Ferrari, Skoda and Toyota lead the snippets from our automotive newsgatherers this week, with electrification being high on the agenda for all involved.
Maranel-ectrification is a stretch
Don’t count on seeing an all-electric Ferrari for a long time yet. Michael Leiters, Ferrari technical chief, said there are two big issues with the tech: sound and weight. “It’s not fitting right now for a Ferrari,” he said. “We’re studying, yes, to learn better but there is no decision yet.” The first Ferrari hybrids will arrive later this year.
Three's the magic number
Skoda is content to keep its UK line-up of SUVs to three over the coming years, according to boss Bernhard Maier. Despite some rivals expanding their range further, Maier said: “I think we have everything our competitors do. What are we missing? We don’t always have to bring the same kind of cars. Our line-up is profitable and successful, and customer feedback is that our vehicles are spot on.”
Toyota and Lexus make a power play
Toyota and its luxury marque, Lexus, will outline their electrification plans at this year’s Tokyo motor show in October. Until now, the brands’ focus has been on hybrids but announcements are expected at the show about electric cars and plug-in hybrids. The brands’ models, which are built on a new global architecture, can be adapted to different powertrains with relative ease.
Courting controversy
The judge responsible for many of the Dieselgate lawsuits at a regional court in Stuttgart, Germany, has been replaced due to suspected bias at the request of Volkswagen. The judge’s wife is the owner of a VW diesel car affected by the emissions scandal and has sued the German car maker in a district court.
Read more
Join the debate
Add your comment
Courting Controversy
The whole Dieselgate thing has been done to death and yet, even now, news about Volkswagen asking for a judge to be replaced over possible bias, seems incredible.
All I can say is, good luck to the Volkswagen legal team in finding a German Judge whose immediate family doesn't own at least one of VW's diesel vehicles and hasn't in some way experienced the fallout from Dieselgate ;)
MarkII wrote:
That could be said for the vast majority of families across Europe, judges or not.