Munich: A brace of Kias shown

Kia has two new models at its booth in the Munich IAA Mobility show this week, both of which we'll see in Ireland before the end of the year, writes Brian Byrne.

The EV6 (above) coming in late October is the first Kia on a dedicated EV platform shared with Hyundai, and is the forerunner of a series of electric cars.

The new generation Sportage will also arrive in petrol and diesel versions towards the end of 2021, and a plug-in hybrid variant will be here next spring.

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Munich: Continental's green black

It's the least interesting part of a car for most owners, but a new concept tyre from Continental was a key exhibit at the Munich Mobility show, writes Brian Byrne.

The Conti GreenConcept uses primarily traceable, renewable and recycled raw materials. It also features a renewable tread strip, and is designed for sensor-equipped smart vehicles.

The Conti GreenConcept's makeup includes 35pc renewable materials, with natural rubber from dandelions, silicate from the ash of rice husks, vegetable oils and resins. The 17pc recyclable elements include reclaimed steel and recovered carbon black, and polyester from recycled plastic bottles for the tyre’s casing. The tyre is 40pc lighter than current equivalents and — important for EV range — has a 25pc less rolling resistance.

Continental's David O’Donnell, the Irishman responsible for Continental’s global tyre original equipment business, said the concept study exemplifies Continental’s ongoing efforts to fully transition its global tyre production to sustainable materials.

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Munich: Rebel-rousing from Cupra

An emotion-raising concept for a future urban electric car by Cupra made its debut at the opening of a new Cupra City Garage in Munich, writes Brian Byrne.

The UrbanRebel is described as a 'radical interpretation' of an urban electric vehicle for 2025. It will follow the Born to be launched later this year, and the Tavascan coming in 2024.

Cupra's CEO Wayne Griffiths says the company has the ambition to become a fully electric brand by 2030.

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Munich: Doing a Mini strip

It's a Mini stripped back to the bare essentials, the keynote on the brand's stand at Munich, writes Brian Byrne. Detail design — or undesign — is by British fashion designer Paul Smith, and the Mini Strip name says it all.

The body is unpainted except for a thin clear glaze to protect the metal. The recycled perspex roof shows the structure of the car painted blue. Recycled plastic covers where the trademark grille would be. Wheel arch covers are pinned to the metal with open screws.

Inside, the plastic and wood and metal trims have been ditched in favour of a fully-recyclable knitted fabric covering. And there are no instruments, just a dock for a mobile phone which then does all that work. The one-off is based on the Mini Electric, and maybe it all increases the range.

A minimalist treatment for what, in the end, has turned out to be a minimalist motor show.

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Munich: Audi's private jet for the road

Audi presented its Grandsphere concept study at the Munich IAA, which it describes as a 'private jet for the road', writes Brian Byrne.

Probably previewing a production new A8, the very sleek large coupe-styled sedan imagines Level 4 automated driving as well as a lounge interior. There are no screens or instruments at first connect, but whatever is needed for the kind of driving being done is projected below the windscreen. The steering wheel folds away behind the wood trim when not needed.

The electric powertrain delivers a range of up to 750kms, with a suitable charging point pumping in 300kms of range in ten minutes. Given the brand's fast evolution to electrification already, as also has its parent company, we'll likely see production results of this study sooner rather than later.

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Munich: Dacia Joggers in

The centrepiece of the Dacia presentation at Munich's Motor Show is the Jogger, a 7-seat family car, writes Brian Byrne. The company defines it not as an SUV, nor an MPV, or an estate, but simply a large family car that tales in the best elements of each of those.

Jogger will be available with two engines, including the new TCe 110 turbocharged petrol engine. There will also be the LPG TCe 100 Bi-Fuel engine which debuted here in the recently-renewed Sandero Stepway. Dacia’s first hybrid powertrain option will be available in the model from 2023.

First deliveries of the Jogger are expected in the early part of next year.

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Munich: Take it easy with Ford Mindfulness

Ford's presentation at the Munich Motor Show is designed to make you relax, its Kuga-based Mindfulness Concept Car designed as a place to get away from the stresses of the world outside, writes Brian Byrne.

So, it starts when you blip the unlock, with the climate control giving a burst of fresh air through the car before you get in. There's a UVC light diode system that stops the reproduction of viruses and germs. The seat works with a wearable monitor to provide feedback on breathing and heart rates, and there's a Power Nap function that slips the seat-back into recline with a headrest giving appropriate neck support while dozing.

And when parked for a break, you can hit a button on the screen to get yoga advice suitable for a quick tune-up on a long drive. Also just the job for a tired journo to take a snooze at a busy motor show? Or a busy Chancellor?

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Munich: BMW goes back to the future

BMW's future direction was shown at the Munich Motor Show yesterday by its i Vision Circular showcar, which suggests a compact car for 2040, writes Brian Byrne.

The imagineers at the company based in the city hosting the IAA for the first time have been looking at urban mobility with the i Vision Circular, one of five concepts previewing how the company will deal with electric mobility, digitalisation, and sustainability.

The concept uses 100pc recycled material in its construction, has a solid-state battery that is also completely recyclable, features fewer parts, and dispenses with exterior paint. All driving displays and instruments are on an advanced head-up display across the full width of the lower part of the windscreen.

Meanwhile, back from the future, BMW revealed their new iX SUV and i4 Gran Coupe all-electric models to the public for the first time, and promised fully electric versions of the 5 Series, X1 and 7 Series. By 2023, the company promises at least one fully electric model in 90pc of the segments it sells in.

 

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Munich: New Sportage in the metal

Visitors to the Munich Motor Show this week will get their first view in the metal of the new generation Kia Sportage, the first in the nameplate to be designed specifically for Europe, writes Brian Byrne.

Coming to Ireland next year, the new SUV has a substantially changed design ethos in a very bold form.

The new Sportage is on a completely new architecture and powertrains will include hybrid and plug-in hybrid as well as petrol and diesel engines. There will be manual and automatic options.

The car was digitally revealed last week on Kia information channels.

 

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Munich: Hyundai showcases next Ioniq in concept

A Prophecy EV concept on show from Hyundai at the Munich Motor Show today previews the Ioniq 6, the next production car in the company's electric sub-brand, writes Brian Byrne.

Hyundai says it expects that 30pc of its models on sale globally by 2030 will be zero emissions vehicles. A hydrogen fuel cell powered MPV will be part of this programme, going on sale in 2023 and a large FCEV SUV will debut after 2025.

The company has committed to achieving carbon neutrality across its operations by 2045 and will stop selling internal combustion cars in Europe from 2035.

The stand also featured a concept autonomous 'Robotaxi' based on the electric Ioniq 5.

 

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Munich: New Megane Electric from Renault

Renault showcased its new generation Megane this morning at the Munich Motor Show with the reveal of its Megane E-Tech Electric, writes Brian Byrne.

Due here in early 2022, the 5-door hatchback has crossover styling and will be offered with 300km or 470km range options.

Renault says the overall weight of the car is lighter than its competitors, making for a more agile performance. The weight savings are by using aluminium extensively and lighter electric motor and battery.

In size the car's closest rival is the Volkswagen ID. 3.

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Munich: VW concept for €20,000 electric car

Volkswagen showed a concept for a new compact electric car this morning at Munich, which is expected to sell for €20,000 when launched in 2025, writes Brian Byrne.

The company says the ID. Life production version will arrive two years earlier than planned, as part of its Accelerate strategy towards electric mobility.

Ralf Brandstätter, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, said the car is aimed at a younger generation of car users for whom the experiences that a car can offer are more important than getting from A to B.

A 234hp electric motor in the concept offers a sprint capability of 6.9s to 100km/h, and has a range of around 400km.

The showcar features a video game console and projector to a screen that extends from the dashboard when needed.

 

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