Mustang GTD Buyers Have Plenty of Options

The European application window for the Mustang GTD is open through October 16, so interested parties have a little over a month to make their case for ownership. If successful, the Spirit of America package with its included Performance Package and Forgeline wheels is just one of many schemes available. We’ve seen Lamborghini purple and an exposed composite finish called Liquid Carbon, and if a buyer wants a unique color choice to stay that way, Ford will guarantee one-of-one status through the Exclusive Extended Color Palette Lock-Out option. Of course, all of these choices add to the final cost, and with the GTD starting at well over $300,000 in the U.S., it’ll be well over €300,000 across the pond. Still, that’s a bargain compared to the challengingly named new 637-horsepower Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung, rumored to cost over half a million of your favorite currency. This special-edition AMG has some similar design cues and is much rarer with a 30-unit production run but is also vastly less powerful than the GTD’s advertised claim of 815 hp, which may be conservative.

With the AMG 646 beig revealed on Friday, we can’t help but wonder if Ford noticed the similarities between the Mythos-line Merc and its own creation and decided to reopen applications now to take advantage of those who may have missed out on the brutal Benz. Regardless, we’re sure Europeans are glad to have access to the GTD, especially since imported American supercars tend to become much more expensive when not acquired directly from the manufacturer.

Autoblog’s Take

The Mustang GTD acts as a halo model in the Ford Racing lineup, standing alongside cars like the Porsche 911 GT3 RS with its head held high, and having it available in Europe makes it feel even more like a global competitor to the best supercars in the world, while increasing its presence in Europe will also be beneficial in selling GT and EcoBoost models. Granted, it’s very expensive for a Mustang, especially when compared to the Corvette ZR1, but it’s as close to a racecar for the road as anything else out there, and its Nürburgring exploits have proven how capable it is in the right hands. Sure, the GTD is arguably too wide for most European back roads, but it’s most at home on a track anyway, and we hope to see several Europeans finding that out for themselves.

Ferrari has earned a reputation as one of the most prestigious performance brands out there, thanks to its new products designed to push the envelope. Its latest release is the 296 GT Modificata, a limited-series, track-only model designed to operate free of competition restrictions, similar to the Porsche 911 GT3 R Rennsport.

The 296 GT Modificata builds upon the 296 GT3 Evo, which competes in renowned racing series such as the World Endurance Championship (WEC). The main difference is that the new release is for wealthy track-day customers; it even has a two-seater configuration that allows a coach or passenger to ride shotgun. Notably, the track-only vehicle pushes performance further, with the automaker claiming it has the potential to lap the Fiorano circuit in Italy three seconds faster than the 296 GT3 Evo.

A More Unruly V6

That is made possible through modifications to powertrain components like the crank train, camshafts, intake system, intercoolers, and turbochargers. The fuel system has also been optimized for the increased flow demands. Ferrari says the enhanced 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 now makes 730 cv, or about 720 horsepower. That’s about 120 hp more than its GT3 Evo counterpart’s quoted output of 600 hp, which is subject to Balance of Performance restrictions. The engine is paired with a 6-speed sequential gearbox with revised gear ratios.

The bodywork has also been revised to not only optimize downforce but also improve cooling for the more components. At the front, a new hood with a larger main opening helps manage hot air exiting the radiator, while a slotted splitter improves airflow beneath the car to increase downforce. Additional cooling provisions help the upgraded brakes. The rear features a fresh tailpipe design and a new wing with a 5-mm Gurney flap and endplates inspired by the Le Mans-winning 499P, which also has a Modificata version for non-competitive track use by customers.

As a proper track car, the Ferrari comes with data acquisition and onboard video systems, which can help drivers break down their laps and identify areas for improvement.

Exclusive Means Exclusive

The press release didn’t disclose pricing. The model is intended for the exclusive members-only Club Competizioni GT program, with the purchase including two years, or 12 rounds, of participation.

For comparison, the road-going 296 GTB starts at over $330,000 in the U.S., so the GT Modificata can reasonably be expected to carry an even more eye-watering price tag.

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Volkswagen may have posted a good U.S. sales performance in the second quarter of this year, but it is still working on a turnaround. Several plans have been reported regarding how the German marque intends to improve its fortunes, including potentially bringing rugged pickups and SUVs to the U.S., where demand for vehicles like the Ford F-150 is strong. For now, though, VW is looking to attract more potential customers by improving its IQ.Drive system for 2027 model-year vehicles.

IQ.Drive is essentially the brand’s advanced driver assistance suite, like Tesla’s Autopilot. It is a timely upgrade, given that surveys show drivers prioritize improved safety systems over full autonomy and that the IIHS is pushing for better crash-avoidance technologies, with driver-attention monitoring also planned for future Top Safety Pick+ Award criteria. The MY2027 vehicles receiving the updated IQ.Drive include the Atlas family, Golf family, Tiguan, and ID. Buzz. The ID.4 isn’t included, likely because U.S. production ended earlier this year.

What’s New for 2027

The changes for 2027 include expanded availability of Travel Assist with driver-initiated lane changes, Emergency Assist Plus, updated Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control (pACC), a new Rear View Camera System, and Road Experience Management (REM) data.

The updated Travel Assist feature allows drivers to initiate assisted lane changes using the turn signals, provided the vehicle speed is above 45 mph. It uses rear radar sensors to check whether the targeted lane is clear. Meanwhile, Emergency Assist Plus can automatically move the vehicle to the side of the road and stop if the system detects an unresponsive driver. It can be triggered while either Lane Assist or Travel Assist is active, though the latter uses a more forceful “wake up” sequence consisting of horn honking, three brake jolts, and seatbelt tightening. If there isn’t enough room on the shoulder, the vehicle moves to the far-right lane instead.

pACC can now respond earlier to increased speed limits with driver accelerator input and help manage speed for highway exits and ramps. Meanwhile, a new rearview-camera system on select Atlas, Tiguan, and ID. Buzz trims can detect pedestrians behind the vehicle and automatically brake when reversing at 1–6 mph.

Last but not least, the cloud-based REM data, available through an In-Vehicle Premium subscription, supports ADAS by using real-world road information from swarm data. This supplements the vehicle’s onboard camera information, helping with lane centering when lane markings aren’t clearly visible. It is now available on the 2027 ID. Buzz.

Safety Sells

Speaking about the update, Thomas Zorn, Vice President, Vehicle Safety, Volkswagen of America, said, “The protection and peace of mind of our customers is fundamental to all of us at Volkswagen.” He added, “We already offer one of the most comprehensive packages of ADAS features on the mass market.”

For 2027, the Atlas and the Atlas Cross Sport receive a complete overhaul, whereas the Golf and Tiguan largely carry over. The ID. Buzz is returning for the 2027 model year after skipping the 2026 model year, a pause VW attributed to managing inventory amid cooler EV demand.

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It’s hard enough to prove how tough a car is nowadays with all the technological features automakers put in them. Many believe older, more mechanical models are far superior in toughness and rugged dependability. Even harder is the idea of reviving a nameplate known for these qualities as an electrified model built by a Chinese manufacturer.

Freelander’s return is one of the automotive world’s highlights this year, despite being a China-only model for now. The partnership between JLR and Chery is behind the comeback, eager to show that the Freelander 8 has Land Rover DNA; it even claimed a world record in astonishing fashion.

Freelander 8 World Record

The Freelander 8 has already made a couple of appearances at select motor shows across China, but the official launch took place just a few days ago, on September 3. Before the launch, the brand put the Freelander 8 through one hell of a trial, climbing 6,002.33 meters (3.73 miles) up a loose-surface mountainside in Tibet. That sets a new record for a hybrid vehicle and beats the previous one held by the BYD Fang Cheng Bao Bao 5 in July 2024 by just 22.8 meters (25 yards).

The trail traversed by the record-beating Freelander 8 was far from easy; it featured a 1,480-meter (1,619-yard) real off-road trail mixed with 200-meter (219-yard) vertical climbs on loose rock and shale. At that height, the air is much thinner, which affects vehicle performance. Despite the challenge, Chery-JLR says that the Freelander 8 retained 80% of the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder range extender’s rated generating capacity during the climb. The Freelander 8 is powered by a dual-motor AWD Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) system that makes a massive 818 hp, paired with a two-speed gearbox.

The Tech Behind the Climb

Its powertrain is a clever unit designed to help the Freelander tackle any off-road condition and is a major factor in its world-record claim. In first gear, the system adds a 1.5-to-1 torque multiplication step that generates 5,900 lb-ft of torque. Essentially, this acts like a low-range gear that helps the SUV climb steep inclines. Another key factor in the Freelander 8’s climb is its unibody SUV chassis, which, according to Chery-JLR, did not sustain any damage during the world record climb.

No specific details have been released about what tires the Freelander 8 used during the climb or the car’s condition afterward. Nonetheless, a Guinness World Records entry is a feat in itself, giving the Freelander 8 more credibility as a modern trail vehicle.

China’s broader industrial strategy supports the effort, including the government-backed All-Solid-State Battery Collaborative Innovation Platform (CASIP), linked to an estimated $830 million state research budget. As domestic manufacturers align under this framework, Chinese industry regulators have established regulatory standards to clarify technology criteria as global competition accelerates.

Engineering Challenges and Long-Term Commercial Timelines

According to a report from Car News China, BYD’s battery subsidiary, FinDreams, is focusing development on inorganic sulfide solid-electrolyte chemistry based on lithium phosphorus sulfur chlorine (LPSC). FinDreams has developed 20 Ah and 60 Ah cell prototypes with target energy densities approaching 400 Wh/kg. Although laboratory prototypes have cleared key cell tests, translating cell performance into durable, multi-cell vehicle packs remains an ongoing engineering challenge.

Sulfide electrolytes deliver high ionic conductivity but suffer from contact degradation as solid electrodes expand and contract. Maintaining contact requires continuous mechanical stack pressure, complicating pack engineering and structural design. Additionally, wet electrode processing causes chemical reactions with sulfide materials, forcing FinDreams toward dry electrode manufacturing methods that remain difficult to scale. Industry peers like Toyota and Honda have noted similar production obstacles when evaluating high-volume commercial feasibility.

BYD is planning small-batch fleet trials of roughly 1,000 vehicles around 2027, focusing on high-end Yangwang and Denza models where higher initial material costs can be absorbed. Large-scale commercial production is targeted for around 2030, putting BYD on a comparable path with Geely, whose prototype fleets are scheduled for operational testing in the coming years.

Getting the Tech Ready for Real-World Use

BYD’s announcement marks strategic progress rather than an immediate market disruption. Placing a solid-state pack into a running test vehicle demonstrates significant engineering progress, but pilot vehicles exist primarily to expose vulnerabilities in vibration, thermal cycling, and continuous pressure management. BYD Chief Scientist Lian Yubo noted that liquid lithium-ion batteries will likely coexist alongside solid-state systems for 15 to 20 years, underscoring a gradual industry transition rather than an overnight replacement.

By separating early vehicle trials from commercial production goals, BYD avoids overpromising while maintaining strong momentum in battery development. Navigating high material costs and dry-electrode manufacturing will take years of refining equipment and processes. Next year’s test vehicle will offer valuable real-world data, but mainstream solid-state adoption remains a long-term engineering pursuit.

Fast Charging and Two Battery Sizes

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The Kia PV7 will be offered with 71.5-kWh or 96.2-kWh nickel cobalt manganese battery packs. Initially, front-wheel drive will be standard, but an all-wheel-drive version will be available at a future date. Depending on the market, the electric van will produce up to 268 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, which puts it right into Ford E-Transit territory (266 hp/317 lb-ft). 

Kia hasn’t published range figures for all variants, but the Long Range Cargo derivative can cover around 286 miles on a single charge on the WLTP cycle. By EPA standards, that should translate into around 250 miles or so. That’s a lot better than the E-Transit’s 159-mile claim.

Thanks to its 800V architecture, the Kia’s battery can be recharged from 10 to 80% in around 25 minutes when connected to a 350-kW DC fast charger. A practical touch and a first for Kia is the inclusion of dual charging ports. A front AC/DC port and optional rear-side AC port enhance charging flexibility for different parking situations. Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality is also available, allowing the PV7 to power and charge various devices, tools, and business equipment.

Related: Kia’s Cheap Electric Van Is So Popular America Can’t Have It

PV7 Cargo Vs. Passenger: Catering To Different Needs

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The two PV7s look similar from the outside, with typically boxy van proportions and short overhangs. They’re up to 210.6 inches long. The obvious difference is the Passenger’s rear windows. This model can seat up to nine occupants globally and 11 in Korea, with various seating configurations available. It’s aimed at shuttle/rental services, tourism, and family use. In the seven-seat Passenger model, there are Long-Rail Easy Remove Seats, while the nine-seat version can be had with or without a fourth row. 

The PV7 Cargo is aimed at logistics, delivery, fleet, and business operations. Two- and three-seat variants are on offer, and the Cargo High Roof model has up to 282 cubic feet of cargo space. The payload maxes out at 2,646 pounds for the Compact model, and there’s a dedicated heavy-load driving mode that keeps the van stable when fully loaded.

The dashboard is modern and airy, with a digital driver’s display and center touchscreen. The PV7 is available with a wide range of driver-assistance tech, from smart cruise control to a surround-view monitor and lane-keeping assist.

“The PV7 marks the next step in our journey toward personalized mobility, building on the foundation established by the PV5,” said Ho Sung Song, President and CEO at Kia. “By bringing together hardware developed for specific applications, business-tailored software and dedicated PBV services, the PV7 goes beyond the vehicle itself to deliver a complete business solution that helps customers achieve greater productivity, flexibility and long-term value.”

Availability and Pricing

The PV7 will be launched in Europe and Korea in 2027, with the automaker saying that additional derivatives and markets will follow. The U.S. was not explicitly mentioned as being one of those markets, so its arrival here is uncertain. However, the smaller PV5 was spotted testing on American roads earlier in 2026, which raises hopes that Kia has plans to launch the bigger PV7 in America.

Pricing for the PV7 has not yet been announced, but the Ford E-Transit Cargo Van starts at $53,260 (2026 pricing), so the Kia will likely cost around that much if it goes on sale here.

For businesses that have relied on thirsty and generally slow gas-powered cargo or passenger vans for many years, a new era of electric alternatives promises lower lifetime costs and more refined travel, especially for passenger versions.

Related: Kia’s New Electric Van Just Set a Guinness World Record for Range

If you have more than enough money in your bank account, no car becomes unaffordable. More than that, some billionaire car collectors don’t just buy a car; they commission one. They can also serve as custodians of one-of-one creations from the world’s most exotic automakers.

That brings us neatly to the Bugatti Brouillard. As it is, the Mistral is an epic piece of engineering. Whether you’re into hypercars or not, you should be able to appreciate the work that went into it, along with the intricate details and the numbers that it lays down. The Brouillard takes it a step further by being a one-off version of the Mistral with a fixed roof.

Programme Solitaire

For Bugatti owners who want to truly stand out, the company launched the Programme Solitaire. It’s a special division that specializes in one-off commissions, and the Brouillard was the very first model under that program. It was revealed in 2025, and the car now has a very proud owner.

Before you ask, this isn’t the Bugatti that had a bit of a fender bender recently. That was a Tourbillon prototype, and let’s just say there was a little VW-on-VW violence involved. But back to the Brouillard: Bugatti has just turned it over to its owner, and if you want to know how much, The Supercar Blog reckons about $20,000,000.

Programme Solitaire has since made a couple more one-off cars. There’s the epic FKP that was a tribute to Ferdinand Piëch, and more recently, there’s the Destrier that was based on the Bollide.

The Specs

As mentioned, the Brouillard is based on the Mistral. This one-off is a hardtop, unlike the car it’s based on, and it has a couple of design changes to make it even more unique. By the way, the car you saw in the press photos is the one that now has a new home, since there’s only one.

As for the engine, it’s one that’s befitting of a Bugatti. It has the same 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 as the Chiron, so there’s proper get-up and go. Power is rated at 1,578 hp and 1,180 lb ft of torque, which is exactly the same as the Chiron Super Sport. It also has bespoke interior touches, and the striking green-on-green color is an elegant touch. A ‘regular’ Mistral went for about $5.5 million, which is a little over a quarter of the Brouillard’s final price. One thing is for sure: the price of this will appreciate should the owner decide to sell it.

We already feel that this car will rarely be driven. With that many zeroes on the price tag, we probably can’t blame the owner. Still, we’re hoping the W16 gets the exercise it needs from time to time.

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How The Rule Actually Works

It isn’t an outright four-year sales ban. Japanese buyers can sell within that window, but only after submitting a property disposal approval application to the country’s Next Generation Vehicle Promotion Center and receiving approval before the sale happens — applying after the fact isn’t allowed, and selling without permission can trigger a demand for the entire subsidy back. Approved sales still come with a partial repayment, calculated as the subsidy amount multiplied by the remaining months in the four-year period, divided by 48. On the same maximum payout that’s made EVs like Honda’s Super-One dramatically cheaper in Tokyo this year — that works out to roughly $6,340 owed back if sold after just one year, dropping to about $4,225 at the two-year mark and $2,110 at three years.

What Counts As “Disposing” Of The Car

The rule casts a wide net. Trading the bZ4X in toward a new car, transferring ownership to a family member, gifting it, scrapping it, leasing it out, or using it as loan collateral all count as “disposal” under the program — simply changing the name on the registration doesn’t get around the requirement. Genuine exceptions exist for cars totaled in natural disasters or no-fault accidents, but even those cases require prior application and approval rather than an automatic waiver, the same procedural strictness that governs Japan’s tiered subsidy system for smaller kei-class EVs as well.

Why This Doesn’t Exist For American Buyers

There’s no real US parallel to point to here, and the contrast has only sharpened recently. The federal EV tax credit expired entirely at the end of September 2025, and while it existed, it never carried a multi-year resale restriction or repayment schedule like Japan’s system — buyers could sell a subsidized EV the next day with no penalty. Some individual state rebate programs have attached short minimum-ownership windows to their incentives, but nothing close to Japan’s four-year, prorated-repayment structure has applied to Toyota’s US-market bZ at any point in its sales history. For Japanese buyers, the calculus is straightforward: the discount is real, but it’s conditional on genuinely intending to keep the car — not a simple price cut with no strings attached.

Hurricane Engine Lawsuit

The class action lawsuit pertains to 2025 Ram 1500 models. This was the first model year where the Hurricane inline-six engine was introduced, temporarily replacing the Hemi V8 in the 1500 lineup (Ram has since reintroduced the Hemi V8). According to the lawsuit, shared by Car Complaints, some Ram 1500 owners complain of illuminated check engine lights, a loss of power, repeated diagnostic trouble codes, misfires, and stalling. Engine control modules and/or powertrain control modules are allegedly defective on these pickups.

Charlene Norberg, one of the plaintiffs from Wisconsin, bought a new 2025 Ram 1500 in August 2024. She experienced multiple faults between 2025 and 2026, including stalling, battery drain issues, overheating, and the truck entering limp mode. It is not known what Norberg’s mileage was at the time of these failures. Tim Craig, another plaintiff from Florida, purchased a new 2025 Ram 1500 Rebel in May 2025. At just 1,200 miles, he claims various dashboard lights illuminated and that all safety features were disabled. A month of testing by the dealer followed, but the lawsuit states the problem wasn’t found and the brake booster was replaced.

The plaintiffs claim the pickups have lost their value due to Hurricane engine issues and that the automaker knew about the problems but concealed them from customers.

Related: Ram’s Twin-Turbo Six Beats the Legendary Hemi V8 in New Testing

Not The Only Hurricane Engine Complaints

While it’s difficult to gauge just how widespread Hurricane engine problems are, we did find a few customer complaints related to Ram 1500 and Jeep Wagoneer models experiencing stalling. These complaints were posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) site, but only a few customers specifically mentioned their vehicle having the Hurricane engine; some of these complaints may be related to V8-equipped models.

In our reliability analysis of the Ram 1500, the pickup had the lowest score among several full-size pickups. Consumer Reports gave it a dismal reliability score of 5 out of 100, with the publication noting that some Hurricane-equipped models have experienced melting catalytic converters and coolant leaking into the intake, leading to extensive engine failure. 

On the other hand, in this Reddit thread, quite a few owners reported that their Hurricane engines have been reliable so far. Many note that electrical gremlins are a more serious concern with Stellantis vehicles, not necessarily the i6’s mechanicals.

Related: Ram 1500 Tops A Brutal List Of New Pickup Reliability Losers

Autoblog’s Take

The Hurricane six-cylinder engine hasn’t been around for nearly as long as the classic Hemi V8, so it’s quite early to make a call regarding its long-term reliability. However, it’s clearly a more complex design than the old-school V8, so there are more potential pitfalls as the miles pile up. The Consumer Reports reliability rating for the Ram 1500 is very concerning, though, as are the Hurricane-specific engine failures. Given how widely this mill is used by Stellantis, the automaker would be wise to address any fundamental flaws now, rather than end up with the possibility of mass engine failures as these vehicles age.

Related: Jeep Vs. Ram Reliability: The Results Aren’t Pretty

During the 2026 model year, General Motors removed the Chevrolet Corvette’s fuel-filler door lock, which automatically locked and unlocked with the vehicle. Right off the bat, the change appeared to be a cost-cutting measure, but apparently, there’s more to it.

In a Q&A session at the 32nd National Corvette Museum Anniversary Celebration – via National Corvette Museum on YouTube – where details about the newer MY2027 Corvette were discussed, an audience member asked Corvette Chief Engineer Josh Holder about the decision. Holder said that omitting the mechanism made the vehicle lighter and improved induction airflow and NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness). It also reduced assembly time.

Not Much of a Lock, Apparently

The engineer didn’t go into full detail. However, he did mention the locking solenoid’s limited effectiveness, saying, “It made noise and locked, but it was easily defeatable.” The fuel door itself remains and opens with a push.

That may be simpler and allow others to easily open the gas door, but like most GM models, including the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the Corvette has a capless fuel filler rather than a traditional cap that can be twisted open. Its fuel system already makes siphoning fuel using a hose difficult. So even without the automatic fuel-door lock, opening the door does not provide easy access to the fuel inside the tank.

Holder also mentioned complaints about the now-removed mechanism making a popping noise, explaining part of the claimed NVH improvement. He told the audience, “You’re welcome that we got rid of it.”

However, despite the claims, particularly that the Corvette is lighter, omitting the locking system is unlikely to noticeably improve performance. Still, the Corvette is already an extremely capable vehicle that offers hypercar-beating performance at a comparatively accessible price, hence its reputation as a bargain supercar.

More Than a Missing Lock

With the change introduced during the 2026 model year, the latest MY2027 Corvette is expected to continue without the lock. But more importantly, the Corvette lineup now includes the returning Grand Sport and a new 6.7-liter LS6 naturally aspirated V8. The new mill powers the entry-level Stingray and Grand Sport, while the Grand Sport X – essentially the replacement for the E-Ray – pairs it with an electric motor to produce a combined output of 721 horsepower.

The 2027 Corvette starts at $71,000 for the Stingray, while the flagship ZR1X starts at $227,500, both excluding destination charges. The latter pairs a twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor for a combined 1,250 horsepower.

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The automotive industry and the broader mobility sector have had a tough 2026 after strong endings to 2025. It all started when oil prices surged after the Iran war broke out, and it has had seismic effects across the whole industry.

Beyond rising oil prices, car buyers now face another hurdle: new vehicle prices in the U.S. are reaching record highs.

Average New Car Prices Up, Discounts Down

According to a report by The Detroit Free Press, Kelly Blue Book just released data this past week that paints a bleak picture for new car buyers. The numbers show that in the U.S., new vehicle sales transactions averaged $50,089 in August, marking the first time it breached $50,000 this year; it is also 1.9% higher than a year ago.

Kelly Blue Book notes that to calculate the average price, they computed what a customer pays for a new car after accounting for the trade-in value. It does not include customer incentives offered by some automakers and dealerships. Speaking of dealerships, the average sticker price also climbed 2.2% year on year, to $51,852.

Another issue is that dealership incentives and discounts have also dropped. The same Kelley Blue Book numbers also show they offered fewer incentives last month. In August, average incentives amounted to just 6.5% of the total transaction price, down from last August’s 7.2%.

Expert Analysis

If you’re looking to buy a new car, don’t be disheartened just yet; there may still be hope of getting good deals, but you might have to wait a little longer before buying. Ray Shefska, co-founder of CarEdge, told the Detroit Free Press that he thinks new car price increases will continue until 2027, but he thinks automakers and dealers are waiting until the year ends to offer better sales incentives. He says this will help empty the 2026 inventory, so if you’re keen to get a new car, it’s best to wait until around December.

Driver assistance systems are one of the best things to happen to modern cars – to some extent, of course. Some of these systems are so sensitive, they engage as soon as you breathe near a lane marker. Others blast you with loud chimes and beeps, which, to be honest, can be more distracting than whatever they’re supposed to be saving you from.

Turns out, Mitsubishi is on the same page. With the all-new Pajero, the brand made it a mission not to repeat the Triton’s biggest sin – safety alerts that act like you’re about to drive off a cliff every five minutes. Rather than ditching the tech, Mitsubishi made it less in-your-face for daily driving.

Mitsubishi Says It Listened to Feedback

According to Australia’s Drive, Mitsubishi executives acknowledged that customer feedback from the Triton directly influenced how the Pajero’s driver assistance systems were tuned.

“I understand that those are the voices we got from the market when we launched Triton,” Pajero chief product specialist Kunitoshi Itagaki said. The Triton, of course, is the pickup truck that Pajero partly shares its platform with.

He explained that Mitsubishi went back to the drawing board for the Pajero’s driving experience, right down to the noises the safety systems make. Chief vehicle engineer Takaaki Matsumoto said the sensors are the same, but the brains behind them got smarter. Now, the Pajero decides when to bug you – and how – more thoughtfully.

“The sensor basically is common, but we modified the judgment criteria or the way of announcing the alert to the driver,” Matsumoto said.

A More Advanced Pajero Nears Its Showroom Debut

The new Pajero packs Mitsubishi’s latest driver assistance arsenal: Forward Collision Mitigation, Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Emergency Lane Assist, Front Cross Traffic Alert, MI-PILOT highway assist, and a whopping eight airbags. It’s also the first Mitsubishi to get a front center airbag.

The all-new Pajero is set to hit showrooms in several global markets starting early 2027, with Thailand and Australia first in line after the global reveal.

As for the US, Mitsubishi still hasn’t said if the Pajero or Montero nameplate is coming back. Execs have hinted that a hybrid Pajero could boost the odds of a Montero-sized SUV returning to America, but for now, there’s nothing official.

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Porsche’s struggle with EVs seems to be something the brand’s been dealing with recently. The Taycan is at the top of the automaker’s list of problems right now; it isn’t selling well. Rumors even suggested the car would be killed off after the brand announced a streamlined lineup.

Sales apparently isn’t the only issue; the Taycan’s EV battery and systems have drawn complaints and class action suits. One particular lawsuit, which Porsche wanted to quash, will continue.

Battery Woes

According to Car Complaints, a judge denied Porsche’s request to compel arbitration and refused to dismiss the entire class action lawsuit. This means the original class action suit is set to continue in court. The original suit was filed 2 years ago and alleged that the 800-volt battery used in the Taycan was prone to catching fire. Specifically, the suit included:

• 2020-2024 Porsche Taycan

• 2020-2024 Porsche Taycan 4S

• 2020-2024 Porsche Taycan Turbo S

• 2020-2024 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo

• 2020-2024 Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo

• 2020-2024 Porsche Taycan S Cross Turismo

• 2020-2024 Porsche Taycan GTS

• 2020-2024 Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo

• 2020-2024 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo

• 2020-2024 Porsche Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo

• 2020-2024 Porsche Taycan Turbo

Also, according to the report, there have already been three battery recalls trying to address the battery fire issue. However, this class action suit was filed after the recalls, alleging that the battery problem persisted despite them. The problem apparently stems from the Taycan’s high-voltage battery module, which can suffer from a short circuit that can cause a battery fire.

Disgruntled owners say Porsche should buy back the defective Taycans or replace all defective batteries with ones that don’t pose a fire risk. These owners also claim that their Taycans are worth much less now because of the issue. The worst part is that Porsche recommends charging these cars only to 80%, severely reducing the full driving range and forcing owners to charge more often. Batteries haven’t been the only issue plaguing the Taycan; reports also show Taycan owners suing the brand over overheating charging cables.

Motion Denied

Apparently, when you buy a Taycan, Porsche has you sign a valid binding arbitration agreement. The agreement says: “Purchaser understands that by entering into this arbitration agreement, purchaser gives up his or her right to have claims, disputes, or controversies decided in court. Further, Purchaser shall be barred from pursuing class action claims or class-wide arbitration claims.” 

Despite this clear agreement, the judge was still not convinced by Porsche and denied the request to honor the arbitration agreement and the request to dismiss the case entirely. Apparently, the judge dismissed some claims from some owners, but without prejudice, meaning these plaintiffs can refile.

For the last couple of years, Toyota has made some pretty epic performance cars. But as cool as these are, these aren’t the money-makers. And while passion projects are great, Toyota needs fatter profits to keep funding its operations, and yes, to finance the development of even more specialty models.

Kenta Kon, Toyota’s freshly appointed CEO, has a lot on his plate right now, and lowering costs is one of his primary goals. That’s a huge challenge given that we’ve been pretty spoiled with some properly good Toyotas lately. Sure, volume is there, but operating profits have dipped over the last two years. With rising competition from China in key markets, maximizing revenue is the way forward.

The Breakeven Volume Metric

Millions and millions of sales will amount to nothing if the company is barely making money. That’s not to say Toyota’s broke, and it’s further away from the truth. But Kon wants to nip the profit slide in the bud as early as possible. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, and the CEO’s planned cost-discipline measures will be key.

Speaking to Automotive News, Kon said, “We’re not thinking the lower the breakeven volume, the better. There will be a certain level that allows us to keep operating suppliers even in very difficult situations.” In other words, the cost-cutting exercises won’t just be putting in cheaper materials. Instead, it’s enhancing the value chain by streamlining costs where possible. After all, many jobs are on the line if Toyota decides to cut off one or several of its suppliers.

The publication reports that Toyota’s breakeven threshold has been rising over the past two years. With China offering tempting value propositions to consumers, the world’s biggest automaker doesn’t need to compete there right now.

Cutting Costs Where it Counts

Rest assured, your next Toyota will not come with a hard plastic interior or deleted features. Toyota wants to avoid that, because decontenting a car is very noticeable. Instead, it cuts costs in areas the customer doesn’t see but still gets the same benefits.

For instance, some seats use new materials, some components have fewer and simpler parts, and more. There’s also value-chain development, as well as faster development without sacrificing reliability. Obviously, it won’t be easy, but it will all depend on Kon’s direction and execution.

How the Financial Crisis Shaped Kon’s Career

Kon cites the 2009 Financial Crisis as his turning point toward greater financial discipline. After all, he was executive secretary to Akio Toyoda around that time, when they both witnessed the brand’s first-ever loss. Since then, Kon’s influence on cost management has shaped Toyota’s practices, and many of us probably haven’t realized it.

Having seen the effects of not being prepared for an earth-moving crisis, Kon doesn’t want that on his watch. Right now, the world is going through huge historical moments and shifts, both economically and geopolitically. It can’t be stressed enough: China is rocking the establishment, and Toyota knows it cannot afford to rest on its laurels.

Water that warm shifts the winter storm track, and the maps built on it are already out.

Forecasters Now Expect A Stronger El Niño This Season

The seasonal package running November through January tilts wet across the southern tier. Its strongest odds sit over parts of the Southeast, clearing 60 percent, with a thinner version of the same signal following the coast north. Most of that ground sees little snow in an ordinary winter, so a wet map and a snowy map are not the same document.

The temperature side of the package cuts against it, with above normal readings favored from the northern tier through much of the West, while the Southeast holds near normal rather than dropping below it. Dry odds concentrate over the northern Rockies and the northern High Plains and thin out toward the Great Lakes. See the temperature map here.

Where The Snow Signal Actually Sits

For an actual snow season, OpenSnow points at the Southwest and southern Rockies. California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and the southern and eastern reaches of Colorado all carry above normal odds, and the Central Sierra shows the cleanest signal of the group. A southern storm track feeds that pattern, pushing systems through ground high enough and cold enough to keep what lands on it. The strongest part of that signal sits late in the season, with a slow December and above normal snowfall favored from January through March, so the heaviest weeks land after the holiday travel period rather than during it.

Across the four strongest events ever measured, western snowpack finished anywhere from 73 percent of normal to 139 percent, a range wide enough to cover a very good winter and a very poor one under the same label. The Southwest, the core of the zone favored this year, is the only region that lands above average in all four.

Washington sits outside that group. Moisture there lands close to normal on air warm enough that the Cascades keep a smaller share of what reaches them.

What Super El Niño Means And Does Not Mean

The phrase never came from NOAA, which calls an event at this intensity very strong. Meteorologists reach for the shorthand once the ocean in the tracked stretch of the Pacific passes 2 degrees Celsius above normal, and this event is beyond 3.

A wetter forecast still has to arrive cold. Storms that come in warm drop rain, and at lower elevations out West most of them do. CPC attaches the same line to every update it publishes, that odds shift toward familiar El Niño outcomes without locking in a result anywhere in particular.

What It Means Behind The Wheel

Out West the hazard is a warm system crossing high terrain. Snow lands wet at pass level and hardens overnight into a film thin enough that a driver at highway speed has no visual cue it is there. Chains and a winter compound handle that surface. All wheel drive splits torque across four contact patches, which helps a car put power down and can steady it through a corner while the throttle is open. It adds nothing to braking, and the moment a driver lifts off, grip comes down to the tire alone.

Colorado has its version in statute, covering 126 miles of I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison from September 1 through May 31. All wheel and four wheel drive vehicles can satisfy the Traction Law on tires alone, at 3/16 inch of tread with a mountain snowflake, M+S or all weather rating. Two wheel drive vehicles get no tire option. Under SB25-069 they carry chains or an approved traction device the whole nine months, and better rubber does not substitute. Colorado State Patrol wrote 586 citations last season, 522 of them along the I-70 corridor.

The exposure across the Southeast is different. That region carries the wettest odds on the map at temperatures near freezing rather than below. Stack those two conditions and a storm arrives as freezing rain instead of snow. Most cars there roll on all season rubber, and those compounds stiffen around 45 degrees Fahrenheit, well above the point where water turns to ice. Tires also shed roughly 1 psi with every 10 degree drop, so a set filled in August is underinflated by Thanksgiving without looking any different.

The Tesla Roadster is basically the automotive world’s Bigfoot: everyone knows about it, but nobody’s actually seen it in the wild. Tesla first showed off the second-gen Roadster concept back in 2017, promising hypercar numbers, a range that would make gas stations obsolete, and a launch that would leave everything else in the dust. Since then, the launch date has been a moving target.

But now, Tesla has finally made it official. The company dropped a teaser on X, confirming the new Roadster will break cover on October 1. The image appears to be showing the rear of the car, shrouded in what looks suspiciously like a four-pronged rocket exhaust. The caption keeps it short and sweet: “Go for launch.”

Go for launch pic.twitter.com/Khu03eiZ04

— Tesla (@Tesla) September 12, 2026

Countdown Begins

Apart from the teaser image, Tesla also updated the Roadster’s official website with a live countdown timer, just in case anyone still believes this thing is real. The teaser image lines up with all the wild rumors about the SpaceX thruster package, showing off what look like four exhaust outlets tucked behind a full-width LED taillight.

Tesla hasn’t given us much more than the image and countdown, but that hasn’t stopped fans from going full detective mode. One X user cranked up the brightness and contrast, uncovering a hidden phrase above the rear deck: “WHERE WE’RE GOING.” It’s almost invisible in the original, but there it is, tucked into the artwork, just adding to the whole space-obsessed vibe.

Full of SpaceX References

According to Sawyer Merritt, the company has since begun sending invitations to Roadster reservation holders confirming the reveal will take place in Waco, Texas, roughly 90 minutes north of Tesla’s Austin headquarters. The invitation says the event starts at 8:30 p.m. ET on October 1, requires RSVPs by September 16, and is limited to guests who are at least 21 years old.

Of note, Waco also happens to be right next to SpaceX’s McGregor rocket testing site, which has already been tied to Roadster cold-gas thruster demos in the past.

The teaser looks more like a car on a launch pad than anything you’d see at a normal reveal, hammering home Musk’s years-long promise that the Roadster would borrow some rocket science from SpaceX.

Invites for the next-gen @Tesla Roadster unveiling have officially been sent to reservation holders!

The event will take place in Waco, Texas, about 1.5 hours north of Austin, on October 1st. This is going to be epic! pic.twitter.com/N1AGSzn12i

— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) September 12, 2026

What to Expect

The October 1 event should finally answer the question that’s haunted the Roadster for years: are those SpaceX thrusters actually happening, or is it just more hype?

Musk has been talking about the optional cold-gas thruster package since 2018, claiming it could cut the Roadster’s 0-60 mph time to around 1.1 seconds using compressed-air rockets mounted around the car. The teaser image seems to lean into that idea, showing four apparent thruster outlets at the rear.

We’re also expecting Tesla to finally spill the beans on when production will actually start, and whether all those wild promises are still on the table: 620 miles of range, a top speed north of 250 mph, and a $200,000 starting price. Tesla’s engineering boss Lars Moravy has said the Roadster will be built at Gigafactory Texas, with production now aimed at 2027 or 2028.

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The Real Reason Isn’t Politics — It’s $6 Diesel

Gas prices have surged largely because of the ongoing war with Iran, and the numbers are brutal: one analysis puts the extra annual fuel cost for a gas-vehicle owner at over $700, based on a roughly 50 percent jump in prices since the conflict began, with diesel now running past $6 a gallon in parts of the country. That’s the actual mechanism behind this Here Technologies and SBD Automotive survey number — not a shift in climate politics, not a new ad campaign, just drivers watching their fuel bill and doing the arithmetic on what an EV would save them.

The Old Excuses Are Disappearing Too

Charging anxiety, long the go-to reason to avoid an EV, is fading fast in this same survey: 47 percent of respondents now say there’s a reasonable number of public chargers available, nearly double the 28 percent who said so in 2025. Among people who already own an EV, 85 percent say the infrastructure is adequate — which tracks with how the used EV market has been setting sales records even as new EV sales cratered more than 20 percent this year without the tax credit propping up sticker prices.

There’s Still One Wall Buyers Keep Hitting

Price remains the real holdout, with two in five surveyed drivers still calling EVs too expensive — the exact gap Ford and Slate are racing to close with sub-$30,000 electric trucks aimed at buyers who’d otherwise never consider going electric. It’s also why Toyota’s EV sales jumped 136 percent this year on the strength of models priced under $30,000, even while the rest of the new EV market struggled. Once people actually buy in, the loyalty numbers are striking too: 77 percent of current EV owners say they’d likely replace their EV with another one.

Whether this survey number turns into actual sales is the real test. Sentiment and purchasing behavior have diverged before, and a big chunk of the interest driving this figure is tied directly to how long gas prices stay this painful. But for an industry that’s spent all year absorbing bad news, a majority of American drivers saying “actually, maybe” is not nothing.

Most of GM’s success comes from sales of the auto giant’s full-size pickups: the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. These two trucks compete in one of the biggest segments in the U.S. and are known as tough, dependable mobility options for work and play. Alas, modern mobility strikes again, as technology falls short in this particular case.

An issue has come up with the Silverado and Sierra, and what seems like a minor issue at first actually has bigger implications once you understand it fully.

Brake System Warning Issue

GM Authority reports that select 2024 Silverado and Sierra models have a problem with the brake system malfunction indicator light. GM issued a recall explaining the issue, which stems from a faulty Brake System Control Module (BSCM). Apparently, the module that was installed in the affected trucks doesn’t set a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) or turn on the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) when the system detects a fault.

Another issue is that it may also affect the vehicle’s emission control system. This matters because, if the car has a faulty brake system the driver isn’t aware of, it could affect drivability and pose a safety risk to passengers and other motorists. GM says that the fix is relatively easy; dealerships and technicians just need to reprogram the Brake System Control Module, which will take 30 minutes to complete.

The Finer Points

The recall affects the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and the 2024 GMC Sierra 1500. GM also says that vehicles that still sit in lots and remain unsold must have the fix performed before selling the trucks to customers. Surprisingly, the recall doesn’t specify how many trucks are affected. Owners who may own an affected vehicle should check official GM channels for a proper diagnosis.

Since the Trump administration imposed tariffs on Canadian goods last year, Stellantis’ Brampton plant in Ontario has faced an uncertain future, leaving its workers laid off. The factory was being retooled in 2023 to produce the next-gen Jeep Compass, but the tariffs complicated the business case.

After a long period of uncertainty over the assembly plant’s future, Stellantis may have found a path forward. According to Bloomberg, the automaker has signed a memorandum of understanding with armored-vehicle manufacturer Roshel, which plans to establish a defense-manufacturing center at the site. That also means the plant’s return as a Jeep factory is looking less likely.

What Could’ve Been

Building Jeeps in Canada would have given Stellantis a stronger and more diversified manufacturing footprint in North America, catering to Canadian and U.S. buyers. It could have better served regional demand and limited disruption if a factory, supplier network, or labor situation ran into trouble. Instead, production of the long-overdue next-gen Compass has been moved to the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois, where it will be built alongside the Cherokee.

Under the MOU with Roshel, the company says it is prepared to give laid-off Unifor workers first consideration for jobs at the plant as early as 2026.

Previously, Stellantis was reportedly in talks with Chinese partner Leapmotor to assemble vehicles from knock-down kits at the Brampton plant. Unifor pushed back on the idea, arguing that the vehicles would largely be assembled in China and completed in Canada, limiting labor requirements and creating fewer jobs. BYD was another Chinese automaker reportedly considering the plant as a site to build electric buses.

On To The Next

It is worth noting, however, that the agreement is only an MOU, meaning the potential sale has not been finalized.

Still, Stellantis may start to shift its focus elsewhere. The company has launched a new program called FaSTLAne 2030, a five-year, €60 billion (about $69 billion at current exchange rates) strategic plan aimed at improving profitability. Jeep and Ram are among the company’s priority brands for future investment. The Wrangler maker is currently Stellantis’ leading brand in North American sales, but the new strategic plan would put it behind Ram, with a North American sales target of 740,000 units in 2030 versus the truck brand’s target of 825,000 units.

If you’ve ever seen a Pagani Zonda in real life, that’s already a sight to behold. Most of us would be lucky to see one in person, let alone a production model. However, one guy was lucky enough to spot the one and only Pagani Zonda Kunlun in the world in Hong Kong.

This elusive model isn’t just rare; it is also almost never seen in public. The only other documented appearance was at a track day in Zhuhai, and we can thank @1130.spots on Instagram for logging this public sighting.

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Inspired by the Mountains

The one and only Zonda Kunlun started life as a Zonda S 7.3, chassis 76027. Before becoming the one-off it is today, it was first sold to an owner in Germany in 2002. Breaking down the chassis code, it’s the 760 series of Zondas, production number 27. Over the years, it passed through several owners before it was sent back to Pagani to be decommissioned and rebuilt, while still carrying the same chassis code.

Pagani’s Unico program then remade the car into the edition that it is today. The current owner bought the car in 2023 and got it into the Unico program. It went back to Pagani in 2024, where it was rebuilt into the car that it is today. It was completed in 2025 and reborn from the ground up, from the chassis to every single weave of carbon on its body.

The current owner is from Hong Kong, and The Supercar Blog says it last appeared in public during a track day in Zhuhai. The latest public sighting of this rare, one-of-a-kind model was at a shop in Hong Kong, where it was washed before being loaded onto a flatbed to head back to the SSS collection in China.

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A Pagani, Through and Through

The Zonda will go down in history as one of the most iconic designs in modern car history. It has come in many editions over the years, either on completely new chassis or reborn as one-off models. The Pagani Unico program didn’t disappoint with the Kunlun, not that Pagani has ever disappointed its fans.

Hailing from 2002, this car underwent a lot of work to become a modern Zonda. The chassis was also completely redone, and the body reworked with Pagani’s modern mastery of carbon fiber. The two-level spoiler is what gets me, and I’d want to see the blue paint in person if it ever makes another public appearance.

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How The Hands-Free Car Camera Would Work 

The system, as described in USPTO 2026/0261754 A1, “Systems and Methods for Capturing Driver-Relevant Road Scene Information”, pairs an internal camera aimed at the driver’s head and eyes with one or more external cameras. Look toward something outside, say “take a picture of that billboard” or press a button on the steering wheel, and the onboard computer works out your line of sight and points the exterior camera accordingly. It then saves the photo not to the car itself, but to a separate mobile device, so you can flip through your haul of impulsive roadside snapshots once you’ve actually parked.

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Toyota’s filing describes the system linking up with your phone’s health records and browsing history to decide what’s worth photographing. Doctor told you to walk more? It quietly maps where pedestrians tend to gather along your route.

Simple enough, and honestly overdue given how often people already do this badly with a phone wedged against the wheel. The patent also outlines standing instructions as another trigger, with Toyota’s suggestion “If you see any classic cars around me, please take a picture,” actually sounds like it could help prevent accidents while you’re rubbernecking to get a picture of a nice car. 

Why Bother Building This At All

Distraction remains one of the dumbest, most preventable causes of crashes on the road, and phones are usually the culprit. People will always want to capture a good view mid-drive, patents or not, so Toyota’s logic seems to be that if drivers are going to do it anyway, the car might as well handle the technical bit. Keep hands on the wheel, eyes mostly on the road, and let the machine sort out framing and focus. It’s less a party trick and more damage control for a habit nobody’s going to quit.

Our Thoughts 

Automakers file dozens of patents every year that never make it anywhere near an actual production line. This one reads more like an engineering thought experiment than a confirmed feature list item, and there’s no word on which Toyota model, if any, might eventually get it. Still, it’s a neat little glimpse into how seriously carmakers are thinking about the small, everyday distractions that add up on a long drive. Whether this particular idea survives through to production is another thing altogether. 

In the U.S., Volkswagen’s all-electric models are limited to the ID.4 and the ID. Buzz, with production of the former ending after the 2026 model year. Elsewhere, especially in Europe, VW’s EV lineup is alive and well, with a new wave of mass-market models on the way. However, one of its most intriguing electric cars may be on the way, and it could raise the stakes.

In a social media post, Volkswagen teased a new concept under its Mission Efficiency project. As the name suggests, the vehicle – expected to feature an all-electric powertrain – could boast competitive efficiency numbers that help increase range. The teaser showed the vehicle being tested in a wind tunnel, with what appears to be a coupe-like body and a teardrop roofline. It is described as a near-production concept largely based on production technology.

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An EV Shaped by the Wind

If Mission Efficiency delivers a sufficiently low drag coefficient, it could join the conversation with some of the most aerodynamic production EVs, including the Lucid Air at 0.197 Cd. The Yangwang U7 has a claimed drag coefficient of 0.195 Cd, but excluding Chinese EVs that are essentially non-existent in the U.S., other notable examples include the Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan at 0.20 Cd and the now-discontinued Tesla Model S, which achieved 0.208 Cd.

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 proves that even mass-market EVs can join the list, with a drag coefficient as low as 0.21 Cd.

Mission Efficiency also appears to feature aerodynamic wheel covers and a contemporary design with full-width front and rear lighting. Beyond the teaser, Volkswagen has remained largely tight-lipped about its specifications. The German marque wrote in the post, “When engineers obsess over every detail, something special happens. Coming soon!”

The Details Are Still in the Tunnel

Because it is a concept car, a series-production version is not guaranteed. However, it could inspire a future aerodynamic coupe EV, especially if the market responds well to the concept. For now, Volkswagen plans to release more details on September 14.

If this enters production and becomes an enthusiast favorite, it would join other exciting EV offerings, including GTX-badged models and the ID. Polo GTI, the brand’s first all-electric hot hatch. Those models have not been announced for the U.S. Instead, the automaker has said it plans a future version of the ID.4, widely expected to adopt the ID. Tiguan name, although the launch timing remains unconfirmed.

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On September 11, 2026, President Donald Trump went on record saying he’d “be okay with” Chinese brands coming into the United States to build cars, provided they opened a manufacturing plant and hired U.S. workers.

President Trump made his stance clear in an interview, saying he would not oppose Chinese automakers building cars in the United States. While it’s one thing to hear it from the man himself, the U.S. auto industry has, thus far, opposed the entry of Chinese brands in the country. Opponents include American automakers and lawmakers.

“The big thing is they hire our people.”

Reuters reported Trump’s statement from an interview on the Fox News program, “The Ingraham Angle.” Therein, the President stated: “If China wanted to come in and open a plant to build their cars here, I’d be okay with that.”

In this interview, he also brought up other practices done by other countries to get access and a strategic advantage in the United States. “Japan does it, but they hire our people. The big thing is they hire our people,” he continued.

President Trump also did not want Chinese automakers to build cars in neighboring countries, like Mexico and Canada, and ship them to the United States. “I’m not knocking Chinese cars,” he said.

“A Strategic Mistake”

While Trump makes his statements, automakers and lawmakers are urging him not to push through the decision. The President of the United States is set to meet with President Xi Jinping in Washington in the coming weeks. During this time, U.S. automakers are urging Trump not to allow Chinese automakers access to the U.S. market.

U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, stated that there were “rumors that Trump is planning to allow Chinese cars to be sold in the U.S. as part of a larger deal he is putting together. That would be a strategic mistake.” President Trump has since denied this statement and called it a “total phony rumor,” and stated that he has kept Chinese vehicles out of the United States thus far.

While President Trump appears “okay” with Chinese brands coming into the United States and setting up shop, the American auto industry still remains adamant. According to Reuters, “last week, a group representing nearly all major automakers urged Congress to quickly pass legislation permanently barring Chinese vehicles from the U.S. market.” The group is also known as the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and represents brands like General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Honda, Stellantis, and more. These brands hope to pass the bill by the end of the year, in December 2026.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation’s CEO, John Bozzella, said in a letter: “Right now, Chinese automakers are dumping subsidized vehicles with connected software and hardware around the world.”

While many legendary movie cars have been built in real life over the years, the outlandish Mad Max cars somehow never shared the same fate. But that has just changed as Mad Max Factory, a company that has the blessing of Mad Max creator George Miller and producer Doug Mitchell, has unveiled the first officially licensed Mad Max vehicles.

These Mad Max Vehicle Recreations Look And Feel Exactly Like The Movie Cars

Built in Australia, the Mad Max vehicle recreations are part of a limited inaugural collection of only 25 units created for serious collectors and fans.

Mad Max Factory says the vehicles are “engineered to preserve the raw mechanical language that defined Mad Max for more than four decades: steel, noise, fuel, aggression, and survival.”

That sounds great, especially since the creators say the vehicles will be “film perfect” and not a “soft, polished, digital idea of performance.” Mad Max Factory says the vehicles will feel as though they belong in a world where “guzzoline,” Aqua Cola, and post-apocalyptic reliability matter more than comfort.

Looking at the first images of the cars posted on Mad Max Factory’s website, it certainly looks like it. Each build will stay faithful to the original movie car it recreates, preserving the physicality and visual intensity that made the Mad Max vehicles so memorable.

Twenty Models From Four Mad Max Films

Customers will be able to choose their favorite Mad Max car from a selection of 20 models—six from Mad Max 1, three from Mad Max 2, eight from Mad Max: Fury Road and three from Furiosa; A Mad Max Saga. The list of vehicles obviously includes the legendary Pursuit Special Interceptor that Max Rockatansky drove in Mad Max 1.

Based on a 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT coupe, the Pursuit Special Interceptor, also known as the “Black on Black” Interceptor. In the movie, the vehicle was specifically modified for high-speed pursuits on Australia’s crumbling highway system. According to Mad Max Factory, the Pursuit Special symbolizes both law enforcement’s last stand and Max Rockatansky’s descent into vengeance. 

The real-life version costs AUD395,000 ($283,000), which is a lot of dough but includes everything from the sourcing of an authentic 1973 Ford XB Falcon GT hardtop in suitable condition, chassis and body restoration, custom bodywork, paint and finishing, powertrain build, interior and electrical work, and authentication and delivery.

The total build time for a Mad Max recreation car is estimated at 6-18 months, depending on specification.

The Cheapest Ones Cost $140,000

The Pursuit Special is the most expensive of the bunch, and the rest of the lineup is not much cheaper. The lowest priced models—AUD195,000 or $140,000—are the VW Rod, Prince Valiant, Dodge Charger, Cranky Frank and V12 Elvis (all from Fury Road), and Furiosa’s V8 Pursuit.

“These vehicles were never meant to feel polished or soft. They were built to feel functional, brutal, and real, and that’s exactly what we wanted to preserve,” said Giuseppe Cassin, Director of Film & Strategic Partnerships for Mad Max Factory.

And for customers who have a particular vision of what a Mad Max vehicle should look like, the builders are open to custom modifications and personal touches. Mind you, some modifications may render the vehicles ineligible for road use, so that’s an important thing to consider.

Generally, Mad Max Factory says its possible to register the vehicles for road use, although that depends on local regulations in the customer’s home country.

A Truck That’s Been “Almost Ready” Since 2023

Ram first unveiled this truck as the all-electric 1500 REV at CES 2023, targeting a late-2024 launch. That slipped to early 2025, then Stellantis canceled the battery-electric version entirely in September 2025, citing weak demand for full-size electric trucks, reassigning the REV name to what had been a separate range-extended model called the Ramcharger. That version was targeting a 2026 launch as recently as this summer, with Autoblog still reporting “potential production delays” as an open risk even before this latest slip. It’s now mid-April 2027 — over three years after the nameplate’s original unveiling, and still without confirmed pricing or EPA figures. The Grand Wagoneer EREV, sharing the same 400-volt architecture and Pentastar generator setup, has moved on a similar track.

The Blitz Itself Is Real, Even If The Timeline Isn’t

None of this means Stellantis’s broader FaSTLAne 2030 plan is empty. The company has already locked in real product commitments across its brands — a revived Dakota and Rampage for Ram, three new Chrysler crossovers, a Jeep Cherokee successor built on the new STLA One platform — backed by $70 billion in committed investment. The plan’s credibility was never really about whether Stellantis would announce new vehicles; automakers announce vehicles constantly. It’s about whether the company can actually hit dates on the complex, technically ambitious ones, and the REV trucks are the most complex, most technically ambitious products in the entire portfolio right now.

Why This Specific Delay Matters More Than Most

Stellantis is betting its EREV architecture — a big battery paired with a gas generator rather than a direct-drive engine — as the answer for large trucks and SUVs where pure batteries struggle with towing and range, a strategy other automakers are reportedly watching closely as they weigh their own range-extended plans. If that bet works, it could apply to a much wider slice of the 60-vehicle pipeline still to come. If a relatively contained two-truck launch keeps slipping years past its original date, it’s a reasonable question whether the more ambitious parts of the plan — a Jeep-Tata global SUV, an all-new Alfa Romeo halo car, Chrysler’s full EV transition — will hit their own dates any more reliably.

Jeep is known for offering a versatile lineup centered around rugged off-road mobility. The Compass suits daily driving, the Grand Wagoneer serves families that need space, and, of course, the iconic Wrangler. Before that, the American marque’s roots lay in military vehicles, with then-Willys-Overland supplying the Willys MB to the U.S. Army during World War II.

Despite evolving into what it is today, Jeep still prides itself on its past, as shown by the Wrangler retaining design cues from the original Willys CJ-2A, the brand’s first civilian vehicle. But for the latest release in its yearlong Twelve 4 Twelve series, the automaker is making that connection more explicit by introducing the 2027 Wrangler JL-2A, a special-edition Rubicon-based model honoring the 1945 Willys CJ-2A.

The Wrangler JL-2A marks the 11th installment of the series, following the Smoky Mountain Edition, inspired by the natural landscape and the massive Jeep enthusiast community of the Great Smoky Mountains. The latest iteration mostly features cosmetic changes inside and out, which the automaker says cost just $115 more than a similarly equipped Rubicon.

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Retro Details On a Modern Wrangler

Exterior-wise, the Wrangler JL-2A notably features 17-inch Joose-painted retro wheels, a nod to the original Sunset Red wheels. The wheels are wrapped in 33-inch BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires and complemented by front and rear orange tow hooks. Jeep highlights the two-door model in sandy beige Gobi, inspired by the original’s Harvest Tan finish, and the four-door in military-inspired ’41 green. Other color options include Bright White, Sting Gray, Ghost, and Joose.

Inside, the cabin comes with a first-ever Wrangler interior color and material combination, including Nappa Heritage Tan leather seats; Bison Brown door panels, lower instrument panel, and center console; and Desert Orange accent stitching. It also features heritage-inspired HVAC vent graphics with the iconic seven-slot grille and a Willys silhouette.

The new package also includes body-color fender flares and a three-piece hardtop, Dark Metallic Grey grille accents, an exclusive rear swing-gate plaque, a Willys-Overland satin-chrome shifter medallion, a standard front TrailCam with an integrated washer, and the standard Convenience Group with remote start, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a universal garage door opener.

No powertrain changes are mentioned, so it’s safe to assume the Wrangler Rubicon’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 will likely remain, producing 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.

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The Cost of Going Retro

Jeep offers the Wrangler JL-2A package for $4,995, with orders opening in October. That month is also scheduled to bring the final installment of the Twelve 4 Twelve series, launched to celebrate the brand’s 85th anniversary.

The JL-2A joins other Twelve 4 Twelve series models, including the inaugural Moab 392, Whitecap, 85th Anniversary Edition, Willys 392, Rockslide, Rewind, America250 Edition, Sarge, Laredo, and the aforementioned Smoky Mountain.

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You know what we feel about the Ferrari Luce, but allow me to give you the gist: We don’t like it. Trying to soften the blow, phrases like “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” “we don’t get it,” and “wait-list ticket” were thrown around the office.

In any case, it just doesn’t hit the right notes, especially since it’s a Ferrari. However, that hasn’t stopped aftermarket brands from trying to make it better, which is a smart move. Considering that people still bought the Luce even after its PR nightmare of a launch means that there are clients.

Vossen and Karanadivi have joined forces in a post, featuring Vossen’s G2-13T wheels and Karanadivi’s rendering prowess, which lowers and adds a few bits and pieces to the Luce to try to make it look better.

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Lowered on New Wheels

Vossen is a brand that’s known for high-end forged wheels with fitment options for hyper-, super-, and luxury cars and more. Is this what the doctor ordered? Is the Luce problem finally solved? Well, I’ll let you be the ultimate judge of that.

The Vossen G2-13T wheel takes inspiration from the legendary rally designs of the past, but does it with modern materials and techniques. Vossen touts that it’s the “next evolution of Duoblock,” which is essentially a two-piece wheel in forged aluminum with custom configurations and sizes available, from 18s all the way to 22s. The G2 series was launched late in August this year, and now it has been rendered on a Luce.

Honestly, the wheels do help. Aerodisc designs like these are often odd to begin with, and they seem to suit odd cars like the Luce. The bulky design tends to complement the visual weight of the Luce, and so too does the lowered stance.

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Body Kit and Spoiler?

While you can buy the wheels in real life, the kit is a rendering. The full rendered body kit includes a front lip, side skirts, and rear diffuser that helps the Luce look a lot better. Tack on the spoiler, and maybe you can even say this is “good.” CGI artist Karanadivi rendered this for Vossen, and on its side, it doesn’t look half bad.

Maybe if the Luce didn’t have so much junk in the trunk, it would actually look like a Ferrari. Still, the brand met its sales targets for the Luce anyway, so it’s working, I guess. In any case, Luce owners will have a whole library of aftermarket brands to pull from if they ever want to make their Luce look (better) different.

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Over 25 years ago, BMW launched the X5. While it wasn’t the first luxury crossover, it pioneered its class, and it’s still going strong today. If anything, it’s stronger than ever, as it’s one of the top-selling BMW models in the world, and it’s even managed to outsell the X3 in the U.S so far this year.

Now, we all know this is the final year for the current G05 generation, but it’s still a great choice despite its upcoming retirement. As the next-generation model prepares to reach dealers, there are no updates for this outgoing model.

Attractive Leases This Month

So far, the X5’s lease deals have been pretty steady, which is good news for those who missed previous offers. Of course, prices will differ by area, but overall movement has been minimal. To kick things off, the sDrive40i is $839 for 39 months with $6,819 due at signing, followed by the all-wheel-drive xDrive40i at $869 per month with $6,929 due at signing.

For the xDrive50e plug-in hybrid, it’s $899 per month with $7,149 due at signing. The M60i can be leased for $1,129 per month with $8,679 due at signing. Loyalty bonuses may be applied for those who qualify, and that’s credit worth $2,000. Total mileage is limited to 32,500, with a penalty of $0.25 per mile over. These offers are valid until September 30, 2026.

What You Get from the 2026 BMW X5

The 2026 BMW X5 has base prices ranging from $68,300 to $93,600, with four trims to choose from. These trims are sDrive40i, xDrive40i, xDrive50e, and M60i, although you’ll have to get used to the ‘i’-less designations coming on the all-new model.

With no changes to report for the 2026 model year, we’ll cover what the outgoing model offers. All come standard with Active Driving Assist, Active Protection, front seat heaters, panoramic sunroof, and power-adjustable steering column. For option packages, the Premium Package adds a Harman/Kardon audio system, remote engine start, and a head-up display. Go for the Executive Package for soft-close doors, glass controls, and the Panoramic Sky sunroof. M Sport packages are available for the 40i and 50e models, and standard on the M60i.

40i-badged X5s use the very familiar 3.0-liter inline-six turbo with 375 hp, while the xDrive50e plug-in hybrid pairs that same turbo-six to an electric motor to push out 483 hp. For those looking for V8 power in an X5 without going for the full M model, the M60i’s 4.4-liter mill makes 523 hp.

Final Thoughts

Even though it’s bowing out in a few months, the fourth-generation BMW X5 still has a lot to offer. It’s a class leader for a reason, blending comfort, dynamics, and practicality in a hugely appealing package. We can say we’ll miss this model, which is all the more reason to get one before stock runs out. The next-gen model has a lot to live up to, as this iteration of the popular SUV was simply that polished.

The car industry has come a long way in bringing autonomous driving to the public. Waymo is one of the best examples with its fully autonomous robotaxi business, a market Tesla is also competing in with the Cybercab. However, General Motors has ambitions beyond robotaxis, aiming to become a leader in autonomous driving for retail customers.

In a press release, GM said it plans to introduce its first eyes-off driving system in 2028, starting with the Cadillac Escalade IQ. As the name suggests, it would let drivers take their eyes off the road under compatible conditions, something SAE Level 2 driver-assistance systems like Ford’s BlueCruise do not allow. To make that ambition possible, the system will draw on lessons from Super Cruise and the brand’s former autonomous ride-hailing business, Cruise.

The Trust Factor

Super Cruise offers hands-free driving in equipped GM vehicles, allowing drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel on compatible roads while remaining attentive. Earlier this year, customers surpassed 1 billion cumulative hands-free miles, a milestone the automaker says reflects customers’ trust in the technology. Building that trust is a priority for John Kaychi, GM’s senior group product manager for automated driving, as he works on the upcoming eyes-off system.

Although GM announced in December 2024 that it would stop funding Cruise’s robotaxi development following safety issues, the program’s expertise is still being used to improve automated driving technologies, particularly in AI development and complex testing.

Beyond those foundations, development also relies on three data sources: telemetry from production vehicles, high-precision data from development fleets, and simulated environments designed to cover rare edge cases. However, GM stressed that retail vehicle data is collected “with safeguards designed to protect customer privacy” – an assurance that carries some irony given that the company has faced a lawsuit alleging it collected and sold drivers’ data without their knowledge or consent.

GM’s Next Big Swing

Nevertheless, pursuing such a venture, given the risks of letting software take the wheel, remains a bold and notable move. Kaychi, who formerly worked at Zoox, believes the retail market is ready. He said, “True autonomy isn’t here yet, but GM is uniquely positioned to lead this next chapter, bringing automated driving to customers at scale.”

Other automakers are also developing eyes-off capabilities, including Rivian, whose R1S competes against Cadillac Escalade IQ. Rivian is targeting eyes-off driving in 2027 and Level 4 robotaxis in 2028, the latter through a partnership with Uber.

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Ford has issued about 71 recalls so far this year, from minor defects like loose window trim on the Mustang Mach-E to significant ones like transmission leaks that can cause fires in the Focus and Fusion. That is currently the highest total among automakers in NHTSA’s database, though the Blue Oval has maintained that its high recall count reflects a proactive approach to addressing problems earlier. The latest recall involves a faulty wireless seatbelt reminder system that can mislead drivers about rear passengers’ seatbelt use and pose a safety risk.

That’s because if a rear passenger is unbuckled, the system may incorrectly show that their seatbelt is buckled. This could leave the driver unaware that a passenger needs a reminder to buckle up. In a crash, an unbelted passenger may not be adequately restrained, increasing the risk of injury. NHTSA recall number 26V579 covers 1,945 model-year 2026–2027 Ford Transits equipped with the Bus package and produced between February 16 and July 19, 2026.

The Rear Seats Sent the Wrong Message

According to the recall report, a supplier’s end-of-line test command overlapped with the wireless seatbelt reminder system’s polling signal during manufacturing, causing a permanent error state. Normally, the instrument panel cluster should display a “green” seat when buckled, “red” when recently unbuckled, and “gray” when unbuckled. The Transit is available in various seating configurations, similar to the Chevrolet Express, so adopting a wireless seatbelt reminder could help simplify wiring requirements.

Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field service action on September 1, 2026. As of August 17, the company was aware of two field reports related to the issue. However, no accidents or injuries have been reported.

As part of the remedy, affected owners will be instructed to bring their vans to a Ford or Lincoln dealer for a rear seatbelt inspection. If the buckle status does not update when buckling or unbuckling, the wireless seatbelt buckle will be replaced free of charge.

The Fix-It Era Continues

Ford plans to mail interim notification letters from September 21 to September 25, 2026, with remedy notification letters scheduled for December 31.

On paper, this may be another recall that could affect Ford’s reputation for quality, but company executives have said they are still pleased with its progress. After all, the automaker topped the mass-market category in J.D. Power’s 2026 Initial Quality Study – a study in which it ranked 23rd three years earlier.

After more than two decades in hibernation, Honda finally dusted off the Prelude badge last year and brought it roaring back to life. The new-gen coupe landed with slick fastback lines, two doors, and a 2.0-liter hybrid setup that leans more toward grand touring.

It didn’t take Honda long to up the ante. Barely a year after the Prelude’s return, they’ve already rolled out a more exclusive version. The 2027 Prelude Limited Edition broke cover a few months back, but now we’ve got live press shots showing the coupe in the flesh for the first time. If you thought the studio pics looked sharp, these real-world snaps make the new color combo look even more irresistible.

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A Bordeaux Theme Inside And Out

Under the spotlight is the new Premium Crystal Garnet Metallic paint. Catch it in the right light, and it flips between deep wine red and lush burgundy, instantly giving the Prelude a class-above vibe. Paired with the coupe’s low-slung roof, razor-thin lights, and blacked-out trim, this is easily the boldest look Honda has given the new Prelude yet.

But Honda didn’t just stop at the paint. Step inside and the red theme takes over, making the Limited Edition’s cabin feel way more upscale than the standard Prelude’s.

The dashboard is dressed in Bordeaux suede-like trim, complete with an embroidered Prelude script for good measure. The same rich color pops up on the seats, center console, and door panels. Honda even swapped out the standard blue stitching for red, pulling the whole look together without tipping into gaudy territory.

Outside, the coupe still rocks its mean-looking 19-inch black alloys, but now those bright red Brembo calipers really pop against the darker paint. Honda ditched the usual blue exterior accents for matching red ones, just to make sure nothing clashes.

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Same Hybrid Coupe, Just A Little More Exclusive

Under all that fresh paint and fancy trim, the Prelude Limited Edition is the same car underneath. You still get Honda’s 2.0-liter hybrid setup with 200 horsepower, sending power to the front wheels through the S+ Shift system that fakes gear changes for a bit more fun. No extra power, no trick suspension, no secret performance goodies – just a sharper suit.

In Japan, the 2027 Prelude Limited Edition stickers at ¥6,306,300 (about $39,150). That’s just ¥126,500 (roughly $785) over the standard car – a small price to pay for all the extra style points.

Honda hasn’t said a word about bringing this version outside Japan yet. For now, the Garnet Metallic Prelude is a Japan-only treat, but after seeing these photos, we hope the automaker sends this limited edition to overseas markets, including the US.

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When you think Ford, you immediately think of Michigan as its home state and birthplace. You aren’t wrong, but assuming Michigan facilities are the most important and highest revenue-generating is a mistake. Ford’s highest-revenue plant is actually located farther away, in the southeastern United States, in Kentucky.

The Louisville plant is about to receive a fresh capital investment from Ford to meet more modern car-building standards.

Kentucky’s Importance

Ford just announced it is investing a whopping $1 billion in the Louisville, Kentucky plant. This investment will give the truck-building facility a new state-of-the-art paint shop, which Ford says is another way the brand is modernizing one of its most important manufacturing plants. Ford expects to break ground on the new paint shop sometime this year.

Kentucky’s importance to the Ford brand is further highlighted by its recent $2 billion investment in the same plant to retool it for the new EV pickup production line. Ford also invested $2 billion in Glendale, where Ford Energy Systems will build the battery energy storage systems. The Kentucky plant is Ford’s largest and most profitable; in fact, a new vehicle rolls off the production line every 45 seconds.

Impacting the People

A 2020 study by the Boston Consulting Group found that Ford contributes $11.7 billion annually to Kentucky’s GDP, and nearly 120,000 people in Kentucky are employed by Ford and its suppliers and dealers. Another 2023 report showed that the automaker has a $33 billion total economic impact on the state. In total, the Kentucky plant employs 11,500 skilled workers who help keep it one of the top manufacturing centers in the U.S.

Ford’s history in Louisville dates back to 1913, when the first Model T rolled off the production line. Over 6,000 Ford retirees are also Kentucky natives.

With today’s personal mobility standards, it’s rare to see models stay the same as they were before. In some cases, the original recipe hits the market so well that the automaker keeps selling it without major changes, lest they lose the buyers they’ve captured over the years.

That’s the case for the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana, the utility workhorse van that has stayed the same for over 32 years. While competitors have remodeled and modernized over the years, the Savana has stayed virtually the same. Until recently, it was bare-bones, and GM addressed that by adding a touch-screen infotainment system for the 2027 model year.

Variants and Options

The Savana might be simple by default, but you can actually configure it to your specific needs. First, it comes in 2 variants: Cargo and Passenger; the former is available as a 2500 or 3500 with a regular or extended wheelbase. For the Passenger body, you can get a 2500, 3500, or 3500 Extended variant. There are also 2 main trim levels: the LS and LT.

The standard engine is a workhorse 4.3-liter V6 that makes 276 hp and 298 lb-ft of torque, or you can opt for the $1,895 option: a 6.6-liter V8 that puts out 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque, with a maximum towing capacity of 10,000 lbs. Both engine types use the same GM 8-speed automatic transmission.

The Price

The 2027 GMC Savana Cargo starts at $45,095 and includes a $2,395 destination charge, which is $500 up from the outgoing model. The top-spec Cargo, meanwhile, costs $49,845. For the Passenger variant, prices start at $50,945 (2500 LS) and go up to $53,290 (2500 LT). If you want the 3500 versions, the LS starts at $52,145, and the LT retails for $54,090. Lastly, should you want the 3500 extended, the LS costs $52,945, and the LT goes for $54,890.

Because the Savana serves different utilitarian purposes, you can choose from several options from the factory or the dealer. One is the Enhanced Convenience Package, which adds the V8, keyless entry with remote start, heavy-duty trailering equipment, a tilt-adjustable steering column, and cruise control for $3,250. You can also get the $3,105 Safety Package, which includes a V8 Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Park Assist. The Savana Express Passenger comes from the factory as a 12-seater, but for $475 you can upgrade to a 15-seater. The Cargo comes standard with just two or one seat, but for $2,055 you can get the crew van package with a 5-occupant layout.

Ford absolutely cannot mess up the F-150. This full-size pickup has been America’s best-seller for what feels like forever – the very cash cow that keeps Ford’s lights on.

But even the king of trucks isn’t immune to trouble. Ford just announced three separate safety recalls, covering a whopping 223,526 F-150s in the US. Two of these recalls are small potatoes, but the third is a monster, targeting over 223,000 trucks built from 2023 to 2027. The problems range from loose fuel tanks to the wrong rear axle bearings and suspension parts that might not be bolted down tight enough.

The good news is that Ford says no crashes or injuries have been tied to these recalls, and all fixes will be free for owners.

One Big Recall, Two Tiny Ones

The largest recall affects 223,472 F-150s built from January 2023 to August 2026. Ford says some trucks rolled off the line with front fuel tank straps that weren’t properly slotted into the frame. Translation: the fuel tank could come loose, leak, cause the engine to stall, or in the worst-case scenario, drop right out onto the road. Not exactly what you want trailing behind you in traffic.

Ford traced the issue to times when its assembly-line cameras weren’t monitoring the fuel tank straps. The problem usually pops up early, so it includes even unsold trucks and those with just a few months on the road. So far, Ford has logged 16 warranty claims worldwide for loose tanks, but still no crashes or injuries.

The second recall covers just 37 F-150s from May 27-28, 2026. These trucks got the wrong rear axle bearings: 8.8-inch instead of the beefier 9.75-inch ones meant for the Max Tow package. Ford caught the mistake at the Sterling Axle Plant, but not before 37 trucks slipped out the door. If left unchecked, the wrong bearing could seize up, lock the rear wheels, separate the driveshaft, or even let the truck roll away if the parking brake isn’t set.

The last recall is even smaller – only 17 2026 F-150 Raptors built between late December 2025 and late January 2026. Ford says the rear Panhard rod fasteners might not have been tightened properly because a torque-checking device was in bypass mode. If those bolts are loose, the Panhard rod can shift, messing with the truck’s handling and upping the risk of a crash.

Ford started looking into the Raptor issue after a dealer found a customer’s truck with a loose Panhard rod. They’ve found two warranty claims so far, but still no reports of crashes or injuries.

What F-150 Owners Need to Know

All three recalls will be fixed for free at Ford and Lincoln dealers. For the big fuel tank recall, dealers will check the front straps and swap them out if needed. Owners will start getting letters between September 21 and 28, and you can check your VIN online starting September 14.

If you’re one of the 37 with the wrong rear axle bearing, the dealer will swap in the proper 9.75-inch part. Letters go out September 21, and VIN lookup opens September 14.

For the 17 Raptors, dealers will replace and properly tighten the Panhard rod fasteners. Those owners should see recall notices a bit earlier, between September 15 and 18, and can check their VINs starting September 10.

If you’ve got a 2023-2027 F-150, especially one built during these recall windows, do yourself a favor and check your VIN online or call your Ford dealer to see if your truck’s on the list.

For drivers that is not the good news it sounds like. A winter that hovers near freezing rather than settling below it produces more ice and worse pavement than a cold one.

What the Map Shows

Most of the country is shaded for above-normal temperatures on the seasonal outlook, and the shading is deepest across the northern tier, from Washington and Montana through the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan into northern New England, where the probability reaches 50 to 60 percent. No part of the Lower 48 is shaded for below-normal temperatures.

Two areas escape the warm lean. Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico are left white, which means equal chances, with no preference between below, near or above normal. The Gulf Coast and Florida are shaded near normal. Those five states are the closest thing on this map to a cold forecast, and nowhere else in the Lower 48 has better odds of finishing the season below its own normal.

One limit is worth stating. The map measures each place against its own normal, not against the rest of the country, so Minnesota in the warm band will still be colder in December than New Mexico in the white one. The current version was issued on August 20.

The Four Corners Is the Region Left in Play

The five states holding equal chances are also home to some of the country’s highest-elevation roads, including long stretches above 7,000 feet, which is why a cold lean there matters more than the same lean would in Kansas. Colorado already runs its Traction Law on the I-70 mountain corridor from September 1 through May 31, and the other four states have plenty of high-elevation road of their own.

The Gulf Coast Has Its Own Winter Risk

The grey band from Louisiana across Mississippi, Alabama and southern Georgia into the Carolina coast is the other place the map declines to call warm.

A strong El Niño typically pushes the storm track south, which can send more moisture across that band through the winter. Cold air does not have to be unusual for that combination to produce ice. It only has to arrive on the wrong night.

That band is also where most drivers run all-season tires year round, and where a single freezing rain event can close interstates that see no snow at all in a normal winter.

What the Freeze Line Does to a Road

Hard cold is not the worst case for pavement. Water that freezes, thaws and freezes again inside cracks is what turns them into potholes, and that cycle runs hardest in a winter sitting near 32 degrees rather than well below it.

Traction works the same way. Deep cold usually means dry snow, while temperatures near freezing mean wet snow, rain on frozen ground and meltwater that refreezes overnight on bridge decks and shaded curves.

All-wheel drive does not help with that. It aids acceleration and does nothing for braking or cornering, which leaves tread depth, tire compound and pressure doing the work. Winter compounds stay pliable as temperatures fall toward 45 degrees where all-season rubber stiffens, and cold air costs a tire roughly 1 psi for every 10 degrees.

The Forecast Behind the Map

The warm signal is tied to a strengthening El Niño, and CPC raised its odds again on September 10, putting a record event at 75 percent for October through December.

The agency’s prognostic discussion calls the warm tilt “supported by calibrated dynamical models and statistical representations of the typical impacts of El Nino,” while noting that impacts become more likely at that magnitude without being guaranteed. The snow signal sits on the precipitation map instead, and it favors the southern half of the country.

What Changes Next

CPC replaces its seasonal temperature and precipitation maps on September 17, and that set will be the first built after the El Niño odds moved. The next ENSO discussion follows on October 8.

Until then the current outlook stands, and it puts the freeze line, rather than deep cold, at the center of this winter’s driving problem.

Press cars lead a hard life, no matter where they’re based. Sure, some motoring journalists are careful with them, but that doesn’t mean they won’t see some abuse over their lifetime. While these are maintained and repaired when needed, that doesn’t necessarily undo what it’s been through. It’s probably not as bad as rentals, but you get the picture.

In many ways, press cars see a lifetime’s worth of abuse in a shorter amount of time, maybe even more. While some are kept in heritage fleets, others get crushed, and others are retired and eventually meet their demise. The cars you see in gleaming press photos or featured in reviews don’t always have a quiet retirement.

One for the Top Gear Fans

If you watched Top Gear extensively back in the day, you may remember a certain review of the Land Rover Discovery 3. Better known as the LR3 in the U.S., one of the two SUVs Jeremy Clarkson drove was taken up a Scottish mountain for an extensive off-road review. The challenge was to take it up a mountain where no other vehicle had climbed before.

Of course, the Discovery made it up, and it became one of the show’s more memorable reviews. As a funny postscript, Clarkson said that he had accidentally brought home the keys to the SUV while the rest of the team was still shooting B-roll of it, and joked that the Discovery had been left up there. That episode aired in late 2004.

A Survivor

Of course, the Discovery made its way back down at some point. After all, it was one of Land Rover’s press cars, and BX04 CKN (the registration number) was even used in press materials. Not much was known about the SUV after it made the ascent, other than that it kept driving around for quite some time.

More recently, BX04 CKN was found and purchased by a client of RCM 4×4 Limited, a Land Rover specialist in the cathedral city of York, North Yorkshire, England. It wasn’t in the best shape, but it had survived the last 22 years, including a drive up a literal mountain. If this car could talk, it would have quite the story to tell.

A Brief Background

This particular Discovery 3/LR3 was featured on the show alongside another one that was filmed for the on-road segments. After the shoot, it was returned to stock (no nudge bar, winch, or all-terrain tires), which is how RCM 4×4 received it. It also looked pretty tired, but it appeared to still be running before the restoration began.

For those curious about the spec, it’s not something that was offered in the U.S. For starters, it’s a diesel, which America never got. Under its hood is a 2.7-liter V6 turbodiesel (2.7 TDV6) that made 188 hp and 325 lb-ft, so it wasn’t going to be quick by any measure. Clarkson also called the Discovery heavy, tipping the scales at over 5,000 lbs. It’s the norm for midsize EV SUVs now, but it was orbit-altering in those days.

That said, we do hope the other Discovery 3, BX04 CKP, also gets a new lease on life. While it wasn’t the hero car, it still appeared on film and is also part of automotive history. Besides, how often can you say you have a car that Jeremy Clarkson once drove?

The Job

For its recommissioning, it was a frame-off job (these were still body-on-frame) and revealed over 20 years of muck and grime. There was also a fair bit of surface rust, which was thankfully caught in time. While we don’t know the full extent of the process, we’re assuming it has a whole bunch of new parts fitted.

For the final touches, we refitted the nudge bar and winch seen (and used) in Clarkson’s review. The nudge bar was new-old stock, while Devon 4×4 restored the winch. At the time of writing, the rejuvenation of BX04 CKN is complete, and it already looks like it’s ready to go back to the mountain it climbed 22 years ago.

Indeed, the new owners plan to take it back up there soon, which should make for an epic photo op. RCM 4×4 also said this Discovery 3 will be touring around some Land Rover shows, so if you’re in England (or based there), you could get a glimpse of this interesting bit of motoring television history. We suddenly also have the urge to take a look at old Discoverys for sale – totally unrelated to this, by the way.

When proving that horsepower isn’t everything in building the fastest car, the McMurtry Spéirling is undoubtedly among the prime examples. This all-electric hypercar features a unique twin-fan system capable of generating 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) of downforce, enough to hold the car upside down at a standstill like Spider-Man. On the track, that means maximizing grip, limiting wheelspin, and improving cornering.

Fittingly, such a vehicle was recently featured by Travis Pastrana, an American professional racecar driver and stunt performer. For a guy like Pastrana, who has competed in rally racing, performed the first double backflip on a motorbike, and jumped out of a plane without a parachute, new thrills may be harder to come by. Yet he was ecstatic driving a Spéirling prototype at Dunsfold Aerodrome in England, home to the Top Gear test track.

Time To Let It Rip

Pastrana started slowly to get a feel for the car, including its steering and braking. Eventually, he unleashed the full power of the McMurtry Spéirling, which comes from two electric motors delivering 1,000 horsepower, in a drag race against unusual opponents, including a quad bike and a motorized unicycle. He could be seen giggling, something enthusiasts can relate to when going for a full send, before clocking a quarter-mile run in under eight seconds at 160 mph.

Speaking about the McMurtry Spéirling, the 11-time X Games gold medalist called it the fastest car he had driven, saying, “You can do things you can’t do with any other vehicle… I’m going faster than I’ve gone in any vehicle I’ve ever driven in my entire life.”

That’s a huge compliment from someone who has driven countless fast cars, including a NASCAR Toyota Camry at the 2023 Daytona 500 and a 670-horsepower Subaru Brataroo 9500 Turbo for a Gymkhana film.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Beyond this test drive, the McMurtry Spéirling has achieved several feats. Chief among these is the outright Goodwood Festival of Speed hillclimb record of 39.08 seconds, set by Max Chilton in 2022. Pastrana saw that run and initially thought the footage was sped up. The Spéirling’s time remains quicker than that of every other car that has attempted the hillclimb, including those with roughly twice the horsepower, like the 2,107-horsepower Rimac Nevera R.

The fan-assisted model also posted a 55.9-second lap time at Dunsfold Aerodrome, beating the previous record holder, a 2004 Renault R24 Formula 1 car, by about three seconds.

Now, McMurtry is bringing the electric hypercar to customers with the Spéirling Pure, a track-only production car limited to 100 examples. Pricing starts at approximately $1.3 million before taxes and options, with deliveries expected to begin later this year.

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Since the start of the decade, the business case for sedans in the U.S. seems more complicated, let alone full-size luxury ones. Interestingly, the Audi A8 returned to the U.S. for the 2027 model year despite reportedly ending orders in Germany. What did not survive, however, is the Lexus LS, the pioneer in this segment following its debut in 1989. But its story is not over yet.

In Japan, Lexus continues selling the LS and has updated the luxury flagship sedan. The changes are not a full redesign, but they are aimed at improving comfort and refining the driving experience – characteristics that have long defined the nameplate. Moving forward, the vehicle will be available in its LS 500h guise only.

Going All In on Hybrid

That means that the 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine has been dropped in favor of a 3.5-liter V6 hybrid powertrain. The two electric motor-generators help the engine with propulsion, which should also provide smoother operation. It can be paired with either a rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive system across the three Japan-spec trims: F Sport, Version L, and Executive.

Lexus reinforced the center tunnel, while the existing rear suspension and luggage braces now use a response-enhancing damping structure to reduce high-frequency vibrations. These changes should help reduce unwanted flex, vibration, and body roll. Moreover, the updates are said to “improve maneuvering stability and ride comfort,” according to the press release. The adaptive variable suspension and electric power steering were also tuned to give the driver a more natural, controllable steering feel.

In addition to the mechanical bits, the Japanese marque is now offering a panoramic roof across the lineup as an option, which not only provides more natural sunlight to the cabin but also adopts a mesh deflector to suppress wind noise when the roof is opened.

An Uncertain Future

Prices start at 14,140,000 Japanese yen, approximately $92,000 at current exchange rates, for the LS 500h F Sport 2WD and go up to 18,050,000 yen (about $118,000) for the LS 500h Executive AWD. It is unclear whether this will be among the final model years, though at least Lexus is still introducing updates for prospective buyers. Following the unveiling of the LS Concept last year, some reports suggest that the LS could turn into a luxurious minivan, a vehicle type that has strong demand in Asia, along with the so-called MPV (multi-purpose vehicle).

In the U.S., the LS departed with the Heritage Edition, a 250-unit limited run celebrating the nameplate’s 36-year history in the market. Lexus still offers two sedans, the IS and ES. No imminent reports suggest either faces the chopping block, so perhaps now is the time to consider one while automakers continue to address slowing demand for sedans.

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BMW ending production of the Z4 is such a tough farewell, given the model’s roadster characteristics that set it apart from the brand’s full-fledged performance cars like the M2 and M4. No successor has been confirmed yet, though a new limited-series Z4-based model just emerged thanks to Bovensiepen.

Sure, this may not be a factory Z4, but Bovensiepen has deep ties to BMW. The family behind Bovensiepen founded Alpina before selling the brand rights to the Bavarian automaker, but the family still wanted to build cars and has now created this Z4 spin-off called the Spider. The Spider is the third BMW-based model in Bovensiepen’s lineup, following the M4-based Zagato and M5 Touring-based 05 GT. It boasts upgrades inside and out, essentially creating a more aggressive road-legal version of the roadster than BMW ever put into production.

A Roadster With More To Give

Starting with the powertrain, the Bovensiepen Spider retains the Z4’s B58 turbo straight-six engine, but now makes 320 kW (429 horsepower) and 580 Nm of torque (428 lb-ft). That’s nearly 50 hp more than the U.S.-spec Z4 M40i. The German manufacturer claims a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) sprint time of 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 260 km/h (162 mph). The increased output is made possible through revisions to the intake and exhaust systems that allow the engine to breathe more freely. A Performance Package is also offered, which raises the top speed to 295 km/h (183 mph) and adds a rear differential cover with larger cooling fins and underbody reinforcement with a V-brace.

In addition to the powertrain upgrades, the Spider is equipped with retuned dampers, longer rear auxiliary springs, 20-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires, and optional upgraded brakes with four-piston fixed calipers on the front axle.

The exterior was designed in collaboration with Frank Stephenson, the car designer known for his work at Ferrari and McLaren, including the P1. The Spider features some aero tweaks, like the extended rear spoiler, that give the roadster a sportier finish. Inside, Vernasca leather upholstery and Alcantara seat inserts come standard, while more extensive leather trim is also available.

One for the Few

Bovensiepen is limiting production to just 99 examples, including 40 in Sapphire Black, 25 in Sanremo Green, 20 in Skyscraper Grey, nine in Thundernight, and five in Frozen Grey II. Customers can still request a different paint color.

Prices start at €115,500, approximately $134,000 at current exchange rates. On paper, that’s about twice the starting price of the U.S.-spec Z4 M40i. Reports have raised the possibility of an electric successor, but nothing has been confirmed, so perhaps this Bovensiepen Spider may be among the last compelling takes on the combustion-powered BMW roadster.

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Apparently, VW is willing to go all the way and fight Ford, GM and Stellantis on their own turf with rugged SUVs and pickups based on body-on-frame platforms.

VW Group CEO Sees Rugged SUVs And Pickups As The Way To Revive U.S. Division

VW Group CEO Oliver Blume said at a meeting with investors that he sees rugged SUVs and pickups like the Jeep Wrangler and Ford F-150 as a way to boost the German automaker’s declining U.S. business.

According to a transcript of the meeting seen by Bloomberg News, Blume told investors that VW Group lacks vehicles built on ladder-frame platforms, which typically underpin serious off-roaders and pickups that are highly popular in the United States.

He noted that such rugged models are an opportunity for the Volkswagen and Audi brands, suggesting that the automaker would build such cars in the USA. Blume noted that plans for body-on-frame SUVs and trucks go beyond Scout Motors’ already announced SUV and pickup.

During the Q&A session of the meeting, Blume talked about “profit pools still not played by Volkswagen Group, especially rugged SUVs and pickups” and made it clear that the plans go beyond Scout, which is owned by the group but operates as a separate, independent U.S. subsidiary.

VW Group’s Rugged Truck U.S. Offensive Is Likely To Start With Audi

VW Group’s chief financial officer Arno Antlitz backed Blume’s statements, pointing to the weakness in VW’s current lineup, namely poor margins for popular vehicles like the Jetta sedan and Taos subcompact SUV. Both models are shipped from Mexico and are currently subject to U.S. import tariffs.

Antlitz added that VW is now looking to shift toward richer parts of the market, although he reckoned that “it’s too early to make an announcement” regarding the Volkswagen brand. The company is instead planning to first move into segments “which are more promising in terms of margin”—a pretty clear hint at Audi.

This feeds into previous rumors about Audi planning an off-road SUV and Audi CEO Gernot Dollner’s recent confimation during a roundtable discussion with journalists that the company is evaluating a rugged off-road SUV.

A Significant Strategy Shift Is Underway

The comments from VW Group top brass shed light on how the automaker plans to reshuffle its U.S. lineup, namely by developing vehicles tailored to the needs of American buyers rather than continuing with the same one-size-fits-all global-car strategy used until now.

Scout Motors will likely play a big role in VW Group’s U.S. plans as the startup’s factory in South Carolina will give the parent company a new U.S. manufacturing site for the type of vehicles Blume is targeting. Mind you, the CEO did not say whether future VW or Audi models would share Scout technology or plant capacity.

VW Group is hard-pressed to turn around its U.S. division as the China business, which used to be its most profitable, is struggling. Last week, VW finally got the support of labor leaders in Germany to cut as many as 100,000 jobs globally and half of its model lineup as profits fall, in part because of high manufacturing costs at home.

The VW Group’s current U.S. market share is at around 4%, while Audi’s U.S. sales fell 17% in the first half of the year.

The Chevrolet Silverado is sticking around for at least another year. The 2027 model year will get a $400 price bump. No major changes are expected for next year’s model, and the price increase depends on the trim: work trucks get a $400 bump, while the Trail Boss and LT trims get a $200 bump.

It is a modest price increase, hitting slightly harder in the Silverado EV’s utilitarian lineup, but Chevrolet is at least keeping the Silverado EV around, a move that’s not mirrored by rivals like the Blue Oval, which axed its full-sized electric truck.

Work Trucks and Trail Bosses

Prices don’t include the destination fees for the Silverado EV. Cars Direct got their hands on an order guide for the Silverado EV, and if you’ve seen the price list before, blink, and you might miss the differences.

Variants with a $400 increase

• 4WT Work Truck: Now $53,200
• 5WT Work Truck: Now $66,600
• 8WT Work Truck: Now $74,600

Variants with a $200 increase

• 2LT: Now $61,100
• 3LT: Now $69,300
• 2TR Trail Boss: Now $70,200
• 3TR Trail Boss: Now $86,800

Beyond this price increase, there is no definite word yet on how long Chevrolet will continue to make the Silverado EV. Ford has discontinued its Lightning pickup truck, RAM’s moving to REEVs, but Chevy’s still sticking with its EV truck format.

Fewer Trims But Still-Competitive Prices

In addition to the price increase, Chevrolet is also downsizing the Silverado EV lineup. As per the list, there are no more 4LT and RST Stars and Stripes trims for the 2027 model year. Apart from the Trailboss, the Silverado EV lineup will get a little less snazzy moving forward.

Still, the Silverado EV’s starting price is more affordable than the Rivian R1T, GMC Sierra EV, Tesla Cybertruck, and GMC Hummer EV Pickup. It’s the most affordable full-size electric truck among those mentioned.

Related: Toyota Vs. Subaru At 250,000 Miles: It’s Not Even Close

Honda Dominates Most Rivals

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The study, which was conducted by iSeeCars, found that the average brand’s models had a 5.4% chance of lasting for at least 250,000 miles. Honda was far ahead of that, with a 13.3% chance. It ranked third in the study, behind only Toyota and Lexus. There’s a fairly sharp drop-off after that. Mazda ranked sixth (a 5.3% chance of reaching 250K miles), and Nissan was 12th (3.4%). Nissan wasn’t actually the lowest-ranked of the Japanese brands. Below it were Subaru at 14th and Mitsubishi at 22nd. 

Overall, Toyota and Honda are far ahead of other mainstream brands. This won’t come as a surprise to many people, given the number of high-mileage Camrys, Tacomas, and Civics still on the road today.

“Consumers base their car-buying decisions on a range of vehicle attributes,” said iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. “For buyers seeking the longest lasting vehicles, it’s clear which brands they should focus on for their next new or used car purchase.”

Related: The World’s Highest-Mileage Cars Share One Reliability Secret

How The Study Works

To formulate its rankings, iSeeCars researchers analyzed over 395 million vehicles. Average odometer readings were noted at every yearly age, and the publication used a proprietary model to estimate the chances that each vehicle would survive to different mileage thresholds. Automakers’ entire range of models formed part of the study, although heavy-duty vans and certain vehicles with insufficient data were excluded.

“Reaching 250,000 miles is an exceptionally high bar for any vehicle, which makes the distinction among the four highest-ranked brands meaningful,” said Brauer. “Toyota, Lexus, Honda and Acura don’t just lead the list, they substantially outperform the average vehicle’s chances of reaching that high-mileage threshold.”

What the study doesn’t ensure is that a long-lasting vehicle won’t need a considerable amount of maintenance to keep going. For instance, while Ram has a respectable eighth-placed rank, its pickups lag behind certain rivals for reliability. As a brand, Ram was ranked almost last across all brands by Consumer Reports.

Related: Ram 1500 Tops A Brutal List Of New Pickup Reliability Losers

What It Means

For buyers on a tight budget and forced to consider a well-used vehicle, Honda is the safest bet among the three compared here, followed by Mazda and Nissan. The study does not suggest that a meticulous service history isn’t important, though; a well-maintained Nissan with 200,000 miles can still be a much smarter buy than a 150,000-mile Honda that has been neglected.

Overall, Japanese automakers continue dominating longevity and reliability studies, while German brands remain ahead in technology and performance.

Related: This 2022 Honda Civic already has almost 250,000 miles on the clock

If you’ve ever been on a construction site, you know the drill: plenty of tools, but always missing that one random part nobody thought to bring. Maybe it’s a bracket, maybe it’s a weird-shaped mold, maybe it’s something nobody even knew they’d need until five minutes ago. Usually, that means waiting around for a delivery or making a mad dash across town.

That’s why the idea of mobile manufacturing – especially now that 3D printing isn’t just for plastic toys – suddenly sounds a lot less like science fiction.

Turns out, Ford is thinking along the same lines. The company filed a patent back in 2022 (feel free to nerd out and look up patent no. 12723418) for a pickup truck that doesn’t just haul stuff – it actually brings its own robotic 3D printer along for the ride. The patent just went public, and the idea is as wild as it sounds: a truck with a built-in manufacturing plant in the bed.

A Pickup That Prints Instead of Just Carries

This isn’t your average desktop 3D printer, either. Forget about putting stuff inside a little box – Ford’s setup brings the printer to the action – on a Ford F-150 – wherever you need it.

Patent sketches show a robotic arm tucked away in the bed while you’re on the move. Once you park, the arm unfolds, swings out, and bends in all sorts of directions to reach the ground or whatever surface you want. The print head at the end does its thing, laying down material layer by layer until you’ve got your part.

The arm’s got enough flexibility to print next to the truck, behind it, or even on bumpy ground. The truck hauls the printing material, and a controller keeps everything moving in sync.

Ford isn’t just thinking about one kind of material, either. The patent leaves the door open for all sorts of stuff, depending on what the job calls for.

More Than Just a Fancy Work Truck

Ford’s patent throws out a laundry list of ways this mobile printer could be used. Construction is the obvious one – think concrete forms, barriers, molds, and all those weird custom parts you usually have to wait for.

Ford also name-drops infrastructure, farming, military, disaster relief, and emergency repairs. Basically, anywhere it’s tough to get parts or time is tight, being able to print what you need on the spot could save a ton of hassle – and maybe even the day.

It’s also easy to see how the idea fits into Ford’s broader work-truck strategy. Modern pickups already serve as mobile power sources, tool carriers, and job-site offices. A built-in manufacturing system would simply add another capability to that list.

Of course, automakers patent all sorts of wild ideas that never see the light of day. Just because Ford has the paperwork doesn’t mean this 3D-printing truck is hitting showrooms anytime soon.

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The influx of Chinese vehicles has undoubtedly changed the game, mostly through their generous in-car technologies without premium price tags. But despite this attractive proposition, Jaguar Land Rover isn’t worried, even saying that Chinese brands imitating its models is “probably a bit of a badge of honor.”

JLR may not be able to compete with Chinese brands on sales volume, but the British automaker is confident it can stay afloat by offering high-margin vehicles. Those would include bespoke creations, for which the company previously said it hasn’t set a price limit. Ryan Miller, Range Rover global product and services marketing director, told GoAuto that the goal isn’t to sell a lot of cars, but rather to “grow the brand and develop the value within the brand.”

Luxury Without Limits

Luxury automakers tend to prioritize commissions because of their high-margin nature. For instance, JLR sold a one-off Range Rover SV Asilomar Edition to a U.S. customer for about $550,000 – about twice the price of the base car. For a more extreme example, Rolls-Royce created an ultra-luxurious grand tourer called Boat Tail. Production was capped at three examples, but each was reportedly valued at $28 million – making the nameplate one of the most expensive new cars of all time.

That’s the type of strategy JLR is prioritizing in response to Chinese brands flooding global markets, except the U.S., which continues to enforce strict trade barriers against them. Miller noted that the emergence of Chinese rivals may be on the brand’s radar, but it is not affected by them at the moment.

In 2019, the automaker even won a Beijing court case against Jiangling Holdings for copying the first-gen Evoque with the Landwind X7. The court victory halted sales and marketing of the Chinese model.

More Than a China Problem

The strategy sounds like a refreshing perspective amid industry concerns that Chinese automakers will simply take over. Miller said JLR will control what it can, including strengthening its products, brand, and customer experience. Whether such a strategy will succeed is another question, especially considering that the company is still in recovery mode.

Aside from ongoing global market pressures, JLR dealt with a major cyberattack in late 2025 – described as the most financially damaging cyber event in British history – and reliability issues that contributed to massive losses, with warranty costs reportedly reaching £105 million, or about $139 million, in the fourth quarter of the company’s 2026 fiscal year. Some of its recovery efforts include spending cuts over the next two years and a partnership with Stellantis to explore a new Defender-based model for the U.S. market that would be built domestically and spared from import tariffs.

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We recently wrote about just how competitive and cutthroat the local Chinese EV market is. China’s ability to do R&D and produce a vehicle continues to allow it to rapidly launch new cars at a staggering rate. Given the sheer number of brands that exist in China, brands are now finding more ways to stand out from the sea of models being sold.

Xiaomi is a powerful technology company; apart from globally selling phones, laptops, and back massagers, it has also ventured into cars. A lot of people highly touted the first Xiaomi EVs, and now the brand is taking a stab at a full EV SUV with a very unique selling point.

Sky’s The Limit

A couple of months ago, we reported on a couple of spy shots that were taken of a camouflaged SUV with an interesting roof design. At the time, we assumed that the SUV in question had a roof awning or tent attached, alluding to an adventure-themed vehicle. We now know that our initial thoughts were correct, with the introduction of the Xiaomi Skynomad N90 model in two trims: the Max and the Max Explorer Edition.

We’re going to focus on the latter, which has a very interesting feature. The Explorer Edition has a built-in electronic pop-up roof cabin or tent for the adventurous at heart. Since the N90 Max Explorer Edition is already adventure-centric, Xiaomi also encourages the use of the roof tent for outdoor wildlife photography as well. There’s no point in offering the Skynomad as an adventure vehicle if it can’t even go there. Thankfully, Xiaomi knows what it’s doing; the N90 Max Explorer Edition has a wading depth of 750mm coupled with an emergency float feature like the famous Yangwang U8 SUV.

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Extended Range

The N90 is primarily a 7-seater, but according to the brand, there are 11 different seating layouts that you can configure. There are also zero-gravity front and second-row seats that have massage, ventilation, and heating functions. It even has a movable center console that has a refrigeration function.

Given that the off-beaten paths are usually far from civilization, it makes sense to give the N90 enough power and range to make it and get back. It features a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine paired with a dual-motor EV setup that produces 282 hp (front) and 134 hp (rear). The total combined range is listed at over 1,000 miles, and the pure EV range is 288 miles.

Analysts predict the next half-decade will ruthlessly separate forward-thinkers from those left behind. Pushing limits carries heavy risks, but progress often stalls before it even starts. Vehicle builders face massive supply chain roadblocks as they continually lose out on securing microchip supplies to giant consumer electronics companies. Executives are nervously watching their budgets while waiting for the elusive profits to finally arrive.

Where the Money is Actually Going

Showrooms are quickly downloading these digital tools, but the cash registers remain surprisingly quiet. According to a report from Automotive News, recent data shows over four-fifths of vehicle dealers rely on automated software to handle daily tasks and buyer chats. However, while most managers expected soaring profits, barely a fifth have actually seen their bank accounts grow. Worse, rogue computer programs have created public relations nightmares by offering absurdly cheap vehicle prices to online shoppers.

The factory floor paints a slightly better picture for pure efficiency. Smart cameras hooked to fast networks now easily spot bad paint jobs and structural flaws before they leave the building. Some manufacturers are pushing boundaries even further on the assembly line, with Nissan actively speeding up production using smart algorithms to perfectly match parts supply with vehicle demand.

Beyond just building things faster, companies are trying to build things better. Big data crunching helps engineers predict wear and tear before a vehicle ever hits the street. Ford relies on massive data simulations to boost powertrain longevity, aiming to keep trucks on the road longer. Yet the factory workforce is shifting rapidly, with demand for computer-savvy mechanics skyrocketing and traditional line workers growing nervous.

A Wake-Up Call

I think this delay is exactly what the car business deserves. The rush to automate everything was reckless. Executives treated this software like magic dust, hoping it would instantly fix bad sales strategies and messy supply chains. But pure computing power has hard limits. Ford learned quickly that algorithms cannot replace experienced mechanical experts when tackling highly nuanced, real-world design problems.

True success will only go to brands that treat these digital tools as helpful sidekicks, not complete replacements for human workers. People still build and buy cars. The long wait for a return on investment forces carmakers to slow down and build smart, sustainable systems. The big payoff will eventually hit, but only for those who keep humans firmly in the driver’s seat.

Developed as part of the partnership between Aston Martin and Brough Superior, the AMB 002 joins the track-only AMB 001 and AMB 001 Pro superbikes introduced in 2019 and 2022.

The new road bike targets both “discerning road riders and automotive collectors,” which may or may not be a hint that it could be bundled with some special edition Aston Martin cars.

Designed By Aston Martin With Nods To Some Of Its Cars

Styled by the Aston Martin Design Studio, the AMB 002 Roadster uses fluid lines, compact proportions and precisely sculpted carbon fiber body elements to create a dramatic and dynamic silhouette.

Highlights include the pebble smooth shape of the carbon fiber fuel tank and side fairings—which rise to meet the rider when tucked out of the slipstream—the crescent-shaped side gills that aid engine cooling and streamline the airflow, and the wire-design stalks for the low-slung mirrors.

There are also many details that pay tribute to iconic Aston Martin cars. Those include the reimagined side strake that pierces through the side fairing and extends forwards to encapsulate the headlamp, the twin oval exhausts with ribbed heat sinks that echo the exhaust finisher design of the Vanquish, DB12 S and DBX S, as well as the rear light blades that remind of those seen on the tails of the Aston Martin Vulcan, Valkyrie and Valhalla hypercars.

To make it worthy of the Aston Martin badge, the AMB 002 Roadster also gets luxury features like the hand-crafted saddle leather seat pads, a backlit ignition button and keyless function.

Brough Superior Handled The Engineering Part

The engineering side of the AMB 002 Roadster is equally spectacular, as we’re talking about an all-new machine designed and engineered by Brough Superior from scratch without carry-over components.

Power comes from an all-new 1,083cc four-stroke water-cooled V-Twin engine delivering 130 horsepower and 81 pound-feet of torque. The motor is tuned for strong low and mid-range torque and is said to have a smooth and thrilling top-end. No acceleration specs were provided, but the press release notes that it delivers “exhilarating performance.”

Aston Martin’s first road bike features a low center of gravity achieved with the help of carbon fiber body panels and fuel tank, an ideal 50:50 weight distribution, as well as a lightweight build—the AMB 002 tips the scales at just under 419 pounds.

The AMB 002 also features interesting technical solutions such as an 11-pound titanium frame milled from a solid billet for the V-Twin engine and a double-wishbone ‘Fior fork’ front suspension that’s said to separate steering and braking forces while maintaining precise control of the front-end geometry.

Aston Martin and Brough Superior claim the front suspension leads to “outstanding steering precision and agility” as well as stability through high-speed corners and under braking— especially when braking while leaned over into a corner.

Given the exquisite design, materials and craftsmanship—the AMB 002 will be hand-built—the road bike will be made in a limited run of just 300 units. Initial orders are now being taken, with the first deliveries expected in the third-quarter of 2027.

The Mitsubishi Pajero returned to the scene with a diesel-only engine, which could attract buyers who prefer the strong low-end torque of this powertrain, particularly for towing. Competition is heating up among body-on-frame SUVs, and perhaps Toyota is already on top of things with the Land Cruiser 250.

Toyota will reportedly update the diesel lineup of the Land Cruiser 250, also known as the Prado in some markets, toward the end of 2026, likely with upgrades similar to those introduced for the gasoline model in Japan earlier this year. The Land Cruiser 250 could also see a price increase that brings it closer to the Pajero, creating substantial price overlap between the two SUVs.

More Features May Be on the Way

Creative Trend didn’t disclose the exact equipment coming to the updated diesel-powered Toyota SUV. However, it did point out the upgrades introduced to the gasoline model – some of which are expected to make their way into the diesel lineup, which consists of the GX, VX, and ZX trims. These changes include upgraded driver-assistance features, including Toyota Teammate, standardized anti-theft functions, and additional standard equipment such as an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory.

They are considered minor changes, though with the Mitsubishi Pajero – which uses a 2.4-liter turbodiesel inline-four making 201 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque – joining the fray, any improvements that can help attract customers cross-shopping the two may prove handy.

If these upgrades are introduced in the diesel-powered Land Cruiser 250, the publication estimates a possible price increase of 6%. That would put the entry-level diesel GX at about 5.5 million Japanese yen (approximately $35,700 at current exchange rates), followed by the diesel VX at 6.6 million yen ($43,300) and diesel ZX at 7.7 million yen ($50,500). That would undercut the Pajero’s estimated 6.1 million yen ($40,100) starting price.

America Has a Different Rulebook

Neither diesel-powered SUV has been announced for the U.S. The U.S.-spec Toyota Land Cruiser instead uses a 2.4-liter turbocharged i-Force Max hybrid inline-four producing 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque.

Meanwhile, with a diesel-only powertrain at launch, the Mitsubishi Pajero isn’t expected to make its way stateside, where it was previously called the Montero. However, reports suggest a hybridized version could make a market entry more plausible, after company executives confirmed plans to develop electrified versions of its body-on-frame vehicles. A U.S. launch remains unconfirmed, but it would let the Japanese marque capitalize on demand for rugged, ladder-frame vehicles among American buyers, a segment Toyota serves with models like the Sequoia and 4Runner.

For now, Mitsubishi’s U.S. lineup focuses on mass-market crossovers, including the Outlander, while the brand also taps the EV market with the Nissan Leaf-based Eclipse Sportback.

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A Familiar Shape, Slightly Shrunk

The vehicle in the patent illustrations carries a muscular stance and a front-end graphic close to the current Bronco’s, but the proportions read smaller throughout — shorter rear doors and marginally smaller wheel arches than the model that’s been on sale, unchanged generationally, since its 2021 revival. One drawing (Fig. 4) shows a side cutaway with labeled interior and roof structures, the kind of detail patent illustrators include almost incidentally while documenting a completely different mechanism. The most concrete styling change: a top-hinged tailgate replacing the current Bronco‘s side-hinged swing gate.

The Timing Lines Up With What’s Already Confirmed

None of this arrives in a vacuum. Ford has kept a steady pace of Bronco-specific patent filings this year alone, and a hybrid Bronco is already expected as a 2028 model, with a Bronco pickup reportedly in development on top of that. Ford New Zealand’s managing director has also suggested that the Bronco Basecamp‘s upcoming Australian launch could strengthen the business case for a right-hand-drive Bronco — meaning the next generation might finally go global rather than staying a US-only nameplate.

The Usual Patent Caveat Still Applies

Reading production styling into a patent’s background illustrations is inherently speculative — these documents exist to protect a sleeping-platform mechanism, not to preview a redesign, and Ford has filed plenty of Bronco patents over the years that never influenced an actual production vehicle. Still, with a next-generation Bronco now roughly three to four years out and no official design language confirmed, incidental drawings like these are about as close a look as anyone outside Ford currently has.

Yet Mazda flatly refuses to join this digital rush. While competitors often rely on algorithms that generate chaotic, overstyled shapes, the Japanese automaker’s core philosophy remains mastering visual restraint. Mazda’s styling department firmly believes software simply cannot replicate human warmth. Instead, they rely on dirty hands and raw intuition to find the perfect curve, setting up a sharp clash between old-school tradition and modern tech.

The Dirty Hands Behind Award-Winning Curves

In an interview with Design Week, Mazda says physical clay sculpting shapes the emotional core of every vehicle they produce. These master modelers, known as Takumi, literally carve the brand’s Kodo design language by hand before any computer gets involved. “Our target is to create a timeless form as much as possible,” Mazda’s global chief of design, Ikuo Maeda, explains. He notes that he is entirely unmoved by corporate pressure to rush production. “No matter if the company asks us to make it shorter… I don’t care.” For him, great design means protecting the craft, which means protecting the hours required to create the designs by hand.

Designers universally describe the modeling studio as a deeply sacred space where art supersedes corporate engineering. They often share anecdotes about how natural studio light bounces off physical clay differently than a glowing monitor, exposing harsh shadows that software completely ignores. It is an intensely exhausting process where modelers scrape away millimeters of material until the vehicle looks like a living creature ready to pounce.

The Mazda 6e, winning global car design of the year awards, further validates this analog approach on the world stage. By allowing raw human emotion to finalize the vehicle’s form, the brand consistently delivers stunning cars that look undeniably premium.

Financial Realities Threatening the Clay Dream

While this artistic purity is undeniably romantic, it’s a massive financial liability in today’s cutthroat market. Hand-sculpting full-size cars is time-consuming. When rival companies slash budgets and accelerate launches with virtual reality, pouring millions into massive physical studios feels incredibly risky for an independent, low-volume automaker trying to compete.

Plummeting compact sales currently threaten the brand’s artistic flexibility as aging vehicle lineups struggle to maintain market momentum. Combined with the crushing weight of new international trade tariffs severely eroding profit margins, the financial outlook is turning grim. If Mazda wants to survive this hostile economic climate, executives might soon be forced to pry those beloved carving tools away from their designers.