Newsflash: Land Rover krijgt elektrische aandrijftechniek van BMW

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+++ BMW ’s M division is working on a project that’s certain to excite the brand’s traditional fanbase: a replacement for the much-loved M2 coupe. The second-generation model will make its debut later this year. The previous-generation M2 was a key model for BMW’s M division. Back in 2018, the brand labelled the car as its “strongest growth driver”, so the success of this new model is vital, even though the firm’s portfolio has since expanded to include more popular performance vehicles, such as SUVs and even electric cars. BMW’s next M2 will take advantage of the fresh platform found under the new 2 Series coupe, which was derived from that of the 3 Series. However, there’ll be significant changes over the powertrains and chassis in the standard 2 Series. Power should come from BMW M’s latest turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-6 petrol engine, found in the likes of the X3 M and X4 M performance SUVs. Codenamed S58, the unit develops 510 hp in BMW’s flagship Competition trim but, so the M2 doesn’t tread on the toes of its larger (and more expensive) siblings, we expect BMW will limit the coupe’s output. Like the rest of BMW’s M line-up, the M2 will be offered with 2 power outputs: there’ll be a standard variant at the entry-level and a more potent Competition option acting as the flagship. The M2 base model will have at least 400 hp, which will provide enough breathing space between the M2 and the new M240i xDrive, which produces 374 hp. That 400 hp output would also give the M2 enough grunt to compete with the current crop of hyper hatches from Audi and Mercedes. The new Audi RS 3 has a 400 hp turbocharged 2.5-litre five-pot petrol engine, while the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S offers 421 hp. However, unlike those cars (and indeed the M240i), BMW is expected to keep the M2 rear- wheel-drive only, rather than adopting the rear-biased four-wheel-drive system from the new M3 and M4. Purists will also be glad to hear that a six-speed manual gearbox will also be available alongside the usual eight-speed paddle-shift automatic. The M2 Competition will have a bit more power still, possibly edging towards the 430 hp mark if BMW mirrors the gap between the standard and Competition versions of the M3 and M4. The brand may even produce a replacement for the track-focused 450 hp M2 CS, which was the most powerful road-going M2 so far. To control the extra power, BMW will make a few changes to the M240i’s platform. The firm engineers will widen the coupe’s track, add some extra braces to reduce chassis flex, bolt on some larger brakes and fit an M Sport rear differential as standard. The suspension will be upgraded, too and the brand’s engineers have two options to pick from here. Choices include the firm’s stroke-dependent mechanical dampers, tuned to match the M2’s stiffer and wider chassis, or M Sport adaptive electromechanical dampers. BMW will change the coupe’s styling quite dramatically at the front end. Leaked images show that, rather than adopting the enormous vertical kidney grilles used to separate the M3 from the standard 3 Series, it’ll get a pair of boxy, horizontal replacements. This square theme will extend to the lower sections of the front apron, with a large rectangular central intake flanked by two square elements at the front corners. Spy shots show that the next M2 will also reincorporate the quad-exit exhaust system of the previous model into a new look rear diffuser. The M2 won’t just differ from the M240i on the outside, though; the cabin will get a host of improvements, too. My spy photographers have seen inside the M2, revealing that BMW will equip the coupe with its new curved Display iDrive setup. That means the digital instruments and infotainment screen are joined together in one seamless display. The rest of the cabin will get BMW’s classic M division touches, such as supportive bucket seats and a new sports steering wheel with two bright red M mode buttons, allowing the driver to quickly switch between two individually configured vehicle setups. BMW isn’t expected to launch the new M2 until the end of 2022, and the car might not reach showrooms until the beginning of 2023, so pricing details are unavailable. Despite this, prices for the M2 are expected to start from around €90.000 in the Netherlands. That means the coupe will be able to compete with sports coupes such as the Porsche Cayman, as well as the new Audi RS 3 hyper hatch. +++

+++ BMW and Mercedes-Benz join a growing list of high-profile companies choosing to alter plans for the 2022 edition of the CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW in Las Vegas. Neither company will have an in-person presence at the show due to concerns regarding the rapid spike of Covid-19 cases, spurred by the Omicron variant currently sweeping the United States. BMW was expected to show off a concept for colour-changing body panels, as well as a hightech in-vehicle theatre system. The iX M60 was also rumoured to appear at the show. BMW will instead hold digital events in lieu of appearing at the show. BMW released an official statement on its decision: “For many years, the BMW Group has been presenting innovations at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Due to the pandemic situation, the BMW Group will move all planned media activities at CES to a fully digital program livestreamed from Germany”. Mercedes-Benz has also reportedly stepped away from CES. We already know the automaker will reveal its Vision EQXX Concept on January 3. The German brands join General Motors in the automotive realm of CES cancellations. The new Chevrolet Silverado EV was slated to debut at the event; the debut will still happen though it will be an online event. As for other automakers, Hyundai is still on the docket for an in-person display at the show, featuring its curious small-use mobility platform among other things. Chrysler will also attend, debuting its Airflow electric crossover concept. CES 2022 is slated to run January 5 – 8 in Las Vegas. Attendees at the show must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and wear a mask at all times when inside. On-site testing will also be available. +++

+++ The overwhelming majority of ELECTRIC car owners are very happy with their vehicles, with 9 in 10 saying they would not go back to petrol or diesel. That’s according to a new study of more than 3.000 electric vehicle (EV) drivers, which also found more than half of drivers have done journeys of more than 320 km in their car. The study, which was conducted by charging app Zap-Map, found more than nine in 10 electric and plug-in hybrid car drivers (91 percent) said they were “extremely happy” with their vehicle. Less than one percent of respondents said they would go back to a petrol- or diesel-powered vehicle when the time comes to replace their vehicle, although eight percent said they would consider it. And for drivers of all-electric vehicles, the satisfaction figures were even higher. Some 92 percent of respondents said they were very pleased with their electric car, compared with 84 percent of plug-in hybrid drivers. In comparison, 74 percent said they were happy with their petrol or diesel car. The survey also quizzed drivers about their longest trips in an electric car, with more than half (53 percent) saying they have driven more than 200 miles in a single journey in their electric car. Almost a quarter (24 percent) said they had covered 500 km in one trip, while seven percent said they had covered more than 800 km on one journey. However, for a third (31 percent) of respondents, the longest trip was between 160 and 320 km, while 15 percent said they had never driven more than 160 km in their electric car. British Transport minister Trudy Harrison said the figures showed drivers were becoming more “confident” in electric cars and the charging infrastructure. “We’ve committed £2.5 billion to accelerate the rollout of zero emission vehicles and charging infrastructure across the country, ensuring the transition is as simple as possible for motorists”, she said. “”These survey results show that drivers are becoming increasingly confident in making the switch to electric vehicles and I hope this data encourages others to consider going electric as we work towards the UK’s ambitious net-zero targets”. Meanwhile Melanie Shufflebotham, the co-founder and chief operating officer at Zap-Map, said the findings showed drivers’ concerns over electric car range and charging were diminishing. “As we move from the early adopters into mass EV adoption, the evidence in favour of electric vehicles grows more compelling every year”, she said. “We’ve seen that those who make the switch to electric simply don’t look back. It’s also clear from the distances EV drivers have travelled that concerns over range and other historical challenges of owning and running an EV are increasingly a thing of the past”. +++

+++ HONDA ’s key European model debut in 2022 is the 11th generation Civic, which follows 2021’s launch of the US-market saloon version and will be offered exclusively with hybrid power. The new Civic, which will appear in 5-door hatchback guise to rival cars such as the Ford Focus, new Peugeot 308 and Volkswagen Golf, embraces petrol-electric power alone, much like the firm’s Jazz, HR-V and CR-V models have in their latest iterations. The move is part of Honda’s plan to electrify its entire European line-up by 2025. The latest Civic will be the first Civic on sale in Europe but not built here since the fifth generation, which was introduced in 1994. Production of the outgoing version at Honda’s United Kingdom Swindon plant ceased in the summer, ending 36 years of car and engine manufacturing in Britain and the EU. European versions of the new 11th generation will be assembled at and exported from Honda’s Japanese factories instead. It will be built on the outgoing Civic’s platform, albeit with upgrades to boost rigidity. Full European-spec details of the new Civic hatchback will be announced in the coming months. However, Honda has confirmed that the car won’t arrive on European roads until Autumn 2022. Honda has revealed only exterior images of the new hatchback so far, although we’re not expecting the European Civic’s interior to be drastically different to the US market car. Unsurprisingly, the external design borrows heavily from that of its saloon sibling, using the same new front end with a more horizontally aligned look than before. The nose is squarer and is flanked by flatter LED headlights. The upper grille is smaller, although the grille section on the lower apron grows in size. The position of the A-pillar moves backwards to give the impression of a larger bonnet. Moving down the sides, a strong character line runs from the bonnet to the new-look tail-lights, integrated into a sleek, almost fastback-like rear end with a small lip spoiler at the bottom of the windscreen. The US-spec interior features a substantial overhaul over the outgoing model’s. With a more minimalist and less cluttered dashboard, there’s also a long, horizontal theme for the dash containing the ventilation controls and other switchgear. There’s also a new floating style touchscreen infotainment system. The standard unit is a 7.0 inch unit, rising to 9.0 inches on higher-end versions; all feature wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and, on certain versions, wireless phone charging. That combines with a 10.2 inch digital instrument cluster that’s customisable and sits behind a redesigned steering wheel. Entry-level versions of the Civic may use a more conventional instrument cluster with analogue dials. Honda has claimed it uses high-quality interior materials in the US-spec car, especially on touchpoints, while the seats have been redesigned too. Europe-specific details of the new Civic remain under wraps for now, but Honda has confirmed hybrid-only power. Currently, the company offers the Jazz and HR-V with a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine that’s linked to 2 electric motors and a small battery pack. In the former model it makes 109 hp, while the latter produces 130 hp. I expect the Civic to feature the higher-output variant. However, more power is available in Honda’s other hybrid system; the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder unit (again linked to a battery and 2 electric motors) puts out 184 hp. It’s likely this could also be offered as a more performance-focused offering to rival models such as the 2.0-litre hybrid Toyota Corolla, which puts out a very similar 181 hp. That’s unlikely to whet the appetite of Type R fans, however, who will be pleased to hear that the hot hatch will be returning, likely towards the end of 2022. Even more importantly to enthusiasts, it’s all but confirmed to retain pure petrol power via an evolved version of today’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo unit. We could see more power than the current model’s 320 hp, too. Honda claims a near 20 % improvement in torsional rigidity for the new Civic, which is claimed to improve ride and handling as well as performance and refinement. The company also promises it’ll be more fun to drive, with a wider rear track and longer wheelbase boosting stability and comfort, plus new ball joints and bearings in the front suspension. In terms of the overall suspension setup, the new Mk11 Civic will make use of a combination of MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link rear set-up. That’s the same as found on the outgoing Civic. Further technical details, as well as pricing, will be unveiled ahead of the car’s arrival. +++

+++ KOENIGSEGG has previewed a new hypercar in a shadowy image uploaded to social media, ahead of a full reveal later this year. The teaser, posted on the brand’s Instagram account, shows a classic Koenigsegg silhouette, featuring smooth lines, a wrap-around windscreen and a teardrop-shaped cabin. The recessed design of the rear lights, which are different to those used on the brand’s other current models, is visually similar to 2006’s CCX; a 810 hp hypercar which was the first Koenigsegg to use an in-house developed V8 rather than a modular Ford unit. A prominent front splitter echoes the design of Koeingsegg’s previous cars, including not only the CCX but also the CCR, which was the fastest road car in the world at the time of its launch in 2004. At the rear, a subtle diffuser looks similar to that of the Agera, which took the title of world’s fastest production car from the Bugatti Chiron in 2017 by recording an average speed of 445 kph on an eleven-mile stretch of closed road, though Bugatti took back the record last year. 2022 marks the 20th anniversary of the first deliveries firm’s first production car, the CC8S. It’s possible that this upcoming car could be a homage to the 650 hp supercar, 6 customer examples of which were built in 2002 and 2003 after an 8-year development process. Koenigsegg’s Jesko hypercar and Regera grand tourer use a 5.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, while the Gemera super-coupé uses a hybridised 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged 3-cylinder motor. A homage to the brand’s past cars would likely use a variant of the V8. Koenigsegg also revealed its New Year’s resolution is to create “more ultimate performance through clever engineering and optimal design”. The brand has become well-known for its technological advancements, such as the ‘Free Valve’ engine featured in the Gemera hybrid, a 1700 hp grand tourer with room for four inside. +++

+++ LAND ROVER has only just pulled the sheets off the fifth generation Range Rover, but the company already has another new car almost ready to go. The next-generation Range Rover Sport will follow the brand’s flagship off-roader into the showrooms at the end of 2022, featuring the same design language and technology. When it eventually goes on sale, the new Range Rover Sport will rival everything from the BMW X5 to the pure-electric Audi e-Tron. Land Rover will achieve this breadth of ability by moving the SUV onto its new Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA), which can accomodate 48 volt mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains. Jaguar Land Rover has previously announced it will collaborate with BMW on the electric drive units for its next-generation vehicles. The electric Range Rover will hit showrooms in 2024 and I expect an electric Range Rover Sport will follow closely behind, using the same technology as the upcoming BMW i5 and i7 saloons. Buyers will also be offered a performance-oriented, SVR-badged variant, as illustrated by the sporty-looking prototypes in our gallery. Despite the brand’s focus on electrification, we expect this model will take a more old-school approach to performance, featuring the same twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine found in the BMW X5 M Competition. Land Rover has already confirmed that the same engine will be available in the full-sized Range Rover, albeit only in BMW’s detuned 530 hp guise. However, given the Sport SVR’s racy brief, we anticipate it’ll get the full 625 hp that the engine is capable of producing, putting its performance on par with the fastest version of the X5. The previous Range Rover Sport was one of Land Rover’s bestselling models, outselling the fullsize Range Rover almost 2-to-1. In Jaguar Land Rover’s most recent financial results, it was the group’s joint-second bestselling car, trailing only the Evoque. As such, Land Rover hasn’t thrown the old Sport’s styling book out of the window. Although prototypes are still heavily camouflaged, their styling looks to be evolutionary, blending the current model’s sleeker SUV shape with a few racy styling tweaks borrowed from the British brand’s other cars. The overall length of the wheelbase appears to be the same, which would make it just under three metres long, but the car’s front and rear overhangs are significantly shorter. The fake panelling also conceals a more steeply raked roofline and a larger tailgate spoiler. ​​In detail, the Sport’s nose will be more like the Velar’s, sharing its slim grille and narrow headlights, while the rear appears to borrow its horizontal wrap-around tail lights. The pop-out door handles are another new addition for the latest Range Rover Sport. Our exclusive images show how the new car could look once the wraps are pulled off. +++

+++ The SMART brand, once a Daimler company, is undergoing a major transition to a 50:50 joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely. The 2-model lineup that consists of the EQ ForTwo and EQ ForFour is on its last legs, and the EQ ForFour production in Novo Mesto, Slovenia ended on 24 December. Interestingly, its cousin, the Renault Twingo Electric, remains on the market. The only Smart still available on the market in Europe is the Smart EQ ForTwo, which is offered in coupe and cabrio versions. The Smart brand must find a way to re-imagine itself and finally become profitable. This is why Mercedes-Benz and Geely will jointly develop all-new EVs. Mercedes-Benz will take responsibility for design, while Geely handles the engineering and production in China. Not only that, the new Smarts might be bigger (more like BMW Group’s Mini maybe) and the first new model will be an all-new crossover / SUV in 2022. A concept was shown in September and the production-bound design patents recently emerged. The vehicle will be based on Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform, used also by the all-new Zeekr premium brand (production has started in October). +++

+++ The top-of-the-line TESLA Model S Plaid soon might get a new over-the-air (OTA) software update, which would come on top of a big one released on December 24. According to Drive Tesla’s undisclosed source, Tesla is expected to release a final OTA software update of 2021 with Track Mode for the Plaid Model S. The report from December 30 stated: “A source has told Drive Tesla Plaid Track Mode will be deployed in the final software update of 2021. As with any software release, last-minute bugs might show up and the feature could be delayed, but it is likely to be released later this afternoon”. The update would include also some bug fixes and maybe other improvements. In the case of the Track Mode, previously introduced in the Model 3 Performance (see the Track Mode V2 info card here), it might offer special features to enhance track driving, like additional settings to customise handling, real-time monitoring, and a review of the results. Handling Balance: Shift motor bias from 100 percent front to 100 percent rear, adjusting how much torque is sent to each motor for different understeer or oversteer behaviors and initiate rotation and sustain slip angle. Stability Assistance: Choose the level at which the stability control systems are helping to control your car – from all stability systems on to off for full driver control. Regen Braking: Adjust how much deceleration is provided by the car’s motors and foundation brakes. This not only impacts how much physical braking force is required to slow the car down but also allows drivers to initiate their car’s rotation using the throttle pedal. Real-Time Status Monitoring: Optimal Vehicle Cooling: Post-Drive Cooling and Compressor Overclock extend track sessions by compensating for the higher temperatures generated by sustained, high-speed driving. Access Post-Drive Cooling and Compressor Overclock from Track Mode Settings.Vehicle Status: Get a detailed look at vehicle and sub-system temperatures on Model 3’s touchscreen. Track Mode utilizes real-time models to display battery, brake and motor temperatures and tire utilization. G-Meter: Tesla’s G-Meter will automatically track and record peak lateral and longitudinal accelerations. The G-Meter can be viewed in the Cards area of the touchscreen. Lap Timer: The touchscreen map now displays a Lap Timer. Follow the on-screen instructions to place a start/finish pin on the map. At the completion of each lap, the Lap Timer will show the duration of your last lap. It also displays the times associated with the previous and best laps in the driving session. Video Logging & Telemetry Data: Video and telemetry data is now downloadable to a USB drive so drivers can track and share their performance. Data is stored in a .CSV file and includes lap times, acceleration, deceleration, G-meter, vehicle thermals and tire utilization. To save data, plug in a USB flash drive with a folder named TeslaTrackMode. When ‘Save Dashcam for Lap’ is enabled, Track Mode stores a video of each lap in a driving session when using the Lap Timer. +++

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