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Lamborghini has confirmed its hybrid V12 successor to the Aventador will be revealed in “just a few days”. Codenamed the LB744, the Italian carmaker has revealed more details about the car’s driving dynamics. This follows two previous teasers detailing its powertrain and chassis. The upcoming plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will come with a total of 13 different driving modes, including an all-electric mode called Città and a recharge mode. A number of these drive modes can be selected using two rotors on the redesigned steering wheel. In addition to the driving modes there’s electric torque vectoring courtesy of the hybrid system’s e-motors, and a four-wheel steering system. Thanks in part to the new architecture, the LB744 has “optimal” weight distribution, with 44 per cent at the front and 56 per cent at the rear. This is said to result in better agility. In addition, the LB744 has 11 per cent stiffer anti-roll bars at the front and 50 per cent stiffer anti-roll bars at the rear, as well as 10 per cent quicker steering ratio than the Aventador Ultimae. The LB744 comes with a range of active features designed to improve aerodynamics, including semi-active suspension. There are also two NACA ducts ahead of the front wheels. In high-load situations the LB744 is 61 per cent more aerodynamically efficient than the Aventador Ultimae. It also has 66 per cent more downforce. The LB744 comes with “specially developed” Bridgestone Potenza Sport tyres with a 4 per cent larger front footprint than the Aventador Ultimae. Providing the stopping power is a set of the latest generation carbon ceramic brakes, with 10 piston front calipers with 410x38mm discs, and four piston rear calipers with 390x32mm discs. As previously detailed, the LB744 will be the brand’s first series production High Performance Electrified Vehicle (HPEV), with a new 6.5-litre V12 engine at its heart. Producing 607kW of power and 725Nm of torque, it’s hooked up to the rear axle only. Redline is 9500rpm, or 500rpm beyond what the 4.0-litre six in the Porsche 911 GT3, GT3 RS, and 718 Cayman GT4 RS can manage. It won’t be augmented by turbochargers, superchargers, or even 48V mild-hybrid technology. But it will be backed by three electric motors. One (with 110kW and 150Nm) is attached to the transverse-mounted, eight-speed dual-clutch transmission; the other two are attached to the front wheels. This is only the third V12 model from Lamborghini to have a transverse-mounted tranmission. The first was the Muira, the second the track-only Essenza SCV12. Lamborghini says the transmission can decouple the engine in a way that allows its new V12 supercar to be all-wheel drive even when it’s in EV mode. Those front-mounted motors each makes 110kW of power and 350Nm of torque, and open the door for all kinds of torque vectoring trickery not possible with the conventional all-wheel drive system in the now-defunct Aventador. Combined, the PHEV powertrain will make make 745kW (1000hp) of power. Feeding the electric motors is a 3.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack mounted in what would once have been the transmission tunnel. It can be charged in 30 minutes using a 7kW wall box, or with regenerative braking from the front wheels, or using the V12 in six minutes. Reverse is handled by the electric motors, rather than the petrol engine and transmission. MORE: LB744: Lamborghini Aventador successor’s chassis detailed MORE: LB744: Lamborghini PHEV will have V12, three e-motors, wild outputs View the full article

There’s some discord within the Volkswagen Group regarding e-fuels. While Porsche has been investing significantly in synthetic fuels, the CEO of Volkswagen’s namesake brand thinks there isn’t much point. “This discussion is distracting from the point,” said Volkswagen brand CEO Thomas Schäfer, in remarks reported by Autocar. “It’s unnecessary noise from my point of view. By 2035 it’s over anyway, and we said by 2033 we’re done,” he said of Volkswagen’s plan to stop selling combustion-powered cars in Europe. “So why spend a fortune on old technology that doesn’t give you any benefit?” Mr Schäfer criticised e-fuel-powered vehicles for their tailpipe emissions, as well as the energy required to produce the fuel itself. “Look at the physics. We don’t have enough energy as it is, so why waste it on e-fuels?” he said, adding the fuels are better served for decarbonising vehicles less suited to electrification like heavy trucks and planes. “This discussion around e-fuels is widely misunderstood. They have a role to play in existing fleets but won’t replace EVs,” he argued. Porsche has been pushing e-fuels as a solution for markets outside of Europe, where electrification is taking place at a much slower rate, and as a way to continue fuelling both new and used sports cars. “It is worth it,” said Porsche CEO Oliver Blume in remarks reported by Automotive News Europe. “I know no other possibility to decarbonise combustion engine cars.” He also noted existing fuelling infrastructure can be used, making them easy to transport. Volkswagen ID. 2all Porsche is rolling out a range of electric vehicles, but hasn’t committed to going EV-only. The company has invested heavily in synthetic fuels, opening a production facility in Chile last year and planning to also start production in Tasmania by 2026. The Volkswagen brand is rolling out more affordable electric vehicles ahead of plans to cease production of combustion-powered vehicles in Europe by 2033. It revealed its ID. 2all hatchback concept this month, previewing a production EV due in 2025 with an intended starting price of under €25,000 (A$40,000). By 2026, it plans for an even more affordable model to join it with a price under €20,000 which, when directly converted to Australian dollars, is almost $32,000. A schism is forming among European Union member nations on the proposed 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicle sales. Italy, Germany, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia have joined forces to object to the proposed ban, but France and Spain among the nations that want the ban to go ahead. The debate is also set against a backdrop of rising electricity prices and concerns about EV charging infrastructure on the continent. Germany wants a separate category of combustion-powered vehicles to be allowed on sale beyond 2035, provided they can run on synthetic, carbon-neutral e-fuels. Bloomberg earlier this month reported word from internal sources saying the EU is offering Germany a promise that it intends to provide further clarification on how such fuels could potentially be used beyond 2035. The EU hasn’t provided any specific timeline for providing the revised proposal to Germany and the other member states, but Bloomberg speculates that it won’t be before EU elections next year due to the lengthy process of passing regulation in Brussels. Bloomberg’s anonymous source suggested the proposed amendment would modify the regulations dictating the types of vehicles permitted on European roads to allow certain cars that exclusively run on e-fuels, even after the upcoming ban on new combustion engine cars is enforced. Additional technologies or fuel additives would potentially need to be integrated into new vehicles to prevent them from using prohibited fuels beyond the 2035 deadline, as e-fuels have an identical molecular composition to traditional fuels. Porsche’s Chilean eFuels plant The 2035 ban is based on the average lifespan of a vehicle being 15 years, and therefore supports the goal of a carbon-neutral transport sector in Europe by 2050. Germany threw a spanner in the works of the EU’s plans earlier this month, leading the body to delay a March 7 vote on the legislation. E-fuels, or synthetic fuels, recapture atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions during the production process, offsetting the emissions released when the fuel is burned by a vehicle to allow for close to net-zero emissions. As the European Commission has said the transition to zero-emission vehicles is “absolutely necessary” to meet its 2030 and 2050 climate targets, it is crucial that lawmakers get a stamp of approval from all member states. As Germany is the largest car market in Europe, its reluctance to embrace the ban highlights the difficult balance that the EU must strike between economic interests and environmental concerns going forward. According to the German Association of the Automotive Industry, the German automotive industry produced 3.4 million cars and commercial vehicles in 2022 and employed around 800,000 people. MORE: Countries form bloc to block EU petrol, diesel car ban MORE: Everything you need to know about e-fuels View the full article

Bentley Motors has announced its best-ever annual operating profit and vehicle sales last year for the second year running as part of its latest financial results. The company posted a record-breaking operating profit of €708 million (A$1.12 billion) in 2022, which is an increase of €319 million (A$506 million) from the previous year. Bentley also sold a total of 15,174 vehicles last year, which is the first time the brand has sold more than 15,000 cars in a year. Return on sales climbed to 20.9 per cent in 2022, which is 7.2 per cent more than in 2021. Bentley claims this is due to customers choosing higher specification vehicles, higher option uptake, and the sale of limited-edition and coachbuilt vehicles. Bentayga The Bentley Bentayga SUV continues to the be the brand’s top-selling vehicle, accounting for 42 per cent of total sales in 2022. This was followed by the Continental GT and GTC with 31 per cent of the model mix, and the Flying Spur which accounted for 28 per cent of Bentley’s total sales. “Since the low point of 2018, the whole team at Crewe has been working intensively to restructure the business model, in parallel with launching successive segment leading new models and features,” said Bentley Motors CEO Adrian Hallmark. “Last year marked a milestone in this journey. “ Flying Spur “An almost €1 billion profit turnaround has been achieved since 2018 despite an unprecedented period of disruptions and crises including Brexit, Covid, Semiconductor supply, Ukraine and UK economic instability,” he added. As recently reported, Bentley plans to offer only plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and electric vehicles (EVs) by 2026, as it gears up to go all-electric by 2030. The British carmaker recently announced it will end production of its W12 engine in April 2024, and will sent it off with the ultra-exclusive Batur. Batur Bentley has previously pledged to reveal its first EV in 2025 and bring it to market in 2026. Overseas reports indicate the first EV will be an SUV, potentially a version of the next Bentayga or perhaps an all-new nameplate. It could even be built on the PPE platform which will underpin the Porsche Macan EV, Audi Q6 e-tron, and the Audi A6 e-tron. MORE: Bentley sets sales record as luxury market stays buoyant View the full article

Bentley has recalled 60 examples of the 2019-2020 Continental GTC due to an issue with the airbag deflector bracelet. “Due to a manufacturing issue, the riveting in the airbag deflector bracket may have a sharp edge and could come in contact with the airbag. This could result in a tear in the airbag and reduce its effectiveness,” says Bentley in its recall notice. “In the event of an accident that triggers the airbag, if the airbag is damaged or torn, there is an increased risk of injury and/or death to vehicle occupants,” says the company in its recall notice. A total of 60 vehicles are included in the recall A VIN list of affected vehicles is attached here The original recall notice is attached here If you own an affected vehicle, you can contact your preferred Bentley dealership to have the vehicle inspected and if necessary have the work carried out free of charge. If you have any further questions, you can contact your local dealership via the locator. MORE: Everything Bentley Continental GTC View the full article

Lamborghini has revealed a rolling chassis version of its next V12 supercar flagship known for now as the LB744. Dubbed the “monofuselage”, this monocoque chassis is inspired by aeronautics and made entirely of carbon fibre of different varieties. Its front section is made from a special material called Forged Composites which is patented by Lamborghini and consists of short carbon fibres soaked in resin. The tub, front firewall and A-pillar are also made of Forged Composite. The only part of the vehicle’s chassis that isn’t carbon fibre is the rear section that’s made of high-strength aluminium alloys and features two hollow castings in the rear dome area. Lamborghini says the monofuselage is a “significant step forward from the Aventador in terms of torsional stiffness, lightweight qualities and driving dynamics”. Although the Italian carmaker doesn’t specify an exact weight figure, it says it is 10 per cent lighter than the Aventador chassis. The new model’s front frame is also 20 per cent lighter than its aluminium predecessor. Torsional stiffness has been improved with a value of 40,000Nm per degree, which is up 25 per cent compared to the Aventador. This isn’t the first time Lamborghini has given us an official sneak preview into this new flagship model. It follows some details it released on its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain. Dubbed the brand’s first series production High Performance Electrified Vehicle (HPEV), it features a new 6.5-litre V12 engine at its heart. Producing 607kW of power and 725Nm of torque, it’s hooked up to the rear axle only. Redline is 9500rpm, or 500rpm beyond what the 4.0-litre six in the Porsche 911 GT3, GT3 RS, and 718 Cayman GT4 RS can manage. It won’t be augmented by turbochargers, superchargers, or even 48V mild-hybrid technology. But it will be backed by three electric motors. One (with 110kW and 150Nm) is attached to the transverse-mounted, eight-speed dual-clutch transmission; the other two are attached to the front wheels. This is only the third V12 model from Lamborghini to have a transverse-mounted transmission. The first was the Miura, the second the track-only Essenza SCV12. Lamborghini says the transmission can decouple the engine in a way that allows its new V12 supercar to be all-wheel drive even when it’s in EV mode. Those front-mounted motors each makes 110kW of power and 350Nm of torque, and open the door for all kinds of torque vectoring trickery not possible with the conventional all-wheel drive system in the now-defunct Aventador. Combined, the PHEV powertrain will make make 745kW (1000hp) of power. Feeding the electric motors is a 3.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack mounted in what would once have been the transmission tunnel. It can be charged in 30 minutes using a 7kW wall box, or with regenerative braking from the front wheels, or using the V12 in six minutes. Reverse is handled by the electric motors, rather than the petrol engine and transmission. MORE: LB744: Lamborghini PHEV will have V12, three e-motors, wild outputs View the full article