Photo: Ferrari
No matter how you turn and spin around this past week's newsreel, the fact remains that crossovers, SUVs, and trucks were more present on the red carpet than passenger cars were able to grab the spotlight. But when they did, they shined brighter than a medium-sized star like our Sun. With help from Ferrari, Porsche, and – uhm – BMW!
The week started with yet another Toyota reveal – the Japanese automaker is starting to become a superstar with so many new model introductions. So, the latest star to hit the red carpet under the spotlight was the second-generation Toyota C-HR subcompact crossover that won't be sold in the United States for the time being, even though it shares the design traits with all the latest cool 'Yotas from America and also kept the quirky styling intact. Even better, it has both hybrid and plug-in hybrid propulsion systems and even a geofencing feature for the 2.0-liter PHEV model to make sure it operates with zero emissions exactly where it needs to.
Another crossover vehicle destined to make a long-lasting impression on the Old Continent is the second-gen Skoda Kodiaq mid-size CUV, but that one only had a soft presentation with all the technical goodies spilled by the Czech carmaker while it's still clad in camouflage. It doesn't matter, though, we bet it's going to be just as bland as its predecessor, so maybe they should offer the colorful drabs as an optional OEM wrap to spice things up a little bit. Ironies aside, there is one curtain I wish it would fall as fast as possible – the tarp plastered all over the confirmed 2025 BMW M5 Touring. I will forgive BMW for all its recent design trespassing if the Bavarians equip the M5 station wagon with enough V8 plug-in hybrid muscle to make the 738-hp BMW XM Label Red jealous.
The area of super crossovers is striking it rich with the 2023 Lotus Eletre, which just launched on the Old Continent markets with up to 905 electric ponies and a family comprising three well-equipped grades plus two powertrain options. Naturally, the flagship version is going to be an EV rascal and one able to hit 62 mph (100 kph) in less than three seconds. But does anyone care about that when the darn thing looks like a Chinese shoe of some smelly kind? Sorry to be so dastardly frank, but the Lotus brand was once a staple of lightweight sports cars with many sparkling personality traits! Anyway, if you want something with too much personality, the 2024 BMW X1 M35i may settle the case for ICE-powered fans of the four-pot variety. It's the Bavarian brand's punchiest inline-four mill, and it will surely measure up to the standards of the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 without too many issues – if you are willing to cope with the humongous kidney grille, that is.
No worries, we also have novelties from America right after we finish talking about how Mercedes-Benz, on the one hand, is saying goodbye to the V8 mill in the G 500 'Final Edition' and, on the other hand, says long-live-the-V8 in the Mercedes-AMG G 63 'Grand Edition' that was revealed concurrently with its slightly lesser sibling. Funny, right? Well, folks are starting to think that EVs are inadequate even for the roads because of their higher weight brought about by massive battery packs when the discussion should be steered towards the fact that they are becoming increasingly costlier than anyone ever anticipated. Oh, yeah, the Chevy Silverado EV in base $40k trim is dead and buried, and General Motors is only starting fleet sales with the 4WT version that costs nearly twice as much at $79,800!
With that said, the 2024 Lexus ES is starting to look like a bargain at $43,190, and we have high hopes that Nissan won't hike the price too much when it officially reveals the 2024 Z Nismo even if the rumor mill is correct and they are only offering the automatic transmission. Oh, and Audi is still alive and well; they just updated the pricing situation on the 2024 RS 6 Avant (still one of the coolest high-performance wagons on the planet until the M5 Touring tries to snatch the throne) and RS 7 Performance models. Now, though, it is time to kick it in a higher gear with the absolute extremes of the week's novelties. And I'm happy to announce that the spotlight was on two sports cars – not CUVs, SUVs, or trucks.
First, a Frenchy-sounding Porsche 911 Carrera GTS centenary edition celebrated the brand's 75th anniversary and its connection to the 24 Hours of Le Mans during the Le Mans Classic of 2023. Unfortunately, it is costly and also restricted to the French market – and I am not going to advise anyone to move there just to grab hold of this silver 911 anytime soon. The Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale (799 units) and Spider (599 examples), on the other hand, have just slapped Lamborghini in the 1,001-hp Revuelto PHEV face with a couple of street-legal 'XX' models that slightly tower above that Veyron-style figure with their 1,016 ponies. Sure, the rivals also have the chance to respond with upcoming derivations, so it's going to be interesting to see if the Revuelto SVJ escalates the (electrified) horsepower wars, right?
Another crossover vehicle destined to make a long-lasting impression on the Old Continent is the second-gen Skoda Kodiaq mid-size CUV, but that one only had a soft presentation with all the technical goodies spilled by the Czech carmaker while it's still clad in camouflage. It doesn't matter, though, we bet it's going to be just as bland as its predecessor, so maybe they should offer the colorful drabs as an optional OEM wrap to spice things up a little bit. Ironies aside, there is one curtain I wish it would fall as fast as possible – the tarp plastered all over the confirmed 2025 BMW M5 Touring. I will forgive BMW for all its recent design trespassing if the Bavarians equip the M5 station wagon with enough V8 plug-in hybrid muscle to make the 738-hp BMW XM Label Red jealous.
The area of super crossovers is striking it rich with the 2023 Lotus Eletre, which just launched on the Old Continent markets with up to 905 electric ponies and a family comprising three well-equipped grades plus two powertrain options. Naturally, the flagship version is going to be an EV rascal and one able to hit 62 mph (100 kph) in less than three seconds. But does anyone care about that when the darn thing looks like a Chinese shoe of some smelly kind? Sorry to be so dastardly frank, but the Lotus brand was once a staple of lightweight sports cars with many sparkling personality traits! Anyway, if you want something with too much personality, the 2024 BMW X1 M35i may settle the case for ICE-powered fans of the four-pot variety. It's the Bavarian brand's punchiest inline-four mill, and it will surely measure up to the standards of the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 without too many issues – if you are willing to cope with the humongous kidney grille, that is.
No worries, we also have novelties from America right after we finish talking about how Mercedes-Benz, on the one hand, is saying goodbye to the V8 mill in the G 500 'Final Edition' and, on the other hand, says long-live-the-V8 in the Mercedes-AMG G 63 'Grand Edition' that was revealed concurrently with its slightly lesser sibling. Funny, right? Well, folks are starting to think that EVs are inadequate even for the roads because of their higher weight brought about by massive battery packs when the discussion should be steered towards the fact that they are becoming increasingly costlier than anyone ever anticipated. Oh, yeah, the Chevy Silverado EV in base $40k trim is dead and buried, and General Motors is only starting fleet sales with the 4WT version that costs nearly twice as much at $79,800!
With that said, the 2024 Lexus ES is starting to look like a bargain at $43,190, and we have high hopes that Nissan won't hike the price too much when it officially reveals the 2024 Z Nismo even if the rumor mill is correct and they are only offering the automatic transmission. Oh, and Audi is still alive and well; they just updated the pricing situation on the 2024 RS 6 Avant (still one of the coolest high-performance wagons on the planet until the M5 Touring tries to snatch the throne) and RS 7 Performance models. Now, though, it is time to kick it in a higher gear with the absolute extremes of the week's novelties. And I'm happy to announce that the spotlight was on two sports cars – not CUVs, SUVs, or trucks.
First, a Frenchy-sounding Porsche 911 Carrera GTS centenary edition celebrated the brand's 75th anniversary and its connection to the 24 Hours of Le Mans during the Le Mans Classic of 2023. Unfortunately, it is costly and also restricted to the French market – and I am not going to advise anyone to move there just to grab hold of this silver 911 anytime soon. The Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale (799 units) and Spider (599 examples), on the other hand, have just slapped Lamborghini in the 1,001-hp Revuelto PHEV face with a couple of street-legal 'XX' models that slightly tower above that Veyron-style figure with their 1,016 ponies. Sure, the rivals also have the chance to respond with upcoming derivations, so it's going to be interesting to see if the Revuelto SVJ escalates the (electrified) horsepower wars, right?
Google News