This week's gossip has news of Audi's battery future, Aston Martin's brand progression, Ford's carbonfibre plans, and a product that looks to have been ruled out for an SVR makeover.
Solid-state batteries are the future for Audi
Audi's new R&D chief, Stefan Knirsch, reckons lithium ion batteries will eventually be superseded by solid-state batteries, which promise greater energy density.
Knirsch said Audi is “working heavily” on these and they will start to appear “in the early 2020s”.
Read more: 2017 Audi A5 coupé and S5 revealed, 2016 Audi Q2 review
Aston Martin's brand progression
The Aston Martin GT8 and Aston Martin GT12 Vantage models have helped to take the British brand to a new, more extreme-orientated customer, according to special projects boss Dave King.
“These GT models are something I’ve been keen to do, as we’ve been missing out on people looking for extreme products,” he said. “The GT12 really hit the spot.
There were a high level of conquest sales and new people coming to the brand. The hardest thing is to get people into the brand and then keep them.”
Read more: Aston Martin Vulcan to star at Conventry Motofest, Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato concept unveiled
More carbonfibre in upcoming Fords?
Ford says it is working hard to reduce the production costs of carbonfibre so it can be used in more of its models.
Currently, the firm’s only carbonfibre-based model is the GT, but product development boss Raj Nair said other Ford models will benefit from the lightweight material once it becomes more affordable.
Read more: 2016 Ford GT, Ford Ka reborn
No SVR Evoque Convertible
There are currently no plans for an SVR version of the new Range Rover Evoque Convertible, according to Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations boss John Edwards.
However, Edwards said SVO designers and engineers “play with all of our products” and have ideas to apply to them all.
Read more: Range Rover Evoque Convertible review, Range Rover Sport SVR review
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