Friday afternoon, half past four. Computer off, the door of your workplace can be closed behind you, the weekend has started. On Autoreview.nl we look back on a week in which there is hope for the manual gearbox, but not for the cheap EV. Good news, bad news. Top and flop.
+ Top – There is hope for the manual gearbox
The switch to electric driving will mean the end of the manual gearbox. But also cars with a combustion engine are increasingly equipped with an automatic transmission. While we like to shift gears by hand, especially when it comes to a sports car. This week we are supported in our fight by the American car buyer: the Toyota GR Supra with manual transmission is a great success there.
+ Top – Battery developments are booming
Range stress, what is it? Battery giant CATL has developed a new battery that could be used in your future EV. You can charge no less than 400 kilometers within 10 minutes. And he takes care of a range of 600 to 700 kilometers.
+ Top – Jaguar discontinues the I-Pace – no, wait, that’s not what I mean
Jaguar wants to be fully electric in a few years. But before then, the manufacturer will pull the plug from the Jaguar I-Pace. This makes the chance of an affordable second-hand I-Pace greater than ever. Sun second-hand electric SUV is 60,000 euros cheaper than a new one. And that is good news for the second-hand EV driver.
Tip
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– Flop – Volkswagen has another stupid button idea.
The Volkswagen models drive nice and familiar, but the operation is not as simple as it used to be. A patent came out this week showing that Volkswagen thinks the way we indicate direction needs to be overhauled. Because such a lever behind the steering wheel, that could be easier.
– Flop – Mercedes refuses to stunt with prices
New cars are very expensive, just like gasoline and groceries. Then Tesla had a bright idea: we make our cars cheaper and then more people can buy them. Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius doesn’t like that proclaiming that “Drastic price swings are not befitting a brand like Mercedes.” Phew.
– Flop – $25,000 electric car may not happen
Stellantis wants to build cheap electric cars, but met with resistance in the United States of the trade union of workers in the automotive industry. Would it really not be possible to put an affordable EV on the market and pay the people who build the vehicle a decent salary?