#2024 Porsche Macan EV turbo

[joshjailbait]

2024 Porsche Macan EV: Redesign, Turbo, & Price

2024 Porsche Macan EV: Redesign, Turbo, & Price

2024 Porsche Macan EV: Redesign, Turbo, & Price. Porsche is all in Taycan at the moment. Other vehicles are also preparing upgrades for the next season. One of them is the 2024 Porsche Macan. The all-electric version is on the way, as well as the bigger Cayenne Turbo GT. The compact luxury SUV is going to set new challenges to its rivals, but the EV version should wipe out all crossovers on…

[eclectic-insights]

2024 Porsche Macan EV Arrives From $79k, Turbo Is Faster Than A 911 GT3 http://dlvr.it/T1s9jp

[adriansmithcarslove]

2022 Mercedes-Benz SL: Sportlicht, Indeed

Question: What’s the longest-running nameplate in the history of Mercedes-Benz? Answer: the SL, going all the way back to the W194 from 1952. You’d be forgiven, though, for thinking the two-seater, big-dollar roadster was no longer around.

Overshadowed by both the soon-to-be-discontinued S-Class Cabriolet and the AMG GT Roadster, the current-generation, ugly-is-bone-deep R231 SL has been a major sales disappointment for the men and women behind the three-pointed star. Only 1,791 people loved this underwhelming GT enough to buy one in 2019. Toyota sells more Land Cruisers. But fear not, Super-Leicht faithful, help in the form of a new SL is arriving next year.

Billed as the 2022 SL, the new convertible will be on sale by the latter half of 2021 and will be given the internal designation of R232. Returning to the model’s roots, we expect the SL to be much sportier than the current luxo-barge.

In fact, there may not even be a Mercedes-Benz SL, only a Mercedes-AMG SL. This assumption is bolstered by the fact that the next SL will be entirely designed by Mercedes’ in-house hot rod division, AMG. In fact, the R232 will be built on the next-generation AMG GT platform.

Spy shots indicate that the new SL will lose its now-traditional folding hardtop and instead go with a canvas roof. Seems as if the SL will grow from a two-seater to something like a 2+2 (not quite a four-seater, but plenty of duffel bag space behind the front seats), not only to differentiate it from the GT (a problem the current two-passenger car has vis-à-vis the current two-passenger GT) but also to fill the hole left in the lineup by the retired four-passenger S-Class Cab.

Powertrain choices will be many, starting with a RWD car (SL 43) perhaps powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. (We doubt Mercedes would port its archaic 3.0-liter V-6 to a 2022 model year product, though stranger things have happened.) Next would be an AWD model (SL 53 4Matic+) motivated by the brand’s M256 48-volt mild hybrid 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, plus something called the SL 73e 4Matic+.

Breaking down that last moniker, the 73e refers to a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 in conjunction with a hybrid motor good for (probably) more than 800 horsepower, whereas 4Matic+ means all-wheel drive with Drift mode. There will also, of course, be an SL 63 4Matic+, as well as something called SL 55 S 4Matic+. We’re assuming that the SL 55 S will be a high-output version of the M256, i.e. an AMG-tuned inline-six. It’s looking like only the base SL 43 will be RWD-only.

You might expect every SL to use a version of Mercedes’ nine-speed automatic transmission. However, the current AMG GT uses a dual-clutch transaxle. We have to imagine that in order to keep up with the Joneses (Porsche 911, mid-engine Corvette), the GT will retain its dual-clutch and transaxle.

Therefore, it makes sense that the next SL will feature a dual-clutch transmission mounted behind the driver. But that would mean AWD SLs would need a second, long driveshaft returning from the transmission to power the front wheels, Nissan GT-R style. We think not.

Could the SL have an automatic while the GT retains its dual-clutch transaxle? Maybe, but super doubtful, as that’s overstretching a platform. AMG boss Tobias Moers has said that the SL is returning to its sporty roots, so maybe a dual-clutch transaxle for the rear wheels and the front wheels are powered by electricity?

Obviously, we have much to learn about the new Mercedes-Benz SL, including its price. But $100,000 seems like a logical place to start.

Read more about our Future Cars, SUVs, and Trucks:

Audi TT E-Tron HERE

2021 BMW 4 Series HERE

2023 Cadillac Celestiq EV HERE

2022 Chevrolet Bolt SUV HERE

2021 Ford F-150 HERE

2021 Honda Civic HERE

2021 Jaguar XJ HERE

2021 Lexus IS Sedan HERE

2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class HERE

2022 Porsche Macan EV HERE

2022 Toyota GR86 HERE

2024 Volvo XC100 Recharge HERE

The post 2022 Mercedes-Benz SL: Sportlicht, Indeed appeared first on MotorTrend.

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[perksofwifi]

2022 Mercedes-Benz SL: Sportlicht, Indeed

Question: What’s the longest-running nameplate in the history of Mercedes-Benz? Answer: the SL, going all the way back to the W194 from 1952. You’d be forgiven, though, for thinking the two-seater, big-dollar roadster was no longer around.

Overshadowed by both the soon-to-be-discontinued S-Class Cabriolet and the AMG GT Roadster, the current-generation, ugly-is-bone-deep R231 SL has been a major sales disappointment for the men and women behind the three-pointed star. Only 1,791 people loved this underwhelming GT enough to buy one in 2019. Toyota sells more Land Cruisers. But fear not, Super-Leicht faithful, help in the form of a new SL is arriving next year.

Billed as the 2022 SL, the new convertible will be on sale by the latter half of 2021 and will be given the internal designation of R232. Returning to the model’s roots, we expect the SL to be much sportier than the current luxo-barge.

In fact, there may not even be a Mercedes-Benz SL, only a Mercedes-AMG SL. This assumption is bolstered by the fact that the next SL will be entirely designed by Mercedes’ in-house hot rod division, AMG. In fact, the R232 will be built on the next-generation AMG GT platform.

Spy shots indicate that the new SL will lose its now-traditional folding hardtop and instead go with a canvas roof. Seems as if the SL will grow from a two-seater to something like a 2+2 (not quite a four-seater, but plenty of duffel bag space behind the front seats), not only to differentiate it from the GT (a problem the current two-passenger car has vis-à-vis the current two-passenger GT) but also to fill the hole left in the lineup by the retired four-passenger S-Class Cab.

Powertrain choices will be many, starting with a RWD car (SL 43) perhaps powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. (We doubt Mercedes would port its archaic 3.0-liter V-6 to a 2022 model year product, though stranger things have happened.) Next would be an AWD model (SL 53 4Matic+) motivated by the brand’s M256 48-volt mild hybrid 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, plus something called the SL 73e 4Matic+.

Breaking down that last moniker, the 73e refers to a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 in conjunction with a hybrid motor good for (probably) more than 800 horsepower, whereas 4Matic+ means all-wheel drive with Drift mode. There will also, of course, be an SL 63 4Matic+, as well as something called SL 55 S 4Matic+. We’re assuming that the SL 55 S will be a high-output version of the M256, i.e. an AMG-tuned inline-six. It’s looking like only the base SL 43 will be RWD-only.

You might expect every SL to use a version of Mercedes’ nine-speed automatic transmission. However, the current AMG GT uses a dual-clutch transaxle. We have to imagine that in order to keep up with the Joneses (Porsche 911, mid-engine Corvette), the GT will retain its dual-clutch and transaxle.

Therefore, it makes sense that the next SL will feature a dual-clutch transmission mounted behind the driver. But that would mean AWD SLs would need a second, long driveshaft returning from the transmission to power the front wheels, Nissan GT-R style. We think not.

Could the SL have an automatic while the GT retains its dual-clutch transaxle? Maybe, but super doubtful, as that’s overstretching a platform. AMG boss Tobias Moers has said that the SL is returning to its sporty roots, so maybe a dual-clutch transaxle for the rear wheels and the front wheels are powered by electricity?

Obviously, we have much to learn about the new Mercedes-Benz SL, including its price. But $100,000 seems like a logical place to start.

Read more about our Future Cars, SUVs, and Trucks:

Audi TT E-Tron HERE

2021 BMW 4 Series HERE

2023 Cadillac Celestiq EV HERE

2022 Chevrolet Bolt SUV HERE

2021 Ford F-150 HERE

2021 Honda Civic HERE

2021 Jaguar XJ HERE

2021 Lexus IS Sedan HERE

2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class HERE

2022 Porsche Macan EV HERE

2022 Toyota GR86 HERE

2024 Volvo XC100 Recharge HERE

The post 2022 Mercedes-Benz SL: Sportlicht, Indeed appeared first on MotorTrend.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/future-cars-2022-mercedes-benz-sl/ visto antes em https://www.motortrend.com

[immedtech]

Porsche's Macan EV will fully replace its gas counterpart in a few years

Porsche's electric Macan won't give its combustion engine counterpart much room to breathe. The automaker's deputy chairman Lutz Meschke told Autocar in an interview that the Macan EV will sit alongside the gas version when it arrives in 2021, but only for a "couple of years." After that, you'll have to buy the electric model if you want Porsche's take on a compact SUV. While he wasn't too specific about the reasons for the strategy, he noted that the transition will likely be "different by region" given the varying progress on EV infrastructure.

The company's SUV director Julian Baumann, meanwhile, offered some clues as to the electric Macan's design. It'll be based on an evolution of the Taycan's platform and should be considerably more aerodynamic than its gas version, in part thanks to a lower nose (it doesn't need a bulky engine, after all). It'll still maintain the "everyday usability," Baumann said, so you don't have to worry about the Macan receiving a sleeker-but-less-functional redesign akin to the Cayenne Coupe.

Be careful before you budget for a Macan in your driveway, though. Like the Taycan, Porsche is expected to start by selling the highest-end versions (the Turbo and Turbo S -- yes, it's keeping the "turbo" label) and gradually filtering down to mainstream models. The Turbo S could offer up to 700 brake horsepower (about 710HP), so those who can afford the priciest versions may smoke nearly every other SUV on the road.

The move to EVs could happen sooner than you think. Meschke predicted that 30 to 40 percent of Porsches will be electric within five years, or by 2024. That's easier for Porsche than other brands when it has a relatively small, niche lineup compared to its parent company VW. All the same, it's quite likely that Porsche as you know it will change dramatically. While its gas cars will still exist, they may be primarily limited to coupes and convertibles instead of people carriers like the Macan.

Via: Autoblog

Source: Autocar

- Repost from: engadget Post

[jesusvasser]

Volkswagen, Porsche Dump Diesel for EVs, Mercedes Gets Smart

The Volkswagen Group looks to cut costs while it pivots

VW and Audi turned diesel into a dirty word by inventing and applying so-called defeat devices across the range. In the process, they thoroughly tainted their brand image and alienated loyal customers stuck with cars whose ratings had dropped from desirable to dead stock within a few months. But unlike Porsche, which absorbed tens of thousands of windfall oil burning engines for almost ten years before pulling the plug in late September, Wolfsburg and Ingolstadt still need the diesel-drinkers to meet their CO2 targets.

Even though the diesel has been re-engineered in a hurry and now fully complies with the stringent EU6 temporary emission norm, the gun-shy punters still fear city driving bans and crippling resale values. That’s understandable yet tragic, because clean diesels are no longer fake news. Instead, the very best of them harm the environment less than gasoline hybrids while retaining their torque and consumption advantage in full. In terms of noise and tailpipe odor, however, Rudolf D’s combustion principle obviously no longer complies with the core values of high-tech trend-setters like Porsche.

Oliver Blume and his predecessor Matthias Müller were among the first CEOs to jump on the BEV bandwagon and to compile a radical phase-out strategy for the gas engine. They kicked off the Mission E program to create Germany’s first Tesla fighter, they were at one point close to replacing the best-selling Macan with a zero-emission model, and they set out to boost Porsche’s BEV penetration to 50 percent of the mix by 2023.

Thanks to the development of the mass market all-electric Volkswagen ID, which will be priced similar to a mid-line Golf and due next year, Porsche had carte blanche to convert its entire model range to plug-in and electric power by 2028. And by entire model range, one must include both sports cars, namely the replacements of the mid-engine 718 and the tenth-generation 911. While even the most detailed ten-year plan is at best safe for the next four to five years, it is little short of sensational that Porsche has its mindset focused on a brand-new all-electric 911, which will be offered in addition to the conventional 992 replacement.

Mission E aka J1 aka Taycan will come to market next autumn, and it won’t differ dramatically in appeal and appearance from the show car. The same applies to the CUV derivative, aka Cross Turismo, which has been penciled in for late 2020. Although it didn’t clinic particularly well in the US due to its low stance, we still don´t expect the real thing to be a proper SUV. Proportions are key for every Porsche, so a higher roofline is less likely than some token badland add-ons. A two-door coupé with a soft-top sidekick based on J1 would be the fanciest trick in the book, but financial risk and the need to control the increasingly complex portfolio doesn’t leave much room for experiments early on in the e-age. The supplier community suggests that major mid-cycle improvements are due for Taycan only four years after the start of production. The prime goal is bound to take out cost and put in more power, range, and durability.

Instead of shifting the DNA from J1 straight to PPE (Premium Platform Electromobility), the platform co-developed with Audi, when Taycan expires at the end of 2026, Porsche is now allegedly determined to carry on with a heavily revised architecture codenamed, you guessed it, J2. If all goes according to plan, J2 will switch to solid state batteries which can do everything better than lithium ion cells—at a price.

There is no major change of body styles in the cards, but the aforementioned silent two-door GT always remains an option, even though Porsche should leave Audi and Bentley enough room for their J1 spin-offs. In terms of available powertrains, we still stand at a nominal 300/400/500 kW (402/536/670 hp) powered by a choice of LG Chem batteries rated at 80 and 95 kWh. All four wheels are driven via a two-speed transmission, the maximum torque one can play with from third upwards is 737 lb-ft, and as long as you don’t squeeze the energy cells out like a lemon (0-60 mph in 3.5 sec, 160 mph) the driving range should be in excess of 300 miles.

Even the self-described e-junkie Oliver Blume no longer intends to make the next Macan transfer from pump to plug over night. The plan is now to extend the life of the current model until 2024, which would almost certainly require a major facelift in 2021 or thereabout. Audi has already signaled that it will agree on a similar timing for the next Audi Q5, which the Macan III will again be twinned with.

The updated Macan, based on the familiar MLB matrix, and the all-new Macan BEV, derived from the brand-new PPE component set defined with Audi, are expected to come to market within six months of each other. Both offerings will likely overlap for about three years, if need be even longer. In case something goes terribly wrong in the future electric world, the new Macan could still ride on PPC, which is the combustion engine back-up of PPE.

An almost identical game plan applies to the full-size Cayenne, which is scheduled to undergo three iterations (including a coupé and two facelifts) before it finally retires in 2027. Ten years is a long life cycle for an SUV because you can only shed so much weight, and implementing improved aerodynamics that require sheet metal changes is even more difficult. That’s why the electric Cayenne—program E4, also part of the PPE family—must start as early as 2024 and extend the transition period to three or four years. No, there is no reward for guessing which pattern will be applied to the Panamera changeover. In an ideal world, Porsche would love to keep updating the current generation (G2) until it eventually bites the dust, but you probably cannot do this with an eleven-year old design—unless of course the unloved Sport Turismo gives way to the repeatedly hyped 929 coupé/cabrio which should consolidate demand. Right now though, a reskin (G3) in 2023 is more likely. Two years later, the all-electric Panamera G4 would be the fourth new Porsche never again to stop at a filling station—except for a coffee break.

What about the future sports cars in the making in the Weissach think tank, you ask? Same philosophy, but different timing, and for obvious reasons, different DNA. The 718 Cayman and Boxster launched in 2016 must soldier on until 2023 or 2024 without serious cosmetic operations, hybrid options, or AWD. The big bang follows in late 2022 when the battery-powered 983 is due to launch. This is a pure BEV, a total break with the past, sans alternative drivetrain option. Having said that, the outgoing combustion engine models—Boxster, Cayman, and Spyder—will be offered for at least twelve months alongside the high-tech newcomer. Apparently, the existing MMB platform can be upgraded to accommodate the totally different componentry. According to a senior engineer, there is thus no real need to proceed with the proposed all-new BEV matrix known as SPE, short for sports car platform electric. Dropping SPE would save approximately 25 percent of the cost-cutting target.

Although 983 is still in the final definition phase, we hear that there may be two coupé models, a Cayman replacement and a notably sportier high-performance derivative destined to slot in below the Carrera S/GTS. The second model would get bespoke coachwork inspired by the 918/919, and it would be priced in a similar bracket as the 911 turbo. While the Cayman E can reportedly be specced with one or two motors for a total of up to 536 hp, the Super E boasts three motors (two of them in the rear) for a peak output of 603 hp, sources say. The energy packs are said to deliver 100 and 125 kWh respectively. We expect a move to solid state accumulators from 2026 onwards, in combination with speed charging, ultra-quick battery regeneration, and Porsche-like repeat performance.

According to the Weissach grapevine, the first-ever all-electric 911 will debut in 2028 alongside the 992 replacement. Why wait so long? Because the plug-in hybrid is a convincing stopgap solution for many markets, because battery weight has to come down in sync with a more efficiency cell chemistry, and because even a planet-saving 911 must be an ultra-fast, hardcore piece of kit. Porsche is apparently convinced that it can deliver on all counts. After all, the latest master plan projects BEVs to exceed 85 percent of the sales total come 2028.

While the smart brand lives on borrowed time, a sub-A-class small-star Mercedes is taking shape

Smart is in the process of going 100 percent electric, but this doesn’t mean that the marque has a future. Quite the contrary: according to various sources, Renault is going to pull out once the ForFour/Twingo reaches the end of its cycle, Mercedes is not interested in keeping the Smart car brand going all by itself, and whether Geely may want to jump in and lift the business case to a more profitable new level remains to be seen. Right now, the internal plan is that smart will be wound up by 2026 at the earliest. The question remains whether Mercedes will pull out of the segment completely, or if the new CEO Ola Kallenius might be actively looking for options to keep the three-pointed star in the race against Mini and the Audi A1/Q1/City. The board needs to come to a conclusion by 2021 when it must sign off the next A-class generation due in 2025. If we read the smoke signals right, the current MFA2 architecture will be replaced by a fully scalable, all-new convergence layout which covers a much broader product spectrum that could also include a proper baby Benz.

At this point, strategists and product planners are evaluating at least four different options:

Version 2.0 of a fully electrified Smart brand funded with a strong partner like Geely, a concept inspired by the cooperation between Mini and Great Wall. Probability rating: 3/5. Why? Because it is difficult and expensive to ensure that the outcome, which would likely be produced in China, is a proper fit for the global market.

Add a decontented entry-level two- or three-door model to the current A-class portfolio. Probability rating: 1/5. Why? Too late, too expensive, too compromised. The no-frills A-Class coupé was stillborn for exactly these reasons.

Engineer the MFA3 component set so that it includes a proper baby Benz priced at least 15 percent below the least-expensive A-Class. Probability rating: 2/5. Why? MFA3 is unlikely to be sufficiently advanced, flexible enough, or affordable for the conversion to a predominantly electric future.

Go ahead with the innovative convergence matrix codenamed MX1, which could be stretched from whatever shape the small Mercedes will assume for the C-Class/GLC replacement. Probability rating: 5/5. Why? Because MX1 covers BEV, PHEV, and ICE with a bias on electric drive. In addition, it introduces a new level of modularity as well as extended economies of scale, with or without a partner.

Cooperation remains indeed an option—even though the tie-ups with Mitsubishi and Renault delivered mixed results. Last year, Mercedes and BMW discussed the pros and cons of teaming up with regard to MX1 and the bigger MX2 version, but to no avail. BMW ended the talks, thereby relegating the team from Stuttgart back to square one. Although the baby Benz has since dropped a notch or two on the agenda, electrification is a more urgent topic than ever, and so are new vehicle types tailor-made for metro mobility, commuter services, and innovative user models. The reinvented Mercedes née Smart is far from an approved program, but what is tentatively known as U-class (the U stands for urban & universal) has undergone various feasibility studies in combination with different design proposals. Under discussion are the following fully electric variations:

U-class City, a three-door hatch with five-door option, short and tall with extra-long (relative) wheelbase.

U-class Shuttle, an on-demand last-mile shared transportation device combined with up-market services such as exclusive use, autonomous driving where applicable, special delivery, and drop-off.

U-class Cargo, a compact panel van operating in a pool, shared by service providers with city access.

In frivolous moments, product planning even considered off-beat stuff like an emotional metro cruiser, a U-class Open Air, and a back-to-basics two-seater positioned between the unloved two-door A-class and the short-lived Smart coupé. In terms of content, the emphasis is split between the standardized e-componentry and bespoke abilities like the interface with Big Data, personalized services, and safety & convenience features. If the business case still looks good in 2021, the U-class may turn out to be one of the smartest cars Mercedes ever conceived.

The post Volkswagen, Porsche Dump Diesel for EVs, Mercedes Gets Smart appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

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[eddiejpoplar]

Volkswagen, Porsche Dump Diesel for EVs, Mercedes Gets Smart

VW and Audi turned diesel into a dirty word by inventing and applying so-called defeat devices across the range. In the process, they thoroughly tainted their brand image and alienated loyal customers stuck with cars whose ratings had dropped from desirable to dead stock within a few months. But unlike Porsche, which absorbed tens of thousands of windfall oil burning engines for almost ten years before pulling the plug in late September, Wolfsburg and Ingolstadt still need the diesel-drinkers to meet their CO2 targets.

Even though the diesel has been re-engineered in a hurry and now fully complies with the stringent EU6 temporary emission norm, the gun-shy punters still fear city driving bans and crippling resale values. That’s understandable yet tragic, because clean diesels are no longer fake news. Instead, the very best of them harm the environment less than gasoline hybrids while retaining their torque and consumption advantage in full. In terms of noise and tailpipe odor, however, Rudolf D’s combustion principle obviously no longer complies with the core values of high-tech trend-setters like Porsche.

Oliver Blume and his predecessor Matthias Müller were among the first CEOs to jump on the BEV bandwagon and to compile a radical phase-out strategy for the gas engine. They kicked off the Mission E program to create Germany’s first Tesla fighter, they were at one point close to replacing the best-selling Macan with a zero-emission model, and they set out to boost Porsche’s BEV penetration to 50 percent of the mix by 2023.

Thanks to the development of the mass market all-electric Volkswagen ID, which will be priced similar to a mid-line Golf and due next year, Porsche had carte blanche to convert its entire model range to plug-in and electric power by 2028. And by entire model range, one must include both sports cars, namely the replacements of the mid-engine 718 and the tenth-generation 911. While even the most detailed ten-year plan is at best safe for the next four to five years, it is little short of sensational that Porsche has its mindset focused on a brand-new all-electric 911, which will be offered in addition to the conventional 992 replacement.

Mission E aka J1 aka Taycan will come to market next autumn, and it won’t differ dramatically in appeal and appearance from the show car. The same applies to the CUV derivative, aka Cross Turismo, which has been penciled in for late 2020. Although it didn’t clinic particularly well in the US due to its low stance, we still don´t expect the real thing to be a proper SUV. Proportions are key for every Porsche, so a higher roofline is less likely than some token badland add-ons. A two-door coupé with a soft-top sidekick based on J1 would be the fanciest trick in the book, but financial risk and the need to control the increasingly complex portfolio doesn’t leave much room for experiments early on in the e-age. The supplier community suggests that major mid-cycle improvements are due for Taycan only four years after the start of production. The prime goal is bound to take out cost and put in more power, range, and durability.

Instead of shifting the DNA from J1 straight to PPE (Premium Platform Electromobility), the platform co-developed with Audi, when Taycan expires at the end of 2026, Porsche is now allegedly determined to carry on with a heavily revised architecture codenamed, you guessed it, J2. If all goes according to plan, J2 will switch to solid state batteries which can do everything better than lithium ion cells—at a price.

There is no major change of body styles in the cards, but the aforementioned silent two-door GT always remains an option, even though Porsche should leave Audi and Bentley enough room for their J1 spin-offs. In terms of available powertrains, we still stand at a nominal 300/400/500 kW (402/536/670 hp) powered by a choice of LG Chem batteries rated at 80 and 95 kWh. All four wheels are driven via a two-speed transmission, the maximum torque one can play with from third upwards is 737 lb-ft, and as long as you don’t squeeze the energy cells out like a lemon (0-60 mph in 3.5 sec, 160 mph) the driving range should be in excess of 300 miles.

Even the self-described e-junkie Oliver Blume no longer intends to make the next Macan transfer from pump to plug over night. The plan is now to extend the life of the current model until 2024, which would almost certainly require a major facelift in 2021 or thereabout. Audi has already signaled that it will agree on a similar timing for the next Audi Q5, which the Macan III will again be twinned with.

The updated Macan, based on the familiar MLB matrix, and the all-new Macan BEV, derived from the brand-new PPE component set defined with Audi, are expected to come to market within six months of each other. Both offerings will likely overlap for about three years, if need be even longer. In case something goes terribly wrong in the future electric world, the new Macan could still ride on PPC, which is the combustion engine back-up of PPE.

An almost identical game plan applies to the full-size Cayenne, which is scheduled to undergo three iterations (including a coupé and two facelifts) before it finally retires in 2027. Ten years is a long life cycle for an SUV because you can only shed so much weight, and implementing improved aerodynamics that require sheet metal changes is even more difficult. That’s why the electric Cayenne—program E4, also part of the PPE family—must start as early as 2024 and extend the transition period to three or four years. No, there is no reward for guessing which pattern will be applied to the Panamera changeover. In an ideal world, Porsche would love to keep updating the current generation (G2) until it eventually bites the dust, but you probably cannot do this with an eleven-year old design—unless of course the unloved Sport Turismo gives way to the repeatedly hyped 929 coupé/cabrio which should consolidate demand. Right now though, a reskin (G3) in 2023 is more likely. Two years later, the all-electric Panamera G4 would be the fourth new Porsche never again to stop at a filling station—except for a coffee break.

What about the future sports cars in the making in the Weissach think tank, you ask? Same philosophy, but different timing, and for obvious reasons, different DNA. The 718 Cayman and Boxster launched in 2016 must soldier on until 2023 or 2024 without serious cosmetic operations, hybrid options, or AWD. The big bang follows in late 2022 when the battery-powered 983 is due to launch. This is a pure BEV, a total break with the past, sans alternative drivetrain option. Having said that, the outgoing combustion engine models—Boxster, Cayman, and Spyder—will be offered for at least twelve months alongside the high-tech newcomer. Apparently, the existing MMB platform can be upgraded to accommodate the totally different componentry. According to a senior engineer, there is thus no real need to proceed with the proposed all-new BEV matrix known as SPE, short for sports car platform electric. Dropping SPE would save approximately 25 percent of the cost-cutting target.

Although 983 is still in the final definition phase, we hear that there may be two coupé models, a Cayman replacement and a notably sportier high-performance derivative destined to slot in below the Carrera S/GTS. The second model would get bespoke coachwork inspired by the 918/919, and it would be priced in a similar bracket as the 911 turbo. While the Cayman E can reportedly be specced with one or two motors for a total of up to 536 hp, the Super E boasts three motors (two of them in the rear) for a peak output of 603 hp, sources say. The energy packs are said to deliver 100 and 125 kWh respectively. We expect a move to solid state accumulators from 2026 onwards, in combination with speed charging, ultra-quick battery regeneration, and Porsche-like repeat performance.

According to the Weissach grapevine, the first-ever all-electric 911 will debut in 2028 alongside the 992 replacement. Why wait so long? Because the plug-in hybrid is a convincing stopgap solution for many markets, because battery weight has to come down in sync with a more efficiency cell chemistry, and because even a planet-saving 911 must be an ultra-fast, hardcore piece of kit. Porsche is apparently convinced that it can deliver on all counts. After all, the latest master plan projects BEVs to exceed 85 percent of the sales total come 2028.

While the smart brand lives on borrowed time, a sub-A-class small-star Mercedes is taking shape

Smart is in the process of going 100 percent electric, but this doesn’t mean that the marque has a future. Quite the contrary: according to various sources, Renault is going to pull out once the ForFour/Twingo reaches the end of its cycle, Mercedes is not interested in keeping the Smart car brand going all by itself, and whether Geely may want to jump in and lift the business case to a more profitable new level remains to be seen. Right now, the internal plan is that smart will be wound up by 2026 at the earliest. The question remains whether Mercedes will pull out of the segment completely, or if the new CEO Ola Kallenius might be actively looking for options to keep the three-pointed star in the race against Mini and the Audi A1/Q1/City. The board needs to come to a conclusion by 2021 when it must sign off the next A-class generation due in 2025. If we read the smoke signals right, the current MFA2 architecture will be replaced by a fully scalable, all-new convergence layout which covers a much broader product spectrum that could also include a proper baby Benz.

At this point, strategists and product planners are evaluating at least four different options:

Version 2.0 of a fully electrified Smart brand funded with a strong partner like Geely, a concept inspired by the cooperation between Mini and Great Wall. Probability rating: 3/5. Why? Because it is difficult and expensive to ensure that the outcome, which would likely be produced in China, is a proper fit for the global market.

Add a decontented entry-level two- or three-door model to the current A-class portfolio. Probability rating: 1/5. Why? Too late, too expensive, too compromised. The no-frills A-Class coupé was stillborn for exactly these reasons.

Engineer the MFA3 component set so that it includes a proper baby Benz priced at least 15 percent below the least-expensive A-Class. Probability rating: 2/5. Why? MFA3 is unlikely to be sufficiently advanced, flexible enough, or affordable for the conversion to a predominantly electric future.

Go ahead with the innovative convergence matrix codenamed MX1, which could be stretched from whatever shape the small Mercedes will assume for the C-Class/GLC replacement. Probability rating: 5/5. Why? Because MX1 covers BEV, PHEV, and ICE with a bias on electric drive. In addition, it introduces a new level of modularity as well as extended economies of scale, with or without a partner.

Cooperation remains indeed an option—even though the tie-ups with Mitsubishi and Renault delivered mixed results. Last year, Mercedes and BMW discussed the pros and cons of teaming up with regard to MX1 and the bigger MX2 version, but to no avail. BMW ended the talks, thereby relegating the team from Stuttgart back to square one. Although the baby Benz has since dropped a notch or two on the agenda, electrification is a more urgent topic than ever, and so are new vehicle types tailor-made for metro mobility, commuter services, and innovative user models. The reinvented Mercedes née Smart is far from an approved program, but what is tentatively known as U-class (the U stands for urban & universal) has undergone various feasibility studies in combination with different design proposals. Under discussion are the following fully electric variations:

U-class City, a three-door hatch with five-door option, short and tall with extra-long (relative) wheelbase.

U-class Shuttle, an on-demand last-mile shared transportation device combined with up-market services such as exclusive use, autonomous driving where applicable, special delivery, and drop-off.

U-class Cargo, a compact panel van operating in a pool, shared by service providers with city access.

In frivolous moments, product planning even considered off-beat stuff like an emotional metro cruiser, a U-class Open Air, and a back-to-basics two-seater positioned between the unloved two-door A-class and the short-lived Smart coupé. In terms of content, the emphasis is split between the standardized e-componentry and bespoke abilities like the interface with Big Data, personalized services, and safety & convenience features. If the business case still looks good in 2021, the U-class may turn out to be one of the smartest cars Mercedes ever conceived.

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