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Germany’s Sono Motors announced Friday that it will “terminate its Sion passenger car program,” effective immediately, and will instead focus on its solar solutions. Buried within the announcement was a glimmer of hope for those who would like to see the affordable solar car make it to market: Sono intends to sell its Sion program. The Sono Sion was scheduled to start production in Finland in the second half of 2023, with a claimed price as low as $25,000, including EU incentives. It has been a standout idea and a potentially disruptive product from the start as it aimed to…
Ford’s Explorer is about to go under the knife for a nip and tuck. Camouflaged prototypes for the updated three-row mid-size SUV have been spotted, hinting at some of the changes we can expect. Our spy photography caught prototypes for both the rugged Timberline and sporty ST grades, and the camouflage gear on the testers hints at new fascias front and rear, as well as revised lights. There are also some shots of the interior of the ST prototype. They reveal a new digital instrument cluster and a large landscape-oriented infotainment screen. The current Explorer features a small 8.0-inch infotainment…
Prototypes for the first electric sports car from Porsche have been spotted testing. The car is an electric next-generation 718 Boxster convertible, which was confirmed last March by Porsche CEO Oliver Blume for launch by 2025. An electric 718 Cayman coupe should also be in the pipeline. The prototypes are heavily camouflaged, but details like active shutters in the front fascia’s air intakes can be clearly seen, as can the light strip forming the taillights. The exhaust vent on the prototypes is fake to fool onlookers, and it appears an active rear wing might sit along the leading edge of…
Automakers are trying out subscription models for EVs as an alternative to traditional buying or leasing, but a new Deloitte report argues they may also play a somewhat surprising role in gasoline-car sales. With expected growth in EV adoption, concerns over the resale value of internal-combustion cars may drive subscription models, according to the report. This conclusion was based on a fall 2022 survey of more than 9,500 consumers in the U.S. and Europe, according to Deloitte. But that worry doesn’t always go in the direction we might expect. Of those surveyed, 57% of European consumers and 55% of U.S.…
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has expressed his desire to keep the internal-combustion engine alive in motorsport’s top echelon, despite the push by some automakers and governments to fully embrace electric vehicles. In an in-depth interview with Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore published on Monday, Domenicali said F1 “will never go electric” when asked how the sport fits in the era of sustainability and electric mobility. He added that F1 aims to be carbon neutral by 2030, and that the lofty goal can be achieved by switching to 100% sustainable fuel—something F1 and its partners are developing in time…
BMW revealed a mid-cycle refresh for its X5 M and X6 M performance SUVs this week. The updates are significant and include a new V-8 paired with mild-hybrid technology under the hood. Bentley W-12 engine Bentley confirmed that its twin-turbo 6.0-liter W-12 will bow out next year. The final and most powerful version of the unique engine will feature in the limited-edition Batur coupe, of which just 18 examples will be built. Pininfarina Battista The Pininfarina Battista set new quarter-mile and half-mile production-car records. The electric hypercar managed an 8.55-second elapsed time in the quarter mile and covered the half…
If you’re after a reasonably practical compact SUV, but also want something that reflects your smart, sophisticated side, then the Volkswagen Taigo could be for you. Based on the more upright-looking T-Cross model, the Taigo offers smoother lines and a lowered stance, but still comes with enough space and flexibility to appeal to family buyers.It’s not particularly fun to drive, although it’s certainly easy on the eye and this, combined with the typical VW traits of decent build quality, good levels of standard equipment and reasonable efficiency, mean that it will prove to be a convincing package for some.About the…
ROME — It’s easy to argue that the coupe is dead — especially big coupes with four seats. Never a huge segment to begin with, this slice of the market has shrunk in recent years as buyers flock to SUVs and carmakers allocate their development budget accordingly. In 2023, it makes more sense from a business point of view to slap the “coupe” label on a four-door crossover than to put it on a real coupe with two doors. Maserati isn’t giving up. It’s not just business; it’s also personal. There’s a big chunk of its heritage built on four-seater…
The Lordstown Endurance electric pickup truck has only been in production for a couple of months, but Lordstown on Thursday announced it has stopped production and further deliveries due to performance and quality issues. Lordstown also announced plans to voluntarily recall the electric trucks it has already delivered, and that it has filed the necessary paperwork with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall affects 19 examples that are either in the hands of customers or being used internally by the company. In its announcement, Lordstown described the issue as a specific electric connection that could result in a…
California clamps down on replacement tire efficiency. Rivian thinks about charging stations fanning hot electric truck batteries as they charge. And Lordstown Motors is recalling the Endurance over a propulsion issue. This and more, here at DriftBreath Reports. Lordstown Motors has paused production on the Endurance electric truck due to “performance and quality issues.” Although the company didn’t disclose what those are, it says that it’s filed paperwork to recall 19 of the trucks due to an issue that could lead to loss of propulsion while driving. Rivian is thinking about having some of its DC fast-charger stations funnel cool…