Electric Vehicles & Cars News - Page 16

If you were waiting to hear when mass production of the Tesla Cybertruck would start, expect that milestone to be reached sometime by the end of 2023, according to Reuters. That means most of the reservation list will have to wait until 2024, at the very earliest.

The Cybertruck was first unveiled by Musk in 2019 to a mix of ardent fanfare mixed with a heavy dose of the initial skepticism. Tesla initially wanted to release the truck for less than $40,000, but the cost of vehicles has gone up since then - and Tesla has also increased pricing across all of its models.

A dual, tri-motor, and quad-motor trims are expected, with the single motor trim reportedly canceled due to low demand - but pricing and additional details still haven't been confirmed yet. Unfortunately, the semiconductor shortage and other logistical issues have made it difficult for Tesla and other automakers to keep their deadlines.

US electric automaker Lucid will launch the Lucid Air Pure and Air Touring on Tuesday, November 15, with the first Air Touring to be delivered to the company's Beverly Hills Studio. During the event, Lucid will also offer updates on the Project Gravity SUV as the automaker looks ahead to a busy 2023.

The Air Pure will launch with a starting price of $87,400, and feature a dual-motor, all-wheel drive configuration - battery range and other specifications will be announced during the Lucid event.

Lucid Air Touring has a starting price of $107,400 and interested drivers can select a unique glass canopy - a piece of glass that starts at the base of the windshield over the heads of the front passengers, so there is no unobstructed view for the driver. In addition, the DreamDrive Pro, Lucid's advanced driver assistance system, features 32 on-vehicle sensors and can continually update through over-the-air capability.

Ford was recently found guilty by a federal jury in Michigan of violating a licensing contract and misappropriating trade secrets. The automaker will have to pay Versata Software $104.65 million following the 15-day trial.

Ford licensed Versata automotive software from 1998 until 2015 but started copying the software instead of paying millions for annual licensing fees.

Both companies entered a 15-year contract agreement in 2004, but Ford claimed it developed its own software so Versata would no longer be needed. The deal officially fell apart in 2014 when Ford refused to pay $17 million licensing per year, then the courtroom fight started in 2015.

Two experimental Porsche 911 cars were modified and tested on the slopes of Ojos del Salado, the highest volcano on Earth. In the Andes Mountain range along the Argentina-Chile border, the German automaker saw the car reach 19,708 feet - where the air is extremely thin, and temperatures hovered around -22F.

The Type 992 Carrera 4S models still ran the factory turbocharged flat-six engine with 443 horsepower powered by a seven-speed manual transmission. Beyond those factory specifications, Porsche heavily modified the rest of the car, including the addition of roll cages, carbon fiber seats, and harnesses. To increase ground clearance, portal axles were added, then lower gear ratios were configured for more precise throttle inputs.

Designed specifically for motorsport driving, the Porsche Warp-Connecter was added to the 911 models tackling the volcano - the connecter makes it possible so all four wheels share constant wheel load under heavy chassis articulation. Porsche didn't disclose what kind of suspension system was used, but there is no shot the factory suspension was left in either 911.

Ford has unveiled the 2023 Ford Transit Trail Van, a vehicle ready to help owners travel and experience van life off the grid in a bit of luxury. Taking a van on a cross-country adventure is one thing, but getting off paved roads can be a difficult task - but the US automaker wants people to get out and about easier than what's currently possible.

The Transit Trail Van has a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine cranking out 310 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Ford included five different drive modes - Normal, Eco, Mud/Ruts, Tow/Haul, and Slippery - and is an all-wheel drive van.

Three different cargo van configurations will be available, medium-roof, high-roof and a high-roof extended-length van variant - with Ford adding features so it's ready for off-highway driving without heavy modification.

Electric vehicles tend to be exclusively automatic, as they don't need a clutch or gearbox to switch through gears like a traditional gas or diesel vehicle. Some automakers, however, like the idea of a gimmicky manual EV, though it definitely isn't something that is required - and it's uncertain how many EV drivers would even care about this feature.

Japanese automaker Honda understands the transition to EVs will inevitably end manual transmissions and doesn't seem interested in simulated or artificial manuals for its EV models. Electric sports cars also probably won't see a manual for drivers to shift gears, and drivers will just need to adapt to modern vehicle designs.

Here is what Shinji Aoyama, leader of global electrification business at Honda, said during a recent media roundtable: "Artificially, we can do it. Mechanically, it is not easy," when pondering the thought of a simulated manual "like an extension of active sound control." Honda wants it is EVs to be "edgy" and stand out from competing EVs, though confirmed: "I'm not sure if we can replace the manual transmission."

Automaker startup Fisker may have reported a loss of $149 million during Q3 this year but is looking to close out the year well - and continue that momentum throughout 2023. The Ocean SUV will be manufactured in Austria, though production could end up in the United States one day, though that isn't a major priority now.

Before the end of the year, Fisker hopes to manufacture 42,400 Ocean units by the end of 2023 - which will help the automaker take a dent out of the 62,000 reservations already placed for the vehicle. If done properly, the automaker hopes upwards of 50,000 models can be manufactured if it ramps up production properly.

More than 300 Ocean units will be manufactured during Q2, 8,000 during Q2, 15,000 in Q3, and whatever it can during Q4.

The Mercedes-Benz fully-electric EQE Sedan will have a starting price tag of $74,900 for the United States auto market. The German automaker featured a "purpose design" that is sporty and still borrows elements of the Mercedes-EQ lineup.

Mercedes unveiled the EQE sedan more than a year ago, an electric car with a 90.6 kWh battery that delivers 305 miles of drive range. Drivers can use the Mercedes me Charge to pay for charging at a nationwide network of charging stations.

The entry trim includes the MBUX EQ navigation services including navigation with electric intelligence. There is a 12.3" driver display and 12.8" OLED multimedia touchscreen portrait display - the driver can access applications on the home screen.

As part of the preparation for season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team continues testing the Porsche 99X Electric Gen3 race car. Professional drivers Pascal Wehrlein and Antonio Felix da Costa have tested the car on multiple race circuits, offering the team feedback on how the all-electric race car handles under pressure.

This is the fourth season Porsche has participated in the FIA Formula E World Championship. Porsche hopes the extensive changes made with the Gen3 car will offer the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team an edge over the competition.

Here is what Florian Modlinger, Director Factory Motorsport Formula E at Porsche, said in a press statement: "The tests over the past few weeks were demanding and challenging, but they allowed us to make some promising pre-season progress. For the most part, we were able to complete our programmes as planned and gained important insights to continue working on our car."

Luxury automaker Bentley has introduced the Bentayga Odyssean Edition, a very limited car featuring a hybrid powertrain. This specific model will be highly exclusive with just 70 units manufactured worldwide.

The Odyssean Edition has a 3.0-liter V6 hybrid with 546 horsepower and 700 newton-meter, along with an 18 kWh battery. This model is exclusively a plug-in hybrid and can drive at least 28 miles in electric-only settings.

The Bentayga can accelerate 0-62 mph in 5.3 seconds, with a vehicle top speed of 158 mph. Drivers have three different E modes available - EV Drive, Hybrid Mode, and Hold Mode - so close control over battery usage can be utilized. Of course, drivers not interested in switching between modes don't have to, as the car can do it automatically.