Porsche Working On An All-Electric Pajun To Battle Tesla

The 2019 Porsche Pajun (AKA the baby Panamera) has been on and off for some time now, but the latest news was that it was pushed back to 2019. 

Now, a new report from Auto, Motor und Sport claims that there may be more than meets the eye with the upcoming model, asPorsche has reportedly turned its focus to making it more on it being a Tesla competitor.

According to the report, the Pajun will carry a full-electric powertrain that will offer in the range of at least 350 to 400 km (217 to 248 miles). 

That would put the Pajun directly in the wheelhouse of the lower-range Model S versions, but still far short of the2015 Model S P85D’s range. 

Chances are that the range included in this report was simply a base model.

There is no mention of whether or not the Pajun would be solely an electric car or if Porsche may make a standard gasoline-powered model and an EV. However, the German-to-English translation sure does imply that it may be EV only.

According to AMS, the Pajun EV will be ready for the road by 2018 or 2019. As with all of these speculative reports based on some shrivel of fact, take it with a grain of salt.

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Cadillac's New Small SUV Is Four Years Away

Cadillac has been on fire lately with new vehicles like theEscalade , CTS and ATS , but a big void in its lineup just so happens to be one of the faster-growing segments: small premium utility vehicles. 

Even worse, Reuters is quoting Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen as saying that the automaker is still at least four years away from bringing such a vehicle to market.

These small, luxury crossovers are extremely popular right now in key global markets that include the U.S., China and Europe, and just about all luxury automakers – including Lincoln – have recently introduced such a product such as the 2015 Lexus NX , 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class , 2016 BMW X1 and 2015 Lincoln MKC . 

Based on Cadillac’s new naming structure, the small utility vehicle will likely wear the XT3 moniker, slotting beneath the third-generation SRX, which is expected to go into production later this year possibly called the XT5.

There is no word as to what platform Cadillac would use to underpin this new utility vehicle, but between the rear-drive ATS and a new rear-drive subcompact sedan under the ATS, there is a pretty good chance that the sub-SRX utility vehicle could be rear-drive based. 

If that’s the case, then it just might be worth waiting for, as most other competitors in this segment are based on front-drive platforms. 

As far as pricing goes, there is also plenty of room beneath the current SRX’s $37,605 starting price to position it competitively in the market.

Some good news for Cadillac is that once it gets this new utility vehicle onto the market, it should be able to compete on a global scale right out of the gate. Having come from Audi(before his short stint at Infiniti ), de Nysschen knows the importance of diesels in Europe and was quoted as saying "if you want to play in Europe, you better have some diesels.” The report says that Cadillac will begin offering diesel engines in its new models starting in 2019, which seems to match up with de Nysschen’s four-year timeline.

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McLaren Sports Series

The upcoming 2016 McLaren Sports Series, the company’s entry-level sports car that’s set to debut this year, will eventually arrive in dealerships in four different versions. 

That’s the word from Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, which sheds a bit more light on McLaren’s new product to slot below the fantastic 650S. The report also claims the first member of the new sports car line will break cover in April 2015, at the New York Auto Show, with deliveries to commence in the third quarter of the year.

The sports car will debut on American soil as a coupe, with a Spider variant to show up next. The two will then be joined by a lighter, track-focused version — this one is likely to use the recently revived GTR badge, De Telegraaf notes — and a GT model with emphasis on comfort rather that sportiness. 

Not many details are provided, but the report says the Sports Series GTR will be aimed at the Porsche 911 GT3, which is likely to be the case given the standard coupe will be aimed at the 911 Turbo.

As for the GT version, we are told it will offer extra luggage room in the engine compartment, with access via a side opening. 

The McLaren F1 offered something similar, but it’s unclear whether the Sports Series GT will be equipped with large openings in the rear fenders or employ a different solution altogether.

There’s no unveil info for any of the aforementioned versions except the coupe, but it’s safe to assume that all four iterations of the Sports Series will be in showrooms by 2018.

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Infiniti's Electric Plans Put On Hold

Infiniti is making headlines with cars like the GT-R powered 2014 Q50 Eau Rouge and 2014 Q60 coupe, but before all the performance machines, before Johan de Nysschen and Andy Palmer jumped ship, and before the new naming scheme, the luxury division of Nissan was working on the LE concept. 

A more luxurious version of the then-new Nissan Leaf. Over the years since the debut of the LE, Infiniti has moved its focus to growing the brand with more aggressive and better selling models leaving the electric concept to gather dust.

Now almost three years since it was introduced, USA Today has published a story saying that the project is now officially off the table. 

The news came from the preview event of the Q60 concept reveal at the Detroit Auto Show. Michael Bartsch, Infiniti’s vice president for the Americas, said the company needed “to be a little pragmatic.” A luxury version of the Leaf just isn’t a volume seller like Infiniti needs.

That doesn’t mean an electric powered Inifniti is completely out of the question, but expect Nissan to wait for improved battery tech, and expect the new car to be a bit larger to better compete with the upcoming 2017 Tesla Model 3. 

For now though, just expect more exciting volume models to come from the Japanese luxury brand.

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Nissan Z 2013

Nissan may have plenty of models to boast of, but the one car that stands out to anyone looking for a vehicle with a little pep in its step is the Nissan Z car. 

Back in 1964, Nissan began toying with the idea of building a sports car to add to their lineup, but it wasn’t until 1969 that a vehicle was actually produced. 

The Datsun 240Z was available in two versions - and proved to be the successful sports car that Nissan had anticipated. 
Six generations later and Nissan had produced many variations of the vehicle, including the ever-popular 370Z . 

Now, after only four years since the latest 370Z was created, rumors are flying suggesting that Nissan is ready to go at it again with a new generation Z. 

Not only will the world be getting one of their beloved sports cars once again, but it may also be powered by a hybrid drivetrain, a rumor we first heard back in 2010 most likely the same one used in the Infiniti M hybrid . 

Yes, the world is going hybrid, and there’s nothing we can do to stop it.

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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution XI 2013

The Evo-loving world was in shambles after Mitsubishi Global Product Director, Gayu Eusegi, announced that the company would be killing off the all-wheel-drive turbocharged Lancer Evolution . 

The Evo is one of the best models Mitsubishi has ever offered and fans everywhere were shocked that the company would take such extreme measures. 

A few back pedals later and Mitsubishi President and CEO, Osamu Masuko, calmed the waters by stating that the the Evo X would not be the last of the Evolutions. 

Now, Masuko has offered even more details for the future of the Evo to Japanese magazine, Best Car, stating that "Mitsubishi is fully intent on producing a high-performance car in the future, albeit green." Yeah, join the club, Masuko.

The rumor has long been that the Evo XI would be a diesel-electric hybrid. Such a powertrain would allow the Evo XI to hustle to 0-60 MPH in under 5 seconds while still receiving better fuel economy than the current Evo. 

Now, it seems the technology that was unveiled in the PX-MiEV concept at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show is looking to fit itself into the EVO XI. 

This would mean a 1.6- liter gasoline engine combined with an electric motor that will take its power from a set of lithium-ion batteries. 

The electric motors will power the vehicle at low to middle speeds, while the engine will kick on at high speeds. 

The engine will also provide back up for the motors when their charge runs low. The hybrid system will be combined with Mitsubishi’s S-AWC all-wheel-drive system and active yaw control, technologies that have already been used in the Evo X.

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Lamborghini Huracan GT3 2015

The 2015 Lamborghini Huracan has been assigned the near-impossible mission of replacing the mighty Gallardoas the company’s entry-level supercar. 

Before the 610-horsepower machines even began rolling off the Italian assembly lines, Lamborghini was already developing new, faster versions. 

First on its list was the 2015 LP620-2 Super Trofeo, the race car that comes with a one-make series of its own to displace the Gallardo’s. 

With the 2015 racing season just around the corner, the Italians revealed yet another iteration of the Huracan: the GT3. As the moniker suggests, we’re still in racing territory, but this time in a more disputed department — the Blancpain Series — in which Lamborghini faces competition from a handful of manufacturers, Audi andMcLaren included.

The brand-new race car comes to replace the Gallardo FL2 , the company’s sole offering for privateers in both the Blancpain Endurance and Sprint Series. 

Gentlemen racers, it’s time to grab your helmets, there’s a new kid in town!

Based on the road-going Huracan that arrived in 2014, the GT3 comes with all the goodies specific to an endurance race car, including an aggressive body kit, a stripped interior and a curb weight of only 2,731 pounds.

Updated: 01/21/2015 Lamborghini released the official details on the new Huracan GT3, which was unveiled at the company’s headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese. Click past the jump for the new details.

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