Your friendly neighborhood BMW just wrapped itself in Spider-Man

IndyCar has revealed the Dallara IR-28, its first new chassis since 2012, set to race from the 2028 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. It brings a 760 hp hybrid V6 from Chevrolet and Honda, a battery pack with far more energy storage, and a car about 45 kg lighter overall. The glossy reveal, narrated by Matt Damon, drew glowing driver quotes and some pointed skepticism from motorsport media.

BMW will run a one-off Spider-Man livery on its number 24 M Hybrid V8 at the Road America IMSA GTP round, tying into the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Dries Vanthoor and Sheldon van der Linde share the car, which remains a genuine championship contender sitting sixth in the standings with three rounds left.

Ford has named Maria Grazia Davino as vice president of sales for Ford of Europe from 1 October, poaching her from BYD, where she led the Chinese brand's continental European expansion. It is a pointed hire: Ford's first-half European registrations fell 15.2 percent while BYD's market share more than doubled. Ford also reported a quarterly net loss of 1.3 billion dollars, underlining the pressure behind the move.

Circuit Zolder is getting a new environmental permit from 1 August 2026 that roughly halves its annual noise days, from 230 to 240 down to 115 to 120, and replaces its old day system with fixed race days across 12 weekends. Director Harry Steegmans says the Limburg circuit stays viable by diversifying into electric, non-motorsport and corporate use. The trade is less noise for clearer scheduling and neighbourly peace.

Ferrari has taken over the UM Beach Club in Mallorca for Casa Ferrari, an immersive brand experience running from 23 to 28 July. Guests can see and test drive the new Amalfi and Amalfi Spider along coastal routes, alongside Italian and Mallorcan dining and curated events. It is the latest step in Ferrari's push beyond cars into high-margin lifestyle experiences.

BMW plans to cut around 8,000 jobs over the next 18 months, nearly 5 percent of its 154,000-strong workforce, with more than half of the losses in Germany. Every department is affected except direct production, and BMW aims to reach the target through natural attrition and voluntary departures rather than forced layoffs. It is the latest German carmaker to cut deeply amid Chinese competition and US tariffs.

smart has updated its range, adding a dual-motor all-wheel-drive version of the #5 Premium with 540 km of WLTP range, priced 2,500 euro over the rear-drive car. A new Black Collection appearance pack darkens the #1, #3 and #5 Pro+ for 600 euro, with black exterior trim, wheels and new interiors. Both arrive from 30 July, and smart has not disclosed the AWD model's power.

Stellantis returned to profit in the first half of 2026 with net income of 670 million euro, reversing a 2.2 billion euro loss a year earlier, on revenue of 81.6 billion euro. But the recovery is lopsided: North American revenue rose 21 percent and swung to profit, while Europe grew just 1 percent and still posted an operating loss. A US tariff bill of over a billion euro looms for the full year.

Italian firm Vespera Automobili has revealed the Iride Evo 5, a hand-built restomod of the Mercedes 190E with a full carbon body. Its M103 straight-six is enlarged to 3.0 litres and turbocharged for 765 hp and 910 Nm, driving the rear wheels through a six-speed manual for 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. It is aimed directly at the HWA EVO, which it outguns on power, weight and speed.

MINI is teasing a rugged, off-road Countryman edition, currently testing in the Rocky Mountains ahead of a full reveal in October 2026. Based on the Countryman S All4, it adds increased suspension travel, all-terrain tyres and adventure gear like a roof box and trailer hitch. Spy detail suggests it keeps a petrol engine rather than going electric. Power and price are not yet confirmed.

Land Rover will end production of the Discovery Sport in December 2026 after 11 years, with the entry-level SUV already being phased out in some European markets. The closely related Evoque and Velar continue, while Halewood is expected to switch to building the electric Range Rover GT. The EU's tougher GSR2 safety rules helped make updating the ageing model uneconomic.

Zeekr has confirmed the 9X for Europe, the large luxury SUV it teased days ago. The European car uses a twin-motor 900V super-hybrid with a 2.0-litre turbo four and a 55.1 kWh battery for 897 hp, 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds and a combined range of about 737 km. It is detuned from China's tri-motor version, and pricing and a firm on-sale date are still to come.

Lamborghini posted record first-half revenue of 1.74 billion euro, up 7.4 percent, with a 22.7 percent operating margin, but deliveries fell 4.6 percent to 5,422 cars. In the US its registrations dropped around 20 percent while Ferrari's rose, and its best-seller, the Urus, dates to 2017 with no full replacement until 2027 or 2028. Record money, then, on a worrying underlying trend.

Audi has revealed the Q9, a full-size seven-seat SUV that becomes its new flagship above the Q7 and Q8 and its largest SUV ever at 5.31 metres. It launches in Europe with a mild-hybrid 3.0-litre V6 TDI in 299 or 245 hp forms, plus new tech including automatic doors and world-first curved OLED rear lights. Built in Bratislava, it starts at 108,400 euro with orders opening now.

From 29 July to 31 August 2026, BMW is showing all 20 of its Art Cars together for the first time ever at BMW Welt in Munich, with the opening ceremony on 28 July. The collection spans 50 years and artists from Alexander Calder and Andy Warhol to Jeff Koons and Julie Mehretu. Entry is free, and it marks the finale of a world tour across more than 30 countries.

HWA has revealed the Tribute Edition, a limited run of 25 cars honouring founder Hans Werner Aufrecht, the A in AMG. Based on the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 and technically re-engineered by HWA, it makes up to 685 hp and 870 Nm, with bespoke motorsport-inspired design inside and out. Each car is numbered and individually configurable. HWA has not disclosed a price.

The FIA and ACO have confirmed the 2026 FIA WEC season will finish in Europe, with the 6 Hours of Barcelona and 6 Hours of Monza replacing the originally planned Qatar and Bahrain rounds. The change follows the regional conflict in the Middle East, and organisers say they intend to return there in 2027.

Italy has temporarily cut its diesel excise by 14 cents per litre from 28 July to 6 August 2026, worth around 17 cents at the pump with VAT, to soften an oil-price spike. The move partly reverses a January reform that raised diesel tax to match petrol and ended the fuel's long-standing advantage. It shows how hard it is to run a green fuel policy and a cost-of-living policy at once.

Fiat has suspended new passenger car imports to Australia after selling just 144 cars in the first half of 2026, a 30 percent drop, with its range there reduced to the 500e and Abarth 500e. Commercial vehicles, which sell far better, are unaffected. Stellantis says it is not leaving, only pausing while it evaluates future models, and points to the Grande Panda and Grizzly as candidates.

Ferrari has been evaluating potential development parts for the 499P at Monza, pointing toward the 2027 FIA WEC Hypercar season rather than any immediate update. Programme boss Antonello Coletta maintains the current car is competitive without changes, even as testing continues and the car goes through 2026 without a Le Mans win.

For the Road America 6 Hours on 2 August, the two Penske Porsche 963s wear heritage liveries marking 75 years of Porsche motorsport and 60 of Team Penske. Car 6 honours the Sunoco 917/30 and is shared by Kevin Estre and Belgium's Laurens Vanthoor; car 7 recalls the 2007 RS Spyder.

Maserati has unveiled a one-off GT2 Stradale in Modena that pays tribute to the MC12, built for a single collector through its Fuoriserie personalisation programme. The Leggenda livery recreates the Vitaphone Racing MC12 GT1 that won three times at the 24 Hours of Spa. Underneath is the standard GT2 Stradale with its 640 hp Nettuno V6. Only one exists, and the price was not disclosed.

Peugeot has confirmed that its 9X8 Le Mans Hypercar enters a new development phase, with a revised approach to performance, efficiency and design for the 2027 WEC season. The key message is that Peugeot is continuing rather than withdrawing, despite years of inconsistent results. Team principal Emmanuel Esnault says the goal is to position the 9X8 consistently among the top contenders.

Czech president Petr Pavel attended the Hungarian Grand Prix not as a VIP but as an accredited hobby photographer, working trackside with FIA accreditation and a full camera kit alongside Czech F1 photographer Jiri Krenek. The former NATO military chief has shot Le Mans, MotoGP, the Dakar and NASCAR, exhibited his work and raised money for charity with it. The low-key appearance went viral.

Lamborghini has not officially confirmed the Revuelto SV, but prototypes have been spied testing at the Nurburgring and heard on video, and it was reportedly shown to VIP clients in June. The Super Veloce version is expected to be lighter, more aerodynamic and more powerful than the 1,001 hp standard car, with a rumoured figure near 1,184 hp. A public reveal is expected in August 2026.