For those looking to go all-electric, but want something like the versatility of a proven hatchback, we have good news. Volkswagen’s e-Golf just became slightly more affordable.
VW announced today that a lower priced version of the fully electric hatchback will go on sale for $33,40, which shaves $2,000 off the sole SEL premium trim level currently on offer. What’s more, this number doesn’t include the additional U.S. federal tax credit that owners of electric cars can take advantage of, which can be up to $7,500.
The price chop doesn’t mean a sacrifice of performance, though. Both trims still get the same 24.2 kWh lithium-ion battery that powers an electric motor, delivering the equivalent of 115 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque.
The money-saving cuts come in the form of a few changes in the creature comforts originally on offer. On the outside,16-inch steel wheels come in place of the aluminum alloys of the SEL premium and halogen headlights replace the LED ones. Inside, the leatherette gives way to cloth seating surfaces, and a cabin-warming heat pump.
This component is an add-on module to the standard electric heating system that recovers heat from the car’s components, mixes it with the ambient air, and toasts things up through the Climatronic dual-zone climate control system. It also takes some of the load off of the electric heater, allowing for 30 precent more range.
Apart from those changes, the same things on the SEL premium come on the lower tier trim, like the direct current fast charging system (alongside the standard7.2kW charger), keyless entry, navigation, and a rearview camera. As far as efficiency goes, Volkswagen claims both versions of the e-Golf get an MPGe of 126 city, 105 highway, and 116 combined. Estimated driving range per charge is around 83 miles.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.