He said: “One thing is at the centre of everything we do: safety and transparency in the development and the operation. These are the basis of everything we do, and this is why we have always said that anyone addressing autonomous driving these days must be ready for a marathon. And indeed we are. “We’re at home on… Continue reading VW committed to ‘marathon’ of developing autonomous shuttles
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
The ultimate bulletproof BMW: escaping an attack in the armoured i7
The Dragunov OTs-03 SVU isn’t just a firearm; it’s an instrument of lethal precision. With a range of up to 1200 meters, its ammunition can penetrate a regular steel car body like a hot knife through butter, with dramatic consequences for those inside. The new electric BMW i7 xDrive60 Protection and its petrol-powered 760i xDrive Protection sibling are,… Continue reading The ultimate bulletproof BMW: escaping an attack in the armoured i7
Hidden Skodas: Unlocking the brand’s secret museum room
“How much more time have you got?” asks Michal Velebný, Skoda Depository’s head honcho, while we stare at a near-perfect light-green 110 L Rallye that has just arrived from a life in Cyprus. An intriguing question, and one to which I already know the answer as I look at the Czech Republic-based Skoda rep staring… Continue reading Hidden Skodas: Unlocking the brand’s secret museum room
Volkswagen ID 7
Sliding aboard the ID 7 gives you the first sense that this is a car that quietly delivers. With a new 15in ‘floating’ touchscreen and a small digital binnacle embedded in the dash, the cabin generates the sort of light-infused atmosphere for which the Tesla Model 3 is rightly celebrated, but underpins it with a… Continue reading Volkswagen ID 7
How sodium ion batteries could slash the price of EVs
The accelerating march of progress must be giving product planners at car manufacturers a tough time. Car technology has never been in such a state of flux as it is now, and given lithium ion batteries only really became a commercial big deal in the 1990s, the sudden shift towards cars powered by them is… Continue reading How sodium ion batteries could slash the price of EVs
Jeep boss hails SUV benefits amid calls to back smaller cars
Jeep sees no threat to its position as an SUV-only brand, according to the head of the firm’s European operations, despite calls from leading industry figures for a move to smaller vehicles. Speaking to Autocar at the launch of the new Avenger e-Hybrid, boss of Jeep Europe Eric Laforge said “isolated politics” would not dictate… Continue reading Jeep boss hails SUV benefits amid calls to back smaller cars
From the archive: Fiat’s early electric efforts disappoint
Trying a Cinquecento Elettra in May 1992, we said: “It is very difficult to drive as Fiat would want you to. The speedo asks that you shift gears at 13, 26, 39 and 45mph, but the instant consumption window does not always agree. “Its weight means it rides like a sledge and its low-rolling-resistance tyres… Continue reading From the archive: Fiat’s early electric efforts disappoint
Editor’s letter: Personalisation pushes up profits at Bentley
Last year was Bentley’s second most profitable year yet. Speak to boss Adrian Hallmark, though, and you get the sense that the pride comes not from what the final profit figure was, but from knowing how bad it could have been. The previous six years on Hallmark’s watch have been fruitful in setting the company… Continue reading Editor’s letter: Personalisation pushes up profits at Bentley
BMW Vision Neue Klasse X sets template for brand’s electric SUVs
The new Vision Neue Klasse X concept showcases the future design of BMW’s bespoke electric SUVs – and closely previews the next-generation successor to the iX3, due to launch next year. It’s a companion piece to the Vision Neue Klasse saloon concept that was revealed last year and exhibits the differing design language that will… Continue reading BMW Vision Neue Klasse X sets template for brand’s electric SUVs
Lunaz Group suspends operations as it begins restructure
Vehicle electrification specialist the Lunaz Group has halted its operations, including its classic car ‘upcycling’ business, while it undergoes a restructuring process and has filed a note of intent to appoint administrators. The Silverstone-based group, which was founded in 2021, comprises two separate companies: commercial vehicle electrifier Lunaz Applied Technologies (LAT) and classic car electromodder Lunaz Design. LAT… Continue reading Lunaz Group suspends operations as it begins restructure