There’s a new trend in super-spy transportation: electric power. Bond is set to drive the Aston Martin Rapide E in the upcoming franchise film, and over in the animated world, Audi is gearing up its first pixelated concept car, which is also electric.The Audi RSQ E-Tron concept is set to debut in the upcoming animated movie Spies in Disguise. The short video teaser titled “Lunch Break” features Lance Sterling (with the voice and goatee of Will Smith) acting all cool, like only a super-spy can in the passenger seat of the Audi RSQ E-Tron concept, while the high-strung nerdy weapons specialist Walter Beckett (Tom Holland) freaks out beside him. There’s a broken bridge, which the Audi jumps; a helicopter, which the Audi outruns on the streets with its Audi on Demand Performance Package Power Boost; and a targeted missile, which the Audi outmaneuvers in the subway system.As the car careens around the city, we get a glimpse of a holographic cluster, an infotainment centre on the windshield and a digital dash running the width of the car. And when the spot ends, we see Beckett behind the wheel “living his best life,” unaware that autopilot is on. Presumably, they also head to a drive-thru after this is all over — because this was their lunch break, and spies gotta eat. Spies in Disguise will arrive in theatres on December 25,
Origin: The Audi RSQ E-Tron Concept is back in ‘Spies in Disguise’
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Volkswagen ID 4: electric SUV winter tests in curious disguise
Volkswagen’s next ID production model, the ID 4 crossover, has again been caught in prototype form with a rather unusual method of disguise. In these new cold weather testing shots we can clearly see the same body profile, with the rising and falling shoulderline, imposing front-end and high haunches, as the camouflaged ID 4 prototype shown off at September’s Frankfurt motor show during the launch of the ID 3. However, it appears Volkswagen has attempted to throw spy photographers off the scent with disguise details, particularly at the front, trying to pass it off as a Vauxhall/Opel SUV. The chrome grille and front and rear light designs are the clearest evidence of this. Despite the camouflage, the new EV appears to retain many of the same exterior themes as the ID Crozz concept car, which was first shown more than two years ago and then reworked for the 2017 Frankfurt motor show. The electric crossover-style SUV will be a big part of the VW ID brand’s range offensive in the US, as well as in Europe. Previous spyshots gave us a glimpse of the production model next to its hatchback sibling. The bodywork similarities of the two prototypes suggest the ID 4 will be closely linked to the ID 3 it is testing alongside, albeit slightly larger and sporting more evident SUV design cues. Although VW was giving away 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 in the middle next year. Volkswagen ID 3 2020 review Two production 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 4 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 VW Group chairman Herbert Diess at the Crozz concept’s 2017 unveiling. “But this is just the beginning. By 2025, annual sales could increase tenfold to one million vehicles.” Diess said the new ID electric car line-up will be offered alongside traditional combustion-engined and hybrid-powered VW models. The ID 4 aims to combine the dynamic lines of a modern-day sports car 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 VW’s best-selling SUV model. The ID Crozz concept is 4625mm long, 1891mm wide and 1609mm tall, putting it in between the five-seat Tiguan and seven-seat Tiguan Allspace in terms of dimensions. The wheelbase is 2773mm. The MEB-based ID Crozz features 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 4 is set to have a range of more than 311 miles, with no specific figure yet quoted. No performance figures have been revealed, though VW says it intends limiting the top speed to 112mph. With the car’s large battery mounted low down within the floor structure and the electric motors also housed within the axle assemblies front and rear, VW also claims it possesses a front-to-rear weight distribution of 48:52. VW officials have talked up the dynamic qualities, suggesting the new platform and chassis provide a “large spread between handling and
Origin: Volkswagen ID 4: electric SUV winter tests in curious disguise
2020 Mercedes S-Class seen testing with less disguise
Mercedes-Benz will move its S-Class flagship saloon to a new generation next year, and prototypes are beginning to drop disguise in new shots. Latest images show more of the BMW 7 Series rival’s overall profile, and we can see that the brand isn’t ditching the curvy surfacing of the outgoing model. It will have, however, a redesigned front end with lights inspired by the latest-generation CLS. A spy photographer previously managed to point their lens inside of a prototype, revealing Mercedes has totally redesigned the cabin around a large, portrait-oriented central touchscreen. The Tesla-style display is significantly larger than any screen Mercedes has offered in previous models, and detail shots show the bottom half of it is dedicated to the limo’s climate control functions, with touch-capacitive shortcut buttons below. It’s likely further updates to the brand’s already new MBUX user interface will boost features and usability, while the brand’s trademark digital dials are also visible. The seventh-generation S-Class looks set to regain its place at the forefront of the brand’s technical knowhow, with a range of new electrified powertrains and advanced driver assist features. Comfort and technology levels will take a boost with the target of lifting it beyond rivals such as the Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series. The new Mercedes flagship, which is due in UK showrooms next year, has been developed to support two distinctly different saloon models for the first time. While standard versions are set to receive a range of plug-in hybrid drivetrains, the German car maker also plans to introduce an aerodynamically optimised pure-electric version that insiders say will serve as the flagship model for its new EQ electric vehicle sub-brand. Badged EQ S, the new model will offer a claimed range in excess of 310 miles on the latest WLTP test cycle when it goes on sale in 2022. Plug-in hybrid versions of the S-Class will feature part-time zero-emission capability for distances of up to 62 miles, together with the option of a newly developed 4Matic four-wheel-drive system with fully variable apportioning of drive between the front and rear axles. The EQ S forms part of Mercedes’ £9 billion programme to introduce more than 10 dedicated electric vehicles to the UK market within the next six years. In a further change, it is believed that Mercedes-Benz has decided to do away with its long tradition of offering the standard S-Class, which goes under the internal codename W223, with two different wheelbases. Nothing is official at this stage, but it is understood that the growth of the E-Class to a length of 4920mm is behind a decision to produce the new S-Class exclusively in long-wheelbase guise, with the car measuring around 5280mm in length. However, while the standard S-Class sits on the MRA platform, the more technically advanced four-wheel drive EQ S will be the first Mercedes-Benz model to be based on the new modular electric architecture (MEA) platform. Unlike the structures being developed to underpin smaller EQ models, it is not based on an existing platform but has been developed as dedicated EV architecture with a flat floor to house batteries. The drivelines set to power hybrid versions of the new S-Class are based around Mercedes’ latest 3.0-litre and 2.9-litre in-line six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and the AMG-developed 4.0-litre V8, all of which operate in combination with a disc-shaped electric motor housed within the automatic gearbox and a lithium ion battery located in the boot floor. The pure-electric EQ S is set to receive two electric motors – one acting on the front axle and the other driving the rear – providing permanent four-wheel drive in all variants. In the upcoming EQ C, this set-up delivers more than 400bhp and some 516lb ft, although engineers involved on the development of the EQ S suggest it will offer even greater levels of power and torque, with a planned AMG performance model earmarked to produce more than 600bhp. Despite the differing platforms, both the standard S-Class and the EQ S are set to share the same active suspension system. A development of the existing S-Class’s AirMatic+ system, it works in combination with a 48V electrical architecture and a stereo camera that scans the road ahead to adjust the spring and damper action on each wheel, allowing it to not only counteract body lean in corners but also to better control pitch. Stylistically, the new S-Class is claimed to break new ground with a lineage that Mercedes-Benz design studio sources say will influence a whole new generation of models. Recent prototype spy shots preview a design that will feature distinctive tri-band LED multibeam headlights, a new interpretation of the classic Mercedes-Benz grille and door handles that retract back into the bodywork to help improve aerodynamic properties. It is understood that the EQ S will adopt its own distinct styling. Reflecting the
Origin: 2020 Mercedes S-Class seen testing with less disguise
New Jaguar F-Type: 2020 restyling shown with less disguise
Jaguar is in the process of testing an updated F-Type due for reveal next year, and new shots give us the closest look yet at the external and internal changes for the new model. The photographs, taken near Jaguar Land Rover’s Gaydon technical HQ, show two prototypes are shedding camouflage as testing ramps up. We can now see the restyled front end more clearly, with a new clamshell bonnet, slim, angular LED headlights mounted lower down the nose and a more prominent grille. A look at the rear shows it retains the same vertical bootlid, but with new wraparound tail-lights and a reshaped bumper. A quick glimpse at the cabin doesn’t reveal much, but it looks like the infotainment has moved on a generation, while the rotary dial climate display remains. It’s expected that much of the more advanced technology and infotainment features from the I-Pace and the 2019 XE will make its way into the F-Type. That means new digital dials, a larger and more feature-laden touchscreen, and substantial upgrades to the materials. Jaguar Land Rover is now phasing out its long-running supercharged V6 in favour of a new turbocharged and hybridised straight six, and the F-Type will benefit from this more efficient powertrain. The turbocharged four-cylinder and supercharged V8 engines should be carried over to the new car with limited changes, however. Indeed, this prototype registers as a 5.0-litre V8, putting paid to rumours JLR would bring in a BMW-sourced 4.4-litre unit. What remains unclear is whether the new F-Type will retain a manual gearbox option. The current V6 is still offered with one in the UK, although it has reportedly been removed from sale in the US. Regardless, manuals account for a tiny fraction of overall F-Type sales. Jaguar’s priorities for 2019 are the roll-out of the new XE and the launch of a similarly updated XF and F-Pace. However, we could see the revised F-Type early on in 2020, with an on-sale date not soon after
Origin: New Jaguar F-Type: 2020 restyling shown with less disguise
Audi RS Q3 Sportback drops disguise before Frankfurt reveal
Audi Sport is working its magic on the recently revealed Q3 Sportback – and the hot coupe-SUV will make its public debut at next month’s Frankfurt motor show. The RS version of Audi’s seventh SUV will join its less-style focused RS Q3 sibling at the event. Since the standard Sportback has already been revealed, the performance model has lost camouflage and can be clearly marked out to be an RS model. It’s identifiable by its dual oval sports exhaust tips, Audi Sport logos on the brakes, and the air intake, grille and wheel styling, the RS Q3 Sportback is expected to use an all-new 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine that produces up to 400bhp. Such an output would give it the muscle to challenge the upcoming second-generation Mercedes-AMG GLA45, which uses a smaller 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine but puts out 416bhp in top-spec S form. The Audi will likely counter with more torque, while many enthusiasts will welcome the retention of the distinctive five-cylinder layout. Expect a 0-62mph time of around four seconds and a 155mph limited top speed. As is traditionally the case with RS products, we’ll also see bespoke interior fixtures alongside mechanical upgrades such as a bespoke suspension setup and the option of a sports differential. The RS Q3 Sportback will be produced in 2019 at Audi’s plant in Győr, Hungary alongside the regular car. It is part of a growing line-up of style-led SUVs, spearheaded by the electric E-tron and range-topping Q8.
Origin: Audi RS Q3 Sportback drops disguise before Frankfurt reveal
New Mini Countryman 2020 facelift seen in disguise
Mini will follow up the updates to the rest of its range with a revised Countryman, due next year. The crossover is the British maker’s newest model, but was first launched in 2017, so 2020 falls perfectly in line with the usual timeframe of a mid-cycle update. Prototypes have been spotted with disguised front and rear ends, so we’re expecting mild revisions to the grille, bumpers and lights as part of a minor facelift. An introduction of adaptive matrix-beam LED headlights is also on the cards, alongside standard LED tail-lights that bring the now-familiar Union Jack, new personalisation options and a fresh range of wheel designs. The majority of the changes are likely to be aesthetic. Recent range updates have boosted standard equipment across other Minis, so that should also be the case with the Countryman. The recently updated Clubman also featured a new sports suspension option with 10mm lower ride height. Engine choices should remain familiar and include a 134bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol in the Cooper, a 189bhp four-cylinder in the Cooper S and the newly launched John Cooper Works model, with a new 302bhp 2.0-litre engine. A 148bhp Cooper D diesel will also be retained, though it’s not clear yet if mild-hybrid tech will be needed by Mini to reduce its fleet average CO2 figures in time for 2021’s emissions regulation changes. Expect more details of the Audi Q2 rival to emerge early next
Origin: New Mini Countryman 2020 facelift seen in disguise
BMW iNext: high-tech electric SUV seen with less disguise
BMW’s long-awaited rival to the Audi E-Tron and Mercedes EQC, the electric iNext SUV, has been caught in prototype form giving us a much better look at its exterior design. The disguised test mule, snapped on the back of a trailer outside one of the brand’s German facilities, can be seen to feature styling distinctly different from the brand’s conventionally-powered SUVs. It sits lower to the ground and has a more streamlined shape than its size equivalent, the X5, which is conveniently parked above the iNext prototype on the trailer. The less upright design will improve aerodynamic properties, allowing it to a achieve an EV range tipped to be up to 400 miles in top variants. BMW continued the gradual unveiling of the iNext, due in 2021, last week with the reveal of a range of images depicting the advanced model’s polygonal-shaped steering wheel. A new interior shot shows that wheel in the prototype, although much of the car’s cabin is still covered up. Described as the first BMW model in which the driver is no longer required to take care of the task of driving, the iNext is fitted with a newly designed steering wheel conceived to allow the driver to easily switch between highly automated driving and active driving modes. It is the second interior detail from the production version of the iNext to be revealed, following official images showing its curved instrument display earlier this year. Inspired by the steering wheels used in BMW race cars, the new steering wheel uses flattened upper and lower sections. They are designed to make it easier to recognise the steering angle than in a conventional round steering wheel. “The moment the driver re-takes control of the vehicle, they can detect the steering angle instantly – both visually and by means of touch,” said BMW. Together with the curved instrument display, the new polygonal-shaped steering wheel forms part of what BMW says will be a “pioneering interior design” for the iNext, which has been confirmed to go into production in 2021 as a “new technological flagship” model for the German car maker. The iNext is a similar size to the conventionally fuelled BMW X5 and will form an integral part of the brand’s electrification strategy. The SUV’s new platform has been conceived as a multi-purpose architecture that will go on to underpin ICE vehicles, hybrids and pure-electric models from the 3 Series upwards, in line with BMW’s plans to produce all future vehicles on one of two platforms. It’s expected to share its powertrain in some form with the BMW i4, due next year, itself claimed to be capable of up to 373 miles of range. Given the extra space for battery capacity in the iNext’s body, higher range variants are
Origin: BMW iNext: high-tech electric SUV seen with less disguise
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