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Polestar 2 EV recalled over glitch that can cut power while driving
Polestar has recalled all 2 EVs after learning of a software glitch that leads to a power loss, even while driving.
Polestar will put its eco-friendly Precept car into production
Polestar is putting its Precept prototype car into production, adding semi-autonomous features and eco-friendly design to its EV lineup.
Polestar 2 EV production starts in China despite COVID-19
While factories in Europe and the US grind to a halt due to COVID-19, Polestar has started production of its Polestar 2 in Luqiao, China. The Volvo brand's first EV is being built on the same production line as the Volvo XC40, as both companies are owned by Chinese automaker Geely. The first vehicles produced will be sold in Europe, with deliveries slated to start in China, then North America after that.
Mercedes and China's Geely team up to take electric Smart cars global
Last year Smart became the first car brand to switch to an all-EV lineup -- now its parent company Mercedes-Benz has got a new partner to help bring its electrification ambitions to fruition. While Mercedes will continue to design the vehicles, China's Geely -- which owns Volvo -- will take care of the manufacturing and engineering.
Volocopter's massive utility drone can carry up to 440 pounds
While Volocopter's been busy working on its air taxis, it's also preparing to enter the utility drone market using a similar design. Much like the company's experimental 2X and upcoming VoloCity, the aptly-named VoloDrone announced today is yet another 18-rotor electric aircraft, which can be remote-controlled or set to a pre-planned route in autonomous mode. But instead of carrying passengers, the VoloDrone is designed to fit various types of cargo and equipment under its belly -- be it a box, an agricultural sprayer, a sling or disaster relief tools.
Lotus’ EV supercar hints at the automaker’s future
Lotus is known for its light, nimble and fast cars. But it's been a few years since they introduced an updated vehicle. 2017, to be exact (with the Evora). But Lotus is back with a solid investment, the Evija electric supercar, and a plan to deliver cars that fit the Lotus brand regardless of powertrain.
Lotus' electric hypercar is named 'Evija'
No, Lotus isn't ready to spill the beans on its Type 130 electric hypercar. It is, however, ready to give the car a name: meet the Evija (pronounced "ev-eye-a"). While the company's choice of name is a bit strained -- it means "the first in existence" or "the living one" -- it makes sense given both Lotus' traditions and what it represents. The company has long given its cars names starting with E (Esprit, Elise, Exige), and it only seems fitting to name an EV as, well, "Ev."
Polestar will reveal its first all-electric car on February 27th
Polestar was hyping up its first all-electric car even before its first car of any kind was ready, but now it's finally prepared to show its hand. The company has announced that it's revealing the Polestar 2 through a live online event on February 27th at 7AM Eastern. Sorry, that means no in-person looks -- it's ostensibly to "eliminate the environmental impact" of flying people in from all over the planet, which wouldn't jive with a car that's all about eco-friendliness.
Lotus' first electric car might be a 1,000HP monster
Lotus won't be the first British car manufacturer to go electric, but it might make waves when it does. Autocar sources claim Lotus' first EV will be a 1,000BHP (about 1,013HP) hypercar costing about £2 million, or roughly $2.5 million. It'd compete with the likes of the Bugatti Chiron and McLaren P1 where current models like the Evora are aimed more at 'ordinary' sports cars.
Volvo's all-electric Polestar 2 will go up against the Model 3
Now that Polestar's first car (and its only hybrid car) is out the door, what's it going to do for the purely electric follow-up? Give Tesla's Model 3 a run for the money, apparently. Chief operating officer Jonathan Goodman told Autocar in a recent interview that the Polestar 2 would have the kind of performance and pricing that might have some Model 3 buyers reconsidering their life choices. The upcoming EV would cost between £30,000 to £50,000 (about $39,400 to $65,700) with as much as 400 brake horsepower and a 350-mile range. And that last figure is for the starter model -- you wouldn't have to pay a premium for long-distance driving like you do for its Tesla rival.
Terrafugia's first flying car should finally go on sale in 2019
Terrafugia's Transition flying car has been in development purgatory for years, but it's finally here... almost. The company has announced that the first production models of the Transition will go on sale sometime in 2019. While that does sound like a long way off, it does provide a more concrete release window than you've had in the past. And if it's any consolation, the finished machine will have some useful improvements in return for the extra months of waiting.
Lynk & Co's shareable cars launch outside of China in 2020
Volvo's sister brand Lynk & Co has made a fuss over its connected, shareable cars, but there's been a catch: they haven't been available outside of China. You might have a chance to buy one elsewhere, however. Alongside a peek at its new 02 crossover SUV (more on that in a bit), the fledgling auto badge has confirmed that it will start selling cars in Europe in 2020. As before, it's ditching conventional dealerships in favor of both its website and "Offline Stores" that are really boutiques. The first store will open in Amsterdam, with follow-ups due in Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels and London.
Volvo's parent company now owns a flying car startup
Those reports from the summer that Volvo's parent company had snapped up flying car startup Terrafugia? They were true. Geely has officially completed its acquisition of Terrafugia, turning it into a fully-owned subsidiary of the Chinese automotive giant. Terrafugia will remain based in the US and will continue working on flying cars, but it will have Geely's deep pockets and automotive experience to back it up. It's also taking on a new board of directors that includes a mix of veteran Terrafugia backers, Geely execs and Bell Helicopter's managing director for China.
London's new electric black cabs hit the streets
London's new electric taxis are almost ready for the public. Six test vehicles are being introduced to the city's streets today ahead of a planned roll out later this year. Participating drivers will be collecting data about potential emissions savings and the reality of using London's charger network. "We will now be able to accurately quantify the significant improvements these vehicles will make to London's air quality," Chris Gubbey, CEO for the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) said, "which will benefit all Londoners, regardless of whether [they] use taxis or not."
Volvo's parent company acquires flying car startup
According to the South China Morning Post, Geely (the Chinese company who owns Volvo) has just agreed to acquire the startup behind the world's most promising flying car. Known for the impressive plane/car hybrid, "Transition", Terrafugia is the company that's come the closest to making flying cars a reality. Now, thanks to Geely's deep pockets, it looks like we could soon be seeing winged Volvos soaring over the freeway.
Lynk & Co's EV is the first car with a dedicated app store
As a rule, automakers see software in a car as a means to an end. Even Tesla, as cutting edge as it may be, is only willing to give its code so much attention. However, China's Geely wants to see what happens when you put code at the forefront. It's launching a new Lynk & Co brand whose inaugural electric vehicle, the 01 compact SUV, is supposedly the most connected car to date. The centerpiece is an open software platform (built with help from Alibaba and Microsoft) that lets developers sink their teeth in -- it even has the first dedicated app store for cars, according to the company. Lynk & Co doesn't provide examples, but it's easy to see a streaming music service offering an app just for your 01, or custom navigation apps that go beyond the usual in-car GPS.
Volvo creates a company to sell self-driving car software
Volvo isn't going to hoard its self-driving car expertise. It's partnering with safety supplier Autoliv on a joint venture that will create autonomous driving software (including driver assistance) not just for Volvo, but for any company looking to add hands-free features to their lineups. The two firms hope to start selling driver assistance tech by 2019, and full-fledged autonomy by 2021.
Geely McCar comes with an electric scooter or wheelchair in the back
This is the Geely McCar: an ultra compact, two-door car that still manages to tuck an electric scooter in the back. Geely, the Chinese company that now owns Volvo, is hoping you'll use it for everything from golfing to navigating urban sprawl to traversing the Mall of America parking lot. The car itself comes in two versions: an all-electric one with a 12kWh battery that claims up to 93 miles on a charge, and a hybrid iteration that promises up to 31 miles on just electric power and 373 on a mix of gas and electricity. The scooter, meanwhile, can last up to 18 miles -- and be swapped out for a wheelchair for people with disabilities. Since debuting at the Shanghai Auto Show, there's been no word on whether the McCar will ship stateside -- or how much McDonald's loathes that name. Update: The headline and body of this story have been updated to better reflect the car and scooter's potential to serve people with disabilities.
Geely IG is covered in solar cells, two years away from marketability
Chinese carmaker Geely is no stranger to building derivative designs, and its latest PHEV effort takes so much inspiration from Volkswagen's Beetle that even the press release begins with a metaphor about caterpillars flourishing into butterflies. That's also a little nod to the car's development, which has seen its initial design overhauled into the four-seater, photovoltaic cell-laden transporter you see above. The powertrain is still a hybrid number and not entirely electric, but seagull-wing doors have been added for some extra flair. Geely's IG is currently on display at the Beijing Auto Show, alongside its all-electric EK-1 and EK-2 brethren, the latter of which is promised to deliver 150kmph top speeds together with 180km cruising ranges and an 18-minute recharge time for 80 percent of the battery capacity. We'll believe it when we see it. This trifecta, along with a pair of other alternative fuel vehicles, is slated to "be marketed" in two years' time. You can wait that long, can't you?
Keepin' it real fake, part CV: Chinese automakers invade Detroit Auto Show
They're not hybrids or all-electrics, and you likely won't be distracted their overflowing in-car technology, so they're not exactly in our usual scope of coverage, but this new batch of vehicles from a couple of Chinese automakers is certainly right at home in our keepin' it real fake series, which is somehow never starved for material. Among those that did their best to blend in at the Detroit Auto Show is Geely and its Cadillac-esque HIFUN model pictured above, as well as the double-take-inducing ChangFeng Hyundai-lookalike and BYD Auto's Mercedes-influenced F8, both pictured after the break. What's more, unlike the vast majority of KIRFs we see, at least some of these will supposedly be available round these parts in the not so distant future, and at the expected steep discounts over the vehicles their creator's seem to be so fond of as well.Read - CarDomain, Geely HIFUNRead - CarDomain, BYD Auto F8Read - Autoblog, The Return of ChangFeng[Thanks, Brian]
