Wanderlust

Tag: MY2026

  • Mercedes-AMG Reveals MANUFAKTUR Arctic Silver edition for GLE and GLS

    Mercedes-AMG Reveals MANUFAKTUR Arctic Silver edition for GLE and GLS

    Mercedes-AMG has announced its latest special edition, tailored versions of its GLE and GLS SUVs centered around High-Tech Silver Magno (HightechSilber; metallic matt effect; 734 / 9734 ; Mercedes-AMG).

    The main look of the package accents the silver with black and red accents. This includes multi-spoke forged 22-inch wheels for the GLE and 23-inch for the GLS, finished in matte black and accented with red flanges. Wheel hub covers get AMG logos combined with laurel wreath elements. Brake calipers are finished at front and rear. Finally, it’s paired with the AMG Night package with gloss black exterior elements that include the front splitter, decorative strip on AMG skirt panel, side mirror covers, insert on the rside skirt panels, window surrounds and trim on the rear apron. Dark chrome tailpipe trim and matte black roof rails finish off the exterior appearance.

    The black and red theme continues inside. AMG MANUFAKTUR Carmine Red and Black Exclusive Nappa Leather are the main focus, with rhombus quilting elements. Special MANUFAKTUR door sills with illuminated AMG logo, MABUFAKTUR rear seat headrests and special edition logo bright chrome letters on the passenger side.

    A performance steering wheel in Carmine Red and AMG carbon decorative trim with red embroidery are components especially unique to these specials. AMG crests stamped on the front headrests and black AMG door sills with white illumination make it even more exclusive. Even the deep pile floor mats get red stitched AMG logos on black leather.

    The market launch for the Arctic Special edition will be July 2025 and only 450 units will be offered worldwide.

  • BMW M Sneaks New M2 CS Into Villa d’Este

    BMW M Sneaks New M2 CS Into Villa d’Este

    When it comes to Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, BMW has long been a major supporter. New concepts and a major presence are standard fare for the brand from Münich, so that they’d reveal a new model like the M2 CS perhaps is to be expected.

    In due course then, the new M2 CS was unveiled on Friday evening as part of the concours that took place on lake Como from May 23-25. For this reason, we can share the photos, though the official communications of the car’s details won’t actually happen before tomorrow.

    As you might expect then, we don’t have details on the car just yet. Even still, we figured those watching BMW and its illustrious M division would want to see them.

  • Tailored Product Planning: Porsche Needs to Build a 718 R

    Tailored Product Planning: Porsche Needs to Build a 718 R

    Over the weekend, a close friend phoned me up, informing me he’d picked up a 718 Cayman RS. He was on his way home from the dealership and was wondering if I wanted to sample it. Of course, I did. Of course, I romped on it as it was pre-owned and already broken in. And, of course I was impressed.

    Having done so and parked it, we shared a walk around. It’s an amazing thing; rowdy, raw and spartan. It got me to thinking of just one thing though, just how I’d change it if I were ordering one or… better yet… a product manager, because what I’d do to it may not even be possible via Sonderwunsch.

    It’s hard not to be inspired by the 911 S/T. That version of the 911 takes the very racy 911 GT3 RS and tones it down in a steerable way. It’s the Touring of the RS lineage, yes there are differences but more exclusive and more potent. Also, that hardware’s already baked and all those cars are already sold.

    Back in 2011, Porsche produced the limited edition Cayman R. Pre-dating the 911R and all that car’s mystique, the Cayman R was effectively Peridot Metallic launch color paint on a Cayman body fitted with period Boxster Spyder hardware. This was in the pre-GT4 era, so that generation Boxster Spyder was fairly light on special hardware, but it had it and the Cayman R got it.

    Brandy about the letter R nowadays and there’s a whole other level of mystique thanks to the 991-generation 911R. Consider the Cayman R in that context, and such a title fits decidedly higher in the lexicon of Porsche today.

    So, let’s get back to the 718 Cayman RS. If I have beef with the car, you can probably guess them. Porsche already did with the 911 GT3 RS, and they built a corresponding 911 that would make those things more livable and steerable. It got the “S/T” badge because of heritage, though I’d argue it probably should have gotten the “Carrera RS” badge because the 964 Carrera RS speaks more directly to the age group buying 911 S/Ts, but that’s a soapbox for another time.

    Whatever the name, what if you took all that S/T philosophy and positioning and added it to the 718 line? It only seems to make sense really. We all know the 718 is the better footprint, and most of the work has already been done.

    I turned to Porsche’s configurator tool, running it through photoshop to add S/T correct wheels and cues like that front wheel well blade, gold letter script at the rear and a few other details. I’m kind of in love, so consider this my unrequested love letter to Andy Prueninger and company to consider bringing back the Cayman R. The time is right, and this may be our last chance before this model goes electric.

    Behold, the 718 Cayman R. Spoiler Delete Alert: No such car exists. At least not yet.