Volkswagen to launch 34 new models in 2020

Volkswagen will launch 34 new models globally in 2020, including the first two models in its electric ID range, alongside six other electrified vehicles. The company will launch the ID 3 in the summer, and Volkswagen says it will “soon be followed” by what the firm refers to as the ID Next. That is the mid-size SUV that was revealed in concept form as the ID Crozz, and is likely to use the ID 4 moniker when it reaches production. It is set to be offered in Europe, China and North America. The six other electric and hybrid models will include the new Golf GTE, which is due to go on sale shortly after regular versions of the family hatch hit showrooms in the spring. Volkswagen has yet to specify every model it will launch this year, but it says that the 34 machines will include 12 SUVs, which has been a key reason for the firm’s success in recent years. The firm is midway through a major restructuring project as it ramps up its ID electric car programme, which has also included 2.6 billion euros of cost-savings to date. While final figures are not set yet, Volkswagen says it is on track to post a record operating profit this year, despite its overall sales slipping slightly. While the global car market has shrunk, Volkswagen has increased its market share, largely thanks to the higher operating profit it can command from SUVs. Ralf Brandstatter, Volkswagen’s chief operating officer, said that 2019 would be “a very successful year” for the firm. He added: “In a shrinking overall market the Volkswagen brand has won market shares worldwide and significantly improved its operating result. Ongoing restructuring of core business, including the positive effects of the pact for the future, and the success of the worldwide SUV offensive have been key to this achievement. Brandstatter also played down any concerns over meeting the forthcoming tough EU fleet CO2 targets coming into force next year, following reports that rival Mercedes-Benz might have to restrict offerings from performance arm AMG. Asked if VW would face problems in 2020, Brandstatter said: “We don’t anticipate problems, we prepare solutions,” adding that selling emission-free electric vehicles would be a key part of that. He said Volkswagen it has committed to investing £16.1 billion in future technology by the end of 2024, including £9.3 billion in electric
Origin: Volkswagen to launch 34 new models in 2020

Mercedes-Benz is pushing back the Canadian launch of its first full EV

2020 Mercedes-Benz EQCHandout / Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz is delaying the Canadian release of its EQC, its first full battery-electric vehicle, by more than a year as it focuses on the vehicles launch in Europe.The SUV was originally intended to enter our market in spring 2020, but according to reports from American news outlets, its now being delayed to 2021.The EQC launch in Europe and other markets earlier in 2019 generated high interest worldwide for the EQC. In a recent direction from Daimler AG, it is a strategic decision to first support the growing customer demand for the EQC in Europe, Mercedes-Benz Canada told Driving.As a result of this decision, the Canadian and U.S. market launch dates of the Mercedes-Benz EQC will be rescheduled to 2021 (originally Q1 2020).So yes, the Great White North will be the Wait White North for a little while, while Mercedes readies its first true EV for the masses. While it may very well be Europeans buy more EVs than North Americans do, causing Benzs shift in focus as it says, it could also be because it gives the company a chance to update the EQC for the North American market.As it sits now, the SUV only gets about 200 miles (320 km) of range per charge. Thats just not enough for most people, especially considering the vastness of Canada. Mercedes-Benz has promised to announce 10 all-electric models by 2022, to meet stricter European emissions regulations. By 2030, European automakers will be required to reduce their fleet emissions by 37.5
Origin: Mercedes-Benz is pushing back the Canadian launch of its first full EV

Mid-engined Corvette’s launch pushed back to February 2020

The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8Chevrolet The first deliveries of the new C8-generation Chevrolet Corvette will be pushed back to February 2020 instead of showing up in customers driveways before the end of 2019 as previously anticipated, the automakers confirmed.As you mightve expected, the recent six-week UAW strike played a big role in that, reports Road Track.But so did the cars Bowling Green, Kentucky assembly facility needing more time to retool its production line for the Vettes new mid-engined architecture.After a temporary shutdown to make all that happen and, of course, after Chevrolet finishes rolling out the final C7 Corvettes it needs to still build the line should be back up and running by
Origin: Mid-engined Corvette’s launch pushed back to February 2020

Seat to launch electric scooter as urban mobility vehicle

Seat will launch a new electric Scooter later this month, as part of the Spanish firm’s attempts to become a leader in ‘urban mobility solutions’ to tackle congestion in large cities. The eScooter, which is being developed in collaboration with Barcelona-based motorcycle maker Silence, will join the upcoming Minimo and the eXS Kickscooter in the company’s new urban transport line-up. While Seat has not given performance details, it says the eScooter features a 100% electric powertrain equivalent to a 125cc petrol bike. It will be presented at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona later this month. In recent years, an increasing number of car companies have started targeting solutions for crowded cities. Earlier this year, Seat announced that it would spearhead efforts in the segment within the Volkswagen Group. Last year the brand piloted a fleet of prototype car sharing vehicles, modelled on its upcoming Seat eMii, which users could rent through a mobile app, and a forerunner to its eScooter, the Segway-based eXS. In 2021, Seat will introduce a new small electric city car. The Minimo develops the concept of the Renault Twizy and fronts the firm’s increasing emphasis on small and environmentally-friendly transport alternatives. Seat boss Luca de Meo said that “the constant growth of large cities makes achieving efficient mobility one of the main challenges to
Origin: Seat to launch electric scooter as urban mobility vehicle

Toyota to launch ultra-compact EV and new battery strategy

Toyota will display a new compact urban electric car at the Tokyo motor show, ahead of a planned Japanese on-sale date in late 2020. The as-yet-unnamed two-seater is referred to as an ultra-compact battery electric vehicle (EV) and has been designed “for short-distance travel with limited impact on the environment”. With a claimed range of 62 miles, an “extremely tight” turning radius and a top speed of just 37mph, the model is aimed squarely at drivers in built-up urban environments, and more specifically the elderly. Charging time is a claimed five hours from a 220-volt power unit. Akihiro Yanaka, head of development, said: “We want to create a mobility solution that can support Japan’s ageing society and provide freedom of movement to people at all stages of life.” Toyota also notes the new model’s suitability for newly licensed drivers and city-based mobile businesses. The unveiling comes as the firm reshapes its business model to better promote the concept of mass electric car adoption. As part of the new strategy, Toyota says it will scrutinise “every step of the battery’s lifecycle, from manufacture through sale, resale or re-use to recycling, to maximise its value”, in response to widespread criticism that battery costs make even the most affordable EVs much more expensive than their conventionally fuelled counterparts. In the short-term, Toyota plans to introduce a new battery leasing scheme whereby used units can be swapped into pre-owned vehicles, broken down for spare parts or used in non-automotive power storage facilities as appropriate. It also claims to be developing its own EV charging stations and plans to launch an EV-specific insurance programme. Joining the two-seater on Toyota’s Tokyo stand will be the Walking Area BEV, designed for security patrols and airport luggage movements, the i-Road, a short-distance electric scooter designed for urban commutes and tourist functions, and the second generation of the Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in concept
Origin: Toyota to launch ultra-compact EV and new battery strategy

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

Volkswagen to launch new e-Up with longer range, lower price

Volkswagen will launch a new version of its e-Up electric city car, with an increased range of 161 miles and a reduced base price, at the Frankfurt motor show. The new model will switch the 18.7kWh lithium ion batteries from the current model, with a range of around 118 miles, for 32.3kWh batteries. VW says they will be capable of charging at 40kW, taking 60 minutes to charge the battery to 80 per cent. Power will come from a 82bhp electric motor, which allows the e-Up to achieve a 0-62mph time of 11.9 secs and a top speed of 81mph. The firm says that the e-Up will feature an air conditioning system, a ‘composition phone’ radio with a Bluetooth connection interface, and lane-keeping assistance. The firm also says it will offer a range of personalisation options. Volkswagen says that the new e-Up will be cheaper than its predecessor, with a price of 21,975 euros in Germany. UK pricing is not confirmed, but is expected to be around £23,000 before government grants. The e-Up is due to go on sale in the UK in early 2020. The outgoing model is priced at £24,625. The revamped e-Up will be part of a major electric car push Volkswagen is planning for Frankfurt, where the firm is unveiling its new ID 3. The company will also unveil a major brand
Origin: Volkswagen to launch new e-Up with longer range, lower price

Exclusive: McLaren to launch extreme open-cockpit speedster

McLaren is developing a two-seat open-cockpit speedster that will focus on providing exhilarating on-road driving and become the sixth model in its Ultimate Series, Autocar can exclusively reveal. According to a source aware of the car, the new limited-run machine will sit alongside the track-focused Senna and the 250mph Speedtail hyper-GT at the top of McLaren’s range. Whereas the Senna has been designed as the ultimate road-legal track car and the Speedtail developed around high-speed aerodynamic efficiency, the new speedster has reportedly been conceived for road-driving pleasure. It will apparently highlight the more emotional, fun side to McLaren – albeit while retaining the high-performance, high-tech traits for which the Woking firm is known. The as-yet-unnamed machine will be the first pure open road car McLaren has made, with styling that will reportedly evoke open-top sports prototype racers. That will pitch it into competition with Ferrari’s recently revealed Monza SP1 and SP2 speedster models. The speedster is claimed to offer a more ‘fluid’ interpretation of McLaren’s design language than the firm’s other models, with prominent use of flowing, elegant lines. Our source has been told the interior design will closely match that of the exterior and is set to feature low-profile dihedral ‘butterfly’ doors. The flowing styling will contrast with the aerodynamically focused Senna and reflects the fact that the new car is being developed primarily for use on the road, with the intention to maximise the ‘pure pleasure of driving’. It is being honed to deliver extremely agile handling while giving high levels of driver response. Our source has been told that it will offer astonishing levels of feedback. That driving experience, combined with the open cockpit, is understood to offer a greater connection between the driver and the environment around them. Power is tipped to come from McLaren’s 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged petrol engine and, unlike the 1036bhp Speedtail, won’t include any electrification or other hybrid technology. The output for the car is not yet known, although the focus on road driving pleasure suggests it will be slightly reduced from the 789bhp of the Senna. However, as part of McLaren’s Ultimate Series line-up, it is still likely to be elevated from other models in the firm’s range. As is usual with McLaren, the power will be driven through the rear wheels only, likely through a dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The new speedster is tipped to weigh less than the 1198kg Senna, making it one of the lightest road cars the firm has ever built. This is achieved by both the lack of a roof and, as is customary for McLaren, extensive use of carbonfibre. The open-top machine will be a strictly limited-run model, with volume thought to be restricted to fewer than the 500 examples of the Senna that the company has produced. A price of around £1.5 million has been suggested, similar to the cost of the Monza SP1 and SP2. A reveal or launch date for the new model has not been determined yet, although it is likely to be produced after the 106 examples of the Speedtail. Production of that machine is due to begin in late 2019, after the final examples of the Senna GTR, which would suggest cars will start to be built in late 2020 or early 2021. McLaren models have traditionally been split into three series: Sport, Super and the range-topping Ultimate cars, although the forthcoming new grand tourer will launch a fourth. The Ultimate Series has its roots in the firm’s seminal road car, the F1, and was launched with the P1 plug-in hybrid supercar in 2013. When asked to confirm the project, a McLaren spokesperson declined to discuss the new car, saying: “Our usual position in respect of speculation about possible future models is not to comment and that’s the case
Origin: Exclusive: McLaren to launch extreme open-cockpit speedster

New Aston Martin DBX confirmed for December launch

Aston Martin will open the order books for its new DBX SUV at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance next month, ahead of a global launch in December. The new machine, the British firm’s first SUV, recently made its UK public dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed – and Aston Martin Lagonda’s latest financial update has now revealed more details on the development timeline. Aston Martin has started building pre-production versions of the new model at its new St Athan plant, ahead of it going on sale in the first half of 2020. It now says that it will take orders for the car at the Pebble Beach event in California, ahead of the launch in December. It added that it remained on track to begin series production at St Athan in the second quarter of 2020, which suggests first customer deliveries will follow in the second half of next year. The new 90-acre factory in Wales, built on a former Ministry of Defence site, has been under development since 2016, and will be the sole production facility for the DBX. The electric models of the revived Lagonda brand will also be built there. Ahead of the machine’s official launch later this year, Aston Martin previously issued images of the DBX sporting a new camouflage livery reflecting its new Welsh home. The machine is currently undergoing final testing using the pre-production versions, with full production due to commence early next year. A video published earlier in the year shows the DBX undergoing extreme weather testing in Sweden at Pirelli’s Flurheden proving ground, part of the two brands’ ongoing partnership. Speaking about that test, Aston Martin chief engineer Matt Becker said: “Testing these prototypes in cold climate conditions helps us to assess the car’s early dynamics and, crucially, ensure confidence-inspiring sure-footedness on low-grip surfaces. “This car propels Aston Martin into a new segment and our engineering team are enjoying the challenges of developing a quality luxury SUV experience through this robust testing schedule. Progress is on track and I am confident that we will deliver over and above what our customers would expect from an Aston Martin SUV.” The DBX is the first Aston Martin to go through a new dedicated test programme, to ensure it can produce the kind of dynamic on-road performance on which Aston has always made its name, allied to some credibility off road. Testing is also due to take place in the deserts of the Middle East, on German autobahns and at the Nürburgring. The DBX has also been seen on UK roads testing the brand’s AMG-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8, which is expected to be the first engine offered in the SUV when it arrives before the end of the year. Expect a similar power output to the DB11’s 503bhp. Unlike the concept, the production DBX will feature a more conventional five-door layout rather than the sleeker three-door design that was originally expected. The DBX is one of the most important models in Aston Martin’s history and the next phase of the company’s turnaround plan under boss Andy Palmer. While every Aston produced under Palmer to date as part of his ‘Second Century’ plan has been a replacement for an existing model (DB11, Vantage and DBS Superleggera), the DBX breaks new ground by having no direct predecessor. During its life cycle, the DBX will introduce hybrid technology to Aston and it will also play a key role in trying to attract female buyers to the Aston Martin brand. The DBX is built on an Aston Martin architecture that will be closely related to that set to underpin the Lagonda saloon and Lagonda SUV, which Aston also has in the pipeline. The new Lagondas will be built alongside the DBX in Wales, starting from 2021. However, whereas the Lagonda models will be electrically driven, the DBX will start life with petrol power before getting Mercedes-sourced hybrid technology early in the next decade. Aston Martin’s own V12 and Mercedes-AMG’s V8 engines will both find their way into the DBX, with Mercedes also donating the car’s electrical architecture. The DBX will compete against the likes of the Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Bentayga, Rolls-Royce Cullinan and upcoming Ferrari SUV. Given the broad appeal and rise in popularity of SUVs, the DBX is expected to quickly become Aston’s best-selling model. Sharp body creases and a pronounced shoulder line help reduce the overall visual bulk of what is the most high-sided Aston yet produced, while a new integrated grille design performs a similar role at the front of the car. It will also be the first all-new Aston Martin model launched after the company’s stock market flotation, after the firm returned to profitability last year. Aston Martin has changed significantly as a company under the leadership of Andy Palmer, who joined as CEO in 2014. He has brought financial stability to the company and returned it to profit. In 2017, the company was in the black for the first time since 2010. Aston’s
Origin: New Aston Martin DBX confirmed for December launch

Exclusive: McLaren to launch elegant open-cockpit speedster