Car News

One of the biggest barriers to electric vehicle adoption is price. The Hyundai Kona Electric is $20,000 more expensive than the range-topping petrol model, while the Nissan Leaf is $49,990 before on-road costs – but, according to a Volkswagen executive, the days of expensive electric vehicles are numbered.

Hyundai Motor UK has announced pricing and specifications for the new 2020 Kona Hybrid, with the electrified crossover to start from £22,495 ($40,109) when it hits dealers next month. The company says the new variant is a demonstration of its "commitment to lowering vehicle emissions", with the Kona Hybrid emitting just 99g/km of CO2 (claimed) while sipping 5.4L/100Km on the combined WLTP test cycle.

The mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette convertible has been filmed in public while undergoing testing in the US. The video (bottom) was filmed by Brendan Macie and posted to his YouTube channel. While the coupe features manually removable targa roof panels, the convertible is thought to have an electrically-operated folding hardtop. At the eighth-generation Corvette's launch, Chevrolet ran a short teaser video of the new drop-top version, suggesting it will go on sale shortly after the coupe.

We’ve heard of the fastest lap times on the Nürburgring, but how about the most energy-efficient lap? Volkswagen is bragging it's done just that on the famed circuit with its electric ID. R racing prototype. Back in June race driver Romain Dumas sped through the 20.8-km track in just 6:05.336 minutes, with the ID. R using just 24.7kWh of energy – the most energy-efficient lap of all time on the Nordschleife.

The Land Rover Defender has been previewed again, this time officially by the manufacturer with a set of prototype images in the Dubai desert. In addition to the new set of photos – which just shows a camouflaged prototype tearing up the dunes and driving along the twisty Jebel Jais highway – Land Rover also announced it is renewing its partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).