World Car Blog

World Car Blog

Friday, 22 November 2019 22:18

2021 Renault Clio

Renault has a big expectation for the fifth generation of its Clio supermini. Forecast is that the model should have better sales then the outgoing version who still selling quite well.

The Clio is the third most popular car in Europe. He is just behind the VW Golf and Polo. 

It is the first car to be based on a new platform that will be shared by Renault's partners Nissan and Mitsubishi. It is 14mm shorter than the previous Clio yet Renault claims much greater passenger space.

The all-new version is said to more modern and athletic, combining "evolutionary exterior styling with revolutionary interior design", meaning sculpted lines and a more assertive front.

New interior of 2021 Renault Clio

The interior will have improvements in perceived quality. The new 2020 Clio will have a soft coating on the dashboard, door panels and centre console surround, and technology. A so-called ‘Smart Cockpit’ includes vertical, 9.3-inch vertical multimedia screen and a 10-inch TFT digital instrument binnacle replacing the model's traditional analogue display.

Other areas to which Renault paid particular attention are the steering wheel and the seats, with new designs and higher quality materials.

Renault will offer the new R.S. Line trim level. Although it is claimed to be inspired directly by Renault Sport, it is more a styling package in the manner of M-branded BMWs and AMG-spec Mercedes. Let's hope that in the fullness of time there will be a proper Renault Sport version of this Clio, as previous iterations have been some of the finest-handling hot hatchbacks around.

 

Friday, 22 November 2019 21:23

2021 BMW Vision iNext Electric

Release date of new 2021 BMW Vision iNext

The release date for this remarkable electric SUV from BMW factory will be on 2021. New electric car is designed to offer advanced autonomous systems and will be BMW's brand leader when it goes on sale in 2021.

Concept of 2021 BMW Vision iNext

The 2021 BMW Vision iNext will have the similar size as the X5 SUV. Is a showcase for BMW’s autonomous, electric and connected vehicle technologies. It is referred to by the firm as ‘Project i 2.0’, a reference to the firm’s original 2007 electric concept car that previewed it's electric I range. 

The BMW has reveald iNext will be the first car on a bold a new platform at the LA motor show.

According informations from BMW the Vision iNext was developed to address key questions for the future of motoring, with a focus on electrification, connectivity and autonomy.

BMW Group chairman Harold Kruger said: “The iNext project will provide our building blocks for the future, from which the entire company and all of its brands are set to benefit.”

The Vision iNext was described by BMW development boss Klaus Frohlich as a “brand leader” that will sit outside the growing I range. If we look outside the new BMW Vision iNext have a similar size as BMW X5. If we compare inside due to its EV architecture, with front and rear motors and underfloor batteries, he provide a more space then X5.

 

Friday, 22 November 2019 21:23

2022 BMW 7 Series

The next-generation 2022 BMW 7 Series has some rumors that release date should be at the second part of 2021.  According to a new report from BMW Blog, the next-generation 7 Series will offer an all-electric model. This comes months after another report from the publication suggested the model should have it's V8 and V12 engines. 

The all-electric 7 Series is allegedly dubbed the i7, and development is well underway. BMW Blog’s sources say battery pack capacity could range from 80 kilowatt hours to 120 kWh. This means the future i7 could offer a range of 700 kilometers (434 miles) on a single charge.

For sure the new 2022 BMW 7 Series sedan could lose its most powerful engines is concerning, there’s no doubt the all-electric engine would easily fill those potent shoes. According the rumors the top-tier i7 offering could have at least 650 horsepower (484 kilowatts), which would make it one powerful sedan.

Whilst not illustrated here, we would imagine an interior that ditches the garish silver trim around the air vents, and exudes more driver-focused BMW principles of old. A wraparound center stack and sporty driving position would make a comeback, featuring cutting edge infotainment technology and semi-autonomous driver assists.

BMW is diving grille first into electrification. Even though rumors say the next 7 Series will lack large-displacement engines, don’t expect the next generation of the sedan to be slow.

BMW’s 3.0-liter inline-six engine will allegedly continue for both the plug-in and mild-hybrid 7 Series with the entry-level, hybrid-powered 7 Series reportedly making 560 hp (420 kW) and 590 pound-feet (800 Newton-meters) of torque. Those are impressive performance numbers. 

The company BMW is pushing hard into electrification, preparing for an inevitable though uncertain EV future.

 

 

The Ford Mustang has a historic lineage that spans multiple decades, features hundreds of variations, and amounts to more than 10 million models sold. In the world of muscle cars, it is one of the most successful vehicles to ever do it. But with the future looming, the iconic Pony Car needs to take a dramatic new approach. The Ford Mustang Mach-E is both the first production-bound electric Mustang and the first Mustang crossover. It arrives as a vital stepping stone in Ford's push toward an electrified future, blending capability, performance, and efficiency into a single battery-powered package.

Mach-E For Everyone
So let’s get into the fundamentals. The Ford Mustang Mach-E comes with two lithium-ion battery pack options: standard range and extended range. The standard-range version uses a 75.7-kilowatt-hour, 288-cell pack, sending power to a large rear motor, while the extended-range option uses a larger 98.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack with 376 cells, sending power to both a motor at the front axle and rear. All that electricity gives the Mustang Mach-E a maximum range of up to 370 miles (under WLTP regulations) per charge on certain trim levels when equipped with the optional extended-range battery pack and rear-drive layout.

All-wheel-drive models with the same extended-range batteries will see their range drop to 270 miles (EPA estimated). The standard-range model with the smaller battery pack and rear-wheel-drive can cover 230 miles (EPA), while the same battery pack driving all four wheels drops that figure to 210 miles (EPA).

The only outlier is the Mach-E GT Performance. While the Mach-E GT Performance gets the same extended-range battery-pack and all-wheel-drive layout as the First Edition and Premium models, its performance-oriented approach means its total range drops to 250 miles (EPA). Naturally, range varies depending on how you spec it:

The Mustang Mach-E does come in a few different flavours. But consumers can only choose from two options beginning in 2020: Premium and First Edition. The First Edition model comes with the extended range battery pack and all-wheel drive standard, as well as unique visual treatments like red brake calipers, metallic pedal covers, and unique badging. But those hoping to get the least expensive Mach-E will have to wait until 2021, when the base Mach-E Select arrives.

That more affordable model offers a standard-range battery pack and either rear or all-wheel drive. The more-powerful California Route 1 model, which comes exclusively with extended range and all-wheel drive, won’t be available until early 2021 as well. The range-topping Mach-E GT Performance, the most powerful of the group ( for now), doesn't go on sale until later in 2021.

The Mach-E’s range figures are extremely competitive for the class. Not even top-end versions of cars like the Kia Niro EV (282 miles), Jaguar I-Pace (292 miles), or Audi E-Tron (222 miles) offer as much WLTP range. The Tesla Model Y, though not in production yet, beats the Mach-E with 336 miles of range on the long range RWD model.

Power Up
Ford guarantees its customers have access to 125,000 FordPass Charging Network locations in 21 countries across Europe. With the purchase of the Mach-E, buyers get access to said massive charging network using FordPass Connect, with the ability to recharge up to 57 miles in just 10 minutes with a maximum 150-kilowatt DC fast charging rate. Though, note that competitors like the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model 3 can charge at rates as high as 250-kilowatts.

For the U.S. market Ford also offers a few home solutions, as well. A Ford Mobile Charger comes standard with the purchase of any Mach-E. Plugged into a typical 120-volt outlet, the home charger will trickle out an estimated range of about three miles each hour. Plugging the same Ford Mobile Charger into a more-powerful 240-volt outlet yields up to 22 miles of range each hour. Ford says that this application will charge up to 80 percent of the Mach-E’s pack overnight and makes the most sense for consumers.

But those buyers really wanting to take their charging game to the next level can purchase the optional Ford Connected Charge Station. Plugged into a 240-volt outlet, the higher-powered, 48-amp option adds approximately 32 miles of range each hour to the Mach-E. Ford says this is an easy way to get full charging overnight without utilising a public station. And more importantly, the company works closely with Amazon services for installation of said chargers.

It is unknown at this point whether the Ford Mobile Charger or the optional Ford Connected Charge Station will be made available in the UK.

Dial 'E' For Excitement
Don’t fret, Mustang faithful, performance is still a major part of the Mach-E’s equation. Even with its impressive range and charging capabilities, Ford tells us the Mach-E "still drives like a Mustang." And has the horsepower of one, too.

The most powerful model, the Mach-E GT Performance, produces 459 bhp and 612 pound-feet of torque, giving it the ability to hit 60 miles per hour in about 3.5 seconds. But, as mentioned, that model won’t be available until the spring of 2021. Until then, buyers will have to make do with the next quickest models available in 2020: the Premium and First Edition.

With the extended-range battery pack and all-wheel drive, the Premium and First Edition trims produce up to 332 bhp and 417 pound-feet of torque. The extended-range California Route 1 (not available until 2021) and Premium models with rear-wheel drive produce 282 hp and 306 lb-ft.

Even the lowliest Mach-E is no slouch. The base Select model with the standard-range battery pack and rear-wheel drive produces 255 bhp and 306 lb-ft. Adding all-wheel drive to that same trim bumps the torque figure to 429 lb-ft. The base Select model, though, is the only trim that doesn’t offer an extended-range battery pack.

The stretched, revised pony logos on the six-sided grille and boot lid give away the Mach-E's family ties. But even the angled LED headlights share something in common with the coupe with which it shares its name, as do the tri-bar taillights. Outside of the obvious crossover cues and four-door setup, there are few areas where the Mach-E stands out next to its sibling.

For one, the Mach-E has no door handles. Instead, there are pillar-mounted buttons that pop the doors open upon pressing them, and a pull handle on the front driver and passenger sides. The rear doors, for whatever reason, don't get a pull handle. And the wheels don’t carry over from the coupe, either. Each version of the Mach-E gets its own 18-, 19-, or 20-inch wheel designs

The Mach-E's interior is all new, as well. The animal-free cabin uses high-quality materials like synthetic "Sensico" leather on the seats and steering wheel – a brand-new material for Ford – as well as Premium Black Onyx or Space Gray cloth on the dash and speakers, the latter of which looks ripped from an Amazon Alexa or Google Home unit. The dash, meanwhile, has a shape reminiscent of the first Mustang, which is a neat touch.

A massive 15.5-inch touchscreen sits front and centre on the dash, though it does feature a physical volume dial. That large touchscreen is standard throughout the range, as is the 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and all-new steering wheel through which to view it. Ford's newest Sync infotainment system is also standard, as is Co-Pilot 360 2.0, Ford's latest active safety suite.

In terms of cargo room, the Mach-E offers a respectable 402 litres of space behind the rear seats. Fold the rear row, and there's 1,420 litres of room. And because there's no engine up front, the Mach-E has a "frunk," or front trunk (boot), with up to 136 litres. Not only is the frunk large enough for a traditional carry-on suitcase and then some, but is lined with a washable material and features a drain. Ford designers note it’s great for tailgating. Cabin space is equally impressive; the Mach-E's 1,029 mm of front headroom with the optional fixed glass roof is best in a class that includes cars like the I-Pace, Niro EV, and E-Tron, as is the 1,060 mm of front legroom.

Availability
The Mach-E goes on sale in Europe at the end of 2020 in Premium and First Edition trims only. Select, California Route 1, and GT Performance models won't be available until 2021. In the U.S. pricing for the Mach-E will range from just above $40,000 (approx. £30,890 at the current exchange rate) to the mid-$60,000s (£46,335), depending on how it’s spec'd. Ford will release European pricing information at a later date. But buyers interested in ordering the Mach-E early can place a $500 (approx. £390) refundable reservation deposit on the Ford consumer site right now.

Monday, 18 November 2019 11:59

2019 Audi A6 Prestige Review: Sweet 6

Clean styling, a beautiful interior, and smart tech abound in the new A6.

Competition among luxury car makers has ratcheted up to a fever pitch over the past several years. But while the primary battlegrounds in this particular war are among crossovers and SUVs, the fight for supremacy in the luxury sedan segment remains fierce with the usual combatants from Germany mingling with an upstart brand from South Korea and still pesky rivals from Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Among these vehicles sits the new 2019 Audi A6. Fresh off a comprehensive redesign that sees it successfully marry traditional luxury car qualities with the sort of smart, understandable tech implementation that's set the company apart over the past several years. You have a huge amount of choice when shopping for a vehicle in this class, but it's hard to ignore a vehicle that ticks as many boxes as the A6.

Audi styled the A6 in the same language as the bigger A8, but it's like the smaller car is speaking a different dialect of said language, at least in terms of exterior design. The A6 gets more assertive, less conservative lines throughout, more emotive headlights and taillights, and a generally more stylish character. A big part of that added character comes from the car’s massive grille and flat-ish hood – this is a clean attractive piece of design.

Out back, a strip of chrome that runs between the taillights gives a sense of width, although the fake exhaust outlets that sit in the lower bumper aren’t exactly stylish. Please delete these silly things, Audi. No one is going to lose their hair over the absence of visible exhausts, but they'll probably be confused as hell about fake ones.

Where the A6's exterior has dialectical differences with its big sibling, the cabins of the two cars are pretty much identical. Three displays dominate the interior, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster running Audi's Virtual Cockpit, and a pair of touchscreen displays – 10.1 inches up top and 8.6 inches on the bottom – resting on the center stack.

It's a thoroughly modern look that, along with the real metal accents, contrasts classically with the warmth of the matte wood trim and soft leather upholstery. We really like the strip of metal that runs across the dash, bisecting the climate-control vents and making the cabin feel even more spacious than it already is. There are less successful touches here, though, particularly with the electric shift lever, which is cumbersome and unlikable when changing gears. But that's a minor flaw in an otherwise handsome place.

The A6 matches up neatly against its rivals in the comfort department, offering comfortable, supportive front seats, ample legroom on the pleasant rear bench, a quiet, smooth ride, and plenty of space for stuff. That's enough for a near perfect score.

Up front, the Valcona leather-upholstered seats are easy to spend hours in, with our tester’s offering heating and ventilation. The range of adjustment is impressive, while fans of sitting on the floor – your author is raising his hand – will love the A6's seating position. Visibility from the driver's seat is excellent fore, aft, and laterally.

Climb in back, and the bench is a fine place to hang out. Headroom is ample, although we aren't so sure about stuffing people in three abreast (in fairness, that's true of the competition, too). The A6 offers more legroom – 37.4 inches – than any of its competitors aside from the odd-duck Infiniti Q70L, a vehicle that essentially dates back to 2011. This Audi does a fine impression of an executive sedan, even with the front seats setup for your six-foot, one-inch author.

Ride quality is adequate, although our tester's optional 21-inch wheels and 35-series tires wouldn't be our first choice. They look good and contribute to the A6's sharp handling (more on that in a bit), but the A6's available 19- and 20-inch wheels would unquestionably provide a smoother ride.

As part of its redesign, the A6 (and its sexier sibling, the A7) adopted the screen-intensive layout of the A8 and Q8. That means a digital instrument cluster running Audi's excellent Virtual Cockpit software. The 12.3-inch display essentially relegates the primary 10.1-inch display atop the center stack to backup status with its reconfigurability and the dearth of information it offers. Aside from the climate controls, you can easily operate the A6's primary systems via the instrument cluster and the controls on the steering wheel.

The lower 8.6-inch touchscreen is home to the climate controls and also doubles as a screen for native handwriting inputs. Interacting with the lower screen is a pleasure, particularly compared to other twin-screen setups like those found on Jaguar Land Rover's newest products.

The screens respond quickly to inputs and with a reassuring pulse from a haptic feedback motor. The native handwriting software is an enjoyable and intuitive way of searching for destinations in the nav system, too. Just swipe and flick each letter or number and the main display actively responds as the driver adds additional characters. It's one of the rare cases where touch controls feel not just equal to a physical knob, but vastly superior.

The only point the A6 fails to earn is for its audio system. The 15-speaker Bang and Olufsen audio system packs 705 watts of power, but it simply doesn't have the presence of the competitive Burmester sets found in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class or BMW 5-Series. The pop-up tweeters are a neat touch, but the plastic speaker grilles lack the overall panache of the metal grilles of the Audi’s German rivals.

Audi offers the A6 with either a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder or a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. The four-pot packs 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, while the V6 is good for 335 hp and 369 lb-ft – go for the former if you just want a comfortable, relaxed ride. The latter, meanwhile, is a delight, with ample low- and mid-range torque. It feels like the engine this car was meant to have.

Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the 3.0-liter V6 neatly bridges the gap between the base model and the 444-hp S6. Acceleration is smooth in most circumstances, although kicking the car into Dynamic mode brings about more aggressive transmission behavior and a sharper throttle response.

The pairing gets the A6 to 60 miles per hour in 5.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 130 mph. That's a smidge behind the Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic, which has 362 hp and 369 lb-ft and can hit 60 in five seconds flat. The speedster's choice, though, is the BMW 540i. With 335 hp and 331 lb-ft, it can scamper to 60 in 4.6 seconds. The Jaguar XF is also moderately quicker with its range-topping S trim scooting to 60 in 5.0 seconds thanks to its 380-hp supercharged 3.0-liter V6.

Our only real complaint with Audi's engine is that it doesn't sound very nice relative to the sonorous and smooth-sounding straight-six from BMW or as serious as the Jag's V6. That's a minor quibble, though. This is a very likable powertrain.

Every A6 features a multi-link suspension while an optional sport suspension reduces the ride height by three-quarters of an inch. The Prestige trim offers adaptive dampers (the former is a $1,050 option and comes with 20-inch wheels, while the latter carries a $2,500 premium and includes four-wheel steering). The impressively composed ride while cruising firms up neatly in Dynamic mode. This is an agile, fun-to-drive sedan that limits body roll without feeling uncomfortable. Feedback through the nicely weighted steering is suitable for the A6's purpose as a sporty luxury sedan, although the chassis is more isolated than the equivalent 5 Series or E-Class.

Our 2019 A6 Prestige carries the $2,750 Driver Assistance package, although that setup comes standard on the 2020 A6 Prestige. It includes full-speed adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assistance, full-speed automatic emergency braking, an advanced lane-keeping system with lane centering, traffic sign recognition, and a surround-view camera system. That's a decent roster of equipment, especially as the Prestige trim includes Audi's advanced Matrix LED headlights.

These advanced headlights shine brighter without blinding oncoming traffic, although that particular bit of tech isn't active in the U.S. Still, the technology is there once the federal government approves the tech.

With the 3.0-liter V6, the A6 returns 22 miles per gallon city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, although premium fuel is a requirement. That's true of most of the A6's rivals, though, as well.

The 2019 BMW 540i xDrive nets 21 city, 29 highway, and 24 combined, while the Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic and Jaguar XF S are down a bit more, with 20 mpg city, 28 highway, and 23 combined from their respective V6 engines. But while each of these cars requires premium fuel, they return better fuel economy than the V6-powered Genesis G80, which runs on 87 octane but will only net 18 city, 24 highway, and 20 combined.

Prices for the 2019 A6 start at $58,900, although the range-topping Prestige demands $67,100. For 2020, a four-cylinder engine drives the A6's starting price down to $54,900 and the Prestige's to $64,800.

Add the $595 Firmament Blue paint, $3,200 Individual Contour seats (heating, ventilation, and a massage function), $2,750 Driver Assistance package, $1,050 Sport package, $1,000 21-inch wheels, and the $600 Cold Weather package, and the price climbs to our tester's $77,290.

The BMW 5 Series is slightly more affordable to start ($53,900), although a six-cylinder all-wheel-drive model begins at $61,750. Build one to match the A6 and the price is closer to the $80,000 mark. The Mercedes E-Class starts at $54,050 but going for the six-cylinder model with all-wheel drive requires $61,550. Again, though, the Audi comes in ahead – a similarly equipped E450 costs just over $79,000.

Source: motor1.com

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