Toyota warns of "very big challenge" created by ZEV mandate
1 DAY AGO - Toyota has just one EV in its line-up but will add five more by 2026
Firm's Europe chief says Expand
1 DAY AGO - Toyota has just one EV in its line-up but will add five more by 2026
Firm's Europe chief says car makers must co-ordinate with the government for a workable solution
The UK government’s ZEV mandate is “a very big challenge” and could affect the viability of the whole automotive industry, Toyota Europe president and CEO Yoshihiro Nakata has told Autocar.
Nakata, speaking at Goodwood’s Festival of Speed, said he believes only co-ordinated action by car companies, and “constructive communication” with law makers, can create workable solutions to hit the challenging targets.
These state that EV sales must be at least 22% (in 2024, rising each year) of a car maker’s overall volumes, or fines of £15,000 per non-compliant vehicle are dished out.
Nakata acknowledged that Toyota’s current position of having just one pure EV in its range (the bZ4x) is a concern but insists Toyota will have a range of EVs “to provide customer choice” when necessary.
For now, however, Nakata believes Collapse
Top 10 best hypercars 2024
1 DAY AGO - Only the fastest, most expensive and ludicrous-looking cars need apply. Find out which we rate the Expand
1 DAY AGO - Only the fastest, most expensive and ludicrous-looking cars need apply. Find out which we rate the highest
If you absolutely love power, performance and the sharpest drive money can buy, then you’ll be keen to know which are the best hypercars money can buy.
Hypercars are the very peak of high-performance art, these exotic, expensive and explosively fast machines deliver the ultimate in driver thrills thanks to some money-no-object, cutting-edge engineering.
Sitting at the top of the performance car pecking order, the hypercar’s origins are relatively recent. If the Lamborghini Miura was the first supercar back in the Sixties, then the archetypal hypercar was arguably the 2005 Bugatti Veyron, which with its 16-cylinders, four turbos and 250mph top speed raised the bar to the next level.
In the two decades since the Bugatti made its sensational debut, the number of hypercars has increased almost as quickly as the Veyron accelerated.
What’s more, the fact these machines are Collapse
Kia primes striking petrol hatchback to take on VW Golf
2 DAYS AGO - K4 is available with a naturally aspirated 147bhp 2.0-litre engine and a 190bhp 1.6-litre Expand
2 DAYS AGO - K4 is available with a naturally aspirated 147bhp 2.0-litre engine and a 190bhp 1.6-litre turbo
Mexican-built model for the US market could eventually replace the Ceed in Europe
Kia is poised to take on the Volkswagen Golf with a striking new petrol-powered hatchback aimed at global markets – and an eventual European launch could be on the cards.
The new Kia K4 will be offered in North America, Asia and the Middle East as a Skoda Octavia-style liftback as well as a traditional five-door hatch. Kia provides a choice of atmospheric 147bhp 2.0-litre or turbocharged 190bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines.
The five-door hatchback has now been spotted testing near Kia’s engineering centre in Russelsheim, Germany. Although a spokesperson for Kia UK told Autocar that this does not mean the car is poised to go on sale in Europe – and that there are no such plans at present – there are signs of its viability in this market.
The similarly positioned Ceed continues to sell well in Europe despite Collapse
New Renault Twingo to be built in Slovenia
2 DAYS AGO - Twingo's two-year development cycle will be one of the shortest for any Renault yet
Sub-£17k Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Twingo's two-year development cycle will be one of the shortest for any Renault yet
Sub-£17k electric city car will be built alongside the Clio at the same plant as the previous Twingo
The new Renault Twingo is set to be built alongside the Clio at the Revoz plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.
That is according to the Slovenian Press Agency, which today reported that the nation’s government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Renault to build 150,000 new Twingos per year at the plant, starting in 2026.
The move means Revoz will be able to sustain its existing outputs following the cancellation of the previous Twingo – which was recently discontinued after 10 years on sale – plant CEO Jože Bele is quoted as saying. Bele added that the move will protect 1400 jobs.
Renault UK declined to provide further details.
The new Twingo will have one of the shortest lead times between concept and production of any Renault yet, having been unveiled in November 2023. The final car is due to Collapse
My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep. 98)
3 DAYS AGO - This week the lads talk to Fernando Alonso about his perfect Aston Martin...
This week Matt Expand
3 DAYS AGO - This week the lads talk to Fernando Alonso about his perfect Aston Martin...
This week Matt talks to Aston Martin's Formula 1 racer Fernando Alonso, and Steve talks riding in the new Ford Capri
Episode 98 of the Autocar podcast My Week In Cars finds Matt Prior interviewing Fernando Alonso about his perfect Aston Martin (the Valiant), plus his long-term future with the brand. Steve Cropley has a ride up the Goodwood Festival of Speed hillclimb in the new Ford Capri, while the pair also discuss Jaguar's shrinking model range, find out why the PM is driven in an Audi, talk Autobianchi and Innocenti, and much more besides, including your correspondence.
Make sure you never miss an Autocar podcast. Subscribe to our podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Podcasts or via your preferred podcast platform. And if you subscribe, rate and review the pod, we'd really appreciate that too. Collapse
Ex-Ferrari F1 boss moves to Audi ahead of 2026 grid entry
3 DAYS AGO - Mattia Binotto replaces Andreas Seidl to head up Audi’s F1 project with Sauber
Former Ferrari Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Mattia Binotto replaces Andreas Seidl to head up Audi’s F1 project with Sauber
Former Ferrari Formula 1 team boss Mattia Binotto will head up Audi’s F1 project ahead of the team’s inaugural entry in 2026 with Sauber.
Sacked by Ferrari at the end of the 2022 campaign after several lukewarm seasons, Binotto – who joined the Scuderia in 1995 – takes over from Andreas Seidl, who was removed after just 19 months in post. Oliver Hoffmann, who headed up all Sauber companies, has also been sacked.
Audi’s statement suggests worries over the slow progress of getting the Sauber team ready ahead of its 2026 entry were the trigger.
Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, who will also take over Hoffmann’s role, said of the changes: “Our aim is to bring the entire Formula 1 project up to F1 speed by means of clear management structures, defined responsibilities, reduced interfaces and efficient decision-making processes.
“For this purpose, the team must be able to act independently and quickly.”
Binotto Collapse
Ferrari CEO: E-fuels are "way forward" for ICE supercars
4 DAYS AGO - Upcoming LaFerrari successor could be engineered to run on E-Fuels
Benedetto Vigna says F1's Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Upcoming LaFerrari successor could be engineered to run on E-Fuels
Benedetto Vigna says F1's carbon-neutral fuel could hit the road, possibly starting with the LaFerrari successor
Ferrari boss Benedetto Vigna believes that environmentally friendly e-fuels and hydrogen powertrains could have a future in its models – and he wants to use motorsport to develop both technologies.
Vigna believes carbon-neutral fuel will “become more and more a reality”. He said: “We are working with partners for 2026 for carbon-neutral fuel in Formula 1 [as part of new technical rules] and usually technologies start out on the track and migrate to the road.
"We believe there is still a valid way forward for ICE cars and this is going to be supported by the development of carbon-neutral fuel.”
Vigna was speaking as Ferrari prepares to unwrap a long-awaited successor to the LaFerrari hypercar, which is tipped to use a similar hybrid drivetrain to the 296 and SF90 supercars, but with power ramped up to Collapse
Kia Picanto
4 DAYS AGO - Facelifted city car offers stripped-back, simple driving at affordable prices
Good news! There’s Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Facelifted city car offers stripped-back, simple driving at affordable prices
Good news! There’s a new car with a naturally aspirated engine and a manual gearbox that weighs under a tonne. It isn’t the latest carbonfibre Porsche special edition but one of the cheapest new cars you can buy: the Kia Picanto.Okay, ‘new’ is a stretch because this is the facelifted version of the third-generation Picanto, which was launched in 2018, and it’s a mostly cosmetic refresh at that. It gains Kia EV9-inspired headlights and there’s a new light bar at the rear, because of course there is. Collapse
Xiaomi takes aim at Taycan Turbo GT with 1527bhp super-saloon
4 DAYS AGO - Aggressive bodykit generates up to 2145kg of downforce
Chinese phone maker plans to snatch Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Aggressive bodykit generates up to 2145kg of downforce
Chinese phone maker plans to snatch Nürburgring lap record with track-focused SU7 Ultra
Chinese phone maker Xiaomi has unveiled a track-focused version of its first car, the SU7 super-saloon, which packs 434bhp more than the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
Named the SU7 Ultra, it has been designed to challenge for the lap record for series-production electric cars at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, aiming to beat the Taycan Turbo GT’s 7min 5.55sec.
To that end, the SU7’s rear axle has been fitted with a pair of Xiaomi’s new ‘V8s’ electric motors, each putting out 570bhp and 468lb ft of torque. Up front is an uprated version of the firm’s more compact ‘V6s’ unit, giving a total combined output of 1527bhp – 434bhp more than the Turbo GT.
Xiaomi claims the Ultra will achieve 0-62mph in 1.97sec, 0-186mph in 15.07sec and a top speed north of 217mph.
It also gets uprated AP Racing brakes and sticky Pirelli P Zero rubber, giving a 62-0mph Collapse
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The best small company cars for tiny BIK rates
1 DAY AGO - Sometimes the best things really do come in small packages, as these compact company cars Expand
1 DAY AGO - Sometimes the best things really do come in small packages, as these compact company cars prove
The best small company cars provide four-wheeled proof that very often less is more.
These compact machines might lack the status symbol-enhancing swagger of bigger and more expensive models, but their combination of low running costs, handy dimensions and, more often than not, engaging driving dynamics make them a top choice for savvy user choosers.
Of course, being ‘small’ doesn’t mean a car must be cramped and cheap-feeling, because as our list shows many offer plenty of family-friendly versatility and even a dash of upmarket appeal. What their more modest size and price does deliver is a useful saving in Benefit-in-Kind (BiK), the calculation that dictates the amount of salary you’ll have to sacrifice for the pleasure of running a company car.
Better still, these models come in multiple different flavours, from electric cars and superminis through to hard-working hatchbacks and Collapse
Porsche to continue selling combustion Cayenne beyond 2030
1 DAY AGO - Brand's best-seller will be sold with three powertrains into the next decade, including electric Expand
1 DAY AGO - Brand's best-seller will be sold with three powertrains into the next decade, including electric from next year
Porsche will continue to offer the Cayenne with combustion and hybrid power beyond 2030, which means the SUV – its most popular model – will enter the next decade offering three separate powertrains.
The brand today confirmed it will develop and “further upgrade” the current third-generation Cayenne, which received an extensive mid-life upgrade last year, and sell it well into the next decade alongside the electric, technically unrelated, fourth-generation version that will arrive next year.
These upgrades will focus on making the SUV’s 4.0-litre V8 powertrain, used in the 468bhp Cayenne S, 650bhp GT and 729bhp Turbo E-Hybrid PHEV range topper, as efficient as possible.
“Extensive technical measures will ensure that the twin-turbo engine is ready to comply with future legislative requirements,” Porsche said in a statement.
The brand did not confirm if it would continue to Collapse
Renault readying Twizy successor for UK launch
2 DAYS AGO - Mobilize Duo has the same tandem seating set-up as the Renault Twizy
New Mobilize Bento and Duo Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Mobilize Duo has the same tandem seating set-up as the Renault Twizy
New Mobilize Bento and Duo will soon be available in the UK, a new job listing reveals
Renault is gearing up for the UK launch of the Twizy’s spiritual successor, the Mobilize Duo.
The news was confirmed by the appearance of a job listing on LinkedIn for a London-based product manager for the Duo and its cargo van variant, the Bento.
The position includes managing the sales process and pricing of the two electric vehicles, as well as tracking the performance of competitors such as the Citroën Ami and Ami Cargo.
Given the hiring process is still under way, the new cars are not exepcted to arrive in the UK until next year.
A spokesperson for Renault told Autocar that plans are still being formulated and will be revealed in due course.
The move marks Mobilize's evolution from financial responsibilities, such as managing vehicle finance and insurance for the Renault Group, to becoming a brand in its own right.
The Collapse
Top 10 best small company cars
2 DAYS AGO - Sometimes the best things really do come in small packages, as these compact company cars Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Sometimes the best things really do come in small packages, as these compact company cars prove
The best small company cars provide four-wheeled proof that very often less is more. These compact machines might lack the status symbol-enhancing swagger of bigger and more expensive models, but their combination of low running costs, handy dimensions and, more often than not, engaging driving dynamics make them a top choice for savvy user choosers.
Of course, being ‘small’ doesn’t mean a car must be cramped and cheap-feeling, because as our list shows many offer plenty of family-friendly versatility and even a dash of upmarket appeal. What their more modest size and price does deliver is a useful saving in Benefit-in-Kind (BiK), the calculation that dictates the amount of salary you’ll have to sacrifice for the pleasure of running a company car.
Better still, these models come in multiple different flavours, from all-electric superminis through to hard-working hatchbacks and capable Collapse
Mercedes-AMG hints at longer life for flagship V8
3 DAYS AGO - The SL is one of a handful of AMG models still offering a V8 – but the selection could soon Expand
3 DAYS AGO - The SL is one of a handful of AMG models still offering a V8 – but the selection could soon grow
Performance division hedges bets on ICE tech, but an “emotional” all-electric AMG is on its way
Mercedes-AMG expects to make internal combustion-engined cars for as long as legislation allows and is putting no fixed date on their demise.
A softening of demand for electric cars across Europe, coupled with apparent hesitancy from legislators in some markets on an outright ICE car ban, has resulted in many car makers rowing back on plans to commit fully to making only electric cars by a certain date.
Mercedes itself has pledged to invest more money into continuing to develop ICE technology, which opens the door for the AMG’s famed V8s to continue.
Speaking at the reveal of the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro 4Matic+ at Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands, AMG boss Michael Schiebe would not put an end date on internal combustion engines being phased out from AMG models.
However, for now Schiebe does Collapse
Government "doesn't know" if annual £1.6bn spend is improving roads
3 DAYS AGO - National Audit Office report slams Department for Transport's lack of understanding and council Expand
3 DAYS AGO - National Audit Office report slams Department for Transport's lack of understanding and council support
The government “does not know” if £1.6 billion per year of taxpayer money sent to local councils is actually making a difference to the state of England’s crumbling roads, a National Audit Office (NAO) report has revealed.
Documents released today state that this is down to the Department for Transport (DfT) “not having a good enough understanding of the condition of local roads” and, as a result, not allocating funding “as effectively as possible” to the correct local authorities.
Moreover, the DfT is not following up – and has not done so “for some years” – with these councils to help them make the most of “their limited funds”.
This has led to just 48% of England’s 183,000 miles of roads being estimated to be in a “good structural condition”, the NAO’s report reveals, with 35% in adequate and 17% in poor conditions.
One of the most documented issues is potholes, with roads now Collapse
Introducing Low Octane - the Autocar Vodcast
4 DAYS AGO - Matt Prior (Editor-at-large) and James Disdale (Special Correspondent) return for a new video Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Matt Prior (Editor-at-large) and James Disdale (Special Correspondent) return for a new video series
Welcome to Episode 1 of Low Octane, The Autocar Vodcast. The brand-new occasional video series sees two middle-aged men (Matt Prior and James Disdale) talk about cars while trying not to complain too much about things.
This week the chaps are behind the wheel of an Audi A2 - the incredibly clever, lightweight, frugal small car that Audi introduced at the turn of the millennium and which could have gone on to bigger and greater things. Only, ultimately, it didn't.
Why? Watch above as the pair dive deeper into the car's story while getting distracted by Renault Clio V6s, that time Rolls-Royce and Bentley split, and much more besides. Collapse
ZEV mandate targets slip out of reach for major brands
4 DAYS AGO - VW's EV sales have halved this year compared with 2023
Ford, Land Rover, Renault, VW and Toyota Expand
4 DAYS AGO - VW's EV sales have halved this year compared with 2023
Ford, Land Rover, Renault, VW and Toyota are among the biggest brands tailing the 22% target for 2024
Car makers including Renault, Volkswagen, Land Rover, Ford and Toyota are falling far behind targets for the UK’s ZEV mandate, which requires 22% of this year’s sales to be of zero-emission models.
Those manufacturers ahead of target include Cupra, MG, Subaru, BMW, Volvo and Jeep, while all-electric brands such as Tesla, BYD and Polestar will be looking to earn useful extra income from selling credits to help out the laggards.
So far this year, 16.6% of all car sales have been electric, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, indicating that the industry has its work cut out in the second half of 2024.
The penalty for non-compliance is £15,000 per car, although there are ways for those who are falling behind to mitigate that – for example, by selling more plug-in hybrids to outpace their Collapse
New hybrid era at Audi as EV switch takes "longer than we thought"
5 DAYS AGO - New A5 is the first car to feature Audi's new-gen combustion engines and PHEV option
Audi still Expand
5 DAYS AGO - New A5 is the first car to feature Audi's new-gen combustion engines and PHEV option
Audi still plans to go EV-only in 2033 but forecasts strong PHEV demand in the meantime
Audi will expand and upgrade its hybrid offering over the coming years because the transition from combustion cars to EVs will take “longer than initially thought”.
The company is sticking to its previously announced goal of having an all-electric model range from 2033, but it will expand that line-up gradually, offering a combustion and EV option in each of its core segments until then - as it does already with the Audi Q5 and Q6 E-tron, for example.
Other companies, including Mercedes, BMW, Ford, BYD, Kia and Stellantis, have also voiced long-term commitments to hybrid powertrains in recent weeks for the same reasons.
Audi CEO Gernot Döllner said the firm’s strategy is “future-proofed for the next 10 years”, which, he predicts, will be an extended “transition phase” between combustion and electric Collapse
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Editor's letter: Genesis can become a success thanks to 2am calls
1 DAY AGO - Genesis has registered 556 cars so far in 2024
Brand has registered just 556 cars in the UK in Expand
1 DAY AGO - Genesis has registered 556 cars so far in 2024
Brand has registered just 556 cars in the UK in 2024 but personal assistants are one way it plans to stand out
The nascent Genesis brand has been through rather a lot in its short time in the UK.
Launched in the middle of the Covid pandemic as a stand-alone entity that planned to offer only direct sales online, Hyundai Motor Group’s premium arm was subsequently rolled into the UK mothership at the back end of last year under the leadership of Ashley Andrew and started to partner with traditional retailers for sales at a similar time.
Genesis's sales have fallen backwards in 2024 as it adjusts to those changes, which operationally effectively amount to a relaunch, although not in the eyes of the consumer because the cars have remained the same. So far in 2024, it has registered 556 cars in the UK, a 31% drop year on year and a similar number to DS.
Even so, Genesis remains one of the more interesting entrants to the UK car market Collapse
Nissan Ariya
1 DAY AGO - Eleven years after the original Leaf, Nissan releases its tricky second electric album
The Expand
1 DAY AGO - Eleven years after the original Leaf, Nissan releases its tricky second electric album
The mid-sized family EV market is stacked with a diverse range of models – and what that means for buyers is a greater amount of choice. You can invest in a smaller high-riding hatchback, or go for something that blends the credentials of a crossover with the appeal of an SUV, much like the markedly different Nissan Ariya. Its rivals could not be more varied. The Tesla Model Y and Model 3 major on range, performance and efficiency. The Audi Q4 is a sleek and tech-heavy alternative. And then there’s the Korean trio: the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and Genesis GV60. Oh and we can't forget the coupé-SUVs, too, such as the Volkswagen ID 4 and Ford Mustang Mach E.So where does the Ariya sit among this ever-growing list of electric crossovers? Nissan had plenty of time to mull its plans on how best to expand its line-up of zero-emission vehicles, with an 11-year gap between the Ariya and Nissan Leaf. Since Collapse
Top 10 best electric sports cars 2024
2 DAYS AGO - Some of the fastest cars on the planet are now powered by electricity. These are the best ones Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Some of the fastest cars on the planet are now powered by electricity. These are the best ones right now...
The march towards electrification is accelerating, and if any sector serves to highlight the permanent shift towards all things battery-powered, it's the sports car class.
Traditionally the preserve of petrol-soaked, adrenaline-pumping machines, this rarefied corner of the market has seen ever-increasing numbers of contenders favouring lithium-ion over super unleaded. Now, some of the best sports cars on sale are electric.
Not only is this new source of power delivering the sort of power and performance that internally combusted alternatives could only dream about, it's also broadening the definition of a what a high performance car can be.
That's why our list runs the gamut from traditional low-slung sportsters through to curvaceous coupés, continent-crushing GTs and even (whisper it) the odd SUV.
There are cars from established players of a driver's car art, as well as Collapse
Autocar magazine 24 July: on sale now
3 DAYS AGO - This week in Autocar...
Ford's new era of small, cheap cars, new Mini vs Abarth 500e, and Lexus' Expand
3 DAYS AGO - This week in Autocar...
Ford's new era of small, cheap cars, new Mini vs Abarth 500e, and Lexus' new hot hatchback tested on track
This week in Autocar, we've got the lowdown on Ford's new era of small, cheap cars, pit the new Mini against Abarth's 500e, and test Lexus' new hot hatch.
News
A new range of smaller, more affordable EVs from Ford will be spawned from an upcoming 'skunkworks' architecture on which the firm aims to produce the world's most efficient EVs - we speak to Ford Model E chief operating officer Marin Gjaja to find out more.
Porsche, meanwhile, has produced its most powerful combustion-engines series production model ever - the Turbo S E-Hybrid. We take a look at its performance, and that of the V8-only GTS.
Ineos is planning a significant shift upmarket, with a focus on boutique spin-offs to rival the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. We speak to commercial director George Ratcliffe to find out more.
V8s will be thrown a lifeline at Mercedes-AMG as the tuning arm has Collapse
AA calls for VAT cut for public charging as kerbside cost falls 12%
3 DAYS AGO - The average cost of on-peak slow charging fell from 67p in May to 59p in June
Motoring Expand
3 DAYS AGO - The average cost of on-peak slow charging fell from 67p in May to 59p in June
Motoring organisation calls for “easy wins” as petrol remains better value than on-peak slow charging
The cost of charging an electric car at the kerbside fell by 12% during June, according to a new report by the AA.
It found that the average peak rate for using a slow charge point (up to 8kW) – typically found in residential areas – fell from 67p per kWh in May to 59p per kWh in June.
Nonetheless, powering an electric car can be typically more expensive than a petrol equivalent, the report suggests.
Charging a Vauxhall Corsa Electric using slow chargers at peak times gives it a running cost of 13.33p per mile. A 1.2-litre petrol Corsa cost 12.85p per mile, having benefited from a 3.4p-per-litre fall in the average cost of the fuel.
However, using slow and ultra-rapid chargers at off-peak times yielded lower running costs than the petrol car, at 9.49p per mile and 11.53 per mile respectively.
The other Collapse
Isuzu D-Max
4 DAYS AGO - Workhorse tries to appeal to the lifestyle market with an abundance of equipment and a hardcore Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Workhorse tries to appeal to the lifestyle market with an abundance of equipment and a hardcore off-road edition
The Isuzu D-Max is tasked with spearheading its brand’s push into the “lifestyle” market; that well-trodden but eminently profitable niche that gave birth to cars as varied as the Land Rover Defender, Ineos Grenadier, Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger.But what makes Isuzu’s sole passenger vehicle offering different is that it undercuts all of its closest rivals on price. It is cheaper than the Hilux, the Ranger, the Volkswagen Amarok, and even the KGM Musso. In short, there isn’t a cheaper way to get yourself into a large, rugged pick-up truck with a diesel engine.Isuzu realised that it’s not enough to simply make your agricultural workhorse, well, an agricultural workhorse. You need to give it luxuries like snazzy 18in alloys, an eight-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as adaptive cruise control interspersed with off-road Collapse
Cadillac Sollei concept previews drop-top Rolls-Royce Spectre rival
4 DAYS AGO - Sollei is based on the Celestiq, which uses GM's new Ultium platform
Luxury 2+2 harks back to Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Sollei is based on the Celestiq, which uses GM's new Ultium platform
Luxury 2+2 harks back to Cadillac’s golden age with extravagant specification and historic paint colour
Cadillac has revealed a drop-top version of the Celestiq, its hand-built rival to the Rolls-Royce Spectre.
Named the Sollei – 'sun' and 'leisure' – the new concept harks back to the Eldorado from the 1950s. It has been built as a demonstration of the company's new personalisation capabilities as it looks to challenge premium and luxury brands as varied as Mercedes-Benz and Bentley with its new line-up of EVs.
Its bold yellow paint finish – Manila Cream – is taken from Cadillac’s catalogue of shades used between 1957 and 1958.
The seats are trimmed in a matching shade of nappa leather and contain a pink pigment that is said to create a sunrise-like effect when viewed in daylight. This cue is replicated on the finish of the door to the interior drinks tray.
The seat backs, meanwhile, are trimmed with unstained Collapse
First pictures: Aston Martin tests Le Mans Valkyrie
4 DAYS AGO - The Valkyrie will be the only V12-powered Le Mans Hypercar
V12-powered hypercar is shaken down Expand
4 DAYS AGO - The Valkyrie will be the only V12-powered Le Mans Hypercar
V12-powered hypercar is shaken down ahead of 2025 endurance racing campaign
Aston Martin has released the first pictures of its Valkyrie-based Le Mans Hypercar, which has been testing ahead of its campaign in next year’s World Endurance Championship.
It will be the only Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) powered by a V12, packing the same Cosworth-developed 6.5-litre unit as the road-going Valkyrie. Aston Martin said the naturally aspirated unit has been “enhanced and adapted” for the LMH ruleset, which caps competitors at a maximum of 697bhp.
The British firm’s ambition is overall victory at next year’s Le Mans 24 Hours – the centrepiece of the World Endurance Championship calendar – which would be its first at the historic event since 1959.
Aston Martin has previously said it will enter six Valkyries at Le Mans, maximising its chances of success with a new car.
It had originally announced plans to race at Le Mans in 2019, but these Collapse
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