Rubber Therapy

Ineos has revealed an armored version of the Grenadier designed as a potential replacement for some of the British Army’s light mobility vehicles. The Grenadier EPV features a completely new armored monocoque hull mounted onto the Grenadier’s ladder frame, providing STANAG Level 2 ballistic protection. It also gets upgraded suspension, blast protection features and three point harnesses for the occupants. The prototype was built in Turkey, but if selected by the British Ministry of Defence, production would take place in the UK. The program could eventually provide thousands of vehicles across nine different configurations.

BMW is expanding its use of real world driving data to improve its driver assistance systems. With customer consent, the new iX3 and other Neue Klasse models can collect event based video and sensor data from actual traffic situations across the EU. Up to 120 seconds of data can be captured around relevant events, helping BMW understand situations that are difficult to reproduce in testing. The data can then be used to improve driver assistance and partially automated driving through future software updates.

Mercedes-Benz has patented a new off-road system that could allow a future SUV to float on water. The patent describes a sealed vehicle with buoyancy elements designed to keep it afloat during extreme water crossings. The system could use sensors to detect water conditions and automatically control the vehicle while floating. Mercedes has not confirmed a production model, but the patent shows the company is exploring some seriously extreme off-road capabilities. ➖➖➖➖➖➖ @TheRubberTherapy

Dacia has revealed the new 2027 Spring, making its affordable EV larger, more practical, and more capable while keeping its low cost philosophy. The new Spring is 18 cm longer and will be built in Slovenia rather than China. It uses a 27.5 kWh battery with around 250 km of range and an 80 hp electric motor. Prices start at just €17,900, with deliveries beginning in early 2027. Since 2021, Dacia has sold around 210,000 Springs, making it one of Europe’s most successful affordable EVs.

Get to know the original Audi A2 and its roots The Audi A2 was one of Audi’s most ambitious small cars. Introduced in 1999, it used an aluminium space frame, lightweight construction, and highly aerodynamic design to achieve remarkable efficiency. The 1.2 TDI could achieve around 3 L/100 km, while the compact body offered surprisingly good interior space and practicality. Audi built around 176,000 examples before production ended in 2005. It wasn't a commercial success, but its advanced engineering eventually turned it into a cult classic among Audi enthusiasts. The A2 was essentially Audi experimenting with the future, decades before efficiency, lightweight construction, and aerodynamics became central to modern cars. ➖➖➖➖➖➖ @TheRubberTherapy

Here's some food for thought: There is a lot we can learn from how the modern automotive market works, especially when it comes to public perception and social media. Look at what is happening right now. Ferrari’s Luce and Jaguar’s new direction have faced massive backlash, while BMW’s upcoming electric M3 has managed to receive praise even from people who normally dislike EVs. Meanwhile, the AMG GT EV 4 Door has almost completely disappeared from the conversation. Design obviously plays a huge role in a car’s success, but in the age of the internet, PR and marketing can be just as important. You are no longer presenting a product only to your customers. You are presenting it to the entire internet, where first impressions can define the narrative before most people ever experience the car. Personally, I think the Jaguar Type 00 was a flawless design exercise for the future of the automobile. The Ferrari Luce, while certainly not the exotic Ferrari supercar many expected, is still an extremely exotic practical crossover with Ferrari dynamics and exceptional craftsmanship. But both companies made serious mistakes in how they presented these products. Jaguar failed to communicate its intentions properly. Ferrari went in the opposite direction and barely allowed the outside world to experience the Luce at all. Media were heavily restricted, cameras were taped over, independent photography and filming were prohibited, and journalists were given only around 30 minutes with the car under strict supervision. The internet was then left primarily with Ferrari’s own carefully controlled imagery. That is an enormous problem when your product is controversial by design. BMW took a completely different approach. Before showing the production M3 EV, they gave people something to get excited about. The Vision Neue Klasse M concept and the VDX technology demonstrator established the design language and, more importantly, showed what the car could actually do dynamically. By the time the production car appeared, people already understood the idea behind it. Mercedes seems to have taken yet another approach with the AMG GT EV 4 Door. The design is extremely aggressive, perhaps too aggressive for the current regulatory environment, and some of its initial presentation choices did little to help. But Mercedes has gradually changed how the car is shown, with darker and more restrained specifications allowing the design to appear less extreme while the initial shock fades. None of this means PR can make a bad car successful. The product still has to deliver. But the modern automotive industry has made one thing very clear. You can build an exceptional car and still lose the public narrative. You can build something controversial and successfully explain why it exists. And sometimes, the difference between the two is not the car itself, but how the world is allowed to experience it. We could probably spend all day studying these three cases and taking notes on what makes a modern automotive product succeed or fail...

Mercedes AMG is reportedly bringing the V8 back to the CLE with an ultra limited Mythos edition, expected to arrive in 2027. The CLE 63 Mythos is expected to use a 4.0 liter twin turbo V8 producing around 641 hp, making it significantly more powerful than the regular CLE lineup. The car will sit above the standard AMG models as an exclusive, high performance coupe, with production expected to be extremely limited. Mercedes is positioning the Mythos models as its most exclusive road cars, built for a small number of collectors. The CLE 63 Mythos is expected to be revealed in 2027, giving the V8 powered CLE a very different future from the more mainstream versions.

Audi has revived the A2 name as a fully electric compact hatchback, bringing a focus on efficiency, practicality, and affordability rather than outright performance. The A2 e tron will be offered with four power outputs ranging from 170 to 327 hp and three battery options, with the largest reaching 84 kWh. The longest range version can travel up to 646 km on the WLTP cycle. Efficiency is one of its biggest strengths. The most efficient version consumes just 12.8 kWh/100 km, while a drag coefficient of only 0.24 helps reduce energy consumption at higher speeds. The A2 e tron also uses LFP battery technology and can support fast charging, making it a practical everyday EV. Prices start at around €38,200, putting it well below Audi’s larger electric models. Rather than simply reviving an old name, Audi is using the A2 to return to the original formula of a small, lightweight, highly efficient premium car. ➖➖➖➖➖➖ @TheRubberTherapy

Rolls Royce has nearly closed the sales gap with Bentley, marking a major shift in the ultra luxury car market. Back in 2003, Bentley sold around 3.4 cars for every Rolls Royce. By 2025, that gap had fallen to just 1.8 to 1. The reason is simple. Rolls Royce has steadily moved further upmarket, with models like the Cullinan and Phantom focusing on extreme luxury, exclusivity, and much higher prices. Bentley still sells more cars, but Rolls Royce is proving that selling fewer cars at much higher prices can be an extremely successful strategy. ➖➖➖➖➖➖ @TheRubberTherapy

JLR’s latest job cuts are part of something bigger. The company is moving toward a lower volume, higher value luxury strategy, rather than trying to compete on volume with larger and more profitable automakers. JLR has historically struggled to generate the same level of profitability as many of its luxury competitors. Building fewer cars can reduce manufacturing costs, regulatory exposure, R&D requirements, and the number of customers requiring after sales support. But there is another important side to this strategy. By producing fewer cars and focusing on higher margin products, JLR can put more of its resources into developing its new electric vehicles. This isn’t simply about increasing profits. It is about making the business smaller, more manageable, and less exposed to the risk of losing profitability or eventually becoming financially unsustainable. Jaguar’s new ultra luxury direction is arguably the clearest example of where JLR wants to go. ➖➖➖➖➖➖ @TheRubberTherapy

Jaguar Land Rover has opened a voluntary redundancy program as the company looks to cut costs amid weaker sales, tariffs, and the expensive transition to electric vehicles. JLR is targeting around £1.7 billion in savings, with up to 4,000 salaried positions potentially affected. The company says the program is voluntary and is part of a wider effort to make the business more efficient. The cuts come as JLR prepares for a major transformation, particularly with Jaguar moving toward its new all electric lineup. ➖➖➖➖➖➖ @TheRubberTherapy

Tesla’s Cybercab is now under investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, just days after its commercial robotaxi launch in Austin. The probe is looking into how Tesla self certified the Cybercab under current federal safety standards, despite the vehicle having no steering wheel, pedals, or traditional side mirrors. NHTSA is reviewing Tesla’s technical data and certification process for up to 1,000 Cybercabs. The investigation does not mean the Cybercab has been found unsafe, but rather that regulators are checking whether Tesla’s certification correctly applies to a vehicle designed without conventional driver controls. ➖➖➖➖➖➖ @TheRubberTherapy

Mitsubishi has shown a wild Ralliart version of the new Pajero, inspired by the brand’s legendary Dakar rally heritage. The concept features aggressive rally styling, wider bodywork, larger off road tires, upgraded suspension, and Ralliart graphics. Unfortunately, Mitsubishi says this particular Pajero Ralliart is not planned for production. Instead, it serves as a showcase for what the revived Pajero could look like with a serious motorsport influence. ➖➖➖➖➖➖ @TheRubberTherapy

Polestar has teased the Formula 2030 concept, giving us the first look at the brand’s next design era. The concept introduces a more angular, low and wide design while keeping Polestar’s signature Dual Blade headlights. It was created under new design chief Philipp Römers and will preview styling for the next Polestar 2, arriving in 2027, and the upcoming Polestar 7 SUV in 2028. The full Formula 2030 concept will be revealed in October, showing where Polestar’s design is heading for the rest of the decade. ➖➖➖➖➖➖ @TheRubberTherapy