PLUS: Cadillac tests new EV, Lucid faces production headwinds, and VW ID.4 drops in price.
The duo that is the BMW i4 eDrive40 and i4 M50 may seem to have most bases covered, offering a choice of rear- or all-wheel-drive and two different power levels. The i4 eDrive40 kicks things off with 335 hp, while the M50 dials it all the way up to 536 hp and 586 lb-ft of torque (at least in short bursts).
For most EV shoppers, this two-flavor lineup is varied enough. But another version will join the lineup shortly.
Say guten tag to the i4 eDrive35, which will feature a smaller battery and a more modest power output, offering 281 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The point of this particular version will be to serve as the entry-level model, setting its sights on the RWD Tesla Model 3.
| The addition of this model will bring the number of i4 variants to three. | The i4 eDrive35 will rely on a 70.2-kWh (gross) battery, and will feature a single-motor, rear-wheel drive setup just like its slightly more expensive sibling. The trade-off in range will be 260 miles versus the eDrive40's 301, but will the difference in price be enough for buyers to live with the lower range? Read on and let us know in the comments which one you'd choose.
| Lucid Air sedans are on their way to owners, but the backlog of orders is substantial. | This has not been an easy year for any EV maker, for those producing cars for a decade or for just under a year. Lucid Motors, which kicked off production of its long-awaited Air sedan in the fall of 2021, has had a rougher first half of 2022 than most, due to the now familiar supply-chain issues affecting all automakers, large and small.
This week Lucid revealed it has delivered just 679 Air sedans in the second quarter of this year, and is revising its 2022 production forecast downward for a second time. Lucid now expects to produce just 6000 to 7000 vehicles through the end of the year, half of what it said in February it would be able to build—and a far cry from the original 20,000-car forecast.
"Our revised production guidance reflects the extraordinary supply-chain and logistics challenges we encountered," said Peter Rawlinson, Lucid CEO and CTO. "We've identified the primary bottlenecks, and we are taking appropriate measures—bringing our logistics operations in-house, adding key hires to the executive team, and restructuring our logistics and manufacturing organization."
Needless to say, this will push back the delivery windows for those who've ordered the sedan.
The question now is, does the company have enough cash to weather this crisis?
Read on to find out how things are looking for Lucid at the moment.
| | | Electrification is going to transform the automotive world, no question. But before delivering us into that Jetsons future, it is first set to subvert the established hierarchy of car brands, and the long established principle of paying more to get more performance. The Kia EV6 GT is a fine example of this disruptive tech. Not only is it Kia's fastest and most powerful model to date, it is also set to leapfrog many posher alternatives. | | | Shortly after its spring release, Toyota issued an urgent recall for its new bZ4X EV SUV, asking owners to immediately stop driving the model. This wasn't just a precaution on Toyota's part, seeing as the recall focused on the very real possibility for the wheels to fall off. An improperly designed wheel hub and accompanying hub bolts are prone to loosening, resulting in 2700 of the 2023 model year units being recalled in late June. As of today, there is no solution, leading Toyota to offer owners a choice between a credit program or a complete buyback. | | | Spread the word: If you know someone interested in staying on top of the rapidly growing EV segment, feel free to pass this newsletter along. | | | | | | Follow Us | | | | | | | | Unsubscribe Privacy Notice | | | Autoweek.com
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