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 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-Wagen

Mercedes G-Class Cabriolet is coming back

After 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 out

Pour 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 rules

Flush, 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 catch

Cupra 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 saga

Carscoops 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 Momentum

CarExpert 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 leaks

Ahead 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 wave

Autocar 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 Incoming

2027 Kia Sportage spied

Kia’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 vibes

Carscoops 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 cinema

Both 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.

Toyota Land Cruiser 70 SWB: windshield folds, cowboy approved

Yes, 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 Back

Subaru revives a dedicated performance division

CarExpert 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 closer

Mid-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 Brezza

In 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 Shuffle

Discovery 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 the Hungaroring scrap. Drivers will be drivers—but the intra-team needle makes for brilliant Sundays.
• Ferrari’s Hungarian GP stumble dissected: the car is quick, the execution wasn’t (Autosport’s take). That old Maranello tightrope again.
• WRC: Sébastien Ogier reunites with his title-winning co-driver for Rally Finland. Expect the notes to be inch-perfect and the jumps long.
• Dome heads a consortium to build the next Super Formula chassis—Japan’s top single-seater keeps sharpening its edge.
• Mini Masters put on a show at Thruxton. If you haven’t watched classic Minis race, you haven’t felt true lateral joy.

Quick Hits

• More than 20 police cars boxed in a speeding driver in Sydney (CarExpert). A reminder: modern patrol fleets coordinate frighteningly fast.
• “Classy stars with their classic cars” is pure eye candy if you like your icons with chrome.

What Stood Out Today

• Roofless G-Wagen is real, and it’s loud even when it’s silent.
• NHTSA’s door-handle focus is overdue; design shouldn’t trump escape.
• AMG says goodbye to a giant-killing hatch, keeps us guessing on V8s.
• Connected features can be brilliant—until borders and backends misbehave.
• China’s LWB X5 makes the rest of us jealous. Rear-seat cinema, anyone?

Feature Highlights to Watch

• Mercedes G-Class Cabriolet: Soft-top packaging, rollover protection, and whether AMG goes V8 or hybrid.
• Next Kia Sportage: Cabin ergonomics and longer-trip seat comfort.
• Hyundai Kona: Infotainment responsiveness and ADAS smoothness in traffic.
• Cupra connected services: App reliability and subscription transparency.
• Honda Super-One: Real-world range and AC charging speed for urban life.

Conclusion

Today felt like a snapshot of where we’re headed: fewer cylinders but smarter software; classics reborn (G Cabrio, maybe MR2) and icons retired with a bow (A45 S). Regulators are catching up to design trends, fleets are all-in on EVs, and China keeps rewriting the luxury playbook. For the rest of us? Keep a charger card, a good playlist, and—just in case—a physical key.

FAQ

Is AMG bringing the V8 back soon?

AMG isn’t giving a date—only to “stay tuned.” Expect electrified solutions to feature heavily when it does return in volume.

Will the Mercedes G-Class Cabriolet be sold globally?

Markets haven’t been confirmed. Given past runs, expect limited availability and premium pricing. Details should firm up closer to launch.

Will new door-handle rules affect my current car?

Likely not retroactively. Any new NHTSA rules typically apply to future designs. That said, check your owner’s manual for mechanical override releases today.

Which EVs are topping Australia’s mid-2026 charts?

CarExpert’s midyear wrap shows mainstream leaders holding strong with notable gains from newer Chinese brands. Exact rankings vary by month, but adoption is up broadly.

When is the next Kia Sportage arriving in Australia?

It’s testing now with an Australian launch targeted for its next model cycle. Expect timing and specs to be announced closer to reveal.