France is preparing to launch a new electric vehicle subsidy program that would give people the ability to lease an EV for €100 ($100) per month. Budget Minister Gabriel Attal announced the plan over the weekend on the country’s LCI news channel, reports Bloomberg. “We know that for many French [EVs] remain very expensive,” he said, adding that the government was working to figure out how quickly it could implement the measure.

Under a subsidy scheme that’s similar to the one introduced by the US Inflation Reduction Act, French car buyers can currently receive as much as €6,000 off electric vehicles that cost less than €47,000. Consumers can also take advantage of a federal trade-in program to get money for their old combustion-engine cars. Despite those incentives, EVs only accounted for 12 percent of new vehicle sales in France during the first seven months of 2022.

For context, France is significantly behind on that front compared to countries like Norway. Last year, battery-electric and hybrid vehicles made up nearly two-thirds of all new car sales within the Nordic country. Much of what’s driving adoption there is a subsidy scheme that allows car buyers to avoid taxes that are found on internal combustion engine cars.

Attal’s announcement follows months of extremely hot weather across France as Europe and the world feel the brunt of worsening climate change. After enduring multiple heatwaves throughout June and July, parts of Paris saw temperatures rise to 36 degrees Celsius (nearly 100 Fahrenheit) earlier this month.

Ford is set to open up Mustang Mach-E orders for the 2023 model year after the 2022 trims sold out. You'll have the chance to order one of the EVs starting on August 30th. In addition, Ford has announced some pricing, range and other changes.

Premium Mach-Es built starting this fall that have the extended range battery will have a targeted EPA-estimated range of 290 miles on all-wheel drive models. That's a range increase of 13 miles. Meanwhile, the Ford Co-Pilot360 driver assist tech is now standard across all trims.

If you opt for a Premium model with extended range battery or the GT Performance edition, you'll be able to select the Mustang Nite Pony package. This includes high-gloss black 19-inch wheels and a black pony badge, black front and rear lower fascia, door cladding and black mirror caps on the grille for Premium trims. The package brings 20-inch high-gloss black wheels and a black GT badge to the GT Performance edition. You'll still be able to select any exterior color option with this package.

There will be two new colors to choose from: carbonized gray metallic and vapor blue metallic. They replace dark matter gray and iced blue silver. The California Route 1 trim will only be available as an AWD option moving forward, as Ford is sunsetting the rear-wheel drive option based on customer demand. Meanwhile, Ford will replace the black roof on GT and GT Performance editions with a panoramic sunroof.

As is the way of things in the auto world (and many other industries right now), prices of the Mach-E are going up for new orders, effective Tuesday. Ford says this is due to "significant material cost increases, continued strain on key supply chains and rapidly evolving market conditions." As Elektrek points out, the price increases are between $2,600 and roughly $8,000 compared with the 2022 trims. As such, the Mustang Mach-E will start at $46,895 MSRP (not including the delivery fee or taxes) for the Select rear-wheel drive standard model.

Mercedes-Benz has officially launched production of its all-electric EQS SUV at its Tuscaloosa, Alabama production plant, the company announced today. Earlier this year the German automaker previewed the vehicle — its very first electric SUV — and promised it would be built in the US and available later this fall. While supply chain bottlenecks have delayed launches of other new EVs, Mercedes has a couple of factors working in its favor. The company already secured its battery materials by partnering with the Canadian government this month. It also plans to produce its batteries locally, at its own factory in nearby Bibb County, Alabama.

Our preview of the EQS SUV noted that its battery range works out to a little over 300 miles. The automaker has yet to disclose the price of the car, which, as Electreknotes, will determine whether the SUV is eligible for a 2023 EV tax credit or not. Currently, new SUVs must be assembled in North America and priced under $80,000 to qualify for next year’s tax credit. Given that Mercedes’ EQS sedan started at a little over $103,000, it’s probably safe to say that the price of its new electric SUV will trump that — and won’t qualify for any tax rebates. Seems like EQS SUV drivers will have to resign themselves to saving money on fuel.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Lincoln being part of the Ford Motor Company, Lincoln reached back 100 years to the Model L as inspiration for its Model L100 concept. The large luxury sedan combines Lincoln's take on autonomous luxury and electric vehicles. 

Because the vehicle is so low to the ground Lincoln decided to create four-foot-long doors that move out and open and a roof that lifts up to make it easier for passengers to get in and out. It’s an insane idea that’ll never make it to production, but the inside of the vehicle is an impressive take on how the one percent will ride around in the future. 

Are you considering a Lucid Air, but worried you might not outrun a Model S Plaid in a drag race? That might not be a problem if you have a large-enough bank account. Lucid has introduced a Sapphire badge devoted to "ultra-high-performance" EVs. The first model in the line, the Lucid Air Sapphire, promises to outperform Tesla's Plaid cars in at least some conditions — and not just in a straight line.

The Air Sapphire centers around a tri-motor system (one front, two rear) producing over 1,200HP, topping even the no-longer-available Dream Edition. In tandem with better cooling, the new powerplant reportedly delivers a 0-60MPH sprint in under two seconds, 0-100MPH in less than four seconds and a quarter-mile time below nine seconds. You can expect a top speed above 200MPH. While that's not guaranteed to demolish a customized Model S Plaid, this is also a factory-stock car that doesn't need a preconditioning period (like Tesla's Drag Strip Mode) to reach its full potential.

And yes, Lucid believes the Air Sapphire can handle turns and twists. You can expect a slightly wider body to accommodate new Aero Sapphire wheels with special Michelin tires. The motors' torque vectoring, meanwhile, promises both better turn-in while upgrading stability in straightaways. You can also expect a stiffer suspension, stiffer bushings and custom tuning for everything from the antilock brake system through to power steering. Range and other details are forthcoming.

Lucid Motors

Most of the interior changes revolve around software. While there is a new visual theme and "highly bolstered" seating, the centerpiece is an updated interface with more performance-oriented features that include a dedicated Sapphire Mode.

None of these optimizations come cheap, however. Lucid will ask $249,000 for the limited-run Air Sapphire, with pre-orders in the US and Canada starting August 23rd at 9AM Eastern. That makes the $179,000 Grand Touring trim seem like a relative bargain, and even Porsche's $187,400 Taycan Turbo S is more affordable. In this category, though, bragging rights often help justify any premiums.

This might also represent an important strategy switch for Lucid. The fledgling EV maker has had to drastically cut its production targets in light of supply chain problems, and now expects to make no more than 7,000 cars in 2022 instead of the originally planned 20,000. Sapphire will arrive too late to help this year, but it might offset future financial trouble by increasing Lucid's profit from the cars it ships.

Audi still isn't done unveiling self-driving concept EVs, but its next model might be appealing if you're eager to leave the asphalt. The company has revealed that its fourth Sphere concept will be the Activesphere, an SUV-like machine that promises "maximum variability" for on- and off-road travel. As with earlier designs, the automaker is touting an autonomous-friendly interior that can help you relax. We wouldn't count on going hands-free while you're on the trail, but Audi is at least moving beyond city-oriented prototypes.

The full Activesphere debut is slated for the start of 2023. Audi began its campaign by unveiling the Skysphere roadster in August 2021, and quickly followed it with the Grandsphere sedan (September 2021) and Urbansphere SUV (April this year). As a rule, they've centered around living room-like cabins and ambitious performance. The Grandsphere and Urbansphere, for instance, boast a claimed 466-mile range.

The question, as you might have guessed, is whether or not the Activesphere and any of its predecessors will directly influence future Audi EVs. Right now, the brand's electric lineup revolves around decidedly more conventional (if very speedy) products. Fully self-driving vehicles may also have to wait when many countries only allow limited autonomy at best. Audi expects its new vehicles to be EV-only starting in 2026, though, and it's hard to imagine the company ignoring driverless cars when its rival Mercedes is already touting Level 3 autonomy.

It was good times for the Ford Mach-E GT atop the e-muscle car heap. Those halcyon days of performance dominance will soon be coming to an end when Hyundai unleashes its EV6 GT performance crossover on North America. With 576 horses under the hood and a 0-60 of 3.4 seconds, not even a Huracan Evo can beat it off the line.

Hyundai Motor Group

The new EV6 GT is not to be confused with the existing EV6 GT-Line, though it’s easy to do. From the outside they’re largely similar — save for the neon accents and 21-inch rims — but like story morals, puff pastries and spider egg sacs, it’s what’s on the inside that really matters. Where the GT-Line AWD offered a not-insignificant 320 HP (446 lb ft torque) from its 165kW front and 74kW rear electric motors, the GT AWD goes two steps further, slamming a 160kW motor onto the front axle and a massive 270 kW motor on the rear to output 576 HP and 546 lb ft of torque. 

It does a 0-60 in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 161 MPH — that’s a tenth of a second faster than the Mach-E GT Performance edition with 96 more horsepower to use. That said, the Mustang does offer more torque (600 lb ft to the EV6’s 546) and a much longer driving range, 270 miles on a full Mach-E charge vs just 206 miles for the EV6 GT.

Hyundai Motor Group

Like the rest of the EV6 lineup, the GT will benefit from Hyundai Group’s 800V electrical architecture enabling rapid charging to the tune of 70 percent battery capacity in 18 minutes at 350 kW. Exclusive to the GT, however, are three new drive modes: GT Drive, My Drive and (squeeeee) Drift Mode. 

GT Drive “optimizes the performance of the EV6 GT’s motors, braking, steering, suspension, e-LSD, and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems into their most dynamic settings,” per a Friday release. “Drivers can also create custom-tailored settings to suit individual driving preferences using My Drive Mode.” The real fun begins with Drift Mode, which pushes a majority of the power to the rear wheels for a fully electrified hooning experience.

Hyundai Motor Group

There’s no word on pricing yet but it’s pretty safe to assume that it’ll be north of the GT-Line AWD’s $56,400 MSRP (maybe even more than the $62,000 Mach-E GT). We'll find out when the EV6 goes on sale in Q4 2022.

Monterey Car Week has been a hotbed of EV debuts this year with unveilings from Dodge, Acura, DeLorean and a host of other automakers. On Thursday, Lincoln revealed the Model L100, its futuristic foray into electrified mobility, which draws inspiration from the company’s very first luxury sedan, the 1922 Model L.

Lincoln Motors

Like its pre-Depression predecessor, the Model L100 exhibits a shocking degree of opulence. “Next generation battery cell and pack technologies,” read the Thursday release, will deliver “game changing energy density,” while the steering wheel will be replaced with a “jewel-inspired chess piece controller that captures light and depth by redefining the vehicle controls inside the cabin.” That fancy yoke won’t be much use for actual steering thanks to the vehicle’s theoretical autonomous driving capabilities taking care of the navigating.

Lincoln Motor Comapny

“Concept vehicles allow us to reimagine and illustrate how new experiences can come to life with the help of advanced technologies and allow our designers more creative freedom than ever before,” Anthony Lo, Ford’s chief design officer, in a statement. “With the Model L100, we were able to push the boundaries in ways that evolve our Quiet Flight brand DNA and change the way we think about Lincoln designs of tomorrow."

Lincoln Motor Comapny

Other fantastical design details include animal-free interiors with front row seats that can flip to face the rear passengers (good thing the car’s driving itself), a digital floor and canopy that can project realistic animated scenes onto the floor and ceiling, a full-length hinged glass roof and reverse-hinged doors that open up like a lily. 

Lincoln Motors

There's no word yet on when the production vehicle spawned from this concept will arrive. Unfortunately many of the ideas presented here will inevitably be cut, going the way of Mercedes’ awesome, Avatar-inspired trunk hatch wigglers.

Honda's Acura division has pulled back the curtain on a sleek Precision EV concept at Monterey Car Week. Acura took inspiration from Italian power boats for the design, which it says shows "a future vision of electrified vehicles with distinct manual and full driving automation experiences."

The Prologue, which will be Honda's first electric SUV, is scheduled to arrive in 2024 and will use this design language. The concept has a front end that fully lights up and 23-inch wheels, along with an exterior design that's intended to convey Acura's emphasis on performance. The brand says it has "a wide, athletic stance, expressive silhouette and sharp character lines dressed in eye-catching Double Apex Blue with a matte finish."

As for the interior, Acura took a cue from the cockpit of a Formula 1 car. The concept has a yoke-style steering wheel, a low driving position and what Acura describes as "high-performance driver sightlines."

The brand plans to offer two driving modes. The Instinctive Drive option is designed to highlight performance driving, with racing-style digital instrumentation along with red ambient and pipe lighting. When the Spiritual Lounge mode is enabled for autonomous use, the SUV will retract the steering wheel, switch to calming lighting with an underwater-style animated projection and pump in soothing scents for a more laid-back experience.

There's a focus on sustainability as well. Acura utilized marbled recycled plastic trim and 100 percent biomass leather. All the aluminum, along with the green cast acrylic used for the steering wheel secondary controls, was made from recycled materials. The concept also has a wide and curved transparent display with haptic feedback.

Honda

When Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis first talked about releasing an "American eMuscle" last year, he said the company's vehicle will "tear up the streets, not the planet." Now, the Stellantis brand has revealed what Kuniskis meant by that. It has introduced the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT concept, which looks like a futuristic take on its gas-powered Challenger and Charger muscle cars. While it's still just a concept at this point and could change tremendously by the time it's released, a spokesperson told TechCrunch that "it is very close to production."

The two-door electric Dodge Charger will be powered by the new 800V Banshee propulsion system. In its announcement, Dodge says the Banshee is more powerful than the engine of a Hellcat, which is already a high performance variant of the Challenger. And unlike other electric vehicles that barely make a sound, the all-electric Charger was designed to be loud, just like its gas-powered counterparts. The company actually put an exhaust on the vehicle, even though it doesn't need one and the only thing it emits is sound. "The Charger Daytona SRT Concept voices a 126 dB roar that equals the SRT Hellcat," Dodge writes in its announcement. That's made possible by pushing the EV's sounds through an amplifier and tuning chamber. You can hear what it sounds like in the video below, starting at the 2:20 mark.

Outside, the vehicle features a familiar design with modern tweaks that make it more aerodynamic. The "R-Wing" at the front end, for instance, has a pass-through form factor that allows air to flow through and enhance downforce. Inside, you'll find modern amenities, including a 12.3-inch center screen, an 8x3-inch Head-up Display that shows additional vehicle information and a PowerShot button on the steering wheel that gives the vehicle a burst of acceleration.

Dodge has yet to announce pricing for the Charger Daytona, but the company previously said that it's targeting a 2024 release date for its first American eMuscle. By the time it arrives, the brand would've already discontinued its gas-powered Challenger and Charger muscle cars. Kuniskis said in a statement:

"Dodge is about muscle, attitude and performance, and the brand carries that chip on its shoulder and into the BEV segment through a concept loaded with patents, innovations, and pertformance features that embody the electrified muscle of tomorrow. The Charger Daytona SRT Concept can do more than run the car show circuit; it can run a blazing quarter-mile. And when it comes to product cycles, it outruns Darwin. Charger Daytona does more than define where Dodge is headed, it will redefine American muscle in the process."