Today in Cars: EV hot-hatch heat, rally nostalgia, rugged new off-roaders, and a V12 flex

I brewed the strong stuff this morning and the industry delivered to match: spy shots of a feisty Cupra EV, a teaser for a fresher Born, Toyota flirting with the Celica badge again (with mud on the tires, no less), a Tesla Model 3 tweak for Australia, a plug-in ute push from GWM, Subaru’s Wilderness vibe heading Down Under, Rivian’s skunkworks going public, Hyundai getting playful on screens, Nissan polishing the Versa, and a Ferrari V12 doing Very Ferrari Things on a dyno. Let’s get into it.

Small, sharp, and electric: Cupra’s Raval hot hatch and a Born makeover

Cupra’s about to turn up the volume in the compact EV space. The 2027 Cupra Raval—the brand’s urban-size electric hatch—has been spotted testing in hot-hatch form ahead of its reveal. Think short wheelbase, chunky wheels, and the sort of stance that makes you plot a detour for the fun road home.

Running alongside it, the 2027 Cupra Born is getting a facelift, teased ahead of a March debut. When I last drove the Born, I came away grinning at its rear-drive balance and quick, pointy front end, but rolled my eyes at the occasional infotainment lag and those haptic sliders that never felt at home on a bumpy backroad. A mid-cycle nip-and-tuck should be a chance to tidy those up, refresh the cabin, and potentially unlock more range or performance through software and drivetrain tweaks.

• Raval hot hatch: spied with sporty cues; positioned beneath Born in size and price.
• Born facelift: official tease points to updated lighting, interior trim, and likely software upgrades.
• Timing: both tagged for 2027 market timing, with the Born’s reveal coming first in March.
• What I’m watching: backlit, easier-to-use controls and a sharper driver display on Born; chassis tune and tire choices on the Raval.

Toyota dusts off the Celica name—this time with rally boots on

The headlines you’ve been waiting to read since the GT-Four glory days: Toyota has previewed a 2027 Celica as a rally car. It’s just a preview, but that name instantly cues up images of anti-lag chirps and fog lights slicing through a Welsh forest at 3 a.m. If Toyota’s testing the waters with a competition-led Celica return, it’s a love letter to the faithful and a savvy bridge from the GR Yaris and GR Corolla’s rally DNA.

My first brush with a vintage Celica GT-Four years ago was all about traction and tenacity. If a modern Celica leans back into that ethos—even as a halo rally project—it could become the poster car for a new generation of gravel kids.

• Confirmed: It’s a preview with motorsport intent, not a full production reveal yet.
• Context: Sits neatly alongside Toyota’s GR line and WRC pedigree.
• Open questions: Will it be a pure motorsport effort or a signpost to a road car?

Tesla Model 3 update leaked before its Australian landing

A fresh leak suggests another Model 3 update is imminent for Australia. On coarse-chip Aussie tarmac, the post-“Highland” 3 I drove already felt quieter and more tied down than earlier cars, with notably better seat comfort on long freeway slogs. The leak appears to show light-touch tweaks—think trim, wheels, maybe some regional suspension tuning, and feature alignment via software.

• What it looks like: incremental hardware and cabin detail changes.
• What it means: Australia could get a spec better tailored to local roads and buyers.
• Watch-for: any changes to driver-assistance hardware or performance variant settings.

Ute and outdoors surge: GWM’s plug-in push, Subaru’s Wilderness wave, and Rivian’s sandbox

GWM has confirmed the Cannon Hi4-T as its second plug-in hybrid ute for Australia—a clear sign Chinese brands aren’t just nibbling at the market; they’re carving their initials into it. Expect the usual hybrid ute questions—real-world electric-only range, towing implications, and payload trade-offs—but there’s no denying the appeal of quiet, torquey urban running with the safety net of a combustion engine for the weekend tow.

Backing that up, GWM’s leadership is out there saying they’re not “one-dimensional” like some rivals, leaning into a spread of powertrains instead of putting all their electrified eggs in one basket. That’s marketing, sure, but the product cadence backs it.

Meanwhile, Subaru is expanding its Wilderness sub-brand in Australia. If you’ve sampled a Wilderness model in the U.S.—and I’ve dragged more than one across rocky fire roads—you know the drill: chunkier tires, more ground clearance, honest-to-goodness recovery points, and a roof rack you don’t have to baby. It’s the difference between “soft road” cosplay and actually making the campsite before sunset.

And then there’s Rivian’s Adventure Department, which Road & Track describes as the company’s skunkworks gone public. Translation: sanctioned tinkering. Expect limited-run gear, cleverly integrated accessories, maybe even special builds—essentially all the cool garage projects your buddy’s been threatening to finish, but with OEM polish.

Performance corner: Ferrari’s Purosangue V12 shows off on a dyno

Carscoops flagged a dyno run of the Ferrari Purosangue that hints at the naturally aspirated V12 pushing even harder than the official figure. On paper, the Purosangue’s 6.5-liter is rated at around 715 hp; on the rollers, it appears there’s a bit more spice up top. I had a brief run in one last summer and it felt every bit the big-number Ferrari: velvet throttle below 4k, then a top-end lunge that turns road into ribbon. Dynos aren’t gospel, but the takeaway is classic Maranello—conservative brochure numbers, exuberant reality.

Tech and tidbits: Pikachu on your dash, a nicer Versa cabin, and a $100 surprise

• Hyundai adds Pokémon themes to its digital dashboards and infotainment. Pure whimsy, likely via a software update on recent models. I’m not usually one for animated skins, but anything that makes a school run a touch more fun gets a nod—just make sure the speedo stays crystal clear.
• Nissan Versa (a.k.a. Almera/Sunny in some markets) gets interior updates, mostly at the top trims. Expect nicer materials, larger screens, and a tidier layout. The Versa’s always been honest, affordable transport; a better cabin makes long commutes a shade less soul-sapping.
• State Farm is mailing $100 checks to millions of U.S. drivers as part of a larger give-back. If you’re a policyholder, maybe don’t ignore that envelope—could cover a tank of fuel, a tire rotation, or the fancy car wash you keep skipping.

What I’ll be watching next

• Cupra’s March reveal: does the Born fix the fussy touch controls and add meaningful range?
• Toyota’s Celica tease: any hint it’ll spawn a road-going special?
• GWM Hi4-T details: official EV range and towing ratings in Australia.
• Rivian’s first Adventure Dept. drop: limited gear or full-on special builds?

Conclusion

From hot EV hatch promises to rally throwbacks and real-deal off-road trims, today felt like a nice balance of head and heart. The tech keeps getting smarter (sometimes sillier), the performance cars keep over-delivering, and the mainstream stuff edges a little nicer. Now, about that Celica…

FAQ

When will the Cupra Raval hot hatch be revealed?

It’s been caught testing ahead of its full reveal, with market timing targeted for 2027. Expect more official info to trickle out across 2026.

What’s changing on the 2027 Cupra Born facelift?

Teasers point to updated lighting and interior tweaks, with likely software and usability improvements. Full details are due with the March reveal.

Is the Toyota Celica definitely coming back as a road car?

Toyota has previewed a rally car wearing the Celica name. That’s not a production confirmation, but it’s a strong signal the badge is back in the conversation.

What is the GWM Cannon Hi4-T?

It’s GWM’s second plug-in hybrid ute confirmed for Australia, pairing electric drive with a combustion engine for flexibility on range and towing.

Did the Ferrari Purosangue really make more than stock on the dyno?

A recent dyno pull suggests the V12 may be stronger than its official 715-hp rating, a not-uncommon outcome for high-performance engines. As ever, dyno results can vary, but the car feels ferocious on the road either way.