Important Innovations

  VW Is Very Serious About Urban Air Mobility                                                                                                Source: Volkswagen eVTOL Flight Tests To Start This Year Volkswagen just unveiled a flying taxi prototype that is being developed by the automaker's division in China.  VW calls it a "passenger drone".  It is fully electric, fully autonomous and takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter.  VW plans to start test flights later this year and build an upgraded prototype by the summer of 2023.  For VW, air taxis could be a significant commercial venture. The VW flying taxi prototype is called V.MO. Tech Specs  The eVTOL has ten rotors: eight for vertical lift and two for forward, horizontal flight.  VW hopes to achieve a 124-mile range on a charge.  It will be used to ferry passengers within cities such as from an office park to the airport and also to fly from city to city such as Baltimore to Washington, DC.  VW is working with s

  Mercedes' Vision EQXX Prototype                                                                      Source: Mercedes Benz Electric Car With Maximum Range and Efficiency Mercedes Benz has a highly advanced technology experimental platform on wheels.  It's called the Vision EQXX prototype and MB technologists have been developing it and experimenting with it for a year and a half on the roads of Germany.  The EV just set another record for maximum range and efficiency, clocking 747 miles on a single charge. The electric sedan is being called the world's most efficient, innovative and technologically advanced EV, which is exactly what Mercedes' engineers were tasked to create.  No telling if or when it will go into production.  But experts say we will see much of its notable technology breakthroughs going into future Mercedes Benz vehicles. Shaped Like a Teardrop The Vision is a 4-passenger, road legal sedan that is shaped like a teardrop with the back narrower than the

  Big Preview of Celestiq                                                       Source:  Cadillac The $300,000 Hatchback A new EV concept that Cadillac is planning to put into global production is getting a lot of buzz. Cadillac has finally offered a formal preview of its much-anticipated Celestiq, which is an all-electric, long, sleek and powerful beauty of a hatchback.  The EV is expected to be Cadillac's flagship.  Automotive experts are marveling at its elegance, power and beauty, adding that there is nothing like it on the market.  It's a concept car that Cadillac says it will put into production and put on the market in the next couple of years.  Rumors has it that it will be priced at $300,000, putting it into the Rolls Royce category. Tech Specs Cadillac is expected to provide performance details in August when there is an official unveiling of Celestiq.  But automotive experts believe that it will have a battery pack of more than 205-kilowatt-hours, with 1,000 hp and a

  Big Preview of Celestiq                                                       Source:  Cadillac The $300,000 Hatchback A new EV concept that Cadillac is planning to put into global production is getting a lot of buzz. Cadillac has finally offered a formal preview of its much-anticipated Celestiq, which is an all-electric, long, sleek and powerful beauty of a hatchback.  The EV is expected to be Cadillac's flagship.  Automotive experts are marveling at its elegance, power and beauty, adding that there is nothing like it on the market.  It's a concept car that Cadillac says it will put into production and put on the market in the next couple of years.  Rumors has it that it will be priced at $300,000, putting it into the Rolls Royce category. Tech Specs Cadillac is expected to provide performance details in August when there is an official unveiling of Celestiq.  But automotive experts believe that it will have a battery pack of more than 205-kilowatt-hours, with 1,000 hp and a

  New eVTOL Flies Like a Butterfly                                         Source:  Hyundai's Supernal New Hydrogen Powered eVTOL South Korea-based automaker Hyundai is developing two, highly innovative eVTOL (electric, vertical takeoff & landing) vehicles for inner-city and intra-city commuting.  Hyundai's Advanced Air Mobility division, Supernal, unveiled an electric flying taxi concept that seats 5 at the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK.  Specifically, they unveiled the very futuristic and elegant passenger cabin.  Supernal is working with Hyundai's top automotive designers and engineers to integrate automotive capabilities into the flying taxi. In terms of flight, it is being designed to mimic the flying capabilities of a butterfly.  Hyundai also disclosed that it is working on a larger, hydrogen powered eVTOL that will roll out two years after the smaller eVTOL. Targeted Plans Hyundai expects the eVTOL, just revealed in the UK, to start operations in th

Hyundai's Two  New eVTOLs                                          Source:  Hyundai's Supernal New Hydrogen Powered eVTOL South Korea-based automaker Hyundai is developing two, highly innovative eVTOL (electric, vertical takeoff & landing) vehicles for inner-city and intra-city commuting.  Hyundai's Advanced Air Mobility division, Supernal, unveiled an electric flying taxi concept that seats 5 at the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK.  Specifically, they unveiled the very futuristic and elegant passenger cabin.  Supernal is working with Hyundai's top automotive designers and engineers to integrate automotive capabilities into the flying taxi. In terms of flight, it is being designed to mimic the flying capabilities of a butterfly.  Hyundai also disclosed that it is working on a larger, hydrogen powered eVTOL that will roll out two years after the smaller eVTOL. Targeted Plans Hyundai expects the eVTOL, just revealed in the UK, to start operations in the US

  BMW's 1st All-Electric, Armored i7                                                       Source:  BMW Bringing New Levels of Sustainable Security to BMW Perhaps it's a sign of our turbulent times.  German luxury automaker BMW is building an electrified armored version of its classic flagship vehicle, the BMW i7.  It will offer blast and bullet protection.  For BMW, this electric bullet-proof vehicle is a first.  The EVs will roll out in 2023.  BMW CEO Oliver Zipse says the EVs will demonstrate "how sustainability and security can go hand in hand".  CEO Zipse adds that it will have a new and innovative protection shield. Tech Specs The balancing act to create a fortified vehicle that isn't too heavy is not easy.  The i7xDrive60 has a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive power system that pumps out 536 hp and 549 lb-ft of torque.  It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and can drive 300 miles on a single charge.  For BMW the challenge is maintaining those tech s

  Off-Roading in Style with Zero Emissions                                                                                                     Source:  Toyota Part of Lifestyle-Oriented EV Megatrend Toyota has unveiled a number of new images of its new Compact Cruiser EV concept.  The vehicle is a boxy, compact off-roader with good looks and zero emissions.  In fact, it is the recipient of the prestigious 2022 Car Design Award for Concept Vehicles.  The vehicle is an outdoorsy beauty that was created by the Toyota Europe Design development team in Nice, France.  It is expected to go into production and is one of the most fascinating of the 16 upcoming battery electric concepts that Toyota and Lexus recently introduced. It's a prime example of the global automotive megatrend of consumers desiring EVs that reflect their lifestyle interests. New Design This vehicle is reminiscent of the iconic Toyota FJ Cruiser.  It is both retro and futuristic, smooth and rugged with a compact footpr

  Lincoln's First All-Electric Vehicle                                                       Source: Lincoln Built With Rivian Electric Technology Lincoln has released a teaser image of its first, all-electric concept vehicle that will officially be unveiled April 20, 2022, possibly at the New York Auto Show.  The company says that the battery electric vehicle (BEV) will set the direction for its future lineup of electric vehicles.  Lincoln is Ford's luxury car division.  Interestingly, some of new EV startup Rivian's electric technology will be at the base of the vehicle.  Ford has a 12% stake in Rivian. Rivian Base The new EV concept, which has yet to be named, appears to be rather large and a crossover, which would provide the vehicle with more aerodynamics and longer range.  Rivian's electric vehicle base, which is known as an electric skateboard, will form the EV's base. The car's battery will be encased on the floor of the vehicle. Lincoln's SUV Direct

  $40 Billion Investment Over the Next Decade                                                  Source:  Honda Millions of Honda EVs to Go Into Production Japanese automotive giant Honda is investing $40 billion to electrify its car lineup.  The investment over the next decade will cover R&D and production.  Honda says that by 2030 it will have launched 30 new EVs, including two SUVs and a mini-car.  The company is also accelerating production to 2 million electric vehicles per year. Big Battery Push Honda is simultaneously focusing on the development of solid-state batteries that are lighter, faster to recharge and provide longer range than current lithium-ion batteries used to power EVs.  Honda expects to bring its own solid-state batteries to the global market in the second half of this decade.  It is also exploring potential next-G battery partnerships globally.  Honda believes that the new batteries will significantly reduce the cost of EVs and greatly extend their miles-range

  The I.D. Vizzion                                                                                     Source:  VW  VW's Vision of the Future of Mobility Volkswagen is developing a new concept car that is fully autonomous and is directed by voice commands and gestures. Called the I.D. Vizzion, the electric vehicle is VW's take on the future of mobility.  A "digital chauffeur" is in "the driver's seat" and in control of the car.  There appears to be no steering wheel or any type of standard driving essentials like brakes.  It's a brand-new type of driving adventure in which you are literally along for the ride. Very Advanced Autonomous Technology The intelligent centerpiece of the autonomous technology is a virtual host.  Passengers communicate with it through voice and gestures to provide information on their driving preferences like speed, the destination and routes.  The virtual host stores the individual's personal preferences and distributes

  Apple and Porsche Are in Discussions on Joint Projects                                         Source:  Various iCar Concepts The Combo Could be a Seismic Automotive Partership  The global automotive industry is abuzz about ongoing discussions between two giant brands - Apple and Porsche on "joint projects". The big question is will Porsche serve as the manufacturer for Apple's upcoming iCar.  If so, that would be a partnership of seismic proportions between computer-iPhone giant Apple and luxury car icon Porsche with its legendary automotive design, engineering and technological expertise.  Porsche is currently 100% owned by VW but VW wants to give it its independence through an IPO possibly this summer. Any Clues? There are clues that the discussions are serious.  Porsche CEO Oliver Blume has acknowledged that his executives have and are holding discussions with Apple executives on joint projects.   Some experts believe that the iCar project between Porsche and Apple