The use of racing car technology in road legal cars is nothing new, but many manufacturers are choosing this way to increase the performance of their new electric models. One of them is Nissan and the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Group, which, using the experience from their Formula E teams, are trying to keep up with the growing competition in the electric vehicle segment.
Formula E is ideal for the development of electric mobility, and it should be noted that Formula E cars start each race with only 60% battery capacity, and the rest must be generated by braking. This forces manufacturers to develop more efficient systems and better software to improve performance and autonomy.
The JaguarLand Rover (JLR) Group is investing £15 billion in the production of electric vehicles, and will use silicon carbide inverter technology. This solution was primarily developed for their Formula E cars, but will also be used to improve efficiency in future premium electric models. JLR has already used the knowledge gained from managing battery temperatures to improve the range of the Jaguar I-Pace by 20 kilometers.
Nissan also plans to produce 19 all-electric models over the next two years, and Nissan Formula E team boss Tommaso Volpe said their race car’s software was originally based on that of the Nissan Leaf.
Maserati plans to electrify all its cars by the end of the decade, and that includes the fully electric models Quattroporte, Levante and MC20. A few days ago, Maserati announced the arrival of the MC20 Folgore EV in the coming year.
“Driven by our Modena heart, we are going full throttle to lead change on electrification, with two of our iconic models already available for purchase in their 100 per cent electric versions, and another on the way this year,” said Maserati boss Davide Grasso .
Although it was most likely that it would arrive on the market in 2022, that did not happen and Maserati is now saying that it will offer its preferred customers the most powerful Maseratis ever, pushing the boundaries of driving pleasure to a new era.
The Maserati MC20 Folgore should be powered by three electric motors with a total power of 700 hp (522 kW) and will have all-wheel drive. It will be 100 kg heavier than the ICE-powered model, and will accelerate to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.0 seconds. Whether this means it will have the same configuration as the GranTurismo Folgore, which is also powered by three electric motors with a total power of 750 hp (559 kW), is unknown.
“With our long-term strategic vision and plan, we want to make a mark in the luxury world with unique Italian manufacturing excellence, constantly pushing distinctive quality and building our future with a dedicated business model that guarantees our customers the best products that reflect the Trident’s values,” the company said.
After revealing interior photos and sketches late last year, the day has come and Porsche has unveiled the new generation Porsche Macan. This electric crossover will be offered in two versions, Macan 4 and Macan Turbo.
The car is 4.78 meters long, 1.93 meters wide and 1.62 meters high, with a wheelbase of 2.89 meters. It is built on the PPE (Premium Platform Electric) platform, which Porsche developed in cooperation with Audi, and the same platform will be used for the upcoming electric Audi A6 and Q6. It is equipped with an 800-volt architecture and a 100 kWh lithium-nickel-manganese battery that enables a range of 613 km (380 miles) of range in WLTP (591 km in the Macan Turbo). The battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent within approximately 21 minutes at a suitable fast-charging station. Depending on the amount of energy available in a battery, the electric Macan can regenerate up to 240 kW of energy when braking.
Speaking of design, the coupe shape and size have been retained. The elegant sporty design brings new four-point daytime running lights built into the wings, the main headlight module with optional matrix LED technology is positioned slightly lower in the front end, and a lower hood line. Thanks to the use of active aerodynamics elements such as the rear spoiler that can be activated, the wings on the front mask and the chassis panel, the air resistance coefficient is 0.25.
Inside, the new Macan offers more space and greater comfort for passengers who now have more legroom, as well as a larger luggage compartment (136 liters cargo mode + luggage compartment under the bonnet). By folding the rear seats, the luggage space increases by up to 1,348 liters. There is an integrated black panel, a newly designed central console, a digital user interface, a light strip integrated into the trim strip of the cockpit and doors, and some analogue control elements have been retained. There is also a 12.6-inch curved-design instrument cluster and the 10.9-inch central display. Optionally, it is possible to get a screen for the passenger, as well as an AR head-up display.
When it comes to the powertrain, the Macan 4 is powered by a dual motors with 408 hp (300 kW) and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque, the Macan Turbo has 630 hp (470 kW) and 833 lb-ft ( 1,130 Nm) of torque. However, all these figures are implied with overboost, which means that this power is available for a limited time even when using Launch Control. The Macan 4 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.2 seconds with a top speed of 220 km/h (137 mph), while the Macan Turbo reaches 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.3 seconds with a top speed of 260 km/h (161 mph).
Speaking of price, the Macan 4 costs €83,993 in Germany, while the Macan Turbo costs €114,576.
