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  • Princess Diana’s 1981 Ford Escort heads to auction

    A 1981 Ford Escort sedan previously owned by Princess Diana is headed to auction with Reeman Dansie, which plans to put the car under the hammer on June 29.

    The car was given to Diana by Prince Charles as an engagement present in May 1981, two months before their wedding, and was used by her until August 1982, according to the auction house, adding that the Escort has been out of public view for 20 years.

    An Escort might not seem worthy of a princess, but this is the upmarket Ghia version, at least. It also sports a silver frog hood ornament, a copy of a gift from Diana’s sister, Lady Sarah Spencer, inspired by the fairy tale of a beautiful girl whose kiss turns a frog into a prince, per the auction listing.

    Princess Diana's 1981 Ford Escort - Photo via Reeman Dansie

    Princess Diana’s 1981 Ford Escort – Photo via Reeman Dansie

    The current owner is a “great admirer” of the princess, and has kept the Escort’s history secret until now, according to the listing. Auctioneers verified the car’s authenticity from its vehicle-history file and registration number, according to a BBC write-up of the sale. The auction house also claims photographs of Diana in the car—with the same WEV 297W license plate it wears now—confirm the royal connection.

    The Escort still sports its original paint and upholstery, and currently shows 83,000 miles on its odometer, according to the listing. This was the third generation of Escort, marked by a switch from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive. Ford eventually devised some performance versions of the third-ten Escort for the European market but, despite having one of the larger 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engines, this isn’t one of them.

    Reeman Dansie expects the royal Escort to fetch between 30,000 and 40,000 British pounds (approximately $42,000-$57,000 at current exchange rates) at auction, and noted that Diana’s Audi 80 cabriolet sold last year for 58,000 British pounds.

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  • Volkswagen’s T7-generation van debuts in Multivan guise

    Volkswagen is working on an electric successor to its iconic Microbus based on 2017’s ID.Buzz concept car. It starts sales in Europe next year and is confirmed to reach the United States in 2023, meaning we’ll likely see it arrive as a 2024 model.

    However, concurrent with the development of the new electric van is development of a new generation, number seven to be exact, of VW’s conventional T-series vans. The new T7-generation van was revealed on Thursday in passenger-oriented Multivan guise. For commercial buyers, VW will continue to offer the current T6 generation in Transporter guise. Sadly, neither is expected in the United States.

    Unlike the T6 generation, which is based on a dedicated van platform, the T7 generation has adopted the car-based MQB platform found in multiple models, including the latest Golf and the Atlas crossover. Moving to this platform has resulted in longer overhangs front and rear, but it has enabled VW to offer a plug-in hybrid option for the first time. You also get all the connectivity options and electronic driver-assist features built into the MQB platform.

    2022 Volkswagen Multivan

    2022 Volkswagen Multivan

    2022 Volkswagen Multivan

    2022 Volkswagen Multivan

    2022 Volkswagen Multivan

    2022 Volkswagen Multivan

    The Multivan measures 195.8 inches long as standard and 203.7 inches in stretched guise, and it is 76.4 inches wide. It can seat up to seven, with many of the seats designed to be moved via tracks or removed completely. There’s also a table, which is completely removable and features adjustable height, three cup holders, and a storage bin. The standard size has a maximum 129.7 cubic feet of storage and the long version a maximum 143 cubic feet.

    Multiple powertrain options are on offer, all of them with front-wheel drive. The powertrains primarily comprise a series of turbocharged inline-4s, in both gasoline and diesel flavors, but the range-topping option is plug-in hybrid setup that combines a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 with a single electric integrated with the transmission, in this case a 6-speed dual-clutch unit. Peak output is 215 hp and 13-kilowatt-hour battery means a small electric range is possible. Maximum towing capacity is 4,409 pounds.

    VW’s T-series vans are actually the direct successors to the Microbus, with the original T1 generation first sold here as the Bus. While VW plans to offer both the new T7 generation and electric Microbus successor in its lineup this time, some of the automaker’s other vans could dissappear. VW officials have hinted that the smaller Touran and Sharan minivans are likely to be phased out due to families preferring crossovers.

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  • 2023 Kia Niro spy shots: Radical look pegged for compact crossover

    A prototype for a redesigned Kia Niro has been spotted for the first time.

    The new compact crossover is expected to arrive at dealerships in the second half of 2022 as a 2023 model, and its reveal could take place around the end of the current year.

    The prototype is heavily camouflaged but we can already see that the designers have given the new Niro a radical new look similar to what’s round on the recently revealed 2023 Sportage.

    Kia Habaniro Concept, 2019 New York International Auto Show

    Kia Habaniro Concept, 2019 New York International Auto Show

    Kia Habaniro Concept, 2019 New York International Auto Show

    Kia Habaniro Concept, 2019 New York International Auto Show

    Key design traits include a clamshell hood, low-set headlights, and a tailgate with a pinched leading edge that resembles a ducktail spoiler. The vehicle also sports vertical taillights. Interestingly, Kia hinted at the design of its new Niro as early as 2019 with the Habaniro concept car.

    It isn’t clear what Kia has planned for the powertrain lineup. A hybrid powertrain is likely to be standard, at least here in the United States, and we should also see a repeat of the plug-in hybrid and battery-electric options. Expect the electric version to better the current Niro EV’s 201 hp and EPA-rated 239 miles of range.

    Stay tuned for updates as development continues.

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