Audi will return to Le Mans and to sports prototype racing with an electrified sports car in the 2023 season. The successor to the successful Audi R18 is already taking shape.

“The new LMDh category fits perfectly with our new set-up in motorsport,” says Julius Seebach, Managing Director Audi Sport GmbH and responsible for Motorsport at Audi. “The regulations allow us to field fascinating race cars in prestigious races worldwide. In addition, we are making use of synergies inside the Volkswagen Group with our partner strategy.”

The successor to the Audi R18 is being built in close cooperation with the brands’s sister company Porsche. “A great strength of the Volkswagen Group is the collaboration of the brands in the development of road cars,” says Seebach. “We are now transferring this proven model to motorsport. Nevertheless, the new sports prototype will be just as much a genuine Audi as the Audi RS e-tron GT that was launched recently and has also been developed on a platform shared with Porsche.”

The sports prototype for the new LMDh category is currently being created at Audi Sport in parallel with the innovative SUV for the Dakar Rally. “Of course, the Dakar team is under greater time pressure, because there are only just under eight months left until our first participation in the Dakar Rally in January 2022,” says Andreas Roos, who is responsible for all factory motorsport commitments at Audi Sport. “But, we also want to be perfectly sorted for our comeback at Le Mans. That’s why we are running both projects in parallel with the highest priority.”

All the basic concept decisions have been made in the meantime. “We have selected a chassis partner and decided on an engine concept. Together with our colleagues from Audi Design, we are currently defining the look which will excite our fans,” says Andreas Roos. “Our goal is for the first prototype to be on its wheels early next year and to complete its roll-out in the first quarter.” An intensive test program will follow in 2022. The first race is planned for the Daytona 24 Hours (USA) in January 2023.

The regulations, which are trimmed for maximum cost efficiency, also make Audi’s new sports prototype interesting for customer teams. “With the LMDh project, we are continuing the philosophy of our early years in sports prototypes,” says Andreas Roos. “The Audi R8 was not only the most successful prototype of its time from 2000 to 2006, with 63 victories in 80 races, but it was also very successful in the hands of our customers and easy for the teams to handle. This is also the premise with the electrification of our new sports prototype. Our goal is to also put the car in the hands of professional customer teams right from the start, in parallel to factory entries. We are currently evaluating internally how this will work in detail.”

Being able to fight for overall victories and championship titles with an Audi at the Le Mans 24 Hours, at the Daytona 24 Hours, in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and in the IMSA series is an attractive prospect for many teams. There is already a lot of interest in the new LMDh race car. 

Audi holds the distance record at the Le Mans 24 Hours and has won the world’s most important endurance race 13 times. Audi customer teams scored overalls victories at Le Mans in 2004 and 2005.

At the first Way to Zero Convention, Volkswagen today gave details of its plans for decarbonising the company and its products. The company intends to be net carbon neutral by 2050 at the latest. A new interim milestone is the targeted 40-percent reduction in CO₂ emissions per vehicle in Europe by 2030 – substantially outperforming the Group target of 30 percent (baseline: 2018). As a result, an average Volkswagen would emit around 17 tons less carbon dioxide. As well as accelerating the transition to e-mobility, the production (including supply chain) and operation of electric cars is to be made net carbon neutral. Added to this is the systematic recycling of the high-voltage batteries from old electric vehicles.

“Volkswagen stands for sustainable e- mobility for all. We’ve set out on the ‘Way To Zero’ and are consistently placing the environment at the focus of all our activities,” said Ralf Brandstätter, CEO of Volkswagen. “Our big electric offensive was just the start. We’re taking a holistic approach to decarbonisation: from production through service life to recycling. And we’re the first car maker to support the expansion of renewable energies on an industrial scale.”

Volkswagen supports the construction of wind farms and solar plants

A key factor in achieving carbon-neutral e-mobility is to be able to charge vehicles consistently with electricity generated entirely from renewable sources. This alone would reduce CO₂ emissions by almost half compared with the standard EU electricity mix. Already today, Volkswagen offers its customers green electricity for charging at home (Volkswagen Naturstrom) and on the road (e.g. at IONITY charging stations). The company is now going one step further. Volkswagen is the first car maker to directly support the expansion of renewable energy on a large scale. As a result, new wind farms and solar plants are to be constructed in several regions of Europe by 2025.

Contracts for the first projects have already been signed with energy company RWE. In Germany, Volkswagen is supporting the construction of a solar plant with a total capacity of 170 million kilowatt hours each year. The associated plant will be completed in Tramm-Göthen in northeastern Germany by the end of 2021 and is being constructed without any state subsidies at all. Incorporating around 420,000 solar modules, it is the largest independent solar project in Germany.

It is planned that all projects together will generate around seven terawatt hours of additional green electricity by 2025. The amount of renewable electricity going into the grid will grow in parallel with the number of ID. vehicles. In this way, Volkswagen is improving the climate footprint of the ID. family and creating the basis for the net carbon neutral use of its electric fleet.

Green production and supply chain

As well as ensuring the green use of its vehicles, Volkswagen is also working to decarbonise both production and supply chain. Already today, the electricity used at all our European production sites comes from renewable sources. The pioneer here is the electric car factory in Zwickau, where the ID. family is produced. From 2030, all plants worldwide, other than in China, are to operate entirely on green electricity. In the future, the largest contributors to CO₂ emissions in the supply chain will be systematically identified and reduced. The role model for this is the battery cell production for the ID.3¹ and ID.4², which already uses green electricity only and therefore has a substantially improved carbon footprint.

This year already, Volkswagen will be switching to other sustainable components in its ID. vehicles, including battery housings and wheel rims made from green aluminum and tires from low-emission production. There are more than ten focus components which will enable us to improve the carbon footprint of the ID. family by around two tons per vehicle in the years ahead. When it comes to new vehicle projects, Volkswagen will be making CO₂ emissions a key criterion in awarding contracts to suppliers. In this way, the company intends to work with its suppliers to gradually improve their carbon footprint and ensure the sustainability of its supply chain. The company is also pursuing a clear decarbonisation strategy in the in-house production of components at Volkswagen Group Components. As such the giga-factories for battery cell production announced during Power Day are to be supplied with entirely green electricity.

The systematic recycling of batteries, which will allow more than 90 percent of raw materials to be reused in the future, is intended to make a further contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions. The goal is a closed loop for the battery and its raw materials that the company has at its own disposal across the Group. Volkswagen Group Components is already operating an initial recycling facility in Salzgitter.

Accelerating the electric offensive

At the heart of the Way to Zero is Volkswagen’s new ACCELERATE strategy aimed at stepping up the pace of the electric offensive. The goal is the full electrification of the new vehicle fleet. By 2030, at least 70 percent of all Volkswagen’s unit sales in Europe will be all-electric vehicles – that’s substantially more than one million vehicles. This would mean that Volkswagen would significantly outperform the requirements of the EU Green Deal. In North America and China, the share of electric vehicles in sales should be at least 50 percent. In addition, Volkswagen will be launching at least one new electric car each year. One day before the Convention, Volkswagen presented the ID.4 GTX³, the next model in the all-electric ID. family.

Way to Zero Convention for an open dialog with government, industry and society

“The ‘Way to Zero’ is our roadmap for effective climate protection, with clear and ambitious milestones. We live up to our responsibility for the environment. The ‘Way to Zero’ will provide us with a real competitive advantage. In the future, employees, customers and investors will give preference to those companies which place their social and environmental responsibility at the heart of their business. Sustainability will thus become a crucial factor in corporate success,” said Ralf Brandstätter. “However, Volkswagen cannot shoulder the decarbonization of mobility on its own. Government, industry and society need to come together to develop good ideas and make courageous investments.”

With the Way to Zero Convention, Volkswagen aims to foster an open dialog with government, industry and society. The day-long event, which was entirely digital due to the coronavirus pandemic, was attended by more than 20 speakers from political parties, NGOs, scientific institutions and other companies alongside representatives of Volkswagen.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has co-created a magnificent Bespoke Phantom in a unique collaboration with Hermès. Designed and handcrafted by a combined team of Bespoke specialists at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, West Sussex, and Hermès in Paris, Phantom Oribe reflects the personality and passions of its owner, Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa. The client envisioned the car as a ‘land jet’, bringing the serene exclusivity of private air travel to the road. 

The car’s striking two-tone exterior matches the characteristic green and cream glazes of antique Japanese Oribe ware, of which Maezawa-san is a prominent collector. The upper part is finished in Oribe Green, a fully Bespoke colour created exclusively for the client; in an unusual move, Rolls-Royce has made the paint available for use on the client’s private jet the Phantom will be paired with. Developed over many months by specialists in the Surface Finish Centre at Goodwood, it perfectly captures the lustrous, deep-green glaze that characterises these 16^th century ceramics. The effect is beautifully completed by the cream-white lower section.

The Oribe ware-inspired colourway harmoniously continues through the interior, created and realised through a true meeting of minds between Hermès designers and craftspeople in Paris, and the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople at Goodwood in West Sussex. Together, they applied their shared expertise and ingenuity to ensure every individual component embodies the finest traditions of both houses.

The interior is finished predominantly in Hermès Enea Green leather, extending to details that include the immediate touch-points of the client; for example, the steering wheel, duchess handles, gear selector and the rotary controls for the motor car’s climate settings.

The Hermès leather flows around the upper instrument panel, interior pillars and parcel shelf. It also enrobes less visible surfaces including the glove compartment and luggage compartment lining, centre console, decanter stowage compartment and Champagne cooler. In a sign of the project’s truly collaborative nature, and the two makers’ mutual esteem, the glove compartment lid is embossed with the signature Habillé par Hermès Paris.

Delicate Hermès piping adorns the headrest cushions and calf supports of the rear seats, while soft Seashell White accents and matching lambswool floor mats create a sense of light and space throughout.

The interior is also replete with examples of Rolls-Royce Bespoke design and handcraftsmanship. Wooden speaker frets, for example, are formed by meticulously perforating the Open Pore Royal Walnut veneer applied to the doors, creating a seamless, textured aesthetic and delicate haptics. Open Pore Royal Walnut is additionally applied to the centre and rear consoles and picnic table backs; in another first for Rolls-Royce, the interior features Hermès ‘Toile H’ canvas on the door armrests, centre and rear consoles and, most notably, the signature headliner.

Hermès brings its distinctive equestrian heritage and innovative craftsmanship know-how to the car, with the leather upholstery created using stitching and edge-painting techniques originally employed by master saddlers. For Phantom’s Gallery, a feature unique to Rolls-Royce, that runs the length of the motor car’s fascia, Hermès commissioned an artwork based on a design by the celebrated French artist and illustrator Pierre Péron (1905–1988) who created many of the House’s iconic scarves. The work, inspired by the famous Hermès horse motif, is hand-painted on Open Pore Royal Walnut and is presented as though staged in an art gallery, behind glass.

“This magnificent expression of our pinnacle product represents a landmark for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, bringing together two houses with more than three centuries’ combined experience and heritage. It is the result of a deep, genuine collaboration between the Houses of Rolls-Royce and Hermès, in which designers, materials specialists and skilled craftspeople worked side by side to create a truly one-of-a-kind Phantom. It has been an extraordinary privilege to unite on such a creatively challenging, technically demanding commission and bring our client’s remarkable vision so beautifully to life”, said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

“We are really delighted to see this bespoke car come to life after a remarkable journey of creation and craftsmanship conducted hand in hand with both of our houses. We are proud to have contributed to creating a unique and contemporary expression of our client’s vision, thanks to our spirit of innovation, the quality of our materials and the know-how of our craftsmen, who have developed, amongst other things, unique stitching and upholstery techniques for the interior of the car and a hand painting technique for a bespoke gallery. It has been a real pleasure to work alongside the Rolls-Royce experts and to see how this car expresses all the values that Hermès cherishes every day”, commented Axel de Beaufort, Design and Engineering Director, Hermès Bespoke Division.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös added, “This majestic and tasteful Rolls-Royce Phantom demonstrates what is possible when talented people from two of the world’s great houses work closely together alongside a far-sighted, inspirational client like Maezawa-san. It is a meeting of minds, expertise, visions and skill that represents the very best of our respective craftspeople and capabilities.”

After indicating earlier this month that a new GSX-S1000 was on the way, Suzuki has now released details of the 2021 naked.

Immediately obvious is the new GSX-S1000’s redesigned aesthetic; the bodywork and lighting is completely new, with a focus on sharp, angular, aggressive lines and a powerful stance, with a ‘mass forward’ demeanour.

Available in Suzuki’s traditional metallic triton blue, a new mechanical matt grey, and a stealthy gloss black, it’s streetfighter looks are enhanced with textured radiator shrouds, MotoGP-insipired winglets, and side panels that feature an urban camo-inspired design.

Arguably the most striking visual change is the new, vertically stacked LED headlight. As well as the practical benefits of a new mono-focus LED light source that displays a wide, bright light, the new design of two stacked hexagonal units topped by LED position lights creates a look that is lighter and tighter, and aids the desire for a more aggressive pose. There’s a new LED tail light, too, with both flanked by LED indicators.

The inline four-cylinder engine in the 2021 GSX-S1000 produces more power and a broader spread of torque in the lower rev ranges to deliver ideal naked sports bike performance. Changes include a new intake and exhaust camshaft, new valve springs, new clutch, and a new exhaust.

Compared to its predecessor, the new GSX-S1000 makes more cumulative torque across the rev range, filling in the dips in the graph with a flatter curve. It revs on to provide increased top end power, too, with peak power 152 PS at 11,000 rpm.

Thankfully, a new exhaust retains the soundtrack the outgoing model was known for, while aiding in the increase in power and the meeting of Euro 5 emissions requirements with an additional catalytic converter.

New electronic throttle bodies help achieve a more controllable engine response during the initial throttle opening. A new airbox manages to do without an internal separator, reducing intake resistance.

Reduced valve overlap also helps the new GSX-S1000 meet Euro 5 emissions standards, thanks to new a camshaft and revised cam profiles. The changes also aid engine controllability for the rider.

Added controllability and increased performance also comes thanks to Suzuki’s Clutch Assist System. The slipper clutch partially disengages to reduce negative engine torque and mitigate the effect of engine braking when downshifting from high rpm. This helps prevent the rear wheel from locking up or hopping and provides smoother deceleration, enabling the rider to shift down with greater confidence and maintain better control when downshifting into corners.

Adding an assist function increases the clutch’s clamping force under acceleration and thereby allows the use of softer springs while still efficiently transferring torque to the rear wheel, resulting in a lighter lever operation.

An advancement over the previous GSX-S1000 comes with an updated suite of electronics, courtesy of Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (SIRS).

A new ride-by-wire throttle makes it possible for riders to more accurately and finely control the relationship between throttle actuation and engine response, especially when allied to the new Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (SDMS) system, with which the new GSX-S1000 is equipped.

SDMS allows riders to choose from one of three engine maps, depending on the riding conditions or their own personal preferences. Modes A-C all deliver the same peak power, but vary the sharpness and immediacy of the delivery, with A mode the sportiest, and C mode delivering the softest power delivery.

Performance is enhanced thanks to a bi-directional quickshifter, which reduces the need to operate the clutch during gear changes or close the throttle on upshifts, or blip it on downshifts.

A new traction control system comprises five modes, while it can also be switched off. Inputs from front and rear wheel speed sensors, and crank, gear, and throttle position sensors feed into the ECU which in turn controls the throttle valve opening, ignition timing, and fuel injection rate, to reduce or prevent wheel spin.

All the information is displayed on an updated and easy-to-read LCD dash.

Topping off the electronics package is Suzuki’s always-handy easy start system – which requires only one prod of the starter button to fire the engine – and low RPM assist, which raises engine speed as the clutch lever is fed out, to aid slow speed control and prevent stalling.

The twin-spar aluminium chassis is mated to a rigid, GSX-R-derived swingarm for agile, sporty performance and handling. New, 23mm wider, tapered ‘bars help riders pitch the bike into turns with greater leverage. They are also set 20mm closer to the rider to improve comfort without compromising handling.

Suspension comes in the form of fully-adjustable KYB front forks and a preload and rebound damping adjustable rear shock, with revised settings from the previous iteration. 310mm front discs are paired with Brembo monobloc calipers.

A larger, 19 litre fuel tank and 46.3mpg equates to a tank range of 194 miles. Those miles can be undertaken in greater comfort thanks to a new seat.

Tyres are custom-engineered Roadsport 2 from Dunlop.

All-new Nissan Magnite has received a phenomenal customer response, clocking over 50,000 bookings and 10,000 wholesale deliveries.

Since its launch on December 2,2020, the all-new Nissan Magnite has received 2,78,000 plus enquiries with more than 50,000 bookings with 5,000 (10%) bookings on the digital platform and 45,000 through the on-ground bookings at the Nissan dealerships. Approximately 15% of these bookings made were on the CVT models and approximately 60% of them were top end variants that is XV and the XV Premium. As an industry first on customer delight, Nissan India has protected the prices for the already booked customers to ensure that they receive the deliveries of the all-new Nissan Magnite on the booking price despite the change in prices on account of escalation of raw material costs.

The all-new Nissan Magnite is available in 20 grade line-up and over 36 combinations, with each grade walk being carefully curated to meet the aspirations of the discerning Indian customers. The customers have been appreciative of the disruptive pricing which is great on style, safety, technology, and quality equipped with first in segment features like around view monitor, full 7-inch TFT instrument cluster, CVT automatic transmission. This package is complete with class-leading space and the peppy HRA0 turbo and B4D engine options.

Nissan India, in February, announced a special Valentine’s programme for its booked and waiting customers. Two rounds of winners have been announced, of which two lucky people, one from city of Noida and one from Bangalore, have got a 100% cash back on their all-new Nissan Magnite. 198 winners also received grade upgrades and other benefits.  Soon, the third round of winners will also be announced as a part of this programme in May 2021.

“We are extremely overwhelmed with the customer response for the Big, Bold, Beautiful Nissan Magnite. The 50,000 bookings milestone is a testament of the Customers trust of the Nissan brand and the love for the Carismatic SUV with a revolutionary value proposition as part of Nissan NEXT, the transformation plan towards building a stronger presence and future.” said Rakesh Srivastava, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India.

Skoda Auto is building anticipation for the upcoming fourth generation of the Fabia by releasing the first official design sketches. The popular small car from the Czech car manufacturer will be significantly larger, more dynamic and more expressive than its successful predecessors. Switching over to the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Transverse Toolkit MQB-A0 has made the new proportions possible and created even more space for passengers and luggage. Additional highlights include the sharply drawn front headlights and rear lights featuring LED technology. The world premiere of the new Skoda Fabia will take place this May.

Two of the design sketches show the clear, modern and dynamically drawn lines of the new Skoda Fabia. The fourth generation will be 111 millimetres longer and 48 millimetres wider than its predecessor. This is the first time the new Fabia will be based on the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Transverse Toolkit MQB-A0. In addition to even more space for passengers, this also adds an extra 50 litres to the boot. The diagonal front view offers a first glimpse of the flat front headlights and the wide Skoda grille, which has a sporty, elegant look with a chrome frame and black ribs. Large wheels also enhance the powerful appearance.

The elongated roof spoiler with side finlets ensure excellent aerodynamics along with the aerodynamically optimised exterior mirrors and actively adjustable cooling shutters in the front bumper’s lower air inlet.

The other sketches give a more detailed impression of the new Skoda Fabia’s modern light units. The modules resemble blocks of ice in the sharply cut full-LED front headlights, which extend up to the Skoda grille. An L-shaped daytime running light module can be seen, as well. Skoda’s signature crystalline elements can also be found in the graphics of the distinctly flat rear lights that will be available in a full-LED version.

Even with the first generation, which was also presented as an estate in 2000, 1.79 million units were produced in approximately eight years, while the second generation unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2007 found a total of 1,704,000 buyers. The third generation launched in 2014 continued the success story and became Skoda’s second most popular model after the Octavia, for example in 2019. The Czech manufacturer’s total production volume of more than 4.7 million Fabias to date is surpassed only by the Octavia.

Citroën is celebrating 60 years of the iconic AMI 6, which was first revealed on 24 April 1961. With its compact dimensions and spacious interior, the vehicle went on to be a great success for the brand with over one million models sold, half of which were the capacious estate version that arrived in 1964. At launch, the new AMI 6 completed Citroën’s vehicle line up, joining the iconic 2CV, ID and DS models. It presented a shape and style that many perceived as surprising in the automotive sector at the time.

The original design was 3.87m long and 1.52m wide, which later evolved to include rear sliding windows (from 1962), and an enhanced Club trim (from 1967). AMI 6 was originally priced from just 6,550 French Francs.

After designing Traction Avant, 2CV and DS with the Citroën design team, Flaminio Bertoni was asked to lend his talent to the design of a middle-range car, known as the ‘AM Project’. AMI 6 was the end result. Bertoni described the car to his friends and family as his masterpiece – as the model was developed without the creative input of anyone else, Bertoni was able to fully express himself with the design of the vehicle.

For AMI 6, Bertoni had the bold idea of inverting the rear window, meaning that it would remain clear when it rained. It also allowed for a well-proportioned boot with a traditional boot lid. The design also boasted spacious rear seats, whilst retaining compact dimensions. AMI 6 had a dual-cylinder 602cc engine, capable of 22hp at 4,500 rpm, the same as seen in the 2CV. In a first at the time, the car also had large rectangular headlights at the front. The model displayed a strong character, with a sloping bonnet, the pagoda-style roof and panels highlighted with clearly embossed lines – some onlookers even described the car as being in a “baroque style”.

The interior of AMI 6 was inspired directly by that of the iconic DS, which was the gold standard at the time. From its single-spoke steering wheel and stylish door handles, to its dashboard controls and seats, everything indicated that the model was a top-of-the-range Citroën. The on-road handling and compliant ride – inherited from the famous suspension setup of the 2CV – was received positively by customers and the press.

From its creation, in keeping with the Citroën spirit, AMI 6 has been regarded fondly as an original and innovative car. Its die-hard fans continue to maintain a particular interest in the Club versions of the model that came with four headlights and white trim. They were sold from September 1967. The iconic advertising slogan for AMI 6 was “the least expensive comfort mile in the world”.

The turning point for the model came in late 1964, with the arrival of a small estate version with a 320kg payload that was designed by Flaminio Bertoni’s assistant, Henri Dargent, as well as Robert Opron, who would become Bertoni’s successor after he passed away in 1964. The estate version would go on to boost sales and overtake the saloon in terms of popularity, something that has rarely happened in automotive history.

The design of the estate version offered a great amount of space for a leisure vehicle in this category, along with easy and convenient accessibility. It was a versatile model, providing just as much comfort to a family travelling on a trip, as it would for a professional using the car for business needs. In 1966, AMI 6 was named in France as the nation’s favourite car of the year.

Production of the saloon ended in March 1969, six months before production of the estate ended. The model made way for the new AMI 8 that featured a more conventional rear design. Eventually AMI 8 handed the baton on to Citroën Visa in 1978.

Hyundai Motor Company has revealed the Heritage Series PONY, a retro-modern reconstruction of the original mass-produced PONY model that heralded the dawn of Korea’s automotive industry more than 45 years ago.

Featured at the recently opened Hyundai Motorstudio Busan in South Korea as part of its ‘Reflections in Motion’ exhibition, from April 8 through June 27, the Heritage Series PONY combines distinctive legacy design features with modern touches to offer a glimpse of the future.

Legendary automobile designer Giorgetto Giugiaro conceived the first generation of PONY. The PONY was an icon of personal mobility created by Hyundai during its mass production from 1975-1990. The hatchback car was the nation’s first mass-produced and exported vehicle.

More than 45 years later, the timeless value of the original PONY is visible in the new Heritage Series PONY, shown as part of the ‘Heritage Series – PONY’ section of the ‘Reflections in Motion’ exhibition.

The Heritage Series PONY’s exterior is marked by a matte, shimmering surface of silver throughout front to rear part of the vehicle, hatchback silhouette. Notable features include camera-based, fender-mounted exterior mirrors to the fore of the windshield, pixelated round headlights and U-shaped taillights made of LED lights. The pixelated round headlights and U-shaped taillights embody the company’s ‘Pixel Road Trip’ design approach that incorporates pixels and eight-bit graphics also utilized in the IONIQ 5 and 45 concept car.

The interior boasts a string of chic and modern accoutrements, including doors made of premium materials that exude a classic feel, a modern lighting system, a speed-gauging instrument panel made of lighted vacuum tubes as well as other stylishly retrofitted design elements.

It also contains future-oriented elements, not only retro style. The digital touch transmission, cradle space for mobile phone and voice-activated steering wheel conveys a modern sensibility that will catch people by surprise. 

In the trunk space, a last-mile mobility device, comprising a stainless steel case, is installed, representing Hyundai Motor’s human-centered design commitment. 

Polestar has revealed a special version of the Polestar 1 electric performance hybrid that will reach end of production later this year.

“It’s hard to believe that our beautiful halo car comes to the end of its production life later this year,” comments Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO. “We pushed boundaries with this car, not only in terms of engineering but also in its design and execution. Polestar 1 set the tone for our brand and its genes are evident in Polestar 2 – as they will be in our future cars to come.”

A technical tour de force, the electric performance hybrid has a light-weight body made from carbon fibre reinforced polymer, twin rear electric motors with genuine torque vectoring and high-performance components like Akebono brakes and adjustable Öhlins dampers.

With a combined power output of 609 hp and 1,000 Nm of torque, and a purely electric driving range of 124 km (WLTP) – still the longest of any hybrid car in the world – Polestar 1 is a performance car that can be driven as a full EV in daily use, doubling as a great long-distance GT at any moment.

“This car was not designed to fit into a box,” elaborates Thomas Ingenlath. “We didn’t design it to compete with other cars, and neither did we design it to suit a specific target customer. Polestar 1 was about pushing our own boundaries, exploring a new era for Polestar and launching the brand with a strong statement – and it’s done a great job of capturing the hearts and minds of fans, press and the lucky customers who own one.”

A limited number of build slots remain for final 2021 production. The new special edition features a bespoke matte gold exterior paint job with matching callipers and black wheels. Inside, colour-matched gold stitching gives the interior an even more unique feel. A maximum of 25 will be built.

The Maserati Levante Hybrid is presented to the world in both a physical and digital World Premiere event. With the Brand’s first electrified SUV, Maserati takes a major step forward in its strategy for electrification, which began last year with the Ghibli Hybrid.

“Faster. Greener. Unique”, Levante Hybrid is faster than a diesel, more sustainable than diesel or gasoline, and unique in its specific characteristics.

The Maserati SUV, which has already made an impact in the history of the Brand with its record-breaking figures, now presses ahead into a future in which all new Trident models will be electrified.

Maserati is innovative by nature, and with Levante it pursues the philosophy behind its entry into the world of electrification: the aim of improving performance while staying true to the Brand’s values, delivering speed and agility while saving fuel and reinforcing the Trident’s dedication to driving pleasure and luxury. The result is a hybrid SUV that retains the distinctive roar of every Maserati.

Levante Hybrid combines the 4 cylinder, 2 litre engine with a 48 volt Hybrid system to recover energy during deceleration and braking. The hybrid car weighs less than the 6 cylinder engine equivalent (both diesel and gasoline), and above all has an even better weight distribution since the battery is placed in the rear without compromising the load capacity and optimally balancing the masses of the vehicle. All designed to make Levante Hybrid even more agile and fun to drive.

Thanks to a maximum power output of 330 hp and torque of 450 Nm delivered from just 2,250 rpm, the performance data of the new Levante Hybrid, only available with all-wheel drive, is impressive: a top speed of over 240 kmph and acceleration from 0 to 100 kmph in 6 seconds.

In terms of appearance, the Levante Hybrid launch version is characterised by a new metallic tri-coat colour called Azzurro Astro, available as part of the Brand’s customisation programme, Maserati Fuoriserie.

Other exterior and interior details contribute to this car’s immediately recognisable design: some are in blue, the shade chosen to identify hybrid cars, already used by Maserati on Ghibli Hybrid.

On the exterior, blue characterises the three iconic side air ducts, the brake calipers and the C-pillar logo. The same blue shade reappears inside the car, specifically on the embroidered seams of the seats.

Levante Hybrid is connected, thanks to the new Maserati Connect program. Having your Maserati connected at all times enables an eye to be kept on the car’s health, and Maserati Connect will alert the driver when a service is due, improving the customer care experience. With a Smartphone or Smartwatch, drivers can stay in contact with their car via the Maserati Connect App; this is also possible from home via their virtual personal assistant (Amazon Alexa & Google Assist).

Special guests at the digital premiere of Levante Hybrid were David Beckham, the new Maserati Brand Global Ambassador, and Dardust, with an exclusive soundtrack.