strategy – All about car

Toyota will display a new compact urban electric car at the Tokyo motor show, ahead of a planned Japanese on-sale date in late 2020. The as-yet-unnamed two-seater is referred to as an ultra-compact battery electric vehicle (EV) and has been designed “for short-distance travel with limited impact on the environment”. With a claimed range of 62 miles, an “extremely tight” turning radius and a top speed of just 37mph, the model is aimed squarely at drivers in built-up urban environments, and more specifically the elderly. Charging time is a claimed five hours from a 220-volt power unit. Akihiro Yanaka, head of development, said: “We want to create a mobility solution that can support Japan’s ageing society and provide freedom of movement to people at all stages of life.” Toyota also notes the new model’s suitability for newly licensed drivers and city-based mobile businesses. The unveiling comes as the firm reshapes its business model to better promote the concept of mass electric car adoption. As part of the new strategy, Toyota says it will scrutinise “every step of the battery’s lifecycle, from manufacture through sale, resale or re-use to recycling, to maximise its value”, in response to widespread criticism that battery costs make even the most affordable EVs much more expensive than their conventionally fuelled counterparts. In the short-term, Toyota plans to introduce a new battery leasing scheme whereby used units can be swapped into pre-owned vehicles, broken down for spare parts or used in non-automotive power storage facilities as appropriate. It also claims to be developing its own EV charging stations and plans to launch an EV-specific insurance programme. Joining the two-seater on Toyota’s Tokyo stand will be the Walking Area BEV, designed for security patrols and airport luggage movements, the i-Road, a short-distance electric scooter designed for urban commutes and tourist functions, and the second generation of the Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in concept
Origin: Toyota to launch ultra-compact EV and new battery strategy

The mid-cycle refresh of the 2020 Cadillac XT5 brings it in line with the smaller XT4 and new XT6 the latter well be getting full details on July 29. Yes, when the XT5 lands this September it will be offered in Luxury, Premium Luxury and Sport models.The last two can be optioned up to the Platinum trim, which includes upgraded leather and advanced safety aids like adaptive cruise control and full-speed auto emergency braking.In all cases, the XT5 has sharper exterior styling with a new mesh-like grille, LED headlights and daytime running lights along with the equipment preferred by luxury crossover buyers: heated leather seats; the next-gen Cadillac User Experience (CUE) system with a large touchscreen; and a 360-degree camera view. The latest CUE system has a new controller that now includes a jog function, which makes it easier to navigate from one facet to another.On the safety front, the XT5s features list includes lane-departure warning with keep-assist; low-speed forward collision avoidance; and auto high-beams.The XT5 Luxury arrives with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 237 horsepower and 258 foot-pounds of torque. It drives the front wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Premium Luxury uses the same engine and transmission, but it drives all four wheels through the companys single-clutch AWD system. This model can also be optioned up to the engine featured in the Sport model a brawny 3.6-litre V6 that makes 310 hp and 271 foot-pounds of torque.The Sport sits out on its own with its powerful engine and nine-speed automatic driving all four wheels through a slick twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system. The plus here is that the two clutches in the rear axle module give it torque vectoring some will argue that it is not real-time, but it is way better than any brake-based system.The clutches in the rear differential send more power to the outside rear wheel in a corner if required the system is capable of sending 100 per cent of the drive to the outside wheel. This action sharpens the turn-in response, reduces understeer and the amount of steering wheel input required. The Sport model also ups the ante with 20-inch wheels, tauter suspension, adaptive damping and a faster steering ratio. Finally, the refreshed XT5 uses Cadillacs new naming strategy. It is loosely based on the torque output of the engine under the hood of the vehicle. There will be a number of designations including the 400 found on the XT5 Sport. The reason for the switch is to accommodate the electric era when it finally comes of age torque will become the dominant number and replace horsepowers importance in the process.In this case, the 400 badge tells the onlooker the engine has roughly 400 Newton-metres of torque on tap. Yes, a new naming system using a unit of measure thats foreign to North America. Regardless, in simple terms, the XT5 Sports V6 pushes 271 pound-feet of torque, or about 367-Nm of torque. Round that number up and you have the 400 designation. If youre confused, you are not alone.Full Canadian specifications and final pricing will be announced closer to the September launch
Origin: Fresher look, more amenities and new naming strategy usher in 2020 Cadillac XT5