FAST NEWS - Hubshop's Weekly Roundup / Week #19

1. Performance & Product Launches and New Releases

• Ferrari 12Cilindri - First deliveries: The new flagship with its naturally aspirated V12 engine began reaching its owners this week. In the midst of the shift to electric, Ferrari proves that prestige combustion engines still have a bright future with this 830 hp engine revving to 9,500 rpm.
• Volkswagen ID.2 "All" - Production version: VW took advantage of the end of the Beijing Auto Show to reveal the final lines of its €25,000 electric city car. It will enter production this summer to take on the Renault 5 and the Tesla Model 2.
• Kia EV3: The Korean compact SUV is arriving at dealerships. With its bidirectional charging technology (V2L) and EV9-inspired design, it is aiming for the title of electric family vehicle of the year.

2. Global News & Automaker Market

• April 2026 sales figures: The French market confirms its stabilization with a slight increase of 1.2%. Renault Group remains the leader in electric registrations, driven by the huge success of the R5, while the Dacia Duster III dominates the private-buyer hybrid segment.
• The Xiaomi Auto offensive: Following the success of the SU7, Xiaomi announced on April 30 the launch of its European subsidiary. The first service centers will open in Paris and Berlin before the end of the year, with a Tesla-inspired direct sales model.
• Used combustion car crisis: For the first time, the residual value of Crit'Air 2 diesel vehicles is dropping sharply (-12% on average) following new driving restrictions planned in major cities for 2027.

3. Motorsport - Lando Norris, King of Miami

• ⭐ F1 - McLaren one-two in Miami: What a Grand Prix! On Sunday, May 3, Lando Norris took second place ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri. McLaren confirms that the upgrades brought to Florida make it the new dominant force against Red Bull.
• Max Verstappen on the podium: Despite a car that was hard to set up on Miami's scorching asphalt, the world champion salvaged 3rd place. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) finished 4th after an intense battle with Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes).
• WEC - 6 Hours of Spa: The endurance teams have already arrived in the Belgian Ardennes for the dress rehearsal ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Porsche and Toyota are neck and neck in the first timed sessions.

4. Upcoming Auto Events & Must-See Dates

• Rally Portugal (May 7-10): The WRC returns to gravel on Thursday. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) must win to stop Sébastien Ogier's climb in the championship.
• Emilia Romagna GP (May 17): F1 returns to Europe. It's a crucial event for Ferrari, which has promised a radical "Package Evolution 2" for its home race at Imola.
• Opening of the fast-charging Hub in Lyon (May 6): A station with 40 ultra-fast chargers opens, the largest in France, marking a key milestone for trans-Alpine journeys.

5. Performance Pick of the Week

McLaren's awakening: By dominating the Miami GP fair and square, McLaren sent a strong message to the rest of the paddock. The Woking team appears to be the only one that has fully understood how to get the most from the 2026 tires in high temperatures. The world championship is wide open again, much to the delight of fans.

See you next week for the Rally Portugal results!