+++ BENTLEY is preparing a new range-topper for its Continental GT line-up, potentially even creating an indirect successor to the Supersports of 2013. Bentley R&D chief Matthias Rabe didn’t rule out the possibility of transplanting the 650 hp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 powertrain from the new Bentayga Speed into the Continental GT. Test mules photographed this month provided further evidence of the new Continental GT’s credentials, mainly suggesting that the new car will be positioned as something more extreme than the current car, rather than, as the Supersports nameplate meant before, be a model that guns purely to be the most powerful Continental in the range. To do the latter will be a hard task, given the 4th generation Continental, which was launched last year, exclusively uses a plug-in hybrid powertrain and, in its most powerful Speed guise, puts out a lofty 780 hp. Instead, the new ‘Supersports’ will instead be positioned as a lightweight and pure-combustion alternative to that model. A track and lap-time focus looks to be a key part of the brief, given the mules are fitted with a fixed rear spoiler and extra front aero. There is also a new tailpipe design, which replaces Bentley’s traditional oval pipes with twin exhausts on either side. Besides the alloys appearing to be of a new design that is not currently available in the standard GT range, no other distinguishing design cues are visible. The previous Supersports were marked out by chunky vertical air intakes in the lower front bumper. Further details of the car remain under wraps but, like the Supersports predecessor, it is likely to be available in only limited numbers and priced well above the current GT’s price. +++
+++ The new BMW M2 CS set a new benchmark on the legendary Nordschleife racetrack of the Nürburgring on 11 April 2025. Driven by BMW M development engineer Jörg Weidinger, it completed the 20.823-kilometre Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit in 7:25.5 minutes, beating the previous best time for compact cars by 8 seconds. This record-setting BMW M2 CS not only raises the bar in the compact car class, but also further solidifies BMW M’s reputation as a manufacturer of high-performance vehicles that excel both on the road and on the racetrack. “The BMW M2 CS has achieved a significant milestone with its lap time of 7:25.5 minutes on the Nordschleife, showcasing the potential for combining performance, technology and exceptional driving dynamics into a single vehicle”, stated Franciscus van Meel, the managing director of BMW M GmbH. “We are proud that the M2 CS has once again set a new benchmark in the compact car class with this lap time”. The previous best time for a BMW M2 model was set by Weidinger in April 2023, when he completed the course in 7:38.7 minutes. 2 years later, he beat this time by 13 seconds, breaking the class record of 7:30 minutes for the first time. With the newly set best time of 7:25.5 minutes, the BMW M2 CS demonstrates its outstanding performance as well as the innovative power and engineering skills of BMW M GmbH. Previous record runs on the Nordschleife by the BMW M4 CS, the BMW M4 CSL and the BMW M3 CS, all mid-range vehicles, achieved times under 7:30 minutes. The BMW M4 CSL also holds the best lap time ever recorded for a BMW Group production car. The official, notarised time is 7:18.137 minutes. Often referred to as the ‘Green Hell’, the Nordschleife racetrack is considered one of the most demanding and challenging racetracks in the world. Measuring 20.832 kilometres in length with over 70 bends, it places the highest demands on drivers and vehicles alike. A fast lap on this track proves a vehicle’s performance and handling capabilities. The Nordschleife lap times are the gold standard for measuring a vehicle’s sporting performance and driving dynamics. Record runs are monitored by a neutral testing organisation, and the vehicles are checked to ensure they are in standard condition. This detailed inspection ensures that the record runs are carried out using production vehicles. BMW M and the Nürburgring have been in partnership for over a quarter of a century. From the BMW M Power Grandstand and BMW M Bridge to the BMW M Driving Experience and BMW M Test Centre, not to mention test drives on the Nordschleife for M vehicles en route to series production, the partnership between BMW M and the Nürburgring has been a resounding success for over 25 years. The Nordschleife serves as a test bench for every M model. The BMW M Test Centre is equipped with cutting-edge workshop facilities that allow BMW M to put vehicles through rigorous testing on the Nordschleife track even before they reach production, as well as to develop new models. BMW M Motorsport racing cars have achieved numerous successes in various racing series, including 21 overall victories in the Nürburgring 24-hour race. The M Power showroom, which was redesigned in 2021, is another flagship of the cooperation. The Nürburgring’s position as the home of BMW M has been further strengthened since then. The new BMW M2 CS is a testament to BMW M GmbH’s ongoing commitment to setting the standard in the compact high-performance sports car segment. Its combination of performance, lightweight construction and innovative technology makes the BMW M2 CS a vehicle that gets drivers and enthusiasts’ hearts racing. The BMW M2 CS increases driving pleasure in the premium segment with its enhanced performance and outstanding agility. The advanced 6-cylinder in-line engine featuring BMW M TwinPower Turbo technology delivers an impressive output of 530 hp and a maximum torque of 650 Nm. Model-specific engine mounts, an adaptive M suspension and an M compound brake system all contribute to its sporty performance. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic. The BMW M2 CS is the lightest model of the current M2 generation thanks to targeted lightweight construction, including a large number of exterior and interior components made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), which reduces its weight by around 30 kg. This makes a decisive contribution to its outstanding driving dynamics. The BMW M2 CS comes with forged M light-alloy wheels as standard. Manufactured at the BMW Group plant in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, the BMW M2 CS is a limited edition model with a market launch planned for late summer 2025, priced at 115.000 euros in Germany. +++
+++ Last month, HYUNDAI began the teaser campaign for its upcoming Ioniq 6 N, a performance-focused electric sedan in the same vein as the Ioniq 5 N. Only it won’t be quite the same as the Ioniq 5 N, says Hyundai. The Korean automaker has teased the sedan once more, announcing that it will be revealed on July 10 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and revealing that significant changes under the skin will set the Ioniq 6 N apart from its taller sibling. There are 3 major points of interest to discuss.
Much of the speculation surrounding the Ioniq 6 N had centered around the idea that this will be little more than an Ioniq 5 N with a new body sitting on top of it. While the Ioniq 5 N would make a fine foundation for a new performance EV, the Ioniq 6 N is not pasting everything it’s copied from the crossover. With a lower ride height, the Ioniq 6 N has unique suspension geometry with a lower roll center and enlarged caster trail (the distance between the point where the steering axis intersects the ground and the center of the tire’s contact patch). This, says Hyundai, should improve the on-center steering feel and self-centering behaviour, as well as result in more feedback through the wheel. Finally, new electronically controlled stroke sensing dampers promise to offer the Goldilocks balance between comfort and precision. Hyundai also touts “advanced” N e-shift technology that is now available in every drive mode. This is a big deal because, as many a reviewer has bemoaned, the Ioniq 5 N can’t provide simulated shifts when in its drift mode, so this change could make the Ioniq 6 N even more fun to drive. Hyundai says the new system will closely mimic motorsport-inspired close gear ratios, and the addition of a new ‘N Ambient Shift Light’ should further enhance engagement with the car. The sounds in the teaser clip below also seem to be inspired more by a naturally aspirated engine than a turbocharged one, so everything about the Ioniq 6 N should be just a little more exciting than it is in the 5 N. The last piece of information provided by Hyundai is that the N Drift Optimizer, or drift mode, has been enhanced with a broader range of customization options that promise tailored control based on skill level. It sounds to us a lot like the 10-stage traction control system in a BMW M4 or the eight-stage system in the Aston Martin Vantage. In a nutshell, the Ioniq 6 N will be even more thrilling to drive than the Ioniq 5 N, and that’s a car almost universally regarded as the most enjoyable EV on the market. See you in a week for more. +++
+++ From seeking voluntary job cuts to a bruising month of exports in May, NISSAN has been through the proverbial ringer lately. To help combat a $4.5 billion net annual loss Nissan took in the fiscal year that ended in March, new CEO Ivan Espinosa is asking suppliers to allow it to delay payments to free up short-term funds as the troubled Japanese automaker scrambles to boost cash. Espinosa, who took the helm in April, unveiled plans to shed around 15 percent of Nissan’s global workforce and close seven plants as he targets ¥500 billion ($3.4 billion) in cost cuts over the next 2 years. The move would allow the automaker to have more cash on hand at the close of the second quarter and follows similar requests that came ahead of the end of the last fiscal year, according to several emails and a company document reviewed by Reuters. It is not uncommon for companies to request payment extensions from suppliers to help free up cash. In a statement to Reuters, Nissan said it had incentivized some of its suppliers to collaborate under more flexible payment terms, at no cost to them, to support its free cash flow. “They could choose to be paid immediately or opt for a later payment with interest”, Nissan said. According to the emails, the automaker has specifically asked suppliers in Britain and the European Union to accept delays in payment, even if it means Nissan would have to pay more down the road. +++
+++ The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into a potential issue with RANGE ROVER SPORT luxury SUVs sold between 2014 and 2017. The investigation focuses on possible fracturing of the aluminium steering knuckles in these vehicles. Steering knuckles connect the front and wheel-and-tire assembly, hub, and brakes to the suspension via a pivoting assembly that allows for steering. A failure of one of these critical pieces “may lead to detachment of the upper suspension arm, which under extreme avoidance maneuvers may compromise the vehicle’s controllability and increase the risk of a crash,” the NHTSA said in a statement. The NHTSA said it received 12 reports from owners stating that “one or both aluminium front steering knuckles have fractured at the top of the joint where the steering knuckle attaches via a pinch bolt and nut to the upper control arm ball joint.” Investigating those reports is the first step toward issuing a recall, although that hasn’t happened yet. The investigation covers a portion of second-generation Range Rover Sport models sold in the U.S. Known internally as the L494, this generation arrived for the 2014 model year and continued until model year 2022. It ensured the first-generation Range Rover Sport wouldn’t be a one-off, cementing what has become Land Rover’s core strategy of building families of models around each nameplate. Since the introduction of the original Range Rover Sport, the Range Rover Evoque and Velar have joined it in the Range Rover corner of the lineup, along with the Discovery Sport as a junior version of the Discovery family hauler. Recent marketing has even subverted the Land Rover name itself, emphasizing the Range Rover, Discovery, and Defender nameplates instead. +++
+++ Auto sales in the UNITED STATES are losing momentum after a springtime surge fueled by shoppers racing to buy cars ahead of Trump’s auto tariffs drove up prices. The annual automotive selling rate likely fell to 15 million in June; the slowest pace in the last 12 months, as consumers grow cautious about big-ticket purchases over worries about the economy. With already high car prices expected to rise further as automakers manage billions of dollars in tariff costs, it may only get worse from here. The light-vehicle market slowed considerably in June after a strong spring that was fuelled by consumers rushing to lock in prices before the effects of U.S. tariffs on imports would be felt. Indeed, many sales were pulled ahead in March, April and May. This negatively impacted June and the second-half outlook, analysts say. In fact, in March and April alone, J.D. Power said, approximately 173.000 extra vehicles were sold as buyers accelerated plans to buy. “That pull-ahead effect has now become a payback effect, deflating June sales below the actual level of vehicle demand”, said Thomas King, head of data and analytics at J.D. Power. Ford managed a 14 percent increase in second-quarter sales. Keep in mind, Ford is promoting employee pricing offers. General Motors sales were also up in the quarter while both Nissan and Infiniti were down. For June, Toyota and Honda posted gains. Hyundai and Genesis also were up, but Kia sales slipped. Deliveries fell for the second-straight month at Subaru and Mazda sales were also down. Stellantis said its deliveries in the United States fell 10% in the second quarter, even as sales of Jeep and Ram brands improved. Today, Tesla may report deliveries fell about 12% from a year earlier. +++
+++ Airbags are a vital part of any vehicle’s safety system, quietly standing by to protect us the very moment they are called upon. But when something goes wrong, the consequences can be severe. Just as it seemed like the wave of airbag-related recalls was tapering off, a new issue has emerged involving thousands of VOLKSWAGEN vehicles worldwide. A recent letter from the automaker reveals that front passenger airbags “can have a reduced protective effect”. However, it’s not this alone that should have customers worried. Volkswagen says that in the event of a crash, it’s possible that the airbag housing could burst and strike occupants, possibly with lethal effects. VW has blamed the issue on a faulty gas generator within the airbag. A total of 16.510 cars worldwide are embroiled in the recall. Impacted models include the Polo, Passat, Taigo, ID.7, ID.7 Tourer and ID.Buzz, although it’s unclear which model years are impacted. Owners will be contacted about the recall and asked to take their vehicle to a dealer. It’ll take between one and three hours to fix the fault. Until repairs can be performed, owners are being asked not to use front passenger seats due to the threat posed by the airbag. Although a total of 16.510 cars are being recalled, not all of them are in the hands of customers, and many are still in the process of being delivered. These vehicles will be repaired before being delivered. +++