Car news today: AMG’s four-cylinder flop, shock sporty EV pricing, cut-price Kluger rival revealed and Ram’s new ‘secret weapon’

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Thanks for joining us on February 25th 2025. It’s an exciting Tuesday with AMG seemingly admitting its four-cylinder hybrid flopped, Cupra’s new sporty electric car being priced to sell, MG’s new Kluger challenger revealed early and Ram’s ‘secret weapon’ in the race to decarbonise.

Browse this issue:

• AMG’s four-cylinder flop! V8 will return to C63’s coupe replacement
• 2025 Cupra Tavascan: Sporty Tesla Model Y and Kia EV5 rival’s price shock
• Get ready, Toyota Kluger and Hyundai Santa Fe, cut-price MG seven-seater is coming
• Big ute brands’ ‘secret weapon’ to tackle fuel use and keep customers happy
• Keeping topless chic alive: Mini Cooper S Convertible 2025 review

AMG’s four-cylinder flop! V8 will return to C63’s coupe replacement

• Reports from the UK’s Autocar point to the C63 Coupe-replacing CLE 63 to skip the C63 S E Performance’s four-cylinder hybrid and get a new twin-turbo V8, following poor reception of the plug-in C63. 

• The V8 is expected to be a development of the ‘M177’ twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 found in the last C63 which ditches its cross-plane for a flat-plane crank first seen in the the AMG GT Black Series. Not only will this allow higher revving, but also more compact construction. A mild-hybrid system is also in development. 

• Following its launch in the CLE 63, which was spied testing at the Nurburgring, insiders expect the current C63 to dump its hybrid four-cylinder adopt the bent-eight during a mid-life refresh in 2026. 

2025 Cupra Tavascan: Sporty Tesla Model Y and Kia EV5 rival’s price shock

• Cupra has confirmed pricing for its second electric car, the Tavascan. Bigger than the Born, it rivals the Tesla Model Y and Kia EV5 with Cupra’s signature sporty edge.

• You can partially thank tariff-free imports from China for the Tavascna’s impressive $60,990 (before on-road costs) start price. 

• Two-trim range starts with 534km driving range ‘Endurance’ and tops out with punchy 250kW/545Nm VZ flagship. Plenty of customisation on offer. 

Get ready Toyota Kluger and Hyundai Santa Fe, cut-price MG seven-seater is coming

• The long-expected MG three-row family SUV now appears confirmed to be called the QS after government approval documents were filed on Monday. 

• Documents reveal front and all-wheel drive versions will both use a 153kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder mated to a nine-speed automatic but there’s no hybrid powertrain listed. 

• Like new MG HS, the QS is a rebadged China-market Roewe model, this time the RX9. Other details include a 2000kg braked tow rating, 4983mm length, 1967mm width and that a sunroof is optional. 

Big ute brands’ ‘secret weapon’ to tackle fuel use and keep customers happy

• Outspoken Ram boss Tim Kuniskis told US media the new Ramcharger range extender is the ‘secret weapon’ in his arsenal to tackle emissions and placate customers who aren’t ready to go electric. 

• Not only should the range-extender set-up allow for 1100km driving range, it’s also expected to rocket the 3400kg pick-up from 0-100km/h in under 5.0 seconds. Guess 480kW will do it — eat that, BYD Shark and Ford Ranger Raptor. 

Keeping topless chic alive: Mini Cooper S Convertible 2025 review

• Contributor Stephen Dobie samples the Mini Cooper S in topless convertible guise in Europe ahead of its Australian launch. 

• Dobie doesn’t love that the ‘new’ Mini convertible isn’t exactly box-fresh underneath, nor that gearshift paddles are an optional extra. Those chasing true sports car thrills are still better served in an MX-5…

• …but the Mini is no flabby mess, with Dobie praising the fun handling balance, strong powertrain and charming interior. Plus, the fact something simple and joyous exists should be celebrated 

Full Review: Read Here

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Wednesday 26 February at 4.30pm Sydney time.