All posts by Francis Mitterrand

News

The new Freelander is an EV but not a Land Rover

From 1997 to 2015, Land Rover produced a compact SUV built on a body-on-frame chassis, the Land Rover Freelander. 14 years later this model is coming back but as a series of electric vehicles that will be produced in China.

Land Rover in China has a partner company and EV manufacturer, Chery, which will produce electric cars based on its own platform but as a separate sub-brand. The goal is mainstream electric vehicles, more affordable than what Land Rover currently offers. Design-wise, the cars will be a combination of Land Rover and Chery.

These two companies have been cooperating for years, since 2012, and the result of that partnership is the Discovery Sport, Evoque, E-Pace, and extended XF and XE models. Little is known about the Freelander, but some media in China say it could be mechanically related to the Exeed, a Chery sub-brand that will arrive in Europe by 2026.

It should also be noted that initially the cars will be sold only in China, but there are plans to export them to the global market.

Source: Land Rover

Tuning

Defender 130 Valiance based on the Defender 130

After revealing the Valiance Convertible, a soft-top Land Rover Defender 90 earlier in the year, now Dutch company Heritage Customs has revealed its latest project called the 130 Valiance (Pickup Defender) based on the Defender 130.

This 5.35-meter-long car is equipped with a roof rack with additional LED lights, on which a spare wheel is placed, specially designed off-road tires, and the third-row seats have been removed from the cabin. The tuner gives customers the opportunity to customize their car according to their wishes by choosing body elements, rims/tires, colors and materials for the cabin.

Land Rover product program chief Stuart Frith said last year that he would like to see the Defender in a pickup version as well, which would mean a continuation of the tradition. The same was the case with the previous generation of one of the most famous off-road cars of all time.

Heritage Customs has not released information about the powertrain, but it should be noted that the current Land Rover Defender 130 is powered by a 3.0-L inline 6 engine with 296 hp (221 kW), paired with an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission that sends power to all wheels.

When it comes to the price, the car with the upgrade costs 155,000 euros.

Source: Heritage Customs

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News

The EU is changing tariffs on EVs made in China

At the beginning of June, the EU announced additional tariffs of up to 38.1% on electric cars imported from China, but according to information from some media, that decision could be changed.

Currently, imported cars made in China have a 10 percent tariff. However, as of July 4, this rate will rise to as much as 38 percent in some cases. For example, BYD will pay 17.4 percent, Geely 20 percent, and SAIC, which with the help of former British brand MG is by far the biggest seller in Europe, will pay 38.1 percent. Other brands that were cooperative will pay a 21 percent duty, and those that refused will pay 38.1 percent.

In 2023, the European Commission launched an investigation into the privileged position of electric vehicles produced in China due to subsidies. “These can also be vehicles from other manufacturers if they have used subsidies in China,” said Executive Vice President of the European Commission for an Economy Valdis Dombrovskis.

According to Bloomberg, manufacturers that cooperated during the investigation will have lower tariffs (20.8% instead of 21%). However, those who refused to cooperate will have tariffs of 37.6 percent instead of the original 38.1 percent. It should also be noted that these tariffs are temporary and that the EU will make a new decision on permanent tariffs by the end of the year.

Source: Bloomberg