Jeff Griffiths with the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid in Calgary.Brendan Miller/Postmedia Toyotas 2020 Corolla is all new from top to bottom and front to back. Now in its 12th generation, the Corolla platform first launched way back in 1966. Since then, the car has been a perennial best-seller for Toyota with more than 45 million examples sold worldwide.While overall design of the compact sedan has been revised and driving dynamics have been improved thanks to Toyotas New Global Architecture (TNGA) underpinnings, the big news for 2020 is the fact that for the first time ever Toyota is offering the Corolla as a hybrid. Theyve taken the Hybrid Synergy Drive system from the Prius and placed it in the Corolla to give the model maximum fuel economy.So, does it live up to its miserly expectations?Calgary driver Jeff Griffiths says he spent $10.26 on gasoline for the week he spent driving the compact sedan. Which is, frankly, quite amazing, he explains of the money invested to add 325 kilometres to the odometer. In the Corolla Hybrid, a 1.8-litre four-cylinder internal combustion engine is paired with two motor/generators. Combined output of all three is 121 horsepower, and that power is put to the front wheels and ultimately to the road through a continuously variable transmission. Electrical power is stored in a nickel-metal hydride battery that lives under the rear seat and takes up very little real estate. Plus, the batterys location lowers the Corolla Hybrids centre of gravity, something the automaker claims helps to improve overall agility.Ive driven a Toyota before, Griffiths says, adding, Back in the Seventies, I had a Land Cruiser and it was indestructible. My opinion of the company is theyre one of the best automakers on the planet theyre all about quality.While certainly aware of the nameplate, Griffiths had never before driven a Corolla. Of his first impression of the 2020 Corolla Hybrid, he says the car was bigger than hed expected it would be.He adds, One of the most striking things about the car is the bucket nose on the front end, it certainly makes the car noticeable.Getting into the drivers seat, Griffiths was immediately impressed by the fit and finish. It feels like they cared when they put it together. Everythings soft that needs to be soft and there are no hard edges sticking out anywhere its very refined looking.With the door closed, it took Griffiths only a few moments to make a couple of small adjustments to the seat and mirrors. Ergonomically, he says, the car fit him nicely and the switchgear was all where hed expected it to be.Basically, I was just able to get in the car and drive, and thats a good thing in my opinion, he says. I didnt need a course to drive it, but it does take a few minutes to learn the various menus in the touchscreen and what they all do. When he was ready to roll, Griffiths hit the start button.And, nothing happened, he chuckles. The engine doesnt start, but everything lights up and the electronics take over. Thats a bit of a different feeling because thats all new to me Id never driven a hybrid or electric vehicle before.You hit the accelerator pedal and off you go. With very little road noise and no engine noise you at first feel like youre floating along.When you demand more power, the gas engine kicks in when it needs to. Its got all kinds of poop when you get the electric motors and the gasoline engine going, itll really get up and dance.For the most part, Griffiths kept the Corolla in the city. He commuted and ran errands, but he did get out on a country road to judge how well it would handle some curves.Its a confident, sure-footed car, he says. And the brakes were very efficient. When you lift off the throttle, thanks to the regenerative braking system, the car felt like it was being slowed by engine braking.While Griffiths says he experimented driving in different modes, including Eco and Sport, he couldnt feel too much difference, and wondered what part of the driving dynamic might have changed.He says the trunk has plenty of room and he didnt have any difficulty lifting objects in or out of the cargo space. The rear seat offers a 60/40 folding back and that further increases carrying capacity.His two adult sons, 5-feet 8-inches and 6-feet tall, each found room in the back seat and thought it comfortable for a short ride.The Corolla Hybrid, he thinks, would best suit someone using the car to commute on a daily basis or to have as a second vehicle. It was easy to drive, and offered worry free, fuss free, economical convenience.While I personally might not have found the car that exciting to drive, he says, It is really, really good at what it does. DRIVER’S JOURNALDay OnePicked up the car first thing in the morning. First impression: quiet. On the drive into downtown Calgary it was difficult to tell if the engine was running. Very smooth. Driving home in the evening; feels isolated theres very little feedback to the driver. It
Origin: Reader Review: 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
hybrid
2020 BMW X3 lineup grows with a new plug-in hybrid model
2020 BMW X3 xDrive30eDerek McNaughton / Driving What is it?BMWs most popular model the X3 will soon be available as a plug-in hybrid with an electric range of 50 kilometres.Why does it matter?While a fully electric X3 is still a distant possibility, the X3 XDrive30e with standard AWD bridges the gap between a future BEV and the partial electric X3 today. Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder turbo engine with 184 horsepower and an electric motor integrated into the eight-speed automatic transmission.Check out all of our latest auto show coverage hereThe high-voltage battery can be charged via a conventional household socket using the standard-equipment charging cable. In this way, the battery will fully charge in less than six hours. For commuters who travel less than 50 kilometres each day, it could be months before ever needing gas. Together, the two drive units yield 292 horsepower, allowing for a zero-to-100 km/h sprint in 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 210 km/h. Average fuel economy, when bolstered by the batterym is 2.4L / 100 kilometres.More importantly, the lithium-ion battery pack is located underneath the rear seat while the fuel tank is positioned above the rear axle, so the cargo space of 450 litres is the same as a conventional X3. When is it coming?The X3 plug-in hybrid is coming to Canada late spring, 2020, with pricing will be announced closer to the launch.Should you buy it? If you like the looks and driving dynamics of the X3, as lots of people do, then saving fuel, cutting emissions and never having to suffer range anxiety sounds like an ideal formula for this popular premium SUV.LISTEN: What do car dealers think about electric vehicles? Are they keen to have them in their showrooms? We talk to Vancouver GM dealer Blair Upton about this and much more during this week’s episode of Plugged In. Plugged In is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.Is the player not working? Click
Origin: 2020 BMW X3 lineup grows with a new plug-in hybrid model
5 things I learned driving Ford’s new 2020 Explorer Hybrid
2020 Ford Explorer HybridFord The 2020 Ford Explorer is an attractive beast, big on North American muscularity and pronounced haunches. Effete is not a word that comes to mind when you climb and, considering its step-up height, you really do have to climb into its vastness. After the initial size-shock, we took a closer look and these were the five observations that stood out the most.These big SUVs are becoming more minivan-likeThough Ford claims the 2020 Explorer is quite off-road worthy and I have no reason to doubt them it does look and feel like a butched-up family hauler. No, theres no sliding door or hideaway seats, but this latest Explorer feels more like an old Chevy Suburban the ultimate, well, soccer-mom SUV than the traipsing-over-hill-and-dale Explorers of old. Thats not so much a criticism as an observation, made all the more obvious to someone who spent virtually no time in the last generation Ford and can only judge the new version against Explorers long past. Ford tuned the Hybrid for torqueThe very first thing I noticed apparent before I had driven even a kilometre is that the Explorer Hybrid has excellent low-end punch. It might even have a little too much, other journalists complaining of overly aggressive throttle tip-in right off idle.I had no such plaints, just praise for the way the electrified V6 jumps off the line. Oh, all that promise peters off once youre past 60 km/h or so the gas portion of the Explorer Hybrid is but a 3.3-litre V6 and a non-turbocharged one, at that but one cant help be impressed with the its initial verve, especially considering that it boasts 318 horsepower. 2020 Ford Explorer Hybrid Ford Electric-only range is minisculeThe Hybrid features a 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery (mounted unobtrusively under the second row of seats) large compared with small subcompact runabouts, but not a huge reserve considering its weight (2,254 kilograms). Feeding the smallish 44-horsepower electric motor sandwiched in between the engines crankshaft and the 10-speed automatic’s torque convertor it doesnt allow for much electric-only range. Oh, I managed about five kilometres of gas-free driving at one point, but I was treating the throttle like a first-time dad changing his first diaper; any sudden movement might end up in an unwanted squirting of, well, you know what I mean. Driven more typically, I never really got any EV-ish motoring, though as mentioned previously, that silent mode was replaced with a certain bullishness off the line. Ford engineers have confirmed that they tuned the Hybrid more for performance and towing capacity 2,268 kilos and the price is a reliance on internal combustion. 2020 Ford Explorer Limited Hybrid Jil McIntosh Fuel economy is no great shakes, eitherAnother price for the emphasis on performance is fuel economy only marginally superior to that of its more pedestrian siblings. Officially, Transport Canada rates the Explorer Hybrid at 9.6 L/100 kilometres. That is only, say the critics, slightly better than the base Limited version, whose 2.3-litre turbo-four ekes out 10.3 overall. That may be true, but the Hybrid is also more energetic than the little blown four and any time you can get more urge and better economy, no matter how minimal, is a good day.That said, Fords primary competition for its new Hybrid will be Toyota’s electrified Highlander, which until this year, was similarly V6-powered. However, for 2020, Toyota decided to mate is Hybrid Synergy Drive to a 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four and it now boasts 240 horsepower. That said, its overall fuel economy is vastly superior to the Explorers with a rating of 6.9 L/100 km overall. Even with hybrids, it seems, there is no free lunch. 2020 Ford Explorer Hybrid Ford The drive, on the other hand, is exemplaryThe one thing the new Explorer Hybrid does have down pat, however, is comportment. The gas/electric engine combo, as I mentioned, is exemplary. Noise, vibration and harshness are well contained, power more than adequate, and I suspect, with a little more tweaking in future models, the fuel economy will improve. Combined with a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic, its a sweet-driving powertrain.The only thing that could make it better is if Ford combined that 44-horsepower electric motor with its 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6, rather than this 3.3L naturally aspirated version, for more torque and (probably) better fuel economy. Im sure Ford has all manner of reasons be they price-based or specific technical issues but, wow, would that be a
Origin: 5 things I learned driving Ford’s new 2020 Explorer Hybrid
BMW prices up new plug-in hybrid models in UK
BMW has revealed UK pricing and spec details for a range of new plug-in hybrids, alongside announcing updates for existing models. The latest editions to the German maker’s PHEV line-up are the X3 xDrive30e and X5 xDrive45e, available to order from £47,565 and £63,165 respectively. The smaller of the two, the X3, is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with an electric motor for a total output of 248bhp. It’s also equipped with ‘XtraBoost’, an on-demand system that adds 41bhp from the EV system at the touch of a button. It promises an all-electric range of up to 34 miles, economy of up to 128mpg and CO2 emissions of 49g/km, alongside a 0-62mph time of 6.1sec. Production of the X3 xDrive30e will begin in December, with SE, xLine and M Sport trims offered. The plug-in X5 makes use of a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine mated to a 113bhp electric motor, combining for a peak 389bhp and 442lb ft. A significantly larger 24kWh battery allows a quoted all-electric range of 54 miles – three times that of the old model. Economy is quoted at up to 235mpg, with 39g/km of CO2, while it manages 0-62mph in 5.6sec and a 146mph top speed. The BMW 330e, which we drove earlier this year, is also now on pricing lists in the UK. It comes in four trim levels, promising 0-62mph in 6.0sec and up to 201mpg, and is priced from £37,875. Two other BMW PHEVs, the 530e saloon and 225xe Active Tourer, see new lithium batteries fitted to improve range. The packs have the same dimensions as the ones they replace but the energy content has increased from 9.2kWh to 12kWh, boosting EV range to up to 35 miles on the 530e and 31 miles on the 225xe. The former promises up to 156mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 36g/km, although this worsens significantly with the addition of xDrive all-wheel drive. The 225xe is claimed to offer up to
Origin: BMW prices up new plug-in hybrid models in UK
Hot VW Touareg R to arrive with plug-in hybrid power
Volkswagen is set to expand its R performance lineup with a range-topping version of the Touareg SUV, expected to be unveiled next year and go on sale in 2021. The Touareg was confirmed as “the first R model to go plug-in hybrid” by VW’s sales and marketing boss Jürgen Stackmann, who was speaking prior to the reveal of the new Mk8 Volkswagen Golf. After confirming a Touareg R, Stackmann went on to say “ we start with that journey, and the task is out there for Joss Capito and his team to deliver us an electric future for R. Then that’s the journey for R. For the next five years as we are launching some Rs next year we will couple these cars with a very strong message for low emissions”. The Touareg is currently offered with a plug-in hybrid variant in China, with that car expected to go on sale in Europe in the coming months. It is powered by a 2.0-litre four cylinder turbo petrol engine mated to a 134bhp electric motor with a combined output of 363bhp and 516lb ft of torque. Currently, the fastest Touareg offered in the UK is the 335bhp V6 non-hybrid petrol model. Whether or not Volkswagen is planning to electrify this powertrain to push its output beyond 400bhp remains to be seen, but it’s also possible that the four-cylinder unit could be boosted further to suit the R. When asked about the possibility of a fully-electric R, Stackmann admitted there is still a way to go before such a thing is viable. “For the immediate future I think we will still see Rs in the conventional form, so that they will be true to what R is today but obviously we need to worry about it as our emissions need to come down in 2020, R needs to go on the way. “ The Golf R, set to go on sale next year, is expected to make use of a highly tuned version of the Group’s EA888 2.0-litre petrol engine delivering around 320bhp. A Golf R Plus, with up to 400bhp, is also mooted to take on the Mercedes-AMG
Origin: Hot VW Touareg R to arrive with plug-in hybrid power
The 2020 Audi A6 Hybrid gets better all-electric mileage
Audi A6 55 TFSI e quattroAudi Audis latest plug-in hybrid for 2020 is the A6 TFSI e 55 quattro, the automaker revealed late October, a sedan thatll join the lineup alongside the A7, A8, Q5 and Q7.Under the hood of this A6 is a 2.0-litre gasoline engine paired with a 105-kW electric motor; in total the powertrain makes 362 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft. of torque, which helps get the sedan to 100 km/h from zero in just 5.6 seconds.The name feels its longer than its been before, but maybe thats because the electric-only range is slightly longer, too, now 53 km in European testing, a small improvement over the 40 km range of the A7. It might not be enough for a full trip out of the city, but its enough for a trip downtown.The A6s batteries can be recharged in just 2.5 hours at public chargers with an output of 7.4 kW. There are three drive modes that can be selected: EV for pure-electric; Hybrid to turn both gasoline and electric motors on; and Hold, to save electric power while using the gasoline engine only.On a side note, who edited these pictures for Audi? The wheels have clearly been poorly pasted on after the fact theres no depth. Perhaps they only had steel wheels lying around for the shoot, and proclaimed well fix it in post? Either way, poor form.Canadian pricing has not been announced, but in Europe the 2020 Audi A6 TFSI e 55 quattro plug-in Hybrid costs 68,850 Euro, or about CAD$100,500. Its likely the vehicle wont come to the U.S. or Canada anyway, as the last A6 hybrid we saw in North America was cancelled due to poor
Origin: The 2020 Audi A6 Hybrid gets better all-electric mileage
Audi A6 55 TFSIe quattro plug-in hybrid arrives with 362bhp
The new Audi A6 plug-in hybrid has gone on sale in Germany as Audi progresses with the electrification of its line-up. The A6 55 TFSIe quattro, first revealed at the Geneva motor show earlier this year, takes its power from a 249bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, with a 141bhp electric motor integrated into the gearbox for a combined output of 362bhp. This powertrain also features in plug-in hybrid versions of the Q5 and A7 Sportback. Power is sent to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, with maximum torque output rated at 369lb ft. The saloon will accelerate from 0-62mph in 5.6sec and on to a top speed of 155mph. A less powerful variant, the 50 TFSIe, is set to arrive later, offering 295bhp and 332lb ft. The 55 TFSIe can run on electricity alone at speeds of up to 84mph for 33 miles on the WLTP combined cycle, with Audi claiming “customers can do most of their daily driving electrically”. Three driving modes feature, allowing drivers to easily switch between electric, hybrid and petrol power as desired. Audi claims a charging time from empty of around 2.5 hours from a 7.4kW charger, while the firm’s MyAudi smartphone app offers drivers sat-nav instructions based around public charger locations. The app can also be used to control air conditioning and heater settings before entering the car. The 55 TFSIe is equipped with Audi’s sporty S line exterior package, black trim elements and privacy glass as standard. Inside, it gets sport seats, four-zone climate control and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit screen. UK pricing and specification details are yet to be confirmed, but prices start from €68,850 (£59,128) in
Origin: Audi A6 55 TFSIe quattro plug-in hybrid arrives with 362bhp
Bentley Bentayga Hybrid goes on sale in UK
The Bentley Bentayga Hybrid, the firm’s first electrified production vehicle, is now on sale in Europe and the UK, priced from £133,100. First revealed at the Geneva motor show in March 2018, order books for the plug-in hybrid SUV were due to open later that year. However, the launch was significantly delayed in the European market as a result of WLTP emissions certification. A Bentley spokesman said the setback was “due to WLTP certification, with business priority placed on getting the (new) Continental GT and GT Convertible on sale in as many markets as possible”. Customer deliveries of the Bentayga Hybrid are now set to get underway before the end of this year. The luxury plug-in hybrid is capable of up to 24.2 miles of electric-only range on the WLTP combined cycle. It couples a 126bhp, 295lb ft electric motor with a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine for a 0-62mph time of 5.5sec and top speed of 158mph. Total power output is unconfirmed, but it can be expected to match the 455bhp of the powertrain-sharing Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid, while torque is rated at 516lb ft. Unique to the Bentayga Hybrid is a range of new sat-nav features that automatically calculate the “optimum combination of electric motor and engine” according to the planned journey. Three driving modes – EV, Hybrid and Hold – offer varying balances of electric and engine power, with regenerative braking working to recover energy at all times. The SUV is capable of 80.7mpg on the WLTP cycle, with CO2 emissions rated at 79g/km. Bentley claims the battery can be fully charged from empty in two and a half hours. The Bentayga Hybrid is Bentley’s first step into electrification and precedes an electrified version of the firm’s new Flying Spur luxury saloon that’s set to arrive in 2020. Plans for an electric sports car have been shelved, however, with boss Adrian Hallmark telling Autocar at the Goodwood Festival of Speed: “We are wrestling with multiple dimensions, and it is my belief – and it is an informed estimate, not a defined goal – that we will have the capability of building a car with the high performance and high range capabilities that our customers expect by around
Origin: Bentley Bentayga Hybrid goes on sale in UK
2019 Skoda Superb: plug-in hybrid pricing announced
Skoda has revealed its new Superb iV plug-in hybrid will start from £31,970 when it arrives Britain in January. The figure was revealed to journalists during the UK launch of the rest of the revised Superb range, and makes the new model £4,730 cheaper than its sibling, the Volkswagen Passat GTE. The hybrid will be launched as the Superb iV in recognition of Skoda’s new sub-brand that will be used for its bold electrification plans. The Superb iV features a 154bhp, 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine mated to a 114bhp electric motor, which sends drive to the front wheels through a six-speed DSG transmission. The peak system output is 220bhp, with 295lb ft of torque. The car will be capable of completing 34 miles of pure electric running, identical to the similar Volkswagen Passat GTE. Skoda has yet to release performance figues, but insiders suggest they will closely match the Passat, hinting at a 0-62mph time of around 7.4sec for the saloon. The brand also promises an official CO2 rating of under 40g/km. A battery pack is located under the floor and ahead of the rear axle, which means a slight reduction in boot capacity – 485 litres for the saloon and 510 litres for the estate, compared with 625 and 660 for the non-hybrid versions respectively. Beyond the well-hidden charging port integrated into the front grille, there will be little to give away the PHEV’s part-electric status. The infotainment system can display information on battery status and electric range and additional controls for the various powertrain modes. It will also be possible to programme the PHEV’s air-con to cool the cabin before the car is needed. Prices for the rest of the range, with traditional petrol and diesel engines, start from £24,655 for the saloon and £25,975 for the estate version. The updated model has launched with a choice of two petrol and two diesel engines, and in six trim levels. Entry-level S models, offered with a 1.6-litre petrol or diesel engine, feature LED front and rear lights, and a new infotainment system featuring voice control. SE trim adds features including 17in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, parking sensors and adaptive cruise control. Above that, SE Technology features leather upholstery, heated seats and integrated wi-fi. SE L includes 18in alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, full matrix LED headlights and an electrically operated boot. SportLine Plus trim comes with 19in alloy wheels and black sports styling details, along with Alcantara upholstery and a three-spoke sport steering wheel. The range-topping Laurin Klement trim features all of the kit from SE L, and adds 18in alloy wheels, ventilated front seats, heated front and reat seats, LED interior lighting, three-zone climate control, an upgraded navigation system and a Canton sound system, along with Skoda’s Dynamic chassis control system. The existing Superb powertrains will be carried over for the facelifted model, with a new 2.0-litre 190bhp TSI unit added. The range-topper will be a 268bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged version – down around 8bhp from the outgoing on car due to the inclusion of a petrol paticulate filter and other emissions control systems. The redesigned Superb has gained a new-look grille, with added chrome trim between the LED rear lights. There is also a new front bumper, which stretches the length of the car by 8mm to 4869mm. The car is the first Skoda to gain full LED matrix headlights as an option, and new driver assistance features include predictive cruise control that makes use of data from road signs. Deliveries for the facelifted car begin in September. Skoda promises the PHEV will be highly competitive in its increasingly crowded part of the market, and is anticipated to constitute up to 20% of sales in the
Origin: 2019 Skoda Superb: plug-in hybrid pricing announced
Next-gen Mercedes-AMG GT to be four-wheel-drive hybrid
Mercedes-AMG is well into the development of a second-generation GT, which is due on sale in 2021 with a hybrid powertrain that will offer increased power and torque. The next iteration of AMG’s supercar will adopt a revised twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine with new mild-hybrid assistance, as well as a transaxle re-engineered to accommodate a fully variable four-wheel-drive system in selected models. That move is set to endow it with significantly greater performance potential than its predecessor. Insiders at Mercedes-AMG’s headquarters in Affalterbach, Germany, suggest a series of driveline innovations will push the power output of future upper-end GT models beyond 650bhp. The innovations will include an electric boosting capability as part of a range of new mild-hybrid EQ Boost functions. As well as increasing the power output, the addition of electric boosting via a starter/ alternator and new 48V electric architecture will bring a notable increase in torque to the GT’s upgraded V8 engine. The successor model to today’s GT R is set to generate up to 700lb ft. As a point of reference, the most powerful current iteration of AMG’s V8, codenamed M178, resides in the GT63 S 4Matic 4-Door Coupé, where it kicks out 630bhp and 664lb ft with an initial range of EQ Boost functions. In today’s form, the GT R makes 577bhp and 516lb ft. The new GT will once again be produced in both coupé and roadster bodystyles. It’s scheduled to reach UK showrooms in early 2022. Key rivals for the new model include the Porsche 911, which is also set to adopt hybrid functions when the facelifted version of today’s 992-generation model is launched, and the Aston Martin Vantage. But whereas Porsche is looking to go down the full plug-in hybrid route, including all-electric capability for limited distances, this has been ruled out for future Mercedes-AMG GT models because of packaging concerns. One source told Autocar: “With a 75-litre fuel tank behind the cabin, we’re already at the limit on packaging. For worthwhile distances on electric, you need a battery with at least 12kWh of capacity. As well as commanding space, it also adds quite significantly to the weight.” Key to the future of the GT is a decision by Mercedes-Benz to twin it with the successor to the SL. Both models share vital elements of their platform, driveline and interior in a move that, AMG insiders told Autocar, has helped to streamline and lower the cost of their development despite the adoption of new technology. Among that new tech is a four-wheel-drive system that can rapidly balance drive between the front and rear axles as well as a torque vectoring function to vary the amount of power sent to each individual rear wheel. Together with a newly developed transaxle, the added traction of the new four-wheel-drive system should rectify one of the existing, rear-drive-only GT’s weaknesses – namely its standing-start acceleration in comparison with the supercar competition. But, like today’s E63, it will feature a Drift function, which sends power exclusively to the rear wheels. Although the GT is set to retain its existing two-seat layout, the new SL will adopt a roomier 2+2 interior – a move, Autocar has been told, that’s aimed at ensuring the models appeal to different customers. The basis for the second-generation GT is a revised aluminium spaceframe that is claimed to weigh less than the 233kg structure used by the existing model. The weight saving has been achieved in part by the adoption of more cast aluminium components within load-bearing areas. Mercedes-AMG is also said to have met its aim of increased rigidity, most notably in the front end of the new spaceframe, which uses a newly designed transverse member with what is described as “improved torsional properties”. The new GT is expected to feature a more contemporary exterior, described as being “a bigger step away from the current GT as it was from the earlier SLS”. The more modern approach is also said to be reflected inside, with new Formula 1-inspired digital graphics among the early design
Origin: Next-gen Mercedes-AMG GT to be four-wheel-drive hybrid
All about car 