Nick Gibbs Reporter covering the UK market for Automotive News Europe [email protected] +44 7703 229 557 See All Staff Page Recent Stories New Opel Astra to get plug-in drivetrain, station wagon variant The key compact model will be launched by the start of 2022. CEO Michael Lohscheller would not comment on reports of a full-electric option to be shared with the Peugeot 308. Britishvolt eyes Canada for battery factory Canada is attractive "in terms of availability of renewable energy and potentially raw materials," former Ford executive Joe Bakaj said. Toyota cuts estimated emissions for full-hybrid Yaris Cross SUV The Yaris Cross will go on sale with estimated CO2 emissions of 100 grams per km for the front-wheel drive version and 110 g/km for the all-wheel drive version. Last year, Toyota quoted figures of 120 g/km and 135 g/km for the two models. Minicars race toward electric future The shift to battery power will happen so fast for minicars that by 2026 more than 50 percent of all sales in the segment will be full electric, up from 15 percent in the first two months of 2021, analyst firm LMC Automotive predicts. MG looks to roadster past with Cyberster electric concept The concept uses design cues from the brand's past to visualize a modern MG sports car. Hypercar maker Rimac opens UK battery R&D center British engineers are "world-class in the field of electrification and future mobility," CEO Mate Rimac said. VW says its Ford-based pickup will be 'clearly different' VW's new Amarok will be built by Ford as part of a wider agreement between the two automakers. Skoda wants VW battery plant in Czech Republic Skoda CEO Thomas Schaefer said the brand's home country was ideally suited for a cell factory because of its geographic location, access to lithium and growing demand for Skoda's electric vehicles. Ford will drop Mondeo as market shifts to SUVs Sales of the midsize model have plunged as customers increasingly switch to SUVs. Production will end in 2022, Ford said. Skoda aims to launch a new EV below Enyaq, CEO says Skoda did not offer details on the new EV but it could be a compact elctric hatchback like the VW ID3. Porsche shuns new VW Group platform for its own premium-focused underpinnings Porsche will underpin its electric cars with the PPE platform it is developing with Audi. The architecture is focused on fast acceleration, long ranges and shorter charging times. Audi's entry-level EV, the Q4 e-tron, starts production The Q4 e-tron compact model will be Audi's smallest EV and the brand’s first electric car targeted at a volume segment. MG positions Marvel R electric SUV as its European tech flagship The Chinese-owned brand's new model will compete against EVs such as the Volkswagen ID4 and Skoda Enyaq. Cupra to launch Tavascan electric SUV in 2024 as Tesla Model Y rival The compact Tavascan will be the second model from Seat's performance brand based on VW's MEB platform, after the Born, as Cupra seeks to boost sales with an expanded lineup.  Former Jaguar designer Ian Callum will help design hybrid supercar Callum is partnering with startup Bak Motor to create a hybrid supercar. It will be called the Kincsem after a famous Hungarian racehorse. Load More
Nick Gibbs Reporter covering the UK market for Automotive News Europe [email protected] +44 7703 229 557 See All Staff Page