Category Archives: NEW CARS

NEW CARS

BMW Plots Hardcore Seven-Seat Off-Roader to Take on G-Wagen and Defender

BMW is gearing up to storm the luxury off-road battlefield with an all-new flagship SUV designed to lock horns with the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Land Rover Defender. Known internally as G74, the yet-to-be-named model will be built in Spartanburg, South Carolina, starting in 2029, sharing production lines with the X5, X6, and X7.

Unlike today’s X5 Off-Road Package, the G74 isn’t a lightly tweaked soft-roader—it’s BMW’s first model conceived for serious off-pavement use in nearly a century. A senior BMW executive confirmed development is “well under way,” noting that it’s “more than just discussions” and that an internal combustion engine is a certainty at launch.

Design and Capability: Rugged Meets Neue Klasse

While its design remains under wraps, expect a mix of Neue Klasse design language with classic, blocky 4×4 cues. Engineers are targeting greater ground clearance, long-travel suspension, and approach/departure/breakover angles that surpass anything in BMW’s current lineup.

Inside, the G74 will offer three-row seating for seven and a cabin that outshines the X7 in both materials and tech. It’s expected to carry either a new nameplate or potentially revive the X8 badge originally planned for a coupe-styled SUV.

Under the Skin: CLAR, Evolved for the Wild

Underpinning the G74 will be a heavily modified CLAR platform, chosen for its scalability and compatibility with large BMW SUVs. Mechanical highlights are likely to include long-travel air suspension, up to three locking differentials, advanced AWD, and even four-wheel steering—not only for rock-crawling agility, but also for high-speed stability.

Powertrains: ICE, Hybrid, and Maybe Electric

BMW plans to launch with a combustion engine, but multiple electrification strategies are on the table. Among them:

  • Range-extender hybrid: Using an engine solely as a generator to power electric motors, a setup BMW is developing in collaboration with ZF.
  • Full EV: Potentially rivaling upcoming electric off-roaders like the Rivian R1S, Scout Traveler, and China’s BYD Yangwang U8.
  • Hub motors: Compact in-wheel units co-developed with DeepDrive, which could unlock extreme maneuverability.

The range-extender angle is particularly appealing for markets like China, where demand for such drivetrains is booming—especially after lukewarm sales of the electric G-Class.

A Return to BMW’s Off-Road Roots

The G74’s spiritual predecessor is the BMW 325 military off-roader of 1937–1940. Built on a ladder-frame chassis with 4WD, three locking diffs, and early four-wheel steering, it was a technical showcase for its time. Only 3,225 were built, but its legacy as BMW’s last true go-anywhere machine looms large.

With the G74, BMW isn’t just building another SUV—it’s re-entering a segment dominated by icons, aiming to prove that Munich can do more than autobahn stormers. If they get it right, the G-Class and Defender might finally have some serious Bavarian competition.

Source: Automotive News

NEW CARS

Jaecoo E5: 248-Mile Range, Fast Charging, and a Price That Undercuts the Competition

China’s fast-growing EV wave is about to make another splash in the UK, and this time it’s wearing a Jaecoo badge. The brand has confirmed its first UK-bound electric SUV, the E5, will roll into showrooms in October with prices starting from £27,505 — undercutting many of its established rivals.

Positioned against the likes of the Peugeot e-2008, Hyundai Kona Electric, and the upcoming Kia EV3, the E5 aims to win over buyers with an appealing mix of range, tech, and value. At its core is a 61.1-kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack that delivers a claimed 248 miles between charges. DC fast-charging at up to 80 kW means a 30–80% top-up takes just 27 minutes, and vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality lets the E5 double as a mobile power bank for camping gear, tools, or even an outdoor coffee maker.

Under the hood — or rather, under the floor — a single front-mounted electric motor produces 204 hp and 212 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to launch the E5 from 0 to 62 mph in 7.7 seconds, which puts it squarely in the middle of the small EV SUV pack for performance.

Stylistically, the E5 trades the bold grille of its petrol-powered sibling, the Jaecoo 5, for a sleeker, mostly closed-off nose, improving aerodynamics while giving the SUV a clean, modern look. Inside, there’s a 13.2-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, five-passenger seating, and up to 1,180 liters of cargo space with the rear seats folded.

Two trims are on offer: Pure and Luxury. The entry Pure spec already includes a six-speaker Sony audio system and manual front seat adjustments, while the Luxury trim — starting at £30,505 — adds an eight-speaker upgrade, panoramic sunroof, and heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats. Both come with Jaecoo’s seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.

With its competitive pricing, usable range, and decent kit list, the Jaecoo E5 could be the brand’s ticket to a foothold in the UK’s increasingly crowded electric SUV market. And given how quickly Chinese EV brands have been shaking up the status quo, established players would be wise to take notice.

Source: Autocar

NEW CARS

Hyundai Ioniq 2 to Bring Premium EV Tech to the €30K Segment

Hyundai is about to make its boldest move yet in Europe’s electric arena — and it’s aiming squarely at one of the hottest new battlegrounds in the industry. The upcoming Ioniq 2, a compact, Bayon-sized electric crossover, is designed to lock horns with the incoming Renault 4, Volkswagen ID 2X, and Skoda Epiq.

Expected to debut at next month’s Munich Motor Show before hitting showrooms in Q3 2026, the Ioniq 2 will be Hyundai’s ticket into the rapidly growing affordable EV hatchback segment. More than just another model, it’s a strategic play to close the gap with sibling brand Kia, which outsold Hyundai in Europe by fewer than 8,000 units in the first half of 2025.

Closing the Gap — and the Price

Sitting between Hyundai’s compact Inster EV and the Kona Electric, the Ioniq 2 is set to share much of its DNA with Kia’s upcoming EV2. Both will ride on Hyundai Motor Group’s scalable E-GMP architecture, a platform already underpinning everything from the Kia EV6 to the Hyundai Ioniq 5. That means the 2 is likely to borrow the EV3’s choice of battery packs — 58.3kWh for a 267-mile range, or 81.4kWh for up to 372 miles — paired with a 201-hp front-mounted motor.

Pricing will hover around £25,000, making it one of the most attainable E-GMP-based EVs yet.

Design: Camouflage Can’t Hide Ambition

Spy shots show a raised hatchback profile with a raked roofline, echoing the proportions of Volkswagen’s ID 2X. Expect a sharp, technical nose inspired by the Ioniq 6, complete with slim LED lighting and an aggressive stance. Inside, Hyundai is promising a “step change” in usability, with a wide, continuous display stretching across half the dashboard — part instrument cluster, part infotainment hub — and a cabin more tech-focused than the current Tucson hybrid.

Why It Matters

The Ioniq 2’s arrival is perfectly timed. Europe’s affordable EV market is about to explode, led by the Renault 4’s summer launch and the imminent debuts of VW’s ID 2X and Skoda’s Epiq. By stepping into this space, Hyundai isn’t just broadening its six-strong EV line-up — it’s positioning itself for a major sales surge.

Hyundai Europe boss Xavier Martinet puts it plainly: “We are very much involved with the electrification of our line-up and to increase our electrified mix in the coming years.” The Ioniq 2 could be the model that turns that plan from ambition into dominance.

Source: Hyundai; Photo: CarSpyMedia