Chelsea Football Club today announced a global partnership, with GAC – one of the world's fastest growing global automotive businesses – which sees them become the club's Official Automotive Partner. The partnership brings together Chelsea's global football community and GAC's growing global automotive business, creating closer connections with fans and consumers in the UK, across Europe and beyond.

Chelsea FC has one of the largest global fan bases in the world with millions of supporters across Europe and beyond. GAC are one of China's largest automobile manufacturers and the partnership comes at a time when GAC is expanding its global reach and into new markets with its range of high-quality, practical models.

GAC and Chelsea FC first joined forces for the 2026 pre-season tour and this new chapter together will see vehicles from GAC's AION range escorting the men's team to Stamford Bridge on selected matchdays. GAC and Chelsea FC will also collaborate on digital storytelling, fan experiences and engagement including car displays, providing opportunities for the Chelsea family to discover GAC and its vehicles.

The UK and Europe are important markets in GAC's international development. The partnership with Chelsea FC adds a new dimension to this work, complementing product introductions, sales-channel development and customer support. It will help GAC reach audiences beyond traditional automotive channels as the company continues to build its presence across the region.

GAC's European lineup includes the AION V electric SUV and the AION UT compact electric hatchback, offering options for family travel and everyday mobility. Both models reflect the company's focus on practical usability, technology and quality.

The partnership also forms part of GAC's One GAC 2.0 global strategy and its Local for Local approach. By combining the partnership's international reach with activities shaped around local interests, GAC and Chelsea FC will build lasting connections together with supporters and customers.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade today earned Edmunds Top Rated Best of the Best Award for 2026, the publication’s ultimate annual accolade. Selected from all 2026 Edmunds Top Rated category winners following extensive real-world testing of all new vehicles on the market, Hyundai’s all-new three-row hybrid SUV emerged victorious on the strength of its impact, innovation, and relevance to car shoppers. In addition to the Palisade Hybrid’s capstone recognition, its IONIQ 5 sibling has been named Edmunds Top Rated 2026 Electric SUV. In addition, the Tucson Hybrid compact SUV and IONIQ 9 three-row EV have earned Edmunds Top Rated Highly Recommended distinctions, underscoring Hyundai’s leadership across hybrid and electric SUV segments.

The Hyundai Palisade Hybrid offers a range of virtues that shame SUVs costing twice as much. The best family SUV in America is also one of the most desirable,” said Alistair Weaver, senior vice president, content and editor-in-chief of Edmunds. “The Hyundai Palisade Hybrid combines a spacious, versatile cabin with a level of quality unmatched for the price. It’s also good to drive, and the hybrid system blends punchy performance with impressive fuel economy

“Recognition like this matters because Edmunds evaluates vehicles the way customers actually live with them, day in and day out,” said Olabisi Boyle, senior vice president, product planning and mobility strategy, Hyundai Motor America. The Palisade Hybrid is a reflection of Hyundai at its best in disciplined packaging, premium execution, and functionality that shows up in real family life. “We are intentional about delivering vehicles that feel considered in every seat, mile, and moment and work to earn trust in driveways, school pickup lines, and road trips across the country.”

Why Edmunds Named Palisade Hybrid Edmunds Top Rated Best of the Best

Sets the benchmark for modern family SUVs: Establishes a new industry standard through a carefully tailored combination of refined design, class-above cabin furnishings, intuitive convenience and safety technologies, and the sort of real world usability that today’s modern families demand.

Engineered for refinement: Exceptional interior quality and craftsmanship pair with a thoughtfully integrated threerow layout deliver a refined driving and ownership experience that is cohesive, purposeful, and premium.

Advanced hybrid performance with everyday efficiency: Palisade’s hybrid powertrain delivers confident, responsive performance along with impressive fuel efficiency, striking an ideal balance between power and everyday practicality.

Why Edmunds Named IONIQ 5 its Top Rated Electric SUV

In addition to the Palisade Hybrid’s Best of the Best honors, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 has been named Edmunds Top Rated Electric SUV for 2026.

“A superb all-rounder, the IONIQ 5 is distinctive, spacious, and capable,” said Weaver. “Quick to charge with an impressive electric range, it’s also good to drive, whether you choose the standard car, the all-terrain XRT or the seriously rapid IONIQ 5 N.”

What Sets the IONIQ 5 Apart

Versatility to match different lifestyles: From efficient daily transportation to off-road‑inspired exploration to performance-focused driving, the IONIQ 5 lineup caters to a wide range of needs.

A striking exterior paired with a roomy, flexible interior that comfortably supports passengers and cargo, ideal for today’s modern lifestyles.

Fast charging with confidence‑inspiring range: 800V DC ultra‑fast charging capability and strong electric range helps make longer trips and daily commuting stress-free and more convenient.

Hyundai’s model lineup earned further validation with Edmunds Top Rated Highly Recommended distinctions for the Tucson Hybrid and Hyundai IONIQ 9, recognizing models that deliver strong real-world driving enjoyment and everyday usability in their respective segments. 

Hyundai Motor Company today announced a sweeping victory at the iF Design Award 2026, one of the world’s prestigious design competitions. The company clinched 21 awards across eight distinct categories — surpassing its tally at the 2025 event — including Automobiles/Vehicles, Branding & Communication Design, Product Design and others.

Hyundai Motor’s wide-ranging success at this competition not only recognizes the brand’s excellence in vehicle design but also solidifies its growing reputation as an innovative lifestyle brand that is reshaping its identity on the global stage.

Which Hyundai Motor Products and Projects Earned an IF Design Award?

 Hyundai Motor achieved prominent wins for its IONIQ 6 N high-performance, all-electric sedan, Concept THREE compact electric vehicle (EV), and MobED Urban Hopper & Golf variants of its acclaimed adaptable robotic mobility platform in the Product Design category.

The iF Design Award jurors recognized the company across a broad spectrum of creative projects, with some winning in multiple categories. ‘Night Fishing,’ a short thriller set at an EV charging station, won two awards in the Branding & Communication Design category. The ‘HMGICS CX Smart Farm,’ the world’s first interactive robotics-based smart farm at Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore, also earned two awards for its human-centered technology in the Branding & Communication Design and User Experience (UX) categories. Hyundai Motor Group’s first-ever software brand, Pleos, has also won the IF Design Award 2026 in the same category (Branding & Communication Design), pioneering design excellence as the industry shifts toward mobility innovation.

Other award-winning initiatives include the ‘Tree Correspondents’ CSR campaign, which used artificial intelligence (AI) to translate ecological data from trees into language, and the ‘Na Oh’ Korean restaurant, which was recognized for its interior design and an archive book that captures its unique culinary philosophy.

What Does This Sweeping Recognition Mean for Hyundai Motor?

Winning across a diverse field of categories is a powerful statement of Hyundai Motor’s creative and design-driven evolution. These achievements highlight the brand’s expansion beyond a traditional automotive manufacturer into a global leader in innovation and creativity. The awards for projects in architecture, communication and user experience are expected to elevate global brand awareness and underscore the brand’s commitment to design excellence in every facet of its business.

How Is Hyundai Motor Integrating Its Design Philosophy Into Lifestyle Products? 

The brand’s design identity was also celebrated through a range of innovative product designs.

Winners include:

• Lifestyle Products: The EV Frunk Cooler Bag, which transforms the front trunk into a daily lifestyle space, and the Pixel Diffuser, a vehicle air freshener inspired by the IONIQ lineup’s signature pixel design.
• Brand Accessories: The Hyundai Customizable MagSafe ID Card Case for employees and the H-Gardening Tools, a compact set that translates Hyundai Motor’s ‘Progress for Humanity’ vision into everyday life with nature.

I already knew the Elantra N TCR Edition would be a bit much with its massive rear wing, but I was still looking forward to giving it a run. After all, the TCR is as close as it gets to Hyundai's current Elantra N touring car it races in IMSA. It's also still not available in the U.S. as a Canada-exclusive forbidden fruit in North America.

That massive carbon fiber and adjustable rear wing was part of a series of recommendations from Hyundai's own touring car drivers. It improves high-speed stability, while a set of upgraded brakes and sticker tires helps endure longer, harder lap times. The TCR is serious stuff!

What I didn't expect, though, was the flashy N livery on my test car's flanks, part of a dealer-installed accessory. Call me old, but I've grown out of cars that scream 'look at me,' and the whole package here just felt way too overzealous for my taste. Anyway, it's my job to test out cars, so I gulped down my pride and took off in this bright blue, snortin' and fartin', big-winged hooligan. But it didn't take time for me to realize, from all the attention this car attracted, that the TCR is well-known in the Hyundai community. A community that's totally lit up.

A Very Devoted Audience Hiding In Plain Sight

Hyundai

Frederic Mercier, Hyundai Canada's product communications manager for the Quebec region, was telling me that during a dedicated Elantra N TCR event that took place at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (Mosport), he was baffled by the amount of enthusiasm that surrounded the N line. The automaker had invited not just members of the media and content creators to the event, but actual N-car owners from across the country. Mercier underlined the fact that it's a hot and boiling community of proud and engaged individuals.

Experiencing The Hyundai N's Impact In

William Clavey | TopSpeed

And I noticed that myself pretty fast. The more I drove around in the N TCR, the more I noticed how many Elantra Ns were on the road. And the first evening I hit the gym, I walked out of the building only to spot a fellow Elantra N owner parked next to the car, grabbing pictures and creating social media stories with it.

I walked up. "You like the car?" I asked. He immediately pulled away, telling me he couldn't believe he was actually seeing one on the road. "Aren't those super rare and limited production?" the visibly younger-than-me fellow replied.

I explained to him that I was an auto journalist and that the car was a loaned press unit for a review. The lad was quick to reply that he was in charge of our local Hyundai dealer's social media feeds and content creation, and that his dream was to one day do my job (I get that a lot). He took down my name, drove off in his louder-than-stock Elantra N, and later added me to Facebook (yes, I'm that old).

Each Encounter Revealed Just How Hardcore Hyundai's N Fans Really Are

Hyundai

The more I drove the Elantra N TCR, the less I was worried about what people thought of me with that humongous wing, giant brakes, and equally ostentatious N livery. That's because I was actually receiving positive attention my way. Yes, people looked at it, but I was also getting a slew of positive thumbs from Honda, Subaru, and Toyota owners of modified hot compacts. And Hyundai owners.

But not just N owners, but regular models, too, like Accents and base-model Elantras. Reckless driving to impress me — something I never recommend doing — was also a common thing by some of these owners. That's also something I'm used to with this job, by the way. For some reason, some folks react oddly when they spot a car on the road that raises their pulse. Somehow, this Hyundai had that effect on some of them.

Grabbing Attention As A Supercar Would

Hyundai

Moving on later into the week, and on my way to brunch with my brother, an Elantra N-Line owner with an N Performance sticker on his windshield suddenly parked next to us. The driver, who appeared to be a much younger dude than me, was losing his mind at the sight of the thing, asking me if he could take photos of the car. I obviously said yes, but his sheer excitement was something I had only previously seen with special machines like supercars or rare, classic JDM cars. This is a Hyundai Elantra!

Performance Hyundais Went From A Joke To The Hip Car On The Road

Hyundai

So, that's how much the automotive passion has shifted in the span of only a few decades. It also proves how Hyundai's efforts at attracting hardcore automotive enthusiasts with its N line has actually paid off. When I was growing out of the 1990s as a young adult buying my first car, Hyundais were honestly not on the radar of enthusiasts. Sure, the automaker had the Tiburon sports coupe, but it was never as polished or sorted out as, say, a Honda Prelude or a Toyota Celica.

Back then, kids bought Hondas, VWs, Toyotas, Mazdas, and, in some cases, even some American stuff, like the Chevrolet Cavalier/Pontiac Sunfire, or the Dodge Neon. The Elantra was a ho-hum, super cheap appliance on wheels that folks got because of low monthly payments and a good warranty. But something happened along the line. The Japanese got soft in the sport compact/hot hatchback segment, and Hyundai grasped an opportunity to gain market share while they were on their knees with the very first Veloster N.

Hyundai's Future As An Enthusiast Brand Looks Bright

Which is why Hyundai Canada isn't worried that the TCR Edition will end up sleeping in Canadian dealerships. Fred Mercier is confident that there's demand and hype for it, and the automaker could even increase the number of examples if it becomes a sales hit. Still no news on U.S. market penetration, by the way.

After dropping off the TCR at the press office following a full week with it, enjoying its tarmac-kissing performance the best I could on my favorite bits of asphalt, the Hyundai rep sent me a screenshot of the TCR parked at a nearby park I often like to go to wind down. The photo, or the "spotted", came from a fellow Veloster owner who had spotted it and felt the need to pull over and make a social media post about it. How many people are doing this with Honda Civics these days?

Source: Top Speed