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      Renault Kiger LED DRLs Teased – New Electric Car Prototype Unveiled

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      2021 Renault Kiger SUV – Teaser
      Along with teasing the upcoming Kiger small SUV in production spec form, Renault has also revealed their new electric car prototype

      With global debut set for 28th Jan 2021, the new Renault Kiger has now been officially teased in production ready form. From the teaser image, it is clear that the production ready Kiger carries the LED DRL and projector headlamps from the concept which was revealed back in November.
      Kiger Debut
      With compact and subcompact SUVs being highly popular in the Indian markets, automakers are heralding in various models in this segment. Kiger will be based on the same platform as the Magnite, which has met huge sales success in India.
      The Renault Kiger and the Nissan Magnite will be produced at the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s production base in Oragadam, Tamil Nadu. The Kiger will enter the sub 4 meter segment wherein it will take on the Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Mahindra XUV300, Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza, etc in terms of competition.
      Renault 5 Electric Car
      Renault has unveiled its upcoming retro-styled electric car called ‘5’. Renault 5 Prototype Electric Car gives a look into the future small EV from Renault, which is set to go on sale by the middle of this decade. The car takes its design and styling cues from the R5 hatchback which was in production from 1972 to 1996. It is among the fourteen new models which are expected to hit showrooms by 2025.
      Renault 5 Prototype carries numerous references to the original model including the R5 Turbo versions and cult classic Supercinq albeit in a modern touch
      Seven of these fourteen models are going to be fully electric vehicles. The new concept blends with its namesake’s boxy proportions with a modern and contemporary design which includes high-tech displays, LED lighting signatures and sculpted side surfaces expected out of a modern car.
      Exterior Design Highlights
      Upfront, the B-segment concept car features LED headlight clusters flanked by the French brand’s diamond-shaped emblem with no radiator grille. It gets a clean front bumper which features thin square-shaped LED DRLs and ‘RENAULT’ in bold lettering.
      The bonnet air intake is neatly hidden with a charging hatch on the company’s logo on the front nose. The small impression of the French flag on its rearview mirrors shows its nationalistic pride.
      Renault 5 Prototype Electric Car
      At rear, the LED taillights feature aero flaps with an illuminated reflector strip running around the roof lining to the A-pillars which seem to pay tribute to Renault 5 models of the 1980s. Side profile’s centre of attraction are the large alloy wheels wrapped in Continental tyres.
      Overall, the concept’s design looks very clean and simple yet feels a modernised version of the original R5 with references such as boxy wheel arches, flat sides and a tilted C-pillar. There is also a nod to the original ‘5’ with impressions on its wheels, rear logo and side grid.
      Renault 5 Prototype Electric Car
      Other Details
      Details are very sparse at the moment with the automaker yet to reveal its expected specifications or even its interior images. All we know is that it will be based on a modular EV architecture that has been developed by Renault and its alliance partners Nissan and Mitsubishi. Dubbed as CMF-EV, this platform will underpin most small and medium-sized cars from the alliance brands, for instance, the upcoming Nissan Ariya crossover.
      While no definite timeline has been set for its production to commence, new Renault 5 Concept could replace the highly successful Zoe EV as the brand’s compact electric hatchback. The carmaker has also announced that its performance range of cars which will carry the nametag of Alpine, will be an all-electric range of cars and the 5 Prototype could very well be part of this lineup. More

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      MG To Launch New Electric Car Under Rs 20 L – Working On Battery Tech For 500 kms Range

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      MG Marvel at Delhi Auto Expo. Image for reference.
      MG Motor is currently chalking out plans to develop a battery assembly facility in India

      With growing advancement in electric vehicle (EV) technology in India, automobile manufacturers are racing towards development of cost-effective and economical electric mobility. At this point in time, such options are very limited in the Indian market, especially in the passenger vehicle segment.
      With Nexon EV being the most economical of the limited options, it has unsurprisingly led the sales volume chart in EV segment. However, manufacturers are looking to build more affordable models in the coming future with improved accessibility. Recently, MG Motor has revealed their plans to introduce an EV that would cost less than Rs 20 lakh.
      This development has been confirmed by Rajeev Chaba, President and Managing Director, MG Motor India, in an interaction with Economic Times. He further informed that this new electric car will be coming out sometime next year and the company has started working on building a battery assembly facility in the country which could bring down the cost of batteries.
      New Battery Assembly Facility in India
      Currently, details of this facility are being worked on which will provide batteries for the upcoming EV. As per an initial estimate, it will require an investment of around Rs 4,000 crore. This new facility will also help MG develop a much improved battery technology that can deliver a single-charge range of around 500 km.
      Existing MG ZS Electric
      This new technology is expected to feature in production-spec electric cars in 18 months. Furthermore, it has been reported that this technology is currently being evaluated under various climate conditions and terrains.
      As per directives and guidelines set by the government of India, electric mobility seems to be future of the automotive industry in the country. This fact was acknowledged by Chaba during the interaction.
      This development comes at a time when Tesla Inc. has just announced its entry in India with its headquarter set up in Bangalore. As per reports, the Karnataka Government has allotted few acres of land to the American company in Tumkur, on the outskirts of Bengaluru to set up a R&D facility.
      New MG Electric Car
      MG Motor currently has only one electric car offering in the form of ZS EV which registered sales for 1,142 units in 2020. This accounts for 25 percent of total electric vehicles sold in India last year. The company intends to double this volume to around 2,500 units in 2021. Chaba further added that MG has received over 200 bookings for the electric crossover in December 2020. ZS EV is locally assembled in India with components brought in as CKD units.
      ZS EV is powered by a 44.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack paired to an electric motor which produces an output of 143 PS and 353 Nm of peak torque. It offers a claimed range of 340 km at a single charge. Its current prices start at Rs. 20.88 lakh for the base trim and go up to Rs. 23.58 lakh for the fully loaded trim (both prices are ex-showroom).
      It is not clear what this new sub Rs 20 lakh car from MG will be. It could be a new variant of the ZS electric itself, which is already on sale in India. With advanced battery tech, higher localization it is quite possible MG manages to increase the range of their ZS EV, and at the same time reduce its cost.
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      Tesla Model S, Model X refreshes inbound as EV selldown starts, report says – Roadshow

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      Time for changes?
      Tim Stevens/Roadshow
      Tesla may finally be nearing a refresh for its oldest cars on sale, the Model S and Model X. According to a report from Electrek on Friday, citing sources familiar with the automaker’s plans, Tesla recently told employees to liquidate all Model S and Model X cars currently sitting in the company’s inventory, which likely points to refreshed EVs this year.The website also noted Tesla actually shut down assembly lines for the two flagship EVs from the automaker in December. Combined with the latest reported information, it certainly sounds like changes are afoot. Tesla does not operate a public relations department to field requests for comment, so as always with these kinds of Tesla rumors, take it all with a grain of salt.

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      However, if Tesla’s determined to sell off its current Model S and Model X stock, there may be some sweet deals afoot. Perhaps we’ll see the company sweeten the deal in other ways too with extended free Supercharging or something of the like. We’ll have to keep an eye out for any sort of extra incentives, which could be more evidence Tesla’s ready to usher in some new, refreshed EVs.We haven’t heard a whole lot about what refreshed Model S and Model X EVs may hold, but a purported sketch supposedly showed what the company concocted for both luxury cars. The rumored redesign looks to include a lot of elements from the Model 3 and Model Y with a more minimalist approach and a massive screen in the center.Refreshed Model S and Model X EVs weren’t on our what-to-expect list from Tesla in 2021, but they would be a welcome surprise. The cars may feel light-years ahead of other luxury EVs at the moment, but they are starting to look a little dated.

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      Kia teases its 7 new EVs that'll launch by 2027 – Roadshow

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      Whatever this is, we know it’ll be electric.
      Kia
      Korean automaker Kia detailed its new brand strategy on Thursday, starting with a new name (sort of), a new logo and an increased focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility. All of this will culminate with the launch of seven new battery electric vehicles by 2027. Formerly known as the Kia Motor Company, the brand’s official corporate name is now simply Kia. The renaming is said to signal the brand “expanding its business to encompass EVs, mobility solutions and services, purpose-built vehicles and more,” according to a statement. In other words, Kia hopes you’ll think of it as more than just a car brand.Frankly, we don’t know anyone outside of the automaker’s own HQ who’s ever referred to the brand as the Kia Motor Company, so at the very least, this brings the official name in line with what we’ve already been using.

      More visibly, the new name comes with a new logo that will be adopted across the brand’s vehicles as part of a wave of updates and refreshes over the next year. Expect the upcoming Kia Carnival minivan — formerly the Sedona — to be the first model to wear the new badge when it arrives in the second quarter of 2021.Along with the new branding, Kia is also shifting a large part of its focus to environmental sustainability, both in the vehicles it builds and how they are manufactured. The brand reaffirmed its plans to bring seven new dedicated battery electric vehicles to market globally by 2027. Kia is calling these “purpose-built vehicles” or PBVs, each designed to fill a specific transportation niche. We got a shadowy peek at a micro autonomous pod, an individual urban transporter, a bean-shaped midsize commuter and a larger logistics vehicle during Kia’s brand presentation. The mix also includes more traditional designs, such as a hatchback and what appears to be a vaguely Telluride-sized SUV.The new wave of EVs will also usher in a new design language and philosophy for Kia’s vehicles. The automaker says we’ll get our first look at its new look when the first of its new concepts is revealed later this year.

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      Sony Electric Car Starts Public Road Testing – 1 Year After Its Reveal

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      Sony Electric Car
      Vision-S electric car features a technology that alters the temperature of the cabin depending on the driver’s behaviour

      Electric vehicles are the new normals in the automotive world. Every now and then we hear about a new electric car being developed and tested around some corner of the world. But when we hear a name like Sony being attached to a car, everyone sits up to take notice of it.
      Yes, Sony indeed has been developing an electric car which the world came to know about a year ago when it was unveiled at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020 as Vision-S electric car concept. A new video from the Japanese tech giant shows that a prototype of the car has taken to the roads for testing.
      The video shows a prototype of the EV wearing a camouflage-style wrap and a number plate being tested on the snowy roads of Austria with alpine woods covered in snow. The company has its engineering center in Graz, Austria.
      After its maiden appearance at CES in January 2020, the prototype moved to Tokyo in July 2020 for advancing its sensing and audio technologies. Though testing on public roads has already begun, the EV does not go on sale anytime soon.
      [embedded content]
      Specs- No lag in performance surely
      Information about the Vision-S electric car has been scarce. The specs announced on the concept car included a dual-motor with an all-wheel-drive setup generating an output of 536 bhp, 0-100 kmph acceleration time of 4.8 seconds and a claimed top speed of 240 kmph. At the time of its unveiling, Sony admitted that the Vision-S concept was developed as a means to showcase the company’s in-car entertainment and autonomous driving systems.
      Features and Technologies galore on Sony Vision-S
      As expected, the tech giant has packed the prototype with high-end technologies including camera sensors and more. Speaking of technologies, Sony has equipped the Vision-S prototype with 40 sensors both inside as well as outside instead of the originally intended 33 claimed at ACE last year in order to enhance its autonomous driving capabilities. These sensors include Solid State LiDAR for day and object detection and night-time vision and CMOs image sensors which help in object detection, colour identification and road sensing.
      Elaborating further on the technology part, the most eye-grabbing moment is a large widescreen encompassing the entire dashboard. The cabin also features cameras which continuously monitor driver and passenger facial expressions, gestures, and lip reading.
      Sony Electric Car Dashboard
      Another highlight is 360 Reality Audio which offers an immersive audio experience. The infotainment system also offers a 5G connectivity which also allows one to play your favourite game on PlaySation.
      Currently, the prototype has been equipped with Level 2 autonomous driving technology with features such as adaptive cruise control, automatic lane changing and a self-parking system. However, with improvement in technology in the coming future, Sony intends the final production car to be equipped with Level 4 ability which means full self-driving capabilities.
      Other details
      Some of its technology on board seemed to have been developed in association with its partners including Blackberry, Bosch, Magna Steyr, Nvidia and others. In terms of dimension, the Vision-S prototype measures 4,895 mm in length, 1,900 mm in width and 1,450 mm in height. It offers a wheelbase of 3000 mm and stands at a ground clearance of 120 mm (up to 135mm). If and when this car actually hits the road, it will be nothing less than a spectacle. More

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      Renault's Alpine performance brand is going all-electric, will co-develop new sports car with Lotus – Roadshow

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      Alpine is working on three new electric models.
      Alpine
      As part of its Renaulution plan to restructure its brands and become a leader in electrification by 2025, Renault announced today that it’s turning the Alpine brand into a fully electric performance brand. Renault’s Sport Cars division (which produces Renaultsport versions of cars like the Mégane and Clio) and the Sport Racing division (which heads up the Formula 1 team) will both be absorbed into the Alpine brand as part of the restructuring.Three new models are coming as part of the new plan, and all of them should be awesome. The first is a Ford Fiesta-size hot hatchback, which looks to have a boxy silhouette, a short front end and quad square headlights. The second model will be a compact crossover riding on the same CMF-EV platform that underpins the new Nissan Ariya. 

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      It’s the third one that we’re most excited about, though. A fully electric replacement to the A110 sports car is on the way, and it’s being co-developed by Lotus. Yes, that Lotus. From the small amount that we can see in the teaser, it looks very similar to the existing A110, which is fine by us — the A110 is gorgeous. There’s no word on what platform the A110 EV will use, but it’s likely to be bespoke. The two companies say that the project will draw from Alpine’s motorsport experience and Lotus’ engineering expertise, with teams in both England and France working on the car.The current Alpine A110.
      Alpine
      This won’t be Lotus’ first foray into electric cars. The company is currently finishing development on the electric Evija hypercar, which is set to reach customer hands at some point this year. That stunner boasts nearly 2,000 horsepower, a light (for an EV) curb weight of around 3,700 pounds, a top speed of over 200 mph and a range of 215 miles on the WLTP cycle. Obviously the A110 EV won’t have performance as insane, but the Evija bodes well for the engineering know-how that Lotus will bring to the project.No exact timeline is given for the three new Alpine models, but they will all enter production by 2025. It also seems like future Renault performance models will gain Alpine badging instead of (or in addition to) Renaultsport badges — a hot version of the new Renault 5, for instance. None of the new Alpine models is likely to be sold in the United States, but we’re going to keep our fingers crossed anyway.This news comes after the Renault Formula 1 team was rebranded as Alpine F1 for the upcoming 2021 season. Renault says it aims for the Alpine brand to become profitable by 2025, including its investments into motorsport, and the announcement seems to hint that the Alpine brand could re-enter the rally racing scene. At the very least, all future Alpine models will be majorly influenced by the experience of the F1 team. More

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      Renault introduces new Mobilize mobility brand – Roadshow

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      This pod-like urban runabout will be super-maneuverable. 
      Mobilize
      French automaker Renault is getting into the mobility business with its new Mobilize brand, which, along with the EZ-1 Prototype electric car, was announced on Thursday. This division will offer car-sharing, energy and data-related services to help make transportation more sustainable.Mobilize is pushing to shift drivers from vehicle ownership to vehicle usage by offering adaptable mobility services for individuals, companies and even municipalities. Subscription-based car sharing, ride hailing, and last-mile delivery should all be part of its overarching strategy. In keeping with all this, it has three major goals. Mobilize is aiming to reduce the gap between vehicle usage and cost, since most cars are parked 90% of the time or more. It wants to improve the residual value of vehicles, to prevent it from being cut in half after just three years of ownership. And finally, Mobilize is promoting a greener future, shooting to contribute to a zero CO2 footprint.On the product side of the equation, Mobilize will offer purpose-built vehicles for a variety of uses. Even though it will have dedicated engineering and design teams, it will still rely on Renault’s 120-plus years of experience manufacturing cars, as well as its extensive electric-vehicle expertise.These could be a few of Mobilize’s future vehicles. 
      Mobilize
      The Mobilize EZ-1 Prototype is a new urban mobility solution, one that’s designed to be shared. With a pod-like body and lots of chamfered edges, it looks like nothing else on the road today. And at just 2.3 meters in length, less than 91 inches, it has very city-friendly dimensions. Three of these little buggers can fit in the space occupied by your typical car. Thanks to its small size, the EZ-1 Prototype should be super-maneuverable, even in the worst congestion. Letting the sunshine in for its two passengers, this machine’s duet of doors feature top-to-bottom glass. But one feature that sets this vehicle apart from other electric cars is its battery-exchange system, which allows continuous use. Apparently, you won’t have to find a charger and wait for the EZ-1 Prototype to slowly absorb electrons.Underscoring its eco-friendly design, the EZ-1 Prototype is made of 50% recycled materials. And once it reaches the end of its life, 95% of it can be recycled. Mobilize can even reuse the batteries once their automotive life expectancy is over, employing them as stationary energy-storage devices.There’s a lot more to Renault’s new Mobilize division than has been shared. More information should be released before 2023 when the company’s subscription services are expected to become available.

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