Boxy Bruisers, EV Nudges, and a Polygon You Steer: Today’s Automotive News Brief

Some days the car world feels like a well-aimed espresso shot—short, punchy, and guaranteed to raise the heart rate. Today’s batch mixes rugged luxury rumors from Detroit, EV policy carrots from Canberra and Westminster, and a Chinese hypercar with a headline number big enough to bend time. I spent the morning on the phone with PRs and a couple of owners’ groups; here’s what matters and why it might change your next driveway decision.

The Boxy-Lux 4x4 Arms Race: Ford, Lincoln, and the G-Wagen Bullseye

Two separate threads are pulling Detroit toward a square-shouldered showdown. CarExpert reports a luxury Ford being scoped as a Mercedes-Benz G-Class antagonist, while Carscoops suggests Lincoln’s next big move could ride on a Bronco frame. If you’ve driven a modern ladder-frame 4x4 on a narrow city street (I squeezed a G-Wagen through Fitzrovia last winter—sweaty palms, big grin), you’ll know the charm is as much theater as torque. And that theater sells.

• CarExpert: “Luxury Ford to fight Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen – report”
• Carscoops: “Lincoln’s Next Big Idea Might Ride On A Bronco Frame”

Would a Ford-badged square-shoulder land with the same cachet as a G? Maybe not out of the gate—but priced right, with real hardware (low-range, locking diffs, decent wading), it could undercut the icon and still feel special. Lincoln’s angle could be the subtler one: the Bronco’s bones are a blast off-road; dress them in quiet luxury and you’ve got a left-field Range Rover foil.

China Keeps Turning the Screw: GWM Tank 300, Geely EX5, and a 2,978-HP Mic Drop

CarExpert has pricing and specs for the 2026 GWM Tank 300. We’ve hustled the current Tank over rutted fire roads; the formula is simple and effective—retro looks, honest 4x4 kit, and a cabin that’s nicer than it has any right to be at the price. If the 2026 update sharpens value or adds hybridization, that’ll keep Australia’s ute-and-SUV set very interested.

Also from CarExpert: leaked price and specs for the 2026 Geely EX5 Extended Range. The extended-range (range-extender) approach continues to win hearts in commuter belts where charging is patchy. It’s the kind of solution that makes 200-km winter detours a non-event—charge when you can, sip fuel when you must.

And then there’s spectacle. Carscoops points out Richard Hammond—yes, that Richard Hammond, who once stuffed a Rimac—has been handed BYD’s Yangwang U9, a 2,978-hp hypercar. That number reads like a typo until you realize Chinese halo projects love a moonshot. Whether it’s manageable on a damp B-road is another question, but that’s a different kind of theater.

• CarExpert: “2026 GWM Tank 300 price and specs”
• CarExpert: “2026 Geely EX5 Extended Range price and specs leaked”
• Carscoops: “Richard Hammond Once Crashed A Rimac, Now Trusted With BYD’s 2,978 HP Hypercar”

Performance Corner: Porsche’s Electric Hunter and Mini’s Rally Nod

Carscoops has spy shots of what it calls a Porsche Cayenne EV Coupe turned “hyperc ar hunter.” If Porsche builds a Turbo GT-flavored electric Cayenne, expect that classic Weissach trick: make two-and-a-half tons feel like one. On tight, bumpy lanes, Porsche’s chassis tuning tends to dissolve mass; if the engineers have given it the right regen and rear-axle games, it’ll humiliate physics and egos alike.

On the other end of the spectrum—smaller, louder, cheekier—CarExpert notes Mini is celebrating a historic rally win with a special-edition Cooper JCW. Mini does special editions the way street cafés do flat whites: frequently, but when they nail the flavor (proper seats, steering that chatters, maybe a wheel-and-tire package that doesn’t tramline), the result is grin-on-a-rainy-Tuesday good.

• Carscoops: “Porsche Turns Cayenne EV Coupe Into A Hypercar Hunter”
• CarExpert: “Mini celebrates historic rally win with special edition Cooper JCW”

Luxury Tuning Fork: Mercedes C300 AMG Line Plus Edition

CarExpert reports a 2026 Mercedes-Benz C300 AMG Line Plus Edition with sportier styling and a lower price. If you’ve spent time in the current C-Class, you know the cabin is theater-in-the-round, with screens that almost curve toward you. A sharper look for less? That’s classic Mercedes mid-cycle alchemy. Just give me a straightforward drive mode shortcut and cut a few submenus—my kingdom for one less tap.

• CarExpert: “2026 Mercedes-Benz C300 AMG Line Plus Edition: Sportier styling, lower price”

Policy Moves and Ownership Wins: Australia, the UK, and a Stellantis Mea Culpa

On the regulatory front, CarExpert quotes Australia’s climate and energy minister, Bowen, saying the country’s new vehicle emissions regulations are already delivering results. If you watch fleet mix trends the way I do, you’ll know importers pivot fast when the rulebook changes—expect more hybrids in showrooms and sharper EV deals as credits and penalties bite.

Across in the UK, Autocar reports the government has extended its home EV charger grant to 2027, with up to £500 off. That’s not just a headline saving; it gets fence-sitters over the line, especially renters or those in multi-unit buildings where installation isn’t trivial.

And a notable consumer protection note: Carscoops says Stellantis has agreed to a 15-year warranty on Chrysler 200 MultiAir engines after a lawsuit. If you own one, this is the kind of coverage that turns a worrying rattle into “let’s get it booked in.”

Quirk of the Day: Peugeot’s Polygon “Wheel” and a Podcast Brew

Autocar asks if the Peugeot Polygon’s steering “wheel” is more than a gimmick. I was skeptical about non-circular controls after a week with an early yoke—three-point turns felt like origami. But if Peugeot’s made the rack ratio and UI work together so your hands stay planted and visibility improves, I’ll happily eat humble pie. Steering is a feel sport; the shape matters less than the conversation through your palms.

Also from Autocar: a fresh My Week in Cars podcast touching Stellantis, Jony Ive, and an anniversary—sounds like one of those episodes that veers from corporate chess to design nerding, which is my preferred background noise on the M40.

Quick Hits

• Diesel’s obituary remains unwritten, per Autocar’s column: on life support, refusing to die. Out on the motorway, you still can’t beat a good long-legged diesel for real-world range and easy torque—fleet managers know.
• If the Cayenne EV Coupe really is hunting hypercars, expect track-day banter to get weird: SUVs queuing for slicks while coupes cool down.

If You’re Shopping Soon, Here’s How I’d Think About It

• Urban family hauler: Keep an eye on the Geely EX5 Extended Range—range anxiety solved the pragmatic way.
• Weekend warrior: GWM Tank 300’s updated spec list could bring more kit for less money. Ladder frames and muddy Sundays go together.
• Luxury sedan crowd: The C300 AMG Line Plus Edition promises more look for less coin; tick the driver assistance but sit with the infotainment before you buy.
• Collectors’ itch: Mini’s rally-tinged JCW special—buy for the story, stay for the soundtrack.

Conclusion

From rumor-mill rumbles about boxy luxe bruisers to policy tweaks that quietly reshape what lands in showrooms, today’s slate shows the market stretching in both directions. Big personality SUVs refuse to budge; EVs keep sharpening their everyday play; and somewhere in the middle, a polygon tries to convince us the circle was overrated. I’ll report back after a few more test loops—ideally somewhere with mud, a charger, and coffee.

FAQ

• Is a Ford G-Wagen rival really happening?
  It’s reported by CarExpert as a luxury Ford project aimed at the G-Class. Nothing official yet, but where there’s smoke (and market demand), there’s usually a mule in camouflage.
• How much is the UK home EV charger grant?
  Autocar reports up to £500 off, with the program extended to 2027.
• What’s special about the new Mini Cooper JCW edition?
  Per CarExpert, it celebrates a historic rally win. Expect unique trims and a bit of motorsport flavor—the kind of edition that’ll make Mini diehards smile.
• Did Richard Hammond really drive a 2,978-hp BYD hypercar?
  Carscoops highlights Hammond behind the wheel of BYD’s Yangwang U9, quoted at 2,978 hp. Yes, that’s the headline number.
• What’s the deal with the Chrysler 200 MultiAir warranty?
  According to Carscoops, Stellantis has agreed to a 15-year warranty on Chrysler 200 MultiAir engines following a lawsuit—good news for long-term owners.