Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) ambitious “Reimagine” strategy, announced nearly four years ago, is fast approaching a major milestone: transforming Jaguar into an all-electric luxury brand by 2025. While the company has not yet unveiled any new electric models, the transition away from combustion engines is in full swing. As of this November, Jaguar has officially stopped selling new cars with conventional powertrains in the UK.
In a recent statement, JLR confirmed the halt: “From November 2024, new Jaguar sales will come to an end. We have now ceased allocation of our current generation of Jaguar vehicles.” This decision means that models like the E-Pace, XE, XF, and F-Type—already phased out—are now joined by the F-Pace SUV, the final model of Jaguar’s internal combustion era in the UK.
Porsche has expanded its 911 model lineup with the launch of the new 911 Carrera T, designed for driving purists seeking agility, reduced weight, and an immersive sound experience. This latest edition focuses on essentials, featuring a six-speed manual transmission and, for the first time, is available as both a coupé and a cabriolet.
Power and Precision
The Carrera T derives its power from Porsche’s 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo boxer engine, producing 394PS and 450Nm of torque. Equipped with the Sport Chrono Package as standard, the 911 Carrera T can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds (4.7 seconds in the cabriolet) and reaches a top speed of 295km/h (293km/h for the cabriolet). Its lightweight design, aided by reduced insulation and full bucket seats, trims the weight down to 1,478 kilograms, making it over 40 kg lighter than the standard 911 Carrera.
Enhanced Handling and Chassis Dynamics
The Carrera T benefits from Porsche’s rear-axle steering as standard, allowing for sharper cornering and increased stability. Its adaptive sports suspension, lowered by 10 mm, is precisely tuned for a sportier ride, while anti-roll bars at the front and rear further improve handling. Fitted with 20/21-inch Carrera S light alloy wheels, the car is optimised for responsiveness.
Distinctive Styling
Exterior details, including accents in Vanadium Grey and a redesigned spoiler lip borrowed from the Carrera GTS, set the Carrera T apart. Colour choices span from Porsche’s unique Legends and Dreams palettes, along with bespoke options through Porsche’s Paint to Sample programme. Inside, the Carrera T features black trim, contrasting stitching, and a dashboard stopwatch from the Sport Chrono Package, evoking classic Porsche styling.
Interior Exclusivity
For added refinement, Porsche offers the Carrera T design package, introducing Gentian Blue accents across the car’s interior, seat belts, and headrests. The cabin’s sporty aesthetic is completed with a walnut gear knob and tartan-patterned seat centres, while the standard GT sports steering wheel includes a mode switch for added versatility. Seat choices include the standard four-way adjustable sports seats, with options for Adaptive Sports Seats Plus or lightweight full bucket seats.
By prioritising dynamic performance and offering unique customisation options, the new Porsche 911 Carrera T brings a distinctly purist experience for drivers, making it an ideal choice for those who value the essence of driving.
Volkswagen Group is seeking significant cost reductions as it faces declining demand, rising expenses, and mounting competition. The automaker has proposed a 10 per cent wage reduction for its union employees after IG Metall, the union representing Volkswagen’s workforce, requested a seven per cent raise. This wage cut comes as part of broader measures Volkswagen is considering to address financial difficulties, which include restructuring bonuses and possibly eliminating anniversary and monthly bonuses.
Despite these proposed changes, Volkswagen’s CEO Thomas Schafer has not ruled out more drastic options, such as plant closures, if cost-cutting goals are not met through negotiations. “Successful operations are a prerequisite for job security,” said Arne Meiswinkel, VW’s lead negotiator, highlighting the necessity for lower labour costs to stabilise the company.
Hyundai Rotem, a subsidiary of South Korea’s Hyundai Group, has announced a pioneering development for the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army: a hydrogen-powered K3 main battle tank. Set to be among the most advanced military vehicles in the world, the K3 aims to redefine future warfare by leveraging eco-friendly fuel cells, autonomous technologies, and advanced firepower.
Hyundai Rotem’s K3 project is a collaborative effort with South Korea’s Agency for Defence Development and other national research institutions, with production tentatively scheduled to begin by 2040. The shift to hydrogen marks a historic step in South Korea’s commitment to reduce reliance on traditional combustion engines in defence equipment. The K3’s hydrogen fuel cell will eventually replace the diesel engines of the ROK’s K-series tanks, beginning with hybrid prototypes that combine hydrogen and diesel power.
The new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé made a stunning debut in an exclusive, technology-forward setting at ApeFest 2024 in Lisbon, where BMW showcased its latest model alongside an innovative in-car gaming experience. Held annually by the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), ApeFest is a prominent gathering for holders of the BAYC NFT collection by Yuga Labs, renowned for its 10,000 unique digital ape characters. The event draws a Web3-savvy audience passionate about digital innovation, a fitting match for BMW’s forward-looking brand.
BMW brought an interactive edge to this year’s ApeFest by introducing a customised, BAYC-inspired BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé designed through an art contest. Rida, a 3D artist from Dubai, created the winning design, known as the “ApeCar.” This one-off model features a sleek exterior with golden accents and a mosaic of ape silhouettes symbolising community spirit. BMW also enhanced the vehicle with exclusive BMW M Performance Parts to accentuate its sporty appeal. BAYC members had the opportunity to register their interest in purchasing this exclusive model, which BMW will customize according to the buyer’s market and equip with unique digital features.
Porsche is restructuring its strategy in China, reducing its dealership network to counter declining demand and a sluggish EV market transition in the country. This move is part of broader cost-cutting efforts, aiming for billions in savings by 2030, as shared by CFO Lutz Meschke. The company is recalibrating to a global sales outlook of around 250,000 vehicles annually, down from previous years where it exceeded 300,000. This shift reflects not only Porsche’s concerns but also aligns with similar challenges faced by BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which have also been forced to trim costs due to weakening demand in China.
Porsche’s third-quarter results underscore these difficulties, with operating profit down by 41% to €974 million—significantly missing analysts’ expectations. Revenue also slipped to €9.1 billion, resulting in an operating margin of 10.7%, well below Porsche’s medium-term target of 17%-19%. The weak demand in China, exacerbated by an economic downturn impacting luxury spending, has prompted Porsche to adjust its product lineup, budgets, and expenses to bolster flexibility and resilience.
CATL, the world’s largest EV battery maker, recently launched the Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery, a breakthrough product for plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) with a substantial all-electric range of over 400km. This new battery delivers an EV-like experience by offering ultra-fast 4C charging, adding nearly 280km of range in just 10 minutes.
This capability addresses common PHEV limitations such as short-range and slow charging, potentially transforming the hybrid market.
Gao Huan, CTO of CATL’s China E-car Business, highlighted Freevoy’s innovative design, including advanced surface modification for cathode materials and a high-voltage electrolyte formulation with a nano protective layer. These enhancements boost the state-of-charge (SOC) control accuracy by 40%, allowing for improved range and energy efficiency, as well as a 20% increase in hybrid power performance.
Stellantis and Factorial Inc. have advanced their partnership by unveiling the next stage in their collaboration to develop and deploy next-generation electric vehicles (EVs) powered by Factorial’s cutting-edge solid-state battery technology. This builds upon Stellantis’ $75 million investment in Factorial in 2021, with the aim of accelerating the commercial viability of solid-state batteries in EVs.
By 2026, Stellantis will launch a demonstration fleet of Dodge Charger Daytona vehicles equipped with Factorial’s proprietary FEST® solid-state battery technology. This fleet will allow Stellantis to validate the performance of Factorial’s batteries in real-world conditions, an essential step in the move toward full-scale commercialization. Factorial’s FEST® technology delivers a specific energy density of over 390 Wh/kg, offering numerous advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries, such as increased energy density, reduced weight, enhanced vehicle performance, and the potential for lower overall costs over time.
Subaru of America, Inc. has announced the release of the 2025 BRZ Series.Purple, a limited-edition model with a striking new look, enhanced features, and performance upgrades. Limited to just 500 units, the BRZ Series.Purple made its public debut on October 19 at Subiefest Texas, held in Dallas.
Distinctive Design and Accents
The Series.Purple stands out with its exclusive Galaxy Purple Pearl exterior. The special edition also features 18-inch alloy wheels in a new satin silver finish and black badging on the rear decklid, giving the sports car an unmistakable presence. Inside, the cabin is wrapped in black upholstery with distinctive grey stitching on the leather-wrapped steering wheel, door panels, shifter boot, and parking brake boot. The front seats, covered in Ultrasuede with grey leather bolsters, also feature exclusive grey stitching. Additional interior highlights include a red STI starter button, an aluminium shifter knob, and the STI short throw shifter with a Flexible V-Bar, all aimed at enhancing the car’s driving dynamics.
Mazda has revealed the 2025 Mazda BT-50, showcasing significant design changes, safety upgrades, new accessories, and improved functionality. As Australia remains the leading market for the BT-50 globally, this versatile ute has cemented its reputation as a reliable partner since its debut in 2020.
This latest update, the largest of four since its launch, introduces a tougher and more powerful stance, building on Mazda’s ‘Kodo – soul of motion’ design philosophy. The bold, commanding exterior is most striking at the front, where the BT-50 features unique LED headlamps framed by a redesigned radiator grille and bumper, which includes an aerodynamic ‘air curtain’ to enhance fuel efficiency.
