Tag Archives: EV

Motoring

Premium quality from Korean giants

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Hyundai Ioniq 5 Premium

By Bill McCarthy

There’s a good reason for the exceptional boom in the popularity of Korean cars. They are excellent vehicles and they look good. Hyundai is right up there in the EV stakes with long range models that are both stylish and economical, with the Ioniq 5 initially leading the way. and the natural progression to the EV6. 

The model’s slippery shape has a low drag coefficient of just 0.21, making is cut through the air in a most efficient way and increasing battery range. Always in the back of the mind of EV drivers.

There is no doubt it is a very good-looking vehicle and has the look of a Mercedes coupe about it, with its sleek swooping lines and aerodynamic profile.
It has an array of light features that could rival a Christmas switch on with over 700 Parametric Pixels in various places, such as headlamps, rear combination lamps and centre console indicator.

It is packed with equipment as has always been the case with, but the electrics and electronics are supplemented even in this model with premium equipment like a reversing camera system, head-up display, fully adjustable, powered seats that are both heated, alloy pedals and powered boot lid.

On the road, WLTP figures suggest a range of 330 miles, enough to reach any part of the country unless you’re driving from Cornwall to Scotland. They are keenly priced and this version is one of two models available, one in all-wheel drive and the other in rear-wheel drive only.

There are two versions, the rear-wheel drive with 228ps and the all-wheel drive model with 325ps. Both provide a lively performance, with the more powerful version reaching 62mph in just 5.1 seconds. 

Borderline supercar territory. Not only that, it is environmentally friendly, incorporating recycled and renewable materials throughout the smart cabin. As usual, standard equipment is comprehensive.

There is little or no range anxiety with this and a claimed 330 miles range is aided by regenerative braking through the paddle shifters to deliver single pedal operation.

On the road, the car is agile and sure-footed, The E-GMP structure, specivially enginerre for EVs, enables a low placement of the battery, which in turn delivers a low centre of gravity which offers improved cornering performance and driving stability at high speed. 

With the steering providing ample feedback, and the car’s dynamics adapting well to various road conditions. It is very quiet, making it a pleasant drive in both city and motorway conditions.

There is ample space for up to five passengers, with lots of legroom in the front and rear. The cabin of this vehicle boasts a futuristic appearance and features like dual colour-selectable mood lighting for both the first and second-row.

Central are dual  12.3-inch full-touch screen, one for infotainment, connectivity and navigation, while the other deliver real time driver information.

Infotainment features on this Premium model include head-up display , and a premium Bose audio system.

Despite it slippery shape, it is reasonably practical, offering 401 litres of boot space, which is supplemented by an extra 45 litres in the. So-called ‘frunk’ under the bonnet where the engine would have been.

It is packed with safety kit, including a full complement of airbags, stability control, braking and anti-collision systems for both car and pedestrians. As a result, it has earned a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

The  E-GMP architecture allows for 400V and high-speed 800V charging cand features a vehicle-to-load function that can charge your AC electrical devices.

Factfile

Hyundai Ioniq 6 Premium RWD

  • Price: £46,985
  • Mechanical: 77.4kWh lithium-ion  battery and 228bhp electric motor driving rear  wheels via automatic transmission
  • Max Speed: 115mph
  • 0-62mph: 7.4 seconds
  •  Range: 338 miles
  • Insurance Group: 36
  • C02 emissions: 0g/km
  • Warranty: 5yrs/unlimited miles
Motoring

Compact EV still a smart choice

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smart #3 Premium

By Bill McCarthy

For many, smart conjures up the image of the quirky, slightly boxy two-seater Fortwo, very much a Marmite type of car for many. However, the Forfour offered a more conventional alternative.
The latest rear-wheel drive models are a world away, embracing the electric revolution with, yes, smart looking vehicles that deliver decent range and interesting technology.
Following smart #1, the #3 is what the firm describes as the brand’s first-ever sports utility coupé. It is available with five specifications – Pro, Pro+, Premium, driven here, 25th Anniversary Edition and the rapid BRABUS. The range starts with the base model with 49kWh battery at £32,950.
It is a pleasing design with a prominent ‘shark nose’ on the wide grille, flanked by elliptical LED matrix headlights and a deep grille.
The rear is defined by a continuous lightbar giving access to a roomy boot. Sitting on smart 19-inch alloys, the aerodynamic coupe styling is unmistakable, but it is clear that this is a compact SUV, offering space and practicality The full panoramic ‘halo’ glass roof adds to the feeling of roominess.

With the glass roof, the cabin feels light and airy and multicoloured ambient lighting creates a relaxing atmosphere.
The cockpit is a bit less is more, unless you are looking at the 12.3 inch central touchscreen that features some unique graphics. These include a graphic of an animated cheetah, amusing for some but potentially distracting, but the screen is easy enough to use, eventually, as some controls like heating and door mirror adjustment are embedded. But you get used to it.
The screen is the brain of the car, it features smartphoneconnectivity, navigation and a 13-speaker Beats infotainment system. This is supplemented by a 9.2-inch driver display with real time info and colour heads-up display.  The systems can now be constantly updated via the car’s over-the-air capability, allowing updates to be implemented directly by the user without a visit to the service centre.
All are well equipped and this Premium model has goodies like an all round view camera, wireless device charging, powered heated seats and tailgate and assisted parking system.
Performance is, well, electric thanks to the 66kW battery delivering nearly 270bhp for neck wrenching acceleration. It hits 60mph in just over five seconds and on to a top speed of 112mph. However, even this is eclipsed by the mighty Brabus version, hitting 60mph in around 3.5 seconds.
It handles pretty well, feeling stable, although flooring the throttle can snatch at the steering wheel, otherwise, it’s a smooth operator, particularly on motorway journeys.
 Plenty of performance and with a range of 283 miles WLTP, longer journeys can be planned more easily and with less anxiety. The car can then be charged from 18 to 90 per cent in just 30 minutes with the 150 kW/h chargers.
In practical terms, the boot offers a spacious 370 litres rising to 1160 with the rear seats folded, in addition, there is a central console for storage of other odds and ends.
Any vehicle associated with Mercedes will be packed with advanced safety equipment and the smart is no different with a five-star safety rating. Technology includes smart pilot assist, which combines a variety of systems, plus autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition.

For many, smart conjures up the image of the quirky, slightly boxy two-seater Fortwo, very much a Marmite type of car for many.

However, the Forfour offered a more conventional alternative.
The latest rear-wheel drive models are a world away, embracing the electric revolution with, yes, smart looking vehicles that deliver decent range and interesting technology and the modern tech lingo with the hashtag moniker.

Following smart #1, the #3 is what the firm describes as the brand’s first-ever sports utility coupé. It is available with five specifications – Pro, Pro+, Premium, driven here, 25th Anniversary Edition and the rapid BRABUS.

The range starts with the base model with 49kWh battery at £32,950.
It is a pleasing design with a prominent ‘shark nose’ on the wide grille, flanked by elliptical LED matrix headlights and a deep grille.

The rear is defined by a continuous lightbar giving access to a roomy boot. Sitting on smart 19-inch alloys, the aerodynamic coupe styling is unmistakable, but it is clear that this is a compact SUV, offering space and practicality. The full panoramic ‘halo’ glass roof adds to the feeling of roominess. 

With the glass roof, the cabin feels light and airy and multicoloured ambient lighting creates a relaxing atmosphere.
The cockpit is a bit less is more, unless you are looking at the 12.3 inch central touchscreen that features some unique graphics.

These include a graphic of an animated cheetah, amusing for some but potentially distracting, but the screen is easy enough to use, eventually, as some controls like heating and door mirror adjustment are embedded. But you get used to it.
The screen is the brain of the car, it features smartphoneconnectivity, navigation and a 13-speaker Beats infotainment system.

This is supplemented by a 9.2-inch driver display with real time info and colour heads-up display.  The systems can now be constantly updated via the car’s over-the-air capability, allowing updates to be implemented directly by the user without a visit to the service centre.

All are well equipped and this Premium model has goodies like an all round view camera, wireless device charging, powered heated seats and tailgate and assisted parking system.

Performance is, well, electric thanks to the 66kW battery delivering nearly 270bhp for neck wrenching acceleration. It hits 60mph in just over five seconds and on to a top speed of 112mph.

However, even this is eclipsed by the mighty Brabus version, hitting 60mph in around 3.5 seconds.
It handles pretty well, feeling stable, although flooring the throttle can snatch at the steering wheel, otherwise, it’s a smooth operator, particularly on motorway journeys.

Plenty of performance and with a range of 283 miles WLTP, longer journeys can be planned more easily and with less anxiety. The car can then be charged from 18 to 90 per cent in just 30 minutes with the 150 kW/h chargers.
In practical terms, the boot offers a spacious 370 litres rising to 1160 with the rear seats folded, in addition, there is a central console for storage of other odds and ends.
Any vehicle associated with Mercedes will be packed with advanced safety equipment and the smart is no different with a five-star safety rating.

Technology includes smart pilot assist, which combines a variety of systems, plus autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition.

The #3 is a fine car and not that expensive given the Mercedes link. Not so quirky as its predecessors, although strangely named, but still a class act.

Factfile

Smart #3 Premium
Price: £39,950
Mechanical: 268bhp, 200kW electric motor driving rear wheels via single speed transmission.
Max speed: 112mph
0-60mph: 5 seconds
Combined range: 283
Insurance group: 34 (tbc)
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
BiK rating: 2%
Warranty: 5yrs/100,000 miles