Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 arrives to rival Bentley Bentayga

Mercedes-Benz has extended its Maybach line-up with the unveiling of a plush new 550bhp flagship version of the third-generation GLS at the 2019 Guangzhou motor show in China. Lining up alongside the S-Class-based Maybach saloon, the top-flight SUV is planned for UK delivery in 2020 as a rival to the likes of the Bentley Bentayga and Range Rover, featuring a series of unique styling cues, a mild-hybrid drivetrain and an upgraded interior. The new model invokes many of the styling elements seen on the S-Class Maybach to help distinguish it from the standard third-generation GLS. Included is a distinctive chrome grille featuring vertical louvres, chrome highlights within the side window surrounds and along the sills, standard 22in (and optional 23in) wheels, an optional two-tone exterior paint scheme in eight different colour combinations, electrically extending running boards and chromed tail-pipes with a signature cross-rib. Speaking about the new model, Mercedes-Benz’s head of product management, Martin Hülder, said: “SUV vehicles have a major advantage for the luxury segment: the high seating position. In combination with the running boards, this makes access and egress easy and convenient.” Inside, the 5202mm-long Mercedes-Maybach GLS sports an upgraded interior with nappa leather upholstery and unique trim elements. Among the long list of options for UK customers are reclining rear seats with a massage function and a fixed centre console with folding tables and a refrigerator in a four-seat layout that can be further enhanced with a panoramic sunroof. Boot capacity below the cargo blind at the rear is 520 litres. Reflecting its upper luxury positioning, the latest Maybach model also receives a long list of standard driving aids. Mercedes-Benz’s most luxurious SUV will be offered from the outset of sales with just one drivetrain in the GLS 600 4Matic. The mild-hybrid unit combines a turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine with a 48V integrated starter motor to provide an overall output of 550bhp at 6000rpm and 538lb ft of torque from 2500-5000rpm. The electrically boosted reserves are channelled through a nine-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox and 4Matic all-wheel drive. Mercedes-Benz claims a 0-62mph time for the 2710kg Maybach GLS 600 4Matic of 4.9sec. Top speed is limited to 155mph. Combined fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are put at 24.1mpg and 266g/km respectively on the WLTP cycle. Underpinning the new top-of-the-line GLS model is a specially tuned version of Mercedes-Benz’s E-Active Body control suspension. Also included is a curve inclination function that allows the big new SUV to lean into corners to reduce the lateral forces acting on the
Origin: Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 arrives to rival Bentley Bentayga

Volkswagen ID 3: electric Nissan Leaf rival to be revealed today

Volkswagen says the ID 3’s name comes from the firm’s internal nomenclature for the compact A-segment, and the new model’s opening of the third major chapter in the brand’s history, after the Beetle and Golf. The title also “signals the potential for expansion” into bigger and smaller models in the future. Volkswagen sales boss Jürgen Stackmann said that the start of ID pre-booking ushered in “the third major chapter of strategic importance in the history of our brand, following the Beetle and the Golf”. He added: “With the ID 3, we are making the electric car fit for mass mobility.” Stackmann said that the ID 3 represented a “major milestone” for Volkswagen, adding: “The world is currently in a process of transformation. Volkswagen is not only part of, but is also shaping, this transformation. “We are pursuing a focused powertrain strategy. Volkswagen has opted consistently for the battery-electric drive system. This is currently the most efficient technology for reducing CO2 emissions and meeting the ambitious CO2 reduction targets. E-mobility will become our lead technology.” The ID range is understood to be planned to run from one to 10, with the numbers replacing the titles given to previously seen concepts: the ID Crozz SUV, Vizzion saloon, Buzz MPV and van and Roomzz luxury SUV. Autocar has also revealed the firm is working on an entry-level ‘people’s car’. Volkswagen says the ID 3 First edition will be priced at under €40,000 (£34,000) in Germany, with customers in the UK required to pay a £750 deposit. UK pricing details have yet to be confirmed, and the pre-booking will only be open for the 30,000 special editions, although those who secure a slot can cancel their order with a full refund. The UK is one of the “key” markets for the car, alongside Norway, Germany, the Netherlands and France. Customers who pre-book an ID 3 will be able to order their cars after it is launched at this year’s Frankfurt motor show in September. Those orders will become binding in April 2020, with customers able to cancel and obtain a full refund until then. The First edition will be offered in a choice of four colours and three versions, all featuring large wheel rims. There will also be three trim levels – First, First Plus and First Max – although only the Plus trim will be offered in the UK. This will feature “extensive” comfort features including voice control, a navigation system, exterior IQ lighting and a bi-colour exterior and interior design. In the markets where it is available, the range-topping Max trim includes a panoramic sunroof and augmented-reality head-up display. Volkswagen also said the ID 3 First edition will be offered with 2000kWh of free charging at public charging points using the firm’s We Charge app, on a European charging network. That includes charge points on the Ionity network, which is expanding into the UK. VW also has a deal with Tesco to install 600 rapid chargers at its supermarkets by 2020, although it is not yet confirmed if access to these would be part of the 2000kWh deal. The ID 3 is 4100mm long, 1800mm wide and 1530mm high, making it 155mm longer, 9mm wider and 77mm higher than the seventh-generation Golf, although the electric powertrain means that it is set to offer substantially more interior space. Stackmann added: “From the outside, the ID 3 will be as large as a Golf. In the interior, it will be as spacious as a medium-sized car.” ID 3 production run will start at Volkswagen’s Zwickau factory near the end of this year. The firm is aiming to deliver more than 100,000 examples in 2020, with 110,000 on average per year afterwards. That is part of VW’s goal to sell more than 10 million electric vehicles in the next 10
Origin: Volkswagen ID 3: electric Nissan Leaf rival to be revealed today

Ferrari unleashes new F8 Spider as McLaren 720S Spider rival

Ferrari has revealed the F8 Spider as the drop-top version of its new V8-powered Tributo supercar. Described as “less extreme than the 488 Pista Spider but sportier than the 488 Spider” which it replaces, the F8 Spider gets the same 710bhp version of Ferrari’s 3.9-litre V8 engine as the F8 Tributo, meaning the same power output as the limited-run 488 Pista and the car’s biggest rival, the McLaren 720S Spider. The twin-turbocharged engine helps propel the F8 Spider from 0-62mph time in 2.9sec (0.1sec faster than the 488 Spider), 0-124mph in 8.2sec and a top speed of 211mph. The Ferrari’s top speed is just 1mph shy of its Woking rival. The V8 engine produces 568lb ft of torque peaking at 3,250rpm in the F8 Spider. Along with its extra power over the 488 Spider, it is also 20kg lighter at 1400kg. To help achieve the power upgrade over the 488 Spider, the new intake line is derived from the 488 Challenger track car. The air intakes have moved from the flanks to the rear on either side of the blown spoiler, which ensures greater air flow to the engine, says Ferrari. The F8 Spider retains the retractable hard top synonymous with Ferrari Spiders. The design compared to the F8 Tributo shifts the line between the body and roof from its conventional position at the beltline to above the B-pillar. The roof top is more compact than the 488 Spider and so can be divided into two parts and stowed on top of the engine. The top takes 14 seconds to deploy at speeds up to 28mph. Ferrari said that the F8 Spider’s performance is now accessible to more drivers “thanks to vehicle dynamics systems that make driving on the limit easier”. Based on previous generations’ pricing, the F8 Spider will cost around £25,000 more than the £203,476 F8 Tributo when it arrives on roads later this
Origin: Ferrari unleashes new F8 Spider as McLaren 720S Spider rival

New Mercedes-Benz GLA: Audi Q2 rival spied again

The new Mercedes-Benz GLA has been spied testing again ahead of a likely debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September, with the interior of the compact crossover captured for the first time. The second-generation GLA shares several styling details with the A-Class upon which it’s based, with the latest images showcasing how it will sit lower to the ground than the previous model. The swollen rear haunches and profile unique to its siblings remain. The interior image shows that the dashboard is also set to be very similar to that of the A-Class and the firm’s other new compact models, featuring rounded air vents and the twin-touchscreen MBUX displays. The new GLA will join Mercedes’ MFA platform-based range alongside the A-Class hatchback, A-Class saloon, CLA four-door coupé, CLA Shooting Brake estate and B-Class MPV. It also now sits below the GLB, the largest car on that platform and a new, fully fledged rival to the BMW X1 and Audi Q3. That leaves the GLA to compete with smaller compact crossovers such as the Audi Q2 and Ford Focus Active, and is also why it likely has a lower, more car-like profile. Although no technical details of the GLA have been released yet, we know it will be closely linked to the A-Class in terms of interior design and technology, engines and gearboxes. That means it will adopt Mercedes’ latest touchpad and voice-controlled MBUX infotainment system, alongside more advanced safety features and increased material quality. The engine range will kick off with a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol unit developed in conjunction with the Renault-Nissan Alliance. This will likely be available in two states of tune, while a 2.0-litre engine will top out the range for the time being. A 1.5-litre diesel will also be offered. Later on in the GLA’s lifespan, we expect to see a return of the AMG-tuned GLA 45, putting out anything up to 416bhp through a performance-focused four-wheel drive system. Before that arrives, there will be a 302bhp 35 variant, as is now available on the A-Class. The GLA will be produced alongside the A-Class at Mercedes’ factory in Rastatt, Germany. The A-Class will also serve as the basis of the EQA, an electric hatchback that’s scheduled to arrive next
Origin: New Mercedes-Benz GLA: Audi Q2 rival spied again

Volkswagen ID 3: new Nissan Leaf rival seen barely disguised

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

New Honda e: powertrain details of BMW i3 rival revealed

Honda has revealed further details of its new electric city car, the Honda e, ahead of its dynamic debut later this year. The new machine, which is available to order before deliveries commence in 2020, will arrive with a 50:50 weight distribution and a low centre of gravity due to the placement of its batteries low within the wheelbase. Power will be sent through the rear wheels, while the car will ride on four-wheel independent suspension. The e will use a liquid-cooled 35.5kWh battery Honda claims should deliver more than 125 miles of range. Rapid-charging should allow for an 80% charge in less than 30 minutes, although Honda has yet to reveal the exact maximum charging capacity of the car. While the estimated range is substantially lower than that offered by rival EVs such as the 282-mile Kia e-Niro and 193-mile BMW i3, Hitomi said it was necessary to keep the batteries small to fulfil its city car role. “We believe the range is sufficient for this segment of car,” said Hitomi. “Some potential customers might not be satisfied, but when you think about bigger range and a bigger battery, it has drawbacks in terms of packaging. It’s a balance.” The e will make its first UK appearance at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. It will take to the event’s hillclimb course, with another on display on the Honda stand. Honda says the e that will appear at Goodwood will be “95% true” to the production version. The latest version of the NSX hybrid supercar will also appear on the Japanese firm’s Goodwood stand. The e is the production version of the Urban EV concept, which was revealed at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show, and Honda has confirmed that many of that car’s features will reach the final model as standard. These will include the camera wing mirror system, which Honda claims reduces aerodynamic drag by around 90%. That is said to improve the efficicency of the entire vehicle by 3.8%, playing a significant role in maximising range. The camera system will feature two modes: a normal mode and a wide mode with an extended field of view, and Honda claims they reduce blindspots by at least 10% compared to mirrors. A special water-repellent coating will be used to stop water obscuring the driver’s vision. Honda recently began taking orders for the e, ahead of first deliveries beginning in spring 2020. Mirroring the process of rivals such as Tesla and Peugeot with the e-208, potential customers are invited to cough up a reservation fee of £800 to get “priority status” on the order books. Those customers will be invited to place a full order later this year. The e’s pricing is still yet to be announced, but as with most reservations, the fee is refundable if buyers change their mind. A near-production version of the e was shown at this year’s Geneva motor show, dubbed the e Prototype. Honda has confirmed the ‘e’ name will stay for the production version and revealed a selection of available paint options for customers at launch. The firm believes the car’s retro design will give it an Apple-style appeal to customers. It maintains the styling of the Urban EV, albeit with the addition of an extra set of doors. While Honda has yet to reveal full technical details of the car, its designers told Autocar at the Geneva show that it would offer “more than” 98bhp and 221lb ft of torque. Honda has said there are more than 6500 people in the UK who have expressed interest in the e so far. Pricing has yet to be set, but Autocar understands a ballpark figure is £35,000. Project manager Kohei Hitomi said the machine had been the subject of an internal “battle” over whether to put it into production, with the positive reaction to the concept being a key factor in it gaining approval. The car is slightly shorter than the Jazz and around 100mm taller than the Mini hatchback. It is built on a new platform designed for A and B-segment electric cars, with underfloor batteries produced by Panasonic that are similar to those used in the US-market Accord plug-in hybrid. The rear-mounted electric motor drives the rear wheels, which employ torque vectoring to give a smoother response and improved handling in tight corners. As well as featuring cameras instead of rear-view mirrors, there are also flush door handles to further boost aerodynamic efficiency, while the charging port is mounted centrally in the bonnet. The cockpit of the e prototype is dominated by two 12in touchscreens, built into a dashboard finished with a wood-effect trim. The seats – including a two-seat bench in the rear – are covered in polyester, which, as with the wood effect, is designed to make the interior feel like a living room. The e will be built in Japan and go on sale in selected European markets in late 2019, with others following in 2020. It will also be sold in Japan. Hitomi said it is “important” the car is affordable but he added: “A low price is not always a guarantee of success. When you look at Apple
Origin: New Honda e: powertrain details of BMW i3 rival revealed

Toyota and Subaru join forces to create rival to Tesla Model X

A prototype render of a new BEV platform to be co-developed by Subaru and ToyotaSubaru Toyota and Subaru said early June they’ll join forces once again to create a new Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) platform that will underpin midsize and large passenger vehicles for each brand, though they will also jointly develop an SUV that uses the platform. World markets are undergoing a tectonic shift, with electric vehicles and hybrids gradually expanding their market share. To get new their zero-emissions technologies up to speed as fast as possible, Toyota and Subaru have again partnered together, hoping to draw from both companies’ expertise in order to create an effective BEV platform. Traditional hybrids have worked well in the past for both brands, but this is the first time either will step into the world of fully-electric vehicles. Building a pure EV requires the batteries are essentially part of the body, which necessitates a new platform for both Toyota and Subaru. Following this agreement with Toyota, Subaru will now shift its existing BEV development resources to this new joint project, the automaker said in a statement. Within this new framework, Subaru will continue its efforts to create an attractive BEV SUV for our customers, while improving efficiencies in terms of engineering, development, purchasing, and other areas through the new joint project. Toyota and Subaru first started a working partnership in 2005, and are now creating a deeper connection with the development of this new platform. The first fruit this partnership bore was the BRZ/GT86 sports car, which has been a hit with
Origin: Toyota and Subaru join forces to create rival to Tesla Model X

Hemmings launching online auction site to rival Bring A Trailer

Change is coming to the online car sales scene. First, Craigslist recently began charging for car ads placed on its popular online sales platform. It’s not drastic, but hey, five bucks is five bucks. And now – in a move that’s really only good news for buyers, unlike the Craigslist tax that may be just enough to deter some users – Hemmings Motor News has announced its plans to put forward an online auction platform, offering its rare and collectible vehicles for sale to anyone with an Internet connection (and a bunch of disposable income). “The name that invented the collector car category is now the last word in online collector car auctions,” the Tweet reads. That’s quite the proclamation, but Hemmings does have the credentials to back it up. The Pursuit Is On!We’re designing a whole new online auction!The name that invented the collector car category is now the last word in online collector car auctions.Sign up today to receive the latest insider info as we launch:https://t.co/jAkSrWCDqY pic.twitter.com/QRsAqRxihS Hemmings Motor News (@HemmingsNews) April 10, 2019 Famous for its classic car coverage, Hemmings Motor News is the largest and oldest publication of its type in the U.S., according to Wikipedia, and Hemmings itself claims to be “The World’s Largest Collector Car Marketplace.” Soon, buyers won’t have to drive down to Kokomo, Indiana, to get that Shelby GT 500; they’ll simply be able to sign in and register their bids online. The publication has its sights set on one rival in particular, Bring A Trailer, which holds popular online auctions for often rare and special vehicles and has all but dominated the online auction space in North America. There’s sure to be some competition between the two factions, but the Internet is a big place and there’s likely room for both, especially considering the difference in brand feel—one is time-tested with a storied name, the other is an upstart with a joke in its name. Hemmings hasn’t said when the site will go live, but you can sign up to be kept in the loop at the placeholder site here.
Origin: Hemmings launching online auction site to rival Bring A Trailer

Futuristic Audi AI:ME concept hints at Volkswagen ID rival

The new Audi AI:ME concept, which has made its public debut at the Shanghai motor show, previews the firm’s vision of shared urban mobility in the future – but also provides hints to a forthcoming A3-sized compact electric model. The model is the third of four concepts the manufacturer is producing to show its vision for shared motoring in 10 years’ time, with the idea that subscribers choose the car they need for any given moment. It follows the 2017 Aicon concept, designed for inner-city journeys, and last year’s PB18 E-tron sports car. While the PB18 E-tron likely previews Audi’s future R8 successor, the styling of the AI:ME hints at a compact crossover. The firm says it isn’t built on a specific platform, but at 4300cm long, 1500cm high and 1900cm wide it is similar in size to the Volkswagen ID hatch and Seat el-Born EVs, both of which use the VW Group’s MEB electric vehicle platform. Audi chief designer Andreas Mindt said the car was styled in such a way because “urban cars all look like telephone boxes, and we didn’t want a machine like that.” He added: “It’s still simple and boxy, with clear lines.” Asked whether Audi would launch an MEB-based EV similar in size to the AI:ME, Mindt said: “We are working on this, let’s say. There can be. I’m not allowed to say too much, but maybe. Why not?” He added that several design elements of the concept would be seen on Audi models in the near future. The AI:ME is designed for functionality in tight city environments, with a compact crossover-like body intended to maximise manoeuvrability and visibility. Unusually, the top section of the windows – distinguished by a distinctive line running around the car – is wider than the bottom part, which Mindt explained is to ensure “the widest point is where your head is, where you want the most space.” Only the bottom half of the windows open, which Mindt said is designed to direct the air to your body rather than face. The exterior also features LED lights front and rear, which have been designed to send signals to pedestrians and other vehicles through light sequences and colours. The AI:ME has a 65kWh underfloor battery, which drives a 167bhp motor on the rear axle. Because the concept is designed to allow for Level Four autonomy, the interior is particularly future-focused, with a retractable steering wheel to maximise space in autonomous mode. There are two tables for practicality, a food storage unit and magnetic cupholders. A large storage area in the dashboard, along with door cubbies, are open, to reduce the chance of leaving personal belongings in shared cars. Much of the car’s infotainment and systems are operated through a large augmented reality display, which in autonomous mode can be controlled by gesture or by looking at it, using built-in eye-tracking cameras. The systems can also be operated via touch panels built into the doors. The interior materials are designed to be soft and tactile, while live plants are built into the dashboard and panoramic roof, to highlight the in-built air filtration
Origin: Futuristic Audi AI:ME concept hints at Volkswagen ID rival