Category Archives: NEW CARS

MG Launches New IM EV Brand in the UK to Rival Tesla

MG is making a bold play for the premium EV market with the UK debut of IM, a new electric sub-brand aimed squarely at Tesla. Unveiled to the public at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the new IM 5 saloon and IM 6 crossover promise cutting-edge tech, rapid charging, and eye-catching specs that position them as serious contenders to the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

IM – short for “Intelligence in Motion” – was founded in 2020 through a joint venture between MG’s parent company SAIC Motor, Chinese tech titan Alibaba, and R&D firm Zhangjiang Hi-Tech. The brand first appeared in Europe at last year’s Geneva Motor Show and will be integrated into MG’s UK dealer network in the coming months.

A New Challenger on UK Roads

The IM 5, known as the L6 in China, is a sleek, four-door electric saloon with a distinctly coupe-like silhouette. At its most capable, it boasts a 442-mile official range from a 100kWh lithium-ion battery and takes advantage of 800V architecture, allowing 10–80% fast charging in just 17 minutes. A 75kWh variant, offering a still-impressive estimated 330 miles, will start from £39,450—a strategic move to undercut the UK’s Expensive Car Supplement, which applies to vehicles over £40,000.

For buyers seeking more power, a Performance model with enhanced output and hardware will command £48,495, still competitive with high-spec versions of the Tesla Model 3.

While MG hasn’t confirmed full specifications for every variant, the IM range sits on a bespoke platform that supports charging speeds up to 396kW—faster than any public charging infrastructure currently available in the UK. It remains to be seen if the more exotic IM 6 Lightyear Edition, featuring a 900V semi-solid-state battery and 400kW peak charging, will join the lineup.

IM 6: A High-Voltage Mid-Size SUV

The IM 6, a mechanically identical SUV, will arrive in Long Range and Performance trims, starting from £47,995 (in the UK). The top-spec model climbs to £50,995, with both versions targeting the Tesla Model Y in pricing, size, and capability.

Despite sharing a drivetrain with the IM 5, the IM 6 forgoes the smaller battery option and is geared more toward range and performance. Both vehicles will be propelled by IM’s latest ‘Hurricane’ motor series, with the dual-motor setup delivering 767 hp and 591 lb-ft of torque. Expect 0–62mph in 3.2 seconds for the saloon and 3.5 seconds for the SUV—figures typically reserved for supercars.

Inside the Cabin: Screens Over Switches

Step inside either model, and it’s immediately clear that IM is pushing a tech-forward ethos. A 26.3-inch wraparound display spans the dashboard, while a 10.5-inch central touchscreen manages infotainment and vehicle controls, replacing most physical buttons entirely.

Other premium touches include a panoramic glass roof, rear-wheel steering for improved agility (reducing the IM 5’s turning circle to under 10 metres), automatic park assist, and a unique “rainy night” driving mode aimed at enhancing safety and visibility in adverse conditions.

MG’s decision to bring the IM brand to the UK signals its intent to move upmarket and take on the established EV players with genuine innovation and ambition. With strong performance, ultra-fast charging, and a smart pricing strategy, the IM 5 and IM 6 could become serious disruptors in the fast-evolving EV landscape.

The UK market has been calling out for fresh alternatives to Tesla, and with IM’s tech pedigree and aggressive rollout plan, this could be MG’s most daring move yet.

Source: MG

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2026 Maserati MCPURA: Pure Energy, Pure Trident

Maserati has lifted the veil on its latest masterpiece at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed – the MCPURA, a name destined to echo through the halls of Italian performance heritage. More than a super sports car, the MCPURA is a manifesto: a crystallization of Maserati’s design, engineering, and artisanal excellence, amplified to its most refined and visceral form.

Positioned as the spiritual successor to the MC20 – the model that reignited the brand’s performance legacy in 2020 – the MCPURA is not a revolution but an evolution. It intensifies everything that made the original a standout and filters it through the prism of Maserati’s renewed ambition. Think sharper aesthetics, more luxurious detailing, and a driving experience honed for purists. At its heart remains the thunderous 630 CV V6 Nettuno engine, hand-assembled in Modena and infused with Formula 1-derived technology.

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E = MCPURA: A Formula for Emotion

Maserati’s campaign formula, “E = MCPURA,” borrows from Einstein’s theory of relativity – and not just for show. It encapsulates the notion of energy multiplied into a raw, tangible force of driving emotion. Every design line, every mechanical detail, and every sonic note from the exhaust channels this ethos. The result is not just a supercar, but a Trident-crafted energy field on four wheels.

“We’re back where we belong – at the top,” declared Santo Ficili, Maserati’s COO, during the car’s unveiling. “The MCPURA is 100% made in Modena, a return to the very soul of Italian motoring craftsmanship. Both versions – coupé and Cielo – are born here, in the historic heart of Motor Valley.”

Design Meets DNA

Presented in a head-turning Ai Aqua Rainbow finish – matte for the coupé, gloss for the convertible – the MCPURA dazzled onlookers at Goodwood. This hue, developed within the Maserati Fuoriserie program, shifts with sunlight like a living prism, emphasizing the car’s flowing carbon-fibre form. Magenta-and-blue mica Trident emblems adorn the grille and C-pillar, while laser-etched Alcantara Ice interiors echo the same spectral play, with iridescent red-blue contrasts and futuristic motifs.

The Fuoriserie catalogue itself continues to grow, now offering over 30 body colors, from bold metallics to four-layer matte finishes. Notably, three new shades mark their debut with the MCPURA: the audacious Devil Orange, elegant Verde Royale, and the mysterious Night Interaction. Each reinforces the MCPURA’s dual identity as a hyper-performance machine and a canvas for bespoke Italian artistry.

Engineering at Full Volume

While the MCPURA dazzles visually, its engineering remains its most compelling feature. Under the sculpted bonnet, the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 Nettuno engine delivers 630 CV at 7500 rpm and 720 Nm of torque from just 3000 rpm – thanks to its innovative pre-chamber combustion system with twin spark plugs, directly derived from Formula 1 technology.

That power is housed in a carbon-fibre monocoque chassis, enabling an astonishing weight under 1,500 kg, giving the MCPURA a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio of 2.33 kg/CV. In raw terms, it’s 210 CV per litre – numbers that place the MCPURA among the very top of performance elites.

And then there are the Butterfly doors – not just a style statement, but a dramatic invitation into the cabin, revealing the car’s carbon architecture in one sweeping motion. On the Cielo version, a PDLC retractable glass roof adds a new sensory layer. It transforms from opaque to transparent in one second, offering either a cocooned cockpit or an open-sky thrill at the press of a button.

Made in Modena – Worn Worldwide

Every MCPURA is built at Maserati’s historic Viale Ciro Menotti facility, a location steeped in nearly 90 years of motoring excellence. The same assembly lines also produce the GT2 Stradale, and starting in late 2025, the returning icons: GranTurismo and GranCabrio. The newly expanded Fuoriserie division, housed within this Modena campus, ensures each MCPURA can be tailored to its owner’s most personal expression of luxury and speed.

A Pure Manifesto of Maserati

The MCPURA is more than a supercar – it is a philosophical statement, a mechanical ode to energy, heritage, and unfiltered emotion. With both coupé and Cielo versions now available, Maserati has again declared its place among the greats of automotive performance. Not through nostalgia, but through fearless progression rooted in authentic Italian soul.

At Goodwood, the MCPURA didn’t just turn heads – it reignited belief in the enduring power of the Trident.

Source: Maserati

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2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N: Sharper, Sleeker, and Ready to Electrify Performance Driving

Hyundai’s N division is turning up the voltage once again. Hot on the heels of the acclaimed Ioniq 5 N, the South Korean performance arm is set to debut its second electric halo car — the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N — this autumn. Promising a more sophisticated and razor-sharp driving experience, the 641 hp electric saloon aims to redefine what precision feels like in the era of high-performance EVs.

Unveiled for the first time at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Ioniq 6 N takes everything Hyundai learned from the 5 N — and sharpens it. According to N division founder and vice president Joon Park, this new machine isn’t just a follow-up — it’s a different breed altogether.

“We want a different type of driving experience between the two,” Park told Autocar. “The 5 N is a bit wilder. The 6 N is more precise.”

Underneath the sculpted silhouette of the facelifted Ioniq 6 lies a host of motorsport-inspired upgrades. With 60mm-wider tracks front and rear, a lower centre of gravity, and bespoke N aero elements including a functional front splitter and aggressive rear spoiler, the 6 N is more than just a design statement. Every detail is functional, said Eduardo Ramirez, Hyundai N’s chief designer. “Every new design element serves a purpose,” he emphasized.

The 6 N shares its electric muscle with the 5 N: a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup delivering 641 hp and 568 lb-ft, split between a 234bhp front motor and a 406 hp rear. But the similarities end there. As Sven Risch, head of chassis and braking at N, explains: “It’s an all-new car, I mean technically.”

The updates under the skin are substantial. Revised motor magnets improve performance durability, while a 7kWh battery heater brings the 84kWh pack to optimal temperature more quickly — crucial for consistent performance under spirited driving.

While Hyundai hasn’t yet disclosed weight or performance figures, the 6 N’s lower stance — it sits well below its 5 N sibling — and advanced suspension tech suggest it’ll be a sharper scalpel in the corners. Expect electronically controlled dampers, a rear limited-slip differential, and lightweight 20-inch forged alloys wrapped in 275/35 Pirelli P Zeros. The focus is clearly on agility, consistency, and control.

As with the Ioniq 5 N, software defines much of the 6 N’s character. The car features torque vectoring through braking, Hyundai’s signature ‘N Grin Boost’ mode to unleash full power at the press of a button, and an evolved suite of artificial engine sounds and simulated gearshifts — an acquired taste, perhaps, but one that has helped bridge the sensory gap for drivers transitioning from ICE to EV.

Track-day enthusiasts will appreciate the new drift mode, which now includes adjustable parameters for drift initiation, angle, and — yes — tire smoke. And a new ‘N Track Manager’ lets drivers log lap times on self-created circuits.

Production of the Ioniq 6 N kicks off in September for Hyundai’s domestic market, with European deliveries expected later in the year.

With its blend of cutting-edge EV tech, precision-honed dynamics, and a more mature, saloon-style silhouette, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N might just prove that performance EVs can offer both thrills and finesse — and look good doing it.

Source: Hyundai

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