Today in Cars: EV Tech Leaps, Policy Speed Bumps, and a Nostalgic Lap of Dunsfold

I started the morning where most car stories really begin: keys on the hook, kettle boiling, and a stack of headlines that smell like burnt coffee and hot brake pads. The EV drumbeat is getting louder, regulations are flexing, and a familiar face did a lap that tugged an old enthusiast string. Let’s get into it.

EV Shake‑Ups and Tech Leaps

GM’s design centre fire puts batteries back under the microscope

CarExpert reports a major fire at GM’s design centre where an EV battery has been singled out in the early assessment. No two thermal events are the same, and I’ve sat through more battery-safety briefings than I care to remember—engineers obsess over containment, spacing, and cooling. Incidents like this remind the industry (and the rest of us) that the march to electrification is relentless, but vigilance is non-negotiable. Expect even tighter lab protocols and more conservative validation cycles as a result.

Porsche Cayenne Electric: big battery, wireless charging

Porsche is readying an all-electric Cayenne, and according to CarExpert it’s coming with a massive battery and wireless charging capability. The big-battery bit sounds very Porsche: grand-touring range for the school run plus the ski weekend. Wireless charging? That’s the quietly brilliant part—just park over a pad and let electrons trickle in while you unload groceries. In previous Cayennes I’ve driven, the magic has been how they hide their heft; I’m curious to see if Porsche’s chassis wizards can make a heavy pack feel light on its toes again. If they do, this could be the family EV that still makes excuses to take the long way home.

Mazda 6e confirmed for Australia, China-built, Tesla-rivalling price

Mazda’s 6e has been confirmed for Australia with a price pitched at Tesla territory, per CarExpert. Built in China, which is increasingly the world’s EV workshop, the 6e is Mazda’s shot at turning its design-first ethos into a pragmatic, long-commute electric sedan. Mazda tends to sweat the human stuff—steering feel, pedal calibration, seat comfort—so if they’ve nailed efficiency and charging too, this could be the left-field choice for buyers who want a little soul with their spreadsheet.

Market Moves and Policy Friction

Stockpiled BYDs ruled illegal after council rejection

Also from CarExpert: a local council has declared stockpiled BYD vehicles illegal after rejecting an application tied to the site. It’s a very 2025 problem—surging EV demand meets grown-up realities like zoning and logistics. Translation for shoppers: if you’re waiting on a delivery, ask your dealer how their storage and handover pipeline is set up. The better-organised retailers will shout about compliant facilities; the rest will suddenly become very shy.

Peugeot is Stellantis’s UK sales ace

Autocar dives into how Peugeot became Stellantis’s best-selling brand in the UK. No shocker to anyone who’s watched 208s multiply like hatchback rabbits—the formula of tidy styling, keen pricing, and broadly electrified options has real momentum, especially with fleets. I’ve noticed a lot of buyers aren’t chasing the final 10% of performance right now; they want low running costs, easy tech, and a cabin that doesn’t feel like a cold conference room. Peugeot’s been delivering exactly that.

Fresh Metal: Audi’s A2-flavoured Electric Hatch

Autocar also notes a new Audi electric hatchback breaking cover with A2 influence. That phrasing tells you plenty: think smart packaging, airy glasshouse, and a focus on efficiency over theatrics. If Audi threads the needle between city-friendly size and grown-up refinement—call it the sweet spot between a VW ID.3 and a Mini Electric—it’ll have a proper European all-rounder on its hands. I’m hoping for an interior that feels light and clever rather than overly screen-heavy for the sake of it.

Enthusiast Corner

Hammond back at the Top Gear test track—with a Porsche he won’t shut up about

Carscoops highlights Richard Hammond revisiting the Dunsfold circuit in a Porsche he’s clearly smitten with. I get it. That airfield has a way of turning even sensible cars into giggle machines. There’s something about clipping the follow-through and letting the rear just breathe that makes you fall in love with the idea of driving all over again. Nostalgia is a hell of a tyre compound.

A Lamborghini so rare the owner can’t bring himself to drive it

Also via Carscoops: an Aventador Miura edition, one of just a dozen in the U.S., has been kept mostly as an objet d’art. I’ve driven cars like this to a coffee shop and felt like I should apologise to every speed bump. Collectability is a mood; some cars are sculptures that just happen to rev.

Quick Comparison: Today’s Headline EVs

What Stood Out Today

• Battery safety remains front-and-centre after the GM design centre fire note (CarExpert).
• Porsche’s wireless-charging Cayenne Electric hints at luxury EVs prioritising convenience alongside range (CarExpert).
• Mazda’s 6e targets mainstream EV buyers on price without abandoning driver feel (CarExpert).
• Local policy can reshape EV logistics overnight—BYD’s stockpile decision proves it (CarExpert).
• Peugeot’s UK momentum shows value, design, and fleet alignment still win the day (Autocar).
• Audi’s A2-inspired hatch could be the clever, compact EV many urban buyers want (Autocar).
• Enthusiast culture is alive and well: a joyful Dunsfold lap and a museum-grade Lambo (Carscoops).

Conclusion

Electrification is sprinting ahead—from Porsche’s wireless future to a fresh Audi hatch—while policy and logistics are trying to keep pace. Meanwhile, the passion that got us all into cars in the first place still peeks through: a lap around Dunsfold, a poster-worthy Lamborghini, and the quiet pleasure of a well-sorted everyday hatch. The industry’s balancing act continues, and it’s never been more interesting to watch.

FAQ

What caused the fire at GM’s design centre?

CarExpert reports that an EV battery has been singled out in the incident. Investigations typically take time, and further official details weren’t provided in today’s brief.

Will the Porsche Cayenne Electric support wireless charging?

Yes—according to CarExpert, the Cayenne Electric is set to offer wireless charging capability alongside a large-capacity battery.

Is the Mazda 6e coming to Australia, and where is it built?

Yes. CarExpert confirms the China-built Mazda 6e is headed to Australia with pricing intended to rival Tesla.

Why were certain BYD cars declared illegal?

Per CarExpert, a local council rejected an application tied to a storage site, leading to the stockpiled vehicles being declared illegal at that location. It’s a logistics and compliance issue rather than a product issue.

What’s special about Audi’s new electric hatchback?

Autocar notes it breaks cover with design influence from the classic A2—expect clever packaging and an efficiency-first approach.