Kia's first dedicated EV is named EV6. It is a direct rival to Tesla Model 3, priced and specced to match the American benchmark. Built on the E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) which gives birth to also the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 5, it is highly versatile as well as space efficient. The EV6 is a crossover, as its skateboard floorpan is not quite as good as Tesla to minimize thickness (who can?). It measures 4680mm long, 1890mm wide and 1550mm tall, running a long, 2900mm wheelbase. Boot space is generous at 520 liters, plus another 52 liters up front. The exterior design is sportier than the crossover norm, more so than Polestar 2, its another rival.



The EV6 offers a wide range of choices for battery and motors. You can opt for either 58kWh or 77kWh battery packs, a single rear motor or front and rear motors. With the smaller battery, single motor version produces 170hp / 258 lbft. With twin-motor, it produces 235hp / 446 lbft and good for 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. With the larger battery, single motor generates 229 hp / 258 lbft, whereas twin-motor produces 325hp / 446 lbft for 0-60 in 5.0 seconds.

But that's not all, range-topping EV6 GT employs the larger battery and a pair of more powerful motors, good for a staggering 585hp and 546 lbft. This car is able to top 162 mph like Porsche Taycan Turbo, and storms to 60 mph injust 3.4 seconds, good enough to beat Tesla Model 3 Performance. However, at £58,300 it also has the price to match.



The rear-drive 77kWh model has the longest driving range at 510km (316 miles). All variants support 800V quick charging.

The new Kia K8 replaces the existing K7 (Cadenza) to be the brand's full size front-wheel-drive car. It gets larger again, exceeding 5 meters for the first time. The long, sleek shape might be a bit ordinary these days, but the peanut-shape grille with diamond patterns in varying sizes is truly special, especially when its shape is coupled to the twin-peak bonnet. Not exactly handsome in traditional way, but definitely stylish and fashionable. In contrast, the triangular plate covering a large part of the rear quarter window looks not only strange but also hamper visiblity.



The K8 is believed to be built on the platform of K5 and Hyundai Sonata, sharing similar suspension of MacPherson struts up front and multi-links at the rear. Since it is sold as a comfort-oriented large car rather than a sporty luxury car like the rear-drive Genesis, technical specifications are rather modest. Neither the choices of 300hp 3.5 V6, 198hp 2.5 four-pot nor 1.6GDI turbo engine are powerful. Hyundai's 8-speed automatic serves the larger engines, while the smallest engine is likely to pair with a dual-clutch gearbox, as in the compact cars of the group. There is no mentioning of AWD or adaptive dampers. Even with them offered as options, don't expect they can transform its handling. The best it could hope for is to match Lexus ES for comfort and refinement, but from the track records of Kia, I really doubt.

Bentley is going to turn to an all-electric brand by 2030, so we had better to enjoy each debut of combustion models from now to then. The latest debut is Continental GT Speed, a label used also in 2007 and 2012. Like its predecessors, it is a hotter version of the W12 model. Small tweaks to the engine boosts 24 horsepower, lifting the total to 659hp, while leaving the 664 lbft of max. torque unchanged (that's also the upper limit of the dual-clutch gearbox). Predictably, such a small increase brings minimal change of performance. 0-60 dips by only a tenth to 3.5 seconds, while top speed barely inches up by 1mph to 208.

However, more significant development can be found in the chassis. The Speed adds 2 important equipment: rear-wheel steering and active rear differential. In combination with the retuned 4WD system, which is more rear-biased than the standard car in Sport mode, the Speed guarantees higher agility.

To celebrate Aston Martin's returning to F1 racing (it rebrands the former Racing Point team, which rebranded Force India, which rebranded Spyker, which rebranded Midland, which rebranded Jordan), the company is introducing the Vantage F1 edition. Power is up by 25hp compared with the regular Vantage, taking the total to 535hp, although that was still way below what AMG managed to do with the same engine. Maximum torque remains unchanged, but said to sustain to higher rpm. The car's extra aero kits generates 200kg more down force at top speed. The chassis is beefed up as well, with a stiffer front structure to improve steering feel, retuned dampers and stiffer rear springs to alter the balance. Finally, the car is fitted with larger, 21-inch wheels and shod with bespoke Pirelli tires. Price has risen by about £20,000 to £142,000. The best thing to me is the return of a proper front grille, replacing the vacuum cleaner-style nozzle of the existing Vantage.

Since Peugeot froze its model designation to "08", this is the third generation 308. It continues to ride on the existing EMP2 platform, which is flexible for size and type of powertrains. The new car gets considerably larger, being 114mm longer, 55mm wider, 55mm longer in wheelbase but 6mm lower than the Mk2 launched in 2013, making it more spacious inside, while its boot is enlarged to a respectable 412 liters (plus some space under the boot floor). The new car is also considerably larger than arch-rival VW Golf, although I suspect the latter uses space more efficiently. The new car retains the near vertical tailgate and thick C-pillars of the old car but has its drag coefficient reduced slightly to 0.28. However, its front end mirrors that of the smaller 208, with a big mesh grille, sharp LED lights and more refined surface treatment to make it looking more upmarket.



The upmarket theme continues in the cabin. The i-Cockpit layout again places the 10-inch instrument display above the steering wheel rim. 3D effect display is available on higher spec. models.



As for powertrain, PSA seems not going to retire the trusted 1.6-liter 4-pot turbo and 1.2 Puretech 3-cylinder turbo engines anytime soon. The former produces either 150 or 180hp, and when mated to a 110hp electric motor (sitting alongside the engine) and 12.4kWh battery (mounted above the rear axle), these plug-in hybrid models offer a combined output of 180hp or 220hp, accompanied with 265 lbft of torque in both cases. They are good for an electric range of about 60km or 37 miles. Meanwhile, the conventional 1.2 Puretech engine produces 110hp or 130hp as in other applications using across the PSA group, while the sole diesel offering, 1.5HDi, offers 130hp.

Huayra R is the first and probably the last Huayra using a naturally aspirated engine. Unfortunately, such a purist choice is limited to track use, as this car is not designed to comply with road regulations. Power comes from a 6.0-liter V12, built by HWA, the racing arm of AMG, that is capable to spin to 9000 rpm and produces 850 horsepower at 8250 rpm. The lightweight Inconel exhaust goes straight out of the tail without catalytic converters or silencers. Peak torque is 553 lbft, available from 5500 to 8300 rpm, much peaker than the turbocharged version of other Huayras. However, it should guarantee fantastic noise, like a classic Formula One engine.



In race car fashion, the V12 is mounted straight to the carbon monocoque and forms a stressed member, on which the transmission and rear suspensions are mounted. The gearbox is a racing 6-speed sequential, using dog clutches instead of synchromesh, so don't expect road car level of refinement. The chassis is made 16 percent torsionally stiffer than the standard car's, and the whole car weighs 1050kg dry. Brembo CCM-R brakes, 19-inch forged alloy wheels and Pirelli P-Zero slick tires complete the mechanical package. Outside, the car is dressed with massive aero aids and a rear spoiler that looks like taking straight from a Porsche 917 race car. It produces 1000kg of downforce at 200 mph.

Pagani will built 30 Huayra R, each costs 2.6 million euros before tax.