When the new version of the Land Rover Defender was released, there was big skepticism that its unibody chassis, air springs, and independent suspension would make it worse than its predecessor. Thankfully, the latest Carwow video features Mat Watson putting the two offroaders head-to-head in a series of offroad challenges.
With the British automaker’s extensive all-terrain pedigree, it’s clear that the new vehicle has big shoes to fill. Don’t think for a minute that it isn’t equipped for the job, because boasts all of the bells and whistles you’d expect from any bombproof offroader. With an advantage of 120 horsepower (89 kilowatts) and 44 pound-feet (60 Newton-meters) of torque over the original, aided by a strike-force of computers to keep things in check, the newer challenger can certainly talk the talk.
Things start simple with a straight-forward Hillclimb to see who’s boss. Rather unsurprisingly, the new vehicle’s advanced traction systems and superior power add up to an easy victory. For very similar reasons, things are much the same in the following hill descent test.
As expected, Watson can kick up his feet behind the wheel of the new Defender while the elder statesman requires every ounce of mental energy to keep the vehicle controlled. Sure, this may seem like a pretty elementary test, but there’s more than meets the eye – this isn’t just a competition to see who can use the brakes better. Drivers are only allowed to rely on the descending tools their vehicle has on offer.
While the new Defender did struggle at times to keep all four wheels on the ground, its vast depth of features including an impossibly tight turning circle gave it a comfortable overall victory. While we’ll let you decide on which vehicle is nicer to look at, it’s clear to see which reigns supreme when the going gets tough.
How much offroad can you do with a 2020 0.9 TCe Dacia Logan Stepway? That is a question probably most of the Logan Stepway owners didn’t think of.
Me and my camera operator/friend wondering if we can make it to the top
As I was saying in the article about the timing belt problem at 47.000 KM, while the Duster was at the service, the dealership (Darex Auto) gave me a replacement car and I took advantage of the time I’ve used it and went on a soft offroad drive.
But before you go and watch the video you must have in mind the Logan Stepway’s specs:
it had the smallest possible engine on it’s line – 0.9 TCe (Alex’s ATV has a bigger engine – 1000 cc);
90 HP and 140 Nm (although it’s almost irelevant);
petrol, which made it harder to drive, mostly when the car started moving (more clutch work than with a diesel);
summer tires, with the street air pressure.
But even so, the higher ground clearance and the lower weight of the car made a big difference and we managed to go where we wanted without any problems (except the mud on the front bumper that ou can see in the video thumbnail.
The Renault Group officially launched on Thursday Dacia Spring, the first electric car under the Romanian brand.
The first 100% electric car of the Dacia brand will be sold at a price of 15,000-17,000 euros. Orders for the new Dacia Spring model will be taken over from the spring of 2021. The commercial offer will include two levels of equipment for the version intended for the general public and the cost of the battery will be included in the purchase price.
Full electric, 33 kW (equivalent to 44 hp) all-electric engine is paired with a 26.8 kWh battery with 225 km (140 miles) WLTP and 295 km (183 miles) in WLTP City cycle with 125 Nm of immediate torque. Important: DC fast charging from 0% to 80% takes 50 minutes and more details on charging times of the Lithium-ion battery are:
less than one hour for 80% of charge on a 30 kW DC terminal • less than 5 hours for 100% of charge on a 7,4 kW Wallbox •
less than 8h30 hours for 100% of charge on a 3.7 kW Wallbox •
less than 14 hours for 100% of charge on a 2.3 kW household socket Dacia Spring Electric is guaranteed for three years and 100,000 km (62,140 miles) and its battery eight years and 120,000 km (74,600 miles).
The range can be improved by almost 10% by simply pressing the ECO button on the instrument panel thanks to a power limit of 23 kW (instead of 33 kW) and a top speed limit of 100 kph (62 mph). Safety features: a speed limiter, ABS, ESP, electronic brakeforce distribution, six airbags, emergency call (SOS button), automatic headlight activation and automatic emergency braking. Active from 7 to 170 km/h (4 to 106 mph), this system detects, via the front radar, the distance to the vehicle in front (stationary or moving).
The Dacia electric model also has the Spring Electric Cargo version that features a boot that extends where the back seat is usually located, a plastic lining on the floor and on the interior wheel arches, four anchor rings and a wire mesh partition separating the front passengers from the loading area. The loading length of this special version is 1,033 mm, with a volume of 800 litres and a payload of 325 kilos. Main car details: Length: 3,734 mm Width: 1,622 mm (1,770 mm with mirrors) Height: 1,516 mm Wheelbase: 2,423 mm Empty ground clearance: 150 mm Electric engine 33 kW (44 hp) Battery 26.8 kWh AC charging up to 6.6 kW / DC charging up to 30 kW (optional) Driving range: 225 km/140 miles (WLTP) / 295 km/183 miles (WLTP City) Top speed: 125 kph (78 mph).
BMW has issued a widespread recall for all of its plug-in hybrid vehicles due to an issue with their battery packs. The list of affected models includes the X1, X2, X3 and X5 SUVs, the 3, 5 and 7 Series saloons, the 2 Series Active Tourer, the i8 and the MINI Countryman.
The recall applies to any of these PHEV models that were built between 20 January and 18 September this year – and BMW estimates that roughly 26,700 vehicles have been affected worldwide, 2,930 of which are currently registered to UK buyers.
BMW’s engineers have found some discrepancies in the manufacturing process of its battery packs, which the company sources from the third-party supplier Northvolt. There’s a concern that foreign contaminants may have been sealed into the units during their assembly, which have the potential to short circuit the battery pack and cause a fire.
“BMW Group has launched a worldwide safety recall and stopped delivery of a small number of plug-in hybrid vehicles as a preventative measure to check the high voltage battery. Internal analysis has shown that in very rare cases particles may have entered the battery during the production process. When the battery is fully charged this could lead to a short circuit within the battery cells, which may lead to a fire. Around 26,700 vehicles are affected worldwide, some of which are already with customers – with the remainder awaiting delivery. BMW apologises for the inconvenience caused to customers, but of course safety must come first.”
BMW isn’t the only company plagued by battery-motivated recall issues, though. Ford, who uses the same battery supplier as BMW, issued a similar notice for the Kuga PHEV this summer after four vehicles short circuited and caught fire.
Volvo has only just launched its first EV, the XC40 Recharge P8, but the Swedish company is already planning for the end of internal combustion. That’s because it is seeing what many other premium automakers are regarding as a crisis – the forthcoming ban on non-EVs in many parts of the world, possibly including California – as an opportunity to increase market share.
The brand is certainly leaping in with both feet. Volvo says fully half of its global production volume will be electric as soon as 2025, with CEO Hakan Samuelsson telling Autoweek that means we can expect to see the launch of at least one new electric model a year up to that point.
Volvo doesn’t know how quickly the world’s upmarket car buyers will switch to full electrification, and admitted this is likely to take place at different speeds in different territories – with much of the U.S. likely to be among the slower adopters.
Source – https://carsalesbase.com/
“If we electrify faster we have a big chance to be in a stronger position in the new premium electric segment,” he said, “if we can do it a little faster than the competition we should be in a stronger position.
“We are convinced the premium segment will be electric in the future, you can speculate on how long it will be until all premium cars are electric, but we have drawn the conclusion that if we want to be fast growing we should concentrate on that segment. It is much smarter for us than to try and take market share in a shrinking conventional car segment.”
“I think this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the company,” Samuelsson says, “and that’s really what we’re going to do.”
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