Tag: suv

May 14

China’s Hongqi EHS7 Battery Swap SUV Seeks Sales Approval

Launch of the Hongqi EHS7 Battery Swap Edition

Hongqi’s latest move in the electric vehicle market, the EHS7 battery swap SUV, has officially applied for a sales license in China, as revealed in the recent announcements by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). This new variant retains the aesthetic of the original pure electric model but integrates advanced battery-swap technology, marking it as the first electric SUV from the Hongqi New Energy sub-brand.

Hongqi EHS7 standard version

Technical Specifications and Features

The battery swap version of the Hongqi EHS7 mirrors the dimensions of its predecessor, measuring 4925mm in length, 1950mm in width, and 1680mm in height, with a wheelbase extending to 3000mm. This model is equipped with a powerful rear electric motor producing up to 253 kW, complemented by durable lithium iron phosphate batteries supplied by BYD’s FinDreams, enabling a top speed of 200 km/h. Buyers can also choose from various customization options including different rim designs and dual-color exteriors.

Hongqi’s Broad Electric Vehicle Strategy

In 2024, Hongqi aims to significantly expand its lineup, introducing 16 new models including several pure electric and plug-in hybrids. This expansion is part of Hongqi’s strategy to boost sales figures, which saw a 29.5% increase in 2023, selling over 370,000 vehicles. The growth is notably driven by its New Energy sector, which itself grew by 135% last year, underscoring Hongqi’s commitment to electrification and a target of selling over 1.5 million vehicles annually.

Strategic Implications for the Auto Industry:

  • Innovation in Battery Technology: The introduction of battery-swap technology in SUVs like the EHS7 is a pivotal step in enhancing the convenience and appeal of electric vehicles, potentially setting new industry standards.
  • Market Expansion and Consumer Choice: With its aggressive rollout of new models, Hongqi is not only broadening its market presence but also offering consumers a wider array of choices, catering to different preferences and needs.
  • Sustainability Goals: As Hongqi pushes forward with its electrification goals, it contributes significantly to the automotive industry’s shift towards sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies.

This strategic move by Hongqi with the EHS7 battery swap SUV represents a significant evolution in their vehicle offerings and a strong commitment to leading in the electric vehicle sector, aligning with broader environmental objectives and market demands.

May 14

SUV crashes into Chicago area Fannie May candy store

An SUV crashed through the front of a Fannie May candy shop Tuesday afternoon in north suburban Lincolnwood.

The crash caused significant damage to a brick wall, cabinets, and a counter after the SUV wound up more than halfway inside the building at 7001 Lincoln Ave., leaving behind a large pile of rubble.

Lincolnwood Fire Department Battalion Chief Dean Friedlund said an employee was inside the store at the time of the crash.

“She had moved to the other end of the building, and she was not hurt, luckily. We’re glad that she moved to the other side of the building,” Friedlund said.

No one was injured in the crash. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash, or whether the driver was ticketed.

Friedlund said the building will need extensive repairs.

May 14

Tragic Collision on US95: Detailed Investigation Underway After SUV and Semitruck Accident in Idaho

Overview of the Fatal Incident

The Idaho State Police are actively investigating a tragic collision that occurred between an SUV and a semi-truck on US95, claiming the life of a Washington woman. The accident unfolded south of Coeur d’Alene near mile marker 379 in Benewah County around 11:23 AM on May 15th, 2024. A head-on crash involving a grey 2019 Ford Escape and a 2020 Volvo tractor-trailer resulted in catastrophic outcomes.

Details of the Collision and Immediate Aftermath

The collision led to the immediate death of a 45-year-old female from Pullman, Washington, who was driving the Ford Escape. The 31-year-old male driver of the Volvo tractor from Toledo, Ohio, sustained critical injuries and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. The Benewah County Coroner’s Office is tasked with releasing the deceased’s identity and determining the exact cause of death.

Traffic Disruptions and Ongoing Investigations

Following the accident, US95 was closed in both directions for approximately four hours to facilitate emergency response and investigation, causing significant traffic disruptions. The road has since reopened to single-lane traffic as investigations continue. Additional road closures and traffic delays have been reported in the area, indicating possible ongoing or separate incidents affecting travel.

Additional Information on Road Safety and Attractions

  • Road Safety Enhancements: This incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety measures on highways, particularly on routes like US95 known for heavy truck traffic. Implementing stricter safety protocols and better highway engineering could help prevent such devastating accidents.
  • Cultural Insights: Amidst the backdrop of road safety concerns, Idaho also offers unique roadside attractions that contribute to its cultural tapestry. Historical advertisements and quirky landmarks dot the landscape, offering travelers a blend of humor and history.
  • Community and Traveler Information: For those traveling through Idaho, staying updated with real-time traffic updates from sources like Idaho 511 can aid in planning safer routes. Meanwhile, exploring local attractions can provide enjoyable breaks on long drives.

This tragic event not only highlights critical issues concerning road safety but also brings to light the broader aspects of travel and culture in Idaho, emphasizing the importance of both caution and curiosity for drivers navigating its roads.

May 14

Urgent Medical Response Following Scooter Collision with SUV in Blakeslee

Critical Incident on Local Roadway

In a distressing event in Blakeslee, a scooter collision involving a young child occurred late Monday evening. At around 6:22 p.m., at the intersection of Matthews Drive and Kirtley Court, a five-year-old boy tragically struck the back of an SUV while he was riding his scooter. The incident resulted from the child’s inability to stop before entering the roadway.

Swift Emergency Action and Care

Emergency teams arrived promptly at the scene to provide necessary aid to the injured child, who was found in a critical state. To ensure the fastest possible medical treatment, he was airlifted to Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar-Crest. The gravity of the situation necessitated immediate and specialized medical attention.

Follow-Up and Safety Concerns

While the driver of the SUV, a 47-year-old woman, has not faced any charges, the investigation by local authorities continues. This accident has sparked a significant response within the Blakeslee community, prompting calls for enhanced road safety measures, particularly in zones frequented by children. The current status of the boy’s health remains closely monitored, with the community hoping for a positive recovery.

Community and Road Safety Enhancement

  • Implementing Safer Traffic Environments: This unfortunate accident underscores the importance of implementing more stringent traffic safety measures around residential neighborhoods and areas where children are likely to be present. Strategies might include deploying more visible signage and enforcing lower speed limits.
  • Road Safety Education for Youth: There is a pressing need for educational programs that focus on teaching children the importance of road safety. These programs should emphasize the dangers of moving vehicles and the importance of using designated crossing points.
  • Support Networks for Accident Victims: Enhancing community support for families affected by such incidents is crucial. Establishing funds to cover medical expenses and providing psychological support can greatly assist those impacted.
May 14

Will County, IL – Five-Year-Old Child, Three Teens Among Seven Injured in Baker Road SUV Crash

Manhattan, IL – A collision involving three SUVs at the intersection of 52nd and Baker Road in Manhattan on Monday resulted in injuries to seven individuals, including a five-year-old child and three teenagers.

The crash, which occurred in an area with a single stop sign, caused significant front-end damage to all vehicles involved. While details on how the accident happened remain unclear, none of the injured were trapped in the wreckage. Seven ambulances attended the scene, though only six were utilized in transporting the injured to the hospital.

Traffic control was managed by Manhattan Police, with support from Illinois State Police and the Will County Sheriff’s Office. Fire departments from Wilmington and Troy provided additional support for Manhattan during the incident.

May 14

Miraculous Survival in Gloucester Township’s Horrific Motorcycle-SUV Collision

Dramatic Late-Night Collision in Gloucester Township

In a shocking incident late Monday night in Gloucester Township, NJ, a motorcycle collided head-on with an SUV, causing severe injuries to both the motorcyclist and his passenger. The accident occurred as the SUV was executing a left turn from Woodbury-Turnersville Road into Elmwood Hills Healthcare Center. The collision’s impact was so severe that the motorcycle ended up vertically embedded in the SUV’s engine compartment.

Immediate Aftermath and Emergency Response

Both individuals on the motorcycle were ejected and subsequently rushed to Cooper University Health Care in Camden for urgent medical treatment. Despite the dramatic scene, the SUV’s occupants emerged unscathed and declined medical attention at the site. Authorities have not filed charges yet as the investigation continues, urging witnesses to come forward with any relevant information.

Reflecting on Motorcycle Safety After Consecutive Incidents

  • Rising Concern Over Motorcycle Safety: This collision marks the second severe motorcycle accident in New Jersey within just 48 hours, underlining a troubling rise in dangerous incidents involving motorcycles. These events highlight the need for heightened awareness and precaution among all road users, especially at intersections and during turns.
  • Community and Policy Response: Such incidents serve as a grim reminder of the vulnerability of motorcyclists and necessitate more stringent traffic safety measures. Initiatives could include better road signage, enhanced lighting at critical junctions, and more rigorous enforcement of traffic laws to prevent future tragedies.
  • Supporting Accident Victims: The community’s response to such accidents is crucial. Offering support to the victims and their families not only helps them recover but also strengthens community ties. Public health campaigns that educate drivers about the dangers of road intersections and the importance of cautious driving can save lives.

This detailed overview aims to inform and engage the community of Gloucester Township and beyond about the critical issues of road safety and the collective efforts needed to safeguard all individuals, particularly vulnerable motorcyclists, from such devastating accidents.

May 14

SUV Crash Ignites Inferno on Hyannis Roadway, Causes Multiple Injuries

Devastating Collision and Fire in Hyannis

Early this morning, Hyannis, Massachusetts was the scene of a dramatic and fiery accident as an SUV collided with a utility pole on Smith Street near Circle Drive, leading to a rollover and subsequent blaze. The incident, which occurred just after 1 a.m., resulted in the vehicle being completely engulfed in flames. The local fire department swiftly responded, tackling the intense fire that threatened further damage.

Emergency Response and Casualties

Miraculously, all four passengers managed to escape the burning SUV, though not all were unscathed. Upon arrival, first responders transported one critically injured individual to Cape Cod Hospital, while the others received treatment for minor injuries. The aftermath of the crash was chaotic, with emergency services working hard to control the fire and manage the scene, which was exacerbated by a downed utility pole sprawled across the roadway.

Ongoing Investigation and Community Impact

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, with authorities piecing together what happened in the moments leading up to the collision. Speculations about the cause, including potential speed, mechanical issues, or other contributing factors, remain unconfirmed. This accident not only caused significant disruption to local traffic but also impacted the area’s infrastructure, with National Grid crews working diligently to repair the downed lines and restore normalcy to the affected Hyannis neighborhood. The community felt the ripple effects of this unsettling event, as the restoration efforts continued into the daylight hours, reminding residents of the night’s dramatic events.

May 14

I rode in Volvo’s new electric SUV and was not at all surprised by it

One hour east of Gothenburg, Sweden, the sun was shining on another blue sky spring day. The chamber of commerce weather was perfect for the full day of learning about and testing out the 2025 Volvo EX90 at Hällerd Proving Ground.

A small group of Volvo project managers and engineers gave us the lowdown on Volvo’s latest electric vehicle. The EX90 joins the company’s fleet as its flagship this year alongside its gasoline-powered XC90 counterpart. Though they are similar sized, the XC90 is a completely different vehicle.

Volvo knows a thing or two about EVs already. This new effort is one in a line of models that stretches from the 1976 Volvo Electric Prototype that sits in the new World of Volvo brand showcase center, to the C30 electric car from 2010 and into today with the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge, both of which were part of my journey across the American West late last year, and the lauded EX30 small SUV.

When the EX90 debuted in November 2022, it was lauded for its funky animated headlights, well-appointed interior, and sleek exterior. Not much has changed since then, including the melanoma-like safety and driver assistance system-related technologies attached at the roofline above the windscreen.

Before we arrived in Sweden, Volvo warned us that we weren’t going to be able to drive the EX90, but that we would be able to experience it riding shotgun on numerous trails and tracks within the testing center.

Among the 17 to choose from, Volvo chose those tracks designated to test for handling, speed and stability, off-road prowess, and comfort as the ride destinations, clearly showing their priorities with the model’s development.

These tracks are not simply smooth paved surfaces. Each has a unique set of tests within it, from duplicating roadways in the U.S., Europe and Scandinavia that present their own set of challenges.

Have you ever ridden over a freeway in Los Angeles? That melodic thump-thump-thump that you could keep time with using a metronome has been replicated at Hällerd as something engineers need to take into consideration as they develop vehicles.

There’s sections of cobblestones, wavy pavement whoops like you’ll find on rural roads worldwide, and steeply banked surfaces with lanes marked so test drivers can track how well a vehicle stays in its lane using a variety of technology, only some of which has been employed in today’s vehicles.

2025 Volvo EX90
The Volvo EX90 electric SUV pictured parked in Sweden.

Buckled into the passenger seat, I spent my afternoon riding alongside Kenneth, a capable engineer who explained every bit of the test to me along the way, calling out speeds and the reasoning for each section of testing as it happened.

With the SUV set for comfort, we started at the handling circuit where whoops were hit at a little over 70 kilometers per hour (45-ish miles per hour) and the car’s weight was immediately apparent, despite the suspension doing everything it could to compensate. However, there was little axial movement.

The SUV’s sound deadening and stabilization efforts proved themselves over the cobbles and rougher sections of road but couldn’t do the heavy lifting as we picked up speed and headed into the corners.

There was no escaping the sheer heft of this SUV. That doesn’t mean that it was incompetent or unable to handle the pressure being placed on it by the driver. In fact, it stuck to the roadway with ease and proved quite nimble.

Switching to a sportier drive mode, the SUV’s dynamics tightened up, It was more easily able to turn into the corners at those higher speeds. However, the lack of seat bolstering became apparent at this point. While the SUV may have been tuned for sportier performance, its passengers were still in their comfort setting.

This made me wonder how it will do traversing the many, many roundabouts in Europe.

2025 Volvo EX90 Sweden Test Drive
A Volvo employee and Newsweek’s Eileen Falkenberg-Hull ride in a new Volvo EX90 at the automaker’s test track in Sweden.

Moving on to the off-road portion, Volvo’s engineers took the car up a hill and around a short trail to simulate what the SUV would be asked to do as Swedes leave the city and head to their summer cottage for a month, week, or weekend of relaxation. It’s perfectly well suited for that level of off-roading.

On the high-speed loop track, the Volvo did as it was designed to do, rapidly accelerating without passing on many G forces to the passengers, while proving stable and serene as we approached maximum speed and stayed there for a while.

It was also easy to keep in the lane at high speeds, even in steeply banked corners.

If there’s one thing that holds true about Volvos, it is that there’s little that is surprising about them. They’re notoriously good at doing their assigned tasks, especially modern ones.

So, it was unsurprising that nothing about the EX90 test drive surprised me. This Volvo is as competent and competitive as the rest of the Volvo lineup. I look forward to my turn behind the wheel in a few months.

May 14

Volvo EX60 set to arrive as new Tesla Model Y, Porsche Macan luxury electric SUV rival

A new all-electric luxury SUV is set to hit the market next year to compete with Tesla’s best-selling Model Y. Volvo is joining the luxury electric SUV market with its new EX60 launching next year. The new EX60 will rival premium models from Tesla, Porsche, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.

As one of the first legacy automakers to commit to an all-electric future, Volvo is seeing the results.

After launching its most affordable EV, the EX30, last year, Volvo’s compact electric SUV is already making a significant impact on the company.

Volvo set a new sales record in the first three months of the year with growing demand for its electric models. Fully electric vehicles accounted for over 40% of sales in 19 markets. That’s up from 13 in Q4 2023.

According to Volvo Cars’ chief commercial officer and deputy CEO, the EX30 is helping boost sales. Volvo’s EV sales share hit a record 21% in Q1, with 14,500 EX30 models sold. This was enough to top the EC60 (6,000) while inching closer to the EX40 (17,400).

Volvo's-new-EVs-Ferrari-likeVolvo EX30 (Source: Volvo)

Volvo also began production of its first electric minivan, the EM90, for China. Deliveries began in March. Meanwhile, Volvo is preparing to launch its larger EX90, which is already attracting Ferrari-like wait times.

Volvo's-new-EVs-Ferrari-likeVolvo EX90 (Source: Volvo)

Volvo EX60 to launch as the latest luxury electric SUV

Volvo looks to keep the momentum rolling next year with its new EX60 expected to debut as an all-electric replacement to the hybrid XC60 Recharge.

The new EV will compete against premium SUVs like the Tesla Model Y, Porsche Macan EV, and Mercedes-Benz EQC. It will sit between the EX40 and EX90 in Volvo’s expanding EV lineup.

Volvo-Recharge-EVsVolvo EX40 (Source: Volvo)

According to Auto Express, the new Volvo electric SUV will be based on the larger EX90’s platform, which could pack up to 100 kWh of battery power. Erik Severinson, chief product and strategy officer at Volvo Cars, calls it an “evolution of the Volvo-developed platform.”

Volvo’s EX60 is expected to maintain the brand’s new design elements, such as its Thor Hammer LED headlights, closed grille, and alloy wheels.

At least one thing remains a mystery. Volvo did not confirm if the EX60 would include advanced LIDAR like the EX90. However, Severinson said the brand is exploring “different kinds of sensors going forward.”

Volvo-EM90-electric-minivanVolvo’s first electric minivan, the EM90 (source: Volvo)

The EX60 will feature a new “structural” battery pack, similar to BYD and Tesla. The design leads to “improved energy density” and “great driveability.”

According to the report, the EX60 could feature up to 400 miles WLTP range. The EX90, with a 107 kWh battery pack, offers up to 364 miles. However, the EX60 is expected to feature a smaller, lighter battery with improved energy density.

Volvo-EX90-priceVolvo EX90 interior (Source: Volvo)

Volvo is moving to use a megacasted rear underfloor for the EX60, a concept used by Tesla, NIO, XPeng, and others. According to Volvo, the new floor design weighs 15 to 20% less than a traditional stamped equivalent.

The method will also increase storage space while speeding up production times. Volvo is expected to launch the EX60 when megacasting production begins next year.

We could see the Volvo EX60 unveiled by the end of the year, with prices and specs arriving at a later date. Check back for more details soon.