All posts by Francis Mitterrand

News

Armored VW Golf GTI

When you saw the photo you thought it was a regular VW Golf GTI, but it’s not. This is a specially modified VW Golf GTI converted into an armored car by SVI Engineering, South Africa.

SVI Engineering produces armored vehicles, but also converts civilian vehicles into armored vehicles. This VW Golf is one of the examples of a civilian car equipped with 3.5 mm thick steel armor (B4+) resistant to fire from pistols and rifles up to 7.62×39 mm caliber, and lightweight ballistic glass that can stop three Kalashnikov hits within 300 mm . The glass on the driver’s side can be opened halfway while the other windows are fixed. High grade steel was used for the doors, pillars, fenders, roof and custom rear bulkhead.

After the modifications, which last three months, the car is 340 kg heavier than the standard Golf, and this is contributed by the additional protection of the engine and battery, resistant to bullets. Of course, this required additional suspension tuning, so this battleship now weighs 1,770 kg. This also affected its performance and fuel consumption.

When it comes to the powertrain, it is not known if there have been any changes. It should be noted that this armor is also compatible with the Golf R, and the protection costs $35,000.

Source: SVI Engineering

Gallery:

Armored VW Golf GTI
EV

2025 Luxeed R7 SUV

After the Luxeed S7 model, the Chinese tech giant Huawei in cooperation with the automobile manufacturer Chery developed a new coupe SUV, the Luxeed R7. It is an elegant and spacious car, and the first photos were published on the social media Weibo.

The exterior of the car is similar to the previous models on which these two Chinese companies collaborated: Aito, Luxeed and Stelato. The CEO of the Consumer BG at Huawei Technologies, Yu Chengdong, said that the R7 represents a revolution and that the new model will surpass rivals that produce premium cars.

It is equipped with LED headlights, ADAS sensors, and LiDAR on the roof, which are connected to Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 3.0 automated driving system. The interior of the SUV is still unknown, but some published photos hint that it could be equipped with a 15.6-inch screen with Huawei’s HarmonyOS system like the one found in the S7 model.

According to Car News China, the BEV and EREV versions of the Luxeed R7 will use an 800V architecture and high-voltage silicon carbide batteries. It will be available with one electric motor (292 hp/218 kW) or with two electric motors with a total output of 496 hp (370 kW) with a maximum range of 855 km.

Source: Car News China, Huawei

News

2025 Hyundai Inster

At the 2024 Busan Motor Show, Hyundai will launch a new model in the A segment, its first for the European market. It is an all-electric Hyundai Inster that will have a range of 355 kilometers and an affordable price.

Before the premiere, Hyundai released a teaser announcing the arrival of a new model that will be sold on the Korean market under the name Casper Electric. It will be an evolution of the gasoline version Casper, which is on sale in some Asian markets from 2022.

The car is inspired by compact SUV models, and the solutions that the Korean manufacturer uses on its other electric vehicles are also applied, such as the large LED daytime running lights at the front and the pixel lights at the back that we can see on the Ioniq 5.

There are no details about the powertrain for now, and more information will be known after the premiere on June 27.

Source: Hyundai

Gallery:

2025 Hyundai Inster