Nother CarGuy

Hyundai has unveiled the zero-emissions version of the Kona, making it the first electric sub-compact SUV to be offered in Europe. The new Hyundai Kona Electric will be available with two different powertrain configurations: the basic model will be powered by a 135PS electric motor that’s fed by a 39.2kWh battery pack, giving it an estimated driving range of up to 186 miles (300km) on the latest WLTP cycle. The long-range version ups the ante with a 204PS electric motor paired to a 64kWh battery pack. Hyundai expects the long-range Kona Electric to travel up to 292 miles (470km) between charges. Hyundai says that both versions of the new Kona Electric require around 54 minutes to charge their batteries to 80 percent using a 100kW DC fast charger. Short-range models are capable of a 0-62mph (100km/h) in 9.3 seconds while the more powerful long-range Kona EV drops that time down to 7.6 seconds. In both cases top speed is set at 103mph (167km/h). Hyundai has added...

Ford Performance revealed the all-new Drift Stick, the first-ever rally-inspired electronic handbrake, developed and designed for the Focus RS with the seal of approval by tire-smoke master Ken Block. The new Drift Stick was created by the same team responsible for the Focus RS’s infamous Drift mode. It’s basically an aluminum lever between the driver’s seat and manual transmission which opens the rear-drive unit’s clutches and applies hydraulic pressure to lock the rear wheels with a simple pull, just like a real rally car. “The passionate engineers at Ford Performance are also enthusiasts,” said Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance. “Everyone here is encouraged to think outside the box, so project ‘Wicked Stick’ was born. Our engineers will leverage the learnings from its development for many future products for Ford Performance and, ultimately, take back even more of an innovative spirit when they rejoin our mainstream engineering teams.” For the final sign-off, ...

MINI has taken the wraps off its new Electric concept. Set to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Electric concept was designed to appeal to city dwellers and offers a "window into how pure-electric day-to-day mobility might look in the years ahead." Looking like a futuristic MINI Cooper, the concept features a unique grille which is flanked by LED headlights and a sporty front bumper with "simulated air intakes.” The racy styling continues further back as designers installed flush-mounted door handles and fiberglass side skirts. There are also distinctive 19-inch wheels which have aerodynamic inlays that were created by using a 3D printer. The rear end is slightly more conventional as it boasts a tailgate-mounted spoiler and a fiberglass diffuser. MINI's British origins are also on display as the concept has bespoke LED taillights with Union Jack accents. Motivation is provided by an electric powertrain which uses a "powerful" m...

At this  week’s Paris Auto Show , Mercedes-Benz will give us a futuristic glimpse into its range of Tesla-fighting models with an all-electric crossover concept. To prepare us for the world premiere, the Germans dropped the first teaser of the as-of-yet unnamed study through a short video that highlights some of the crossover’s exterior and interior cues.  Mercedes recently said that the Paris show car embodies “a concrete vision of a totally new generation of vehicles with battery-electric drive” without getting into any other details. The concept, which is believed to make use of the aerodynamic features shown in last year’s  Concept Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile  (IAA), will lead to a production model with an electric range of around 500 km or over 300 miles, with a planned introduction in 2019. The zero-emissions SUV has been conceived to take on the Tesla Model X, as well as the forthcoming  electric crossovers from Audi  and  Jaguar ....

Have you been waiting for a new version of the  McLaren P1 ? Perhaps with an open roof, central driving position, and, say, an  electric powertrain ? Well we're glad to report that your day has come. But it's not exactly what you may have expected. The latest vehicle revealed by McLaren Automotive is a ride-on, Power Wheels-style  toy for kids . It's designed to look like the P1, only smaller. Much smaller.  It features the company's signature dihedral doors, a Volcano Yellow and black paintjob, and an onboard audio system that plays popular nursery rhymes. We'd even wager it's mostly made out of composites, even if they're toy-grade plastic (and not lightweight carbon fiber). As befits a McLaren, it takes just two seconds to reach its top speed – although that top speed is just 3 miles per hour. It does have a reverse gear, should your kid find him- or herself in the tire wall, and best of all, its price undercuts even  the entry-level 570S . The ride-on...

Smart’s world premieres for the  upcoming Paris Auto Show  are the pure electric versions of the  ForTwo Coupe  and Cabrio, and for the first time, the ForFour. All three models share the same electric motor producing 82hp (61kW / 83PS) and 160Nm (118 lb-ft) of torque in European specification, allowing for a 0-100km/h (62mph) time of 11.5 sec in the ForTwo Coupe, 11.8 sec in the ForTwo Cabrio and 12.5 sec in the ForFour. Top speed is electronically limited to 130 km/h (80 mph) on all three cars to help maximize efficiency. A Renault-sourced, single speed fixed gear transmission drives the rear wheels, and if you’re wondering, for reverse, the gearbox simple changes the engine's direction of rotation. A 17.6kWh lithium-ion battery offers a driving range of 160km (100 miles) in the ForTwo Coupe, and 155km (96 miles) in the other two, with a charging time of 2.5 hours in the USA and Britain, which is half as long as the previous electric Smarts. In Germany where a d...