All New KIA

What would Ferdinand Porsche’s sports car look like today? At Porsche they know the answer: it would be like the Porsche Vision 357 Concept. Or what is the same: a modern interpretation of the mythical Porsche 356 whose starting point is the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS. A tribute to the past and a celebration for such a special year for the brand.

In 2023, Porsche celebrates its 75th anniversary and the first celebration comes in the form of a car to honor what was the first model of the house: the Porsche 356. It was presented to the world in 1948 and was a success because it put the Germans on the motor world map. Many years later it is still a source of inspiration and in Stuttgart they have seen fit to honor the past by reinterpreting this vehicle in the modern era.

The result has been the Porsche Vision 357 Concept, a combination of the past, present and future. It sports two-tone tinted bodywork: Ice Gray Metallic for most of the surface and Grivola Gray Metallic to accent the front bumper. The details come from the hand of the stickers that adorn the hood, the doors or the front.

Winks at the Porsche 356

The first units of the Porsche 356 had a split windshield, which they have not reproduced on this occasion: what they have achieved is to give the Porsche Vision 357 an enveloping front window like the first German model, which is attached to the windows through discreet black A-pillars. Round headlights up front nod to the 356, as does the pattern on the rear grille with integrated third brake light.

Porsche has also added a remarkable dose of modern touches to the Porsche Vision 357. Both in the front and in the rear, the headlights are hidden behind some perforations made in the body, although it is on the side where a good part of the novelties are concentrated.

The integrated air intakes, located behind the side windows, and the sills they are made of the same natural fiber reinforced plastic (NFRP) as the Porsche Mission R. Handles are hidden in those windows, cameras replace traditional side mirrors, and 20-inch wheels are made of magnesium to save weight and provide more rigidity than stock.

A design exercise

The Porsche Vision 357 is also more powerful than the Porsche 356. As we said before, its starting point is the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS, so it is equipped with the same mechanical scheme: a 4.0-liter six-cylinder naturally aspirated engine, which develops 493 hp and has a maximum torque of 449 Nm. Porsche claims that it would be prepared to run on synthetic fuel.

We speak conditionally because in Stuttgart they have no intention of bringing the Porsche Vision 357 into production. Not surprisingly, it is only an exterior design: the reinterpretation does not reach the passenger compartment. It is part of an exhibition that reviews the 75 years of Porsche sports cars and will be on display at the Volkswagen Group Drive Forum… although we may see it at other international events throughout the year.

If we had to elaborate a classification with the brands of cars, and the products, which were the great winners of the past year, MG Motor should be present.

The last year served to verify that, Despite the rise in the prices of most cars, the wave of manufacturers of Chinese origin that is arriving in Europe still gives us hope. The hope that it will continue to be possible to find cars at acceptable prices – and we are no longer talking only about the lowest ranges, but also about premium cut products.

And also that among new car buyers there is a need to buy cheap cars. And that this need is managing to overcome the misgivings that, in another time, could be had to a newly arrived car brand. Especially if it was a brand that produces its cars in China.

The Spanish buyer is increasingly looking for cheap cars, and this is managing to overcome the misgivings that newcomer brands generated until recently, especially if their origin was China.

The star purchase of SUVs in 2023

We started the year with a price rise. Of the €12,950 it cost last year, the MG ZS has come to have a price of €13,990. Despite the increase, no other car is capable of offering so much at the moment. As we said, the MG ZS is a car the size of a SEAT Ateca, with a large 448-litre boot.

At its price it is not possible to buy any other vehicle of its characteristics. But neither will you find a car so equipped as standard. In fact, its standard equipment even exceeds that of the SEAT Ateca cheaper, starting at €24,540€10,550 more than the MG, and that to have all the equipment of the cheapest MG ZS requires us to choose a more expensive and equipped version.

As standard, the MG ZS has:

• 17″ alloy wheels
• rear parking sensors
• Full LED headlights
• 10.1″ color touch screen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

If we opt for the superior version, which already starts at €16,190, a 360º parking camera, digital instrumentation, heated front seats, six-way adjustable electric driver’s seat and imitation leather upholstery are added.

Why is it so cheap from the MG ZS?

We might be tempted to explain the price of the MG ZS, well below that of any other product available on the market, by the mere fact that it is made in China. And it is true that this is a factor that influences, and a lot. But, first, the mere fact of being made in China is not synonymous with an adjusted price, in fact there are many other products that are made in China (some Tesla, for example) and they are not necessarily cheap. Second, because to understand why an MG ZS can be so cheap, perhaps we should analyze why the rest of the cars are now so expensive.

The increase in the price of brands such as Dacia (the Cheaper Dacia Sandero already costs €13,040) has been closely related to the disappearance of the cheapest versions and also with the prioritization of production – due to the bottlenecks that have been caused in European factories – in the most expensive versions. Producing cheap cars, with gasoline engines without electrification, also has an increasing cost for car brands, since it penalizes their average emission reduction targets.

Hence, this type of car is disappearing or is becoming more expensive.

For MG Motor, by contrast, this is far from being a problem. And in fact it is one of the brands with the highest share of electrified vehicles sold. If we look at its new car sales in Europe last year (excluding the UK), of the 59,300 cars sold by MG, only 13,694 (23.09%) had a gasoline engine without any electrification technology, like the one in the MG. ZS cheaper. 14,190 (23.93%) of its sales were made by plug-in hybrids and 31,416 (52.98%) of them by electric batteries.

In fact, the MG ZS is also available for €23,480 (including Plan MOVES) in its electric version. And MG is selling in Europe almost as many electric ZS (12,963 units in 2022), as gasoline ZS (13,383). So MG is not feeling the toll that emissions are having on new cars and that will keep many new car prices going up for years to come.

To think of an alternative to SUVs is to think, on almost all occasions, of a family car, but what if we tell you that there is a third option and one that is even better with seven seats? Well, this is the case of the forgotten Renault Grand Scenic, a minivan that continues to swim against the current and that it does so with three fundamental arguments: a price of 29,145 euros, a trunk of 533 liters -with five seats- and a third row of seats.

No, it is not the most modern product from the diamond firm, but the Grand Scenic still has a lot to say and has quite a technological endowment. And if the price can be a problem, you should know that Renualt offers the possibility of paying the Scenic in installments of 281 euros.

This is the Renault Grand Scenic that you can take home for 29,145 euros

But before talking about numbers, we must clarify that to enjoy the Gallic minivan for less than 30,000 euros we must take advantage of a specific configuration. This is none other than the pairing of the TCe 140 CV manual engine with the techno finishthat is, the two access options, although not negligible for that.

This is demonstrated by standard equipment made up of 20-inch wheels, electrically folding mirrors, an 8.7-inch screen with connection to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone automatic climate control, LED headlights, and a side parking sensor, among others.

In terms of mechanics, the Grand Scenic boasts a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine developing 140 hp and 260 Nm of torque. Its management is carried out by means of a six-speed manual gearbox -although as an option you can opt for an EDC automatic-, and they allow a 0 to 100 in 10.9 seconds and a top speed of 191 km/h . The best of all? That the declared combined consumption is 6.5 liters per 100, not bad given the weight -1,604 kilos- and size of the car, although yes, it is a figure approved by the WLTP cycle.

However, What happens if we choose to finance the purchase? That Renault is going to require an entry of 5,597.90 euros, a figure that will give us access to 36 installments of 281 euros and a last one of 18,324.50 euros. To this we must add a TIN at 8.50%, an APR at 12% and payment protection that implies a disbursement of 783.87 euros.

This cluster of numbers causes the total price in installments to be 34,751.84 euros, a considerably high figure compared to the 29,145 euros that Renault asks us for a Grand Scenic of the same configuration but paid in cash. However, it is necessary to clarify that, surprising as it may seem in these times, the Scenic is not the only minivan on the market.

The Renault Scenic in What car do I buy?

And there are still alternatives to the Renault Scenic, few, but it is worth discovering them to find out if they are more worthwhile than our protagonist. We can do this through What car do I buy?the Diariomotor comparator where we will find the largest offer of new cars and secondhand From the market.

Thus, we discovered that we can get hold of a Volkswagen Touran for 38,290 euros, a less affordable price than the French one but which is present as an alternative in the market. The one that does have a considerably more competitive price despite being smaller is the Dacia Jogger, model that has seven seats and that can be ours for 16,939 euros.

Now, if the Renault Grand Scenic is our option but we do not have enough budget for a new one, neither in cash nor financed, we must know that there is a solution. We found this in the used marketwhere we can browse through countless configurations and save a few thousand euros on your purchase.

The controversy is served. Talking about radars these days is doing it from Toledo: the Castilian-La Mancha province grabs headlines due to the debate generated around this type of device. A video, broadcast through social networks, reveals that a private company has installed a mobile radar in a private car to carry out surveillance tasks: is it legal? We spoke with the DGT to obtain an answer.

Let’s go with the facts and head towards the N-Va, as it passes through Cazalegas (Toledo). This part of the road is the responsibility of the town council of that town, so traffic work is usually carried out by both the Civil Guard and the Local Police. As reported in NowCLMfrom time to time and with some frequency, local agents have carried out speed controls in this location with a radar approved and rented by the corresponding consistory.

This section has different speed limits: from the motorway and up to the bridge over the Alberche river, you have to drive at 80km/h and, furthermore, it is forbidden to overtake because it has always been a dangerous area. However, at the exit of the aforementioned bridge to Madrid, the maximum is 60 km/h.

This time, however, the vehicle on the shoulder was a private car equipped with a mobile radar: This is the first key to the controversy. A citizen observed him and, recording all his steps, asked him who he was and what he was doing. We already know the answer to the second question, the first one remained to be resolved: the individual claimed that he works for the Cazalegas City Council.

outsourced controls

The truth is that, as AhoraCLM also points out, the Cazalegas City Council would have decided to outsource the speed controls. A point that has confirmed The Voice of the Tagus: said media, citing sources from the local council, points out that it would be a radar operator “duly authorized, approved and legal”.

The device belongs to Vialine, the company in charge of providing this surveillance service to the Cazalegas City Council “through safe and effective procedures.” They capture the infractions and it is the consistory that is in charge of imposing the sanctions drivers who do not respect the speed limits. Therefore, they could hire a private company… although, as we are going to explain now, those in charge of handling the devices must be law enforcement officers.

And the person who ran it? Here comes the second key to the controversy. According to collect 20 minutesthe mayor of Cazalegas has issued a statement where denies that the driver works for the consistory: It also ensures that it has no contractual relationship with them.

So things, They are investigating whether it is someone linked “with a company that provides a municipal service or concession” or what relationship it has with traffic control services. On the other hand, they are studying the recording to specify the kilometer point and when they collect all the necessary information, within their powers, they will implement the necessary instructions to clarify what happened.

Legal radars, approved and managed by an agent

In Diariomotor, we have contacted the DGT to find out what is allowed and what is not in this story. In principle, the consistory can outsource speed controls through a private company, as long as certain requirements are met.

Which? The radars used in this work must be legal and be approved by the National Institute of Metrology. At the same time, they have to be regulated and calibrated by Ministerial Order ITC/3123/2010. If they do not meet all these conditions, the images that capture speeding will not be accepted as evidence of the offense and the fine may be cancelled.

There would be one last point, which is pointed out to us by the General Directorate of Traffic: radars have to be manipulated, always, by an agent of authority. Or what is the same: a member of the Civil Guard, the Local Police or any regional police force.

The year 2022 within racing video games was evidently marked for that arrival on our PlayStation 4 and PS5 of the latest installment of the Gran Turismo saga, undoubtedly one of the most special since GT7 coincided with the 25th anniversary of the title developed by Polyphony. The start of 2023 also lets us glimpse that this year there will be a benchmark release within the car racing game scene, although there will be many others that have surely gone under the radar for more than one.

Forza Motorsport, the rival of Gran Turismo:

Dakar Desert Rally, NFS Unbound or F1 Manager were some of the big stars in Sim Racing and the racing-themed video games that have animated the past 12 months, however, this year also promises to come loaded with news. The main reference will undoubtedly come from Microsoft and from Turn 10 Studio with the release of a new installment of the popular Forza Motorsport, which will arrive for both PC and Xbox and is expected, if the original date for which it was projected is respected, next spring.

It will be Forza’s opportunity to unbalance that duel that it has already had for years with Gran Turismo, in this case, taking advantage of the fact that its PlayStation rival has perhaps not met the expectations that had been set by unconditional fans of the saga, so that at Microsoft they see this option of going head-to-head against those of PolyPhony when we talk about titles that are highly oriented towards competition and less about exploring the open world available with the car as a connecting thread. Tomorrow, January 26, it is expected to know much more about the title in an event dedicated to it in its entirety.

Test Drive Unlimited, in search of the Solar Crown:

For those looking for this option, now that the fervor for the launch of Need For Speed ​​Unbound has passed, we find the return of ‘Test Drive Unlimited’, this case through its new title baptized with the name of the ‘Solar Crown’ and that will be developed by some old acquaintances in the world of virtual racing, Kylotonn Racing, more specifically for his work in recent years with the official games of the WRC. Despite the fact that postponements are never welcome (date in 2023 still to be specified), it seems clear that the players they have not viewed with bad eyes the decision to have delayed the development in order to achieve a good result in the return of a franchise that has been on hiatus for more than a decade.

More arcade court racing, luxury, supercars, a completely open map (this time it will be Hong Kong) and many details regarding the modeling of the vehicles. These have always been the main characteristics of the Test Drive Unlimited, which is why we have chosen to have the services of Alain Jarniou, who was already involved in TDU2. The bar is very high, not only because of the origins, but also because of the scarcity of this type of titles within the current offer.

Formula 1 and World Rally Championship, the great hope:

The year 2023 will also bring a good plethora of official titles. The Formula 1 World Championship will once again feature this year with both a sequel to the F1 manager developed by frontier (last year was a pleasant surprise), as for the usual F1 2023, this developed by Codemasters Racing. The debut of the new single-seater regulations left a bittersweet taste in its virtual counterpart, so it is expected that this year all the meat will be put on the grill with the aim of counteracting these negative opinions of F1 2022. Normally the launches have been early summer so F1 2023 should start it should also show up in late June early July.

Still without confirming its release dates and waiting for an officialization that the project finally goes ahead, we must take into account that 2023 should be the launch year of the official IndyCar Series titledeveloped in this case by Motorsport Games, the same people responsible for the games with official licenses from the NASCAR, of which a delivery is also expected in principle for this year, already restricted to PC and consoles of the new generation. Slid the option to have a official title of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, also created by the same developer and taking advantage of the centenary year, however, there has been no more information about it beyond all the controversy that has been generated recently with the dispute of the virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Also undated is what will mark the beginning of a new era for rally video games. 2022 was the last year that Kylotonn (WRC Generations was the end) had the rights to the WRC, so it will be already this year when Codemasters Racing is expected to make use of it over the next 11 months. There is no estimated arrival date, not even a teaser or something similar from this new WRC 2023 dand EA Sports / Codemasters, but it is known what the developer can do after seeing what is embodied in DiRT Rally and DiRT Rally 2.0. Fans of the discipline have been waiting for years for a title that is realistic and that allows them to calm the desire to compete in the World Cup stages with physics that is closer to simulation than to Arcade.

Motorcycles will also have their place:

As for the motorcycles, we will have the return of already veteran sagas such as the MotoGP official video gamethe second consecutive year with sbk (the World Superbike video game), both from Milestone and very consistent with respect to what was seen in previous years or the always enjoyable Monster Energy Supercross 6, a title focused on those exciting dirt and mud races so iconic in the world of North American motorsport and that took a great leap forward in terms of sensations in 2021.

To all of them is added a very niche game such as the official title of the TT Isle of Man – Ride on the Edge 3, a sequel that also already has a lot of experience and that this year has promised not only to stick to the scanned route that is usually part of the Tourist Trophy races, but that there will again be a free mode that will allow us to browse the entire island, as well as 31 additional places that will complete the offer of a section that does not always have too many alternatives. In this case, it is expected for the month of May and will be developed by Nacon’s studio in Milan, formerly known as RaceWard Studios.

In the most negative part of the matter, we find those titles that will not go beyond the project phase or that will be delayed. It is not expected that there will be a Project Cars 4 after the third installment had such poor acceptance and in principle, Asset Corsa 2 It will not arrive until 2024 at the earliest. Finally, we must not forget that it is also expected that during this year, looking in this case at the end of 2023, that the launch of Rennsportan evidently German title, developed by Competition Company only for PC and that will seek to attract all that public of iRacing, RaceRoom or rFactor 2 that focuses more on simulation and online racing. wreckreationthe natural heir to the Burnout saga (with permission from Danger Zone and Dangerous Driving), may be the answer for those who are already looking for an alternative to wreckfest.

Every several months, the discussion about whether or not to introduce a general speed limit on German motorways is revived. These days, the issue is once again part of the update because Volker Wissing, the German Minister of Transport, has ruled on the issue reiterating that, from his point of view, this measure is unnecessary. A position that he supports with two arguments… and one of them is electric cars.

When Olaf Scholtz and the SDP won the Bundestag elections, the famous Autobahns were on the tightrope. One of the points on their program was climate action and, among the measures they presented, there were maximum limits for German highways where there is no limit: “We will introduce speed limits of 130 km/h on the Autobahn, a measure that will protect the environment and significantly reduce the number of accidents”.

The proposal did not go further and the configuration of the German highways remains the same: there are 18,150 kilometers that do not have speed limits, although it is recommended to drive at 130 km/h. This is the maximum established in the remaining 7,640 kilometers that account for 30% of the Autobahn network. This will continue to be the case according to the declarations of the German Transport Minister.

Electric cars and the price of fuel

In an interview with Bild am Sonntag, Volker Wissing has stated that there is no need to impose a general mandatory speed limit. As we said before, he has given two arguments: the first one is the rise of electric vehicles. The manager believes that the owners of this type of car will not drive at high speeds because the battery will run out in less time than if they opted for a slower and more constant pace: “People won’t drive as fast because they want to save energy”. Concern for autonomy is the key.

On the other hand, the Minister of Transport considers a speed limit unnecessary because Rising fuel prices are already enough of a stimulus to discourage drivers from going as fast as possible: “The high numbers are already causing many people to drive slower.”

driver’s liability

Finally, Volker Wissing believes that maintaining an adequate speed on the Autobahn should continue to be a commitment of the users and not of the leaders: “It is a personal responsibility of the users, as long as you don’t endanger others. The state should stop here.”

As it is, the 130 km/h limit on much of the German motorway network will remain, for now, a recommended speed. However, the German Institute for Economics located in Cologne studied some 1.2 billion journeys carried out on 1,762 unlimited roads located in North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populated region of the country. His conclusion is that 77% of drivers travel at less than 130 km/h on the Autobahn… so a hypothetical change in the regulations would not modify the current scenario excessively.

To date, thinking about buying an electric sedan meant facing outlays only suitable for a few pockets, and this is made clear by models such as the Porsche Taycan, the Mercedes-Benz EQE or the Tesla Model S. However, the people of Hyundai has wanted to break the rules of the game with the new Hyundai Ioniq 6, a 100% electric sedan with a coupé cut that, without being cheap, can end up in your garage for a more affordable 40,210 euros hand in hand with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and an eight-year battery warranty.

Logically we are talking about a product that is positioned in a lower segment compared to the other cars already mentioned. We see this reflected not only in size, but also in benefits but, Is the Ioniq 6 therefore a purchase that we should discard? Let’s find out.

The new Hyundai Ioniq 6 already has a price in Spain, and it can be yours for just over 40,000 euros

The first thing we find is a design that, whether we like it more or less, makes the Hyundai Ioniq 6 a different car. It achieves this not only by joining the less and less -unfortunately- frequent segment of sedans, but also by offering fine and elegant lines that are praised thanks to that coupé design. which it acquires thanks to the pronounced drop of the C-pillar.

All of this is complemented by LED lights that add a retro touch to the whole, as well as a minimalist cabin equipped with the latest technology. However, all these points pass, almost entirely, to a secondary level in an electric car, in which performance prevails. and above all autonomy.

These are data that in the case of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 vary depending on the mechanical version that we choose. Specifically there are three: two rear-wheel drive and one all-wheel drive. The most modest of all reaches the Spanish market with a price of 40,210 euros and the help of the MOVES III Plan already applied, offering us 151 CV and 350 Nm of torque, figures that allow a 0 to 100 in 8.8 seconds and a top speed. of 185 km/h, figures that are complemented by a range of 429 kilometers under the WLTP cycle.

The next level is found starring a Hyundai Ioniq 6 also propulsion, although with improvements in performance by resorting to a 77 kWh battery instead of the 53 kWh of the access model. All this derives in a total power of 228 CV and 350 Nm of torque, figures that allow a 0 to 100 in 7.4 seconds and a maximum speed of also 185 km/h. Autonomy increases to 614 kilometers, but also its price, forcing us to the Korean firm to disburse 55,600 euros for this version of the Ioniq 6.

Finally, and in the absence of a hypothetical N version of the electric sedan, we find the Hyundai Ioniq 6 all-wheel drive. In this one, it shows off the same 77 kWh battery, only now with the task of feeding two motors distributed between both axes. Thus, the Ioniq 6 is capable of developing 325 hp and 605 Nm of torque, numbers that make it catapult to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds. Of course, autonomy decreases to 519 kilometers and the price increases to 63,950 euros.

In turn, these mechanical variants they can be paired with different finishes. With the access variant of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 we can access the Light equipment level, which includes standard elements such as 18-inch wheels, front and rear LED lights, heated front seats, automatic bi-zone climate control and two 12.3 screens. inches among others.

The intermediate version of the Hyundai saloon offered with the Star finishwhich adds to the aforementioned LED matrix headlights, Head-Up Display, front seats with electrical adjustments, heated steering wheel and HDA type 2 active road driving system. Finally, the top-of-the-range Ioniq 6, which must be combined with the Energy finish and that includes larger 20-inch wheels, a panoramic roof, synthetic leather seats with a relaxing position and digital exterior mirrors through cameras, among others.

What are the rivals of the Hyundai Ioniq 6?

With the arguments of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 on the table to discover if it is really worth it or not in the absence of trying it, too it is necessary to mention its main rivals. And it is that these will also be in charge of determining if we are really facing a logical purchase or, on the contrary, it is better to opt for one of its competitors.

for now, the market offers us three palpable alternatives to our protagonist, the Tesla Model 3, the Volkswagen ID.7 and the Polestar 2. The offspring of Elon Musk is available in Spain from 39,200 euros with all the aid of the MOVES III Plan applied in its 325 CV variant; At the moment, those from Wolfsburg have not talked about prices for the ID.7, but we can expect that it will move around 45,000 euros; and the Swede, for his part, settles in our country with a price of 46,900 euros.