The next two electric models from Renault will be a Kadjar-sized crossover and a zero-emissions variant of its Twingo city car. They form part of Renault’s electrification strategy to offer eight electric vehicles by 2023. Both are expected to be revealed in the next 18 months. Future product planning boss Ali Kassaï said: “We need to add an A-segment (electric) car to address customer needs.” It’s a relatively easy project because the Twingo was always engineered to be electric, thanks to the maker’s partnership with Smart. Kassai explained that the plan had been to launch it much sooner but there was “no infrastructure” to make it tenable. The other new electric Renault expected to be revealed next year is a crossover. Although it has not been officially confirmed by Renault, Kassaï said the EV will be bigger than the Zoe and its range will exceed the Zoe’s 264 miles because its owners are more likely to drive outside of urban areas. While the Zoe and upcoming crossover will be stand-alone models, Kassaï said Renault didn’t want to separate all models into either electric or internal combustion engine. “The focus of Renault will be Renault,” he said, adding that if an electric derivative worked for an existing model – such as the Twingo – it would be considered. Alongside its electric rollout, Renault has recently revealed its Captur plug-in hybrid, with a Clio variant soon to
Origin: Renault details two new EVs due in 2020
2020 Honda Jazz to be offered as hybrid-only in Europe
The next-generation Honda Jazz will be launched in Europe with hybrid technology as its sole powertrain, Honda confirmed at the Frankfurt motor show. The move was first reported by Autocar in March, and now Honda has confirmed that the Jazz, its bestselling model in the UK, will only be offered with petrol-electric hybrid engines. It will use the same dual-motor hybrid system already seen in the brand’s CR-V hybrid when it launches next year, following a debut at the Tokyo motor show in March. The Jazz will be the first in the brand ‘s line-up to only offer a hybrid powertrain, with other models soon to follow suit. Honda announced earlier this year that all of its combustion-engined models in Europe will be offered with hybrid powertrains by 2025. Honda said: “Ahead of its 2025 electrification goal, Honda will expand the application of its i-MMD dual-motor hybrid system, with the introduction into smaller segment cars an important first step.” Currently, the only model it offers as a hybrid is the CR-V, which indirectly replaced a diesel variant of the compact SUV. Petrol variants are also sold. Honda UK has seen great success with the CR-V Hybrid, which accounts for 55% of the model’s sales. Following the launch of the hybrid Jazz in 2020, the next electrified model will be the Civic in 2021. The CR-V Hybrid pairs two electric motors with a 2.0-litre petrol engine and a CVT transmission. However, given its smaller dimensions, the Jazz supermini will use either a 1.0-litre of 1.5-litre petrol engine and have less power. Honda UK sales boss Phil Webb said the maker will launch a campaign to help educate on the hybrid Jazz given the older age of many of its loyal customers. He predicts a dip in sales when it first arrives on roads next summer, but anticipates it will bounce back to between 18,000 and 20,000 units annually in the UK. The new Jazz must remain familiar enough to appeal to those loyal owners, while also bringing in new people to Honda’s entry-level model. The Jazz was spotted testing earlier this year, as these spy shots show. The mules of the Peugeot 208 rival hint at a minor evolution for the fourth-generation Jazz. The space-maximising upright profile and tall glasshouse remains, but with more curved lines and redesigned lights, bumpers and
Origin: 2020 Honda Jazz to be offered as hybrid-only in Europe
Lamborghini Sian FKP 37: 808bhp hybrid honours late VW boss
Lamborghini has pulled the covers off the most powerful and fastest-accelerating car it’s ever produced – and it’s also the firm’s first hybrid. Making its public debut at the Frankfurt motor show, the limited-run Siån previews Lamborghini’s plans to take its brand of V12-powered flamboyance into the near future with models such as the next-generation Aventador. As the model appeared in the flesh for the first time, Lamborghini announced it will enter production as the Siån FKP 37 as a tribute to ex-Volkswagen Group boss Ferdinand Karl Piëch, who died last month. Born in 1937, Piech was instrumental in bringing Lamborghini under the VW Group umbrella in 1998, helping the Italian maker to bring its pivotal Murcielago supercar to market. Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali said: “Prof. Dr. Piëch innately understood the attraction and potential of the Lamborghini brand and how it could fit within the Volkswagen Group, whilst retaining its unique Italian super sports car identity and design and engineering DNA. “Prof. Dr. Piëch was an engineer and an innovator, particularly appreciating the appeal of the iconic Lamborghini V12 powertrain on which today, the Sián FKP 37 combines pioneering hybrid technologies.” The Aventador SVJ’s naturally aspirated 6.5-litre 12-cylinder unit has been uprated from 759 to 774bhp with the addition of titanium intake valves, and is mated to a 48v electric motor producing 34bhp, for a combined total output of 808bhp. In what Lamborghini claims is a first for low-voltage hybrid powertrains, the electric motor is integrated into the gearbox and connected to the wheels for low-speed reversing and parking manoeuvres. The charismatic sound of the V12, Lamborghini assures, has been preserved. The developments mean the Siån will offer enhanced acceleration over Lamborghini’s conventionally fuelled models, sprinting from 0-62mph in under 2.8 seconds, with top speed claimed to be in excess of the SVJ’s 217mph. Power is not stored in a conventional lithium ion battery, but rather generated by a supercapacitor unit three times as powerful as a cell of the same weight, and three times lighter than a battery with the same output. The device, mounted ahead of the engine for enhanced weight distribution, is an evolution of that found in the Aventador to power the starter motor, and can store ten times as much power as the original. A regenerative braking system, developed in-house, sends power to the supercapacitor unit under deceleration. Energy generated in this way is available as a power boost at the discretion of the driver at speeds of up to 81mph. The electric motor also allows for a smoother acceleration curve, activating during gear changes to counter the effect of deceleration and resulting in a 43-75mph time 1.2 seconds quicker than that of the SVJ. Traction at lower speeds is improved as well, making the Siån 10% faster than a car without this system, according to its maker. Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini’s chief technical officer, said: “With this car, we set ourselves the challenge of creating the best hybrid solution for a Lamborghini super sports car to provide the first step in our electrification strategy”. Design-wise, Lamborghini says the model shows off “a visionary and futuristic design in combination with outstanding aerodynamic solutions”, but one that still conveys “the heart and soul of a Lamborghini”. The Siån’s wedge-shaped silhouette is characteristically angular and wide, and is said to be influenced by the work of Bertone’s Marcello Gandini, who was responsible for some of Lamborghini’s best known historic models. The diagonal lines along the length of the bonnet, six hexagonal tail lights and roof-mounted ‘periscope’ tunnel are a nod to the Countach, while the low front splitter and Y-shape headlights are a set-up originally intended for the electric Terzo Millenio concept. Downforce is maximised by the model’s prominent side air intakes and large carbonfibre front splitter. In keeping with the Siån’s “pure and uncluttered” design ethos, the rear wing sits flush with the rear deck, extending only at speed, while active cooling vanes along the engine lid react to exhaust temperatures and rotate as needed. Lamborghini will make just 63 Sians, offering buyers a high level of personalisation through its bespoke Ad Personam division. All have been sold
Origin: Lamborghini Sian FKP 37: 808bhp hybrid honours late VW boss
New BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé makes first public appearance
BMW has rounded out its new 8 Series line-up with the Gran Coupé. The new four-door 8 Series will go on sale in September after its Frankfurt motor show debut, priced from £69,340. The Gran Coupé joins the 8 Series Coupé and Convertible with a line-up that will comprise six-cylinder and V8 models, including the rapid new 516bhp M850i xDrive Gran Coupé. The 8 Series Gran Coupé replaces the discontinued 6 Series Gran Coupé in a growing market segment that will place it up against high-end versions of the Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS, as well as the Porsche Panamera. At 5082mm long, 1932mm wide and 1407mm tall, the 8 Series Gran Coupé is 239mm longer, 30mm wider and 66mm taller that its coupé sibling. This added length is partly the result of a 201mm-longer wheelbase than that of the 8 Series Coupé and Convertible, at 3023mm. It allows for two extra frameless doors and rear seat space that’s on a par with its predecessor’s. The 8 Series Gran Coupé has a traditional boot at the rear, with a 440-litre capacity. The load length can be extended when the 40/20/40-configured rear seat is folded down. The engine choices for the 8 Series Gran Coupé mirror those of its siblings. The entry point to the new line-up is the 840i turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol unit, which develops 335bhp and 369lb ft of torque. It can be had in rear- or four-wheel drive and the 0-62mph times are 5.2sec and 4.9sec respectively. Fuel consumption is 39.2mpg combined. Also available is the diesel 840d, with a 3.0-litre inline six making 316bhp and 501lb ft. The 0-62mph sprint is dispatched in 5.1sec and claimed economy is 47.9mpg. Crowning the initial 8 Series Gran Coupé range is the M850i xDrive, which has a 523bhp turbocharged 4.4-litre V8. With a kerb weight of 1995kg, it is claimed to hit 62mph from rest in 3.9sec and return 28.8mpg combined economy. All engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, with the 840i and M850i xDrive both featuring an M Sport rear differential. Rearwheel steering is standard on four-wheel-drive cars and optional on rear-driven models. Later this year, BMW’s M division will launch even more powerful M8 and M8 Competition variants of the new four-door featuring a twinturbo 4.4-litre petrol V8 with 592bhp for the M8 and 616bhp for the M8
Origin: New BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé makes first public appearance
Volkswagen ID 4: 2020 electric SUV on display
It is on display at Frankfurt sporting a heavy camouflage livery, and inside a glass box wrapped in a similar pattern. The set-up is similar to that used by VW when it launched pre-sales for the ID 3 hatch earlier this year. While VW was giving little information about the car at Frankfurt, to keep the focus on the company rebranding and the launch of the production ID 3, the Kia e-Niro rival is set to go into production next year. Despite the camouflage, the new EV appears to retain much of the same exterior themes of the ID Crozz concept car, which was first shown over two years ago and then reworked for the 2017 Frankfurt motor show. Volkswagen ID 3 2020 review Two versions of the ID Crozz will be offered: a coupé-SUV in the vein of the original concept and this straight SUV model with a more conventional roofline and tailgate design. We can also see it has conventional rear doors, ditching the sliding items of the 2017 car. It’s not yet clear if the coupé variant will also adopt this approach, but it’s likely. The ID Crozz will be built in Europe, the US and China, cementing its status as a truly global model and a crucial kingpin of the brand’s rapid EV rollout. “As early as 2020 we aim to sell 100,000 all-electric Volkswagens (per year),” said Diess at the concept’s 2017 unveiling. “But this is just the beginning. By 2025, annual sales could increase ten-fold to one million vehicles.” Volkswagen had already shown ID hatchback and ID Buzz concepts, which will lead to production models. Diess said the new electric car line-up will be offered alongside traditional combustion engine and hybrid-powered Volkswagen models. The ID Crozz is a crossover that aims to combine the dynamic lines of a modern day sports car together with the all terrain capability of a dedicated off-roader. It’s said to offer interior space on a par with the Tiguan Allspace – a new long wheelbase version of Volkswagen’s best selling SUV model, together with a claimed 515 litres of luggage capacity. The ID Crozz concept is 4625mm long, 1891mm wide and 1609mm high, putting it in between the five-seat Tiguan and seven-seat Tiguan Allspace in terms of dimensions. It will have a wheelbase of 2773mm. The MEB-based ID Crozz is powered by the same zero-emissions driveline used by the original concept, featuring two electric motors – one mounted within the front axle, and one at the rear – powered by an 83kWh lithium ion battery housed within the floor structure. The front electric motor sends its 101bhp and 103lb ft to the front wheels. The rear unit delivers 201bhp and 228lb ft to the rear wheels, giving the car a combined output of 302bhp and 332lb ft of torque. This is just under 100bhp more than the powertrain used by the rear-wheel-drive ID hatchback, intended to offset a likely weight increase. The ID Crozz is set to have a range of more than 311 miles, with no specific figure yet quoted. No performance figures have been revealed, though Volkswagen says it intends limiting the production version’s top speed to 112mph. With its large battery mounted low down within the floor structure and the electric motors also housed within the axle assemblies front and rear, Volkswagen also claims the ID Crozz possesses a front-to-rear weight distribution of 48:52. Wolfsburg officials are already talking up the dynamic qualities, suggesting the new platform and chassis provide a “large spread between handling and comfort”. The ID Crozz has been built to offer a choice between manual and autonomous driving
Origin: Volkswagen ID 4: 2020 electric SUV on display
Byton M-Byte electric SUV breaks cover in production form
Chinese start-up company Byton has revealed a near-production-ready version of its first model, the M-Byte electric SUV. The M-Byte has been in development for two years. Launching on the Chinese market initially, with customer deliveries set to get underway in the middle of 2020, it’s planned to arrive in Europe in 2021 at a starting price of €45,000 (£40,280). That’s slightly more than the expected European price of the new Tesla Model Y. The production car bears a strong resemblance to the concept that was revealed earlier this year and retains that car’s distinctive 48in curved ‘Shared Experience Display’, the largest infotainment screen yet fitted to a production car. The screen forms part of what Byton calls “a digital lounge feeling” and allows passengers to access connectivity services and vehicle controls. The display can be controlled via an 7.0in screen located in the centre of the steering wheel or an 8.0in tablet mounted between the two front seats and is covered by a layer of shatter-proof glass to minimise risk of injury in a collision. Other defining features of the interior are a flat floor (made possible by the lack of a transmission tunnel), a floating dashboard, rotating front seats and a comprehensive list of personalisation options. The M-Byte range opens with the 72kWh entry-level model that’s driven by a single, rear-mounted motor producing 268bhp and capable of 360 miles on the WLTP test cycle. An optional larger-capacity battery offers a range of up to 460 miles. The range-topping four-wheel-drive variant has a 95kWh battery that yields a 435-mile range as standard and uses a motor on each axle for a power output of 402bhp. All versions of the M-Byte are capable of 150kW rapid charging and can therefore be topped up to 80% capacity from empty in as little as 35 minutes. Byton claims to have taken more than 50,000 reservations worldwide and has already subjected the M-Byte to a number of test processes, including stringent crash tests to US and EU standards. The pre-ordering process for US and European customers, however, will not open until early next year. Byton CEO Daniel Kirchert said: “We’re on the verge of starting series production, and the feedback from media and especially from our future customers is of great relevance to us. “Today’s unveiling of the Byton M-Byte also shows the effort paying off for the team, which has worked relentlessly on the car for over two years. Within that short amount of time, we have taken a smart electric car from an initial idea on a white sheet of paper to series-production readiness, while also building a coherent infrastructure with locations on three continents and an efficient industry 4.0 production facility in
Origin: Byton M-Byte electric SUV breaks cover in production form
Mini planning smaller and larger models to expand range
Mini is keen to make models both larger and smaller than its current range, company boss Bernd Körber has revealed to Autocar. Speaking at the Frankfurt motor show, he said he’d like to see Mini “grow in some aspects” while he’d also “love to see the core Mini shrink again”. Autocar recently outlined plans for Mini to make a larger model than the current Countryman in the next generation of its line-up, potentially reviving the Traveller name. Körber said that although “it would be hard to imagine a Mini the size of a BMW X3 or X5”, there is a need in the next-generation Mini range “to address the growth in SUVs and look at if we need a compact SUV”. Körber added: “The Countryman is a very small SUV. In the US and China, there are certain needs. We will look at a compact SUV in the next generation. There’s lots of benefits with a car like that for urban use. For me, it’s a good match.” Körber said that although such a car would be the biggest Mini, it would still be one of the smallest SUVs in its segment. “There’s interest in the small car segments. We can stretch the interpretation of Mini always being the smallest but I can’t imagine being bigger in a segment. We need to fulfil a requirement on size.” As for making a smaller Mini, Körber was referring to shrinking the size of the current three-door hatchback rather than a production version of the Rocketman concept, which, Autocar understands, is also a live project within the company as part of a joint venture with its partner in China, Great Wall. “We are having proportion and design discussions at the moment,” he said. “The task now is to design it. In three to four years, I’d like to see the start of the next generation.” He added: “Hopefully in the next generation, we can make it even more compact, back to where Mini comes from.” Körber said Mini would continue to offer internal combustion engines in cars in the next-generation range alongside battery electric versions, something that would be the case for at least the next five to 10 years. In the long term, he believes Mini’s customer base and brand positioning are well placed for Mini to become a solely electric brand but that is some way off for
Origin: Mini planning smaller and larger models to expand range
Mercedes showcases Vision EQS
Mercedes showcases Vision EQS The concept could become a flagship electric model for Mercedes Mercedes Benz has unveiled the Vision EQS at the Frankfurt Motor Show, previewing what is expected to become the electric version of the flagship S-Class. With the all-electric EQ range confirmed to expand, this Vision EQS is still a concept, but with a number of hints at a production version down the line. Mercedes itself describes the concept as a ‘trailblazer for the entire Mercedes-Benz EQ family’. Add in the fact that Jaguar’s replacement XJ rival will be all-electric too, and the Vision EQS is looking increasingly likely to become simply the EQS. Expect the yacht-themed styling to be toned down a little; made a little more ‘normal’, as designers can get away with certain ideas in concepts that simply aren’t allowed on production models. The prominent ‘grille’ mirrors that of the currently available EQC SUV though, and a sleek saloon shape would both help attract buyers and aid aerodynamics. Under the skin of the concept is a powertrain that puts out around 350 kW and 760 Nm of torque. A battery of around 100 kWh gives a range of up to 435 miles on a charge, and the battery can be topped up at maximum speed via a 350 kW CCS ultra-rapid charger. These figures are rather vague because that’s how Mercedes has announced them – this is a concept after all. Advanced driver assist systems are fitted to the Vision EQS, though Mercedes expects that ‘individual driving pleasure will continue to be desirable in the future’. A high-tech cabin incorporates recycled materials from ocean waste, wood is locally sourced from German forests, and batteries are sourced from CO2-neutral manufacturers, reducing the overall CO2 impact. Mercedes says the Vision EQS is the ‘first milestone on the way to a CO2-neutral mobility of the future’.
Origin: Mercedes showcases Vision EQS
New Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS concept is 470bhp luxury EV
Mercedes-Benz has previewed its upcoming EQS luxury saloon with the unveiling of a new 470bhp electric-powered concept at the Frankfurt motor show. Called the Vision EQS, the new four-door provides a foretaste of what Mercedes-Benz claims will be its most advanced production model yet when it reaches showrooms in 2021. It will be launched as a direct rival to the next-generation pure-electric Jaguar XJ, as well as the Tesla Model S and Audi E-tron GT. The EQS is set to be sold alongside the seventh-generation S-Class and will act as a high-tech figurehead for an extended range of models from Mercedes-Benz’s newly created EQ electric car sub-brand. It follows the EQC, EQA and EQB as Mercedes-Benz’s fourth all-electric model but is the first to feature a dedicated steel, aluminium and carbonfibre platform, dubbed MEA internally. The EQS also forms the basis of an even more luxurious Maybach model that is intended to take on an upcoming EV being developed by Rolls-Royce. Mercedes-Benz chairman Ola Källenius said: “By 2022, we will have launched a total of more than 10 purely electrically driven vehicles. Over and above this, we shall electrify the entire Mercedes-Benz portfolio and thus offer our customers at least one electrified alternative in every Mercedes-Benz model series – over 50 in all.” Powered by two electric motors spread across both axles for four-wheel drive, the Vision EQS has a combined output of around 470bhp and 560lb ft of torque. This is sufficient to allow the car to accelerate from a standstill to 62mph in a claimed 4.5sec and reach a top speed of more than 124mph. The two electric motors are able to send power to each individual wheel via a torque-vectoring set-up that is claimed to provide unparalleled levels of traction and handling prowess in the upper-luxury segment. The MEA platform is said to be capable of containing a battery pack of up to 100kWh in size. The lithium ion battery from Mercedes-Benz sibling company Accumotive is claimed to provide the saloon with a range of over 435 miles – 158 miles more than the EQC. Mercedes-Benz has developed the EQS to support 350kW charging – a standard first achieved by Porsche with its Taycan. On such a system, Mercedes-Benz claims the battery can be charged to 80% in just 20 minutes. Thanks to the new electric platform, the Vision EQS is able to have different proportions from a traditional saloon’s. The bonnet is shorter, with the windscreen set well forward, and the rear end is quite low by today’s standards. The roofline, meanwhile, is similar in shape to that gracing the third-generation CLS. With the battery housed completely within the floorpan of the MEA platform, it is said to have an exceptionally low centre of gravity, as well as advanced air suspension featuring active body control and anti-lean to boost the car’s dynamic appeal. Stylistically, the Vision EQS follows the lead of the EQC with an exterior that has fuller forms and smoother surfacing than those of current combustion-engined models. To inject it with some extra visual pizzazz, the new concept receives a two-tone paint scheme as well as an LED light band along the shoulder of each side. In place of a traditional chrome grille, the EQS receives a seamless black panel grille complete with an illuminated three-pointed star emblem, containing more than 188 individual LEDs. Bookmarking the black panel grille are Mercedes-Benz’s Digital Light headlights – each featuring two holographic lens modules that enable it to project signals onto the road to improve safety for pedestrians. The rear end of the car is dominated by a further light band made up of 229 individual illuminated three-pointed stars. All up, the new Mercedes-Benz concept has some 940 individual LEDs. The EQS also features a newly styled cabin inspired by luxury yachts. The flowing forms of the dashboard are said to mirror the look already chosen for the production version of the new luxury saloon. Also on board is a future iteration of the firm’s latest MBUX operating system, which works in combination with a large digital panel housing the instruments and infotainment functions. As well as revealing the design ideas set to be incorporated in its production sibling, the concept’s interior also showcases a number of recyclable materials being considered for use in future Mercedes-Benz models. These include composite materials made from recycled PET bottles and plastic ocean waste as well as a faux leather material that is claimed to closely resemble the properties of nappa
Origin: New Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS concept is 470bhp luxury EV
Honda e pricing confirmed
Honda e pricing confirmed The electric supermini will rival the forthcoming Mini Electric Prices have been announced for the Honda e, with the eagerly-awaited electric supermini set to cost from £26,160. The Honda e will start at the above price for the 100 kW version, with prices rising to £28,660 for the Advance trim which includes additional equipment and a power increase to 113 kW. With the full production going on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show from today, Honda has confirmed its OTR price, which includes the £3,500 Plug-in Car Grant. This is subject to approval from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles, but is meets all criteria so the Honda is expected to be approved in due course. Order books for the Honda e Advance open today (Tuesday 10th September) from 12:30pm. Those customers that have previously made a reservation have priority spot in the queue. Orders for the Honda e (non-Advance version) will be taken in early 2020, and first deliveries of the Honda e Advance will arrive in the UK from early summer next year.
Origin: Honda e pricing confirmed
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