+++ The Tonale is ALFA ROMEO ’s latest product that should bring new customers to the brand who are looking for something smaller and more affordable than the ageing Stelvio and Giulia. The small crossover shares its platform with the Jeep Compass as well as the Dodge Hornet, which is a slightly redesigned and reengineered version of the Italian model. The Tonale is positioned as one of the sportiest products in the compact crossover segment, which leaves us with great expectations regarding its performance on the road. Leaving aside the subjective feedback, there’s no better way to judge the performance of a car in corners than track times and moose test times. The Tonale was recently put to the moose and slalom tests to evaluate how fast the model is around the cones. These 2 performance and safety tests also show how the electronic assistance systems in the vehicle work. The Tonale which was tested had a gasoline engine with 131 hp , which is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This particular vehicle is from the Edizione Speciale special edition, which means it has 20 inch wheels with 235/40 96V Pirelli PZero performance tyres. The power reaches only the front wheels. Despite its performance-oriented suspension tune, large wheels and direct steering, the Tonale didn’t really impress in the moose test, though. The reason seems to be mostly related to the vehicle’s electronic assistance systems with the test driver explaining the electronic stability system almost never braked the car to make it easier to control. The best attempt at the moose test for the Tonale was at 74 kilometres per hour), which is notably below what vehicles like the Nissan Ariya and Honda Civic registered. +++
+++ Another day, another set of leaked documents with information about the upcoming BMW M3 CS . The latest news could delight Bimmer fans as it confirms the arrival of the amped-up M3. Newly leaked documents confirm what we knew before. The new G80 BMW M3 CS will be powered by the same engine found in the M4 CSL: the twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline-6 S58 mill. The documents reveal that the power output will be 550 hp, which should align with the current power output of the limited M4 CSL. That said, torque figures are expected to be 650 Nm as well. Unlike the rear-wheeldrive M4 CSL, both the previous report and the new leak confirm that the new M3 CS will have xDrive, which means all 4 wheels will be driven by the engine. Interestingly, the transmission is presented with a question mark in the leaked documents. The previous report stated that it will arrive with an automatic transmission. As for the interior, spies have caught the M3 CS with front bucket seats as standard equipment. Found in the mid-cycle refresh of the 3 Series, BMW’s iDrive system on OS 8 is expected in the M3 CS. The previous report has stated that the M3 CS’s production will be limited, which will begin in March 2023 and will run through February 2024; the fresh leaks back up this information. This means a reveal could be around the corner. The only question now is when. +++
+++ BYD , the Chinese vehicle manufacturer that will launch its first EVs in Europe in the coming months, is looking to also open 2 factories on the continent. The company is eyeing locations in both the east and west of the continent, although it will probably prefer those more developed countries where EV demand is already high and growing (that’s what Tesla did with Giga Berlin, for instance). According to Bloomberg, opening factories in Europe would allow BYD to not only meet this growing demand, but also avoid the high tariffs that have been imposed on Chinese imports by the European Union, which like the United States wants to move production back from the People’s Republic. This would make its vehicles more competitively priced and help the company gain market share in the region. This Chinese carmaker already has factories in several countries, including one in Canada and three more in Brazil, among others. Its presence is strongest on the Chinese market, where it is the single largest electric vehicle manufacturer by volume: it outsold Tesla for the first time this past April and it’s actually second in the world for overall EV sales after Tesla. The move to open factories in Europe is part of BYD’s broader strategy to become a global leader in the electric vehicle industry. With its plans to open 2 factories in Europe, BYD is positioning itself to capitalise on the growing demand for electric vehicles across the continent. The company announced this summer that it wanted to begin selling its China-made EVs in Europe first, starting with the biggest EV markets (Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and France) before expanding further. BYD wants to enter Europe with a 3-strong lineup consisting of the Tang, a 7-seater electric SUV, the sleek Han electric saloon and the Atto 3, a compact electric crossover that has the size of a Volkswagen ID.3. The Dolphin and Seal models may also be brought to Europe. +++
+++ FISKER plans to expand its range of electric vehicles with a 4-door, 4-seater convertible called Ronin. The model is being engineered to have “the world’s longest range for a production EV”, according to the company, and a new digital rendering gives us a better look at it. Published on the official Fisker website, the computer-generated preview image shows a convertible with a futuristic-looking front end that’s characterized by a light strip made up of individual LEDs. There’s no grille, which isn’t surprising for an electric vehicle, but it looks like designers chiseled air intakes into the lower part of the front bumper. McLaren-like dihedral front doors and massive wheels add a touch of drama to the design. I don’t know how the rear doors open yet and Fisker hasn’t released images of the Ronin’s rear end or interior yet. Earlier in 2022, company founder Henrik Fisker pledged that the Ronin will offer more than 1.000 km of driving range when tested on the WLTP cycle used in Europe. I don’t know how Fisker plans to achieve that yet. In terms of specifications, all that’s been announced is that the Ronin will offer “extremely high levels of performance” and serve as “a showcase for Fisker’s internal engineering, powertrain and software capabilities”. It’s being developed by Magic Works, a United Kingdom-based division tasked with bringing special high-end projects to production. If everything goes according to plan, Fisker will unveil the Ronin as a close-to-production concept in August 2023 and will begin building the model the following year. Pricing will reportedly start under $200,000. In the meantime, the company will continue developing a smaller, far more affordable, and Foxconn-built EV called Pear that’s allegedly due out by the end of 2024. +++
+++ FORD is on the verge of quitting the small car segment in Europe, with the Fiesta and Focus nearing the end of their respective lines. Moving forward, the Blue Oval will be selling SUVs, crossovers and pick-ups in the Old Continent, while the plan to be fully electric by the end of the decade is still underway. In line with this, Ford of Europe said that it will use the brand’s American heritage to appeal to European buyers. “Our future models are more American, and from 2030 they will all be electric”, Ford’s marketing chief in Germany, Christian Weingärtner, told during a press event. Ford also introduces a new slogan as part of its marketing revamp. The new slogan is called “Adventurous Spirit”, which, according to the company, stands for the American values of “freedom, outdoors, and adventure”. Moreover, the company’s vehicles in Europe will come with new marketing claims. The Mustang will be marketed with a “Wild Performance” tagline, while the Puma will be promoted as the “Urban Escape”. The Explorer will be the brand’s claim to “Active Adventure” and the Ranger pick-up shall be Ford’s “Ultimate Outdoor” model. Ford’s lineup will expand with 2 electric models by 2024 which will be positioned above the upcoming electric Puma. These EVs are initially classified as a “Medium-size Crossover” and a “Sport Crossover”. The former is said to be assembled at Ford of Europe’s home in Cologne, Germany, and promises to deliver 500 km of range on a single charge. The latter is still a mystery at this point. As mentioned, Ford of Europe will only be selling electric cars from 2030. Ford will only sell plug-in hybrids and EVs by 2026, which will then lead to a complete phaseout of ICE by the end of the decade. +++
+++ JEEP has issued a recall that applies to nearly 63.000 units of the plug-in hybrid Wrangler 4xe built between the 2021 and 2023 model years. The engine can unexpectedly turn off due to what the manufacturer calls “a loss of communication”. The recall includes 62.909 units of the Wrangler 4xe built between September 2, 2020 and August 17, 2022. Jeep notes that only plug-in hybrid models are affected by this problem; the non-hybrid Wrangler isn’t part of the recall. The company says these SUVs can experience “an engine shutdown condition caused by diagnostic reactions to faults caused by loss of communication”. Losing power while driving increases the risk of a crash. Jeep is aware of 196 warranty claims, 65 field reports, 2 accidents and 1 injury potentially linked to this defect. While the precise cause of the problem remains vague, the fix sounds relatively straightforward: Dealers will update the calibration software in the transmission control module, hybrid control processor, and auxiliary hybrid control processor. Owners of affected cars will receive more details about the recall via mail starting on January 12, 2023, and those who have already paid to get the problem fixed will be eligible to claim a refund. In the meantime, Jeep has issued a nationwide stop-sale order for the Wrangler 4xe. +++
+++ LUCID today makes what seems to be one of the most compelling electric luxury saloons available on the market, yet in spite of rave reviews and mostly satisfied owners, the company’s future is far from assured. Tesla’s Elon Musk has made many remarks in the past questioning Lucid, its business model and its prospects, but today he tweeted that “they are not long for this world”. This new comment definitely has something to do with the news that Lucid is desperate not to lose any more reservations, after it recently announced that the number of reservations for the Air saloon had dropped compared to last quarter and that it was not just because they actually delivered customer cars: people cancelled their orders. The company is now reportedly desperate to not lose any more reservations and considers (as per a recent internal email) that “every cancellation a failure”. They are even reportedly offering discounts, like 10 percent off for the price of an Air Grand Touring if the reservation holder goes through with the purchase. Back in June, Elon Musk said that he thought both Lucid and Rivian were headed for bankruptcy “unless something changes significantly”, referring to how quickly the companies were burning through funds. Lucid, which is mostly funded by the Saudi Arabia-based PIF (Public Investment Fund), which is one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world, reportedly has enough money to stay afloat for another year and the prospect of it turning a profit until then doesn’t seem likely. Even so, the PIF isn’t wavering on its financial support of Lucid, and it’s not like the fledgling automaker isn’t making money: it just isn’t making enough money yet. It did bring in almost $200 million in revenue in the third quarter of 2022, although it took actually twice as much to build all of them, so profit doesn’t look like it will show itself over the horizon any time soon, unless something changes. Lucid needs to find ways to make the Air for less, this while it tries to ramp up production with no prior experience in manufacturing automobiles. It also plans to introduce its second model, the Gravity SUV in 2023-2024, and that will put additional pressure on the company, which will have to work even harder with two models (although the SUV may hold the promise of higher profit margins than the saloon, so that could potentially help with the money problems). +++
+++ MERCEDES ‘ AMG performance division will launch the second-generation GT in 2023, heavily redesigning and re-engineering the 2-door flagship to take on the Porsche 911. The new model, known under the internal codename C192, has been twinned with the recently introduced 7th generation Mercedes-AMG SL. However, it will be produced exclusively in coupé form, leaving the open-top duties to its SL sibling. The new GT takes on an evolutionary appearance, with familiar long-bonnet and short-tail proportions. As with the first-generation model, introduced in 2015, it receives a large liftback-style tailgate. Active aerodynamics have played a central role in the development of the new GT, which receives the same front underbody spoiler as the SL. It extends downwards by around 40 mm at a speed of 100 kph to create a Venturi effect underneath the car, eventually reducing front axle lift by a claimed 50 kg at 250 kph. At the rear, meanwhile, a wing deploys and tilts in five different stages to increase downforce at speeds above 80 kph. As with the latest SL, the new GT has been developed and engineered in a programme led by AMG but with key input from other Mercedes-Benz divisions. These include the High Performance Powertrain division headquartered in Brixworth, which was also responsible for engineering the Formula 1-derived powertrain in the highly strung Mercedes-AMG One road car, revealed belatedly this year. Affalterbach headquarters in Germany have revealed that the company’s 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine, codenamed M178, will feature from the start of second-generation GT sales in 2023 with dry-sump lubrication. Hand-assembled on site, the twin-turbocharged unit is expected to offer a similar output as in the SL, with 475 hp in a new GT 53 model and 585 hp in a successor to the GT 63. Further models will be added during the new coupé’s life cycle, including more powerful follow-ups to the GT R, GT GT3 and range-topping GT Black Series. One of these will likely be a special Edition 1 variant, which has been spotted testing on the outskirts of the Nurburgring. Distinguishable from the standard car by a fixed rear spoiler (which will be exclusive to the Edition 1) in addition to a modified spoiler lip at the front and carbonfibre styling cues. Most intriguingly, AMG is also working on a new GT 63 S E-Performance model running the same petrol-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain as the recently introduced GT 63 S E-Performance 4-Door Coupé. It mates the GT 63’s V8 engine with an electric motor mounted on the rear axle to develop a combined 840 hp and up to 1.400 Nm on overboost. If replicated in the GT, that would make this one of the most powerful hybrid coupés on sale in outright terms, eclipsing even the 825 hp Ferrari 296 GTB and the limited-run, 820 hp Lamborghini Sián. At this stage, it is not known whether the two-door plug-in hybrid GT will receive the same 6.1 kWh battery and corresponding 13 km electric range as its 4-door sibling, although an increase in the wheelbase is claimed to have improved packaging. As with the SL, the GT has been conceived to accommodate both inline 4- and 6-cylinder engines. Among them is the M139 4-cylinder 2.0-litre unit, which features in the new SL 43 with a 48 Volt mild-hybrid system and electric turbocharger, producing 382 hp and 480 Nm of torque. The new GT will feature a 9-speed Speedshift gearbox with a wet clutch, developed and produced in-house, in place of the Magna 7-speed dual-clutch transaxle fitted to the original GT. Launch models will also have 4Matic+ 4-wheeldrive. The new coupé is based on the same Modular Sport Architecture structure used by the open-top SL but with changes to accommodate a fixed roof and the GT’s liftback tailgate. Longitudinal, torsional and transverse rigidity have all been increased, according to those involved in the new car’s development. AMG has also created new chassis mounts in a bid to improve NVH properties and the road surface sensitivity of the original model. The uniquely styled body, meanwhile, uses a mix of aluminium, steel, magnesium and carbonfibre. Key among the changes to the new performance coupé is an abandoning of the rear transaxle, a layout first employed with the SLS and continued through to the first-generation GT. Instead, the new GT’s engine and gearbox are mated up front in a move aimed at freeing up space for a fully variable 4Matic+ four-wheel drive system and rear-wheel steering, as seen on the SL. Despite the change, the new model’s front-to-rear weight distribution is claimed not to vary much from the outgoing GT’s 47:53 figure. Underneath, newly developed Active Roll Control suspension uses a combination of double wishbones up front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear, with steel springs, variable damping and hydraulically operated roll bars. Once again, it is the same set-up used by the SL but with altered elastokinematic properties and tuning to give the GT “a distinctly different driving character”. Inside, the GT is expected to feature largely the same 2+2 interior as the SL, albeit with detailed changes in trim to reflect its more overtly sporting positioning. +++
+++ SKODA has removed the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant of the Octavia from sale as it battles with a growing order book backlog. The Czech firm confirmed that the Octavia iV had been pulled “to ensure we’re fulfilling customer orders in good time”. It’s understood that the order delay is down to a shortage of key parts, heavily reported to be caused by the effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, coupled with the continued (although starting to be lessened) Covid shutdowns in China; a key manufacturer of semiconductors. When the Octavia iV will return to sale also remains unknown. A Skoda spokesperson said they “don’t have the timings on when it will go back on sale” but confirmed it is expected to be a temporary measure. It first went on sale in November 2020. This follows the Enyaq iV 60, which arrived back on sale recently having also been pulled so that the order backlog could be lessened. According to figures from Jato Analytics, the Octavia is Skoda’s most popular model, selling more than 96.000 units so far this year, although this is down 19% on the same period in 2021. This figure includes all powertrain options: petrol, diesel, mild hybrid and PHEV. Skoda is one of many car makers that have pulled models in the past few months. Others include Volvo, which has temporarily axed the S60 saloon as it re-evaluates its range. It’s thought a lack of sales coupled with a parts focus on more popular models is the reason behind it. Another was Skoda sibling brand Volkswagen, which removed the Touareg R from order books after just 18 months. Although not confirmed, this is expected to be a permanent measure. +++
+++ Tom Zhu , TESLA ’s China president who oversaw Gigafactory Shanghai’s transformation into the world’s largest EV plant, has been appointed to run the new Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, Bloomberg reported earlier this week. That would make the China chief, who joined Tesla China in April 2014, one of the top executives at the EV giant. The decision didn’t come as a surprise to industry insiders, given how quickly Gigafactory Shanghai became a cornerstone manufacturing and export hub for Tesla. It took the plant merely a year (from December 2018 to December 2019) to go from construction to production. In August, Gigafactory Shanghai made its 1 millionth car, accounting for a third of the total Teslas produced up until that point, Elon Musk tweeted. This November was a record month for the facility with 100.291 vehicles delivered. Such achievements no doubt make Zhu a preferred aide of Musk who promotes a “hardcore” work environment. While Zhu might have a secret recipe for building a well-oiled manufacturing team in a short time, China’s unique conditions aren’t easily replicable in another country. “Over the past 3 years, Gigafactory Shanghai has outperformed its counterparts in Fremont, Texas and Berlin, although not all of the success is attributable to Tom or the China team”, suggested Chris Zheng, founder of Chinese automotive blog Channel-Q. “A friendly regulatory environment, a strong supply chain base and an efficient front-line execution team: these are 3 factors that are currently only available in China, so the key isn’t Shanghai or Texas. Look at BYD. Granted, Tom and his executive team are excellent, but that’s not all”, he added. Chinese tech news site PingWest reported last week that Musk has anointed Zhu as the CEO of Tesla Global, a new executive role in charge of sales and Gigafactories, while Musk continues to lead “key technical works at the firm”. Musk tweeted Thursday that he continues to “oversee both Tesla & SpaceX, but the teams there are so good that often little is needed from me”. +++
+++ ZEEKR , one of Chinese automaker Geely’s upmarket electric car brands, has confidentially filed for a U.S. initial public offering, aiming to raise more than $1 billion, 3 sources with direct knowledge of the matter told. In what would be the first major Chinese float in the United States in more than a year and a half, Zeekr is seeking a valuation of more than $10 billion, 2 of the sources said. That compares with a valuation of about $9 billion in its maiden external fundraising last year. The plans come as the brand, which competes with Tesla and Chinese peer Nio, sets its sights on marketing its 001 crossover (its first and only model) in Europe next year. In doing so, it joins a growing list of Chinese automakers looking to launch or expand sales of EVs in the region. The expansion for Zeekr, however, highlights Geely’s increasingly complex EV strategy. The automotive group led by founder Li Shufu now houses 7 brands manufacturing electric vehicles, of which 3 are high-end brands. A Zeekr IPO would be the first major U.S. float of a Chinese firm since Beijing tightened its grip on overseas share sales in July last year; a shift triggered by a cybersecurity probe into ride-hailing giant Didi Global on the heels of its U.S. stock market debut. The IPO filing comes after Beijing and Washington reached a landmark auditing deal in August, sharply reducing the threat of delisting for more than 200 New York-listed Chinese companies. Zeekr lodged its filings with U.S regulators last week and is planning to go public in New York as early as the second quarter of 2023, said two of the sources and a fourth source who also had direct knowledge of the matter. A confidential filing allows companies to keep details from rivals longer and gives them added flexibility particularly when a timeline for an IPO is not fixed. The sources declined to be identified as the information had not yet been made public. According to 2 of the sources, Zeekr also considered Hong Kong as its listing venue but picked New York in the hope of achieving a higher valuation. Geely, which handles public relations for Zeekr, declined to comment. It said in October it would spin Zeekr off but did not identify a listing venue or the likely value of an offering. A successful listing could lead to more Chinese share sales in the United States, considered to be the world’s deepest pool of capital and to have a more predictable listing pace. Only 5 Chinese companies have completed U.S. IPOs this year, raising a combined $162.5 million, according to Refinitiv data; a far cry from the $12.8 billion raised last year. Zeekr was established by Geely, formally known as Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, in April 2021 to tap into increasing Chinese demand for premium EVs. It launched the 001 crossover in China later that year. But with multiple brands selling EVs, Geely faces a complexity that larger EV makers BYD and Tesla have avoided in favor of vertical integration and an approach to manufacturing that allows them to bring costs down. Geely’s other high-end EV brands include Volvo, Polestar (an EV-only venture with Volvo aimed at the premium segment of the market), as well as the much more expensive luxury British sports car brand Lotus. The company also markets EVs under the Geely brand, through Smart; a venture with Mercedes Benz and Lynk & Co; another venture with Volvo that aims to carve out a niche for EVs on a fixed-cost, subscription basis. Zeekr sold just over 60.600 cars in the first 9 months of 2022 which compares with roughly 285.900 Model Y crossovers for Tesla in China in the same period, according to the China Passenger Car Association. The 001 model starts at 299.000 yuan in China, slightly more than the 288.000 yuan for Tesla’s Model Y which had a recent price cut. Zeekr has not announced pricing for overseas markets. +++
