The Nissan Micra is back: now electric and based on the Renault 5

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May 27, 2025

The Nissan Micra is back – and making its return to Britain’s roads later this year. The smallest Nissan has undergone a radical transformation, becoming fully electric for its sixth generation.

Underpinning the new Micra is the ‘AmpR Small’ platform, which is also used for the award-winning Renault 5 E-Tech electric car.

This should give the Micra a fighting chance in a competitive marketplace – and help Nissan achieve its dramatic plan for financial turnaround.

Scooping up attention

The new Nissan Micra is certainly compact. It measures less than four metres in length, and tips the scales at a maximum of 1,525kg.

Notable design features include distinctive ‘winking’ LED headlights and 18-inch wheels for all trim levels, plus what Nissan calls an ‘ice cream scoop’ waistline. The latter runs atop the front and rear doors, and is said to replicate the indent that running an ice cream scoop along the bodywork would make.

Nissan will offer Micra customers 14 different paint colour combinations. A contrasting roof finish is available, depending on the trim level chosen.

Up to 253 miles on a charge

A choice of two powertrains is available at launch for the new Micra. These mirror the electric options offered for the Renault 5 E-Tech.

The entry-level 120hp electric motor and 40kWh battery pack mean a potential range of 192 miles. For those who travel longer distances, a 150hp version with a larger 52kWh battery provides up to 253 miles of range.

As with the Renault 5 E-Tech, the Nissan Micra will come with bi-directional charging, allowing vehicle-to-load and vehicle-to-grid capabilities. Recharging from a DC rapid device requires 30 minutes to boost the battery from 15 to 80 percent capacity.

A heat pump will be standard with both battery options on the new Micra, helping to maximise efficiency.

Building an electric future

The interior of the new Micra is built around integrating Google into the NissanConnect infotainment system. Controlled through the central touchscreen, built-in Google tech will allow drivers to set navigation routes from their smartphones, adding charging stops along the way.

Google voice commands can be used for the Micra’s climate control system and heated seats, too.

Nissan plans to release the sixth-generation Micra to European audiences by the end of 2025, and will confirm prices and final specifications nearer the time.

The Micra is part of a plan to launch four new electric cars by 2027, including the next-generation Nissan Leaf and Juke.

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New 2026 Toyota RAV4 revealed – including hot 300hp GR Sport

By

John Redfern

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May 22, 2025

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The wraps are off the sixth-generation Toyota RAV4. The new family SUV delivers improved hybrid efficiency, and comes with Toyota’s Arene infotainment system.

Since the original RAV4 was launched in 1994, Toyota has delivered more than 15 million examples across the globe.

More than 2.5 million RAV4s have been sold in Europe. And last year, it became the best-selling vehicle in the United States – deposing the Ford F-150 truck for the first time in five decades.

Keeping the RAV4 at the top of the SUV game is thus hugely important for Toyota, which also revealed a new GR Sport version.

Plugged in for all

The exterior styling for the new RAV4 takes an evolutionary approach, with Toyota noting that its dimensions remain similar to the current, fifth-generation model.

Instead, the biggest changes are beneath the RAV4’s bodywork, with Toyota aiming to deliver improved efficiency and battery range from its hybrid system.

In the UK, customers will only be offered plug-in hybrid powertrains, plus a choice of front- or all-wheel-drive layouts. Other markets will be able to purchase a conventional ‘full hybrid’, but Toyota has no plans to bring this model to Britain.

Going the distance

Opting for front-wheel drive gives the RAV4 264hp, while the all-wheel-drive version develops a substantial 300hp. This allows it to accelerate from 0-62mph in a hot hatch-rivalling 5.8 seconds.

Perhaps of greater importance to RAV4 buyers is the new 22.7kWh battery pack. When fully charged, it offers a pure electric range of 62 miles – a noticeable improvement over the existing model’s 46 miles.

A new onboard charger allows the RAV4 to use 50kW DC chargers, replenishing its battery from 10 to 80 percent in just 30 minutes. Using an 11kW home wallbox takes three hours for the same charge.

Although the RAV4 GR Sport does not gain any extra power, it does come with bespoke exterior styling. It also rides on 20mm lower suspension and lightweight 20-inch alloy wheels.

WRC-inspired design

On the inside, the RAV4 GR Sport features aluminium pedals, plus faux leather and suede upholstery. Some details are said to be inspired by Toyota’s World Rally Championship race cars.

All versions of the 2026 Toyota RAV4 come with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, combined with a 12.9-inch central touchscreen. The latter uses the Arene operating system, offering real-time navigation data and enhanced voice commands.

Arene also enables a new generation of Toyota Safety Sense, including front cross-traffic alert, enhanced blind-spot monitoring and an improved 3D panoramic-view parking aid.

The new RAV4 should arrive in UK showrooms in early 2026. Toyota will confirm prices and final specifications closer to the time.

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Electric Fiat 500 U-turn in switch to hybrid petrol power

By

John Redfern

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May 21, 2025

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The first examples of the new Fiat 500 Hybrid city car are being assembled, ahead of a full launch later this year.

Pre-production cars have been completed at the Mirafiori plant in Turin, marking an important step towards full-scale manufacturing.

Completed examples of the 500 Hybrid will begin leaving the factory in November 2025, with Fiat expecting to build 100,000 cars annually.

The return of hybrid power for the Fiat 500 represents a substantial change in direction. The third-generation 500 was originally launched with electric powertrains only.

A rethink on electrification

In September 2024, Fiat paused production of the 500e for a month, due to slow demand for its electric city car.

This followed over £3,000 being slashed from the price of the 500e last year. The high-performance Abarth 500e was reduced by more than £4,000.

Global sales of the electric 500e recorded a drop of 42 percent in 2024, versus the previous 12 months. In the United States, less than 500 examples of the Fiat EV were sold.

All of this has led to Fiat prioritising a modern replacement for the combustion-engined 500, which ceased production last year.

Fiat has not confirmed engine and battery details for the new 500 Hybrid, but images of the pre-production model show a manual gear lever poking from the dashboard.

“The 500 Hybrid offers affordable electrification and iconic style, proof that social relevance is at the core of the brand mission,” said Olivier Francois, CEO of Fiat.

“With the 500 Hybrid, we are strengthening production at Mirafiori to ensure the plant’s productivity and meet the demand. Our roots are in Italy and it’s no coincidence that the two most iconic Fiats are made here: the Panda in Pomigliano and the 500 in Mirafiori.”

More details on prices and specification will be announced closer to when the Fiat 500 Hybrid enters production later this year.

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The Fiat Panda 4×4 is back and ready for adventure

By

John Redfern

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May 21, 2025

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A hero car of the 1980s could be set to return, previewed by the new Fiat Grande Panda 4×4 concept seen here.

Announced as a ‘direct heir’ to the original Fiat Panda 4×4, first launched in 1983, the new Grande Panda promises to keep its ‘authentic and deeply popular soul’.

News of a production Grande Panda 4×4 isn’t forthcoming yet. However, Fiat has recently expanded the model range for its diminutive supermini.

Along with choice details revealed about the concept, it suggests the Fiat mountain goat will make a comeback in the near-future.

Electrified off-road action

The modern Grande Panda is currently available with the choice of two powertrains: turbocharged three-cylinder petrol or fully electric.

Fiat has not said what powers the front wheels of the 4×4 concept. It mentions ‘an electrified innovative rear axle’, though, to provide four-wheel drive.

This allows the Grande Panda 4×4 to ‘deliver impressive performance in urban settings and on more demanding terrain’, just like the original.

The spirit of the 1980s

The choice of a Dark Red livery is described as a tribute to a ‘popular limited-edition version of Panda 4×4’. It comes complete with beige exterior detailing and robust steel wheels.

Although not mentioned directly by Fiat, the special Panda in question is likely to be the Sisley model. Developed with clothing brand Sisley, the limited-production Panda came with metallic paint, an inclinometer, a bonnet scoop and a roof rack.

Initially limited to just 500 examples, the success of the 4×4 Sisley saw it made a permanent part of the Panda range in 1989.

Badged as a concept for now, the likelihood of Fiat recreating the Panda’s glory days with a new 4×4 seems almost a certainty.

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New special edition Peugeot 208 Style priced at £199 a month

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New special edition Peugeot 208 Style priced at £199 per month

By

John Redfern

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May 20, 2025

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Peugeot has released a special edition version of its popular 208 supermini, along with an attractive finance offer.

Added to the range alongside the existing Allure and GT trim levels, the 208 Style comes with bespoke design features and extra equipment.

The 208 Style also debuts in a national advertising campaign for the Peugeot hatchback, with the marque offering finance packages alongside it.

This could see a 208 on your driveway for less than £200 per month via one of Peugeot’s Personal Contract Hire (PCH) deals.

A 208 with more Style

The 208 Style will be offered solely with the 1.2-litre PureTech 100 petrol engine, which is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Unique to the new special edition is a black front grille – a contrast to the colour-coded item fitted to other models in the 208 lineup. Black wing mirrors and orange-tinted Style badges are also included.

Customers can choose from four different metallic paint colours: Agueda Yellow, Okenite White, Cumulus Grey or Nera Black. Steel wheels are fitted, seemingly to keep costs down, but with diamond-cut wheel trims.

On the inside, the 208 Style comes with ‘Rimini’ fabric upholstery, complete with orange stitching. A leather steering wheel is included, too.

Putting a price on style

Standard equipment for the Peugeot 208 Style includes air conditioning, automatic LED headlights, rear parking sensors and automatic windscreen wipers.

A 3.5-inch digital instrument panel is combined with a central touchscreen, with connected 3D navigation that offers TomTom Live traffic updates.

Prices for the Peugeot 208 Style start from £19,995. However, finance offers will likely be the more attractive option. Using Peugeot’s PCH deal, a £1,999 deposit will secure monthly payments of £199 across a 23-month period. Mileage is capped at 6,000 miles per annum.

The 208 Style can be ordered from Peugeot dealerships now, with the first examples expected to arrive later this month.

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Nissan creates free retro-inspired Formula E video game

By

John Redfern

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May 20, 2025

1

To coincide with the Japanese rounds of the Formula E electric racing series, Nissan has created a special video game.

Designed in collaboration with Japanese illustrator Kentaro Yoshida, Nismo Electric Racer Tokyo celebrates the Nissan team competing on home soil.

With a deliberate eight-bit retro arcade game design, players take control of a stylised Nissan Formula E car, racing through the streets of Japan’s capital city.

Intended to replicate the excitement of Formula E, players can reach virtual speeds of up to 200mph. Mount Fuji and cherry blossom trees are visible in the background.

Retro arcade gaming action

Available to play for free on a dedicated website, Nismo Electric Racer Tokyo was launched alongside a special promotional video.

Said to be inspired by video game adverts from the 1990s, the film sees appearances from Nissan Formula E drivers Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato.

Rowland and Nato both set their own high scores on Nismo Electric Racer Tokyo ahead of the actual E-Prix weekend. Players can therefore test themselves against genuine Formula E drivers.

The game’s illustrator, Kentaro Yoshida, originally from Japan, is known for his pastel-toned style, bold line-work and quirky characters. However, Nismo Electric Racer Tokyo is Yoshida’s first foray into the world of video game design.

A formula for success

Ahead of the Formula E Tokyo E-Prix, Tommaso Volpe, principal of Nissan’s Formula E Team, said: “This race is not only a major moment for us as a team, but also a chance to celebrate our Japanese heritage.

“With Nismo Electric Racer Tokyo, we’ve created something that captures the energy we bring to the track while celebrating Japan’s legendary gaming culture”

Practising on the game before the E-Prix seemingly helped Nissan driver Oliver Rowland, who subsequently claimed pole position on the grid.

In the race itself, Rowland finished in second place, extending his lead at the top of the drivers’ championship table.

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Car rental firm says EV demand up 139% in a year

By

Richard Aucock

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May 20, 2025

0

A Volkswagen car is parked outside a Europcar location. The storefront reflects surrounding trees in its glass doors and windows.

Car rental firm Europcar reports EV rental days rocketed from 228k in 2023 to more than 1.2 million days in 2024 – a 139 percent increase.

Europcar’s 44,000-strong UK fleet also now comprises 14 percent of cars that are either electric or plug-in hybrid.

Tailpipe emissions are also being reduced in rental vehicle delivery and collection, with the firm increasing the use of electric cars and e-bikes.

More than 1 million miles were driven by electric vehicles last year as part of its Deliver & Collect service – saving over 78,500kg in CO2 emissions.

Head of electric mobility Tom Middleditch said the firm is “committed to helping fleets reduce their environmental impact by enabling them to access a range of electric car and van options”.

2025 will see it continue to increase the proportion of electric and hybrid vehicles on its fleet – with further support to help business and leisure users “make the transition to low and ultimately zero tailpipe emission rental”.

In April, Europcar introduced price parity on electric car and van rental rates for business customers.

As of this year, the firm has also committed to ensuring EVs are at least 80 percent charged at the start of a rental – and only require 20 percent charge on return.

The aim is to “help overcome customer anxiety about charging an electric vehicle ahead of its return”.

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Toyota bZ Woodland brings EV power to the great outdoors

By

John Redfern

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May 16, 2025

0

Toyota has added a new electric SUV to its North American range with the launch of the bZ Woodland.

A relative of the Subaru Trailseeker EV that debuted at the 2025 New York Auto Show, the Toyota bZ Woodland is substantially larger than the updated bZ SUV model.

“With zero emissions and a powerful drive, the bZ Woodland is bringing outdoor-inspired style to our BEV lineup,” said Dave Christ, president of Toyota Group.

He added: “This latest entry in our bZ line embraces the spirit of adventure with surprising capability, rugged style, and an all-electric powertrain that’s backed by Toyota.”

Ready to hit the trail

The 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland is 5.5 inches longer than the regular bZ (previously known as the bZ4X), and just under one inch taller. Significantly, the extra length is all added to the bZ Woodland’s cargo area.

It now boasts more than 30 cubic feet of rear luggage space, along with roof rails designed to carry storage boxes or bicycle racks.

All-wheel drive comes as standard with the bZ Woodland, with a separate electric motor to power each axle. When combined, the two motors develop a total of 375 horsepower, and allow for towing trailers weighing up to 3,500 lb.

Toyota is serious about the bZ Woodland’s off-road ability. It boasts 8.3 inches of ground clearance and X-Mode Grip Control for its all-wheel drive system. All-terrain tires are available on the options list, too.

Fast charging as standard

Despite its Woodland name and station wagon styling, there is – sadly – no hint of wood grain vinyl exterior trim on the new Toyota SUV. Instead, the bZ Woodland comes with a choice of six exterior paint colors, complete with tough black plastic overfenders and 18-inch wheels with removable covers.

A North American Charging System (NACS) port, compatible with Level Three DC fast charging, is standard on the bZ Woodland. This allows the 74.7 kWh battery to be recharged from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes. When full, the battery allows for a potential range of up to 260 miles.

On the inside, the bZ Woodland matches the revised 2026 Toyota bZ, meaning its dashboard is dominated by a 14-inch central infotainment touchscreen. SofTex-trimmed seating, dual wireless Qi charging, and ambient lighting are all included.

Toyota has yet to confirm prices and complete specifications for the bZ Woodland. However, it should appear in dealership showrooms early in 2026.

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Almost half of women say car sales are aimed at men

By

John Redfern

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May 16, 2025

0

A comprehensive study by Citroen has discovered that most women feel the car-buying process is not geared towards them.

In a survey of more than 7,500 drivers in the UK, close to half (48 percent) of female respondents said car dealerships were focused on male customers.

Only one in four (25 percent) of the women surveyed by Citroen said they would feel comfortable asking for assistance when viewing vehicles in a showroom.

Notably, four times as many women as men said they would primarily seek out a female member of staff when buying a new car from a dealership.

Park the patronisation

A preference for seeking advice from female members of staff in a car showroom is likely to have been driven by past experiences, based upon Citroen’s research.

Some 44 percent of female survey respondents said they had felt patronised when asking for advice from male car showroom staff.

Younger female car buyers in particular say the process is not aimed at them, with 59 percent in the 17-24-year-old female category believing it is tailored to men.

This age group was also more likely to have felt patronised in a car showroom, with more than half (55 percent) noting this had happened to them.

Valuing all car customers

The Citroen survey also examined the importance of diversity and inclusivity on the websites of car brands.

More than three quarters (77 percent) of female drivers said website diversity was important, while 64 percent told Citroen it was important for customers to see people like them across consumer websites and featured in advertising.

Greg Taylor, managing director of Citroen UK, said: “Citroen values every one of its customers and is committed to making sure that everyone has a positive purchasing experience when visiting the brand, whether in-store or online. We strive to be accessible to all drivers who want to reach us.

“From our focus on accessible pricing and the simplification of our product range to ensuring our retailers can cater to the needs of all customers, we want to make sure everyone is comfortable when visiting a Citroen retailer.”

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Trump’s new EPA head declares war on start-stop vehicle tech

By

John Redfern

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May 15, 2025

0

Donald Trump’s newly appointed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator, Lee Zeldin, wants to “fix” start-stop technology in new vehicles.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Zeldin declared that “everyone hates” start-stop systems, and suggested the technology exists solely so that “companies get a climate participation trophy”.

Zeldin has not given details of how he plans to tackle start-stop technology in the United States.

However, the systems have become more prevalent in recent years, automatically turning off the engine of gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles to help save fuel when the car or truck is stationary.

Credits for eco technology

With his role as the head of the EPA, Zeldin has oversight of the ‘Off-Cycle Credits’ program, given to automotive manufacturers for using certain technologies.

This scheme has encouraged auto makers to fit stop-start systems, along with LED lights, solar panels and active aerodynamics such as grille shutters. The credits given reflect the eco benefits of these technologies, which are not captured in the EPA’s fuel economy testing.

This means that while the EPA has not mandated car manufacturers to make use of stop-start technology, it has rewarded and encouraged them to do so.

As a result, almost two-thirds (65 percent) of new cars sold in the United States came with stop-start systems in 2023, compared with just nine percent in 2016.

Four days of idling each year

Previous research published by Chevrolet found the average American driver spends 16 minutes each day idling in traffic, or 5,840 minutes each year. This is equivalent to more than four whole days of being behind the wheel and going nowhere.

According to the EPA’s own analysis, the introduction of stop-start systems is said to have eliminated close to 10 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year in the United States.

Even if Zelin directs the EPA to remove credits for stop-start technology, this is unlikely to see the systems disappear overnight in the U.S. market.

Emissions testing in other regions, such as the European Union, has made the use of automatic start-stop systems attractive to automotive manufacturers. Given how the same vehicles are often sold across multiple regions, cars are likely to keep turning themselves off “at every red light” for some time to come.

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Scooping up attention

Up to 253 miles on a charge

Building an electric future

Plugged in for all

Going the distance

WRC-inspired design

A rethink on electrification

The return of ‘social relevance‘

Electrified off-road action

The spirit of the 1980s

A 208 with more Style

Putting a price on style

Retro arcade gaming action

A formula for success

Ready to hit the trail

Fast charging as standard

Park the patronisation

Valuing all car customers

Credits for eco technology

Four days of idling each year