Latest news with #AutocarUK
NZ Autocar
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Peugeot to revive GTi badge with electric 208 hot hatch
A hot GTi variant of the electric e-208 will debut ahead of Le Mans 24 Hour race on Jun 13. New Peugeot boss Alain Favey stated recently that it will deliver a memorable driving experience. The last Peugeot GTI model available was the previous-generation Peugeot 308, sales of which ended in 2021. NZ Autocar reported earlier this year that a new GTi may be on the way. Favey recently said: 'I'm in a position to confirm that we will reintroduce the GTi on the e-208 as soon as possible.' He reckons that the new GTi is all about reconnecting to Peugeot's past. It will also link the French brand's road cars to its involvement in motorsport. Peugeot competes in the World Endurance Championship with its 9X8 hypercar. He continued: 'We want to continue to nurture the reputation of the brand for driving sensations'. An existing e-208 with roof racks. Favey has not ruled out other GTis, nor the concept of combustion engined or PHEV versions. He says it depends on customer demand. He told Autocar UK: 'We will start with the 208 and [are] definitely listening to your inputs, or what our customers will say as well. 'We don't exclude that there might be other executions of the 208 GTi under the GTi badge. But for today there's absolutely nothing planned in that sense.' The return of the GTi was one of his first priorities since taking over as Peugeot CEO in February. 2024 Peugeot 208 GT Hybrid Expect typical GTi flourishes, including red styling elements around the grille, wheels and badges. Up front a reshaped bumper with bigger vents and a splitter are likely. Typical upgrades include suspension stiffening, a wider track and uprated brakes. The new e-208 GTi will likely use the same powertrain as the Abarth 600e, which is based on the same e-CMP platform. That features a 177kW motor and a Torsen limited-slip differential up front. PSA suggests a sprint time of around 6.0sec. Both the Abarth and the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce also feature a 207kW motor. That leaves room for a special edition 208 GTi by Peugeot Sport. With the e-208 GTi on the starting blocks, a similar version of the Vauxhall Corsa Electric is a possibility. However, Vauxhall has already confirmed plans for a hot Mokka GSE, using the Abarth 600e's powertrain.
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
VW Bets on Cheaper Batteries to Help Revamp EV Lineup Starting with ID.2
Volkswagen (VW) has scheduled a substantial refresh of its electric lineup starting in 2026 with the release of the ID.2 supermini, the automaker's first-ever model to use lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery tech that's less expensive than its current nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) packs, as first reported by Autocar UK. The VW Group's upcoming core EVs will segue from today's MEB platform into a new LFP battery platform named MEB Plus. LFP battery cells have slightly less energy density than NMC packs, but their production cost savings outweigh this energy discrepancy. The savings primarily stem from LFP batteries being less reliant on expensive materials like cobalt than NMC packs. New LFP cells also have higher thermal stability and a longer lifespan. After the ID.2's release, MEB Plus will make its way into VW models like the ID.3 hatchback, the U.S. market's ID.4 SUV, and the ID.7 sedan. Tesla was the first automaker to bring LFP batteries to the mass market with its Model 3 in China, followed by Ford's Mustang Mach-E. News of the MEB Plus platform is significant given VW's earlier struggles in the EV segment. These roadblocks included the ID.3 and ID.4 launches experiencing software glitches, interior material quality complaints from users, and a perception that the vehicles didn't match or surpass the value of competitors like Tesla. VW's new Salzgitter, Germany, factory will manufacture the upcoming LFP batteries alongside the current NMC packs until they're phased out. The automaker's CEO, Thomas Schäfer, told Autocar UK: "You can see this move towards LFP across the board, except for performance applications on the upper end. In the volume game, LFP is the technology." MEB Plus will revitalize VW's EV lineup until the company launches its delayed SSP platform, a multi-billion euro extension of the current MEB modular system, according to Battery Industry. VW's use of MEB Plus also marks the brand's first substantial shift into a new platform that's cheaper to make, enhancing its mass market prospects. While the ID.2 is the automaker's first direct entry into the affordable EV market, it likely won't make it to the U.S., where VW and other manufacturers face export challenges with tariffs and an Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that's on the verge of a substantial reorganization. Changes to the IRA could also slow the growth of U.S. battery production facilities, even if VW expands its U.S. manufacturing presence. Still, current and prospective U.S. EV drivers can look forward to cost reductions and possible range increases in models like the VW ID.4 SUV, along with GM's commercialization of LMR (lithium manganese-rich) prismatic battery cells that bring extended range electric trucks through more accessible pricing. Like VW's LFP battery tech, GM's LMR cells are less reliant on cobalt, which has introduced ethical dilemmas in addition to higher costs. Cobalt mining has exposed local communities, primarily the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to toxic metals while contributing to environmental degradation. The Democratic Republic of the Congo produces about 70% of the world's cobalt supply. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
NZ Autocar
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
More Volkswagen ID Golf details are emerging
The Volkswagen Golf is gearing up for a bold transformation in its ninth generation due out in 2028. To be known as the ID Golf, the new model will signal a high-tech rebirth for VW's benchmark family hatch. It will blend classic Golf DNA with cutting-edge EV technology. This is Autocar UK's render of the Gen IX Golf, available with a host of powertrains. Unlike previous iterations, the ID Golf will be designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle. But petrol-electric plug-in hybrid variants will continue in parallel for a time. Before then, VW's electric revolution continues with its ID 2X compact SUV, and the production version of the ID 2all hatch. Both utilise the new MEB Entry platform, aiming for affordability. A sporty electric GTI version of the ID 2all is also coming. The GTI version of ID 2all. These new models pave the way for the more advanced ID Golf, which will ride on the all-new SSP platform. This flexible architecture merges elements of VW's MEB and PPE EV systems. Expect the ID Golf to feature styling that will appeal to Golf fans, without being too retro. VW design boss, Andreas Mindt, is aiming for a fresh but faithful take on the Golf's core traits. Expect a sleeker body that retains a clear lineage to past Golfs. Interior improvements will also mark a major shift from the current Mk8.5 version. VW is committing to the return of physical controls for core functions after its foray into haptic touch sliders and steering wheel buttons proved a turn off. This return to tactile usability is part of a broader push under CEO Thomas Schäfer to reinfuse the brand with emotion and trust. Golf IX will feature some of the ID 2all/GTI concept styling features. Rivian-co-developed software architecture is set to underpin the ID Golf. The system is designed for efficiency, adaptability, and over-the-air (OTA) updates. This so-called zonal software platform will reduce the number of processors while improving system integration and responsiveness. It will also enable real-time updates and enhancements even after the vehicle is sold. Even aspects like handling and braking are evidently modifiable over the air. The software's flexibility will also empower performance variants of the ID Golf. GTI and R versions are expected. The GTI will remain front-wheel drive, while the R variant will likely go dual-motor AWD. However, the R will prioritise agility and driving fun over brute force. This is a departure from the heavier GTX-badged ID models. The electric variants of Golf IX will be built where Golf always has for over 50 years. Production of the ID Golf will take place at Wolfsburg, the Golf's birthplace since 1974. To make room for this EV shift, ICE production will move to Mexico in 2027. The current Mk8.5 Golf will continue to be sold alongside the ID Golf, but in Europe and the UK it will be available only as a plug-in hybrid. It too will be phased out in 2035. The ID Golf is not intended to replace the ID 3. Each will target slightly different customer bases. Beyond the ID Golf, VW's EV overhaul will continue with a new SUV expected to succeed the ID 4. Think Tiguan in electric form. A render of the Golf ID earlier this year, also by Autocar UK. The ID Golf then will become a flagship of sorts for a new era, redefining it for a future shaped by electrification, advanced tech, and the rekindling of driver-focused design.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Mini delays EV production in UK, citing industry uncertainties
Mini's China-based EV production strategy was always a bit of a bold move. With mounting global tensions and citing "multiple uncertainties facing the automotive industry' in an Autocar UK interview, the BMW-owned automaker has pressed pause on gearing up production for EVs at its Oxford, England plant. Mini is the latest automaker to alter a formerly clear-cut electrification 2023, Mini had a clear path forward for electrification. EV production for their EV Cooper and Aceman models would begin in China. Meanwhile, the Oxford plant—the original home of Morris Motors and where the brand has built vehicles for decades—would be retooled, an endeavor that has already cost over £600 million ($760 million). Mini targeted 2026 as a goal for European production to supplant the Chinese factories. Production in China allowed Mini to manufacture vehicles quickly and inexpensively, but it couldn't serve as a long-term solution if Mini wanted to sell their iconic Cooper models in the US. When you consider faltering EV sales, taking time to 'review' the timeline certainly makes sense. Also important to note is that while Mini left a significant grant on the table, the brand reportedly remains 'in close dialogue' with the government, according to the the Aceman never had a planned US arrival, the latest developments seriously call into question whether the US shores will ever see the current generation of electric Mini Cooper. A planned introduction to the market coinciding with Oxford production implied that we would see it stateside for the 2027 model year, already nearly halfway through the product's life cycle. Any later than that and skepticism regarding profitability becomes reasonable. Stateside Mini shoppers looking for an electric MINI are forced to consider the only one available: the Countryman EV. Those vehicles are produced at BMW's Leipzig plant, where the model will remain in production as it has since January 2024. Mini's electric future in the US is even more muddled when you consider the current president's penchant for tariffs. Oxford production may have already been a long shot with speculation that Trump could implement a 25 percent tariff on EU-produced cars. That would spell bad news for the Countryman EV, too, which is already the most expensive in its segment. After delivery fees, the little SUV touts a supersized sticker price of $46,375, around $200 more than the Volvo EX30, its closest irony that Mini's only electric offering in the US is an SUV can't really be understated. Never say never, but the electric Mini Cooper is all but kaput for us, which is a tremendous shame. Since the Aceman coming stateside was never on the table, Mini's current electrification strategy – particularly in the US - can be essentially summed up with a shrug emoji. It's disappointing, especially for a brand that made its name on small, light, and engaging cars that seemed the perfect candidates for electrification. Love reading Autoblog? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get exclusive articles, insider insights, and the latest updates delivered right to your inbox. Click here to sign up now!
