# Mercedes G-Class Cabriolet Returns with a Soft Top – Daily Car News (2026-07-26) > Daily Auto Brief: Roofless Gs, Hot Hatches Saying Goodbye, and a Big Bet on Connected Tech I woke up to that rare kind of Monday mix: a little nostalgia (goodbye, mega hot hatch), a little mischief (a G-Wagen without a... > Published 2026-07-26 by Thomas Nismenth. 8 min read (1730 words). > Blog: News at AutoWin (https://www.autowin.com). ## Details - Canonical URL: https://www.autowin.com/blogs/news/mercedes-g-class-cabriolet-returns-with-a-soft-top-daily-car-news-2026-07-26 - Author: Thomas Nismenth - Published: 2026-07-26 - Updated: 2026-07-27 - Reading time: 8 minutes - Word count: 1730 - Topics: AMG, Automotive, Cabriolet, Car News, China EV, Connected Tech, Daily, EVs, Hyundai Kona, Kia Sportage, Mercedes G-Class, News, Subaru, Toyota Land Cruiser - Featured image: https://www.a1win.fr/cdn/shop/articles/daily-car-news-2026-07-27_b7aad7ef-d7ea-4ca2-9b3f-00007b501848.webp?v=1785158678&width=1200 ## Summary Daily Auto Brief: Roofless Gs, Hot Hatches Saying Goodbye, and a Big Bet on Connected TechI woke up to that rare kind of Monday mix: a little nostalgia (goodbye, mega hot hatch), a little mischief (a G-Wagen without a roof), and a reminder that the smartest car in the room can still lock you out if it gets in a mood. Grab a coffee; let’s lap the headlines.Big-Ticket Euro Moves: AMG Noise and Open-Air G-WagenMercedes G-Class Cabriolet is coming backAfter nearly a decade on the bench, the G-Class Cabriolet is strapping its soft top back on—well, off—per fresh reporting. I’ve seen the spy shot... ## Full Article Daily Auto Brief: Roofless Gs, Hot Hatches Saying Goodbye, and a Big Bet on Connected TechI woke up to that rare kind of Monday mix: a little nostalgia (goodbye, mega hot hatch), a little mischief (a G-Wagen without a roof), and a reminder that the smartest car in the room can still lock you out if it gets in a mood. Grab a coffee; let’s lap the headlines.Big-Ticket Euro Moves: AMG Noise and Open-Air G-WagenMercedes G-Class Cabriolet is coming backAfter nearly a decade on the bench, the G-Class Cabriolet is strapping its soft top back on—well, off—per fresh reporting. I’ve seen the spy shots doing the rounds; camouflage or not, a roofless G is about as subtle as a marching band. Expect an AMG-tuned variant in the mix (Motor1 says the AMG G63 Cabrio is already out mingling in prototype form), with Autocar noting the official return. Timing looks more “medium-term” than immediate—think next product cycle rather than next quarter.The wildcard? Powertrains. AMG is playing coy about the timing of its V8’s full-throated return (Carscoops says “stay tuned” is the official line). So the G63 Cabrio’s heart is one to watch—pure V8 thunder, hybrid assist, or something in between.Mercedes-AMG A45 S Final Edition: the hyper-hatch bows outPour one out. The A45 S—the small hatch with big numbers—gets a Final Edition swansong (Autocar pegs it at £68k; Motor1 calls the moment what it is: a proper farewell). As someone who’s flung the current A45 S down a rain-soaked B-road, I’ll miss how its diff feels like it’s reading your mind five corners ahead. If you want new-car warranty with your 400-plus-horse grin, now’s the time. The segment won’t go quiet—just a bit less raucous.Tech & Rules: The Connected Future (With Caveats)NHTSA eyes door-handle safety rulesFlush, electronic door handles look slick. Until the worst happens. Car and Driver reports that NHTSA is exploring new regulations to ensure safe egress even when power is cut or software throws a tantrum. Having dealt with frozen flush handles on a frigid test week (knuckles still remember), I’m all for clearer, fail-safe standards—especially for first responders.Cupra locks in connected services for Australia—there’s a catchCupra says connected-car tech is finally locked in for Aussie customers, but it won’t be a one-size-fits-all party. Expect a staged rollout, model-by-model support, and likely subscriptions. If you’re an existing owner, check eligibility closely; not every feature will be retrofittable. The upside: proper app support and live data. The catch: it may cost, and not every car gets everything.When your car ghosts you: Zeekr lockout sagaCarscoops recounts a Zeekr SUV that locked its owner out for over 30 hours after crossing a border. Grimly comic if you’re not the owner. It’s a pointed reminder: connected cars can be brilliant—until they’re not. I always tell friends headed on cross-border road trips in new EVs: log out, log in, carry both key types, and download the app updates before you set off.EV Pulse Check: Australia’s Midyear Snapshot and Fleet MomentumCarExpert tallied Australia’s best-selling EVs at 2026 halftime, and the trend is familiar: mainstream brands are entrenched, and the surge of value-first Chinese entrants continues to widen the tent. Over in the UK, Autocar notes EVs now account for more than 80% of company-car orders—fleet managers love predictable running costs and tax certainty. The common thread? Stability. Policy clarity (and charging reliability) turns fence-sitters into adopters.Honda’s tiny EV, big city: Super-One pricing leaksAhead of schedule, Honda’s Super-One city EV appears to have pricing leaked for Australia. Think compact footprint, easy kerbside parking, and the sort of turn-circle that gets you that last spot at the beach café. If the numbers land where whispers suggest, it could be the new “second car” hero for urban families.Aion V and the China EV waveAutocar reviewed the Aion V—one of a growing line of Chinese-brand EVs turning heads in Europe for value, spec, and cabin tech. I walked away from a recent China-market test program impressed: not perfect dynamics yet, but software polish and packaging are coming fast.SUVs and Crossovers: Fresh Metal Incoming2027 Kia Sportage spiedKia’s next Sportage has been caught testing ahead of an Australian debut. Heavy camo, sure, but you can still read a stance change and tidier surfacing. If Kia keeps the current car’s ride quality and tweaks the seats (a touch flat after two hours in my tester), it’ll stay a family favorite.Hyundai Kona gets Ioniq vibesCarscoops points out the redesigned Kona wears its Ioniq inspiration on its sleeve. That pixel-style lighting and slick nose work well in person. I’ve lived with the current Kona Hybrid in stop-start traffic; if Hyundai preserves the easygoing calibration and adds crisper infotainment response, it’ll be ideal for city grinds and school runs.China’s BMW X5 LWB out-rooms the X7—and adds an 8K cinemaBoth Carscoops and Motor1 highlight the long-wheelbase X5 that makes the global X5 feel… modest. Rear space that shades an X7, and the headline party trick: an 8K rear-seat cinema setup. There’s the rub: it’s China-only. BMW X5: Global vs China LWB (high-level) Attribute Global X5 X5 LWB (China) Wheelbase Standard Extended (exact figures TBA) Rear space Ample, family-friendly Limo-like legroom Rear entertainment Available dual screens Optional 8K rear cinema Market availability Global China-only Toyota Land Cruiser 70 SWB: windshield folds, cowboy approvedYes, Toyota’s shortest Land Cruiser variant now folds its windscreen flat (Carscoops’ favorite detail). Ideal for ranch work, outback stations, or simply feeling the bugs at 20 mph. I’d stash a microfiber cloth and a toothy grin in the glovebox.Enthusiast Corner: The Fun-Car Flicker Is BackSubaru revives a dedicated performance divisionCarExpert says Subaru is jumping back into enthusiast mode with a standalone performance arm. Music to the ears of anyone who still heel-toes on empty on-ramps. Expect lighter, livelier models—likely with electrified assists rather than old-school displacement. If they can wrap STI-grade steering feel around a hybrid setup, sign me up.Toyota MR2 revival edges closerMid-engined prototype. Real-world testing. The MR2 revival is creeping from rumor to reality. Keep expectations in check (modern crash regs add weight), but a compact, midship Toyota warmed by hybrid torque-fill? That’s a recipe I’ll happily chase across an Alpine pass.Budget stick-shift joy: Suzuki’s $7,700 BrezzaIn a world of $70k crossovers, Suzuki’s manual Brezza—reportedly the most powerful and the cheapest in its range—lands at roughly $7,700 in its home market (Carscoops). Basic? Absolutely. But I’ve had more fun in a light, manual runabout than in some 600-hp luxo-barges. There’s purity in a clutch pedal and low expectations.Brand Housekeeping: JLR’s Compact ShuffleDiscovery Sport production wraps this year, says Autocar, while the Evoque and Velar continue. If you fancy a tidy, squared-off utility vibe, now’s your last call. I’d check towing packages and dealer stock—the outgoing cars sometimes hide the sweetest deals.Culture & Nostalgia Break Festival of the Unexceptional was reportedly the best yet (Autocar). I love this show: lacquered Polos, beige Maestros, and more stories per square foot than any concours. Best modern Audis? A fun list if you’re due a rabbit hole. I’ll still die on a hill for the B7 RS4’s steering. Honda Civic buying guide: Brit-built family heroes for about £5k. If you want bombproof commuting and a decent stereo, that’s your golden path.Motorsport Corner Red Bull appoints Gwen Lagrue to head its junior program after his Mercedes exit (Autosport). Expect that ladder to get even more competitive. Lando Norris says he “was better than Piastri in every sense” at ... ## Related Store Context - [AutoWin Blog & News](https://www.autowin.com/blogs/news): Automotive news and fitment guides - [AutoWin Store Index](https://www.autowin.com/llms.txt): Full product catalog for AI agents - [Agent Instructions](https://www.autowin.com/agents.md): Commerce protocol and Shop skill - Reviews verified on [AutiVex](https://autivex.com/business/autowin-com): AutoWin customer ratings