The Renault 5 E-Tech electric range is even more attractive with greater efficiency, range and versatility right from entry-level, along with new colours and features.
Both the 40 kWh Urban Range and 52 kWh Comfort Range versions gain technical and aerodynamic upgrades to achieve new WLTP ranges of up to 315 and 430 km respectively.
Equipped with both an AC charger and a DC charger, a new version of the Five in entry-level trim is making its debut, with an 80 kW / 110 hp motor and a 36,5 kWh LFP battery for a WLTP range of up to 305 km.
Depending on the version, Renault 5 E-Tech electric will be available in new body colours, including Flame Red, a new Warm Titanium finish for the wheels, new wing and roof decals, and new upholstery color, as well as upgrades to onboard technology.
Sales hit…
Renault described the R5 as a major contributor to its EV growth, and one would expect it to finish in 2026 at around roughly 80-90,000 European registrations.
Industry experts say that based on estimated European sales figures this year until late summer, the R5 sells at roughly 3½ times the volume of the R4.
Remarkable, as we know that both cars run on the same Renault Ampere EV architecture. We find the R4 cute enough, and Renault launched for the summer an 4 E – Tech Plein Sud version, with an opening soft roof of class-beating dimensions. Almost one square metre in size, offering the widest opening on the market for an unparalleled feeling of traveling in the great outdoors.
We are keen to have a test spin of both cars soon…
Audi is working hard to carve its niche in the compact EV world with its latest A2 e-tron.
It brings memories of the absolutely genial A2, which was far ahead of its time and been mostly misunderstood.
The overall shape of the new EV is reminiscent of its iconic predecessor, and likewise also reaches new levels of efficiency: just 12.8 kWh/100 km and a range of up to 646 kilometers according to WLTP.
Not only the car is efficient, so is its production process. It is built in Audi’s home plant in Ingolstadt, and we will tell you soon more about its production process…
It has a drag coefficient of 0.24 – the best value in Audi’s compact segment. It has four power levels and three battery sizes, but bi-directional charging is unfortunately only an option. It is spacious on a compact footprint, moreover pleasant with a 1.6-square-meter panoramic glass roof.
It has standard the Audi assistant with artificial intelligence, e-tron route planner, standard MMI panoramic display with 11.9-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus and 12.8-inch MMI curved touch display.
It certainly looks splendid, its market launch is in December 2026, but as a premium brand, it doesn’t come cheap: prices in Germany are starting at 38,200 euros.
Needless to say that we are very keen to see the car “in the flesh” soon, and drive it for you early next year…
We told you already in our previous test of the Xpeng G6: in the midst of fast developing and competent Chinese car builders, a star is born with Xpeng.
We commented in our columns already about the technological expertise of the brand. It has already substantive corporate relationships with VW, as the Volkswagen group has a 5 % stake in Xpeng and works together with Xpeng in the development of platforms and automotive software. Porsche now also forms a CO2 pool with Xpeng. It left the VW EU emissions pool as Xpeng now sells more and more EV’s in Europe, and could gain regulatory credits from this deal. But now let’s turn to the G9.
Hans Knol ten Bensel
Premium status…
The G9 is a premium SUV in the upper middle class segment, alongside for instance the BMW X5. With its length of almost 4,9 meter, it looks impressive indeed. The G9 can be had below 60.000 Euros when you opt for the standard range version with a 78 kW battery. The long range version has a bigger battery of 98 kW and costs slightly more than 60.000 Euros. There is also a 550 HP performance version with 2 motors and 4WD, the formidable car we tested…
Indeed, the cabin impresses with space and high quality materials, with all the interior panels covered in softly padded artificial leather, giving clearly an upmarket impression. The G9 offers indeed quite a lot of interior space. The front seats offer sufficient head and legroom for the tallest among us, and this goes also in the back. There too you will find ample head- and legroom. The angle of the rear backrests can be adjusted electronically.
The front passenger has also a massive touchscreen in front of her or him. The luggage space is also abundant with 445 liters in standard form, with an extra 45 liters beneath the luggage floor. With all seats folded down, you have 1605 liters at your disposal. There is also a frunk of not less than 71 liters.
Screen time…
When it comes to touchscreens, the G9 offers the lot. There is a 15 inch central screen, and next to it for the front passenger there is another identical one. There also you can adjust ventilation or navigation, but of course you can also watch films.
Besides Android Auto and Apple Car play connections, your smart phone is also spoiled with a large charging pad on the centre console, and via the Xpeng-app oln your phone you can monitor and adjust the numerous car functions. You can even steer straightforward parking manoeuvres using your smart phone. Of course, the whole in car software system is kept up to date with over the air updates.
You will find hardly any physical knobs and controls in the cockpit, so the touchscreen is your friend, or enemy…Thankfully the menus are logical and don’t take a lot of time to get acquainted with. For instance, you can adjust a lot, among other things in the chosen drive modes.
You can adjust the responsiveness and amount of the steering assistance level via your touchscreen…
Moving with a whisper
The G9 is silent. The drive train is all but inaudible, and road and wind noise are impressively insulated. The window glass is also thick and the wheel arches are textile covered. The Michelin Pilot V tyres have also a soft inner sound deadening layer.
The air suspension impresses too, delivering besides excellent comfort also decent surefootedness and stable handling. But the big G9 does not invite you to throw it around like a go cart. It is not meant to be, and we notice that in general, Chinese cars are in their setup rather geared towards a safety-oriented driving style, and this G9 is no exception to this rule.
Performance galore…
The base version displays with its 313 HP enough liveliness, and indeed a 0 to 100 km/h in 6,4 seconds satisfies also the most performance-hungry enthusiasts. In the Eco function, performance is reduced, but even then it will satisfy most. Top speed of all versions is limited to 200 km/h. Xpeng offers for the G9 also a 4wd two-motor version, and with its 550 HP, it brings total super-car performance with a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a breathtaking 3,9 seconds. The aficionados must than choose for “sport” mode of course. As said, we drove this performance version, and it is very impressive to say the least.
Steering wheel response is something you can fine-tune to your wishes, and given the performance of our test car, you are wheel advised to do so.
An 800 V system made for fast charging.
Thanks to the 800 Volt architecture, the Xpeng G9 is built for fast charging in mind. Even the standard version accepts 260 kW, and on other versions up to 300 kW is possible. This means you can charge the battery from 10 to 80 pct in around 20 minutes, just enough to stretch your legs and grab a coffee on your holiday trip on the motorway.
Assisted driving adds comfort
The state of the art driving aids enhance the ease and comfort of this big G9. Sometimes, speed warning signals are a git too eager and frequent, but we expect that via the over the air updates things will improve soon.
The Xpeng G9 is reasonably frugal, where of course much depends on your driving style. The manufacturer quotes 19,4 kWh/100 km for the standard version. The performance version uses 21,3 kWh according to WLTP norm. We managed with some restraint and anticipation to achieve averages between 18-19 kWh. We mention here that all versions can tow 1,5 tonne, and that Xpeng offers a 7 year warranty or 160.000 km.
Conclusion
The G9 certainly offers premium looks, comfort, roominess and performance. The finish and quality of the materials is clearly premium too, and the equipment of this G9 leaves no further wishes open. If you are in the market for a large E-SUV, then take a long, hard look at this sophisticated and elegant Xpeng…
The new Kia EV4 has many cards upon it s sleeve: very pleasing, extravagant styling, much room and an excellent range. It stands next to the EV3 in the showrooms, and one might ask why Kia launched two models in the same compact class, almost one after the other. Well, the EV4 was launched for all the very good extra reasons, besides what the EV3 already offers..
The EV4 sits 8 centimetres lower, but more importantly, it’s 13 centimeters longer and has a longer wheelbase too, which means you have one of the biggest rear legrooms in its class.
There is also a limousine version, with an extra large luggage space under its stretched tailgate door, but it is rather the classic SUV version which is meant for our European public, and is therefore built in Slovakia.
The electric motor develops 150 kW, and drives the front wheels. You can choose between a 58,3 and a 81,4 kW battery, and this warrants you quite good ranges. On the smaller battery, you have a range of about 410 km, which is in itself a good average for its class. The bigger battery offers a range of close to 600 km, or let’s say at least 500 km under normal driving circumstances. The excellent aerodynamics of the EV4 make this possible: the Cw is merely 0,32 kW, and the car is lower too.
Driving
The EV4 is dynamic with a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in under 8 seconds, and top speed for both versions is around 170 km/h. The power is smooth and wonderfully progressive, and this results in a quite enjoyable driving experience. It is indeed a joy to drive this Kia over winding and mountainous roads, where the steering could be somewhat more sensitive, but one has to admit that the chassis and suspension engineers had above all a “Zen” driving experience in mind. We have to admit that they achieved this admirably, as sound insulation is excellent, also at high motorway speeds.
Charging the Kia EV4 on a (public) AC point is only possible at a maximum of 11 kW, and DC fast charging is possible up to 128 kW for the larger battery, up to 100 kW for the smaller one. According to Kia, you can charge both batteries from 10 to 80 pct in about 30 minutes. Accord to WLTP standards, consumption is some 14,6 kW /100 km. Driving smoothly and with anticipation, it was well possible to achieve averages between 12-13 kW in town driving. The advantage of the bigger battery is that you can tow up to 1 tonne instead of 500 kg for the smaller one.
Of course, modern times let you use your smartphone the right way. Kia offers a smartphone app which lets you plan your route and send it to the car. It calculates the charging stops. The app also lets you open and start the car, and you can allow up to 15 persons to do the same…
Spacious
The instrumentation and dashboard layout is virtually the same as in the EV3. The central touchscreen is seamlessly integrated with the drivers’ instrument display panel, and there are separate physical touches for ventilation and sound volume, which we liked very much.
The central armrest can fold away and holds also a useful storage space for all the things you might need for all your activities when waiting in the car when charging.
The cabin feels quite roomy, and there is ample leg- and headroom fore and aft. Luggage space is sufficient with a volume of 435 litres.
Infotainment and driving assistance up to scratch…
We live in modern digital times, and this shows of course in our cars. The Kia engineers did also a wonderful job, without going over the top with massive screens everywhere. We are, by the way, still amateurs of physical knobs and buttons for everyday things like sound and ventilation, and we still think the solution of a smart mouse as was adopted by Lexus years ago is the ideal one for the driver. No smudged screens, a much calmer hand to point at and select the functions than an erratic finger in a bouncing car. But this is of course subjective, and preferences can be – and mostly are – a very personal/individual thing.
But back to the EV4. It has virtually everything you could wish for, like distance parking, and you can order some extras like a head up display (we appreciated the one in our test car) and sound aficionados can opt for the formidable 8 speaker Harman/Kardon system.
Indeed, EVs are built for music lovers, as they are so silent; therefore, we always advise spending a good amount of money on a higher-end sound system.
Conclusion
The Kia EV4 has carved a nice niche in EV world: it looks cute and is with its lower profile refreshingly different from the traditional SUV brigade. It offers plenty of room nevertheless, and its range is also quite good to say the least. It responds well to spirited driving, and has a European, tout feeling behind the wheel. So take a long hard look at this one…
When premium French automaker DS Automobiles designs a flagship model, one can expect something very outstanding and unique. This is indeed the case with the N°8, a sleek coupé-SUV, elegant to look at from any angle. Indeed, this car has panache, and this makes it in our eyes truly stand out.
Because, let’s face it: what makes you choose an EV in this day and age? Personally, I would say, the one that scores on style and character. The N°8 has lots of it…
Of course, there is also range, recharging capacity, efficiency and last but not least, handling and comfort. These are also elements which determine your choice. But let’s admit, drivetrain smoothness and performance is what EV’s all have more or less nowadays, so this is in my eyes hardly a determining factor anymore.
So this N°8 scores high, just by looking at it. When I walked around the car and entered the stunning cabin, staring at the four spokes steering wheel, I felt like stepping into the world of Jules Verne, tasting this unique mix of French genius with Victorian age idiosyncrasy. Well done, I would say to the designers and the other people who conceived the model’s mission status and character of the N°8.
A coupé-SUV
Let’s start with the exterior. A timelessly good looking car will have ideal proportions. This is what Pinin Farina and Felice Mario Boano already told us some 70-80 years ago. Just have a look at Boano’s design of the Lancia Aurelia, the GT version and of course the Ferrari 250 GT Low Roof Berlinetta.
The DS Automobiles designers have learned their lessons. Impressive, clean and tall sides, a bold front and rear end, with elegant yet expressively styled horizontal and vertical light elements on the four edges of the car.
We also liked the dual tone paintwork, the aluminum accents and the matte, brushed lettering on the rear end. The large wheels (740 mm in diameter) give the car a unique stance. The elongated and tapered profile that is illustrated by a roof stretching down to the tailgate’s spoiler. Each part of the bodywork has also been scrutinized in the wind tunnel. Its Cx is only 0.24 and its SCx merely 0.64
A premium cabin
Touches of art déco, but with an unmistakable sense of elegance, this is what the eyes meet in the interior. The photo’s tell you the whole story. Just look at the receded dashboard panel, a central screen panel which – refreshingly – is not so enormously big and imposing. The smaller panel in front of you gives you the info which matters, and not more. The design of the odometer is inspired by the world of watchmaking. The readability of the battery charge indicator and the “power meter” take precedence.
Like an airline pilot of France Aéropostal, where instruments were few and readable, as you needed all your senses to fly, like Antoine de Saint Exupéry or Jean Mermoz, on the night routes over the desert and ocean. This is how you feel behind the X-shaped steering wheel, but not hearing the sound of the single 12 V Renault 12JA aircraft engine like these heroes, in their Latécoère 26. Just silence, as the electric motor of your DS is virtually inaudible.
The heroes I described here also flew in an open cockpit, and had no radio. Things have changed for us. Just have a look at the beautiful speakers close to you on the front sides of both doors, part of a premium Focal Electra sound system with 14 speakers, a 515watt amplifier, and custom acoustic tuning developed specifically for DS interiors. You can enjoy music in this EV, for sure.
Then there are the wonderfully designed and sculpted seats. Inspired by the DS AERO SPORT LOUNGE concept, the seats have fully integrated head restraints. The front seats are massaging, cooled and heated. Need we say more? Well, close-up thermal comfort is enhanced by the DS NECK WARMER, a device that favors heating as close to the body as possible to enhance energy consumption. These neck warmers fitted into the backrests of the front seats are illuminated by a backlit DS logo with a crystal appearance.
The rear seat comfort is nothing else but superb. There is ample knee room, 84cm of headroom and backrests inclined at 30°, without compromising their 40/20/40 modularity. Cooled and heated seat bases and backrests complete the comfort.
Driving
When you start moving behind the wheel of a DS Automobile, the expectations are high. The N°8 fully meets them. Whatever version you choose, there is utter drive train smoothness and power. The DS N°8 uses the Stellantis Group’s STLA Medium platform. This has been optimized in length and width to accommodate batteries up to a capacity of 97.2 kWh.
DS N°8 is available with a choice of three 100 % electric drive trains developing 230 hp, 245 hp and 350 hp, the latter being fitted with two electric motors for four-wheel drive. All motors enjoy excess power that periodically gives an extra 30 hp to the FWD version – 260 hp, 35 hp to the FWD LONG RANGE version 280 bhp, and 25 bhp to the AWD LONG RANGE model 375 bhp.
Performance is more than adequate: even the 230hp version accelerates in merely 7.7s from 0 to 100 km/h. Top speed is a respectable 190 km/h. The 245hp version which has the larger 97.2 kWh battery has virtually the same performance, but rewards you with a bigger range. According to WLTP figures, the 245 HP version has a range of 750 km, instead of the 572 km of the “base” version. The 350 hp version has of course close to superpower performance, with an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 5,4 seconds. The range of this AWD DS is 686 km.
Of course one can count on impeccable road manners and comfort. We found the DS quite responsive and tout, tending towards sportiness and it copes very well with a more enthusiastic driving style. Country roads can be driven with verve, and also in urban low speed traffic the N°8 feels well at home. Nevertheless, the steering feel is not too responsive, and car will not invite you to throw it around, but lets you rather adopt a comfortable, relaxed driving style. At high motorway speeds, the good road and tyre insulation as well as the sound deadening laminated glass keeps noise at bay, so you can enjoy the fantastic sound system and seat comfort.
DS N°8 is fitted as standard with DS ACTIVE SCAN SUSPENSION, a variable damping system linked to a camera positioned at the top of the windscreen. Supported by attitude sensors and 3 accelerometers, it analyses the road surface in a few milliseconds and transmits its information to a computer that acts on each wheel. Noblesse oblige, we would say again here.
Practical
Despite the coupe-SUV profile which makes the roof arch somewhat lower, over the rear seats, but headroom is acceptable for most passengers. The floor of the car is rather high, and this raises your legs and knees a bit, reducing thigh support by the otherwise excellent rear seats. We enjoyed the clever thermal glass roof in the “Etoile” equipment version we tested.
Boot space is more than sufficient with 581 liters, and offers also a small under-floor compartment. When it comes to charging speed, it is worth to mention that the N° 8 features a 400-volt electrical system, and the maximum DC charging rate is 160kW. This means that the 74kWh battery can be charged from 20-80 per cent capacity in 26 minutes, with the 97.2kWh pack taking just a minute longer to charge to the same amount. Note that EV Routing via DS IRIS SYSTEM 2.0 simplifies trip planning.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a refined car which truly stands out from the rest and which is a proud four wheeled statement of French refinement and savoir vivre, then this N°8 merits a long hard look.
It is smooth and refined for eyes and senses, looks and drives beautifully, offering up to date practicality in its class. The N°8 soothes you with style and comfort, with performance and range to match, even in the base 230 HP version with the 74 kWh battery.
The iconic Aston Martin DB5 used by film character James Bond: this factory-made replica on, the show is an example of the “continuation” series of the original James Bond Aston Martin.
The lovers of iconic British classics can enjoy a beautiful exhibition in the heart of Brussels: until Sunday 21st of June they stand eye to eye with the iconic cars which embody the history of this wonderful brand.
You will admire at your leisure the rare 1925 Grand Prix car, of which only 3 exist in the world today, and the one you will see in Brussels is the last one produced… Another F1 gem awaits you in the magnificent hall of Autoworld: the legendary DBR4.
But every enthusiast just loves the DB5, the iconic James Bond car. The car on the show is a replica, but it is in almost every aspect equal to the original. Did you know that the total series production of the DB5 was only 1,059 units?
On the show, iconic Aston’s from the ‘50s and ‘60s can also be admired. What to think of the gleaming black DB1, nicknamed “Spa Special”, as this is the very car that raced to victory in 1948, with team drivers Jock Horsfall and Leslie Johnson behind the wheel.
Engineer Claude Hill had designed the 2 litre four cylinder engine for the revolutionary 1939 Atom, because of the wardid not really survive the prototype s. Key to the concept was the integral construction of body framing and chassis, which were made from rectangular steel tubes.
Looking at this photo, you can easily imagine yourself sitting behind the wheel of the Aston DB1, racing towards victory in the Spa Francorchamps 24 race…
The 1948 Motor Show saw the launch of the first car to be produced under the ownership of David Brown, thTwo Litre Sports, retrospectively named ‘DB1’. It used the Atom chassis construction, by the way…
There is also a Bordeaux coloured DB2/4 to be seen, which was originally owned by Belgian king Baudouin, see the photo here above. He drove not less than four Aston Martins in his life. A true connoisseur!
Noblesse oblige, and this means that an Aston Martin exhibition cannot do without a Zagato bodied example. We admired the DB4 Zagato, which was again a factory recreation of the original. The DB4 Zagato was produced between 1960 and 1963.
Originally, 25 units were planned, but the interest proved not to be large, resulting in only 19 copies being produced. Later, the popularity of the Zagato version was increasing, and two subsequent series were, “Sanction II” with 4 copies, and “Sanction III” with a further 2 copies.
The car on the show is produced in a new series of 19 , built in 2019 on the occasion of the centenary of Zagato. is a true racing car, and is not allowed to drive on public roads…
We also found the Aston Martin 2022 Speedster-type supercar, the DBR22, totally stunning. We will return soon to this beauty, which is an homage to the legendary Aston Martin DBR1 Sports Racing Car. On the photo below, you see the cockpit details of this speedster, with the Aston Martin Victor in the background.
Below we show you a photo of the cockpit and steering wheel of the DBR22, with the steering wheel of the original 1925 Grand Prix Car in the background, with almost a century between them…
The show also includes modern creations like the Aston Martin Victor (see photo earlier) and the rare One-77. More on these cars soon…
Everybody knows that the name Aston Martin is tied to casino glamour and film, and this was also very much the case at the magnificent opening night of this exhibition, where your servant was invited by the very dynamic team of Autoworld.
On the opening night, invitées could enjoy a game of roulette…in the true James Bond tradition!
Sebastien de Baere, General Manager of Autoworld, welcomed the public…
and Autoworld Curator Leo Van Hoorick commented expertly on the displayed cars…
More soon on this Aston Martin exhibition, but in our columns we will also come back on the previous Lancia exhibition, with more stories and photos of Lancia’s legendary Grand Prix car, the D50…
We told you in our columns already about the successful entry of Xpeng into our domestic Belgian car market, and we test here for you their stylish mid-sized electric coupé SUV, the G6.
Introduced on our shores in 2024, the G6 has already undergone a facelift, where the most important news is the new 80.8 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery, which replaces the former nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) unit.
This makes the G6 a true champion at the fast charging terminal: you can now charge it at an impressive 451kW. This means that this Xpeng G6 is built for the future, as at the moment of writing we still have to wait for such fast chargers to arrive in our country. But the fact that this allows you (in the future) to charge the battery from 10 to 80% in merely 12 minutes, is a strong (selling) point indeed. The new battery also means less use of expensive and less sustainable materials …
Spacious…
The G6 is not small, to say the least. Compared with the Skoda Enyaq, it is still a good 10 cm longer. It virtually is as wide and long as its important competitor, the Tesla Model Y. The interior space is indeed quite generous, also and even more so for the rear passengers: they enjoy ample leg- and headroom, despite the curving roof line and the coupe-like silhouette. The car also stands quite tall, and the designers have camouflaged this judiciously by putting the sills in a darker color. One pleasant aspect is that you can… sleep in this G6, as the front seat backrest folds down horizontally and you can remove the headrest. You can also install yourself neatly in the backseat, use the fully folded front seat as a footrest and have your laptop snugly installed on your stretched legs, and work comfortably…
…and some facelift details
The led headlight bar now runs fully over the front of the car, at the rear there is now a small duck tail spoiler. The car has now also a digital quite panoramic rear-view mirror, which is especially useful at night or when reversing in dark-lit areas. It can change back and forth to a “classic” mirror at the push of a button on its upper rim.
You can choose between 5 colors, and we liked the “stellar purple” of our test car. There is also an optional “black edition”, which is only offered for the time being on the 4WD 2- motor “performance” edition, which is the drivetrain of the car we tested.
An impressive platform with a drivetrain offered in 3 versions…
The G6 now uses Xpeng’s SEPA2.0 platform, with a chassis of aluminium and steel, reinforced by a stressed underfloor battery pack. The body is fully aluminium, the electrical architecture (with a silicon-carbide power inverter) runs on 800 V.
The model line up starts with the RWD standard range model, 252 HP with a 68,5 kW LFP battery. Then there is the Long Range model with a 297 HP motor and a 80,8 LFP battery. We drove, as said, the 4WD Performance model with 2 motors, 297 HP + 190 HP (total 487 HP).
Superb performance, enjoyed in safety and comfort…
Needless to say that this “performance” edition is fast. Choose on the central screen among the available drive modes the “launch control” function, and then brace yourself. The G6 will take you from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4,1 seconds. The suspension and chassis can handle all this power smoothly, and the Xpeng feels utterly stable at high speeds and also in fast corners, with some noticeable body roll however. Top speed is electronically limited to 202 km/h, wind and road noise are virtually absent at high cruising speeds.
The Xpeng is comfortable, but its body sways gently over long road irregularities and all this does rather invite you to adopt a more restful driving style, despite its excellent stability and performance. Remember, this is a heavy car that weighs over 2.2 tonnes.
You can adjust the steering “feel” and responsiveness via the central screen and it also changes in function of the chosen driving modes. It transmits adequately the road surfaces, but again does not invite you to do some sharp and fast cornering. Just enjoy the smoothness and comfort, this is what the Xpeng engineers clearly had in mind when fine tuning the steering and suspension. The comfort at boulevard speeds in the city is therefore admirable. The long wheelbase indeed also brings extra smoothness.
The brakes are eminently up to their task, and indeed the 20 inch wheels add to the overall safe handling of the G6. Of course the G6 has ESP and boasts among many driving aids, even hill descent control.
Indeed, for the manufacturer, safety is paramount. Xpeng therefore installed its ‘full scenario’ XPilot 2.5 driver assistance technology package in the G6, which is made up of a network of 29 cameras, radar transceivers and ultrasonic sensors. Did you know that all the data output is then monitored and processed by a special Nvidia processor?
You see the result on the large central screen, which all the surrounding traffic, bikes and pedestrians clearly shown. Indeed, this is a car made by a high-tech company, and this results in a wonderful and restful experience behind the wheel. Driver assistance systems are there in abundance, from lane assistance coupled with adaptative cruise control to parking and a lot more, it is all there.
Within the plethora of 29 cameras, you also have a camera which monitors whether you keep your eyes on the road. Fortunately, you can control its sensitivity via a menu on the touchscreen, so it does not interfere overwhelmingly when driving.
Refined and elegant interior…
With the facelift, the G6 had its interior upgraded with better ambient lighting and improved panel finishes. We liked the large wooden panel spanning across the dashboard. Besides the large and eminently readable 15,6 inch central screen, there is also a so-called digital 10,25 inch dashboard screen in front of the driver, and this gives you all the essential information right in the line of your vision.
Both front seats are adjusted electronically, and you can (pre)program your ideal individual seating position. The nappa leather seats (reserved for this performance version) are not only heated, they also have a massage function…
The wide central console allows you to charge TWO phones simultaneously, with up to not less than 50 W charging power.
Climate control is also top notch with automatic air conditioning and a heat pump;
All the main functions of the car, like heating/ventilation, opening/closing, navigation can be controlled using a mobile app. There is also an “Hey XPENG” speech assistant: 4 zones (also from the rear seats) , full scenario with intelligent suggestions and advisory remarks. You have also an App Store connection for music, video, social media, etc.
When you change lane or take a right or left turn, a camera view flashes up in this screen to show any upcoming traffic in the chosen lane. Indeed, you are definitively spoiled with a wide array of high-tech safety features.
These is of course an excellent DAB/FM radio, using a 16 speaker XPENG XOPERA 2.0 Surround Sound System, with two speakers in the front seat headrests…classic music buffs as we are, we greatly enjoyed each trip…
All this to say that sitting behind the wheel of this Xpeng one definitely gets a premium feeling, not in the least because of the excellent finish and the quality of the materials used.
There are a lot of practical storage possibilities in the cabin, and luggage space is also quite adequate with 571 liters (1374 liters with rear seat backrests folded).
And what about consumption and range?
We noticed during our test a usable practical range of some 370-400 kilometers, with a 60/40 mix of motorway and city driving. Of course, in winter driving the heating/ventilation systems take also their toll, and we find this range therefore quite reasonable for a 2,2 tonne 487 HP car. When driving with some restraint, a consumption between 17 and 20 kW per 100 km is quite realistic. The manufacturer quotes 18,4 kW/100 km, and announces a WLTP range of 510 km.
Conclusion
This Xpeng G6 ticks many boxes, certainly taking into account that it offers impressive value for money. At the moment of writing, this 4WD Performance version is available for 51.990 Euros, and as we said earlier, in this price range, there is no other car that offers this charging capacity. Add to this the stylish exterior, the elegant, roomy, and fully appointed cabin, the comfortable ride, and safety-oriented stability combined with excellent performance, and you will agree that this Xpeng G6 deserves a long hard look when you consider buying a mid-size SUV.
We continue here our report about this stunning exhibition of 12 absolutely iconic Lancias, which we can admire until April 19 at Brussels Autoworld.
A car which set Lancia apart as a brand with a unique enineering excellence is the Lambda. It was intoduced in 1922 and featured not only a revolutionary and compact V4 engine. This V-4 was banked at a tiny 13-degree angle (later 14 degrees), with a flat cylinder-head face and combustion chambers in the block. Nobody had ever seen anything like it.
But there were other surprises: it also had a load-bearing unitary body. Indeed, and here we cite the famous connoisseur Michael Frostick: “its unique unitary construction, in which body and chassis were one, came a good ten years before Mr. Budd succeeded in selling his idea for a monocoque to Andre Citroen.”
As if this were not enough, it also introduced an independent front suspension. This sliding pillar suspension was a trademark of all subsequent Lancias, used not only for all the cars before the Aurelia, but also for the Appia, up until its replacement in 1963 by the Fulvia. The suspension has an integral spring and shock absorber (all made by Lancia in house) working around a large vertical set pin internal to the assembly.
The pin is anchored into a beam axle at a particular angle, and camber and caster are fixed at the factory. The shock setting is easily adjustable by hand at the top of the pillar, and one can change it from soft to hard in a moment, or even (as the Lancia Owner’s Manual suggests) summer/winter. Absolute genius!
Lancia also introduced powerful four wheel brakes on the Lambda. All this resulted in a car with excellent handling, and indeed the Lambda proved faster over a winding track than anything Lancia had hitherto produced, including the big Tri Kappa, an eight cylinder with twice the horsepower.
The Lambda became the car to win races with, and in 1927, when Italy’s famous open road race, the Mille Miglia, was first held, a trio of Lambda’s took the first three places overall. Note on the photo above the short, sporting gear lever!
Another pre-war Lancia that won my heart was the Aprilia. Just look at its classic, timeless, compact proportions. It was born in 1936, but the car on the show is a 1947 2nd series example. It was Lancia’s first berlinetta aerodinamica. Indeed, it was one of the first designed using a wind tunnel in collaboration with Battista Farina and Polytechnic University of Turin, achieving for those days a record low drag coefficient of 0.47.
It was to be Vicenzo Lancia’s very last car, as the founder died in 1937, when series production started. It was indeed designed by Vicenzo, and featured four pillarless doors. Just look at the door handles, which are in the same position as in the pillarless 4-door Lancia Florida, which I showed you in part one. The Aprilia also featured an independent rear suspension, with inboard brakes…
The Lancia story will go further in part 3. We will tell you then more about the Lancia PF200 prototype and the legendary D50 racing car…
Hans Knol ten Bensel
Practical info: The exhibition runs until April 19 at Autoworld, Parc du Cinquantenaire 11 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
Please note, the museum is closed Wednesday 11 March, Thursday 12 March and Monday 16 March 2026.
Autoworld Brussels has again an exquisite exhibition ready for us: until April 19 we can admire a carefully curated selection of about 12 absolutely iconic Lancias. It shows us the elegance and innovation through design, as the title of the exhibition indicates. But we would add, the pop-up exhibition also showcases innovation through ingenuity and engineering excellence.
The cars are beautifully displayed at the beginning of the vast and inviting central hall of Autoworld, taking you on a journey of more than a century of technical innovation, refined design, and engulfing you in its rich motorsport heritage.
My eyes first fell on, at least to my taste, the absolute beauty of the show, the Lancia Astura Roadster by Pinin Farina. This 1935 Astura is a technical gem. The V8 engined car was introduced on the Paris Motor Show in 1931. This Astura on the show belongs to the third series, built between 1933 and 1937, with 1,243 units made.
The third-generation Astura was offered in short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase variants, and was powered by a new, larger engine. Indeed, it was enlarged from 2,6 to 3 litres, and the 17° narrow angle V8 single overhead camshaft engine now developed 82 hp. This short wheelbase you see on the photos was ideal for coachbuilders to show their talent.
ounded with the moral and financial support of Vicenzo Lancia, the Carrozzeria of Battista “Pinin” Farina witnessed a revival and produced breathtaking bodies. Of the just 328 “Corto” chassis built, many were clothed by Pinin Farina. The contours of this roadster are from the artistic hand of Mario Revelli di Beaumont, an independent stylist who worked actually for several “carrozzerie”…
Another car by the hand of Pinin Farina was for me the Lancia Flaminia. I was therefore elated to see the conceptual predecessor of the Flaminia, the Florida. The “bellezza” and elegance of this car deeply moves me. Just look at the photos. The car was built by Pinin Farina on an Aurelia B56 chassis, and it was a technically quite daring four-door pillarless saloon.
It was shown on the 1956 Brussels salon, and as a young boy, I dreamt about it. Just like the Boano styled Ferrari’s, it was for me the pinnacle of what human art, intellect and craftmanship could reach in terms of sheer contemporary beauty.
The pillarless doors had to go in the production version, the Flaminia, therefore the elegance of this Florida truly stands out.
Much more to follow on this Lancia show at Autoworld soon, about the D50 racing car, the iconic rally cars like the Stratos… just remember, go and see it, it is on show until April 19.
Practical info: Autoworld, Parc du Cinquantenaire 11 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
Please note, the museum is closed Wednesday 11 March, Thursday 12 March and Monday 16 March 2026.
The latest Brussels Motor Show proved to be a treasure trove for us car enthusiasts. At the impressive wonderful Mercedes stand on the show we met on the press day with Robert Lesnik, Director of Exterior Design. In front of the iconic and already legendary Concept AMG XX, he presented styling examples of what Mercedes believes stands for the brand.
He started off with this AMG XX, and commented that this car embodies a rare combination a very aggressive sporting front end, the side view with the timeless proportion of the long bonnet, a very round shaped rear end and an amazing interior. He also showed the legendary Autobahnkourier, and he also focused on the grille of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Renncoupé, being so iconic and a typical design hallmark over the years for the sport coupés and cabrios of the brand. He also commented further on the Concept AMG that this car is the harbinger of what is to come for the series version of this AMG Electric sports coupé.
Robert Lesnik commented further: “For the new generation we were inspired by our past cars and design heritage, which doesn’t mean that we are doing retro design. You can see it on the radiator grille of the new GLC Electric SUV, with just three horizontal bars illuminated, it is a modern interpretation of a classic design icon.”
Beauty and attraction…
“There are two elements, beauty and attraction, which are the goals when we design a Mercedes”, Robert continued. Something that attracts the customer and what he perceives as beautiful.”
“Obviously, this goes for both the exterior AND the interior. There must be a certain power. I would say the sweet spot for every Mercedes is the three-quarter rear end perspective, where you really see the shoulder, and you see also a very iconic graphic with two roundish rear lights, with three lights for the AMG versions.”
We asked also about the interior, although he is responsible for exterior design, but nevertheless…
“For the interior,” he continued, “there is always a combination of the digital and the analog. For the first time, we have a hyperscreen, made of three screens being seamlessly positioned together. Also when the instruments and screen is shut off, it is not uniformly black, the air vent openings are still illuminated, the touch fields and items on the screen are also still visible, the inside door handles have a metallic coating, silver shadow galvanized so to say, these elements were there earlier, and will stay also in the future. I always say, Mercedes has always a chromium strip more.” We could only agree…
Focusing further on the front of the car, Robert stressed that it is still somewhat higher, which results in a spacious frunk. We will also strive to have clean lines.
We asked Robert also when looking back at the elegantly styled cars for the hand of Paul Bracque, the cars were lean, low, with excellent all round visibility. Do we see these styling elements back in the Mercedes cars of today and the future?
“Indeed, cars were (much)smaller, but now cars are electric, and they need more volume because of the batteries. Cars therefore need to be higher and this also calls for bigger wheels. This means also that cars are wider and have longer wheelbases. So cars are bigger and later hopefully will get smaller again. But cars as elegant as the Pagode will never appear again because of the safety regulations… But for the next five years, our horizon is set, we have a good idea what our design strategy will be.”
We thanked Robert for the interview and show you here some photos.
In a further episode we will have a further interview with Oliver Löcher, Vice President Vehicle Engineering and Overall Vehicle Functions Mercedes-Benz Cars.
Autoprova - for the Connaisseur 