Category Archives: NEW CARS

NEW CARS

Alfa Romeo Steals the Spotlight at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show

The Los Angeles Auto Show has never been short on spectacle, but the 2025 edition—running November 21–30 at the LA Convention Center—might be one of the most ambitious in its 118-year history. More than 30 global brands, a 93,000-square-meter footprint, and over 50 vehicles available for test drives all signal that the LA show is not just alive but thriving. With thousands of visitors expected and more than 5,000 journalists descending from 50+ countries, it’s once again the epicenter of America’s largest automotive market.

And this year, one brand in particular is taking center stage: Alfa Romeo.

The Return of a Legend: Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale

Every auto show has its “it” car—but for 2025, that title is locked down by the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, a hand-built, limited-run, impossibly exclusive supercar that revives one of the most hallowed names in automotive history.

Just 33 units, all spoken for.
A handcrafted, artisanal build philosophy that channels the spirit of 1960s Italian coachbuilders.
And performance numbers that would make most hypercars nervous:

  • 630-hp twin-turbo V6
  • 0–100 km/h in under 3 seconds
  • Top speed: 333 km/h

The new 33 isn’t a modern reinterpretation—it’s a resurrection. Its design and ethos flow directly from the 1967 original, widely considered one of the most beautiful cars ever made and the street-legal offspring of Alfa’s Tipo 33 race program.

Much like its predecessor, the new 33 is shaped by the hands of artisans. Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, the same name behind some of Alfa’s most iconic classics, once again plays an integral role in construction. The result is less “car” and more “rolling sculpture,” one where every line and surface looks like it’s been carved, not designed.

Before arriving in Los Angeles, the 33 Stradale took a victory lap across North America. Monterey Car Week hosted its debut, where it appeared at Motorlux, Hagerty House at Pebble Beach, The Quail, and even completed a showcase run at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. It later graced the Petersen Automotive Museum, starred at MACCHINISSIMA, visited the Motoring Club of Los Angeles, and concluded its journey at the ultra-exclusive Concours at Wynn Las Vegas.

The unanimous reaction everywhere it appeared: jaw-drop, stare, repeat.
Few cars blend heritage, design purity, and unapologetic performance so seamlessly.

Tonale Gets an American Debut—and an Upgrade

While the 33 Stradale is Alfa Romeo’s halo statement, the brand isn’t ignoring its more attainable offerings. Making its first U.S. appearance is the new 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale, the updated version of the brand’s first C-segment SUV.

Alfa’s engineers didn’t just refresh the model—they sharpened it.
Key improvements include:

  • Perfected weight balance
  • Class-leading direct steering feel
  • Brembo performance brakes
  • DSV electronic suspension for improved comfort and precision

Visually, the Tonale gains a more muscular stance with a wider track, a redesigned concave Alfa badge, and a reworked trilobe grille. New 19- and 20-inch wheels reinterpret the brand’s traditional motifs with modern aggression.

Inside, the updates are even more pronounced. Higher-quality materials, red-leather or two-tone Alcantara options, new ambient lighting, and dual digital displays (12.3″ + 10.25″) make the cabin feel fresher, more premium, and more customizable. Three new metallic colors—Rosso Brera, Verde Monza, and Giallo Ocra—expand the palette to eight options, now with an available contrasting black roof.

The model appearing at the LA show is the Tonale Sport Speciale in Rosso Brera, packing a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine specifically tuned for the North American market:

  • 268 hp (272 CV)
  • 295 lb-ft (401 Nm)

With Level 2 driver-assistance tech, a 360° camera, wireless connectivity, OTA updates, heated/ventilated seats, dual-zone climate control, and a 470-W Harman Kardon audio system, the Tonale is positioned to deliver a genuinely premium compact-SUV experience.

A Show That Highlights Alfa Romeo’s Dual Personality

One brand, two very different missions:

  • 33 Stradale – Alfa at its most emotional, exclusive, and uncompromising.
  • Tonale – Alfa for the real world, with everyday usability backed by authentic Italian driving feel.

At the Los Angeles Auto Show, these two vehicles stand not as contradictions but as proof that Alfa Romeo intends to honor its past while actively shaping its future.

If the reaction on opening day is any indicator, both the dreamers and the practical buyers are paying attention.

Source: Alfa Romeo

NEW CARS

First Drive Preview: Leapmotor A10 (B03X) Aims to Redefine the Compact EV SUV Playbook

China’s Leapmotor is stepping onto the global stage with swagger, pulling the wraps off the A10 (known internationally as B03X)—the first model riding on its brand-new global A platform. And if Leapmotor’s claims hold up, this compact electric SUV could become one of the more disruptive entries in the segment.

The brand’s mission statement for the A10 is surprisingly ambitious: premium doesn’t have to mean pricey, compact doesn’t have to mean cramped, and small shouldn’t mean low-tech. It’s a bold manifesto for a young EV maker, but the A10 arrives loaded with enough engineering and tech cred to make the established players look twice.

Packaging: Compact Footprint, Big-Car Space

On paper, the A10’s dimensions place it squarely in the heart of the global small-SUV field:

  • Length: 4,200+ mm
  • Width: 1,800 mm
  • Height: 1,600 mm
  • Wheelbase: 2,600+ mm

That last number matters. The long wheelbase—made possible by Leapmotor’s purpose-built EV architecture—helps unlock an interior that feels like it belongs to a class above. The company emphasizes a “true SUV stance” while keeping the car nimble enough for tight city streets. If early cabin images are any indication, rear-seat legroom and cargo practicality will be strong selling points.

Technology: Heavy on Intelligence, Light on Compromise

Leapmotor is pitching the A10 as an EV for “rational buyers,” but the tech suite borders on emotional. Built on the brand’s latest LEAP architecture, the A10 offers:

  • Door-to-door ADAS for assisted driving across common daily routes
  • An AI-powered cockpit, likely voice-centric and highly integrated
  • Full-vehicle OTA updates, promising long-term improvement

These are features usually reserved for pricier EVs, but here they’re baked into a compact model aiming for mass appeal.

Performance and Range

Though no power figures were released at the preview, Leapmotor did confirm up to 500 km of CLTC range from an ultra-high-density LFP battery. Yes, CLTC can be optimistic, but even with real-world adjustments, the A10 should deliver competitive everyday usability for commuting and weekend runs.

And because it’s built on a dedicated EV platform—not a combustion conversion—it should offer lower center of gravity, better packaging, and potentially sharper driving dynamics than legacy small SUVs.

Design: Friendly Face, Global Intent

The exterior leans into clean, modern lines with a subtle “smile” lighting signature that gives the car a more personable front end. Highlights include:

  • Six global exterior colors
  • 18-inch sporty alloy wheels
  • Semi-hidden door handles
  • Floating roof design

It’s clear Leapmotor wants this thing to look just as comfortable in Paris or Berlin as it does in Guangzhou.

Buyer Target: A Smart Second Car—or a First EV Without Compromise

Leapmotor says the A10/B03X is aimed at practical shoppers who want:

  • A second family vehicle that still feels premium
  • Their first EV upgrade from a small ICE car
  • Smart tech and safety without luxury-brand pricing

In other words, the brand is hunting the same customer Tesla once chased with the Model 3—but with a smaller footprint and lower barrier to entry.

The Leapmotor A10 (B03X) checks all the marketing boxes for a global-ready compact EV: smart, efficient, space-optimized, and priced to undercut established competitors. Specs look promising, and the design takes a friendly, accessible approach rather than chasing the aggressive EV aesthetic trend.

The real test will be how it drives—and whether Leapmotor can deliver the build quality and dealer support expected in Europe and other global markets. But as a first impression? The A10 shows that the company is serious about its global ambitions.

If Leapmotor sticks the landing, the A10 could be one of 2025’s most quietly significant EV launches.

Source: Leapmotor

NEW CARS

2026 BYD Atto 2 DM-i — The PHEV That Might Finally Make Sense

BYD’s first crack at the all-electric Atto 2 left us mildly underwhelmed, a reminder that not every EV out of China is a category killer. But give the same package a battery, a petrol engine, and a smarter mission, and suddenly things get a lot more interesting. The new Atto 2 DM-i plug-in hybrid lands next spring with a clear objective: replace the internal-combustion car entirely for urban users who aren’t sold on full EV life just yet.

And unlike the slightly limp Active trim, the longer-range Boost model makes a seriously compelling case — especially if BYD hits its predicted starting price of £28,000, which would make it the cheapest plug-in hybrid in the UK.

Powertrain: A Clever Split Personality

Underneath its sensible sheetmetal lies the same playbook used in BYD’s larger models: a 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder paired with a dual-motor hybrid system. One motor generates electricity, the other drives the front wheels, which is why BYD calls this setup DM-i (Dual Mode–intelligent).

The brain of the system is the company’s trademark 18.3-kWh Blade battery, good for a claimed 55 miles of electric range — more than a BMW X3 plug-in hybrid, for those keeping score.

The Boost trim tested here delivers:

  • 209 hp
  • 0–62 mph in 7.5 seconds
  • 110 mph top speed
  • 300 Nm from the electric motor alone

The entry-level Active makes do with a smaller battery (25-mile EV range) and 164 hp, stretching the sprint to 9.1 seconds.

On the Road: Electric First, Engine Second

In typical DM-i fashion, the Atto 2 feels for all the world like an EV that occasionally borrows an engine. The electric motor does most of the heavy lifting, and during two hours of mixed driving we rarely woke the petrol engine unless deliberately provoking it.

Throttle dip into the carpet? The 1.5 petrol fires up — eventually — and when it does, it’s neither musical nor especially eager. But most owners may hardly notice; the electric torque pulls strongly well beyond motorway speeds, and real-world range estimates seemed to track closely with the car’s predictions. That alone puts it ahead of many legacy-brand plug-ins.

Regeneration comes in two flavors — Standard and High — but both feel timid compared with European or Korean rivals. BYD still doesn’t offer true one-pedal driving here.

Ride and Handling: Comfortable Enough, But…

Refinement largely mirrors the EV version: excellent electric hush, but noticeable wind and road noise at speed. Ride quality is where things unravel. Because of the battery packaging and energy-recovery hardware, the Atto 2 DM-i runs a torsion-beam rear axle — and it shows.

Despite riding on modest 17-inch wheels with generous sidewalls, the DM-i:

  • Fidgets at higher speeds
  • Thuds into potholes around town
  • Never quite settles over broken surfaces

The all-electric Atto 2, with its multi-link setup, has a smoother stride. Handling is predictable but sluggish; vague steering and modest grip discourage any enthusiastic cornering. This is an appliance, not a backroad toy.

Interior & Tech: Sensible, Spacious, and Mostly Well Executed

BYD has toned down the quirkiness here — no Atto 3-style guitar-string door pockets. Instead, the cabin is clean, upright, and dominated by a fixed 12.8-inch touchscreen (no party-trick rotation this time) and an 8.8-inch driver’s display.

Highlights:

  • Infotainment is quick, intuitive, and smartphone-like
  • Swipe-down quick menu is genuinely useful
  • Build quality is better than expected for the segment

Lowlights:

  • No physical climate buttons, despite customers begging for them
  • Odd mix of materials: soft-touch up front, scratchy plastics in the rear
  • Slightly fake-looking moulded stitching

Space is a win. Two six-footers will happily sit in the back, and the 425-litre boot beats the electric version by 25 litres — though the seats don’t fold completely flat.

Features & Trims: Value Is the Real Story

Active (approx. £25,000)

  • Rear-view camera
  • Parking sensors
  • Rain-sensing wipers
  • Adaptive cruise
  • LED headlights
  • Metallic paint

Boost (approx. £28,000)

  • 360° camera
  • Heated seats + heated steering wheel
  • Tinted glass
  • Panoramic roof
  • Wireless phone charging
  • Vehicle-to-Load capability (run tools, appliances, camping gear off the battery)

If these prices hold, BYD will undercut the Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV by thousands, and nothing else in the UK market comes close on range-for-money.

A Hit — With Caveats

The BYD Atto 2 DM-i Boost isn’t perfect. The ride is unsettled, steering is vague, and refinement still trails the class leaders. But judged as a mass-market, long-range, ultra-affordable PHEV, BYD is onto something huge.

For buyers not yet ready to make the leap to a full EV, the Atto 2 DM-i hits a sweet spot: mostly electric commuting, petrol-powered freedom, and a price that could force every major rival back to the drawing board.

Right now, in this still-quiet corner of the market, BYD has the field to itself — and the Atto 2 DM-i Boost is the one to get.

Source: BYD