The privileged few who live cosseted in their own sumptuous little world? That’s not fair. More accurately, those who can afford to buy and race Ferraris have their own universe in which to play and indulge, judging by the astonishing scale of the company’s end of season Finali Mondiali extravaganza, held last month. A voyeuristic… Continue reading Behind closed doors at the Ferrari Finali Mondiali
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Bugatti launches design division with bespoke Chiron Pur Sport
Bugatti has launched a new division that will offer “never-before-seen levels of personalisation”, starting with a special design for the Chiron Pur Sport. The Bugatti Sur Mesure programme has been created because of increasing demand from customers for personalised vehicles, and Bugatti says it will give customers “the full Molsheim experience”. The division’s first creation is a Chiron… Continue reading Bugatti launches design division with bespoke Chiron Pur Sport
Bentley opens state-of-art test facility in Crewe
Bentley has taken a significant step in its plans to electrify all of its models from 2024, having officially opened its new engineering test centre at its headquarters in Crewe. The £12.5 million site, which is a two-storey, 4600-square-metre facility, will begin testing immediately after receiving official approval from the UK’s Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA).… Continue reading Bentley opens state-of-art test facility in Crewe
Skoda CEO Thomas Schäfer to become Volkswagen boss
Current Skoda boss Thomas Schäfer will switch over to head up Volkswagen next year as part of a major reshuffle of the Volkswagen Group management team. Schäfer only took over as Skoda chairman in August last year, having previously served as the head of the VW Group’s South African operation. He will take up his… Continue reading Skoda CEO Thomas Schäfer to become Volkswagen boss
VW Group details massive £76 billion EV transformation plan
The Volkswagen Group will invest €89 billion (£76bn) in new technology within the next four years as part of a push to make a quarter of all its sales battery-electric by the end of 2026. It has also announced plans to electrify more of its European factories, centring much of its flagship EV production in its Wolfsburg… Continue reading VW Group details massive £76 billion EV transformation plan
New electric BMW 3 Series for China revealed in leaked images
BMW’s plans for an electric-powered version of the current 3 Series have been laid bare in a registry filing made public by the Chinese Ministry for Information and Industry Technology (MIIT) on Thursday. The latest in a growing number of zero-emission BMW models will be marketed under the name i3 eDrive35L, according to information obtained by… Continue reading New electric BMW 3 Series for China revealed in leaked images
Why Honda is leaving F1 again
That’s unlikely to happen until F1’s new powertrain rules are introduced. In the interim period, Red Bull has found an ideal replacement to Honda power units: Honda power units. The company has bought up Honda’s Milton Keynes-based operation to become an engine constructor in its own right, albeit with the assistance of Honda engineers for… Continue reading Why Honda is leaving F1 again
Report: UK government offers Rivian incentives for UK factory
The UK government has offered a series of incentives to EV manufacturer Rivian in an effort to encourage the US start-up to build a new factory near Bristol in Somerset. According to the Financial Times, which cites people familiar with negotiations, the government has offered to build a new M5 motorway junction, develop training facilities… Continue reading Report: UK government offers Rivian incentives for UK factory
New Lexus ROV is hydrogen-fuelled hint at future 4x4s
Lexus’s hydrogen-fuelled Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle (ROV) concept is designed to demonstrate that “exhilarating driving can co-exist with a carbon-free society”. The UTV-style two-seater features exposed long-travel suspension, prominent mud-deflecting fenders, a full roll cage and chunky tyres – but Lexus maintains that it’s still “the kind of vehicle that people would expect from a luxury… Continue reading New Lexus ROV is hydrogen-fuelled hint at future 4x4s
Toyota to use solid-state batteries in hybrids before EVs
Toyota has hinted that it will deploy solid-state batteries in its hybrid vehicles before introducing the technology to EVs. Hybrids will continue to play a core role in the company’s electrification strategy, and powertrain boss Thiebault Pâquet told Autocar the benefits of solid-state technology include quicker charging, quicker discharging and reduced heat generation. “We can test and… Continue reading Toyota to use solid-state batteries in hybrids before EVs