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Lexus will go after the BMW i5 and Audi A6 E-tron with a bold new generation of the ES saloon, to be revealed at the Shanghai motor show next week.

Expected to gain the option of electric power for the first time, the new Lexus ES is described as a "global flagship model", confirming that it will be sold internationally but raising questions about the future of the larger LS saloon, which has been Lexus's flagship since it launched in 1989.

Lexus dropped the LS from its line-up earlier this year due to slow sales, having delivered just three examples here last year, leaving the ES as its only saloon offering in the market.

The more fleet-focused ES has historically fared better in the UK, notching up almost 2000 sales in the UK in 2023 - but remains a niche player in comparison to the likes of the similarly positioned BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6.

Lexus hasn't confirmed whether or not it will bring the new, eighth-generation ES to the UK, but the addition of electric power will strengthen its appeal with fleet buyers and could play an important role in contributing to Lexus parent company Toyota's EV sales mix. 

Lexus hasn't yet released any details of the new car's specifications ahead of the unveiling on 23 April but has trademarked the names ES 350e and ES 500e, hinting at the potential for a pair of EV options - as with the Lexus RZ crossover.

The RZ 350e is equipped with a single motor on the front axle producing 221bhp and a 77kWh battery giving an official range of 357 miles. The lower, sleeker ES would be likely to improve upon this if equipped with the same hardware. 

The RZ 500e meanwhile has a dual-motor powertrain with 376bhp and a 77kWh battery giving a range of 311 miles.

Lexus has also trademarked the ES 350h name, suggesting the new saloon will maintain a hybrid option - likely the petrol-electric set-up from the NX 350h SUV, which produces a combined 241bhp and enables low-speed engine-off driving for an official 45mpg.

An official preview image shows that the next ES will retain a low-slung and rakish-roofed silhouette, with obvious efforts at improving aerodynamic efficiency in pursuit of range. 

The ES's Shanghai debut is reflective of the model's importance in China, where saloons continue to be far more popular than in Europe. According to Bestsellingcarsblog.com, it has been the number one car imported into China since 2017. 

Overall, Lexus imports into China grew by 4.1% last year, bucking a wider downward trend.

The new Genesis X Gran Equator concept showcases the brand's intention to tap the lucrative luxury 4x4 market with a rival to the Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser. 

Revealed at the New York Auto Show as an electric concept car, the vehicle has been designed to accommodate both combustion and range-extender powertrains. Although it is strictly a concept at this stage, Genesis design boss Luc Donckerwolke hinted that the car would enter production and suggested it would take three years to develop a road-ready version, indicating at a possible arrival in 2028 or 2029.

Notably more slab-sided than existing Genesis models, the silhouette of the X Gran Equator almost recalls the sizeable American station wagons of the 1970s and 1980s, with a long bonnet, a low shoulder line and a rakish rear window.

Indeed, Genesis said the concept “defies traditional SUV conventions”, more closely resembling high-riding estates such as the Audi A6 Allroad, Volvo V90 Cross Country and classic AMC Eagle.

Nonetheless, it's intended to be a fully fledged off-roader and is fitted with a set of 24in beadlock wheels (so called because the beaded edge of the tyre is clamped to the wheel with a series of bolts) shod with chunky all-terrain tyres.

Donckerwolke said the decision to eschew many of the traditional luxury off-roader design cues was to ensure that the X Gran Equator offered a fresh, modern design.

"We would not do a [Mercedes] G-Wagen, because that is clearly a vehicle that is anchored in the tradition for Mercedes," said Donckerwolke. "We would do something like an old version of a Range Rover, old version of a Jeep, but obviously transporting all our brand DNA and the values of luxury and hospitality into the car. It's a mix of off-road capability, off-road performance and luxury.

"We don't have the design DNA of a Jeep or Range Rover. It's a different brand, so this car has the design DNA of a Genesis. I don't care what the other brands do: I do it my way."

Donckerwolke added that the pared-back design of the X Gran Equator was a deliberate contrast to other cars on the market: "We are living in a time where design is over-saturated. In every car, you have design elements where you can make three cars out of one, because there are an overkill of design elements. We don't need that. Everybody is free to have their own identity, but at Genesis, we are living in purity. We are reducing. We are about what we call the beauty of the empty space, the white sheet of paper. We really care a lot about the proportions.

"This car has such incredible proportions that you don't need to put a lot of make-up on it. If you have a pig, you need to put a lot of make-up. We are working to make sure that we don't have a pig from the start."

Inside, the dashboard does away with the large screens typical of modern cars. Instead, there are physical switches for important functions such as the drive mode and small gauge-style displays showing the sat-nav, wheel travel and an inclinometer. The car’s speed, remaining range and time are shown on a pod of three smaller dials in front of the driver. This design is said to focus the driver’s attention on the road ahead, rather than any interior accoutrements.

Chunky grab handles are mounted to the centre console – echoing a similar feature in the Defender – and the same motif is mirrored for the rear passengers.

The tailgate is split horizontally at the bootlid, opening in two segments, and the concept is fitted with a set of roof rails. 

The X Gran Equator concept is built on what Donckerwolke called a platform "similar" to that of the Kia EV9, but he confirmed a production version would be likely to accommodate a range of powertrains. Listing electric, hybrid and range-extender powertrains, he said that "now obviously we have to look at the business case and the differentiation" between powertrains and other models. However, while the Hyundai Motor Group continues to develop hydrogen technology, Donckerwolke ruled it out for the X Gran Equator.

A range-extender model could prove crucial in helping any production version to win over buyers in the Middle East and parts of the US, where there is plenty of demand for premium off-roaders but still a limited market for EVs. It's a similar move to Volkswagen's revived Scout brand, which will launch with off-road pick-up and SUVs offered with range-extender drivetrains,

The radical concept is the latest in a series of experimental models from the Korean brand, all hinting at a push much further upmarket than Genesis's current positioning as a value-focused BMW and Mercedes-Benz rival.

The first model to be launched under Audi's Chinese-market sub-brand, AUDI, will be called the E5 Sportback.

The name represents the car's postioning as a battery-electric car (E) in the mid-size segment (5), Audi said, suggesting it may be bookended by an E3 and an E7 in the future. 

Evolved from the bold AUDI E concept shown last year, the new model will be unwrapped at the Shanghai motor show on 25 April as the first of a line of bespoke EVs designed for younger buyers in China.

While similar in size and proportion to the new Audi A5 that was recently launched in Europe, the first AUDI model will be based on a new 800V architecture developed in partnership with joint venture partner SAIC (which owns MG) and completely unrelated to the other models in Audi's global line-up.

Audi bosses suggest the design will be little changed from 2024's show car and production models for the AUDI brand will indeed forego the German marque's historic four-ring logo in a bid to mark them out as differently positioned products. 

The AUDI brand is described as having been developed "in China for China" and will play an important role in catering to explosive demand for EVs in the world's biggest car market - which is currently far outpacing most other regions in which Audi operates.

There are no plans to sell AUDI cars outside China.

Planned to go into production later this year, the E is the first of three new AUDI models, the others being a saloon and an SUV set for introduction in China in 2026 and 2027 atop the same architecture.

The expansion of the joint operations of Audi and SAIC aims to harness the former’s reputation for design and engineering with the latter’s speed-to-market capabilities and local expertise.

Significantly, the first AUDI model was developed in just 18 months - less than half the time of traditional Audi models.

Audi CEO Gernot Döllner previously emphasised that the Audi-SAIC partnership provides a foundation for a “new generation of advanced, intelligent vehicles, which will be exclusive to China”.

"The joint platform allows us to address a promising yet demanding segment with state-of-the-art connected vehicles," he said.

At 4870mm long, with a 2950mm wheelbase, 1990mm wide and 1460mm tall, the E is claimed to offer a roomier interior than the similarly sized A5. 

The styling of the E combines flamboyant LED light designs with clean and largely unadorned surfacing, to provide it with a more monolithic appearance than more recent models from the main Audi brand.

Based on the new Advanced Digitalised Platform developed by Audi and SAIC, it features an 800V electrical architecture and a dual-motor drivetrain that delivers a combined 754bhp and up to 590lb ft of torque.

With Quattro four-wheel drive and torque vectoring capability, AUDI claims a 0-62mph time of 3.6sec.

A 100kWh battery also provides the E with a range of more than 435 miles under China’s under CLTC test standards.

Details of the charging rate are yet to be revealed, but the E is claimed to offer a 300km (186-mile) replenishment of energy stores in 10 minutes on a high-powered DC charger.

Other features being touted for the upcoming production version of the E are four-wheel steering and air suspension.

Subaru has given its Solterra electric SUV a wide-reaching update that introduces a new look, extra range and more performance.

Arriving in the UK in early 2026, the facelifted EV had its covers pulled off at the New York motor show, where the Japanese firm also revealed the new Outback-sized Trailseeker electric SUV.

The new Solterra is visually a big depart from the car it replaces, with a new front panel and new headlights.

It follows its Toyota bZ4X and Lexus RZ siblings in being updated with a fresh look as it vies to compete with new rivals in the busy electric family SUV segment.

In that pursuit, the Solterra's underpinnings have been significantly upgraded. Key to that is a new 74.4kWh lithium ion battery, replacing a 71.4kWh unit. 

This boosts range to “more than” 285 miles on the US's EPA test scale, says Subaru, which it claims is 25% more than offered by the outgoing model.

While WLTP figures have yet to be confirmed, this means the SUV could offer as much as 356 miles - mirroring the improvements made to its also updated Toyota and Lexus siblings.

Subaru claims the new Solterra is better equipped for colder climates (a key criticism of the previous car), thanks to improvements made to the motors and the battery.

What’s more, a new battery pre-conditioning system will allow for faster charging speeds in all temperatures. It can now charge at speeds of up to 150kW, allowing for 10-80% fill-ups in less than 35 minutes.

The Solterra’s four-wheel-drive powertrain now makes 230bhp, up 15bhp, in standard form. A new XT trim - as of yet unconfirmed for the UK – boosts this even further to 333bhp, giving a 0-60mph time of less than 5.0sec.

Both motors can now work better independently, and the power controller has been improved. In all, these updates improve driving performance on and off road and in different weather conditions, says Subaru.

Pricing has yet to be revealed, but the Solterra currently starts at £52,505 in the UK.

Hot hatches are the Goldilocks performance cars – they're fast, mischievously good fun, whole-heartedly practical and some are even quite affordable. What is not to like?

The best hot hatches come from a recipe that has been around for decades: take an otherwise ordinary hatchback, up the performance and upgrade its powertrain and chassis technologies. 

Some car makers even hand them over to their own in-house performance sub-brands to work their magic. Think Mercedes-AMG, Hyundai N, Toyota's Gazoo Racing and Ford Performance.

Hot hatchbacks are equally capable of zipping through city streets or tackling winding roads, offering exhilarating driving experiences without sacrificing everyday usability. 

You should make the most of them while you still can. Increasingly strict emissions regulations mean hot hatches are no longer the overtly affordable performance machines they once were. 

Although internal combustion still rules the roost, there’s a definite sense that these petrol-engined machines are the last of the breed. Two cars on our list are actually electric. 

But which should you choose? We think the Toyota GR Yaris is the best hot hatch money can buy today, offering stunning cross-country pace, engaging handling and compact proportions. 

Read on for our full top ten list of the best hot hatches on sale today. Whether you're after speed, style, or versatility, these cars have it all.