Tag Archives: fourwheeldrive

News

Renault Rafale: Flagship coupe-SUV priced from £38,195

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Entry-level Rafales tip the scales at 1653kg, whereas the four-wheel-drive PHEV is 1714kg. Four-wheel steering provides one other 7kg to every automotive.

UK deliveries will start in July.

Q&A with Gilles Vidal, vp of design, Renault Group

This is the primary new Renault beneath your course. What makes it completely different?

“We were able to start from a blank sheet of paper – one very important thing. “The mission was to make the car assertive, especially at the front and rear, but not to overload it with details. The sharp, shape-defining lines have helped a lot. We think the wider stance carries a special promise of driving pleasure. There’s cladding along the sides to split the masses and make the car look sleeker, too. And we’ve worked hard on the unique wheel styles. “The promise is that this is a great driver’s car.”

What makes the Rafale’s face so sturdy?

“Two things. We’ve designed a unique grille made up of angled tiles shaped like the Renault badge, which appear to move as you view them from different angles. That’s a great feature when you’re close. [And] when the car is driving towards you, the daylight-running lights stand out. You first see the shapes and angles of the Renault badge, and there’s nothing like them. That feature will go on all our cars.”

How about inside?

“There’s plenty: the use of sustainable materials, the new instrument graphics, the superb new seats. We even use slate as a trim material. [Plus] the solar roof that darkens progressively at the touch of a switch and the special rear armrest that offers new things, such as device holders and power sources, for rear passengers.”

News

Volkswagen Golf R: first official photos forward of summer time launch

Just days after revealing the new 2024 Golf, Volkswagen has proven the four-wheel-drive R scorching hatch in public for the primary time. 

The Golf range-topper was on show in prototype kind – alongside the already-revealed GTI, GTE and eHybrid variants – on the Zell am See ice race in Austria over the weekend. 

Wearing a commemorative ’50 years of Golf’ camouflage livery, the brand new Golf R took to the ice circuit as a part of a celebration of Volkswagen’s four-wheel-drive efficiency model, forward of its full unveiling this summer time.

Head of the division Reinhold Ivan mentioned: “Volkswagen R is Volkswagen’s premium performance brand and has stood for sportiness and dynamic performance for more than 20 years. Here at the Ice Race, the past meets the future. We can hardly wait for the Golf R, still disguised here, to celebrate its premiere this summer.” 

Like the usual Golf and GTI, the R has not been visually reinvented, however will observe them in gaining a brand new inside that seeks to proper criticisms of the eighth-generation Golf line-up, with a brand new infotainment system, the reintroduction of bodily buttons and a raft of higher-quality cabin supplies. 

It shall be marked out externally from the present R by a brand new illuminated Volkswagen emblem and new-generation LED matrix headlights – alongside, little question, further color and trim choices – together with the brand new R-badged alloys worn by this prototype.

It’s anticipated to be a case of evolution moderately than revolution below the bonnet, too, with VW’s strongest hatchback retaining its 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, although possible with energy boosted barely above the 316bhp of as we speak’s automotive. It would be the remaining petrol iteration of the Golf R, with the efficiency model shifting to an electrical line-up by 2030. 

VW has given no indication of how far it may possibly take the EA888 motor, however 2022’s special-edition Golf R 333 – the costliest Golf but offered – boosted output to 328bhp for a high pace of 167mph and a 0-62mph dash time of 4.6secs. 

Volkswagen has proven the R in hatchback kind, however earlier prototype sightings affirm that the Golf R estate will make a return as a rival to the lately up to date Mercedes CLA 35 capturing brake. 

Prices shall be given nearer to launch, however a slight premium over the present £43,215 is predicted.

Car review

Nio ET5

The Nio ET5 is an electric vehicle that comes with four-wheel drive. It is equipped with two electric motors: a 201bhp induction motor at the front and a 282bhp permanent magnet motor at the rear.

There are two battery options available for the ET5: a standard 75kWh pack and a larger 100kWh pack. In this review, the larger 100kWh pack is being tested.

The maximum charging speed for the ET5 is 125kW. However, Nio vehicles, including the ET5, have the advantage of battery swapping technology. This means that at dedicated swap stations, you can exchange your depleted batteries for fully charged ones in as little as four minutes.

Battery-swapping is a significant aspect of Nio’s offerings and if the brand launches in the UK, it is expected to introduce this feature as well. Tesla has been successful in the EV market partly due to its proprietary charging network. Nio aims to be the first competitor to seriously challenge Tesla in this area.

The ET5 does not prioritize raw speed, but it delivers a good level of drivability. It provides enough power for everyday driving situations. One notable feature is the one-pedal driving, which is well-executed with effective regenerative braking.

Where the ET5 stands out is in powertrain refinement. It may not have a distinctive character, but it also doesn’t disappoint. A German journalist shared a positive experience of driving the ET5 on a 560-mile trip from Germany to Denmark, praising its refinement.

However, there is one aspect that proved to be irritating during the journey: the frequent beeping and noise from the autonomous driving functions. The journalist found it bothersome even on short drives, so it must have been quite annoying over such a long distance. This is a common complaint that many can relate to.