Category Archives: NEW CARS

NEW CARS

Nissan Teases a New Nismo Mystery Ahead of Tokyo Auto Salon 2026

Just a day after confirming plans to significantly expand its global performance portfolio, Nissan has wasted no time shifting attention toward what comes next. The brand has released an early teaser of a new Nismo concept car, scheduled to make its public debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2026, running from January 9 to 11—and it’s already fueling speculation.

The reveal is deliberately restrained. A single teaser image shows only a fragment of the car’s rear, offering more questions than answers. From the proportions alone, the mystery machine could be interpreted in several ways: a low-slung sports car, a sleek fastback coupe, or even a coupe-style SUV. Nissan clearly intends for the ambiguity to do the talking.

What is visible suggests a design that leans closer to production reality than a pure show car. Slim, horizontal taillights stretch across the rear and sit just below a subtle integrated lip spoiler. The lighting elements appear nearly production-ready, hinting that this concept may be closer to a future showroom model than a distant design exercise.

Further scrutiny reveals vertical air outlets carved into the outer edges of the rear fenders, a detail that adds both visual drama and a sense of aerodynamic intent. The glasshouse slopes downward toward the rear, and the panel shut-lines suggest a hatchback-style opening rather than a conventional trunk—an architectural choice that could support either a performance-focused road car or a more versatile high-performance crossover.

What remains entirely unknown is what powers it. Nissan has not disclosed any technical details, leaving open the question of whether this concept relies on internal combustion, electrification, or some form of hybridization. Given Nissan’s broader roadmap and its ongoing transition toward electrified performance, the answer could go in multiple directions. For now, the concept stands as a visual promise rather than a technical statement.

Adding another layer of intrigue, Nissan has separately confirmed that a new Nismo prototype will enter competitive racing events beginning in the 2026 fiscal year, with a production version planned to follow. Whether this race-bound machine is related to the teaser concept—or an entirely different project altogether—remains unclear. The timing, however, suggests a coordinated push to redefine what Nismo represents in the coming decade.

Beyond the mysterious concept, Nissan’s Tokyo Auto Salon lineup balances the future with the familiar. Chief among the crowd-pullers is a refreshed Fairlady Z, set to reach Japanese dealerships in the summer of 2026. The version shown at the event will be the Nismo variant, notably retaining a manual transmission—an increasingly rare but enthusiast-approved decision that reinforces the Z’s driver-focused identity.

Elsewhere on the stand, Nissan will showcase the new Leaf crossover in its premium Autech specification, signaling a more upscale direction for one of the brand’s most recognizable nameplates. The X-Trail Rock Creek Multibed Wildplay SUV will also make an appearance, reimagined as a camping-focused adventure vehicle aimed at lifestyle buyers rather than lap times.

Rounding out the display is a nod to Nissan’s heritage and motorsport legacy. A classic March hatchback, painstakingly restored and converted to a manual transmission, will be shown alongside the Motul Autech GT-R from the 2016 Super GT season. The latter serves as a tribute to veteran racing driver Tsugio Matsuda, marking his retirement and underscoring Nissan’s deep ties to Japanese motorsport.

Taken together, Nissan’s Tokyo Auto Salon presence paints a picture of a brand in transition—one that is honoring its past, refining its present, and cautiously teasing a performance-focused future. The shadowy Nismo concept may only offer a glimpse of sheet metal for now, but if history is any guide, the full reveal could signal an important turning point for Nissan’s enthusiast lineup.

Source: Nissan

NEW CARS

Alfa Romeo Tonale Makes UK Debut at Inaugural Manchester Motor Show

Alfa Romeo is set to underline its renewed confidence in the compact SUV segment with the UK debut of the updated Tonale, which will be unveiled at the first-ever Manchester Motor Show in January 2026. Making its public bow at the Manchester Central Convention Complex, the new Tonale represents a decisive evolution of the brand’s first C-SUV, sharpening its sporting edge while staying true to Alfa Romeo’s unmistakable Italian design language.

At the heart of the updates lies a renewed focus on driving dynamics – an area where Alfa Romeo continues to differentiate itself from mainstream rivals. The new Tonale promises a more authentic driving experience thanks to near-perfect weight distribution, the most direct steering in its class and dedicated Brembo braking hardware. Complementing these mechanical upgrades is Alfa Romeo’s DSV electronic suspension, designed to strike a careful balance between everyday comfort and the precision expected from the Milanese marque.

Visually, the Tonale has been subtly but effectively reworked. A wider wheel track enhances its stance, while a redesigned front end and updated trilobe grille give the SUV a more assertive road presence. The refreshed look is further supported by the introduction of three new metallic paint finishes, adding extra depth to an already distinctive silhouette.

Powertrain choice remains a key part of Tonale’s appeal. Buyers will be able to choose between hybrid and plug-in hybrid configurations, reinforcing Alfa Romeo’s gradual transition towards electrification without sacrificing performance character. The range will be offered in three trim levels – Tonale, Ti and the sportier Veloce – with the updated model arriving in UK showrooms from the first quarter of 2026.

Beyond the Tonale, visitors to the Manchester Motor Show will be able to explore Alfa Romeo’s wider line-up, including the new Junior in both Ibrida and fully electric Elettrica forms, alongside the high-performance Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio models. Adding a playful twist to the brand showcase, attendees can also test their reactions and competitiveness by playing virtually against Alfa Romeo ambassador and Italian tennis star Jasmine Paolini via a speed-of-serve tennis simulator.

The event also brings tangible incentives for potential buyers, with special offers available on new Alfa Romeo purchases made before the end of January, applicable to both cash and PCP deals.

The inaugural Manchester Motor Show will take place on Saturday 10 January 2026, marking a new chapter for the UK’s automotive event calendar – and providing Alfa Romeo with a high-profile stage to introduce the next evolution of the Tonale.

Source: Alfa Romeo

NEW CARS

Volkswagen ID. Cross prototype spotted testing ahead of 2026 launch

Volkswagen’s next push into the affordable electric SUV market is gathering pace, with the first prototype of the new ID. Cross now spotted out on public roads. The sighting comes just months after the concept version broke cover and only days after early driving impressions of the ID. Cross Concept emerged — and crucially, it confirms that VW isn’t straying far from the striking design it previewed.

As its name implies, the ID. Cross will serve as the all-electric counterpart to the long-running T-Cross, positioning itself in the rapidly growing small EV crossover segment. When it arrives, it will go head-to-head with models such as the Renault 4, Ford Puma Gen-E and Citroën e-C3 Aircross.

Familiar disguise, familiar proportions

At first glance, Volkswagen has made only modest attempts to disguise the prototype. The test car appears to borrow the grille and possibly the front bumper from its petrol-powered sibling, a common trick to throw off casual observers. But the disguise does little to mask the truth: the production ID. Cross looks set to remain remarkably faithful to the concept.

That’s no bad thing. The ID. Cross Concept successfully blended the compact proportions of the T-Cross with a tougher, more confident stance inspired by Volkswagen’s Amarok pick-up. The prototype retains that muscular look, complete with flared wheelarches, pronounced shoulders and generous plastic cladding that gives it a rugged edge without tipping into cartoonish SUV excess.

A body-coloured panel on the C-pillar suggests Volkswagen is concealing the same floating roof design seen on the concept. That feature incorporated three distinctive louvres, a subtle nod to the original Type 2 Bus and the modern ID. Buzz, reinforcing VW’s renewed emphasis on heritage-inspired design cues.

EV architecture, real-world benefits

The wheels are pushed right out to the corners of the car — a hallmark of dedicated EV platforms — helping the ID. Cross appear larger than it is while also maximising interior space. Underneath sits Volkswagen’s new MEB+ architecture, which the ID. Cross will share with the upcoming ID. Polo.

This bespoke electric platform allows for a longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs than combustion-engined equivalents, promising improved cabin room despite compact external dimensions. It also places the ID. Cross at the heart of the Volkswagen Group’s wider “Electric Urban Car Family,” which includes the Cupra Raval and Skoda Epiq, all set to be built in Spain from 2026.

Design philosophy: “Pure Positive”

Volkswagen has been clear that the ID. Cross represents a new chapter in its design language. Both the ID. Cross and ID. Polo are shaped around the brand’s new “Pure Positive” philosophy, guided by three core principles: stability, likeability and what VW calls its “secret sauce.”

According to design boss Andreas Mindt, the goal is to ensure every Volkswagen feels unmistakable while drawing confidently on the brand’s deep heritage. That thinking is evident in the upright front end, which features a thick glass-covered panel with an illuminated VW badge and lightbar, flowing into slim, three-dimensional LED headlights.

The flat, subtly sculpted bonnet recalls the Amarok, while colour-matched bumper elements — rather than chunky black plastic — give the car a more premium feel. Volkswagen insists these protruding bumpers remain functional, offering real-world protection against everyday scrapes, with the glowing central element housing key sensors.

Clean lines and familiar references

From the side, the floating roof design stands out, with contrasting A and C-pillars breaking up the body colour. The angled C-pillar itself draws inspiration from several generations of the Golf, while the louvred rear quarter once again links the ID. Cross to VW’s past.

At the rear, the design is a clean evolution of the ID.2all concept, featuring a full-width lightbar with an illuminated badge, square 3D-effect tail-lights and horizontal lighting elements that wrap neatly around the body.

A long-awaited interior rethink

Perhaps the most important changes are found inside. Volkswagen has openly acknowledged criticism of its recent EV interiors, and the ID. Cross is intended to demonstrate that lessons have been learned.

The cabin promises a return to physical controls, with proper buttons and knobs replacing the much-maligned touch-sensitive sliders found in models like the ID.3. The square steering wheel features clearly defined physical buttons, while the dashboard regains dedicated climate toggles — a move many drivers will welcome.

Digital displays remain, but they’ve been simplified. An 11-inch instrument cluster and a 13-inch central touchscreen use calmer, nature-inspired colour schemes and more intuitive menu structures. A rotary controller on the centre console, combined with natural voice control, is designed to reduce driver frustration rather than add to it.

An “oasis of well-being”

Volkswagen describes the ID. Cross Concept’s interior as an “oasis of well-being,” and the design backs that up. Soft beige “Vanilla Chai” surfaces dominate the cabin, paired with bouclé-style fabrics that feel deliberately cosy and premium.

There are even eucalyptus leaves embedded beneath translucent trim in the centre console, along with a fragrance dispenser in the cup-holders. Place your phone face-down on the wireless charging pad and the system activates a “calm status,” reducing on-screen information to the bare essentials.

Compact outside, spacious inside

Despite measuring less than 4.2 metres in length — matching the Renault 4 — Volkswagen claims the ID. Cross offers impressive rear-seat space for five occupants. The boot measures 450 litres, outdoing the Renault by 30 litres, while a 25-litre frunk under the bonnet adds extra practicality.

Performance and positioning

Volkswagen is still keeping some technical details under wraps, including battery capacity, but it has confirmed a range of up to 261 miles and a 208bhp front-mounted electric motor. The emphasis, VW says, is on urban usability, with compact dimensions ideally suited to city driving.

The ID. Cross is expected to debut in production form in summer 2026, with UK prices likely to start around £25,000. It will sit alongside the ID. Polo in Volkswagen’s expanding EV lineup, forming a crucial part of the brand’s promise to deliver genuinely affordable electric cars.

After years of teasers — including an early glimpse back in late 2023, when the car was still known as the ID.2X — the ID. Cross finally feels close. And if the production model lives up to what the prototype suggests, Volkswagen may have a very strong contender on its hands.