BOLDER, MORE DIVERSE
The New Opel Corsa
The more modern, more digital, and more diverse new Opel Corsa, with its new styling and characteristic Opel Vizor front fascia, was recently introduced to the world at the 2023 IAA Mobility in Munich and is set to arrive across Middle East and African markets imminently.
The optional fully digital cockpit in the new Corsa– based on the Snapdragon Cockpit Platform from Qualco mm Technologies – features a new intuitive infotainment system with colour touchscreens up to 10” in size. The adaptive, glare-free Intelli-Lux LED Matrix Light, which the Corsa brought to the small car segment in 2019, has been further developed and now comprises 14 LED elements.
The Corsa Electric is now available with a more powerful electric motor and a new battery that enables a driving range of up to 405 km in the WLTP cycle. In addition, the new Corsa will soon become the first Opel with a 48-volt hybrid system. The range will be completed with a choice of highly efficient combustion engines.
This includes a 56 kW 1.2-litre petrol engine with manual 5-speed transmission, a 76 kW 1.2-litre petrol turbo engine with manual 6-speed transmission, the well-known 96 kW 1.2-litre petrol turbo engine with auto six-speed or eight-speed transmission and an 82 kW 1.5-litre diesel engine with manual six-speed transmission.
Numerous technologies and driver assistance systems are standard in the new Corsa, including forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, and drowsiness alert. Other electronic helpers include a flank guard and a high-resolution panorama rearview camera.
Two all-electric drivetrains will be available: a new option with 115 kW and up to 405 km range, as well as the proven variant with 100 kW and a further improved range of up to 357 km (WLTP), both delivering 260 Nm of torque. In addition, the electric Corsa models feature a digital driver information centre, a multimedia radio with colour touchscreen, auto climate control, a 7.4 kW onboard charger, a heat pump, and 16” diamond cut light alloy wheels.
NEXT-GEN BATTERY-ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Lexus LF-ZC and LF-ZL
Lexus has unveiled two battery electric vehicle (BEV) concepts showcasing next-generation technology and its exciting, electrified product future at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo. Taking the theme “Pushing the Boundaries of the Electrified Experience,” Lexus hosted the public debut of the LF-ZC (Lexus Future Zero-emission Catalyst) and the LF-ZL (Lexus Future Zero-emission Luxury).
The LF-ZC is a battery-electric sedan concept which points towards a new Lexus production model scheduled for global release in 2026, and the LF-ZL is the Lexus vision for a futuristic flagship battery-electric SUV. Now established as a global luxury lifestyle brand, Lexus has been a technology pioneer since the brand was founded in 1989, with a proud heritage of challenging the conventions of the luxury car market.
A completely new modular structure for vehicle design, innovative production technology and an advanced software platform will reimagine the Lexus Driving Signature, along with new levels of personalised luxury, as Lexus commits to being an electrified brand by 2035. The Lexus approach to sustainability is also visualised in the interior design with the Bamboo CMF Concept.
In terms of driving performance, the inherent excellent inertia characteristics of BEVs, together with Lexus technologies such as DIRECT4 all-wheel-drive pioneered through the RZ, provide seamless drivability control and an intuitive, linear steering feel for the steer-by-wire system. The LF-ZC has a low centre of gravity, a compact silhouette with sleek proportions, and a roomy cabin.
The LF-ZL future flagship Lexus model aims to offer a prestigious ownership experience beyond just the car, with innovation in next-generation BEV architecture and advancements from the new Arene OS software platform, and has elevated traditional Omotenashi features into being more advanced and pleasurable.
ELECTRIFYING A ROTARY ICON
Mazda Unveils ICONIC SP
Alongside the premiere of the updated 2024 MX-5, Mazda also unveiled the ICONIC SP, a concept car that marries together a dual rotary powertrain with an EV platform – a powertrain approach most recently launched in the new Mazda MX-30 R-EV.
The ICONIC SP is a compact sports car concept in the MX-5 tradition, designed to adapt to a new era. The concept achieves a low centre of gravity for excellent driving performance, and its unique proportions are made possible by a low bonnet with the lightweight and compact rotary engine mounted in the centre of the car.
The idea of a two-rotor rotary EV system would deliver a highly scalable engine with a flexible layout and the ability to burn various fuels, including hydrogen, making it a Mazda-unique technology ideal for sports car packages. And if the battery is charged with electricity derived from renewable energy, it is possible to drive in a virtually carbon-neutral state.
With the ICONIC SP, Mazda showed its determination to keep the joy of driving, which the MX-5 represents, alive in the age of electrification. The ICONIC SP, with its dual rotary power generator EV powertrain delivering 272 kW and a power-to-weight ratio of 3.9:1 is the dream solution, and Mazda is working hard to get it production ready.
Mazda also showcased the latest MX-5 – a significant upgrade of the fourth-generation model with new LED headlights and rear lights, along with changes to the interior to enhance the driving experience further.
SAC GOES EV
New BMW X2 and First iX2
The second-generation BMW X2 Sports Activity Coupé (SAC) blends a new dynamic style, cutting-edge technology, increased space and comfort, and now also offers a fully electric version, the iX2, with a range of up to 430 km (WLTP).
The new X2 and iX2 made their international debut at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo (formerly the Tokyo Motor Show), and the first local deliveries are expected to begin in March next year. A flexible vehicle architecture allows the new X2 and iX2 to be produced on a single assembly line at BMW Group Plant Regensburg. The high-voltage batteries for the fully electric variant are also made here.
The distinctive, sporty-styled new X2 is 194 mm longer than its predecessor and 54 mm longer than the BMW X1. Its wheelbase is now 2,692 mm (+ 22 mm), and it stands 21 mm wider at 1,845 mm. Wider tracks at both the front and rear, together with the larger-diameter wheels, give the X2 a broader stance on the road, and it is 64 mm higher compared with its predecessor.
A pronounced coupé silhouette and dynamic lines visually showcase the new X2. Inside, it has five full-size seats, and increased shoulder and elbow room.
With all the seats in use, the X2 can accommodate 560 litres of cargo, 90 litres more than its predecessor. The mild hybrid X2 sDrive20i has a boot capacity of 515 to 1,400 litres, while the fully electric iX2 offers between 525 and 1,400 litres.
Enhanced aerodynamics likewise improve both efficiency and driving dynamics, and the new X2 has a drag coefficient (Cd) as low as 0.25 (for the iX2) or 0.27 (X2), depending on the version. Inside, the models feature BMW iDrive with QuickSelect, the new BMW Operating System 9 and BMW Curved Display formed by a 10.25” information and a 10.7” control display.
Standard equipment is significantly enhanced, including a navigation system, two-zone automatic climate control, a raft of modern driver assistance systems, Park Assist, Reversing Assist Camera, and numerous other innovative digital services. Automatic tailgate operation is also standard.
The all-electric iX2 xDrive30 uses two electric motors to generate 233 kW (including temporary boost) and 494 Nm, enabling it to go from zero to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and a governed top speed of 180 km/h. The 64.8 kWh battery and efficient drive system helps the iX2 xDrive30 achieve a 415 – 430 km range in the WLTP cycle.
Teaming up with the 48V mild hybrid system, the three-cylinder 1.5-litre engine in the X2 sDrive20i generates 126 kW (116 kW at 4,700 – 6,500 rpm plus the electric motor’s 14 kW) and peak torque of 280 Nm (240 Nm at 1,500 – 4,400 rpm and the integrated electric motor’s 55 Nm). The BMW X2 M35i xDrive uses a potent 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine developing 224 kW and peak torque of 400 Nm, giving it a zero to 100 km/h sprint time of 5.4 seconds.
