Author: AGN Editor

Hyundai Kona 2023: A Refreshing Second Act
News

Hyundai Kona 2023: A Refreshing Second Act

The Hyundai Kona's second generation is a major step up from its predecessor, offering a bold new look and a raft of improvements that make it one of the most interesting small SUVs on the market. But does it live up to the hype?First off, the styling grabs you. It’s like RoboCop came for a car ride: angular lines, sharp edges, and a front end that screams 'look at me.' This is no subtle update; Hyundai pulled out all the stops.The Kona's interior quality stands out too. Gone are the days of plastic overload; now you’ve got soft-touch materials everywhere. The seats are supportive and comfortable for long drives, but there’s a slight compromise in terms of headroom compared to its rivals like the Ford Puma or Volkswagen T-Roc.Under the hood, your options range from a punchy 1.6-litre petro...
Peugeot 308 Redefines Compact Sedan Value
News

Peugeot 308 Redefines Compact Sedan Value

Peugeot's latest 308 has arrived on the scene with a bang, shaking up the compact sedan segment with its blend of style, technology, and efficiency. It’s not just another car; it’s a statement of intent from Peugeot.The exterior design is sleek and modern, with sharp lines that catch the eye and suggest a more premium offering than its price tag would typically allow for in this class. The 308's headlights are particularly striking, featuring LED daytime running lights that give the car an unmistakable presence on the road.Underneath the hood, the 1.2-liter turbocharged engine packs a punch with 130 horsepower and 195 Nm of torque, making it surprisingly spry for its size. The eight-speed automatic gearbox is smooth and responsive, ensuring that the power delivery is seamless even during s...
Volvo and Mack Empower Drivers with In-Cab Software Updates
Guides & Maintenance, News, Pickup Trucks

Volvo and Mack Empower Drivers with In-Cab Software Updates

Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) and its sibling company Mack Trucks are set to revolutionize the trucking industry by allowing drivers to perform software updates over-the-air (OTA) from their cabs. This move is a significant step towards reducing downtime and increasing operational efficiency.Starting in late 2020, fleet managers will be able to approve changes, which can then be instantly activated by the driver via a simple screen icon on the truck's instrument panel for an array of functions including engine performance tweaks, transmission adjustments, and diesel post-treatment improvements.Conal Deedy, VTNA’s director of commercial telematics solutions, emphasizes that staying current with software updates not only reduces failure codes but also enhances fuel efficiency, lowers env...
Nexperia Chip Crisis Rocks the Auto Industry
News

Nexperia Chip Crisis Rocks the Auto Industry

The automotive industry is currently reeling from a geopolitical showdown involving Nexperia, a Dutch semiconductor manufacturer now under Chinese ownership. The saga began when the Dutch government temporarily seized control of the company, prompting China to halt chip exports to its automaker partners in Europe and beyond.It's not hard to see why this issue has been thrust into the spotlight; after all, we're still grappling with the lingering effects of the global chip shortage sparked by the pandemic. Now add a layer of geopolitical tension, and you've got a recipe for disaster.Fiat, on the other hand, is taking a different route. The brand recently unveiled its hybrid 500 model, complete with a manual transmission—a nostalgic nod to those who still appreciate the art of shifting gears...
New York Driver’s Creative But Foolish DMV Fraud
News

New York Driver’s Creative But Foolish DMV Fraud

New York State Police recently pulled over a driver who thought they could outsmart the Department of Motor Vehicles with nothing more than crayons and markers. The incident serves as both a cautionary tale and a moment of amusement in the world of automotive law enforcement.The officer initially noticed suspicious license plates during the traffic stop on November 20th, but it was the hand-drawn inspection stickers that caught everyone's attention. Using a combination of pen, marker, and crayon, the driver had attempted to create fake documents that would pass as legitimate registration stickers. The results were laughably amateurish with uneven lettering and obvious misspellings like 'New York Safety Emissions.'State Police shared this bizarre incident on their Facebook page where it qui...
Mazda CX-60’s Troubled Launch and Redemption
News

Mazda CX-60’s Troubled Launch and Redemption

Mazda’s latest venture into the SUV arena with the CX-60 has been anything but smooth sailing. The Japanese automaker admits to rushing a model that was far from perfect, all in an effort to keep up during pandemic-induced production delays.The CX-60 hit European roads underdeveloped, plagued by suspension and transmission issues, forcing Mazda to issue two major updates post-launch. According to Alexander Fritsche, senior manager of product development and engineering at Mazda Europe, the company felt immense pressure to get the SUV into the market quickly.“We had some quick starts with this product that were not 100 percent,” Fritsche told Drive in Australia. “There were big learnings from this experience.” Indeed, the pandemic's stringent travel and testing restrictions limited Mazda’s ...
Speed Demons of 2025: Who’s Toppling Records?
News, Supercars

Speed Demons of 2025: Who’s Toppling Records?

As the dust settles on yet another year of blistering speed runs and record-breaking performances, it’s clear that the automotive world has a new set of kings at the top. With electric motors humming in harmony with internal combustion engines, these hypercars are pushing boundaries that once seemed unimaginable.The Yangwang U9 Xtreme steals the spotlight as the current champion, with an astonishing 496.2km/h top speed achieved on German tarmac. Four high-revving electric motors, each spinning up to 30,000 rpm, deliver a staggering 2176kW of power. Despite its supercar status, it’s also remarkably swift off the line, hitting 100km/h in less than two seconds—a blend of raw speed and sheer electrifying performance.While electric cars dominate the upper echelons, Bugatti still holds a firm gr...
Tesla FSD Hurdles in the Netherlands
News, Tech & Autonomous

Tesla FSD Hurdles in the Netherlands

Dutch safety regulators are telling Tesla fans to back off and chill out over the company's push for approval of its 'FSD Supervised' system in the country.The RDW, a Dutch safety authority tasked with vehicle certification, has had enough of emails and calls from excited Model Y owners eager to see their cars' semi-autonomous systems get the green light. They're politely but firmly asking everyone to stop contacting them about it. The agency's message? Such efforts won't change its mind."We thank everyone who has already done so and would like to ask everyone not to contact us about this," the RDW said in a statement, adding that these communications take up unnecessary time for customer service and have no impact on decision-making. The regulator is clear: road safety trumps all else.The...
Mazda’s Electric Leap with the All-New Mazda 6e in NZ
EV & Electric Cars, News

Mazda’s Electric Leap with the All-New Mazda 6e in NZ

Mazda is taking a significant step into the world of electric vehicles (EVs) with the eagerly anticipated launch of the all-new Mazda 6e. Set to hit New Zealand shores by the end of next year, this latest offering marks a bold shift for the brand that has long been known for its gasoline offerings.The new 6e is more than just an electric version of the popular sedan; it's a complete reinvention built on the company’s 'Kodo: Soul of Motion' design philosophy. With sleek, aerodynamic lines and a coupe-like silhouette, the 6e certainly stands out in what has become a crowded EV market.Underneath its striking exterior lies a robust electric powertrain that delivers impressive performance figures. While precise specs for New Zealand are still up in the air, European versions pack either a 68kWh...
WeRide Cuts Losses Amid Major Revenue Surge in Q3
Industry & Business, News

WeRide Cuts Losses Amid Major Revenue Surge in Q3

WeRide's latest financials reveal an encouraging trend: the autonomous driving pioneer has slashed its net loss to a mere 307.3 million yuan ($42.9m) for the third quarter of 2025, down from a staggering 1.04 billion yuan in Q3 of last year.Revenue saw an incredible jump of 144.3% year-on-year to 170.9 million yuan—a record-high for the company, according to WeRide's report. The surge is largely credited to increased sales of robotaxis and robobuses, alongside robust service revenue growth.On the operational front, WeRide has made significant strides globally. The company boasts a fleet exceeding 1,600 autonomous vehicles, with nearly three-quarters being robotaxis. This massive fleet now holds licenses in eight countries following regulatory approvals in Abu Dhabi and Switzerland.In an in...