Car news round-up

Manufacturers have been busy refining existing models and producing new ones. We look at 10 of the results...

MG

MG4 Electric brings 280-mile range and spacious cabin

MG’s latest electric car – the MG4 Electric – will bring a 280-mile range when it arrives in Europe towards the end of this year.

Based on the modular scalable platform developed by parent firm SAIC Motor, the MG4 Electric incorporates a flat battery that will be available in 51 and 64kWh capacities, with power sent to the rear wheels via an electric motor – although an all-wheeldrive version will be on the way soon.

Outputs of 125kW and 150kW will be available with the smaller and larger battery options respectively. MG quotes a 0-60mph time of ‘less than eight seconds’, too.

VOLKSWAGEN

ID.Aero is a 385-mile flagship electric vehicle

VOLKSWAGEN has added to its ID. range of electric vehicles with a new flagship.

Previewed in concept car form, the production version of the ID.Aero is set to arrive in Europe next year. Measuring five metres long and showcasing an aerodynamically efficient exterior design, the ID.Aero features a 77kWh battery that enables an electric range of 385 miles. It’s based on Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform, which also underpins some of its current electric vehicles such as the ID.3 and ID.4.

Ralf Brandstätter, chief executive of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, said: ‘This model will be our next global car for Europe, China and the US.’

DS AUTOMOBILES

Latest DS 7 will come with revised look and plug-in hybrid power

THE new DS 7 will bring ‘unparalleled comfort’ when it arrives in the UK this September, the French brand has said.

It plays quite close to the look of the original, although the front end has a revised lights arrangement. It'll be available with a variety of powertrains, including three plug-in hybrids offering outputs of 222bhp, 296bhp and 355bhp. Inside, there are two new Nappa leather colour options – Basalt Black and Pearl Grey – while Performance Line cars get a variety of Alcantara-clad elements for a sportier feel. Tech includes active scan suspension and a night vision system.

CITROEN

Four-door fastback e-C4 X is unveiled

CITROEN has unveiled a new fastback version of its e-C4 – the e-C4 X.

Billed as a ‘four-door fastback’, the e-C4-X will only be available as a fully electric vehicle in the UK, with a 100kW motor delivering a 0-60mph time of just under 9.5 seconds, while a 50kWh battery should return up to 223 miles of range.

The front-end design is very similar to that of the regular e-C4, but a new, swooping fastback design has been applied at the rear.

HONDA

Hybrid Civic will start from £29,595

HONDA has announced pricing for its 11th-generation Civic, which will be hitting the roads later in the year.

This new version completes the electrification range, as it’ll purely be offered with a new 2.0-litre hybrid powertrain producing 181bhp and 315Nm of torque. That allows it to hit 60mph in 7.9 seconds, while the most efficient models can return a claimed 60mpg, with CO2 emissions of 108g/km.

Kicking off the line-up is the Elegance, which starts at £29,595 and has 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, a reversing camera and new nine-inch touchscreen.

Click to read our road test of the Honda Civic e:HEV Advance

KIA

Sorento specs cut to single Edition

KIA has removed all its existing specifications for the Sorento SUV, replacing them with a single grade.

Priced from £49,495, Edition brings a host of extras to the seven-seater SUV, which is available to order from the middle of July.

Replacing the 2, 3 and 4 grades, the Edition has a black front grille and black mirror caps, plus black roof rails and matching window trim.

Diesel models sit on 20-inch black alloy wheels, while hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants feature 19-inchers. There are just three exterior colours too: White Pearl, Graphite and Midnight Black.

MAZDA

CX-60 gains new six-cylinder diesel engine for clean burn Ioniq 6 arrives with stripped-back front and a low drag co-efficient

MAZDA has introduced a new six-cylinder diesel engine for its CX-60 SUV.

Incorporating ‘clean burn combustion technology’, the 3.3-litre e-Skyactiv D engine will join the CX-60 range next year, sitting alongside the plug-in hybrid version. However, this new powertrain will cater for those wanting ‘efficient, long-distance-driving car with great towing capacity’, says Mazda.

The distribution-controlled partially premixed compression ignition will make it one of the ‘cleanest diesel engines in the world’ and it’ll be in two outputs: 197bhp with rear-wheel drive and 242bhp with all-wheel drive.

HYUNDAI

HYUNDAI has revealed the latest car for its newly created Ioniq EV brand.

Called the Ioniq 6, it follows on from the successful Ioniq 5 and draws inspiration from Hyundai’s Prophecy EV Concept.

It retains much of the concept car’s sleek, aerodynamic appearance, with clean lines and a stripped-back front-end design. Billed as an ‘electrified streamliner’ by Hyundai, the Ioniq 6 has a low drag co-efficient, thanks to its low nose, wheel gap reducers and active air flaps at the front. At the rear is a small spoiler, which features a ‘boat-tail’ design.

LEXUS

ES saloon is given range of upgrades

LEXUS has brought in upgrades for its ES saloon.

It now has an updated infotainment system and enhanced connected services.

Cloud-based navigation has also been included, which gives access to real-time traffic and road information, plus it can relay local fuel prices and parking availability.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto have been added, and the whole multimedia system has been made quicker, too, plus there's a new on-board assistant.

HONDA

e line-up bolstered with Limited Edition

HONDA has introduced a new Limited Edition specification to its e electric city car.

Restricted to 50 units in Europe and priced from £38,120, the Limited Edition brings exterior styling tweaks, with a new Premium Crystal Red colour and black badges plus 17-inch black alloy wheels.

Advance-spec cars also get a high level of standard equipment, including a full-width dual-screen infotainment system, heated front seats and a full LED daytime running light system.