EV, News

The BMW i3 is leaving the US market

BMW announced that it will stop production of the Model i3 for the American market from July.

One of the first purpose-built cars and a pioneer in the use of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics and aluminum, it did not achieve the sales expected in the US. Since 2015, sales of this model have been gradually declining, so that in 2020, slightly more than 1,500 units were sold.

“The success of the BMW i3 and the experience gained in developing and manufacturing it have laid the groundwork for the next generation of BMW electric vehicles – the fully electric BMW iX Sports Activity Vehicle and the BMW i4 Gran Coupe, both of which arrive in the U.S. early next year,” BMW said in a statement.

This does not mean that BMW will reduce supply in the US. From next year, the i3 will be replaced by the BMW i4 eDrive40 with a more powerful electric motor.

The BMW i4 will be powered by an electric motor with an 83.9 kWh battery and a range of 300 miles, which will produce 335 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. The BMW i4 will reach 62 mph in 5.7 seconds with a top speed of 118 mph.

Source: Carscoops

EV, News

Tesla is facing car safety issues in China

Tesla’s efforts to conquer the Chinese market have been halted. Allegedly, China is demanding that Tesla’s cars (285,000), which are sold in the country, go through a safety check process.

The competent authority (State Administration of Market Regulation) announced that the decision refers to vehicles manufactured in China (Model 3 and Model Ys) and 35,665 imported vehicles.

Namely, the problem is the possibility of automatic activation of the autopilot, which poses a safety risk because it can lead to a car accident. Fortunately, most security fixes can be done through online updates.

Tesla apologized for the current situation, saying it would upgrade the software for free.

The biggest impact will be on Tesla’s crossover (Model Y), which has a range of 369 miles (594 kilometers), as the main vehicle in conquering the Chinese electric vehicle market, which was also confirmed by Elon Musk.

Tesla hopes that the production of the Model Y could surpass other vehicles. Demand for this crossover could increase as China allowed families to have more children. This was also confirmed by China’s Passenger Car Association, which predicts increased demand for roomier cars.

The starting price of the Chinese Model Ys is $ 53,000.

Source: Bloomberg

News

Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro

It’s very busy these days in Aston Martin. After presenting the Vantage Roadster a few days ago, this time the new Valkyrie AMR Pro is coming.

Originally presented as a concept, Valkyrie has undergone a number of changes and improvements. The overall weight of the vehicle has been reduced by removing the hybrid parts, a new rear wing has been installed, the wheelbase has been reduced, and many carbon parts have been installed.

Aston Martin CEO Tobias Moers said: “The entire Aston Martin Valkyrie program has been an extraordinary adventure in engineering.”

The cars will be built in just 40 units, with a delivery schedule in late 2021.

The Valkyrie AMR Pro is powered by a 6.5-liter V12 engine with 1,000 hp at 11,000 rpm, which is less than the previous version with 1,100 hp. The engine was made by the British company Crosworth. With twice the thrust, the AMR Pro achieves lateral acceleration of more than 3G.

Tobias Moers also said: “As an expression of the passion and expertise that can be found within Aston Martin and its closest technical partners, Valkyrie AMR Pro is a project beyond compare, a true‘ no rules ’track-only version. The Valkyrie AMR Pro is a testament to Aston Martin’s commitment to pure performance and this DNA performance will be evident in our future product portfolio. Nothing else looks like it, nothing else sounds like it, and I am absolutely certain nothing else will drive like it! ”

More information will be released later this year, and all cars will be left-hand drive.

Source: Aston Martin

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