4 HRS AGO - Affordable and sporty are seemingly opposing themes when it comes to electric cars – which is why Opel's restomod is so appealing It’s tantalising. Opel has shown us an electric restomod based on the shapely Manta coupé from half a century ago, and distinctly desirable it looks too. The 1970 was based on the Ascona saloon (think Insignia) and was a major rival to the Ford Capri, especially in Germany. The Opel was undoubtedly the better car, its 1.9-litre motor less coarse than the Capri’s, its live rear axle less wayward. But that was then. What we have here is a heavily modified Manta propelled by a 145bhp, 188lb ft electric motor, making it the most powerful version of the car Opel has yet made. Presumably it’s not that heavy, being a restomod, so it will be quick but it also looks to be airbag-less, if the small boss on the steering wheel is anything to go by. All of which means that it won’t see production, despite the charming update of its headlights, an impressively modern, Collapse

5 HRS AGO - Factory-created GSe Elektromod showcases EV drive with 145bhp motor and four-speed manual gearbox The Opel Manta A, one of the defining sports coupés of the 1970s, has been reborn by its maker as a tech-rich resto-mod with an all-electric powertrain.  The rear-driven two-door, now called the Manta GSe Elektromod, has been electrified and updated to show the brand's "commitment to emissions-free mobility for a very desirable, sustainable future," according to CEO Michael Lohscheller. The original car's petrol four-cylinder has been swapped out for an electric motor producing 145bhp and 188lb ft, making it not only more powerful than any original-specification Manta A, but also the most powerful battery-electric car in Opel's stable. A 31kWh battery pack, smaller than that found in the Corsa-E and Mokka-E, offers a claimed range of 124 miles, and like its production counterparts can be charged via regenerative braking - though a four-hour top-up is possible courtesy of a 9.0kW Collapse

15 HRS AGO - British manufacturer will be honoured with an interactive marque and will reveal its new sports car Lotus will be the subject of the central feature at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, with the Emira sports car set to make its public debut at the event. The British manufacturer will be honoured through Goodwood’s traditional front lawn sculpture, which will for the first time include an interactive experience, accessible from both the festival itself and home. Lotus was previously the subject of the central feature marque back in 2012, with a 3D infinity loop sculpture that celebrated its racing history.  “Everyone at Lotus is very excited by the opportunity to be the central feature at the Festival of Speed,” said Lotus marketing boss Simon Clare. “This year is a hugely significant one for the transformation of Lotus, and to be giving a public dynamic debut to the Emira at a location so closely associated with Lotus’s success and spirit of innovation will be great for those Collapse

17 HRS AGO - New FCEV variant of van is due in UK in 2023 with three-minute refuelling and 1100kg payload The Vauxhall Vivaro van has gained a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) variant with up to 249 miles of range and the same load capacity as equivalent combustion and battery-electric models. The new addition to Vauxhall's commercial line-up will be sold in left-hand-drive markets by German sister brand Opel from the end of 2021 and is set to make its UK debut in 2023.  The Vivaro-e Hydrogen mates a 45kW fuel cell with three 700bar hydrogen tanks (which can be filled in just three minutes) and uses the same front-mounted 134bhp electric motor as the Vivaro-e BEV. A 10.5kW lithium ion battery, capable of charging using regenerative braking, is also installed, offering 31 miles' worth of propulsion. “We're set to add hydrogen to the line-up as an efficient energy system of the future,” said Vauxhall managing director Paul Willcox. “Vauxhall-Opel has more than 20 years of experience in Collapse

18 HRS AGO - Italian firm to add fourth model for electric four-seat GT based on Porsche and Audi platform Lamborghini’s bosses have approved an expansion programme for a long-mooted fourth model line for the the company's first battery-electric model, set to take the form of a two-door four-seat grand tourer which boss Stephan Winkelmann confirmed will appear “in the second half of this decade”. The new machine will be the culimination of the firm's newly announced Direzione Cor Tauri road map, which will include electrifying its three existing product lines with plug-in hybrid powerrtrains by the end of 2024. Winkelmann said initial development work on the new car has begun, but he said no decision about its final form has been made. “This will be at least a 2+2 or four-seater,” Winkelmann told Autocar. “We imagine a two-door car mainly at this moment, but we haven’t yet taken a final decision on the bodystyle or the power output.” The Direzione Cor Tauri roadmap – referencing the brightest Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Our reporters empty their notebooks to round up a week in gossip from across the automotive industry In this week's round-up of automotive gossip, Audi talks ICE legacies, Kia boss has no intention of taking the Soul EV off sale, and more. Audi's post-combustion strategy Audi boss Markus Duesmann believes the firm’s models can still stand out in the post-combustion era. “A 2.0-litre diesel engine is something you’ve been able to buy anywhere for decades,” he said. “We think a car’s special character depends on how well integrated it is; how well its components work together. We will offer the better design, better package, better interior and greater usability our customers expect – all with classic Audi quality and a very strong brand.” Kia's EV still has Soul The E-Niro outsells its quirky Soul EV sibling consistently, but Kia UK managing director Paul Philpott has no intention of taking the latter off sale. “There aren’t many brands today that can give people a choice of Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Spanish performance brand's take on the Volkswagen ID 3 will stay true to concept's styling Cupra has previewed its first electric car, the Born, ahead of its production-ready unveiling next Tuesday (25 May). First shown as the El-Born in 2020, the hot hatchback shares its MEB underpinnings and its overall silhouette with the Volkswagen ID 3 but adopts a raft of bespoke design features to set it apart. The production Born looks to stay true to the concept, aside from losing the 'El' part of its model name. Shown in a matt blue finish with Cupra's trademark copper trim accents, it has a different front end to its Volkswagen sibling, incorporating angled LED headlights, a wider lower grille and a pointed bonnet that hints at its performance aspirations. Elsewhere, we can see that the Born will feature bespoke wheel designs, a Formentor-style wraparound rear light bar and a black contrasting C-pillar. Inside, preview images suggest copper detailing will be used on the centre console Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Limited-edition, hand-painted design is said to show capabilities of firm’s personalisation options McLaren’s in-house personalisation arm has designed a Gulf-inspired 720S to mark the oil firm’s return as a strategic partner for Woking’s Formula 1 team.  McLaren and Gulf rekindled their partnership in July 2020. McLaren said the livery acts as a tribute to the Gulf design while emphasising the racing connection between the two brands that started with founder Bruce McLaren. The partnership will also be recognised with the use of a one-off race livery for the Monaco Grand Prix on 23 May. The livery will feature on both MCL35M cars, the suits of Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo and the wider race team kit. McLaren Special Operations (MSO) designed the 720S with a hand-painted exterior in traditional blue-and-orange Gulf livery. The design took 20 days to hand paint, with other nods to traditional Gulf colours, including orange brake calipers. Blue and orange stitching features Collapse

1 DAY AGO - For car makers, limited supply of chips, which are crucial for power steering, brake sensors and parking cameras, is another kick below the belt What do power steering, brake sensors, parking cameras, infotainment systems and more have in common? Semi-conductors, or computer chips – and they’ve been in the news a lot in recent months. They’re one of the reasons why many new cars aren’t available until September, as a global bun fight rages over a limited supply, with just two makers of the very highest quality chips existing in the world and supply of the bulk of good-enough chips bottle-necking around four manufacturers. For car makers, it’s another kick below the belt. It’s born of the pandemic, with auto manufacturers working to ‘just in time’ principles and balancing complex supply chains reacting to shutdowns by cancelling orders, only to find the slack their actions created at hard-pressed chip makers sold on to booming phone and gaming firms. The affected car makers – who fit Collapse