Car news, 25 July ’24: Next Toyota Corolla could pack 2100km range, Porsche makes EV admission, and more

---

Thanks for joining us this Thursday July 25th 2024. Notably in car news today: Toyota is said to be readying a new Corolla capable of travelling 2100km on a single tank and Porsche has made an admission about the future of its EV lineup.

Browse this issue:

• Next Toyota Corolla to feature PHEV powertrain with 2100km range: report
• Porsche says EV transition taking longer than expected
• Could the Nissan Silvia be the next sports car to be revived?
• Mazda trademarks new logo design
• Reviewed: BMW iX1 xDrive30 2024

Next Toyota Corolla to feature PHEV powertrain with 2100km range: report

• The next generation Toyota Corolla could pack a plug-in hybrid electric powertrain for the first time, potentially capable of up to 2100km of range, according to reports out of Japan.

• Best Car Web reports that the 13th–generation small car will feature a down-sized and more efficient 1.5-litre hybrid powertrain in both naturally-aspirated and turbo-charged form in a body design that “boldly emphasizes” low height.

• The Corolla transitioned to a hybrid-only lineup in Australia in March this year for the hatch and June for the sedan, ensuring that its 1.8-litre naturally aspirated petrol-electric hybrid powertrain remains the only choice for buyers, aside from high-performance GR models. 

• Revealed in 2018, the current 12th-generation model is nearing the end of its life cycle but remains Australia’s most popular small car, with 13,179 new deliveries this year

Porsche says EV transition taking longer than expected

• Porsche has said that the transition to electric cars is taking longer than the brand thought it would five years ago.

• In a statement to Reuters, the brand said: “our product strategy is set up such that we could deliver over 80 percent of our vehicles as all electric in 2030 – dependent on customer demand and the development of electromobility”.

• While the brand has previously been open about its goal of selling 80 percent EVs by 2030, the latest statement suggests demand for ICE vehicles is continuing to hold stronger than expected, going on to state: “our double strategy is more important than ever”, referring to its dual-approach to developing both combustion and electric vehicles.

• Despite this, the brand has still moved forward with full-electrification for key models like the Macan midsize SUV, and the next-generation Boxtser and Cayman to go fully-electric too. 

Could the Nissan Silvia be the next sports car to be revived?

• A senior Nissan executive has fuelled that the return of the iconic Silvia sports car nameplate “could” be on the horizon. 

• Speaking with Top Gear, Nissan global product strategy vice president Ivan Espinosa responded to a question about whether he could imagine building a cheap sports car for younger customers by saying: “a far-fetched idea would be something like a new Silvia … there’s a lot of Silvia fans everywhere. As soon as I say the name, people start nodding. This is my dream.”

• Asked how likely it was to come to fruition, Mr Espinosa said: “the chances are there, but in the end it’s a business, so I need to find ways to make this sort of proposal interesting to the company”.

• “But there is a chance”, he continued. “It’ll be a challenge, but it’s my job to find ways to do stuff like this because I think it’ll be great for customers and the brand, and if I can put the right formula in place we could make it work”. 

• Production ended for the Silvia, which was marketed as the 200SX in Australia, in 2002. 

Mazda trademarks new logo design

• Mazda has filed a trademark in Japan, potentially previewing a new logo for the brand. 

• The evolution of the iconic badge brings with it a new all-uppercase font that has already been seen as part of the brand’s current badging on certain models, in replacement of the multi-decade old lower-case font design.

• Significantly, the new badge features a simplified symbol above the text that maintains the ‘M’ shaped wings of the current logo that has been in use since the nineties but brings a more in-vogue two-dimensional flat design.  

• Several other brands such as BMW and Volkswagen have also updated their logos with flatter 2D designs in recent years.

• It’s not clear if and when the new badge will make its debut on current models, or whether it is simply part of a corporate rebrand that might not feature on cars. 

BMW iX1 xDrive30 2024 review

• Chasing Cars founder Tom Baker’s road review of the BMW iX1 xDrive30 was published, taking a look at one of the most popular and most affordable fully-electric vehicles in the BMW range.

• Available as both a single-motor front-wheel-drive and dual-motor all-wheel-drive, the iX1 starts below the luxury car tax threshold and competes with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLA and Volvo XC40 Recharge in Australia. 

• Baker found that this was a small SUV that was quite easy to like, a soft, plush, comfortable, well-made and exceptionally smooth electric SUV.

• However, he did note some areas for improvement with regard to the vehicle’s range and the relationship between the body control and the damping which could be tightened. 

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Friday 26th July at 4.30pm Sydney time.