It s crazy fast and insanely heavy. That could be a problem.
Earlier this month, we reported the GMC Hummer EV has a hefty curb weight of 9,046 pounds. To put that into perspective, a Ford F-150 Regular Cab 4x4 V6 tips the scale at 4,275 pounds. In the US, vehicles that weigh below 10,000 pounds can be driven with a regular license, but the Hummer s weight is awfully close to that of commercial vehicles which have additional licensing requirements. Also think of it like this: the Hummer s weight is the equivalent of vehicles like F-150s towing around small boats on a daily basis.
What s next after the electric Macan?
Porsche began toying with the idea of fully electrifying the next-generation 718 Boxster and Cayman a few years ago. Since then, the automotive industry has undergone drastic changes regarding battery-electric vehicles and the timing works perfectly in Porsche s favor regarding its entry-level roadster and coupe. Their mid-engine setup is ideally suited for a floor-mounted battery pack, for one thing. And, so far, Porsche Taycan reception has been excellent with demand remaining high. Porsche s second electric vehicle, the Macan EV, will arrive in 2023. What will be its third? Probably the next 718.
Car And Driver reports the German automaker is actively developing a Boxster EV with testing already well underway, according to Michael Steiner, Porsche s executive board member for development.
A Continuation Platform
Mazda is currently working on a new FR architecture that will underpin future rear-wheel-drive models like the next-gen Mazda 6 and Mazda CX-5. But while a modular platform of this type may seem like an ideal fit for the MX-5, these vehicles will all be compatible with hybridization, and crucially, all-wheel-drive, which adds weight and complexity to the platform.
This goes against the Miata ethos, which is why we re more inclined to believe that the NE (fifth-gen) MX-5 will ride on an advancement of the current H-frame Skyactiv chassis. In this way, the NE will be to the ND as the NB was to the NA - an advancement and a refinement more than a completely revised model. In doing this, Mazda will be able to retain current developments and reduce the development costs. And, considering the ND is the lightest and smallest since the original, the NE will still be suitably compact and lightweight.
Overall, Porsche had a great start to 2021.
Despite the challenges of a global pandemic, Porsche s sales were strong in 2020. The company posted its 2021 Q1 sales in the United States earlier this month, and the results were similarly impressive. Now, Porsche has released its global sales figures from the first quarter of this year, and there are a few interesting takeaways to point out. Through the first three months of 2021, Porsche delivered 71,986 vehicles worldwide, 17,368 of those were sold in the US. Overall these deliveries were up a staggering 36% compared to Q1 2020. We are extremely pleased that the community of Porsche customers continues to grow all over the world, said Detlev von Platen, Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG. Established models have supported this excellent result along with the latest additions to our product range, above all the new model variants of the all-electric Taycan. Thanks to the great appeal of our brand an