Ford’s new Mustang GTD Competition lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 6:40.835, the company announced on April 17, 2026, shaving more than 11 seconds off the previous GTD time and beating Chevrolet’s Corvette ZR1 (6:50.763) and ZR1X (6:49.275). Piloted by factory driver Dirk Müller, the Competition is an upgraded, pre-production iteration of the supercharged 5.2-litre V8 GTD; Ford says it produces more power than the standard GTD’s 815 hp but has not released a figure. The car adds aerodynamic updates, front dive planes, a modified rear wing, carbon-fiber rear aero discs, new high-performance tyres, magnesium wheels, carbon bucket seats and lighter dampers to cut weight. Ford also reported a 6:49.337 lap by an engineer-driven car. Ford will offer the GTD Competition as a strictly limited, serialized street-legal special and has reopened applications for the regular GTD; pricing for the Competition was not disclosed. The Mercedes-AMG One’s 6:29.090 remains the only faster official street-legal time and Ford’s track-only GT Mk IV retains its faster, non-street-legal benchmark.

Volkswagen said on April 30, 2026 that its future is at risk unless it implements further cost cuts after first-quarter net profit fell 28% to €1.56 billion and revenues dropped to about €75.7–76 billion, missing analyst expectations. The group delivered just over two million vehicles in Jan–Mar, with sharp declines in China and North America and EV deliveries plunging in some markets. CFO Arno Antlitz said existing measures are insufficient and the company must “fundamentally change” its business model, including adjusting capacity, optimising plant costs and potentially deeper overhead reductions. VW already plans to cut 50,000 jobs across its brands in Germany by 2030. Antlitz flagged rising competition from Chinese automakers such as BYD and said US tariffs introduced last year add roughly €4 billion in annual costs. The group forecasts 2026 sales growth of 0–3% and a core profit margin of 4–5.5%, but noted forecasts do not incorporate possible impacts from the Middle East war. CEO Oliver Blume cited geopolitical tensions, trade barriers and regulatory pressure as mounting headwinds.

General Motors announced on April 29, 2026 that it will invest C$691 million (about US$505 million) to upgrade its St. Catharines Propulsion Plant in Ontario to produce the company’s sixth-generation V‑8 engines for full‑size trucks and SUVs. The work will fund new machinery, tooling and facility renovations; equipment has already begun arriving. St. Catharines will join Tonawanda (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Flint, Mich., as the three North American plants building the next‑gen small‑block V‑8s, which are slated for the 2027 Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra and future full‑size SUVs. The announcement comes amid ongoing sector turbulence in Canada after U.S. tariffs and recent GM restructuring: Oshawa cuts and layoffs earlier in 2026, and the idling of the CAMI/Ingersoll plant following the BrightDrop electric van shutdown in 2025. GM says the investment cements St. Catharines’ role in its core vehicle programs and aims to meet continued demand for high-volume pickup trucks across North America.

Volkswagen has revealed the production ID. Polo, a small, front‑wheel‑drive electric hatch that replaces the combustion‑only Polo at the entry of VW’s EV line-up. The model will be offered with two battery sizes — a 37 kWh LFP pack and a 52 kWh NMC pack — and power outputs ranging from about 114 hp to 208 hp, with a sporty GTI variant (around 223 hp) due later. WLTP ranges are quoted at roughly 329 km for the smaller pack and up to about 282 miles (≈455 km) for the larger battery. DC fast‑charging peaks at about 90 kW (small pack) and 105 kW (large pack). Interior and tech highlights include a 10‑inch digital cockpit, 13‑inch infotainment screen, restored physical controls and vehicle‑to‑load capability. Volkswagen will build the ID. Polo in Spain; pre‑sales have opened in Germany with entry pricing from about €24,995, while Volkswagen Ireland has confirmed a heavily subsidised Irish starting price of €19,885 (including SEAI grant and VRT relief) for the base 37 kWh model. VW says the Polo will be sold across Europe but not offered in the U.S.

Volvo Cars reported mixed first-quarter 2026 results on April 29, posting operating profit of SEK 1.6 billion and an EBIT margin of 2.2% as revenues fell to SEK 72.6 billion from SEK 82.9 billion a year earlier. Global retail volumes dropped about 11% year-on-year, driven by a 28% decline in the Americas and a roughly 17% fall in China, while Europe—particularly the U.K.—showed relative strength. Growth in battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales lifted BEV share to about 24% of volumes (from 19% a year earlier) and electrified models accounted for roughly 47% of sales. Free cash flow was negative SEK 10.0 billion versus SEK -6.3 billion a year earlier, partly due to inventory build linked to the new EX60 electric SUV’s production ramp. Management said EX60 orders have exceeded expectations and margins are favorable, but warned that geopolitical tensions, currency moves, tariffs and the removal of U.S. tax incentives for EVs are pressuring volumes and will affect second-quarter profitability. The company is on track to cut an additional ~SEK 5 billion in costs.

Infiniti this spring unveiled the 2027 QX65, a two-row, coupe‑roofed midsize crossover that leans heavily on the brand’s FX heritage while sharing underpinnings with the QX60/Murano. The QX65 uses Nissan’s 2.0‑liter VC‑Turbo four‑cylinder (268 hp, 286 lb‑ft) with a nine‑speed automatic and standard all‑wheel drive; Infiniti quotes a base Luxe price of $55,535, Sport about $1,700 higher and a top Autograph trim from roughly $64,135 (well‑optioned examples approaching the low $70,000s). Cargo is generous for the class at about 35.8–36 cu ft behind the second row. Reviewers praise bold styling, roomy front seats and Autograph luxury touches, but criticize extensive reused Nissan plastics, synthetic V‑6 sound piping, jumpy throttle tuning, heavy steering and unimpressive real‑world performance and fuel economy (roughly 20 mpg city / 26 mpg highway). The QX65 is due at dealers early this summer and is positioned to compete with the BMW X5, Mercedes‑Benz GLE and Lexus RX in the two‑row luxury crossover segment.