News

Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD Drives into the Autonomous Era

Volkswagen is set to take a monumental leap into the future of mobility with the upcoming launch of its first fully autonomous production vehicle — the electric ID. Buzz AD. Representing a new technological era for the German automaker, the vehicle promises to transform urban transportation, although it won’t be available to private buyers.

Expected to enter regular use in Hamburg and Los Angeles by 2027, the ID. Buzz AD is positioned not as a consumer car but as a purpose-built solution for public transportation fleets, ride-sharing services, and commercial partners such as Uber and Moia. The van will debut with around 500 units operating in Hamburg as part of Volkswagen’s own ride-hailing service.

Unlike some competitors in the autonomous race who are targeting individual ownership, Volkswagen is embracing a strategic fleet-first approach. “This is a true revolution in mobility, and we want to shape how cities move,” said a company spokesperson. The vehicle is engineered specifically for urban environments and requires integration with a digital control center, making personal ownership both impractical and economically unviable.

The ID. Buzz AD stands out not only as Volkswagen’s first autonomous vehicle, but also as Europe’s first fully autonomous production car, assembled at the company’s commercial vehicle facility in Hanover. While the model is based on the familiar ID. Buzz design, it is a technological marvel in its own right — equipped with 13 cameras, 9 LiDAR systems, and 5 radar sensors that monitor its surroundings in real time. The system supports autonomous travel at speeds of up to 120 km/h and accommodates four passengers.

Originally slated for launch in 2026, the ID. Buzz AD’s rollout was postponed by a year to allow further development and regulatory approvals, particularly in Europe where legislation for Level 4 autonomy is still evolving. In the interim, vehicles will still feature a safety driver until full certification is secured.

Volkswagen’s autonomous driving program began in earnest in 2021. Since then, its test fleet — now numbering around 100 vehicles — has logged over 600,000 kilometers across cities including Munich, Hamburg, Austin, and Oslo. This growing experience base forms the foundation of the commercial-scale deployment planned for 2027.

The long-term vision is ambitious: Volkswagen plans to deliver more than 10,000 autonomous ID. Buzz vans in the first generation, with Uber alone expected to acquire up to 10,000 units over the next decade.

Yet, for all its technological promise, the ID. Buzz AD remains out of reach for private buyers — not just due to its operational restrictions but also its prohibitive cost. Estimates suggest that a single unit could exceed €100,000, rendering it a vehicle designed strictly for integrated, urban fleet use.

As cities prepare for smarter, more efficient transport systems, Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz AD might just be the vehicle that drives that change. But for now, it will remain a vision shared, not owned.

Source: Volkswagen

Gallery:

Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD Drives into the Autonomous Era
News

New Mazda CX-5 Revealed in First Leak Ahead of Late 2025 Premiere

Mazda’s SUV portfolio has earned a reputation for blending sleek design with driving pleasure, but in today’s hyper-competitive compact SUV segment, even a standout like the CX-5 eventually starts to show its age. After nearly a decade on the market, the second-generation CX-5 is preparing to hand over the baton, as Mazda gears up for a new chapter. A leaked image of the third-generation model has just surfaced—offering our first clear glimpse at what’s to come.

The leaked photo, shared by Car Design News via Instagram, appears to be a lower-resolution official image, but it confirms much of what industry watchers had already suspected based on recent spy shots of camouflaged prototypes. Mazda has opted for continuity over radical redesign, preserving the classic SUV shape while updating it with refined styling cues and new proportions.

Familiar DNA, Sharper Lines

Visually, the upcoming CX-5 retains Mazda’s design language—think wide, confident grille and sleek LED headlights—but evolves it with sharper boomerang-shaped light signatures and a redesigned front fascia. The vehicle is reportedly around 110 mm longer than its predecessor, yet still maintains a compact and athletic silhouette.

At the rear, major design changes include tail lights that stretch deeply into the fenders and almost reach the center of the tailgate, while the turn signals are now pushed further to the edges. The new model also introduces a distinctive C-shaped roof rack, distancing itself subtly from the more futuristic design of Mazda’s recent Arata concept shown at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show.

A Carefully Calibrated SUV Strategy

The CX-5 has long been Mazda’s best-selling model globally, but its dominance has recently been challenged by newer, larger, and more tech-savvy competitors. Mazda has responded with a significant overhaul of its SUV lineup. In North America, the brand has rolled out models like the CX-50, CX-70, and CX-90, while Europe received the two-row CX-60 and the three-row CX-80. Meanwhile, the CX-30 remains popular thanks to its urban-friendly footprint.

With this third-generation CX-5, Mazda is looking to reassert its position in the crowded compact SUV space, blending familiar appeal with new technologies.

New Tech Under the Bonnet

Details remain scarce for now, but Mazda has confirmed that the new CX-5 will debut with a hybrid version—developed entirely in-house. This marks a significant move for Mazda, which has typically partnered with Toyota on hybrid tech. The initial hybrid offering will rely on existing powertrain components, but a more advanced setup featuring Mazda’s new SkyActiv-Z gasoline engine is in the works. However, this next-generation powertrain is not expected to arrive before the end of 2027.

When to Expect It

Mazda has officially scheduled the global premiere of the all-new CX-5 for the fourth quarter of 2025. Until then, the leaked image offers an exciting teaser of what’s to come: a thoughtfully updated CX-5 that respects its past while inching forward into the future of sustainable, stylish mobility.

Source: Mazda; Photo: Car Design News via Instagram

News

Taycan Turbo GT Goes Beast Mode, Sets New EV Track Records

The electric vehicle performance wars are heating up, and Porsche is not backing down. Just days after the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra made headlines for setting a new production EV record on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Porsche has responded with a powerful message: the Taycan Turbo GT still rules the track.

Xiaomi’s recent triumph saw the SU7 Ultra dethrone Porsche with a blistering lap around the Nürburgring, shaking up the EV world. But as anyone familiar with German automotive culture knows, Porsche doesn’t relinquish records easily. With renewed determination, the Stuttgart-based automaker has fired back, establishing new benchmarks at two world-renowned racetracks.

At Road Atlanta in Georgia, Porsche enlisted veteran driver Patrick Long to pilot the Taycan Turbo GT. The result: a record-smashing lap time of 1:27.1 minutes on the 4.088-kilometer circuit—over six seconds faster than the previous Taycan Turbo S record set in 2020. Across the globe in Abu Dhabi, at the Yas Marina Circuit, Formula 1 driver Ramez Azzam clocked 2:07.2 minutes under the floodlights, just 1.1 seconds off the touring car record, a remarkable feat considering the desert heat necessitated a nighttime run.

Both of these record-setting performances were achieved using the Taycan Turbo GT with the Weissach package, Porsche’s most extreme road-going EV yet. Pushing out over 1,100 horsepower in Attack mode, the Weissach variant benefits from Porsche’s cutting-edge Active Ride suspension and a meticulous lightweight design, shedding 75 kilograms compared to the Taycan Turbo S.

These new records are part of a growing list for the Taycan Turbo GT, which has already laid claim to fastest EV laps at Interlagos, Shanghai International Circuit, Laguna Seca, and—until recently—the Nürburgring itself, with a stunning 7:07.5-minute lap, a full 26 seconds quicker than the previous best.

While Xiaomi may hold the Nürburgring crown for now, Porsche’s multi-track dominance underscores the brand’s relentless pursuit of performance and innovation. As EVs continue to evolve, one thing is certain: the battle for supremacy is far from over—and Porsche is not done racing.

Source: Porsche USA via YouTube

Cars and catalogues