+++ Spy photographers snapped the facelifted AUDI e-Tron Sportback last month, so it comes as little surprise the 4-ringed brand has also begun testing an updated e-tron. Spied wearing swirly camouflage, the updated model instantly stands out thanks to its bold new grille which trades horizontal and vertical lines for a sportier honeycomb mesh pattern. Additional changes are limited, but the model features a slightly revised front bumper with a more pronounced central intake. The air curtains also appear taller and narrower than before. Continuing further back, the electric crossover sports new side skirts that are more streamlined than before. The model also appears to have a new rear bumper and it’s expected to draw inspiration from the one found on the Q4 e-Tron. While spy photographers didn’t get a look inside, the cabin is expected to largely carryover. That being said, there could be a handful of technology updates focused on the infotainment system and driver assistance systems. More importantly, the crossover is expected to receive significant powertrain improvements including a new battery pack and more efficient motors. While specifics are lacking, previous reports have suggested the model’s range could increase to 600 km. That’s presumably under the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure, which rates the current e-Tron at up to 441 km. That’s a significant improvement and range as been the e-tron’s weak point. In the United States, the current model is rated at a disappointing 357 km which is significantly less than some competitors. +++
+++The successful sale of the first automobile made by COWIN AUTO in Madagascar marks the Chinese company’s official entry into the African market. The company’s first customer was a woman who was very satisfied with the SUV’s chassis adjustment, shock absorption and appearance, as well as passability and power performance. She decided to buy it the same day as a test drive, said Cao Yangtian, deputy general manager. Cowin Auto is speeding up its overseas market layout to let more overseas consumers have the option of products made in China, Cao said. Many Chinese companies from Southwest China’s Sichuan province are interested in the African continent. A light truck made by Sichuan JAC Automobile made its maiden journeys to Egypt and the Democratic Republic of Congo last year. Cowin Auto are exploring African markets including Madagascar, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. The company is expected to introduce 3.000 to 5.000 vehicles in the African market next year, Cao said. The economy is relatively better developed in Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia in Africa and they will be Cowin Auto’s future key markets, which are expected to drive the growth of surrounding markets, Cao said. Since their entry into the market about 20 years ago, Chinese automobiles have been becoming increasingly popular in Africa, which has great potential and an increasing penetration rate for Chinese brands, Cao said. From January to October, the total import and export volume of auto goods was $165.66 billion, up 40.2 percent year-on-year, among which the export volume of auto goods was $89.49 billion, up 57.6 percent year-on-year, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. In China’s auto exports, the proportion of automobiles exported to Africa has increased to about 10 percent. Egypt and South Africa are China’s two largest auto markets in Africa, said Xu Haidong, deputy chief engineer of the association. +++
+++ GENESIS has made the world premiere of its SUV, the Electrified GV70, at the Guangzhou auto show, showcasing its commitment to the Chinese market and vision of sustainable luxury. Genesis entered the Chinese market in April and has launched 3 globally recognized models (the G80 mid-large-sized luxury sedan, the GV80 mid-large-sized luxury SUV and the G70 luxury sports sedan) as well as the China-exclusive G70 Edition 1. With Genesis’ China-tailored direct-to-consumer business model in full operation via its established network, it has been delivering the G80 and GV80 to Chinese customers since October. Genesis has fulfilled its promise to deliver the complete Genesis Experience ahead of schedule, reaching another major milestone in its development in China. The carmaker plans to expand its network to more than 10 outlets nationwide next year. This is the second time that Genesis has chosen China for the world premiere for one of its electric vehicles. Jay Chang, global head of the Genesis brand, said: “Even though Genesis is a relatively young brand, we have a vision to expand our global footprint. The Chinese market plays a crucial role in the development of our global business, and as a new brand in China, we want to be a disrupter, creating something that truly fulfills our customers’ needs. China will also play an important role in our path to electrification and a sustainable future, as we strive to create a positive impact on our customers’ lives”. Markus Henne, CEO of Genesis Motor China (photo), said: “I’m proud that we have fully delivered the unique Genesis Experience for Chinese customers earlier than we expected with the implementation of our China-tailored direct-to-consumer business model and the start of product deliveries. This strong momentum and positive feedback from the market give us great confidence in our future development”. Underpinning this rapid development is Genesis’ China-tailored direct-to-consumer business model, an omnichannel approach based on direct sales supported by authorized agents and online sales. Supported by the Genesis Digital Ecosystem, Genesis’ business model is delivered through Genesis Studios and Genesis Showcases, guaranteeing a seamless journey between online and offline channels. Genesis provides a Two Trim Strategy that offers an unparalleled level of standard specifications for all models. The carmaker also ensures unified pricing across all channels under the Genesis One Price Promise, building transparency and trust with customers. To provide convenience to customers, the carmaker provides Genesis Valet Service, which includes a valet test drive experience, home delivery for new Genesis vehicles, pickup and delivery for specific maintenance and service at a designated location within the same city. The service is available in Shanghai and Chengdu. In addition, Genesis vehicles come with Genesis Care driven by a confident warranty offering and thoughtful services, which include a five-year or 100,000-kilometer warranty and a five-year unlimited mileage and 24/7 roadside assistance across the Chinese mainland. All of these differentiated services aim to deliver the unique Genesis experience to Chinese customers, the carmaker said. With some customers having received their Genesis vehicles, the carmaker launched an exclusive community for car owners in China named Galaxy of Genesis. Each Genesis owner will be represented in the Galaxy of Genesis with a digital star inspired by their personal attributes, enabled by a bespoke digital platform, demonstrating Genesis’ commitment to building authentic one-to-one relationships with customers to deliver personalized services. Henne said: “Hosting the world premiere of the Genesis Electrified GV70 in China signals the next step in our audacious journey to a sustainable future. “China is leading the acceleration toward electrification, which is why we are excited to welcome the latest Genesis model that will help us move forward toward a sustainable future”. Sangyup Lee, head of Genesis Global design, said: “Genesis’ vision for a sustainable future opens a new world of possibilities and opportunities. The delicate balance of athleticism and elegance is behind every aesthetic decision we make. The Genesis Electrified GV70 manifests how we expand the Genesis design”. The model uses a variety of eco-friendly materials, including wool woven seats and recycled nylon flooring, to furnish the interior. As an athletic and dynamic vehicle, the Genesis Electrified GV70 offers a competitive and powerful performance to satisfy drivers. With a maximum power output of 160 kilowatts and 350 Newton meters of torque for the front and rear, the Genesis Electrified GV70 delivers a total maximum output of 490 hp (in Boost Mode) and 700 Nm. This model can go from 0-100 km per hour in 4.5 seconds in Boost Mode. The Genesis Electrified GV70 is the first Genesis model to feature the SUV-specific e-Terrain Mode, which allows a stable driving experience in various environments. The pure electric SUV has a maximum all-electric range of more than 500 km under China Light-duty vehicle Test Cycle standards, and it can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 18 minutes in fast-charging mode. Furthermore, the model is equipped with a V2L(vehicle-to-load) feature, which can achieve reverse charging with maximum output of 3.6 kW and help customers to use electric appliances outside the vehicle. A variety of cutting-edge technologies are featured, including the Smart Regenerative Braking System that can regenerate energy through the braking system based on driving habits and road conditions, and i-Pedal (Intelligent Pedal) that allows to accelerate, decelerate and stop just with the accelerator. Genesis will continue to bring more exceptional products with refined performance, design, safety and innovation for Chinese customers, the carmaker said. +++
+++ The HONDA Civic Type R has been taken off sale ahead of the arrival of an all-new generation in the coming months. The FK8 iteration of the hot hatchback, which arrived in 2017, no longer appears in Honda’s online configurator or catalogue following the end of production in July. The Civic Type R was built alongside the standard Civic at Honda’s British factory in Swindon, production of both coming to an end in summer as the Japanese manufacturer sold the site to a retail company. Honda has yet to confirm where it will build the next-generation Civic Type R, which is due to be launched in 2022. It builds the new US-market Civic hatchback in Indiana, but Europe bound cars are more likely to come from its factory in Yorii, Japan, which already builds right-hand-drive cars for the domestic market. In a statement, Honda said: “Type R remains very important to the Honda brand, and we can confirm that next generation Civic Type R will also be launched in Europe. Further details will be provided closer to launch”. The next Civic Type R is expected to use an upgraded version of the 320 hp turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine that gets the FK8 from 0-100 kph in 5.8 seconds and is good for a top speed of 270 kph. It had earlier been suggested that the next Type R would use a hybrid powertrain similar to the one used in the NSX supercar, which opened up the possibility of four-wheel drive. All previous iterations have been front-wheel-drive only. Although Honda has announced a plan to make sure all of its European car sales were electrified by 2022, this would only apply to “mainstream” products. The Civic Type R would most likely be safe from this, because it takes only a small portion of sales. +++
+++ t’ll be a very HUMMER Christmas for some households, as General Motors says it will begin deliveries of the electric GMC Hummer pickup in December, according to GMC boss Duncan Aldred. And we now know the truck’s EPA range number: 530 km on a charge. GM had previously predicted the Hummer would achieve a range of 560 km. That 530 km figure applies to the Hummer Edition 1, the top-of-the-line, $100,000-plus iteration that will be the first off the line. The Edition 1 will also tow up to 3.000 kilo and carry up to 600 kilo. Aldred told reporters on a conference call that subsequent, less-pricey models will achieve longer ranges and will be along in 2023. More than 80 % of Hummer reservations are for the Edition 1, though. Aldred said almost half of the 125.000 people who have expressed interest in the Hummer have put down $100 to reserve one. GM has said the first year of Hummer production is sold out. The Hummer EV joins the Rivian R1T as the first electric pickups to market. Ford’s F-150 Lightning rolls out in 2022, and other electrics from Detroit and startups are expected to roll out after that. Tesla is building a $1 billion facility in Austin, Texas, that will, among other things, build the Cybertruck, though timelines on that have come and gone. The Hummer, by contrast, was developed in just 18 months. It made a big splash last week when President Biden took the wheel during a tour of GM’s Factory Zero assembly plant in Hamtramck. Biden gleefully demonstrated the acceleration of the 4-ton, 1.000-horsepower truck, which is said to do 0-to-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds. He then declared, “This sucker’s something else”. Next up for GM’s EV push will be the Cadillac Lyriq SUV in 2022. The electric Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups will be revealed January 5. And the SUV version of the Hummer will be introduced in 2023. Aldred expects the SUV to ultimately make up the majority of Hummer sales. +++
+++ Expansion of production capacity and development of self-innovated technologies in NEW ENERGY VEHICLES will be prioritized by Chinese car manufacturers as the automobile industry is fast shifting toward electrification, according to industry insiders. “Production capacity expansion is based on the fast growing market demand for electric vehicles”, said Gu Huinan, general manager of GAC Aion. Aion, the NEV arm of GAC Group, is based in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province. Aion launched its SUV LX Plus, which has a range of more than 1.000 kilometers on a single charge, during the Guangzhou International Auto Show. During the show, a total of 241 new energy cars are being displayed, of which 153 are made by Chinese car manufacturers, according to the event’s organizers. “The new vehicle is not only about shape-design upgrading, but most importantly about technological innovation”, Gu said at a news conference during the show. The vehicle’s 4-in-1 electric motor enables it to accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in less than 3 seconds, compared with the previous version’s 3.9 seconds, Gu said. According to Gu, the company’s production has outnumbered its designed capacity by more than 130.000 units of new energy vehicles this year. “We are now expanding capacity by building a second production facility”, Gu added. Construction of the company’s second factory, with a designed capacity of 200.000 vehicles per year, will be finished by the end of next year or in early 2023, according to Gu. “From early promotion to rapid research and development, the new energy vehicle industry has entered a new era: consumers are increasingly willing to buy electric cars”, Gu said. Although development might be affected by factors such as policies, investment and technology, the electric car industry will maintain a dramatic increase in production and sales in the coming years, Gu said. Sales of new energy vehicles totaled 2.14 million units in the Chinese market in the first 10 months, a 191.9 percent surge from the same period of 2020, according to sources at the China Passenger Car Association. China’s sales of electric cars and plug-in hybrids soared 141.1 percent year-on-year to 321.000 units in October, accounting for nearly 20 percent of total vehicle sales, according to the association. Electric cars and plug-in hybrids are expected to account for 30 percent of new vehicle sales in China in 2025, according to Chinese auto think tank EV 100. “More new models, which will run faster following technology upgrading in chassis, battery, electrical equipment and smart cabinets, will be launched in the coming years”, Gu said. BYD, one of China’s leading new energy vehicle manufacturers based in Shenzhen, Guangdong, also saw surging new energy vehicle sales in October, the company data showed. The company’s sales of NEVs, including purely electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, surged 262.9 percent year-on-year to 80,003 units in October. The company has unveiled two new models, the purely electric Yuan Plus SUV and plug-in hybrid Song Pro DM-I during the Guangzhou show. “Self-owned technologies in processing platforms, exterior and interior designs, motors and safety, are highly expected to help boost sales of the new models”, said Lu Tian, general manager of BYD’s Dynasty series sales department. The company’s investment in research and development surged 6.99 percent year-on-year to more than 5.23 billion yuan ($820 million) in the first three quarters, according to the company’s quarterly financial results. At the Guangzhou show, established global automakers also displayed their top NEV models in an effort to consolidate their leading position in the Chinese market. Mercedes-Benz launched 2 electric models at the Guangzhou event (the EQA and the EQB), both of which have a range of more than 500 kilometers on a single charge. The German company said it would get ready to go all-electric by 2030, if market conditions allow. In response to market demand for vehicles that are less dependent on gasoline, traditional automakers will focus on development of more hybrids in the near future. “We will realize production of hybrids for all of our models by 2025,” said Zhang Yuesai, president of GAC Motor, an arm of GAC Group. Zhang said sales of the company’s hybrids will account for more than 60 percent of its total by 2030, as the company has already introduced two leading hybrid research and production systems, with one self-innovated and the other in cooperation with Toyota. +++
+++ Compared to some of the more outlandish concepts we’ve witnessed at the Guangzhou Auto Show, the NEZHA / Neta S might look a bit restrained, and indeed it seems like something that could be close to production-ready. Nezha, also known as Neta (both names are used, with Nezha being Chinese and Neta English), is the automotive brand of Hozon Motors. They’ve been quietly making a name for themselves within China, building fairly no-nonsense EVs that have proven to sell well. But the Nezha S aims to add a dollop of tech into their lineup. Following on from the Eureka 03 that was showcased last year, the S boasts a plethora of tech that will rival the likes of Tesla and XPeng. It’ll supposedly be capable of Level 4 autonomous driving, using 3 lidar sensors and 5 millimeter-wave radars, as well as six cameras. Level 4 autonomy means that the vehicle is self-driving and can react to road conditions without the need of human input. Thus, human interaction is not required in most circumstances, although the driver can override the system and take over. However, almost all automakers are currently at Level 2 autonomy, with BMW confirming that the new 7-Series will be Level 3 capable, and as far as we know there’s no legislation yet in place anywhere that would allow Level 4 operation outside predefined areas, so the Chinese company’s claims are bold, to say the least. Officially a concept, the production version of the Nezha S is expected to debut at the Beijing Auto Show in April next year. The automaker hasn’t released technical details about the concept’s powertrain,, but has previously stated that it will be able to hit 100 km/h in 4 seconds and has a range of 800 km on the NEDC cycle. The Nezha S will be the first car built on the company’s new Shanhai platform and has a heavy focus on “360 security”. While precise details are sketchy, the platform will feature dual backup batteries, dual backup braking, and dual processors, as well as a system of multiple safeguards built into the battery management system. It will also ride on a reasonably sophisticated suspension with double wishbones up front and a five-link set-up in the rear. Air suspension will be optional, while the Shanhai platform can also host a range of powertrain configurations, including a dual-motor layout that can be spec’d in either front, rear, or all-wheel drive. That platform will support both pure EV applications as well as range-extender hybrids. While the Nezha S sedan will be the first to utilize the platform, the company expects it to support SUVs, MPVs, and coupes, with wheelbases ranging from between 2.750 and 3.100 mm. +++
+++ With production of the POLESTAR 1 ending after 2021, Volvo’s electric spin-off will be down to just one model: the Polestar 2 hatchback. Thankfully, fresh products are on the way considering the Polestar 3 is going to be unveiled in 2022 to serve as a sportier version of the next-generation XC90. Come 2023, a coupe-SUV dubbed Polestar 4 will follow to broaden the automaker’s customer base. The most interesting EV will arrive in 2024 as a production version of last year’s Precept concept. Polestar is now teasing the road-going model for the first time, and as you can easily see, it’s not that different. The Polestar 5 has largely retained the showcar’s attractive lines and shape, but now with traditional side mirrors instead of cameras. It has also lost the roof-mounted LIDAR while gaining a conventional B-pillar since the concept’s suicide doors won’t make it to production. From what we’re able to see so far, it would appear that the Precept massive panoramic sunroof will also be staying. The roof-mounted rear spoiler is lower than where we’re used to seeing it and we are wondering whether below it there’s a rear windscreen or just more metal. The concept lacked a glass in the back, so maybe so will the Polestar 5. That could pose some problems regarding rear visibility, but then again, that’s what cameras are for. For now, the design is described as being with “production readiness in mind”, so perhaps it’s not necessarily entirely final. An image of the interior has not been provided, although it’s fairly easy to see the portrait-oriented massive touchscreen of the concept will be carried over, along with the fully digital instrument cluster. There should be plenty of room in the back for two passengers thanks to the dedicated electric platform with a flat-floor layout. It remains to be seen whether Polestar will only sell the electric GT with 2 individual rear seats separated by a centre console or there will also be a more practical three-seat bench. When the Precept was introduced back in February 2020, Polestar was coy on firm details about its gorgeous EV. It did talk about the 15-inch infotainment using Android Automotive OS and the 12.5-inch driver’s display. The car should deliver some impressive specs to go up against the likes of Porsche Taycan, Audi E-Tron GT, and the Tesla Model S. +++
+++ TOYOTA is making a small, last-minute change to the 2022 GR 86. Its marketing department is hitting the “backspace” key and deleting the space between GR and 86 to make the second-generation coupe easier to find on Google and on various social media channels. The tweak was confirmed by a spokesperson for the Japanese firm’s British division. “It has to do with SEO”, the representative explained. Search engine optimization (SEO) is essentially what helps keywords and websites rank higher on Google and other search engines. Interestingly, it sounds like hashtags are also partly to blame: it’s better to use the hashtag #GR86 than to figure out how to deal with the space. Spending a few seconds browsing social media platforms shows that Toyota has a point. On Twitter, the #GR hashtag pulls up some Toyota-related content, including images of the rally-bred GR Yaris, but also a lot of odds and ends that are in no way related to a nimble coupe powered by a 2.4-liter flat-four engine, like information about the weather, screen shots of cartoons, and content posted by a scaffolding company named George Roberts. On Instagram, the #86 hashtag appears on numerous car photos (remember: the GR86 isn’t the first Toyota with an 86 in its name) but also on images of cakes, shoes, and baseball caps. However, #GR86 is about 99% about cars. The change won’t require making any modifications to the GR86; its emblems will stay the same, for example. And, it doesn’t affect the BRZ, which is SEO-friendly because it’s an uncommon set of letters, even if it’s also the name of “the first Brazilian stablecoin in circulation”. +++