Tag Archives: boss

News

Polestar hits 370kW in new excessive quick charging checks

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Polestar’s boss stated the know-how would assist to beat what’s seen by the general public as one of many greatest shortcomings of EVs, which is time-consuming charging stops in comparison with petrol or diesel. 

“Time is one of life’s greatest luxuries, and as a manufacturer of luxury electric performance cars, we need to take the next step to address one of the biggest barriers to EV ownership: charging anxiety,” stated Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath.

“With this new technology, on longer journeys, when drivers do stop, they will be able to spend less time charging and be back on the road faster than before. In fact, that stop time will be more akin to what they experience with a petrol car today.”

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2024 BTCC season preview: assembly the person who makes it occur

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Alan Gow, boss of the massively profitable Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship for all however three of the previous 34 seasons, is the personification of a decisive chief.

He spends most of his time making clear, fast choices aimed toward enhancing what’s extensively acknowledged to be the world’s greatest automobile competitors of its sort. For many years, his authority has been each bit as nice as Bernie Ecclestone’s was in his Formula 1 heyday.

Not that there are a lot of different similarities between Gow and Ecclestone. Bernie was small, enigmatic and scary; Gow is tall and laconic, an Australian immigrant who arrived from a profitable Melbourne-based motorsport profession in 1990. He thrives on wisecracks and vibrant language, and for all his word-is-law authority, he’s a remarkably modest man.

“People think all the big decisions come from me,” he says. “But they actually come from me listening. I don’t have a sole franchise on good ideas, so I surround myself with people with interesting opinions, some a lot smarter than I am. So you listen, you sort wheat from chaff, and usually you find the truth somewhere in the middle. I’m a magpie. I’ll pinch anyone’s good idea if I think it will improve the BTCC.”

Typically, Gow has a collection of latest concepts yearly, and it’s the identical for 2024. They are designed to sharpen the competitors and the spectacle. “If you don’t have great racing,” he says, “you don’t have anything.”

This 12 months would be the third for the hybrid powertrains, a world-first he cooked up throughout lockdown with the assistance of Cosworth. After one season to search out the bugs and a second to iron them out, he’s satisfied 2024 shall be a fantastic 12 months for hybrids, making the prospect of 1 driver scoring runaway championship wins (already powerful) virtually unattainable.

“This year we’re doubling the boost available through the driver’s push-to-pass button,” he explains. “It’s a combined turbo and hybrid-electric boost, worth about 80bhp. At the first race this season everyone will get 15 seconds of boost per lap. But as soon as a driver wins a race his boost will fall to just one second, and there are graduated reductions down to 10th place. That will really change things.”

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Alfa Romeo to politicians: neglect about names and save the trade

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Alfa Romeo boss Jean-Philippe Imparato has urged European politicians to concentrate on defending jobs within the automobile trade, moderately than the names of vehicles, following a spat that prompted the rebranding of the model’s new crossover.

The automobile was rebranded from Milano to Junior simply 5 days after it was revealed, after claims by Italian trade minister Adolfo Urso that it violated an Italian regulation that geographical names can be utilized solely on merchandise which are produced in Italy.

The crossover will likely be produced at a Stellantis plant in Tychy, Poland. The regulation is usually utilized to merchandise equivalent to Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

Urso’s claims adopted feedback by Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares on the unveiling of the Milano warning the Italian authorities in opposition to providing incentives to Chinese and different international companies to determine battery and automobile manufacturing services within the nation.

Speaking to Autocar, Imparato stated the choice to alter the title of the Milano was made regardless of authorized recommendation that the title did not violate the regulation and to keep away from being drawn right into a political row.

“When they informed me it was forbidden by regulation – it’s not – I stated: ‘Calm down: I’m not right here to play politics; I’m simply right here to make an Alfa Romeo that’s sustainable for the longer term.’”

Noting that the title change “created a buzz I might by no means have dreamed of”, Imparato said the Milano name was revealed in December and it had been known for years that the car would be produced in Poland alongside the Jeep Avenger and Fiat 600e, with which it shares the Stellantis e-CMP platform.

“If I wanted to answer the question of Giuletta and Mito owners who have wanted a B-segment car since 2021, I didn’t have any other solution than to follow the platform,” he added. “I couldn’t invent a local solution.”

Imparato additionally famous that when Stellantis was fashioned in January 2021, Alfa was shedding “hundreds of millions of euros” however is now worthwhile and that the next-generation Stelvio SUV and Giulia saloon, due in 2025 and 2026, could be in-built Italy.

Motorsport

The BMW M5 Touring Is Coming to America

In February, BMW’s design boss let slip that the corporate would sell the next-generation M5 Touring wagon in America. BMW wouldn’t affirm any particulars after we reached out on the time, however now it’s able to make issues official—the M5 Touring is coming to the US. BMW will start producing the 2025 M5 Touring within the fourth quarter of this yr. 

BMW is already teasing the automobile, and launched a brand new video of the sedan and wagon occurring a highway journey. It follows the pair from Munich, Germany, to Arjeplog, Sweden, as BMW finishes winter testing for the brand new M5, and it’s the primary in a video collection.

The mannequin will pack a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 engine, an electrical motor, and a plug. The setup will produce over 700 horsepower, with the output doubtless falling between the XM and XM Label, which tops out at 738 hp. The previous-generation M5 delivered as much as 617 hp in Competition trim.

That’s much more energy, however the M5 will doubtless want it. The sedan will reportedly weigh 5,368 pounds, about 1,000 lbs greater than the F90, and the wagon could possibly be even heftier. The hybrid powertrain doesn’t assist, however the next-gen automobile can also be allegedly bigger than the outgoing mannequin, rising in size and width.

It’s too early to know the brand new M5’s value, nevertheless it’ll undoubtedly attain the six-figure mark. The 2023 M5 sedan began at $107,900, and we count on the value to extend with the next-generation mannequin. You’ll doubtless have so as to add a premium for the prolonged roof and further cargo capability, driving the fee effectively previous $110,000.

News

Big funding in Seat model brings revamped Ibiza and Arona

Seat boss Wayne Griffiths says the model “is in great health”, with its whole mannequin line-up set to be refreshed within the near-future – and it’s persevering with to analyze choices for a future entry-level electrical automotive.

In current years, the Barcelona agency has put its give attention to performance-oriented sibling model Cupra, which has led to studies that the Seat model might in the end be retired.

But talking at Seat SA’s annual media convention, Griffiths insisted that the model nonetheless has a key position to play. “For us, it was always clear that the brand was not going to disappear,” he stated. “Why would you let a brand that has existed for 70 years disappear? The question is: when is the right time to do more?”

Griffiths stated that the current give attention to Cupra was needed to enhance the corporate’s margins and profitability, and that the flexibility to extend Seat’s volumes was impacted lately by the semiconductor scarcity.

But the agency offered round 290,000 Seat fashions final 12 months, an increase of 24% 12 months on 12 months. Griffiths added: “The message is clear: the Seat brand is in great health and will continue to play a key role in meeting our profitable growth in the future.”

He stated that it’s “important to get the Seat brand back where it belongs”, which is able to contain “new investments in the brand and its models”.

The Seat Leon will obtain a facelift this 12 months, with revamped variations of the Seat Arona crossover – the model’s best-seller – and Seat Ibiza hatch as a consequence of observe in 2025. The agency gave a primary take a look at the styling of these fashions in a video through the media convention. The Ateca may also be “upgraded and have its life extended” sooner or later.

Griffiths hinted that the up to date fashions will obtain revised plug-in hybrid and fuel-efficient powertrains, which is able to likely match these of different lately up to date Volkswagen Group fashions that sit on the MQB platform.

News

Renault: Europe should counter premium shift, make automobiles reasonably priced

Renault’s boss has decried automotive laws in Europe as “objectively favouring premium models” and referred to as on authorities to assist redress the stability by selling the event of reasonably priced automobiles once more.

“Cars are required to be more sophisticated, more fuel-efficient and less costly all at the same time,” a clearly exasperated Luca de Meo wrote in a wide-ranging letter addressed to Europe. “This has already had an effect that is totally counterproductive: passenger cars are now 60% heavier on average.”

In his letter, the Italian strongly advocates a brand new industrial mannequin that might strengthen the hand of the European automotive business – and particularly quantity manufacturers – within the face of sturdy competitors from China and the US.

His criticism is that Europe’s drive to make automobiles cleaner and safer has made them heavier and costlier.

News

Audi plots ‘versatile’ swap to EVs based mostly on demand

Audi remains to be planning to section out all of its ICE vehicles by 2033, however boss Gernot Döllner hasn’t dominated out shifting that date again if electric car demand doesn’t decide up.

While a number of automotive makers have scaled again or delayed plans to transition to an all-electric line-up within the wake of weakening demand for EVs, Dollner stated there was “no doubt” that “the future of the vehicle is electric”.

Audi will start a serious product offensive this yr, with the brand new Q6 e-tron electrical SUV the primary of 20 fashions – with each ICE and EV powertrains – that can launch in 2024 and 2025.

It might be adopted later this yr by a brand new A6 e-tron electrical saloon and new variations of the A4 saloon and property (rebranded A5) and Q5 SUV.

Audi is aiming to have an EV in “all core segments” by 2026, with the goal to additionally launch its last new ICE automotive that yr, working in the direction of a beforehand introduced date to section out non-EV gross sales in 2033.

Asked at Audi’s annual media convention about that 2033 date, Döllner stated the agency was “fully committed to e-mobility” but it had to be “ambidextrous” in its future planning, hinting that plug-in hybrids can even play a key position.

“We have and will ensure that a combination of battery-electric and clean, efficient combustion engines and plug-in hybrid powertrains will be available for the transition period [towards electric],” stated Döllner.

“We are renewing our total portfolio, so we’re very flexibly positioned.

“The plan is for the last combustion and PHEV premieres to take place in 2026, and in 2033 we plan to conduct the phase-out of combustion vehicles – but if there are any ups and downs, we can flexibly react to it.”

Motorsport

VW Wants to Sell its Electric GTI For $25,000 within the US

Late final yr, Volkswagen’s design boss revealed on Instagram that an electric GTI will arrive in 2026. That’s nonetheless two years away, and plenty of details remain fuzzy, however there’s an opportunity the corporate might supply the recent hatch within the US if the value is correct.

VW Group of America CEO Pablo Di Si mentioned throughout a press convention in Berlin that the mannequin might attraction to American patrons if it value between $20,000 and $25,000. He instructed the media he’d be pleased with a “$25,000 price point” as a result of something greater than that will flip it into “more of a niche product.” According to Automotive News, the manager mentioned {that a} $35,000 sizzling hatch would put the mannequin into halo automobile territory.


News

Dennis, Horner and Duke of Richmond named in honours record

Former McLaren Formula 1 boss Ron Dennis has been knighted in King Charles III’s newest New Years Honours record.

The mastermind behind a number of titles has been given the honour for his providers to business and charity.

Current Red Bull Boss Christian Horner, who had beforehand been made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2013 following Red Bull successful 4 consecutive constructors championship titles from 2010-2013, has been elevated to the standing of Commander of the Order for his providers to motor racing.

While the eleventh Duke of Richmond, Charles Gordon-Lennox, has additionally been named as a CBE for his providers to heritage, sport and charity. He orchestrated the reinvention of the Goodwood Estate when he based the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 1993.

Dennis has acquired the nod by way of his present work at Podium Analytics, a non-governmental organisation devoted to lowering harm in sport; and at Tommy’s, a charity that helps younger mother and father by way of problems and loss in being pregnant.

He is presently a non-executive director on the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. He had beforehand been recognised with a CBE in 2000 for his contribution to motor racing.

During his 35-year stint on the Woking based mostly workforce he oversaw a number of title wins and labored with drivers similar to Lewis Hamilton, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. He had varied roles throughout the firm earlier than leaving in 2017.

Horner: grateful and honoured

Speaking after the announcement, Christian Horner stated:  “It was an surprising distinction a decade in the past to be introduced with an OBE and to obtain this second award, a CBE, is one for which I’m massively grateful and deeply honoured.

“It is a superb privilege to steer and work alongside such an exceptional Team as Oracle Red Bull Racing and in addition to work in an business that contributes a lot to the United Kingdom’s economic system.

“I am enormously proud of what we have achieved with Red Bull in Formula 1 and in the wider high technology arena, and I am hugely honoured to be recognised for that effort.”

2023’s season noticed Red Bull dominate the game, with the Milton Keynes-based workforce successful the constructors title, and its drivers, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, taking first and second place respectively.

Motorsport

You Can Buy Toyota’s Tiny $13,000 Work Truck But Not In The US

Toyota’s affordable truck is now available for purchase in Thailand. Meanwhile, Mercedes’ heritage boss clarifies that ICE is not the firm’s heritage.

This is AM Drive, Motor1’s daily look at the news you need before you get in your car.

2024 Toyota Hilux Champ Is An Impressively Cheap Truck

Fed up with hearing about luxury trucks with exorbitant price tags? Toyota now offers a remarkably inexpensive pickup truck for sale in Thailand. Dubbed the Hilux Champ, it is essentially a production model of the IMV 0 concept showcased at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show. The starting price is a pleasantly low 459,000 baht, equivalent to $13,070 or €11,930 at current exchange rates. Even the highest-priced configuration only reaches 577,000 baht ($16,430 or €15,000).

While paint choices are limited to white, silver, or grey, there are multiple body styles available to choose from. This utilitarian vehicle can be converted into an RV, a food truck, a medical van (complete with a refrigerator), or a camper with a roof-mounted tent. Depending on the desired transformation, costs range from 80,000 baht (about $2,300) for the van to as high as 2,000,000 baht ($57,000) for the RV.