Latest news with #iX3
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Fast Lane: NUS electric car in top 10 in US race, German carmakers at IAA Mobility, new Cupra models
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Seven from 11: NUS' racer inched from 11th place in 2024 to seventh spot at the latest Formula SAE Electric competition in Michigan. NUS' electric racer at Formula SAE Students from National University of Singapore (NUS) placed seventh out of 86 teams at the Formula SAE Electric competition in Michigan, United States, in June. Built to Formula SAE regulations, the R25e is an electric single-seater, open-wheel car that weighs 199kg (without driver) with power limited to 80kW. Formula SAE is a student design competition organised by SAE International (previously known as the Society of Automotive Engineers). The seventh position equals NUS' 2015 results and is an improvement from the 11th position in 2024. The university first competed in the race in 2003. The Singapore entry was developed by NUS' engineering undergraduates with the support of their professors and supervisors. Every year, second-year engineering students at NUS are recruited to form a new team. They are then put through classes on race-car principles and engineering, and practical training before they build their own car for the Formula SAE competition. The international competition is open to undergraduates and graduate engineering students and the 2025 edition was won by Oregon State University. Besides dynamic performance, the car's design and cost are also evaluated. Find out more at Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Who loses the most from Trump's tariffs? Who wins? Business SGX says over 30 companies in its IPO pipeline, eyes more acquisitions World Israel security Cabinet approves plan to seize Gaza City Singapore Four Certis officers charged after allegedly receiving over $9,700 in bribes from man Opinion At 79, Liew Mun Leong has no time to be sentimental Singapore Student found with vape taken to hospital after behaving aggressively in school; HSA investigating Singapore CDC and SG60 vouchers listed on e-commerce platforms will be taken down: CDCs World Trump urges 'conflicted' Intel CEO Tan Lip-Bu to resign immediately Electric SUVs rule at German show New class: The iX3, the first in a family of Neue Klasse models, will headline BMW's booth at the IAA Mobility show in September. PHOTO: BMW Just about every major car brand will be at IAA Mobility 2025 happening from Sept 9 to 14 in Munich, and German brands are using the event to make key announcements. BMW, which is headquartered in Munich, will unveil its new iX3 electric sport utility vehicle (SUV). Entirely different from the recently launched petrol-powered X3, the iX3 is an especially significant model for BMW as it is the first in a family of Neue Klasse models to be launched in the coming years. Highlights include major upgrades in technology (from superfast charging speed to ultra-powerful computer processing power) and a new design that sets the template for the next generation of BMWs. Arch-rival Mercedes-Benz, which is based in Stuttgart, will be showing the new GLC SUV, one of its biggest-selling models. While a petrol-powered version will be launched down the road, the electric version at the show – called GLC with EQ Technology – replaces the EQC. The EQC was the brand's first electric vehicle (EV) and based on the old GLC. This is in line with the brand's direction, where electric and petrol-powered forms of the models are offered in parallel, instead of having a separate line of EVs. Show star: The front grille on the new Mercedes-Benz will be applied to future models. PHOTO: MERCEDES-BENZ Porsche, which is also from Stuttgart, will unveil its new Cayenne. For the first time in the history of the model, the new car will be available as an EV, joining the Taycan and Macan. Volkswagen will unveil an electric crossover called the ID.2X that is smaller than the familiar Golf hatchback. This is the final member of the brand's Electric Urban Car Family, which is a range of compact electric city cars. The event in Munich replaced the famed Frankfurt Motor Show in 2021. Besides the venue change, it broadened its remit to be branded as a 'mobility' show. Check out for ticketing and other information. Cupra adds three new models Petrol-powered: Launch of the (from left) Cupra Leon, Terramar and Formentor VZ bring combustion power to the brand's otherwise electric-only range. PHOTO: VOLKSWAGEN GROUP SINGAPORE From having only electric models, Volkswagen-owned Cupra is now an 'electrified' brand with its latest event held on July 31 introducing three models to its portfolio. The Leon hatchback and Terramar SUV are powered by 1.5-litre engines with mild-hybrid technology, which stores energy recovered during braking to boost efficiency. The third model launched is the facelifted Formentor crossover, which has a 2-litre engine boasting 329hp and all-wheel drive. Prices of the new cars with applicable Category B certificate of entitlement, before applicable discounts, are as follows: Leon 1.5 eTSI at $225,900 Terramar 1.5 eTSI at $245,900 Formentor VZ at $316,900 Nissan restructures due to poor sales Shape up: Nissan is restructuring on the back of poor sales performance in key markets. PHOTO: REUTERS Citing a company document and internal e-mails, Reuters reported on Aug 5 that Nissan has started negotiating with the union representing staff at its European regional office about changes, including job losses. Located in France, the office has around 560 staff. It oversees the carmaker's operations in Africa, the Middle East, India and Oceania. Mr Ivan Espinosa, who became the Japanese carmaker's chief executive on April 1, had announced sweeping restructuring plans to save 500 billion yen (S$4.37 billion) by cutting workforce, closing manufacturing plants and lowering global production capacity. Sales have been poor for Nissan in China and the US, which are key markets for the brand. Recently, it announced that it will stop production at its Civac plant in Mexico by March 2026 and two Japanese plants in 2027 and 2028.
Motor 1
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
BMW's Electric M Cars Won't Have Silly Names: Report
BMW's Neue Klasse era officially kicks off next month with the debut of the iX3. Soon, every BMW will look like and have similar features to the automaker's bold new electric SUV— including performance cars. Thankfully, though, most of them should retain their iconic names. A post on the Bimmerpost forum by the user ynguldyn suggests that BMW won't add the letter "i" to the front of its new performance models. Instead, the performance variant of the iX3 , for example, will continue to be called the X3 M. M Performance models, though, will supposedly retain the letter "i" at the front of their nameplates; iX3 M60 xDrive. A separate BMW insider confirmed to Motor1 that these reports are indeed true. Production of those performance models won't kick off until sometime in 2027, the post suggests. The standard iX3, meanwhile, debuts next month in Munich and goes on sale in the US early in 2026. This coincides with reports from 2023, in which BMW M boss Frank van Meel said that the company would never use "i" and "M" letters together on the same vehicle. "We would never use an i on an M, even though it would be electric," Van Meel told Top Gear . BMW did trademark the name "iM3" in 2023, but that nameplate will likely never see the light of day. Of course, electric M cars aren't the only performance vehicles on the horizon. BMW recently confirmed that the inline-six and V-8 engines in its M cars aren't going anywhere. The company recently updated those engines to meet stricter Euro 7 regulations, and it promises to continue using them in M performance cars in the future. The Latest From BMW BMW Has Confirmed a New X7. Here's Everything We Know BMW Just Set the Coolest Nürburgring Record Source: Bimmerpost Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
NZ Autocar
4 days ago
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
New iX3 marks a fresh era for BMW
BMW is getting set to release the first of its Neue Klasse model, the iX3 SUV that will debut at the Munich motor show soon. This not only introduces a new design for the wider family but also fresh underpinnings. Its rival, the new-generation GLC, will also debut at Munich. Check out our review of the original iX3. The pair will go on sale shortly in a bid to increase EV sales in the face of tightening emissions regulations. BMW's iX3 will be followed shortly after by the launch of the new 3 Series saloon in 2026. The second-gen iX3 is based on the Neue Klasse Vision X concept. It will sell alongside the existing petrol X3 but rides on the fresh Neue Klasse architecture. Cue slimmer batteries, more efficient motors and technology that BMW claims will be a 'quantum leap forward' from today's electric offerings. The exact size of its NMC battery pack is not yet disclosed but it uses new cylindrical cells. BMW claims the iX3 will have range of almost 800km, not far off twice that of the original iX3. An 800V electrical architecture means the iX3 can hook up to ultra-fast chargers up to 400kW, enabling a 350km top-up in 10 minutes. There will be two initial variants available. One is a single-motor, rear-wheel drive model while a dual-motor, four-wheel drive version is good for up to 300kW. Inside is a new computing system that is an order of magnitude faster than existing chips in current BMWs. To keep aeros friendly and vehicle height low, the front seats are bolted directly to the battery pack. Styling borrows cues from the original Neue Klasse models of the 1960s. Small kidney grilles are the order of the day. The double-kidney grille separates a gloss black panel on the iX3's front end. This conceals the sensors and cameras required for the driver assistance systems. The rest of the car features a more chiselled look than today's models. There are angled lights front and rear, and a light bar at the back. The cabin features BMW's new iDrive X system. This features a large, sloped central infotainment screen. Above that is a head-up display spans the entire width of the dashboard. BMW eschews buttons, claiming the new set-up allows it to offer more complex and varied options. Toolbars and customisable widgets replace buttons on the touchscreen. Voice control is said to be more versatile too. Over the air updates are also possible. The steering wheel design now has four spokes but retains haptic buttons for functions like cruise control. The overriding concept was 'eyes on the road and hands on the wheel' so everything has to be simple to operate.
Auto Car
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
The BMW iX3 is about to make a BIG comeback
An 800V electrical architecture will mean the iX3's battery will also be able to charge at up to 400kW, enabling a 218-mile top-up in just 10 minutes from suitable chargers. Two powertrains will be available when the iX3 arrives in the UK early next year: a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive one and a dual-motor, four-wheel drive one that can deliver up to 402bhp. The second-generation iX3 also receives a new computing system that is 10 times faster than the network of chips in current BMWs. In addition, to maximise interior space within this set-up and to keep vehicle height as low as possible to aid aerodynamics, BMW will unusually bolt the front seats directly to the pack – another first for the firm. Visually, the new iX3 will draw on the original Neue Klasse models from the 1960s and return to small kidney grilles rather than the bolder, more expansive front ends that adorn the likes of the iX. The double-kidney grille will divide a large, gloss black panel on the iX3's front end – similar in style to the Vizor found on Vauxhalls. The panel is likely to conceal the sensors and cameras required by the latest generation of driver assistance systems. The rest of the car will feature a boxier, more chiselled look than today's models, with angled lights front and rear, plus a rear light bar. The reinvention continues inside the iX3, which will be the fi rst car to employ BMW's new iDrive X system.
Auto Express
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
How green is an EV? BMW reveals the surprise truth about EV vs ICE carbon footprints
Think the fuss over carbon footprints is a load of hot air? Tell that to BMW, which claims to have slashed the environmental impact of producing its all-new iX3 electric SUV by more than one-third. Despite manufacturing electric cars being more energy intensive than making ICE cars, BMW calculates the iX3 will break even with its X3 petrol equivalent after just 12,428 miles (20,000km) of driving. That means the average UK driver covering 7,000 miles a year will have paid off an iX3's embedded carbon debt in less than two years. And they'll have enjoyed every mile, if their experience lives up to our prototype drive. Advertisement - Article continues below The roll-out of BMW's 'Neue Klasse' vehicles, starting with the iX3 that arrives in the UK in March 2026, will trigger the reduced environmental impact. It's the result of a forensic approach of using renewable energy in its Hungarian car plant and supplier base, and by incorporating more recycled materials in the car, particularly aluminium, steel and thermoplastic. Producing batteries has a significant carbon cost. But it's a myth that EV batteries aren't recyclable: half of the lithium, cobalt and nickel in the iX3's battery is being used for a second time. Reducing the amount of raw materials needing to be mined, and powering anode and cathode production with green energy, drives down the battery's CO2 footprint by 42 per cent. All these figures, published for the first time today, have been independently verified – and Polestar is coming clean about how green its cars are too. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Fancy a used BMW iX3 ? Check out the Auto Express marketplace for great deals on new and used cars With the Neue Klasse cars, BMW has designed-in carbon-reducing processes on an unprecedented scale. 'In every component, we have to ask: can we get secondary raw materials in there? Can we use renewable energies? It's a total vehicle redesign,' explains Nils Hesse, BMW's vice president for product sustainability. Without this focus, the iX3 50 xDrive's manufacturing footprint would be 21 tonnes-of-CO2-equivalent (tCO2e) per vehicle. Instead it's been slashed to 13.5 tCO2e per vehicle – compared with 9.9 tonnes for a petrol X3 20i xDrive coming out of the factory gate. Advertisement - Article continues below But the iX3's 3.6-tonne greater CO2e debt compared with the petrol-powered X3 is paid off after 20,000km, assuming it's recharged using the typical European Union mix of renewable and carbon energy. Without the Neue Klasse carbon reduction measures, the breakeven point would be at 60,000km (37,284 miles). Run the iX3 and X3 for 200,000km (124,280 miles), and the petrol SUV will rack up a 52.8-tonne carbon footprint, compared with 14.6 tonnes for the EV recharged strictly on green energy, or 23 tonnes on the EU energy mix. That's potentially a 38-tonne advantage – for an iX3 powered by the long range, 108kWh battery. The tipping point for smaller battery cars will be lower. By weight, around one-third of the new iX3 comes from secondary materials, equivalent to around 740 kilograms. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The wheel carriers and rims are up to four-fifths secondary aluminium, while recycling old fishing nets and ropes contribute 30 per cent of the plastics for the 'frunk', the 58-litre storage area in the iX3's nose. It's not just about making sure the right materials go in, but also making them easier to take out at the end of the iX3's life, to maximise 'circularity'. So the Econeer seat's fleece, glue and the seat textile are all made from the same material, meaning it can all be shredded together when the car is dismantled and sent away for re-use. BMW has also developed a new seat-mounting method and uses fewer components throughout to reduce disassembly time – an important factor to make the secondary-use supply chain economically viable. Advertisement - Article continues below 'The future goal is to establish a material cycle with the car as a resource, so that we can close the loop at the end,' says Nils Hesse. Many companies are now understating their sustainability initiatives, with right-wing political sentiment swinging against environmental action in Europe and the USA. BMW, however, will not be cowed. 'Sustainability is not only important, it's fundamental,' vows Glenn Schmidt, BMW's vice president of global sustainability. 'Sustainability isn't just something we say, we are making BMW sustainable. 'We are committed to being net zero by 2050 and we made the commitment in 2020 that we would conform to the Paris accords.' Schmidt says sustainability is 'something that needs to be embedded into all our activities, into our supply chain and also into our product development'. And crucial to that is measurement. In 2019, BMW calculated its activities generated 150m tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Last year it shrank this to 131 million tCO2e. BMW reckons it's on track to emit 109 million tCO2e in 2030, and the holy grail – its 'net zero' target – is 15 million tonnes per year in 2050. Click here for our list of the electric cars with the longest range ... Find a car with the experts Electric cars driven until they die: the truth about EV range Electric cars driven until they die: the truth about EV range Five EVs under £24k have joined Dacia's Spring on the UK market. How far can you go on a budget? We find out Volkswagen, Skoda and Cupra slash electric car prices Volkswagen, Skoda and Cupra slash electric car prices Volkswagen, Skoda and Cupra aren't waiting around for the government grant by cutting £1,500 from their EV prices New MINI Cooper and MINI Aceman get the monochrome treatment New MINI Cooper and MINI Aceman get the monochrome treatment It's as simple as black and white for new MINI Cooper and MINI Aceman Monochrome
