Tiny Trucks, Big-Gun GTs, and a Weekend of Red Flags: Your Car News Brief

Today’s brief reads like a well-packed glovebox: a tiny truck that might be the next big thing, three superlative GTs trading body blows, Europe’s small EV renaissance, and a motorsport Saturday that refused to sit still. Somewhere in there, an ode to the people who taught us to drive without eating a curb. Buckle up.

Trend Watch: The Tiny Slate Truck Has a Moment

Car and Driver has been poking and prodding the upstart Slate Truck—complete with interior and exterior galleries and a big question: will this pint-sized pickup be the Next Big Thing? I’m not allergic to small trucks (I once parallel-parked a Kei-spec flatbed into a space I’m pretty sure was zoned for bicycles), and the appeal is obvious. Urban footprint. Easy-going efficiency. Cute factor dialed to 11.

When I tried similar micro-haulers on rough city streets, the charm is in the glide and go: featherweight steering, visibility like a fishbowl, and the sense you’re getting away with something. The trick, as ever, is real-world capability and regulations—payload, crash, and charging if it’s electric. Still, the stars are aligning for right-sized pickups aimed at deliveries, hardware runs, and weekend hobbyists who measure lumber and smiles in equal parts.

• Why it could catch on: lower running costs, easy parking, perfect for urban errands and trailhead bikes.
• What could hold it back: safety certifications, highway refinement, and buyer skepticism outside city cores.
• Who should watch closely: Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz shoppers who rarely tow but always schlep.

Retro Rewind: Boxy Was Beautiful (and Practical)

Car and Driver also resurfaced a wonderful early-2000s mash-up: Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Focus, Pontiac Vibe, Mazda Protegé5, Suzuki Aerio, Toyota Matrix. My nostalgia meter spiked. I daily-drove a Protegé5 for a stretch—steering so clean you could shave with it, rear seats that folded flat with a thunk that said “go get the dogs.”

That old boxy brigade telegraphed what crossovers would later monetize: upright space, hatchback utility, and personalities you could spot from across a Target lot. We traded some steering feel for ride height and an eyeline over traffic. Was it worth it? Depends. But the seed of “do-it-all” versatility came from these cheerful rectangles.

Three Ways to Do Fast: Vantage vs Roma vs Artura

Autocar lined up the Aston Martin Vantage, Ferrari Roma, and McLaren Artura—a tasting flight of very different wines that all get you pleasantly dizzy.

How they feel from the driver’s seat

• Aston Martin Vantage: Front-engine thunder, heavy-set and gratifying. It’s the pub brawler who knows the sommelier by first name. Recent updates push power into the mid-600s (factory figure), with steering heft and a chassis that loves a proper, committed corner entry.
• Ferrari Roma: The silk glove. Front-engine V8 with power a touch north of 600 hp, the Roma glides when you want and goads when you don’t. I noticed right away how it calms your pulse at 30 mph and spikes it at 90 without changing its cufflinks.
• McLaren Artura: Surgical mid-engine intent. Hybrid V6 punch, roughly mid-600s combined output. It’s the scalpel to the Vantage’s hammer—fast in the space between thoughts, with brake feel that rewards smooth feet and consistent heat.

If you’re after GT romance, the Roma is the candlelit booth. For big-shoulder charisma, the Vantage leans in. For track-leaning finesse with a green conscience, the Artura is the quiet killer. Pick your poison, then pick a road that lets it breathe—Alpine passes for the McLaren, sweeping B-roads for the Aston, and an overnight to Lake Como (bags just so) for the Ferrari.

Europe’s Small-Car Shakeup: Neue Klasse, Nostalgia, and a Spicy Lexus

BMW X1: Neue Klasse-ified

Carscoops reports that BMW’s X1 won’t just get a nip and tuck; it’s headed for a Neue Klasse rethink—design language and tech that are changing the brand from the inside. Expect a cleaner interface, more efficient powertrains, and that crisp “less, but better” vibe. If you’re cross-shopping premium compacts, maybe hold fire a minute—this could be a meaningful leap rather than a facelift with new eyeliner.

Renault’s 4 and 5 Eat the Megane’s Lunch

Also from Carscoops: the electric rebirths of the Renault 4 and 5 are nibbling into Megane territory. Makes sense. The 4 and 5 are style-first icons with modern guts—think approachable price, city range, and French charm by the ladle. If Renault’s “something cooking” is a sportier or roomier follow-up, the small EV space could get even spicier.

Lexus LFR Spied in Mild, Hot, and “I Need New Tires”

Spied in multiple flavors, Lexus’s LFR looks every bit the long-rumored spiritual follow-up to the LFA—different tunes for different nerves. Whether it’s grand-tourer plush or track-toy taut, Lexus seems ready to mix carbon-fiber discipline with that hushed, high-speed serenity they’ve perfected. Color me intrigued (and already budgeting for front tires).

Analog Love Letter: Lamborghini Diablo

Carscoops calls the Diablo peak, pure Lamborghini—and I get it. A 90s supercar that makes you work for it: long clutch, long sightlines, long memories. Values? Trending toward “should’ve bought one in 2012,” but the market’s renewed appetite for analog is real. No modes. No gesture control. Just you, a big V12, and the quiet agreement that mistakes will be loud and expensive.

Motorsport: Tight Margins and Big Moments

Saturday had everything: overturned penalties, surprise poles, sprint drama, and a little Goodwood glory.

Opinion Corner: A Word for the People in the Passenger-Side Brake Pedal

Autocar’s reminder to appreciate driving instructors landed. Mine spent two rainy Saturdays teaching me how to read the camber of a corner by the way puddles pooled against the crown. Not glamorous—but that one trick has saved me more times than horsepower ever has. If we want safer roads and better drivers, we start by paying and praising the folks who install our good habits before the bad ones take hold.

Quick Hits

• Slate Truck buzz underscores the right-sized pickup trend. If your “towing” is mostly plants and patio furniture, keep an eye on it.
• Aston vs Ferrari vs McLaren isn’t about numbers anymore—it’s about the flavor of speed you prefer.
• Neue Klasse magic trickling to mainstream models could make 2026 small SUVs feel very 2030.
• Analog supercars aren’t just appreciating in value—they’re appreciating in meaning.

Conclusion

From tiny trucks to V12 time capsules, the fun of car culture sits in the contradictions. We want compact, efficient, and clever; we also crave loud, fast, and flawed. The best days balance both. Go small for the weekday grind. Go big when the road is empty and the sun refuses to set.

FAQ

• What is the Slate Truck?
  It’s a compact, city-friendly pickup concept that’s sparked interest for its tiny footprint and everyday utility—think urban hauling with minimal hassle.
• Should I wait for the next BMW X1?
  If you’re not in a rush, yes. The reported Neue Klasse update suggests a deeper tech and design overhaul than a typical facelift.
• Which is “best”: Vantage, Roma, or Artura?
  Depends. Vantage for muscle and drama, Roma for elegance and duality, Artura for precision and hybrid punch.
• Why are analog supercars like the Diablo hot again?
  They deliver unfiltered feel—no layers of software between you and the machine—which collectors and drivers are valuing more each year.
• What happened with Sainz’s Dutch GP penalty?
  The FIA overturned it following a Williams protest, reshaping the weekend’s talking points and the season’s chessboard.