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Category: Automotive

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Auto and Car news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Mercedes-Benz India Appoints Santosh Iyer As VP, Sales And Marketing

    Mercedes-Benz India Appoints Santosh Iyer As VP, Sales And Marketing

    Mercedes-Benz India announced that effective from July 1, 2019. Santosh Iyer, currently Vice President of Customer Service & Corporate Affairs will take over the position of Vice President, Sales & Marketing of Mercedes-Benz India. Santosh succeeds Michael Jopp who assumes the new responsibility of heading the Sales & Marketing function of Mercedes-Benz in Malaysia. Santosh Iyer has two decades of diverse experience in the Indian automobile domain spreading across sales, marketing, retail, customer service and corporate affairs. He has been associated with Mercedes-Benz India since 2009 and currently is responsible for the Customer Services, Corporate Affairs & CSR functions at Mercedes-Benz India.

    Announcing the organizational change, Martin Schwenk, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India commented, “Michael played an important role in leading the company’s Sales & Marketing functions and successfully managed critical market disruptions and headwinds over the last three years. He was instrumental in introducing new digital initiatives and his tenure saw Mercedes-Benz sustaining the number one market position and also topping the JD Power top ranking in Sales Satisfaction. We highly value his contribution for the growth of the brand in India. We are equally excited to welcome Santosh who has successfully headed multiple functions at Mercedes-Benz India, and played a key role in establishing the ‘service differentiation’ for the brand and driving customer centricity. We are confident that Santosh with his in-depth market understanding, rich industry experience and proven track record of driving excellence, will continue the growth momentum of the brand in this highly competitive and dynamic market. I thank both of them for their immense contribution to the brand and wish them the very best for their respective new roles.”

    Santosh played an important role in driving ‘service differentiator’ as the key parameter towards achieving service excellence and customer loyalty. Under Santosh’s stewardship, Mercedes-Benz India significantly increased its Customer satisfaction scores and topped the J.D. Power CSI rankings for two years in a row.

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  • Renault Kwid Sales Cross The 3 Lakh Mark

    Renault Kwid Sales Cross The 3 Lakh Mark

    Renaut India has achieved a new milestone with its best-seller – the Kwid – crossing the three lakh sales mark. The entry-level hatchback was first launched in 2015 and was game-changing offering from the French automaker, taking on the market leader Maruti Suzuki’s Alto in the segment. Over the years, the Renault Kwid has been appreciated for its novel design, segment-first features and roomy cabin, while the automaker time and again introduced updates to keep the model fresh amidst competition.

    The Renault Kwid’s three lakh sales milestone is certainly impressive and translates to an average of about 10,000 units every month. It also helps that the hatchback is completely localised in India with 98 per cent local content going in, which makes for a highly competitive price tag. With respect to features, the Kwid was the first model in its space to get a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system and was later updated with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also gets a segment-first all-digital instrument console, speed-sensitive volume control, one touch lane indicators and more.

    The Renault Kwid though has been widely appreciated for its SUV-inspired design that makes it look like an apt sibling to the Duster in the company’s stable. The tall riding stance not only offers better road presence to the driver but also opened more space in the cabin. With respect to engine options, the car uses 0.8-litre motor with 53 bhp and 1.0-litre motor with 67 bhp under the hood, paired with a 5-speed manual or AMT unit.

    In addition, the Kwid is now compliant with the new safety norms and comes with a driver’s side airbag, ABS with EBD, speed alert system, passenger seatbelt reminder and ISOFIX for child seats as part of the standard kit. A comprehensive facelift to the Kwid is also expected to arrive later in the year.

    The Renault Kwid is based on the CMF-A platform and the automaker will be introducing a new seven-seater offering based on the platform. The Renault Triber has been teased already and is set for an unveil later this month. The launch slated for July this year. In addition, the Renault line-up will be getting the BS6 upgrades ahead of the April 2020 deadline.

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  • Audi Recalls 1644 e-Tron SUVs Globally

    Audi Recalls 1644 e-Tron SUVs Globally

    Audi has recalled the e-Tron electric SUV, it’s first in the history, for a water leakage that could result in fie. The company is taking the recall very seriously and said that the recall is voluntary and affects approximately 540 e-tron vehicles in the US that have been delivered to customers and 1,644 in total. The recall is in response to a potentially faulty seal that may allow moisture to enter the battery compartment which could lead to a short circuit or in extreme cases to a fire. No incidents have been reported globally yet, but Audi is taking precautions to make sure that the problem is fixed. The recall repair is expected to become available in August 2019.

    Customers are being contacted directly to inform them of the recall and the company’s dealer network will get the issue resolved. Audi e-tron vehicles unaffected by the recall remain available for delivery and the company’s reservation system remains open to receive customer reservations.

    The e-Tron is not the only electric car that has faced this issue, in fact even the Jaguar too has had to recall the I-Pace to rectify a fault with the regenerative brake system. While the India launch will happen in the second half of 2019, we wait to see what it’ll be priced at as also how the country takes to the first luxury electric car in the country.

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  • Renault Fiat Case ‘Not Closed’

    Renault Fiat Case ‘Not Closed’

    Plans to merge carmakers Renault and Fiat Chrysler could re-emerge despite the breakdown of negotiations last week, France’s transport minister said on Tuesday, joining a chorus of French officials hoping the deal could be revived. Asked if talks between the two companies were over, Elisabeth Borne said: “I think it is not closed.”

    Borne’s comments follow similar remarks by French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who also said he felt a merger between France’s Renault and Italian-American Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) remained a “good opportunity.”

    French budget minister Gerald Darmanin said last week as well that he hoped the door had not closed on a deal. Last week, FCA pulled out of $35 billion merger talks with Renault, with both companies blaming the French government.

    France has a 15% stake in Renault and the collapse of the talks deprived the companies of an opportunity to create the world’s third-biggest carmaker with 5 billion euros ($5.6 billion) in promised annual synergies.

    FCA and Renault are still looking for ways to resuscitate their merger plan and win the approval of Renault’s alliance partner Nissan, sources close to the companies have told Reuters.

  • Maruti Suzuki Cut Production By 18% In May

    Maruti Suzuki Cut Production By 18% In May

    Maruti Suzuki India had cut cut its production by 9.6 per cent to 147,669 units in April this year from 163,368 in April 2018.The company has now announced a further cut in vehicle production by over 18 percent in May, according to a regulatory filing. It is the company’s fourth consecutive month of taking a production cut

    Barring Super Carry, the company reduced production of all other segments, including that of its big selling compact and mini cars last month. MSI slashed production of passenger vehicles, including Alto, Swift and Dzire, by 18.88 percent to 1,48,095 as compared to 1,82,571 units in May 2018.

    The company cut production of mini segment vehicles by 42.29 percent to 23,874 units last month as against 41,373 units in the year-ago period. MSI also slashed production of compact segment cars by 9.54 percent to 84,705 units in May from 93,641 units in corresponding month of last year. Production of utility vehicles also witnessed a decline of 3.21 percent to 24,748 units, as against 25,571 units in May last year.

    Overall passenger vehicle sales in India dropped over 17 percent in April, the worst monthly fall in nearly eight years, as subdued sentiment and the ongoing liquidity crunch hit car sales.

  • This Skoda Concept Car Gets A Built In Washing Machine

    This Skoda Concept Car Gets A Built In Washing Machine

    If you’re a carmaker, would you ever think about the slow moving cyclists on the road? The unanimous answer here should be no. But Skoda, with the Karoq Velo concept, has made the ultimate support car for the growing number of cyclists around the world. Featuring a host of in-built technologies, from a fully-functioning washing machine for sweaty kit to a drone landing pad, the Karoq Velo offers the services of a fully-staffed race support team.

    Developed and built by Skoda UK, the Karoq Velo was conceived by a team of passionate cyclists to help fellow riders enjoy the perfect ride this summer. Its numerous unique design features were shaped by the results of a survey carried out by the Czech carmaker. More than 1,500 active riders were asked to suggest ideas for the perfect cycling support vehicle and all these ideas were packed into this one-off Karoq.

    Among the many stand-out features of the Karoq Velo, is a fully integrated spin cycle washing machine. This was chosen after 27 per cent of survey respondents said that returning to their car in damp cycling kit was a major downside of riding. The washing machine uses the same water supply as an integrated pressure washer that ensures that bikes can be made as fresh as their owners after a long summer ride. A washing machine in a car is something that you don’t see often right.

    After 31 per cent of survey respondents reported that mechanical issues were a major bugbear, Skoda’s design team created space for a full tool kit and equipment to facilitate rapid puncture repairs. A network of built-in LED lights also ensures that any late-night repairs can be carried out without the need to hold a torch or find a streetlight to work under.

    Practicality and carrying ability were also high on the wish-lists of survey respondents, with 37 per cent of cyclists wanting an easy to use exterior bike carrier, and 29 per cent wanting the extra security of an in-car storage system. The result is sufficient racking to carry two bikes on a special roof mount and one inside. Despite being packed with kit, the Karoq Velo still has room for three adult passengers.

    In keeping with the standard Karoq, the Karoq Velo is brimming with technology. Features specifically developed for the concept include a special magnetic landing pad for a Follow Me drone that uses sensors and recognition technology to follow the cyclist and capture ride photos. An inbuilt Wi-Fi hotspot also allows riders to immediately upload footage of their ride when they return to the Karoq Velo.

    The Karoq Velo also features the emergency call function that when pressed will immediately relay the car’s location to and connect to someone instantly who will be able to assist in an emergency. Although the one-off Karoq Velo is not available for sale, it is being used throughout the summer to assist cyclists ahead of races and competitions.

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  • India To Order Taxi Aggregators Like Uber, Ola To Go Electric By 2026

    India To Order Taxi Aggregators Like Uber, Ola To Go Electric By 2026

    India plans to order taxi aggregators like Uber and Ola to convert 40% of their fleet of cars to electric by April 2026, according to a source and records of government meetings to discuss new rules for clean mobility. Uber and Ola, both backed by Softbank Group, would need to start converting their fleet as early as next year to achieve 2.5% electrification by 2021, 5% by 2022, 10% by 2023 before hiking it to 40%, according to the person and the records that have been reviewed by Reuters.

    Some taxi players, like Ola, have previously tried to operate electric cars in the country, but with little success given inadequate infrastructure and high costs.

    New Delhi, however, is looking to push the new policy to boost the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) as it tries to bring down its oil imports and curb pollution so it can meet its commitment as part of the 2015 Paris climate change treaty.

    Indian think-tank Niti Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and which plays a crucial role in policymaking, is working with several ministries on the new policy.

    Neighbouring China, home to the world’s top auto market, is already leading the world in electrification by setting tough EV sales targets for car makers and offering incentives to taxi operators to increase their fleet of clean-fuel cars.

    EV sales in India grew three-fold to 3,600 in the year ended March but still account for about 0.1% of the 3.3 million diesel and gasoline cars sold in the country over the period, industry data showed. China’s electric car sales, meanwhile, rose 62% in 2018 to 1.3 million vehicles.

    In a meeting in New Delhi on May 28, Niti Aayog officials and the ministries of road transport, power, renewable energy and steel, as well as the departments of heavy industries and trade, were among those recommending taxi operators in India gradually convert to electric.

    Motorcycles and scooters sold for commercial purposes, like food delivery or for use by e-commerce companies, will also need to be electric from April 2023, the person added.

    India has seen a boom in food delivery apps like Zomato and Swiggy, which counts Naspers and Tencent as investors. Sales by e-commerce firms like Amazon.com and Walmart-owned Flipkart are also rising.

    The EV proposal comes weeks after the inter-ministerial committee recommended electrifying most motorbikes and scooters for private use and all three-wheeled autorickshaws within the next six to eight years.

    While there are several electric scooter manufacturers in the country including Ather Energy, Hero Electric and Okinawa, there are only two car makers that build and sell electric cars – Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors.

    Some taxi operators have so far had little success operating electric cars in India. Ola launched a pilot project in the central Indian city of Nagpur in 2017 but a year later drivers, unhappy with long wait times at charging stations and high operating expenses, wanted to return to gasoline cars.

    Ola, however, is not giving up yet.

    Its Ola Electric Mobility unit in March raised 4 billion rupees ($58 million) from investors including venture capital fund Tiger Global and Matrix Partners.

    It also raised $300 million from Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors and formed a strategic partnership with the South Korean duo to help build India-specific EVs.

    Modi’s government in 2017 had set an ambitious target to electrify new cars and utility vehicles by 2030 but resistance from the industry forced it to scale back the plan.

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  • Michelin’s Airless Wheel Which Does Not Puncture To Enter Production By 2024

    Michelin’s Airless Wheel Which Does Not Puncture To Enter Production By 2024

    Michelin and General Motors presented a new generation of airless wheel technology for passenger vehicles. It’s called the Uptis Prototype (or “Unique Punctureproof Tyre System”) – at the Movin’On Summit for sustainable mobility. The joint research agreement will see both the companies validate the Uptis Prototype with the goal of introducing the Uptis on passenger models as early as 2024. Michelin and GM are testing the Uptis Prototype, beginning with vehicles like the Chevrolet Bolt EV. Later this year, the companies will initiate real-world testing of Uptis on a test fleet of Bolt EV vehicles in Michigan.

    Michelin has been working at making airless tyres for the past five years now. The company showcased the Tweel concept in 2014 and an investment of $50 million has gone into the new plant for making it ready for commercial usage. The Uptis is a version of this and is airless. It completely eliminates the risk of flat tyres and blowouts.

    Florent Menegaux, chief executive officer for Michelin Group said, “Uptis demonstrates that Michelin’s vision for a future of sustainable mobility is clearly an achievable dream. Through work with strategic partners like GM, who share our ambitions for transforming mobility, we can seize the future today.”

    The Uptis Prototype is re-engineered for today’s passenger vehicles, and it is also well suited to emerging forms of mobility. The vehicles and fleets of tomorrow – whether autonomous, all electric, shared service or other applications – will demand near-zero maintenance from the tire to maximize their operating capabilities.

    The Uptis features a different architecture and composite materials, which enables the tyre to bear the car’s weight at road-going speeds. Approximately 200 million tyres worldwide are scrapped prematurely every year as a result of punctures, damage from road hazards or improper air pressure that causes uneven wear. These advancements through the Uptis Prototype demonstrate Michelin’s and GM’s shared commitment to delivering safer, more sustainable mobility solutions. Of course these tyres will be pricey but we wait to see how these tyres fair on production cars.

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  • France Ready To Cut Renault Stake To Shore Up Nissan Partnership

    France Ready To Cut Renault Stake To Shore Up Nissan Partnership

    France is ready to consider cutting its stake in Renault in the interests of consolidating the automaker’s alliance with Nissan, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Saturday. He was speaking in Japan after Italian-US carmaker Fiat Chrysler pulled the plug on its proposed merger with Renault, saying negotiations had become “unreasonable” due to political resistance in Paris.

    In an interview with AFP on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministers meeting in Japan, Le Maire said Paris might consider reducing the state’s 15-percent stake in Renault if it led to a “more solid” alliance between the Japanese and French firms.

    “We can reduce the state’s stake in Renault’s capital. This is not a problem as long as, at the end of the process, we have a more solid auto sector and a more solid alliance between the two great car manufacturers Nissan and Renault,” he told AFP.

    Last week, FCA stunned the auto world with a proposed “merger of equals” with Renault that would — together with Renault’s Japanese partners Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors — create a car giant spanning the globe.

    The combined group would have been by far the world’s biggest, with total sales of some 15 million vehicles, compared to both Volkswagen and Toyota, which sell around 10.6 million apiece.

    But the deal collapsed suddenly on Thursday, with FCA laying the blame at the door of Paris.

    “It has become clear that the political conditions in France do not currently exist for such a combination to proceed successfully,” FCA said in a statement.

    Le Maire said Renault should concentrate on forging closer ties with its Japanese partner Nissan before seeking other alliances.

    Things need to be done “in the right order…. First the alliance (between Nissan and Renault) should be consolidated and then consolidation (more generally) and not one before the other.”

    “Otherwise, everything risks collapsing like a house of cards,” he warned.

    The minister said it would be up to the bosses of Renault and Nissan to decide how to push the alliance forward as ties between the two firms have been strained after the shock arrest of former boss Carlos Ghosn.

    Renault is pushing for a full merger between the pair but there is deep scepticism of the plan at Nissan.

  • Mini Cooper SE Electric Teased Towing An Aircraft

    Mini Cooper SE Electric Teased Towing An Aircraft

    The Mini Electric will soon be launched internationally but of course, the teasers have started to fall in place. The recent ‘testing programme’ for the first purely electrically powered MINI was an unconventional one. The company chose Frankfurt airport as its venue and a close-to-series prototype of the new model demonstrated just what electromobility in the style of MINI is capable of setting in motion. The Mini Cooper SE slipped straight into the role of an aircraft tug, setting off to the loading point towing a Boeing 777F freight aircraft with an unladen weight of some 150 tons. The unusual hook-up was filmed in a video clip. Created collaboratively by the BMW Group and Lufthansa Cargo, the 45-second commercial shows the Mini Cooper SE as a ‘muscle car’ pulling the significantly larger and heavier transport aircraft across the airfield.

    The MINI Cooper SE will go into serial production at the British plant in Oxford as of November 2019. It is based on the Mini 3 door and combines locally emissions-free driving with the brand’s characteristic go-kart feeling, premium quality and expressive design. After the BMW i3 it is the second purely electrically powered model within the company’s premium automobile portfolio. Helping the Mini Cooper SE perform its muscle car role, the performance characteristics of the electric motor combine spontaneous power delivery with a high level of torque available directly from standing.

    Although the company has not revealed any details for the electric mini, the iconic car maintains its traditional design while also keeping up with the future. According to the company, the electric concept brings ‘the iconic design, city-dwelling heritage, and customary go-kart feeling’ into the modern motoring era. Up front, the closed-off grille and simulated air intakes remind that this is an electric car. There are no exhaust outlets, but a tweaked rear clip with a rear diffuser giving the car a muscular look. The bolt-on side panels are made of fiberglass in order to keep the overall weight of the car under check. MINI EV Concept gets LED taillamps that make an interesting Union Jack pattern.

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  • New Bentley Flying Spur To Be Unveiled This Month

    New Bentley Flying Spur To Be Unveiled This Month

    The third-generation 2020 Bentley Flying Spur Grand Touring Sedan is all set to make its global debut this month, on June 11, 2019. This year also marks the 100-year-anniversary of the British luxury carmaker, which calls the new-gen Bentley Flying Spur a combination of a sports sedan and luxury limousine. Among its key highlight, the new 2020 Flying Spur will be the very first Bentley to get an All-Wheel Steering, enhancing both stability at cruising speeds and agility.

    Bentley says that similar to the recently launched Continental GT, the all-new Flying Spur is also a ground-up development that offers superior technology and craftsmanship to deliver high levels of performance and refinement. In fact, the four-door sport sedan will come with the same 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine that powers the new Continental GT. The motor is tuned to churn out a massive 625 bhp and develops a monstrous 897 Nm of torque. Having said that, Bentley is expected to a couple more engine options later in the future – a smaller 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that makes 542 bhp and 770 Nm torque, along with a 2.9-litre V6 plug-in hybrid engine as well.

    In addition to the all-wheel steering, the new Bentley Flying Spur will also get an updated All-Wheel Drive system. Interestingly, the new AWD has been designed to supply power only to the rear wheels in standard road conditions, thus offering the classic sports sedan handling characteristics. However, if the system detects any kind of slip, it’s capable of instantly sending power to the front wheels providing active All-Wheel Drive, fully automatically. This is the first time that Bentley has introduced such an AWD system for the first time.

    Furthermore, for superior ride and comfort, the new Flying Spur now also comes with a new suspension setup that allows you to change the stiffness setting on demand to combat cornering forces and minimise body roll. However, other technical specifications and details will be revealed at the time of the official unveiling.

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  • Mercedes-Benz GLB All Set To Make Its World Debut

    Mercedes-Benz GLB All Set To Make Its World Debut

    Mercedes-Benz has dropped a teaser of its upcoming GLB and it’s all set to make it’s world debut on June 10, 2019. The GLB, as the name suggests is based on the B-Class and is built on the MFA2 platform, which underpins the latter. It will be positioned between the GLA and the GLC models. Spy shots of the car give us a peek into what the GLB will look like and the teaser confirms much of these details. The size shows that the GLB is likely to be a 7 seater model and it’s a far cry from being a baby G-Class as it was rumoured to be. The long hood, short overhangs, and the boxy rear end all point out to a GLB being a bigger SUV.

    The upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLB is expected to be a family car like the B-Class so expect a spacious five-seater cabin with a large boot space, possibly above 500 litres. It’s said that Mercedes might even consider offering an optional third row in certain markets. In terms of design and styling for the cabin, we expect the GLB to take inspiration from the new-gen A-Class’ cabin, which was revealed last year.

    Engine options are still not confirmed but, we expect the Mercedes-Benz GLB to get the same engine options as the new A-Class. It could also get the new engines that have been developed in partnership with the Renault-Nissan alliance. The GLB is also expected to get a new electronically controlled four-wheel drive system, but can only confirm that when the SUV make its official debut.

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  • A New Maruti Suzuki Dzire Is Sold In India Every 2 Minutes

    A New Maruti Suzuki Dzire Is Sold In India Every 2 Minutes

    Maruti Suzuki has been selling the Dzire compact sedan in India for over 10 years now and till now has reached around 19 lakh customers. The Dzire, now, is a subcompact sedan but Maruti Suzuki has had a compact sedan iteration before and the number of customers it has reached to is a combination of sales of both these cars. In 2018-19, Maruti Suzuki sold over 2.5 lakh units of the Dzire subcompact sedan averaging a monthly sales of 21,000 units. There’s no doubt it leads the pack in the segment and boasts of a market share of 55 per cent, while the Amaze is a distant second.

    Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited said: “The brand Dzire has been a major contributor to Maruti Suzuki’s journey and we express our gratitude to customers. With the launch of Dzire, we created a new ‘compact sedan’ segment. This segment is continuously evolving and growing. Over the years, Maruti Suzuki Dzire has led this growth and it continues to be relevant and attractive to customers. A testimony to its strong customer connect is that the sales of third generation Dzire went up by nearly 20%.”

    The automatic variant of the Dzire too has received significant success with close to 13 per cent buyers opting for the AMT version. The Maruti Dzire is offered in a 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.3-litre diesel engine along with automated manual transmission or AMT offered on both models. The petrol engine makes 82 bhp and 113 Nm of peak torque while the diesel engine makes 74 bhp and 190 Nm of peak torque. The petrol model has a claimed mileage of 22 kmpl while the diesel Dzire has a claimed mileage of 28 kmpl.

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  • Jaguar XE SV Project 8 Touring Breaks Cover

    Jaguar XE SV Project 8 Touring Breaks Cover

    Trust Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division to come with some absolutely menacing offerings and it sure doesn’t disappoint. This time though, the special division has developed a more restrained version of the absolutely bonkers XE SV Project 8 that adds the Touring badge to its name and gets revised to more road-friendly mannerisms. The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 Touring swaps the imposing rear wing for a subtle spoiler that lends a calm look to the 599 bhp car’s track-focussed capabilities. The new Touring version will be sold alongside the Project 8 and much like its track-honed sibling.

    Speaking about the new Jaguar XE SV Project 8 Touring, Jamal Hameedi, Engineering Director, Jaguar Special Vehicle Operations, said, “Project 8 has received outstanding critical acclaim since its launch, demonstrating the Special Vehicle Operations team’s ability to create a compact Jaguar sedan with supercar-rivalling performance. Touring specification extends the appeal of Project 8 to performance car enthusiasts and collectors who prefer a more discreet appearance, without compromising its driver-focused on-road dynamics.”

    So what changes on the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 Touring, the adjustable carbon-fibre rear wing that generates over 122 kg of downforce at 300 kmph and has been swapped for a lip spoiler on the boot-lid. The Touring also has a fixed front splitter to “maintain aerodynamic balance,” even as all other aspects remain the same. The special version based on the XE sedan is offered in four colour options – British Racing Green, Corris Grey Satin, Valencia Orange, and Velocity Blue – while the standard Project 8’s decals and stripes are now offered as optional. The big change though comes in the top speed of the car that has been reduced from 320 kmph on the Project 8 to 300 kmph on the Project 8 Touring.

    Power continues to come from the same 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 Project 8 motor that can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 3.7 seconds. The Special Vehicle Operations division will hand assemble only 15 examples on the XE SV Project 8 Touring exclusively in the four-seat configuration at the Technical Centre in Warwickshire, UK. The 15 cars of the Touring version are part of the 300 units that were originally announced for the Project 8 and is priced at the same $185,495

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  • Hella Develops Battery Solutions For Mild Hybrid Vehicles

    Hella Develops Battery Solutions For Mild Hybrid Vehicles

    Hella announced that it will develop and manufacture products that support all stages of automotive electrification. With new products like dual voltage battery management system and powerpack 48 Volt, the company is now one of the first on the market to offer innovative battery module solutions for mild hybrid vehicles. The new solutions enable savings of 5 to 6 grams of CO2 per kilometer and thus help to achieve CO2 targets in the short term.

    Starting 2020, newly registered vehicles in the EU will not be allowed to exceed a limit value of 95 grams of CO2 per kilometer. Hella’s dual voltage battery management system for the compact and mid-range class allows vehicles with internal combustion engines to be converted to a mild hybrid. It combines the conventional separate core elements such as 48 V battery, 12 V battery and voltage transformer (DC-DC converter) within a single product in the package space of a conventional lead-acid battery. This makes it easy to integrate the system into the existing vehicle architecture. Another advantage: The Dual Voltage Battery Management System eliminates the need for a lead-acid battery in the car. The innovative system consists of lithium-ion cells that are switched intelligently depending on the application. Thus the capacity can be used specifically in the 12-volt or 48-volt vehicle electrical system.

    Hella has designed the PowerPack 48 Volt for vehicles in higher power rating classes. It combines a 48-volt lithium-ion battery pack including battery management and DC-DC converter. In addition to the 12-volt battery, the PowerPack 48 is also drawn into the vehicle. It enables hybrid functions such as recuperation (ability to recover energy while braking) or active coasting (the internal combustion engine is switched off while driving) as well as other comfort functions for the luxury class. These include ambient lighting, automatic climate control and active chassis control.

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