On March 5th, Volvo will launch its new electric car, the Volvo ES90.
At first glance, it seems that the ES90 shares a lot with the Polestar 2, such as the wing mirrors, low suspension and T-shaped daytime running light technology. Although Volvo is keeping the details under wraps, it is known that unlike the Polestar 2, which is built on the 400-volt CMA platform, the ES90 will use the 800-volt SPA2 platform.
It will be equipped with a 106 kWh battery that will provide a range of up to 700 kilometers, and a ten-minute charge will be enough for a range of up to 300 kilometers.
After the premiere, we will know more details and the price of the car.
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.
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.
