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BMW Group delays EV production in Oxford

The BMW Group had previously announced that all production of the Mini Cooper Electric and Mini Aceman would be moved from China to Oxford. However, the latest information suggests that Mini cars will continue to be imported from China, despite the fact that the EU has imposed additional tariffs on EVs imported from this Asian country. The reason is that the start of production in Oxford has been postponed indefinitely due to the slowdown in sales of electric cars.

BMW has invested more than 600 million pounds in the reconstruction of the factory, as well as the body pressing plant in nearby Swindon. The investment included the expansion of the body shop, the construction of a new area for the installation of batteries and new logistics facilities. A BMW Group spokesman said that they were currently considering restarting production of electric Mini models in Oxford, but did not say when this would happen. He also added that a previously announced government subsidy, which was supposed to be part of the investment in the factory in addition to BMW Group funds, would no longer be used.

The Oxford plant has about 4,000 employees and is expected to produce electric vehicles in the future. The production target of 200,000 units over the next five years seems unrealistic and will definitely be revised.

Source: BMW Group

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BMW Group delays EV production in Oxford
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Renault R5 Turbo 3E coming soon

After four decades, Renault is officially bringing back its sporty hatchback that was produced in the early 1980s. It is a powerful all-electric car, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E, which will be produced in just 1980 units.

The car is inspired by the Renault 5 Turbo/Turbo 2 models. It has a retro-futuristic design, a unique lightweight and extremely stiff carbon monocoque chassis, boxy wheel arches that link it to the original 1980s model, accentuated bumpers and sills, a sleeker glass section and better aerodynamics, and large rims with ultra-wide tires. The LED headlights are slightly modified compared to the standard R5, while the rear lights are taken from the RS E-Tech Electric. The charging port is hidden in one of the side intakes, which are designed to cool the electric powertrain.

This mini supercar weighs 1,450 kilograms, and the company claims that it will take off a few more kilograms by the start of production. It uses an 800V platform that allows a maximum charging speed of 350 kW. The lithium-ion 70 kWh battery can be charged from 15 to 80 percent capacity in just 15 minutes, and with a single charge it allows a range of 400 km.

The R5 Turbo 3E is an all-electric car powered by two electric motors with a total output of 536 hp (400 kW). It is Renault’s most powerful production car, and it reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 270 km/h.

Renault will start taking orders soon, while the first deliveries are expected in 2027. The car will be offered in Europe, Australia and the Middle East, and the price is currently unknown.

Source: Renault

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Mazda is developing a new small SUV

For years, Mazda has had a bad business policy that has cost the company financial losses and the loss of a large number of customers. However, the latest information suggests that Mazda is waking up, and several sketches announce the arrival of a new small SUV, the Mazda CX-20.

The Mazda 2 is leaving the market soon, and the same could happen with the hybrid version, the Mazda 2 Hybrid. This is a sign that the Japanese company urgently needs a new model from the B-segment that could restore at least some of the reputation it once had.

The company plans to expand its plant in Thailand, and has reached an agreement with the government for an investment of 148 million dollars. This means an increase in annual production to 100,000 cars, not only for the domestic Thai market, but also for other world markets. The new Mazda BT-50 will be one of those produced at these plants, and it will be joined by two new models that will arrive in the next 2-3 years.

What can be seen in the sketches is that the car will have a sporty design, which is currently adopted by many manufacturers of this type of vehicle, and which has proven to be very successful. It will have round taillights or Mazda-style semi-circular daytime running lights.

The Mazda 2 Hybrid was a rebranded Toyota Yaris, which didn’t turn out to be a smart move. Now the question is whether Mazda will repeat the same mistake and try to clone the Toyota model again.

Source: Reuters