As we come to the end of another week we look at some of the motoring news which you may have missed starting with the World Premiere of the CUPRA UrbanRebel Concept
CUPRA is pushing the limits with its most radical interpretation of an urban electric car, the CUPRA UrbanRebel Concept, which will be launched in 2025.
Racing is at the core of CUPRA’s DNA and that’s why the company decided to present the vision of its 100% all-electric urban vehicle first as a race car with bold and sharp looks: the CUPRA UrbanRebel Concept.
The CUPRA UrbanRebel Concept builds on the design foundations of the 100% electric urban vehicle that will be launched in 2025. The road version will mix astonishing design with supreme dynamics and will be based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB short platform.
It represents a revolution in the brand towards a more progressive design language, while maintaining the values that identify each CUPRA model: its sportiness and character making it an unconventional challenger brand.
This racing version will influence the road version of the urban electric car, but the core elements are enhanced to give the vehicle an even more rebellious character.
The CUPRA UrbanRebel Concept is rooted in the design philosophy of CUPRA: an emotional and genuine design that stands out thanks to striking and athletic lines, a bold expression, with a gender-neutral approach and amplified by the electric era.
With a total length of 4,080mm, a width of 1,795mm and a height of 1,444mm, the car teases the proportions of the future urban electric car in a racing disguise.
The CUPRA UrbanRebel Concept delivers 250kW of continuous power and up to 320kW at its peak. It can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in only 3.2 secs.
The CUPRA UrbanRebel Concept mixes pure electrification, sustainability and performance with exciting aesthetics influenced by the digital era. It gives an idea of the future design language of the urban electric vehicle, that will be launched by the company in 2025.
The CUPRA UrbanRebel Concept will be unveiled at the preopening of the new CUPRA City Garage in Munich, during the IAA Munich International Motor Show.
Aston Martin launch No Time To Die campaign and unveil giant Corgi box complete with iconic DB5
With only a month until the release of the 25th Bond movie, Aston Martin launched its No Time To Die campaign today with an exclusive screening of its No Time To Die TV spot, against the backdrop of London’s Battersea Power Station.
No Time To Die, to be released globally from September 2021, features four iconic Aston Martin models from past, present and future. James Bond’s highly-anticipated return to cinema marks the first time four different models have appeared in a 007 film: the DB5, the classic Aston Martin V8, the brand’s super GT – DBS and the exceptional Aston Martin Valhalla – the forthcoming mid-engined hypercar.
To celebrate the return of 007’s iconic Aston Martin DB5 to the big screen, Aston Martin and Corgi also unveiled a full-size replica of the original 1965 Corgi DB5 model. Located at The Coaling Jetty, outside Battersea Power Station, the life size model which measures 5.66 metres long, 2.7 metres tall and 2.7 metres deep, replicates the original Corgi design and houses an Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation car. The DB5 is complete with a broad selection of working gadgets that fans will recognise from the classic James Bond film: rotating number plates, a retractable bullet proof rear shield, extending front over-riders and of course pop out machine guns.
Just 25 DB5 Goldfinger Continuation cars are being produced, more than 55 years after the last new DB5 rolled off the line at Aston Martin’s then global manufacturing base in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire. All new cars are authentic reproductions of the DB5 seen on screen, available in one exterior colour specification – Silver Birch (just like the original) – with only some sympathetic modifications and enhancements to ensure the highest levels of quality and reliability.
Corgi is the original home of diecast scale modelling. What were once simply toys are now highly sought after in the expanding collectables market and the most famous Corgi release of all time is indisputably James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5, first released in 1965. Replicating the action features of the vehicle seen on-screen in Goldfinger, it was an instant success earning the UK ‘Toy of the Year’ and ‘Best Boys Toy’ titles at the National Association of Toy Retailers Awards in the same year. Priced originally at around 10/- (50p), the model has proven so popular over the years it has had to be retooled numerous times, allowing it to sell over 20 million units worldwide. It is still being produced to this day.
Dacia Jogger: Dacia’s All-New 7-seater family car
Dacia has announced the name of its new versatile 5 or 7-seater family car. The Dacia Jogger is a vehicle for families to use for both their daily adventures and their trips in the great outdoors. With its pragmatic spirit, Dacia offers a vehicle that allows its customers to enjoy the simple pleasures in life, with friends and family, in complete freedom.
Jogger is a simple, modern name that anyone can pronounce and is universally understood. It represents dynamism, positive energy, and the outdoor spirit. The suffix ‘er’ as with Duster, Dacia’s iconic SUV model, evokes the robustness and endurance of an ideal everyday companion for Dacia families.
Motional and Hyundai Motor Group unveil the IONIQ 5 robotaxi: Motional’s next-generation robotaxi
Motional, a global leader in driverless technology, and Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) unveil the IONIQ 5-based robotaxi (here after referred to as IONIQ 5 robotaxi), Motional’s next-generation robotaxi.
Based on the all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 5, which launched to worldwide acclaim earlier this year, the IONIQ 5 robotaxi is an SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle that can safely operate without a driver. It’s a zero tailpipe-emissions robotaxi and represents the convergence of the two most transformative technologies in mobility: electrification and autonomy. The fusion of these technologies can make transportation smarter, safer, and more sustainable.
The IONIQ 5 robotaxi is also Motional’s first commercial vehicle and signals a pivotal milestone in the company’s roadmap. Motional will begin transporting public passengers in the IONIQ 5 robotaxi in 2023 through a landmark partnership with Lyft.
he IONIQ 5 robotaxi features a technology-driven design that celebrates the innovation behind the autonomous operation. The vehicle’s sensor suite is prominently displayed across the exterior, easily distinguishing the robotaxi from human piloted vehicles. The robotaxi has more than 30 sensors – a combination of cameras, radars, and lidar – that provide robust 360-degree perception, high-resolution images, and ultra-long range detection of objects for safe autonomous operation in diverse driving environments. The robotaxi will be outfitted with Motional’s proven driverless technology, which includes advanced machine learning systems — trained on decades of real world data — that enables the vehicle to safely navigate challenging and complex driving situations.
Based on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), Hyundai Motor Group’s dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV) platform, the IONIQ 5 robotaxi’s interior provides passengers with a spacious, comfortable place to work, relax, or socialize during their driverless ride. The interior will also feature a suite of rider-focused interfaces to allow passengers to intuitively interact with the vehicle during their ride, such as directing the robotaxi to make an extra stop. The resulting passenger experience will set a new standard for driverless ride-hailing.
The return of the original: The AC Ace RS electric
Britain’s oldest car manufacturer, AC Cars, has today unveiled the AC Ace RS electric, continuing the company’s return and reaffirming its approach to providing highly evocative, hand-built cars with high performance zero-emission powertrains.
Restored for the first time in over two decades as an official AC Cars model, and retaining the iconic shape of the original, the new AC Ace RS electric is a true thoroughbred in keeping with the lineage of the iconic brand.
A world away from messy conversions using off the shelf parts, the AC Ace RS electric is a brand new production car that delivers precision British engineering with a specifically developed cutting-edge electric drivetrain.
Despite its classic styling the new AC will deliver a 0-62mph time of around 5.5secs and 500Nm of torque (peak), ensuring that it’s in a different performance league to the Ace of old. The AC Ace RS electric will achieve around 200 emissions-free miles on a single charge.
Named in honour of the original car’s final iteration, the AC Ace RS, just 37 Founders Editions of the AC Ace RS electric are planned, starting at £129,500.
Alan Lubinsky, Chief Executive of AC Cars for 25 years said: “Our move to electric power has proved to be more important for the brand than anything else we’ve attempted before. The combination of our pedigree with a new, fully electric drivetrain means that we’re ready to offer brand new cars that are undeniably historic in character yet thoroughly modern in their powertrain and performance.
“The interest around the world in our new electric cars from has been tremendous and has proved that developing a bespoke EV powertrain is the right approach in ensuring the future success of AC Cars.”
New cutting-edge onboard entertainment system for Flying Spur and Bentayga
Bentley is introducing a new rear-seat entertainment system for both the Flying Spur and the Bentayga. Bentley Rear Entertainment offers the latest connected technology, combining a highly flexible system with class-leading Naim for Bentley audio already available in both models.
An ingenious ‘bring your own device’ concept allows customers to effortlessly stream content from their own smartphone, computer or tablet directly to the Bentley Rear Entertainment system with the minimum of effort – and without the need to connect by cable.
The exceptionally immersive entertainment experience incorporates two, high-definition 10.1” screens attached to the back of the front seats. The tablets are also removable and use crystal clear graphics with resolution of up to 1920 x 1080 pixels offering perfect visuals on the move.
Sound from the Bentley Rear Entertainment system can be streamed via Bluetooth to either headphones supplied with the car or customers’ personal headphones. Alternatively, sound can be streamed directly to the Flying Spur or Bentayga’s existing and class-leading Naim audio system, which in the Flying Spur features an industry-leading 2,200 Watts of power. Over-The-Air (OTA) software updates ensure customers are future-proofed with the very latest in technology advances.
Ivo Muth, Director of Electrical/Electronics, at Bentley Motors, comments:
“The new Bentley Rear Entertainment system blends ease of use with exquisite design and functionality. It allows rear-seat passengers access to an ever-expanding world of entertainment via an exceptionally immersive system – one that represents the very latest in in-car technology. The system delivers digital entertainment services like media and streaming content from nearly all service providers worldwide and turns your car into your own exclusive cinema on the move.
“Bentley’s new ‘bring your own device’ concept works seamlessly with a passenger’s own device, offering the benefits of a high-resolution, 10.1” screen and incredible sound quality. Bentley Rear Entertainment is another example of Bentley helping customers to create their own extraordinary journeys.”
Vauxhall van range is now 100% electric as orders open for All-New Combo-e
As the UK’s best-selling e-LCV manufacturer, Vauxhall is now able to offer fleets and business customers an electric van across its entire LCV line-up.
Powered by a 50kWh battery, the Combo-e delivers a range of 171 miles (WLTP) and features a single electric motor producing 100kW (136PS). Using a 100kW charger, the Combo-e is capable of charging from 0-80% in just 30 minutes.
Like Vauxhall’s other fully electric LCV models, Combo-e is exempt from current ultra-low emission and congestion charge payments. The zero emissions-in-use powertrain also allows businesses to save significantly on company van tax, with a 0% Benefit-in-Kind tax rate.
With a maximum payload of up to 800kg and up to of 4.4m3 of load space, the Combo-e is also a highly practical compact van, ideally suited for trade professionals.
Paul Willcox, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “With the Combo-e now sale alongside the Vivaro-e and Movano-e, Vauxhall customers now have even greater choice when it comes to finding an electric van that suits their needs. The Combo-e is a fantastic addition to our e-LCV line-up, full of practical features and technology that we’re confident will make it the standout choice in the small van sector.”
As standard, the Combo-e comes fitted with a 7.4kW on-board charger and charging cable, allowing it to be charged via a wallbox in seven hours and 30 minutes. An 11kW on-board charger is available as an extra cost option and brings the charging time down to five hours.
Orders open now, with prices starting from £25,238.33
