+++ BYD is getting ready to take its international ambitions even further, while other Chinese automakers are making their presence more noticeable across Europe. BYD has raised its 2026 overseas sales target by nearly 40%, from 1.3 million to 1.8 million vehicles. BYD is outselling Ford, and Leapmotor is outselling Mitsubishi and Subaru. Buyers are increasingly embracing Chinese cars, putting Europe’s established manufacturers under growing pressure. According to Chinese business publication YiCai Global, BYD expects to sell 1.8 million new-energy vehicles outside China this year, up from its initial forecast of 1.3 million. The company has already sold 1.51 million overseas during the first ten months of 2026, accounting for nearly 42% of its 3.62 million global sales. Chairman Wang Chuanfu has previously said the company wants overseas markets to eventually account for “half of its total sales”. Its growing international presence is also reflected in its expanding production footprint, with its Brazilian factory already operational and its Hungarian factory expected to begin production before the end of the year. Europe is proving particularly receptive to Chinese manufacturers. According to JATO Dynamics, Chinese-owned brands recorded 72.034 registrations across Europe in September; a 76% year-on-year increase. Many Chinese cars come loaded with technology, while competitive pricing and expanding model ranges are making them increasingly attractive. The appeal is no longer limited to affordable electric vehicles either, with BYD introducing premium models through its Denza and Yangwang brands. Its Yangwang U9 Xtreme recently reached 503.17 km/h, and its Altoir looks like the carbon copy of a Rolls-Royce Ghost. That said, BYD has been getting some flak for how much inspiration its latest Ti 7 SUV took from the Land Rover Defender, and they’re currently facing the legal consequences thereof. The U.S. auto industry remains free of Chinese cars, which is good news for established manufacturers, particularly American brands. However, a forecast from Mobility Global suggests Chinese automakers could capture 11% of U.S. sales by 2038 if restrictions were lifted, especially considering how many Chinese cars U.S. buyers would love. Until the inevitable arrives, Europe is providing a clear picture of what increased Chinese competition could look like. With BYD raising its overseas ambitions and other Chinese manufacturers following suit, European automakers have an increasingly difficult challenge ahead. +++
+++ DACIA will reinvent Europe’s best-selling Sandero in 2028 when it ushers in a lighter, bolder new generation with hybrid power, a heavily upgraded cabin and the option of pure-electric power for the first time. Dacia has performed well since 2021, with the Sandero and Duster consistently among Europe’s most popular cars, but the market is proving tougher for the Romanian brand in 2026. Chinese competition and aggressive pricing from Citroën and Fiat in the budget small-car segment are putting it under pressure. Company insiders acknowledge that Dacia no longer has the market to itself, nor a monopoly on generous equipment at an affordable price, so the fourth generation of its Renault Clio-based hatchback has a hugely important role to play in shoring up the brand’s footprint. The new Sandero’s arrival in spring 2028 will also give Dacia an opportunity to reshape its brand image and positioning within the Renault Group. For the new Sandero, codenamed DB4B1, Dacia has focused on making the car more competitive through rigorous cost control and a tightly managed development budget. The new Sandero is expected to be unveiled in spring 2028, with production in Morocco scheduled to begin in April. Sales are due to start that summer. The fourth-generation Sandero will retain the current car’s dimensions, including its 4.10 meter length. That is because it will carry over the existing, Clio-derived RGMP Small platform, previously known as CMF-B, together with the underlying body structure, including the roof, A-pillars, door structures and glazing. This will bring substantial savings in development costs and tooling at the Casablanca factory in Morocco, which will help to preserve the Sandero’s value positioning. It follows the approach Renault adopted for the 6th-generation Clio, focusing changes on the elements customers see. So although the Sandero’s proportions will be familiar, its exterior bodywork will be new. The front end, in particular, will take styling cues from the new Striker.
Inside, the dashboard will be completely redesigned. Our sources say the Sandero is set to follow the lead of larger Dacia models in adopting a cockpit that is more heavily stylised (with textured surfaces and chunky, angular details) but that also maintains a healthy array of physical controls, in keeping with Dacia’s focus on utility. It will offer familiar levels of passenger space and a 410-litre boot; bigger than the Skoda Fabia’s and Opel Corsa’s. The biggest changes will be beneath the bodywork, enabling the next version of Dacia’s best-seller to become the firm’s second EV, after the Spring. There is no version of RGMP that is capable of accommodating both electric and combustion powertrains. The Renault 5 uses the electric-only RGEV Small architecture, while the same-sized Clio sits on the RGMP Small platform for ICE and hybrid models. In order to offer ICE and EV in one model line, therefore, Dacia’s engineers have adapted the RGMP, making technical compromises to accommodate an electric motor and an underfloor battery. They have also taken the opportunity to shed around 100 kg in a bid to improve efficiency. The Sandero Electric will share its Chinese-sourced, 109 hp Shanghai e-Drive motor with the entry-level Renault 5, along with its 44 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery. Although the original range target was 400 km, the latest information from company sources suggests it will manage slightly more than 410 km. The electric model will play a crucial role in reducing Dacia’s fleet CO2 emissions and balancing the output of its Jogger, Duster, Bigster and Striker models, so keen pricing will be essential. Based on its specification and positioning, a starting price of around €23.000 seems likely for the EV, putting it up against the Citroën ë-C3 and Fiat Grande Panda, as well as new Chinese small cars including the Geely EX2, MG Go, Chery Q and Leapmotor B03. The current Sandero TCe 100 is priced from €23.500. The 2028 Sandero range will also feature a new entry-level petrol engine. The 100 hp 1.0-litre TCe will make way for a new 1.2-litre TCe unit with the same power output, produced by Renault-backed engine manufacturer Horse, with a lower starting price. The current Sandero recently received a new 155 hp full-hybrid powertrain, based around a 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine, which is taken from the Duster and has a capacity and output deemed too large for the new supermini. So the fourth-generation Sandero will gain a more affordable full-hybrid option built around a 115 hp 1.2-litre 3-cylinder TCe engine. This powertrain will also feature in other Renault models, including the Clio and the Captur. When the new Sandero entered development, Dacia planned to replace the rugged Stepway version with a new stand-alone model line: a small SUV measuring around 4.15 meter long, comparable in concept to the Renault Captur. In autumn 2025, however, the new management team cancelled this ‘Stepway 2.0′ project, saving roughly €200 million earmarked for the programme. Since then, the design team led by David Durand has been working on a new Stepway version of the hatchback, with raised ground clearance, black cladding and roof rails. Durand explained that the 2 models cater to disparate target markets and so each requires a different character. He said: “I thought in the beginning that you would start with a regular Sandero and then work up to Stepway. But in fact, we realised that if people went to the dealer and asked for a Sandero, they would never go for Stepway. That’s interesting: they want a Sandero. If the dealer doesn’t match their request, they will leave and not consider Stepway at all. The opposite is true too. People coming from Stepway, they don’t want to hear about Sandero. Both cars, even if they are very similar in the body-in-white, are addressing completely different customers. This recipe is still working very well and I think it will make sense in the future, perhaps integrating more powertrain choices, including hybrid, including electric, to respond to all those questions”. +++
+++ FORD RACING posted a short teaser video for the new car, which is due out next year, with the unmistakable sound of a V8 engine going through the gears, plus the mouth-watering claim of an “all-motor heart born from racing”. The Cobra name was last applied to the Ford Mustang SVT Cobra between 1995 and 2004; this came as a coupe or convertible, with a supercharger, and also as the performance-focused and very rare ‘Cobra R’. The video ending with the letter R highlighted in blue suggests we may see the return of the Cobra R as well. Unlike the Mustang Dark Horse SC, which uses a supercharged 5.2-litre V8, I expect the Cobra to retain a naturally aspirated V8, which could be derived from Ford Racing’s 5.4-litre unit used in a GT3 car. Either way, compared to the standard Mustang, the Cobra should feature not only extra power but chassis tweaks too. Things such as the brakes will surely be reworked to cater for greater performance, as will the suspension, steering and cooling, and no doubt the bodywork too judging from previous Mustang Cobra models. The current Mustang line-up has a wide range, from the standard car up to the Nurburgring-conquering GTD. +++
+++ It’s been a little over a month since JAGUAR revealed the Type 01, its new electric grand tourer. Shortly after the reveal, the automaker began laying the groundwork for what comes next, and now I know what Jaguar may call it. The British automaker has filed a trademark in the European Union for Type 02. Jaguar has already suggested future vehicles will “offer more practicality”, with many suspecting the company’s next model to be a lucrative SUV that appeals to a broader range of buyers. According to Rawdon Glover, the company’s managing director, after the reveal, future Jaguar models will offer “different things for different audiences. You can expect that in the portfolio”. The new Jaguar will feature the same sleek, subtle styling introduced with the Type 01. Jaguar executives didn’t provide any concrete details about its next model. While the 4-door GT looks stunning, current consumers favor high-riding crossovers and SUVs, and I expect Jaguar would want to serve those buyers as soon as possible. Deliveries for the Type 01 are expected to start by the end of 2027. Jaguar’s second model is expected to debut after that, followed by a third that could be a large limousine. The Jaguar Type 01 is a massive departure from the brand’s most recent lineup, which the company designed to take on the German and Japanese luxury automakers. Unable to truly compete with BMW, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) decided to revamp the entire Jaguar brand and move it upmarket. Jaguar wants to compete with automakers like Aston Martin, Bentley, Mercedes-Maybach and other high-end brands. +++
+++ LAMBORGHINI doesn’t unveil new cars too often, so when the Italian supercar automaker files 2 trademarks for new names in one day, it’s worth paying attention. The new names are Atrevido and Delirio, with both trademarks covering cars. Filed in Europe, point to the potential names of 2 new Lamborghini models. Other Lamborghini trademarks have been filed mere months before production models of the same name were launched, so there’s every chance that the Atrevido and/or Delirio names could grace production models in the not-too-distant future. As with other Lamborghini nameplates, Atrevido and Delirio follow the theme of the automaker’s cars being named after Spanish fighting bulls, bull breeds, matadors, or related terminology. The first name, Atrevido, was the name of a pale, spotted Osborne bull that fought at Las Ventas in Madrid back in 1966. The same name also means “daring” or “bold” in Spanish, a fitting description for practically every Lambo ever produced. The second name, Delirio, is Italian for “delirium”, which could have multiple meanings depending on the context. Where bullfighting is concerned, it could refer to the unbridled chaos and excitement of a crowd; the sort of energy that tends to follow when 2 of nature’s fiercest mammals lock horns. Delirium is also a fitting description for the sensation one feels when piloting one of Lamborghini’s V12-engined beasts. Besides automobiles, the trademark covers electronics, scale models, clothing and toys. These are the types of items that typically follow the launch of a poster-worthy model and end up in gift shops or video games. Although nothing is confirmed, all signs point to Atrevido and Delirio being future names of new Lamborghinis. After all, it took only ten months or so for the Revuelto trademark to spawn the giant-killing hybrid supercar. The official filing makes it impossible to predict which cars may use these names, but there’s enough information out there for us to make a few educated guesses. At this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, Stefano Cossalter, Lamborghini’s Urus Product Line Director, spoke to us about its plans for the future. The Lanzador will no longer launch as the brand’s first EV, but Cossalter’s comments suggest that a plug-in hybrid grand tourer is coming, with Cossalter describing it as “an evolution of a GT” instead of an SUV or conventional 4-door sedan. Delirio or Atrevido may very well end up being used for this model. The new names may also be used for any number of limited-edition models, something favored by supercar brands like Lamborghini, given that they can slap almost any price on such creations. The rare Fenomemo, limited to under 30 units globally, is one such example of a strategy that falls under the marque’s Few-Off program. The Veneno and Centenario are other examples, with both being based on the Aventador. Lamborghini could easily introduce 2 more Few-Off models based on existing platforms, but with bespoke styling and powertrain calibrations. As with any trademark filing, it’s not a certainty that these names will be used for production models. However, Lamborghini’s flamboyant names tend to make their way from trademark to official car in an exceedingly short space of time, so we’re willing to bet that Atrevido or Delirio will grace at least one new car. As the brand undergoes a powertrain revolution (the focus has shifted to plug-in hybrids from beloved naturally-aspirated V10s and V12s), whatever comes next will likely adhere to this shift. +++
+++ American EV manufacturer LUCID has firmed up its plans for a mass expansion into Europe, and it’ll do so with 2 new mid-size SUVs. One of these, the Lucid Cosmos, has just been teased. The company is already noted for its impressive advances in electric car powertrain efficiency (the Lucid Air can cover 950 km on a charge). Now its strategy is to show-off its electric car capabilities in higher volume segments. Having sold 18.000 units in 2025 the firm is looking to sell around 27.000 cars this year.
The first of Lucid’s 2 models for Europe will be called Cosmos, a family-oriented crossover that focuses on interior space, performance and efficiency. It’s positioned to compete directly against the BMW iX3, Mercedes GLC and Tesla Model Y. The second, called the Lucid Earth, will feature more rugged styling and a degree of off-road ability. We’ve not seen a teaser image of the Earth from Lucid just yet, but the company has given us a good look at the new Cosmos, thanks to a brief video posted online. It’s clear the Cosmos will gain a sloped roofline and cab-forward design, previewing a silhouette with echoes of the existing Gravity. This should help when it comes to range and efficiency. The front wears a set of very sleek headlight clusters while the rear takes a different approach to the brand’s previous models with a light signature made up of the ‘Lucid’ name. While different in ethos, both the Earth and the Cosmos will utilise the new Midsize architecture that will help drive down costs and increase scale across the brand’s manufacturing and distribution.
Derek Jenkins, Senior Vice President of Design and Brand at Lucid, said: “These vehicles deliver unmistakable Lucid design and driving characteristics, while embracing a radically simpler, more efficient approach to manufacturing and cost. With Midsize, we didn’t compromise what makes a Lucid special, we engineered it to scale”. European pricing hasn’t been announced, but a starting price of under €70.000 for the Cosmos seems likely. Specific technical specifications are still a while away from being revealed, but the ‘Midsize’ architecture has been designed around a brand-new electric motor. Lucid says it’s even more efficient than its world-leading e-motors found in existing models, and will be fed from significantly smaller battery packs. This reduction in battery size won’t just reduce weight and embedded materials, but also allow better cost control, because they often account for around 30-40 percent of the overall spend across a vehicle. The new models will be built in an unlikely place, too, with the brand opening up a new plant in Saudi Arabia that’ll supply global markets with the mid-size models. Lucid has confirmed that none of its facilities have been affected by the ongoing conflict in Iran. The cars will feature Level 2++ autonomous driving capabilities, but the brand is already on-track to build this out to Level 3, because there’s no need for new hardware; the only changes required are software and legislative. +++
+++ RIMAC is wrapping up Nevera production. The Croatian automaker is building the last 10 Nevera Rs, which should all be delivered to customers by the end of this year, and then that’s it. In an Instagram video, Mate Rimac reveals that Rimac Automobili will have produced 71 Nevera hypercars since deliveries began in 2022. 51 are normal Neveras, while the other 20 are Nevera Rs. When the company revealed in 2018 what would become the Nevera, it had initially planned to produce 150 examples. Despite that, Mate is quite satisfied. At the end of the clip, the CEO says: “I think it is still a pretty good achievement. It’s the most sold electric hypercar in the world. And without that, there wouldn’t be the Tourbillon today; there wouldn’t be this factory. So, it did its job. I think it’s a quite cool car…that will have its place in history. And thank you to all the owners who are part of this incredible journey”.
Rimac first revealed the Nevera in 2018 as the C Two concept, and it posted some wild numbers. The 4 electric motors produced 1.914 horsepower and could propel the hypercar to 100 kph in just 2 seconds. The Nevera can reach a top speed of 415 kph and cover the quarter-mile in 9.1 seconds. Somehow, the Nevera R is faster. The production version would debut in 2021. The Nevera R makes 2.107 hp, cutting the 0-100 time to 1.8 seconds. It can go from 0 to 200 kph in 4.38 seconds and needs just 8.66 seconds to hit 300 kph. The Nevera R can complete the quarter-mile in 8.23 seconds. Beyond the Nevera, Rimac Group has expanded well beyond the hypercar market. It has multiple divisions, including Rimac Technology that develops and supplies advanced EV components. Rimac Group also has a major stake in Bugatti Rimac, the 2021 joint venture. The partnerships have spawned the Bugatti Tourbillion, a hybrid hypercar with 3 electric motors and a naturally aspirated 8.3-liter V16 that produces 1.800 hp. Rimac also has Verne, an autonomous robotaxi (akin to the Tesla Cybercab) and a ride-hailing service. Rimac unveiled Verne in 2024 and began operations earlier this year. +++