Tag Archives: vehicles

News

Ford Explorer delayed in Europe

At the beginning of the year, the new electric Ford Explorer arrived on the market. It was introduced on the American market, but although it was expected that it would arrive in Europe very soon, it seems that this will not be the case.

According to the Kölnische Rundschau, Ford was to start production of the Explorer this month, while sales were to begin in the first months of next year. But it seems that Ford would have to postpone the launch on the European market. According to this source, employees in Cologne (Germany) have already been informed about this. The reason could be new safety regulations in the European Union.

From 2024, the EU intends to put additional assistance systems on the list of mandatory for all new cars. For newly homologated vehicles, these regulations apply as early as July 6, 2022, and from the following year they will apply to vehicles with an old type of homologation.

This model is built on Volkswagen’s MEB architecture as a technological twin of the VW ID.4 model. The reason for this possible six-month delay is reportedly related to new safety regulations that will come into force in the near future.

Ford has not revealed many details about this car. It remains unclear which individual components Ford is getting from Volkswagen and how the electric Explorer differs from other MEB-based models. It is also not known what powertrain the Ford Explorer will use.

When it comes to the price, the Ford Explorer should cost up to 45,000 euros, and the order book is already open.

Source: Kölnische Rundschau

News

Audi RS6 e-tron sedan coming in 2025

In 2021, Audi started the all-electric RS6 e-tron concept, and now, two years later, they are working on a production car in a hurry to catch up with competing models from Mercedes and BMW. This all-electric four-door Audi model is expected to hit the market in 2025.

This sedan will join the Avant e-tron version in this performance line 15 years after Audi discontinued it, keeping only the Avant. The automaker from Ingolstadt decided to stop production of the RS 6 sedan in 2010 out of fear that the RS 6 could “destroy” the RS 7 sedan at the time. Audi plans to equip both versions with a newly designed powertrain that the company is working on in partnership with Porsche. A two-engine setup, similar to the powertrain in the Taycan, will power this wild duo.

The car will use the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), which was also developed in collaboration with Porsche for large cars for which the MEB architecture is not suitable. It will be equipped with an 800V Silicon Carbide (SiC) inverter. Models such as the Audi Q6 e-tron SUV and Q6 e-tron Sportback, as well as the Porsche Macan Electric will also be built on the PPE platform.

According to Autocar, both models will come with more power than their combustion engine predecessors, with over 1,000 hp (735 kW) and around 738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque. Power will be sent to all wheels via a dual-clutch transmission.

Source: Autocar

News

EU Bans Chrome Plating From 2024

According to recent news, the EU is considering banning the use of chromium from 2024. The reason for this decision could be the toxic emissions resulting from this process, which can lead to major health problems, including cancer.

The EU states that emissions from chrome production are hundreds of times more toxic than CO2 emissions from diesel engines. This could be reduced by using special substances, however, these substances are also toxic.

Although chrome is used less and less in the automotive industry, the decision to ban its production could pose a problem for owners and restorers of classic cars. Therefore, companies that still produce chrome parts will switch to trivalent chromium, another method of decorative chrome plating which is considered the environmentally friendly alternative to hexavalent chromium, which is not so toxic.

So far, there is no official confirmation of such a decision, nor when, if it is made, it will start to be applied. However, the ban on covering decorative parts will surely come into force soon. This will not be the first time that a government has banned the use of chrome. For example, in California, that measure was voted starting from 2027, while the ban on industrial use will be from 2039.

Source: Autocar