WLTP vs EPA vs CLTC

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Table of Contents

• WLTP vs EPA vs CLTC: Why Range Estimates Differ an …

• The 2025 LA Auto Show Had Its Moments Despite Not …

• These Are the Longest Electric Range PHEVs in the …

• The Coolest Cars, Trucks, and SUVs of 2025

• Spy Photos and Renderings of the Week

• The Kia Boys? In 2025? Sadly, Yes…

• The finish line 🏁

WLTP vs EPA vs CLTC: Why Range Estimates Differ and Which Is the Most Realistic

By: Cristian Agatie

The advertised fuel economy of a gasoline-powered vehicle is nothing more than an estimate, which can differ a lot due to the driving cycles used to measure fuel consumption. Discrepancies further affect battery-electric vehicles. For example, the exact same zero-emission model is marketed with 500 kilometers of range in the UK and 260 miles in the US of A.

How can the exact same vehicle, with the exact same drive unit and battery, deliver such wildly different range estimates depending on where it's sold? The answer lies in the region-specific approaches to vehicular testing. In Europe, the WLTP replaced the far too optimistic NEDC in September 2017 for new models and September 2018 for all new registrations.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency enforces a more stringent methodology, with the EPA testing vehicles differently from its European counterpart due to different driving realities. China relies on the famously exaggerated CLTC, which emphasizes long idle times and low-to-moderate speeds.

Given the headaches created by these discrepancies, autoevolution has decided to strip away the confusion by dissecting all three standardized driving cycles for light-duty vehicles. After that, mathematical correction factors will help us come up with a unified framework that should facilitate decoding the fuel economy and electric driving range estimates better than before.

WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicle Test Procedure)

In the continent where the modern automobile was born, the European Union adopted the Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicle Test Procedure in 2017. It was a long time coming, for it replaced a driving cycle that features mild acceleration, low maximum speeds, and long periods of idling for inflated figures. The New European Driving Cycle was born in the 1970s.

The WLTP's core objective is not real-world driving conditions, but global harmonization, which explains the first two words in its name. The Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicle Test Procedure is based on the World Light Vehicle Test Cycle, a specific laboratory test conducted on a chassis dynamometer that lasts approximately 30 minutes.

Over those minutes, a vehicle covers 23.25 kilometers (14.45 miles) in four driving phases. The shortest one simulates congested urban driving. Frequent acceleration from rest and stops are included, along with a maximum speed of 56.5 kph (35.1 mph). The medium-speed phase simulates city and suburban driving in lighter traffic at speeds no higher than 76.6 kph (47.6 mph).

In the medium-speed phase, a mix of sustained medium-speed driving and dynamic acceleration increases the overall power demand on the vehicle. The high-speed phase models rural highways and high-speed roads, lasting for a sustained period. This, in turn, means that aerodynamic drag begins to become a major factor in energy consumption, be it electricity, gas, or diesel. 

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The 2025 LA Auto Show Had Its Moments Despite Not Being Packed Necessarily

By: Aurel Niculescu

The start of November was a show of force (pun intended) on two different sides of the planet, with numerous novelties dropping exactly as they did during the golden days of automotive shows, at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo and the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Carmakers began presenting their novelties days in advance of the opening hours, and there was major buzz around both events. The shows themselves didn't disappoint in the least. It felt like it was pre-2020 all over again, in a good way. Naturally, the feeling carried over into the pre-days of the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show, aka AutoMobility LA.

The event organizers claim it's "the most influential auto show" and that "all roads lead here," with the poster for the event featuring prominent names (you can view it in the gallery). However, the absolute novelties were actually few and far in between. It doesn't matter if everyone's coming if they have yesterday's paper with them, right?

Well, that's not necessarily a surprise – it's the new normal since the pandemic, actually. On the other hand, the 2025 LA Auto Show does have the presumption of innocence, as many carmakers put major efforts into their showcases at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show and 2025 SEMA Show, leaving AutoMobility LA as the Cinderella of the automotive fall season.

Alas, when there are fewer novelties, you can always appreciate them better – so while the LA Auto Show wasn't packed, it did have its cool moments. For example, Honda announced the pricing for the popular 2026 Prelude Hybrid, which costs $42k and arrives with a single trim level. That was just the preamble, since they also dropped the mid-cycle refresh for the 2026 model year of the ubiquitous Honda Pilot, a three-row crossover SUV that will sell infinitely better than the reborn sports car.

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These Are the Longest Electric Range PHEVs in the US

By: Cristian Agatie

So-called "legacy carmakers" have been slow at adopting electric vehicles, mostly because it required overhauling their business model, supply chains, factories, and sales model. This left them in a predicament, as building EVs was expensive, but not having EVs in their lineups would've been even costlier, due to fines imposed for failing to meet their emissions quota.

With the current administration removing the tax credit, electric vehicles became suddenly more expensive. However, because the OBBB Act also removed the fines for not meeting the fleet emission targets, carmakers could return to business as usual. New EV projects were delayed or scrapped, while EV battery factories were put on the back burner.

The gas engine gained a new boost, especially as most carmakers now promote hybrids and plug-in hybrids as better alternatives to electric vehicles. The main line is that PHEVs provide the best of both worlds, enabling pure electric mobility while also alleviating range anxiety. The loss of the EV tax credit also made buying electric vehicles a lot less compelling for lower-income customers.

There are several types of plug-in hybrid vehicles, depending on how the battery and the combustion engines are used. In some cars, the gas engine can drive the wheels directly, and it does so most of the time, especially when full power is required. Others feature more powerful electric motors and only use the combustion engine to charge the battery.

The main advantage of PHEVs is well known, because carmakers have made impressive efforts to promote it. It's the flexibility of driving anywhere without worrying about range or the lack of charging infrastructure. Drive with zero emissions by charging the battery, thus benefiting from favorable zero-emissions-zone tariffs in some cities, and use the gas engine for longer trips when necessary.

However, carmakers and regulators failed to take into account people's laziness. Instead of charging the battery every time, most people find it more convenient to just use the combustion engine. This effectively turns the PHEV into a very expensive hybrid vehicle, only less efficient due to the higher mass of its bigger battery pack.

PHEVs sell for higher prices than hybrids and, in some cases, EVs. However, the biggest drawback is that the battery pack is aggressively cycled due to its small capacity. Whereas EVs can charge once a week and keep the battery below 80% to limit wear, PHEVs can be charged and discharged once or even twice a day. This led to accelerated wear and costly replacements. 

Plug-in hybrids are not for everyone, just like electric vehicles are not for everyone. Every potential buyer should carefully consider their situation and driving habits before deciding to buy a PHEV. In some cases, a cheaper hybrid car might be more suitable, and in others, an EV makes more sense. If you already decided that a PHEV is the best choice for you, we prepared a list of the models with the longest electric range sold in the US.

For the full article, please continue reading on our site.

The Coolest Cars, Trucks, and SUVs of 2025

By: Mircea Panait

With just one month separating 2025 from 2026, it's time to look back at what made this year great in the automotive space. Before going into the cars, trucks, and SUVs that we dig the most, we have to remember the bad parts of 2025 as well, beginning with the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill. This legislation loosened EPA and MPG requirements, eliminated civil penalties for CAFE noncompliance, eliminated the federal tax credit for EVs and added various tariffs that affected the auto industry.

In other places of the world, China's automotive industry is facing overcapacity. China also forced the industry to pay attention to affordability, which is a delicate matter in this economy. Even though demand for electric vehicles is rising, the truth is that demand hasn't taken off as initially expected.

This, in turn, resulted in changes to many EV-centric product strategies. Porsche and Bentley, for example, both confirmed that internal combustion vehicles will be produced until at least 2035. Keeping that in mind as we look forward to what awaits in 2026, these are autoevolution's favorite cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles of 2025.

Porsche 911 Turbo S – The best, made better

After introducing the hybridized 911 Carrera GTS with rear- and all-wheel-drive options, electrifying the 911 Turbo S was bound to happen. But in stark contrast to BMW's plug-in hybrid M5, the Neunelfer gained 80 kilos (nearly 180 pounds) over its predecessor. Porsche, however, is a bit cheeky with this claim.

You see, these 80 additional kilograms apply if the 992.2 features the standard two-seat layout instead of the standard four seats of the pre-facelift 911 Turbo S. In other words, the second phase of the 992-series 911 Turbo S is just as heavy as the Nissan GT-R. Speaking of which, pour one out for the R35 because the production line came to a halt in August 2025.

Depending on the body style, the 2026 Porsche 911 Turbo S is either $31,600 or $66,700 more expensive than its combustion-only forerunner. Easily the quickest Neunelfer in production today, this electrifying sports tourer needs 2.4 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) and tops 200 miles per hour (322 kilometers per hour).

Morgan Supersport – Modern power meets classic styling cues

Not exactly the most under-the-radar sports car out there, the Supersport is Morgan's latest way of saying that heritage matters. Truth be told, heritage in an industry where big changes happen fast is what makes the British thriller such a leftfield proposition.

Celebrating mechanical honesty and iconic design, the rear-drive roadster is considered a development of the Plus Six-derived Midsummer. Only 50 units of the Pininfarina-designed barchetta were produced, with all packing a very familiar BMW inline-six lump. The B58 single-turbo sixer and the ZF-supplied automatic transmission carry over to the Supersport.

An interchangeable soft and hard top roof is featured, along with centrally hinged hoods. The hard top is made of carbon composite, whereas mohair is the primary material of the folding soft top. All told, the interchangeable roof weighs only 19.7 kgs (43.4 pounds). The lightest specification of the Supersport tips the scales at 1,170 kgs (2,579 lbs).

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X – Paradigm shift

General Motors really went crazy with the C8-generation Chevrolet Corvette. From the initial switch to a mid-engine design for the Stingray to the introduction of the first-ever hybrid Corvette with the E-Ray and the world's largest flat-plane V8 in the Z06, this generation is the most ambitious one yet.

But General Motors isn't done. Last year, the Detroit-based automaker wowed everyone with the 1,064-horsepower ZR1. As if having the largest turbos ever fitted to a passenger vehicle wasn't enough, the American manufacturer furthered the ZR1 with electric oomph to create a hypercar slayer.

ZR1X is the short way of saying 1,250 horsepower, of which the front wheels receive up to 186 full-electric horsepower. Quite a bit punchier than Ferrari's polarizing F80, and nearly as powerful as the rear-drive McLaren W1, the 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X starts at $205,400 for the coupe in 1LZ flavor. 

For the full article, please continue reading on our site.

Spy Photos and Renderings of the Week

By: Mircea Panait

Stemming from a suggestion made by the deposed Shah of Iran, the Gelandewagen was developed by Daimler-Benz and Steyr-Daimler-Puch with dual-purpose capabilities. Last redesigned in 2024 with the introduction of the 465 series, the G-Wagen is produced in limited numbers by Magna Steyr in Austria. Similar to how Land Rover introduced a smaller version of the Discovery with the Discovery Sport, a more compact G-Class is under development.

Based on the prototypes captured by the carparazzi, a near-production concept will debut sometime in 2026. Believed to bear the W466 codename, and further believed to be called GLG, the newcomer features G-Class angular looks, a ladder frame-style chassis, and electric-only muscle. Potentially launching in 2027 as either a 2027 or 2028 model, the heavily anticipated Mini G will have to prove itself against Land Rover's baby Defender, which is also a full-electric affair.

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While on the subject of battery-electric vehicles, arch-rival BMW is developing a proper electric sedan. While not mechanically related to the next-generation 3 Series, both feature the Neue Klasse styling cues previewed by the Vision Neue Klasse and Vision Driving Experience concepts. The dash-to-axle ratios and three-box proportions are particularly similar.

On closer inspection, the shorter front overhang and flatter roofline of the i3 betray the all-electric powertrain of the greener sibling. In a similar fashion to the redesigned iX3, we look forward to massive driving range. As for the next iteration of the 3 Series, an internal combustion M3 with some kind of hybrid assistance will be sold together with an electric M3.

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A non-production digital take on a classic economy sedan, the Skoda 100 concept from Skoda exterior designer Martin Paclt digitally reinterprets the Czech automaker's first model to surpass one million sales. The original was produced between 1969 and 1977, with its name coming from the 1.0-liter powerplant.

Reinterpreted with Modern Solid touches while also retaining the rear-engine aesthetics of the Skoda 100 from the good ol' days, the concept omits the rear window entirely. Discreet vents on the rear fenders mimic the cooling vents of the original, but in this case, said openings are for cooling the rear-mounted electric drive unit and associated parts.

Even the LED lightbars for the front and rear ends reference the chrome strip and engine vent of the rear-drive forerunner. But alas, just like all other "Icons Get a Makeover" concepts from recent months, the Martin Paclt-designed 100 is not considered for production.

The Kia Boys? In 2025? Sadly, Yes…

By: Bogdan Popa

Believe it or not, but the Kia Boys are still around, and police in another American state learned this the hard way. Eureka Police Department officers responded to a call reporting a Kia theft attempt, only to spot another stolen Kia while on their way to the location. They were eventually interrupted by another stolen Kia, so their whole night turned into a continuous chase after stolen Kias.

Apple has already shipped a major CarPlay update with the release of iOS 26, so it's now Android Auto's time to shine.

Google has released a long-overdue Waze update on Android Auto – Waze is owned by Google – allowing users to access the app even while their phones are connected to their cars. Your passengers will love this feature, as they can now send traffic reports and adjust the destination while driving, with navigation displayed on the Android Auto screen.

Google also released another Android Auto update, bringing the app to version 15.8, while also fixing a widespread issue that caused the app to display all UI elements zoomed in on the Coolwalk screen and while running apps.

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