
Rivian delivered on its promise of hands-free highway driving in its latest software update, available now for the 2025 Gen2 R1T and R1S models. The new feature, officially named Enhanced Highway Assist, allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel on over 135,000 miles of pre-mapped highways, with plans for further expansion in the coming year. This swift rollout… Read more…
Category: ArenaEV
European EV battery dream dashed as Northvolt files for bankruptcy

The push for Europe to become a key player in the EV battery market has suffered a major setback. Northvolt, a Swedish startup once hailed as a beacon of hope against Asian battery dominance, has filed for bankruptcy in its home country. Northvolt announced it could not secure the necessary funding to continue operating in Sweden. A court-appointed trustee will… Read more…
Renault Megane E-Tech gets a sporty makeover and smarter charging

Renault has given its Megane E-Tech electric car an upgrade, adding a new sporty version and improving its charging capabilities. Gone is the 40 kWh 130 hp EV40 version and the Megane E-Tech now comes in a single EV60 version and three trims: Techno, Esprit Alpine, and Iconic. The big news is the introduction of the Esprit Alpine, a trim… Read more…
Lexus refreshes RZ with more power, range, steer-by-wire and fake gear shifts

Lexus is refreshing its solo electric offering for the new model year. The 2025 RZ is bringing a blend of advanced technology and a touch of traditional driving feel. The updated RZ, while retaining its familiar look, introduces significant changes, most notably a steer-by-wire system and simulated gear shifts. The European market will see three trims: the RZ 350e, RZ… Read more…
Toyota unveils a fully electric C-HR+ with up to 338 hp

The new Toyota C-HR+ is here, but despite the name this is neither ICE nor hybrid vehicle, it’s a fully electric car. Toyota strongly emphasizes the fact that this is a new product since it decided to drop the “beyond Zero” or “bZ” branding. The company is trying to make its product naming scheme less confusing, but we aren’t fully… Read more…
Changan will aim to mass-produce solid-state batteries from 2027

Chinese state-owned Changan Automobile plans to put solid-state batteries in prototype cars by the end of 2025, early 2026. The aim is to validate solid-state vehicle batteries by the end of 2026 and begin mass production by 2027. Changan announced its commitment to accelerating the progress of new-gen battery technology during an investor conference. BYD and CATL are also planning… Read more…
Revamped Toyota bZ4X gets more power, range, and towing muscle

Toyota is giving its bZ4X electric SUV a major overhaul for the new model year. The updates address key concerns, including range, power, and towing capacity, making the bZ4X a far more compelling option for potential buyers. A major highlight of the refreshed bZ4X is the introduction of two new battery options. The base model now features a 57.7 kWh… Read more…
BMW iX3 spotted during extreme weather testing in South Africa

The new BMW iX3 is probably the most important electric SUV for the brand ever. It has big shoes to fill in – it signals the start of the company’s “Neue Klasse” era. This new vehicle, designed to compete with rivals like the Audi Q6 E-tron and Polestar 3, is currently undergoing its final testing in South Africa, suggesting an… Read more…
Mercedes promises electric van revolution with new V-Class acing Arctic tests

Mercedes-Benz is pushing forward into the electric vehicle market with its upcoming line of luxury electric vans, built on the new VAN.EA platform. These vehicles, designed for both personal and commercial use, are currently undergoing rigorous winter testing in Arjeplog, Sweden, to ensure they can handle the most extreme conditions. The VAN.EA platform is a modular system that allows Mercedes… Read more…
Cybertruck’s towing strength questioned after dramatic failure in test

Tesla Cybertruck, known for its controversial design, faces new scrutiny after a stress test revealed a potential weakness in its towing capabilities. An experiment showed the electric truck’s rear frame ripping apart under pressure, raising concerns about its ability to tow heavy loads. The test, conducted by YouTuber Zack Nelson, aimed to assess the Cybertruck’s tow hitch strength. Tesla claims… Read more…
2019 Hyundai Kona 64 kWh: Long-term owner review

This is a new series we’re very passionate about – talking to our readers about their EVs – what do you drive, how you’re liking it, what you love, what you don’t, and how has it been! Reviewing a new car is all well and good, but looking at a car long-term is just as important. Let’s move it over… Read more…
BMW announces the Superbrains computer system for its Neue Klasse models

BMW announced its new electronic system with four high-performance Superbrains computers that will power all upcoming vehicles on the Neue Klasse platform, regardless of the powertrain. BMW says the new system is more powerful and efficient, and will have a sense of continuity, meaning all vehicles running on the Superbrains system will receive updates and features from future platforms succeeding… Read more…
Kia now accepts EV4 orders in South Korea, starts at under €27,000

The Kia EV4 was fully unveiled just a couple of weeks ago and it comes in sedan and hatchback flavors. Now, the vehicle is officially launching in its first market – South Korea, where it starts just under KRW 43 million (€27,000). With incentives, Kia expects the entry-level trim to go for KRW 34 million (€21,200). That buys a 58.3… Read more…
Jaguar Type 00 takes to Parisian streets

Jaguar jumped into the deep end of the controversy pool with its latest creation. The company just revealed its Type 00 Concept in Paris in a striking new “French Ultramarine” blue color. This public appearance, complete with actor Barry Keoghan, generated a lot of excitement for the brand’s electric vision. At the same time, Jaguar’s leaders shared crucial details about… Read more…
Farasis unveils EV battery that charges as quick as fueling

Chinese company Farasis Energy has revealed new battery technology that promises to cut charging times dramatically. This development means drivers concerned about the time it takes to recharge their EVs will have one fewer thing to worry about. Farasis announced its new technology features both lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium ternary battery systems (NMC), each designed for ultra-fast charging.… Read more…
Nissan tests autonomous driving tech in urban Japan

Nissan is celebrating its latest advancements in self-driving technology, after putting a modified Serena minivan through its paces in the bustling Minato Mirai district, Japan. What sets this test apart is the complete absence of a human driver within the vehicle, marking the first time in Japan that a car has navigated such a complex urban environment completely autonomously. It… Read more…
Volkswagen finally promises buttons for the most important functions

Who knew touchscreens controlling everything in a car would be a horrible idea and lead to a lot of inattentive drivers? Oh, yeah, the entire car media and most owners of new cars. But not car makers, at least not for many, many years. Now we’re seeing somewhat of an awakening among them, and the latest to see the light… Read more…
Xiaomi SU7 Ultra first encounter

Xiaomi took the SU7 Ultra to the Mobile World Congress and displayed the beast of an EV for everyone to see. This is our first of hopefully many more encounters with the SU7 Ultra. The SU7 Ultra is the top-of-the-line variant of the SU7 and it’s drastically different, even in terms of body panels. The body is much more aerodynamic… Read more…
Volvo EX90 to get the ES90’s 800V architecture and Nvidia Orin platform

Volvo just announced the ES90 sedan, and it uses an 800V architecture, which enables faster DC charging than the EX90’s 400V one. But not for long. The company is planning on upgrading the EX90 with the 800V architecture to bring it on par with the ES90. This upgrade will come “in one of the model-year changes” in the future, according… Read more…
Tesla’s revamped Model Y sees strong early interest in China with 200,000 units ordered

It looks like Tesla’s new Model Y is getting some serious traction in China. According to local reports, the new model attracted 200,000 pre-orders since its January 10th debut. A portion of these orders are refundable, but the sheer volume suggests significant consumer interest in the updated electric SUV. These numbers are good news for Tesla’s investors waiting to see… Read more…

