The current BMW 7 Series as a high-end luxury sedan has already been presented to you as the i7. We now have the new 740d with all-wheel drive and Level 3 autonomous driving. Measuring 5.39 meters in length, it features plenty of space, soft-close doors, multi-sensory entertainment, the 8-speed automatic transmission and yet more driving pleasure. More on this can be found in our earlier news.

Mach-e GT – more Mustang power for your comparison drives: We have already presented the Mustang Mach-e, which is positioned by Ford as an SUV crossover. The Americans are now upping the ante: the All-Wheel Drive in the GT is now fueled by significantly more power. Adaptive dampers in the MagneRide chassis optimize road holding. Sports seats, higher-quality workmanship in our opinion and a special tool for semi-autonomous driving according to Level 2+ round off the GT package.

The electric pioneer featuring a host of new details: The Model 3 from Tesla really is no longer an unknown quantity on German roads. Electric vehicles were still considered very much exotic when we first reported on the Model 3. Now, almost six years later, Tesla has launched an extensive facelift for what is currently its most affordable model on the market: the Model 3 Highland. The American manufacturer is lauding the new details under the motto “Get in and enjoy”: aerodynamically optimized styling, including the rims, less driving noise, a redesigned interior with higher-quality materials and acoustic glazing all round.

The new iX2 xDrive30 – a typical BMW sports model with rebellious traits: Right on time for the planned market launch in March, the new BMW iX2 xDrive30 is available at JB CarConcept for tests and comparison drives.

The new IONIQ 5 N - pioneer of the Hyundai electrification offensive: You were already able to book the Hyundai IONIQ 5 for your test drives and vehicle comparisons at JB CarConcept when it was launched almost three years ago. Having updated the model two years ago, Hyundai is taking the exciting 800-volt technology to the next level with the N version of the IONIQ 5: direct shifting and a motorsport feel for real enthusiasts. The Koreans have deployed a new technology kit, e.g. with N e-Shift and N Active Sound+, which will also be available in other models at a later date. So what's the result? This is hard to put into words - only extensive test drives and vehicle comparisons can provide answers.

Electric mid-size sedan with blade battery: The Chinese manufacturer is presenting its fifth all-electric vehicle on the European market with the BYD Seal. Drawing on a relatively large amount of experience from the domestic market in China, BYD has launched an attractive mid-size sedan. It not only excels with its sporty performance and modern design - BYD calls it “Ocean Aesthetics” - but also derives its energy from a so-called blade battery. Its cells are made of lithium iron phosphate and are deemed to be more sustainable as they can be produced without the use of cobalt. It is integrated into the supporting structure of the Seal thanks to cell-to-body technology meaning that it contributes to the generous amount of space. This, together with its dimensions, allows the BYD Seal to compete with top dogs such as the Model 3 from Tesla or the Polestar 2.

Nio ET5 Touring, stylish symbiosis of Nio design and estate car: The first electric estate car from Chinese manufacturer Nio: a smart touring car with style that is currently only comparable with premium-class combustion models. Fully electric estate cars from Europe are still lacking. Nio has once again demonstrated style with the ET5 Touring. The flowing roofline, panoramic glass roof, striking proportions and ambient lighting as a “digital waterfall” create plenty of elegant visual highlights. The result is that the ET5 Touring can be hailed as the winner of the German Design Award 2024.

Chic, compact and with 315 kW AWD power: The fact that the new EX30 comes from Volvo is obvious at first glance: it bears the classic Volvo design. Albeit in very compact dimensions: Measuring just over 4.20 meters in length, it rivals electric vehicles such as the VW ID.3, Smart #1, Kia Nero EV and BYD Dolphin or the VW Taigo in the combustion engine segment. As such, the EX30 steps into a market segment where the choice of electric vehicles is still limited. This begs the question of how the electric drive will fare where petrol and diesel clearly dominate.

Family-friendly Kia electric SUV with 800-volt technology: Just like the Porsche Taycan and the Ionic 5, the Kia EV9 also has an 800-volt system. It is also already set up for “bidirectional charging”. This means that the EV9 can deliver electricity from its battery to a household or the public grid. It would be a fascinating question for test and comparison drives to see whether this is currently relevant.