Daily Archives: July 26, 2017
The Electric Mini Hardtop Has Been Confirmed For 2019
In 2019, Mini will launch an electric version of its Hardtop. The brand finally confirmed the kind of body style the electric vehicle, which it has been working on since October, will have on Tuesday. This marks the fact that Mini is truly serious about dabbling into electric vehicles.
According to the source, the electric Mini Hardtop will be built at the brand’s plant in Oxford in United Kingdom instead of the earlier assumption that it would be produced in mainland Europe because of what happened with Brexit. But for the electric powertrain, its components would be from factories located in Germany.
Oliver Zipse, the BMW Group’s head of production, highlighted the need to use multiple plants for the diversification of the brand. It also allows for the production to be flexible, depending on the demand for the electric cars in the future.
Mr Zipse takes pride in Mini’s “adaptable production system,” which will be able to react instantaneously to the changing demands of the customers. When there is an increase in demand for the Hardtop’s electric version, it will be easier for Mini to boost the production of its components.
Mini is no stranger to mainstream electric cars. In fact, it used to lease a Mini E electric car, which was based on the Hardtop, on a trial basis. Whatever the feedback was from that leased electric car, it looked to be positive because it acted as a research tool for Mini to allow it to work on the future of its e-vehicles.
Mini’s lineup for electric vehicles will use a plug-in hybrid technology, much like the BMW. Currently, the Cooper S E ALL4 is using the hybrid tech already, and it is expected to be fitted in the rest of the Mini’s range of cars.
This move by Mini only showed how confident the brand is in moving to a more electrified future. The brand expects that hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and pure electrics will account for 15 to 25 percent of the company’s sales by 2025.
4 Things To Know About The 2017 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Volante
The Vanquish Zagato Volante is said to be the rarest Aston Martin car ever created and there will only be 99 units of this made. This makes it as hard to come by as the coupe version that was based on a collaboration dating back to over five decades.
The Ashton Martin Vanquish Zagato Volante was spotted for the first time in July 2017 at the Nurburgring. Here are what we learned about it so far based on a report:
1. Exterior
The drop-top version of the Vanquish Zagato Volante is similar to the couple, except for the missing roof and the fact that it’s made entirely from carbon fiber. It’s the back part where the drop-top version will look different because the trunk lid has been reshaped while the tailgate has been replaced by a conventional lid.
2. Interior
Inside, the Zagato is similar to the standard Vanquish Volante. The overall design is unchanged, but the cabin now has enhanced high-end materials and special features. Some of the differences are the “Herringbone” carbon fiber on the center stack, the aniline leather and the “Z” quilt pattern stitch on the seats and door panels, the “Z” embossed on the headrests and center console, and the double contrast stitching of the upper door panels.
3. Drivetrain
The Vanquish Zagato Volante is using a naturally-aspirated 5.9-liter V-12 engine that is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that remains standard. That pairing has an output of 591 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. The standard Vanquish has 23 horsepower less than the Zagato Volante, which can go from 0-60mph in just 3.7 seconds.
4. Pricing
There’s no final word on how much the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Volante will cost. What we do know is that there will only be 99 units of the Zagato available, so eager hands should place a reservation immediately. Based on estimated, though, the Zagato convertible will be somewhere north of $450,000.
5 Things To Note About The 2018 Jaguar XJR575
The Jaguar XJ has been around since 1968 and has been the luxury automaker’s prized flagship for 47 years. The current generation has been around since 2009 and got an upgrade for 2017. But for next year, the XJ will get a brand new trim level, bringing 567 horsepower to Jaguar’s most powerful road-going production so far.
1. Exterior
Aside from the black trim paint on the grille, air dam, and corner vent mesh, there’s not much update here that will separate the Jaguar XJR575 from the current generation. There’s a special XJR575 badge on the radiator grille and though it’s only a minimal update, it looks smashing just the same.
On the side, there’s a healthy dose of contrasting black on the mirrors and window trim. The wheels are 20-inch Farallon in gloss black but the real story falls behind the wheels—the brake calipers are finished in contrasting red.
There are two colors to choose from: Satin Corris Grey and Velocity Blue.
2. Interior
It’s hard for Jaguar to boost its interior styling from the already perfect XJ. There are new features here, don’t fret, such as the 10-inch touchscreen with updated software and the gloss black trim on the door handles, window switch bezels, center console trim, and HVAC vents.
On the dashboard, you’ll see the “575” badge to remind you the kind of machine you’re sitting on. Other features include the diamond-quilted seats and a 4G internet connection with hotspot capability.
3. Drivetrain
Compared to the previous XJR, the XJR575 gets 17 more horses, bringing the total to 575 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. These figures are thanks in large to the 5.0-liter V-8 engine that can bring you from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The top speed is 185 mph in just 44 seconds. Imagine that!
4. Pricing
Right now, we’re still not sure if the XJR575 will be available in the US. In the UK, it sells for $122,120.
5. Competition
The XJR575’s direct competitor is the BMW 7 Series’ range toppers, particularly the 750i or the M760i. The 750i comes with either a rear-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive while the M760i has all-wheel drive as standard equipment.