Geely Automotive

Drivers may soon be able to buy cars powered by volcanoes, with two car makers pursuing technology which could potentially delay the death of the internal combustion engine. The founder and CEO of Swedish supercar company Koenigsegg told business news outlet Bloomberg the firm was investigating sustainably-sourced methanol to power its vehicles, just days after Chinese auto giant Geely announced it was also pushing ahead with methanol cars.

Polestar – Volvo’s electrified performance division – has announced it will launch in Australia this year. The model line-up is yet to be confirmed, however the first cars are due in local showrooms during the second half of this year. The Volvo subsidiary – which is co-owned by Chinese automotive conglomerate Geely – currently produces the Polestar 2 high-riding electric sedan (below). It’s this model that’s expected to spearhead the brand’s Australian launch later this year.

Lotus is in the process of upgrading its Hethel headquarters and testing facilities, as part of a push to modernise the brand and develop its zero-emission line-up. The most prominent element of the multi-million-dollar investment is a new electric drive unit test cell. According to the Geely-owned manufacturer, this will allow engineers to test EV motors, gearboxes and supporting electronics under simulated real-world conditions.

Volvo is set to reveal an electric variant of its XC40 SUV later this year, the company has confirmed. Speaking with industry journal Automotive News Europe, at a safety event in Gothenburg, Sweden, Volvo officials indicated the EV will debut before the end of 2019, before hitting showrooms in global markets from 2020. The spokespeople declined to comment further, however.

The Lynk & Co 03 sedan has been revealed ahead of its official debut a the Chengdu motor show in September, becoming the company's third model line and its first non-SUV. In terms of design, there are few surprises given the various teasers have been released over the past month, along with the fact it's largely unchanged from the 03 concept revealed at last year's Shanghai motor show.