Troubled Saab has published preliminary details about an experimental battery-powered version of the 9-3 sedan.

Based on the existing 9-3 Aero, the electric sedan is powered by a 140-horsepower electric motor that allows it to hit 62 mph from a stop in about ten seconds. Top speed is reached at roughly 75 mph.

The motor can spin the front wheels for up to 124 miles by drawing electricity from a lithium-ion battery pack mounted under the floor, a setup that allowed Saab engineers to preserve the stock 9-3′s trunk and interior space. The location of the pack also lowers the 9-3′s center of gravity and gives it a near 50/50 weight distribution.

Drivetrain aside, the electric 9-3 is nearly identical to the gasoline-burning model that briefly rolled off of the Trollhättan, Sweden, assembly line earlier this year.

Saab parent company National Electric Vehicles Sweden (NEVS) explains the prototype was built last May in order to gather data about how electric vehicles work. NEVS is also using the car to test out new technology and to verify that the Trollhättan factory is capable of churning out electric vehicles in an efficient and reliable manner.

Dire Straits?
Financial issues forced NEVS to stop 9-3 production last May. The company is keeping mum about its current financial situation but an earlier report indicates is it busily negotiating the terms of a two-pronged alliance with India’s Mahindra and China’s Dongfeng.

Analysts predict the partnership would prevent Saab from going under a second time. It will also give NEVS the resources required to develop new models (including an EV) and re-introduce the Saab brand in key markets all around the globe.

BMW has released a promotional video showing an “initiation” of its new M4 coupe.

Highlighting the history of the M brand, the new addition drifts through a course lined with 37 old and new M-badged cars. A few E36 and E46 M3 models can be seen around the course, along with E30 examples and several M5 models, among others.

“No BMWs were harmed in the making of this film,” the company promises, crediting the precision driving of BMW Performance Driving School chief instructor Matt Mullins and drifting legend Chris Forsberg.

Keeping the tires smoking throughout the entire run, a 3.0-liter inline six utilizes twin turbochargers to give the new M4 425 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. The latter figure has been significantly increased over the outgoing M3 Coupe’s V8 mill, while the curb weight has been reduced by 176 pounds thanks to carbon fiber and aluminum.

The promotional video was shot with 52 different M cars, including 37 examples on loan from private owners.

Lincoln has announced a multi-year partnership with actor Matthew McConaughey to promote the company’s latest MKC compact crossover.

As part of the promotional deal, McConaughey will star in a number of upcoming TV and digital campaigns that will focus on Lincoln’s newest utility vehicle. The video spots were created in conjunction with “Drive” director Nicolas Winding Refn.

“Matthew is a natural fit with Lincoln and where we are going as a brand,” said Matt VanDyke, director, global Lincoln. “The transformation of Lincoln is well underway. With the MKC coming to market in a hot, competitive segment, now is the perfect opportunity to share to a wider audience what our brand offers. Matthew is the ideal personality to help us tell this story, and it is only the beginning of what we trust will be a fantastic relationship.”

McConaughey, described as a “longtime Lincoln admirer,” added: “Authenticity is a word that kept coming up in our initial meetings. It was clear from the start they appreciated me as an individual first and foremost, and I would be able to be myself in this collaboration. Lincoln is an iconic, American brand and I like where they are heading with their transformation. I had the chance to drive the new MKC around Texas and I think they’re doing a good job.”

The 2015 MKC is Lincoln’s first compact utility vehicle and will square off with vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz GLK and Audi Q5.

If you stop by your local Lincoln dealer to check out the new MKC, be sure to take a whiff of the ‘Essence of Lincoln‘ being cycled through the air.

Ann Arbor-based startup Sakti3 has announced that it has successfully built a battery cell with nearly double the energy density of current lithium-ion cells.

With $30 million in venture funding, including $3.2 million from GM, the company has been working on the technology for seven years. After refining the idea, engineers have finally built the first production prototype with more than 1100 Watt hours per liter (Wh/l) in volumetric density.

The cell was produced on “fully scalable equipment,” suggesting the technology is now ready for high-volume production.

“Our target is to achieve mass production of cells at ~$100/kWh,” said Sakti3 CEO Dr. Ann Marie Sastry. “Our key patents on the technology have been issued, we are up and running on larger tooling, and can now speed up processing.”

The company is initially targeting the consumer electronics market, particularly wearable devices that require small but high-density batteries. A smartwatch outfitted with the cells is expected to get nine hours of usage time, compared to 3.5 hours for a similarly-sized battery of current commercial availability.

Scaling the idea up to vehicles, the startup suggests a Model S outfitted with Sakti3 cells could achieve 480 miles of range rather than 256 miles.

If the $100/kWh goal is achieved, the company could build the 60 kWh battery in the 208-mile Model S for just $6,000. A sub-$10,000 battery that supports a 200-mile range is considered to be the holy grail of the EV industry, allowing companies to make a profit from an all-electric vehicle with a mainstream price tag and a reasonable range.

The company has not disclosed an estimated time-frame for achieving its ambitious goals, or a start date for general production at higher costs.

Ford’s redesigned Mustang may be hit with a fuel-efficiency downgrade for certain configurations.

The company has not announced official curb weights or EPA mpg figures for the 2015 model, though the latest generation is generally expected to be slightly heavier than its predecessor.

Leaked window stickers posted by Mustang6G allegedly reveal the EPA data for the EcoBoost model and the base V6 offerings. Outfitted with a manual transmission, the turbocharged four-cylinder engine is said to achieve city/highway ratings of 22/31 mpg. The stickers show ratings of 17/28 mpg for the V6 with a manual transmission, or 19/28 mpg for the automatic gearbox.

If the leak is accurate, the EcoBoost engine provides better fuel efficiency than the outgoing V6 configurations. When comparing V6 models between generations, however, the 2015 model outfitted with an automatic transmission loses three mpg on the highway. Earlier reports suggest Ford may have downgraded the V6 output specs to better separate the model from its four-cylinder counterpart.

The discrepancy may be attributable to heavier overall construction for 2015, with a four-cylinder model that is expected to be at least 20 pounds heavier than the outgoing V6. On the upper end of the scale, the V8 will likely add at least 100 pounds compared to the similar 2014 package.