All posts by Francis Mitterrand

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The new Ford SUV is coming in mid-2025

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Although times are tough for Ford in Europe, the American brand remains determined to maintain its commitment to purely electric mobility in Europe. This also means the arrival of a new SUV, the successor to the EcoSport, which will be launched in mid-2025.

Demand for EVs is lower than expected, which means that Ford, like most other manufacturers that made the transition to EVs too quickly, has faced reality. However, Ford is stubborn as shown by the recent launch of the all-electric Puma Gen-E which will join the hybrid version.

The new SUV will also be a standard B-SUV, meaning it will share a segment with the Puma. Ford isn’t worried about that, as the two models will take a very different approach. Also, EcoSport and Puma have shared showroom space before.

The successor to the EcoSport, which will be assembled at Ford’s facilities in Almussafes (Spain), will have a robust and adventurous design, as well as a different drive range. Although it was speculated that only an all-electric version would be offered, we cannot rule out that hybrids and mild hybrids could also be offered, as this is what European customers are most looking for.

Source: Ford

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The VW VR6 engine has come to an end

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The VR6 engine debuted at the 1991 Geneva Motor Show in the third-generation Golf and has since been installed in 1.87 million cars. 34 years later, it has come to an end. This was confirmed by Andreas G. Schleith, PR manager for Volkswagen passenger cars on his LinkedIn profile.

Over time, the VR6 engine has powered numerous models, including the Passat, Corrado, Touareg, Phaeton, Transporter, Sharan, CC or Beetle, but also cars from other brands in the Volkswagen Group such as the Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, Seat Leon and Škoda Superb. Even Mercedes-Benz has used this engine in its Vito model, with certain modifications.

Since 2010, the VR6 engine has only powered cars produced for the North American and Chinese markets, as it has stopped being installed in new cars in Europe due to stricter environmental standards.

Source: Andreas G. Schleith via LinkedIn

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Zeekr 7X is coming to Europe

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After being launched in China this summer, the Zeekr 7X will soon be available to European customers. It is a rival to the Tesla Model Y and the most affordable Chinese SUV, and in Europe it will be offered in the Dutch market.

Zeekr is part of Geely Automobile Holdings, and currently offers several of its cars on the European market such as Zeekr 001, Zeekr 001 FR and Zeekr 007. The Zeekr 7X has a slightly different style from other cars within the group, with a sophisticated interior, thanks to the subdued ambient lighting, but also the amount of natural light that comes through the huge panoramic roof. Customers can optionally get active air suspension with continuous damping control, heated and air-conditioned front seats with massage function, which are included in the Comfort package and are only available in the top version. It offers plenty of space for passengers as well as luggage (539 liters + 66 liters in the front).

When it comes to the powertrain, the base Zeekr 7X is powered by a single electric motor with 412 hp (307 kW). It is equipped with a 75 kWh battery that provides a range of 480 kilometers and can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in 13 minutes. Customers can also choose a Long Range version with a single motor and a 100 kWh battery that provides a range of a respectable 615 kilometers and can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in 16 minutes.

The most powerful Performance version is powered by two electric motors with a total power of 639 hp (476 kW). It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.8 seconds, and is equipped with a 100 kWh battery that provides a range of 543 kilometers and can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in 16 minutes.

Speaking of price, the Zeekr 7X costs between 52,990 and 62,990 euros on the Dutch market.

Source: Zeekr

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Zeekr 7X is coming to Europe