FUTURE Something is happening. BMW is practicing openness to technology and has started production of an iX5 Hydrogen. The first SUVs with hydrogen fuel cell technology are being built at one of the company's pilot plants.
Editorial - December 9, 2022
The fuel cell systems are installed under the front hood of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen.
The company's own Research and Innovation Center (FIZ) and has already undergone an intensive test program in its development phase. From spring 2023, it is to be used as a technology demonstrator for local CO2-free mobility in selected regions.
Base assembly for the hydrogen tanks In the pilot plant's body shop, conventional X5s receive a new floor assembly that enables the two hydrogen tanks to be accommodated in the center tunnel and under the rear seat bench. The e-machine, which sits together with the battery in the rear axle area, is also used in BMW's battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models.
The fuel cell systems are located under the front hood of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen and have been manufactured at BMW's own hydrogen competence center in Garching, north of Munich, since August of this year.
FIRST PLAY Formula 1 fans still have to be patient until Audi competes in the top class of motorsports for the first time in early 2026. The virtual world is shortening the wait with the racing game EA Sports F1 22.
Editorial - December 9, 2022
With its entry into Formula 1 in 2026, Audi is facing a very challenging task. Crucial for the brand are the new regulations of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), which, among other things, stipulate sustainable synthetic fuels from 2026 and increase the electric share of the drive unit to up to 50 percent. The drive unit is being developed at the Neuburg an der Donau site.
F1 powertrains will be more efficient from 2026 than they are today, as the proportion of electric power increases and synthetic fuel is used.
Prelude to the World Championship At the end of August, Audi unveiled a show car with a special Audi F1 launch livery as part of the Belgian Grand Prix. EA Sports and Codemasters have now digitally recreated exactly this show car and integrated it into the F1 22 video game with the latest in-game update. E
A Sports is considered one of the leading developers of sports simulations for game consoles and PC. F1 22 is the latest part of the official video game of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, available for Playstation, Xbox and PC. All the latest teams, drivers and tracks are included in the game.
Title contenders in the virtual world
Paul Jeal, F1 Senior Franchise Director at Codemasters: "Audi's announcement to enter Formula 1 has created great excitement. We are delighted to be able to offer EA Sports F1 22 players the great launch livery as part of Podium Pass Series 4. It allows Audi to establish itself as a title contender in the virtual world ahead of its 2026 debut."
In the real world, Audi will compete in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship with its own factory team in cooperation with Sauber from the 2026 season. The first test drives are planned for 2025.
SIMPLE TIPS Whether it's snow, freezing rain or black ice: the cold season brings many dangers in road traffic. The practical tips from the TCS help to prepare the car optimally and to be safe on the road.
Editorial - December 9, 2022
All windows, headlights and rearview mirrors must be cleared of snow and ice.
As soon as the first snow falls, the rush to the car repair shops and tire dealers begins. Yet winter tires should have been fitted long before the first snowflakes. The basic rule still applies: from October to Easter. Winter tires are simply part of the basic equipment, even if they are not required by law. They help not only in snow and ice, but already in cold and slippery road.
Battery and operating fluids Batteries are heavily loaded in winter due to cold and additional consumers. Battery failure is therefore the most common cause of breakdowns and can be avoided by checking the condition of the battery in good time. In addition, the levels of engine oil, coolant and other operating fluids should be checked and their frost resistance tested.
Wiper and lighting After filling the reservoir should operate the nozzles of the windshield washer system, so that the liquid mixed with antifreeze reaches the nozzles. Since a lot of wiper water is needed in winter, it is necessary to carry a supply in the trunk. In addition: if necessary, replace the wiper blades. The lighting elements should be checked for proper function. A brief walk around the car with the parking lights and low beam switched on quickly reveals the smallest defect.
Ice scraper, whisk, de-icer spray Cars parked outdoors often have their locks and doors freeze in the winter. Commercial products should therefore be carried in the car. In addition to the breakdown triangle, it is also advisable to carry ice scrapers, snow brooms, de-icer spray, gloves, snow chains and a jumper cable. Rubber floor mats catch melt water from shoes and are easier to clean. If the vehicle is parked outside, a plastic sheet on the windshield will save ice scraping.
Special instructions for electric drivers Electric cars should be warmed up before starting to drive while they are still connected to the charging station. It is important to note that the battery must be warm in order to accommodate a fast charge at maximum power. For more comfort, it makes sense to use the seat and steering wheel heating instead of the energy-intensive interior heating.
The next step for Cupra and Abt after successes in ETCR and Extreme E is Formula E. Participation in the premier class is expected to have a major impact on the brand.
Editorial - December 9, 2022
Abt and Cupra will strengthen their cooperation as main partners, Mahindra Racing will supply the drive technology. The team will compete with Dutch driver Robin Frijns (and Nico Müller (center gallery).
Racing like Formula E is at the core of the Spanish Cupra brand.
Racing is core of the brand
Wayne Griffiths, CEO of Cupra: "Racing is at the core of our DNA - and at Cupra we compete to win. It is the right time to take the next step forward and join the world's largest competition in electric motorsport. Formula E underlines our ambition to become a globally relevant brand. We want to inspire the world from Barcelona."
Third all-electric racing series For Cupra, participation in the ABB-FIA Formula E World Championship marks its entry into the third all-electric racing series: Together with Abt, the Challenger brand has already been competing in Extreme E, the racing series for all-electric off-road SUVs, for two years - right from the start. In addition, the Spanish brand has developed the Cupra e-Racer, the world's first all-electric touring car.
With the e-Racer, Team Cupra EKS celebrated numerous successes in the FIA ETCR eTouring Car World Cup. In the world's first all-electric touring car championship, Cupra won the drivers' and manufacturers' championships in both 2021 and 2022. In 2022, Cupra EKS drivers took all three first places in the season's overall standings.
Racing spectacle in remote locations For the second year in a row, the Cupra e-Racer was by far the fastest and most reliable vehicle in the competition. The global Extreme E competition for all-electric off-road SUVs not only offers racing spectacles in remote locations, but also aims to bring natural areas threatened by climate change into the focus of public awareness.
ELECTRICITY PRICES An analysis by TCS shows how electric-powered vehicles currently compare in terms of cost as electricity prices rise compared to those with conventional powertrains.
Editorial - December 8, 2022
Even if electricity prices rise, the electric car remains cheaper in terms of costs.
Prices for diesel and gasoline have climbed to unprecedented heights in the current year, and electricity tariffs are also rising to 2023, in some cases sharply. This raises the question of whether the cost advantage of electric cars will be maintained in this way, even though the current TCS barometer has shown that the price of electricity has no influence on the purchase decision for 75 percent of the population.
Moderate increase in price for EV car The average annual fuel cost for conventional cars is currently 2068 francs for new gasoline vehicles and 2165 francs for diesel vehicles. In comparison, the fuel costs of electric cars amount to only 655 francs.
The comparison thus shows that electric vehicles are significantly cheaper in terms of pure energy costs. Assuming that fuel and electricity costs each rise by 50 percent, electricity costs for electric cars increase by 312 to 967 Swiss francs, but for gasoline vehicles by as much as 1034 to 3102 Swiss francs and for diesels by 1031 to 3196 Swiss francs.
Advantage of more efficient electric motors Even if the price of fuel remains constant and only the price of electricity increases by 50 percent, the significant advantage of the more efficient electric motors remains. At today's gasoline price of 1.80 Swiss francs and diesel price of 2.10 Swiss francs, the price of electricity would have to rise to over 66 and 69 centimes per kilowatt hour, respectively, to make up the difference.
NEW 7-IN-1 SOLUTION Juice Technology AG, a Swiss manufacturer of charging stations and software, launched the Juice Booster 3 air on Juice World Charging Day 2022 as another highlight of its product portfolio.
Editorial - December 8, 2022
In addition to the familiar uses as a mobile charging station, wallbox and Type 2 charging cable, the Juice Booster 3 air already has charging and load management as well as access management on board and can be monitored via the j+ pilot app.
As the first device in the j+ series, the Juice Booster 3 air features interface-friendly firmware that makes it compatible with other j+ charging stations.
Christoph Erni, CEO and founder of Juice Technology AG: "The journey is heading towards a comprehensive ecosystem consisting of charging solutions for home and on the move. Everything is fully integrated and intelligently networked."
Five and ten meter extension cables are available for the Juice Booster 3 air.
Activation, monitoring, control As a 7-in-1 solution, the new booster brings the previously proven functional diversity as a wallbox, mobile charging station and charging cable (3-in-1), but also has the complete j+ scope. This promises a comprehensive range of functions with activation, monitoring and control of charging processes as well as the integrated smartjuice load management for up to ten units. The digital electricity meter provides information about the amount of energy charged and allows easy allocation of the charged electricity.
The weight is only about 700 grams The Juice Booster 3 air is slimmer and lighter than version 2, but has all the familiar safety features. With a wheel load of up to three tons, it is safe to drive over and fully complies with the applicable standards. It is also watertight and protected against dirt and environmental influences. The protection function against DC and AC faults is already integrated and makes the installation of a FI-B circuit breaker on the house installation unnecessary.
The Juice Booster 3 air measures less than 53 millimeters in diameter with a length of 213 millimeters and a weight of only around 700 grams. The 11-kW charging station allows one- to three-phase charging with up to 16 amps, which is the maximum charging power that over 90 percent of the vehicles currently available on the market can accommodate. The new Juice Booster 3 air costs 1499 Swiss francs.
KENSHIKI FORUM Lexus is continuously increasing its current vehicle potential with electrification. The Japanese company's battery technology achieves an optimal combination of power, efficiency, size, cost and durability.
Editorial - December 7, 2022
Lexus is continuously developing new technologies for electrified vehicles. On the one hand, to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions, and on the other, to achieve higher levels of performance, dynamics and driving pleasure.
At the Kenshiki Media Forum in Brussels, the company gave an update overview of Lexus Electrified, its roadmap of electrification and the path to CO2 neutrality. Also highlighted were innovations in design and engineering that will characterize the new generation of models.
Direct4 in the RX 500h and RZ 450e models is a Lexus-exclusive technology.
Vehicles should trigger real enthusiasm Vice President and Head of Lexus Europe, Pascal Ruch recognized the leading role of battery electric vehicles. However, as long as infrastructure and power availability remain challenges, Lexus will also continue to develop hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles to meet all customer needs worldwide.
Pascal Ruch: "All future developments will be based on the principle of reinventing the driving experience with electrification. We want our vehicles to trigger genuine enthusiasm."
Acceleration to 100 km/h in two seconds The Electrified Sport (gallery and video) represents the vision of a future hyper sports car with electric drive. It shows the clear intention to build e-cars also in the high-performance range. The flowing lines of the model were inspired by speed and movements in aerobatics. It is said to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just around two seconds.
Lexus is also introducing new systems that optimize the dynamic potential of the electrified powertrains. Direct4 in the RX 500h and RZ 450e models is a Lexus-exclusive technology that distributes drive power between the front and rear wheels at all times according to the situation. This ensures the best possible traction, smooth acceleration, and better and smoother cornering.
Cupra: The Terramar rolls off the production line in Hungary.
SYNERGY EFFECTS Cupra unveiled the new Terramar in Győr, Hungary, in front of 200 employees from the Audi plant there. The SUV is to be produced here from 2024 together with the Ingolstadt-based company's models.
Editorial - December 6, 2022
Audi Hungaria CEO Alfons Dintner (l.) and Cupra CEO Wayne Griffiths unveil the Cupra Terramar.
Cupra boss Wayne Griffiths presented the new model to the employees of Audi Hungaria. Griffiths highlighted the production of the Terramar as an example of the use of synergy effects within the Volkswagen Group.
Audi Hungaria is already producing the engines for the Formentor VZ5, the five-cylinder version of the young Spanish brand's bestseller.
The Formentor, of which more than 80,000 units have been delivered this year, is manufactured in Martorell, Spain, where the Audi A1 is also produced.
First electrified SUV from the Spanish brand The 4.50-metre-long Terramar is the first electrified SUV from the Cupra brand. It is offered with both combustion engines and a new generation of plug-in hybrid drives, which are intended to offer a range of around 100 kilometers in pure electric mode.
The name Terramar is a tribute to a municipality (Sitges) in the Spanish region of Catalonia, around 36 kilometers southwest of Barcelona. The market launch of the new model is also planned for 2024.
FUTURE Hyundai sent the high-performance Ioniq 5 N out on the track together with the two high-performance concept cars RN22e and N Vision 74 and made a video of it.
Fiat: Metaverse launch with the 500 electric city runabout 🎥
VIRTUAL SHOWROOM In the Metaverse Store, Fiat customers will in future be able to discover, configure and purchase vehicles just like in a real showroom. They will be supported online by real experts.
Editorial - December 5, 2022
The technology introduced by Fiat is set to revolutionize the entire customer experience with the brand. A key role is played by the Fiat Product Genius, a real person who can answer all customers' questions about the vehicles.
Fiat launches the Metaverse Store with the model 500 Elektro la Prima by Bocelli.
Fiat CEO Olivier François: "The Metaverse store makes our customers' experience even simpler thanks to the interaction with Fiat Product Genius. This is in line with the brand's social mission and people's current need for a simplified life. At launch, our customers will be able to get to know and also buy the Fiat 500 Elektro la Prima by Bocelli from the comfort of their own homes."
To best meet the needs of its clientele, Product Genius is available from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Virtual or real test drives as required In the Metaverse Store, physical and digital elements merge. Fiat's website is the gateway to the brand's online world, accessible via desktop computers, smartphones and tablets.
For the new Metaverse store, Fiat developed exclusive technology in collaboration with Touchcast. Touchcast is a global leader in the Metaverse space, also working with Microsoft. The online experience at the Metaverse Store is complemented by promotions. Dealers continue to offer real-life test drives of the brand's models.
