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NEW CARS

2027 Hyundai Bayon: New Design, Different Interior and Hybrid Powertrain Rumors

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Hyundai is preparing the second-generation Bayon, bringing a more rugged SUV design, a redesigned cabin and a broader range of potential powertrains to its smallest European SUV.

Hyundai is putting the finishing touches on the new-generation Bayon, a small SUV that shares its mechanical foundations with the i20 hatchback. While the current model has a distinctly crossover-inspired appearance, its successor is expected to adopt a more upright, boxy design influenced by Hyundai’s larger SUVs. Inside, however, the new Bayon will reportedly take a different approach, with a digital cockpit and a cabin layout closely related to the latest i20.

The second-generation Hyundai Bayon is expected to make its debut in India in the coming weeks, most likely with local production. From there, the model should reach several international markets, including Europe and the Middle East. North America is unlikely to be part of the plan, with the similarly sized Hyundai Venue expected to continue serving that market.

A More Rugged Look for the New Hyundai Bayon

Official design sketches released by Hyundai confirm several details previously revealed by photographs of camouflaged prototypes. The new Bayon will move away from the rounded, hatchback-like proportions of its predecessor and adopt a more substantial SUV appearance.

The design follows Hyundai’s “Art of Steel” design language, characterized by sharper surfaces, stronger geometric forms and a more pronounced sense of width. The front end features split LED lighting, while large skid plates and sculpted fenders reinforce the model’s rugged character.

A rising window line toward the rear adds visual tension to the side profile. Together with the more upright body, these elements give the new Bayon a tougher appearance than the current model.

The change is not entirely unexpected. Hyundai’s latest i20, introduced in South America several months ago, has evolved into a crossover-style hatchback. That shift reduces the space for a Bayon that looks too similar to its donor model. At the same time, the market continues to show strong demand for SUVs with a more adventurous appearance—even when most examples will spend their entire lives on urban roads.

New Hyundai Bayon Interior: Digital Screens and Physical Controls

The cabin of the new Hyundai Bayon is expected to be significantly different from the exterior. Rather than simply carrying over the current interior, Hyundai appears to be developing a dashboard inspired by the latest-generation i20.

Higher-spec versions of the new i20 feature a digital cockpit with two 12.3-inch displays, and a similar arrangement is expected to become available in the Bayon. The exact equipment and screen sizes will likely vary depending on trim level and market.

One particularly welcome detail is Hyundai’s continued use of physical controls. The center console is expected to retain three traditional rotary dials, providing a more straightforward way to operate key functions without relying entirely on touchscreen menus.

That combination of digital displays and conventional controls could give the new Bayon a more modern cabin while preserving some of the usability that has become increasingly rare in small SUVs.

Hyundai Bayon Powertrain Options: What to Expect

The second-generation Bayon is expected to use an evolution of the current model’s architecture rather than an entirely new platform. Powertrain availability will likely vary considerably between markets.

Potential options include:

  • Gasoline engines
  • CNG powertrains
  • Mild-hybrid systems

The current European Bayon is powered by a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine. However, rumors suggest that the European version of the new model could replace it with a 1.2-liter mild-hybrid engine. In India, a non-electrified 1.5-liter gasoline engine is reportedly being considered.

These specifications remain unconfirmed, and Hyundai is expected to tailor the powertrain lineup to local regulations, fuel availability and customer demand. The company has not yet provided a complete technical breakdown of the new Bayon.

Where the New Bayon Fits in Hyundai’s SUV Lineup

The new Hyundai Bayon will continue to occupy a position between the brand’s smallest electric SUV and its larger mainstream crossover.

ModelPosition in the lineup
Hyundai InsterSmaller, fully electric urban SUV
Hyundai BayonSmall B-SUV positioned between the Inster and Kona
Hyundai KonaLarger compact SUV

This positioning places the Bayon firmly in the B-SUV segment, one of the most competitive areas of the European automotive market. Its combination of compact dimensions, elevated seating position and SUV styling is intended to appeal to buyers who want the practicality of a crossover without moving into a larger vehicle.

Hyundai Bayon Production and Global Availability

The current Bayon was introduced in 2021 and received a facelift in 2024. Production takes place in Turkey, with sales primarily concentrated in European markets.

The second-generation model is expected to be unveiled first in India, where local production is reportedly likely. Hyundai could then introduce the new Bayon in additional markets around the world, including Europe and the Middle East.

However, the new Bayon is not expected to be sold in North America. Hyundai’s Venue, which occupies a similar size category, will likely remain the brand’s offering in that region.

Why Is It Called the Bayon?

The Bayon name is inspired by Bayonne, a city in the French Basque Country. Known for its medieval architecture and historic character, the city provides the name for Hyundai’s smallest SUV designed primarily for European markets.

The name also follows Hyundai’s established practice of using geographic references for several of its SUV models.

When Will the New Hyundai Bayon Be Revealed?

Hyundai is expected to unveil the second-generation Bayon in India in the coming weeks. The company has already released official design sketches, but full technical specifications, pricing and market-specific equipment details have yet to be announced.

The European launch is expected to follow the initial unveiling, although Hyundai has not confirmed an exact arrival date. More information about the engine lineup, hybrid technology and production plans should become available closer to the official debut.

Source: Hyundai

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Next-Gen Audi RS5 Will Be a Plug-In Hybrid

Audi Sport is about to cross a line it’s been circling for years. The next-generation RS5 won’t just be faster, sharper, or louder—it’ll be electrified. For the first time, Audi’s compact performance coupe and Sportback will arrive with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, marking a pivotal shift for one of the brand’s most important RS models.

The news didn’t come via a splashy press release or a choreographed reveal. Instead, Audi accidentally let the cat out of the carbon-fiber bag with a briefly posted—and quickly deleted—LinkedIn update that plainly stated: “The new Audi RS 5… will be our first high-performance plug-in hybrid.” Whoops.

But the message is clear: the RS5 is heading into the electrified era, and Audi Sport is betting that batteries and boost can coexist with burnouts and Nürburgring lap times.

Why Audi Had to Go Hybrid

The writing has been on the wall. Europe’s looming Euro 7 emissions standards are brutally strict, and even Audi’s beloved twin-turbo V6 can’t survive on gasoline alone forever. The S5 already made the jump to mild-hybrid tech, so a plug-in RS5 was the logical next step.

Unlike mild hybrids, a PHEV RS5 will be able to drive on electric power alone—at least for short distances. That’s great for city driving and emissions compliance, but the real reason Audi is doing this is much more on-brand: more power.

Electric motors deliver instant torque, and when paired with a turbocharged engine, they create the kind of shove that makes modern super sedans feel like they’ve been rear-ended by a freight train. The RS5 has always been quick. The new one could be genuinely outrageous.

The Powertrain: V6 + Electricity = Trouble (the Good Kind)

Audi hasn’t confirmed specs yet, but all signs point to a familiar heart: the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 from the previous RS4 and RS5, which made 450 horsepower on its own. Add an electric motor to that, and you’re suddenly looking at a very serious number—likely well north of 500 hp.

Audi could go conservative, or it could aim straight at the king of the electrified sports-sedan hill: the Mercedes-AMG C 63 E Performance. That car uses a turbocharged four-cylinder and an electric motor to produce a bonkers 680 horsepower and 1018 Nm of torque. It’s brutally fast—and brutally controversial.

Ironically, AMG is already backing away from that setup, reportedly preparing a return to a six-cylinder engine for the next C 63. Audi, meanwhile, may be sliding into that power vacuum with a hybrid V6 that offers both drama and drivability.

The Weight Problem Nobody Wants to Talk About

Here’s the uncomfortable truth about plug-in hybrids: batteries are heavy. Very heavy.

BMW’s new M5 PHEV tips the scales at a staggering 2,445 kg, roughly 460 kg heavier than the outgoing model. That’s not just extra mass—it’s a handling nightmare waiting to happen.

Audi knows this. The RS5 has always been about precision and balance, not just straight-line muscle. Keeping the new RS5 from feeling like a rolling lithium-ion brick will be one of Audi Sport’s biggest engineering challenges.

If they get it right, the electric motor could actually improve handling by filling torque gaps and helping rotate the car out of corners. If they get it wrong, well… physics doesn’t care about marketing.

Looks: Loud, Wide, and Proud

Spy shots confirm what you’d expect from a modern RS car: subtlety has left the building.

The next RS5 will wear aggressively sculpted bumpers, flared fenders, and a fresh take on Audi’s signature oval exhaust outlets. It’s not pretending to be an A5 with better tires. This thing wants to be seen—and heard.

In a world where some performance cars try to blend in, the RS5 is leaning hard into its role as Audi’s street-legal track missile.

The new Audi RS5 isn’t just another evolution—it’s a philosophical shift. It’s Audi Sport admitting that the future of high performance is no longer purely mechanical, but electrical too.

If Audi can deliver the speed we expect without sacrificing the sharp, confident feel that made the RS5 great in the first place, this could be one of the most important RS cars ever built.

The RS5 is plugging in. Now we wait to see just how hard it hits.

Source: Audi

NEW CARS

Next-Gen Acura RDX Will Be the Brand’s First Hybrid SUV

Acura just pulled back the curtain—barely—on the next-generation RDX, and for a brand that’s often played it safe, what’s hiding behind that teaser is surprisingly bold. The fourth-generation RDX will become the first Acura ever to use a two-motor hybrid system, a move that signals more than just better fuel economy. It marks a philosophical shift for a company that built its reputation on clever engineering and performance-first thinking.

The new RDX is still a couple of years away from showrooms, but Acura is already laying the groundwork. Production of the current model will be paused later this year as the brand retools for what comes next. When it returns, the RDX will re-enter the compact luxury SUV fight with a new powertrain strategy—and much higher expectations.

Why a Hybrid RDX Matters

Let’s be clear: this isn’t Acura slapping a battery onto a gas engine just to satisfy regulators. The brand is using a two-motor hybrid-electric system, the same fundamental layout Honda has been perfecting for years. One motor primarily drives the wheels, the other manages energy and assists under load, allowing the gas engine to operate in its most efficient range. In real-world driving, that usually means smoother acceleration, better response, and far less time spent guzzling fuel in traffic.

That’s especially important for the RDX. In a segment packed with turbo fours and increasingly refined plug-in hybrids, Acura’s current powertrain has started to feel merely adequate. A two-motor hybrid could restore the RDX’s original mission: to be the enthusiast’s choice in a practical, compact luxury SUV.

Acura is framing this move as part of a broader strategy that includes gas-powered models, hybrids, and full EVs. Translation: the company knows not everyone is ready to go all-electric, but nobody wants to keep paying at the pump either.

Still Built in Ohio, Still an Acura

The next RDX will continue to be built at Acura’s East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio, alongside the MDX. That matters, not just politically but mechanically. The plant already produces some of Acura’s most complex vehicles, which suggests the hybrid RDX won’t be a half-hearted experiment—it’ll be fully integrated into Acura’s manufacturing and engineering pipeline.

Mike Langel, Acura’s assistant VP of national sales, called it fitting that the RDX would be the first Acura to get this new hybrid system. And he’s not wrong. Few nameplates in Acura’s lineup better represent the brand’s balance of performance, tech, and everyday usability.

Twenty Years of RDX, in Fast-Forward

The RDX didn’t just stumble into this role—it earned it.

The first-generation RDX, launched for 2007, was a breakout hit. It was Acura’s first compact luxury SUV and one of the first in its class to use a turbocharged engine. Paired with Acura’s torque-vectoring SH-AWD system, it drove like nothing else in the segment.

The second generation arrived in 2013 with a smoother V6, more space, and a clear focus on refinement. It was less edgy, but more mainstream—exactly what the market wanted at the time.

Then the third-generation RDX brought back the attitude in 2019. Turbo power returned, SH-AWD got sharper, and Acura loaded the cabin with modern tech and advanced safety systems. It was once again a driver’s compact luxury SUV.

Now comes the fourth generation—and with it, a hybrid system that could finally fuse all those past identities into one.

The RDX’s Next Chapter

With nearly 850,000 units sold in North America, the RDX is one of Acura’s most important vehicles. Going hybrid isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about relevance. Buyers want SUVs that feel quick, smooth, and technologically advanced. A two-motor hybrid could deliver all three.

If Acura gets this right, the next RDX won’t just be another compact luxury SUV. It could be the one that reminds everyone why Acura used to be the clever engineer in the room.

And for a brand celebrating its 40th anniversary, that kind of comeback couldn’t be better timed.

Source: Acura