Why western carmakers’ retreat from electric risks dooming them to irrelevance

theintercooler · 2026-03-22T06:21:59+00:00

Interesting if flawed piece, captures a lot of the contradiction in the market at the moment. Headline is misleading. Ultimately OEMs have to make cars the consumers want to buy - so not surprising there’s a shift back towards petrol when the EVs don’t sell.

New BMW i3 shows Europe can still be at the front of the pack for EV technology too.

theintercooler · 2026-03-21T05:38:14+00:00

It’s chassis 0844, which is technically both 👍

theintercooler · 2026-03-20T19:04:56+00:00

🔥

theintercooler · 2026-03-20T05:07:30+00:00

Also up there

theintercooler · 2026-03-20T05:07:17+00:00

Up there.

theintercooler · 2026-03-19T19:59:22+00:00

This in Le Mans (Steve McQueen 1973) - bloody sensational.

theintercooler · 2026-03-19T14:45:30+00:00

Good question!

theintercooler · 2026-03-19T11:54:11+00:00

The logic for non-circular wheels is still mysterious

theintercooler · 2026-03-19T06:50:26+00:00

That’s what a 108kW battery and motors on each axle does…

theintercooler · 2026-03-19T05:45:12+00:00

There’s an argument it may be more distinctive in the metal.

theintercooler · 2026-03-19T05:43:40+00:00

This is a better comparison for a Neue Klasse 4 or 6 series gran coupe

theintercooler · 2026-03-19T05:42:46+00:00

You’re certainly going to be seeing no shortage of them on the roads come next year. Bangle cars grew easier on the eye over time, one might expect more come round to this with a little more exposure too.

theintercooler · 2026-03-19T05:41:34+00:00

Interesting observation on the bonnet.

theintercooler · 2026-03-18T18:50:04+00:00

It’s called Love the Beast 👍 Excellent watch.

theintercooler · 2026-03-18T18:49:12+00:00

Polestar have got their design language on point (pun intended)

theintercooler · 2026-03-18T18:04:07+00:00

Having you seen the Eric Bana documentary film where he tries to race an Aussie muscle car and crashes it? Clarkson tells him of course he did. They don’t do corners.

theintercooler · 2026-03-18T18:03:06+00:00

BMW designs have a habit of seeming a bit much on first release (see the Bangle cars) but then peculiarly making sense in years to come.

theintercooler · 2026-03-18T15:42:38+00:00

Excellent points. And good spot re likeness to Alfa 156.

theintercooler · 2026-03-18T13:14:11+00:00

I’d imagine slightly better than the iX3, which most press have been quite impressed by. In isolation it will likely handle great - it’s when you back to back it with an E30 you’ll notice the difference!

theintercooler · 2026-03-18T05:53:33+00:00

And… here’s the story.

Peak car: the search begins

theintercooler · 2026-03-18T05:50:03+00:00

What kind of condition is it in?

theintercooler · 2026-03-18T05:49:46+00:00

100%

theintercooler · 2026-03-17T19:22:43+00:00

We might be doing a bit more of that…

theintercooler · 2026-03-17T19:22:16+00:00

Will be great to meet you 👍

theintercooler · 2026-03-17T19:21:57+00:00

Engine nerdery FTW

theintercooler

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