Thanks for joining us this Monday March 18th 2024. Notably in car news today: Honda and Nissan in discussion to co-develop future EVs and autonomous driving, and Skoda teases details about the forthcoming Epiq electric SUV.
Browse this issue:
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Honda and Nissan set to partner for batteries and autonomous tech
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MG Cyberster spotted on Sydney roads before Australian debut this year
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BMW Neue Klasse X teased, likely to be first Neue Klasse SUV
Honda and Nissan could team up to take on Chinese automakers
Honda and Nissan could team up to battle against Chinese automakers
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Key Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan have begun discussions to potentially build EV parts and systems together to fight strong competition from Chinese automakers such as BYD and MG.
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According to Carscoops, Nissan’s chief executive officer Makoto Uchida told journalists that “emerging players are very aggressive and are making inroads at incredible speed” in EV development and commercialisation.
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The news comes as Honda has already joint ventures in place with General Motors’ Ultium technology, while Nissan has ties with Renault and plans to build a new Micra with the same underpinnings as the new Renault 5.
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Nissan was one of the first automakers to introduce an electric car, the Leaf, but the nameplate has seen slowed progress for electric cars in many global markets.
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Nissan and Honda aim to work together globally and not just in Japan, which could yield interesting results.
Entry-level Skoda Epiq electric car revealed
The new Skoda Epiq small SUV could be Skoda’s cheapest EV
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Skoda has announced a new, cheap battery-electric car called the Epiq.
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At 4.1 metres long, the Epiq will start at around 25,000 euros (the equivalent of AUD$41,450) and will be built in Spain.
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Due to be unveiled in 2025, it’s set to offer over 400km of range, and will still remain practical with up to 490 litres of capacity.
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The new EV will be the second in Skoda’s lineup to go electric, following from the MEB-based Enyaq.
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The Epiq will be built on the MEB-Entry platform that is also set to underpin the Volkswagen ID2 and Cupra Raval.
MG Cyberster spotted undergoing testing in Australia, set to go on sale by year’s end
The MG Cyberster has been spotted on Aussie soil
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Chasing Cars has spotted a camouflage-free MG Cyberster in the south of Sydney, which was confirmed by the Chinese automaker’s local arm to be currently undertaking testing and evaluation for our market.
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Pictures have begun to surface on Facebook of MG’s new electric sports car that boasts as much as 400kW of power.
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There are currently two Cybersters in Australia undergoing evaluation, with an MG spokesperson telling Chasing Cars that the Cyberster is an important car “they want to get right”.
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The Cyberster is set to go on sale in Australia in 2024, but more specifically at the end of the year.
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Chasing Cars understands the Cyberster will be an extremely limited release, with only between 100 and 150 units coming down under.
BMW Neue Klasse X officially teased online
We can expect a Neue Klasse SUV from BMW very soon!
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BMW has teased what will very likely be the SUV version of its original Neue Klasse concept, a model announced in September 2023.
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The Neue Klasse X, as it’s been called, is likely to be the successor to the BMW iX3 and is set to go into production around 2025.
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Set to feature on the concept X will be BMW’s Panoramic Vision head-up display, along with a unique steering wheel design, thin air vents and an offset shape centre touchscreen.
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BMW told Chasing Cars last September that many of the elements from the Neue Klasse concepts would be introduced into production BMWs going forward, more specifically from 2025.
Nissan X-Trail Ti E-Power long term review
Tom Place’s long-term Nissan X-Trail Ti E-Power
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Chasing Cars production specialist Tom Place’s road latest long term update of the Nissan X-Trail Ti E-Power was published, focusing on the topic of servicing.
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In month 4 of his time with the X-Trail, Place took the Nissan in for a service and found the experience to be efficient and pleasant.
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Some errors in the diagnosis of the long term X-Trail did raise some eyebrows, however.
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Road tests were also published on the Nissan Juke ST-L and the Range Rover Velar Autobiography.
READ: Link to written review
The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Tuesday 19th March at 4.30pm Sydney time.
