Audi is not a brand you’d typically associate with off-road adventures, but that didn’t stop the automaker from kicking up some dirt with its new concept at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. The Audi AI:Trail (maybe it’s less of a mouthful in German?) is an all-electric, all-terrain vehicle for the future of outdoor adventures. Before… Continue reading Audi’s new concept is an all-electric off-roader with drones for headlights
Tag: VW
Audi unveils Mars rover-looking electric off-roader with insane specs
Audi unveiled a new electric off-roader concept at the Frankfurt Auto Show today, and it looks like it should be a Mars rover. The concept vehicle is called AI:TRAIL, and Audi uses it to communicate its vision of a future vehicle segment where a vehicle would drive autonomously on the road and then could be… Continue reading Audi unveils Mars rover-looking electric off-roader with insane specs
Hyundai and Kia invest in Europe’s high-power fast-charging network
Hyundai and Kia announced Monday that they are investing in Ionity, Europe's 350-kilowatt charging network. They will join BMW Group, Daimler, Ford and Volkswagen/Porsche in expanding charging station availability for vehicles with 800 volt on-board systems.
This partnership gives Hyundai the opportunity to develop vehicles with 800-volt systems that will be able to utilize the 350-kilowatt capacity of Ionity's network, which currently comprises 140 stations. Another 50 are currently under construction and the company plans to expand to an addition 200 sites by 2020.
It's Ionity's goal that its stations be no more than 120 km (75 miles) apart along major highways, guaranteeing that even small city cars will have sufficient range to travel between stations.
“Our participation in this joint venture reaffirms the Group’s commitment to future electromobility. I am confident that our work with Ionity will open a new era of high-power charging experiences, where charging will be seamless and easier than refueling for our customers,” said Hyundai Product VP Thomas Schemera.
Ionity was formed in 2017 with the mission of developing a connected, high-output charging network for European EVs. The coalition was formed with 800-volt systems in mind, allowing for quicker charge times for vehicles like the Porsche Taycan and a forthcoming Hyundai EV.
Europe remains well ahead of the United States with respect to DC fast charging. Tesla's V3 Superchargers charge at up to 250 kw and have recently arrived in some markets. Most U.S. hardware caps at 150 kw.
Volkswagen unveils new brand design and logo
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That’s what “New Volkswagen” is all about
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CORRECTED-UPDATE 2-Ford makes big electric push in Europe with new launches
(Reuters) – Ford Motor Co said on Tuesday it would launch eight electric vehicles in Europe this year, a key step in its target of achieving a majority of its overall sales from electric cars by the end of 2022. FILE PHOTO: The Ford logo is seen at the Ford oldest Brazil plant in Sao… Continue reading CORRECTED-UPDATE 2-Ford makes big electric push in Europe with new launches
360° Wolfsburg – September 2019
The specified fuel consumption and emission data have been determined according to the measurement procedures prescribed by law. Since 1st September 2017, certain new vehicles are already being type-approved according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), a more realistic test procedure for measuring fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Starting on September 1st… Continue reading 360° Wolfsburg – September 2019
ŠKODA at the IAA 2019: The trade show in pictures
The Press Kit with texts, photos and videos is available in digital format on the ŠKODA Storyboard. Go to Source
Porsche boosts stake in Rimac: What it could gain from the deal
Porsche announced last week that it has increased its investment in Rimac Automobili, the Croatian electric sports-car maker. It now holds 15.5 percent in Rimac, a step up from June 2018, when the German sports car maker purchased a 10 percent stake.
What’s one established sports-car brand—and part of the greater Volkswagen Group, with its massive research-and-development coffers—doing investing in a smaller, much less established one?
Rimac CEO Mate Rimac with Porsche Taycan
Part of it relates to how Rimac is building more than a car. Rimac, which now employs about 550, is putting the focus on high-voltage powertrains and battery tech—so there’s likely quite a bit of alignment with Porsche.
“We quickly realised that Porsche and Rimac can learn a lot from each other,” said Lutz Meschke, the Porsche AG board member in charge of finance and IT. We believe in what Mate Rimac and his company have to offer, which is why we have now increased our stake and intend to intensify our collaboration in the field of battery technology.”
Mate Rimac called gaining Porsche as a stakeholder “one of the most important milestones in our history,” with this increase of its stake in the company “the foundation for an even closer relationship.”
Porsche isn’t the only one investing in Rimac, though. Hyundai Motors, which includes Kia, earlier this year announced that it would invest $80 million in Rimac in a partnership extending to battery tech.
Rimac has already supplied the 800-volt battery pack and power systems for the Koenigsegg Regera supercar, and its most recent triumph has been the development of the C Two, an upcoming two-seater that reaches a claimed 256 mph, charges at 250 kw, and can go 404 miles on a charge in the very generous NEDC measurement.
2020 Porsche Taycan
With the newly shown 2020 Porsche Taycan the first mass-produced car built on an 800-volt system and the Volkswagen Group’s SPE electric supercar platform potentially nixed from the global giant’s R&D budget, a modest stake in Rimac might indeed be a very savvy investment.
Byton’s first EV is ready for production, 48-inch screen included
Chinese EV startup Byton says it’s ready to achieve what seemed unlikely, maybe even impossible, less than two years ago. The aspiring automaker showed off the final production version of its M-Byte SUV at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show on Tuesday, and affirmed plans to put the premium SUV — and its headline-grabbing, dashboard-spanning screen… Continue reading Byton’s first EV is ready for production, 48-inch screen included