CONFIDENTIAL

THE DS BRAND’S E-tense electric supercar concept, first seen in 2016, will not make production, according to the firm’s product chief, Eric Apode. “It’s still being used as a laboratory for understanding electric power and energy control for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles,” he said.

IT’S NOT EVERY DAY the Pope takes delivery of a supercar. But, last week, Lamborghini gifted him a Huracán RWD with a special livery based on the Vatican’s state flag. The Pope won’t be using it as his daily driver, though: it will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s next May, with proceeds going to charities chosen by His Holiness. JEEP’S EUROPEAN BOSS Dante Zilli has joined the ranks of industry executives seeking clarity over Brexit, citing it as the reason why the firm’s UK sales were “not what we had hoped for” last year. He told Autocar: “It’s been a complicated year for manufacturing as a whole due to Brexit. We just need someone to tell us what the rules are.”

DATA SUGGESTING THAT 85% of motorists travel less than 100 miles a day – and should therefore be okay to use electric cars – is accurate, according to VW’S R&D chief, Frank Welsch. However, car firms believe buyers can’t get over the mental hurdle of having just enough range, and that’s why the next generation of EVS must be capable of at least 250 miles. “The threat of having to drive with no music, no air-con, at 55mph is too much – people want to know they can enjoy their cars,” said Welsch.