All posts by Francis Mitterrand

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Lewis Hamilton Left in Awe After Test Driving Ferrari’s Blistering New F80

Lewis Hamilton has seen — and driven — it all. But even for the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, Ferrari’s new F80 road car delivered something extraordinary. After taking the wheel at Ferrari’s private Fiorano test track, the British motorsport legend emerged from the cockpit almost speechless.

“This is the fastest road car I’ve ever driven,” Hamilton said, visibly stunned by the vehicle’s performance. That’s no small statement coming from the man who once set records in the hybrid-powered Mercedes-AMG One on the Nürburgring.

Hamilton, who joined Scuderia Ferrari at the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season, has quickly immersed himself in the culture and legacy of the Prancing Horse. His enthusiasm for the F80 signals more than just a promotional gesture — it reflects a genuine appreciation for the brand’s engineering mastery.

“This is a whole new level,” he added after pushing the F80 to its limits on the demanding Fiorano circuit. Powered by the most potent drivetrain ever placed in a Ferrari road car, the F80 delivers extreme acceleration, cutting-edge aerodynamics, and unmistakable Italian flair.

Joining Hamilton on the day was teammate Charles Leclerc, who also couldn’t hide his admiration. According to sources close to the team, Leclerc is seriously considering purchasing an F80 himself.

Despite its eye-watering performance and limited production, the F80 is already a sold-out success. All 799 units have been spoken for — a testament to Ferrari’s enduring allure. Still, insiders hint that an exception might be made for Hamilton, who has only just begun his journey with the Maranello-based team.

For a driver known for chasing perfection on the track, the F80 seems to have struck a personal chord. As Hamilton’s new chapter with Ferrari unfolds, his growing connection to the brand may be just as thrilling as anything he does on race day.

Source: Ferrari via YouTube

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Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD Drives into the Autonomous Era

Volkswagen is set to take a monumental leap into the future of mobility with the upcoming launch of its first fully autonomous production vehicle — the electric ID. Buzz AD. Representing a new technological era for the German automaker, the vehicle promises to transform urban transportation, although it won’t be available to private buyers.

Expected to enter regular use in Hamburg and Los Angeles by 2027, the ID. Buzz AD is positioned not as a consumer car but as a purpose-built solution for public transportation fleets, ride-sharing services, and commercial partners such as Uber and Moia. The van will debut with around 500 units operating in Hamburg as part of Volkswagen’s own ride-hailing service.

Unlike some competitors in the autonomous race who are targeting individual ownership, Volkswagen is embracing a strategic fleet-first approach. “This is a true revolution in mobility, and we want to shape how cities move,” said a company spokesperson. The vehicle is engineered specifically for urban environments and requires integration with a digital control center, making personal ownership both impractical and economically unviable.

The ID. Buzz AD stands out not only as Volkswagen’s first autonomous vehicle, but also as Europe’s first fully autonomous production car, assembled at the company’s commercial vehicle facility in Hanover. While the model is based on the familiar ID. Buzz design, it is a technological marvel in its own right — equipped with 13 cameras, 9 LiDAR systems, and 5 radar sensors that monitor its surroundings in real time. The system supports autonomous travel at speeds of up to 120 km/h and accommodates four passengers.

Originally slated for launch in 2026, the ID. Buzz AD’s rollout was postponed by a year to allow further development and regulatory approvals, particularly in Europe where legislation for Level 4 autonomy is still evolving. In the interim, vehicles will still feature a safety driver until full certification is secured.

Volkswagen’s autonomous driving program began in earnest in 2021. Since then, its test fleet — now numbering around 100 vehicles — has logged over 600,000 kilometers across cities including Munich, Hamburg, Austin, and Oslo. This growing experience base forms the foundation of the commercial-scale deployment planned for 2027.

The long-term vision is ambitious: Volkswagen plans to deliver more than 10,000 autonomous ID. Buzz vans in the first generation, with Uber alone expected to acquire up to 10,000 units over the next decade.

Yet, for all its technological promise, the ID. Buzz AD remains out of reach for private buyers — not just due to its operational restrictions but also its prohibitive cost. Estimates suggest that a single unit could exceed €100,000, rendering it a vehicle designed strictly for integrated, urban fleet use.

As cities prepare for smarter, more efficient transport systems, Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz AD might just be the vehicle that drives that change. But for now, it will remain a vision shared, not owned.

Source: Volkswagen

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Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD Drives into the Autonomous Era
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New Mazda CX-5 Revealed in First Leak Ahead of Late 2025 Premiere

Mazda’s SUV portfolio has earned a reputation for blending sleek design with driving pleasure, but in today’s hyper-competitive compact SUV segment, even a standout like the CX-5 eventually starts to show its age. After nearly a decade on the market, the second-generation CX-5 is preparing to hand over the baton, as Mazda gears up for a new chapter. A leaked image of the third-generation model has just surfaced—offering our first clear glimpse at what’s to come.

The leaked photo, shared by Car Design News via Instagram, appears to be a lower-resolution official image, but it confirms much of what industry watchers had already suspected based on recent spy shots of camouflaged prototypes. Mazda has opted for continuity over radical redesign, preserving the classic SUV shape while updating it with refined styling cues and new proportions.

Familiar DNA, Sharper Lines

Visually, the upcoming CX-5 retains Mazda’s design language—think wide, confident grille and sleek LED headlights—but evolves it with sharper boomerang-shaped light signatures and a redesigned front fascia. The vehicle is reportedly around 110 mm longer than its predecessor, yet still maintains a compact and athletic silhouette.

At the rear, major design changes include tail lights that stretch deeply into the fenders and almost reach the center of the tailgate, while the turn signals are now pushed further to the edges. The new model also introduces a distinctive C-shaped roof rack, distancing itself subtly from the more futuristic design of Mazda’s recent Arata concept shown at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show.

A Carefully Calibrated SUV Strategy

The CX-5 has long been Mazda’s best-selling model globally, but its dominance has recently been challenged by newer, larger, and more tech-savvy competitors. Mazda has responded with a significant overhaul of its SUV lineup. In North America, the brand has rolled out models like the CX-50, CX-70, and CX-90, while Europe received the two-row CX-60 and the three-row CX-80. Meanwhile, the CX-30 remains popular thanks to its urban-friendly footprint.

With this third-generation CX-5, Mazda is looking to reassert its position in the crowded compact SUV space, blending familiar appeal with new technologies.

New Tech Under the Bonnet

Details remain scarce for now, but Mazda has confirmed that the new CX-5 will debut with a hybrid version—developed entirely in-house. This marks a significant move for Mazda, which has typically partnered with Toyota on hybrid tech. The initial hybrid offering will rely on existing powertrain components, but a more advanced setup featuring Mazda’s new SkyActiv-Z gasoline engine is in the works. However, this next-generation powertrain is not expected to arrive before the end of 2027.

When to Expect It

Mazda has officially scheduled the global premiere of the all-new CX-5 for the fourth quarter of 2025. Until then, the leaked image offers an exciting teaser of what’s to come: a thoughtfully updated CX-5 that respects its past while inching forward into the future of sustainable, stylish mobility.

Source: Mazda; Photo: Car Design News via Instagram