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      The new Kia Soul EV is apparently never coming to the US – Roadshow

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      The Soul EV has been on sale in other countries since 2019.
      Kia
      When the brand-new (and very cute) Kia Soul EV debuted in November 2018, it was originally set to go on sale in the US at some point in 2019. But in May 2019 it was delayed until 2020 without any specific reason. Then, just a few months later, the Soul EV was pushed back again, this time until 2021 at the earliest, with Kia citing low battery and electric motor supplies, as well as high demand in Europe. Now, a source inside Kia Motors America tells Roadshow that the new Soul EV has been canceled completely for the US market.Our source July 29 said the cancellation is due to a combination of factors, including the already mentioned supply issues and high demand in other markets. Unlike the standard Soul, the EV uses an independent rear suspension, which adds complexity and would make the car even more expensive in the US. Not bringing the Soul EV here will allow Kia to focus production and supply efforts on the Niro EV, which uses the same battery pack and electric motor and is already established in the US.

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      When reached for comment, a Kia spokesperson said they hadn’t heard that the Soul EV had been canceled, but confirmed that the company has “no pending plans to introduce before 2021 at the earliest.” That’s not an outright denial, but Kia has completely removed the Soul EV from its US consumer website and wiped almost all mention of it from the company’s US media site, too.What’s more, while the 2020 model-year Soul EV received an official range rating of 243 miles, this has since been removed from the EPA’s website. Fuel economy estimates for the 2021 Soul are currently available, but the EV is nowhere to be found on that list, either.While it’s too bad we won’t get the new Soul EV — we were highly impressed when we got to drive it in early 2019 — the Niro EV is pretty great already, and the entire Niro line is due for a redesign in a couple years. Kia is working on a number of new electric cars, including a crossover inspired by the Futuron and Imagine concepts, and the Stinger’s future may be electric, as well.

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      Zoomcar to offer electric 3 wheelers on their platform – Partners with Eto Motors

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      Zoomcar and Eto Motors have signed an agreement to make available a range of platform services for Eco’s electric, and three-wheeler biz
      Henceforth, Zoomcar’s platform will be used to access Eto Motors’ operated electric three-wheelers for shared, first and last mile passenger commute needs. One will also be able to book transport vehicle for goods movement within cities.

      Zoomcar has for the longest time been making available private cars on its platform to for private rentals. Those who offer their car as part of the Zoomcar fleet are compensated by the company, and have to follow guidelines so the cars are worthy of being rented. For Zoomcar rentals, the company also has manufacturer tie-ups that enables it to list a wide ranging and sufficient fleet to be able to meet customer demand.
      Zoomcar and Eto
      With this new association, Eto Motors will be able to introduce a fleet of smart electric vehicle mobility solutions. Eto already has its brand smart vehicles for first mile and last mile connectivity service in Noida Metro. The company is focused on expanding its footprint, and widen its reach based on opportunities in the first mile, last mile, and intracity passenger, and goods movement segments.

      And the complete development focuses on EV adaption. For Zoomcar the opportunity comes in the form of EV adaption, and new segments. As the brand is identified primarily as a car rental company, with Eto Motors’ vehicles on offer, its operations expand to shared mobility, CVs, and transport.
      How quickly India is able to make noticeable EV adaption a norm depends on a range of bottlenecks that need to be addressed. As such, for now, public transport vehicles seem one way to do it.
      Transformation of mobility industry
      Greg Moran, CEO & Co-Founder, Zoomcar, in a statement said, “The mobility industry is going through a transformational phase globally due to the pandemic. At Zoomcar, we strive to be at the forefront of creating innovative solutions that can help shape this transformative shift. Through this partnership with ETO Motors, we aim to leverage our AI-based platform to enable large fleet operators to better manage their assets through greater vehicle safety and lower total operating costs. We are delighted to partner with ETO Motors on the next phase of their growth journey in India’s rapidly expanding EV market.”
      Biju Mathew, CEO, ETO Motors, said, “The next phase of collaboration between our respective companies with respect to the development of the co-branded digital platform will undoubtedly mark a significant step forward for the industry.” More

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      Maruti 800 electric RWD with 378 Nm torque – Watch owner having fun

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      Pune-based EV specialist Hemank Dabhade has reached the final stages of his Maruti 800 EV conversion project
      Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) discontinued the iconic Maruti 800 in 2010 as the hatchback could not meet the then-new emission norms and safety regulations. In the minds of Indian automotive enthusiasts, the ‘800’ holds a special place since it has got a strong nostalgia factor associated with it. We are sure that your family or someone close to your family might have had a Maruti 800 back in the day.

      In its last iteration, the Maruti Suzuki 800 came with a 796cc MPFI three-cylinder petrol motor churning out just about 37bhp and 59Nm while mated to a 4-speed gearbox. The higher 5-speed variant made roughly 47bhp and 62Nm of torque. Clean examples of the car still find decent value in the used car market. On the other hand, the original SS80 generation has already become a collector’s item.
      The current-gen Maruti Suzuki Alto BS6 fails to match the Maruti 800’s charm despite being its closest successor. This is purely due to the emotions surrounding the ‘800’ since the Alto is much more technically improved. Maruti Suzuki might never bring back the ‘800’ nameplate (at least in the foreseeable future), yet many Indians look forward to a modern-day avatar of the hatchback.

      Loaded with sports seats, sports steering, touchscreen and a lot more – Modified Maruti 800 electric
      How about an Maruti 800 modified Electric?
      It has been a while since Pune-based EV specialist Hemank Dabhade started working on an all-electric Maruti 800 with his team at Northway Motorsport. The project, dubbed ‘Maruti 800 EV’, has reached its final stages and Hemank has documented the same (one of four parts) on his YouTube channel. Over the months, we have also shared Hemank’s other interesting projects such as the Chevrolet Beat EV and Honda Activa EV.
      Northway Motorsport’s Maruti 800 modified Electric is essentially a two-seater RWD city car that promises ample performance and driving fun (watch the owner perform powerslides, thanks to 378 Nm torque, towards the end of the video below). Its real-world driving range is claimed to be about 150km on a full charge. This is purely a developmental or research project aimed to showcase the potential of electric powertrains in a familiar platform.

      [embedded content]

      The four-part YouTube series gives a rough idea of what goes into making an electric vehicle. It covers how the stock powertrain is stripped out from the petrol-powered Maruti 800, alterations done to the donor chassis, electric powertrain packaging, minor hiccups along the way, cosmetic enhancements (new six-spoke rims, front grille, steering wheel, etc.) and more.
      Key highlights
      Episode 4 starts with a brief recap of the processes mentioned above. The main electronics, battery-pack (an extra set lies in the ‘frunk’) and their cooling systems are placed at the rear, in place of a bench seat. This is covered by a flat luggage floor. At the front, Northway Motorsport has installed a custom touchscreen panel based on a Raspberry Pi single-board computer. It incorporates real-time battery usage, motor and control temperature; output calibration and the basic drive modes: Forward, Neutral and Reverse.
      The main highlight is the addition of HHA (synonymously used with ‘Hill-start Assist’ nowadays). It helps the car remain stationary on a downward slope until the accelerator pedal is pressed. Finally, Hemank does some powerslides in his Maruti 800 EV — proving that small RWDs can be fun irrespective of the powertrain type. More

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      Cadillac trademarks Symboliq, possibly for new EV – Roadshow

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      Cadillac is set to unveil a number of EVs in the next few years.
      Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
      Cadillac is planning to launch a number of electric vehicles in the coming years, starting with the Lyriq SUV. Following that, Cadillac says it’ll give us the Celestiq — a four-door flagship sedan. But that’s not all, if a patent filing uncovered by Cadillac Society is any indication. Cadillac may have another EV in store, and it’ll likely be called, uh, Symboliq.Trademark applications for both Symboliq and Cadillac Symboliq were filed with the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property, Cadillac Society reported July 24. Both fall under the “motorized land vehicles, namely automobiles” category.

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      The name Symboliq definitely follows in the weird footsteps of Lyriq and Celestiq as ending-in-Q names that we never type correctly on the first try. Since the other two apply to future electric cars, we can only assume the Symboliq will be an EV, as well.Then again, at this point, we’ve given up on trying to understand Cadillac’s naming conventions. In recent years, the company went to a CT- and XT-based structure for its sedans and SUVs — except the Escalade, which is exempt. Then it applied weird numerical designations to each model based on its engine’s torque output… in Newton-meters… rounded up to the nearest 50. So in a way it’s nice to see Cadillac — or is that Cadillaq? — going back to words, even if they’re oddly spelled.The Cadillac Lyriq EV is scheduled to debut in early August. More

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      Pravaig Extinction – A homegrown Luxury EV with bespoke interior

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      The Pravaig Extinction EV is primarily aimed at hotels and luxury transport businesses
      Pravaig Dynamics, a company which was started in Jaipur to build offroad buggies, has now turned its attention towards luxury electric sedans. The Pravaig Extinction, contrary to its name, is the genesis of the brand’s EV aspirations. Pravaig Dynamics has set up a facility in Bangalore and its upcoming all-electric sedan has already reached Prototype Level 6 (‘Level 9’ implies production-readiness).

      One shouldn’t read too much into the somewhat odd and unfinished exterior design of the Pravaig Extinction, as it is still a prototype. The company says that the final version will have four doors; meaning the luxury electric car will look significantly different from the prototype phase shown here.
      The rear-wheel-drive Pravaig Extinction is based on a steel monocoque architecture. Interestingly, it will not have a fixed interior layout for series production as in conventional vehicles. Instead, Pravaig Dynamics will collaborate with architects, fashion and interior designers to come up with bespoke cabins to suit their clientele’s individual tastes. Here’s a video of its prototype doing test runs in Bangalore:

      Speaking of the clientele, Pravaig Dynamics is not targeting private buyers by setting up traditional showrooms and service centres. The Pravaig Extinction is aimed at fleet operators, hotels and other luxury transport businesses interested in emission-free choices. Naturally, the rear seat will be given utmost importance so much so that the front passenger seat will be an optional extra. A lounge-type rear seat that can allow the occupant to lie down almost flat is being worked upon. Brand advisor and shareholder Ram Divedi says that the homologated rear bench is expected to achieve a near-flat posture of around 165 degrees.
      Pravaig Extinction Specs & Features
      The all-electric luxury sedan will be coupled to a 96kWh battery pack, locally assembled by Pravaig Dynamics. Power comes from a 130hp electric motor capable of propelling the sedan to a top speed of 196km/h. The Pravaig Extinction boasts of an impressive range of 500km on a full charge (claimed).
      The final production model will get autonomous capabilities, high-efficiency particulate air filtration system, swappable battery and state-of-the-art connectivity features. Pravaig Dynamics will share more details on its list of equipment in the days to come.
      Pravaig Extinction Launch Timeline
      The desi electric luxury sedan is expected to be out by Q3 2021 which we think is a rather ambitious target. Pravaig Dynamics plans to make 250 units every month with Delhi and Bangalore as its first markets. Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Pune are also in the radar and each city will get its own service outlet. More

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      Watch this Ford Mustang Mach-E 1400 prototype light up all 7 motors with Vaughn Gittin Jr. – Roadshow

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      Watching a talented driver push the limits of any car is really cool, but watching them pit ridiculously capable gas-powered cars against an electric vehicle — and seeing the EV more than keep up — is just pure awesome. Case in point: This video Ford released Tuesday, featuring professional fun-haver Vaughn Gittin Jr. behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang Mach-E 1400 prototype going head-to-head with the likes of Ken Block in his 1965 Ford Mustang Hoonicorn RTR V2, Hailie Deegan in a 2020 Mustang Shelby GT350R, Joey Logano in a 2019 NASCAR Mustang and Chelsea Denofa in the 2020 Mustang RTR. Each gas-car driver demonstrates his or her specialty, be it stunts, handling, flat-out speed or drifting, and the Mustang Mach-E 1400 answers back, proving this EV has some major electric boogaloo moves.

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      The 1400 in the name refers to the horsepower — as in, 1,400 hp. This Mach-E is powered by seven — yes, seven — electric motors. Three power the front axle, while four are attached to the rear. Everything in the car is adjustable. It can default to front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and it’s full of little tricks to help it succeed in any form. For example, drift cars are usually manual transmission, allowing the driver to push in the clutch while utilizing the handbrake when getting the car into that sweet drift. This disconnects the driveline so nothing is overwhelmed during this crucial moment. The Mach-E 1400 doesn’t have a traditional transmission, so it’s outfitted with a powertrain control that disconnects the power to those rear wheels while Gittin engages the hydraulic handbrake. In this manner, he can set up for the drift without any exploding axles.

      With the extreme aerodynamic bits and wide Nitto NT555 G2 tires, this prototype looks pretty sick. The almost comically large, adjustable wing in the rear helps the car produce 2,300 pounds of downforce at 160 mph. The front splitter and dive planes bring an aggressive look to the front of the electric crossover SUV, as well. Sure, it’s much taller than the other cars on screen, but it doesn’t look out of place. Also, take note of the incredible sound the Mach-E produces. We had a chance to speak with Gittin over a video conference and he said the prototype really is that loud, and as a guy who’s used to V8s, he wasn’t sure he’d like it. In the end, though, he came around. “Is it really weird that I don’t even want to hear the V8s anymore?” he asked. Strong words, Mr. Gittin. Gittin had to modify his driving style to go from gas-powered car to EV. Not only did he have to get his ear tuned to the aforementioned electric motor whine, he also had to adjust his right foot to get used to all that instant torque. Gittin also said that the battery location pushes the Mach-E 1400’s center of gravity so low that it’s like driving a go-kart, despite its crossover proportions.  Holy smokes, that wing!
      Ford
      “It drives like it’s inches from the ground. … Where my natural reaction is to throw the car super hard, it doesn’t need that. It was getting used to how the car likes to rotate,” he said.The Mach-E 1400 stores its electricity in a 56.8-kilowatt-hour battery with nickel-manganese-cobalt pouch cells, resulting in a high discharge rate. Gittin Jr. said the car can handle 20 to 30 minutes of aggressive driving depending on variables like weather and track conditions, and that it takes 45 minutes to charge completely. No word when we’ll get to see the Mach-E 1400 prototype in person, but the production Mustang Mach-E will be available at the end of the year. More

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      SsangYong Tivoli E100 EV teased – Foreign Mahindra XUV300 Electric?

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      The SsangYong E100 and Mahindra eXUV300 are based on MESMA platform (Mahindra Electric Scalable and Modular Architecture)
      South Korean automaker SsangYong Motor Company, under Mahindra & Mahindra group, has teased its new all-electric subcompact crossover, E100 a.k.a. Tivoli EV. SsangYong is already busy developing the bigger Korando e-Motion electric compact crossover; the ICE version of which was once expected to be Mahindra’s XUV500 replacement.

      Earlier this year, Mahindra & Mahindra had shared that it is looking for new investors to handle its Korean subsidiary. It was in 2010 that Mahindra bought a 75 per cent stake in SsangYong. Under it, we have received two Mahindra products: Alturas G4 mid-size SUV (badge-engineered Rexton G4) and XUV300 subcompact crossover (reengineered Tivoli).
      SsangYong Tivoli & XUV300 Electric

      SsangYong Tivoli Electric teaser
      The Mahindra XUV300 is a sub-four-metre crossover (or “compact SUV” in Indian buyers’ terms) while its original left-hand-drive Tivoli base crosses four metres in length. It remains uncertain whether the new SsangYong E100 would be sized the same as its upcoming Indian sibling, Mahindra eXUV300 or XUV300 Electric. Teaser images suggest that it is slightly longer despite sharing the same MESMA 350 platform, developed by Mahindra Electric completely in-house. ‘MESMA’ expands to ‘Mahindra Electric Scalable and Modular Architecture’.
      Over the months, we have shared multiple spy shots of Mahindra’s ‘Tata Nexon EV rival’. The eXUV300 made its debut as a concept at Auto Expo 2020 (held in early February) with hints of significant styling differences. At least from the teasers, the Tivoli EV looks quite different.
      Mahindra XUV300 Electric – Facts To Know
      MESMA 350 incorporates a 350V powertrain that supports motor ratings in the range of 60kW to 280kW alongside battery capacities up to 80kWh. Dual motor configurations (all-wheel-drive) are also possible.
      According to Mahesh Babu, CEO of Mahindra Electric, the eXUV300 promises a range of more than 370km on a full charge. This translates to a real-life range of at least 320km.

      In comparison, the Tata Nexon EV returns an ARAI-claimed range of 312km (real-life figures would be in the 200s) with its 30.2kWh battery pack. It is powered by a 95kW (127bhp) motor producing 245Nm of peak torque. The Mahindra eXUV300, as well as SsangYong E100, would most likely pack more output.
      At the moment, the Indian automotive market’s electric four-wheeler segment is at a budding stage with limited options. In fact, there are only three EVs from mainstream brands: Hyundai Kona, MG ZS EV and of course, Tata Nexon EV. Meanwhile, the Indian two-wheeler scenario is witnessing increased demand for e-scooters. More