This Week in EVs: Voltswagen, Ford Charger Woes, Kia vs Super Cars & a New Lexus EV
From Volkswagen’s prank to notable debuts, the EV news cycle was rife with highs and lows. We break down the biggest stories of the week.
This week was very eventful for the EV and hybrid community. Electric vehicles were behind some of the week’s most compelling stories. From major automakers to new start-ups, we’ve got the scoop.
Volkswagen Punks No One, Drops April Fool’s Dud
Early this week, we were stunned by a rumor that hit the ground running. Volkswagen claimed that it was changing its name to “Voltswagen.”
The “news” was “leaked” by the company to social media and even as a press release on their website. Soon, many media outlets started reporting the name change. And people were not receptive to this rebranding.
But most found all of this a little too much to be believable. And it was. Volkswagen actually dropped the story as an early April Fools’ Day prank/marketing plot. VW was hoping to get a little buzz ahead of the release of ID. 4 EV, an all-electric sport-utility vehicle.
While some got peeved by the stunt, we enjoyed it. Hey, it was clever and got people talking EVs. Plus, we still think “Voltswagen” is a pretty genius name.
Ford Stops Sale of EV Chargers
Ford has temporarily stopped sales of their home electric vehicle chargers. According to Automotive News, Ford issued a stop sale in late February. The Ford Connected Charging Station is a 48-amp Level 2 charger for the Mustang Mach-E. Reportedly the chargers were not working properly.
A spokesperson said that Ford was “working hard to alleviate the matter with all parties involved.” In the interim, Ford is utilizing third-party sites such as Amazon for equipment and accessories. Given the jump in Mach-E sales, Ford should have this sorted soon.
Kia EV6 GT Versus Supercars
Kia decided that when it comes to the EV6, actions speak louder than words. So they took their 2022 Kia EV6 GT to the track to face off against industry giants. And this is one intimidating starting line: Lamborghini Urus, Mercedes AMG GT, Mclaren 570S, Porsche 911 Targa 4 and Ferrari California T.
It might be one of the coolest drag races we’ve seen in a while. The Kia EV6 GT is a true beast. Yes, an EV crossover is aggressive! With 232 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque, it sprints 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. If there was any doubt, the EV6 slays it on the track.
Lexus Conceptualizes a Stunning Future
One debut that made mouths water was the 2021 Lexus LF-Z Electrified Concept. Sleek, bold, and elegant; the car is the manifestation of Lexus’ future plans. The conceptual BEV incorporates driving performance, styling, and technologies that Lexus intends to have realized by 2025.
With a new four-wheel driving force control technology known as DIRECT4, the LF-Z offers a flexible driving performance. It also features new EV chassis, and a battery (brilliantly placed in the floor pan) paired with two high-torque motors.
By 2025, Lexus plans to offer electric variants of all its models, as well as introduce 20 new or improved models. With cars like this, the road ahead is looking very good.
New Kid on the EV Block
Xiaomi is a Chinese tech company noted for their dominating presence in smartphones. Now, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun wants to extend his company’s performance to electric vehicles. Jun made his announcement earlier this week.
I announced a major decision on the launch event tonight:
Xiaomi is officially entering the smart electric vehicle industry. I’ll lead the project myself and we will have RMB 10 billion for first round investment, USD 10 billion for long-term investment across the next decade. pic.twitter.com/NzfgqLX2AJ— leijun (@leijun) March 30, 2021
It will be interesting to see how Jun will fare in the smart electric vehicle industry. Tech-wise, he is the guy to make top-notch smart tech on-board. Having invested in 10 electric car companies in the past, he has learned a lot. We anticipate his passion for great rides will result in some pioneering EVs.
Photos: Volkswagen; Kia; Lexus; Ford