+++ Porsche always saves the most exciting versions of the 911 for the very end of each generation’s life. The 992’s successor is right around the corner but the Stuttgart boys have only just taken the covers off the 911 S/T. And it seems like ALPINE might be adopting a similar strategy for its mid-engined A110 sports car. The A110 went on sale in Europe in 2017 and is soon to be retired in favor of an all-new electric 2-seater that was supposed to have been developed with Lotus until the Geely-owned company ducked out of the deal. But not content with giving us a hardcore A110 R last year, Alpine appears to be working on something even more extreme to keep interest in the Porsche Boxster rival high until the Dieppe factory makes its switch to volts. Alpine, I should say, is saying nothing at this stage about the existence of an even more track-focused A110, but if a picture says 1.000 words then a spy shot says 10.000, and in this case, they’re ones like ‘lightweight’, ‘downforce’ and ‘lap times’. What I’m calling, but which Porsche’s lawyers will probably prevent Alpine from calling, an A110 RS was spotted in prototype form outside the Nurburgring where it had presumably been testing out the usefulness of a series of visible aerodynamic additions. Those are a set of cannards on each corner of the front bumper, an extended splitter, revised frunk vents, and a small Le Mans-style dorsal fin on top of the engine cover. The rest of the aero package (the diffuser and end planes, side skirts, and the rear spoiler complete with swan-neck pylons) appears unchanged from what we saw on both the A110 R and the A110 R Fernando Alonso Edition. Remember that one? Bit of a PR disaster because it appeared after Alonso had announced he was leaving Alpine’s F1 team for Aston Martin’s, and it also looked pretty terrible value at around €150.000, which is around 40 percent more than the R it’s based on. So maybe what we’re looking at is a series production version of the Alonso, with even more downforce and hopefully a more sensible price. Or maybe Alpine couldn’t even find 32 mugs to buy the 32 Alonsos it built and has had to repackage them into something more palatable. We’re also hoping for a little more punch from the turbocharged 1.8-liter motor to make the most of all of that aero kit: the R and Alonso both make do with the same 300 hp turbo’d 1.8 as the mid-level A110 S. +++
+++ Munich replaced Frankfurt on the global auto show circuit in 2021, and the shift works in the BMW GROUP ’s favor: one of Europe’s biggest automotive events now takes place in its backyard. The company has detailed the new BMW and Mini models it will bring to the 2023 show. One of the most important unveilings for BMW (and likely one of the most noteworthy cars we’ll see displayed at the Munich show) is the Vision Neue Klasse. More than merely a concept car, the design study will serve as an accurate preview of how BMW’s entire range will evolve in the coming years. We haven’t seen it yet, but we’re told it’s packed with electrification- and digitalization-related innovations. While the brand notes that the Vision Neue Klasse will be on the road “before long”, it’s reasonable to assume that the plug-in hybrid variants of the 8th generation 5 Series that will also debut in Munich are closer to reaching production. Two models called 530e xDrive and 550e xDrive are due out in spring 2024. The former uses a hybrid system built around a 4-cylinder engine, while the latter benefits from a straight-6. In both systems, the electric motor is integrated into an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 530e and the 550e put 299 and 489 horsepower, respectively, under the driver’s right foot. BMW notes that integrating the 19.4 kWh lithium/ion battery pack into the 5’s underbody lowers the center of gravity while keeping trunk space intact. The 530e can drive for up to 101 km on electric power, a figure that drops to 90 km for buyers who select the 550e, though both numbers were achieved on the optimistic WLTP testing cycle used in Europe. Both cars come with a 7.4-kilowatt charger. Mini will unveil two new models at the Munich show: the next-generation Cooper (which replaces the Hardtop, or the Hatch) and the next-generation Countryman. Both models will be available with gasoline or electric power. We’ve seen the Hardtop’s new-look interior in official images, it notably loses the outgoing model’s instrument cluster and gains a round OLED screen in the middle of the dashboard, and we’ve seen the little hatchback undisguised in spy shots. Spy shots have also revealed the next-generation Countryman, which wears a boxier-looking exterior design and seemingly grows in size, before the official unveiling in Munich. Finally, BMW will bring 2 models that we’ve already seen, driven, or both to the Munich show. The first is the 7 Series Protection, which is an armored version of the flagship sedan capable of stopping armor-piercing bullets. Unveiled in August 2023, it’s built in-house by BMW and it was designed to look just like the standard, non-armored model. The second is the iX5 Hydrogen prototype. It’s an experimental, hydrogen-powered variant of the current-generation X5 developed to participate in a pilot program. The 2023 edition of the Munich auto show opens its doors to the public on September 5. +++
+++ When it comes to road cars, the name GORDON MURRAY is best-associated with radically-focused, insanely high-performance V12 driver’s cars. However, there was a time not that long ago when he was planning on making a more affordable sports car with a fraction of the cylinders. Sadly, the dream is dead. Back in the late twenty-teens, Murray made widely publicized statements about a car he called the T.43. It was supposed to be powered by a turbocharge 3-cylinder engine from Ford that made 218 hp. While that’s much less than the T.50 or even the T.33, the iStream Superlight platform meant that it would weigh staggeringly little. Murray estimated that the production car, with airconditioning, a roof and other creature comforts, would weigh just 950 kg. That would have given the T.43 a Porsche 911 Carrera S-rivaling power-to-weight ratio. Unfortunately, we’ll never find out what the car would have been like to drive, because the project has been canceled. Despite the team getting as far as creating prototypes with production partner Yamaha, a change of leadership at the Japanese company wound up spelling the end of the program. “It would’ve been in production now for 4 years”, Murray said. “The business plan we did for them, it was going to be 5.000 units a year. So there would be 20.000 of them out there now”. Sadly, the designer said that the T.43 could not be revived now, even if he found another company to collaborate with. While Gordon Murray Automotive doesn’t have the production capacity to produce those volumes, others aren’t interested. “The problem is now they want electric”, Murray said. “The time to build the car was then”. +++
+++ HYBRID gasoline-electric vehicles may not be dying as fast as some predicted in the auto sector’s rush to develop all-electric models. Ford is the latest of several top automakers, including Toyota and Stellantis, planning to build and sell hundreds of thousands of hybrid vehicles in the U.S. over the next 5 years, industry forecasters told. The companies are pitching hybrids as an alternative for retail and commercial customers who are seeking more sustainable transportation, but may not be ready to make the leap to a full electric vehicle. “Hybrids really serve a lot of America”, said Tim Ghriskey, senior portfolio strategist at New York-based investment manager Ingalls & Snyder. “Hybrid is a great alternative to a pure electric vehicle; it’s an easier sell to a lot of customers”. Interest in hybrids is rebounding as consumer demand for pure electrics has not accelerated as quickly as expected. Surveys cite a variety of reasons for tepid EV demand, from high initial cost and concerns about range to lengthy charging times and a shortage of public charging stations. “With the tightening of emissions requirements, hybrids provide a cleaner fleet without requiring buyers to take the leap into pure electrics”, said Sam Fiorani, vice president at AutoForecast Solutions. S&P Global Mobility estimates hybrids will more than triple over the next 5 years, accounting for 24% of U.S. new vehicle sales in 2028. Sales of pure electrics will claim about 37%, leaving combustion vehicles (including so-called mild hybrids) with a nearly 40% share. S&P estimates hybrids will account for just 7% of U.S. sales this year, and pure electrics 9%, with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles taking more than 80%. Historically, hybrids have accounted for less than 10% of total U.S. sales, with Toyota’s long-running Prius among the most popular models. The Japanese automaker has consistently said hybrids will play a key role in the company’s electrification plans as it slowly ramps up investment in pure EVs. Ford is the latest to roll out more aggressive hybrid plans. On its second-quarter earnings call in late July, chief executive Jim Farley surprised analysts, saying Ford expects to quadruple its hybrid sales over the next 5 years after earlier promising an aggressive push into all-electric vehicles. “This transition to EVs will be dynamic”, Farley told analysts. “We expect the EV market to remain volatile until the winners and losers shake out”. Among Ford’s competitors, General Motors appears to have little interest in hybrids in the U.S., while Stellantis will follow Toyota and Ford’s hedge by offering U.S. buyers a choice of different powertrains, including hybrids, until sales of pure electric vehicles start to take off after mid-decade, according to forecaster GlobalData. In a statement, GM said it “continues to be committed to its all-electric future. … While we will have hybrid vehicles in our global fleet, our focus remains on transitioning our portfolio to electric by 2030”. Stellantis said hybrids now account for 36% of Jeep Wrangler sales and 19% of Chrysler Pacifica sales. In addition to new pure electric models coming soon, “we are very bullish on hybrids going forward”, a spokesperson said. This year, manufacturers are marketing more than 60 hybrids in the United States. Toyota and its premium Lexus brand are selling at least 18 different hybrid models, enabling the Japanese automaker to maintain its stranglehold on the sector. Hyundai and sister brand Kia offer 7 hybrid models, with Ford and Lincoln 5. Stellantis offers just 3, and GM’s sole entry, due out later this year, is a hybrid version of the Chevrolet Corvette. But hybrids remain in short supply at many U.S. dealerships. Andrew DiFeo, dealer principal at Hyundai of St. Augustine, south of Jacksonville, doesn’t see EV adoption hitting the levels the Biden administration wants until EV charging stations are as ubiquitous as gas stations. “Hybrids are a great bridge to whatever the future holds”, said DiFeo, adding, “I’ve got zero in stock and I’ve got customers that want all of them”. +++
+++ LUCID chief executive Peter Rawlinson has revealed that recent price cuts have boosted interest in the carmaker’s all-electric Air sedan and that the long-awaited Gravity SUV will be unveiled in November. The company brought a fleet of Airs to Monterey Car Week in California and was offering rides to clients, VIPs and other attendees. Rawlinson acknowledged that inflationary pressures had forced it to increase prices last year but that it has since reverted back to its original pricing structure. “We hit some really inflationary challenges particularly in batteries as we got into the summer of 2022. So we had to take a price action accordingly”, Rawlinson said. “But I’m delighted to say we’re back to our original pricing structure, and that’s been so well received by customers and the market alike”. Rawlinson said the cuts had led to an increase in sales and interest in the Air but noted specific sales figures would not be released until its third quarter earnings call. Price cuts introduced by Lucid earlier this month saw the starting price of the entry-level Pure slashed from $87,400 to $82,400 while prices for the Air Touring and Air Grand Touring have both been reduced by $12,400. While the Air is not eligible for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, shoppers can get a $7,500 credit if they lease the car. Speaking of the upcoming Lucid Gravity, Rawlinson revealed that the car manufacturer is currently testing around 30 prototypes and that the dynamics of the SUV “are really exciting”. He added that it will be revealed in November but it is not yet known when customers will take delivery. Prices for the Gravity also remain a mystery but it will likely cost over $100,000 and may have a range exceeding 650 km. +++
+++ Rumors claiming that MERCEDES-AMG ’s C 63 and E 63 would again offer a V8 later in the decennium emerged in August. I’ve got some bad news if you’ve started saving up: one of the company’s top executives confirmed that an 8-cylinder engine is not coming back. Michael Schiebe, Mercedes-AMG’s CEO, “definitively” denied the report in an interview. That means the 4-cylinder hybrid system that powers the latest generation of the C 63 (and that replaced the outgoing car’s raucous 4.0-liter V8) is here to stay. As for the E 63, the next-generation model hasn’t been presented yet but it’s widely believed to receive a hybrid system built around a straight-6 engine. “I don’t like to talk about other manufacturers, but it seems like there are many more performance hybrids coming to the market now. Or, at least they’ve been announced. So, I think we were right when we said ‘let’s go in that direction’ “, he added. While he raises a good point, going hybrid doesn’t necessarily require using a downsized engine. The next-generation BMW M5 (which will be available as a sedan and as a Touring-branded wagon) hasn’t been unveiled yet, but unverified rumors claim it will use a hybrid system built around a twin-turbocharged, 4.4-liter V8. The drivetrain’s output will check in at about 725 hp, according to the same report. The previous report credited 2 anonymous and independent AMG employees as the source. It added that the hot-rodded C-Class and E-Class were in line to receive a version of the twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 (called M177 internally) currently found in AMG’s GT 63 and S 63, among other cars, though the engine would have been modified to comply with the upcoming Euro 7 round of emissions regulations. While neither car was designed with an eight-cylinder in mind, making one fit would have reportedly required only “minor bodywork changes”. +++
+++ PORSCHE recently held a press drive for the redesigned Panamera so we’re learning an assortment of details about the new model. The next generation Panamera will arrive next year and ride on an updated version of the MSB platform. It’s said to be “stiffer and more rigid” thanks to an assortment of changes including new reinforcements. Under the hood, the entry-level model will reportedly benefit from an improved 8-speed transmission and an upgraded twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 producing 358 hp. That’s a significant jump over the current rating of 330 hp and this could lower the 0-100 km/h time to around 5.2 seconds. The top speed is also said to increase from 270 km/h to 291 km/h. We can also expect a new Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid, which is said to have a plug-in hybrid powertrain that consists of a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, a 25.9 kWh battery pack and a 191 hp electric motor that is integrated into the transmission. The model will have more than 660 hp and 900 Nm of torque, so this might mean around 690 hp and 920 Nm of torque. Regardless of the final numbers, the car will have an electric-only range of approximately 85 km in the WLTP cycle. They also suggest the model could accelerate from 0-100 km/h in as little as 3.1 seconds and have a top speed of at least 310 km/h. A Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid will presumably arrive shortly thereafter with even more performance. It could pack around 760 hp and have a top speed of roughly 320 km/h. Besides the powertrain changes, we can expect NVH improvements, a 10.9-inch infotainment system and an available passenger display like in the facelifted Cayenne. +++
+++ If you’re out shopping for a new car in the UNITED STATES , it can seem like some models are never in stock, and if they are, they carry significant dealer markups. iSeeCars’ latest study found that some new vehicles sell considerably faster than others, which could explain some of the difficulty you face in finding your new car. The study found that the average new car now sells 25.7 percent slower than a year ago and all electric vehicles (including used ones) take around twice as long to move as they did last year. iSeeCars’ executive analyst, Karl Brauer, said that buyers are tired of high prices and tight inventory, noting that “Used cars were initially driven up by a lack of new car inventory. Now there are plenty of new cars on dealer lots, but consumers aren’t rushing out to buy them. The new car average time-to-sale is down by more than 25 percent, even as used cars are selling 6.1 percent faster. This shows buyers are continuing to seek value in the used car market despite a wide range of new car options”. The list of new vehicles that sold the fastest over the last year includes the following: Toyota Highlander Hybrid: 9.2 days on the market, Land Rover Range Rover: 10.4 days, Lexus NX 350h: 19.7 days, Subaru XV: 21.8 days, BMW X1: 22.1 days and Toyota Corolla: 22.6 days. iSeeCars split new EV sales out of the main vehicle population to find the ten fastest-selling models: BMW i4: 30.5 days, Hyundai Ioniq 5: 47.6 days, Audi Q8 e-Tron: 48.5 days, Mercedes-Benz EQE: 49.8 days, Ford Mustang Mach-E: 50.4 days, Volkswagen ID.4: 52 days and Toyota BZ4X: 53.5 days. Even the fastest-selling electric models sell far slower than the hottest gas models, and Brauer attributes the difference to the rising number of models on sale. “There are far more new EVs to choose from today than there were a year ago, but this has rapidly elevated competition between electric vehicles, making it more challenging for each model to find a buyer”. +++
+++ It’s now 2 years since smartphone firm XIAOMI formed its electric vehicle unit and announced plans to build EVs. But in China, those kinds of plans need to get the go-ahead from the government before production can start, and that approval has been difficult for Xiaomi to secure – until now. Almost exactly 12 months after we reported that the company was facing delays in winning a license to start production we hear from China that Xiaomi has finally got the go-ahead from China’s National Development and Reform Commission. The NDRC is in charge of regulating new investment in the auto industry and scrutinizes proposals to weed out weak-looking projects that look likely to fail, something that’s become more likely due to a combination of a glut of available EVs and a slowdown in demand. Reuters reports that Xiaomi’s EV business is only the 4th of its kind to get the NDRC’s seal of approval in almost 6 years, something America’s Lucid has yet to achieve. So it’s good news for execs at Xiaomi, but they won’t be popping whatever the equivalent to champagne is in China just yet (it’s surely bigger, cheaper and comes with a karaoke player). There’s one more regulatory hurdle for the project to jump through, and that’s to get a final greenlight from the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). The MIIT checks out new cars to make sure they meet safety and tech standards, and when it’s done it thoughtfully publishes the pictures and tech details on its website so we can get a scoop on those new cars before the automakers are ready to show us. Not that we need to wait for the MIIT in this case. Images leaked earlier this year showed Xiaomi’s MS11, a 4-door coupe-style sedan with a face like a McLaren 750S, flush door handles, Brembo brakes and a roof-mounted Lidar sensor for its advanced autonomous features. The company is investing $10 billion over the coming decade in its EV projects and has already commissioned a new factory in Beijing capable of producing 200.000 EVs every year once it’s hit its stride. But my sources claim that the factory will only produce 100.000 vehicles in 2024, its first year of operation. +++
