Stoffel Vandoorne
Free Practice Three // P10
Qualifying // P6 [59.270, Quarter Final Duels]
Race // P13 *
Positions Gained // -7
Fastest Lap // 59.595
Championship Position // P15 [50 points]

Jake Hughes
Free Practice Three // P9
Qualifying // P11 [1:02.645, Group A]
Race // P10 *
Positions Gained // 1
Fastest Lap // 59.680
Championship Position // P16 [40 points]

Maserati MSG Racing
Championship Position // P8 [90 points]

It was a challenging second race in Berlin for Maserati MSG Racing, leaving points on the track after a race that was focused on energy management didn’t play out the way the team was hoping for. Even though it was a strong strategy with the most likely chance of success, Jake Hughes and Stoffel Vandoorne struggled with pace and were unable to exploit the potential.

Qualifying showed the haul marks of a great session, with both drivers putting in lap times fast enough to get them through to the duels. Unfortunately for Jake, he suffered a brake failure during his final run. This not only pitched him into the tyre barrier, breaking his front suspension and ending any further participation in the session, but also resulted in the deletion of his fastest lap time due to a regulation when a driver causes a red flag. Stoffel topped the group and progressed through to the duels but the incident saw Jake start P11 on the grid when he had the pace to start higher.

Stoffel was against Oliver Rowland in his quarter final duel. It was a valiant effort, but the championship leader had the edge on him. He was second fastest of those relegated from the quarter finals, giving him a third row starting position.

Neither Jake nor Stoffel had a great start and the team decided the best strategy was to be on a long first stint, aiming to go into energy management for the first half of the race and try to pounce on anyone struggling with energy come the end of the race.

A couple of Safety Cars extended the race by three laps, and Jake and Stoffel tried to use their late Attack Modes to their advantage, but with everyone using them late the advantage was negated and progress up the field was difficult. Jake had a great, but a late Full Course Yellow stopped him from making it into the points at the chequered flag. A ten second penalty for Andretti’s Nico Mueller post-race moved Jake up to P10 to give him a point.

Maserati MSG Racing would like to express their congratulations to Oliver Rowland for securing his first FIA Formula E World Championship.

The final round of the season takes place in London with a double-header in two weeks’ time, where Maserati MSG Racing will give everything to end the season on a high.

* Pending final classification at the time of the release

QUOTES

Jake Hughes, Driver, Maserati MSG Racing: “It was a frustrating race in the end. It was a shame in the morning to have the brake failure that caused my crash. We were looking really strong, definitely in the duels and possibly fighting for pole. The guys and girls in the garage did a fantastic job to get me back out in time for the race. We left the garage with 30 seconds to spare before the pit lane closed for the race! It was a bit of a rush, but the car felt rock solid, so that’s a massive credit to all the hard work from the team. The race was actually going very well. Arguably I was the strongest on energy and on the same strategy as the cars that finished on the podium, so I really believe I should have finished in the top five. Unfortunately, I think we mistimed our second Attack Mode, which in these races with the four-wheel drive now can be really detrimental. We got a point due to some penalties, but I really think we should have come away with a few more.”

Stoffel Vandoorne, Driver, Maserati MSG Racing: “Today was a difficult one. I think we were on the right strategy to save energy early on, build a massive delta to the guys in front, but unfortunately, we just lacked pace and had massive amounts of understeer. As soon as the pack accelerate, I just couldn’t make any moves, and we didn’t really go anywhere. It was a real shame because we were looking quite good at some points, and it really felt like we could capitalise and get some strong points with the duels performance and starting P6.”

Cyril Blais, Team Principal, Maserati MSG Racing: “Not the day we were hoping for. Overall, a disappointing weekend. We come back from a double header with just a single point which is very frustrating considering the potential we know we have. Today we had a good strategy, but the execution wasn’t great, which is something we’ll have to work on. One race weekend remains, and we’ll do what we can to end on a high to pull something strong out of the second half of the season.”

Maria Conti, Head of Maserati Corse: “Today’s race concludes the penultimate weekend of Season 11 in one of the main markets for Maserati, Germany. Every race weekend, as well as an opportunity to meet our customers, is a chance to learn lessons. Our goal throughout the current season is to optimise every round, compete with the best, and pass on Maserati’s performance-oriented DNA every time we take to the grid. We continue to come closer to next year’s big event, the Trident’s first 100 years in motor racing, and we’re ready to battle in the season finale in London, for what promises to be an adrenaline-packed final round and another step in the countdown to our celebrations.”

Maserati S.p.A.
Maserati produces a complete range of unique cars, immediately recognisable for their extraordinary personality. Thanks to their style, technology, and innately exclusive character, they delight the most discerning, demanding tastes and have always been a benchmark for the global automotive industry. A tradition of successful cars, each of them redefining what makes an Italian sports car in terms of design, performance, comfort, elegance and safety, currently available in more than 70 markets internationally.
The Maserati line-up includes the Grecale, the “everyday exceptional” SUV, the GranTurismo, the iconic Italian grand tourer, and the GranCabrio, the Trident’s new convertible; all models characterised by the use of the highest quality materials and outstanding technical solutions. A range equipped with 4-cylinder hybrid powertrains – available for Grecale – and V6 petrol, with rear-wheel and four-wheel drive, embodying the performance DNA of the Trident brand. The top of the range is made up of the MC20 super sports car and the MC20 Cielo spyder, powered by the ground-breaking 100% Maserati Nettuno V6 engine, which incorporates F1-derived technologies into the power unit of a standard production car for the first time. The GranTurismo is available with both the high-performance V6 petrol engine, derived from the Nettuno, and a 100% electric version: the GranTurismo Folgore, the first car in the Modena-based brand’s history to adopt this solution. The full-electric range also currently includes the Grecale Folgore, Maserati’s first 100% electric SUV, and the GranCabrio Folgore. Finally, the House of the Trident’s latest addition is the Maserati GT2 Stradale, the road-legal version of the GT2 that took Maserati back to the track in closed-wheel championships. The heart of the new super sports car is the V6 Nettuno engine, reaching 640 hp (471 kW) in the latter configuration. The GT2 Stradale is therefore the most powerful road-going Maserati with an internal combustion engine.
The mission at Maserati is to write the future of mobility in the luxury segment, focusing on its customers’ requests. That mission continues to this day, looking ahead to the future and taking Italian luxury all over the world, with Maserati forming part of the Stellantis “Dare Forward 2030” strategic plan.

Denmark, 10 July 2025: Zenvo Automotive has reached two major milestones in the development journey for the Aurora hypercar at the opening day of the Goodwood Festival of Speed. For the first time publicly, the quad turbo V12 heart of Aurora – the ‘Mjølner’ powertrain – was heard, before the first prototype was displayed dynamically, taking to the famous Hillclimb route in front of thousands of gathered spectators.

The development programme for Aurora continues at pace, and this latest stage is a further achievement for the technical team, bringing the new Aurora to life.

Wearing ‘harlequin’ camouflage, the covers were removed from the first prototype – VP0 – which showcased the final production bodywork styling of the more classically design Tur model. The key moment of the morning saw the Duke of Richmond joined by Zenvo Automotive Chairman, Jens Sverdrup, to bring life to the newly developed V12 powertrain.  

The story continued as Chief Engineer, Javier Castrane, demonstrated Aurora in front of Goodwood House. Aurora will remain on display in the Supercar Paddock throughout the full Goodwood Festival of Speed weekend, with further demonstration runs.

“This was more than simply the first public showing of the car, but a major moment in the overall development programme,” explained Jens Sverdrup, Chairman, Zenvo Automotive. “VP0 is not only the first running prototype of the Aurora project, but for Zenvo during this latest phase of the company.

“Since previewing the Aurora project in 2023, we have created something completely new. The company has been strengthened in all areas, both internally and through important technical and retail partners. The whole team has also been working tirelessly to create Aurora – a genuine blank sheet hypercar. We had the overall target and framework set out for what we wanted to achieve, but the route to success was not defined. We have now built and developed something truly unique in the world of modern hypercars, and across the wider automotive industry. 

“There were some things that simply were not going to work, or which wouldn’t deliver the figures we wanted, so we have taken the big decision to design, build and develop everything from scratch. The engine was one such item, which has been painstakingly developed and refined to meet the performance targets Aurora deserves. With that, today is a hugely important and momentous day for everyone at Zenvo Automotive.” 

Independent powertrain consultancy, MAHLE Powertrain, has been a constant partner on the Aurora’s journey to conquer the Goodwood hill climb. Beyond developing and building the engine, its expert team of engineers have been on-hand both in the UK and Denmark to support Zenvo Automotive with engine calibration and mechanical development.

John Hollingworth, Sales and Marketing Director at MAHLE Powertrain, said: “As the Goodwood Festival of Speed is the beating heart of the automotive calendar, the powertrain is the beating heart of the Aurora. Our engineering team has worked relentlessly to develop an awe-inspiring engine and calibration to ensure that the car makes an impact on its dynamic debut. We are immensely proud to work with Zenvo Automotive and excited to show off the Aurora’s revolutionary Mjølner V12 engine for the first time. I would personally like to thank our excellent team of engineers for showing the world our capabilities as a flexible engineering partner for end-to-end, technology agnostic powertrain solutions.”

Built on the all-new ZM1 modular monocoque design from Zenvo, developed with carbon structure experts Managing Composites, every parameter is maximised to the threshold of limitations and compromise.

Lluc Marti, Chief Executive Officer at Managing Composites, added: “Collaborating with Zenvo from the earliest concept stages has been a dream project that challenged us to push the limits of composite engineering, and of our own company, resulting in a platform truly worthy of the Aurora’s vision.

“Managing Composites is proud to have engineered and delivered the complete structural development of the Zenvo Aurora, including the carbon fibre monocoque, crash structures, and all exterior body panels. Starting from a clean sheet, our team focused on pushing the boundaries of lightweight construction, performance, safety, and structural integrity, while enabling the extreme packaging and aerodynamic requirements of a modern hypercar. By leveraging advanced composite technologies, typically reserved for Formula 1 and aerospace applications, we have developed a structure that not only meets the rigorous demands of a hypercar, but also embodies the rare design freedom and technical ambition of the Aurora project.”

The Goodwood Festival of Speed proved the perfect occasion for the Rolls-Royce Cullinan (Series II) Redefined by Urban to make its exclusive world debut.

In centre position on Urban’s biggest stand ever at the Festival of Speed, the new Cullinan Redefinded by Urban was revealed to the waiting crowds when its cover was removed by Urban’s founder, Simon Dearn.

Elegance with real road presence
As the UK-based global leader in premium, bespoke vehicle personalisation,  Urban Automotive has taken the styling programme for the Series II model to a new level with comprehensive range of upgrades to give the car an elegant yet new dynamic.

Widetrack wheel arch and sill extensions in carbon fibre frame 24 inch Urban-Vossen UV-8 Fully Forged black alloy wheels fitted with Yokohama Advan Sport tyres to immediately improve the stance of the Cullinan and give it a more aggressive road presence.

Exclusive styling enhancements continue with a full replacement carbon fibre bonnet with exposed carbon fibre details and restyled front and rear bumpers. This includes a visual carbon splitter at the front and an integrated visual diffuser and billet aluminium exhaust tips at the rear. Upper and mid-rear spoilers are also finished in exposed carbon fibre complete Urban’s enhancements to the Cullinan (Series II).

In-house bespoke carbon fibre for OEM+ quality
An Urban branding pack, plus the highest quality carbon fibre, which is designed and produced in-house at its facility in Milton Keynes, underline the OEM+ standards of quality, style and durability that have become the trademark of its bespoke vehicle enhancements.

Simon Dearn, founder of Urban Automotive said: “We have worked hard to build on the success of our first Cullinan Redefined by Urban. We felt the Series II model needed a more aggressive look and some Urban enhancements to its design. For example, the addition of new vertical DRLs (Daylight Running Lights) which blend seamlessly with the originals create a unique signature look to the front of the car, and more road presence. It looks absolutely stunning, and we are all proud to offer this level of design and personalisation to such a premium car.”

Rolls-Royce Cullinan (Series II) Redefinded by Urban: Specification
With more than 40 exclusive components, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan (Series II) Redefined by Urban includes the following styling enhancements.

Urban Exterior Styling

• Full replacement body-coloured carbon fibre bonnet with exposed visual carbon details
• Full replacement restyled carbon fibre front bumper ​with extended blades and signature vertical DRLs
• Two-piece lower front splitter in exposed carbon fibre ​
• Front upper vent overlays in exposed carbon fibre
• Colour-coded front grille, side window trims, door handles and lower door trims
• Body-coloured Widetrack carbon fibre wheelarches
• Sill extension set with exposed carbon fibre accent
• Full replacement carbon fibre rear bumper​ with exposed carbon fibre exhaust surrounds and rear vented diffuser
• Anodised aluminium billet exhaust finisher
• Upper and mid rear spoilers in exposed carbon fibre
• Urban branding to front lower splitter, bonnet accents, sill extensions and rear diffuser​
• Choice of bespoke 24-inch Fully Forged Urban-Vossen alloy wheels ​

The Rolls Royce Cullinan (Series II) Redefined by Urban is available from £449,995. For more information about Urban Automotive, visit www.urban-automotive.co.uk.

Alpine starred on the opening day of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, thrilling a sold-out crowd as the Alpine A290 Rallye made its world dynamic debut, and the hydrogen-powered Alpenglow HY6 concept car, the phenomenal A110 R Ultime and the soon-to-launch A390 fastback all ran in the UK for the first time.

The event forms part of the renowned French sports car maker’s 70^th anniversary celebrations, and the BWT Alpine Formula One team were on hand to add high-octane thrills to the day, while the all-electric A290, which scooped the European Car of the Year 2025 title earlier this year, also took to the track.

The Alpine A290 Rallye, a competition-modified version of the 2025 Car of the Year took to the track after being unveiled last week. Featuring a full safety cage and a raft of competition-bred enhancements, including a ZF limited slip differential, plus upgraded suspension, brakes and running gear, the car underscores the motorsport DNA that exists between Alpine’s road and competition vehicles.

Also taking to the legendary hillclimb course for the first time was the hydrogen-powered Alpenglow HY6 show car. Pointing to a potentially exhilarating future direction for Alpine in motorsport, Alpenglow features a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produces 740bhp, and which combines environmental innovation with sportiness to offer a new way of reducing a sports car’s carbon footprint. Its design also incorporates elements for future road-going Alpine models.

The A110 R Ultime also set a marker for the event, as it made its UK dynamic debut. Engineered to be the finest expression of the A110, with 345bhp, 420 NM of torque and a 0-100kph time of 3.8sec, it is expected to be a car to watch as drivers battle for quick times throughout the rest of the Festival.

Alpine’s road car line-up was also showcased, led by the A390, the brand’s first sports fastback, which is set to hit UK roads in 2026. The 100% electric five-seater was joined on display by the all-electric A290 and much-admired A110, both of which offer the high-performance and handling agility that typify Alpine’s motorsport heritage.

Targeting drivers who remain on the fence about switching to electric, the campaign challenges common assumptions that EV drivers are all ‘tech bros’ or ‘hipster smoothie lovers.’ Instead, Škoda presents a dynamic EV range for the everyday driver.

At the centre of the campaign is a 60-second TV and cinema spot set in a familiar British cul-de-sac. As a family arrives in their new Škoda EV, their neighbours watch suspiciously, gossiping about who these new ‘eco warriors’ might be, exchanging rumours that they must be ‘part of a cult’, ‘tree huggers’ or have ‘paid for their car with crypto’ as they drive an electric car.  Wild theories are proven hilariously wrong when the family turns out to be perfectly ordinary.

The campaign is supported by a suite of social-first films and animations designed to engage a broad online audience. Playful 45-second social-first films, on platforms like YouTube, Instagram and TikTok ask viewers to challenge the stereotypes of ‘hipster hummus-eating smoothie drinkers’ and ‘tech bros with Bluetooth bellybuttons’ and consider trying an EV for themselves. These are supplemented by cutdowns in 20- and 6-second formats, and animations that parody neighbourhood WhatsApp chats filled with electric car gossip.

To help answer real consumer questions, the campaign also sees the launch of ‘Ask Škoda’, a paid social series wherein neighbourhood characters ask questions about electric cars to educate audiences about Škoda’s electric vehicle range and electric cars in general.

‘Electric, but Škoda’ was developed in partnership with Leo Burnett UK, who brought the idea to life with a distinctive mix of British humour and social relevance. The campaign follows the agency’s previous award-winning work on ‘The Redditor Edit’ for Škoda, which won two gold Lions and a silver Lion at Cannes.

Kirsten Stagg, Head of Marketing, Škoda UK, said: “There’s a tendency in the auto industry to treat electric cars as a completely separate category, which can reinforce a sense of ‘otherness’. That’s one of the factors holding some drivers back from making the switch from petrol and diesel. With this campaign, we wanted to show that Škoda simply makes great cars, some of which just happen to be electric. And we wanted to do it in a bold, creative, and hopefully clever way that makes people smile.”

• This means that the 2025 ZEV mandate target for 28% of new car sales to be zero emission will be missed

Electric car sales in the UK will increase to 440,000 in 2025, representing 24% of 1.84 million total new car sales, according to forecasts from leading EV leasing company DriveElectric.

This is a 4.4% increase compared to electric car sales equating to 19.6% of the total new car market in 2024 (381,970 units) – although new electric car registrations accounted for 31.0% of the market in December 2024 as manufacturers aimed to hit the government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate target.

The continued growth in electric car sales shows that more and more motorists are embracing EVs, but the forecast of electric cars representing 24% of total sales this year means that the 2025 ZEV mandate target of 28% will be missed.

DriveElectric’s 2025 electric car sales forecast is informed by a number of factors. Good news includes that there are increasing numbers of new EVs coming to market in 2025, with smaller and more affordable models, including new entrants from China, as well as battery costs reducing and more EVs being offered at price parity with petrol cars. The latest EVs have longer driving ranges and faster charging, helping to break down the barrier of range anxiety which has been cited as a blocker to adoption, and amplified by misinformation.

The UK’s charging network is continuing to expand, particularly with more rapid and ultra-rapid chargers, giving consumers added confidence to switch to EVs.

There are still also significant financial incentives for businesses and fleets to transition to EVs, thanks to low benefit in kind (BIK) tax rates (2% until April 2025, then rising by 1% each year to 5% in April 2028). These low BIK rates have fuelled the increasing popularity of salary sacrifice, which can reduce the monthly cost of driving an EV by up to 40% for the employees of an organisation. Businesses will also be incentivised to electrify to enable them to report on carbon emission reductions, helping to secure existing contracts and win new business.

However although financial incentives exist to support businesses and fleets to transition to EVs, there are currently no similar measures such as grants for private motorists, which will continue to hold back retail EV sales.

DriveElectric’s forecast for 1.84 million overall car sales in the UK in 2025 is slightly lower than some other industry figures because it is expected that some manufacturers will reduce sales of petrol and diesel cars in an effort to meet the ZEV mandate targets – a development that was already evident in 2024.

Adam Kemp, Partnerships Director, DriveElectric, comments: “We are forecasting that electric car sales in 2025 will experience an increase of just over 4% compared to 2024 figures, taking them to 24% of the total new car market, which is significant progress, but this still falls short of the 2025 ZEV mandate target of 28%.

“A key factor in the shortfall is that while businesses and fleets enjoy financial incentives to make the switch to electric cars, and although EVs have lower whole life costs than petrol and diesel cars, there are currently no incentives for private motorists to purchase new EVs.”

DriveElectric, one of the UK’s leading electric vehicle leasing companies, uses its own model built from its intelligence of the UK market to forecast registrations of battery electric cars and vans each year. In January 2024 DriveElectric accurately predicted that the percentage of EV sales for 2024 would be closer to 19% of the total market rather than the industry forecast of 22%, the latter being revised downwards later in the year to around 19%.

Although some manufacturers may hit or exceed the 28% ZEV mandate target for 2025 (Tesla, a company that only sells EVs, being one of the obvious winners), many manufacturers are likely to fall short of the target because they currently don’t have enough EVs in their model ranges, and demand for EVs from private motorists remains much lower than from businesses and fleets.

There are steep fines of £15,000 for each vehicle within the ZEV mandate’s 28% allocation that isn’t zero emission, but there are ways that car manufacturers can work around a shortfall in EV sales, including by the sale of low emission petrol and diesel cars, which is expected to contribute an additional 3% to the industry’s figures in 2024, so achieving the ZEV mandate target for the year. The government is currently consulting on details around the 2030 end of sales date for petrol and diesel cars, as well as flexibilities in the ZEV mandate, a process which is due to be completed on 18 February 2025.

Electric vehicles are seen as a key solution to help the UK achieve its net zero greenhouse gas targets, as well as helping with the problem of local air quality. EVs also have lower running costs than petrol and diesel vehicles, however an overwhelming factor in the rapid increase in EV adoption is that the vast majority of motorists prefer the driving experience of EVs compared to petrol and diesel cars and vans.

DriveElectric is an electric vehicle leasing company that has been helping organisations and individuals to adopt EVs to save money, lower emissions and transition to low carbon energy since 2008. DriveElectric aims to make the switch to electric cars and vans simple for business fleets, offering added benefits including monitoring and optimising emissions from charging fleet vehicles.

www.drive-electric.co.uk

Note: This press release is a copy of the original issued by BMW headquarters in Germany. 

Munich. Digital, dynamic and, for the first time, fully electric as a BMW i5. The new generation of the BMW 5 Series sets standards, including when it comes to vehicle safety. Independent institutes in Europe, the USA and Korea each gave the BMW 5 Series Saloon top marks. The testers were impressed by both the active assistance systems and passive safety.

5-star rating at Euro NCAP.
The independent safety experts from the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) awarded the eighth generation of the BMW 5 Series Saloon the highest rating of five stars.

The extensive standard equipment with safety-relevant driver assistance systems makes a significant contribution to the 5-star rating. All driver assistance systems used in the new BMW 5 Series are among the best on the market and impressed Euro NCAP safety experts with their range of functions and reliable responses.

The new BMW 5 Series Saloon also scored points in the area of passive safety with its innovative integrated safety concept, which was constantly being further developed by BMW. In addition to highly resilient support structures and precisely designed deformation paths, a model-specific combination of precisely coordinated restraint systems is used.

The Euro NCAP assessments are a Europe-wide recognized standard for accident safety and are constantly being further developed. An award with the highest rating of five stars goes exclusively to vehicles that have excellent impact protection and are also well equipped with comprehensive and practical technology to prevent accidents.

TOP SAFETY PICK+ Award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the USA.
The US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also gave the best rating with a rating as TOP SAFETY PICK+. The standard assistance system for preventing frontal accidents was particularly convincing here, which achieved excellent ratings in both day and night tests. In combination with the lighting system, the “plus” in the TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating was decisive. It is the highest award that this institute awards.

In various collision tests, the integrated safety concept of the new BMW 5 Series also proved to guarantee that comprehensive protection against injuries is always guaranteed regardless of the size and sitting position of the occupants.

The test procedure of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is the standard for the comprehensive safety assessment of new vehicles on the American market, which is important for the BMW 5 Series, and an essential basis for decisions by fleet customers in the USA. 

“Safest Car of the Year” at KNCAP in South Korea
In the Republic of Korea, the Ministry of Transport awarded the BMW i5 the “Safest Car of the Year” award. Only the vehicle that scores the highest number of KNCAP points in the respective year receives this award. At the official presentation of the award in Korea, Dominik Schuster, Head of Vehicle Safety at the BMW Group, emphasized the importance of this award: “Top KNCAP ratings underline our safety-focused development process and prove the BMW Group’s commitment to continuous improvement of vehicle safety.”

The independent testers were particularly impressed by the performance of passive safety. They saw 99.5% of these met. In Korea full points were still scored for emergency braking systems to protect pedestrians and cyclists. Some driver assistance systems also received the maximum rating.

The title “Safest Car of the Year” impressively demonstrates the BMW Group’s pioneering role in one of the world’s most important individual markets for the BMW 5 Series Saloon.

Offenbach, 18 January 2024 – Hyundai Motor has unveiled the new Bayon with a bold and robust design. The extensive list of intelligent connectivity and safety features that make it stand out in the B-SUV segment has also been refined with interior and tech upgrades.

Robust new look
The new Bayon boasts a sharp and distinctive design, in a crossover SUV body type designed specifically for Europe. A front LED DRL (Daytime Running Lights) bar has been integrated to create a Seamless Horizon light signature. The shape and pattern of the front bumper, as well as the radiator grille, have been enhanced to create a bolder and more rugged appearance. The rear also features a redesigned bumper, while newly designed 16- and 17-inch wheels have been added.

Bayon has been praised for a stylishly cool design that elevates it from the crowd, achieved through unexpected and eye-catching proportions and strong graphic features. At the front, the newly designed grille opens at the bottom, creating a solid stance. On the side, a dynamic shoulder provides a wedge-shaped look. To the rear, arrow-shaped lights underline the pillar dynamics, creating a wide stance with their far-out position. Overall, angular lines, triangular shapes, and horizontal lines in both the vehicle body and the light architecture emphasise width and give Bayon a strong, modern appearance.

A total of nine exterior colours are available, including four new colours: Lumen Grey Pearl, Meta Blue Pearl, Lucid Lime Metallic and Vibrant Blue Pearl. An optional two-tone roof in Phantom Black is also available with several exterior colours.

Advanced connectivity and technology
In line with Hyundai’s customer-centric approach, new Bayon offers advanced connectivity technology. Its state-of-the-art digital cockpit and top-line infotainment features have been made even better, thanks to the introduction of Over-the-Air (OTA) map updates.

Customers now benefit from a 10.25-inch LCD instrument cluster, with a separate 10.25-inch Audio Visual Navigation Screen (AVN) screen as standard. New Bayon continues to offer features that were already popular in the previous version, such as the optional 10.25-inch configurable digital cluster with different graphics, depending on the drive mode, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charger, and the latest update to Bluelink® telematics.

Two USB-C ports – one in the front and one in the rear – make it easier to even charge simultaneously the latest tech devices. The front USB-A port also allows data transfer, enabling occupants to connect their phone to the vehicle’s infotainment system. A premium Bose sound system completes the package, promising occupants a high-quality listening experience thanks to its eight speakers – including a subwoofer.

UK specification to be confirmed

Enhanced interior lighting
New Bayon features a roomy, well-lit interior, with a strong focus on maximising front and rear passenger comfort, and a large boot space. The refreshed model has replaced lightbulbs with LED technology for increased in-car illumination, from optional LED Room/Map and Sunvisor lamps, and has the option of multicolour front ambient lighting technology, which enables passengers to adjust the colour of the interior lighting to fit their mood.

State-of-the-art safety
A number of semi-autonomous driving features set new Bayon, the smallest member of Hyundai’s SUV family, apart from its competitors. Lane Following Assist (LFA) works to keep the vehicle centred in its lane. Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) first sounds an alarm, then, if necessary, applies the brakes to prevent a collision from occurring. This feature includes car, pedestrian, and cyclist detection, as well as Junction Turning, which can apply the brakes to prevent a collision with an oncoming car when turning at an intersection. Another advanced feature, Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control (NSCC), uses data from the vehicle’s navigation system to adjust speed autonomously when driving on a highway or expressway.

Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) uses multiple sensors positioned around the car to monitor corners and, if another vehicle is detected, a visual alert appears on the exterior mirrors. Where necessary, BCA acts on the differential brake to avoid a collision or reduce the impact damage. Bayon also includes several features that gently redirect the driver’s attention when their focus slips. Driver Attention Warning (DAW) analyses driving patterns to help detect drowsy or distracted driving. This system works in tandem with Leading Vehicle Departure Alert (LVDA), which alerts the driver when the vehicle ahead of them starts moving forward.

Bayon now features second-generation eCall based on the 4G network, which automatically alerts emergency services if the vehicle’s airbags are deployed in case of an accident. Alternatively, occupants can also activate this feature with the press of a button.

UK specification to be confirmed

Disclaimer: CO₂ and emissions data

• The new Bayon is not currently available for sale. CO₂ values for this model have not yet been determined.

London, UK – 19 January 2024
Lotus has announced two new pan-European charging partnerships to support the rapidly growing number of customers taking delivery of its electric vehicles.

The company’s Eletre owners will be able tap into Bosch’s and Mobilize Power Solutions’ charging capabilities, enabling them to charge their hyper-SUV at home or on the move, providing them with further access to easy-to-use, reliable charging. The partnerships will also support owners of the company’s upcoming electric hyper-GT, Emeya, which Lotus will be delivering to customers in Europe later this year.

Through the Bosch charging network, Lotus owners have access to more than 600,000 public charging stations across 30 European countries including UK, Germany and France¹. Lotus will continue to expand its charging network across Europe by adding additional network operators over time.

Drivers access the network with a simple tap of the Lotus Charging Card, and can find all the information they need easily via the Lotus Cars smartphone app. The app allows drivers to keep track of their charging history, manage costs and monitor vehicle battery status remotely.

Mike Johnstone, Chief Commercial Officer at Lotus Group, said: “Lack of charging infrastructure continues to remain one of the biggest barriers to electric vehicle adoption. We need make it easier than ever before to own an electric vehicle, in order to accelerate the transition to electrification and collaboration across the industry is key to this. By tapping into Bosch and Mobilize Power Solutions, we’re able to offer our customers further confidence in owning an electric Lotus by providing them with more and effortless options, wherever they are in Europe.”

Lotus’ electric vehicles offer exceptional charge times to keep drivers moving with minimal downtime. With a 350kW DC fast-charger, Eletre and Emeya can add 74 miles (120km)² of range with approximately five minutes of charge; the same fast-charger can also boost the battery from 10-80% in 20 minutes for the hyper-SUV and 18 minutes for the hyper-GT.

Lotus Hyper OS, the award-winning in-car infotainment system in the Eletre and Emeya, uses intelligent EV routing to help drivers locate nearby public chargers. This feature reduces range anxiety and can significantly cut travel times. The system can even suggest alternative routes based on the driver’s real-time battery consumption – all delivering an optimised Lotus EV driving experience.

Lotus is teaming up with Mobilize Power Solutions to unlock the home as the primary charging location by offering an all-inclusive package which includes the supply and installation of a charging point, with personalised support from ordering to commissioning. Competitively priced from £1,199 including VAT (from €2,155 including VAT), it comes with a tethered cable as standard and can utilise energy generated by a domestic solar array.

Olivia Arago, Vice-President, eMobility Services, Bosch Electrified Motion, said: “Availability of the public charging network is a primary concern for almost half (44%) of potential EV buyers and we are making significant headway to improve access across Europe. We are delighted to be working so closely with Lotus customers to encourage more widespread EV adoption in the UK and EU, ensuring that drivers can readily locate and use our chargers while on the go.”

Nicolas Schottey, CEO, Mobilize Power Solutions, added: “Charging at home is the most convenient way for Lotus customers to get the most from their EV and, thanks to our solutions and this new partnership, that is now easier than ever. We are proud to be the Lotus’ EV installation partner of choice.”

Today’s announcements come on the heels of Lotus’ launch of its own EV charging solutions, including an ultra-fast 450kW DC charger, a power cabinet and a modular unit for charging up to four vehicles at once. Lotus is future-proofing its charging solutions in preparation for when next-generation fast-charging infrastructure becomes more widely available.

Lotus has committed to developing its own charging solutions to support its Vision80 strategy that is seeing the company transform from a British sports car manufacturer to an all-electric global luxury technology brand by 2028.

The company is delivering on that promise with Eletre, which started customer deliveries in 2023. Emeya was unveiled last year, and the company is expected to see it arrive with customers in H2 2024 in Europe.

For more information on Lotus charging capabilities, visit: https://www.lotuscars.com/lotus-charging

Neuburg a. D. Donau, January 19, 2024 – Audi makes history: for the first time, a low-emission prototype with an electric drive, high-voltage battery and energy converter wins the world’s toughest desert rally with the Audi RS Q e-tron. The Spaniards Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz secured Audi’s first victory in the Dakar Rally after around 7,900 kilometres with a lead of 1h 20min. Mattias Ekström/Emil Bergkvist also crossed the finish line. 

“Congratulations to Team Audi Sport on winning the Dakar Rally,” said Gernot Döllner, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “Audi has once again set a milestone in motorsport. Winning the world’s toughest desert rally with an electrified drive is a visible ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ and points the way to our electric future.” The Audi RS Q e-tron has electric all-wheel drive. The energy supply is ensured by a high-voltage battery and an energy converter that runs on residual fuel-based reFuel, thus saving 60 per cent of CO₂ emissions compared to conventional fuels.

“With our revolutionary electrified drive, we have overcome one of the biggest challenges in motorsport after just three years. We are thus continuing a long series of pioneering achievements that have always characterized Audi in four decades of motorsport. I would like to thank the entire team for this outstanding performance in a particularly tough edition of the Dakar Rally,” says Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, Technical Development. At the Dakar Rally, Audi was up against the two brands Toyota and Ford as well as the experienced opponents from Prodrive, who proved to be tough challengers.

Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz secured their big lead after having been in the lead without interruption since the sixth stage. For the two Spaniards, who finished first in 2010, 2018 and 2020, this is their fourth success with a different brand, including the second from the Volkswagen Group. However, two-time World Rally Champion Sainz and his experienced co-driver could not be sure until shortly before the end. With Sébastien Loeb/Fabian Lurquin from Team BRX, they had strong pursuers who continued to close the gap until their car suffered damage on the penultimate day. “That was an overwhelming team performance,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Rolf Michl. “Everyone pulled together to make this historic result possible for Audi. A big thank you to this wonderful team. Today we have written a new chapter for Audi, but also in the history of the Dakar Rally.”

Daily stages of often more than 400 kilometres, two marathon stages with limited or even no service, as well as 4,600 timed kilometres and 7,883 kilometres in total characterized the 2024 Dakar Rally. Sharp scree and gravel roads, but also towering chains of dunes in the Empty 2/3 Quarter of the Arabian Peninsula and often difficult navigation demanded everything from the teams. Carlos Sainz, who at 61 looks back on a rally career spanning around four decades, recorded a total of eight days in the lead with Lucas Cruz on the twelve stages.

The two other Audi crews had also put in a strong performance early on. The Swedes Mattias Ekström/Emil Bergkvist won the prologue at the beginning and improved to second place behind Sainz/Cruz by the rest day after six stages. However, a defect on the rear axle on the seventh stage cost them all their chances. Stéphane Peterhansel, record holder with 14 Dakar victories, was in sixth place shortly before the halfway point after his 50th stage win in the car and his 83rd overall. A defect in the hydraulic system threw him and his French compatriot Edouard Boulanger back to 22nd place on the sixth stage.

Both teams then put themselves at the service of Team Audi Sport. Head of Audi Motorsport Rolf Michl and Sven Quandt, Team Principal of the entry partner Q Motorsport, implemented a perfect strategy in a demanding 46th edition of the rally. Whether it was tactically dropping back before the second marathon stage to avoid having to open the route or supporting the leaders Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz, the management was able to rely on its strong driver crews at all times. The team personnel also worked tirelessly and reliably during the physically demanding, long and tough rally. Ekström/Bergkvist finished the event in the top 50.

Audi Sport has let the highly efficient Audi RS Q e-tron mature so that it is capable of winning within just three years. Under the technical direction of Dr. Leonardo Pascali, Audi Sport set the next historic milestone with the innovative drive: after the quattro all-wheel drive changed rallying forever in the 1980s and subsequently clinched victories and titles galore on the circuit, Audi demonstrated great innovative strength at Le Mans. The efficient TFSI drive, the electrified e-tron quattro all-wheel drive and individual technologies such as the LED matrix light and the Audi laser light stand for a high level of innovative strength and “Vorsprung durch Technik”. Audi’s first all-electric racing car then made its debut in Formula E, before the brand took on the extreme challenges of the Dakar Rally and successfully completed it as the first manufacturer with an electric drive.