Category Archives: NEW CARS

NEW CARS

Ram Dakota Nightfall: The Comeback Kid With a Grudge

Ram has done something we never thought it would do — it’s admitted a mistake. Yes, the Hemi V-8 is back in the 1500, which is basically like getting your favorite pub to put real beer back on tap after a decade of serving kombucha. But while that’s great news for the full-size faithful, there’s still a suspiciously empty parking space in Ram’s lineup — the one marked mid-size pickup.

Enter stage left: the Ram Dakota Nightfall concept. Born in Brazil, rocking enough off-road gear to make a camel jealous, and almost certainly not coming to the US… yet. This is the teaser before the trailer before the movie — but oh boy, does it look promising.

It’s kitted out like a truck that’s just finished binge-watching Mad Max: 33-inch off-road tyres, 18-inch beadlock wheels, Fox suspension, a winch, bronze underbody armour, and a spare tyre bolted into the bed with auxiliary lights… which, admittedly, turns reversing into a game of “guess what you just hit.” But let’s be honest — nobody buying this cares about rearward visibility. They care about looking like they’ve just conquered the Atacama Desert on a Tuesday morning.

The face? All business. A trapezoidal grille big enough to swallow a family of raccoons, RAM screaming across the front in big bold letters, a slim LED light bar tying the headlamps together, and three amber LEDs in the bonnet scoop — a cheeky nod to the TRX and RHO hooligans. It’s corporate family resemblance meets post-apocalyptic fashion statement.

Here’s the thing: this isn’t the Dakota that Ram will eventually sell in America. That one, due in 2027, will be its own beast — body-on-frame, probably STLA Frame underpinnings, a proper rival for the Tacoma, Ranger, and Colorado. But if the South American Dakota is any clue, Ram’s design department is very much in its “gritty adventurer” phase, and we’re here for it.

So, will the American Dakota look like this? Probably. Will it have the same off-road toys? Hopefully. Will it be called “Dakota”? It bloody well should be — because that name deserves to be pulled out of the history bin, dusted off, and sent back into battle.

For now, though, we’ll just have to watch Brazil have all the fun while we wait another couple of years for Ram to finally fill that mid-size-shaped hole in the lineup.

Source: Ram

NEW CARS

2026 Super Snake-R: 850 Horsepower, Zero Compromise

The Ford Mustang Dark Horse is no shrinking violet. With 500 horsepower from a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter Coyote V-8, it already sprints to 60 mph in roughly four seconds and growls like a proper muscle car should. But Shelby American isn’t in the business of “good enough.”

Enter the 2026 Shelby Super Snake-R. Unveiled during Monterey Car Week, the latest Super Snake-R takes the already fierce Dark Horse and cranks the menace to eleven. The centerpiece is a supercharged version of Ford’s 5.0-liter V-8, now producing more than 850 horsepower—20 more than the outgoing Super Snake. That power feeds only the rear wheels through your choice of a Tremec six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic.

Of course, horsepower without control is just a burnout waiting to happen. Shelby fits fully adjustable coilovers, fat Michelin performance rubber, lightweight alloys, and two-piece slotted brake rotors to keep the Snake-R as composed as it is quick. Out back, a sizeable rear spoiler adds functional downforce, while redesigned front and rear fascias sharpen the Mustang’s already hostile glare. Carbon-fiber body panels shave weight and add visual drama, with five paint options ranging from subtle Carbonized Gray Metallic to eye-searing Grabber Blue.

Inside, the transformation continues. Alcantara-and-leather bucket seats wear Shelby American branding, and manual-equipped cars get a custom billet shift knob—a tactile reminder that you’re in something special. Serialized plaques on the dash, sill plates, and floor mats drive the exclusivity home.

Even with the blower, bigger brakes, and aerodynamic aids, curb weight is just 4,004 pounds—only 116 pounds heavier than the standard Dark Horse. In other words, the added mass won’t be what’s keeping you from hitting that apex at triple-digit speeds.

All this venom comes at a cost. The 2026 Shelby Super Snake-R starts at $225,995, donor Mustang Dark Horse included. Pricey? Sure. But when Ford’s own Mustang GTD starts at $325,000, Shelby’s latest serpent suddenly starts looking like a value proposition—at least in the rarified world of 850-hp track weapons.

The Dark Horse was already a wild ride. The Super Snake-R? That’s Shelby American proving there’s always room for more fangs.

Source: Shelby American

NEW CARS

2026 Maybach S 680 Emerald Isle: When a Sedan Becomes a Work of Art

Mercedes-Maybach has decided that the California Central Coast isn’t just a scenic drive — it’s an interior design mood board. Enter the 2026 Mercedes-Maybach S 680 Edition Emerald Isle, a rolling tribute to Pebble Beach and its Monterey cypress–lined shores. Limited to just 25 units for the U.S., this ultra-luxe sedan will begin arriving at dealerships in fall 2025, assuming you can convince your financial advisor — and your local dealer — that you’re worthy of one.

Two-Tone Like a Sunset Over the Pacific

The Emerald Isle wears an edition-exclusive, two-tone paint scheme: MANUFAKTUR Exclusive Mid Ireland Green Metallic over MANUFAKTUR Moonlight White Metallic. The finish is hand-applied in Sindelfingen, the spiritual home of Mercedes’ bespoke MANUFAKTUR program. Chrome accents and 21-inch Maybach Champagne Flute Multi-Spoke Forged wheels turn the stately silhouette into something that will draw stares even in a valet line full of exotics.

An Interior for the Long Way Home

Step inside, and it’s clear no stitch was left unconsidered. Light Brown Nappa leather dominates — from the seats and instrument panel to the folding rear tables — offset by a MANUFAKTUR Black Nappa leather headliner stitched in a diamond pattern. Black Piano Lacquer Flowing Lines trim and silver chrome accents punctuate the cabin. Look closely, and you’ll find “Edition Emerald Isle 1 of 25” badging, Maybach floral motifs on the door sills, and floor mats with leather piping so decadent you’ll reconsider wearing shoes inside.

The Executive Rear Seat Package Plus is standard, turning the back half of the car into a mobile first-class lounge. There’s a refrigerator, Maybach champagne flutes, and enough legroom to consider taking business calls from Highway 1 without ever touching the brake pedal.

A Coastal Breeze, Bottled

Mercedes-Maybach even commissioned artisans to create a bespoke fragrance for the Air Balance system: cedar wood, cypress, and sea salt — essentially, a California road trip in scent form. The bottle’s packaging features artwork of Pebble Beach’s Lone Cypress, because nothing says “exclusive” like your own signature air.

Under the Hood: A V12 Finale?

Motivation comes from the brand’s handcrafted 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12, good for 621 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 9-speed automatic and 4MATIC all-wheel drive. AIRMATIC air suspension with adaptive damping ensures that all this elegance floats along without a hint of disturbance from the asphalt below.

A Gift Box for the Chosen Few

As if the car weren’t enough, each buyer also gets a hand-crafted MANUFAKTUR gift box in matching Nappa leather, complete with two keys and a second bottle of the exclusive fragrance.

In a world full of luxury cars, the Edition Emerald Isle makes a compelling case that the ultimate status symbol isn’t just about owning a Maybach — it’s about owning this Maybach. Just don’t expect to see many of them.

Source: Mercedes-Maybach