Car News

BMW 3 Series refreshes style, technology and equipment

THE LATEST ITERATION OF THE BMW 3 SERIES WILL LAUNCH IN NEW ZEALAND LATER THIS YEAR,WITH A REFRESHED STYLING PACKAGE, CURVED MONITORS AND ENHANCED LEVELS OF EQUIPMENT

Since its launch in 1975, 16 million 3-series cars have been sold across the generations. It accounts for 14 per cent of BMW’s vehicle sales worldwide and 11.5 per cent of BMW New Zealand’s total registrations, and 509 examples of the current generation 3 Series have sold since launch in 2019.

The new cars feature redesigned headlights and kidney grille. Blue light effects below the headlight units also distinguish the front end in low light conditions. The Adaptive LED headlights’ range of functions includes the cornering light and nondazzling matrix high beam.

The interior of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan and Touring has had a comprehensive update, embodied by the BMW Curved Display, wherein a 12.3-inch information display behind the steering wheel and a control display with a screen diagonal of 14.9 inches merge together into a single, fully digital and highresolution unit.

BMW New Zealand will offer the new 3 Series Sedan in 320i, 330e plug-in hybrid and M340i xDrive variants, while the 3 Series Touring will be available solely in the 320d xDrive variant.

Secondary raw materials account for around 50 per cent of the material used in the aluminium castings for the BMW 3 Series. Approximately 16 per cent of all thermoplastics are recycled.

The latest version of BMW iDrive, BMW Operating System 8 featured in the new BMW 3 Series has extended the capabilities of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant.

The My BMW App acts as a universal digital interface between the driver and vehicle and for controlling the charging process for the high-voltage battery of the 330e plug-in hybrid model.

The new BMW 3 Series Sedan and Touring lineups will arrive in New Zealand in Q4 with pricing and specification detail to be announced closer to the launch date.

New Fiat 500 electric voted best small car

The New 500 Fiat has scooped the Small Electric Vehicle of the Year by Company Car Today and City Car of the Year Award by GQ magazine, and Best Small Car at the annual Autocar Awards.

Greg Taylor, UK managing director for Fiat and Abarth, said: “At the end of February, New 500 scooped its 25th award. Less than three months later, this award from Autocar marks the 30th accolade that our first, fully-electric car has picked up.”

The New 500 is the third generation of this iconic car, winning fans for its cute and distinctive design, manoeuvrability, and a driving range of up to 320km (WLTP) — the longest range of any electric city car on the market.

The car also earned Klaus Busse, Fiat’s vicepresident of design at the time, the Design Hero prize in last year’s Autocar Awards.

Autocar editor Mark Tisshaw said: “The 500 shows the direction for all small electric cars. Our roads aren’t getting any wider, and the 500’s dimensions are as useful on Turin’s streets as they are down an English country lane. The battery in the floor has banished any top-heaviness, and the stiff suspension, pointy steering, and impressive lateral grip give the responses a keen driver wants.

“It is genuinely joyful to look at and to drive. It is recognisable, it’s retro yet modern, it’s cute and it’s distinctive.”

Renault Trucks goes multi-modal

RENAULT TRUCKS E-TECH MASTER OPTIMODALE COMBINES THREE TYPES OF ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION IN ONE VEHICLE: A 3.5 TONNE LWB L3H1 E-TECH MASTER VAN WITH LOW LOADER LUTON BODY BY HORTON COMMERCIALS; AN EBULLITT ELECTRIC CARGO BIKE; AND PARCEL-CARRYING DRONE FROM UVATEK

Perhaps keen to have something to grab a bit of attention from the slew of electric vans and trucks currently being launched, Renault is touting this as an answer for logistics operations in crowded cities. The E-Tech OptiModale’s specially commissioned Low Loader Luton body holds the parcels and acts as the mothership for the eCargo bike and drone helipad system.

Grahame Neagus, head of LCV at Renault Trucks in the UK, says it will help address air quality and pollution in our cities, while improving productivity for operators. “By harnessing multiple modes of electric transport, this is an all-in-one sustainable solution that is set to transform the rapidly growing parcel market, and can be replicated anywhere in the world.”

It is a two-person operation, offering the flexibility of delivering larger parcels by van, while the second team member takes the eBullitt cargo bike for last mile deliveries where congestion is at its worst. The drone provides rapid deployment for urgent situations, such as delivering vital drugs or supplies to challenging or inaccessible locations. OptiModale delivers an innovative ‘last mile’ solution providing Renault Trucks logistics customers with a sustainable solution from 2kg all the way up to 44 tonne.

The Renault Trucks E-Tech Master Platform Cab chassis has the R75 electric motor and a 33kWh, or 52kWh battery, offering a typical range of around 130km before requiring charge. The 4100mm Low Loader Luton body by Horton Commercials is fully equipped for parcel delivery, with folding shelving, and electric cargo bike store to the nearside, complete with bike lift, and helidrone pad system.

Good show, old sport

ACTUALLY, IT WAS THE NEW SPORT VERSION OF THE RANGE ROVER THAT MADE ITS GLOBAL PREMIERE WITH A DRAMATIC WORLD-FIRST CLIMB UP A FLOODED DAM SPILLWAY IN ICELAND

The epic ascent saw the new Range Rover Sport overcome the surging torrent of water flowing down the ramp of the Karahnjukar Dam — the biggest of its kind in the world — at a rate of 750 tonnes per minute. A loss of traction risked plunging the car and James Bond stunt driver Jessica Hawkins down the perilous 90m drop at the base of the spillway to the valley floor below.

The third generation of Land Rover’s luxury performance SUV has the most advanced combination of chassis technologies ever fitted to a Land Rover and demonstrated its grip, traction, performance, and composure on the spillway in the latest in a series of challenges. Previous feats include a record-setting hill-climb at Pikes Peak, a first recorded crossing of the ‘Empty Quarter’ desert in the Arabian Peninsula, and a first ascent of the 999 steps to Heaven’s Gate in China, in 2018.

Nick Collins, executive director vehicle programmes, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Land Rover’s pioneering MLA-Flex architecture and the latest chassis systems come together to deliver the highest levels of dynamism we’ve ever seen on Range Rover Sport. Integrated chassis control governs the comprehensive suite of innovations, coordinating everything from the latest switchable-volume air suspension system to our dynamic response pro electronic active roll control. The result is the most engaging and thrilling Range Rover Sport ever.”

The spillway climb was the final obstacle on the drive from the valley floor to the summit of the dam, taking in a flooded riverbed, the concrete tunnels of the hydro-electric dam, and the rocky dam wall itself. The final 294m stretch of spillway rises at 40 degrees and climbs 193m, with water cascading down to provide the ultimate test of traction and driver confidence.

Stunt driver Jessica Hawkins said: “The power of the water surging down the spillway was breath-taking from the side of the valley. Driving into it knowing that a 90-metre drop was waiting behind me at the bottom of the slope, if things went wrong, made this the most challenging drive I’ve ever undertaken. Despite the steep slope and rushing water, The new Range Rover Sport made it look easy. Its traction, composure, and commanding visibility inspired so much confidence I was able to enjoy the whole experience.”

The new 530PS V8 twin turbo provides sportscar performance, with 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds with dynamic launch engaged. Mild-hybrid petrol and diesel Ingenium engines are options, while pure-electric propulsion will be available in 2024.

Classic car drivers divided

A recent poll has found 70 per cent of classic car enthusiasts want the UK government to create a new vehicle class solely for EV conversions

Stripping internal combustion engines and running gear out of classics and converting them to electric power has risen in popularity in the past decade, with TV shows dedicated to the conversion process and major UK companies getting in on the act.

To date, however, only modern EVs are classed as an EV on their official registration documentation, and through a poll by specialist insurance company Footman James, the classic car community voted that this naming and documentation should change. Instead of classic cars continuing to have their internal combustion engine and designation, 70 per cent of (more than two out of three) respondents said that the DVLA should class them as a new class of vehicle.

The question asked was: As it stands, modern electric vehicles have their own DVLA classification and classic vehicles are given the historical class when they hit 40 years of age. But what should happen to electric classic conversions? Should they be recognised independently on a V5C, as a new class of vehicle?

Of the 1355 respondents, 942 people voted yes (69.52 per cent) and 413 voted no (30.48 per cent).

The road to green travel

GIVEN THE GOVERNMENT’S ANNOUNCEMENT TO PUT NEW ZEALAND ON THE ROAD TO A GREENER FUTURE, WE THOUGHT WE’D HAVE A LOOK IN ON PROGRESS IN THE UK WHICH HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD TO NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS IN 2050 FOR A FEW YEARS NOW

According to the UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC), that necessitates that 55 per cent of all lightduty vehicles — cars, vans, motorbikes, and mopeds — are battery powered by 2032, or 23 million vehicles in 10 years’ time.

Volkswagen Financial Services UK (VWFS) has instigated a new report to track progress of EV adoption against the targets and its first EV tracker report makes two key observations. Firstly, according to the latest Department for Transport (DfT) statistics, the UK is currently ahead of the required adoption curve to meet the 2032 EV target. However, economic headwinds may impact purchase levels in the short term.

Secondly, the creation of a robust and fit-forpurpose public charging infrastructure is off the pace. It is currently unbalanced across the UK. In the UK the sale of new petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles will cease in eight years’ time, in 2030.

Over the past decade, sales across the EV fleet — including battery electric cars (BEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), range-extended electric cars, and hybrid electric vehicles — have been modest, with accelerated sales volumes only commencing from around 2016, according to the Department for Transport.

Since then momentum has intensified and 2021 delivered a step change.

According to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), over the last year sales of EVs outstripped volume levels for the past five years combined. As an illustration of 2021’s surge in EV adoption, sales of battery electric cars increased by 154 per cent, versus the total car market increase of 23 per cent.

On the Climate Change Committee adoption curve for 2032, the UK was over 60,000 vehicles ahead of the curve at that point. The volume of electric cars on UK roads currently account for 2.6 per cent of all passenger cars (460,000 BEVs and 384,000 PHEVs, against approximately 32 million cars in total).

In terms of market trends, figures illustrate that battery electric cars have overtaken plug-in hybrid solutions for the first time in sales volume, though both categories displayed overall growth.

Alongside this, the motor industry remains intent on delivering a strategy of wider choice for the consumer to maintain momentum and spark further interest. At least 16 significant battery electric vehicle models are set to be launched during 2022, with more earmarked to enter the marketplace in 2023. The resulting range of models and increasingly competitive price points will help to widen EV appeal to prospective new owners.

Forecasts outlined by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) suggest that up to 480,000 public charging points will be needed across the UK by 2030.

According to estimates published by the European Commission, every 10 electric vehicles on the road require one public charger solution. However, we know there are 460,000 BEVs currently on the road and approximately 300,000 home charge points installed, which leaves 160,000 BEV drivers without a home charger.

Based on public charging points per 100,000 people, drivers in London and the South East enjoy access to 128 points. This is more than Wales (29), Scotland (47), and Northern Ireland (17) combined.

The issue of accessing a convenient public charging point is causing a new phenomenon — ‘charging anxiety’.

Volkswagen Financial Services UK’s data insights team says ‘charging anxiety’ is replacing previous worries linked to vehicle range.

According to EV driver app Zap-Map, an estimated 6 per cent of chargers are found to be faulty or not working at any one time. With the total number of chargers needed to support the 600,000-plus EVs on the road currently known to fall short of the required volume, nervousness about such charging performance-related issues could undermine the conviction of drivers going forward.

While the strong sales of EVs during 2021 and early 2022 was notable, emerging social and economic challenges could impact sales in the short term.

A combination of cost-of-living pressures, tax rises, escalating energy costs, and global market uncertainty is denting consumer sentiment and affecting behaviour.

The result of this changing scenario for many is that larger discretionary purchases such as a new car may be delayed or even cancelled.

E-Transit gets E-Transit Custom version

Ford Pro has revealed first details of the allnew, all-electric E-Transit Custom

Following hot on the heels of the all-electric E-Transit that began production in March this year — and the first of four further all-electric commercial vehicles — is the E-Transit Custom that Ford of New Zealand will introduce in 2024.

It demonstrates Ford’s commitment to reach zero emissions for all Ford vehicle sales in Europe and carbon neutrality across its European footprint by 2035.

E-Transit Custom’s no-compromise, allelectric architecture helps to deliver a decent range, fast-charging, full towing capability, and cool looks, in addition to a suite of business productivity features that, says Ford, means their vans have never worked harder.

Hans Schep, general manager, Ford Pro, Europe said: “Europe’s best-selling van just went all-electric and — supported by our unique Ford Pro one-stop-shop of productivity-boosting services — the operating benefits this will bring to business cannot be overstated.”

The 400-volt, 67kWh battery-powered electric E-Transit van is designed to help business thrive while meeting its sustainability targets, delivering up to 350km of driving range on a single charge. The all-electric engine means the E-Transit is a ULEZ compliant vehicle. Pro Power Onboard also lets operators plug their tools onsite into a 2.3kW/230-volt socket to provide power wherever they need it. The E-Transit will be available in a long wheelbase, with medium or high roof option. The allelectric E-Transit Custom will enter production in the second half of 2023.