Category Archives: EV

2026 Audi Q4 40 e-tron

After announcing that it is discontinuing production of the Q8 e-tron, which is produced at its Belgian plant, Audi has some more positive news. The Ingolstadt-based manufacturer has announced a new version of its Q4 e-tron electric crossover, the Audi Q4 40 e-tron.

The Audi Q4 40 e-tron will replace the Q4 35 e-tron introduced last year and will come with a larger battery, 63 kWh (59 kWh usable), and a range of up to 423 kilometers for the Sportback and 412 kilometers for the standard version. A similar battery is already used in connected models based on the MEB platform such as the Volkswagen ID.3 Pro and the Škoda Elroq 60. As a reminder, the Q4 35 e-tron is equipped with a 55 kWh battery that allows a range of up to 365 kilometers for the Sportback and 355 kilometers for the standard version.

The new Q4 40 e-tron comes with a battery preheating function, which has previously been used for other models on the MEB platform. The preheating is activated via the MMI interface, which displays how many kW are currently available for quick charging of the battery and how much additional charging power is available thanks to the pre-prepared battery.

Audi has upgraded the myAudi mobile app with a predictive maintenance reminder function, which provides an overview of the status of key components. This includes information on the current status of the brake pads, the 12-volt battery and the expiration date of the first-aid kit.

When it comes to pricing, the Audi Q4 40 e-tron starts at 46,150 euros, while the Q4 Sportback 40 e-tron costs 48,150 euros.

Source: Audi

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2026 Nio Firefly EV

Chinese multinational automobile manufacturer Nio has unveiled its new car, the Firefly. It is an all-electric city hatchback designed by former BMW and Ford designer Kris Tomasson.

Nio’s plan is to produce small electric cars that are affordable to a wider range of users, as shown by its price of $20,400. It will officially hit the market in April 2025, and the order book is open. It will also arrive in Europe at the beginning of next year and is expected to cost around 30,000 euros.

At first glance, the three-piece round LED headlights, as well as the taillights, attract the most attention, while some parts such as the glass, black roof and pillars are reminiscent of Honda cars. The size of the car is not known, but everything indicates that its main rivals could be models like Fiat Grande Panda, BYD Dolphin or Renault 5.

Firefly is designed to achieve five stars in C-NCAP and Euro-NCAP tests, which is made possible by the use of high-strength steel and aluminum, which make up 83.4 percent of the body structure, as well as double anti-collision beams in the front doors. The car has nine airbags as standard, as well as the best torsional stiffness in its segment (37,700 Nm).

Photos of the interior have not yet been released, but spy photos reveal a minimalistic dashboard, digital instrument panel and a touchscreen infotainment system, similar to that found in Tesla cars. What is known for now is that the car offers a lot of luggage space, which could please families as well as singles who travel with a lot of bags. The front luggage compartment has a volume of 92 litres, which is more than most electric models offer, while the rear luggage compartment offers an additional 1250 litres, when the rear seats are folded down.

When it comes to the powertrain, Nio has yet to release technical details, so more will be known after the car hits the market next year.

Source: Nio

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2025 DS N°8 has arrived

In early December, DS Automobiles unveiled a new naming philosophy for future models, the ‘N°’ (numéro), and the first car to bear this designation is the DS N°8. It is an all-electric car built on the STLA Medium platform.

This model marks the start of a new era for the French luxury-premium brand, which will also be marked by a special design language. A full grille with illuminated backlighting, slim DS Pixel Vision headlights with sharp daytime running lights that extend towards the bumper, and steeply sloping C-pillars are just some of the design solutions.

The DS N°8 comes with an expanded color palette that, in addition to CRYSTAL PEARL and PERLA NERA BLACK, also includes TOPAZ BLUE, PALLADIUM GREY and ALABASTER WHITE. The car in the photo has a black hood, pillars, mirrors and roof, and a plastic cladding that extends along the profile. It is 4.82 meters long, 1.90 meters wide and 1.58 meters high, with a wheelbase of 2.90 meters, which means that it is 12 cm shorter than the DS 9 model but also longer than the fastback crossovers Peugeot 408 and Citroen C5 X.

Inside, the heated/cooled seats are designed to be comfortable and have massage functions and a neck warmer. Also, passengers in the rear seats have plenty of space. The digital instrument cluster is located behind the four-spoke steering wheel, and it is accompanied by a wide infotainment system placed in the middle of the dashboard. The floating center console with touch-sensitive panels seems to come straight from the concept.

Integrated ambient lighting is the final touch that takes travel comfort to a higher level. In addition, passengers will enjoy the top-notch Electra 3D sound system by Focal.

When it comes to the powertrain, the front-wheel drive versions will be powered by a single electric motor with 230 hp and 245 hp, while the most powerful version will be powered by two electric motors with 350 hp, which is enough to reach 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and top speed of 190 km/h (118 mph). The N°8 will also be equipped with two types of batteries, 74 and 97.2 kWh, which will allow a range of 572 and 750 km. Thanks to fast charging up to 200 kW DC, the battery can be charged from 20 to 80 percent in 27 minutes.

Source: DS Automobiles

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