FAST NEWS - The Hubshop Weekly Brief / Week #07

1. Performance Releases & New Products

• Skoda Epiq and Peaq, the SUV offensive: This week Skoda confirmed a major expansion of its SUV lineup for 2026. The Epiq (an electric city SUV under €25,000) and the Peaq (a new upper segment) will be the brand's cornerstones as it looks to cement its dominance in the European market.
• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: The first real-world "Supertests" published on February 8 confirm the record efficiency of the new plug-in hybrid system, with measured fuel consumption down sharply despite the vehicle's size.
• Mercedes celebrates 140 years of the automobile: On January 29, the automaker celebrated the patent for the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen. For the occasion, Mercedes unveiled a limited "Centenary" (1926-2026) series on its flagship models, blending heritage and autonomous technologies.

2. Global News & Automaker Market

• January 2026 review, a paradox in the French market: The figures are in: the overall market is down 6.6% (its lowest level in 15 years), but EVs are booming with a record market share. The Renault 5 E-Tech is crushing the competition and has become the driving force of the sector.
• Tesla in steep decline: A grim start to the year for the American brand in France, with only 661 registrations in January. Tesla has fallen far behind the French automakers and appears to be paying for the lack of major new models against the Renault and Peugeot offensive.
• BYD moves to ultra-fast charging: The Chinese giant has announced the rollout of 1,500 kW charging stations. This theoretical output would allow its future "Blade" batteries to recharge in record time, challenging current European infrastructure.

3. Motorsport: F1 "Monday Reveals" Special

• ⭐ Cadillac F1, the Super Bowl shock: Last night, during the Super Bowl LX halftime show, Cadillac finally unveiled its official 2026 livery. The car, driven by Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez, features a very aggressive "V-Series" design. The team officially joins the paddock in Bahrain this morning.
• Aston Martin AMR26 (Adrian Newey): Today, February 9, the Silverstone team presents its single-seater. It is the very first car designed under the direct influence of Adrian Newey and powered by Honda. Expectations around its aerodynamics are huge.
• McLaren MCL40: Also on the schedule this Monday, the reigning champion presents its car in Bahrain. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will try to defend their crown under the new technical regulations.

4. Upcoming Auto Events & Must-See Dates

• Rally Sweden (February 12-15): The second round of the WRC starts this Thursday in Umeå. After his historic win in Monte-Carlo, Oliver Solberg (Toyota) arrives as the clear favorite on home soil. Toyota is fielding an impressive armada, even without Sébastien Ogier.
• Official Bahrain Testing (February 11-13): From Wednesday, all the 2026 F1 cars will be on track together for the first time this year. It will be the ultimate test to validate the active aero concepts glimpsed in Barcelona.

5. Performance Pick of the Week

Cadillac's American gamble: By choosing the Super Bowl for its global launch, Cadillac isn't just entering F1, it is imposing its own culture. With a highly experienced driver lineup (Pérez/Bottas) and an already well-established technical structure, the grid's 11th team seems to have avoided the "small team" pitfalls and is positioning itself as a future big name in the sport.

See you next week!