Category Archives: NEW CARS

NEW CARS

2026 Maserati Grecale Folgore: The Trident’s Electric SUV Grows Sharper Teeth

Maserati’s electric revolution continues to gain momentum, and the 2026 Grecale Folgore stands as its most convincing proof yet. With the latest model year, Maserati isn’t just polishing the badge — it’s refining the substance beneath it. The Grecale Folgore MY26 debuts an all-new all-wheel-drive disconnection system, sharper efficiency management, and an even deeper layer of Italian craftsmanship. The result: a luxury performance SUV that’s as clever as it is charismatic.

A Smarter Way to Drive All Four

At the heart of the MY26 update lies a deceptively simple question: why send power to all four wheels when you don’t need to? Maserati’s engineers have answered that with a brand-new AWD Disconnect system, capable of physically disengaging the front axle from the hubs in just 500 milliseconds.

Unlike rival systems that merely cut power at the differential, Maserati’s setup goes a step further — it isolates the front drivetrain entirely. The payoff? Reduced drag, lower energy consumption, and up to 580 km (360 miles) of real-world range. When traction demands rise, the system snaps back into AWD mode seamlessly, with no driver input required.

Behind the scenes, a neural network of sensors and control units crunches thousands of data points per second — from torque demand to brake temperature to road gradient — ensuring the Grecale is always in its most efficient or most dynamic configuration. Think of it as the digital evolution of Maserati’s long-standing obsession with mechanical precision.

Charging Smarter, Not Harder

The Folgore continues to refine its approach to electric travel. Maserati’s EV Routing system has become an integral part of the experience — now joined by Dynamic Range Mapping, which gives a real-time visual of your remaining range on the navigation map. The system continuously adjusts based on your driving style, terrain, and even outside temperature.

Plug into an ultra-fast charger, and the Grecale preps itself for the session automatically. The battery pre-conditioning feature brings the pack to the optimal temperature before arrival, trimming precious minutes off charging times. It’s a small touch that shows Maserati understands the modern EV driver values speed — both on the road and at the plug.

Crafted Comfort, Italian Soul

Step inside, and the Folgore’s cabin continues to balance modern minimalism with the tactile warmth of Italian luxury. New interior configurations debut with the MY26, including Premium Pelle Ghiaccio and two striking sport themes — Nero/Rosso and Nero/Giallo. For the true connoisseurs, Maserati’s Fuoriserie customization program continues to expand, offering 32 exterior colors, eight bespoke interiors, and exclusive wheel and brake caliper designs specific to the electric model.

Maserati’s attention to detail borders on obsessive. Stitching patterns, material contrasts, and surface finishes have been fine-tuned to amplify both visual harmony and emotional impact. Even before pressing the start button, the Grecale Folgore feels like an occasion.

The Broader Trident Family

The updated Grecale joins a revitalized Maserati lineup that now stretches from the elegant GranTurismo and GranCabrio to the hardcore MC20 and the GT2 Stradale racer. Within this ecosystem, the Grecale Folgore has a unique mission: to embody the spirit of grand touring in the age of electrification.

The MY26 model succeeds — not by chasing trends, but by merging cutting-edge technology with Maserati’s century-old promise of emotional performance.

Maserati’s Most Complete Electric SUV Yet

The 2026 Maserati Grecale Folgore doesn’t reinvent the SUV; it refines the electric one. It’s faster-thinking, more efficient, and more customizable than ever. By blending digital sophistication with Italian soul, Maserati has created an EV that doesn’t just wear the Trident — it earns it.

Source: Maserati

NEW CARS

Behind the Lens: The Porsche 718 Boxster S That Shoots the Stars

Hidden in a quiet corner of Porsche’s Leipzig facility lives a 718 Boxster S that doesn’t chase apexes—it films them. What started in 2017 as a training project for nine Porsche apprentices became one of the most unusual and capable camera cars in the brand’s ecosystem. And while it’s spent years behind the scenes, this stealthy roadster has quite the résumé.

The idea was born from necessity. The Porsche Experience Center Leipzig hosts countless on-track shoots, from promotional reels to magazine features. The previous “buggy”—a well-worn first-gen Boxster—couldn’t quite keep up with the latest machinery tearing around the circuit. A replacement was needed, one with precision, pace, and Porsche DNA.

Enter the 718 Boxster S. Under the guidance of training supervisor Carsten Pohle, nine apprentices in their second year of training were handed the keys—and a challenge: turn a two-seat sports car into a safe, stable, fully functional mobile film rig. The result is equal parts engineering exercise and creative problem-solving.

First, the roof had to go. The apprentices stripped away the soft-top and added a custom steel roll bar strong enough to support both safety harnesses and camera mounts. Matte black paint cloaks the body to kill reflections—a small but crucial detail when every frame counts.

Then came the mounts. Steel tube frames sprouted from the front, rear, and sides, giving directors a full 360 degrees of filming flexibility. Even the roll bar doubles as a high-mounted camera platform. It’s a Boxster with more rigging points than a Hollywood soundstage.

Inside, safety and practicality rule. Both luggage compartments are padded and fitted with harness systems to secure gear (and occasionally, photographers). A small standing platform between the front seats and rear trunk offers a stable base for shooting on the move, complete with PPE and safety tethers.

But Porsche being Porsche, functionality didn’t stop at the hardware. The apprentices integrated internal wiring that allows cameras to connect directly to a laptop—securely fastened, of course—in the passenger area. An onboard inverter keeps all equipment charged, meaning the Boxster can roll all day without missing a shot.

Since its transformation, the 718 camera car has been a fixture on the Leipzig track, filming everything from driving experiences to media content. It’s even worked for Motor Presse Stuttgart—the publisher behind auto motor und sport—and once found itself filming none other than rally legend Walter Röhrl. Most recently, it was spotted chasing hillclimb specials at the Tutto Bene event near Lake Maggiore.

In true Porsche fashion, this one-off creation blends performance and precision in equal measure. It may not set lap records, but it captures them in stunning clarity. And for the nine apprentices who built it, this blacked-out Boxster represents something bigger than a training project—it’s proof that passion and craftsmanship can turn even a mid-engine sports car into a cinematographer’s dream.

Source: Porsche

NEW CARS

Toyota Turbo Trail Cruiser: A Retro FJ60 With Twin-Turbo Fury

The so-called “baby” Land Cruiser FJ may be stealing the buzz right now, but Toyota’s got something at this year’s SEMA Show that’ll make even die-hard purists sit up straight. Meet the Turbo Trail Cruiser, a restomod concept that takes the squared-off goodness of the 1980s FJ60 and injects it with 21st-century muscle.

At first glance, you’d swear this was just a pristine survivor from the Reagan era—same boxy stance, same halogen eyes, same utilitarian charm. But beneath that vintage sheetmetal lurks something far more sinister: Toyota’s modern 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 i-Force engine, the same heart that powers today’s Tundra.

And no, it’s not electrified—because it doesn’t need to be. With 389 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, this old-school Land Cruiser packs nearly double the grunt of the original inline-six. It’s refinement and raw power rolled into one turbocharged throwback.

Engineering the Impossible

You can’t just drop a modern twin-turbo V6 into a 40-year-old SUV and call it a day. The crew at Toyota Motorsports Garage went deep into the weeds to make this swap look and feel OEM-perfect.

They designed custom engine mounts, a redesigned oil pan, a dedicated heat exchanger, and a special wiring harness—all so the new mill could fit without hacking up the firewall or altering the FJ’s character. An adapter plate connects the V6 to the original five-speed manual, because purists know: three pedals or bust.

Out back, a bespoke exhaust system delivers a deep, aggressive growl that perfectly matches the truck’s newfound attitude.

Rough-Road Refinement

Underneath, Toyota kept the original ladder-frame chassis, but gave it a subtle 1.5-inch suspension lift and a front shackle reversal to improve articulation. It rides on 35-inch tires mounted on polished beadlock wheels, making it look ready for Moab without losing that showroom-fresh 1980s aesthetic.

And while the hardware has gone through a serious evolution, the bodywork remains gloriously untouched. The chrome trim, the halogen headlights, the upright glass—all preserved in their original analog glory.

Inside, Toyota kept things equally restrained. There’s a JBL audio system and a central touchscreen discreetly integrated into the dash, but otherwise, the cabin still screams old-school adventure wagon.

A Hot Rod With Toyota DNA

Marty Schwerter, Director of Operations at Toyota’s Motorsports Garage, sums it up perfectly:

“The Turbo Trail Cruiser is about showing what happens when Toyota’s modern performance technology is integrated into one of our most iconic classics. It’s a hot-rod approach with Toyota DNA—power, drivability, and reliability in a package that still feels true to the original Land Cruiser.”

That’s exactly what this build delivers: a tasteful fusion of nostalgia and innovation. It’s not trying to reinvent the Land Cruiser—it’s reminding us why we fell in love with it in the first place, only now it’s faster, smoother, and meaner than ever.

The Turbo Trail Cruiser will join more than two dozen other Toyota concepts at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas—including the track-inspired Camry GT-S and the electrified Corolla Cross Hybrid Nasu—but don’t be surprised if this one steals the spotlight.

After all, it’s not every day you see an FJ60 that can outmuscle a Tundra and still look ready to conquer the Outback.

Source: Toyota