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Jaguar plans a production EV racing series for 2018
To date, watching a full-fledged EV racing series has meant watching custom-built Formula E race cars. They're great to watch, but not exactly reflective of what you can drive on the road. Jaguar aims to fix that. It's launching the first production-based electric vehicle race series, the I-Pace eTrophy, as a support series for Formula E in late 2018. It'll run on the same tracks as Formula E, but it'll rely on (what else?) a track-optimized version of the upcoming I-Pace SUV. Up to 20 drivers will take part in each race in an "arrive and drive" package -- they'll need an international racing license, but Jaguar and the FIA will take care of vehicles and support.
BMW unveils the zippy i Vision Dynamics electric concept car
At the Frankfurt auto show, BMW showed off the latest addition to its i Series: the four-door i Vision Dynamics coupe concept car. With a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour and a zero-to-100 kilometers (64 miles per hour) launch of four seconds, it sits squarely between the bubble-esque i3 and the supercar i8.
Mercedes puts Formula One tech in an electric hypercar
More and more supercars from the likes of Ferrari and Porsche are using electric motors to juice their torque. Mercedes-Benz wasn't about to be left out. It's just introduced the 1,000-horsepower AMG Project One ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show. The vehicle was built with the cooperation of Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport Formula One team.
Mercedes’ Smart Vision EQ is a tiny urban autonomous concept
During a series of song-and-dance numbers, Mercedes-Benz introduced its Smart Vision EQ concept vehicle. The pure electric, completely autonomous car is built for personalization without actual ownership. Based on the Smart Fortwo, the car is the company's vision of mobility and EVs.
Mercedes-Benz sees self-driving EVs as the future of car sharing
Earlier this year, Daimler announced plans to develop a self-driving, car-sharing system with fully autonomous vehicles geared towards city living. Today, the company says that the first part of that vision -- Smart's Vision EQ Fortwo concept vehicle -- will be presented at the 2017 Frankfurt International Motor Show next month.
BMW adds a performance version of its electric i3 for 2018
For 2018 BMW is lightly reworking the style that made us call its i3 "a long-range concept car you can actually buy" and it's expanding the lineup with the i3s. A new performance version, it upgrades the standard i3's 170 horsepower / 184 pound-feet of torque electric motor to a high-output version capable of 184 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. A sports suspension drops the i3s 10mm lower, widens its track by 40mm, and connects to new 20-inch rims.
Hybrid Porsche 918 Spyder beats Nordschleife track record by miles (actually, 14 seconds)
Porsche's hybrid 918 Spyder did double duty this week, making its first public appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show and setting a world record at Nürburgring's grueling Nordschleife circuit. Stuttgart's pride burned around the North Loop at an average of 112MPH to finish the circuit in 6:57, a full 14 seconds faster than the previous record holder: the gas-burning Dodge Viper ACR. Check out the video after the break and you'll discover that this Spyder is throaty -- especially compared to those purely electric (and rather screechy) Formula E racers.
BMW's i8 plug-in hybrid unveiled at Frankfurt Motor Show, headed to US next spring for $135,925 and up
BMW's first plug-in hybrid, the i8, just made its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. In addition to sharing full specs -- including a 1.5-liter, turbocharged, three-cylinder engine; 362 horsepower with all-wheel drive and a fuel economy figure of 94 miles per gallon -- the German carmaker shared the model's substantial MSRP; the i8 will go for $135,925 and up when it arrives stateside in spring 2014. As we suspected, the wing-doored coupe is made from lightweight materials including carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, and it even utilizes chemically hardened glass to reduce the vehicle's noise and weight. Charging with a 110-volt outlet should take just less than four hours, and BMW says its charging station trims fuel-up time to just 1.5 hours. There are plenty more figures to dazzle you just past the break -- it's not quite the same as stepping behind the wheel, but today's other announcements prevent us from making the jaunt to Frankfurt.
TomTom inks new in-car navigation deals with Ford, Renault and Sony
With Apple, Google, and Nokia all vying for a share of the in-car navigation market, TomTom's hooked up with a team of automotive partners to keep its long-term aspirations alive. The first of the navigation firm's three new deals will see it provide maps, navigation and traffic updates for Renault's new built-in R-Link touchscreen tablet, which will feature in no fewer than 15 of the company's new models. TomTom is establishing a new partnership with Ford with the debut of a new app for the in-dash SYNC infotainment system, although you won't see it until sometime next year. The GPS provider will also include its mapping features in Sony's newest AV Center in-dash system, which features a high-res 6.1-inch display. As TomTom gradually gets pulled in two -- between deals with Apple and its ever-expanding list of car manufacturing partners -- maybe the portable dashboard GPS will soon find itself at a dead end.
Volkswagen shows production E-Up! with 93-mile range and AC/DC charging
Remember the Volkswagen's E-Up! concept from 2009? The company just announced that it plans to launch a production version of the tiny EV at the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall. It's been tweaked a little since we last saw it, with proper seating for four (vs. 3+1 on the concept), a revised snout and updated wheels. Under the hood you'll find an 18.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 60kW electric motor which provide a range of 150km (93 miles) with a respectable top speed of 84mph and a leisurely 0-62mph time of 14 seconds. The car supports quick-charging to 80% capacity in just 30 minutes via DC but also handles traditional AC circuits thanks to a Combined Charging System. The E-Up! will join the existing Up! and Eco-Up! (natural gas) models in Volkswagen's lineup, but it's unclear if the company plans to bring the EV to the US. Hit the source link below for the full PR and some additional photos.
Frankfurt Motor Show 2011 wrap-up
The 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show is still rolling, but as the throngs of eager German motor enthusiasts fill the halls we're grabbing our passports and fleeing back to the States. This year's show had more EVs and infotainment-stuffed cars than ever before and, if what we saw here is any indication, the car of the future will have at least one smartphone or tablet built in there somewhere -- maybe two. Enjoy the gallery below of random pictures from the show floor as we kick back in coach and try to catch up on some sleep. And, if you need even more coverage, head on over to our good friends at Autoblog. As usual they obsessively covered the show. %Gallery-134042%
Artega SE electric supercar is coming to the US, we go eyes-on
With the Tesla Roadster's tenure drawing to a close and a proper two-seat replacement seemingly just a twinkle in Peter Rawlinson's eye at this point, there's something of a coming void in the world of the electric supercar. Artega would love to fill that with the SE. It's an all-electric version of the company's GT supercar, and while the GT will not see a release on American shores, we got confirmation from Artega that the battery-powered SE will -- eventually. The 375 horsepower motor drives the car to 62MPH in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 126.5. Maximum range is 172 miles, but drive the car "more enthusiastically" and you can expect a more realistic 124. The car was announced earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show and here in Frankfurt we were able to spend a few minutes ogling its curves in a variety of interesting colors, including one model with a cut-away fender showing off the positioning of some of the 16 battery modules. 12 of those are scattered around the rear of the car, while four are up front, giving the car a rearward-biased 40:60 weight distribution. Cost is said to be 150,000 euro, or about $207,000. That's nearly twice the cost of a Roadster. Worth it? We'll see. %Gallery-134029% %Gallery-134031%
Parrot Asteroid Android-powered car stereo hands-on
Ca-Fi is an aftermarket Android car stereo that won't fit in your dashboard Parrot Asteroid to drive music, Android from your dash this October (video) Pioneer's AppRadio delivers iPhone integration, automotive and audio bliss for $400 Parrot has been teasing us with its Asteroid head unit for quite some time now, first showing it off at CES way back in January. It's finally coming to the US in October and we got a chance to try it out in Frankfurt. This Android-powered unit fits into a DIN slot in your car -- easily replacing many standard car stereos (and some non-standard ones too). It comes with a flurry of cables that includes a GPS receiver (which can be stuck somewhere outside the car to get better reception) and inputs for USB, 3.5mm audio, and even an iDevice. Through these you can pull tunes from just about anything to play on there, but if you tether the device with a phone to provide connectivity (or plug in a USB modem, or connect over WiFi) you can stream music directly on it. It also offers Google Navigation, including traffic and all the niceties you've come to expect from your smartphone -- but on an admittedly tiny (3.2-inch) screen. Connect a music device over USB and it'll index the contents via GraceNote, letting you speak any artist, album, or song to play it directly. The Asteroid ships to the US in October for $349. If you have room for a little more Android in your life, maybe it's time to make a little more room in your dash. %Gallery-133979%
Mercedes-Benz F 125! looks like the future, runs on hydrogen
As expected, the feature concept car being shown by Mercedes-Benz at Frankfurt this year was the F 125! But Merc isn't actually calling it a concept, rather a "research vehicle" that will help the company work toward a gasoline-free future. In this case it's a hydrogen-filled future, with this car running on compressed gas and so giving off only water vapor and oxygen as emissions. But, it's also a plug-in, meaning you can charge this thing up on your garage in addition to topping off the tank at your local H2 filling station -- at some point in the future when you actually have an H2 filling station. Read on for more details. %Gallery-134036%
Bentley demos 100,000 euro Executive dual-iPad interior for Mulsanne, we take a seat (video)
Lots of people do lots of things to make their cars and interiors more distinctive, but when Bentley does something to make the interior of one of its cars stand out, you know it's going to be special. And expensive. Welcome to the Executive Interior Concept, inserted in the Mulsanne. The Mulsanne is a big, luxurious auto with a twin-turbo V8 slung out front, and with this very special (100,000 euro option) package the interior's received some twin-augmentation as well: two iPads. Join us as we get comfortable. %Gallery-133762%
TomTom announces Z.E. Live navigation system to measure EV battery juice, keeps you truckin'
There's nothing worse than going for a late-night chili dog run only to find your EV sucked dry in a 7-11 parking lot. To reduce so-called "range-anxiety," there's the Carminat TomTom Z.E. Live, an in-dash navigation system that not only keeps drivers from getting lost, but also offers a visual cue to how much power's left. Sticking with the green theme, the device provides the most eco-friendly and efficient routes (with nearby charging stations) -- leaving drivers feeling good about putting the pedal to the metal. The nav will come pre-baked in all future Renault Fluence Z.E.s -- but we wouldn't be surprised to see other EV manufacturers implement similar add-ons in the future. Check out the full PR after the break.
Volkswagen Nils concept has an HTC Desire HD dashboard, seats one Engadget editor
Audi isn't the only one with a tiny little EV with exposed wheels at Frankfurt this year. Parent company Volkswagen has one too, but this is even smaller. It's called the Nils and it's designed for commuters in the "world of tomorrow" -- commuters who will be very thin and, apparently, short. Big people just don't fit well into this tiny thing, but if you're of modest size or below this could be an interesting little ride. It has only 34-horsepower (25kW) available from a rear-mounted electric motor, but since it weighs just 1,000-pounds (460kg) that should make for some peppy commutes -- of less than 40 miles (65 kilometers), which is the maximum range here. More details after the break. %Gallery-133771%
Mercedes-Benz debuts B-Class E-Cell Plus EV concept, the suburban limo revisioned
Family transportation has come a long way since it was all about piling in the back of the humble station wagon -- in particular, we're talking about the new Mercedez-Benz Concept B-Class E-Cell Plus EV that debuted today at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The plug-in series hybrid has a 136-horsepower electric motor with a 62-mile range, and a 67-horsepower, 1.0-liter three cylinder turbocharged gas engine for range-extending capabilities up to 373 miles. At low speeds, the petrol engine charges the lithium-ion batteries. When going faster, it acts on the car's front wheels, while the electric engine also chugs along -- very much like the Chevy Volt. Mercedes promises zero to 62MPH in 11 seconds and top speeds of 93MPH in both battery-only and range-extending modes. No word yet on when this dream ride will be available for family carpools, but eager June Cleavers can check out the photo gallery and full PR after the break. Update: We've added a gallery from Frankfurt! %Gallery-134032% %Gallery-133551%
Audi's electric Urban Concept says that less is more, really means it
You don't have to by an exotic, race-bred sportscar to get something made of carbon fiber with exposed suspension and racy looks. Thanks to Audi, you can actually go quite far to the opposite end of the spectrum. Meet the Urban Concept, a little guy with a big heart and just two seats -- offset slightly to give both driver and passenger maximum shoulder space in a decidedly slender chassis. With just 20 horsepower on tap it will hardly light your world afire, but weighing only 480kg (just over 1,000 pounds) and featuring a racy pushrod suspension, it should be quite the corner-carver. Power comes from a 7.1kWh battery pack that's inductively charged, meaning no need to plug in at the end of the day. A 45 mile radius means you won't be getting far out of town, but Audi did call this the Urban Concept, after all. (Presumably a future "Suburban Concept" would ship with bigger batteries.) Audi crafted both Sportback (with roof) and Spyder (without) versions but didn't say when -- or more importantly if -- either version will ever see production. %Gallery-133586%
Rimac Automobili unveils 1,088 horsepower Concept One electric supercar
When you need four digits and a comma to specify the amount of horsepower your car puts down, you know you're talking about something very, very special indeed. Such is the case for the Concept One, the first car from virtual unknown manufacturer Rimac Automobili, styled by designer Adriano Mudri. The firm (which is Croatian, not Italian, by the way) has created this machine and given it four electric motors. They combine for an astounding 1,088 horsepower but, perhaps even more importantly, enable torque vectoring across all four wheels -- varying the power at each corner to pull the car around turns. That performance equates to a 0 - 62MPH time of 2.8 seconds, while the maximum range is rated as 600km (about 375 miles) thanks to a 92kWh lithium ion phosphate (LiFePO4) battery. It is, alas, just a concept for now, but with a little bit of funding the folks at Rimac hope to bring it to market. And we hope they do too. %Gallery-133450%
