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  • 🔋 Hyundai Reinvents Driving 🛞

🔋 Hyundai Reinvents Driving 🛞

PLUS: Honda brings Minivans back 🚐

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Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

  • Hyundai Reinvents Driving 🛞

  • Kia’s Modular Vehicle - The PV5 🧩

  • Honda’s Space-Hub - Minivans are back baby 🚐

HYUNDAI REINVENTS DRIVING 🛞

So, Hyundai Mobis just pulled the sheet off their new electric ride, the Mobion, at CES 2024.

It's like they've strapped a pair of rocket boots to a skateboard with this new e-Corner System. It's got motors in the wheels that do the twist and shout—steering and braking all in one.

Lee Seung-hwan, the brainiac at Hyundai's future tech lab, says this gizmo lets them play Tetris with car parts since there's less mechanical junk to deal with.

They're not putting this in your everyday grocery-getter, though. It's for those fancy "built-for-a-reason" vehicles.

This thing can crab walk—no, not the dance move—the actual car can sidestep like a crab. It's also got this diagonal drive mode, so it can slink around corners like it's dodging lasers in a heist movie. Plus, a pivot turn that lets it twirl on the spot like a ballerina.

They've also slapped on some serious spy gear for the self-driving part, with three LiDAR systems scanning for anything that moves.

And it projects stuff on the ground, like a video game, showing you where to go and blinking when there's a pedestrian playing chicken with your bumper.

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KIA’S MODULAR VEHICLE - THE PV5 🧩

Kia's rolling out a new electric van called the PV5, and it's shaping up to be the Swiss Army knife of the van world. Starting in 2025, they're going to shake up our van expectations with some real transformer moves.

At CES, they pulled the curtain back on the PV1, PV5, and the big boss PV7, all lined up and looking like they're about to drop the hottest mixtape of 2025. But the real headliner is the PV5. This thing has a 'party in the back' with a twist—you can swap out the rear end faster than you can say "let's hit the road." It's like having a work truck by day and a minivan by night, then it turns into a camper for those weekend escapes.

They're keeping mum on how long the switcheroo takes, but word on the street is it's a matter of minutes, thanks to some nifty lightweight design. And talk about downsizing—they've managed to slash parts by more than half.

The PV5 is not just a van; it's a moving room where you can actually move. It's got the height for you to stretch your legs, whether you're delivering parcels or people. It's 4.7 meters of "we can do this all day," and Kia's hinting it won't break the bank either.

The tech's not all future-fancy—no 800-volt lightning charge here, just a solid 400-volt system like the upcoming EV5. It'll charge slower, but hey, your wallet won't feel as light. The PV1 is your go-to for darting around the city, and the PV7 is like the big sibling with muscles for the heavy lifting, coming in 2027 with the quick charge flex.

Kia's also planning to turn the PV1 and PV5 into self-driving wunderkinds, maybe with some help from those hypercar gurus at Rimac. Inside the vans, it's all about the smart life, with AI and enough connectivity to make your smartphone jealous. They're talking about a steering wheel that folds away for a desk—because why not?

Customization's the name of the game with these vans. Need a pop-up shop or a roving boutique? They've got you covered with a rail system that's ready to hang whatever your business needs, from espresso machines to the latest fashion.

These vans will be rolling off a brand spanking new assembly line in Korea, with Kia aiming to pump out a cool 150,000 of these babies annually. Oh, and they're not stopping there—they've got their sights set on robotic helpers that could take the grunt work out of deliveries. Imagine a little robot buddy that does the heavy lifting right to your doorstep.

So, if you're in the market for a van that's part workhorse, part chameleon, and all tech-savvy, Kia's basically saying, "Hold my beer," and is about to show the world how it's done.

 

HONDA’S SPACE-HUB - MINIVANS ARE BACK BABY 🚐

Honda's at CES turning heads with their new EV concepts, the Saloon and Space-Hub. It's like they're saying, "Forget roads, we're heading to the stars!" And they're not just for show—Honda's dead serious about putting the Saloon into production in North America come 2026.

So, what's the big deal with these electric dream machines? Honda's cooking up a whole "0 Series," starting from scratch to redefine what getting from A to B means. The Saloon is their poster child for this new era, sporting a floor so low you'd think it's limbo champion and an outside so wide it's practically hugging the curb.

They've gone all-in on the eco-friendly vibe, decking out both the inside and outside with materials that probably give Mother Nature the warm fuzzies. And driving it? They say it'll be a breeze with a dashboard that's like chatting with a robot buddy—friendly and smart.

The Space-Hub's got the minivan look, but it's like a minivan went to the gym and got a tech makeover. It's got a windshield you could probably watch a movie on and headlights that are basically a fancy LED show.

These EVs are like rolling robots with steer-by-wire and fancy movement systems. They've even got a battery that charges up faster than you can scroll through your socials. And safety? Honda's got that covered too with some sort of next-level AI babysitter that keeps an eye on you while you drive.

But wait, there's a twist: the 0 Series is gonna learn from you. Drive it around and it starts picking up on your habits, making suggestions like an overeager personal assistant. It's also got the scoop on your surroundings, so you're never really lost, just "adventuring."

Remember Honda's "Keep Dreaming" campaign? Well, with these EVs, it feels like they're telling us to buckle up because the future's about to get real zippy. And with a little help from their buddies at General Motors, they're not just dreaming, they're doing.

THE JUICE 🔋

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