
Hyundai has begun production of the Ioniq 3, its smallest and most affordable electric model, positioning it as the brand’s best electric vehicle for the European market, according to a report published on Aug. 17 .
The announcement follows a week of high-profile electric vehicle developments. On Aug. 17, a customized Ferrari Luce, the Italian manufacturer’s first fully electric model, sold for $40 million at a Sotheby’s auction during Monterey Car Week in California, setting a record for a new car sold at auction . The vehicle, featuring a unique semi-gloss finish and bespoke elements under Ferrari’s Tailor Made program, was the first serial chassis of the Luce line. Proceeds from the sale will support the Ferrari Foundation’s educational programs.
Tesla also expanded its vehicle-to-load capabilities on Aug. 17, quietly enabling the feature for Model Y Premium owners in the U.S. and Puerto Rico via an $80 adapter offering two 120-volt outlets and up to 2.4kW of power . The functionality remains unavailable for Model Y units in Europe and Canada, as well as for all Model 3 variants.
Monterey Car Week’s auctions saw a total of $747.9 million in sales across five major houses, with 844 of 1,124 offered vehicles finding buyers, according to data from Classic Analytics reported on Aug. 18 . The average sale price rose to approximately $886,000, up from $529,000 in the prior year, driven by a small group of rare, high-value vehicles.
Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz unveiled updates to its C-Class, set to reach U.S. dealers in the first half of 2027, as reported on Aug. 18 . The refreshed model includes an illuminated grille, star-shaped lighting, and a new MB.OS operating system integrating ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing, and Google Gemini. The updated 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system produces 255 hp, with an overboost feature adding 27 hp for short bursts.
Follow us for live European news
2 further sources not geolocated