Category Archives: NEW CARS

NEW CARS

New Audi A6 allroad Arrives With Smarter quattro Ultra All-Wheel Drive and Plug-In Hybrid Power

The new Audi A6 allroad has arrived at Audi dealerships, combining the familiar strengths of the allroad formula with more sophisticated all-wheel-drive technology and an expanded electrified powertrain lineup. Prices start at €77,250 for the six-cylinder diesel, while the new plug-in hybrid version starts at €80,250.

Designed to bridge the gap between a premium estate and a more capable all-weather vehicle, the Audi A6 allroad continues to focus on long-distance comfort, confident handling and traction across changing road conditions. At the heart of the latest model is Audi’s quattro ultra all-wheel-drive system, which is designed to deliver the traction benefits of quattro while reducing drivetrain losses when four-wheel drive is not required.

Audi A6 allroad gets a new plug-in hybrid option

The latest Audi A6 allroad is available with a 3.0-liter V6 TDI featuring MHEV plus technology and an electrically powered compressor. For the first time, however, customers can also choose a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

That addition broadens the A6 allroad’s appeal by combining electrification with the model’s established focus on long-distance versatility. Both the V6 TDI and plug-in hybrid versions use quattro ultra technology, giving the A6 allroad the ability to optimize power distribution according to the conditions.

The result is a drivetrain designed to balance efficiency with the instant availability of all-wheel-drive traction.

How Audi quattro ultra works

Unlike a conventional permanent all-wheel-drive system that continuously drives both axles, quattro ultra can temporarily disconnect the rear drivetrain when additional traction is not required.

The system uses an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch at the transmission output together with a second decoupling clutch integrated into the rear axle differential. When the vehicle is cruising under low load and there is little risk of wheel slip, both clutches can open.

This disconnects the driveshaft and rear drivetrain components, reducing mechanical friction and helping improve efficiency.

But the important point is that the Audi A6 allroad does not simply wait for the wheels to lose traction before engaging the rear axle. quattro ultra works predictively, constantly analyzing the vehicle’s behavior and the road ahead to determine when all-wheel drive will be advantageous.

Predictive all-wheel drive can react before wheel slip occurs

Audi’s quattro ultra system continuously evaluates a wide range of parameters, including steering angle, accelerator demand, transmission setting, lateral and longitudinal acceleration, body movements and the estimated coefficient of friction between the tires and road.

It also learns from the driver’s behavior and takes the selected Audi drive select mode into account.

The system can predict approximately 0.5 seconds in advance when all-wheel drive is likely to be required. Once a decision is made to engage the rear axle, the complete process takes around 200 milliseconds.

That means quattro can be ready before the driver actually needs the additional traction.

This approach is particularly useful when pulling away, accelerating hard, entering a corner at speed or encountering a low-grip surface such as wet asphalt, snow or loose gravel.

“The transition between different operating modes of the all-wheel-drive system is imperceptible to the driver. What the driver feels in any situation is the traction and driving dynamics associated with quattro,” said Rouven Mohr, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at AUDI AG.

Front-wheel drive when efficiency matters, quattro when traction is needed

During efficient driving conditions, the quattro ultra system can send 100 percent of available drive torque to the front axle. If conditions change, the electronically controlled multi-plate clutch progressively brings the rear axle into operation.

Torque distribution is continuously adjusted according to traction, driving dynamics and comfort.

Under heavy acceleration, Audi says more than 70 percent of available torque can be transferred to the rear wheels on dry roads. This allows the A6 allroad to retain the characteristic traction and dynamic behavior associated with quattro while still benefiting from reduced mechanical losses during less demanding driving.

The result is a system that attempts to provide the best of both worlds: front-wheel-drive efficiency when additional traction is unnecessary and all-wheel-drive capability when it matters.

Four decades of Audi quattro technology

The latest A6 allroad is also the newest chapter in a technology story that began with the original Audi quattro in 1980.

Over more than four decades, Audi has progressively developed its all-wheel-drive systems. The technology has evolved from the manually locking center differential of the original Ur-quattro to various generations of Torsen differentials and, ultimately, today’s electronically controlled systems.

Audi has now produced more than 15.6 million vehicles equipped with quattro. According to the company, that represents approximately one-third of all Audi vehicles produced since the introduction of the technology.

Few technologies are as closely associated with a premium automotive brand as quattro is with Audi, and the A6 allroad remains one of the clearest expressions of that philosophy.

A6 allroad combines comfort with all-weather capability

The Audi A6 allroad has traditionally occupied a distinctive position in the market. Rather than being a conventional luxury estate or a full-size SUV, it combines estate-car driving characteristics with increased versatility and all-weather capability.

The latest version continues that formula while adding a more sophisticated approach to all-wheel-drive efficiency.

The ability to disconnect the rear drivetrain during low-load driving can help reduce friction and consumption, while predictive engagement ensures that the driver does not have to manually select four-wheel drive when conditions deteriorate.

That makes quattro ultra particularly well suited to a vehicle intended for long-distance travel, where highway efficiency and predictable traction can be equally important.

Source: Audi

NEW CARS

Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé Is “TOO HARD TO RESIST”

Mercedes-AMG is putting performance firmly in the spotlight with the new AMG GT 4-Door Coupé, and this time the stage is Hollywood. Starting in October 2026, the high-performance electric four-door will headline Mercedes-AMG’s new global brand campaign, “TOO HARD TO RESIST”, alongside Hollywood star Brad Pitt.

Following the world premiere of the new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé in Los Angeles in May, the campaign brings together two very different expressions of performance: the controlled precision of a Hollywood production and the spontaneous, emotional experience of driving an AMG.

Brad Pitt, whose career has combined ambition, precision and performance, becomes the ideal on-screen partner for Mercedes-AMG as the brand introduces its latest performance flagship to a global audience.

When the Car Becomes the Star

Set in Los Angeles, the “TOO HARD TO RESIST” campaign begins like a classic Hollywood production. Cameras are rolling, the crew is in position and every scene is carefully choreographed.

But the arrival of the new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé changes the script.

Rather than simply serving as another prop on a film set, the AMG becomes the central character. The carefully controlled production gives way to a dynamic environment built around driving emotion, performance and the instinctive desire to get behind the wheel.

That idea is captured by the campaign’s tagline: “TOO HARD TO RESIST”.

The message is intended to describe more than the advertising campaign. Mercedes-AMG is using it to define the character of the new GT 4-Door Coupé itself, combining dramatic design with electric performance, agility and a strong emphasis on the emotional side of driving.

Brad Pitt and Mercedes-AMG: Performance Meets Hollywood

Brad Pitt’s involvement gives the campaign a distinctly cinematic character, but Mercedes-AMG says the partnership is based on shared values including ambition and performance.

The Hollywood actor joins the new AMG GT 4-Door Coupé at a significant moment for Mercedes-AMG as the brand expands its high-performance electric technology.

The campaign also builds on Mercedes-AMG’s previous promotional activity surrounding the car. In 2025, the brand generated attention with a Las Vegas stunt involving an AMG GT 4-Door Coupé prototype. The new campaign moves the story from spectacular stunt work to a more personal interpretation of what makes an AMG exciting to drive.

The result is deliberately positioned somewhere between cinema and automotive performance: a film set that ultimately becomes a playground for the car.

Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé: Electric Performance With 1,169 HP

Behind the Hollywood imagery is a car that represents a major technological step for Mercedes-AMG.

The new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé is based on the company’s dedicated AMG Electric Architecture, known as AMG.EA. Rather than adapting an existing combustion-engine platform for electric propulsion, Mercedes-AMG has developed the architecture specifically around the requirements of high-performance electric vehicles.

At the centre of the technology are three axial-flux electric motors and directly cooled battery cells.

The system is capable of producing up to 860 kW, equivalent to 1,169 hp. Those figures put the new AMG GT 4-Door Coupé firmly into the territory traditionally occupied by the world’s most extreme performance cars.

The use of axial-flux motors is particularly significant. Compared with conventional radial-flux electric motors, axial-flux technology can offer a combination of high power density and compact dimensions, characteristics that are particularly valuable in a performance vehicle where weight, packaging and power delivery are critical.

Mercedes-AMG is also focusing heavily on battery cooling. Directly cooled battery cells are designed to help the high-voltage system maintain consistent performance under demanding conditions, an essential requirement for a car developed not simply for rapid acceleration, but for sustained high-performance driving.

Technology Proven by the AMG GT XX Concept

The new production AMG GT 4-Door Coupé’s performance technology has already been previewed by the Mercedes-AMG CONCEPT GT XX.

In 2025, the concept demonstrated the potential of the AMG.EA architecture during a spectacular record-setting drive at the Nardò test facility in Italy.

That demonstration was important because it showed Mercedes-AMG’s ambitions extend beyond headline acceleration figures. The company’s next-generation electric performance technology is being developed around high-speed capability, efficiency and the ability to sustain demanding driving conditions.

The production AMG GT 4-Door Coupé now brings that technological philosophy closer to the road.

A New Definition of AMG Performance

For decades, Mercedes-AMG has built its reputation around powerful combustion engines, rear-wheel drive dynamics and the unmistakable character of its high-performance cars. The AMG GT 4-Door Coupé represents a new chapter in that story.

Its AMG.EA architecture signals a fundamental change in the way Mercedes-AMG approaches performance. Electric propulsion allows engineers to rethink power delivery, packaging and vehicle dynamics, while the company’s focus remains firmly on creating an emotional driving experience.

That distinction is central to the “TOO HARD TO RESIST” campaign.

The message is not simply about how quickly the car can accelerate or how much power its electric motors can produce. Instead, Mercedes-AMG wants the new GT 4-Door Coupé to be perceived as a car that creates an instinctive desire to drive it.

In other words, the numbers are only part of the story.

From Hollywood Set to Driver’s Seat

The campaign was filmed alongside the world-premiere production in Los Angeles and was created by team x together with production house Tony Petersen Film. Simon McQuoid directed the project.

McQuoid’s experience in large-scale cinematic productions fits naturally with a campaign that deliberately blurs the boundaries between Hollywood filmmaking and automotive performance.

The central concept is simple: the script can be perfect, the cameras can be ready and every movement can be planned, but the arrival of a car with this level of performance can make the carefully constructed world of the film set difficult to resist.

The global Mercedes-AMG “TOO HARD TO RESIST” campaign launches in October 2026.

For Mercedes-AMG, it is also an opportunity to introduce a new generation of customers to a very different interpretation of the performance car.

The new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé combines the visual drama expected from an AMG flagship with an all-electric powertrain capable of producing up to 1,169 hp. With AMG.EA technology, three axial-flux motors and directly cooled battery cells, it represents one of the most important steps yet in the company’s transition toward electric performance.

And if Mercedes-AMG’s message is anything to go by, the hardest part may not be resisting the car’s performance.

It may be resisting the temptation to drive it.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

NEW CARS

BMW X3 M50 Gets 437bhp and New Motorsport-Inspired Black Package

BMW is giving the X3 M50 a significant performance upgrade, with the brand’s flagship M Performance SUV gaining more power from its turbocharged straight-six engine. The updated BMW X3 M50 now produces 437bhp, while a new motorsport-inspired Black Package adds a more aggressive visual identity to the range-topping X3.

The revised 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six engine continues to use mild-hybrid technology, but BMW has recalibrated the powertrain to deliver an additional 44bhp over the current model. Power rises from 393bhp to 437bhp, further strengthening the X3 M50’s position as a high-performance alternative to premium SUVs such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC.

With the additional output sent through BMW’s all-wheel-drive system, the updated X3 M50 can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 4.4 seconds. That represents an improvement over the current model and gives the X3 M50 performance figures that begin to overlap with some considerably more focused performance SUVs.

BMW X3 M50 Black Package adds motorsport-inspired styling

Alongside the mechanical upgrade, BMW has introduced a new Black Package for the X3 M50. The package is designed to give the SUV a more purposeful appearance, drawing inspiration from BMW’s motorsport heritage.

UK pricing for the BMW X3 M50 Black Package starts at £81,569.

The exterior treatment includes 22-inch black alloy wheels, gloss-black brake calipers and gloss-black BMW and M badges. The combination gives the X3 M50 a significantly darker and more aggressive appearance without changing the fundamental design of the latest-generation X3.

The Black Package continues into the cabin, where BMW has added extensive Alcantara trim. The material is used across areas including the instrument panel and centre-console trim, while the headrests receive new M-logo stitching.

The seats also feature blue stitching, providing a subtle contrast to the predominantly dark interior. Selected controls are finished in BMW Individual’s so-called “Clarity Glass”, adding another premium detail to the M Performance SUV.

More updates for the wider BMW X3 range

The changes are not limited to the X3 M50. BMW is also introducing a series of interior and equipment updates across the wider X3 range, with the revisions becoming available on models from December.

One of the most noticeable changes is the introduction of a new soft-touch surface on the section of the dashboard directly in front of the central infotainment display. BMW has also revised the stitching pattern on the instrument panel.

Additional ambient lighting has been introduced around the centre console and door handles, while the glovebox opener has been redesigned.

These changes are relatively subtle, but they are intended to improve the perceived quality of the X3’s interior and give the SUV a more sophisticated cabin environment.

BMW X3 20 xDrive upgraded for Euro 7

BMW is also preparing the entry-level X3 20 xDrive for the next stage of European emissions regulations.

The four-cylinder engine used by the X3 20 xDrive has been upgraded to comply with the incoming Euro 7 regulations. The move is part of BMW’s wider effort to ensure that its combustion-engine models remain compliant as European emissions requirements become increasingly stringent.

While the X3 M50 focuses on performance, the updates to the X3 20 xDrive highlight BMW’s intention to continue developing its combustion-engine technology alongside its growing range of electrified vehicles.

BMW X3 M50 continues to bridge performance and practicality

The updated BMW X3 M50 occupies an increasingly important position within BMW’s SUV line-up. It combines the practicality and everyday usability expected from an X3 with performance traditionally associated with BMW’s M cars.

The increase to 437bhp gives the M50 considerably more firepower, while the 4.4-second 0-62mph time makes it a genuinely rapid family SUV. At the same time, the mild-hybrid powertrain and all-wheel-drive system are designed to maintain the versatility expected from a premium daily driver.

The new Black Package adds another layer of appeal for buyers looking for a more distinctive appearance, with 22-inch wheels, black exterior details and an Alcantara-heavy interior creating a noticeably sportier specification.

With these updates, BMW is keeping the X3 M50 competitive in a segment that includes increasingly powerful versions of the Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5 and other premium performance SUVs.

BMW X3 M50: key facts

  • Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six mild hybrid
  • Power: 437bhp
  • Previous power: 393bhp
  • Power increase: 44bhp
  • Drivetrain: all-wheel drive
  • 0-62mph: 4.4 seconds
  • Black Package price in the UK: from £81,569
  • Black Package wheels: 22-inch black alloy wheels
  • Interior: Alcantara, M-logo stitching and blue seat stitching
  • Wider X3 updates: available from December
  • X3 20 xDrive: upgraded four-cylinder engine designed to meet Euro 7 requirements

The latest BMW X3 M50 therefore brings more power, sharper performance and a new visual package to BMW’s premium SUV line-up, while the broader X3 range receives a series of detail and technology improvements. For buyers seeking a fast, understated and practical BMW SUV, the updated M50 strengthens its position as one of the most performance-focused versions of the current X3.

Source: Autocar