Consumer Electronics Show | Promises to keep

Science fiction is over. For the automotive industry at the very least. Most of the electric vehicles and other technological advances presented at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) are real novelties. By that, mean that their commercial launch is officially scheduled.

Eric LeFrançois
Special collaboration

BMW iX M60

The same performance as an X5 M, but without emitting any pollutants. This is the promise made by the future iX M60 which will be installed at the brand’s dealerships this year at a unit cost of $ 121,750. This first utility stamped with the letter M (for Motorsport) relies on two electric motors capable of producing up to 610 hp and 860 lb-ft of torque if you activate the flash starter device. Equipped with a battery of 111.5 kWh (105.2 usable), the iX M60 estimates itself able to cover some 450 kilometers on a charge. To fully experience the thrill of such a surge of power, the famous composer Hans Zimmer (producer of the soundtrack of Dune, in particular) has given a “voice” to these engines. This has indeed created two sound signatures that are both exclusive and distinctive from other electric BMWs.

Raised to M power, this IX is also characterized by its firmer suspension elements, a set of more efficient tires and more permissive driving aids.

The performance, the sound, but also the image. In this regard, BMW has revealed a new process that allows you to change the exterior color of your vehicle at the push of a button. It will even be possible to make it sparkle to identify it more quickly. An innovation that BMW intends to offer in a few years to these consumers who attach great importance to the personalization of their vehicle.

Chevrolet Silverado EV

After Ford and its F-150 Lightning, it’s Chevrolet’s turn to electrify its Silverado. The latter, whose marketing will begin next year, has obviously nothing to envy its competitor to the blue oval in terms of power, autonomy and load capacity. No more besides than with the current Silverado equipped with heat engines. Deposited on a modular architecture (code name Ultium) to which are grafted independent and pneumatic suspensions, the Silverado EV has several tricks. One of them is to be able to supply energy to bicycles as well as other electric vehicles. And to add to its versatility, Chevrolet is dusting off an old (good) idea that initially appeared on the Avalanche with this folding bulkhead to increase the floor space of the body.

Along with the unveiling of the Silverado EV, General Motors management has also confirmed the addition of the Chevrolet Equinox EV, Blazer EV and Cadillac Celstiq to its model portfolio from 2023. Note that General Motors intends to offer 25 electric vehicles within three years. .

Chrysler airflow

Sparse range. Diffuse identity. Future uncertain. The Chrysler company seemed to be heading straight for the mausoleum of its founder erected in the heart of the Sleepy Hollow cemetery in the suburbs of New York. However, his presence at CES now suggests quite the opposite. During its visit to CES, the winged brand announced its intention to electrify all of its products from 2028. To convince us of this, last week it unveiled the Airflow, a conceptual study called to know the joys of series production very soon. Due to its size and style, this up-and-coming model is aimed at customers who are now interested in Ford Mustang Mach-E, Ioniq 5 and other Volkswagen IDs. 4.

For the moment, the designers of the Airflow maintain the vagueness on several technical aspects (battery capacity, autonomy, recharging, etc.). However, we know with certainty that the Airflow deposits its plastic on the STLA Medium architecture developed for the Stellantis group. It intends to stand out through the use of a single computer. This manages all the elements of the vehicle and maintains continuous communication with a computer cloud (cloud). This is intended to accelerate the speed of calculation, to access continuous updates, including in the chapter of assisted and autonomous driving.

Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX

Rarely has a study been as thoughtful and mature as the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX. Beyond the 1000 kilometers of autonomy that it promises, this study has obviously led its designers to think otherwise. So, rather than focusing on the power of the battery that drives it to ensure record autonomy, engineers have been asked to focus their research on better overall efficiency. From then on, everything was called into question: the weight, the aerodynamics, the management of heat flows and the efficiency of all the components. All of these elements that play an essential role in consumption. By optimizing each of them, the German manufacturer estimates the consumption of the EQXX at less than 10 kWh / 100 km, which is equivalent to a thermal car that would consume barely 1 L per 100 km.

Compared to the AMG-EQS (see our test bench), the Vision EQXX is powered by a battery of a similar capacity. But it occupies 50% less volume and will be 30% lighter than current generations. By embedding a 900 volt system, the battery will be able to recover 300 km of range in 15 minutes on a fast terminal. Other aspects to underline, the roof, equipped with photovoltaic cells, makes it possible to recover 25 km of autonomy. Finally, it should be noted that the use of light steel, carbon fiber reinforced plastic and aluminum allows the Vision EQXX to weigh less than 1,750 kilograms.