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- Nissan's Cash Crunch, Chris Harris’ 992.2 GT3, BMW glitch
Nissan's Cash Crunch, Chris Harris’ 992.2 GT3, BMW glitch
PLUS: Kia Telluride spied, AMG hybrid flop, Tesla no longer #1
2025-07-01
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Releases & Reviews
Chris Harris wrings out the updated 518 hp (386 kW) 992.2 GT3 Touring on sinuous French tarmac, praising shorter gearing, softer springs and discreet aero that tame the 9,000 rpm flat-six howl. He says the manual’s compliance makes it a livable foil to the 186 mph (299 km/h) winged GT3.
MotorTrend clocks the XRT’s 281 hp (209 kW), 311 lb-ft (422 Nm) turbo four at 6.5s 0-60 and 14.9 s in the quarter at 96.9 mph (156 km/h). All-terrain tires, a 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) tow rating and an under-bed cooler boost versatility, though the bed’s stubby and the rear seat is bolt-upright.
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Technology, Market Data & Analysis
Leaked emails reveal new CEO Ivan Espinosa urging EU suppliers to postpone invoicing until August–September, unlocking liquidity as Nissan chases 500 billion yen (~$3.4 billion) cost cuts and braces for a 550 billion yen (~$3.8 billion) Q1 cash shortfall.
A software patch will reach nearly 71,000 i4, i5, i7 and iX models after 40 cases showed an erroneous “double-isolation” alert that shuts the high-voltage system 15–20 seconds after a warning; power steering and braking remain fully functional.
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Car Culture
Top Gear showcases Mansour Ojjeh’s 20-car “Last of Legends” hoard—headlined by a 1,810 km McLaren F1 plus Sabre, Senna GTR and Speedtail—each the final chassis built. Eighteen cars show zero miles, and the whole orange-hued set hits the block with Tom Hartley Jnr.
Motor1 traces hidden lamps from Cord’s 1935 810 through the Lotus Elan to 2005’s C5 Corvette, explaining how pedestrian-impact rules, tight packaging and LED miniaturization will likely keep the beloved flip-ups parked in history despite today’s retro design boom.
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Miscellaneous
EU filings and Monterey teasers point to the Fenomeno: a Revuelto-based V-12 hybrid predicted to exceed 1,015 hp (757 kW). Just 29 cars are rumored, each expected to outprice the $2.4 million Sian when order books open later this year.
The 577 hp (430 kW), 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) Spectre EV is reshaping Goodwood demographics: Spectre buyers average 35, pulling overall brand age to 42, while 40 percent are first-time clients drawn by twin 12.3-inch curved displays and silent torque.
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Quick Links
Lotus denies Hethel shutdown rumours, noting a mid-May production pause tied to tariff-hit supply chains while evaluating efficiency moves to support Emira, Eletre and Emeya output in its core UK hub.
An AMG executive says the 671 hp (500 kW) plug-in C63 four-cylinder disappointed traditional buyers and is too costly for Euro 7, prompting a strategic return to inline-six and V-8 engines.
New Black Express and Warlock variants pair 405 hp (302 kW) Hemi power and 429 lb-ft (582 Nm) torque or a 430 hp (321 kW), 1,075 lb-ft (1,459 Nm) Cummins diesel with sport hoods, 20-inch wheels and brawny styling.
Camouflaged prototypes show a more upright body, EV9-style flush door handles, vertical LED lights and an X-Pro grade with chunkier tires and recovery hooks, hinting at extra space from a stretched wheelbase.
IIHS 360-camera tests reveal the Honda CR-V’s forward visibility shrank from 68 percent in 1997 to 28 percent in 2022, underscoring how taller hoods, thicker pillars and larger mirrors expand modern blind zones.
J.D. Power’s 2025 IQS logs 269 problems per 100 Audis—versus Lexus’s 166—spotlighting luxury-brand headaches from infotainment frustrations to basic ergonomics despite overall industry improvement.
Lotus idled Hethel after tariff-caused parts woes and may move Eletre and Emeya—targeting 680-mile (1,094 km) extended-range versions—to Volvo’s South Carolina facility, leaving Emira’s long-term assembly uncertain.
Toyota’s RAV4 surged 11 percent to 1,187,000 units in 2024, edging Model Y by 2,000 and giving Toyota five top-ten spots ahead of a 320 hp (239 kW) hybrid redesign.
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