Thursday, 03 July 2025
Matt M. Myftiu

Matt M. Myftiu

Matt Myftiu has been a journalist for two decades with a focus on technology, NASCAR and autos.

The iconic Sprinter has scooped Van of the Year at The Motor Awards, which was shortlisted by the automotive journalists from across News UK’s titles, including The Sun, and then ultimately judged as the winner by the readers themselves.

The Sprinter took the Van of the Year honour at a ceremony in The News Building in London Bridge last night, where it was described as ‘the ‘Swiss Army knife of vans’.

Steve Bridge, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK Ltd, commented: “To be shortlisted thanks to the motoring journalists is a huge honour, and then for Sprinter to actually receive the award because it had been voted for by the people that drive vans day-in, day-out, really is testament to the service this vehicle dutifully carries out for thousands of owners and operators, who consistently trust in us and our vehicles to keep their businesses moving. Thank you to everyone who voted for Sprinter as their Van of the Year.”

Like previous generations of the multi-award-winning Mercedes-Benz workhorse, the next Sprinter raises the bar in the large van segment. Since its launch in 1995, the Sprinter has defined and re-defined a whole segment numerous times. It has notched a succession of technological ‘firsts’ including the ESP stability system, Crosswind Assist, the Euro VI emissions standard, COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST, Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keeping Assist, and collected more than 80 industry awards.

For full pricing and specification, please visit www.mbvans.co.uk 

— Press release courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

 

Renesas Electronics Corporation, a supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, and StradVision, Inc., a vision processing technology solutions provider for autonomous vehicles with expertise in deep learning, have announced the joint development of a deep learning-based object recognition solution for smart cameras used in next-generation advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) applications and cameras for ADAS Level 2 and above.

To avoid hazards in urban areas, next-generation ADAS implementations require high-precision object recognition capable of detecting so-called vulnerable road users (VRUs) such as pedestrians and cyclists. At the same time, for mass-market mid-tier to entry-level vehicles, these systems must consume very low power. The new solution from Renesas and StradVision achieves both and is designed to accelerate the widespread adoption of ADAS.

“A leader in vision processing technology, StradVision has abundant experience developing ADAS implementations using Renesas’ R-Car SoCs, and with this collaboration, we are enabling production-ready solutions that enable safe and accurate mobility in the future,” said Naoki Yoshida, Vice President of Renesas’ Automotive Technical Customer Engagement Business Division. “This new joint deep learning-based solution optimized for R-Car SoCs will contribute to the widespread adoption of next-generation ADAS implementations and support the escalating vision sensor requirements expected to arrive in the next few years.”

Targeting the security and defense sectors, INKAS has announced the first-ever armored Bentley Bentayga SUV
 
“The Bentley Bentayga, when equipped with its W12 powertrain, is one of the fastest luxury SUVs in the market today; our priority was to leverage the vehicle’s value by adding high-quality ballistic characteristics without sacrificing its technical performance,” said David Khazanski, CEO, INKAS® Armored Vehicle Manufacturing. “We made use of innovative materials which are lightweight, but at the same time certified to all globally-recognized ballistic standards. This vehicle successfully protects its passengers from assault rifles and grenades, but does not behave too differently on the road from an unarmored Bentayga.” 

 

It’s rare to be a “first” or “only” anything in today’s automotive world.
But the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid can claim to be America’s first and only hybrid minivan, an impressive feat in and of itself.

Why go this route? For one thing, Chrysler has long been a leader in the minivan segment, and is smart to make moves like this to appeal to younger families looking for a roomy ride that is also eco-friendly.

Here’s a full report on what the Pacifica hybrid has to offer.

As Americans continue to flock to SUVs, the field of competitors in the large sedan battlefield remains a small one, especially when you exclude the high-end luxury models.

One holdout in the category that is sticking around and trying to remain a segment leader is the Toyota Avalon, which I recently spent some time in.

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The Toyota Avalon, redesigned for the 2019 model, makes a strong impression with its unique look and luxurious feel.

During my time in the Avalon, many people told me they thought it was a Lexus. 

I was not surprised to hear this, as the Avalon looks and feels like an entry-level Lexus model.

The sedan that has been racking up awards all year, including the big Car of the Year prize at NAIAS to kick off 2019, was not what everyone expected.

The Genesis G70, the third vehicle offered by Hyundai’s still-new luxury Genesis label, debuted in style, and has earned nearly universal praise.

But is this small sport sedan worth all the hype? Read on for a full report of my time in the 2019 G70 to find out.

So you want a luxury SUV … but you also want it to be sporty and racy, not just the usual focus on comfort and a smooth ride?

While the options are not plentiful, I may have a solution for you: Meet the 2019 BMW X2 M35i.

In the category of compact luxury SUVs, options include: Volvo XC40, BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Lexus UX, Cadillac XT4 and Infiniti QX30. All of these vehicles have something to offer, but BMW was smart to also offer the X2, a more sporty version of its X1 compact.

The X2 comes in three trim levels, a regular front-wheel drive version (sDrive 28i), a regular all-wheel drive version (xDrive 28i), and finally the best (and really, the only) option to consider: The M35i.

The station wagon is not dead. It's just been upgraded. 

The 2019 Volvo V90 Cross Country is proof of that.

For those who aren’t sold on today’s crop of endless SUVS and crossovers, the V90 Cross Country is a refreshing alternative: A throwback to the wagons of the past that combines a high-end design with versatile storage options and also offers the ability to get off the beaten path. 

 

Many SUVs these days aim for a bit of flash.

Some razzle dazzle to get your attention amid a growing sea of offerings.

But not the Toyota Highlander.

It is what it is. No gimmicks.

It’s an SUV for families who want reliability and versatility. And it delivers.

Let's take a more in-depth look at how the 2019 Toyota Highlander measures up in a crowded SUV field.

 

Flagship sedans need to be showstoppers — high-end, luxurious models that will make their owners feel immediately at home and offer power, looks and technology that can create buyer loyalty. 

Only a few vehicles really meet this criteria: S class (Benz), 7 series (BMW), A8 (Audi), LS (Lexus) … and now, the K900 from Kia.

No, that’s not a typo.

In addition to the usual suspects,  there is a strong contender emerging in the class of full-size luxury sedans. And oddly enough, it comes from Kia, a brand not often associated with luxury design.

I recently spent some time driving a 2019 Kia K900, and I’m back with a full report on this surprisingly well-executed contender for the luxury sedan crown.

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