Latest news with #performancecars
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Bentley's New V-8 SUV is the Best Bentayga Yet
Some people get hung up counting cylinders. They believe the more a car has, the better it is. I'm not one of those people. Instead, steering, braking and balance—the management of the marriage between power and torque—matter far more when it comes to driving enjoyment. Engine size doesn't necessarily indicate driving character. The magic is in the transitions.
Auto Car
a day ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Hyundai's sports car division could still launch hot new combustion cars!
Hyundai's N performance brand will not restrict itself exclusively to electric sports cars in the future and could launch hot new ICE-powered models alongside the Ioniq 5 N and upcoming Ioniq 6 N. The Korean firm's sporting division – its answer to the likes of BMW M and Volkswagen R – was launched with the i30 N in 2017. It followed that up with the smaller i20 N in 2021, before revealing the Ioniq 5 N as its first EV in 2023 and taking the two petrol hot hatchbacks off sale shortly afterwards. Following the unveiling of the Ioniq 6 N at Goodwood next month, the performance brand will have a two-car, exclusively electric, line-up, but N division boss Joon Park has suggested more models will follow - and they won't necessarily use pure-battery powertrains. Speaking at the Autocar Awards ceremony in London, where the Ioniq 5 N was named as one of 2025's five-star cars, Park said the N brand will keep step with its parent company Hyundai in maintaining a diverse powertrain offering over the coming years. 'The problem that we have is that there is a perception from the media and our fans that Hyundai N is only focusing on the EV world, which is not true,' he said. 'Even though we are going to introduce the Ioniq 6 N at Goodwood Festival of Speed, we are not limiting ourselves to EVs.' He stopped short of confirming any specifics of these new models, but Hyundai has already confirmed it will respond to slower-than-expected global uptake of EVs with a significantly expanded line-up of hybrid models and it will also launch its first range-extender (REx) EV in the US next year. Park suggested that no specific technology is off the table for N, saying: 'We're going forward with EVs, of course, as well as all the other proposals we could do. 'Because for N, imagination and courage are the words we need to remember.' The performance brand has previously experimented with hydrogen fuel cell power, revealing the striking Vision N 74 concept in 2022 as a fully functional rolling laboratory with 670bhp at the rear axle and a total range of more than 370 miles supplied by its 95kW fuel cell. That car has often been reported to have been green-lit for production over the past three years, but Hyundai has never officially confirmed plans to put it in showrooms, and its subsequent performance car concepts have been battery-powered, rather than FCEVs.
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
End of the road for noisy boy racers? Car makers are axing their beloved hot hatches to go electric
The days of noisy boy racers flying past in souped-up cars with offensively loud exhaust pipes look numbered. That's because their beloved 'hot hatches' are accelerating towards demise as car makers cull them from their ranges as part of their transitions to electric vehicles. Two of the nation's most popular have been confirmed for the chopping block by their respective manufacturers in recent weeks. Ford says production of its much-loved model is due to cease in November - and it is no longer taking new order. And Honda has said its big-spoilered offering will disappear for good next year, bowing out with a final edition version that's just been unveiled to culminate its near 30-year lifecycle. Riotous petrol-engined hot hatches are now being replaced by a new breed of silent electric performance cars that are likely to cause far less offence, though might not provide the excitement craved by boy racers congregating in McDonalds car parks. Hot hatchbacks are high performance variants of run-of-the-mill family cars. While they're fast and relatively easy to customise with bigger exhaust systems and whooshing dump valves that when passing your house in the evening will make you leap out of your armchair - they are also practical enough to cope with the rigours of day-to-day life, with lots of space in the back and traditionally big boots. But as manufacturers brace for an electric future, they are increasingly being motivated to kill off their combustion engine vehicles at alarming pace to avoid Government-imposed fines for failing to achieve adequate EV sales between now and 2030. And its hot hatches that have become prime candidates to kill off earliest. Stricter emissions regulations due to come into force have also rendered many of these unleaded-gulping motors unviable for sale. Ford has reacted to these mounting pressures, confirming last month that its Focus ST is no longer available to order in the UK - ahead of production climaxing at the end of this year. The blue-oval brand had still been taking deposits on the ST until April, but on 26 May culled it from its updated dealer price lists. It ends a 23-year run for the hot hatch that's spanned four generations of Focus family cars, much to the upset of petrolheads across the country. Ford UK said that while it is no longer taking new orders, there are 'around 170 built and unsold' STs currently available within the dealer network. Just a week after Ford ditched Focus ST availability, Japanese rival Honda confirmed its Civic Type R - an icon among boy racer ranks for almost three decades - will bow out in the next few months. The Civic Type R has epitomised the boy racer scene for decades, thanks to its scintilating performance, big exhausts and even larger spoilers Unveiling an 'Ultimate Edition' version at the start of June, it said the Civic Type R's 28-year lifespan is being ended in 2026 by more stringent emissions regulations. Honda said it's removing the Type R from its line-up next year because 'the industry is changing and our model range is having to evolve with it in accordance with European legislation' being introduced in the next 12 months. Only 40 Ultimate Edition Type Rs will be made - and just 10 are guaranteed for UK customers, with prices likely to exceed £50,000. The Focus ST and Civic Type R's expiries come in the tyre tracks of a series of hot hatches being axed in the UK. Last year, Hyundai called time on its i20N and i30N, while Ford terminated its Focus RS in 2018. The Fiesta, which Ford lowered the curtain on in the summer of 2023, took with it the ST variant, while Peugeot's 308 GTi was terminated in 2020, having only been available for around a year. It means that very few front-wheel-drive hot hatches now remain, with the VW Golf and Polo GTI, Mini Cooper S, and Ford Puma ST among the increasingly limited options. Those wanting a four-wheel-drive performance model can still get their hands on a Golf R, Mercedes A45 AMG S, or Toyota GR Yaris - though these hot hatches are seriously under threat from the tightening EU emissions regulations due shortly. In the last few days, Toyota confirmed that production of its GR Corolla hot hatch will move from Japan to its Derbyshire factory in the UK to appease huge demand from US customers. Though despite being in Britain, the GR Corolla isn't a car that's sold here. Instead, brands are focussing on a new wave of electric performance models. Car makers forced to kill off their hot hatches over emissions regulations and the EV transition running towards the end of the decade, we're seeing the arrival of electric performance models, like Abarth's 500 Alpine's new A290 is a hot hatch version of the recently-launched Renault 5 E-Tech. It promises to be one of the best electrified performance cars we've seen so far The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is another electric hot hatch on sale currently. It's not cheap, though, starting from an eye-watering £65,000 The Abarth 500, Alpine A290 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N are all zero-emission - and zero noise - cars already on sale to fill the void left by the traditional hot hatchback. Though they're not cheap. The Fiat 500-sized Abarth rings in at £30k, Alpine's tuned-up take on the Renault 5 E-Tech starts from £33,500, and Hyundai's souped-up electric SUV is an eye-watering £65,000. On Friday, Peugeot unveiled its e-208 GTi on the eve of the Le Man 24 Hour race. It is the battery-powered spiritual successor to its legendary 205 GTi from the 1980s and '90s.
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
RAY MASSEY: Aston Martin helps usher in era of the 'iDashboard'
Nowadays, modern cars have so much software on board they are often dubbed 'computers on wheels.' Well, brace yourself: the British luxury performance carmaker Aston Martin is the official launch partner for the new Apple Car Play Ultra dashboard system – marking a new beginning for increasingly digitised vehicles. The new Ultra option is set to be rolled out across the entire motor industry, with more affordable family marques such as Kia, Hyundai and Genesis expected to be among those next in line for the update. Despite being an early adopter of the Apple Mac computer (I wrote a book on one in the early 1990s) and a long-time user of the iPhone and iPad, I must admit to being a bit of a slowcoach when it comes to using my smartphone to control key elements of my car. However, taking an Aston Martin DBX fitted with Ultra for a drive, I was among the first to 'road test' the new system – which marks a great step forward in two significant regards. First, while the standard Apple Car Play allows the driver to link their iPhone to the central dashboard screen, the new Ultra System extends that facility to the driver's instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. I could scroll between a variety of driver screen and instrument cluster options – from analogue-looking speedometer dials, to more linear versions and simple numbers. Also included is the ability to display maps and media in full screen, allowing drivers to design their own multi-screen set-up, and the freedom to modify the layout. The added twist is that each manufacturer can, with the help of Apple, create a bespoke design to suit the individual car brand, including a selection of scroll-through options for the look of speedometer and tachometer dials, from which the driver can choose. It all seemed to gel together very well. And I'd never have known that the Car Play Ultra digital driver screen in front of me wasn't the standard one on the car (which is very different). A lot of work has gone into that. Updates will also mean the system can be continually finessed. The system also allowed me to manage vehicle functions such as air conditioning, temperature control, satnav music and radio, phone and so on. One advantage with the Aston DBX, however, was that like its sports cars, it also retains many physical buttons. So if you are sceptical about touchscreen or Siri voice control, you can still resort to actual knobs, switches and dials. And I imagine this is just the start: as the Ultra system expands, I expect AI will play an increasing role, in both controlling, but perhaps also driving our cars. British luxury performance carmaker Aston Martin is the official launch partner for the new Apple Car Play Ultra dashboard system Apple Car Play (along with the rival Android Auto ) is now extremely popular either as standard or as a 'must have' option on modern cars, especially among younger drivers. So I did my Ultra drive from Aston Martin's smart boutique headquarters at Gaydon in leafy Warwickshire – a real-life James Bond-style Q-Branch for sporty luxury cars and gadgets. I could tailor the system's background colours and 'wallpaper' patterns to match my mood. Another key benefit over standard Car Play is that drivers no longer have to log out of an app to alter certain screen functions – it all works together seamlessly. Launch-partner Aston Martin said it had worked extremely closely in partnership with Apple to ensure CarPlay Ultra is consistent with their own brand's design philosophy, adding: 'Understanding the need for balance between touchscreen commands and the positive tactility of physical switches, buttons are retained for the key mechanical operations of gear selection, drive selection, heating and ventilation. There are also override switches for chassis, electronic stability programme (ESP), exhaust settings, lane assist and park distance control 'ensuring the most used controls are always conveniently to hand', says Aston Martin. Drivers can also add apps powered by iPhone that perfectly fit Aston Martin's 10.25-inch infotainment screen or instrument cluster to provide 'information at a glance', it said. Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark said: 'Aston Martin is delighted to have collaborated with Apple, and to be first to launch CarPlay Ultra. 'Building on our in-house state-of-the-art infotainment system, CarPlay Ultra will provide additional functionality and personalisation opportunities which place Aston Martin at the forefront of infotainment in the sector.' Launch-partner Aston Martin said it had worked extremely closely in partnership with Apple to ensure CarPlay Ultra is consistent with their own brand's design philosophy Apple's marketing vice president Bob Borchers said: 'We are thrilled to begin rolling out CarPlay Ultra with Aston Martin, with more manufacturers to come. 'The next generation of CarPlay gives drivers a smarter, safer way to use their iPhone in the car, deeply integrating with the vehicle while maintaining the very best of the car-maker.' He added: 'iPhone users love CarPlay and it has changed the way people interact with their vehicles. 'Together with car-makers we are reimagining the in-car experience and making it even more unified and consistent.' The new Ultra system will be available across the Aston Martin range as standard from August, and available as a retro-fit download on older vehicles with the necessary software. Fine on a luxury Aston Martin, you may say. But what about me? Well, imagine soon doing all of these same things on, say, a Kia Sportage, a Ford Puma, Nissan Qashqai or Peugeot SUV – if they too decide to take it up. Each version specifically designed to seamlessly suit the brand on which it is fitted. And that is exactly the plan as Apple Car Play Ultra is rolled out across the industry to more mainstream manufacturers of family vehicles. It's coming soon to a car near your – perhaps even to your own driveway.
Motor 1
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Kia Blames Regulations For The Death of Gas Performance Cars
We recently mourned the loss of fun gas-powered cars in Europe due to tightening emissions regulations. But the situation is actually much worse. The gradual demise of performance vehicles with combustion engines is happening worldwide. Kia is the latest automaker to announce that its future sports cars will be purely electric to meet stricter legislation. Kia Australia's product chief, Roland Rivero, told Carsales that automakers have no choice but to 'satisfy the global situation and CO 2 regulations are tightening all around the world.' If there is a silver lining in all of this, it's that the GT badge will live on for more electric models. The new EV4 is a prime candidate to receive the electric GT treatment. Rivero remains optimistic about catering to enthusiasts, even in an increasingly electrified era. He believes 'there's no reason why an electrified product can't give you a similar experience [to internal combustion performance cars], albeit with some computer tech and whatnot.' Still, another car like the Stinger GT with its V-6 engine isn't going to happen. The GT badge is already appearing on electric models, such as the supersized EV9 GT . Meanwhile, the smaller EV6 GT recently received an update that includes simulated gear shifts and engine sounds , "features" that tie into Rivero's 'computer tech' comment. Hyundai's N division may have axed the i20 N and i30 N hot hatches, the Kona N crossover, and the quirky Veloster N, but it's not ready to abandon internal combustion just yet. The company still sells the Elantra N and has pledged to launch a next-generation model with a bigger engine . Earlier this year, N division co-founder Joonwoo Park hinted in an Auto Express interview that hybrid powertrains could help keep fun ICE cars alive under the N badge. Addressing the elephant in the room, any hybrid or EV with performance chops will come with a weight penalty. This is especially true for fully electric performance cars, but it's a compromise carmakers seem willing to accept. Hyundai and Kia appear to be leaning into SUVs for now, which only exacerbates the situation. But that's the reality of 2025. Consumers want SUVs, and governments want automakers to reduce the emissions of their fleets. To satisfy both demands and stay in business, car companies are producing more electric SUVs. A few of these receive upgrades to earn their GT and N badges, which were exclusive to combustion-engine cars not long ago. Hyundai's luxury brand Genesis does have a new twin-turbo V-8 , but it's intended solely for race cars. Source: Carsales Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
