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Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Audi delays ICE phaseout, to launch new petrol and hybrid cars till 2033 and beyond. Check details
Rather than phasing out combustion technology, Audi plans to launch a fresh generation of ICE and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) till 2026 (REUTERS) Check Offers Audi is hitting the brakes on its previously announced plan to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) models by 2033. In a notable policy reversal, CEO Gernot Dollner has confirmed that the German luxury carmaker will now maintain production of combustion and plug-in hybrid vehicles well into the next decade, a report by Autocar UK stated. The move aligns Audi with a growing list of global automakers that are tempering their electric vehicle (EV) goals in favour of a more flexible, market-sensitive strategy. Dollner stated that the prior commitment to an all-EV future by 2033 was part of the 'past management's" roadmap and no longer reflects Audi's updated priorities. A new ICE and PHEV lineup Rather than phasing out combustion technology, Audi plans to launch a fresh generation of ICE and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) till 2026. This refreshed lineup, according to Dollner , provides the company with a flexible foundation for the next 7 to 10 years, allowing it to adapt according to market conditions and regulatory landscapes. Also Read : India-bound New-gen Audi Q3 makes global debut with Matrix LED tech, hybrid engines Among the vehicles in the pipeline is the next-generation RS6, which is expected to feature a high-performance plug-in hybrid setup. Dollner also hinted that Audi Sport's future products will continue to embrace combustion technology, especially in the RS badge portfolio. R8 and TT successors coming? On the possibility of reviving iconic nameplates like the R8 or TT, Dollner remained non-committal but optimistic. 'We are car guys, let yourself be surprised," he teased, while also noting it might be premature to disclose specific product plans. This leaves room for speculation about how Audi might reinterpret its performance lineage in a mixed powertrain future. No Small EVs—But A3-Sized Model on the Way Interestingly, Audi is stepping away from the small electric car race. It will not build its own version of the upcoming VW ID.2 or its Skoda counterparts aimed at the affordable EV segment. Instead, the brand is focused on a standalone A3-sized EV, which is currently under development and scheduled to debut in 2026. As the A1 and Q2 are phased out, the A3 and Q3 will serve as Audi's new entry-level offerings. Also Read : Audi Q5 and Q5 Sportback PHEV drivetrains launched. Will it come to India? Audi to Lead VW Group's Next-Gen Tech Platforms Audi's future role within the Volkswagen Group is also evolving. The brand has been tasked with leading development of the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), a next-generation hardware and software architecture for large vehicles. Originally conceived as a purely EV platform, SSP has since been redesigned to accommodate range-extender and hybrid options as well—aligning with the Group's more general dedication to a multi-pathway approach. Get insights into Upcoming Cars In India, Electric Vehicles, Upcoming Bikes in India and cutting-edge technology transforming the automotive landscape. First Published Date: 18 Jun 2025, 19:00 PM IST
NZ Autocar
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Kia commits to hatchbacks with EV4 and K4
Against the general trend, Kia is committed to launching more hatchbacks and saloons, rather than going all-in on SUVs. Its EV4 and K4 are rivals for Volkswagen Golf and ID 3. Kia executive vice-president, Ted Lee, recently told Autocar UK that there was still 'big volume' for hatchback models in Europe. He confirmed that the firm would continue to offer them and indeed launch all-new models. Lee co-ordinates Kia's global business outside of Korea. Read our review of Kia EV3 here. The first of these newcomers is EV4, set to dot down in New Zealand soon. It will be built at Kia's plant in Slovakia, and will also be offered as a saloon built in South Korea. The EV4 will be joined by the K4, a hatchback that debuted at the New York motor show. It replaces Ceed and will be built at Kia's plant in Mexico in both hatch and saloon forms. An estate version is on the cards too. Lee said that Kia currently has a 'strong position in Europe, especially in the UK.' Kia sales have grown more than 30 per cent since 2020 in the EU. In the UK, Kia has sold more than 100,000 cars for three years running. It is the third best-selling brand in 2025, less than 300 units behind second-placed BMW. However, Lee said increased competition in Europe from Chinese brands makes for a 'difficult market '. Kia will further strengthen its aftersales, parts supply and customer journeys in response. However, it will not become embroiled in a price war in Europe in the face of new lower-cost competition. Instead, it will maintain its focus on residual values, which it credits as partly responsible for the 'sustainable growth' the brand has enjoyed. Lee said Kia has done this by maintaining demand. Cars are not pushed to dealers and onto customers at discounted rates but are built and sold according to demand. Describing this as a 'healthy cycle', Lee said: ' It might sound very easy, but in reality it requires a very strong determination and sense of principle.'
NZ Autocar
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Peugeot to revive GTi badge with electric 208 hot hatch
A hot GTi variant of the electric e-208 will debut ahead of Le Mans 24 Hour race on Jun 13. New Peugeot boss Alain Favey stated recently that it will deliver a memorable driving experience. The last Peugeot GTI model available was the previous-generation Peugeot 308, sales of which ended in 2021. NZ Autocar reported earlier this year that a new GTi may be on the way. Favey recently said: 'I'm in a position to confirm that we will reintroduce the GTi on the e-208 as soon as possible.' He reckons that the new GTi is all about reconnecting to Peugeot's past. It will also link the French brand's road cars to its involvement in motorsport. Peugeot competes in the World Endurance Championship with its 9X8 hypercar. He continued: 'We want to continue to nurture the reputation of the brand for driving sensations'. An existing e-208 with roof racks. Favey has not ruled out other GTis, nor the concept of combustion engined or PHEV versions. He says it depends on customer demand. He told Autocar UK: 'We will start with the 208 and [are] definitely listening to your inputs, or what our customers will say as well. 'We don't exclude that there might be other executions of the 208 GTi under the GTi badge. But for today there's absolutely nothing planned in that sense.' The return of the GTi was one of his first priorities since taking over as Peugeot CEO in February. 2024 Peugeot 208 GT Hybrid Expect typical GTi flourishes, including red styling elements around the grille, wheels and badges. Up front a reshaped bumper with bigger vents and a splitter are likely. Typical upgrades include suspension stiffening, a wider track and uprated brakes. The new e-208 GTi will likely use the same powertrain as the Abarth 600e, which is based on the same e-CMP platform. That features a 177kW motor and a Torsen limited-slip differential up front. PSA suggests a sprint time of around 6.0sec. Both the Abarth and the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce also feature a 207kW motor. That leaves room for a special edition 208 GTi by Peugeot Sport. With the e-208 GTi on the starting blocks, a similar version of the Vauxhall Corsa Electric is a possibility. However, Vauxhall has already confirmed plans for a hot Mokka GSE, using the Abarth 600e's powertrain.
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
VW Bets on Cheaper Batteries to Help Revamp EV Lineup Starting with ID.2
Volkswagen (VW) has scheduled a substantial refresh of its electric lineup starting in 2026 with the release of the ID.2 supermini, the automaker's first-ever model to use lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery tech that's less expensive than its current nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) packs, as first reported by Autocar UK. The VW Group's upcoming core EVs will segue from today's MEB platform into a new LFP battery platform named MEB Plus. LFP battery cells have slightly less energy density than NMC packs, but their production cost savings outweigh this energy discrepancy. The savings primarily stem from LFP batteries being less reliant on expensive materials like cobalt than NMC packs. New LFP cells also have higher thermal stability and a longer lifespan. After the ID.2's release, MEB Plus will make its way into VW models like the ID.3 hatchback, the U.S. market's ID.4 SUV, and the ID.7 sedan. Tesla was the first automaker to bring LFP batteries to the mass market with its Model 3 in China, followed by Ford's Mustang Mach-E. News of the MEB Plus platform is significant given VW's earlier struggles in the EV segment. These roadblocks included the ID.3 and ID.4 launches experiencing software glitches, interior material quality complaints from users, and a perception that the vehicles didn't match or surpass the value of competitors like Tesla. VW's new Salzgitter, Germany, factory will manufacture the upcoming LFP batteries alongside the current NMC packs until they're phased out. The automaker's CEO, Thomas Schäfer, told Autocar UK: "You can see this move towards LFP across the board, except for performance applications on the upper end. In the volume game, LFP is the technology." MEB Plus will revitalize VW's EV lineup until the company launches its delayed SSP platform, a multi-billion euro extension of the current MEB modular system, according to Battery Industry. VW's use of MEB Plus also marks the brand's first substantial shift into a new platform that's cheaper to make, enhancing its mass market prospects. While the ID.2 is the automaker's first direct entry into the affordable EV market, it likely won't make it to the U.S., where VW and other manufacturers face export challenges with tariffs and an Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that's on the verge of a substantial reorganization. Changes to the IRA could also slow the growth of U.S. battery production facilities, even if VW expands its U.S. manufacturing presence. Still, current and prospective U.S. EV drivers can look forward to cost reductions and possible range increases in models like the VW ID.4 SUV, along with GM's commercialization of LMR (lithium manganese-rich) prismatic battery cells that bring extended range electric trucks through more accessible pricing. Like VW's LFP battery tech, GM's LMR cells are less reliant on cobalt, which has introduced ethical dilemmas in addition to higher costs. Cobalt mining has exposed local communities, primarily the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to toxic metals while contributing to environmental degradation. The Democratic Republic of the Congo produces about 70% of the world's cobalt supply. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
NZ Autocar
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
More Volkswagen ID Golf details are emerging
The Volkswagen Golf is gearing up for a bold transformation in its ninth generation due out in 2028. To be known as the ID Golf, the new model will signal a high-tech rebirth for VW's benchmark family hatch. It will blend classic Golf DNA with cutting-edge EV technology. This is Autocar UK's render of the Gen IX Golf, available with a host of powertrains. Unlike previous iterations, the ID Golf will be designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle. But petrol-electric plug-in hybrid variants will continue in parallel for a time. Before then, VW's electric revolution continues with its ID 2X compact SUV, and the production version of the ID 2all hatch. Both utilise the new MEB Entry platform, aiming for affordability. A sporty electric GTI version of the ID 2all is also coming. The GTI version of ID 2all. These new models pave the way for the more advanced ID Golf, which will ride on the all-new SSP platform. This flexible architecture merges elements of VW's MEB and PPE EV systems. Expect the ID Golf to feature styling that will appeal to Golf fans, without being too retro. VW design boss, Andreas Mindt, is aiming for a fresh but faithful take on the Golf's core traits. Expect a sleeker body that retains a clear lineage to past Golfs. Interior improvements will also mark a major shift from the current Mk8.5 version. VW is committing to the return of physical controls for core functions after its foray into haptic touch sliders and steering wheel buttons proved a turn off. This return to tactile usability is part of a broader push under CEO Thomas Schäfer to reinfuse the brand with emotion and trust. Golf IX will feature some of the ID 2all/GTI concept styling features. Rivian-co-developed software architecture is set to underpin the ID Golf. The system is designed for efficiency, adaptability, and over-the-air (OTA) updates. This so-called zonal software platform will reduce the number of processors while improving system integration and responsiveness. It will also enable real-time updates and enhancements even after the vehicle is sold. Even aspects like handling and braking are evidently modifiable over the air. The software's flexibility will also empower performance variants of the ID Golf. GTI and R versions are expected. The GTI will remain front-wheel drive, while the R variant will likely go dual-motor AWD. However, the R will prioritise agility and driving fun over brute force. This is a departure from the heavier GTX-badged ID models. The electric variants of Golf IX will be built where Golf always has for over 50 years. Production of the ID Golf will take place at Wolfsburg, the Golf's birthplace since 1974. To make room for this EV shift, ICE production will move to Mexico in 2027. The current Mk8.5 Golf will continue to be sold alongside the ID Golf, but in Europe and the UK it will be available only as a plug-in hybrid. It too will be phased out in 2035. The ID Golf is not intended to replace the ID 3. Each will target slightly different customer bases. Beyond the ID Golf, VW's EV overhaul will continue with a new SUV expected to succeed the ID 4. Think Tiguan in electric form. A render of the Golf ID earlier this year, also by Autocar UK. The ID Golf then will become a flagship of sorts for a new era, redefining it for a future shaped by electrification, advanced tech, and the rekindling of driver-focused design.
