E-SUV Archives

CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept shows next evolution of e-SUV

CUPRA, the high-performance brand of Spanish carmaker SEAT, was the first carmaker to join the Extreme E all-electric off-road series that started this year, entering in partnership with ABT Sportsline. The 3-year old brand’s involvement is to enhance its R&D while promoting electrification, sustainability, and also gender equality (the series requires each crew to have one male and one female, both to having driving roles).

While the e-SUV used during the current season of Extreme E is one which is common for all teams, CUPRA is already looking ahead when it can develop its own machine. It will become the second manufacturer to use its own bodywork for its team, and Tavascan Extreme E Concept shows what the racing car will look like.

Future design language
It also hints at the design language to be used in the future production CUPRA Tavascan which will be the brand’s second fully electric model designed and developed in Barcelona, Spain and will reach the market in 2024.

“We strongly believe in the Extreme E project as a whole,” said Antonino Labate, Director of Strategy, Business Development and Operations at CUPRA. “Electrification, sustainability, gender-balance and diversity are common values between CUPRA and Extreme E. The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept is clear proof of the hard work that we’re doing at CUPRA in order to be able to compete next season.”

Completely redesigned exterior
The Tavascan Extreme E Concept integrates a completely new exterior design with 100% CUPRA DNA and a holistic approach to natural material use making it more sustainable, adaptable and easy to repair. The front and rear design has changed considerably from the vehicle that is racing in the first season of Extreme E.

LED technology delivers greater freedom to produce a vehicle with CUPRA DNA, with the headlights in groups of three triangles on either side providing a more imposing look. The LED lighting is set into a 3D-printed frame – a technology chosen to gain a competitive edge. The 3D-printed parts can be manufactured in just 6 hours, meaning the team can adapt to changes very quickly. Whether it’s because of an incident or changes to the light position, the components can be modified in a very short time without the need for cumbersome and expensive tooling.

3D-printed elements for bodywork
“The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept is the next evolution of our all-electric off-road racing car with even more CUPRA DNA and a design that hints at the brand’s future direction. But it also delivers technical advancement too,” said Head of Technical Development at CUPRA Racing, Xavi Serra. “The concept car uses flax fibres throughout the bodywork to improve sustainability and 3D-printed elements that can be quickly recreated to keep the race car out on the track.”

Constructing as much of the body structure as possible from flax fibres – extracted from the flax plant – reduces the use of carbonfibre components and the vehicle’s impact on the environment. The material can be worked in the same way, achieving the same shapes and radii required by engineers, and is a technology that could easily be adapted for production vehicles.

The e-SUV concept is finished with copper accents – a time-honoured CUPRA mark – parametric texturing and dynamized lines to help the exterior shimmer and move as the vehicle shifts through the landscape, and an overlapping CUPRA logo to create a powerful 3D effect.

“I am delighted to see CUPRA launch the Tavascan Extreme E concept as it enables it to become the second manufacturer to use its own bodywork for its Extreme E team. This move not only injects added style and personality into the series, but also supports our goals for Extreme E to prove itself as a global marketing showcase for partners, as CUPRA prepares to launch this model to consumers in the future,” said Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E.

*The e-SUV used by the ABT CUPRA XE team in the first and current season of Extreme E .*

Extreme E Arctic X Prix: Like nothing the motorsport world has ever seen (w/VIDEO)

Extreme E Arctic X Prix: Like nothing the motorsport world has ever seen (w/VIDEO)

Being the very first season ever, every location of the Extreme E championship series is a first and for the third round, the location in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland certainly presented an entirely different environment for the Arctic X Prix.

After consecutive overall wins by the Rosberg X Racing team in Saudi Arabia (Desert X Prix) and Senegal (Ocean X Prix), this third round was won by Andretti United Extreme E drivers Timmy Hansen and Catie Munnings.

In Extreme E’s first-ever 5-car final, British driver Munnings took the lead early on, until being passed by X44’s Sebastien Loeb, the Frenchman leading for the rest of the 8.6-km lap around a lake until the Switch Zone, while Munnings dropped behind Rosberg X Racing’s Molly Taylor.

The top three ran close into the Switch Zone area, the Andretti United car – the same all-electric ODYSSEY 21 E-SUV as everyone else – having re-taken second position, but X44’s challenge would be thwarted by a right-rear puncture, the wheel needing to be changed in the Switch Zone while Cristina Gutierrez climbed aboard the car.

Andretti United’s Hansen was first to leave the Switch Zone for the second lap, closely chased by RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson, the pair running side-by-side and spectacularly jumping high together over sections of the course, until the RXR car was slowed by technical issues from a jump landing and the Andretti United team ran free to claim its first victory.

Having won the Crazy Race earlier in the day, the JBXE team flew in the final, Kevin Hansen completing the first lap before handing the controls to Swedish compatriot Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky and, fighting back from difficulties during qualifying, the pair finished second.

A solid run for ACCIONA | Sainz XE duo Carlos Sainz and Laia Sanz was rewarded with a podium finish in third, with X44 classified fourth and RXR fifth. The SEGI TV CHIP GANASSI RACING and Xite Energy Racing teams battled in the Crazy Race but didn’t make it through to the final.

“It feels awesome! It’s been a great afternoon and day! We’ve both had great races today and we had to work really hard for it. Catie did an amazing job both times. We both were involved in very close battles with the Rosberg X Racing car both times, it just feels incredible to be here,” said Timmy Hansen of Andretti United Extreme E.

“I loved the challenge of this course. I think it was really different to what we’ve seen before and a new challenge for the car as well. I think what was interesting was that it literally changed every time you saw it. Every car would chuck out massive rocks and so your line might not be there, so it was a very spontaneous style of driving and I also found it very hard to judge what the correct speed was, you have to think a lot more especially if you’re the first driver,” added Munnings.

The unforgiving Arctic X Prix course, combined with the series’ revised sporting format produced some of the most exciting racing yet with the 18 world-class drivers battling not only themselves, but the conditions and various track hazards en route to the finish line.

Adding an extra element of excitement to proceedings was the returning Super Sector, with the fastest driver over the course of the weekend earning themselves 5 extra points for the team.

Drawing attention to the mission of creating greater environmental awareness, JBXE’s Ahlin-Kottulinsky said: ”We are all living in this world and we all want to make a great future, so I think closing your eyes to what’s happening is not the right way. We all have to be open to see what is happening to the world and that is why Extreme E is trying new technologies and new ways to improve, we are all in this together and we all have to do this right. I think the fact that it is raining here in Greenland is as unusual as it would be in the desert and seeing how much rain we actually had this weekend is devastating so you can’t just close your eyes to it.”

From Greenland, the series will have its next round in Sardinia, Italy, on October 23/24. The move to Sardinia for the Island X Prix follows the decision to postpone its originally planned events in Brazil and Argentina due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation in South America.

“Extreme E was built around the ethos of racing electric vehicles in remote environments in an effort to raise awareness for climate change issues and showcase the performance and benefits of low carbon vehicles. However, this crisis is not a problem which only affects remote locations. It is becoming increasingly noticeable closer to home, across North America, and here across Europe, with rising temperatures, heatwaves and wildfires, which currently rage in Sardinia itself, being some of the latest devastating examples,” said Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E.

Since the start of the series, the vehicles, participants and scientific facility for research work at each location have travelled on a specially refurbished cargo ship called the St. Helena. Efficiency is a major element of the ship with the engines running on low sulphur marine diesel and the propellers having reduced friction. 4,000 new low emission LED lights replace the old power intensive lighting, and there are new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Vaccination does not make you immune to COVID-19 infection. You can still get infected but you may not show symptoms and still spread the coronavirus. Do not stop taking protective measures such as wearing a facemask, washing hands frequently and social distancing.

Extreme E/Round 3: Can Nico Rosberg’s team make it three in a row?

Next week will see Extreme E’s third X Prix of Season 1 which is the Arctic X Prix in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland on August 28. It will be the first ever international motorsport event to be staged in the country. The all-electric SUVs have been transported by the specially configured St Helena cargo ship as sea travel is less carbon intensive than air freight. The ship also acts as a research hub informing the world about the impacts of the climate crisis on our oceans (it even has a scientific laboratory onboard) as it goes from location to location.

The Ocean X Prix in Senegal, in May saw Rosberg X Racing (RXR) claim back-to-back victories to extend their championship lead, as they head the overall standings with 71 points. Although X44 topped the timesheets in qualifying once more, first-lap contact during the Final between Cristina Gutierrez and RXR’s Molly Taylor meant X44’s all-electric ODYSSEY 21 was forced to retire, seeing them finish in fourth place. Button’s JBXE team leapt up the standings to third following a strong showing in Senegal, after claiming third place despite Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky picking up rear-wheel damage before the first corner of the concluding race of the weekend.

Expecting an unpredictable race
After the opening two races in Saudi Arabia and Senegal, mastering the conditions on what was once the mighty Russell Glacier, but which has now sadly receded and is rock salt, sediment-based terrain will provide a very different challenge for the drivers. “This feels like the most unpredictable race yet,” said Taylor. “The terrain is going to be really difficult for all the teams and it will be interesting to see how the first shakedown goes for everyone. This is undoubtedly the best thing about this series – every race location offers up a new set of challenges and I think Greenland is the most exciting yet.”

*Nico Rosberg, founder and CEO of Rosberg X Racing with his two drivers after winning the second round in Senegal.*

Asked whether RXR can make it a hat-trick of wins in Greenland, Founder Nico Rosberg said: “We could not have asked for a better start to the series with two wins from the first two races under our belt. But it would be foolish to come into this race predicting the same outcome for the team. We are working immensely hard to achieve another strong result in Greenland and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds across the weekend”.

X44 driver pairing Cristina Gutierrez and Sebastien Loeb showed their pace once again in Senegal, topping the qualifying standings before bad luck struck in the Final. Lewis Hamilton’s X44 team will be keen to convert their qualifying pace into a good result on raceday in Greenland as they are just 14 points behind RXR at the top of the table.

HISPANO SUIZA XITE ENERGY TEAM FOR 2021 EXTREME E — *Each team has a crew consisting of one male and one female, and both have to take turns driving. This is the Hispano Suiza XITE ENERGY team with Oliver Bennett and Christine Giampaoli Zonca.*

“I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel again for X44” says Loeb. “One of the most exciting things about Extreme E for me is that each race is a new kind of challenge, and it’s going to be interesting finding out what it’s like to compete on this terrain. I was really proud of our performances in Senegal and in Saudi, but we had some bad luck in the Finals. I’m confident this time we can learn from what happened and make sure we get another podium finish.”

Injured Gutierrez will be ready for race
Teammate Cristina Gutierrez recently claimed victory at the Rally Kazakhstan but suffered injury fracturing two vertebrae, which has meant spending time recovering but she will be fit for Greenland. “I’m really excited to get back racing again in Greenland and to learn more about the work Extreme E is doing on the ground to address the climate crisis” she said. “Our team has learned a lot from the past two races and, despite the Final in Senegal not being what we hoped for, we will take the positives to ensure we come back fighting again for a win. For me, every race is another opportunity to learn and improve and I’m confident we can do even better this time.”

The team has been working hard behind the scenes to analyse the data from the Ocean X Prix, particularly on their starts to ensure they are not beaten off the line going into the all-important first corner.

The Swedish duo of JBXE
Third in the standings are JBXE which, after a strong showing in Senegal, leapt up the order following sixth place at the opening Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia. World Rallycross Championship racer Kevin Hansen deputised for Button to partner Ahlin-Kottulinsky for the Ocean X Prix and the pair did not disappoint, finishing qualifying fourth fastest before winning Semi-Final 2 in commanding fashion to reach the Final. Contact at the start meant an early retirement, but JBXE were still able to claim a podium spot with third.

The two Swedes have been busy preparing for the Arctic X Prix. “Kevin and I worked hard to prepare ourselves the best we could ahead of Senegal, and same thing goes for Greenland” said Ahlin-Kottulinsky. “We’re trying to understand and find out as much info about the surfaces as we can ahead of the event, and also going through each part of the event to try to optimise every single thing. There is so little practice time ahead, so preparations are key to success.”

“We of course want to pick up where we left off,” added Hansen. “We had a really great first outing with JBXE and Mikaela in Senegal and particularly with me joining the team quite late, but I think we did a great job and we managed to get the car in the right direction.

“I think for Greenland it’s a completely new surface; it’s a completely new environmental issue that we will raise awareness of, and for sure the course will show that too. It’s a new challenge for everybody, but it’s nice to have one race under our belts and I’m super excited to go to Greenland and race in front of the of the glacier with a team that I now know. We are hungry to fight for the win so super excited to see how far we go,” he said.

*The all-electric SUVs have been transported by the specially configured St Helena cargo ship as sea travel is less carbon intensive than air freight. The ship also acts as a research hub.*

Drones provide a more exciting perspective of motorsports events like Extreme E

Concept Recharge – a manifesto for the next generation of all-electric Volvos

Since the 1970s, Volvo Cars has displayed many concept cars and design studies. Many have been just studies while a handful, like the ECC of 1992 and the XC60 Concept of 2007, have been previews of near-term production models. In many cases, if you look at the new models that come out, there will be elements of concept cars in their design even if the concept car’s looks do not become a reality.

New paradigm in car design
With the Volvo Concept Recharge, the Swedish carmaker is giving a preview of its new paradigm in car design, a manifesto for the next generation of all-electric Volvos to be led by the next XC90 SUV to be launched next year.

True to the heritage of Scandinavian design, the Concept Recharge has the mantra of ‘less but better’ at its core. For example, with an electric powertrain removing the complexity of the internal combustion engine, the designers have been able to evolve the car’s proportions to increase interior space while also improving aerodynamic efficiency.

Architecture purely for electric powertrains
This isn’t Volvo’s first range of electric cars but before this, the designers have had to utilise architecture developed with combustion engine-powered cars in mind. That meant that the full benefits of an electric powertrain were not exploited as there was a need for a balance in proportions and space to be able to accommodate both a battery pack and an internal combustion engine.

The Concept Recharge breaks free of this association, using a completely new electric-only technology base. By removing the engine and replacing it with a full battery pack under the flat floor, the designers have extended the wheelbase and the wheel size of the car. The result is shorter overhangs, as well as a lot more interior space including a large storage area between the front seats.

In the Concept Recharge, these advancements have led designers to reposition the seats, optimise the roof profile and lower the bonnet of the car, while retaining the high eye point beloved by drivers of SUVs. This approach creates efficiency gains in aerodynamics compared to a typical SUV, which improves range.

New Volvo design language
This concept car also introduces a new Volvo design language. Continuing the theme of ‘less but better’, all unnecessary elements have been removed and what remains is treated with a high-precision, flush execution.

The traditional grille has been replaced with a shield-like structure; there is no longer the need for openings in the nose to let air in to help in cooling the radiator and engine. At either corner is a new interpretation of Volvo Cars’ Thor’s Hammer headlight design. These lighting units include the latest HD technology-enabled pure graphic which open at night to reveal the main lamp units.

The rear view also shows signature slim vertical rear lamps which first appeared on the 850 Wagon in the late 1990s. A visual connection to the brand’s strong design heritage, they have been reimagined with a set of wings that extend at higher cruising speeds to further improve overall aerodynamics.

“Our Concept Recharge represents a manifesto for the all-electric future of Volvo Cars, as well as a new type of vehicle,” said Robin Page, head of design. “It displays new and modern proportions that go hand-in-hand with increased versatility and shows what technology can enable in terms of design.”

New user experience inside
The Volvo design language also takes a new form inside. The flat floor provides more space and a better seating position for all those inside the car. A large, 15-inch standing touchscreen is the centre of the user experience for the company’s next-generation connected infotainment system.

“Inside the Concept Recharge, we create a truly Scandinavian living room feeling,” said Page. “The interior integrates our latest user experience technology with beautiful, sustainable and natural materials. Each part of the interior is like a piece of art and could stand alone as individual furniture in a room. We use the latest technologies but not for their own sake. We always focus on the benefits that technologies can bring.”

It doesn’t need to be said that the Concept Recharge also reflects Volvo Cars’ safety ambitions in coming years. A LiDAR sensor, built by technology company Luminar and a critical part of Volvo Cars’ plan for forthcoming safe autonomous drive technology, is placed in an optimal position on the roof to collect data on the environment around the car.

Next Volvo XC90 to have LiDAR technology and AI-driven supercomputer as standard

ID.4 – first all-electric SUV from Volkswagen

Volkswagen’s ID. family, which consists of only all-electric models, releases its second which is a SUV. The first of the ID. models was the ID.3, a hatchback launched in 2019, and this new model is designated ID.4. There are known to be at least 7 models in total, with the others currently planned to go into production within the next 3 years.

“As the first global electric car, this model will roll out our modular electric drive matrix platform that has been developed specifically for electric mobility the world over. Volkswagen is thus once again demonstrating its leading role in innovation, technology and quality on the high-volume market,” said Ralf Brandstatter, CEO for the Volkswagen brand.

The ID.4 is Volkswagen’s first fully electrically-driven SUV and has dimensions which put it within the compact SUV class. This is now a highly competitive segment, especially in Europe where SUVs were once disliked as they were considered to be not environment-friendly due to their higher consumption.

No environmental issues
The ID.4, of course, has no such issue and is a zero emissions vehicle with the space and comfort that any buyer will appreciate. Its 77 kWh battery pack powers a 150 kW (equivalent to 204 ps) electric motor that gives a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h.

The battery pack is installed below the passenger compartment for a low centre of gravity, while the electric drive motor is positioned at the rear axle, which also helps with grip. In the event that the driver wants to wander off the highway, there’s 21 cm of ground clearance with 21-inch wheels.

We Charge anywhere
Volkswagen is launching on the European market a complete package for convenient, connected and sustainable charging of electric cars under the name ‘We Charge’. This provides recharging at home, around town or on a long journey. The ID.4 can be recharged within 30 minutes with at a DC (direct current) quick-charging station to provide a claimed 320 kms of range. On a full battery pack, the range is claimed to be up to 520 kms.

Sleek exterior
The ID.4’s exterior has a clear, flowing design inspired by nature. Aerodynamic efficiency has been tuned to a low 0.28 Cd, which will reduce the wind resistance that needs to be overcome by the electric motor.

The front and rear lighting units use LEDs (partial at the front) and for the most expensive ID.4 version, there are interactive IQ.Light LED matrix headlights. These feature swivelling lens modules and generate an intelligently controlled main beam for optimised spread. At the rear are new 3D LED taillight clusters with a homogeneous appearance that fully illuminates in an intensive red.

MEB for more space
The 4.58-metre long ID.4 sits on Volkswagen’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB) architecture. It divides the space for occupants and technology in a completely new way in favour of passengers. The space available in the cabin is said to be comparable to conventional SUVs in the next category up. Depending on the rear seat backrest’s position, the luggage compartment can have a volume from 543 to 1,575 litres.

The operating concept on the dashboard of this E-SUV, as Volkswagen refers to it, does not depend on physical buttons and switches. There are two displays, one of which diagonally measures up to 12 inches and features touch functionality, as well as a ‘Hello ID’ natural voice control assistant. The new ID.Light – a narrow light strip under the windscreen – intuitively supports drivers.

An augmented reality (AR) head-up display is optionally available to blend a host of displays with reality. Navigation arrows telling drivers to turn off are projected onto the road surface in exactly the right lane. IQ.Drive assist systems help the driver to enjoy safer and more relaxed motoring, while software is part of a completely new architecture and updates can be downloaded ‘over the air’.

Plans for global sale
The ID.4 will be gradually turned into a global model; Volkswagen has plans to produce and sell the E-SUV not only in Europe but also in China and later, in the USA.

Will we see it in Malaysia? Probably not so soon as there are a number of issues which would prevent it from being sold in sufficient numbers. It would be a CBU model and that would push its price up – and it would already be high as it has brand new technology. Malaysians are still not entirely sold on fully electric cars and the recharging network is also limited. While neighbouring countries’ governments are starting to promote EVs, our government is only ‘talking’ about being a hub for ‘energy efficient vehicles’ in the region, but is not doing much to make it attractive for manufacturers to set up here.

2020 Volkswagen ID.3 makes global debut

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E-SUV

CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept shows next evolution of e-SUV

Extreme E Arctic X Prix: Like nothing the motorsport world has ever seen (w/VIDEO)

Extreme E/Round 3: Can Nico Rosberg’s team make it three in a row?

Concept Recharge – a manifesto for the next generation of all-electric Volvos

ID.4 – first all-electric SUV from Volkswagen

CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept shows next evolution of e-SUV

Extreme E Arctic X Prix: Like nothing the motorsport world has ever seen (w/VIDEO)

Extreme E/Round 3: Can Nico Rosberg’s team make it three in a row?

Concept Recharge – a manifesto for the next generation of all-electric Volvos

ID.4 – first all-electric SUV from Volkswagen

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