Jeep’s lineup has filled out over the past couple of years with the addition of the luxury Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer and all-electric Wagoneer S, which is soon to be joined by the also-electric Recon. But potentially more important than all of them is the 2026 Cherokee, and new spy pics reveal the face and interior for the first time.

Compared with previous prototypes, this one has stripped away much of the front-end disguise, giving us a look at a grille that’s like a mashup of several other Jeep grilles. The five visible vertical grille sections (two are still hidden) are taller than the ones on the Grand Cherokee and seem to stand more proud of the body. But they also don’t have the a piece of trim above them to display the model name like the Wagoneers do.

Related: Here’s What We Know About Jeep’s 2026 Cherokee

But even if it did have a bit of trim with the name on, what would it say? We’re calling this SUV the Cherokee because it’s effectively a replacement for the Cherokee that bowed out in 2023, and will nestle below the Grand Cherokee in the Jeep lineup. But some reports say Jeep will move away from the name it’s used for decades as a mark of respect Cherokee Nation.

Whatever it’s called, this new Cherokee’s dashboard design has more in common with the Wagoneer S EV than it does the existing Grand Cherokee. These first ever interior pics of the Ford Bronco Sport rival show a large digital instrument cluster and a central touchscreen that’s mounted at an angle, just above a bank of touch-sensitive buttons for the climate control.

It’s good to see drivers won’t have to dive into the infotainment to change the temperature, and the switches do look great, but physical push-buttons would be even better. Further down the console is what looks like a rotary controller for the transmission and a toggle to move between the driver modes. The passenger side of this prototype is covered with cloth disguise but it’s possible Jeep could offer a third screen above the glovebox, as it does on the Wagoneer S.

Housed between the shock towers of Stellantis STLA Large platform you’ll find the Cherokee’s first ever hybrid powertrain options, and later, an all-electric variant. Leaked documents suggest production is scheduled to begin this fall for the 2026 model year and we’re sure to find out more – including the name – in the months leading up to that debut.

Images: Baldauf

If the letters GT still make you think of big-power luxury coupes like the Bentley Continental GT, Honda’s new model of the same name might not exactly light your fire. But if you love the idea of a sharp-looking affordable family EV with coupe aspirations and think too much screen is not enough, you’ll find plenty to like in the two Hondas revealed at this week’s Shanghai Auto Show.

The GAC Honda GT (seen here in red) and its Dongfeng Honda GT brother (blue) are fundamentally the same car. They’re built at the same factory in China for the Chinese market, but it’s easy to see how they could work in the US, too, if it wasn’t for the current tariff situation.

Related: Honda Takes On BYD With New Ye EV Brand, Shows SUVs And GT Concept

Both cars get an H logo (minus any backing badge) below their blacked-out hoods and the Honda name on the front doors. But while the Dongfeng goes for Lamborghini Revuelto-style Y-shaped DRLs and taillights, the GAC opts for two-deck front LEDs and keeps the rears on the level.

Camera-based door mirrors are also present, and the digital screens displaying those exterior images are just two of the six crammed into the hi-tech interior. The remaining four include a digital gauge pack mounted high on the dash, a traditional central touchscreen, a phone-shaped touchscreen below it – presumably for climate duties – and another screen on the passenger side of the car that’s much bigger and uglier than any other passenger displays we’ve seen.

More: Toyota’s New Electric Flagship Sedan Takes A Shot At Tesla Model S

The GTs are the second wave of Honda Ye EVs designed specifically for China. And while Honda hasn’t revealed any powertrain details, we can take a guess based on the first Ye cars, the S7 and P7 crossovers, which debuted in production form last year when the GT was still just a concept.

Those EVs make 268 hp (272 PS / 200 kW) in single-motor, RWD form, or 469 hp (476 PS / 350 kW) when equipped with dual motors and all-wheel drive. Some Chinese media reports claim the GTs will also get single and dual-motor variants, and the single-motor versions will have 50:50 weight distribution. Is the GT the kind of car you’d like to see Honda offer in Europe, Australia, and North America?

Images: Honda/GAC/Dongfeng

Nissan’s new Frontier Pro hybrid pickup was the highlight of the brand’s Shanghai Auto Show stand, but it wasn’t the only electrified Nissan vehicle on display. The Nissan N7 was there too, helping us to fill in the large blanks left when the first handful of pictures dropped a few months back.

More: Toyota’s New Electric Flagship Sedan Takes A Shot At Tesla Model S

Unlike the boxy, tough-looking Frontier, whose square jaw is modeled after Nissan’s 1980s D21 truck, the N7, developed with the brand’s Chinese joint venture with Dongfeng, focuses on being as aerodynamically efficient as possible to maximize electric range.

Aerodynamic Efficiency Meets Bland Design

A Cd factor of 0.208 makes it one of the most aerodynamic production cars today, beaten only by the Mercedes EQS (0.202). Unfortunately, as with the EQS, that pursuit of the slippery shape seems to have resulted in an incredibly bland design.

That much we knew from the initial soft launch last fall, but back then Nissan decided not to reveal any interior images, though we knew it was going to be a 50:50 toss-up between a large tablet touchscreen and a full-width, pillar-to-pillar screen-fest. It always is these days. Sure enough, the cabin pics released today show a large, 15.6-inch, 2.5k tablet touchscreen mounted to the right of another tablet display serving as a gauge cluster.

The cabin looks smart and calming, but that calmness might not last for owners because physical buttons are notably absent on any surface other than the two spokes of the steering wheel. Maybe the seats will help drop the blood pressure back down. Nissan says the front ‘zero pressure’ seats have an AI-based posture adjustment system that draws on data provided by 49 sensors, and have 12-point massage functionality. A fridge hidden under the armrest can cool drinks to -6 C (21°F) or heat them to 55 C (131°F).

The Powertrain: Nothing to Write Home About

And finally, we get to the powertrain spec, which, to be honest, like the exterior design, is not very interesting by EV standards. There’s no 800-volt charging tech, just old-school 400-V electrics for the 58 and 73 kWh batteries, and power options range from 215 hp (218 PS / 160 kW) to 268 hp (272 PS / 200 kW).

Nissan claims the bigger power pack can take you 395 miles (635 km) on a charge, but that’s according to China’s CLTC protocol – EPA numbers are always much lower. Not that the N7, which is built in China, for China, will be getting a US launch anytime soon.

BYD’s Denza brand definitely has a thing about Porsche. We’ve already heard plenty about the Z9 GT, a Panamera-lookalike EV with a triple-motor drivetrain, and now there’s the Denza Z, an electric concept that seems to have Porsche’s 911 and upcoming 718 Cayman EV in its sights.

Denza is calling the Z a concept, but you won’t convince us this stylish coupe’s story is going to fizzle out once the Shanghai Auto Show has wrapped. And if it reaches production with as much heat as the Z9 GT, Porsche better watch out.

Related: BYD’s Denza Z9 GT Rivals Porsche’s Panamera And Taycan For A Fraction Of The Price

Though the Z’s size (judging by the images) and presence of two rear seats call to mind the 911, the design seems to take its lead from various Lamborghini and Lotus cars. The concept has a deep lower bumper and splitter, a big rear diffuser and a gigantic rear wing, all of which could potentially appear on a range-topping performance model, though we’d expect most production trims to look rather less OTT.

Denza didn’t reveal much in the way of specs, but we do know that the Z has steer-by-wire tech that removes the mechanical link between the steering wheel and the front axle. We also know the lack of a mechanical link means the steering wheel can be folded away under the dashboard when not needed, which hardly sounds like something attractive to hardcore drivers, but will definitely appeal to anyone whose car doubles as a mobile office.

Images show a double-wishbone front suspension and magnetorheological shocks that can change damping force in 10 ms in response to changes in the road surface, but don’t give us any clue as to what kind of electric powertrain the Z is running. But it seems logical that the setup will borrow heavily from the Z9 GT, and we know the top-end versions of that fastback sedan have three motors and a combined output of 952 hp (965 PS / 710 kW).

BYD is introducing the Denza brand to the European market and believes it has a real shot at stealing sales from premium brands, including Mercedes, which founded the brand with BYD but later walked away. In a recent interview with Car Magazine, BYD boss Stella Li claimed Denza’s new vehicles were ‘ten times better’ than rival products.

Images: Denza

Superminis, subcompacts, call them what you will, those little hatchbacks that dominated the European landscape for decades are dying out. Ford killed off the Fiesta and VW axed the Polo, but Renault’s Clio is bucking that trend. It’s not going anywhere yet and is about to launch in sixth-generation form, bringing an EV option to the line for the first time.

The Clio’s been cast lately as the sort of frumpy sister to the new 5, a retro-electric reimagining of the 1970s and ’80s 5 supermini the Clio replaced in 1992. It’s the reborn Renault 5 that’s had all the media attention and been showered with awards, including the coveted European Car of the Year title, something the Clio hasn’t won since 2006.

Related: R5 Too Retro? A New Electrified Renault Clio Is Coming In 2026

But the sales figures tell a different story, reminding us just how important the Clio is to Renault. Because while the 5 EV has racked up a big bank of orders, the Clio was Europe’s second most popular car in 2024, moving ahead of the once-mighty Tesla Model Y and beaten to the top spot only by the Dacia Sandero (another Renault Group product).

So it makes sense that Renault would want to keep investing in its smallest car, and updating the design to fit in with the new family face already seen on models like the Rafale, Espace and Austral.

The R&D department certainly didn’t skimp on the camouflage before sending this prototype out on the road, but the extensive wrap can’t hide the fact that the Clio has had major surgery in the jump from Gen 5 to Gen 6. Compared with the current car, the new model has an entirely different nose, comprising a new hood and grille as well as new lights and bumpers.

Instead of the Renault diamond badge poking up into a cutout in the hood as on the current Clio, the revised car gets a straight-edged hood and a diamond badge positioned lower in the grille. The rear door handles are still mounted in the upper door frame to give the impression of there being only two doors, but the waistline doesn’t rise so dramatically as it reaches the C pillar.

Powertrain options will continue to include a mix of hybrid and PHEV engines, but the big news is that, for the first time ever, there will also be an all-electric variant. The single-motor setups will give buyers some of the EV technology they get in the 5 E-Tech, but in a more conservative-looking package. Battery options in the 5 range from 40-52 kWh and there are three motors available with 94 hp (70 kW / 95 PS), 121 hp (90 kW / 122 PS) or 148 hp (110 kW / 150 PS).

Images: Baldauf

The 2025 Lexus ES is big on premium value and short on visual and behind-the-wheel excitement. But at this week’s Shanghai Auto Show Toyota’s luxury division set out to redress that balance with a new eighth-generation sedan that showcases a modern, angular design and the model’s first ever electric powertrains.

Drawing inspiration from both the brand’s current RZ electric SUV, its RX ICE counterpart and the 2023 LF-ZL concept, the ES gets a more exaggerated fastback shape than before that has more than a hint of Audi about it. But you’d never find the aggressive (or just overdone?) door coving on an Audi and the face is undeniably a Lexus one.

Related: Lexus Plots 3-Row Electric SUV To Take On The Kia EV9

It’s not just the ES’s design that’s changed. So has the amount of road it occupies. A 116.1-inch (2,950 mm) wheelbase is 3.2-inches (80 mm) longer than the current sedan’s and the 202.4-inch (5,140 mm) overall length is also up by 6.5-inches (165 mm).

A subtle difference in the front-end styling depending on model tells you what powertrain is stashed under the hood. Hybrids get a cooling slot below the Lexus badge, while the EV variants have a smoother nose. In both versions the old, oversize bobbin-shaped grille is no more.

Minimalist interior

The interior receives an equally modern overhaul that’s light on physical buttons but big on screens: a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen are standard but some trims get a duplicate touchscreen on the passenger side. Also new is the ‘L-E-X-U-S’ lettering on the steering wheel, which replaces the traditional badge, and the contemporary bamboo wood trim.

Base hybrids for most markets get a 2.0-liter engine that sends 194 hp (197 PS) to the front wheels alone and needs a yawning 9.4 seconds to reach 62 mph (100 kmh). America will skip that and jump straight in with the 2.5-liter AWD ES 350h hybrid whose 244 hp (247 PS) drops the sprint time to a more respectable, if still hardly knockout 7.8 seconds. These are both inline fours, by the way. There are no sixes in the new lineup.

Electric, but not electrifying

Want more hustle? It doesn’t sound like you’ll find it in the least expensive of the two available EV options. That delivers 221 hp (224 PS / 165 kW) to the front wheels and the ES 350e to 62 mph in 8.9 seconds, Lexus claiming 300 miles (483 km) on the optimistic Chinese CLTC cycle. Stepping up to the dual-motor ES 500e cuts the range to 379 miles (610 km) but boosts output to 338 hp (343 PS / 252 kW) and gets the hottest ES to 62 mph in 5.9 seconds.

The ES goes on sale in 2026, meaning it’ll probably end up as a MY27, and we’ll have to wait until much closer to that date to find out how much it’ll cost in North America. What do you think of the ES’s new, angular look, and are those powertrains too weedy? Leave a comment and let us know.

Slate Auto thinks it can triumph where Lordstown, Fisker, Byton and others have failed. The new US-based startup is working on a family of EVs that will reportedly start at just $25k and could be on sale before the end of 2026. And beyond that incredible price, one of the features that could make people take note is a clever piece of tech from Canada that promises to transform the driving and ownership experience.

The tech comes from Exro, which has developed its own Coil Driver inverter. The technology has several advantages, one of which is that it removes the need for a traditional on-board charger that’s necessary when converting AC power from your house to DC for charging an EV.

Related: Slate Auto Teases 3-Door SUV That Looks Like A Range Rover Classic

Ditching the converter makes the EV lighter and also cheaper to build – a big priority when you’re targeting a $25k retail price. But it also allows for faster AC charging, giving the possibility of sucking in 19 kW, with up to 80 kW possible in the future, according to Driving.ca, which broke the story. That doesn’t just mean easier charging at home, but would make it much easier for the global charging network to expand, because it removes some of the need to build expensive DC charging stations.

Another plus point to Exro’s tech is its coil-switching system. This effectively creates multiple virtual power and torque profiles in one motor, each configured to best suit what the driver and vehicle needs at that moment. The result is more bottom end torque and more top end power than with a conventional motor, plus greater efficiency.

Michigan-based Slate Auto is believed to be backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and has plans to bring electric power to the masses with simple, low-cost EVs. So far courtesy of an unconventional marketing campaign we’ve seen a small gray pickup and two different two-door SUVs, one with an upright rear window and the other with a hatchback-style slope to its tail.

Little else is known right now, but that’s set to change on April 24 when Slate will reveal more details, hopefully including whether Trump’s tariffs on auto goods entering the US from Canada will throw a spanner in plans to use Exro’s smart technology. Although Exro has facilities in both Canada and the US, it looks like the manufacturing base is north of the border.

H/T to Fred!

Lead image: Exro/TheManiFamily, TikTok

Minivans, in case you hadn’t noticed, have got crazily luxurious in the last few years, with examples like the Lexus LM and Volvo EM90 providing the kind of passenger experience even conventional luxury sedans struggle to match. Now Mercedes has raised the bar even higher with the Vision V.

Officially the Vision V is just a concept, but much of what we see here will find its way onto the upcoming V-class van due in 2026, including the Mercedes-Benz Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA) platform, the design and even the lavish interior. Mercedes says the concept gives us our first taste of a top-end model that will rival the Lexus LM.

Related: Mercedes Is Killing Its Small Van Lineup

The dashboard features a full-width panel incorporating three different digital screens, but the real tech showcase is in the back, where passengers are treated to a 65-inch cinema screen that rises from the floor when people climb aboard. The 4k display is backed up by 42 speakers and the seven projectors can even use the windows as extra projection surfaces for an immersive 360-degree viewing experience.

Two futuristic lounge chairs in crystal white Nappa leather and silk can be fully reclined for power naps between those multi-billion-dollar deals, and if you want to relax with something more cerebral than the on-board video games setup, a fold-out table converts into a chess board.

VW ID.Buzz aside, vans rarely look stylish, but the Vision V certainly manages to pull it off. The curved in the rear window line gives an almost coupe-like vibe and the front and rear ends are dominated by cleverly deployed LED lighting elements.

The front grille, for instance, which looks like the result of a 500-a-day ab-crunch routine, is made up not of chrome strips, but LED bars. As passengers approach, the grille puts on a light show to greet them that finishes with the illumination of the Mercedes star on the domed hood. And the entire rear of the car is encircled by a segmented LED ribbon which is made of over 450 three-dimensional illuminated louvres that serve as as both taillights and brake lights.

Mercedes hasn’t detailed the concept’s powertrain, but we already know that that VAN.EA platform features 800-volt electrics for fast charging, can accommodate both single- and dual-motor configurations, and will offer a driving range of up to 311 miles (500 km).

Images: Mercedes

Tesla has a lot riding on its Cybercab robotaxi, but the program has hit a major snag, and CEO Elon Musk’s sometimes best buddy, President Trump is to blame. The automaker has been forced to drop its plans to ship essential Cybercab components from China as a result of Trump slapping enormous tariffs on Chinese imports, a report claims.

More: Tesla’s CyberCab Promises 300-Mile Range with Surprisingly Small Battery

The automaker expected to start sending parts to the US from China in the next few months, necessary to begin trial production of both the Cybercab and the Semi truck, the latter of which has so far only been produced in tiny quantities. The plan was to scale up to full production of both models in 2026.

Tariffs Throw a Wrench in the Works

Trump’s announcement of a 34 percent tariff wasn’t great news, but Reuters sources say Tesla was prepared to absorb the financial pain. But when Trump’s tit-for-tat tariffs battle escalated to the point where import duty on Chinese imports had reached 145 percent, Tesla slammed on the brakes.

Exactly how long Tesla will keep its foot on the brakes is unclear, since no one, perhaps not even Donald Trump himself, knows the duration of the massive tariffs. But the US President revealed earlier this week that he was considering making changes to the 25 percent tariff on imported auto parts built in Canada, Mexico, and other regions, and has recently announced an exemption on electronic devices such as iPhones which are made in China.

Tesla’s US Sourcing Strategy

Reuters says Tesla has, for the past couple of years, been increasing the amount of parts it gets from within US borders because it sensed that tariffs might one day come into effect. How quickly Tesla can switch suppliers and get Cybercab and Semi components from America isn’t clear – we’ve asked the question, but don’t expect Tesla to reply.

Tesla unveiled its long-awaited Cybercab last fall, a Honda CRX-shaped pod with scissor doors and no steering wheel, and is currently working on getting approvals to begin testing and operating driverless cars in the US and beyond.

Images: Telsa

Special editions aren’t usually very special at all once you’ve scraped beneath the surface. Just think of all the pointless Corvette, Mini and MX-5 specials we’ve been subject to over the years. But the Kia EV9 Nightfall Edition is one we’re happy to give house room to because, while it’s not radically different, it really should be a little better to drive than the stock electric SUV it’s based on.

Revealed today at the New York Auto Show alongside the EV4 and K4 hatch, the Nightfall Edition is on the face of it your usual special lashed together by the marketing department to give a model some added appeal once the initial rush of excitement has faded, and tide it over till facelift time.

Related: Kia’s First Electric Sedan Is Here To Beat The Model 3 At Its Own Game

It’s based on the six- and seven-seat mid-range EV9 Land but adds gloss-black exterior detailing on the front grille, skid plates (gloss-black skids plates? yep, highly practical), mirrors, roof rails and mirror caps. There’s also a bespoke paint color available, Roadrider Brown, though we’ve no idea what it looks like because for reasons best known to Kia it issued pictures of a Glacial Pearl White version.

A new design of 20-inch wheels round out the exterior upgrades, but the tweaks continue inside, where the Land’s rather drab gray and black cabin gets a sporty makeover courtesy of an all-black color scheme. Both the headliner and the seats – which feature a much smarter, performance-themed stitching pattern – are black.

It’s Boosted

And that’s where most special editions end, but the Nightfall Edition keeps going. Because the 379 hp (384 PS / 283 kW) dual-motor electric drivetrain inherits the Boost mode normally reserved for the GT-Line EV9 (or available as a $900 Feature-on-Demand on Land models).

That mod bumps peak torque from 443 lb ft (600 Nm) to 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) and drops the zero to 60 mph (97 km/h) time from 5.7 seconds to 5.0 seconds according to Kia’s spec for the Land with and without the FoD. But Kia claims the Nightfall Edition can do the job in 4.5 seconds. Cars always feel faster at night, right?

We like the look and spec of the Nightfall though it’s hard to make a value call on it until Kia tells us how much more it costs than the $69,900 Land. But the Premium can’t be too high because the GT-Line is $73,900.

Subaru’s smaller lineup means it doesn’t have as many debuts in a year as rival automakers, but today the Japanese automaker hit us with three big ones, including the facelifted Solterra and its new big brother, the Trailseeker, with the Outback to follow.

Unveiled at the New York Auto Show, the Trailseeker is like a Solterra for people who want more space and more power. And like the smaller SUV, the Trailseeker has a Toyota twin, though one we’re yet to see.

Related: 2026 Subaru Solterra Gains A Redesigned Face, Alongside More Power And Range

Subaru’s supplied media images, which look badly Photoshopped at best and an AI nightmare at worst, show the Trailseeker looking more like a wagon than an SUV, but it features the same angular design language as the Solterra. The scant spec details reveal the Trailseeker is around an inch (25 mm) taller and six inches longer (150 mm) than the smaller Solterra.

Fastest Accelerating Production Subaru Ever

Where the new Solterra tops out at 338 hp (343 PS / 252 kW), the Trailseeker’s dual-motor setup delivers approximately 375 hp (380 PS / 280 kW). According to Subaru, that’s enough to launch it from zero to 60 mph (97 km/h) in around 4.4 seconds. For anyone keeping score, that’s more than a full second quicker than both the previous WRX STI and the current WRX TR, which takes 5.6 seconds to hit the same mark. In other words, it’s the fastest accelerating Subaru this side of the pond.

A 74.7 kWh battery slung under the floor (but still allowing the same 8.3 inches/211 mm of ground clearance as the Solterra) delivers “more than” 260 miles (418 km) of range on a single charge, which is dealt with by a NACS port. 

A 3,500 lbs (1,590 kg) towing capacity is claimed, and the X-Mode drive mode system includes Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud settings, plus Grip Control and Downhill Assist Control to keep you out of trouble.

The Trailseeker’s cabin, like its exterior design, borrows heavily from the Solterra and features a 14-inch touchscreen display, the largest ever fitted to a Subaru. Two wireless smartphone charging pads are standard.

As you might have gathered, Subaru has left a lot of gaping holes in its spec sheet, including charging speeds, approach and departure angles, and prices. But no doubt we’ll be able to fill in some of those gaps in the coming weeks and months, by which time we might have a look at Toyota’s own version of the Trailseeker.

With its sci-fi-look face, Hyundai’s Staria looked like a minivan from 10 years in the future when it debuted in 2021. The only think missing from the picture was an electric drivetrain, but these spy shots shows that won’t be the case in the near future.

Our photo team snapped a prototype Staria EV wearing German license plates and testing on European roads. The test van was dressed in double disguise consisting of an eye-scrambling wrap across the bodywork and Hyundai’s usual collection of black nylon panels at the front and back ends.

Related: 2026 Hyundai Staria Electric Minivan Has The VW ID. Buzz In Its Sights

With so much of the Staria covered up it’s hard to work out how the EV will look. Or it would be if we hadn’t already seen the whole car without a stitch of disguise, as it was spied in a Koean parking garage at the beginning of the year.

Those pictures show Hyundai‘s new EV will ditch the current Staria’s giant black grille for more painted plastic, but leave an ugly rectangular cooling slot in the center and two more rectangular vents below. I don’t know about you, but I think the 2021 model with its jumbo grille is a far better looking machine.

We’re still to learn about the exact battery and powertrain setup, but we do have some clues about what to expec, courtesy of the Staria-based ST1 box van and chassis cab and its badge-engineered brother, the Iveco Moody. The Moody comes with a single electric motor delivering 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque and a choice of 63 kWh or 76 kWh batteries, the latter delivering a WLTP range of 320 km (199 miles).

We’d be surprised if the Staria didn’t improve on both the battery capacity and range with the help of the Ioniq’s 84 kWh pack, while retaining the V2L capability and 800-volt technology for fast charging. The Moody can add 62 miles (100 km) of range in just 10 minutes when hooked up to a 350 kW charger.

The Staria EV should be revealed later this year, but until then buyers will have to content themselves with a choice among a 3.5-liter V6, a 1.6-liter hybrid or a 2.2-liter diesel powertrain.

Image credits: SHProshots, Clien

The first of BMW’s Neue Klasse EVs drops this fall, and it’s not only the exterior styling, dashboard layout and electric platform that’s new. So is the soundtrack for this new generation of electric vehicles, and BMW has given us a glimpse of what kind of noises to expect when we eventually slide behind the wheel of the 2026 iX3 and 2027 i330 sedan.

This isn’t the first time BMW has created unique soundtracks for its EVs. It famously commissioned Hans Zimmer to come up with signature sounds for the i4 and i7. But the automaker claims the new HypersonX soundscape developed by BMW’s own Sound Design Studio is even more complex and nuanced.

Related: BMW Confirms iX3 Debut In September, Will Launch Over 40 New Models By 2027

Neue Klasse cars benefit from a new audio control unit that brings a greater dynamic range, BMW claiming that although the new soundscape uses fewer notes than older systems, it delivers more color and depth to give a more natural feel.

43 Layers of Motion

HypersonX has 43 different sound signals and driving sounds for the cars’ Personal Mode and Sport Mode settings and when the driver accelerates the car shifts through three-dimensional sound layers to create a sensation of speed.

The team didn’t only spend time working out how to make the EVs feel exciting at full throttle, but also how they sound when you first open the door and any time you’re inside. BMW says it drew inspiration from art, science, light and nature, and even used sounds created using a choir made of development team members.

“The unique sound spectrum of HypersonX plays a major role in giving a Neue Klasse model its own, highly distinctive character acoustically,” says Renzo Vitale, Creative Director of Sound Design BMW Group.

“Through our focus on precision, warmth, and lightness, we can create a direct emotional connection between the driver and their vehicle.”

The first production BMW to benefit from HypersonX is the iX3 SUV, the electric brother to the recently-facelifted X3, which is scheduled to make its debut this September.

Skoda began teasing its new three-row electric SUV last month, which means a debut is probably imminent. But while the marketing team is stirring up some excitement, the Czech company’s engineers are making sure future owners don’t get a dose of the wrong kind of excitement when towing a large trailer.

Related: Skoda Teases Electric Seven-Seat SUV Rival To Kia EV9

SUVs are popular for their high driving position and generous interior space, but many owners buy traditional ICE-powered utilities because even those without body-on-frame construction can make for useful towing vehicles. And if automakers want to present EVs as serious alternatives to combustion vehicles, they need to be be able to haul trailers, boats and caravans, too.

The Towing Potential of EVs

In some ways, EVs make great tow vehicles. They’ve got tons of low end torque, the power delivery is smooth, and brake regeneration can prevent the conventional brakes from ever becoming overloaded. But because they are heavy, their towing capacity is usually lower than that of an equivalent ICE machine.

This new Skoda SUV, a production version of 2022’s Vision 7S concept which could be called the Space, is an electric alternative to the seven-seat combustion-powered Kodiaq. The Kodiaq is built on VW’s MQB Evo platform and in all-wheel drive vRS guise has a maximum towing capacity of 2,500 kg (5,510 lbs). But its electric counterpart rides on the MEB platform, the same one used by the Skoda Enyaq and VW ID.Buzz, and neither of those EVs can legally haul as big a load.

ICE Beats EV For Towing

The dual-motor Enyaq tops out at 1,200 kg (2,650 lbs) for a braked trailer, and Europe’s dual-motor Buzz can tow 1,800 kg (3,970 lbs) when fitted with the smaller 79 kWh battery, or only 1,600 kg (3,530 lbs) with the 86 kWh pack. But one of the Skoda’s key rivals could be Kia’s EV9, and that is rated at an impressive 2,500 kg (5,512 lbs).

In reality, if Skoda’s big EV can pull 1800 kg, that might be enough for many buyers not looking to drag huge boats, caravans and car trailers around. However, they’ll have to accept a sizeable drop in driving range when they’re hooked-up.

Many owners of MEB-platform EVs, including the VW ID.4 and Buzz, have documented their experience with towing in online forums, and according to their results, it’s not unusual to see a 50-60 percent reduction in range when pulling even an 820 kg (1,800 lb) trailer.

A 150-Mile Range?

Skoda claims a maximum range of 334 WLTP miles (537 km) for the AWD Enyaq in optimum weather conditions and when not towing, and the bigger seven-seater in these spy pics could be good for 370 miles (596 km) if it matches the claims for the 7S concept, which had an 89 kWh battery. But you could still be looking at a tow range of less than 150 miles (240 km) unless you keep the speed way down.

Sure, ICE-powered SUVs also take a big mpg and range hit when towing (though usually less than 50 percent), but they don’t have to worry about where to charge, or deal with the fact that unlike petrol stations, charging ones are generally not set up to deal with vehicles towing something behind them. So, would you buy an EV if you knew you wanted to tow things?

Images: Baldauf, Skoda

Almost 18 months after the Cybertruck finally went on sale in December of 2023, Tesla has finally gotten around to launching a more affordable entry-level model. But the downgraded spec of the Cybertruck Long Range makes you wonder whether you might want to give it a miss.

Not Quite a Bargain, But Better Than Nothing

A simple, single-motor, rear-wheel-drive Cybertruck was always part of the plan. And while the 2025 Long Range’s price of $69,990 plus $2,245 destination and order fees (but before the $7,500 tax credit) is far from the $39,990 that Elon Musk promised this specific trim would cost back in 2019, it still represents a $10,000 savings compared to the existing bi-motor AWD model. It also comes in at $30,000 less than the absurdly expensive Cyberbeast.

More: Tesla Quietly Pulls Cybertruck’s $16K Range Extender After Taking $2,000 Deposits

And there are other upsides apart from that price. Losing the front motor and driveshafts helps cut the curb weight (Tesla doesn’t specify by how much), enabling the Long Range to secure a 350-mile (563 km) EPA driving range. That’s for an LR with no tonneau cover – order the optional $750 soft tonneau and the electric range climbs to 362 miles (583 km), well above the 325 miles (523 km) claimed for the AWD.

The Catch: A Lot of Equipment Compromises

But from there on things don’t look so good for the Long Range’s chances of snaring buyers. To get that price down Tesla has de-contented the Cybertruck so hard that you’ll be reminded every time you jump in it that you were too tight-fisted to go for the AWD.

Out go the vegan leather seats in favor of simple cloth versions that are still heated, but no longer ventilated, and you’re downgraded to puny 18-inch wheels unless you splash for the optional 20s fitted as standard on the AWD. But the $3,500 cost of doing that really eats into the price differential. Other kit to go includes the height-adjustable air suspension, which is replaced by simple steel springs, and the hi-fi’s speaker count is halved to seven.

Slower and Less Capable

And even if you’re the kind of driver that never gets into the right pedal hard enough to notice or care that the zero to 60 mph (97 km/h) time has grown from 4.1 to 6.2 seconds, you probably are going to care that the tow rating has been decimated. AWD Cybertrucks can haul 11,000 lbs (4,990 kg) but the Long Range is only good for 7,500 lbs (3,402 kg), and there’s a 265 lb (120 kg) payload reduction to factor in, too.

Throw in the loss of the bed’s electrical outlets and the fact that you have to pay extra for a soft tonneau when the AWD gets a retractable one as standard, and the Long Range’s appeal really does start to wane. Tesla would argue that what matters here is that the LR is competitive with mid-ranking Ford F-150 Lightnings, which accelerate slightly faster but don’t go as far on a charge. What do you think? Was the entry-level Cybertruck worth the wait?

Cybertruck Long Range now available

– $62,490 (incl. Federal Tax Credit)
– 362 mi of range (est.) w/ Soft Tonneau
– 6' x 4' bed
– 7,500 lbs towing capacity pic.twitter.com/ZP5S5uxHiY

— Tesla (@Tesla) April 11, 2025

MG’s Cyberster electric sports car helped make a splash for the brand, but it’s never going to sell in the millions. But here’s another Cyber-branded MG that might. It’s the Cyber X, and MG has just dropped teaser images of the boxy SUV ahead of its global reveal at the Shanghai Auto Show on April 23.

A series of silhouetted and darkened pictures show the second car from MG’s Cyber family from the side, the front- and rear-three-quarter angles. The X’s fashionably square nose and upright tail say this is a car designed for a younger crowd than the one usually seen in MG showrooms.

Related: MG Cyber GTS Concept Hints At Production Cyberster Coupe

A full-width LED light bar stretches across the Cyber X’s face, with an illuminated MG octagon mounted just below it and flanked by two smaller LEDs. The fenders are flared above the wheels, door handles are sunk flush with the door skin, and a pair of roof rails underlines the go-anywhere vibe. At the rear, the waistline rises to meet the chunky D-pillar, and there’s another full-width LED bar and illuminated MG badge rounding out the show at the tail.

We’ll have to wait until the day of the show to make a final assessment on the design, but from what we can see here, the mix of tech and tough will find the Cyber X plenty of admirers. It’s eerily reminiscent of the new Smart #5, which could be handy because the newly-launched Geely SUV is likely to be one of the X’s key rivals.

Tech details are practically non-existent at this stage, but Chinese reports say that the X will be one of the first cars to benefit from SAIC’s new E3 platform, which features cell-to-body construction where the battery pack is made part of the car’s structure in an effort to cut weight.

The E3 architecture is capable of handling both electric and hybrid powertrains, though right now we don’t know whether the X will offer both or only one of those options. A closed grille suggests we’re looking at an EV. Car News China claims the X will feature semi-solid-state batteries, advanced drive assist features, and sophisticated phone-to-car integration.

We’ll be seeing more than the Cyber X from MG during this year and next. The automaker is preparing to roll out more than half a dozen new cars, including a second-generation MG4, a revised Cyberster, and four EVs, including a pair of sedans and a pair of SUVs. Not all are guaranteed to come to Europe, but our hunch is the Cyber X will find it worth the trip.

Images: MG/SAIC

Launching a new brand into an established market is a brave move with no guarantee of success. But if she has any doubts about Denza’s chances in Europe, BYD boss Stella Li isn’t letting on, claiming in a recent interview Denza’s new vehicles were ‘ten times better’ than than those they aim to outpace, and which include the likes of Mercedes, Audi, BMW, and possibly even Porsche.

BYD’s gains in Europe with its own EVs and PHEVs gives Li reason to be confident. But Denza is shooting for a totally different, more image and status-conscious audience. A premium brand designed to slot between everyman BYD and pricey YangWang, Denza will take on established European names like Mercedes, which could be embarrassing for Benz because Denza started off as a BYD-Daimler co-op before BYD carried on alone.

Related: Chinese Brand Mercedes Created With BYD Is Now Coming For Mercedes In Europe

The Z9 GT is odds-on the first Denza to hit European roads later this year and will offer a more coupe-like alternative to cars like the Audi A6 and A6 e-tron Avant, and BMW 5-series and i5 Touring. A sporty shooting brake whose Porsche Panamera-like profile is the work of former Alfa Romeo and Lamborghini designer Wolfgang Egger, the Z9 is a triple-motor EV with 952 hp (965 PS / 710 kW). An 858 hp (870 PS / 640 kW) 2.0-liter PHEV is also available.

‘This car is really ten times better than the competition,’ Li told Car Magazine at the Denza brand launch at Milan Design Week. ‘We have a lot of unique features the other legacy brands do not have.’

Tech-Forward, Price-Savvy Strategy

Those features are not limited to aggressive pricing, though you can be sure Denza’s cars will offer more standard equipment at a much lower cost than than their rivals to help hook buyers in. Technology is a big focus: the Z9 will crab-walk and slow-motion drift into parking spaces and round tight turns, tricks you won’t find on premium Western cars (check out the video below).

‘We are confident that buyers will find distinctive, unique appeal in the car’s mix of sophisticated, elegant design, strong performance and astounding technology,’ Li said, adding that Denza’s superior customer service will be key to it carving market share.

European pricing hasn’t been confirmed yet, but in China, the Z9 GT starts at 334,800 yuan and tops out at 414,800 yuan (around $45,800 to $56,800). That’s a serious value play when you consider the Panamera Sport Turismo and Taycan Cross Turismo start at 1,008,000 yuan ($138,000) and can balloon past 1,500,000 yuan ($205,000) depending on options.

Credit: BYD/Denza

Mazda’s first crack at building an electric SUV, the quirky and range-challenged MX-30, was too weird for its own good, but the EZ-60 revealed this week in China plays it straight and that looks like a smart strategy.

Images released ahead of a full debut at the Shanghai Auto Show later this month show a bigger SUV with conventional doors, but just enough of a sporty Mazda vibe to tempt a few prospective Tesla Model Y buyers to switch sides.

Related: Four Mazda Models Are Being Discontinued This Year, But One Could Return

The EZ-60 is a production version of last year’s Arata concept, and will be renamed CX-6e for sale outside China, reflecting its position in the lineup as an electric alternative to the combustion CX-60. The final design stays close to the concept’s and features a much more assertive face than its Tesla rival, frameless door glass, camera-based mirrors, a coupe-like rear with a sloping roofline and dramatically angled D-pillar. 

Mazda hasn’t confirmed it’ll come to Europe but a debut there is all but inevitable given the region is one of the strongest markets for EVs and Mazda has already committed to launching its 6e sedan (known as the EZ-60 in China) in Europe later this year. We’d be amazed if it isn’t on sale in Europe in 2026.

Shared Platform, Familiar Hardware

Both sedan and SUV are built around architecture from Chinese automaker Changan, whose Deepal S07 is already engaged in a battle with the Model Y, and coming to Europe before the end of 2025. We’ll have to wait until the EZ-60’s full reveal on April 23 to find out the exact specs, but we’re expecting substantial similarities to the 6e when it comes to battery and motor details.

For reference, the European-market 6e sedan has a choice of 68.6 and 80 kWh batteries and comes with a choice of two different motors. Both are single-motor setups driving the rear wheels, one serving up 241 hp (244 PS) and the other, 255 hp (258 PS). Electric range varies from 300 -345 miles (483-555 km), though the heavier and less aerodynamically efficient SUV probably won’t be quite so long-legged.

Charging and Range-Extender Tech

Deepal’s platform isn’t as advanced as Hyundai-Kia’s and can only charge at 200 kW, although that puts it on par with many European carmakers. But the architecture is versatile enough that the S07 is also offered with a 1.5-liter range-extender combustion engine in China, though Mazda won’t be borrowing that tech because it already offers the CX-60 as a PHEV.

Unfortunately for American buyers, the CX-6e won’t be crossing the Pacific. Since it’ll be built in China, it faces steep import barriers and little incentive under current US EV tax credit rules. For now, it looks like this one’s staying in markets where Mazda’s EV strategy is already gaining traction.

Tesla’s sales sank alarmingly in Q1, falling 13 percent to 337,000, a fact that on its own would be enough to make Volkswagen’s German execs crack a wry smile. But what they’ll really have them bro-hugging in Wolfsburg is knowing that Tesla’s misfortune is almost certainly linked to VW posting record EV sales figures over the same period.

Related: Tesla’s European Sales Have Collapsed, Down 45% As EV Market Surges 31%

Sales of fully-electric VW Group vehicles jumped 59 percent in the first three months of the year, reaching 216,800 compared with 136,400 in Q1 2024. By comparison, Tesla reported 336,681 deliveries in the same period, down 13 percent from last year. But even that success is dwarfed by what happened in Europe.

EV Momentum in Europe

EV sales there exploded by 113 percent to 158,100, up from just 74,400 a year earlier, no doubt helped by widespread dislike of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, particularly in Germany, where Musk came out in support of the far-right AfD party. A poll last month found 94 percent of Germans wouldn’t buy a Tesla due to the CEO’s antics. That sentiment appears to be hitting where it hurts: in Q1, Tesla’s sales in Germany plummeted 62 percent compared to the same period last year.

Strong Gains in the US, Trouble in China

US sales also grew significantly, Americans taking home 19,900 EVs, representing a 51 percent increase. But there was bad news from China where EV sales plummeted 37 percent to 25,900 units. And although the global EV sales result is definitely worth celebrating, it ought to be viewed in the context of the sales of vehicles of all power types.

VW GROUP EV SALES

That number did improve, but only by 1.4 percent to 2.13 million units, the decline in demand for combustion cars offset by both the surge in demand for EVs and a 15 percent uptick in PHEV sales. Overall sales in China were down 7 percent, the only region to see a fall.

VW’s Top-Selling EVs

VW’s best-selling EV globally was the ID.4/ID.5, which racked up 43,700 sales, followed by the ID.3 hatch with 28,100 deliveries. Audi’s Q4 e-tron – a reskinned ID.4 – placed third with 22,800 sales, the Skoda Enyaq found 20,200 buyers and VW’s ID.7 scored 19,100 sales.

Porsche’s Macan Electric only ranked seventh with 14,200 sales but since it wasn’t on sale in Q1 2024 its appearance in this year’s Q1 helped Porsche’s EV deliveries jump by 326 percent.

EV SALES BY BRAND

Kia’s EV rollout shows no sign of slowing down, and the automaker isn’t scared to push into segments it’s never played in before, including electric trucks. The Korean company confirmed that it would launch an electric pickup in North America, and it should be here within the next couple of years.

Related: Kia Confirms First Midsize Pickup For America

Trucks are consistently some of the best-selling vehicles in the US, and although Kia doesn’t have any on sale in America, it recently revealed the aesthetically-challenged Tasman that’s already earmarked for sale in Australia, another nation of truck lovers.

Skipping the Tasman, Straight to EV

But it looks like Kia isn’t interested in bringing the Ford Ranger-rivaling Tasman to the US, and will instead jump straight into the electric pickup market with an entirely different truck. We already knew, thanks to a spy video captured last year by Kindel Auto, that an EV was in development, with the prototype showing a more conventional Kia front-end design, and intel suggesting body-on-frame construction.

No details on its size were given today, but Kia CEO Ho Sung Song had previously expressed a desire to sell a mid-size truck to the US – one that would be built in the US, probably at Hyundai’s Georgia plant, to avoid both the older Chicken tax on imported light trucks and Trumps new import tariffs. Hyundai should get its own version of the pickup.

Kia’s statement says the pickup will be built on a new platform and be ‘designed for both urban and outdoor use.’ It described the model as ‘innovative,’ claiming it would have best-in-class interior and cargo space, a ‘robust’ towing system, be capable off road and have advanced media and safety systems.

Big Goals in a Small Market

Kia says its long-term goal is 90,000 annual sales and a 7 percent market share of the overall truck market. Ford only sold 7,187 examples of the F-150 Lightning in Q1, and Tesla shifted fewer than 12,000 Cybertrucks, so Kia is really aiming high with its new electric hauler.

But electric pickup choices are few and far between, and there are literally no options for anyone wanting a midsize or smaller electric truck, meaning Kia could be shooting at an open goal if it gets the thing to market quickly.

But how quickly it’ll come, Kia didn’t say. Based on last year’s spy shots, we’d say a 2026 or 2027 debut looks realistic. We’re hoping it has some of the butch attitude of the new Tasman Weekender revealed this week (pictured below), but we’re still not sure about that face.