Daily Drive: Off‑Road Lambos, Audi’s “Radical” Turn, BMW’s Next iX3, Cupra’s Five‑Pot Fury, and a Couple of Curveballs

I woke up to a Sydney sky the color of primer and a tank I wish were cheaper to fill, which feels about right for today’s blend of wild supercars, thoughtful design pivots, EV marching orders, and policy reality checks. Let’s unspool it.

BMW iX3: A Familiar Name Grows Up for 2026

BMW has laid out pricing and specs for the next iX3 arriving in 2026, and the headline is simple: more of everything that mattered, less of what didn’t. I’ve spent time in the outgoing iX3 and liked its calm steering and easygoing, RWD balance, though on coarse‑chip roads north of Gosford the cabin picked up more tire roar than I wanted. The new one promises the usual EV‑era upgrades—longer range, quicker DC charging, smarter software—and, crucially, a cabin that feels designed around the screen ecosystem rather than retrofitted to it.

Context matters. Autocar’s long familiarity with the current iX3 paints it as a quiet achiever: efficient, if a touch conservative. That’s your launchpad. For 2026, expect a sharper look, crisper infotainment, and the sort of driver‑assist polish that takes the edge off long Hume Highway slogs without nagging you into submission.

• What stood out in the old car: smooth ride in town, easy efficiency, rear‑drive composure.
• What I’m watching for next: better sound insulation on rough surfaces, snappier UI response, less over‑the‑shoulder blind spot.
• Buying lens: if you liked how the last one drove but wanted more range and faster charging, this is your sequel.

Lamborghini Hints: More Off‑Road Sports Cars? Yes, Please.

Lamborghini’s boss just nudged the door open for more off‑road‑leaning sports cars. If you tried the Huracán Sterrato on loose gravel like I did—30 minutes that felt like a weekend—you know the appeal: supercar textures with rally freedom. Think of it as the espresso‑shot antidote to track‑day one‑upmanship. A future V12 or V8 hybrid with skid plates and knobbier boots? The Sterrato and Porsche’s 911 Dakar proved the formula sells emotion. Lambo’s simply reading the room—and the order books.

Audi’s “Radical” New Look: Clean Lines, Bigger Personality

Audi says its incoming design language will carve out more distinction in a sea of aero‑smoothed EVs. Good. The brand’s best cars have always nailed quiet confidence. Expect more sculpted surfacing, bolder light signatures, and interiors that feel airy rather than overwrought. When I sat in one of the recent concepts, the immediate sensation was space—cleverly managed beltlines and slimmer pillars do that. If they keep the haptic gimmicks out of the way of basic tasks (fan speed, please), they’ll be onto something.

Cupra Formentor VZ5 (2026): Five Cylinders, Five Alarms

Cupra’s Formentor VZ5 is back on the pricing chalkboard for 2026 and, yes, it’s the brand’s priciest model to date. The hook remains irresistible: that charismatic turbo five that sounds like a rally stage tucked under your right foot. The last VZ5 I drove had a proper launch-lurch, big bucket seats, and a ride that said, “I’ll play nice—until you ask for more.” If you’re the kind of person who detours for the fun on‑ramp after school drop‑off, this is precisely your flavor.

• Character play: warbly five‑pot soundtrack, point‑and‑shoot mid‑range shove.
• Everyday fit: decent cargo floor but a high loading lip; paddle response was good, infotainment a beat behind rivals.
• Ownership lens: premium pricing, premium grin factor. It’s the Cupra that makes the brand feel distinctly Spanish, not just VW‑adjacent.

Hypercar Watch: A 1,817‑HP Hennessey Pulls $2M Bids

An 1,817‑horsepower Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster with just 681 miles is already attracting bids around the $2 million mark. That’s big money, but the math makes emotional sense: near‑myth power figures, roof‑off drama, and the kind of garage bragging rights that flatten dinner‑party conversation. I haven’t driven the F5 Roadster (few have), but I’ve ridden shotgun in cars with similar power‑to‑weight lunacy. Your worldview compresses. So does your to‑do list.

Industry & Policy: The Grown‑Up Table

Australia Won’t Trim Fuel Excise (For Now)

Canberra isn’t cutting the fuel excise despite pump prices doing their best impression of a seismograph. In practical terms, that means no near‑term relief at the bowser via tax policy. If you’re doing 600 km a week in a dual‑cab, any cut would’ve been a few dollars per tank anyway—handy, not transformative. Budget for the status quo and keep the tire pressures spot‑on; it’s the cheapest “mpg” hack you can do.

Medicinal Cannabis and Driving: Toward Impairment‑Based Rules

A proposal is on the table to relax state drug‑driving laws for medicinal cannabis patients, shifting from “presence” to “impairment” as the meaningful metric. As someone who’s sat through plenty of roadside tests during comparison shoots, I’m all for clarity. The science and training burden is non‑trivial, though. Expect a careful rollout if it proceeds—nobody wants ambiguity at highway speeds.

Scout Slips to 2028

Scout’s modern reboot—boxy, electric, outdoorsy—won’t deliver to customers until 2028. That’s a gut punch for early fans, and a reminder that standing up a new brand and factory isn’t like sketching a logo. If you were cross‑shopping it with the wave of mid‑size adventure rigs arriving mid‑decade, recalibrate your calendar. The demand for simple, durable, plug‑friendly off‑roaders isn’t going anywhere.

GM’s 1.2‑Liter Turbo Under Legal Scrutiny

After headaches with certain V8s, GM is now facing lawsuits targeting its smallest turbo three‑cylinder. We’ll let the courts do their thing, but here’s the owner advice I give friends: document everything. Service records, oil top‑ups, sounds, dates. The paper trail is your best friend if goodwill or extended coverage comes into play.

At a Glance: What’s Coming, What’s Changing

Owner and Shopper Notes

• EV range reality: plan around 70–85% of the WLTP/claimed figure for mixed driving. Cold snaps and headwinds take their tax.
• Performance SUV sanity check: if you daily on pockmarked suburbs, spring for adaptive dampers. Your spine will thank you.
• Policy is a feature: taxes and driving laws shape real ownership costs and convenience. Read the fine print—then read it again.

Conclusion

Today’s takeaway? The fun end of the market is getting braver (off‑road supercars, five‑cylinder hot‑crossovers), the sensible end is getting smarter (next iX3, Audi’s cleaner design), and the real world is still the real world (fuel excise, legal timelines, industrial delays). Somewhere between those poles is the sweet spot where we actually live with our cars. That’s the lane I’ll keep testing in.

FAQ

• Is the 2026 BMW iX3 a full redesign? It’s a next‑iteration model with revamped looks, tech, and efficiency; think comprehensive update rather than a mild facelift.
• Will Lamborghini really make more off‑road sports cars? The CEO’s open to it. Given Sterrato/911 Dakar success, odds look decent.
• Why is the Cupra Formentor VZ5 so expensive now? Low‑volume five‑cylinder hardware plus added kit and demand—classic supply/character premium.
• What does Australia’s no‑cut fuel excise decision mean for me? No immediate tax relief at the pump; manage costs through driving style and maintenance.
• When can I buy a new Scout? Deliveries are now targeted for 2028, so plan accordingly if you wanted one soon.