Coupe News

Ferrari has announced a new pair of extended warranties, both aimed at keeping the value of its new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models looking solid well into their lifespans.

Yet another ‘most powerful’ brand record is broken, this time by the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed plug-in hybrid. Although exciting, it marks a sad end to Bentley’s unique W12 engine configuration after production ceased at Crewe in April 2024. The revised cross-plane single-turbo 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine is allied to a 140kW/450Nm electric motor integrated into the eight-speed transmission. The system punches out 575kW and 1000Nm, enough to get the grand tourer from rest to 100km/h in 3.2 seconds. For the first time, the Continental GT hardtop is launched alongside its rag-top GTC relation – excitingly available with tweed as a material choice for the hood. Though visually similar to the car it replaces, Bentley's muscular fourth-generation Continental GT features 68 per cent all-new componentry. The Continental GT is the first mainstream non coach-built model since the 1959 S2 to feature single headlights; modern Matrix LED items, naturally. An active anti-roll system powered by the 48-volt electrical system, new ESC programming and a rear-axle active eLSD help harness all the punch. Mounted behind the rear wheel, the larger 25.9kWh battery allows 81km of electric-only driving range (WLTP) and can charge in two hours and 45 minutes at 11kW (AC). Bentley claims a ‘perfect’ 49:51 weight distribution for the all-wheel drive grand tourer. To show off the new powertrain’s capability, Bentley set a unique ‘underwater speed record’ using the world’s longest tunnel. The two-door hit 335km/h in the 14.4km long Ryfylke undersea road tunnel in Norway, running on renewable biofuel and green electricity. To haul up the Continental GT Speed, steel brakes are standard though Carbon-Silicon-Carbide brakes with 440mm front and 410mm rear rotors are optionally available. Inside, luxury and personalisation is the name of the game for the four-seater. The Continental GT has 20-way power-adjust seats with quilted leather upholstery, 'Auto Posture Adjust' and automatic heating plus ventilation.The Continental GT gets a 650-watt stereo as standard with both 16-speaker 1500W Bang & Olufsen or flagship 18-speaker 2200W Naim sound system with 'Active Bass Transducers' available. Australian pricing and specification is yet to be confirmed for Bentley’s Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin DB12 and Ferrari 12Cilindri rival.

BMW has upgraded its compact 2 Series range in a model year refresh bringing tech improvements and cosmetic changes across the line-up, including new paint colours, redesigned alloy wheels, steering wheels and interior trims.

It feels like a long time ago now, but Toyota was once regularly chided for being among the world’s most boring car companies, at least in terms of its product, with the automotive giant putting driving engagement a distant — distant — second to sensible practicality across its range.This is before the launch of the Toyota 86, of course. Back when a Camry was about the coolest model in the Japanese giant’s model lineup. Unless, of course, you had a penchant for Prius.But those times have changed, not just through the launch of both generations of the Toyota 86, but also through the brand’s wildly improbable choice to focus on a proper performance sub-brand, which has already produced the GR Yaris and GR Corolla – both among the very best vehicles in their respective hot hatch classes.Then there was the partnership with BMW on the reborn Supra (a twin of the German brand’s Z4), which injected new life into one of Toyota’s most storied nameplates.The truly exciting news is that Toyota isn’t done yet, with reports now surfacing, and gathering in number, that say the brand’s long-touted "Three Brothers" sport car strategy is about to step up a gear through the reincarnation of yet another storied Toyota nameplate, the Celica.Toyota’s Three Brothers strategy was first mentioned way back in 2019, when the brand’s global chief Akio Toyoda spoke of his plans to reintroduce Toyota’s three performance-car brothers, the MR2, the Celica and the Supra.Enter, then, the MR2, which according to reports, is firming as a proper two-door, two-seat performance hero. The latest Japanese reporting points to that model being launched in 2026, and with an engine borrowed from the GR Yaris and GR Corolla.The Supra exists already, of course. Which leaves only the Celica to make its comeback, and the latest reporting suggests it could be coming sooner rather than later. In fact, Japan’s Best Car Web suggests the model will make its debut, likely in concept form, at the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon.Interestingly, the Celica won’t be powered by Toyota’s GR engine, at least according to the reports. Instead it will deploy a new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine producing an incredible 300kW. As reported by CarsGuide, the engine is rumoured to have been production ready for some time, just without an appropriate vehicle for it to live inside.Better still, the Supra, Celica and MR2 will exist alongside models like the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, all of which puts Toyota a long way from dull old days and positions the Japanese giant as the new hero of driving enthusiasts.And nobody saw it coming.

One of the headline acts at last year’s Japan Mobility Show, the design of Mazda’s head-turning Iconic SP concept sports car has been registered with the Japan Patent Office, complete with retractable ‘pop-up’ headlights and twin-rotor rotary EV power.

A third, entry-level Toyota GR sports car project, previously thought to have been abandoned, may be back on track for a 2026 release.

Hyundai is set to make its head-turning supercar concept a reality.The striking N Vision 74 concept, which debuted in 2022, will enter production from 2026 according to a report from Korean newspaper Hankung.It’s not just its wild looks that are eye-opening, it’ll also be hydrogen-powered according to the report.The hydrogen fuel cell, which converts hydrogen to electricity with water the only tailpipe emission, will feed an electric motor that sends at least 578kW to the rear wheels.It will be able to sprint from 0-100km/h in about three seconds.Hyundai is only going to produce 200 of the supercars and it is likely to be priced at more than $550,000 if it ever makes it to Australia.The South Korean brand is one of the few car makers well advanced with hydrogen fuel cell technology, along with BMW, Honda and Toyota.Hyundai has had a fleet of its Nexo hydrogen fuel cell SUVs in Australia since 2021.The cars are not for sale but were instead part of a trial for the emerging technology and were leased to companies and government fleets.Toyota had a similar trial in Australia with its Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.The problem with hydrogen in Australia is the lack of refuelling infrastructure with fewer than 10 facilities nationwide.There are plans afoot to quench the drought of hydrogen refuelling stations, though.In October, 2023, Hyundai and Toyota signed a memorandum of understanding with Ampol and Pacific Energy to develop a wider network of refuelling stations.“Toyota has joined forces with three other industry heavyweights to accelerate the reality of a hydrogen society built upon clean and renewable energy technology,” Toyota Australia said at the time.“We have signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai Australia, Ampol and leading hydrogen technologies specialist Pacific Energy to help develop hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.“This partnership agreement brings together four like-minded companies that are all leading proponents of Australia’s growing hydrogen economy.“Both Toyota and Hyundai have fuel-cell electric vehicles in customer programs while Ampol and Pacific Energy are heavily invested in growing sustainable energy development and distribution."Hydrogen isn’t believed to be widely adopted in passenger cars in the near future but is seen as a zero-emissions solution for heavy transport. The weight and cost associated with giant batteries for heavy vehicles is a roadblock to them going electric.Producing hydrogen is extremely energy intensive and costly, though.Green hydrogen is the term used to describe hydrogen made using renewable energy such as solar, but there are few applications of this globally.

The BMW Skytop concept, based on the BMW 8 Series, was built to grace the lawns of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.

After a Lamborghini executive spilled some beans in an interview early this month, the Sant’Agata Bolognese brand has confirmed details of its upcoming V8 engine that will power the successor to its Huracan supercar.

Truly compact cars are becoming a rarity in modern motoring and it’s a terrible shame, in my humble opinion.