Toyota presents the all-new Urban Cruiser, a model that will bring powerful design, interior spaciousness and rich technology content to the market for compact battery electric SUVs. Urban Cruiser, developed from the Urban SUV Concept, will give Toyota a strong presence in a fast-growing and highly competitive market segment in the UK and Europe and increase the breadth and reach of its … [Read more...]
Another Chinese brand coming to Britain
Xpeng is the next Chinese brand coming to the UK early next year, it was announced. The G6 SUV will lead the importation of a range which will be handled by the very experienced IM Group, which have enormous experience over almost 50 years with Subaru & Isuzu and recently added GWM of China to its portfolio while handling the parts operations for Mitsubishi models after they withdrew new car … [Read more...]
Suzuki announce pure battery Vitara
Suzuki Motor Corporation has unveiled its first mass-production pure battery electric Vitara, in Milan. Production will commence at Suzuki Motor Gujarat in India in spring 2025,with sales expected to begin in various countries, including Europe, India, and Japan, around summer 2025. The newcomer is expected in UK showrooms next Autumn to sell alongside the existing Hybrid but no prices have been … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Audi Q4 45 e-tron black edition
The latest Audi Q4 e-tron is proof that you can get more than you expect, even in today’s cut-throat and complex car market. When originally launched in March 2021 it was the fourth fully electric model in the brand’s e-tron series but it’s undergone continuous improvement and towards the end of 2023 it was boosted with a bigger battery and significant suspension and equipment changes to enhance … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Volkswagen ID.7 Pro Match saloon
Volkswagen has been on a learning curve with electric cars but now it’s heading towards the top of the class. It has flirted with electric cars for many years and a decade ago gave us their zero emission versions of the e-Golf and e-Up, adapted models of their better known petrol and diesel hatchbacks. VW engineers knew change was coming down the line and began developing their “intelligent … [Read more...]
First drive: KIA EV9 Air RWD
KIA has turned the corner into a new market segment with its EV9 pure electric model. The EV9 seven-seater launches in three trim levels and an additional range-topping six-seat option from £65,025 to £78,775 in rear wheel drive or all-wheel-drive configurations depending on trim with 200bhp single or 378bhp twin motors. That puts it squarely into Mercedes and BMW electric model territory … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: BYD Atto 3 Design
There is no doubt that China’s BYD car company is a new major challenger to legend European manufacturers with its Atto 3 cross-over. Not only does it have Europe’s familiar family cars in sight but it will be aiming to pick off sales from the Korean and Japanese brands which have had it much their own way up to now. Build Your Dreams, to give the company its full name, launched in Britain with … [Read more...]
Fleets looking at hydrogen after ev issues arise
Some fleet operators are starting to “take hydrogen seriously” as a fuel option because of issues they have encountered in operating electric vans, says the Association of Fleet Professionals. Paul Hollick, chair at the organisation, said that the forthcoming arrival of the Vauxhall Vivaro-e Hydrogen – really the first practical hydrogen-powered panel van available in quantity in the UK – was … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: VW ID.3 Pro S
Of the legacy car-makers, Volkswagen has developed a very wide and strong range of new generation electric models. It has been working on electric cars for many years so it was probably only natural that modernising its best selling Golf family car would feature in its approach to the future, and the ID.3 fills the sector in which its petrol and diesel hatchback did so well before it led to the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Kia Soul EV Explore
The Kia Soul EV was the first modern zero emission model from the Korean manufacturer, one of the earliest compact electric cars and that experience has been put to good use. Originally, the Soul Maxx zero emissions model of 2019 was affected by the pandemics but with that behind us the new third general Soul EV is poised to sweep up sales. The original Maxx powertrain has been refined and we … [Read more...]
