Category Archives: News

News

BMW Cuts EV Prices in China, Including a $42K Drop on the i7 M70L

Price wars used to be something Chinese automakers did to Western brands. Now, they’re something legacy automakers are doing with them.

BMW is the latest to blink in China’s increasingly cutthroat auto market, announcing sweeping price reductions across 31 models. It’s a notable move for a brand that traditionally leans on prestige and pricing discipline—and a clear sign that even the blue-and-white roundel isn’t immune to the pressures of the world’s largest car market.

The headline grabber is the BMW i7 M70L, the long-wheelbase, dual-motor flagship of the electric 7-Series lineup. Packing 659 horsepower and a neck-snapping 811 lb-ft of torque, it now costs 301,000 yuan less than before—a haircut of roughly $42,000. That’s not a gentle nudge. That’s a shove.

The deepest cut by percentage, however, belongs to the iX1 eDrive25L. BMW trimmed 24 percent off the price of the long-wheelbase compact SUV, dropping its entry point to 228,000 yuan (about $32,600). In a segment flooded with aggressively priced domestic EVs, the iX1 suddenly looks far more competitive than its badge alone would have allowed.

Officially, BMW is playing it cool. Speaking to Bloomberg, the company framed the changes as part of its “regular price management,” noting that transaction prices are ultimately negotiated between dealers and buyers. That’s corporate-speak for don’t read too much into this.

But the timing tells a different story.

China’s auto market has shown clear signs of strain, with sales declining for a second consecutive month in November, according to the China Passenger Car Association. As growth slows, automakers—foreign and domestic alike—are scrambling to protect volume, even if it means trimming margins.

At the same time, regulators are trying to keep the chaos contained. New rules prohibit automakers from selling below production cost and ban dealer incentives that push prices beneath that line, an attempt to prevent a full-blown race to the bottom.

In that context, BMW’s price cuts look less like aggressive discounting and more like a formal acknowledgment of reality. According to Yale Zhang, managing director at Automotive Foresight, the revised stickers largely reflect what customers were already paying after negotiations. In other words, BMW didn’t undercut the market—it caught up to it.

And this likely isn’t the end.

With Chinese New Year landing in February, the industry’s traditional incentive season is fast approaching. At least 14 automakers have already launched discount or incentive programs since the start of 2026, and more are expected to follow as brands try to front-load first-quarter sales.

Zhang doesn’t see the trend fading anytime soon. Promotional cycles may fluctuate, he says, but sustained pricing pressure is now a structural feature of the Chinese market—not a temporary hiccup.

Regulators remain wary. Prolonged discounting raises the specter of deflation, supply-chain instability, and downward pressure on wages—risks that extend far beyond the showroom floor.

For BMW, though, the message is clear: in China, prestige alone no longer sells cars. Even the ultimate driving machine has to sharpen its pencil.

Source: BMW

News

This Isn’t a Mercedes-AMG G63, but It Wants You to Think It Is

The Mercedes-AMG G63 has never been subtle. It’s a rolling middle finger to understatement, a square-jawed luxury sledgehammer that somehow became even louder once tuners like Brabus and Mansory got involved. The problem, of course, is money. Real G63s already live deep into six-figure territory, and the tuned ones can cost as much as a waterfront condo. If you want the presence without the financial free fall, your options have been limited—until now.

Enter an unlikely imposter from Thailand.

A custom shop called Shana E-Sport has figured out how to bottle Brabus energy and pour it into something far more attainable. Their starting point isn’t a used Mercedes or a kit car but a Chinese-built SUV you probably haven’t seen on your local dealer lot: the Tank 300 from Great Wall Motors. And surprisingly, it works.

The Tank 300 already shows up dressed for the part. Its upright windshield, boxy proportions, and stubby overhangs give it a silhouette that’s far closer to a G-Wagen than its price tag would suggest. Shana E-Sport leans into that resemblance with a full exterior makeover that leaves very little of the original face behind.

Up front, the stock nose is ditched in favor of a redesigned fascia with a new grille, circular LED headlights, a vented hood, and a far more aggressive bumper. The intakes and splitter are pure AMG cosplay, but the execution is clean enough that it doesn’t scream parody.

The sides get boxy, squared-off fenders complete with old-school indicator lamps, while Brabus-style flares and decorative vents exaggerate the width. It’s all very deliberate and very square, just as the G-class gods intended.

Around back, Shana E-Sport fits a sportier rear bumper with an integrated diffuser, a roof-mounted spoiler, and a custom spare-wheel cover. Exhaust options range from quad tailpipes to side-mounted outlets that closely mimic the visual drama of a real G63. Rolling stock comes in the form of massive 22-inch aftermarket wheels wrapped in chunky all-terrain tires, with optional suspension tuning and upgraded brakes for buyers who want the look to be more than skin-deep.

The interior is where things get especially interesting. Even in stock form, the Tank 300 already borrows heavily from Mercedes’ design language, with a wide twin-screen digital dashboard, turbine-style air vents, and a general layout that feels suspiciously familiar. Shana E-Sport simply turns the dial up.

One of their show builds features turquoise leather upholstery paired with forged carbon trim, illuminated power-deploying side steps, soft-close doors, and a hands-free tailgate. It’s flashy, unapologetic, and exactly what someone shopping for a G63-inspired build probably wants.

Mechanically, the illusion stops short of full AMG madness. Under the hood, the Tank 300 keeps its factory hybrid setup: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with a single electric motor. Total output hovers around 350 horsepower, sent to all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic. No thunderous twin-turbo V8, no tire-shredding excess—but that’s missing the point. This is about style and stance, not Nürburgring lap times.

The real headline is the price. Shana E-Sport says a complete G63-style Tank 300 build, including the donor vehicle, comes in at about 2.5 million Thai Baht, or roughly $80,000. The Tank 300 itself accounts for around $57,500 of that, with conversion costs estimated at roughly $34,500 depending on how deep into the customization rabbit hole you go.

That’s still real money for a replica, but it’s a rounding error compared to a genuine G63, which can run anywhere from $300,000 to well north of $700,000 once market taxes and tuner excess enter the chat.

Judging by the steady stream of builds popping up on Shana E-Sport’s social channels, buyers in Thailand seem more than willing to make that trade. And honestly, it’s hard to blame them. In a world where automotive image often matters as much as horsepower, this Tank 300-based creation delivers G-Wagen theater at a fraction of the cost—and does it with enough polish to make you look twice.

Source: Shana E-sport via YouTube

News

The Peugeot 408 Refuses to Pick a Lane—and That’s Exactly the Point

Peugeot has never been particularly interested in doing what everyone else is doing, but the new 408 doubles down on that contrarian streak. Is it a fastback? A lifted sedan? A coupe-SUV thing? Yes. And no. And that’s precisely why it works.

Sitting near the top of Europe’s fiercely competitive C-segment, the 408 doesn’t try to out-Volkswagen the Golf or out-SUV the 3008. Instead, it breaks ranks entirely, carving out a shape—and an identity—that feels refreshingly self-confident. Built in Mulhouse and designed to turn heads from Paris to Seoul, the 408 may be Peugeot’s most globally expressive model yet.

Design That Knows It’s Being Watched

The 408’s fastback silhouette is sharp, assertive, and unapologetically dramatic. Its surfacing is busy but intentional, with crisp creases and muscular haunches that give the car a planted, almost feline stance. At 1.48 meters tall, it stays low enough to feel sporty, even as its elevated seating position nods toward crossover practicality.

Peugeot’s lighting designers clearly had fun here. Up front, the brand’s trademark three-claw signature is rendered as slim, slanted LED blades that double as scrolling indicators. They’re visually connected by a full-width light bar that floats above the illuminated Peugeot badge on higher trims. The actual headlights—Matrix LED units on GT models—are tucked discreetly lower in the bumper, nearly invisible when switched off. It’s a neat trick, and one that gives the 408 a piercing, almost predatory stare.

Around back, the 408 becomes the first Peugeot to spell out its name in illuminated letters, framed by a gloss-black strip and flanked by—what else—three glowing claws on either side. Subtle? No. Memorable? Absolutely.

Add in the new Flare Green paint, which shifts from yellowish highlights in sunlight to deep green in shade, and the 408 starts to look less like a safe corporate product and more like a design statement on wheels.

Inside: Tech-Forward Without Losing the Plot

Step inside and you’ll find Peugeot’s latest interpretation of the i-Cockpit, a setup that continues to polarize—and delight. The small, squared-off steering wheel still sits low, with the digital instrument cluster positioned high in the driver’s line of sight. It works better than it sounds, especially here, where the graphics are crisp, customizable, and optionally rendered in eye-catching 3D.

A 10-inch central touchscreen handles infotainment duties, angled slightly toward the driver, while Peugeot’s configurable i-Toggles act as digital shortcut keys for navigation, climate, media, or whatever else you use most. Once set up, they’re genuinely intuitive.

Material quality takes a noticeable step up, especially in GT and GT Exclusive trims, where Alcantara, genuine aluminum, and optional Nappa leather make the cabin feel more premium than you might expect from a C-segment car. Ambient lighting—available in eight colors—adds a lounge-like vibe, while the Focal premium audio system delivers enough clarity and punch to shame plenty of so-called luxury competitors.

Comfort and Space: Quietly Class-Leading

Peugeot doesn’t shout about it, but the 408 is seriously roomy. Thanks to its long 2.79-meter wheelbase, rear-seat passengers get an impressive 183 mm of knee room—more than any other Peugeot currently on sale. The seats themselves are AGR-certified for ergonomics and can be optioned with heating, massage, and extensive electric adjustment.

The cargo area is equally generous: 536 liters with the seats up and a van-like 1,611 liters when they’re folded. That fastback roofline doesn’t penalize practicality nearly as much as you’d expect.

Powertrains: Pick Your Flavor of Electrification

Peugeot’s electrification strategy with the 408 is refreshingly broad. There’s no single “right” answer—just options.

At the top of the tech tree sits the fully electric E-408, producing 213 horsepower and 343 Nm of torque. Thanks to careful aerodynamic work (SCx of 0.66), it manages a respectable 456 km of WLTP range from its 58.2-kWh usable battery, while consuming just 14.7 kWh/100 km. Fast charging at up to 120 kW gets you from 20 to 80 percent in about half an hour—coffee break territory.

Prefer a hybrid middle ground? The plug-in hybrid 408 combines a 180-hp gasoline engine with a 92-kW electric motor for a total of 240 horsepower. It can travel up to 85 km on electricity alone—more than enough for daily commuting—yet still stretch its legs on longer trips.

For those who want electrification without plugging in, the 145-hp mild hybrid quietly does its thing, operating in electric mode for up to half of urban driving while sipping fuel at an impressive 5.0 L/100 km.

How It Drives: Calm, Confident, and Surprisingly Agile

Wide tracks, a low center of gravity, and Peugeot’s typically well-sorted chassis give the 408 a confident feel on the road. It’s not a hot hatch in disguise, but it turns in eagerly, feels stable at speed, and remains easy to maneuver in tight urban environments thanks to an 11.2-meter turning circle.

The compact steering wheel adds to the sensation of agility, even if it still takes a drive or two to fully acclimate.

The Bigger Picture

Beyond design and drivetrain choices, the 408 makes a compelling case with its long-term ownership story. Over-the-air updates, connected navigation with AI integration, advanced driver monitoring, and Peugeot’s eight-year/160,000-km warranty (including the battery on EV models) all contribute to a sense of polish and reassurance.

Add features like Plug & Charge compatibility, battery pre-conditioning, Vehicle-to-Load capability, and a genuinely useful trip planner, and it’s clear Peugeot has thought hard about real-world usability—not just brochure bragging rights.

The Peugeot 408 isn’t trying to be everything to everyone—and that’s exactly why it stands out. It’s stylish without being impractical, tech-forward without being gimmicky, and electrified without forcing you into a single solution.

In a segment crowded with safe choices and familiar shapes, the 408 dares to look different, feel different, and drive its own road. And in today’s automotive landscape, that might be its biggest strength.

Source: Peugeot