Day: February 1, 2023

2023 Genesis GV60 Performance AWD “is one of the very best electric vehicles currently on sale”

2023-02-01 / Robert Vinet

The Genesis GV60 shares its platform with the award winning Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. However it feels like a completely different car and Australia’s Carscoops claims it “is one of the very best electric vehicles currently on sale.”

2023 Genesis GV60 AWD

Carscoops »

Underpinning the GV60 is Hyundai’s Electric-Global Module Platform (E-GMP) which brings with it a flat floor and supports two powertrain configurations in Australia. Sitting at the base of the range is the GV60 AWD which features a 74 kW (99 hp) electric motor at the front axle and a 160 kW (214 hp) motor at the rear axle, resulting in a combined 234 kW (314 hp) and 605 Nm (446 lb-ft) of torque.

During the Christmas and New Year period, we had the chance to test and live with the flagship GV60 Performance AWD. This variant rocks a 180 kW (241 hp) motor at the front and a 180 kW (241 hp) motor at the rear, good for 360 kW (483 hp) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque in Boost Mode or 320 kW (429 hp) and 605 Nm (446 lb-ft) in every other driving mode.

Both GV60 models receive their juice from the same 77.4 kWh battery pack found in the floor. The standard AWD has a claimed WLTP range of 470 km (292 miles) while the Performance AWD has a WLTP range of 466 km (289 miles).

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It’s not very often that we test a car with as few flaws as the Genesis GV60 Performance AWD.

Adventure-ready Nissan Ariya unveiled for epic Pole-to-Pole expedition

2023-02-01 / Robert Vinet

The Pole to Pole EV expedition team and Nissan unveiled a modified Nissan Ariya all-electric SUV, which will undertake a 27,000 km (17,000 miles) adventure from the magnetic North Pole to the South Pole starting in March.

Julie and Chris Ramsey standing next to the all-electric Nissan Ariya they will drive from the North to the South Poles

Set amongst Arctic-like conditions, Julie and Chris Ramsey standing next to an adventure-ready all-electric Nissan Ariya SUV in preparation for their Pole to Pole challenge they will be starting in March 2023

During this amazing adventure the team and the Ariya will navigate breath-taking yet extreme terrains and environments, including ice fields, deep snow, steep mountain climbs and inhospitable desert dunes. Arctic Trucks, specialists in polar expedition vehicles, worked with Nissan design and engineering teams to prepare the Ariya for these tough conditions. Yet modifications to the car have been minimal, with no changes to the battery or powertrain.

Video ⤵️

Tom Voelk reviews Toyota’s bZ4X

2023-02-01 / Robert Vinet

Independent motoring journalist Tom Voelk drives a front-wheel drive Toyota bZ4X Limited edition and finds it to be a solid performer with an excellent driving dynamic.

The Toyota bZ4X is available in front and all-wheel drive. It would be optimistic to believe this Toyota would achieve its official range of 400 km (252 mi). And it’s mediocre charging speed mean those who regularly travel long distances should probably consider other EVs.

The EV transition isn’t just about cars – the broader goal should be access to clean mobility for everyone

2023-02-01 / Robert Vinet

EV chargers in Corte Madera, Calif.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Sita M. Syal, University of Michigan

The race to decarbonize passenger cars and light-duty trucks in the U.S. is accelerating. Battery electric vehicles accounted for almost 6% of all new vehicle sales in 2022, up from close to 3% in 2021, and demand is outstripping supply, even as manufacturers roll out new models and designs. The Biden administration is spending billions of dollars to build out EV charging networks and providing incentives for purchasing new and used EVs.

This shift offers big economic and environmental benefits, but they’re not spread equitably. People who bear the most burdens in our current transportation systems often receive the fewest benefits, and are least able to change their situations.

I study the future of clean transportation and energy, and my research analyzes equity considerations in the design of these systems. As my colleagues and I see it, an equitable transition will require thinking broadly about all transportation users and their needs – especially those who are currently being left behind.