Dutch start-up Lightyear has revealed a prototype of its upcoming new One, which it claims will be the world’s first long-range solar car. The One is a lightweight, four-wheel drive, coupé-style four-door, which Lightyear says will offer a range of around 450 miles on the WLTP combined cycle from a solar-electric hybrid powertrain. Lightyear claims the One is able to achieve this segment-leading range even with a much smaller battery than that found in equivalent BEVs, because it consumes much less energy than conventional electric cars. Each wheel is independently driven, minimising loss of energy throughout the drivetrain, while the use of ultra-light materials for its body construction reduces strain on the battery’s output. As well as generating as much as 12,430 miles worth of energy each year from solar power, the One can be charged from a conventional domestic 230V outlet, gaining up to 250 miles of range overnight The car’s five-metre-square solar panels are located on its roof and bonnet, comprising solar cells integrated in safety glass so strong that, Lightyear says, “a fully-grown adult can walk on them without causing dents.” Company boss Lex Hoefsloot said: ““The main goal of the car is to fill in where electric cars fall short. Research has shown that range and the lack of charging options are still the top concerns that people have when considering purchasing electric cars.” The One marks the start of Lightyear’s planned solar vehicle development strategy. While reservations for the One open at €119,000 (£106,000), future models will “have significantly lower purchase prices”. The company also says the One’s successors will be geared towards car-sharing, with high levels of autonomy and low operating costs, as it strives to create a product range that is fully sustainable. The first 100 One models, of a total planned production run of 500, have been reserved already. Build is set to get underway in
Origin: Lightyear One solar-charging EV revealed with 450 mile range
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New 2021 Range Rover: first prototypes seen testing
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} The next generation of Land Rover’s flagship Range Rover isn’t due for another two years, but we’re already seeing prototypes of the new car on British roads. Despite wearing bodywork of the existing model, which has been on sale since 2012, we can clearly see that the body has been adapted to fit over a modified platform with different suspension and exhaust components visible. Alongside this, we can see stretched rear arches and a cutout in the rear bumper, necessary to accommodate the slightly longer wheelbase of the new underpinnings. This prototype is registered as a petrol model, but there’s no indication of what capacity the unit powering it is. It’s safe to assume that Jaguar Land Rover’s all-new Ingenium straight-six will feature in the range, alongside a V8 rumoured to be adapted from BMW’s 4.4-litre unit as production of the outgoing ‘AJ’ 5.0-litre supercharged motor winds down at Ford’s Bridgend factory, closing next year. With competition from the Bentley Bentayga and Rolls-Royce Cullinan as well as upcoming, more mainstream models such as the BMW X8 , Land Rover’s task with the fifth-generation Range Rover is to create a vehicle that surpasses all of these rivals. It will attempt do so using not only its unique heritage but also technological advancements in powertrains, autonomous driving systems and infotainment. Last year the firm revealed that the upcoming Range Rover, alongside the next Range Rover Sport, will use an all-new aluminium-intensive architecture. To prepare for these models, its Solihull plant has gone through a major refit to accommodate the advanced technology that will be used in future Range Rovers. As a result, production of the Discovery has moved from Solihull to Jaguar Land Rover’s new plant in Nitra, Slovakia, also freeing up room for the potential production of the first electric Range Rovers. The new Range Rover platform will be significantly lighter than the current model’s D7u architecture, and the lightest of all Jaguar Land Rover platforms. Called Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA), the aluminium platform will be used on all future Jaguar Land Rover models ranging in size from the Jaguar XE to the Range Rover. By the middle of the next decade, next-generation versions of Jaguar Land Rover’s transverse-engined models are even expected to be switched to MLA too. MLA’s weight saving is crucial to allow for the extra heft of battery packs for electric and hybrid models, plus the technology and drivetrains that MLA has been designed to accommodate. It is understood the next Range Rover, codenamed L460, will closely the size of the current car, which is 4999mm long, 1983mm wide and 1920mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2922mm. That is slightly smaller than the Bentayga except in terms of height, where the Bentley SUV sits lower. The exterior design will be evolutionary, given the Range Rover’s iconic look and the company’s keenness to capitalise on this. The current generation is softer and less angular than the third-generation model, and this pattern is set to continue. Luxury rivals such as Rolls-Royce and Lagonda, Aston Martin’s revived marque, are readying electric models for launch, perceiving a perfect synergy between peaceful electric powertrains and luxury motoring. However, even though MLA can accommodate a fully electric drivetrain, as well as petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid variants, it is understood that the next Range Rover will not initially be offered with one. Instead, Land Rover wants the first electric Range Rover to be a stand-alone model. This will be a tall estate with more car-like qualities than other models in the line-up, and more limited off-road prowes. Electric variants of other Range Rovers will ubsequently be offered as part of normal model line-ups, including a version of the full-size Range Rover set for launch before 2022 and aimed chiefly at Asian megacities. While Land Rover readies an electric Range Rover, the new model will continue with plug-in hybrid technology recently introduced in an update to the existing Range Rover. The MLA’s plug-in hybrid set-up is understood to include an electrified back axle alongside a four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine, with the electric-only range increased above the 31 miles of the current P400e. There will also be changes to the pure-combustion-engined line-up. Currently, there are 3.0-litre V6 and 4.4-litre V8 diesels and supercharged 5.0-litre V8 and 3.0-litre V6 petrols – all sourced externally and all to be axed. The new straight-six Ingenium petrol and diesel units are being built at its engine plant in Wolverhampton. In the Range Rover, these will be mixed with 48V mild hybrid technology in most versions to improve performance and economy. Real-world testing of the straight-six diesels has shown NOx emissions to be no higher than 80mg/km – well under the limits of new regulations. Even
Origin: New 2021 Range Rover: first prototypes seen testing
BMW completes 8 Series range with new four-door Gran Coupé
BMW has rounded out its new 8 Series line-up with the Gran Coupé. The new four-door 8 Series will go on sale in September after a Frankfurt motor show debut, priced from £69,340. The Gran Coupé joins the 8 Series Coupé and Convertible with a line-up that will comprise six-cylinder and V8 models, including the rapid new 516bhp M850i xDrive Gran Coupé. The 8 Series Gran Coupé replaces the discontinued 6 Series Gran Coupé in a growing market segment that will place it up against high-end versions of the Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS, as well as the Porsche Panamera. At 5082mm long, 1932mm wide and 1407mm tall, the 8 Series Gran Coupé is 239mm longer, 30mm wider and 66mm taller that its coupé sibling. This added length is partly the result of a 201mm-longer wheelbase than that of the 8 Series Coupé and Convertible, at 3023mm. It allows for two extra frameless doors and rear seat space that’s on a par with its predecessor’s. The 8 Series Gran Coupé has a traditional boot at the rear, with a 440-litre capacity. The load length can be extended when the 40/20/40-configured rear seat is folded down. The engine choices for the 8 Series Gran Coupé mirror those of its siblings. The entry point to the new line-up is the 840i turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol unit, which develops 335bhp and 369lb ft of torque. It can be had in rear- or four-wheel drive and the 0-62mph times are 5.2sec and 4.9sec respectively. Fuel consumption is 39.2mpg combined. Also available is the diesel 840d, with a 3.0-litre inline six making 316bhp and 501lb ft. The 0-62mph sprint is dispatched in 5.1sec and claimed economy is 47.9mpg. Crowning the initial 8 Series Gran Coupé range is the M850i xDrive, which has a 523bhp turbocharged 4.4-litre V8. With a kerb weight of 1995kg, it is claimed to hit 62mph from rest in 3.9sec and return 28.8mpg combined economy. All engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, with the 840i and M850i xDrive both featuring an M Sport rear differential. Rearwheel steering is standard on four-wheel-drive cars and optional on rear-driven models. Later this year, BMW’s M division will launch even more powerful M8 and M8 Competition variants of the new four-door featuring a twinturbo 4.4-litre petrol V8 with 592bhp for the M8 and 616bhp for the M8
Origin: BMW completes 8 Series range with new four-door Gran Coupé
New Renault Zoe launched with longer range
New Renault Zoe launched with longer range A range of 242 miles is now available, along with option for CCS charging Renault has launched a new version of its Zoe EV supermini, with the latest iteration set to get a 52 kWh battery for a range of 242 miles (WLTP) on a single charge. The new Zoe can also feature a CCS inlet, allowing for faster rapid charging at speeds of up to 50 kW, while the Type 2 section of the port will continue to accept up to 22 kW AC. Not only is the rapid charging capability faster than the current 42 kW DC limit, it also opens up new rapid charge points for Zoe drivers. Renault’s Zoe Z.E. 50 is the latest update to a model that has already had battery upgrades and motor power increases during its life-span. Not only is the battery capacity larger – the physical size remains the same – but also the new model features refreshed design inside and out, and improved equipment. GT Line models get a new R135 100 kW (135 hp) electric motor, up from the 79 kW or 65 kW models currently available, which provides improved acceleration and comfort at higher speeds. This drops the 0-62mph time to a little under 10 seconds, with a top speed of 87mph. A new B mode function is fitted to both R135 and the R110 motor models – the latter is carried over from the Z.E. 40 models – which allows for stronger brake energy recuperation for improved ‘one-pedal’ driving potential. This, and other drive modes, are selected via a new e-shifter, which is a switch rather than a conventional gear lever. New safety equipment is fitted, and a 10-inch digital instrument cluster represents a significant improvement in design, perceived quality, and display size. Exterior design details bring the Zoe in line with other current Renault models, but it is the interior design that has seen the most changes.
Origin: New Renault Zoe launched with longer range
Renault reveals second-gen Zoe EV with 242-mile range
Renault has revealed the second-generation Zoe hatchback, the successor to Europe’s best-selling electric car. The new model offers an extended 242-mile range and up to 134bhp. Effectively a heavy redesign of the outgoing model, the new Zoe will go on sale in the autumn in a dramatically different market from the one its predecessor entered in 2012, with a range of competitors including the new Peugeot e-208, Vauxhall Corsa-e, Honda e and Volkswagen ID 3. Renault intends to maintain the Zoe’s position as one of the more affordable offerings in the market, likely undercutting these models with an as-yet-unconfirmed price not far from the £21,220 of the current car. Sharing the same overall dimensions as the outgoing Zoe, the car’s design is updated with new grilles and bumpers, plus new, standard-fit LED headlights and tail-lights. There is a fresh colour palette inside and out, as well as new wheel designs. The intention has been to modernise the supermini’s looks. The interior is more heavily revamped, with a new dashboard design introducing a 10.0in customisable digital instrument display as standard across the range. Top-spec cars also receive a new curved 9.3in touchscreen infotainment display, similar to that found in the latest Clio, using the firm’s Easy Link connected technology. As well as being able to locate suitable charging points, it can tell if one isn’t functioning properly. A new smartphone app can also remotely pre-heat or cool the car. Higher-quality materials and new upholstery, including one made using 100% recycled fabric, aim to give the Zoe a more upmarket air. New details, such as an electronic gearlever and parking brake, free up extra storage space in the cabin, while wireless smartphone charging and an acoustic windscreen have been added. The Zoe’s biggest developments are in the powertrain department. The previous generation, which was upgraded throughout its life, made use of a 40kWh battery in its highest spec, but now an increase to 52kWh allows Renault to claim a WLTP-certified range of 242 miles. Renault has also adapted the car’s charging system to allow a 50kW DC charge using a CCS plug, joining existing Type 2 and AC connections behind the enlarged front badge flap. An optional 7kW wallbox enables owners to charge the battery from empty to full in nine hours. The new Zoe is now available with a choice of two motors. A base 107bhp unit – carried over from the old car – is joined by a higher-spec 134bhp version. Renault claims this power unit, which makes 181lb ft, allows the Zoe to achieve the 0-62mph sprint in less than 10 seconds and go from 50mph to 75mph in 7.1sec. Its top speed rises from 81mph to 87mph. Chassis changes are limited, but Renault claims the spring and damper rates have been tweaked and all-round disc brakes appear for the first time. QA Emmanuel Bouvier, director of sales and marketing and EVs, Renault This is effectively a heavy facelift of an older design. Why not an all-new platform? “We are in the unusual situation where we have a seven-year-old vehicle whose sales are growing significantly year on year. We are confident that this Zoe has plenty of life left in it, but we are considering using a common (Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi) Alliance platform in future.” You claim the new Zoe is part of a wider assault on the EV market. What is next? “Our objective is to cover A-, B- and C-segments, with multiple shapes of vehicles (ie standard cars and crossovers/SUVs). These will be focused on being passenger cars. I cannot tell you more at this stage.” Does the recently launched City K-ZE fit into these plans in Europe, or is it just for China? “We are currently investigating if the City K-ZE has international sales potential. No decision has been made
Origin: Renault reveals second-gen Zoe EV with 242-mile range
Honda e range and battery confirmed
Honda e range and battery confirmed The Honda e will have a range of 125 miles on a charge Battery details have been announced for the forthcoming Honda e pure-electric citycar, with a 35.5 kWh battery giving drivers a range of 125 miles on a single charge. The Honda e is focusing on urban travel and an enjoyable driving experience. The relaively low range – by current mass-market standards – is tempered by the fact that the Honda e is designed primrily for travel around towns and cities, where a 100+ mile range is often ample. For driving enjoyment, Honda has confirmed that the e will be rear-wheel drive, opening up the front end for a tight turning circle. Elements throughout are made from aluminium, including parts of the suspension, to improve performance and efficiency. Short-overhangs, four-wheel independent suspension, and 50:50 weight distribution with a low centre of gravity add up to important elements when considering how Honda intends the e to be a fun to drive citycar. To charge, the Honda a will have a Type 2 CCS inlet, with a top-up on a 50 kW charger taking around half an hour to 80%. The battery will be water-cooled to make sure it remains in the optimum temperature, even with repeated rapid charging. The charge point is behind a glass panel in the bonnet, where there will be a quick-glance charge indicator. Honda reckons that a central charging port makes for easier use from drivers, rather than having a charging port to one side.
Origin: Honda e range and battery confirmed
Audi RS5 returns to range with free-breathing 444bhp V6
Audi has reintroduced the RS5 to its range of performance vehicles, in both Coupé and four-door Sportback forms, as a limited-run special edition. The two-door has been unavailable for the past year due to delays in the model undergoing the new WLTP efficiency tests, while the Sportback is making its market debut following a launch in March 2018. Just 250 of each bodystyle will be sold, exclusively in Audi Sport Edition trim, which is priced from £68,985. An Audi spokesperson said these 500 units are likely to be the final RS5 models sold before a particulate filter is installed as part of a range update in 2020. For now, the RS5’s twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 petrol engine produces an unchanged 444bhp and 443lb ft, with drive sent to both axles via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Both models are said to dispatch the 0-62mph sprint in 3.9sec. Top speed is unconfirmed but likely to remain an electronically limited 174mph. The Coupé manages 30.1mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and the Sportback 29.7mpg, with corresponding CO2 outputs of 213g/km and 215g/km. In Audi Sport Edition form, the RS5 features Anthracite 20in alloy wheels, tinted rear windows, gloss black exterior trim and a performance exhaust system. Inside, the seats are finished in Alcantara and leather, with LED ambient lighting, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, blindspot monitoring and a panoramic sunroof fitted as standard. The return of the RS5 comes as Audi begins to bring its entire range back to market following a 3.5% drop in profits last year as newly implemented WLTP regulations forced the withdrawal of each for testing. The German brand’s range of S-badged performance models has undergone a significant transformation, with the S4, S5, S6 and S7 making the switch to a 48V-assisted, turbocharged diesel V6. Speaking at the firm’s annual press conference in March, board member Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler said that Audi couldn’t “afford to develop cars which do not respond to our customers’ wishes” but remained keen to preserve its “sporty
Origin: Audi RS5 returns to range with free-breathing 444bhp V6
Audi launches new PHEV range with Q5 55 TFSI e quattro
Audi launches new PHEV range with Q5 55 TFSI e quattro The PHEV Q5 SUV leads a new range of four plug in models from Audi Audi has launched its new Q5 55 TFSI e quattro, with the plug-in hybrid SUV kicking off a number of new PHEV model launches. The Q5 has a 14.1 kWh battery, which powers a 105 kW electric motor – supported by a 2.0 litre TFSI petrol unit. This allows for WLTP economy figures of 113 MPG, a range of more than 26 miles on a single charge, and CO2 emissions of 49 g/km. The Audi produces a combined 367hp and 500 Nm of torque, for a 0-62mph time of 5.3 seconds. The Q5 will be able to run on electric power alone at speeds of up to 84mph. Already a popular SUV, the addition of a PHEV powertrain will appeal to a number of buyers, particularly those running one as a company car. The Q5 55 TFSI e quattro can be set to electric-only driving, battery hold, or conventional hybrid modes. The Audi’s navigation system can help put the car in the most efficient setting for any part of a trip, allowing the car to coast when at higher speeds, recuperate energy when heading down hill, and picking which powertrain or combination there or to use at particular sections. Charging is carried out via the Type 2 inlet on the rear flank, with an on-board charger capable of taking 7.4 kW. This means a charging time of just a couple of hours from a fast home or public point. Audi is in the process of re-launching its plug-in hybrid line-up. Having had an A3 and Q7 e-tron on its books, these have been removed, and the e-tron badge reassigned to pure-electric models only – like the e-tron SUV. A new range of ‘TFSI e’ models will be coming along shortly though, with the Q5 set to be joined by the A6, A7 Sportback, and A8 saloons in 2019. Order books will open early in June, with deliveries due in the last three months of 2019. Although UK pricing is yet to be confirmed, Audi expects the Q5 55 TFSI e quattro to start at around £55,000.
Origin: Audi launches new PHEV range with Q5 55 TFSI e quattro
Land Rover Defender and Range Rover Velar hybrids spotted
It’s the first time that we’ve seen a prototype for the new Defender without diesel power. Autocar understands that it will be offered with both mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines in 2020, although with no visible charging port seen through the disguise, it’s likely that we have the former here. There is no indication of the engine size, power and efficiency offered by the new powerplant. However, it could make use of Jaguar Land Rover’s 2.0-litre turbcharged Ingenium petrol unit, one of the firm’s biggest sellers since the diesel market has suffered huge losses. Land Rover is keen to silence sceptics, particularly when it comes to the issue of electrified propulsion being used in a supposedly back-to-basics 4×4. However, the company insists that an electric motor allows maximum torque from step-off, and the torque delivery is more controllable, meaning a hybrid would perform better off road. At the same time, a similarly petrol-electric test mule for the Range Rover Velar has been spotted. It’s predicted that Land Rover will launch the luxury SUV with the same ‘P400e’ powertrain – mating a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine with an electric motor for nearly 400bhp – as found in the Sport and full-size Range Rover. However, as with the Defender, the images don’t reveal a charging port, suggesting it’s either hidden from view or we’re looking at a forthcoming Velar with mild-hybrid system upgrades
Origin: Land Rover Defender and Range Rover Velar hybrids spotted
No electric Range Rover Evoque planned, PHEV instead
An electric Range Rover Evoque won’t arrive to the line-up before 2025, as the brand focuses its efforts on hybrid technology in the mid-term. Jaguar Land Rover UK boss Rawdon Glover said that while “there will be a market for a small to medium-sized electric SUV”, it will not arrive before the next generation of its entry-level Range Rover. The second-generation Evoque launched earlier this year, seven years after the compact SUV was born, and thanks to a new platform, now accommodates mild hybrids as well as a plug-in hybrid. However, Autocar understands the platform can not accommodate a fully electric drivetrain, and so new architecture would need to be implemented for a third-generation model to house such a set-up. The PHEV, due in 12 months’ time, will be powered by a 197bhp three-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with a 107bhp electric motor. Glover described the Evoque PHEV as “fleet game-changer” for Land Rover and predicts it will make up more than a third of UK Evoque sales when it arrives early next year. Land Rover believes plug-in hybrid technology is a sensible middle ground for the Evoque, opposed to a fully electric variant, having seen success with the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport plug-in hybrids launched in 2017. Within the M25, one in two of those models sold are plug-in hybrid. Broader electric plans for Land Rover are unconfirmed, but an electric version of the flagship Range Rover is expected in under five
Origin: No electric Range Rover Evoque planned, PHEV instead
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