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      Cadillac Celestiq EV teased at CES 2021 with bright front end, wild glass roof – Roadshow

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      That’s a whole lot o’ light.
      GM/Screenshot by Andrew Krok/Roadshow
      This story is part of CES, where our editors will bring you the latest news and the hottest gadgets of the entirely virtual CES 2021.

      During her keynote speech Tuesday at the virtual CES 2021, GM CEO Mary Barra helped introduce a wide variety of shadowy teasers of its future electrified vehicles. One in particular, the upcoming Cadillac Celestiq, received some extra time and attention, and there are some pretty cool features on board.Crystal Windham, Cadillac’s director of interior design, introduced a brief preview of the Cadillac Celestiq, which she pronounces “Ce-LESS-tick.” Standing ahead of a shadowy Celestiq, likely still deep in the prototype phase, we were able to take in some interesting angles. The front end looks almost fully illuminated, with striking vertical running lights on either side and a host of lights spanning the gap between them. And yes, the badge lights up, too.

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      While the outside is promising, the interior looks to really ramp things up. The Celestiq will have a clever electrochromic glass roof, which uses electricity to dim the glass covering nearly the entire roof. That part isn’t new, but what is unique here is the fact that the roof is split into four quadrants, each capable of dimming to a different level. This way, you don’t need to bargain with another occupant about how much light should enter the cabin. In addition to the clever glass overhead, screens will play a big part inside the Celestiq. On the heels of Mercedes-Benz’s Hyperscreen announcement, it appears Cadillac is cooking up something similar. The Celestiq’s dashboard will sport a pillar-to-pillar screen that will give both front occupants a whole lot of real estate for infotainment and more. The rear passengers won’t be left in the cold, either, with personalized rear screens in the back, too.Being able to dim an entire roof panel is cool, but only a part of it? That’s even cooler.
      GM/Screenshot by Andrew Krok/Roadshow
      Cadillac first announced the Celestiq in early 2020, but we haven’t heard much about it since. Rocking GM’s new Ultium battery system, Cadillac announced — perhaps unsurprisingly — that the Celestiq will have all-wheel drive. It’ll also have four-wheel steering, which should make it easier to pilot around town at low speeds while also boosting high-speed agility.We’re still not sure when Cadillac intends to pull back the veil in full, but getting a closer look at the Celestiq has us excited to see more. Keep your eyes on Roadshow for more information about the Celestiq, as well as a bevy of new electrified GM vehicles heading to dealers over the next several years.Hyperscreen, eat your heart out.
      Screenshot via GM

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      2022 Chevy Bolt EUV teased at CES 2021 ahead of February debut – Roadshow

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      That’s Super Cruise in an EV, folks.
      Chevrolet
      This story is part of CES, where our editors will bring you the latest news and the hottest gadgets of the entirely virtual CES 2021.

      Chevrolet gave us another quick glimpse of its upcoming Bolt EUV during CES 2021 on Tuesday, releasing a brief teaser video showing off the electric crossover’s interior. That’s not all, though; Chevy also used its CES announcement to also confirm the Bolt EUV will debut in February, alongside a refreshed version of the standard Bolt EV hatchback.This isn’t the first time Chevy’s teased the new Bolt EUV (which stands for Electric Utility Vehicle). We’ve already seen the interior and the headlight design, and this new video of the steering wheel and gauge cluster reconfirms a particularly important detail about the EUV: It’ll offer General Motors’ excellent Super Cruise hands-free highway driving assist technology.
      Super Cruise first debuted on the Cadillac CT6 sedan. It’s one of the few Level 2 automated technologies available in the US, allowing for hands-free driving on certain pre-mapped highways. GM has been decidedly slow to roll this technology out across its portfolio, but that’s all changing soon. The Bolt EUV will be the first electric Chevy to get this technology.”The Bolt EUV and refreshed Bolt EV are officially set to be revealed next month,” a Chevrolet spokesperson said in an email to Roadshow. The two electric vehicles “will go into production in summer 2021.”The new Bolt EUV is one of 12 new electric vehicles General Motors will launch across its brands over the next few years. The Bolt EUV shares a platform with the Buick Velite 7 crossover that recently debuted for Chinese customers, so expect the US version to look similar. Chevrolet will also launch an electrified truck in the coming years, in addition to already-revealed vehicles like the Cadillac Lyriq crossover and GMC Hummer EV pickup.

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      Tata Nexon EV Becomes No 1 Selling Electric Car In India For 2020

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      New Tata Nexon Electric
      Tata Nexon EV is the best selling electric car in India

      As Tata Motors gets set to celebrate 1 year of the launch of the Nexon electric compact SUV in India, the company has announced sales of 2600+ units for the year 2020. It may be remembered that while the Nexon EV was launched on 28th January, 2020, sales only took off from March after which the lockdown was immediately announced.
      This ‘Made in India’ electric car then slowly saw its sales increasing from May 2020 with sales at 78 units. It noted a significant increase each month thereafter to 1,253 units between the months of October to December 2020, thus taking total to 2,602 units. December proved to be the best month of sales with 418 units sold. The Nexon EV is the best selling electric car in India.
      Tata Motors had also introduced a Subscription Plan for the Nexon in August 2020. The company further brought down monthly subscription rates in September and December, thus making the Nexon more appealing to a new segment of customers.
      The subscription plan is currently on offer in Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR and Hyderabad. The plans now begin from Rs.29,500 per month and offered only on the mid spec XZ+ variant.
      Electric Car Sales 2020. MS = Market Share
      Sales of Other Electric Cars
      In terms of rivals, Nexon has no real rival in the price segment it is offered. In terms of sales, electric vehicles such as the Mahindra eVerito and Hyundai Kona electric are no match. It is only the MG ZS EV that offers some competition to the Nexon with sales at 1,243 units sold from Feb to Dec 2020.
      The Kona EV has seen sales of around 200 units with buyers wary after hearing of issues of fire risk and breakdowns. Tata Nexon will soon meet with some challenges with the new Mahindra eKUV300 poised for launch later this year. The Mahindra eKUV300 will come in at around Rs 9 lakhs with a FAME II subsidy.
      Sales of the Nexon EV were also boosted following orders received from EESL for 150 units of the Nexon EV and 100 units of the Hyundai Kona EV. EESL stated their preference for the XZ+ variant of the Tata Nexon at Rs.14.86 lakhs and the entry level Premium variant of the Kona EV priced at Rs.21.36 lakhs, ex-sh. Current market price of these two are Rs 15.25 lakhs and Rs 23.75 lakhs. Kona MY2020 is being offered with Rs 1.5 lakh discount.
      A refreshed Tata Tigor EV is also doing the test rounds ahead of launch. The Tigor EV is expected to launch sometime in mid-2021 while later this year and the Tata Altroz EV is also set for launch with prices lower than that of the Nexon which could boost EV sales for the company. More

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      Hyundai Kona Electric Rs 1.5 Lakh Discount Jan 2021 – Grand i10 NIOS, Santro, Elantra

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      Hyundai Kona Electric MY2020 Gets Rs 1.5 Lakh Discount
      Hyundai currently offers as many as eleven products in the Indian market including Venue, Creta, Grand i10 Nios, i20 and Verna

      Hyundai Motors India Ltd. (HMIL) is offering heavy discounts at the start of a new year. Under the company’s New Year offers, several of its models are being offered with attractive benefits. This even includes its electric crossover Kona Electric.
      This is the first time that the South Korean automaker is offering its EV with a sizeable benefit ever since it was launched in India back in 2019. Hyundai is offering a cash discount of a whopping Rs 1.5 lakh. The EV is currently retailed at a starting price of Rs 23.75 lakh and goes up to Rs 23.94 lakh (both prices ex-showroom).
      It is to be noted that the discount is only valid on 2020 model year and not on the 2021 model year. White colour Kona EV 2020 MY is offered with Rs 50k discount, while any other colour comes with a flat Rs 1.5 lakh cash discount.
      Benefits on Santro, Grand i10 Nios
      Hyundai’s entry-level model Santro is also being offered with attractive benefits. It is being offered with an exchange bonus of Rs 15,000 across its range. While the base model is being offered with a cash discount of Rs 10,000, higher Magna, Sports and Asta trims are being offered with a discount of Rs 20,000. Similarly, Grand i10 Nios is offered with an exchange bonus of Rs 10,000 across its range except for diesel-powered variants.
      Hyundai India Discounts – Jan 2021
      The 1.2-litre petrol and CNG variants of Grand i10 are offered with a cash discount of Rs 5000 whereas the turbo petrol variant is being offered with a healthy discount of Rs 25,000. Its sedan sibling Aura is offered with an exchange bonus of Rs 15,000 across the range.
      Its naturally aspirated petrol and diesel-powered variants are offered with an additional cash discount of Rs 10,000 whereas the turbo petrol-powered variant is offered with a cash discount of Rs 30,000.
      Recent Price Hike
      The manufacturer, however, is not offering any sort of benefits for models such as the new generation i20, Venue, Verna, Creta and Tucson. The company recently hiked prices for all its offerings in India. The price hike ranged from Rs. 7,521 to Rs. 32,880 and took effect from the first day of 2021.
      Upcoming Models
      Among new launches, the latest addition to Hyundai’s lineup was the third generation i20 which was launched in November 2020. The premium hatchback competes with the likes of Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Tata Altroz, Honda Jazz and Volkswagen Polo. The brand has also lined up a few more launches in the coming future which includes a seven-seater version of Creta and a Tata HBX rivalling subcompact UV codenamed AX1. More

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      New Electric Rickshaw With Headrest For Driver And Passengers – Spied In Chennai

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      Image – Agastine
      A lot of non-OEM entities are interested in participating in e-mobility and this new electric rickshaw could be such an example

      The electric mobility is steadily taking shape in India, starting with urban scooters and auto rickshaws. Mahindra’s Treo electric rickshaw demonstrated the high potential of electric 3-wheelers in the country by becoming the first such product to cross 5,000-unit sales mark in a short period of time. It is only natural that other OEMs scrambling to get their own zero emission passenger three-wheeler ready for the market.
      Mysterious new electric rickshaw spotted testing in Chennai
      Automotive enthusiast from Chennai, Agastine has spotted this heavily disguised three wheeler prototype testing on Old Mahabalipuram Road. He reports that it was an electric vehicle and it reached speeds of up to 75 kmph. He also added that the vehicle displayed impressive acceleration characteristics.
      While our first guess was Mahindra since the automaker has its R&D HQ in the city, a quick look into our archives of spy shots revealed that the OEM’s prototypes usually carry TN-19 temporary license plates. Moreover, Mahindra’s electric prototypes are based out of its Bangalore division which specializes in e-mobility.
      So, which brand does this electric auto rickshaw prototype belong to? As of now, our guess is as good as yours. The birth of electric mobility has made it easier for cash rich non-OEM entities to diversify into vehicle manufacturing with early mover’s advantage.
      New Electric Rickshaw
      This prototype could very well belong to a new brand which has its roots either in auto component manufacturing or in a sector that has an indirect link to the automotive industry.
      Recently, Ola Electric division has been in the news for announcing plans to invest Rs 2,500 crore in Tamil Nadu, for setting up world’s largest electric scooter manufacturing plant. In a related news, patent images of an Ola electric rickshaw was also leaked a few days ago.
      Salient features
      Looking at the spyshot, the first thing that catches our attention is the head rests for driver and three passengers. The headrests, the LED taillights and the fact that the vehicle is capable of doing high speeds indicate that this auto rickshaw is aiming to be positioned at the higher end of the price sensitive segment.
      New Electric Rickshaw
      For reference, the Mahindra Treo is powered by an 8 kW electric motor which is capable of propelling it to a top-speed of 55 kmph. We estimate the mysterious electric rickshaw prototype to be at least twice as powerful, based on the observer’s report.
      The vehicle appears to be taller than an average passenger 3-wheeler and is equipped with a sturdy protection bar at the rear, possibly to prevent any serious damage to the powertrain. If you happen to know any information about this electric auto rickshaw, please get in touch with us. More

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      Mercedes-Benz design chief Gorden Wagener on the EQS' Hyperscreen: 'Bigger the better' – Roadshow

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      The Hyperscreen will be optional on the upcoming EQS.
      Mercedes-Benz
      This story is part of CES, where our editors will bring you the latest news and the hottest gadgets of the entirely virtual CES 2021.

      Mercedes-Benz on Thursday unveiled the Hyperscreen, a massive single-piece infotainment screen that will be available on the upcoming EQS electric luxury sedan. Gorden Wagener, Daimler’s chief of design, talked to reporters in a virtual roundtable to explain more about the Hyperscreen and how it became a reality. Wagener says the idea for the Hyperscreen first came about years ago, and it all started with a sketch on the wall at Mercedes’ now-shuttered interior design studio in Como, Italy. (Mercedes has since opened a new design studio in Côte d’Azur, France. Nice work if you can get it.) “I saw the sketch and said, ‘That’s amazing, let’s make that happen,'” Wagener says. “And we did make it happen! We made it feasible with a partner, and that really amazes me. We have a vision, a little sketch there, and we made it a reality.”

      The Hyperscreen spans 56 inches in total, the entirety of the dashboard, and it has about 377 square inches of screen. It’s technically three separate displays under one glass panel, all of which are OLED units with super high resolution, but the transition from screen to blank glass looks seamless. “The bigger the better,” Wagener says.When equipped with the Hyperscreen, the only physical controls on the EQS’ dashboard will be the start button and the light switch, and Wagener says that isn’t something that Mercedes will backpedal on — so don’t expect new Mercedes models to bring back more buttons and switches five years down the line. “We were pushing for the elimination of hard keys because it makes it clean and modern,” he says. “It’s a completely different thing to operate. As designers we love simplicity.”It spans 56 inches in total.
      Mercedes-Benz
      The Hyperscreen will be optional, with the EQS getting a setup similar to the 2021 S-Class as standard that will have a standalone gauge cluster screen and separate infotainment screen in the dash. Wagener wouldn’t give that many specifics about the base system, but he says that the EQS was designed with the Hyperscreen in mind. “We started with the Hyperscreen, that was the focus point,” says Wagener. “We always have one eye on the standard version, but we did not want to compromise the high-end version.”The dash of the S-Class (and ostensibly the base EQS) is dominated by a huge slightly curved trim panel, which is available in a multitude of wood, carbon-fiber, aluminum and piano black finishes. Fancy trim is a hallmark of any luxury car, so I ask Wagener how the Hyperscreen-equipped EQS will make up for the lack of that panel. “When the whole instrument panel is screen you have less space for traditional trim materials, but the Hyperscreen itself is the jewel of the interior,” he says. “It’s glossy, it has mega resolution, it’s sexy and simple. Seeing it in that size and brightness, it’s so much more beautiful than any trim material would do.”The passenger side of the Hyperscreen can show animated displays.
      Mercedes-Benz
      There will still be fancy trim, such as chrome strips around the screen and wood pieces on the center console and dashboard, but Wagener says, “We’re moving away from traditional trim materials to digital trim materials” when it comes to Mercedes’ electric cars. The passenger side of the Hyperscreen can display animated patterns or image galleries, making it essentially a virtual piece of trim. “Once you use it and can animate it, put up pictures of your loved ones, it’s so much more valuable and rich and luxurious than what you’re used to.” Wagener also pointed out the propellor-esque analog air vents, which he described as “hyperanalog.”The Hyperscreen is the type of innovation that designers dream about, stuff that’s typically reserved for concept cars, and Wagener didn’t mince words about how excited he is about it. “We will always put beauty first, we will never do an awkward solution. I’m so happy I can’t even believe it that this design vision became a reality.”

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      Mercedes S Class Electric Car’s Full Dashboard Curved Display Unveiled

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      Mercedes Benz Hyperscreen
      Mercedes EQS electric limousine will be the first production vehicle to receive MBUX Hyperscreen

      For the electric version of new S-Class, Mercedes has come up with a new-age dashboard made entirely of a curved display screen that spans across the width of the cabin. Called the MBUX Hyperscreen, the new piece of technology incorporates three screens into one. This could redefine automotive dashboards in the foreseeable future.
      Mercedes MBUX Hyperscreen
      The MBUX Hyperscreen incorporates three displays – the instrument panel, infotainment system, and an entertainment screen for the front passenger. The central and front passenger displays benefit from OLED technology for better picture quality and pack in haptic feedback.
      As you can imagine, fabricating such a sophisticated plastic panel loaded with multiple elements requires a special process. The curved unit is moulded in three dimensions using a special three-layer coating which Mercedes calls as the ‘Silver Shadow’. The company claims that the process renders the display unit a high quality surface impression while reducing reflection and making cleaning easier.
      With the help of ambient lighting, the MBUX Hyperscreen gives an optical illusion of floating. Provisions for the AC vents on given on both sides of the single-piece panel.
      Mercedes Benz Hyperscreen
      Based on an evolution of the current Mercedes S Class’ operating system, the Hyperscreen’s software architecture is claimed to be radically easy to operate and ‘extremely eager’ learn. Thanks to the AI, the system adopts a zero-layer menu system which displays relevant information at required time based on user preferences thereby avoiding the need to scroll through several items or use voice command.
      Features
      According to data collected by Mercedes from the earlier generation of the MBUX system, the most commonly used features include navigation, media and telephone which are integrated into the central display. The AI offers as many as twenty additional features as and when the user requires them. Examples include seat ventilation, massage, location-based suspension ride height increase.
      The passenger side of the screen also can support up to 7 custom profiles with the AI improving the overall experience. This display is subjected to country-specific safety regulations. When not entertaining the front passenger, that part of the screen turns into an animated display of stars to enhance the overall ambiance.
      [embedded content]
      The Mercedes MBUX Hyperscreen will be an optional extra in the eagerly anticipated EQS electric luxury limousine which is slated to be launched later this year. The same piece of equipment is expected to be offered by the upcoming EQS SUV as well. Knowing Mercedes, the Hyperscreen will eventually make its journey down the product portfolio.
      Mercedes has been a trend setter when it comes to interior design and technology. We won’t be surprised to see similar dashboard features from other OEMs in the coming years. More

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      Volvo's second EV to enter production in 2021 as sales recover – Roadshow

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      A second EV will soon be produced alongside Volvo’s XC40 Recharge all-electric SUV.
      Volvo
      Volvo has arguably been the auto industry’s most vocal legacy carmaker in its push for electrification. On Thursday, the company announced another step in its plans to add batteries and strip internal combustion power from its lineup of cars and SUVs.The Swedish automaker said in a statement that it will triple EV production capacity at its plant in Ghent, Belgium, even as its first all-electric Recharge models are only just now hitting North American dealers. The statement confirms that Volvo’s second pure EV will enter production in 2021, following on the heels of the XC40 Recharge, a small crossover SUV that’s also produced in Belgium alongside its plug-in hybrid sibling. The unnamed EV is tipped to debut in March.

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      The electric-car ramp-up will take the Ghent plant to around 60% EV by 2022, and Volvo is widely expected to add battery-powered vehicle assembly at its other plants around the globe, including its newest factory outside of Charleston, South Carolina, which presently assembles the company’s S60 sedan in both internal-combustion-only and hybrid varieties. Volvo plans to begin assembling its XC90 flagship SUV at the same plant in 2022.Volvo, a subsidiary of China’s Geely, previously announced a company goal to have half of its global sales be from EV models by 2025. The balance would be internal combustion-powered vehicles with some level of electrification, whether hybrid or plug-in hybrid. In December, Volvo revealed plans to eventually take all electric motor production in-house.Volvo sold 661,713 vehicles in 2021, a 6.2% drop year over year. Sales were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but touts the company’s strongest second-half sales in history, with sales rising 7.4% year over year to help to offset a much steeper 21% first-half drop.
      2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge has big power and a little frunk
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