Car news

VW launches electric Kombi

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ new ID (electric) model aims to follow in the iconic Kombi’s footsteps with a new look that pays homage to Volkswagen’s past.

The electric all-rounder transfers seven decades of Kombi know-how into the new five-seater ID Buzz and the ID Buzz Cargo version.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ general manager Kevin Richards says it will bring both models to New Zealand next year.

“The ID Buzz marks a shift for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles into the electric era and we’re confident it will also create a lot of love for the brand by bringing back some happy memories.

“To have an icon reimagined like this that fits with the needs of modern mobility, means we’ll be seeing future generations telling their own ID Buzz stories so the legend will continue,” says Richards.

Knobs and buttons in the cockpit are replaced with a touchpad on the steering wheel.

A state-of-the-art Augmented Reality (AR) projection, courtesy of an AR heads-up display, projects the navigation directly in front of the car onto the road. There’s even intelligent LED headlight ‘eyes’ that communicate interactively with the driver and passers-by.

It also offers the ‘Plug & Charge’ function that allows the ID Buzz to serve as an energy storage device so customers can power their home or charge other EVs. Bi-directional charging can also come in handy during camping trips to power speakers, cooking appliances, and lights.

The synchronous motor generates 150kW of output, and 310Nm of torque is at the rear, driving the rear axle.

Production of the ID Buzz is set to start in the coming months for launch in Europe later this year.

“We’re working very hard with the factory in Europe to get the ID Buzz into New Zealand next year as soon as possible,” says Richards.

“The only downside to creating such a fantastic ‘buzz’ with this vehicle is that everyone wants one. Demand in Europe is so strong that we’ll just need to be a little bit more patient downunder before we see it.”

Audi foreshadows Avant electric station wagon

Audi has unveiled the A6 Avant e-tron ‘concept’, but says it’s pretty close to the production version due in 2024.

“I can promise you that a lot of what you see now will be available on the road,” said Wolf Seebers, who led the car’s exterior design.

The A6 Avant e-tron promises to be quick like its petrol forebears, and of course other EVs, reaching 100kph in under four seconds in dual motor guise, producing a combined 350kW (470hp) and 800Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque. A massive battery of “around 100kWh” will provide 700km of range under the optimistic WLTP testing cycle in a more efficient single-motor configuration.

It is based on the new forward-looking PPE platform, with the same dimensions as the A6 Sportback e-tron. At 4.96m long, 1.96m wide, and 1.44m high, it slots into the luxury station wagon class.

“The A6 Avant e-tron concept will attract a new audience to transition to fully-electric,” said Dean Sheed, general manager of Audi New Zealand. “We welcome the quattro and high-performance versions, which Audi is legendary for in the New Zealand market. The Avant body shape has a premium new design, whilst offering the extra utility that Kiwis love.”

It also offers clues to the look of future Audi electric models.

“With the Audi A6 Avant e-tron concept, we are offering a completely tangible look at future production models on our new PPE technology platform,” says Audi board member for technical development, Oliver Hoffmann. “We’re not just electrifying the Avant’s successful 45-year history. What we want most of all is to use technical skill to add an exclamation point. In particular, this includes powerful 800-volt technology, 270kW of charging capacity, and a WLTP range of up to 700kms.”

The Audi A6 Avant’s back end is not the only thing that qualifies it as the storage champ. With its 800-volt system and a charging capacity of up to 27kW, it can take in enough energy in just 10 minutes at a fast-charging station to drive about 300kms.

The models in the Audi A6 e-tron family are uncompromisingly suitable for long trips. Audi also says the A6 e-tron concept — as is typical for an electric car — outshines its rivals with combustion engines. Thanks to its high torque right from the first revolution, even entry-level models designed for efficiency will accelerate to 10 km/h in less than seven seconds. And in the top-of-the-line, high-performance models, this sprint can be reduced to well under four seconds.

Kia add Red Dot award to 2022 European COTY title

Shortly after being crowned 2022 European Car of the Year, the multi-award-winning Kia EV6 added overall victory in the prestigious 2022 Red Dot Design Awards.

The 50-strong expert jury of the renowned international design competition awarded the EV6 with the ‘Red Dot: Best of the Best’ accolade for its pioneering design. The all-electric crossover was also named winner of the Red Dot ‘Innovative Products’ category.

As Kia’s first dedicated battery-electric vehicle, the EV6 has a powerful visual identity, combining sharp stylistic elements and sculptural shapes. The EV6 is also the first Kia to be based on the company’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) which has given it a spacious interior, a driving range of up to 528km, and 800-volt ultra-fast charging technology that enables the vehicle to be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes.

Karim Habib, head of Kia Global Design Centre, said: “The EV6 is a very important vehicle for the Kia brand, as it is our first fully dedicated EV with our best technology for a new era. We have the ambition to keep pushing the boundaries of automotive design and to back up product substance with inventive, bold, and forwardlooking designs.

“These two Red Dot awards honour the hard work of our teams and encourage us to stay the course towards the future of environmentally responsible mobility for all.”

Since 2009, when the Kia Soul became the first vehicle from a Korean brand to receive the award, a total of 27 Kia models have won Red Dot awards. The EV6 is also the sixth Kia to receive the Red Dot ‘Best of the Best’ accolade.

COUSIN TO NEW ZEALAND COTY WINNER

It was the EV6’s cousin built on the same platform, the all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5, that claimed the 2021 New Zealand Car of the Year title — the third EV in a row to claim the prestigious award. Previous all-electric winners of the award were the Mercedes-Benz EQC in 2020, and the Jaguar I-Pace in 2019, but the Ioniq 5 is also the first winner of the award to qualify for the government’s ‘Clean Car’ rebate, with its entry-level variant eligible for an $8650 discount.

The fully dedicated electric platform features technology that allows for a range of up to 500km for premium variants, and high-speed charging able to add 85km of range in just five minutes on the new generation of hyperchargers. It’s a powerful and brisk performer, with the flagship variant’s dualmotor electric system mustering 225kW of power, and 605Nm of torque, which in turn delivers a 0-100kph sprint time of just 5.22 seconds.

And while the EV6 has new genre-defying styling, it’s the Ioniq 5 that makes all other cars look old-fashioned.

The New Zealand Car of the Year is selected by members of the New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild, the professional body for motoring journalists and content creators from around the country. The guild’s two dozen voting members test the vehicles in their home environment — important for providing a ‘real world’ result.

New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild president Richard Edwards notes the Ioniq 5 is a gamechanging vehicle.

“It is truly mould breaking, without sacrificing efficiency, practicality, or attractiveness. It is an allround intriguing car, even before you consider its exceptional all-electric drivetrain.”

Guild secretary Fred Alvrez lauded the car for its ‘clean sheet’ approach.

“The Ioniq 5 goes to show what a car manufacturer can do when they start with a clean sheet and create a car that’s an EV from the ground up. It drives brilliantly.”

Hyundai New Zealand general manager Chris Blair (left) and NZ Motoring Writers’ Guild president Richard Edwards

Renault resumes production in Moscow

After a pause following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Renault has resumed operations, apparently in response to Putin’s threat to nationalise factories of foreign companies that pull out.

While many others have pulled out of the market in response to economic sanctions, Renault said in late February that it was pausing production due to a “forced change in existing logistic routes”, but it had not pulled out of the market.

Renault is Russia’s largest foreign automaker. In mid-March, unnamed sources said it did not want to exit the market for fear of losing its production sites. The automaker was responding to threats made by the Russian government suggesting it would nationalise the production plants of foreign companies that pulled out of the market during its invasion of Ukraine.

The French automaker also owns a controlling 67.61 per cent share in Lada Auto Holding, which in turn owns Avtovaz, the maker of the very popular Lada brand of vehicles. In all, Renault controls about 30 per cent of Russia’s automotive market, employs around 40,000 people, and makes 8 per cent of its core earnings there, according to Citibank.

Avtovaz said recently that it was partially halting production at its plants in Togliatti and Izhevsk between 21-25 March due to shortages of electronics parts. Along with Lada models, the Izhevsk plant also produces Dacia Logan and Sandero at the plant, according to Reuters.

Reports indicate, though, that the economic sanctions being imposed against Russia could cause its automotive market to shrink by 50 per cent this year. Along with the economic sanctions, supply lines and production pauses have affected the market, too.

VW to go EV-only in America

Volkswagen is investing US$7.1 billion in North America over the next five years, to boost its product portfolio, regional R&D, and manufacturing capabilities, while phasing out petrol and diesel-powered vehicles from its line-up.

The company is aiming to exit from ICE sales at the beginning of the next decade.

An assortment of new electric vehicles will be built in the United States. As previously announced, the company’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, will begin building the ID4 in the second half of 2022.

The company will then begin building the ID Buzz in America in 2024, while new electric SUVs will follow, starting in 2026. Volkswagen Group brands will introduce more than 25 new electric vehicles to American consumers through 2030.

Besides new EV production, Volkswagen’s battery engineering lab in Chattanooga will start operations in May. It will enable the automaker to test and validate batteries for all their upcoming electric vehicles in the American marketplace.

Volkswagen is aiming to localise all major design and engineering responsibilities for body and interior products destined for the domestic markets by 2030. The company said this “approach reflects the company’s emphasis on American consumer demands, while scaling Volkswagen Group’s global vehicle platforms (MEB and future SSP)”. In effect, it sounds like future models will ride on a global architecture, but feature unique styling inside and out to appeal to Americans.

Volkswagen is also planning to upgrade its factories in Puebla and Silao, Mexico, for the assembly of electric vehicles and components (such as e-motors), by the middle of the decade.

Rented driveways

As the UK grapples with a new Workplace Parking Levy (WPL), a charge on employers who provide 11 or more workplace parking places, enterprising residents are offering a cheaper alternative.

Nottingham is currently the only city in the UK to have imposed the controversial policy, but it is feared other councils will soon follow suit.

In the event of a parking levy being introduced more widely, Harrison Woods, CEO at YourParkingSpace.co.uk, says parking on rented driveways could be a cost-effective option.

“Commuters can be reassured that alternative parking arrangements are available. Driveways listed near office locations can be a serious money-spinner for homeowners. In fact, on average, homeowners listing on YourParkingSpace made £892 in 2021 and a combined total of £26m.”

Audi gets in first with virtual reality platform

Audi reckons it will be the first automobile manufacturer in the world to bring virtual-reality entertainment from Holoride into series production.

Beginning mid-year in some markets, back-seat passengers can put on virtual reality glasses and immerse themselves in games, films, and interactive content — but the big draw is virtual content that will adapt to the driving movements of the car in real-time.

For example, if the car is taking a right turn, the spaceship in the imaginary world will also fly to the right. If the car accelerates, so will the spaceship. Initiated by Audi, the development of this innovative VR or XR (extended reality) technology is being advanced and commercialised for different manufacturers by the tech entertainment start-up Holoride.

The Munich-based start-up has established a completely new media category that they call ‘elastic content’ — content that adapts to driving movements, journey time, and driving routes. The result is immersive experiences with a previously unknown level of quality.

From June 2022, Audi models with the latest upgrade of the modular infotainment toolkit (MIB 3) could be Holoride-capable, but availability will vary according to market. The new start-up technology will launch in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the US markets. Other markets will follow successively.

According to Holoride, in the future the progressive automation of travel by car will make new forms of entertainment possible while driving. When drivers also no longer have to concentrate on driving, they can turn their attention to other things — work, reading, watching films, or gaming. The motion-synchronised voyage through virtual worlds with Holoride also reduces the common phenomenon of motion sickness often experienced by passengers reading a book or using electronic devices, as the visual information now syncs with the physical sensations.