+++ When AUDI starts producing electric performance models for its Audi Sport range, the first examples will likely come in the form of SUVs or limousines due to their easier packaging and better power-to-weight ratio. Audi Sport CEO Stephan Winkelmann said the brand’s halo performance models such as the R8 would not be the first to experience electrification. “Between 2020 and 2025, we have to start electrification”, he said. “The first step for me is not in the shape of an R8, but it might be an SUV or a limo, where we have a higher degree of forgiveness in terms of packaging, room and power-to-weight ratio. When we speak about electric cars, if you ask me if I want to have them all powertrain types, I’ll say: ‘yes, I want plug-in hybrids, hybrids, whatever is available’. But if I have to pick one, and hit the target immediately and do a lot of things with one shot, my first choice would be a battery electric vehicle”. Winkelmann also added that by 2020 the Audi Sport range would grow to 16 models, up from 10. There currently only exists one SUV in the Audi Sport range: the RSQ3 small SUV, while the brand’s upper large limousine, the A8, only comes in a slightly less-brutal S8 Plus variant. The all-new A8, which will feature a mild hybrid powertrain, which could be a nod to a move towards electrification, is due to land in showrooms in the first half of next year. Audi will use electric vehicle technology being developed by parent company Volkswagen Group, as long as the technology can replicate the performance required of an RS-branded Audi vehicle. Despite the second-generation R8 launching with an all-electric e-tron version, which has since been discontinued due to slow sales, the electric technology would not feature again on the current flagship Audi Sport model, according to Winkelmann. “We now have one car which is ours (Audi Sport’s), which is the R8. If nothing is changing, we have the opportunity for the R8 to do the next single shot”, he said. “But if I have to be honest, with the view and knowledge I have today, it’s going to be the follow-up to the R8”. He also revealed that 2 new Audi Sport models would be unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in September, with possible contenders being a new RS4, an updated RSQ3 with Audi’s all-aluminium block 2.5-litre five-cylinder, or even an RS variant for the second-generation Q5 medium SUV. Winkelmann also added that Audi Sport would put a focus on developing models that were not region-specific, but could be sold as global products. “We’ll concentrate more and more on those cars which are sellable around the world, and which have an equal distribution worldwide”, he said. “If we invest in a local car, say for the European market, we may sell a third as many as if you put it in the right global segment”. +++
+++ The XE SV Project 8 isn’t the only attraction at JAGUAR ’s stand at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Jaguar also will show what it’s referring to as a “new XJ derivative”, though the automaker isn’t willing to discuss any details as development isn’t complete. All Jaguar would say is that the car will be revealed in full this summer after some final testing. Rumours suggest there will be an XJR coming down the line with a 575-horsepower version of Jaguar’s 5.0-liter supercharged V-8. Currently, the output is reserved for Jaguar’s F-Type SVR. The current XJR has 550 hp and sprints to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 280 km/h. With 25 extra horses, expect the latest XJR to deliver better numbers. Considering the reveal is taking place this summer, we should see the car make a formal debut at the 2017 Frankfurt auto show in September. It will likely land in showrooms shortly after, as a 2018 model. Potential rivals include the Audi S8 and BMW M760i xDrive. +++
+++ LEXUS is expected to take a 7-seat, extended version of the RX SUV, badged RX 350L and RX 450hL, to the Tokyo motor show later this year. Lexus is also looking to broaden its large SUV range with the 7-seat RX 350L and RX 450hL models. The niche is currently unexplored by Lexus, so these variants on the RX large SUV will provide a rival to the Volvo XC90, Mercedes-Benz GLS and upcoming BMW X7. Lexus filed trademarks for these badges earlier this year, and will appear at the show before going on sale in early 2018. The Lexus UX is also on its way as a production car within this timeframe, patent files have shown. This may come later, due to a full production model’s longer development time, however. A new entry-level SUV based on the Paris motor show’s UX concept, which will share the same name, will replace the CT hatchback in the Lexus range, with a small SUV which will sit underneath the RX and NX SUVs. Patents have been filed for a range of variants under the UX name, including the UX 200, UX 250 and UX 250h. The small numbers signify the nature of the engine, and are of a similar range to the CT 200h. The styling of the production UX is expected to be less extreme than the concept, but will still maintain the spindle grille and angular styling which Lexus has adopted with its current generation of cars. Like the concept, the engine range suggests both traditional internal combustion engines as well as a range-topping hybrid. Speaking at the Paris motor show, Johan Van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota and Lexus in Europe, said: “This UX concept is all about anticipation and Lexus’ unparalleled knowledge in the SUV market. We are ready for the next chapter of a bolder looking Lexus SUV: the UX concept”. Toyota boss Karl Schlicht said: “We would see other SUV developments before we’d see another coupe; that’s my guess. Once the coupes have done their job, we need to further refine the SUV range”. A Toyota spokesman could not comment on the patents or the possibility of the models’ debuts, as per procedure at Toyota regarding all future products. +++
+++ MCLAREN has confirmed Ron Dennis will sell his stake in the supercar maker and racing team operator, and will leave the company he’s been involved with for 37 years. As part of his departure, a new company, the McLaren Group, will be formed to hold both McLaren Automotive, the supercar maker, and McLaren Technology Group, which owns the racing team. Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, and the TAG Group will remain as McLaren’s majority shareholders. Dennis will receive around 275 million pounds ($465 million) for his 25 percent share in McLaren Technology Group, and his 11 percent stake in McLaren Automotive. The transaction will reportedly close within “the next days or months”. Dennis took charge of the struggling McLaren race team in 1980. Under his guidance, the team won 158 Grand Prix races, and 17 Formula One world championships. The team also featured a cavalcade of renowned drivers, including Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen and Lewis Hamilton. In late 1980, McLaren employed fewer than 100 people, and was valued at around 3 million pounds ($5.1 million). By the end of 2016, the McLaren group of companies employed 3,400 people, and were valued at 2.4 billion pounds ($4.1 billion). Despite only being in existence for 6 years, McLaren Automotive has been profitable for the last 4 years. Dennis reportedly fell out with other shareholders in 2014 and was removed from positions of power within the companies in 2016. Neither party alluded to this in prepared statements issued overnight. The businessman and former Formula One team principal said: “I am very pleased to have reached agreement with my fellow McLaren shareholders. It represents a fitting end to my time at McLaren, and will enable me to focus on my other interests. I have always said that my 37 years at Woking should be considered as a chapter in the McLaren book, and I wish McLaren every success as it takes the story forward”. Ron Dennis will now pursue his other business interests and consultancy work for businesses and government, as well as managing his family’s Dreamchasing charity. Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain and head of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, said: “There will be time in the near future to outline our plans, for the coming months and years will be an extremely exciting time in the story of McLaren. “But now, today, it is appropriate that we pause to express our gratitude to Ron. So, on behalf of McLaren and all who sail in her, may I say three heartfelt words: thank you Ron”. +++
+++ MERCEDES has revealed that the all-new E-Class Cabriolet has not yet been engineered for a V8, putting paid to rumours of a 300 km/h open-topped rival to the BMW M6. However, it has been all but confirmed that the company’s most powerful 6-cylinder engine: the hotly anticipated M256-series 500 hp 3.0-litre bi-turbo in-line unit (destined for next year’s closely related new-generation CLS AMG 53) will make the cut as the Cabrio, as well as the Coupe, flagship in the second half of 2018. Speaking to journalists at the launch of the E-Class Cabrio in Switzerland this week, a senior source at Daimler sounded the death knell for the ragtop V8, saying that there are not enough customers to justify the trouble and expense in developing such as vehicle. “For the E-Class cabrio, we will only bring a 6-cylinder AMG version”, the source said. “There will be no 8-cylinder, no 63 version”. While the no-show E63 Cabrio might be bad news for hardcore soft-top performance fans, the AMG E53 Cabrio’s 500 hp of combined power and a rumoured 550 Nm-plus of torque courtesy of a 50kW electric motor should ensure a sub-5.0 seconds 0-100 km/h sprint time. Engineered especially for electrification, it features an electric turbocharger and an integrated starter alternator to help reduce off-the-line lag as well as pump up the mid-range torque curve for stronger overtaking. Not much more is known about the M256-series powertrain in any of the E53 models, including whether the transmission on offer will be the conventional 9G-tronic 9-speed torque-converter auto from the rest of the E-Classes or the AMG Speedshift MCT 9-speed multi-clutch transmission. With the 333 hp / 480 Nm E400 4Matic variant already featuring all-wheel drive, it is likely that the E53’s outputs will be channelled to both axles too. The most powerful version of the outgoing E-Class Cabrio was the E500, employing a 408 hp / 600 Nm 4.7-litre twin-turbo V8 to help the convertible hit 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds. Discontinued in 2013, its direct successor, the 333 hp / 480 Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 E400, was only 0.1 second slower to 100. This is in contrast to the outgoing BMW M6, which has a 600 hp / 700Nm 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 that is capable of streaking past 100 km/h in 4 seconds flat. Whether Mercedes-AMG will eventually decide to develop a rival for its Bavarian nemesis remains a secret. +++
+++ TESLA Chief Executive Elon Musk said that an announcement about the timing of the coming Model 3 sedan will come on Sunday July 2th. Production of the $35,000 car is scheduled to begin during this month and investor enthusiasm has helped push the company’s shares to record highs, giving the Silicon Valley auto maker a market capitalization higher than General Motors and Ford. The Model 3 is part of Musk’s strategy to boost production next year to 500,000 from about 84,000 last year, turning the auto maker into a more mainstream player from a niche luxury brand. General Motors, for example, sold 10 million vehicles last year. +++
+++ Starting with 2019, VOLKSWAGEN is going to fit most of its models with standard pWLAN technology, which should enable better communication between its vehicles. The technology is “an additional communication technology for the exchange of selected information relevant to traffic between cars made by different manufacturers”. This means V2V, or vehicle-to-vehicle communication should become relevant, even when there are different manufacturers involved, allowing cars to better communicate with each other as a way of improving traffic safety. As an example, more vehicles will share information about the current traffic situation, accidents and other situations, within an area of around 500 meters. The tech uses the pWLAN standard, which was standardized by and tested by automotive industry for direct, non-proprietary inter-vehicle communication between vehicles. It simply makes vehicles and the driver able “to look round the corner”. “We want to increase road safety with the aid of networked vehicles, and the most efficient way of achieving this is through the rapid roll-out of a common technology”, says Johannes Neft, Head of Vehicle Body Development for the Volkswagen brand. At its introduction in 2019, the system will detect emergency situations, the information will be processed within milliseconds, and then shared “allowing other road users to react to this risky situation appropriately”. +++