- Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
- Opel Combo-e
- Renault 5 EV
- Golf GTE
- Can-Am Outlander
- Volkswagen Tiguan PHEV
- Dacia Duster
Here's all the latest spy shots you need to know about.
The CarBuzz automotive paparazzi had a busy week snapping upcoming machines, but, unfortunately, the only pics of immediate relevance to US buyers are those of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
Still, we wanted to have a look at all the snaps we received because there are some exciting cars that may find their way to America. In other cases, it's cool to see what's offered in other parts of the world. Spy shots of the Dacia Duster may not seem that interesting, but did you know that the Romanian brand recently announced that it will compete in the T1+ class at the 2025 Dakar Rally? That's the same year Ford is taking its all-new Ranger Raptor T1 to the desert. To show how serious it is, Dacia even poached WRC GOAT Sebastien Loeb right from under Audi's nose. And all of this makes spy images of the Duster cool.
But we digress. Here are the coolest spy snaps from this week, kicking off with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
The Ioniq 5 will debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next weekend, but until then, this is the best look at the upcoming all-electric hyper hatch we've seen so far. And we don't use the term “hyper hatch” lightly, as this particular N model will likely move the hatch segment forward in a big way.
These images give us a clearer look at the aggressive front bumper with its gaping intakes and prominent front splitter. You won't mistake this for the standard Ioniq 5, from the front or the rear, where more jaggedness is found.
Early reports suggested the N could have up to 600 horsepower, allowing for a 3.4-second sprint to 60 mph.
Opel Combo-e
The Opel Combo-e might not seem that interesting, but it's part of the Stellantis Project K9 family, which is a series of vans all based on the same platform. Stellantis will soon introduce the electrified versions of these models, which include the Opel/Vauxhall Combo, Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Partner, and Fiat Doblo.
Why should you care? Toyota is also in on the deal and uses the platform to produce the Toyota ProAce City, which, until now, has only been available with combustion engine options.
An all-electric last-mile delivery van from Toyota sounds like a good idea to us, but we'll have to wait until the first half of 2024 to see what's in store for this next-gen platform.
Renault 5 EV
Renault is working on a small electric vehicle sporting a design that harks back to the famous Renault 5. This is the first time we're seeing the production body, and it looks promising. It rides on the existing CMF-B platform, which is modified for electric vehicles.
While we're not particularly interested in this specific model, we're extremely excited about Alpine's version of this car. The French automaker showcased an electric hot hatch a few months ago, and we know it's incredibly keen to do business in America.
What we're looking at here might be the first images of an Alpine hyper hatch destined for America and a battle with the Ioniq 5 N mentioned earlier.
Golf GTE
The Golf GTE is a popular hybrid option sold in Europe but not the USA. We prefer the go-faster models like the sublime GTI and bonkers Golf R. Still, we can see a few subtle tweaks that will likely be applied to all models once the Golf gets a facelift in 2024. The rear lights are still hidden, but you can see the slimmer, more elegant headlights at the front.
The thing we're most interested in is the larger infotainment system. We hope it works better than the current system because it comes close to ruining an otherwise fantastic vehicle.
Can-Am Outlander
This is an extremely rare treat from Can-Am, the maker of fine recreational equipment. What you see here is an all-new quad parked next to one of its side-by-side vehicles. It's obviously not built for speed but rather hard work on a ranch. It's not pretty, but we do like the alloys. It's also a novelty to see such small camouflage panels, but what really gets us going is the license plate holder. Can you imagine piloting this to work between Tesla Semis and GMC Hummers?
Volkswagen Tiguan PHEV
This is the first official sighting of the Tiguan plug-in hybrid, based on the all-new model, which is only expected to arrive in the USA in 2025. There's not much to see here that we haven't seen before. The only difference between this and the all-new model is a plug on either side.
According to the rumor mill, two PHEVs will be available. The low-output version will produce 201 hp, while the hotter one will have 268 hp. Thanks to an 18.5-kilowatt-hour battery, these models will do 62 miles on electricity alone.
Dacia Duster
The Dacia Duster is definitely not coming to the USA, but it is an exciting car. Previous models have been well-received in the countries they're sold, offering a cheaper and more luxurious rival to the Suzuki Jimny. It has never been as capable off-road, but it's much better than expected, thanks to a relatively simple and robust drivetrain.
The new Duster will be built on Groupe Renault's CMF-B architecture, so there's room for combustion and electrified options.
It is going more upmarket, so it will be interesting to see how its loyal customers respond.
Keyword: Spy Shots Of The Week: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, Dacia Duster, Renault 5 EV, VW Tiguan PHEV, and Facelifted eGolf