The Alpine A290 was introduced in 2024 as a hotter version of the Renault 5 E-Tech with a custom bodykit and more powerful electric powertrain options. Two years later, Alpine has introduced the A290 Collection trim, refining the exterior design while adding special touches inside the cabin.

The new spec was corrected by the Atelier Alpine personalization program and is available across the A290 lineup including the GT, GT Performance, and GTS trims.

More: Alpine Teases Next A110’s Design, But It’s What’s Underneath That Will Make Or Break It

The A290 Collection comes standard with a Blanc Nival (Snow White) shade although buyers can also choose the more sophisticated Bleu Orage Mat (Matte Storm Blue) color. In both cases the roof is finished in Deep Black, matching the aero add-ons on the bumpers and side skirts.

Alpine

Still, the highlight is the body-colored fender extensions. These look much nicer compared to the crossover-inspired black cladding found on the standard A290 and the closely-related Renault 5 E-Tech.

Review: The Fun 2026 Renault 5 EV America Will Never Get To Buy

Another special treat is the 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels with a snowflake design, featuring Silver Grey front brake calipers. Finally, the model gets chrome Alpine monograms on the charging port and an optional French flag on the C-pillar.

The interior combines Deep Blue and Evee Grey colors for the seat upholstery, and the stylish inserts on the door cards, dashboard, and center console. There is also a black heated steering wheel which is optionally available in blue.

Alpine

The Collection treatment is applied to both powertrain flavors, with a single electric motor generating 178 hp (130 kW / 180 PS) or 217 hp (160 kW / 220 PS). The standard 52 kWh battery pack is good for 236 miles (380 km) of WLTP range.

More: Alpine’s Latest Creation Has Pop-Down Headlights

The fully electric hot hatch is important for Alpine as it currently accounts for 70% of its sales. Furthermore, nearly 80% of A290 buyers are coming from a brand outside the Renault Group.

The Alpine A290 Collection will be exhibited at the Hall 6 of the 2026 Paris Motor Show, held in the French capital between October 12 and 18. It will be joined by highly personalized examples of the A390 fastback crossover, a sculpture of the next-generation A110 sports car and a mysterious concept that could evolve into a production GT.

Alpine

German dealer Carpoint GmbH, known for modifying Dacia Dusters through its Redust brand, has shared its wild vision for the new Dacia Spring. The company presented a heavily modified version of the budget-friendly EV, featuring track-inspired aero, a widebody treatment, and a lowered chassis.

Before prospective buyers of the new Spring get excited, we have to inform them that the tuning package currently exist only in the form of AI-generated renderings, as the new Dacia EV has yet to reach dealers in Europe. Still, Carpoint is no stranger to offering styling upgrades for Dacia models, so they might be cooking up something special for the newcomer.

More: Dacia Duster Redust Sport Is All Show, No Go, Yet Costs Up To $55K

The digital concept gives the small hatchback a motorsport overhaul. The front end gains an oversized splitter with integrated fins and canards. The add-ons appear to bolt on the stock bumper, although the tuner added extra DRLs on the plastic cladding.

Carpoint GmbH / Facebook

The profile features aggressive side skirts, wide fender extensions and a new set of alloy wheels. The new shoes are much larger than the stock 16-inch steelies with hubcaps, and appear to hide beefier disc brakes with red calipers. Furthermore, the light blue model has faux vents and side gills on the fenders for a more dramatic appearance.

More: New Dacia Spring EV Flees From China And Pays The Price

At the back, the towering wing and the large diffuser with an F1-style brake light wouldn’t look out of place on a TCR racecar. Finally, the electric hatchback rides on a noticeably lowered suspension and has wider tracks.

What About The Powertrain?

The biggest problem with Carpoint’s vision is the lack of power. The new Dacia Spring might have gotten a more potent electric motor compared to its predecessor, but it still makes an uninspiring 80 hp (60 kW / 82 PS) and 175 Nm (129 lb-ft) of torque. According to the automaker, the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint is completed in 12.1 seconds and top speed is limited at 130 km/h (81 mph).

Dacia

With most tuners not being able to upgrade electric powertrains, the underwhelming performance of the EV doesn’t make it a good candidate for such an extreme visual makeover. Furthermore, Dacia has promised that the entire lineup of the new Spring will cost under €20,000 ($23,100) before subsidies, and most budget-conscious buyers won’t be willing to spend thousands on bodykits.

More: Dacia Made A Pickup Out Of The Duster And Forgot The Pickup Part

Besides the new Spring, Carpoint has also shared renderings of the Striker wagon with a similarly sporty treatment contrasting the crossover nature of the donor vehicle. It remains to be seen whether any of these parts will reach production, resulting in some of the wildest Dacia builds yet.

Carpoint GmbH / Facebook

The Opel Astra is one of the most popular compact cars in Europe, but the latest generation never got a proper hot hatch variant to rival the VW Golf GTI. While this is still the case, Stellantis has dialed up the power with a new Astra GSE Line trim, matching the power output of long-gone Astra OPC models in its most potent fully electric form.

Opel used to offer a GSe variant of the Astra with 222 hp (165 kW / 225 PS) from a plug-in hybrid powertrain, while featuring sportier looks and a sharper chassis setup. The new GSE Line is a replacement for the sporty GS trim, and will be available with every available powertrain option in the Astra lineup, including gasoline, mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric models.

More: Opel’s New Corsa GSE Beats Peugeot’s GTI Using Peugeot’s Own Powertrain

The big news is that the flagship Opel Astra GSE Line will inherit the single electric motor from the new Corsa GSE and Mokka GSE siblings, producing 276 hp (206 kW / 280 PS). This matches the output of the turbo 2.0-liter engine in the Astra OPC J, sold between 2012 and 2018. Still, don’t expect it to be a full-blown hot hatch.

Visually, the GSE Line adopts a sportier stance than the GS it replaces and the rest of the facelifted Astra lineup. The front bumper molding is the same, but there’s extra glossy black trim around the side intakes with discreet “GSE Line” lettering.

More: This Stellantis Brand Thinks A Wagon Might Make More Sense Than A Hatchback

Other changes include the trim-specific LED color in the Opel Vizor grille and 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, which are optionally available in an 18-inch version. The company only showed photos of the hatchback, so we don’t know whether the GSE Line treatment will be applied to the wagon.

Inside, designers added bright yellow stitching and piping to the steering wheel, door cards, and center armrest, alongside aluminum sports pedals and an optional pair of sports seats with integrated headrests. As with the lesser Astra trims, the digital cockpit comprises dual 10-inch displays.

Opel didn’t mention any chassis tweaks, suggesting the GSE Line will likely get a standard suspension, although that may vary depending on the powertrain under the hood. Note that the Astra GSe PHEV did have a sportier setup, including a recalibrated steering, new ESP settings, and a 10 mm (0.4 inches) lowered suspension with new springs and oil-filled Koni FSD dampers.

More: Stellantis Confirms The Next Astra And Corsa Land Before 2030

Marc Fetzer, Opel Vice President Current Product, said that the Astra GSE Line will show how the “extra sportiness” of the GSE models can be combined with “maximum practicality for everyday use”, while giving customers a “free choice” between powertrains.

The new Opel Astra GSE Line will make its first public outing at the Paris Motor Show next month, followed by a market launch in spring 2027. Opel has confirmed that further GSE Line models will follow later in 2027, likely including the Grandland SUV.

Stellantis

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is one of the most exciting performance-focused EVs, and while it is technically based on a crossover, it looks like a proper hot hatch. The sharp lines of the model inspired independent designer Khyzyl Saleem to create a wild concept, evoking the spirit of the Group B Rally icons from the ’80s.

The model is dressed with a custom bodykit, altering its proportions and making it look ready for the special stages. The front end has been redesigned with a pronounced carbon fiber splitter and extra LEDs on the vented hood.

More: Coga Takes Hyundai Ioniq 5 Beyond N With Very Wild, Very Pink Body Kit

The profile features ultra-wide fender extensions with integrated cooling intakes. The flying buttresses over the C-pillars are reminiscent of the Lancia Delta S4, which is a fitting homage since the greenhouse of the Ioniq 5 sends subtle Delta vibes.

The tail is even more aggressive with a massive wing and an equally large diffuser. The rally car treatment also includes Lexan windows, a roll cage, and a new set of five-spoke alloy wheels finished in black. The designer also created a slightly different version with a smaller rear wing and a bronze shade, looking like a homologation special.

Khyzyl Saleem / Facebook

Hyundai never experimented with a Group B entry, but they retain a strong presence in WRC, competing at the highest level against Toyota Gazoo Racing. The Korean automaker started with the Accent WRC in 2000, followed by the i20 WRC in 2014, and the more recent i20 N Rally1 in 2022. With the i20, Hyundai won two WRC Manufacturer’s titles in 2019 and 2020, and one Driver’s title in 2025 (Thierry Neuville).

Swapping EV For ICE?

Taking inspiration from Hyundai’s motorsport involvement and, despite the fully electric nature of the donor Ioniq 5, Khyzyl said he likes to imagine the concept with a combustion engine. More specifically he wants the “screaming” turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine from the WRC rally car – presumably in mid-ship position – although he would also consider rotary power.

More: Hyundai’s EVs Already Fake Engine Sounds, And Now They Might Vibrate Too

After the latest regulatory changes that removed the hybrid boost from Rally1 contestants, the turbo engines have a maximum permitted output of 375 hp (280 kW / 380 PS). This is lower than the 641 hp (478 kW / 650 PS) from the dual electric motors of the roadgoing Ioniq 5 N, making us wonder if Hyundai could come up with a more potent hybrid setup.

In any case, the Group B-inspired Ioniq will likely stick to the digital world. Still, the project is part of a broader collaboration between Hyundai USA and Khyzyl Saleem. Last month, the company shared renderings of a Baja-inspired Santa Fe concept on social media, asking their followers which Hyundai model should the_kyza try next.

Khyzyl Saleem / Facebook

VW celebrated its GTI badge’s half-century earlier this year with the launch of the first-ever electric hatch to wear those three letters, the ID. Polo GTI. The ID.3 GTI then is only the second-ever electric GTI. But it is a pioneer in other ways. It’s the first ever VW GTI to send its power to the rear wheels, rather than the front.

Europe’s ID.3 electric hatch was overhauled in April and rebranded as ID.3 Neo. The GTI is the halo model of the new lineup and is effectively the pre-facelift GTX, but this time with a GTI badge and some design cues pinched from the ID. Polo GTI.

Related: VW’s ID. Polo Waiting List Is So Long You’ll Get A McLaren Sooner

And damn, doesn’t it look the better for it? A GTI trademark red stripe connects the IQ. Light LED matrix headlights and the gloss-black honeycomb lower grille is punctuated by a pair of red-painted elements meant to look like racecar towing eyes.

Contrasting with the launch car’s searing Tornado red paint – it’s actually a classic 1980s GTI color – are the gorgeous black 20-inch Wörthersee wheels and black mirror caps. But unlike the GTX, the GTI features a body-color roof, rear spoiler, and rear panel.

What has been carried over from the GTX is the single 322 hp (326 PS / 240 kW) electric motor, which outranks the Golf GTI Edition 50’s as the most powerful GTI engine by just one horse. Unlike the ID. Polo GTI, which uses VW’s new MEB+ front-wheel-drive platform, the ID.3 rides on the older MEB shared with models like the ID.4 and ID. Buzz.

Beats Edition 50 For Power, But Not Pace

Which means the single motor sends its power to the rear wheels, VW quoting the exact same 5.6-second zero-to-62 mph (100 km/h) time it did for the old GTX Performance. That compares with 6.8 seconds for the 223 hp (226 PS / 166 kW) Polo GTI and 5.3 seconds for the petrol GTI Edition 50.

A 79 kWh (net) battery under the floor can charge at 183 kW, top up from 10-80 percent in a middling 29 minutes, and gives a solid WLTP range of 373 miles (601 km). The Polo manages just 263 miles (424 km) from its 52 kWh battery.

GTI Mode

But is the GTI just a GTX with some Tornado red lipstick? VW says it’s more than that thanks to a new GTI-specific tune for the DCC adaptive dampers, springs and anti-roll bars. There’s even a GTI driving mode that shifts the motor, throttle response, steering and chassis into maximum attack mode, and is activated by pressing an illuminated button at the base of the sport steering wheel’s center boss.

You won’t find that feature in other ID.3s, or the motorsport-style 12 o’clock marker or red, black and gray bucket seats. But the GTI does benefit from the same interior upgrade regular ID.3s got earlier this year. That means higher-quality materials, clickable steering wheel buttons, and another bank of real switches under the 12.9-inch touchscreen.

One thing VW hasn’t yet revealed is how much the ID.3 GTI will set you back when it goes on sale in Europe (but not America) in early 2027. The old GTX Performance cost more than £46,000 in the UK ($62,000), placing it above the Golf GTI, and even making it more expensive than the mighty R. For some potential buyers, those cars, and the slower but roomy and fun-looking ID. Polo GTI with its circa £34k ($46k) sticker, are going to seem like tempting alternatives.

VW

The Hyundai N performance division has won over many automotive enthusiasts, and the company capitalized on its popularity with the softer and more affordable N Line variants. Now, Hyundai has confirmed plans to introduce a third performance tier positioned right in between, targeting high-volume segments.

The news was shared during Hyundai’s 2026 Investor Day event in Korea. Jose Munoz, Hyundai President and CEO, said that performance is a “profitable business” and “not just an emotional one”. He added that Hyundai N currently covers around 30% of the performance market, and they plan to go over 60% by 2030.

More: Hyundai’s IONIQ V Has Lambo Looks And 225 HP, So We Imagined The N

To do that, the N lineup will grow from the current five models to over seven. Those will be offered across 40 markets, targeting 100,000 sales per year by 2030, which is five times the 20,000 sales of 2025.

A New Family Of Performance Models

More importantly, Munoz said: “We are adding something between N and N Line: a new volume high-performance variant carrying over powertrain and parts from N, so a customer who wants that feeling every day on the way to work can have it without buying a track car.”

More: Hyundai Wants Soft Ride And Sharp Handling From One Clever Sway Bar

While the upcoming “High-Volume Performance” tier does not yet have a commercial nameplate, Australian media Drive fittingly described it as the “N Lite”. Judging from the CEO’s comments, Hyundai engineers could harvest components from the existing N models and repackage them with a greater focus on everyday usability.

In terms of aero and styling, differences between the N Line and the N are already subtle, so we expect the new series to follow a similar path, bringing more aggression compared to the standard Hyundai models. As for the powertrain, we expect a mix of electric and hybrid depending on the model.

Targeting Sales Growth

The CEO explained why they decided to expand its performance lineup: “N sold 20,000 units last year; N Line sold 161,000. This sits between them, and it is where the volume is.”

More: The New Elantra N Could Be The Poor Man’s RS6 Avant, But The Wagon Isn’t Happening

The automaker currently has five N and twelve N Line models worldwide, although the current i20 and i30 hot hatches will soon get discontinued and the Elantra sports sedan is about to enter a new generation.

More To Come, Including A RWD Surprise

Future additions include an entry-level performance SUV that could replace the discontinued Kona N, and a yet-unnamed model riding on a new front-engine, RWD/AWD architecture. The latter sounds exciting for driving enthusiasts and has the largest market-covering potential of 22% – at least according to Hyundai. However, the graph suggests it will be priced above the Ioniq 5 N and the Ioniq 6 N, so don’t expect it to come cheap.

Other whitespace high-performance opportunities yet to be explored by Hyundai include an even cheaper entry-level RWD/AWD model (7%), a compact EV (1%), a premium EV (6%), a premium SUV (18%), a Luxury GT (8%), and others (3%). Among those, we can only think of the rumored Hyundai Ioniq 3 N, which sounds fitting to the subcompact/compact EV description.

In any case, Hyundai has more than a few aces up its sleeve, potentially creating one of the largest performance lineups among mainstream automakers.

Hyundai