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In a country better known now for its booming domestic car market than for exporting global automotive icons, a new Jeep is taking shape. It's a proper, ground-up SUV destined for 50 countries, across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, South America, and beyond. And the country doing the engineering and the building is India, according to ET Auto. The partnership that makes it possible has been in place for over two decades. Stellantis and Tata Motors, through their 50:50 joint venture at the Ranjangaon facility near Pune, India, have produced more than 1.37 million vehicles together. Now they're ready for something far more ambitious. Stellantis Jeep's Comeback StrategyStellantis hasn't exactly been subtle about how bad things got. The company posted negative profit margins last year and has spent much of 2025 rebuilding under new CEO Antonio Filosa. His answer is FaSTLAne 2030, a $70 billion turnaround plan that commits to over 60 new vehicles and 50 refreshes by the decade's end. Jeep sits at the very centre of it. The brand is being repositioned as one of four true global pillars, alongside Ram, Fiat, and Peugeot, with new models spanning everything from a revived Cherokee to a Wrangler Scrambler pickup. The idea is to flood showrooms with cars and claw back market share that drifted badly in recent years. Stellantis View the 1 images of this gallery on the original article Why India, and What Comes NextThe new India-developed SUV is one of five globally oriented vehicles Stellantis is building across Asia through local partnerships. The logic is straightforward. Engineering and manufacturing costs in India run significantly cheaper than in Europe or North America, and Tata brings a formidable platform, supplier network, and manufacturing infrastructure. The platform in question is expected to be ARGOS, the same modular architecture underpinning the Tata Sierra, capable of supporting petrol, hybrid, EV, and AWD configurations. Localisation levels are targeted to climb from around 65 percent today toward 90 percent, sharpening the cost advantage further. The SUV is expected to arrive by 2028, and for Jeep, India isn't just a market anymore. It's a launchpad. View the full article

The sixth-generation Subaru Forester has just been tweaked for Japan, but don't worry, at least some of the changes are expected to reach the U.S.-spec model. The compact crossover's biggest update is that a more affordable Touring trim has been added to the JDM Forester, but it's not like the Touring sold here in America, though that's nothing new. While our Touring is more premium, Japan's is more basic, and it removes certain features to make a more attractive price possible, but given the practical nature of the Forester, the changes fit the crossover well. Let's take a closer look. Cheaper Subaru Forester Touring Simplifies the Crossover Subaru The JDM Forester Touring gets unpainted black bumper guards fitted front and rear with matching side mildings, and 18-inch two-tone diamond-cut wheels appear in a similar design to the Sport and X-Break trims. Inside, the barebones approach continues with cloth upholstery in plain black or gray and platinum, but it's not as sparse as you might expect. While the base Forester in the U.S. loses out on the 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment display in favor of a cheaper 7-inch screen, this does not. But the script is flipped with the driver display, though that may not be a bad thing. The JDM Forester Touring doesn't have a 12.3-inch digital cluster behind the steering wheel, instead featuring a relatively old-school set of analog gauges with a 4.2-inch display between them. Other notable attributes of the JDM Forester Touring are a 10-way power driver's seat with memory, an 8-way passenger seat, heated front and outboard rear seats, and power folding mirrors. Step up to the Touring EX, and the large digital driver display returns, and you get Eyesight X ADAS driver aids, which come standard on all U.S.-spec Foresters. Other Updates to the 2026 JDM Forester Subaru The rest of the Forester range in Japan includes the bronze-accented Sport EX, the black-accented Sport EX Black Selection, the more rugged X-Break and X-Break EX, and the top-of-the-range Premium EX, which is more like America's Touring. Subaru has also improved the resolution of the digital rearview mirror, added faster wireless smartphone charging, and included a 100-volt AC power outlet with 1,500 watts of power on all hybrid models. In terms of powertrains, the Touring, Touring EX, Sport, and Sport EX get a turbocharged 1.8-liter boxer-four with 174 horsepower and 221 lb-t of torque, sent to all four corners through a CVT. The other trims (X-Break, X-Break EX, and Premium EX) are only available with the self-charging hybrid (S:HEV) powertrain, which marries a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated e-Boxer engine making 158 hp to a traction electric motor with 118 hp. Pricing starts at ¥3,850,000 ($24,200). Expect to see mild trim updates and things like a better digital rearview mirror and faster smartphone charging when the Forester is revised for North America. After prices went up in the U.S. for 2026, a more affordable option might be just what buyers need right now. View the full article

The sixth-generation Subaru Forester has just been tweaked for Japan, but don't worry, at least some of the changes are expected to reach the U.S.-spec model. The compact crossover's biggest update is that a more affordable Touring trim has been added to the JDM Forester, but it's not like the Touring sold here in America, though that's nothing new. While our Touring is more premium, Japan's is more basic, and it removes certain features to make a more attractive price possible, but given the practical nature of the Forester, the changes fit the crossover well. Let's take a closer look. Cheaper Subaru Forester Touring Simplifies the Crossover Subaru The JDM Forester Touring gets unpainted black bumper guards fitted front and rear with matching side mildings, and 18-inch two-tone diamond-cut wheels appear in a similar design to the Sport and X-Break trims. Inside, the barebones approach continues with cloth upholstery in plain black or gray and platinum, but it's not as sparse as you might expect. While the base Forester in the U.S. loses out on the 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment display in favor of a cheaper 7-inch screen, this does not. But the script is flipped with the driver display, though that may not be a bad thing. The JDM Forester Touring doesn't have a 12.3-inch digital cluster behind the steering wheel, instead featuring a relatively old-school set of analog gauges with a 4.2-inch display between them. Other notable attributes of the JDM Forester Touring are a 10-way power driver's seat with memory, an 8-way passenger seat, heated front and outboard rear seats, and power folding mirrors. Step up to the Touring EX, and the large digital driver display returns, and you get Eyesight X ADAS driver aids, which come standard on all U.S.-spec Foresters. Other Updates to the 2026 JDM Forester Subaru The rest of the Forester range in Japan includes the bronze-accented Sport EX, the black-accented Sport EX Black Selection, the more rugged X-Break and X-Break EX, and the top-of-the-range Premium EX, which is more like America's Touring. Subaru has also improved the resolution of the digital rearview mirror, added faster wireless smartphone charging, and included a 100-volt AC power outlet with 1,500 watts of power on all hybrid models. In terms of powertrains, the Touring, Touring EX, Sport, and Sport EX get a turbocharged 1.8-liter boxer-four with 174 horsepower and 221 lb-t of torque, sent to all four corners through a CVT. The other trims (X-Break, X-Break EX, and Premium EX) are only available with the self-charging hybrid (S:HEV) powertrain, which marries a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated e-Boxer engine making 158 hp to a traction electric motor with 118 hp. Pricing starts at ¥3,850,000 ($24,200). Expect to see mild trim updates and things like a better digital rearview mirror and faster smartphone charging when the Forester is revised for North America. After prices went up in the U.S. for 2026, a more affordable option might be just what buyers need right now. View the full article

Rear Suspension Recall The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has just published a recall order for the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the Ioniq 5. The electric SUV's rear suspension apparently needs some work, as it has a loose rear suspension that can cause accidents. Certain production numbers have been marked, with the report citing that specific production dates from Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America need to undergo the recall service. Hyundai Specific Production Dates Hyundai Ioniq 9s that were produced between March 25, 2025, and July 23, 2025, have been flagged for recall. Meanwhile, Hyundai Ioniq 5s that were produced between December 10, 2024, and July 10, 2025, are also being recalled for the same issue. These models were all locally produced for the U.S. market at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Bryan County, Georgia. As per usual, check with Hyundai America's VIN checker to see if your car falls under the recall parameters, then go to your assigned dealer in order to facilitate the recall process. Kristen Brown The Problem As for the production defect itself, the rear suspension of the affected Ioniq 5s and Ioniq 9s "may have been assembled with insufficiently torqued fasteners, which can loosen over time and result in noise or vibration. If the vehicle is continuously operated under this condition without being addressed, the nut and/or bolt may detach from the vehicle over time and potentially reduce vehicle stability or control during operation," the recall report reads. In a nutshell, the Hyundai factory might not have tightened the bolts on certain Ioniq 5s and 9s, which will cause discomfort and possibly a crash. With that being said, the early warning signs include noise coming from the rear of the car while it's running. The problem was first identified through a field report, dated August 1, 2025. From there, investigations were held, durability testing was done, and on May 11, 2026, the recall order was underway. At this time, there are no confirmed fires, crashes, injuries, or fatalities that are linked to this recall, thankfully. Hyundai View the full article

Rear Suspension Recall The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has just published a recall order for the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the Ioniq 5. The electric SUV's rear suspension apparently needs some work, as it has a loose rear suspension that can cause accidents. Certain production numbers have been marked, with the report citing that specific production dates from Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America need to undergo the recall service. Hyundai Specific Production Dates Hyundai Ioniq 9s that were produced between March 25, 2025, and July 23, 2025, have been flagged for recall. Meanwhile, Hyundai Ioniq 5s that were produced between December 10, 2024, and July 10, 2025, are also being recalled for the same issue. These models were all locally produced for the U.S. market at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Bryan County, Georgia. As per usual, check with Hyundai America's VIN checker to see if your car falls under the recall parameters, then go to your assigned dealer in order to facilitate the recall process. Kristen Brown The Problem As for the production defect itself, the rear suspension of the affected Ioniq 5s and Ioniq 9s "may have been assembled with insufficiently torqued fasteners, which can loosen over time and result in noise or vibration. If the vehicle is continuously operated under this condition without being addressed, the nut and/or bolt may detach from the vehicle over time and potentially reduce vehicle stability or control during operation," the recall report reads. In a nutshell, the Hyundai factory might not have tightened the bolts on certain Ioniq 5s and 9s, which will cause discomfort and possibly a crash. With that being said, the early warning signs include noise coming from the rear of the car while it's running. The problem was first identified through a field report, dated August 1, 2025. From there, investigations were held, durability testing was done, and on May 11, 2026, the recall order was underway. At this time, there are no confirmed fires, crashes, injuries, or fatalities that are linked to this recall, thankfully. Hyundai View the full article

Alfa Romeo’s future is finally starting to take shape. During Stellantis’ 2026 Investor Day presentation, the Italian brand confirmed two major additions to its lineup: a new compact SUV and a mysterious low-volume “Bottega Fuoriserie” project developed alongside Maserati. These announcements come at an important time for Alfa Romeo and its parent company. Stellantis lost $26.3 billion last year, yet Alfa Romeo's global sales rose by 20.1%. That said, the company’s lineup has started to feel increasingly stale. Aside from the Alfa Romeo Tonale and the all-electric Junior, the brand has very little fresh metal in showrooms. Alfa Romeo’s Core Models Are Showing Their Age Alfa Romeo The Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio have now been on the market for nearly a decade. Alfa Romeo has kept them relevant with updates and special editions like the Collezione range and Giulia Luna Rossa, but both models are beginning to show their age against newer rivals from Germany. Despite that, the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio remain some of the most characterful performance cars in their segments, which helps explain why enthusiasts are still so attached to them. Reports suggest the next-generation Giulia and Stelvio may not arrive until 2028, leaving Alfa Romeo with a significant gap to fill. Another Compact SUV On The Way Stellantis Alfa Romeo wants to focus on smaller cars and SUVS for the future. That's why we're seeing yet another small SUV being revealed, despite the brand already offering the compact Tonale in the US. Alfa Romeo teased the crossover under a cover during the presentation, while executives confirmed it will ride on Stellantis’ new STLA One platform. The architecture supports both hybrid and fully electric powertrains and is expected to introduce technologies like steer-by-wire systems and advanced centralized software controls. Alfa Romeo’s Next Passion Project Stellantis Enthusiasts have always admired Alfa Romeo for its emotional halo cars as much as its everyday models. Cars like the 8C, 4C, and 33 Stradale helped define the brand’s image, despite small sales volumes. Now Alfa Romeo wants to continue that tradition with its new “Bottega Fuoriserie” project. Developed together with Maserati, the initiative will focus on ultra-exclusive halo models inspired by cars like the 33 Stradale and Maserati MCXtrema. Early teaser images suggest the upcoming vehicle may have a slightly more practical shape than previous Alfa Romeo specials, though the company has not revealed any technical details yet. The project also arrives during a difficult period for Maserati itself. The luxury brand has struggled with declining sales, while recent reports claimed Maserati’s next EV could even be built in China with help from Huawei. A project like Bottega Fuoriserie could be exactly what both Italian brands need to reconnect with the emotion and exclusivity that made them desirable in the first place. View the full article

Alfa Romeo’s future is finally starting to take shape. During Stellantis’ 2026 Investor Day presentation, the Italian brand confirmed two major additions to its lineup: a new compact SUV and a mysterious low-volume “Bottega Fuoriserie” project developed alongside Maserati. These announcements come at an important time for Alfa Romeo and its parent company. Stellantis lost $26.3 billion last year, yet Alfa Romeo's global sales rose by 20.1%. That said, the company’s lineup has started to feel increasingly stale. Aside from the Alfa Romeo Tonale and the all-electric Junior, the brand has very little fresh metal in showrooms. Alfa Romeo’s Core Models Are Showing Their Age Alfa Romeo The Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio have now been on the market for nearly a decade. Alfa Romeo has kept them relevant with updates and special editions like the Collezione range and Giulia Luna Rossa, but both models are beginning to show their age against newer rivals from Germany. Despite that, the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio remain some of the most characterful performance cars in their segments, which helps explain why enthusiasts are still so attached to them. Reports suggest the next-generation Giulia and Stelvio may not arrive until 2028, leaving Alfa Romeo with a significant gap to fill. Another Compact SUV On The Way Stellantis Alfa Romeo wants to focus on smaller cars and SUVS for the future. That's why we're seeing yet another small SUV being revealed, despite the brand already offering the compact Tonale in the US. Alfa Romeo teased the crossover under a cover during the presentation, while executives confirmed it will ride on Stellantis’ new STLA One platform. The architecture supports both hybrid and fully electric powertrains and is expected to introduce technologies like steer-by-wire systems and advanced centralized software controls. Alfa Romeo’s Next Passion Project Stellantis Enthusiasts have always admired Alfa Romeo for its emotional halo cars as much as its everyday models. Cars like the 8C, 4C, and 33 Stradale helped define the brand’s image, despite small sales volumes. Now Alfa Romeo wants to continue that tradition with its new “Bottega Fuoriserie” project. Developed together with Maserati, the initiative will focus on ultra-exclusive halo models inspired by cars like the 33 Stradale and Maserati MCXtrema. Early teaser images suggest the upcoming vehicle may have a slightly more practical shape than previous Alfa Romeo specials, though the company has not revealed any technical details yet. The project also arrives during a difficult period for Maserati itself. The luxury brand has struggled with declining sales, while recent reports claimed Maserati’s next EV could even be built in China with help from Huawei. A project like Bottega Fuoriserie could be exactly what both Italian brands need to reconnect with the emotion and exclusivity that made them desirable in the first place. View the full article

Built Tough, But Not BulletproofFull-size SUVs are often presented as large, commanding vehicles capable of conquering almost any terrain or hauling big families, but even something as small as a defective bolt can cause major problems. Case in point: General Motors is recalling 2,464 full-size SUVs over incorrect wheel-hub bolts that may loosen or deform over time, increasing the risk of a crash. NHTSA recall number 26V304 states that the affected vehicles may have been fitted with incorrect bolts after receiving a dealer-installed accessory brake package or undergoing front wheel-hub bearing service. These vehicles include the following: 737 2025 Cadillac Escalade units411 2025 Cadillac Escalade ESV units83 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe units76 2025 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 units12 2025 GMC Yukon unitsSeven 2025 GMC Yukon XL units647 2026 Cadillac Escalade units335 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV units51 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe units35 2026 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 units49 2026 GMC Yukon units21 2026 GMC Yukon XL units Chevrolet Rolling HeavyThe affected units are limited to models equipped with 24-inch wheels, which are typically offered on higher-end trims. Most of these SUVs come with 20- or 22-inch wheels, while the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban are also available with 18-inch wheels. Given the size of these vehicles, especially under heavy braking, replacing the bolts is crucial to avoid consequences such as a possible loss of control. The safety campaign states that GM is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the issue. However, it warns owners that they may hear noise or feel vibration from the affected wheel hub. Affected owners will be asked to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the front left and right wheel-hub bolts replaced. Since all affected vehicles are still under warranty, reimbursement will not be offered. Recall TroubleGM will begin notifying owners on June 29, 2026, though affected VINs have been searchable since May 14 for owners who want to check whether their vehicles are included in the recall. Aside from that, a separate recall is affecting certain GM full-size SUVs and trucks, including some 2026 model-year examples and older vehicles that may have received a replacement transfer case. That safety campaign involves a missing oil pickup tube inside the transfer case, which could prevent proper lubrication and potentially lead to internal damage or wheel lock-up. Chevrolet View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Built Tough, But Not BulletproofFull-size SUVs are often presented as large, commanding vehicles capable of conquering almost any terrain or hauling big families, but even something as small as a defective bolt can cause major problems. Case in point: General Motors is recalling 2,464 full-size SUVs over incorrect wheel-hub bolts that may loosen or deform over time, increasing the risk of a crash. NHTSA recall number 26V304 states that the affected vehicles may have been fitted with incorrect bolts after receiving a dealer-installed accessory brake package or undergoing front wheel-hub bearing service. These vehicles include the following: 737 2025 Cadillac Escalade units411 2025 Cadillac Escalade ESV units83 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe units76 2025 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 units12 2025 GMC Yukon unitsSeven 2025 GMC Yukon XL units647 2026 Cadillac Escalade units335 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV units51 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe units35 2026 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 units49 2026 GMC Yukon units21 2026 GMC Yukon XL units Chevrolet Rolling HeavyThe affected units are limited to models equipped with 24-inch wheels, which are typically offered on higher-end trims. Most of these SUVs come with 20- or 22-inch wheels, while the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban are also available with 18-inch wheels. Given the size of these vehicles, especially under heavy braking, replacing the bolts is crucial to avoid consequences such as a possible loss of control. The safety campaign states that GM is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the issue. However, it warns owners that they may hear noise or feel vibration from the affected wheel hub. Affected owners will be asked to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the front left and right wheel-hub bolts replaced. Since all affected vehicles are still under warranty, reimbursement will not be offered. Recall TroubleGM will begin notifying owners on June 29, 2026, though affected VINs have been searchable since May 14 for owners who want to check whether their vehicles are included in the recall. Aside from that, a separate recall is affecting certain GM full-size SUVs and trucks, including some 2026 model-year examples and older vehicles that may have received a replacement transfer case. That safety campaign involves a missing oil pickup tube inside the transfer case, which could prevent proper lubrication and potentially lead to internal damage or wheel lock-up. Chevrolet View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

In all of the tributes and reactions pouring in from across the motorsports world and beyond, this one stands out. On Friday, Austin Dillon, the driver of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet and grandson of the team's namesake, posted the following letter to his social media. RCR runs two full-time Cup cars, and for the past four seasons, those cars were driven by Dillon and his ...Keep readingView the full article

Late last year, Jason Fenske from the Engineering Explained YouTube channel detailed several faults encountered during just six months of leasing a Lucid Air sedan. In January, he reported that Lucid had reached out and explained how it intended to fix the flaws, but in the five months since, things have only gotten worse, as he explains in another new video (embedded below). As if that's not frustrating enough, when Lucid offered to replace the car under Lemon Law, Fenske discovered that finding an exact match to his current spec in an effort to maintain his current lease payments was impossible. So Lucid offered to compensate him for his past payments, buying the car outright to let him start a new lease with a new car. But even that didn't work out, and there's still more to the story, including how Lucid's offer of a Gravity SUV as a long-term loaner only added to his inventory of irritations. Weekend From Hell: 8 Unique Lucid Air Glitches in One TripAfter Lucid offered to address Feske's multiple earlier issues with software updates, some problems still persisted, and on a single weekend trip over four days and roughly 400 miles, eight unique new problems appeared from a Thursday to a Sunday. You can watch the full video above for more details, but in a nutshell, these were the issues: All of the Air's electronic door handles popped out, but the rears would not open.One rear vent was measured to be blowing 50 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the other, despite temperature testing being carried out in a garage out of sunlight, and with equal settings for all four zones of the climate control system.Dynamic white lines to assist with parking using the display from the rearview camera did not load.Apple CarPlay booted up, but navigation did not work, despite leaving the car, coming back, and trying again.On another occasion, CarPlay simply would not load at all.With around 7,000 miles on the odometer, Fenske noted that the car's stop mode, despite being set to 'Hold' instead of 'Roll' (enabling one-pedal driving in tandem with regeneration set to 'High'), randomly switched to the opposite after just a few minutes inside a nearby store, causing the car to roll forward after being started and pressure being taken off the brake pedal.The car indicated that the speed limit in a 45-mph zone was 75, despite neither the zone before nor after the 45-mph zone being a 75-mph zone.Music randomly stopped playing, on one occasion pausing three times during a single song and never resuming playing automatically, despite good cell coverage.Fenske documented all these problems so he could email Lucid for assistance, with the most concerning being how the car changed its stop mode after he spent just a few minutes inside a nearby store. Picture this: when starting the car, you put your foot on the brake and select Drive or Reverse, and with 'Hold' selected instead of 'Roll,' the car should slowly creep away in the selected direction. Normal, right? As Fenske was on a slight decline and the car had changed its setting without warning, he rolled forward. Trying to go back into Park and into Reverse again didn't solve the issue (he didn't know the setting had changed at this point), and on the third try, he used the accelerator pedal, and the car finally moved back. As Fenske notes, if this setting changes when someone is on a steep hill, especially when they're accustomed to the car behaving as they had selected, this could cause a crash or worse. Unfortunately, the problems didn't end there. Other Problems Appearing on Fenske's Lucid Air Engineering Explained/YouTube While all the above happened over one weekend, other issues have appeared in Fenske's short time with the car. The audio system was particularly buggy, sometimes not working at all, and sometimes sounding tinny. On other occasions, only the front speakers would stop working, and these audio issues were separate from the regular but random pausing of music. Another problem was that the heated seats would keep turning off, and sometimes, the car would select neither Drive nor Reverse, despite all other functions working - Fenske theorizes that the car thinks it's connected to a charger when this happens. Finally, on that one weekend trip while skiing, the Lucid mobile app was operating in the background and consumed a whopping 46 percent of Fenske's new iPhone 17's battery charge, despite only one minute of screen time, while a GPS-tracking app that was running simultaneously in the background only used 7 percent. Engineering Explained/YouTube Yet another issue discovered later on is that, after leaving the frunk and trunk open for roughly 10 minutes or more (as many do while packing for a trip), the apertures would not close, regardless of whether Fenske used the buttons in the storage spaces, the screen on the dashboard, or his smartphone app. This was despite the car showing on-screen confirmation that the openings weren't closed and that the app wasn't working. Furthermore, after closing manually, the trunk would sometimes not reopen. Since the people at Lucid are reasonable, they agreed that these numerous issues were too big to live with on an $85,000 car, and they tried to make the "popular YouTuber," as the engineer laughingly admits he is, happy with a replacement. Lucid's Solution to a Buggy Air Touring Backfires with the Gravity SUV Engineering Explained/YouTube Lucid offered to replace the car under the existing lease agreement using a similar spec, but legally, for Fenske's payments to stay the same, Lucid would have to provide the exact same spec, not similar. With Fenske finding over 4,600 unique builds based on the Air Touring alone, and with Lucid being a relatively low-volume company, that would be impossible. To Lucid's credit, the company still didn't give up, offering a full buyback and a new lease, providing a Gravity SUV as a long-term loaner while a suitable vehicle was being sourced, but Fenske was at his breaking point and declined for three reasons. Firstly, the lease signed in August 2025 was at $865, and speccing the same build now is $265 more, at $1,130. Secondly, Fenske only wanted a three-year lease, and at this point is already 11 months in; not only would a new lease restart the term, but a signing two-year lease would increase payments even more dramatically, to $1,440. Finally, the experience left a bitter taste in Fenske's mouth, and he knew that if the replacement was bad, it would make things even worse for Lucid. If the replacement was good, critics would suggest Lucid had provided a flawless car just because of Jason's publicity, impossible as that would be for software-related issues. Even though he declined, Lucid kept trying to make things right by maintaining the offer of a long-term Gravity loan. Related: New Lucid Gravity Recall Isn't Even Lucid's Fault So, Fenske took delivery of the electric SUV and planned an in-depth long-term review, but shortly after editing the video, the Gravity had to return to Lucid Service because a passenger-side window would not roll back up even after multiple vehicle resets. As if the experience couldn't get much worse, the cruise control "cancel" button would only work sporadically, and the cameras would repeatedly fail to load images. Sigh. Lucid may be brilliant when it comes to engineering and packaging, but its software still has a long way to go, as Fenske's closing statement sums up nicely. "While Lucid has been very understanding and supportive, I am not sure if I will complete the long-term loan. While I believe Lucid has continuously innovated in the EV space and delivered impressive engineering throughout their vehicles, unfortunately, my personal experience has been overshadowed by glitchy software." - Jason Fenske, Engineering Explained View the full article

Late last year, Jason Fenske from the Engineering Explained YouTube channel detailed several faults encountered during just six months of leasing a Lucid Air sedan. In January, he reported that Lucid had reached out and explained how it intended to fix the flaws, but in the five months since, things have only gotten worse, as he explains in another new video (embedded below). As if that's not frustrating enough, when Lucid offered to replace the car under Lemon Law, Fenske discovered that finding an exact match to his current spec in an effort to maintain his current lease payments was impossible. So Lucid offered to compensate him for his past payments, buying the car outright to let him start a new lease with a new car. But even that didn't work out, and there's still more to the story, including how Lucid's offer of a Gravity SUV as a long-term loaner only added to his inventory of irritations. Weekend From Hell: 8 Unique Lucid Air Glitches in One TripAfter Lucid offered to address Feske's multiple earlier issues with software updates, some problems still persisted, and on a single weekend trip over four days and roughly 400 miles, eight unique new problems appeared from a Thursday to a Sunday. You can watch the full video above for more details, but in a nutshell, these were the issues: All of the Air's electronic door handles popped out, but the rears would not open.One rear vent was measured to be blowing 50 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the other, despite temperature testing being carried out in a garage out of sunlight, and with equal settings for all four zones of the climate control system.Dynamic white lines to assist with parking using the display from the rearview camera did not load.Apple CarPlay booted up, but navigation did not work, despite leaving the car, coming back, and trying again.On another occasion, CarPlay simply would not load at all.With around 7,000 miles on the odometer, Fenske noted that the car's stop mode, despite being set to 'Hold' instead of 'Roll' (enabling one-pedal driving in tandem with regeneration set to 'High'), randomly switched to the opposite after just a few minutes inside a nearby store, causing the car to roll forward after being started and pressure being taken off the brake pedal.The car indicated that the speed limit in a 45-mph zone was 75, despite neither the zone before nor after the 45-mph zone being a 75-mph zone.Music randomly stopped playing, on one occasion pausing three times during a single song and never resuming playing automatically, despite good cell coverage.Fenske documented all these problems so he could email Lucid for assistance, with the most concerning being how the car changed its stop mode after he spent just a few minutes inside a nearby store. Picture this: when starting the car, you put your foot on the brake and select Drive or Reverse, and with 'Hold' selected instead of 'Roll,' the car should slowly creep away in the selected direction. Normal, right? As Fenske was on a slight decline and the car had changed its setting without warning, he rolled forward. Trying to go back into Park and into Reverse again didn't solve the issue (he didn't know the setting had changed at this point), and on the third try, he used the accelerator pedal, and the car finally moved back. As Fenske notes, if this setting changes when someone is on a steep hill, especially when they're accustomed to the car behaving as they had selected, this could cause a crash or worse. Unfortunately, the problems didn't end there. Other Problems Appearing on Fenske's Lucid Air Engineering Explained/YouTube While all the above happened over one weekend, other issues have appeared in Fenske's short time with the car. The audio system was particularly buggy, sometimes not working at all, and sometimes sounding tinny. On other occasions, only the front speakers would stop working, and these audio issues were separate from the regular but random pausing of music. Another problem was that the heated seats would keep turning off, and sometimes, the car would select neither Drive nor Reverse, despite all other functions working - Fenske theorizes that the car thinks it's connected to a charger when this happens. Finally, on that one weekend trip while skiing, the Lucid mobile app was operating in the background and consumed a whopping 46 percent of Fenske's new iPhone 17's battery charge, despite only one minute of screen time, while a GPS-tracking app that was running simultaneously in the background only used 7 percent. Engineering Explained/YouTube Yet another issue discovered later on is that, after leaving the frunk and trunk open for roughly 10 minutes or more (as many do while packing for a trip), the apertures would not close, regardless of whether Fenske used the buttons in the storage spaces, the screen on the dashboard, or his smartphone app. This was despite the car showing on-screen confirmation that the openings weren't closed and that the app wasn't working. Furthermore, after closing manually, the trunk would sometimes not reopen. Since the people at Lucid are reasonable, they agreed that these numerous issues were too big to live with on an $85,000 car, and they tried to make the "popular YouTuber," as the engineer laughingly admits he is, happy with a replacement. Lucid's Solution to a Buggy Air Touring Backfires with the Gravity SUV Engineering Explained/YouTube Lucid offered to replace the car under the existing lease agreement using a similar spec, but legally, for Fenske's payments to stay the same, Lucid would have to provide the exact same spec, not similar. With Fenske finding over 4,600 unique builds based on the Air Touring alone, and with Lucid being a relatively low-volume company, that would be impossible. To Lucid's credit, the company still didn't give up, offering a full buyback and a new lease, providing a Gravity SUV as a long-term loaner while a suitable vehicle was being sourced, but Fenske was at his breaking point and declined for three reasons. Firstly, the lease signed in August 2025 was at $865, and speccing the same build now is $265 more, at $1,130. Secondly, Fenske only wanted a three-year lease, and at this point is already 11 months in; not only would a new lease restart the term, but a signing two-year lease would increase payments even more dramatically, to $1,440. Finally, the experience left a bitter taste in Fenske's mouth, and he knew that if the replacement was bad, it would make things even worse for Lucid. If the replacement was good, critics would suggest Lucid had provided a flawless car just because of Jason's publicity, impossible as that would be for software-related issues. Even though he declined, Lucid kept trying to make things right by maintaining the offer of a long-term Gravity loan. Related: New Lucid Gravity Recall Isn't Even Lucid's Fault So, Fenske took delivery of the electric SUV and planned an in-depth long-term review, but shortly after editing the video, the Gravity had to return to Lucid Service because a passenger-side window would not roll back up even after multiple vehicle resets. As if the experience couldn't get much worse, the cruise control "cancel" button would only work sporadically, and the cameras would repeatedly fail to load images. Sigh. Lucid may be brilliant when it comes to engineering and packaging, but its software still has a long way to go, as Fenske's closing statement sums up nicely. "While Lucid has been very understanding and supportive, I am not sure if I will complete the long-term loan. While I believe Lucid has continuously innovated in the EV space and delivered impressive engineering throughout their vehicles, unfortunately, my personal experience has been overshadowed by glitchy software." - Jason Fenske, Engineering Explained View the full article

The NASCAR community arrived to Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend facing the unthinkable, trying to deal with the tragic and sudden death of 41-year-old NASCAR Cup star Kyle Busch. The Truck Series was first up on Friday, but practice and qualifying were canceled due to rain. Because of Busch's win last weekend, the No. 7 Spire Motorsports truck he was supposed to drive -- now covered in ...Keep readingView the full article

To fully understand the impact of the loss of Kyle Busch, NASCAR Chief Executive Officer Steve O’Donnell says those outside of the sport must understand the family dynamic of everyone within it. That was the theme of an opening statement and 20-minute press conference on Friday evening at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Read Also: NASCAR CupNASCAR great Kyle Busch dies at 41 after ...Keep readingView the full article

Part Of The ExperienceWhen it comes to purchasing very premium, high-performance cars, owners expect that, apart from a great product, the experience must also be top-notch. This is why high-priced brands have offered bespoke services, allowing customers to play around with their cars' interiors and some exterior pieces as well. This practice was more common for luxury brands like Rolls-Royce and Bentley, but over the years, even supercar brands have launched their own customization arms. Lamborghini's own has just reached a milestone and is celebrating in a very unique way. Lamborghini View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article 20 Years of Ad PersonamAd Personam is a Latin phrase meaning "for the person" and is the official name of Lamborghini's personalization department. It just reached 20 years in the business, starting out in 2006 as a small group, and has quickly become an essential part of the Lamborghini buying experience. According to the Sant'Agata automaker, 96% of all new cars bought from them have at least one specialized detail courtesy of Ad Personam. In celebration of 20 years of Ad Personam, Lamborghini is debuting a special colorway called Azzurro 20 Anniversary Ad Personam, a blue hue inspired by the Lamé Sky Blu that once graced the artful line of the Lamborghini Miura Roadster. To achieve this color, Lamborghini used a 4-layer paint process that was designed to enhance coverage, brilliance, and visual depth, combined with a high concentration of fine aluminum particles and pearlescent pigments that create an intense “star dust” effect. It will be available as an option for a limited time only, so best get your orders in quick. Federico Foschini, the Chief Marketing and Sales Officer of Automobili Lamborghini, says that "Every Lamborghini configured through Ad Personam is unique by definition, and this uniqueness is never accidental. It is the result of a precise vision, rigorously selected materials, and an attention to detail that is part of our brand’s DNA," said Federico Foschini, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer of Automobili Lamborghini. Lamborghini View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article The BeginningAd Personam can trace its origins back to 2006, at the Paris Motor Show. It was there that the brand showcased a limited-edition Gallardo that signaled its desire to help customers achieve a sense of individuality. That Gallardo had matte contrasts, Nero Noctis Bodywork, Callisto wheels, and two-tone leather and Alcantara interiors enhanced by the iconic Q-Citura stitching. Lamborghini View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Part Of The ExperienceWhen it comes to purchasing very premium, high-performance cars, owners expect that, apart from a great product, the experience must also be top-notch. This is why high-priced brands have offered bespoke services, allowing customers to play around with their cars' interiors and some exterior pieces as well. This practice was more common for luxury brands like Rolls-Royce and Bentley, but over the years, even supercar brands have launched their own customization arms. Lamborghini's own has just reached a milestone and is celebrating in a very unique way. Lamborghini View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article 20 Years of Ad PersonamAd Personam is a Latin phrase meaning "for the person" and is the official name of Lamborghini's personalization department. It just reached 20 years in the business, starting out in 2006 as a small group, and has quickly become an essential part of the Lamborghini buying experience. According to the Sant'Agata automaker, 96% of all new cars bought from them have at least one specialized detail courtesy of Ad Personam. In celebration of 20 years of Ad Personam, Lamborghini is debuting a special colorway called Azzurro 20 Anniversary Ad Personam, a blue hue inspired by the Lamé Sky Blu that once graced the artful line of the Lamborghini Miura Roadster. To achieve this color, Lamborghini used a 4-layer paint process that was designed to enhance coverage, brilliance, and visual depth, combined with a high concentration of fine aluminum particles and pearlescent pigments that create an intense “star dust” effect. It will be available as an option for a limited time only, so best get your orders in quick. Federico Foschini, the Chief Marketing and Sales Officer of Automobili Lamborghini, says that "Every Lamborghini configured through Ad Personam is unique by definition, and this uniqueness is never accidental. It is the result of a precise vision, rigorously selected materials, and an attention to detail that is part of our brand’s DNA," said Federico Foschini, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer of Automobili Lamborghini. Lamborghini View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article The BeginningAd Personam can trace its origins back to 2006, at the Paris Motor Show. It was there that the brand showcased a limited-edition Gallardo that signaled its desire to help customers achieve a sense of individuality. That Gallardo had matte contrasts, Nero Noctis Bodywork, Callisto wheels, and two-tone leather and Alcantara interiors enhanced by the iconic Q-Citura stitching. Lamborghini View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

The Lexus RX has been convincing premium buyers that going hybrid is no bad thing for ages now, and the current fifth-generation model, launched in 2022, has earned the crown of the best-selling Lexus in the U.S. Four years after this ALA10/ALH10 model arrived, Lexus is preparing to update the midsize crossover SUV for the 2028 model year, and though these spy shots, captured near the Nürburgring, may appear to show minimal changes, the updates will be more than skin-deep, with significant changes to the interior that will bring the RX's cabin in line with that of the ES sedan and TZ three-row. 2027 Lexus RX Spied with Subtly Updated Front End SH Proshots/Autoblog View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article In all honesty, telling the 2028 Lexus RX apart from the current model won't be easy. This prototype's only camouflage is on the front bumper, and with no apparent changes to the headlights and no major updates to the fascia, the facelift won't grab attention. As far as we can tell, the only element of the front end that has been revised is the border of the central spindle grille, which appears to be clearly delineated; the 2026 RX's grille nodes bleed into the bumper, while this 2028 RX seems to have a solid surround for the grille. Elsewhere, the lower side intakes appear to be of the same shape, the wing mirrors are the same, and the taillights and rear bumper look the same. As Lexus' best-seller, it makes sense not to fix what isn't broken, and we expect little to change in the powertrain department, but that mindset will change in the cabin, where a more futuristic look and feel will come to the RZ next year. 2027 Lexus RZ Interior Is the Only Major Update SH Proshots/Autoblog View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article According to our spies (who haven't yet snapped interior imagery), the new RZ will "undergo considerable changes" in the cabin, with its infotainment interface losing the touchpoints buyers have become accustomed to. While the existing RX has ditched the frustrating trackpad of old in favor of a touchscreen (9.8 inches as standard, 14 inches available), Lexus is updating the user experience again, bringing the cabin in line with newer releases like the TZ three-row EV, which debuted this month. That means the rotary knobs on the touchscreen will likely disappear, with climate control functions moving to haptic pads on the area of the dash just below the display. Fortunately, there's still a physical scroller for controlling volume in the recess beneath the screen of the TZ (which shares its underpinnings with the Toyota Highlander EV), and this will be the case for the new RX too. We'll have to wait a while to see exactly what Lexus has planned, as the mid-cycle refresh is only expected to debut sometime next year, potentially arriving as a 2028 model. View the full article

The Lexus RX has been convincing premium buyers that going hybrid is no bad thing for ages now, and the current fifth-generation model, launched in 2022, has earned the crown of the best-selling Lexus in the U.S. Four years after this ALA10/ALH10 model arrived, Lexus is preparing to update the midsize crossover SUV for the 2028 model year, and though these spy shots, captured near the Nürburgring, may appear to show minimal changes, the updates will be more than skin-deep, with significant changes to the interior that will bring the RX's cabin in line with that of the ES sedan and TZ three-row. 2027 Lexus RX Spied with Subtly Updated Front End SH Proshots/Autoblog View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article In all honesty, telling the 2028 Lexus RX apart from the current model won't be easy. This prototype's only camouflage is on the front bumper, and with no apparent changes to the headlights and no major updates to the fascia, the facelift won't grab attention. As far as we can tell, the only element of the front end that has been revised is the border of the central spindle grille, which appears to be clearly delineated; the 2026 RX's grille nodes bleed into the bumper, while this 2028 RX seems to have a solid surround for the grille. Elsewhere, the lower side intakes appear to be of the same shape, the wing mirrors are the same, and the taillights and rear bumper look the same. As Lexus' best-seller, it makes sense not to fix what isn't broken, and we expect little to change in the powertrain department, but that mindset will change in the cabin, where a more futuristic look and feel will come to the RZ next year. 2027 Lexus RZ Interior Is the Only Major Update SH Proshots/Autoblog View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article According to our spies (who haven't yet snapped interior imagery), the new RZ will "undergo considerable changes" in the cabin, with its infotainment interface losing the touchpoints buyers have become accustomed to. While the existing RX has ditched the frustrating trackpad of old in favor of a touchscreen (9.8 inches as standard, 14 inches available), Lexus is updating the user experience again, bringing the cabin in line with newer releases like the TZ three-row EV, which debuted this month. That means the rotary knobs on the touchscreen will likely disappear, with climate control functions moving to haptic pads on the area of the dash just below the display. Fortunately, there's still a physical scroller for controlling volume in the recess beneath the screen of the TZ (which shares its underpinnings with the Toyota Highlander EV), and this will be the case for the new RX too. We'll have to wait a while to see exactly what Lexus has planned, as the mid-cycle refresh is only expected to debut sometime next year, potentially arriving as a 2028 model. View the full article

It’s happening slowly, but many automakers are making an effort to reintroduce tactile, physical controls in their cars after years of screens increasingly taking over the entire dashboard. While screens aren’t going anywhere, key functions are once again being made accessible via buttons. The latest automaker to announce it will be introducing more physical controls is Polestar, a relatively young brand that has always had a touchscreen-dominated user interface, much like Tesla. The automaker’s CEO says feedback from customers has led to the decision to incorporate more traditional controls. Related: 5 Essential Car Features That Should Never Be On Touchscreens Polestar Drivers Want More Buttons Polestar Ever since the Polestar 1 and 2 arrived, vehicles from the Swedish brand have had a scarcity of physical controls. In their place is a vertically-oriented touchscreen, the same layout used in parent company Volvo’s cars. “We have very close contact [with] customers,” said Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller when speaking to Autocar. “We have an agency [retail] model, so we go directly to customers, and we have a very big community who tell us their views, so we are very, very close to them.” Lohscheller was asked if Polestar would follow brands like Volkswagen and Ferrari in bringing back physical controls to replace some touchscreen- and haptic-based functions in future models. “Absolutely. Customers are very outspoken about that. They say ‘we want more buttons’. It’s that simple. And yes, we will do buttons.” Polestar Next year, we’ll get a first look at this change in the Polestar 3 SUV, which is set to adopt more traditional steering wheel buttons. These will replace some or all of the touch-sensitive pads used currently. Mercedes-Benz and VW are other brands that have also brought back physical buttons on the steering wheels of their latest models. “We’re very open-minded," said the CEO. 'We’re not religious here in terms of saying ‘this is how it has to be’. Customer feedback is overwhelmingly clear: they want buttons back. So we will bring buttons back.” Related: Top 6 Vehicles with the Best Physical Controls Other Polestar Improvements Coming, Too Polestar Other than improving usability with more physical controls, Polestar will be working on eliminating other customer frustrations, too. The brand’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are continuously being optimized, and it’s once again turning to real-world feedback to do that. Polestar’s aim is to perfect current systems before introducing even more advanced self-driving capabilities. The CEO believes all ADAS features “should work flawlessly.” Customer feedback has also been important in addressing glitches in its cars, as was the case with the digital key’s proximity function in early examples of the Polestar 3. “In terms of Polestar 3, we really took those things very much on board, very seriously, and integrated it in the model-year 2026 car," he said. "This will be a major, major improvement. We have many over-the-air updates to fix things as quickly as possible, because quality is the highest priority.” What It Means Polestar Like Tesla, Polestar built its visual identity around minimalist design from the start. All its models have had clean, uncluttered interior designs that look fantastic at first glance, but haven’t always been the easiest to interact with. The fact that a brand like Polestar is now introducing more physical controls is a clear sign that there’s a fundamental change underway within the industry. Tactility and usability have largely been lost to an obsession with tech, but automakers are realizing these approaches can co-exist. Given the link between Polestar and Volvo, we hope to see similar changes in Volvo models, too. The small EX30 is just one example of a Volvo that prioritized screens over ease of use. These Swedish brands don’t need to abandon their distinct designs, but a greater focus on the user experience is long overdue. View the full article

It’s happening slowly, but many automakers are making an effort to reintroduce tactile, physical controls in their cars after years of screens increasingly taking over the entire dashboard. While screens aren’t going anywhere, key functions are once again being made accessible via buttons. The latest automaker to announce it will be introducing more physical controls is Polestar, a relatively young brand that has always had a touchscreen-dominated user interface, much like Tesla. The automaker’s CEO says feedback from customers has led to the decision to incorporate more traditional controls. Related: 5 Essential Car Features That Should Never Be On Touchscreens Polestar Drivers Want More Buttons Polestar Ever since the Polestar 1 and 2 arrived, vehicles from the Swedish brand have had a scarcity of physical controls. In their place is a vertically-oriented touchscreen, the same layout used in parent company Volvo’s cars. “We have very close contact [with] customers,” said Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller when speaking to Autocar. “We have an agency [retail] model, so we go directly to customers, and we have a very big community who tell us their views, so we are very, very close to them.” Lohscheller was asked if Polestar would follow brands like Volkswagen and Ferrari in bringing back physical controls to replace some touchscreen- and haptic-based functions in future models. “Absolutely. Customers are very outspoken about that. They say ‘we want more buttons’. It’s that simple. And yes, we will do buttons.” Polestar Next year, we’ll get a first look at this change in the Polestar 3 SUV, which is set to adopt more traditional steering wheel buttons. These will replace some or all of the touch-sensitive pads used currently. Mercedes-Benz and VW are other brands that have also brought back physical buttons on the steering wheels of their latest models. “We’re very open-minded," said the CEO. 'We’re not religious here in terms of saying ‘this is how it has to be’. Customer feedback is overwhelmingly clear: they want buttons back. So we will bring buttons back.” Related: Top 6 Vehicles with the Best Physical Controls Other Polestar Improvements Coming, Too Polestar Other than improving usability with more physical controls, Polestar will be working on eliminating other customer frustrations, too. The brand’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are continuously being optimized, and it’s once again turning to real-world feedback to do that. Polestar’s aim is to perfect current systems before introducing even more advanced self-driving capabilities. The CEO believes all ADAS features “should work flawlessly.” Customer feedback has also been important in addressing glitches in its cars, as was the case with the digital key’s proximity function in early examples of the Polestar 3. “In terms of Polestar 3, we really took those things very much on board, very seriously, and integrated it in the model-year 2026 car," he said. "This will be a major, major improvement. We have many over-the-air updates to fix things as quickly as possible, because quality is the highest priority.” What It Means Polestar Like Tesla, Polestar built its visual identity around minimalist design from the start. All its models have had clean, uncluttered interior designs that look fantastic at first glance, but haven’t always been the easiest to interact with. The fact that a brand like Polestar is now introducing more physical controls is a clear sign that there’s a fundamental change underway within the industry. Tactility and usability have largely been lost to an obsession with tech, but automakers are realizing these approaches can co-exist. Given the link between Polestar and Volvo, we hope to see similar changes in Volvo models, too. The small EX30 is just one example of a Volvo that prioritized screens over ease of use. These Swedish brands don’t need to abandon their distinct designs, but a greater focus on the user experience is long overdue. View the full article

Tesla is no stranger to controversy when it comes to advertising, among other things. For a company that allegedly doesn’t spend a dime on advertising, the EV maker is constantly in the news, although not always for the right reasons. The latest mishap involves Tesla Canada’s website, which recently started advertising a new Model 3 Premium RWD version that’s about $8,000 cheaper that the previous entry-level version. As it often does, Tesla did not provide details, preferring to leave people guessing the reason behind the sudden price drop. This “strategic ambiguity” approach the company sometimes uses—deliberately or not—often results in wider coverage than if a press release was issued regarding the matter. Tesla Canada Changed The 0-62 MPH Time Twice In Two Weeks Tesla Canada While the reason behind the price drop is pretty obvious—Tesla will export China-made, LFP battery-powered Model 3 sedans to Canada to take advantage of the reduced tariffs—it doesn’t explain why the automaker has rectified the Model 3’s 0-62 MPH (0-100 km/h) acceleration time twice already. When the cheaper Model 3 started to be advertised on Tesla Canada’s website on May 1, the 0-62 MPH time was listed at 4.2 seconds, with information also including a top charging speed of 250 kW and a 119,000-mile (192,000-km) battery warranty. But as Electrek points out, only two days later, Tesla amended the Model 3 page with new specifications, namely a 0-62 MPH time of 5.2 seconds, a top charging speed of 175 kW and a 100,000-mile (160,000-km) battery warranty. Tesla said the initial 0-62 MPH time of 4.2 seconds was a “website error” and told customers who inquired about the changes that the previous specs had been posted in error. But wait, it gets worse. Fast forward to May 19, and Tesla has changed the acceleration time once again to 6.2 seconds, which means the Model 3 Premium RWD ended up being two full seconds slower than initially advertised. So why is that? It Looks Like Tesla Mixed Up The Specs With The Fremont-Built Model 3 RWD Tesla Canada Well, the 6.2-second time appears to be the correct one as it aligns with the 0-62 MPH time Tesla lists for the Model 3 Standard RWD in Europe and other markets that features the same LFP battery pack made in Shanghai, China. That means the original 4.2-second time was never accurate—it was actually the acceleration time of the Fremont-built Tesla Model 3 that was previously sold in Canada. The China-made Tesla Model 3 RWD features a 3D7 rear motor that makes 194 kW (260 hp) of peak power and 340 Nm (251 lb-ft) of torque, while the California-made Model 3 RWD has a different 3D6 motor that delivers more power and torque—220 kW (295 hp) and 440 Nm (324 lb-ft) to be exact. The Model 3 Premium RWD’s less powerful electric motor combined with the LFP pack that delivers lower peak discharge rates than the NMC battery pack results in a slower 0-62 MPH time for the China-built Model 3, which is totally fine as long as it’s advertised correctly. Let's just hope not too many Canadians placed orders for the Model 3 Premium RWD based on the 0-62 MPH time during the roughly two weeks that the website displayed incorrect information. View the full article

Tesla is no stranger to controversy when it comes to advertising, among other things. For a company that allegedly doesn’t spend a dime on advertising, the EV maker is constantly in the news, although not always for the right reasons. The latest mishap involves Tesla Canada’s website, which recently started advertising a new Model 3 Premium RWD version that’s about $8,000 cheaper that the previous entry-level version. As it often does, Tesla did not provide details, preferring to leave people guessing the reason behind the sudden price drop. This “strategic ambiguity” approach the company sometimes uses—deliberately or not—often results in wider coverage than if a press release was issued regarding the matter. Tesla Canada Changed The 0-62 MPH Time Twice In Two Weeks Tesla Canada While the reason behind the price drop is pretty obvious—Tesla will export China-made, LFP battery-powered Model 3 sedans to Canada to take advantage of the reduced tariffs—it doesn’t explain why the automaker has rectified the Model 3’s 0-62 MPH (0-100 km/h) acceleration time twice already. When the cheaper Model 3 started to be advertised on Tesla Canada’s website on May 1, the 0-62 MPH time was listed at 4.2 seconds, with information also including a top charging speed of 250 kW and a 119,000-mile (192,000-km) battery warranty. But as Electrek points out, only two days later, Tesla amended the Model 3 page with new specifications, namely a 0-62 MPH time of 5.2 seconds, a top charging speed of 175 kW and a 100,000-mile (160,000-km) battery warranty. Tesla said the initial 0-62 MPH time of 4.2 seconds was a “website error” and told customers who inquired about the changes that the previous specs had been posted in error. But wait, it gets worse. Fast forward to May 19, and Tesla has changed the acceleration time once again to 6.2 seconds, which means the Model 3 Premium RWD ended up being two full seconds slower than initially advertised. So why is that? It Looks Like Tesla Mixed Up The Specs With The Fremont-Built Model 3 RWD Tesla Canada Well, the 6.2-second time appears to be the correct one as it aligns with the 0-62 MPH time Tesla lists for the Model 3 Standard RWD in Europe and other markets that features the same LFP battery pack made in Shanghai, China. That means the original 4.2-second time was never accurate—it was actually the acceleration time of the Fremont-built Tesla Model 3 that was previously sold in Canada. The China-made Tesla Model 3 RWD features a 3D7 rear motor that makes 194 kW (260 hp) of peak power and 340 Nm (251 lb-ft) of torque, while the California-made Model 3 RWD has a different 3D6 motor that delivers more power and torque—220 kW (295 hp) and 440 Nm (324 lb-ft) to be exact. The Model 3 Premium RWD’s less powerful electric motor combined with the LFP pack that delivers lower peak discharge rates than the NMC battery pack results in a slower 0-62 MPH time for the China-built Model 3, which is totally fine as long as it’s advertised correctly. Let's just hope not too many Canadians placed orders for the Model 3 Premium RWD based on the 0-62 MPH time during the roughly two weeks that the website displayed incorrect information. View the full article

Autonomous Future?It seems like the one segment of the automotive industry that's still hotly debated is autonomous driving. Some say that it has a place in our current society, while others (most people) claim that they are still years away from being safe and independent enough to be offered on a wide scale. That hasn't stopped manufacturers from entering autonomous driving; most major makers have recently been investing in future technologies to advance self-driving tech. Nis Stellantis x WayveStellantis has just made its move, partnering up with British autonomous driving tech leader Wayve. This new strategic partnership with Stellantis aims to integrate Wayve's AI driver tech and automated driving intelligence into the Stellantis-based Autodrive Platform. Doing so will enable the company to offer hands-free, supervised Level 2++ driving in both city and highway conditions. This partnership follows Stellantis' recent investment in Wayve, combining Wayve's end-to-end AI driving technology with the automaker's STLA AutoDrive platform, manufacturing scale, and engineering expertise. Initially, the partnership will focus on enabling people to use autonomous driving features from a "door-to-door" perspective, while still under the supervision of a licensed driver. However, both companies are also working to develop and expand the technology to become more capable in the future, should regulations allow. The first vehicle integration of this new autonomous tech is set to launch sometime in 2028. Ned Curic, the Chief Engineer and Technology Officer at Stellantis, said they are committed to giving customers a "genuinely intuitive and enjoyable hands-free driving experience." Riding The WayveStellantis isn't the first and only believer in Wayve; the company is considered one of the most valuable technology startups in Europe. Wayve is backed by major companies like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Uber, not to mention Silicon Valley support from AMD, Arm, and Qualcomm, which make the chips that automakers use. Nissan is also working with Wayve to enhance its proprietary ProPILOT tech for a mass-market launch. Also part of that collaboration is Uber, with all three companies working on Level 4 autonomous driving cabs for London and Tokyo. N View the full article

Autonomous Future?It seems like the one segment of the automotive industry that's still hotly debated is autonomous driving. Some say that it has a place in our current society, while others (most people) claim that they are still years away from being safe and independent enough to be offered on a wide scale. That hasn't stopped manufacturers from entering autonomous driving; most major makers have recently been investing in future technologies to advance self-driving tech. Nis Stellantis x WayveStellantis has just made its move, partnering up with British autonomous driving tech leader Wayve. This new strategic partnership with Stellantis aims to integrate Wayve's AI driver tech and automated driving intelligence into the Stellantis-based Autodrive Platform. Doing so will enable the company to offer hands-free, supervised Level 2++ driving in both city and highway conditions. This partnership follows Stellantis' recent investment in Wayve, combining Wayve's end-to-end AI driving technology with the automaker's STLA AutoDrive platform, manufacturing scale, and engineering expertise. Initially, the partnership will focus on enabling people to use autonomous driving features from a "door-to-door" perspective, while still under the supervision of a licensed driver. However, both companies are also working to develop and expand the technology to become more capable in the future, should regulations allow. The first vehicle integration of this new autonomous tech is set to launch sometime in 2028. Ned Curic, the Chief Engineer and Technology Officer at Stellantis, said they are committed to giving customers a "genuinely intuitive and enjoyable hands-free driving experience." Riding The WayveStellantis isn't the first and only believer in Wayve; the company is considered one of the most valuable technology startups in Europe. Wayve is backed by major companies like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Uber, not to mention Silicon Valley support from AMD, Arm, and Qualcomm, which make the chips that automakers use. Nissan is also working with Wayve to enhance its proprietary ProPILOT tech for a mass-market launch. Also part of that collaboration is Uber, with all three companies working on Level 4 autonomous driving cabs for London and Tokyo. N View the full article

The EV That Put VinFast On The MapThe VF 8 is the model that really put VinFast on the map, especially for North American buyers – but not always for the right reasons. Early reviews called out issues with ride comfort, software quirks, and a general lack of polish. Owners soon added their own complaints about charging, reliability, and day-to-day usability, with a few even taking legal action over persistent problems. To be fair, VinFast tried to fix what it could through software updates and tweaked hardware. But these days, first impressions are tough to shake off, especially when buyers have plenty of other options. Now VinFast is back with what it’s calling the new-generation VF 8, starting in Vietnam. It’s not a ground-up redesign, but rather a thorough rework aimed at making the SUV smoother, more efficient, and easier to live with every day. VinFast Cleaner Styling, Smarter CabinVisually, the new VF 8 finally looks more cohesive than before. VinFast talks about a 'Tech Fluid' design, which really just means smoother shapes, cleaner lines, and a more up-to-date look. The front still has those wing-shaped LEDs, but the grille and bumper now blend in better and don’t look as cluttered. Size-wise, the VF 8 is 185.1 inches long, 73.7 wide, and 65.7 high, riding on a 111.8-inch wheelbase. That means you get decent cabin space without making city driving a hassle. Inside, the VF 8 has a cleaner dashboard with a big 12.9-inch touchscreen running most of the controls. There’s a separate display for the driver’s info. You also get dual-zone climate, air ionization, reclining rear seats, and an eight-speaker sound system. Underneath, the updated VF 8 uses a revised chassis with frequency-selective dampers at both ends. These adjust on the fly depending on the road, which should help fix one of the biggest complaints about the old VF 8: the rough ride. VinFast More Focus On Efficiency And StabilityPower comes from a front-mounted electric motor with 228 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque. You get Eco, Normal, and Sport drive modes. The new VF 8 uses a 60.13-kWh battery, and VinFast claims up to 311 miles of range on the NEDC cycle (probably lower on EPA standards). Fast charging lets you go from 10% to 70% in under 30 minutes. VinFast also added a new thermal management system that controls the battery, motor, electronics, and cabin temperatures all at once. They say this helps with efficiency, charging speed, and long-term reliability. Safety features include adaptive cruise, highway assist, blind spot warning, lane keeping, and a 360-degree camera. VinFast says it’s aiming for a five-star ASEAN NCAP rating with this SUV. It’s unclear whether its newly minted self-driving feature will be available on this model. For now, the updated VF 8 launches in Vietnam, with pre-orders starting May 27 and deliveries set for late July. There’s no official word yet on a US or global release, but given how important the VF 8 is for VinFast, it would make sense to see it roll out worldwide sooner or later. Of note, the new VF 8 is priced at around $39,000 at current exchange rates. VinFast View the 7 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article