+++ APPLE CAR PLAY is to receive a major update aimed at increasing usability and introducing more customisation options. Arriving as part of the new iOS 26 software package for iPhones, the main focus has been to keep key information, like maps, more visible. As part of this, incoming phone call notifications will no longer take up the whole infotainment display or cover mapping directions, instead being displayed in a more compact view. Incoming messages will be made less distracting, said Apple, popping up as a small notifications at the bottom of the screen. Users will now also be able to respond to them with emoji ‘Tapbacks’ and pin contacts. Apple has also given CarPlay a new design, mirroring the more curved-edges look of the upcoming iOS 26 system. What’s more, the update brings widget customisation (meaning the home screen can be designed by the user) and Live Activities (such as flight tracking) so that “users can stay in the loop without losing focus on the road”. The changes will also apply to the next-generation CarPlay Ultra software package. First to be used by Aston Martin, this runs across a car’s instrument display as well as its infotainment display, bringing additional customisation options while also being able to control various in-car functions. +++
+++ ASTON MARTIN has launched the Valkyrie LM as a screaming V12-engined, Le Mans-spec track toy that could be the world’s ultimate automotive plaything. Unlike the Valkyrie AMR Pro, a track-only version of the Valkyrie road car, the Valkyrie LM is based on Aston’s LMH hypercar that will race at La Sarthe this weekend. That means it draws 707 hp from the same 6.5-litre Cosworth V12 and drives the rear wheels through a 7-speed semi-automatic sequential gearbox. But Aston Martin has made a number of modifications to tailor the Valkyrie LM to track day use, starting with making the V12 compatible with readily available fuel. It has also removed the ballast and FIA-regulation electronic systems, along with the racer’s torque sensors. Otherwise, though, this is a top-class Le Mans car that can be run around a track of its owner’s choosing. It still has a carbonfibre race seat with 6-point harness, a fire suppression system and bespoke track tyres from Pirelli. Adam Carter, Aston Martin’s head of endurance motorsport, said: “It is important to emphasise that the Valkyrie LM is close to identical to the race car that is currently competing in WEC and IMSA, with only a few minor deviations to ensure it is a non-homologated variant and is accessible for customers to experience and enjoy. Valkyrie LM represents the most authentic hypercar track experience that is now available”. Similarly to Ferrari’s original XX track car programme, Aston Martin will store and transport the cars as part of a support programme for owners that aims to offer the “ultimate top-flight motorsport experience”. Included as part of that, the company will also supply a team of engineers to set up the car and maintain it during the track days. It will also provide professional driver coaches and simulator sessions to ensure customers can “explore the limits of a machine designed to operate in excess of 320 kph on the fast, flat-out kinks of the most famous race track in the world”. Owners will be able to drive their cars for the first time at an “exclusive handover event” in the second quarter of 2026, before being invited to track days at Formula 1-standard circuits later in the year. +++
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+++ INEOS AUTOMOTIVE is in talks with Chery to build cars on a range-extender (REx) EV platform from the Chinese group’s iCaur off-road brand. The tie-up would allow Ineos to move quickly to develop its postponed Fusilier REx off-roader and expand its line-up beyond the slow-selling Grenadier combustion-engined off-roader. The launch of the Fusilier would give Ineos a crucial low-CO2 model that would allow it to comply with emissions regulations in both the UK and the European Union. Currently, the company manages the regulations by selling some Grenadier models as commercial vehicles, thus ensuring it stays within the lighter-touch rules for low-volume manufacturers. Ineos is expected to repurpose iCaur’s upcoming V27, an offroader that uses a 1.5-litre turbo engine as a generator when the charge from its battery (either 22kWh or 33kWh) is depleted. At 4.8 meter long and just under 2.0 meter tall, the V27 is larger than the Fusilier concept revealed last year but still smaller than the Grenadier. The all-wheel-drive version packages an electric motor on each axle and produces up to 449bhp, iCaur has said. In May, iCaur CEO Su Jun released a picture of himself standing with a prototype of the V27, asking social media followers whether they agreed with comments that it was “the national version of the G-Class” or the “new-energy Land Cruiser”. The iCaur brand is targeting sales in the UK and mainland Europe from early next year with a range of models starting with the V23, a small electric SUV. Subsequent models will include the V25 and a planned new ‘V21’ to rival the Jeep Avenger. Chery CEO Yin Tongyue said in April last year that “two premium marques” in Europe wanted to use Chery platforms and the firm was in talks with 2 others. One of those premium brands was Chery joint-venture partner JLR, which has since announced that it will revive the Freelander brand in China using Chery’s T1X platform, shared with Chery brands Omoda and Jaecoo. The other premium marque looks set to be Ineos. Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo also visited Chery’s hometown of Wuhu earlier this year and showed interest in the iCaur V23. The iCar brand (which was forced to rename itself iCaur for exports to avoid a legal clash with Apple) has been a hit in China after the launch of the V23. The brand plans to repeat that success overseas and has set a goal of opening 2000 showrooms in 100 countries within 3 years. Chery is very open to deals with European car makers. In Spain it has signed up with local brand EV Motors to sell its Tiggo range of SUVs under revived Spanish marque Ebro. Meanwhile, the same cars in Italy are badged under the local DR brand. Both tie-ups involve an element of local assembly, with Ebro’s cars sent over as partially built kits and finished in Nissan’s former Barcelona plant. Ineos could be expected to repurpose its former Smart car facility in Hambach, France, to build the Fusilier model from iCaur kits sent over from China. Extended-range EVs are included in the EU’s increased tariffs for China-built EVs, but assembling the cars in Europe could enable Ineos to circumvent them, provided that it can show it adds enough local value. +++
+++ LEAPMOTOR , a leading New Energy Vehicle (NEV) start-up in China, has achieved a new milestone in May 2025, delivering 45.067 vehicles; the highest monthly sales volume in the company’s history. This record-setting performance represents a 9.82% increase over April 2025 and continues Leapmotor’s strong growth trajectory in the Chinese market. The company’s consistent month-over-month growth in 2025 underscores its rising prominence in the competitive NEV sector. In May, the Top Performer is the Leapmotor C10 SUV: the updated C10 version, launched in mid-May, has been well-received for its value and features, helping drive Leapmotor’s record-breaking month, with over 13.000 units sold. Overall, the whole lineup contributed to the record Leapmotor sales, currently offering 6 models in China, from city car to SUVs, to reach a wide range of consumer needs. These figures reflect a consistent upward trend, with May 2025 marking the highest monthly sales volume to date. The significant growth in March and strong performance of the C10 highlight Leapmotor’s accelerating market momentum. Leapmotor’s success is also fuelled by the growing trust of Chinese consumers, who are increasingly turning to the brand for its reliable and affordable EVs that meet the needs of a broad customer base, the rich product line-up and the standout C10 thanks to its mid-month refresh and competitive pricing. Strategic partnership with Stellantis, reinforces Leapmotor’s production capabilities and long-term stability. +++
+++ Elon MUSK , who had a very public falling out with Donald Trump last week, regrets some of the social media posts he made, saying “they went too far.” The dispute, which was triggered by Musk’s opposition to the tax-cut bill Trump is pushing through Congress, posed a threat to the billionaire’s wealth when the president raised the prospect of cutting off his government contracts. Tesla investors can relax a bit; the company’s shares rose in premarket trading. Speaking of Musk, the Tesla chief executive officer set June 22 as a tentative launch date for its robotaxi network, posting that the date may shift because the company is “super paranoid about safety”. The service has suffered a series of delays over the years. +++
+++ The OPEL GRANDLAND ELECTRIC has gained a dual-motor variant, making it the first electric car from the German brand to send power to all four corners. Topping the line-up, the new SUV uses the same set-up as its Peugeot e-3008 and Peugeot e-5008 cousins. This combines the standard Grandland Electric’s front-mounted 213 hp motor with a 112 hp motor on the rear axle for total outputs of 325 hp and 500 Nm. While this cuts the car’s 0-100 kph time by 2.9 seconds to 6.1 seconds, Opel said the system is more about maximising grip and stability, especially when taking the Ford Explorer rival off road. A new AWD mode has been added, which keeps the 2 motors on continuously and delivers maximum power. In Normal mode, the front motor is primarily used, with the new rear motor engaged “depending on the driver’s demands”. What’s more, the range-topping Grandland gets adaptive dampers as standard, which Opel said is to help the car’s comfort levels when driven on different surfaces. Energy is drawn from the same 73 kWh battery as in the standard car. Here it offers up to 500 km in its most economical FWD setting. Opel hasn’t confirmed a range for when both motors are engaged. The dual-motor Grandland Electric gets a few design tweaks to make it more slippery and distinguish it from its siblings. For example, front and rear bumper inserts and new 20in aero wheel slightly reduce its drag coefficient. Deliveries will begin in September. Pricing has yet to be announced, but it will be more expensive than the current range-topper. +++
+++ In the UNITED KINGDOM , the Ford Puma is still holding firm as the bestselling car. Not only is it clinging on to the top spot this year, but it also finished 2024 as the country’s most popular model. While it has been a successful start to the year for the Puma, the overall new car market is struggling slightly, but there are signs of progress. New car registrations increased by 1.6% year on year in May to 150.070. Plus, electric car sales continued to look healthy, increasing by 25.8% year on year to 32.738. The top-10 bestselling cars of the year so far are: 1. Ford Puma – 21.936 units, 2. Kia Sportage – 19.636 units, 3. Nissan Qashqai – 17.077 units, 4. Opel Corsa – 16.545 units, 5. Nissan Juke – 15.249 units, 6. Volkswagen Golf – 14.198 units, 7. MG ZS – 12.918 units, 8. Volkswagen Tiguan – 12.634 units, 9. Volvo XC40 – 12.606 units and 10. MG HS – 12.545 units. +++