Morning Drive: 626-hp sand storms, $56M Ferrari shock, EV chess moves, and a new flagship ute

You know those weeks when the car world feels like a double espresso? This is one of them. I’m thumbing notes with sea salt still in my cuffs from Pebble Beach, group chats pinging about a road-legal Defender rally special, and EV news coming in sideways from Europe and China. Let’s get into it while the coffee’s still hot.

Concours to chaos: Pebble poetry and a $56 million headline

1935 Duesenberg SSJ takes Pebble Beach Best of Show

Standing on the 18th fairway at Pebble is a yearly reminder that craftsmanship can make time sit still. This year’s Best of Show went to a 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster—Car and Driver called it—and it’s hard to argue. Pre-war Americana with an ego the size of the Pacific, coachbuilt details you can get lost in, and a silhouette that still looks mischievous 90 years on. I’ve watched dozens of winners roll past that spot; few carry bravado like an SSJ idling at 500 rpm.

First Ferrari Luce hammers for $56 million

Across town, a different kind of thunderclap: the first Ferrari Luce sold at auction for $56 million, per the Aussies at CarExpert. Whether you think that’s taste or theatre, it’s a signal. Ferrari’s newest headline act (and, yes, the one lighting up a thousand group texts) just rewrote the price-of-entry conversation. I’ve seen bidders raise paddles at numbers that make accountants sweat, but this one’s going to echo for a while.

Big tires, bigger lungs: Land Rover Defender Dakar (626 hp)

Motor1 dropped the kind of story that makes you reach for a helmet: a Land Rover Defender Dakar you can actually register. The headline? 626 horsepower. The theme? Rally raid swagger, showroom plates. If you’ve hustled the current V8 Defender on gravel—as I have—you know the chassis loves a long slide and a laugh. Crank it to Dakar spec and it’s a ski-weekend rocket that still idles in a Whole Foods car park without looking absurd. Well, maybe a little absurd. The good kind.

• Power: 626 hp (reported)
• Positioning: Road-legal rally special with Dakar inspiration
• Use case: Mountain passes at dawn, sand flats at dusk, dinner by eight
• What I’m watching: Tire spec and cooling—two things that make or break real-world pace

Ute watch: GWM Cannon Alpha sharpens its tools

Australia’s flagship GWM ute gets a serious glow-up for 2026. CarExpert says the Cannon Alpha adds a new 3.0-litre diesel and next-gen infotainment. I did a thousand klicks in an earlier Cannon across corrugated back roads; ride was fine, tech lagged. The promise here is simple: more punch, smarter screens, and a cabin that can muscle into Ranger and HiLux territory without needing a chiropractor after the Nullarbor.

• New engine: 3.0L diesel (details to come)
• Cabin: New-generation infotainment; expect cleaner UI and faster response
• Audience: Tradies who tow, families who tour, fleet buyers chasing value
• Question mark: Towing and payload figs—and whether the suspension tune keeps it tidy unladen

EV chessboard: Porsche’s pivot, Zeekr’s push, Mini’s muse, and a reality check

Porsche to axe its first-ever EV by 2030 – report

CarExpert reports Porsche will retire its first EV by 2030. Read: the Taycan era is set to give way to something new as the decade turns. If you’ve lived with a Taycan (I had a 4S for a month in LA traffic), you know it fused Stuttgart feel with silent shove brilliantly. Sunsetting it on schedule makes room for cleaner-sheet EVs and likely some packaging magic learned the hard way.

Zeekr 7GT: Australia gets a hotter electric sports wagon

Zeekr is bringing the 7GT sports wagon to Australia with a power boost and three variants. Wagons tug at the enthusiast bit in my brain—especially sleek ones with EV torque. If the local tune sharpens responses without turning it brittle, it could be the left-field antidote to SUV sameness. Picture it: surfboards, kids, and a charging stop where the dog gets more pats than the car.

Next Mini Cooper: R50 vibes, maybe RWD

Autocar says the next-gen Mini will channel the pure, upright energy of the 2001 R50 and could even go rear-wheel drive. The R50/R53 were the cars that taught a generation the joy of a small footprint and a big grin. If Mini leans into RWD, expect crisper steering feel and more playful balance. Around London—or Melbourne’s inner north—that’s the stuff that turns errands into detours.

55 EVs tested: Real-world efficiency spread laid bare

Also from Autocar: an enormous real-world efficiency test across 55 EVs. The lesson (again): aero, weight, tires, and temperature matter more than brochure bravado. On a cold morning, my inbox fills with owners wondering where their range went. Heat pumps help. Rolling resistance matters. And smooth throttle beats hero-mode launches if you’re chasing miles not memes.

Market moves and the fine print

Changan heads to Australia, Deepal stays the course

Changan will enter Australia but won’t take over Deepal distribution, per CarExpert. Translation: more Chinese brands are plotting thoughtful landings, not just parachute drops. With MG, BYD, GWM, and Zeekr already elbowing in, the showroom floor is starting to feel like a Saturday food market—choice everywhere, but you’ll want to taste before you buy.

Privacy pulse: Devices tied to plates in Maryland

Carscoops flagged a new Maryland capability that can associate your license plate with nearby Bluetooth signals—phones, even a dog’s smart collar. On one hand, investigators get a sharper tool. On the other, civil-liberties folks are (rightly) asking where the off switch is. Practical tip? If you’re privacy-minded, audit your Bluetooth settings and consider when you actually need them on.

Today’s standouts at a glance

Quick takes

• Classic crowd still rules the lawn: Duesenberg SSJ charm beats tech every time when the light hits right.
• Performance isn’t dead; it just learned regen: EV wagons and 600-hp SUVs can coexist—your driveway, your rules.
• Data is the new dipstick: Whether it’s efficiency testing or device tracking, numbers are defining the drive.

Conclusion

From concours jewels to dune-bashing Defenders, from a $56 million Ferrari mic-drop to sober EV efficiency charts, it’s a week that reminds us why this hobby/profession/obsession endures. Cars are culture, tech, and sometimes trouble. The good ones make you plan a road you haven’t driven yet. I’ve got a mountain pass in mind. You?

FAQ

When will the Land Rover Defender Dakar be available?

Motor1 reports it as a road-legal special with 626 hp, targeting a future model year. Exact on-sale timing and markets are still to be confirmed.

Is Porsche really ending the Taycan?

CarExpert reports Porsche will retire its first-ever EV by 2030. That points to the current Taycan era winding down to make way for next-generation EVs.

What’s changing with the 2026 GWM Cannon Alpha?

A new 3.0-litre diesel and next-generation infotainment headline the update, with pricing positioned as the flagship of the Cannon lineup in Australia.

What’s special about the Zeekr 7GT for Australia?

Australia will get a power-boosted 7GT with three variants, blending wagon practicality with electric performance.

Did a Duesenberg win Pebble Beach in 2026?

Yes. A 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster won Best of Show at the 2026 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.