From AMG’s barking EV hyper-sled to the ballistic new Corvette ZR1X, plus Stellantis begging Brussels and Maserati on the chopping block – while China plays chess!
Some car news weeks are quiet. Others are loud. And some? They fake the sound of a V8 through headlights. Welcome to this week’s utterly bonkers motoring headlines – where Mercedes goes sci-fi, Corvette goes ballistic, and Stellantis goes… well, slightly desperate.
The AMG GT XX – EV Performance with a Roaring Face
Mercedes-AMG has dropped the GT XX Concept and it’s everything you expect from a brand known for absurdity, power, and now… biotechnology?
This Sunset Beam Orange missile packs over 1,360bhp from three axial flux motors – tech originally developed in the UK – and will do 0–62mph in a claimed 2.5 seconds. But forget the numbers for a sec. It literally growls through its headlight-mounted speakers, simulating a V8 soundtrack like it’s 2035 and the cars have feelings.
There’s no leather here – instead, it’s lab-grown silk, recycled racing tyres, and enough glowing orange tubes to make Tron jealous. The wheels even open up mid-drive to cool the brakes using self-powered actuators. Yep. The future has arrived. And it’s very, very orange.
Corvette ZR1X – The American Missile
Meanwhile, over in Kentucky, Chevrolet said “hold my beer” and unveiled the 2026 Corvette ZR1X – the most unhinged ‘Vette yet. It throws 1,064bhp from a twin-turbo LT7 V8 to the rear, adds an 186bhp front electric motor, and hits 0–60mph in under TWO seconds.
Yes, that makes it faster than the AMG off the line. Plus it does the quarter mile in under 9 seconds. There’s even a “Push-to-Pass” button like it’s an IndyCar. This thing isn’t a car – it’s a cold war weapon on Cup 2 Rs.
It comes with 1.9G braking, active aero, AWD, and track modes named things like “Qualifying” and “Endurance”. Basically, it’s the raciest hybrid you can buy without a racing licence.
Volvo Quietly Crushes It
While the Americans and Germans flexed hard, Volvo just quietly made history. The XC60 has officially overtaken the iconic 240 as Volvo’s best-selling car of all time, with 2.7 million sold.
Yep, that big comfy SUV you see in Waitrose car parks is now a record-breaker. The new one looks slicker, drives smoother, and in plug-in hybrid form, it’s doing half its mileage on electric-only. Sensible, understated, brilliant – just like a decent cup of Swedish coffee.
Stellantis Wants EV Help – And Might Ditch Maserati
Now for the chaos. Stellantis – the mega-conglomerate behind Peugeot, Fiat, Alfa, and others – is lobbying the EU to relax EV rules for compact cars. Think “Kei cars for Europe” – cheaper, lighter EVs with lower safety standards.
But hang on… that’s not all. Behind the scenes, Reuters says Stellantis is seriously considering selling off Maserati. The brand has lost over €260 million this year alone, and sales have halved. Internally, some say it’s dead weight. Others say selling it would ruin Stellantis’ premium image. Either way, McKinsey’s on the case – and when the consultants show up, you know things aren’t pretty.
Maserati, once the sound of Italian thunder, might soon become someone else’s problem. Possibly someone in China.
China Plays Chess, Europe Plays Catch-Up
Speaking of which – China’s EV makers are doubling their market share in Europe. Brands like BYD, Leapmotor, and MG are climbing fast, even as the EU imposes tariffs.
But it gets murkier. According to Reuters, China is also faking some of its EV exports by registering brand-new cars as “used” – shipping them out to Russia and the Middle East to boost sales stats and move inventory. It’s smoke and mirrors, and it’s working.
As I said in the video: China is playing international trade chess, while Europe’s still trying to find the plug socket.
From simulated V8s to disappearing Maseratis, this week proves one thing – the car world is on a collision course with the future, and no one’s quite sure who’s driving.
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