All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Tuning

Carlex Rose Vintage based on Mercedes G-Class

Since its introduction in the early 1970s, the G-Class has attracted the attention of many, even those who were not fans of this type of vehicle. The latest generations are increasingly attractive and tuners often use them in their projects. One such model was presented by Carlex Design, Rose Vintage.

Carlex Design is one of the few companies that creatively makes cars better than factory ones. Rose Vintage is just a continuation of the Vintage project that started in 2024 with the Carlex G-Vintage model. This example is painted in Pink and may not appeal to everyone.

The car is equipped with a unique body kit that includes a chrome bumper, a new radiator grille, wider wheel arches, a new rear bumper, and the Carlex logo instead of the Mercedes logo. The lower part of the body is painted in a delicate pink shade, while the upper part is white. It is mounted on a set of chrome rims with pink covers and tires with white side stripes in a retro style.

The interior is upholstered in pink leather, which perfectly matches the exterior. The leather covers the seats, steering wheel, dashboard, door panels and even the trunk. The ceiling is the same color but made of Alcantara, while the armrest has two white lines.

When it comes to the powertrain, it is not known if there have been any changes. As a reminder, the Carlex G-Vintage is powered by a 4.0-L V8 twin-turbo engine with 805 hp (600 kW) and 752 lb-ft (1,020 Nm) of torque, mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all wheels.

Source: Carlex Design

Gallery:

Carlex Rose Vintage based on Mercedes G-Class
News

BMW is announcing a new concept car

The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is an annual event where BMW presents some of its most impressive concepts such as the 8 Series, the Concept Touring Coupé or the Skytop. This year’s event is approaching and the Bavarian manufacturer is already announcing a new concept model, but with a lot of mystery.

What we know for now is that the new concept will be a two-seater, but it is not known on which model it will be based. All previous BMW concepts were based on existing production models, so the same is expected in the case of this car. It will have an elegant sporty design created for driving pleasure.

The secret concept won’t be the only one to be unveiled in May. At the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, BMW’s M sports division will also premiere a new high-performance car. It certainly won’t be the M2 Dakar that the company announced as an April Fool’s joke, and many believe it will be the long-awaited M2 CS.

Anyway, May is approaching and we expect a lot of exciting news from BMW.

Source: BMW

News

2026 Renault Austral

After expanding its fleet a few years ago with the new family-friendly Austral, Renault has decided to launch a refreshed version of this model. The new Austral is Renault’s compact SUV that brings a visual change but also greater passenger comfort compared to the current model.

The design changes are inspired by the Rafale model, and include a new front end, a new hood, a new multi-angled radiator grille with the Renault logo, narrow headlights, while the DRL lights in the shape of an airplane wing are located in the bumper. The rear lights are smaller despite the trend of long light lines.

The cabin features more ergonomic seats with additional cushions, a 12.3-inch dashboard and a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which will be familiar to anyone who has been behind the wheel of the current SUV. However, more apps are available via Google’s media system.

“Renault Austral has a key role to play in our C-segment market offensive. Unique on the market, it is a compact car that thinks big, with the exceptional interior space provided by the sliding rear seat, the highly efficient full hybrid E-Tech 200 hp powertrain, as well as onboard equipment rivaling higher market segments with 4Control Advanced, driver recognition with automatic profile loading and OpenR Link with Google built-in. Ultra-versatile and even more desirable with its contemporary looks, New Renault Austral has all the qualities to reach even more buyers,” said Bruno Vanel, VP Product Performance, Renault Brand.

When it comes to the powertrain, the Austral is powered by a 1.2-L gasoline engine combined with electric motors, with a total power of 200 hp, paired with a clutchless multi-mode automatic gearbox. Outside France, the range also includes a 1.3-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine (160 hp) assisted by a starter-alternator, and a 12V lithium-ion battery mated to a CVT-type automatic gearbox.

Renault claims that the new Austral is quieter thanks to the Alpine equipment package, which includes laminated glass for the front doors, which further reduces noise, and new engine mounts that reduce vibrations in the cabin.

Source: Renault

Gallery:

2026 Renault Austral