Tag: Europe (Page 1 of 4)

Introducing the new all-electric Ford Explorer

2023-03-21 / Robert Vinet

This is what happens when Ford takes one of their iconic American SUV brands and reimagines it for the electric age.

This morning Ford Europe introduced the new Ford Explorer.

The all-electric Ford Explorer is a five-seat SUV that combines German engineering with American style.

Assembled at the Ford Cologne EV Centre in Germany, the Ford claims drivers will be able to charge their Explorer from 10 to 80 percent in an about 25 minutes, but they haven’t provided a driving range number, so that figure is more marketing that anything else at the moment.

Volkswagen hopes to bring an affordable EV to market by 2025

2023-03-15 / Robert Vinet

Volkswagen ID. 2all Concept

Volkswagen claims it still working to bring an ‘affordable’ people’s electric car – costing around EUR25,000 (CDN$36,500 / US$26,790.00 / £23,000) in today’s prices – to market by 2025. (Reuters)

More » Bloomberg / Autocar / Just Auto / Electrifying (video) /

VW investing » Bloomberg / Reuters /

Meanwhile, luxury-brand Porsche, part of the VW Group, has been working hard in the shadows to be exempt from to burning fossil fuel regulations. (Financial Times)

Meanwhile, Oliver Blume defends being Porsche and VW CEO (Automotive News)

Porsche and Ferrari are behind the debate that could derail 2035 EU ICE ban

2023-03-09 / Robert Vinet

It is deeply disappointing to learn that Porsche and Ferrari are lurking in the shadows, feeding the climate change debate.

CarScoops »

In mid-February, the European Union approved a law that was set to effectively ban the sale of new internal combustion vehicles by 2035. At the time, it seemed that a rubber stamp was all that was needed to finalize the environmental measure. In March, though, Germany and Italy threw a wrench in the works, and it seems that those nations’ two best-known performance brands may be partially to blame for the EU’s headache.

Porsche and Ferrari, two brands known for their on-track performance and engineering expertise, have both decided to invest heavily in the future of synthetic fuels – the very product that both Italy and Germany want allowances made for before they agree to sign onto the legislation, reports Bloomberg.

Nissan is accelerating its electrification strategy because customers prefer EVs

2023-02-27 / Robert Vinet

In response to changes in customer needs and the business environment, Nissan has revised its plan to further accelerate electrification.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. just announced they will be introducing 27 new electrified models, including 19 new EVs, by fiscal year 2030.

In November 2021, Nissan had announced they would have 23 electrified vehicles, including 15 EVs, by 2030.

Ford Mustang Mach-E to gain a new battery in Europe that will reduce costs

2023-02-16 / Robert Vinet

Autocar UK ::

The Ford Mustang Mach-E electric crossover will gain a new lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery in Europe that, Ford says, will help to make its EVs more “affordable and accessible” to customers.

Planned to be sold alongside the existing Mach-E both in the UK and on the continent, which features a nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery set-up, the models equipped with an LFP battery will last longer, benefit from lower costs and charge faster, Ford says.

Elsewhere :: Cars UK / Electric Cars Report /

EU Parliament votes to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2035

2023-02-14 / Robert Vinet

The European Parliament has given a green light to a plan to stop the sale of petrol and disel cars starting in 2035.

This is a crucial part of the European Union’s plan to become a “climate neutral” economy by 2050.

Lancia brand to be revived with new EV models

2021-12-13 / Robert Vinet

Automotive News Europe »

Napolitano has presented a 10-year plan to Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares to relaunch Lancia, based on three new models: the new Ypsilon in 2024, both hybrid and battery electric, and a compact crossover expected in 2026 followed by a compact hatchback in 2028, both full-electric models.

“Clearly volumes are important, but our targets are about profitability,” Napolitano said in an interview on Friday.

Lancia, which alongside Alfa Romeo and DS was grouped in the pool of Stellantis brands cooperating in the premium market, needed to continue on this high-end path, he added.

“We still need to work and need to look at a benchmark … which for us is Mercedes,” Napolitano said. “I don’t mean we want to fight against Mercedes, that would be naive, but that is an example of what we look at.”

While Alfa Romeo and DS are global brands, Lancia’s target is to move to Europe, initially targeting Germany and France, where electrification is moving faster, then adding countries including Spain, Belgium, Austria and the Nordics, he said.