Tag Archives: Europe

Jaguar J-Pace Could Pose Challenge to Tesla Model X

December 24, 2020 admin

The I-Pace was Jaguar’s first all-electric model. The J-Pace is expected to be bigger – and may also offer hybrid and plug-in powertrain options.

With the launch of the I-Pace, Jaguar became one of the first automakers to deliver an all-electric model in luxury car territory. Now, the British brand is readying its second battery-electric vehicle, the even larger J-Pace.

Expected to arrive later in the 2021 model year, the Jaguar J-Pace will be go up against other premium midsize SUVs, such as the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE and, in particular, the Tesla Model X.

The automaker hasn’t said much about its plans for the J-Pace, just confirming that additional battery-electric vehicles are in the works. But set to be its second entry into the BEV market, it will be both larger than the current Jaguar I-Pace and longer range, thanks to a battery pack expected to store about 100 kilowatt-hours.

(Jaguar keeps celebrating E-type’s 60th anniversary with unique F-Type.)

That’s in line with the longest-range version of the Model X which can deliver an EPA-rated 348 miles per charge. But whether Jaguar’s electric driveline can match its rival’s efficiency remains to be seen. Currently, Jaguar gets an EPA rating of just 234 miles out of a 90 kWh pack with the smaller I-Pace.

The coming J-Pace will be comparable to the Tesla Model X, although the Model X has a longer range, but changes by Jaguar could change that.

The J-Pace, however, could manage a bit more as it will be using an all-new platform that also will underpin other Jaguar Land Rover battery-electric vehicles. That will include the next-generation Jaguar XJ, along with a future version of the Range Rover. JLR has confirmed the all-electric sedan but only hinted at full electrification plans for the Land Rover side of the company.

It has, nonetheless, made it clear that its future will involve electric drivetrain technology pretty much across the board. But that will include hybrid technology – and plug-ins, in particular – as well as all-electric vehicles.

Significantly, the new platform set to underpin the XJ and J-Pace has been designed to accommodate both full battery-electric drivelines as well as hybrid and traditional gas-powered systems. Some speculation centers around a possible debut of JLR’s new inline-six-cylinder engine with the launch of the J-Pace. Most likely, however, it would be used as part of a plug-in hybrid system with a smaller battery pack than the all-electric version of the J-Pace.

Whatever the final options Jaguar offers, it takes a distinctly different approach from the direction Jaguar took with the I-Pace, its first BEV. That model is offered only with a battery drive system.

(Jaguar offering new, but old electric vehicle: E-type Zero.)

Adopting a flexible architecture has its advantages: it allows a manufacturer to mix and match powertrains, depending upon market demand, without having to develop separate platforms.

The new J-Pace will likely share its platform and dimensions with the Range Rover Sport, but get a very different look.

But there are numerous compromises to such a design. All-electric architectures tend to resemble oversized skateboards, optimized to have motors, batteries and other key components mounted below the load floor. Among other things, they tend to have lower centers of gravity and good front-to-rear weight distribution. But that changes when you need space up front for a possible gas engine.

The Jaguar I-Pace, in particular, took advantage of its electric-only design by recapturing some of the space normally required for an internal combustion engine, repurposing it for passengers and cargo.

Nonetheless, the J-Pace is expected to pick up many of the distinctive design cues of the I-Pace, albeit with a somewhat longer nose.

It will offer more interior space and more high-line features, according to various sources. There will be an emphasis on technology, including a version of the Duo Pro touchscreen infotainment now offered on the most recent JLR entries. That system uses twin SIM-based communications systems to enhance its speed. One is used for such things as downloading mapping and traffic info, while also being able to handle smartphone-style over-the-air updates for the vehicle’s software.

(2021 Jaguar E-Pace gets “thorough freshening.”)

While Jaguar is expected to continue using internal combustion technology, how long it will do so is unclear. It may follow a path similar to that of Volvo which expects to continue relying on plug-in and BEV systems, at least through the end of the decade. But the British brand has begun signaling that it could go entirely electric beyond 2030. Considering that’s the year that Great Britain now plans to ban sales of new vehicles using internal combustion engines, that would clearly make sense.

McLaren Artura Hybrid Supercar to Debut in 2021

November 23, 2020 admin

McLaren introduced its new Artura hybrid supercar, but provided only scant details.

McLaren has offered up a new name for, and more details about, the hybrid supercar it plans to bring to market next year.

Like competitors such as Aston Martin and Ferrari, McLaren wants to take advantage of the incredible, off-the-line torque that electric motors can deliver. It has already toyed with the advantages hybrid drivetrains can deliver with the limited-run P1 and Speedtail models. The McLaren Artura would be its first series version.

Designed to replace the current Super Series, the new hybrid will pair the electric drive system with a twin-turbo V-6. That engine will be smaller than what’s on the existing line and is widely expected to come in with a displacement of around three liters.

(McLaren eyeing synthetic fuels for future models.)

The Artura, meanwhile, is expected to provide some electric-only drive capabilities, though they would likely be limited. McLaren has so far not indicated any plans to add a plug-in hybrid to its line-up but may need to eventually.

The Artura builds on what the company gleaned from the development of the Supertail.

A number of markets are now enacting new limits on the use of internal combustion engines. That includes the automaker’s home market, the UK banning vehicles solely powered by IC engines as of 2030, and all hybrids by 2035.

McLaren isn’t offering any hard details on power or performance but there seems little reason to believe it would launch a hybrid model that couldn’t at least match the 563 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque currently produced by its 570S model.

There would be the advantage of the instant torque that electric motors can deliver, but there’s also the reality that a hybrid drive system will add to the car’s weight.

(McLaren taking orders for new supercar.)

In a statement, McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt said the product development team is taking multiple steps to minimize that extra mass. “Every element of the Artura is all-new – from the platform architecture and every part of the High-Performance Hybrid powertrain, to the exterior body, interior and cutting-edge driver interface – but it draws on decades of McLaren experience in pioneering super-lightweight race and road car technologies to bring all of our expertise in electrification to the supercar class.”

The P1TM hypercar was the starting point for the Artura.

Another unanswered question is how many motors the McLaren Artura will feature. It may launch with a single motor in a rear-wheel-drive configuration but, if current practices hold, it’s expected to offer even higher-performance versions that would add another motor on the front axle.

Facing the new wave of government mandates, the auto industry is ramping up its collective electrification efforts. That’s particularly true in the exotic and performance segments where there are few other alternatives available.

(McLaren shows us the light – light weight – with new 765LT.)

Aston Martin is already working on a hybridized replacement for its Valkyrie line and recently announced plans to work with Mercedes to offer electric drivetrain technology in other product lines. The Mercedes-AMG performance line will be hybridizing and Maserati has plans for an all-electric version of its MC20 supercar. Even Ferrari is getting into the battery-car game. The SF90 Stradale is its first street-legal plug-in hybrid and it has announced plans to have a pure battery-electric model in its line-up by around 2025.

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Audi Touts Trio of Powerful Hybrids for 2021

October 14, 2020 admin

Audi’s Q5 TFSI e is one of a trio new hybrids coming for 2021. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds.

The shift to electrified vehicles is definitely on, but it doesn’t mean you’re getting some (silently) snarling beast that explodes off the line leaving that guy next to you at the light in a pile of dust — unless it’s one of Audi’s new offerings.

Audi’s looking to make sure it retains its reputation as a premium brand by ensuring its new plug-in hybrids come with plenty of pop, as is the case with the 2021 Q5, A7 and A8 TFSI e hybrids. The new models bring “torque-rich, powerful plug-in performance and all-electric driving to Audi customers,” the brand claims.

These new hybrids not only provide plenty of power, but they’re also eligible for federal tax incentives exceeding $6,700, in some cases. They also push Audi toward its goal of electrifying at least 30% of its U.S. lineup by 2025.

(New Audi RS 6 Avant carries on tradition of high-performance wagons.)

The new A7 TFSI e can travel up to 24 miles in all-electric mode. It gets 68 MPGe.

Updated on the outside for 2021, the Q5 TFSI e starts with a 2.0-liter TFSI engine paired with an electric motor, resulting in 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The ute sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 5 seconds, which is on par with the Audi SQ5. It’ll also travel up to 19 miles in all-electric mode and gets an estimated 50 MPGe.

Because it’s a PHEV, some states allow it to use HOV lanes, no matter how many folks are in the ute. Between the performance and the special road access, drivers may get to their final destination sooner. They may also arrive with a smile on their face and more money in their pocket as it’s eligible for as much as $6,712 in federal tax incentives, Audi officials note.

The A7 sedan is powered by the same 2.0-liter set up and is eligible for similar tax incentives. Both the Q5 and A7 PHEV models use the 7-speed S tronic transmission that takes advantage of Audi’s renowned quattro all-wheel drive technology.

(Audi launches new e-tron Sportback EV coupe for the U.S. market.)

The sedan does 0 to 60 mph in a slightly slower 5.7 seconds, but it also travels farther in all-electric mode, 24 miles, and boasts a better fuel economy rating at 68 MPGe, which is the best of the trio. All three models use a 14.1 kWh battery pack that sits under the rear cargo area.

The Audi A8 TFSI e races from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds and can travel 18 miles in electric-only mode.

They’re equipped with an integrated heat pump that uses battery heat to efficiently warm the cabin. Their onboard 7.7 kW charger allows them to replenish battery power from empty to 100% in just 2.4 hours when using a 240-volt outlet.

Separating itself a bit from the pack is the A8, powered by 6-cylinder engine in concert with an electric motor that jointly put out 443 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. It boasts the best 0-to-60 time at 4.9 seconds, but the worst electric-only range at 18 miles. It gets an estimated 53 MPGe, according to Audi.

(Audi reveals the second-gen A3, coming to the U.S. in 2021.)

Naturally the three models come with a slew of advanced driver assistance tech and convenience features. Pricing for the Q5 TFSI e starts at $51,900 and reaches $61,700. The A7 starts at $74,900 and jumps to $80,250. The A8 is $95,900 and none of those include the destination charge of $1,045 for the sedans and $1095 for the Q5.

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Return of the Rotary: Mazda Will Use Wankel as Range Extender for All-Electric MX-30

October 9, 2020 admin

Mazda CEO Akira Marumoto revealed that the company plans to use the Wankel rotary engine again.

Mazda has formally confirmed a report that first appeared on TheDetroitBureau.com in March 2017: the rotary engine set to make its return in 2022.

Otherwise known as a Wankel engine, it was a beloved part of the Mazda engine family for decades but was phased out with the demise of the RX-8 sports car in 2012. But unlike past applications, the rotary the Japanese automaker is now developing won’t be used to directly power a vehicle. Instead, it will serve as a range-extender for the all-electric Mazda MX-30.

Mazda has been slow to embrace electric powertrain technology, preferring to focus on its efficient SkyActiv gas and diesel engines. But increasingly stringent global mandates – notably, with many countries planning to ban internal combustion engines entirely – means it has to move quickly to bring out hybrids and all-electric models, something CEO Akiro Marumoto described as a “green move” in a video confirming plans for the rotary redux.

(Return of the Rotary redux? Mazda hints that MX-30 could get a Wankel range extender.)

The new rotary engine will be used as a range extender for the MX-30 EV in 2022.

There was a time when many auto industry leaders saw the rotary engine as the way of the future. A number of manufacturers began tooling up to produce Wankels due to their simplicity, compact size and high power output. But the buzz didn’t last long. General Motors, among others, backed away as it became apparent the design wasn’t up to early expectations.

Mazda remained the only manufacturer committed to the technology, even after a series of problems led to massive failures requiring substantial payouts that threatened the company’s very survival. Mazda engineers eventually overcome reliability issues, but by the turn of the millennium the Wankel had become little more than an afterthought. It was last used for the RX-8 sports car which ran from 2003 to 2012.

Since then, Mazda has repeatedly hinted that it would bring back a new version of the rotary engine that could address its biggest problem: relatively meager fuel economy. The automaker isn’t revealing specific details about the new rotary, but it appears it has found a way to overcome that limitation by changing the way the Wankel is used. It turns out that the engine is most efficient when operating at a fairly consistent rate, rather than dealing with the constant revving up and down required when powering a conventional automobile.

(Mazda unveils MX-30 — and delivers a surprise, a hybrid comes before the EV.)

That’s perfect in a range extender application, where the goal is to provide extra energy for an electric vehicle that either can be used to boost performance or take over when the batteries are discharged. It’s a concept similar to what we saw with the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, as well as the BMW i3 REx – though both of those used conventional gas engines as range extenders.

Mazda’s last rotary-powered car, the RX-8.

The key point is that range-extending engines never actually drive the vehicle’s wheels, so they can run at a steady rate that maximizes their efficiency.

The MX-30 itself is Mazda’s first battery-electric vehicle and began arriving at showrooms in Europe recently, with a mild hybrid version now on sale in Japan, as well. Company insiders hint a version of the little BEV could arrive in the U.S. late next year.

The crossover, which shares the same underlying platform as the Mazda 3 and CX-30, has limited space available for batteries so, like the BW i3, range is relatively limited. An extender will address that problem and the rotary engine has the advantage of taking up relatively little space.

(Mazda celebrates 100 years with special edition Miata.)

We’re hoping Mazda will soon provide more technical details about the package and, perhaps, let us know if the MX-30 with a rotary range extender will also make it to the States.

Detroit Auto Show Organizers Moving NAIAS Again: Fall 2021

September 21, 2020 admin

A rendering of the 2021 North American International Auto Show reveals a new feature: a chance for visitors to test drive new vehicles. It will now be a fall show.

The North American International Auto Show for 2021 is moving from its projected June date to now late September in what organizers are calling a “reimagined indoor and outdoor show.”

Public days for the show will now be Sept. 28 – Oct. 9, 2021 with the media preview and other events actually kicking off Sept. 24. Organizers say the NAIAS will be a “fall show going forward.”

The annual event was previously held in early January, but due to competition with other auto shows and the Consumer Electronics Show held just prior, organizers elected to move the event to mid-June to give themselves some breathing room while coinciding with a slew of other auto-related events in the Detroit area during that time like the Detroit Grand Prix and the Woodward Dream Cruise.

(“Whichever way is necessary,” the Detroit Auto Show will be back in 2021, organizers say.)

There were some who were unhappy with those new show dates, although grumbling was kept to a minimum. However, the auto show schedule has been thrown into chaos due to the COVID-19 pandemic and shows have been shifting to new dates or cancelling altogether as everyone tries to made due the best they can.

“We have talked with many of our partners, particularly the OEMs, and they are fully on board and excited about the date change,” NAIAS Executive Director Rod Alberts said in a statement.

That uncertainty apparently provided some time for reflection — and change. NAIAS officials say the show “is teed up to be a global powerhouse of current product and next-generation mobility combined with immersive brand activations and product engagement for both the international media and the public.”

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FCA CEO Manley Says Hybrid Wrangler Arriving By End of 2020

June 26, 2020 admin

FCA CEO Mike Manley told attendees at the company’s annual shareholder meeting held online that the new Jeep Wrangler would be here by the end of 2020.

After sitting on the sidelines when it came to electric vehicles and their derivatives Fiat Chrysler revealed it’s now in the game with the introduction of the Jeep Wrangler plug-in hybrid.

FCA CEO Mike Manley discussed the importance of the new entry during the company’s annual general meeting held online Friday. Prior to the Wrangler, the company’s only real efforts at electrification were the current Chrysler Pacifica hybrid and a past iteration of the Fiat 500e.

That vehicle was so reviled by then-CEO Sergio Marchionne, he implored people not to buy it because he said the company lost too much money on the sale of each vehicle. The new Wrangler hybrid will usher in a new era at FCA.

(Jeep bringing three plug-in hybrids to CES.)

“Jeep’s icon the Wrangler will arrive on the market with a 4xe version that will be on the front line of our electrification strategy in North America,” he said during the automaker’s annual general meeting held online because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Detroit News.

All Jeep plug-in hybrids will adopt this badge in the future, starting with the new Wrangler hybrid.

Going forward, all electrified Jeep products will carry a special “4xe” badge. Now the arrival of the hybrid Wrangler wasn’t really a surprise, as had been discussed for some time and made an earlier appearance at CES in Las Vegas in January.

No real details were given at the time, but now Manley said it will be available in the U.S. by the end of this year. China and Europe will get it sometime in the first quarter of 2021. Manley didn’t offer up what Jeep models are next to be electrified, if you will.

(Click Here for an earlier look at Jeep’s PHEV plans.)

However, at CES the Wrangler was joined by Compass and Renegade hybrid vehicles. It wasn’t even the first real event for those vehicles either, Jeep having teased versions of the Compass and Renegade plug-ins last year.

The new Jeep Wrangler hybrid is slated to arrive at the end of 2020.

If it hasn’t torn up those original plans, we can expect to see the new plug-in hybrids deliver up to 31 miles range and the ability to operate at speeds up to 62 mph in all-electric mode. The gas and electric power sources, the brand said last year, combine to deliver about 240 horsepower.

The hybrids are critical to the commitment to offer electrified versions of all Jeeps by 2022 to meeting tougher carbon emissions standards in other parts of the world. Orders for the plug-in Jeep Compass and Renegade crossovers in Europe will start in by early July.

(FCA makes splash at SEMA as Jeep takes 4×4 award.)

Manley did not talk about the brand’s larger, pricier models, which will need to find a place for a plug sooner rather than later, especially the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, which will be built in Warren, Michigan.

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