Today’s Drive: Neue Klasse-tinged BMW X1, a sportier Bentley Flying Spur S, BYD’s big liability promise, and a $248k flying taxi

I started the morning the way I like it: double espresso, inbox full of spy shots and big claims. Some days the news cycle feels like a dealership lot—everything lined up, predictable. Not today. We’ve got a bread-and-butter BMW adopting concept-car cues, a Bentley in its gym clothes, a Chinese giant saying “we’ll take the blame” for its self-driving, politicians sharpening their pencils, and an honest-to-goodness flying taxi rolling into production. Oh, and Mazda’s CX-5—still the quiet enthusiast’s pick—plugging away with the steady confidence of a marathoner at mile 18.

Euro Style, Turned Up

2027 BMW X1: Small SUV, big Neue Klasse energy

BMW’s updated X1 has been spotted wearing the cleaner, calmer surfacing we’ve seen on the brand’s Neue Klasse concepts. From the angles I’ve scrutinized, think slimmer lighting, tidier sheetmetal, and less fussy jewelry—still recognizably X1, just with a crisper crease and a more modern stare. If you’ve driven the current X1 (I’ve put a few hundred miles on one, including a rain-lashed weekend up the coast), you know it’s already a sweet-handling little thing with a much-improved cabin. This refresh looks like it’ll add visual maturity without scaring off existing owners.

What I’ll be watching: how much of BMW’s next-gen interface trickles down, and whether the ride stays compliant on the bigger wheel options. The current car’s infotainment is dense but powerful; get it on a rough B-road and the chassis finds a nice rhythm. Keep that, give me cleaner lines, and we’re in business.

2027 Bentley Flying Spur S: The tux just got tailored

The “S” badge is back on Bentley’s freshly facelifted Flying Spur, which means the ultra-luxe sedan returns with a sportier bent. Expect the usual S cues—darker trim, tauter chassis tuning, and a cabin vibe that nudges the big Bentley toward the driver without losing the champagne-glass serenity. The outgoing Flying Spur S could shrink a back road in a way that made me laugh out loud (it also required a generous lane—she’s still a yacht), and I suspect this facelift focuses on sharpening the response and modernizing the tech without messing with that crushing refinement.

Quirk I hope they fix: the armrest and cupholder tango. Beautiful, yes, but I don’t want to conduct it at 70 mph while trying not to dribble a flat white on open-pore wood.

Brand Philosophy, Said Quietly but Clearly

“We’re not selling mobility”: Lamborghini’s Winkelmann, distilled

Autocar sat down with Stephan Winkelmann, who reminded the world that Lamborghini is not in the commodity business. The brand sells theatre—angles and outrage, the kind of drama you feel in your ribcage. I’ve always thought of Lambo as a mood rather than a machine; the day I borrowed a Huracán for a dawn run, a coffee stop turned into a sidewalk seminar. People didn’t ask about range or depreciation—they asked how it made me feel. That north star matters as we head deeper into hybridization and whatever “electric supercar” becomes. If you keep the sense of occasion, customers forgive the plug.

Autonomy, Policy, and the China Question

BYD says it will accept liability for its self-driving system

BYD’s pledge to accept responsibility for accidents caused by its autonomous system is a big deal. Why? Because it puts real skin in the game. If the car messes up, the company owns it—at least that’s the promise. The practical caveat is always in the fine print: What’s “driver monitoring”? What counts as system misuse? How is evidence captured and adjudicated? Still, from a normal-driver perspective, it’s refreshing to see a clear line in the sand. A few owners I’ve spoken to about various driver-assist suites always ask the same thing: “If it does it for me, who’s on the hook?” BYD’s answer, on paper, is “we are.”

In Washington: A push to bar Chinese vehicles—even visiting ones

Several Congresswomen are proposing a ban on Chinese-made vehicles entering the U.S., including models not sold here (think tourists or temporary imports). The stated concern is data security and strategic dependence. For shoppers, this is less about what’s on your local lot tomorrow and more about the long-term map of who sells what in America. For automakers, it’s yet another regulatory chess match. For me? It underscores how cars have become rolling devices—data centers with wheels—and policy is catching up fast.

Future Flight and Present Trucks

GAC’s $248,000 AirCab flying taxi starts production

Yes, that’s a flying taxi with a price tag not far off a well-specified Aventador from a few years ago. GAC’s AirCab is an eVTOL that aims to move people over (not through) congestion, and it’s reportedly headed into production. Certification, airspace integration, noise footprints—those are the hard bits. But the fact a major carmaker is building them says the multi-rotor future isn’t just vaporware and TED Talks. Would I commute across the bay in one? If the weather’s good and there’s a coffee at the pad, maybe.

$130k Hennessey VelociRaptor Expedition vs. $82k Ford Expedition Tremor: Same power, different vibe

Carscoops points out the eyebrow-raiser: Hennessey’s VelociRaptor Expedition allegedly makes the same power as an Expedition Tremor that costs far less. This is your classic tuner conundrum. Power isn’t the whole story—there’s stance, suspension bits, armor, lighting, rolling stock, and the look that tells trailheads you didn’t come to sip cucumber water. Still, if your use case is hauling kids and kayaks, the Tremor’s value case is hard to ignore. I’ve done a few long hauls in Expeditions; wind noise rises with aggressive roof gear, and the third row is massive-human friendly. The VelociRaptor will bring the spectacle, but do the math on where you’ll actually exploit the upgrades.

Market Keepers: Mazda CX-5 Stays the Course

2026 Mazda CX-5 expected to be only slightly more popular

Forecasts suggest a modest uptick for the 2026 CX-5. Which makes perfect sense. The CX-5 is that rare crossover you drive for the way it turns in. I’ve said it before: the steering talks to you, the damping is supple, and the cabin feels grown-up even if the back seat and cargo hold aren’t class-leading. Two quirks from recent time in one: the loading lip can be a touch high for heavy gear, and the infotainment, while clean, asks for an extra click or two more than rivals. Still, for folks who see commuting as a chance to actually drive, the CX-5 remains an easy recommendation.

At-a-Glance: What Mattered Today

Who Should Care Today

• City dwellers eyeing a premium small SUV: Watch the 2027 BMW X1 for calmer styling and (hopefully) friendlier tech.
• Luxury road trippers: The Flying Spur S facelift looks set to blend comfort with an extra hit of driver involvement.
• Tech-forward buyers: BYD’s liability stance could become a benchmark for autonomous accountability.
• Policy watchers: Proposed bans on Chinese vehicles could ripple across supply chains and pricing over time.
• Adventurers with a budget: The Expedition Tremor remains a value anchor; the VelociRaptor is for those who want the headline.
• Pragmatic enthusiasts: The CX-5’s balance of feel and polish keeps it relevant without fireworks.

Conclusion

Today’s slate is a neat microcosm of the car world right now: design maturing, luxury getting fitter, autonomy growing teeth, policy getting punchy, and the sky—literally—opening up. Somewhere in the middle, Mazda keeps doing Mazda things, and that consistency is oddly comforting. Not every day needs a revolution; sometimes a good chassis tune and a clearer conscience do just fine.

FAQ

What is BMW’s “Neue Klasse” design language?

It’s BMW’s next-gen design and tech direction—cleaner surfacing, modern lighting, and a simplified, more digital interior philosophy. Think evolutionary, not shouty.

What does BYD accepting liability for self-driving systems mean for drivers?

In principle, if the system causes an accident, BYD says it will take responsibility. The specifics will depend on conditions of use, driver monitoring, and local laws.

Could Chinese cars really be banned in the U.S.?

A proposal is being pushed by some lawmakers to bar Chinese-made vehicles, including visiting ones. It isn’t law today, but it signals tighter scrutiny around data and supply chains.

When might the updated BMW X1 arrive?

The spotted model is positioned as a 2027 update, so expect a reveal closer to that timeline with market arrivals following.

Is the Hennessey VelociRaptor Expedition worth it over the Expedition Tremor?

If you value the aftermarket hardware, stance, and presence, maybe. If you’re chasing bang-for-buck power and everyday utility, the Tremor’s value case is compelling.