Kia's sent its sensible new EV4 around the Nürburgring. Wait, what now?
Upcoming EV goes for a light workout around everyone's favourite playground
Skip 2 photos in the image carousel and continue reading
Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures.
1
/
2
News has reached Top Gear that Kia's new EV4 – a small, moderately powered and very sensible electric car – has been seen testing around the Green Hell.
It is not, unfortunately, an indication that Kia has thrown all caution to the wind, ramped up the power on its funky little EV, and absolutely Sent It. It is something rather more worthy: a big battery degradation test!
Advertisement - Page continues below
'Following comprehensive endurance trials,' said Kia, 'including a 110,000km European road durability test and a 10,000km Nürburgring campaign simulating 90-to-95 per cent of the model's max performance output, the EV4 showed minimal wear and sustained battery efficiency.'
Don't deny you're not all here for minimal wear and sustained battery efficiency. Not only was it subjected to a bit of light Nürburgring torture - around 480 laps! – it was also subjected to repeated 'hypercharging' sessions between laps to really give the battery a workout. Ouchy.
The result of extreme punishment? The EV4's battery came back with 95 per cent 'state of health'. Indeed, Kia guarantees the battery will retain at least 70 per cent of its capacity after 160,000km, or eight years of 'regular' use.
Now, wouldn't it be something if Kia instead threw caution to the wind, ramped up the power and absolutely Sent It…
Advertisement - Page continues below
Top Gear
Newsletter
Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox.
Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
Success Your Email*
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Mistral in talks with VC firms, MGX to raise funds at $10 billion valuation, FT reports
Aug 1 (Reuters) - French artificial intelligence startup Mistral is in talks with investors, venture capital firms and Abu Dhabi's MGX to raise $1 billion at a valuation of $10 billion, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company launched in June Europe's first AI reasoning model, which uses logical thinking to create a response, as it tries to keep pace with American and Chinese rivals at the forefront of AI development. The funding would accelerate the commercial rollout of Mistral's Le Chat chatbot and support continued development of its large language models, the report said. MGX and Mistral did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. The startup raised 600 million euros in a Series B funding round that valued the company at 5.8 billion euros last year. Industry observers consider Mistral as Europe's best-positioned AI company to rival Silicon Valley leaders, though the French firm has yet to achieve comparable market traction or revenue scale. Mistral counts Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab, Andreessen Horowitz and Lightspeed Venture Partners among its investors.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Lando Norris plays it very cool when asked on F1 title battle: ‘Won't matter once we're all dead'
Lando Norris has offered a remarkably philosophical take on his Formula One championship battle with McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, declaring that the outcome ultimately matters little because "in 200 years we will all be dead". Norris arrives at the final round before Formula One's three-week summer shutdown 16 points adrift of Piastri, whose title momentum surged after last weekend's rain-affected race in Belgium. Despite starting on pole, Norris was overtaken by Piastri in treacherous conditions. With McLaren's current superiority, it is Piastri who has emerged as Norris's primary rival for this season's crown, holding six wins to Norris's four. When asked if he needs to get under the Australian's skin to secure his maiden F1 title, Norris replied: "I don't enjoy that. In 200 years no one is going to care. We'll all be dead. "I am trying to have a good time. I still care about it, and that's why I get upset sometimes and I get disappointed and I get angry at myself. And I think that shows just how much I care about winning and losing. But that doesn't mean I need to take it out on Oscar. I just don't get into those kind of things." Historically, intra-team title battles in F1 are fraught, but Norris maintains a pragmatic view. "Yes, he (Piastri) is the guy I want to beat more than anyone else," he admitted. "But if I don't beat him, then that's just because he has done a better job. I will do it the way I believe is best for me, and just because one person did it a few years ago, it doesn't mean you have to do that, too. I don't really care about those things." At the Hungaroring on Friday, Norris demonstrated his prowess with an impressive practice double, narrowly beating Piastri by just 0.019 seconds in the first session before extending his lead to nearly three tenths later in the day. Norris has an unblemished record of never being out-qualified by a team-mate in his six previous visits to this circuit, a promising sign from his practice performance. Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton, a record eight-time winner and nine-time pole-sitter in Hungary, struggled for pace. The 40-year-old, still seeking a podium in Ferrari colours, complained his car didn't "feel good" and ran off track after a major lock-up in the first session, ending the day sixth, three tenths and three places behind team-mate Charles Leclerc. Max Verstappen, who recently committed his future to Red Bull for at least another season, also had an uncharacteristically difficult day, finishing a distant 14th in practice, 1.1 seconds slower than Norris. "I don't know what is going on," Verstappen radioed. "It is just undriveable." He also faced a stewards' investigation for throwing a towel from his cockpit but received only a warning.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
F1 title challenger says none of it will matter ‘once we're dead'
Lando Norris adopted a philosophical stance on his Formula One championship battle with McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, stating the outcome ultimately matters little in the grand scheme. Piastri currently holds a 16-point lead over Norris, with six wins to Norris's four, establishing him as Norris's main competitor for the season's title. Norris emphasised his refusal to engage in mind games with Piastri, preferring to focus on his own performance: 'I don't enjoy that. In 200 years no one is going to care. We'll all be dead.' At the Hungaroring, Norris demonstrated strong form by securing an impressive practice double, outperforming Piastri in both sessions. Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari and Max Verstappen of Red Bull experienced challenging practice sessions, with both drivers reporting issues with their cars and finishing well down the order.
