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2027 Changan E06 – A Serious New Player in the Compact EV Game

Changan isn’t a household name in the UK—at least not yet. But the newly revealed E06, arriving in early 2027, suggests the Chinese giant is gearing up for a proper European push. And based on what we know so far, this compact electric crossover is positioned to make life uncomfortable for the BYD Atto 3, Citroën ë-C3 Aircross, and the upcoming Kia EV4.

A Compact Footprint With Big Ambitions

Measuring 4.44 metres long and 1.86 metres wide, the E06 slots neatly into one of the fastest-growing segments in the EV world. Its proportions feel familiar—European even—which is no accident. Changan claims the E06 was developed specifically with European tastes in mind. That’s a bold claim, but the initial ingredients are promising.

Performance and Range

Under the clean-sheet bodywork sits a 268bhp front-mounted motor—a healthy output for a crossover of this size. Power comes from a 61.7kWh LFP battery, known for durability and thermal stability. Official range sits at 280 miles, positioning the E06 right in the sweet spot for suburban commuters and small families.

Charging speeds also hit respectable numbers. The E06 supports 162kW DC fast-charging, enough for meaningful top-ups during short motorway stops, and up to 11kW AC for home or workplace charging.

Inside: Tech-Heavy, Buttons Not Included

The cabin leans heavily into modern minimalism. A 15.6-inch central touchscreen handles infotainment duties, and a 10.2-inch digital cluster sits ahead of the driver. The lack of physical buttons is the one decision likely to spark debate—especially when climate controls are relegated to the touchscreen. For an audience increasingly frustrated with touch-only interfaces, this could be a sticking point.

On the flip side, Changan promises serious practicality. Rear passengers get an impressive 800mm of knee room, and the boot swallows 545 litres—numbers that challenge some mid-size SUVs, let alone compact crossovers.

Pricing and Positioning

Official pricing is still under wraps, but with the E06 set to be the smallest model in Changan’s UK lineup—slotting beneath the Deepal S05 and £39,990 Deepal S07—expect a starting point around £30,000. That would put it toe-to-toe with mainstream competitors while offering notably more power and space.

Warranty Confidence

Changan backs the E06 with a seven-year/100,000-mile vehicle warranty and an eight-year/124,000-mile battery warranty. Those numbers match or exceed what established players are offering, reflecting the brand’s confidence as it steps into a new market.

If Changan can deliver strong real-world efficiency, dial in the ride and handling for UK roads, and price the E06 competitively, the established players in the compact EV crossover segment will need to pay close attention. The E06 might just be the car that brings Changan into the British mainstream—not with a shout, but with a well-calculated, quietly confident stride.

Source: Autocar

NEW CARS

2028 Range Rover Evoque: The Smallest Range Rover Goes Big on Electricity

The Range Rover Evoque has always been the fashionable city-dweller of the Range Rover family—compact, premium, and unmistakably stylish. Now, as Jaguar Land Rover reshapes its entire lineup for the electric era, the brand’s best-seller is preparing for its most significant transformation yet. Due late in the decade, the third-generation Evoque will emerge as an EV-first model riding on a brand-new architecture, signaling the final puzzle piece in the revamped Range Rover portfolio.

Electric First, and Finally Ready for the Future

When it lands—expected around late 2027, with customer deliveries beginning in 2028—the new Evoque will debut JLR’s Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA), the same 800-volt platform set to underpin the next-gen Velar and the upcoming “Defender Sport.”

EMA is more than just an EV platform; it’s a full-scale rethink. Designed from day one around battery packs and electric motors, the architecture promises faster charging, greater efficiency, and the kind of longevity JLR needs if the Evoque is going to stay relevant well into the 2030s.

The current Evoque, now a decade old, has relied on an evolving mix of mild-hybrid petrol and diesel engines, plus a plug-in hybrid. But with electric rivals like Mercedes-Benz’s upcoming GLA EV moving the goalposts toward 450 miles of range, the new Evoque has no choice but to compete head-to-head.

Official specs remain locked down, but EMA’s 800-volt capability should allow ultra-rapid charging—likely restoring large chunks of range in minutes, not hours. The motors will be built in-house, while batteries will come from Tata Group’s new Agratas plant in Somerset, scheduled to begin production in 2027.

A Split Strategy? EV-first Doesn’t Rule Out Other Powertrains

Despite the EV push, JLR is leaving the door cracked open for additional propulsion. The brand has openly acknowledged the unexpectedly strong global demand for plug-in hybrids, and EMA can accommodate a range-extender setup with a small petrol engine. The UK government’s decision to allow hybrid sales until 2035 rather than 2030 only strengthens that case.

Still, it’s possible JLR will pursue a dual-path strategy:

  • Third-gen Evoque = EV-only, and
  • Second-gen Evoque = refreshed and sold alongside it as the combustion option

This mirrors moves from Porsche (Cayenne EV + ICE Cayenne) and Mercedes (GLC + GLC EQ). It would mark a strategic shift from how JLR is approaching the Range Rover Electric and Range Rover Sport Electric—but it may be the pragmatic path in a volatile market.

Design: Evolution Outside, Revolution Underneath

JLR knows better than to radically mess with the Evoque’s iconic silhouette. So while the chassis underneath will be completely re-engineered, the exterior design will likely continue with its signature compact, coupe-like form. Think more refinement, not reinvention, much like the shift from the first-generation Evoque to the second in 2018.

But EMA’s flat-floor layout creates possibilities that previous Evoques couldn’t offer. Expect:

  • More rear legroom
  • A slightly larger cargo area (already generous at 591 liters today)
  • A more open, uncluttered cabin with fewer physical controls and a focus on screen-based simplicity

Inside, premium materials should remain a core theme, but with a design approach that feels cleaner, more modern, and more digitally forward.

The platform will also enable more advanced driver-assistance technologies and deeper cloud-based connectivity—areas where German rivals have set high standards that JLR now intends to match.

Why the Evoque Matters More Than Ever

In the UK, the Evoque isn’t just another model; it’s the model. It accounts for roughly 40 percent of all Range Rover sales this decade, a staggering figure for what is essentially the entry point to the brand. With such weight on its shoulders, the electrified Evoque must do more than simply exist in EV form—it must lead.

And that’s exactly why JLR is taking its time. The brand’s EV rollout is already stacked:

  • Range Rover Electric in early 2026
  • Next-gen Velar soon after
  • Range Rover Sport EV at the start of 2027

By the time the Evoque arrives, JLR’s electric strategy should be fully matured—and expectations will be sky-high.

The next-generation Range Rover Evoque is shaping up to be a pivotal model for JLR, a compact SUV that blends familiar design with a deeply modern EV core. If it can deliver competitive range, faster charging, and a cabin experience worthy of the Range Rover badge, the Evoque could once again set the benchmark for small luxury SUVs—this time in the electric era.

Source: Autocar; Photo: Autocar

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Icons of Porsche 2025: Where Heritage Meets High Voltage in the Dubai Sun

If Porsche wanted to make a statement at the fifth Icons of Porsche festival, it succeeded—loudly. More than 30,000 enthusiasts flooded Dubai Design District for a weekend that looked less like a car meet and more like a global summit for performance worship. And Porsche brought the goods: classics restored to perfection, electric SUVs with four-figure horsepower numbers, and even an art-car collaboration featuring a cult-favorite vinyl toy monster.

But the heart of the event—surprisingly—belonged to two SUVs separated by 20 years of automotive evolution.

A First-Gen Cayenne Reborn

The original Cayenne, launched in 2002, might be one of the most controversial Porsche models ever—but it’s also one of the most beloved. What once shocked traditionalists has now blossomed into a cult classic with passionate communities around the globe.

So when entrepreneur and collector Phillip Sarofim brought his 2009 Cayenne GTS to Porsche’s Sonderwunsch department for a full “Factory Re-Commission,” fans took notice. This wasn’t just a respray and a detail—it was a full resurrection.

The exterior is dipped in Black Olive, a Paint-to-Sample shade that nails the retro off-roader vibe. Matte-black lower cladding and wheels complete the look. Inside, the story gets even richer: English Green leather paired with the iconic Pasha Black/Olive textile on the seat centers—and even inside the glovebox. It’s tasteful, weird, nostalgic, and utterly Porsche.

The result? A first-gen Cayenne that feels equal parts museum piece and modern design exercise. And next to it…

Cayenne Electric: The Future Hits Hard (1,156 PS Hard)

Just days after its digital debut, the new Cayenne Electric rolled onto the festival grounds—its public premiere in the flesh. If the reborn GTS showcased heritage, the electric Cayenne showcased audacity.

With up to 1,156 PS, this thing means business. Visitors crowded around Porsche’s new Driver Experience cockpit, dominated by a fluid, curved “Flow Display.” The exterior is cleaner and more sculpted than any Cayenne before it, but the real story is customisation.

Porsche claims the electric Cayenne is the most configurable Cayenne ever, offering:

  • 13 exterior colors
  • 12 interior combinations
  • 5 interior packages
  • 5 accent packages
  • New leather shades like Magnesium Grey, Lavender, and Sage Grey
  • Leather-free Race-Tex interiors and even Pepita pattern options

It’s a spec-lover’s playground straight from the factory, with even deeper one-off possibilities through Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.

Showcasing the restored first-gen Cayenne next to the hyper-tech EV was a clever move—two decades apart, yet united by the same philosophy: Porsche will build the Cayenne you want, even if only one exists.

911 Turbo S: The Hybrid Hurricane

Fresh from its Munich debut, the new 911 Turbo S landed in Dubai with numbers that sound almost fictional. Thanks to a twin-turbo engine supported by T-Hybrid electric tech, it produces 711 PS, making it the most powerful production 911 ever.

It’s the kind of power that, if you whispered it in 1997, engineers would’ve asked if you were okay.

Macan GTS: The Electric Athlete

Porsche also added a spicy new variant to its electric SUV family: the Macan GTS, pushing up to 420 kW (571 PS) with overboost. A rear differential lock and lowered sports air suspension sharpen its already impressive dynamics, while GTS-exclusive visual cues emphasize its attitude. It’s an EV with hot-hatch energy—scaled up.

Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid Sonderwunsch: Luxury Gets Wild

If the Cayenne GTS showed craft, the Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid Sonderwunsch showed imagination. Porsche displayed a bespoke interior with fade effects, exterior-matching contrasts, and features like:

  • A built-in humidor
  • A Champagne cooler

It’s the kind of customization that turns a grand tourer into a rolling penthouse suite.

Manthey Kit for 911 GT3: A Track Weapon Sharpens Its Sword

Manthey Racing is back with a new kit for the 911 GT3 (992.2)—and yes, it’s faster. With higher downforce, revised suspension, and upgraded brakes, the kit shaved 2.8 seconds off the GT3’s Nürburgring lap, posting a 6:52.981. Serious stuff for serious track junkies.

Labubu Meets Porsche

In a surprising but strangely perfect collaboration, Porsche teamed up with artist Kasing Lung to create a limited “King Mon” figure and an art car with Labubu at the wheel. The collab celebrated two milestones:

  • 10 years of “The Monsters”
  • 60 years of the 911 Targa

Because why shouldn’t a beloved toy monster get its moment at a supercar festival?

Celebrating the Carrera GT

The festival also honored 25 years of the Carrera GT, Porsche’s legendary V10 hypercar. Few cars deserve a spotlight more.

Icons of Porsche 2025 wasn’t just a festival—it was a thesis on the brand’s identity.
Past and future aren’t just coexisting; they’re feeding off each other.

A restored 2009 Cayenne GTS sitting next to a 1,156-PS electric successor says everything: Porsche knows exactly where it’s been—and exactly where it’s going.

If you want any tweaks—more attitude, more stats, a shorter or longer version—just tell me!

Source: Porsche

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