Toyota will produce an all-electric version of the C-HR for the Chinese market from 2020. Announced at the Beijing motor show, the zero-emissions crossover will follow two new versions of existing Toyota plug-in hybrids, the Corolla and Levin saloons, that are due in 2019. Those cars are claimed to be capable of 30 miles in pure-electric… Continue reading All-electric Toyota C-HR announced as part of Chinese plug-in plans
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Honda’s Everus brand arrives with new EV concept
Honda has become the latest car maker to launch an electric brand through China with the Everus EV concept. Although simply a demonstration of what’s to come, it publicises a project that Honda and its Chinese venture partner, GAC, have been working on. The first model to come from the new brand will take influence… Continue reading Honda’s Everus brand arrives with new EV concept
Volvo electric cars to make up 50% of brand’s sales by 2025
Volvo is aiming for fully electric cars to make up 50% of its total sales volume by 2025. The Swedish brand used the Beijing motor show to reveal its intentions of drastically boosting EV output in a bid to capitalise on shifts in demand from Chinese customers, who are making their country the quickest adopter of… Continue reading Volvo electric cars to make up 50% of brand’s sales by 2025
Jaguar E-Pace
For an idea of the scale of ambition embodied in the new Jaguar E-Pace, consider that 80% of those who choose to buy one over, say, an Audi Q3 or BMW X1 will be new to Jaguar showrooms. ‘Conquest customers’, as they’re dispassionately known within the industry. That’s a mighty statistic even for a car… Continue reading Jaguar E-Pace
Porsche board member investigated over diesel emissions claims
A Porsche board member is being investigated over potential involvement in the diesel emissions scandal of its parent company, the Volkswagen Group. About 160 investigation officials have searched 10 buildings located in the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Wüerttemberg in the hunt for evidence linking the board member to emissions test manipulation. The board member is… Continue reading Porsche board member investigated over diesel emissions claims
Hybrid already more popular than diesel in Britain, report says
British motorists are more likely to opt for hybrid than diesel when they buy their next car, according to the results of a survey compiled by the National Franchised Dealer Association (NFDA). Of the 1000 respondents in the study, of which 490 were male and 510 were female, just 12% said they were considering buying a diesel… Continue reading Hybrid already more popular than diesel in Britain, report says
Jaguar Land Rover cuts 1000 contract jobs due to diesel sales slump
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will not renew the contracts of around 1000 agency workers at its Solihull plant due to industry challenges caused by falling diesel car sales. The company said in a statement that “continuing headwinds” have forced it to make “adjustments to production schedules and the number of agency staff”. It continued: “We are, however,… Continue reading Jaguar Land Rover cuts 1000 contract jobs due to diesel sales slump
BMW and Mini launch pay-as-you-go subscription service
BMW and Mini have launched a subscription service that rolls all the costs of car ownership into monthly instalments. Payments, which start from £131 per week (equating to around £568 a month), include the costs of insurance and maintenance, as well as breakdown cover, as one bill. Although BMW is the first major car maker to offer such a service… Continue reading BMW and Mini launch pay-as-you-go subscription service
Nissan and Renault could merge to form one company, says report
Nissan and Renault are in talks about merging to create one new company, according to reports by business news agency Bloomberg. The Japanese and French car makers have been in an alliance since 1999, with Mitsubishi joining in 2016, helping the trio to overtake the Volkswagen Group as the largest car company in the world. But… Continue reading Nissan and Renault could merge to form one company, says report
British-built Toyota Avensis culled due to slowing sales
Toyota has ended production of its British-built Avensis in response to dwindling demand for the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport rival. Avensis sales in the UK fell to just 3473 units last year, a drop of 1660 on 2016. In Europe, just 25,319 examples were sold – less than half the number achieved by the… Continue reading British-built Toyota Avensis culled due to slowing sales