Le Journal

The facelifted Volkswagen T7 has been spied undergoing cold weather testing. It has a deceiving wrap that hides an all-new front end with larger headlights. Interior is expected to get a significant revamp and a larger infotainment system. Volkswagen brought a little bit of California to Sweden as the facelifted T7 camper van has been caught undergoing cold weather testing. Spied in range-topping Ocean trim, the van doesn’t look too remarkable at first glance. However, a closer inspection reveals the front end is covered by a photorealistic wrap of the current design. More: VW’s New eHybrid Multivans Pack AWD And Nearly Double The Electric Range As a result, the slender top intake is nothing more than a glorified sticker. The fact that the prototype doesn’t have ventilation here, suggests the upcoming production model could eschew it altogether and adopt a more traditional front end. Breaks in the wrap also suggest the headlights are larger than they appear as we can see their outline peeking through. They’ll likely be connected by a new and more minimalist light bar. Additional details are hard to make out, but we can expect a new bumper with a revamped lower intake. Cracks and bulges indicate the latter will adopt a rectangular design, which could echo the one found on the ID. Buzz. SHproshots There doesn’t appear to be any other exterior changes at this point, but the production model could have a few other tweaks including new taillights and a lightly revised rear bumper. That being said, designers appear to be paying far more attention to the front end and cabin. Speaking of the latter, the interior will get a welcome revamp that will apparently be headlined by a larger, freestanding infotainment system. The display will replace the current 10-inch screen and it’s expected to be a modern MIB4 unit like the 12.9-inch infotainment system found on the US-spec Tiguan. Besides new technology, we can expect a revamped dashboard and updated switchgear. The steering wheel also appears new, although it’s hard to be certain at this point. The current model offers an assortment of powertrains including a 2.0-liter TDI with outputs of 148 hp (110 kW / 150 PS) and 265 lb-ft (360 Nm) as well as 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) and 236 lb-ft (320 Nm). Customers can also get a plug-in hybrid variant with a 1.5-liter engine, an electric motor, and a 19.7 kWh battery pack. This gives the van a combined output of 241 hp (180 kW / 245 PS) and an electric-only range of 52 miles (84 km) in the United Kingdom. The facelifted plug-in hybrid could benefit from an improved battery. However, that remains to be seen. SHproshots

One-off Macan Turbo Concept Lago debuts at German boat show. Cabin features wood floor mats and marine-style fabric seats. New 790 Spectre uses a Macan EV powertrain and makes 536 hp. Porsche and boats have been flirting for a while. The German sports car brand already helped create a rapid electric speedboat with Austrian builder Frauscher. Now the partnership is back with a smaller boat called the 790 Spectre and a one-off, marine-inspired Macan concept to keep it company. No, the Macan Turbo Concept Lago can’t jump from the road to water like a Gibbs Aquada or Amphicar 770. But it borrows some neat nautical design and trim ideas in the same way that the Frauscher’s boats have cribbed the Macan’s motors and battery pack. And it has some of the most stylish floor mats we’ve ever seen. Related: Alfa’s Yacht-Winged Giulia Quadrifoglio Special Is Fast, Wild, And Already Sold Out Porsche raided its Exclusive Manufaktur personalisation catalog and roped in experts from its Sonderwunsch “special wish” department to give the concept a distinctly salty vibe. Darkteal Metallic paint, which originates from Porsche’s Paint to Sample programme, covers the outside while neat graphics tie the car to the matching boat. Even the keys wear the same color. Swab the Floor Mats, Matey Open the doors and the nautical theme gets stronger. Real wood inspired by boat decks lines the front and rear luggage compartments and the floor mats look ready for bare feet. A compass replaces the usual dashboard stopwatch and the seat centers use marine grade fabric trimmed with Crayon leather. Green contrast stitching finishes the look and proves Porsche’s trim specialists can customise almost anything. Frauscher 790 Spectre The Concept Lago is just a one-off, unlike the new Frauscher 790 Spectre it’s designed to promote. Engineers built the 7,970 mm (313.8 inches) sports boat around the same 100 kWh battery and dual electric motor setup used in the Macan Turbo, though Porsche quotes 630 hp (639 PS / 470 kW) for the SUV and 536 hp (544 PS / 400 kW) for its sea-going counterpart. The hull is new and lighter than before and the cockpit borrows plenty of Porsche style touches, including the steering wheel and elements of the seat design. Buyers can personalise the boat with special paint and materials to mirror their car. Orders for the 790 Spectre are open now, but the price is going to make a $112,700 Macan Turbo Electric look downright affordable. While neither Porsche or Frauscher has indicated an exact sticker, the fact that the earlier 850 Fantom Air cost around $600k tells us this one is for wealthy Porsche and boat lovers only. Porsche

Mazda has reportedly delayed their EVs developed in-house. Instead of arriving in 2027, they could be pushed back to 2029. The company will reportedly focus on hybrids in the meantime. It appears you can add Mazda to the growing list of automakers that have delayed electric vehicles in the wake of lower than expected demand. According to reports out of Japan, the company’s first dedicated EV has been pushed back until at least 2029. Details are still murky, but Autonews cites Nikkei and Nikkan Jidosha as saying that production has been delayed by at least two years. Instead, the company will reportedly turn its attention to more popular hybrids. More: Mazda’s New EV Caught Testing In America While a spokesperson said Mazda hasn’t officially announced anything, they didn’t exactly deny the reports either. Quite the opposite, as in a statement to Autonews, they said, “We continue to advance the technological development of our proprietary BEVs based on our multi-solution strategy, and will determine the timing of their introduction while carefully assessing regulatory trends in each country and changes in customer needs.” This suggests launch plans are still up in the air and could slip beyond 2027. Test Mule Raises Questions Baldauf This is an interesting development as spy photographers snapped a mule undergoing testing in California late last year. The model wore a heavily modified CX-70 or CX-90 body and featured a fully enclosed grille as well as blocked off air curtains. The vehicle was said to be roughly the same size as the CX-50, but narrower than the body suggested. Little is known about the EV at this point, but it’s slated to ride on the Skyactiv EV Scalable Architecture. The platform was originally announced in 2021 and was supposed to be introduced last year. That obviously didn’t happen and it appears plans to introduce several vehicles on the architecture between 2025 and 2030 are also in jeopardy. These were set to include “various vehicle sizes and body types.” However, the situation has changed significantly in the past few years. In the United States alone, the Trump administration has enacted steep new tariffs and eliminated the clean vehicle tax credit. The latter has caused a significant drop in EV sales and a rethink by many automakers. Nevertheless, Mazda isn’t giving up on electric vehicles as the company recently introduced the CX-6e in Europe. It’s a Chinese collaboration with joint-venture partner Changan, and the model has a lot in common with the Deepal S07.

The K4 Hatchback launches in U.S. without manual transmission. Kia says a manual is possible if U.S. buyers show enough interest. For now, Sportswagon is Europe-only despite being built in Mexico. The Kia K4 Hatchback is finally here, and it’s rolling out to dealers as you read this. When it gets there, it won’t offer all-wheel drive, it won’t come in all the same trims as the sedan, and it won’t have a manual transmission. That last detail could change, though, if enough buyers speak up. More: Kia’s K4 Just Struck A Killer Blow To The VW Golf During a press event we attended in Los Angeles, a Kia spokesperson addressed the possibility of a manual for the newly launched North American-market K4 Hatchback. “We don’t have any plans for a manual transmission right now, but the platform is perfectly capable of accepting one,” the official told us. “We do offer a manual in other markets. If we find that there’s demand in our market for a manual transmission and it makes business sense, it’s technically possible.” Stephen Rivers / Carscoops The comments suggest that while Kia is launching the K4 Hatchback in the States as an automatic-only offering for now, the company hasn’t ruled out giving enthusiasts the option of a stick shift if there’s sufficient interest. This aligns with Kia’s strategy in other regions, where manual-equipped K4 models are already offered, giving buyers a more engaging driving experience. What About That New K4 Wagon? We also brought up the K4 Sportswagon, which was recently unveiled overseas offering several engine options and even the choice of a manual gearbox on select models. A Kia representative confirmed to Carscoops that the model, built in Mexico, will remain exclusive to Europe for the foreseeable future, where demand for wagons remains strong. This means North American buyers will not have access to a wagon variant anytime soon, leaving the hatchback as the primary alternative to the sedan for those wanting a more practical, versatile K4. That’s a bummer, but perhaps it could also end up on U.S. soil if market demand and trade policy shifts under USMCA align. For now, buyers will need to choose from three available trims on the Hatchback, which all come with an automatic. The door remains open on a manual gearbox in the future, but, for now, not on the Sportswagon. Kia’s spokesperson emphasized that the car’s architecture can accommodate both if demand rises. Whether or not they come to the U.S. now hangs on how the market receives the K4 Hatchback. Stephen Rivers / Carscoops