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BMW Group delivered around 1.15 million vehicles in the first half of 2026, down 4.2% year-on-year, with the fall driven almost entirely by China, where sales dropped 20.4%. The brighter news is elsewhere: Europe grew 5.4%, the US 3.9% and Germany 10.2%. Electric sales rebounded in the second quarter, with global BEV deliveries up 5.2% and European BEV sales up 38%. BMW credits its new Neue Klasse models, with the iX3 nearing 100,000 orders and the i3 seeing strong early demand. MINI rose 11.7% for its sixth straight quarter of growth, while Rolls-Royce dipped 9.8%.

Ferrari is now offering a track-only sport exhaust for its F80 hypercar, reportedly heard in public for the first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The system deletes the catalytic converters and silencers for a far more intense, race-car-like sound, and appears to unlock its full voice only in track mode. It directly answers the F80's most persistent criticism, that its 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 hybrid does not deliver the spine-tingling wail of Ferrari's old V12 halo cars. Buyers can specify it when configuring the car, and Ferrari confirms the factory warranty stays intact. The F80 makes 1,184 hp from its V6 and F1-derived electric front axle. Material and price are not disclosed.

Alfa Romeo's global sales fell 21% in the first half of 2026, and the brand slid sharply down the sales rankings. The decline was broad across Europe, and the new Junior is now carrying the vast majority of the brand's registrations almost single-handedly. The facelifted Tonale has struggled commercially, while the once-core Giulia and Stelvio have faded to near-irrelevance after their updates were cancelled. With no significant new models expected until 2027 or 2028, Alfa is dangerously dependent on a single entry-level car.

Volkswagen has launched the Tiguan Edition 20 to mark 20 years since the Tiguan's 2007 debut. With more than 9 million sold worldwide through May 2026, it has been the VW Group's best-selling model since 2017, peaking at around 911,000 units in 2019. The special edition adds a bespoke Maple Red metallic paint, the R-Line exterior package, 19-inch Coventry alloys, Edition 20 door projectors, lasered B-pillar and illuminated sill lettering, red contrast stitching and unique seats. The full engine range is offered, from the entry 1.5 TSI with around 150 hp up to eTSI mild hybrids and eHybrid plug-ins, priced from 48,180 euro with orders open now.

Porsche delivered 122,306 cars worldwide in the first half of 2026, a 16% drop compared with the same period last year. The decline was driven by a 32% slump in China, the end of combustion 718 production and the expiry of US tax incentives for electrified cars. Yet the 911 bucked the trend completely, rising 19% to 30,534 units, around a quarter of all sales. In Europe, deliveries excluding Germany fell 14%, with Germany itself down 6%. Sales chief Matthias Becker said the result was in line with expectations.

Fiat marked its 127th anniversary by revealing two new C-segment family SUVs, the Grizzly and the Grizzly Fastback, in a playful video fronted by CEO Olivier Francois that stages an impromptu test drive at an Italian registry office. The Grizzly is the practical, space-focused SUV at 4.40 metres long, while the sportier Grizzly Fastback stretches to 4.50 metres with a 600-litre boot. Both offer hybrid and fully electric powertrains with up to 145 hp and come in seven colours. They make their public debut at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026, with a market launch in the fourth quarter of 2026 across Europe and beyond.

Nissan revealed the Tekton, a midsize SUV for the Indian market positioned above the Magnite. It is effectively a Nissan-badged sister to the new Renault Duster, sharing the CMF-B platform also used by the third-generation Dacia Duster. Two turbo-petrol engines are offered: a 1.0-litre three-cylinder with around 100 hp (manual only) and a 1.3-litre with around 160 hp. It misses out on the Duster's upcoming strong-hybrid system, which Renault is keeping exclusive. Indian pricing was reported from around 10.49 lakh rupees, roughly 11,000 euro. The Tekton is not confirmed for Europe.

According to multiple reports, Volkswagen Group is preparing the biggest restructuring in its 89-year history. The plan reportedly includes cutting the number of models across its brands, from Volkswagen and Audi to Porsche, Skoda, Cupra, Bentley and Lamborghini, by up to half, alongside up to 100,000 job cuts and the closure of four German plants: VW's Hanover, Zwickau and Emden sites plus Audi's Neckarsulm. The drivers are Chinese competition, US tariffs, tighter regulation and falling European demand. Q1 2026 net profit fell 28% to 1.56 billion euro. These remain reported plans under discussion, not confirmed decisions.

British modifier Urban Automotive marked its 10th consecutive year at the Goodwood Festival of Speed by revealing the Widetrack Avontur, a Defender pickup conversion based on the Defender 110 Hard Top commercial. It loses its rear doors and roof section to become a two-door truck with an exposed carbon-fibre bed, a modular utility rail, an integrated bottle holder and a working tailgate, plus a bespoke rollover structure, wide fender extensions and 23-inch wheels, using over 36 custom parts. Pricing is not yet official, with expressions of interest now open. Urban also showed a Defender Octa styling program and builds based on the Cullinan, Urus SE, G-Class and Range Rover.