Car news, 29 Feb ’24: Infiniti QX80 previews future Patrol look, Renault in talks to build EVs with Volkswagen, and more

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Thanks for joining us this Thursday February 29th 2024. Notably in car news today: Infiniti has teased us with pictures and video of its upcoming QX80, a luxury version of the Nissan Patrol, and Tesla’s Elon Musk promises lightning quick sub-one-second 0-60mph time for its upcoming Roadster sports car. 

Browse this issue:

• Infiniti QX80 teases possible future Patrol look
• Renault in talks with Volkswagen for cheap EVs
• Tesla’s Elon Musk says Roadster will have sub-one-second 0-60 mph time
• BYD slashes prices in China as the EV war ramps up

Infiniti QX80 teases what’s likely to be 2025 Nissan Patrol

• Nissan’s luxury arm, Infiniti, has teased its next generation of QX80 large SUV, the premium version of the Nissan Patrol. 
• Although only a teaser, the photos and video show several enhancements that we could ultimately see on the 2025 Patrol, such as flush door handles and sequential daytime running lights and tail lights, along with new alloy wheel designs.

• The QX80 will debut on March 20, 2024, when we are likely to hear more details about the platform’s powertrain. At this stage, it’s rumoured to be a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine, replacing the ageing 5.6-litre V8 engine.

• The Nissan Patrol in current Y62 guise first came into production in 2010, so it’s definitely due for replacement shortly. The Patrol is currently available in three trim levels, including the new Warrior grade.  

• Expect to hear more on the Nissan Patrol situation in the coming months. 

Renault in ‘early talks’ with Volkswagen on cheap EVs 

• Renault is reportedly in ‘early talks’ with Volkswagen to produce new cheaper electric vehicles.

• According to reports from Automotive News Europe, Renault is planning to build the next-generation Twingo by 2026, possibly with the help of Volkswagen.

• The news comes as European automakers scrabble to produce low-cost EVs to compete with Chinese automakers such as BYD, MG and more.

• Volkswagen is also planning to produce a low-cost electric car, called the ID2all, which is set to use the MEB Entry platform. 

• Renault could use this platform for the Twingo, but is yet to be officially confirmed at this early stage.

• The French carmaker  is not the first brand to want to partner with Volkswagen. Mahindra will also use Volkswagen EV components for some of its future product. 

Tesla Roadster: Musk claims 0-60mph in less than a second 

• Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the long awaited and frequently delayed Tesla Roadster will be even faster than originally claimed.

• In a series of posts to social media platform X, Musk boasted an acceleration time of “0-60mph < 1 sec”, while also referencing a “Space X option package” which he said would include “~10 small rocket thrusters arranged seamlessly around [the] car”.

• This beats an original 0-100km/h claim of 1.9 seconds for the Roadster prototype which was revealed in 2017, along with a claimed range and top speed in excess of 1000 kilometres and 400km/h respectively.

• Alongside the claims, Musk also said that the production design had been completed for the vehicle which he said will be unveiled at the end of the year, with an aim to begin deliveries next year. 

• The launch of the vehicle has been delayed numerous times since 2017, with Musk promising a “mind-blowing product demo” when the vehicle does finally make it to launch. 

BYD cuts prices yet again as Chinese EV price war continues 

• BYD has slashed prices again in China as the competition continues to ramp up on budget EVs. 

• Reuters reports that Chinese auto giant BYD has discounted its vehicles by as much as 14 percent in the Chinese market, which could see an eventual change here in Australia

• The Han and Tang SUVs, models not yet slated for Australia, have seen large discounts, as well as the Australian-sold Dolphin and the plug-in hybrid sedan, the Qin Plus DM-I. 

• Despite making their cars competitively cheaper, BYD is also targeting the luxury electric space with its YangWang brand and its U7 and U9 models, which may or may not come to Australian shores. 

• BYD’s next models for Australia will be an electric midsize SUV, as well as a plug-in hybrid pickup.