Around the traps: MG Cyberster leaked, Polestar goes to the movies & more

We get a lot of emails, messages and comments about all manner of things in the automotive world – from press releases to trending memes and newfangled technologies to make oldschool revheads steam from the ears.

We can't always give them a story of their own, but some of them can at least get a moment here in my new weekly 'megathread', which I'll update sporadically and bump to the top of our news column.

The newest additions will be posted to the top of this page, pushing earlier entries down.

Got some suggestions?

Throw them into the comments – but note that our comments system will hold links in a moderation queue!

JUMP AHEAD

• Polestar goes to the drive-in, EVs only!
• Ford Explorer EV ute imagined
• MG Cyberster surfaces on Twitter
• Which hot wagon for you?
• VW ID.2all concept... as a new Fiesta Mach-E
• Domino's Pizza, direct to the CarPlay
• GT-R 2030: Designer imagines new Nissan
• Hyundai's Ioniq 5 "Disney100 Platinum"

Ford boosts its vault of vintage imagery and brochures

How good is this? Ford has added more than 180 photos and brochures of iconic models from the '60s through 2002 to its online Heritage Vault.

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The new additions showcase some of Ford’s most interesting and renowned models, including the 1975 Ford Escort Outback, the 1983 Ford Fairlane, and the XR range of utes.

Visitors can download the searchable artifacts for personal use free of charge – and Ford says it has become popular worldwide, clocking up around 5000 downloads per day.

Ted Ryan, Ford Archive and Heritage Brand Manager, said, "Making our archives accessible for everyone online is a real passion project for me and the team. Looking back through Ford’s history not only helps to educate but can serve as inspiration as we accelerate our transformation as a company."

Check it out here.

Polestar goes to the drive-in, EVs only!

It's the No Homers Club, but for cars.

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Polestar's Australian arm is treating EV owners of all stripes to a night at the drive-in movies – four nights, in fact.

Set in Sydney, the events will be held on the rooftop of the Entertainment Quarter car park, and I'm just gonna tell you here that Saturday's screening is the one you wanna get to.

All EV owners are welcome, but only Polestar 2 owners are getting in for free. And hey, fair enough. Details here.

Ford Explorer electric ute imagined: A Maverick for Europe?

Eesh, our guy Theottle is at it again. Never sleeps, this bloke.

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Ford Explorer EV rendering: Theottle.

So here we have a new compact ute based on the recently revealed Ford Explorer EV, which itself is based on Volkswagen's MEB electric car platform.

Like the Maverick already offered in the US, this new ute would be a monocoque unit – unlike the ladder frame of the bigger Ranger – but it could prove appealing for EV-obsessed urbanites looking for some ute style and practicality. What do you reckon?

Click the above image to see the rear view. | Source: Theottle on YouTube (process video!)

MG Cyberster surfaces on Twitter ahead of April 18 debut

Are they for real with that rear badge placement?

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The upcoming all-electric MG Cyberster roadster – the Tesla Roadster for those who want to buy a car that exists in actual reality – has appeared on Twitter.

It looks great, frankly, but can we talk about that Cyberster badge on the rear? Also... is the boot-lid MG badge somehow positioned off centre?

It's got me wondering if these images aren't actually some sort of prank...

Our mate Theottle has rendered the rear with a better badge placement, check it out on his Instagram page here.

The Cyberster will be unveiled at the Shanghai motor show on April 18, but you can see loads of details in our ongoing story here.

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UPDATE, April 18 2023: Cyberster unveiled, Australian launch confirmed

The production version of the MG Cyberster has now been unveiled, at the 2023 Shanghai motor show, and it's coming to Australia. Get all the details at the story linked below.

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Which hot wagon for you?

The fan-fave AMG C63 and Audi RS4 wagons are about to be joined, at long last, by a BMW M3 Touring.

Which would you take? We asked our Facebook audience to vote.

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Volkswagen's ID.2all concept... as a new Fiesta Mach-E

Our mate Theottle has turned VW's upcoming city EV into a reborn Ford Fiesta, and I dig it.

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Ford Fiesta EV rendering. Click the photo above to see more! | Theottle

Alright, so Ford has retired its little Fiesta, but must it be gone forever? Ford and Volkswagen have an ongoing platform-sharing partnership, which has already spawned the new Ford Explorer EV for Europe.

So, why not a new Fiesta, based on the recent ID.2All concept? It's a realistic idea, given most brands in Europe are intent on offering compact EVs – like the Fiat 500e, Renault 5, the upcoming VW ID.2 (obviously), and so forth.

Only time will tell if Ford will join the circus, or whether any future compact Ford EV will look anything like the Mustang Mach-E SUV, but I'm into this one.

Source: Theottle

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Domino's Pizza, direct to the CarPlay

If you feel increasingly like you live in your car, Domino's Pizza is here to make the experience a little more bearable.

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Click for more images

Announced this week, the American pizza giant has released a version of its iPhone app that integrates with Apple CarPlay, allowing you to order a pizza directly from your car screen – as though grabbing your phone for the task is just one step too far...

Still, if that's the sort of tech integration you're looking for in a fast-food service, Domino's is here for you. Although I'm not sure if it works in Australia. Somebody phone 'em and let me know? (Besides, I'm an Android user.)

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GT-R 2030: Designer imagines Nissan's next-gen supercar

Nissan itself has yet to offer any concrete details on how its next GT-R will look, but I'd endorse this one.

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GT-R 2030 project | Ulises Morales.

Designer Ulises Morales has put together an incredible manifesto for a next-gen 'R36' GT-R, with clear concept and fighter-jet influences.

It's not new – he released it in 2021, when it won an AutoStyle / Wacom design award – but it's new to me. And maybe you too?

Check it out here on his Behance folio page. | Source: CarScoops

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Hyundai's Ioniq 5 "Disney100 Platinum"

Celebrating Disney's 100th anniversary is this bizarre collaboration, decking Hyundai's popular Ioniq 5 out with a number of cutesy features.

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Those include Mickey-inspired wheels, 'Disney sparkle' animations in the exterior lighting, Disney100 badges, Disney100 embossed headrests, and Mickey Mouse silhouettes engraved in special wooden door trims.

It's not just a concept, either: Hyundai will build 100 of these specials, but they'll all be left-hand-drive – so local Disney fans will miss out.

"At Hyundai, we are always looking for new ways to connect with customers on every mile of their journey, and the magic that Disney creates inspires us to deliver moments of delight for our customers," said Angela Zepeda, chief marketing officer, Hyundai Motor America.

"This is the first time that Disney has opened the doors to their design studio and granted access to Disney's iconic characters for an artistic collaboration with an automaker."

There's a local angle, too: the Korean carmaker tells us this collaboration was the brainchild of Katie Fabian, a former Hyundai Australia staffer.

Click the image above for more photos.

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Got some suggestions?

Throw them into the comments – but note that our comments system will hold links in a moderation queue!