As Tesla stock soars, Fisker intends to go public

Fisker OceanAs Tesla stock soars, electric-car startup Fisker Inc. announced Monday that it plans to become a publicly-listed company. In order to go public, Fisker will merge with Spartan Energy Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition firm backed by private equity firm Apollo Global Management. The deal values the combined companies at $2.9 million...

Volkswagen ID.3 electric car gets range-extending rubber

Volkswagen ID 3The Volkswagen ID.3 electric car sports special tires to help extend its range. The Turanza Eco tires were specially engineered for the hatchback, and feature lower rolling resistance and lower weight than previous rubber, according to manufacturer Bridgestone. Their rolling resistance is 30% lower than standard premium summer tires, a Bridgestone...

Ramping up to electric trucks, Rivian has raised $5.3B since early 2019

Rivian R1TEV firm Rivian hasn't delivered a single vehicle yet, but the company has raised roughly $5.3 billion since early 2019. Rivian said Friday that it had just closed a $2.5 billion funding round, its first of 2020. The financing was led by funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., a Rivian press release said. The latest funding...

Review update: 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe Turbo S E-Hybrid trolls coal

2020 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupe drive review  -  July 2020You’ve got to be kidding. That was my reaction when I first heard that the fastest Porsche SUV ever was also a plug-in hybrid with what Porsche claimed to be meaningful all-electric range. To skeptics, this 670-horsepower machine with a 0-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 183 mph might read as a grudge-match move—a...

Fisker gets new funding and talent for development of Ocean EV

Teaser for Fisker Ocean electric SUVElectric-car startup Fisker Inc. announced Thursday that it had hired several new executives, and secured $50 million in funding for development of its Ocean SUV, due in 2022. The financing came through a Series C funding round led by Moore Strategic Ventures LLC, the private investment vehicle of Louis M. Bacon, according to a Fisker press...

London black cab spawns range-extended electric delivery van

LEVC VN5The company that made London's iconic black cab greener is now doing the same with delivery vans. London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) is using its extended-range electric taxi as the basis for a new van. Called the VN5, it's currently available to order, with deliveries of right-hand drive vehicles for the United Kingdom scheduled to begin...

2021 Audi A7 plug-in hybrid fastback: US details confirmed

2021 Audi A7 55 TFSI e plug-in hybridAudi is adding a third plug-in hybrid model to its United States lineup. The 2021 Audi A7 55 TFSI e will join the Q5 55 TFSI e crossover and A8 60 TFSI e sedan in U.S. showrooms this fall, the automaker announced Wednesday. The A7 plug-in hybrid uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 gasoline engine and 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, with an...

Former Smart plant was headed all-electric, now might make diesel SUVs

Daimler Hambach factoryHere's a textbook case of taking two steps forward, and one step back. The former Smart factory in Hambach, France, became all-electric when the brand dropped its gasoline models, and was initially planned to continue making electric cars for fellow Daimler division Mercedes-Benz. Instead, the factory may build gasoline and diesel SUVs. That's...

Report: Audi A9 EV due in 2024 could be a high-efficiency flagship

2019 Audi E-tronThe "highly efficient electric car" Audi said was being developed by its new Artemis team for 2024 won't be a compact vehicle as originally expected, but a large flagship sedan, Autocar reported Monday. The new model has the internal codename E6, but could take on the A9 E-Tron name for production, the magazine reported, citing anonymous sources...