Porsche launches Mission S, its new supercar, while Toyota reveals name for Corolla Cross pickup
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Porsche launches Mission S, its new supercar, while Toyota reveals name for Corolla Cross pickup

Porsche has presented the Mission S, its latest supercar, which succeeds the 918 Spyder. Unlike previous concepts that seemed ready for the road, this model is a real production sports car. The Mission S design maintains the Porsche identity at the front, with circular headlights in more elaborate frames, and its overall silhouette resembles the 911, although it is more elongated due to the mid-rear engine layout.

An aesthetic highlight is the fenders, which are prominent at the front and appear to float above the aerodynamic elements of the bumper and side skirts. At the rear, they form a frame that encloses the rear wing, creating what Porsche calls 'floating volumes.' This approach reflects the clean and well-defined lines typical of the manufacturer's modern cars, prioritizing refined proportions and contours over excessively detailed elements.

The conceptual references cited by Porsche for the Mission S include the Porsche 959, the legendary 911 GT1, and the 550 Spyder. Internally, the philosophy follows the tradition of Stuttgart, presenting a contemporary and harmonious cockpit that subtly evokes old 911s, with a horizontal dashboard and instruments concentrated in front of the driver. There is a mix of analog and digital elements, where the tachometer is physical, but the display is a configurable screen depending on the driving mode.

The priority of the Mission S is the driving experience, which led Porsche to opt for a minimalist setup that dispenses with a multimedia center, replaced by a MagSafe phone mount. The center console features physical buttons for essential functions, and the gearshift has adjustable height. Although Porsche has not detailed the mechanical assembly, rumors point to an eight-cylinder boxer engine, possibly with a hybrid system. The absence of a clutch pedal suggests an automatic transmission, and the upward-facing rear fan reinforces the possibility of it being a boxer and not an electric powertrain.

The Mission S integrates Porsche's 'Sportwagenschmiede ’35' strategy, but there is no release forecast. It was only mentioned that it will be positioned above the 911, and Tobias Sühlmann, the manufacturer's design department director, stated that it will serve as inspiration for future models.

Toyota Corolla Cross pickup already has a name and should arrive next year

The monocoque pickup market in Brazil is diversifying, and Toyota will enter this segment using the Corolla Cross as a base. According to reports from Autoesporte, this version has already been named Corolla Deck. Designed to compete with models such as Fiat Toro, Renault Niagara, Ram Rampage, BYD Mako, and Volkswagen Tukan, the Corolla Deck will be offered only with a double cabin and will feature hybrid technology.

The mechanical assembly is reportedly set to use the 2.0L 16-valve naturally aspirated, Atkinson cycle engine found in the Toyota Prius. This engine produces 152 hp and 19.4 kgfm, but combined with an electric motor, it can reach 223 hp, although this value may be adjusted in Brazil to run on ethanol and gasoline, applicable to the more expensive versions. In the most basic configurations, the Corolla Deck should operate only with the 2.0L engine, delivering 175 hp and 20.8 kgfm of torque.

Stylistically, the pickup is expected to incorporate elements from the Toyota Corolla Cross, especially in the doors and A-pillars, but the front will have its own design. Although there is no official debut date in Brazil, production is estimated to begin in Sorocaba (SP) in mid-2027, with a launch scheduled for the second half of the year.

Hyundai i20 sells poorly and HB20 remains in line

The Hyundai i20, with its design blending characteristics of a compact SUV and a hatchback, has not achieved the expected success in its initial months of commercialization. Due to this performance, Hyundai has altered its plans, deciding to keep the HB20 hatchback in production for a longer period than initially planned.

The figures justify this decision: between June and September, the i20 registered approximately 7,700 sales in Brazil, while the HB20 sold about 53,000 units in the same interval. Based on this, Hyundai opted to extend the HB20 as the entry-level model in the country indefinitely. An version with a 1.0L naturally aspirated engine producing 80 hp and 9.6 kgfm of torque, always with a five-speed manual transmission, priced under R$ 100,000, is expected to be revealed in the coming months.

In contrast, the HB20S sedan will end its cycle at the end of this year, without an immediate replacement. The discontinuation of the three smaller volumes reflects the growing preference of the Brazilian market for compact crossovers.

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Rafael Câmara confirmed as Haas driver, plus news on GTA VI and automotive launches
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Rafael Câmara confirmed as Haas driver, plus news on GTA VI and automotive launches

Haas Team announced the hiring of Rafael Câmara to replace Esteban Ocon. The Brazilian driver joins the team and will be a teammate of Oliver Bearman in the 2027 Formula 1 season.

Câmara expressed great satisfaction with the opportunity, thanking Gene Haas and Ayao Komatsu for the trust placed in his career. He also expressed gratitude to the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy for continuous support in his development, as well as to his family.

The rise of the Pernambuco native to Formula 1 is the result of a consolidated career in junior categories, including victories in Formula 3 and outstanding performance in Formula 2, where he scored 207 points and led the championship. His talent caught the attention of Gene Haas during tests held in Portimão, Portugal, where he surpassed the times of Oliver Bearman and other competitors. The technical collaboration between Haas and Scuderia Ferrari, maintained by the Drivers Academy program, was also a relevant factor.

With this confirmation, Rafael Câmara becomes the 34th Brazilian to compete in Formula 1. Considering that Audi has already confirmed Gabriel Bortoleto's permanence in the team in 2027, the category will once again have two Brazilian drivers on the grid, something that had not happened since 2016, when Brazil had Felipe Massa and Felipe Nasr.

Grand Theft Auto VI gets launch trailer

Grand Theft Auto VI received a launch trailer less than a month before its premiere, scheduled for November 19. Although the video does not show many elements to justify the term 'Auto', a short night race scene featuring supercars appears around the 1:00 mark. However, the big attraction lies in the possibility of virtually stealing and driving any vehicle on a vast open map, representing the return of Vice City, the setting of the classic GTA from 2002.

It is speculated that the new iteration will bring more realistic physics, requiring greater caution while driving, and that vehicle damage will be more severe, significantly impacting drivability compared to GTA V. Another notable point is the soundtrack, composed by the French duo Justice. The track 'Flower in a Hurricane' features appearances by SZA, Tame Impala, and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and was created specifically for GTA VI, combining eighties pop rock with synthesizers.

Porsche Mission S spotted with fan inspired by the 917

Porsche's new supercar, the Mission S, was scheduled for a launch on the 15th, but a specific detail leaked online. An aerial photo revealed a fan located at the rear of the vehicle, above the engine compartment, which strongly resembles the part used in the iconic Porsche 917, which competed at Le Mans in the 1960s and 1970s.

This leak occurred during an official photoshoot on the streets of New York, before the formal presentation. The images show a mid-rear engine supercar with robust fenders and an integrated spoiler in the style of the Porsche 959. The silhouette also recalls recent projects, such as the Marc Philipp Gemballa Marsien, and features a roof with dual glass panels and a prominent ridge extending from the windshield to the base of the rear pillar.

The presence of two sets of overlapping exhaust outlets indicates that the prototype uses combustion propulsion, with speculation about the use of an eight-cylinder boxer engine combined with a hybrid system featuring electric motors on the front axle. The model aims to position Porsche in a segment of supercars with higher production volume and better profit margins, unlike ultra-limited hypercars such as the 918 Spyder. More details will be provided by the manufacturer at the official event.

Chevrolet says electric Corvette is inevitable

Four years have passed since Mark Reuss, President of General Motors, disclosed plans for a fully electric version of the Corvette. In 2022, the E-Ray, a hybrid variant of the American mid-rear engine sports car, was also presented.

Although the E-Ray was later discontinued (replaced by the ZR1X and the Grand Sport X, the latter expected next year), the electric Corvette remains a non-negotiable goal, according to Chevrolet, merely postponing its arrival. Tony Roma, chief engineer of the Corvette and high-performance vehicle division at GM, confirmed in an interview with the podcast The Drivecast that a 100% electric Corvette is the brand's ultimate goal, although he avoided defining deadlines or release dates.

Given the maturity of the C8 generation in the market, the most likely prediction is that the project will be reserved for the next generation, the C9. This strategy also reflects the market's caution regarding fully electric supercars, which still face resistance among purist audiences. Thus, it is expected that the battery version will coexist with the combustion versions, facilitating a gradual transition without losing the traditional appeal of the Corvette.

Renault receives R$ 181.8 million from BNDES for new hybrid powertrain

The National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) will invest R$ 181.8 million in Renault's operation in Brazil. This contribution, granted through the BNDES Mais Inovação program, aims to support the development of a new electrified propulsion system. This amount is part of a total investment of R$ 5.8 billion planned by the automaker between 2025 and 2027, focused on modernizing the industrial complex located in São José dos Pinhais, PR.

The engineering of this project centers on the Hybrid E-Tech 4x4 flex fuel system, which eliminates traditional mechanical connections between the axles. The setup combines a 1.3 turbo flex engine in the front with a 48-volt network and an electric motor dedicated exclusively to driving the rear wheels on demand. Although the final specifications for the national market have not yet been detailed, the arrangement uses references from existing international configurations with a secondary rear drive and high-efficiency batteries.

For BNDES, this initiative fulfills a crucial role in the decarbonization strategy of the Brazilian automotive sector. The institution emphasizes that betting on flexible electrified architectures positions the local industry competitively in the global energy transition, ensuring the development of solutions suitable for the country's energy matrix. Information indicates that the Boreal SUV will be the first national model to integrate the electrified 4x4 system starting in 2027.

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