Maextro has spent its first year proving a point. The Huawei-backed luxury brand sold more than 17,000 S800 sedans by charging a fraction of what Rolls-Royce and Maybach ask and burying buyers in technology. Now patent images out of China show it aiming the same playbook at the SUV class, with the Cullinan and every other luxury rival in its sights.

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Images show that it’s largely based on the successful Rolls-Royce Ghost-rivaling Maextro S800 sedan. This aligns with the automaker’s plans to further broaden its range, with six new models on the radar, including an MPV and the SUV illustrated here, unnamed for now but rumored to carry the X800 badge.

The Bold And The Ostentatious

If you want your McMansion neighbors to sit up and take notice, then Maextro will certainly do the trick with its bold 5.5-metre-long (over 216 inches) profile, rose gold highlights, and two-tone paintwork. The grille-less front is dominated by ‘C-clamp’ headlamps and dual-layer crystal DRLs, while the main lighting units feature dual-million-pixel ‘Galaxy’ elements that illuminate in a celestial manner.

Lower down, the front fascia features a rose gold mesh intake, and the hood has a central decorative spindle spanning between the badge and windscreen. Jarringly, a LiDAR unit juts out of the roof like a London Taxi, while the profile is highlighted by large polished alloys, flush door handles and thick rear pillars that accentuate its extra length.

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From behind, the surfacing and details are restrained. A slim, full-width LED tail lamp cluster with multilayer projection is intersected by a rose gold applique and horizontal cutouts at the base of the bumper.

A Cabin Built Around Screens

The SUV’s cabin will likely borrow heavily from the S800 sedan pictured above.

Perhaps not as downright opulent as a Rolls-Royce, the SUV should do a pretty good job of blending luxury and tech-laden goodies. Like its S800 sedan sibling, it’s expected to feature three displays running Huawei’s HarmonyOS (driver, infotainment, and passenger) within a single panel. A large augmented reality head-up display should also be standard.

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The celestial headlamp theme is likely to carry inside, with a panoramic roof scattering a constellation of lights. Expect surfaces trimmed in leather, chrome, or crystal, a long list of color combinations, and ambient lighting throughout. Count on at least 43 speakers, zero-gravity rear seats, and an entertainment system with a fold-down TV screen.

Electric And PHEV

Both plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains are expected. The PHEV should use a 1.5-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine purely as a generator, with the dual-motor setup said to produce 523 horsepower. A tri-motor version will push that to an enormous 852 horsepower. Capacity-wise, the PHEV battery will be good for at least 65 kWh.

Going for the all-electric will see power mirror the 523 hp (390 kW) PHEV variant, yet it will pack a larger 95 kWh battery good for a CLTC range of up to 435 miles (700 km). DC fast charging should be good for 10-80% charges within 12 minutes.

Rivals And Reveal

The list of targets is long, ranging from the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Bentley Bentayga, and Mercedes-Maybach GLS to the Range Rover, Genesis GV90, Zeekr 9X, and BYD’s Yangwang U8.

For now it stays an eastern affair, so do not expect one in a US driveway anytime soon. JAC Motors handles production, and an official reveal is penciled in for the coming months.

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Pricing is still guesswork, but expect it to sit above the S800, which runs from ¥708,000 (around $104,000) to roughly ¥1,180,000 ($173,000) fully loaded. Either way it undercuts the ¥5,030,000 ($738,600) the Rolls-Royce Ghost commands in China, a figure nearly double the car’s $370,750 US price. That gap is the whole story behind the S800’s success at home, where it has been the best-selling luxury model above ¥700,000 ($103,000), beating every European rival, Maybach, the Mercedes S-Class, and the Porsche Panamera among them.

Patent images of the Maextro SUV

If those numbers hold, even a $120,000 starting point would land below a BMW iX (¥746,900), let alone the X7 (¥928,000), and a world below the Cullinan, which opens around ¥7.5 million, over $1 million in China once the heavy luxury and import taxes are added.

So which way would you go, the genuine article from Goodwood or the Huawei-backed upstart that promises to do most of the same things for a fraction of the outlay?

The popular Jimny in its current fourth-generation form has been on sale since 2018, which puts Suzuki well into the development cycle for whatever comes next. Until the factory shows its hand, Ford designer Christopher Giroux has put forward his own interpretation, with modularity as the organizing principle.

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Giroux isn’t just another aspiring internet designer but a professional in the field. He spent the past six years designing cars at Ford Europe, and yet the Jimny is personal. His family owned two of the previous-generation cars, and that firsthand experience shaped this project. The result leans into sci-fi flourishes far more than the production car ever would.

Lunar Rover, Not Lunchbox

The boxy silhouette that defined every Jimny before it has been set aside. In its place is a muscular, sculpted body that looks built for a lunar expedition rather than a school run. The face wears minimalist LED headlights and a closed grille flanked by slim cooling intakes, and the rear treatment echoes the same theme to keep things cohesive.

Illustrations: Christopher Giroux

The profile is dominated by chunky multi-spoke wheels on grippy tires, with unusual intakes carved into the leading edge of the doors. Jimny lettering rides on the side skirts, blue LEDs sit on the fenders, and 4×4 decals confirm what the stance has already told you.

However, what is more interesting is the configurable bodystyle. The rear section of the roof can be removed together with the rear windows, creating a small pickup or a semi-convertible off-roader echoing the spirit of the original.

More: The Surprising Reason Why Suzuki Won’t Make A Jimny Pickup

The designer has also created a camper configuration, with a custom-fit tent turning the Jimny into a mobile basecamp. Another highlight is the functional illuminated compass on the hood, with part of it extending inside the cabin.

Illustrations: Christopher Giroux

Frustrated by the current model’s struggle to meet strict emission regulations, which led to its withdrawal from European markets in passenger form, Giroux decided to opt for a fully electric powertrain. Being a conceptual proposal, it carries no estimated output or range figures, but all-wheel drive is a given for anything wearing the Jimny badge.

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Suzuki had initially teased a fully electric version of the Jimny for Europe, but those plans appear to have been shelved. The current model received mild updates in 2025, proving that the company wants to extend its lifecycle without electrifying its tried-and-tested naturally-aspirated 1.5-liter engine.

Illustrations: Christopher Giroux

Mazda’s standing in the performance world right now is pretty thin, especially when you weigh it against a back catalog that includes the Mazdaspeed3 and 6, plus the RX-7 and RX-8. The MX-5 Miata still earns its keep with the purists, but beyond the roadster you have to rewind to the Mazdaspeed era and the days when the rotary ruled the roost to find anything that really mattered.

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That got us thinking. What if Hiroshima’s quietly revived performance arm, Mazda Spirit Racing (MSR), turned its attention to the all-electric Mazda 6e and sharpened its claws? While there’s no indication that such a model is in development, we’ve envisioned what it could look like and explored its performance potential.

Subtle, But Sharp 

Mazda’s design team worked wonders reskinning the Deepal-based base 6e/EZ6, earning it the World Car of the Year Design award for 2026. Rather than ripping up the blueprints, we’ve taken a more restrained approach by giving it a lower, wider stance and aero-focused elements.

Up front, a closed-off grille sports a red-accented honeycomb pattern, while the bumper is reworked with deeper corner intakes and a pronounced splitter to aid front-end handling. In profile, the MSR’s pumped haunches wear larger, dark-finish alloys with Michelin Pilot Sport 5 rubber, while sculpted side skirts add visual aggression.

Around the back, our study sports a larger deployable spoiler, smoked taillights, and a diffuser that actually looks like it does something.

Luxury Focus

Inside, we’ve overhauled the cabin that’s more sport luxury than tarmac racer. The Nappa leather seats have been upgraded with deeper bolstering and RS-style honeycomb inserts. A thick-rim steering wheel, alloy pedals and unique graphics reinforce the performance brief.

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Customers have been vocal about the standard car’s reliance on the touchscreen, so our version brings physical controls back to the base of the infotainment display. The UX gains performance telemetry and driver-configurable drive modes.

Canyon Carving

The standard European market Mazda 6e.

The 6e’s Changan-derived, rear-drive setup hasn’t exactly blown critics away with its uninspiring handling and middling performance. We believe this could be overcome by improved hardware, such as stiffer bushings, lower ride height, and recalibrated electric power steering.

Other upgrades could include adaptive damping, thicker anti-roll bars, and larger brakes with 8-piston calipers. Electric motor torque vectoring would go beyond Mazda’s current G-Vectoring Control software, offering improved turn-in and exit speeds.

Variable drive modes would span from comfort to track, featuring aggressive regen mapping, simulated gear shifts, boost mode, and a stability control system that allows some rear-end slip to aid rotation.

Double Trouble

Unlike the donor car, we envisage the Spirit Racing 6e to be a dual-motor affair with up to 536 horsepower (400 kW). It would be all-wheel-drive, with adjustable rear bias. Performance metrics? Realistically, the 0-60 mph (96 km/h) sprint should be completed within the low 3-second mark.

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Battery-wise, it’ll employ the same 78kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery as standard, delivering a WLTP-rated range of up to 430 miles (550km). DC fast charging will enable 10–80% top ups in 24 minutes.

Amped Rivals

While proposed as a performance-handling EV, the 6e MSR would square against the Tesla Model 3 Performance and Hyundai Ioniq 6 N, rather than BMW’s insane upcoming quad-motor iM3. Other rivals could include the Polestar 2, the BYD Seal Performance, and the MG IM5 Performance.

Should the spirit of Mazdaspeed be revived with the 6e? We’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.

After more than two decades of soldiering on through countless updates, Japan’s most familiar workhorse is finally getting a proper rethink. The Toyota HiAce remains one of the world’s most popular commercial vehicles, but the current H200 generation has been on sale in Japan since 2004, making a strong case for a successor. A new model is rumored to debut by early next year, marking the biggest change in the nameplate’s history.

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In 2019, Toyota introduced the H300 generation of the HiAce, though Japan stuck to the older cabover H200 van. The latter has received countless model year updates over the past 22 years, but it is inevitably getting closer to retirement.

What Will The Next HiAce Look Like?

The Toyota HiAce Concepts that debuted at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show are the best indication of the next generation model, which will finally give Japanese buyers access to a modern Toyota light commercial vehicle (LCV).

One of the concepts features a long-wheelbase, high-roof bodystyle, while the other is a standard van. Both have modern LEDs and clean surfacing inspired by the 2023 Toyota Kayoibako concept. Crucially, while the new HiAce will abandon the cab-over styling of the H200, it will have a shorter hood than the H300, making it more suitable for the tight roads of Japan.

Illustration: Thanos Pappas for CarScoops

Our exclusive rendering previews the upcoming production-spec HiAce as a white commercial van with a high roof and a long wheelbase, riding on black steelies. The narrow side windows of the concepts will likely be reserved for passenger-oriented trims, while the lighting units might gain simpler LED graphics for cost-saving reasons.

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Toyota will most likely offer several bodystyle variants of the LCV, following the example of the current HiAce, which is available in different widths, heights, and lengths. It is safe to assume the new model will also serve as a base for passenger shuttles and even camper conversions.

Furthermore, the lineup will be joined by a smaller van based on the Daihatsu Kayoibako-K concept, designed for urban deliveries and short camping adventures.

TNGA Platform Brings Big Changes

2025 Toyota HiAce Concepts

Local media reports suggest the new HiAce will share components with the H300 generation currently sold in markets such as the Philippines, Thailand, and Australia. The LCV is expected to ride on the TNGA platform, with improvements in safety and ride quality over the aging H200.

Besides switching from a mid-engined to a front-engined layout, the HiAce will reportedly introduce a self-charging hybrid powertrain option. This will likely be more powerful and more efficient than the existing diesel and gasoline engines.

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As hinted at by the Global HiAce BEV concept from 2023, a fully electric version of the LCV was under consideration. However, the latest rumors suggest the zero-emission powertrain has been put on hold due to shifting market conditions.

According to Creative Trend, citing information from local agency Apollo News Service, the new generation of the HiAce is expected to debut in late 2026 or early 2027. We will keep an eye out for more information about the popular van and update this story accordingly.

The Jaguar GT has been teased for what feels like an eternity, but the finish line is finally in sight. Jaguar shocked the world with the release of its wild Type 00 Concept, created to preview its upcoming flagship EV. Recent prototypes of this car have shown it will take key design inspiration from the study, but morph into a slightly more restrained four-door sedan.

With the September reveal drawing closer, a new set of renderings attempt to offer a glimpse at what the production version could look like. That said, the heavily camouflaged prototypes have kept key details well hidden, making it tricky to pin down exactly how far Jaguar will dial things back from the concept.

Read: Jaguar Benchmarked Its Electric GT Against One Classic Above All Others

These new renderings, created by Nikita Chuyko for Kolesa, hint at a softened approach up front. The dramatic lighting signature gives way to more conventional LED headlights, paired with a cleaner, more familiar nose where a traditional grille would typically sit. There is still some flair, including an illuminated Jaguar badge, though the bumper trades concept-car aggression for smoother, more restrained curves.

The softer, more fluid treatment carries along the sides, where clean door skins replace the Type 00’s sharp shoulder line. Like a Porsche Taycan, charging flaps have been added to both front quarter panels, and there are also pop-out door handles. At the rear, a simple full-width LED lightbar stretches across the car, and while these renderings show a conventional rear window, from what we’ve heard, the production model may ultimately do without one.

Another detail worth noting, at least in prototype form, is that the GT appears to wear flared front and rear fenders that are absent from these illustrations, along with edgier detailing than seen here.

We also recently caught our first look at the interior, which places the driver in a cocooned position, framed by a tall center console and low-slung seats. The cabin leans into crisp lines and defined edges, anchored by an all-new steering wheel that looks lifted from a 1970s concept car. The dashboard is pared back, with a curved screen and digital gauge cluster taking over the role of traditional dials.

What Powers The Electric GT?

Beyond the car’s design, we know it will sport a large 120 kWh battery pack that should give it about 435 miles (700 km) of range on the WLTP cycle. It’ll support ultra-fast charging, too, meaning 200 miles (322 km) of range will be added in as little as 15 minutes.

The Jaguar Type 00 Concept

Power comes from three electric motors drawing on that battery. Combined output is expected to be north of 986 hp and 959 lb-ft (1,300 Nm) of torque. None of which is exotic by current EV standards, but the Jaguar should still feel properly rapid, despite tipping the scales at as much as 5,952 lbs (2,700 kg).

Jaguar itself is targeting a 0-62mph (100km/h) time of around three seconds, a 155mph (250 km/h) top speed, and 350kW peak charging. Pricing is expected to start around $160,000, with sales beginning in 2027.