Volvo aims to have 50% of its global fleet sales be electric or hybrid vehicles by 2025, with the goal of being entirely electric by 2030.
The 2024 Volvo EX90 represents a monumental shift in the brand’s identity, with a sleek and futuristic design that prioritizes aerodynamics and sustainability.
The EX90 promises a thrilling and eco-conscious driving experience, with dual-motor all-wheel drive, over 500 horsepower, a 111 kWh battery pack, and a range of 300 miles on a single charge. Safety is also a top priority, with advanced external and internal monitoring systems.
Volvo is aiming for an electrifying transformation, with the goal of having electric and hybrid vehicles represent 50% of its global fleet sales by 2025, and going fully electric by 2030. The ultimate objective is to become a climate-neutral company by 2040.
The 2024 Volvo EX90 is a significant milestone in Volvo’s journey towards electrification. It is a fully electric SUV that stands on its own, separate from any gasoline-powered counterparts. With a new platform and the dimensions of the three-row XC90 SUV, the EX90 represents a major shift in Volvo’s brand identity.
The design of the EX90 merges SUV aesthetics with aerodynamic finesse. It features a sleek and futuristic silhouette, with a smooth front fascia and flush door handles to enhance aerodynamic efficiency. Despite its focus on aerodynamics, Volvo has retained a more traditional SUV shape compared to some of its competitors.
The interior of the EX90 exudes high-tech minimalism and Scandinavian elegance. It features a large touchscreen infotainment system that consolidates most of the vehicle’s controls. The cabin is spacious and accommodates seven passengers, making it suitable for larger families or group travel. Volvo has also incorporated sustainable materials and trim in the interior, aligning with its commitment to using recycled and sustainable materials.
The EX90 promises a thrilling driving experience with its dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. It offers two options: the entry-level Twin Motor model with 402 horsepower and the higher-performing Twin Motor Performance variant with 517 horsepower. The EX90 is equipped with an impressive 111 kWh battery pack that provides a range of 300 miles on a single charge. It also supports fast charging, allowing the battery to reach 80% capacity in as little as 30 minutes.
Safety is a top priority for Volvo, and the EX90 is no exception. It features advanced external sensors, cameras, and LiDAR technology to provide a 360-degree real-time view of the road. Inside the cabin, specialized sensors and cameras monitor the driver’s level of concentration and intervene if signs of fatigue or distraction are detected.
The Polestar 5 is an electric performance four-door GT that aims to change the status quo of the EV industry.
The car features an 800 Volt architecture, dual electric motors, 884 horsepower, 663 pound-feet of torque, and an estimated range of 300 miles.
Polestar’s design philosophy focuses on creating a production car that is both innovative and practical, prioritizing safety, comfort, performance, and aerodynamics.
The Polestar 5 is an electric performance four-door GT nearing production. Its launch has been much anticipated, and just recently the most recent prototype made an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, held in West Sussex, England. More than being just another electric car, the Polestar 5 is looking to change the status quo of the EV industry. This futuristic four-door GT will be a competitive force in the battery electric vehicle (BEV) segment once it hits the market in 2024. Based on the Precept concept car, it has big shoes to fill and a mission to spearhead Polestar’s future in the BEV segment.
Regarding the Precept, the Swedish automotive brand had this to say:
The automotive industry is facing pressing questions about design and environmental impact. Precept aims to answer these questions, showing our commitment to sustainable and engaging electric mobility.
The precept is undergoing a journey from a concept car to the Polestar 5. It’s a long and challenging process that motivates Polestar’s team of designers and engineers to continue to push the boundaries of what can be achieved when you set out to create a new BEV from the ground up, without even looking at the competition to draw inspiration from. And this design approach was completely intentional. Polestar’s designers did not want to be influenced or contaminated by a bias of having to follow suit with what is already on the market.
All information regarding technical specifications and features of the Polestar 5 we are provided by the Polestar Company. Its development process has been documented and used as an inspiration to write this article.
A concept car often works as a halo car for the developing team. They feature new ideas regarding design and technology and often give us a glimpse of the direction the company is moving toward. When Polestar’s design team set out to work on a concept, they could shoot for the moon and really push the boundaries of what might be possible to bring into a production model. The Polestar 5 idea was born from the Precept concept car. Their goal was to create something that was innovative and exciting enough, and yet, at the same time, sufficiently grounded so as to not disappoint as a practical, everyday means of transportation.
One would be hard-pressed to consider the Polestar 5 a simple everyday commuter, however. The car features a new Polestar powertrain that features an 800 Volt architecture and produces a healthy amount of power and torque. With an estimated starting price of around $100,000, the Polestar 5 needs to really bring in the goods in order to grab a significant share of the segment.
Polestar 5 Performance Specs And Price
Powertrain
Dual electric motors
Output
884 horsepower
Torque
663 pound-feet
Range
300 miles
MSRP
$100,000 (est.)
Polestar set out to build a real car from the very beginning. They’ve walked a fine line between what would be a designer’s dream, which might not be too practical for the real world, and what needed to be there physically so that people who interact with it won’t feel alienated and disconnected from what was presented to them. A production car, after all, is made for the real world, and they have to be produced in with volume in mind, they have to be safe, and they have to deliver both comfort and performance. That is at the core of Polestar’s design philosophy, and this is the car that is setting up the future of the brand, its design language, and technology for the upcoming years.
From the computer screens and renderings, Polestar’s team built a real-size clay model of the car. The importance of the clay model in the development process of the car is that with it, you can quickly make changes if something doesn’t quite work out in the physical world as originally intended. Unlike doing it in wood for instance, with clay you have a quick process to be able to change and see a completely different model if needed. Polestar finds this process So useful that they plan on having over 20 different clay models that will incorporate thousands of little adjustments before the design of the car is finally complete.
At the beginning of the design process, the exterior designer receives a brief from the head of design. This is what will guide and describe the overall style of the car. The Polestar 5 exterior design has a bold, sporty stance that exudes finesse and luxury. The design team tried to minimize the height of the car and create a look that packs everything together nicely. Requirements from other departments also influenced the design because the car needs to be able to work well as far as safety, comfort, performance, and practicality are concerned.
The exterior design has to be aerodynamic, for example. Aerodynamics is extremely important in electrical vehicles, especially when it comes to energy consumption. The aerodynamics team came in, doing their best to stay true to what was envisioned for the car while minimizing wind vortexes and other inefficient air flow areas around the body of the car, as this translates to a lot of wasted energy and impact the performance and range of the car. To that end, wind tunnel tests are done to study the effects of the wind on the car. After extensive testing in the wind tunnel, that particular team gathers data and provides feedback to the design and engineering team. With that hard data available, Polestar’s designers and engineers can then decide on the cost-benefit analysis of changing the shape of the car even further, or not, in order to accommodate efficiency over aesthetics.
One of the challenges to realizing the interior of a concept car into the interior of a production car is the fact that with a concept, designers are free from a lot of real-world limitations. They don’t have to think about seat belt travel, knee room, moving seats, ducting, electronics, and other mundane aspects of an automobile. They get to express their creativity and design freely, within the boundaries of a certain brief. It falls to the engineers, while considering that wider spectrum of what was originally intended, to make things work as they should both inside and out of the vehicle.
The interior designers are tasked with proposing various ideas and concepts in order to make things fit in into the original design concept of the car. This is a very iterative process that has a lot of trial and error. It’s a constant back-and-forth negotiation and cooperation between several areas of the company, though every design decision has to take into account technical and safety requirements.
The Swedish School of textiles in Boras, Sweden was tasked with finding the right materials for the interior of the Polestar 5. From this start, Polestar wanted to bring something new and innovative unlike anything else out there in the industry. The materials introduced in the Precept are being carried over to the Polestar 5, but not without a fair bit of challenge. Maria Uggla the color and material design manager at Polestar is captaining the effort of bringing these unique materials into the Polestar 5. They are using a new tailored knit technique to create upholstery, never before used in the automotive industry. The interior colors and materials are also connected, and influenced by, the car’s overall design.
In a bold move to showcase to the world what it has been cooking in Sweden, Polestar took a prototype to the Goodwood Festival of Speed where lots of eyes were checking out if the car measured up to what had been promised and expected from Polestar. There is always a risk involved in showing an early development vehicle to a lot of people in a less controllable setting. Mercedes, for instance, had a little mishap with the new AMG GT at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Polestar decided to do it anyway, precisely because of the risks. It’s part of the excitement of the whole process, And luckily everything went really well. Being that this is not an event that is traditionally used as part of vehicle development, Polestar felt it had a unique opportunity to really test out how the car would behave in a myriad of different situations, be it on its famous hill climb, on corners or high-speed straights, and pretty much everything the road could throw at it. This allowed the engineers from the vehicle dynamics team to really work on the chassis of the Polestar 5. The steering, the suspension, the tires, and all other things concerned. There was a lot of excitement in the event but what’s most important, there is also a lot of it in the product.
Ferrari plans to have 60% of its lineup be hybrid vehicles.
Ferrari is building an e-factory in Italy to manufacture electric motors, inverters, and batteries.
The all-electric Ferrari GT, expected to have four electric motors and 1,000 horsepower, will debut in 2025.
Ferrari, the iconic Italian luxury sports car manufacturer, is preparing for a major transformation with the upcoming release of its first all-electric vehicle. According to Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri, an all-electric Ferrari is in the works, but it won’t hit the roads until after 2025. While the full transition to electric models is still a few years away, Ferrari is committed to making progress towards electrification. The company intends to have 60% of its lineup consist of hybrid vehicles and is set to unveil its first-ever SUV soon. Ferrari is focusing on its hybridization efforts, including the recent release of the impressive 986-horsepower SF90 Stradale plug-in hybrid.
To realize its electrification vision, Ferrari is constructing an e-building in Maranello, Italy. This facility will produce electric motors, inverters, batteries, and assemble electric and hybrid vehicles. The e-building is expected to be completed by June 2024. Ferrari’s approach to electrification is strategic, as CEO Benedetto Vigna states that the transition will not impact the brand’s operating margins. With an operating profit margin of 26.9% in the first quarter of 2023, Ferrari aims to maintain its position in the industry while embracing cleaner and more sustainable technologies.
Ferrari is committed to an automotive future that combines tradition and innovation. The company has plans to introduce fifteen new models from 2022 to 2026, many of which will be fully or partially electric.
Ferrari Has Yet To Release An EV
Wikimedia Commons
Despite being an iconic luxury brand, Ferrari has not yet released an electric vehicle. The brand has mostly focused on plug-in hybrids, but they have hinted at the future release of electric vehicles that will utilize GT platforms while maintaining the speed and quality that Ferrari is known for. One challenge in this market is that many people desire the classic “racing” experience, which involves the sound and sensation of a gasoline-powered car.
Ferrari has confirmed a 2025 EV is on the way. However, details regarding its appearance, performance, and specifications are still unknown.
While an electric Ferrari would offer a quieter and smoother ride, it may not satisfy the desires of individuals who typically purchase a Ferrari. Nevertheless, the anticipation for a fully electric supercar from Ferrari is intense. The current estimate is that a fully electric GT model will be available by the end of 2025, although manufacturing challenges may delay its release until early 2026. Regardless, the introduction of an electric Ferrari will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the industry.
The Electric Ferrari GT Will Change The Industry Forever
Ferrari
The upcoming electric Ferrari is rumored to have four electric motors.
Ferrari’s GT electric vehicle is expected to be a two-door model according to patent filings.
This new electric vehicle could have around 1,000 horsepower.
With the official confirmation of an all-electric GT hitting the global market in 2025, Ferrari is poised to achieve something extraordinary. Rumors suggest that the new electric Ferrari will boast 1,000 horsepower and feature four electric motors. It is expected to be a unique addition to the industry. While details are scarce, patent filings suggest that this electric car will be a two-door supercar rather than a four-door SUV. Ferrari is likely to take a bold approach with the release of this highly anticipated electric sports car, distancing itself from conventional expectations.
Ferrari Predicts That EVs Will Account For Five-Percent Of Its Global Sales By 2026
Ferrari
With the debut of their first electric supercar slated for 2025, Ferrari has already projected that electric vehicles will account for only around 5% of its global sales in that year. While this percentage may seem low, considering it accounts for the introduction of the brand’s first EV, it is a promising start. Furthermore, Ferrari has mentioned plans for 15 new electric cars by 2026, which should significantly increase the percentage of electric vehicle sales. Most automakers are aiming for 50% to 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by the middle of the decade, so Ferrari has some catching up to do.
Ferrari has been criticized for not releasing fully electric vehicles earlier, but they have made progress with their hybrid and plug-in hybrid offerings. Notable hybrid models from Ferrari include the LaFerrari, LaFerrari Aperta, SF90 Stradale, SF90 Spider, and the upcoming 296 GTB, which features a turbocharged V-6 engine paired with an electric motor. These models provide eco-friendly options while maintaining performance capabilities.
Ferrari’s current hybrid lineup:
Ferrari LaFerrari
Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta
Ferrari SF90 Stradale
Ferrari SF90 Spider
Ferrari 296 GTB
This demonstrates Ferrari’s commitment to embracing greener technologies. For a half-million-dollar electric vehicle, customers expect top-of-the-line features that justify the price tag.
The Road To The Electric Ferrari Has Been A Long One
Ferrari
Since the early 2010s, car manufacturers have been transitioning from traditional gasoline engines to high-power batteries. As the climate changes and people become more conscious of their impact on the planet, the electric vehicle market has been thriving. However, luxury brands like Ferrari have a longstanding reputation for speed, sexiness, and power, which may not align with experimenting with electric technology. Many critics have chastised Ferrari for being slow to embrace EVs, but any progress should be appreciated.
Currently, hybrids and plug-in hybrids serve as the intermediary option for drivers who want an electric vehicle but still rely on gasoline for regular driving. Ferrari has received positive feedback for its hybrid models. It’s worth noting that range, charge time, and safety have always been critical concerns for electric cars. Ferrari’s hybrids have demonstrated strong performance without sacrificing these crucial factors.
While Ferrari has taken some time to introduce a groundbreaking electric vehicle, it is evident that they are determined to go greener. This transition signifies a new era for Ferrari and sportscars as a whole.
Ferrari is committed to electrification and aims to have 60 of its lineup be hybrids, with its first-ever SUV being unveiled soon.
Ferrari is establishing an e-building in Italy to manufacture electric motors, inverters, and batteries for its electric and hybrid vehicles.
The all-electric Ferrari GT, rumored to have four electric motors and 1,000 horsepower, will debut in 2025, signaling a significant shift in the industry.
Ferrari, the iconic Italian luxury sports car manufacturer, is gearing up for a significant transformation with the impending introduction of its first all-electric vehicle. According to Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri, an all-electric Ferrari is on the horizon, but enthusiasts will have to wait until after 2025 to see it hit the roads. While the transition to a fully electric model is still a few years away, Ferrari is committed to making strides toward electrification. The company aims to have its lineup comprising 60 percent hybrid vehicles, with the unveiling of its first-ever SUV. The company is focusing on its hybridization efforts, including the recent release of the remarkable 986-horsepower SF90 Stradale plug-in hybrid.
To make this electrification vision a reality, Ferrari is establishing its e-building in Maranello, Italy, designed to manufacture electric motors, inverters, and batteries and assemble electric and hybrid vehicles. The new facility is expected to be ready by June 2024. Ferrari’s approach to electrification seems strategic, as the CEO, Benedetto Vigna, asserts that the transition will not impact the brand’s operating margins. With an impressive operating profit margin of 26.9 percent in the first quarter of 2023, Ferrari aims to maintain its position in the industry while embracing cleaner and more sustainable technologies.
As the automotive world evolves, Ferrari is committed to meeting the future with a lineup that balances tradition and innovation. The company had plans to introduce fifteen new models from 2022 to 2026, many of which will be fully or partially electric, so the vision is well underway.
With the Ferrari brand being as iconic as it is, the Italian sportscar brand has yet to release an electric vehicle. Of course, the brand has seen significant changes in how it manufactures cars, with plug-in hybrids being the current status quo. Interestingly enough, Ferrari has mentioning new EVs are on the horizon, which will utilize GT platforms and still have the incredible speed and quality the company is known for. One issue in this market is that most people want to hear their car make noise, burn gas, and create that classic “racing” experience.
Ferrari has confirmed a 2025 EV is on the way. However, it’s not confirmed what it will look like and its performance or specs, leaving us in the dark for now.
With an EV, this could be a much quieter and smoother ride: which, although great, won’t feed the hunger someone typically purchasing a Ferrari has. The good news is Ferrari has confirmed a pure electric supercar is coming in the next few years, which is certainly exciting news. The current projection is that a fully electric GT will be here by the end of 2025, although knowing how difficult manufacturing your first EV is, this could (and likely will) be pushed back until Q1 or Q2 of 2026. Regardless, the concept of an electric sportscar like Ferrari is undoubtedly industry-altering.
The Electric Ferrari GT Will Change The Industry Forever
Ferrari
The all-new electric Ferrari is rumored to have four electric motors.
Ferrari’s GT EV will be two-door, according to patent filings.
This new vehicle could have upwards of 1,000 horsepower.
With the confirmation of an all-electric GT coming to global markets in 2025, Ferrari is on track to do something incredible. Rumored to have 1,000 horsepower and four electric motors, the all-new (and electric) Ferrari will do something that’s not been seen before. As we said, Ferrari has been sluggish in producing hybrids and EVs in recent decades, but with 2025 being the debut of this new supercar, we’re anxious to see what it means for the direction of the mega-brand.
Official details are few and far between, but patent filings suggest the new electric car could be a two-door supercar rather than a four-door SUV. Some people had speculated this new Ferrari would compete with the Porsche Taycan, although if we had to guess, Ferrari would take a much greater risk upon its release. If they’ve waited this long: why take a safe, predictable approach to the world’s most powerful electric sports car?
Ferrari Predicts That EVs Will Account For Five-Percent Of Its Global Sales By 2026
Ferrari
With the brand’s first electric supercar dropping in 2025, Ferrari has already predicted it will account for merely five percent of its global sales for that year. Five percent doesn’t seem very impressive from our standpoint, but considering that this is taking into consideration the new (and only) EV, it will have as of 2025, we’ll lay off. That said, within 2025, 2026, and beyond, Ferrari has mentioned 15 new electric cars, which should hopefully launch that five percent to 20+. Most car manufacturers are betting on 50 percent to 100 percent zero-emission sales by the decade’s midpoint, so Ferrari is behind.
The Italian company has let many of its eco-conscious clientele down in recent years by not releasing fully electric vehicles, which they promise to eradicate soon. Another thing to remember is that Ferrari has a couple of plug-ins or hybrids out in the market, which is a first for the brand. A particularly incredible hybrid Ferrari model is the Ferrari SF90 Stradale, which has received great reviews from drivers. Furthermore, the Ferrari 296 GTB, which will feature an astonishing turbocharged V-6 engine paired with an electric motor, is another eco-friendly option for those who shop through Ferrari.
Here are the hybrids offered by Ferrari:
Ferrari LaFerrari
Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta
Ferrari SF90 Stradale
Ferrari SF90 Spider
Ferrari 296 GTB
This at least shows us the company has an idea to go green rather than put it off any longer. If you’re spending half a million on your EV: it should have bells and whistles worth that price tag.
The Road To The Electric Ferrari Has Been A Long One
Ferrari
Since the early 2010s, carmakers have switched from traditional gas engines to high-power batteries in their lineups. With the climate changing and people wanting to make less of a lasting impact on the planet, it’s no surprise that the EV market is booming. However, luxury brands like Ferrari have long-standing reputations for being fast, sexy, and powerful: where does that allow for experimenting with electric technology? Many consumers and critics have been harsh on Ferrari for being so slow out of the gate regarding EVs, although to us: any progress is good.
After all, the Italian sportscar’s current hybrid and plug-in hybrid options have been received very well across the board, with no one claiming they are slow or clunky. There could be a reason Ferrari has taken this long to create a long-lasting, impressionable EV, and that’s perfectly fine. It’s not like this is a regular car for everyday commuting. Ferraris are meant to race; this isn’t something we often consider in the EV sector. Instead, the pressing issues for battery-powered cars have always been range, charge time, and safety.
That said, hybrids and plug-in hybrids are the current transitional option for drivers wanting to have an EV but still fall back on gas for regular driving. The Italian sportscar brand has been lauded for high-performing features in their hybrid models, which accounted for nearly half the sales, and can only spell good news for the upcoming 2025 EVs. Who knows, this could be a new era for Ferrari and sportscars as we know them.
Fisker Inc. is an auto manufacturer led by CEO Henrik Fisker that aims to create sustainable electric vehicles and has a track record of iconic car designs and pioneering EV development.
The upcoming Fisker Ocean is an SUV that embodies the company’s values of innovation, affordability, sustainability, and beautiful craftsmanship, incorporating features like a solar roof and upcycled sustainable materials.
Fisker’s future plans include the PEAR crossover, a mobility device targeting global citizens and young urban innovators, and Project Ronin, a concept for the world’s first all-electric four-door convertible GT sports car. The company also aims to create a 100% climate-neutral vehicle by 2027.
Fisker Inc., incepted in 2016, is an auto manufacturer specializing in Electric Vehicles (EV). Co-founded by Chairman and CEO Henrik Fisker, who is Danish by birth and American by nationality, Fisker is a company with a very specific vision and mission. As the world’s first digital car company, it seeks to “create a clean future for all”, “by making the world’s most sustainable vehicles”. This of course is easier said than done, but perhaps a man like Mr. Fisker is the one to lead the charge. He’s known for creating iconic cars, as well as pioneering EV development, with a passionate eye for technology and futuristic design. He’ll take risks and challenge protocols, in an effort to be an innovator, ceaselessly striving towards making a dream into reality.
Celebrated as an iconic figure within the automotive industry, Mr. Fisker led the development of the BMW Z8 sports car, which was driven by the character of James Bond in 1999’s The World Is Not Enough. The Z8 Roadster then took the globe by storm, as Mr. Fisker was the President and CEO of BMW Designworks USA. By the year 2000 in the Z8, we’re talking about a car that had the same potent drivetrain as the M5, but was 500 pounds lighter, and had the acceleration of the Chevrolet Corvette.
One can guess that the performance of this car is without question not a surprise, given the healthy V-8 engine output, coupled with the car’s light weight. With the top down while rowing gears using the six-speed manual, you can bet this was as fun of a car as it was stylish. Despite the staggering price tag, there were only 400 examples earmarked for the United States, and all were spoken for, invoking the notion of an instant classic. Indeed, this roadster has the performance to match:
0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds
120 mph in 15.1 seconds
1/4 mile in 13 seconds @ 111 mph
Top Speed governed at 155 mph
Braking from 70 mph in 165 feet
0.90 g’s of lateral movement
In addition to his BMW work, Mr. Fisker had a stint with Aston Martin as a board member and design director. This resulted in the manufacturer’s turnaround, and the DB9/V8 Vantage became the most-sold Aston Martin ever, even to this day. Ultimately this led to the Fisker Karma, the world’s first luxury plug-in hybrid, launched in 2011. The Karma featured a full-length solar roof, adjustable regenerative braking, and a vegan interior. This was five years before Fisker Inc. came about, which is actually Mr. Fisker’s second automotive company.
It appears Mr. Fisker has the ability to look into the future and see what others do not. Today at Fisker Inc., this starts with the zero emissions Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) known as the Ocean. This vehicle falls in line with everything that Fisker and the company stand for: innovation, affordability, ingenious engineering, sustainability, and beautiful craftsmanship. The Fisker method is to use less, use better, and use again. This has been accomplished in several ways with the Ocean, by creating a solar roof, sourcing from responsible suppliers, and using upcycled sustainable materials.
Fisker Ocean Range and Price
Ocean Sport
Ocean Ultra
Ocean Force E
Ocean Extreme
Range
250 miles
340 miles
360 miles
360 miles
Price
$49,999
$37,499
$68,999
$68,999
The Ocean will have five trims: Sport; Ultra; Force E; Extreme; and the limited-edition One, with an estimated price range between $37,499-$68,999. The range will be between 250–360 miles, using as large as a 113 kWh battery pack. The available roof-mounted solar panels, called SolarSky, could supply up to 2,000 miles of range per year under ideal conditions. An interesting claim for sure, but one that has yet to be seen. Only the entry-level Sport has a single motor powering the front wheels, with a total output of 275 horsepower, expected to go from zero to sixty mph in 6.9 seconds. The latter trims have a motor on each axle, for a combined 550 horses and all-wheel-drive (AWD), propelling the EV SUV from zero to sixty in just 3.6 seconds. Front-drive models are rated to tow 2,040 pounds, while those with AWD can pull 4,000. The Force E is set to join the lineup later, an off-road version sporting 33-inch tires.
Fisker Ocean Extreme Specs
Electric Motor
Dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup
Horsepower
564 horsepower
Torque
545 pound-feet
0 to 60 MPH
3.6 seconds
Price
$68,999
The driver-centric all-electric Ocean SUV will make use of technology such as an enormous 17.1-inch touchscreen that will rotate from landscape to portrait, unlike in Teslas, depending on driving conditions. It will also feature a Harmon Kardon stereo, of which every model will have along with the infotainment screen, except for the base Sport. Also, the Sport trim has a fixed-glass panoramic sunroof, but the rest carry a panoramic glass roof with a retractable panel.
Activating “California mode,” results in the roof panel opening, along with the rear and side glass, creating an open-air experience. This is perhaps the final note in innovation for this tidal wave of change Ocean SUV.
SUVs are, of course, uber-popular, and another offering from Fisker, comes in the form of the PEAR crossover. This vehicle’s acronym name stands for Personal Electric Automotive Revolution. About 4,500 mm long, it still seats five, with storage space and many industry-first features. With a starting price of $29,900 before any incentives, expect to see the PEAR in 2024. Thought of as a mobility device rather than a conventional car, it targets “global citizens and young urban innovators.
“Fisker is about making things for humans, by humans, with an emphasis on designing “individual mobility for people and planet” is what the company has to say. It seems that this is what the PEAR is, a futuristic and minimalist concept, that blends Fisker’s mission of sustainability, tech, and unique design. This is already something echoed with the Ocean, except in a larger package, one that is familiar and desired. The PEAR is something that seems to defy classification into any existing market segment, making Fisker’s attempt ground-breaking, to say the least.
Ronin, a historical noun from feudal Japan, is a term that means a wandering samurai who had no lord or master; what an awesome name for a car, even if it is at this time, just a concept. This vehicle is hailed as the world’s first all-electric four-door convertible, GT sports car. With “thrills beyond speed,” and a name like that, it’ll be quite interesting to see if Project Ronin shapes out as described by the automaker. If what the company has done already, namely with the Ocean, expect this to hit the mark. Given Mr. Fisker’s history, nothing less makes sense.
Fisker Inc. might only have a few credits to its name thus far in a short time in existence, but clearly, the company is shooting for the moon. Everything accomplished is a fresh new take, and perhaps because it is so, it has yet to catch fire. However, it’s never about quantity, but always quality. Looking a bit ahead, if we may, Fisker announced it would like to create a 100 percent climate-neutral vehicle by 2027. No doubt an aspirational goal, but what does this even mean? As enthusiasts, we all love our cars, but how can one not love the concept of Climate Neutral Vehicle Production? After all, we want to be here as long as we can, and Fisker is working to make that possible.
The Volkswagen brand is planning a major product offensive in South America, aiming to grow by 40% in Brazil, the region’s largest market, by 2027. As part of this plan, the company will launch 15 new electric and flex-fuel vehicle models by 2025, with hybrid vehicles to follow in the medium term. The first fully electric models, the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID. Buzz, will be brought to Brazil by the end of 2023. The South American automotive market is expected to grow by 11% annually until 2030, making it one of the fastest-growing markets globally. This investment aligns with Volkswagen’s strategy to expand rapidly in growth markets and promote sustainable mobility. Volkswagen is also celebrating its 70th anniversary in Brazil.
The CEO of Volkswagen Brand, Thomas Schäfer, stated that South America is strategically important, and the local team has achieved a turnaround in recent years, improving profitability and competitiveness. He emphasized the need to work on cost positions and implement the product offensive, which includes a €1 billion investment in South America by 2026. The South America region returned to profitability in 2021 and made a significant contribution to earnings in 2022. Alexander Seitz, Executive Chairman of Volkswagen Group South America, highlighted the company’s commitment to bringing attractive vehicles to customers in Brazil and South America through the product offensive, which supports the transformation to zero-carbon and fully networked mobility.
In addition to investing in the development of ethanol-based combustion engines and new business models, Volkswagen aims to expand its car subscription service in Brazil, with over 3,000 subscriptions expected in 2023 – a 150% increase from the previous year. The company also plans to offer its first fully electric vehicles, the ID.4 and ID. Buzz, as subscriptions in Brazil in 2023 to facilitate the transformation to sustainable mobility. Volkswagen expects that the transition to pure electric drives in Brazil will be less dynamic than in Europe, with pure battery electric vehicles estimated to account for around 4% of the overall market in 2033. However, Volkswagen aims to outpace market growth in the electric vehicle segment.
Volkswagen will remain open to alternative drives and technology until the market is fully electrified. All new models produced in the South America region will continue to be able to run on 100% biofuel, making a significant contribution to the sustainability strategy and Volkswagen South America’s Way to Zero. The engines, developed in Europe, will be adapted and further developed in Volkswagen Brazil’s newly opened development center. The focus of Volkswagen’s product offensive includes the A0 and A segments, as well as CUVs/SUVs, which are the fastest-growing market segment worldwide. The A0 segment already accounts for nearly 40% of the South American market and is expected to continue growing disproportionately to the market.
Ethanol, derived from sugar cane, is a sustainable fuel that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to petrol. Ethanol production in Brazil uses less than 0.8% of the country’s land, with the majority of cane sugar harvested in south-central Brazil and a small portion in the North-East. The biofuel contributes to the significant reduction of CO2 in this region.
Volkswagen’s presence in Brazil spans 70 years, with the production plant in São Paulo being the company’s first plant outside Germany. Over the years, Volkswagen has become Brazil’s largest automobile manufacturer, producing a total of 25 million vehicles, four million of which were exported. The company operates four plants in Brazil and sells its models, including the Polo, Virtus, Nivus, Taos, and T-Cross, through approximately 500 dealerships.
Unlock Your Automotive Passion and Explore the Road Ahead
