Concept Cars

Less than 24 hours after images of it leaked online, Audi has officially unveiled its Concept C sports car study in Milan.

There is a new king of electric cars.Mercedes-Benz’s Concept AMG GT XX prototype has demolished no less than 25 world records.Mercedes-Benz said the prototype electric car concept “obliterated” the 24 hour driving record by more than 1500km after travelling 5479km in a single day.It didn’t stop there, but kept the good times rolling for seven days, 13 hours, 24 minutes and 07 seconds to travel the equivalent of the earth’s circumference at the equator or 40,075kmIt effectively travelled around the world in less than eight days and demolished the 25 records at various markers along the way.The Concept AMG GT XX averaged about 5300km a day with an average speed of 300km/h.Drivers had to stop to recharge the car, which Mercedes-Benz said achieved max charging speeds of about 850kW.That’s an astonishing charging speed that puts it amongst the fastest charging cars on the planet. Only BYD has speedy replenishing EVs that can absorb about 1000kW or 1MW.Currently the fastest charging vehicles on sale in Australia can take on 350kW of juice, but chargers capable of delivering that speed are far and few between. The record breaking test wasn’t completed on public roads, but at the high speed test track in Nardo, Italy.Nardo’s test track is a high speed ring at about 12km long and has been a regular spot for ultra-fast speed tests for carmakers.Mercedes-Benz used a team of 17 drivers — including its Formula One driver George Russell — to achieve the multiple world record setting test.The test acted as a torture test to Merc’s new 'AMG.EA' EV platform, pushing the motors and charging infrastructure to the limit repeatedly for almost eight days. The Mercedes-Benz Concept AMG GT XX gives a preview of the brand’s new flagship performance model and will be the most powerful AMG yet.This puts it on a collision course with new Chinese rivals such as the Denza Z9 and Xiaomi SU7.It uses three electric motors — which are coolly called axial-flux motors — to make a whopping 1000kW-plus. Mercedes claims these motors are about three times as powerful as conventional electric motors.Its 114kWh battery can accept up to 850kW of charge. The battery chemistry is NCMA (Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese-Aluminium), which is an evolution of the high-capacity NMC batteries found in many long-legged EVs.

Maybe it was the 2006 release of Al Gore’s documentary An Inconvenient Truth, the high-profile unveiling of the game-changing Tesla Model S in 2012 or the cumulative effect of a growing mass of climate data pointing to a grim future for the planet.

Mahindra has revealed four concept models that point to mainstream global aspirations via a new platform to underpin its models.

Volkswagen's next-generation Golf, the Mark 9, will be radically transformed into a high-tech electric car when it is released in 2029, gaining the brand's latest electrical architecture and software, according to a report.

The little Yugo hatchback made by now long-gone Serbian brand Zastava Automobili appears to be making a return to a market that's increasingly being dominated by new Chinese brands, and in another twist, it won't be electric.Made from 1980 to 2008 the Yugo was popular in the United States, India, Egypt and Eastern Europe. The little car was also sold in Australia before Zastava Automobili ended operations.The Yugo brand, however, has been bought by German university professor, Dr Alexander Bjelic, who plans to resurrect the small hatch that's yet to be named.While a production version is still far off, Dr Bjelic used the recent 2025 Munich Car Design Event to show off a concept version. The catch is, it's a tiny scale model in a plastic box for now with Dr Bjelic aiming to have a full-size prototype ready for the 2027 Belgrade Expo. The model shows off the little hatch’s retro-cool looks with a modern twist on the Yugo hatch. The futuristic looks may be reminiscent of a tiny version of Hyundai's Ioniq 5 electric SUV, but Yugo says its upcoming car will be powered by an internal combustion engine. The brand said an electric variant may also become available at a later point.The original Yugo hatch was known for its affordability but had a poor reputation for reliability and build quality. While the car was sold in Australia along with 76 other countries, it's uncertain whether the resurrected version will be sold in Australia.If the Yugo hatch did make it Down Under it would be up against fierce tiny rivals such as Volkswagen's Polo, the Skoda Fabia, Toyota Yaris, Suzuki Swift, MG3 and Mazda2.Still, if Yugo can price the car lower than its competitors and arrive with a design that looks as good as the concept then it could be onto a winner. 

MG has taken the wraps off its latest premium ‘Cyber’ model at the Shanghai Auto Show overnight.The Cyber X Concept is a dramatically squared off and upright compact pure-electric SUV finished in menacing matt black with slimline pop-up headlights at the top of each front corner.As its name implies, the Cyber X, like its Cyberster production sports car sibling, is designed to be twin-motor, all-wheel-drive capable but at this stage remains a styling study with no interior treatment or indicative powertrain details provided.Measuring 4.3 metres end-to-end, it's smaller than potential (price-based) pure-EV competitors like the Audi Q4 e-tron, Genesis GV60 and Tesla Model Y but aligns closely with BMW’s more diminutive iX2 in terms of size.Speaking at the car’s unveiling, MG Head of Design Jozef Kabaň told Autocar that he and his team referenced one of Ferrari’s most iconic supercars, the Testarossa, in adding the Cyber X’s signature retracting ‘pop-up’ headlights.A design veteran with long stints at VW Group and BMW on his CV, Kabaň noted the advent of the 'digital world' means some historic car design differentiators have been lost and said the Cyber X concept is designed to explore ways of bringing some of that character back.He added that the priority with the Cyber X's design was to "give families an emotional car, to give them joy by not needing to compromise at the stage of life when they have a family". The brooding, slab-fronted SUV incorporates smoked black A- and B-pillars to deliver a floating roof effect, with aero-style two-tone, five-spoke rims filling the wheel arches.Front and rear lighting incorporates full-width LED strips with flush-fit door handles helping to dial up the stark, minimalist vibe.There’s no official word on the likelihood of a green light for full production, although whispers on the Shanghai show floor suggest the Cyber X could hit showrooms as soon as late next year.It’s worth noting MG is on the record with its ambition to release eight new pure-electric models by the end of 2027, including a large SUV, sedans and sports cars. At the same time it has confirmed exploration of two new, additional Cyber models on top of the Cyber X - a larger five-seat SUV and a compact sedan.

Volkswagen continues to expand its ID. battery-electric vehicle portfolio with an overnight reveal of the precursor to its upcoming small electric car weapon, the ID. 1.Dubbed ID. Every1, the small, five-door, four-seat concept hatch is pitched as a vision of “an electric 20,000-euro Volkswagen from Europe for Europe”.On current exchange rates a direct conversion of €20,000 equates to $34,000, which even with an import/distribution price bump, would put the newcomer in the same ball park as the mid-range BYD Dolphin Dynamic ($36,890) and GWM Ora (from $35,990), while dramatically undercutting the likes of the Fiat 500e, Merc EQA, Mini Aceman, Polestar 2, Smart #1, Tesla Model 3 and Volvo EX30, all of which live in the $55–$65K starting price band.The eventual ID. 1 production car is scheduled for a 2027 introduction and Volkswagen said it will be one of nine new models to arrive by then, including four electric cars based on its flexible ‘MEB’ electric platform. A production version of the brand’s ID. 2all concept from early 2023 is already on track for launch as the ID. 2 “in the 25,000-euro class” in 2026. And VW said it and the ID. 1 are part of its new ‘Electric Urban Car Family’ of MEB-based front-wheel drive offerings.Designed with the aim of capturing the essence of its VW up! city car predecessor, the ID. Every1 measures just under 3.9m long which puts it between the up! (3.6m) and the current Polo (4.1m) in terms of overall size.A new motor in its nose (with outputs yet to be confirmed) is powered by a small, low-cost lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and target driving range is 250km. A simple torsion beam rear suspension design also frees up space for a useful 305-litre boot capacity.The sparse interior design looks close to production-ready with digital displays neatly integrated into a striking wrap-around dash treatment.Despite the production car's ‘from Europe for Europe’ ambition there’s little doubt the ID. 1 will be on Volkswagen Australia’s wish list.And when asked if the car is a likely prospect for local sale a Volkswagen Group Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide, “Volkswagen is committed to electrification starting with the Touareg R PHEV, and the fully electric ID. 4, ID. 5 and ID. Buzz. "We will actively seek further product opportunities given Volkswagen’s significant investment in next generation electrified vehicles,” they said.

Things could be looking Up for Volkswagen.It’s been a long time coming, but VW is nearing the reveal of its new ID.1 concept, the car it says will be a $30,000 electric hatchback.It's Volkswagen's future answer to cut-price electric cars such as the BYD Dolphin, MG4, GWM Ora, Hyundai Inster and Kia EV2.While a shadowy teaser was released last week, showcasing the front-on silhouette of the little EV, there are now sketched images showing off more of what to expect from the spiritual successor to the likes of the VW Up!.Volkswagen’s official global Instagram account along with Head of Design Andreas Mindt posted the sketches along with the caption: “Bold confidence meets timeless simplicity!”“With its compact yet spacious design, our new entry-level electric car blends functionality and style effortlessly,” the Wolfsburg brand went on, “From the charismatic front to the smiling rear end, every detail creates a joyful connection.”While it’s only the concept for now, it previews a production model set to arrive in Europe in 2027 according to reports, though a future in Australia is uncertain.“An affordable, high-quality and profitable electric Volkswagen from Europe for Europe,” Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer has called it, though too few details exist as of yet to determine if the car could be viable Down Under.The brand’s local EV plans have finally started to take-off, with the ID.Buzz people mover and cargo van the first electric models to launch for VW here.The ID.4 mid-size electric SUV is next, though its launch has been pushed back numerous times.

Ford really is serious about redirecting its energy away from EVs and into even more hardcore combustion vehicles. The company’s global boss revealed plans for a high-performance, ultra off-road capable Raptor supercar. Yes, one that you can buy - from a dealership.The revelation comes following a Top Gear interview with Ford CEO and president Jim Farley recently. “We’re in the middle of creating something, so we don’t have all the answers yet, but the question is should Ford make an off-road supercar?” he told Top Gear. “Not a version of a car, a standalone supercar,” Farley said.Ford’s intentions to pursue high-performance adventure vehicles came to light at the Detroit motor show early in 2025 when Farley told Automotive News he wanted the brand to be akin to Porsche but for off-road. “Ford wants to be the number one undisputed off-road brand in the world,” Farley said. “We want to be the Porsche of off-road.”Becoming the Porsche of off-road is ambitious and a tad confusing for consumers (and journalists), it’s clear Ford is serious about going hardcore at a high level.Ford recently finished on the podium of the Dakar Rally with its Raptor T1+. While this rally beast might have passing resemblance to a Ranger Raptor the Raptor T1+ is actually a ground-up build entirely designed for off-road racing. Powered by Ford’s 5.0-litre Coyote V8 with a dry-sump oil system, and featuring front and rear double wishbone suspension the Raptor T1+ uses a steel space frame and carbon fibre body panels.Could this the T1+ inspire a production vehicle people could buy? Surely it’s as hardcore and high performance as it gets?"Yes, the Raptor T1+ at Dakar represents the ultimate Raptor in many ways,” Farley told TopGear. “And we’re learning a lot from that both in terms of the competition but also in terms of feedback from customers, so all I can say is stay tuned…”The Ford Ranger has been the best-selling vehicle in Australia for the past two years. In 2024 Ford sold 62,953 Rangers and while the sales of Raptor versions aren’t reported by the car maker it’s clear the variant is also popular despite its entry price of $90,440.