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Even Toyota thinks Toyota has too many models now
Automotive Industry
19/06/2026

Even Toyota thinks Toyota has too many models now

Toyota's new CEO Kenta Kon, who arrived from the finance side of the business in June, has launched a war on waste and singled out the company's sprawling model range. He pointed to the growing number of specifications and variants as a source of inefficiency. Toyota offers 32 models in the US alone, plus 14 Lexus models, and more than 100 vehicles globally. The move comes after a sharp profit decline.

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A GT40 reborn with 789 hp and, yes, the option of a manual
New Models
19/06/2026

A GT40 reborn with 789 hp and, yes, the option of a manual

South Africa's Cape Advanced Vehicles, a GT40 specialist since 1999, has revealed the GT MkII, a spiritual successor to the Ford GT40 rather than a straight replica. It pairs a twin-supercharged 4.2-litre Audi V8 making 789 hp with all-wheel drive, an R8-derived platform and the choice of an automated, dual-clutch or full manual gearbox. It hits 100 km/h in 3.0 seconds and tops 328 km/h. Just 40 will be built as a 60th Anniversary Edition.

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Ferrari has patented a gated manual shifter that controls an automatic gearbox
Automotive Industry
19/06/2026

Ferrari has patented a gated manual shifter that controls an automatic gearbox

A newly surfaced Ferrari patent describes an electronic H-pattern shifter, a gated lever like the brand's classic open-gate manuals, that controls a modern automatic transmission by wire. There is no mechanical linkage: moving the lever sends an electronic signal to select gears. It is a patent rather than a confirmed product, but it points to Ferrari trying to recreate the feel of a manual without giving up the modern automatic.

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Silverstone is back in the WEC, and the 2027 calendar is the biggest in a decade
Performance & Motorsport
19/06/2026

Silverstone is back in the WEC, and the 2027 calendar is the biggest in a decade

The FIA World Endurance Championship has confirmed Silverstone's return for 2027, ending an eight-year absence. The 6 Hours of Silverstone takes place on 25 April 2027 as the third round of an expanded nine-race calendar, the longest WEC season since 2017. The British round joins Hypercar entries from Ferrari, Toyota, Aston Martin and newcomers Ford and McLaren.

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Belgian traffic fines go up 10% on 1 July, and the timing tells a story
Automotive Industry
19/06/2026

Belgian traffic fines go up 10% on 1 July, and the timing tells a story

From 1 July 2026, Belgium's immediate traffic fines, the on-the-spot penalties police issue without going to court, increase by 10 percent. A basic speeding fine in a 50 km/h zone rises from €58 to €64 plus the administration fee. The Belgian government announced the increase in December, confirmed by the federal mobility department. In 2025, traffic fines generated roughly €600 million from more than 10 million recorded violations.

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The MINI Paul Smith Cabrio arrives in Belgium, and it is pure summer fun
New Models
19/06/2026

The MINI Paul Smith Cabrio arrives in Belgium, and it is pure summer fun

MINI gave its Paul Smith Cabrio Edition a Belgian premiere in Antwerp on 18 June, bringing the British designer's playful stripes, Nottingham Green accents and hidden details to the open-top MINI. The Paul Smith Edition spans the full range, from three- and five-door Coopers to the Cabrio and electric versions, with Belgian prices starting at €34,430.

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Stellantis is talking to two partners to turn Maserati around
Automotive Industry
17/06/2026

Stellantis is talking to two partners to turn Maserati around

Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa has confirmed the group is in talks with two potential partners to help turn around its struggling luxury brand Maserati. The partners could bring technology and development expertise, with Chinese firms Huawei and JAC Motors reportedly in the frame. Maserati is not for sale, and a decision on the partnership is expected in December.

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Porsche is dropping the Taycan wagon in America, and Europe should feel lucky
Automotive Industry
17/06/2026

Porsche is dropping the Taycan wagon in America, and Europe should feel lucky

Porsche is discontinuing the Taycan Cross Turismo and Sport Turismo in the United States for the 2027 model year, leaving Americans with only the saloon. The decision follows a sharp sales collapse, from a 2023 peak to just 4,142 cars in 2025 and 607 in the first quarter of 2026. In Europe, both wagon body styles continue.

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LEGO built a drivable life-size Koenigsegg, and it set a speed record at Goodwood
Automotive Industry
17/06/2026

LEGO built a drivable life-size Koenigsegg, and it set a speed record at Goodwood

To launch its new Technic Koenigsegg Sadair's Spear set, LEGO built a full-size, drivable version of the hypercar from 327,906 LEGO elements. Weighing around 1,800 kg and taking more than 9,400 hours to build, it was driven up the Goodwood hillclimb by Koenigsegg test driver Markus Lundh at 111 km/h, more than doubling the previous speed record for a LEGO vehicle.

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