Category Archives: NEW CARS

NEW CARS

1,000 Horses of Luxury Madness: The INFINITI QX80 R-Spec Debuts at SEMA

INFINITI just tore up its own playbook. The brand best known for calm cabins, soft-touch leather, and quiet luxury has gone fully unhinged with its latest concept: the QX80 R-Spec, a 1,000-horsepower, twin-turbo V6–powered monster SUV making its public debut at the 2025 SEMA Show.

This isn’t just a warmed-up version of the already-impressive 2025 QX80. It’s an experiment in excess—a fusion of GT-R brutality and flagship refinement that pushes the boundaries of what INFINITI’s badge can mean.

GT-R DNA, Amplified

At the heart of the R-Spec is something truly unholy: a Nissan GT-R–sourced VR38DETT engine, rebuilt and reimagined for SUV duty. The 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 has been heavily modified with Garrett G-series turbos, custom intercoolers, a full flex-fuel system, and a MOTEC engine management setup. The result? A claimed 1,000 horsepower — yes, four digits, and a direct lineage to the engine that powered Japan’s most feared supercar.

INFINITI didn’t just transplant the GT-R’s heart — it borrowed its soul. Carbon ceramic brakes straight from the R35 GT-R have been reengineered to handle the QX80’s extra mass. A custom coilover suspension with three-way external reservoirs and Eibach springs lowers the big SUV closer to supercar stance. Even the 24-inch bronze wheels are a wink to the GT-R’s T-Spec design, wrapped in 315-section Yokohama PARADA Spec-X rubber for grip levels no luxury SUV should possess.

A Supercar in SUV Clothing

The R-Spec looks every bit as wild as it sounds. Its custom widebody kit stretches the QX80’s already imposing proportions, while a functional front splitter, diffusers, and restyled exhaust finishers add aerodynamic aggression. But it’s the paint that steals the show — a color-shifting Midnight Purple wrap inspired by the GT-R T-Spec Takumi Edition, shimmering between deep violet and electric blue under the lights of SEMA.

There’s a sense of deliberate excess here. The QX80’s luxury-first ethos collides with tuner culture, and the result is something rare: a 6,000-pound SUV that looks ready to line up at a drag strip.

No Guardrails, No Apologies

“QX80 R-Spec is extreme, aggressive, and a showcase of what INFINITI can do when our teams take off all the guardrails,” says Tiago Castro, vice president of INFINITI Americas. That’s not marketing fluff — it’s a statement of intent.

After the 650-hp QX80 Track Spec previewed at Monterey Car Week, this R-Spec build feels like INFINITI saying, we can do crazy too. It’s a one-off for now, but the message is clear: high-performance variants are coming. And not just ones that corner politely.

Luxury Still Intact

Despite its race-bred upgrades, the R-Spec remains recognizably QX80 at its core — that means a sumptuous interior, cutting-edge tech, and the same bones that earned the production model awards from IIHS, Popular Science, and the Texas Auto Writers Association for safety and craftsmanship.

It’s a rare combination: visceral performance meets velvet-lined calm. And while this R-Spec may never see a showroom floor, it’s proof that INFINITI’s design and engineering teams still have imagination to burn.

The QX80 R-Spec isn’t just an overbuilt SEMA special — it’s a statement piece. A 1,000-horsepower luxury SUV that blends GT-R hardware with handcrafted extravagance. It’s absurd, excessive, and a little bit brilliant.

If this is what INFINITI’s future of “adrenaline-pumping luxury” looks like, consider us intrigued. And maybe, just maybe, a little terrified.

Source: Infiniti

NEW CARS

Kia Makes Its Long-Awaited Japan Debut With the PV5: A Modular Electric Van With Big Ambitions

Kia is officially entering the Japanese market—and it’s doing so with a statement piece. At the 2025 Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, running from October 29 to November 9, the South Korean automaker will unveil the PV5, its first Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) model. More than just another EV, the PV5 represents Kia’s opening move in Japan and a major milestone in its global electrification strategy.

A Strategic Reentry Backed by a Heavyweight Partner

It’s not often that a foreign automaker reenters Japan with this kind of precision and ambition. Kia’s debut is powered by a strategic alliance with Sojitz Group, a major Japanese conglomerate with deep roots in the nation’s automotive, energy, and infrastructure sectors. Together, the two companies have founded Kia PBV Japan, a Sojitz-operated sales subsidiary that will oversee the brand’s PBV rollout.

The goal? Launch eight dealerships and 100 service centers across Japan in the first year—a bold move in a country where brand loyalty and trust are hard-earned.

Kia and Sojitz share a lofty mission: to push Japan toward carbon-neutral mobility, while using the PBV lineup to solve social challenges like aging demographics, regional depopulation, and logistics bottlenecks. It’s a tall order—but if the PV5 delivers on its promises, it might just prove that EV innovation doesn’t have to come from Tokyo or Nagoya.

“The PV5 is not just a vehicle—it’s a mobility platform designed to meet the diverse needs of customers in Japan,” says Sangdae Kim, Executive VP and Head of Kia’s PBV Division. “We aim to deliver meaningful solutions that support people, empower businesses, and strengthen local communities.”

Meet the PV5: Kia’s Swiss Army Van

The PV5 is Kia’s first purpose-built EV designed for business, mobility, and lifestyle versatility. Built on the company’s dedicated E-GMP.S (Electric-Global Modular Platform for Service) architecture, the PV5 is engineered to be as flexible as a Lego set on wheels.

Thanks to Kia’s new Flexible Body System, the PV5 can be configured into up to 16 variants—ranging from delivery vans and people movers to wheelchair-accessible shuttles and leisure-oriented family haulers. Production comes from Kia’s eco-friendly PBV EVO Plant, which combines modular cell-based manufacturing with conventional conveyor efficiency.

Japanese-Tuned Electric Flexibility

At the Japan Mobility Show, Kia will showcase several Japan-specific PV5 versions that reflect the country’s unique social and urban mobility needs.

PV5 Cargo

  • 5.5-meter turning radius, ideal for navigating Japan’s famously tight streets
  • Up to 528 km of range (WLTC) from a 71.2 kWh battery
  • Dual-swing tailgate for easy loading in narrow parking spots
  • 12.9-inch infotainment system with Fleet Management System (FMS) integration
  • Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) tailored for dense city driving

PV5 Passenger

  • 399 mm step height and wide doors, perfect for aging passengers or community shuttles
  • Up to 521 km of range (WLTC)
  • Flexible Fold seating system for passenger or cargo use
  • Kia AddGear modular system, allowing users to add mobility aids, business tools, or leisure gear
  • Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) power outlets—both inside and out—for camping or worksite use

PV5 WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle)

  • Designed with input from mobility-impaired users
  • Features a low floor and side-entry ramp for easy wheelchair access
  • Includes universal restraint systems for secure transport

Inside Kia’s PBV Vision

Beyond the vehicle itself, Kia’s PBV strategy is a forward-looking business ecosystem. The automaker envisions software-defined mobility, where vehicles evolve through over-the-air (OTA) updates and integrate seamlessly into business and urban infrastructure.

At the brand’s show stand in Tokyo, Kia is highlighting ten sustainable material innovations, a color chip wall showcasing the brand’s design direction, and the AddGear platform—a modular accessories program that lets users tailor their PV5 for work or play.

The Road Ahead

The PV5 is set to go on sale in Japan in the first half of 2026, with the Passenger and Cargo Long models leading the charge. Kia isn’t stopping there—plans are already in motion for the PV7, a larger PBV expected to debut in 2027.

With its reentry into Japan, Kia is betting big on modular electric mobility—and on the idea that flexibility, sustainability, and purpose-built design can carve out a niche even in one of the world’s toughest automotive markets.

If the PV5 drives as well as it’s been designed to think, Kia’s long-awaited Japanese comeback might not just be a return—it could be a reinvention.

Source: KIA

NEW CARS

2027 Kia Telluride: Hidden in Plain Sight

Kia’s flagship SUV prepares for its next act — wrapped, rugged, and ready for the spotlight.

The Kia Telluride has spent the better part of five years proving it’s more than just a handsome face in a segment full of lumbering three-row SUVs. It’s become the darling of suburban driveways and overland Instagram feeds alike. Now, as the all-new 2027 model readies for its global debut on November 20 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Kia is giving us a tantalizing taste of what’s to come—without really showing us anything at all.

This week, Kia dropped a set of images and a high-action video of a camouflaged pre-production Telluride storming through California’s Alabama Hills, its body cloaked in a kaleidoscopic wrap that could double as modern art. Forget the usual black-and-white swirls of spy prototypes; this one looks like Keith Haring met a CAD designer and decided to go hiking.

“Designing a wrap for Telluride is far different than designing the vehicle beneath the vinyl,” said Tom Kearns, Kia America’s Vice President and Senior Chief Designer. “We decided to approach the project from a different angle—hiding it in plain sight.”

Art Meets Engineering

The wrap is more than camouflage—it’s concept art. The design overlays hundreds of Telluride sketches, intersecting outlines and silhouettes that obscure the SUV’s shape while simultaneously hinting at it. Kearns and his team drew inspiration from Mr. Doodle (Sam Cox) and Keith Haring, artists who mastered chaos through simple lines. The end result: a rolling storyboard of the Telluride’s design evolution, finished in a color gradient that fades from warm orange to cool purple. Orange ties into the SUV’s amber DRLs up front; purple closes the loop at the rear, mirroring Kia’s “Opposites United” philosophy.

Introduced in 2021 by Karim Habib, Kia’s Executive VP and Head of Global Design, “Opposites United” blends natural contrasts—sharp versus sculptural, tension versus serenity, power versus grace—into a unified design language. And yes, even a camouflage wrap can channel that.

Geography Lesson Included

Look closely and you’ll spot map coordinates printed along the lower doors: 37.9375° N, 107.8123° W. Punch that into your GPS, and you’ll land in Telluride, Colorado, the SUV’s namesake. It’s a wink from Kia to enthusiasts who pay attention—one that connects the model’s identity to its rugged aspirations.

Trail-Tested Tease

Unlike most camouflaged test mules caught loafing on highways, Kia’s prototype went full adventure mode for its close-up. Filmed in the otherworldly terrain of the Alabama Hills, with the Sierra Nevada peaks looming in the distance, the Telluride prototype tackled steep grades, sandy washes, and rocky ledges like a vehicle with serious off-road credentials to prove.

“We wanted to show just how capable the all-new Telluride is,” said Russell Wager, Vice President of Marketing for Kia America. “Placing it in an environment that really pushed the boundaries gave us that opportunity.”

And that’s the point. Beneath the artistic disguise and clever marketing lies a serious test of engineering. Kia’s not only setting up the Telluride for its next generation of buyers—they’re reminding everyone that the badge on the hood has earned its place among the segment’s heavyweights.

What’s Next

Beyond the wrap and wilderness theatrics, details on the 2027 Telluride remain tightly under wraps—literally. Expect a full reveal at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 20, where the camouflage comes off and Kia’s next-gen SUV shows its true face. If the current model’s trajectory is any indication, the new Telluride won’t just evolve—it’ll redefine what family luxury looks like in the mainstream SUV market.

Until then, this camouflaged crossover has done its job: keeping secrets while commanding attention.

Source: KIA