VW – Page 3398 – I wish I had more to offer

Audi optimizes quality inspections in the press shop with artificial intelligence

As one of the first automobile manufacturers worldwide, Audi plans to apply machine learning (ML) in series production. The software Audi has developed recognizes and marks the finest cracks in sheet metal parts – automatically, reliably and in a matter of seconds. With this project, Audi is promoting artificial intelligence at the company and revolutionizing… Continue reading Audi optimizes quality inspections in the press shop with artificial intelligence

Maximum light for maximum safety: Volkswagen relies on ultra-modern LED headlights

New, interactive LED headlights make driving safer and more comfortable in the dark months of the year Volkswagen now offers powerful LED headlight systems in almost all segments Wet conditions, fog, deer crossing – drivers face particular challenges in autumn and winter. The latest lighting systems which almost perfectly illuminate the road are proving helpful.… Continue reading Maximum light for maximum safety: Volkswagen relies on ultra-modern LED headlights

Roaring replica Lister V8 roadster for genuine driving thrills

Lister is legendary in the annals of motorsports, a low and lean sports car created in the 1950s by British manufacturer Brian Lister and incorporating Jaguar mechanicals, later adding Chevy V8s to the mix. Last year, the Lister Motor Car Company announced a continuation version of the Lister/Jaguar Knobbly race car. Whether one of the… Continue reading Roaring replica Lister V8 roadster for genuine driving thrills

British company resurrects classic MGB and Jaguar XKSS as electrics

RBW electric MG Roadster
First, it was the Porsche 911, then the Jaguar E-Type. Now it's the MGB.

Converting classic old cars into electrics has become the rage across Europe.

The latest comes from RBW Classic Electric Cars in the UK, which isn't taking classic MGBs and modifying them, but recreating new classic MGBs with electric powertrains.

READ MORE: Royal couple's electric Jaguar E-type Zero coupe will go into production

The bodies will come from British Motoring Heritage, which builds replacement parts and body shells for classic British cars.

The powertrain will come from Zytek Automotive, a division of automotive supplier Continental, which provides powertrains for everything from electric Smart cars to Formula E and LeMans racers.

According to third-party sources, the car will have 94 horsepower and will deliver 0-60 mph acceleration of about 8 seconds, and a top speed of 105 mph. Range is estimated at 155 miles.

RBW electric MG Roadster

Pictures show the car with LED headlights with signature rings, and a charge port offset to the side of the rear of the car where the classic MGB's fuel filler was.

RBW is accepting orders for 13 of the $110,000 the e-MGBs for 2019.

Buyers can order them in either left- or right-hand drive configuration.

CHECK OUT: Electric Jaguar E-Type whisks royal couple from Windsor Castle

In case three of the most iconic sports cars of the 1960s aren't enough, RBW has another trick up its sleeve.

It is developing an electric version of the Jaguar XKSS, a classic road-going version of the D-Type race car that won Le Mans three years in a row from 1955 to 1957, and made famous as one of actor Steve McQueen's favorite sports cars.

The RBW electric XKSS is reported to cost more than $197,000.

Conflicted German Automakers Struggle With EV Transition

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Published on October 13th, 2018 |

by Guest Contributor

Conflicted German Automakers Struggle With EV Transition

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October 13th, 2018 by Guest Contributor

Originally published on EVANNEX.
By Charles Morris

It’s no secret that legacy automakers are making the transition to electric vehicles only reluctantly, in response to regulatory pressure from governments and to competitive pressure from Tesla. Contrary to what many seem to believe, Big Auto’s reluctance to embrace EVs is not merely the usual corporate fear of the future, nor is it the result of any oil industry-fueled conspiracy (as far as we know). It’s a simple matter of money — there are good reasons to believe that electrification will take a major bite out of industry profits, as BMW and Daimler execs recently acknowledged.

German automakers remain conflicted about how to transition factory production lines from gas-powered cars to EVs (Image: Werner Budding)

Now Volkswagen has warned that its stated plan to offer an electrified version of each of its models will cost more than it estimated. VW previously predicted that the coming shift to battery power would cost some €20 billion ($23 billion). CEO Herbert Diess, in an interview published in VW’s internal newsletter, indicated that this figure was too low, but didn’t offer a new estimate. “The burden for our company, such as the cost of bringing to market electric cars, will be higher than expected,” Diess says. “This is particularly so since some of our competitors have been making more progress.” (Hmm, who would that be?)

A recent article in the Financial Times discussed the challenges legacy carmakers are facing. Whereas industry disruptor Tesla started from a blank slate to design its vehicles and has “bet the company” on EVs, incumbent OEMs can’t go down that road — the risks are too high. Analysts have warned that a substantial number of Germany’s 800,000 auto industry jobs could disappear along with the internal combustion engine.

FT points out that VW, BMW, and Daimler have each earmarked billions of euros for electric technology, but are taking different approaches — some automakers hope to build EVs using the same architecture as legacy vehicles, whereas others intend to introduce new platforms. The choice of strategy “will re-sort the carmakers in profitability,” says Christian Senger, head of the VW’s e-mobility line. “Those who [take] the hardest road will be more successful than the others.”

Germany protects its car industry as EU goes for just 15% cut in CO2 car emissions by 2025 (Source:Transport & Environment / Image: Plugin Cars)

Volkswagen is leveraging its scale advantage — earlier this year, it awarded €20 billion worth of contracts for battery supplies as part of a plan to introduce 50 pure EVs by 2025. This represents an about-face from VW’s previous strategy — the e-Golf and e-Up, introduced in 2013, were basically existing models stuffed with batteries.

“To make it a fully fledged electric car, you need to start with a battery pack between the wheels and then you build up the car,” Herbert Diess, CEO of the VW Group, told the FT. “Then you have an effective battery system, the range, and you get a lot of freedom for the design of the car, to make more interior space with the same footprint.” (His words echo what Tesla designer Von Holzhausen said back in 2011.)

The first VW model designed this way, the ID Neo, is to come out late next year, the first of several models belonging to the ID electric sub-brand. Although recent reports suggest the program could be delayed.

VW’s ID concept car appears to be another unconventional design approach typically relegated to Big Auto’s electric car efforts (Image: Charged)

BMW seems to be taking the opposite tack, touting the advantages of “flexible architecture” that can accommodate fossil, hybrid or electric powertrains. BMW plans to offer all of its models with a choice of powertrain starting in 2021. “We can’t afford having two factories standing still,” says CEO Harald Krueger. “With a flexible approach, you can always manage the capacity of your plants. But if you have a specific EV architecture, what do you with the old one? What do you do with the people?”

Daimler is combining both approaches, designing purpose-built architecture for its EQ sub-brand while also setting up its production plants to accommodate all types of powertrains, including fuel cells. “We have hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electric cars and maybe robo-taxis tomorrow,” says Daimler Production Chief Markus Schaefer. “It’s hard to predict volumes for the best way in an uncertain world, so this is the most efficient approach to supply the market.”

Some analysts think the flexible approach is too complex in both design and production. “I don’t see how they can consolidate traditional platforms, from small hatchbacks to large SUVs, and at the same time try to include EVs in the equation,” says Pelham Smithers Analyst Julie Boote. “That’s incredibly complicated.”

In another revealing move, Audi decided no e-tron inventory for its US dealerships would be made available (Source: Charged / Image: Automobile Propre)

Others see merit in the flexible approach, pointing out that it’s hard to predict how quickly the shift to electric cars will take place. “Most carmakers proceeding with EVs are following an ‘If you build it, they will come’ approach,” says Bernstein Analyst Max Warburton. “If you have a dedicated EV platform and the demand doesn’t come, you’ve lost a lot of money.”

Sources: Financial Times, Bloomberg

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Exhaust scandal at VW: Ex-brand management Neußer – The dark side of Volkswagen’s “problem solver”

Heinz-Jakob Neusser “The termination of Dr. Ing. Neußer has not been substantiated so far, “says his lawyer. (Photo: AP) Düsseldorf, FrankfurtWho has such leaders, needs no enemies. For almost 20 years, Heinz-Jakob Neußer made a career in German car companies. First he worked for Porsche, then for Volkswagen, As of 2013, there was a huge… Continue reading Exhaust scandal at VW: Ex-brand management Neußer – The dark side of Volkswagen’s “problem solver”

Daimler, BMW and Volkswagen: carmakers get millions back from diesel funds

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McLaren Speedtail: 986bhp ‘hyper-GT’ set for October 26 reveal

McLaren has confirmed the reveal date for its new Speedtail supercar. The car will make its debut at 1pm on October 26. The new ‘Hyper-GT’ model, was known under the codename BP23 until the Speedtail moniker was announced and will boast the highest top speed of any car the firm has ever produced, exceeding the… Continue reading McLaren Speedtail: 986bhp ‘hyper-GT’ set for October 26 reveal

Sustainable aluminum for battery housing of Audi e-tron

Audi is the first automobile manufacturer worldwide to receive a certificate from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). With the Performance Standard certification, the ASI confirms that Audi meets the ASI requirements for industrial users of aluminum and sustainably designs and manufactures the aluminum components of the battery housing of the Audi e-tron. For the assessment,… Continue reading Sustainable aluminum for battery housing of Audi e-tron

Audi brings thought leaders to the MQ! Innovation Summit

Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, autonomous and electric mobility. Those are the main topics of Audi’s MQ! Innovation Summit, to be held on November 8 and 9. 700 thought leaders, including cofounder of Apple Computer Steve Wozniak, will convene in Ingolstadt to discuss a “mobility quotient” (MQ) as a measure of a person’s or organization’s mobility.… Continue reading Audi brings thought leaders to the MQ! Innovation Summit