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MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi wants to earn his Nurburgring Nordschleife permit before the end of 2026 so he can race the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring in a GT3 car in 2027, following Max Verstappen's example. The 47-year-old nine-time world champion already races GT3 for BMW M Team WRT and would earn the permit through NLS endurance rounds. Calendar clashes with his other commitments are the main obstacle.

US firm Rezvani has teased the Dune, an off-road supercar based on the Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato but fitted with a supercharged V10 producing 800 hp, nearly 200 hp more than the Sterrato. It adds a full carbon-fibre body, raised ground clearance, extra LED lighting, a roof air intake and roof rails. Just 7 will be built worldwide, with reservations from around 1,300 euro and a much higher final price. The official reveal is set for the end of July 2026.

The Hesbaye Historic Festival returns on 22 and 23 August 2026 at the Kasteel van Veulen, hosting the BEHVA national meeting alongside pre-war races, a rally revival with Belgian legends, off-road demos, live music and thousands of classic cars and bikes. Highlights include Europe's biggest Mustang Museum, over 100 pre-1940 vehicles and the new Autosport Hesbaye Junior Trophy. AutoNext's media partner Gocar.be will be on site covering the action.

Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume has confirmed the group is looking at cutting a further 50,000 jobs on top of the roughly 50,000 already agreed, taking the potential total towards 100,000. In an internal memo he said another 50,000 roles could theoretically go while VW evaluates the necessity and feasibility across regions and brands. He blamed a 20% cost disadvantage, tariffs and Chinese competition, and floated defence production or assembling Chinese-designed VWs as alternatives to closures. Unions have rejected the cuts.

Alfa Romeo has teased an all-new C-segment SUV, releasing a first rear-detail image of a car with a coupe-like sloping roofline. It rides on the STLA Medium platform with multiple drivetrains, meaning both hybrid and fully electric versions, is designed in Turin and built at Stellantis' Melfi plant in Italy. The world premiere is set for the fourth quarter of 2027 as a key model in Alfa's Fastlane 2030 plan.

The Grand Tour returns to Prime Video on 4 September with a brand-new trio taking over from Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. The new hosts are Francis Bourgeois and Throttle House creators James Engelsman and Thomas Holland. The six-part season streams in more than 240 countries and features globe-trotting challenges, from crossing the Angolan desert in track cars to exploring Malaysia's car culture.

Reacting to Polestar's forced exit from the US, CEO Michael Lohscheller says 'the days are over when everything was global' and that the decision accelerates regionalisation across the whole industry. He confirmed Polestar will not appeal. It is a candid admission that carmakers increasingly have to build and sell along regional and political lines rather than treating the world as one open market.

UK specialist Lanzante has revealed the first road conversion of the Lamborghini Essenza SCV12, the track-only special limited to 40 examples and powered by an 830 hp naturally aspirated V12. It made its dynamic debut on the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Lanzante is adapting the lighting, cooling and suspension to meet type approval while keeping the extreme aero and race look. Full performance figures have not yet been announced.

Fully electric cars reached a 20% share of the EU market in the first five months of 2026, according to the ACEA, up from 15.3% a year earlier, with 950,521 BEVs registered. EV share has grown roughly tenfold since 2019. Hybrids are now the most popular choice at 37.8%, while petrol has fallen to 22.4% and diesel to 7.6%. Overall EU registrations are up 4% year-to-date.