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SUVs are undoubtedly practical, but they can often be a bore. What if you also want sporty performance from your family-hauler? Surprisingly, your best bet might just be an electric SUV. Thanks in part to the inherent advantages of EV powertrain design, hair-raising acceleration is no longer exclusive to low-slung exotics. Plus, many automakers are now making well-rounded performance SUVs that also provide improved handling, stronger braking and sportier aesthetics. Edmunds’ auto experts have rounded up four of their favorites. The vehicles are listed in ascending order of price, which includes destination fees. This photo provided by Ford shows the 2025 Mustang Mach-E GT. This electric SUV backs up its Mustang name with 480 horsepower, a sport-tuned suspension, and more. [Photo: courtesy Ford Motor Co. via AP] 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT The Ford Mustang Mach-E GT model packs more than enough performance to do its iconic name justice. The standard GT dishes out 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, while an optional Performance upgrade elevates the latter figure to a hearty 700 lb-ft. In Edmunds’ testing, it helped the Mach-E GT sprint from zero to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds.To ensure that the rest of the vehicle can keep up with the powertrain, Ford has also outfitted the Mach-E GT with a sport-tuned adaptive suspension, high-performance brakes, and sport seats up front, all of which are standard. Its hunkered-down stance also makes the Mach-E GT both look and handle more like a long hatchback rather than a towering SUV. The Mach-E GT’s EPA-estimated 280 miles of range should also be enough for most folks’ needs.2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT starting price: $56,490 This photo provided by Chevrolet shows the 2025 Blazer EV SS. Chevy says the SS version of the Blazer EV can rocket from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. [Photo: courtesy General Motors via AP] 2025 Chevy Blazer EV SS Chevrolet introduced its Blazer EV last year. It’s a sensible pick for an electric SUV. But you’ll be a lot more excited to drive the new high-performance 2025 Blazer EV SS. The Blazer SS flips the script with a huge increase in horsepower, uprated front brakes, and a thoroughly revamped suspension that adds stability and precision to spirited drives.With up to 615 horsepower available in Wide Open Watts (or WOW) launch control mode, the Blazer EV SS claims the title of the most powerful SS-badged vehicle ever produced by Chevrolet. It isn’t as track-focused as some other performance-tuned electric SUVs, but the SS does win some points back for its comfortable ride and seriously zippy 3.4-second 0-60 mph time. It also offers an impressive EPA-estimated 303 miles of range on a full charge.2025 Chevy Blazer EV SS starting price: $62,095 This photo provided by Kia shows the 2024 EV6 GT. The GT version of Kia’s electric crossover SUV gets a boost in power for 2025, bringing it to a max of 641 horsepower. [Photo: courtesy Kia America via AP] 2025 Kia EV6 GT Kia’s high-performance version of its all-electric EV6 is called the GT. The 2025 model is particularly compelling because of several updates. It starts with an increase in power, which is now a maximum output of 641 horsepower. That brings its power level up to par with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N the EV6 GT’s corporate cousin and yields an estimated 3.3-second sprint to 60 mph. The 2025 EV6 GT also offers a mode that emulates the sound and shifting experience of a gas-powered engine. A taunt adaptive suspension and bigger brakes add to the EV6 GT’s performance-oriented vibe.Although it shares much of its mechanical hardware with the Ioniq 5 N, the EV6 GT’s futuristic styling provides more visual drama without significantly compromising occupant comfort. The Kia-estimated 231 miles of range gives it a slight edge over the Hyundai, and the EV6 GT delivers similarly swift fast-charging times.2025 Kia EV6 GT starting price: $65,295 This photo provided by Hyundai shows the 2025 Ioniq 5 N. The N version of the Ioniq 5 makes up to 641 horsepower and comes with grippy tires and powerful brakes. [Photo: courtesy Hyundai Motor America via AP] 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Hyundai’s hot-rodded crossover SUV retains all of the creature comforts and retro-inspired design of the standard Ioniq 5 while adding a big dose of excitement to the proceedings. With up to 641 horsepower on tap, the Ioniq 5 N needed just 3.3 seconds to get from 0 to 60 mph in Edmunds’ testing. Sticky performance tires, a track-tuned adaptive suspension, and massive brakes also make the Ioniq 5 N feel more like a muscle-bound hot hatch when put through its paces on a twisty back road, and racy bodywork ensures that it looks the part while doing so.But what really makes this performance electric SUV stand out from the pack is its ability to convincingly replicate the sounds and sensations of a traditional internal combustion performance vehicle, right down to the pops and crackles emanating from the virtual exhaust system and the shove that comes with a simulated gear change at full throttle. Its EPA-estimated 221 miles of range is a bit low for a contemporary EV in this price range, but Hyundai says it takes just 18 minutes to replenish the battery from 10% to 80%.2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N starting price: $67,800 Edmunds says High-performance trims tend to include all of the available bells and whistles by default, which raises the bottom line. If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative to a particular model, it’s worth doing some research to determine whether your must-have features performance-related or otherwise can be added as options in less costly trims. This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds. Bradley Iger is a contributor at Edmunds. Bradley Iger, Edmunds
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E-Commerce
Magnum CEO Peter ter Kulve dismissed any talk of selling Ben & Jerry’s on Wednesday and said he was focused on reclaiming market share and growing sales as the spin-off of the new Magnum Ice Cream Company from Unilever approaches. Unilever expects the ice cream business, which includes brands such as Magnum, Ben & Jerry’s, Wall’s and Cornetto, to command just over a fifth of the around $88 billion global ice cream market and compete with rivals such as Nestle-backed Froneri. Magnum is already operating separately to Unilever and after years of declining ice cream market share and stagnant profits, ter Kulve said the shift has been a game changer, allowing the company to invest in supply chains, sales and distribution. “Last year, we had a massive (market) share step up,” ter Kulve said. Ben & Jerry’s seized the spotlight at an investor day ahead of the mid-November listing on Tuesday, renewing a call for its own spin-off after years of clashes over the U.S. brand’s vocal position on Gaza. Asked about an approach to Unilever led by Ben & Jerry’s co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield to buy the brand last year, Magnum CEO ter Kulve said: “I have not been privy to any discussion between Unilever and Ben & Jerry.” “Ben & Jerry’s is not for sale,” ter Kulve said. Unilever’s CEO Fernando Fernandez is trying to shake up the consumer goods conglomerate by streamlining management and boosting margins. It will retain less than 20% of the ice cream business after it has been listed. Magnum’s CFO Abhijit Bhattacharya said the split was a win-win for both entities with Unilever’s portfolio becoming more focused and Magnum, concerned only with ice cream, having the opportunity to improve margins. Bhattacharya said the terms of the demerger, under which every Unilever shareholder will get a relative stake in Magnum, shields the company from market volatility that an initial public offering might usually face. “Basically we know our future shareholders, at least on day one,” Bhattacharya said. “So the demerger actually de-risks us from the market vagaries of an IPO.” Alexander Marrow and Lisa Jucca, Reuters
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E-Commerce
Fast Companys 11th annual Innovation Festival lands in New York City next week, but theres still plenty of time to buy your pass and build your schedule. In case you missed it, we’ve added some exciting new speakers to our agenda including actor Michael Chiklis; X Games CEO Jeremy Bloom; Jimmy Fallon and Bozoma Saint John; professor and author Brené Brown, and lead singer of OK Go Damian Kulash. Check out their sessions below. And see the full Innovation Festival agenda on our events page: Preaching to Hollywood: Faith, Fans, and the Future of Film with Angel StudiosFeaturing Michael Chiklis, actor; and Neal Harmon, CEO, Angel Studios Religion continues to be a hot-button topicand a lucrative market. So what role should it play in Hollywood? Angel is becoming one of the most talked-about film studios in the industry. Rebranded from the bankrupt streaming service VidAngel, the studio has found considerable success among a religious demographic. But let cofounder and CEO Neal Harmon tell the story. Angels vision and what they produce is broader than religionfor example, their latest movie The Senior starring Michael Chiklis. In this candid conversation, youll hear how Angel is using a fan-driven model to vote on which projects the studio produces, their plans to go public, and how theyre finding a place in Hollywood at a time when religion has become such a loaded word. The Art of Creative Problem-Solving with OK Go’s Damian KulashFeaturing Damian Kulash, musician and lead singer/guitarist, OK Go; and Karl Lieberman, global chief creative officer, Wieden+Kennedy From zero-gravity music videos to treadmill choreography that broke the internet, the band OK Go has redefined what it means to fuse art, technology, and sheer imaginationand lead singer Damian Kulash has learned a thing or two about creative problem-solving along the way. In this town hallstyle session moderated by Wieden+Kennedy’s global chief creative officer Karl Lieberman, attendees are welcome to take the mic and ask their questions around creative roadblocks. You’ll walk away with practical insights on unlocking ingenuity, embracing constraints, and applying creative problem-solving to challenges big and small. On Strong Ground: Brené Brown’s Lessons in Leading with Courage Featuring Brené Brown, research professor, The University of Texas at Austin; and author, Strong Ground In today’s highly turbulent times, Brené Brown is reimagining what courageous leadership looks like. In her forthcoming book Strong Ground, Brown draws on her global experience guiding more than 150,000 leaders to reveal how connection, discipline, and accountabilitynot performative toughnessare the true foundations of sustainable leadership. Join this one-on-one conversation for deeply human insights rooted in research and illustrated through powerful stories, along with practical strategies for fostering trust and developing the courage to unlearn and relearn in an increasingly unpredictable world. Staying “On Brand” with Jimmy Fallon and Bozoma Saint John Featuring Jimmy Fallon, Executive Producer and Host, On Brand with Jimmy Fallon; and Bozoma Saint John, Chief Marketing Officer and Mentor, On Brand with Jimmy Fallon Jimmy Fallon is ready to get down to businessand he’s bringing us along for the ride. On Brand with Jimmy Fallon is the Late Night host’s new unscripted reality series on NBC where he launches a marketing firm and brings on top-tier creatives to reimagine marketing. And serving as a mentor to the competing creatives is Bozoma Saint John, former chief marketing or brand officer at companies including Netflix, Uber, and Beats by Dre. Hear from Fallon and Saint John on what they’ve found resonates in today’s ever evolving cultural landscape and what it takes for a brand to break through. The Next Play: Reinventing Sports Entertainment Featuring Jeremy Bloom, CEO, X Games; Gotham Chopra, Filmmaker and Cofounder, Religion of Sports; and Andrea Hopelain, SVP and General Manager of Marketing and Commercial, EA Sports From stadiums to screens, sports are evolving faster than everand the business of fan engagement is being rewritten in real time. In this conversation, hear from three leaders shaping the future of sports entertainment: Jeremy Bloom, CEO of X Games, on the future of AI in sports; Gotham Chopra, cofounder of Religion of Sports, on storytellings power to turn athletes into cultural icons; and Andrea Hopelain, SVP of brand and publishing at EA Sports, on building the next generation of interactive fandom. Together, theyll unpack how technology, media, and culture are colliding to create new experiences, new audiences, and new revenue streamsrevealing whats at stake for brands, athletes, and fans in a rapidly shifting industry. Visit the Innovation Festival events page for the full agenda. And be sure to lock in our late rate to save $200 on your Innovation Festival pass.
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