WhichEV.Net
  • Buying Advice
  • Events
  • Features
  • News
    • All
    • Charging
    • Commercial Vehicles
    • Consumer Vehicles
    • Cool Car Tech
    • Curiosities
    • Design
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Industry
    • Legal
    • Market
    • Motorsport
    • Public Sector
    • Records
    • Rumours
    • Safety
    • Sharing

    Toyota teases RAV4-sized bZ4X electric SUV concept

    Ocado partners with Oxbotica to develop autonomous deliveries

    Mercedes aims for ID.4 and Model Y with 7-seat EQB

    Volkswagen reveals new Pure Performance ID.3 models and pricing

    Could the drivetrain in the dual-motor Audi Q4 e-tron make its way to the ID.4 GTX?

    Audi reveals Q4 and Q4 Sportback e-tron EVs

    X Shore targets US market with $17m electric boat expansion plan

    Trending Tags

  • Reviews
No Result
View All Result
WhichEV.Net
  • Buying Advice
  • Events
  • Features
  • News
    • All
    • Charging
    • Commercial Vehicles
    • Consumer Vehicles
    • Cool Car Tech
    • Curiosities
    • Design
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Industry
    • Legal
    • Market
    • Motorsport
    • Public Sector
    • Records
    • Rumours
    • Safety
    • Sharing

    Toyota teases RAV4-sized bZ4X electric SUV concept

    Ocado partners with Oxbotica to develop autonomous deliveries

    Mercedes aims for ID.4 and Model Y with 7-seat EQB

    Volkswagen reveals new Pure Performance ID.3 models and pricing

    Could the drivetrain in the dual-motor Audi Q4 e-tron make its way to the ID.4 GTX?

    Audi reveals Q4 and Q4 Sportback e-tron EVs

    X Shore targets US market with $17m electric boat expansion plan

    Trending Tags

  • Reviews
No Result
View All Result
WhichEV.Net
No Result
View All Result
Home News Consumer Vehicles Cars

Audi unveils new long-term EV platform while Renault’s Alpine brand may go electric only

Gian Matteo Sacchetti by Gian Matteo Sacchetti
4th June 2020
in Cars, Consumer Vehicles, News
Reading Time: 4 mins read
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

As billionaires are engaging in the space race, here on earth automakers are racing towards an all-electric future. Both Audi and Renault are looking into new long-term EV projects. Audi has revealed plans for a “high-tech project” called Artemis. The Ingolstadt automaker has not revealed a lot of details but, so far, we know that the project will be headed by Alex Hitzinger, who is currently in charge of Volkswagen’s autonomous driving effort and was also the technical director of the Porsche LMP1 campaign.

According to company officials, Hitzinger will be developing a “highly efficient electric car” that could be launched as early as 2024. There is a chance of a synergy for this project, as the team will be able to use resources and technologies from other members of the Volkswagen Group.

The company also suggested the model could have new electric vehicle technology as well as a “highly automated” driving system. Audi said its creative team will “develop an extensive ecosystem around the car, thus designing a new business model for the entire usage phase”.

As details are limited just yet, the new high-tech model will presumably use one of the company’s previously announced electric vehicle platforms. The MLB evo platform, which Audi has used on many of its models such as the A4, A6 and original e-Tron quattro and that it has also been used on the Porsche Macan, which is also part of the VW group, doesn’t seem a front runner for now.

However, Audi also has other platforms it could use as it has built electric vehicles based on the J1, MEB and PPE architectures. The J1 platform, which made its debut on the Porsche Taycan, is focused on performance, while MEB models are designed to be affordable. The PPE platform, on the other hand, is designed to underpin full-size and luxury vehicles and can be used on everything from wagons to crossovers and sportbacks.

The Artemis project is considered a vital step in the long-term strategy of the company as it will “provide a blueprint for a fast and agile development process at the [Volkswagen] Group.” As Audi CEO Markus Duesmann explained, “With 75 planned electric models by 2029, the current electric initiative at the Volkswagen Group naturally ties up all our capacities. The obvious question was how we could implement additional high-tech benchmarks without jeopardizing the manageability of existing projects, and at the same time utilize new opportunities in the markets.”

Alongside Audi’s announcement, Renault is also looking into new EV projects. According to reports, the French Automaker is considering transforming the iconic Alpine brand into an all-electric car manufacturer. Alpine has been part of the Renault family since the 70s and its production ceased in 1995 before being relaunched in 2017 with the new A110.

Could Renault's iconic Alpine brand be going all-electric?

But there have been questions about Alpine’s long-term future, as several key members of the A110 development team left and there is uncertainty about the future of the Dieppe plant. As part of a major £1.7 billion cost-cutting drive by the Renault Group, it is staging an “open reflection” on the future of the Dieppe facility once production of the A110 ends. As part of the major restructure, Renault Group will focus on the development of electric cars and one idea that is being strongly considered is to turn Alpine into an electric-only performance halo brand.

Renault chairman Jean-Dominique Senard said, “[it is] quite obvious that we cannot continue as we are doing today” with the Dieppe factory. He added: “This plant does not manufacture enough vehicles for us to discuss its future serenely. We will look to continue to add value to the Dieppe plant.”

As well as its limited volume, Alpine’s Dieppe plant currently cannot support the production of electric cars, so switching Alpine to a purely EV brand would mean either moving the production to another Renault plant or a major rebuild of the factory.

Tags: PorschePorsche Taycan
Previous Post

Swindon Powertrain unveils compact electric motor for easy conversions

Next Post

Abellio and Zenobe Energy bring 5 electric buses to London with more to come

Gian Matteo Sacchetti

Gian Matteo Sacchetti

Experienced journalist with a love of electric vehicles. Presently working on an extensive project studying the decay process of lithium-ion batteries and the options available to give them a second life.

Related Posts

Toyota teases RAV4-sized bZ4X electric SUV concept

21st April 2021

Ocado partners with Oxbotica to develop autonomous deliveries

20th April 2021

Mercedes aims for ID.4 and Model Y with 7-seat EQB

20th April 2021

Volkswagen reveals new Pure Performance ID.3 models and pricing

20th April 2021
Next Post

Abellio and Zenobe Energy bring 5 electric buses to London with more to come

Discussion about this post

Review Finder

Latest News

Toyota teases RAV4-sized bZ4X electric SUV concept

21st April 2021

Ocado partners with Oxbotica to develop autonomous deliveries

20th April 2021

Mercedes aims for ID.4 and Model Y with 7-seat EQB

20th April 2021

Trending

  • How to turn your favourite classic car into an EV

    670 shares
    Share 285 Tweet 161
  • Future electric cars: Best upcoming electric cars, SUVs and pickup trucks – 2021 UPDATE!

    560 shares
    Share 240 Tweet 133
  • WhichEV Awards 2020: The Year’s Best EVs

    501 shares
    Share 206 Tweet 123
  • How will European brands react to a sub-£8,000 electric car with four doors?

    394 shares
    Share 167 Tweet 95
  • MG ZS EV review: The best budget all-electric SUV

    383 shares
    Share 161 Tweet 93
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact the WhichEV team today

© 2020 WhichEV. Limited - All of the independent news and expert reviews you need in one publication.

No Result
View All Result
  • Buying Advice
  • Events
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews

© 2020 WhichEV. Limited - All of the independent news and expert reviews you need in one publication.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.