Ford has released UK-specific pricing and trim level details for the new, third-generation Kuga SUV. It’s priced from £23,995, with priority deliveries of the high-spec First Edition models early next year. The base price gets you in a Zetec model powered by a 118bhp 1.5-litre Ecoboost petrol motor. Further trims include Titanium (from £27,245), ST-Line (from £29,345), ST-Line X (from £30,645) and flagship Vignale (from £31,945). All Kugas come as standard with the FordPass Connect embedded modem, wireless phone charging and “advanced driver assistance and safety features”, but First Edition variants of Titanium and ST-Line models bring a BO sound system and the driver’s assistance pack. Further engine options include a more powerful 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol and 1.5 and 2.0-litre diesels, the latter of which is also available in 187bhp form or 148bhp form with a mild hybrid system. A new plug-in hybrid option is also available from £33,095 in Titanium form – the same price as the higher-powered 2.0-litre diesel. The new Kuga has been redesigned from the ground up in a bid to attract more buyers in the still-booming family SUV sector, and the new model will be offered with plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid powertrains, along with conventional petrol and diesel offerings. As the firm ramps up its European business restructuring SUVs such as the Kuga will play a crucial role. “1 in 3 sales across Europe are SUVs, and for us it’s 1 in 5 – we want to change that.” Jorg Beyer, managing director of product development, told Autocar. The hybrid line-up in particular is expected to be key to attracting new customers. Ford has beaten many of its rivals to market with its plug-in option, which mates a 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine with an electric motor and 10.3kWh battery pack to deliver 222bhp. The model can travel up to 34 miles on electric range alone, giving it an official economy figure of 201mpg on the WLTP cycle in PHEV operating mode (or 43.5mpg WLTP with no charge in the battery), with CO2 emissions of 29g/km. Buyers will also able to choose a self-charging hybrid set-up, akin to the Prius’s hybrid system, which links the 2.5-litre petrol engine to an electric motor and smaller battery to deliver 50.4mpg and 130g/km. A 48V mild-hybrid set-up is mated to a 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel option to offer 56.5mpg and 132g/km. Conventional 1.5-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel variants are also available, mated to either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearbox. Two and all-wheel drive options feature. Also striking is the new, more sophisticated and less boxy look of the third-generation Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson rival. The styling moves Ford’s design language another step on from the more contoured lines of the latest Fiesta and Focus. The interior also follows those cars, delivering an uncluttered, sweeping look despite the raft of technological functions that are offered, the majority of which are controlled through the central touchscreen. The Kuga sits on the same C2 platform as the new Focus, being longer, wider and having a larger wheelbase – and therefore improved stability and dynamics – than the car it replaces. The platform is also said to be 10% torsionally stiffer than the outgoing car’s, as well as supporting the basis for a more aerodynamic design and allowing weight savings of up to 90kg over today’s model. In particular, the new Kuga is said to deliver more interior room than before, including what Ford says is class-leading space for rear-seat passengers thnks to an 89mm length increase. In the front, occupants get 43mm more shoulder room and 57mm more hip room than in the current model, while in the rear there is a 20mm increase in shoulder room and 36mm more hip room, while the seats, split 70:30, slide fore and aft as standard. This increased rear accommodation has been achieved in part by setting the dashboard closer to the engine bay bulkhead and positioned more upright than before, allowing front seat passengers to be seated farther forward. Despite sporting a dramatic, sloping roofline and an overall height that is lower by 20mm than that of the outgoing car, the new Kuga also offers 13mm more head room in the front and 35mm in the rear, thanks to clever interior packaging. New technology for the Kuga includes FordPass Connect, which can provide wi-fi connectivity for up to 10 devices, a head-up display, wireless charging for a phone, a system that automatically brakes the car if it drives forwards or backwards into crossing traffic and a self-parking system that can parallel park or drive into a space perpendicular to the car at the push of a button. A hands-free boot-opening system, which is operated by waving your foot under the rear bumper, is also available. A radar and camera-guided system that detects slower-moving and stationary vehicles, and which will automatically steer around them to avoid a
Origin: New 2020 Ford Kuga SUV: UK pricing and specs revealed
2020
Nissan’s 2020 Qashqai starts at $21,498 in Canada
The newest version of Nissan Canada’s second-best selling model, the Qashqai, has been given a price tag for 2020. With a fresh exterior design and a host of new and upgraded safety features coming standard, the popular crossover, which lives between the Kicks and Rogue in the brand’s lineup, will start at $21,498 for the base S MT front-wheel-drive model. Front-wheel-drive comes standard on the S and SV trims, while intelligent all-wheel-drive is offered on the S, SV and SL trims.For that base offering, the 2020 version rings in at a minimum of $1,300 more than the previous model-year Qashqai. But that additional stack of cash does earn a fair bit of extra safety and comfort tech, including a six-way manual adjustable driver’s seat, rear-seat heating and cooling, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, intelligent auto headlights, traffic sign recognition, driver attention assist, rear sonar, rear intelligent emergency braking, high-beam assist, lane-departure warning and intelligent emergency braking with pedestrian detection, all of which comes standard. As options, Nissan will also throw in perks like ProPILOT Assist, door-to-door nav and NissanConnect powered by SiriusXM. The new Qashqai received a visual refresh, too, creating an all-around sportier feel. A reconfigured front end with updated LED headlights, a V-motion grille and an aggressive hood provide a more angular first impression, which is backed up by new 19-inch alloy wheels and visually adjusted taillights.Power, meanwhile, comes from a 141-horsepower 2.0-litre four-cylinder mated to either an Xtronic transmission with eco mode; or a six-speed manual in the S FWD model. Above the S MT FWD base model sits the S Xtronic FWD ($24,198), SV Xtronic FWD ($26,798), S Xtronic AWD ($26,198), SV Xtronic AWD ($28,798), SL Xtronic AWD ($31,848) and the SL Xtronic PLAT AWD ($33,998). The 2020 Nissan Qashqai is set to go on sale any day
Origin: Nissan’s 2020 Qashqai starts at $21,498 in Canada
First Drive: 2020 Audi S8
2020 Audi S8Graeme Fletcher / Driving BARCELONA, Spain The executive super-sedan segment has a new entrant: Audis latest S8 is on sale in Canada right now for $151,600, and in the long wheelbase variant only. In the simplest of terms, its a full-sized Bahn burner with everything from a sharper style and sorted handling to a lavish interior, and it touches everything between.The story starts under the hood with a 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 that has been tweaked to give it a serious turn of speed. As used in the standard A8, this engine produces 460 horsepower and 487 lb.-ft. of torque. Cranking the turbos boost pressure to an astounding 26 PSI bumps the output to 563 horsepower and 590 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,000 rpm. To state the obvious, the extra 103 horsepower and pound-feet torque makes an enormous difference to the turn of speed. Almost enough to justify the ceramic brake option, with its 10-piston front calipers, a wise buy. Sadly, at $10,500, thats just not the case.The engine works with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Audis Quattro all-wheel-drive system. The transmission is a slick shifter that, depending on the drive mode selected, either slips up and down the cogs with a near-invisible shift quality, or it bumps up and down the gears with the speed needed to maintain momentum under hard acceleration. The all-wheel-drive system, under normal driving conditions, sends 40 per cent of the drive to the front wheels and 60 to the rear. However, it can send up to 70 per cent to the front wheels and up to 85 to the rear, should the need arise. The ebb and flow of power is seamless, and its superb at preventing the power from melting the rubber when the gas pedal is mashed. The combination makes for one seriously fast car the run from rest to 100 km/h comes in at 3.9 seconds. Thats very good, but its the mid-range where the S8 really catches fire the 80 to 120 km/h passing move clocks in at 2.6 seconds and the pace doesnt let up until the driver decides it isnt worth having a roadside chat with the local constabulary. Thats just one side of the story, though: The addition of cylinder deactivation and a 48-volt mild hybrid system improves fuel economy when the gas pedal isnt buried. A test average of 11.1 L/100 kilometres was much better than expected, given the S8 wasnt exactly driven with an eye to conservation.Another highlight is the ride quality delivered by the active air suspension. Its about as good as it gets, in terms of delivering two very different cars in a single package. The key is the predictive nature of the suspension; at speeds up to 70 km/h, the system uses the forward-facing camera to look at the road. When it detects a speed bump or the like, it changes the load-leveling air suspension and damping ahead of time to ready the car for the impending jolt. The result is an impeccable ride that sets a new standard for comfort sharp jolts are tamed to the point where the S8 wafts over the road and its imperfections. Better yet, the new Comfort+ drive mode uses the active anti-roll bars that control body roll to lean the car into the corner by as much as three-degrees an electric motor is used to control the left and right halves of the front and rear anti-roll bars to create the lean. The result is much less lateral force on the riders.As with the engine, that only tells one side of the story. The S8 also comes with dynamic all-wheel-steering and a sport differential with real-time torque vectoring. At speeds up to 60 km/h, the rear wheels turn as much as five degrees in the opposite direction to the front wheels in a parking lot, this reduces the turning circle by 1.1 meters. At speed, the dynamic steering and torque vectoring combine to point the long-wheelbase sedan into a corner with the precision expected out of an RS 6. On the twisty roads outside Barcelona, the S8 bobbed, weaved, and carved its way through decreasing-radius corners and hairpins without deviating from the desired line. Factor in the all-wheel-drive system and optional P265/35R21 tires, and the S8 behaves like a full-on sports car albeit one with a lavishly attired cabin. On that note, the S8s interior more than lives up to the high standards set by the rest of the car. From the buttery leather and high-tech accents, to the thin pinstripe-like ambient lighting, the sense of luxury and space is there regardless of where one sits the L model stretches the wheelbase by 130 millimetres, which brings limo-like rear-seat legroom and superb comfort. Sitting back there, the driver seems to be a time zone ahead.As has become the Audi norm, instrumentation is handled by the companys Virtual Cockpit setup it allows everything, from conventional instrumentation to the map, to be viewed. The centre stack is then dominated by two touchscreens; the upper unit looks after all of the infotainment, phone, vehicle settings, and navigation functions, while the lower screen is for the
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Audi S8
Kia set for electric 2020
Kia set for electric 2020 The Soul EV will join the Kia electric range from April Kia has announced that more drivers will be able to get behind the wheel of it’s pure-electric models in 2020, thanks to improved supply of the updated e-Niro and launch of the new Soul EV. The UK will get enough supply of the popular e-Niro to clear the existing 3,000 strong waiting list in the first half of the year, and have even more supply in the last six months. Improvements have been made to the equipment list, with LED headlights, a battery heating system, new 10.25-inch infotainment screen, and UVO connected car service added. New customers walking into a dealership to put in an order today will see their car arrive from the start of July next year. As well as the e-Niro, 2020 will see the UK launch of the new Soul EV. Featuring the same powertrain as the e-Niro in a more stylish, crossover package, the Soul EV will see deliveries start in April, for those that put their order in back in July. The e-Niro starts at £34,495 and the Soul EV at £33,795 – both after plug-in car grant. Kia will be offering two pure-electric models with a range of more than 280 miles on a single charge at mass-market prices.
Origin: Kia set for electric 2020
5 things we learned behind the wheel of the 2020 Ford Escape
2020 Ford EscapeChris Balcerak / Driving Up against stellar competition Honda’s CR-V and the Toyota RAV4, for instance and part of a portfolio that is now almost completely car-free, its important that Fords completely redesigned Escape be a home-run. Compact crossovers are all the rage right now the CR-V, RAV4, and Escape are all among the top-10 sellers in Canada right now so a competitive Escape is absolutely key to Fords continued good fortunes. Here are a few observations are driving a top-line Escape Titanium with the 2.0-litre turbo-four and all-wheel-drive.It’s gasolineThe attribute that really stands out is how powerful the Escapes top-line engine is. Yet another of Fords 2.0-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engines, this one is good for 250 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque. Mated to an eight-speed automatic, it should be good from a sub six-second scoot from rest to 100 km/h. More importantly, its got grunt to spare when passing semis on the highway, and its good to tow some 1,587 kilograms. The only downside is that it needs revs. Unusually, especially for a turbocharged engine, is that both horsepower and torque peak at 5,500 rpm, pointing to an engine that might be a tad weedy at low rpm. Indeed, I thought the slight fluffiness I felt at low speeds was due to lethargic transmission, but its more probably the result of this EcoBoosts aggressive tuning. Once moving, however, the Ford Escape is the beast of the compact crossover segment.It’s also sophisticatedAbsolutely everyone who got a ride in the new Escape commented on the relaxed nature of the powertrain, some commenting that it felt smoother than either the CR-V or the RAV4, while others compared it with Audis Q5. While I wholeheartedly agree with the first assertion, Im not quite as sure about the second, but it doesnt change the fact that this is the most together EcoBoost four-cylinder that Ive yet driven. The most powerful four-cylinder in its segment as well as its most sophisticated, those looking for a reason to choose the Titanium only this trim and the SEL get the 2.0L EcoBoost over its Japanese competition need look no deeper than under the hood. This is the class of the segment in both performance and exemplary NVH. With great power comes…Pretty darned frugal consumption, actually. Fords EcoBoost engines havent always delivered the fuel economy from the supposed efficiency of turbocharging smaller engines, often exceeding Transport Canadas rating by as much as 50 per cent.The new Escape is certainly an exception, averaging 9.7 L/100 kilometres of combined highway/city driving compared to its 9.1 official rating. And this is with me enjoying the fruits of Fords now more energetic turbocharger, goosing it away from lights, cruising at 125 km/h, and just generally hooning about. With a little more, err, deliberation, perhaps I might have even hit Fords official numbers, which would have been a first for me with any EcoBoost engine. Well done, Ford.The interior is much improvedWith caveats, though. First off, the Escapes cabin is roomier than its predecessor, especially in the cargo area, which now almost rivals the voluminous Honda CR-V. Its also a calm environment, the absence of tire noise and the aforementioned lack of NVH from the engine compartment contributing to the tranquility. Together with decent seats, excellent headroom and enough legroom for six-footers in the back, the new Escape is one of the few compact CUVs in which four adults can travel in comfort. The interior trim bits, long a sore spot in the Escape, have also been improved. The dashbords synthetic covering is softer (if not quite soft), the Titaniums leather up to snuff, and some of the fake wood, well, looks less fake than in the past. That said, some of the plastic in the door panels, for instance are not state-of-the-art. That might not be huge deal on the base model, but in a $44,599 Titanium, it was somewhat lacking. Whether that alone is enough for some to remove the Escape from their shopping list is doubtful, however. The previous generations plastics were atrocious and that didnt stop it from being the third best-seller in a very competitive segment.It’s pretty high techAt least in the top-of-the-line Titanium edition. Standard equipment includes Fords CoPilot360 suite of advanced driver aids, on-board WiFi, Active Park Assist, and Fords MyKey security system that allows you to set maximum speed which I inadvertently did for younger drivers. There is even a USB-C port (as well as a conventional USB version) for those that have recently upgraded phone or iPad.Of particular note is Fords latest Sync 3 infotainment system. As with all Fords tech upgrades of late, I am terribly impressed with this latest Sync, which has what must be the most improved man-machine interface of any infotainment system of the last five years. The eight-inch touchscreen remains relatively uncluttered, the menus uncomplicated, and
Origin: 5 things we learned behind the wheel of the 2020 Ford Escape
Car Review: 2020 Jaguar F-Type Coupe
2020 Jaguar F-TypeBrian Harper / Driving OVERVIEW All-wheel-drive, two-seat sports coupe PROSStunning looks, smooth driving, sounds terrific CONSNo more manual transmission, poor visibility VALUE FOR MONEYFair WHAT TO CHANGE?Nothing HOW TO SPEC IT?As is but without the Checkered Flag package, power tailgate or all-wheel drive It was at the 2006 Concorso dEleganza where I saw the car a diminutive two-seat hardtop coupe called the Cisitalia 202, one of the first new sports cars to come out of post-Second World War Italy. Initially, I gave it a quick glance on my way to look at bigger, fancier, more exclusive automobiles dotting the lawn of the Villa dEste on the outskirts of Como. But something drew me back to the Pininfarina-designed 202 and I spent the next half-hour walking around it, studying the handbuilt coachwork from every angle before determining, in my mind, that the cars proportions were, in a single word, perfection. That one of the 170 or so Cisitalia 202s built has been on permanent display at New York’s Museum of Modern Art since 1951 has further bolstered this belief.The 202 was a progenitor of the coupe-bodied sports car, and since then, I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times the now iconic silhouette has left such a profound impression, the last being at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show when Jaguar debuted the F-Type Coupe. A product of then-director of design Ian Callums fertile mind his extensive portfolio includes the curvaceous Aston Martin Vanquish and DB9 the F-Type was, and still is, the most gorgeous sports car he has ever penned, far more than a mere hardtop version of the F-Type Convertible that had predated it.Sensuous, with pardon the obvious clich a jungle cat stealth and perfectly integrated lines that accentuate not only speed and power, but elegance, the car still draws admiring glances from passersby, quite the accomplishment for an aging machine in this increasingly jaded world.With its looks, I could (almost) forgive the F-Type if it drove like a Massey-Ferguson tractor, which fortunately, it doesnt. The testers supercharged 3.0-litre V6 throws out a solid 380 horsepower, plenty enough to move the 1,674-kilogram coupe along at a quick clip zero to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds is Jaguars claim.In addition to being offered with a milder 340-horsepower version of the supercharged six, the F-Type can also enhance its pace with a supercharged 5.0L V8, available with as much as 575 horsepower. Conversely, if a more sedate boulevardier appeals to you, the base model comes with a 2.0-litre turbo-four with 296 horsepower. Finally, though rear-wheel drive is the normal state of affairs, all-wheel drive is optional on V6 and standard on V8 models, this tester being so fitted.As if supermodel beauty and a decent amount of scoot werent enough, the F-Type announces its presence with an aural alert from its four inboard-mounted tailpipes, starting with a somewhat obnoxious fart on startup. Then theres the cars active sports exhaust; by pressing the console-mounted override button, electronically controlled bypass valves in the exhaust open and alter exhaust gas routing into a freer-flowing path to reduce backpressure and enhance sound quality. The result is a thundering blat under hard acceleration especially in Dynamic mode and, on downshifts via the eight-speed automatics paddle shifters (the manual has since been discontinued), a snarling, crackling stanza of hooliganism that startles all those within earshot. Sophomoric? Yes, but it still gives me the giggles. Despite the cars performance bona fides, the F-Types ride and handling is neither extreme nor unpleasant. Its not as sharp or precise as a Porsche 911; theres a little more comfort built in to the suspension so as not to rattle your teeth when the 20-inch Pirelli P-Zero tires roll over a tar strip. In fact, the car proved quite livable during a 1,100 kilometre-long summer road trip. My wifes sole complaint was that the seat back did not recline enough for her to properly nap while I drove.This particular 2020 model-year tester bears the unwieldy name of F-Type Coupe P380 AWD Checkered Flag Limited Edition $110,600 as-tested the latter half of this designation denoting a cosmetic package adding nothing to the cars performance capabilities. According to Jaguar, Checkered Flag models celebrate the automakers rich sports car heritage dating back to the 1948 XK 120. It does so by featuring a range of subtle visual enhancements to the exterior and to the driver-focused cabin.Externally, the Checkered Flag edition adds extended side sills, plus exclusive twin-spoke 20-inch wheels and red brake calipers. Inside, highlights include a black contrast headliner and a luxurious Windsor leather interior featuring performance seats with embossed headrests, red seatbelts, contrast stitching throughout the cabin, dark brushed aluminum centre console trim, and a steering wheel
Origin: Car Review: 2020 Jaguar F-Type Coupe
Updated 2020 Bentley Bentayga to feature revamped design
Bentley will update its best-selling model – the Bentayga SUV – next year to bring it up to scratch with its latest models, and disguised prototypes have begun cold weather testing. The test mule is clearly recognisable as a Bentayga, but heavy camouflage to the front and rear suggests Bentley is planning a number of design updates. At the rear, we can see the brakelights have been reshaped and expanded, while the current model’s deep numberplate recess looks to have been brought forward. At the front, the Bentayga retains its prominent grille and three lower air intakes, but will receive a reconfigured headlight design to bring it into line with the firm’s new Continental and Flying Spur – both of which have launched since the Bentayga arrived in 2016. We can also expect the front and rear bumpers to be redesigned. Just as significant will be the technology overhaul inside. The current car’s infotainment system is often criticised for feeling out of date next to cheaper siblings from Audi and Porsche, so the priority will be to bring in the latest system from the Continental GT and Flying Spur. A fully digital instrument display will likely also feature, while the range of active safety technology should advance. The flagship W12 engine is expected to receive upgrades to boost efficiency, but don’t expect anything dramatic across the rest of the range. The V8 is relatively new, too, while the six-cylinder plug-in hybrid model still isn’t on sale after a lengthy delay. Question marks remain over the diesel model, which was officially axed from the firm’s line-up in 2018. A change in attitude towards the fuel was blamed for its removal back then, but since then sister brand Audi has introduced several large capacity S-badged diesel models to its range. Expect to see more details emerge early next
Origin: Updated 2020 Bentley Bentayga to feature revamped design
Car Review: 2020 Kia Soul
2020 Kia SoulBrian Harper / Driving OVERVIEW Front-wheel-drive, subcompact hatchback PROSVery well contented, surprisingly roomy, distinctive CONSOptional AWD would help sales, fuel economy just OK, mood lighting is a thing? VALUE FOR MONEYGood WHAT TO CHANGE?Bring back the turbo 1.6L and DCT HOW TO SPEC IT?EX Limited As far as practical transportation goes, Kias quirky Soul has not only made it to its third generation thereby surviving the box-on-wheels fad that resulted in mobile Tupperware containers such as the Honda Element, Nissan Cube, and Scion xB it has lost little of its previous two predecessors fun and funky personalities.However, Kia is continuing to focus too much on the youth market with the new 2020 model, while discounting the fact the proclaimed urban runabout actually appeals to a fairly broad cross-section of buyers. Though its a sample size of just one family, I can honestly say my millennial-age daughter wouldnt give the squared-off Soul a second look she absolutely despised the Elements styling while wife and I love the subcompacts sightlines and its nimbleness in traffic.Yet, if you buy into the companys description of the redesigned cabin, Kias proudest accomplishment with the front-wheel-drive hatchback would seem to be its close tie-in with music, what the company says is an overarching theme for Soul since its inception. So, drawing inspiration from the emotional visualization of sound, the Souls interior space is adorned with shapes and textures that reflect acoustic inspired elements to create a full sensory experience.Maybe youre more conversant in corporate hyperbole than I am, but that description just makes me go, Huh? Maybe it has something to do with the cars available sound mood lighting, which emits soft light from the centre door panels, complete with the ability to synchronize to the beat of the music playing through the audio system. Yes, you too can turn your car into a mobile jukebox, tailoring the interior ambiance according to a variety of selectable moods, including Hey! Yo!, Party Time, Traveling, Romance, Midnight City, and Caf. If Im showing my age by saying big whoop, then Im good with that. Look, the cabin, especially the top-drawer GT-Line, is extremely well contented, but there is also a lot of black plastic of varying hardness throughout not a complete surprise, considering the Soul starts at a very affordable $21,195, topping out at a little less than $30K as-tested. But Id happily forego the rainbow of customizable lighting which, thankfully, can be turned off for a cheerier interior shade than black. Years ago, Kia offered something called the Retro trim level on what was then the Soul 4U with the 2.0-litre engine. Its key feature was tartan-like door and seat trim that went with the two-tone beige-on-black dash area. It was a refreshing alternative to dark monotony, one Id like to see return.Thats subjective, though. What isnt is the fact that Kia Canada dropped the 1.6-litre turbo-four from the Souls powertrain lineup its still offered in the U.S. leaving only the yeoman 2.0-litre inline-four, with 147 horsepower, for propulsion. Its not as though the turbo engines 201 horses turned the Soul into a track terror, but it and the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission it was bolted to certainly gave the runabout added jump when rolling through traffic. Thanks to the cars light weight, just 1,393 kilograms, the 2.0L is by no means stressed, and notably around town, has more than enough low-end zip to easily keep up with the cut-and-thrust of daily traffic.Still, the fun quotient of what is a playful little rig has been diminished by the one engine/transmission pairing. As for the Souls in-house-built intelligent variable transmission otherwise known as a CVT it goes about its business unobtrusively and efficiently, with a feel much like that of a conventional automatic. Fuel economy is good overall, though not particularly outstanding for a small car. I averaged 8.7 L/100 kilometres for the week, with about a 50/50 mix of city and highway commuting.Despite this third-generation version being all new, only the most ardent fans of the Kia brand are likely to pick out the revisions to the Souls boxy shape I actually parked next to an older model to get a sense of the changes. The exterior highlights include a larger grille with a two-tone treatment, wraparound boomerang-shaped taillights, slimmer daytime running lights, and reworked front fenders and C-pillars, the latter designed to resemble airplane wings. A particular bold shade of red called Inferno and decently fat P235/45R18 rubber with a nice set of alloy rims accentuates the testers jaunty personality, offsetting its pragmatic nature. Said pragmatism, seen in the surprising amount of cargo space and passenger room offered given the Souls compact size, is accentuated for 2020 courtesy of a slight increase in the cars dimensions, notably
Origin: Car Review: 2020 Kia Soul
2020 Fisker Ocean: order books open for affordable electric SUV
American start-up company Fisker has revealed pricing for its new Ocean electric SUV ahead of an unveiling in production-ready guise on 4 January 2020. The model will be offered primarily to customers through a leasing programme, with prices starting from $379 (£295) per month with a deposit of $2999 (£2335), for the cheapest of five available trim levels. Prospective customers can pay a fully refundable $250 (£194) deposit now via the firm’s bespoke new smartphone app to secure a reservation. Fisker says it will sell a “very limited” number of Ocean models outright at the request of several global customers. The Californian company claims its first series production car is “the world’s most sustainable vehicle”, with recycled, vegan and other natural products used throughout. A full-length solar roof is said to offer 1000 additional zero-emission miles per year, while recycled fishing nets, t-shirts, bottles and tyres feature throughout the interior and exterior to lessen the model’s well-to-wheel carbon footprint. The Ocean is also claimed to offer “the highest five-star safety rating”, with Fisker drawing attention to the prominent side impact protection beams. It is unclear, however, whether the model has yet been tested officially by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which conducts crash tests in the US. Preview images shows that the Tesla Model Y rival rides high and has modern, utilitarian styling. Flared arches hint at its performance potential, while narrow headlights and chrome detailing are a nod to last year’s Fisker Emotion concept. Like the Model Y, the Ocean will be priced from less than $40,000 (£30,200) in the US. It features what the firm calls “captivating design touches that have been traditionally reserved for supercars in the past”. Prominent styling details include a front-mounted radar in place of a grille, a large front air intake, flared wheel arches and a futuristic headlight design. Also featured is a targa-style removable roof section which Fisker says offers the open-air benefits of a convertible “without compromising the rugged and safe structural integrity of an SUV”. The battery is claimed to provide a range of up to 300 miles. The Ocean will be available in four-wheel drive form, with an electric motor mounted on each axle. Fisker also claims that the SUV’s interior will offer class-leading space, a large head-up display and an intelligent user interface. It’s not yet confirmed where the Ocean will be produced, but Fisker says prototype testing will begin before the end of this year. The company is also at work on developing solid-state battery technology, which it says would allow future vehicles to gain 500 miles worth of charge in as little as one minute. Fisker Inc. was formed in 2016, succeeding the bankrupted Fisker Automotive company that launched the Karma range-extender electric luxury saloon – now re-engineered and on sale as the Karma Revero – in
Origin: 2020 Fisker Ocean: order books open for affordable electric SUV
First Drive: 2020 BMW X6
2020 BMW X6 M50i Spartanburg, S.C. Its been about 10 years since BMW launched the X6 upon an unsuspecting world. What was this SUV with a fastback roofline? Like a fashion model in hip waders, BMWs automotive dichotomy was a head-scratcher. Turns out, they were on to something BMW has moved over 443,000 X6s since then, while also creating a new bandwagon on which Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche has jumped.Arriving in showrooms soon is the third-generation 2020 X6 adopting the chassis architecture, interior decor, and engine lineup of the recently redone X5. The X6 will initially come in two versions the xDrive40i with a 335-horsepower, 3.0L turbocharged straight six-cylinder engine, and the M50i that storms the gates with a twin-turbo 4.4L V8 making 523 horsepower and 553 lb.-ft. of torque between 1,800 and 4,600 rpm. Thats a healthy increase of 78 horsepower and 74 lb.-ft. of torque over the previous X6. Im snaking an X6 M50i finished in Manhattan Green Metallic over some rural roads in South Carolina, and the biggest takeaway here is this potent, high-riding extrovert goes down the road like a BMW or more specifically, what we think BMWs should drive like.For such a brute, the X6 is surprisingly alert, changing direction with nary a hint of body slop. The steering is quick and direct, showing a natural heft that has been absent from Bimmers of late. Standard kit for the X6 M50i includes 22-inch alloy wheels, Adaptive M Suspension, and a bunch of M Sport bits including brakes, exhaust, and a limited-slip differential, as well as an xDrive all-wheel-drive system that primarily operates in sporty rear-drive mode until conditions dictate otherwise. Adding to this testers on-road acumen is the optional Active Roll Stabilization and air suspension that, among other things, will lower the ride height by 40 millimetres.And, oh yes, the engine. This 4.4L bent-eight with its turbos nestled within the vee is a peach. Urge is linear and relentless all the way to the redline, and in Sport mode, the X6 makes all the required noises a deep rumble punctuated by barks and the occasional fart. Not unlike my Golden Retriever, but considerably more pleasant. Granted, some of this aural sex is pumped in digitally through the audio system, but all you have to do is open a window to know its happening outside, too. The metal shift paddles call up quick and obedient cog swaps from the excellent ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. This thing is quick; the X6 M50is zero-to-96 km/h blast of a mere 4.1 seconds matches the outgoing X6 M. Not enough? Wait for the 600+ horsepower X6 M. Tis a strange world we live in.This third-gen X6 arguably looks more comfortable in its new skin. While the outgoing model came across as slightly awkward and trying a bit to hard, the lines of this 2020 flow cohesively, bookended by a larger (but not cartoonish) front grill take a bow, X7 and 7 Series and a ducktail rump with slim horizontal LED taillights finish off the rear end. Compared with the outgoing model, the new X6 is slightly longer, wider and lower. Its wheelbase, stretched by 42 millimetres, allows for a bit more rear seat legroom, and BMW says cargo space has increased, too. Blue brake calipers are standard on the M50i, and BMW is premiering its all-new, optional illuminated grill on the X6. Just when you thought youd seen it all.Step inside and we see BMWs latest interior aesthetic, dominated by a free-standing 12.3-inch central touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster behind the steering wheel that pushes the speedo and tach to the outer edges, leaving the centre of the screen open for navigation information and the like.Standard are a panoramic sunroof, sport seats trimmed in Vernasca leather, and GPS navigation. Ah, but unlike most other premium automakers who are eschewing tactile functionality for digital poke n hope real estate, BMW retains its tried-and-true iDrive rotary controller along with a plethora of logically placed physical buttons that help keep our eyes on the road, where they belong. There is also a row of numbered presets that can be assigned to your favourite radio stations, navigation home, and the like. Bravo. The multi-adjustable seats in this tester showed BMWs typical blend of supreme comfort and support, and the cool ambient lighting elevates the X6s cabin to high art at night.While no pricing has been announced, we can be quite sure the significantly superior 2020 BMW X6 M50i will cost more than its $90,850 predecessor. Also know that numerous requisite packages and options will swell the bottom line considerably; this is no surprise, but what does surprise is the breadth of capability baked into BMWs latest take on this niche model. The X6 M50is coddling opulence, blistering pace, forward technology, and for those who still care fine dynamics, make driving this weird wedge of extravagance a
Origin: First Drive: 2020 BMW X6
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