Automotive News Europe - September 2019 - 20

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE

AUTOMAKERS

be the first Renault to offer a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Additionally, the Renault
stand will have the revised Zoe full-electric small car. It now has a larger battery
at 52 kWh, up from 41 kWh.

SEAT/CUPRA

Key car: Cupra EV concept
Seat's Cupra performance subbrand will
unveil a concept that envisages a sporty
electric car based on the VW Group's
MEB platform. The concept will combine
the "sleekness of a sports coupe with the
presence of an SUV," according to the
brand. Seat is expected to show its new
electric version of the Mii minicar.

VW T-Roc convertible

LAND ROVER

Key car: Defender
The rugged off-road icon is reborn after the previous generation went out of
production in 2016, ending a run of 67
years. The new model will be available
in two body lengths when the Defender
goes on sale next year. A third body
length is due a year later. The new model borrows design cues from the original
Defender but will be far more comfortable and family-oriented. Engines will
include Jaguar Land Rover's new six-cylinder diesel, as well as a plug-in hybrid
option mated to a four-cylinder gasoline
engine. Four personalization options
will enable customers to create a look
that suits them best, from urban cool
with bigger wheels to Explorer, which includes features that enhance its off-road
ability. The Defender will be built in JLR's
new plant in Slovakia, alongside the Discovery large SUV, and will use the same
aluminum platform. Jaguar will also be at
the show, but with no new product.

MERCEDES-BENZ

Key car: EQ electric concept
Mercedes will focus on its EQ electrified
subbrand, led by a concept that it says,
"embodies the flexible, customer-oriented and sustainable vision of the brand."
No more information was available at
press time. The production EQ debut will
be the EQV, an electric version of the
brand's V-class passenger van. The vehicle has a range of 405 km (252 miles)
and fast-charging capability to top up
the 100 kilowatt hour battery from zero
to 80 percent in less than 45 minutes.
Mercedes will also reveal plug-in hybrid
versions of its compact range, including
the A250e hatchback, A250e sedan and
B250e minivan. The three models pair a
1.3-liter gasoline engine with a 15.6 kWh
battery and are said to have an electric-

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only operating range of 70 km to 75 km.
The GLB compact SUV also makes its
show debut after its June unveil. AMG
will show a GLB performance version.

OPEL/VAUXHALL
Key car: Corsa

Opel's new Corsa small car makes its
show debut alongside the full-electric
Corsa-e (see Latest Launches, Page
22). Opel will also show a racing concept
of the Corsa-e to highlight the car's driving dynamics. The Opel Corsa-e Rally has
a power output of 100 kilowatts (136 hp)
and 260 newton meters of torque. Opel
will also show the plug-in hybrid version
of the Grandland X compact SUV, which
can drive 52 km in electric-only mode
and offers four-wheel drive because of its
electrified rear axle. Also on the stand will
be the face-lifted Astra compact car, as
well as the Zafira Life minivan.

PORSCHE

Key car: Taycan
Porsche's first series full-electric car gets
a show debut at the same time as its
sales start. The four-door sedan will have
more than 600 hp. It will be able to utilize
the fastest chargers, cutting time spent
recharging the 90 kWh battery pack, because of its 800-volt system, the first production car to offer such a high-voltage
option. Porsche says the Taycan can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in
"significantly less" than 3.5 seconds.

RENAULT

Key car: Captur
Renault's new Captur makes its show
debut. The Captur has become bigger
and has a more sophisticated interior
to appeal to a broader group of buyers
in a bid to keep it at the top of Europe's
small SUV segment. The Captur will also

SKODA

Key car: Citigo-e iV
Skoda's first electric car, the Citigo-e
iV, makes its show debut. The minicar
uses the same 37 kWh battery pack as
the Seat Mii but is a five-door model that
has 250 liters of trunk capacity. Also on
Skoda's stand will be the plug-in hybrid
version of the Superb wagon. It has an
electric-only range of up to 55 km.

VOLKSWAGEN
Key car: ID3

The car that VW has said could one day
rival the Golf and Beetle in terms of importance to the brand's history will be unveiled in production form ahead of sales
next year. The ID3 compact hatchback
is the first VW Group EV to use the MEB
electric-car platform, a key part of the
automaker's goal to sell 1 million EVs a
year by 2025. The launch ID3 will have a
58 kWh battery with a range of about 420
km and sell for less than 40,000 euros.
A base model coming later will cost less
than 30,000 euros, VW has said.
VW will also show a concept previewing
another MEB-based car, media reports
have said. Reports have speculated that
it will be a crossover positioned below
the upcoming Crozz electric SUV. In
terms of conventionally powered cars,
VW will show its new convertible version
of the T-Roc compact SUV, which has a
folding fabric roof. ANE

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SEPTEMBER 2019

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Automotive News Europe - September 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive News Europe - September 2019