Latest news with #electricvehicle
The Sun
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Inside minuscule EV with top speed of 56mph that costs just £21k – it's the perfect travel companion for summer
A FOUR-WHEELED electric bubble car manufactured by a Swiss company makes the perfect companion for a seaside trip. Micro, the maker of the adorable quadricycles, has unveiled a new Spiaggina version last year. 4 4 4 Spiaggina is the latest version of Microlino, a tiny battery-powered bubble car introduced in 2022. The microcar sports a 17bhp e-motor and can reach a top speed of 56mph. Spiaggina comes in two colours, reminiscent of Italian seaside towns - Portofino Blue and Sardinia Sage. If you'd like to enjoy a sea breeze during your drive, the quadricycle can lose its rear and side windows while the canvas roof can be removed entirely. The minuscule EV is equipped with a front-opening door and externally mounted headlights as well as a trunk. Inside, it features a simplistic but elegant design with vegan leather seats in a two-tone colour. The seat material is the same as the one often used in sailing yachts which means it's moisture-resistant too. With a 10.5kWh battery, the Spiaggina can survive up to 110 miles without recharge. Once out of juice, it only takes four hours at a home socket to regain its battery entirely. Microlino will also offer Cool and Connect package which includes a climate control system, a smartphone holder and a Bluetooth speaker. Iconic 90s Ferrari Jeremy Clarkson dubbed the 'greatest car in the world, ever' up for sale for eye-watering price The price for the Cool and Connect package is yet to be revealed. But The Spaggiana in its mid-range spec is currently available for £21,377. It comes after the Swiss firm's micro motors hit the UK streets last year. The manufacturer also plans to partner with major city authorities such as Transport for London to bring entire fleets of Microlinos to be hired, just like electric scooters and bicycles. Swiss inventor Wim Ouboter started creating Micro Scooters 25 years ago and transformed the way people get around. Since 1997, Ouboter's family-owned Micro Mobility Systems business has sold more than 50 million scooters in 30 varying models and generated over £600m.
Top Gear
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo Driving, Engines & Performance
Driving What is it like to drive? The chassis and suspension are identical to the standard Taycan and the estate is only 15kg heavier. And since we're talking about 2,310kg of mass, that weight difference is beyond negligible. So aside from the rear glass being further away in the rear view mirror, there's not much change for a driver to detect. Treat with extreme scepticism anyone who says the handling is more tail-happy because that 15kg extra mass is mostly over the rear axle. Advertisement - Page continues below Noted. Is this very much a sports estate then? It is. The Cross Turismo is a fairly racy crossover, and this is a fairly racy estate. However, the Cross Turismo is more languid, has detectable pitch and dive which we think actually suits the role of an estate car better. The Sport Turismo is slightly harder, sharper and more immediate. It has lovely steering and is immaculately behaved through corners, doing a very impressive job of disguising its mass and maintaining impressive body control over rough surfaces. Certainly crisper to drive than an Audi RS6. Does this only apply to the GTS? It applies to the GTS most of all, since this is – and probably always will be – the sportiest machine in the range. Not that other Sport Turismos drift that far from the template laid down by the GTS though. One thing about the GTS: it's the most rear-biased Taycan. Because of how the motors work, the GTS shuffles a greater proportion of torque to the rear axle than even the Turbo S. In fact as far as it can, it'll only send power to the rear axle, activating the front motor as it gets close to the fringes of grip. Advertisement - Page continues below Can you feel it? Not on the public road. But the Sport Turismo is a very well-balanced car. You'll get some understeer if you really hurl it along, but on the whole it grips tenaciously and behaves neutrally at the limit. You can up the ante with the Sport Turismo as well: £6,939 buys you the Dynamic Package that, alongside adjustable suspension, brings Porsche's phenomenal Active Ride technology which works to keep the body level no matter the forces working on it. It really impressed us in the Panamera, but the even lower centre of gravity here means it's not something we would consider a must fit. Same applies to the £7,230 PCCB ceramic brakes (which have gone almost £1,000 in the last four years). At least rear wheel steering is now standard, and helps give Taycans fitted with it crisper, more immediate turn-in. How's the powertrain? More polished than just about any other electric car out there, but where electric motors are concerned those margins are small. The background fake engine noise is actually pretty decent and the calibration of the throttle is brilliant – gives you faith in the car no matter what mode you're in or where you're driving. The GTS, as with all Taycans, is an effective deliverer of speed (0-62mph in 3.3secs, 100mph in 6.9secs – a whole second faster than the pre-facelift car). But that's with Launch Control's overboost function or keeping the push-to-pass button pressed. The rest of the time instead of 691bhp you have to make do with 597bhp. Don't stress. It's more than enough to put the hound in the boot on red alert. Highlights from the range the fastest 700kW Turbo S 105kWh 5dr Auto 0-62 2.4s CO2 0 BHP 938.7 MPG Price £163,200 the cheapest 320kW 105kWh 5dr RWD Auto [Revised] 0-62 4.8s CO2 0 BHP 429.1 MPG Price £89,200 the greenest 440kW 4S 105kWh 5dr Auto [5 Seat] [Revised] 0-62 3.7s CO2 0 BHP 590 MPG Price £97,570
Top Gear
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Buy Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo Price, PPC or HP
You still need to treat the sticker price as a jumping-off point, though. Get on the Porsche configurator and you'll see just how quickly and easily the price rises by thousands. It's hard to keep a base rear-drive £89,200 Sport Turismo below £100,000 once you've added a bit of spec. If you want a really sporting electric estate , there's nothing out there to beat the Taycan Sport Turismo. You'll pay a lot more for the Turbo models and besides yet more forceful power delivery, there's not much point. Leasing? Shop around and you might find somewhere willing to lease you a car for less than £1,000 a month after a £10k deposit, but read the small print very thoroughly indeed. The trouble is that all Taycans have suffered large depreciation recently. Well, that's true of all premium EVs in the UK. But for a while UK business tax regulations ensured we were the world's second biggest Taycan market after China, ahead of the USA and Germany. And that the Taycan was Porsche's number one seller in the UK ahead of the Macan and Cayenne. Those times have gone and when so many lease deals on 3-4 year old cars came up for renewal, used values hit the skids. We've got to assume not much is going to change with the facelifted car. On to more practical matters. Get a home charger installed and the running costs should be low – a full recharge from empty could cost as little as £7 if you get your overnight charging tariff right.
The Independent
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
New Genesis GV60 turns from Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde
Genesis is becoming the king of the blink-and-you'll-miss-it update. Its GV60 hatchback is the latest model to get an almost invisible nip and tuck. However, look beyond the minimal makeover and Genesis has boosted the GV60's dynamics with the aim of turning this mild-mannered machine into a super fast, drifting hot hatchback. Like its sister cars from the Hyundai family, the GV60 sits on the company E-GMP platform that has been updated to accommodate a larger 84kWh battery – up from 77kWh on the old GV60. That means a decent range bump – now up to a claimed maximum of 348 miles, a handy increase of 27 miles over the old car. What hasn't changed is the 10 to 80 per cent charging time of 18 minutes at charging speeds up to 240kW. It's the character of the GV60 that has changed the most, which is hinted at by a 0-62mph time of 4 seconds (unchanged from the previous model) using Genesis' now-familiar boost button on the steering wheel. However, the paddles behind the steering wheel – which used to adjust the brake generation – now have a naughty secret. Pull them both towards you at the same time and you'll unlock Drift Mode, turning the car into a demon drifter that you'll be able to use for lurid slides (on a suitable circuit, of course). The GV60 has clearly been taught a thing or two by the sporty Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. There's now a virtual gearshift that simulates the behaviour of a conventional gearbox using the paddles. New four-pot brakes are now standard across the range, while an electronic Limited Slip Differential and four-wheel drive can also be specified for greater traction out of corners. In spite of the newfound sense of fun, the GV60 has retained its premium looks – this still doesn't look like a sports car. New bumpers and the front and rear will be spotted by the eagle-eyed, while a new version of Genesis' two-line headlamps are probably more noticeable – just. There's now colour-coding on the wheel arches, bumper inserts and rear diffuser along with new alloy wheel designs and one new colour – Tromso Green Metallic – among the 14 options. Inside you'll spot the new 27in panel across the dash that merges the driver display and infotainment, while there's a new three-spoke steering wheel, heated, of course. Thankfully the show-stopping revolving Crystal Sphere gear selector remains in the centre console between the front seats. The Bang & Olufsen audio system has had an invisible upgrade, too – it still has 17 speakers but now features Dolby Atmos for an enhanced sound experience. There's also a new digital rear-view mirror, while some of the other tech has been improved and will continue to get updated through a new over-the-air update system. Prices have yet to be confirmed for the new GV60, but Genesis retailers will be taking orders from 1 July.
Auto Blog
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
2025 Genesis GV60 Unveiled With Surprising Updates You Won't Want to Miss Out On
Earlier today, Genesis Motor UK announced that its sole EV offering–the GV60 crossover–will benefit from a significant refresh for its 2025 model year. Inside, outside, and underneath, the 2025 Genesis GV60 gains not only cosmetic and functionality enhancements, but also new tech and mechanical improvements, including increased battery range and performance-focused upgrades. Order books open on July 1st in the UK. 0:05 / 0:09 2025 Nissan Z undercuts Toyota Supra by a surprising amount Watch More 2025 Genesis GV60 — Source: Genesis Stylish cosmetic changes make the 2025 Genesis GV60 more appealing than ever Tasked with competing against fierce rivals like the Lexus RZ, Acura ZDX, and the Cadillac Optiq, the 2025 Genesis GV60 gains some much-needed cosmetic improvements both inside and out. Starting outside, the refreshed GV60 gains new front and rear bumpers, which freshen up the polarizing crossover's looks and reduce drag for improved efficiency. The wheel arches are now color matched as well, resulting in a more cohesive exterior appearance. The Genesis GV60 gets some trendy new shoes, too, with two new 20-inch and 21-inch alloy wheel designs available to spice things up a notch. 2025 Genesis GV60 — Source: Genesis Inside, the Genesis GV60's cabin receives a full suite of new upholstery options allowing for more unique personalization, with interior themes including Obsidian Black, Glacier White & Ash Grey, Aqua Green & Galaxy Black, or Sky Blue & Prussian Blue. The stylish electric crossover's cockpit has been totally redesigned for its 2025 model year and features a brand new 27-inch connected car Integrated Cockpit (ccIC), which combines infotainment and driver information into one large panoramic screen, further contributing to the Genesis GV60's enhanced aesthetic cohesiveness. The cockpit also gains a new, three-spoke heated steering wheel with Hands-On Detection, and a Bang & Olufsen high fidelity 17-speaker surround sound system, equipped with Dolby Atmos, is available as an optional extra for the hardcore audiophiles out there. 2025 Genesis GV60 The 2025 Genesis GV60 has improved battery range and is vastly more engaging to drive For its 2025 model year, the Genesis GV60 now comes standard with the automaker's new 84kWh battery, allowing for up to 348 miles of range in two-wheel drive models, and a charge time from 10-80% in just 18 minutes using a 350kW fast charger. While these metrics are certainly admirable, we're much more excited about the feature that Genesis has borrowed from its high-performance cousin, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. That's right–for 2025, the Genesis GV60 gains the Ioniq 5 N's most lauded feature: a Virtual Gearshift (VGS) system, which 'simulates the behavior of a conventional gearbox and disables the regenerative braking system, allowing for a deeper level of control and engagement across different driving situations,' according to Genesis. 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. 2025 Genesis GV60 — Source: Genesis Going a step further, the GV60 can also be specified with a 'hidden Drift Mode feature,' which can be activated by pulling back both paddle shifters for over three seconds, thus 'enabling a dynamic drive mode with enhanced oversteer dynamics.' Genesis insists this feature is designed exclusively for closed-circuit conditions. The new GV60 also gains standard high-performance four-pot front brakes and can be optioned with an Electronic Limited Slip Differential (E-LSD) and 180kW dual electric motors, which send up to 700 N · m (~516 lb-ft) of torque to all four wheels. According to Genesis, the dual-motor GV60 can do 0-62mph in just 4.0 seconds when using Boost Mode. Final thoughts The 2025 Genesis GV60 brings exciting new updates to the Korean luxury automaker's sole EV offering, borrowing performance and driver-oriented features from the highly-lauded Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and adding visual enhancements that evoke the GV60's newfound athleticism to the eye. We're excited to see one of the most engaging features of any electric vehicle on the market–the Ioniq 5 N's Virtual Gearshift system–make its way into another model, and we're hopeful that this trend continues. After all, allowing drivers to take advantage of an all-electric powertrain without having to sacrifice the engagement of driving a vehicle with a conventional transmission is never a bad thing. Overall, Genesis seems to be moving in the right direction with the GV60, and we're excited to see what else the brand has in store in the coming months and years. About the Author Cole Attisha View Profile
