It will feature a 110.3kWh battery pack and will sit above the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 in Hyundai’s EV line-up.
Hyundai has revealed its largest car yet while expanding its EV line-up even further with the new Ioniq 9.
This new family-friendly SUV will come as standard with a 110.3kWh battery pack that Hyundai claims can help the Ioniq 9 to do up to 385 miles on a single charge.
Thanks to DC rapid charging, the Ioniq 9 can also go from 10 to 80 per cent charge in 24 minutes.
There’s plenty of space inside the vast Ioniq 9
There will be a long-range rear-wheel-drive model that comes with a 214bhp electric motor, or an all-wheel-drive long-range model with an extra 94bhp electric motor located on the front axle to give a total of 308bhp. Finally, there is a Performance model that features all-wheel-drive and produces up to 428bhp.
The Ioniq 9 also comes with vehicle-to-load, allowing the driver to plug in domestic appliances into the car and then they can run off the car’s battery.
The exterior design utilises Hyundai’s latest theme of Pixels with the front LED light bar and headlights. Meanwhile, the squared-effect wheel arches, flush door handles and camera mirrors help improve airflow across the car. At the back, the pixel theme continues with LED high-positioned rear taillights and a flat tailgate.
A space for belonging. Together, you can do anything.
Inside, the Ioniq 9 has the same dashboard layout as smaller Hyundai models such as the Tucson with the curved 12-inch infotainment screen and 12-inch digital instrument cluster. There is also a standard eight-speaker audio system with the option of a 14-speaker Bose premium sound system.
Hyundai has also fitted an array of physical buttons to control aspects such as climate control. Meanwhile, the car’s boot capacity with all the seats in place stands at 620 litres. Fold the third row down and this transforms the space into 1,323 litres. Boot space figures with all the seats down haven’t been revealed yet. However, there is additional storage in the front boot with 88 litres on rear-wheel-drive models and 52 litres on all-wheel-drive cars.
Prices and further specifications haven’t been revealed yet, but the Ioniq 9 will go on sale in the UK after its launch in South Korea and the United States.
As we prepare for Christmas, so do Santa and his little helpers, but what if he was to swap his reindeer and sleigh for four wheels?
For many of us, Christmas is one of the most exciting times of the year and Santa Claus has the busiest schedule that no one else can match.
As he delivers millions of presents to children across the globe in just under 24 hours, his reindeers and sleigh go under immense pressure to ensure that he gets the job done on time.
But, you might be asking, what if Santa was to swap his reindeers and sleigh for four wheels? What cars on the market today would he consider if he had a change in transportation?
Forget supercars and two-door sports cars, what Santa really needs is something big, practical and capable of going anywhere he wants to go, to allow him to get his very important delivery to where it needs to be on time.
We’ve compiled a list of the best cars suited for Father Christmas.
Toyota Land Cruiser
The Land Cruiser is one of the most reliable cars around. (Toyota)
If Santa is going to be travelling thousands of miles in a single day, he’ll need something that is going to be capable of conquering any place on earth.
It only seems natural for him to drive a car like the Toyota Land Cruiser, with its four-wheel-drive and rugged off-road capability. Also, with its legendary reliability and durability, it would be the ideal tool for Father Christmas to get around safely and comfortably and always get to where he wants to go.
Toyota’s Land Cruiser is also very practical. It has loads of boot space, and if the rear seats are folded down, the capacity stands at 1,943 litres – enough room for Santa’s delivery needs.
Volvo XC70
The XC70 is a strong and practical estate. (Volvo)
Another sensible choice would be to go down the Swedish route and look at the old Volvo XC70 which comes with bags of space and jacked-up off-road looks.
It comes with the brand’s famous comfortable front seats, which are like armchairs – ideal for Santa’s very long journey. Every engine option is strong and dependable and it comes with a very capacious boot which stands at 1,600 litres with all the seats folded down.
The XC70 is also fairly anonymous looking, which is great for blending into the background so Santa doesn’t get recognised when he’s conducting his most important delivery service of the year.
Land Rover Defender
The Defender maybe an old car, but it’s still very capable. (Land Rover)
Similar to Toyota’s Land Cruiser, the Land Rover Defender is a strong and capable off-roader that can go almost anywhere where no other car dares to climb.
It may not be as reliable as the Land Cruiser, but older models have proven pretty tough and give Santa everything he needs to get presents delivered on time. Not only that, it has a rather spacious boot, ideal for stowing presents in and with its off-road capability, the Defender should prove no issue if Santa finds himself in a bit of bother.
Mercedes G-Class
The G-Class is still a very popular SUV around the world. (Mercedes)
It may be an old design, but Mercedes’ G-Class is still a very popular off-roader all around the world and is another car that could easily be Father Christmas’ mode of transport.
Not only has it got a timeless look, but it’s got a great reputation for being a solid and trustworthy workhorse that can rack up lots and lots of miles without any fuss. Plus, newer models utilise Mercedes’ luxurious interior with plenty of equipment to keep Santa Claus relaxed when he’s under a strict amount of time to get everyone’s presents delivered.
Toyota Hilux
The Hilux is almost indestructible. (Toyota)
There seems to be a trend on this that all the cars are off-road and four or all-wheel-drive. The only pick-up on this is Toyota’s Hilux. Just like its bigger brother, the Land Cruiser, the Hilux is one of the most indestructible cars on the planet.
Being a pick-up, it means that there is a cavernous amount of cargo space in the back and the latest versions come with plenty of equipment to keep Father Christmas happy behind the wheel. And, with a reliability record as good as a Toyota Hilux – the man himself shouldn’t find any issues along the way on his very long adventure.
Even older versions are bulletproof when it comes to reliability and you can pick them up relatively cheaply at less than £10,000 – making it a bargain for Santa.
Just 88 examples are set to be produced and the car will have a carbon-fibre body structure.
The team at TWR has unveiled its Supercat, which utilises a Jaguar XJS platform.
TWR or Tom Walkinshaw Racing is responsible for creating, developing and building race cars across the world and had input into some iconic vehicles such as the Jaguar XJ220 and Renault Clio V6.
The Supercat is the first road car to be built by the team at TWR and it uses a platform from a Jaguar XJS with a carbon-fibre body structure.
The car comes with a supercharged V12 engine. (TWR)
Under the bonnet, there is a 5.6-litre supercharged V12 engine that pushes out 660bhp and 730Nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.
The exterior design includes 18-inch wheels at the front and 19-inches on the rear, while the car is also nearly 200mm wider than a normal Jaguar XJS. There is also a carbon-fibre body kit with flared wheel arches and six pot and four pot brake calipers to give the car the best stopping power possible.
The interior features a modern touchscreen and bucket seats. (TWR)
On the inside, the modern theme continues with a touchscreen infotainment system that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as carbon fibre-backed leather bucket seats and toggle switches to adjust the steering and the suspension settings.
Fergus Walkinshaw, Director and Founder of TWR, said: “Almost 40 years after my father’s original company dominated the racetrack, we’ve brought the TWR name roaring back with our new Supercat.
“Our debut product, designed as an authentic, analogue Super-GT for the committed driving enthusiast, has been developed for over three years by some of modern motorsport’s brightest talent. Built on the foundations of the classic Jaguar XJS, it uses modern materials and production methods, plus our in-house supercharged V12, to deliver a visceral, immersive driving experience on the road and the track.”
Production will be limited to just 88 examples worldwide, with customers having to put down a £35,000 deposit to secure their build. The car itself will start at £225,000, excluding local taxes, and will vary depending on each client’s requirements.
The rutting season can be one of the most dangerous times to be out on the road, and the latest AA accident assist report shows proof.
Deer-related car accidents have shown a 42 per cent increase in just three years, according to the AA’s Accident Assist study.
The AA’s Accident Assist enables several different surveys to be shared on road safety, and its latest asked 10,237 AA members about their encounters with deer on the roads.
It found that a total of 276 members had hit a deer during the rutting season, falling from late September to early November, which is 42 per cent more than what it was in 2021, with 195 occurrences.
As well as the rise in rutting season, accidents involving deer annually have also risen, too. Three years ago, 1,054 accidents were reported compared to 1,304 in 2023 and year-to-date figures already show a total of 1,200 incidents.
The study also created a poll of the different drivers and found that 51 per cent say they don’t slow down when they see a warning sign for deer – while 39 per cent continue at the same speed, six per cent slow down and only three per cent carry on as normal.
Not only can deer strikes cause a lot of damage to a vehicle, but they can prove fatal with a total of six fatalities involving swerving for deer between 2021 and 2023 – while a further 302 people have been seriously injured and 659 suffered minor injuries.
Tim Rankin, managing director of AA Accident Assist, said: “ Deers are wonderful animals, yet sadly too many are needlessly hit or killed on our roads. With half of drivers not taking animal warning signs into consideration, we need to better understand the realities of animal strikes.
“While clearly shocking and distressful for both animal and driver, deer strikes can cause hundreds if not thousands of pounds worth of damage. Rutting season has come to an end, but throughout November and December, we will still see deer run across the roads. Drivers need to slow down and look out for wildlife to protect both the animal and themselves.”
As we approach winter, our roads will become a lot more dangerous with snow expected to fall in certain parts of the UK.
Driving in conditions where snow is settling can be one of the most dangerous times to use your vehicle.
Not only are the roads slipperier than usual, but your car will take longer to stop in an emergency. Also, the darker days mean that the roads become a lot harder to judge distances and a lot of drivers avoid using the road entirely.
Parts of the UK have already experienced snowfall, bringing a more dangerous edge to many of the country’s key areas.
We’ve compiled a list of things you need to check before you use your car this winter if snow falls.
Plan your journey
Planning your journey with satellite navigation will save you time and hassle. (VWCV)
A sensible thing to do if you know you’re driving great distances in snowy conditions is to plan your route. This is because certain roads could be blocked or closed due to the conditions and a rise in accidents means that congestion could form another obstruction.
Many decent road map apps on your car’s infotainment screen can work out the quickest and most effective routes while informing you of where all the tailbacks are and if there are any road closures. This means you can allow plenty of time to leave, plus if the road conditions are dangerous and icy, you need to make sure you drive slowly and cautiously.
Check your tyres
Always check your tyres for condition, age and wear. (Land sail)
One of the most crucial checks you need is for your car’s tyres. The legal requirement of tread depth here in the UK is 1.6mm, but it’s advised that you replace them when the tread gets to 3mm for added safety.
Check for cracks, bulges, tears and even the age of the rubber fitted as all these can play havoc with how your car performs on a wet, slippery road. Another thing you could invest in is purchasing winter tyres which give chunkier tread and thicker sidewalls to allow your car to cope with snowy conditions more effectively
Keep your phone charged
Keep your phone’s battery charged up. (CASEZY/Getty Images)
Always keep your phone topped up with charge as you never know when you might need it at this time of year.
The colder months can put more strain on your car’s engine making it harder to start or run smoothly. Plus, accidents happen more frequently when there is snow, and if you find yourself in a problematic situation without any battery on your mobile – it could be dangerous.
Check the condition of the battery
Always check the condition of your car’s battery or get it replaced. (GEM)
Always check the battery on your car or even have it replaced as engines will take longer to crank over when it’s cold and snow is starting to set.
If your battery is on the way out, you might notice that it struggles to get a car’s engine started – you can get a trained professional to test out the remaining ‘life’ in your vehicle’s battery and have it replaced if it has fallen too low.
Make sure you don’t run on low fuel
Keep your car topped up with fuel. (PA)
Regardless of whether you’re driving in snow conditions, you should always drive with a decent amount of fuel in your car and never let it run too low. Not only can it damage your engine, but you don’t want to run out of fuel at the side of the road in dangerous conditions and it’s freezing cold.
Always allow at least half a tank of fuel, and if you know you’re going to be driving a lot in the snow, keep it topped up on a weekly basis, as it will save you from any headaches if you find yourself running on fumes and need to stop to fill your vehicle up with fuel.
Keep your car topped up with screenwash
Make sure your screen wash doesn’t run too low. (PA Images)
If you’re driving in the very early hours of the morning when temperatures are at their lowest, always make sure you’ve got screenwash in your car as this will prevent the windows from freezing up.
Making sure that you’ve got screenwash in your car will ensure that the whole system doesn’t freeze up when the temperatures fall – as can be the case if you use just water – and will do a far better job at clearing your car’s windscreen when you need it.
The fresh and funky R5 brings a little bit of retro to the EV market and will be one of the cheapest on the market.
Renault has revealed that its new R5 EV will cost less than £23,000 – making it one of the cheapest electric cars on sale.
It will be offered in three trim levels consisting of Evolution, Techno and Iconic and there will be two battery packs.
The former battery setup comes with a 40kWh unit with an electric motor that pumps out 120bhp and gives a claimed range of up to 190 miles. The latter comes with a 52kWh battery pack and electric motor that produces 147bhp and Renault says it has a range of up to 248 miles.
All cars come as standard with a heat pump and vehicle-to-load. (Renault)
All cars come with a heat pump and vehicle-to-load as standard, which allows domestic appliances to be plugged into the car and then run off the vehicle’s battery.
The Evolution starts at £22,995 and features 18-inch alloy wheels, a 10.1-inch central infotainment screen, rear parking sensors and a seven-inch digital driver’s display.
Move up to the Techno at £24,995 – or £26,995 – for the larger battery pack and it adds a rearview camera, a wireless phone charger, adaptive cruise control and Google Built-in.
The flagship Iconic comes in at £26,995 or £28,995 for the latter powertrain and it boasts a heated steering wheel with heated front seats, blind-spot warning and rear occupant safety alert.
Renault’s new R5 will be available to order from January 2025 with first deliveries expected to commence in the UK from the Spring.
The firm’s smallest saloon will be revealed soon and will compete with BMW’s 2 Series Gran Coupe and Audi A3 Saloon.
The next-generation Mercedes CLA will offer a choice of hybrid and electric powertrains using 800V technology for ultra-rapid charging.
Even though the full production car has not been completely revealed yet, Mercedes has given a few heads up of some technical details and new technology featured inside.
Under the bonnet, the new CLA will be available with a new hybrid petrol engine that uses 48V technology combined with an electric transmission. The engine will be available in three different power outputs, including a 134bhp, 161bhp, or 187bhp unit. Its engine capacity, however, has yet to be revealed.
The hybrid version will come with a choice of three different power outputs. (Mercedes)
There will also be an electric model, which will feature a two-speed transmission and use design elements from the EQXX concept car. The EV version will use the firm’s new 800V technology and will allow DC rapid charging speeds of up to 320kW – which collates to 180 miles of range added in 10 minutes.
Inside, this new car will feature the firm’s new MBUX operating system which will include an AI virtual assistant. It will enable the car and driver to communicate with one another to provide information that the owner may want to know. Further details on this new interface are yet to be announced.
Ola Kallenius, chairman of the board of management at Mercedes-Benz, said: “With the CLA, we are ushering a new era at Mercedes-Benz. We will substantially elevate every aspect of what our customers can expect from a Mercedes in this segment. The modular platform allows for maximum flexibility: We can offer the CLA in both a state-of-the-art electric drivetrain version and a hybrid electrified combustion engine version. And our operating system, MB.OS, will make it into the most intelligent car we’ve ever built.”
The new CLA will be revealed early next year with prices and orders to follow.
Jaguar has unveiled a new logo that combines upper and lower case letters and confirmed it will only make electric cars in the future.
The British car maker has taken new cars off sale to the general public for more than a year as it reinvents itself to launch three new electric cars, starting in 2026.
The new logo is produced in a bespoke font and the car maker says its ‘geometric form’ has ‘seamlessly blended upper and lower case characters in visual harmony’.
It debuts along with a new prancing cat ‘Leaper’ design embossed on brass and some bold marketing slogans. These include ‘delete ordinary’, ‘live vivid’ and ‘copy nothing’.
A new concept car, showcasing Jaguar’s new look for the road, will be unveiled at Miami Art Week on December 3.
Jaguar managing director Rawdon Glover said taking new cars off sale was ‘intentional’ as it looked to create a barrier between the old models and the new-look Jaguars.
He said: “From a marketing sense, at the moment, there are lots of people out there that know what Jaguar stands for, and actually it doesn’t stand for them, and we’ve seen that in terms of how they’ve responded to the offering that’s been in the market for the last 10 or 20 years.
“We need to change people’s perceptions of what Jaguar stands for. And that’s not a straightforward, easy thing to do. So having a fire break in between old and new is, actually, very helpful.”
JLR’s chief creative officer Gerry McGovern added: “Jaguar has its roots in originality. Sir William Lyons, our founder, believed that “a Jaguar should be a copy of nothing”.
“Our vision for Jaguar today is informed by this philosophy. New Jaguar is a brand built around “Exuberant Modernism”. It is imaginative, bold and artistic at every touchpoint. It is unique and fearless.
“We are creating Jaguar for the future, restoring its status as a brand that enriches the lives of our clients and the Jaguar community.”
Jaguar also revealed its ‘Strikethrough’ branding – 16 bold lines that will appear across its marketing and products – as well as a ‘JR’ monogram and an ‘exuberant colour palette’ which uses ‘red, blue and yellow’ but ‘never flat colours’.
With tougher emissions regulations, a lot of car markers have already set out to go all-electric, but others have made a U-turn in their future plans.
Car manufacturers are coming under increasing pressure to reduce their emissions while making their vehicles greener and cleaner.
With the UK having mapped out its goals for a net zero economy by 2050, many car brands have decided to set their carbon-free future by phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles by a certain date – which varies depending on the brand.
However, recently with the drop in sales of EVs, some firms have revised their future product portfolios and have either extended a phase-out date for internal-combustion-engined models or dropped the entire electric future altogether.
We check out the key pledges of some of the biggest and most important car manufacturers.
Volvo
The EX30 is the firm’s smallest electric car. (Volvo)
Last year, the Swedish firm announced that it was stopping production of all diesel engines and would be focusing on electric, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Its future goal was to become an all-electric car manufacturer by 2030 and with five EVs on sale, and a further five in development, it’s clear the firm knows where its future is heading. Plus, it wants to become a net zero business by the year 2040.
However, in September 2024, Volvo announced that its plans for going all-electric by the end of the decade had been adjusted in favour of aiming for a 90 to 100 per cent of its global sales to be either electric or plug-in hybrid. The remaining 10 per cent will be mild-hybrid models to be sold if the demand is there.
Ford
The Capri hardly shares anything with the old two-door coupe. (Ford)
The blue oval is undergoing controversial changes in its model line-up. Firstly, there was the removal of one of Britain’s most popular and loved cars, the Fiesta and next year, the Focus will meet a similar end.
Also, bringing back two famous nameplates such as the Explorer and Capri onto vehicles that hardly resemble the cars of yesteryear means that one of the world’s biggest car makers faces a tough few years.
Its plans going forward are that by 2026, all its passenger vehicles in Europe will have zero emissions and by 2035 will be electric-only.
Currently, the firm offers four electric models and will be releasing its fifth EV next month.
However, in August this year, Ford announced that it had scrapped plans to produce a large three-row electric SUV and had postponed the launch of its electric pick-up.
Toyota
The bZ4x is the first of many upcoming electric Toyotas. (Toyota)
One of the world’s biggest carmakers, Toyota, seems to be late to jump on the EV bandwagon and currently only sells one battery-powered vehicle in its passenger vehicle range – the bZ4x.
Although the firm has been in partnership with the European giant, Stellantis, since 2016 for producing its electric commercial vehicles, the Japanese firm is still looking into other alternatives to power our vehicles of the future. It currently offers the Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car and it’s also looking into the hydrogen internal-combustion engine where the only emission created is water vapour.
In terms of electric cars, Toyota will add to its product mix over the coming years. In fact, a couple of years ago it announced that it was planning to introduce a total of 30 BEVs by 2030 and achieve around 3.5 million sales globally. But, there would be 10 new models coming to Europe by 2025, with the first being the bZ4x – which is built in conjunction with Subaru.
Mercedes
The ‘EQ’ badge will be dropped for more conventional names. (Mercedes)
Just like Volvo in this list, Mercedes has done a U-turn on its future line-up of electric cars. Offering a wide range of EVs from its ‘EQ’ range, the firm announced earlier this year that the nameplate would be dropped in future for conventional names and that by 2030, all of its cars would be battery-powered.
However, Mercedes recently said that it would continue to sell internal-combustion-engined models past that target date. Plus, by 2025 it wants to have a sales target mix of 50 per cent of electric or plug-in hybrid models. But, despite this slight change in the mix, Mercedes will still be launching new EVs in the coming months and years with the next to join the line-up being a new CLA.
Volkswagen
The ‘ID’ range is to expand even further into the future. (Volkswagen)
Another automotive giant with ambitious plans is Volkswagen. Its ‘ID’ range is scaling up with a total of five different models that run on electricity and even more to follow including a budget city car.
The brand wants to focus on its sustainability and has set a target to become a net zero business by 2050 and by 2025 will offer a total of 20 BEV models globally – with EVs accounting for 25 per cent of the firm’s sales.
Bentley
Bentley will reveal its first EV in 2026. (Bentley)
The British firm, Bentley, is also focusing on an all-electric future and has ambitious plans to remove all of its internal-combustion engined models by 2030.
However, this is another manufacturer that has announced a slight change in its plans towards its decarbonisation strategy, pushing back its 2030 deadline to 2035. Meanwhile, it won’t reveal its first EV until 2026 – which will be an SUV.
In fact, Bentley has said that it will continue to offer internal-combustion engined vehicles until 2035 instead of the initial 2030 phase-out date it had first intended.
The last Mini Convertible was produced at the VDL Nedcar factory in The Netherlands.
Mini has revealed that production of its Convertible has begun at its Oxford plant after a nine-year absence.
This latest model sits alongside the three and five-door hatchback variants and includes a revised exterior and an interior that features a variety of sustainable materials such as a 2D knitted dashboard.
Also, this latest Mini Convertible is offered with a choice of two petrol engines and two power guises – either a 165bhp or a 207bhp unit.
The Oxford plant built a total of 160,000 Mini Convertibles from 2004 to 2008 and a further 165,000 of the second-generation car that ran from 2009 to 2015.
The new model is priced from £26,200. (Mini)
Production for the third-generation moved to the VDL Nedcar factory in The Netherlands with over 150,000 produced – until production came to a close in 2023.
But, for this new fourth iteration, Mini has decided to use its home turf to produce this latest drop-top model.
Stefan Richmann, Head of Mini, said: “We are thrilled about the start of production of the Mini Convertible, which is now being produced again at the Oxford plant, the home of Mini.
“Unique in its class, the Mini Convertible offers unparalleled, brand-typical driving fun, combined with boundless freedom and great emotions. The iconic design combined with modern technology and connectivity makes this vehicle an unmatched open-air experience for customers.”
The new Mini Convertible is on sale now with prices starting from £26,200. Customer deliveries are expected to commence in early 2025.
