+++ If the sharp design, impressive tech and strong performance of the HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 made you see the brand in a new light, you’re not alone. New data shows that in the United States, the model has helped the Korean brand pinch thousands of customers away from other automakers. More than 74 percent of Ioniq 5 sales were conquests from competitor brands, according to figures from S&P Global Mobility analyzing electric vehicle trends between January and October 2024. That puts the Ioniq 5 almost 22 percentage points ahead of the average Hyundai vehicle when it comes to brand conquest rates. Cadillac’s Lyriq is another EV that’s achieved what none of the GM luxury brand’s other cars have been able to do. Close to 73 percent of Lyriq buyers are jumping to Cadillac from other automakers, that figure being 16 percentage points better than Caddy’s average. Further down the list, some brand’s models have a lower outright conquest rate than the Lyriq and Ioniq 5, but are worthy of note because they perform so much better than the marques’ other cars. For example, the Mustang Mach-E and Ford F-150 Lightning. Ford’s overall conquest rate is the lowest on the table at less than 37 percent, but the Mach-E and Lightning both achieve at least 21 percentage points more in terms of conquests. Not all of the EVs in the conquest league table proved more effective than their ICE-powered sister models at luring customers from rival brands. The Porsche Taycan’s 61.2 percent conquest rate looks solid until you realize that number is 0.3 percentage points lower than the average Porsche figure. And Toyota’s BZ4X puts in an embarrassing performance right at the bottom of the list. Just 33.5 percent of the electric SUV’s buyers were new to the Japanese brand, down 7 percentage points on its 40.5 percent average win rate. The Subaru Solterra twin was third from bottom, though it’s 45.3 percent conquest rate was significantly less awful. Both the BZ4X and Solterra offer less power and range than other EVs like the Ioniq 5 and potential buyers appear not to have missed those facts. Mercedes-Benz (EQB, EQS SUV, EQE SUV, EQS, EQE), Audi (e-Tron GT), BMW (iX, I7), Leus (RZ) and Nissan (Ariya) also have disappointing conquest rates. +++
+++ Most people think of emissions and fuel consumption ratings when it comes to misleading automotive specifications. However, with the rise of electric vehicles, a new area of scrutiny has emerged: driving range. Four major automakers are now under investigation by the authorities of ITALY for allegedly misleading consumers about their EVs’ specifications on official websites. The companies in question are BYD, Stellantis, Tesla and the Volkswagn Group. Notably, Stellantis and the Volkswagen Group sell mechanically related EVs via different brands in the Italian market, adding another layer of complexity to the allegations. The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) has accused these automakers of engaging in unfair commercial practices. The AGCM, with help from the Italian financial police (Guardia di Finanza), conducted investigations at the Italian headquarters of BYD, Stellantis, Tesla and VW Group. According to the regulator, the automakers provided “generic” and occasionally “contradictory” information about their EVs’ driving ranges. While the WLTP figures are the standard for EV range in Europe, the AGCM argues that the companies failed to explain “which factors impact the advertised maximum range and the extent to which they affect the actual range”. Also, the automakers allegedly neglected to provide “clear and complete information” on battery capacity degradation over time under normal use, which is an important factor for long-term EV ownership. The AGCM also claims they did not adequately disclose the terms and limitations of their standard battery warranties. Essentially, it seems that important details about real-world EV performance may have been left out of marketing materials, potentially giving buyers an incomplete understanding of what to expect. According to Italian media, the local divisions of BYD, Stellantis and the Volkswagen Group have not yet commented on the allegations. Tesla’s local representatives were reportedly unavailable for comment. +++
+++ MERCEDES-AMG will return to V8 power, confirming an all-new mild-hybrid petrol engine will debut in the upcoming CLE 63 later this year. The move marks a shift away from the controversial 4-cylinder plug-in hybrid drivetrain introduced in the current C63, which failed to gain traction with customers, leading to a significant drop in sales for one of AMG’s best-selling models. Sources at the German brand have told that following the CLE 63, the V8 will be rolled out to other models, including a revised C 63 due in 2026. Full details of the new engine remain under wraps, but it’s rumoured to lean heavily on AMG’s existing twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 architecture. While the V8’s previously mooted return has been confirmed, it comes with a significant engineering change: AMG has abandoned the traditional cross-plane crankshaft in favour of a flat-plane design. This promises to improve throttle response but will sacrifice the deep, burbling soundtrack traditionally associated with AMG V8s. This layout, first adopted by AMG on the GT Black Series’ M178 LS2 engine in 2021, also enables a more compact crankcase design, allowing AMG to package the new engine into models that weren’t engineered for a V8 (including the fifth-generation C-Class) originally. It also provides the scope for a higher redline and ignition cut-out. In its ultimate form, the new V8 is expected to receive a mild-hybrid system with an integrated starter-motor within the gearbox for added power boosting and greater efficiency. The current C 63’s electronically turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine, in combination with a rear-mounted electric motor and a 6.1 kWh lithium-ion battery, produces 680 hp and 1.000 Nm of torque. Despite those impressive figures, the shift from a traditional V8 to a 4-cylinder PHEV drivetrain was widely criticised, particularly for the lack of acoustic character. By comparison, the previous-generation C 63 S, equipped with AMG’s cross-plane twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 in M177 specification, delivered 510 hp and 700 Nm of torque. In offered less outright power but instead, a far more engaging experience. To compensate for the higher-pitched, more aggressive sound of the flat-plane crank V8, AMG plans to provide future models with an artificial sound generator to simulate the burbling soundtrack of its most celebrated models. Beyond the new V8, AMG is set to introduce greater design differentiation between its lower-end and top-of-the-line models within each market segment. AMG chairman Michael Schiebe has laid out aggressive ambitions to grow, targeting an increase in annual sales from 140.000 to 200.000. +++
+++ The successor to the MORGAN PLUS SIX will be called Supersport, and the flagship sports car will be revealed on March 11. The news was confirmed today by the British car maker in a social media post with TV personality Richard Hammond. First pictures of the car were shown last month. These revealed it as a rakish coupé, melding the classical styling of the Plus Six and its 4-cylinder Plus Four sibling with elements of the Aero cars that bowed out in 2018. Morgan said the new flagship uses a new platform evolved from the Plus Six’s current bonded-aluminium structure and that it too will use a BMW-sourced turbocharged 6-cylinder engine. The Plus Six’s departure will be marked by the Pinnacle, which is limited to just 30 examples and adopts design cues from the striking Pininfarina-styled Midsummer that was unveiled in 2024. The Worcestershire-based firm will also use the same 3.0-litre straight-6 to demonstrate its expanding bespoke programme, which offers “almost limitless” options. The Supersport will arrive later this year as a 2-seat sports car that forgoes use the traditional ‘wing silhouette’ of today’s four-wheeled Morgans. The best-selling 4-cylinder Plus Four (which has recently been outselling the Plus Six by roughly 2 to 1) will be left to continue the brand’s traditional vintage styling, which started with the 4/4 back in 1936. Morgan has previously signalled its interest in producing a model that advances its vintage look into what design chief Jonathan Wells calls “the jet age”. For the new flagship, it seems more likely that Morgan will use lessons from the limited-edition Midsummer to produce a much more exclusive and upmarket model, clearly differentiated from the Plus Four, that will justify higher prices and more interest in the firm’s bespoke programme. Some people inside Morgan have been calling for this move for some time as rivals take similar approaches. The BMW engine used by the Plus Six currently makes 340 hp but is thought to be reliably capable of considerably higher outputs. Even at its current power rating, the Plus Six can hit 100 kph from rest in 4.4 seconds and exceed 290 kph. Extra power, perhaps as much as 380 hp, could easily lift performance further towards supercar levels. +++
+++ TOYOTA is gearing up for a 3-pronged assault on the sports car market by reviving the legendary Celica and MR2, and preparing a brand-new group flagship in the vein of the fire-breathing Lexus LFA. The combustion-powered trio will form the backbone of a rebuilt sports car line-up, in essence filling gaps left by the GR Supra, which is at the end of its model life cycle globally, and the acclaimed GR86, whose time on sale in Europe was cut short by EU safety regulations. Notably, the revival of the Celica and MR2 names, following the GR Supra, fulfils the ambition of company chairman Akio Toyoda to bring back the “3 brothers”. Together with the GR Yaris and the GR Supra, which is reported to be due to arrive in next-generation guise in the coming years, the new trio are part of the push to bring a renewed sporting appeal to Toyota showrooms. The Celica and MR2 are set to be powered by a fiery new turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine. Named G20E, it was revealed at the recent Tokyo Auto Salon. Reports suggest the engine can develop more than 400 hp in road-going form and top 600 hp in motorsport applications. Curiously, the G20E made its public debut in a heavily modified GR Yaris, called the M Concept, where it was mounted not up front as usual but behind the rear seats. And despite the eccentric layout, it retained its four-wheel drive system, in similar fashion to the Group B rally cars of the 1980s such as the Ford RS200 and Lancia Delta S4. Toyota was coy when asked why it chose a mid-engine, 4-wheeldrive configuration, stating only that the M Concept is a test bed for the new powerplant. But given the cost of such an exercise, this configuration is likely to enter production. Speaking at the Tokyo Auto Salon, Tomoya Takahashi, president of the GR (Gazoo Racing) division, said the company would “find a place to introduce it”. The concept is expected to morph into the revived MR2, which was always defined by its mid-engined layout. It is possible that its design will take inspiration from the FT-Se concept, shown at the Tokyo motor show in 2023. Despite being electrically propelled, the FT-Se had the traditional cab-forward silhouette and short overhangs of a mid-engined sports car. A typical four-year development cycle would point to the new MR2 being ready for production in around 2028. However, Toyota may expedite its development so it can go on sale for a greater number of years before the introduction of restrictions on the sale of pure-petrol cars in key markets such as the UK (set to phase them out in 2030) and the EU (2035). An earlier arrival would allow the MR2 to plug the hole left in Toyota’s GR line-up by the current-generation Supra. The A90 Final Edition model, limited to 300 examples globally, was unveiled in November last year. Japanese publication Best Car has reported that the new Supra is due around 2027 and that it’s most likely to use a hybridised version of the G20E with rear-wheel drive; both to differentiate it from the Celica and to boost efficiency, which is crucial to the Supra’s brief in the GT4 racing category. Following the same principle, the Celica (expected to be the first of the new trio to arrive) is most likely to use the powerplant mounted up front, but with four-wheel drive. Best Car has reported that it could reprise the GT-Four name that adorned homologation special versions of the Celica for the World Rally Championship in the 1980s and 1990s. It’s even possible that the Celica could returns to the World Rally Championship, after the FIA expanded the series’ regulations to allow a wider range of body styles from 2027: saloons, hatchbacks, SUVs and, crucially, bespoke designs. “Bodywork from almost any scaled production car [can]be fitted to the safety cell”, the governing body said. Motorsport is playing a major role in shaping the successor to the Lexus LFA, previewed by the GR GT3 concept that was unveiled 3 years ago. The new supercar has been spotted running in both road-going and racing trim at circuits across Europe, including Spa-Francorchamps and the Nürburgring Nordschleife and it’s expected to be ready for top-flight competition in 2026. Notably, the FIA’s homologation rules state that any GT3 racer must share its basic body design with a related road car, pointing to the arrival of a road car before the racer. Unlike the Celica and MR2, the new Lexus will be powered by a thunderous V8, which (unlike that in the outgoing Lexus LC grand tourer and the existing RC F coupé) is reported to breathe through twin turbochargers. It’s likely to produce around 500-600 hp in racing form and the car will weigh no more than 1.300kg, given the limitations imposed by the GT3 ruleset. The road car is expected to add an element of hybridisation. Spy photographers have reported that prototypes move off silently from a standstill, with the engine firing up only a few metres later. Lexus has yet to announce a name but it has trademarked ‘LFR’, which would reflect the car’s positioning as an LFA successor, as well as its high-performance billing. +++
+++ When purchasing a vehicle from a premium automaker, you expect top-notch quality and authentic components; after all, that’s part of what you’re paying for. So it was quite a shock for some VOLVO customers in China when they discovered that their cars were reportedly fitted with counterfeit speakers. The issue first came to light when a S60 owner reported the problem after receiving the extra equipment as a promotional gift from a Chinese Volvo dealer. However, after comparing his sedan with other S60’s, the owner noticed some peculiarities inside the cabin. According to Chinese media outlet Sohu, the speakers in question featured the label “Bowers & VVilkins,” (note the 2 “V”s instead of a “W”), indicating that the vehicle wasn’t equipped with the genuine 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Additionally, the crystal-style gearshift lever lacked the light-emitting feature typically found in high-spec Volvo models. When the owner raised the issue with the dealership, things only got more complicated. The salesperson reportedly didn’t speak English and couldn’t distinguish between “VV” and “W”, leading the dealer to refuse a replacement, insisting that the speakers still offered high-quality sound. After the dissatisfied customer took the story to social media, it quickly became clear that this wasn’t an isolated incident. As reported by JoongAng Ilbo, other Volvo owners in China also found speakers labeled “Bowers & VVilkins” or even “Bovvers & Wilkins” in their vehicles, sparking questions about whether the counterfeit products were intentionally installed. So far, it remains unclear which Volvo models are affected and if all of them were sold by the same dealership. Following the backlash on social media, Volvo’s Chinese division issued a statement on Weibo: “Volvo attaches great importance to the ‘irregular behaviour in the new car sales process’ reported by some customers recently. We deeply apologize for the trouble and inconvenience caused to customers by this incident. Volvo always stands with its customers and will never tolerate any behaviour that harms the interests of users. “After the incident, Volvo immediately launched a special investigation. We uphold the principles of openness and transparency, thoroughly investigate the cause of the incident, and properly handle it in accordance with laws and regulations to ensure that the legitimate rights and interests of customers are fully protected. Volvo implements a strict full-link traceability management system for original accessories. Every original accessory meets the global unified quality standards, providing customers with a safe and worry-free car experience. Volvo has always been customer-centric and committed to providing safe and reliable products and services. In the future, we will further strengthen the supervision and management of authorized dealers, comprehensively standardize sales service standards and processes, and effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of every customer”. Chinese media reports indicate that the incident has dented the Swedish brand’s credibility in China, where the brand has already faced declining sales in recent years. Despite 2024 being a record year for Volvo globally with 763.389 units sold, sales in China fell to 156.000 units, a drop of 8.2% compared to 2023. As Volvo works to contain the fallout from this counterfeit scandal, the incident raises uncomfortable questions about oversight and accountability within its supply chain. In an era where brand loyalty is increasingly fragile, even premium automakers can’t afford to let such lapses undermine consumer trust. ++++