WORLD TECH NEWS

2018 Hyundai Kona First Drive: Better late than never for all-new SUV Is it ok to be late to the party if you make a stylish entrance? That would appear to be the question asked by the new 2018 Hyundai Kona. The Korean automaker’s first ‘cute ute,’ a subcompact crossover aimed at the growing slice of buyers trading in sedans for the all-wheel drive hatchbacks on stilts that are taking over the industry. The Kona’s appearance in showrooms might lag chronologically behind options like the Jeep Renegade, the Mazda CX-3, and the Honda HR-V - we’re unlikely to see it go on sale in the United States until the first quarter of 2018 - but Hyundai has pegged its hopes on pairing strong value with appealing design in its bid for the affections of space-seeking shoppers. Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait until next year to sample the Kona, as I had the opportunity to speak to the engineers and designers behind the SUV as well as drive Hyundai’s latest at its research and development ...

2018 McLaren 570S Spider opens roof on 204mph British supercar McLaren’s Sports Series is gaining a third bodystyle, with the 2018 McLaren 570S Spider chopping off the roof so you can really hear the twin-turbos sing. Based on the original 570S Coupe, the Spider packs a retractable hardtop that splits into two, folding into the bodywork in just 15 seconds. Drivers will be able to operate it at up to 25 mph. Courtesy of lightweight composite materials, the overall weight increase is fairly minimal compared to the fixed-roof Coupe. In fact, it’s just 101 pounds heavier, and McLaren says that there’s no change in structural rigidity. That’s aided by the carbon-fiber MonoCell II chassis, of course. Drop the roof, and a glazed wind deflector can motor up to help cut wind-buffeting. It can also be opened even when the roof is up, for extra ventilation. An optional sports system has an ESG that channels exhaust sounds to the cabin, routed underneath the tonneau cover that p...