Fully autonomous cars are “not close” and unlikely to go into full use on public roads until well into the next decade, according to the automotive boss of tech giant Nvidia. The Californian firm produces the advanced computing systems and software that are being used by a large number of leading car firms, including JLR,… Continue reading Nvidia: fully autonomous cars ‘not close’ to production reality
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
2000bhp EV super-truck uses radical in-wheel performance motors
Slovenian firm Elaphe Propulsion Technologies has revealed what it claims is the first in-wheel electric motor that is compatible with high-performance brakes – and the technology has been previewed in a 2000bhp supercar concept. The new Sonic 1 is a thin electric motor capable of producing 268bhp and 737lb ft of torque and it can… Continue reading 2000bhp EV super-truck uses radical in-wheel performance motors
Porsche mulls new ICE Macan amid drop in sales
While the primary focus for extending ICE production has been the Cayenne, sources within Porsche suggest that a new ICE Macan is being reconsidered as part of a “range of product scenarios”. “The reception to the new Macan [Electric] has been positive, but we are yet to see its long-term performance, given uncertain market conditions,”… Continue reading Porsche mulls new ICE Macan amid drop in sales
Audi S5
With 362bhp, the new S5 is no particular step up from what went before. The old S4 had 349bhp before it got a diesel engine and the rival BMW M340i has 369bhp but, as we will see, that’s plenty for an enjoyably quick sports saloon. Despite being very slightly down on power and a good… Continue reading Audi S5
New Sunderland plant will build motors for next-gen Nissan EVs
A new plant that will build powertrains for Nissan’s next-generation electric vehicles, including successors to the Leaf, Quashqai and Juke, will be built at its Sunderland site. Operated by Japan Automatic Transmission Company (JATCO), a firm majority owned by Nissan and which already produces transmissions for other car makers including Renault, the new factory will… Continue reading New Sunderland plant will build motors for next-gen Nissan EVs
Volkswagen ID 7 clocks 584 miles of range – at 18mph
Volkswagen has eked a whopping 584 miles of range out of a standard Volkswagen ID 7 – albeit at a snail’s pace, averaging just 18mph in the process. The brand sought to figure out how far an ID 7 can be driven in optimal conditions and chose a Pro S model with an 86kWh (usable)… Continue reading Volkswagen ID 7 clocks 584 miles of range – at 18mph
Vauxhall rethinks ICE phase-out as EV uptake falls below expectation
Opel-Vauxhall is rethinking its plan to go all-electric from 2028, recognising that the European EV market is vastly different from how it had predicted when setting its transition timeline. The company announced in 2022 that it would launch its final ICE car in 2024 and was committed to that objective as recently as 2023, but CEO… Continue reading Vauxhall rethinks ICE phase-out as EV uptake falls below expectation
DS 4 to gain electric option and new name in mid-life facelift
The DS 4 will gain an electric option and a new name when it is facelifted this year. Since its 2021 launch, the premium hatch has been the brand’s best-seller in the UK, albeit with just 2303 sales. It has proved more popular in mainland Europe, where it sold 10,405 examples in 2024 alone. The… Continue reading DS 4 to gain electric option and new name in mid-life facelift
BT kills pilot scheme converting signal boxes into EV chargers
BT has ended its pilot scheme to convert streetside signal boxes into electric vehicle chargers – after carrying out only a single conversion. The telecoms firm previously said it would expand the scheme into West Yorkshire, converting some 600 cabinets, with a view to eventually completing 60,000 to 90,000 installations nationwide. The theory was that the use of existing cabinets… Continue reading BT kills pilot scheme converting signal boxes into EV chargers
Toyota to raid back catalogue for future electric car names
Toyota is set to raid more of its back catalogue for names of future electric models, rather than continue the alphanumerical naming convention it started with the bZ4X. The bZ4X arrived in 2022 as Toyota‘s first EV, with ‘bZ’ standing for ‘beyond zero’ (emissions), 4 being the size of the car in Toyota lexicon and ‘X’ referring to it… Continue reading Toyota to raid back catalogue for future electric car names