Rafael Câmara debuts at Haas in Interlagos; Toyota confirms Celica's return to WRC

The Volkswagen Tukan, the automaker's long-awaited monocoque pickup truck, has finally received a launch date. Ricardo Ploguer, Vice President of Product Development for Volkswagen South America, announced at an event in Germany that the vehicle will be introduced in early 2027.

In Brazil, the Tukan will be offered in four configurations: two double-cab and two single-cab. When exhibited in Barretos (SP), the pickup was seen in the Extreme variant, featuring a double cab and premium trim, and the Robust variant, focused on work, characterized by unpainted bumpers and stamped steel wheels without hubcaps.

During the same event in Germany, VW also presented the Tukan Magnet, its more economical double-cab option. Compared to the Extreme, this Magnet version eliminates the glossy black paint on the grille and replaces the 17-inch wheels with a 16-inch set. The displayed model had body-colored mirrors, side steps, and front LED lighting, although it was not confirmed whether these items would be standard or optional.

The name for the intermediate single-cab version, which is above the Robust, has not yet been officially announced by Volkswagen, despite examples seen in tests bearing the 'Iron' emblem. So far, the press has only had access to the exterior of the Tukan, leaving the dashboard design a mystery. However, since the pickup uses the MQB-A0 platform, shared with the Taos, T-Cross, and Nivus, a similar internal architecture is expected.

Regarding mechanics, complete details are unavailable, but it is known that the VW Tukan will debut with a 12V mild-hybrid system for the more expensive versions, while the Tukan Robust should retain the 1.6 MSI engine from the Saveiro.

Possibility of Chinese electric vehicle in Brazil

Continuing the topic of the Volkswagen event in Germany, the manufacturer mentioned the possibility of forming a partnership with Chinese companies to introduce a more affordable electric model to the Brazilian market. The goal would be to compete directly with the BYD Dolphin Mini, one of the main drivers of entry-level electric vehicles in the country.

Other brands are already moving in this sector: it is speculated that Chevrolet will bring the Wuling Bingo Pro under the name Joy EV, and Stellantis is evaluating the Leapmotor A05 and B03X models to create its own entry-level electric vehicle in Brazil.

For Volkswagen, the chances of collaboration lie in its current partnerships in China, such as Saic, FAW, and JAC. Two of these companies have ties to Brazil: Saic assisted in the development of the VW Taos (derived from the Chinese VW Tharu) and supplied the platform used in the future Amarok; and FAW is involved in the project for the future hybrid VW Taos, scheduled for 2028 in Brazil. The connection with JAC is currently limited to China, but it is relevant because they are responsible for the entire line of electric vehicles built on the MEB platform sold by VW in China.

Although the project is still in the initial stages of development and the final solution is not defined, the plan is for it to be ready and available for sale within the next two years.

Nissan adapts V6 biturbo engine to classic Datsun 240Z

Nissan will present at SEMA in Las Vegas a reinterpretation of the first Z, the Datsun 240Z, originally launched in 1969. This project, named Datsun S30 Concept, was developed in collaboration with Formula Drift three-time champion Chris Forsberg, combining the classic sports car body with the mechanical package of the contemporary Nissan Z.

The original inline six-cylinder engine was replaced by the three-liter, twin-turbo V6 VR30DDTT from the modern Z. This engine was equipped with Garrett PMAX turbos, Nismo intake and intercooler, and mated to the new Z's six-speed manual transmission, which includes a dual-disc clutch and Nismo R200 locking differential. The exact power output of the unit was not disclosed, but the original Z engine reaches 400 hp (405 hp) in the standard version.

In addition to the engine, the S30 received suspension improvements, including adjustments, new anti-roll bars, and revised geometry, along with modified steering and Wilwood brakes with six-piston calipers in the front and four in the rear. The body maintained the original proportions but featured carbon fiber hood, fenders, bumpers, and tailgate, along with 17-inch Nismo forged wheels. The interior features OMP racing seats, analog instruments, and a sports steering wheel.

The Datsun S30 Concept will be displayed alongside two other Nissan projects for SEMA: a Z prepared for the SCCA Touring 2 category and a 300 hp Sentra Spec-V with a manual transmission and competition components.

BAIC confirms B30 hybrid for Brazil in 2027

BAIC, the Chinese manufacturer that began operations in Brazil in August with the Arcfox T1 and T5 electric vehicles, confirmed the launch of its first hybrid model in the country, the B30. This SUV, inspired by robust designs like Defender/Wrangler and focused on off-road use, is scheduled to arrive between March and April 2027.

Known as the BJ30 in other markets, the vehicle has a length of 4.73 meters, a wheelbase of 2.82 meters, and a ground clearance of 220 mm. Its powertrain combines a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with two electric motors, one on each axle, utilizing a two-speed DHT transmission. The manufacturer announces a total power of 409 hp from the three motors, but has not yet specified the effective combined power of the unit. According to factory data, it can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds.

BAIC is also working with Bosch on developing a flex hybrid version for the Brazilian market, but this is only expected to launch in 2028. In the future, the brand plans to introduce the B60, a larger SUV that will use electric propulsion supplemented by a combustion engine acting as an autonomy extender. Sales prices have not yet been disclosed.

Alpine does not rule out combustion engine for new A110

It is common for manufacturers to announce new sports cars as fully electric, promising to replicate the experience of a combustion engine car. After public reaction, some companies reconsider, opting to keep the traditional engine. Alpine is the focus of this discussion.

The French company had previously indicated that the next generation of the A110 would be exclusively electric. However, it seems the company took into account enthusiast feedback, who considered it a waste to transform such a well-designed car, as seen at the Paris Motor Show, into a battery-only vehicle.

Philippe Krief, Global Head of Alpine, and Nicola Burnside, Brand Director in the UK, stated that the manufacturer has not ruled out the possibility of including a combustion engine in the structure of the new car, aiming to facilitate its commercialization in various global markets. In an interview with TopGear.com, Burnside clarified that the brand's new architecture, called APP (Alpine Performance Platform), was designed to offer flexibility. Although the brand is fully committed to the initial electric launch, believing it can elevate the status of the sports car, she emphasized that it is not closing any doors.

If the 100% electric path is followed, engineering guarantees the maintenance of the lightness and agility that defined the coupe. Burnside confirmed that the new electric A110 will have a maximum weight of 1,500 kg and will maintain the low driving position of the current model, thanks to an arrangement that distributes batteries between the front and rear around the driver, preventing the feeling of being on a heavy block. Additionally, the APP platform was designed to support various body types (such as convertibles and 2+2 versions) and unique engine configurations at the rear or dual.

The executive invited the most rigorous critics to test the battery model before passing judgment, summarizing the French manufacturer's goal for the future: 'My vision is that we become the electric brand of choice for petrolheads.'

Rubens Barrichello, known as Rubinho, will return to the Williams FW33 cockpit at Interlagos. This car, with which he finished his Formula 1 career in 2011, will be used on November 8th, before the start of the São Paulo GP, under the initiative called Historical Lap.

This event is part of the celebrations of Rubinho's 45-year career and is sponsored by ALE Combustíveis. The driver will have about ten minutes on track with the Williams, which will be equipped with the 2.4-liter naturally aspirated Cosworth V8 engine.

The choice of this vehicle carries a particular significance, as Rubinho competed in his last F1 race at the 2011 Brazilian GP, finishing in 14th place with the FW33. That season, Williams only scored five points in the championship. Although he tried to return to the grid in 2012 and came close to competing in the 2014 Brazilian GP for Caterham, the team's financial problems prevented this return.

When announcing the event, Rubinho expressed that he did not imagine it would be his last farewell in Interlagos in 2011, stating: 'I didn't think it would be the last goodbye when I greeted my audience in Interlagos in 2011. And it's a good thing it wasn't.' He promised to accelerate intensely, saying: 'I want to tear up the Interlagos straight with you.'

BMW reveals never-before-produced four-door Series 3 E36 Compact

A functional prototype of a four-door variant of the BMW Series 3 E36 Compact, which was never put into production, was revealed by BMW Classic. This novelty intrigued because the initial idea was for a two-door hatchback with the style of the E36 sedan and rear-wheel drive.

The exhibited example, of the 316i variant, was the most basic model, equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 102 hp. Unlike simply adding two doors to an E36 Compact, this project started from a sedan, whose trunk was shortened and received the hatchback tailgate.

The car's construction featured unusual characteristics, such as the center console having controls for all four windows, while the rear ones used a crank. BMW was apparently testing proportions and shapes, opting to create a functional car rather than a model. Originally, the vehicle was supposed to be 'Boston Green', but ended up receiving the 'Hellrot' red paint.

The main reason the Series 3 E36 Compact was never manufactured was the high production cost. BMW sought to minimize expenses on the hatchback, even using components from the E30 generation, such as the rear suspension with semi-trailing arms and much of the interior.

Alfa Romeo: 'Time to end screens in cars'

Alfa Romeo has joined the movement advocating for the end of touchscreens in vehicles. According to Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, the brand's head of design since 2021, the industry has exaggerated in this aspect, and it is time to reevaluate this trend.

The designer told Autocar that there was a 'war for screen centimeters,' which made no sense, as the screens had already become excessively large and were dominating the dashboard design. He also raised the issue of durability, predicting that these screens would become obsolete and expensive in a few years.

In response, the Cuorerosso concept, supervised by Mesonero-Romanos, eliminated a conventional multimedia unit. In its place, there is only a small screen on the center console that hides when not in use, sharing space with real physical controls.

Another highlight of the car is the instrument panel, which reinterpreted the traditional Italian concept of two circular dials, the cannochiale. These dials are digital and can reorganize to form a single screen, displaying only essential information without causing distraction. Mesonero-Romanos expressed a desire to drive at night with a single red-lit cannochiale.

Sensor tires may reduce braking distance

Cyber Tyre technology, presented by Pirelli in 2019, consisted of a tire with a sensor capable of communicating with the car's electronic systems. Tests conducted by the British magazine evo on a wet track demonstrated that a car equipped with the Cyber Tyre needed 5.7 meters less to stop from approximately 110 km/h compared to a car with equivalent tires but without the connected system.

The difference of the Cyber Tyre is not just pressure monitoring; each tire contains an internal sensor that collects data such as pressure, temperature, wear, load, and grip level. This information is transmitted in real-time to the vehicle's electronic control unit, which uses Pirelli algorithms to adjust the operation of ABS, stability control, and traction control according to the immediate conditions of the tire.

This overcomes a limitation of current systems, which operate with more generic calibrations. With the electronic sensor, the car precisely identifies the tire used, its condition, and its grip level, allowing for more precise interventions instead of just reacting to loss of traction. According to evo, the improvement was noted in both braking and wet cornering behavior, where the car maintained its trajectory for longer before exhibiting understeer.

Ram 2500 gets new top-of-the-line version

The Ram 2500 has received a new top-tier version in Brazil, the Laramie Night Edition. This version stands out for its darkened aesthetic appeal, replacing chrome elements with more sober finishes, such as grille trim, mirror caps, side steps, 18-inch wheels, and emblems. The bumpers are also painted in the body color.

To give it a more robust look, the hood now includes a central air intake, giving the front of the vehicle a sporty touch. This dark treatment extends to the interior, where seats, dashboard, steering wheel, and doors are upholstered in black leather. The equipment remains identical to the Ram 2500 Laramie, including a 12-inch multimedia center with wireless pairing for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 12.3-inch digital dashboard, 360-degree external cameras, a complete ADAS package, ventilated and heated front seats with electric adjustments, and dual-zone air conditioning.

The mechanical assembly remains unchanged, maintaining the 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel, which generates 436 hp and 148.7 kgfm of torque, coupled with the eight-speed ZF TorqueFlite transmission. The drivetrain offers 4x2, 4x4, and 4x4 low options, and the brakes consist of ventilated discs with dual pistons and floating calipers. The load capacity is 1,287 kg, and the maximum towing capacity reaches 8,948 kg.

Since it is essentially an aesthetic package, the Ram 2500 Laramie Night Edition does not present an exorbitant price increase, costing R$ 10,000 more than the standard Laramie, totaling R$ 569,990 against R$ 559,990 for the common version.

Gunther Werks creates 872 hp Porsche 911 in tribute to Martin Brundle

Martin Brundle, known in Brazil as a rival to Ayrton Senna in English Formula 2, accumulated a vast career, competing in 158 Formula 1 GPs, winning the endurance world title, and winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He is currently recognized for his interviews on the starting grid of Formula 1.

In his honor, Gunther Werks produced a 872 hp Porsche 911. The special project was designed by Brundle's own daughter, Charlie Brundle, who is an automotive designer and has collaborated with McLaren, Aston Martin, and Jaguar Land Rover.

The vehicle, named Gunther Werks Brundle Edition Turbo, is based on the Porsche 993, but with an increased displacement to 4.0 liters and the addition of two turbos, resulting in 872 hp and 84.4 kgfm. It features a six-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. The 911 Brundle was enhanced with independent suspension using overlapping triangular arms, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, modified aerodynamics with an adjustable rear wing, and forged magnesium wheels. Martin Brundle participated in tuning the suspension and the Sport and Track modes.

Charlie handled the aesthetics, creating a two-tone pearlescent paint inspired by her father's helmet. The name Brundle replaces the Porsche logo on the rear, and the initials MB are engraved on the carbon fiber seats. There are also references to the driver's career in the interior finish, including a Bell helmet with the same paint, signed by Brundle. On the dashboard, Charlie included a recurring phrase from her father: 'The most important bit of the car is the nut holding the steering wheel.'

Only five units of the Brundle Edition Turbo will be manufactured. Gunther Werks has not yet disclosed the price, but given that other modified 911s from the company exceed US$ 1,000,000, a high price is expected.