With the emphasis on New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) which became part of a national policy in China in 2009, the carmakers in the country quickly began work on making the transition to electrified vehicles. Great Wall Motors (GWM), with its leadership in SUVs in China, worked hard to develop NEVs within its brands.
At Auto Shanghai 2023 this week, the carmaker is displaying a range of NEVs from its five major brands -HAVAL, TANK, ORA, POER, and WEY. This is to demonstrate its aim of a major player in the race to be the next leader in the field.
While the global carmakers often talk of having a global network of design centres so that they can develop products better suited to the different markets around the world, it’s even better if there are designers who grew up in, live and work in the market a product is intended for. They would know best what customers want and needs that may be specific to local culture.
China, being the world’s largest car market, usually gets much attention from carmakers who want to sell as many cars as possible. In order to do so, the cars must be designed to suit local tastes closely. For example, some manufacturers understood that Chinese customers like longer cars and were willing to build long wheelbase variants just for the market.
Lexus has revealed the next generation of its ultra luxurious, fit for a royal, LM minivan. The “Luxury Mover” which is what the LM monicker stands for, is set to launch in over 60 countries, including in Europe and UK for the very first time.
The Toyota-owned brand launched its first LM in 2020 as a response to customer aspirations for chauffeur-driven MPVs in China and other parts of Asia. It offered both 4-seat and 7-seat configurations.
MG may sound like an old name and most Malaysians who do know of the brand might only have those old British sportscars in their minds. The MG brand is also no longer owned by a British company but by China’s SAIC since 2007.
The MG brand has actually been doing quite well in some markets and is sold in Thailand. It was supposed to come into Malaysia at one time but that has not happened yet. Perhaps we’ll see it soon with the wave of brands from China starting to sweep in.
MG’s modern products have been mainstream models but it is starting a new chapter with a high-performance electric sportscar. This is the Cyberster, just unveiled at Auto Shanghai in production form after the concept model was first shown two years ago at the same event.
Malaysia will be among the first Asian markets (outside China) to get the smart #1 later in the year when PRO-NET starts selling it. The #1 is just the first of a range of models from smart – a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely. Next in line will be the #3 which has been presented for the first time at Auto Shanghai 2023 today.
Where the #1 is a SUV, the #3 is a SUV coupe, a sleeker derivative for those who prefer a sportier image. Mercedes-Benz Design has the responsibility for the exterior and interior of the smart models, while Geely provides the Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) modular platform engineered specifically for EVs.
At Auto Shanghai next month, the new Porsche Cayenne will have its world premiere and as is the practice these days, some of the highlights are revealed in advance. For the new generation of the successful SUV model, Porsche will have a completely new dashboard concept which is referred to as the Porsche Driver Experience, not just for the driver but also the front passenger.
Described as ‘a groundbreaking display and control concept’, the Porsche Driver Experience has a fully digital display, versatile individualisation and intuitive operation. While there is still a driver-centric approach – as would be expected of a sports SUV – the front passenger also gets more opportunity to interact with the vehicle.
Cadillac is one of the first automotive brands in the world, with a history that goes back 118 years. While it was already established as a luxury brand from its early years, the name outside America was often associated with ‘gas guzzlers’ – cars with high fuel consumption and with dimensions like an aircraft carrier (an exaggeration, of course). The fact is, Cadillac models were fairly large and their heavy weight as well as big engines consumed fuel at a high rate but thankfully for American motorists, petrol prices were cheap.
By the 1970s, Cadillac began to ‘downsize’ and by the 1980s, even started to use front-wheel drive. Technology helped bring fuel consumption down and by the time the 21st century began, the company’s model range was sized more practically. Fuel consumption was certainly much lower than ever before although perhaps high compared to models from Europe and Asia.
No more new combustion engine models
Now the company is making a big leap forward with the decision to stop introducing new models with combustion engines (although it will continue to sell existing models). From next year, it will launch the first of many electrically-powered models to come and it has revealed what the first model will look like with the unveiling of the LYRIQ at Auto Shanghai last week.
Cadillac executives avoided calling it a concept car and said that the production model will look the same. “We are calling the model on display in Shanghai a showcar – not a concept – because it will go into production soon. You may be surprised how similar it is to the showcar,” said Felix Weller, Vice-President of Cadillac in China and General Director of Cadillac Marketing and Sales at SAIC-GM.
GM Ultium batteries and platform
Th LYRIQ is positioned as a midsize all-electric SUV, equipped with GM’s latest Ultium batteries, the industry’s first wireless battery management system which saves up to 90% of the wiring. Also, the battery system can receive new features as they become available, with support for over-the-air (OTA) updates provided by its Vehicle Intelligence Platform.
At launch, the LYRIQ’s dedicated electric architecture will include a 12-module, 100 kWh battery pack and a rear-wheel-drive Ultium Platform. The powertrain is expected to generate up to 340 hp, with 440 Nm of torque, and on a fully-charged battery pack, the estimated range will be over 480 kms.
As the cornerstone of GM’s electrification across the board, the next-generation and highly flexible Ultium platform allows Cadillac to deliver a variety of range and performance options. The modular EV platform on which the LYRIQ is based eliminates significant physical constraints associated with adapting electric propulsion within a conventional vehicle architecture. The result is an optimized design that supports greater driving range, an engaging driving experience and a new interpretation of the passenger space.
High-speed charging
The LYRIQ features an industry-first wireless battery management system and patented thermal protection technology to offer a safe, powerful and reliable luxury EV experience. Recharging time can be short as the LYRIQ can accept high-speed DC fast charging at 190 kW. This means that the owner can add an estimated 122 kms of range in about 10 minutes. For home charging, the LYRIQ will have a a segment-leading 19.2 kW charging module which can add up to 83 kms of range per hour of charging.
Next-generation variable ‘Regen on Demand’ technology, along with the convenience of One-Pedal Driving, will also be available. With Regen on Demand, drivers can control how quickly LYRIQ slows down or comes to a complete stop using a pressure-sensitive paddle located on the steering wheel. Both technologies make use of regenerative braking to help maximize electric driving efficiency.
Name inspired by music and poetry
The name ‘LYRIQ’ was inspired by Cadillac’s rich connection to the arts such as music and poetry. Its exterior styling is true to its intent to blend a sensory artform with intelligent technology, and underscores the brand’s bold aesthetic design philosophy.
The front of the showcar is designed to blur the lines between lighting and the grille. Vertical, slim-line LED headlamps interplay with Cadillac’s signature vertical lamps via the Illuminated Black Crystal grille, which not just follows the brand’s classic elements but presents a charming and futuristic visual effect like never before.
A full, two-tone glass roof stretches straight through to the roof spoiler, defining a low and fast profile while enabling outstanding aerodynamics. The lower centre of gravity and near 50/50 weight distribution between the front and rear axles was enabled by the placement of the battery pack. Large 23-inch wheels in a matte finish enhance the vehicle’s dynamics and visual impact when still.
In order to highlight the purity and lightness of the LYRIQ’s form, Cadillac’s design team straddled the line between white and silver, using an unusual 14-layer painting process. With the change of light angle, the body finish shows a strong sense of flow, reflecting Cadillac’s distinctive luxurious style.
The seamless integration of art and technology is woven through every detail of the interior. Graceful and specific Cadillac knurling is etched on each component, and laser-etched patterns run throughout the metal-based wooden décor. There is detailing inside the vents as well, which emphasizes the idea of high design even in the smallest of areas.
A 33-inch-diagonal advanced LED display artfully integrates a single large screen that spans the viewing area for the driver. This new display has the highest pixel density available in the automotive industry today and can display over one billion colours.
The LYRIQ’s new augmented reality-enhanced Head-Up Display employs two planes – a near plane indicating speed, direction and more, and a far plane displaying transparent navigation signals and other important alerts. The vehicle’s technology also addresses sound in two important ways: blocking unwanted sounds and making the most of the sounds passengers want to hear. For the first time, Cadillac will introduce a new road noise cancellation technology, which takes active noise cancellation to the next level by introducing more microphones and accelerometers.
“Throughout the next decade, Cadillac will define the future of luxury transportation through a series of exciting new electric vehicles, and it all begins with LYRIQ,” said Rory Harvey, Vice-President, Global Cadillac.
‘PPE’ to most people today would refer to ‘Personal Protective Equipment’, the necessary items like gloves, facemask, overalls, etc that healthcare workers have to wear daily while attending to patients with COVID-19 infections. But for Audi, ‘PPE’ also means Premium Platform Electric, a completely new architecture which will serve as the technology platform for its high-end models.
The PPE is an essential element of the carmaker’s ‘e-volution’ towards electric mobility which will see, in late 2022, the launch of the first production models in the C-segment and then the B-segment. As a preview to this future range of fully electric models, Audi is displaying the 4-door A6 e-tron concept at Auto Shanghai this week.
Sporting the A6 emblem, the concept car underscores its place in the brand’s luxury-class model series. This model (earlier known as the Audi 100) has represented the brand in the segment since 1968. Different bodystyles have been added over the years, including the Sportback, which was introduced as the A7.
An electrified drive system was offered with the A6 Hybrid in 2011, while the current A6 TFSIe made its debut in 2019 with a plug-in hybrid drive (PHEV) that could give a claimed electric range of up to 91 kms.
Fully electric propulsion
Unlike the latter, however, the A6 e-tron concept relies exclusively on electric power, based on the future PPE platform. At the same time, it also represents an entirely new design concept; the only thing it has in common with the current A6 are its dimensions. The 4.96-metre long, 1.96-metre wide, and 1.44-metre high body is designed as a Sportback, its lines are an obvious reflection of the systematic advancement of Audi’s current design language. This design language and the form of the A6 e-tron concept will be applied to Audi’s future production models.
For its part, the PPE technology will ensure that what the car’s lines imply translate into dynamic driving performance and everyday suitability befitting use as a primary vehicle. Specifically, this means that, depending on the selected drive system and model version, an A6 e-tron should be able to travel more than 700 kms on a fully charged battery pack, with the most powerful variants able to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4 seconds.
Excellence in aerodynamics
Aerodynamics has always played a key role in Audi’s long history. In the early 1980s, the Audi 100 with a Cd of 0.30 was the more aerodynamically efficient production car available. The A6 e-tron concept continues that achievement with a Cd of 0.22, unprecedented in the electrified C-segment. The significantly low aerodynamic drag means lower energy consumption and therefore extended range. At the same time, fine-tuning in the wind tunnel has resulted in an organic design with elegance and harmony – instead of an ugly teardrop or bubble shape. The form appears monolithic, as if from a single mold, particularly when viewed from the side.
The wheel arches are connected by the specially sculpted battery area above the rocker panel, which is highlighted with a black inlay – a design element that is now a hallmark of the Audi brand’s fleet of EVs. Also typical of e-tron models are the sleek, camera-based virtual exterior mirrors at the base of the A-pillar.
Looking at the front, it is immediately apparent that the A6 e-tron concept is electrically-powered. A characteristic feature is the large enclosed Singleframe grille, which is bordered at the bottom by deep air intakes for cooling the drivetrain, battery, and brakes. The flat headlight bezels extend far into the sides of the laterally sweeping front end, underscoring the horizontally aligned architecture of the vehicle body.
The body colour
Heliosilver is the name of the technoid-looking body colour which accentuates the shapes of the body with a three-dimensional depth effect (particularly visible in the area around the quattro wheel arches). The Singleframe grille, also in Heliosilver, forms a striking contrast to the deep matte black of the frame.
Additionally, the paint offers tangible technical benefits that reduce energy consumption. This is because it can reflect a significant percentage of thermal radiation in sunlight, thus reducing the amount of energy that enters the car’s body and its cabin. The result is that the occupants do not need to use the air conditioning as much, a factor that has an impact on energy consumption and can enhance range.
Advanced lighting technology
The flat headlights and taillights are slim and flush with the overall composition of the lines. Digital Matrix LED and digital OLED technology makes it possible to achieve maximum brightness and a wide range of features even with a minimal surface area, while at the same time offering customizable light signatures. The small, high-resolution projectors can display warning symbols on the ground to warn a bike rider that the car door is about to open, for example.
Another four high-resolution LED projectors – inconspicuously integrated into the corners of the vehicle – generate turn signal projections. The design of these projections can be modified to address regulations in different markets and regions.
The rear end of the concept car features a new generation of digital OLED elements that, as a continuous strip of lights, act like a display. They can also be used to create almost unlimited customizable variations of digital light signatures and dynamic lighting displays that can be adapted to the customer’s personal taste.
High ground clearance, low ride height
The PPE is designed specifically for battery-electric drive systems and can therefore take full advantage of all the benefits of this technology. The key element is a battery module between the axles that holds around 100 kWh of energy in the A6 e-tron concept. The use of the entire vehicle base makes it possible to achieve a relatively flat layout for the battery. This means that for the first time, it will be possible to use this single platform for both vehicles with a high ground clearance and vehicles with a decidedly dynamic, flat architecture without any changes to the basic architecture.
Fast charging, high range
800V charging technology allows the battery pack to be charged with up to 270 kW, making recharging time very short time – provided the relevant fast-charging system is available. This technology makes charging times possible that come close to a stop to refuel a car powered by a combustion engine. Just 10 minutes would be enough to recharge the battery to a level sufficient to power the vehicle for more than 300 kms. In less than 25 minutes, the 100-kWh battery pack can be charged from 5% to 80%.
The battery size and wheelbase of PPE vehicles are scalable, making them suitable for use in different market segments. The ratio of a fairly long wheelbase and very short overhangs is something they will all have in common. The occupants will benefit from the long wheelbase which allows a longer interior and more legroom.
Quattro all-wheel drive
The absence of the traditional a transmission tunnel (because of the EV architecture) also contributes to the spaciousness but it does not mean that the quattro all-wheel drive system is omitted. It can be included as there can be one electric motor each mounted to the front and rear axles that use electronic coordination to deliver all-wheel drive on demand and achieve a perfect balance between driving dynamics and energy efficiency. The 2 electric motors are capable of delivering a total output of 350 kW/800 Nm.
In addition, the e-tron family will also include basic versions optimized for minimum consumption and maximum range – in this case, propulsion will come from a single electric motor mounted to the rear axle.
Toyota is known to be cautious in venturing into new segments, watching competition start first and seeing the shortcomings – and then coming in with products that are often better. With electrification, the company has had dominance in the hybrid segment but seemed to be slow to get into full electrification. This is not to say that it was not developing models, but commercialising them was something that was slower.
Now, however, the company is starting its big push into full electrification, which is part of its commitment to contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. To achieve this. Toyota is establishing a full line-up of electrified vehicles which will reach around 70 by 2025; at least 15 models will be launched by 2025.
Starting with SUV BEV
At Auto Shanghai, which is on this week, the Japanese carmaker has announced its new BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) series to start off and is displaying a concept car, the Toyota bZ4X, as a preview of the first model of this series. To be made in China and Japan, worldwide sales of the production version of the new SUV BEV is expected to start by the middle of 2022.
Development of the bZ series (‘bZ’ stands for ‘beyond Zero’) is based on BEV-dedicated platforms that can be used with multiple variations in terms of size and design. Since it is difficult for Toyota to prepare such a wide range of choices by itself, it is jointly developing the series with partners who have the appropriate expertise in various fields. In the case of the bZ4X, Subaru is involved as a partner.
e-TNGA platform
The new vehicle will adopt the e-TNGA BEV-dedicated platform that was jointly developed by the two companies. It takes advantage of the strength of Toyota, which boasts expertise in vehicle electrification, and Subaru, which possesses AWD technologies. The bZ4X combines a long wheelbase with a short overhang which allows both a distinctive design and interior space comparable to a D-segment sedan.
The bZ series BEVs will have a human-centered approach aimed at widespread use in regions such as China, the USA and Europe, where there is significant demand for BEVs, and where there is a large supply of renewable electricity.
A uniquely shaped steering wheel eliminates the need to change grip when steering, and also contributes to a spacious interior. The vehicle will have a steer-by-wire system that provides a smooth driving feel aligned with the driver’s intentions. The low position of the instrument panel and the location of the meters above the steering wheel serve not only to enhance the vehicle’s sense of space, but also improve visibility and contribute to safe and secure driving.
The bZ4X has a new AWD system jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru. In addition to the use of regenerative energy systems, the vehicle also adopts a solar recharging system that recharges the battery while stationary.
At the Shanghai Motorshow, Volvo announced that it will be building its first all-electric vehicle in China. It will be based on the automaker’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), which is catered to smaller cars. The car is slated for release sometime in 2019 and will be exported to countries around the world.
Volvo’s decision to produce its new electric vehicle is China indicates that the automaker’s intentions to capitalize on the countries hunger for electric vehicles and those of neighboring countries. Volvo already has three manufacturing facilities in China, which are Daqing (manufactures 90 Series models), Chengdu (manufactures 60 Series models) and Luqiao (manufacturers 40 Series models).
“Volvo Cars fully supports the Chinese government’s call for cleaner air as outlined in the latest five-year plan. It is fully in-line with our own core values of environmental care, quality and safety,” said Håkan Samuelsson, chief executive of Volvo Cars. “We believe that electrification is the answer to sustainable mobility.”
At the moment, China is the world’s biggest market for electric vehicles and it might get a lot bigger due the government’s ambitious initiatives to tackle congestion and air quality issues in its cities. This might work out in Volvo’s favour as the automaker targets to sell a total of 1 million electrified vehicle which include electric and hybrid offerings by 2025.
The Swedish automaker is also developing a fully-electric car on its Scalable Product Architecture, which is a platform that is used to build a range of Volvo models. Besides this, in the near future, Volvo also plans on offering plug-in hybrid versions of every model that it makes. This might seem like a tall order for some, but Volvo has already established a beachhead in China, which should make things a little easier for it.
