The Dawn of the Ugly Supercar

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By: Sergiu Tudose

Can someone please explain to me what just happened at Monterey this week? No? I guess it's up to me then, so here goes. Ferrari and McLaren each unveiled a new supercar on the same day, and somehow both carmakers forgot that these types of vehicles are supposed to be breathtaking. Can't even begin to imagine how much of a statistical improbability this was.

To be fair, the McLaren isn't quite as bad as the Ferrari, but let's take our time and look at each car, starting with the latter. Jesus Christ.

The Ferrari CZ26 is a one-off based on the SF90 Stradale, but with its own stylistic identity. I won't pretend I was the one that came up with this analogy, but it's pretty hard to miss. It really does look as though the "SF90 had a baby with the Luce", and it's not like it's all just accidental. The full-width black strip across the nose, the lighting elements, the horizontal graphics. I didn't know the Ferrari Design Studio was into industrial design.

I'm not too mad about it, because this isn't a production car. Some U.S. buyer actually signed off on the design, so I guess it's technically his fault? But still, if you're a Ferrari decision-maker, you need to make your opinion heard! Doesn't matter how much money the customer has. If you own a restaurant - the customer is always right. If you own Ferrari, the customer is always wrong. You need to stay true to your legacy and only progress with that in mind.

What does Ferrari say? That the CZ26 takes inspiration from Italian industrial design of the 1970s. What a fascinating thing to say about a Braun stereo. An exotic supercar? Not so much. You shouldn't have to explain the intellectual merits of a Ferrari to anyone. This is the same company that gave us the 458 Italia, the F430, the Testarossa, 288 GTO. When we were little, we could draw some of these cars from memory.

Yet here we are staring at the likes of the CZ26 or the Luce. It's as though modern automotive design has developed a fear of all things conventional. You can't simply make a beautiful car anymore, because beauty can be familiar and everyone is desperate for making something futuristic and EV-like. It's got to have hidden light features and floating elements and black panels, and a monolithic aesthetic. It's beyond ridiculous and I hate it. Can't wait never to talk about the CZ26 again. It makes the 849 Testarossa look good, and that's saying a lot.

So, it's all bad? Obviously not, but this isn't about performance. It's not like Ferrari just unveiled their fastest-car ever or anything. The CZ26 is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, working alongside three electric motors for a total of 986 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. It'll take you to 62 mph (100 kph) in 2.5 seconds, before maxing out at 204 mph (328 kph). It's fine.

McLaren time. The McL 6GT (yes… capital M, lowercase c, capital L). Because reasons. I admit this thing sounds incredible on paper. It's got a V8, rear-wheel drive, a manual transmission, hydraulic steering - it's the first proper manual McLaren since the F1! We should be bowing to it instead of criticizing it, but at this point I just can't help myself.

For the full article, please continue reading on our site.

By: Cristian Agatie

Ford offered a welcome update about the Louisville Assembly plant that would build the Fathom electric pickup starting in the first quarter of 2027

Ford spent $2 billion to transform the Louisville Assembly Plant into an all-EV factory. The new production line uses a radically new approach to manufacturing, so it had to be built from scratch. Starting in the first quarter of 2027, the Fathom midsize pickup will be assembled here, first as prototype builds and later as customer vehicles.

One week ago, Ford unveiled the name of its upcoming pickup truck that was likened to the Model T of the EV market. I bet no one had "Fathom" on their Bingo cards, especially after Ford renewed the trademark on the Ranchero name. In my opinion, choosing Fathom was a mistake, as now Ford has to build this name from scratch instead of capitalizing on an already popular nameplate.

As obscure and abstract the Fathom name might be, it's Ford's decision, and we have to respect that. In a way, it's a fitting metaphor for a clean-sheet product that has no equivalent on the market, let alone in Ford's lineup. The Ford Fathom is the first model built on the Universal EV platform, and will also use a radically different manufacturing system, aptly called the Universal EV Production System.

Ford aims to start deliveries of the Fathom electric pickup in late 2027, but the production line is already gearing up for tooling and prototyping. The Blue Oval offered a welcome update on the factory work in what could be a new weekly schedule for updates about the Fathom EV. The UEV truck will be produced at Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant (LAP).

Due to using the radically different Universal EV production system, the plant had to be cleared of all equipment left after production of Ford's combustion vehicles ended in late 2025. That phase was completed by February 2026, when only the walls of the factory remained. Statistics tell the story of a massive overhaul at LAP, with 25,000 tons of scrap metal removed from the site.

The crews poured 230,000 sq ft (21,400 sqm) of concrete and utilized nearly 700 miles (1,125 km) of welding wire to stabilize the new overhead truss system in final assembly. The Wi-Fi coverage expanded from 385 access points to over 1,000, enabling high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity across the facility. The UEV Production system comprises nearly 17,000 feet (5 km) of conveyor in final assembly.

For the full article, please continue reading on our site.

By: Aurel Niculescu

Dodge has recently changed the original Super Bee formula, with the Hemi V8 engines now missing in action and Stellantis replacing them with the new 3.0-liter inline-six twin-turbo Hurricane mill. So, are 600 horsepower enough to fight its rivals or not?

Stellantis North America had a busy August – showing how the automotive world has evolved and transformed the final month of summer into lucrative business hours instead of dwelling on vacation. They started the month with something that was indeed part of the classic summer vacation vibes: Dodge, LEGO, and Microsoft worked together to craft a bespoke experience for both gamers and car enthusiasts, featuring the iconic 2016 Dodge Viper ACR on Forza Horizon 6 but also LEGO Technic.

Then they switched quickly to regular business, with Direct Connection announcing its new line of performance parts for the newly launched Ram 1500 Rumble Bee series, including new supercharger kits for each Rumble Bee powertrain, targeting 600 horsepower on the Rumble Bee, over 700 horsepower on the Rumble Bee 392 and 392 Track Pack, as well as no less than 900+ hp on the Rumble Bee SRT.

Meanwhile, Dodge announced the availability of the Redeye exterior shade on the Hemi-powered 2027 Dodge Durango; Stellantis marked 30 years of research and development in Windsor, Canada, and the company even partnered with Nova Sky Stories to “bring immersive drone storytelling experiences to audiences across the United States in 2026.”

Additionally, the SRT performance division unveiled the new eBoost Air e-compressor technology as a proof of concept to reduce turbo lag; Ram opened the order books for the 2027 Ram 2500 Power Wagon with the Cummins high-output turbo diesel engine, and we haven’t even passed the first week of the month - although there was nothing from Jeep just yet.

Well, maybe all these novelties were forced into the first days of August to make way for the second week to be all about the Woodward Dream Cruise and Dodge’s Roadkill Nights events. Over there, Chrysler showcased two custom Pacifica concepts to reimagine minivan practicality for the new generations, and Dodge took to the M1 Concourse for a veritable festival of power and performance.

The American brand announced the Durango R/T Smokescreen Concept and the Custom Color Paint program for the SUV, together with Hemmings, showed two 750-hp Charger drift machines, and – of course – launched the eagerly anticipated return of the 2027 Dodge Charger Super Bee.

They relaunched the Super Bee, and the 2027 Dodge Charger lineup – which now has a live online configurator to see what changed – is now firmly focused on the ICE versions of the fastback coupe and sedan, generically dubbed Sixpack. Will that be enough to frustrate the competition? Anyway, which are the rivals of the 600-hp Charger?

For the full article, please continue reading on our site.

By: Dragos Chitulescu

We can all think of a dream car, and it’s nice to get some background information on its designer, test driver and even the engineers behind it. I still reminisce about my interview with Jim Mero to this day (Chevrolet Corvette). Subsequently speaking, my love for Hot Wheels cars has led me to explore more about the people behind them.

I’ve come to admire the creators of this tiny Universe. So far, I’ve only managed to interview Charlie Angulo, and it has truly been an eye opener for me. But I’d like to keep pressing in this direction, which is why today I want to talk about the unsung Hot Wheels heroes and their masterpieces. It’s by no means a definitive or complete guide on the topic, but you can consider it an introduction to this often unexplored corner of the hobby.

Larry Wood

I initially figured I’d include five Hot Wheels designers who have spent over 20 years creating tiny cars for Mattel. That automatically means names like Ronald Wong, Ryu Asada and even Jun Imai wouldn’t make the cut, even though they’re obviously some of our modern heroes.

I’ll get to them in due time, but for now I wanted to focus on the OG players. And I don’t know about you, but the first name that comes to my mind is Larry Wood. He joined Mattel back in 1969 and spent the next half a century pouring and his heart and mind into the company for us to enjoy.

It would take an entire book just to scratch the surface on his journey there, so consider this a simple appetizer. I wanted to identify five of his most popular castings ever, which is again a subjective perspective. I’m not the kind of person who enjoys the Custom Otto, but I realize how much it means to some collectors.

I’d also include the Rodger Dodger, the Classic Cobra, and the Blazer 4x4 on this Top5 list as they’re all still around to this day! I tried looking at the models I have in my collection, organized from Larry’s first to fifth decade with the company and I came up with the following: the GMC Motorhome, the Dream Van XGW, the Buick Wildcat, the Texas Drive’em and the ‘71 Mustang Mach 1.

I think it’s safe to say you could spend a lifetime chasing after mister Wood’s creations, as it’s not just about finding the castings but also each of their variations that would get you there. Speaking about the ones that are on my must-have list, I would include the Steam Punk Trunk, the Convoy Custom and the ‘69 Brawner Hawk.

Manson Cheung

I might have to expand on Larry Wood’s projects over at Mattel in an upcoming story soon, but for now let’s focus on the next designer. I initially had Dave Weise here instead of Manson Cheung, as he was part of the company between 1993 and 2015. But we worked on considerably less castings than Mr. Cheung did, so there’s that.

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about this artist is that there’s a set of wheels names after him: the MC5. In fact, I believe Mark Jones might be the only person here who doesn’t have a wheel design named after him.

Manson created his own 1/18th, 1/43rd, 1/50th and 1/64th castings, while also performing sculpting work alongside other designers for some of the most popular models on the market. If you want my perspective on his Top 5 designs, I’d include the Ghostbusters Ector-1, the Back to the Future Time Machine, the Custom GMC Panel Van, The Mystery Machine and the 1987 Toyota Pickup Truck on the list.

You’ll notice a few of them in the photo gallery: just some of the collectibles I’ve unboxed over the past 12 months. I obviously have all of them in my collection, and the same goes for Manson’s Back to the Future Time Machine - Hover Mode, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, the Rimac Nevera and the list doesn’t stop there.

For the full article, please continue reading on our site.

By: Mircea Panait

Audi's high-performance wagon legacy is taking a scenic detour through the Alps, where sharp-eyed photographers captured the upcoming RS 6 Avant with plug-in hybrid muscle. Currently undergoing final testing, the long-roofed model prominently displays yellow high-voltage warning decals, thereby confirming electric assistance for its cross-plane V8 mill.

While it may remain heavily camouflaged, the next iteration of the Audi Sport mid-size wagon is unashamedly wider and more aerodynamically focused than the S6 and lesser A6 models. Once rumored with six cylinders instead of eight, the newcomer is estimated to make in the ballpark of 750 horsepower, easily leapfrogging the BMW M5 Touring's 717-pony setup.

Gifted with RS 5-like oval exhaust outlets, the RS 6 features reduced visual clutter while increasing the sense of width and plantedness. Earlier development vehicles carried temporary components, yet this example of the breed is as close to production reality as it gets. Be that as it may, the first units are hitting dealer showrooms worldwide in the first half of 2027.

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Kia's best-selling crossover is getting a top-to-bottom overhaul next year. Due for the 2028 model year stateside, this generation of the Sportage was recently spotted undergoing thermal validation in the scorching heat of Spain. Referred to as NQ6, the front-biased crossover signals a radical departure from the curves and the sweeping light signatures of the NQ5.

The South Korean automaker traded them for a more angular look, with Kia taking heavy inspiration from the Telluride and EV9 for the design of this fellow. Its blunter nose and wider grille are joined by split vertical headlight clusters located on the far corners of the front bumper, whereas the enlarged radar array indicates more capable advanced driver-assistance systems.

Equipped with Pleos infotainment, the Sportage is allegedly dropping combustion-only powertrains in markets where regulations forced automakers to invest heavily in electrified solutions. Considering that Kia sells a lot of hybrids in the US market as well, chances are that electrification will become the norm worldwide. The PHEV, meanwhile, supposedly tops 100 kilometers (62 miles) in electric mode on a full charge.

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Barely two months after initial sightings, the iX5 M is back for some dynamic testing at the Nordschleife. To be produced alongside the V8-powered successor of the X5 M Competition in the US, the full-electric alternative may also be called X5 M if BMW decides to use the same nomenclature confirmed for the first-ever M3 with zero-emission oomph.

Pictured at the Caracciola-Karussell, the heavy electric midsizer carves through apexes in near-total silence. Its dizzying camouflage fails to hide the M division's performance intentions, with huge lower intakes dominating the Neue Klasse-styled front bumper. Just like the M Concept Neue Klasse that previews the i3-derived M3, both front lighting units may integrate X-shaped yellow running lights as a nod to endurance racing.

In a similar fashion to the M3 and whatever the M version of the iX3 will be called, the punchiest iX5 of them all is purportedly hiding a quad-motor powertrain controlled by the Heart of Joy system. Current estimates indicate 800 ps (789 hp) at the very least, comfortably topping the plug-in hybrid XM Label and the mild-hybrid X5 M Competition derived from the G05.

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The pixel artist known as Avarvarii Automotive Artworks took inspiration from the revered CJ-8 Scrambler to deliver a rendering of Jeep's next pickup truck. Confirmed in May 2026 by Stellantis North America, the all-new Scrambler is an off-road truck with a single cab. Its design combines clean surfacing, a short wheelbase, prominent wheel arches, and a small bed.

Previewed with SRT badging, the Scrambler could very well get HEMI muscle in the form of the 6.4-liter naturally aspirated V8 of the Wrangler 392. Speaking of which, independent front suspension will replace the Wrangler's live axle, giving the heavily anticipated model a different character altogether on the road and when venturing off the beaten path.

Lower-powered variants may also be part of the range, with Stellantis likely developing six- and four-pot choices for the single-cabbed truck. If the production model captures even half the visual goodness of this rendering, Jeep may have another commercial hit on its hands before the first unit even leaves the assembly line. As with the Wrangler and Gladiator, the Scrambler will be made by Stellantis workers at the Toledo Assembly Complex.

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