Close-up of driving Mercedes EQE and EQXX, Maserati EV, gas prices and driving less: Car News Today
This morning, we take a look at Mercedes-Benz and its shift to electric vehicles — with a look at the EQXX focusing on efficiency and companionship in the upcoming EQE sedan. Maserati will go full EV by the end of the decade. Rivian stands out for its electric motors. And Americans are driving less. This and more, here at Green Car Report.
We have Close-up of Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX concept car, previews a generation of lighter, more efficient, more aerodynamic mid-size and compact all-electric models from the German luxury carmaker. The company hints that it soon plans to share the results of a real-world drive of the concept, which clocked in at 621 miles per charge.
And we give you first impressions ride in the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ sedan– version of this upcoming model will arrive first. While not as fast as some other luxury EVS – leave that to an upcoming AMG version – the EQE feels quiet but geared towards performance and sport. And it’s capable of beating the Porsche Taycan and Audi E-Tron GT in the range, by a sizable margin.
Maserati is planning to offer all-electric versions of all its models by 2025, as it transitions to an all-electric vehicle brand by 2030, the brand confirmed last week as part of a business update. It revealed that its EVs will be branded Folgore, with the GranTurismo Folgore coupe and convertible versions both due in 2023.
A recent analysis shows different approaches from automakers in sourcing electric motors — and currently, Rivian’s engine manufacturing operations are different from other electric-only carmakers. Other EV upstarts like Tesla and Lucid have designed and built their own components, while some automakers have adopted a hybrid approach — like GM, which has built engines. own but made by a supplier. Rivian will soon move to its own components, but there’s still plenty of room for vendors.
And when gas prices have risen past $4 a gallon above the national average—much higher in some areas—Americans are driving less. That’s something they don’t usually do when pump prices spike. Is that a sign that we’ve reached a new tipping point for driving behavior change?
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