Polestar has come a long way from its origins as Volvo’s performance division, evolving into a standalone electric vehicle manufacturer. But with this shift in direction, it raises the inevitable question: Will future Volvo models get high-performance variants like BMW’s M division or Mercedes’ AMG lineup? Well, independent designer Jordan Rubinstein-Towler has ventured into this very idea with his creation, the 240R, which is a high-performance, retro-futuristic take on his own Volvo 240 concept.

A Nod to the Past with a Twist

In keeping with the spirit of the original design study, the Volvo 240R blends the unmistakable boxy shape of the old 200 Series with modern styling. The R version introduces a sporty bodykit—think deeper bumpers, side skirts, a subtle diffuser, and a ducktail spoiler. It’s like the 240 got a solid workout, but still managed to keep its classic personality.

More: Modern Volvo 240 Design Study Proves Boxy Can Be Sexy Again

The renders speak for themselves. Rubinstein-Towler’s design work strikes a perfect balance with black and body-colored accents on the revamped parts, delivering that classic yet contemporary look. To really emphasize the performance angle, the car rolls on new black five-spoke alloy wheels, an homage to Volvo’s sporty heritage.

In one of the renderings, the sedan poses next to a Volvo 240 racer that enjoyed great success in touring car championships back in the ’80s. Likewise, the wagon is joined by the Volvo 850 R from the mid-90s.

Modern Interior, Retro Vibes

But the 240R isn’t just about looking fast on the outside—Rubinstein-Towler has also done some work on the interior. Highlights include the blue upholstery that brings a splash of color to the retro-inspired bucket seats, along with a fresh new steering wheel design. The digital cockpit, while updated, keeps things minimalist with a few smaller displays, paired with physical controls to preserve that tactile feel on the center console.

Illustrations Jordan Rubinstein-Towler

Power to Match the Looks?

Now, if this car ever made it to production, what’s going to power this modern interpretation of the classic ‘brick’? Since the modern reimagining of the Volvo 240 is an electric vehicle, the (fictional) 240R would also be expected to run on a zero-emission powertrain.

A quick peek into the Geely parts bin—Volvo’s parent company—shows that a high-performance electric car is well within reach. Take the Twin Motor Performance version of the new Volvo ES90, for instance; it produces a combined 671 hp (680 PS / 500 kW). That’s plenty of power for both a high-performance sedan and wagon.

Speaking of the ES90, the electric liftback sedan recently debuted as a direct rival to the BMW i5 and Mercedes EQE. From Rubinstein-Towler’s renderings, it looks like his 240R proposal could slot in just below that model, potentially filling the gap left by the soon-to-be-discontinued S60/V60.

More: Volvo Doesn’t Need Wagons Anymore, Says SUVs Are The Future

Such an offering would compete against the upcoming BMW Neue Klasse i3 and the electric Mercedes C-Class. BMW M has already teased a high-performance version of the electric sedan, while Mercedes is expected to release an AMG version sooner or later.

Hopefully, Volvo’s design team is paying attention to the innovative concepts emerging from independent designers. Perhaps they’ll find some inspiration for future models – assuming they’re not too busy figuring out how to make their SUVs even more ubiquitous.

Illustrations Jordan Rubinstein-Towler

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Alfa Romeo is gearing up to retire the current-generation Giulia sedan after a decade of service. But before you start tearing up, don’t reach for the tissues just yet. Production may be winding down in the next few months, but the Giulia will still be hanging around in North America until 2026. And before you get too sentimental, the nameplate is definitely sticking around for the long haul.

Read: 2027 Alfa Romeo Giulia Will Be A Crossover, Abandoning Its Sedan Roots

The Italian automaker is already hard at work on a next-generation Giulia, set to launch alongside an all-new Stelvio. Both models are expected to make their debut sometime next year.

What Will the New Giulia Look Like?

Given that prototypes of the new Giulia have yet to be spotted out in public, it’s a little difficult to know what it’ll look like. Recent reports suggest that Alfa Romeo is considering a drastic shift, with the next Giulia potentially evolving into a fastback-style crossover, something in the vein of the Peugeot 408 or Kia EV6.

We toyed around with renderings of this sedan-crossover hybrid a couple of months ago, but digital artist Theophilus Chin (also known as Theottle) had a different approach. On Instagram, he posted a question: “What if Alfa Romeo reskins the Giulia while riding on the talented Giorgio RWD platform?”

A Fresh Take on the Current Giulia

Chin’s renderings show what the new Giulia could look like if Alfa Romeo decided to stick with the current chassis, extending its life rather than moving to the STLA Large platform. It’s a theoretical take, sure, but one that’s interesting, if not entirely practical.

To reimagine the car, Theottle started off by pasting the body of the Xiaomi SU7 onto the skin of the current car before making a series of significant alterations to it. It’s an odd choice, we admit, but somehow, it works.

More: Toyota bZ86 Coupe Study Imagines An Electric GR86

While the SU7 looks very different than the Giulia, it does have some sexy lines and creases, many of which have been retained in these renderings. However, the front end has been overhauled, and now includes identifiable Alfa Romeo headlights that form part of the triangular-shaped grille.

There’s also a lot to like about the rear, which sports LED taillights reminiscent of those on the current Subaru WRX. However, this time around, they’re linked by a light bar for a more modern touch.

The Future of the Giulia

If the reports are to be believed, the new Giulia will be underpinned by Stellantis’s STLA Large architecture, already being used by the new Dodge Charger. All-electric versions will be offered, but Alfa Romeo has also said it’s working on different hybrid options.

Recent statements from the brand also indicate flagship Quadrifoglio versions of the new Giulia and Stelvio could retain six-cylinder engines, perhaps related to the beloved 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 these models currently use. We’ll see if that comes to fruition, but for now, it’s just a thought.

There’s no shortage of chatter about the expanding future of Toyota’s GR lineup, which is expected to include an array of high-performance sports cars ranging from a new Celica and MR2 to the next Supra and even a GR supercar. While many of these machines will be powered by traditional gasoline engines and hybrids, an independent digital artist has introduced a completely electric twist to the mix.

Enter the Toyota bZ86, a fictional creation by digital artist Theophilus Chin. The idea behind the this coupe study is to retain the sporty proportions of Toyota’s current GR86, but with an entirely new, electrified twist.

More: These Are All The Future Sports Cars Coming From Toyota GR

Despite borrowing the GR86’s general shape, the bZ86 adopts a completely different design language. In keeping with its electric nature, Chin took inspiration from the recently revealed Toyota CH-R+ crossover and the facelifted bZ4x, resulting in a sleek, futuristic look.

At the front, the electric sports car features a hammerhead-like nose, flanked by sharp headlights and wide bumper intakes. The side profile is aggressively sculpted, with a bi-tone finish on the roofline and side skirts adding a touch of flair. And, of course, the oversized charging port on the front fenders leaves no doubt—this coupe needs to be plugged-in.

Illustrations: Theottle

A Familiar Rear with a Fresh Twist

The rear of the bZ86 borrows heavily from the CH-R+ crossover, with its full-width LED taillights and sloping rear glass. While the plastic cladding on the rear bumper may not be to everyone’s taste, it’s balanced out by the addition of a sporty diffuser. That said, the placement of the license plate holder could use a little more subtlety.

More: Mazda Inline-Six Rumor For New GR Supra And RX-7 Sounds Too Wild To Be True

Since this is purely a digital concept, there are no hard specs to go on. However, the dual-motor setup from the C-HR+, which puts out a combined 338 horsepower (252 kW / 343 PS), could easily serve as the basis for an electric equivalent of the GR86. Pair that with the crossover’s 77 kWh battery pack, and you could expect a range north of 326 miles (525 km) in a more aerodynamic coupe form.

Despite the cool factor of the project, Toyota Gazoo Racing has no plans of introducing an electric sportscar – at least in the near future. The truth is that most buyers will be better off with the upcoming gas-guzzling Celica, MR2, GR86, and GR Supra, temporarily leaving the concept of electric mobility to the hands of family-focused SUVs.

While the bZ86 is an undeniably cool proposal, Toyota Gazoo Racing has no plans to bring an electric sports car to life—at least not anytime in the near future. For now, most enthusiasts will have to do with gasoline-powered options, such as the upcoming Celica, MR2, GR86, and GR Supra, leaving the world of electric mobility to Toyota’s family-friendly SUVs.

Last month, Mercedes-AMG previewed the all-electric super SUV it’s currently working on. This new model is being developed alongside AMG’s first in-house electric sedan, and much like that car, is bound to court controversy. After all, many enthusiasts are accustomed to AMG models with thumping V8 engines, and this is partly why the four-cylinder hybrid C 63 has been a flop. However, the German brand believes electric is the future, and it’s cooking up something rather special.

Prototypes spotted by our spy photographers, along with official images released by Mercedes, were heavily covered in body cladding and camouflage, obscuring most of the design details. However, there’s a chance the EV, which is rumored to receive the GT SUV moniker, will have many similarities to its sedan counterpart that’s tipped to draw inspiration from the 2022 Mercedes Vision AMG Concept.

Read: First Look At Mercedes-AMG’s 1,000 HP Electric SUV Flagship

With this in mind, artist Nikita Chuyko created illustrations for Kolesa based on the test mules and recent renderings of AMG’s Taycan fighter, offering a preview of what the new SUV might look like. If it ends up resembling these images, it will certainly stand out in the Mercedes lineup, though we’re not entirely convinced it’ll be for all the right reasons.

The front of the SUV showcased here is dominated by a faux grille, which is to be expected in an EV, while the headlights are connected by a light bar. They also sport the Three-Pointed Star DRLs coming to a slew of new Mercedes models.

For as interesting as the front of this rendering is, the rear end is even more so. Taking cues from the Vision AMG Concept’s styling, it sports a wraparound LED taillight design, which brings to mind the Kia EV6 – an interesting choice, though one that works better on the Mercedes.

Power, Performance, and Ambition

Moving away from the design, the GT SUV is expected to mirror the size of the 2022 Vision AMG concept, stretching about 5.1 meters (200 inches) in length, with a wheelbase pushing over 3 meters (118 inches). That’s a bigger footprint than the gas-guzzling AMG GLE 63, putting it in the same league as the fully electric EQS SUV flagship.

Under the skin, the new AMG electric SUV will be built on the brand’s proprietary AMG.EA platform, featuring an 800-volt electrical system for faster charging and greater efficiency. It will also sport newly developed axial-flux electric motors from the British company Yasa, potentially delivering more than 1,000 hp. That kind of power will make it a serious contender against other electric crossovers like the Lotus Eletre R, which puts out 905 hp.

A release date hasn’t been announced yet, however it’s likely that the production version will debut in 2026, with sales kicking off later that year or early 2027, depending on the market, just ahead of its Porsche K1 rival. In theory, it’s a serious competitor for any luxury electric crossover, but its commercial success depends largely not just on its tech or power figures, but its design as well.

Baldauf for Carscoops

Volkswagen has confirmed that a fully electric ID.2 GTI is coming next year, but it seems that an even smaller hot hatchback might be in the works. A VW board member has revealed that an ID.1 GTI could happen, given there is enough customer demand.

While the ID.2 GTI will carry the torch from the soon-to-be discontinued Polo GTI, a possible ID.1 GTI could serve as a successor to the Up! GTI. The smallest member of the future GTI lineup would also be the most affordable, making hot hatch thrills accessible to a wider audience.

More: VW Polo To Live On With A 2025 Facelift Because Not Everything Has To Be An EV

When asked by Autocar about the possibility of an ID.1 GTI, Volkswagen Brand Board Member for Technical Development Kai Grunitz said: “It could happen because we’re using modules from the MEB platform. So it could. But it depends on various factors, including the reaction of customers to this car.”

However, Grunitz mentioned the potential overlap with the slightly larger ID.2 GTI that will launch in 2026: “Also we have the ID.Every1 and we have the ID.2all, which will get a GTI version. Having everything in the ID.1 would mean it’s not necessary to have everything in the ID.2. The ID.2 is larger and has a lot more functions and more value. It’s the same as with the Up! and the Polo. So we will see.”

Illustrations: Thanos Pappas for CarScoops

It seems that the sales performance of the upcoming ID.2 GTI might determine whether the ID.1 GTI gets made or not as VW is dipping its toes on the performance EV market. Given that the strict emission regulations have drastically increased the R&D cost for ICE-powered hot hatches, the fully electric equivalents seem to be the only way forward in this segment.

VW Has All The Right Ingredients For A Small GTI

The ID.1 and the ID.2 will ride on the same MEB Entry architecture, with a single-motor, FWD layout. In the ID.Every1 Concept the powertrain is good for 94 hp (95 PS / 70 kW), but the ID.2all Concept had a more potent motor generating 228 hp (170 kW / 231 PS). The latter sounds like a great fit for a small and lightweight ID.1 GTI, transforming it into a pocket rocket.

More: VW Brings Back Physical Buttons After Admitting Touchscreens Are A Disaster

Besides the extra power, VW engineers could add a limited-slip differential, a stiffer suspension, and stronger brakes, enhancing the handling credentials of the small EV.

Of course, the performance-focused version of the ID.1 would also benefit from a sporty redesign. Our exclusive rendering borrows styling cues from the ID.GTI concept, transforming the city car into a hot hatch. Modifications could include a new set of alloy wheels, sportier front and rear bumpers, deeper side skirts, a rear spoiler, and GTI emblems.

Given that the launch of the VW ID.1 is scheduled for 2027, a GTI version is at least two or three years away. Hopefully, customers will embrace this new era of performance, motivating automakers to invest in hot versions of their city car and supermini offerings.