Daily Archives: July 21, 2018
2020 Mini Electric Spy Shots Reveal Exterior and Interior of the Car
The 2020 Mini Electric spy shots revealed that the signature hardtop model will not have exhaust pipes and even a traditional grille. In some of the shots, you would notice that an accent light runs along the width of the grille. There’s also a new wheel pattern that Mini previewed during a teaser shot of the car released earlier this month.
The concept for this car was first previewed at the 2017 Frankfurt auto show and is only one of the 12 electric cars that the BMW Group plans to produce by 2025. For Mini, the first batch would include their signature hardtop model though visually, there are not many features that separate the electric version from the gasoline-powered models.
In terms of powertrains, Mini remains mum on specific features because the technology is rapidly evolving and there might be new ones available by next year. That being said, experts still expect to see a single electric motor at the front axle and batteries located beneath the rear seat. The range should be somewhere in the 200-mile figure or higher, depending on the EPA rating.
The engines will be manufactured from the same factories in Germany that produces the hardware for the BMW i3. The car, however, will be assembled at the Mini plants in the United Kingdom and China. For the production in China, Mini will tie up with local automaker Great Wall.
This is Mini’s turn to launch a production and volume EV. Thought the company was a pioneer of electric vehicles (it leased a hardtop-based Mini E electric car on a trial basis late last decade), its efforts have been overshadowed by the likes of Tesla Model 3.
After the launch of the electric hardtop version next year, the BMW Group should also unveil an iX3 SUV in 2020 and the iNext in 2021.
Check out the new spy shots of the Mini Electric from Motor Authority in the gallery below:
2020 Kia Soul Gets Funkier, Thanks To A New Unilight Feature
The third iteration of the Kia Soul will get a lot funkier as seen in the major changes brought about by its next-generation model. Since going on sale nearly a decade ago, this tiny box became a staple in Kia’s model lineup. In fact, a redesign back in 2014 infused additional features into the hatchback, paving the way for the Kia Soul Turbo in 2017.
Sure, the Soul was part of many “Best Trucks and SUVs” list back in 2017 and 2018 but the competition is getting tough in this segment and it’s time for Kia to bring out the big guns.
Aside from the roofline of the 2020 soul that still looks similar to the current generation, everything else has been altered to create an eccentric new look for the car.
Up front, Kia decided to let go of today’s traditional large headlamps and went instead for a pair of low-mounted units that could almost be mistaken for fog lights. The combination turn signals and LED daytime running lamps (the “unilight”) sit above the grille.
At the back, the D-pillar-mounted taillights now have a three-dimensional appearance and are merged into the liftgate. This just made the Kia Soul more identifiable on the road as it is before without necessarily losing its unique character.
The Soul will offer the same powertrains and platform as the Kona. The entry-level model would have a 2.0-liter inline-four that produces 147 horses. An upgrade would be a turbocharged 1.6-liter, though the output remains shady for now. We’re pretty sure it would exceed the Kona’s 175 horsepower and would instead stand closer to the Soul Turbo’s 201 horsepower.
The base model will be paired either with a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox. The Soul Turbo will use exclusively the brand’s seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic. The Turbo would also have distinct features such as the mesh-style grille and center-mounted exhaust outlets.
Photo Source: CarAndDriver
2019 BMW 8 Series Convertible Images Leaked
The new 2019 BMW 8 Series Convertible isn’t due for a reveal until the middle of next year, but we’re lucky enough to see its spy shots. The car was without its camouflage and was being driven around Loch Assynt in Scotland. Clearly, this was a secret photoshoot that would be used for marketing purposes later.
Regardless, we love to see the BMW 8 Series Convertible in all its glory. The drop-top version has a large kidney grille, chiseled front bumper, and slim LED headlamps similar with the coupe version revealed at the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race last month. At the back, the wide taillights and gaping chrome exhausts also remain. All these point out to one thing: the model we see here is the range-topping M850i.
The model will be using a fabric roof to save on weight, which is essential because of the extra weight that comes from strengthening the flanks to make up for the “reduced structural integrity” due to the loss of the fixed roof. Overall, this drop-top version will weigh around 2,000kg.
The engine lineup will be similar with the coupe. The base model BMW 8 Series Convertible would be a 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel motor that can make 320 horsepower. The range-topping M850i variants will get a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 530 horsepower and can go 0 to 62mph in 4 seconds. That is slightly higher than the coupe’s 3.7 seconds because the convertible is on the heavier side.
All of the models will use BMW’s xDrive four-wheel-drive system, as well as an eight-speed automatic transmission. The M850i will also have an active rear-wheel steering, a sports exhaust, and a limited-slip differential on the rear axle.
Before the 8 Series Convertible makes it full debut, however, the German automaker will first unleash the all-new 3 Series Saloon, the Z4 roadster, and the X7 SUV.
Photos by: Iain Pollo via AutoExpress