Auto
Mercedes-Benz Shows Next-Gen Electric Vans, Including Luxury Model for U.S
Mercedes-Benz is preparing for a new generation of electric vans, including a luxury variant to be sold in the U.S. The manufacturer previewed the future van, which is expected to be more sophisticated than the discontinued Metris and is targeting a spring 2025 unveiling.
These next-gen vans will be based on Mercedes’ VAN. the EA modular platform that came last year. All future personal and commercial vans will be underpinned by this architecture, which provides a scalable lineup of wheelbase lengths and battery capacity. Buyers can select front- or all-wheel drive, depending on their needs.
Mercedes also reiterated its plans for a mid-size luxury van engineered for personal use. Details are sparse, a van’s flexibility means they can offer high-end family and executive shuttle configurations, or limo-style for maximum comfort.
Earlier this year, prototypes of these vans were spotted testing, albeit heavily camouflaged. And Mercedes teased that a full range will be officially launched in 2026, making it clear that the automaker aims to reshape the electric van segment.
A senior Ford executive thinks customers no longer separate brands based on their petrol and diesel engines, and this might lead to the automaker developing new engines with suppliers or, maybe, rivals.
According to Automotive News John Lawler, Ford’s vice chair overseeing strategy, partnerships and alliances, told the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference, “I don’t think that consumers really think about powertrains the way they did 30 years ago”.
He told the conference, “Where [internal combustion engines] defined what a vehicle was — the horsepower, the displacement, the torque and everything about the vehicle — I think a lot of that is gone”.
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Part of this, Mr Lawler believes, is down to electrification, which allows automakers to increase power and torque, while reducing CO2 emissions, with hybrid or plug-in hybrid drivetrains.
Mr Lawler posits this might lead automakers, including Ford, to develop next-generation engines with other companies. Doing so would save money that could help them compete with Chinese automakers.
According to the vice chair, Ford needs “to be competitive against them not only on speed of development, software capability, electrical architecture capability, but also overall electrification capability”.
In 2022 Renault merged its Horse drivetrain division with that of Geely’s Aurobay in the hopes of attracting customers for its engines and transmissions outside of the two automakers’ stable of brands, which include Dacia, Volvo, Zeekr, and Lotus.
It should be noted engine and drivetrain sharing between rival automakers, while not the norm, isn’t completely unheard of.
In the early 2000s Ford developed a V6 turbo-diesel in conjunction with the PSA Group, which was used in a wide variety of vehicles, including Australian Ford Territory, as well as the Citroen C5, Peugeot 407 and 607, and a whole host of Jaguar and Land Rover models.
Other times, manufacturers just sign a supply agreement to fill a hole in their drivetrain lineup, such as when Toyota Europe used BMW diesel engines in the 2010s for a number of models, including the RAV4.
Small manufacturers often rely exclusively on engines from other car makers, with Lotus, for example, using mills from Rover, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz.
Ford is no stranger to collaborating with other car makers in other areas too. It currently shares a number of platforms with the Volkswagen Group, with the Volkswagen Amarok based on the Ford Ranger, and Volkswagen Transporter based on the Ford Transit Custom.
Going the other way, the Ford Transit Connect is based on the Volkswagen Caddy, and the European Ford Explorer and Capri EVs are based Volkswagen MEB architecture.
Prior to all this, Ford jointly developed a 10-speed automatic transmission for use in full-size pickup trucks with cross-town rival GM.
MORE: Everything Ford
Volkswagen is turning heads with its 2026 Golf GTI Edition 50
Volkswagen has revealed the 2026 Golf GTI Edition 50—and it more than gives Honda’s Civic Type R a run for its money. The Golf GTI Edition 50 features 321 horsepower, six more than the Civic Type R and just seven less horsepower than a Golf R. This special edition Volkswagen also boasts 310 lb-ft of torque, matching the Civic Type R. While horsepower is an essential component of the Golf GTI Edition 50 and Civic Type R rivalry, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Let’s take a closer look at these two vehicles’ performance to more clearly illustrate where each model stands.
Performance spotlight: Golf GTI Edition 50 vs Civic Type R
The Golf GTI Edition 50 is Volkswagen’s fastest production Golf to date in track performance, completing the world-famous Nordschleife circuit in seven minutes and 46 seconds. However, the 2025 Civic Type R set a Nordschleife front-wheel drive (FWD) record with a lap time of seven minutes and 44.881 seconds. Honda’s Civic Type R comes standard with high-performance summer tires providing excellent grip, but they’re not the Golf GTI Edition 50’s optional full semi-slicks. The GTI’s semi-slick Bridgestone Potenza Race tires, combined with its available adapted suspension mounts, likely offer a higher ultimate grip threshold, especially in dry conditions.
This Volkswagen’s optional GTI-Performance package, which includes the Bridgestone Potenza Race tires, also comes with 19-inch Warmenau (associated with Volkswagen’s R division) forged wheels and a lightweight R-Performance exhaust system with a rear titanium silencer. The Golf GTI Edition 50 further optimizes front grip and agility with stiffer springs, making for a more track-like ride feel, while the Civic Type R’s adaptive damper system better balances daily and track driving. The Civic Type R’s broader range of adjustability could’ve been the primary factor causing it to edge out the Golf GTI Edition 50 at Nordschleife, given the track’s long, complex design.
Golf GTI Edition 50 vs GR Corolla
Toyota’s GR Corolla is right in the hot hatch mix alongside models like the Civic Type R, but it offers less horsepower and torque than its Honda and Volkswagen competitors, with 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The GR Corolla also hasn’t logged an official lap time at Nordschleife, but it offers standard AWD for those not interested in the Golf GTI Edition 50 and Civic Type R’s FWD configuration. While pricing info hasn’t yet been released for the Golf GTI Edition 50, the GR Corolla is a better bargain, starting at $40,055 compared to the Civic Type R’s $47,045 base MSRP.
Final thoughts
Production of the exclusive Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 is scheduled to begin in Wolfsburg, Germany, at the end of 2025, with deliveries starting in early 2026. While the Civic Type R has Nordschleife lap bragging rights, the Golf GTI Edition 50’s higher horsepower, near-equivalent track time, and optional performance package supply this Volkswagen with extra cachet, amplifying the models’ rivalry. The Golf GTI Edition 50 also outperformed the Golf R 20th Anniversary edition’s Nurburgring lap time of seven minutes and 47.31 seconds, Volkswagen’s previous record production pace achieved in 2022.
Nord Automobiles is a Nigerian-based Automotive manufacturer with its headquarters in Lagos. The company introduced several models to the market, including: The Nord Tank, Max, Tusk, Flit, A5 SUV, Nord A7 SUV, A3 Sedan, Yarn, Trippler, Nord Demir, among others.
One of the best performing models is the Nord A7 SUV, it boasts impressive safety features which are standard, contemporary designs of a boxy-shaped SUV just like a Jeep Wrangler or a Mobius 3, and modern technology that you can find from its rivals across Africa.
It produces 174 horsepower, which is competitive when compared to other African-manufactured vehicles such as the Mobius 3 from Kenya. Buyers can choose between Diesel or petrol engines options.
The A7 comes with a six-speed manual transmission, providing more hand on driving experience. Available drive modes include 4×2 and two-wheel drive. Although all wheel drive isn’t offered for now, but it could come at at an additional cost of $2,360.43.
For wheel types, buyers can select between four types: a 55-spoke wheel at $104.14, an 888-spoke wheel at $121.40, a Twin 555-spoke wheel at $145.23, and a Multispoke Black wheel at $186.20.
The Interior features leather upholstery in various colors options, available for $1,120.80 and is available in both 4-seat and 5-seat configurations which caters different customers’ needs and customization. The infotainment system includes a radio, CD player with display screen and MP4 player with integrated navigation. However, Android Auto and AppleCar Play is not pre installed and may require personally to upgrade it.
The Nord A7 SUV Pricing starts at $136,000 to $205,000, depending on model and trim level also the engine type, transmission and the wheels that would be available.
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