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Hyundai Motor’s Gaming-inspired INSTEROID Concept Car Debuts in Seoul

SEOUL (April 1, 2025) – Hyundai Motor Company continues to push the boundaries of automotive design with the unveiling of its visionary design concept car, INSTEROID, today in Seoul, Korea. INSTEROID embodies Hyundai Motor’s bold approach, merging gaming influences with extensive customization to captivate a new generation of drivers.

Based on the successful Hyundai INSTER electric sub-compact urban SUV, which launched last year and quickly became a global hit, INSTEROID takes the concept of sporty design and user experience to new heights. INSTER’s acclaim, including its selection as a top three finalist for the 2025 World Car of the Year award, sets a solid foundation for this radical ‘What if?’ project.

Crafted in secrecy by Hyundai Motor’s European design team, INSTEROID is a true concept car. Its name cleverly fuses the playful essence of ‘INSTER’ with the dynamic energy of ‘STEROID’, reflecting its spirited nature and muscular look.

Much like the off-road-inspired INSTER CROSS derivate shown at INSTER’s debut in 2024, INSTEROID is another step in the hot-selling production model’s journey. Its mission is clear: to challenge conventions, create emotions and redefine what a sporty EV can be.

“INSTEROID is a celebration of pure fun – a journey where we explored new ways to ignite emotion and imagination in every detail. It’s not just about how it looks, but also how it sounds and how makes you feel. From its bold visual language to the immersive sound experience, it’s a concept that invites everyone to dream a little louder and smile a little longer.”

– Simon Loasby, Senior Vice President and Head of Hyundai Design Center

More than just a car, INSTEROID represents a limitless vision of automotive innovation and imagination. It is engaging users on new levels of interaction through shape, light and sound.

“INSTEROID represents a modern take on the idea of a dream car. It is designed to inspire and create enthusiasm. This project allowed us to fully embrace unrestrained creativity, drawing inspiration from video games to create an emotional and engaging vision of Hyundai’s brand.”

– Eduardo Ramírez, Chief Designer at Hyundai Design Europe

Gamified design concept boasts sporty styling and eco-conscious materials
INSTEROID takes the INSTER production model to the next level with sporty, gaming-inspired features that include an extended, widened body, track-optimized wheels, and a prominent wing spoiler, diffuser and wheel arch air vents delivering advanced aerodynamics.

Inside, the cockpit offers a stripped-down layout, with bucket seats, a roll cage and a specialized instrument cluster creating an immersive driving experience. Every element is fully adjustable, reflecting the user-centered spirit of a garage-built machine true to the motto: “Build it, play it, break it, repeat.” Adding to its multisensory experience, INSTEROID produces a unique sound signature, leaving an unforgettable impression.

Building upon INSTER’s charismatic design, INSTEROID aims to transform the driving experience with its Drift Mode, promising competitive thrills paired with light-hearted driving enjoyment. Playful details, such as the integrated Beat House sound system and Message Grid, enable personalized interactions, further enhancing driver engagement. Located throughout the design, the Boost icon represents multiple unique personas, reinforcing the deep emotional connection between car and driver.

To optimize performance and reduce overall weight, lightweight lattice structures are seamlessly integrated. The striking exterior, finished in soft white shade, is punctuated by a single bold orange highlight – an unmistakable visual statement. Completing the vision, a reflective race suit with prominent INSTEROID lettering captures the fusion of car culture and youthful expression.

INSTEROID also embodies Hyundai Motor’s commitment to sustainability by pioneering innovative approaches to eco-conscious materials. The interior showcases 3D knit fabric crafted from recycled yarns, using a single-piece, made-to-measure process.

INSTEROID generates buzz on the way to Seoul Mobility Show
Hyundai Motor unveiled INSTEROID during a launch event for media and content creators at the Peaches D8NE(Dowon) cultural and retail space in Seoul’s Seongsu neighborhood, culminating with a private ‘Night Garage Party’ on April 1. The exhibition space also featured INSTER and the rugged, outdoor-focused INSTER CROSS, allowing for discussions with product and design specialists.

A dedicated space was established at the event venue, allowing visitors to experience a variety of games featuring INSTEROID. One of these games, developed by Hyundai Motor, is a time attack-style challenge where players collect ‘steroid’ items in INSTER, enabling the car to evolve into INSTEROID. This game is set to be unveiled to the public in April via a URL, eliminating the need for app downloads. Additionally, Hyundai Motor revealed the INSTEROID Kart, which will be released later as a powerful tool in ‘Kartrider Rush+.’

This collaboration reflects Hyundai Motor’s growing partnerships in the gaming industry. Following successful ventures with platforms like Roblox and ZEPETO, this initiative aims to connect with younger audiences through authentic engagement.

The concept car will be showcased from April 3 to April 13 at the Seoul Mobility Show, offering the public a chance to experience this innovative concept firsthand. Serving as a halo model for the INSTER lineup, INSTEROID is set to make a lasting impression at major auto events in key markets such as Korea and Europe, delivering a refreshed brand image while further boosting consumer interest in INSTER.

Hyundai INSTER has experienced high demand globally since its launch last year and continues to resonate with customers worldwide. Initially introduced in Korea and Europe, Hyundai Motor will further expand the rollout in 2025 to select markets across the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Central and South America regions.

BMW Launches African Film and Media Arts Collective for Filmmakers with BMW Art Car Artist Julie Mehretu

MUNICH (April 1, 2025) – “I wondered how I could make the Art Car a symbol and vocal archive for the immense artistic creativity of the African continent,” says Julie Mehretu, describing her ambition for designing the 20th BMW Art Car of the iconic collection. The American abstract painter, born in Ethiopia in 1970, first presented her artistically designed BMW M Hybrid V8 to the public at the Centre Pompidou in Paris in May 2024. After its race deployment in Le Mans a month later, this year marks the next chapter of the project in cooperation with the BMW Group: the African Film and Media Arts Collective (AFMAC).

The idea for the pan-African artist network was developed by Julie Mehretu together with her longtime friend, Mehret Mandefro, an Emmy-nominated film producer—also born in Ethiopia and living in the USA—and co-founder of the Realness Institute for the training of African filmmakers. Under the guidance of a group of African and international artists, including French-Senegalese filmmaker and 2024 Berlinale winner Mati Diop, American poet Robin Coste Lewis, and Kenyan performance artist Jim Chuchu, workshops will be held in Lagos, Dakar, Tangier, Nairobi, and Cape Town for around 50 artists. AFMAC will connect with local host cultural institutions on site and workshop participants will be selected through open calls with the partners. The kickoff will take place from April 15–19 in Lagos with the cultural non-profit organization “Angels & Muse”.

“BMW is working for the first time in the 50-year history of the BMW Art Car Collection with an artist to develop the idea far beyond the car as a pure art object. This collaboration is particularly close to my heart. It expands BMW’s long-term global commitment in the film sector with an outstanding initiative that stands for exchange, creativity, and cultural diversity—values that we, as a company, also embody.”

– Ilka Horstmeier, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Human Resources, and Real Estate

Each workshop results in a new film production. Once completed, the films will form an anthology of contemporary African filmmaking, which will complement exhibitions of Mehretu’s 20th BMW Art Car. In 2026, the anthology will debut in a major exhibition dedicated to AFMAC along with the 20th Art Car at Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town. The curator will be its Executive Director Koyo Kouoh, the designated curator of the 2026 Venice Biennale. The BMW Group has been a partner of the museum for many years, contributing its extensive network of cultural professionals and charitable institutions in Africa to establish AFMAC on a long-term and sustainable basis.

International collaboration and access to African film history
Social engagement and engaging with peers in collectives have always shaped Mehretu’s work. In 2004, she founded the artist residency Denniston Hill in North New York with artist Paul Pfeiffer and architectural historian Lawrence Chua. Meant as a place for exchange, reflection, and retreat, artists of various disciplines and backgrounds further develop their practice there. Workshop methods conceived at Denniston Hill form the foundation for AFMAC’s workshops, where artists from various African countries and the global diaspora come together to engage with questions of cultural, political, and historical identity. The forms of experimentation that a translocal collective enables, how cultural and political heritage can be negotiated, and the role different media play in the attribution of identity forms are examined.

Using archival material of African film and media works, participants are given the opportunity to develop their own creative approaches and create new forms of media art. Accordingly, a key component of the workshops is the screening of hard-to-access African films to expand historical and cultural perspectives. The goal is to create sustainable infrastructures that last beyond the workshops and strengthen the artistic community in Africa. A central point of approach is the provision of an online film archive that African artists can continuously work with in the future.

Artist talks and public presentations of AFMAC will also take place outside of Africa in 2025 and 2026. An event calendar and further detailed information, including photo and film material, are available at www.afmac.institute, a digital platform documenting the project and archive for African cinema, created by New York-based creative agency Pacific.

African Film and Media Arts Collective – stations
April 15–19, 2025: Lagos, Nigeria, in partnership with Angels & Muse 
Lead artist: Coco Fusco

June 2–6, 2025: Dakar, Senegal, in partnership with Fanta Sy and Raw Material Company 
Lead artist: Mati Diop

July 2025: Tangier, Morocco, in partnership with Cinematheque de Tanger
Lead artist: Zeresenay Berhane Mehari

October 2025: Nairobi, Kenya, community partner to be determined 
Lead artists: Jim Chuchu and Wanuri Kahiu

December 2025: Cape Town, South Africa, in partnership with Realness Institute 
Lead artist: The Otolith Group

Aston Martin Valhalla in Final Validation Testing Phase

GAYDON, U.K. (March 31, 2025) – Aston Martin have released official on-road imagery of Valhalla today. The exciting new model is undergoing final validation sign-off both on-road in the UK and on-track near Barcelona, before the forthcoming start of production in Q2 2025.

Valhalla looks as at home on the track as it does on-road. Pictured (on track) in both Podium Green with a Lime Green livery and Verdant Jade with a Valkyrie Gold livery, Valhalla is being put through its paces by both Aston Martin engineers and three-time Le Mans class winner and Aston Martin development driver, Darren Turner. With final validation taking place across multiple sites at the IDIADA proving ground in Spain, including the high speed and wet and dry handling circuits, Valhalla is undergoing final calibration sign-off for steering and active aerodynamics, as well as thermal braking system performance. Another car, pictured on road in Satin Scintilla Silver with a Lime Green livery is currently undergoing final damper calibration on UK roads.

“For the engineering and dynamics teams, the unprecedented dynamic bandwidth that distinguishes Valhalla from its rivals has presented many new opportunities during development. With a combination of 1079PS and 1100Nm via the hybrid powertrain, extreme performance is a given. To harness and refine the power to deliver an exceptional supercar experience on both road and track has meant tireless work has gone into the integration of active aerodynamics and integrated control systems.”

– Simon Newton, Director of Vehicle Performance and Attributes

Valhalla is a car of ‘firsts’: Aston Martin’s first series production mid-engined supercar, first plug-in hybrid and first production vehicle with dedicated EV range capability. The marque’s first model to use the bespoke 4.0-litre twin-turbo flat-plane crank V8 engine – the highest performing V8 engine ever fitted to an Aston Martin – and the first to use the marque’s all-new 8-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), which incorporates an e-Motor and electronic rear differential (E-diff). It is also the first application of the all-new front axle twin motors, which facilitate torque vectoring and contribute to the all-wheel drive system.

Fusing the performance-driven methodologies and technologies of Aston Martin Performance Technologies and Formula 1® with spectacular design and scintillating driving dynamics, Valhalla is a supercar of extraordinary scope.

Limited to 999 units, production of Aston Martin’s ultimate supercar, Valhalla is set to commence in Q2 2025.

Pirelli Introduces the new P Zero

MILAN (March 31, 2025) – Pirelli has launched the fifth generation of its iconic P Zero: the flagship model of a tire family that has been synonymous with performance and control since 1985. The P Zero was the first to establish the Ultra-High Performance (UHP) tire market, continuously evolving over the years to anticipate the demands of the premium and prestige automotive segments.

The P Zero brand, originally born out of Pirelli’s long expertise in motorsport, has expanded into a comprehensive family of tires that meets the diverse needs of the high-end market.

Features of the new P Zero
The breakthroughs that characterize the new P Zero were achieved thanks to advanced development technologies. By combining artificial intelligence systems with algorithms designed by Pirelli, the company’s research and development engineers created groundbreaking solutions to achieve an unprecedented understanding of tire performance dynamics. Virtual prototype testing also played a key role in this process, reducing development time and optimizing resources.

The P Zero has two key strengths – excellence in performance and control – thanks to improved handling, highlighted by track tests on both dry and wet surfaces, and reduced braking distances. From its launch, the new tire has been rated “A” on the European wet grip label1. One of the key goals for Pirelli’s latest product was to keep ahead of the rapidly evolving needs of today’s automotive market, beginning with the transition to electric mobility.

The development strategy focused on tire structure and tread design, which was optimized through updates to the grooves and contact patch to enhance cornering grip. A more balanced contact patch improves braking performance and wear rate to ensure consistent performance throughout the entire life cycle of the tire. The new P Zero also stands out visually, thanks to new graphics with contrasting markings on the sidewall.

The new P Zero lineup
The fifth-generation P Zero tire comes in sizes from 18 to 23 inches, with over 50 products already available. These sit alongside the other tires from the P Zero family to provide complete coverage for the premium and prestige market across all applications. Most of the new line-up features Pirelli’s specialities, such as Elect: a technology package for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles that increases range by up to 10% thanks to reduced rolling resistance; adopting solutions specifically designed to handle high torque and reduce noise.

On top of that, Pirelli’s engineers are already working to equip dozens of soon-to-be released cars, with specific versions already homologated for models such as the Lamborghini Urus SE, Audi A5, BMW M5 and M5 Touring, Mercedes GLE and GLS, Lucid Gravity, Polestar 4, Nio ET9, and Xiaomi SU7.

Forty years of continuous innovation
This latest tire showcases how high performance and technology continue to be the key strengths of the P Zero range, benefiting from Pirelli’s close relationship with all the major car manufacturers in the premium and prestige segments. These valued partnerships have resulted in Pirelli equipping more than 50% of high and ultra-high-end vehicles across all markets worldwide.

Over the past 40 years, more than 3,000 bespoke versions of the P Zero have been created for cars such as the Ferrari F40, Lamborghini Aventador, McLaren P1, every Pagani, Aston Martin V12 Vantage, and Porsche 911, as well as dozens of other models from brands including Audi, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, and Mercedes.

The P Zero family has always been a vital development laboratory for Pirelli. In fact, innovations such as Elect in 2019 and P Zero E in 2023 (the world’s first UHP tire in which over 55% of materials are from natural or recycled sources and with a triple ‘A’ rating on the European label) were born of P Zero technology.

P Zero: a family of products from track to road
The P Zero family includes UHP products designed for a wide range of uses: from electric cars to track driving, as well as under winter conditions. Alongside this latest P Zero, other members of the extended family cater for every driving need. These include the P Zero E (which combines e-mobility and safety – demonstrated by the triple ‘A’ rating on the European tire label – as well as reduced environmental impact, thanks to the use of more than 55% natural or recycled materials) and the P Zero R, designed to maximize sporting performance and driving pleasure for high-performance cars and SUVs. For track driving, Pirelli offers the P Zero Trofeo RS, which is also homologated for road use.

The range also includes the P Zero Winter 2, enhancing performance and driving pleasure even on wet or snowy surfaces.

The P Zero name first appeared in motorsport and remains synonymous with the very highest level of tire performance, from Formula 1 through to many other categories.