Reducing the carbon footprint is high on the agenda for almost every auto manufacturer these days.
With the potential for massive government fines and (even worse) the PR sting of perceived corporate indifference to environmental matters, every company is in a rush to be seen to be acting responsibly.
A latter-day effort to electrify — or at least hybridise — the model range is also item number one on many car company “to do” lists, not least BMW, which — in typical fashion — has reacted this week to the unveiling of arch-rival Mercedes-Benz’s EQC electric vehicle with a flurry of future product announcements, some feeding the EV zeitgeist, some not.
One rather more covert teaser campaign caught our attention; drip-fed information on the soon-to-be-revealed BMW Vision iNEXT progressive vehicle concept.
The Bavarian auto geniuses are hot under the turtleneck sweater about this one: “iNEXT is our mobility proposition for the future, so it’s only logical that the BMW Vision iNEXT should be presented to a global audience in a fresh new style,” gushed Klaus Fröhlich, a Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, in a press release about the unveiling of the concept.
Thing is though, the way eco-conscious BMW is going about drumming up interest in the iNEXT seems thoroughly old-school, especially where corporate emission responsibility is concerned.
BMW, you see, is launching the new vehicle concept to a global audience by flying it around the world in spectacular fashion, hosting glitzy unveiling events in Munich, New York, San Francisco and Beijing.
The “specially-prepared” Lufthansa Cargo Boeing 777F — which appears to be both the transport for and the venue of the events — will cover four destinations on three continents in five days.
That’s a lot of fuel burnt to show off a forward-thinking transport solution. How are you going to offset the carbon on this one, guys?
Let’s hope that pure-electric iX3 you have ready to roll out goes gangbusters when it arrives in showrooms.
Lada Niva 2.0? Da or Nyet?
How did this awesome Lada Niva concept pass us by? After 40-odd years of slight updates, it looks like the Russian icon is about to get a makeover.
Not that the Niva (or its more offroady sub-model, the Cossack) has been a common sight on Kiwi roads since they all rusted away in the 90s. But as far as quirky imports go, the Niva remains an automotive oddity that many New Zealanders will remember as a bare-basics option in the compact 4x4 stakes before they were really a thing.
They hit the local market in the mid-1980s after the New Zealand Dairy Board agreed to letting the Soviet Government partially pay off trade debts by supplying Nivas for sale.
That quaint arrangement seems like the stuff of Victorian times. And, underscoring just how far things have come in terms of vehicle design too, here’s the Lada 4x4 Vision concept.
It was penned by Lada design chief Steve Mattin; a Brit who has designed all manner of motors, from the Mercedes-Benz ML to the Volvo XC60. So, he has chops when it comes to designing good-looking SUVs.
The cool thing about the 4x4 Vision is that you can see some original Niva lines in the so-called “X” design language on the side-profile. There’s something about the short body length and those exaggerated, high wheel arches that instantly reminds of the original Niva. The Russian flag detailing in the side vent is a nice addition too.
Mattin wouldn’t be drawn on whether the 4x4 Vision Concept will ever see the light of day. Without any representation in New Zealand (unless Fonterra is interested?), it’s unlikely we would see a model for sale in our part of the world anyway.
Although these days AvtoVAZ Lada is a subsidiary of the almighty Renault-Nissan Alliance, so you never know ...
Lexus takes ‘flagship model’ far too seriously
Lexus issued a breathless press release this week, detailing an addition to their top-shelf “L” series of vehicles, which already encompasses the LS sedan, LC Coupe and LX SUV.
The new L model is ... er, a luxury yacht. Um, righto.
Known as the LY 650 (one wonders whether there’s a badge on the back of it just like a car), the 20m yacht has been designed using the same “L Finesse” design language the Japanese carmaker infuses its more common road-based fare with.
The really strange thing is, the arrival of the LY 650 doesn’t appear to be — forgive us — PR showboating. The company is talking about this massive sea-going vessel in the same sentences as the rest of its premium model line-up.
The LY 650 also picks up the baton from a concept boat Lexus showed off back in 2017. The press bumpf attached to news of the yacht’s imminent arrival suggests Lexus chief Yoshihiro Sawa’s vision of Lexus as a brand that “explores new ways to deliver innovative and amazing experiences for our guests” is clearly a goal not restricted to just landlubbers.
The LY 650 will be powered by Volvo Penta IPS1200 engines (a 12.8-litre turboed and supercharged common-rail diesel), features a beam width of 5.72m and fuel capacity of 3785-litres. Onboard are three staterooms and — naturally — a rather luxurious menu of fittings and fixtures.
No mention of whether Lexus’ fiddly Remote Touch interface is required to get the sat nav working though. We wouldn’t like to use that on a choppy sea.
In the meantime, one wonders how the Lexus dealer network will react to the need for dry-dock facilities alongside their showrooms? No need to panic, Lexus of Christchurch: the LY 650 will be built, sold and serviced by US-based high-end boat manufacturer Marquis-Larson.