Sport News

Hyundai Australia has introduced a final-edition version of the i20 N hot hatch after years on sale locally.The 2026 Hyundai i20 N Shadow Edition is essentially a blacked-out version of this hot hatch that’s equipped with a series of genuine accessories.Only 100 examples of this car will be available and it’ll only be finished in either Atlas White or Phantom Black. Pricing is $41,500 before on-road costs and $42,095 before on-road costs, respectively.This makes it roughly $3000 more expensive than the standard i20 N.For the extra money you get unique 18-inch matte bronze forged alloy wheels, black wheel nuts, lower door decals, an Alcantara steering wheel with Performance Blue top marker and stitching, an Alcantara gear selector, a numbered plaque, as well as tailored rubber floor mats that feature the Pirelli P Zero tread pattern.Power still comes from a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 150kW and 275Nm. It’s mated to a six-speed manual transmission exclusively.“The i20 N has struck a chord with Australian customers by delivering an engaging and accessible performance car experience that’s equally at home on the road and racetrack,” said Hyundai Motor Company Australia Chief Operating Officer, Gavin Donaldson.“With just 100 examples available, the Shadow Edition provides a fitting farewell - its exclusive monochrome styling celebrates the i20 N’s unique character while giving enthusiasts the opportunity to own a distinctive piece of Hyundai N history.”While production of the current i20 is wrapping up, Hyundai is readying a new-generation version. In fact, imagery of this new model has leaked overseas.At this stage it’s unclear whether Hyundai will eventually offer an N version of this new-generation i20.

Genesis is ready to step up - both metaphorically and literally.The Hyundai-owned luxury brand has reaffirmed its plans to introduce an all-new sports car based on the Magma GT concept, unveiling an updated version of the two-door it first showed off in November 2025.The reveal came at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France, where Genesis is competing for the first time, making it the first South Korean brand to take part in the iconic endurance event.This is all part of a wider Genesis strategy to elevate the brand from its current place on the fringe of the luxury market, to a genuine rival to BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche - which are racing at Le Mans.Genesis is remaining tight-lipped on the technical specifications of the Magma GT, as it is being developed in parallel with an entry into the GT3 racing class. This means Genesis will work with the Hyundai Motorsport division to ensure the Magma GT road and race cars are capable of taking on the established sports car names.A concept of the potential new racing version was also unveiled alongside the road car.“The Magma GT Concept and Magma GT3 Concept represent two distinct yet connected expressions of Genesis performance,” said Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of Genesis. “The Magma GT Concept embodies our vision of luxury and athleticism on the road, while the Magma GT3 Concept translates that philosophy into the race environment, where every element is driven by performance, efficiency, and purpose. Together, they demonstrate how Genesis is exploring the full spectrum of high performance—from refined grand touring to uncompromising motorsport.”While the road and race cars can have different specifications, one possible solution for the Magma GT production car would be a detuned version of the V8 engine found in Genesis’ Le Mans Hypercar entry. A turbocharged V6 engine is also an option, as Genesis has declared it will be a mid-engine, two-seat car, so a smaller engine may be a possibility - at least in the road car.The new concept reveals an interior for the first time, with Genesis opting for a ‘twin-cockpit’ layout that the company says is “centered around an analog instrument cluster inspired by motor racing timekeeping instruments and complemented by tactile controls that emphasize precision and engagement.”José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, said Genesis’ move into motor racing, in particular the Le Mans Hypercar class where it challenges Ferrari, Aston Martin and BMW, as well as others, is designed to elevate the brand’s standing and help accelerate its growth.“Genesis has grown faster than any other luxury automotive brand and we’re thrilled to be competing in the world’s toughest endurance race where we’ll be able to validate our performance under pressure,” he said. “We’re humble but we’re hungry and we know there is hard work ahead. We’re bringing lessons from the track to our Magma performance vehicles and in how we run the business. In a 24-hour race where anything can happen, the team needs to be seamless in how we support each other and find creative solutions to win. It’s a perfect analogy for how we’re managing uncertainty and focused on delivering exceptional vehicles, technology and service for our customers.”Timing for the Magma GT to hit both the showrooms and the racetrack isn’t confirmed, but likely won’t happen until 2028 at the earliest. In the meantime, Genesis is set to launch its first Magma product in Australia next month, with the GV60 Magma set to go on sale in July.

BYD is turning its attention to Europe's best performance car brands, revealing details about its new Denza Z sports car. The Denza Z is a fully-electric performance four-seater roaster, shaping up as a rival to petrol-powered and established alternatives such as the Mercedes-Benz SL Class. The Z has a three electric motor set-up, with two on the rear axle and one on the front, producing a combined 1180kW. It boasts a 0-100km/h time of less than two seconds and has a top speed of 350km/h, putting it into direct competition with the biggest names in the business. Unlike other Denza products, the Z will debut in Europe and China, signalling a clear intention from the brand to tackle established European rivals. There is no news on whether the Z will come to Australia, but if it does, it would likely not be for a few years, due to currently being left-hand drive only.Denza Australia has been contacted for comment to see if the Z will launch in Australia in the future. It would compliment the Z9 GT sports wagon due Down Under in the coming months.The Z is available as a hardtop or as a heavier convertible. It was first seen as a concept car last year at the Beijing Motor Show, with it keeping much of the same striking look. At 4780mm long, 1990mm wide and 1350mm tall, it is similarly-sized to the SL Class. Underneath the skin, there is an advanced adaptive suspension system that is also found on the Yangwang U9 top-end performance car. The Z's European future means BYD will come in ahead of many of its competition by offering a fully-electric sports car, with others still focusing on petrol power.Lamborghini recently pulled back its plans for an EV, putting resources into plug-in hybrid set-ups. Ferrari recently revealed its first-ever EV, the Luce, which has received polarising commentary. The Denza Z scheduled to launch from next month. 

Subaru has reportedly confirmed it plans to continue building comparatively affordable sports cars with manual transmissions in the future.According to Japanese media, which was present at the NAPAC Fuji 24 Hour Race, Subaru held a press conference confirming its plans to forge ahead with affordable, manual versions of its next sports car offerings.Reportedly, this will be across three new models, including the next WRX, next BRZ, and a new-generation hatchback model, which is said to “change the direction” of the WRX nameplate.According to Auto Sport Web Tetsuro Fujinuki, Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer of Subaru said the brand’s ‘TY85’ six-speed manual transmission, currently used in STI-branded performance models, would be revived in next-generation form, with the capability to "accommodate future increases in power output.”The renewed manual transmission plans will also necessitate some upgrades to the centre differential and EyeSight safety systems, according to the publication. It was spurned on by 9000 expressions of interest in a limited-edition, manual-equipped version of the current car (dubbed the WRX STI Sport# in Japan), where only 600 units were available.This new transmission will be deployed at very least in the next WRX and BRZ, although what will power the upcoming next-generation hatchback model is yet to be confirmed.Subaru said the new models demonstrate a “desire to break down preconceived notions about the increasing price and emphasis on high-power in sports models, and offer cars that are more accessible and enjoyable”.To that end, the brand said it was looking into weight reduction, simplified equipment, and different materials to increase agility and performance, rather than massive upgrades to power.It is unclear how wide-reaching these new plans will be, but expect to learn more before next year, as the brand’s roll-out plans for the reveals of these cars will be before then.Temper your expectations for an array of performance models for Australia, as Subaru is one of the brands most exposed to Australia’s recently-implemented new vehicle efficiency standards (NVES), which closes the vice on high-emitting vehicles over the coming years until 2030.The brand’s signature flat ‘boxer’ engines have long been high-emitters, and have proven difficult to electrify. Early attempts didn’t reduce emissions or fuel consumption by a significant amount despite adding a significant sum to the price.More recent hybrid offerings cut fuel consumption and subsequent emissions by a deeper amount, although it puts a Forester, for example, just on the line for attracting an NVES penalty, rather than well over for standard 2.5-litre variants.

Is the roof about to close on convertibles? It could be, as demand for open-top cars declines and car makers are forced to devote more resources to electrified powertrains and expanding SUV options.Audi has dropped any plans for a new-generation A5 Cabriolet, and with the R8 Spyder and TT also consigned to history, Audi currently has no convertible models available globally.The four-ring brand discontinued the previous generation A5 Coupe and Cabriolet in 2024, and with the A4/A5 models merging into a single offering, the focus is now on the sedan and wagon variants instead.Audi Australia product planner Peter Strudwicke admitted the demand for convertibles and coupes have dropped significantly in recent years, making the business case to develop two-door and drop-top models more difficult.“ I think if you look globally it varies a little bit by region, but the appetite for coupés and cabriolets, convertibles, whatever you want to call them, has been shrinking,” Strudwicke said. “And the appetite for SUVs has been increasing, and that's where a lot of our investment has gone into, SUVs. But also, the Sportback concept within SUVs to make them kind of coupe-like.” However, the news isn’t so bad for Audi’s arch-rivals, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.The BMW still has the 4-Series and the Z4 Roadster, and Benz has the CLE-Class last year. But none sell in big numbers.Audi didn’t completely rule out the return of a Cabriolet at some point in the future, with Strudwicke admitting: “Never say never.”

One of BMW's most popular performance cars is about to receive a massive change.The new-generation M2 sports coupe will be offered with all-wheel drive for the first time ever when it hits showrooms in the coming months.An Australian launch is likely to come after it arrives in Europe in August 2026, with BMW primarily targeting markets in the United States, Germany and China. BMW Australia has been contacted for comment to get more exact timings for the M2 Down Under. The M2 sits in a segment with limited representation, given its small size and coupe status. It will have competition from the four-door Mercedes-AMG CLA 45, along with more sport car specific alternatives like the Lotus Emira and the out-of-production Porsche 718. It will be powered by a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, continuing to produce 353kW and up to 600Nm. The engine has undergone some subtle tweaking with the addition of a new pre-chamber combustion process to improve fuel efficiency, poached from BMW’s racing division. The M2 will join several other high performance six-cylinder BMW models receiving the technology from the middle of this year. The new all-wheel drive system means it can shift from 0-100km/h in 3.7 seconds, a 0.3 second mark-up on the rear-wheel drive model. It has a top speed of up to 285km/h when the 'M' performance package is specified. Even on AWD models, the M2 keeps its RWD bias, with power only being transferred to the front wheels when the rear wheels cannot take anymore. There is no official news on price just yet, but the current M2 starts from $128,100 (before on-road costs), with prices rising up to $172,900 in Australia.

The Toyota-owned Lexus brand has given the motoring world some truly desirable sports cars, and even a legendary supercar.Yamaha-tuned naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engines have graced the engine bays of sedans, coupes and tourers, and a similarly developed 4.8-litre V10 found under the long bonnet of the Lexus LFA supercar is often cited as one of the world's best-sounding.More accessible, the still-available (for now) Lexus LC500 sounds like a NASCAR on the limiter, and the back-to-basics dynamics of cars like the relatively recent RC F were a far cry from the ‘retirement-spec’ Lexus SUVs that make up the bulk of the brand’s sales (and, at times, image).At the Australian launch of the updated 2026 Lexus RZ electric SUV, CarsGuide asked the brand’s local top brass where the next desirable halo model is coming from.Lexus Australia Chief Executive Jack Hobbs said, for now, the F Sport models available in the line-up and cars like the LBX Morizo have enough pep to fill customer demand for performance.“Certainly you know we'd love to have those sorts of products in our suite,” he told CarsGuide.“At the same time I think we've got enough offerings through the F Sport grades across the model range, and offerings like the LBX Morizo to, I guess, extend the range enough at this point in time.”While Lexus doesn’t quite have a high-performance aspirational model like the LFA - not even the limited-run RZ 600e F Sport Performance seems to fit the bill - the Lexus LFA Concept unveiled in stages as the Lexus Sport Concept in 2025 is starting to become more concrete.It’s just that it’s a battery electric vehicle.Strategic Communications Manager Nam Luong added some context around what the brand sees as its future direction, focussing on mobility and luxury rather than outright performance.“Yes, I think what you saw at the Japan Mobility Show in the Discover concepts, what we're looking at is broadening the expansion of the model range to encompass multiple forms of mobility, in terms of land, sea and air.”Other concepts that joined the LFA under the ‘Discover’ banner included a high-end people mover, the LS Concept, and a high-riding LS Coupe Concept sedan. Autonomous personal pods and even water-faring luxury yachts are part of the vision.“From a land perspective, the LFA concept has a role to play from that performance point of view, but what we're trying to identify is, well, how do we create a Lexus experience ecosystem beyond just the land element, seeing where and what Lexus Australia can continue to deliver on is also ‘what is that lifestyle experience’ that we can provide to our customers as well.”

Mercedes-Benz has just released the details of its latest AMG GT sports car, which is coming to Australia with huge amounts of all-electric performance.The four-door GT will officially launch in Europe towards the end of this year.A spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz Australia said the car has been confirmed for a local launch, with official timings still in the works.This will be the first variant of the AMG GT to not be petrol powered. Most of the range uses a 4.0-litre V8, but this EV model will offer a lot more power. It will be available in two grades, boasting some crazy performance numbers and all-wheel drive grip.Its three motor set-up produces a staggering 860kW and 2000Nm, capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in 2.1 seconds. A sprint from 0-200km/h takes 6.4 seconds and the car accelerates on to a top speed of 300km/h.The car has been given a huge 106kWh battery, which offers an electric driving range of 460km, according to WLTP standards. Its 800-volt architecture enables DC charging from 10-80 per cent in around 10 minutes. There is a less powerful variant of the car that has 600kW and 1800Nm, resulting in marginally slower sprint times. The car has been given an advanced braking system, which utilises a carbon-ceramic hydraulic system to manage all this power. Mercedes has made substantial efforts to ensure the car keeps a characteristic V8 feel, which includes simulated gear shifts and engine sounds. In the cabin there is a 14.0-inch central touchscreen and 10.2-inch digital driver display, with an optional 14.0-inch passenger display also available. Pricing has not been announced yet for the car, but we can expect it to be significantly more than the plug-in hybrid V8 version, currently starting in Australia from $399,900 (before on-road costs). 

Creating the ultra-limited Lamborghini Fenomeno Roadster was no mean feat.Despite looking like a gas-axed take on the wild Fenomeno Coupe, designers and engineers were forced to almost start from scratch in a labour-intensive process fraught with difficulties that pushed the car-maker to its absolute limit.The result is the most powerful roofless Lamborghini ever produced, the latest in the line of 'Few-Off' models it makes for its wealthiest owners.Just 15 of the 794kW V12 roadster will be built, each are rumoured to cost more than €5 million (A$8.2m). The entire run is sold out, with just one open-air Fenomeno Roadster said to be heading to Australia, even though it will be left-hand drive.Loosely based on the current Lamborghini Revuelto, the problems began for the skunkworks team because the supercar's carbon-fibre 'monofuselage' structure had never been designed to have its roof lopped off.Effectively redesigned and strengthened to compensate for the alfresco driving experience, engineers used a new patented bonding fluid for the carbon-fibre, plus long and short fibres that ramp up rigidity. Modified front and rear crash structures have also been used, while a new cradle behind the driver and passenger seats enhance stiffness and side-impact protection, but it means the drop-top can't be offered with the coupe's full carbon-fibre race seats because there's not enough space to mount them.Even with a heavy X-brace structure added to the engine, Lamborghini claims the roadster's structure weighs "only a few kilos more" than the one used for the coupe.Once the foundations were set, designers attempted to tweak the coupe's styling for the roadster, but without a roof scoop the roadster's V12 was plagued by cooling issues. A complete redesign above the waist was the only option.Tweaks you might notice are the reshaped longer windscreen rail that channels air carefully to an all-new engine cover, plus a pair of roll-over hoops that were honed in the wind tunnel.Combined with the carry-over sharp lines, wide Countach-like air intakes behind the rear doors, aerodynamicists claim downforce has been boosted by 30 per cent, without any sacrifice in cooling performance.Featuring an overall shape inspired by 1970s racing prototypes, the long-tail Fenomeno Roaster sports the same striking hexagonal exhaust pipe, a hint at the electrified 6.5-litre V12 that lies midship.Tuned to produce a little more power 621kW (versus 607kW in the Revuelto) and 725Nm of torque, the V12 is still more than happy to rev to 9250rpm but is blended with not one, but three electric motors boosting power to a monstrous 794kW and 1075Nm of torque that is combined with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and channels its might to all four wheels.Fitted with a larger 7kWh battery, that also provides for a 20km EV range, Lamborghini claims its roofless Fenomeno can launch from 0-100km/h in 2.4 seconds, 0-200km/h in 6.8 seconds, while top speed is a very blustery 340km/h.Keeping weight down to a reasonable 1780kg, more fresh innovation reserved for the Fenomeno includes a Countach-inspired wheel design that saves an incredible 3kg per corner, plus Lamborghini's next-generation CCM-R carbon-ceramic brakes that employ discs made of long fibres embedded in a carbon matrix that's embalmed in a special coating and combined with 'organic' brake pads.It helps that there's also zero weatherproofing, with designers shunning even an emergency roof. Should the heavens open you and the car's cabin will be soaked.Speaking of which, the cabin is largely carried over from the Revuelto but with more options to personalise and customise.It's a similar story for the body that is offered in unlimited paint combinations, the show car's hue is said to reference the colour of the first ever Lamborghini drop-top, the 1968 Miura Roadster.Featuring a fully adjustable near competition-spec race suspension, the limited Lambo gets two bespoke Bridgestone tyre options that includes a semi-slick option.Capable of torque vectoring, the Fenomeno Roadster bags the same advanced 6D sensor and vehicle chassis management the Revuelto sports.If you're wondering why Lamborghini has made just 15 Fenomeno Roadsters, instead of the 29 Coupes, it's because the drop-top can't pass US pedestrian impact tests because of the new front crash structure. Engineers insist they could have come up with a fix but just ran out of time.The rest of the know-how accrued from the Fenomeno Roadster project will soon be rolled out on future series Lamborghinis, with snazzy ultra-lightweight wheels primed to make a reappearance very soon on faster versions of both the Revuelto and smaller Temerario.

The latest, sixth-generation ‘LS6’ version of GM’s small block V8 has found its first home between the axles of Chevrolet's updated Corvette supercar.Marking the return of the iconic Grand Sport nameplate, last seen on a limited-run of C2 Corvette competition cars in the 1960s, the upgraded mid-engine two-seater now boasts 400kW (535hp) at 6100rpm and 705Nm at 4600rpm from its all-alloy 6.7-litre (409ci) V8.The new engine also powers the ‘standard’ Corvette Stingray, raising power by 8.4 per cent (+31kW) and torque by an impressive 10.7 per cent (+68Nm), making it the most powerful base engine ever fitted to a production Corvette.But GM says extra displacement and output hasn’t negatively impacted the engine’s fuel efficiency or exhaust emissions.GM’s Assistant Chief Engineer for the small block Mike Kociba said, “With advanced controls, our new fuel system and a higher (13.0:1) compression ratio we’ve been able to improve emissions with a larger engine.”As well as the high compression ratio and an 8.0mm increase in stroke (expanding overall displacement from 6.2 to 6.7 litres) the LS6 features a 95mm throttle body, tunnel ram intake with high-velocity ports, a new lubrication system, forged pistons and rods and revised exhaust manifolds.Like the Stingray, the Grand Sport is available as a coupe and convertible with drive going to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch auto transmission.The Grand Sport also features ‘Magnetic Ride Control’ adaptive suspension, Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 tyres (275/30 fr - 345/25 rr) on forged alloy rims (20-inch fr - 21-inch rr), a quad centre exhaust and Brembo six-piston monobloc front brake calipers and four-piston monobloc rear calipers.In parallel, the heavy-hitting Corvette Grand Sport X, a likely successor for the hybrid E-Ray, adds a front-axle permanent magnet electric motor and compact high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack for all-wheel drive and a combined power output of no less than 538kW (721hp). As well as the adaptive suspension set-up the Grand Sport X adds carbon-ceramic brakes and an optional ‘Z52 Sport Performance Package’ brings a stiffer suspension tune, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber and high-performance ‘J56’ iron brakes from the Corvette Z06.A ‘Z52 Track Performance Package’ ups the ante further with carbon-ceramic ‘J57’ brakes, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tyres and a track-focused chassis calibration as well as a carbon-fibre splitter, dive planes, rockers, wing and underbody strakes.The Corvette’s new small block represents a substantial bet on internal-combustion power by General Motors, the US giant investing US$918 million in upgrades across four facilities involved in the new engine’s production - Flint, Michigan (assembly), Bay City, Michigan (camshafts, connecting rods), Defiance, Ohio (block castings) and Rochester, New York (intake manifolds, fuel rails). An additional $US888 million is going to the Tonawanda Propulsion plant in Buffalo, New York.CarsGuide contacted GM Australia & New Zealand for comment on whether the Corvette Grand Sport is slated for the Australian market. “We have no announcements to make on future models, including potential additions to the local Corvette line-up,” a spokesperson said.