ZF has a new EV powertrain that promises a 30 per cent winter range improvement
The Select modular e-drive platform has a magnet-free motor and better heat-managing smarts Skip 2 photos in the image carousel and continue reading
Vehicle tech supplier ZF has created a modular e-drive powertrain that it says gives electric cars up to 30 per cent more range in extreme cold conditions.
How so? The Select modular system – to give the thing its official name – combines electric motors, converters, inverters, transmission and the software package needed to optimise electron-fuelled propulsion, though the company says all the components are interchangeable.
Advertisement - Page continues below
The not-so-secret sauce is a magnet-free motor (I2SM, for the nerds), which ditches the permanent magnets in favour of a slimmer, lighter setup that saves five kilos and fits into tighter spaces. According to ZF, it chucks out up to 300kW (402bhp in old money), and generates a silly 4,057lb ft of torque. And it's slicing energy losses by more than 25 per cent at motorway speeds.
Using something it calls 'TherMaS' - a compact, propane-based heat pump refrigeration circuit, rather than a pricey Scandinavian spa treatment – the German engineers have been able to extend range through heat management efficiency. You might like
The results? At a nippy -7°C, you get 15 per cent more range compared to current systems. At a nose-freezing -25°C, you're looking at up to 30 per cent more – which sounds pretty game-changing if you're based in the Arctic Circle.
The multi-tasking design uses the inspirational 'X-in-1' (akin to your favourite shampoo) but by utilising power supply and battery for different things, there are fewer components contributing to those lightweighting gains. New innovations to the gearing, inverter and converter which among other attributes enable bi-directional charging, too.
Advertisement - Page continues below
ZF also acknowledges that there's still a place for hybrids – set to be around for a few more years than first expected – so it has upgraded its eight-speed automatic transmission to be deployed in any kind of hybrid, not just mild and plug-in as it once was. Plus, there's that new generation of range extenders it's been working, too.
Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox.
Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
20 minutes ago
- Reuters
UK's BAE Systems confident on winning new Typhoon orders
Warton, ENGLAND, July 15 (Reuters) - British defence company BAE Systems (BAES.L), opens new tab is confident on winning new orders for Typhoon military jets from countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, its European air sector boss told reporters on Tuesday. "We're working with the UK government on a number of those campaigns presently," Richard Hamilton, Managing Director for Europe and International in BAE Systems Air sector, said at the group's facility in Warton, northern England. Asked whether he was confident that those sales campaigns would result in new orders for the aircraft, he said: "yeah, absolutely", adding that there was potential for new orders of up to 150 new Typhoons. Underpinning that confidence in the new export order, he said, was Britain's commitment to funding upgrades to Typhoon's capabilities, which extends the aircraft's lifespan. "The confidence it gives the export partner, you know, with the Saudis, with the Turkish, when they see that this thing has a life, it just makes the whole conversation so much easier," he said. Trade unions in Britain have raised concerns that without the new orders, some BAE final assembly production lines would run out of work in the 2030s.
Top Gear
35 minutes ago
- Top Gear
Mercedes-Benz CLA Review 2025
The electric Mercedes-Benz CLA, offering next-generation of everything, from batteries to MB-OS supercomputer specs and artificial intelligence lurking behind the dash. Actually it's lurking in the Mercedes-Benz 'intelligent cloud', but you get the idea. It's apparently the cleverest car Mercedes has ever made, but more practically it's an electric Mercedes that offers monster range and conveniently rapid charging from a new NMC battery, and doesn't look like a bar of lightly-used soap. Advertisement - Page continues below We're talking 484 miles of WLTP range from 85kWh of usable cells, excellent efficiency across the board, a two-speed gearbox (more on that later) and the ability to ferret out the closest hipster coffee shop that serves matcha-latte but also allows dogs. This we will explain when we get to the Interior section. It just looks… like a slightly swoopier CLA. Which is kind of the point. This is Mercedes delivering change while not spooking the conservative horses. A mid-sized, four-door saloon with decent proportions and a slight obsession with… er… stars. Yep, this is the most starry Merc ever. Look closely and they're absolutely everywhere; the optional multibeam LED headlights have star-shaped running lights (standard ones have a chrome bit in a star shape), and the taillights are also starry, while the electric car's nose features 142 individually animated stars for that Dubai-nighttime feel. The combustion-engined hybrid has a more trad grille, but it still has a star. The interior has lots of stars – there'll be a star-studded electrochromic glass roof in the forthcoming CLA Shooting Brake – and there's the general feeling that maybe Merc got a bit carried away. Advertisement - Page continues below But still, it's handsome enough in a slightly anonymous way. Offence would be hard to come by, but desire might also be a bit of an overstatement. We'll be getting the hybrid CLA (and the estate/Shooting Brake version) a bit later, but for now, we get the pure electric one in two different formats: the 250+ with rear-wheel drive and the 350+ 4Matic with all-wheel drive. Although the higher-powered one arrives slightly later. The 250 comes with a single 268bhp rear-mounted motor and the biggest efficiency scores, the 350 adds a front motor to give around 350bhp. Both use the same 85kWh (usable) NMC battery, and the 250 manages those impressive figures: if you option the right wheels and drive like a laboratory technician, some 484 miles of WLTP range is available. A smaller 58kWh LFP battery will be offered later for those with more urban-centric needs. That's getting close to ICE range – how's it doing that? With the application of marginal gains. The battery is 20 per cent more energy dense than a battery with purely graphite nodes – this one has silicon-oxide/graphite – so you've got more energy to use. The rear-motor has a two-speed 'box, but unlike something like a Porsche Taycan or Audi e-tron GT, it's not necessarily for off-the-line speed – more an overdrive to keep the motors spinning at their most efficient rpm when on a motorway. The multi-source heat pump is air-to-air and uses about a third of the energy of a traditional auxiliary heater, and the underfloor is completely flat, too. Even the rear suspension has aero-shrouding to manage airflow. It's also very parsimonious when it comes to energy recuperation from the braking system. It's an integrated efficiency buffet that all contributes to a car that uses every last erg of energy to max effect. Pretty much what you would hope all electric cars do, but don't. What's the experience like? Solid. The CLA is an easy car to get good range from. Add to that 320kW of charging ability and you're looking at 201 miles of range in ten minutes, 10-80 per cent charge in 22. That's very good. The downside of the gestalt is a car that's a bit vanilla to drive. It's fast enough, rides well, does everything you expect it to, but lacks much character, even for an EV. In fact, the experience is definitely canted towards the on-board electronics, featuring as it does artificial intelligence from Google and Microsoft in the new MB-OS, something that operates in a way that allows for complex interrogation of the Virtual Assistant. Which apparently can sense moods and actually has a short-term memory. Sounds a bit like it might end up taking over the world and eliminating its inefficient human masters, but in practice it works well. Any stiff competition? Small segment this, because SUVs and crossovers have been hogging the limelight on Planet Electric. The CLA's closest rivals are the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4, which are similar sizes but bookend the Merc on price: the former is cheaper, the latter dearer. Neither gets close on range. Then you've got the Polestar 2 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 to think about. The VW ID.7 is bigger, and priced accordingly. The CLA 250+ is £45,615 but you can push that over £50k if you ascend the trim ladder. Pricing for the 350+ remains TBC, and the same goes for the Shooting Brake and hybrids that will follow. A hugely sensible and technologically interesting car from Mercedes-Benz, but one that lacks the sparkle to make it a no-brainer. The driving is perfectly acceptable, but 'fine' is a lacklustre epithet. The AI and tech works very well, and it's a handsome enough saloon, but the thing that stands out is the sheer convenience. Moderate performance but big range and fast-charging will make all the difference when it comes to living with this thing, and it'll be an absolute beast at numbing those boring journeys. The estate also looks nicer, but gets all the same kit, so that will be worth waiting for. Page 2 Page 3
Auto Blog
an hour ago
- Auto Blog
BMW Isn't Going to Like the Genesis GV70's 27-Inch Dash Display
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Genesis is quietly dismantling the luxury status quo—one screen at a time Although there's a push in the industry to return to physical buttons, switches, and dials rather than touchscreen-only controls, there's no going back to a time when cars were screenless. Technology will only become more advanced, and touchscreens are a present reality that's not going away anytime soon. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:10 Full screen Audi reveals sporty new A5/S5 with an emphasis on design Watch More It took BMW several iterations of its iDrive system before it got it right, having started in 2001 in the 7-Series. BMW's iDrive 8.5 is now present on most of the brand's current models, with infotainment screens ranging from 10.7 inches in the 2-Series up to 14.9 inches in models like the 7-Series, X5, and XM. iDrive 8.5 is beautiful, easy to operate, and quick to respond–together with the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, the expansive setups are the focal point of the premium cabins. However, Hyundai's luxury arm, Genesis, has something to say about that, with a huge 27-inch panoramic OLED display in models like the GV70, which we recently drove. It's sleek, futuristic, and user-friendly—and BMW definitely won't like how good it is. 27 inches of beautiful screen real estate The GV70 has already earned praise for its refined driving manners, powerful engine choices, unique styling, premium materials, and outstanding value. But the 2026 model, part of Genesis's mid-cycle refresh, introduces what could be its most game-changing feature: the massive 27-inch digital display. Unlike many automakers that split screen real estate into separate gauge clusters and infotainment screens, the version in the GV70 is one big swath of electronic goodness with no black frame partition in between. Drivers can split the screen if so desired, but no line of demarcation prevents full-width display. The result is a sweeping curved display that enhances usability while offering a visual smorgasbord of menus and driver data in one stunning layout. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Source: Amos Kwon Genesis says the screen was inspired by the horizon, a design meant to increase visual calmness while maintaining important vehicular information. The OLED panel delivers vivid color, deep contrast, crisp fonts, and smooth transitions, making navigation, vehicle settings, and media playback feel intuitive and premium. Widgets are customizable, too, and the redesigned interface is easier to read and decipher than BMWs, reducing the time needed to operate functions. Genesis did its homework, and the payoff is one that balances style and user friendliness. Source: Amos Kwon Genesis hasn't forgotten those who love to drive, either, being a brand that's committed to excellent physical controls, not just on-screen touch controls. The revised center stack provides knobs for audio, temperature control, and infotainment selection. They're wonderfully tactile with great knurling, and they're also nicely sized for easy operation without having to take your eyes off the road. BMW's tech is at its best, but with some issues Source: BMW As we mentioned before, the current BMW Drive 8.5 is one of the best in the industry, after numerous also-ran versions before it. On top of that, the iDrive infotainment system was one of the first to shift control to a rotary knob and screen-based menu system, and the brand continues to innovate with features like natural voice control and augmented-reality navigation. The 2025 BMW X3, now entering a new generation, comes with BMW's iDrive 9 system and a curved display of its own: a 12.3-inch digital cluster paired with a huge 14.9-inch touchscreen, both slightly angled toward the driver. It's a clean, functional setup, but also one that relies on on-screen climate controls rather than switchgear like the GV70's. BMW's recent shift toward touchscreen-only climate controls and deep menu layers for common functions can be frustrating, overly complicating simple operations. While BMW's tech is undeniably powerful, it often feels more like software designed by engineers rather than something intuitive or joyful to use. That's where Genesis not only creates beautiful and seamless screens, but it also carefully thinks about the user experience. The GV70's 27-inch screen seems more fluid in its operation, and climate controls remain accessible through physical knobs below the screen. It seems the Germans prefer a bit of obfuscation, as the menus are visually cluttered and complex. Genesis avoids this, and it speaks volumes about the brand. Genesis is on the rise, and so are its sales Yes, BMW still eclipses Genesis sales figures, but the South Korean luxury brand is making some serious headway. BMW still leads the segment in terms of raw sales, but Genesis has become an increasingly uncomfortable competitor in the Bavarian's rearview mirror. In 2023, BMW sold approximately 65,000 X3s in the U.S., while Genesis sold just under 25,000 GV70s —a respectable number for a relatively new player in a game BMW has been playing for a long time. Genesis exhibited more growth than BMW and Lexus, while Audi has dropped. With the 2026 refresh, Genesis is leaning hard into its tech set. The 27-inch display isn't just a flashy update; it's a direct challenge to BMW in functionality and style. Genesis is making a strong statement that it's not just playing catch-up; it wants to lead the pack. That same 27-inch stunner is also in the G70 sedan and GV80 SUV. Watch the cascade continue. Beyond the display: A complete package Source: Genesis Of course, the GV70 isn't just about the in-car technology. It offers a choice of robust engines, including a 300-horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a powerful 375-horsepower 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, both with standard all-wheel drive. The ride and quiet road manners are improved for 2026, yet the GV70 remains responsive, with quick launches and confident cornering ability. Interior materials continue to rival German rivals, with quilted Nappa leather, real aluminum trim, and a clean, airy cabin layout. Source: Genesis For 2025, Genesis has also improved cabin ergonomics and updated the rotary shifter and climate controls for a more streamlined experience. The upgraded and much larger screen also gave rise to an improved center stack and center console. Add standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a new wireless device charger, and driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and blind-spot monitoring, and the GV70 continues to check just about every premium box that a BMW X3 can, for a lower price. The pupil becomes the master Source: BMW Genesis is onto something, and it's not just value. When a newer brand matches or exceeds your tech, comfort, and build quality (often for less money), consumers start to question the premium charged for Bimmers. Genesis was once viewed as an also-ran, lacking the power, polish, and technology of the Germans. Just a handful of years ago, Genesis was considered an alternative brand that was more accessible but less desirable. That's no longer the case when you put them side-by-side. Source: Genesis Genesis understands this shift in mastery and execution and is capitalizing on it. The 27-inch display is more than a screen, it's a statement that the brand is going after BMW's meal with a big fork and knife. Rather than being a copy of BMW, Genesis is doing things its own way, and sometimes even better than the rest of the field. Final thoughts No one will choose the GV70 over an X3 simply due to the displays, but there's no denying that it's an important part of the sport-luxury SUV conversation. It's the entire package, of course, but the Genesis package is that much more compelling with cutting-edge electronics, great visuals, and smooth operation. 2025 GV70's 27-inch panoramic display won't make the X3 obsolete, but it may make it feel unnecessarily complicated. Oh, and those Genesis physical controls add more than just icing to this South Korean automotive cake. About the Author Amos Kwon View Profile
