Auto Express 1706

WE’RE big fans of the Kia Niro – the car that really started to position the Korean brand as a major player in the fast-growing world of electric cars. The new model (pictured above) looks set to continue the good work of its predecessor by giving buyers the opportunity to taste electrification without having to go the whole hog; it’ll be available as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or a full EV. I’m not sure that contrasting rear panel does it any favours, though. What is clear is that not everyone can or wants to go fully electric just yet, in spite of the proliferation of EVs from every major manufacturer. And hybrids do their bit to lower emissions and reduce running costs, while not relying on a plug and socket.…

• Performance and efficiency upgrades for striking second-generation Niro • Buyers choose from two hybrids and one fully electric model KIA has pulled the wraps off its new, second-generation Niro and e-Niro at the Seoul Mobility Show, revealing a striking redesign and features introduced to boost the model’s sustainability. The mid-sized crossover is again available with three powertrain options: a traditional hybrid, a plug-in hybrid and a fully electric version. It’ll rival everything from the electric Skoda Enyaq to the hybrid Toyota Yaris Cross when it arrives in the UK in mid-2022. Kia has yet to confirm full technical details, but Auto Express understands that the new Niro uses an updated version of the previous car’s platform rather than the new E-GMP underpinnings, reserved for the brand’s pure EVs. The…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk • Design study teases new flagship 4x4 • Plug-in SUV combines performance and luxury ELECTRIFICATION has already started to spread to the world of performance, and BMW is embracing this with its new Concept XM, a plug-in hybrid prototype that previews a high-performance petrol-electric production SUV that we’ll see in 2022. The series model will be called XM, and BMW has confirmed that it will be available exclusively in M guise – the first standalone M model since the M1 supercar. It’s being launched in the division’s 50th anniversary year, and the XM will be the first electrified BMW in the high-performance sector. The Concept XM uses a newly developed M Hybrid drive system that consists of a turbocharged V8 and an electric motor, together delivering a total of…

OUR spy photographers have previously captured a sporty BMW SUV prototype testing earlier this year, wearing ‘Hybrid test vehicle’ badging. Originally thought to be a model that previewed an X8 in the firm’s future line-up, we now know that the car will be called XM and will be the brand’s flagship performance SUV. It’s clear from our shot (right) that the prototype shares its proportions with the Concept XM, but expect some of the design elements from BMW’s bold show concept, which was unveiled at Art Basel’s 2021 Miami Beach Show, to be toned down when we see the production XM in 2022. It’s set to be built at BMW’s US Spartanburg plant, with production starting at the end of next year. Many of the concept’s exterior styling features will…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk • Two digital dashboard displays available • Eco pack features vegan recycled materials SKODA has updated its best-selling Karoq family SUV for 2022, with minor styling tweaks, improvements to the driver-assistance and infotainment tech, more sustainable materials inside and better aerodynamics to boost efficiency. The grille is now hexagonal and wider, while the headlights (now available with optional matrix LED tech) and tail-light units are slimmer. The wheels are available in diameters ranging from 17 to 19 inches, and also now feature plastic aerodynamic trims. New front and rear bumpers are joined by a larger rear spoiler. Inside, the Karoq will be offered with an Eco pack, which features seat covers made from vegan recycled materials. Practicality is unchanged, with the new Karoq offering 521 litres of boot space.…

THE Alpine A110 sports car range has been updated with more performance, new technology and a revised three-tier line-up including a new GT variant. The entry-level version of the Porsche Cayman rival continues with the same 248bhp from its 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbo engine. However, the A110 S sees power rise slightly from 288bhp to 296bhp, arriving 100rpm lower down the rev range. Torque is the same as before, so the S’s 4.2sec 0-62mph time is unchanged, but the top speed is now 170mph thanks to the removal of the limiter. At the same time, the S also features several suspension enhancements, bigger brakes and a 4mm lower ride height to further differentiate it from lesser models. New optional kit includes a carbon-fibre bodykit that adds 141kg of downforce, a carbon…