All posts by Francis Mitterrand

News

Audi reached an agreement with SAIC Motor

Chinese manufacturers have become absolute leaders in the EV market, so the only way to counter their dominance is synergy with some of them. The biggest pressure is on European manufacturers who are trying to increase their chances of survival by cooperating with Chinese companies. Representatives of Audi and SAIC reached an agreement on the production of a fully electric car that should reach the market in 2025.

Currently, Audi in China is not recording any notable results. Last year, they sold a total of 31,000 cars on the Chinese market, and this partnership could be a turning point. Also, this is not the first time that SAIC Motor cooperates with a European company. For years, they worked closely with Volkswagen, from which the German manufacturer benefited the most, increasing its presence on the Chinese market through this cooperation. That’s exactly what Audi is hoping for.

SAIC Motor is one of the largest automobile companies in China with over 5 million vehicles sold in 2023. The deal with Audi is somewhat unusual, as the cars will not carry the four-ring Audi badge. Audi will use the new Advanced Digital Platform (ADP), and sources say the first car from the partnership will be a mid-size electric vehicle. It should be launched in November, and will only be offered in the Chinese market from 2025.

Source: Reuters

Tuning

Apocalypse World Ender Land Rover 6×6 based on the Land Rover Defender

Apocalypse Manufacturing is an American company that turns every vehicle into an extreme one, ready to conquer all types of terrain. Their latest project is the Apocalypse World Ender Land Rover 6×6 based on the Land Rover Defender.

Engineers extended the chassis to add a third axle, or two more wheels, which unlike some other 6×6 conversions, are connected to the drivetrain. The suspension has also been refined and can now be raised and lowered by around 203mm with the simple push of a button. Of course, the conversion wouldn’t be complete without a specially designed set of 20-inch rims wrapped in massive 38-inch tires ready to tackle the toughest off-road trails.

The car is equipped with wide fenders, underbody protection, side steps and rock sliders, and an orange front bumper. Additional LED lights were installed on the roof, roof racks, sports bars on the rear and a spare wheel located in the cargo area.

When it comes to the powertrain, Apocalypse Manufacturing hasn’t changed anything, although it’s obvious that the extreme version is heavier than the standard Land Rover Defender. There is still a supercharged 5.0-L V8 engine with 525 hp (386 kW) and 461 lb-ft (625 Nm) of torque.

The Apocalypse World Ender Land Rover 6×6 costs $374,999, and this car in the photos was built for a customer in Jacksonville, Florida.

Source: Apocalypse Manufacturing

Gallery:

Apocalypse World Ender Land Rover 6×6 based on the Land Rover Defender
News

Bentley postpones electrification plan for mid-2030

Bentley is another in a series of manufacturers abandoning their original plan to electrify their cars quickly. After Volvo recently did the same, now Bentley is facing reality and putting its focus on hybrids.

Four years ago, the British company announced that it plans to sell only plug-in hybrid or electric vehicles from 2026, and switch to all-electric models from the end of the decade. However, with the arrival of the new Chairman and CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser, Bentley is changing its strategy. The new plan is to adopt hybrid technology as a medium-term strategic plan, because in the luxury segment customers still prefer internal combustion engines.

Walliser acknowledged that adoption of EV technology has been slower than many in the industry expected. But unlike other manufacturers that can produce electric and gasoline versions at the same time, Bentley cannot afford to do so.

Bentley is not giving up on electric cars, so the new goal is 2035, when the brand should become fully electric, and the first fully electric Bentley should reach the market in 2027. It will not be an electric version of the existing model, but a completely new car.

Source: Bentley