The concept was conceived as a tribute to the country’s only F1 world champion, though Hulme passed away before the car ever reached its full unveiling.

In hindsight, that timing may have spared the project from greater scrutiny.

At its core, the Can-Am was designed around a naturally aspirated General Motors V8, paired with an open-wheel-inspired, two-seat layout.

The idea was to create something uncompromising and deeply driver-focused, blending race car principles with road-going usability.

One fully functional prototype was eventually completed, and a striking papaya-coloured demo car appeared at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Journalists even got a brief chance to sample it, offering a rare glimpse into what the final product might have been like.

Despite the early promise, the project quickly encountered real-world hurdles.

Plans were revised in an attempt to make the car viable in more global markets, but key regions such as the United States and Australia were never fully pursued due to strict crash and emissions regulations.

Without access to those major markets, the business case for production began to unravel.

Ultimately, the Can-Am never made it into full production.

While at least one prototype exists, the wider ambition faded as the project stalled. Today, the brand’s website remains live, though it leans heavily on heavily stylised imagery and what appears to be generic or AI-generated content, alongside a pitch for potential investors.

The once-bold supercar vision has, for now, drifted into obscurity.

There is still a lingering sense that the idea could resurface. The narrative now feels tied to New Zealand’s next wave of motorsport talent, with speculation that a future success story could revive interest in a Kiwi-built hypercar.

Whether that comes from racing success or renewed investment remains to be seen, but for now, the Can-Am stands as a fascinating “what could have been” in modern automotive history.

The Lexus LFA Concept completes Toyota’s high-performance “Trinity,” joining the GR GT road car and the GT3 racer.

Formerly known as the Lexus Sports Concept, the reveal confirms suspicions: the future flagship will be an all-electric supercar.

While it shares its base with the GR GT, Lexus sees the LFA as a more refined, top-tier model instead of a track-focused machine.

Toyota’s research suggests solid-state batteries will be used, which should pack more energy than lithium-ion batteries.

Paired with all-wheel drive and high power, the LFA’s successor should have performance worthy of the name, even without the original V10 sound.

Visually, the concept has become a more realized design. A smoother front incorporates LED headlights and shaped hood vents, while the stance recalls the original LFA’s size.

At the rear, flying buttresses flow into a version of the first LFA’s triangular rear bumper.

Inside, the design is even more striking. The cabin is divided between driver and passenger, with a cockpit around the driver’s seat.

A digital display stretches across the dashboard in sections, while a modern steering wheel carries controls common to Lexus.

One interesting thing is a drone in the rear glass, which likely won’t be in the production model.

But the overall message is clear: Lexus wants its next top car to show off technology and design ideas.

If this concept is anything to judge by, the Lexus LFA will move the brand further into electric performance.

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It’s 4.5 meters long and 1.5 meters tall. While it’s not the next Megane, the inside gives us an idea of how they’re changing how people experience a car.

When you get inside, the dashboard grabs your attention.

There’s a wide, curved screen across it, along with a center touchscreen and simple physical buttons for the climate controls.

The steering wheel uses steer-by-wire tech, and the glovebox can be used for storage or as a footrest.

The front passenger seat can slide back, meeting three separate rear seats that recline.

The rear doors open completely, and the trunk can be changed to carry a bike, but Renault doesn’t say exactly how big it is.

Visibility and staying connected are important. The car has thin pillars, doors without frames, and a glass roof to let in as much light as possible.

The AI is meant to help keep you safe while driving. Some interesting features, like an alcohol detector and storage that can be changed, show Renault is trying out new ideas beyond just driving.

For drivers in the UK, it suggests how city driving in the future might combine luxury, comfort, and safety in a car for families.

The R-Space Lab might not be made exactly as it is, but it gives us a look at what Renault is planning for the future and shows how the Megane could change in the next 10 years.

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They showed off an early version in Japan. The GR GT uses a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that makes 641 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque.

All that power goes to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic. There’s also a small electric motor, but it’s not really for driving on electric power alone.

It’s there to make the power delivery smoother when you floor it or change gears quickly.

The exact numbers aren’t final yet, but people are expecting it to go from 0 to 62 mph in less than four seconds. The top speed should be around 200 mph.

It’s not super light at about 3,850 pounds, but they focused on making it balanced. The V8 is set back in the chassis to give it that front-mid-engine feel, which is supposed to make it really fun to drive.

This car uses a brand-new base for Toyota Gazoo Racing. It has an aluminum frame that’s supported by carbon fiber parts like the hood, roof, and rear.

This way, they get almost the same stiffness, without the crazy cost of a full carbon fiber body.

This indicates they plan to produce a normal series, rather than making a super limited-edition car for collectors.

When it comes to how it looks, the GR GT has an aggressive shape, but it also has hints of older models like the Toyota 2000GT and Lexus LFA.

Toyota says it’s not trying to replace those cars. Instead, they’re using the knowledge they gained from the LFA project to make a whole new set of performance cars.

The price is expected to be around £160,000. This puts it in the same range as cars like the Mercedes-AMG GT.

So, it might be something that regular car lovers could actually buy, not just wealthy collectors.

With so many companies going electric, this new Toyota feels different. It’s a loud, rear-wheel-drive V8 supercar that’s all about the pleasure of driving.

You probably know Xiaomi as the third biggest phone maker, after Apple and Samsung. They just put out their first real car, the SU7 electric sedan, not long ago in 2023.

But they’ve already wowed people with the 1,527hp SU7 Ultra. So, a real hypercar from them doesn’t seem so crazy now.

Right now, though, the Vision Gran Turismo is just in the game. Xiaomi says the hypercar’s design is Sculpted by the Wind.

Basically, it’s got a smooth, raindrop shape and fancy air stuff to get lots of downforce without needing a giant wing.

A lot of the action happens under the car. Air flows through tunnels and out the back. Plus, there’s this cool halo taillight across the rear.

Xiaomi also says it has an Active Wake Control System that blows air to keep things smooth behind the car.

There are some neat touches too. The wheels have see-through covers that look like they’re not moving because of magnets.

Inside, instead of racing seats, there’s a sofa-like seat and a big screen like those new panoramic dashboards.

Xiaomi says they’re trying to get the right balance of low drag and high downforce, which gives you a peek at how they might do performance EVs in the future.

And this time, it feels like they really mean it, not just some nostalgic talk.

Scott Lawrence, who’s in charge of Subaru Australia, told Drive.com that Subaru Tecnica International is still kicking and that things are looking up for them.

This comes after everyone went wild over the STI Performance-B and Performance-E concepts at the Tokyo motor show last year.

Lawrence says that fans have been giving them tons of feedback, and the company is paying close attention to what people think of both cars.

Now, Subaru has said that the gas-powered Performance-B will stay just a concept. So, it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting a new gas-powered STI anytime soon.

But, there’s still hope for an electric STI based on the Performance-E. They haven’t said yes to making it yet, but the message is that they’re thinking about an electric STI.

This is a big deal because when the newest Subaru WRX came out without an STI version, Subaru said they were thinking about what to do next, like going electric.

Since then, they’ve learned a thing or two about EVs with the Subaru Solterra, which turned out to be pretty quick in tests.

Die-hard fans might not like the idea of no more turbo boxer engine, since it would be a huge change. But, electric power could give you that fast acceleration and punch that you’d expect from an STI.

We’ll have to wait and see if that’s enough to make the fans happy. But for the first time in a while, it feels like this is actually happening.

Credit: Everybody Loves Your Money

They showed off their Magma GT concept in a crazy way, with bright orange colors and smoky tires.

It’s got those cool scissor doors, big wheel arches, and a twin-turbo V8 engine—basically, it’s the opposite of all those plain electric cars around now.

Luc Donckerwolke, who’s in charge of design, says this coupe isn’t just some random idea. Genesis is serious about using it as the base for a real GT3 racing thing.

That’s a big deal because to race in GT3, they have to build 200 of these cars for the road. So, it’s not just a show car that’ll end up in a museum.

They’re planning to make it and compete in those long-distance races.

Right now, we don’t know a ton about the engine and all that, other than it’s a twin-turbo V8 and looks like a total supercar.

But the main thing is that Hyundai’s luxury brand wants to play with the big guys.

It’s a tough goal. Ferrari, Porsche, and McLaren have been racing for ages and have lots of fans who buy their cars.

Lots of companies have tried to challenge Ferrari before, but not many have succeeded.

Still, Genesis has Hyundai’s money and the Magma performance division backing them up.

If they actually put this car into production for the UK and tell us when it’s coming, the Genesis Magma GT could be one of the most interesting supercars we’ll see in a while – not just a cool thing they showed off.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI W12-650 has made a comeback to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the GTI brand, and this time it’s painted in red.

First shown in May 2007 as a rather humble “design study,” the W12-650 was anything but.

Volkswagen started with a three-door Golf GTI body, added a custom mid-mounted 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 engine, and put all 641 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels only.

The engine itself was derived from the Phaeton and had strong connections to the engine used in the Bentley Continental GT, with four valves per cylinder and twin turbochargers.

Performance figures remain properly supercar-grade even by today’s standards.

The six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission had the unfortunate job of handling the power, propelling the W12-650 from 0-62mph in just 3.7 seconds and on to a claimed 201.8mph top speed.

For a Golf, this is simply outrageous.

To accommodate the engine mounted amidships, Volkswagen widened and lowered the body considerably.

Aggressive cooling vents, scoops, and underfloor aerodynamics were incorporated to ensure it remained stable without the need for a large rear wing.

Carbon fibre construction and 19-inch wheels, which were quite large for their time, rounded off the package.

Volkswagen has not announced any new technical information with its comeback, only that the car will make an appearance as part of the GTI’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

For British fans who have grown up with sensible hot hatches, the W12-650 is a reminder that even the most rational manufacturers will occasionally produce something completely bonkers.

While it exists only as a render, the concept offers a fresh take on the 1971 icon, blending classic proportions with contemporary Mercedes styling cues.

The design keeps the 300 SEL’s unmistakable bulk but softens its squared-off haunches, adds starry LED headlights, and fits outrageously large wheels beneath exaggerated arches.

Wagener describes it as a vision of “another legendary design from the past into the future,” showcasing how heritage and modernity can collide in a single concept.

Though purely digital, it demonstrates the creative freedom Mercedes designers explore when translating historical motorsport icons into today’s aesthetic language.

Historically, the ‘Red Pig’ earned its nickname for its size and performance at Spa, packing enough muscle to handle AMG’s then-new upgrades.

Wagener’s concept doesn’t recreate the 6.3-litre straight-six mechanically — it’s a tribute to the original’s audacious presence and performance legacy, rather than a literal engineering exercise.

For enthusiasts, it’s a fascinating glimpse at how Mercedes-Benz design philosophy has evolved under Wagener’s leadership, highlighting both respect for the past and an appetite for bold, expressive visuals.

As Wagener stepped down in January 2026, this concept also serves as a fitting coda to his tenure, blending motorsport heritage with the brand’s current design language.

While unlikely to see production, the render has sparked conversations among enthusiasts and collectors, illustrating the ongoing fascination with AMG’s racing roots and design storytelling.

In a letter to employees, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner made it clear the shared architecture from Porsche remains on track.

“The delivery of the platform by Porsche is not in question,” he said, underlining that the project – internally known as C-Sport – continues in close collaboration between the two brands.

The new Audi EV will sit on a heavily adapted version of the Premium Platform Electric architecture, the same technical base planned for the next-generation electric 718.

The move matters. With rumours suggesting Porsche may adapt its platform to accommodate combustion power amid softer EV sales, Audi’s commitment signals confidence in a dedicated electric coupe.

The Concept C previewed a low-slung, two-door model with a minimalist cabin reminiscent of the TT, pairing a clean dashboard layout with essential digital interfaces rather than overwhelming screens.

Design influence will come from new Audi design chief Massimo Frascella, making this car a statement of intent as much as a product launch.

Battery packaging opens the door to Quattro all-wheel drive and even a removable roof configuration, reinforcing its sports car credentials.

And with Alpine pressing ahead with an electric A110, Audi won’t be entering this emerging segment alone.

If market conditions improve by 2027, the brand could be well placed with a distinctive, design-led electric coupe ready to capitalise.

From sketching concepts to generating aerodynamic shapes, AI tools are increasingly capable of producing sleek, efficient, and even futuristic vehicle designs—but human creativity still plays a crucial role.

Today, major automakers are experimenting with AI-assisted design software that can generate thousands of iterations of a car body in a fraction of the time a human designer could.

AI can optimize for aerodynamics, weight distribution, and material efficiency, offering engineers and designers a powerful toolkit.

Lamborghini, BMW, and Volvo have already used AI algorithms to explore new exterior and interior concepts, reducing design time while keeping innovation at the forefront.

Despite these advances, experts caution that AI cannot yet replicate the emotional resonance of a design. A car’s aesthetic appeal—its curves, character, and presence—is deeply subjective.

Human designers interpret cultural trends, brand identity, and user emotion in ways that algorithms cannot.

AI excels at analyzing data and generating technically optimal designs, but the “soul” of a car remains in human hands.

Industry insiders predict a future where AI and designers work side by side.

Designers could leverage AI to rapidly test ideas, tweak shapes, and predict performance, while focusing their creative energy on crafting vehicles that resonate with drivers.

In this hybrid model, AI acts as a collaborator rather than a replacement, accelerating innovation without eliminating the artistry of car design.

As AI tools continue to evolve, the automotive industry may see a revolution in efficiency and creativity—but car designers aren’t going anywhere.

Their vision, intuition, and emotional intelligence remain essential, ensuring that the cars of tomorrow don’t just function well—they inspire.

FAQ – AI Car Design: Will AI Take Over Car Designers?

Q: Can AI completely replace human car designers?
A: Not yet. AI excels at generating thousands of design iterations quickly and optimizing for aerodynamics or materials, but it cannot replicate human creativity, intuition, or emotional impact in car design.

Q: How is AI currently used in car design?
A: AI assists designers by testing shapes for aerodynamics, predicting structural performance, generating concept sketches, and even suggesting material efficiencies. It acts as a powerful collaborator rather than a replacement.

Q: Are any car brands already using AI in their design process?
A: Yes. Brands like BMW, Volvo, and Lamborghini are experimenting with AI-assisted design to explore futuristic concepts, optimize performance, and speed up development timelines.

Q: What advantages does AI offer automotive design teams?
A: AI can drastically reduce the time needed for initial sketches and simulations, provide optimized designs for performance and efficiency, and allow designers to explore more innovative concepts without extensive manual effort.

Q: Will AI reduce jobs for car designers?
A: AI is unlikely to eliminate designers but will change their role. Designers will focus more on creative vision and emotional appeal while using AI as a tool for optimization, testing, and rapid prototyping.

Q: Could AI-designed cars look futuristic or different from today’s cars?
A: Absolutely. AI can explore unconventional shapes, materials, and aerodynamic solutions that might not occur to human designers, potentially shaping the cars of the future in radical ways.

The idea, which is based on the Bentayga Speed, was unveiled as a means for Bentley to assess consumer interest in a more rugged, adventure-oriented model, but it feels a lot like a sneak peek at something closer to production.

Unveiled at the FAT Ice Race in Austria, the Bentley X Concept takes the brand’s 641 bhp performance SUV and reworks it with a more aggressive stance and purpose-built hardware.

Bentley widened the track by nearly five inches and raised the ride height by more than two inches, delivering over a foot of ground clearance and a markedly more commanding presence than the standard Bentayga.

Despite the added altitude, it retains the production model’s air suspension and anti-roll bars, suggesting Bentley is keen to preserve on-road composure alongside its newfound off-road credibility.

The concept rides on forged 22-inch Brixton wheels wrapped in chunky all-terrain tires, a setup that boosts wading depth to 21.7 inches.

That’s a noticeable improvement over the standard Bentayga, though still well short of dedicated off-roaders like the Land Rover Defender or Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

Visually, the X concept leans into its Ice Race role with motorsport-style decals, while the roof steals the show with extra storage, spotlights, and—because this is Bentley—an electric go-kart mounted up top.

Whether this is a one-off spectacle or a preview of a future off-road Bentayga, the message is clear: Bentley is watching the off-road luxury boom very closely.