Category Archives: NEW CARS

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

NEW CARS

Renault’s Cheeky Little Comeback: The 2026 Twingo

Here’s the thing about the Renault Twingo — it’s always been a bit of an oddball. The Mk1 of 1992 looked like it had been designed by someone armed with a crayon, a bottle of French wine, and a carefree disregard for symmetry… and we loved it for it. The Mk2 and Mk3? Well, they tried to grow up. The Mk4? It’s decided adulthood is boring, electric is the future, and it’s about to bounce into the city like a caffeinated puppy.

Yes, the fourth-generation Twingo will roll into dealerships in mid-2026, starting at under £17,000. That’s not just cheap — that’s “you might have change left for a second-hand espresso machine” cheap. And it’s a direct slap in the face of Volkswagen’s upcoming ID.1, not to mention Dacia’s Spring and Leapmotor’s T03 — the UK’s current budget EV champions.

From Petrol Ghost to Electric Glow-Up

The last petrol Twingo quietly shuffled out of the UK in 2018 after selling a grand total of… 877 units that year. Now, seven years later, it’s back, and this time it hums instead of coughs. It’s riding on the momentum of Renault’s retro-cool Renault 5, which proved that affordable EVs can also be stylish. And Renault’s clearly taken notes: the new Twingo’s camouflage can’t hide its bubbly silhouette, funky semicircular lights, and design nods to the original 1992 model.

There are some concessions to reality — gone are the concept’s Mk1-style hidden door pulls, replaced by sensible grab handles. And the idea of showing your battery percentage on the bonnet like a futuristic toaster? That may or may not survive. But Renault promises it’ll still have that “fit-for-purpose urban vehicle with no compromise” charm.

Inside the Bubble

We haven’t seen the full production interior yet, but the concept’s cabin was “90% ready” — translation: basic seats, bare surfaces, and an emphasis on durability over luxury. At the centre sits a 10.1-inch infotainment screen, a 7-inch digital instrument display, and — bless them — physical buttons and dials for the important stuff. The air vents are still ovoid, the hazard light button still bright red, and the vibe is still “friendly French pod” rather than “soulless appliance.”

Power, Range, and Wallet Friendliness

Renault hasn’t spilled all the powertrain beans yet, but expect it to borrow heavily from the Renault 5’s Ampr Small platform. In base spec, that means a single motor with 118bhp, a 40kWh battery, and around 190 miles of range. But — and here’s the budget magic — the Twingo could get an even smaller battery, like the 25kWh pack from the Dacia Spring, giving about 140 miles of city-friendly range. Efficiency could hit 6.2 miles per kWh, which is basically EV diet food.

Built at Double Speed

Perhaps the most jaw-dropping stat isn’t the price, but the time it took to make: 21 months from green light to showroom. The Clio took 48 months. That’s not just quick — that’s “we forgot to blink” quick. New Renault Group CEO François Provost calls it part of an “obsession with competitiveness,” which sounds suspiciously like corporate speak for “we want to beat the Chinese at their own game.”

The result? Production costs 50% lower than a new C-segment SUV thanks to fewer materials, smarter software, and Ampere — Renault’s EV-focused sub-brand — doing everything possible to make EVs as cheap as petrol cars.

Greener, Meaner, Right-Hand Drive

Renault says the Twingo will produce 75% less CO₂ over its lifetime than the average ICE car sold in Europe last year. And yes, UK fans — you are getting it in right-hand drive. That wasn’t always a given, but after the Renault 5’s warm reception, bosses decided Britain deserved a slice of the Twingo pie.

In the words of Renault’s Fabrice Cambolive: “The UK is very important in terms of product recognition… The Twingo can be one of the solutions of mobility for the UK tomorrow.” Translation: “We think you’ll like it, and we want your money.”

Source: Renault