The global sales recorded in the automotive industry last year are clear indicators of why the major brands are targeting the same segment to be won in the immediate future: electric SUVs.While patenting fell 0.5% worldwide, cutting a positive streak of 9 years, only two categories escaped this result: on the one hand, the so-called Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV); and on the other, the electric ones.- In the first case, 30 million units were sold worldwide, which is equivalent to 35% of the total sales, which were 86 million.- In the second, they represent the category of greatest growth in the market: volume increased 74%, surpassing one million units for the first time in history.The two variables led to massive brands to have, at least, a model that combines both characteristics.However, that is not the most striking, but what is truly unexpected is that companies like Porsche, Aston Martin, Jaguar or Ferrari have decided to break with their great sports legends to turn to the design of SUVs - many of them already They have-, even with electric motor.This bet is not a minor issue: getting into a vehicle of these characteristics is, for customers, think about starting it and feel the roar of the engine, feeling that with the new technologies will disappear.Although they have no escape. In the world they know that electrification is a reality and automotive companies, especially in markets such as Europe, are hard-pressed to solve emissions problems. Thus, they have no choice."The manufacturers felt the commercial tensions between some of the most powerful economies, as well as the changes and the 'new threats' present in the same industry", explain from Jato Consultores to iProUP. That explains the urgency of having these new products.Argentina is not immune to this phenomenon. The Ministry of Industry, through the Official Gazette, disseminated the import permits presented by Ford Argentina, Toyota and Nissan to enter the country more than 1,000 hybrid and electric vehicles, of which a significant portion will correspond to SUV units.What comes from the massiveAmong the mass market companies that have some electric model, Hyundai and Kia are the most advanced worldwide.The first has the Kona EV as one of the most recent innovations, a vehicle that not only stands out for the electrification of its engine, but for being one of the safest in the world for its equipment in the category in which it competes.This model, with naphtero engine, is already sold in Argentina, but everything indicates that it will be the one that inaugurates the electric road of the firm in the country.
Another of the stars of the company is the Ioniq, a car created from scratch to use alternative energies. It is available with non-conventional engine of 141 HP, a plug-in hybrid of the same power and a 100% electric with 120 HP.On the arrival of these vehicles to the country, Ernesto Cavicchioli, president of the Korean company in Argentina, tells iProUP: "As long as we can participate in the system, we will analyze which are the best options to compete in this segment. Among the possibilities, without a doubt, are the Hyundai Ioniq and the Kona Eléctric ".As for Kia, the great novelty worldwide is the e-Niro. With batteries of 39.2 kWh and 126 hp and another of 64 kWh with 204 hp, it reaches a range of 289 or 455 km.
The model will have a 1.0 low friction engine of up to 155 HP at first and will feature EcoBoost Hybrid technology, capable of recovering energy in decelerations and store it in a 48V lithium-ion battery.That energy can be used to help the heat engine through the BISG by reducing the requirement to the gasoline engine.
The company also renewed the Kuga, a model with little success in Argentina but which will continue to fight. Now it has a hybrid, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid engine, in addition to the EcoBlue diesel and EcoBoost gasoline engines.
In Volkswagen already work in its new electrical division, baptized as I.D. In this sense, in the SUV segment, the novelty that is coming is the ID. Roomzz, a model that is the maximum representation of the off-road of the future, 100% electric.For now it is designed for China, a market that will arrive in 2021 with autonomous driving level 4.
The Japanese goes for much more. "By 2025, within the framework of its Environmental Challenge, we committed to offer at least one electrified version of each of our models worldwide", clarify from Toyota Argentina, which indicates that the SW4 and the Hilux pickup produced at local level will also have new variants. However, the most immediate will be the arrival of the Rav4 Hybrid. The company plans to import 842 units, which will begin to be commercialized in mid-2019 and will have a similar price to the naftera versions thanks to the recently announced customs advantages.Another novelty in electrical matters belongs to DS, a brand that, once independent from Citroën, aspires to compete in the high range. His bet is the DS3 Crossback E-Tense, which is based on the conventional DS3 Crossback, but is equipped with a battery of 50 kWh and 136hp of power. The range is 300 km, also offering a configuration of four-wheel drive.
"The brand plans are to add new models, with a solid base, one of the most important releases of the year will be the DS3 Crossback, which follows the line of the DS7 Crossback, but we also have an electric car that is the DS3 Crossaback E- Tense, a medium-term project, "he says."While the country's economic situation is complicated, it is a good time to start with a premium brand like this, and in the case of electric, beyond the premium or non-premium market, it is a way of showing that we are giving solid steps ", emphasizes Cassina.The high-endBMW, Mercedes Benz and Audi are three classic cars within the high range and compete hand to hand around the world. Therefore, their projects are a separate case, although there are many other firms in the category.Strictly speaking, the "Germans" already have electric plans in motion; in more, the first two have special divisions: in BMW they are called i, and in Mercedes Benz they belong to the EQ division.As for the latest developments, in the brand of the three letters the most anticipated is the iX3, based on the successful BMW X3. It will have an electric motor of 268 HP of power with a battery of 70 kWh of capacity to achieve 400 km of autonomy.
This version will be part of BMW's electric offensive, which includes the launch of 25 models with some type of electrification in its propulsion, of which 12 will be completely electric. His arrival would take place from 2020.As for the debut in Argentina, Alexander Wehr, president and CEO of BMW Group Latin America, supports iProUP that vehicles based on these new technologies are a challenge for the group. "BMW is leaving a good footprint in electromobility in the region," he says."In Brazil, we have an electric corridor between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro with high-speed loaders, and in Mexico, the sale of electric SUVs already represents 8% of the total models commercialized within the segment. domestic, "confirms Wehr.In Mercedes Benz, the latest innovation is the EQC, which seeks to win market Tesla Model X. The electric has two engines, one for each axis, to provide traction and a battery of 80 kWh.
Audi, for its part, has the e-tron, the brand's first electric. The unit has two electric impellers capable of producing 408 hp (300 kW).
With sporting giftsThe electric SUVs of Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin or Bentley, among others, make up the most striking category within the industry for two reasons:- They are brands with a track record in the world of cars and, until now, fought to see who had more power.- When going to the world of electric, not only leave the noise and power of the engine that characterized them, but they risk a body that has nothing to do with the typical low car and "pistero".
The company was the first great player of the high range who dared to break the tradition betting on the SUV segment with the Cayenne- a real success-, which was followed by the Macan.Now it is the turn of another model, in this electrical case.
It has two electric motors with a power of 400 HP (294 kW) and 696 Nm of torque for a range of 480 km.
In studyBugatti, hyper exclusive brand, analyzes the development of a coupe all-terrain vehicle based on the Lamborghini Urus, but that will have a hybrid system to bring it closer to one of the highest combined power figures.This project could be nothing less than the rebirth of the Bugatti Royale and would arrive in 2023.
However, time passes and the market imposes its law. Thus, the Italian company is obliged to change its plans and will incorporate more hybrids and 100% electric models.
John Elkann, president of Ferrari, said that "the future of Ferrari will be like its past", but Louis Camilleri, CEO of the brand, remarks that "not everyone who loves Ferrari also loves to drive". This suggests that the Ferraris will remain as analog as the market allows, but also using current technologies.As for its probable SUV there are not many details, but it would be called Purosangue and it would be ready in 2022 in two variants: a 100% combustion engine or hybrid with integral traction.On the other hand, the next generation Maserati vehicles will offer electrified variants. They will even add an SUV and a supercar to this portfolio of products.In total, between new releases and updates, there will be six new models for internal combustion, eight hybrid versions and four 100% electric. The objective of Maserati will be to reach 100,000 sales in 2022, that is, to double current records.Other surprises will come from Volvo, with the electric XC40, starting on the basis of the well-known Swedish SUV, and to close, next to a mysterious Ford SUV, which will take design features of the mythical Mustang.Thus, the race is intense and promises to be very varied. The truth is that, for all firms, the electric SUV has to be, yes or yes, in the portfolio of the future.