My GT7 Log: Beyond Competition

Japan and South Korea are known as “frenemies.” They have a checkered past since Japan split Korea into two. This past did not stop the two countries from jointly hosting the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which was a true display of frenemies. The same goes for present-day WRC when Toyota Gazoo Racing and Hyundai N clash for dirt supremacy.

In honor of the recent Hyundai N x Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival, we celebrate the rivalry between the two Far East motoring superpowers by comparing the two Vision Gran Turismo concepts from Hyundai and Toyota.

The Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo is a concept car that paved the way for Hyundai’s high-performance division. This hybrid race car has a hydrogen fuel cell system that delivers 871 horsepower through four independent motors. This fuel cell and motor combination allows the Hyundai N 2025 to have a phenomenal driving experience.

The FT-1 Vision Gran Turismo is what happens when the FT-1 Concept, which served as the blueprint for the Supra revival project, transformed into a race car. It's a futuristic version of the Toyota Supra used in the JGTC (Super GT) races in the past, but it's not a JGTC car. While it's just a concept, the FT-1 VGT proves Toyota has a lot of potential and passion for motorsports.

After a quick introduction of the cars from Toyota and Hyundai, let's pit these Far East rivals around Suzuka Circuit, which is considered the sacred ground of Japanese motorsports. Let's roll the tape.

Here are the results...

FT-1 VGT - 2m05.872s

N 2025 VGT - 1m46.484s

It's a huge shocker of a result, judging by the fact that Hyundai's investing heavily in the world of electrification while Toyota's lagging behind and sticking to its old-school principles. Either way, while Hyundai has the upper hand against the Japanese motoring giant, the results don't really matter because this comparison is a demonstration of how capable these two Far East motoring giants are.

Hyundai and Toyota are known for shaking things up. They are both creating fun-to-drive cars as hinted by their high-performance divisions; Hyundai N and Toyota Gazoo Racing. While the N cars stick to the "never just drive" mantra, the TGR cars are all about "pushing the limits for better."

They've raced as competitors. But when they meet, a new thrill begins.

Beyond competition, united by passion.

Kia EV3 vs Hyundai Casper Electric

The first-ever Kia EV3 all-electric crossover slots in as the most affordable model in Kia’s lineup of electric crossovers, with prices starting at 39.95 million won (around $33,000). While it is the most affordable of Kia’s electric crossovers, it’s still not cheap. After factoring in additional costs like taxes and registration, the price of an EV3 will likely be closer to $40,000. That’s still a solid value for an all-electric crossover from a reputable automaker.

2025 Kia EV3

A concept turned reality, the EV3 takes over the void left by the Soul when it was gutted off from the lineup three years ago, moments after the new Kia logo's unveiling.

2025 Kia EV3

The EV3 is a concept car turned reality. It fills the gap left by the Soul crossover, which was discontinued three years ago. The EV3 has nearly identical styling to the concept car it was inspired by, and it's sized like the defunct Soul. This compact size makes it easy to live with, though it's obviously also a "mini-me" EV9. The cubic-styled wheel designs add a nice touch and give the vehicle a distinctive and futuristic look. It looks like something straight out of Tetris.

2025 Kia EV3 interior

The Kia EV3 also features a minimalist interior. The materials used to construct the cabin are also recycled. It’s a great look that makes sense for an electric vehicle. Plus, you’ll feel good about reducing waste every time you get behind the wheel. 

While drivers are greeted by its 30-inch screen on the driver's side with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a five-inch air-conditioning touch panel, there's one annoying feature that will ruin someone from his or her sweet spot; the Kia EV-first AI assistant that works just like the Amazon Alexa nonsense.

Of course, being a five-seater crossover, the EV3's rear seats can be folded down for added space. It even comes with a rear hidden compartment to store some more. Having a compact crossover with a 25-litre frunk and a 460-litre boot really means business, especially if it's a Kia.

2025 Kia EV3

Built on the Hyundai Motor Group's E-GMP, the EV3's electric powertrain runs on a 400V architecture and an 81.4-kWh NMC battery for the Long Range variant while Standard Range variants run on a 58.3-kWh NMC battery. Both variants run on a front-mounted electric motor that produces 204PS of power and 283Nm of torque. It does 0-100kph in 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 170 km/h. Fair enough.

The Long Range variant is good for up to 501km of driving range in one full charge and it will take around 30 minutes to reach from 10% to 80% while charging at a public charging station.

Being front-wheel-drive only, the EV3 features eDTVC for better traction for moderate reasons. It even comes with the new i-Pedal 3.0 regenerative braking with one-pedal operation just like the Nissan Leaf. As for safety, the EV3 is prepped with notable features such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Highway Driving Assist, Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Remote Smart Parking Assist, among others. 

The Kia EV3 crossover is the baby of the Kia EV lineup. There's also the recently facelifted EV6 and the king-sized EV9. The EV3 looks like the concept car it was inspired by, and it's sized like the discontinued Soul crossover. It's a compact size that's easy to handle in the city. I'm not sure how I feel about the AI assistant. It's kind of annoying and might be hard for people to fall asleep in the back seat.

However, if you find the Kia EV3 too expensive or too annoying because of the AI assistant injected inside, there is a cheaper and simpler alternative: the Hyundai Casper Electric.

2025 Hyundai Casper Electric

2025 Hyundai Casper Electric interior

Priced at 31,493,670 Korean Won plus additional costs, the simple-looking Casper Electric brings everything Koreans loved about the Casper, now with the all-electric powertrain to back it up.

Although it looks and feels just like its petrol-powered equivalent, the Casper Electric features specifically-made front lamps, tail lights, and a new interior featuring a new digital instrumental cluster and touchscreen that are longer than the one from the normal Casper. Asked about the boot space, it's good for up to 351 liters with the rear seats folded down. It's offered only in one variant with five seats.

Bolted to a front-mounted electric motor and a 49 kWh battery, the Casper Electric produces 115PS of power and 147Nm of torque. It does 0-100kph in 10.7 seconds and a top speed of 150kph. As for driving range, it's good for up to 315km on one full charge.

The Casper Electric features a wide array of safety techs such as lane keeping assist, lane following assist, blind spot collision avoidance assist, forward collision-avoidance assist 1.5, and parking collision avoidance assist rear. It even comes with rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, safety exit warning, smart cruise control with stop-and-go, highway driving assist 1.5 (HDA 1.5), intelligent speed limit assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, leading vehicle departure alert, and rear occupant alert.

To sum things up, the Kia EV3 is the more expensive and feature-rich of the two, and it's also a larger car. The Hyundai Casper Electric, on the other hand, is more affordable and simpler. Both are fun to drive, but I would recommend the Casper Electric to people who are on a budget or who don't need all the bells and whistles.

The more you know...

Photo: Kia, Hyundai

My FH5 Log: The Silent Movement

Kia's back in Forza! This time around, they've added the latest car to bear the new Kia logo. You know the one, the weird-looking one with the "Movement that Inspires" slogan.

What Kia is this, you may ask? Here's a hint; this is the overall prize car in the Forza Horizon 5 Modern Horizons update by hitting 80 points. It won the 2022 European COTY, 2022 Korean COTY, 2022 Red Dot Award for Best of the Best Car Design and Innovative Product, 2022 What Car? Awards Car of the Year and Electric SUV of the Year, and of course, 2023 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year.

The answer is this; The Kia EV6 GT. Before driving this award-winning EV, let's take a quick dive into the EV6 GT.

First launched in 2021, the Kia EV6 signaled the beginning of a new age for Kia. With its just-size styling and performance that defy expectations, the EV6 is the real materialization of the "Movement that Inspires" slogan. The EV6 GT is the range-topper that starts at 76,680,000 Korean Won plus additional costs when it went on sale a year after the normal EV6's launch. With the GT button pressed,  it will unleash the full capability of the EV6 GT. Apart from the adjustments to the e-LSD, electronically controlled suspension, and whatnots, it delivers an explosive performance of 585PS of power, 740Nm of torque, a 0-100kph time of 3.5 seconds, and a top speed of 260kph. As for the range, it's good for a combined 312km.

Not too shabby for an EV, right? Yes and no. Although I am utterly grateful to have a spin with this high-performance all-electric crossover that upsets the world over, that's the new world order the Korean way to you, feels like it wasn't enough to take on this...

As Han from The Fast and The Furious universe said, “What you think, I’m gonna let you roll in a Hyundai?” For now, yes. There's an all-electric Hyundai crossover that is worthy of bearing the N mark and I won this car straight from the Modern Horizons Storm Season Playlist.

This is the first-ever Hyundai IONIQ 5 N. The all-electric high-performance crossover with the credentials of the N car.

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 N is the high-performance version of the IONIQ 5 crossover and a sure sign that N is embracing electrification. It's got a sporty design, and the N Steering Wheel with N-specific functions, as well as a center console with race-specific features for your track day use.

The IONIQ 5 N is armed with an 84 kWh Li-ion battery pack and two electric motors powering the front and rear wheels. It produces a default 609 PS of power and 740 Nm of torque, more powerful than the Kia EV6 GT. With the N Grin Boost engaged for ten seconds, the power gets bumped to 650 PS, and with N Launch Control in play, it's capable of a 0-100 km/h time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 260 km/h. 

Although winning the 2024 World Performance Car award as well as Top Gear 2023 Car of the Year, Hyundai has really outdone itself with the IONIQ 5 N. This high-performance electric crossover not only looks the part but it's got the power and speed to back it up. The fact that it recently set a new record at Pikes Peak with a time of 9 minutes and 30.852 seconds in the Modified and Production SUV/Crossover classes is proof of that. I'm sure this car will continue to turn heads and make waves in the automotive world.

Having enjoyed driving the two award-winning Korean EVs, it's time for the long-awaited duel. The Kia EV6 GT and the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N will clash to the top of the caldera with the fastest time will decide the victor. Obviously, the IONIQ 5 N has the upper hand because it's more powerful than the EV6 GT and it has one thing the EV6 GT doesn't; the N Drift Optimizer. I can enable the IONIQ 5 N's drifting capabilities at the push of the button. Long story short but you get the point.

Anyway, the grudge match between the two Korean high-performance EVs is about to begin. Roll the tape. Dojeon!

And now the results...

EV6 GT - 3m31.428s

IONIQ5 N - 3m23.687s

Hyundai wins the day! With its powerful electric drivetrain, unorthodox dynamics, and recent PPIHC experience, the IONIQ 5 N proved itself to be the victor over the Kia EV6 GT. I have to say that Hyundai really outdid itself with this high-performance electric crossover. Not only does it look the part, but it's also got the power and speed to back it up. With these recent developments, it's clear to me that Hyundai is embracing electrification, and I can't wait to see what they do next.

As Korean car manufacturers, Kia and Hyundai are in some ways part of the same family tree. But in another way, their recent models are showing the opposite to be true. The Kia EV6 GT and the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N both won Car of the Year in their respective years, but when you pit these award-winning cars against each other, the Hyundai comes out on top.

The "new normal" is upon us, and it's clear that electrification is the future. But the Hyundai Motor Group knows how to make EVs fast and clever. They've made these cars not just environmentally friendly but really fun to drive as well.

The more you know.

List of two-seater SUVs you CAN buy

The Land of the Oppas is one of the few places in the world where you’ll see two-seater SUVs. Most people think they’re just a myth, but they’re real! 

Two-seat sport utility vehicles are designed to be used both for business and outdoor purposes. In contrast to other sport utility vehicles, these vehicles consist of just two seats and an empty trunk. It could be said that the wall in the back is their third wheel. Despite their lack of creature comforts, they are surprisingly enjoyable to drive.

Here is the list of two-seater SUVs you CAN buy.

Hyundai Casper Van - The Hyundai Casper Van is the smallest and cheapest two-seater SUV you can buy. It starts at 13,750,000 Korean won, plus additional costs. It has a 1.0L Smartstream engine, a 4-speed automatic transmission, 14.3 km/L of fuel economy, and 940 liters of boot space. It has a 300-kilogram capacity, so it's a great option for both business and outdoor use.

Hyundai Casper Van

KGM Torres Van - The two-seater KGM Torres Van, priced at 26,660,000 Korean Won plus additional costs, strips away the second-row seating and replaces it with a wall behind the front seats and railings on the rear passenger doors, giving it 1,462 liters of boot space and 300kg capacity. It still comes with the 1.5L T-GDi engine producing 170PS of power while mated to an AISIN 6-speed AT.

KGM Torres Van

KGM Torres EVX Van - You've seen the petrol variant. Now here comes its EV equivalent, now in a two-seater variant. Just like its petrol-powered equivalent, the all-electric EVX Van, priced at 44,380,000 Won plus additional costs, strips away the second-row seating and replaces it with a wall behind the front seats and railings on the rear passenger doors, giving it 1,462 liters of boot space and 300kg capacity. Like the normal EVX, it comes with a 152kW electric motor with a 73.4kWh battery. The driving range is an average of 411km in one full charge.

KGM Torres EVX Van

Renault QM6 Quest - The Renault QM6, formerly sold Euro-wide as the Koleos before it was replaced by the sixth-generation Espace, still exists in South Korea and it's been facelifted for the third time. The recent minor change welcomes the two-seater Quest variant powered only by a 2.0L LPe engine that produces 140PS of power and has a fuel economy of 8.7km/L. Prices start at 30,700,000 Korean Won plus additional costs. The two-seater QM6 Quest strips away the rear seats for a wall and railings. As a result, it has 1,413 liters of boot space, less than the KGM Torres Van, and like most two-seater SUVs, it has a 300kg capacity.

Renault QM6 Quest

...and these are the two-seater SUVs you CAN buy. The next time someone says there's no such thing in the world as a two-seater SUV, tell someone to go to South Korea. The answer is all over from Seoul to Busan. Even Jeju Island.

Annyeong!

My FH5 Log: Never Just Drive

In 2015, Hyundai announced a new high-performance brand called N. Born in Namyang, Honed at Nurburgring, that's what N is made for.

Nearly a decade has passed and the Hyundai N project spawned numerous high-performance offerings such as this...

This is the Hyundai Veloster N, the first Hyundai N car sold in South Korea. Based on the second-generation Veloster that was launched in 2018, it features specially made suspension geometry and tuning, not to mention the N Power Sense Axle, track-focused N mode on the suspension setup, N Corner-Carving Limited-slip Differential, and N Grin Control System drive mode selection system. The 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine produces up to 275PS of power output and mated exclusively with a close-ratio, short-throw six-speed manual transmission with downshift rev-matching capability. Two years later, an available 8-speed double-clutch gearbox was added.

Next up is the Kona N. The first and only high-performance crossover SUV from the N range. Based on the facelifted first-generation Kona, it features unique N aesthetics inside and out while being powered by the same 2.0L 280PS Turbo GDi engine and the 8-speed wet-type N DCT gearbox as the Veloster N. It does 0-100kph in 5.5 seconds with a Launch Control set and a top speed of 240kph. It also comes with numerous high-performance functions such as the N Power Shift, N Grin Shift, and the most clever of the three, the N Track Sense Shift which optimizes adaptive shift for racetrack driving.

The addition of the Pirelli P-Zero tires, R-MDPS, ECS, TCS, N Corner Carving Differential, and N Power Sense Axle really made a difference to this front-wheel-drive hot crossover in terms of handling.

With the success of the so-called Hyundai N "First Family" and with the motoring world embracing the "new normal", the N project envisioned their "new normal" challenger that proves that the N project is ready in the age of electrification.

This is the Hyundai N Vision 74 Concept, a retro-futuristic Fuel Cell Electric vehicle that I won as the overall prize from Forza Horizon 5's Horizon Retrowave series update for 80 points.

Unveiled at the N Day 2022 event as one of the two "rolling lab" concepts alongside the IONIQ 6-based RN22e Concept, the Hyundai N Vision 74 Concept uses the Pony Coupe Concept from 1974 as its base for its retro-futuristic high-performance FCEV concept.

Powering this retro-futuristic concept car is a hydrogen fuel cell hybrid system that features two tanks under a rear window carrying a total of 4.2kg of hydrogen that is fed to an 85kw fuel cell stack at the front. Energy comes from the underfloor-mounted 62.4kWh lithium-ion battery. This hydrogen fuel cell hybrid system produces over 680PS of power and 900Nm of torque. It does 0-100kph in four seconds and flat out at 250kph. As for the range, it is 600km.

To demonstrate the capability of the N Vision 74 Concept, I've lined it up against past N models for a quick lap around Horizon Mexico Circuit. The past versus the future of N. This should be interesting. Roll the tape!

And here are the results...

Veloster N - 1m24.484s

Kona N - 1m22.099s

N Vision 74 - 1m15.008s

Welcome to the future, oppa.

For nearly a decade, the Hyundai N project has proven to be the biggest upset in the motoring world from the WRC to the Nurburgring and this "rolling lab" concept called the N Vision 74 is a sign of things to come from the N division. Electrification or not, a bridging bolt strike has been made.

Never Just Drive.

EPILOGUE

Having respect for the first N car sold in South Korea, the Veloster N is prepared for a one-car show I've lined up for. But first...

Remember this? I used to have that design back in FH4 but sadly, my so-called human error accidentally erased it. Long story short but my Mio Minato look is back in my Veloster N, this time in her second season look. I've even prepped it with the ardo kit and the eight-speed gearbox. Now it's a GT-class racer used during Superrace weekends.

With the makeovers done, it's time to hit the road with the Veloster N as it tries to take on what appears to be a re-enactment of the streets of Taipei at night, curated by a certain Forza fan. Let's roll the tape.

Still has plenty of juice even in the afterlife.

The Veloster. Born in 2011, died in 2022, forever a cult classic. The N version is the proper beginning and although it died and is gone, it properly served as the template of the Hyundai N brand. Positioned along with the Avante N and the Kona N, they really are the N's First Family. That's everything you need to know.

Let's wish for more Hyundai N cars in the world of Forza.

Genesis GV70 - 2025MY Minor Change

The Genesis GV70 is Korea's answer to the BMW X3. For the 2025 model year, the GV70 gets a minor change. This change gives those unfamiliar with Genesis a chance to rediscover the GV70 with a different perspective.

2025 Genesis GV70

2025 Genesis GV70

The 2025 Genesis GV70 starts at 53.8 million KRW plus additional costs, which is more expensive than its pre-facelifted model launched at the end of 2020. Amid a mammoth price hike, the latest minor change is all about rediscovering the luxury brand's second SUV in the same way that the GV80 and the G80 RG3 did when they gained their minor changes last year.

2025 Genesis GV70

Beginning with the exterior, the GV70 minor change gained a redesigned front grille, revised quad lamps and taillights, and new bumper designs with the Standard version abandoning the squarish faux exhausts while the Sport version ditching the round ones from behind in favor of squarish faux ones, this time it's horizontal. The revised exterior design made this minor change easy to understand.

2025 Genesis GV70 interior

The interior saw some major changes as hinted by the new dashboard layout, steering wheel design, and 27-inch OLED integrated wide display that combines the digital instrumental cluster and touch-screen infotainment system into one extra-long screen positioned to the driver's side. The rotary shift dial has been crystalized for showy purposes.

The seats are now festooned with Prime Nappa leather with Standard models featuring Elegance Line Mood Lighting and a choice of two two-tone interior colors; Slate Gray/Velvet Burgundy and Ocean Wave Blue/Havana Brown. The Sport variants feature magma-colored stitching and seatbelts, Sporty Line Mood Lighting, and a choice of Obsidian Black/Ultramarine two-tone and Obsidian Black Monotone interior colors.

Like the pre-facelift, the GV70 can carry up to 542L with the rear seats present. By folding the rear seats down, you can utilize up to 1,678L.

2025 Genesis GV70

Learning lessons from the recently facelifted GV80 and G80, the GV70 minor change threw away the diesel powertrain, leaving only a choice of two gas-powered engines; the 304PS Smartstream G 2.5T engine, and the range-topping 3.5L V6 turbo engine with 380PS of power. All of these engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic and can be fitted with the available AWD with Auto Terrain Mode that automatically detects road conditions, be it tarmac, gravel, or snow, delivering optimal driving performance. It even comes with Integrated Driving Modes that affect the behavior of the GV70 from fuel efficiency to sporty driving.

As expected the GV70 minor change is fully prepared with the most advanced safety features such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with the additional Evasive Steering Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assistance, Highway Driving Assist 2, Navigation-Based Smart Cruise Control, Surround View Monitor, Rear Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Remote Smart Parking Assist.

Whether you are familiar with the GV70 or not, this minor change is all about rediscovering this crossover in a slightly different approach from its revised exterior, new interior, new tech, and a petrol engine lineup with the electric variant following shortly. The more you know,.

Available Colors: Uyuni White, Seville Silver, Makalu Gray, Beak Black, Stor Green, Ceres Blue, Capri Blue, Mauna Red, Matterhorn White, Makalu Gray Matte, Stor Green Matte, and Ceres Blue Matte.

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company

My GT7 Log: The Genesis Vision Gran Turismo

Since its inception in 2013, the Vision Gran Turismo project has invited the world's best carmakers to create concept cars that fit the theme of the Gran Turismo franchise. As a general rule, since the Gran Turismo series is purely Japanese, they only allow carmakers, foreign or domestic, that are available in Japan. However, there's one carmaker that broke the general Vision Gran Turismo rule.

Can you guess what this is? I can tell you, it's not what you think it is. It's a car that broke the general Vision Gran Turismo rule.

This is the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo Concept. It's Genesis' entry to the Vision Gran Turismo concept and a real rulebreaker. Genesis, the luxury arm of the Hyundai Motor Group, is not available on Japanese roads, yet it managed to slip into the world of Gran Turismo under the radar.

So, what's it all about the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Gran Turismo? This concept is the byproduct of Genesis' near-decade history since the brand emerged at the end of 2015. Unveiled at the Gran Turismo World Series 2023 World Finals, this concept features the ultimate expression of Genesis' signature design elements that debuted on the GV80 crossover in January 2020 such as the quad lights and the grille inspired by the Genesis logo. 

It even sports a Magma exterior color that first appeared in the GV80 Coupe Concept, the exterior color no production Genesis model has, as of now.

Powering this concept is a twin-charged Lambda II V6 engine that produces 870HP of power and with the electric motor synchronizing the petrol engine, it produces a total output of 1071HP.

I'm going to take the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo Concept for a one-lap time attack around Watkins Glen. I know because this is the only place I can let it loose because the USA is a huge market for the Genesis brand, therefore, it's ideal. Anyway, let's roll the tape.

Having pushed this 4WD Korean cuisine around New York's finest race track, I did it in 1m52.075s. Not too shabby but a lot of effort is needed. Still, I did my best to get my first dibs on this Genesis Vision Gran Turismo concept.

For a concept that defied the general Vision Gran Turismo rule, because Genesis is not available in the Japanese market, the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo Concept demonstrates the Korean luxury brand's near-decade dedication to disrupting the rules of luxury cars. This is the template and the sign of things to come from Genesis. The more you know.