Crown

the-missile:

RC:

Whoopsy:

SciFrog:

The model Y and the pick up is where the real money is IMHO. The current models are just a teaser, model 3 sales will crater once modell Y comes out.

 

Actually the real money is in the Semi, where they will have the monopoly.

Just imagine Amazon, UPS and others buying their semis from Tesla only...wow...what a business.

Semis needs a ton of battery reserve...our trailer in Europe can drive for a thousand kilometer without stop... good luck for a battery bank to do that.

Truck drivers in the US and Canada can drive a max of 11 hours in a row before they have to take 10 hours off. Assuming an average of 100km/h that's 1,100km. I would think they would be able to add enough batteries to the size of a Semi to go that distance. Maybe the trailer has additional packs etc... 

Past-President, Porsche Club of America - Upper Canada Region

I don't believe Tesla is aiming for the long haul market.

They are going for the short haul, perhaps 3-400miles max routes, or even shorter. Metropolitan routes.

Those electric semi doing the metro route will be great for cleaner air. With chargers powerful enough, those could hours of stop time during loading and unloading should give them satisfactory range.

And the city delivery trucks, those will be great. the constant starting and stopping stuff are tailor made for EV.

Whoopsy:

I don't believe Tesla is aiming for the long haul market.

They are going for the short haul, perhaps 3-400miles max routes, or even shorter. Metropolitan routes.

Those electric semi doing the metro route will be great for cleaner air. With chargers powerful enough, those could hours of stop time during loading and unloading should give them satisfactory range.

And the city delivery trucks, those will be great. the constant starting and stopping stuff are tailor made for EV.

 

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Audi R8 V10 Plus (2016), Mercedes E63 S AMG Edition 1 (2018), Range Rover Evoque Si4 Black Edition (2019)

"Faulty Governor"

(28 December 2018)

Larry Ellison is anything but a check on Elon Musk. The Oracle founder calls himself a “very close friend” of the Tesla and owns nearly $1 billion of the automaker’s stock. He also shares an imperious style and penchant for outsized pay. Musk’s deal with the Securities and Exchange Commission mandated an independent director, but Ellison is unlikely to rein him in.

Elon Musk’s infamous tweet in August saying he was “considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured” prompted the Securities and Exchange Commission to sue for his removal as chief executive and from the company’s board. As part of a settlement, Musk agreed to step down as chairman and pay a $20 million fine. The company also agreed to appoint two independent directors.

While no heavyweight, Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, the Walgreens Boots Alliance human-resources chief Tesla named to its board, fits that bill. Ellison is a much more curious choice.

Like Musk, he is long on vision. Oracle wanted to change the face of computing; Tesla, the future of transportation. Oracle has been among the top tech firms for decades and boasts a market value of $160 billion, so Ellison’s gifts for spotting and seizing markets should not be discounted.

Yet despite Ayn Randian visions of greatness, the two companies were nurtured by federal-government largesse. Ellison and Musk both have a history of making over-optimistic promises for product launches. And neither is easy to work for, based on the many executives both firms have spit out.

The SEC was doing Musk a favor by demanding board members that would rein in his worst impulses. That’s unlikely to come from a man whose biography is entitled: “The Difference Between God and Larry Ellison: God Doesn’t Think He’s Larry Ellison.”

His tangles with shareholders and accountants also aren’t encouraging. In 2005 he agreed to donate $100 million to charity after shareholders claimed he had used inside information to dump $900 million of stock before a profit warning. Before that, the company lost a majority of its market value after restating financial results. And Ellison is often among America’s most highly paid executives, notwithstanding his $53 billion stake in the company. His latest annual compensation was a cool $109 million.

Perhaps Musk can learn from Ellison’s successes – and mistakes. But it’s just as likely that Ellison will overlook, or worse feed, the Tesla CEO’s excesses.

Context News:

Tesla on 28 December 2018 announced that it had named Oracle Executive Chairman and founder Larry Ellison and Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, global head of human resources at Walgreens Boots Alliance, to its board of directors.

The appointments were made as part of a September agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to settle securities-fraud charges stemming from Chief Executive Elon Musk’s August tweet saying he was considering taking the company private.

In October, Ellison said Tesla was his second-largest investment and added: “I am very close friends to Elon Musk.” Tesla’s announcement said Ellison purchased 3 million of its shares earlier this year.

Source: Reuters / Breaking Views

"Audi E-tron GT concept 2018: first drive of electric sports saloon" (Autocar)

(16 December 2018)

• Is Audi’s apparent confidence in its electric four-door coupé justified? We find out with a prototype drive in downtown LA rush-hour traffic
•  Although not out until 2020, the finished GT will look almost identical to the concept
•  You’ll be able to boost in-town agility or high-speed stability by switching between the production car’s active rear-wheel steering modes
•  There may be Autocar royalty aboard, but it’s the ¤5m prototype this outrider’s sworn to protect

Driving a one-off concept car is, unfortunately, often less glamorous and exciting than you’d think.

Time behind the wheel can be very restricted, sometimes to a couple of hundred yards in a straight line or two laps of a car park at 10mph. You’re surrounded by minders who are understandably nervous at the thought of a careless buffoon climbing behind the wheel and wrecking a near-priceless piece of their brand’s design history, and any hint of rain always stops play.

There are rare exceptions, though, and our time driving Audi’s new E-tron GT was one of them.

After last month’s Los Angeles motor show, where the E-tron GT made its debut, Audi pulled the concept, claimed to be worth €5 million (£4.5m), out onto the streets and gave a select group of journalists the chance to take it for a spin. On the public road. In downtown LA. During rush hour. Escorted through red lights by police officers on motorcycles. This sort of thing doesn’t happen often.

It’s perhaps unsurprising that Audi was so keen to let us try the E-tron GT in a real-world environment. After all, it may officially be a concept, but those involved tell us it’s 95% finished visually, and a significant amount of the development work for the car’s oily (well, sparky) bits has been completed. The electric four-door coupé is due to arrive in production form in around 18 months, with only a handful of small-scale changes from the prototype.

The E-tron GT will be the third EV from Audi to roll out after the recently launched E-tron and upcoming E-tron Sportback SUVs. That’s three out of a planned 12 bespoke electric Audis due to be launched before 2025, as part of a €14bn (£12.6bn) investment plan for one brand alone. The sum itself is a fraction of the simply vast cash reserves being ploughed into transforming a number of the Volkswagen Group’s marques into mass-volume electric car makers.

Part of the reason for this is that the VW Group needs to be seen to be reacting in a wide-reaching way to the infamous Dieselgate scandal. Audi bosses will trot out the official line that diesel remains an important part of its range – and, for the time being, it still is. But, behind the scenes, they know that the sooner they can distance themselves from the fuel, the better.

Then there’s the Tesla factor. The controversial Californian electric car firm has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the past few years, pioneering not just with large, long-range and high-performance EVs, but also desirable ones. It’s still only churning out about one car for every 18 Audi makes, but let’s not forget that at the turn of the decade Tesla was posting annual sales in the hundreds.

The significance of Audi launching the E-tron GT in California cannot be ignored. This is the Tesla fanzone: the increasingly environmentally conscious, tech-savvy state takes in nearly 50% of the US’s total EV sales, and you can’t walk for more than two minutes through LA’s financial district without catching sight of a Model S, X or 3 with an ‘amusing’ personal numberplate.

Rocking up at the on-trend kerbside event room Audi has hired for the day, the E-tron GT immediately catches the eye. You don’t have to be Poirot to work out the inspiration behind the four-door coupé, occupying as it does roughly the same footprint as a Model S and operating at the same price and performance level. But the design, to my eyes, is far more arresting than the now five-year-old Tesla.

First, there are the proportions. The GT is strikingly low and squat for an electric car, particularly one that’s meant to be able to seat five in production spec. Exterior design head Andreas Mindt claims that balancing the space demands of a chunky 96kWh underfloor battery with the need to seat two adults in the rear in comfort was “perhaps the biggest challenge”. But it’s a challenge that was met, with the E-tron GT’s roofline a full two inches lower than Audi’s comparable A7 Sportback. The trade-off is the car’s near-two-metre width, necessary for the battery’s substantial surface area.

Audi hasn’t yet rolled out the cameras-as-mirrors system that’s an option on the E-tron SUV, for two reasons. First, it’s still not a legal set-up in the US for a production model. And second, the traditional mirror, set to be larger on the production car than on the prototype, pushes air away from the rear end, which, according to the designers, has allowed them freedom to pen the car’s distinctive haunches that jut out and curve around the back.

The prototype E-tron GT’s doors are opened by a touch capacitive padlock logo mounted on the B-pillar, but again that’s been junked for production in favour of plain old handles, necessary for safety reasons.

Step inside and you’ll find a cabin that doesn’t look or feel a million miles away from production – not everything is functional, yet the fit and finish already feel better than in your average Tesla product, let alone any other prototype we’ve tried. There’s bad news for the touchscreen-phobic, though: Audi has increased its display screen count to four, including a new configurable one mounted up by the rear-view mirror.

Despite designers insistently referring to it as “more of a sports car than a sedan”, there’s sufficient space for four adults to travel in comfort with suitably low seating positions, although six-footers will brush the headlining in the rear.

But enough about head room: what about the powertrain? Well, Audi has provided some conveniently rounded figures for the concept that are targeted for production. A 0-62mph time of 3.5sec, 0-120mph in under 12sec and a range of 250 miles on the new WLTP test regime. All Tesla-baiting figures that should be easily deliverable by 2020.

Engaging drive in the E-tron GT is as simple as selecting D on the new push-button gear selector (set to gradually replace the rocker gearshift in current Audis), stabbing a button marked with a chequered flag on the wheel and pulling away.

Of course, the only noise registered from inside comes from the burbling motors of the police escort bikes – ridden by retired officers, if you were wondering why they are catering for spoiled journalists rather than out catching criminals.

The lack of squeaks and rattles as we negotiate our first crossroad is very unlike a concept car. The whirr of the motor isn’t as well insulated as it will be for production, but its response in our admittedly low-speed situation is as crisp as you’d expect from a brief stab of the accelerator.

The steering feels consistently weighted and accurate, and the brakes seem unusually consistent for a regenerative set-up.

Yet something that’s clearly not finished is the suspension: the GT will have double wishbones combined with air springs for production, and the current steel spring and damper system is seriously stiff, pogoing over broken and undulating surfaces. It’s likely that the ride height will increase slightly for production. The potential for this car to offer a reasonably dynamic driving experience is there: after all, it has a lower centre of gravity than an R8, rear-wheel steering and electric torque vectoring.

Chances to test the handling, outright performance and, indeed, the range are limited here. The only firm conclusion I can draw while we wait at the lights for the photographer to set up is that the air-con isn’t functioning. It’s November but in the mid-20s, and the glass roof is gently cooking the GT’s occupants. What’s easier to gauge is the amount of attention from the smartphones being pointed at our car by passers-by, even in a city known for its fair share of dramatic public spectacles.

As we pull up back where we started, the car’s minder lets slip that we will be seeing the E-tron GT on the move again soon – as Tony Stark’s ride in the next Avengers film, due for release in April.

While the public will decide if the blockbuster marketing pays off, this early go behind the wheel delivers a promising insight into Audi’s battery-powered future.

Audi E-tron GT concept specification

Where Los Angeles, US Price £90,000 (est) On sale Mid-2020 Engine Dual electric motors Power 582bhp Torque 600lb ft (est) Battery 96kWh lithium ion Gearbox Single-speed, direct drive Kerb weight Unspecified Top speed 149mph 0-62mph 3.5sec Range 250 miles CO2 0g/km Rivals Tesla Model S, Porsche Taycan 

Link:  https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/audi-e-tron-gt-concept-2018-first-drive-electric-sports-saloon

Boxster Coupe GTS:

Whoopsy:

In a way, the demand for Model 3 has already peaked. But peaked is too strong a word. That segment will keep growing, they will still keep on selling cars, and quite possibly in increasing numbers as they filter in the low spec entry model to the production mix and keep the line full.

Majority of the "demand", those 400k+ deposits was for the base model which Elon refuse to build. 

Granted, there are other orders which asked for high spec ones that they had been building and selling. But that one sort of peaked a little while ago, as most Tesla stores now have ready to be deliver cars sitting on their lot for walk ins.

Now they are focusing on mid spec cars, ones with less profit per car but still better than the base models, and these orders will keep the line busy for a while, once these models' pent up demand are mostly satisfied, the economic of scale will kick I nanny make the base model profitable and they will start building those too, and those are the one that should drive the sales number higher, Provided that by that time the deposit holders are still waiting and has not moved onto the competition.

I am fairly certain that Elon won't let the Q4 number be less than Q3, he NEEDED that rosy Q4 quarter to prove to the doubters that he can make Tesla profitable, not just once in a blue moon single quarter. Every trick in the book and off the book will be employed to do that.

he is buying time, the company expanded too quickly and liquidity is stretched uncomfortably thin currently for the moment. He just need to get through the next 6 months or so, the biggest threat to Tesla is the up coming convertible bonds, that if not converted will eat a big chunk of Tesla's working capital which they need right now. Once that's passed, Tesla will be fine, the rest of their debts are not too dangerous to the company, and they should have enough sustained sales to drive the company forward. Well until Elon decide to gamble the company on another product. 

The Model 3 was a giant gamble, but it would seems he is cunning enough to buy enough time for this bet to be paid off. 

 

There is some interesting data on Model 3 production volumes from Bloomberg...

Bloomberg's update on Model 3 production tracker...

https://youtu.be/DvOd8buamlg

😎🤗 🇮🇹

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Audi R8 V10 Plus (2016), Mercedes E63 S AMG Edition 1 (2018), Range Rover Evoque Si4 Black Edition (2019)

Performante sounds incredible. 

Nice choice RC.

DJM48:

Performante sounds incredible. 

Nice choice RC.

 

Thanks. 😎 The sound enters your brain and gets addictive afterwards. 😱🤗

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Audi R8 V10 Plus (2016), Mercedes E63 S AMG Edition 1 (2018), Range Rover Evoque Si4 Black Edition (2019)

Jaguar I-Pace also seems to be selling well...

European EV sales

https://cleantechnica.com/2019/01/01/let-the-fully-electric-flood-begin-europe-ev-sales-report/

⇒ Carlos - Porsche 991 Carrera GTS

Be it Tesla, Porsche, or Jaguar, the main problem with EV is still the range, especially in cold weather and there is still no satisfactory solution. Most of Europe gets cold in the winter time, and same here in Canada.

Last few days I have some friends staying over here in Whistler. One of them is that buddy who bought a Model 3 as a walk in. He drove the car here.

He left home with 72% charge, arrived with 18% left, for a 130km trip. Ambient temperature was like 6 degrees in town then drops to -1 up here. 

Rest of the guests came up in conventional cars, and only 1/4 tank of gas is needed. 

Whoopsy:

Be it Tesla, Porsche, or Jaguar, the main problem with EV is still the range, especially in cold weather and there is still no satisfactory solution. Most of Europe gets cold in the winter time, and same here in Canada.

Last few days I have some friends staying over here in Whistler. One of them is that buddy who bought a Model 3 as a walk in. He drove the car here.

He left home with 72% charge, arrived with 18% left, for a 130km trip. Ambient temperature was like 6 degrees in town then drops to -1 up here. 

Rest of the guests came up in conventional cars, and only 1/4 tank of gas is needed. 

 

Range will be improved sooner than the emotional involvement driving an EV, also the weight which takes some fun away. For now, EVs are a novelty but in a decade or so, they are going to be much more common.

Btw: I'm in Florida right now, saw more Teslas in Germany than here (one during a period of 8 days). Not sure how well EVs are doing in the US but they certainly haven't changed much yet.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Audi R8 V10 Plus (2016), Mercedes E63 S AMG Edition 1 (2018), Range Rover Evoque Si4 Black Edition (2019)

-- Press Release --

Tesla Q4 2018 Vehicle Production & Deliveries, Also Announcing $2,000 Price Reduction in US

PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 02, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In Q4, we produced and delivered at the rate of nearly 1,000 vehicles per day, setting new company records for both production and deliveries.

Production in Q4 grew to 86,555 vehicles, 8% more than our prior all-time high in Q3. This included:

• 61,394 Model 3 vehicles, in line with our guidance and 15% more than Q3.
• 25,161 Model S and X vehicles, consistent with our long-term run rate of approximately 100,000 per year.

Q4 deliveries grew to 90,700 vehicles, which was 8% more than our prior all time-high in Q3. This included 63,150 Model 3 (13% growth over Q3), 13,500 Model S, and 14,050 Model X vehicles.

In 2018, we delivered a total of 245,240 vehicles: 145,846 Model 3 and 99,394 Model S and X. To put our growth into perspective, we delivered almost as many vehicles in 2018 as we did in all prior years combined.

Our Q4 Model 3 deliveries were limited to mid- and higher-priced variants, cash/loan transactions, and North American customers only. More than three quarters of Model 3 orders in Q4 came from new customers, rather than reservation holders.

There remain significant opportunities to continue to grow Model 3 sales by expanding to international markets, introducing lower-priced variants and offering leasing. International deliveries in Europe and China will start in February 2019. Expansion of Model 3 sales to other markets, including with a right-hand drive variant, will occur later in 2019.

1,010 Model 3 vehicles and 1,897 Model S and X vehicles were in transit to customers at the end of Q4, and will be delivered in early Q1 2019. Our inventory levels remain the smallest in the automotive industry, and we were able to reduce vehicles in transit to customers by significantly improving our logistics system in North America.

Moving beyond the success of Q4, we are taking steps to partially absorb the reduction of the federal EV tax credit (which, as of January 1st, dropped from $7,500 to $3,750). Starting today, we are reducing the price of Model S, Model X and Model 3 vehicles in the U.S. by $2,000. Customers can apply to receive the $3,750 federal tax credit for new deliveries starting on January 1, 2019, and may also be eligible for several state and local electric vehicle and utility incentives, which range up to $4,000. Combined with the reduced costs of maintenance and of charging a Tesla versus paying for gas at the pump – which can result in up to $100 per month or more in savings – this means our vehicles are even more affordable than similarly priced gasoline vehicles.

Tesla’s achievements in 2018 likely represent the biggest single-year growth in the history of the automotive industry. We started the year with a delivery run rate of about 120,000 vehicles per year and ended it at more than 350,000 vehicles per year – an increase of almost 3X. As a result, we’re starting to make a tangible impact on accelerating the world to sustainable energy. Additionally, 2018 was the first time in decades that an American car – the Model 3 – was the best-selling premium vehicle in the U.S. for the full year, with U.S. sales of Model 3 roughly double those of the runner up.

We want to thank our customers, suppliers, investors, and especially our employees, who worked so hard to accomplish this.

***************

Our net income and cash flow results will be announced along with the rest of our financial performance when we announce Q4 earnings. Our delivery count should be viewed as slightly conservative, as we only count a car as delivered if it is transferred to the customer and all paperwork is correct. Final numbers could vary by up to 0.5%. Tesla vehicle deliveries represent only one measure of the company’s financial performance and should not be relied on as an indicator of quarterly financial results, which depend on a variety of factors, including the cost of sales, foreign exchange movements and mix of directly leased vehicles.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements herein, including statements regarding growing the addressable market for Model 3, such as our plans and timing for international expansion, are “forward-looking statements” that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations. Various important factors could cause actual results to differ materially, including the risks identified in our SEC filings. Tesla disclaims any obligation to update this information.

Source: Tesla, Inc.

Link: http://ir.tesla.com/news-releases/news-release-details/tesla-q4-2018-vehicle-production-deliveries-also-announcing-2000

PDF: http://ir.tesla.com/node/19336/pdf

A few numbers based on latest press release...

"New electric cars 2019/2020: What’s coming and when?" (Autocar)

Every debut and new model due to arrive this year and next, all in one place

(3 January 2019)

Keeping track of every new car and knowing when they’re due to go on sale can be tough, especially if you’re only interested in EVs.

There are so many due to arrive over the next twelve months, so it’s worth learning how long you’ll be waiting for the one you want to go on sale. 2019 will see major launches from well-known electric pioneers like Tesla, Nissan and Renault, as well as new entrants to the category from the likes of Audi, Mini, DS, Skoda and more.

The first half of 2020 looks to be even more stacked, as manufacturers work hard to meet increasingly tough emissions rules with the introduction of more all-electric models.

Here is our comprehensive list of what EVs are coming when in the car industry.

January

BMW i3 120Ah 

The latest version of BMW’s pure electric car may have only received a minor facelift in the six years it has been on sale, but it still looks every bit the modern machine, with dimensions and a spacious interior made possible by ditching petrol power for electric power.

For 2019, BMW has scrapped the combustion engine altogether, removing the range extender model from sale in favour of a larger capacity battery. The new 120Ah lithium-ion battery will apparently deliver 193 miles between charges, a 30% improvement over the old version. The more potent i3S should manage 177 miles between top-ups.

March

Audi e-tron 

Revealed in late 2018 and already tested on roads in the UAE, Audi’s first electric SUV will arrive in the UK in early 2019 to take on the Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model X. It is a premium model, with options like virtual wingmirrors that use cameras and small digital displays instead of glass, and promises 402bhp from its two electric motors. In Boost mode, it will achieve a 0-62mph sprint time of 5.7 seconds, and on to an electronically limited top speed of 124mph. Range is estimated at 249 miles on the WLTP cycle.

Kia e-Niro

With partner brand Hyundai’s Kona Electric transforming the landscape of the EV market with its 279 mile range and sub-£30,000 price, a near unbeatable combination at the time of writing, the e-Niro has every chance of being just as important.

In the past, you either spent more, or accepted significantly less range with a selection of more affordable city cars and hatchbacks. The Kia looks set to reverse that trend. With a 100kW fast charger it will reclaim 80% charge in as little as 54 minutes, and promises a 0-62mph sprint in 7.8 seconds.

Tesla Model Y 

Due for a reveal in March, but not expected to go on sale in the UK for at least twelve months after, the sister car to the Model 3 will arrive as a much-in-demand compact SUV. Little has been revealed ahead of an official announcement, but it is expected to share its platform and powertrain with the Model 3 saloon.

A more advanced version of the company’s ‘supercomputer’ semi-autonomous driving system is also predicted, as is a more potent Performance variant.

June

Tesla Model 3

It has taken a long time for Tesla’s third model to make its way to the UK, and not just because right-hand drive models are lower down the priority list than US-friendly left-hookers. The company’s famously troubled production has meant a longer gestation period than eager customers were hoping for, and predicted pricing is a lot higher than the equivalent in Tesla’s home territory.

But even with those issues, the Model 3 stands to be a massively popular mass-produced compact saloon. A WLTP-certified 338 miles for the Dual Motor Long Range version gives it the longest range of any electric car, and based on an early drive in San Fransisco last year, refinement is second to none in its class.

July

Mercedes-Benz EQC

The first car in Mercedes’ critical EQ electric range, the EQC will compete with the Tesla Model X and Jaguar I-Pace at the premium end of the market. It’s based on a heavily modified version of the existing GLC platform, with twin electric motors - one powering the front wheels and another the rears.

Combined power output is 402bhp, with 564lb ft of torque on tap to propel the 2425kg EQC to a limited 112mph top speed. In Sport mode, it will achieve the 0-62mph sprint in 5.1 seconds. Range is estimated at 249 miles on the WLTP cycle, which should translate to around 200 miles of real-world range.

MG eZS 

UK sales have yet to be confirmed for MG’s first electric car, a version of the ZS compact SUV. Technical specifications have been equally hard to come by, following the car’s reveal at the Guangzhou motor show in China back in November 2018, but it is understood to use a single electric motor that will send 148bhp to the front wheels. The battery should be good for 268 miles of range under the old NEDC cycle, meaning a real-world distance of around 200 miles.

August

Renault Zoe 

In second-generation guise, the Zoe will be the first to use an all-new bespoke EV platform that allows for greater battery capacity. It should allow Renault’s compact electric supermini to achieve up to 250 miles of range per charge, a match for the existing R110’s NECD claimed range.

Heavily-camouflaged prototypes have been spotted testing, revealing a front end inspired by the upcoming 2019 Clio, a curvier rear-end, and a higher quality interior. Multiple power outputs and ranges are expected, but prices and performance figures have yet to be confirmed.

September

Audi e-tron Sportback 

The first Audi saloon to go all-electric, the E-tron Sportback was first shown in concept form way back in 2017 at the Shanghai motor show. The production version will share a platform with the E-tron SUV, which will have been on sale for six months by the time this model reaches UK showrooms.

It will deliver a sportier drive, according to Audi, along with a coupe-like body style. The powertrain will likely be identical, meaning twin electric motors delivering 355bhp and a battery capable of 250 miles between charges. Using Boost mode, 0-60mph times should be in the mid 5-seconds.

Porsche Taycan

Is it hyperbole to say the Taycan will be the most important car to ever roll out of Porsche’s Stuttgart headquarters? Maybe not, but the sporting four-door EV will certainly play a big part in the company’s future. It has seen Porsche invest £5.3 billion in electrification projects, and will likely influence future models including the iconic 911. 

Previewed as the Mission E, the production version will debut at the Frankfurt motor show, with pricing to put it between the Cayenne SUV and Panamera saloon.

Hyundai Ionic

Although little is known about Hyundai’s plans for its refreshed Ioniq, development mules have been spotted testing in the US and it is a safe bet that the company will use advances in its electric powertrains to overhaul the EV version towards the end of 2019. The maximum range should therefore be a close match to the Kona Electric SUV, with performance figures to match. It will be joined by hybrid and PHEV options.

October

Aston Martin Rapide E 

The first electric Aston will be more of a taster of things to come from Gaydon. The limited-run luxury saloon will be based on the existing Rapide, but swap its petrol drivetrain for twin electric motors that send 602bhp and somewhere in the region of 738lb ft of torque to the rear wheels. Weight should be almost on par with the petrol model.

Aston is reportedly looking for a 0-60mph time of four seconds, to put the electric version on par with the Rapide S. Aston’s focus has been on ‘repeatable performance’, meaning foot-to-floor acceleration runs that can be done without resulting in a rapidly sapped battery, and a quoted 155mph top speed that can be maintained for ten minutes. No word on pricing as yet.

Kia Soul EV 

An updated design and upgraded interior aren’t the only changes for the second-generation Soul EV - it also borrows a powertrain from the e-Niro crossover. With Europe not getting any kind of combustion engined-model, the sole Soul will be electric, with a 201bhp power output from a 64kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack.

Range has yet to be confirmed, but it should at least match the 279 miles quoted for the e-Niro. A 10.25in touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto should improve things inside the cabin, too.

Mini Cooper S E 

A potential watershed moment for EVs, the upcoming Mini could become the very first electric hot hatchback. It is set to arrive with a powertrain influenced by the one found in the BMW i3, and will be built on an adapted version of the platform currently being used by the Mini hatchback.

Near-instant torque and a 0-62mph time of less than even seconds mean it should earn its Cooper branding. Range details have yet to be released, but handling is promised to be a lot closer to the original 60’s-era Mini - which sounds like a recipe for success to us.

Polestar 2 

Volvo’s electric sub-brand will introduce its first pure EV in 2019, with a winter reveal predicted but nothing as yet confirmed. The Polestar 2 will be a mid-sized saloon priced between £30,000 and £50,000, offer a range as high as 350 miles, and as much as 400bhp on tap. 

It will almost certainly take design cues from the 40.2 concept shown in early 2017, as well as the 40.1 concept that went on to inspire the Volvo XC40 compact SUV. It is unknown if Polestar will use a similar sales model to its flagship 1 performance hybrid, which will be sold by subscription.

November

DS 3 Crossback E-Tense 

Set to share its CMP platform with the upcoming Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208, the 3 Crossback will be the first electric DS model and beat its PS group brethren to market by several months.

Designed as a direct rival for the Volvo XC40 and Audi Q2, the Crossback will focus on comfortable, high-end interiors, distinctive exterior styling inspired by the 7 Crossback, and an electric range of around 180 miles from a 50kWh lithium-ion battery. 0-62mph performance is estimated at 8.7 seconds, with a top speed of 93mph.

Volkswagen ID

Designed and built as a pure electric car, the ID hatchback will be a crucial launch for VW. It will closely match the Golf hatchback in size, and the company is anticipating a price close to that of a Golf diesel, making it a more affordable EV than existing models.

It will be built on the modular MEB platform, and offer a variety of battery options for a range of between 249 and 373 miles between charges. According to VW, the final design will remain true to the original concept, which was first revealed in 2016 and went on to inspire several other ID models, which are all due to launch over the next five years.

Volvo XC40 Electric 

The company’s very first electric vehicle, the XC40 EV will arrive after the Polestar 2 and establish a pattern for the company: electric versions of existing models, rather than brand new ones built around batteries and electric motors. That means an electric XC90 will follow.

Hardware will be shared with Polestar, but performance figures and electric range has not yet been confirmed.

December

Audi Q2 e-tron 

A concept version of Audi’s upcoming compact electric SUV is set to be revealed in 2019, with a production model to follow in 2021. It will be based on the VW Group’s MEB platform, and will sit between the Q2 and Q3 in terms of dimensions.

It will be an important model for the brand, and likely become one of its biggest sellers. Design cues will be borrowed from the recently-revealed E-tron GT concept, while the use of MEB should ensure the model is more affordable than its larger electric siblings.

Honda Urban EV 

It might arrive as a five-door, rather than the three-door layout previewed by the well-received concept shown at 2017’s Frankfurt motor show, but the production version of Honda’s compact electric city car promises to retain its retro-inspired looks. The company even went back to the drawing board after the reveal to make sure the real thing stayed as true to the concept as possible.

The Urban EV will arrive on a unique new platform and a predicted range of 155 miles, and is set to become the brand’s first European electric car. It should be smaller than the Jazz, but no performance figures have been officially announced as of January 2019.

Nissan Leaf SUV 

Nissan is responsible for two of the most popular cars within their categories on UK roads today. The Qashqai didn’t invent the crossover hatch, but it did popularise it, and the Leaf has quickly become the go-to electric car for the masses thanks to a sensible range and hatchback proportions.

The upcoming Leaf SUV is on track to mash these two ideas together, and is almost certain to become a sales hit when it goes on sale. Nissan has pledged to stay true to its IMx concept, which should mean distinctive looks, longer range and more power when it eventually goes on sale.

Peugeot 208 Electric

After being on sale for six years, only the 208 GTi has managed to truly impressed us, so rumours that its replacement will appear in pure-electric form should be guaranteed to get hot hatchback fans excited. The standard 208 will also get an electric version, courtesy of the CMP platform which allows for multiple powertrains.

It won’t get a bespoke design, so will instead share its looks with the petrol and diesel versions when it arrives towards the end of the year. Performance details are still under wraps, but a range of at least 186 miles has been promised.

Spring 2020

Vauxhall e-Corsa 

Due not long after the launch of the petrol version, the electric Corsa will almost certainly prove popular in the UK. The Corsa is regularly one of the country’s most popular cars, and the new version will be the first built under PSA ownership.

It will use the same CMP platform as the Peugeot 208 and DS 3 Crossback, and provide an electric range of up to 250 miles. A brand new visual style, including redesigned grille and all-glass facia, has been predicted, and apparently achieved all within the space of two years following PSA’s buyout of the brand.

Seat e-Mii

It has taken far longer to arrive than the Volkswagen e-Up with which it shares a platform, but Seat’s electric city car should finally go on sale by 2020. It may be a tough sell, costing significantly more than the petrol version and needing to undercut the VW to appeal to customers, but Seat has reportedly greenlit the car ahead of any further electric rollout.

Skoda e-Citigo 

The first electric Skoda will be an adapted version of its small city car. It will deliver a range of around 186 miles, which is significantly more than the Volkswagen e-Up sister car with which it shares a platform. It will then be followed by a dedicated electric model built on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform, although few details are known at present.

Summer 2020

BMW iX3 

An electric version of BMW’s X3 SUV, the iX3 will arrive with a new four-wheel drive powertrain comprised of two electric motors - one for the front axle and another for the rear. It will closely resemble the petrol-powered X3, rather than take any design inspiration from the more radical i3 and i8, to become only the company’s second pure electric car. Each motor should develop around 270bhp from a 70kWh battery, and be capable of around 249 miles of WLTP-certified range. 

Skoda Vision E 

Set to arrive in SUV and coupe bodystyles in a similar approach to the Kodiaq and China-only Kodiaq GT coupé, Skoda’s first dedicated electric car isn’t expected to go on sale until 2021, but a production version should be revealed in 2020. Both versions will be based on the VW Group’s MEB platform, which is being used across all the company’s brands for electric vehicles. Range has been estimated at at least 300 miles, and pricing will be comparable to an upper-range Kodiaq, meaning roughly £30,000.

Link:  https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/new-electric-cars-2019-2020

Have you guys seen this? This is the type of lawsuit that has potential to start a precedent, especially in the sue-happy US.

https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-sued-by-crash-victims-family-2019-1

Well then why did you give your 18 year old such a car? I think it's absurd that they want to blame anyone other than themselves and the kid. 

https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-urges-tesla-buyers-china-buy-now-fund-gigafactory-2019-1?utm_source=msn.com&utm_me...

It's basically like a Go-Fund-Me Campaign for Tesla in China to build his factory

JoeRockhead:

Have you guys seen this? This is the type of lawsuit that has potential to start a precedent, especially in the sue-happy US.

https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-sued-by-crash-victims-family-2019-1

 

I was never biased against Tesla, I just call things out as it is and so for this news, I do not think Tesla is at fault at all.

If anything, the parents should be the one getting sued, for not teaching their children to not go so fast around a corner.

But it also highlights one of the downside of lithium battery cars. Not just Tesla, but all.

A charged battery pack, is basically a bomb. Worse than a tank of gasoline actually, simply because the energy is in the form of electricity which is at the ready to be discharged. 

Regular gas tank don't explode, it has to have an outside agent to start a fire or ignite. 

Batteries on the other hand doesn't quite need an outside agent. Any part of the the battery that isn't build properly can cause a battery short out and unleashed the stored energy. 

Enmanuel:

Well then why did you give your 18 year old such a car? I think it's absurd that they want to blame anyone other than themselves and the kid. 

They should blame themselves, or the licensing system in America. It's too easy and not teach enough and proper driving skills. 

With proper training, they would have realized going around a corner at 4 times the recommended speed is impossible.

I think for driver licensing programs, a course on car handling on a closed circuit should be mandatory, it will be a safe place for students to learn a car's limit. 

Enmanuel:

Well then why did you give your 18 year old such a car? I think it's absurd that they want to blame anyone other than themselves and the kid. 

+1

How is Tesla at fault for anything? if anything the parents should be charged with gross negligence. They made one mistake after another. (1) The bought their son the wrong car, (2) then they did not put the means for their son to acquire the necessary skills and respect for driving, and let him drive in spite of his "record" (3) and finally they did not take the responsibility to make sure that speed limiter stayed activated, such as making sure the dealership shop knows why that limiter is there and that it should not be removed no matter what. 

--

⇒ Carlos - Porsche 991 Carrera GTS

Carlos from Spain:

Enmanuel:

Well then why did you give your 18 year old such a car? I think it's absurd that they want to blame anyone other than themselves and the kid. 

+1

How is Tesla at fault for anything? if anything the parents should be charged with gross negligence. They made one mistake after another. (1) The bought their son the wrong car, (2) then they did not put the means for their son to acquire the necessary skills and respect for driving, and let him drive in spite of his "record" (3) and finally they did not take the responsibility to make sure that speed limiter stayed activated, such as making sure the dealership shop knows why that limiter is there and that it should not be removed no matter what. 

--

⇒ Carlos - Porsche 991 Carrera GTS

But remember the story is in the USA, so the one at fault will not be found at fault!

True

⇒ Carlos - Porsche 991 Carrera GTS

No need to bash the US all the time. These are upset parents and a shit of a lawyer who will take any case for publicity. It has no chance - at least not until cars are driverless.  Why blame the US for having a system which uses litigation to balance progress and safety.  It’s just a system like any other. Who is too say less litigation is better?   

Leawood911:

No need to bash the US all the time. These are upset parents and a shit of a lawyer who will take any case for publicity. It has no chance - at least not until cars are driverless.  Why blame the US for having a system which uses litigation to balance progress and safety.  It’s just a system like any other. Who is too say less litigation is better?   

it's no really bashing. It's more like pointing out the obvious that Americans don't see from inside the bubble.

Use common sense on litigation. Americans have a culture of senseless litigation and a never my fault mentality. They just need to man rip and owe up to what they have done instead of blaming others.

If a car is defective, then yes, litigation is warranted. That's it. Tesla really did nothing wrong. It's her and her son's fault 100%.

But lawsuits like someone suing Starbuck for serving hot coffee that's too hot? Seriously. 

Another one of my favourite is that someone suing Starbucks (again), that his ice drinks contains too much ice and not enough liquid 

Then there is this woman who won $161k because she was looking down at her phone texting and walked into a ladder. 

I could go on and on.

Also, those endless OK buttons for acknowledging waivers before one can drive away? All from the Americans. 

Good points. I actually walked into a ladder while looking at my phone in a parking lot. Right in the face. Seriously idiotic driver in a truck parked with an extra four feet of silver ladder hanging out. Invisible in the light and background even without looking at the phone. 

It did not occur to me to sue. Just to pay better attention. There is no eduction in the second kick of a mule. 

Whoopsy:

Leawood911:

No need to bash the US all the time. These are upset parents and a shit of a lawyer who will take any case for publicity. It has no chance - at least not until cars are driverless.  Why blame the US for having a system which uses litigation to balance progress and safety.  It’s just a system like any other. Who is too say less litigation is better?   

 

it's no really bashing. It's more like pointing out the obvious that Americans don't see from inside the bubble.

Use common sense on litigation. Americans have a culture of senseless litigation and a never my fault mentality. They just need to man rip and owe up to what they have done instead of blaming others.

If a car is defective, then yes, litigation is warranted. That's it. Tesla really did nothing wrong. It's her and her son's fault 100%.

But lawsuits like someone suing Starbuck for serving hot coffee that's too hot? Seriously. 

Another one of my favourite is that someone suing Starbucks (again), that his ice drinks contains too much ice and not enough liquid 

Then there is this woman who won $161k because she was looking down at her phone texting and walked into a ladder. 

I could go on and on.

Also, those endless OK buttons for acknowledging waivers before one can drive away? All from the Americans. 

 

 I hate waivers...

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Audi R8 V10 Plus (2016), Mercedes E63 S AMG Edition 1 (2018), Mercedes C63 S AMG Cab (2019), Range Rover Evoque Si4 Black Edition (2019)

Disappointed by the number of comments on the Tesla lawsuit.   There are numerous frivolous lawsuits in the States, this isn’t one of them.   If anyone bothered to read the complaint, and one should point out, that while Corboy is aggressive, the law firm does not file unwarranted law suits, it is filed by the parents of one of the passengers in car, not the parents of the driver.  

The first count of the suit is against Tesla for removing the speed limit/governor the driver’s parents had asked the company to install.  Tesla Service removed that 85 mph speed limit and never informed the driver’s parents of its removal, which was made at the request of the teen driver.  That is negligence.   

The second count relates to a Tesla patent to make the battery pack less prone to spontaneous combustion if the pack is damaged in a collusion.  That technology was never employed by Tesla.  This count may seem questionable but again it forms a negotiation point to force settlement on the first count.  

This legal action is separate from any action this young victim’s parents have made against the estate of the teen driver.   Tesla was negligent in removing that 85 mph limiter as illustrated by the 116 mph impact speed of the car and bears partial burden.  

CGX car nut:

Disappointed by the number of comments on the Tesla lawsuit.   There are numerous frivolous lawsuits in the States, this isn’t one of them.   If anyone bothered to read the complaint, and one should point out, that while Corboy is aggressive, the law firm does not file unwarranted law suits, it is filed by the parents of one of the passengers in car, not the parents of the driver.  

Lawsuits are something Americans seem to love. Don't worry, Germans learn fast.  

The first count of the suit is against Tesla for removing the speed limit/governor the driver’s parents had asked the company to install.  Tesla Service removed that 85 mph speed limit and never informed the driver’s parents of its removal, which was made at the request of the teen driver.  That is negligence.   

No, it is actually negligence to give a teen such a car. 

The second count relates to a Tesla patent to make the battery pack less prone to spontaneous combustion if the pack is damaged in a collusion.  That technology was never employed by Tesla.  This count may seem questionable but again it forms a negotiation point to force settlement on the first count.  

OK, sounds reasonable but what is the industry standard right now? This is the big question here.

This legal action is separate from any action this young victim’s parents have made against the estate of the teen driver.   Tesla was negligent in removing that 85 mph limiter as illustrated by the 116 mph impact speed of the car and bears partial burden.  

Do you really think the difference between 85 mph and 116 mph is that big, especially in a somewhat narrow curve? 

I understand the pain of the parents but a Tesla S is not a car which should be given to a teen at that age. Especially since it is pretty quiet and even experienced drivers sometimes completely underestimate the power of the "engine(s)" and the acceleration/speed.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Audi R8 V10 Plus (2016), Mercedes E63 S AMG Edition 1 (2018), Mercedes C63 S AMG Cab (2019), Range Rover Evoque Si4 Black Edition (2019)