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Nissan Zeod RC crash test looks like crushing the tip on a pencil

Nissan has already showed us the 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine 400 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, augmented by an electric motor, that sits in back of the ZEOD RC headed for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. At the ZEOD RC's other end is a carbon fiber crash structure that has to be tested against an immovable object, and Nissan has seen fit to show us that, too.
You know what to expect if you've seen a crash test before, but the really pointy nose on this car reminds us of a Faber Castell HB pencil being sent to its death. Better yet, it's in slow motion, and you can watch it below.

Nissan Gripz Concept foreshadows Z's dark future

Crossover buyers, your love of lifted hatchbacks might be ruining one of the purest sports cars on the planet, the Nissan Z. The Gripz concept you see here foretells a future in which our beloved Z car takes the shape of a functional, high-riding crossover. Sigh. Now, to be perfectly fair, we aren't opposed to the way this new concept car looks. It's a muscular design, with its prominent V Motion grille and sharp body lines. We particularly like the way the A-pillar bleeds into the doors and dash; it's a cool touch. Nissan claims this look was inspired by racing bicycles and desert rally cars, which sounds good. We won't agree with the company's assertion that it pays homage to the 240Z that won the Safari Rally, which Nissan has the gall to call "one of [its] first 'crossovers.'" A 240Z is not a crossover, just like the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Subaru STI, Ford Focus, Volkswagen Polo, or any other rally car is not a crossover. In terms of praise, we do appreciate the Gripz's trio of doors, which is certainly more sporting than a conventional five-door layout. That's not the only good news, either. This concept is actually shorter and wider than the current 370Z, and by several inches in both cases. It is, however, seven inches taller than the low-slung two-seater, which makes this a net loss. Under hood, there's not some barking, turbocharged version of the current 370Z's 3.7-liter V6, but a version of the Leaf EV's electric motor. It's paired up with a gas-powered engine that "is used to power the electric motor," making it sound like this is more of a Chevrolet Volt-style hybrid than a Toyota Prius. Of course, there's no mention whether the Gripz has plug-in capability. We'll admit, our disdain for this vehicle may be premature. Nissan has not given any indication that the 370Z will be discontinued – it was recently updated, and a Nismo-based roadster concept was shown earlier this year – or that the Z family will transition to a CUV platform. But, the language used throughout the press release below, not to mention the name and references to the original Z is rather worrying. It's certainly not the relationship to the 240Z we were hoping for when we posted this report back in June. Check out the PR, as well as the official gallery from Nissan, both of which can be found down below. Up top, you can see our live images from the floor of the Frankfurt Motor Show.

2021 L.A. Auto Show roundup | All the reveals, reviews, pictures

The L.A. Auto Show took place this week for the first time since the onset of the pandemic. It was a show packed with news and reveals, which hasn't really been the case with other shows we've seen this year, and Autoblog was on the floor covering every minute of it. Well, Riswick and Stocksdale were, anyway. The rest of us were sitting at home in our sweatpants, but hey, we'll take credit anyway. Let's get to it. Hyundai Seven Concept This is the Hyundai Seven Concept, and it’s meant to act as a preview for an incoming electric SUV for the Ioniq brand. It leans more toward the concept side of the spectrum than a production car, but expect the final SUV to take design cues from the Seven Concept. Kia Concept EV9 The Hyundai Seven counterpart isn't the only big, bold electric SUV at L.A. this year. Kia has its own take, and it's a modernized version of the traditional boxy utility vehicle called the Concept EV9. It also previews one of the next production electric cars for the brand, which should look right at home next to things like the Telluride. 2023 Kia Sportage HEV As promised, the 2023 Kia Sportage HEV has been revealed. The hybrid powertrain makes the compact SUV the most powerful version available, and it goes on sale next year. The engine is a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired with a 44-kW electric motor. Total output is 226 horsepower. The company didn't give a torque number, but it should basically be the same as the Sorento HEV that has the same basic powertrain: 258 pound-feet. Those numbers are a healthy step up from the 187 horsepower of the base 2.5-liter engine. 2022 Range Rover If you noticed how extra smooth and suave the new Range Rover looked during its recent reveal, Autoblog's James Riswick got a design tour that revealed some of the technological secrets to its success. "Less is more" is harder to achieve than it looks. Fisker Ocean Fisker has brought the new Ocean EV to the L.A. Auto Show, with a public preview at Manhattan Beach and a presence at the show itself. You can watch the public show reveal above, and see more shots from the show floor below. Fisker says the Ocean will start at $37,499 before incentives. That entry model would be the Sport trim with a single, 275-horsepower motor driving the front wheels and 250 miles of estimated range. It also has a 0-60 time of 6.9 seconds. 2023 Toyota bZ4X This is the 2023 Toyota bZ4X, due to hit U.S.