Car Design News takes a look at the news that may have gone under the radar this week, including the latest from Volkswagen, BMW, Peugeot and Caterham
Catch up on some of the stories that you may have missed away from the headlines over the past seven days. Based on some of the stories coming out, we can only assume it is Special Edition Week. We’re here for it if so. Plus, an absolute cracker from the ’90s further down on this page.
Golf gets gold* at Green Hell
Joining a long line of special edition Golf GTIs, the latest is due to hit the market with a significant award already in its clutches. Well, kind of. The Golf GTI Edition 50 celebrates the model’s 50th anniversary and in ”a near-production” form has set a lap record for the brand: “Never before has a Volkswagen with road approval been faster on the Nürburgring.” While much of the work has gone toward ride and handling, there do appear to be some cosmetic tweaks too – as one would expect.
Full release here.
…plus, happy birthday to the Polo
It is not only the Golf that is celebrating a half century. The Polo Edition 50 gains a set of exclusive badges and is offered with a one-litre petrol TSI engine and five-speed manual gearbox. As it should be.
Full release here.
Peugeot E-208 GTi
The new E-208 GTi was revealed today at Le Mans and will go head to head with its sister brand’s electric hot hatch, the Alpine A290. The E-208 GTi builds on the success of its petrol-powered sibling but now with a fully electric powertrain good for 280hp and dashing from 0-100kph in 5.7 seconds. We are particularly fond of the wheel design, which seems to riff on the classic 205 GTi style.
Full release here.
Caterham’s fetching farewell
Since 2007 the Ford ‘Sigma’ engine has powered Caterhams down country roads like nothing else (from stock, at least). As a farewell to the outgoing powerplant, Caterham has developed a special edition dubbed the 310 Encore with only 25 units being made.
Alongside some fetching colourways, it features the most powerful 1.6-litre version of the Sigma engine. with 152bhp at 7,000rpm and delivered through a five-speed stick shift. Other features include a nose cone from the 620 (read our review of that here), carbon fibre front wings black windscreen surround, headlight bowls and exhaust heat shield cover and 13” black Apollo alloy wheels with TOYO R888R tyres.
Full release here.
Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
Building on the success of the boxy, geometric Ioniq 5 N which took the notion of a performance EV to new levels (simulated gear shifts and engine noise, anyone?) is the far more streamlined Ioniq 6 that is getting the go-faster treatment.
There are only a handful of teasers to go by for now, but it is clear that a similar formula is being applied. Most obvious is the exaggerated boot spoiler, and helps the car to cut quite the figure from the side. Hyundai promises the addition of “flared fenders, a wider stance and lightweight wheels” and will debut at Goodwood this summer.
Full release here.
New BMW XM…
Make way – there is a new fast barge headed your way. Despite tipping the scales around 6,000lbs, the new XM Label is the most powerful BMW M production model ever thanks to a hybrid system that chucks out 748hp and 1,000 Nm of twist.
Shown here in optional Frozen Tanzanite Blue metallic paint, it comes with either 22- or 23-inch rims and a variety of trim options inside. The quad tailpipes at the rear remain, two mounted vertically at each corner, pumping out a V8 burble that has been lightly augmented thanks to a collaboration with DJ Carl Cox.
Full release here.
…and iX3
If power and performance is the name of the game for the XM, it is range and charging speed for the iX3. Final tests hint at a range of around 800km based on the WLTP cycle and (if you can find the right charger) the ability to replenish about 350km in ten minutes.
The iX3 will be the first production model to fall under the Neue Klasse series. It will be revealed in September and launched officially at the end of the year. It will also feature the Heart of Joy control computer revealed at Auto Shanghai, which in something of an oxymoron is dubbed a “superbrain.”
Full release here.
In the (very) classifieds
Lastly, it is Friday. Why not treat yourself to an ultra-rare light blue Ferrari F40, tastefully modified with an LM gearbox, custom finish and revised powertrain and suspension. It is due to be auctioned at 2025 Monterey Car Week later in the summer with a guide price of between US$2.5-2.8 million. Fittingly dubbed “Blue Chip” we imagine it will be only of interest to blue chip players at that price.
Full release here.
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