Tesla is arguably setting the benchmark for Electric cars as of late, but what are car companies that have been around for well over a century doing to show their innovations for electirc vehicles? With the Frankfurt motorshow just around the corner, now would be the perfect time to display it to the world. Are we about to see a huge rise in the number of cars using hybrid setups and electric powertrains in the next future? If so, take a look at these six cars to gain an idea of what to expect!
Audi e-Tron Quattro Concept
It's been a long time coming, but Audi has finally revealed their all-electric Crossover. The power comes from three electric motors - One driving the front wheels, the other two powering the rear wheels. The end result is 435hp under normal driving conditions but the driver is able to boost the power output to 503hp which propels the Quattro from 0-60 in 4.6 seconds onto an electronically limited top speed of 130mph. The Lithium-Ion battery has a range of 311 miles and can be charged in 50 minutes using a 150kW Direct Current charging unit. The e-Tron Quattro is expected to hit the roads in 2018.
Mercedes Concept IAA
Previewing the future of the Brand's luxury models, the Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile) has an extremely smooth exterior design with a drag co-efficient of just 0.19. Power comes from a petrol-electric hybrid setup which produces 274hp and can get the IAA to a top speed of 155mph. At 50mph, the active aerodynamics come into play making it easier for the IAA to glide through the air and improve efficiency. As for eco-credentials, the IAA emits just 28g/km of Carbon Dioxide and can travel up to 20 miles in all-electric mode. Expect to see styling and technological cues from the IAA on the future CLS and S-Class models.
Nissan Gripz Concept
This sporty looking Crossover is supposed to be a preview of the next Juke. Nissan claims the Gripz blends “the ability and practicality of a compact crossover” with “the excitement and performance of a sports car.” There are no performance specifications for the Gripz, but it does have a petrol-electric hybrid setup featuring the electric motor from the Nissan LEAF and is said to give “smooth, swift and linear acceleration in near-silence, with supreme efficiency.” With such a sleek design, it is likely some styling features on display here could appear on the next generation Z Sports car.
Porsche Mission E
You've seen what Audi propose to enter the Electric Vehicle market with, now get a load of Porsche's proposition. Dubbed the Mission E, this gourgeous four door coupe has the Tesla Model S directly in its sights. There are more things to be amazed at beyond the bodywork - the all-electric powertrain produces up to 600hp and like the Audi, has a range of 311 miles. Using an 800 Volt drive system, the battery can be recharged to 80% in just 15 minutes with the Porsche Turbo Charging kit employed. Porsche says the Mission E should be ready to hit the streets in 2018 - I reckon we are doing to see a battle royale with this, the Audi and Tesla. Bring it on!
Toyota C-HR Concept
Despite its controversial styling, the Juke sells extremely well so Toyota are not going to sit back and watch a competitor stacking in the compact crossover market, they are almost ready to unleash their own model. The C-HR is a preview of a new crossover which is due to make its debut in production form next year, but what you see above gives you an idea of what it will look like. The C-HR Concept rides on the same petrol-electric hybrid platform as the new Toyota Prius promising thermal efficiency of more than 40%, which should be available in the production model alongside petrol and diesel engines.
VW Tiguan GTE Concept
Out of all the cars featured in this post, this is the closest thing to being a real car you can actually buy because it is essentially a high-performance hybrid model of the new Tiguan crossover. Power comes from a 156hp 1.4 TSI engine paired with an electric motor to give a total output of 218hp. This allows the Tiguan to sprint from 0-60 in 8.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 124mph, or 81mph in electric mode. The GTE is capable of doing over 148 mpg while in hybrid mode and this is thanks to roof-mounted solar panels which can account for up to 621 miles of driving range in ideal conditions (probably not in the UK then...)
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