Car News

Pininfarina has expanded its car design expertise to property in the ‘Collection Sei’, a run of just six houses in America created with MV Group USA. Each includes a glass-fronted automotive gallery for up to five cars, two single-post lifts and provision for a rotating display turntable, with the collection visible from the gym or office, obviously. The huge turnkey homes cost $16.95 million (about €15m) – and that’s before buying the land… It’s worth watching the promo video at the official site.

BYD has announced updates to the Dolphin Surf EV, adding the option of a third rear seat so buyers can choose between four- and five-seat layouts. The range-topping Comfort also gets a larger 12.8-inch touchscreen with Google Built-in, plus an 8.8-inch digital instrument display. Other changes include a column-mounted drive selector, heated steering wheel on Boost and Comfort and revised trim. Irish timing and pricing has yet to be confirmed, though a mid-2027 arrival appears likely.

More than one in four Irish motorists (27%) say rising electricity prices have reached the point where they would rule out buying an EV, according to new Carzone research. Another 20% say an electricity price increase of up to 10% would be enough to put them off. Yet higher petrol and diesel prices are having the opposite effect: 56% say increases at the pumps make them more likely to consider an EV. More than half (54%) of those surveyed were already considering an EV for their next car. Uncertainty seems to be the only constant in the car market, unfortunately.

Opel has released teaser images of its STX concept, giving us our first look at the design language behind its vision for the future of the estate car. The ‘Sports Tourer eXperimental’ previews a more dramatic evolution of the Opel Vizor face, with a new lighting signature, flush surfacing and aerodynamically optimised three-spoke wheels. Opel says the concept will also explore aero solutions aimed at efficiency and high-speed stability. The STX concept makes its world debut at the Paris Motor Show, which runs from 12-18  October.

One of our biggest news stories this week is the unveiling of the petrol-powered versions of the new BMW 3 Series, set to go on sale alongside the all-electric BMW i3. The news is headlined by images of the highest-spec model, the M350 xDrive in a luscious red colour - all 443hp of it - but let’s be honest: most buyers will stick with a more subtle grey. And that’s why we’re highlighting the gallery of shots of the BMW 320 version, as we reckon it looks great. Rather more affordable, too… Just make sure you have enough budget to avoid the white steering wheel.

With less than two weeks to go before the doors open to the 2026 Paris Motor Show, Alfa Romeo has released the name of its eagerly awaited concept car. It’ll be called the Cuorerosso, bringing the Italian words for heart and red together. It’s widely expected that the Cuorerosso will take the form of a sports coupe and Alfa Romeo doesn’t attempt to dampen such enthusiasm with its comment: “giving shape to a declaration of intent that goes beyond the name and tells of a car of the future designed first and foremost to excite.”