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Hyundai Unveils Bold Ioniq 3 Electric Hatchback Concept Set to Redefine Urban Driving
Striking new Concept Three will star at Munich next week, before evolving into a Cupra Born rival
Hyundai has previewed the design of the striking electric hatchback concept it will reveal at next week's Munich motor show.
It has also revealed a name for the show car: Concept Three - which all but confirms the eventual production car will be called the Ioniq 3, and closely related to the Kia EV3 - as Ioniq 9 is to EV9.
The design sketch suggests Hyundai's hatchback will be more closely related to the rakish Ioniq 6 saloon in its styling, than the 1980s-inspired Ioniq 5 crossover or the monolithic Ioniq 9 SUV.
In profile, it resembles a race-inspired two-door sports coupé - with its stand-out features including a chunky ducktail rear wing and diffuser, aggressive front splitter, narrow wraparound lights, swollen haunches and a compact, visor-shaped glasshouse that's heavily raked - presumably in the name of aerodynamic efficiency.
As well as previewing an eventual Cupra Born rival, the Hyundai Concept Three will also serve as a showcase for the firm's new 'Art of Steel' design language, which is said to be "inspired by the way steel bends and flows, the body features sculpted surfaces, clean intersections and distinctive character lines that emphasise both motion and precision".
Hyundai confirmed the production version of the Ioniq 3 will go on sale in the third quarter of 2026, so deliveries could begin as soon as next July.
The car will be based on the same scalable E-GMP platform that is used by nearly all EVs in the Hyundai Motor Group, which comprises Hyundai, Kia and Genesis.
It's therefore likely to get a similar set-up to the similarly sized Kia EV3, which is offered with either a 58.3kWh or an 81.4kWh battery pack for ranges of 267 and 372 miles respectively. All versions of the EV3 are powered by a single electric motor that sends 201bhp and 209lb ft to the front wheels.
Inside, the new electric car will bring a “step change” in usability for Hyundai. This includes a new infotainment system that, Autocar has been told, will enable elements such as ambient lighting and noise to alter according to driving modes or chosen style.
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2026 Kia Stonic Unveiled with Striking Redesign and Upgraded Tech for the Modern Driver
Bold new look for Ford Puma rival, which gets an upmarket interior but keeps ICE power and a manual option
The Kia Stonic has received a major update, bringing new exterior and interior styling and a choice of pure-petrol and mild-hybrid powertrains.
The Ford Puma and Nissan Juke rival has been revealed in Korean specification, with details of the European-spec model set to follow at a later date.
The Stonic was launched in 2017, and this is effectively a second heavy facelift for the compact crossover. Updates for the European version are likely being made to ensure it will comply with forthcoming EU7 emissions regulations.
The Stonic has received a makeover to bring it in line with Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ design, with a front end design bringing it closer to the EV3 and other new models.
The dimensions remain largely unchanged: the updated car is 4165mm long and 1760mm wide, with a 352-litre boot.
The two powertrain options that will be offered in Korea both use the 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine that features in the outgoing Stonic.
In standard form, it offers 99bhp and 127lb ft of torque, giving a 0-62mph time of 11.0sec and official CO2 emissions of 125-133g/km, depending on specification.
The electrically boosted mild hybrid offers and 113bhp and 127lb ft, trimming the 0-62mph time to 10.7sec and CO2 emissions to 120-129g/km.
Both powertrains are offered with a choice of a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearbox.
UK specifications and figures are yet to be confirmed. The outgoing Stonic is available here with two versions of the 1.0 T-GDi engine, with varying forms of electrical assistance, both of which offer 98bhp.
Depending on trim level, 16in and 17in wheels are offered, both of which feature new alloy designs post-update.
Inside, the design changes also bring the Stonic closer in line with other Kia models, including a dashboard featuring twin 12.3in touchscreens and the multimode touch controls that can be toggled between heating and infotainment functions.
The Stonic also now offers a range of new connected functions, including a digital key option, and ADAS including blindspot monitoring, forward collision avoidance and smart cruise control.
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New awards will celebrate rising automotive talent from under-represented backgrounds
It's time to submit your nominations for the Autocar Drivers of Change: New Talent awards - ahead of entries closing on 10 September.
Held in association with the SMMT, the second running of the Drivers of Change awards will celebrate individuals who are either apprentices or in the first two years of their career, and the company that's doing the most to support them.
The goal of Drivers of Change is to celebrate the automotive industry as a place where you can have a thriving career irrespective of your background and to promote the industry as a great place to work for those from all different backgrounds.
For the New Talent edition, that can be as simple as having started and made an impact in a first role in the industry. We will name the stand-out stars, and the company that is doing the most to support new talent, in a ceremony at Stellantis's UK headquarters in Coventry on 13 November.
We encourage you to spread the word and consider nominating anyone from your wider organisation – no matter which sector of the automotive industry – who meets these broad criteria and has a compelling story to tell.
Entries are now open - submit your nomination here.
There will be no specific categories in which to enter and anyone named on our list can call themselves an Autocar Driver of Change. Earlier this year, 40 individuals were named in the inaugural Autocar Drivers of Change for their work mainly in DEI initiatives, in a ceremony at the SMMT headquarters in February.
This forms part of a refreshed calendar of events at Autocar. Each spring we will continue to host Autocar Great Women, which every other year will celebrate Rising Stars. Drivers of Change will follow a similar cadence in this new autumn slot, where it will remain in future years.
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Volkswagen Amarok Redefines the Pickup with Bold Design and SUV Comfort
Volkswagen has pumped up the Amarok for its second outing: it's larger, more capable and plusher. But is it better? The classy-looking, lifestyle-injected Volkswagen Amarok is far more than a run-of-the-mill pick-up truck. Larger than the car it replaces, built on entirely different mechanicals, and with a broader range of engines and trims, the Amarok is bidding to steal some of the market share away from leading competitors like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux. That’s an almighty challenge considering the Ranger continues to top both UK and European sales charts, and the new plug-in hybrid variant will only help its cause further following the changes to benefit-in-kind rules earlier this year. The Amarok won’t inherit the plug-in hybrid powertrain, inherit being the keyword here, reader, because the Amarok is in fact a closer relation to the Ranger than its big VW badge suggests.In the age of unexpected automotive industrial partnerships, it will come as little surprise that the Amarok borrows the lion’s share of its underpinnings from the Ranger, a result of a commercial vehicle tie up between the two car giants. But is the Amarok still a Volkswagen at heart, and does it offer enough car-like character to win over large SUV and commercial vehicle buyers alike?The Volkswagen Amarok range at a glanceEntry-level Life trim opens the Amarok range and comes fitted with 17in wheels, LED headlights, a reversing camera and 10.1in infotainment screen. Power comes from either a 168bhp or 202bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine, the latter available with a 10-speed automatic gearbox. For just shy of £11,000, you can have the Amarok Style, which adds larger 18in wheels, a 12.0in central screen, 360 degree reversing camera and chrome exterior elements. This comes as standard with the 202bhp four, but can also be had with a 237bhp 3.0-litre V6.Panamericana trim is pitched as a more off-road biased specification, as showcased by its locking differential, additional front underbody protection and comfort suspension. It gets 18in Amadora alloys and a Harman Kardon sound system, plus brown leather accents inside. The Panamericana, as well as the range-topping Aventura are powered exclusively by the 3.0-litre V6 engine. Opt for Aventura and you get 21in diamond cut alloys, Savona leather interior and chrome-plated exterior elements. The Amarok is only available in double-cab form. 
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Land Rover Hit by IT Glitch Halting New Car Registrations on Key UK Plate...
No new Land Rover models registered in UK today as firm races to solve system fault
JLR is grappling with a global IT issue which has left it unable to register new cars.
Autocar was first made aware of a 'cyber incident' at the firm earlier today, understood to be related to the system it uses to register new cars, but the precise impact has yet to be confirmed.
Autocar spoke to a JLR dealer who confirmed the issue and said the branch had registered no new cars today - 1 September being 'new plate' day in the UK when the new '75' number plates are offered, and traditionally one of the year's busiest for new car registrations.
The dealer was unable to give any more details on the nature of the fault, and said there had been no word on when to expect a fix. The branch remained open.
In a statement sent to Autocar, a JLR spokesperson said: "We are working at pace to resolve global IT issues impacting our business. We will provide an update as appropriate in due course."
The company's public-facing website appears to be fully operational, including the configurator.
Further updates to follow.