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- M2 vs RS3, Ford hypercar in-house, P1800 upstages 007
M2 vs RS3, Ford hypercar in-house, P1800 upstages 007
PLUS: Forza 6 Japan, Audi A6 drops 4-cyl, 10 longest-lasting SUVs
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2025-09-29
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Releases & Reviews
Manual, rear-drive, twin-turbo inline-six M2 squares off against the dual-clutch, all-wheel-drive, five-cylinder RS3, putting torque-vectoring and chassis tuning under the microscope. Testing shows the Audi is easier and quicker across mixed roads, while the BMW delivers purer balance, engagement, and a more old-school sports-car feel.
Seven budget-friendly subcompact crossovers face road tests and instrumented measurements, weighing value, ride comfort, driver-assist performance, infotainment usability, and cargo versatility. Rankings reshuffle around well-tuned chassis and safety tech, with small turbo engines and available hybrids punching above specs to deliver everyday efficiency and refinement.
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Technology, Market Data & Analysis
An electrification tilt dominates this year’s Wards 10 Best Powertrains, with hybrids and EV systems rewarded for smooth integration, efficiency, and drivability. A few standout combustion entries remain, signaling a pragmatic market phase where everyday refinement matters more than headline outputs.
Inventory analysis shows Carvana increasingly stocked with Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram after purchasing a franchise, blurring lines between used-car e-commerce and captive pipelines. The Stellantis tilt could steer pricing, reconditioning practices, and availability—especially for shoppers seeking non-CDJR brands.
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Car Culture
Owning the Mercedes-AMG One means F1-derived thrills paired with rituals: careful warm-ups, frequent software checks, and track-biased ride-height modes. A Top Gear interview with an owner highlights breathtaking pace and downforce on circuit, offset by compromises in comfort, range, and scheduling.
Roger Moore’s Volvo P1800 in The Saint earned cult status with elegant proportions, reliability, and on-screen charisma rivalling Bond’s gadget-stuffed Aston Martin. The retrospective traces design origins and TV production context, underscoring enduring Scandinavian cool and the model’s influence on 1960s spy-car lore.
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Miscellaneous
A limited-run Heritage Edition closes the book on the Lexus LS, with 250 units priced at $100,730 and a twin-turbo V-6, curated trims, and final-year exclusivity. The LS500h ends after 2025, hinting at a flagship strategy reset for the brand.
A new top-class endurance racer will be built mostly in-house by Ford, tightening control of aero, chassis, and system integration while maintaining outside partners for race operations. The approach aims to accelerate development, simplify logistics, and strengthen tech transfer to future road cars.
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Quick Links
Lexus nudges the LX’s base price to $107,950 and tops out at $142,450, while making Safety System+ 3.0 and a head-up display standard with adaptive cruise, lane trace assist, proactive driving and road-sign recognition.
Toyota confirms Japan’s optional software upgrade adding 22 lb-ft (30 Nm) to early GR Corollas won’t come to the U.S., despite the 2026 model’s extra structural adhesive, improved cooling, and new premium audio.
After a bug-riddled debut, Volvo’s EX90 gets a reboot with a new Nvidia Drive AGX Orin central computer, faster charging, and broad software fixes aimed at delivering the flagship experience the three-row EV promised.
Audi drops the four-cylinder for the 2026 A6, launching a cleaner-looking, quieter V6 sedan with sharper handling and more tech alongside the A6 Sportback E-Tron EV, at near-identical pricing that invites internal rivalry.
A hard-used rental 2025 Ram 1500 Rebel with the twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane I6 shows 48,105 miles (77,401 km) in a year, offering a rare durability snapshot as Ram revives the Hemi V8 alongside it.
Car and Driver finds the Plus Four charmingly analog yet uncompromising—sensational steering feel and open-air theater, but minimal weather protection, cramped storage, and nighttime driving that turns the narrow windshield into a wind tunnel.
Using odometer data from 402 million vehicles, iSeeCars ranks SUVs most likely to exceed 250,000 miles (402,000 km), with stalwarts from Toyota, Lexus, and Chevrolet topping a list aimed squarely at long-term shoppers.
BMW will roll out more than 40 new or refreshed models in 24 months, porting the iX3’s Neue Klasse digital architecture across the lineup so current cars don’t feel dated next to the platform’s “quantum leaps” in tech.
Playground Games confirms Forza Horizon 6 for 2026 in Japan, teasing the setting with a minute-long trailer and promising PS5 availability after launch alongside series staples on Xbox and PC.
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