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Porsche recently introduced the Mission X, its brand-new concept car, to commemorate its 75th year as a celebrated producer of sportscars.&nbsp;The Mission X is a preview of the fast, light, and electric sports cars that might be produced in the following 75 years.&nbsp;It is not currently for sale, and a manufacturing decision will be made in due course. Commenting on the occasion,&nbsp;Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, said,&nbsp;“The Porsche Mission X is a technology beacon for the sportscar of the future. It picks up the torch of iconic sports cars of decades past: like the 959, the Carrera GT, and the 918 Spyder before it, the Mission X provides a critical impetus for the evolutionary development of future vehicle concepts.&nbsp;Daring to dream and dream cars are two sides of the same coin for us: Porsche has only remained Porsche by constantly changing.”

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“The Mission X is a clear commitment to the core of the brand. The continuing, enhanced expression of our brand and product identity is an important compass for us to navigate the development of our series-production models. The concept study symbolizes a symbiosis of unmistakable motorsport DNA with a luxurious overall impression,” remarked&nbsp;Michael Mauer, Head of Style Porsche.&nbsp;

<img alt="Porsche Mission X Front" height="720" src="/uploads/2023/06/Porsche-Mission-X-front.jpg" width="1280" />

<h2>Porsche Mission X: Design and Dimensions</h2>

The Mission X concept study is a somewhat compact hypercar, measuring around 4,496mm&nbsp;in length&nbsp;and 1,999mm&nbsp;in width. Its proportions are those of the Carrera GT and the 918 Spyder, with a wheelbase of 2,728mm. The concept car sports staggered tyres, with 20-inch wheels in front and 21-inch wheels in back, for aerodynamic reasons.&nbsp;

<img alt="Porsch Mission X Rear Quarter" height="720" src="/uploads/2023/06/Porsch-Mission-X-rear-quarter.jpg" width="1280" />

In terms of design, the Mission X boasts Le Mans-style doors that open forward and upward, a tribute to the Porsche 917 racing car. "Rocket metallic" paint, satin-finished components, and carbon-weave accents round out the aesthetic. The premium carmaker also updated its classic crest with a "refreshed" heraldic beast and a more modest gold colour.&nbsp;Porsche, though, went past merely window garnishes. According to the firm, the rear axle is equipped with almost transparent aero blades that are shaped like turbines for improved brake cooling, and a lightweight glass dome with an exoskeleton made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic spans over both passengers.&nbsp;

The Mission X's light signature, which is a new interpretation of the iconic Porsche four-point pattern, is another eye-catching feature. The headlamps' vertical base shape, which is pulled well down towards the road, was influenced by renowned&nbsp;racing vehicles like the Porsche 906 and the 908 in particular. The LED light modules are shown with their exposed, slender daytime running lights and indicators under a high-tech support framework. The light blinks open like an eye when it is turned on.&nbsp;

<h2>Porsche Mission X: Interior and Features</h2>

The cabin's asymmetry and colour scheme highlight the driver-focused design. The colours of the two chairs are distinctive. The driver's seat, centre console, and dashboard are all the same colour: Kalahari Grey, with the exception of the leather pads, which are Andalusia Brown. The passenger seat also adorns in the&nbsp;striking Andalusia Brown colour. Additional motorsport similarities are the open-top steering wheel, which features mode switches and shift paddles, along with the CFRP seat shells and their six-point seatbelts incorporated into the monocoque. On board are several cameras. The driver must press the Record button (REC) on the multi-purpose controller before recording can begin.

<img alt="Porsche Mission X Interior" height="720" src="/uploads/2023/06/Porsche-Mission-X-Interior.jpg" width="1280" />

A bayonet system built into the instrument panel on the passenger side, which allows a stopwatch module to be mounted, is another noteworthy feature. Porsche Design has developed a unique stopwatch module with a digital and analogue display for the Mission X. The clocks may show the driver's vital statistics, lap times, and more. They are made for both racecourse and rally use.

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<h2>Porsche Mission X: Technical Details</h2>

Porsche has not released any technical information on the Mission X's potential powertrain, but it has provided a "technical vision" that outlines a number of goals that engineers must achieve before the vehicle can enter serial production. These include the goal of breaking the 12.944-mile Nürburgring lap record, which is currently held by the Mercedes-AMG One and was completed in 6 minutes, 35 seconds. With an expected power-to-weight ratio of one metric horsepower (or 0.986bhp) per kilogram, efficiency, and lightweight construction - a longstanding issue for performance EVs - will be equally as important.&nbsp;

The auto major hasn't specified a target weight, but considering the company's emphasis on lightweight construction, the objective is probably similar to a contemporary 911's weight of 1400 or 1500kg. That would therefore imply a power output&nbsp;of around 1500bhp. According to Porsche, the battery will be mounted behind the car's seats, which is equivalent to where the engine would be in a conventional mid-engined hypercar. The 'e-core' design, which is similar to Porsche's Mission R, allows for a lower floor than with a conventional battery skateboard chassis while also helping to centre the bulk of the vehicle for improved handling.&nbsp;

Besides, with a target for the Mission X to charge twice as rapidly as the Taycan, Porsche claims it is also pursuing "significantly improved" charging performance for its 900V design. That has a top charging capacity of 225 kW, indicating Porsche is aiming for a speed of 450 kW. With such quick charging, the automobile might be supplied with relatively tiny batteries, lowering its weight. The German manufacturer&nbsp;has not revealed&nbsp;the type or size of batteries the concept would employ, but considering its hypercar-like performance, the company is probably looking at high-performance batteries used for motorsport or hypercars.&nbsp;

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Porsche Mission X Concept Hypercar Unveiled with Le-Mans Style Doors and a Promise of Insane Performance

In honour of its 75th anniversary as a celebrated manufacturer of sports vehicles, Porsche recently unveiled the Mission X, its newest concept vehicle. The Mission X is a preview of the fast, light, and electric sports cars that might be produced in the following 75 years. 

The Ministry of Heavy Industries has reduced the FAME-II subsidy, which would increase the price of electric cars.&nbsp;The maximum amount of subsidies available for electric two-wheelers has been reduced from 40 per cent to merely 15 per cent. Electric two-wheeler subsidies have been lowered from Rs 15,000 to Rs 10,000 per kWh of battery capacity. Beginning on June 1, 2023, the new amendment will be in effect.&nbsp;To put things into perspective, the Ather 450X Pro Pack's price tag was previously lowered to Rs 55,500, making it Rs 1.28 lakh (ex-showroom, Bengaluru). With the new regulations in place, this subsidy will instead be reduced to Rs 37,000. The remainder of the electric bikes and scooters sold in the Indian market will see a similar outcome.&nbsp;It is important to note that in order to qualify for the subsidy, any two-wheeler must match the criteria set forth. These requirements include an 80 kilometre minimum range, a peak speed of at least 40km/h, and a certain degree of localisation. There is also an extra subsidy provided by several state governments. These, however, differ from state to state.

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<h2>Here's What the Industry Has to Say</h2>

Few well-known figures in electric two-wheeler&nbsp;operations have responded to the government's decision to reduce incentives, albeit the majority of manufacturers have not yet done so.&nbsp;In response to the news, Tarun Mehta, co-founder of Ather Energy, tweeted that the industry "must stand on its own feet very soon" as a result of the subsidy cut. Mehta cited a tweet from Ather's official account on the site that stated pricing for the 450X might increase by as much as Rs 32,500 starting on June 1.&nbsp;

Further, Vivekananda Hallekere, CEO of Bounce, also posted on Twitter, calling the drop in subsidies "a great move" since he thinks the programme wasn't "logical" in its current form and that producers were being "incentivised to be inefficient." Significantly, electric two-wheelers with smaller batteries, like the Bounce Infinity E1, would have a much lesser fall in subsidy amount; the greatest subsidy available for it up to this point was Rs 28,500.

<h2>Price Impact on&nbsp;Range-Topping Models</h2>

Due to their large battery packs, premium models from producers like Ola Electric, Ather Energy, Tork Motors, and Hero MotoCorp (Vida), which previously qualified for an incentive of up to Rs 60,000, will now be eligible for a maximum incentive of Rs 22,500, which is less than half of what was previously offered. Their prices are therefore anticipated to increase significantly as a result.&nbsp;

The subsidy for the Ather 450X, which has so far been eligible for an incentive of up to Rs 55,000&nbsp;would decrease by about Rs 32,500. Ola's S1 and S1 Pro would receive subsidy cuts of Rs 22,000 and Rs 37,000, respectively. The Hero Vida V1's incentives have been reduced by Rs 28,500 to Rs 37,500, while Tork's Kratos R will also see a cut in subsidies of Rs 37,500. The TVS iQube and the Bajaj Chetak, two models with comparably smaller batteries, would see a reduction in their subsidies of Rs 28,500 and Rs 22,500, respectively.

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It is yet unknown if companies would immediately increase prices for buyers in order to pass on the whole subsidy cut. The majority of manufacturers, especially start-ups, will inevitably be forced to pass on a significant portion of the vehicle's price that was previously covered by incentives to the end buyer, which could be anywhere between Rs 15,000 and Rs 30,000, depending on the model and manufacturer, as input costs have only increased over the last 24 months and battery prices have not decreased. Sales of electric two-wheelers are anticipated to reflect this nationwide and to slow down as a result during the next months.

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Electric Two-wheelers All Set to Get Costlier from June 1 Following FAME II Revision

The FAME-II subsidy has been reduced by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, which would raise the cost of electric vehicles. The maximum amount of subsidies for electric two-wheelers has been lowered from 40% to just 15%. The new amendment shall take effect on June 1, 2023.

Ola Electric clocked its best-ever monthly sales in March this year. The fastest-growing&nbsp;EV manufacturer sold over 27,000 units in the last month. This has led the company to become more consolidated,&nbsp;with its market share swelling to over 30 per cent, according to some industry sources. It is to be noted that Ola concluded the financial year 2022-23 by&nbsp;selling over 2 lakh electric vehicles. For 7 months back-to-back, it has maintained the status quo by staying on top of the sales chart.

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<h2>Sales Performance for&nbsp;FY2022-23: Here's what the company says</h2>

Commenting on the company's sales performance for FY2022-23, Bhavish Aggarwal, Founder &amp; CEO, Ola Electric, said, "FY 23 has truly been a defining year for the EV industry in India. At Ola, we have remained resolute in prioritising scale, speed, and uncompromising quality standards, all of which have contributed to the company’s consistent leadership position in the market. While last year has been successful in making EVs mainstream, the next couple of years will take the EV revolution to humanity scale, and Ola will be at the forefront of this revolution to lead this paradigm shift."

As disclosed earlier, Ola intends to expand its reach across the country and is planning to raise funds of about&nbsp;USD 300 million for its expansion goals &amp;&nbsp;corporate needs. At the moment, it has over 400 experience centres designed to provide a wide range of services to its Indian customers. Moreover, it has plans to expand its offline footprint by adding 50 new centres daily.&nbsp;

<h2>February Sales Performance</h2>

Ola also recorded&nbsp;significant sales growth by selling 17,667 units in February 2023. It outperformed all other EV manufacturers, considering the fact that there are numerous&nbsp;brands dominating the Indian EV market that include&nbsp;Honda, Hero Electric, Bajaj, and TVS.&nbsp;In juxtaposition, TVS managed to sell 15,522 units of the iQube in the Indian market and secured the second spot in the rankings.&nbsp;

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Ola Electric, which comprises the S1 and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.autox.com/reviews/bike-reviews/ola-s1-pro-review-first-ride-110328/">S1 Pro</a> to begin with, has expanded its lineup&nbsp;with the S1 Air. The 3 new variants of the<a href="https://www.autox.com/news/bike-news/2023-ola-s1-air-launched-in-india-at-rs-84999-gets-new-battery-pack-options-112422/"> Ola S1 Air</a> will be delivered starting July 2023, drawing power from 2kWh, 3kWh, and 4kWh battery packs. Also, the company has the newest variant of the S1 that uses a 2kWh battery for the city commute.&nbsp;

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Ola Electric Reports Highest-Ever Monthly Sales; Clocks 27,000 Units in March

Ola Electric clocked over 27,000 unit sales in March 2023. This is its best-ever monthly sales, with the market share swelling to over 30 per cent. In February 2023, the manufacturer sold 17,667 units.

A total of 2,36,803 electric vehicles were sold in India from April 2020 until March 2021. That includes electric vehicles in two, three, and four-wheeler verticals. Read more about the vertical wise break up of EV sales below

The Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicle (SMEV) has released the sales report of the Electric Two-Wheelers (E2W), Electric Three-Wheelers (E3W) and Electric Four-Wheelers (E4W) sold in the past financial year i.e April 2020, up to March 2021.

SMEV has reported that 1,43,837 units of E2W have been sold that includes 40,836 units of high-speed and 1,03,000 low-speed E2Ws. Total sales have been down by 6 per cent in the financial year 20-21 as the overall sales in financial year 19-20 stood at 1,52,000 units.

The past financial year 20-21 saw a total of 88,378 units of E3W getting registered as opposed to 1,40,683 units sold in financial year 19-20. SMEV explicitly mentions the data does not include E3Ws that are not registered with the transport authority.

A total of 4,588 units of E4Ws have been registered in the financial year 20-21, whereas the year before that saw only 3,000 units getting sold.

Sohinder Gill, Director-General, Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicle addressed that the sales have been comparatively low in the past financial year. And a number f reasons we mentioned in different such as bank finance, awareness, B2B EV adoption State Government policy and charging infrastructure. “A lot more needs to be done to achieve the target under the FAME II scheme. Timely intervention by the government in a form of policy change is required to fuel the growth and achieve the target by the end of FY22.” Gill concluded.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZe8d39-HQk

SMEV releases Electric Vehicle sales report for FY 20-21

A total of 2,36,803 electric vehicles were sold in India from April 2020 until March 2021. That includes electric vehicles in two, three, and even four-wheeler verticals. Read more about the vertical wise break up of EV sales below

Despite the looming uncertainty of Brexit, Bentley may begin producing electric vehicles by as soon as 2025.

Bentley Chairman &amp; CEO –&nbsp;Adrian Hallmark –&nbsp;thinks 2025 is a feasible target for Bentley to put its first fully-electric vehicle on the road. While an existing nameplate is likely to grace the brand's first production BEV, Hallmark has assured that it won't simply involve slapping some batteries on an existing model and rebranding&nbsp;it as an EV. Further, instead of focussing&nbsp;on a full-fledged electric product portfolio, the brand's attention right now is on seizing the market opportunity and gauging customer response.

Hallmark has also highlighted Bentley's keen interest in solid-state batteries for its upcoming electric model. For those not aware, conventional Li-ion batteries use a liquid electrolyte that's more susceptible to fire due to&nbsp;overheating. In comparison, solid-state batteries offer a more stable solution, and they're more compact as well and, therefore, can be up to 30 per cent lighter than conventional Li-ion batteries. Using a smaller, more compact battery pack can also allow Bentley designers to play with the car's exterior design without compromising the interior space. This hints towards an EV that could be relatively smaller than the current ICE-powered Bentley models.

Bentley started its electric vehicle campaign in 2017&nbsp;with the debut of the EXP 12 Speed 6e&nbsp;Concept at the Geneva International Motor Show (the brand's first electric model). This was later followed by the <a href="https://www.autox.com/news/car-news/bentley-exp-100-gt-concept-breaks-cover-106268/">EXP 100 GT electric concept</a> (July 2019) that took the standards of 'responsible' Grand Touring to the next level.

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First electric Bentley may go into production by 2025

Bentley Chairman & CEO – Adrian Hallmark – thinks 2025 is a feasible target for Bentley to put its first fully-electric vehicle on the roads. Hallmark has also highlighted Bentley's keen interest in solid-state batteries for its upcoming electric model.

With the Cooper SE, MINI has inevitably gone down the EV path. However, MINI claims the&nbsp;Cooper SE retains the dynamics of the conventional&nbsp;three-door hatch.

The MINI Cooper SE becomes the marque's first-ever mass-production EV and also one of the first premium small cars to be purely-electric. However, despite the usual weight gain and a missing engine, MINI claims that the Cooper SE has been developed while keeping in mind the driving dynamics and go-kart-like agility of the conventional&nbsp;Cooper S. Visually, to differentiate&nbsp;it from its siblings, the Cooper SE features bespoke style&nbsp;elements (bright yellow-painted accents, different alloy wheels &amp; 'E' badging on&nbsp;the tailgate).

<img alt="MINI Cooper SE Wheel Design" height="336" src="/uploads/2019/07/MINI-Cooper-SE-6.jpg" width="642" />

Coming to the specifics, the Cooper SE weighs 1,365kg, which makes it about only 145kg heavier than a 3-Door&nbsp;MINI Cooper S&nbsp;with Steptronic transmission (a remarkable feat). The high-voltage, 32.6kWh&nbsp;battery pack features a T-shaped structure&nbsp;and has been set low into the floor. Not only does this help in a better &amp; lower centre of gravity (better handling) but it also gives the Cooper SE the same boot capacity as the regular, ICE-powered 3-Door MINI (211 litres by default, 731 litres with rear seats folded). However, to ensure that the battery remains well protected, the Cooper SE gets an 18mm higher ground clearance.

<img alt="MINI Cooper SE Electric Motor" height="336" src="/uploads/2019/07/MINI-Cooper-SE-1.jpg" width="642" />

The minimum weight gain can also be attributed to the Cooper SE's compact &amp; lightweight electric motor, which generates 181bhp and 270Nm of torque. Depending on the version, the Cooper SE offers a claimed driving range of 235-270km, while managing a 0-100km/h time of 7.3 seconds. While the powertrain has been borrowed from the BMW i3s, in the Cooper SE, the electric&nbsp;motor only powers the front wheels.

<img alt="MINI Cooper SE Charging Socket" height="336" src="/uploads/2019/07/MINI-Cooper-SE-2.jpg" width="642" />

To ensure that the front wheels provide maximum traction getting off the line, the Cooper SE gets a modified Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system with&nbsp;wheel-slip limiting. Further, it also retains the signature MINI Drive Modes (SPORT, MID &amp; GREEN) with the addition of a fourth GREEN+ mode. GREEN+ mode allows further customisation of controls to optimise the driving range. Like most modern EVs, the Cooper SE is also fast-charge-enabled, capable of getting charged up to 80 per cent in 35 minutes with a 50kW DC fast-charger. Using a regular 11kW wall-mounted charger, the Cooper SE can get a full charge in about 3.5 hours.

<img alt="MINI Cooper SE Interior" height="336" src="/uploads/2019/07/MINI-Cooper-SE-5.jpg" width="642" />

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Electric MINI Cooper SE unveiled

The MINI Cooper SE becomes the marque's first-ever mass-production EV and also one of the first premium small cars to be purely-electric. MINI claims that the Cooper SE has been developed while keeping in mind the driving dynamics and go-kart-like agility of the conventional Cooper S.

Electric