PLUS: Rivian increases output, Geely readies EV truck, and MG4 hatch is headed to Europe.
Rivian is getting back on track, Volvo parent company plans EV pickup, and the MG4 is on the way to battle other European EV hatchbacks. But first: |
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| Mercedes will soon have a deeper EV lineup than Tesla in the US, having been rolling out models at a breakneck pace. The latest model to join the range this year is the EQE sedan, positioned just below the EQS flagship, and it's very much intended to play the same role as the E-Class in the automaker's lineup. And it's not only the regular EQE that we're getting stateside—the AMG version is on the way as well. We've just driven the 2023 Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 in Europe, and if our time in it is any indication, it will be scary quick, serving up 3.2-second launches from 0 to 60 mph all while offering a luxurious interior for five.
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The interior of this version of the EQE will be a bit different from the standard model, which the US will also receive. |
On paper the EQE 53 is already impressive, producing a domesticated 493 hp in Comfort mode. Sport+ will dial that all the way up to 617 hp, but the Dynamic pack will offer 677 hp for those who need it. It wasn't long ago you could only approach these numbers in a V12! Of course, numbers on a screen are just a tiny part of today's luxury electric sedans, and the EQE still has to try to measure up to its older brother, with the Mercedes-AMG EQS no doubt being on the shortlist of prospective EQE buyers as well. So the sedan will have to stand on its own to make an impression. Will it make an impression on buyers when it gets here? Read our full review of this brute to learn more about what will be on the menu in just a short few months.
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The second quarter of 2022 showed progress for Rivian, but much remains to be done this year. |
Rivian has a big backlog of reservations for its truck and SUV, but just how close is it to its 2022 production goal? The EV maker released its second quarter production and delivery numbers this week, painting an improving picture compared to the first three months of the year: the company produced 4401 vehicles in the second quarter, and delivered 4467 vehicles. It still has a long way to go to reach its goal of producing 25,000 vehicles this year, with just six months left to make up a lot of ground. Just like all automakers, Tesla included, Rivian has been facing supply chain issues as well as the rising costs of raw materials—costs that the company is trying to keep in check. The long-term outlook for the global prices on various metals is still unclear, especially as EV suppliers in Germany now face skyrocketing energy costs. These trends are affecting all EV makers, and producing plenty of market unease. 2022 will certainly be a make-or-break year for Rivian and for a few other EV startups as well. It's safe to say that this year has already been one most challenging years in the auto industry in decades, as century-old automakers are now catching up to startups and more established EV makers like Tesla.
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Geely, the parent company of Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Zeekr, and Lynk & Co., covers a lot of segments thanks to its collection of brands. And soon, it will add an electric four-door pickup to its lineup, one that could be aimed at the Chinese domestic market as well as some export markets where trucks of this type are popular. |
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Americans may still remember MG for its popular MGB roadster, but over a decade after becoming part of China's SAIC Motor, the brand is more about crossovers and hatchbacks. And some of them are now electric. A few days ago MG took the wraps off its MG4 electric hatch that will be offered in the UK and elsewhere, in what is becoming a very hot segment across the Atlantic. |
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