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BMW is preparing its biggest lineup overhaul in years, with more than 40 launches promised across every segment as Neue Klasse design and technology spread from electric models to petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars. The electric iX3 and i3, an updated 7 Series, and the new X5 and iX5 are already underway, with a first electric M model and a BMW Alpina due in 2027.

A month after the global fifth-generation X5 launch, BMW revealed its long-wheelbase Chinese variant. The X5 L gets a dedicated G78 designator and a 130 mm longer wheelbase (3,165 mm), with nearly all the extra length going to rear-seat passengers.

Chery says the Fulwin A9 locked 18,173 orders in 72 hours, from 115,900 yuan ($17,100). Xiaomi's YU7 took 315,900 in the same window last year, and neither number tells you how many cars will actually ship.

China's regulator will no longer certify new models fitted with the small blue exterior lights used by Li Auto, Aito, XPeng, Nio, BYD, Xiaomi and others to signal active L2/L2+ driver assistance, citing the national lighting standard GB 4785-2019. The rule took effect 27 July 2026; measures for cars already on sale are still under review.

Modern cars stream location, speed, driving style, camera and sensor data, and voice commands back to the automaker. Regulators are now moving to control it: FTC action in the US, GDPR consent rules in the EU, and mandatory in-country data storage in China.

Ferrari has sold out its full 2026 production run of the Luce, about 500 cars, in under two months since the May reveal and before the first customer deliveries. China provided most of the demand; CEO Benedetto Vigna says the order book is now filled into 2027.

Honda is reportedly weighing a return of the raised Accord Crosstour liftback, internally called Accord SUV, for the US market with production possibly starting in mid-2029. Honda has told Car and Driver the report isn't based on any of its announcements.

Leapmotor is preparing a low-cost electric hatchback for two markets - the A05 in China and the more compact B03 for Europe. The Chinese version offers two front-drive powertrains with up to 510 km of CLTC range; European specs haven't been disclosed.

FAW-Volkswagen has completed certification of the ID.Aura T6, the first model in its new China-only ID.Aura family, clearing the way for a full reveal and a market launch before the end of 2026. The driver-assistance lidar confirmed at the car's reveal will be a paid option rather than standard equipment.

Xiaomi opened pre-sales for its SkyNomad N70 and N90 EREV SUVs on July 30, at 259,900 yuan and 299,900 yuan respectively for the top Max trim, with a full launch set for September. Both share the same 310 kW motor pair and 76 kWh battery, but the smaller N70 posts a longer CLTC electric range than its flagship sibling - the detail behind Xiaomi's "longest range of any EREV" claim.

Audi has revealed the Q9, its first full-size flagship SUV at 5,309 mm long. Europe gets a 3.0 V6 turbodiesel mild hybrid (245 or 299 hp) and quattro; the US gets a 435 hp 2.9 twin-turbo petrol, plus a 591 hp V8 SQ9. Orders open from July 2026, from €108,400 (about $118,100) in Germany, or $87,700 in the US.

UC San Diego researchers found that KARR, an aftermarket alarm installed at dealerships across Southern California, uses one Bluetooth authentication key across all 2.2 million units sold since 2017, letting anyone nearby unlock the car, kill the ignition or sound the horn. Acrisure, which makes KARR, shipped a patch on July 20, 2026, about 18 months after the researchers first reported the flaw. Fixing it requires the owner to install an app update; roughly half of owners do not know the alarm is even in their car.

Lexus will update the LS flagship sedan for Japan on September 10, 2026, dropping the non-hybrid V6 in favor of a hybrid-only lineup and trimming the range to three grades. Australia gets the same update toward the end of 2026 and keeps selling the car into 2027. The US drops the LS after the 2026 model year, sending it off with a 250-unit Heritage Edition.

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 310,667 vehicles in the US after moisture can enter a faulty door-latch microswitch supplied for the driver's door, which can stop the car from detecting that the door is open and keep the electronic parking brake or Auto-Park from engaging. No accidents have been reported.

Mercedes-Benz has revealed the third-generation GLA, launching as a full EV before hybrids follow. Three variants span 224 to 354 hp, up to 657 km WLTP range, and charging up to 320 kW. The compact SUV grows 155 mm to 4,565 mm long, and orders are open in Europe now.

BMW is launching its largest workforce reduction in years, aiming to cut around 8,000 positions by the end of 2027 - about 20% of administrative and engineering roles in Germany and roughly 5% of its global headcount. Factory workers are exempt, and the company points to a nearly 30% sales drop in China and a shrinking automotive margin.

Honda will pause production of the manual-transmission Civic Si and Acura Integra A-Spec after the 2026 model year ends. Officially the company cites "changing business conditions," but a leaked internal letter from its Canadian plant points to EPA certification trouble for the shared 200 hp 1.5L turbo engine. Honda calls it a pause, not a cancellation, with dealer stock expected to last into early 2027. The Type R and Type S, built around a different 2.0L engine, are unaffected.

Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed the Discovery Sport will finish its production run in December 2026. Orders will close earlier in parts of Europe, where the model does not meet incoming EU safety rules. No direct successor is planned; JLR's electrification push centers on a new Freelander family developed with Chery.

Rezvani has unveiled the Dune, an off-road supercar built from a Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato. A new carbon-fiber body, taller suspension and 31-inch off-road tires surround a 5.2-liter V10 supercharged to 800 hp, up from the Sterrato's stock 610 hp. Just 7 will be built; pricing is unannounced, and a $1,500 deposit is open.

Subaru has confirmed a delay to the Getaway, a three-row electric crossover it had planned to launch in the US in late 2026. The company says it needs more time to finish development and has not given a new date. The Getaway will be Subaru's most powerful production car, with 420 hp, standard all-wheel drive and up to 483 km of range.