Tag Archives: vehicles

News

ADAC’s Long-Haul EV Showdown: Who Really Rules the Electric Autobahn?

If you’ve spent any time in an EV forum, you’ve heard it all before: “This car charges at 350 kW!” or “This one does 800 kilometers on a charge!” But in the real world—where temperatures fluctuate, chargers age, and batteries heat up—those manufacturer promises often melt faster than a lithium pack under peak load.

So Germany’s ADAC decided to put a little truth serum into the mix. Their approach was refreshingly simple: simulate a long-distance trip across the autobahn, include a single fast-charging stop, and measure what actually happens—not what glossy sales brochures claim should happen.

The result? A surprisingly shuffled hierarchy of long-distance champions, proving once again that usable long-range performance isn’t just about battery size. It’s about chemistry, thermal management, efficiency… and, critically, how long a car can sustain fast-charging speeds, not just the number a manufacturer brags about on paper.

How ADAC Measured the Real Winners

Each EV was run under identical conditions, driven through 90% of its usable battery, then plugged into a fast charger for exactly 20 minutes. ADAC then combined the pre-charge and post-charge totals into a single “grand-touring range” metric.

The magic of this test? It reflects what drivers actually experience: start driving, recharge briefly, and keep going. No lab conditions. No fantasy numbers.

And the outcome produced a top-10 list where several cars crossed the 800-kilometer barrier—one even flirted with a thousand.

The Top Performers: Real-World Range Royalty

1. Porsche Taycan Performance Plus – 981 km (513 + 468 km)

The Taycan didn’t just win—it dominated. Porsche’s 97-kWh sports sedan delivered a staggering 981 kilometers of total travel, pairing solid baseline range with unmatched charging stamina. Its 468 kilometers gained in a single 20-minute session was the highest of the entire test, finally silencing anyone who thought Porsche’s vaunted charging curve was marketing hype.

2. Hyundai IONIQ 6 2WD – 931 km (502 + 429 km)

Hyundai continues to embarrass legacy automakers with physics-defying efficiency. Despite having one of the smallest batteries in the test (77.4 kWh), the IONIQ 6 nearly cracked the 1,000-kilometer club. It didn’t just beat bigger, pricier cars—it humiliated them.

3. Audi A6 Avant e-tron Performance – 921 km (524 + 397 km)

Audi’s long-roof EV proved that the brand’s upcoming next-gen electric architecture has serious legs. With over 900 kilometers of combined range, the A6 Avant sits just a whisker behind Hyundai—and does so with a more conventional German luxury demeanor.

Efficiency vs. Battery Size: The Plot Twist

Interestingly, none of the top three were the efficiency kings. Four other EVs actually outperformed the Taycan in pure battery-only range. The surprise leader?

BMW iX xDrive50 – 553 km before charging

Despite weighing roughly as much as a small moon, the iX squeezed the most kilometer-per-kWh results in the group. Credit its massive 111-kWh pack—but also BMW’s excellent highway tuning. Yet its charging recovery (282 km) couldn’t keep pace with Porsche and Hyundai, dropping it to sixth overall.

The Remaining Contenders

Here’s how the rest of the top 10 shook out:

  1. Audi Q6 e-tron Performance – 884 km (509 + 375 km)
  2. Lucid Air Grand Touring AWD – 859 km (550 + 309 km)
  3. BMW iX xDrive50 – 835 km (553 + 282 km)
  4. Hyundai IONIQ 9 Techniq – 832 km (482 + 350 km)
  5. Mercedes EQS 450+ – 825 km (521 + 304 km)
  6. XPeng G6 Long Range – 820 km (454 + 366 km)
  7. Mercedes EQE SUV 350+ – 806 km (503 + 303 km)

The standout among the final group is the XPeng G6—the only Chinese EV to elbow into the top ten, and with impressive charging recovery to boot.

What This Test Really Shows

EV road-tripping is no longer an experiment—it’s everyday reality. But ADAC’s results highlight some big takeaways:

  • Fast-charging curves matter more than peak kW numbers. Sustained power beats momentary spikes.
  • Battery size isn’t destiny. Hyundai’s IONIQ 6 proves efficiency can trump capacity.
  • Premium brands aren’t guaranteed winners. Porsche and Audi deliver—but Hyundai is right there with them.
  • China is coming. XPeng’s appearance in the top 10 won’t be its last.

Long-distance EV travel may still require planning, but range anxiety is rapidly becoming yesterday’s problem. And if Porsche keeps this up, the 1,000-kilometer barrier might not last long.

Source: ADAC

News

The $335,000 Beetle: How a One-Off California Coachbuilt VW Became the Most Expensive Bug Ever Sold

Volkswagen built more than 21 million Beetles, scattering them across continents, generations, and cultures. It’s a car so common that nearly everyone has a memory attached to one. But every rule has an exception—and in this case, the exception is a Beetle so rare, so bizarre, and so luxurious that it just became the most expensive Volkswagen ever sold.

At a recent auction, this singular California-built coachwork special hammered for an astonishing $335,000. Yes, for a Beetle. That’s not only a record for the model—it may well be a record for any Volkswagen, period.

A Bug Rebuilt From the Ground Up

The car’s origin story begins in 1969, when John van Neumann, Volkswagen’s U.S. importer and a major figure in West Coast car culture, decided that the humble Beetle deserved a second life—one dripping in luxury. He commissioned the famed Los Angeles coachbuilders Troutman-Barnes, whose résumé included custom work for Carroll Shelby and Hollywood elites, to transform an ordinary Bug into something extraordinary.

The result was a stretched, hand-built luxury sedan with a price tag of roughly $35,000 in 1969 money. To put that in perspective, a Lamborghini Miura, one of the world’s most exotic supercars at the time, cost less.

Van Neumann wasn’t building a Beetle anymore—he was building a statement.

Inside: A Rolling Lounge on Four Wheels

If the exterior was unusual, the interior was outright decadent. Instead of vinyl and simple knobs, the cabin became a rolling lounge. Mahogany trim, a built-in minibar, and a then-cutting-edge five-speaker sound system turned the Beetle into a miniature luxury saloon.

It wasn’t meant to be practical. It was meant to impress. And impress it did.

More Weight, More Power

All that extra length and luxury meant extra weight, so Troutman-Barnes swapped in a beefier powerplant. Under the engine cover sat a 1.6-liter flat-four with dual Weber carburetors, giving the luxury Bug enough grunt to move with dignity—even if no one mistook it for a sports car.

A Hollywood Debut

The car made its first public appearance at the Los Angeles Auto Show, where it caused a legitimate sensation. Audiences loved it. Hollywood loved it even more. According to long-circulated stories, none other than John Wayne rode to the Oscars in this very car—because of course he did.

A Beetle Beyond Its Own Myth

When it crossed the auction block, expectations were modest. After all, this wasn’t a Ferrari prototype or a Bugatti barn find. But collectors know a true one-off when they see it, and bids skyrocketed far beyond predictions.

By the time the gavel fell at $335,000, the room had witnessed something rare: a humble Beetle elevated to automotive folklore.

A Curiosity, A Time Capsule, A Record Holder

Today, van Neumann’s stretched salon Beetle stands as one of the most unusual projects in Volkswagen history—a curiosity that bridges the gap between cultural icon and coachbuilt exotica.

And now, officially, it’s the most expensive VW Beetle ever sold, proving that even the world’s simplest cars can have extraordinary stories.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

NEW CARS

2027 Nissan X-Trail: Back to Rugged Roots, Aiming for the Segment’s Throne

Nissan is gearing up for one of its most important launches of the decade: an all-new X-Trail—known to American buyers as the Rogue—scheduled to make its debut in 2027. The stakes couldn’t be higher. This is Nissan’s challenger in the biggest, most cutthroat segment on the planet, chasing the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, two of the world’s top-selling vehicles. And Nissan knows the current model has lost ground.

The plan was first teased by Nissan executive Ivan Espinosa and later sharpened by design chief Alfonso Albaisa, who didn’t mince words about the mission: the next X-Trail has to stand out again.

A Nameplate in Need of a Comeback

The fourth-generation X-Trail has only been around since 2021, but compared to the tougher, boxier first two generations, it’s struggled to recapture its former popularity—especially in markets where rugged looks are trending hard. Meanwhile, both the RAV4 and CR-V continue to post monster sales.

So Nissan is fast-tracking a replacement, aiming to restore some of that original character without sacrificing the family-friendly practicality that keeps this segment humming.

Albaisa described the challenge clearly: “The trick with the Rogue is the functionality of that car leading the segment. The roominess is a nice balance for its size. But it’s lost its punch… People are reacting to things that look a bit more different.”

In other words: keep the usefulness, dial up the attitude.

A Sharper, Boxier, More Distinctive Look

Expect the next X-Trail to hold roughly the same footprint—five or seven seats, big cargo space, and a shape that won’t alienate the family-SUV crowd. But the design team is adding more visual edge this time around.

Albaisa says the new model will have “a bit more edginess” and be “a bit more boxy than today, but with a futuristic expression.” Nissan has apparently been experimenting with new textures and bolder surfacing, aiming for something more distinctive than the current model’s safe, rounded shape.

Rugged design is making a comeback across the industry—Bronco, Defender, and even Hyundai’s Santa Fe are proof—and Nissan wants in. Considering the original X-Trail helped define this look back in the early 2000s, this isn’t just a shift; it’s a return to form.

Refined but Tough: A New Identity with e-Power

Although ruggedness will guide the design theme, Albaisa stresses that refinement will play an equally big role. The new X-Trail will continue offering Nissan’s e-Power hybrid system, and this time, it’s coming to the U.S. for the very first time.

That alone could reshape the Rogue’s identity. e-Power operates differently from typical hybrids—the petrol engine generates electricity, and the wheels are driven exclusively by electric motors. Smooth, quiet, EV-like driving without a plug. Nissan clearly thinks this is a game-changer for the segment.

Given that electrification is becoming a hallmark of modern design language, expect subtle cues hinting at the X-Trail’s hybrid-heavy personality.

One thing it won’t have? A full battery-electric powertrain. Nissan is cooking up a separate, dedicated EV with more space and flexibility than the Ariya, but details remain tightly locked away.

Cabin Inspired by the New Leaf

Inside, the next X-Trail should leap forward in tech and ergonomics. Nissan recently invested big in a new Google-based infotainment platform, debuting in the next-gen Leaf, and the X-Trail is expected to adopt a similar dual-screen layout.

But unlike some competitors retreating into screen-only minimalism, Nissan knows its audience. Expect physical climate controls, durable materials, plenty of storage spaces, and seating that can handle real family abuse. The waterproof upholstery from the N-Trek trim is likely to influence future color and material choices as well.

Reveals Coming Soon

The next Rogue will break cover first, likely in late 2026, with the Japanese and European-market X-Trail variants following closely in early 2027. Considering Nissan’s urgent tone, expect a sharp swing toward distinctiveness, capability, and personality—something to reignite the spark that made the original X-Trail such a hit.

If Nissan delivers on the promise of “more wow and more spice,” the segment’s heavyweights may finally have something to worry about again.

Source: Auto Express