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- BMW's G-Wagen Rival, Volvo Axes Sedans, Polestar's Run
BMW's G-Wagen Rival, Volvo Axes Sedans, Polestar's Run
PLUS: 2027 7 Series spied, G70 dead, LC screens scream
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2025-08-13
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Releases & Reviews
Car and Driver samples a camouflaged Valhalla prototype on Aston’s 1.1 mile (2 km) Stowe Circuit, finding outrageous pace and surprising polish. Its 1,064 hp (794 kW) target, active rear wing on hydraulic pylons, and exotic packaging hint at a near-production halo—and a needed sales boost.
The 2026 Durango is soldiering on with familiar bones but now offered solely with a V-8. Updates remain modest and driver-assist tech trails rivals, yet the three-row still mixes towing-friendly fun with family space and incremental interior and exterior tweaks.
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Technology, Market Data & Analysis
A Long Range Single Motor Polestar 3 covering 581.3 miles (936 km) on one charge has set a Guinness World Record for an electric SUV. Driven 22 hours 57 minutes by efficiency specialists on mostly flat UK A and B roads, the feat underscores energy management.
Volvo will drop sedans in the U.S., with the new ES90 skipping America and the S90 and V60 not returning for 2026. The brand will also pare its EV and wagon offerings here, while continuing select models in other markets depending on demand.
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Car Culture
Koenigsegg reclaimed the 0–249–0 mph (0–400–0 km/h) benchmark, surpassing Rimac’s 25.79 second run from July. Christian von Koenigsegg cheekily notes it bests AWD EVs, as a quicker Jesko effort showcases combustion power’s enduring bite when traction, brake cooling, and aero balance cooperate.
Barn Find Hunter follows Tom Cotter as a daughter bids farewell to her family’s GT500, sharing provenance, parts, and keepsakes before the car leaves. Filmed in rural Kansas, the 21 minute watch balances wrenching lore with the heartbreak of letting a lifelong heirloom go.
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Miscellaneous
BMW is preparing an X5-based off-road SUV to battle the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, likely with a gasoline engine. Production would begin in 2029 at Spartanburg, South Carolina, reportedly replacing the XM and signaling a push into rugged luxury.
Motor1’s spy video shows two camouflaged Artura prototypes, one wearing a clear ducktail wing, hinting at uprated aero and possibly a hotter long-tail derivative. Following 2023 production pauses for quality fixes, the plug-in hybrid appears headed for iterative improvements and expanded variants to sharpen McLaren’s range.
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Quick Links
Ford touts a new EV manufacturing process to drive affordability, but looming tax-credit expirations, trade frictions, and industry pullbacks make the bet risky, as executives openly acknowledge possible failure.
Camouflaged prototypes reveal a mild facelift emphasizing reshaped fascia, bumpers, and lighting while powertrains see minor gains, aligning the flagship’s look with BMW’s Neue Klasse design direction.
GM design chief Bryan Nesbitt says autonomous tech will pivot interiors toward flexible, lounge-like spaces and external forms optimized for sensors, reshaping proportions beyond today’s driver-centric packaging.
MotorTrend’s yearlong 2025 Land Cruiser finds mismatched graphics, deep menus, and clunky responses undermine otherwise capable hardware, though customization options and promised updates hint at a better UX ahead.
Limited to 25, the S680 pairs Mid Ireland green over Moonlight white paint and bespoke cabin trim, oddly invoking California’s Central Coast despite its Ireland-themed name at Monterey Car Week.
Karma’s Amaris GT, an extended range EV coupe, shows three dashboard screens, a carbon-trimmed squircle wheel with capacitive controls, floating shifter, production next year, and a starting price around $200,000.
Automotive News reports G70 production only runs through 2027, with no successor planned globally, signaling Genesis may exit the compact sport sedan segment despite the model’s enthusiast-approved dynamics.
Doug DeMuro praises the redesigned X3’s playful handling, modern tech interface, and everyday practicality, noting thoughtful storage and improved driver aids while flagging some quirky controls typical of recent BMWs.
TheStraightPipes highlight the Maverick Tremor’s toughened suspension, off-road modes, and value proposition, debating its “Baby Raptor” billing while lauding maneuverability and everyday utility with manageable compromises in ride refinement.
After a flashy rebrand, Jaguar confronts stale products, leadership churn, confused sales narratives, and fresh political backlash from President Trump, complicating its transition plan and positioning versus German rivals and Tesla.
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