The Nissan Rogue, known as the X-Trail in other markets, is about to enter a new generation for 2027. This isn’t just another update – it’s shaping up to be one of Nissan’s most significant launches in recent memory. With e-Power technology now part of the package, the next Rogue is clearly aimed at heavyweights like the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Honda CR-V Hybrid.

At the official reveal, Nissan gave us the usual exterior shots and broad product details, but the interior was noticeably absent. When that happens, it’s often a sign that either the company wants to save the cabin for a separate debut or it just wasn’t quite ready to show off yet.

Fortunately, leaked photos from the Middle East have surfaced, giving us an early look inside the 2027 Rogue – well before Nissan planned to let us in.

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New Cabin Layout, Familiar Nissan Ideas

The first thing that stands out is the center console. Nissan went with a switch-type shifter, much like what you’ll find in the Leaf. The bridge-style layout with pass-through storage underneath carries over from the current Rogue, so it’s a familiar setup for anyone upgrading from the outgoing model.

For the HVAC controls, Nissan went for physical buttons and satin-silver toggle switches, which is a relief for anyone who’s not a fan of touch-sensitive panels. The dashboard appears to feature dual 12.3-inch displays – one for the instrument cluster and another for infotainment. Higher trims will likely get a larger 14.3-inch screen.

The steering wheel sticks to Nissan’s latest design language, with the same two-spoke layout you’ll also see in the new Leaf. There are clear controls for toggling between the LCD meter and navigation, plus buttons for ProPILOT features. The real giveaway is the driver monitoring system mounted at the top center of the wheel, which hints that ProPILOT 2.0 with hands-off capability is coming – at least for the higher trims.

What To Expect From The 2027 Rogue

The 2027 Rogue has to deliver more than just a fresh look. With the Toyota RAV4 already moving forward with a full-hybrid lineup, buyers are paying close attention to how Nissan handles electrified performance, interior quality, and pricing.

Based on the leaked photo, Nissan appears to be prioritizing practicality and a premium feel over futuristic gimmicks. That could turn out to be the right call. If the hybrid system delivers and the price stays in check, the next Rogue might just outshine the model it’s replacing.

For now, this leaked image is probably the best look we’ll get until Nissan decides to pull the covers off the full cabin – hopefully sooner rather than later.

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The shortest version: if you can wait until afternoon to drive, wait. Most of the worst conditions will have rolled through by then. If that isn't an option, the rest of this is what you're driving into.

Where the Warnings Are Worst

The Gallatin and Madison ranges south of Bozeman are catching the biggest numbers. Snow totals approach 20 inches above 7,500 feet, with valley floors expecting a more modest 3 to 6, and winds gusting to 40 mph. This is the country around Big Sky and West Yellowstone, which means US-191 and US-20 into Yellowstone's western gateway are both compromised, as is Targhee Pass heading into Idaho. The warning runs through Friday noon MDT, and you can track the current status through NWS Great Falls.

East of there, the Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains get hit harder and for longer. That alert holds until 6 p.m. MDT, which matters because Cooke City and the northeast entrance to Yellowstone sit in the middle of it. US-212 climbs over Beartooth Pass, the highest paved road in the region, and it only just reopened for the season. Another 3 to 7 inches is coming at elevation, gusts on the Wyoming side run higher than on the Montana side, and avalanche danger is climbing through the day. NWS Billings is the office to watch here.

The Crazy Mountains sit directly on I-90 between Big Timber and Livingston, and although their warning expires earliest (6 a.m. MDT Friday), it's worth knowing that's the Bozeman-to-Billings stretch of interstate at its most exposed. Further north, up against the Canadian border, the Bears Paw Mountains and Rocky Boy Reservation are under the longest-running alert of the entire event: snow continues there until noon Saturday, with 4 to 9 inches above 4,000 feet and 50 mph gusts.

Over the Wyoming line, the Pryor Mountains and the northern Bighorns are carrying warnings until 6 p.m. MDT Friday. The NWS doesn't bury the message on this one: travel on US-14 through Burgess Junction could be very difficult, with whiteouts likely. If that's your planned route, pick another one.

Yellowstone and the Tetons

The timing here is awkward as Yellowstone is in the middle of its spring road-opening sequence. Crews have been working toward the first full-access weekend, and now this storm is going to push the whole calendar back. NWS Riverton has advisories across the park itself, with Pitchstone Plateau picking up as much as 18 inches.

The Tetons and Gros Ventre are in line for up to 20 inches on the highest peaks and gusts to 50 mph. The Salt River and Wyoming Ranges, further south, see up to 15 inches at elevation. Togwotee Pass on US-26/287 falls inside the same alert zone. Anyone heading into Jackson or Grand Teton this weekend should check nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm before committing to a route, because what's open this morning may not be open by Saturday.

Both Interstates at Once

I-90 between Bozeman and Whitehall is under advisory until noon MDT, with 2 to 6 inches expected through Three Forks, Ennis, and Gallatin Gateway. The morning commute window, roughly 7 to 9 a.m. MDT, lands right in the middle of it.

I-15 crosses into the same alert at Monida Pass on the Montana and Idaho border, where 1 to 4 inches is on the way. Monida isn't just any pass: it's the main freight artery between Salt Lake City, Helena, and the Canadian border, and closures or slowdowns there ripple across several states. Homestake Pass on I-90 east of Butte and MacDonald Pass on US-12 are on the same alert.

Western Montana has its own complications. Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley are under advisory through Friday noon for up to 3 inches, locally around 6. Roads that get wet at these elevations freeze quickly. Lookout Pass, where I-90 crosses into Idaho, falls under the same guidance. It's one of the more difficult stretches of I-90 anywhere in the country and a major Seattle-to-Minneapolis freight route. NWS Missoula has the current picture for that side of the state. Livingston, where I-90 meets US-89 heading north into Yellowstone through Gardiner, sees another 1 to 3 inches and 30 mph gusts through Friday noon.

The Passes Between Montana and Idaho

South of I-90, the two main automotive crossings between Montana and Idaho are Lolo Pass on US-12 and Lost Trail Pass on US-93. Both carry advisories until noon MDT Friday, with another 3 to 8 inches coming. Cross into Idaho and the same system is still producing: Highway 28 and the passes around Salmon get anywhere from a few inches in the valleys to more than a foot at elevation, with gusts to 35 mph.

Before You Drive

Most of this clears by Friday afternoon. The Yellowstone and Teton advisories run slightly later, and the Bears Paw warning holds until Saturday noon.

A few practical things. Call 511 in the state you're driving through. Montana (511mt.net), Idaho (511.idaho.gov), and Wyoming (wyoroad.info) all run road condition services, and they're more current than anything else you'll find. Check weather.gov for your specific destination rather than relying on a regional forecast. If your route goes over any of the passes in this story, the simple answer is to leave in the afternoon rather than the morning. Chains go in the vehicle if you're headed toward Big Sky, West Yellowstone, Cooke City, Togwotee Pass, or over US-14 in the Bighorns. One thing worth remembering: all-wheel drive helps you start moving. It does nothing for stopping on ice, and every bridge and overpass in the warning zone is icing over as the wet pavement refreezes.

By Friday afternoon, most of this is over. The weekend looks largely clean outside northern Montana. Getting through Friday morning is the part that takes some thought.

The Nissan Terrano nameplate has long been associated with rugged, body-on-frame SUVs built for rough roads and proper off-road use. Depending on the market (it’s called the Pathfinder in America), it was a familiar badge attached to vehicles that prioritized toughness over trends. Over time, the name quietly disappeared, replaced by newer crossovers and SUVs that leaned more toward urban comfort.

Now the Terrano is back. Nissan showed off the new Terrano PHEV Concept at Auto China 2026, giving the old name a modern update. Yes, it’s a plug-in hybrid, and yes, it’s still labeled a concept. However, Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa says the production Terrano PHEV will be revealed within a year. So this isn’t just a design exercise – it’s an early look at what buyers will actually get.

Built Like It Means It

Nissan says the Terrano PHEV is built for both weekday commutes and weekend escapes. It’s meant to handle city traffic and dirt trails without forcing buyers to pick one or the other.

The Terrano PHEV looks the part. It’s boxy, upright, and wears thick cladding, chunky tires, and a full-size spare on the tailgate. It’s clearly aimed at the new wave of adventure-style SUVs in China that blend off-road looks with electrified tech.

A few touches still say ‘concept car’ – like the cube lights and roof lamps – but most of the design looks ready for production. Nissan isn’t hiding the direction here.

Nissan hasn’t shared full specs yet, but the Terrano will likely borrow a lot from the Frontier Pro PHEV. Expect a dual-motor plug-in hybrid setup with about 408 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque.

Details are still thin, but as a plug-in hybrid, it should manage about 84 miles of electric-only range on the CLTC cycle. That’s enough for most daily drives without firing up the engine.

It should also get Nissan’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, which shuffles torque front to back as needed. A five-link rear suspension and an electromechanical rear diff lock are expected too, so it’s not just about looking tough – it should actually back it up off-road.

Global Plans, But Probably Not America

Nissan plans to launch the Terrano PHEV in select global markets, just like it did with the N7, Frontier Pro PHEV, and NX8. Latin America, ASEAN, the Middle East, and a few other regions are on the list.

The US won’t get this Terrano. Instead, Nissan has a different plan for North America: the new Xterra, which will use its own V6 hybrid system designed just for the US, not this China-developed PHEV setup.

So while the Terrano goes global, the US will have its own chapter in Nissan’s off-road return.

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Independently, both Mercedes and Samsung rank among the leading R&D investors globally. The automaker aims to secure a technical edge against rivals by also entering an R&D alliance to collaborate on the development of next-generation battery technology.

This maneuver is a direct response to a brutal financial reality. Mercedes-Benz recently reported a staggering 57 percent collapse in operating profit for the 2025 fiscal year. Battered by $1.2 billion in tariff costs and a 21 percent sales contraction in China, the automaker is executing a sweeping "Next Level Performance" cost-cutting strategy. The explicit goal is to reduce material expenditures by 8 percent by 2027. Tapping Samsung SDI is a calculated mechanism to slash supply chain logistics and bypass margin-crushing bottlenecks.

The Brass Tacks

The urgency of this shift crystallized on April 20, 2026, when Samsung SDI and Mercedes-Benz officially signed their first-ever EV battery supply partnership in Seoul. The agreement guarantees a steady pipeline of high-energy, high-nickel prismatic cells specifically engineered for the German automaker’s upcoming compact and mid-size electric SUVs and coupes.

While entry-level competitors rush toward cheaper LFP (lithium iron phosphate) alternatives, Mercedes is doubling down on high-nickel chemistry to maximize energy density and driving range. The partnership, as mentioned earlier, also expands beyond procurement, establishing a joint development framework for next-generation battery architectures to reinforce Mercedes-Benz’s position in the premium EV sector.

Do American EV Buyers Benefit?

For the American motorist, the implications of this multi-billion-dollar supply shift are sobering. The high-nickel NCM chemistry promises tangible upgrades in thermal management and raw performance, but it will not democratize luxury. Despite the company’s internal directive to trim material costs, battery packs still represent nearly 40 percent of an electric vehicle's total production value. Since the introduction of EVs, this economic fact remains unchanged.

The partnership between Stuttgart and Seoul marks the end of experimental electrification and the beginning of raw industrial survival. For the everyday buyer, the lesson is one of extreme patience. Supplier diversification is a corporate shield designed to protect profit margins, not a mechanism to lower your monthly car payment. Mercedes is arming itself with premium tech to maintain its luxury status. If you are waiting for a budget-friendly electric Mercedes-Benz, look elsewhere. Hold onto your cash, give the volatile market time to stabilize, and let the early adopters subsidize the expensive research and development necessary for the next decade of luxury transport.

ECD Automotive is a restoration company that specializes in British cars. If you look through the company's website, you'll see that they've built up a reputation for working on the classic Land Rover Defender. Over the years, it has also expanded to other models, such as the Jaguar E-type, Ford Mustang, and even the Porsche 993.

That said, ECD wants to show its eagerness to evolve by building new models – this time from America: the Chevy Blazer K5.

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American Icon

The K5 generation of the Chevrolet Blazer is an American icon, used over multiple decades by numerous Americans for different purposes. It has etched itself in the very fabric of the history of American cars. ECD has just created its own version, paying tribute to the K5 Blazer, while adding the touches that make it a true ECD project.

Originally built as a showcase piece, ECD points out that it was always going to be something they'd offer to the public as well. As such, orders for K5 commissions are now open. ECD applies a lot of the hard work, precision craftsmanship, and engineering it uses on its other projects to the K5. From the striking, well-executed paint job to the finer interior designs and details, the ECD K5 is truly unique.

ECDs take on the K5 Blazer to create a truly lifestyle-oriented car, honoring the Blazer's open-air motoring platform, wide stance, and backroad driving capabilities. This K5 build was engineered to respect those philosophies while also incorporating a modern approach, with comfort, reliability, and everyday driveability.

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Bespoke Touch

Since this is a bespoke restomod, ECD mixed in one-of-a-kind touches. The paint job is a period-correct two-tone of Chevy Dark Olive Poly and Frost White with a classic billboard stripe. While the interior's been adorned with buffalo-vinyl seating, it's paired with Pepita green houndstooth inlays. The climate control, audio system, and digital gauges have all been given a modern touch.

Under the hood is a modern 6.0-liter V8, based on the client's request for a smoother driving experience. Prices for an ECD K5 build start at $245,000.

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EV Slowdown Hits Hard

Honda's decision to cancel key EV programs has triggered massive write-downs, says TV Tokyo BIZ Digest. Honda had once committed to a fully electrified future by 2040, but slowing EV demand has forced a rethink. EV sales in the US declined by 41% in January 2026, year-on-year, and the expected surge in adoption has not materialised at the pace many automakers had anticipated. The decline in demand, combined with Honda's retreat from America's EV space, has resulted in the recent cancellation of the project between Honda and Sony, called the Afeela 1 electric sedan.

Industry-Wide Reality Check

Honda is not alone. Reuters reports that automakers have collectively written off $55 billion due to EV-related projects, with Stellantis responsible for $26.3 billion and General Motors$8.5 billion. Even brands that once pushed aggressive electrification timelines are now easing off. While plans to introduce an affordable EV remain on the table for Ford, it and others like Kia, Nissan, and Porsche have all scaled back or delayed EV plans after overestimating EV demand. Instead, many are shifting their focus to hybrids, PHEVs, and EREVs.

What Comes Next for Honda

Honda has faced a turbulent few months, from the controversial return of the Prelude to talks of collaborating with Nissan on a North America-focused project. After cancelling the three US-bound EVs: the Honda 0 Saloon, Honda 0 SUV, and the Acura RSX, it seems the US won't be getting any new Honda models until 2027. That said, its ICE-powered lineup still holds strong appeal, with models like the Civic continuing to sell strongly. Honda’s next move will focus on balancing electrification with ICE power, while still working toward its long-term goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

Volkswagen AG is doubling down on austerity. CEO Oliver Blume, in an interview with Manager Magazine, confirmed the group will cut another one million units of annual production capacity, bringing its global ceiling down from a once-ambitious 12 million cars to roughly 9 million. The move reflects a stark mismatch between output potential and real-world demand, with the company struggling to consistently exceed 10 million in annual sales since 2020.

The capacity cuts inevitably translate to workforce pressure. While Blume continues to position plant closures as a last resort, the reality is that fewer cars built means fewer hands needed. Volkswagen has already trimmed capacity in China and is now targeting Europe for further reductions, with brands like Audi sharing the burden. Against a backdrop of rising tariffs, geopolitical instability, and weakening demand, the company’s manufacturing footprint is being aggressively reshaped.

Cost Cuts Go Full Throttle

Back in early 2026, Volkswagen outlined a sweeping cost-reduction strategy aimed at cutting 20% of its total expenses within a few years. That plan is now being fast-tracked as the company grapples with declining margins, reportedly just 2.8%, and underperforming core segments. Traditional strongholds like sedans and hatchbacks are no longer delivering the volume they once did, forcing a fundamental rethink of product and production strategy.

Blume has been candid about the structural challenges. “Tariffs in the USA, immense competitive pressure in China, the shrinking European market, and now the war in the Middle East,” he said. “These developments are not simply passing. This is the new normal.” He added that “overcapacities are not sustainable for our company long term,” emphasizing that past volume expectations are now “unrealistic” in today’s fragmented and protectionist global market.

Downsizing to Survive

The Volkswagen Group is continually trying to keep itself afloat. The aggressive capacity cuts, shrinking model lineup, and relentless cost targets all point to a company bracing for a prolonged period of stagnation rather than growth. With EV plants underutilized and global expansion plans cooling, Volkswagen is effectively downsizing to survive rather than scaling to compete.

The risk is that this retrenchment comes at the expense of future innovation. With margins thin and billions needed for electrification and software development, Volkswagen may find itself forced to delay or dilute next-generation vehicles. In an industry rapidly pivoting toward EVs and digital ecosystems, falling behind now could have long-term consequences that no amount of cost-cutting can easily fix.

For years, modern car theft has been tied to relay attacks, signal amplification, and electronic exploits targeting brands like BMW, Land Rover, and Mercedes-Benz. All that high-tech, movie-style stuff you’d expect. This case, reported by WKMG News6 in Orlando, shows a far simpler method. Authorities say five suspects managed to steal 33 high-end vehicles worth over $2 million simply by opening unlocked cars and finding the keys inside.

The investigation, which ran for nearly 18 months, outlines a method that relied on access rather than technology. The group allegedly entered gated communities by following residents through security gates, then selected targets such as Lamborghini and Ferrari models. Surveillance footage reportedly shows suspects testing door handles before driving off in seconds. In several cases, the cars were taken while owners were nearby, highlighting how little resistance the thieves encountered.

Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy

Even with broader data suggesting theft rates are easing, this operation stands out due to scale and method. Beyond the vehicles themselves, investigators say the group exploited items left inside the cars. Credit cards and cash were used to purchase electronics and gift cards, with losses estimated at around $1 million in additional fraud.

The group’s activities were highly organized. A Tesla Model 3 was allegedly used to scout neighborhoods and move suspects between locations. Once stolen, vehicles had their GPS systems removed and were parked temporarily before being transported out of state using tow trucks. In one incident, a stolen BMW led to a high-speed chase that ended in a severe crash, yet authorities say activity continued afterward. The case underlines that advanced security systems offer limited protection when basic precautions are ignored.

The Lowdown

Keyless entry systems remain a known vulnerability, particularly for high-end vehicles. Digital attacks continue to be a concern across the industry. This case shows that simple oversight can be just as effective for criminals. An unlocked car with the key inside removes the need for any technical skill.

Whether it is a Rolls-Royce or an everyday vehicle, owners need to rely on basic habits. Lock the car, take the key, and remain aware of your surroundings, even in gated communities. The losses in this case show how quickly small lapses can escalate into major theft.

Related: 2027 BMW i3 Vs. 2027 Mercedes C-Class: Side-by-Side Gallery

Rear-Seat Comfort From a Class Above

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The standard i3 appears to be more compact than the G20 3 Series, especially with its abbreviated overhangs. With the long-wheelbase i3, the rear door has been stretched, as has the rear-quarter glass above it. This appears to balance the proportions of the sedan a little better. BMW says the i3 and iX3 wheelbases have been stretched to over three meters (around 118 inches); the standard models have wheelbases measuring 114 inches. 

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While no interior images of the long-wheelbase i3 were shared, the iX3’s cabin looks exceptionally spacious and plush. The model seen here even has headrest cushions, something we’re only used to seeing in a 7 Series. Being an electric model, occupants also benefit from a flat floor, so the center rear-seat passenger should be comfortable, too.

Both vehicles also come with a new, semi-concealed door handle that meets new national safety standards. China recently banned flush-style door handles due to the fact that they can prevent escaping a car after a crash. These new BMW EVs have handles with an electric and mechanical design.

“Through these new models exclusively for China, we are combining BMW’s globally leading technology platform with localized solutions developed around the needs and preferences of Chinese customers to create a truly superior luxury experience,” said BMW Group Chairman, Oliver Zipse.

America’s i3 and iX3 Are on the Way

In the U.S., the i3 and iX3 will stick with the shorter wheelbase and completely flush door handles. In most other respects, they are similar to the China-spec models.

The iX3 will arrive first, starting in summer 2026. It produces 463 horsepower, has up to 400 miles of range, and will start at around $60,000 for the first 50 xDrive dual-motor variant. However, additional single- and dual-motor models will join the lineup in 2027.

The i3 sedan will only arrive in U.S. showrooms in 2027. Also available in 50 xDrive guise initially, it matches the iX3’s 463 hp and 400-kW DC fast-charging capability. However, the i3 has a better range of up to 440 miles. The sedan body style should be lighter, improving performance and efficiency.

Both vehicles have BMW’s new Panoramic iDrive system with a center touchscreen and a new driver’s display at the base of the windshield. Pricing for the i3 isn’t known, but it will likely be slightly cheaper than an equivalent iX3.

In just the first quarter of 2026 alone, a historic 12.1 million vehicles have been recalled across the United States. This staggering volume is overwhelming dealership service departments and forcing millions of motorists to drive compromised vehicles. The crisis is heavily skewed by major domestic manufacturers, heavily impacting the consumer market with critical flaws in their best-selling units.

Record High Recalls

This failure is not a sudden development. The groundwork for this crisis was laid as automakers aggressively pushed complex software architectures and scaled production to meet demand. The current wave of defects follows years of escalating hardware and software integration issues across the industry. For example, a software bug in Ford's integrated trailer module causes a total loss of trailer brake and turn signal functionality, prompting a staggering recall covering over 4.3 million trucks and SUVs.

The situation escalated dramatically following a barrage of high-profile federal directives. The NHTSA and Ford announced a massive recall affecting roughly 1.4 million F-150 pickups built between 2014 and 2017. The issue is a transmission glitch that causes unintended, sudden downshifts, which is a massive safety liability at highway speeds.

Simultaneously, 235,000 Kia and Genesis vehicles were recalled over a critical fuel leak issue. This rapid succession of federal actions across major brands has thrust the industry’s manufacturing flaws into the national spotlight, exposing vulnerabilities in modern vehicle assembly.

The (Failing) Strategy

This crisis is not a sudden manufacturing anomaly; it is the direct consequence of a deliberate, industry-wide cost-cutting movement to maximize profits and keep the boards of directors happy. Over the last decade, automakers prioritized scaling complex software architectures rather than traditional rigorous physical stress-testing to maximize profit margins. By consolidating critical vehicle functions—such as braking, steering, and engine management—into centralized, digitally controlled modules, manufacturers significantly reduced physical assembly costs and material expenditures, while also ensuring that the customers have no choice but to bring the cars back to the manufacturer for all service and repair work.

This strategy has effectively replaced mechanical durability with digital fragility. It created a framework of planned obsolescence, where the lifecycle of a vehicle is no longer dictated by the endurance of its engine block, but by the stability of its proprietary code.

The volume of recalls marks the highest quarterly total in recent years, driven not by disparate mechanical wear but by highly concentrated, massive electronic campaigns. Ford alone accounted for 7.6 million units. A single electrical system failure—which caused a total loss of trailer brake functionality—forced the recall of over 4.3 million Ford trucks and SUVs simultaneously. The data definitively illustrates that isolated mechanical flaws have been entirely eclipsed by catastrophic software architecture failures across mass-market lineups.

This digital vulnerability accelerates the obsolescence of modern vehicles and severely undermines the consumer's right to repair. Automakers actively encrypt their software architectures, locking out independent mechanics and third-party repair shops. When a centralized module fails, independent garages cannot access the proprietary code necessary to reset or patch the system. This effectively bricks otherwise mechanically sound vehicles, forcing owners into backlogged dealership service bays and rendering the traditional, affordable repair market obsolete.

So, What Do We Buy?

It’s difficult to pick a manufacturer that’s doing a good job with quality these days. Even OEMs like Hyundai (Genesis & Kia), Toyota/Lexus, and Honda are struggling to avoid issues, but certainly are doing better than most other manufacturers in terms of quality control. If I could step out of my newsroom shoes and give you advice as objectively as possible, I would say buy something made before 2016, but if you absolutely must buy something new, base model variants with minimal electronics are the way to go.

We all know that sports cars are the very definition of grown-up toys. Our inner children are tickled and delighted by the prospect of owning and driving some of the world's best-performing cars.

Porsche has always leaned into this mindset by offering very unique special editions that cater to your inner child. Its latest collaboration will see it work with Disney and take on the theme of real toys.

911 Toy Story Edition

Porsche announced a partnership with Disney for the upcoming release of Toy Story 5 on June 19, 2026. This partnership will result in three special-edition Porsche 911s; each car will be themed after the movie's main characters, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Jessie.

Porsche says each car will draw inspiration from the movie's plot, in which the toys navigate an increasingly digital world. The three bespoke models will mirror this by "blending timeless storytelling with modern innovation," and all of the cars will capture the very essence and personality of the characters they're based on.

Bob Pauley, Pixar Production Designer, said that his time with the Porsche Sonderwunsch team was spent interpreting each character through the materials, color, and form of the special-edition 911s. He further explains that they made sure to stay true to the character without being literal.

A special teaser video was also released (see above) as part of the collaboration's marketing, tying into the notion that toys can be handed over to the next generation, just as Porsche says is possible with its cars.

All three 911s will be sold together, with the proceeds going to three different charitable causes that help children in need.

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Porsche x Disney

This isn't the first time Porsche and Disney have come together to bring a movie character to life. Fittingly, in 2022, they worked together to create a real-life road-going version of the beloved Cars movie character, Sally. In the movie, we know Sally takes the form of a Carrera 911, and it made perfect sense for an actual Sally Carrera to exist.

The 2022 Sally Carrera project featured numerous easter eggs from the movie and included a custom color called "Sallybluemettalic" that captured the character's hue. It was sold in an auction for $3.6 Million, setting a record price for a new Porsche sold at auction. The proceeds of the sale went to Girls Inc. and USA for UNHCR to support young women and refugees from the war in Ukraine.

"If you look at the brand identity of those three, the O'Reilly Series struggles a little bit just from the car perspective and you see it a lot because we refer to it often as whoever the entitlement sponsor is,” said Probst, who is also NASCAR’s chief racing development officer.

The executive added that bringing EVs into the second-tier division would be part of a long-term vision for the sport’s evolution into the 2030s, which may also include experimenting with a hydrogen combustion engine in the next five years.

Remember the EV Prototype NASCAR Built in 2024? Now It Wants to Race It

Now, you may be aware that NASCAR’s R&D unit built its first electric vehicle prototype in 2024, a crossover utility EV developed with help from ABB. Chevrolet and Ford have designed skins for the prototype since then, but the public’s reactions were mixed.

Probst said NASCAR is evaluating the potential of one day using that EV in the O’Reilly Auto Parts series (formerly known as the Xfinity Series).

“Long term, you see it as, we do have that CUV body that we developed for our electric vehicle. I’m not sitting here saying today we’re breaking news it’s going to CUV, but these are the things that are on the roadmap to consider, so you’d have a Truck, a CUV and a Cup, that’s three very different bodies that are relevant for our OEMs today to create that brand identity for each series,” Probst said.

While the executive suggested the shift toward EVs would happen in the long term, his comments did not go down well with NASCAR’s hardcore fans. For them, NASCAR is all about V8 internal combustion engines, so the talk of stock car racing potentially going electric—even in a second-tier series—is a big no-go.

Fans Are Fuming Over the Prospect of NASCAR Electric CUV Racing

Nothing shows how out of touch @NASCAR leadership is with the fans of their sport more than this. Best racing in all of the top 3 divisions and they want to change it. Typical.

— Aaron Murphy (@adm_217) April 21, 2026

Probst received significant backlash for his comments, with fans voicing strong opposition to the idea of introducing crossover EVs into the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, which is currently dominated by V8 coupes and sedans. Many fans see the series as the sport’s most competitive and entertaining division.

Adam Stern’s posts on X.com got flooded with comments from NASCAR fans who seriously disagree with the Probst’s EV plans. “Let’s not ruin the O’Reilly cars and add electric vehicles,” one fan wrote, while another one said this “would be disastrous for NASCAR.”

“Ruin the best series you have. Good idea,” another fan said. "Nothing shows how out of touch NASCAR leadership is with the fans of their sport more than this. Best racing in all of the top 3 divisions and they want to change it. Typical," said another one. And most of the 400+ comments are in the same vein, if less courteous.

Dale Earnhardt Jr Blasts NASCAR's EV Racing Plans

But it’s not just fans who oppose the idea. Dale Earnhardt Jr, one of the legends of the sport, has warned NASCAR against electrification.

“I would say that the O’Reilly Series has got a lot of good things going right now,” Earnhardt Jr said on the Dale Jr Download podcast as reported by Speedcafe. “Viewership is continuously on the rise and our cars we can all kind of relate to those cars when we look at them when we see them on the race track. Making a switch to anything unlike what we have would be a massive mistake and it would probably be the end of the rise.”

Earnhardt Jr, who runs a multi-car team in the O’Reilly Series under the JR Motorsports banner, added that he would not be interested in competing anymore if NASCAR made the switch.

“I’m certainly not interested in that car or that body or any of that,” he said. “Quit fiddling with everything and feeling like everything needs to be improved, fixed, changed. The series is doing really good. I don’t like the thought of the series changing vehicles and wouldn’t want to be… I don’t know how to say it, I’m just wouldn’t be interested in that.”

For years, the world's richest man, Elon Musk, has been vocal about rejecting what he once called “shady” tax loopholes. Yet a recent Reuters investigation suggests that Tesla leveraged one of the oldest tricks in the multinational playbook: profit shifting. By routing roughly $18 billion in profits through subsidiaries in the Netherlands and Singapore, the automaker likely avoided at least $400 million in U.S. taxes.

The mechanism is familiar to tax specialists. Tesla appears to have assigned intellectual property rights, think patents and proprietary tech, to offshore entities, allowing profits tied to those assets to be booked in low-tax jurisdictions. The Dutch unit, structured as a non-resident partnership with no employees, acted as a conduit, funneling earnings to a Singapore holding company that also paid no tax on the income. It’s all legal, and hardly unique, but it directly contrasts Musk’s public stance on tax avoidance.

Tariffs Push Production Home, No One Said Anything About Profits

While rising tariffs and geopolitical pressure have nudged automakers to localize manufacturing, often at higher cost, Tesla’s strategy shows you don’t necessarily need to bring profits along for the ride. Even as much of its revenue base remained U.S.-centric, filings reveal that a disproportionate share of profits was recognized abroad. That imbalance is what enabled the tax savings in the first place.

The numbers are striking. Tesla has historically reported far larger tax obligations overseas than in the United States, despite the latter accounting for roughly half its sales. Since 2003, foreign tax liabilities have totaled $6.4 billion, dwarfing its lone reported U.S. tax estimate of $48 million in 2023. The implication is clear: where profits are booked matters far more than where cars are sold, and Tesla optimized accordingly.

The Savings Are Real—But So Is the Pressure Building Around Tesla

From a balance-sheet perspective, shaving $400 million off a tax bill is a win. But the broader context is shifting. Tesla’s relationship with policymakers has grown more complicated, and scrutiny around corporate tax practices is only intensifying. Even if the offshore structure has already been scaled back, as hinted by a sharp increase in U.S.-reported profits in 2025, the reputational calculus is harder to unwind.

There’s also a strategic undertone here. As margins tighten and political headwinds mount, Tesla will need to keep finding efficiencies wherever it can. Whether that means operational streamlining, pricing adjustments, or more aggressive financial engineering is an open question. What’s clear is that the era of easy wins, whether from subsidies, tax credits, or regulatory arbitrage, is fading. The next phase will demand a different kind of discipline, one that extends beyond clever accounting.

Despite damages caused by a tornado to the plant in Normal, Illinois earlier in the week, the company has started production of R2 SUVs destined for customers on April 22, noting that deliveries are set to follow later this spring.

After building test prototypes and Manufacturing Validation Builds (MVBs), the factory has shifted to building R2 vehicles for clients. These first vehicles will undergo their final quality and validation checks internally before being shipped to Rivian service centers across the United States.

A Historic Moment for Rivian That Can Shape Its Future

“We are really excited to be producing R2 for our customers. The vehicle is incredible – it’s the result of all the hard work and dedication of the Rivian team. I can’t wait for customers to experience R2!” - @RJScaringe

Read more: https://t.co/R5K09Eufut pic.twitter.com/jfb0IY4xfK

— Rivian (@Rivian) April 22, 2026

“We are really excited to be producing R2 for our customers,” said Rivian Founder and CEO, RJ Scaringe. “The vehicle is incredible — it’s the result of all the hard work and dedication of the Rivian team. I can’t wait for customers to experience R2!”

Reaching this important milestone means that the R2 manufacturing process has been verified and the plant can churn out customer vehicles. It has quite a big backlog, as Rivian reportedly received well over 200,000 reservations. Now, that doesn’t mean Rivian has got 200,000 orders in the bag; a reservation is made with a $100 refundable deposit, so it’s pretty easy for a customer to pull out.

The company will have a more accurate picture of R2 demand starting in June, when customers will be invited to configure their R2 vehicles, according to Rivian CFO Claire McDonough’s comments to Reuters. The configurator will allow reservation holders to finalize their builds and commit to a firm order. Rivian says it is on track to start deliveries of R2 vehicles to customers later this spring, which likely means sometime in May.

The production start of the R2 is a make or break moment for the company as a successful rollout of the R2, which competes with the Tesla Model Y among many other midsize EVs, can turn the brand from a maker of high-end lifestyle SUVs and pickups into a serious EV player.

McDonough said that once R2 production reaches a higher run rate in 2027, it will cost the company less than half as much to build an R2 as the R1S. The savings will obviously help put Rivian on a firmer path to profit. The EV maker expects to deliver 22,000-23,000 R2s this year if demand remains steady and the production ramp goes as planned.

Loaded Rivian R2 Performance Launch Edition Is the First Trim to Reach Customers

Deliveries will start with the Rivian R2 Performance Launch Edition, a range-topping trim priced at $57,990 that features a dual-motor AWD powertrain rated at 656 horsepower and 609 pound-feet of torque. It uses a 87.9-kWh battery that enables an EPA-estimated 330-mile range.

This launch model is capable of accelerating from zero to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and has a top speed limited to 110 mph.

The R2 Performance Launch Edition is equipped as standard with a semi-active suspension, dynamic lighting, and rear drop glass, among other things. Launch Edition customers also get goodies like an exclusive exterior paint, a unique key fob, and a lifetime subscription to the Autonomy+ package for hands-free driving capabilities.

Following the Launch Edition model, Rivian plans to start production of the $53,990 Premium trim before the end of the year, with the R2 Standard to follow in the first half of 2027 with a starting price of $48,490. The promised $45,000 R2 base model will be the last to arrive, sometime in late 2027.

Horse Powertrain is making a bold play just as the industry starts hedging its EV bets, offering a pathway to convert electric platforms into hybrids. The concept centers on modularity, allowing automakers to integrate combustion engines into existing EV architectures without a ground-up redesign. It’s a strategy that could save billions in development costs while buying time as markets stabilize.

Related: New Powertrain Turns EV Platforms Into Hybrids Without Redesign

That paradigm underpins the debut of the Horse W30, the company’s first V6, and a clear signal of where it sees demand heading. This 3.0-liter unit is designed from the outset for hybrid applications, with flexible transverse and longitudinal mounting. It’s engineered to slot into a wide range of vehicles with minimal compromise, giving manufacturers a plug-and-play solution if they need to pivot quickly away from full electrification.

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Big Power, Smarter Efficiency

Rather than chasing gains through larger batteries or more powerful motors, Horse is focusing on system-level efficiency. Advances in material science, including the use of higher-grade steels, are improving motor efficiency and reducing energy loss. The goal is to extract more performance from less hardware, keeping weight and cost in check.

The W30 delivers on that brief. Weighing just 353 lbs, a full 22 lbs lighter than any comparable V6, it produces up to 536 hp and 516 lb ft of torque, revving to 8,000 rpm. Integrated exhaust manifolds and turbochargers mounted directly to the cylinder heads improve thermal management and throttle response. Paired with the 4LDHT hybrid transmission, the setup uses a P1 motor for charging and crank support, and a P3 motor for propulsion, balancing output and efficiency without inflating battery capacity.

The Age of Hybrids

The industry is in recalibration mode. EV adoption is still growing, but not at the pace many expected, and infrastructure remains uneven across key markets. That’s forcing automakers to rethink timelines, and hybrids are emerging as the most viable bridge between regulation, cost, and consumer demand.

I'm excited for this engine, particularly that 8,000 RPM redline. From a buyer’s standpoint, the appeal hasn’t changed. Hybrids offer a strong range, quick refueling, and increasingly impressive efficiency without requiring lifestyle changes. Systems like the W30 raise the ceiling further, adding serious performance into the mix. With production slated for 2028, it’s a signal that hybrids are gearing up for a sustained new golden age.

Lamborghini Revuelto SV Gets Angrier Bodywork

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At the front, the more extreme Revuelto variant dispenses with the open intakes below the headlights of the regular supercar, adding angular bodywork that calls to mind the Huracán STO and makes the car appear even more aggressive than usual. These slashes are connected to a deep chin spoiler that will increase downforce on the front axle, but the hood seems unchanged, perhaps indicating that this won't wear an SV badge; Lamborghini likes to change things up in the naming department. Add downforce at the front, and you need more at the back. The Revuelto SV duly obliges with a large wing, and it's unclear if this is attached to the same adaptive rear spoiler that the exiting Revuelto has or if it will be a permanently static fixture. Either way, the wing has holes through its outer elements to balance downforce and drag, and there are additional vents above the taillights, which sandwich a new exhaust system with four round tips in a hexagonal finisher.

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Elsewhere, the side skirts and rear diffuser appear unchanged, but Lamborghini may introduce additional bodywork later. The wheels also appear to be nothing special, but unlike those of the regular Revuelto, which are wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza Sport rubber, these don Bridgestone Potenza Race R rubber that is barely legal. The Aventador SVJ was a Nürburgring Nordschleife production car lap recordholder in 2018, setting a time of 6:44.97, and perhaps Sant'Agata wants the title back. To do so, it'll need to beat the Mercedes-AMG ONE, which set a time of 6:29.090. Whether Lambo shoots for the record or not, we expect revised suspension, lightweight wheels, and a relatively stripped interior.

Revuelto SV Is One of Several New Lambos Coming This Year

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Last month, Lamborghini announced that it would reveal several new cars in 2026, and while the automaker was not specific about what to expect, it said that these new arrivals would appear at major car shows like the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Monterey Car Week, taking place in July and August, respectively. Rumors suggest that, along with this Revuelto SV, an open-top Fenomeno may be among the reveals scheduled for this year. We've also captured spy shots of a drop-top Temerario, and there have been unconfirmed reports of Revuelto S and Revuelto Roadster variants, too. The Urus SUV is also expected to gain a new Performante variant, so Lamborghini has lots in store for enthusiasts. And with this hardcore Revuelto wearing an attention-grabbing camouflage wrap, it's clear that the Italian automaker will be showing off at least some of what's it's been cooking soon.

Related: This Is Your First Look at the Lamborghini Temerario Spyder

EX60 Must Succeed in U.S.

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In the first quarter of 2026, Volvo sales dropped by 32% in the U.S., with the company’s entire lineup seeing declines. The numbers were not helped by the fact that Volvo has discontinued its sedan and wagon range in this market. Expected to be keenly priced when it arrives, the EX60 will be an important addition to Volvo’s range.

“Today is an important milestone for our company and for Sweden as a whole, as we start to build the first EX60 customer cars,” said Håkan Samuelsson, Volvo Cars CEO. “We are now focused on a steady ramp-up of high-quality EX60 production, making sure this game-changing car will be a profitable growth driver in the coming years.”

Initial demand has been especially strong in Europe, which is why the company is keeping its Torslanda plant in Sweden open for an extra week this summer—the first time it has done so. For U.S. and Asian customers, order books will be opening later this spring.

Volvo EX60 Key Specs

The EX60 is styled to closely resemble the larger, three-row EX90. It’s a classy SUV with more restrained details than its somewhat controversial German rivals. Three variants were announced at launch:

• P6 with 369 horsepower (single motor)
• P10 with 510 horsepower (dual motors)
• P12 with 670 horsepower (dual motors)

Depending on the trim, the EX60 has a claimed range of between 290 and 400 miles, with gradually bigger battery packs as you work your way through the trims. A NACS-style charging port will allow for easy access to the Tesla Supercharger network, and charging speeds of up to 400 kW are possible. This can add 173 miles of range in just 10 minutes.

Something to watch closely will be the stability of the EX60’s software and infotainment interface. This is something Volvo struggled with when the EX90 was launched, with many owners left frustrated by glitchy screens and features that refused to work reliably. Volvo can’t afford the same setback with the EX60.

Related: New Volvo EX60 Will Feature A Seatbelt That Thinks

Final Thoughts

Volvo’s EV sales are down 14% to start the year, so the EX60 can’t come soon enough. It will plug a gap between the smaller EX30 (which is being discontinued) and the larger EX90. This is a sweet spot in the luxury EV market, where models are less vulnerable to tariffs but more attainable than full-size options. Besides the BMW and Mercedes, the EX60 will also compete against the Cadillac Optiq and Audi Q6 e-tron. It’s fast emerging as a highly competitive segment, but the Volvo’s specs suggest it has what it takes to succeed.

The 2026 Nissan Frontier landed this year with a handful of updates – nothing radical, but enough tweaks and new features to keep it in the midsize truck game. The real headline, though, was the arrival of the Pro-4X R by Roush: a factory-backed special with American tuner upgrades straight from Roush Performance.

This version was meant to be the tougher, more off-road-focused Frontier, with beefed-up suspension and bolder looks to take on trucks like the Colorado ZR2. On paper, it seemed like a smart move.

But there’s a catch. More than 1,200 trucks that already rolled out of Roush’s shop now have to head back.

According to a newly filed recall, 1,217 units of the Pro-4X R are affected, covering vehicles produced between late September 2025 and early March 2026. That effectively includes every example built before a key quality control fix was introduced.

What Went Wrong at the Factory

The problem isn’t complicated, but what can happen because of it definitely is.

At the Roush facility, some technicians apparently missed installing cotter pins on important suspension and steering parts. These tiny pins might not look like much, but they’re what keep fasteners from working loose. Without them, things like the upper control arm ball joint or steering tie rod can start to come apart over time. There’s also a chance some bolts weren’t tightened to spec, which just adds to the risk.

The risk is simple: a loose or disconnected joint might start with odd noises up front, but in the worst case, you could lose steering and crash.

The problem first surfaced through a dealer warranty claim on March 2, 2026, when a newly delivered truck showed a separation at the upper control arm. A missing cotter pin was identified. Not long after, a second case appeared involving a disconnected steering tie rod on a low-mileage vehicle. A third incident followed days later.

Roush’s own review found that some techs didn’t follow the usual instructions, and the paperwork wasn’t clear enough to prove that everything was tightened down the way it should have been.

What Owners Need to Do Next

Roush isn’t taking any chances. If you own one of these trucks, you’re being told not to drive it – get it towed to a Nissan dealer for a checkup.

At the dealer, techs will go over all the suspension and steering parts, add any missing cotter pins, swap out old ones, and make sure every bolt is tightened right. If anything’s damaged or missing, it gets replaced. Owners won’t pay a cent for the fix.

Roush has already tightened up its process as of March 2, 2026, with tougher checks and better paperwork to make sure every cotter pin is in and every fastener is torqued before a truck leaves the shop.

Owners should get notifications between mid-May and mid-June 2026. Until then, if you’ve got one of these trucks, it’s basically grounded until it gets checked out.

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Selling cars is a complicated and process-filled task; the safeguards put in place by the brand and the dealership are ironclad in ensuring a smooth transaction of business between the brand and the customer.

The dealership is the middleman, acting as the point of sale, showroom, and sales executor, sometimes to a fault. One important service offered by the dealership is after-sales maintenance for the cars, a labor- and time-intensive activity. Disputes between the brand and dealerships are rare, but a Bugatti dealership in Miami is taking its issue to court.

Bugatti vs. Bugatti

Automotive News reports that a Bugatti dealership in Miami is suing the mother company, Bugatti of the Americas. The suing dealership claims in the suit that, after requesting higher labor reimbursement rates, other allegations in the complaint include breaches of the dealership agreements, discriminatory vehicle allocation, and illegal sales directly to consumers.

The lawsuit highlighted that in September of 2024, Bugatti Miami (owned by Braman Enterprises) requested an increase in warranty parts reimbursement rates from 100.49% to 160%, and the request was approved.

In June of 2025, the same dealership asked Bugatti of the Americas for a hike in labor reimbursement rates to $1,350 per hour. After negotiations, it was agreed that the rates will increase to $1,100 from July to December 2025, then to $1,350 as of January 1, 2026.

Come February, Bugatti informed the dealership that it would no longer allow it to perform warranty work due to excessive parts and labor markups. This led the dealership to believe that they were "fraudulently and in bad faith induced to accept a temporarily reduced labor reimbursement" during the last half of 2025. Furthermore, Bugatti also said it would inform owners in the area that the Miami dealership will no longer offer warranty services.

Allocation Discrimination

Another part of the complaint is that the Miami dealer accuses Bugatti of failing to honor dealership agreements by holding back on car allocations. In the complaint, Miami received only two Tourbillion models and was denied an additional four models upon request. Bugatti Miami also said that the Bugatti Broward dealership was given nine Tourbillons for inventory.

An extreme allegation made by the lawsuit is that Bugatti has been engaging in direct-to-consumer sales in violation of Florida law. Essentially, this claim states that Bugatti is bypassing the (Miami) dealership for sales.

With fuel prices doing their usual wallet damage, some “enterprising” types have taken things to extremes, like literally drilling into fuel tanks to siphon petrol. For everyone else, there’s a far less criminal, and far more practical, response: carpooling. According to the Today show, a mix of relentless congestion, rising pump prices, and frictionless app-based coordination has pushed shared commuting back into relevance, particularly across major U.S. metros.

West Coast-based carpooling platform Scoop reported a 40% jump in rides from February to March alone, a sharp month-on-month spike that tracks closely with fuel price volatility and return-to-office mandates. Commuters in similar neighborhoods are algorithmically paired, splitting fuel costs instead of paying a full ride-share fare. With the average ride hovering around 18 miles and roughly $9 per person, it undercuts traditional ride-hailing while turning unused seats into tangible savings.

HOV Lanes Perks

The carpool (HOV) lane has long been the most coveted strip of asphalt during rush hour, a fast lane reserved for those clever enough to share a ride. But beyond shaving minutes off a commute, the modern carpool offers a more layered value proposition. It’s not just about beating traffic; it’s about redistributing the cost of mobility in an era where solo driving is increasingly inefficient.

There’s also a human element that’s been largely absent from the gigified transport economy. Unlike rideshare services, where interaction is optional and often minimal, carpooling introduces a recurring social dynamic. As highlighted in the video, most riders sit up front, creating a more conversational, shared experience. Whether it’s coworkers, neighbors, or even school administrators commuting together, the system builds micro-communities, something algorithms alone can’t replicate. Add in incentives from cities, like transit credits or perks, and carpooling starts to look less like a compromise and more like a strategic upgrade.

Public Transportation Isn’t Optional for Most

Let’s be honest: telling people to “just drive less” isn’t a solution and sound more like a soundbite. Public transportation isn’t optional for most, and the infrastructure in many parts of the U.S. still assumes car dependency. The real question isn’t whether people should drive less, but how they can drive smarter, carpooling answers that without requiring a wholesale lifestyle shift or waiting on long-term policy fixes.

What’s emerging here is a pragmatic middle ground. You keep the convenience and flexibility of a car, but dilute the cost and inefficiency by sharing the journey. When the average vehicle still carries barely more than one occupant, the upside is obvious. Modern carpooling has just been re-engineered for a smartphone-first world. And right now, with costs climbing and patience thinning, that reinvention is hitting at exactly the right time.

Ford has been on a recall spree, not just with one model. Just a few days ago, millions of F-150s were recalled for transmission problems – a big deal for Ford’s most important truck.

Now the midsize Ranger joins the list, but for a different reason. This isn’t a mechanical fault – it’s an electrical one. The numbers aren’t as huge as the F-150 recall, but over 140,000 trucks is still a lot.

What’s Actually Going Wrong

According to the safety recall report, the recall covers 2024 to 2026 model year Ford Rangers built between December 9, 2022 and December 28, 2025, totaling 140,201 trucks.

The problem involves the wiring harness for the sunvisor and headliner. In some trucks, the wiring may have too much tape or may not be routed correctly during assembly. Over time, this can cause the wires to rub against metal inside the A-pillar, wearing down the insulation and exposing the wire.

If that happens, a short circuit is possible. That’s when things get serious. A short can cause heat or sparks, which might lead to smoke, melted parts, or even a fire inside the A-pillar. That’s a real safety risk for anyone in the truck.

Ford found the problem after looking into a fire in a 2024 Ranger. They found trouble codes tied to the sunvisor circuit and signs of repeated electrical shorts. There aren’t many reports yet, but the risk was enough for Ford to issue a recall.

Drivers might spot early warning signs like flickering or dead vanity mirror lights, or overhead console lights that don’t work, before anything serious happens.

What Owners Should Do

Ford’s fix involves checking the truck, swapping out parts if needed, and updating the software. Owners will need to bring their Rangers to a dealer, where technicians will look for trouble codes. If they find damage, they’ll replace the wiring harness.

All recalled vehicles will also get a Body Control Module software update. This update is meant to cut power to the sunvisor circuit if repeated faults are detected, helping prevent future short circuits from becoming more serious. All the work to be done is free for owners.

Ford will send out recall notices in phases, starting with interim letters in late April 2026 and full instructions by August. For now, keep an eye out for warning signs and stay on top of recall updates.

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Today we’re bringing you two fresh Volkswagen EVs that have been unveiled for the first time at the Volkswagen Group Media Night event held on April 21 ahead of the Auto China 2026 show that starts this Friday in Beijing.

We’ve already covered the new Jetta X SUV concept, but the event also marked the world premiere of two new Volkswagen EVs: the ID. Unyx 09 flagship sedan built by the Volkswagen Anhui joint venture and the ID. Aura T6 midsize SUV built by FAW-Volkswagen.

These two new models, along with the Jetta X SUV and the AUDI E7X, are part of Volkswagen Group’s largest-ever product offensive in China. More than 20 electrified vehicles are coming onto the market in 2026 alone, and by 2030 that number will grow to 50 models—30 of which will be all-electric. Every aspect of these vehicles, from design and digital cockpit services to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), will be tailored specifically for Chinese customers.

VW ID. Unyx 09 Flagship Sedan Is Co-Developed with XPeng

Starting with the VW ID. Unyx 09 flagship sedan, it was co-developed with Xpeng in 24 months, just like the ID. Unyx 08 SUV which borrows technology from the Xpeng G9.

The ID. Unyx 09 electric sedan is almost 197 inches long and features sophisticated tech like advanced L2 driving assistance, high-performance computing, and an intuitive AI assistant. Those are enabled by Xpeng’s Turing AI chips, which are said to boast up to three times the computing power of current industry standards.

The Turing AI chip features a 40-core processor, dual Neural Processing Units (NPUs), and a neural network-optimized architecture tailored for end-to-end (E2E) large models, making it ideal for AI-defined vehicles, robots and flying cars.

Mind you, Volkswagen said the ID. Unyx 09 shown in Beijing is a “close-to-production” vehicle, which means that some changes may happen before it enters production. Still, it looks pretty much ready for prime time in these photos.

The automaker did not disclose anything else about the ID. Unyx 09, but from a design standpoint it’s pretty clear that it’s closely related to the ID. Unyx 08 SUV. It’s got a very similar front end featuring split lighting with eyebrows-like LED DRLs on top and slim headlights below. The headlights are continued by a black trim piece that gives the impression it pierces through the wheel while crossing the fender and ending on the front door.

At the rear, the slim LED taillights also remind of the ID. Unyx 08 SUV in the way they almost meet in the middle of the trunk, separated by an illuminated VW logo.

ID. Aura T6 Debuts VW's New China Electronic Architecture (CEA)

Moving on to the VW ID. Aura T6, it is a midsize SUV built by FAW-Volkswagen and marks the beginning of a new series of vehicles that will feature the ID. Aura designation. The all-electric SUV features a more conventional design than the ID. Unyx 09, with clean lines and surfaces.

The ID. Aura T6 is described as a cornerstone model for the brand as it is built entirely on the China Electronic Architecture (CEA), developed by the Volkswagen Group China Technology Company (VCTC) and Cariad China with Xpeng.

This new technological foundation is said to reduce ECUs by 30%, enable over-the-air (OTA) updates and support advanced AI, including onboard AI Agents that provide “highly intuitive, human-like interaction between vehicle and customer while ensuring robust personal data protection.” CEA also enables advanced L2 assisted driving.

From 2027, the next-generation CEA 2.0 will integrate intelligent driving and cockpit control into a unified system across all powertrain types empowered by Agentic AI. According to the automaker, this will mark the Volkswagen Group’s next step towards the AI-Defined-Vehicle era in China.

Ford Reportedly Paid Hundreds of Dollars Per Shelby Model Sold

According to the publication, which cites insiders as its source, Ford reportedly paid "approximately $800 in royalties for each Mustang Shelby sold," though this has not been officially confirmed by either Ford or Shelby American. While it's unclear how long this particular payment agreement may have been in place, some quick math shows that $800 per car adds up to millions of dollars per series relatively quickly. Just looking back as far as the S550 generation, the Shelby GT350 and GT350R's combined 24,211-unit production run would translate to $19,368,800 in royalties. Add in the GT500, of which 14,130 vehicles were produced over three years, and the bill climbs by another $11,304,000. That's a grand total of $30,672,800, which is big bucks in anybody's book.

Related: Every S650 Ford Mustang Ranked By Horsepower From EcoBoost to 800 HP GTD

Following the reveal of the Dark Horse SC (recently confirmed to make 795 horsepower and carry a $103,490 starting price), Shelby American has since announced the development of a Mustang for the Trans Am racing series, so it will be racing again soon. But we get where Ford is coming from—aligning the special 'Stang and its race-derived upgrades with Ford's factory-supported efforts in motorsport, including Formula One, is logical marketing. Add in the savings from not paying royalties to use the Shelby name, as well as the fact that a new name can create a new generation of fans, and it all makes sense. But could it return?

Special-Edition Ford Name Changes Are "Cyclical"

Speaking with Road & Track, Shelby American president Gary Patterson was asked about Ford's decision to move on from the Shelby name, and his response suggested that Ford could take advantage of the heritage-rich name someday in the future. "Those things are cyclical, right? And it just depends on what's going on within their own company and what their directives are at any one time," he said, adding, "They're using Dark Horse, but you know what? This isn't any different than the Sixties. They went to Boss, all that stuff. So everybody gets all excited about this stuff, and I'm like, 'Look, it's part of a cycle.' And it'll come and go and so forth. What we do is we stay very focused on who Shelby is, and how we can also help polish the Blue Oval."

Basically, Shelby American remains open to collaboration with Ford, and since the latter has given special Mustangs names like Boss, Mach 1, Bullitt, and Cobra, the Shelby name could well be reintroduced someday if an internal study reveals that customers long for it. Sure, it would cost Ford a few hundred dollars on each car, but perhaps it would be worth the payments if the car is special enough. On the other hand, Ford could find such great success with Dark Horse and other names that it decides the Shelby name is unnecessary. Furthermore, as Shelby launches tuned Mustang after tuned Mustang, the name may ultimately become synonymous with the aftermarket, for better or worse.

When Kia showed the Vision Meta Turismo late last year, it was clear this wasn’t just another show car. The proportions and stance immediately reminded many of the Stinger GT, even if Kia didn’t say so outright. There was intent behind the design, not just a collection of futuristic ideas.

At Milan Design Week, Kia revealed more about the Vision Meta Turismo. The Korean marque positions itself as a grand tourer built for the digital era, blending performance with a new in-car experience. The design still follows Kia’s 'Opposites United' approach, but now it’s clearer how that could shape its next electric sedans.

Design, Tech, and That Digital Layer

The cab-forward shape and low, wide stance give the Vision Meta Turismo a solid, planted look. Geometric lines and a glass canopy make it stand out as a concept, but it’s the smaller details that really catch your attention.

Kia says the car is built around three things: performance, digital interaction, and comfort. Inside, you can see that split. The driver’s seat is focused and minimal, with a slim instrument cluster and light seats that feel ready for real driving. The passenger side is more relaxed, with a seat that can even rotate for a social setup when parked.

In terms of digital tech, there’s an augmented-reality head-up display covering the windshield, similar to what BMW is doing with its latest models, like the Neue Klasse iX3.

There’s a playful side, too. The joystick-style shifter simulates gear changes, with haptic feedback and fake engine sounds. It’s a similar idea to what Hyundai did with the Ioniq 5 N that everyone just seems to love.

The steering setup borrows from gaming, with modes like Speedster, Dreamer, and Gamer. In Gamer mode, the car becomes an entertainment hub when parked. It’s the kind of creative interface you’d expect from a high-end concept, but with a different focus.

What This Could Turn Into

Kia hasn’t confirmed what the Vision Meta Turismo will turn into, but the direction is obvious. This looks like a preview of a future flagship EV, maybe something above the EV6 and EV9, or linked to the rumored GT1 project.

The blend of performance features and digital tech shows Kia is aiming for a more premium segment. It’s not just raising the price, but changing how the car feels to use. By focusing on engagement, even with digital tricks, Kia is looking to keep enthusiasts interested as it goes electric.

If this makes it to production, some of the wilder features will probably be dropped. But the main ideas – driver-focused EV performance, digital layers, and flexible interiors – are likely to stay.

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The seventh-generation 7 Series receives its first facelift, what BMW calls an LCI (Lifecycle Impulse) for the 2027 model year, benefiting from Neue Klasse technology and design language from the company's iX3 and i3 models. This is a heavier refresh than we typically see from an LCI model, and it fixes on of the biggest complaints many online critics had with the pre-facelift model: its ugly face.

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This isn't a ground-up redesign, but BMW moved around the main headlights and reshaped the crystal headlights, which now look thinner and more stately. The new design is smoother rand more cohesive than before.

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Both the gas-powered 7 Series and electric i7 models still have large kidney grilles, which are illuminated with BMW's Iconic Glow feature, but the radars, sensors, and washer nozzles are now hidden better.

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Buyers can opt for a hand-finished BMW Individual Dual Finish paint that takes more than 75 hours to apply.

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The interior benefits from the latest Neue Klasse technology suite, including BMW Panoramic iDrive with BMW Operating System X. The pillar-to-pillar projection from the iX3 and i3 has been transplanted, but the 7 Series also adds new passenger screen.

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The rear seat delivers peak luxury with an available Executive Lounge specification and optional BMW Theater Screen. BMW has added Zoom video conferencing to the Theater Screen, which measures over 31 inches.

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The gas-powered 740 and 740 xDrive models get an upgrade under the hood; the B58 inline-six now produces 394 horsepower. A 750e PHEV model is coming in 2027 with 483 hp.

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The all-electric i7 now features BMW's Gen6 cylindrical battery cells, improving the range to over 350 miles in the 50 xDrive and 60 xDrive variants. A new standard NACS port enables charging speeds up to 250 kW, an improvement from the previous 195 kW peak.

General Motors may have taken a multibillion-dollar hit to its electric-vehicle strategy, but the company remains committed to sustainability. In fact, GM has secured enough renewable energy to match 100% of its electricity use across all U.S. facilities in 2025, making it the first U.S. automaker to do so.

That does not mean every GM facility runs solely on renewable electricity in real time. Rather, the company says it contracts enough clean energy from sources such as solar and wind to match its annual U.S. electricity use on a 1:1 basis. It matters because the company can support vehicle production with cleaner energy while reducing climate impact. Other benefits include strengthening its EV narrative with models like the Chevrolet Silverado EV and limiting exposure to energy price volatility.

Inside the Energy Strategy

The feat was achieved by GM’s diverse mix of renewable energy sources. In 2025, 40% came from clean-energy utility programs, while 37% was sourced through virtual power purchase agreements. The smaller remaining share came from unbundled renewable energy credits (14%), default delivered renewable energy (8%), and on-site generation and landfill gas (1%).

As a result, GM has reduced operational emissions by 52% since 2018. It has also contracted 1.5 GW of renewable energy capacity through 2026, enough to power 260,000 homes annually. In terms of economic impact, the company’s renewable energy investments generated $1.9 billion in GDP, created 1,528 construction jobs per year, and supported 65 operational jobs per year from 2015 to 2024.

Meanwhile, projects scheduled for 2025 to 2026 are expected to generate $333 million in GDP.

Expanding the Mission

General Motors says its “zero-emissions journey starts before an EV customer ever hits the accelerator.” The company operates an EV plant in Michigan called Factory Zero, which is intended to drive renewable energy adoption across the automotive value chain through programs such as Transform: Auto, a commitment it is encouraging suppliers and partners to join.

GM’s Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant, which builds EVs including the Cadillac Lyriq and Vistiq, is also part of that commitment. However, not all EVs are produced in the U.S. The Chevrolet Equinox EV and Blazer EV, along with Cadillac’s entry-level EV, the Optiq, are built at its Ramos Arizpe Assembly plant in Mexico.

Whether savings from more stable energy costs and reduced emissions-compliance spending will improve vehicle affordability remains unclear, but it’s a notable step forward in sustainability.

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But Isuzu keeps selling passenger vehicles in other parts of the world, and it currently builds only two models, the D-Max and the MU-X midsize SUV, which is actually based on the pickup.

Known for its rugged durability, impressive off-road capabilities, class-leading towing and payload ratings, as well as robust diesel engines, the D-Max has the reputation of a dependable workhorse.

Prices Start at Over $81,000 in the UK

To keep up with the times, the D-Max has received an all-electric variant that should enhance the nameplate’s appeal in some markets, including the UK. Unveiled a year ago at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham, the Isuzu D-Max EV is starting UK deliveries next month, and the prices have just been announced. Spoiler alert: it’s expensive.

The new Isuzu D-Max EV starts at £59,995—the equivalent of $81,000—for the eDL40 trim with extended cab, while the same trim with double cab costs £60,995 ($82,300). There’s also a range-topping eV-Cross trim priced from £62,495 ($84,350). That’s a lot of money for a midsize pickup, but it’s competitive with the Toyota Hilux BEV, which hasn't launched in the UK yet but is expected to start at around £60,000.

The Isuzu D-Max EV features a 66.9-kWh battery enabling a 163-mile range (WLTP combined); for comparison, the Hilux BEV offers a claimed range of 149 miles. In the city, the D-Max EV is said to cover almost 224 miles.

The D-Max EV's battery powers a dual-motor AWD powertrain with a combined 200 horsepower and 256 pound-feet of torque; the front electric motor has 62 hp while the rear motor has 138 hp. This setup enables the electric pickup to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 10.1 seconds and reach a top speed of over 80 mph.

It Beats the Electric Hilux at Hauling and Towing

The good thing about the D-Max EV is that it doesn't sacrifice the pickup truck stuff for the sake of electrification. It is as capable as its diesel-powered sibling, becoming the first fully electric commercial pickup in the UK to offer a payload of over 1 metric ton (2,204 pounds), which is significantly better than the Hilux BEV’s 1,576-lb payload.

The D-Max EV also has a towing capacity of 3.5 metric tons (7,716 pounds), more than double than the Hilux BEV’s 3,525-lb rating. Isuzu does not say what driving range the D-Max EV is expected to offer when hauling and towing, but you can be sure it drops significantly from the advertised 163 miles.

Isuzu does say the D-Max EV offers an optional Eco drive mode that extends the range (it does not say by how much), as well as four selectable regenerative charging levels. Speaking of charging, the D-Max EV’s battery takes one hour to charge from a DC supply at maximum 50 kW or six hours from an AC supply at maximum 11 kW.

As Rugged and Capable as the Diesel-Powered Isuzu D-Max

The D-Max EV uses the same strengthened ladder chassis of the regular Isuzu D-Max, but adds a new De-Dion semi-independent suspension system replacing the traditional leaf springs to manage the increased weight of the battery pack, improve handling and refinement, as well as reduce cabin noise and vibration under full acceleration by up to 10%.

The off-road capability is also worthy of the D-Max name, with the EV featuring the D-Max Rough Terrain Mode, 210-mm (8.2-in) ground clearance, 600-mm (23.6-in) maximum water fording, and impressive off-road approach and departure angles of 30.5 degrees and 24.2 degrees respectively.

The new Isuzu D-Max EV’s standard equipment includes a leather/high-grade cloth interior, dual-zone climate control, heated seats, front and rear parking sensors, bi-LED headlights, a 7-inch driver information display. All models come with an eight-year, 125,000-mile battery warranty.

Willow Springs is one of the few tracks most can describe as quaint, situated in Southern California. It has, over the years, served as a venue for racing, but also become a trackday favorite in more recent times. It also has many starring roles in U.S.-based YouTube car videos. Willow Springs is also known as the "Fastest Road in the West" and is considered by most to be the oldest continuously operating road course in the U.S.

In 2025, the historic track was bought by Singer Vehicle Designs and CrossHarbor Capital Partners, with the intention of developing it as a destination for the motoring and racing community.

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Singer Drivers Club Experience

Singer and CrossHarbor have announced a new project, the Singer Drivers Club. This exclusive experience will be a private members' club at the Willow Springs circuit, serving as a new hospitality area. It will be just the first step in both companies' plans to make the Southern California race track a world-class automotive destination. Singer and partners are keen to make Willow Springs a global hub for motorsports and the community.

The whole complex spans 600 acres, and the track has multiple layouts. The new owners are saying that all three track layouts will remain open to track visitors. New enhancements to the current facilities are also underway to improve the whole experience.

Within this complex will be the Singer Drivers Club, which will operate as an independent entity. Some of the experiences offered within the driver's club will include concierge services, driver coaching, and a bespoke food and beverage program, creating a distinct and elevated presence within Willow Springs.

One key aspect stressed by the group is that this experience will be different from other private track clubs. Singer's package will give members access to multiple tracks and driving environments in a single destination. This is their means to achieve variety and a better progression of driver skill. Members can engage across a spectrum of disciplines, from high-speed circuit driving to technical development and off-road exploration.

Championship Star Power

As if this exclusive couldn't get any better, the Singer Drivers Club will offer members a chance to use a unique fleet of Porsche 718 Caymans and the more track-focused GT4 RS, along with driver coaching and data analysis. From a more grassroots standpoint, there will also be a karting experience, anchored by Singer's global ambassador, Formula 1 World Champion and pundit Jenson Button.

Part complex will also have member-only facilities, including the Streets Paddock House and the Member Lounge, which feature a bar and lounge, locker rooms, simulators, and conference rooms.

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Nearly ten years after it first rolled off the line, the Volkswagen Atlas has quietly hit a milestone that says a lot about its place in the US market. One million units have now come out of the Chattanooga, Tennessee plant – not because of any one big sales year, but thanks to consistent demand year after year.

The Atlas has become one of Volkswagen’s most important models in the US, now second only to the Tiguan in sales. In 2025, VW sold 71,044 Atlas units here, which helps explain how the SUV reached that million-unit milestone.

Built for the US, and It Shows

Volkswagen started building the Atlas in Chattanooga back in 2016, and from the start, it was designed with North American buyers in mind. That’s clear in the essentials: three real rows, cargo space you can actually use, and a focus on comfort instead of just style.

In 2019, Volkswagen added the Atlas Cross Sport – a two-row version for those who wanted the same size and look but didn’t need all the seats. Even so, most buyers still go for the standard Atlas, which accounts for about three-quarters of production, with the Cross Sport filling the rest.

Last year, the Atlas family moved over 100,000 units in the US. Nearly a third of all Volkswagens sold here now wear the Atlas badge in some form, which shows just how central this SUV has become to VW’s plans in America.

This milestone also puts a spotlight on the Chattanooga plant and its team, both of which have grown with the Atlas program and now play a big part in Volkswagen’s North American operations.

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A New Chapter Starts with the 2027 Model

Volkswagen isn’t letting up. The next Atlas has already made its debut at the New York International Auto Show, giving us a look at how VW plans to evolve its proven formula.

The 2027 Atlas gets a bolder look, more tech, and a more upscale interior, but the basics haven’t changed. It’s still about space, practicality, and the features families actually use in a midsize SUV. More importantly, VW has confirmed that electrified versions of the Atlas family is on the horizon.

The new model is scheduled to go on sale in the US this fall. Not long after, Volkswagen will roll out the second-generation Atlas Cross Sport, rounding out the next phase of a nameplate that has quietly become one of the brand’s most reliable performers.

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What the bZ Woodland Actually Is

The Woodland is a dual-motor, all-wheel drive electric midsize SUV, larger than the more affordable bZ, sitting on a 74.7 kWh battery pack. It produces 375 horsepower and 396 lb-ft of torque, with the torque arriving the way it always does in EVs: instantly. Range is rated at 281 miles on standard tires, dropping to 260 miles on the optional all-terrain rubber. DC fast charging at up to 150 kW can bring the battery from 10 to 80 percent in around 30 minutes, and a Level 2 home charger handles a full top-up in roughly seven hours. Pricing starts at $45,300, stretching to around $48,000 for the Premium trim. The 382-horsepower Supra, by comparison, also does 3.9 seconds, but you'll pay around $60,000 for the privilege, and you get only two seats.

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Fast Is Easy Now. Does That Actually Matter?

Electric motors have made performance almost embarrassingly democratic. A family SUV matching a sports car's sprint time is no longer a headline that shocks engineers; it's just the nature of instant torque and dual-motor AWD. The more interesting question is whether any of this speed is actually what buyers of a practical electric SUV need. The bZ Woodland's job is to carry families, haul cargo, occasionally venture off-road, and make daily charging painless. Range, charging infrastructure access, and real-world usability are the metrics that determine whether an EV is genuinely useful. A 3.9-second 0-60 is a fun talking point, but a much more useful upgrade for the people actually buying these types of EVs would be a range greater than the Woodland's 281 miles, via more conservatively tuned electric motors. Sure, the speed is a bonus. A very impressive one, but it’s just a little pointless at the end of the day for the type of car the bZ Woodland is.

Chameleon Carriers

The mechanism is straightforward. When a commercial carrier racks up a large number of safety violations, out-of-service orders, or crippling fines, the operators don't pay up. Instead, they fold the company. Days later, the exact same trucks, drivers, and management apply for a new Department of Transportation (DOT) number. For roughly $1,000, they buy a clean slate. Repeat offenses aren't a byproduct of the system; they are the underlying business model.

The sheer scale of “Semi-gate”, as I like to call it, was recently laid bare by CBS’s 60 Minutes. In an eight-month-long investigation, correspondent Bill Whitaker exposed Super Ego Holding, a sprawling transport network operating between the U.S. and Serbia. The investigation revealed an operation where overseas agents routinely hacked electronic logging devices, allowing drivers to push past legal exhaustion limits. When the regulatory heat turned up, whistleblowers testified that management ordered drivers to literally slap duct tape over old company logos to display newly minted DOT numbers. The barrier to entry for this game? An internet connection and a nominal registration fee, entirely avoiding meaningful safety audits.

Are American Motorists Safe?

For the American motorist, the repercussions are severe. The 60 Minutes episode referred to industry analytics firm Fusable’s research, which notes that these reincarnated fleets are four times more likely to trigger severe collisions than legitimate new operators. The numbers connected to the Super Ego network alone are chilling: nearly 15,000 safety violations and 500 crashes in just two years.

Federal Action

These figures have finally triggered federal action. Super Ego is now the subject of an active federal investigation, and lawmakers recently introduced the SAFE Act (H.R. 7539) to force the FMCSA to implement automated screening to block chameleon applicants at the door. Yet, Washington has known about this for over a decade. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) first flagged the chameleon carrier crisis in 2012, citing crash data stretching back to 2005. The root problem is simple math. The FMCSA employs roughly 350 investigators to police over 700,000 motor carriers. It takes months of legal maneuvering to shut down a dangerous fleet, but only a few weeks to register a new one online.

The freight industry runs on razor-thin margins. Until regulators mandate rigorous physical vetting over digital paperwork, bad actors will keep exploiting the system because it is cheaper to rebrand than to repair brakes and let drivers sleep.

For the everyday commuter, your best defense is distance. Maintain a wide berth around battered rigs, especially those sporting fresh, hastily applied DOT decals over older paint or duct-taped doors. The company name might only be a week old, but the heavy machinery—and the exhausted driver behind the wheel—could be harboring a long, dangerous, and unresolved past.

Tesla is reportedly building two new Supercharger stations that won’t be open to the public. Instead, the sites, which have been filed for permits in Arizona, will be dedicated to the company’s Robotaxi fleet, signaling confidence that a wider Robotaxi deployment could gain approval in the state.

So far, Tesla’s unsupervised Robotaxi operations are active in Texas, including its newest expansions into Dallas and Houston. In the San Francisco Bay Area, however, the Robotaxi fleet still requires a safety driver. A fully scaled operation would ultimately require removing the human driver, since people are limited by shift rules and break requirements. A private Supercharger site would also prevent the fleet from waiting in line behind other EV owners, especially now that several automakers, including Stellantis, have gained access to the Supercharger network.

On the same day, Tesla also submitted a draft for another proposed location in the city of Mesa, also listed as private use.

This site is located in an industrial area on the east side of the city. pic.twitter.com/jCC1IsKKKw

— MarcoRP (@MarcoRPi1) April 17, 2026

The Sites Behind the Strategy

The plans to build non-public Supercharger sites in Arizona were shared by X user MarcoRP, who said one will be located in Chandler and the other in Mesa. In the city of Chandler, Tesla submitted pre-permits for 56 V4 Supercharger stalls.

V4 Superchargers are Tesla’s latest generation of DC fast chargers. They can deliver up to 325 kW, compared with 250 kW on the V3 network. The underlying infrastructure is also designed to be future-proof, with the company saying it can support up to 500 kW. For a Robotaxi fleet, that could simply translate to faster turnaround times.

Meanwhile, the upcoming Cybercab is expected to use wireless charging, a technology already offered for EVs such as the Porsche Cayenne Electric. That should make operations more seamless, as there would be no need for a human to plug in the charger. The Cybercab is also designed as a two-seater, which could work in its favor for riders who usually travel alone by eliminating unnecessary weight. Customers who need more space could opt for a Model Y Robotaxi.

Scaling the Bigger Vision

Arizona is just one of the areas Tesla plans to expand its Robotaxi fleet into this year. During the company’s Q4 2025 earnings call, the company also said it is targeting expansion in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Las Vegas.

This latest development suggests that more private Superchargers dedicated to the Robotaxi fleet could be deployed across the U.S. in the coming years.

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There is a space where the Audi RS6 Avant competes; alongside it are a few nameplates still holding the torch for enthusiasts who crave high-performance wagons. This segment of the automotive industry used to have an abundance of choices, but SUVs have taken their share, reducing the number of wagons available.

Audi's RS6 has found a way to keep the wolves at bay by being the ultimate expression of practical high-performance. Instead of buying a fast SUV, the RS6 became a go-to for the power-hungry family man.

Out With The Old

Despite its inherent appeal and relevance, the RS6 has been around for quite some time. A lot of questions are coming up about the next-generation model, and some answers have been provided. CarSales was able to get a quote from Audi Sport boss Rolf Michl, giving us insight into Audi's thinking for the next RS6. He was asked whether the RS6 would have any relation to the current plug-in hybrid RS5. Michl said the RS6 will have a very compelling package, and it won't simply be a copycat of the RS5.

The question raised is valid, considering the RS6's party piece is that it still offers a V8. Most of the competition have downsized the engine cylinders or displacements to meet stricter emissions and noise regulations. The RS5 is equipped with a plug-in hybrid system assisting a twin-turbo V6, which, on paper, doesn't sound like much of a downgrade, but the RS6 is known for the V8.

Michl also cites his numerous experiences having driven over hundreds of miles in both the RS5 and RS6. He says it's more than just about the size of the engine, but about how convincing the package is as a whole. He also basically guarantees that the new RS6 will not stand on its own and will be built from the ground up.

Save the V8?

Michl's comments are pretty telling, as he confirms the RS6 will retain the individuality of the rest of the lineup. We can speculate that the next generation could be special. The question now is, if it's not going to have the same twin-turbo V6 PHEV found in the RS5, will it still offer a V8?

Lucky for Audi, they have access to multiple parts, and they could look to their siblings at Bentley or Porsche for V8s with plug-in hybrid technology.

The 2027 BMW 7 Series just arrived with new exterior styling, a radically new interior, and some tweaks under the hood. BMW will launch the facelifted model with two gas-powered variants, the 740 and 740 xDrive. Both of which will use a B58 turbocharged inline-six engine that now delivers 394 horsepower, up from 375 hp thanks to new updates such as a different turbocharger.

Speaking with Autoblog at the reveal event in New York City, BMW confirmed the upcoming V8-powered M Performance 7 Series will also see a power increase over the outgoing pre-facelift model. "The V8 will have more power than before," said Michael Keller, Vice President Product Management Americas for BMW Group US.

What To Expect

As a reminder, the previous 760i xDrive produced 536 hp from its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8. We know this engine is capable of producing far more, even without adding plug-in hybrid systems in products like the M5 and XM, but Keller did not specify how much to expect from the upcoming M Performance variant. We'd like to see the 7 Series produce at least 567 hp, the same amount as the X5/X6 M non-Competition models.

No official name has been announced for this upcoming variant, which is expected to arrive in 2027 after the plug-in hybrid model goes on sale. BMW will drop the lower case "i" at the end, and add an upper case "M" because it's an M Performance variant; expect it to be called the M760.

A Better 7 PHEV

It's not just the gas-only 7 Series models and the electric i7 variants that will see improvements for the 2027 model year. Though the 26-page press release does not mention any specifics, a BMW product spokesperson confirmed to Autoblog the upcoming 750e xDrive PHEV will see an increase to its usable battery capacity, unlocking more electric driving range.

The EPA currently rates the 750e at 35 miles of electric-only range thanks to its 22 kWh battery pack, of which 18.7 is usable. Much like how the i7 saw a battery improvement during the LCI, the 750e will unlock more usable capacity, potentially pushing its electric range closer to 40 miles.

Unfortunately, this model will not receive a power bump. It will still make 308 hp from a B58 inline-six with 194 hp from an electric motor, combining to deliver 483 hp. 750e production begins Q4 of 2026, with deliveries starting in Q1 of 2027.

Crashworthiness: Colorado Falls Behind

The midsize segment isn’t off to a great start, as not a single model currently qualifies for the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ awards from the IIHS. In the crashworthiness category, the safety authority conducts the following tests: small overlap front, involving the vehicle striking another vehicle or object with its front corner; the moderate overlap front, which is an offset crash between two vehicles; and the side test, which determines the structural integrity of a vehicle’s side. Each test is rated Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor, so here’s a look at how these midsize pickups fared.

The Toyota was not evaluated for the moderate overlap front yet, so can’t qualify for a safety award. The Colorado is immediately disqualified for an award due to a Marginal rating in this test, where there was a heightened risk for head, neck, and chest injuries for rear-seat occupants. The Jeep was better overall, but its merely Acceptable rating in the first test disqualified it from an award, as the driver could experience an increased risk for lower leg and foot injuries.

If the Tacoma can ace its moderate front overlap test, it will be the sturdiest of the three for crashworthiness. Due to the Colorado’s one Marginal result, it currently ranks behind its two rivals.

Related: Ford Explorer Vs. Toyota Grand Highlander: Which Three-Row SUV is Safer?

Crash Prevention: Toyota Best at Avoiding a Crash

Modern safety involves a vehicle’s ability to avoid a crash, not just protect occupants if the worst happens. Here, the IIHS tests the headlights, along with each pickup’s ability to avoid a collision with another vehicle or a pedestrian.

In tests that were completed, the Toyota outshines its rivals. It scored a Good rating in both crash-prevention tests, although its headlights were only Acceptable. The Colorado failed to get a single Good rating for crash prevention, and the Gladiator got a Poor result because it lacks pedestrian front crash prevention tech. Impressively, the Tacoma avoided a collision at all tested speeds. It’s the best pickup here for avoiding a crash from occurring in the first place.

Final Verdict: Toyota Wins

Although the Tacoma has one outstanding crashworthiness result, it’s the only truck here to avoid any Marginal or Poor ratings, so it outclasses the other two and may still be eligible for an IIHS safety award. Jeep has a lot of work to do in terms of crash-prevention tech, but it’s better than older Gladiator models. Chevy has improvements to make in both areas, too, and we’d argue that crash-prevention should be a priority for pickup trucks. These are large, heavy vehicles that pose a greater risk to other road users if a collision does occur.

The U.S. got the Hiace briefly in the 1980s, only to have it discontinued a few years after its launch. Minivans simply outpaced demand for traditional ladder-frame vans, even though Toyota outsold other Japanese rivals in the segment.

Built on the bones of another legendary Toyota (also not found stateside), the Hilux, other parts of the world get to enjoy the robust reliability that the Toyota Hiace delivers. In parts of Europe and Asia, the Hiace is a household name, and it's getting a major overhaul soon, Japan's Response reports.

The new Hiace is known around the world as a commercial van, passenger van, and even as a luxury MPV – similar to yet another luxury minivan the U.S. doesn't get, the Alphard. What we do get is the Toyota Sienna, which is a close-enough model for families looking for a minivan. The key difference is that the Hiace is body-on-frame, which makes it more robust than the Sienna.

New Design

Japanese sources are reporting new developments regarding the Hiace, including an expected redesign and overhaul of its platform. There are two series currently in service: the H200, with its mid-ship driver-on-top-of-the-engine layout, and the H300, the one with the nose. The new platform will be built on the H300.

The Hiace Concept, first unveiled at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, features a newly developed platform, a futuristic exterior, and a short hood. Back in 2019, when the H300 series of Hiaces were released, the hood and the repositioning of the engine were done in the name of safety, NVH insulation, and driving stability at low and high speeds. Toyota will do the same for the new platform moving forward, with further improvements.

In Japan, the exterior design of the new Hiace will be slightly different. It's said that the model's nose will be shorter in its home country to create a familiar image for Japanese buyers. Furthermore, there will be a wide range of sizes available in the Hiace lineup, and we could still see cargo, passenger, touring, and luxury variants of the model making the rounds in several markets.

Hybrid Tech

In its current form, the Hiace came with either a four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 2.0 to 2.7-liter displacement or a 2.4 to 2.8-liter turbo-diesel option. Depending on the market, the Toyota outfit in that locale might favor gasoline or diesel more, and they have the option to go with either. However, for the new Hiace, sources indicate that we may see a 2.0- and 2.5-liter gasoline engine paired with an electric motor, making it a hybrid.

The powertrain will be similar to the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid that produces about 236 horsepower. Sources claim the new Hiace could produce up to about 220 horsepower.

All that means is more MPGs and better torque delivery. The question is, will the hybrid stack up? Given that diesel variants of the Hiace are preferred by many buyers, will the electric motors be able to keep up with this big van? We shall see soon, I hope.

Nissan is making a bold push into the U.S. body-on-frame SUV market with the Xterra, which is set to compete against staple nameplates like the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler. In an interview with Automotive News, Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa said that the V6 hybrid expected in the Xterra will feature a parallel hybrid setup.

Espinosa claims a parallel hybrid system will be “very competitive,” citing improved towing capability and more consistent power delivery under load. That contrasts with series hybrids like Nissan’s own e-Power system, which will also play a role in the company’s strategy moving forward but will likely be limited to smaller, unibody vehicles.

The Mechanics Behind the Muscle

Unlike a series hybrid, which uses a combustion engine solely as a generator, a parallel hybrid can send power to the wheels from both the engine and the electric motor. Since electric motors deliver maximum torque from zero RPM, this setup should help the Nissan Xterra move heavy loads or a trailer more easily from a stop.

Once the vehicle is in motion, the hybrid system can improve efficiency, helping Nissan meet stricter emissions regulations while also delivering better fuel economy for drivers.

Both the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler offer V6 engines, but neither currently pairs one with a hybrid system. The Bronco’s flagship engine is a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 producing 418 horsepower. Meanwhile, the Wrangler was offered a plug-in hybrid variant called the 4xe, though it was dropped for the 2026 model year as Stellantis shifted its focus toward range-extended electric vehicles.

Espinosa noted that EVs will also remain part of Nissan’s lineup, saying the company’s multi-powertrain approach is “more about being flexible and adaptable.” He added, “We want to have choice for customers.”

A Balancing Act for Nissan

It’s too early to tell whether a V6 hybrid will be the best solution for the upcoming Xterra, especially since such a system can add weight, cost, and complexity, potentially leading to higher repair costs if components are damaged. For now, what’s clear is that Nissan plans to launch the returning nameplate in late 2028.

The Xterra will be just one of five models built on the new ladder-frame platform to be produced in the U.S. That’s quite a transformation for a brand that has long leaned on sedans and crossovers while trying to regain its footing following the era of former CEO Carlos Ghosn.

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Over Four Times An M4 Convertible’s Price

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The Bovensiepen Zagato is limited to just 99 units and each one will cost €369,495, which works out to around $434,000 at current rates. That’s over four times as much as the M4 Competition Convertible, which starts at $98,400 in the United States. It falls short of what BMW charged for the modern 3.0 CSL, though; that was priced at over $800k and is loosely based on the M4 CSL.

Although the Bovensiepen Zagato is a coupe, it’s based on the M4 Convertible, allowing the company to create a sleek, pillarless design with Zagato’s famous double-bubble roof.

The normal M4’s enormous grille has been entirely binned, and for the better. In its place is a much more attractive front fascia with a low, wide hood and reshaped headlights. The exterior body is crafted from carbon, and in total, the car has over 400 custom parts and takes over 250 hours to build. At the back, the taillights closely resemble the ones on the M4 CSL, but everything else is different. Overall, it’s a vastly more elegant car than the BMW it’s based on.

Highly Customizable

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Customers spending over $400k on a coachbuilt car expect to be able to personalize it to suit their tastes, and the Bovensiepen Zagato’s configurator shows just how far you can go. There are metallic, Individual, and Bovensiepen "Paintwork on demand" options for the exterior. Some of the most vivid shades include Speed Yellow, Volcano Red, Rosso metallizzato, and Azzurro California. Various diamond-cut wheel options are available, as are several brake caliper options, including milled Bovensiepen script in the color of your choosing.

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The interior is clearly inherited from the M4, but materials are significantly upgraded—that comes as no surprise, since Bovensiepen was founded by the sons of Alpina's founder, and Alpina BMWs have always been a step up in quality. Merino leather is standard, with Lavalina leather in colors like Mugello Red, Verde Heritage, Birch, and Heaven (blue). The color you choose extends to the roof pillars, shift lever, and door panels.

Although generally well-equipped by default, Bovensiepen allows you to add the following extras:

• Carbon Package
• Luggage area and floor lining in Alcantara
• Engine Compartment Package
• Lavalina steering wheel with thin rim

These options are in addition to standard items like Comfort Access, electric front seats with heating, an Alcantara headliner, a driving assistant, and a Harman Kardon sound system.

The 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine has been tuned to make 602 horsepower, enabling a 0-62 mph time of 3.3 seconds—so this high-end coupe will outsprint every normal M4.

Final Thoughts

With gorgeous looks, the proven M4 base, high exclusivity, and potent performance, the Bovensiepen Zagato is one of the most desirable coupes in the world. Its price puts it into a league with the likes of Rolls-Royce, but it’s really competing with rarities in the coachbuilt world. For the 99 lucky customers who can afford one, it’s a car that should be as good to drive as it is to look at, and it'll likely still be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars years from now.

An electrified vehicle joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and China’s Geely Holding Group since January 2020, Smart has expanded a lot in recent years in segments where not many people expected to see it.

Smart is now selling vehicles like the #1 subcompact electric crossover, #3 compact electric crossover and the #5 midsize SUV, which offers both electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains. On top of that, Smart has just unveiled the #6 EHD, its first-ever sedan, on the eve of Auto China 2026 in Beijing.

The Smart ForTwo Is Back, Long Live the Smart #2

But with Concept #2, Smart its returning to its roots, previewing the next-generation ForTwo two-seat microcar, which will have its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026 as the Smart #2. Until then, Smart is offering a taste of its reinvented two-seater city car with the Concept #2, which debuted at the Global Brand Event 2026 in Beijing today.

Styled by the Mercedes-Benz Global Design Team, the Concept #2 clearly looks like an evolution of the third-generation ForTwo, which is probably a good thing because people will instantly recognize it.

The concept adopts a “Function becomes Fashion” design philosophy, with highlights including the generous volumes, two-tone finish combining matte white and warm gold, and fine leather details including the grille straps and door handles. Obviously, those are just for show and we seriously doubt they’ll make it to the production version—including the concept wheels.

“The Concept #2 combines the creativity and passion of our Mercedes-Benz design team and provides a clear vision of the future qualities of the smart #2,” said Wolfgang Ufer, CEO smart Europe. “It is a vehicle shaped by the way European smart customers truly live and move — effortless, agile and efficient.”

Up to 186 Miles of Range and 20-Minute DC Fast Charging Time

Beyond the flashy elements, Concept #2 represents an accurate preview of the ForTwo successor. It adopts the nameplate’s pure and compact silhouette measuring just 2,792 mm (110 inches) of total length, which is partly made possible by the signature “wheels-at-the-corners” setup. Compared to the previous Smart ForTwo, the concept is almost 4 inches longer, which suggests it will have more interior space. No photos of the cabin have been released yet, though.

Smart says the Concept #2 also showcases “unmatched agility” thanks to a tight 6.95-meter (22.8-ft) turning circle, which should make city maneuvers a breeze. The upcoming Smart ForTwo will be based on the all-new, self-developed proprietary Electric Compact Architecture (ECA), which the company says it will set new standards for modern electric performance.

Smart estimates a driving range of nearly 300 kilometers (186 miles) on the WLTP cycle and a 20-minute DC fast charging time from 10% to 80% state of charge. That means the production model will have double the range of the previous Smart EQ ForTwo, which was rated at 80-100 miles (WLTP). Concept #2 also features Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capabilities that will likely make it to the production model.

If you’re excited about the upcoming Smart ForTwo—which may end up bearing the Smart #2 name if the brand's current model nomenclature is kept—you should know that it won’t come to the US. The Smart brand left the US market after the 2019 model year and chances of it going back are very slim given that all its vehicles are made in China. European markets will get the new Smart, though.

2027 Lexus NX Design Updates

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The 2027 NX isn’t expected to change drastically, but it will come with tweaks to its exterior design. Although most of these are partially concealed in the spy photos, we can expect new headlights with revised graphics, a different pattern for the spindle grille, and more pronounced air vents. At the back, Lexus has moved the reflectors higher up, tweaked the bumper, and changed the taillight graphics. These design updates are important, since the second-gen NX first went into production in 2021.

No other changes are known at this stage, but we expect the usual upgrades that come with such a facelift. That could be new exterior and interior colors, infotainment updates, and possibly a reshuffling of trims and packages. The current NX is already one of the comfiest and well-built crossovers in its segment, and nothing is expected to change there.

Will The Non-Hybrid Model Survive?

Last year, Lexus discontinued the non-hybrid NX 250, leaving the NX 350 as the only non-hybrid NX model. In 2026 so far, just over 75% of all NXs sold have been hybrids or plug-in hybrids; the PHEV had its best start to a year ever. Since this car’s less fancy cousin, the platform-sharing RAV4, has already transitioned to a hybrid-only lineup, it wouldn’t be a shock if the 2027 NX does the same.

Currently, you can get the NX with a 275-horsepower non-hybrid turbo-four, a 240-hp hybrid, or a 302-hp plug-in hybrid. The regular hybrid can get 40 mpg combined in front-wheel-drive guise and up to 39 mpg with all-wheel drive, far ahead of the non-hybrid’s 24 mpg. If the non-hybrid model falls away, Lexus could possibly fill that gap with a cheaper hybrid variant.

Related: The 2026 Lexus NX Has Many Hybrid Trims, but Only One Is the Smart Buy

What It Means

Globally, luxury automakers saw an overall sales decline last year, but Lexus was an outlier and set a new record. Much of this has to do with strong sales of its SUV lineup in North America, and the NX is a key player in that mix. The 2027 NX will keep this momentum going, although it’s not known if this is a cosmetic facelift only or something more. Either way, it’s one of the top vehicles for buyers looking to step into the luxury segment for the first time.

2027 BMW 7 Series Styling: Monolithic, Not Messy

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While the previous iteration of the 7 Series seemed somewhat awkward and unresolved, the 2027 model has adopted Neue Klasse design to great effect, with a slimmer, less bulbous, and more vertical pair of kidney grilles, surrounded by Iconic Glow illumination and hiding the radar, camera, and other sensors, as well as the washer nozzles. The front lighting units remain separated between upper DRLs and lower headlight clusters, but these are more attractive, with the latter now vertically aligned and only using one projector per side. Optionally, crystal headlights with 12 crystal glass elements per light can be specified, and these get a darkened effect with the optional M Sport treatment. Are these necessary? No. Do they add to the feeling of opulence? Surely. Adaptive LED lighting with cornering is standard, and the lights provide welcome and farewell animations. As part of these animations, there is now what BMW calls a "ceremonial light carpet," projecting light from the door sills onto the ground so you don't get your expensive loafers wet in a puddle.

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The shoulders of the car flow to the rear to accentuate length, below which new door handles appear in Satinized Aluminum or gloss black, the latter with the M Sport package. At the back, the taillights are longer and have chrome strips to further highlight their size, and at both ends, the lights flank a new, larger matte-finished BMW badge within a valley/recess. Opt for the M Sport treatment, and BMW adds darkened taillights, 21-inch wheels, dark kidneys, blue brake calipers, and special animations. An M steering wheel and black rear spoiler are also available with the M Sport Professional package, which also paints the calipers black. But ultimate elegance for the 2027 7 Series comes courtesy of a new BMW Individual dual-finish paint scheme, where the lower half of the car gets a matte finish, and the upper section gets a hand-applied metallic paint, with the two separated by a hand-painted Rolls-Royce-like "coach line." This 12-step process takes over 75 hours, or more than three days, to complete. BMW says this is six times longer than it takes to apply a normal paint finish, highlighting how the 7 Series is flirting with the ultra-luxury segment. Of course, paint is not the primary focus of luxury limo buyers; it's the interior experience.

2027 BMW 7 Series Interior: Tech Meets Luxury

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The main attractions of the 7 Series are found in the back, where the 8K 31.3-inch Theater Screen resides below the Panoramic Skylounge LED roof with 40 diodes and a pattern that matches the quilting on the seats. The Theater Screen is now a full touchscreen and is controllable in function and tilt by the screens in the door cards. It also gains a camera to allow Zoom video conferencing and can accept HDMI inputs to allow you to connect your laptop. Because this TV-like display impedes the driver's rearview when deployed, the rearview mirror now doubles as a digital display for a camera on the rear parcel shelf. Below the screen, the headrests of the front seats now have illumination that forms part of the extensive ambient lighting setup, lighting that extends to the speaker grilles of the Bowers & Wilkins 18-speaker Surround Sound System. Optionally, this can be upgraded to a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System with Dolby Atmos, double the speakers, and 1,925 watts of power. Four years of data are included with the car to allow easy access to the internet.

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To take full advantage of the experience in the back, buyers can spec the Executive Lounge option, which allows one to lie back at up to 43 degrees and includes an integrated leg rest for the occupant behind the front passenger. It also offers a heated armrest and an Alcantara-trimmed wireless smartphone charger, and BMW says that, while this tilts the front passenger seat forward, the driver can still see the wing mirror on that side of the car. Numerous interior options are available: M Sport with Merino leather in Black/Atlas Grey with optional M tricolor accents or BMW Individual Merino leather in Black, Mocha, Smoke White, or Tartufo. Bi-color options include Smoke White/Light Grey, Black/Dark Grey, and Caramel/Atlas Grey. The headlining comes in either Anthracite or Atlas Grey, with an Anthracite Alcantara also on offer. With the extended leather option, a new Adelaide Grey color is also available, and cashmere wool can be ordered for various sections of the upholstery.

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BMW has also enhanced luxury and tech for those in front. While the AI-assisted Panoramic iDrive concept is familiar from the iX3 and i3, as is the four-spoke steering wheel, the 17.9-inch central touchscreen is here joined by a standard passenger display to allow the person riding shotgun to enjoy movies or other entertainment on a 14.6-inch screen. This automatically dims when there's no one sitting alongside the driver, and when there is, it has a shield function to prevent distraction. As standard, the front seats are ventilated and provide a massage function, and these functions are both available for the rear seats, too. The soft-close doors are smoother than before, and the automatic motors are now complemented by radar sensors to ensure the doors don't hit obstacles beside the car or open when another car or a cyclist is approaching.

2027 BMW 7 Series: Powertrains and Pricing

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Two all-electric i7 models will be offered at launch: i7 50 xDrive with 449 horsepower and 487 lb-ft of torque (0-60 in 5.3 seconds, top speed of 130 mph) and i7 60 xDrive, with a maximum of 536 hp and 549 lb-ft (0-60 in 4.6 seconds, top speed of 149 mph). These will start at $106,200 and $124,700 (excluding $1,550 for destination), respectively, and the latter will offer over 350 miles of range from its 112.5 kWh battery. Recharging increases to a rate of 250 kW, enabling a charge from 10-80 percent in as little as 28 minutes through a standard NACS charge port. Adapters for other chargers will also be available.

Those who prefer inline six-cylinder combustion power can choose from the 740 xDrive with a new turbocharger helping produce 394 hp and 398 lb-ft (0-60 mph in under five seconds and a top speed of 155 mph) or a rear-wheel-drive 740, whose acceleration figures have not been revealed. The regular 740 has a base MSRP of $99,800, while the AWD version starts at $102,800, again excluding $1,550 for destination.

Related: LEAKED: 2027 BMW 3 Series Hybrid Will Be Even More Powerful Than We Thought

If you'd prefer a hybrid, the 750e xDrive is a plug-in entering production in the final quarter of this year with a 308-hp straight-six and a 194-hp electric motor, delivering a combined total of 483 hp and 516 lb-ft. This will do the 0-60 sprint in approximately 4.6 seconds and will top out at 155 mph with the engine in play or 87 mph in EV mode. As this will only arrive next year, pricing is not yet available. Sometime next year, BMW will launch a V8-powered M Performance model, likely meant as a rival to the incoming Mercedes-AMG S 63.

Conclusion: BMW 7 Series Levels Up

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BMW has refined the looks of its luxury limo to the point that one no longer needs to justify the purchase by focusing on the tech. Yet, the 7 Series has taken a clear step forward there, too, and with self-levelling air suspension that is joined by a system that decouples the connection between each axle's wheels to reduce body roll when driving in a straight line and maximize overall comfort, the experience will surely be serenely plush. Hand-applied paint over a meticulously hand-sanded body further speaks to how seriously the 7 Series is taking luxury, and while six figures is a lot of money to spend on a car, the pricing seems justified. This is close to Maybach levels of opulence in a remarkably intelligent package. Will it be enough for BMW to retain its luxury crown for another year? The fight is on.

Scout Motors is pushing ahead with tangible, boots-on-the-ground investment, opening a $25 million training center in Blythewood in partnership with readySC. Located at the future production site, the facility is designed as the operational nerve center for onboarding, upskilling, and continuous workforce development as the brand ramps toward its long-promised manufacturing push.

Scout is making it clear it wants a workforce fully prepared for modern, software-driven, and electrified manufacturing long before the first customer vehicle leaves the line.

This comes as the company continues to invest over $2 billion into its South Carolina production hub, a site expected to generate more than 4,000 jobs. Executives are framing the training center as a long-term hedge against the industry’s growing skills gap, emphasizing sustainable, high-quality employment rather than short-term hiring bursts.

Notably, this aggressive workforce buildout is happening despite persistent industry chatter suggesting Scout’s production timeline could slip to 2028, an allegation the company has yet to formally align with its public roadmap.

Timing Raises Eyebrows as Financial Pressure Builds

For all the optimism, the timing of this training rollout is curious, to say the least. Workforce pipelines are typically established years ahead of SOP (start of production), yet Scout is only now standing up a flagship training facility while simultaneously fending off reports of ballooning costs and delayed vehicle launches. That disconnect feeds into a broader narrative that the company’s execution cadence may not be as tightly controlled as its messaging suggests.

Complicating matters further are mounting financial and legal headwinds. Reports indicate the company has already run significantly over budget, and legal challenges tied to its retail and distribution model are beginning to pile up.

These pressures, combined with macroeconomic friction and the capital intensity of launching a clean-sheet automotive brand, create a scenario where even well-intentioned investments, like this training center, risk being interpreted as reactive rather than strategic.

With Great Hype Comes Great Reality Checks

Make no mistake, demand signals for Scout’s upcoming vehicles are strong. Reservation numbers have reportedly surged well into the six-figure range, with a surprising majority skewing toward non-EV variants, underscoring a broader consumer appetite for simpler, rugged, and potentially more affordable vehicles. In that sense, Scout is tapping into a vein of nostalgia and practicality that legacy OEMs have largely abandoned.

But translating hype into hardware is where the real challenge begins. Between shifting trade policies, localization pressures, and the sheer complexity of standing up a new manufacturing ecosystem, Scout is navigating a minefield. If anything, this training center is proof that building “simple” vehicles in today’s environment is anything but simple.

The bigger question is whether these foundational investments will ultimately justify the delays, costs, and growing pains. If this is the price of bringing back honest, accessible trucks and SUVs, the market will decide if it’s worth paying.

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It seems a new trend is emerging within the automotive industry, brands are using old or current nameplates and spinning them off into something new for certain markets. Some of these names come from familiar cars and, in some cases, are repurposed from long-dead models. Take the Honda Insight as an example, now revived as a Chinese electric crossover sold in Japan.

Volkswagen has just made a move in that direction, taking the Jetta, a very familiar name for us in America, and giving it a new lease on life and a new identity.

Rugged Jetta

The 2026 Beijing Auto Show is happening now, China's main automotive highlight of the year. During this year's show, Volkswagen shocked the world by reintroducing the Jetta nameplate in a completely different form compared to what we know it for. Still sold as a sedan here in the US, China's new Jetta has been announced as a standalone brand rather than a single model.

The Jetta X concept was shown as the brand's new foray and expansion into the EV market. Since this is just a preview, there aren't many confirmed details about the Jetta brand and models, but what can be confirmed is that the cars under Jetta will be New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), a reference to different electrified powertrains.

The new Jetta brand is reportedly planning to launch four NEVs by 2028, with the first set to launch sometime this year. It's safe to assume that since the Jetta X is the first to make a public appearance, the first model might just be based on this concept.

In terms of design, the Jetta X Concept succeeds in standing out from being just another Volkswagen. The X looks like its own design, taking on the boxy, rugged look of an SUV with modern touches, par for the course for most NEVs on the market. The interior is leaning more towards the minimalist design trend we're now seeing from most brands as well.

Homegrown

We all know that China's domestic market is its own thing; such is the industrial capability that enables it to develop and build cars for its local market and for global markets as well. Since the Jetta exists in the U.S. still in its original form, it'll be highly unlikely that it will ever be sold stateside.

However, most of the world no longer has the Jetta, and if VW wanted to expand its EV footprint, the Jetta brand could help it do so.

Google's Companies Come Together to Improve Road Network

Waymo and Waze are both owned by Google parent company Alphabet, so a tie-up seems almost obvious. The pilot program will use Waymo robotaxis' sensors to identify potholes in and around the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles in California, Phoenix, Arizona, Atlanta, Georgia, and Austin, Texas. This data will be shared with local transportation departments through Waze for Cities, a system that provides traffic data with the purpose of informing smarter infrastructure decisions. These departments can also use the platform to notify drivers of traffic congestion, crashes, and hazards before other drivers do, also providing timely information on disasters and emergencies. As with other hazards on Waze, pothole alerts can be seen and verified by app users.

Related: WATCH: Tesla Robotaxi Tells Passenger to Exit Car at 40 MPH

San Jose, California, Mayor Matt Mahan said, "We're always looking for innovative ways to deliver better services for residents. We appreciate the collaboration with Waymo and Waze as we explore how technology can help identify issues like potholes faster so we can respond more efficiently." It seems to be working, as Waymo has reportedly identified approximately 500 potholes since the pilot program began.

Waymo Still Has a Long Way to Go Before Widespread Acceptance

While there are other positive stories about Waymo, like the time it helped get a pregnant woman giving birth in a robotaxi to the hospital before emergency services could get to her, surprise crashes are still happening. The company's self-driving taxis have also made headlines for being unable to close their own doors, and New York's governor blocked Waymo's rollout there, citing a lack of support for the program. Clearly, the country and the world at large need more time to warm to the robotaxi concept, but with Tesla making progress in this space, at least Waymo's ability to help maintain the road network is a valuable feather in its cap that Elon Musk's company cannot lay claim to.

With rising gas prices, hybrid cars have become even more appealing, as they typically consume less fuel than pure combustion alternatives. One of the benchmarks in the U.S. is the Toyota Prius, which delivers an EPA-estimated 57 mpg. The catch is that the Prius already starts at nearly $30,000, which can be considered expensive, especially when some cars like the Toyota Corolla still cost under $25,000.

Over in China, however, Geely has just launched the Preface i-HEV, which notably delivers fuel economy of 3.98 liters per 100 kilometers, or about 59 mpg. According to Car News China, the hybrid model starts at just 107,700 yuan, translating to roughly $15,700 at current exchange rates. That makes it look like a very practical choice in today’s market, though it is worth noting that the figure is based on the WLTC standard, which typically returns more optimistic results than the EPA standard used in the U.S.

Betting Big on Hybrids

The strong fuel-efficiency figures come from Geely focusing on refining hybrid technology rather than doubling down on PHEVs or EVs. In fact, the Chinese automaker, which owns brands like Volvo and Lotus, holds a Guinness-verified thermal-efficiency rating of 48.4% with its new i-HEV hybrid powertrain.

The i-HEV features a 1.5-liter engine paired with an “11-in-1 hybrid-specific” electric motor, producing a combined 230 kW (308 horsepower). While its fuel-consumption rating is already a standout, especially now that gas prices have climbed past $4 per gallon, the Preface i-HEV can also run on electric power alone at speeds of up to 66 km/h (41 mph), which is said to be about 20% higher than what traditional hybrids typically manage.

Barriers at the Border

Now, despite more Americans showing a willingness to consider Chinese cars, as a study from AutoPacific found, these vehicles are unlikely to be available stateside. In response to Canada opening up to Chinese EVs under certain conditions, the United States has signaled that such vehicles will not be allowed to cross the border. Even Ford has said that their entry into the market would pose a threat.

While the Preface i-HEV and other Chinese cars are not expected to arrive anytime soon, several notably fuel-efficient hybrids are still available in the U.S. Among them are the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid, which deliver EPA-rated fuel economy of 54 mpg and 51 mpg, respectively. What they still cannot match, however, is the same level of affordability.

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It may not seem like it, but Honda has a rather amusing relationship with curry. Yes, as in the food item. For over 70 years, curry has been a staple in Honda cafeterias all over Japan. It's served every Friday because that was wash day (non-uniform wearing day) and there was no chance of staining the employees' white uniforms, which are still being worn to this day.

Here's a random fun fact: 30% of Honda employees in Japan still go for curry, more specifically, curry udon. Now, all this food talk is making us crave some curry, so where are we going with this? Well, Honda has released a special edition 'Prelude-do Curry' food pouch, mainly to celebrate the Prelude's success in its home market.

What is Prelude-do Curry?

Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the Prelude Spice Pork Curry. It's a limited-edition bit of, ehem, official merchandise from Honda. It was made in collaboration with a curry researcher named Ichijo Monko. Prior to the introduction of this item, Honda actually set up a pop-up curry shop in Shibuya, and it proved successful enough for the company to produce a take-home version.

In Honda's own words, "the spices themselves are based on the driving philosophy of the Prelude's new technology," namely the S+ Shift Mode seen in the coupe. The S+ Shift Mode bit is one of three spice options you can add to the curry. Put in one kind of spice, and Honda calls it 'GT Mode'; add two, and it's 'GT x S+ Shift Mode.' Adding all three spice combinations puts the meal in 'SPORT x Honda S+ Shift Mode.' There's also a combination that puts it in 'Comfort x S+ Shift Mode' that dials back the heat levels. We're not making this up, folks.

Oh, if you prefer your limited-edition Prelude as a car and not food, Honda recently introduced one for its home market. If you want a spicier version, there's J's Racing in Japan to take care of that.

JDM-Exclusive

Like many interesting things from Japan, this version of the (edible) Prelude is exclusive to the Japanese market. There's no mention of how long Honda will offer this curry pouch, but we reckon it probably won't be a permanent fixture in the company's catalog.

Sadly, the pork cuts are not shaped like a Prelude, but it still looks like a pretty good meal. We're genuinely curious about it, and if we do get a chance to try it, we'll let you know, albeit at the risk of turning this site into FoodBlog.

As for the price, it's ¥1,200 ($7.50) for a seven-ounce pouch, so it's still cheaper than buying one at a Japanese curry house. Who knows, if this product proves successful enough, maybe Honda will give us a take-out version of the curry udon it's been feeding its employees for over 70 years. We'd be totally down for that.

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Last November, Nissan let slip that it was talking with Honda about teaming up in North America. Back then, CEO Ivan Espinosa kept things vague – just hints about working together on products or powertrains, nothing nailed down.

Now, things are starting to take shape. Espinosa says the talks are still alive, but this time the target is clearer: the D-segment. That means midsize SUVs, crossovers, and maybe even bigger electrified platforms – where the costs (and risks) are higher, and teaming up actually pays off.

Still No Deal, But Talks Continue

In a recent interview with Automotive News, Espinosa confirmed that discussions with Honda remain active, even if nothing concrete has been finalized.

“We continue talking about what we could do in North America, particularly around the D segment, larger vehicles, not C segment, but above the C segment,” he said.

When asked about the slow pace, Espinosa did not point to any behind-the-scenes drama. According to him, it is simply about timing and priorities.

“We will announce when we are ready and we finished talking. Maybe it should not come as a surprise that they are also having some other things to do at the moment. But we continue very, very active and very constructive talks with them,” Espinosa said.

That last part matters. Despite the failed merger attempt between the two Japanese marques, both of them are still at the table, albeit working on a different approach.

So, What Can We Expect?

So what does Honda actually bring to the table? Most signs point to hybrid tech. That fits with where Nissan is right now. Nissan has its own e-Power system coming soon to models like the Rogue, but that’s a series hybrid, not a series-parallel setup like Honda’s.

That difference is key. Espinosa has already confirmed that a new V6 hybrid system is on the way, and it will use a parallel setup. This is an area where Honda brings a lot more experience to the table.

This is where models like the returning Nissan Xterra start to make sense. It’s confirmed to use a V6 hybrid setup, which makes it a strong candidate for joint development. The Pathfinder is another likely fit. It launched in 2021 and just got a facelift, so Nissan is likely already planning the next version. A hybrid system with Honda’s input could be a smart move as fuel economy becomes a bigger priority.

In return, Nissan could offer its body-on-frame platform to Honda – a segment that’s currently missing in the latter’s portfolio.

For now, these are still informed guesses. What is clear is that Nissan and Honda are not done exploring ways to team up, even after last year’s rough patch. The door is not shut, but it is not wide open either.

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The Ford F-150's unique selling point is, ironically, the reason why it's in a spot of trouble at the moment. Granted, it's still selling well, but the pickup's body is mostly aluminum, and there's been a bit of a shortage lately.

That's mainly due to the successive fires from Ford's supplier, Novelis. Three fires broke out over two months last year, and the affected facilities are still not at 100%. Production disruptions have been the theme of the F-150, and sales have taken a hit.

The Pinch

Automotive News recently ran a piece about the F-150 supply issue. One dealer, the publication spoke, said that its 'Truck Month' inventory went from about 700 units, down to just nine. "It's a heap of a mess. Outside of COVID, I’ve never seen an F-150 shortage like this," said Nick Anderson, general manager of Chuck Anderson Ford in Kansas.

Chuck Anderson Ford isn't that far away from the Kansas Truck Plant that builds these pickups. If a closed dealer is having trouble, imagine what the rest of the dealers are going through right now. Per the publication, stocks and inventory are down by a whopping 43%.

Costing More Than Sales

It's not that Ford has stopped production of its best-selling product in the world (no exaggeration) because of the domestic aluminum supply shortage. It's still ongoing, although it's not at the pace the company would like. But because of the pickup's construction, Ford has been forced to source aluminum from abroad.

The trouble is, imported aluminum is subject to a 50% tariff, so Ford is facing a massive bill for it as well. If Ford builds more, it will need more of that imported aluminum, and that bill will keep getting higher. On the flip side, building less would entail massive opportunity costs, effectively handing sales to GM and Stellantis. The company had asked for relief from those tariffs, but has been rebuffed by the White House.

Supply Will Normalize, But When?

It's been over half a year since the fires, but supply is still not back to normal levels. Speaking to the publication, Rick Wainschel, vice president of analytics at CatalystIQ, said, "The longer-term repercussions of this are pretty profound. There’s been a lot of churn in the segment. F-150's supply advantage is gone."

That said, Ford aims to get things back in order by the second half of the year. By then, the company hopes that the Novelis facility it sources aluminum from will be fully operational. To make up for lost time, the automaker will continue churning out F-Series models throughout the summer.

Ford's lead in the full-size pickup sales race is still there, and we wouldn't be too surprised if it still manages to retain its crown by the end of the year. However, the gap between it and its rivals could narrow as long as the aluminum supply issue isn't resolved. With the next-generation F-150 coming in 2029, there may be lessons to be learned from this crisis.

Detroit’s electric truck push is running out of steam. Ford’s F-150 Lightning took a back seat to hybrids last year, and Ram’s 1500 BEV never even made it to showrooms. Now GM is following suit, though not pulling the plug entirely.

According to reports, GM has put its next wave of full-size electric trucks on indefinite hold. These were supposed to be the more budget-friendly, updated EV pickups and SUVs. The original 2028 launch window is out the window, and there’s no new date in sight.

Not Dead, Just Pushed Back

According to Crain’s Detroit Business and reported by Automotive News, GM recently told suppliers to stop work on the next-generation program. The latter reportedly doesn’t expect movement until at least 2030, if at all. The program includes successors to models like the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Cadillac Escalade IQ, and GMC Hummer EV. These vehicles will continue to be produced in their current form at Factory Zero in Detroit-Hamtramck.

Of note, GM isn’t walking away from electric trucks completely. They’ve poured a lot into their EV platform, and there’s no sign they’re scrapping that investment. What’s changing is the approach: more flexibility, less all-or-nothing.

Now, GM is shifting resources back to gas and hybrid trucks, including a new T1-2 platform that’s coming to Orion Assembly. There’s also buzz about plug-in hybrid Silverados and Sierras, and maybe even extended-range EVs, much like what the competition is cooking up.

GM isn’t making any promises about when the next EV trucks will show up, or even what they’ll look like. For now, it’s a waiting game, with market demand, shifting policies, and rising costs all playing a part.

Startups Hold the Ground—For Now

With Detroit easing off the gas on EV trucks, it’s the newcomers holding down the fort. The TeslaCybertruck and Rivian R1T are still the most visible all-electric pickups in the US, both from brands that have been all-in on EVs since day one.

The difference is starting to show. Legacy brands like GM are juggling profits, changing rules, and what buyers actually want – especially when it comes to their cash-cow full-size trucks. EVs are still in the long-term picture, but the timeline keeps getting pushed out.

Right now, this feels like a reset. People still want electric trucks, but not in the numbers automakers were betting on. If anything, GM’s latest move hints that the next chapter for EVs is about hedging bets and keeping options open until the market is ready to catch up.

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Nissan Motor has done it, at least to its standard. The company has announced that it is closer to mass-producing solid-state batteries by 2028, which is on track with other brands like Toyota and Honda to bring solid-state cells to market.

Nikkei Asia has the scoop, stating that Nissan's 23-layer solid-state battery tech is close to planned mass production for 2028. The company achieved its performance goals for commercialization. The story comes from a technical briefing that highlights battery, charging, and AI software technologies that the Japanese brand is looking to commercialize in the coming years.

Solid-State over Lithium-Ion

If you've been following EV and technology news, you might find that there's bound to be a tectonic shift happening soon in the world of batteries. Portable power over the last 20 years has become exceedingly important in everyday life. Smartphones, cars, and even the laptop I'm using right now to write this article all use batteries.

The most widely used battery technology in almost all devices right now is lithium-ion. In terms of energy density, lithium-ion technology is reaching a plateau. Enter solid-state batteries, which can hold double the energy density compared to a comparably-sized lithium-ion cell.

Double the Capacity, Double the Range

Now that each individual solid-state cell can hold more charge than a lithium-ion cell given the same footprint, it's safe to say that future EVs will offer double the driving range. Nowadays, getting 300 miles out of a single charge is great (like in the 2026 Nissan Leaf), but what if that could go to about 600 miles on a single charge on nothing but battery power?

Currently, that figure can only be achieved by range-extended electric vehicles. On top of all that, solid-state batteries can withstand high-output charging, reducing charging time by about two-thirds compared to industry standards.

Even Faster Charging

With battery technology being pushed to the absolute limit by Chinese automakers like BYD, with its Flash Charging, and Geely, with its Energee Golden Brick, clocking in sub-5-minute charge times, we could see this number go lower and lower as long as the right charger is in play.

Nissan has developed a new bidirectional charger that will launch in the market by 2028. On top of charging, the bidirectional design of the charger means it can also plug into a house's power grid, providing emergency power should the lights go out.

The brand is also aiming to sell its new charger at a much lower price than what's available. It's estimated that some chargers can cost about $10,000, but Nissan aims to make its charging technology more affordable to put it in more homes.

Nissan also plans to sell surplus power back to the grid as soon as 2030 with its charging technology.

AI Software that Writes Itself

Finally, software-defined vehicles for Nissan in the near future. The brand plans to adopt an in-house platform this year, aimed at promoting the development of vehicle software. Essentially, it's software that writes itself, using data collected from vehicles.

Nissan will use this software to roll out artificial intelligence-powered autonomous driving features by 2027. We might also start seeing an "AI-Partner" feature in new Nissan models, which covers areas like navigation and other activities by monitoring in-car conversations (creepy, but kind of cool, I guess?).

As for the spread of this software, Nikkei Asia reported that the brand will equip around 90% of its models with AI autonomous driving capabilities, which is a part of the brand's long-term strategy. As stated by Takashi Yoshizawa, a corporate executive at Nissan, "We'll advance the integrated development of AI-Drive, AI-Partner and AI software and promote the intelligent transformation of our vehicles."