Aurelia Butler

After showing the exterior design last week, Kia has divulged more details about its new electric PV5 van for Europe and South Korea.Built on a modular platform, the PV5 will be sold in an array of configurations, including passenger and cargo variants and a wheelchair-accessible model.The PV5 packs a front-mounted 161-hp electric motor and an estimated range of over 200 miles.Kia first signaled its intent to enter the electric commercial vehicle space at CES 2024 more than a year ago, showing off three van concepts ranging from the teensy PV1 to the large PV7. After showing off the production-ready styling of the mid-size PV5 last week, Kia has now released full details on the PV5 at its EV Day event in Spain. The new van will launch with a series of body styles, a range of nearly 250 miles, and a highly flexible interior.An Adaptable PlatformThe PV5 is the first production model in Kia’s new PBV—standing for Platform Beyond Vehicle—business and will ride on a new platform dubbed E-GMP.S, a version of Hyundai-Kia’s skateboard-style battery architecture. The E-GMP.S platform has been developed with flexibility in mind, allowing Kia to affix a wide array of bodies atop a flat base. Kia compares its “Flexible Body System” to building a puzzle and asserts that the PV5 will be well-suited to a vast range of use cases.Kia will sell the PV5 in three body styles: passenger, cargo, and chassis cab. The passenger version has a spacious interior with three rows of seats that can fold up and down to form various configurations. Kia envisions the passenger-spec PV5 as being well adapted for ride-hailing services, as the company worked closely with Uber throughout the van’s development, but it also sees the van being well suited for personal use.The PV5’s cargo model will offer standard, long, and high-roof configurations, and the latter will also be available with a walk-through setup for businesses that need to quickly and easily get to the cargo hold. Kia says the PV5 measures 184.8 inches from nose to tail, making it a bit longer than compact vans such as the Ford Transit Connect. The PV5’s maximum cargo capacity of just over 180 cubic feet also makes it a tad roomier than most compact vans, and Kia says the PV5 cargo can fit two Euro-sized pallets. The PV5 will also be capable of vehicle-to-load functionality, allowing owners to power tools directly from the cargo area.Lastly, the PV5 chassis cab will be sold as an unfinished vehicle that can be adapted for myriad uses. The chassis cab pairs the front of the PV5 cargo with a flat section that includes side-collision protection for the battery and mounting brackets for installations such as a standard box van or freezer box setup. A slew of other versions will be added in the future, including the PV5 crew—with a mixture of seating and cargo storage—and the PV5 WAV, a wheelchair-accessible model. A camper model is also in the cards. Kia provided extra details on the PV5 WAV, which will sport a side opening to allow easy access to the van for wheelchair users from the curb via a ramp that can support up to 661 pounds. Kia also says there is a user-friendly universal wheelchair belt-fastening system, and the WAV model includes third-row tip-up seats to allow other passengers to ride with someone in a wheelchair.Electric Motors and a Modern CabinThree battery choices will be offered in the PV5. Most versions of the electric van will come equipped with either a 51.5-kWh or a 71.2-kWh battery, with both employing nickel-manganese-cobalt chemistry. The PV5 cargo variant will also offer a 43.3-kWh unit with a lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry. All batteries will power a single front-mounted electric motor producing 161 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque.Kia says the PV5’s maximum range will be around 248 miles when fitted with the 71.2-kWh battery in the passenger configuration. That figure is based on the optimistic European WLTP test cycle and would roughly translate to a 211-mile range using the EPA’s methodology. Kia also claims the PV5 will be able to charge from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 30 minutes, but it didn’t specify which battery that figure applies to.The cabin looks modern and fairly plush for a van, offered in a variety of colors from Deep Navy to Terracotta Brown and Iceberg Green. Kia says it utilized durable, easy-to-clean, sustainable materials as well as eco-friendly choices. The “driver zone” is the same across all versions of the PV5 and centers around a 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.9-inch infotainment screen running an Android Automotive-based operating system. Sticking with the theme of versatility, the automaker is launching “Kia AddGear,” a selection of modular accessories that can be added to the cabin.The PV5 will be assembled in a new dedicated factory called the EVO Plant in South Korea. Sales will kick off in South Korea and Europe in the second half of 2025, before adding other markets in 2026. Unfortunately, there are no plans to bring the PV5 to the United States, presumably a result of the “chicken tax,” a 25 percent import tariff on light trucks.More on Kia EVsCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

Toyota could bring back some hits from the 1990s based on reports of a new Celica and MR2.Both cars would likely be powered by the company’s new G20E turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinderThe Celica has reportedly been confirmed, and Toyota’s mid-engined GR Yaris M concept sure looks like an MR2 development mule.Toyota’s debut of a brand-new four-cylinder turbocharged engine at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon raised more than a few eyebrows. In an era where electrification grabs the headlines and crossovers rule the sales charts, stuffing a turbo four with as much as 400 hp in a subcompact Yaris seems suspiciously too much like enthusiasm for a company as serious as Toyota. And they stuck it in the middle? What are those ‘Yota engineers up to exactly?Seems like someone has built a time machine at Toyota HQ because the company is set to turn the clock back to the 1990s and release two of its greatest hits. The return of the Celica and MR2 nameplates was hinted at in the first episode of a Toyota-produced anime series called Grip last November. A few weeks after that debut, Toyota’s executive vice president Yuki Nakajima confirmed that the Celica was in Toyota’s plans, as reported by Japanese magazine Best Car. The mid-engined GR Yaris M concept (pictured below) suggests that a reborn MR2 could be heading our way too.ToyotaWith the Supra on its way out the door, and a new one not slated until later in the decade, the return of a high-performance two-seater could slot right into Toyota’s lineup as a halo car. Powertrain details are still murky as the car is not officially confirmed to be joining the Celica, but comments to AutoExpress by Naohiko Saito, Gazoo Racing’s lead engineer, seem to indicate that all-wheel drive was going to be part of the setup. Considering how much fun the GR Corolla is, a cut-down, mid-engined two-seater version would be aces. And there’s every chance it would look great too. Toyota’s FT-Se concept debuted at the 2023 Tokyo auto show as a potential EV platform, but its packaging would be ideal for a midship layout.As for the Celica, that could very well end up as a reborn version of the 1990s All-Trac, with turbocharged power and all-wheel-drive grip. If the Sega Rally theme tune just started playing in your head, then yes, it’s possible Toyota could enter a motorsport version of this car in rallying, as new WRC rules have loosened up a little.Even though Toyota is far more dependent on moving RAV4s and Camrys out the door in their masses, it’s nice to see that there’s still time to work on the fun stuff. Right now, a little mid-engined Yaris is zooming around a test track in Aichi prefecture, working on its Pokemon evolution to level up into a new MR2.Throwback ToyotasBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

Kia has issued a recall for certain Seltos and Soul models ranging from the 2021 to 2023 model years. The recall affects 53,635 Seltos and 83,621 Soul vehicles, totaling 137,256, and the problem could require a replacement engine.The issue stems from a potentially defective piston ring, which may lead to increased oil consumption and could eventually damage the engine. Kia is recalling 137,256 Seltos and Soul models from the 2021 to 2023 model years. The recall population is split between the two models, with 53,635 Seltos and 83,621 Soul vehicles on the list. Recall documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that the issue is a potentially defective piston oil ring. In both models, the recall affects the non-turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. The optional turbo 1.6-liter is not included in the recall. According to the recall report, a quality deviation by the piston ring supplier may cause damage to the surface of the cylinder wall over time. In turn, the damaged cylinder could increase oil consumption causing increased damage, an engine seizure, and, in limited cases, a fire in the engine bay. KiaThe recall documents list increased oil consumption, abnormal engine noise, and illumination of the oil pressure light on the dash as warnings of the issue. Kia will notify all owners with impacted vehicles with instructions to bring their cars to a Kia dealer to be fixed. The recall documents show that Kia will inspect each engine, replacing those with damaged cylinder walls. The dealers will also install piston-ring noise-sensing software as a preventive measure. In the event that the piston ring issue arises, Kia will replace the engine. The automaker will also reimburse owners for repair expenses related to the recall that have already occurred. Kia dealerships have already been notified of the recall, with the automaker planning to begin owner notifications on April 4. Any owners worried their car may be involved can check the NHTSA recalls site here beforehand with their vehicle’s VIN. Recent RecallsJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

Lucid Motors announced yesterday that its CEO Peter Rawlinson has stepped down and will now serve as a technical advisor to the board.Marc Winterhoff, Lucid’s COO, will serve as the interim CEO while the automaker searches for a permanent leader.Lucid recently launched its second car, the Gravity SUV, and is developing a mid-sized platform that will spawn three new models starting in late 2026.It has been an eventful start to 2025 for American EV startup Lucid Motors. Deliveries of its second model, the Gravity SUV, got underway earlier this year. Now, Lucid has announced that its CEO, Peter Rawlinson, has stepped down and will transition to become strategic technical advisor to the board. The company’s COO, Marc Winterhoff, has been named the interim CEO. “Now that we have successfully launched the Lucid Gravity, I have decided it is finally the right time for me to step aside from my roles at Lucid,” Rawlinson said in a Lucid press release. Rawlinson served as the head of the startup for 12 years, presiding over the company’s renaming from Atieva to Lucid Motors in 2016 and leading the successful launch of the brand’s first vehicle, the Air sedan.Lucid MotorsInterim CEO Marc Winterhoff.Curiously, Rawlinson was absent from the company’s fourth-quarter 2024 earnings call yesterday. When questioned about his absence, Winterhoff simply said, “Peter made the decision” to step back from day-to-day activities and “pass the baton.” Winterhoff will lead Lucid while the company begins its search for a new CEO. Winterhoff will be tasked with continuing to ramp up Gravity production over the course of this year. Lucid plans to expand the range in late 2025 by adding a new Touring trim beneath the Grand Touring, the only version of the Gravity currently available. This will drop the Gravity’s starting price by $15,000, from $96,550 for the Grand Touring to $81,550 for the Touring.LucidWinterhoff will also oversee the continued development of the company’s new mid-sized platform. Lucid says this platform will spawn three vehicles, one of which it has teased already. This vehicle, an SUV, is expected to adopt the name Earth, and Rawlinson said last year that it would start at around $48,000. Another mid-size car will likely be a sedan to slot in under the Air, but it’s unclear what form the third vehicle will take. The mid-sized Lucid SUV is expected to arrive in late 2026, and Winterhoff said on the earnings call that we could see an early version of the first mid-size model by the end of this year or the beginning of 2026. Winterhoff also mentioned the ongoing development of the “low-cost” Atlas drive unit, which will be utilized for its mid-sized vehicles. More on Lucid MotorsCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

Mercedes-Benz confirmed last week that a refreshed 2026 S-class is on its way, and we spotted the updated sedan testing in Sweden.The S-class prototype—which could be a Maybach model—has a reworked front end, including headlights with LED three-pointed stars, similar to the taillights on the 2024 E-class.The 2026 S-class could get updated powertrains, and Mercedes has confirmed that the V-12 engine is sticking around.The Mercedes-Benz S-class is among the brand’s most important models, serving alongside the G-class as the pinnacle of the luxury automaker’s lineup. The flagship sedan may not move a ton of units—its 8809 U.S. sales last year only beat out the GT and SL sports cars among the company’s gas-powered vehicles—but the S-class has been critical to Mercedes-Benz’s reputation as a purveyor of opulence. Now, the brand is readying an update to the S-class for the 2026 model year, and we just spotted a prototype of the refreshed luxo-barge testing in Sweden.Amid a flurry of announcements last week, which included the confirmation of a “baby” G-wagen, Mercedes said it was developing a “major update” for the S-class that would go on sale in 2026. While Mercedes didn’t spill any details, the spy photos give a taste of what to expect from the S-class’s visual changes. The most obvious difference is the headlight design, which appears to have adopted a slightly different shape. The headlights also feature an LED three-pointed star motif, a theme that first appeared on the taillights of the 2024 E-class.Caleb Miller|Car and DriverThe shape of the grille also seems to be a bit different, stretching lower on the bumper, while the bottom vents also appear to be reworked. Another curious detail is a cutout in the camouflage on the front fender for a forward-facing camera, which could form part of a bolstered driver-assistance package. The 2024 S-class, along with the electric EQS, already offers Drive Pilot, a Level 3 autonomous-driving system that allows the driver to both keep their hands off the steering wheel and their eyes off the road for lengthy periods.The rear end carries over mostly unchanged, although the taillights look to also include a three-pointed star element in a similar vein to the headlights. We think the prototype seen here represents a Maybach model, due to the extra chrome trim around the side windows and the camouflage on the C-pillar, where a Maybach logo typically resides on the ultra-luxury models. The wheels aren’t as glamorous as the units normally found on Maybachs, but that’s likely just because this is a prototype. The test unit next to the Maybach appears to be a standard S-class and shares many of the same changes at the front.Obviously, a “major update” for the S-class should bring more than just visual tweaks. That could mean changes to the S-class’s powertrains, which currently include a 442-hp inline-six, a 496-hp V-8, and a plug-in-hybrid setup. The Maybach versions come with either the V-8 or a 621-hp V-12. Although both the inline-six and V-8 already come with a 48-volt hybrid system, we wouldn’t be surprised to see more electrical assistance as Mercedes aims to remain in compliance with increasingly strict European emissions regulations. Mercedes did confirm last week that the V-12 will remain in production, although it will only be available in certain markets. We should learn more about the 2026 Mercedes-Benz S-class later this year.More on Mercedes’s Flagship SedanCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More