Audi Q9 joins vPIC; Kia Seltos gains a full hybrid
Audi's Q9 is on record with a 429-hp turbocharged 2.9-liter six-cylinder engine, and Kia's Seltos gains a full-hybrid version. The release also lists a 443-hp rating for the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class and a 591-hp Audi SQ7.
By the numbers
- New model names on record
- 2
- New trims on record
- 155
- Road-vehicle models with changes
- 180
- Road-vehicle makes with changes
- 43
- Newest model year on record
- 2027
| Vehicle type | Additions | Corrections and removals |
|---|---|---|
| Road vehicles | 640 | 148 |
| Motorcycles | 2,742 | 2,401 |
| Trailers | 272 | 65 |
| Buses | 272 | 18 |
| Low-speed vehicles | 601 | 3 |
| Incomplete vehicles | 165 | 205 |
| Off-road vehicles | 738 | 715 |
| All vehicle types | 5,430 | 3,555 |
Counted from the database: the September 2026 vPIC release compared with August 2026. In the table, each addition or removal is one detail on record (a model name, trim, engine, plant or other attribute) for one model and span of model years. A new model name can be a rename or a correction of a model already on record. Road vehicles are passenger cars, multipurpose vehicles (SUVs and vans) and trucks.
September's additions to NHTSA's vPIC database include a new Audi SUV, a full-hybrid Kia Seltos, a VNX (4) entry from Volvo Truck and new motor entries for the Subaru Trailseeker and Hyundai Nexo. The release also lists a 591-hp Audi SQ7, a 443-hp plug-in hybrid GLE-Class trim and new Sport trims for the Volkswagen Taos. Most of the new VIN entries discussed here start at MY 2027 with no end year set; the EVT direct-drive entries start at MY 2018 on. The equipment lists for the Q9, Cybercab, Gyesera and Kaveya are for MY 2027.
New models
Audi Q9. The Q9 is new to vPIC for MY 2027 on: a gasoline SUV with a 2.9-liter turbocharged TFSI six rated at 429 hp, all-wheel drive and an automatic transmission. The trim on record is quattro Prestige.
New trims and powertrains
Kia Seltos. A full-hybrid Seltos — a Strong HEV in vPIC's terms — joins for 2027 on, with a single motor. Its hybrid entries carry the trims S, EX and "X-Line EX, X-Line SX" — X-Line SX was already on file, so X-Line EX is the new name — and list a 1.6-liter GDI KAPPA PE engine rated at 105 hp, with gasoline as the primary fuel and electric as the secondary. Other 2027 Seltos entries list Nu PE and Gamma-II engines and no horsepower rating; earlier entries list 147 and 175 hp for MY 2021–2023.
Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. The GLE-Class adds the AMG GLE53e 4MATIC, a plug-in hybrid rated at 443 hp, with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six (M256M), all-wheel drive and gasoline with electric as the secondary fuel. The GLE-Class already had plug-in hybrid trims: the GLE550e-4M for MY 2016–2019, the GLE400e 4MATIC/GLE400e 4-M Turbo Plug-in Hybrid for MY 2024 and the GLE450e 4MATIC for MY 2025–2026.
Audi SQ7. The SQ7 lists 591 hp for 2027 on.
Volkswagen Taos. The Taos adds the Sport and 4Motion Sport trims for 2027 on; the 4Motion Sport entries carry all-wheel drive and an automatic transmission.
Electric and hybrid
Subaru Trailseeker. The battery-electric Trailseeker, first on record for MY 2026, adds single-motor and dual-motor entries for 2027 on, with its motor listed as 2XM Motor.
Hyundai Nexo. The fuel-cell Nexo, first on record for MY 2019, lists a single motor for 2027 on.
Safety equipment
Audi's Q9, Tesla's battery-electric Cybercab and KARMA's Gyesera and Kaveya all list ABS, stability control, traction control, a backup camera and auto-reverse windows as standard for MY 2027; the Q9 and Cybercab add an event data recorder. The Cybercab is first on record for MY 2026, while the KARMA pair are on record for MY 2025 and from MY 2027.
Also in this release
Tesla's Semi lists a backup camera as standard for MY 2023–2027. ENVIROTECH DRIVE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED (EVT) lists direct drive for its Logistic and Urban trucks from MY 2018 on; both are trucks.
Commercial
Volvo Truck's new VNX (4) is a truck whose powertrain values match those of the VNL (4) and VNR (4): diesel, compressed natural gas and battery-electric options, with ratings from 225 to 626 hp and drivetrains from 4x2 to 10x4. Its engine models include D11, D13, E1, ISX15L, ISXG12N, L9 and L9N, from Cummins and Volvo, with displacements from 8.9 to 14.9 liters.
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