Nother CarGuy

Skoda has released new details and pictures of the Vision X concept. Set to be debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month, the concept is billed as an “urban crossover” that transfers the characteristic features of the Kodiaq and Karoq to “another vehicle segment.” While it may look like just another crossover, the Vision X has a lot going on underneath the skin. For starters, the model has a turbocharged 1.5-liter G-TEC four-cylinder engine which can run on petrol or compressed natural gas (CNG). That’s not too usual but Skoda engineers didn’t stop there as they equipped the model with a new hybrid system. Another interesting feature is the concept’s unique drive system, Skoda didn’t go into specifics but said the model switches from front to rear to all-wheel drive as needed. This combined with the high-tech powertrain promises to give the model “spontaneous power delivery, increased agility and low CO2 emissions of only 89 g/km.” Detailed performance specifications were...

Eager to cement its position as a leader in the industry, Volvo has announced that every new vehicle it launches from 2019 will have an electric motor. In a statement, the Swedish automaker revealed that between 2019 and 2021, it will launch five fully-electric cars, two of which will come from the company’s performance division, Polestar. These models will then be supplemented by a selection of petrol and diesel plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid vehicles with 48-volt power supplies. Volvo says the move marks the moment it will start to phase out internal combustion engines from its vehicles as it looks to embrace the dramatically-changing face of the market. According to Volvo president and chief executive Håkan Samuelsson, the move comes on the back of demand from customers. “This is about the customer. People increasingly demand electrified cars and we want to respond to our customers’ current and future needs. You can now pick and choose whichever electrified Volvo you wish...

The recent VW diesel emissions scandal has shed some light towards the difficulties faced by automakers when it comes to making their cars more economical. The word "downsizing" is probably used quite often when an automaker sets out to make a new car. You see, things are just not the same anymore. Every country seems to be setting a fuel-emission limit. Europeans, Americans, Asians and Arabs are all setting fuel standards for cars. In the USA, they say the average mpg achieved by a car should be brought up to 50 mpg in 10 years' time, and as a result, automakers are doing whatever they can to meet those regulations. Even resorting to cheating. And that has led to some tough times for the "purists" among the car guys. I'm not one of them, but sometimes I think whether they're right about the downsizing thing. For those of you who do not know, there was a time, 10-15 years ago to be honest, when a BMW M5 had a naturally-aspirated V10, and the ...