Volkswagen has already served up a suite of concepts for its upcoming electric vehicles built on its modular electric architecture (MEB). While most of those are likely headed to volume production in some form, now it’s brought out a fun one: the VW ID Buggy concept. In a release on the concept, which bowed at the Geneva Motor Show today, VW...
After announcing the base Model 3 on Thursday, Tesla cut prices on the luxury Model S and Model X. CEO Elon Musk also announced a reveal date for the company's long-awaited Model Y SUV. Mercedes-Benz announced that it will join the Formula E racing series. And Ford has delayed releasing new charge cables for its hybrids following an August recall...
In a Tweet Sunday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the company will host an event on Thursday March 14 to reveal its long-planned Model Y SUV. The company will host a reveal event at its Hawthorne, California, design studios, as it has done with all previous models. The company said it will offer more detailed specs, as well as rides in the...
Six months after Ford issued a recall over a fire risk and its charge cords, some drivers of Ford plug-in vehicles still don’t have the peace of mind of a new charge cord. The recall, issued last August, affected or the 120V AC “convenience charge cord” that Ford supplies with more than 49,000 U.S.-market vehicles—including...
Along with its announcement of a new base Model 3 Standard Range last week, Tesla also announced that it would cut prices across the board, including on its more expensive Model S and Model X vehicles. In addition to introducing new standard range Model S and X vehicles in late January, when it also dropped prices on the luxury cars by $1,000...
Mercedes-Benz is formally entering Formula E electric-car racing for the upcoming 2019-2020 season, and for the upcoming Geneva Motor Show it has revealed what it terms a “teaser” version of the racing car, called the EQ Silver Arrow 01. Mercedes says that it “provides an idea of the team’s Formula E campaign to...
They say racing improves the breed. Usually that means learning to make cars go faster or handle or stop better. Electric-car racing series Formula E aims not just to improve the performance of electric cars but also to inspire the world to buy cleaner, more efficient cars. Formula E announced a partnership in February with Belgian recycling...
Which two startup companies showed new ways to get more miles out of an electric vehicle? What Chinese automaker received approval to import new models to the U.S. this week? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending March 1, 2019. Tesla has promised a $35,000 electric car with 220...
In late January, Audi sent its first fully electric-powered SUV onto the slopes where the world’s best ski racers battle for victory in the Hahnenkamm Race. The specially equipped Audi e-tron climbed the “Mausefalle” on the legendary “Streif”. With an 85 percent gradient, it is the steepest section of the spectacular downhill course.
With an 85 percent gradient, the “Mausefalle” is the steepest section of the famous “Streif” downhill course in Kitzbühel. To climb this passage, the Audi e-tron technology demonstrator was equipped with the triple motor powertrain originally shown when the e-tron SUV concept made it's debut in 2015.
With two electric motors on the rear axle and one electric motor on the front axle, (the production e-tron has only one motor per axle) the technology demonstrator achieved a total boost output of up to 370 kW and wheel torque of 8,920 Nm (6,579.1 lb-ft). This ensured full performance on the steep gradient. Audi also modified the software with respect to drive torque and torque distribution for the special conditions on the “Streif”. 19-inch wheels with spikes developed specifically for this driving event provided the necessary grip on snow and ice.
“Conquering an 85 percent gradient sounds impossible at first,” says Mattias Ekström, who was behind the wheel of the Audi e-tron technology demonstrator. “Even I was impressed with the way this car handles such difficult terrain,” adds the World Rallycross champion and two-time DTM champion. He considers this event to be one of his most extraordinary experiences.
For the greatest possible safety, the Audi e-tron technology demonstrator was equipped with a roll cage and a racing seat with a six-point harness. The vehicle itself was equipped with a belay, through which a safety cable was run. There was no pulling device.
Audi had a strong partner at its side for this project: the Austrian beverage producer Red Bull. The two companies are long-standing partners of the Hahnenkamm Race and conducted this event together. The Audi e-tron technology demonstrator also illustrated this collaboration with a special set of decals.
When it arrives in dealers this month, the longer-range 2019 Nissan Leaf S Plus will cost $37,445, including destination, the automaker said Friday. That's in line with what we expected from documents leaked earlier this year, and drives the net price of the compact hatchback close to $30,000, if federal rebates are maxed. The Leaf S Plus is...
Volkswagen has already served up a suite of concepts for its upcoming electric vehicles built on its modular electric architecture (MEB). While most of those are likely headed to volume production in some form, now it’s brought out a fun one: the VW ID Buggy concept. In a release on the concept, which bowed at the Geneva Motor Show today, VW... 
After announcing the base Model 3 on Thursday, Tesla cut prices on the luxury Model S and Model X. CEO Elon Musk also announced a reveal date for the company's long-awaited Model Y SUV. Mercedes-Benz announced that it will join the Formula E racing series. And Ford has delayed releasing new charge cables for its hybrids following an August recall... 
In a Tweet Sunday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the company will host an event on Thursday March 14 to reveal its long-planned Model Y SUV. The company will host a reveal event at its Hawthorne, California, design studios, as it has done with all previous models. The company said it will offer more detailed specs, as well as rides in the... 
Six months after Ford issued a recall over a fire risk and its charge cords, some drivers of Ford plug-in vehicles still don’t have the peace of mind of a new charge cord. The recall, issued last August, affected or the 120V AC “convenience charge cord” that Ford supplies with more than 49,000 U.S.-market vehicles—including... 
Along with its announcement of a new base Model 3 Standard Range last week, Tesla also announced that it would cut prices across the board, including on its more expensive Model S and Model X vehicles. In addition to introducing new standard range Model S and X vehicles in late January, when it also dropped prices on the luxury cars by $1,000... 
Mercedes-Benz is formally entering Formula E electric-car racing for the upcoming 2019-2020 season, and for the upcoming Geneva Motor Show it has revealed what it terms a “teaser” version of the racing car, called the EQ Silver Arrow 01. Mercedes says that it “provides an idea of the team’s Formula E campaign to... 
They say racing improves the breed. Usually that means learning to make cars go faster or handle or stop better. Electric-car racing series Formula E aims not just to improve the performance of electric cars but also to inspire the world to buy cleaner, more efficient cars. Formula E announced a partnership in February with Belgian recycling... 
Which two startup companies showed new ways to get more miles out of an electric vehicle? What Chinese automaker received approval to import new models to the U.S. this week? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending March 1, 2019. Tesla has promised a $35,000 electric car with 220... 
When it arrives in dealers this month, the longer-range 2019 Nissan Leaf S Plus will cost $37,445, including destination, the automaker said Friday. That's in line with what we expected from documents leaked earlier this year, and drives the net price of the compact hatchback close to $30,000, if federal rebates are maxed. The Leaf S Plus is...