Today in Cars: Beijing Show Teasers, Nissan’s GT-R Stance, Ford’s Lost EV, RS6 Goes Three-Box, and Palou Paints Long Beach Papaya

I love show-week Mondays. Coffee’s too hot, inbox is too full, and the industry insists on dropping a dozen storylines at once. Here’s the good stuff you actually need to know—trimmed, sorted, and driven around the block for a gut check.

Auto China kicks off: Big debuts, bigger ambitions

The world’s largest motor show opens its doors this week in Beijing, and it’s going to be a flood of concepts, production reveals, and tech demos. Expect the full spectrum: hardcore off-roaders, sleek family SUVs, plus the kind of cabin gadgetry that makes your living room jealous. CarExpert is on the ground, which tells you how globally important this week has become.

Nissan’s twofer: rugged concept and a sleeker SUV

Nissan will unveil a brawny off-roader concept alongside a more athletic, streamlined SUV. Think blocky stance and trail-ready posture on one hand; wind-cheating roofline and city-friendly night-out vibe on the other. It’s a smart one-two punch: the emotional hook and the rational daily driver debuting together in front of the world’s hungriest car market.

• Rugged concept: the “weekend warrior” statement piece.
• Sleeker SUV: the “school run and airport dash” special.
• Both: previews of where Nissan’s design and packaging are headed next.

Nissan confirms it: the next GT-R won’t go electric

File this under music-to-enthusiast-ears: Nissan has confirmed the next GT-R will not go full electric. No tech spreadsheets yet, but the headline is clear—the R35’s successor will keep combustion in the mix. Maybe hybrid assist, maybe not; what matters is the tactile drama remains part of the recipe. I still remember the first time I launched an R35—the way it bent time and my neck in equal measure. A final or next-chapter GT-R with pistons? That’s the kind of heritage play you don’t fake.

Ford’s “personal bullet train” EV SUV: revealed, then canceled

We finally got a proper look at Ford’s once-internal “personal bullet train” electric SUV project—sleek, purposeful, and evidently good enough to sting a little now that it’s canceled. It reads like a case study in 2020s EV whiplash: big vision, colder market reality. The takeaway isn’t that Ford’s out of ideas—far from it—but that timelines and appetites are in flux. The design appears to underline range-first aerodynamics and calm, lounge-like space. Shame we’ll never queue it at the valet.

Bathroom breaks go in-car? Another Chinese brand says… yes

Only in 2026: yet another Chinese automaker is floating an integrated in-car toilet concept. Cue jokes, but if you’ve ever been wedged in holiday traffic with tired kids and no exit for 30 miles, you get the logic. Practical? Potentially. Elegant? Let’s just say good cabin ventilation and clever storage had better be part of the brochure.

Australia watch: Toyota’s baby LandCruiser still a mirage, Jaecoo sharpens its pencil

Toyota’s pint-sized LandCruiser—long-rumored, often-requested—remains no closer to Australia. If you were hoping to book one for the winter campground run, keep the Prado or 70 Series on your shortlist for now.

Meanwhile, Chery’s step-up brand Jaecoo has dropped pricing on the 2026 J5, and it’s the brand’s most affordable petrol model yet. That’s a shot across the bows of the value-led SUV crowd. Smart packaging plus an accessible ticket price is how you win weekend showroom foot traffic.

Quick drive notes: 2026 Nissan NX8

I had a brief spin in the NX8—think of it as Nissan’s modern family hauler with a premium tilt. On choppy suburban pavement it settled better than I expected, and the steering stayed light enough for one-hand parking maneuvers. Third row? More “kids and carry-ons” than full-time adult seating, which is typical in the class. Infotainment is bright and quick, though a couple of deeper menus could use bigger touch targets. First impression: a composed, family-first SUV that doesn’t mind a long day of errands.

Performance corner: Audi RS6 readies a sedan after 15 years of Avant-only

For a decade and a half, the RS6’s identity has been pure wagon—glorious, anti-SUV, and unapologetically fast. That’s changing. Spy shots point to a four-door RS6 joining the party, returning the badge to a three-box silhouette. For the track-day parents who love the Avant’s swagger but want stealth with a trunk, this is the ticket. The wagon isn’t going anywhere; the sedan simply expands the menu.

Show-week cheat sheet: what to watch

• Design language shifts: squared-off off-roaders vs aero-led family SUVs.
• Cabin tech: larger screens, smarter voice assistants, and yes—oddball amenities.
• Powertrain positioning: not everything is racing to full EV; hybrids and efficient ICE still have a big say.

Motorsport minute: Palou conquers Long Beach

Alex Palou took his first Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach win and now leads the IndyCar championship. It was a measured, champion’s drive—the kind where you realize he’s two corners ahead of everyone mentally. Long Beach remains a momentum maker; Palou just grabbed a whole suitcase of it.

The bottom line

Beijing will set the tone for the next 12 months—especially for SUVs and cabin tech—while Nissan’s GT-R news proves combustion still has headline power. Audi broadens its RS6 fanbase with a sedan, Ford’s nixed EV shows the market’s growing pains, and on track Palou reminds everyone why consistency wins titles. Busy week? Oh yes. Buckle up.

FAQ

When does the Beijing motor show start?

It kicks off this week, with major global and Chinese brands unveiling concepts and production models across SUVs, EVs, and performance.

Will the next Nissan GT-R be electric?

No—Nissan has confirmed the next GT-R will not go full electric. Further powertrain details are still to come.

Is Audi really bringing back an RS6 sedan?

Yes. After roughly 15 years of Avant-only RS6 models, a new RS6 sedan has been spied, signaling a return to the three-box body style later this decade.

What’s the story with Toyota’s “baby LandCruiser” for Australia?

Despite interest, it’s no closer to an Australian arrival. If you need a capable Toyota off-roader soon, current models remain your best bet.

Who won the IndyCar race at Long Beach?

Alex Palou won his first Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach and now leads the IndyCar championship.