Chris Infotainment

A Unique Driving Experience with Kia’s PV5 Passenger Driving Kia’s first Purpose-Built Vehicle (PBV), the ‘PV5 Passenger,’ felt like operating a quiet school shuttle bus. Over the course of approximately 100 km in the Seoul-Gyeonggi area, from the 1st to the 4th of last month, I had the opportunity to experience this innovative vehicle firsthand. Spacious and Versatile Interior One of the most notable features of the PV5 Passenger is its spaciousness . The design includes an additional small window between the front windshield and the driver’s side window, which provides an open view from the driver's seat. This thoughtful addition enhances visibility without compromising on safety or aesthetics. Passengers can enjoy a generous interior space, thanks to a wheelbase of 2,995 mm. The flexible seat arrangement allows for various configurations. Folding the second-row seats transforms the vehicle into a large camping car, while unfolding them turns it into a multipurpose vehicle s...

Mazda is making a strong push into the electric vehicle market with the help of its Chinese partner. The Japanese automaker is set to introduce a new electric mid-size SUV in Europe this year, although it will not be available in the United States. This model, the CX-6e, is positioned to compete with popular electric vehicles such as the Tesla Model Y, BMW iX3, and Audi Q4 e-tron. The CX-6e features an attractive design and a high-tech interior that promises to impress drivers. Mazda has been slower to enter the electric vehicle market compared to some of its competitors, but it is now accelerating its efforts in a sector where being late can have significant consequences. Following the launch of the sleek 6e sedan in Europe and China last year, Mazda is now introducing another appealing EV, the CX-6e crossover. First showcased in China under the name EZ-60, the European-spec CX-6e made its debut at the Brussels Motor Show on Friday. This model will be manufactured in China by Mazda...

Hyundai has introduced its most advanced electric vehicle to date, the Staria Electric. This futuristic minivan is designed to offer a blend of practicality and innovation, making it a strong contender in the growing electric vehicle market. The Hyundai Staria Electric is equipped with an 84-kilowatt-hour battery that provides a WLTP combined range of up to 248 miles on a single charge. While this range is impressive, what truly sets the Staria Electric apart is its unique combination of features and performance capabilities. Unlike some of Hyundai's other electric models, the Staria Electric is not built on the E-GMP platform. However, it incorporates key elements from this platform, including the 800-volt electrical architecture. This design choice allows for faster charging times compared to many of its competitors, which typically use 400-volt systems. One of the standout features of the Staria Electric is its front-wheel drive configuration. It is powered by a 214-horsepow...

Kia has launched its most affordable electric vehicle to date, the new Kia EV2. This B-segment electric crossover is set to be a significant player in the European market, with an expected starting price of around $35,000 (€30,000). The car will go on sale next month and is positioned as the cheapest new EV from the Korean automaker. The EV2 is based on the E-GMP platform, which also powers models like the EV3 and EV4. It features two battery options, making it a versatile choice for different driving needs. The Standard Range model comes with a 42.2-kilowatt-hour battery pack, offering an estimated WLTP range of 197 miles (317 kilometers). The Long Range version includes a larger 61-kWh battery, providing up to 278 miles (448 km) of range. One of the standout features of the EV2 is its ability to charge from 10% to 80% in just 30 minutes. This fast-charging capability makes it ideal for drivers who need a quick top-up during their daily commutes or longer trips. Additionally, the E...

Mazda's Strategic Move in Thailand's Automotive Sector Mazda Motor Corporation is making a significant investment in Thailand, planning to allocate 5 billion baht early next year for the establishment of a new production base dedicated to mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs). This move marks a crucial step in Thailand’s journey toward embracing electric mobility and highlights the country’s growing importance in the global automotive industry. The new facility is expected to have an annual production capacity of 100,000 units, with operations set to commence in 2027. The vehicles produced at this site will be exported to key markets such as Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and various countries across Southeast Asia. While the specifics of whether Mazda will build a new factory or expand its existing assembly plant in Rayong remain undisclosed, the company has expressed confidence in the quality of vehicles manufactured in Thailand. This investment aligns with the Board of In...

Genesis Unveils High-Performance Model 'Magma' for 10th Anniversary Genesis, the luxury brand of Hyundai Motor Group, is set to launch its high-performance model 'Magma' in January next year, marking a significant milestone in its 10-year history. Once known for its quiet and sophisticated executive cars, Genesis is now shifting its focus to the high-performance market to redefine its brand identity. At a briefing held on the 21st (local time) at the Paul Ricard Circuit in Le Castellet, southern France, Genesis executives, including Luc Donckerwolke, Hyundai Motor Group CDO (Global Design Head) and CCO (Chief Creative Officer, President), and Song Mingyu, Genesis Head (Vice President), shared their pride in the brand's achievements over the past decade and their commitment to the "high-performance luxury" market. Song Mingyu, who oversees Genesis operations, said, “Although Genesis was part of Hyundai’s business divisions, we built our own brand over t...

A Singapore woman who sold a Lamborghini Urus to a dealership has been ordered to pay SGD20,000 in damages after the vehicle was found to have a significant mileage discrepancy. The case highlights the legal and financial implications of misrepresenting a car's condition during a sale. Virginia Wong, the seller, sold the Lamborghini Urus to Purpose Automobiles in April 2023. She claimed that the car had only 9,000 kilometers on the odometer. However, a third-party inspection later revealed that the actual mileage was over 18,000 km—double the stated figure. This discovery led to a legal dispute between the two parties. A Lamborghini Urus. Photo courtesy of Lamborghini Purpose Automobiles took the matter to court, seeking SGD145,500 in damages. The company argued that it had lost a potential deal to sell the super SUV to a prospective buyer due to the mileage issue. However, the court ruled that the aborted sale was not directly caused by Wong’s breach of contract. District Ju...

Genesis Makes a Bold Move in the High-Performance Vehicle Market Genesis, South Korea’s first independent luxury automobile brand, has made a significant impact in the high-performance vehicle market as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. In a sector dominated by well-established names like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, Genesis has managed to secure the 10th position among luxury brands within just a decade. This achievement has helped Hyundai Motor Company rise to become the world’s third-largest automaker by sales volume and the second-most profitable, following Toyota and Volkswagen. The brand was led by Chung Eui-sun, the chairman of the Hyundai Motor Group, who oversaw the entire pre-launch process, from initial planning to recruiting external personnel and restructuring the organization. High-Performance Model to Launch Next January At a 10th-anniversary event for Genesis held near Le Castellet in southern France, Hyundai Motor Company unveiled the GV60 Magma...

Impact of the Windsor Framework on Car Sales in Northern Ireland New models from well-known car manufacturers like Vauxhall, Renault, Citroen, Peugeot, and Jaguar Land Rover may not be available for sale in Northern Ireland due to the Windsor Framework. This is a concern raised by the National Franchised Dealership Association (NFDA), which represents car dealerships. The organization has expressed that the industry is facing a "generational challenge" caused by post-Brexit trading rules. These rules are expected to increase costs and reduce consumer choice. Starting from 1 January, new cars registered in Northern Ireland must have an "EU type" approval, while vehicles sold in the rest of the UK will require a "GB type" approval. However, some major manufacturers are only choosing the GB certification for their new models. As a result, these models cannot be registered as new cars in Northern Ireland unless the rules change. The Windsor Framework was d...

A South Korean autonomous truck is currently making a 2,000 km journey from Texas to Florida in the United States. This feat marks the culmination of a challenge that began in June of last year when three developers from the autonomous truck startup Mars Auto traveled to the U.S. They purchased and modified used trucks, rented accommodations with empty lots to work, and despite complaints from neighbors, they adapted their technology to the U.S. environment. Through persistent efforts, they visited transportation companies one by one to explain their product, securing a contract within six months in a market dominated by American firms. President Park Il-su of Mars Auto described this period as the most difficult since the company’s founding. Mars Auto has been selected as the project manager for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources’ 18.2 billion won-scale “Large Truck Autonomous Driving Commercialization Technology Development” project. The goal is to enable unmanned freigh...

Chinese Automakers Face Profitability Challenges Amid Oversupply and Intense Competition The Chinese automobile industry is currently navigating a complex landscape marked by oversupply, fierce competition, and declining profitability. Recent analyses highlight the growing challenges faced by domestic automakers as they struggle to maintain sustainable business models in an increasingly saturated market. Production Capacity Exceeds Domestic Demand According to a report titled The Paradox of the Chinese Automobile Industry, Neijuan (Internal Competition) from the Korea Automotive Research Institute, China’s annual passenger vehicle production capacity reached approximately 55,070,000 units last year. This figure is more than double the size of the domestic market, which saw only 26,900,000 units sold. Even when factoring in exports, over 20,000,000 units of production facilities remained idle. The institute emphasized that while the National Bureau of Statistics of China reported an...

The Future of Electric Vehicles: Toyota's Solid-State Battery Breakthrough The first Toyota EV with solid-state batteries is supposedly just a few years away, and it’s bound to be something special. Toyota wants to be the first automaker to offer a solid-state battery (SSB) in a production car. Many companies claim to be close, and some have even started real-world testing, so the race appears neck-and-neck. Toyota says its production application of SSBs could arrive in 2027, although 2028 sounds more likely, and it may be deployed in a high-power sports car, possibly an electric successor to the Lexus LFA. Toyota hasn’t stated this directly, but it has hinted that the first production application of SSBs will be in a special vehicle. It could be in something like a production version of the Lexus Electrified Sport concept, where using SSBs first would make the most sense, because lightness is especially important in a sports car. Toyota describes its SSBs as “high-power, compa...

A Unique Electric Experience With a punchy electric motor and simulated gears, the Super One is charming to drive. There's just one catch. Coming off a downhill back-of-the-track twisty at the rear of Honda’s R&D proving grounds in Tochigi, Japan, I encountered a slight uphill stretch. It was my second lap, so the engineer co-driver riding shotgun had already reached over and engaged the “Boost Mode” button on the tiny steering wheel, but the Honda Super-One still struggled a bit to mount the mound. I clicked a few times on the wheel’s left paddle. The ersatz seven-speed automatic transmission simulator downshifted several pseudo “gears,” enacting a bit of fake shift shock. The imitation exhaust sound whinnied a bit higher. The synthetic numberless “tach” climbed, nearly bumping off the faux “fuel cutoff” limiter. But there was nothing spurious about the joy I felt as the rectilinear little two-box zipped its way up and around the turn, its behavior every bit as exuberant as...