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2022 Mercedes-Benz EQE spy shots

Mercedes-Benz is committed to having at least 10 EVs in its lineup by the end of 2022, and one of them will be a small sedan called the EQE.

A prototype for the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4 rival has just been spotted ahead of a likely debut in 2021. We should see it arrive in showrooms toward the end of that year as a 2022 model.

2021 Mercedes-Benz EQS prototype and Vision EQS concept

Though heavily camouflaged, the prototype reveals that the EQE will feature similar styling to the larger EQS electric sedan also due out next year. The styling was previewed by Mercedes’ Vision EQS concept car unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt International Motor Show.

Although the EQE will be similar in size to a C-Class, its interior should be as roomy as the cabin of an E-Class. This will be due to packaging advantages of the EQE’s dedicated EV platform, which is referred to internally as EVA and features a flat battery in the floor and electric drive at both axles. The EVA platform will make its debut in the EQS and will also underpin EQE SUV and EQS SUV models.

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQE spy shots – Photo credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

Mercedes’ current EVs feature modified versions of platforms originally developed for internal-combustion cars.

It isn’t clear how much battery capacity and power the EQE will offer but Mercedes is almost certain to deliver improved performance on the EQC, whose EQC400 grade delivers 402 horsepower and around 200 miles of range. Note, the EQC still isn’t on sale in the United States as Mercedes has decided to delay it until after the EQS is launched.

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQE spy shots – Photo credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

Production of the EQE will be handled at Mercedes’ newly constructed plant at the automaker’s headquarters in Sindelfingen, Germany. The high-tech facility, referred to as Factory 56, started operations earlier this year with the redesigned 2021 S-Class. It will also build the EQS and future self-driving cars from Mercedes.

Other EVs in the pipeline at Mercedes include the EQA and EQB compact SUVs, and an electric G-Class.

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December 1, 2020
Audi quits Formula E to focus on Dakar Rally, Le Mans return via LMDh

Audi on Monday made several major motorsport announcements.

The brand with the four rings confirmed it will exit the Formula E Championship at the end of the 2020/2021 season, leaving Porsche to represent the Volkswagen Group in the electric open-wheel series.

Instead, Audi will enter the Dakar Rally for the first time, using an electric SUV. It will be a bespoke SUV with a high-voltage battery and an internal-combustion engine serving as a range extender, the automaker said.

2020/2021 Audi E-Tron FE07 Formula E race car

Audi is making a multi-year commitment to the Dakar Rally, starting with the 2022 rally. The automaker said its aim is to use motorsport to improve the performance of its electric drive systems and batteries and transfer this knowledge into future road cars.

We’ve already seen this in Formula E where Audi’s latest entry features an electric drive system that develops 335 horsepower yet weighs less than 77 pounds. The drive system also has an efficiency rating of 95%, and the efficiency of its motor-generator alone is 97%.

And while Audi has never competed in the Dakar Rally before, fellow VW Group brands Porsche and Volkswagen have experience to call on—especially VW which scored a hat track of wins between 2009 and 2011.

Markus Duesmann

“We want to continue demonstrating the brand’s slogan ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ in international top-level motorsport in the future and develop innovative technologies for our road cars,” said Markus Duesmann, CEO of Audi. “The toughest rally in the world is the perfect stage for this.”

Audi also confirmed Monday it is preparing to enter the new LMDh (Le Mans Daytona hybrid) category for prototype racers announced back in January. LMDh was announced jointly by IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) and ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest), which sanctions the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the highlight of the World Endurance Championship. The rules are still being hammered out but LMDh could be introduced in the WEC and the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship by the 2022 season, essentially allowing a team to compete in races from both series with the same car.

Audi said it will also continue to investigate other motorsport arenas, though don’t look for a new DTM entry. Audi in April said it will quit DTM after 2020.

Source

November 30, 2020
2022 Genesis G70 wagon spy shots: Longroof coming but probably not to US

Genesis will add a wagon body style to its G70, as evidenced by the recent sighting of this prototype in Europe.

Genesis hasn’t announced plans for a wagon but we’ll likely see it introduced next year to coincide with the market launch of an updated G70 sedan.

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The G70 sedan only arrived for 2019 but Genesis has updated the styling so it matches the rest of the cars in the automaker’s lineup, namely the new G80 and GV80. The updated G70 sedan is expected on sale next year as a 2022 model.

Don’t expect to see the wagon reach the United States. It’s designed to target vehicles like the Audi A4 Avant, BMW 3-Series Sports Wagon, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Wagon, none of which are sold here. The arrival is meant to coincide with Genesis’ expansion into Europe where wagons are popular.

Updated Genesis G70

Genesis is yet to reveal details on its updated G70. The current powertrain lineup will likely carry over to the updated range, meaning the choice of a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 or a 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V-6. A 2.2-liter turbodiesel inline-4 is also offered in some markets. Sadly, the manual transmission is being dropped. It’s not a huge surprise as less than 1% of G70 buyers tick this option.

The new model introductions at Genesis won’t slow anytime soon. Two SUVs are in the works, one of which is the GV70 small SUV arriving next year. Also arriving next year will be a dedicated EV and an electric version of the G80.

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November 29, 2020