Car overview of the week #41 – New E-Class, stunning McLaren, two Defenders, BMW i5 and VW gigafactory with hydrogen in Berlin

Picnic, picnic, but the industry does not sleep, what interesting has happened in recent days? Oh, so many, McLaren showed the owner of the world record in terms of power to weight, Mercedes new E class, BMW has not yet shown, but is already finishing the tests of the new BMW i5, Volkswagen is pumping money into the gigafactory, Volvo is releasing the EX90 in the version presidents, and Toyota are patent rivers and go with hydrogen to Berlin. I welcome.

The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class in showrooms later this year

Mercedes has launched the latest E-Class. A modern and elegant saloon with a redesigned digital architecture (one main computer system instead of distributed modules), updated software, a variety of driver assistants and new multimedia and additional user support- installable software, expected later in the year this (autumn) in the showrooms of the German brand.

Six variants of the car have been announced, all electric, of which three are plug-in hybrids with large batteries that ensure a range on electricity exceeding 100 km.

Land Rover Defender with the modern and new Defender 130

Land Rover has recently introduced two new products. The first is a classic, the Land Rover Classic Defender Works V8 Islay Edition. This special edition Defender classic is a tribute to Spencer Wilks, CEO of Rover Car Company and one of the founders of Land Rover, the model is also associated with the name of the Scottish island of Islay, where Land Rover was named. birth The car is inspired by the original Land Rover Series IIa owned by Spencer Wilks. The car is powered by a 5-liter V8 engine with 405 hp, working with an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission.

The second defender presented recently is a completely different story. We are talking about the new version of the Land Rover Defender 130 Outbound. This vehicle is the Defender of the 21st century, combining advanced technology that can cope with any road and off-road, as well as digital technology and luxury equipment. The Outbound variant will only seat five, all so that the car can fit all the equipment for any extreme expedition. Under the hood, a turbocharged V8 can also work, reaching 500 hp and 610 Nm.

The new BMW i5 is already being tested at the BMW center in Miramas

The new BMW i5 can only be seen in a heavily disguised version during ongoing tests at the Bavarian brand’s research centers. Recently, the final tuning of the chassis control and driver assistance systems is being carried out on the roads of the BMW Group’s Miramas facility, France. The first BMW i5 therefore enters the final straight in preparation for series production. Just a few weeks before its world premiere, the manufacturer is already announcing that the all-electric model, like all other models of the BMW 5 Series Sedan, will offer a unique driving experience. The innovation of the reverse dynamics control takes the balance between sportiness and driving comfort typical of the BMW 5 Series to the highest level. Automated driving also reaches a new dimension: the road assistant, which can take control of the continuous distance and the steering of the vehicle, makes lane changes for the first time, which are activated with… the driver’s eye.

Nissan Townstar with new body styles

I already had the opportunity to introduce you to the Nissan Townstar in the Auto Weekly series, but this time Nissan announced the introduction of three body versions for the range of this model offered in Poland: Van with long wheelbase, Crew Van and Electric Combi. . Designed to meet the needs of large families, the Combi version has separate seats, a second row of sliding seats and a boot capacity of 775 litres, expandable to an impressive 2,500 litres. The long-wheeled Townstar Van is a van with up to 4.3 m3 of space. Two Euro pallets will fit, carrying capacity up to 800 kg. Crew Van, on the other hand, is a clever combination of a 5-passenger van and a delivery van, allowing you to easily adjust the cabin layout according to your needs. This model is offered with a 130 hp petrol engine or as a fully electric car with 122 hp.

Toyota patents a new type of airbag

Toyota is working on a new advanced airbag design that not only protects the occupant’s head from injury, but also protects the occupant’s face and strengthens the neck and shoulders in the event of a collision. This is confirmed by an application filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office. Why a new river? According to Toyota, current airbags protect against head and chest injuries, but are ineffective in protecting the neck. Toyota’s new design solves this problem by creating a shield around the top of the occupant. The Toyota airbag will keep the occupant’s head in a stable position parallel to the upper torso and prevent it from twisting or swaying to the side during a collision. As a result, the head, neck and shoulders will be better protected in side impacts and angled impacts will have less impact on the upper back. Where should this pillow be placed? At the head of the seat.

Volkswagen and PowerCo to build their largest cell factory in St. Thomas in Canada

The Volkswagen Group is investing in electric power in North America. Group PowerCo plans to build its largest cell plant to date in St. Thomas in Canada. The target production capacity of the planned plant is up to 90 GWh per year. This capacity should be enough to produce battery packs for one million cars per year. The plant will occupy approximately 150 hectares, which is approximately the size of 210 football fields. With the sales plants, the complex should occupy about 600 hectares, that is, 6 square kilometers.

The Toyota Mirai fleet will go to Uber in Berlin

Later this year, Uber’s fleet in Berlin will add 200 copies of the hydrogen Toyota Mirai, so the American transport operator through the program will become the largest user of hydrogen vehicles in Germany. There are already 50 such cars in Berlin, with 150 more to follow by the end of 2023. These cars are available to Uber customers on the Uber Comfort Electric service. The whole thing is, in effect, a pilot project to test the performance of hydrogen cars running in the metropolis of Berlin.

The Volkswagen T-Roc is the cleanest combustion car according to Green NCAP

At the end of April green NCAP, An organization that investigates how eco-friendly modern cars are has published a new set of results for the cars it recently tested. Cars with every vehicle are tested, not only electric, but also combustion, petrol and diesel cars. It was a surprise that the all-combustion Volkswagen T-Roc turned out to be the cleanest combustion engine Green NCAP has ever covered. In fact, the result (2.5 stars and 49%) does not decrease compared to hybrids, or even more electric cars (they usually get 5 stars and more than 90%), but it is a curiosity that deserves to be mentioned, especially since it is only a combustion T. – Roc turned out to be more “green” than the models supported by the installation of a smooth 48-volt hybrid.

Cupra Tavascan released

The Spanish brand officially presented its latest proprietary model in Berlin for the first time, the second electric car after the Cupra Born model: Cupra Tavascan. The Tavascan is an electric SUV coupé. The car can have up to two electric motors (on both axles), and the maximum power is 340 hp. In addition, the adaptive suspension, continuous operation, and a battery with a usable capacity (net) of 77 kWh is enough to cover up to 550 km (according to the WLTP, it applies to the weaker version with 286 hp and two-wheel drive). The most powerful variant is capable of driving up to 517 km without recharging. On board heat pump, inside large media screen up to 15 inches. Maximum charge power is 135 kW.

Volvo offers the highest-end electric SUV variant: the Volvo EX90 Excellence

Volvo has launched a limited edition top-of-the-line version of its latest Volvo EX90 all-electric SUV. This is a version aimed at especially wealthy customers who expect above-average comfort in the second row, because they travel with a driver. This variant has only four seats, as a reminder, the “standard” Volvo EX90 can have up to seven seats. In the Quality version, instead of the usual single bench seat in the second row, two separate seats were used. Additionally, soft pillows were placed around the headboards. There was a refrigerator between the seats. Rear seat passengers have a console to control the functions at their fingertips. Tactile panels are attached to the natural wood surface. The rear seats are equipped with massage function (five different levels) and heating (three levels). An Orrefors glass switch is used to control the aroma diffuser. There are three different flavors to choose from. The atmosphere in the cabin is completed by mood lighting and lots of light. In abundance!

McLaren 750S – power, not mass!

The British presented their latest hypercar. This term is not an exaggeration, because the McLaren 750S is a car with the best power-to-weight ratio of all mass-produced cars. What is this ratio? 587 hp per ton. The total power of the new McLaren 750S is 750 hp and 800 Nm of torque, all going to the rear axle, with a car weight of only 1277 kg (so-called dry weight, without driver and without water). And yes, this car can legally move on public roads.