Audio systems go beyond putting more speakers in a car. There’s a fair bit of science involved, and it’s not just about making things sound better or louder. It’s also about quality, as well as finding ways for it to consume less energy. Besides, no one wants a battery-sapping arrangement.

Porsche, together with Burmester and the University of Stuttgart, has come up with a solution that should be of interest to audiophiles. It aims to offer significantly greater efficiency and power density than current setups, and it involves the use of Gallium Nitride (GaN).

Why Gallium Nitride?

In this case, Gallium Nitride is being used as a semiconductor material. GaN isn’t exactly a new thing in the world of cars. It’s already being applied in charging systems, DC-DC converters, and even in traction motor inverters for recouping energy through deceleration and braking.

The reason for using this material is logical. It can be packaged in a more compact manner, which does wonders for space efficiency. Compared to silicon, it switches on faster, heats up less, and most importantly, handles higher loads.

The Benefits

So, what’s this got to do with the audio system? The more compact arrangement allows for greater packaging flexibility and will benefit future models. Less heat emitted also means better energy efficiency, and because GaN semiconductors can handle loads, powerful amplifiers don’t require loads of transistors to run. The GaN-equipped audio system will be applied to models equipped with the Burmester High-End setup.

The audio system is just the start. Expect Porsche to apply this know-how to other parts and functions of the vehicles. As cars get more tech-heavy and dependent, solutions like these will become more and more vital moving forward. Eventually, we may see GaN semiconductors becoming the industry norm, being applied to auxiliaries, powertrains, and more. Hopefully, though, this doesn’t trigger yet another semiconductor shortage in the future.

A recent survey conducted by UK automotive retailer Dick Lovett highlights a clear gap between the advanced technology automakers install in modern vehicles and the features motorists actually use. Data indicates that motorists prioritize basic functionality over complex innovations. Rather than relying on automated driving assistance or smartphone app controls, the majority of drivers favor essential car features that offer straightforward solutions to everyday driving challenges without adding operational friction.

We Just Wanted Music in the Car

Bluetooth connectivity leads as the most widely used feature, with 58.3% of respondents identifying it as essential for connecting smartphones to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Reversing cameras rank second in utility at 45.7%, followed by built-in satellite navigation at 44.5% and heated windscreens at 41%. Mainstay technologies like satellite positioning originally stemmed from military tech origins before becoming standard consumer equipment.

Conversely, advanced driver-assistance systems face notable driver resistance. Over 25% of respondents with adaptive cruise control choose not to use it, while 7% admit they do not know how it works. Furthermore, nearly 18% of motorists avoid lane-keeping assist, and 21.3% reject automatic emergency braking, with many reporting that overly aggressive safety interventions prompt them to disable these systems entirely.

High-end comfort features also record low engagement and limited availability across standard vehicles. Massaging seats are absent from 67.3% of cars, and among owners equipped with plush vehicle seats, only 22% use them regularly. Augmented reality head-up displays and app-controlled climate settings show similarly low adoption rates, with usage concentrated primarily among drivers under 35.

The Literal Cost

The survey underlines a growing disconnect between manufacturer marketing strategies and consumer purchasing habits. Alex Lee, automotive expert at Dick Lovett, noted that manufacturers heavily promote premium options that many buyers actively forego to avoid price increases. This consumer hesitance aligns with broader industry discussions over feature bundling and rising vehicle costs driven by complex onboard systems.

To improve technology adoption, automakers must focus on user education and system refinement rather than feature count. Ensuring safety tools operate predictably without frustrating drivers remains critical to building consumer confidence and justifying higher specification vehicle trims.

When people talk about Lexus today, models like the GX tend to dominate the conversation, reflecting the strong demand for SUVs. The ES also remains part of the discussion, though its latest generation, unveiled last year, has drawn a more polarized response largely because of its design. One Lexus that rarely receives the same attention is the LC. It was never as prominent in the Japanese marque’s lineup as the R8 was for Audi, so the grand tourer’s discontinuation comes as little surprise.

Lexus confirmed on its customer-facing website that the LC is a goner, effectively leaving the brand without a two-door enthusiast model following the RC’s discontinuation last year. The demise of the LC also means the automaker will no longer offer a V8-powered vehicle, marking the end of an era since its launch in 2017.

Speaking about the LC’s discontinuation, Lexus wrote, “While the LC line has been retired, its spirit of artistry, innovation and excellence continues to live on through every Lexus we make.”

Lexus Still Has Performance on Its Mind

No direct successor has been announced. However, Lexus remains interested in the performance space, with a new halo car previewed by the LFA Concept. The concept was presented as an all-electric model, although an unconfirmed report suggests the production car could instead pivot to a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

The wider Toyota family will still have a V8-powered halo car in the form of the GR GT. It uses an in-house 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain targeted to produce at least 641 horsepower. In the U.S., the Toyota-branded supercar will be sold through select Lexus dealerships, likely to provide a more premium customer experience.

A New Recipe for Lexus Performance

Although the LC is out of the lineup, Lexus still offers several performance-oriented models in the U.S. These include the F Sport versions of the IS, RX, and TX, along with the RZ 550e for those who prefer an all-electric drivetrain.

As buyers increasingly favor roomier crossovers and SUVs, while electrified models deliver increasingly impressive performance, the business case for low-volume grand tourers like the LC has become harder to justify. Lexus sold only 1,286 examples in the U.S. last year, representing a 12.2% decline from 2024. Perhaps it really was time for the LC to bow out, though it will leave an important legacy – partly because it was sometimes viewed as a spiritual follow-up to one of the brand’s most iconic models, the LFA.

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Whenever we venture to China, there’s always something new. Whether it’s the latest battery tech, the biggest CLTC range boast of the season, or the latest EV concept/production vehicle with over 1,000 horsepower, there’s always something new and unfamiliar.

This time, however, we’re going down the (slightly more) familiar route, with cars that look like stuff that we’ve already seen. Cars that look like or remind us of Land Cruisers, Land Rovers, and Jeep Wranglers. Just in case you forgot how these cars look, here’s a little reference gallery for you so you can see the resemblance:

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BAIC BJ40 Black Warrior

For the unfamiliar, the nameplate has undergone a number of changes, and this latest one is an expansion of the available offerings that BAIC is able to deliver. The BJ40 Black Warrior is an edition that plays with the current-generation BJ40, and the brand packages it as a range-extended vehicle. True to the “Black Warrior” name, the car comes murdered out with black accents throughout. Black wheels, black accents, and black interior options are all checked out here. It bears a slight resemblance to the Land Rover Defender and a bit to the Jeep Cherokee in terms of its design and size. The prices for this car go as high as $40,000 in China.

It packs a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine under the hood mated to an electric motor. Combined power output is 524 horsepower and 483 lb-ft of torque, and it boasts a CLTC range of up to 807 miles combined and an all-electric range of up to 156 miles. BAIC will be BAIC for the Chinese market, and it also comes with massive screens and a tech-packed interior, along with leather, also done in black for the sake of the name.

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BAIC Taitan 700

BAIC’s “Taitan” name is also a homonym for the English word “titan,” and it represents the auto group’s luxury off-roaders, so the name is there by design. What might also be a “coincidence” is the resemblance between it and the previous-generation Toyota Land Cruiser 250. BAIC went a bit further with this one, dressing it up in a Maybach-inspired two-tone paint scheme, and decked it out with all the screens and tech that make it competitive in the Chinese market. As for price, the top of the heap at the pre-selling price is about $57,870 in China.

However, there’s a big difference between this and the Toyota, which is a range-extended electric vehicle. It has a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine paired with two electric motors to enable all-wheel-drive, and it has 524 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Its CLTC range is reported to be 832 miles combined, and it has an electric-only range of 136 miles.

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BAIC Taitan 5X

Another “Taitan” in BAIC’s lineup at Chengdu this year takes after the Land Rover Defender. Auto Home explicitly stated how closely it resembled Land Rover’s off-roader. No prices have been announced for now, but we expect that it’s in the premium tier of pricing since it’s another “Taitan” from BAIC.

The model was previewed, but that didn’t stop BAIC from cluing the crowd in on some power and range figures. Two models will be offered, one pure electric and one plug-in hybrid. The pure electric version has a CLTC range of 388 miles, while the plug-in will have a pure-electric WLTC range of 144 miles. The combined power output has yet to be revealed, however.

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Deepal G318

Another Chinese brand that’s taking root in the East is Deepal, and the G318 is a new SUV that tops out at about $36,000. Now, it’s not the sexiest of names, but the designers of the car would beg to differ with a rugged but futuristic exterior that takes a little bit of everything and modernizes it. Boxy, yes. A spare tire at the back, you bet. You may be able to pick out some similarities to the current Land Cruiser 250 here as well. While the exterior looks rugged, the interior is wrapped in Nappa leather, covered in screens, and filled with the latest tech that (again) keeps it competitive in the Chinese market.

All of this drives with a range-extended electric powertrain that comprises a gasoline engine and a dual electric motor system. The gas engine is a 1.5-liter turbo, and the battery pack has a capacity of 35.7 kWh. Combined with the two motors, we’re looking at 443 horsepower, which brings the car up to 62 miles per hour in just 5.9 seconds, according to Deepal. The total range of this car is claimed to be 621 miles.

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GWM Haval H9 Power Soul Edition

From the back, it looks a lot like the Land Rover Defender, but it isn’t. This is the GWM Haval H9 Power Edition. The H9 is a well-known SUV in China, but this one takes the model’s off-road persona and makes a whole edition out of it. Equipped to the teeth with racks, flaps, and even a ladder, this is a sort of “ultimate” edition for customers in China who want to take their SUV off the beaten path. It even comes with a snorkel. It also comes with changes to its exterior look, with a new hood and grille design on top of the other accessories GWM gave it. It even comes in yellow.

Unlike the previous entries, this newly launched variant doesn’t come with an electrified powertrain because GWM decided that its mid-range variant was the one that deserved this off-road treatment. It comes with either a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline motor mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, or a 2.4-liter diesel engine paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. It does boast a 2.5-ton towing capacity as standard, about 241 horsepower and 280 lbs-ft of torque for the gasoline variant, while the figures for the diesel are about 186 horsepower and 354 lbs-ft of torque.

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GWM Haval H10

Another Great Wall Motors (GWM) brand vehicle that was featured at Chengdu this year wasn’t launched, but was actually boasted about. GWM made it known that 31,826 preorders were made within the first 24 hours of its official release. It’s priced between $31,000 and $34,500.

This Chinese SUV has got a lot going for it, and one look at the spec sheet will tell you why the Chinese market was so receptive to it. The H10 has a mid-to-large SUV dimension, and it can also come configured as a five- or six-seater in the Chinese market. It runs on a hybrid range-extended powertrain that uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and dual electric motors. Combined, the total output of the system is 590 horsepower and 532 lb-ft of torque. Also impressive is the four-speed hybrid-specific transmission, and acceleration is pretty brisk at 4.9 seconds 0 to 62 miles per hour. According to the CLTC, its all-electric range is as high as 144 miles from the 42.8 kWh battery pack, while its total CLTC range is at 872 miles.

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GWM Tank 300

More Jeep Wrangler than anything else on the list, the Tank 300 is what you might call China’s modern classic SUV. It’s a big hit as the brand boasted a 600,000-unit milestone for the nameplate this year. It starts at under $30,000 and tops out at $38,200 in China.

While the rest of the lineup has gasoline and diesel variants, the news surrounding this model at Chengdu is the release of the new Tank 300L variant, a plug-in hybrid that has the brand’s Hi4-Z hybrid system as the headline. At its highest trim level, the Tank 300 hybrid gets up to 697 miles with a full tank and charge, with a full electric range of up to 124 miles (WLTC figures). What’s wild is the combined power of the hybrid-electric system, which is 750 horsepower. Of course, it’s all-wheel-drive, and it has dual electric motors to achieve this why-not-make-it-more-powerful-than-a-sports-car figure.

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Jetour Traveler 7

Chengdu also hosted Jetour, a sub-brand of the Chery Auto Group. Because Chery has the strongest ties to the JLR group in China, it makes sense that the Traveler 7 takes a page (or a few chapters) from its partner. No price has been announced, but it looks like the brand is already taking deposits of $115 (777 Chinese Yuan). The display model had a very Land Rover-esque hue to it. The paint reminds me a bit of Gondwana Stone, a color that appeared on the first editions of the Land Rover Defender.

C-DM is the name of the plug-in hybrid powertrain in the Travaler 7. A gas version will be available according to Jetour, but the main highlight will undoubtedly be the electrified variant. The PHEV version will reportedly come with a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with three electric motors. The power of the system is said to be 771 horsepower and 615 lb-ft of torque. It has a pure electric range of 152 miles according to Jetour, and the system can achieve up to 869 miles on a full charge and full tank.

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Mengshi X700

One of the newer brands in China, Mengshi’s offering a new plug-in hybrid that might’ve been the quirkiest SUV in the show. The Mengshi X700 is interesting because it uses some very novel lighting effects on its front end that resemble stars. Meanwhile, the rear storage compartment (not a spare tire by the size of it) houses a large screen that we believe allows the driver to relay messages and express themselves to the person behind them.

Just like the other hybrids on this list, the formula remains the same as it carries a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine paired with a plug-in or range-extended system. For now, it’s unclear what the power figures are according to our source, but the X700 has a reported 151 horsepower from the gasoline engine only on the plug-in variant. With all of its tech, one could guess that it will have more than 400 horsepower when factoring in the electric motors.

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iCar V25

This mid-sized SUV is said to pack a lot of tech. This is the iCar V25, and it’s caught between looking like a Land Cruiser FJ and a G-Wagon. The front has round eyes and a boxy look. The launch of this car is set for November of this year, so there are no official prices at the time of writing.

Ahead of the official launch, iCar has already revealed the power lurking under the hood. It’s a range-extended vehicle, which means that it has a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and electric motors that make 455 horsepower and 372 lb-ft of torque combined. The pure electric range is said to be more than 130 miles, and the combined range is over 745 miles.

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With Chinese electric vehicles flooding the global market, automakers have felt the need to respond with affordable models. One of them could be Chevrolet, as the automaker is reportedly considering reviving the Joy nameplate for an all-electric subcompact hatchback.

According to GM Authority, citing sources familiar with the matter, the potential Chevy Joy revival could be based on the Wuling Bingo Pro. It could be sold in emerging markets and, if the price is right, should give the Bowtie brand leverage against Chinese-brand cars that offer extensive in-car technology while keeping prices low.

Carrying a Name From The Past

Chevrolet gets access to the Wuling Bingo Pro through the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture in China, where General Motors recently discontinued Chevy retail sales following a roughly 99% sales collapse. The Wuling Bingo Pro features a design similar to the Mini Cooper, but rounder. While the EV unmistakably looks like a city dweller, Wuling claims a range of a little over 400 km (248 miles) – surpassing the U.S.-spec Fiat 500e’s 162-mile city-driving range on summer tires.

However, it is worth noting that range estimates in China under CLTC standards tend to be more generous than EPA estimates used in the U.S., so the aforementioned range difference between the Wuling Bingo Pro and Fiat 500e should not be considered a direct comparison.

The 403-km (250-mile) Bingo Pro can also recharge from 30% to 80% in 15 minutes using a DC fast charger. Other specs include a maximum output of 65 kW (87 horsepower), a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph), automatic parking assistance, and a 12.8-inch infotainment screen.

America Isn’t Getting This Joyride

Latin America is a likely destination for the potential Chevrolet Joy revival, especially Mexico, where the nameplate reportedly has strong recognition. Given the preference for larger vehicles in the U.S. and the model’s ties to China, don’t expect a rebadged Bingo Pro to make its way stateside.

However, it does help highlight the need for more affordable EVs in the U.S. One of the most attainable options is Chevrolet’s own Bolt EV, which starts at around $27,600, excluding destination charges. More affordable EVs are coming, including the all-electric Ford Fathom, which starts at $28,350, and the Slate electric truck, offered from $24,950. If the $7,500 federal tax credit had not ended in September 2025, Slate could’ve effectively offered a sub-$20,000 option.

One thing is clear: as long as tariffs and national-security rules effectively keep Chinese-developed vehicles out of the U.S., automakers will face less direct pressure from those rivals to introduce even more affordable options.

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While overall transaction prices approached the $50,000 threshold, consumer migration toward lower-priced vehicle segments helped cap broader price growth. High-volume categories like compact cars and subcompact SUVs posted year-over-year sales gains, while sales of full-size trucks and luxury vehicles slowed. However, with fewer truly cheap cars left on dealer lots, buyer options at the lower end of the market remain limited.

Jumps Across the Board

July’s ATP rose 0.2% from June’s $49,758 average, defying the historical long-term July trend of a 0.1% decline. This monthly increase was driven primarily by a reduction in manufacturer discounts, with incentive spending falling to 6.4% of ATP—the lowest level recorded since January. Meanwhile, the average manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) stood at $51,621, reflecting a 1.9% annual increase.

Key market segments continued to experience annual price growth across the board. Full-size pickup trucks averaged $66,980 (up 2.8%), midsize SUVs reached $50,144 (up 2.4%), and compact SUVs rose to $37,745 (up 2.7%). Subcompact SUVs and compact cars averaged $31,052 and $27,904, respectively. To manage these elevated prices, an increasing proportion of buyers selected base trims to keep monthly payments manageable.

Electric vehicle prices also reversed a six-month streak of annual declines, reaching an ATP of $56,126 in July, up 1.6% year over year and 1.2% from June. EV incentives dropped 9.1% month-over-month to $6,626, or 11.8% of ATP. Tesla mirrored this trend, with its ATP rising 1.5% from June to $53,891 as its incentive spending fell significantly.

Market Analysis and Consumer Outlook

The uptick in July pricing stems from a pull-back in automaker discounting alongside the arrival of 2027 model-year inventory. As Cox Automotive Executive Analyst Erin Keating noted, newer inventory brings updated features and higher baseline MSRPs into the market. This steady supply of fresh inventory provides upward pressure on transaction prices, even as consumer demand leans toward lower-priced segments.

For prospective buyers, the current market presents a persistent affordability challenge. While consumers are actively seeking lower-priced segments to manage costs, reduced incentives and higher baseline MSRPs continue to elevate final transaction prices. With used cars remaining expensive, shoppers face high transaction costs across both new and pre-owned markets heading into late 2026.

Hyundai recently unveiled the design of the next-generation Tucson, which now has a boxier, more futuristic appearance. But what the Korean marque appeared to show were CGI press images, so the angles and lighting were naturally chosen to highlight the vehicle’s best features. Would it have the same appeal out and about in the metal?

Thanks to 힐러 Healer TV on YouTube, the upcoming fifth-generation Tucson can be seen in a real-world setting. Right off the bat, the front end looks very different from that of the outgoing model, as the jewel-like grille has been removed in favor of a cleaner design. The redesigned Tucson features a slim horizontal center lamp and vertical H-edge daytime running lights, though only the vertical lights at the outer edges appear to be illuminated in the spy video.

A Family Resemblance Is Showing

The overall front-end design resembles that of a Kia, particularly electric models such as the EV3. Meanwhile, the body has become significantly beefier and boxier, an approach also applied to the Hyundai Santa Fe. The wraparound black trim shown in the official reveal photos is also visible in the road-test vehicle.

The rear end is also reminiscent of Kia models, particularly the Sorento, though the new Tucson distinguishes itself with a full-width light bar. It is a departure from the more prominent rear lighting of the outgoing model, which features fang-like shapes. In short, the upcoming version adopts a more minimalist design language in a boxier package.

No interior details were spied. However, official press photos reveal that the cabin also takes a minimalist approach. It features a floating infotainment touchscreen powered by the brand’s Pleos Connect system, replacing the Panoramic Curved Display used in the outgoing model.

Looks Are Only Half the Story

Hyundai has yet to reveal several other key details, including powertrain specifications and pricing. What is known so far is that the next-generation Tucson is expected to arrive in the U.S. next year.

It will be a crucial model in the brand’s lineup, given the U.S. market’s sustained demand for compact crossovers, as evidenced by the popularity of the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. The distinctive styling could also help carry Hyundai’s Art of Steel design language further across the lineup, though whether that is a good or bad thing remains to be seen.

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Ford Explorer Rod Bearing Failure

The new Ford Explorer recall affects only six examples of the SUV equipped with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder turbocharged engine. This is the SUV’s standard engine and it makes 300 horsepower/310 lb-ft of torque.

According to the recall report published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the connecting rod bearings on these engines may seize, resulting in engine failure, a loss of motive power, and a knocking noise prior to the engine failing. A possible engine block breach could also increase the risk of a fire. 

According to the report, 10 engines have been replaced and Ford is aware of 11 warranty claims, as of August 11, 2026. The first warranty claim was received on March 26, 2026.

How Ford Traced The Issue

Last year, Ford CEO Jim Farley said the automaker’s powertrain durability was now competitive with Toyota’s. He also promised to deal with problems as quickly as possible, should they occur, and that’s exactly what’s been done with the new Explorer recall.

On July 23, 2026, Ford’s Internal Combustion Engines Propulsion Thermal Systems Engineering (IPTSE) Quality team informed the company’s Automotive Safety Office (ASO) of 10 replaced Explorer engines that exhibited signs of a seized #2 connecting rod bearing. An investigation was opened later in July, and it was found that all 10 replaced engines were produced in a specific time window.

“The investigation team determined that the 10 replaced engines were produced with crankshafts built at Dearborn Engine Plant within the same ~30-minute time window after a polishing shoe used in the production process was replaced,” states the recall report. “Plant process data shows a shift in the mean for certain Crank Pin #2 measurements for crankshafts produced within this time window. Root cause of the mean-shift has not been determined to date.”

This led to the recall being submitted on August 13, 2026.

Fortunately, the recall is limited to just six examples of the Explorer. Considering that Ford sold 126,925 units of this SUV in the first half of 2026 alone, that number could have been much higher. Hopefully, the recall does not expand and remains confined to SUVs produced in the mentioned 30-minute window.

Related: Owners Without Defective EcoBoost Engines Sued Ford Anyway

What Owners Should Do Now

While the recall is small, it’s still a serious engine defect and potentially dangerous if the vehicle loses power at higher speeds. Owners of affected models should listen for any knocking noises, which could indicate that engine failure is possible.

Ford will contact owners this month, with notification letters expected to be sent out by August 26. Customers with 2026 Explorers can also call the automaker’s customer service at 1-866-436-7332 for more information. Alternatively, they can run a search on the NHTSA site using their VINs to see if their vehicle is involved in the recall.

Ford will replace the engine long block on affected models at no charge to the customer.

Ford’s family of EcoBoost engines does not have an impeccable reliability record, with multiple wet-belt failures on older 1.0-liter three-cylinder units and coolant leaks on some 1.5L/2.0L engines. The 2.3L mill in the Explorer appears to be quite solid, and this latest recall is small enough not to warrant widespread concerns about its reliability.

Related: Well-Maintained Ford EcoBoost V6 Engine Failed at 110K Miles—What Went Wrong?

The trade relationship between the U.S. and Canada has been under strain since the Trump administration imposed higher import tariffs. This has affected several automakers, including Stellantis, which, according to Unifor, is now considering selling its Brampton Assembly Plant. The Ontario factory was originally slated to produce the next-generation Jeep Compass, but U.S. tariffs complicated the business case, and production was moved to Illinois.

Now, another conflict has emerged between the North American neighbors after trade talks fell apart at the last minute. Bloomberg reported that new 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion worth of Canadian goods have taken effect, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney planning to retaliate.

Negotiations Took a Wrong Turn

Both sides blamed each other for the breakdown. The U.S. said last-minute demands from Canadian negotiators derailed a draft agreement that had taken days to assemble, while Canada claimed the U.S. had changed its position, saying, “Last-minute changes in the US proposed terms were unfair, uneconomic, and called into question the reliability of any deal.”

The U.S. has not detailed how it would respond to Carney’s retaliation. For now, its new tariffs – covering Canadian imports including plywood, liquor, electrical equipment, and hockey gear – took effect Aug. 22.

The two countries had discussed a deal that would lower tariffs on some Canadian steel and aluminum to 25%, cut duties on Canadian-made vehicles to 15%, and eliminate the 10% lumber tariff. However, the U.S. said negotiations ended when Canada sought additional concessions, without specifying what they were.

Lower duties on Canadian-made vehicles exported to the U.S. would have reduced costs for dealers and automakers. They would not necessarily have lowered sticker prices, but the deal could have reduced pressure for price increases and helped preserve cross-border production and sales. After all, several mainstream models are built in Canada, including the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Honda CR-V, and Chevrolet Silverado.

Tariff for Tariff

Canada is threatening dollar-for-dollar retaliation against the new U.S. tariffs. Carney also promised additional measures to support Canadian workers and businesses.

Beyond the broader trade dispute, the U.S. has criticized Canada for allowing up to 49,000 Chinese-made EVs annually at a reduced 6.1% tariff. The agreement could give automakers such as BYD and Geely a greater foothold near the U.S. market, while allowing Tesla to offer lower-priced Shanghai-built models in Canada.

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One of Chevrolet’s most important releases, the 2027 Silverado, is set to arrive later this year. The full-size pickup will continue spearheading Chevy’s fight against Ford and Toyota for the U.S. sales crown. However, despite unveiling the truck in June 2026, the automaker has yet to release its full specifications or pricing.

But thanks to GM Authority, prospective buyers now have an idea of when those details will arrive. The publication stated that comprehensive vehicle specifications will be released on September 17, followed by pricing the next day. The information will allow shoppers to compare the Silverado with direct rivals such as the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500, neither of which is receiving a full redesign for the 2027 model year.

New Generation of Truck Muscle

Perhaps the biggest update will come under the hood. General Motors is introducing new Gen 6 small-block V8 engines in the upcoming Silverado: the 5.7-liter L76 and 6.6-liter L78. No output figures have been shared, but considering that the 2027 Corvette’s new Gen 6 V8 brings a power increase, similar gains are expected in the truck. These engines will replace the 5.3-liter L84 and 6.2-liter L87, the latter of which has been linked to widespread failures and a major recall. GM says the new engines have undergone extensive testing to ensure they deliver the expected durability and dependability.

The enhanced 2.7-liter TurboMax L4B inline-four is also expected to receive a power bump and will now be paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Meanwhile, the 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel inline-six is expected to carry over.

In terms of trim levels, the LT, RST, and LTZ are being discontinued, although the LT will effectively be replaced by a new trim simply called Silverado. The LT Trail Boss will become the Trail Boss, while the Work Truck – reportedly receiving a larger screen and additional standard safety features – Custom, Custom Trail Boss, ZR2, and High Country will return for 2027.

The Numbers That Could Make or Break It

While pricing is expected to arrive in less than a month, the outgoing 2026 Silverado currently starts at $36,900 for the WT and $71,800 for the ZR2, excluding destination charges.

Outside the spec sheets, Silverado production could also face a shake-up following reports that the light-duty model may be dropped from GM’s Oshawa plant in Canada amid trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada. What’s expected, however, is that the Silverado 1500 will continue to be produced at GM’s Fort Wayne plant in Indiana and the Silao plant in Mexico.

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One of the most interesting features coming to the 2027 Nissan Rogue is the brand’s e-Power hybrid system. The redesigned model will arrive in the U.S. later this year, but spy photos provide an early look at the vehicle in the metal on American soil.

The spy photos were shared by KindelAuto on Instagram. The preproduction Rogue, which was spotted in Long Beach, California, should look familiar to those who saw the official reveal in April 2026. This particular example wears a color similar to the Baja Storm Metallic commonly seen on the outgoing Rogue Rock Creek, along with an e-Power badge at the rear.

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This Hybrid Does Things Differently

e-Power has been available since 2016, beginning with the Note, but it will make its U.S. debut in the upcoming Rogue. It promises greater fuel efficiency and an EV-like driving experience while still allowing drivers to refuel at a traditional gas station. That is because the gasoline engine serves solely as a generator, while the wheels are driven only by electric motors. This configuration is called a series hybrid, unlike the power-split series-parallel system in the Rogue’s rival, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

In a Guinness World Records run conducted in Colombia in July 2026, the latest-generation Qashqai e-Power covered 1,230 miles on a single tank. Although the Qashqai – a.k.a. the Rogue Sport in the U.S. – is smaller and lighter than the Rogue, the result highlights the powertrain’s efficiency potential.

This particular spied example with a Tennessee plate also wears an SR badge, which traditionally denotes a sportier design package. It is notably fitted with blacked-out exterior accents, giving it a sportier appearance than chrome trim would. No interior photos were shared, but earlier leaked images from the Middle East suggest that the cabin could feature a switch-type shifter, an infotainment screen and digital gauge cluster framed within a single housing, and a two-spoke steering wheel instead of the outgoing model’s three-spoke design.

Nissan’s Next Big Bet

Nissan will launch the 2027 Rogue Hybrid e-Power in late 2026, followed by a gas-only version in 2027. It should help the Japanese marque remain competitive in the lucrative compact-crossover segment while capitalizing on growing U.S. demand for hybrids amid slowing EV growth.

The company has also reportedly indicated that additional e-Power models could follow in the U.S., with the Kicks considered a possible candidate.

A new class action lawsuit has been filed against Honda, alleging that the brand’s safety suite malfunctions due to a faulty front sensor camera. Affected vehicles include the 2018 to 2025 Honda Odyssey, 2018 to 2025 Honda Pilot, 2022 to 2025 Honda Civic, 2023 to 2025 Honda HR-V, and 2018 to 2021 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid.

The front camera sensor plays a crucial role in a system, including Honda’s Safety Sense suite of features. It serves as one of the main sensors for the system and allows for features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and even forward collision mitigation. Without it, the system won’t work as advertised, and one plaintiff has had enough.

This isn’t the First Time

Prior to this, Honda had also faced a similar lawsuit affecting the same models. The front camera defect is also mentioned in the other lawsuit, and the lawsuit also alleged that Honda knew something about the camera defects but continued to sell the cars anyway.

Honda Safety Sense is a Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System, and as stated earlier, the front camera sensor is a vital piece of equipment for certain features to be active. Due to the nature of being a Level 2 system, drivers are still required to be attentive when using it.

Being a class action, both the new and the old lawsuits affect U.S. car buyers and lessees of the mentioned Honda models.

Virginia Plaintiff

According to the lawsuit, a Virginia plaintiff, Beverly Mason, bought a new 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid in 2019. Six years of ownership had passed by December 2025, when she saw multiple warning messages that were all related to Honda Safety Sense.

Mason paid nearly $3,000 out of pocket to diagnose, repair, and replace the parts in the system. However, even after getting her Honda dealer to repair the system, she’s still worried that the problem may occur again.

Her lawsuit says that a defective front sensor camera will leave a driver without the safety features they paid for, and she contends that “even after undergoing repairs, owners remain at risk of recurring failures and additional repair costs because Honda has failed to provide an effective permanent remedy for the Defect.” In addition, the report also stated that Honda “supposedly” knew about the front sensor cameras and Honda Sensing problems, but the brand continued to sell the vehicles anyway.

Porsche has had a tough sales run these past few months; almost all models are down in terms of sales except for the unstoppable 911, which still posts positive sales growth. One of the slowest sellers has been the Taycan EV, with a drop of 25%, and it has forced the brand to look at its offerings overall.

Rumors have surfaced that apparently confirm that Porsche was looking to refresh its EV lineup by killing off the Taycan with immediate effect. However, new reports are claiming the contrary.

Slow Death?

Previously, we reported on the news posted by a German publication, Wirtschaftswoche, which claimed that the Taycan’s production and sales are about to end. Specifically, the report said that the automaker first deliberated ending production immediately, but then decided to slowly kill off the model instead. The plan was to kill off the Taycan by 2030, but no official confirmation has been given yet. Part of the report also claims that the Taycan production line would move from Stuttgart to Leipzig, where it’ll be built alongside the Panamera and Macan EV.

Carbuzz reports that new insider information has shed more light on the future of the Taycan. They were able to get a statement from Porsche itself, with the company spokesperson saying there are plans to streamline the Taycan model. It has already begun, with the Cross Turismo and Sport Turismo wagons already taken out of the U.S. market after the 2026 model year.

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Stayin’ Alive

The statement also revealed more about the Taycan model moving forward. According to them, streamlining doesn’t mean the end of a car, but rather the Taycan’s specific streamlining is to “reduce the number of variants in order to lower complexity.”

Furthermore, the spokesperson was very clear by saying, “We currently have no plans to discontinue the Taycan in the short term. We have invested significantly in the model and will continue to monitor how demand develops.” So, for the time being, the Taycan gets a reprieve, but at the very least, we could see a very reduced Taycan lineup.

What if you could buy a brand-new Range Rover for less than $60,000, fully-equipped with massaging seats, power recliners, and even a UV disinfecting box in the armrest? No, I’m not talking about Land Rover’s “entry-level” Range Rover Evoque, I’m referring to the 2027 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy.

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When Hyundai first revealed the second-generation Palisade for the 2026 model year, instant comparisons were drawn between it and Land Rover’s iconic SUV; but not the current Range Rover. The Palisade is reminiscent of the fourth-generation L405 Range Rover, the one build from 2012 to 2021. In my personal opinion, this is arguably the prettiest one Land Rover ever made.

Is the Palisade as pretty as the genuine British item? Not quite. But remember, this SUV tops out at around $60,000, not $160,000.

A True Luxury Interior

You shouldn’t be shocked to hear the Palisade punches well above its price point in terms of interior quality and amenities. The first-generation Palisade was already among the most highly rated vehicles in the mid-size three-row crossover class before the redesign, and this second-generation model elevates the luxury. It’s not as plush as the Range Rover (for obvious reasons) but compare the Calligraphy to a top trim Honda or a Toyota, and you won’t believe how nice it feels.

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There are soft materials everywhere, and textured surfaces that look visually appealing. Both the driver and passenger enjoy heated and ventilated seats, as do the rear occupants in their power-operated captain’s chairs. Not even a BMW X7 has ventilated second-row seats. Hyundai also packed in cool tech features like a built-in dash camera, UV disinfecting light box, and more.

The Seats Aren’t Fully Fixed

Lower Palisade trim levels have seats that can be dropped by pressing a button but need to be raised manually. The Calligraphy upgrades to power-folding second- and third-row seats that are supposed to go up and down with one button press, but a recall caused Hyundai to deactivate this feature. The seats did not detect a two-year-old child, and caused a fatality because of this defect.

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As a temporary solution, the seats now require someone to hold the button until the motion has been completed. This way, there will always be someone listening if there is a person in one of the seats. Hyundai also removed the functionality to raise or lower the seats from the touchscreen whilst it looks for a more permanent solution.

Finally, A Hybrid

I drove the Palisade with its standard engine, a 3.5-liter V6 that’s actually smaller than the outgoing model’s 3.8-liter unit. Along with the drop in displacement, it also loses a but of output: 287 horsepower compared to the previous 291 and 260 lb-ft of torque down from 262 lb-ft.

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These aren’t substantial losses, but the Palisade’s 8.94-second 0-60 mph time in my testing was pretty lackluster. In fact, the last 2024 Palisade Calligraphy I tested managed the same sprint in just 6.97 seconds.

Fortunately, Hyundai addressed the Palisade’s lack of oomph and its middling fuel economy with a two-birds-one-stone approach. The Palisade Hybrid joins the lineup in the second-generation, pairing a turbocharged four-cylinder with electric motors to deliver 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. Not only will the hybrid hit 60 in the mid-six-second range, but it will also achieve up to 34 mpg combined.

Did Kia Make The Better Range Rover?

Hyundai hit a home run with the original Palisade, and it appears the second-generation follows it up with a grand slam (aside from the major seat issue). There’s only one thorn in Hyundai’s side, and just like last time, it comes from within the Hyundai Motor Group Family. Kia also built its own budget Range Rover clone with the second-generation Telluride.

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The 2027 Kia Telluride takes a similar approach as the Palisade, distilling the essence of a Land Rover at a mainstream price. In some ways, Kia’s three-row looks more like a Range Rover because the taillights mimic the current-generation L460 model, not a previous version.

The Telluride also has fewer negatives. Unlike the Palisade, the Telluride doesn’t have the power-folding seats, so it wasn’t hit with a recall. It also uses a turbocharged four-cylinder on both the gas and hybrid models, so it’s a bit quicker than Hyundai’s V6 thanks to its higher torque number. If you want a stellar SUV that looks like a Range Rover for a fraction of the price, you now have two amazing options.

The all-new 2027 Chevrolet Silverado is getting two new engines from General Motors’ Gen 6 small-block V8 family. This powertrain is preceded by the 6.2-liter L87 – which has been tied to a major recall and lawsuits involving crankshaft, connecting-rod, and bearing failures – and, before that, the L86. The latter was closely related to the C7 Corvette’s LT1 engine, though it was adapted for truck applications.

Given the L86’s truck-focused design, it’s interesting to see what happened to this specific example from a 2014 Chevy Silverado High Country, which had large holes in its block. Eric from I Do Cars sought to determine the culprit by completely tearing it down.

This Truck Had Seen Some Things

After checking Carfax, Eric found that the donor Silverado had passed through six owners, all in South Carolina, and accumulated more than 200,000 miles. With that much history, neglect by one or more previous owners could have been part of the equation. However, the teardown suggested that the failure may have been more complicated than that.

Most of the components in the cylinder heads were in reasonably good condition, especially for a 200,000-mile engine. However, after removing the left-hand cylinder head, the mechanic found that one piston crown had been destroyed, with connecting-rod-bearing debris resting on top of it. The teardown also revealed a destroyed connecting rod, a missing wrist pin, and damage to the cylinder walls.

Despite the carnage, the engine did not show obvious widespread signs of an oil-starvation failure, such as overheating or discoloration throughout the rotating assembly, that would easily explain the catastrophic damage.

What Eric did find was that the Active Fuel Management system had been deleted and an aftermarket BTR camshaft installed. AFM is commonly removed to avoid potential problems with its specialized lifters, in exchange for slightly higher fuel consumption. One of the connecting rods also appeared to have been replaced, based on its noticeably different discoloration compared with the other rods, further suggesting that someone had previously worked on this L86.

Someone Had Been Here Before

Because the engine was likely rebuilt, errors such as incorrectly sized parts or improper assembly cannot be ruled out. The mechanic suspected that it may previously have dropped an intake valve or experienced a similar high-RPM mechanical failure that compromised the rotating assembly.

If that theory is correct, GM may not deserve all the blame for this particular failure. Instead, it highlights the importance of quality maintenance and repairs, which can be compromised by factors ranging from improper parts and assembly practices to cost-cutting.

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One 2026 Toyota Prius has provided a pretty compelling answer. Used as a medical supply transporter, Shane Somers’ Prius LE covered 100,000 miles in just eight months, shuttling supplies to hospitals and nursing homes. Despite the brutal mileage, Somers told The Drive that his car remains in excellent condition and has needed nothing beyond routine maintenance.

100,000 Problem-Free Miles

The Prius’ maintenance record is remarkably ordinary considering how much driving it has seen. In those eight months, it received 10 oil changes, 13 tire rotations, 3 engine air filters, 3 cabin air filters, an engine coolant and inverter service, one alignment, and a set of front wipers. The only real hiccup involved its factory tires, which suffered five flats before being replaced with Goodyear Assurance tires, which reportedly haven’t suffered the same fate.

More importantly, there have been no reported major mechanical failures. Somers says the Prius is still running well, while even its heavily used driver’s seat remains in surprisingly good condition. That is quite a feat for a car averaging more than 12,000 miles every month.

The Hybrid Powertrain Has Taken It All in Stride

The entry-level 2026 Prius LE uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain producing 194 hp. It’s paired to an electronically controlled CVT and achieves an EPA-estimated 57 mpg combined (Somers averaged 48.3 MPG). Hybrid powertrains have historically made some buyers nervous because they mix conventional mechanical components with batteries and electric motors, creating complex powertrain combinations.

A heavily used example like this Prius provides an interesting real-world test of how all that hardware holds up under extreme use. It’s worth noting that the Prius has built a strong reliability reputation over the years, earning a 4 out of 5 RepairPal Reliability Rating. This particular example takes that reputation to an extreme, covering 100,000 miles in less than a year while basically just doing scheduled maintenance.

Another Strong Case for Toyota Reliability

The Prius is hardly the only Toyota known for going the distance. Models like the Corolla and Camry have long been associated with dependable daily transportation, while the new RAV4 has earned itself a reliable reputation. Of course, one Prius can’t prove that every Toyota hybrid will sail through 100,000 miles without a problem. Yet, you can’t ignore this Prius’ achievement.

Somers’ Prius has covered more than seven times the distance the average U.S. driver would cover in eight months. Aside from its immaterial tire troubles and routine servicing, it has done so without the need for any repairs. For anyone concerned that a hybrid is inherently a risky choice, 100,000 miles of exceptionally hard use without a major failure is a pretty persuasive counterargument.

How The New System Would Work

The patent, filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), describes splitting the rotary housing’s two exhaust routes for different jobs. The higher-volume, higher-temperature side-port exhaust would feed a turbocharger, while the cooler peripheral-port exhaust would route through an internal passage to an EGR cooler using the engine’s own coolant system — avoiding the external tubing a conventional EGR setup needs. Under heavy load, when EGR isn’t required, that cooled exhaust gas would instead dump into a secondary catalytic converter rather than the first.

Why This Matters For Mazda’s Rotary Comeback

A patent filing is not confirmation of a production plan, and Mazda hasn’t attached this system to any specific model. But it lands alongside two rotary-powered concepts the brand has teased in recent patent filings of its own — the Iconic SP and last year’s turbocharged Vision X-Coupe — both of which face the same emissions hurdle this patent is designed to clear. Mazda has been candid about how difficult that balance is, insisting any production rotary sports car also has to stay commercially viable and affordable. Whether this specific EGR design ends up under the hood of the Iconic SP, a future RX successor, or nothing at all, it’s another sign Mazda hasn’t let go of the format that once powered its only Le Mans-winning race car.

After reviewing several new cars with unique door handles, it can be fun to challenge passengers to see who can locate them first. But gimmicky designs are apparently no fun at all. Such handles have been implicated in fatal crashes in which occupants or rescuers were reportedly unable to open the doors. These incidents prompted China to impose stricter regulations, including a ban on fully concealed door handles and requirements for clearly identifiable mechanical releases.

Automakers are now responding to the increased scrutiny with what is considered the largest recall campaign in China’s automotive history. Nikkei Asia reported that the safety campaign covers around 4.3 million vehicles from more than 10 automakers, including Tesla and Geely, and is intended to prevent further door-handle-related problems.

Making the Emergency Exit Obvious

One remedy involves installing warning labels to help passengers locate emergency mechanical door releases. During a crash, a failure of the low-voltage electrical system can disable the electronic releases. The additional markings should help address this issue without forcing automakers to redesign millions of existing vehicles, which could be costly.

Another remedy is a special over-the-air (OTA) update designed to lower the windows automatically after a collision. This could provide another escape route for occupants of, say, a burning vehicle or improve access for emergency responders.

Tesla reportedly has the largest recall population, covering nearly 3 million imported and China-built Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X vehicles. Other automakers involved include BAIC, Chery, Dongfeng, FAW, Leapmotor, Xiaomi, Xpeng, and Zeekr.

A Local Recall With a Global Message

China’s stricter rules will take effect for newly approved models on January 1, 2027, while existing models have until 2029 to comply. Given that China is the world’s largest car market, the regulations could influence vehicles sold elsewhere. Automakers may be reluctant to develop one door-handle system for China and another for other markets because doing so would increase costs and supply-chain complexity.

In the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently said that automakers have not notified the agency of plans to issue a similar recall stateside, according to Reuters. Still, the safety benefits of China’s changes could offer lessons for other countries seeking to prevent deaths associated with difficult-to-operate door handles.

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The Missing Piece In Genesis’ Prestige Black Club

For now, Genesis already offers a blacked-out trim called the “Prestige Black” for the 2026 G80, G90, GV80 and GV80 Coupe in North America. The treatment is built around a monochromatic look, with black exterior details, black alloy wheels, and a dark-themed interior.

The GV70, however, is not currently part of that group. If the report proves accurate, the GV70 could extend Genesis’ existing black-focused strategy to one of the smaller vehicles in its lineup rather than simply adding another appearance package.

But The GV70 Already Has A Darker Side

There is another wrinkle for U.S. buyers. Genesis has already announced the Prestige Graphite trim for the 2027 GV70, adding a darker and more performance-focused version of the SUV.

The Prestige Graphite edition gets 21-inch dark metallic alloy wheels, red brake calipers, gloss-black mirror caps, dark chrome and gloss-black exterior accents, carbon-fiber interior trim, and exclusive exterior colors. If the reported GV70 Black does reach the U.S., it could coexist with Prestige Graphite. The former could serve as the version offering a more comprehensive monochromatic look of the SUV, while the latter takes a sportier approach.

The U.S. Availability Is Still A Question Mark

If Genesis does bring the GV70 Black to the U.S., it would also give buyers another way to personalize the SUV without stepping up to a larger GV80. That could make the special edition particularly interesting in a segment where appearance packages are an easy way for luxury brands to create more exclusive versions of their core models. For now, however, there’s still no word on pricing, production numbers, or when the reported model could arrive.

Charity Auction = Opportunity To Cut IRS Payments

Under U.S. tax rules, someone who buys an item at a charity auction can generally claim a charitable deduction for whatever they paid above the item’s fair market value. Ferrari Luce Chassis 0 was offered as part of an RM Sotheby’s charity auction benefiting the Ferrari Foundation. The auction house said Chassis 0 had a pre-sale estimate in excess of $1.1 million (a normal Luce starts at $647,000, but this is a Tailor Made creation and a pre-production chassis, hence the higher estimate). Assuming $1.1 million is fair market value, the potential charitable contribution would be roughly $38.9 million on a $40 million purchase, but in 2026, the IRS has imposed a new rule, stating a 0.5 percent floor of adjusted gross income (AGI) for charitable donations. Assuming Dr. Wertheim accrues $200 million in AGI per year, the first million dollars of charitable contributions would not be deductible, leaving him with $37.9 million dollars to work with. Then comes the 2/37 rule for America’s highest earners.

Related: Ferrari CZ26 Proves Futuristic Ferraris Don’t Have to Look Weird

With this, the value of affected itemized deductions is reduced by 5.4 percent, bringing the estimated deduction down to $35.85 million. Assuming these deductions offset income that would otherwise be taxed at the top 37 percent federal rate, Dr. Wertheim’s income-tax bill is dropped by roughly $13.3 million, thus producing a theoretical after-tax cost of roughly $26.7 million. In a nutshell, all these financial mechanisms being applied to a $40 million charitable donation produce an estimated tax saving of around $13.3 million, meaning the doctor only really spent $26.7 million. He still spent $40 million in total, but accounting for potential tax write-offs, only $26.7 million of that is his actual investment in the Luce, with the rest effectively counting against his federal tax bill. Bear in mind that these figures are all based on the assumption that Dr. Wertheim earns around $200 million per year, and if he makes more, the deduction could be even higher.

Autoblog’s Take

We’re seeing several super-expensive cars selling for well above what they might on the open market, and this phenomenon is especially common when the item being auctioned is donated for charity. In fact, the same doctor who bought Ferrari Luce Chassis 0 also paid $26 million for a Tailor Made Daytona SP3 last year, again to benefit a charity. While this skews the market somewhat, it’s clearly an effective tax reduction mechanism. Yet, while we can see Dr. Wertheim’s one-off V12 Icona Series hypercar being resold for tens of millions of dollars in the future, the Luce may not hold its value so well. Of course, that doesn’t matter as much to such a wealthy buyer right now, since he is reaping the tax benefits today. Moreover, this auction may have helped improve the perceived value of regular Luce EVs, something Ferrari doubtless appreciates. Some say this is thinly veiled tax evasion, while others throw around phrases like “money laundering.” Whatever you want to call it, high-dollar charity auctions make the buyer feel good about themselves while giving them access to one-off creations they might not otherwise be able to purchase, and it’s totally legal.

Chinese automakers using designs similar to familiar models like the Land Rover Defender is nothing new. The exact reasons behind this approach can be difficult to pin down, but it can become a conversation starter, especially among fans of the models that inspired it. It can also attract prospective buyers who may not be able to afford the original and instead choose a more attainable alternative.

One such case could be the MG 07 midsize sedan, which has officially launched in China with a starting price of just 108,900 yuan, or about $16,200 at current exchange rates. Its resemblance to the Porsche Taycan – a luxury electric vehicle that starts at $111,900 – is hard to miss. This is not to imply that MG copied Porsche, but for buyers who consider design a major factor, the MG 07 appears to be a far more attainable alternative to the Taycan.

The Specs Do Some Talking Too

After all, CarNewsChina reports that the MG 07 is available with an all-electric powertrain producing up to 235 kW (315 horsepower) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque. It is also available with a 91-kWh battery that provides a claimed range of up to 845 km (525 miles).

A plug-in hybrid variant is also offered for buyers who still want the option of filling up at a gas station. It uses a 1.5-liter engine producing 82 kW (110 horsepower) and an electric motor delivering 152 kW (204 horsepower). Under China’s CLTC standards, the PHEV has an electric-only range of 245 km (152 miles) and a combined range of 1,745 km (1,084 miles).

While the MG 07’s overall shape and rear end recall the Porsche Taycan, its front fascia looks more like that of a Toyota Camry. The interior, meanwhile, features a 15.6-inch floating infotainment screen, a driver’s seat with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, a “Queen” zero-gravity passenger seat, and a 21-speaker audio system. Offering these features at such a low price shows why Chinese cars can have a competitive edge, especially among budget-conscious buyers who are not concerned with badge prestige.

A Crowded Market Demands Bold Moves

MG will begin delivering versions of the MG 07 with 650 km (404 miles) of range in China at the end of August, followed by the 845-km (525-mile) versions in October.

Competition in China is fierce, with weakening domestic demand prompting automakers to expand more aggressively into export markets. Any way to stand out – including adopting familiar design cues – could help brands attract attention in an increasingly crowded market. As such, don’t expect this trend to disappear anytime soon.

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Hyundai’s Flexible New Split Tailgate

We’ve seen swing tailgates before, and the new Hyundai patent isn’t very different at first glance. The tailgate neither falls flat nor opens like a normal swing gate, instead being hinged near the center to make loading or retrieving smaller items easier. What is new is the addition of a platform that folds down from inside the opened tailgate. On the same plane as the truck bed, this extends the available space for loading long items without having to open the entire tailgate, and because of how it locks into place, the tailgate could potentially be left open while driving. As noted by CarBuzz, neither Ford nor Ram’s tailgate doors can do this, as they are not locked into place and can swing about when taking corners. The other benefit of this support structure is that heavier items can be placed on the tailgate, like people, with less risk of something bending or breaking under the load. Overall, it looks like a good idea, though the complexity of the design’s catches and latches, as well as the sturdiness required for such a tailgate, will doubtless add some cost.

Autoblog’s Take

The patent images show this new tailgate design on a Santa Cruz pickup, but that vehicle is being put to pasture after failing to achieve the sales success of the Ford Maverick. Thus, it’s likely that this new tailgate, if it does reach production, will be saved for a new type of truck that has bigger ambitions. Recent reports indicate that Hyundai wants a competitor to the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma, and offering a clever and practical tailgate solution on the brand’s first mid-size pickup may help fence-sitters make the choice to take a chance on Hyundai. The new pickup, likely drawing design inspiration from the Boulder concept, is expected to arrive by late next year, so it’ll be a while before we see if the new tailgate is implemented. Whether the mid-size truck is offered in America remains to be seen, but with rugged looks and clever considerations to practicality, it could have a real shot.

Unifor national president Lana Payne understandably called the move a massive gut punch to the dedicated workers who built the Chrysler and Dodge brands for decades. It is a wildly jarring pivot for the automaker, especially when you look at the broader regional picture. While the company celebrates a sudden surge in Dodge Charger demand fueling hiring sprees at other facilities, the 2,200 Unifor members stationed in Brampton are staring down the barrel of permanent unemployment.

Hints of Chinese

According to a report from CBC News, the writing has been on the wall for months, though nobody expected a complete liquidation of the site. Brampton was originally slated for a massive retooling to produce the Jeep Compass, a highly anticipated project that began in early 2024. However, Stellantis abruptly paused the initiative in February 2025 before announcing that Compass production would be moving stateside, effectively idling the Ontario facility indefinitely.

Now, these explosive closure threats arrive right at the precipice of crucial collective bargaining negotiations. Unifor’s current contract covering the Brampton, Windsor, and Etobicoke plants expires on September 20. Right now, idled Brampton workers survive on income security programs replacing a fraction of their wages, while local union leaders stubbornly vow that closure is simply not an option.

Local government officials are also stepping into the ring to prevent corporate sabotage. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown has preemptively zoned the plant’s massive footprint strictly for automotive production, completely blocking Stellantis from selling the property to real estate developers. This defensive maneuver aims to keep the site viable for future manufacturing, though it remains a bitter pill considering rumors that the automaker might prioritize imported Chinese off-roaders over homegrown Canadian manufacturing.

Canadian Line Dance

Stellantis is operating like a deeply confused conglomerate scrambling to cover up major strategic blunders. Punishing loyal Canadian workers for executive mismanagement is a terrible look, but it fits a concerning global pattern. We are already witnessing devastating Italian factory closures as the corporation’s stubborn, poorly timed electrification strategy spectacularly implodes across its luxury brands.

Instead of fixing the core product lineup, leadership seems entirely disconnected from market reality. Corporate brass is currently issuing absurd sales growth demands to frustrated dealerships, demanding massive turnaround numbers despite enduring seven consecutive years of brand decline. Selling off the Brampton plant feels less like a sustainable manufacturing solution and more like a desperate cash grab from a flailing empire.

The Volkswagen Group’s profitability problems have been well documented, and the company is now taking steps to address them. Among the reported considerations are closing four German manufacturing plants, cutting up to 100,000 jobs, and reducing the model lineup across brands such as Audi and Porsche.

With so many significant changes potentially coming as Volkswagen Group seeks an operating return on sales of 8% to 10% by 2030, the company’s own supervisory board deputy chair is pushing back against the target. According to Bloomberg, Christiane Benner described it as belonging in “cloud-cuckoo-land” – essentially a fantasy detached from reality. For reference, the automaker reported an operating return on sales of 4.2% in the second quarter.

A Tougher World for VW

Benner, who also chairs Germany’s IG Metall labor union, argued that CEO Oliver Blume’s profitability targets are unrealistic under current geopolitical and business conditions. In the U.S., those pressures include import tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, which, along with weaker EV demand, likely contributed to the ID. Buzz skipping the 2026 model year. The automaker also faces tougher competition in China, where newer and more affordable domestic EVs have flooded the market.

For his part, Blume said Volkswagen’s overhead costs are more than 30% higher than those of comparable companies. He is looking to reduce annual production capacity in Europe by another 500,000 units, which could affect factories and jobs. No complete list of models on the chopping block has been released, though models that failed to meet market expectations could be included, such as the Taigo, ID.4, and ID.5.

Benner said VW’s executive board needs to provide clearer, revised cost-cutting plans before the supervisory board will approve them.

Before Anything Gets Cut

In the U.S., Volkswagen is considering entering the pickup-truck segment, a lucrative market evidenced by the abundance of Ford F-150s and Chevrolet Silverados on the road. However, reports suggest the German marque could instead target the midsize segment, where models such as the Ford Ranger compete. No final decision has been made, but such a truck could give the company another route to U.S. growth after its EV lineup struggled to gain traction.

Whatever changes Volkswagen makes to pursue its 2030 profitability targets, Benner wants the automaker to identify which models would be affected, explain how it intends to meet its goals, and explore alternative ways to reduce costs. She also stated that labor will not accept factory closures.

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Fiat may be a big name in Europe, but it’s barely making a ripple in the U.S. The last five years have been particularly brutal for the Italian automaker. Sales were already on a downward trend even before the 2020s. The pandemic hit, followed by the global supply chain chip shortage.

Not helping matters was the discontinuation of the 500L and 500X, and the 500 hatchback had been dropped from the U.S lineup years prior. 2022 saw just 919 sales, and it sank even lower to 602 units in 2023. There was a bit of a rebound in 2024 when the 500e was launched, but it dipped again last year.

Small Car, Big Hopes

Still, Fiat is hanging in there, but it needs a hit if it still wants to continue in the U.S. Now, it doesn’t have to be a particularly massive seller, but rather, something that’ll at least help the brand break 2,000 units per year again.

The solution may lie with its latest model, the Topolino. It’s already generating a good amount of buzz even before its formal U.S launch to be held this October. To call it a car is, admittedly, a bit of a stretch, but it’s a product that’s giving Fiat much-needed attention. According to Automotive News, it’s already caught the eye of the golf cart market, which has 2.3 million potential customers.

A New Market to Explore

The Topolino is classified as a quadricycle, and it’s the type of vehicle that can be driven around cities and town centers without a driver’s license in Europe. The minimum requirement is a moped license or safety certificate, being at least 14 to 16 years old depending on the country, and that’s it.

For the U.S. market, the Topolino’s potential is in affluent, self-contained communities that mostly travel by, you guessed it, golf carts. A basic brand-new cart will set you back about $5,000, although nicer custom ones and more premium models can easily go for over $20,000. At about $15,000, the little Fiat is right in that sweet spot.

Pre-Launch Success

The Topolino’s formal launch is still a few months away. However, the buzz generated from Fiat’s reel showing these quadricycles landing stateside brought in loads of inquiries, with customers wanting to buy one ASAP. Automotive News interviewed one of the first to get it, and the owner says the little EV is attracting a lot of interest and attention from his neighbors and within the community. “I have already had people literally wave me down,” quipped the owner.

The first batch comprised 300 units, following the persuasion of U.S. dealers to bring it early, according to Fiat CEO Olivier François. The publication reported that six Topolinos were snapped up immediately at Alfa Romeo Fiat of Daytona; Schmelz Countryside Alfa Romeo and Fiat in Minnesota saw its allocation of five units sold before the cars even made it to the lot. As for Golling Alfa Romeo Fiat in Michigan, it’s had to order nine more units after 10 of its first 14 allocated cars were sold in no time. That’s just a small portion of the cars purchased before the official launch, and with the way things are going, the first 300 cars are possibly close to being sold out, if not already.

The next challenge is to sustain the Topolino’s pre-launch success while satisfying potential demand to avoid opportunity costs. So while Fiat’s passenger car range (of one) isn’t generating much revenue in the U.S, the company might just hang around longer given its surprise success in the American quadricycle and golf cart market.

For the 25th year of the modern Mini, the icon is getting a total of eight limited-edition drops spread throughout the year. The Rooftop edition uses the Mini Cooper S 2 Door and the Mini Cooper S 4 Door to create its playful vision. The company wants to build hype while telling stories about the Mini brand through its releases, and the latest one is something to see.

The Rooftop Edition is technically a double drop, but it’s the same car. This release follows Mini’s other drops throughout 2026, which include the 1965 Victory Edition, the Red Line Edition, the Paul Smith Editions, and the Heritage Edition.

Mini’s Limited Run Rooftop is a playful twist on an iconic Mini design element: the contrasting roof. When you flip the script, what happens? Apparently, the Rooftop edition.

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A Negative

What Mini’s created here is essentially a car and a negative of said car, in a way. The color-flipped configuration of the two models pairs nicely with one another. I guess you could say you’d be tempted to get two in order to complete the set. Anyway, Mini used notable hues in this release: Indigo Sunset Blue Metallic and Melting Silver III Metallic. With these two colors, the brand was able to create four distinct configurations across two body styles.

The inspiration for this edition was the iconic contrast roof that Minis are known to come with. What’s usually an accent is now a central thought in the paint scheme of the Rooftop Edition.

As you’d expect, all of the contrasting elements you’d usually find in a Mini, like the roof, mirror caps, and decals, are flipped between the two models. Customers can choose between the Sunset Blue Metallic with the Melting Silver III Metallic accents or the inverse of that. Furthermore, customers also have a choice between a 2-door or a 4-door Cooper.

While the exterior is playful and paired up, the interior color palette is not as bold. The black interior is more restrained compared to the exterior, but it’s a modern cabin with all the trimmings. Mini was able to put in John Cooper Works sport seats and add subtle detailing all throughout. You could say that the interior is an afterthought, but Mini says that it’s subtle to ensure that the exterior color gets all the limelight.

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Cooper S

Regardless of what color combination that customers go with, the base that Mini chose to go with is as fun as ever. The hatchback comes with a turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 201 horsepower and 221 lbs-ft of torque.

Mini didn’t expound so much on the other specifications of the Rooftop Edition, but they did give a list of options, which include the Iconic Trim with Comfort Package Plus, which includes parking assistance, keyless entry, and more. Apart from that, we also know that you get power front seats with active driver seat and lumbar support, piano black exterior trim, and, interestingly enough, the Rooftop Edition package actually costs $1,595 on top of base MSRP.

For the Mini Cooper S 2-Door, it’ll cost $39,995 plus $1,350 for destination and handling. The 4-door, on the other hand, comes in at $40,995 plus $1,350 for destination and handling. The production of the 2027 Mini Cooper S Rooftop Edition will start in September 2026, and it’s expected to arrive at Mini Dealers in the United States beginning in October 2026.

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Almost One Million GM Vehicles Under The NHTSA’s Spotlight

The ODI report says 2021-2026 GM vehicles equipped with the L87 engine are being investigated, affecting 997,743 vehicles. It also says that there has been at least one crash or fire, one incident of injury, and 6,050 incidents of engine failure in total. The incidents have been reported on both vehicles that received a higher-viscosity oil (473 complaints) and those that have had a complete engine replacement (26 complaints) under recall 25V-274, and the ODI has also received 191 reports of L87 engine failure in engines produced after the production period cited in the recall. GM says the issue comes down to manufacturing and quality shortcomings at its supplier, but whoever is to blame, it seems that GM still hasn’t quite figured out how to solve this problem.

Related: GM Finally Has a Fix for SUVs Stuck in First Gear, but More Models Are Affected

Hopefully, the ODI’s opening of an Engineering Analysis will help get to the bottom of this, but independent analysis suggests there are microscopic ridges on the L87 crankshaft, causing oil pressure to rise and fall dramatically, leading to tiny impacts on the connecting rod bearings, and ultimately, engine failure. That’s likely why GM thought thicker oil might help, but the L87’s tight clearances clearly demand a more focused approach. For the record, the engine is available in the following products:

• Chevrolet Silverado 1500
• Chevrolet Tahoe
• Chevrolet Suburban
• GMC Sierra 1500
• GMC Yukon
• GMC Yukon XL
• Cadillac Escalade
• Cadillac Escalade ESV

Autoblog’s Take

The L87 is on its way out, set to be replaced by a new Gen 6 small-block V8 related to the LS6 V8 in the new Chevy Corvette Grand Sport and Stingray, and GM is expected to move some manufacturing processes in-house to improve consistency and quality. The new engine will come in 5.7-liter and 6.6-liter forms and be supported by new investments in North American production, which should help improve reliability and thus reputation. We’ll experience it in new vehicles like the next-gen Silverado and Sierra, and while we doubt it’ll be as problematic as the L87, learning what causes the failures of the 6.2-liter motor will surely benefit everything GM makes going forward. Hopefully, those who have been affected will be fairly compensated.

Purists and restomodders will never see eye to eye, but we regular folk can appreciate the efforts of both sides. One has to admit that the latter isn’t bound by the premises of purity, and the only limitation is one’s imagination and bank account.

Over the years, we’ve seen pretty great restomods ranging from well-done homegrown projects to six-figure builds such as what Singer does to Porsche 964s. One can go from mild to wild, but either way, you can see the love and effort that’s been poured into these. It applies to purist builds, too, of course, but restomods are just something else, whether you like these or not.

A Wild One from Kugel Werks

Before the S-Class Coupes, CLs, and SECs, there was the W111 Coupe. It was more of a personal luxury car than a grand tourer, but for all the right reasons, and it continues to exude grace and elegance over 50 years after it premiered. Leave it bone stock, and you get yourself an amazing luxury coupe. Restomod it, and you can make it into something it was never meant to be in the first place because, well, why not?

And that’s exactly what Kugel Werks did to a W111 Coupe, except it didn’t just use the classic coupe as a basis for its new car. The company also used a previous-gen Mercedes-AMG C63, you know, the one with a V8, took its guts and chassis components, and grafted them onto the W111. The result? Kugel Werks calls it the One Eleven, and it’s not what anyone would call subtle.

The Mods

The body is still that of a W111, but all the chrome has been deleted, and it gets a set of bespoke bumpers. The AMG Monoblock wheels are a nice touch, and it also gets box-flare arches, but there’s a good reason for that. The One Eleven’s suspension components are straight from the W205 C63 S, so it’s on modern underpinnings and should handle in ways the original luxury two-door could only dream of back in the day. We still don’t know what the interior looks like, but it’s likely to adapt the C63’s dash layout while keeping classic elements for the rest of the cabin.

As for the engine, it’s not the 6.2-liter V8, but rather the 4.0-liter biturbo V8. It’s untouched from stock, but it packs a wallop with 503 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. For reference, the most powerful engine you could get in the W111 was a 3.5-liter V8, and the compact eight-cylinder was good for 197 hp and 211 lb-ft of torque. And whereas the original model had either a four-speed manual or four-speed automatic, the One Eleven has the C63 S’ 7-speed automatic transmission.

Money may be a vulgar thing to talk about, but Kugel Werks did put a price tag on the One Eleven. We’d keep about half a million dollars in our back pocket for good measure, $480,000 to be exact. Of course, if you want tweaks, changes, and extras, it’ll cost more – not that it’s lacking in the first place.

After setting several records, including the fastest Nürburgring lap by an American production-series street-legal car, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X continues to prove that its performance is undeniable, even against way more expensive alternatives like the Ferrari 296 GTB. Its latest showing came in Car and Driver’s 0-150-0 mph test, where it faced 12 other vehicles ranging from the Hyundai Elantra N to the McLaren 750S.

The test at Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport in Michigan measured more than outright acceleration. Reaching 150 mph quickly is important, but shedding that speed just as effectively is what separates a properly rounded performance car from a straight-line specialist. That distinction is especially relevant against EVs. Their instant torque and immense power can make them brutally quick from a standstill, but their heavy battery packs can make braking from high speeds more challenging.

More Than Four-Digit Horsepower

The 2026 Corvette ZR1X started at around $238,000, although Car and Driver’s test car carried a $255,960 sticker. The 1,250-horsepower hybrid supercar weighs 4,125 pounds, giving it an exceptional 3.3-pound-per-horsepower ratio. It also came fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R ZP tires, 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels, and 16.5-inch vented, cross-drilled carbon-ceramic brake discs.

Chevrolet considered removing the ZR1X’s rear wing to reduce drag, but kept it after realizing its added downforce would help during the braking portion of the test.

That decision paid off. The Corvette reached 150 mph in 9.1 seconds, then stopped in 4.8 seconds over 515 feet. Its combined 14.0-second result was enough to win the test, despite the all-electric Lucid Air Sapphire being quicker to 150 mph and the McLaren 750S matching its braking performance.

The remaining results include the Lucid Air Sapphire (14.4 seconds), Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Weissach (14.8 seconds), McLaren 750S (16.1 seconds), Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric (16.4 seconds), Porsche 911 Turbo S (17.4 seconds), BMW M5 (21.8 seconds), BMW M2 CS (23.2 seconds), Bentley Continental GT S (24.1 seconds), Audi RS6 Avant (24.7 seconds), Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (27.4 seconds), Dodge Charger Scat Pack (37.2 seconds), and Hyundai Elantra N (43.6 seconds).

Turning It Up to 200

As a bonus, Car and Driver also ran a 0-200-0 mph test with just four cars – the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, Lucid Air Sapphire, Porsche 911 Turbo S, and McLaren 750S – since not every entry could reach 200 mph. The Air won the contest with a 25.7-second run, roughly six seconds quicker than the Corvette, which experienced additional drag from the rear wing during its run to 200 mph.

Nevertheless, the Corvette continues to show that extreme performance does not have to come with an exotic-car price tag. There’s also a more affordable alternative called the ZR1, which omits the hybrid system but still delivers 1,064 horsepower, while keeping the starting price at under $200,000.

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The Lexus RX is basically the brand’s golden goose, so nobody was shocked when rumors of a refresh started swirling. Camouflaged test mules have already been spotted out in the wild, teasing a facelift that was supposed to give the RX a bit of a glow-up before the next big redesign.

Early reports circled the end of the year for the big debut, and everyone figured we’d see some new sheet metal and maybe a tech upgrade or two. Turns out, Lexus has other plans.

Rather than going wild with the styling, Lexus is keeping things mostly the same on the outside and putting its energy into what’s under the skin. A fresh report from Japan says the update is all about making life easier and comfier inside, plus shuffling around some features. The catch? Prices are heading north, especially if you’re eyeing a hybrid.

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The Biggest Changes Are Inside and Underneath

According to Creative Trend, a website usually armed with reliable dealer information, Lexus is finally giving RX owners some of the features they’ve been begging for. Top of the list? The Auto Brake Hold memory function, which Toyota fans will recognize. No more resetting every time you start the car or unbuckle your seatbelt – the system just remembers what you want and sticks with it.

Another smart move: Lexus is spreading IR-cut glass beyond just the windshield. Now the side windows get the heat-busting treatment too, which should make summer drives a lot less sweaty.

Lexus is also tweaking the RX’s suspension and electric power steering for a smoother ride and better steering feel. No word on new hardware, but the report claims a noticeable bump in how refined the RX feels on the road.

There are a few visual changes, but you’ll have to squint to spot them. Sonic Quartz is out; White Nova Glass Flake is in as the go-to white. F SPORTs ditch the orange brake calipers for red, and the RX500h trades its special DIRECT4 badge for the same AWD badge as the rest of the family.

More Standard Equipment, but a Bigger Bill Too

Lexus is making life easier by rolling a bunch of previously optional goodies into the standard package. Depending on your trim, you’ll now get things like a digital key, dashcams front and rear, ITS Connect, wireless charging, a digital rearview mirror, a cold-weather pack, and a beefy 1,500-watt AC outlet – all without ticking extra boxes. The regular moonroof is gone, but the panoramic roof sticks around.

Of course, all these upgrades mean you’ll be paying more. Creative Trend says prices in Japan are jumping by 260,000 to 400,000 yen (about $1,770 to $2,720). The RX350h gets hit the hardest, while the RX450h+ and RX500h see smaller bumps.

The refreshed RX should break cover officially in late September 2026, with Japanese sales kicking off October 1. For now, all these changes are Japan-only, and Lexus hasn’t said if North America will get the same treatment or when.

Everyone complains about bad drivers, but there’s one bad driving habit they’re willing to excuse, it seems: speeding. Analyzing a new AAA study of nearly 16,500 drivers shows that 79 percent of Americans admit to speeding themselves, and relatively few see it as a serious driving offence. In fact, three out of ten people said no one drives the limit anymore, which should reinforce what you’ve been seeing out on the road lately. 

Why Fast Feels Fine Now

Funny enough, with 74 percent of drivers saying they regularly see other cars blowing past them, nearly half of all drivers in the study said that matching traffic above the limit is actually safer than sticking to the limit. Most people don’t think too much of going 10 mph over, probably because tickets aren’t usually a problem till you start going 10-12 mph over the limit anyway. Over a third of drivers speed to get past slower traffic, a fine excuse for law enforcement but hardly practical if everyone’s going faster than the limit anyway. 

On the other hand, 79 percent slow down out of fear of getting a ticket, 72 percent slow down so they don’t have an accident, and 60 percent ease off in bad weather. Which means that a ticket still holds more weight than a clean conscience. It also explains why speeding carries the lowest social stigma of any risky road behavior that AAA measured, including texting or drunk driving. It’s beginning to seem like, as far as America is concerned, speeding is being efficient, not reckless. 

Some States Are Better Behaved Than Others

Despite most people treating speed limits like suggestions, most drivers still back stricter enforcement when it comes to speeding. 87 percent support more policing in crash-prone areas, and 71 percent wouldn’t mind AI speed cameras either. Diving into the statewide data from the AAA report reveals that 54 percent of California drivers are more likely to speed in the belief that keeping pace with traffic is safer, compared to the national average of 49 percent. 

Essentially, there’s a bunch of us speeding; we know it’s common enough, and we want the cops to fix it, except when it comes down to it, it’s not our driving that’s at fault. NHTSA data shows speeding contributed to nearly 30 percent of traffic deaths in 2024, but that’s a statistic that most drivers seem to think doesn’t apply to their own right foot. 

Mercedes-AMG E 63: Two Flavors Coming?

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Mercedes-AMG’s decision to put a hybridized four-cylinder in the C 63 was not met with a warm welcome, and while the W214 E 63 still had a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, its final model year was 2023, with the turbocharged inline-six hybrid-powered E 53 being the most potent version of the current E-Class. Now, with a new V8 engine appearing in the S-Class, and several versions thereof expected to arrive in various applications, not to mention comments from senior Mercedes executives indicating a V8-powered E 63 is something to “stay tuned” for, the prototype in these images may not be the only kind of E 63 Affalterbach is working on. While redeveloping the current C 63 for a V8 may prove too costly, the next E 63 is another story.

Related: The World’s Most Powerful Gas Hot Hatch Is Bowing Out

This electric version is expected to debut in late 2027, with deliveries scheduled for 2028, and if two kinds of E 63 are coming, the combustion version will likely debut thereafter. Our spies also report that the electric E 63 will, despite its appearance in these images, drop the designs of past EQ models, which were rather blob-like. A more classical, boxy look is expected to be introduced, and while styling alone won’t be enough to attract new buyers, it should help.

Autoblog’s Take

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While we don’t get to sit in on product planning meetings or board discussions, it appears that Mercedes is trying to please everyone with the next E 63. The EV may not be sold in the U.S., but it’ll be necessary in Europe, where much more stringent regulations all but demand a variety of powertrain options to bring average fleet emissions down. Doing this could help a dirtier V8 justify its existence, while in places like America, the V8 may be the only version customers want. Of course, we don’t yet have any concrete information on a combustion-powered E 63, but offering AMG customers multiple flavors seems sensible, and we expect to see development mules before too long.

The Chevrolet Corvette is a true performance car that is also capable of shining on track, particularly in variants such as the Z06, ZR1, and ZR1X. But regardless of how capable a vehicle may be, that performance should not be exploited on public roads, where it can endanger the driver, pedestrians, and other road users.

One Corvette owner found that out the hard way after allegedly driving recklessly and crashing into a Mercedes-Benz SUV in New York City. According to CBS News, the collision occurred shortly after 5:30 a.m. near Sherman Avenue and West 204th Street in Inwood, Manhattan. The impact sent the Corvette into a 34-year-old pedestrian before it slammed into a building. The Corvette’s driver and passenger, along with the pedestrian, were hospitalized in stable condition.

🚨 The Corvette driver remains in custody facing multiple charges, while police continue tracking the Mercedes driver who ran from the scene. All three injured victims remain in stable condition.
https://t.co/LxvVL6KuqO

— Asif Khan (@_asif) August 21, 2026

The Crash Scene Tells the Story

The investigation remains ongoing. Police said the Corvette was speeding, while residents alleged that the two vehicles had been street racing. The Mercedes was sent airborne and landed on its side after striking a parked moped. A Mazda was also badly damaged, although authorities have not explained how it became involved.

The Mercedes driver reportedly fled the scene. Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Corvette driver was arrested and charged with reckless driving, reckless endangerment, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Witnesses claimed the Corvette had been driven recklessly for more than an hour before the crash, including allegedly performing doughnuts.

Wrong Place to Show Off

Based on limited visual cues, including the shape of the black trim surrounding the side air intakes and the body-colored rear spoiler, this particular example appears to be a Corvette Stingray convertible. The crashed car also appeared to feature optional wheels and red-painted brake calipers. For comparison, a new 2027 Stingray convertible starts at $80,495.

While the NYPD has yet to publish its final findings, the crash is a strong reminder that all drivers must follow road-safety laws, regardless of their skill or their vehicle’s capabilities. Racetracks provide controlled environments and safety measures that allow drivers to explore a car’s performance. On public roads, the consequences can include serious injuries, criminal charges, and substantial financial liability.

Gone are the days in the automotive world when all brands could seemingly survive all alone. With the automotive industry now highly competitive and costs continuing to rise, most major manufacturers have forged partnerships in order to succeed together, especially in tough markets.

Ford has been on a path to rework its business model globally, trying to compete in markets that have largely been taken over by manufacturers from China. Geely has also been trying to diversify its business by opening more doors to collaboration, and this has brought both companies together.

Ford x Geely Euro SUV

Ford and Geely officially entered into a partnership in July 2026 to form a joint venture (JV) that will produce low-emissions vehicles out of Ford’s Valencia, Spain plant with a focus on the European market. The partnership puts Ford as the majority holder at 66% of the shares, while Geely’s 34% was acquired through its Centurion Industries subsidiary.

Automotive News reports that new details have emerged about the JV; specifically, Geely’s GEA platform will serve as the base of a new Ford SUV slated for European release and sales. The Global Intelligent Electric Architecture (GEA) by Geely is part of the new trend for automakers, who are able to produce platforms that can be used for both electric and plug-in hybrid drivetrains, as opposed to having separate ones that complicate production and increase cost.

Ford DNA

Ford’s use of the GEA platform was confirmed by the new chairman of Geely Auto Group, An Conghui. An said as much during a company earnings call held just a few days ago. He also confirmed that Geely will be utilizing Ford’s Valencia plant to produce Geely models to help bolster its portfolio in the region. Geely’s partnership program is now in full swing, with another existing agreement with the Renault group that uses the GEA platform in some models for the South American market.

Ford is keen to point out, though, that despite the GEA underpinnings, the multi-energy powertrain SUV will have a rally-bred design from Ford and the driving dynamics that evoke the brand’s racing heritage.

In all fairness to Aston Martin, it never really stopped offering cars with manual transmission. Sure, grand tourers are primarily for spirited cruising, but the British automaker knows that the third pedal makes a huge difference. Besides, if one were to stick with tradition, a manual was always going to be the way to go, as most DB5s, DB6s, and V8 Vantages were built that way.

That makes Aston Martin one of the very few ultra-luxury automakers that still offers its customers the option to exercise their left legs. While there are no manuals at the moment, the limited-run Valour was offered with that back in 2023, and the rarer and more focused Valiant followed suit a year later.

How About Now?

The Valor and Valiant were built to commemorate Aston Martin’s 110th anniversary, and those were bound to be ultra-exclusive cars from the start. But if we’re talking about the more mainstream models, the last one offered with a manual was the Vantage AMR. So, why hasn’t there been another Vantage, Vanquish, or DB model with three pedals and a stick shift?

Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark recently spoke to Road & Track about that, and the reason isn’t because of the lack of demand or any of that. Rather, there’s something that gets in the way that makes it expensive to develop.

The Challenge

Hallmark says it’s advanced driver assists that are getting in the way of Aston Martin putting manuals in its more mainstream models. “The problem we have is not getting a manual gearbox; it’s getting an electronic and modified system to be able to work with a manual box. Why? Because when you’ve got ADAS—because this car’s got all the safety systems of a production car, if we put a manual in, you couldn’t have the adaptive speed control and the anti-crash intervention,” said the executive.

Why not just take out ADAS, then? Unfortunately for Aston, it’s a requirement in Europe, so it’ll have to develop a system suited for manuals. According to Hallmark, doing that will be apparently costlier than building a new manual for the cars. Also, the current electronics architecture of the cars doesn’t support manuals and ADAS being paired together, and doing that will cost money. Mind you, Aston isn’t exactly flush with cash at the moment, either.

It Needs a Business Case

At the end of the day, the automotive business is exactly that, a business. Sure, Aston can build it, but how many will actually buy it? Yes, the internet is awash with people who say every car should have a stick. However, the percentage of people who actually purchase one is a lot smaller than the number of people who clamor for one. The higher up the price range you go, that number gets slimmer. Mind you, there are cars with manuals that do have these assists, but those are sold by automakers that have far, far more money than Aston.

Does Aston Martin want to build one? Well, who doesn’t, but Hallmark is being cautious. “When you look at how many cars you need to sell at what incremental price to offset the cost of the box and the electronics, it’s a marginal case.” The executive understands why Ferrari did what it did with the automated manual, as it’s apparently the more cost-effective solution in the 12Cilindri Manuale. But if Aston were to build a car with a stick, Hallmark said, “So our dilemma: Do we do a fake manual? Or don’t go manual? So that’s the problem.”

Now, this doesn’t mean that Aston Martin will never build a car with a manual ever again. We’re pretty confident it will make another one, but it’ll probably be reserved for the top-shelf stuff.

Most of the time, restoring a supercar is a job for independent shops, but Bugatti prefers to keep things in the family. Enter La Maison Pur Sang, the brand’s own restoration HQ in Molsheim, France, where the magic happens under the same roof as the original build.

La Maison Pur Sang’s latest project is none other than the Bugatti Veyron itself – one of the most recognizable hypercars on the planet. This one-off restoration keeps the Veyron’s soul intact, but adds just enough new tricks to let it hang with the latest Bugattis.

Dubbed the La Maison Pur Sang Veyron 20 Years, this build is a rolling tribute to the car that kicked off the modern hypercar era in 2005. Instead of messing with the Veyron’s iconic shape, Bugatti went for subtle tweaks that polish the original without losing its edge.

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Familiar Shape, Fresh Details Inside and Out

The first thing you’ll notice is the paint. This Veyron rocks Rouge Rembrandt, a shade borrowed from the Tourbillon, teamed up with Petrol Blue straight from the Bugatti Chiron’s playbook. The result is a Veyron that looks right at home in this day and age, yet remains unmistakably itself.

But Bugatti didn’t stop at the color. The wheels are all-new, inspired by the original Machiavelli design but beefed up to 20 inches up front and 21 at the back. That means this Veyron can now wear Chiron-sized tires, giving it a modern stance without messing up those classic lines.

There’s more: new 3D mesh inserts for the air intakes at the front, side, and rear, sharpening up the Veyron’s look and adding a bit of technical flair.

Inside, it’s still pure Veyron, just with a few handcrafted twists. Magnolia leather wraps the cabin, with custom Mocassin stitching on the wheel and shifter. There’s a special ’20 Years of Veyron’ badge between the seats, and the center console gets a Côte de Genève finish – a nod to Swiss watchmaking that you almost never see on a car this size.

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New Veyron Configurator for La Maison Pur Sang Customers

Bugatti wisely left the heart of the Veyron alone. The original engineering and performance are untouched, with the focus on keeping everything running perfectly and adding just enough modern touches to keep things interesting. As a bonus, Bugatti has rolled out a Veyron configurator just for La Maison Pur Sang customers. Owners can now pick their favorite finishes, materials, and options straight from the factory menu.

How much does all this cost? Bugatti isn’t saying, and honestly, we’re not surprised. Every La Maison Pur Sang project is a custom job, so the price tag depends on just how wild you want to get.

If you’re lucky enough to have a Veyron in your garage, this is probably the most exclusive way to keep your hypercar looking – and feeling – like it just rolled out of Molsheim.

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Since 1990, AMG has been Mercedes-Benz’s factory skunkworks division after an agreement to build vehicles together. Some great cars have been made since then, but for some people, the models still aren’t spicy enough. That’s where the folks from Brabus come in.

Established in 1977 by founders Klaus Brackmann and Bodo Buschmann, Brabus has been making hot Benzes even hotter for nearly 50 years. And while it has been tuning cars from other brands in more recent history, it’s still best known for making some of the most extreme AMGs out there with price tags to match.

A New Chapter

Brabus unveiled its first-ever (mostly) homegrown car this year in the form of the Bodo. It’s a clear tribute to the company’s co-founder, and it doesn’t use a Mercedes-Benz as its basic platform. Instead, its bones are from the Aston Martin Vanquish, but the Mercedes connection is still there, as its V12 still comes from the German automaker.

The Bodo is just the start of a new chapter for Brabus. In an interview with Motor1, CEO Constantin Buschmann, the son of co-founder Bodo Buschmann, said we can expect more bespoke models from the brand.

Outside the Comfort Zone

Brabus can perhaps breathe a sigh of relief with the Bodo, given the positive reaction towards it. Perhaps inevitably, the company then followed it up with the Bodo cabriolet that made its world premiere at The Quail during Monterey Car Week. Brabus won’t be stopping there, though, as Buschmann said the automaker has to build something out of its comfort zone once in a while.

“I said to the team back then, ‘We’re going to do one uncomfortable thing a year. We’re gonna put ourselves outside of our comfort zone one time per year, minimum.’ And we’ve done that ever since… [Bodo] kind of feels like coming full circle. Because this car shows what you’ve been developing through going out of our comfort zone. Over and over and over again,” said Buschmann to Motor1.

What to Expect

Buschmann didn’t say what the next bespoke Brabus model will be just yet. But given his directive ‘to do something uncomfortable,’ it might just be working on the next one as we speak. We won’t know if it’ll be based on an Aston or AMG, but we can expect something truly special and epic given the high bar that the Bodo had set.

Before you ask, yes, tuning the nuts off AMGs will still be the core business of Brabus, but the beginning of unique models will become a regular thing for the brand. This comes after years of customers asking when it would build and design cars from scratch, as its clients believe that Brabus can do far more than its current business portfolio. With a younger, more open-minded team behind him, Buschmann’s new branch for Brabus may well become reality.

Rugged Subaru Leads Classy Mazda

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In July 2026, Subaru sold 15,873 units of the Forester, while Mazda sold 12,068 CX-5s. That’s not a huge difference, but the year-to-date sales numbers tell another story.

This time last year, the Forester was ahead of the CX-5 by 22,059 units. That gap has now grown to 48,967 units, leaving the Subaru far ahead of its rival. Both are still well behind the top-selling CR-V, which has tallied 264,449 sales between January and the end of July this year.

One significant factor which could have impacted the CX-5’s drop in sales is the fact that Mazda introduced a new generation of the crossover early in 2026. Transitioning from one generation to the next often comes with a brief sales dip as manufacturers ramp up production of the new model. Toyota also experienced a decline in RAV4 sales when that crossover entered a new generation.

Related: I Drove The All-New 2026 Mazda CX-5: Here’s My Honest Review Of The Compact SUV For People Who Like Driving

Why Buyers May Prefer The Forester

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Switching over to a new generation may not be solely responsible for the CX-5’s sales decline this year. The latest model has a completely new interior design that replaced the older model’s tactile, user-friendly controls with a large touchscreen. It’s a change that not everyone feels is a step in the right direction. Furthermore, the CX-5 is no longer offered with the more powerful turbocharged engine that made its predecessor such a fun vehicle to drive. Mazda’s own CX-50 has none of these issues, which may explain why it has actually surpassed the new CX-5 in year-to-date sales.

On the other hand, the current Forester has not strayed from Subaru’s core values. It’s not as refined as the Mazda, but the Forester has always been praised for its rugged design, durable materials, and solid powertrains. It’s especially capable on dirt roads in Wilderness guise, which introduces a raised ride height and higher towing capacity. Subaru also added a 194-horsepower hybrid model not too long ago, something the CX-5 doesn’t currently offer. 

Related: Did Mazda Misfire on Its New and Formerly Best-Selling CX-5?

Final Thoughts

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By sticking to a tried-and-trusted formula and introducing incremental improvements, the Forester will feel like home for any Subaru fan. It’s not the most technologically advanced or quickest vehicle in this class, but it delivers everything owners expect from a Subaru crossover for a high-value price.

The new Mazda CX-5 still rides and handles brilliantly, while the interior is smarter than the Forester’s more utilitarian approach. But by compromising usability and going all-in on a giant touchscreen, something has been lost between this model and the old one. The lack of powertrain diversity is also a problem, at least until a hybrid version arrives.

For now, it looks like the gap on the sales charts will continue favoring the trusty Forester.

Related: 2026 Mazda CX-90 vs. Subaru Ascent: Which Turbocharged 3-Row is the Better Buy?

The BMW M2 CS is bound to be one of the greatest modern-day M cars ever made. Lighter, faster, and stronger than the already hugely competent M2 Competition, it unlocked another level for the sports coupe. It also showed how much more potential the platform has to offer.

That said, the G87 model still has some life left in it. Following BMW’s typical seven-year life cycle, we won’t see a new generation until at least 2030. That also means there’s still time for another hotter, more powerful model.

From the Forums

A reliable thread on Bimmerpost leaked that BMW may be cooking up another special M2. The specifics weren’t mentioned yet, but it has been suggested that an all-wheel drive version of the CS could be under development. Given that the rear-drive CS can already do 0 to 60 mph sprints under 4 seconds, the extra traction could drop those times down even further.

As it is, the M2 CS puts out 523 hp, which is exactly the same as the M3 Competition, but in a smaller and more agile body. In our review of it, we called it “the M car to get,” and one “that makes you invent excuses to drive it.” An all-wheel drive version will probably limit the sideways action, but not the fun.

The More Exciting Prospect(s)

While we’re on the subject of special M2s, there’s another rumor that’s worth revisiting. There’s also a strong possibility of it getting a CSL version. Earlier this month, a camouflaged M2 was seen being shaken down around the Nürburgring, suggesting that idea. It doesn’t have a whopper of a wing at the back, though, but the track pack might also be a hint of what’s coming next.

Another possible car would be a manual version of the CS in the same vein as the M3 CS Handschalter. While mainly a special project cooked up by BMW North America, its success may have convinced the product planners from Munich to apply the same treatment for its smaller coupe. But whatever it may be, BMW is clearly still having a lot of fun toying with the G87 platform.

On top of this standard baseline reduction, the manufacturer is sweetening the deal with a substantial limited promotional offering. Through September 30, 2026, eligible Hyundai and Genesis electric vehicles will receive an additional 10% bonus off their sessions. This stacked promotional offer brings the total immediate savings to an impressive 20 percent discount, aiming to significantly lower the overall cost of vehicle ownership during the late summer travel season.

Eligible Models and How to Claim the Savings

The application of these new savings requires absolutely no extra manual effort at the charging pedestal. Drivers receive the immediate financial deduction automatically when initiating a charging session via the Hyundai In-App Charging feature or by using Plug & Charge technology through the MyHyundai with Bluelink app. There are no promotional codes to memorize, applications to navigate at the stall, or math to do while parked.

Currently, the financial benefit covers specific models equipped with the appropriate software architectures and charging capabilities. The qualifying roster includes the 2022 and newer Ioniq 5, the performance-oriented 2025 Ioniq 5 N, the upcoming 2026 Ioniq 9, and the 2025 Kona Electric. Luxury models are included as well, with the 2026 Genesis GV60 and the 2026 Electrified GV70 also eligible for the exact same ongoing reduction.

This standard ongoing deduction is fully combinable with other IONNA promotional offers, meaning drivers could potentially see even lower rates during special holiday pricing events. With competitive Ioniq 5 pricing already appealing to mainstream buyers on the dealership lot, this ongoing operating cost reduction makes the financial case for purchasing a new battery-powered vehicle significantly stronger for budget-conscious families.

The Expanding Public Infrastructure Landscape

While previous infrastructure competition relied heavily on exclusive closed networks or premium paid subscription tiers, Hyundai is opting to bake a permanent flat discount directly into the standard ownership experience to build long-term customer loyalty and reduce overall range anxiety.

Automakers are realizing that competitive hardware and impressive range figures alone are not enough to win over hesitant buyers on a mass scale. Despite recent plug standardization efforts making public fast-charging stations more universally accessible, the actual cost at the plug remains a significant daily factor for commuters. Hyundai’s direct discount strategy proves that delivering tangible, immediate savings is an essential step for dominating the modern electric market.

Savvy shoppers know that one of the best ways to keep thousands of dollars in your pocket is simply choosing an automotive brand known for low premiums. According to recent data from Consumer Reports and Insurify, the badge on your grille heavily dictates your monthly bill. In fact, selecting the absolute most expensive brand over the cheapest option can cost the average owner an extra $2,100 every single year.

King of Cheap Premiums

According to Consumer Reports, Subaru takes the crown with an average annual premium of $2,182. Mini, Jeep, Buick, and Chevrolet follow closely behind, hovering around the $2,500 to $2,700 mark. These mainstream automakers produce vehicles that are inexpensive to repair or replace if completely totaled, translating directly to lower financial risk for major insurance providers.

Interestingly, the specific type of vehicle you park in your driveway matters just as much as the badge. Pickup trucks generally boast lower premiums than standard sedans and family SUVs. Excellent safety ratings, robust anti-theft features, and standard automatic emergency braking also bring prices down. Conversely, vehicles prone to high-speed crashes or those statistically associated with reckless driving behavior frequently see their premiums penalized by strict actuaries.

On the flip side of the coin, luxury and high-performance badges demand a massive premium. Tesla leads the pack as the most expensive brand to insure, averaging a staggering $4,294 annually. Porsche, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz trail closely behind. Even non-luxury brands like Dodge make the naughty list, largely because their high-powered muscle cars drastically raise the overall brand averages across the board.

Constantly Changing Criteria

The harsh reality is that the automotive insurance landscape is shifting rapidly beneath our feet. Getting quotes before signing on the dotted line is no longer just a smart move; it is an absolute financial necessity. You must look past shiny sheet metal and calculate true long-term ownership costs. A cheap sports car might seem like a steal until your agent hands you a crippling monthly bill.

However, advanced technology might eventually disrupt this traditional pricing model entirely. While Tesla currently holds the title for priciest premiums, the widespread rollout of driver-assistance features like Full Self-Driving has the potential to fundamentally alter risk assessment. Until autonomous systems definitively prove they can eliminate human error and slash crash rates, stick to the proven path. Buy a safe, mainstream vehicle.

Jeep refuses to let its special-edition Wrangler streak cool off. Over a month after dusting off the Laredo badge, the brand is back at it with the 2027 Wrangler Smoky Mountain Edition – the freshest face in the Twelve 4 Twelve lineup.

The Smoky Mountain Edition made its grand entrance at the 14th annual Smoky Mountain Invasion in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee – basically Jeep heaven for die-hard fans. This marks the 10th chapter in the Twelve 4 Twelve saga, a series that pays tribute to Jeep’s roots, legendary trails, and the off-road faithful.

Based on the four-door Wrangler Willys – arguably the best trim in the lineup – the Smoky Mountain Edition keeps all the Trail Rated chops but throws in some exclusive style inspired by the Great Smoky Mountains.

Trail Rated Hardware Remains the Foundation

Built on the Wrangler Willys, the Smoky Mountain Edition keeps the same off-road-ready mechanical package. Buyers can choose between a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder automatic or a 3.6-liter V6 automatic.

The off-road gear sticks to the tried-and-true Willys recipe: 33-inch BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrains (or beefier 35s if you’re feeling bold), Dana 44 axles front and rear, a locking rear diff, 4.10 gears, steel rock rails, and a factory hitch for when adventure calls.

Style-wise, Jeep throws on 17-inch smoky black wheels, a gloss black seven-slot grille, and those exclusive Smoky Mountain hood decals. The body-color hardtop and matching fender flares are standard, but if you want to go topless at the push of a button, the Sky One-Touch power top is still on the menu.

Inside, Jeep spices things up with a few Smoky Mountain-only touches but keeps the classic Wrangler vibe. The Black Ferndale cloth seats get a rugged embossed finish, and Terracotta stitching with metallic Blaze Orange accents bring a splash of Smoky Mountain color to the cabin.

Pricing Stays Close to Willys

Jeep didn’t forget the Easter eggs: look for a 1941 Willys parachute graphic on the seat bolsters, a commemorative plaque on the rear swing gate, and a shifter medallion with a mama bear and cub. Creature comforts like heated seats, a heated wheel, dual-zone climate, and a universal garage opener are all part of the deal.

If you want in, orders for the Wrangler Smoky Mountain Edition are now open for the four-door, no matter which automatic you choose. The best part, however, is that the package is only $80 more than a regular Willys with the same gear, so you get all the exclusive style and commemorative touches without breaking the bank.

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The decision arrives as the manufacturer fights to repair a battered balance sheet following brutal fiscal years. While the company recently reported being back in profit after a drought, financial scars remain deep. Management navigated a period where the brand lost billions in revenue, making long-term viability the ultimate priority over corporate expansions.

Nissan Banking Away

The draw of an industrial bank charter was accepting deposits. This status would have unlocked significantly lower-cost capital for Nissan, allowing the automaker to offer competitive commercial lending rates to its retail network. Dealerships could have leveraged these cheaper funds for real estate purchases, gaining a massive competitive edge.

However, the price of entry into the banking sector is remarkably steep. Recent conditional approvals by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. for rival automakers highlight the astronomical upfront costs. Stellantis had to front at least $150 million, GM required roughly $667 million, and Ford needed up to $1.5 billion in initial capital to satisfy rigorous regulators.

Faced with those numbers, Nissan leadership balked. The Americas division initiated a massive austerity drive last year aimed at reducing annual spending by nearly $2 billion. With a dedicated executive actively cutting costs across every single department, funneling hundreds of millions into a financial institution did not align with the mission to trim fat.

Putting the Focus Back on Cars

Walking away from the bank charter is a disappointing blow for Nissan dealers, but it is undeniably the right call for the company’s survival. Building a bank is an absolute cash incinerator, and regulators constantly demand parental support for liquidity. Nissan cannot afford to play banker while fighting to reclaim its former glory on the showroom floor. The brand needs every dollar directed toward engineering and manufacturing.

Retail dominance will not come from clever commercial loan structures; it will come from compelling sheet metal. The entire corporate trajectory now rests heavily on delivering vehicles that consumers actually want to buy. Insiders suggest the broader brand turnaround heavily depends upon the Nissan Rogue e-Power hitting the market successfully. Fixing the cars simply must come before financing the real estate.

Starting at $71,495 including destination, the 641-horsepower GV60 Magma delivers 0-60 mph acceleration in 3.4 seconds. By extending its standard line-wide incentives to its top-tier performance crossover, Genesis is positioning the vehicle aggressively against both German luxury rivals and mainstream electric competitors.

Tesla in its Crosshairs

Under the brand’s national dealer bulletin, buyers can secure 0% APR for 60 months or 0.99% APR for 72 months through September 8, the exact same terms available on the base GV60. At $71,495, the Magma undercuts the entry-level Porsche Macan EV by roughly $11,100, while sitting just $3,845 above a gas-powered base Macan.

When initial reports confirmed the crossover’s American arrival, buyers braced for a high sticker price. Early speculation suggested its estimated price might match its Hyundai platform sibling. While official pricing confirms a $10,000 premium over the Ioniq 5 N, promotional financing significantly alters the overall value proposition against competitors like the 2026 Tesla Model Y Performance.

The Model Y Performance carries a lower sticker price of $59,380, but Tesla’s higher 3.99% APR rate closes the payment gap. Over a 60-month loan, the actual financial difference between the two vehicles shrinks from $12,115 down to approximately $5,900. While Tesla holds a clear edge in driving range, 306 miles compared to the Magma’s estimated 222 miles, the Genesis counters with superior cabin luxury and an additional 131 horsepower in Boost Mode.

Putting Their Cards Down

Offering interest-free financing on a high-output halo vehicle reflects a deliberate push by Genesis to capture market share from established luxury and EV benchmarks. Rather than relying strictly on performance figures to draw buyers, the brand is using financial incentives to lower the total cost of ownership barrier on its most capable platform.

While the 222-mile range may deter buyers who frequently travel long distances, the GV60 Magma delivers an exceptional performance-per-dollar ratio on a financed purchase. Buyers aiming to take advantage of the 0% APR rate have until September 8, when the current incentive period ends.

Stellantis is back with another recall – this time, 74,578 Dodge Durango SUVs from 2021 to 2023 are on the list. Why? Because some rear spoilers are still trying to make a break for it. If you’re getting déjà vu, you’re not alone. Dodge first tried to tackle this in late 2021, recalling certain 2021 Durangos for liftgate spoilers that could fly off. Fast forward to early 2023, and the recall ballooned to cover even more 2021-2023 models with the same stubborn issue.

The original recalls were meant to prevent spoilers from working loose and taking flight on the highway. But according to Stellantis, some Durangos that have already received the fix are still experiencing the same problem. After reports of spoilers making a run for it even after recall repairs, the company kicked off another investigation in March 2026.

This time, the problem isn’t so much a bad spoiler as it is a bad fit. Some Durangos rolled out of the factory with spoilers pressed up too close to the roof, so every time you open or close the liftgate, the spoiler gets a little love tap. Do that enough times, and eventually, the spoiler gives up and lets go.

Which Dodge Durangos Are Affected?

If you own a 2021, 2022, or 2023 Dodge Durango built between July 13, 2020, and March 28, 2023, your SUV might be on the list – 74,578 of them, to be exact. Dodge says you might get a heads-up before your spoiler tries to escape. Listen for the spoiler smacking the body when you open or close the liftgate, or a rattling from the back while driving if things are already coming loose.

A runaway spoiler isn’t just an eyesore – it turns into road debris, which can be a real hazard for everyone else on the road. Stellantis dug through warranty claims, customer complaints, and service reports to get to the bottom of it.

By the end of last month, the automaker had identified 8 customer assistance records, 116 warranty claims, and 37 additional service records potentially related to spoiler detachments. The company also said it was not aware of any crashes or injuries connected to the issue, according to the NHTSA recall documents.

What Owners Should Do Next

Of course, Durango owners won’t have to pay for the fix. However, they will have to wait a bit longer. Stellantis is still working on a proper solution, and once it’s ready, affected Durangos will get the new repair. Dealers should hear something by August 20, 2026, and owners will start getting letters in September. VIN lookups went live on August 20, too.

Until then, keep your ears open for weird noises from the back, especially when you’re opening or closing the liftgate. If your spoiler looks wobbly or keeps bumping the roof, it’s time to call your Dodge dealer and check if your ride is part of the recall once the VIN tool is up.

If you already had your Durango’s spoiler fixed in the last recall, don’t tune out – this new campaign is for you, too. Stellantis says it’s aimed at vehicles that might still have the problem, even after earlier repairs.

Peak danger window: Thursday afternoon through Sunday, when Extreme Heat Warnings stack across I-10, I-20 and I-40 corridors and overnight lows fail to drop below 80°F in major metro areas.

Where the Extreme Heat Is Worst

NWS Phoenix has issued an Extreme Heat Warning through Friday evening for parts of southwest Arizona and southeast California. Afternoon temperatures are forecast at 107 to 114°F, with overnight lows only reaching 88 to 92°F. The atmospheric ridge over the region is running near the 97th percentile of climatology, which means this is a near-record-strength heat pattern for late August.

NWS Fort Worth has Extreme Heat Warnings active for northeast Texas into southern Oklahoma and Arkansas today. Feels-like temperatures across the South are running 110 to 117°F, with heat indices topping 115°F in parts of Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Miami hit 100°F on Tuesday, only the second time in the city’s recorded history since 1895. The only previous occurrence was July 21, 1942.

Highway Corridors Directly Impacted

• I-10: Phoenix through Tucson, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans and Jacksonville
• I-8: Yuma to El Centro, at the epicenter of the Extreme Heat Warning zone
• I-20: Dallas-Fort Worth through Shreveport, Jackson and Atlanta
• I-40: Oklahoma City through Little Rock, Memphis and Nashville
• I-75: Atlanta to Miami, with feels-like temps near 110°F throughout
• I-95: Jacksonville to Miami, and up through Georgia and South Carolina

Why Extreme Heat Is a Vehicle Story

Extreme heat is one of the most underappreciated dangers on the road. Tire blowouts spike during heat waves because underinflated tires heat up faster and fail catastrophically at highway speeds. Battery failures triple during extreme heat events. EVs lose 15 to 30 percent of range in temperatures above 100°F, and DC fast charging speeds are reduced to protect battery health.

The most serious hazard is heatstroke in vehicles. A car’s interior can climb from 90°F to 140°F in about 20 minutes, even with windows cracked. Never leave children, pets, or vulnerable adults in a parked vehicle in these conditions. Since 1998, more than 1,000 children have died from vehicular heatstroke in the US.

What Drivers Should Do

Check tire pressure in the morning before pavement heats up. Carry extra water, sunscreen and a first-aid kit. If your battery is more than three years old, consider having it tested before a long drive. Plan long-distance trips for early morning or evening. If your vehicle isn’t ready for a sudden bake in triple-digit heat, Autoblog’s guide to summer car readiness covers everything from coolant to cabin ventilation.

For real-time heat alerts and forecast updates, check the National Weather Service heat page and monitor local NWS office bulletins for your region.

Peak danger window: Thursday early evening through overnight, when supercells transition into greater instability and could produce hail over 2 inches, wind gusts to 75 mph, and isolated tornadoes across major Plains interstates.

The Setup

Moderate northwesterly flow aloft is combining with elongated hodographs to support supercell wind profiles across the region. The Storm Prediction Center has forecast probabilities of 15 percent for both hail and damaging wind across the risk area, with a low-probability tornado threat in southern Nebraska and northern Kansas.

Storms are expected to initially fire as discrete supercells, which are the storm mode most capable of producing very large hail and tornadoes. As the evening progresses and storms move into greater instability, hail and wind threats will peak. Clustering could occur into the early overnight, which would extend the damaging wind threat through the Omaha and Kansas City metros.

Corridors Directly Impacted

• I-80: Omaha to Des Moines is at highest risk during the evening rush and into overnight
• I-29: Sioux Falls, Sioux City, Omaha and Kansas City corridor
• I-35: Des Moines to Kansas City, with the potential tornado threat closest in southern Nebraska and northern Kansas
• I-90: Sioux Falls to Rochester at risk from clustered storms overnight
• I-70: Kansas corridor between Salina and Topeka could see hail and wind

What Makes This Setup Dangerous

Very large hail is the primary threat. Hail over 2 inches in diameter can shatter windshields, dent metal deeply enough to total vehicles, and cause serious injury to anyone caught outside. Insurance losses from Plains hail events regularly exceed $1 billion in a single storm cycle.

The wind threat is the second concern. Isolated gusts to 75 mph can flip high-profile vehicles, drop tree limbs on roadways, and knock out power to entire towns. For trucks and RVs traveling the I-80 and I-29 corridors, sudden crosswinds during a squall line can be extremely dangerous.

The tornado threat, while low-probability, is real. Discrete supercells early in the evening have the best chance to produce tornadoes before storms merge into a line.

What Drivers Should Do

If you’re driving through the risk zone tonight, monitor NOAA Weather Radio or a weather alert app for warnings. Have a plan for where you would stop if a severe warning is issued. Never park under overpasses during a tornado warning. If very large hail is imminent, seek shelter in a covered parking structure if possible, or pull over safely away from windows.

For extreme weather driving preparation, Autoblog’s guide to handling severe weather on the road covers hydroplaning, crosswind response and what to do in a tornado warning. Check 511 Nebraska, Iowa 511 and KanDrive for real-time road conditions before you head out.

Peak danger window: Thursday evening rush hour (roughly 3 PM in Philadelphia and Baltimore, 5 PM in NYC) through Friday morning, when 2.5 inch per hour rainfall rates combine with damaging winds up to 50 mph across the most heavily traveled corridor in the country.

Rare Moderate Risk Along I-95

The Weather Prediction Center has placed New York City and much of the surrounding region under a Moderate Risk for excessive rainfall, Level 3 of 4. This is a designation the WPC issues on only about 4 percent of days, and it accounts for a significant majority of all flood-related property losses in the contiguous US. Storm total rainfall of 3 to 5 inches is expected, with locally higher amounts.

Flood Watches stretch from northern Virginia through southern Connecticut, covering the entire I-95 corridor between Washington, DC and Boston. The heaviest thunderstorms are forecast to reach Philadelphia and Baltimore around 3 PM, then NYC around 5 PM, before pushing into New England overnight.

Corridors Directly Impacted

• I-95 corridor: DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Trenton, NYC, New Haven all in the direct path
• I-64: Richmond to Norfolk facing 3-5 inches with Flash Flood Watch active
• I-81: Shenandoah Valley corridor into central Pennsylvania
• I-78 and I-80: Northeast New Jersey seeing lane closures from street flooding already, including Route 17 southbound in Ho-Ho-Kus
• I-476 (Blue Route) and NJ Turnpike: Both at high risk during the evening rush

Flash flooding is already causing road closures in Fair Lawn and other northern New Jersey communities. JFK Airport has warned travelers of possible flight disruptions.

Tornado Threat Adds to the Danger

The Storm Prediction Center has added a Marginal Risk of severe thunderstorms across northeast NJ, NYC and western Long Island, with the risk zone extending to Baltimore and Philadelphia. Isolated tornadoes are possible, particularly in western New York and eastern Pennsylvania. Damaging wind gusts and large hail remain the primary severe weather concerns.

Why This Storm Is Different

Two factors elevate this event above a typical summer thunderstorm complex. First, atmospheric moisture is running at tropical levels, with precipitable water values of 2 to 2.3 inches across the entire warm sector. Second, storms are forecast to train over the same areas, dumping rain repeatedly on saturated ground.

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani urged New Yorkers to take the forecast seriously: “We may not see the same impacts everywhere, but where the heaviest rain develops, flooding could happen quickly and disrupt travel.”

What Drivers Should Do

Never drive through flooded streets. Two feet of moving water can float most vehicles, and more than half of all flash flood deaths occur in cars. Give yourself extra time, monitor conditions, and be prepared to change plans. For extreme weather driving safety, Autoblog’s guide to best practices for driving in dangerous conditions covers hydroplaning, visibility loss, and emergency response. Check 511NY, 511PA, and 511VA for real-time road closures across the corridor.

Passenger Screens Are Rarely Used

The TXI Study shows that passenger-side screens are among the most problematic technologies in new vehicles, with 21.3 problems per 100 vehicles. 35% of owners with a passenger-side screen have never used it, while just 6% use these screens each time the car is driven. In some vehicles with passenger-side screens, those cars had higher rates of overall infotainment problems.

Despite these findings, these screens have found their way into the cars of many luxury brands. Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche are increasingly adopting them, which allow passengers control and visibility over music and other settings. But many argue that these screens are superfluous, since everyone has their own mobile phone.

On the other hand, the study shows that inconspicuous technologies are much more appreciated. Features like smart climate control and smart ignition exhibit fewer problems while actually enhancing convenience. Smart climate control, for instance, automatically adjusts the interior temperature to keep occupants comfortable. Another interesting takeaway from the study involves Level 2 driver-assistance tech. Although hands-on systems are not as advanced as Level 2+ hands-free systems, customers actually preferred the experience offered by the former.

“The technology customers value most is often the technology they barely notice because it simply works,” said Doron Hikry, director of customer success at JD Power. “Smart ignition and smart climate control make everyday driving easier without demanding the driver’s attention, while more automation and additional screens don’t necessarily translate into a better experience. For automakers, the opportunity is to prioritize technology that makes driving simpler, not more complicated. The features that solve real problems without adding effort or stress for the driver are the ones resonating most with customers.”

Related: An Industry-First Test Showed Just How Horrendously Distracting Touchscreens Are

Cadillac Leads All Brands

The TXI Study takes into account responses from 68,084 owners of 2026 model-year vehicles after 90 days of ownership. This year’s study was fielded from June 2025 through May 2026. Every brand was given a score out of 1,000 points, based on the level of innovation and execution of their tech features.

Cadillac emerged as the highest-rated brand with 641 points. It was followed by Genesis, BMW, Hyundai, and Lincoln. Interestingly, Tesla and Rivian did not qualify as they do not meet study award criteria. If they had qualified, they’d be the top-ranked brands, as they have scores of 924 and 781, respectively.

Hyundai dominated the mass-market model awards, with three wins in four categories. Features like the phone-based digital key, blind-spot camera, and EV charging scheduler were all appreciated by Hyundai owners. In the premium segment, the BMW iX’s one-pedal driving and the Cadillac Escalade’s rearview mirror helped those models come out on top in their categories.

Why It Matters

There’s a sense that in-vehicle technologies are starting to detract from rather than enhance the driving experience. Brands like Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen have already replaced some touch-sensitive controls with conventional physical switches, in response to customer feedback. Audi, which features many new models with passenger-side screens, says it will be going back to simpler interfaces in future models. While all this is happening, major safety bodies have said they’ll penalize brands with overly complex controls for key vehicle functions.

The TXI Study shows that there’s a limit to how useful technology can be. Often, the flashiest features on the showroom floor end up being the most troublesome in daily driving. For automakers, keeping up with competitors is important, but so is maintaining the usability and reliability standards consumers expect.

Related: Audi Is Abandoning Big Screens for a Better Experience

The cost of gas, insurance and maintenance have made vehicle ownership more expensive than ever, and many Americans are changing their driving habits as a result. The LendingTree survey of 2,001 U.S. consumers ages 18 to 80 revealed that the vast majority of respondents have altered their habits over the past year due to transportation costs.

1 In 5 Drivers Said They Drove Less Over The Past Year

More specifically, 54% of drivers said they changed how much they drive. Compared to a year ago, 34% said they drive more, while 20% said they drive less. The top reasons cited for driving less include gas prices (64%), health or disability (24%), changes in household finances (20%), maintenance or repair costs (14%), and car insurance costs (14%).

Interestingly, the only demographics in which a majority said they were driving more than they were a year ago were 56% of Gen Zers (aged 18 to 29) and 52% of parents of children younger than 18. Those driving more said the top reasons were gas prices (54%), car insurance costs (28%) and a vehicle purchase (26%).

Additionally, 81% of respondents said they made changes to their driving habits over the past 12 months, with the most common including combining errands into fewer trips (38%), driving less overall (31%) and searching for cheaper gas before filling up (28%).

Some went even further by avoiding certain stores, restaurants or events because of the drive (19%), skipping or reducing recreational trips (17%) and delaying the purchase of another vehicle (15%).

Carpooling Is On The Rise

Nearly 3 in 10 surveyed drivers have carpooled about once a week or more over the past year. Overall, 29% of them reported carpooling about once a week or more, with Gen Zers being the most likely to adopt this practice (52%). In addition, 51% of respondents said they would likely carpool if they regularly traveled to the same destination as someone outside their household. 

That said, not everyone is open to carpooling. Overall, 39% of respondents said they never carpooled, with the most commonly cited reasons being preferring to drive alone (30%), not knowing anyone traveling to the same destination (23%) and having schedules that don’t align with someone else (22%).

“When gas prices and other transportation costs rise, many people respond by cutting unnecessary trips, while others drive more because life gives them little choice,” said Matt Schulz, LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst. “As much as people would love to be more flexible with their driving habits, sometimes it isn’t possible.”

The survey also shows to what extent households are being affected by rising monthly transportation costs. According to LendingTree, 30% of households spend less than $100 on transportation each month, 26% spend $100 to $249, and 20% spend $250 to $499. Another 14% spend $500 to $999, while 10% spend $1,000 or more per month on transportation.