The Aston Martin RapidE Will Ditch The V12 For An All-Electric Powertrain

The EV revolution has come to Gaydon.

It has begun, at least for Aston Martin. The UK-based sports car company has just confirmed it will build the all-electric RapidE beginning in 2019. However, production will be limited to just 155 units. The RapidE will be Aston Martin’s first all-electric model, spearheading the company’s Second Century Plan that will eventually see additional low- and zero-emission vehicles. Based on the Rapide AMR, which was first shown last March at Geneva, the RapidE ditches the 6.0-liter V12 for an electric powertrain, details of which will be announced later.

So we know the RapidE will be a sleek four-door sedan – just like the Tesla Model S. Coincidence? We think not. The Rapide is the ideal first car for Aston Martin to make all-electric because it’s also its largest and most conventional model. Williams Advanced Engineering has been brought in as lead engineering partner, which is another sign that Aston Martin is dead serious about this whole EV thing; it’s laying the initial groundwork for an EV future. “Having revealed the RapidE concept back in October 2015 we reach another milestone with the confirmation that we are now putting the first all-electric Aston Martin into production,” stated CEO Dr. Andy Palmer.

“RapidE represents a sustainable future in which Aston Martin’s values of seductive style and supreme performance don’t merely co-exist alongside a new zero-emission powertrain, but are enhanced by it.” For EV skeptics and other haters, Palmer did reiterate that the “internal combustion engine...will continue to be (at the heart of Aston Martin) for years to come.” Successful change takes time.

VW May Ditch Audi As Its Flagship Technology Development Brand

And Ford could take Audi’s place? Seriously?

We’ve been hearing rumors for the past few weeks about a potential partnership between Volkswagen Group and Ford, specifically in regards to electric vehicle platform development. While neither automaker has yet to officially comment, something is definitely about to happen. Up until now, Audi has served as VW Group’s technology development star brand but that may soon chance when VW CEO Herbert Diess announces the automaker’s 10-year plan later this month, according to a report from Reuters.

Diess is expected to reveal major cost cutting measures by working with rivals, such as Ford, on numerous projects, such as EV platforms. Doing so, however, would actually sideline Audi as the German automaker’s main R&D center.

This potential alliance with Ford is a big deal for the company because VW has proudly done things in-house for decades. Audi has been an engineering hub of sorts whose technological developments were spread out through all of VW’s many brands. But times are changing. For example, VW spent $13.1 billion last year on EV and autonomous vehicle development. Why not split those costs with a rival who shares common ground?

Ford is also looking at ways to drastically cut costs, especially since its earnings have not been stellar as of late. There are many possible ways this VW-Ford partnership can work and it’s easy to see why Audi is expected to be pushed aside somewhat.

For example, Ford could supply VW with a truck platform and even some engines. VW may even buy a stake in Ford’s autonomous vehicle program and also give it access to its MEB electric car multi-use platform. Why have Audi spearhead development of an autonomous vehicle program costing billions when Ford is already further along and, at the same time, could also benefit from VW? Basically, both VW and Ford understand major changes are already beginning to happen in the auto industry, so it’s smart to make these partnerships from positions of relative strength.

While the new Audi A8 does have some advanced self-driving features, VW’s overall efforts for a fully autonomous car have fallen behind rivals, such as Waymo. Diess does not want to see VW lose its edge in the coming decade so making radical changes, such as sidelining Audi for a technical partership with Ford, is a key way to ensure its long-term health.

Audi May Ultimately Ditch The V10 But What About V8s?

Will EVs takeover entirely? Perhaps not.

Change is happening in the auto industry as we speak. From Ford to GM to the VW Group, the permanent changeover from internal combustion to electrification is underway. However, internal combustion engine technology very much still has its place today and the near-term future. Speaking to Automotive News Europe, newly installed Audi board member for technical development Peter Mertens admitted that yes, Audi buyers will keep demand alive for V8 engines, but the W12 and V10 could very well be on their way out.

“We will thin out our engine-transmission combinations, but entire engine families might also disappear,” Mertens said. “Do we really need a V10 and W12 for the next generation of cars? We get questioned about the (future of the) V8, and in particular the diesel, but I cannot imagine we will do without it. We have a very important group of customers that really wants eight-cylinder engines in larger vehicles. Will it exist forever? No, but (it will) for a rather long time.” This is quite a statement, especially from someone so high up within the VW Group. Eventually though, that V8 demand will, more than likely, fade away as consumers become more adapted to what’s about to come: EVs and autonomous driving.

Speaking of which, Audi is currently the only automaker in the world that has a Level 3 Autonomy vehicle on sale, the all-new A8. Mertens added that Audi is hard at work on achieving Level 4, which is expected to be ready in no more than five years’ time. Level 5 is the highest possible rating for autonomous driving, and Audi just revealed a concept at Frankfurt last month with that capability.

Audi Sport Won't Ditch Icons When First EVs Arrive In 2020

What does this mean? There are a lot more turbocharged models on the way.

Outgoing Audi Sport chief Stephan Winkelmann may have only been with the brand for a short time, but he'll be leaving it in a better place when he takes over the leadership reigns of Bugatti early next year. Also a former Lamborghini president, Winkelmann has always demonstrated a keen eye for future product and branding, hence Audi Sport’s rebrand from Quattro last year. That said, Winkelmann confirmed to Autocar that the first Audi Sport EVs will begin to arrive sometime in 2020 and will launch at a rapid pace from there.

However, Winkelmann is fully aware of Audi Sport’s iconic past, when it was called Quattro, and has promised that legacy won’t die. In fact, internal combustion isn’t going anywhere either. “In 2018, 19, 20, we will have a lot of turbo engines with new models,” Winkelmann said. “We are not forgetting our icons, so we will continue to build them. Even if we keep in mind that electrification is important for us, legislators permitting, our turbo engines will stay because we are very proud of these.” Given all that, what will be some of those turbo engined vehicles?

For starters, an all-new A6 lineup is due, along with updated versions of existing models. A turbocharged R8 has also been mentioned. As for those future EVs, look no further than the e-tron Sportback Concept from earlier this year. That right there could be the best preview we've had so far regarding Audi Sport's first-ever pure EV.

Audi Decides To Ditch The 2019 Detroit Auto Show

That's three major European auto brands that have shunned next year’s show.

First it was Mercedes, then BMW and now it is Audi’s turn to announce that it too won't be attending the 2019 Detroit Auto Show. At this rate of attrition we may see a very sparsely attended auto show come January next year. You would be forgiven for assuming something nefarious is going on here but the reason for the sudden decline in the popularity of the NAIAS (North American International Auto Show) is in fact mostly due to the fact that it takes place in January.

This puts it up against the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) which has been growing in popularity and size over the past few years and takes place just before the Detroit Auto Show. As automotive developments stray further into the world of high-tech electronics, Audi as well as other automakers have sometimes chosen to reveal new tech at CES which makes it less essential to attend both events. The Detroit show organizers have apparently been considering alternative dates but there are other big motoring events taking place throughout the year, both locally and internationally that could pose similar attendance issues.

For 2019 though, the event has already been confirmed to take place between the 12 and 27 of January. However, even without a 2020 date change, Audi as well as BMW and Mercedes have announced that they fully intend to return in 2020 to showcase their latest concepts and upcoming models. With so many events on the automotive calendar it is not entirely surprising that some will suffer from some overlap and while we won’t see Audi at Detroit in January, US fans should still be able to see their upcoming models at the LA Auto Show this November.

The Grand Tour's Fourth Episode Will Finally Ditch The Script

Hopefully this becomes a trend moving forward. But we doubt it.

The Grand Tour Season Two has been a large improvement over the first season. In episode two, Jeremy Clarkson pointed out one of the worst things about driving in the US, and episode three gave us awesome reviews of the Bugatti Chiron and Kia Stinger. Episode four is just hours away and will offer something that we've been dreaming of since before the show even started: less scripting. Episode four is titled 'Unscripted' and will show us what the show would look like with no prearranged locations, no set-up stunts, and no planned incidences.

This episode has the potential to be the best the show has ever produced, but we have a feeling that the true meaning of the episode will somehow be lost. We can't wait to see how this episode turns out, but we have a bad feeling that The Grand Tour has missed the point here.

Without a script, the three hosts show up in very different cars. Jeremy Clarkson shows up in an Audi TT RS, Richard Hammond in an Ariel Nomad, and James May in a Fire Engine. The point is to show us that a script really does make the show better, which is exactly the opposite of what we wanted. We want to see the three hosts show some general chemistry, but if James and Richard's car choices are any indication, the plot of this episode was meant to be silly and prove that an unscripted show can't really work out. The Grand Tour may have missed the point here. What we really wanted less of is silly plot points, which can clearly happen with or without a script. Hopefully this episode's potential won't be squandered.

Of course, the episode will also have a segment of Celebrity Face Off, where Michael Ball will go head to head against Alfie Boe to find the world’s fastest classical singer. Richard Hammond will also review a McLaren 720S, which is a film that we will be anxious to see. We only hope that this won't be the last episode of The Grand Tour that goes off script, because the show has been a bit cliched so far and could really use a dose of spontaneity.