BMW is celebrating 50 years of the iconic 3 Series in style — with a Japan-exclusive 50th Anniversary Special Limited Edition spanning everything from diesel wagons to M-badged sedans. It’s a nod to the past, dressed in modern tailoring — and limited to just 710 units.

One of BMW’s Most Important Models

First launched in 1975, the 3 Series quickly became BMW’s golden child — the car that defined the brand’s sports sedan ethos. Half a century later, over 20 million units have been sold globally. In Japan, the anniversary is being marked with a bespoke batch of 318i, 320d, and M340i variants across both sedan and Touring body styles.

Each one comes dressed with subtle exterior tweaks, interior refinements, and trim-specific upgrades. Think Shadowline headlight surrounds, black mirror caps, M Sport brake calipers, and exclusive wheels — especially for the M340i, which adds carbon trim, Alcantara accents, and is limited to just five sedans and five wagons. With options like these, it’s no surprise BMW is now building its most advanced EV motors yet to keep up with global demand.

A Market That Still Loves The 3

Japan continues to be a key market for limited BMW offerings, thanks to its long-standing appetite for premium European sedans with an emphasis on exclusivity. Customisation matters here — and BMW knows it. More than 90% of Japanese 3 Series buyers opt for MANUFAKTUR options, with most choosing three or more personal touches. That obsessive approach to detail reflects why BMW owners remain some of the most satisfied in the U.S., too — the brand blends familiarity and flair better than most.

The 50th Anniversary 318i starts at around ¥6,980,000 ($47,300 USD), while the M340i Touring tops out at ¥11,240,000 ($76,200 USD). Deliveries will begin this November.

BMW

BMW’s Broader Moment

This isn’t the only way BMW is trying to stay relevant in a shifting market. Globally, the company is walking the tightrope between electrification and madness. In one corner, it’s building cutting-edge Neue Klasse EV drivetrains in Austria — in the other, it’s letting tuners like G-Power loose on the XM to create 1,000-horsepower SUVs that look like Batman’s fever dream.

And while the 3 Series remains the heart of BMW’s legacy, the company knows it can’t coast. That’s why it’s preparing 18 new vehicle launches by 2027, including hybrids, EVs, and combustion variants — a three-pronged strategy to keep it ahead of rivals in every segment.

Final Word

The Japan-only 50th Anniversary Special Edition is a reminder of what BMW does best — evolve the familiar. It’s not radical. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s a love letter to the 3 Series that adds just enough rarity to make longtime fans stop and take notice.

Rezvani Retro Branches Out

If the name Rezvani rings a bell, it may also remind you of hardcore military-inspired vehicles that look more like tanks than SUVs. But Rezvani Motors has a slightly softer side with its Rezvani Retro division, which has just unveiled its first project: RR1. The name is self-explanatory, and the looks are too. This isn’t a restomod – it’s a retromod, a modern car made to look like a classic. In this case, that classic is a motorsport-bred monster called the Porsche 935. In 1976, this arrived as a factory-backed racing version of the 930 911 Turbo as an evolution of the Carrera RSR 2.1 turbo prototype, which helped bring the 930 Turbo itself into existence. The later 935/77 had slant-nosed bodywork to take advantage of the “silhouette rules” that helped racers improve aero, and Rezvani originally considered this sort of look, but customers preferred the more cohesive appearance of the original, and that’s what Rezvani has gone with for the RR1.

Two Flavors Still On Offer

Rezvani Motors

Based on the 992 Porsche 911 (2020-2025) but made to look considerably older with its small round headlights and wider, mostly carbon fiber body (with the exception of the doors), the Rezvani Retro RR1 offers either a manual or a PDK dual-clutch transmission and up to 750 horsepower, and just 50 examples will be produced in total, each with its chassis number inscribed in the livery. This first example, headed to a California customer, is dressed in the iconic Martini livery, just without the liquor brand’s name and gold accents (though there is a golden hue to the exhaust tips). It’s the perfect choice for the first RR1 since the livery was especially popular among racing Porsches in the 1970s, and even the aforementioned Carrera RSR prototype wore the trademark blue and red color scheme.

Rezvani Motors

If you opt for the RR1 600, you start out with a 992 Carrera (RWD or AWD) to get around 618 hp on 91 octane from a 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six (more with higher octane fuel) that breathes through a custom exhaust, while Öhlins TTX-Pro coilovers bring the car closer to the ground. This option can be specced with a manual transmission operated through a handmade shift knob made from wood, like the Carrera GT and the 908/03 Spyder before it. The RR1 750, on the other hand, starts with a 911 Turbo S and produces as much horsepower as its name suggests. Naturally, this one comes only in PDK flavor without the option of RWD, but you can choose from a street or track suspension setup. The RR1 600 gets to 60 mph in three seconds flat, and the RR1 750 does it in two, but the appeal of the lighter and optionally RWD, manual RR1 600 may be greater than the acceleration of the Turbo-based model.

Other Choices

Rezvani Motors

Naturally, the interior can be customized to the customer’s tastes, and Rezvani will fit a steering wheel with shift lights for $4,500, but beware of how much you spend and how track-focused you make the RR1. The base car starts at $195,000, with coilovers priced at $8,500, a center-lock wheel hub conversion at $12,500, and upgraded Brembo six-piston brakes for another $12,500. Turbo fan wheel covers add $4,500, PTS paint costs $8,500, a custom livery will set you back $7,500, and a steel roll cage costs $5,500. You can even order a matching racing helmet for $2,750, but tick every box on the list, and you’ll be spending at least $283,000. Still, a real 935 costs at least seven figures.

Toyota just took a major hit due to tariffs

In an announcement on August 7, Tokyo time, Japanese auto giant Toyota said that it expects to lose 1.4 trillion yen (~$9.5 billion) from its operating profit by the end of its 2025-2026 fiscal year due to the Trump administration’s hefty tariffs on cars imported to the U.S., which is driving up costs and eating into Toyota’s earnings.

At the same time, Toyota lowered its full-year net profit forecast by 14%, bringing it down to 2.6 trillion yen (~$17.65 billion). This is a sharp drop from its original estimates, which only accounted for tariffs during April and May, which cost it 180 billion yen (~$1.2 billion).

The pain and the money leaving the Toyota City-based automaker’s coffers are already showing. During its first fiscal quarter from April to June 2025, Toyota posted a net profit of 841 billion yen (~$5.7 billion), a staggering loss of 36.9% compared to the same period last year. This sharp decline reflects not only the U.S. tariff, which jumped from 2.5% to 27.5% in April, but also the effects of a stronger yen-to-dollar exchange rate.

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Despite this setback, some relief is on the horizon thanks to a trade deal between the Trump administration and the Japanese government. Last month, they agreed to reduce tariffs on Japanese cars by 15%. Toyota believes this new rate could help mitigate the impact, but the damage has already been done.

“[The U.S. tariff] has risen to 15% from the previous 2.5%, which obviously has a significant impact,” Takanori Azuma, chief officer in the accounting group at Toyota, said during a news conference on August 7.  “And it is a thing we are not able to control. The major challenge is to ensure that our North America business generates solid profits. The result [of a trade deal] remains tough.”

Part of that process is a few strategic adjustments. Already, in June, it announced it would raise prices for U.S.-market vehicles by an average of $270 on Toyotas produced from July 1, with further hikes possible if the market allows, according to Azuma. Additionally, Toyota’s head accountant noted that the company would utilize excess production capacity, adding that it aims to “refine our operations by considering every possible scenario.”

Azuma emphasized that Toyota is also working to reduce its reliance on the U.S. market, which still accounts for about 33% of its global vehicle sales. “Our [revenue] balance that different regions can cover each other when America catches a cold, is finally coming into place,” he said.

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Tariffs are not the only problem Toyota is facing

Tariffs aren’t Toyota’s only headache. Currently, fluctuations in the Yen-Dollar exchange rate are expected to cost the company another 725 billion yen (~$4.9 billion). Additionally, the rising cost of materials is expected to reduce profits by an additional 300 billion yen (~$2 billion). Combined, these have caused Toyota to lower its projected full-year earnings by 44.2%.

Despite the challenge, Toyota remains focused on achieving its sales target of 48.5 trillion yen (~$328.98 billion) in net sales revenue by the end of March 2026. In the April-June quarter, Toyota’s sales revenue increased by 3.5%, reaching 12 trillion yen (~$81.38 billion), while its operating profit declined by 10.9% to 1.1 trillion yen (~$7.45 billion). The tariffs alone reduced operating profit by 450 billion yen (~$3.05 billion) during the fiscal quarter.

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Toyota’s sales are still strong. Global vehicle sales rose 7% to 2.4 million units in its fiscal first quarter, with North America seeing a 12.7% boost and Japan increasing by 11.4%. Surprisingly, Toyota even shipped more cars from Japan to the U.S. after the 25% tariffs on imported vehicles were introduced in April. Toyota’s exports in May rose by 22.9% year-over-year to 41,573 vehicles, and June saw a 15.9% jump to 52,745 units.

Looking ahead, Toyota announced it will build a new plant in its hometown of Toyota City, with operations expected to begin in the early 2030s. Details are scarce for now, but Azuma clarified that Japan is its home and Toyota City is its home base.

“Our top priority is to maintain the production base of 3 million vehicles in Japan,” Azuma said. “This is the foundation of Toyota’s business, enabling us to expand manufacturing and development in each region. We want to work together to protect it, including through measures to stimulate domestic demand.”

Final Thoughts

Toyota isn’t alone in facing these tariff troubles. This week, Honda revealed that its first-quarter earnings fell to ¥244.1 billion (~$1.69 billion) from ¥484.7 billion (~$3.35 billion), on account of tariffs and its own internal struggles with EVs. Meanwhile, Mazda lost ¥46 billion due to its reliance on imports in the U.S. market. Both companies are now looking to shift more production to the U.S. and are rethinking their export strategies.

Ultimately, Toyota and other Japanese automakers face challenges playing ball in their largest market, the United States. However, as time progresses under these conditions, it would not be far-fetched to see automakers drastically change themselves and/or their U.S.-market lineups within the near future.

Sometimes, a little tweak here and there can make your vehicle feel happier. Simple, inexpensive (or even free) tasks can help revitalize some of its performance, improve its economy, and make it feel newer.

It’s challenging for many of us to make our used car last. After a few years of daily use, almost every vehicle begins to look and feel worn out. What I mean by feeling tired. Sometimes, it all comes down to how your car feels. A few hours of TLC can shake off years of wear and wake up that trusty daily driver.

While basic maintenance, such as tune-ups and fluid changes, is essential, here are three simple and inexpensive steps anyone can take to revive a tired ride — no professional tools or shop visit required. I dedicated a weekend to updating our family’s Mazda CX-5 after it passed the 40,000-mile mark. Despite being seven years old, these simple changes helped immensely.

1. Automotive weight loss

Excess weight hurts performance, fuel economy, and braking. Automakers are obsessed with shedding pounds — ditching spare tires, using aluminum — all in pursuit of better efficiency. You can do the same.

Clean out your trunk, cabin, and roof rack. You might be shocked how much junk you’re carrying. I once pulled 110 pounds of junk out of my kid’s car — skateboards, an amp, bags, clothes, and trash — all useless. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, removing 100 lbs could improve fuel economy by 1–2%, which may not sound like much… until you do the math over a year.

Bottom line: less weight = better mileage, handling, braking, and acceleration.

Courtesy of Walmart

2. Basic Tire Maintenance

Your tires are the only part of your car that touch the road — take care of them.

Air pressure matters. Underinflated tires hurt performance and fuel economy. Check your PSI regularly (your car’s manual or the tire sidewall will list the recommended pressure). Use a digital gauge and fill accordingly — but don’t overinflate.

Tire rotation also makes a difference. It helps prevent uneven wear, maintains consistent handling, and prolongs tire life. Here’s a quick reference:

FWD: Front tires → rear. Rear tires → front, switch sides.RWD/4WD: Front → rear, switch sides. Rear → front.AWD: Follow your manual or use an “X-pattern” rotation.Directional tires: Only rotate front ↔ rear on the same side.

Bonus: Rotating tires gives you a chance to check for damage or nails before they become a bigger issue.

3. Clean It Up

A clean car feels better. Here’s how to level up your cleanup

Replace your cabin air filter. It’s cheap and helps with airflow and odors. Slip dryer sheets under the front seats. Weird? Yes. Effective? Also yes. After a thorough internal cleaning, these simple tasks can help improve the interior’s smell.

Upgrade your floor mats with fitted floor mats. If they’re beat up, replace them. I recently installed Husky floor liners — they look sharp and make the interior feel new, covering most of the floor. I got mine through RealTruck.com at a reasonable price. Don’t underestimate the power of a fresh interior. A good vacuum, some plastic and leather wipes, and fresh mats can transform how your car feels inside.

Associated Press

Final Thoughts

Your car’s performance isn’t just about horsepower; it’s about how it responds, how it smells, how it makes you feel behind the wheel. A little effort goes a long way. These three easy steps can make your vehicle feel fresher, drive smoother, and look sharper — all in a weekend. Your ride’s been good to you. Isn’t it time to return the favor?

Want to stand out? Pick up this Golf R, the only one like it in the United States

When Volkswagen sent off the seventh-generation Golf R, it did so with style. For the final production year (2019), the automaker offered what it dubbed (pun intended) Spektrum color options. For $2,500, customers could pick from a catalog of 40 special and unique colors spanning the entire palette, including subdued greys, radical reds, and gorgeous greens. With only 4,223 examples of the Golf R — and only 199 Spektrum cars — delivered in 2019, there are likely several actual “one-of-one” cars out there. Now’s your chance to own one.

Special paint is just the beginning

While on the surface it may look like just a red Golf R, Spektrum cars were a lot more than that. The special paint meant these cars got pulled from the regular production line and painted by hand in Wolfsburg, Germany. While the program’s origin technically lies with the Canadian-market e-Golf, US-based VW fans have enthusiast and VW Spektrum Product Manager Megan Closset to thank for the US Golf R Spektrum. And, indeed, each customer who took delivery of a Spektrum Golf R in the US received a little postcard from Closset, which included a paint chip, R badge, and even a handwritten and personalized note on the inside.

Included paint chip and postcard for 2019 Golf R Spektrum

Bring a Trailer

Now, what about this specific Golf R? It comes courtesy of Bring a Trailer, listed by its original owner out of Texas and showing around 34,000 miles. It’s the only one for the US market wearing Bordeaux Red Pearl paint, and — naturally — includes the original postcard and paint chip from Ms. Closset. Closset’s note additionally confirms that this car is the only example painted in its specific shade of red. OEM black 19-inch alloy wheels and a black interior with white stitching complement the blacked-out trim pieces that come on all Mk7.5 Golf R models of the era. What’s under the hood is pretty neat, too. A turbocharged four-cylinder making 288 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque is plenty for a good time. And, while we wish this were a manual transmission car, the dual-clutch auto this car’s equipped with allows drivers to better take advantage of the car’s standard all-wheel drive system, offering seamless power delivery and rapid launches.

Bring a Trailer

Spektrum cars are commanding prices commensurate with their scarcity

With just around 200 Spektrum Golf Rs coming to the US, “rare” is a bit of an understatement. And prices seem to correlate directly. In April, a Spektrum car sold for over $45,000 after fees, more than the car’s original MSRP. Last year, another Spektrum car with over 53,000 miles sold for almost $37,000, representing approximately 21% depreciation over the six-year period. That’s incredible for any car, but it also kind of makes sense. These Spektrum cars are not only hard to find and rarely sold, but also a unique part of VW history, as the automaker gave enthusiasts something to truly be enthusiastic about.

Final thoughts

The Spektrum initiative is a very cool slice of VW heritage. So, there’s a big market for this car: enthusiasts wanting something a little bit different, Golf die-hards, VW collectors, and more. Although the lack of a manual gearbox could be a deterrent for some shoppers, we believe the car’s uniqueness will more than compensate for it. Even factoring in Canadian e-Golf and Golf R Spektrum production, there are still fewer than 600 of these Spektrum Golfs in existence. With this one being the only R in the US, we think the sky’s the limit on where this cool hot hatch could go. It’s simply a matter of the right buyer(s) finding the listing.  You can do this by clicking here.