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

I started the day the proper way: kettle on, headlines open, keys somewhere under yesterday’s jacket. One story kept elbowing its way to the top—Porsche Cayenne Electric—and for good reason. When a brand like Porsche says “massive battery” and whispers “wireless charging,” ears perk up. The rest of the news? A mix of tech triumphs, policy potholes, and one very familiar airfield making an encore appearance.

EV Shake-ups and Tech Leaps

GM design centre fire refocuses attention on battery safety

CarExpert flagged a serious fire at GM’s design centre, with an EV battery cited early on. I’ve sat through enough battery safety briefings to know the drill: containment, cooling, spacing, repeat. Incidents like this don’t derail electrification, but they do sharpen pencils in labs across the industry. Expect even more conservative validation cycles and maybe a few more “no, we’re not ready yet” decisions behind closed doors.

Porsche Cayenne Electric: Big Battery, Wireless Charging, Real-World Promise

According to CarExpert, the Porsche Cayenne Electric is coming with two very useful headlines: a massive battery and wireless charging capability. The first bit is very Porsche—grand-touring range for the weekday grind and the Friday-night dash to the mountains. The second is quietly brilliant. Park over a pad, hop out, and electricity just… happens. No cables to snake around the garage, no winter-morning faff with gloves and a frozen charge port.

Having spent plenty of miles in previous Cayennes, what always struck me was how they hid their mass. Clever damping, tight body control, steering that feels like it’s reading the tarmac to you. If Porsche can repeat that trick with a big battery onboard, the Cayenne Electric could be the rare luxury SUV that still tempts you to take the scenic route home. Honestly, I wasn’t sure wireless charging would matter much day-to-day—until I pictured doing the weekly shop, rolling up with kids and bags and a Labrador, and never touching a cable. That’s when it clicked.

Porsche Cayenne Electric: Why wireless matters in real life

• No-cable mornings: park and charge while you make breakfast or shovel the driveway.
• Cleaner garages: fewer trip hazards and fewer scuffed bumpers from cable gymnastics.
• Habit-friendly: consistency breeds range—top-ups become automatic when parking at home.

More EV movers: Mazda 6e and Audi’s clever new hatch

Mazda 6e lands in Australia (CarExpert) with China build and pricing pointed straight at Tesla. Mazda usually nails the human stuff—steering weight, pedal feel, seats that don’t numb you on hour three. If they’ve matched that to thrifty efficiency and straightforward charging, expect it to be the left-field recommendation your enthusiast mate won’t shut up about.

New Audi electric hatch gets a nod from Autocar with A2 vibes. That means smart packaging over shouty performance, a big airy feel inside, and efficiency that makes sense for European cities. If they keep the cabin light and intuitive—fewer screen gimmicks, more clever storage—it could be the grown-up answer to “ID.3 or Mini?”

Market Moves and Policy Friction

Stockpiled BYDs ruled illegal after council rejection

CarExpert also reports a local council calling a stockpile of BYDs illegal after rejecting a site application. It’s peak 2025: demand surges, logistics get complicated, and paperwork decides who hands you keys. If you’re waiting on delivery, ask your dealer where they store cars and whether the site’s paperwork is bulletproof. The good ones will have a very tidy answer.

Peugeot is Stellantis’s UK sales ace

Autocar notes Peugeot’s leading Stellantis sales in the UK, and you can see why—208s are everywhere. It’s a formula buyers like right now: sharp design, good value, easy-to-use tech, and electrified options that don’t feel like homework. Not everyone’s chasing Nürburgring lap fantasies; most just want an honest cabin and running costs that don’t sting.

Fresh Metal

Back to that Audi hatch for a moment: if they land it between VW ID.3 and Mini Electric on size and vibe, it could be the pint-sized daily you don’t dread in traffic. Fingers crossed for visibility and physical climate controls. I still like knobs. Sue me.

Enthusiast Corner

Hammond returns to Dunsfold—still magic in the air

Carscoops shares Richard Hammond back at the Top Gear test track, inevitably besotted with a Porsche. Having done my own slightly wobbly laps there years ago, I get it. Clipping the follow-through, letting the rear breathe just enough—it’s like opening an old photo album that somehow smells of hot brakes.

A Lamborghini so rare you’d feel bad for driving it

An Aventador Miura edition—one of a dozen in the U.S., via Carscoops—lives mostly as a sculpture. I once took a similarly precious thing for coffee and apologised to every speed bump. Some cars are for motion. Some are for staring. This one leans hard toward the latter.

Porsche Cayenne Electric vs. Luxury EV Rivals: Quick Take

Quick Comparison: Today’s Headline EVs

What Stood Out Today

• Battery safety stays front and centre after the GM incident (CarExpert).
• Porsche Cayenne Electric points to luxury EVs chasing convenience as hard as range (CarExpert).
• Mazda 6e blends driver focus with pragmatic pricing (CarExpert).
• Local policy can disrupt EV logistics overnight—ask your dealer the awkward questions (CarExpert).
• Peugeot’s UK surge shows value and design still matter more than hype (Autocar).
• Audi’s A2-flavoured hatch might be the city car that doesn’t feel like a compromise (Autocar).

Conclusion: Why the Porsche Cayenne Electric Story Matters

Electrification keeps sprinting, but the smart moves are the ones that make everyday life easier. The Porsche Cayenne Electric, with that reported massive battery and wireless charging, reads like a premium SUV designed for actual families, actual garages, and actual mornings. Meanwhile, Mazda sharpens its value pitch, Audi gets thoughtful about packaging, and the old Top Gear haunts remind us why we love driving in the first place. It’s a good time to be curious—and a better time to ask for a long test drive.

FAQ

Will the Porsche Cayenne Electric really offer wireless charging?

CarExpert reports that it will. The idea is simple: park over a pad at home and charge without touching a cable.

How big is the Porsche Cayenne Electric’s battery?

“Massive” is the word used by CarExpert. Exact capacity hasn’t been detailed in today’s reports, but the takeaway is strong range intent.

Did a battery cause the GM design centre fire?

CarExpert notes an EV battery has been singled out early on, though investigations take time and full details weren’t provided.

Is the Mazda 6e coming to Australia, and what’s notable about it?

Yes. Per CarExpert, it’s China-built with pricing aimed at Tesla shoppers—potentially a sweet spot for drivers who value feel and affordability.

What’s the story behind Audi’s new electric hatchback?

Autocar says it carries A2 influence: clever packaging, efficiency, and city-friendly proportions without the toy-car compromises.