Tag Archives: forward

News

2023 Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials Canceled For Second Year In A Row

The 2023 Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials, an official Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Land Speed World Records event, has been canceled for the second year in a row. Last year, the event was canceled due to flooding in the area. Despite closely monitoring the conditions, organizers determined that the course conditions would not allow the event to take place as scheduled. This year, the event has been canceled again due to significant rain resulting from Hurricane Hilary. The Bonneville Salt Flats are currently covered in water, making it impossible for the event to proceed. This news is disappointing for the motorcycle land speed racing community and the FIM. Many participants had planned to travel back from the 2023 Bolivia Speed Trials to attend the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials. The organizers express their disappointment and assure everyone that they look forward to bringing back world-class FIM and AMA motorcycle land speed racing to the Bonneville Salt Flats in the future. Let’s hope for smoother conditions in 2024.

Related Content:

News

JLR to hire 300 technicians for Range Rover and EV projects

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is planning to recruit 300 new technicians as part of its efforts to increase Range Rover production and advance its electric vehicle (EV) development. This recruitment drive is part of JLR’s £15 billion investment plan that spans over five years.

The positions will be available at JLR’s facilities in Gaydon, Whitley, and Solihull in the Midlands.

Specifically, at the Solihull plant, 100 of the new roles will be dedicated to maintenance technicians. They will be responsible for operating and maintaining about 700 robots at the brand’s new £130 million automated body production facility. The increased production capacity will contribute to a 30% boost in Range Rover and Range Rover Sport production.

These technicians will also receive training to work on a new £70 million body production system. This system will be crucial for building the new electric Range Rover.

READ MORE: Adrian Mardell proves he is the man to revive JLR

The remaining 200 new recruits will consist of technicians and test engineers. They will be located at the Gaydon engineering center and Whitley powertrain facility, where they will focus on testing and developing JLR’s next-generation electric vehicles.

The first electric vehicle in JLR’s pipeline will be the Range Rover electric, set to arrive at the end of 2024, with pre-orders opening later this year. This will be followed by a series of impressive electric Jaguars, including a 4-door GT planned for 2025.

All of these EVs will be manufactured at the Solihull plant, which, along with the Wolverhampton engine plant and Halewood factory, will undergo a transformation to produce electric vehicles as part of the company’s £15 billion investment.

VauxhallUk

FIRST GLIMPSE OF STUNNING NEW VAUXHALL EXPERIMENTAL

  • Forward looking: Vauxhall Experimental gives an insight into the future of the brand
  • Attention to detail: Flush body surfacing, aero-efficiency and resource-conserving

After revealing the name of its upcoming concept car as the Vauxhall Experimental just last week, the British brand has now offered a tantalizing preview of the design study by releasing first images of the vehicle. The photographs reveal the extreme precision and high attention to detail of the Vauxhall Experimental, which will show the future of the Vauxhall brand with its more technical and extreme interpretation of the Bold and Pure design philosophy.

“The Vauxhall Experimental marks the start of a new chapter for our brand. It was designed to provide a tangible vision of where the Vauxhall brand is heading. We will be revealing more details soon – so stay tuned,” said Mark Adams, Vice-President, Design, Vauxhall.

One of the most eye-catching features teased by the images is the further development of the Compass, the guiding element of Vauxhall’s design philosophy. The illuminated Vauxhall Griffin sits confidently at the center of the compass in a new iteration of the Vauxhall Vizor, the brand’s characteristic front fascia and technology hub. It is flanked by the elongated wing signature lighting on the horizontal axis while the illuminated center crease adds further drama. A distinctive red-light graphic on flush body surfacing, devoid of unnecessary shut lines, suggests the repetition of the compass at the rear of the Vauxhall Experimental.

Elsewhere, aerodynamic efficiency has long been a hallmark of Vauxhall passenger cars and the vane-like construction of the eye-catching wheels indicate that the Vauxhall Experimental will also share this attribute. The futuristic cues are continued on the interior with the profiled seat structure hinting at a sustainable, resource-conserving approach to the ergonomic seats that are typical for Vauxhall vehicles.

The Vauxhall Experimental will celebrate its world premiere at this year’s IAA Mobility in Munich (5 to 10 September 2023).

-ENDS-

Volkswagen

Volkswagen Group is continuing its strategic realignment of its charging and energy business

Volkswagen Group has appointed Giovanni Palazzo as the new Head of Charging and Energy to drive the strategic realignment of the charging and energy business. Palazzo, who also serves as the CEO and Head of Sales for the Elli brand, will focus on expanding the fast-charging network and advancing Volkswagen’s smart energy platform. The collaboration between Elli and Electrify America will be strengthened, new business models will be introduced internationally, and closer cooperation with Group brands and customers will be established. The strategic plan has already been presented to investors and analysts at the Capital Markets Day.

Giovanni Palazzo, Senior Vice President Volkswagen Group Charging and Energy and the CEO of Elli, stated, “Volkswagen Group has a strong foundation in charging and energy, particularly through Electrify America, the largest open charging network in the US, and Elli, the largest mobility service provider in Europe. We aim to expand this expertise throughout the value chain and focus on verticalizing the energy management business, which will be a key revenue driver in the future. This involves a new strategic direction, new business models, and closer collaboration within the division and with Volkswagen Group brands.”

Volkswagen aims to offer innovative solutions for load management, energy market optimization, and energy trading as part of its strategic orientation. The company plans to introduce intelligent charging management services for fleet customers from 2024. Giovanni Palazzo brings valuable experience from his role as the CEO of Electrify America in the North American market. Robert Barrosa has taken over as the President and CEO of Electrify America since June 1.

Thomas Schmall, Member of the Volkswagen Group Board of Management responsible for Technology and CEO of Volkswagen Group Technology, said, “We recognized early on that charging and energy is one of the most important sectors for the growth of electric mobility and the energy transition. It is crucial to develop our own products and services across the entire value chain and establish strategic partnerships in the energy sector. With Giovanni Palazzo, we have an excellent industry expert and a modern leader who will enhance the Group’s competencies in the energy transition. As an experienced international manager, he has the skills to drive global cooperation and innovation partnerships.”

Expansion of the global fast charging network

Volkswagen already operates the largest open charging network in the US through Electrify America. The company aims to collaborate with partners to establish more than 43,000 fast-charging points in Europe, China, and North America by 2025. Electrify America plans to double the number of fast-charging points to 8,000 in North America alone. In Europe, Volkswagen’s Elli brand provides access to over 500,000 charging points as a mobility service provider. Additionally, the CAMS joint venture in China aims to build 17,000 fast-charging points by 2025. The Group will also expand its range of charging and energy services to better meet customer needs.

In addition to home chargers and flexible fast-charging stations, Volkswagen Group will offer charging and energy services such as public charging, green energy, and energy management. Some of these services are already provided by Electrify America in North America and Elli in Europe. In the long term, the Group plans to integrate electric cars as intelligent consumers and power banks within the electricity grid to contribute to the future energy system.

Charging and Energy division within Group Technology

The Charging and Energy division is one of four technology pillars of Group Technology, alongside PowerCo, Group Components, and Group Platform Business. Group Technology, created by Volkswagen two years ago, forms a unique ecosystem around electric mobility, covering all services from components for electric engines and batteries to charging and energy. Volkswagen Group Technology supports brands as a group-wide technology supplier and includes subsidiaries PowerCo and Elli. The division focuses on batteries, charging, and e-components, with PowerCo set to produce the unified cell from 2025. The Platform Business collaborates with external partners such as Ford and Mahindra.

About Elli

Elli, a Volkswagen Group brand with approximately 300 employees, caters to the interface between energy and mobility. As a part of the Group, Elli offers a wide range of energy and charging solutions in Europe and acts as a mobility service provider. Its portfolio includes charging solutions for private customers and companies, charging services, and innovative smart green electricity tariffs. Elli also provides digital solutions and services for charging in public spaces. Established in 2018, Elli has offices in Berlin, Wolfsburg, and Munich.

For more information about Giovanni Palazzo and photos related to this topic, please visit www.volkswagen-group.com or www.elli.eco.

Motorsport

BMW M Hybrid V8 With Naked Carbon Body Is Automotive Nudity At Its Finest

In 1975, the famous artist Alexander Calder transformed the 3.0 CSL (E9) into BMW’s first Art Car. Now, in 2023, BMW has announced that work has begun on the 20th vehicle to receive this special artistic treatment. Most of the previous Art Cars have been based on race cars, and the upcoming creation is no different, as the canvas for this project is the M Hybrid V8. The talented Ethiopian-born artist Julie Mehretu will have the honor of creating the next official Art Car.

But before that happens, the M Hybrid V8 has been unveiled at the Guggenheim Museum in New York in all its naked glory, without any paint. It is rare to see a race car with a fully exposed carbon fiber body, which makes it even more intriguing, especially considering the distinctive silhouette of BMW’s LMDh contender. This car is already competing in IMSA, where it recently secured its first victory, and it will also participate in the WEC next year, including the iconic Le Mans race. In 2024, BMW’s motorsport division will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the V12 LMR’s triumph at Circuit de la Sarthe.


Lamborghini

Automobili Lamborghini Renews Collaboration with Ubisoft

On display at Ubisoft Forward Live in Los Angeles: the new hero car Lamborghini Revuelto

Sant’Agata Bolognese/Los Angeles, CA – June 15, 2023 – Automobili Lamborghini has announced the renewal of its partnership with Ubisoft at the Ubisoft Forward Live event in Los Angeles. They unveiled the Lamborghini Revuelto as a featured vehicle in the upcoming game The Crew™ Motor Fest.

During the event, media and digital creators had the opportunity to see the Lamborghini Revuelto on display, showcasing the hero car of the next chapter in The Crew™ series. The game, called The Crew™ Motorfest, offers a brand-new action driving experience set on the beautiful island of O’ahu, Hawaii.

The focus of the game is on Playlists, which are short thematic campaigns that provide exciting driving moments. Each playlist immerses players in a different car culture universe, offering dedicated races, themed events, and unique challenges.

Attendees at the event had the chance to be the first to experience The Crew™ Motorfest and even participate in an in-game race event using the Lamborghini Revuelto. Additionally, a playlist dedicated to Automobili Lamborghini was created, allowing players to explore the brand’s evolution from the 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV to their latest offering, the new Revuelto, which is the first HPEV plug-in hybrid V12 super sports car.

The Crew™ Motorfest will be released worldwide on September 14, 2023, and is available for pre-order from the Ubisoft Store and Epic Games Store. The game will be playable on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, and can also be accessed through the Ubisoft+ subscription on PC and Amazon Luna*.

[1] The vehicle showcased is not yet available for sale and is not subject to Directive 1999/94/EC. Fuel consumption and emissions data are still in the approval stage.

Volkswagen

Performance program: Volkswagen brand aims to become more efficient and more profitable

Volkswagen is launching a global performance program called “ACCELERATE FORWARD | Road to 6.5” with the aim of improving the brand’s performance and profitability in the long term. The goal is to achieve a return on sales of 6.5 percent and improve earnings by around €10 billion by 2026. The program will focus on streamlining administrative processes, increasing efficiency in development and production, streamlining the model range, reducing the number of equipment variants, and improving product quality. The program will be managed by a Project Management Office (PMO) led by Stephan Wöllenstein and will be implemented in consultation with employee representatives, with a target completion date of October 2023.



Performance programm „ACCELERATE FORWARD | Road to 6.5“

The decision to launch the “ACCELERATE FORWARD | Road to 6.5” program by the VW Board of Management is a response to the challenging market environment and economic situation. The program is a top priority and aims to strengthen the Volkswagen brand and position it for future growth. The ambitious goal of achieving a sustainable return on sales of 6.5 percent by 2026 can be achieved through leveraging synergies, improving efficiency, and becoming more effective across all divisions of the company. Stephan Wöllenstein will manage the program and ensure its successful implementation.

The Management Board and Works Council have also agreed to work together on the common goals of profitability and job security. They are committed to achieving targeted savings without reducing wages or shedding jobs, focusing instead on areas such as Group management, brand cooperation, software development, and product quality. The workforce will be kept informed and involved throughout the process.

The “ACCELERATE FORWARD | Road to 6.5” program will be implemented through major action areas within the brand, including administration, technical development, material costs, products, price/mix, vehicle construction, sales, and quality. Additionally, flagship projects spanning multiple action areas will further increase efficiency and profitability. Examples include focusing on volume models, reducing complexity by eliminating lower-volume models, optimizing plant capacity utilization, and maximizing the potential of the Modular Transverse Toolkit (MQB) and the Modular Electric Drive Toolkit (MEB).

The program will be managed by a lean Project Management Office (PMO) under the leadership of Stephan Wöllenstein. The Brand Board of Management will oversee the program, with individual members leading action areas and flagship projects. The program is expected to be fully implemented by October 2023, following consultation with employee representatives.

The Volume brand group, which includes Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, SEAT/CUPRA, and Škoda, will provide additional synergies and higher returns. Production within this group will be more focused on multi-brand plants and vehicle platforms, maximizing efficiencies and cost savings. The brands will also collaborate on selling expenses and overheads, further optimizing operations.

Volkswagen

Shell and Volkswagen push ahead the expansion of charging infrastructure: Opening of the first innovative Flexpole charging station

Shell Germany and the Volkswagen Group are jointly driving forward the expansion of the charging infrastructure for electric mobility: On May 4, 2023, the first innovative 150 kW Elli Flexpole charging station was put in operation at a Shell service station in Göttingen. The charging station of the Volkswagen brand Elli has a unique battery storage system that enables connection to a low-voltage grid. Thanks to this new technology, the charging stations can be installed easily and flexibly, and the grid expansion can be accelerated. Following a successful test operation, Shell and Volkswagen also plan to install the Flexpole charging station at other locations in Germany and Europe.

“With VW’s Elli Flexpole charging stations, we can make an important contribution to the necessary expansion of the charging infrastructure. And in locations where it would be otherwise difficult for fast charging. Shell is already one of the largest providers of charging infrastructure at home, at work, at on-street lamp posts and at our service stations. We want to do our part to enable customers to switch to an electric vehicles and thus reduce CO2 emissions in the transport sector,” says Tobias Bahnsen, Head of Shell E-Mobility responsible for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Simon Löffler, Chief Commercial Officer at Elli, adds: “The rapid expansion of the charging infrastructure is a prerequisite for the success of e-mobility. We contribute to this journey with our innovations such as the Elli Flexpole. It can be set up almost anywhere without major construction work, making it ideal for quickly setting up fast-charging options. We are pleased to have found a strong partner in Shell who, like us, wants to expand the charging network in Germany and across Europe.”

Accelerated network expansion thanks to innovative Elli Flexpole technology

The German government has set itself the goal of having at least one million charging points available to drivers of electric cars by 2030. According to the Federal Network Agency, the number of charging points rose significantly last year by around 21,000 to a total of over 80,000. Of these, around 67,000 are standard charging points and around 13,000 are fast charging points. A faster expansion of the charging infrastructure is delayed due the need of a special transformers with currently long delivery times. In addition, around 900 German distribution system operators have different requirements for the transformers.

With the Elli Flexpole solution, one of the biggest hurdles of expansion could be overcome. The Flexpole chargers can be connected directly to the low-voltage grid thanks to the integrated battery system, without the need for a special transformer or costly construction work. As a result, the installation time is significantly reduced. At the same time, Flexpole charging stations enable a charging speed of up to 150 kW. Depending on the vehicle, a range of up to 160 kilometres can be charged within 10 minutes.

Shell expands charging network throughout Germany

Shell aims to become a company with net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. One important strategy component for achieving this ambition is the development of diverse infrastructure for electric vehicles. Cornerstones have been set already few years ago. In 2017, the company bought NewMotion, then Europe’s largest charging provider, which has since been later renamed to Shell Recharge Solutions. In 2019, Shell started building Shell Recharge fast charging stations (HPC) at Shell service stations. In 2021, Shell bought the Berlin-based startup ubitricity, which enables charging at lampposts on the street. Recently, Shell acquired SBRS GmbH, a leading provider of charging infrastructure solutions for commercial electric vehicles. In 2022, Shell opened the first Shell Recharge fast charging stations at the parking lots at REWE and PENNY supermarkets. In addition, Shell has a close cooperation with IONITY, the joint venture of Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, Hyundai, Porsche and Volkswagen, to set up fast-charging stations along motorways in European countries.

Worldwide, Shell aims to install over 500,000 charging points by 2025 and 2,500,000 by 2030.

Group Technology: The Volkswagen Group’s technology powerhouse 

Volkswagen Group Technology bundles the Group-wide activities in the areas of battery, charging and e-components and supports the Group brands as an in-house technology supplier along with its subsidiaries PowerCo (battery) and Elli (charging & energy). With the network of the charging and mobility brand Elli, the Group provides access to Europe’s largest charging network for electric mobility. At over 500,000 charging points at around 950 providers in 28 countries, customers receive a convenient and cross-border charging experience.

The Volkswagen Group’s goal is to become the leading provider of an intelligent charging and energy ecosystem. By 2025, a global network of a total of 45,000 high-power charging points (HPC) with an output of up to 350 kW will be established. By the end of 2022, the Group had already connected a total of around 15,000 fast-charging points to the grid with its subsidiaries IONITY, Ewiva and strategic partners BP and Iberdrola in Europe, Electrify America in the USA and CAMS in China. By the end of 2023, around 10,000 HPC charging points are expected to be available in Europe and up to 25,000 worldwide.