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
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These 10 vehicles are 2019’s least reliable models according to Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports has revealed its list of the top 10 least reliable vehicle models for 2019, and, shocking no one, its filled mostly with cars from American automakers.To evaluate the vehicles, Consumer Reports tests 17 problem areas, including squeaky brakes, broken interior trim, out-of-warranty transmission repairs and four-wheel-drive issues.The severity of each problem is weighted to give a Predicted Reliability Score, cross-referenced with track tests and owner satisfaction survey results to give the final score. Some 420,000 vehicle owners are surveyed in the test.Yes, not unexpectedly, this year a lot of the vehicles at the bottom of the reliability scale are from American and Italian brands, with only a few surprises thrown in.Chevrolet TraverseRight off the bat, the Chevrolet Traverse earned its spot at number 10 on the list by offering poor reliability, but above-average owner satisfaction, it should be noted. You win some, you lose some.Chrysler PacificaNumber nine on the list is one of the few remaining Chrysler-branded vehicles the namesake OEM makes anymore, the Pacifica minivan. With a score of 16, the vehicle received a poor reliability rating and an average owner satisfaction rating.Tesla Model XThe Tesla Model X is next with a score of 15. Perhaps we should not be surprised by Tesla owners’ cult-like devotion to the brand, but despite this poor reliability, the Tesla somehow managed to garner an excellent rating in the Owner Satisfaction department. It’s not the first time we’ve seen this counterintuitive devotion from Tesla owners…Acura MDXOnly one Japanese vehicle made the list, the Acura MDX, with a score of 15. Reliability was found to be poor, and customer satisfaction was also below-average.Volkswagen Atlas and TiguanTwo Volkswagens made the list in the fifth and sixth spots, the Atlas and Tiguan. with a rating of 13 and 15 respectively. Both earned poor reliability scores, and only average owner satisfaction.Alfa Romeo GiuliaAlfa Romeo had to make the list, and it did it this time with the Giulia, and a score of 13. Owner satisfaction was above-average, but reliability was still poor.Jeep WranglerIf youre surprised at number three, you dont know anything about cars. Its the Jeep Wrangler, with a score of 12. Poor reliability ratings, but, again, still an above-average owner satisfaction rating.Chevrolet CamaroSecond from worst is the Chevrolet Camaro with a score of five. Poor reliability ratings didnt stop owners from giving it an excellent satisfaction rating, however. We have a hunch Camaro owners are probably more interested in performance than durability, anyway.Chevrolet ColoradoThe worst offender, according to Consumer Reports’ surveys, is the Chevrolet Colorado, with a reliablility score of just four. Not only was the truck unreliable, owners rated their satisfaction with the vehicle as
Origin: These 10 vehicles are 2019’s least reliable models according to Consumer Reports
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
Alfa Romeo scraps plans for new GTV and 8C models
Alfa Romeo’s future product plans have been slashed, according to the brand’s third-quarter earnings report – with the proposed new GTV and 8C sports cars axed. FCA boss Mike Manley told investors during a conference call that Alfa’s portfolio plan has been “significantly scaled back, with a corresponding reduction in capital spending”. The plan was quietly released in a financial results presentation to investors yesterday (Thursday) and discussed during an earnings call today. It appears to show that the Italian brand’s range has been ‘rationalised’ down to four future models: replacements for the Giulia and Stelvio, the Tonale and a new smaller ‘B-SUV’, which has yet to be detailed. This means the new GTV coupé and 8C replacement, announced in a five-year plan in June 2018, have been shelved or pushed back, alongside a rumoured BMW 5 Series saloon rival to sit above the Giulia. It’s not yet clear if these models have been delayed or shelved entirely, but all signs point to the former for the time being. Last year’s five-year plan was drawn up under the leadership of former FCA boss Sergio Marchionne, who passed away last year. Since taking the reins, Manley has changed tack, responding to significant losses posted by Alfa and FCA’s wider European arm. It’s likely that the decision to cut spending on Alfa Romeo’s future line-up is influenced by the recently announced merger between FCA and the PSA Group, which was confirmed shortly before the financial results were released. The merger creates the fourth-largest car-making group in the world, but PSA CEO Carlos Tavares – who is set to be named CEO of the new merged group – is famed for bringing in wide-ranging cost-cutting measures to increase efficiency and
Origin: Alfa Romeo scraps plans for new GTV and 8C models
New VW Golf to get two PHEV models
New VW Golf to get two PHEV models A performance GTE will sit above a standard Golf PHEV Volkswagen will offer the next generation Golf with two plug-in hybrid variants when it arrives next year. According to reports in Autocar, the Golf GTE name will remain, but will become a more powerful model. A new PHEV version will come in underneath the GTE, with similar power ratings as the current GTE. Frank Welsch, Volkswagen board member for research and development, told the publication that today’s Golf GTI has 238hp, so the Golf GTE should have the same, making the GTE truly part of the GTI/GTD/GTE performance range. Welsch went on to say that there are customers who are happy with the current performance levels of the GTE, so a new PHEV with similar power will be brought in. It’s worth remembering that there will be no replacement for the pure-electric e-Golf, as the similarly-sized new ID.3 hatch is due at a similar time to the eighth-generation Golf.
Origin: New VW Golf to get two PHEV models
Alpine boss: future models must be lightweight, sporty
More Alpine models will be developed in order to grow the marque into a bona fide brand, but only if they remain true to its core values of being lightweight and sporty, according to the firm’s CEO, Thierry Bollore. Speaking at the Frankfurt motor show, Bollore did not put a timeline on plans, but he said: “Yes, there will be other cars.” “I will not offer details today,” he said, “but we have been honoured and excited by the success of the A110, especially as it is sold in the premium sports market. “The feedback from customers means we want to enrich the offering to other areas in that sector, but only if the concepts we come up with remain true to the unique Alpine tradition of being lightweight and sporty and having some kind of competition angle.” Rumours following the launch of the reborn A110 in 2017 suggested that the brand was looking to develop open-top and more powerful versions of the sports car, as well as creating a family of SUVs in order to generate significant profits in the manner that Porsche achieves with the Macan and Cayenne. However, more recently it was reported that those plans were put on hold as parent company Renault evaluated whether the capital required to develop the vehicles was best spent at a time of significant challenges. In particular, it was said to be concerned about developing all-new models to sell over the next 10 years, lest their appeal be dented by the shift towards
Origin: Alpine boss: future models must be lightweight, sporty
Mini planning smaller and larger models to expand range
Mini is keen to make models both larger and smaller than its current range, company boss Bernd Körber has revealed to Autocar. Speaking at the Frankfurt motor show, he said he’d like to see Mini “grow in some aspects” while he’d also “love to see the core Mini shrink again”. Autocar recently outlined plans for Mini to make a larger model than the current Countryman in the next generation of its line-up, potentially reviving the Traveller name. 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”. Körber 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’s lots of benefits with a car like that for urban use. For me, it’s a good match.” Körber said that although such a car would be the biggest Mini, it would still be one of the smallest SUVs 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.” As for making a smaller Mini, Körber was referring to shrinking the size of the current three-door hatchback rather than a production version of the Rocketman concept, which, Autocar understands, is also a live project within the company as part of a joint venture with its partner in China, Great Wall. “We are having proportion and design discussions at the moment,” he said. “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.” Körber said Mini would continue to offer internal combustion engines in cars in the next-generation range alongside battery electric versions, something that would 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 but that is some way off for
Origin: Mini planning smaller and larger models to expand range
BMW axes a trio of models for 2020
If you have a hankering for a hunchbacked Bimmer, itd be a good idea to mosey down to your local dealer post-haste. BMW is axing three models for 2020, including a couple of five-door models.Gearheads know Munich has long abandoned any semblance of sense when it comes to naming its vehicles. For a spell, it tried to tell us cars starting with an odd number were sedans and the evens were coupes.Trouble was, the company quickly polluted its lineup with Gran Turismo and Gran Coupe versions, the latter of which was essentially a four-door version of a two-door version of a four-door car they were already building? GTs, on the other hand, added height and a hatchback to a variety of models.Clear as mud? Yeah, most customers thought so, too, apparently. For the 2020 model year, BMW is discontinuing the 3 Series Gran Turismo, the 6 Series Gran Turismo and the 6 Series Gran Coupe.That GC is about the only model for which this author will shed a tear, as it was a sensuously-styled tourer that coddled when asked and lit a fire on the road when prodded. The 3 Series Gran Turismo was the most expensive non-M 3er in this country, starting at a heady $51,050. At that price, you best be certain most customers walked straight over to the row of X4 crossovers sitting on the dealers lot. The 6 Series Gran Turismo was likely in the same boat, stickering at $76,700 in this country, a good five grand higher than the X5.The company is posting healthy sales numbers in Canada so far this year, with Julys tally of 2,722 units a 0.4-per-cent increase over the same month in 2018. Year-over-year numbers are less rosy, with the BMW brand down about six per cent, or 1,307 units through the first seven months of
Origin: BMW axes a trio of models for 2020
Report: Mini might be pared down to just three or four electric models
Mini may plan to pare its lineup down to just three or four vehicles, all fully electric, in the not-too-distant future, according to a new report.According to Automobile, gasoline-powered Mini models might be all but dead, their chassis pushed aside to make way for an electric future.Contrary to earlier reports, it appears that management has since black-flagged the internal-combustion versions in favor of an all-electric model range, the magazine says.The decision has not been confirmed, but Mini would be wise to consider the consequences of turning its small-vehicle lineup into an EV-only brand. Take rival Daimlers Smart brand, which went down that road a few years ago, and has now folded up its tiny EV suitcase.The first electric model from the British marque is the Mini SE, due to go on sale in 2020; it will be the litmus test for the EV revolution, though other battery-powered vehicles are almost certain to follow in its wake. The SE is powered by a 32.6-kWh battery, and has an all-electric range of up to 270 kilometres. Another EV, based on the super-short-wheelbase Rocketman concept, is rumoured to show in production form around 2023, as is a more compact version of the classic three-door Mini. Lastly, theres talk of a crossover-style vehicle. All will run on a skateboard-style platform and feature front-wheel-drive, with energy stored in either 35- or 50-kWh battery packs.We would love to see the Rocketman come to North America, but its likely too small; if it does hit production, it will likely only be available in markets that allow small cars to be federalized, such as China, where it could be built in partnership with Great Wall Motors. The Countryman will likely be evolved into a
Origin: Report: Mini might be pared down to just three or four electric models
Audi confirms six new RS models to be revealed this year
Audi Sport will significantly broaden its line-up in the next year, with a new preview image showing the number of new RS models due to launch before 2019 is out. The darkened shot shows six models set to wear the performance flagship badge. The first two from the left are Audi’s prominent Frankfurt motor show debutants: the new generation RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback. We will also see RS versions of the new Q3 and Q3 Sportback, alongside a facelifted version of the RS4 to round out the 2019 A4 range, and a range-topping RS Q8. Stirred into action by the success of performance SUV ranges from rivals BMW M and Mercedes-AMG, newly appointed managing director Oliver Hoffmann previously confirmed that Audi Sport will begin offering range-topping RS versions of nearly every SUV model in the Audi line-up, starting with the heavily anticipated RS Q8. He said: “We have to stretch our portfolio and the SUV segment is the segment with the most growth. There is high demand from our customers for high-performance SUVs. The RS Q8 we will launch this year. There is really, really high demand for this type of car.” The Q3 Sportback, a coupe-styled version of the Q3, will also join the RS6 and RS7 as an RS variant at September’s Frankfurt motor show. Expectations are that it will retain the inline five-cylinder unit of Audi’s smaller RS models, putting out around 400bhp and making the SUV capable of 0-62mph in around four seconds. Hoffmann, who was recently promoted to the position of managing director after a stint as engineering boss following the departure of CEO Michael-Julius Renz, indicates driveline electrification will play a key role in enhancing the performance of Audi Sport’s RS SUV models. “If you have the SUV segment with the higher weight, it’s easier to implement a hybrid drivetrain. It’s easier because of the packaging and the higher weight,” he said in an interview at the recent Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race. He added: “For sure, we will increase electric for our RS models in the
Origin: Audi confirms six new RS models to be revealed this year
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