FIRST^ LOOK
20 MOTORTREND.COM SEPTEMBER 2020Intake
NEWSI OPINIONI GOSSIP TREND I 09.MIKE CONNOR
MT^ CONFIDENTIAL
VW Group electric vehicle update:
The next all-electric Porsche will be a
version of the Macan, due in 2022. That’s
because the BEV Macan is likely to be
based on VW Group’s existing MEB
electric vehicle architecture and not
the forthcoming PPE premium electric
vehicle platform under development
at Porsche and Audi. VW Group has
consolidated its EV architectures to just
two: MEB, for vehicles up to Audi A4 and
VW Passat size, and PPE, to be built in
high- and low-floor configurations, for
larger premium brand cars and SUVs.
As the existing Macan shares its MLB
architecture with the current Audi A4,
it’s logical to assume MEB would be
used for the all-electric version rather
than the larger and more expensive PPE.
Volkswagen’s MEB-based all-electric ID
crossover, which is about Macan-sized, is
launching as a rear-drive model only. The
AWD version, with motors front and rear
giving a total of 302 hp and 332 lb-ft—and
the configuration Porsche would insist on
for an electric Macan—is not expected to
arrive until late 2021. As for BMW, rumors
out of Munich suggest an all-electric
version of the next-gen M5 could be
on the road in 2024. The next-gen 5
Series, code-named G60, is scheduled
to appear in late 2023 and will be built
on BMW’s convergence platform, which
allows ICE, PHEV, and BEV vehicles to
share a high proportion of components.
Sources say the electric M5 could be
powered by three 335-hp motors—two at
the rear and one at the front—delivering
a total system output of just over 1,
hp, all-wheel drive, and active torque
vectoring across the rear axle. BMW
is said to be aiming for a 0–60 time of
about 2.7 seconds and a 400-plus-mile
range. Coronavirus thwarted plans
by Croatian electric hypercar builder
Rimac to reveal the production version
of its 1,888-hp, AWD C_Two hypercar at
the Geneva show. The car will instead
be revealed later this year—with a new
name—and Rimac says it’s on track for
the first of 150 cars to be delivered to
well-heeled customers in 2021. Four final
prototypes have been completed, but
a further 13 are said to be required to
get the car through all crash testing and
certification processes. Rimac has just
completed a new production facility in
Croatia that will allow the company to
build four cars a month.B
uick launched the Envision in the
United States for the 2016 model
year, and almost half a decade later,
the compact people mover is getting
a complete overhaul. The 2021 Buick
Envision goes on sale early next year with
a more modern interior and a much more
compelling exterior design.
Buick claims the new Envision is
lower and wider than before, and we
can definitely see the change in these
photos the brand released. The Envision
features a wider grille with a more subtle
wing element running through the Buick
badge. Along with the new grille, the front
end sports sharper headlights and bolder
creases on the hood. Slimmer taillights
are the focal point of a more streamlined
rear end design. A new Avenir trim is on
the way, promising to bring more upscale
touches to the lineup.
Expect to see more standard safety
features, including currently optional kit
such as automatic emergency braking and
lane keep assist. Other standard technol-
ogies on the 2021 Envision include front
pedestrian braking, following distanceindicator, and rear parking sensors.
For extra coin, you can get an upgraded
automatic parking assist system, blind-
spot monitoring, a head-up display, front
parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera.
The current Envision comes exclusively
with an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotain-
ment system. The new model, however,
offers a 10.0-inch touchscreen compatible
with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Without going into detail on specs,
Buick notes the new Envision is powered
by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
engine that mates to a nine-speed
automatic. The current Envision features
a 197-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder
that pairs with a six-speed automatic
gearbox, while an optional 252-hp turbo
2.0-liter inline-four is available with a
nine-speed automatic. As we’ve mentioned
in previous reviews, the latter powertrain
provides the small crossover with solid
acceleration, but its reasonable grunt fails
to make the Envision fun to drive.
Look for Buick to reveal more
information about the 2021 Envision later
this year. Kelly Lin2021 Buick Envision