Today in Cars: Volvo’s EV Shake-Up, Mazda’s Fork in the Road, and Toyota’s Retro 2JZ Surprise

I did the usual coffee-keys-wallet dance this morning and took the long way to the office—partly to dodge a wheel-bending pothole, partly to clear my head. Good thing, because the news cycle is all emotion and pragmatism at once: price cuts, recalls, hybrids everywhere, and a retro Toyota that tugs unapologetically at the enthusiast heart.

Volvo: Recalls for the EX30, a Big Price Swing for the EX90

Two very different headlines from Gothenburg. First, Volvo’s EX30. Recall work is now underway to address defective batteries. I’ve run an EX30 over some terrible suburban ripples and loved how planted it felt for such a compact EV, but early-ownership niggles like this remind you: the smallest Volvo still has big-car complexity.

• If you own an EX30: expect a call, letter, or in-app message inviting you to book service. Plan for a workshop visit; don’t bank on a quick driveway fix.
• Symptoms? Not all recalls come with obvious tells. Even if yours feels fine, follow through—battery-related campaigns aren’t the ones to ignore.
• Loan cars: ask early. Dealers get swamped the first weeks of a major recall.

On the other side of the spreadsheet, the 2027 Volvo EX90 has reportedly had its base price slashed by $18,000. Eighteen grand. That’s not a trim tweak; that’s a market reset. I drove an early EX90 prototype on a short loop ages ago and liked its calm, Scandi-seriousness. With seven-seat practicality and now a friendlier entry point, it suddenly leans harder into BMW iX and Mercedes EQE SUV turf, and even nips at high-spec Kia EV9 shoppers. Watch for how this affects residuals—and whether higher trims follow suit in real-world deals.

Lexus RZ Recall: The Quiet One Speaks Up

The Lexus RZ is the library among EV crossovers—hushed, well-mannered, the sort of car that makes you turn the music down rather than up. It’s been recalled as well. No drama here—Lexus does buttoned-up fixes as a matter of brand identity—but owners should:

• Wait for official outreach, then book promptly; early birds get the courtesy cars.
• Ask whether software is involved; if an over-the-air nudge is part of it, your visit might be shorter.
• Check alignment, tyre wear, and any warning lights after the fix; note dates and paperwork for warranty peace of mind.

Mazda’s Crossroads: Last of the Gas Miatas, Hybrid CX-5s for All, and Emissions Pressure

Mazda’s week reads like a coming-of-age novel. First, the romantic bit: the next combustion-powered MX-5 could be the last. If you’ve ever clipped the perfect apex in an ND on a frosty dawn—heater roasting toes, gearlever like a rifle bolt—you know what that means. Savour it. The world still needs small, simple sports cars, even as the tide turns.

Then, the pragmatic chapter: the CX-5 is targeting Toyota RAV4 with range-wide hybrid availability. About time. The RAV4 has coasted on the “any trim you like, have a hybrid” simplicity that families and fleets adore. When I borrowed a CX-5 for a week of school runs and a wet Saturday Costco raid, it begged for exactly this—hybrid torque for stop-start sanity without punishing you on fuel. If Mazda keeps its nicely weighted steering and tidy ride in the switch, it’ll be a compelling alternative.

Finally, the heavy subplot: Mazda Australia says it won’t be the only brand feeling pain from new emissions fines. Translation for buyers: you may see sharper pushes toward hybrids and EVs, some price rises, and faster changeover of slower-selling powertrains. If you’re shopping, watch inventory timing—there can be sweet spots just before a lineup realignment.

Quick Compare: Hybrid Family SUVs, The Simple Promise

Luxury’s Mood Swing: V8s Return Because Feelings Matter

Autocar’s take that V8s are making a shock comeback in the luxury space tracks with what I’ve been hearing in car parks and boardrooms: emotion sells. You can argue CO2 till the spreadsheets go bleary, but the moment a big bent-eight clears its throat at idle, the room nods in approval. Expect careful pairing with hybrid systems and limited allocations, but don’t be surprised if a few brands rekindle old-school charisma to sit alongside their EV flagships. It’s not either/or; it’s both/and—for now.

Britain’s Pothole Problem: We Can’t Tarmac Our Way Out

I clipped a savage crater near Banbury last winter and spent the next mile listening for the telltale thump-thump of a bruised sidewall. Autocar’s deep dive on why the pothole epidemic can’t simply be “fixed” is the grim reality check. Materials, weather swings, funding cycles, utility cuts—there’s no silver bullet. If you’re running 20s, consider stepping down a rim size. I’ve saved more tyres that way than I care to admit, and the ride gains are real on neglected B-roads.

Sleeper Cars: Quiet Clothes, Quick Feet

While we’re on guilty pleasures, Autocar’s celebration of understated cars that are secretly quick hits home. I love a car that looks like it’s here to pick up garden mulch, then lights up an on-ramp like a Roman candle. Life’s better with a few Q-cars sprinkled in.

A Retro Treat: Toyota’s Origin Channels 1955 Crown, Packs a 2JZ, From Around $41K

From Carscoops comes a smile-inducing headline: Toyota’s Origin, styled like a 1955 Crown, hides a Supra-era 2JZ under its suit—reportedly starting near $41,000. If you’re picturing chrome, upright glass, and the kind of roofline you sketch on a napkin, you’re there. The 2JZ piece is the hook, of course; enthusiasts can recite that engine’s lore in their sleep. I’m picturing it doing wedding duty on Saturday and cars-and-coffee on Sunday, with that silky straight-six humming away. Practical? Debatable. Charming? Utterly.

Motorsport Corner: Marquez Wants Safer Gravel at Assen

Over in MotoGP, Marc Márquez has led calls for changes to Assen’s gravel traps after a spate of crashes at the Dutch GP. Gravel composition and depth aren’t sexy topics, but they matter when riders are pinwheeling into run-off at triple digits. Expect the circuit and series to examine data and tweak the recipe. The cathedral of speed deserves the safest sandbox it can get.

Owner/Shopper Cheat Sheet

• Volvo EX30 owner? Book the recall promptly; battery campaigns are priority-one.
• Shopping a big EV? The EX90’s $18k base cut reshuffles the luxury deck—test it against iX, EQE SUV, and EV9.
• Lexus RZ recall: get in early for courtesy cars; confirm whether your car needs software, hardware, or both.
• Mazda fans: enjoy the next gas MX-5 while you can; the CX-5’s hybrid push should make school runs cheaper and calmer.
• UK drivers: drop a rim size and add sidewall if your commute reads like the moon’s surface.

Conclusion

It’s a week of contradictions: recalls and record discounts, V8s crooning while hybrids multiply, and a retro Toyota winking at the past with a very modern grin. The throughline? Choice. Just pick the flavour of compromise you can live with—and the soundtrack you want on the way home.

FAQ

• What should Volvo EX30 owners do about the battery recall?
  Wait for official contact and schedule a dealer visit; this isn’t likely to be a quick mobile or over-the-air fix. Ask about loan cars and expected duration.
• How much cheaper is the Volvo EX90 now?
  Reports indicate the base price has been reduced by $18,000 for the 2027 model year. Check local dealers for updated trims and effective dates.
• Is the next gas-powered Mazda MX-5 really the last?
  Mazda signals the next combustion MX-5 could be the final one. Electrification pressure and emissions rules make that likely.
• Will the new Mazda CX-5 offer hybrid across all trims?
  That’s the target—range-wide hybrid availability to take on the Toyota RAV4’s simple, everywhere-you-look hybrid pitch.
• What’s the deal with Toyota’s Origin and the 2JZ?
  It’s a retro-styled sedan channeling the 1955 Crown look, reportedly using a 2JZ straight-six and priced from around $41,000—catnip for enthusiasts who love classic lines with credible hardware.