Category Archives: News

News

Ford’s Electric Super Mustang Rules Goodwood, Leaving Formula E in Its Wake

If there was any lingering doubt that electric performance has reached another level, the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed provided a rather emphatic answer. While thousands of spectators lined the famous Sussex hill expecting a battle between some of the world’s fastest machines, it was Ford’s outrageous Super Mustang Mach-E that once again stole the show—and made it look almost routine.

Fresh off its commanding victory at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb just three weeks earlier, French racing ace Romain Dumas arrived at Goodwood with plenty of momentum. Behind the wheel of Ford’s purpose-built electric hillclimb weapon, Dumas blasted up the iconic 1.16-mile course in an astonishing 41.98 seconds, securing the fastest time of the weekend and extending his remarkable Goodwood legacy. The victory marked Dumas’ third consecutive Festival of Speed triumph and his fifth overall, further cementing his status as one of the event’s modern masters.

Originally engineered for the unforgiving climb to the summit of Pikes Peak, where Dumas recently stopped the clocks at 8:18.202, the Super Mustang Mach-E has proven that its dominance isn’t limited to Colorado’s thin mountain air. At Goodwood, it demonstrated blistering acceleration, relentless grip, and the instant torque that has become the defining advantage of high-performance electric race cars.

Perhaps the most telling statistic wasn’t simply that the Ford won—it was what it beat.

The Super Mustang Mach-E finished comfortably ahead of the cutting-edge Gen4 Formula E machine piloted by Daniel Ticktum, with the all-electric single-seater recording a still-impressive 42.46-second run. Formula E represents the pinnacle of electric open-wheel racing technology, making Ford’s margin of victory all the more remarkable.

Behind the two EVs, the internal combustion contingent fought an entertaining battle for the remaining podium positions. Alex Summers muscled the thunderous 1974 Shadow-Chevrolet DN4 Can-Am prototype into third with a 46.31-second climb, edging reigning rallycross champion Johan Kristoffersson in the ferocious Volkswagen Polo RallyCross machine by a razor-thin 0.01 second.

One of the weekend’s loudest crowd favorites came courtesy of action sports legend Travis Pastrana, whose wildly modified Subaru Brataroo 9500 Turbo combined outrageous styling with equally outrageous speed, posting a 46.77-second run while entertaining fans every inch of the hill.

Beyond the stopwatch, Goodwood remained true to its reputation as one of the world’s greatest celebrations of automotive culture. BMW used the event to showcase its striking Concept Neue Klasse M, offering enthusiasts an early glimpse at what is expected to become the brand’s next-generation all-electric M3. To remind everyone where the legendary performance sedan’s story began, BMW also displayed two icons from the M3 lineage: the homologation-special E30 M3 from 1986 and the hardcore E92 M3 GTS from 2011, marking four decades of one of performance motoring’s most celebrated nameplates.

While nostalgia and heritage were on full display throughout the Festival of Speed, the fastest run of the weekend pointed unmistakably toward the future. Ford’s Super Mustang Mach-E didn’t just win Goodwood—it outpaced the latest Formula E technology and reinforced a reality that becomes harder to ignore with every major hillclimb.

When it comes to outright speed, electricity is no longer the challenger. Increasingly, it’s the benchmark.

Source: Ford

News

Mitsubishi Wants Robots on the Assembly Line—And It Plans to Build Them Itself

If you’ve ever wondered when humanoid robots would stop being science fiction and start clocking in for factory shifts, Mitsubishi Motors believes that moment is closer than you might think. The Japanese automaker has announced a partnership with robotics startup Highlanders to develop AI-powered humanoid robots for its own manufacturing plants—a move that could reshape not only how Mitsubishi builds cars, but also how the automotive industry thinks about factory automation.

Unlike many manufacturers that simply purchase robotic systems from outside suppliers, Mitsubishi is taking a far more ambitious route. The company is co-developing the robots with Highlanders and plans to manufacture them in-house by repurposing unused facilities at its Kyoto engine plant. Production is expected to begin as early as 2027, with an initial target of 1,000 robots per month.

That makes this more than just another robotics announcement. It’s a strategic bet that the future workforce won’t be entirely human.

A Response to Japan’s Labor Crunch

Japan’s aging population and persistent labor shortages have forced manufacturers to rethink how they build everything from automobiles to electronics. Mitsubishi sees humanoid robots as a practical solution rather than a futuristic experiment, allowing production lines to remain flexible while helping alleviate staffing shortages across its operations.

Initially, these AI-powered workers won’t be tackling the most complex jobs. Instead, they’ll transport components across the factory floor, assist with engine assembly, and perform repetitive tasks that traditionally consume countless hours of human labor. If the robots prove dependable, Mitsubishi says it could eventually offer them to other manufacturers, effectively turning itself into a supplier of industrial robotics alongside automobiles.

That’s a fascinating twist. Mitsubishi isn’t just looking to automate its factories—it could be laying the groundwork for an entirely new business.

Building Robots Like Cars

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the announcement is Mitsubishi’s decision to manufacture the robots itself. The company plans to leverage its existing automotive production expertise and supply chain, applying decades of experience in large-scale manufacturing to humanoid robotics.

CEO Takao Kato believes the automotive industry already possesses many of the tools needed to accelerate robot development. Production lines that handle everything from precision welding to sophisticated logistics have created a manufacturing ecosystem that’s uniquely suited to producing advanced humanoid machines.

“Our collaboration with Highlanders is a challenge aimed at building a new industrial base in which humans and robots work together,” Kato said. He added that using the robots within Mitsubishi’s own facilities will help the company refine both the technology and its broader robotics business before considering commercial sales.

It’s a logical approach. If you trust a robot to build your engines, you’ll probably feel more confident selling that same robot to someone else.

Humans and Robots—Not Humans or Robots

One question inevitably hangs over any discussion of humanoid robots: Are they coming for people’s jobs?

Mitsubishi is careful to avoid that narrative. The company repeatedly emphasizes that its vision centers on collaboration rather than replacement, describing a future in which humans and robots work side by side. Whether that balance remains intact over the long term is impossible to predict, but for now the messaging is clear—robots are intended to supplement an increasingly scarce workforce, not eliminate it.

Given Japan’s demographic realities, that argument carries more weight than it might elsewhere.

An Industry-Wide Race

Mitsubishi claims its memorandum of understanding with Highlanders marks the first collaboration between an automaker and a humanoid robotics company specifically aimed at mass production. While several major manufacturers have already begun experimenting with humanoid robots on factory floors, Mitsubishi’s vertically integrated strategy stands apart.

For a company that has struggled to keep pace with larger rivals in several global markets, investing in emerging technologies could provide an unexpected competitive advantage. Even if the robots never become a standalone business, improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing labor constraints could help strengthen Mitsubishi’s long-term position.

Whether customers will someday buy a Mitsubishi-built humanoid robot alongside an Outlander remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the factory of the future is beginning to take shape, and it may have as many robotic coworkers as human ones.

Source: Mitsubishi

News

Volvo Turns the Cabin into a Concert Hall with Native Apple Music Integration

Volvo has long made a name for itself by building some of the safest and most serene cabins on the road. Now, the Swedish automaker is adding another dimension to that reputation—not with more horsepower or another driver-assistance feature, but with a soundtrack worthy of the experience. Through an over-the-air software update, more than two million Volvo vehicles are gaining native Apple Music integration, while the all-new EX60 will arrive with the streaming service built in from day one.

For a company that has increasingly defined luxury through technology and comfort rather than extravagance, the move feels like a natural evolution.

Unlike smartphone mirroring, Apple Music now lives directly inside Volvo’s infotainment system. Drivers simply sign in with their Apple account and gain immediate access to more than 100 million ad-free songs, curated playlists, live radio stations, and their personal music library—all controllable through the touchscreen or voice commands. It’s a cleaner, more seamless experience that eliminates the need to rely on a connected phone for everyday listening.

Volvo is also sweetening the deal by offering eligible customers up to three months of Apple Music at no additional cost, giving owners plenty of time to explore the platform before deciding whether to subscribe.

But the real headline isn’t simply that Apple Music has arrived—it’s how it sounds.

Owners of the Volvo EX60, EX90, and ES90 equipped with the optional Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system will gain access to Apple Music Spatial Audio powered by Dolby Atmos. That’s the kind of feature audiophiles usually associate with high-end home theater systems, not electric SUVs.

The result is an immersive listening experience that goes far beyond traditional stereo. Instead of hearing music projected from a dashboard, Dolby Atmos creates the sensation that instruments and vocals exist throughout the cabin. A live recording feels genuinely spacious, while studio albums reveal details often lost through conventional audio playback. It’s less about sheer volume and more about depth, precision, and realism.

The technology also happens to pair perfectly with Volvo’s latest generation of electric vehicles.

The EX60, EX90, and ES90 are among the quietest production cars the company has ever built, benefiting from extensive sound insulation and the naturally silent operation of electric powertrains. Without engine noise competing for attention, the cabin becomes an ideal environment for high-fidelity audio. Volvo’s optional Bowers & Wilkins system takes full advantage, using carefully positioned speakers and proprietary True Sound processing to optimize playback specifically for each vehicle’s interior.

It’s an approach that transforms the cabin into something closer to a premium listening room than a traditional automobile.

As Alwin Bakkenes, Volvo Cars’ Head of Global Software Engineering, explains, the goal extends beyond simple entertainment.

“Many of our customers use Apple Music on their phones or in their homes today. By bringing Apple Music directly into our cars, we’re making them an extraordinary place to experience music,” he says. “You’ll feel as if you’re right in the middle of a concert hall or an arena during your favourite live performance or immersed in the latest music in Spatial Audio exactly as the artist intended.”

That statement reflects a broader shift taking place across the automotive industry. As electric vehicles become quieter and increasingly software-defined, manufacturers are searching for new ways to differentiate the ownership experience. While acceleration figures and charging speeds still dominate spec sheets, premium digital ecosystems and immersive cabin experiences are quickly becoming equally important selling points.

For Volvo, whose brand identity centers on calm, comfort, and Scandinavian minimalism, enhancing the in-car audio experience feels especially appropriate.

The over-the-air rollout also highlights another advantage of software-defined vehicles. Rather than requiring customers to purchase an entirely new car to access new functionality, Volvo can deliver meaningful improvements remotely. More than two million existing vehicles will effectively gain a major infotainment upgrade overnight—a convenience that has become increasingly expected in the modern automotive landscape.

Ultimately, native Apple Music integration isn’t simply another app appearing on a touchscreen. Combined with Dolby Atmos, Bowers & Wilkins engineering, and some of the quietest cabins Volvo has ever produced, it represents a compelling argument that luxury today isn’t just measured in leather, wood trim, or horsepower. Sometimes, it’s measured by how convincingly your favorite album can make you forget you’re sitting in traffic.

Source: Volvo