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EVs Dominate 2025 World Car Awards But Americans Can’t Even Buy Most Of Them

  • Electric vehicles have dominated the 2025 World Car Awards by winning five categories.
  • The Kia EV3 was named World Car of the Year and it’s slated to come to the United States.
  • All winners were EVs with the exception of the hybridized Porsche 911 Carrera GTS.

The World Car Awards have been presented at the New York Auto Show and they were a truly global affair. So much so, that most of the winners aren’t even available in the United States.

While that’s disappointing, the Kia EV3 was named 2025 World Car of the Year. The model beat the BMW X3 and Hyundai Inster to win top honors, earning Kia their second consecutive World Car of the Year award following last year’s crowning of the EV9.

2025 Kia EV3 Review: Everything We Love About The EV9 Made More Affordable

The EV3 isn’t offered in America, but it’s coming as long as tariffs don’t get in the way. That being said, we tested it earlier this year and came away pretty impressed.

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Electric vehicles had a strong showing this year as the Volvo EX90 was named 2025 World Luxury Car. It bested the Porsche Macan and Porsche Panamera to take top honors.

The electric crossover starts at $79,995 and features a 111 kWh battery pack as well as a dual-motor all-wheel drive system with 402 hp (300 kW / 408 PS) and 568 lb-ft (769 Nm) of torque. This enables the model to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 5.7 seconds and travel up to 310 miles (499 km) on a single charge.

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Moving on, the Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric was named World Electric Vehicle. It’s a pint-sized urban crossover that has 113 hp (85 kW / 115 PS) and is primarily offered in the East.

The EV trend continues as the BYD Seagull / Dolphin Mini was named World Urban Car. The hatchback costs less than $10,000 in China and the Seagull Intelligent Driving Edition offers up to 252 miles (405 km) of range.

World Car Design of the Year, unsurprisingly, went to an EV. It was the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, which is interesting as the electric van has been around for a few years now. That doesn’t exactly seem fair, but the model bested the Kia EV3 and Toyota Land Cruiser / Land Cruiser 250 for the title.

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Last but not least, there’s the only non-EV to win an award. It was the Porsche 911 GTS, which was named 2025 World Performance Car.

The sports car starts at $169,800 and features a hybridized powertrain that consist of a turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six, an electric motor, and a small battery pack. This gives the model a combined output of 532 hp (397 kW / 539 PS) and 449 lb-ft (608 Nm) of torque. This enables the coupe to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 2.9 seconds before hitting a top speed of 194 mph (312 km/h).

 EVs Dominate 2025 World Car Awards But Americans Can’t Even Buy Most Of Them
 EVs Dominate 2025 World Car Awards But Americans Can’t Even Buy Most Of Them
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Purists Won’t Like This Electric Porsche 911, But It’s Too Fast To Care

  • This 964 ditches the flat-6, using a 62 kWh pack and an electric motor instead.
  • Despite the added weight, 0-60 mph (96 km/h) comes in less than 4 seconds.
  • The electric 911 claims it can travel up to 200 miles (320 km) on a single charge.

Are classic Porsche 911s best left untouched, with their original charm preserved for posterity? Some would certainly argue yes. But, for every purist clinging to that idea, there’s a growing crowd fascinated by the restomod scene, people who crave the iconic looks of these cars but want something more modern under the hood.

Enter Everrati, a company known for electrifying classic Porsches, which recently unveiled its latest project known as “The Viper Commission.”

The tuner stripped down the 911 to its core, replacing the body panels with lightweight carbon fiber, which gives the car a much wider stance. Then they gave it a striking new coat of Viper Green, paired with Fuchs-style black wheels and polished silver rims. To complete the look, they added a ducktail spoiler and updated the headlights.

Read: Everrati Teams Up With Singer Design’s Secret Helper To Bring Electric Porsche 911 Conversions To USA

From the outside, the car looks like any other well-modified 964—sharp, aggressive, and unmistakably Porsche. But things get interesting when you peer underneath the surface.

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Electric Power Takes Over

Unlike your standard 964, the heart of this particular 911 has undergone a radical transformation. Gone is the iconic air-cooled engine, replaced by a 62 kWh battery pack and an electric motor. While Everrati has been tight-lipped about specific power numbers, they claim this electric 911 can accelerate to 60 mph (96 km/h) in under 4 seconds. Not too shabby for a car that once purred its way through the streets on gasoline.

According to the British company, the owner of this 911 has a “profound commitment to combating climate change,” so it makes sense why they decided to ditch the engine for an electric motor. Of course, the addition of a relatively large battery pack has inevitably added some weight to the car, and we’d be intrigued to know the effect this has on the handling dynamics.

As for the interior, Everrati didn’t skimp on the details. The cabin has been upgraded with black leather across most surfaces, complemented by grey striping and a distinctive green 12 o’clock stripe on the steering wheel.

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Porsche May Add Another Gas-Powered SUV Next To Macan EV, Cayenne

  • Porsche is considering a new SUV offered with combustion and hybrid powertrains.
  • The Macan will become an EV-only model once the gas-powered version is discontinued.
  • Upcoming releases include a Cayenne EV, 718 EV sports cars, and a new flagship 911 trim.

Porsche has laid out its latest product roadmap during its 2025 annual conference, shedding light on the future of its lineup. The biggest news? Beyond reaffirming its commitment to a mix of combustion engines, plug-in hybrids, and all-electric drivetrains across its entire lineup well into the 2030s, the automaker is now considering adding a new gas-powered SUV to its roster. If approved, this model could join the Macan EV and Cayenne by the end of the decade.

A New SUV in the Works

The company said that it’s currently “evaluating an independent model line in the SUV segment” that would take advantage of existing “synergies”. Recent spy shots suggest this unnamed Porsche could share the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture with the next-generation Audi Q5. However, Porsche promises the new SUV will feature a distinct design with its signature styling, a more upscale interior, and a chassis setup tailored to its brand identity.

More: 2027 Porsche Cayenne Coupe Goes Electric In New Spy Shots

Earlier this year, Porsche considered offering a new generation of the ICE-powered Macan to join the Macan EV. However, these plans have been officially scrapped, and a new, standalone SUV being picked instead. Porsche has confirmed that the Macan will be sold exclusively as an EV, after the combustion-engined version will be phased out from the remaining markets.

The Future of Macan and Cayenne

As for the Cayenne, Porsche describes the upcoming fourth-generation of the mid-size SUV as a “completely newly developed and designed electric model.” The Cayenne EV will be sold alongside the current third-generation model, which will continue to be available in combustion and hybrid forms “well into the 2030s.” Spy shots confirm that the electric model will come in both SUV and coupe-SUV body styles. However, Porsche made no mention of the rumored flagship SUV, codenamed K1, which is expected to debut in 2028.

 Porsche May Add Another Gas-Powered SUV Next To Macan EV, Cayenne
Camouflaged prototypes of the Cayenne EV in regular and coupe SUV forms. Photos: SH Proshots, Baldauf
 Porsche May Add Another Gas-Powered SUV Next To Macan EV, Cayenne

Electric 718 and a New 911 Flagship

Porsche also said that the highly anticipated electric successors to the 718 Boxster and Cayman will arrive sometime after the Cayenne EV, effectively confirming previous reports of a delay. The company also dropped a few hints about upcoming additions to the 911 lineup.

The recently refreshed 911 will soon gain a limited-edition “heritage” model from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, inspired by retro 1970s styling. Additionally, an all-new flagship 911 is in the works, described as a model that will “raise the bar even further” in the sports car segment – likely hinting a next-generation 911 GT2 RS.

2025 Forecast and Workforce Reductions

Porsche expects a challenging year ahead, citing increasing competition from China and geopolitical instability as key concerns. As a result, the company anticipates a drop in sales for 2025, falling below the 310,718 units delivered in 2024 – a figure that was already down 3% compared to the previous year. The company also estimates that electrified vehicles will make up 33–35% of total sales, with fully electric models accounting for 20–22%.

More: Porsche’s High Prices And Outdated Tech Are Killing Its Sales In China, Could It Happen Here?

To adapt to shifting market conditions, Porsche plans to invest an additional €800 million ($872 million) this year, focusing on product portfolio adjustments, software development, and battery technology advancements.

However, these changes come at a cost. As part of an ongoing restructuring effort, Porsche will eliminate around 1,900 jobs by 2029 through a “restrictive hiring policy” and other “socially acceptable measures.” Additionally, the company plans to reduce its global workforce by another 2,000 through the expiration of fixed-term employment contracts. A further structural overhaul is currently under negotiation, with details set to be announced in the second half of 2025.

Leadership Changes at Porsche

Porsche has also made key changes to its Executive Board. Dr. Jochen Breckner has taken over responsibility for Finance and IT, succeeding longtime executive Lutz Meschke. Meanwhile, Matthias Becker has stepped in as the new head of Sales and Marketing, replacing Detlev von Platen.

 Porsche May Add Another Gas-Powered SUV Next To Macan EV, Cayenne
Dr. Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG.
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