Electric Caterham Seven concept breaks cover

Gareth Herincx

3 days ago
Auto News

Caterham EV Seven

Caterham’s first electric car will make its public debut in July at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The EV Seven showcases a future battery electric Caterham and uses a 51kWh immersion cooled battery pack capable of up to 152kW rapid charging.

Just as importantly, the battery results in a weight increase of less than 70kg compared to the current production Seven it is based upon.

Caterham says the EV Seven to be capable of a 20-15-20 track drive cycle. In other words, it will have the ability to drive on track for 20 minutes, then recharge in 15 minutes with enough energy to drive for a further 20 minutes.

The EV Seven is being developed in partnership with Swindon Powertrain, the engine developers for the Seven JPE from the early 1990s.

“Any future EV model we produce must be true to the DNA of a Caterham: lightweight, fun-to-drive and driver focused,” said Bob Laishley, CEO of Caterham.

“We do not have plans to put EV Seven into production at this stage – it’s a test bed to see how well an EV powertrain works for our customers’ specific use cases.

“We’re doing this project with our eyes wide open so that we can learn how to deliver the specific Caterham vehicle attributes necessary for a Seven: lightweight, simple and fun to drive.

“We’re going to bring this to market at the right time, when the future generation of battery technology allows it, and that’s why now is the time for us to trial the concept.”

EV Seven Specification

Vehicle Caterham EV Seven
Motor Bespoke Swindon HPDE E Axle
Transmission Single-speed, two-stage reduction with bespoke ratio
Final Drive Limited slip differential
Battery 51kWh (40kWh usable) – Immersion cooled battery
Charging Up to 152Kw DC fast charge
Chassis Large chassis
Dimensions (L: 3,350mm, W: 1,685mm, H: 1,115mm)
Max Power (bhp / rpm) 240bhp @ 9,000rpm
Max Torque (Nm / rpm) 250Nm @ 0rpm
Weight <700 kg
Performance (0 – 60 mph) 4.0 seconds (estimated)
Power-To-Weight ~ 340 bhp-per-tonne
Top Speed 130 mph (estimated)
Suspension Bilstein adjustable (from 420 Cup)
Wheels 13” Apollo Black Alloy (6” front and 8” rear)
Tyres Avon ZZR
Brakes Ventilated discs with quad-piston calipers
Steering Rack and pinion, 1.93 turns lock-to-lock

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Hyundai Ioniq 6 review

Hyundai Ioniq 6 review

We road test the sensational new Hyundai Ioniq 6 – a boldly-styled EV marketed as a ‘streamliner’…

Hyundai is absolutely smashing it out of the park at the moment. Hot on the heels of the latest i10 city car, Tucson Hybrid SUV and crowd-pleasing Ioniq 5, comes the Ioniq 6.

Inspired by aerodynamic style icons of the 20th Century, this slippery four-door saloon may have divisive looks, but believe me, it is one of the best electric cars on the market.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 review

I’m not alone either, because it was crowned overall World Car of the Year 2023, plus it won the World Electric Vehicle and World Car Design of the Year categories.

Slightly longer than the Tesla Model 3, its other rivals include the Polestar 2 and BMW i4.

Currently only available with a large 77.4kWh battery, the Ioniq 6 has a driving range of up to 338 miles (rear-wheel drive) or 322 miles (all-wheel drive).

Hyundai Ioniq 6 review

The single motor RWD develops 226bhp and 258lb ft of torque and is capable of 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds, while the twin-motor AWD delivers 320bhp and 446lb ft, resulting in a faster 0-62mph time of 5.1 seconds.

Featuring an 800V charging system providing 350kW compatibility, it can be used at the fastest chargers currently available.

So, expect the Ioniq 6 to charge to 80% in around 20 minutes when connected to a 350kW ultra-rapid connection. And if you have a home wallbox, you’ll be able to charge overnight, while a boost to 80% via a 50kW public charger will take one hour 13 minutes.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 review

Sharing its underpinnings with the award-winning (more angular) Hyundai Ioniq 5 crossover, the 6 has an ultra-low drag coefficient of 0.21, which boosts performance and optimises efficiency.

Priced from £47,040, there’s a choice of two generously-equipped trim levels (Premium and Ultimate).

The Ioniq 6 is futuristic inside too, with dual 12.3-inch screens – a driver’s digital instrument panel and a central infotainment display.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 review

Thankfully it’s not totally minimalist either. For instance, there are small touch-sensitive buttons for the climate controls in a separate panel beneath the touchscreen. These are a tad fiddly, but much better than having to swipe through menus on a touchscreen.

Overall, the quality of the interior is a step up from the Ioniq 5, while the seats are comfortable and there are plenty of soft-touch surfaces.

There’s also ample space inside front and rear, though taller rear passengers (6ft and over) might struggle for headroom, thanks to that sweeping roofline. The 401-litre boot capacity is very useful too, and you can flip the back seats to transport longer objects.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 review

A special mention for the Ioniq 6’s distinctive ‘Parametric Pixels’. There are 700 in all and you can find then in the headlights, rear lights, front sensors, air damper trim, centre console indicator and third brake light. In fact, the rear wing light signature when braking is something else.

I got behind the wheel of a Premium spec model with all-wheel drive. Naturally, the seating position is lower than a crossover, though personally I would prefer it lower still.

Right from the off, the whole cabin experience is smooth and refined. Not only does the Ioniq 6 float over most potholes – it’s whisper quiet too.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 review

It was lashing down with rain for much of my test time, but the car never felt anything other than planted, with abundant grip and effortless power.

It’s surprisingly agile when you push it on more challenging roads with well controlled body lean, while the steering is nicely weighted.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 review

At its best cruising along, there are three drive modes – Eco, Normal and Sport. As ever, Normal is the best compromise between performance and economy. And if you want extra regenerative braking, then flick one of the steering-wheel-mounted paddles.

Hard to tell without spending more time with the car, but the claimed range seemed realistic based on mixed driving.

As you’d expect with a modern EV, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 was awarded a maximum five stars when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP.

Hyundai Ioniq 6

It’s also fitted with Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2), which is Level 2 autonomous driving. The system helps to maintain a set distance and speed from the vehicle ahead when driving on faster roads and motorways and helps to centre the vehicle in the lane while driving. It can even overtake the vehicle in front.

Verdict: If you want to stand out from the crowd with a retro-mod, low slung EV saloon, then the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is the car for you. Safe, spacious, sophisticated and serene, it delivers a long range and is quite simply, one of the most impressive electric vehicles on the road.

Hyundai UK

Revealed: Alpine’s first electric hot hatch

Gareth Herincx

1 day ago
Auto News

Alpine A290 concept car

Alpine has unveiled its first ‘lifestyle’ model – the concept for the much-anticipated A290.

The exciting new car made its debut at an historic hangar in Bristol – birthplace of Concorde, the Anglo-French supersonic airliner.

Alpine F1 stars Pierre Gasley and Esteban Ocon

Alpine’s Formula one drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, who are helping to develop the A290, put the show car through its paces.

Kick-starting the sporty French brand’s push to become mainstream,the EV hot hatch is based on its cousin, the upcoming Renault 5 EV.

Alpine A290 concept car

Alpine CEO, Laurent Rossi, described the A290 as the first page of a new chapter.

“This car will have a big mission,” he said. “It will have to perpetuate the racing brand legacy of Alpine. The brand is born from racing, made by racers, for racers at heart.”

Alpine A290 concept car

Despite its more rounded shape, there’s no hiding the Alpine’s DNA. Other differences include a duck-tail-style rear spoiler, a small lip on the bootlid and Alpine’s four-light signature up front.

Even though it will share its basic underpinnings with the Renault 5 EV, it’s expected the Alpine will get a power boost and a more dynamic set-up.

Alpine currently only sells the A110 sports car, but is planning to launch the A290, alongside the successor to the A110, plus an all-new crossover.

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Kia Soul EV review

Kia Soul EV 2023

We road test the latest versions of the quirky Kia Soul EV – the long range Explore and Urban commuter…

It’s fair to say that the Kia Soul has always been something of a left-field choice.

Originally launched in 2008, it’s now in its third generation. Over the years the Soul’s divisive looks have been softened and it’s now more cool than weird.

However, it remains difficult to categorise its boxy design because it has elements of a hatchback and crossover.

Kia Soul EV 2023

One thing is for sure, there’s bags of head and legroom in the front and back. And while the boot isn’t the biggest (315 litres), with the rear seats flipped down the load space expands to 1,339 litres.

An electric version of the Soul has been available in the UK since 2014. Back then, it had a modest 27kWh battery pack with a claimed range of 132 miles.

The latest model (launched in 2020) is only available as an EV (no petrol, diesel or hybrid variants). New for 2023, there are now two models – Urban or Explore.

The main difference between the two is that the former has a small 39.2kWh battery pack, while Explore boasts a 64kWh battery. Claimed ranges are 171 miles and 280 miles respectively.

Kia Soul EV 2023

We drove them both over a couple of days and those range figures are realistic. In fact, in the right conditions with a bit of restraint, it may even be possible to squeeze more miles out of a Soul.

Priced from £32,845, Urban provides an entry-level EV for Kia. It’s also significantly cheaper than Explore, which starts at £39,045.

As well as the new battery options, the Soul has also received the lightest of exterior makeovers. From what we could see, the bold new Kia badge is now integrated into the horizonal trim linking the slim LED headlights and there’s also a new Kia logo on the boot, while the tail-light clusters appear to have a darker tint.

Kia Soul EV 2023

Except for an infotainment system update, it’s much the same inside as before. In other words, it’s a fairly generic old school Kia interior with a ‘black plastic’ look and feel, paired with a ‘traditional’ central infotainment screen and driver’s digital instrument binnacle.

We say ‘traditional’ because the Soul’s newer stablemates (the Sportage, Niro and EV6), all benefit from futuristic dual panoramic curved displays.

That’s not to say that the Soul’s infotainment system is poor, because it’s certainly not. It’s clear and responsive, but just lacks the wow factor of its younger siblings.

Kia Soul EV 2023

However, like the rest of its interior, it is starting to look a bit dated.

For the record, the Urban gets a small 8.0-inch touchscreen and a 7.0-inch driver’s digital cluster, while the Explore is treated to a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen with sat nav.

Both the Urban and Explore models are generously equipped, with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), a reversing camera, lane-keep assist, LED headlights, a smart entry system and adaptive cruise control all standard. Explore adds goodies including black leather upholstery, heated front seats and heated steering wheel.

Kia Soul EV 2023

Under the bonnet the 39.2kWh battery pack is paired with a 134bhp electric motor, while the 64kWh version gets a 201bhp motor. Drive is through the front wheels on both models.

The latter is faster (0-62mph in 7.9 seconds, top speed of 104mph), compared to 9.9 sec/97mph for the Urban Soul.

On the road, there doesn’t seem to be much between the two in terms of acceleration because the less powerful Urban’s battery weighs 140kg less. In fact, on a loose or slippery surface, it’s possible to spin the Soul’s front wheels if you floor your right foot.

Kia Soul EV 2023

That said, there is a more noticeable difference when it comes to handling, because the lighter Urban feels slightly more agile.

Whichever version you choose, you’ll get a smooth, whisper-quiet EV experience, spiced up with a bit of instant torque.

For a relatively tall car, body roll is well controlled. And though the ride is on the firm side, it’s perfectly acceptable, while grip is good for a front-wheel drive car.

So, the Soul doesn’t deliver the most engaging drive, but it can have its fun moments.

Kia Soul EV 2023

There are four driving modes – Eco, Eco , Normal and Sport – and the latter is properly fast, but as ever, Normal will do just fine. Eco and Eco are heavy on regenerative braking, which recharges the battery by harvesting power otherwise wasted during deceleration, but tends to dull the further dulls the driving experience.

If you do stick with Normal, then use the paddles behind the steering wheel to adjust the level of brake regeneration, especially on downhill sections or when slowing down from speed for a junction.

Kia Soul EV 2023

Ultimately, the Soul EV is more about being affordable, a doddle to drive, well-equipped, comfortable and practical. Judged on that basis, it ticks all the right boxes.

Finally, the batteries on both versions can be charged from 10-80% in 47 minutes via a 100kW connection, while a 10-100% charge on a 7kW wallbox takes six hours – ideal for charging overnight at home or during the day at a workplace.

At the end of the day, if you like its looks, the Soul is very capable and an easy car to live with. Plus, it comes with peace of mind because like all Kia cars, it’s blessed with a generous seven-year warranty.

Verdict: The Kia Soul is a quirky family EV choice. Offering good value for money, it’s spacious, safe and well-equipped.

Kia UK

Meet the MG Cyberster EV sports car

Gareth Herincx

2 days ago
Auto News

MG Cyberster EV sports car

The all-new, all-electric MG Cyberster has been announced at Auto Shanghai 2023.

The exciting two-seat roadster marks a much-anticipated return to sports car production for the now Chinese-owned MG marque.

MG Cyberster EV sports car

“Our intention was to create a completely new roadster ready for a new generation of sports car drivers and which opens a bold and compelling new chapter for M,” said Carl Gotham, Advanced Design Director of the company’s Marylebone design studio in London.

“The focus for Cyberster was to create a design that was respectful of the brand’s illustrious past and to bring back that sporting bloodline, while also being absolutely clear that it should be modern and forward-facing like the MG of today, completely in-tune with the rapid transition to electric vehicles.”

MG Cyberster EV sports car

The Cyberster’s styling pays homage to much-admired roadsters from MG’s rich heritage, with its distinctive long bonnet, low nose and curvaceous surfaces, while also introducing striking new features such as its distinctive scissor doors and Kammback rear design.

“This is the perfect time to introduce an MG that completely reconnects with our performance DNA and is designed to enthral the driver on every level,” said Guy Pigounakis, MG Motor UK’s Commercial Director.

“MG is all set for an electric, sporting future and it is the perfect way to start celebrating our 100th anniversary.”

The Cyberster is expected to arrive for sale in the UK and Europe in the summer of 2024.

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