Citroën will launch three new saloon cars in the next two years, starting with a reinvented C6, marketing director Arnaud Belloni has confirmed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The move – in line with the firm’s heritage but against the trend of rivals’ plans in the face of declining saloon sales globally – is described as “unique but not risky” by Belloni, who hinted that the styling wouldn’t follow established saloon conventions. The design study for the flagship new saloon was initially kick-started by the 2016 Cxperience concept. The production car based on that concept has long been rumoured to be under preparation for sale, and it will be unveiled at the Paris motor show in 2020. In a surprise announcement, however, Belloni said that two more saloon models will follow in 2021, with both being unveiled in full production form rather than as concepts. “It’s our belief that there’s still a place for the saloon,” said Belloni. “When you factor in our pledge that all our cars will have either electric or plug-in hybrid options from next year, and the platform changes that brings, you then consider the opportunities that delivers for us to innovate stylistically. “What I will promise you is that these will be cars in keeping with Citroën’s heritage for innovation. The rise of the SUV cannot be undone, but that gives us room to reimagine the the purpose and look of the saloon. “I don’t wish to use the word ‘disruptive’, as that can be misinterpreted, but I promise the look of these cars will be very original. Not risky – we must sell cars – but they will carry on our tradition for looking at new ways to interpret segments. They will be contemporary in the truest form of the word.” Belloni wouldn’t be drawn on the size of the cars, but he hinted that the focus would be the Chinese market – the world’s largest for sales of all cars, and one in which saloon sales remain strong, especially for chauffered cars. “We will not make saloon cars of every size, because there is no market for small saloons,” he said. Citroen currently sells the C4 saloon and C-Elysee in China, but at least two of the new saloons are believed to be planned for European
Origin: Citroen to launch three new saloons in the next two years
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Citroen to launch three saloons in the next two years
Citroën will launch three new saloon cars in the next two years, starting with a reinvented C6, marketing director Arnaud Belloni has confirmed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The move – in line with the firm’s heritage but against the trend of rivals’ plans in the face of declining saloon sales globally – is described as “unique but not risky” by Belloni, who hinted that the styling wouldn’t follow established saloon conventions. It was initially kick-started by the 2016 Cxperience concept. The production car based on that concept has long been rumoured to be under preparation for sale, and it will be unveiled at the Paris motor show in 2020. In a surprise announcement, however, Belloni said that two more saloon models will follow in 2021, with both being unveiled in full production form rather than as concepts. “It’s our belief that there’s still a place for the saloon,” said Belloni. “When you factor in our pledge that all our cars will have either electric or plug-in hybrid options from next year, and the platform changes that brings, you then consider the opportunities that delivers for us to innovate stylistically. “What I will promise you is that these will be cars in keeping with Citroën’s heritage for innovation. The rise of the SUV cannot be undone, but that gives us room to reimagine the the purpose and look of the saloon. “I don’t wish to use the word ‘disruptive’, as that can be misinterpreted, but I promise the look of these cars will be very original. Not risky – we must sell cars – but they will carry on our tradition for looking at new ways to interpret segments. They will be contemporary in the truest form of the word.” Belloni wouldn’t be drawn on the size of the cars, but he hinted that the focus would be the Chinese market – the world’s largest for sales of all cars, and one in which saloon sales remain strong, especially for chauffered cars. “We will not make saloon cars of every size, because there is no market for small saloons,” he
Origin: Citroen to launch three saloons in the next two years
Ford to launch three new model names by 2024 in Europe
Ford’s rollout of its redesigned European business plan will result in a radical overhaul of its large car range, as the maker confirms three new model nameplates for the region in the next five years. The firm has stated in a release that it is “freshening and expanding its vehicle-line-up in Europe”, with the three new nameplates coming “as it continues to grow its utility vehicle portfolio,” The new models, which are in addition to the new Kuga family SUV, Puma small crossover and not-for-UK Explorer, also include the “Mustang-inspired fully electric performance utility” model, as Ford dubs it. Stuart Rowley, Ford of Europe president, told Autocar that the European focus is on an expansion of its “family utility lineup”, but wouldn’t confirm specific names or models that will be replaced. “We are very focused in orienting our portfolio with where consumers are going. Many buyers are moving into the utility space, but for us the key question is where buyers are going next”. When asked if these new cars would indirectly replace slow-selling D-segment models such as the Mondeo, Galaxy and S-Max, Rowley said the three models “remain part of our product portfolio for now. However, we need to adapt to the changing market”. Alongside this announcement, Ford has released a status report of its European business strategy changes, which will see three new ‘business groups’ – Commercial Vehicles, Passenger vehicles and Imports – established. The organisational changes to implement this will come into force on July 1st. The restructure will means a substantial number of job losses, from a factory worker level up to a managerial rethink. Ford employs around 53,000 people across its European operation, so the cuts represent a total of 22% of its workforce. Including Russia, around 12,000 jobs will be “impacted”, including 2000 salaried positions set to be axed. Around 3,000 jobs will be “affected” in the UK from now until the end of 2020, including 1700 jobs at Bridgend. This is made up of “agency employees, salary employees and management” Rowley stated. By the end of 2020, Ford will have 18 manufacturing facilities in Europe, as opposed to 24 at the start of this year. The leaner structure and strategy rethink mean Rowley expects profitabiity for the second half of this year to “significantly improve” over the £315m loss posted in Europe last year. The long-term goal is to achieve a margin of 6% on earnings before taxes and interest. Rowley also claimed Ford is “on track to meet its obligations” with European Union emissions targets, which will see carmakers face huge fines if they can’t lower their fleet CO2 average by 25% before the end of 2020. It will achieve this by launching 16 electrified models, including eight due to be launched by the end of this
Origin: Ford to launch three new model names by 2024 in Europe
Genesis planning to launch Tesla rival with new pure-electric EV
Genesis has been on a roll with its vehicles, taking on big names like BMW and Mercedes-Benz and taking home awards.But now its targeting an American manufacturer: Tesla.In 2021, Genesis will be launching its first pure electric car, reports Australias Drive, and it will come in two different body styles: a sedan and an SUV.Genesis has not revealed the vehicles yet, but we assume well soon hear about it considering the upcoming release date.Something we do know a little bit about is the Mint concept, shown at the 2019 New York auto show. The Mint is a small coupe designed for the city; it runs on pure battery power. We are very well positioned with alternative technologies. For now, we are focused on the near term, spake Genesis global boss Manfred Fitzgerald during the recent Australian launch of the Genesis brand.In 2021 we have our first fully dedicated new EV platform () We are moving very fast on this.In addition to the EVs, Genesis will also be bringing more hydrogen-powered models to market, although it has not revealed the full details of that range. Genesis will likely follow in parent company Hyundais footsteps and introduce a raft of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, pure electric and hydrogen-powered fuel cell
Origin: Genesis planning to launch Tesla rival with new pure-electric EV
Tesla Semi: electric lorry launch pushed back to 2020
Tesla boss Elon Musk has announced that the launch of the brand’s Semi electric lorry will be delayed until 2020, citing an already strained battery supply for production of its range of EVs. Speaking at the firm’s annual shareholders meeting, Musk said his company would strive to ramp up battery production as quickly as possible, going so far as to suggest a venture into mining could be a possibility. Despite the delay, customers are still able to reserve Semi models. Existing customers include large companies such as Walmart, UPS and FedEx, but it is remains to be seen whether the delayed release will discourage further investment in the zero-emissions truck. Such bottlenecks are no new phenomenon for Tesla, with Model 3 production brought to a halt in early 2018 by worker shortages and software issues. The brand’s fourth model, the Jaguar I-Pace rivalling Model Y, is due on the US market next year, with Musk aiming for an annual output of 2000 per week by September 2020. The Semi electric lorry will be capable of travelling up to 600 miles on a single charge, even when fully loaded, company CEO Elon Musk has claimed. According to Electrek, Musk said during a conference call last year that he was “optimistic” the Semi would beat the 500-mile range announced at its reveal in 2017. His claim followed Daimler lorry division boss Martin Daum’s suggestion that the Semi’s statistics “defied the laws of physics”. The Semi with the 600-mile claimed range costs $180,000 (£132,720 at today’s rate) in the US. A lower-spec variant with a 300-mile range will be priced from $150,000 (£110,565). Prices for diesel lorries in Britain start at about £85,000 by comparison. During its November 2017 reveal in Hawthorne, California, where Tesla also showed a new Roadster sports car, Musk said the Semi, which was previously referred to as the Tesla Truck, was capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in 5.0sec. He also said it was able to hit 60mph in 20.0sec when the trailer is fully loaded with 80,000lb (almost 36 tonnes) of cargo. This beats the average sprint time for regular diesel-powered rivals by around 40 seconds. The Semi’s energy recovery systems are claimed to be capable of recovering 98% of kinetic energy to the battery. For regular charging, the lorry can be connected to Megachargers – a new high-speed DC charging solution – that are said to add about 400 miles in 30 minutes and can be installed at origin or destination points, much like the existing Superchargers. Efficiency is boosted by a low wind resistance, with Tesla claiming the Semi has a drag coefficient of 0.36Cd. It states that most of its competitors are closer to 0.65Cd. Tesla has refrained from going into further detail about the lorry’s drivetrain and battery but has revealed that the vehicle features advanced autonomous technology to prevent jackknifing of the trailer. Onboard sensors are installed to detect instability and can adjust torque sent to each wheel and independently actuate all brakes to avoid jackknifing. Additionally, surround cameras provide autonomous object detection and reduce blindspots, alerting the driver to safety hazards and obstacles. The lorry also introduces a new Enhanced Autopilot system, with automatic emergency braking, automatic lane keeping, lane departure warning and even event recording. The Semi can travel in a convoy, allowing one or several Semis to autonomously follow a leader. Alongside the claims for performance and safety, Musk said the Semi would provide users with massive savings. Figures produced by the company state that owners “can expect to save $200,000 or more over a million miles based on fuel costs alone”. These production issues related to supply difficulties with the Model 3. They caused the reveal of the Semi to be delayed by several
Origin: Tesla Semi: electric lorry launch pushed back to 2020
New Aston Martin DBX: pre-production begins ahead of 2020 launch
Aston Martin has started building pre-production versions of the forthcoming DBX at its new St Athan plant, ahead of its first SUV going on sale in the first half of 2020. 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 has also issued new 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 being produced in St Athan, with full production due to commence early next year. Aston Martin previously released new images and a video of 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. The images from Sweden showed the same five-door body shape as the official ‘spy shots’ released by Aston Martin last year. The model is expected to retain this profile for production. 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. The DBX was first seen in its distincitive prototype camouflage on the gravel stages of the Wales Rally GB, for the first time giving hints of the final production car’s design. There’s little left of the DBX concept in the camouflaged test mule, although the sleek silhouette does remain, albeit with an extra pair of doors. 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 first-half results in 2018 showed that it recorded a pre-tax profit of £20.7 million. Palmer has underpinned that growth with his
Origin: New Aston Martin DBX: pre-production begins ahead of 2020 launch
Mazda CEO confirms brand will launch an EV in 2020
2019 Mazda CX-9Nick Tragianis / Driving Mazda has finally seen the electric-vehicle light. And it only took the threat of the European Union’s CO2 emissions penalties to bring it into focus. CEO Akira Marumoto disclosed in a QA interview with Automotive News Europe that Mazda does indeed have an EV in the oven, and it should be ready by 2020. “The first Mazda battery-electric vehicle will hit the market next year,” explained Marumoto in response to a question about how the company plans to reduce its fleet’s CO2 output. Not much else is known about the EV, other than it will be an entirely new vehicle with a Mazda-built electric powertrain. Mazda’s also planning changes to its Skyactiv-X engine, lowering CO2 output to 100 g/km, but that alone will not save it from the heavy hand of the European powers that enforce the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) dictates. One major reason is that in Europe, Mazda’s best-selling vehicle is the CX-5, which has CO2 emissions in the 128 to 150 g/km range, well above the target of 114.9 g/km set by the WLTP. To lend support to the upcoming EV, Mazda has more goods in the electric oven, too. Marumoto says the brand will “introduce plug-in hybrid models from 2021 or 2022,” and that these, too, will have new powertrains. Brands that don’t make the CO2 target either pay fines or are forced to otherwise discontinue more-polluting models until the fleet average is brought in line; when asked which strategy Mazda’d take, the CEO said they’d have to wait and see. “We will have to balance the impact of possible CO2 penalties with our sales targets,” he said. “But we also have to consider the sustainability of our dealer
Origin: Mazda CEO confirms brand will launch an EV in 2020
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
Honda plans to slash trims, launch a new global platform
2018 Honda HR-VNick Tragianis One key piece of the profitability puzzle for many auto manufacturers is the use of a global platform across many different models. Volkswagen does this to great effect on the shared modular design of its MQB platform; Toyota does the same with its TNGA architecture. Now we can count Honda among the companies waking up to the benefits of this sort of cost-saving measure. While announcing its not-so-creatively-named e electric city car (yeah, just ‘e’) earlier today, head honcho Takahiro Hachigo outlined a few other steps for Honda’s future, ones which include the introduction of a new global platform. It’ll be called – wait for it – Honda Architecture. The company said that, by 2025, it will reduce the total number of variations at the trim and option level for its global models to one-third of what is currently available. That’s a huge decrease. In addition, it stated its intention to increase efficiency by eliminating and consolidating some “similar regional models” into models shared across multiple regions. The first model being developed with this new method will be a global model Honda promises it is launching next year. All this global talk is well and good, but what does it mean for Honda shoppers in this country? Less choice, essentially. According to company spox, the North American market will see a reduced number of variations at the trim and option level. No specifics were given but it doesn’t take a rocket surgeon to figure out what that statement could portend: the amalgamation of some top-tier trims and the cleaving of certain powertrain combinations with low take rates, such as the manual transmission Accord. The statement went on to say the company will also simplify the production model allocation at each plant. Buried in the release was the statement the company will expand the application of its two-motor hybrid system to the entire lineup of Honda vehicles, including a more compact system suitable for small-sized vehicles. The first car to adopt this system is the new Fit, which is planned as a world premiere at the Tokyo Motor Show this
Origin: Honda plans to slash trims, launch a new global platform
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