The Cooper SE electric prototype might be Mini by nature, but it’s still got big power. Mini made a show of its new electric hatchback’s towing power, hoping to change the perception of small EVs as gutless, by using it to pull a Boeing 777F cargo plane down the runway at Frankfurt airport. The Lufthansa plane weighs approximately 136 tonnes, but the hot hatch’s instant electric torque has it rolling steadily in short order. The BMW Group put together a video of the stunt introducing the “muscle car,” showing it in a yellow-and-black camo wrap pulling the massive aircraft a short distance before being loaded into the plane’s cargo area. “Having been the epitome of thrilling mobility in the urban environment for 60 years, the MINI brand will in future combine locally emissions-free driving in city traffic with a unique emotional experience,” the brand wrote in a press release. “In this way, the MINI Electric will be a driving force for future drive technology. Helping the MINI Cooper SE perform its muscle car role, the performance characteristics of the electric motor combine spontaneous power delivery with a high level of torque available directly from standing.” It’s anticipated that Mini will borrow the BMW i3’s electric powertrain for the build. That makes 70 horsepower and 184 lb-ft. of torque in the BMW, using a 33-kWh battery with a range of around 160 km. The plane-pull stunt is the first of a series of videos amping up the car before it debuts in July, goes into production at the British plant in Oxford in November and lands in North American driveways by the end of the year.
Origin: Mini teases electric Cooper SE by using it to—pull a cargo plane!?
electric
Seat Mii electric unveiled
Seat Mii electric unveiled Seat launches EV plans with EV version of Mii citycar Seat has launched its Mii electric, a pure-EV version of the Spanish firm’s citycar, with a range of more than 160 miles on a charge. As the Mii electric is unveiled, Seat has also announced that the model will be electric-only, with production of versions with internal combustion engines stopping in July. The Mii electric will be Seat’s first production pure-EV, and leads the charge for a number of EVs and PHEVs due in the near future, including the el-Born electric hatch, and PHEV versions of the Leon, Cupra Formentor, and Cupra Leon. Based on the same platform as the recently launched Skoda CITIGO-e, and the VW e-up! – which is expected to be significantly updated soon – the Seat Mii electric has a long range for such a small EV, calculated by VW at 161.5 miles (260km). This is subject to homologation, but should be pretty accurate. A 7.2 kW on-board charger is expected, and rapid charging on CCS will accept up to 40 kW, for top-up times to 80% of around four hours, and an hour respectively. The Mii electric has a 61 kW (83 hp) electric motor with 212 Nm of torque, powered by a 36.8 kWh battery. The battery has almost no effect on interior space, with boot space when the rear seats are in place identical to the current petrol-powered Mii, and reduced only by 36 litres when the seats are down. Pricing will be announced in the autumn in time for order books opening, and production will begin in Q4 2019. Seat has said that, when the Mii electric goes on sale, it will be one of the most affordable electric vehicles on the market.
Origin: Seat Mii electric unveiled
Mercedes-Benz to launch EQE electric saloon in 2022
One of ex-Mercedes-Benz chairman Dieter Zetsche’s final acts in power was to sign off on the firm’s sixth electric model: the EQE. The new upmarket saloon is scheduled to go on sale in 2022 and will compete directly with the Tesla Model S in terms of price. Details of the EQE have been cited in documents recently made public by the Chinese Ministry of Information and Technology in which the EQE is referred to under its internal codename, V295. The EQE is one of 10 new electric models destined for sale from Mercedes under its EQ sub-brand by the end of 2025 in a development programme already budgeted to cost up to €10 billion (£8.7bn). On top of this, the German car maker has announced the investment of a further €20bn (£17.4bn) in battery cell technology. Electric models are expected to account for more than a quarter of all Mercedes’ sales by the middle of the next decade. Zetsche said: “Our electric offensive continues to gain momentum. We are now taking the next step.” The EQE will follow the recently introduced EQC, next year’s new EQA and EQV, the flagship EQS and the recently confirmed EQB into Mercedes showrooms in the UK. A sibling model to the larger and more luxurious EQS due out in 2021, the EQE will also be the second Mercedes to be based on the company’s new MEA electric car platform. Set to make extensive use of aluminium, it is designed to give future EQ electric models a flat floor structure for added packaging flexibility and what Mercedes insiders have described as “class-leading interior space”. One source said: “The EQE will be shorter in length than today’s E-Class but offer space comparable to the existing S-Class.” As our image shows, the EQE will evolve the shape of the upcoming facelifted E-Class with a focus on aerodynamic efficiency. It will adopt a face inspired by the rest of the EQ line-up, and is expected to sit lower to the ground with a ride height adjusting depending on the road conditions. The EQC, EQA, EQV and EQB are based around existing platform structures that are shared with, respectively, the GLC, A-Class, V-Class and upcoming GLB. Like the EQS, the EQE will be sold from the outset with four-wheel drive, with power coming from two electric motors – one mounted up front providing drive to the front wheels and a second driving the rear wheels. To broaden the car’s appeal, Mercedes is also considering a rear-wheel-drive version of its new EQ model, although it is unlikely to be made available until 2022, according to sources familiar with the company’s electric car strategy. Although it is still early days, power and torque are expected to eclipse the 402bhp and 564lb ft of the new EQC. Among the features being touted for the EQE are active air suspension and four-wheel steering, as well as safety features incorporated into Mercedes’ new ESF experimental research vehicle, including level three autonomous driving functions. Developments in battery cell technology are expected to provide the EQE with a range of close to 373 miles (600km). Production of the EQE is scheduled to take place at Mercedes’ new Factory 56 in Germany – the same site earmarked to produce the EQS. The EQE will also be produced at a new €1.5bn (£1.3bn) site being constructed by Mercedes in partnership with its Chinese joint-venture partner in Beijing at the rate of up to 70,000 units per year from
Origin: Mercedes-Benz to launch EQE electric saloon in 2022
Lotus Type 130 electric hypercar will be unveiled on 16 July
Lotus has revealed a date for the unveiling of its groundbreaking all-new electric hypercar – the Type 130. The most ambitious car in the firm’s history will be shown at “an exclusive event” in Central London on 16 July, barely a few months after Autocar first revealed the project. Lotus has also confirmed for the first time exactly how many examples will be produced. 130 are planned to be made available to own, up from previous estimates after “several hundred potential owners came forward to express their interest in the new car”. It will be built in Norfolk alongside the rest of the maker’s range. The Type 130 will be Lotus’s first all-new production car since 2008. Lotus also claims it will be the first fully electric hypercar built and to go on sale from a British manufacturer. A preview image has been released showing a side profile of the new car, and Autocar was recently given an exclusive walk-around of a full-size clay model at the firm’s Hethel base. The name is a reference to a number of innovative models that have appeared throughout the Norfolk brand’s 71-year history, beginning with the Type 14 Elite in 1957 – claimed to be the world’s first composite monocoque production car. The most recent, the Type 111 (the world’s first aluminium and bonded extrusion construction road car) became the Elise. As the official picture suggests, the 130 is low and wide. Lotus design director Russell Carr, who showed the model to Autocar, says it is a similar length to the existing Evora – which is 4.4 metres long – but will sit closer to the ground and be nearly two metres wide. It uses a carbonfibre structure and will be built in Hethel away from the company’s main production line. The cabin is tightly proportioned and adopts the teardrop form familiar from hypercars like the Ford GT40, to better allow airflow to pass around it. The most impressive feature is one that isn’t hinted at by the official rendering – two substantial air tunnels in the rear bodywork which have the tail light elements integrated around their exists. It’s a detail that Carr says has been inspired by the venturi tunnels of LMP sports prototype racing cars. The battery pack will be positioned entirely behind the passenger compartment, with drive sent to all four wheels. No other details are forthcoming at the moment, beyond the fact – as previously reported – that the powertrain is being developed by Williams Advanced Engineering, making this a collaboration between two of the most famous names in Formula 1 history. Lotus boss Phil Popham promises an “entirely appropriate” level of performance for the 130’s target market and what will be a seven figure pricetag. The total system output is tipped to exceed 1000bhp. It is also set to offer a range of more than 250 miles. Both the battery pack and the pushrod-operated rear suspension will be visible beneath a transparent cover, with Carr saying the plan is for the huge aero tunnels to also incorporate lighting elements. The rear licence plate surround will be removable to help improve performance when the car is used on track. Downforce will be generated from a substantial underbody diffuser and there will also be moveable wing elements and a drag-reducing DRS system. Inside the cabin will feature plenty of carbonfibre and a digital instrument pack, but will also have conventional switchgear rather than a touchscreen interface. “You want to be able to find things without taking your eyes off the road in a car like this,” Carr said. Carr also claimed there will be more room and shoulder space than in a Ford GT or Aston Martin Valkyrie, with moveable seats rather than moveable pedals. “We’re trying to get the balance between prestige and luxury right,” Carr said, “but also to make clear that it’s a very high performance car. We don’t want people to think it’s a stripped-out track day monster, it will be much more practical than that. But equally we don’t want to make a Bugatti either, it has to be a Lotus.” Other neat details include a camera rear view system which will use deployable pods that motor out of the scissor-opening doors, and which relay images onto display screens. It’s a very similar system to the one the forthcoming McLaren Speedtail will have. “We were frustrated when we saw those,” Carr admits, “we’d been working on them for some
Origin: Lotus Type 130 electric hypercar will be unveiled on 16 July
Jaguar is nixing the XJ sedan, and its replacement could be electric
2018 Jaguar XJR575Handout Chalk another sedan’s death up to the relentless march of SUVs and crossovers. As reported by industry publication Autocar, Jaguar will halt production of its XJ large sedan in July, after nearly a decade on the market. The supercharged saloon was a looker when first introduced, and continued to retain a measure of visual gravitas through its mid-cycle refresh in 2015. Still, in a market where crossovers are king and electrified rides are in vogue with a certain moneyed set of customers, it was perhaps inevitable the next XJ would be quite different than today’s machine. Yes, Virginia, there will apparently be another XJ. Autocar reports Jag confirmed to them that the brand intends “to continue the XJ nameplate” but, predictably, was mum on details. There has been plenty of speculation Jag will put the model name on a coupe-like sedan, albeit one propelled solely by electrons. Could it be a legitimate competitor to the Tesla Model S? 2018 Jaguar XJR575 Handout / Jaguar It’s not like the company is bereft of electrified technology, after all. The confusingly named I-Pace crossover (the E-Pace is gasoline-powered, remember) features a 90-kWh battery pack and twin electric motors pushing out a combined 400 horsepower. Sculpting a sedan(ish) shape to fit on top of the electrified architecture shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for the design and engineering teams. Here at home, the XJ has never been a particularly strong seller, finding roughly a couple of hundred new owners each year since the dawn of time. The F-Pace crossover easily outsells it in this country by a margin of at least 10-to-one. In recent years, Jag has been pushing a “British Villains” advertising campaign, a tongue-in-cheek promotion suggesting its cars are a slightly dastardly alternative to mainstream luxury sedans. With this shift in production, Bond’s nemesis will need to adjust to life in an all-wheel-drive crossover. At least there’ll be lots of cargo room for his
Origin: Jaguar is nixing the XJ sedan, and its replacement could be electric
Even Ferrari has gone electric
Even Ferrari has gone electric The Ferrari SF90 Stradale is the first PHEV from Maranello The Italian manufacturer has launched the Ferrari SF90 Stradale, its new series-production supercar, which features a 7.9 kWh battery and three electric motors – two on the front axle and one on the rear for all-wheel drive. Combined this electric powertrain produces 162 kW (220hp), and gives the SF90 Stradale an electric driving range of a little over 15 miles on a single charge. Formula 1 technology is used for the rear motor, and the car can be set into eDrive mode to ensure electric-only running. To extend range, Ferrari has added a somewhat less green 4.0 litre turbo-charged V8, giving the SF90 Stradale PHEV an overall power output of 1,000hp, a 0-62mph time of just 2.5 seconds, and the ability to lap Ferrari’s Fiorano test track faster than any other road car the company has produced in history. Emissions and fuel economy figures are yet to be homologated, so we are yet to see how green the Ferrari SF90 Stradale is in terms of NGC Rating. We’re presuming the scores won’t be challenging the best PHEVs on the market, but it is at least good to see that names such as Ferrari, which until recently would never have been associated with a plug-in vehicle, are getting on-board with electrification.
Origin: Even Ferrari has gone electric
New Honda e: side cameras confirmed for electric city car
Honda has confirmed that its new electric city car, the Honda e, will feature side cameras in place of wing mirrors as standard when deliveries start in 2020. The Urban EV concept, first revealed at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show, featured the camera system, which Honda claims reduces aerodynamic drag by around 90% compared to conventional wing mirrors. The firm says that improves the efficicency of the entire vehicle by 3.8%, playing a significant role in maximising range. The camera system will feature two modes: a normal mode, and a wide mode with an extended field of view, and Honda claims they reduce blind spots by at least 10% compared to normal mirrors. A special water-repellent coasting will be used to stop water blocking vision. Honda recently opened up ordering for the e, ahead of first deliveries beginning next spring. Mirroring the process of rivals such as Tesla and Peugeot with the e-208, potential customers are invited to cough up a reservation fee of £800 to get “priority status” on the order books. Those customers will be invited to place a full order later this year. The car’s pricing is still yet to be announced, but as with most reservations, the fee is refundable if buyers change their mind. A near-production version of the e was shown at this year’s Geneva motor show and dubbed the Honda e prototype. The car maker has confirmed that name will stay for the production version, and revealed a selection of available paint options for customers at launch. The firm believes the car’s retro design will give it an Apple-style appeal to customers. The prototype shown at Geneva motor show is “95% production ready”, according to the firm. It maintains the styling of the Urban EV Concept, albeit with the addition of an extra set of doors. While Honda has yet to reveal full technical details of the car, its designers told Autocar at the Geneva show that it would offer “more than” 98bhp and 221lb ft of torque. Honda said there have been more than 6,500 people who have expressed interest in the Honda e in the UK. Pricing has yet to be set, Autocar understands a ballpark figure is £35,000. Project manager Kohei Hitomi said the machine had been the subject of an internal “battle” over whether to put it into production, with the positive reaction to the concept being a key factor in it gaining approval. The car is slightly shorter than a Jazz and around 100mm taller than a Mini. Honda has said it will likely have an official range of around 125 miles, with fast-charging capacity to reach 80% charge in 30 minutes. The e prototype is built on a new platform designed for A and B-segment electric cars, with underfloor batteries produced by Panasonic that are similar to those used in the US market Accord plug-in hybrid. The rear-mounted electric motor drives the rear wheels, which employ torque vectoring to give a smoother response and improved handling in tight corners. Although the e prototype’s range is substantially lower than that offered by rival EVs such as the 282-mile Kia e-Niro or BMW i3, which offers 193 miles, Hitomi said it was necessary to keep the batteries small to fulfil its city-car role. “We believe the range is sufficient for this segment of car,” said Hitomi. “Some potential customers might not be satisfied, but when you think about bigger range and a bigger battery, it has drawbacks in terms of packaging. It’s a balance.” As well as featuring cameras instead of rear-view mirrors, there are also flush door handles to further boost aerodynamic efficiency, while the charging port is mounted centrally in the bonnet. The cockpit is dominated by two 12in touchscreens, built into a dashboard finished with a wood-effect trim. The seats – including a two-seat bench in the rear – are covered in polyester, which, as with the wood effect, is designed to make the interior feel like a living room. The e prototype will be built in Japan and go on sale in selected European markets in late 2019, with others following in 2020. It will also be sold in Japan. The firm has yet to set pricing. Hitomi said it is “important” the car is affordable but he added: “A low price is not always a guarantee of success. When you look at Apple products, they are not cheap, but everyone wants to have them because of their added value. We believe it is the same for the electric
Origin: New Honda e: side cameras confirmed for electric city car
New Vauxhall Corsa-e: official pics of electric hatch
Vauxhall has revealed the new full electric Corsa-e supermini, which will kickstart the brand’s electrification programme when it goes on sale next March with 134bhp and a 211-mile range. The unveiling of official pictures and details of the EV version of the Corsa – which will also be offered with petrol and diesel powertrains – has been brought forward after images of the Opel-branded version leaked online yesterday. The new Corsa is the first Vauxhall model that has been developed since the firm was bought by the PSA Group, which also owns Peugeot, Citroën and DS. It shares the PSA Group’s new CMP platform and powertrains with the recently launched Peugeot 208. The Corsa-e will match the e-208 in having a 50kWh battery to power the electric motor. The powertrain has 134bhp and produces 191lb ft, enough for a 0-31mph time of around 3.1secs. The Corsa-e will feature three drive modes – Normal, Sport and Eco – with Vauxhall claiming the 211-mile official range can be extended by up to 40% in Eco drive mode. The hatch also features a regenerative braking system. While based on the same architecture, the car’s bodywork is entirely a Vauxhall/Opel design, with no crossover from the 208. Despite the new platform, the Corsa’s dimensions are closely matched to the outgoing model, while the styling is also similar. The Corsa-e will have styling close to the combustion-engined version, with a bespoke wheel design and slightly different grille. It features a charging port located where the fuel filler normally is on a combustion-engined car. It will only be offered in five-door form, reflecting current industry trends. Inside, the Corsa-e will be offered with a 10in touchscreen, with an infotainment system compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It will also offer a range of driver assistance features, including traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control and park assist. The combustion-engined version of the Corsa, which Autocar drove a development version of recently, will be launched at a later date. Vauxhall will reveal pricing information for the Corsa-e closer to when it goes on sale next year. As part of the PSA Group’s wider plans, Vauxhall will offer a full electric or electrified version of every model in its line-up by 2024. It recently unveiled the Grandland PHEV, and has confirmed the successor to the Mokka X SUV and the new Vivaro van, both due in 2020, will feature battery electric
Origin: New Vauxhall Corsa-e: official pics of electric hatch
GM’s new global digital platform will underpin electric, autonomous vehicles
GM Digital Vehicle Platform GM unveiled its new all-electronic platform late May, the basis for its next generation of conventional and electric vehicles; active safety, infotainment and connectivity technologies; and evolving Super Cruise driver assistance. The company said these and other advancements are central to its vision for zero crashes, emissions and congestion, including an “all-electric future.” Over the next five to 10 years, vehicles will need more electrical bandwidth and connectivity to ensure all advanced vehicle features can run in conjunction with each other. The platform’s technology powers an electronic system that’s capable of managing up to 4.5 terabytes of data processing power per hour, a fivefold increase over the company’s current electrical architecture. Over-the-air software updates will allow functionality upgrades over the vehicle’s lifetime. The platform will debut underneath the 2020 Cadillac CT5, which goes into production later this year, and is expected to roll out to most vehicles across GM’s global lineup by 2023. It was developed at GM’s global facilities by teams of electrical, hardware and software engineers. For cybersecurity, the system includes additional protective hardware and software levels, and the company maintains an integrated team of experts that focus on protecting data, as well as chairing the Automotive Information Sharing Analysis Center, a community of private and public sector partners that analyzes intelligence about emerging security risks in the automotive
Origin: GM’s new global digital platform will underpin electric, autonomous vehicles
Driving an electric vehicle saves you big bucks: B.C. Hydro survey
A Ford Fusion Energi electric vehicle being recharged at a charging station.Handout / Ford The longer your commute, the more you save by driving an electric vehicle, according to a survey released Friday by B.C. Hydro. The provincial power utility estimates that consumers could save thousands of dollars a year by switching from a vehicle powered by fossil fuels to one powered by electricity. A commuter driving the 80-km round trip from Surrey to Vancouver, for example, would spend $409 a year in an electric Nissan Leaf, according to the survey. Driving a fossil-fuelled Honda Civic would cost an estimated $2,200, or about $1,700 more a year; a Toyota RV4, $2,519, or $2,000 more; and a Ford F-150, $3,779, or $3,200 more. The B.C. Hydro calculations are based on an electric vehicle costing the equivalent of 25 cents a litre in gasoline. Gasbuddy.com on Thursday listed 10 gas stations in Vancouver with per-litre prices ranging from $1.55 to $1.66. “Fuelling costs for an electric vehicle are about 80 per cent less,” said Tanya Fish, a senior media relations adviser for B.C. Hydro. “The more you drive, the more you save on your fuelling costs.” Fish said B.C. Hydro wanted to look at the cost of commuting with an electric vehicle given that gasoline prices are so high in Metro Vancouver. “It’s very topical,” she said. “I think more and more people are exploring the switch to electric vehicles given that they’ll save significantly on fuelling and maintenance.” Fish said B.C. Hydro reported that last April that there were slightly fewer than 9,000 electric vehicles on the road. Now there are about 18,000. By 2030, B.C. Hydro estimates there will be about 350,000 electric vehicles in the province. They will use the equivalent of 1,050 gigawatts hours per year of energy—the same amount of power used by 97,000 homes. “It’s something we’re planning for to ensure we can handle the load on the system,” she said. She said B.C. Hydro plans to add another 23 fast-charging electric vehicle charging stations this year to the existing network of 58. A fast-charge station can charge an electric vehicle to 80 per cent in 30 minutes or less. The province estimates that consumers can choose from among 44 clean energy vehicles in B.C. priced at $33,000 to $50,000, before incentives. The lowest EV starts at about $29,000. Norway expects 50 per cent of new car sales this year will be electric. In March, the country set a new record with electric vehicles comprising 58.4 per cent of all new car
Origin: Driving an electric vehicle saves you big bucks: B.C. Hydro survey
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