Category Archives: NEW CARS

NEW CARS

2026 Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series – The Pinnacle of Two-Seat Decadence

Mercedes-Maybach has never been shy about pushing the limits of opulence, but the new 2026 SL 680 Monogram Series marks a first in the brand’s gilded history: a two-seat roadster wearing the double-M badge. Arriving in the U.S. in the second half of 2025 with a starting price of $224,900, this is not just a convertible—it’s an open-air statement piece.

A Bold New Maybach Chapter

Based on the current Mercedes-Benz SL platform but elevated with Maybach’s signature excess, the SL 680 Monogram Series combines timeless elegance with serious performance credentials. It’s also the sportiest Maybach yet, which is a little like saying it’s the sharpest knife in a silver-plated cutlery set—it’s still about the luxury, but it will happily slice through a set of switchbacks.

Buyers choose between two meticulously curated design themes:

  • White Ambience – Obsidian Black Metallic over MANUFAKTUR Moonlight White Magno, a crisp, formal contrast.
  • Red Ambience – Obsidian Black Metallic paired with MANUFAKTUR Garnet Red Metallic, more romantic and dramatic.

Those who refuse to color inside the lines can commission bespoke MANUFAKTUR Exclusive finishes.

Details That Whisper, Not Shout

The exterior is a masterclass in restrained flash. An illuminated Maybach grille wears the upright Mercedes star like a crown jewel. Optional PixelPaint hood graphics nod to haute couture, while rose-gold accents and chrome elements sparkle just enough in the sunlight. Exclusive 21-inch forged wheels fill the arches, and the anthracite-patterned soft top is a subtle flex visible only to those in the know. Out back, Maybach-specific taillights and a chrome-accented diffuser finish the look.

Inside, it’s the kind of cabin that makes you wonder if you’ve been underdressed your entire life. Both Ambience themes wrap nearly every surface in MANUFAKTUR Crystal White Exclusive Nappa leather, tanned using sustainable methods. The digital displays offer Maybach-specific animations, while the stainless-steel pedals, illuminated sills, and intricate floral embossing are there purely because they can be.

The Muscle Beneath the Silk

Under that elegant sheetmetal lies a handcrafted 4.0-liter V8 biturbo producing 577 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. The 9G-TRONIC automatic sends power to all four wheels via 4MATIC+ fully variable AWD, with enough traction to make its estimated 4.0-second 0–60 mph sprint drama-free.

Active hydraulic roll stabilization and standard rear-axle steering ensure the big roadster stays composed when the road gets lively. Four selectable drive programs—Comfort, Maybach, Sport, and Individual—let you toggle between yacht-smooth cruising and a surprisingly athletic demeanor.

Top speed? 161 mph, electronically limited. Not because it can’t go faster, but because it simply doesn’t need to.

An Open-Air Sanctuary

Maybach knows wind noise is gauche, so the SL 680 wears a specially engineered acoustic soft top and features extensive sound insulation. The bespoke exhaust note is tuned to be rich without being brash—think grand piano, not garage band. Creature comforts like AIRSCARF neck warmers, ENERGIZING AIR CONTROL, and a Driver Assistance Package come standard.

In a world obsessed with bigger numbers and louder statements, the 2026 Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series feels like a refreshing flex—it doesn’t scream for attention; it assumes it already has it. Whether you’re wafting along the Riviera or making a low-key arrival in Manhattan, this Maybach delivers a blend of craftsmanship, performance, and exclusivity that no other open-top in its price bracket quite matches.

Source: Maybach

NEW CARS

Tony Stark’s NSX Is Back — and It’s Ready to Save Monterey Car Week

It’s been over a decade since we last saw Tony Stark’s most understated accessory — no, not the Iron Man suit — the Acura NSX Roadster from The Avengers. And now, like every good Marvel character, it’s getting a dramatic comeback. This August, at Monterey Car Week, the one-off superhero supercar will roll into The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, looking exactly as it did when it first stole scenes back in 2012 — complete with its “Stark 33” plates and Hollywood swagger.

Acura’s bringing it out as part of the 35th anniversary celebration of the first-gen NSX, which is a bit like having a birthday party and inviting Robert Downey Jr. to bring cake. And in true Tony Stark fashion, it’s not just for show — the roadster will be auctioned next year, with all proceeds going to charity. If you’re interested, Acura’s accepting “hand raisers” at Monterey. Think of it as RSVP-ing for the chance to outbid other rich petrolheads.

Now, for the petrolhead gossip: this roadster wasn’t some digital movie magic. Built by Trans FX in Oxnard, California, it started life as a very real, very tired 1991 NSX with 252,000 miles on the clock. Yes — that’s enough mileage to lap the planet ten times, but Marek and his crew decided nothing could be more reliable for filming than an OG NSX. They slapped on a hand-crafted resin and fiberglass body, dropped the suspension two inches, bolted on 18-inch wheels, fitted aftermarket seats, and — voila — Stark’s superhero cruiser was born.

The styling came straight from Acura’s LA Design Studio, drawing inspiration from the second-gen NSX Concept shown at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Unlike most movie props, this one isn’t a hollow shell — it’s fully driveable and, frankly, cooler than half the stuff that came after in the Marvel garage.

And because Acura knows how to party, the NSX Roadster won’t be alone. Sitting alongside it at The Quail will be a 1995 NSX-R, a 1999 Zanardi Edition, and the brand-new RSX Prototype — Acura’s all-electric premium performance SUV of the future.

So, if you happen to be at Monterey Car Week on August 15, brace yourself. You might not see Iron Man, but you will see the car that proved Tony Stark didn’t just have good taste in tech — he had impeccable taste in wheels.

Source: Acura

NEW CARS

Škoda Vision O: The Estate Car Just Got a Glow-Up

You know how estate cars usually look? Practical. Sensible. The kind of thing you buy because your Labrador needs space and your kids need therapy after too many hours in the back. Well, Škoda’s just decided that “practical” can also mean “actually quite handsome” — and the result is called Vision O.

This is the first proper look at Škoda’s Modern Solid design language in full cinematic glory, and it’s not mucking about. From the back, the thing is sleeker than a freshly polished snowboard, with aerodynamics that would make a wind tunnel blush. Škoda’s designers — led by Oliver Stefani, who’s clearly been having a very good day at work — have gone for clean lines, simple forms, and the sort of restraint that says, yes, I’m classy, but I can still carry half of IKEA in the boot.

Around the rear, there’s a new B-pillar that flows into the body like it’s been melted on by Scandinavian minimalists. The roof slopes gently into a split spoiler — sporty, but not the kind that screams midlife crisis — and below that, there are narrow ‘T’-shaped taillights. They’re a nod to Škoda’s quirky ‘four-eyed’ lighting motif, which, in this case, looks more “art gallery installation” than “Czech family wagon.” The big Škoda script sprawls across the tailgate just above the model name, Vision O, with a bumper that ties the whole thing together like a well-fitted suit.

Škoda says this concept proves they still own the European estate game and that they’re pushing into the future without ditching their DNA. In human language, that means you’ll still get the cavernous boot, thoughtful little details, and enough practicality to move a small orchestra — but now wrapped in something that turns heads instead of nodding them to sleep.

The big reveal happens 8 September 2025 in Munich, with the whole thing streamed online for those of us without a private jet. Until then, consider this your official warning: the humble estate is about to get exciting.

Source: Škoda