+++ BYD ’s God’s Eye flaws expose risk of rush into high-tech cars. Customer claims concerning the safety of the self-driving software have raised questions on the limits of some of BYD’s technology and show a potential downside to adding advanced systems to cars before all their problems are worked out. +++
+++ Nearly 12.000 examples of JEEP ’s all-electric Wagoneer S are being recalled in the United States, highlighting a quality lapse that arguably should have been caught earlier. Now, owners will need to visit a dealership to have their vehicles inspected and the faulty component repaired or replaced. The Wagoneer S, which will also be sold in Europe, may have been built with a liftgate hinge cover that lacks sufficient design tolerances. Stellantis explains that in some cases, the rear liftgate hinge cover may not clip securely into place and could detach from the vehicle, creating a potential road hazard. Owners might get an early warning. The company notes that occupants could hear a rattling noise or notice that one or both hinge covers aren’t sitting flush. Jeep says that as of February 18, it had logged 2 customer assistance cases, 17 warranty claims and 32 field reports potentially tied to the issue. In total, 11.767 vehicles are being recalled, all built between March 21, 2024 and July 24, 2025. The automaker estimates that 6.7 percent of them may actually have the defect in question. The problematic component comes from Magna International, with owner notifications set to go out starting May 1. Dealers have been told to inspect the hinge cover and, if needed, repair or replace it with an updated version that stays put. This isn’t the only recall recently issued by Jeep in the US. In February, more than 80,.000 Grand Cherokees were called in for repairs because the rear coil springs may have been installed incorrectly as part of a previous recall. In this case, Jeep revealed the spring could detach from the vehicle entirely, presenting a serious safety risk. +++
+++ The jewel at the top of the Volkswagen Group is no longer Bentley, and definitely no longer Porsche, but a brand that has shaken off a tumultuous past to become a mainstay of profitability in a sector that many are struggling in. LAMBORGHINI accounted for just 0.65% of sales in the broader Audi Group (which includes Audi, Bentley and motorbike brand Ducati) in 2025, at 10.747. But despite that, the Italian brand accounted for almost a quarter of the group’s operating profits, at €768 million, giving it a profit margin of 24%. +++
+++ Mercedes will attach the MAYBACH name to a van for the first time with a new range-topper based on the incoming VLS. The new luxury MPV was officially confirmed by Mercedes-Benz Group CEO Ola Källenius during the presentation of the updated Maybach S-Class in Beijing. Dutch sales are planned, although launch timing remains unconfirmed. The Maybach VLS will be based on the same VAN.EA platform as the VLE, the recently unveiled successor to the V-Class, topping a newly structured van line-up. It will be sold exclusively as an EV. Källenius described the VLS as a “grand limousine”, it having been developed to centre on interior packaging, rear passenger comfort and chauffeur use. Multiple seating arrangements are planned, including a high-end two-seat configuration similar to that previewed by the recent Vision V concept. Official descriptions highlight a “first-class interior”, an “exceptional rear-seat experience” and a cabin conceived as an “extraordinary private lounge”. There has been no suggestion whether the Vision V’s retractable 65 inch cinema screen will make production. Plans to introduce a Maybach van reflect shifting demand at the top end of the market. In China and across parts of Asia, large luxury MPVs have become increasingly popular, with buyers prioritising interior space, rear-seat layout versatility and extended wheelbases. Production of the standard VLS is planned to begin by the end of 2026, with the Maybach VLS expected to follow in 2027. +++
+++ A lot of digital ink has been spilled about the next MX-5, even though there have been zero spy shots of the new roadster. The fifth generation is still likely a couple of years away, but that hasn’t stopped MAZDA from discussing the direction its beloved convertible will take. In an interview with Australian media, a company higher-up reassured enthusiasts that the MX-5 won’t betray its legacy as a lightweight sports car. Mazda’s General Manager of Global Sales and Marketing, Manabu Osuga, shared a magical number: “I can tell you that we are sticking with the design for a car that will be under 1 ton of weight, employing our ‘gram strategy’ as we did with the current series”. At less than 1.000 kilograms, it would make the next MX-5 even lighter than the ND3 on sale today in the United States. In North America, the current car weighs 1.073 kilo in its lightest form. However, it’s even lighter in some regions where the MX-5 is offered with a tiny 1.5-liter engine. As a matter of fact, in EU markets, Mazda sells the roadster exclusively with the smaller engine. Unfortunately, the 2.0-liter unit had to be removed from the lineup after failing to meet emissions regulations. Osuga was referring to the soft-top model, as a potential future RF version with an electrically retractable hardtop would inevitably bring a weight penalty. Mazda knows it’s imperative to keep the Miata as lightweight as possible and is consequently ruling out electrification, at least for the time being. “I am not going to say there isn’t any possibility for a hybrid version. But right now, that technology is very heavy, and if we apply that to the MX-5, we will not satisfy our fans. Eventually, in the future, if the technology is there, then we will think about it. But at this moment, the internal combustion engine is the way forward”. It’s an interesting statement, given how Mazda is already facing compliance issues with the MX-5 in EU markets. The 2.0-liter engine disappeared from the continent a couple of years ago, but perhaps the upcoming Skyactiv-Z unit will make it possible to install a larger engine again. Set to premiere in the hybrid CX-5 in 2027, it’ll be a 2.5-liter mill developed to comply with Euro 7, which comes into effect later this year. +++
+++ RENAULT has converted the new Twingo into a van for French energy provider EDF, boosting the city car’s load-lugging capacity to 797 litres. That figure is more than double the 360-litre maximum of the regular electric hatchback, coming thanks to the removal of the rear seats. In their place sits a metal cage fitted with covers to disguise cargo, with the load bay separated from the cockpit by a mesh bulkhead.
Revealed on the sidelines of the Twingo’s media launch, the conversion package is completely reversible, helping to protect each Twingo van’s resale value once it has completed its duty on a company fleet. From the outside, the van is distinguished from the regular Twingo by its black headlight surrounds and bold blue paint, part of EDF’s corporate livery. Its rear windows are also tinted almost completely opaque to help obscure the load on board.
The Twingo van remains a concept for now but, given its simplicity, could easily make it to market. Renault offered a similar conversion on the 1990s Mk1 Twingo, although such examples are now extremely rare. The new Twingo joins a long line of city cars converted into vans. The car-based van class has withered for several years but is now undergoing a renaissance: Renault also offers a van version of the 4 E-Tech and the Citroën ë-C3 can too be had in commercial guise. +++
++ ROLLS-ROYCE ’s next coachbuilt car will be an EV, due to be revealed in the coming weeks. It marks a significant expansion of Goodwood’s bespoke programme, now named the Coachbuild Collection. Customers with a “special affinity” for the British marque will be invited to one of its global ‘private offices’ (effectively rooms designed for car specification) to discuss limited-production projects. “It became clear that clients wished to see not only what Rolls-Royce would create if left entirely to its own imagination and with the freedom offered by coachbuilding, but they also wanted to witness that journey at every stage”, said CEO Chris Brownridge. The expansion of its coachbuilding programme comes after the positive reception to previous limited-run Rolls-Royces. The Phantom-based Sweptail was unveiled in 2017 as the first coachbuilt Rolls-Royce of the modern era and was described by then-CEO Torsten Müller Otvös as “probably the most expensive new car ever”. It was followed by the open-top Boat Tail, revealed in 2021 and thought to cost around €25 million. It was inspired by yachts and its 1932 namesake, with wooden panelling and a parasol that popped out from its rear deck. Just three examples were built. The Droptail then followed 2 years later. It was understood to cost even more than the Boat Tail and was sportier in style, taking inspiration from ‘chop-top’ hot rods. The next coachbuilt car will be the first with electric power; the previous 3 were all powered by Rolls-Royce’s signature 6.75-litre petrol V12. +++
+++ SUBARU has announced plans to introduce a new 3-row, electric crossover at the New York Auto Show. It debuts on April Fool’s Day, but it’s real and it will pack a 426 hp punch. Subaru isn’t saying much, but there’s little doubt the model will be yet another badge engineered vehicle shared with Toyota. This will make 4 of them and the latest should follow in the footsteps of the redesigned Highlander. While the automaker is playing coy, they released a teaser image revealing a familiar front end that echoes the Solterra, Trailseeker, and Uncharted. Details are hard to make out, but we can see split lighting units and an illuminated logo. They’re joined by a roof rack and a shark fin antenna. That’s not a lot to go on, but the Highlander has 77 kWh and 95.8 kWh battery packs as well as a choice of front- and all-wheel drive. The former has 224 hp, while the latter develops 343 hp. These setups enable the crossover to offer ranges of between 435 and 515 km. We can also expect a NACS port as well as a DC fast charging capability that can take the battery from 10% to 80% in approximately 30 minutes. A 240V charging cable should also be included as well. Powertrain aside, we can expect a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch infotainment system. They should be accompanied by a six-speaker audio system and a 64-color ambient lighting system. The electric Toyota Highlander lands late this year, so expect the new Subaru to arrive around then as well. +++