A VR, Pickup Bed, Quattro Fever Dream

PLUS: Seven reasons to watch this year's IMSA Rolex 24 at Daytona.

View in Browser  NEWS RACING SUBSCRIBE Volta Gears Up for EV Truck Production This purpose-built electric delivery truck is getting ready to enter production. But when will we see these stateside? READ MORE Embattled EV Maker Targets Fuel-Cell Semis and Hydrogen Refueling Stations Trevor Milton awaits federal sentencing, but the company he founded, Nikola, has new leadership and heavy-duty, clean-energy plans. READ MORE Audi's Activesphere Concept is a VR, Pickup Bed, Quattro Fever Dream If it ever reaches production, it'll be one of the more bizarre but capable road-going EVs. READ MORE 7 Reasons to Watch This Year's IMSA Rolex 24 at Daytona Aside from the new GTP class, there's no shortage of intrigue at this year's IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship opener. READ MORE Akio Toyoda Steps Aside from Toyota's CEO Role The Toyota boss moves on to chairman of the board and is replaced by Koji Sato. READ MORE New Ferrari F1 Team Principal: 'We Have Everything to Win' Frederic Vasseur is convinced Ferrari can win the Formula 1 championship in his first season at the helm. READ MORE Follow Us Unsubscribe | Privacy Notice/Notice at Collection Autoweek.com ©2023 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019 https://link.autoweek.com/oc/60751dea6d1a7f51693f313di359t.uym/1fec0f3f

Audi's latest concept is part coupe, part...pickup

PLUS: Vanwall EV hatch, Polestar 2 turns to RWD, and Tesla's planned expansion.

If you have trouble reading this message, view it in a browser. Audi's Activesphere Concept Is a VR, Pickup Bed, Quattro Fever Dream      Audi's latest electric concept combines elements of a coupe and a crossover—but it also has a pickup bed. The Ingolstadt-based automaker unveiled the latest in a series of concept cars with "sphere" in the name, with the Activesphere offering a setup that a few different EV buyers could appreciate.    Based on the very real Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, the Activesphere is powered by a 100-kWh battery. And while the exterior design looks like something we could envision on the road, the interior is far more futuristic, complete with Level 4 autonomous tech.    "The innovative operating concept, Audi Dimension, combines the physical and virtual worlds (i.e., mixed reality) by displaying digital content in the occupants' fields of vision in real-time," Audi notes. "High-tech headsets provide a view of the real environment and the route, while simultaneously displaying 3D content and interactive elements—individually configurable for drivers and passengers."    Could we see Audi offer something like this in the next few years?    Read on to find out more about this concept.  READ THE FULL STORY This Race Car Maker Is Launching Its Own EV Hatch         There aren't many hatchback EVs right now, as automakers continue to look to SUVs, sedans, crossovers, and trucks with their latest offerings. But one company has the classic hot hatch formula in mind when it comes to its first EV, and the design already looks like it hails from the heyday of rally-inspired production cars.    Vanwall is the company behind this planned electric performance hatch, and it has a legitimate racing pedigree if not a household name.    The hatch promises up to 580 hp with power sent to all four wheels, along with a cyberpunk exterior and more than 250 miles of range. That's a recipe for quick launches, though the carbon fiber interior and exterior bits won't be cheap.     Read on to find out more about this unique project. READ THE FULL STORY Are Lamppost EV Chargers Ideal for City Dwellers?      Those who live in large cities face no shortage of barriers to vehicle ownership, let alone electric vehicle ownership.    But what if every lamppost could be turned into an EV charger?    That's exactly what one company in the UK has been doing, turning thousands of lampposts in the country into curbside chargers. The installation procedure takes less than two hours, and the result offers those who may only have street parking in the city overnight a way to recharge. The company is now in the process of adding 300 such charge points to the city of Liverpool.    The upside is that no complicated construction is required, though charging speeds are slow and would favor overnight usage.    The company behind the project is now working to expand its network in the UK, but overall progress on curbside charger installation in cities in North America is moving slowly, despite its potential to convert city dwellers to EV ownership. READ THE FULL STORY Musk Dismisses Twitter Angst as Tesla Reports Record Sales and Income READ MORE Here's How Tesla Plans to Build More Batteries READ MORE Honda Pushes Electrification, but Banks on ICE SUVs READ MORE BMW Gets Ready to Test Solid-State Batteries READ MORE Here's Why Lightyear 0 Production Has Been Halted READ MORE 2024 Polestar 2 Hits 300-Mile Range, Adds Rear-Wheel Drive READ MORE 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. SIGN UP Follow Us Unsubscribe Privacy Notice Autoweek.com ©2023 Hearst Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Email Privacy, 300 W 57th St., Fl. 19 (sta 1-1), New York, NY 10019