Maserati focus on Grecale: the new range expands to meet every customer’s desires

Images are for editorial use only. Modena, 17 April 2025 – Maserati Grecale is the leading name in the commercial proposal of the Trident brand, which has decided to broaden the range of its “Everyday Exceptional” SUV with updates to the engines, interiors and bodywork, to meet all customer needs. Passion, innovation, and versatility are the ingredients in the Grecale, which together with the GranTurismo, GranCabrio, MC20, MC20 Cielo and GT2 Stradale, stands as the epitome of Italian luxury “the Maserati way”, expressing the Brand’s DNA devoted to the spirit of grand touring, with the ability to combine performance and elegance in a unique, refined and unparalleled driving experience. With the update of the Grecale MY25 range, the commercial offering is even broader, as are the dedicated specifications: the launch of the new “Grecale” version, to add to the Modena and Trofeo variants, as well as to the Folgore, with an 100% electric powertrain. Santo Ficili, Maserati CEO, stated: “ Grecale is a model of fundamental importance for our Brand and for the entire Maserati range. With the SUV, we wanted to expand our commercial offering to meet the needs and desires of our customers, by providing a variety of options that combine performance, elegance and innovation. This approach reflects our dedication to the consumer to meet and exceed their expectations, ensuring that each of our models epitomises the excellence of Italian luxury: our network is ready to ensure the very best selection, purchasing and assistance experience”. New Maserati Grecale line-upThe new “Grecale” version is exceptional in everyday life thanks to the 300-CV 4-cylinder mild hybrid engine1 and the numerous luxury details in terms of both aesthetics and comfort, including 20” diamond-cut wheel rims, premium leather interior and 12-way heated comfort seats.Conversely, the Modena version – equipped with a 330-CV (325 hp) 4-cylinder mild hybrid – stands out for its sporty aesthetic orientation, including 21” Diamond wheels, Matrix headlights, limited-slip differential and adaptive suspension. In the meantime, the Trofeo version continues as the most extreme performance-oriented variant, with a 530-CV (525 hp) V6 Nettuno engine. Finally, the Grecale Folgore is the first 100% electric SUV in Maserati history, equipped with a 105-kWh battery with an output of 410 kW. An increasingly captivating and rich colour paletteLuxury brand positioning means providing the opportunity to choose: Maserati always focuses every decision on the customer and the entire Grecale range serves as but one example.Precisely for this reason, the colour palette has been renewed and expanded: up to 11 body colours are now available, in addition to the many customisation options offered by the Maserati Fuoriserie Programme, which includes nine solid and metallic colours (including the new Blu Pastello and Giallo Genio Gloss), thirteen three- and four-layer proposals (including the new Dark Aurora Boreale and Gold Venus) and four matte colours (the latter including Digital Aurora Matte). Maserati resembles a haute-couture brand and has also come up with a spring collection dedicated to the most vibrant colour combinations, the standouts among which include bodywork in Orange Devil, paired with black brake callipers and an interior in Sport Premium Ice/Black leather. Interiors and trim more than ever devoted to attention to detailEverything in the Grecale exudes attention to detail: opening its doors is like entering a world of comfort and style with prestigious materials enhancing the surfaces, together with the quest for unique graphics and colours, extended in the new MY2025 range into even more of a wealth of combinations.There are five seat configurations, including the brand-new Premium Leather Chocolate and Sport Leader Black Blue options, as well as eleven Fuoriserie seating options, which can be combined with two standard interior finishes and four others from the customisation programme. The interiors begin with the focus on contemporary architectural language, also found in the details of the exteriors with a rich choice of five types of rims, paired with brake callipers in five colours, one of which is custom-made. The trim levels thus become exciting by offering over 2,000 combinations as standard, with infinite possibilities when drawing on the Fuoriserie programme. Services and accessories for the utmost luxury experienceDriving a Maserati gives you the opportunity to enjoy the very best of experiences thanks to the comprehensive range of services and accessories available to the customer.Starting from March 2025, the Brand offers its customers the opportunity to combine multiple service contacts into a single shopping experience known as “Bundle”2, making it possible to take advantage of everything they need with an all-encompassing experience and at a more competitive price than purchasing each service individually. The service contracts designed for the new Grecale 2025 range also include the Maserati Extended Warranty, with the same coverage as the contractual warranty for up to five years from the date of registration, with no mileage limits; Extra10, an option to extend the warranty on the car’s transmission components for up to ten years with no mileage limits, plus additional benefits on original spare parts and accessories; the Brake package, to benefit from a complete brake replacement service, designed to guarantee driving safety and exceptional performance; Pick-up & Delivery, a service at your favourite official dealership that takes care of picking up and returning the car to the customer’s address; the Courtesy Car service, to continue driving a Maserati even when your car is being worked on at the dealership. Finally, worth a mention is the Maintenance Premium programme, covering the former three services, and Maintenance 103, to extend coverage until the tenth service. Both of these include thorough checks, components and parts subject to wear and tear as indicated in the vehicle maintenance manual. Last but not least, there is no shortage of accessories to enhance the beauty and functionality of the SUV and accompany the driver in their “everyday exceptional” experience. Accessories for leisure, families and other requirements provide the option to choose functional and aesthetic details perfect for every experience or driving need, for children, bike/ski/snowboard racks and countless accessories for pets. The new Grecale has already set…

Volkswagen Group in China presents new AI-powered ADAS system for the next generation of intelligent electric vehicles

Images are for editorial use only. “In China, for China”: Volkswagen Group is consistently strengthening its local technology competence in China. At Auto Shanghai 2025, the company is introducing its first self- developed automated driving system (ADAS), designed for especially seamless and safe driving experiences Powerful full-stack solution: The system, developed by CARIAD’s joint venture CARIZON and trained by the intelligent AI-driven data platform GAIA, offers highly precise and fully safety-focused driving functions up to Level 2++, and paves the way for development toward Level 3 and beyond Innovations for all: Volkswagen will implement the technology this year and integrate it into a new generation of Intelligent Connected Vehicles (ICV) for the compact segment starting from 2026—making highly automated driving accessible to more Chinese customers in entry-level vehicle segments Ralf Brandstätter, Volkswagen AG Group Board Member for China: “The rapid progress in developing our new ADAS system highlights CARIZON’s technical capabilities and the implementation strength of our ‘In China, for China’ strategy. We are developing cutting- edge technology locally—at ‘China Speed’—tailored to our Chinese customers, with the highest standards in driving performance, safety and quality.” Beijing, 17. April 2025 -The Volkswagen Group is systematically expanding its local technology competence in China as part of its ongoing commitment to the “In China, for China” strategy. At Auto Shanghai, Volkswagen will debut its first proprietary AI-powered, highly automated driving system. Specially developed for China’s complex traffic environments, the system is self-learning and engineered for both seamless and extremely safe driving experiences. Through an efficient System-on-Chip (SoC) with high computing power, it enables smooth, rapid responses to a wide range of driving scenarios. The group will present a Volkswagen- brand model with this technology in China before the end of this year. Starting next year, it will also be integrated into models based on the China-specific Compact Main Platform (CMP), marking it accessible to price-sensitive compact segment customers. The development marks a significant milestone in building up in-house development competence for core technologies that are in high demand among Chinese customers. Already today, a quarter of all newly registered vehicles in the Chinese market are equipped with a Level 2 driving system for highway scenarios. By 2030, Level 2+ is expected to be in use in more than 80 per cent of vehicles in the market. Level 2++, which covers both highway and urban traffic scenarios, is then expected to be installed in 75 per cent of new vehicles. In line with this outlook, Volkswagen Group established CARIZON a joint venture between its software lighthouse CARIAD and Chinese tech company Horizon Robotics, in November 2023 as part of its “In China, for China” strategy. The joint venture specialises in highly advanced automated driving systems for the Chinese market. Over the past 18 months, more than 500 software experts across the company’s Beijing and Shanghai locations have driven the development of the new ADAS technology forward. Ralf Brandstätter, Volkswagen AG Group Board Member for China and CEO of Volkswagen Group China: “With our new ADAS system, we are demonstrating what is possible when strengths of Volkswagen are combined with local innovation. The system has been developed at ‘China speed’, fully tailored to the needs of our Chinese customers and will set a new benchmark in the market for driving performance, safety and quality. The rapid progress we have made reflects the outstanding capabilities of our joint venture CARIZON and the successful implementation of our ‘In China, for China’ strategy.” GAIA: AI-powered data platform accelerates development cyclesThe system transforms Intelligent Connected Vehicles (ICVs) into predictive driving companions with human-like driving experience that can avoid dangerous situations before they arise. The key to this is “GAIA”, CARIZON’s proprietary AI-driven data platform for intelligent data collection and analysis. With two terabytes of data collected per vehicle per day and over 100,000 kilometres of test driving daily, GAIA enables highly automated AI training of the vehicle software. Compared to conventional data platforms without an AI Big-Data technology, GAIA accelerates data analysis sixfold and reduces the verification cycles of AI solutions to just one-twentieth of their original duration. This enables CARIZON to generate and validate hundreds of thousands of real-world driving scenarios with exceptional speed and accuracy— accelerating the development cycle, reduces costs, and ensuring a particularly seamless and safe driving performance. Marcus Hafkemeyer, CEO of CARIZON, said: “With a team of 500 local ADAS experts and the consistent integration of AI in the development process, we have built an advanced ADAS system in a very short time—one that will deliver outstanding performance in driving performance and safety. This year, we will bring Level 2+ ADAS to the road. Level 2++ ADAS with Urban Navigate on Autopilot (NoA) is in advanced testing and will be launched in 2026. This will also enable us to lay the technological foundations for a fast-track evolution towards Level 3.” Auto Shanghai: Group showcases Next-Gen Smart EVs for ChinaVolkswagen Group is accelerating its transformation by consistently implementing its “In China, for China” strategy. The company is strengthening its local development capacities in e-mobility, digitalisation, and intelligent driving, while also accelerating its decision-making and development processes in the region. This enables rapid responses to market-defining trends in China and fully leverages the growth and innovation potential of the market. Auto Shanghai 2025 marks a key milestone in this transformation. For the first time, Volkswagen Group will present an entirely new generation of smart electric vehicles from Audi and Volkswagen brands—developed exclusively in China for Chinese customers. The Volkswagen Group will launch over 20 fully electric and electrified NEV models by 2027 as part of its broad product offensive. By 2030, the Group brands will offer around 30 fully electric models. Robin AschhoffVolkswagen Group ChinaHead of General Secretary & Group Communications+86 138 1104 4303robin.aschhoff@volkswagen.com.cn | www.volkswagen-group.com Dr. Christoph LudewigVolkswagen Group ChinaHead of International Communications+86 138 1023 0447christoph.ludewig1@volkswagen.com.cn | www.volkswagen-group.com Kate ThompsonGroup Corporate Communications (UK)+44 (0) 7713 265562kate.thompson@vwg.co.uk | www.volkswagengroup.co.uk Linkedin, X, TikTok, Youtube About the Volkswagen Group:The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s leading…

SMMT Transport News Brief

Images are for editorial use only. Commercial vehicle numbers increase and buses lead the way on decarbonisationThis week SMMT published the latest Motorparc figures for the UK – showing that the number of vehicles on British roads reached its highest ever level in 2024. Will Reeves, Commercial Vehicle and Bus & Coach Section Manager@TNB_NEWS INDUSTRY COMMENTMore than a million EVs on UK roads as vehicle ownership reaches new high FEATURE CV Show 2025 Preview: Part Three LATEST NEWSToyota Proace EVs support National Highways decarbonisation drive Bidcorp orders 165 vehicles from Scania Go South Coast adds 28 Alexander Dennis low-emission buses to fleets MEMBER PROFILEFive minutes with… Alasdair Littlejohn, Sales Director at Axtec SUBSCRIBE TO TNB

Nyobolt raises $30 million as demand for high-power energy solutions within automotive and commercial vehicle applications grows

Images are for editorial use only. The investment, from IQ Capital, LocalGlobe and new strategic partners from the automotive industry, follows Nyobolt hitting $9 million+ in revenues in 2024 and successful tests to charge an EV to 80 per cent in under five minutes Nyobolt’s fast-charge systems are now deployed in heavy-duty vehicles and AI warehouses with over $150m in contract value secured – other automotive applications are set to follow Download high resolution images here Boston, US and Cambridge, UK, 16th April: Nyobolt, the pioneer of high-power ultrafast charging technologies, has raised $30 million in funding, led by IQ Capital and Latitude, the sister fund of LocalGlobe, with strategic partners including Scania Invest and Takasago Industry. The funding, which brings the total raised to $100m, will accelerate the advancement of Nyobolt’s proprietary technology, fuel market expansion, grow its team and cement its position as the industry leader in ultra-fast power systems. Nyobolt’s high power and quick recharge cycles address barriers to EV adoption in automotive and heavy-duty vehicle applicationsThe investment, including from partner Scania Invest, will support the ongoing deployment of Nyobolt’s high-power density, fast-charging battery technology in production vehicle applications. Following successful demonstrations using its own 35kWh EV demonstrator, achieving a 10-80 per cent charge in just under five minutes, Nyobolt has begun deploying innovative low impedance cell design and software controls to support the electrification of high-uptime, heavy-duty vehicles. Nyobolt’s compelling advantages are driving growing interest in passenger car applications, including retrofitting to existing vehicle platforms. Its technology and systems offer customer convenience and longevity, plus enable OEMs to specify a smaller battery size with the associated efficiency and lower costs through smaller, lighter packs. Powering critical industries with unmatched performanceInterest outside automotive is also rising for the Cambridge business. Power-intensive sectors such as AI automation and data centres are under increasing pressure to cut emissions while also keeping systems running 24/7. At the same time, only 20 per cent of solutions across these sectors are currently electrified. Meanwhile, data centre outages alone average $9,000 per minute in lost revenue, while new GPU-powered AI data centres are disrupting the quality of life for nearby communities, threatening billions of dollars’ worth of damage. These pressures are only set to worsen as AI pushes global power demand up by 165 per cent by 2030. Nyobolt’s energy storage and fast-charging technologies are not only closing this gap but are setting the new industry standard. By delivering up to 20x more power, charging in minutes and cutting downtime for even the most power-intensive applications to zero, Nyobolt enables peak performance without compromise. And it does so while using fewer natural resources compared to traditional lithium batteries. Groundbreaking research meets world-leading innovationAt the core of this breakthrough is Nyobolt’s proprietary anode material. Born out of groundbreaking cell chemistry research, Nyobolt’s systems are capable of reaching higher power density and supercharging capabilities, without degradation – overcoming the most critical limitations of conventional technologies.The company closed 2024 with $9 million in revenue (*non-GAAP) and made history as the first company to successfully charge an electric car battery to 80 per cent in under five minutes. It is now positioned to triple its revenue figures, with over $150 million in contract value already secured. Sai Shivareddy, Co-Founder and CEO of Nyobolt, said: “Interest in robust, ultrafast charging solutions for vehicle applications is surging as electrification becomes more widespread. Nyobolt is making the switch viable for heavy duty vehicles that demand both high power and low downtime. Our vertically integrated technology is already positively impacting vehicle operators and users, enabling them to experience stable, fast-charge solutions when they need them the most. I’m delighted to have the confidence of our customers and investors as we further strengthen our mission to push the boundaries of ultra-high-power solutions.” Jessica Persson, Head of Venture Capital and M&A at Scania, said: “At Scania, we invest in companies that support the shift towards a more sustainable transport system. That’s why we’re excited to announce our investment in Nyobolt, a pioneer in high-power, fast-charging solutions. Its breakthrough anode technology enables ultra-fast charging and longer-lasting batteries—critical advancements for the electrification of heavy-duty transport, industrial applications, and AI-powered infrastructure.” Max Bautin, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at IQ Capital, said: “Nyobolt has achieved what so few companies can do: translating deep tech research from the lab into a global, impactful business. In just a few short years it has become the go-to provider of high-power density solutions for AI warehouse operations and heavy-duty vehicles. Now with the advent of the AI revolution, it is in prime position to become the backbone of critical AI infrastructure. We’re continuing to support Sai and the Nyobolt team as it takes on this ambitious challenge not just as a company but the whole energy sector.” Ash Arora, Partner at Latitude, said: “Charging an EV to 80% in under five minutes is headline-worthy. But Nyobolt isn’t chasing headlines — it’s building the backbone of the AI-powered future. Born out of Cambridge brilliance and scaled with world-class execution, this team is redefining what’s possible in energy globally. As power grids strain under AI’s explosive demand, Nyobolt is the only company turning deeptech into deep impact — fast.” Download high resolution images here. About NyoboltFounded in 2019, Nyobolt is transforming critical industries with unprecedented uptime using its unique fast charge technology. By leveraging new materials, innovative battery cell designs, efficient software controls, and advanced power electronics, Nyobolt produces high-power energy systems, enabling ultrafast charging rates and high endurance. This breakthrough technology opens avenues for electrifying new products and services that demand high-power solutions and high operating runtime. For further information, please visit www.nyobolt.com Media contacts:Nick Bailey & Mel WicksElan PR LtdM: +44 (0) 7813 956664 / +44 (0)7835 590481nick@elan-pr.com / mel@elan-pr.com About IQ Capital IQ Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm dedicated to backing Europe’s most ambitious deep tech entrepreneurs. Since 2005, they have partnered with more than 100 founding teams on their path to turning breakthrough technologies into long-lasting businesses, supported by an experienced team of investors, advisors and an extensive…

From tractor to track: Goodwood Revival to celebrate Jim Clark’s life and career

Images are for editorial use only. The incomparable Jim Clark – twice Formula 1 World Champion and winner of the 1965 Indy 500 – to be honoured at Goodwood Revival in a year which sees a number of significant anniversaries for the driver. Goodwood to gather cars representing the full breadth of his racing career, and be joined by family, friends, fellow drivers and team members for a special moment on Saturday. Goodwood Revival takes place Friday 12 – Sunday 14 September. Early bird tickets available at goodwood.com. Goodwood is honoured to announce that this year’s Revival will celebrate the extraordinary life and career of Jim Clark – the Scottish farmer who is widely regarded as the most naturally gifted driver of all time. 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of Clark’s greatest season – indeed, arguably the greatest season by any driver in history. As well as winning six Grands Prix en route to his second World Championship, he also became the first driver to win the Indy 500 in a rear-engined car, and the first to do so at an average speed of more than 150mph. He remains the only driver to win the F1 World Championship and Indy 500 in the same season. Not only that, but he won the Tasman Cup (a single-seater series in Australia and New Zealand, run during the European winter and contested by the leading F1 teams and drivers), the French and British Formula 2 Championships, and races in everything from touring cars to sports prototypes. Alongside these achievements, Jim Clark also won the final Formula 1 race at Goodwood, on Easter Monday 1965. This Saturday (19 April) marks the 60th anniversary, to the day, of that race, during which Clark, in a Lotus 25, also shared the lap record of 1m20.4 with his fellow Scot Jackie Stewart, in a BRM P261. Their joint time was never beaten, before the circuit closed to racing in July 1966, and so stands in perpetuity as the classic Goodwood lap record. Remarkably, on the same day he won the Sunday Mirror Trophy Formula 1 race, Clark also won the St Marys Trophy (a round of the British Saloon Car Championship) in a Lotus Cortina, and the Lavant Cup sports prototype race in a Lotus 30! His driving that day epitomised the virtuosity and versatility he exhibited across the whole season. Jim Clark, who tragically died in an accident during a Formula 2 race at Hockenheim on 7 April 1968, ended his career with a then-record 25 victories and 33 pole positions from just 72 Grands Prix. Even now, six decades later, he still holds the record for the most ‘Grand Slams’ in Formula 1, when a driver takes pole position, victory, fastest lap, and leads every lap. Clark’s record of eight is two more than his nearest rival, Lewis Hamilton, whose score of six has come from 361 races! Despite his extraordinary achievements as a driver, Jim Clark remained a humble farmer at heart, and liked nothing more than spending time on his farm, Edington Mains, near the village of Chirnside in the Scottish Borders, where he grew up. Even as he was winning World Championships and the Indy 500, and appearing on the cover of Time Magazine (as he did after his Indy win in 1965), he would return to Edington between races. We look forward to celebrating all aspects of the remarkable achievements and legacy of Jim Clark – “farmer and world champion motor racing driver”, as the inscription on his gravestone reads – which, to this day, remain at the heart of motorsport at Goodwood. Sir Jackie Stewart, three-time World Champion and joint Goodwood lap record holder said: “Jim Clark was not only a first-class racer, but he was a first-class friend. Jimmy and I enjoyed so much camaraderie both on and off the track and I am personally so pleased that Goodwood are choosing to celebrate this great man in this way”. The Duke of Richmond CBE DL said: “It’s such a privilege to celebrate Jim Clark at the Goodwood Revival this year. His achievements in 1965 are the stuff of legend, including uniquely winning the Formula 1 World Championship and Indy 500 in the same season. I vividly remember watching him win the final F1 race at Goodwood, on Easter Monday 1965, in which he and Jackie Stewart set the ultimate Goodwood lap record. Having such strong links to Goodwood, and in a year that marks several significant anniversaries, we are hugely proud to be paying tribute to Jim Clark – considered by some to be the greatest driver of all time– over the Revival weekend.” Doug Niven, Jim Clark’s cousin, and a family trustee of the Jim Clark Trust, said: “The Jim Clark Trust is delighted to support the Jim Clark tribute at the Goodwood Revival in September. Along with my fellow family trustee Ian Calder (Jim’s nephew) I attended the Revival in 2013, when the Duke of Richmond formally launched the Jim Clark Trust – of which he is still a patron. 1965 was such a special year for Jim, and we look forward to celebrating his life and career at Goodwood in September, as well as at our own event, at Duns Castle on 28-29 June.” Taking place across the weekend, the tribute to Jim Clark joins the previously announced all-sustainable fuel race list, VW Type 2 Split Screen track opening parade, Alfa Romeo celebration and the opportunity to see Jenson Button go head-to-head in the RAC TT. Book now to save on tickets during the early bird tickets Customers can save on Goodwood Revival admission tickets during our early bird window, available now at goodwood.com. -ENDS- Notes to Editors: The Goodwood Revival will take place on Friday 12 – Sunday 14 September 2025. Tickets & HospitalityTickets can be purchased at goodwood.com or by calling the Ticket Office on +44 (0)1243 755055. Whether customers are looking for a great day out with friends, entertaining clients or…

Kia EV3 wins 2025 World Car of the Year

Images are for editorial use only. Kia EV3 wins 2025 World Car of the Year title at 2025 World Car Awards World Car Awards recognise, reward and inspire automotive excellence and innovation in the rapidly changing mobility industry Winners were selected by a highly respected jury of 96 international automotive journalists from 30 nations The award highlights Kia’s global leadership in the provision of design-led, technologically advanced, sustainable mobility solutions The Kia EV3 has been hailed the outright winner at the 2025 World Car Awards. Revealed during a live announcement at the World Car Awards ceremony at the 2025 New York International Auto Show, the Kia EV3 secured the prestigious title of 2025 World Car of the Year. “It is an immense honor for everyone at Kia that the EV3 has been awarded the 2025 World Car of Year title. This award highlights Kia’s global leadership in providing design-led, technologically advanced, sustainable mobility solutions and how the EV3’s class-leading attributes redefine the user experience for customers worldwide,” said Ho Sung Song, President and CEO at Kia. The 2025 World Car Awards were judged by a panel of 96 highly respected international automotive journalists from 30 countries. The EV3’s victory brings Kia’s total of wins at the World Car Awards to six since 2020. What category did the Kia EV3 win at the 2025 World Car Awards?The Kia EV3 won the following title at the 2025 World Car Awards: 2025 World Car of the Year What are the Kia EV3’s key product features?The EV3 brings the cutting-edge innovation of Kia’s flagship EV9 to a wider audience than ever before, setting new standards in the compact electric vehicle (EV) SUV segment. The EV3 boasts a bold, progressive exterior and an innovative, practical interior that maximises space, functionality, and comfort. The EV3 has a segment-leading range of up to 375 miles and can charge from 10-to-80% in 31 minutes*, delivering impressive usability. The vehicle’s innovative interior design optimises space, comfort, and accessibility, while Kia’s AI Assistant, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and Over-the-Air (OTA) updates enhance the ownership experience with cutting-edge technology. For more information about the Kia EV3, please visit here. Previous World Car Awards titles won by Kia Kia EV9 – 2024 World Car of the Year Kia EV9 – 2024 World Electric Vehicle Kia EV6 GT – 2023 World Performance Car Kia Telluride – 2020 World Car of the Year Kia Soul EV – 2020 World Urban Car Ends Editor’s note:* Range figures are determined according to the standardised EU measurement procedure (WLTP). Individual driving style and other factors, such as speed, outside temperature, topography and the use of electricity-consuming devices/units, have an influence on the real-life range and can possibly reduce it. Kia UK PR contact detailsFor further information on Kia please visit www.kiapressoffice.com or contact: Daniel SaylesHead of Press & Public Relations E: dsayles@kia.co.ukM: +44 7747 149 149 Tom RichardsPress Relations Manager E: trichards@kia.co.ukM: +44 7500 799 599 Milissa OrdoñaSenior Events Coordinator E: mordona@kia.co.ukM: +44 7553 520 911 Jonathan MuskSenior Corporate Communications Officer E: jmusk@kia.co.ukM: +44 7936 955 225 Chloe FarmerSenior Press Fleet Coordinator E: cfarmer@kia.co.ukM: +44 7917 218 522 Will ReesSenior Press Officer E: wrees@kia.co.ukM: +44 7795 011 475 Georgia BrownEvents Coordinator E: gbrown@kia.co.ukM: +44 7765 897 933 Rachel WychePress Office Assistant E: rwyche@kia.co.ukM: +44 7557 671 449 Follow Kia on Instagram @KiaUKPR Follow Kia at facebook.com/KiaUK Watch Kia at youtube.com/KiaUK

The grandmaster’s choice: Introducing the Rolls-Royce Chess Set

Images are for editorial use only. Rolls-Royce presents the Chess Set, designed to be enjoyed in clients’ homes Opens in a single theatrical motion, echoing the sense of occasion of a Rolls-Royce Features hidden drawers and sculptural, ceramic-coated magnetised pieces Crafted with meticulous attention to detail; the result of one year of design, engineering and experimentation Available in four veneer finishes, with a choice of 13 leather colours Celebrates and elevates the strategy game enjoyed by many Rolls-Royce clients “We are in the privileged position of knowing our clients personally. These relationships – and the unique insights they provide into our clients’ worlds, tastes, and preferences – inform everything we do at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Knowing that many clients enjoy chess — often at an extremely high level — we were inspired to create our own Chess Set as a natural evolution of the sense of hosting and occasion that defines the Rolls-Royce experience. Incorporating materials and the meticulous craft techniques our clients know and love from their motor car, the Chess Set is a discreet, beautiful, and authentic extension of our brand into their homes. It serves as a contemporary work of art in its own right, as well as a practical, playable game.”Nick Abrams, Accessories Designer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Rolls-Royce Motor Cars presents the Rolls-Royce Chess Set, a contemporary expression of one of the world’s most revered games of strategy that transcends cultures and generations, echoing the spirit of hosting and shared experience that defines the marque’s other lifestyle offerings. The chess pieces are ceremoniously unveiled, capturing the same sense of occasion as the arrival of a Rolls-Royce motor car. Handcrafted using the marque’s signature materials and techniques, it offers numerous opportunities for individualisation. HIDDEN DRAWERS AND MAGNETISED PIECESThe Chess Set was designed to capture a sense of movement: the leather-clad base rises gently from the centre, referencing the waft lines of the marque’s motor cars as it appears to float on its narrow footprint. The playing board opens in a smooth, single theatrical motion to reveal a leather-lined holder that slowly elevates, presenting the magnetically held pieces – a movement reminiscent of the coach doors opening on a Rolls-Royce motor car. For an effortless experience, magnets hidden beneath the playing surface ensure the pieces remain perfectly aligned during play, lending each move a sense of precision and decisiveness. The design team experimented with six different types of magnets to identify the optimal strength that secures the pieces yet allows them to float effortlessly across the board. A discreet drawer on each side of the board, opened with a light touch, contains an additional queen to take the place of a piece that has been promoted during the game. Both the generously sized board and the chess piece holder are framed with polished aluminium edges. A polished aluminium Spirit of Ecstasy emblem is discreetly affixed to the front and back of the Chess Set, signifying its provenance. Each set is meticulously crafted by hand. The aluminium grid of the board is machine milled, then further refined by hand to achieve the precise definition of the corners – a delicate process, as the fine metal bends easily. The veneer squares are laser cut and then precisely placed on the board by hand. Each of the veneer pieces is crafted from the same log to achieve a consistent pattern in the natural grain, ensuring the wood will age uniformly over the years. THE CHESS PIECES: MONOLITHIC FORMSEvery chess piece has been precision-crafted with faceted surfaces, transforming them into sculptural objects in their own right. To create the pieces, the marque’s designers studied the profile of traditional chess pieces, electing to extrude them downward into square bases. Each of the highly sculptural pieces is made of ceramic-coated aluminium, contains a hidden magnet and is crowned with a jewel-like polished stainless-steel head. The weight, solidity and cool-to-the-touch tactility of them are deliberately evocative of the solid-metal organ stops found in Rolls-Royce motor cars — a shared expression of material authenticity and satisfying mechanical engagement. The black chess pieces are given a satin finish, while the white pieces feature a subtle iridescent treatment. EXQUISITE MATERIALS FROM THE ROLLS-ROYCE PALETTEThe Rolls-Royce Chess Set incorporates the same materials used to craft the interior of the marque’s motor cars. The playing board is available in a choice of four veneer combinations, each arranged to create a diamond pattern when viewed from above. Around the playing surface, a longitudinal grain is used. High-gloss finishes include Blackwood with Ceramic White and Macassar Ebony with Royal Walnut; Open Pore veneer treatments in Smoked Eucalyptus with Paldao and Obsidian Ayous with Blackwood are also available. Elements of the Chess Set can be individualised to reflect the client’s personal style and the aesthetics of their home. Clients can select from 13 Rolls-Royce leather colours — Cashmere Grey, Phoenix Red, Charles Blue, Forge Yellow, Iceland Moss, Scivaro Grey, Arctic White, Havana, Tailored Purple, Mandarin, Peony Pink, Black, and Lime Green — allowing them to tailor both the exterior and the chess piece holder to their exact requirements. The Rolls-Royce Chess Set is now available for commission in Rolls-Royce showrooms and Private Office boutiques. – ENDS – FURTHER INFORMATIONYou can find all our press releases and press kits, as well as a wide selection of high resolution, downloadable photographs and video footage at our media website, PressClub. You can also follow marque on social media: LinkedIn; YouTube; Instagram; and Facebook. EDITORS’ NOTESRolls-Royce Motor Cars is a true luxury house, creating the world’s most recognised, revered and desirable handcrafted Bespoke products for its international clientele. There are over 2,500 people working at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, West Sussex. This comprises both its global headquarters and Centre of Luxury Manufacturing Excellence – the only place in the world where Rolls-Royce motor cars are designed, engineered and meticulously built by hand. An independent study by the London School of Economics & Political Science confirms that since the company first launched at Goodwood in 2003,…

Hyundai INSTER hailed as 2025 World Electric Vehicle

Images are for editorial use only. Hyundai Motor celebrates its fourth straight year of success at the World Car Awards, with INSTER named 2025 World Electric Vehicle The sub-compact EV was selected by a jury of 96 automotive journalists from 30 countries and announced at the 2025 New York International Auto Show Previously, IONIQ 5 N won the 2024 World Performance Car title, and IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6 achieved triple victories in 2022 and 2023, respectively NEW YORK/SEOUL, April 16, 2025 – Hyundai INSTER1 has been honored with the title of 2025 World Electric Vehicle. This prestigious accolade was announced today at the globally renowned 2025 World Car Awards ceremony, held during the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS). This momentous achievement marks the fourth consecutive year that a model from Hyundai Motor Company has led one or more categories in the World Car Awards. “The Hyundai INSTER has been a winner with customers since we introduced it. It’s very gratifying that the experts on the prestigious World Car Awards jurors feel the same way. The combination of compelling design, range, enjoyable driving characteristics, intuitive infotainment and technology that customers appreciate is emblematic of Hyundai’s approach of delivering exceptional value to our customers. The fact that our global portfolio is successful both commercially and critically speaks to the hard-working people throughout the Hyundai value chain who are delivering some of the best vehicles on the road today. Thank you to all the jurors for your service to this great industry,” said José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. INSTER recognized for design, innovation and valueThe 2025 World Electric Vehicle award recognizes INSTER’s extraordinary value in the EV segment and underscores Hyundai Motor’s dedication to advancing EV technology and sustainability. INSTER’s award-worthy product featuresAs a sub-compact EV, INSTER leads its segment with a distinctive design, impressive driving range and cutting-edge technology. INSTER’s rapid charging capability enables a 10-to-80-percent charge in around 30 minutes, with the 49-kWh long-range model providing a range of up to 370 km. For more information about the Hyundai INSTER, please visit here. Hyundai Motor’s previous wins at World Car Awards With previous wins, including Hyundai IONIQ 5 N as the 2024 World Performance Car and both IONIQ 6 and IONIQ 5 achieving a ‘hat trick’ of titles in 2023 and 2022, respectively, Hyundai Motor’s continued recognition affirms its leadership in automotive innovation. About the World Car Awards A jury of 96 international automotive journalists from 30 countries selected the finalists through a sealed ballot. The winners were announced at the 2025 NYIAS on April 16, 2025. For more information about the World Car Awards, please visit here. – End – About Hyundai Motor CompanyEstablished in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees dedicated to tackling real-world mobility challenges around the globe. Based on the brand vision ‘Progress for Humanity,’ Hyundai Motor is accelerating its transformation into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider. The company invests in advanced technologies such as robotics and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) to bring about revolutionary mobility solutions while pursuing open innovation to introduce future mobility services. In pursuit of a sustainable future for the world, Hyundai will continue its efforts to introduce zero-emission vehicles with industry-leading hydrogen fuel cell and EV technologies. More information about Hyundai Motor and its products can be found at:https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/ or Newsroom: Media Hub by Hyundai Contact:Sunwoo KimGlobal PR Team / Hyundai Motor Companysunwookim@hyundai.com 1Badged as CASPER Electric in Korea.

2025 World Car Finals Powered by Brembo: Porsche 911 Carrera GTS – 2025 World Performance Car

Images are for editorial use only. 2025 WORLD CAR FINALS POWERED BY BREMBOAND NOW THERE IS ONE PORSCHE 911 CARRERA GTS – 2025 WORLD PERFORMANCE CAR NEW YORK CITY, New York, USA – Wednesday, April 16, 2025 – For Immediate Release THE ROAD TO WORLD CAR 2025 and the WORLD CAR FINALS POWERED BY BREMBO concluded today with the live announcement of the winners in six award categories at the New York International Auto Show. The PORSCHE 911 CARRERA GTS is the 2025 World Performance Car. Today’s vote results have been tabulated by KPMG. A jury of 96 distinguished international automotive journalists from 30 countries selected the Top Three in the World finalists by secret ballot based on their evaluation of each eligible vehicle as part of their on-going professional work. With today’s win, Porsche has won the World Performance Car title a total of eight (8) times. Porsche AG has now won a total of nine (9) awards in the World Car Awards 21-year history. “Performance has been in the DNA of the 911 since it was first introduced in 1963,” said Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board at Porsche AG. “With each of the eight generations since then, our aim has been to set the bar higher. The 911 Carrera GTS with the innovative, lightweight T-Hybrid system is the latest advancement in that quest. We are thrilled that the World Car jury could experience the power and performance of the car first-hand and are very grateful for the recognition.” The 2025 World Performance Car had 17 cars competing in the category. The short list of three finalists was announced on March 18, 2025. The 2025 Top Three in the World finalists are the BMW M5, the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS and the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Vehicles eligible for World Performance Car must be produced in volumes of at least 1,000 units/year, must be overtly performance-focused in overall character, and must be “on-sale” in at least two major markets (China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America, USA) on at least two separate continents within the period January 1, 2024 and March 30, 2025. Substantially revised variations of existing models, specifically designed to enhance overall performance characteristics, may be eligible, at the discretion of the organizers. For a complete list of previous winners in all categories, please visit our website. *** 2025 marks the 20th year of the World Car Awards’ partnership with the New York International Auto Show. Mark Schienberg, president of NYIAS said, “As the New York Auto Show marks an incredible 125 years, we’re thrilled to kick off the celebration with one of the industry’s most prestigious honours – the World Car Awards! Winning this award, judged by 96 of the world’s top automotive journalists, is a true triumph and the perfect way to launch North America’s first and most-attended auto show. A huge congratulations to the World Car team for over two decades of excellence, and congratulations to this year’s outstanding winners!” “We are honoured to celebrate the winners of the prestigious World Car of The Year Awards,” said Daniele Schillaci, Brembo’s Chief Executive Officer. “These awards recognize the best cars in the world, setting new benchmarks in technology, performance and design. Your outstanding achievements exemplify the pursuit of excellence that drives the entire automotive industry forward. At Brembo, we are proud to support an accolade that honours such innovation, and we extend our best wishes to all of the winners announced today.” The Road to the World Car Awards is an annual journey that follows our international jurors as they test-drive, and vote on, the eligible vehicles for the awards’ season. The jurors’ road-test journey is captured virtually on World Car TV. The jurors provide viewers with reviews and commentary on the awards’ eligible vehicles in the six categories listed above. The World Car Awards program would not be possible without the support of our official 20th Anniversary Partners: AITASTIC Research & Consult, BREMBO, the NEW YORK International Auto Show, KPMG and Newspress. Thank you to our partners. VIDEO – WORLD CAR TV THE ROAD TO WORLD CAR 2025 Began September 30, 2024 Will end at the New York International Auto Show Wednesday, April 16, 2025 #RoadtoNYC FOLLOW OUR 96 INTERNATIONAL JURORS: World Car TV: YouTube.com/worldcartv Instagram: #wcoty @theworldcarawards #wca2025 #WorldCarAwardsTwitter: #wcoty @worldcarawards #worldcarawards #wca2025Facebook: www.facebook.com/WorldCarAwards #worldcarawards #wca2025 For additional information please visit www.worldcarawards.com or contact us at: info@worldcarawards.com CELEBRATING THE BEST OF TODAY FOR OVER 20 YEARSEMBRACING THE BEST OF TOMORROW FOR OVER 20 YEARS Media release distributed by NEWSPRESS – The World Car Awards’ Official Media Partner ABOUT World Car AwardsIt is the mission of the World Car Awards and its 96 global journalists on the jury panel to recognize, reward and inspire automotive excellence, leadership and innovation in a rapidly changing automotive industry on a global scale. To that end we test drive and evaluate new or fully redesigned vehicles that are for sale in multiple markets on more than one continent each year, voting to determine the World Car Design, World Luxury Car, World Performance Car, World Urban Car, World Electric Vehicle and World Car of the Year. Full vehicle eligibility requirements and our annual timeline can be found on our website. Now in their 21st year, the annual World Car Awards are the number one awards program in the world for the 12th consecutive year in terms of media reach and analysis of the top global markets. The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs. New York International Auto ShowThe New York International Automobile Show, North America’s first and largest-attended auto show, is an amazing combination of new ideas, technological innovation, and nearly 1,000 of the latest new cars and trucks on display. The Show is owned and produced by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association each spring in Manhattan. 2025 Auto Show DatesPress Preview: April 16 and 17, 2025 (credentials required)Public…

2025 World Car Finals Powered by Brembo: Kia EV3 2025 World Car of the Year™

Images are for editorial use only. 2025 WORLD CAR FINALS POWERED BY BREMBOAND NOW THERE IS ONE KIA EV3 – 2025 WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR ™ NEW YORK CITY, New York, USA – Wednesday, April 16, 2025 – For Immediate Release THE ROAD TO WORLD CAR 2025 and the WORLD CAR FINALS POWERED BY BREMBO concluded today with the live announcement of the winners in six award categories at the New York International Auto Show. The KIA EV3 is the 2025 World Car of the Year™ winner. Today’s vote results have been tabulated by KPMG. A jury of 96 distinguished international automotive journalists from 30 countries selected the Top Three in the World finalists by secret ballot based on their evaluation of each eligible vehicle as part of their on-going professional work. This is the second consecutive World Car of the Year win for Kia and third World Car of the Year win overall. The Kia EV9 won last year’s top honour while the Kia Telluride won the title in 2020. Today’s win brings the total number of awards won by Kia to six in World Car’s 21-year history. “It is an immense honour for everyone at Kia that the EV3 has been awarded the 2025 World Car of the Year title. This award highlights Kia’s global leadership in providing design-led, technologically advanced, sustainable mobility solutions and how the EV3’s class-leading attributes redefine the user experience for customers worldwide,” said Ho Sung Song, President and CEO at Kia. The KIA EV3 was chosen from an initial list of 52 contenders from all over the world then a short list of three finalists as announced on March 18th, 2025. The 2025 Top Three in the World finalists are the BMW X3, the Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric and the Kia EV3. Vehicles eligible for World Car of the Year title must be produced in volumes of at least 10,000 units/year, must be priced below the luxury-car level in their primary markets, and must be “on-sale” in at least two major markets (China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America, USA) on at least two separate continents within the period January 1, 2024 and March 30, 2025. For a complete list of previous winners in all categories, please visit our website. *** 2025 marks the 20th year of the World Car Awards’ partnership with the New York International Auto Show. Mark Schienberg, president of NYIAS said, “As the New York Auto Show marks an incredible 125 years, we’re thrilled to kick off the celebration with one of the industry’s most prestigious honours – the World Car Awards! Winning this award, judged by 96 of the world’s top automotive journalists, is a true triumph and the perfect way to launch North America’s first and most-attended auto show. A huge congratulations to the World Car team for over two decades of excellence, and congratulations to this year’s outstanding winners!” “We are honoured to celebrate the winners of the prestigious World Car of The Year Awards,” said Daniele Schillaci, Brembo’s Chief Executive Officer. “These awards recognize the best cars in the world, setting new benchmarks in technology, performance and design. Your outstanding achievements exemplify the pursuit of excellence that drives the entire automotive industry forward. At Brembo, we are proud to support an accolade that honours such innovation, and we extend our best wishes to all of the winners announced today.” The Road to the World Car Awards is an annual journey that follows our international jurors as they test-drive, and vote on, the eligible vehicles for the awards’ season. The jurors’ road-test journey is captured virtually on World Car TV. The jurors provide viewers with reviews and commentary on the awards’ eligible vehicles in the six categories listed above. The World Car Awards program would not be possible without the support of our official 20th Anniversary Partners: AITASTIC Research & Consult, BREMBO, the NEW YORK International Auto Show, KPMG and Newspress. Thank you to our partners. VIDEO – WORLD CAR TV THE ROAD TO WORLD CAR 2025 Began September 30, 2024 Will end at the New York International Auto Show Wednesday, April 16, 2025 #RoadtoNYC FOLLOW OUR 96 INTERNATIONAL JURORS: World Car TV: YouTube.com/worldcartv Instagram: #wcoty @theworldcarawards #wca2025 #WorldCarAwardsTwitter: #wcoty @worldcarawards #worldcarawards #wca2025Facebook: www.facebook.com/WorldCarAwards #worldcarawards #wca2025 For additional information please visit www.worldcarawards.com or contact us at: info@worldcarawards.com CELEBRATING THE BEST OF TODAY FOR OVER 20 YEARSEMBRACING THE BEST OF TOMORROW FOR OVER 20 YEARS Media release distributed by NEWSPRESS – The World Car Awards’ Official Media Partner ABOUT World Car AwardsIt is the mission of the World Car Awards and its 96 global journalists on the jury panel to recognize, reward and inspire automotive excellence, leadership and innovation in a rapidly changing automotive industry on a global scale. To that end we test drive and evaluate new or fully redesigned vehicles that are for sale in multiple markets on more than one continent each year, voting to determine the World Car Design, World Luxury Car, World Performance Car, World Urban Car, World Electric Vehicle and World Car of the Year. Full vehicle eligibility requirements and our annual timeline can be found on our website. Now in their 21st year, the annual World Car Awards are the number one awards program in the world for the 12th consecutive year in terms of media reach and analysis of the top global markets. The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs. New York International Auto ShowThe New York International Automobile Show, North America’s first and largest-attended auto show, is an amazing combination of new ideas, technological innovation, and nearly 1,000 of the latest new cars and trucks on display. The Show is owned and produced by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association each spring in Manhattan. 2025 Auto Show DatesPress Preview: April 16 and 17, 2025 (credentials required)Public Show Date: April 18 – April 27, 2025Social Media: Twitter: @NYAutoShow Facebook: nyautoshow…