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Max Verstappen's management company, Verstappen Racing, has signed 15-year-old Belgian talent Dries Van Langendonck, with Formula 1 as the clear goal. A European and World karting champion, he joined McLaren's driver programme in 2024, became the youngest F4 race winner ever in 2025, dominated the Formula Winter Series and now leads British F4. He keeps his McLaren links while gaining Verstappen Racing's support. Verstappen says Dries has all the potential to become a future great driver.

Novitec has revealed its tuning programme for the Lamborghini Temerario, and it targets the twin-turbo V8 hybrid's most criticised trait: its sound. The headline is a range of exhausts, RACE systems and a power-optimised flagship, offered in stainless steel, Inconel or gold-plated Inconel, plus a Switchtronic cockpit flap remote. There are also three forged wheel designs and a sport-spring set. Power figures and prices have not yet been disclosed.

German owner Peter Kirchoff has driven one million kilometres in a single MINI Cooper D, a three-door diesel nicknamed Nemo, reaching the milestone on 20 June 2026. Over 12 years and 25 countries the car ran on its original engine with no major repairs and no accidents, averaging just 2.56 l/100 km. He celebrated with a drive to MINI Plant Oxford, and is now starting a new One Million Miles Project.

BMW has launched its vehicle configurator as a dialogue-based plugin inside OpenAI's ChatGPT. Instead of clicking through menus, users describe what they want in plain language and the plugin taps BMW's database to recommend current models, which can be refined, compared and opened in the full configurator or linked to stock cars. It is accessed via the Plugins menu on chatgpt.com or mobile. BMW calls it a new digital channel for engaging with the brand.

Aston Martin has revealed the Dreadnought, a digital-only military-spec V12 super-SUV created exclusively for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. The tactical all-wheel-drive machine mixes armour plating, weapons storage and combat systems with Aston luxury like herringbone carbon fibre, Oxford Tan leather and a gold gear lever. Made with Infinity Ward and Activision, it appears in Warzone and DMZ modes when the game launches on 23 October 2026. It is not a real production car.

The Jensen name is returning with the Interceptor GTX, its first all-new car in decades, timed for the original Interceptor's 60th anniversary. Built by brand owner Jensen International Automotive with Jeff Qvale as a key partner, it pairs a hand-built aluminium body and chassis with a supercharged V8, reportedly around 650 hp with a manual. It launches as a track-only special first, with road-going Interceptors to follow. Price and numbers are still to be announced.

ABT Sportsline has expanded its tuning portfolio to Audi's plug-in hybrids. The A5 Avant and Q5 2.0 TFSI e climb from 299 to 360 hp, or 367 to 428 hp depending on base spec, while the Q8 3.0 TFSI e gets two stages topping out at 557 hp and 750 Nm. Each package adds aero parts and large ABT wheels, with prices from 13,500 to 23,770 euro plus fitting, and a five-year warranty on the modifications.

Bugatti has completed the final W16 Mistral in its Molsheim Atelier, the last of 99, ending series production of the 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 that powered the Veyron, Chiron and Mistral for two decades. The final car wears a Pearl and Sparkle livery with a plate reading The last of its kind. The Mistral bows out as the world's fastest open-top production car at 453.91 km/h. Only two W16 one-offs remain to be delivered before the V16 hybrid Tourbillon takes over.

For its 130th anniversary, ABT Sportsline has revealed the RS3-630, the second of three special editions after the RS6-LE 800. A new turbo, intercooler and water/ethanol injection lift the Audi RS3's five-cylinder to around 630 hp and 700 Nm, with a 300 km/h top speed. Just 30 will be built, with the package costing 58,000 euro plus roughly 9,500 euro installation, on top of the donor car. Sales start in July 2026.