2020 Porsche Taycan 4SHandout / Porsche Canadian Porsche Taycan customers will be happy to hear that when their super-EV arrives on their doorstep, theyll be getting aside from the blistering speed and the sleek styling three years of charging, already included in the purchase price.Yes, the price tag ($119,400 for the base 4S) will cover 36 months of charging at Volkswagen-owned Electrify Canada public charging stations.Electrify Canada’s highway and metro stations offer 350-kW DC fast-charging as do many Porsche dealers which means the Taycan, which runs on 800-volt tech and uses a combined charging system (CCS) plug to charge at a max 270 kW, can be juiced up from five- to 80-per-cent charge in only 22 minutes and 30 seconds.(Fine print: your complimentary charge runs out after 30 minutes, and while the 32 Electrify Canada stations set to open across the country by 2020 will have an average four charging dispensers, only a minimum one of those will be guaranteed to be a 350-kW charger.)Still, that would be great news if the vehicles range was anywhere close to what Porsche claimed it was. According to new numbers just released by the EPA, it might not be. Porsche claims the Taycan can nail 300 miles (482 kilometres) of driving range with a fully charged battery, and the European WLTP testing standard showed it could indeed net up to 280 miles (450 kilometres) of range in the real world.The U.S.-based EPA tests delivered a bombshell mid-December, however, showing the Taycan could realistically only manage 201 miles (323 kilometres) of range in its tests.To combat the poor rating, Porsche has already hired an independent testing firm to put the Taycan through its electric paces. The numbers that third party delivered were much more favourable 269 miles (433 kilometres) highway, and 283 (455 kilometres) city.Whatever the Taycans real-world numbers end up looking like, range anxiety aint stopping people from wanting to drive it. In Europe, there have already been 30,000 customers whove put down money to get the Taycan in their garage. Some 20,000 Taycans are expected to be delivered to Europeans in 2020.LISTEN: What do you get when you combine a cross-country electric vehicle road trip with a poignant love story? Mary Ann’s Electric Drive, that’s what. In this week’s episode of Plugged In, we chat with Harvey Soicher, a Vancouver man who tragically lost his soul mate 18 months ago but found some semblance of healing by embracing what he calls a ‘pioneer spirit’ to drive his Audi e-tron from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean and back.
Origin: Porsche Taycan price covers three years of charging in Canada
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New Porsche Taycan 4S unveiled with £83,000 price
Porsche has made its new Taycan EV much more attainable with the addition of a new 4S trim underneath the existing Turbo and Turbo S. The new model is available to order now from £83,367 (excluding the £3500 government grant) and is expected to arrive for UK deliveries in January alongside the Turbo and Turbo S. While it doesn’t get the 751bhp of the £138,000 Taycan Turbo S, the 4S still puts out 523bhp during overboost in standard form. It also gets a 79.2kWh battery for a WLTP certified range of 252 miles. However, Porsche also offers a Performance Battery Plus option pack, which raises peak power to 563bhp and increases the battery output to 93.4kWh. While the 0-62mph time is unchanged from the standard 4S at 4.0sec, the range is boosted to 287 miles – the highest figure in the current Taycan line-up. The Performance Battery Plus also gets a faster peak charging rate, at 270kW to the base car’s 225kW. Much of the 4S’s technical make-up is the same as pricier Taycans, with two electric motors across both axles for four-wheel drive and a two-speed transmission for acceleration. However, the rear motor is 80mm shorter than it is in the Turbo and Turbo S, while it also receives smaller brakes, down to 360mm and six pistons on the front and 358mm and four pistons at the rear. Exterior styling changes include smaller 19in wheels, red painted calipers and a revised bodykit including a different front apron, side sills and rear diffuser. Dynamic LED lights remain standard fitment. Part-leather is standard, but Porsche also offers a leather-free cabin with recycled materials. As with other Taycans, it comes with three years of access to Ionity’s rapid chargers and the Porsche Charging Service. Customers also receive a driving experience at the brand’s Silverstone Experience
Origin: New Porsche Taycan 4S unveiled with £83,000 price
2017 Ford GT sells at auction for triple its original price
A 2017 Ford GT 66 Heritage edition just crossed the block at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas for US$1.54 million, more than three times its original sale price of US$450,000.The GT only had 30 miles (50 km) on the odometer, which is even less than a previously pristine example that sold at Bonhams during Monterey Car Week. The Bonhams car had 120 miles (193 km) on the odo, and sold for US$1.05 million.A third GT recently sold by RM Sothebys in Monterey fetched US$1.24 million; it had 400 miles (643 km) on the clock, but was painted in a standard shade of orange.The contract that buyers of the incredible Ford supercar originally signed barred them from reselling the vehicle for two years. Fords original plan was to deliver the vehicles only to customers who would actually want to get out and use the highly capable car on the track, or at least show it off. Instead, it seems like the two-year no-sale period just served to add value to the vehicles, with those who invested waiting until auction day to make a big profit.John Cena infamously tried to sell his blue GT well before the two-year clause in his contract had come up, and ended up getting in serious trouble. After making its way through various auctions, the highest price it ever sold for was US$1.4 million.The highest price ever paid for a GT so far was US$2.5 million, as part of a charity auction put on by Ford before the official two-year no-sale restriction was lifted. That car was also a Heritage Edition, though it was different from a 66 Heritage
Origin: 2017 Ford GT sells at auction for triple its original price
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
Volkswagen cuts price of e-Golf by £2765
Volkswagen has reduced the price of its electric e-Golf by £2765, resulting in a price of £27,575 after application of the Government’s plug-in car grant. This comes just days before the official unveiling of Volkswagen’s first standalone electric model, the ID 3. Prices for the MEB-based hatchback, which will offer a range of between 205 and 342 miles, are expected to start from around £25,500. The e-Golf was launched in 2014 with a 113bhp electric motor and an official range of 118 miles. An update in 2017 increased power to 134bhp, while a larger (35.9kWh) battery boosted range to 144 miles on the WLTP cycle. Geraldine Ingham, head of marketing at Volkswagen UK, said: “A sizeable price realignment only makes the e-Golf a more tempting proposition to buyers. After all, it’s a Golf – one of the UK’s most popular cars – but with all the added benefits and bonuses associated with electric propulsion.” Production of the e-Golf is set to come to an end as Volkswagen introduces the eighth-generation Golf later this year in order to avoid overlap with the ID 3. The new Golf will, however, be available in plug-in hybrid GTE
Origin: Volkswagen cuts price of e-Golf by £2765
Tesla cut the starting price of its Model 3 — and it’s making investors nervous
Tesla cut the starting price of the Model 3 sedan in the U.S. weeks after a federal tax credit shrank in half, renewing concern over whether the electric-car maker can sustain sales with less support from incentives.The Model 3 now starts at US$38,990, according to Teslas website. Arndt Ellinghorst, an analyst at Evercore ISI, wrote in a report Tuesday that the halving of the U.S. tax credit to US$1,875 at the beginning of July is causing the company to reduce prices to support demand.The key question remains will Tesla be able to sustain itself given steadily declining ASPs and worsening mix? Ellinghorst wrote, referring to the average selling prices of the companys vehicles dropping as the Model 3 becomes a greater share of deliveries.While the starting price of the Model 3 has dropped, Teslas moves to simplify its lineup include dropping a standard-range version of its larger and more expensive Model S sedan. The cheapest version available is now US$79,990, according to the companys website.Tesla also cut prices on all vehicles shipped to China, with the Model 3 dropping to 355,900 yuan (US$51,764) from 377,000 yuan, according to a Tesla representative. Prices of the Model S and Model X were cut about 4 per cent to 776,900 yuan and 790,900 yuan, respectively.The changes wont affect prices of Model 3s that will be produced near Shanghai, according to the representative. Tesla is expecting to begin output at a factory there later this year.Tesla is adjusting prices in order to continue to improve affordability for customers, the Chinese unit said in a statement. We are standardizing our global vehicle lineup and streamlining the number of trim packages offered for Model S, Model X and Model
Origin: Tesla cut the starting price of its Model 3 — and it’s making investors nervous
Tesla streamlines UK line-up with model price overhaul
Tesla has reconfigured its UK pricing structure and range as part of a move towards a simpler and more concise global line-up. The most significant alteration is the discontinuation of entry-level Standard Range variants of both the Model S luxury saloon and Model X SUV. To compensate for the reduction in choice, prices for both models in Long Range trim have been brought down by £800. In line with the removal of these Standard Range variants, Tesla has sought to distinguish the two remaining trim options with a £6300 price hike for the top-spec Model S Performance, and an increase of £5900 for the equivalent Model X. These two options are now available from £91,800 and £96,400 respectively. All Model S and X Performance variants will come as standard with the brand’s Ludicrous Mode, which brings 0-60mph times down to 2.4 seconds for the saloon and 2.7 seconds for the SUV. Lower down the range, the Standard Range Plus variant of the new Model 3 is now available from £36,490 (after application of the government’s £3500 plug-in car grant), a saving of £1560 over its initial £38,050 launch price. Meanwhile, prices for the dual-motor Model 3 Long Range Performance, which is capable of ultra-fast 200kW charging, have risen £550 to £49,140. This trim comes equipped as standard with performance wheels and a carbonfibre spoiler, and offers a 162mph top speed. A Tesla spokesperson said: “In order to make purchasing our vehicles even simpler, we are standardising our global vehicle lineup and streamlining the number of trim packages offered for Model S, Model X and Model 3. “We are also adjusting our pricing in order to continue to improve affordability for customers. Like other car companies, we periodically adjust pricing and available options.” UK pricing for the Model Y seven-seat compact SUV is still yet to be officially confirmed, with first deliveries not anticipated to take place before 2022. In the US, the new model is being offered from £35,500 in 300-mile Long Range
Origin: Tesla streamlines UK line-up with model price overhaul
New Land Rover Defender 2019: Release date, pictures, specs & price
Bräutigam added that he felt the time taken between the Defender going off sale in 2016 and relaunching could be a positive for the new car, including the likelihood that it will be offered with electrified powertrains as well as petrol and diesel units. “If we had wanted to recreate the existing car then we could have moved quicker, but it is our view that for an icon to remain an icon it cannot only look backwards, but must move forwards too. The new Defender will move the game on again, and having the benefit for some perspective in order to achieve that should be to our advantage. “The one thing I can promise you is that the new Defender will do all that our customers expect of it, without being a copycat of what has gone before. It is a car for the modern world, and that means that it must move the game on if it is to be relevant.” According to the DVLA database, the vehicle registered with the numberplate seen in our spy shots is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine. In one of the spy shots captured by our photographer, the window is wound down and a driver can be seen. It appears to be Nick Rogers, Jaguar Land Rover’s executive director of product engineering, although the firm refused to comment. The reborn Defender is being developed in at least two forms: a short wheelbase 90-badged model, and a larger 110 version. Autocar has previously revealed that the two wheelbase sizes will allow the firm to develop a whole family of vehicles, ranging from basic utilitarian machines up to luxurious high-end models. With prototypes now having been seen on public roads, at the track and in extreme weather environments, test mules of the new Defender are likely to be a regular sight on public roads as Land Rover hones the vehicle. The aim for the new machine is to offer the “biggest breadth of capability of any model to wear the badge”, with prices tipped to range from over £45,000 to £70,000. The previous Defender went out of production in January 2016, and the firm has been working since then to develop a successor. The original Land Rover Series I, from which the Defender is derived, launched over 70 years ago in
Origin: New Land Rover Defender 2019: Release date, pictures, specs & price
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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