Future electric cars: Upcoming battery-powered cars that will be on the roads within the next 5 years
Electric cars are already a mainstay on the roads, with a growing number of all-electric models being available to buy right now. The electric effect is now in full force, with established brands committing to offering a wider range of pure electric cars in the future, while those who depend heavily on diesel are seeing sales falter - with a deadline of 2035 in regions like the UK to halt sales in combustion cars.
Prices are falling, models are diversifying and it's all going hand-in-hand with increased investment and roll-out of charging networks.
But what electric cars are coming? Let's take a closer look at what you can expect to see hitting the roads in the next few years.
Audi Artemis project
Audi has setup a special working group, called Artemis, with the aim of creating a highly-efficient electric car. The new group has been designed to work autonomously with plenty of freedom, with a target date of 2024 for a new vehicle. It's being headed up by Alex Hitzinger, formerly working on the Apple car project, and previously with some of the biggest names in motorsports. We're expecting something that pops out of the Audi template here, so watch this space.
MG 5
MG has said that it's bringing an electric estate car to the UK as soon as it can open showrooms again. Currently there are no electric estates so this fills a small gap in the options available, likely to appeal to those needing accessible load space and dog walkers. It looks to be based on the Chinese Roewe Ei5, and we're expecting a 52.5kWh battery and range of 260 miles.
BMW i7
BMW has confirmed that the next-generation of BMW 7 Series will include an all-electric version. It's not going to be exclusively electric as there will be petrol, diesel and hybrid versions too - but there's talk of two versions, the i7 and the i7S. The latter is expect to have a 120kWh battery, 660hp and a range of 320 miles. BMW is serious about electric cars and there's a lot in the pipeline - the BMW i7 will take things to the luxury level.
VW ID.4
The VW ID.4 is going to be VW's electric SUV, coming from the ID.Crozz concept vehicle. It was unveiled at the (cancelled) Geneva Motor Show in 2020, and the only real details know about it is that there will be a configuration that will give you 310 miles of range (500km). Initially the ID.4 will be rear-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive versions available in the future. There's no launch date or price, but we'd expect 2021.
Dacia Spring
The Spring is technically a showcar, but we suspect this will be close to the production model that Dacia produces. The company says that this will be Europe's most affordable EV and that might come down to the limited 125 mile range (200km). This looks like a reworking of the Renault City Z-KE that launched in China in 2019. It will have five doors, four seats and should be hitting the road in 2021.
BMW i4
The BMW i4 is due for launch in 2020 and will sit on the same fifth-gen eDrive system as the BMW i3X and the iNext (also due in 2021). The model is what might expect from a BMW Gran Coupe, but with massive teeth and the details of the eDrive system have already been confirmed.
There will be an 80kWh battery that will charge at 150kW and give a range up to 370 miles. The motors will produce 530bhp, giving a 0-62mph time of 4 seconds and a top speed of 125mph. It looks and sounds exactly what you want your mid-range BMW saloon to produce. It will be on the roads in 2021.
Renault Twingo ZE
Renault has made one of its cutest cars electric in the Twingo ZE. This compact urban car is designed to keep the price down, with a 22kWh battery - good for 250km (143 miles) - and a 60kW motor, that will whisk you from 0-30mph in 4 seconds, perfect for city driving. There's no word on the price, but we've already heard it's not coming to the UK.
Nissan Ariya
Although the Nissan Ariya is a concept, shown off at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, there's a fair amount of substance to Nissan's electric SUV. Firstly, it's sitting on Nissan's new e-4ORCE dual motor system that will deilver more power and four-wheel control. That system was shown off at CES 2020, so it's not science fiction, it's a lot more real. The Ariya is suggested for a 2021 production version, which is when we could, finally, see Nissan launch an electric SUV.
Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 has been relaunched as an electric model, getting a redesign over the 2007 model that's been really popular. Now there's a 42kWh battery and 87kW motor, claiming 0-62mph in 9 seconds, but 0-30 in 3.1 seconds. It supports charging up to 85kW and will give you 199 miles of range (WLTP). There's four seats, lots of options (including convertible) and it's available to order from £29,000.
Tesla Cybertruck
If you wanted a vision of the future, then Tesla may have delivered it. Unveiling the Cybertruck, this is Elon Musk's promised pickup truck, with dual cab and then a loading bay at the rear. The Cybertruck is eye-catching with its unusual angular design. On the practical front it will come in three different versions with 250+, 300+ or 500+ miles of range, with the top model, a tri-motor version promising a 0-60mph time of 2.9 seconds. Tesla doesn't do things by half. It's available for pre-order now, deliveries expected from 2021.
Lexus UX 300e
The first electric Lexus is a battery-powered version of its UX SUV. The new UXe is launching in China first, before making its way to other regions in 2021. It promises the luxurious ride you'd associate with Lexus, but has a 54.3kWh battery which is claims will give 250 miles of range. It looks like a great electric car, but will it deliver on range?
Audi e-tron Sportback
Audi's second electric car has been unveiled, with orders opening up in November 2019 for delivery 2019. The Sportback is based on Audi's existing e-tron model, offering two versions, a 55 and a 50 badged model, the former the more powerful and expensive and the latter slightly lower positioned. As expected, the focus of the e-tron Sportback is on the quality of the ride and interior, with Audi looking to offer an experience that parallels ICE Audi models. The 55 will give you 270 miles of range, charge at 150kW and do 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds, dipping to 5.7 seconds in sport mode. It's a big beast, but with more sporty looks and we can see this being popular with the executive set.
BMW iX3
BMW recently took the wraps off its Concept iX3 all-electric SUV, with images revealing what we can expect the final production model to look like when it launches in 2020. The iX3 will get BMW's fifth-generation eDrive technology, which puts the electric motor, transmission and power electronics all into one singular unit.
It also gets a fifth-generation electric motor, specially designed for BMW's Sports Activity Vehicles, which produces 270hp and up to 249 miles on a single charge based on the WLTP cycle. BMW has also said it will support 150kW fast charging, meaning the battery can be fully topped up in just 30 minutes.
The iX3 is a clear sign of BMW reacting to an ever-expanding market, but it's odd that it's taking the company so long to get the must-have SUV-body style with an electric powertrain to market, given that the i3 has been on sale since 2013.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Ford has now revealed the Mach-E, its Mustang-inspired electric car. Using the Mustang name - and those distinctive bonnet creases and lights - gives the Mach-E a sporty look on what is really a crossover. Some might say it's not a muscle car, but with figures promising 0-62 in under 5 seconds, 280/370 mile range (depending on the version you get) and prices that starts at £40,270, there's a lot to get excited about. Ford has shaken up the interior tech with a huge Tesla-esque central display, and a much cleaner look and feel than previous Ford models. The Ford of the future looks exciting - and pre-orders are already open for late-2020 delivery.
VW ID. Space Vizzion
VW had long said it was going to have a full family of ID electric cars and the Space Vizzion is what you get when you pull together an electric estate or station wagon. It's quite the looker we can't help thinking and while many are focusing on SUV or crossover models, the lower and longer effect that you get from a wagon could do wonders for the performance of this EV, not to mention the boot space. It's a concept for now, but we're expecting this electric Passat (did we say that?) to be available in 2021. VW is saying 300 miles of range which isn't quite the 600 miles you'll get from the diesel, but we don't have to drive that far to walk the dog, so we'll all cope.
Fisker Ocean
Fisker is trying to shake things up with a range of luxury electric cars. The next to get an official reveal will be the Fisker Ocean, scheduled for a 4 January 2020 unveiling - although reservations for the sustainable electric SUV will be opening on 27 November 2019. Reservations will happen via and app, with Fisker saying it's skipping the traditional concept reveal and just showing you the car. It will use recycled and vegan materials, have an 80kWh battery and a range of 250-300 miles.
Electric Range Rover
There's a fully electric Range Rover in the works, going under the name of Road Rover, because it's going to be slightly more road-centric than some of the other Range Rovers. It's supposed to sit between the Velar and the Evoque in terms of size, so it sounds a lot like the Jaguar i-Pace. Not much is currently known about what it might offer or when it might appear.
Volkswagen ID.3
VW took to the stage at IAA 2019 - the Frankfurt motor show - and unveiled the long-anticipated ID.3. It's the first car in a sweeping run of changes for the company, looking to electrify across its portfolio. The ID.3 will be on the roads in 2020 - prices still aren't nailed down but "under €30,000" for the entry-level is the closest wheel get.
It's futuristic inside, connected, comes with three different battery options, offering five doors and sits in a compact hatch positions, close to the size of a VW Golf.
Porsche Taycan
The Taycan is Porsche's pure electric sports car. It comes in a number of versions - the Turbo and Turbo S, Taycan 4S, and finally there's talk of a rear-wheel drive version in the future to bring the price down further.
The Taycan is a four-door sports car, with a glorious digital interior, but sitting on seriously fast underpinnings. There's a 0-62mph time of 2.8 seconds for the Turbo S, with Porsche saying it will do this over and over. A big 93.4kW battery sits in the floor and it can charge at up to 270kWh, also seriously fast. It will cost from £115k for the Turbo S and orders are now.
Volvo XC40 Recharge
The Volvo XC40 Recharge kicks-off Volvo's EV programme. It's based on the same XC40 that's been on the road a couple of years, although runs a new Android Automotive-based infotainment platform. There's a 78kWh battery, a 408hp output delivering a 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds and it supports 150kW charging.
The actual range should be around 250 miles, but we don't yet know the price - that will soon be revealed as the XC40 Recharge is due on roads in 2020.
Mazda MX-30
The Japanese company's first mass produced EV is called the MX-30. The car features an electric motor running the front wheels, which has been designed so a rotary motor can bolt onto it - which means hybrid models should also be possible for the relevant markets. It's a dynamic platform.
In terms of design, the use of suicide doors to the rear is an interesting choice. But as rear passengers won't be able to exit without the applicable front door being opened, it might be more gimmick than great. Expect to see the MX-30 on European roads come 2020.
Peugeot e-208
Peugeot's hot-selling city car was a big star of the Geneva 2019 show. Riffing off the style of the '80s 205 that's beloved of motoring journalists, Peugeot's put the cat amongst the pigeons by offering a 50kWh electric battery version, from launch.
Seat El-Born
Seat is joining the electric car movement with the E-Born, named after a region of Barcelona. The car sits on VW's MEB platform and is due to arrive in 2020, getting its first appearance at the Geneva International Motorshow in 2019 as a concept. Seat is looking at a 420km range (260 miles), with a 0-62kpm time of 7.5 seconds. There will be 204PS from the 150kW motor and a 62kWh battery.
Polestar 2
Polestar - formerly the performance arm of Volvo - was spun out by owners Geely and has announced its second car, the Polestar 2. This five-door fastback EV will be offering 500km (310 miles) from an 87kWh battery, with 408bhp and all-wheel drive, while showing many hallmarks of Scandinavian design. It's also the first car to launch running Android natively, with a huge 11-inch tablet in the centre to control your navigation from Google Maps and your entertainment.
Reservations are currently open for the car which has a guide starting price of €39,900, although the launch edition (with lots of spec additions) will be available for €59,900. There's no confirmation of UK pricing, but it's going to widely available across Europe and in the US.
Byton M-Byte
Byton originally showed off an SUV EV concept, with broad ambitions for a start-up in the EV segment. That has now matured into the Byton M-Byte, with production getting started and looking to get on the road in mid-2020 - in China at least. The price of €54,000 sounds fairly aggressive, but there's little telling what verison that's for. There are two- or all-wheel drive options, with the latter claiming a 270 mile range. Most of the conversation is about the huge 43-inch display curving across the interior, however.
DS 3 Crossback E-Tense
The E-Tense is DS Automobiles' electric version of the new DS 3 Crossback. This crossover model sits in the middle of a hatch and compact SUV models, offering quirky DS design. The regular versions will launch before the electric hits the road, but it will offer the same trim and options as the combustion models. The 50kWh battery promises 186 miles, but at the moment we don't have a launch date or price for this electric model.
Aston Martin Rapide E
The Aston Martin Rapide E was unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2019, a new all-electric sports car limited to 155 units, so it's going to be rare. It has a 65kWh battery from which Aston says it will get over 200 miles, a 0-62 time of under 4 seconds and that's repeatable performance.
It uses an 800V system, with 100kW charging able to give you a full battery in less than an hour. The twin motors produce 610PS and drive the back wheels. Drivers will even get a digital display rather than dials. It's available to order now.
Lotus Evija
The Lotus Type 130 or Evija as it is called, is an all-electric hypercar limited to just 130 models, but paving the way for future production cars from Lotus. It has been designed for maximum performance, with 2000PS and a 70kWh battery that aims to give 250 miles of range. However, the car will offer blistering acceleration, and while Lotus hasn't given final figures, it'll hit 186mph in under 9 seconds. This car will cost £2 million pounds and preorders are open, asking for a £250,000 deposit.
Lightyear One
The Lightyear One is a luxury saloon that adds solar panels to the roof and bonnet of the car, aiming to give the owner a boost from the sun all the time - even when driving. While much of the car is conventional for an EV, the additional solar panels will give a 12km range boost per hour (in good light). That might mean free charging while parked at the beach - although in winter you'll have to charge it more. However, the asking price for the limited-run Lightyear One will be €119,000, so going solar comes at a price.
Tesla Model Y
We all know that Tesla wanted to launch another car and the Model Y slips into the space between the Model 3 and the Model X, a compact SUV. The interior leans towards the Model 3, while the range offers 242 miles with a 0-60mph time of 5.9 seconds, on the most affordable model. It will seat seven, come with long-range and performance versions and be hitting the road in 2020.
Audi e-tron GT
Unveiled at the LA Auto Show 2018, the Audi e-tron GT Concept showcases Audi's future electric sportscar. This is a four-seater, powered by the same batteries as the e-tron models above (we suspect) and sharing a lot with the Porsche Taycan. Audi has been quite open about the co-development of the e-tron GT and the Taycan, and we're expecting a lot of technical similarities. Again, it featured on-screen in Avengers Endgame.
The performance stats currently suggest an 800V charging system, 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds and a range of 248 miles. There's a vegan interior on the Concept model, with Audi saying that it wants to push the eco message even further. The Audi e-tron GT Concept will be hitting the roads in 2020.
Rivian R1S
Rivian wants to join the EV movement with this offroader of its own. It's designed to tackle the great outdoors, boasting a wading depth of 3ft and a 0-60mph time of 3 seconds. Why you'd need to go so fast offroad, we'll never know.
Rivian is a newcomer to the EV space, showing off its cars for the first time at the LA Auto Show in 2018 - there's also a truck/pickup version - and is available for pre-order for a $1000 deposit. We'd be tempted to wait until these are actually on the road before parting with any money.
Audi Q4 Concept
The Q4 e-tron does two things. It previews a more "sporty", coupe body style version of the Q3 SUV (in the same way a Q8 relates to a Q7) and shows Audi's big push towards fully electric cars. It was previewed at Geneva 2019 but looks very much like the final thing. Expect a production version to follow, soon.
Porsche Macan
Porsche has announced that the Macan is going to move to be pure electric - meaning that Porsche will have an electric SUV. It will join the luxury ranks of SUV EVs with a performance leaning, using the 800-volt system Porsche is using in the Taycan, and sitting on the PPE platform adapted from Audi.
Not a lot else is being said at the moment, but the shifting of the Macan to electric shows real diversification of the Porsche portfolio. It is expected to go into production in 2020.
BMW iNext Concept
BMW is adamant that the iNext will be launching in 2021. The iNext is concept car in looks - we're not sure the proposed open passenger cabin is realistic - but very serious in terms of technology. The level 3 and beyond the autonomous driving system that this car claims to offer is in development, while the battery technology is too.
Whether we get a car that looks like this remains to be seen - it would sit somewhere between the X7 and X7 in terms of size - but you can expect the iNext Concept to evolve into a car. As BMW says, the technology for autonomous driving will be reading in 2021, regardless of whether the legislation is.
BMW i5
BMW unveiled the i Vision Dynamics concept coupe at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2017. It previews a mid-sized saloon car, in the BMW i range that's likely to be called i5 when it launches in 2021. It's bigger than the company's 3-Series saloon, but smaller than a 5-Series and designed to sit between the i3 and i8 in the electric BMW i range.
The family-sized car will be capable of reaching 60mph in under 4 seconds, go on to speed over 120mph and be able to last up to 372 miles on a single charge. Let's hope it arrives with the same futuristic design displayed on the concept version.
Faraday Future FF-91
A huge question mark hangs over the striking FF-91. It should have been launched in 2018 - after all, this car debuted at CES in early 2017 and the company opened order books for those wishing to place a deposit. But since then, Faraday has been threatened with bankruptcy, shed plenty of its workforce and work has stopped at its factory. Still, we hope the company makes it.
The FF-91 has a huge 126-inch wheelbase, but that makes for a huge interior. The panoramic sunroof, rear, and side windows use Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Glass, which passengers can tap on to tint the windows and let less light in. Don't expect to get a conventional rear-view mirror inside, as Faraday Future has replaced it with a widescreen monitor instead. It's used to show live footage from a camera on the rear of the car, along with cameras on the sides, so you can see everything around you.
Another thing to be thrown out is key. Instead, you use your phone to unlock the car, or if you don't have it with you, your face becomes your key. The FF-91 can individually recognise each user and will automatically adjust the seat position, climate control, entertainment preferences and driving routes based on your tastes.
The 1,050bhp electric power unit will accelerate to 60mph in 2.39-seconds and will have a driving range between 378 and 435 miles. Faraday Future says the battery can be completely recharged in 1 hour.
Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo
Porsche unveiled its second all-electric car - behind the Taycan - at the Geneva Motor Show 2018. Called the Mission E Cross Turismo, it's a four-seater sports car with the Tesla Model S set firmly in its sights. It can't quite match the Model S's Ludicrous Mode 0-60mph of 2.9 seconds, but at 3.5-seconds, the Porsche won't be left far behind in a drag race.
The Cross Turismo will be a combination of the Taycan (formerly the Mission E) and the Panamera, with higher ride height and tougher wheel arch surrounds.
One of the Mission E Cross Turismo's biggest selling points though is its recharge time. Porsche says you will be able to get 62 miles out of the Mission E Cross Turismo, from just a 4-minute charge, faster than boiling a pot of spaghetti. The total range from a full battery is expected to match the Taycan's 310 miles.
Skoda Vision E
Skoda has an electric SUV of its own in the works. Called the Vision E for now, the concept car is to be one of five new electric cars from Skoda to be on the roads by 2025.
It's based on the same underpinnings as the Volkswagen ID Cross and the Audi e-tron Sportback. It's therefore likely to have a 310-mile driving range and a top speed of 112mph. Skoda hasn't revealed a 0-60mph time just yet, but it will have a 302bhp power unit, with all of those horses being available on demand.
Two motors, one on each axle, work in unison to deliver power where it's needed to provide maximum grip and stability. Clever tech features include being able to automatically find itself a parking space and park, and drive-by itself in traffic jams or on motorways.
Skoda suggests that, when the Vision E arrives in the early 2020s, you won't need to plug it in, as there'll be inductive charging floor panel that can be fitted in your garage, but if you don't have space to put in the floor panel, a quick charge plug-in cable will get it back up to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.
A digital screen will replace the analogue instrument cluster, and a larger touchscreen will be fitted to the centre console to handle all things infotainment. You'll also be able to wirelessly charge your phone with a charger in each door.
Volkswagen ID Buzz and Cargo Concept
The ID Buzz is the third VW ID electric vehicle due to go on sale in 2022. It references VW's historic Microbus and will able to seat up to eight people, with an interior that can be constantly changed around. There's also a Cargo Concept, which may well get launched before any passenger model arrives, with the rising demand for clean first and last mile transport.
Two electric motors will give the ID Buzz a total power output of 369bhp to propel it to 60mph in around 5-seconds. It will be limited to a top speed of 100mph, will have four-wheel drive and a 372-mile driving range. You will be able to recharge the battery to 80 per cent, which VW says will be enough for 298 miles of travel, in 30 minutes.
Like the other two ID vehicles, the Buzz will have a retracting steering wheel to enable an autonomous driving mode, and it will have cameras mounted on the outside in place of conventional wing mirrors.
There's no official word on how much the ID Buzz may cost when it goes on sale.
from Pocket-lint https://ift.tt/2RBkNK4
via IFTTT
No comments: