The Genesis GV80 is a large crossover offering seating options for five, six or seven passengers. Designed by Sangyup Lee, formerly of Bentley, it boasts a stylish exterior with a distinctive G-matrix front grill, split LED headlights and elegant curves. Inside story The interior exudes elegance with its rich finishes, including wood trim, metal accents, attention to detail and well-executed assembly. The dashboard's wide-spanning display maintains an upscale and uncluttered look. The spac...

Kia’s second-generation Niro was launched in July 2022. We take a closer look at this eye-catching model. Available in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and pure electric vehicle (PEV) variants, the second-generation Niro comes in three model grades: 2, 3, and 4. It is assembled at the carmaker’s Kwaseong factory in Asan Bay, South Korea. Inside story At the center of the cabin sits an integrated curved twin-screen display with a touchscreen. Lik...

The Genesis G70 has a plethora of infotainment and connectivity features. We take a closer look inside this luxury saloon. Genesis is a Hyundai Motor premium brand from South Korea, emerging as a challenger to established rivals like BMW, Mercedes, and Audi. The G70 is a facelifted version of a car that has been on sale in the Far East and North America since 2017. In brief The G70 interior is cloaked with soft-touch materials, stitched details and aluminum inserts. The seats come ...

Honda says its eleventh-generation Civic stays true to the original concept of “a car for all people.” We take a closer look inside this popular family hatchback. In brief The Civic's interior features a clean design with high-quality materials, giving it a premium feel. It is available in three trims: Elegance, Sport and Advance. While lower-spec models have a half-analog display, top-spec versions offer a digital driver's display. All models come with a nine-inch touchscreen, wi...

MG, known for sports cars, is targeting mainstream success with the MG HS midsize sport utility vehicle (SUV). We take a closer look inside. In brief The HS interior is wrapped with soft-touch materials, contrasting colors and metallic accents. It features tactile elements like piano key buttons, turbine-design air vents and soft-touch door cards. Rear-seat passengers enjoy reclining seats, twin air vents, two USB ports, and a fold-out armrest with storage space and cup holders. In 2023, t...

As vehicle manufacturers search for ways of making electric vehicles more engaging, the in-cabin experience is becoming the new battleground. In a pair of exclusive interviews, we discuss how sound, real-time displays and haptics are being used to create new areas of value for vehicle manufacturers and how updates from the cloud could introduce new commercial opportunities through the lifetime of every vehicle. We talked with Meridian Audio Chief Executive John Buchanan and Epic Games director o...

The mid-life updated Ceed hatchback comes in four trim levels with various upholstery options, touchscreens and connectivity features. We take a closer look inside. In brief The Ceed, designed by Kia's European teams in Frankfurt, is produced in Slovakia alongside the Sportage and constitutes about a quarter of Kia's European sales. Built on the K2 platform, it is wider and lower than its predecessor, with improved rear space and cargo capacity. The interior features a modern design with a...

Once settled in the eight-way, power-adjustable, vegan leather-upholstered and heated driver seat of the all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E, the focal point becomes a 15-inch portrait-orientated touchscreen. We take a closer look inside to see what else appeals. Inside story The minimalist dash means adjusting almost everything via the huge touchscreen. Other interior features include heated and powered driver and front passenger seats, a heated steering wheel, a heated windscreen, a wi...

Eco-friendly materials, such as recycled PET bottles, plant-based yarns and natural wool, are some of the stand-out interior features of the all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5. Other notable features of the crossover utility vehicle (CUV) include a flat floor, housing the batteries, provides extra legroom and spaciousness. The long wheelbase enabled a 'Living Space' theme with the movable Universal Island center console, allowing more freedom of movement for all occupants. The front seats are po...

The face-lifted Kia XCeed features new LED headlamps, a revised grille and front bumper. We take a look inside to see what is new. Infotainment The XCeed is available in “2,” “3,” “GT-Line” and “GT-Line S” grades. A 10.25-inch touchscreen on the GT-Line, 3 and GT-Line S versions feature Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality as standard. The entry-level 2features an 8-inch touchscreen including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A digital 12.3-inch instrum...

It has been more than four decades since the Volkswagen Golf – Europe’s best-selling new car – made its debut. We take a closer look at this ever-popular model. Infotainment and connectivity The eighth-generation Golf features a central 10-inch touchscreen with web connectivity, complemented by a second driver display located on the opposite side of the steering wheel. These displays, along with a reconfigurable instrumentation cluster, effectively present key driver information...

Honda has refreshed its fourth-generation Jazz and Jazz Crosstar model range, adding some exterior and interior refinements on all grades. Continuing our series of interior reviews, we explore some technologies and materials for this popular supermini. What’s new? Interior upgrades include new surface materials and seat options. In Elegance and Advance grades, the black interior trim has been lightly revised and updated for 2023 through the application of new seat fabric with a fresh des...

The fifth-generation Lexus RX has a plethora of infotainment and connectivity features. We take a closer look inside this luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV). Infotainment The RX’s minimalist dashboard sweeps across the cockpit in a clean, continuous form. By implementing an e-latch electronic door-release system, the door handles have been repositioned lower, allowing for an extended instrument panel. Lexus has strategically placed the 14-inch touchscreen and physical buttons for...

The Lexus UX is the carmaker’s most compact crossover model yet. We look inside this Urban Explorer. Cockpit The UX is available in three equipment grades: UX, F Sport and Takumi. The seats feature a flat cushion and raised side sections that provide support to the hips and maintain body stability. The front seats can be manually adjusted in six ways, while the F Sport and Takumi models offer eight-way power-adjustable front seats. The Takumi model also includes adjustable lumbar supp...

Launched in 2022, the fifth-generation Kia Sportage was designed and developed for the European market. Continuing our series of interior reviews, we take a closer look inside. What is the difference between the European Sportage and the version sold in other markets around the world? A spokesperson for the Korean carmaker said: “When deciding the scope of the design for the Sportage, it was decided that Europe, and indeed the UK, deserved an SUV honed for buyers’ specific tastes. This al...

Since Volkswagen launched its Arteon in 2017, a shooting brake body style and plug-in hybrid and performance R variants have appeared. Continuing our series of interior reviews, we explore some technologies and materials for this crisp-looking model to see how it measures up in the executive pool. Both sports and touring vehicles share the same 2.0-litre turbocharged engine (EA888 evo4) introduced in the Golf R. Like the Golf R, the Arteon R features an all-wheel-drive sys...

While the fifth-generation Honda CR-V will not set pulses racing, what makes the interior stand out in a crowded marketplace? Continuing our series of interior reviews, we explore some technologies and materials for this hybrid sport utility vehicle (SUV). What is it all about? Four trim levels are available on the latest incarnation CR-V, starting with the S (manual gearbox only), rising to the SE, SR and EX. The interior of our SR press review model incorporates touches of metallic trim ...

With reports that consumers are starting to push back against the vogue for sleek looking, but frustrating to use, in-vehicle interfaces AI is set to be the vehicle interior designer’s secret weapon. AI could succeed in making more drivers and passengers receptive to their minimalist interiors and could banish buttons forever.  Click the link above to download the whole article.

The Toyota bZ4X, similar in size to the RAV4, marks the Japanese brand’s first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and the first of a series of bZ products launched globally. Its name references the size of the car – 4 for mid-size – and the vehicle type, in this case, X for crossover SUV. Continuing our series of interior reviews, we explore some technologies and materials for this all-electric SUV. What’s it all about? The bZ4X is available in front- and all-wheel drive versions. The ...

The Nissan Qashqai initiated a trend for the compact-crossover sport utility vehicle (SUV) way back in 2007. Since then, the market has been flooded with them, with 26 direct competitors in Europe alone. Continuing our series of interior reviews, we explore some technologies and materials of this third-generation model. Infotainment The 9-inch display screen provides access to satellite navigation, entertainment and vehicle settings, and is compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarP...

The Lexus NX has curb appeal in spades. However, what of the interior? The second-generation model introduces new infotainment, connectivity and convenience technologies. Continuing our series of reviews, we explore some interior technologies and materials of this midsize luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV). Welcome As part of the NX’s welcome sequence, the instrument panel, door handles, puddle lights and daytime running lights illuminate as the door is opened. On closing the door, the ...

This Insight marks the first in a new series of car interior reviews that takes a closer look at an array of technologies and materials packaged in the cabin. Launched in Europe in late 2021, the Honda HR-V is the latest model in the carmaker’s line-up to wear the e:HEV badge, following the refreshed CR-V and Jazz.  Cockpit In Europe, three trim levels are available on the third-generation HR-V, starting with the Elegance, rising to the Advance and Advance Style. The cockpit across ...

One of the most recognized patterns in current well-to-wheel analysis is the differentiation of localized power generation sources and supply chain contributions to the overall carbon footprint of vehicles. Experts like Kelly Senecal rightly point out that in many cases, the power grid is dirtier than a hybrid, even when vehicles manufacturing energy sources are responsibly developed.  Click the link above to download the full article.

Given that passenger wellbeing is high on the agenda, consumers are prioritizing in-vehicle relaxation and seeking comforting tactile and visual cues that can enhance that feeling. Customization is another big trend. OEMs are expanding their luxury offerings to enable customers to express their personalities and lifestyles more visibly. Interior design is also trending toward more digitalized surface qualities, e.g., integrated touch controls, design effects and lighting. The desire to embra...

Automotive interior design study initially focuses on the use of sustainable materials for “A” surface applications and discovers that there is wider-reaching potential.  Design and engineering consultancy Callum’s recipe for a sustainable car interior includes coffee, lentils, eggshells, rice, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and walnut shells that have the potential to meet car interior production feasibility by 2030.  Like the design of electric vehicles (EVs), con...

OEM interest in driver monitoring systems (DMS) is regulatory driven, currently based on drowsiness distraction and Child Presence Detection (CPD). Consumers want safety and wellbeing experiences in their car, seeking for it to become part of their digital-health ecosystem. Supporting subscriptions is part of Harman’s envisaged business model. The idea of a car watching the driver is not new. Systems that scrutinize the driver’s gaze for signs of drowsiness have been around for year...

In 2023, some 300 exhibitors showcased their vehicle technology. Its increasing importance – usurping the traditional auto shows like NAIAS, Paris, IAA and Geneva along the way – is demonstrated if we wind back the clock to 2014. Then, there were just nine OEMs present and some 125 automotive technology exhibitors. With this growth has also come maturity. The 2023 CES was less about fanciful concepts and more about tangible. Click the link above to download the full article.

Automotive display HMI is growing in demand owning to convenience features and enhancing customer experience. Moreover, in the coming years development of multi-display will not only provide greater freedom of information usage and control between driver and passenger, but it will also reduce product development complexities and costs for automakers. Although, in real-terms automakers will invest more during the initial years to gain longer-term benefits. Automakers are also engaged in the devel...

With energy prices in Europe skyrocketing, placing business bottom lines in triage mode, a harsh winter could place certain automotive sectors at risk of being unable to keep their production lines running. Click the link above to download the article.