and will take place virtually on Tuesday, Aug. 18 from 1-2 CDT.

As part of MAMA ’s ongoing virtual series “MAMA eMeets,” MAMA members recently had the opportunity to hear from Ford’s Chief Engineer for Transit in North America, Ray Eyles, regarding Ford’s numerous upgrades to its Transit van lineup for 2020. 

Among the changes are a new and improved powertrain lineup, smart new technology, advanced driver-assist features and enhanced capability to appeal to a wide range of customers whether they use their vans to carry kids, seek out adventures or deliver cargo.

Eyles discussed “American’s best-selling van” and its growing importance to larger families and adventurers, making a reference to the online movement #VanLife. Though the Transit was originally designed primarily for commercial needs, Ford sees a definitive shift in how these vans are being utilized.

To continue to attract this broader audience, Ford worked to improve and enhance the 2020 Transit. Specifically, the vehicle features a new grille with bumper updates, an upgraded 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, 10-speed transmission and a new auto stop/start feature.

According to Ford, perhaps the most notable and exciting new feature to appear in the 2020 Transit van is available all-wheel drive. Ford thinks this feature alone has potential to attract new customers, especially given this was the most requested feature by Ford ’s current customer base. The AWD feature on the Transit is “always on,” so no need to manually turn it on or off. There is also no increase to the ride and load heights—an important consideration for commercial users who are frequently entering and exiting the vehicle.

On the interior, Transit receives a new crew van configuration, including a second row bench seat and two rows of seating for up to five people. The 2020 model also features an expanded color palette including “softer” colors. Available features include swivel front seats, an 8-inch multi-function touchscreen and a new power-sliding door.

In terms of tech, Transit comes standard with plenty of new driver-assist technology, including pre-collision assist with auto emergency braking, forward collision warning, post-collision braking, lane-keep assist system with electric power steering, and auto high-beam headlamps. Available technology includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor system with cross-traffic alert and trailer coverage, enhanced active park assist, and front and rear split-view cameras.

Additionally, the 2020 Transit comes with a new standard FordPass Connect system featuring a WiFi hotspot for up to 10 devices, Ford telematics, remote vehicle control, and vehicle diagnostic and trouble code data collection.

Eyles summarized that Ford is always evolving to “do the job right,” which is showcased with the latest Transit model. Moving forward, Ford says it will continue to tailor the Transit to appeal to both commercial and retail customers. An all-electric Transit will also be coming for the 2022 model year.

Stay tuned for updates on future MAMA eMeets!

In these changing times, car manufacturers have adapted quickly to e-communication and have thus jumped at the opportunity to host MAMA eMeets, a virtual e-meeting series MAMA launched at the start of COVID-19 to help keep our members connected and “up to speed.” The latest in the #MAMAeMeet series was a presentation led by Hyundai on its all-new 2020 Venue subcompact crossover SUV.

Hyundai Senior Manager of Product Strategy and Planning Michael Evanoff kicked off the virtual presentation. The Venue slots just below the Kona terms of size and powertrain, and offers plenty of standard safety and connectivity features. The Venue marks the seventh addition to Hyundai’s SUV lineup.

Evanoff talked a bit about the vehicle’s positioning to the market, adding that its primary target buyers are aspirational, single females. He said the Venue is perfect for those with a “side hustle,” as it’s nimble to get around in but has a surprising amount of storage space—such as a modular underfloor cargo area—for a subcompact SUV. Secondarily, Hyundai is targeting empty-nesters who are looking to downsize from their current vehicle.

Related to the exterior design, Evanoff described the Venue as iconic, modern, and stylish. It’s solid and portrays a sporty image, with a simple yet distinctive rear design. Extroverted two-tone color options for roof, mirrors and trim are optional. Also available are LED taillights with a unique light signature, for buyers seeking some additional customization.

Inside, Evanoff described the Venue as “stylish” with an “emotional robustness.” Interior features include a leather steering wheel and shift knob, 8-inch floating display, drive mode select with a snow mode option, and automatic climate control. The Venue was named a top pick in Wards 10 Best Interiors list, which Evanoff noted was a great accomplishment as other winners included luxury brands such as BMW and Lincoln.

In terms of safety, the Venue offers some great standard features, including forward collision-avoidance assistance with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, and driver attention warning. Blind-spot alert with rear cross-traffic alert is available.

The Venue comes with a new Smartstream powertrain: a 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder engine that puts out 121 horsepower and 113 lb.-ft. of torque. The Venue gets great fuel economy too; its EPA rating is 32 mpg in combined city/highway driving.

C.J. Eckman, Hyundai Manager of IoT and Connected Car, further expanded on the Venue’s in-vehicle connectivity. He highlighted the vehicle’s standard 8-inch display audio with a color LCD touchscreen, rearview camera, and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay integration. Hyundai’s Blue Link connected car system—featuring remote start and auto climate control—is included on all Hyundai models for three years. Alexa and Google Assistant integration are also available.

In terms of packaging, Hyundai offers the Venue in three trim levels: SE (includes standard safety features), SEL (most popular trim with premium features), and Denim (top-line model with exclusive exterior and interior trim).

Venue pricing starts at $17,350 for the SE and ranges to $22,050 for the Denim. The Venue is currently available at dealerships nationwide.

In light of the recent crisis, communication has been proven to remain essential. However, the way in which people communicate has been drastically altered as everyone has been forced to adapt to a digital world, virtually overnight. Despite the life-changing circumstances, it’s been amazing to see just how nimbly this industry has responded in these unprecedented times. We tapped a few MAMA members who represent car manufacturers to gather their communications best practices and other ways they’re endeavoring to stay relevant and in touch with journalists throughout the pandemic. 1) What communication tools have you found most effective for keeping journalists in the loop during these unprecedented times? Kelley Enright, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA): Beyond the traditional ways of communicating with media such as email and the newswire, we have really tried to get our message out through the various social media channels during the Coronavirus pandemic. From Facebook to Twitter to Instagram, all of the brands at FCA are reaching out to their audiences and media outlets to keep them informed of the latest news. Our communications team has also done quite a few Google Hangouts with various media associations and outlets across the country to keep them informed of news, such as the Uconnect 5 presentation that was conducted with MAMA members in April. Michele Tinson, Hyundai: In an effort to maintain a strong connection to our media colleagues during this unprecedented time, Hyundai offered a series of virtual Zoom sessions via MAMA eMeets featuring Hyundai executives and our newest products: Sonata HEV, Venue and the all-new Elantra. These sessions allowed us to reengage with the automotive media in an informal and fun way without placing anyone at risk by attending an in-person program. (Although not the same as a physical event, these came in a close second, especially with a pizza surprise!) We appreciated the willingness of the MAMA organization in supporting the new initiative and the overwhelmingly positive response by media members as evidenced by the high participation levels. We would like to believe virtual sessions may continue as an added component to information sharing and personalized interactions into the future, despite the impact of COVID-19 on large gatherings. Neil Dunlop, Kia: We have found personal communication to be the most effective way to stay in touch with media during the pandemic. We feel very much that our media friends are family and we have tried to remind them of that when we can. During the last few months we have communicated through The Kia Kitchen series as with one-to-one phone calls, other videos, and traditional PR tools such as press releases. Wendy Payne, Nissan: For me, as a remote employee throughout the year, some things have not changed at all while other things have changed a lot. I have found that Zoom works very well for both staying in touch inside and outside the organization. I have also just been picking up the phone and calling folks a lot more than typical. Most of my media contacts travel a ton, but now I know they are home, so I pick up the phone and call them. I have had some great conversations in recent months both on work topics and personal ones. Curt McAllister, Toyota/Lexus: We have utilized a variety of tools, ranging from Zoom-like applications to pre-recorded, streamed news conferences to good ‘ol fashioned phone calls, to check up on the welfare of journalists on a more personal level. We’ve also enhanced our regular correspondence by expansively emailing a Toyota and Lexus Weekly News Recap, summarizing news and announcements from both brands during the course of the previous week. 2) What considerations have you had to keep in mind for new product launches or news stories throughout COVID-19? KE: All of our employees at FCA have worked diligently to stay on track with product development. The senior management team at FCA has been exceptional at keeping employees informed and motivated during the last few months. We have been a little quiet at FCA as we have been in the final development phase, but just know that we are getting ready to showcase new products soon! We are confident that you'll be excited to see what we've been working on. MT: It has been vitally important that we all remain empathetic towards the current environment and its resulting impact on everyone. Although business must still go on, it remained a priority that Hyundai continue to offer journalists content to cover without our being allowed to hold typical automotive press programs, auto show reveals or product drive events. For example, we launched our all-new 2021 Elantra virtually, a first ever for Hyundai North America. We are hopeful that our commitment in providing ongoing Hyundai news via numerous channels including: daily updates on the company’s COVID-19 actions via our Hyundai media site: http://www.hyundainews.com, pitching creative storytelling and/or highlighting relevant topics such as affordability, value, executive leadership and eco-friendly advancements in our press releases, helped to reinforce our appreciation of journalists. Hyundai also remained committed in providing access to our products via DriveShop, our local press fleet vendor. (We expanded cleaning of Hyundai press fleet vehicles and no-contact vehicle deliveries and pickup to provide a safe vehicle loan experience.) We believe these efforts further conveyed the importance of maintaining opportunities for journalists to do their jobs during a time of uncertainty, and perhaps also helped make life “a bit easier” to manage during such a challenging time in our industry and country. ND: Of course the inability to travel has upended traditional product launches and we have pivoted nicely to create a program (starting yesterday, June 30) with the launch of the new K5 that we hope was as close to being live and in-person as possible. WP: For the new 2021 Rogue, we went all online with backgrounders via Zoom and a reveal with pre-taped videos of our executives discussing the vehicle and its new features. It has worked very well for us and we are very happy with the outcome. I just think that journalists are looking for content to cover, so it works. In the future, if auto shows do not start back up, we will see how long this model works for automakers. I believe we will all have to get more creative with online reveals. CM: COVID-19 has forced us to look at auto shows and product press launches differently, for the time being. We are fortunate to be living in a time where technology has given us multiple avenues for immediate info dissemination, in the matter of a few keystrokes. We’ve had to recently stream news conferences for both Toyota and Lexus products previously scheduled for the New York International Auto Show. For our Sienna and Venza joint premiere, the post-event media metrics have been very strong, due to mass online availability and journalists’ collective appetites for new products and anything non-pandemic related. 3) What advice do you have for media contacts to stay up to speed on the latest brand and product news? KE: Follow all the FCA North America social media channels as well as each brand (i.e. Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Mopar, Fiat and Alfa Romeo) and make sure you are registered to receive news that is posted to our media website. That website is media.fcanorthamerica.com. And, of course, contact me if you need anything! MT: As the Midwest Hyundai Corporate and Product PR lead and conduit to HMA HQ, I welcome your questions, ideas and insights and encourage you to reach out directly at any time for Hyundai updates (mtinson@hmausa.com or mobile: 734-740-4650); Visit our media site: https://www.hyundainews.com and sign-up for specific news alerts; follow us on our social media sites: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as well as staying actively engaged in the Midwest Automotive Media Association for amazing OEM industry presence, networking opportunities and vast product insights throughout the year. ND: Subscribe to our news feeds and reach out to our staff with questions and story ideas. We’ve tried to be proactive, but often we can’t anticipate a publication’s needs. Call us up or email us with story ideas. Don’t worry if your ideas are crazy, we’re crazy, too. We like crazy. We’re good with anything. WP: I find that a lot of brands (including Nissan) are using LinkedIn very effectively during COVID-19. Also of note: more and more employees have found the time to become advocates for their companies via a myriad of social channels. Also of interest is that you can often get a different perspective from an engineer who shares a story versus a marketing or communications employee, which could bring up an idea for a story that isn’t the typical automotive content piece. CM: Toyota and Lexus have strong press room sites – Pressroom.Toyota.com and Pressroom.Lexus.com. Media members can sign up for free subscriptions to the sites, where press releases are immediately emailed to them as soon as they populate on the sites. 4) Anything else you want to share? KE: Stay on track. Be patient. Be safe. We miss you and can't wait to see all of your smiling faces again soon!   MT: We are in this together. We welcome feedback on ways to improve and support each of your stories as best we can. Thank you to MAMA and its leadership team for their continued Hyundai support and willingness to think “out-of-the box” and pursue new ways to best support our “new” normal while helping to produce creative, objective, factual story-telling and perhaps sell some cars and SUVs! I look forward to our next face-to-face, in-person (no hugs) program! Stay safe. Stay well. ND: We’ve had our press fleet operational during the pandemic and strict cleaning protocols are in place. If you have a story idea for one of our vehicles let us know. We’d love to work with you. WP: I have found during this time our staff has gotten even closer that we were previously, we have been on many Zoom calls together and have been able share camaraderie in a way we didn’t before COVID-19. I hope and I believe it will continue.  CM: Toyota and Lexus made the decision early on in the pandemic not to close its national press fleets. As PR professionals, we saw the fleets as “lifelines” to the media, providing them with the opportunities to keep reporting and writing stories relevant to the auto industry. In doing so, we also made sure our press fleet partner, DriveShop, was adhering to CDC protocols for the safety of their staff and members of the media. We’ve received numerous notes of “thanks” from journalists in keeping our product pipelines flowing during these difficult times.

Like many other automotive journalists, Chad Kirchner’s life changed in March when COVID-19 hit and put an end to events, travel and many of his assignments. With no place to go and extra time on his hands, Chad felt called to do something to help people during the COVID-19 crisis. That something was organizing a group of people who owned 3D printers to create face shields for people who needed them. Or as Chad put it, “a bunch of nerds who are into 3D printing got together and decided to do what we can.”

It turns out, brackets for face shields are easy to 3D print so the group of 30 people with 40 printers, found a design that was approved by local hospitals, and printed them non-stop for weeks. It would take an hour to print each bracket then they bought binder covers which they three-hole punched and attached to complete the shield. At the peak, they produced about 1,000 face shields a week.

Chad and his friends funded the entire endeavor and didn’t charge anyone for the shields. “Someone would put in a request and we filled them. We delivered them to local hospitals and a lot of nursing homes. We even provided them to an assisted living facility in Michigan. We didn’t turn anybody away,” Kirchner said.

They were printing so many that finding the filament material for the printers became tough. “Amazon was our main supplier, but when they went to essential delivery only, we lost our main supply line for 3D printing filament,” said Kirchner.

They started looking at local computer stores but quickly bought out all the available local stock. Chad ended up finding a large supply of filament in Brooklyn, NY, convinced Toyota to loan him a vehicle for the trip, which he wrote about for one of his many outlets, Automotive Map. He made the round trip journey from Ohio to New York in one 18-hour day.

Like many auto writers, Chad grew up reading car magazines at a young age. “In addition to the incredible cars, reading stories about these exotic locations was a great form of escape.” Chad started reading about Japanese tuners and eventually bought a Honda S2000 inspired by all the articles he had read about the car. “It’s ironic, I wasn’t big into trucks even though it’s what I cover now. I grew up in a small Midwestern town and everybody loved trucks. I think the Japanese tuner thing was my form of rebellion.”

Chad began writing about cars after he helped Josh Smith from GottaBeMobile.com with a purchase. “He needed to buy a car, a mutual friend introduced us and saying I could help him. Josh did something that never happens, he bought the car I recommended – and still drives it today.” A couple months later Josh called and said they were going to be adding auto coverage to the tech focused site, and asked if Chad was interested. It didn’t take long for Chad to say yes.

With 13 million unique visitors a month, GottaBeMobile attracted the attention of automakers and Chad began getting media loans. His first press loan in 2013 was a Ford F-150 Raptor and his inaugural press trip was for the Chrysler 200. Now seven years into his career, Chad freelances for a number of outlets with a primary focus on trucks. High points of his career so far include driving on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a Chevy program, a trip to Morocco with Nissan, and a small Ford Performance event at Eldora Speedway where he spent the day after the races jumping Raptors with racer and track owner, Tony Stewart.

Chad’s philosophy is straightforward. “My first responsibility is to tell the truth, even if that truth is harsh. But it’s important to say why. I would never write anything I wouldn’t tell a company executive face-to-face. If it gets you a nasty phone call, you get a nasty phone call.”

MAMA played a significant role in his professional development. “Early on it was made clear that belonging to a professional organization was important. And everyone recommended MAMA.” Based in Columbus, Ohio, he attends as many MAMA events as possible. “I would love to go to more lunches as I’ve gotten press loans from showing up to a MAMA lunch. MAMA has a reputation as a top-tier organization, and being a member has raised my profile and helped me get more gigs.”

In these ever-changing and uncertain times, MAMA has adapted to meeting virtually. The new format, labeled "MAMA eMeet," has brought members together four times since the COVID-19 epidemic started.  

On April 8, Hyundai hosted the first virtual meeting to discuss the 2020 Sonata Hybrid. Virtual attendees were delighted when frozen pizzas arrived at their homes in advance of the meeting. A new meaning to "lunch is served" was courtesy of Michele Tinson and Hyundai.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles presented its all-new, next-generation Uconnect 5 system on April 29 at the second eMeet. Substantial upgrades and improvements on the popular infotainment system are in the works. FCA announced that the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica, which is slated to go on sale late this year, will be the first vehicle to feature the new system. The Uconnect 5 system was first shown at the Chicago Auto Show this past February.

With the rescheduling of the MAMA Spring Rally, Nissan instead jumped at the opportunity to virtually present their new 2020 Nissan Frontier on May 19. MAMA members were among the first to learn of the 2020 pricing.  The Frontier, first revealed at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, will be available at dealerships this July. 

And on June 24, Hyundai was back to discuss the all-new Venue, the brand's seventh addition to its SUV lineup. The Venue slots just below the Kona in terms of size and powertrain, and offers plenty of safety and connectivity features as standard.

Thank you to all of these OEMs for their diligent efforts to keep our members informed and Up To Speed! Please keep your eyes open for future MAMA eMeets as we will continue to present news virtually until it is safe to resume our in-person monthly meetings. You can track the conversations surrounding previous eMeets by searching for the hashtag #MAMAeMeet. 

Greetings MAMA members,

In a normal year, I would be writing this letter with a fresh batch of MAMA Spring Rally memories in my mind: boisterous conversation (and eating more than my share of fried fish) at the Lake Street Café, hustling a performance vehicle through the corners and cones on the Road America track, kicking up some mud on the off-road course, the sounds of music and merriment growing louder as I approach the front door of Siebkens for a rollicking afterparty.

However, as we are all painfully aware, 2020 is no normal year—for so many horrible reasons. In light of such widespread tragedy, suffering, and unrest, the fact that we have had to postpone the 2020 MAMA Spring Rally to the fall seems like a relatively minor hardship. We have made arrangements with our valued partners at The Osthoff Resort and Road America, and we are penciled in for October 26 and 27, with an arrival date of Sunday, October 25. Obviously, none of us can foresee exactly what the world will look like this fall, but our hope is to move forward and hold a “Sprall” Rally in some form.

The Coronavirus pandemic has upended almost every aspect of our lives, but there are silver linings to be found. Among those is our implementation of “eMeet” virtual presentations in place of our regular monthly meetings. We’ve had four so far, and more are in the works. It’s a far cry from seeing each other in person, but we’ve nonetheless had engaging presentations and productive Q&A sessions, and I’ve been delighted to see our non-Chicagoland members participating as well. We will continue our eMeets for the immediate future, and endeavor to retain a webcast component to our meetings when our in-person luncheons eventually resume. If you are an OEM or organization interested in hosting an eMeet, please contact Senior VP Harvey Briggs for more information.

In these uncertain times, I look forward to a future where we won’t need to wear out the phrase “in these uncertain times,” or the word “unprecedented.” And amidst all the unpleasant news, I see plenty of inspiring examples of human resilience, ingenuity, and adaptation. All of us at MAMA hope you are staying safe, healthy, and well.

All for now,

Damon Bell, MAMA President

Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) members were among the first to learn of Nissan’s 2020 Frontier pricing, which was announced this week during the association’s latest eMeet, a virtual meeting series. More than 50 MAMA members, comprised of automotive journalists and related industry professionals, were able to ask live questions of Nissan’s Senior Marketing Manager Michael Yarger and Senior Manager of Engineering Melaina Vasko.

Pricing for the refreshed-for-2020 Nissan Frontier pickup, which was first unveiled this past February during the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, will begin at $26,790 for the Frontier S King Cab 4x2 model. The top-line model, the Frontier PRO-4X Crew Cab 4x4, will be listed at $37,490. Across the model lineup, the 2020 prices represent an average increase of less than $2,000 from 2019.

The 2020 Frontier features a new 3.8-liter direct-injection V6 engine paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The new engine is rated 310 horsepower (best in class, according to Nissan) and 281 lb.-ft. of torque, and helps the 2020 Frontier achieve its 6,640-lb. towing capacity.

A host of additional upgrades will be offered for the 2020 model year, including standard push-button start, a leather shift knob, manual tilt steering, power door locks and power windows with the auto-down feature on the driver’s side.

The 2020 Frontier is available in King Cab, Crew Cab Short Wheelbase and Crew Cab Long Wheelbase bodies, and comes with a choice of 4x2 or 4x4 drive configurations. Additionally, two previous option packages have been added to 2020 Frontier Crew Cab SV grades at no additional charge: the Midnight Edition—featuring special black exterior treatments and 18-inch gloss black aluminum-alloy wheels—and the Special Edition Package—featuring a trip computer, Satin Chrome grille, body-color rear bumper and 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.

The 2020 Frontier is scheduled to arrive at dealerships this July.

For more information on the 2020 Frontier, please visit NissanNews.com. For more information on MAMA and upcoming MAMA eMeets, visit MAMAOnline.org.

As part of MAMA’s ongoing #MAMAeMeet series, FCA hosted a discussion this week surrounding its all-new Uconnect 5 infotainment system that will first appear on the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica. Leading the virtual meeting was Jin Palmer, FCA’s Head of Infotainment and Feature Planning, and Vince Galante, Chief Designer of User Experience for FCA.

Palmer noted FCA’s shift to the new software is driven by consumer demand. According to market research, 51 percent of consumers report that technology sways their decision when selecting a new vehicle. An even higher 64 percent are loyal to their in-vehicle tech systems and, moreover, 78 percent of shoppers choose a new vehicle based on a simple and easy-to-use infotainment system. With this in mind, FCA takes a holistic approach to stay ahead of the industry transformation curve by uniting the key elements that are important to consumers.

Backed by a new Android operating system, FCA claims Uconnect 5 is five times faster than its outgoing system and has three times the resolution when displaying on-screen graphics. The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica will be one of the first FCA vehicles to get the Uconnect 5 system; it will offer a large 10.1-inch touchscreen, which is nearly 20 percent larger than the screen it replaces.

Aesthetically speaking, everything is laid out in a logical fashion keeping in line with these four pillars:

• Aligns with a digital lifestyle
• Keeps vehicle fresh
• Improves customer care
• Allows for future tech applications

The technology features are enhanced, including:

• Familiar gestures such as swiping
• Ability to connect two phones simultaneously using Bluetooth
• Presets are not limited to bands (Sirius XM, FM and AM can coexist in the same line)
• New TomTom navigation experience adds popular features for a built-in solution with natural voice capability and Maps Over The Air (MOTA)
• Uconnect pioneers personalization with up to five user profiles plus valet mode, reestablishing vehicle preferences and settings with the touch of a button
• Exclusive and customizable home screen allows quick access to frequently used features with one-touch operation
• Uconnect expands Alexa "Home to Car" functionality to include in-vehicle Alexa virtual assistant with natural voice capability and “Car to Home” features
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration

FCA’s design challenge with its new Uconnect 5 system was for owners to have one-touch access to frequently used controls. Some additional noteworthy new features include the ability to mix and match content to build a personalized interface and the access to create up to five custom interfaces.

While the Uconnect 5 system will first debut on the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica, it will eventually roll out to Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Fiat vehicles.

The MAMA Board is planning two additional #MAMAeMeet virtual meetings for May; invitations are forthcoming.

Last week, Hyundai hosted MAMA’s first “virtual” online monthly meeting via Zoom web-conferencing software. Despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, MAMA is focused on providing relevant content to our media members while continuing to serve as an effective outlet for MAMA affiliate members to present new products and news to a relevant and engaged audience.

Scott Margason, Director of Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America, opened the Zoom meeting with an update on Hyundai’s sales momentum throughout 2019, where the brand saw an increase even when the rest of the industry experienced sales declines. Margason attributes the brand’s growth to an overall surge in SUV sales; Hyundai’s SUV sales are up 56 percent. However, even though Hyundai’s SUV sales have increased, he noted the continued demand for sedans, especially alternative fuel vehicles. According to Hyundai research, 33 percent of people polled would consider purchasing a hybrid as their next vehicle.

The initial announcement of the 2020 Sonata Hybrid made waves at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, where the vehicle made its worldwide debut. Jerome Gregeois, Senior Manager, Hyundai Technical Center, discussed the many new features of the 2020 Sonata Hybrid, including:

• Best-in-class highway fuel economy on Blue trim level
• Class-leading combined fuel economy on Blue trim level
• EPA estimated 52 mpg combined fuel economy rating and 686 miles of driving range on Blue trim level
• Solar Roof System can increase driving range – Hyundai says people can think of it as up to 700 “free” miles per year
• Hyundai Digital Key technology as an option
• The top front-seat leg- and headroom in the segment
• Unique eco-friendly design cues improve aerodynamics
• Active Shift Control technology makes shifts 30 percent faster and smoother

The Sonata Hybrid is offered in three trim levels: Blue (well-equipped, price-leading model with high level of standard safety features); SEL (value-driven core model with popular equipment; and Limited (fully loaded model with advanced safety and convenience features). The vehicle is now hitting Hyundai dealerships.

Margason wrapped up the presentation by sharing his belief that Hyundai has the best fuel cell tech on the market. He said while a full transition to electrification will take time, Hyundai wants to be ahead of the curve and ready to share its wide portfolio of multiple technologies with the marketplace.

MAMA is in the process of planning its next virtual meeting for later this month, so members should stay tuned for more details.