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Runtime: 10:55
0:00 BYD 1st Foreign Brand to Enter Japan Kei Car Segment
0:58 Hyundai Improves Next-Gen Hybrid Setup
1:53 VW Previews Future China Lineup
3:05 AUDI Pulls Wraps Off 1st China-Only Production Car
4:54 Buick Launching New Brand in China
5:59 Vision V Hints at Future Top-End Mercedes Van
6:55 Mercedes Introducing 1st Steer-By-Wire System in 2026
7:45 Performance Renault 5 Has Huge Markup
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BYD 1ST FOREIGN BRAND TO ENTER JAPAN KEI CAR SEGMENT
BYD launched EVs in Japan two years ago and now it’s planning to expand into a segment no other foreign automaker has entered. According to the Nikkei newspaper, BYD is developing a kei car for Japan that’s expected to go on sale in 2026. It’s targeting a price of $17,700 which is below the current best-selling kei car, the Nissan Sakura, which starts at $18,250. Kei cars are small vehicles that are unique to the Japanese market, which is why no foreign automaker has attempted one yet. BYD currently sells four models in Japan and while sales are relatively small, it only sold 2,200 vehicles last year, that was more EVs than Toyota sold in Japan.
HYUNDAI IMPROVES NEXT-GEN HYBRID POWERTRAIN
The Hyundai Group revealed its next-gen hybrid powertrain that will soon power Hyundai, Kia and Genesis vehicles. The system features a new transmission with two integrated motors, which can be paired with either a 2.5L-turbo or a 1.6L-turbo gasoline engine. Output of the hybrid system will range from around 100 to mid-300 horsepower. Compared to the previous hybrid, the 2.5L engine offers a 2.9% increase in efficiency. The company also says the new hybrid has 45% better fuel economy and 19% more power compared to ICE powertrains of the same class. The 2.5L debuts in the new Hyundai Palisade which goes into production this month. And next year, the Group will introduce a rear-drive version of the hybrid for Genesis.
The Shanghai Auto Show kicked off earlier today and we’ve got a whole slew of reveals to look at:
VW PREVIEWS FUTURE CHINA LINEUP
Volkswagen took the wraps off of three new concepts developed with its joint-venture partners in China that are a preview of its upcoming models in the country. First up is the ID.ERA, which is a full-size SUV from SAIC Volkswagen. It’s a range-extended EV that has 300-kilometers or 186 miles of pure-electric range and more than 1,000 kilometers or 621 miles of total range. Next up, is the ID.EVO from Volkswagen Anhui, a fully-electric, full-size SUV based on an 800-volt platform. And the last model is the ID.AURA from FAW-Volkswagen which is based on the automaker’s Compact Main Platform with a zonal electronic architecture. All of the concepts feature VW’s new Level 2++ driving assist system, which was developed by CARIZON, a joint-venture between VW’s CARIAD software unit and China’s Horizon Robotics.
AUDI PULLS WRAPS OFF 1ST CHINA-ONLY PRODUCTION CAR
Audi revealed its first production model for its China-only brand AUDI, which is spelled in all caps and doesn’t have the four-ring logo. The E5 Sportback, which was developed with SAIC is an all-electric car that features a 100-kWh battery with a maximum driving range of 770 kilometers or 478 miles. It comes in rear or all-wheel-drive with four power outputs; 220, 300, 425 or 579 kilowatts. And it’s able to move from 0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. The E5 Sportback goes on sales this summer in China and two more electric models will go on sale in 2026 and 2027. Audi is reimagining the brand in China to help boost sales, which were down 12% last year.
BUICK LAUNCHING NEW BRAND IN CHINA
Buick is spinning off the ELECTRA name into a new NEV sub-brand in China and will launch a new lineup of vehicles that’s based on an all-new platform. Called the Super Architecture it can support plug-in hybrid, extended range electric and pure EV setups as well as front-, rear- and all-wheel drive. The platform also features a 900-volt zonal electronic architecture and hands-free and driver assistance tech provided by Momenta. Buick showed off a range of body styles including a sedan, van and SUV. The van, called the ENCASA, is the first to launch and is supposed to be out before the end of the year. It will be offered in both 6- and 7-seat configurations as well as both plug-in hybrid and pure electric. Buick also revealed the GS Concept, a sedan that’s meant to preview the brand’s future design direction. We think the side profile and interior layout are pretty interesting, but we’d love to know your thoughts as well.
VISION V PREVIEWS FUTURE TOP-END MERCEDES VAN
And speaking of new electric vans, here’s the rest of the Mercedes Vision V concept that we were only able to briefly tease in yesterday’s show. It was several years ago that Mercedes-Benz started saying it was going to start putting the same levels of luxury and craftsmanship into its vans as it does its passenger vehicles and we think the Vision V is the first time it’s really displayed that effort. This concept’s main attraction for us is the rear seating area that you enter through a side sliding door. Inside are two pillow-y captain’s chairs that can be positioned in almost any possible way to allow users to take advantage of a huge retractable display screen, which you can watch rise or lower through clear slats in the floor. Front seat passengers also get similar pillow-y seats and three display screens of their own as well.
MERCEDES LAUNCHING 1ST STEER-BY-WIRE SYSTEM IN 2026
Sticking with Mercedes, the luxury brand is likely coming out with a yoke-like steering wheel when it launches its first steer-by-wire system in 2026. Since there’s no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and tires, the steering ratio can automatically adjust depending on the situation. And when combined with rear-wheel steering, Mercedes claims you can park a car without re-gripping the steering wheel. However, that takes some getting used to as a driver and engineers will have to be careful with the tuning so people aren’t crashing into other cars while pulling in and out of a parking spot. The wheel shape also clears up space for the driver and gives a clearer forward view, but so far yoke-like steering wheels haven’t been that popular with customers.
PERFORMANCE RENAULT 5 HAS HUGE MARKUP
The new Renault 5 starts at just over 21,500 euros or a little under $25,000, but you can’t even put a deposit down on the performance version of the model for that kind of money. Anyone interested in the Renault 5 Turbo 3E has to make an appointment with a dealer and sign a reservation form for 50,000 euros. That gives them priority to buy the car when it launches with a price tag of 155,000 euros. While that’s a huge jump over the base model the R5 Turbo 3E is built on a custom-designed aluminium platform and features a carbon-fiber structure. Combined with two rear in-wheel electric motors that generate 540 horsepower and a 70 kWh battery pack, the car weighs a total of 1,450 kilograms or just under 3,200 pounds and will do 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. Renault says deliveries are scheduled to kick off sometime in 2027.
But that brings us to the end of today’s show. Thanks for making Autoline a part of your day.
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Yolk is the yellow part of an egg. Yoke is the thing some car companies are using in place of a steering wheel.
Maybe voice recognition did the transcribing and confused the two. I see it’s now fixed.
Kit, I’m hoping it’s a case of another “autocorrect” that was incorrect.
I like the Buick concept a lot. A good design has lots of factors, but I often start with the fundamental execution of the belt line to base of windshield (“fence line”). This and other great designs have a natural flow of the belt line to the fence line, with a side window point at the base of the A-pillar. To execute such an organic line, the hood must be relatively low… unusual in this day-and-age of high hoods for pedestrian energy -absorbing space. Today, this svelte execution often requires a BEV architecture. Overall, can’t lose with a low hoods for, sweeping roofline, and short yet high deck.
I guess one small reason for designers to focus on yoke steering wheels is the issue of airbags. We are supposed to now shuffle turn rather than use the old hand over hand technique we were taught. It seems awkward so the yoke may be a solution.
Siri spelled ‘yolk’ for this answer. I’ll have a short sharp talk with her.
I agree that yoke steering is not preferred. There are a certain number of people that likely love it, but the masses are just not into it. Probably should be an option. See if the people that like it are willing to pay for it.
I also assume that what was meant in the story is that the steer by wire is a first for Mercedes and not the market. Infinity Q50 was technically first but it still had a mechanical back up. Cyber truck was second but has zero mechanical back up system in place making it the official first to be pure steer by wire in my view at least.
Would like to see Buick offer those sedans in the US.
Maybe Mercedes would use highly variable ratio with their yoke, to give about 270 degrees lock to lock. It would need to have near normal ratio near center so you wouldn’t weave all over, and much faster ratio near the ends. It would take getting used to, but might work. I know I wouldn’t like it, because I don’t always want my hands the same place on the wheel, especially on long trips.
Buick Electra 225 was our family car in 1959.
Merv, I remember the new Buick model names from when I was 12, LeSabre, Invicta, and Electra.
As long as you are going steer-by-wire you might as well go all the way and make it a joystick steering control, and before all you non-believers start squawking, just look around and see all the vehicles that are controlled by joysticks these days, with electronics controlling everything you could have varying levels of effort to command the steering, making it higher effort the faster you go. That’s right Kit, there is a joystick in your future, you just don’t know it yet :).
Haven’t joysticks been tried for cars and found to lack precision for staying on the road, etc., especially when there are bumpy roads? I use joysticks for model airplanes, and am involved with robots controlled using game controllers, but driving a car is different. Maybe the idea of joysticks for cars will resurface. The tech to do it certainly exists, but I doubt if it will go very far.
Kit’s comment about the Buick GS design concept—”This and other great designs have a natural flow of the belt line to the fence line, with a side window point at the base of the A-pillar.”—rings true for me.
In today’s world’s, especially with pickups, I find that the hood is often too high. This height reduces visibility and disrupts the “flow of the belt line to the fence line.” I speculate this is done to make grills taller and to give vehicles a more intimidating look.
Another design element that I find appealing with this GS is the lack of plastic ornamentation around the wheel arches. Instead, it features clean painted sheet metal extending to edge of the arches.
jp41, Drew is who commented on the Buick concept, but I agree with everything he said.
It seems that all recent pickups, except maybe Maverick and Santa Cruz, are designed for “macho” effect, the better for killing pedestrians who might be hit. My favorite pickups of the last 30 or so years were the second generation Dodge Dakota, and the late ’90s F series, but designs like those probably would go over well with most of today’s pickup buyers.
That’s “would not go over well with most of today’s pickup buyers “
Drew, pardon the misattribution; Kit thank you for the correction.
This is a public service primarily for the benefit of BOB WILSON, who, really cluelessly, advised somebody, China or other, a few days ago, to emulate the Horrendous catastrophe (which dwarfs even the Holocaust) of Mao’s infamous “Great Leap Forward”.
I will make it real easy for him. Here is the “reader’s digest” version of a recent serious book, written by a serious scholar, on this horror story, “the greatest case of man-made disaster in all of human history”!!!!:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqFBa9ePWpo
Pay careful attention, Bob Wilson, and you may actually learn a lot. Although I am not very optimistic.