Why do electric-vehicle grilles look so odd?

Why do some electric automobiles have to look so … weird? That’s the burning question on the Sleuth’s mind, prompted by the recent reveal of the Hyundai Kona EV. It, along with the Kia Soul EV, plus every single Tesla model, look as though they have had their mouths taped shut. It’s as though the designers, who might otherwise be sketching eye-catching front ends, have been given some other mandate. On the other hand, kudos to Nissan’s second-generation Leaf and the new Jaguar I-Pace for appearing normal, with attractive grille-like nosepieces. The battery pack for the 201-horsepower dimple-faced Kona EV has an official maximum-range rating of 412 kilometres. With the right charger, a top-up to 80 per cent capacity will take less than an hour. The Kona will launch in California by the end of the year and elsewhere throughout 2019.

More details on Cadillac’s new small car: The Sleuth’s intel collectors have spotted a disguised prototype of the car destined to replace the soon-to-retire ATS sedan. The new CT4 will display a chiselled appearance similar to the larger CT6 and CTS four-doors, although the CT4 will still be larger than the Audi A3 and the upcoming 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Power is expected to come from a small-displacement turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder, while a performance version will likely get a twin-turbo V-6. An all-wheel-drive option is also a distinct possibility. The CT4 is expected to arrive in late 2019 as a 2020 model, base-priced in the mid-$30,000 range in Canada.