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The results of the European competition were announced at the Geneva Motor Show that opened today. Car of the Year 2024. The jury, consisting of 58 people from 22 countries, chose the Renault Scenic E-Tech electric crossover as the winner, which scored 329 points. This is the seventh victory for a Renault car in the 61 years of the European competition. The BMW “five” is just a little behind the winner (308 points), and the Peugeot 3008 SUV, which scored 197 points, closes the top three. The seven finalists also included Kia EV9 (190), Volvo EX30 (168), BYD Seal (131) and Toyota C-HR (127). By the way, BYD Seal became the first Chinese car to reach the semi-finals of the European Car of the Year competition.

Avtotor announced the completion of Russification of three produced models BLOCK – BJ40 SUV, X35 crossover and U5 Plus sedan. From now on, the multimedia system and car dashboard have icons, interface, descriptions and notifications in Russian. The listed models with updated software are available from today at all official dealerships of the brand. And for previously purchased machines, Russified software can be installed when visiting the service. The company’s immediate plans include translating the media systems of the BAIC X55 mid-size crossover into Russian.

Company Mercedes-Benz adjusted its electric vehicle strategy adopted three years ago. It is now stated that the share of electrified cars (including hybrids) in the sales structure will reach 50% only by 2030, although it was previously assumed that this would happen as early as 2025. However, the company has not yet given up on its main goal: Mercedes-Benz will actively promote electrification, but only where “market conditions allow” it. Finally, the presentation for investors indicates that in this decade the cost of electric vehicles will not reach the payback of models with internal combustion engines.

Track hypercar Bugatti Bolide was presented at the end of 2020, but is only now completing the cycle of driving tests. The other day, the French company showed footage of “rain” tests of the car at the Imola circuit. It also became known that the coupe with a dry weight of 1240 kg with a W16 engine (1850 hp, 1850 Nm) will have gigantic Brembo brakes. These include carbon ceramic pads and 390mm discs! Eight-piston mechanisms are installed on the front axle, six-piston mechanisms are installed on the rear axle, and this system provides deceleration at the level of Formula 1 or Le Mans cars. These are the largest carbon brakes produced by Brembo.

Crossover Peugeot 5008 of the new generation is preparing for a full premiere, scheduled for March this year. In the meantime, the French have posted a teaser that partially demonstrates the interior of the new product. You can notice the panoramic i-Cockpit screen with a curved panel, contour lighting and a new steering wheel. It is expected that the new SUV will move to the Stellantis STLA Medium platform and will acquire a fully electric version of the e-5008.

And for a compact SUV Jeep Avenger An all-wheel drive version was announced, although it was shown in concept form during the debut of the base model. This Avenger 4xe will have a hybrid drive: the front wheels are driven by a 1.2 petrol turbo engine (136 hp), working in tandem with a six-speed preselective “robot” and an electric motor with a power of 29 hp, and another identical electric motor is installed separately on the rear axes. So far only a sketch has been published, the premiere of the serial hybrid will take place later, and it will enter the European market at the end of this year.

Today we also talked about the Renault 5 and MG3 hatchbacks, the Ineos Fusilier SUV and the updated Audi Q2 crossover.

2024-02-26 20:04:04
#Digest #day #Car #Year #BAIC #Russian #industry #events

Company Sollers launched the assembly of six-speed manual transmissions of the Chinese company JAC at its Zavolzhsky Motor Plant (ZMZ). The first specimens were collected on February 16th. These transmissions are intended not only for light commercial vehicles of the Sollers brand (localized JAC models), but also for SUVs and UAZ trucks. Now Ulyanovsk models are equipped with Russian mechanical gearboxes ADS and Chinese BAIC. The dates for the appearance of UAZ vehicles with new transmissions have not yet been announced.

And also the company Sollers announced the launch of a program for import substitution of components of automotive security systems. As part of the project, the production of airbags, seat belts, safety steering wheels and electronic control units will be launched on UAZ territory. Serial production should be launched in 2025, more than 200 new jobs will be created. The State Industrial Development Fund has already allocated 1.2 billion rubles for this project in the form of a preferential loan, and in general such import substitution will require 1.5 billion rubles.

Passions around the concern Stellar: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that the merger of the PSA and FCA concerns played to the benefit of the French side, because the French government owns 6% of the shares of the global concern. Further fuel was added to the fire by the Italian Minister of Industry Adolfo Urso, who did not rule out the possibility of the Italian government acquiring a stake. However, Urso quickly denied own words, explaining that now “this is not on the agenda.”

The concern has had friction with the Italian government Stellar due to declining production volumes at former FCA plants. Minister Urso even threatened to attract another major automaker to Italy, to which the head of the Stellantis concern, Carlos Tavares, reacted with skepticism: “If we invite more Chinese companies to produce cars in Europe, do you think that will help?” At the same time, Stellantis itself is going to set up production of Chinese Leapmotor electric vehicles in Italy.

Korean brand Genesis famously got involved in electrification, so much so that he even skipped the stage of creating hybrid models. According to Korean edition, the Hyundai concern intends to correct this, and is preparing to produce hybrids under the Genesis brand, and not even rechargeable ones. The petrol-electric power plant will be based on a 2.5 petrol engine, while hybrids of the Hyundai and Kia brands are equipped with 1.6 engines. The first Genesis hybrids are expected to be the G80 sedan and GV70 crossover.

Executive sedan suspension Nine ET9 will have unusual capabilities. Nio SkyRide hydropneumatic struts with individual pumps for each shock absorber can make the car “dance,” jump, or even… shake off the accumulated snow. In this mode, Nio is like a dog. Against this background, the possibility of increasing ground clearance by 90 mm seems like a mere commonplace.

Also today we talked about the Amberauto A5 electric car, DFSK crossovers for Russia and the Cupra Born VZ hot hatch.

2024-02-20 20:05:59
#Digest #day #sixspeed #UAZ #shaking #Nio #industry #events

Company Audi announced a change in chief designer: instead of Mark Lichte, who has held this position for ten years, 52-year-old Massimo Fraschella (pictured) will become chief designer. He previously worked for Bertone, Ford and Kia, and for the last thirteen years has been an employee of Jaguar Land Rover. He will take up his new position on June 1. Marc Lichte will remain with Audi, but will move to another, as yet unnamed, position.

And the chief designer BMW Domagoj Dukech first announced the arrival of the M5 station wagon in the US – and quickly denied own words. However, this does not negate the fact that the five-door BMW M5 will still see the light of day. The last time such a version was in the E60/E61 generation, but then only 1,025 five-door Emoks were produced. Civil station wagons of the fifth series with the index G61 were presented quite recently.

Thousands of concern cars Volkswagen detained in US ports. According to the publication Financial Times, the reason for the arrest was the origin of the electronic components used in them. It turned out that they were produced in western China in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), and therefore are prohibited from import into the United States based on the local law on the prevention of forced labor of Uyghurs, adopted in 2021. This is not the first and, most likely, not the last “Uyghur incident” of the German concern, because the SAIC-Volkswagen joint venture operates right in the center of the XUAR – the city of Urumqi. It is curious that mostly expensive models were arrested: about a thousand Porsches, hundreds of Bentleys and several thousand Audis.

A joint project between Sony and Honda to produce electric vehicles He died It hasn’t really started working yet, but expansion has already been announced. The already presented unnamed liftback will be accompanied by a crossover and a more compact affordable model. But this will not happen soon: even serial production of the liftback is promised only in 2025, a more advanced crossover will be released in 2027, and the third model will arrive a year later.

An updated version was spotted during winter tests Porsche 911, and photo spies came across a rare Targa variant. The 911 has had this elegant format for almost fifty years, since 1965. The debut of the modernized 992.2 family is expected only next year, that is, in time for the 50th anniversary of the Targa version. Unfortunately, there are no details about the update itself yet.

Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov officially announced that car production will be organized at the former Toyota plant in St. Petersburg Aurus. But these will not be the already existing executive models Senat and Komendant, but simpler cars. In total, four new models should be put on the assembly line of the plant in Shushary, and this project will be implemented “together with industrial foreign partners.”

Also today we talked about the Lancia Ypsilon hatchback, the Geely Okavango crossover and the Rezvani Beast hypercar.

2024-02-15 20:21:53
#Digest #day #Audi #chief #designer #updated #Porsche #industry #events

Bestseller of the Russian automobile market Lada Granta officially lost two options at once. The SW hatchback and station wagon have disappeared from the brand’s official website. In fact, their production ceased in 2022, but last winter the resumption of hatchback production was in AVTOVAZ’s plans. Now you can forget about this version. The loss of the basic station wagon is not so serious, because the raised Granta Cross with the same body remains in the range. Also in service are a sedan and a liftback.

Coming Volkswagen Golf The ninth generation will become an electric car and completely replace not only the current fuel model, but also the ID.3 electric hatchback. This was stated by the head of the company’s technical development department, Kai Grünitz. According to him, in the current market there is not enough room for two or three different models aimed at the same customer, although maintaining both families was previously considered.

And at the other extreme of automotive values ​​is the extreme Volkswagen Golf R (320 hp, 420 Nm), which will be updated after its civilian counterparts. The eyes of the Volkswagen R division Reinhold Iwenz said that the all-wheel drive hot hatch should gain an increase in power in order to maintain distance from the Golf GTI (265 hp) and Golf GTE (272 hp), which have become more powerful after restyling. However, the question is whether the Erka will retain a six-speed manual transmission, since the GTI has already lost it.

Just the other day a teaser of the updated coupe was published Aston Martin Vantage, and now the restyled supercar showed up at the 24 Hours of Daytona racing marathon. Although this is not a road version yet, but a GT3 class racing car. But even this was enough to get an idea of ​​the new front end, where the main external changes lie. The front of the updated coupe returned to the design roots of the Aston Martin brand, gaining rounded vertical headlights instead of angular horizontal ones. The premiere of the production car will take place this spring.

Head of the company Honda Toshihiro Mibe pleased the public with the announcement that the company was considering the possibility of creating an electric sports car. Moreover, the company’s research department has already begun working on a similar project. The fast electric car is expected to top the range of Honda’s new electric range 0. Mibe also described the future supercar as having a “completely different taste” compared to Honda’s past sports models.

Cadillac is eager to enter Formula 1: a team has already been created Andretti Cadillac F1 under the leadership of famous racing driver Michael Andretti. Its headquarters are located in the UK, and its staff has already recruited experienced specialists from the Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren and Renault teams. The Americans even managed to develop a prototype of the car, the model of which has already been blown in a wind tunnel. But the Formula 1 management has not yet approved the company’s participation in the championship.

The design of an updated crossover has been patented in India Hyundai Creta N Line. Since 2022, this modification has been available on the Brazilian market, and the Indian division of the company will add it to the local range after restyling. As expected, the N Line version will have a more aggressive design with sporty motifs, larger wheels and extended black decor. There are no other details yet, but a debut is expected in the coming months.

Also today we talked about special versions of the Toyota GR Yaris hatchback, the assembly of DFSK crossovers in Russia, the new Xcite brand and the restyled Audi Q7 crossover.

2024-01-30 19:59:08
#Digest #day #Grants #reduction #Creta #Line #industry #events

The Toyota Century crossover was presented last September and became a sensation, because previously only executive sedans bore the proud name Century. Initially, it was assumed that the SUV, with a length of 5205 mm, a price of 170 thousand dollars and a monthly circulation of 30 cars, was intended only for the domestic market. However, the publication’s journalists Forbes found out that the crossover can become a global model, and Century – a separate luxury brand within the Toyota Corporation. Century cars will be more expensive and more prestigious than Lexuses, and will compete with the brand Rolls-Royce! It sounds strange, considering that the crossover is built on the massive “transverse” platform of the Toyota Grand Highlander model.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Board of Toyota Akio Toyoda stated that electric vehicles will occupy no more than 30% of the market, regardless of the progress of battery technology. He believes that the remaining 70% will subsequently be divided among themselves by hydrogen cars with internal combustion engines or fuel cells. Toyoda added: “The decision about the choice of powertrain type should be made by buyers and the market, not by regulators or political forces.”

Company car project Apple has not shown signs of life for a long time, however, according to the publication Bloomberg, work on it has not stopped! According to the plan, the production version will be demonstrated no earlier than 2028. A source close to Apple added that the development process is now at a make-or-break point, and if the Apple car doesn’t come out before the end of this decade, it never will. In addition, the source added that so far only the second level autopilot is being tested for the car, although Mercedes has already managed to certify the third level system.

The development of a compact crossover Alfa Romeo became known two years ago. Then it was assumed that it would be called Brennero, but at the end of last year another name was officially announced – Alfa Romeo Milano. And now the date of its premiere has been published – April 10, 2024. The small SUV will be the Italian brand’s first electric car, although hybrid and even pure petrol versions will also be available. The Alfa Romeo Milano crossover is built on the STLA Small trolley, formerly known as CMP/eCMP, and will be the closest relative of the Jeep Avenger model.

Despite the impressive sales statistics of Tesla electric vehicles, the head of the company Elon Musk seriously afraid the onslaught of Chinese competitors. In his opinion, “if there are no trade barriers, they will practically destroy most other automobile companies in the world.” This is because electric cars from the Middle Kingdom are “incredibly good” and “the most competitive in the world.”

As if to confirm Musk’s words, the Chinese company Chery today announced plans for expansion into the European Union market. The offensive will be carried out on a broad front; Europe can expect three new brands this year: Omoda, Jaecoo and Exlantix. Sales of the Omoda C5 crossovers will start in the spring, followed by the larger Jaecoo J7, and after that the electric Exlantix will arrive. If things go well, Chery promises to please Europeans with its other brands.

Photo: Avtograd news

AVTOVAZ dealers in Tolyatti now have sedans Lada Vesta in a simplified Comfort package without airbags. There is still no mention of such a version on the company’s official website. AVTOVAZ has been producing such sedans since December last year due to a shortage of airbags. Dealers sell simplified Vestas with 106-horsepower engines for 1 million 460 thousand rubles – this is 50 thousand less than the recommended price of a similar sedan with two airbags.

Also today we talked about the updated Cadillac CT5-V sedans and the Porsche Macan electric crossover.

2024-01-25 20:02:20
#Digest #day #Century #brand #Vesta #pillows #industry #events