Sony Honda Mobility, the joint venture formed between the two Japanese industrial giants last year, has revealed the name of its new electric vehicle brand and has given a prototype its debut at CES in Las Vegas. The EV brand, which will be named ‘Afeela’, was detailed on stage by Sony Honda Mobility chief executive… Continue reading Sony and Honda reveal Afeela electric saloon for 2026
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
BMW i Vision Dee concept heralds dramatic rebirth for 3 Series
A radical new tech-focused future beckons for the BMW 3 Series, as previewed by the new i Vision Dee electric concept car, described by the German marque as the “next level of human-machine interaction”. Planned to reach production in 2025 as a successor to the recently introduced Chinese-market BMW i3 electric saloon, the UK-bound four-door… Continue reading BMW i Vision Dee concept heralds dramatic rebirth for 3 Series
Opinion: Upcoming BMW EVs really will be a ‘new class’
There must be some poor product marketing executive at BMW who cringes every time a particularly gopping design is signed off or a risky ad campaign gets the green light. Remember that promo video where the old BMW 7 Series repeatedly shouted ‘bullsh*t’ at its tech-heavy BMW iX descendant? That riled the loyalists. Then there… Continue reading Opinion: Upcoming BMW EVs really will be a ‘new class’
UK car sales 2022: annual registrations lowest in 30 years
Five months of consecutive growth at the end of the year could not prevent UK new car sales falling to their lowest ebb in 30 years, according to figures for 2022 just released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The decline, blamed primarily on supply chain shortages, especially of semiconductors, left total sales… Continue reading UK car sales 2022: annual registrations lowest in 30 years
EVs don’t offer significantly cheaper fleet maintenance costs
The company added that “average BEV mileages are still tracking lower than the equivalent ICE or hybrid vehicles,” with one, two and three-year-old EVs recording 19%, 21%, and 14% lower mileages respectively at the time of their services. “The overriding position is that BEVs are shining through as cheaper on overall SMR costs,” said managing director Vincent St… Continue reading EVs don’t offer significantly cheaper fleet maintenance costs
Qualcomm previews next-gen in-car tech with radical concept
American electronics giant Qualcomm has built a concept to show car makers the potential of its next-generation technology, including a digital ecosystem, state-of-the-art voice control and high-end artificial intelligence (AI). Revealed at CES in Las Vegas, the unnamed concept has been designed to present the firm’s new Snapdragon Digital Chassis technology, which powers a “highly personalised and… Continue reading Qualcomm previews next-gen in-car tech with radical concept
Big European names show motoring future at CES 2023
When the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) opens tomorrow, it can make the surprising claim to being Europe’s most influential motor show of 2023, despite being held in a desert thousands of miles away. Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Volkswagen and Volvo will show off new cars, concepts or technologies at the event, while some of Europe’s most influential suppliers, such as… Continue reading Big European names show motoring future at CES 2023
Maserati looks to slower charging for lighter sports EVs
Maserati is investigating removing fast-charging technology from its electric sports cars in order to save weight, even if it means charging the cars takes substantially longer. Speaking exclusively to Autocar, Maserati’s global head of e-mobility, Ana Paola Reginatto, highlighted the contradiction of cars spending 60-70% of their time stationary on average and the desire to… Continue reading Maserati looks to slower charging for lighter sports EVs
Report: New Ssangyong owner plans rebrand as KG Mobility
Ssangyong Motor will be rebranded as KG Mobility to shed its “painful image”, new chairman Kwak Jea-sun has said. Speaking at an industry event, Jea-sun was quoted by the Korea Herald as saying: “The name Ssangyong Motor has a fandom with good memories, but it also has a painful image. “From now, all Ssangyong cars will… Continue reading Report: New Ssangyong owner plans rebrand as KG Mobility
Radical Peugeot Inception concept to be revealed this week
Peugeot will give a glimpse of what to expect from its first generation of bespoke electric cars with a concept car that dramatically rethinks its traditional exterior and interior design cues. Called the Inception, in reference to a number of features and technologies it will showcase for the first time, the concept will be revealed at CES… Continue reading Radical Peugeot Inception concept to be revealed this week