Mini to shrink flagship hatch and launch Traveller crossover

That latter point is currently the focus of the new car’s early development. There is an acknowledgement within the company that the core three-door hatchback has grown too large and its proportions lack the compact look of the earlier BMW-produced models, particularly around the front overhang. Although it won’t dramatically shrink the car’s footprint, the altered proportions, particularly at the front, should give it a more compact look. Mini is also seeking to incorporate some of the packaging lessons learned from the Electric three-door hatch into the standard car, which will be offered with petrol and electric drivetrains in its next generation. “We are having proportion and design discussions at the moment,” said Körber. “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.” There will also be a “major step to the future and innovation” in the new Mini’s interior, with a greater focus on digital technology. However, the round centre console will remain a part of the design. The fourth-generation Mini line-up is again set to include closely related three-door, five-door and Cabriolet models, as well as the larger Clubman and Countryman. It will grow to also include a crossover model that’s larger than the Countryman. The crossover could revive the Traveller name and the electric version will be twinned with the next-generation BMW i3, as previously reported by Autocar. Regarding the crossover, 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”. He 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 are lots of benefits with a car like that for urban use. For me, it’s a good match.” Although such a car would be the biggest Mini, Körber said it would still be one of the smallest 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,” he said. Each future Mini is set to be offered with a choice of petrol and electric drivetrains, with plug-in hybrids also featuring in larger models. Diesel is unlikely to appear in the future line-up as part of the switch towards electrification. Diesel is already no longer offered in Minis sold in the UK but it is available in other markets. The three-door hatch will be the only electric model in the current-generation Mini range as there are no plans to launch electric versions of the five-door or Cabriolet models. Mini’s familiar One, Cooper and Cooper S badges will be retained in the future to signal different performance levels and Körber said high-performance John Cooper Works models will continue to be a feature of the Mini range. Körber also said Mini will continue to offer internal combustion engines in cars in the next-generation range alongside battery-electric versions, something that will 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. The Clubman, Countryman and Traveller models will be based on BMW’s natively front-wheel-drive FAAR platform, as seen on the new BMW 1 Series. It’s not yet clear if the three-door, five-door and Cabriolet models will also be built on that architecture or a new smaller one understood to be in development with Chinese firm Great Wall. That new smaller platform has opened the door for Mini to at last create a production version of the tiny Rocketman concept, a move that Autocar revealed in July. Officially, Mini is “at the beginning of relations with Great Wall and still in discussions”, according to Körber. He said Mini remained committed to its Oxford plant and it is set to continue producing the smaller hatchback models into the next generation, with further production sites in the Netherlands and China for other
Origin: Mini to shrink flagship hatch and launch Traveller crossover

Audi shows hot SQ8 as new flagship SUV

The diesel, which automatically turns off one of the two turbochargers at low speeds to boost fuel economy, is mated to a 48V mild hybrid system, operated through a belt alternator starter connected to the crankshaft. It can generate up to 11bhp under braking, and allow the SQ8 to coast without the engine active for up to 40 seconds at speeds between 34 and 100mph. Power is driven to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, with an optional advanced suspension package including a sport differential that can balance torque between the rear wheels when cornering. As standard, the car sits on adaptive air suspension, which can adjust the ride height by up to 90mm, and features electromechanical active roll stabilisation, which uses an electric motor to reduce body movement. All-wheel steering is available as an option, either by itself or as part of the advanced suspension package. The SQ8 sits on 21-inch wheels as standard, with 22-inch available upon request. Carbon fibre ceramic brake discs are available as standard. The SQ8 features a number of design tweaks from the Q8, which is closely related to the more practical Q7 and built on the VW Group’s MLB Evo platform. It gains a new S-specific grille featuring a matt silver frame and LED headlights, along with revamped air inlets and new aluminium-effect mirrors. At the rear, the diffuser is finished in a matt black colour, with quad exhausts. A black styling package will be offered to further differentiate the car. Inside, as with other S machines the SQ8 is finished in black, with a mix of leather and Alcantara, and embossed S logos in the seats. Stainless steel pedals and footrest, along with aluminium inlays on the door sills, are standard. As with the Q8, the SQ8 is offered with a twin touchscreen set-up and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster, which features S-specific graphics and displays. The SQ8 is due to go on sale in the UK in the coming months. Pricing has yet to be set, but will likely be an increase on the current range-topping Q8, the 55 TFSI, which costs £80,815. While the SQ8 will only be offered in the UK and Europe with the turbodiesel powerplant, largely due to the need to meet EU CO2 targets, petrol engined-versions will be offered in other
Origin: Audi shows hot SQ8 as new flagship SUV

Audi E-tron 50 revealed as value version of flagship EV

Audi has revealed the E-tron 50 as a cheaper and lighter version of its flagship electric SUV. Due to arrive in the UK in early 2020, the new variant weighs roughly 120kg less than the 2565kg E-tron 55, primarily as a result of its smaller battery pack. The E-tron 50’s 71kWh pack – likely to be the lowest-capacity battery Audi will offer in the E-tron – enables it to achieve a range of up to 186 miles on the WLTP test cycle. That’s 55 miles fewer than the 95kWh E-tron 55. By comparison, the E-tron’s main rival, the Mercedes-Benz EQC, has a WLTP-certified range of 259 miles in its standard 400 form. A future lower-spec variant could be expected to offer less than 200 miles. While the E-tron 55 is compatible with 150kW chargers, the E-tron 50 can only accept up to 120kW. It can still, however, be charged to 80% in approximately half an hour at a rapid-charging station. The E-tron 50 is also less potent than the E-tron 55. It employs the same twin-motor setup, but maximum power is down from 402bhp to 308bhp and maximum torque is down from 490lb ft to 398lb ft. The E-tron 50 has a 0-62mph time of 7.0sec and an electronically limited top speed of 118mph. Regenerative braking technology recuperates energy in more than 90% of brake applications, working alongside an electrohydraulic brake assistance system that activates when braking force exceeds 0.3g. Audi says this “results in short braking distances in all situations”. The E-tron 50 will be built alongside the more powerful version at Audi’s EV production facility in Forest, Belgium. Exact pricing is yet to be confirmed, but the E-tron 55 can be expected to cost around £10,000 less than the E-tron 55, which starts at £71,520 before government grants. Audi isn’t the only manufacturer to offer a range of battery sizes across its new family of electric vehicles. Tesla has long employed this strategy, while the new Volkswagen ID 3 hatchback will be offered with three different units when it launches later this year, with range rising from 205 miles in the entry-level model to 342 miles at the top of the
Origin: Audi E-tron 50 revealed as value version of flagship EV

Audi reveals hot SQ8 as new flagship SUV

Audi has revealed the new hot SQ8 as its flagship SUV, featuring a 429bhp mild hybrid turbodiesel V8 engine. The 4.0-litre biturbo unit offered in the range-topping performance version of the coupe-inspired Q8 large SUV is the most powerful V8 offered by the firm in Europe. It produces 664lb ft and powers the seven-seater from 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds, with a limited top speed of 155mph. The diesel, which automatically turns off one of the two turbochargers at low speeds to boost fuel economy, is mated to a 48V mild hybrid system, operated through a belt alternator starter connected to the crankshaft. It can generate up to 11bhp under braking, and allow the SQ8 to coast without the engine active for up to 40 seconds at speeds between 34 and 100mph. Power is driven to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, with an optional advanced suspension package including a sport differential that can balance torque between the rear wheels when cornering. As standard, the car sits on adaptive air suspension, which can adjust the ride height by up to 90mm, and features electromechanical active roll stabilisation, which uses an electric motor to reduce body movement. All-wheel steering is available as an option, either by itself or as part of the advanced suspension package. The SQ8 sits on 21-inch wheels as standard, with 22-inch available upon request. Carbon fibre ceramic brake discs are available as standard. The SQ8 features a number of design tweaks from the Q8, which is closely related to the more practical Q7 and built on the VW Group’s MLB Evo platform. It gains a new S-specific grille featuring a matt silver frame and LED headlights, along with revamped air inlets and new aluminium-effect mirrors. At the rear, the diffuser is finished in a matt black colour, with quad exhausts. A black styling package will be offered to further differentiate the car. Inside, as with other S machines the SQ8 is finished in black, with a mix of leather and Alcantara, and embossed S logos in the seats. Stainless steel pedals and footrest, along with aluminium inlays on the door sills, are standard. As with the Q8, the SQ8 is offered with a twin touchscreen set-up and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster, which features S-specific graphics and displays. The SQ8 is due to go on sale in the UK in the coming months. Pricing has yet to be set, but will likely be an increase on the current range-topping Q8, the 55 TFSI, which costs £80,815. While the SQ8 will only be offered in the UK and Europe with the turbodiesel powerplant, largely due to the need to meet EU CO2 targets, petrol engined-versions will be offered in other
Origin: Audi reveals hot SQ8 as new flagship SUV

Skoda sketch previews facelifted Superb flagship

A new sketch released by Skoda previews the design of the facelifted Superb flagship ahead of a reveal later this month. The preview image hints at a subtle evolution of the Mazda 6 rival’s front fascia, which retains Skoda’s trademark grille design, alongside redesigned headlight clusters and a reworked lower bumper. Like the recently launched Scala hatchback, the revised Superb will feature the marque’s name in letters across its bootlid, in place of the Skoda emblem. More significant is the fact that the new Superb will be the first to offer a plug-in hybrid option, likely the same 1.4 TSI petrol-electric powertrain that features in the Volkswagen Passat GTE, with which it shares a platform. In the similar-sized Passat, this hybrid set-up produces a combined 215bhp and can emit as little as 39g/km of CO2. Like the Passat, the Superb can be expected to run in electric-only mode for up to 31 miles. Inside, the Superb will benefit from similar interior revisions to those received by the Rapid-replacing Scala hatchback. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration is likely to be made standard across the range, with an enhanced focus on simplicity and ergonomics differentiating the new model from its predecessor. Skoda’s revamped infotainment system will also feature, enabling over-the-air updates and new mobile app functions. Increased personalisation is likely, with Skoda currently offering new microfibre interior materials and backlighting lower down the range. Last year, Skoda design chief Oliver Stefani pledged to roll out a new, bolder design language for the Czech firm in the run-up to mass electrification of its line-up. “Skoda values have always been functionality, usability and practicality,” he said. “We’d like to add more emotion.” The new Superb will be revealed in full during the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, of which Skoda is the long-standing main sponsor, in Bratislava later this
Origin: Skoda sketch previews facelifted Superb flagship