Latest news with #conceptcar
Auto Blog
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Kia EV2 Spied Testing Ahead of Launch as Affordable Electric SUV
Futuristic Kia EV2 Prototype Revealed in New Spy Shots Kia shocks the crowd in February by revealing a trio of futuristic EV concepts. One of them was the Concept EV2, which will arrive next year but not on US roads. Now, it appears that the concept has entered the next stage of development, thanks to our spies who caught one testing on public roads. The Kia EV2 prototype hints at what we can expect of the production model. Most notable is the front end, which we can now see has projector LEDs high up on the front fascia. While the concept came with two strips of LED DRLs, the heavy disguise makes it difficult to tell whether they are still present. Concept Features Like Suicide Doors Dropped for Production Another alteration – and this one would break the hearts of some – would be the presence of B-pillar on the spied prototype. This means the production version won't have suicide doors at the back, which would have been cool and functional at the same time. We're guessing the decision to have conventional ones is in line with safety and structural integrity. Another heartbreak would be the wheel design, though we hope Kia will slap the unique blocky rims on the production EV2. At the back, the low-mounted taillights transcend into the production EV2. Most of the rear end's design are concealed, but we'd wager that Kia will keep the clean look of the concept to stand out. EV2 Styling Mixes EV6 Practicality With EV9 Inspiration There's not much to say about the interior as the spy shots don't exactly show much of it, except for the two-tone tiller visible through the front window. We're not seeing the nifty message display on the windows, though, so that's a downer. Still, this is not a confirmation that they aren't happening. Overall, the Kia EV2 looks different compared to the rest of the compact SUV segment. The boxy little brother of the EV6 does inherit some of the features and styling of the EV9, the biggest in the lineup, but it still has its own unique quirks to call its own. Source: SHProshots/Autoblog Hopefully, we'll see the EV2 in full later this year. Production is earmarked for 2026, and given the prototype already has its production lights on, we expect a debut in Q4. Pricing is said to be around the $30,000 mark when it hits the market, which will make it the most affordable Kia EV. With the cheapest EV right now selling just a hair under $30,000, America could benefit from another cheap model like the EV2. Unfortunately, the Kia EV2 probably won't reach the US because of its size and its European-focused design.
Auto Car
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Audi's Bauhaus coupé is a modern masterpiece – but is it really a classic?
So, when you saw the 1995 Audi TT concept coupe for the very first time, did you think 'wow, that's very Bauhaus'? Or did you think several other things like, 'that looks weird, but amazing.' Or, 'I want one'. Or perhaps, 'from the rear, doesn't the shape of its roof look a little bit like a WW2 Nazi soldier's helmet?' a thought you might not utter out loud in these politically correct times, although it was quite hard not to think it. It was even harder to avoid thinking – very much - that we wanted Audi to make this car, inadvertent visual referencing or not. Never mind Bauhaus – 'sitting outside my house' was how many of us wistfully imagined this car back in 1998, when the finished thing arrived. Brave was certainly a word to describe that 1995 Audi TT concept, for there was simply no other car quite like it. Brave turned out to be appropriate to the TT coupe world in another, less desirable way, this characteristic a requirement if you planned on driving TT at speeds of 110mph or more. If a sudden lane change was needed – quite likely on a German autobahn – the TT could turn alarmingly uncertain, the rear-end breakaway intended to make it entertaining on the limit catching out several drivers, a few fatally. But we're getting ahead of ourselves here. Audi needed three years to convert the frenzied enthusiasm for the concept into the finished article. Impressively, changes between the concept and production model were remarkably few. The most obvious was the addition of a pair of small extra side windows let into the TT's helmet-like roof just aft of the doors, making it easier to see out, obviously, and making the cabin's capping look a little less like an obsolete item of protective military headgear. Buried deep below that striking roofline lay the reason why it was possible for Audi to actually make the TT. That reason was called PQ34, this being the codename for the platform that was the building block of vast numbers of Volkswagen Group vehicles at the turn of the century. This extensive hardware set ran to a lot more than the floorpan and bulkhead that we usually understood a platform to mean, and included suspension systems, powertrains, heating and ventilation systems, seat frames and electrical architecture. VW boss Ferdinand Piech was the main driver behind this huge component sharing strategy, which not only made relatively low volume models viable, but also allowed the cost-savings to be spent on upgrading the quality of vital models like the Volkswagen Golf, the contemporaneous Mk4 rich with soft-feel structures, classy rubberised finishes and – yes! - damped-action grab handles.
Top Gear
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
The Panda 4x4 has returned: this is Fiat's Grande Panda 4x4 concept
The Panda 4x4 has returned: this is Fiat's Grande Panda 4x4 concept Fiat's indestructible mountain goat returns for the electrified era Skip 2 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 2 Fiat has revived its indestructible little mountain goat for the electrified era. This is the Fiat Grande Panda 4x4 concept, and yes, steel wheels make everything better. It's apparently a 'direct heir' to that classic Eighties workhorse, which are metaphorically mighty shoes to fill: the tiny 1983 classic was a beloved little terrier, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Advertisement - Page continues below The new one will obviously do it with the help of electricity, though this being a concept, Fiat is being a little coy on details. The new Grande Panda is currently available as a fully electric small car, or an £18k hybrid – which marries a three-pot 1.2-litre turbo petrol to a 21kW e-motor – all spun off Fiat's new global 'Smart Car' chassis. No idea what'll power the front axle, but Fiat said this new Panda 4x4 concept gets an 'innovative' electrified rear axle. What innovation it ushers in hasn't yet been divulged. Rocket speed? Unlimited power? Time travel? All we've been told about this new four-wheel-drive version is that such innovation on the rear axle allows for 'impressive performance in urban settings and on more demanding terrain'. Fiat can't afford to get the whole 'demanding terrain' bit wrong, here: the original car was rightly praised for its ability to go literally anywhere and outlast the apocalypse. The new one can't just be a show pony. Though, it does look quite excellent. Fiat has painted the concept in a maroon livery that apparently calls back to a 'popular limited edition version of Panda 4x4', fitted steel wheels, added beige detailing and bolted on a set of lamps on the roof rack. Advertisement - Page continues below 'With its eyes set firmly on the future, the new Grande Panda 4x4 project is destined to be a manifesto for a fresh vision of sustainable mobility,' said Fiat. 'A vision rooted in innovation, in line with current dictates, while maintaining the characteristics that made it a global cult favourite.' Like we said, metaphorically mighty shoes to fill. Excited for the Panda 4x4's return? 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*
Motor 1
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
BMW Is About to Unveil a Stunning New Shooting Brake Concept
BMW loves showing off new concept cars at Villa d'Este. The Lake Como, Italy concours event has been home to several reveals for the brand, and we suspect this year will be no different. BMW has released teaser photos that suggest this year's surprise will be a very angular shooting brake. The most revealing image, shown above, was published on Monday to Instagram by head designer Adrian van Hooydonk. It's pretty blurry, but we can make out the two-door wagon body shape, along with some big wheels and thin taillights. Another pair of photos from BMW's official Instagram account show off the car's rear profile, suggesting some extreme angles and thin lighting. Photo by: BMW Photo by: BMW BMW hasn't said what it has in store, obviously. But we can make some educated guesses. At first glance this concept might seem very similar to the Z4 shooting brake shown in 2023, though when comparing the cars side to side, none of the design cues or proportions match up. So it must be something else. Our best guess? This concept will be a hardtop version of the BMW Skytop . The sharp rear lip and thin taillights match up perfectly, as does the generally wide stance. If we're accurate, that means the shooting brake should be based on the M8, complete with that car's twin-turbo V-8 engine and all-wheel drive powertrain. Of course, it's unclear right now whether BMW would put a Skytop shooting brake into production. The Z4 shooting brake looked production-ready, but the company decided against a limited series for customers. The Skytop, on the other hand, is getting a production run of 50 units . If there's enough demand, perhaps BMW will make a handful of examples for lucky customers. We won't have to wait long to find out. The Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este kicks off on Friday, May 23. More BMW Concepts This Was BMW's Last Truly Beautiful Concept Car Why BMW's Newest Concept Car Has Old-Fashioned Buttons Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Top Gear
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
The Renault 4 Savane 4x4 Concept is a tough little French explorer
The Renault 4 Savane 4x4 Concept is a tough little French explorer Renault gives its new 4 a second electric motor for all-wheel drive. Also gives it more ground clearance and a wider track Skip 7 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 7 Renault has unveiled a new concept that it says 'demonstrates the potential' for a new 4 with all-wheel drive. We say, stop playing around and get it into production, Renault. This is the Renault 4 Savane 4x4 Concept, and as you might have realised by now, the biggest change from the standard new 4 is that it gets an extra motor on its rear axle for permanent four-wheel drive. Renault doesn't say how powerful said motor is, so we're just going to imagine that it has deployed two of the 4's larger 148bhp units for a 296bhp total. Yeehaw. Advertisement - Page continues below Elsewhere it has given the 4 a helpful 15mm more ground clearance and fitted it with Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ tyres, while the track has been widened by 20mm on the front and rear axles. The wheels are still 18in items but they're specific to this Savane. And yes, you do remember that name from an adventure-spec original Renault 4. Renault reckons this concept is for 'the modern-day gentleman explorer', so it has genuinely been designed to head off the beaten track. We're told that it's 'agile on muddy, snow-covered and unsurfaced routes' and that the bumpstops at the front and rear have been swapped out for new 3D-printed versions with shock-absorbing properties. Unveiled at the Roland Garros French Open tennis tournament (very adventurous), the Savane 4x4 Concept also gets special Jade Green paint and a printed fabric roof. There's also a brilliantly brown interior with some additional houndstooth action on the seats. Mmm, retro. 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*
