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Cupra Dark Rebel could go into production

When Cupra became an independent brand in 2018, no one expected that a large increase in sales of their vehicles would follow. However, that’s exactly what happened, and Cupra increased sales from less than 20,000 vehicles to over 200,000 last year. Now the manufacturer has even bigger plans, which include an attractive shooting brake in the form of the Dark Rebel model.

The Dark Rebel is an all-electric car that will most likely share a platform and components with models from the Volkswagen Group. Many believe that the new SSP Sport electric platform used by Porsche cars (Boxster and Cayman) would be best suited for the Dark Rebel. This platform enables a low seating position because the batteries are located behind the driver and passenger.

Cupra plans to produce 20,000 cars of this model per year in order to be profitable. Also, the development and production of each new model requires a large investment, so Cupra hopes to secure funds for the development of the Dark Rebel car this year.

“We have to make a lot of money, continue to increase profits and sustainability, and after that this model can become one of our priorities. Right now we have many other priorities like the production of Tavascan and Terramar, but a car like this would definitely have a huge impact on Cupra as a brand. Unfortunately, it can’t be a priority for the company, because that would be pointless and egotistical. I’d love to make a car, it would be my own when I retire, I can be sent home in it as long as I can get in and out of it then,” said CEO of Seat & Cupra Wayne Griffiths.

Source: Cupra

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Cupra Dark Rebel could go into production
News

Livan X3 Pro comes to the European market and costs 15,000 euros

Chinese manufacturers have definitely decided to flood the European market with cheap electric cars and put additional pressure on the already weakened European auto industry. The last in the series is the Livan X3 Pro, a small SUV with a price of 15,000 euros.

This 4 m long and 1,180 kg subcompact SUV should reach the European market by the end of the year. Its main goal will be to attract customers with a competitive price, 5,000 euros cheaper than the most affordable European rival, which is understandable considering that the segment of subcompact SUVs makes up about 1/5 of the European market.

The X3 Pro will be equipped with a state-of-the-art infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity, multi-function sports steering wheel, rear parking camera, hill start assist, ESP, traction control, four-wheel disc brakes and 16-inch alloy wheels. The interior is very spacious for a car of this size and offers a luggage space of 400 liters.

Under the bonnet will be a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with 103 hp (77 kW) and 103 lb-ft (140 Nm) of torque, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission (automatic gearbox available at extra charge). It will have a warranty of 5 years or 100,000 km.

Source: Livan

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Livan X3 Pro comes to the European market and costs 15,000 euros
News

New EV battery plant for Lexus cars

Toyota has big plans when it comes to selling EVs with a focus on hybrids but also improving the production of Lexus cars. That is why the Japanese manufacturer announced the construction of a special factory for the production of batteries for cars of this luxury brand.

The world’s second largest car manufacturer plans to build a factory in the Fukuoka region, making the island of Kyushu a central part of the electric vehicle supply chain and an export base for the Asian market. On that island, Toyota owns a factory where Lexus cars are produced, and it is through this brand that Toyota strives to achieve a larger share of the world electric car market.

Toyota aims to sell 3.5 million electric cars each year by 2030, of which just under half will be produced locally by the BEV Factory. It would sound very ambitious, but since Toyota sold only 104,000 EVs last year, they are aware that this is not enough to catch up with the competition. This refers primarily to the largest Asian and world producer of electric vehicles, China.

It was previously known that the Japanese manufacturer will introduce next-generation battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from 2026, and the new factory will be operated by Primeearth EV Energy, a company specializing in the production of batteries for EVs.

Source: Reuters