Two months ago, Mercedes unveiled the AMG EQS 53 at the Munich Motor Show as the first electric vehicle to wear the AMG badge. Now, the German automaker has released pricing for it, and it’s about what you’d expect for a range-topping high-performance EV sedan.
The EQS 53 will start at £154,995 (equal to around $208,000 at current exchange rates) in the UK, or 55% more than the base EQS 450’s starting price of £99,995. It’s also more expensive than the current flagship Porsche Taycan Turbo S that’s rated for 761PS / 751HP and kicks off from £139,280 (about $186,900).
For that money, you get a dual-motor AWD drivetrain producing 649 hp (658 PS / 484 kW) and 701 lb-ft (950 Nm) of instant electric torque. Upgrade to the AMG Performance Package with the Night Edition that pushes the starting price to £163,900 (around $220,000) though, and that same drivetrain produces 751 hp (761 PS / 560 kW) and 752 lb-ft (1020 Nm) of torque.
The former enables a 3.8-second sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) with a top speed of 137 mph (220 km/h), while the latter allows for 3.4 seconds to 62 mph with a top speed of 155 mph (249 km/h). The range is the same for both, with a WLTP-estimated 358 miles (576 km) on tap from the car’s 107.8 kWh battery.
Standard features on all variants include the 56-inch Hyperscreen, an AR heads-up display, Nappa leather upholstery, a Burmester® surround sound system, a Parking package with Active Parking Assist, and 360° camera, Driving Assistance Package Plus, AMG sound programs, AMG-specific bodywork, and an AMG steering wheel.
Included with the Night Edition are 21-inch AMG alloy wheels, a flat-bottomed sport steering wheel, and sport pedals. Upgrading to the £8,995 AMG Performance Package (which is only available with the Night Edition) gets you carbon-ceramic brakes, AMG Dynamic Plus boost for Race Start, the AMG Sound Experience, the AMG Driver’s Package with increased top speed, AMG TRACK PACE, and AMG carbon-fiber interior trim.
Finally, serving as a counterpart to the bold Night Edition is the more subtle Touring specification, which comes with 22-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels and elegant ambient lighting in the cabin. On top of that, you can opt for the £2,995 Rear Luxury Lounge package (only available with the Touring), which outfits the multi-contour rear seats with black Exclusive Nappa leather upholstery, power reclining, luxury headrests, neck and shoulder heating, comfort armrests, separate climate controls, an MBUX tablet, wireless charging, and additional USB ports.
The 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ is currently on sale now, with the first UK deliveries expected to arrive in April 2022.
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Buick’s range in North America comprises exclusively of SUVs including the Envision, Encore and Enclave, but none of them is fully electric. This could change in the near future as the automaker filed a trademark for the Electra name in Canada, a move that could hint at a production version of last years’ fully electric crossover concept bearing the iconic name.
General Motor’s trademark filing from December 20 for the Buick Electra name was posted at the Rivian Owners Forum. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Buick will use the Electra name on a production vehicle, nor that this will be a fully electric crossover, however both of those assumptions sound plausible given the timing.
The pictured Buick Electra concept was unveiled last year in Shangai. The prototype brought back an iconic name used in full-size luxury sedans from 1959 to 1990. Unlike its predecessors, the new Electra adopted a sleek crossover-style silhouette previewing Buick’s future design language.
Like the Cadillac Lyric that was unveiled in production form earlier this year, the Buick Electra concept was based on GM’s Ultium architecture with a fully electric powertrain. In the concept, the dual electric motors produced 583 hp (435 kW / 589 PS), while the Ultium battery allowed a range of more than 410 miles (660 km). The production version could use the Lyriq’s 100 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which is good for a more down-to-earth 300 mile (483 km) electric range.
A Buick Electra SUV could be a competitor for the rumored Chrysler Airflow and the Ford Mustang Mach-E, or move upmarket to rival more premium electric SUV proposals from BMW (iX), Audi (e-tron), and Mercedes-Benz (EQE). In any case, the design of the concept would have to be toned down for production, including a more conventional design for the greenhouse and the doors while retaining elements like the overall crossover shape, the Matrix LED lighting units, and the large-diameter wheels.
Buick hasn’t made any announcements for the future product strategy so we don’t know if and when they are planning to introduce their first fully electric SUV. Outside North America, the automaker is steadily increasing its sales in China, where it is also offering a wide range of sedans, SUVs, and luxury MPVs.
Subaru will join the Tokyo Auto Salon 2022 with a bunch of interesting concept cars that were previewed today in a press release. The most important launch will be the STI E-RA Concept signalling the electric era of the performance brand, but we are also going to see “STI Performance” variants of the WRX S4, Levorg, and BRZ in concept form.
The STI E-RA Concept is described as a “study model of motorsport vehicles for the carbon-neutral era,” so don’t get your hopes up for a production vehicle anytime soon since this is probably a racing car prototype. However, as suggested by the teaser, the model will introduce new design elements that could be used in future Subaru vehicles like the C-shaped LED headlights mounted on the fenders, the double vented bonnet, the red illuminated STI badge on the low nose, and the front bumper with a prominent splitter. Subaru didn’t give us details on the powertrain, other than it will be fully electric.
Besides the motorsport concept for the new era, Subaru will also showcase three “STI Performance” concepts of the WRX S4, the Levorg, and the BRZ. The first one was previewed in an official picture showing additional aero components, which will likely be the case with the other two as well.
Compared to the WRX S4 STI Sport R that is already on sale in Japan and served as a base for the concept, the new aero includes a splitter, side sills and rear bumper extensions painted in pink, matching mirror caps and STI emblem, plus a large carbon-fiber rear spoiler. The bumpers seem to be slightly redesigned for a sportier look while there is a new set of black rims shod in performance tires. We are not sure if there will be any mechanical upgrades over the production model but Subaru also mentioned a performance muffler.
Similarly, the Levorg STI Performance concept will be based on the recently announced Levorg STI Sport R trim. It will feature cherry red accents on the additional aero components, a performance muffler, plus items “that will improve the usability” of the performance-oriented wagon. As for the BRZ STI Performance concept, it will add performance parts to the BRZ S grade painted in the same cherry red shade.
Lastly, the BRZ GT300 2021 racing car that won the class victory this year will be also exhibited at the Subaru booth, where the automaker will make announcements for the 2022 motorsport team. A lucky visitor of the Tokyo Auto Salon 2022 will drive away in a brand new WRX STI Sport R EX that will be this years’ questionnaire prize.
General Motors chief executive Mary Barra says the car manufacturer can catch Tesla in U.S. sales of electric vehicles by 2025.
GM intends on launching no less than 30 electric vehicles by 2025 and while recently speaking during CNBC’s Squawk Box, Barra expressed confidence in her belief that the company will establish itself as the EV leader.
“I am very comfortable, because when people get into these vehicles, they are just wowed,” she said. “So we will be rolling them out and we’re going to just keep working until we have No. 1 market share in EVs.”
Tesla currently dominates the electric vehicle space in the United States. In fact, the automaker accounted for 79 percent of all EVs sold in the U.S. throughout 2020. However, research and forecasting company HIS Markit says Tesla’s U.S. share of EV sales will drop to 56 percent throughout 2021 and fall to approximately 20 percent in 2025.
Speaking with CNBC, LMC Automotive added that sales of EVs, including plug-in hybrids, will account for less than 4 percent of vehicle sales across the country this year. The research firm suggests that EVs will make up 34.2 percent of new U.S. vehicle sales by 2030, with 4.1 percent of those sales being for plug-in hybrids.
A key pillar in GM’s EV expansion goals is their plans to install up to 40,000 Level 2 EV chargers across the United States and Canada as part of a $750 million investment.
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Battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) is looking to establish a $5 billion battery material recycling facility in the Chinese province of Hubei.
The company has confirmed that it will establish a joint venture with Hubei Yihua Chemical Industry Co Ltd and invest up to 32 billion yuan ($4.96 billion) in the construction of the factory. The facility will have a focus on recycling precious earth materials such as cobalt and lithium.
Reuters reports this announcement comes on the back of China setting standards and policies to promote battery recycling across the industry.
CATL supplies companies such as Tesla, NIO, and Volkswagen with battery cells. In fact, most of the Tesla models produced at its Gigafactory in Shanghai use CATL cells.
The battery giant is continuing to grow its battery cell production capacity and recently announced plans to raise 58.2 billion yuan ($9 billion) through private investments to support its expansion. It is thought that most of it will be used to increase capacity at three of its Chinese factories. CATL wants to ramp up production capacity to 1,200 GWh by 2025. Moreover, Electrek notes that CATL is also investing in new technologies, such as sodium-ion batteries.
Battery recycling is emerging to be an especially vital part of the automotive industry’s push towards electric vehicles. In September, Ford revealed it is partnering with Redwood Materials, the largest lithium-ion battery recycler in the United States. Redwood Materials claims it can recover 95 per cent of elements such as nickel, cobalt, lithium, and copper from old batteries. These materials can then be reused in batteries.
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Volkswagen has joined the ever-growing group of manufacturers entering the Rebelle Rally. The first off-road navigation rally raid in the United States will see Volkswagen entering for the first time with an all-electric ID.4 AWD Pro modified by Rhys Millen Racing and Tanner Foust Racing.
Millen and Foust already have experience off-road racing with the EV, will have been helpful in designing this new racer. They were behind the ID.4 1st Edition RWD that competed in the Norra 1000 race in the Baja peninsula earlier this year.
The new ID.4 AWD Pro being driven by Mercedes Lilienthal and navigated by Emily Winslow for the Rebelle Rally will have modified suspension components, tubular control arms, skid plates, battery protection, as well as a Thule roof rack that holds a spare Yokohama Geolandar A/T tire.
Power will remain stock, though, with a pair of motors offering 295 hp (299 PS/220 kW) and 339 lb-ft (460 Nm) of torque. According to the EPA, the ID.4 AWD Pro has 249 miles (400 km) of range on a full charge – although under racing conditions this may vary.
“The Rebelle Rally is blazing a new trail in motorsports, and presents a tremendous opportunity for us to introduce our ID.4 and electric vehicles to an even greater audience,” said Kimberley Gardiner, senior vice president, marketing, Volkswagen of America. “Volkswagen helped make off-road competitions popular in the ‘60s, and we’ve only just begun to explore the potential of electrification in off-roading motorsports. We’re really excited to have Mercedes and Emily leading the charge on this experience of a lifetime.”
The wrap that graces the exterior of the ID.4 was designed by Salt Lake City artist Liz Kuz, who was inspired by the desert terrain of the race that starts at the Hoover Dam in Nevada and runs through Arizona before ending, more than 1,500 miles (2,500 km) later, in California.
Mercedes Lilienthal is a freelance journalist who writes for outlets like The New York Times, Forbes Wheels, and Crankshaft Culture, and is the Editor-at-Large for TREAD Magazine. She has participated in the race before, in 2018. Winslow, a project manager, lives in Puyallup, Washington, and finished on the podium in 2018 before racing again in 2019.
The Rebelle Rally lasts eight days and starts on October 7. You can follow the action live on the race’s website.
Polestar has confirmed it is working on three all-new electric vehicles dubbed the 3, 4, and 5 as it is getting ready for an initial public offering.
All three EVs will be unveiled by 2024. The first will be the Polestar 3, an electric SUV similar in size to the Porsche Cayenne that will launch next year. In 2023, it will be followed by the Polestar 4 that’s pictured in the center of a teaser released by the Swedish automaker and will be similar in size to the Porsche Macan.
Following these two models to the market will be the Polestar 5, scheduled to be unveiled in 2024 before hitting the roads in 2025. It will be a low-slung saloon similar in shape and size to the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan and its design will be inspired by the Precept concept.
“This is a really exciting time for Polestar,” chief executive Thomas Ingenlath said in a statement. “With two award-winning cars on the road today in 14 active markets across three continents, we seek to expand to 30 markets by 2023. We are thrilled about the targeted addition of three new premium electric cars to our line-up by 2024, starting with our first SUV expected in 2022.”
Polestar has previously confirmed that the 3 will be built in the U.S. at Volvo’s South Carolina plant and marketed towards American buyers. It will act as a rival to the likes of the Tesla Model X, Audi e-tron and Jaguar I-Pace.
Polestar is going public by merging with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Gores Guggenheim and is seeking a $20 billion valuation. The combined company will be held by a new public company that will be named Polestar Automotive Holding UK Limited and is expected to be listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “PSNY”.
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The illustrations pictured in this article were made by Jean Francois Hubert/SB-Medien for CarScoops and are based on the regular production Peugeot 208. They are speculative renders that are not related to nor endorsed by Peugeot.
Back in the 1980s and 1990s Peugeot’s GTIs were the hot hatches to beat. And in recent years, following a fallow period where rival Renaultsport and its Clios and Meganes was king, Peugeot proved it could still deliver, launching acclaimed models like the 208 GTi and 308 GTi.
But now both carmakers are getting to ready to take the hot hatch genus into new, electrified territory. By 2024 Renault will field the Alpine A5, based on the retro 5 supermini EV revealed in January 2021, and Peugeot is getting ready to unleash the 208 PSE.
PSE stands for Peugeot Sport Engineered, and is the marque’s new performance sub brand. We’ve already seen the label used to good effect on the 355 hp 508 PSE, but that’s a hybrid featuring a front-mounted petrol engine augmented by a small electric motor driving each axle. With the 208 PSE, the badge will be applied to a full EV for the first time.
Based On The Peugeot e208
Peugeot already has an electric 208 in its line-up, and while it’s not necessarily marketed as a performance car, the e208 pictured above is the quickest 208 you can buy and will serve as the foundation for the PSE.
The e208’s powertrain consists of a 50 kWh battery and a 100 kW (134 hp/136 PS) electric motor driving the front wheels. That power output, along with 192 lb ft of instantly available torque, enables it to reach 62 mph (100 km/h) in 8.1 seconds, although the top speed is artificially limited to 93 mph (150 km/h).
We’ve driven one on road and track, and found it surprisingly fun. While it’s heavier than ICE 208s (and getting on for twice as heavy as a 205 GTi), you notice that mass less in cornering (where it’s disguised by the low center of gravity), than under braking (where it’s not disguised at all).
The e208 is also pretty swift at the charging station. That 50 kWh battery gives it a WLTP range of up to 211 miles (340 km), and 100 kW charging capability allows you to top up to 80 percent full in 30 minutes.
Battery Ball-Aches
But surely the 208 PSE will be both faster and hungrier? Maybe. Peugeot’s problem is that it might be stuck with the e208’s smallish 50 kWh battery. Even getting that to fit involved breaking the battery pack into sections and fitting the bits in the voids filled by the fuel tank, catalyst and exhaust on ICE 208s.
Back in 2020 Car Magazine claimed the PSE would stick with the e208’s front-mounted motor and front-wheel drive layout, but feature a more powerful motor putting out around 168 hp (170 PS). And if that does happen, and Peugeot sticks with the 50 kWh battery, we can expect to see the performance improve, probably delivering a sub-7second 0-62 mph time, but the electric driving range will also fall from the e208’s 211 miles.
Twinned With The Opel Corsa OPC/Vauxhall Corsa VXR
But is it possible that Peugeot might not even bother upgrading the front motor? One bit of news indirectly suggesting that might be the case came from Auto Express in its story about the upcoming electric Vauxhall Corsa VXR and its Opel Corsa OPC twin, which could take inspiration from the limited edition Corsa-e Rally competition car.
The standard Corsa is built on the same e-CMP platform as the 208, and the Corsa-e is powered by exactly the same combination of 134 hp motor and 50 kWh battery as the Peugeot 208e (even the rally version, in contrast to what its looks suggest, used the same mechanicals). Auto Express claimed the Corsa VXR EV would retain the stock powertrain package and focus on improving handling instead. It quoted Vauxhall boss Stephen Norman as saying “we have more than enough [power]. But we can add performance in other ways.”
Would Peugeot really introduce a PSE-badged flagship hot hatch with no more power than the regular e208 which by the way looks great when decked out in GT or GT Premium trim, as seen here? We’re not so sure, particularly since its Alpine A5 rival is rumored to have 215 hp at its disposal.
How Will The 208 PSE Stand Out?
Peugeot’s best remembered 1980s hot hatches all had three doors, though the 309 GTi had the option of five, as did the recent 308 GTi. But modern hot hatch buyers seem to value practicality more than their ancestors, so the PSE will get the same five-door layout as every other 208.
The GT-spec 208 already does a solid visual impression of a hatch thanks to its contrasting wheelarch trims, but we expect the 208 PSE to further accentuate the sporty feel with a lower suspension and an increase in wheel size from the GT’s current 17-inch maximum, though that would come at the expense of some electric range.
Like other facelifted 208s, the PSE will wear the new Peugeot badge fixed to the front of the latest 308, and first seen on the 2018 e-Legend concept.
Illustration credits and copyright Jean Francois Hubert/SB-Medien for CarScoops
And if it takes its lead from the 508 PSE, the hottest 208 is likely to feature lurid green detailing, gloss black trim, a rear diffuser, vertical grille fins and PSE ‘Kryptonite’ claw graphics. We also expect to see aerodynamic devices on the lower bumper and sills and a spoiler mounted above the rear window.
When Is It Coming? What’s It Going to Cost?
Auto Express claims the electric Corsa VXR (previous ICE version shown above) will be on sale in Europe in 2022, which could tie in with other sources who claim the 208 PSE will be launched to coincide with the 208’s mid-cycle refresh for the 2023 model year. However, if the car sounds tempting but are based in North America, you’ll have to be content to admire it from afar as Stellantis has scuppered plans to bring Peugeot to North America.
As for cost, an e208 in top-spec GT Premium trim already costs £33,975 ($47,200) before the UK government’s £2500 ($3500) electric vehicle grant has been applied. Depending on how much extra power, if any, and equipment Peugeot adds to create the 208 PSE, we could be looking at £36-38,000 ($50-53,000).
Peugeot 208 PSE, Meet Your Rivals
Small electric hot hatches aren’t exactly thick on the ground right now. In fact, the only car that comes close to rivaling the 208 PSE is the Mini Electric. Essentially a zero emissions Cooper S, it serves up a solid 182 hp and can sprint from 0-62 mph in 7.3 seconds.
It’s also surprisingly affordable, with prices starting at £26,000 after the UK government grant (it costs from $29,000 in the U.S.). On the downside, the three-door-only Mini Electric is even more cramped than a regular Mini because of how the battery is located under the rear seat, and that battery has a capacity of just 32 kWh, resulting in a sub-150-mile WLTP range (and a pathetic 114 EPA miles).
Also small, but significantly slower, is the new Fiat 500e. You get a choice of 23.7 kWh or 42 kWh batteries and a 116 hp front-mounted motor that can get you to 62 mph in 9 seconds. That doesn’t sound like anyone’s idea of a hot hatch, but things should improve when Fiat works its Abarth magic on the silent 500 in coming years.
Renault’s Alpine A5, part of the sporty brand’s expansion away from a simple one-model sports car-focused line-up, is arguably the 208’s biggest rival. And if it does get the 215 hp motor from the Megan E-tech, it’s going to make the PSE look seriously slow.
Moreover, let’s not forget conventional ICE hatches. They won’t be around forever, but while they are, plenty of buyers will be happy to stick with what they know. And when a car like the Hyundai i20 N offers 201 hp, 6.2-second zero to 62mph capability and a 300+ mile range for less than £25,000 ($35,000) it’s hard not to see the appeal.
Are you excited about the prospect of an electric hot hatch infused with Peuegot’s chassis tuning know how, or do you think the 205 GTI would be turning in its grave? Leave a comment and let us know.
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Cupra’s new UrbanRebel concept looks like some kind of crazed hot hatch destined for an awesome new race series. But don’t be fooled by the motorsport wing and wheels. Beneath the auto show razzmatazz is the small EV Cupra will bring to market in 2025.
Revealed ahead of a public appearance at this month’s Munich Motor Show, the UrbanRebel gives us our first look at one of a suite of small EVs built around the VW Group’s shortest MEB electric platform. It will be joined by other small EVs from VW Group brands using the same architecture by the second half of this decade.
A huge cow-catcher bumper that wouldn’t look out of place on a wild west train dominates the front view, while the pronounced crease running from the front fenders to the base of the C-pillar is an even more dramatic interpretation of the design language we saw in 2019’s Cupra Tavascan SUV concept.
Get A Look At That Wing
At the rear, the giant wing commands your attention, and not only because of its sheer size. The rear light units cleverly extend from the Cupra logo mounted in the center of the bodywork below the rear window, than carry on up the wing uprights.
Cupra says the concept’s unspecified electric powertrain produces a constant 335 hp, but has the ability to kick out as much as 429 hp for limited periods. That’s enough for a zero to 62mph time of 3.2 seconds.
Come 2025 though, the production version will make less than half that power, and take more than twice as long to get to 60mph, at least in standard trim.
And while the concept has just three doors to enhance the sporty look, it’s almost certain that the near-universal demand for five-doors, even in small cars, means the real thing will have back doors, too.
How Much Will The Tamer Production Version Cost?
Volkswagen is targeting a starting price of around €20,000 ($24k/£17k) for its smallest EVs, possibly by using cheaper lithium phosphate batteries. More than 500,000 EVs from various VW brands will be built at the Seat-Cupra factory in Martorelli, near Barcelona in Spain.
One thing not clear is where this all leaves Seat. VW’s decision to unveil the UrbanRebel as a Cupra leaves us wondering again if it may drop the Seat brand altogether, using Skoda to plug the gap.
The single motor version of the 2022 Polestar 2 is heading to the United States from $47,200 including a $1,300 destination charge.
Like the dual-motor version of the Polestar 2, the single-motor variant has a 78 kWh lithium-ion battery pack but rather than producing 408 hp and 487 lb-ft (660 Nm), it is capped at 231 hp and 248 lb-ft (336 Nm). It also has an EPA-estimated maximum driving range of 265 miles (426 km), which is better than the 249-mile (400 km) range of the dual-motor version.
When federal, state, and utility incentives are factored in, the entry-level Polestar 2 can be purchased for as little as $34,900 plus the $1,300 destination charge.
The single-motor Polestar 2 will be offered with three option packages. The first is the $3,000 Pilot Pack which adds a host of electronic driving aids. Also on offer is the $4,000 Plus Pack that includes a heat pump that can increase the range by up to 10 per cent in ideal conditions and uses thermal energy emitted by the drivetrain to heat the cabin; it also adds a full-length panoramic sunroof and a Harman-Kardon sound system.
Last but not least is the $5,000 Performance Pack that brings with it an adjustable Ohlins suspension, Brembo brakes, Continental tires, and gold exterior accents. A handful of other standalone options are available, such as leather upholstery for $4,000, 20-inch wheels for $1,200, and a tow bar for $1,200.
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