Category Archives: NEW CARS

NEW CARS

Brad Pitt Joins Mercedes-AMG as the Brand Teases Its Wildest 4-Door Yet

Mercedes-AMG has never shied away from theatrics, but its latest headline might be its most Hollywood moment yet: Brad Pitt is now officially the newest member of “The World’s Fastest Family.” Yes, that Brad Pitt—fresh off F1: The Movie—has signed on as an ambassador for the brand just as AMG prepares to launch what it claims will be its most advanced four-door performance machine ever.

The timing isn’t accidental. AMG is gearing up for the full reveal of the next-generation AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, scheduled to break cover in 2026. And, if the teasers are any indication, this car marks a turning point both for AMG and for electric performance as a whole.

Vegas, Valets, and V8-Level Drama

To kick off the partnership, AMG staged a promo stunt straight out of a summer blockbuster: a camouflaged GT 4-Door Coupe prototype ripping through Las Vegas with Pitt in the spotlight and Mercedes-AMG F1 star George Russell playing valet-turned-test-driver.

The setup is simple—Pitt waits for his car, only to realize the “valet” is a five-time Formula 1 race winner. What follows is a high-energy demonstration of the prototype’s agility and precision as Russell launches the four-door missile through a private course. The message is clear: AMG wants the world to know that even in a new era of electrification, the brand’s performance personality isn’t going anywhere.

“I had an incredible day in Vegas,” Russell said later. “AMG has created something truly special here.”

Star Power Meets Affalterbach Power

Why bring Brad Pitt into the fold? According to AMG CEO Michael Schiebe, it’s about authenticity and ambition—qualities AMG says mirror the spirit of its next flagship.

Pitt, for his part, seems genuinely enthusiastic. “I’ve always been a fan of performance—on screen and behind the wheel,” he said. “That same dedication to thrill is what defines Mercedes-AMG.”

It’s not the first time AMG has teamed up with Hollywood, but the timing couldn’t be better. Pitt’s F1 movie has already given him racing-cred adjacent status, and aligning him with AMG’s most technologically ambitious product to date makes for a strong narrative.

A New Performance Playbook: AMG.EA

The biggest story isn’t the celebrity endorsement—it’s the technology underpinning the upcoming GT 4-Door Coupe.

This will be the first production model built on AMG.EA, the company’s dedicated high-performance EV platform. And it’s bringing some serious hardware:

  • Three axial-flux electric motors
  • A direct-cooled battery engineered for sustained high-output driving
  • Continuous power levels AMG claims will set new benchmarks for electric performance sedans

Axial-flux motors, known for high power density and compact size, represent a major shift from the radial-flux units used by most EV manufacturers. It’s a bold move, but not an untested one—AMG previewed the tech this summer in the CONCEPT AMG GT XX, which reportedly blitzed around Nardò with record-setting pace.

If the production version inherits even part of that capability, the new GT 4-Door Coupe could redefine what a high-performance EV sedan looks like.

So… What Should We Expect?

While AMG hasn’t released performance figures yet, the tone of its communication suggests the car will chase down (and maybe outrun) heavy-hitters like the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT and Tesla Model S Plaid.

The Las Vegas stunt hinted at agile handling, immediate throttle response, and the kind of controllability you’d expect from something shaped by AMG’s F1 and GT racing programs.

Combine that with Brad Pitt’s star power and AMG’s flair for drama, and the 2026 world premiere is already shaping up to be a major moment for electric performance.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

NEW CARS

Toyota’s Liquid-Hydrogen, Superconductive GR Corolla Breaks Cover at Fuji—And It’s Wild

Two and a half years after Toyota floated the idea—one that sounded more like sci-fi than motorsport engineering—a race car blending superconductive tech with a liquid-hydrogen–fueled engine has finally torn down a real-world straightaway. And it didn’t do it quietly.

At the finale of the 2025 Super Taikyu Series at Fuji Speedway, the prototype GR Corolla hydrogen racer fired up its engine, hissed with icy vapor, and shot past the press like a rolling physics experiment unleashed. At first glance, it looks like last year’s liquid-hydrogen Corolla—but the similarities end at the sheet metal.

Superconductivity Meets Motorsports

Inside the fuel tank, where liquid hydrogen sits at –253°C, Toyota’s engineers managed something no automaker—or anyone, really—has done before: integrate superconductivity into a moving, violently vibrating, endurance-racing machine.

Superconductivity eliminates electrical resistance at low temperatures. That means the system can extract the same power from the motor with far less current—allowing the engineering team to shrink components and rethink packaging. One of the biggest breakthroughs was placing the pump motor inside the fuel tank itself, freeing up enough space to double tank capacity from 150 to 300 liters.

Kyoto University professor Taketsune Nakamura, one of the foremost superconductivity experts in Japan, didn’t sugarcoat the technical insanity of the project:
“Superconducting motors are being researched and developed worldwide, but there still isn’t a single practical application.”
Putting one in a race car, he added, was nothing short of “totally insane.”

A Week From Disaster, a Day From History

The development process lived somewhere between high-risk engineering and controlled panic. Even days before the first shakedown lap—one week before its public reveal—engineer Ryosuke Yamamoto admitted, voice tight, that he had “no idea what would happen” when the car hit the asphalt.

Yet on November 15, the liquid-hydrogen GR Corolla ran cleanly, safely, and smoothly enough to stun the gathered media. It didn’t just work—it worked well enough that journalists immediately asked the question everyone was thinking:
When does this thing race?

Eyes on the Fuji 24 Hours… Maybe

When broadcaster and hydrogen-car evangelist Yuta Tomikawa asked if the team would bring it to next year’s Fuji 24 Hours, hydrogen-engine project chief Naoaki Ito offered a careful, almost mischievous grin before replying:
“We’ll do our best.”

The Fuji 24 Hours has become Toyota’s proving ground for all hydrogen-powered firsts. In 2021, the world’s first hydrogen-engine race car debuted there. In 2023, Toyota returned with the updated liquid-hydrogen variant. The superconductive version feels like the next natural chapter—if Toyota can get it race-ready in time.

What Comes Next

Toyota isn’t promising anything yet. But the car’s successful demonstration run suggests a competitive debut is not a matter of if but when. With just six months until the next Fuji 24 Hours, the team is already grinding toward the next iteration.

Superconductivity in motorsport still sounds like something ripped from a physics textbook. But at Fuji Speedway, for a few frigid seconds, it was real—loud, fast, and running on the coldest fuel on Earth.

And that’s how revolutions in racing usually start: not with perfection, but with the first lap that didn’t blow up.

Source: Toyota

NEW CARS

Defender Dakar D7X‑R: Britain’s Iconic Off-Roader Tackles the Ultimate Desert Challenge

Land Rover’s Defender is no stranger to adventure, but the all-new Defender Dakar D7X‑R takes the storied British icon into uncharted territory: the 2026 Dakar Rally. Built to compete in the FIA’s new Stock category, the D7X‑R is more than just a rugged production SUV—it’s a purpose-built rally machine, designed to endure the desert’s relentless extremes.

Three elite crews will pilot the Defender Dakar D7X‑R over two grueling weeks, covering roughly 5,000 kilometers of timed stages and more than 80 hours of competitive driving. Leading the charge are Dakar legend Stéphane Peterhansel with co-driver Mika Metge, Rokas Baciuška paired with Oriol Vidal, and Sara Price alongside Sean Berriman. Behind the wheel, these drivers will be supported by an experienced cadre of engineers and mechanics, under the leadership of newly appointed Team Principal, Ian James.

A Production SUV Born for the Dakar

Unlike conventional rally cars, the D7X‑R begins its life on a production line in Nitra, Slovakia, adhering strictly to the Stock category rules. The bodyshell remains true to the production Defender 110 OCTA, one of Land Rover’s most capable Defenders ever. The 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine is retained, running on FIA-compliant sustainable fuel, while the eight-speed automatic transmission carries over from the road car, albeit with a lower final drive ratio optimized for rally conditions.

While the Stock category limits modifications, Defender Rally has fitted the D7X‑R with a host of rally-specific upgrades. A 550-liter fuel tank is integrated into the rear, ensuring the vehicle can survive stages exceeding 800 kilometers. The suspension has been tuned with BILSTEIN performance dampers, including a single coil-over front and twin rear dampers, capable of handling the extra weight and brutal off-road conditions. Approach and departure angles have been improved via modified front and rear bodywork, while extended wheel arches, raised ride height, and a wider 60mm track give the SUV a more aggressive stance.

Engineering for Extremes

Desert racing requires more than sheer power. Cooling is a critical concern in the Dakar’s scorching environments, and the D7X‑R features an upgraded system with a large radiator, four 12V fans, bonnet vents, and sand filters to protect the V8 from particulate ingestion. The brakes are bespoke rally units with six-piston front calipers and four-piston rears, while the electronics are consolidated into a single motorsport control unit with custom calibrations. A unique “Flight Mode” automatically modulates torque delivery when airborne, smoothing landings and protecting driveline components.

Inside the Rally Cockpit

The cabin is stripped for competition but far from spartan. FIA-regulated six-buckle seats are customized for each driver, with navigation and motorsport dashboards providing essential data at a glance. Storage solutions include space for eight liters of water, three spare wheels, hydraulic jacks, tools, and critical spare parts, all secured within the new roll cage. This is a vehicle built for endurance, comfort, and survivability across some of the planet’s harshest terrain.

Desert-Inspired Design

The D7X‑R wears an all-new “Geopalette” livery, inspired by the sand, stone, and earth tones of the Dakar desert, accented with hints of aqua drawn from rare desert water sources. The result is a vehicle that looks at home both in the dunes and on the pages of Land Rover’s adventure history.

Ready for the Challenge

Following over 6,000 kilometers of off-road testing, the D7X‑R is set for its competitive debut at the 2026 Dakar Rally, starting January 3 in Saudi Arabia. Ian James, Team Principal, is clear on the stakes: “Dakar represents one of the toughest challenges in motorsport—but that’s exactly why we are entering. With world-class partners and some of the best rally-raid drivers on the planet, we’ll give it our all.”

With its blend of production-bred reliability and rally-honed engineering, the Defender Dakar D7X‑R embodies the essence of British adventure. It’s a Defender built not just to survive the world’s harshest conditions, but to conquer them—on the ultimate stage.

Source: Land Rover