Car news today: BMW says they have no plans to axe V8s, limited edition Range Rover coming to Australia, and more – 11th February 2025

Thanks for joining us this Tuesday, February 11th 2025. Notably in car news today: BMW says they have no plans to axe V8 models, and limited edition Range Rover SV Bespoke Collins coming to Australia. 

Browse this issue:

• BMW says they have no plans to axe V8 models
• Limited edition Range Rover SV Bespoke Collins coming to Australia 
• Subaru reveals 2025 hybrid Forester with enhanced off-road technology
• Nissan vehicles to be manufactured with more low emission Japanese steel
• Reviewed: 2025 BMW M5 reviewed with Bathurst track test 

BMW says they have no plans to axe V8 models

• BMW has come out swinging, saying they have no plans to replace their V8 engines with six-cylinder motors, even in an age of ever increasing tightening on vehicle emissions standards.  

• “V8s are here to stay. There are markets such as the US and Middle East where you cannot replace V8s with inline-six hybrids. This is not about performance. They are comparable in terms of acceleration, but customers like the smoothness, sound and feeling of a V8. We will continue to offer V8s,” said BMW’s Head of Development, Frank Weber.  

• This is naturally exciting news for local and international motoring fans, who have long-felt the V8 is heading towards being a thing of the past. 

• Currently, in Australia, there are six V8 powered BMWs still on sale. This includes the M5, M8, XM, X5, X6 and X7. It seems the V8 will live on locally as long as local emission standards can be met. 

Limited edition Range Rover SV Bespoke Collins coming to Australia 

• Range Rover released images and details of an extremely limited edition model, dubbed the SV Bespoke Collins, which they describe as their ‘city jewel’. 

• Inspiration for the model came from Australia’s own trend-setting streets of Melbourne, namely Collins Street, which is a vibrant mix of all things urban. 

• Standout features for the Range Rover SV Bespoke Collins include satin grey paint, black Range Rover script badges with a chrome finish, custom seat embroidery and 23-inch wheels. Power comes from a 4.4L twin-turbo mild-hybrid V8, making 452kW. 

• With only five examples of this limited edition Range Rover available for-sale, it’s safe to say that these will be snapped up by Range Rover enthusiasts, despite the hefty $507,047 asking price. 

Subaru reveals 2025 hybrid Forester with enhanced off-road technology 

• The latest announcement for the Subaru lineup was recently unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show, with covers coming off the 2025 Subaru Forester – now featuring a hybrid powertrain. 

• This 2025 Forester will be the first Subaru sold in Australia to feature this hybrid technology. The hybrid arrangement sees a 2.5L Boxer petrol engine. Electric motors are also integrated into Subaru’s well regarded all-wheel drive system, to create the hybrid powertrain.

• Subaru Australia has confirmed we will get this vehicle in Australia, with off-road capability being as important of a consideration as on-road ride and handling. 

• For 2025, Subaru Forester boasts 220mm of ground clearance at kerb weight. Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system is naturally retained for 2025, as is their X-Mode off-road system which uses five different forms of control to reduce spinning tyres while sending drive to the wheels with traction.

Nissan vehicles to be manufactured with more low emission Japanese steel

• Nissan has announced it will expand the use of low-emmission Japanese made steel in their vehicle production for 2025 and beyond. 

• For the 2025 period, they say the amount of ‘green steel’ being used in new vehicle builds will amount to five-times greater compared to 2024. 

• Lofty targets have been set by the brand, with a figure of 30% lowering of CO₂ emissions across the whole production cycle by 2030. By 2050, they say the brand will aim to be carbon neutral

• With steel amounting to approximately 60% of a new car build, ‘green steel’ reduces CO₂ emissions by starting with raw materials from iron ore to low-carbon-reduced iron, or switching production processes from traditional blast furnaces to an electric arc furnace, according to Nissan. 

 2025 BMW M5 reviewed – with Bathurst track test 

• Chasing Cars Editor, Jez Spinks, has just returned from an exciting experience driving the 2025 BMW M5, including track time around the famous Bathurst Mt Panorama track. 

• Jez says the 2025 M5 is extremely fast, especially around Bathurst, where speed no speed limits were in place. He also praised the accuracy and feel of the steering, and the way it disguises a significant amount of weight thanks to the amount of power on tap. 

• Where he would like to see improvements is regarding the fact you can disguise the weight, but weight is still weight. He also wasn’t a fan of the boot space, and feels overall, it’s just not as classy of a vehicle as the predecessor.  

• For context, the 2025 BMW M5 now weighs 2436kg – this is 600kg more than the 2024 BMW M5. Or nearly as heavy as a Ford Ranger Raptor. Have a read of the full-review to get all the info, and a tinge of jealousy as Jez takes the M5 around Bathurst. 

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The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Wednesday 12th of February at 4.30pm Sydney time.