News Roundup: Dec 8, 2025
- Adam Bernard
- Dec 9, 2025
- 5 min read
Check out the video: https://youtu.be/QuH4Cor9LZ0
Rimac’s “Cybercab”
Unveiled as a direct competitor to the Tesla Cybercab, the Verne Robotaxi is set to launch operations in Zagreb, Croatia in 2026, promising lower costs than current ride-hailing services. Like the Cybercab, it’s a two-seater with no steering wheel or pedals, offering Level 4 autonomy. The latest update from CEO Mate Rimac-known for the Rimac hypercar and as a part owner of Bugatti-showcases a fleet of 60 Vernes. The vehicle is named after sci-fi author Jules Verne (famed for “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”). It claims to offer more space and comfort than a Rolls Royce, featuring a 43" display, 17 speakers, and slide-forward doors. Its autonomous tech is powered by MobilEye, using cameras, radars, and LiDAR. While technical details remain scarce, it’s expected to use a conventional EV charge port (not wireless, unlike the Cybercab). Rimac has announced agreements to launch in 11 cities across the EU, UK, and Middle East, with negotiations ongoing for 30 more cities worldwide. The project recently received a €200M EU grant as part of Croatia’s economic recovery plan.
WHY IT MATTERS: There’s a fair amount of skepticism around the Cybercab, especially given current U.S. regulations around automated driving and the lack of wireless charging infrastructure. Rimac, known as “Croatia’s Elon Musk” may have a better idea-and the fact he’s already built 60 vehicles is noteworthy. Can he build out the required infrastructure to support the business? We’ll know next spring.
THE BOTTOM LINE: The Rimac Nevera impressed the skeptics, but Verne is a completely different business proposition whatsoever. Working with an established autonomy expert is a plus for Verne, but there are still numerous unanswered questions.
Kia’s Birthday Gift
Celebrating Kia’s 80th anniversary, the Kia Meta Turismo concept is positioned as a spiritual successor to the Stinger and may be the long-rumored EV8 electric performance sedan. Its design draws inspiration from 1960s long-distance touring, featuring an aggressive cab-forward fastback silhouette and a highly glassy greenhouse. The interior is asymmetrical, with a unique driver’s seat and modes like Speedster, Dreamer, and Gamer, all tied to an augmented reality HUD. While technical data is still pending, more information is expected soon.
WHY IT MATTERS: The Stinger developed a small but passionate cult following and, in the eyes of many, was killed too soon. Kia’s already shown the ability to develop a viable high-performance EV (the EV6 GT); the big question is whether there’s a viable market for a high-performance electric sedan.
THE BOTTOM LINE: There’s plenty here that’s not production-ready, but there are many people hoping Kia will give the green light to this slick and likely very fast four-seater.
Super Smart
The smart #6 represents the evolution of Mercedes’ smart brand, which was rebooted in 2020 as a joint venture with China’s Geely. This partnership provides smart with access to Geely’s architectures and powertrain technology. The brand is now positioned upmarket, with the flagship being a 637hp SUV. The lineup includes the #1, #3, and #5 electric SUVs, but a recent strategic shift means smartwill also offer plug-in hybrids, starting with the #5. The #6 is a midsize sedan reportedly based on the Zeekr 007. It features a 160hp 1.5L engine, a 268hp motor, LFP batteries, and available roof-mounted LiDAR. It offers an EV range of up to approximately 130 miles (EPA) and starts at $24,000.
WHY IT MATTERS: Smart sales were about 75K in 2024, a 7% jump from 2023-but Mercedes is clearly looking to boost volume further, and China seems to like larger sedans. The move to include PHEV options will also broaden the brand’s appeal-but it raises the question of whether smart has become too mainstream and too far away from the original brand promise.
THE BOTTOM LINE: The #6 is a handsome, competent, but anonymous sedan. Is this the future of the brand?
Toyota’s Supercar
The Toyota GR GT is a new track-inspired supercar that forgoes formal Toyota branding, instead leveraging Gazoo Racing and the GR performance sub-brand. It follows in the footsteps of the legendary Toyota 2000GT and now includes a GT3-specific variant for racing. Built on Toyota’s first all-aluminum architecture, it features a rear-mounted 8-speed automatic transaxle with a single integrated motor and a new 4.0L twin-turbo V8 (dry sump) for a combined 641hp. The architecture will also underpin the upcoming Lexus Sport Concept (the LFA “concept”), an electric supercar and spiritual successor to the V10 LFA. The GR GT uses carbon fiber and aluminum body panels with an aero-optimized exterior (no active aero), a front mid-engine layout for a lower center of gravity, and a conventional interior with electronic gear selector and physical steering wheel controls. It’s priced at $225,000 and will be sold through Lexus dealers.
WHY IT MATTERS: Motorsports participation is a great way to show off your engineering prowess, and take learnings from that to create even better internal combustion powertrains. The GR GT has the potential to be Toyota’s equivalent to the Corvette (even at that elevated price), and leveraging the architecture for an electric Lexus supercar is equally intriguing.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Although it doesn’t break any new ground, the GR GT does boast some innovations for Toyota (including their first all-aluminum architecture) and serves as the launch point for their brand new V8. The Italians and the British should be worried…
Supercar Flashback
In an unexpected coincidence, two legendary supercars are getting the restomod treatment overseas…
Encor: A UK startup staffed by former Lotus employees, Encor has reimagined the Series 4 Esprit from 1994 with a redesigned carbon fiber body and a rebuilt Lotus twin-turbo V8 (now 400hp). The car features a reworked 5-speed manual transmission, redesigned suspension, electronic parking brake, and a curb weight just over 2,600 lbs. Only 50 units will be built, each priced around $570,000. It retains classic pop-up headlamps (now LED), and the interior boasts a 10.25" instrument cluster and a portrait-style 10.1" center touchscreen.
JAS Motorsport: Japan’s JAS Motorsport is resurrecting the Acura NSX with a Pininfarina redesign, dubbed “Tensei” (Japanese for “reincarnation” or “rebirth”). The original NSX, launched in 1996, was the first truly usable supercar. The new version features carbon fiber bodywork, a motorsports-derived powertrain (JAS has been Honda’s official racing partner since 1998), rumored to be a naturally aspirated V6 with a 6-speed manual. The design is contemporary yet clearly recognizable, and each car will be built to order at just over $1 million, with deliveries starting in 2027.
WHY IT MATTERS: Everything old is new again, and the restomod business seems to be rather active these days, from Minis to G-Wagens to muscle cars to, now, supercars.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Both executions look quite intriguing, and someone with Ferrari or Lamborghini money to spend might give one of these a second look.
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