+++ AUDI has reversed its decision to end the development and sale of internal combustion engine vehicles in 2033 and now has no fixed date for such a plan. The German firm had previously planned to end development of internal combustion engines next year. At one stage it planned to launch no new ICE cars are 2026, but had already hinted that plan has been ditched. CEO Gernot Döllner emphasised that he “had not been the one to communicate the end date”, the decision having been taken by previous management. But he confirmed he had reversed it as he “believes in flexibility”, a decision that also includes Audi’s high-performance RS models.He said: “Audi is launching from 2024-2026 a completely new line-up of internal combustion engine and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and that gives us complete flexibility for at least another seven, eight, maybe 10 years, and then we will see how our markets develop. “We have already decided to extend production beyond the communicated end dates of the past”. Döllner also confirmed Audi would lead development of all Volkswagen Group hardware and software architectures for larger models in the future (essentially anything from an A5-sized vehicle and up), including the next-gen SSP platform that would see the Group move to ‘software-defined vehicles’ for the first time. This project involves Rivian, whom the VW Group has invested in, and the first Audis on the SSP platform would hit the market in late 2027/2028. Audi is however trimming its range and it has no plans to replace the A1 and Q2 models. The Q3 and A3 models would represent the entry point of the range, with the A8 the range-topper on the “low car” side and the Q7 and Q8, and a mooted Q9, where the range would end on the SUVs. An all-electric A3-sized model Is in development for 2026 as an additional model in the range, Döllner confirmed, but there Are no plans for Audi to create its own version of the Volkswagen ID 2/Skoda Epiq/Cupra Raval entry-level electric car. +++
+++ BMW has started testing the next iteration of the X7, weeks after confirming the luxury SUV will live on for a second generation. A heavily camouflaged prototype has been spotted on public roads for the first time, revealing key details. It features a set of functional exhaust pipes, for instance, which confirms that it will stick with combustion power, although an EV is also on the cards. It also appears to share key hard-points such as its C-pillar with the current X7, suggesting that it will be a major update for the current car, launched in 2019, rather than an all-new car. It will be underpinned by an upgraded version of the Cluster Architecture (CLAR) structure that is used for the existing X7, as well as the 7 Series and i7. The disguised prototype appears to retain the current split-headlight design of the current iteration but adopts the same gloss-black front fascia that will become a signature of the brand’s upcoming Neue Klasse cars. These include the 3 Series, X3 and 5 Series. BMW has yet to indicate when the new X7 will arrive but documents sent to US dealers previously suggested that it will be launched in 2027, a year after the new X5. “We are in a phase where flexibility is required”, BMW R&D boss Frank Weber has told. “We have to detach ourselves from how we have so far perceived platforms. There is an increasing realisation that the art of mastering diversity in your portfolio lies in how you use and network major components: engines, motors, battery cells, on-board computers, control units, app functions, and software upgrades. “It’s not so much the platform structure itself but the individual components and how you use them”. The new X7 will be but one pillar in a completely revitalised line-up. Starting from the launch of the new iX3 at this year’s Munich motor show, BMW will replace or substantially update every single model in its range, rolling out the Neue Klasse design language and technologies. BMW Group design boss Adrian van Hooydonk told: “We will make sure that the form language that we are developing now (and starting this year at the Munich show with the first of the Neue Klasse vehicles) will be rolled out over the entire product portfolio, leaving no car behind. Of course, it would not be good for us or for our customers if there would be a new type of BMW and a ‘classic’ type of BMW. We’re going to change the look and feel of the BMW brand”. However, it remains to be seen what the future holds for the 4 Series and 8 Series. +++
+++ FORD has issued a significant recall. The recall and stop-sale for the electric Mach-E crossover’s batteries impacts about 300.000 vehicles. Ford’s quality problems in recent years have been well documented and it leads the U.S. in recalls so far this year with 76 recalls. Unexpected discharge of the battery could cause passengers to be locked out or trapped inside. A Ford spokesperson said a software update to fix the issue is coming soon. +++
+++ JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) has revealed a new special-edition Defender that harks back to its classic Camel Trophy cars, gaining off-road accessories and retro paint colours. Based on the mid-sized Defender 110, it gains 20 inch alloy wheels, a choice of Deep Sandglow Yellow or Keswick Green paint (contrasted against a black bonnet, wheel arches and roof) and a black leather interior. The dashboard panel is also painted to match the car’s exterior colour. The optional Trophy Edition accessory pack (€5.995) adds a roof rack, exterior panniers, an air-intake snorkel, a roof ladder and mud flaps. Matt-finish paint protection film can also be had as an optional extra. Although the new Defender isn’t officially referred to as a Camel Trophy car (almost certainly due to the taboo that has enveloped tobacco firms since the sponsored off-road competition ended in 2000), it embraces the look and spirit of the cars that competed in the annual rally. Indeed, Land Rover said the Trophy Edition is a celebration of its “rich history of adventure challenges” and that its yellow shade is “synonymous with Defenders used on international Trophy-style events”. The Trophy Edition will make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which takes place from 10-13 July. This comes after Land Rover Classic built 25 examples of the original Defender inspired by the Camel Trophy, with graphics and modifications closely referencing the expeditions. Revealed in 2021, that model sold out in just 3 days, despite its sizeable €300.000 price tag. A second run of 25 such models came a year later. +++
+++ The hot new KIA EV9 GT will be priced from €96.000 when it lands in the Dutch showrooms later this summer. One of the fastest 7-seaters, it’s capable of dispatching the 0-100 kph sprint in 4.6 seconds, putting it on a par with the BMW iX xDrive60 and placing it between the 4 and 4S versions of the Porsche Macan Electric. The electric SUV has a 218 hp motor mounted on the front axle and a 367 hp electric motor at the rear combining for a total output of 510 hp. That’s 125 hp more than the current EV9 range-topper, the GT-Line S. The only 7-seaters faster than the EV9 GT are the Audi SQ7 (taking 4.1 seconds to hit 100 kph) and the Tesla Model X Plaid (2.5 seconds to 100 kph). As well as the significant bump in power, the EV9 GT gets the simulated gearbox and engine sounds from sibling brand Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N. This can be controlled using paddles mounted on the steering wheel and is intended to add more engagement to the electric driving experience. Kia has also made a number of tweaks to ensure that the SUV (which weighs 2.648kg in more mild GT-Line form) can corner too. It gets electronic suspension, which adjusts its firmness based on the car’s drive mode, in addition to an electronic limited-slip differential that distributes power to the wheels with the most traction. Stopping power is said to have been boosted by the fitting of larger front brakes. The EV9 GT’s range is officially pegged at 450 km between charges, considerably down on the 560 km of the more efficient EV9 Air. Its 99.8 kWh battery can be recharged from 10-80% in 24 minutes, according to Kia. Inside, the EV9 GT is differentiated from the standard EV9 by a range of neon-green accents, such as on the steering wheel and on the GT-specific sports seats, which are upholstered in Alcantara and imitation leather. The ambient lighting can also be set to the same green tone. +++
+++ In the UNITED KINGDOM , Chinese car makers have broken the stranglehold of Volkswagen, Ford and the premium brands on the booming British plug-in hybrid market, taking the top-2 positions in May. The BYD Seal U took the top spot with 1.576 sales, followed by the Jaecoo 7 with 1.346 sales, according to figures from market analyst Jato Dynamics. The Volkswagen Tiguan was third, followed by the Ford Kuga and the Range Rover Sport. The situation in the United Kingdom is being played out across Europe, where sales of Chinese PHEVs rose 421% to 30.400 in the first 4 months of the year, giving them an 8.3% marketshare. +++
+++ VOLKSWAGEN is exploring plans for a high-performance ID.2 R, which could be its first model to use in-wheel motors as part of a new 4-wheeldrive system. The hot hatchback is claimed to be part of a broader engineering initiative, led by the R performance brand, to explore the potency and torque-vectoring potential of hub motors. If given the green light, the ‘R’ would sit above the already announced ID.2 GTI. The drivetrain under consideration for the ID.2 R retains the front-mounted electric motor and power electronics of its GTI sibling but adds two independently controlled electric hub motors within the rear wheels. This would provide a significant boost in performance and four-wheel drive without compromising boot space. Volkswagen officials have confirmed the ID.2 will make its debut in 2026, with the heavily related ID.2X crossover arriving in 2027. Sources at the firm’s Wolfsburg HQ in Germany suggest the potent R version is being developed with input from a technical partner based in the Balkans that is believed to specialise in lightweight, high-output in-wheel motor systems. Combined with predictive torque distribution, brake-based yaw control and dynamic drive modes, the system is claimed to offer genuine hyper-hatch performance and agility without the bulk and cost of a conventional dual-motor set-up. However, I have also been told that it would not require expensive modifications to the ID.2’s ‘MEB Plus’ platform to accommodate a second, rear-mounted motor, should VW opt to offer the same performance from a more conventional setup instead. The smallest MEB-based car currently available with dual motors is the Skoda Elroq RS, which is 400 mm longer than the ID.2 concept. With the front-wheeldrive ID.2 GTI set to deliver as much as 292 hp, it is expected that the ID.2 R will deliver in the region of 400 hp or more from its trio of electric motors. Volkswagen’s R division is understood to be focusing on minimising the weight penalty, ensuring the ID.2 R remains relatively light and responsive by class standards while delivering the traction and acceleration expected of a 4WD model, hence the experiment with lighter in-wheel motor technology. The target is to match or exceed the performance and handling of today’s warmed-up GTX EVs, such as the ID 3 GTX, but with a smaller footprint and at a more affordable price. R division insiders hint that the ID.2 R could receive bespoke bodywork, chassis tuning and interior elements to distinguish it from the upcoming ID.2 GTI. Though not officially confirmed, it is seen as a spiritual successor to the Polo R WRC hot hatch of 2012 and a showcase for affordable electric performance technology. The implications for the rest of the MEB Plus line-up are equally significant. By packaging the rear drive components entirely within the back wheels, VW can extend four-wheel-drive capability to compact crossovers and SUVs without packaging compromises. That could pave the way for the ID.2X to be offered as a baby off-roader, like the upcoming dual-motor Renault 4 and Fiat Grande Panda. This approach could also allow four-wheeldrive variants of future Volkswagen electric models, including the electric Golf (based on the next-gen SSP architecture) to retain the same boot volume, floor height and interior flexibility as the front-driven derivatives. It is also claimed to help streamline platform sharing, giving Volkswagen the ability to build front-, rear- and four-wheel-drive models on a single architecture with minimal hardware divergence. +++