Hyundai electric vehicle owners will be able to request a free NACS adapter early next year.
Eligible vehicles include the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 5 N, Ioniq 6, Kona Electric, and even the old Ioniq Electric.
Genesis will also give customers a free adapter and details about their program will be announced in early 2025.
Hyundai EV owners are getting a last minute Christmas gift in the form of a North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapter. It will be free to customers who have purchased or leased an eligible vehicle on or before January 31, 2025.
The adapter will enable users to charge at over 20,000 Tesla Superchargers. In order to secure one, owners will need to log into the MyHyundai portal and make a request starting in the first quarter of 2025. Hyundai will then ship out the adapter at no charge.
Eligible models include the 2024 and earlier Kona Electric, Ioniq hatchback, Ioniq 5, and Ioniq 6. They’re joined by the 2025 Ioniq 5 N, 2025 Ioniq 6, and 2025 Kona Electric. The 2025 Ioniq 5 is absent from the list as it’s the first non-Tesla vehicle on sale to have a factory-installed NACS port.
Hyundai Motor North America’s senior vice president of product planning and mobility strategy, Olabisi Boyle, said “These adapters will make DC fast-charging more convenient for current owners. Plus, the NACS port on new models like the upcoming Ioniq 9 along with improvements to our digital charging ecosystem, will further enhance the customer experience for future EV drivers.”
If you accidently lose your adapter or forget to request one, they’ll be available to purchase at Hyundai dealers in the future.
In related news, Genesis announced it is also participating in the program. Details will be released early next year, but it will likely benefit owners of the GV60 as well as electric versions of the GV70 and G80.
Kia America announced their program last fall and it will see EV6 and EV9 owners receive an adapter early next year. They’ll then gain access to Tesla’s Supercharger network around January 15.
Genesis intends on making its Magma performance brand really special.
Product planning head Ash Corson referenced Bugatti and GMA in his interview with Carscoops.
He also confirmed that the G70 sports sedan is integral to the brand.
Genesis is in the midst of a critical phase. The Korean luxury arm of Hyundai is gaining market share while focusing on improving the customer experience and introducing new models. After the launch of the updated GV70, we caught up with Ash Corson, Director of Genesis Product Planning.
Corson has an extensive background, having helped grow and launch 11 product lines in previous roles. He played a key role in launching Lexus’s F Sport brand and later joined Hyundai, where he worked on mobility and connectivity. Late last year, he took over product planning for Genesis. At the LA Auto Show, we had a chance to sit down and pick his brain about the future of the brand.
Unique Approach To Electric Performance
First, we asked Corson how Genesis would differentiate itself regarding electric performance. For example, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is widely considered one of the very best electric performance cars in the marker right now. It rightfully gained that notoriety with a mix of blistering performance and fun engaging features. How does Genesis expand on that theme without copying it too much?
“The I5N is one of the groups best products. There’s a reason that it continues to rack up awards including the engagement, the fun-to-drive aspect. I think that’s really where it excels. When we talk about Genesis and Magma, it’s a different beast. The origins of Magma go back to Korea where it’s literally volcanic”, he explained.
“There’s this underlying immense power beneath the surface. It’s really again performance art. I think is a great way, in my opinion, to think of the directional positioning of what that will look like. How it sounds, how it feels the type, you know, the tactile nature of some of the controls but the precision too,” Corson continued.
“You look at Gordon Murray with his T50 and that precision there or Bugatti with their watch faces. There are lots of great things going on in the industry but the common route I think is engagement. I think the Genesis Magma will really again evoke the emotion at the product level in a deeper way than what’s out there right now.”
Authenticity In The Genesis Magma Lineup
Considering that Magma is evidently going to be a trim that could end up on many models, we wondered how Genesis would keep it from getting too watered down. Notably, Corson spent a long time at Lexus helping to develop the F performance brand. Today, one could say that Lexus uses F-Sport a little too liberally. Genesis wants to stand out by making its Magma lineup authentic.
“Our announcement that we’re going racing at Le Mans is a sign of authenticity. You really have to make sure you’re authentic and have credibility in terms of what you are presenting to the customer. The GV60 Magma has that credibility. It crushed the Goodwood Hill Climb, and it will be an award-winning product too. Our intent is not to just milk this for merchandising. If we deliver the sensations we often talk about… touch, sight, sound, scent, then by nature we can’t dilute it.”
G70 Future: A Key To Genesis’ Legacy
Finally, we asked about the G70. It’s the way that many younger buyers find the Genesis brand. That said, it’s an obvious candidate for the Magma treatment. Corson already disclosed that Genesis sees Magma as a trim that could extend to all models but we wanted more confirmation about the future of G70. While he didn’t say exactly what that looks like, it’s clear that Genesis isn’t forgetting about its sports sedan.
“It’s our Gateway product. It’s our youngest product and in my opinion quite strategically important to get those enthusiasts’ advocates. So, it’s something at the platform level that my team discusses, you know, globally every day including this week,” said Corson.
“So it’s something that our market is the biggest for. There are other markets that aren’t really selling the G70 in their lineups. That being said, you know, it’s an obvious space for Magma, for example. So I can’t comment on the, you know, detail on that product space because it’s an active one but it’s something that we think about very, uh, intently.”
Looking Ahead For Genesis’ Sports Sedan
Hopefully, that will lead to another generation in the not-too-distant future. Every major luxury brand Genesis is targeting has a high-quality gas-powered sports sedan. Keeping the G70 is just one more way the automaker can demonstrate that authenticity. We’ll continue to be on the lookout for developments in line with these new statements.
The Hyundai Motor Group is recalling more than 200,000 EVs that can lose drive power.
An assortment of models are impacted including the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, and Genesis GV60, GV70 Electrified, and GV80 Electrified.
As part of the recall, dealers will update software as well as check and replace the integrated charging control unit as necessary.
The Hyundai Motor Group is recalling 208,107 electric vehicles in the United States as they can suffer a loss of drive power. The problem centers on the integrated charging control unit, which can be damaged and prevent the 12-volt battery from charging.
The recall is broken up into two parts and one includes 62,872 Kia EV6s from the 2022-2024 model years. The second part is larger as it involves 145,235 vehicles including the 2022-2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5, 2023-2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6, 2023-2024 Genesis G80 Electrified, 2023-2025 Genesis GV70 Electrified, and 2023-2025 Genesis GV60.
According to the government, the integrated charging control unit may be damaged from transient high voltage and thermal cycling over time. This can eventually prevent the 12-volt battery from charging, leading it to gradually drain. If this occurs, drivers will be warned something is amiss and may experience “progressive reductions of motive power.” If they continue, the vehicle may eventually lose all drive power.
The EV6s were involved in a recall earlier this year, but a supposedly ‘fixed’ vehicle experienced a loss of drive power in May. This sparked an investigation and Kia eventually found “88 unique cases that allege loss of motive power” following the initial recall. Thankfully, no crashes, injuries, fatalities or fires were reported.
On the Hyundai and Genesis side, there were 57 reports between March 25 and November 5 of this year. None resulted in any injuries or crashes.
Owner notifications are slated to be sent out in the coming weeks and the remedy will see dealers inspect and replace the integrated charging control unit, as well as its fuse, as necessary. In addition, dealers will install updated software that “optimizes thermal management and peak voltage during operation.” Unfortunately for technicians, this is a huge pain as the fix for the EV6 is 26 steps long and involves removing underbody paneling as well as taking out the rear seat.
Genesis has just unveiled updated versions of the GV70 compact luxury SUV.
Both models feature refreshed exterior styling and upgraded interior technology.
In addition, the brand now operates 60 standalone retail locations across the USA.
It’s a big week for Genesis as it unveiled the new GV70 and Electrified GV70 to the public in California, just ahead of its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week. The two new models benefit from several changes both inside and out. The brand is also in the midst of increasing its dealership footprint.
“GV70 is our most popular model in North America, and we’ve welcomed over 85,000 customers into the GV70 family in just three short years,” said Claudia Márquez, chief operating officer of Genesis Motor North America during the car’s presentation.
“The newly redesigned GV70 and Electrified GV70 offer all of the utility and interior refinement of a great SUV without sacrificing the fun-to-drive character that Genesis vehicles are known for,” she continued. Let’s take a deeper dive into the specific changes she’s talking about.
Longer range, standard NACS port
The new Electrified GV70 comes standard with an 84 kWh battery pack. That is up from the 77.4 kWh unit in the original version of this car. While Genesis didn’t drop a specific range estimate, they did say it’ll be more than the 236 miles (380 km) offered in the current GV70. Range was maybe the biggest issue with the GV70. We’re happy to see Genesis give attention to it.
Photos Genesis / Stephen Rivers for Carscoops
In addition, the Electrified GV70 comes standard with a NACS charging port. That means it’ll have access to the Tesla Supercharger network. It’ll also come with an adapter to hook up to CCS chargers as well. Those are both big wins.
Minor styling updates, huge 27-inch display
In addition, both the Electrified GV70 and the gas-powered version get new styling details inside and out. The front fascia is updated on each and the EV gets a charge port hidden in the grille itself. The tail lights on each car now better match the two-line headlamps.
The cabin is updated too with a wide 27-inch OLED display that combines the gauge cluster and multimedia center. Overall, however, the interior in general isn’t too dissimilar from the current car. It continues with a sort of space-age vibe via rounded control interfaces. That’s appropriate considering the door cards. Available on the Electrified GV70, buyers can opt for semi-translucent panels that show off a starry night sky in them. They add just one more positive touch to an already luxurious interior.
No powertrain changes announced
It’s worth noting that not everything is updated or improved. After all, these are just facelifted versions of the current generation GV70. As such, the gas-powered GV70 still leverages two engine options. The base is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 300 horsepower (223 kW), and a 375 horsepower (280 kW) 3.5-liter V6 is also available.
When asked about the North American-specification Electrified GV70, the Korean company told us that they “won’t release details” just yet. For what it’s worth, the 2024 model had a dual-motor setup with an output of 320 kW / 429 hp (the front and rear motors delivering 160 kW each), with a “Boost Mode” allowing for a 10-second increase to 360 kW / 483 hp.
Genesis hasn’t released pricing for either GV70 but expect it to climb somewhat. The brand says the cars will show up at dealers in the first half of 2025. Speaking of dealers, it’s getting easier and easier to find one in North America. Genesis says it just opened its 60th location in the USA and now has 17 more in Canada. That doesn’t include Kia or Hyundai dealers that also offer Genesis cars.
The number of mainstream buyers paying over sticker has dropped 7% in the past year.
Lower prices and increased inventory has made the car buying process more satisfying.
Porsche provides the best buying experience, while Chrysler the worst, according to the study.
America is a deeply divided country, but there’s one thing that unites all of us – hatred of car dealers. However, a new study suggests things are getting slightly better.
According to J.D. Power, overall customer satisfaction with purchasing a vehicle climbed from a score of 793 last year to 801 in 2024. That’s basically an 80% grade as scores are based on a 1,000 point scale.
So what’s behind the improvement? Pricing and inventory. The shortages and markups from the pandemic have largely subsided, meaning some of the power has shifted from dealers back to consumers.
Given these developments, it’s not surprising to learn the number of people paying over MSRP has dropped significantly. J.D. Power says 15% of mass market buyers paid over sticker last year, but that number dropped to 8% in 2024. For premium buyers, the number fell from 10% to 6%.
While everyone can get onboard with lower prices, dealers still have a lot of work to do in regards to personnel, paperwork, and delivery. It also appears the EV buying experience is significantly worse than that of an ICE-powered vehicle.
The buyer satisfaction score for mass market ICE-powered vehicles was 857, but just 822 for EVs. J.D. Power also noted a “similar pattern exists among buyers of premium vehicles.”
Part of this appears to be a lack of dealership employees knowledgeable about electric vehicles. However, even Tesla buyers had “markedly lower satisfaction with the effectiveness of the vehicle features explanation.”
Among premium brands, sales satisfaction was highest at Porsche. They were followed by Infiniti and Jaguar. Genesis got a dismal rating of 781, while Alfa Romeo was second to last with a significantly higher score of 810. That put them two points behind Mercedes and Lexus.
On the mainstream side of things, top honors went to Mini, Buick, and Subaru. Chrysler, Mitsubishi, and Toyota were the worst.
A Turo rental truck became a vigilante justice machine when the driver spotted a porch pirate.
The driver tried to stop the burglar by trapping him on a narrow residential road.
The thief crashed into the rental truck during the dramatic pursuit, causing significant damage.
The Tesla Cybertruck is a spectacle on wheels—a massive, angular slab that looks more suited to the set of a sci-fi film than the local Walmart parking lot. But it’s not just about turning heads; as one Florida man found out, it can also be a weapon of vigilante justice. When an unsuspecting owner rented his Cybertruck out through Turo he had no idea that his ride would end up in the middle of a high-stakes confrontation with a porch pirate.
The incident happened in Florida close to the renters home in Brooksville. “About to find out how good TURO’s insurance is… Yesterday my renter saw a porch pirate running to car with his box, accelerated and crashed into said porch pirate making a sandwich with the burglar’s car and a tree,” said the owner, Stefen Phelps, on Facebook.
Video shows the moment when the renter drove up toward his house and saw the pirate leaving the porch before jumping into what looks like a Genesis G80 sedan. With basically zero hesitation, the Cybertruck driver accelerates up to the Genesis, gets beside it, and keeps it from successfully turning left, the only direction available on that particular road. With nowhere else to go, the Genesis driver fails to slow down in time and hits a tree next to the road.
In the process, the Cybertruck driver ended up in a bad position behind the Genesis and also couldn’t stop in time to avoid hitting the sedan. The resulting damage is significant to the Cybertruck. The hood, quarter panel, front bumper, and more are significantly impacted. According to Phelps, Turo Insurance is so far handling the case without issue.
Videos Imgur
As for the porch pirate and his accomplices, Phelps told Carscoops that “I believe there were three people in the car, and they’ve all been arrested. I gave the evidence to the police. They were looking for the last one mid-last week I assume they probably got him by now.”
What remains unclear, however, is whether the Tesla driver might face charges any serious himself. Going full vigilante with a rented EV isn’t exactly a textbook example of self-defense, after all.
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