XPeng, like other Chinese brands, wants to expand its international business in order to increase exports from 10% to 11-12% this year, but also to avoid additional tariffs introduced by the EU on EVs produced in China. That is why the company decided to start car production on European soil.
“Selling one million AI-powered cars per year will be a mandatory goal for companies that want to achieve success in the next 10 years. Then drivers could touch the steering wheel less than once a day on their daily commute,” said He Xiaopeng, CEO of Xpeng.
Xpeng is currently looking for a manufacturing site, which has low operational risk, and the company also plans to build a large data center in Europe. This center will help the Chinese company collect software data to improve autonomous driving.
At the beginning of the year, the company’s management pointed out that it plans to hire an additional 4,000 people this year and invest $482 million in the development of artificial intelligence and the next level of autonomous driving. However, after 10 years of development, XPeng also plans to launch a flying car, an eVTOL aircraft for vertical take-off and landing, but which can be a full-fledged road car. The aircraft should reach the market in the last quarter of this year.
The Smart #5, announced at the Beijing Motor Show as Concept #5, has now finally made its debut. It is the largest and most spacious car of the German brand, which with its tech-rich interior is worthy of comparison with Mercedes cars.
The Smart #5 is an important car for the German manufacturer, with which the company hopes to steal a certain number of customers from competitors such as the most popular car in the world last year, the Tesla Model Y. Midd-size Premium SUV at the European market will arrive early next year
The car is 4,705 mm long, which is similar in size to the Mercedes-Benz GLB, with a wheelbase of 2,900 mm. The design of the front of the car is well known, with the lights connected by a thin illuminated line. It is equipped with plastic linings, flat door handles and aerodynamically optimized rims like those on Rolls-Royce models. On the D-pillars is the Smart logo.
Those who want more can choose the Summit Edition version, which is equipped with roof lights, side steps and a ladder for easier access to the roof racks. Also, this model comes with underbody protection, an electric hook and an external luggage compartment.
The interior of the car is equipped with zero-gravity front seats, premium leather, oak details, electric sunshade, LED reading lights like those found in airplanes, an ambient lighting system with 256 colors, as well as a Sennheiser sound system with 21 speakers. In front of the driver is a 10.3-inch digital instrument panel, as well as two 13-inch screens (one for the infotainment system and the other containing a small lion avatar named Leo, as well as a state-of-the-art generative voice AI assistant that uses various sources to accurately respond to almost all questions). Also, there is a 25.6-inch AR head-up display.
Smart did not forget about the passengers in the back, who can now enjoy comfortable heated seats with adjustable backrests. Passengers can also count on a luggage space of up to 1,530 liters with the rear seats folded down, as well as 34 compartments for storing various items.
When it comes to the powertrain, Smart has not released any information. However, from some other sources it is known that there will be four options, two with a single electric motor with 340 hp and 363 hp. The other two options will be powered by two electric motors, one on the front axle with 224 hp and one on the rear axle with 363 hp or 422 hp. They will be equipped with a 100 kWh battery that enables a range of up to 740 kilometers. Also, thanks to 800V technology and a supercharger, the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in 15 minutes.
Falconry has been part of the life of Middle Eastern peoples for about 4,000 years, and today it is one of the UAE’s most honored traditional sports. To pay tribute to Middle-Eastern falconry, two European companies, Carlex Design and VO Falcon, produced a unique Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the G-Falcon.
Carlex is known for his wild car interior designs, and this project required four years of work. This is a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted car in a unique bronze color, with an engraved mural of a falcon on the roof. Compared to the original G-Class, the G-Falcon has a redesigned front fascia, extended wheel arches, and new trim. It’s mounted on a new set of body-colored rims, while the spare wheel has a unique cover with G-Falcon lettering.
Inside, red leather covers the seats, door panels, dashboard, and steering wheel. There’s also plenty of unique quilted and hand-stitched work, on the doors and center console.
The Swedish company VO Falcon has produced a special rifle inspired by Arabian design and falconry, which is stored in a wooden case lined with black leather.
The G-Falcon and the rifle will be exhibited in Abu Dhabi on August 31.
