Sunday Drive: AI V12s, BMW’s Next Look, and a Barn-Find Time Capsule

I’ve been ping-ponging between press cars and pit garages long enough to know a proper “slow news Sunday” when I see one—this isn’t that. We’ve got an electric-versus-hybrid face-off for real-world buyers, a new design mood brewing at BMW and Alpina, a crash lab reminder of why safety tech matters, an “AI hypercar” that still thunders with twelve cylinders, a Chevy barn find that smells like paraffin and stories, plus motorsport drama from Indonesia to overtime in the States. Coffee up.

Quick Spec Face-Off: MG S5 EV vs Hyundai Kona Hybrid

CarExpert lined up the MG S5 EV against the Hyundai Kona Hybrid—two city-friendly crossovers, very different approaches. One’s full electric; the other sips fuel and dodges plug-in faff. When I last ran a Kona Hybrid across gnarly suburban speed humps, I noticed right away how the suspension shrugged off chatter and the hybrid system glued the stop-start shuffle into one smooth motion. It’s a tidy, low-stress commuter. The MG’s pitch, meanwhile, is obvious: go fully electric, cut fuel bills, enjoy instant torque—and learn the charging routine.

Which would I take for a week of inner-city errands and Saturday sport runs? The Kona Hybrid if my building has no chargers; the MG if I’ve got reliable overnight charging. Either way, check the boot shape (strollers and golf bags can be the real deciders) and, for the EV, peek at the charging cable storage—some cubbies make you play origami.

Design Desk: “I’m not here to provoke” at BMW and Alpina

Autocar sat down with BMW’s new design lead for the brand and Alpina, who said, “I’m not here to provoke.” That line hit me. For the last few years, BMW’s been swinging for the fences with mega-grilles and extroverted surfacing. Alpina, by contrast, has always been the tasteful dinner jacket to BMW M’s track suit. The promise here sounds like a recalibration—confidence without shock-value, preserving Alpina’s quiet-speed ethos while keeping BMW modern and distinct.

Having lived with an E39 in my twenties and the latest i5 earlier this year, I’m not clamoring for nostalgia—but I do want consistency. Clean sightlines, intuitive controls, and a stance that says “driver’s car” before it screams “statement piece.” If this new era restores a touch of that understated competence, I’m all for it.

Behind the Crash Barriers: “Crash Day” Lessons

Another Autocar piece spent time at a crash day—yep, exactly what it sounds like. It reminded me of my last visit to a safety lab: the smell of pyrotechnic pretensioners, the eerie quiet before the sled fires, then a weirdly polite thud as tons of kit do violent work. You watch data teams swarm the wreck like pit crews, then do it all again.

• Why it matters: sensors, algorithms, and structures are tuned in real time from those impacts.
• What I look for: consistent airbag coverage, smart restraint logic (minimizing double impacts), and post-crash door operability.
• Owner tip: after any shunt—big or small—get your seat belts checked. Pretensioners can partially deploy without obvious clues.

The “AI Hypercar” With a V12: Don’t Panic

Motor1’s take on the Vittori “AI hypercar” made me smile—not because of the buzzword, but because it still rocks a V12. If AI here is driver coaching, predictive setups, and active aero that reads the road, that’s closer to a friendly engineer riding shotgun than Skynet overriding your fun. The key is an off switch and transparency—show me what it’s changing and why.

• Old-school charm: natural aspiration (reportedly) and a crescendo that a flat-plane turbo can’t fake.
• New-school assist: data-driven lap learning, possibly adaptive aero and damping that pre-loads for corners.
• What I’ll check first: pedal feel and latency. If the car thinks before it breathes, the magic goes missing.

Barn Find of the Day: 1950 Chevy, Miles Like a 3-Year-Old Hyundai

Carscoops found a 1950 Chevy dually that’s done fewer miles than your neighbor’s 2019 hatchback. That’s the sort of truck you roll out of a dim shed, blink into the sun, and immediately wonder if the tires are older than you. The charm is obvious—period gauges, honest sheetmetal, and a stance that looks ready to tow America—but it’s the preservation that sells it.

If you’re tempted:

• Budget for the invisible: brake lines, fuel tank, seals, and the cooling system. Rubber ages even in perfect stillness.
• Resist over-restoring: a sympathetic mechanical refresh with patina left intact can be worth more—and feel truer.
• Drive plan: keep speeds modest until the steering box and drums are dialed. These trucks like a measured hand.

Weekend Motorsports: Titles Clinched, Playoff Nerves

Moto3: Rueda wraps the 2025 title in Indonesia

Autosport reports KTM Ajo’s José Antonio Rueda sealed the 2025 Moto3 championship with a win in Indonesia. Consistency and calm—he’s been racing like a rider who knows where the points live. Textbook stuff, capped with a statement victory.

NASCAR Xfinity: Overtime chaos, playoff suspense

Road & Track captured the vibe: overtime finish, bubble math, and a paddock refreshing timing screens like stock traders mid-flash crash. Connor Zilisch chalked up his 10th win—impressive poise for a young gun—while the final playoff slot waits on officialdom and replays. If you love pressure-cooker endings, this was your snackable drama.

What It Means for Shoppers This Week

• City dwellers: if you can charge at home, the MG’s EV proposition is compelling; if not, the Kona Hybrid keeps life simple.
• Design-watchers: BMW/Alpina may lean toward refinement over provocation—expect evolved, not explosive, changes.
• Safety-minded: new cars learn from every lab smash; software updates can quietly improve protection.
• Enthusiasts: AI can coach without killing the thrill—provided the human remains the editor-in-chief.

Conclusion

This week’s through-line is balance: electric versus hybrid pragmatism, AI assists with analog heartbeats, daring design tempered by restraint. Whether you’re shopping, wrenching, or watching lap times flicker, the right kind of progress usually feels effortless. When it doesn’t, the good stuff comes with an off switch.

FAQ

• Is the MG S5 EV a better buy than the Hyundai Kona Hybrid? It depends on charging access. With reliable overnight charging, the EV’s running costs and smoothness win. Without it, the Kona Hybrid’s simplicity and efficiency are hard to beat.
• What does “I’m not here to provoke” mean for BMW design? Expect cleaner, more cohesive shapes and interiors—evolution that respects brand character, especially for Alpina, rather than headline-chasing shock value.
• What is an “AI hypercar” in practice? Typically, driver coaching, predictive chassis/aero adjustments, and smarter traction/energy management—features that augment the driver rather than override them.
• How should I approach a low-mileage barn find? Verify mileage with documentation, inspect for dry rot and corrosion, refresh safety-critical systems first, and preserve original finishes where possible.
• Who won Moto3 this weekend? José Antonio Rueda clinched the 2025 Moto3 title with a victory in Indonesia.