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BMW's upcoming iX5 60 xDrive arrives with a 141 kWh (net) battery built on sixth-generation eDrive technology and an 800V architecture. Dual electric motors deliver 425 kW (578 hp) through all four wheels. The figure puts BMW significantly ahead of competing electric SUVs from Audi and Mercedes-Benz, which both sit around 105 kWh. The iX5 is currently in final testing ahead of a 2026 launch, with range and pricing not yet confirmed.

BMW M chief Frank van Meel has confirmed that the next M3, the G84 generation, will retain its S58 inline-six without a plug-in hybrid system. Only a mild-hybrid setup is included to meet Euro 7 standards. The electric M3, arriving on the Neue Klasse platform, will not carry an iM3 badge. It will simply be called M3, because BMW M treats the name as a performance designation, not a drivetrain descriptor.

Mercedes-AMG has upgraded its GLE 63 and GLS 63 with the M117 Evo, a twin-turbo V8 built around a flat-plane crankshaft taken from motorsport practice. Combined output reaches 468kW, including a 17kW contribution from a 48V mild-hybrid. Both models hit 100km/h in under four seconds. The update marks a clear break from plug-in hybrid technology, with AMG choosing mechanical character over electric range.

Aston Martin and Curv Racing Simulators have revealed the AMR-C01-R Hypercar Edition, a carbon-fibre racing simulator that replicates the driving position of the Aston Martin Valkyrie. Limited to 24 hand-built examples worldwide, it costs £58,750 plus tax, roughly €68,000, and was developed by three-time Le Mans class winner Darren Turner.

Lotus Cars is officially entering the Polish market. Grupa Pietrzak has been appointed national importer, with showrooms and service centres opening in Warsaw and Katowice by the end of 2026. The full range will be available, from the Emira sports car to the electric Emeya and Eletre and the 2,000 hp Evija hypercar.

Bovensiepen, the new brand from the family that built Alpina, has revealed its second model: the 05 GT. It is an 800 hp (589 kW) plug-in hybrid super-estate with 1,100 Nm of torque, a body designed by Frank Stephenson, and a hand-built interior from the Buchloe manufactory. Prices start at €198,900, with first deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Peugeot revealed the e-208 GTi at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 12 June 2026, the first car to carry the GTi name since the 308 GTi was discontinued in 2021. The electric hot hatch produces 207 kW (281 PS) and 345 Nm from a single front motor, reaches 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds, and offers up to 375 km of WLTP range from a 54 kWh battery. Priced from €42,900 in France, orders opened the same day it was revealed.

Lewis Hamilton has won the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, giving Ferrari its first victory of the season. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli retired with engine failure three laps from the finish while running second, cutting his points lead over Hamilton from 68 to 41.

On a hot June day, a car parked in direct sun can reach interior temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius within an hour. Most drivers reach straight for the air conditioning. The better move is to ventilate first, and there is a specific sequence that cools your car significantly faster than blasting cold air into a superheated cabin.

Toyota has won the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans. The #7 GR010 Hybrid, driven by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries, crossed the line 11 seconds ahead of the BMW #20 M Hybrid V8 to give the Japanese manufacturer its sixth overall victory at La Sarthe and its first since 2022.

Toyota and Jaguar Land Rover are publicly opposing the EU's Industrial Accelerator Act, which would require 70% of car components to be sourced from within Europe. Both manufacturers warn that the policy will drive up production costs, reduce investment in the region, and make European cars even less competitive against Chinese rivals — the precise opposite of what Brussels intends.

MG, the historically British brand now owned by Chinese manufacturer SAIC, is returning to European manufacturing for the first time in over a decade. A new plant in Galicia, Spain, backed by around €200 million in investment, is set to create 2,000 jobs and start production in 2028. The move is strategically significant: EU import tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles make local European production not just appealing, but financially essential.