Upgrades see increased range for Audi e-tron A series of technical changes have added more than 15 miles to the range Audi has rolled-out a series of changes to its e-tron, improving efficiency and range for the pure-electric SUV. The e-tron will now feature the same systems brought in for the recently launched Audi e-tron Sportback. The result of the changes is to improve the official driving range for the Audi e-tron 55 quattro to 271 miles (WLTP) on a charge. This sees an additional 15.5 miles added to the previous range, with no physical change to the battery or motors. A new type of braking system sees in improvement in efficiency thanks to reducing the effect of residual brake torque – losses that occur when the calipers are close to the discs. The ways the motors work is more efficient too, with the motor on the rear axle powering the e-tron when in normal driving. The front motor is almost completely disengaged for most of the time, and only kicks back in when the driver needs more power or runs in off-road mode. Audi has fine-tuned the battery technology to gain a little more usable capacity. The 95 kWh now has a net capacity of 86.5 kWh, allowing a little further range from each charge. All newly produced models will benefit from the technical upgrades, and there are no price increases linked to the changes. Prices start at £68,060 for the e-tron, including UK Plug-in Car Grant.
Origin: Upgrades see increased range for Audi etron
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Ford Focus prices increased as entry variant dropped
Ford has revised the Focus lineup in the UK, with the removal of the entry-level Style model, a new trim grade added and small price increases on certain models. The dropping of Style trim, a model often ignored by buyers in favour of better equipped trims, means that the Focus now starts from £20,645 for the Zetec grade – £2,100 more than before. That brings it to a similar pricing point as the new Puma, which is available to order in higher trim grades for the time being. A series of small price rises have also been implemented elsewhere in the range, according to the firm’s latest pricing lists which are in the process of being incorporated into the online configurator. All Zetec, Active and ST-Line grades see a bump up of £250, while estates rise by £100 and petrols rise by £500. Two new variants are now available to order, too. Joining the current two-strong lineup of ruggedly-styled Active models is a flagship Active Vignale, available from £27,045, which brings the extensive kit tally from the standard Vignale model onto the higher-riding car. The tweaks follow a more minor revision of the Focus which regards to one model, quietly implemented earlier this year. The 1.5-litre petrol engine has been switched from the multi-link rear suspension to a cheaper, simpler torsion beam setup, leaving only the 2.0-litre diesel models with the multi-link
Origin: Ford Focus prices increased as entry variant dropped
Ford recalls 28,000 Explorers in Canada over increased crash risk
2017 Ford ExplorerHandout Ford mid-June recalled roughly 1.2 million Explorer SUVs in the U.S. and 28,000 in Canada over an issue with the rear suspension that may lead to diminished steering control and, in turn, an increased risk of a collision. On vehicles that see frequent full rear suspension articulation – that is, that regularly exercise the rear suspension across its full range of motion – the suspension’s toe link could fracture, making the truck harder to control. Ford Explorer SUVs from model years 2011 through 2017 built at the company’s Chicago plant may be affected. The automaker also launched a second recall the same day for the same issue, specifically for roughly 12,000 sedans and crossovers sold in parts of Canada. Affected vehicles in that recall include the 2009 through 2015 Lincoln MKS; 2009 through 2017 Ford Flex; and 2010 through 2017 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKT if built in the company’s Chicago or Oakville, Ontario plants and sold in Alberta, Manitoba or Saskatchewan. While the Explorer toe link fracture led only to a single report so far or a truck hitting a curb, the Canadian sedan recall has resulted in at least one crash involving minor injuries. The repair in both recalls will see dealers replace the left- and right-hand rear suspension toe links with new forged units and re-align the
Origin: Ford recalls 28,000 Explorers in Canada over increased crash risk
Nissan Leaf electric car price increased in UK
Nissan has raised the price of its Leaf electric hatchback in the UK by nearly 7%. The Volkswagen e-Golf rival is now available from £27,995 – an increase of £1805 – in entry-level Acenta trim. This includes the £3500 government subsidy for electric vehicle (EV) buyers. Justifying the increase, a Nissan spokesperson said: “Nissan frequently evaluates the price point of its models and adjusts them according to market demands and other influences, such as inflation and cost base.” Despite the increase in cost of purchasing a Leaf outright, Nissan claims it will now be cheaper to lease one on a PCP finance basis (how the majority of Leafs are sold) as a result of improved residual values in EVs. Alongside the pricing changes, the Japanese manufacturer has expanded the Leaf range by putting the e+ variant into mainstream production, following a successful limited launch earlier this year. With a 62kWh battery pack and a 214bhp electric motor, the e+ offers 239 miles of range on the WLTP test cycle – 62 miles more than the standard 40kWh model. The 2019 Leaf has also gained an 8.0in touchscreen (up from the 7.0in unit in the launch model) with the latest version of the firm’s infotainment software and sat-nav as standard. The Leaf retains a 36% share of the UK’s fast-growing EV market, despite Nissan experiencing a 32% drop in overall sales here from 2017 to
Origin: Nissan Leaf electric car price increased in UK
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