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To secure 550 million pounds of financing from BlackRock-owned HPS, Aston Martin has agreed to transfer 50.1 percent of its non-automotive branding rights to Authentic Brands, the US group behind Reebok, and to move its intellectual property into a Cayman Islands entity. Bondholders owed around 1.3 billion pounds have sent a formal legal warning, arguing the move strips away their collateral.

BYD has revealed the Ti7, a large seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV aimed squarely at the Land Rover Defender. It pairs a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with two electric motors and a 35.6 kWh battery for 402 hp, a 4.8-second 0-100 km/h time and around 120 km of electric range. UK prices start at 47,995 pounds, roughly 25,000 less than a plug-in Defender, with European deliveries from early 2027.

Xiaomi has revealed the SkyNomad N90, a large extended-range electric SUV with a 76 kWh battery, more than 400 km of electric range and around 1,700 km in total thanks to a 1.5-litre petrol generator. Nearly 5.3 metres long with five or seven seats, it also comes as a camper. It is China-only for now, from about 35,000 euros.

CUPRA has revealed the CUSTOM CUPRA by ABT pack for the Leon and Formentor, a homologated aero and styling upgrade developed with ABT Sportsline. It adds splitters, spoilers, 19 and 20-inch wheels and dark-chrome badging, but no extra power on any version. It costs around 2,000 euros and is available now, to order or retrofit.

Nissan has returned to profit for the first time in two years, posting a net profit of 3.8 billion yen for the quarter ending in June, against a 115.8 billion yen loss a year earlier. Operating profit swung to 77.9 billion yen, an improvement of 157 billion yen, driven mainly by its Re:Nissan cost-cutting plan. Sales remain weak, and the company calls it a step, not a finish line.

The 700 hp Praga Bohema has set a new road-legal production car lap record at Spa-Francorchamps, circulating the Belgian circuit in 2:21.42. That is more than 1.5 seconds faster than the Pagani Huayra BC Roadster's 2:23.08, and factory driver Ales Jirasek did it on road tyres during a public track day rather than a dedicated record attempt.

Ferrari has revealed a bespoke Purosangue built through its Tailor Made programme as part of the Inedita Collection, themed around the Mediterranean. It is finished in Blu Capri from the Cavalcade Collection, with matching aluminium trim inside and Goldrake seats in grey Poltrona Frau leather embroidered with Black Madeira-threaded prancing horses. It is a showcase of just how far Ferrari personalisation now goes.

Reports have put figures on Max Verstappen's new Red Bull contract to the end of 2030, ranging from around 70 million dollars a year to a base of roughly 92 million euros rising towards 115 million with bonuses, and a total deal value reported at 462 million euros. None of it is officially confirmed, F1 salaries rarely are, and the outlets do not agree with each other, so every figure should be treated as an estimate rather than fact.

MINI has given its John Cooper Works Convertible a fresh coat of Sunny Side Yellow paint, but nothing else. It keeps the 231 hp 2.0-litre turbo four, 380 Nm, a 6.4-second 0-100 km/h time and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox driving the front wheels. It remains the most powerful MINI Convertible, an old-school petrol hot drop-top surviving into the electric age.