Audi’s first step into the EV battlefield with the R8 e-tron was not that fruitful. They are on a stride to change this fate with the rebooted E-Tron lineup, starting with the decent E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback crossovers. Now they are adding a new body style to the lineup. The 2022 Audi E-Tron GT and sportier Audi RS E-Tron GT grows from their concept form into a reality.
Though Tesla had been making cars since 2009, it was their flagships, the Model S sedan and Model X SUV that came out in 2012 and 2015 respectively, that took them to the level of fame that they enjoy now. With some years under their belt, the new Tesla Model X and Model S are getting a refresh in the form of a new interior and a hot Plaid performance powertrain.
When Tesla unveiled its Model Y back in 2019, it was quite obvious that they will come up with a less expensive base variant. Just released now, the new Tesla Model Y Standard Range fits into the range as the cheapest offering. It comes as a surprise since the CEO of Tesla himself had denied its existence via Twitter back in 2020. Aside from that, the small crossover gets a third row of seats too.
The Mercedes-Benz EQC was the brand’s first venture into the EV crossover category that remains dominated by Tesla. The German carmaker hopes to grow the EQ family of EVs to about 10 models by 2022. They have just revealed the smallest entrant to the family, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz EQA.
Chinese EV maker NIO made headlines with their new 150 kWh Solid-State Battery pack a few days ago. The tech will go into their first sedan, joining as the flagship vehicle to their lineup. Called the NIO ET7, the large sedan can return a colossal 1000 km range with the new battery pack.
The future of motoring is electric. It does not matter if we agree with it or not, the bright minds in the automotive arena are completely focused on perfecting EV mobility. A major milestone in this journey is now covered by NIO, a Chinese automaker which has now created a large solid-state battery that may give a range of up to 1000 km and quicker charging.
Bentley’s Bentayga is a very important product for the luxury brand. With the electrification trend going strong, the plug-in hybrid version of the Bentayga is a key player in the SUV lineup. So, just a year after its introduction, the Bentayga Hybrid follows the tracks of the recently facelifted regular Bentayga and Bentayga Speed, getting a refresh.
EVs are now offered in almost all shapes and sizes. But still limited by their range and the underdeveloped charging network in most countries, EVs still make more sense for intra-city driving than cross-country highway trips. Toyota’s response to this preference is a miniscule EV for the city commuter. Dubbed the Toyota C+Pod, this Japan-only tiny EV hatch gets just 12.3 hp, two seats and a plastic body.
As the VW group carries on their frantic bid to electrify everything with four-wheels in their house, Audi is expanding their “green” range as well. Next in line is the 2021 Audi A3 Sportback hatchback, now in “45 TFSI e” form.
Continuing the Jaguar-Land Rover range’s barrage of refreshes — Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover Evoque, Jaguar XF and E-Pace all have been updated for 2021 — is the 2021 Range Rover Velar. The midsize crossover SUV gets new tech and electrified engines for the new model year.