Latest news with #electric
Top Gear
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Renault 4 Review 2025
It's a new small electric crossover. Here at Top Gear we might as well have that sentence set up as a keyboard shortcut (cmd-alt-E-C) because we use it so often. New small electric crossovers keep coming, many from Chinese brands you haven't heard of. This one's different, because it has deep roots. Renault has been selling electric cars in Britain for more than a decade. And if the electric Megane and Scenic are anything to go, it's gotten rather good at them. Advertisement - Page continues below The 4 itself is closely related to the wonderful Renault 5 EV, but has an 8cm longer wheelbase so there's more room for the legs of the people in the back, and their stuff in the boot. That's why it's actually a little more expensive than the R5, even if their names might make you think the prices are the other way around. The R4 takes stylistic inspiration from the 1961 Renault 4: that was one of the first hatchbacks, before the term was recognised. It also, by decades, predated the word 'crossover', but it was one of those too. Which is why French farmers and all sorts of residents in North Africa and South America loved it. It needed only a track, not a road. So is it retro or not? Let's not get too carried away, because the original R4 was super-cheap and the new one is a bit more premium. Maybe if the original Land Rover had died in the mid 1990s, then the current Defender appeared now, you'd have a parallel. Here's how they've updated the old lines. The face was once a single chromed frame with the round lamps at the end, and grille in the middle: now the chrome is substituted by an LED perimeter track. A cut-line between this and the wings follows a gap between the original's wings and forward-opening bonnet-grille assembly. Advertisement - Page continues below On the tall flattish sides, you've ridged door panels, like the R4 GTL had. The reverse-raked rear door window and trapezoid rearmost side window keep the faith with the characteristic rhythm of the old car's fenestration. An upright tailgate and tall narrow little lamp clusters complete the picture. Our hot take? The design isn't as successful as the Renault 5, with more than a whiff of breadvan about it and palpable Mini Countryman vibes from the back. But it's friendly and accessible, and on balance we like it. And inside? Sliding windows? Rubber mats? Garden-implement gear lever? This latest Renault 4 is dripping with nods to the past. But it's not here to bait you with nostalgia, the detailing throughout is genuinely lovely and fully modern at the same time. The fabric seats (pictured) are ace, and you'll be noticing new details for ages. Look out for the Easter egg on the windshield… Renault's excellent interface includes well-organised screens and plenty of useful quick-access switches. In the back, two grown-ups can sit without much hardship. Three across would be a squeeze but doable for a short trip. The boot is surprisingly deep too. More about this under the Interior tab of this review. How does it drive? Brilliantly. It's a real pleasure to get along with. You drive it with your toes and fingertips, as the pedals and steering are light and quick-acting. But once you've acclimatised, that makes it feel perky. The single motor is 148bhp, but it's well under 1,500kg so gets along well enough: 0-62mph takes 8.2 seconds. The suspension is pretty sophisticated in design, with multi-link at the rear, so it's precise through bends and quiet when it hits bumps. The old R4 had a pillowy ride and leant pretty much onto its wing mirrors at the sniff of a tight corner. The new one is quite tightly sprung and very controlled. It's also pretty efficient. Both versions in the UK have a 52kWh battery, for 250 miles WLTP range. We saw 215 miles in practice, including some quite vigorous back-road driving. Cruising at motorway speeds will knock the estimate down to 180-odd miles, even in warm weather. The real test will come in the depths of January, when conditions are at their least agreeable. What about the rivals? The Ford Puma Gen-E is the most obvious, along with a bunch from the Stellantis empire – Peugeot e-2008, and the electric versions of the Vauxhall Mokka and Jeep Avenger. You could also get into a slightly larger Chinese-branded EV for similar money, like the MG4. A base-model from the Volvo EX30 or Smart #1 or Mini Aceman line-up all cost more than an R4 for less range. The mighty VW group's small EVs are still stuck in the concept-car stage. Nope, a Skoda Elroq doesn't count because it's an order of magnitude bigger than this. The R4's battery range is on-target for those price rivals. Few have substantially bigger battery options either, except the MG4 for considerably more money. And on the subject of money… Ah yes, some numbers would help. Things kick off at a fiver under £27k for the base model, with mid- and top-spec trims pitched at £29k and £31k apiece. Like-for-like that makes it two Gs more than the Renault 5. And at the time of typing, it looks like both will qualify for a handy government grant worth thousands too. We'll explain what you get at each trim level on the Buying tab. What's the verdict? ' The interior is sublime, the tech is well executed, it's value for money and… unfailingly uplifting to drive ' A staggering eight million original Renault 4s were sold, but your memory of it is likely as rusty as they mostly are now. So don't worry if all this retro talk doesn't resonate with you. The new Renault 4 combines dynamic talent with an admirable amount of suppleness over the UK's often cratered road network. That's a hard trick to pull off. And while the design isn't as – how shall we put this – purposeful as the R5's, it's recognisably different from the waves of generic-looking stuff washing up in dealers all over the country, with marvellous detailing inside and out. If you're not keen at first, give it time… it'll grow on you. And there's goodness in the R4 that goes beyond design: the interior is sublime, the tech is well executed, it's value for money and (most importantly of all) unfailingly uplifting to drive. Renault has hit another home run with this.
Auto Blog
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
SPIED: Electric BMW M3 Shows Off More Of Its Unique Take On Performance
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. BMW's Most Controversial M3 Yet Takes Shape The BMW M3 will someday go electric, and if these new spy shots captured at the Nürburgring are anything to go by, that momentous occasion isn't very far away. For the first time, an electric M3 prototype has been captured with its production body, though it still has several deceptive elements pasted on top of it. The development mule in question appears to have been pushed hard, as evidenced by a single brake rotor on the right rear of the car turning blue, like titanium does. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:10 Full screen What is the Sony Honda Mobility Afeela 1? Watch More The close-up shot was captured while the development mule was being recharged, and we can also see a pale blue light alongside the connector, which all but confirms that most of the production hardware has been finalized. Smaller details like the production lighting units will go on at the last moment. Blue Brakes Raise Questions As you'll see in these photos, it was only one drilled brake disc that changed color. Was this the result of binding, an ineffective cooling system, or substandard materials? Perhaps it was one of those elements, all of them, or a combination of just two, but another possibility is that BMW was testing some sort of vehicle dynamics controller that brakes an inside wheel to better rotate the car. Since the Nordschleife is driven clockwise, the right rear would most often be the inside wheel, but given that the course is nearly 13 miles long, it still seems odd that one brake would suffer more than the others. Whatever the case, the front brake calipers are finished in blue like most M cars, while the rears are unpainted, indicating that this prototype is not wearing carbon-ceramic brakes (signified by gold calipers). It is, however, wearing production wheels, and while there are false panels on the hood, trunk, and fenders, the temporary bumpers show parking sensors, again indicating that the finished product is near. What To Expect From The Electric M3 BMW M3 EV Spy Shot Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. This electric M3 was snapped as it entered the BMW M Development Test Center at the Nürburgring, so we can look forward to seeing it on the track soon. Our spies are told to expect between 700 and 750 horsepower. The electric M3 is expected to enter production in March 2027, which suggests a reveal mid-way through next year, and it's likely to feature the new flax fiber composite technology that BMW expects will replace carbon fiber as a lightweight but environmentally friendly material. 20-inch wheels will reportedly be standard with a staggered 20-/21-inch setup available, and carbon-ceramic brakes will be optional. The M3 sedan will arrive first, and though no wagon has appeared on leaked internal production reports, it's all but inevitable. We expect to see the M3 shed more camouflage in the coming weeks, so stay tuned. In the meantime, a summary of everything we know about the electric M3 so far will have to suffice. About the Author Sebastian Cenizo View Profile
Gulf Business
21 hours ago
- Business
- Gulf Business
Dubai World Central: Driverless vehicles introduced for airport operations
Image credit: WAM/Website Global air and travel services provider dnata has introduced a fleet of autonomous electric tractors at Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), marking a significant step forward in smart ramp operations. Read- The company is now operating six electric EZTow autonomous tractors developed by TractEasy, capable of towing up to four baggage containers (ULDs) at a time along pre-defined routes at speeds of up to 15 km/h, Traditionally, baggage movement between terminals and aircraft has relied on human-operated vehicles working under tight time constraints. dnata's adoption of autonomous vehicles aims to streamline these operations, improve safety, and reduce turnaround times. The introduction of autonomous vehicles allows dnata to reassign personnel previously responsible for driving baggage tractors to more complex, value-added roles. The automation is also expected to reduce the likelihood of human error, improving overall ramp safety. The Dhs6m ($1.6m) initiative starts with Level 3 autonomy—meaning minimal human oversight is still required. However, dnata plans to upgrade to Level 4 autonomy by early 2026. At that stage, vehicles will operate fully autonomously within controlled airside environments. Regulatory collaboration under way This deployment is the result of more than a year of collaboration between dnata, TractEasy, Dubai Airports, and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). Together, the stakeholders are working to establish a regulatory framework for airside autonomous operations—an area that currently lacks clear global guidelines. Beyond the current rollout, dnata plans to use the deployment as a live testbed to experiment with different models of autonomous ground handling. The goal is to determine the most effective approach for a broader implementation—especially as DWC expands toward becoming the world's largest airport, with a projected capacity of 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo annually, 'While autonomous vehicles have largely been limited to trials, this deployment brings the technology into regular, day-to-day operations,' said Jaffar Dawood, Divisional Senior Vice President for UAE Airport Operations at dnata. 'As global travel continues to rebound and operational demands increase, automation could be key to building smarter, safer and more resilient infrastructure.' TractEasy CEO Rich Reno added, 'TractEasy is proud and excited to partner with an industry leader like dnata and blaze a safe and efficient autonomous trail for others to follow.' Masdar City begins testing Level 4 autonomous shuttles On July 11, 2025, The initiative is being conducted under the oversight of Abu Dhabi's Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), which is ensuring all regulatory, safety, and compliance standards are met. The project forms part of Abu Dhabi's broader strategy to foster smart mobility solutions across the emirate. Level 4 automation allows a vehicle to operate without human input within a geofenced zone—representing a major leap in AV technology and usability. Masdar City, already known as a hub for sustainability and clean tech, houses the Smart Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster. The city is positioning itself as a global testbed for autonomous vehicle innovation by inviting leading global manufacturers to trial Level 4 AVs within its integrated urban ecosystem. This effort further solidifies the UAE's ambitions to lead in smart and sustainable urban transport. Dubai RTA to launch 50 autonomous taxis in 2025 In a separate move to advance smart mobility, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Baidu's Apollo Go, the Chinese autonomous ride-hailing pioneer, to begin trials of 50 autonomous taxis across Dubai by the end of 2025. The deployment marks the beginning of an operational phase that will prepare for full public service launch in 2026. Under the agreement, Baidu will bring its sixth and latest generation autonomous taxi, the RT6, to Dubai. Each vehicle is equipped with over 40 sensors and detectors to ensure full Level 4 autonomy and optimal passenger safety. The RT6 The project will begin with data collection and testing, gradually scaling up to 1,000 autonomous taxis over the next three years, based on performance and service quality standards. The parallel efforts by dnata, Masdar City, and the RTA signal the UAE's accelerated push to integrate autonomous vehicles into its infrastructure—both on the ground and at airports. From baggage handling tractors at DWC to self-driving taxis and smart city shuttles, these initiatives underscore the country's ambition to lead the global race in autonomous mobility.
The Independent
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
Bentley's dog-friendly concept previews new electric urban SUV
Bentley is heading to an electric future, and this concept gives us our biggest clues yet what it will look like. The Bentley EXP 15 is a futuristic three-seat grand tourer concept that looks to the future while tipping its hat to the past. This is not a car you'll see on the road any time soon – or ever, in fact. Like all EXP models (EXP standing for Experimental Prototype) this one is a statement of intent, not a showroom model. But it's a bold and brilliant one, offering a taste of where Bentley is headed as it embarks on its journey into electrification with its all-electric urban SUV due to be unveiled next year. Inspired by the legendary 1930 Bentley Speed Six Gurney Nutting Coupe – better known as the 'Blue Train' – the EXP 15's proportions are unmistakably grand. There's a long 'endless' bonnet, a rearward-set cabin and a proud upright grille. It's every inch the grand tourer of Bentley lore, albeit wrapped in some very 21st-century tech and style. Just like the original Blue Train car that famously raced across France faster than the train it was named after, the EXP 15 has performance in its DNA – even if we don't yet know the numbers. It's imagined as a fully electric, all-wheel-drive machine, capable of covering big miles in silence and style, with a long range and fast charging. What you can see, though, is dramatic. The front grille remains large and iconic – despite not needing to feed air to a combustion engine – and now acts as a digital canvas lit up with intricate LED detailing. Slim lights frame it like jewellery, while a new 'prestigious shield' tailgate design and muscular rear haunches make for a powerful stance. Active aerodynamics, including deployable spoilers and a rear diffuser, show Bentley is serious about EV efficiency. Perhaps the most intriguing part of EXP 15 is the inside. Bentley's interior designers have let their imaginations off the leash and the result is a remarkable fusion of old-school craftsmanship and the very latest tech. The three-seat layout places the driver and a rear seat behind one another on one side, while the passenger gets a throne-like perch with a canopy that can wrap around them for privacy. Naturally, that seat swivels outwards to aid graceful exits. Then there's the tech. A huge dashboard spans the cabin, capable of switching from digital interface to beautiful wood veneer at the touch of a button. Nestled within is the so-called 'mechanical marvel' – a delightful centrepiece of moving illuminated fingers that's part art installation, part instrument cluster. It's Bentley's way of blending the physical and digital, and it works a treat. Even the boot gets in on the act – lift the rear hatch and you'll find not just storage but picnic seating, an ambient lamp and a fridge for chilled drinks. It's glamping, Bentley-style. Material choices are equally imaginative. A 100% wool textile by Fox Brothers – the firm behind thorn-proof cloth for centuries – features in a damson ombre finish, paired with 3D-printed titanium trim. A fine silk jacquard from Gainsborough Textiles – another British heritage brand – lines parts of the interior, while a new aluminium-based paint finish called pallas gold adds a liquid metal sheen to the bodywork. Cleverly, it's thin enough to let radar signals pass through it, making it future proof for autonomy, too. Bentley design boss Robin Page said 'the beauty of a concept car is not just to position our new design language, but to test where the market's going. It's clear that SUVs are a growing segment and we understand the GT market – through four generations of the Continental GT – but the trickiest segment is the sedan because it's changing. Some customers want a classic 'three-box' sedan shape, others a 'one-box' design, and others again something more elevated. So this was a chance for us to talk to people and get a feeling.' The exterior follows five design principles that will inform Bentley's future production cars: Upright Elegance, Iconic Grille, Endless Bonnet Line, Resting Beast stance, and Prestigious Shield. There's even a nod to thoroughbred horses in the car's silhouette – gently upright and poised like a champion ready to gallop. Inside, the guiding themes are just as poetic: Wing Gesture design for the dashboard; Bold Gravitas for generous surfaces and real materials; Cocooning Haven for comfort and privacy; Iconic Details like knurled switches and diamond patterns; and Magical Fusion – the blend of digital and mechanical that makes this interior so special. As ever with Bentley, it's not just about looking good – it's about feeling good. EXP 15 is designed to be thoughtful, intuitive and luxurious in equal measure. Whether it's adjusting to your mood, accommodating your pet or serving up a fridge-chilled drink from the boot, this concept has all bases covered. So no, you won't be able to buy the EXP 15 – but you will see bits of it again, especially in next year's Luxury Urban SUV, which will be the first reimagined production Bentley for the electric age.
Auto Car
a day ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
WATCH: New Range Rover EV prototype on test
Close This is the new electric Range Rover, in still-secret prototype form. And we've driven it off-road. Join Matt Saunders here as he guides you through the new Range Rover EV's technical details, some of which are still to be confirmed. What we can tell you is that it'll have two motors, one at each end, totalling 542bhp. There's a 118kWh battery underneath the car too, which because it's a stressed element helps make this the strongest Range Rover yet built. It may well be the heaviest too, but we'll know more about that when final details are released, ahead of the car's launch this coming autumn. For now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the sound of silence as this exceptionally quiet EV goes about its off-roading business. Watch the video by clicking above.
