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News

Hyundai to Discontinue i30 Wagon as Demand Shifts to SUVs

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The station wagon has spent the better part of two decades fighting a losing battle against SUVs, and Hyundai has finally decided it’s no longer worth joining the fight.

The Korean automaker is preparing to retire the i30 Wagon, effectively ending its presence in a body style that once represented practicality, efficiency, and a distinctly European approach to family transportation. Despite recent spy photos suggesting the long-roof i30 might survive the model’s next round of updates, Hyundai executives have now confirmed that the wagon’s future is anything but bright.

Speaking to Auto Express, Hyundai Motor Europe President and CEO Xavier Martinet left little room for interpretation.

“There’s a reason we don’t talk much about wagons,” Martinet said. “Demand in this segment is not growing.”

That statement may sound blunt, but it reflects a reality that has been unfolding across the global automotive industry for years. While wagons remain beloved by a small but passionate group of enthusiasts, mainstream buyers have overwhelmingly shifted toward crossovers and SUVs. The trend isn’t limited to Europe; buyers in the United States and China have largely abandoned traditional estate cars as well.

For Hyundai, the business case simply no longer adds up.

The i30 Wagon has historically found its strongest audience among fleet operators, where low purchase prices often translate into slim profit margins. In today’s automotive landscape—where manufacturers are facing enormous investments in electrification, software development, and increasingly complex regulations—every euro spent on product development must justify itself.

According to Martinet, wagons struggle to do that.

SUVs continue to command higher transaction prices and stronger margins, making them a far more attractive destination for research and development budgets. While Hyundai acknowledges that some demand for station wagons still exists, the company clearly sees the segment as too small to warrant future investment.

The decision marks the end of a lineage that stretches back to 2007, when the original i30 Wagon first arrived. Successive generations followed in 2011 and 2017, helping establish Hyundai as a serious competitor in Europe’s fiercely contested compact-car segment. Throughout its life, the wagon shared much of its mechanical architecture with the Kia Ceed SportsWagon—a model that has already met its own demise.

For now, customers in markets such as Germany, France, Italy, and Spain can still place orders for the i30 Wagon, sold under various names including Wagon, CW, SW, and Kombi. But Martinet’s comments strongly suggest the model will leave the stage quietly once production ends, without a replacement waiting in the wings.

Its departure leaves Hyundai’s European passenger-car lineup increasingly focused on hatchbacks, sedans, and, unsurprisingly, SUVs.

That doesn’t mean Hyundai’s product pipeline is slowing down. The company is preparing to introduce the European version of the new i20, while the aging third-generation i30 is expected to receive yet another facelift—its third. The Elantra sedan could also make a return to European showrooms following a mid-cycle update.

Yet Hyundai’s real priorities are impossible to miss.

The Bayon, Kona, and Tucson—all key players in Europe’s most competitive crossover segments—are expected to receive major redesigns in the coming years. Sharper styling, updated infotainment systems, and improved technology will take center stage as Hyundai doubles down on the body style customers continue to buy in ever-greater numbers.

It’s a familiar story in today’s automotive industry. Wagons may still offer superior driving dynamics, lower weight, and greater efficiency than many SUVs. They may even be the objectively smarter choice for countless families.

But car buyers don’t always purchase the objectively smarter choice.

And with the Hyundai i30 Wagon preparing for retirement, another chapter in the slow decline of the station wagon is coming to a close.

Source: Auto Express

News

A 1941 Ford Woody Discovered 17,000 Feet Beneath the Pacific

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Most barn finds involve dusty sheds, forgotten garages, or the occasional field hidden behind decades of overgrown weeds. This one required a remotely operated vehicle, high-definition cameras, and a journey nearly three miles beneath the Pacific Ocean.

In what may be the most extraordinary automotive discovery in modern history, explorers surveying the wreck of the USS Yorktown—an American aircraft carrier sunk during World War II—stumbled across something nobody expected to see at the bottom of the sea: a 1941 Ford Super Deluxe Woody.

The discovery occurred during an expedition by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Ocean Exploration program. On April 19 last year, operators aboard the research vessel Okeanos Explorer were guiding the remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer around the remains of the legendary carrier when two bright circular shapes appeared in the darkness.

At first glance, they looked like little more than reflections. But as the cameras moved closer, the outlines became unmistakable. Whitewall tires. Chrome trim. A windshield. There, resting silently beside the carrier’s port hangar deck at a depth of roughly 17,000 feet, sat a Ford Woody that had spent the last 83 years in one of the most inaccessible parking spaces on Earth.

Remarkably, the car remains instantly recognizable despite eight decades underwater. The signature split windshield is still mounted where Ford installed it in 1941. The chrome bumpers remain attached. Even the wooden framing that gave the Woody its name can still be identified, although years of exposure to saltwater have left much of the timber severely deteriorated.

For automotive enthusiasts, the sight is surreal. The Ford Super Deluxe Woody occupies a special place in American car culture, representing an era when station wagons were still handcrafted hybrids of steel and wood. Introduced during a period when automobiles reflected both craftsmanship and utility, the Woody became an icon long before it gained celebrity status among California surfers and collectors decades later.

Yet this particular Ford tells a story far larger than the car itself.

By early 1942, Ford had halted civilian vehicle production as America’s industrial might shifted toward supporting the war effort. The prevailing theory is that this Woody belonged to the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and was brought aboard the USS Yorktown while the carrier underwent emergency repairs following the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Supporting that theory is a hand-crafted plaque mounted on the front of the vehicle bearing the words “SHIP SERVICE NAVY.” Rather than serving as someone’s personal transportation, the Ford appears to have been an official utility vehicle used by the shipyard.

History suggests the car simply never made it back ashore.

The Yorktown arrived at Pearl Harbor heavily damaged in May 1942. Working around the clock, repair crews performed what many historians still consider a remarkable feat of wartime engineering, returning the carrier to operational status in just three days. The ship departed before many temporary materials and equipment could be unloaded. It’s entirely possible that amid the frantic preparations, the Ford was forgotten.

Only weeks later, Yorktown fought at the pivotal Battle of Midway, helping alter the course of the Pacific War. On June 7, 1942, after sustaining battle damage and being struck by torpedoes fired from the Japanese submarine I-168, the carrier finally slipped beneath the waves.

The Ford went with it.

Unlike traditional automotive time capsules, this Woody wasn’t preserved in climate-controlled perfection. It endured crushing pressure, corrosive seawater, and complete darkness for more than eight decades. Yet enough survives to tell its story. The silhouette remains unmistakable. The proportions are familiar. Even after 83 years on the ocean floor, it’s still unmistakably a Ford.

Collectors often talk about cars having history. This one carries history in a way few vehicles ever could. It isn’t merely a survivor from the early 1940s; it’s a witness to one of the most consequential naval campaigns ever fought.

And while most barn finds end with a restoration shop, an auction block, or a concours lawn, this Woody’s future is likely far simpler. It will remain exactly where it has rested since 1942—17,000 feet beneath the Pacific, parked forever beside one of America’s most storied warships.

As automotive discoveries go, it’s difficult to imagine a more remarkable find. The deepest barn find in history isn’t hidden in a barn at all. It’s sitting at the bottom of the ocean.

Source: Reuters

NEW CARS

2027 Porsche 911 GT4 R

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The iconic 911 enters GT4 competition for the first time, packing 520 horsepower and a clear mission: dominate one of motorsport’s fastest-growing categories.

For more than a decade, Porsche’s GT4 customer-racing efforts have revolved around the Cayman. It was a formula that worked brilliantly, producing over 1,500 race cars and countless victories around the globe. But beginning in 2027, Porsche is rewriting the script.

Meet the new 911 GT4 R.

Unveiled as the latest addition to Porsche Motorsport’s customer-racing portfolio, the GT4 R marks the first time the Stuttgart brand has developed a dedicated global GT4 contender based on its most famous model. And if there were any doubts about Porsche’s ambitions, the specifications erase them immediately: a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six producing up to 520 horsepower, wider tracks, upgraded electronics, and a race-developed chassis derived from the current 992.2-generation 911 GT3 Cup car.

In other words, this isn’t merely a Cayman replacement. It’s a statement.

GT4 Grows Up

The timing couldn’t be better.

What began as an affordable entry point into GT racing has evolved into one of the most competitive customer-motorsport categories on the planet. Championships such as ADAC GT4 Germany and the GT4 European Series have become vital stepping stones for drivers chasing careers in GT3 racing and beyond.

Porsche clearly sees the momentum.

“With the new racing car based on the Porsche 911 GT3, we are taking our successful GT4 program to a new level,” said Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport. “Our decision to bring the 911 platform into the GT4 category underlines the growing importance of this class in international motorsport.”

It’s a logical move. GT4 grids continue to expand globally, while customer teams increasingly demand machinery that delivers professional-level performance without GT3-level complexity or operating costs. Porsche’s answer is to inject the 911’s legendary motorsport DNA directly into the category.

Naturally Aspirated and Proud of It

At the heart of the GT4 R sits one of Porsche’s greatest engineering achievements: the high-revving 4.0-liter naturally aspirated boxer six derived from the road-going 911 GT3.

In unrestricted form, the engine develops 520 horsepower and 347 pound-feet of torque. As with all GT4 machinery, actual race output will vary according to Balance of Performance regulations. Porsche will deliver the car with intake restrictors installed, reducing output to approximately 430 horsepower in standard GT4 configuration.

Even so, the character remains unchanged.

The flat-six sends power through a six-speed sequential dog-ring gearbox operated via steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and connected to a four-disc racing clutch. The result should be exactly what enthusiasts expect from a race-bred 911: instant response, razor-sharp shifts, and an engine that rewards drivers willing to explore the upper reaches of the tachometer.

More Than a Cup Car with Different Stickers

Although the GT4 R borrows heavily from the current 911 GT3 Cup, Porsche engineers have tailored the package specifically to meet GT4 regulations.

The wheels are one inch narrower than those fitted to the Cup car and use a conventional five-lug mounting system rather than center-lock hubs. Suspension tuning receives equal attention, with dual-adjustable dampers and three available spring-rate options allowing teams greater flexibility during setup.

The objective is simple: make the car faster, more forgiving, and easier to adapt across a wide variety of circuits and racing conditions.

Porsche claims the combination of increased power, broader track widths, and more sophisticated electronics delivers measurable improvements in lap times, drivability, and stability compared with previous GT4 offerings.

Sustainable Materials Meet Serious Aerodynamics

Visually, the GT4 R looks every bit the modern Porsche race car.

The body incorporates key structural elements from the 911 Cup while benefiting from a comprehensive aerodynamic package highlighted by a manually adjustable rear wing featuring eleven different settings.

More interesting is what the bodywork is made from.

Porsche has extensively utilized natural-fiber-reinforced plastic combined with epoxy resin for components including the doors, engine cover, aerodynamic elements, and portions of the cockpit. The material offers weight-saving benefits while supporting the company’s broader sustainability initiatives.

Inside, drivers are greeted by a 10.3-inch color display, integrated data-logging capabilities, and a high-precision GPS system designed to aid performance analysis. Additional ballast options allow teams to optimize weight distribution while complying with Balance of Performance requirements.

The New Flagship of Porsche’s GT4 Family

Porsche insists the 911 GT4 R won’t replace the Cayman-based cars that built its reputation in the category. Instead, it expands the lineup upward.

“Our customers benefit from a significantly wider range of options in the GT4 segment,” said Michael Dreiser, Director Sales Porsche Motorsport. “The new 911 GT4 R complements the existing Cayman range and offers ambitious teams another high-performance option.”

Translation: if customer teams have been asking for a GT4 racer with the prestige, sound, and unmistakable character of a rear-engined 911, Porsche has finally delivered.

Why It Matters

The significance of the GT4 R extends beyond horsepower figures and lap times.

For decades, the 911 has served as Porsche’s definitive racing icon, from Le Mans-winning endurance machines to one-make Cup racers. Yet GT4 remained one of the few major customer-racing categories where the 911 was absent.

That changes in 2027.

As GT4 continues its evolution from grassroots stepping stone to globally recognized championship platform, Porsche is bringing its most famous weapon to the fight. And given the 911’s track record, competitors may have every reason to be nervous.

The GT4 class has never looked more serious.

Source: Porsche