+++ Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) says the brand rebuilding ALFA ROMEO Giulia is meeting internal sales expectations, but not in the way the company thought it would. Demand for the higher-spec models such as the Veloce and the Quadrifoglio were offsetting a lower-than-expected demand for its entry models, including the Super. “We’re hitting all of our targets, but we’re doing it with a higher mix of vehicles”, he said. “It shows that the repositioning of Alfa Romeo really is resonating in that space that we’re looking to play in”. Orders for the Giulia Quadrifoglio at the Cassino plant in Italy have been increased. The wait for this topversion currently stretches out to 3 months. Currently Alfa Romeo has 5 model lines on the books with the Stelvio, Giulia, 4C, Giulietta and MiTo. The Stelvio is built on top of FCA’s Giorgio platform, which is set to underpin a raft of new generation models from all brands in the FCA stable. +++
+++ The next-generation AUDI A8 will come fitted with a 48V mild hybrid system as standard. The announcement was made earlier this week at the technical day of the Audi Forum in Munich. The mild hybrid setup includes a belt-driven alternator/starter, and a 48V lithium-ion battery that’s recharged via regenerative braking. The system will be standard on both Audi A8 diesel and petrol models. Audi says the system can provide up to 15 hp of power and 60 Nm of torque. It’s claimed, under the NEDC testing scheme, fuel economy can be improved by up to 0.7 litres per 100 kilometres. In the A8, the mild hybrid system will allow the car to coast with the engine off at speeds between 30 and 160 km/h. A front-facing camera will help the A8 decide when it’s best to switch the engine off. Higher-spec models will also use predictive data from the satellite navigation and various vehicle sensor systems as part of its decision making process. A traditional 12V battery will still be used to power the car’s lighting, air conditioning, engine management and other systems. Alexander Kruse, Audi’s head of mild hybrid systems, told the industry publication, use of the 48V setup will spread “very quickly” throughout the brand’s range. Both the Audi A7, which is due to be launched at September’s Frankfurt motor show, and next year’s A6 will be available with the mild hybrid system. The fourth-generation A8 will make its debut on July 11, European time. +++
+++ Launched in 2005 and updated in 2013, the BENTLEY Flying Spur is getting a little long in the tooth. As a result, the British firm has already begun testing the next-generation model. Likely to break cover in early 2019, the next-generation Flying Spur will bring major improvements to the nameplate. Arguably the most imporant is the MSB-F platform, which already made its debut in the new Porsche Panamera. The redesign will also spawn a new styling language, a more luxurious interior, and give the sedan more powertrain options. Official data is virtually non-existent, but I gathered all existing rumors in a speculative review that should keep you covered until a Bentley-bodied prototype shows up in 2017. +++
+++ BMW builds a number of models in China through a joint venture with local automaker Brilliance. The cars are only sold in China at present but that could change as BMW has been granted an export license by the Chinese government. The information was confirmed by Olaf Kastner, the boss of BMW’s Chinese operations. He said no decision on exporting cars from China has been made since BMW’s 2 plants there, located in Dadong and Tiexi, are at full capacity meeting local demand. BMWs built in China include the Chinese-only 1-Series sedan, as well as the 3-Series, 5-Series, 2-Series Active Tourer, and X1. Next year BMW will also start X3 production in China. Starting with exports of the 1-Series would make the most sense since the car isn’t built anywhere else. If sold in the United States, the car would provide BMW with an alternative to the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA. BMW is also readying a new Mexican plant which is scheduled to start production of the 3-Series in 2019. Most of the cars built at the plant are expected to be exported to the U.S. Among the mainstream automakers, Volvo in 2015 became the first to sell a Chinese-made car in the U.S. when it brought over the S60 Inscription. Since then Volvo has also added the S90 to its list of Chinese-made cars sold in the U.S. General Motors also sells the Chinese-made Buick Envision in the U.S. Cadillac’s CT6 Plug-In Hybrid is also sourced from China. +++
+++ HYUNDAI N is just putting the final touches on its first model, the i30 N hot hatch, but the official performance division of the Korean automaker plans to follow the car up with more offerings. The next-generation Veloster currently being developed is primed to receive the N treatment. The new Veloster is due out in 2018, so it’s conceivable the Veloster N might arrive as early as 2019. Hyundai N has been using heavily modified Velosters as a testbed for performance technology. The cars feature mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layouts so aren’t indicative of a production Veloster N. Rather, they hint at the engineering capabilities of Hyundai N. The most recent tester, the RM16 N concept, was even spotted at the Nürburgring. It was powered by a unique version of Hyundai N’s newly-developed 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 tuned to deliver 295 horsepower. Hyundai N is also thought to be preparing a version of the i30 Fastback currently doing the rounds in prototype form. We should have more details on Hyundai N’s plans following the debut of the i30 N at September’s 2017 Frankfurt auto show. +++
+++ The second version in the upcoming LAMBORGHINI Urus SUV will utilise a hybrid powertrain that will help bring the average fleet emissions of the Italian brand down and keep the naturally-aspirated V10 and V12 models in existence amid toughening emission restrictions. According to the brand’s head of research and development, Maurizio Reggiani, the technical side of its naturally-aspirated V10 and V12 engines meeting new emission restrictions is absolutely possible, however it’s the emission taxation and fuel economy figures that will hurt those models in the future. Nonetheless, the introduction of the Urus hybrid SUV will help the brand bring those overall emission figures down across its fleet. “We can fulfil ever kind of emission requirement, now the big discussion is fuel consumption, taxation and emission. Emission is a classic engineering job we can do. We can fulfil everything, it’s not a problem”. Reggiani said. “The other is related to fuel consumption. We have a fleet average, and new models that will come will help us remain in the top niche and compensate this. Taxation is something that is more political and price orientated, but in the end, we are in the field with the super sports car where you cannot make 4 cylinder 2,0 litres. You can have the same power with a big, big turbo, but it will take 10 mins to arrive at maximum speed”. Lamborghini boss Stefano Domenicali, says that the brand won’t hold back volumes of the Urus Hybrid in order to meet toughening fleet average emission regulations. “For sure, if the car is going very well, then let us push for the max, it will be there. But we need to understand the right balance with the push to grow, and the total number of cars to put on the emission consideration – because that is the driver for us, more than the volume. That will keep us pushing really hard on the V10 and V12”, Domenicali said. Lamborghini will first introduce the Urus SUV later this year with a twin-turbo V8 with around 660 hp. This power unit is based on engines shared with Bentley and Porsche as part of the Volkswagen group. The hybrid model will follow in 2018. The Italian supercar manufacturer plans to make naturally-aspirated V10 and V12 models for as long as possible. +++
+++ SKODA wants to expand its growing crossover SUV line-up even further by launching a smaller model to match the Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Juke, set below the mid-sized Karoq and large Kodiaq. This desired small SUV would serve as a spiritual successor to the slightly unusual Skoda Yeti, which has been killed off to make way for the more conventional Karoq as pictured above. While not exactly a roaring success the world over, the Yeti was a massive hit in Europe, where it sold in numbers similar to the Mazda CX-5. The Czech company is currently rolling out the Kodiaq 7-seater around the world. Meanwhile, the Karoq 5-seater will be launched in the autumn. Both are based on the same modular MQB toolkit/architecture as the Volkswagen Tiguan. If it comes about, the mooted smaller crossover would sit between the Fabia and Karoq and probably share components with parent company Volkswagen’s new entry SUV, the T-Roc. Such a vehicle could embrace the quirkiness that made the Yeti, given brands often take risks at this end of the market (think of the Nissan Juke and Toyota C-HR). “If you have a look at the segments and how they are developing, the small SUV part is growing massively and definitely Skoda would like to join the party. We are evaluating potential other models”, said Skoda’s head of sales for our global region, Peter Solc. Not much else is known about this expected Skoda baby crossover, though the odds of the Yeti name being dusted off are slim. I understand all Skoda SUVs will have names starting with K and ending in Q. On another note, Skoda is not expected to bother with a second-generation Citigo mini car due to declining demand in Europe, while the next Rapid due around 2019 will grow into a proper golf rival. As we already know Skoda will produce a sleeker Kodiaq Coupe derivative. It’ll almost certainly have PHEV and even full electric spin offs. Skoda is on track to sell a record 1.2 million cars this year, the vast majority it Western Europe and China. Eastern Europe is its home, but its volumes there are lower (though its market share isn’t). +++
+++ The VOLKSWAGEN Arteon has only just popped its head into this big scary world, and Volkswagen is already opening discussing variants for the vehicle. Dr Elmar-Marius Licharz, head of Volkswagen’s medium and large vehicle programs, has told: “I would like to make an Arteon Shooting Brake; these plans are underway but it’s not yet final”. Licharz also revealed the company is working on V6 version of the Arteon, with a prototype version already doing the rounds. He noted, if such a variant is put into production it will have an engine “which you can also use in the Atlas and vice versa”. It’s not clear if he means a production version of the V6 Arteon will use the Atlas’ 300 hp narrow-angle 3.6-litre mill or that a new, more modern engine is being lined up for the Atlas. The Arteon will be the brand’s flagship vehicle in most markets outside of China, where the large, luxurious Phideon sedan leads the line. Based on the MQB architecture, the Arteon is currently only available as a 5-door liftback, and is powered exclusively by turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. +++