NEW CARS

Dacia Striker: A Budget Brand Swings for the Wagon Fences

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Dacia is about to add another name ending in “-er” to its growing lineup of rugged, budget-friendly crossovers. The newest entry, called Striker, is scheduled to debut on March 10, and while the Romanian brand hasn’t revealed much, the early hints point toward a compact crossover wagon designed to sit just above the Jogger in the lineup.

If the name sounds a little unusual, that’s intentional. According to Dacia, “Striker” draws inspiration from the 1980s and the satisfying power and precision of a bowling strike. It also continues the brand’s now-established naming theme—Jogger, Duster, Bigster—where the “-er” suffix signals something active, adventurous, and, in Dacia’s words, easy to pronounce with “strong phonetics.” Marketing speak aside, the name is meant to suggest a tough, versatile vehicle ready to accompany its owners wherever they happen to roll.

A Wagon With a Rugged Twist

What we know so far points to a compact crossover-style station wagon. Spy shots of prototypes already testing on public roads have revealed a long-roof silhouette with chunky proportions—think traditional wagon practicality mixed with the raised stance buyers now expect from anything wearing plastic cladding.

One teaser image reveals sharply styled angular LED taillights, and their design looks uncannily similar to those from the Škoda Vision O concept. That may not be a coincidence: the Škoda Octavia Combi is widely expected to be one of the Striker’s closest rivals. The tailgate also wears prominent Striker lettering, though in typical Dacia fashion the branding appears to be a decal rather than a traditional badge—another small nod to the company’s relentless focus on keeping costs down.

Elsewhere, black exterior trim contrasts with a light blue body color, and the front end seems to feature a blocked grille with bold Dacia lettering, a look that’s becoming something of a signature across the brand’s latest models.

Cheap, Cheerful, and Practical Inside

Dacia hasn’t officially shown the interior yet, but early glimpses suggest a cabin built from recycled materials designed to be durable, easy to clean, and—most importantly—affordable. That approach has become a hallmark of the brand’s recent designs, where clever cost-cutting often doubles as environmental messaging.

Practicality will likely be the Striker’s main selling point. Expect a large cargo area, flexible seating, and compatibility with Dacia’s expanding ecosystem of YouClip accessories, which allow owners to attach various holders, hooks, and storage add-ons throughout the cabin.

For buyers with an adventurous streak, the Striker should also support the camping accessories already available for the Jogger, Duster, and Bigster, suggesting that Dacia sees this wagon as another member of its growing outdoor-friendly family.

Familiar Platform, Familiar Power

Underneath, the Striker will ride on CMF-B, the Renault-Nissan Alliance architecture that underpins nearly the entire Dacia range—everything except the tiny electric Spring. That means the powertrain lineup should look very familiar.

Expect a mix of petrol, LPG, mild-hybrid, and full-hybrid options, many of them shared with the latest Duster and the upcoming Bigster. Most versions will likely stick with front-wheel drive, but Dacia could offer an all-wheel-drive variant for buyers who want their affordable wagon to handle the occasional muddy trail.

Built in Turkey

Interestingly, production of the Striker is expected to take place in Turkey, while Dacia’s Romanian factory focuses on SUVs that share its mechanical foundations. The move reflects how important the brand’s crossover lineup has become as Dacia continues to grow across Europe.

The Big Picture

If the Striker delivers what the teasers promise, it could become a rare thing in today’s market: a budget-friendly station wagon that doesn’t pretend to be a full-blown SUV but still offers some rugged attitude. In a world where affordable long-roof options are disappearing fast, that alone could make the Striker an intriguing addition to Dacia’s lineup.

We’ll know the full story when the wraps come off on March 10—and whether Dacia’s latest “-er” really strikes a perfect frame.

Source: Dacia

NEW CARS

2026 Cupra Born: Sharper Style, Smarter Tech, Same Rear-Drive Fun

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The electric hatchback that helped define Cupra’s personality has been given a mid-cycle refresh. And while the shape of the Cupra Born might look familiar at first glance, the Spanish brand has focused its attention exactly where owners have been asking for changes: inside the cabin, in the software, and in the everyday ergonomics.

The result is a Born that feels less like a stylish experiment and more like a fully matured electric hot hatch.

Exterior: Sharper Edges, Familiar Shape

Cupra hasn’t reinvented the Born’s silhouette, but the details have been sharpened. The brand’s latest design language introduces more triangular elements, especially in the lighting graphics. Higher-spec models get adaptive matrix LED headlights whose internal patterns change shape depending on driving conditions.

Across the lineup, a full-width light bar now stretches across the front fascia and illuminated Cupra badges make an appearance, because apparently even badges need mood lighting these days. The grille is more pronounced and the front bumper features larger, more noticeable air intakes that give the Born a slightly more aggressive stance.

Out back, the bumper incorporates a diffuser-like element that visually separates the Born from most compact EV hatchbacks. Whether it adds meaningful aerodynamic benefit is debatable—but it certainly adds drama.

Interior: Fixing the Annoying Stuff

If you’ve spent time in the previous Born—or its close cousin, the Volkswagen ID.3—you’ll know that the biggest complaints weren’t about power or range. They were about usability.

Cupra seems to have been listening.

A new 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster now sits ahead of the driver and can display significantly more information at once. More importantly, the steering wheel finally returns to physical buttons instead of the touch-sensitive sliders that drivers loved to hate.

2026 Cupra Born: Sharper Style, Smarter Tech, Same Rear-Drive Fun

That change alone might win over a lot of skeptics.

The central infotainment screen now runs Cupra’s own Android-based interface rather than the older Volkswagen Group software. The new system promises faster responses and more flexibility—two things the previous system struggled with.

Tech and Sound: More Digital Personality

Audiophiles will appreciate the optional Sennheiser sound system, which now features something called Contrabass. It uses psychoacoustic tricks to make the bass feel deeper and more powerful than the speakers themselves might physically produce.

Sportier drive modes also introduce a synthesized “power sound,” because electric cars still feel a little too quiet for some drivers when the road starts to twist.

The interior atmosphere gets a boost as well. Cupra adds richer door trim materials, larger areas of its signature geometric textures, and a more elaborate ambient lighting system. The lighting can even animate to highlight alerts and notifications for the driver.

Powertrain: Three Rear-Drive Options

Like before, the Born sticks with rear-wheel drive across the lineup—a rare and welcome choice in the compact EV segment.

Three battery and motor combinations are available:

  • Base model:
    59-kWh battery with a 193-hp electric motor.
  • Mid-range model:
    A larger 79-kWh battery (up from 77 kWh previously) paired with 234 hp.
  • Top model – VZ:
    The performance version retains the big 79-kWh battery and a 330-hp motor, delivering a 0–100 km/h sprint in 5.6 seconds.

The largest battery option allows for up to 690 kilometers (WLTP) of range, while the smaller pack still manages around 400 kilometers.

Driving Features: One Pedal and Launch Control

A new one-pedal driving mode allows the Born to slow to a complete stop without touching the brake pedal. It’s convenient in traffic, although—contrary to popular belief—it doesn’t necessarily improve efficiency.

Performance-minded drivers will appreciate another addition: launch control, available on models equipped with the larger battery pack.

Cupra has also widened the tires slightly for improved grip, and as tradition dictates for any respectable facelift, the 18- and 19-inch wheel designs have been refreshed.

The Born was always one of the more entertaining compact EVs thanks to its rear-drive layout and sharp styling. What held it back was the software and interior usability.

This update tackles those issues head-on. If the new infotainment system proves as smooth as promised, the refreshed Born might finally become what it always hinted at: a properly polished electric hot hatch.

Source: Cupra

Tuning

America Meets the 1000-HP Shooting Brake No One Asked For

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Eighteen months after it first stunned the tuning world, the Rocket GTS has finally landed in the U.S.—and it didn’t arrive quietly. Based on the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL 63, this reimagined Shooting Brake now wears a full green carbon-fiber suit and carries a price tag of $1,387,081. Yes, that’s hypercar territory. No, it doesn’t apologize.

The SL has always been the boulevard bruiser in the portfolio of Mercedes-Benz, and in modern AMG form it’s already less silk scarf, more switchblade. But what happens when you hand it to Mercedes-AMG’s wildest aftermarket interpreter and say, “Do your worst”? You get this.

The original show car flaunted exposed carbon like a flexed bicep. This U.S.-bound example goes deeper: an all-carbon body bathed in a translucent emerald hue. In direct sunlight, the weave shimmers beneath the lacquer like reptile skin. Subtle? Not remotely. Spectacular? Absolutely.

The reshaped rear and extended roofline will split dinner conversations straight down the middle. Purists may clutch their roadster credentials, but there’s a strange coherence to it. The SL’s long hood and cab-rearward proportions actually welcome the added roof stretch. The Shooting Brake treatment feels less like a graft and more like an evolution—one drawn by someone who owns several carbon-fiber briefcases.

A Cabin That Refuses to Whisper

If you were hoping the interior might dial things back, abandon that thought immediately.

Nearly every surface—seats, door panels, gearshift tunnel, headliner, even the floor mats—is drenched in matching green leather and Alcantara. The few components spared the hide treatment are finished in green-tinted carbon fiber. It’s less “accent color” and more “monochromatic takeover.”

The craftsmanship, predictably, is impeccable. The audacity, unmistakable. It feels like the inside of a concept car that somehow escaped the auto-show turntable and started asking for premium fuel.

Four Digits, Two Turbos, One Thousand Reasons

Of course, a seven-figure tuner special needs more than dramatic tailoring. Under the hood sits an upgraded 4.5-liter twin-turbo V8 paired with the same plug-in hybrid system used in the SL 63 E Performance. The combined output? A clean, round 1,000 horsepower and 1,620 Nm of torque.

Performance claims read like a physics glitch:

  • 0–100 km/h (62 mph): 2.6 seconds
  • 0–200 km/h (124 mph): 9.5 seconds
  • 0–300 km/h (186 mph): 23.6 seconds
  • Top speed: 317 km/h (197 mph), electronically limited

For context, those numbers place it squarely in modern hypercar company—while offering a cargo area large enough for a weekend’s worth of designer luggage.

The Million-Dollar Question

Spending nearly $1.4 million on a modified SL sounds extravagant, even in today’s inflated performance market. But exclusivity is the point. This isn’t just an SL turned up to eleven; it’s a redefinition of what that platform can be. It’s equal parts grand tourer, muscle car, and rolling design experiment.

The Rocket GTS doesn’t try to blend in. It doesn’t even try to convince you. It simply arrives—green, loud, and unapologetically expensive—and dares you to look away.

You won’t.

Source: Brabus

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