FAST NEWS - Hubshop's Weekly Roundup / Week #10

1. Performance & Product Releases and New Arrivals

• Renault 4 E-Tech - Orders Now Open: The icon is back. Renault officially launched sales of the electric R4 on March 1. Available from €180/month on a long-term lease, it relies on its "Plein Sud" fabric sunroof and its raised 18 cm ground clearance to win over urban adventurers.
• Tesla Model Y "Juniper" - Deliveries Begin: The restyled best-seller is finally arriving at dealerships. With 20% better sound insulation and the addition of a rear-passenger screen, the Model Y Juniper aims to reclaim its leading position against increasingly aggressive European competition.
• Mazda CX-6e: The big new arrival at the Geneva Motor Show (autoXpérience) made a splash. This fully electric SUV marks Mazda's real shift toward zero emissions, with a claimed range of over 500 km and a Kodo design as polished as ever.

2. Global News & Automaker Market

• French Market - February in the Red: The figures released on March 1 are alarming. After a difficult January, registrations dropped 14.7% in February. The only bright spot: the EV share keeps climbing, reaching 26.8% of the total market.
• Stellantis Holds Up, Renault Struggles: In this sluggish market, Stellantis is limiting the damage (-7.3%), while Renault Group posted a sharp 23.5% drop for February, despite the critical success of the R5.
• Social Leasing - Time to Take Stock: As the first waves of deliveries wrap up, the government is already studying adjustments for 2027. The program has proven effective at greening the vehicle fleet, but it weighs heavily on French automakers' delivery times.

3. Motorsport - Tension in F1 and WRC

• ⭐ F1 - Pirelli Cancels Bahrain Testing: A bombshell on March 1. Due to geopolitical tensions and bombings near the Sakhir circuit, Pirelli canceled the tests planned with McLaren and Mercedes. A major setback just weeks before the start of the season.
• F1 - Compression Ratio Agreement: After months of debate, the FIA and the engine manufacturers have finally approved the technical compromise on the compression ratio of the 2026 engines. A crucial step to freeze engine architectures before the first Grand Prix.
• Cadillac F1 - The Bottas-Pérez Pairing Under the Microscope: David Coulthard analyzed the 11th team's driver pairing this week, predicting an intense internal rivalry where "one's success will be the other's failure," and stressing that Cadillac isn't there just to make up the numbers.

4. Upcoming Auto Events & Must-See Dates

• autoXpérience Geneva (March 05-08): The Palexpo event opens its doors this Thursday. More than 45 brands and 240 vehicles will be on hand for this 2nd edition of the Geneva show's new format.
• Paris Motor Show 2026: The organizers are already confirming a record lineup for the October edition. The Volkswagen Group (VW, Audi, Skoda, Cupra) has already confirmed a strong presence.
• "Drive to Survive" Season 8 Release: The Netflix series has been available since February 27 and notably reveals the behind-the-scenes story of Christian Horner's departure from Red Bull last September.

5. Performance Pick of the Week

The Haas VF-26: Against all odds, Haas is the team that logged the most mileage during winter testing, with over 6,000 km covered. Driven by its partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing, the small American outfit appears to have found exemplary reliability, a good sign for Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman.

See you next week for the first live images from the Geneva Motor Show!