18 Jan 2020 | 2020 Plug-In Hybrid Showdown
Audi Q5 TFSI | Q7 E-Tron | Audi RS | BMW | Citroen | Hyundai | Honda | Jeep | Mercedes-Benz | Mini | Renault | Seat | Skoda |VW
Show #670
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Saturday 18th January 2020. It’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story to save you time.
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Audi Q5 TFSI
"Audi of America is introducing its first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant of its bestselling SUV, the Audi Q5. The Audi Q5 TFSI e (earlier post) will be joined by the A8 TFSI e and the Audi A7 TFSI e in the coming months." says Green Car Congress: "The Audi Q5 TFSI e is equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder TFSI engine coupled with an electric motor that sits between the engine and 7-speed S-tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission. The lithium-ion battery pack, located under the luggage compartment floor, is made up of 104 prismatic cells and stores 14.1 kWh of energy with a voltage of 381 volts. The climate control system uses a highly efficient heat pump that pools the waste heat from the high-voltage components. The Audi Q5 TFSI e has a range of 20 miles. This mode can be selected for driving scenarios when an engine might not be needed."
https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/01/20200117-q5e.html
Q7 e-tron
3.0 V6 TDI Diesel, but it's quick and smooth.
AUDI RS
"Audi Sport is embracing electrification, planning a range of plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles wearing S and RS badges." according to CarAdvice.com.au: "Audi Sport isn’t just planning RS-badged battery-electric models. It’s also confirmed it’ll introduce RS-badged plug-in hybrid vehicles and Autocar reports one of these is expected to be the next-generation RS4, not due until after 2022."
BMW
"Leaked order guides have revealed the starting price of the new BMW X3 xDrive30e, which will launch in the United States in Q1 2020." says CarScoops: "the plug-in hybrid version of the premium compact SUV will start at $49,545, including destination. Its main rivals, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e and Volvo XC60 T8, can be had from $51,645 and $54,945, respectively. The arrival of the X3 xDrive30e will bump the number of available models to four, excluding the top X3 M. The lineup kicks off with the X3 sDrive30i, followed by the X3 xDrive30i, which have MSRPs of $41,950 and $43,950, respectively, while the 382 horsepower X3 M40i will set you back $55,900. The plug-in hybrid X3 uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at 181 hp and a 107 hp electric motor that’s integrated into the 8-speed automatic transmission. With the battery fully charged, the X3 xDrive30e has an all-electric range of almost 20 miles (32 km)."
In the UK: "BMW has expanded its already extensive plug-in hybrid line-up with the addition of the X1 xDrive 25e - soon to be followed by an X2 model with the badge." according to Next Green Car: " the X1 will offer a range of up to 35 miles on a single charge. X2 specifications are yet to be confirmed, with its launch due in the summer, but expect very similar figures to the X1. BMW’s drive systems are carried over from other PHEV models, which include Auto eDrive, Max eDrive, and Save Battery. Charging the 10 kWh battery will take a little over three hours on a standard 3 kW home or public charge point. Both the X1 and X2 models will join PHEV options already available in the shape of the 2 Series Active Tourer, 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X3, X5, and i8 ranges, plus BMW’s group stable-mate Mini with the Countryman Cooper S E, as well as the all-electric i3."
https://www.nextgreencar.com/news/8827/bmw-launches-x1-phev-with-x2-soon-to-follow/
CITROEN
"Citroën announced the debut of its first plug-in model, the Citroën C5 Aircross SUV Hybrid at the Brussels Motor Show (January 10-19), which starts electrification of the brand" reports InsideEVs: "The C5 Aircross SUV plug-in hybrid version, already available to order, is Citroën’s first plug-in hybrid model of the Core Model Strategy, which by 2025 will lead to 100% of the range having an electrified version, with a new electrified offer every year."
https://insideevs.com/news/391491/citroen-c5-aircross-suv-hybrid/
HYUNDAI
"Hyundai and Kia are intensifying their electrification efforts by planning to have 13 hybrids, six plug-in hybrids, 23 EVs and two fuel cell vehicles on sale by the middle of the decade. 2020 will be the year when the most important SUVs from the two brands will be electrified as Hyundai will introduce hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Santa Fe and the next-generation Tucson. As for Kia, they’re planning to take the wraps off the revamped Sorento with both types of hybrid powertrains." according to Yahoo! News
Ceed, Xceed, Sorento, Santa Fe, Tucson, Sportage, Ioniq, Niro, Optima, Kona.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/hyundai-kia-electrify-tucson-santa-173000633.html
HONDA
The 2020 Honda Clarity PHEV begins arriving at dealerships this week. With a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $33,400, The 2020 Clarity PHEV received a 47 miles of all-electric driving range rating with a full charge and an EPA fuel economy rating of 110 MPGe. For longer trips, the hyper-efficient 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder gasoline engine engages to generate electricity for the electric motor and, under certain conditions, to act as a direct power source.
Clarity PHEV’s drive motor produces 181-horsepower and 232 lb.-ft. of torque, drawing power from electricity generated by the gasoline engine and from a 17-kilowatt hour (kWh) battery pack with a recharge time of just 2.5 hours at 240 volts.
JEEP
Jeep will introduce plug-in hybrid versions of the Wrangler, Compass, and Renegade.
Autoblog says: "The one we’re most interested in is the Wrangler 4xe. We’ve known that a plug-in Wrangler was on its way for a while now, and we’ve even seen detailed spy shots of it. So, now that Jeep has pulled the covers off at the glamorous Consumer Electronics Show, we get to hear all the gritty details, right? Wrong. FCA isn’t talking about the Wrangler 4xe until a later date."
Fiat Chrysler said: "Electrification, including the upcoming no-compromise Jeep 4xe vehicles, will modernize the Jeep brand as it strives to become the leader in 'green' eco-friendly premium technology"
CNBC specultes: "When initially unveiled last year, Fiat Chrysler said the Compass and Renegade plug-in models would offer about 50 kilometers, or 31 miles, of pure-electric range and a new 1.3-liter turbo gasoline engine."
https://www.autoblog.com/2020/01/10/jeep-wrangler-ces-plug-in-4xe/
MERCEDES-BENZ
"Mercedes-AMG is readying a plug-in hybrid version of its GT 4-Door, slated for launch this year." repotrs Car Advice: "The next Mercedes-AMG C63 is also expected to swap its V8 and rear-wheel-drive for a plug-in hybrid, four-cylinder engine and all-wheel-drive, providing a direct rival for the next RS4.
https://www.caradvice.com.au/817171/audi-introducing-rs-badged-phevs-and-evs-resurrected-r8-e-tron/
MINI
Mini Countryman Plug In Hybrid. 26 miles range, three cylinder engine, prices from £32,000
RENAULT
News on the Renault Captur E-Tech plug-in arriving in teh UK from June.
Leasing.com: "Renault Captur E-Tech, uses the same 1.6-litre engine which is mated to a plug-in hybrid system with an increased 9.8kWH battery pack and 400v electrical system. It can run at 100% electric for 30 miles with a top speed of 85mph. Renault claims the Captur E-Tech can offer 188mpg and emits 34g/km of CO2. Unique driving modes such as ‘Sport’ allows both the petrol and electric engines to combine to take full advantage of available power. ‘E-Save’ on the other hand limits the use of the electric motor and can save at least 40 percent of battery power by drawing it from the combustion motor.
SEAT
"Cupra is hard at work developing a plug-in hybrid version of the next-generation Seat Leon set to premiere on January 28." according to CarScoops: "The new Seat Leon will be based on an updated version of the VW Group’s MQB platform, much like the new VW Golf and Skoda Octavia and sold in a number of petrol and diesel-powered guises. Cupra, the Spanish automaker’s performance car sub-brand will initially launch a plug-in hybrid version with 241 hp. The added grunt should help propel it to 62 mph (100 km/h) in roughly 6.5 seconds and will be good for an all-electric of up to 35 miles (56 km) thanks to the 13 kWh battery pack."
SKODA
In teh UK: "Škoda’s much-anticipated Superb iV plug-in hybrid is now available to order, priced from £31,970. The brand’s first-ever plug-in hybrid, the Superb iV – which will be joined plug-in versions of the fourth-gen Octavia in Q2 2020 – combines a 156hp version of the brand’s 1.4 TSI petrol with a 116hp electric motor, giving a total 218hp and offered in both hatch and estate guise. The result is sub-40g/km CO2 emissions with an electric-only range of up to 35 miles and total range of up to 578 miles."
https://fleetworld.co.uk/first-ever-plug-in-hybrid-skoda-opens-for-orders/
Meanwile AutoExpress reports: "The next Skoda Octavia vRS hot hatch will come with petrol, diesel and plug-in performance options. VW Group’s plug-in hybrid powertrain to become a performance variant in its own right. The new Octavia vRS PHEV will use the same 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine as the recently launched Golf GTE. No power figures have been confirmed for the hot hybrid, but Auto Express understands that the new model is being tuned to match the output of the petrol vRS. That model will use the 2.0-litre turbo petrol motor. The car will have a battery of at least 13kWh. that battery will give it the ability to go for about 30 miles on electricity alone"
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/skoda/octavia/108748/new-2020-skoda-octavia-vrs-ready-for-hybrid-power
VW
Golf GTE - 31 miles range but not currently availble to order in some countries.
PAssat GTE - again unavailable due to high demand.
Other honourable mentions: Volvo XC90 T8 four-cylinder petrols. The Cayenne S E-Hybrid V6 petrol. Mitsubishi Outlander for 30 miles of range. Hyundai IONIQ PHEV starts at £26,000 but 39 miles of range. Mercedes-Benz C-Class C350 E Saloon and Estate have a 6.2kWh pack.
TONY BULLOCK
I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have and provide some perspective as an owner of a Niro PHEV since August 2018 - one who fully intends to get a BEV as his next car. So far I've done just over 9,400 miles and the vast majority of that has been on battery.
Why I chose the PHEV:
- I had a 63-plate Toyota diesel that I hated driving for environmental reasons.
- We needed something bigger for the family to take luggage, guitars, friends etc. around.
- There wasn't anything in my price range that was suitable. The eNiro would have fitted the bill for practical reasons, but it's still pricey.
- Toyota salesman tried to sell me a hybrid.
- One Kia salesman tried to sell me a Sportage diesel to clear stock. The same dealer subsequently let me drive their eNiro which he absolutely raved about! :-)
- I picked up the PHEV from the Midlands and drove it back to Kent. It only took about a week to get it but it was the very last in the UK, otherwise it was a three month wait.
If a suitable BEV for my family's lifestyle had been available and affordable in July 2018 then I'd have definitely got one. I certainly don't regret getting the PHEV, but I wish I could have got the BEV.
NEW QUESTION OF THE WEEK
The MYEV.com Question Of The Week…
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