Nother CarGuy

The brand new Volkswagen Golf is officially here, with the German carmaker finally sharing all the specs and images we’ve been waiting for, following a live unveiling event in Wolfsburg. Unlike any other Golf before it, the Mk8 will be available in no fewer than five hybrid drive iterations, two of which will be plug-in hybrids, each with a new 13 kWh lithium-ion battery that allows for 60 km (37 miles) of zero emissions driving. Before we get into its specs, let’s talk design and measurements. The all-new Golf is 4,284 mm (168.6 inches) long, 1,789 mm (70.4 inches) wide and 1,456 mm (57.3 inches) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,636 mm (103.7 inches). Compared to the Mk7, the new model is a little bit longer and shorter, with a slightly larger wheelbase. The body also doesn’t just look sharper, it literally is, lowering the end face to 2.21 m2 and the drag coefficient to 0.275. Overall though, there’s no mistaking the Mk8 for anything other than a Golf, and if you’ve been follo...

Mazda has unveiled its first mass-production electric vehicle in the form of the Mazda MX-30 on the eve of the Tokyo Motor Show. The Japanese car manufacturer says the MX-30 features a single front-mounted electric motor receiving juice from a 35.5 kWh battery pack in the floor that’s said to be good for around 124 miles (200 km) of range. Mazda is yet to specify all that many details about the vehicle’s powertrain although we know that recent prototypes of the MX-30 have delivered 142 hp and 194 lb-ft of torque from the aforementioned electric motor. Underpinning the vehicle is Mazda’s e-SkyActiv platform and the car comes loaded with a bunch of safety features. For example, there is Smart Brake Support (autonomous emergency braking) with Turn-Across Traffic detection using a millimeter-wave radar and forward-facing camera. There is also a Road Keep Assist function that is able to detect soft road edges where there isn’t a line marking. An advanced Blind Spot Assist system h...

Nissan says the Ariya Concept “signals the dawn of a new era” for the brand as it “embarks to redefine its brand philosophy for the next evolutionary phase of the automobile.” That’s a bold mission statement from the company and it’s fitting that the vehicle is quite the head-turner. Nissan is previewing a new design philosophy with the Ariya Concept, taking design inspiration from the IMx Concept of 2017’s Tokyo Motor Show and adding some bold new elements. At the front, you will find a bold front ‘shield’ in place of the front grille you would ordinarily find in an ICE vehicle. The car rolls on a set of 21-inch aluminum wheels and also features a rear-end quite a bit different than traditional SUVs thanks to steeply raked C-pillars. “A new vehicle architecture means fresh opportunities to redefine how vehicles interact with society, how an EV paired with advanced driving capabilities can offer a new perspective,” Nissan senior vice president of global design Alfonso Albaisa...

This is the Lexus LF-30 Electrified Concept, created by the Japanese car manufacturer as a vision for an upcoming generation of electrified vehicles. It will premiere at this Tokyo Motor Show. Immediately distinguishing the LF-30 Electrified Concept from most other EVs, whether they are production models or concepts, is the fact that it features in-wheel electric motors at all four corners to deliver a combined 536 hp. The use of in-wheel electric motors provides superb handling characteristics aided by Lexus Advanced Posture Control technology that regulates the driver-power output from the high-power electric motors. The car can also be driven in front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and rear-wheel drive modes depending on the driving conditions. The Lexus LF-30 Electrified Concept imagines a world where chunky charging cables are no longer required for EVs as it features advanced wireless charging technology. Another technology found is an advanced autonomous driving system ...

The world premiere of the all-new Honda Fit / Jazz at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show was followed shortly by the European reveal of the 2020 Jazz. Coming exclusively as a hybrid in Europe, the fourth-generation Honda Jazz will offer for the first time a high-riding Crosstar version alongside the regular body style. The 2020 Jazz will also inaugurate Honda’s e:HEV powertrain badging in Europe, part of the e:Technology branding that will be featured on all future electrified products of the Japanese brand. Honda wants all its European mainstream models to feature electrified powertrains by 2022. The all-new Honda Jazz packs a two-motor hybrid powertrain as standard for the first time. No specs were released but Honda claims the new powertrain offers “an exceptional blend of strong and effortless driving performance and impressive fuel economy.” Newly developed for the Jazz, the hybrid system is also said to provide “a smooth, responsive and direct driving feel.” Honda also promise...

Sedans might be a far cry from the dominant force they once were having fallen victims to the popularity of crossovers and SUVs, but BMW still thinks they’re worth their time. In fact, they believe in them so much so that they’ve expanded their range with not one but two premium small sedans, as after the four-door 1-Series, they’re now presenting the sportier 2 Series Gran Coupe. And unlike the 1-Series sedan that’s not available in the U.S (though, it did arrive in Mexico), this one will be sold in America and Canada, among other global markets, in 228i xDrive and M235i xDrive forms. The first two things you’ll need to know about the 2 Series Gran Coupe (GC) is that it’s a direct competitor to the Mercedes-Benz CLA and that it’s not related to the rear-wheel drive 2-Series Coupe and Convertible, but to the front-wheel drive 1-Series hatchback launched earlier this year, as well as the latest X1 and X2 crossovers. However, while other markets will get both FWD and AWD models...

Toyota has officially unveiled its all-new Yaris subcompact hatch in both Japanese and European specifications. The fourth-generation Yaris is the first application of the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) in the segment, with the new modular platform being code-named the GA-B. It enables significant improvements for the small hatchback in all areas, including styling, practicality, mechanical, technology and safety, and also helps reduce the car’s weight by up to 50 kg (110 lbs). The all-new Yaris features a much more emotional design than its predecessor, with more dramatic proportions thanks to it being shorter, wider and lower. Bucking the trend of most new cars, the 2020 Yaris loses 5 mm (0.2 in) in length and 40 mm (1.6 in) in height. However, it adds millimeters where it counts, namely the wheelbase (+50 mm / 2 in) and width (+50 mm / 2 in). This results in a roomier interior (the seats are mounted lower so headroom is not affected) and is a prerequisite for impr...

Porsche is extending its electric sports saloon’s range with the addition of the new Taycan 4S, which slots below the Turbo and Turbo S. The new Taycan 4S will offer up to 522 HP (530 PS) in overboost, but customers will be given the option of a Performance Battery Plus package that raises the output during overboost to 563 HP (571 PS). This makes it 100 HP less powerful than its 671 HP Turbo sibling and 187 HP shy of the range-topping Turbo S that can go up to 750 HP. As standard, the new Taycan 4S is fitted with a 79.2 kWh battery pack, which provides a 252-mile (405 km) driving range. If, however, you opt for the aforementioned Performance Battery Plus package, you’ll get a bigger 93.4 kWh unit that lifts the driving range to up to 287 miles (462 km), according to the WLTP testing cycle. Maximum charging capacity is 225kW with the standard battery and 270kW for the Performance Battery Plus version. Both models hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.0 seconds flat, while top speed is...

Toyota has revealed the 2021 Mirai Concept, essentially a production-ready preview of the second iteration of the brand’s hydrogen fuel-cell electric sedan that will go on sale in select markets in late 2020. The original Mirai that debuted in 2015 had many things going for it, including being the first production hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) offered for sale to retail customers in North America, but desirability was not one of them. With the new model, Toyota is rebooting the series with a more coupe- and Lexus- (and less Prius-) inspired design, while surprisingly ditching the first Mirai’s more common front-wheel drive architecture for a sportier rear-wheel drive setup, all in the name of creating a more desirable car. Yoshikazu Tanaka, Chief Engineer of the Mirai, explains: “We have pursued making a car that customers feel like driving all the time, a car that has emotional and attractive design appeal, as well as dynamic and responsive driving performance...

VW just unveiled the all-new 2020 Atlas Cross Sport as a shorter, lower and arguably more stylish version of its regular mid-size SUV. In terms of size, the Cross Sport is 2.8 inches (7.1 cm) shorter than the current Atlas, and sits 2.3 inches (5.8 cm) lower. However, its wheelbase is identical, allowing for generous space inside – 111.8 cu.ft (3,165 liters) of passenger space with 40.3 cu.ft (1,141 liters) of luggage space. Fold down the second row and you get a massive 77.8 cu.ft (2,203 liters). “Building off the success of the Atlas seven-seater midsize SUV, we see an opportunity for a five-seater model that offers even more style and almost as much interior space,” said VW Group of America CEO, Scott Keogh. “We look forward to entering this growing segment with the Atlas Cross Sport, which offers outstanding Volkswagen technology, driver-assist features, style, and value.” Aesthetically, the Cross Sport has a sleeker profile than the Atlas thanks to the raked rear pilla...