Car news, 24 May ’24: Next-gen Nissan Leaf due in 2025, Hyundai could actually be building the N Vision 74 supercar, and more

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Thanks for joining us this Friday May 24th 2024. Notably in car news today: Nissan will continue to build its Leaf electric car in the UK, with the next version’s production due in March 2025, and Hyundai is rumoured yet again to be working on a hydrogen or electric supercar based off its N Vision 74 concept.

Browse this issue:

• Next-gen Nissan Leaf might less than a year away 
• Hyundai could still be building its N Vision 74…maybe 
• ANCAP gives five stars to Chery and GWM SUVs
• Reviewed: 2024 Skoda Octavia Sportline 

Next-gen Nissan Leaf to begin production in March 2025: report  

• Nissan is already underway in the development of the next generation Nissan Leaf, a model which will transform from a hatchback into a crossover, or SUV.

• According to reports by Autocar, Nissan is set to begin production of the next Leaf as soon as March 2025 at its Sunderland plant in the United Kingdom, where the Juke and Qashqai models are also built. 

• The next Leaf could look much more like Nissan’s Chill Out EV concept, but very likely to feature larger capacity and more efficient batteries. 

• The current-generation Nissan Leaf is still available in Australia, offered with either a 39kWh or 59kWh battery pack. Electric driving range is just 270km for the small battery, but extends to 385km for the larger pack. 

• An expensive outlay, slow charging limit and limited driving range when compared to key rivals were some of the drawbacks which Chasing Cars noted in a review of the current car last year. 

Hyundai could still build a production N Vision 74 in 2026 

• After rumours circulated last year surrounding Hyundai’s N Vision 74 production possibilities, another Korean outlet believes that the model will reach production by 2026. 

• According to Korean newspaper Hangkung, the N Vision 74 could become a reality, and could still use a hydrogen fuel cell electric system to produce as much as 577kW of power. 

• The news comes some time after Chasing Cars reported that the N Vision 74 could become much more than a concept halo car. 

• There were also several reports that indicated that a Pony Coupe revival could happen using electric Hyundai Group E-GMP underpinnings.  

• It was widely reported that Hyundai could draw on design inspiration from the original Pony model it sold from 1975 to 1990, but at this stage, a modern Pony might not be anything more than rumours.

Chinese SUVs, the GWM Tank 500 and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max, score five stars with ANCAP

• ANCAP has announced it has awarded five-star safety ratings for two of the newest Chinese SUVs to launch in Australia. 

• The GWM Tank 500 achieved the highest score to date for child occupant protection (93 percent), while its adult occupant protection score was 85 percent. For safety assist and vulnerable road user protection, the new GWM SUV scored 84 percent and 81 percent respectively. 

• Meanwhile, the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max scored 88 percent for adult protection, 87 percent for child occupant protection and 86 percent for safety assist systems. 

• You can read more about either of these cars at our full reviews for the GWM and Chery here. 

Skoda Octavia Sportline reviewed

• Chasing Cars editor Tom Baker’s review of the 2024 Skoda Octavia Sportline was published, including his thoughts on Chasing Cars’ 2022 Car of the Year.
  
• Baker found the Sportline grade of the Octavia to be great value for money, while its flexible turbocharged engine and available liftback or wagon body styles impressed.
  
• In terms of the not-so-good points, Baker noted the Octavia’s lack of transmission sharpness and the removal of optional adaptive dampers as things to improve on.
  
• Baker concluded his review by commending Skoda on the attractive driveaway price of the Octavia Sportline and the model’s ability to offer plenty of practicality and a generous boot for the outlay.
  

READ: Link to written review