electric cars

You are currently browsing articles tagged electric cars.


Illustration for article titled The First Electric BMW M Car Will Be Something Weve Never Seen Before
Photo: BMW

BMW just ripped the mask off of the new BMW M3 and M4 performance sedan and coupe. While those come with up to 503 horsepower and the option of a manual transmission, BMW’s performance M division is already cooking up its first-ever all-electric model, and it should be something completely new.

Advertisement

So far, BMW has only showed off its future electric sedan as a concept car with the nomenclature to match the previous BMW i3 electric and hybrid hatchback and the BMW i8 sports car and roadster—the BMW i4. And it’s only shown it as a “regular” pedestrian car, not your hotted-up M version. But that’s coming soon, according to the CEO of BMW’s M division, Markus Flash.

Advertisement

From Car Advice:

BMW has commenced work on its first pure-electric car from the M performance division, but the M3 and M4 are safe for now.

That’s the message from the CEO of BMW M, Markus Flasch, speaking to Australian media ahead of the reveal of the new M3 sedan and M4 coupe.

The first M-fettled product from BMW’s expanding EV range will be a version of the i4, first previewed as a concept in March 2020.

Late last year it was reported that BMW was planning a 530-horsepower version of the upcoming i4 which would target the traditional M3 sedan’s level of performance. At the time, BMW claimed some version of the production car would be capable of 0 to 62 mph in about four seconds, hit a top speed of 120 mph and have a range of 373 miles.

BMW has also previously worked on an all-electric BMW 5 Series test model with three motors making up to 710 horsepower and 848 lb-ft, but I’d expect the tech on that car to go through a lot of changes before it filters out to the new i4.

Advertisement

And of course, this doesn’t mean BMW is going to abandon combustion-power altogether. Don’t be ridiculous. The company just put a manual back on the M3, we should give them some respect even if the face of the car is a tad hard to look at. Regardless, your more traditional-powered M car isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, but it may get a boost, again from BMW’s Flasch speaking to Car Advice:

“Next year we will launch the first battery-electric M car in the performance segment, based on the i4, as something to confirm,” Flasch revealed. “Then we’re working on hybrid electrified performance and high-performance cars, but it is too early to disclose which ones it is going to be.”

Advertisement

I bet this is an exciting opportunity for the M division. Well, when I say it gets to do something completely new, I mean it probably won’t just be an electric version of a car we already drive around, like the M3, M4, or the M5. This also means, perhaps, the styling is still up in the air, and BMW can come in and give us a car that’s easier to be seen in than the new M3.

undefined
Photo: BMW

Tags: , , ,


Illustration for article titled Nikolas Founder Is Pissed And Tired Of The Haters
Photo: Nikola

Yesterday, a Nikola short published an exhaustive report detailing a series of allegations and calling Nikola an “intricate fraud.” Nikola founder Trevor Milton said last night he would have a “clear, factual, low-emotional answer to the report” out “before market opens.” Today, Milton said the report wouldn’t be made public for now.

Advertisement

Milton has had a dramatic day-and-a-half or so after the initial report, issued by Hindenburg Research, a Nikola short that says it does “forensic financial research.”

Here’s the entirety of the statement Nikola released this morning, which Milton said is all he would say about the matter for now:

Yesterday, an activist short-seller whose motivation is to manipulate the market and profit from a manufactured decline in our stock price published a so-called “report” replete with misleading information and salacious accusations directed at our founder and executive chairman. To be clear, this was not a research report and it is not accurate. This was a hit job for short sale profit driven by greed.

We have nothing to hide and we will refute these allegations. They have already taken up more time and attention than they deserve. We have retained leading law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP to evaluate potential legal recourse, including with respect to the activist short seller and any others acting in concert.

Nikola also intends to bring the actions of the activist short-seller, together with evidence and documentation, to the attention of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

We respect the rights of investors and the integrity of the market and will be back to you after we have advanced the process with the SEC.

Most importantly, Nikola remains focused on delivering on the promises we’ve made to our stakeholders.

Advertisement

One thing I’ll note: Retaining legal counsel is not the same thing as filing a lawsuit, and, further, law firms are always happy to take your money. Another thing I’ll note, per Automotive News, is that Kirkland & Ellis also is repping GM in its so-far-unsuccessful lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler.

A third thing I’ll note: Here is Trevor Milton at 9:01 a.m.:

And here is Milton an hour and twenty minutes later, commenting on the thing he said he wouldn’t comment further on. The author wanted emotion and Milton is simply refusing to give it to them:

Advertisement

F@&k the haters, indeed. Whether Nikola actually proceeds with legal action is still to be decided, then, though in a statement Hindenburg’s founder said a lawsuit would be welcomed.

“The company answered none of the 53 questions we raised in our report after promising a full rebuttal,” [Hindenburg founder Nathan Anderson] said. “We are pleased that Nikola is engaging with the SEC and we are not surprised that Trevor Milton (Nikola’s founder and executive chairman) is not commenting further on advice of counsel.”

Advertisement

Nikola’s stock is down 15 percent today after falling 11 percent yesterday, meaning it’s pretty likely a lot of investors have already decided who they want to believe.

Tags: , , ,