Every important car news story breaking today, one convenient read
Thanks for joining us this Friday February 23rd 2024. Notably in car news today: Hyundai’s hot new Ioniq 5 N is now officially available in Australia and Mercedes-Benz has shifted its focus on electric cars, with the aim now for 50 percent of total vehicle sales to be EV by 2030.
Browse this issue:
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N launches in Australia
Mercedes-Benz pushes back on EVs
Stellantis: “Chinese [EVs] are a huge threat right now”
Reviewed: 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid [max 10 words]
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N now on sale in Australia
Hyundai Australia has commenced sales of its Ioniq 5 N performance EV, with the sporty model priced from $111,000 before on-road costs.
Key specs include a 448kW/740Nm dual electric motor setup, selectable simulated dual-clutch transmission, 21-inch alloy wheels, Pirelli P Zero tyres and N Grin Boost function which increases power to 478kW.
Sales have commenced in Australia for Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N Performance
The Ioniq 5 N uses a 84kWh battery pack (80kWh usable) and is capable of sprinting to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds. The hot EV will be able to hit a top speed of 260km/h thanks to a high-RPM rear motor.
Hyundai claims the Ioniq 5 N will be able to travel up to 448km (WLTP) on a single charge. The new electric N is 80mm longer, 50mm wider and 20mm lower than a standard Ioniq 5.
With all that power and standard spec comes with some sacrifices: Hyundai’s first electric N model is a hefty thing, weighing in at 2230kg.
Mercedes-Benz model range will be 50% EV, 50% combustion in 2030
German luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz will delay its shift to going all-electric, delaying a plan for 100% EV sales by 2030. It now says it will retain combustion powertrains “well past the 2020s” as it restructures its EV strategy.
According to reports by Reuters, Mercedes-Benz’s chief executive officer Ola Kallenius has announced that50 percent of the brand’s electric lineup will be fully electric by 2030.
The decision delays a previous announcement that half the German luxury brand’s cars would be electric in 2025.
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius (pictured) has announced a restructured EV strategy
Mercedes-Benz said just three years ago that it would be fully-electric by 2030, but this has since changed as demand for electric vehicles has begun to slow in some markets.
Globally in 2023, just under 12 percent of Mercedes-Benz car and SUV sales were of fully-electric vehicles.
Stellantis brands to compete more closely with Chinese EVs
Stellantis – which owns brands including Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Jeep, Opel, Peugeot and RAM – has voiced interest in building much cheaper electric cars to compete with more affordable Chinese car brands.
Chief executive officer, Carlos Tavares per MotorTrend: “the Chinese are a huge threat right now”.
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares (pictured) says the group would like to compete more closely with the Chinese on EVs
Tavares says the key goal would be to reach price parity between electric and combustion engines by doubling battery cell production to make them smaller, lighter, and less expensive.
But Tavares does not want to force US buyers to go into buying small affordable cars. He said that, ultimately, “lifestyle will prevail”.
Several Stellantis EVs are in the works, or are already in production, such as the Ram 1500 EV, the Jeep Avenger and the Alfa Romeo Milano.
2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid reviewed
Chasing Cars editor Tom Baker’s review of the 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid was published, which included in-depth insight into the Sedan i30’s frugal fuel efficiency and daily livability.
Hyundai’s new i30 Sedan hybrid is aiming for the Toyota Corolla’s territory
Baker thought the Hyundai handled very well and had a comfortable ride, while the sedan also displayed decent practicalities such as a huge back seat and boot.
Some of the not-so-good-points for the i30 Sedan Hybrid were its slow uphill acceleration and that its powertrain can be noisy when worked hard.
