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Suzuki’s Smallest EV Is A Kei Car With A Sub-$10k Price Tag

  • The Suzuki eSky debuts in Japan with factory styling packages.
  • It offers 193 miles (310 km) of range from a 26 kWh battery.
  • The EV starts at under $10k if you account for local subsidies.

Suzuki has introduced its first fully electric passenger kei car in Japan ahead of its market launch in Europe and the UK. The all-new Suzuki eSky brings an impressive range for the size of its battery, aided by its lightweight design and efficient e-Axle. More importantly local EV subsidies lower the starting price of the pint-sized hatchback to ¥1,552,000 ($9,800).

The eSky was revealed in August 2026 as an evolution of the Vision e-Sky from 2025. The kei car retains the five-door silhouette and compact footprint of the concept, but its lighting units and bumpers have been redesigned for production, as with the wheels, door handles, and mirror caps.

More: Think You Know The Suzuki Alto? There Are Five Different Versions On Sale Right Now

The four-seater cabin is focused on practicality with various storage solutions and a tray on the dashboard. The driver has access to a digital instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch infotainment on the flagship trim, and a separate panel for climate controls.

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Suzuki eSky Mild Sporty Package

For owners who want to personalize the EV, Suzuki offers a range of optional accessories. The catalogue includes a pair of styling packages with colorful accents, a recyclable floor mat made entirely of polyester, and various charging items.

The Mild Sporty package adds pink, blue, and gray decals on the bodywork alongside white mirror caps, while the Neo Future package opts for a yellow and black theme. Both are combined with matching stickers for the dashboard and LED fog lights. Those who want something more subtle could get the quarter garnish in eight different colors. Suzuki is also offering three playful decals for the tailgate.

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Suzuki eSky Neo Future Package

The eSky rides on the Heartect e platform and comes fitted with Suzuki’s new e-Axle (electric motor, inverter, and reduction unit) powering the front wheels. The electric motor is capable of producing 94 hp (70 kW / 95 PS) but the output of the Japanese-spec model will most likely be limited to 63 hp (47 kW / 64 PS) in order to comply with kei car regulations.

More: Suzuki Confirms Light Range Extender Setup Alongside More Efficient Hybrids

The floor-mounted 26 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack promises a WLTC range of 193 miles (310 km), and has 50 kW DC charging capabilities.

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Suzuki eSky

The Suzuki eSky will reach Japanese dealers on November 16 with the company setting a sales target of 1,000 units per month. The entry-level A trim starts at ¥2,120,000 ($13,400), while the flagship X grade climbs to ¥2,790,000 ($17,600). Still, buyers are eligible for a local government subsidy of up to ¥568,000 ($3,600), which lowers the entry point to ¥1,552,000 ($9,800).

More: Suzuki’s Decade-Old $6,500 Hatch Loses A Cylinder To Chase Mileage

As for the optional catalogue, the Mild Sporty styling kit costs ¥103,840 ($660), the Neo Future kit ¥116,160 ($730), and the eco-friendly floor mats are listed for ¥28,600 ($180).

Suzuki’s smallest EV yet will also be exported to Europe and the UK, starting in 2027. There it will join the eVitara, and compete with Europe’s A-Segment EVs such as the Renault Twingo, Dacia Spring EV, Nissan Pixo, Fiat 500, and VW ID. Up!.

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Suzuki eSky

VW ID. Buzz And Transporter Gain Signature Editions With GTI Flair

  • VW introduced a Signature Edition pack for its commercial vans.
  • The €6,495 kit adds carbon-look aero, new wheels, and eco-leather.
  • It’s available in the Netherlands and doesn’t affect their taxable value.

Sporty vans are trending, with nearly every single automaker offering some sort of optional package or special edition inspired by the aftermarket tuning scene. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has already applied the GTI-style treatment to its vans, but its Dutch division has just introduced a new option for local buyers.

The Signature Edition is an optional package available for the Transporter Bulli and the ID.Buzz Cargo in the Netherlands. Both vans feature sharper aero components, new alloy wheels, side decals, Signature Edition badges, and fresh upholstery inside the cabin making them more appealing.

More: VW’s New Van Shows Up In GTI Cosplay, But No One Told The Engine

The bodykits include splitters and rear spoilers with a carbon finish, paired with black side skirts. The grille and VW emblems are also finished in black. The same applies to the alloy wheels, measuring 19 inches on the Transporter and 20 inches on the ID. Buzz Cargo.

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VW ID.Buzz Cargo Signature Edition

Inside, the package adds eco-leather upholstery on the seats with Dinamica accents, a hexagonal pattern, and contrasting stitching. Signature Edition logos can be found on the seatbacks and the dashboard. The door cards also gain Dinamica and eco-leather inserts, with the Transporter featuring the same materials on the dashboard. Finally, the vans feature carbon-style details on the steering wheel.

More: VW’s ID. Buzz Picks Up A Feature No Minivan Has Any Business Offering

Unfortunately, the sporty looks and the upmarket interiors are not combined with any performance or chassis upgrades. This means that the electric ID. Buzz and the diesel-powered or electric Transporter/e-Transporter retain their standard powertrains.

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VW Transporter Bulli Signature Edition

Volkswagen is offering the Signature Edition as an optional package in the Netherlands, with a starting price of €6,495 ($7,300) before VAT. The accessories are fitted locally after the vehicle’s registration, ensuring that the upgrades won’t increase its taxable catalog value.

More: VW’s Electric Cargo Van Adds Extra Space With New Extended Wheelbase Variant

This is not the first time Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles spruces up its vans. The company is offering an even cooler VW Transporter Sportline in the UK as well as various sporty add-ons for the ID.Buzz Cargo. As for performance, the flagship ID.Buzz GTX trim of the passenger van remains the most potent member of the VW lineup thanks to its 335 hp bi-motor setup.

 VW ID. Buzz And Transporter Gain Signature Editions With GTI Flair

VW Commercial Vehicles / Netherlands

Tuner Imagines A Dacia Spring Hot Hatch, But There’s A Problem

  • German tuner Carpoint uses AI to envision a hotter Dacia Spring.
  • The bodykit includes extreme aero and wide fender extensions.
  • The problem is that the urban EV only makes 80 horsepower.

German dealer Carpoint GmbH, known for modifying Dacia Dusters through its Redust brand, has shared its wild vision for the new Dacia Spring. The company presented a heavily modified version of the budget-friendly EV, featuring track-inspired aero, a widebody treatment, and a lowered chassis.

Before prospective buyers of the new Spring get excited, we have to inform them that the tuning package currently exist only in the form of AI-generated renderings, as the new Dacia EV has yet to reach dealers in Europe. Still, Carpoint is no stranger to offering styling upgrades for Dacia models, so they might be cooking up something special for the newcomer.

More: Dacia Duster Redust Sport Is All Show, No Go, Yet Costs Up To $55K

The digital concept gives the small hatchback a motorsport overhaul. The front end gains an oversized splitter with integrated fins and canards. The add-ons appear to bolt on the stock bumper, although the tuner added extra DRLs on the plastic cladding.

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Carpoint GmbH / Facebook

The profile features aggressive side skirts, wide fender extensions and a new set of alloy wheels. The new shoes are much larger than the stock 16-inch steelies with hubcaps, and appear to hide beefier disc brakes with red calipers. Furthermore, the light blue model has faux vents and side gills on the fenders for a more dramatic appearance.

More: New Dacia Spring EV Flees From China And Pays The Price

At the back, the towering wing and the large diffuser with an F1-style brake light wouldn’t look out of place on a TCR racecar. Finally, the electric hatchback rides on a noticeably lowered suspension and has wider tracks.

What About The Powertrain?

The biggest problem with Carpoint’s vision is the lack of power. The new Dacia Spring might have gotten a more potent electric motor compared to its predecessor, but it still makes an uninspiring 80 hp (60 kW / 82 PS) and 175 Nm (129 lb-ft) of torque. According to the automaker, the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint is completed in 12.1 seconds and top speed is limited at 130 km/h (81 mph).

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Dacia

With most tuners not being able to upgrade electric powertrains, the underwhelming performance of the EV doesn’t make it a good candidate for such an extreme visual makeover. Furthermore, Dacia has promised that the entire lineup of the new Spring will cost under €20,000 ($23,100) before subsidies, and most budget-conscious buyers won’t be willing to spend thousands on bodykits.

More: Dacia Made A Pickup Out Of The Duster And Forgot The Pickup Part

Besides the new Spring, Carpoint has also shared renderings of the Striker wagon with a similarly sporty treatment contrasting the crossover nature of the donor vehicle. It remains to be seen whether any of these parts will reach production, resulting in some of the wildest Dacia builds yet.

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Carpoint GmbH / Facebook

Lapo Elkann And Giugiaro Turned The Smallest Fiat Into A Speedster

  • Fabrizio Giugiaro and Lapo Elkann unveiled two custom Fiat Topolinos.
  • The Top. L is a speedster, and the Top. J has two extra rearward-facing seats.
  • These are Lapo Elkann’s first automotive projects since he left Garage Italia.

The Fiat Topolino is the smallest and cheapest offering from the Italian brand, designed as a twin to the Citroen Ami. The L6e light quadricycle classification comes with weight and performance limitations, but it didn’t stop seasoned automotive designer Fabrizio Giugiaro and Italian entrepreneur Lapo Elkann from using it as a base for their latest project.

The two men are close friends and wanted to create something together for a long time. Instead of building an exotic supercar or an expensive restomod, their first project was to “take one of the smallest and most accessible cars on the road and turn it into something surprising – something capable of delivering emotion and fun.”

More: Stellantis’ Cheapest New Vehicle In America Is A $14K Fiat You Can’t Take On The Highway

The result is a pair of Topolino-based concepts created by GFG Style, the design studio founded by Giorgetto and Fabrizio Giugiaro after leaving Italdesign. The Top. L (Love) is a roofless speedster, and the Top. J (Joy) is a four-seater with a fabric top.

A Tiny Speedster With A Big Attitude

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Top. L by GFG Style

The Top. L swaps the roof and greenhouse of the Topolino for a short wraparound windshield. Instead of doors, the concept is fitted with Wicker Ropes, which are available as an option on the roadgoing Topolino Dolcevita.

More: We Imagined Stellantis’ Tiny EV As Jeep, Dodge, And Chrysler Oddballs

Other highlights include redesigned LED headlights reminiscent of the Fiat 500, vintage-style multi-spoke chrome wheels, and a Matte Aquamarine exterior finish combined with matching leather and Alcantara upholstery. According to GFG Style, the attitude of the Top. L was inspired by James Dean’s iconic Porsche 550 Spyder nicknamed “Little Bastard”.

A Four-Seater Version With An Asterisk

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Top. J by GFG Style

Next is the Top. J, designed to accommodate four people in an unconventional configuration. The cargo area has been retrofitted with a rearward-facing bench, leaving the legs of the rear passengers hanging over the rear bumper. The additional seats mean that the Top. J doesn’t comply with the L6e regulations, and could only be registered in the higher L7e segment.

More: Citroen’s Funky Buggy Is Back With Gold Steelies And Tube Doors

The model features a cloth canopy for sun protection and tube doors for an open-air driving experience, skipping the windows entirely.

The blue and green livery is inspired by the Ferrari 166 MM driven by Avvocato Gianni Agnelli in the ’50s, while matching the preferences of Umberto Agnelli and Lapo Elkann’s signature colors from his time at Garage Italia. The same theme continues inside the cabin, with blue and green shades for the terry cloth and leather upholstery.

No Changes Under The Skin

 Lapo Elkann And Giugiaro Turned The Smallest Fiat Into A Speedster
Fiat Topolino

The concepts retain the underpinnings of the Topolino. The factory setup includes a single electric motor producing 8 hp (6 kW) and a 5.5 kWh battery for a claimed 47 miles (75 km) of range. While the little Fiat won’t set any speed records, Lapo and Fabrizio claim that “passion for cars has nothing to do with horsepower.”

More: Stellantis Thinks Your 16-Year-Old Wants An 8-HP Abarth

Lapo Elkann said: “Fabrizio and I had wanted to create something together for a long time. We share a friendship, a passion for cars, design and motion, and above all a lateral way of thinking. We had fun transforming the Topolino, playing with colors, materials and volumes.”

The company didn’t announce any production plans, but Fabrizio Giugiaro and Lapo Elkann confirmed their intention to continue their collaboration with more projects in the future.

Not The First Special Topolinos

 Lapo Elkann And Giugiaro Turned The Smallest Fiat Into A Speedster
Fiat Topolino Sport

GFG Style is not the first company to redesign the EV. Back in 2024, Italian firms Castagna Milano and Carrozzeria Garavini took on the same challenge, resulting in a pair of coachbuilt specials available for sale in limited numbers as pricey conversions.

More: Fiat Topolino Gets A Cute Makeover For A Not-So-Cute $50,000

Fiat has also capitalized on customization options for the Topolino by unveiling the Sport and Vilebrequin variants alongside the mechanically-related Multiplina four-seater concept earlier this year. Furthermore, there are rumors about a potential Abarth-branded version of the EV, although any upgrades will be focused on styling.

 Lapo Elkann And Giugiaro Turned The Smallest Fiat Into A Speedster
Fiat Topolino Vilebrequin

Tesla’s Design Boss Sent Model S Plaid Signature #001 Straight To Unplugged Performance, But Not For Tuning

  • Franz von Holzhausen owns the Tesla Model S Plaid Signature #001.
  • The Tesla design chief took the special EV to Unplugged Performance.
  • The sedan received paint protection, ceramic coating, and window tints.

Franz von Holzhausen has run Tesla’s design studio since 2008, and most of what people picture when they see a Tesla came off his desk. The Model S is one of those cars, so it makes sense that he took delivery of the definitive version, the Plaid Signature Edition, chassis number #001, the one at the very front of the production line.

More: Tesla’s Hidden Door Handle Drama Could Change Every New Car In America

Before settling in with the car that closes out the Model S story, he drove it to Unplugged Performance in California. The tuner is better known for wheels, brakes, wraps and body kits, but detailing sits on the menu too, and that’s what he was there for. The bodywork he drew more than a decade ago stayed exactly as it left the factory. What he wanted was for it to stay that way.

Preserving His Own Handiwork

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Unplugged Performance

While the car was brand-new, the first step was a thorough chemical decontamination wash to remove bonded fallout, iron particles, and transport residue picked up before delivery. Once prepared, the Auto Spa team disassembled parts of the exterior so the film could be applied without a visible seam anywhere.

According to Unplugged Performance, paint protection film acts as a physical barrier that absorbs stone chips, scratches, and minor wear, shielding the factory paint underneath. For Signature Edition #001, that was only the starting point.

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Unplugged Performancean

Following careful inspection under dedicated lighting, technicians coated every panel and trim piece with a full ceramic treatment. The extra layer adds hydrophobic properties that repel dirt and make washing easier, while deepening the gloss of the paintwork.

More: The Cybertruck Finally Found Its Natural Habitat, A Fake Desert Planet

Finally, the team covered all glass surfaces with a window film that blocks 99% of ultraviolet radiation and 98% of infrared heat. That keeps the interior out of the worst of the Californian sun, so it should still look new years from now.

The Tesla Model S Plaid Signature Edition arrived earlier this year as a farewell special for the long-running nameplate. Production is capped at 250 units, offered by invitation to select customers at $159,420 apiece.

More: Tesla Tuner Dares You To Break Their New Wheels

As with the regular Plaid, the Signature Edition uses the tri-motor setup producing 1,020 hp (761 kW / 1,034 PS), with a handful of unique touches on top. Chief among them is the Garnet Red finish, paired with gold emblems, special badging, and 21-inch Velarium wheels with gold calipers over carbon-ceramic brakes. Inside there’s white Alcantara upholstery, a yoke steering wheel, and Signature branding.

This isn’t the first time von Holzhausen has handed a personal car to Unplugged Performance. Years earlier, he had his Model 3 fitted with coilover suspension, sway bars, adjustable suspension arms, and carbon-ceramic brakes, again leaving the bodywork alone.

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Unplugged Performance

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