FAST NEWS - Hubshop's Weekly Roundup / Week #44

1. This Week's Performance Releases & New Models

• The 750 km Range Race: The new benchmark for premium electric sedans appears to be settling at 750 km. After DS announced this figure for its upcoming DS N°8, Mercedes-Benz is preparing the electric CLA with the same theoretical range, highlighting the growing competition in this segment.
• French City Cars Are Back: The return of iconic models is taking shape with the electric Renault 4 (R4 E-Tech), expected to launch in early 2025 with a range of 400 km. The new generation Renault Clio 6 is also highly anticipated, particularly in its plug-in hybrid versions.
• Affordable Electric SUV: Kia continues its electric vehicle rollout with the new Kia EV3, which offers a competitive range of 605 km with its largest battery (81.4 kWh). This model aims to establish itself in the compact electric SUV segment.

2. Global News

• Rare Earth Alert: The industry is being hit by growing tension over the supply of rare earth elements, which are essential for manufacturing electric motors. Global dependence on China, which controls the majority of production, is forcing automakers and suppliers to accelerate reduction and recycling strategies.
• Renault Keeps Its Momentum: In a European car market that is still contracting, Groupe Renault announced a 6.8% increase in revenue for the third quarter of 2025, confirming the French automaker's strong health.
• Ford Revises Its Targets: Despite a record third quarter in terms of revenue ($50.5 billion), American automaker Ford announced a downward revision of its annual targets, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining profitability in the face of the electric transition and pressure on margins.

3. Motorsport: Weekend Results

• WEC: Alpine Wins in Hypercar: French team Alpine Endurance Team shone in Hypercar, taking victory in the final round of the championship. The win was closely followed by the Peugeot 9X8, ensuring a strong French presence at the front of the race.
• WEC Standings: Despite Alpine's win, Ferrari keeps the lead in the Hypercar manufacturers' standings with 204 points, followed by Porsche (165 pts) and Cadillac (143 pts).
• Victory for Lando Norris in Mexico City! The British driver wins the Mexican GP ahead of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen.

4. Upcoming Car Events & Must-Sees

• The BMW Neue Klasse: All eyes remain on the BMW Neue Klasse, expected to redefine the German brand with all-electric models promising a range of up to 1000 km.
• Used Car Market: The used car market remains under pressure. The number of cars under seven years old in dealer inventories remains high, putting pressure on market liquidity.
• Epoq'auto will take place from November 7 to 9 at Eurexpo in Lyon. Don't miss this must-attend event!

5. This Week's Performance Pick

The Homologated Performance of the Rimac Nevera R: After weeks of testing, Croatian manufacturer Rimac has finalized the homologation of its final version, the Nevera R. This electric hypercar pushes the limits of speed with a claimed top speed of 412 km/h, confirming its status as the fastest production vehicle in the world. A true feat of electric engineering.

See you next week for a new Fast News!