Every important car news story breaking today, in one convenient read
Thanks for joining us this Tuesday 26 November 2024. Notably in car news today: Toyota insider has confirmed the next Celica is in development, and more global automakers, now including Mercedes-Benz, have experienced billion-dollar losses due to widespread EV sales slump.
A Toyota executive has reportedly said that the brand is in fact working on a Celica project.
According to Japan’s Best Car, Toyota Motor Corporation Executive Vice President of Product, Yuki Nakajima, said at Rally Japan that “we’re making the Celica”.
Throwback to the 2003 Toyota Celica
The signs are promising, with Toyota already announcing it has developed several new turbocharged internal combustion engines, including in 1.5- and 2.0-litre displacements. These powertrains have been co-developed with Subaru and Mazda.
It’s unclear what engine the future Celica could use, however speculation is leaning towards one of these new four-cylinder engines, or Toyota’s punchy 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, the G16E-GTS, found in the GR Yaris and GR Corolla.
The last Celica was produced up until 2006 in seventh-generation guise and used 1.8-litre 1ZZ-FE or 2ZZ-GE four-cylinder engines. The first Celica debuted in 1971.
Several automakers experiencing big losses over electric vehicle demand slump
Several automakers including Nissan, Volkswagenand now, Mercedes-Benz are significantly cutting costs over a demand slump for electric vehicles.
According to Automotive News Europe, the three-pointed star has announced several cost-cutting measures by “several billion euros” after the brand experienced, in the exact words of CFO Harald Wilhelm, an “unacceptable” third-quarter performance in 2024.
Mercedes-Benz struggling to sell luxury focused models
The brand is reportedly struggling to shift units of its luxury-focused S-Class, EQS and EQS SUV, among others, but is hoping that its new-gen CLA-Class could turn the brand’s fortunes around.
In Australia, the EQS has sold 20 units to date in 2024, exactly 50 percent less than what the model achieved last year. The EQE sold 154 units in the year up to October 2023 – so far in 2024, the model has found just 17 buyers.
The news comes after brands including Nissan, Audi, Volkswagen and BMW all experienced sizable sales losses as they struggled to compete against Chinese heavy hitters such as BYD, MG/SAIC, and Tesla.
Peugeot Australia announces pricing for 2008 hybrid SUV
Peugeot has announced local Australian pricing for its 2008 hybrid SUV which is set to start from $42,490 before on-road costs.
Available either in Allure or GT grades, pricing tops out at $49,490 before on-road costs. The model is set to launch in the first quarter of 2025.
Standard equipment includes a 10-inch touchscreen, LED headlights and tail lights, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, a 360-degree camera and fabric seat upholstery.
The top-spec GT adds adaptive cruise control, 3D driving cockpit, panoramic glass sunroof, 18-inch alloy wheels, front seat heating, alcantara seat upholstery and a leather steering wheel.
The 2008 is powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine that produces 100kW/230Nm and is mated to a new six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The model is assisted by a 48-volt hybrid system.
Mercedes-Benz working on electric internal braking system in R&D push
German automaker Mercedes-Benz is working on something it calls in-drive brakes, among other technologies as part of its current research and development.
Mercedes’ in-drive brakes effectively replace disc brakes for electric vehicles by relocating friction brakes from the wheels to inside the electric drive motor to where the drive shafts are housed.
Photos shown on Car & Driver demonstrate the internal braking system to look like a traditional clutch, rather than a brake disc. The system works when a hydraulic cylinder presses the entire assembly altogether to cause rotating friction to drag on the fixed plates. Cool, right?
Mercedes-Benz has claimed that these new types of brakes would last the lifetime of the vehicle, would reduce the need for brake pads, and would not create annoying brake dust.
The German automaker also debuted a few other technologies at its Future Technology Lab, including biotech materials, solar paint coatings, micro power converters and, quite unsurprisingly, virtual reality.
What is Yasa? The company behind the electric motors powering new Lamborghinis and Ferraris
Lamborghini revealed its Aventador successor, the Revuelto, back in March 2023, but did you know the plug-in hybrid Revuelto does not have in-house electric motors?
The new Lamborghini supercar actually uses electric motors supplied by a British company called Yasa, which is owned by parent company Mercedes-Benz.
The Lamborghini supercar uses electric motors supplied by a British company Yasa, which is owned by Mercedes-Benz.
And the Revuelto is not alone. Yasa will also supply the motors for the hybrid V8 Lamborghini Temerario.
The Ferrari 296GTB also used a Yasa motor, along with the Prancing Horse’s SF90 Stradale.
Yasa states on its website that its axial flux motors are “up to four times more powerful than those used in nearly all electric vehicles on the road today” and that its motors are “50 per cent smaller and lighter”.
Hyundai Kona Electric long-term wrap up
Chasing Cars journalist Olek Novak’s long-term review of the 2024 Hyundai Kona Electricwas published, including his thoughts on the electric version of Hyundai’s small SUV after six months of tenure.
Novak found the Kona to be a solid all-rounder, with a wide choice of powertrains, chubby tires and decent ride quality.
However, the biggest downsides included constant and annoying speed warning alerts and low overall electric range.
Novak said he would own a Kona, but didn’t necessarily think that it would be the electric version. He’d ultimately recommend the long-range version instead.
