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A Neue Way of Building BMWsIt's not just the iX3 and i3 that are being built in a 'cleaner' way. In a bid to pursue its carbon-neutral targets, BMW will be applying its new production methods to other models as well. With that, we can expect more models to use recycled and secondary materials in their construction and to benefit from new, more efficient production methods. This is all part of BMW's commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and its own goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Mind you, this doesn't necessarily mean the German automaker will only make EVs by that time. Instead, the construction method of its vehicles and the sale of EVs will offset those of hybrids and ICEs. BMW China The i7 LCI Will Be the First After iX3, i3BMW recently announced that the new i7 will be using batteries from Rimac. But aside from that, the Gen6 batteries that the flagship sedan will get will be manufactured exclusively using renewable energy. At the same time, cell production will partially involve secondary raw materials for the lithium, cobalt, and nickel required. BMW believes that going for more recycled and renewable sources can also streamline its supply chain. With fewer sources to tap, less energy will be involved in vehicle production. The company reckons the 2027 i7's carbon footprint will be reduced by as much as 33 percent compared to the Gen5 battery models. BMW New Wheel Design Shows Sustainable ConstructionThere's one part of the new i7 that BMW has officially shown. That would be the new wheel design for the large EV sedan. Okay, it's just one of possibly several wheel options, but it's a start. But aside from showing off the new look, the company is rather proud of how it constructs the wheels. Like the i3 and iX3, the facelifted i7 will use wheels made from secondary aluminum scraps. About 70 percent of the wheel will be made from that material, further reducing the need to source new aluminum and boosting the company's in-house sustainability efforts. BMW Not Just the 7BMW added that its Dingolfing plant has been undergoing changes to support its carbon-zero initiatives. Given that the i7 and 7 Series are made there, there's a good chance the other car being built at that facility will also receive the same treatment. That car is the 5 Series, and the facelifted version of it is also expected to be launched soon. It's been touted to get the new Rimac batteries, and it'll likely get those 'sustainably-made' alloys as well. But, back to the i7 and 7 Series, the heavily facelifted model will be revealed at Auto China 2026. We'll be there when BMW pulls the covers off and tell you more about it soon. SH Proshots/Autoblog View the full article

Staying CompetitiveLucid is an interesting brand, taking the premium EV side of the business. This came after it initially served as a battery and powertrain builder for other manufacturers, including EV buses in China and Formula E teams. In fact, some of the brain trust from Lucid came from industry rival, Tesla. Lucid has managed to survive and maintain its position as the luxury EV provider and is eager for stability. To achieve this, a key position was restructured, as well as a fresh batch of investment. Sustainable BusinessLucid is naming a new CEO, and what makes this news surprising is that he comes from outside the company. Reported by Automotive News, Silvio Napoli is set to take the pivotal role for the company. He was formerly employed by Swiss Elevator maker Schindler Holding AG. The interim CEO, Mark Winterhoff, will return to his role as the COO of Lucid Motors. Napoli says that his main role is to create a sustainable business out of the "incredible company" that Lucid is. He goes on to say that making Lucid Motors more resilient as an EV automaker will take a lot of work. Napoli's experience runs deep, having seen Schindler through a successful turnaround in his last three years at the company, and he also helped with the digitization of his former employer. Along with a new CEO, Lucid Motors just received a fresh capital injection from two groups. One is from the Saudi Investment Fund, the biggest shareholder of Lucid, totaling at $550 million, and $200 million from Uber. Uber and Lucid have a partnership for a robotaxi fleet. Another $300 million in stock offering has also been announced by the brand, all of this in an effort to keep the business thriving despite recent declines in EV demand. OptimisimMost EV makers are now trying to capitalize on surging fuel prices, with more buyers looking to lower the cost of personal mobility. Napoli says that when fuel prices breached $4 per gallon, the cost of ownership of an EV became much more affordable than that of an ICE. Lucid is also expanding its involvement with Uber for the robotaxi initiative, with a planned production of 35,000 vehicles. This comes after Uber bought an initial 20,000 units back in July 2025. Lucid is also planning to expand the model range with a rumored mid-sized model set to launch at the end of the year, and to update the assembly lines. Lucid View the full article

EV Plans Fell Through Sony Group and Honda Motor announced that they will maintain their 50-50 joint venture and pursue other opportunities. On March 25, 2026, Sony and Honda canceled the Afella 1 electric vehicle; however, the two will continue to work together developing other products. Honda's electrification strategy revamp was responsible for this turnout, but fret not, as the two Japanese giants in their industries will continue to work together, albeit chasing other projects, Nikkei Asia reports. The joint venture came at a time when Honda wanted to marry its automotive hardware expertise with Sony's software and game engineering. In a bid to catch up to its industry rivals in the EV space, the Sony-Honda Mobility partnership teased the Afeela 1 model, the joint venture's first product. Sony Honda Mobility The Fallout Honda and Sony's pivot means about 400 employees will likely be reassigned, with the parent firms reportedly working to absorb a portion of each. Reuters stated that they were unable to reach the two firms for further comments at the time of writing. While plans for a complete electric vehicle have fallen by the wayside, Honda and Sony will continue to work together on other projects. As Nikkei reports, both sides in the venture will explore non-EV products and services related to Afeela 1 technologies, including an artificial intelligence assistant and an audio system. Sony Honda Mobility The Door Isn't Completely Shut However, this may be the case for now, seeing as Honda isn't quite as mobile as it once was. A decline in sales, mixed with some catching up, suggests the Japanese brand may need to go back to the drawing board on its core business before making very bold, risky moves. Sources also report that the Sony-Honda Mobility partnership may still produce a fully electric passenger car in the future; however, no such timeline was mentioned or reported. Honda still has a bunch of EVs on the way and several electrified hybrid offerings in the market today, but none as advanced or as bleeding-edge as what some Chinese manufacturers are doing. Even BMW is shifting much of its focus to EVs after pledging to retool its oldest factory to build only electrified passenger cars. The question is, will Honda evolve fast enough, and does it need to? For now, North American markets will have to wait longer for a new Honda EV. The prospect of a Sony-powered entertainment sphere built on Honda bones was a worthy prospect back when the companies first announced their partnership in 2022. After four years, mounting industry pressure has led Honda to scale back, which could further cut into Honda's lead as electrification continues to ramp up in other markets. Sony Honda Mobility View the full article

Not Your Average F-350Some builders have chosen to turn the Ford Super Duty into a shortened truck, and one was recently sold on Bring a Trailer. This particular Ford F-350 Super Duty XLT 4x4, dubbed “Supershorty,” stands out for being nearly new, showing just 1,500 miles, and featuring modifications that make the conversion even more compelling. Supershorty comes with a shortened rear frame and a 6.5-foot bed, giving the truck a somewhat disproportionate look. It is paired with a Carli 4.5-inch lift kit with King remote-reservoir shocks and revised springs, along with 18-inch wheels wrapped in 37-inch Toyo Open Country tires. Bring a Trailer A Super Duty That Wants to PlayThis setup should make the truck more engaging to drive, rather than aligning with the Super Duty's traditional workhorse image. In theory, a shorter wheelbase improves agility, and in an off-road context, it enhances trail capability by improving approach, departure, and breakover angles. Perhaps the best part is that the shortened F-350 retains the 7.3-liter “Godzilla” V8, factory-rated at 430 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. Ford introduced the engine for the 2020 model year as a replacement for the Triton V10, giving Super Duty buyers a newer gasoline option with stronger low-end torque. It is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, an electronic locking rear differential, and 4.30:1 gearing. As an XLT, the truck offers more convenience than the base XL. This example is equipped with heated front seats, black leather upholstery, power-adjustable pedals, remote start, cruise control, and a SYNC 3 touchscreen. Bring a Trailer For Those Who Get ItSuch a build is definitely not for everyone, especially among typical Super Duty buyers. Those looking for a more agile truck may be better served by the Ranger Raptor, which comes factory-equipped with serious off-road hardware, including Fox 2.5-inch Live Valve Internal Bypass shocks. However, the winning bidder clearly has a thing for shortened Super Duty builds. The new owner had already picked up a similar truck with the same model year and trim, also featuring the “Supershorty” conversion, though that example had around 17,000 miles on the clock. In the listing’s comment section, the owner said they enjoyed the way it drove and even claimed it rode “better than any Super Duty on the planet.” This low-mileage example, meanwhile, sold for $60,000, which isn’t too bad considering a brand-new F-350 XLT already starts north of $50,000. Bring a Trailer View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

The Reset Strategy Gets RollingInfiniti is pressing ahead with its so-called “product renaissance,” a critical shift as sales slow and rivals like Genesis gain ground. The latest move is the start of all-new QX65 assembly at Nissan’s Smyrna plant in Tennessee, which also builds other crossover models like the Nissan Pathfinder. The plant also assembles the QX60, the midsize luxury crossover on which the QX65 is based. The difference is that the new nameplate is a two-row, coupe-style alternative, much like the pairing of the BMW X5 and X6. This type of vehicle is rarely a brand’s volume seller, but it can add character to the lineup, especially for buyers who prioritize style over practicality. Infiniti A Factory Ready for the Next ChapterIn a press release, Infiniti said it invested in training, tooling, and production processes to support QX65 manufacturing at the Smyrna plant. QX65 production marks nearly 15 years of Infiniti models being assembled there, while also extending Nissan’s presence in Tennessee to more than four decades. Although production has begun, the model won't reach retailers until summer 2026. Power comes from a 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine rated at 268 horsepower and 286 lb-ft of torque. Infiniti says it delivers a sportier sound while reducing unwanted cabin noise through Active Noise Cancellation and Active Sound Enhancement. The engine is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. One of its standout features is the Sunfire Red exterior finish, which incorporates real gold. This gives the paint a color-shifting effect, depending on the viewing angle and lighting. It is one of nine colors available on the MY2027 QX65 and is inspired by the Regal Red introduced on the 2015 Nissan GT-R. Infiniti Slotting Into the SegmentThe all-new Infiniti QX65 starts at $53,990, excluding destination fees. That places it at roughly a $1,000 premium over the Lexus RX, while undercutting the BMW X6, which starts at $77,300. The QX65 follows the launch of the third-generation QX80 in 2024 as part of Infiniti’s broader reset strategy. Looking ahead, the automaker plans to return to the sedan segment with a new Q50 expected to feature rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission, while also preparing for the electric vehicle segment. Infiniti View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

McLaren has had a tough time over the last few years. Quality was less than stellar, producing too many examples of almost any given product was hurting resale values, and the company's finances were so bad that it had to sell its McLaren Technology Center in Woking and lease the property back. But all that is behind it now, says CEO Nick Collins in an interview with Autocar, and what comes next should make rivals worry. Collins says that McLaren is now debt-free and has "a bold plan to grow" into the sort of luxury brand that the price tags of its cars suggest it is. Let's go through some of the notable highlights of this reinvention plan. McLaren Won't Be the Laughing Stock of the Supercar World Anymore McLaren Collins says that the automaker has "really focused on quality," improving its warranty by 80 percent and its production quality by more than 60 percent. Anybody who's pressed on the dashboard of a 720S and seen and heard it move and creak knows that quality was not always McLaren's strongest suit, and because it was so easy to buy a McLaren, with "too much stock" at dealers, resale values were poor. That won't happen again, and McLaren wants to keep things as simple as possible. "We didn't take decisions fast enough," said Collins. "We didn't make complicated things simple to make things faster. Like a lot of car companies, we have a lot of acronyms, and I believe passionately in plain language." To that end, McLaren has overhauled its internal infrastructure to better leverage new technologies, and it's given its design team—now led by ex-Ford designer Kemal Curic—more room to breathe with a new design studio and full clay modeling studio in Bicester, an upgrade over the small space at the Woking headquarters. This is particularly important. Related: McLaren’s New Hybrid Tech Could Boost Acceleration at Speed Ferrari, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce talk a lot about how customization is key to survival and growth in the luxury sector, and McLaren intends to get up to speed in this realm by growing the McLaren Special Operations division. "We've got incredible craftspeople in MSO, and we want to broaden that offer," said Collins. "We want more people to tailor their cars and increase personalization as a percentage of our total order banks." That includes taking ideas from customers, hinting at the possibility of more special editions and one-offs. McLaren has already hinted at a heritage project to capitalize on nostalgia. McLaren Poised for Growth, F1-Inspired Hypercar Possible Mecum Partly because of investments in EV technologies and being forced to delay or cancel related vehicles, and partly because of global economic turbulence, Collins believes McLaren's rivals are now facing the sorts of challenges that McLaren dealt with last year. "My determination is to grab that opportunity before everybody else has settled their restructures," said Collins. Thus, the next 12 months will be occupied by launching new products and clearly defining the McLaren vision. What those products will be exactly, Collins still won't say, but a McLaren SUV won't be the only new car. As for EVs, those will only come when customers want them, and right now, that's not happening. Collins also spoke about McLaren Automotive's relationship with the McLaren Group, which includes the Formula One team, saying that the former will work more closely with the latter in the future. Collins said he and McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown "communicate daily," adding that they share ideas about what they can do together regularly. While the W1 will certainly be a technological tour de force, this alignment hints at closer collaboration on future road cars, potentially hinting at a new F1-inspired hypercar. With the funds and the ambition to make its dreams come true, the next year is going to be an exciting one for McLaren. McLaren View the full article

Mugen Performance The new Honda Super-One is catching headlines with its retro styling. The small EV brings back memories of the old Honda hatchbacks in its history, but it presents itself as a modern EV with tech and features to match. Mugen takes the design and style of the Super One to the next level, with a full-body kit, interior bits, and performance suspension upgrades to boot. However, not a single item on the list matches the power this hatchback produces. Mugen Exterior Starting at the front of the car, we have a front spoiler on the chin, a vented hood, and a set of vented wide fender extensions that complement the front arches. Other parts on its side include a set of side skirts, 16-inch forged aluminum wheels, and at the back, Mugen added a rear spoiler that complements the rear bumper add-on. There are also Mugen badges and decals available for the Super-One in this package, along with a set of mirror caps that add to the sporty aesthetic. All of this results in a stance that looks more aggressive, lower to the ground, and "faster." Paired with the modest drop that the lowered suspension and forged wheels bring, it makes for a very aggressive look overall. Mugen's performance dampers are made in collaboration with Yamaha for this small EV. Mugen View the 5 images of this gallery on the original article Interior It looks like Mugen has been having a love affair with its recent collaboration with Recaro, putting its Mugen-branded Recaro SR-S seats in everything from its Spec.III kit for the Prelude to this Honda Super-One. It's on full display here, along with an aftermarket steering wheel. Other dress-up bits were also fitted, including floor mats, scuff plates, and kick plates in a carbon finish. Any car can benefit from a set of Recaros, and the steering wheel upgrade is a great touchpoint for the package. All of this is well and good, but what's under the hood? Mugen View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Electric Motor Tuning? All of its dress-up and aero bits look great, but how does it go? Well, probably just as fast, if not slower than the standard Super-One. Sadly, Mugen isn't quite ready to officially launch a tuning kit for Honda's electric motors, let alone touch one. The stock powertrain of the Honda Super-One tops out at 94 hp in Boost mode. Sure, it's a nice and light car, but it certainly leaves something to be desired, given how the whole kit looks on the car. However, there are some theatrics going on with the Super-One. Similar to what Honda is doing in the Prelude and the Civic Hybrids, it has Active Sound Control and simulated gear shifts, which means this EV is trying to emulate the feel and drive of an internal combustion engine through its speakers and torque limiting. Maybe we'll see an upgrade package from Mugen that actually enhances the power output of Honda's electric vehicles. It's also likely we will see price tags on all of these Mugen goodies soon, as the tuning brand hasn't released these parts to the public yet. Still under development, we can expect a launch in Japan in late May 2026. Mugen View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Japan's Love for Special EditionsJapan loves its special editions. From toys, clothing, and even food and beverages, the moment something is marketed as limited and potentially collectible, you can pretty much guarantee there will be very interested customers. Cars, of course, are no exception. BMW Japan is very well aware of this. We've covered several of these in the past, the most recent being the Edition Shadow models. Less than 500 of these were made, so it'll be a rare sight to see those over there. Now, there's another limited-run model, and the company has come up with a rather interesting way to hype it. BMW Japan Check Out the Car, Win Cool PrizesBMW has rolled out Frozen Edition models for its top-selling models in Japan, namely the X1, X3, and 3 Series. More specifically, it's for the M Performance models, so it's the X1 M35i, X3 M50, and M340i in both sedan and Touring guises. Making these cars more interesting is the way BMW Japan is promoting them. If you enter a raffle, you can get pretty sweet prizes out of it. Now, this isn't just a dealer promotion that'll get you a gift card or merch. BMW Japan's prizes are actually worth checking out. The 'basic' prize is a day at Fuji Speedway to watch a round of the BMW and Mini Racing series for 9 pairs of lucky winners. The second prize is an extended test drive that brings the winner and their passenger to The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Sengokuhara with an X1 35i, M235 Gran Coupe, or an M340i. But for us, the one to get is the free entry to the BMW Circuit Academy 2026, where the winner and their companion can do laps around Fuji Speedway. That package also includes an accommodation at the Fuji Speedway Hotel, plus tickets to the BMW & Mini Racing series round the day after the track experience. Well, that's one way to promote your latest products. BMW Japan The Frozen Edition ModelsAs mentioned, these limited-run models are for the X1 35i, X3 M50, and both sedan and Touring versions of the M340i. Three of the four are available in either Frozen Black or Frozen Pure Grey, and the M340i is exclusively in Frozen Black. All get an exclusive Edition Frozen badge on the inside, along with a carbon fiber fuel cap and gloss-black M badges. For the X1, it gets brushed-aluminum Shadow trim inside, along with a rear badge delete and carbon door mirror caps. The X3 also gets those carbon door mirror caps, plus bronze exhaust tips with a carbon finisher, panoramic sunroof, and the Comfort Package fitted as standard. As for the 3 Series, both sedan and Touring get carbon fiber interior trims, gloss black badges, galvanic finishes on the buttons and switches, as well as more carbon touches on the outside. Production numbers weren't mentioned, but we can say with certainty that these Edition Frozen models won't be a common sight on Japanese roads. BMW Japan BMW Japan View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Lexus Dealers Are Already Lining UpToyota has begun laying the groundwork to bring the GR GT to the U.S., with more than 100 Lexus dealers already expressing interest in handling sales, according to Automotive News. The automaker is said to be taking a more controlled approach, creating a customized sales and service process to ensure proper customer delivery. This appears to be a much more deliberate rollout than when the Lexus LFA was launched – though, to be fair, Toyota did not initially anticipate demand would later grow. Now, the company wants to avoid past mistakes and plans to train prospective dealers at a dedicated facility at Eagles Canyon Raceway in Texas, with the program eventually extending to customers once the GR GT arrives in the U.S. Toyota A Curated Retail StrategyThe report said Lexus dealers seeking a GR franchise will not need to build a separate new building. However, one dealer owner noted that the franchise is not intended for every market, but rather for those where “these prestige customers are.” The target market for the Toyota GR GT is well-heeled enthusiasts. With an expected starting price north of $200,000, it would land in upper-Porsche 911 territory. Power comes from a new 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 paired with a hybrid system, with output expected to reach at least 641 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. That is roughly 90 horsepower more than the previous halo car, the LFA. This time, the successor also benefits from the global motorsports success of the Gazoo Racing brand. In fact, the aforementioned dealer owner experienced the vehicle firsthand in Japan and said he was “blown away,” describing it as “extraordinary.” Toyota Designed for Real EnthusiastsThere is also a GT3-spec version of the GR GT, revealed last year, that is intended strictly for track competition. For now, however, the road-going customer car is expected to arrive in the U.S. next year. The report suggests buyers can expect a highly attentive, detail-oriented purchase experience – one that could help place the car in the hands of genuine enthusiasts rather than collectors who may never fully use it. After all, GR GT customers will gain access to Toyota’s first GR Academy, where a fleet of 42 GR vehicles – including the GR Corolla, GR86, and GR Supra – will be used for hands-on training in disciplines like autocross and drifting. Toyota View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Manthey Magic at the RingThe Porsche 911 GT3 RS set one of the quickest production-car lap times ever recorded around the Nürburgring in Germany with the Manthey Kit, delivering yet another strong performance from the German tuner. With Jorg Bergmeister behind the wheel, the car recorded a 6:45.389 lap – about four seconds quicker than the 911 GT3 RS without the kit. In a press release, Manthey said the car was fitted with its performance kit and optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires. The package further enhanced the model’s already substantial downforce capability – highlighted by its massive DRS-style wing – without increasing drag. As a result, the modified car was said to deliver performance comparable to that of a race car on slicks. The high-performance brakes also allowed the driver to brake later while maintaining consistent friction across a wide temperature range. In addition, a semi-active suspension, used for the first time, helped the car work through the bumps and corners around the 20.832-km (12.9-mile) track. A Masterclass in BalanceThe latest run still fell short of the 991.2-generation 911 GT2 RS with the Manthey Performance Kit, which posted a 6:43.300 in 2021. But that car had 700 horsepower from a twin-turbo flat-six, while the 911 GT3 RS relies on a naturally aspirated engine producing 525 hp. That gap suggests outright power is not everything around the Nürburgring, especially since this latest lap was still roughly three seconds quicker than both the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series and the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, the latter producing 1,250 horsepower from a twin-turbo hybrid V8 engine. For reference, the record for production, street-legal cars is still held by the Mercedes-AMG One, which uses a Formula 1–derived engine and set a 6:29.090 lap. It is followed by the Ford Mustang GTD Competition at 6:40.835, making it the fastest American car at the Ring. Manthey Racing The Business of Going FasterBergmeister, a Porsche brand ambassador who also drove the stock 911 GT3 RS around the Green Hell in 2022, expressed satisfaction with the lap, noting that both the car and the weather cooperated. “It’s truly amazing how much you can achieve with the Manthey kit, especially on the fast and medium-speed sections of the track.” That level of track-focused upgrade, however, does not come cheap. The Manthey Kit is priced at about $116,000 before taxes and installation, and thanks to the latest lap, it proves the package delivers beyond the spec sheet. Manthey Racing View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

RAV4 Mania Continues American car buyers can't get enough of the Toyota RAV4, so much so that even 2025 model years are selling out at no discount. A couple of factors are allowing this to happen: Toyota can't make the 2026 models fast enough, leading to a shortage; the remaining pool of 2025 models is still getting bought up, regardless. The outright demand for the RAV4, as well as the transition to the new model, is causing 2025 model-year vehicles to be sold without discounts. One of the other reasons consumers are still buying the outgoing generation is that gasoline-only variants will no longer be part of the U.S. RAV4 lineup, which means a lower average price – or so one may think. However, one Reddit user went online to vent out a rather shady story. Apparently, his dealer is marking up his purchase by $1,400, citing it as a "Tariff Adjustment." Toyota The Setup According to the poster, he put a $500 deposit down on a 2025 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium back in January of 2026. According to him, he signed the paperwork, and the car finally came in about a week before he posted. The XLE Premium variant of the RAV4 comes equipped with a 2.5-liter gasoline engine paired with a hybrid system, which means it's already on the pricier side of the lineup. After he was told the vehicle was ready for him, the dealer's "finance guy" said there was a $1,400 tariff-related market adjustment on top of the agreed amount. Talk about shady because the Toyota RAV4 isn't even an imported vehicle. In fact, U.S.-made Toyotas are heading East as reverse imports to Japan. Toyota Locally Assembled ≠ Imported. Right?Whether you're talking about the 2025 or 2026 Toyota RAV4, both models are locally assembled, with the 2025 model year built at Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky, plant. The production transition at the Kentucky plant is causing RAV4 sales to decline. However, these products should not be subjected to President Donald Trump's tariffs at the dealership. Ironic that this came up, considering that the U.S. Supreme Court has now deemed the President's use of emergency powers to be "unconstitutional," leading to refunds to importers. The Reddit poster asked if "[he has] any ground to push back or is this becoming a standard practice now at Toyota stores?" Other users replied, stating that there is no basis for it, the "adjustment," instead, it's likely a shady dealer markup to sweeten the deal after everything is said and done. According to the top comment, anything the window sticker didn't specify is a dealer markup, and that even if the car was made in Japan, it would've been subject to a 15% tariff. According to the top commenter, "$1,400 does not sound like a 15 percent tariff." Another Reddit user stated that he works at a Toyota dealership, "and that $1,400 is just a dealer markup they are trying to get away with. There could be more to this story in the coming months, but hopefully by then, Toyota can get all its cards together and actually address the RAV4 backlog it's had for months. Toyota View the full article

The Lamborghini Temerario is getting a convertible Spyder version, and while this was always going to happen, a sighting by spy photographers at the Nüburgring has taken us somewhat by surprise. While a drop-top Temerario to succeed the Huracán Spyder was inevitable, the timing is unexpected because deliveries of the regular Temerario only began reaching customers in January of this year, and with the Revuelto already more than three years old and yet to be made available as a roadster, it seemed that the V12 supercar would be first in line to get the open-air experience. What to Expect from the Temerario Spyder SH Proshots/Autoblog View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article The Temerario Spyder will no doubt closely adhere to the formula of its hard-topped sibling, with a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-plane crank V8 combining with a trio of electric motors to produce a total of 907 horsepower. The 10,000-rpm redline will surely be even more exciting with the roof off, and the fact that these spy shots reveal a hard-top indicates that the Spyder is unlikely to suffer much in the corners. However, departing from the soft top recipe of the Huracán Spyder will surely result in a weight penalty, so the normal Temerario's 2.7-second 0-62 mph sprint time will probably suffer. Related: Mustang GTD Competition Runs 6:40 to Beat Corvette ZR1X at the Nürburgring—But It’s Not Over Yet If past Lambo drop-tops are anything to go by, customers will also pay more for the privilege of an open-air experience, potentially pushing the base MSRP beyond $400,000 even before options come into play. And while this Temerario Spyder sighting is unexpected, it means good news for those who like coupes, too, as rolling this variant out now means other types of Temerario will enter the discussion before long; Lamborghini has already indicated that new takes on the Sterrato and STO recipes are already under consideration. Lamborghini Has Big Plans for 2026 SH Proshots/Autoblog View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article More good news is that this Temerario Spyder may be launched this year after Lamborghini announced late last month that it is evolving its product offering and will unveil some of its new cars at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed and Monterey Car Week festivals, among other places. For the record, Goodwood FOS is scheduled for July 9-12, and Monterey Car Week happens the following month, from August 7-16. We also expect to see a new Urus Performante before the year is out, and we won't see any electric Lambos, as those plans have been delayed in the face of minimal customer interest. We'll bring you more info on the Temerario Spyder and other Raging Bulls as we get them. SH Proshots/Autoblog SH Proshots/Autoblog SH Proshots/Autoblog View the full article

The same storm system that buried Colorado's mountain passes and sent Front Range temperatures crashing into the teens overnight is now driving a dangerous severe weather outbreak across the central and eastern United States. From the Plains to the Great Lakes and into western New York, today's threat includes tornadoes, wind gusts up to 60 mph, large hail, and major river flooding — while Colorado begins a rapid recovery. Severe Weather: Where the Threat Is NowAccuWeather meteorologists have placed a high risk of severe weather from central Arkansas to southwestern Ontario today, including much of Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and southwestern New York, with damaging wind gusts and hail the primary threats. Friday night was the most dangerous window, targeting southeastern Minnesota, eastern Iowa, northwestern Illinois, and southwestern to central Wisconsin. Cities including Topeka, Kansas City, the Quad Cities, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, and Madison all saw elevated threat. Late in the evening, storms organized into a squall line producing widespread wind gusts. AccuWeather AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty warned: "Make sure your cell phone is charged, notifications are turned on, and you have multiple ways to get warnings that can wake you in the middle of the night. Never depend solely on outdoor tornado sirens, especially at night." By Sunday, the severe weather peak will have passed for most areas, though gusty thunderstorms may extend from the northern Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Coast. Much of the Southeast is in serious need of rainfall amid long-term drought and elevated wildfire danger. Getty Images Western New York: Storms Arrive TodayBuffalo, Rochester, and Albany are all in the storm's path today. NWS Buffalo has confirmed showers and thunderstorms arriving Saturday into Saturday night ahead of a cold front, with damaging wind gusts as the primary threat and an isolated tornado possible. Keep alerts enabled tonight, and do not rely on outdoor sirens as your only warning source. Flooding: Upper MidwestModerate to major flooding is ongoing and not resolving quickly. The Muskegon and Grand rivers in Michigan and the Shiocton, Menominee, and Wolf rivers in Wisconsin are at or approaching major flood stage, with some expected to crest at record levels and remain above flood stage for a week or more. Minor flooding along the Wabash River in Indiana and the Mississippi above St. Louis may persist for several weeks even if rainfall stops entirely. Where It Started: ColoradoA late-season cold front dropped Front Range temperatures more than 50 degrees in under 36 hours. Denver hit the upper 70s Thursday. By Friday night, lows had fallen to 18 to 24 degrees, triggering a NWS Freeze Warning. Above-ground irrigation lines that were not drained likely failed. Sensitive vegetation and fruit trees will show damage. Colorado's snowpack was at just 17 percent of the median peak as of April 13, the worst in four decades. Recovery is underway. Denver is sunny and near 60 today, with the low 70s expected Sunday. Mountain passes are clearing, though residual ice remains possible on shaded sections of I-70 and Berthoud Pass. One caution for southern Colorado: NWS Pueblo has issued a Freeze Watch for Colorado Springs tonight into Sunday morning. If You Are Driving This WeekendIn Colorado, residual ice on shaded sections of I-70 and Berthoud Pass is still possible this morning. CDOT's Traction Law requires 3/16-inch minimum tread depth and remains in effect through May 31 between Dotsero and Morrison. Cold temperatures drop tire pressure 1 to 2 PSI per 10 degrees. AWD helps you move but does nothing to shorten stopping distance on ice. Carry chains, a blanket, water, a phone charger, and a flashlight if crossing the passes. On I-25, bridge decks and overpasses between Fort Collins and Colorado Springs may still carry black ice in shaded areas this morning. Treat every overpass as a risk. In the Midwest and western New York, the threat is severe thunderstorms moving fast with little warning. A squall line producing 60 mph gusts can drop visibility to near zero in seconds. Know your shelter options before you leave. If warnings are issued while you are on the road, get off the highway and into a sturdy building; a vehicle is not a safe place in a tornado or severe squall line. Wherever you are driving, charge your phone, enable wireless emergency alerts, and check road and radar conditions before you go. View the full article

America’s Favorite Truck, Now Under ScrutinyFor years, the Ford F-150 has been the go-to truck for Americans. It’s always at the top of the sales charts, and full-size pickups still rule the market. The recipe is simple: lots of options, real capability, and a reputation built over decades. When a truck is this popular, any problem hits harder. That’s what’s happening now: Ford just announced a recall for a huge number of older F-150s. These aren’t showroom-new, but they’re still working hard all over the country. It’s not the kind of thing that ruins the F-150’s reputation, but it does make you wonder about how these trucks hold up after years of real-world use. Drew Phillips What’s the IssueThe recall affects nearly 1.4 million F-150s from model years 2015 to 2017, all with the 6-speed automatic. Built between March 2014 and August 2017, these trucks are being flagged for a transmission issue linked to the Transmission Range Sensor (TRS). According to the NHTSA’s recall report, the problem comes down to worn electrical connections inside the transmission lead frame. After years of heat and vibration, the signals between the TRS and the truck’s computer can get scrambled. That means the truck might briefly think it’s in the wrong gear. Sometimes, that glitch makes the truck suddenly drop into second gear, even if you’re cruising at speed. It doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does, the sudden slowdown can catch you off guard. On wet roads, while towing, or at highway speeds, it could make the rear tires lose grip for a moment. Ford began investigating after owners began complaining in late 2024. By early 2026, the NHTSA was digging deeper. Ford has now connected the problem to hundreds of warranty claims, a few injuries, and at least one accident. Ford The Fix and What Owners Should DoFord’s first fix is a software update. Owners will need to bring their trucks in so dealers can recalibrate the powertrain control module. The new software is supposed to detect faulty TRS signals before the truck tries to downshift, providing an extra layer of protection. If the problem has already worsened and certain fault codes appear, dealers will swap out the transmission lead frame, too. Both the software update and any needed parts are free for owners. That said, owners of the affected F-150s can check their VIN online or at a dealership to see if their truck is part of the recall. Ford View the 6 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Up and DownStellantis is one of the biggest and most diverse automotive groups in the world. This wide-ranging portfolio allows them to offer products at different price points to hit the key segments of the automotive market. Another key advantage is the flexibility to offer a diverse lineup of brands and models that can be made to fit any region in the world. This type of business model and size has some drawbacks; staying in contention is tough, and 2025 exposed everyone. Stellantis saw declines in sales and shipments in the first two quarters of 2025, but rebounded in the 2nd half. Stellantis 2026 OptimismStellantis has announced its Q1 global shipments and sales, and it looks like some momentum was carried from the end of 2025. Specifically, the group has published its estimated consolidated shipment numbers, with "shipments" referring to the volume of vehicles delivered to dealers, distributors, or directly from the Company to retail and fleet customers. This also generally gives an idea of revenue outlooks. According to the report, by the end of Q1 (March 31, 2026), the tally of global shipments reached 1.4 million units, 12% higher than in the same period last year. Much of the growth is attributed to shipments coming from Europe and North America, but growth is also steadily increasing in the African and South American markets. Diving deep into the numbers, North America's shipments grew to 379,000, up from 325,000 in 2025's Q1. According to The Detroit News, the 50,000 increase in shipments came from higher sales of the Ram 1500, Cherokee, and Grand Wagoneers. Stellantis DownsidesSome of the surge was offset by fewer shipments and sales of the small Compass crossover because of the Cherokee's production ramping up at the same plant in Toluca, Mexico. Europe's sales jumped by 69,000 units, a 12% bump driven by Leapmotor shipments in the region. Stellantis and the Chinese automaker currently have a partnership to sell cars globally. Despite growth in some regions, the Middle East took a significant hit due to the ongoing conflict in Iran; shipments fell by more than half. Many of the losses in the first two quarters of 2025 were due to production gaps and product lineup transitions. Q3 in 2025 saw the turnaround begin as U.S. inventory issues normalized. Stellantis View the full article

If you're a pessimist, the news that Nissan is cutting 11 models as part of a turnaround plan might sound desperate, but if you see the glass as half full, doing so allows the automaker to work on interesting vehicles like the new Xterra and the new Skyline. And they may not be the only exciting developments in the pipeline because Nissan told numerous media outlets that it is taking seriously the idea of a proper sports car lineup that could bring the Silvia back to complement the Nissan Z and the next GT-R. Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa is described as "a real car guy," and he's indicated a desire to revive the Silvia nameplate before, but now, the carmaker's chief of product planning is teasing its return, and that's arguably even more of a big deal because it means Nissan is on the path to more sports cars, not just thinking about it. Why Nissan Is Creating a Buzz With Sports Car Enthusiasts Ideogram/Sebastian Cenizo Nissan seems to understand what car enthusiasts want, finally giving the Z Nismo a manual transmission, and it intends to build on that momentum, with the company's global head of product strategy, Richard Candler, telling Motor1the following: "We are really deeply looking at a sports lineup again. We want to do some cool cars. The first car I ever bought was a Silvia, so I'd love to bring back that nameplate. I do think it's really valuable... I think there's still space for Silvia, and we need to find the right solution for it." Similarly, The Drive reports that Candler said the announcement of the Skyline "has been a big passion product for [Nissan]," adding that, with the new Z and now a Skyline on the way, Nissan is "[starting] to bring back a good lineup." The tricky bit will be developing a sports car that stays true to the Silvia's ethos of fun and affordability (potentially as a Toyota GR86 and Mazda MX-5 Miata rival), and those two things are difficult to put together. "We need to find the right positioning," said Candler, before hinting that more enthusiast-focused cars could find their way to production. Nissan Has Strong Back Catalog, Could Launch Smaller-than-Silvia Sports Car Ideogram/Sebastian Cenizo "In terms of the rest of the sports car lineup, we've got some pretty great names that we would like to develop further," said Candler. Besides all the obvious Z variants (240Z, 260Z, 280Z), there have been RS, GT, GT-X, GTS, and GTS-R versions of the non-GT-R Skyline, but the 300ZX is also worth mentioning independently, as this took the Z badge to new levels of performance and luxury. We should also note the Datsun SSS, an icon in its own right. Indeed, Nissan has a rich history from which to draw, and it is preparing to leverage that. "We’re going to shrink our portfolio a bit. We’re going to stop cars that you probably won’t even notice and then reinvest that money into a few passion projects," said Candler, adding, "All of those cars [we are going to kill] consume money, for the company to keep them on, to keep them going, keep them homologated, latest requirements, standards, etc. That takes up a certain amount of resources. 
We could sort of stop those without a lot of business impact and then bring in, you know, let’s invest in the Silvia or let’s invest in something even smaller. I mean, I've also got an ambition personally to find something maybe even smaller than that." We hope to see the fruits of these ambitions soon. Ideogram/Sebastian Cenizo Note: The images in this article are AI-generated renders and should not be considered official Kia concepts. View the full article

A widespread severe thunderstorm outbreak is unfolding across nine states from the southern Plains into the Upper Mississippi Valley today, Friday April 17, 2026, with the Storm Prediction Center flagging the threat of strong tornadoes, very large hail, and damaging winds through tonight. The SPC has upgraded the southern and central Plains to a Moderate Risk, the second-highest category on the severe weather scale and a designation issued only a handful of times per year. A Tornado Watch is already active across much of eastern Iowa, with a separate Severe Thunderstorm Watch covering eastern Minnesota and central-to-northern Wisconsin including Rochester, Eau Claire, and La Crosse, where hail up to 2 inches in diameter and isolated 70 MPH wind gusts are the primary threats. Peak danger window: Friday afternoon through Friday night across I-35 from central Texas to Kansas, I-29 through Iowa, and I-94 across Minnesota and Wisconsin, where initial supercells could produce strong tornadoes before merging into a damaging wind squall line after dark. What to ExpectTornadoes: 10% probability across the moderate risk zone, with strong (EF2+) tornadoes possible from initial supercells in Wisconsin, Iowa, and prefrontal storms in IllinoisHail: 30% probability of severe hail, with stones up to 2 inches in diameter (hen egg size) reported in active watchesDamaging winds: 45% probability, with 70 MPH gusts forecast as storms merge into a squall line tonightWorst corridors: I-35 (central Texas through Oklahoma into Kansas), I-29 (Iowa), I-80 (eastern Iowa to Illinois), I-94 (Minnesota and Wisconsin), I-90 (southern Minnesota to Wisconsin) NWS The synoptic setup is textbook for a major outbreak. A strong upper trough oriented from Montana to the Southwest will eject eastward into the Plains tonight, with 40-60 knot southwesterly flow at 850-700 mb intensifying ahead of it by late afternoon. A surface dryline will extend from a High Plains low through the western Oklahoma/Texas panhandle border into central Texas, while a cold front will run from eastern Minnesota into central Kansas at midday. Ahead of these features sits a broad warm sector with mid-to-upper 60s dewpoints and temperatures climbing into the 80s, the recipe meteorologists describe as a strongly sheared and deeply unstable environment. Road ConditionsThe most dangerous road conditions will arrive in two distinct phases. Initial supercells across the warm sector are capable of dropping golf-ball to hen-egg-size hail with little warning, which can shatter windshields and disable visibility instantly on rural highways. As the cold front overtakes the storms tonight, the threat shifts to a fast-moving squall line with damaging straight-line winds capable of pushing vehicles out of lanes and knocking over high-profile trucks and trailers. Squall lines move at 40 to 55 MPH, leaving almost no reaction time once they appear on radar near your location. Flash flooding is also a real concern with 1-2 inches per hour rainfall rates, and even a foot of moving water can sweep a car off the road. Hail Damage Risk to VehiclesTornadoes get the headlines, but hail is the single most expensive weather hazard for vehicles in the United States. State Farm paid out more than $1.2 billion in auto hail claims nationally in 2024, and Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma recorded the most hail events that year, all of which sit inside today's threat zone. A single hailstorm can total a vehicle on paper without affecting the engine at all, because adjusters total the cost of every dented panel, cracked light housing, and shattered windshield, and if that figure exceeds the car's actual cash value, the insurer writes a salvage check. Only comprehensive auto insurance covers hail damage, and insurers will not let you add comprehensive coverage once a severe weather event is already in the forecast. Autoblog's guide to storm damage and car insurance breaks down exactly what your policy covers and how to document damage for a claim. Tropicaltidbits Severe Storm Driving TipsIf you are driving in the threat zone today, the most important rule is simple: get off the road before the line arrives. A supercell can cross a highway in minutes, and the difference between baseball-size hail and missing the storm entirely can be a matter of a few miles. If you see a dark, rotating wall cloud ahead of you, do not drive into it. Exit the highway and seek shelter in a sturdy building. If hail begins, pull over under any available cover. A gas station canopy or parking garage can prevent thousands of dollars in body and glass damage. If a Tornado Warning is issued for your location, never shelter under an overpass. Wind speeds actually accelerate through the narrow channel beneath a bridge, and you lose all debris protection. Pull well off the road, angle your vehicle away from the direction of the storm, keep your seatbelt on, and get below window level. For a fuller breakdown of severe storm driving protocol, Autoblog's recent severe storm corridor coverage covers the I-35 and I-44 playbook in detail. Monitor local NWS alerts on your phone and have a clear shelter plan before you depart. TimingInitial supercells are already firing across eastern Iowa and the upper Mississippi Valley this afternoon, with the Plains threat ramping up through the evening hours. The tornado and large hail risk is highest during the discrete supercell phase from late afternoon through about 9 PM local time. As the cold front overtakes the storms tonight, the threat will transition to a damaging wind squall line that will sweep east through the overnight hours, reaching the lower Missouri Valley and Midwest by Saturday morning. Conditions will improve behind the front Saturday, but additional severe weather is possible Sunday across the Mid-South as the system progresses. We'll update this article as conditions evolve. View the full article

Up to two feet of snow and temperatures plunging 25 degrees below the mid-April average are slamming 11 western and northern states today, Friday April 17, 2026, as a late-season "cold storm" presses from the Cascades and Northern Rockies into Colorado and the Northern Plains. The Weather Prediction Center is headlining late-season snow for the Northern Rockies, Central Rockies, and Northern Plains, with mountain passes from Washington and Oregon east through Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado all in the impact zone through Friday night, plus snow and ice probabilities extending into North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Peak danger window: Friday afternoon through Saturday morning across I-70, I-80, and I-25 in Colorado and Wyoming, where 70-degree highs Thursday will collapse into the 30s Friday and refreeze wet pavement after sunset. What to ExpectSnow totals: 1-2 feet across the Cascades and Northern Rockies; 8-16 inches cumulative across Utah and Colorado mountains; 4-8 inches in Yellowstone National ParkLower elevations: Light accumulations expected in Boise, Pocatello, Great Falls, Salt Lake City, Laramie, Cheyenne, and AspenTemperature crash: 40-degree drops in under 24 hours across eastern Wyoming and ColoradoWorst corridors: I-90 across Montana, I-84 through eastern Oregon and Idaho, I-80 across Wyoming, I-15 through Utah and Idaho, I-70 over the Colorado RockiesThe storm's heavy snow focus is shifting south and east through Friday, with Colorado terrain taking the brunt as the Utah and Wyoming snow tapers off. Snow squalls and convective bands hammered Utah and Wyoming overnight, and the WPC is flagging Day 1 snow probabilities of 10-20% for greater than 4 inches over central North Dakota, with ice probabilities of 10-30% for greater than 0.1 inches stretching from northeast North Dakota through northwest Minnesota. Per OpenSnow's multi-day breakdown, southwest Montana, northwest Wyoming, and northern Utah saw the heaviest accumulation Thursday, with Colorado now in the firing line through end of day Friday. Road ConditionsMountain passes in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado will see accumulating snow throughout the day, with rapid changes in surface conditions on bridges, overpasses, and shaded stretches. Even AWD and 4WD vehicles need winter-rated tires to stop on ice, which is the threat that builds across the impact zone after dark. Autoblog's AWD vs. 4WD breakdown covers what each system actually does and doesn't do in this kind of weather. Drivers should allow extra travel time, keep emergency supplies in their vehicles, and avoid travel altogether during peak accumulation windows if possible. US NWS Temperature Whiplash on the Front RangeCheyenne, Laramie, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Aspen are the textbook examples of why this event is dangerous well beyond the snowfall totals. A 40-degree temperature swing in 24 hours over wet pavement is the recipe for late-evening black ice on roads that looked perfectly drivable at lunch. If you're traveling I-25 between Cheyenne and Pueblo Friday afternoon or evening, or heading west on I-70 toward Vail and Glenwood Springs, plan to either be off the road by sunset or to slow your stopping calculations dramatically as temperatures cross freezing. Winter Driving TipsIf you are driving into the impact zone today, your tires are the single most important variable. AWD will help you accelerate on snow, but it does nothing to shorten stopping distance on ice, which is exactly the threat you'll face on I-80 in Wyoming or any pass along I-70 in Colorado as temperatures crash overnight. Autoblog's winter car readiness checklist recommends a minimum of 4/32 inches of tread depth for safe winter driving, and cold temperatures will drop tire pressure by roughly 1 to 2 PSI for every 10 degrees, so check your pressures before you leave a warm garage. Give yourself at least triple the stopping distance you would use on dry pavement, and double that again on ice. If today's storm is the reminder that your vehicle isn't set up for winter, Autoblog's full breakdown of the best cars and SUVs for snow and winter driving is worth a read, and our best practices for driving in snow, ice, and rain guide covers everything from skid recovery to what to keep in your trunk for emergencies. The smartest call on a day like today, if your schedule allows, is to wait out the peak refreeze window entirely. TimingThe system is moving through the western U.S. today, Friday April 17, 2026, with Colorado snowfall winding down by Saturday morning as the storm exits east. The Cascades and Northern Rockies are tapering after their Thursday peak. However, the National Weather Service notes a new storm system arrives by Sunday, bringing additional rain and mountain snow to the West Coast, so this is not the last round. We'll update this article as conditions evolve. View the full article

A Tesla Model Y taxi crashed heavily in Bergen, Norway, in 2023, plowing through one of the city’s busiest public squares. Somehow, despite the car reaching 56 mph and launching into a kiosk, nobody died. The driver, a sober 12-year veteran taxi driver, had insisted from the start that the car malfunctioned. When the vehicle was sent to an independent analyst, he found the dashboard partially dismantled and electrical connections severed. Motor reports a critical piece of hardware, the network card linking the vehicle to Tesla's servers, was missing. It remains unclear when or by whom it was taken. The defense attorney has called for a full independent investigation, including a potential police raid on Tesla's servers. Motor.no The Data Does Not Add UpDashcam footage shows the car reversing into a parking spot before suddenly lurching forward, jumping the curb, and plowing through outdoor seating. Then, after a brief pause, it accelerated again. Tesla's event data recorder showed the accelerator pedal depressed throughout both impacts. But the brake lights were clearly on during the crash, and independent experts have argued that electronic faults or software errors could produce identical accelerator signals without the driver's foot ever touching the pedal. There was also a six-second gap in Tesla's data, the exact window between the two collisions, that the company says it simply does not have. Bergen police closed the case in December 2024, unable to determine whether the crash was driver error or mechanical failure. The driver was eventually cleared. The missing network card is the one component most likely to have contained those six lost seconds of data. Motor.no Vital Crash Evidence Has a Habit Of Getting LostThis is not the first time Tesla's handling of crash data has raised red flags. In a 2019 fatal Autopilot crash in Florida, the car uploaded a full data snapshot to Tesla's servers within minutes, then deleted its local copy, making Tesla the only party with access. When police asked for help, a Tesla technician claimed the data was corrupted. Forensic analysis later proved it was intact and had been accessed by Tesla that same day. A jury found Tesla 33 percent liable and ordered it to pay over $240 million. The missing Norwegian network card is hard to view in isolation from that history but it remains to be seen what comes of the renewed investigation. View the full article

A widespread severe thunderstorm outbreak is unfolding across nine states from the southern Plains into the Upper Mississippi Valley today, Friday April 17, 2026, with the Storm Prediction Center flagging the threat of strong tornadoes, very large hail, and damaging winds through tonight. The SPC has upgraded the southern and central Plains to a Moderate Risk, the second-highest category on the severe weather scale and a designation issued only a handful of times per year. A Tornado Watch is already active across much of eastern Iowa, with a separate Severe Thunderstorm Watch covering eastern Minnesota and central-to-northern Wisconsin including Rochester, Eau Claire, and La Crosse, where hail up to 2 inches in diameter and isolated 70 MPH wind gusts are the primary threats. Peak danger window: Friday afternoon through Friday night across I-35 from central Texas to Kansas, I-29 through Iowa, and I-94 across Minnesota and Wisconsin, where initial supercells could produce strong tornadoes before merging into a damaging wind squall line after dark. What to ExpectTornadoes: 10% probability across the moderate risk zone, with strong (EF2+) tornadoes possible from initial supercells in Wisconsin, Iowa, and prefrontal storms in IllinoisHail: 30% probability of severe hail, with stones up to 2 inches in diameter (hen egg size) reported in active watchesDamaging winds: 45% probability, with 70 MPH gusts forecast as storms merge into a squall line tonightWorst corridors: I-35 (central Texas through Oklahoma into Kansas), I-29 (Iowa), I-80 (eastern Iowa to Illinois), I-94 (Minnesota and Wisconsin), I-90 (southern Minnesota to Wisconsin) NWS The synoptic setup is textbook for a major outbreak. A strong upper trough oriented from Montana to the Southwest will eject eastward into the Plains tonight, with 40-60 knot southwesterly flow at 850-700 mb intensifying ahead of it by late afternoon. A surface dryline will extend from a High Plains low through the western Oklahoma/Texas panhandle border into central Texas, while a cold front will run from eastern Minnesota into central Kansas at midday. Ahead of these features sits a broad warm sector with mid-to-upper 60s dewpoints and temperatures climbing into the 80s, the recipe meteorologists describe as a strongly sheared and deeply unstable environment. Road ConditionsThe most dangerous road conditions will arrive in two distinct phases. Initial supercells across the warm sector are capable of dropping golf-ball to hen-egg-size hail with little warning, which can shatter windshields and disable visibility instantly on rural highways. As the cold front overtakes the storms tonight, the threat shifts to a fast-moving squall line with damaging straight-line winds capable of pushing vehicles out of lanes and knocking over high-profile trucks and trailers. Squall lines move at 40 to 55 MPH, leaving almost no reaction time once they appear on radar near your location. Flash flooding is also a real concern with 1-2 inches per hour rainfall rates, and even a foot of moving water can sweep a car off the road. Hail Damage Risk to VehiclesTornadoes get the headlines, but hail is the single most expensive weather hazard for vehicles in the United States. State Farm paid out more than $1.2 billion in auto hail claims nationally in 2024, and Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma recorded the most hail events that year, all of which sit inside today's threat zone. A single hailstorm can total a vehicle on paper without affecting the engine at all, because adjusters total the cost of every dented panel, cracked light housing, and shattered windshield, and if that figure exceeds the car's actual cash value, the insurer writes a salvage check. Only comprehensive auto insurance covers hail damage, and insurers will not let you add comprehensive coverage once a severe weather event is already in the forecast. Autoblog's guide to storm damage and car insurance breaks down exactly what your policy covers and how to document damage for a claim. Tropicaltidbits Severe Storm Driving TipsIf you are driving in the threat zone today, the most important rule is simple: get off the road before the line arrives. A supercell can cross a highway in minutes, and the difference between baseball-size hail and missing the storm entirely can be a matter of a few miles. If you see a dark, rotating wall cloud ahead of you, do not drive into it. Exit the highway and seek shelter in a sturdy building. If hail begins, pull over under any available cover. A gas station canopy or parking garage can prevent thousands of dollars in body and glass damage. If a Tornado Warning is issued for your location, never shelter under an overpass. Wind speeds actually accelerate through the narrow channel beneath a bridge, and you lose all debris protection. Pull well off the road, angle your vehicle away from the direction of the storm, keep your seatbelt on, and get below window level. For a fuller breakdown of severe storm driving protocol, Autoblog's recent severe storm corridor coverage covers the I-35 and I-44 playbook in detail. Monitor local NWS alerts on your phone and have a clear shelter plan before you depart. TimingInitial supercells are already firing across eastern Iowa and the upper Mississippi Valley this afternoon, with the Plains threat ramping up through the evening hours. The tornado and large hail risk is highest during the discrete supercell phase from late afternoon through about 9 PM local time. As the cold front overtakes the storms tonight, the threat will transition to a damaging wind squall line that will sweep east through the overnight hours, reaching the lower Missouri Valley and Midwest by Saturday morning. Conditions will improve behind the front Saturday, but additional severe weather is possible Sunday across the Mid-South as the system progresses. We'll update this article as conditions evolve. View the full article

Earlier this week, Volkswagen reported Q1 2026 sales for its lineup in the United States. Overall sales were down by 16.1%, but sales of the Jetta sedan fell even further than the brand’s lineup as a whole, with a drop of 34.9% relative to the same quarter last year. The sedan’s sales figures already fell by 24.4% throughout 2025, and that decline is continuing in 2026. Since so many sedans have been discontinued in the U.S. in recent years, there were legitimate concerns that the Jetta could be next, but VW isn’t ready to throw in the towel on one of its longest-running nameplates. That’s based on recent comments made by one of the company’s top executives. Jetta Still Plays an Important Role Volkswagen In a recent interview with CNBC, Petar Danilovic, the senior vice president of North American product marketing for VW, explained why the compact sedan still has a place in the automaker’s lineup. “Jetta is one of our most important nameplates,” said Danilovic. “Every car has a different role in the portfolio. And the Jetta, for example, is of course important to also attract entry customers. So hopefully to be able to grow them in the brand from a Jetta maybe to a Tiguan to an Atlas. So this is also the logic behind it.” Despite its age, VW still displayed the Jetta at the recent New York International Auto Show. It was overshadowed by the new Atlas, but the decision to show the compact sedan at this prominent event is another sign that the company isn’t willing to follow the likes of Ford by abandoning this segment. Jetta Still Keenly Priced Volkswagen Starting at $23,995, the Jetta remains VW’s most affordable new car. It undercuts the Taos by over $2,500 and is over $5,000 cheaper than the Tiguan. It’s not the cheapest compact sedan, though. Toyota’s Corolla starts at $23,125 and the much newer Kia K4 begins at $22,290. The Jetta does have a more premium feel than these rivals, though. A standard turbocharged engine isn’t available in many rivals, but the Jetta has one, giving it decent overtaking punch. Despite VW’s optimism about the Jetta, one has to wonder how long the sales slide will be acceptable. The sedan is also aging, with the current generation having been introduced in 2018. Several small upgrades have kept it fresh, but this hasn’t been enough to create sustained interest from buyers in this segment. Volkswagen either needs a new Jetta, or the current model should get a more comprehensive overhaul. It also lacks a hybrid to compete with the Civic and Corolla, part of a slower-than-ideal rollout of electrified models throughout the VW lineup. For now, the Jetta lives on, keeping a household name alive that was first introduced to America back in 1979. View the full article

Hyundai’s Ioniq family of dedicated all-electric vehicles has grown spectacularly in recent years, but up until now the automaker has focused mainly on mid-range and high-end models. That is about to change, because the smallest member of the Ioniq range yet—the Hyundai Ioniq 3—is only days away from its world premiere. Hyundai will officially unveil it on April 20 at the 2026 Milan Design Week in Italy, with the market launch in Europe following later in the year. World Premiere at 2026 Milan Design Week The model has been confirmed for Australia as well, where it will debut in early 2027. “Our existing EV line-up already covers 85 per cent of the market, and with the introduction of the Staria commercial van later this year and Ioniq 3 hatch early next year, we expect to reach 96 per cent overall EV market coverage,” said Hyundai Motor Australia director of sales David Rodda in a statement to local media cited by Drive. While the teasers shared by Hyundai Europe on Instagram only provide pieces of the puzzle, the automaker's Concept Three that debuted in September 2025 provides a rough sketch of the compact EV that’s about the size of a Hyundai i30. The styling will be bolder than that of a typical compact hatchback, with the Concept Three adopting a low-slung hatchback shape that resembles more a Hyundai Veloster than an Elantra GT. SH Proshots/Autoblog As it usually happens when a concept vehicle morphs into a production model, the Ioniq 3 will be significantly toned down compared to the Concept Three, though. For practicality reasons, the Ioniq 3 will ditch show car elements like the rear-hinged rear doors, the extreme over-fenders, as well as the aggressive bumpers and ducktail spoiler. As spy shots have shown so far, the electric hatch will be taller and less edgy, and it will have a more generous glasshouse. Still, it will retain the concept's coupe-like silhouette. Expect the interior to be toned down as well for more functionality. Expected to Share E-GMP Platform and Powertrains with the Kia EV3 Details on the production Ioniq 3’s range and performance are yet to be confirmed, but most reports claim the compact hatch will share hardware with the Kia EV3 compact crossover. If that is the case, the Ioniq 3 should use the same 400-volt E-GMP platform, which means that battery options could include a base 58.3-kWh version and a long-range 81.4-kWh option. On the EV3, the big battery enables a range of up to 375 miles, while the entry-level pack is good for 270 miles (both figures calculated according to Europe’s WLTP cycle). SH Proshots/Autoblog As with the Kia EV3, the Ioniq 3 should offer a single-motor FWD powertrain, while a dual-motor AWD setup may arrive later, likely borrowing the EV3 GT range-topper’s 288-hp powertrain that enables a 0-62 mph sprint in 5.7 seconds in the crossover. Until the EV3 GT arrives, the regular EV3 is FWD-only for now and delivers 201 hp and 209 lb-ft of torque. The Hyundai Ioniq 3 will be assembled at the automaker’s plant in Izmit, Turkey, whereas the Kia EV3 is made in South Korea. Unfortunately, while the EV3 is coming to the US for the 2027 model year, Hyundai does not have any plans to sell the Ioniq 3 here mainly due to import tariffs and a focus on larger vehicles in America. View the full article

Letting Your Hair DownA key part of the sports car experience is the ability to let loose and have fun, which is why most models in that segment have convertible variants. Most convertibles are generally softer and tuned for grand touring rather than outright track performance. Which is why it's somewhat surprising that Ford is apparently working on a convertible version of one of the most track-oriented Mustangs, the Dark Horse SC. Adam Lynton/Autoblog Dark Horse SC Drop Top?For every generation of the Mustang, it has always offered a convertible version, peaking at the GT variant equipped with the Coyote 5.0 V8. But a report by Carsdirect claims spy shots of a Mustang convertible test mule, which they also say could be a Dark Horse SC. Though the test mule is heavily camouflaged, there are some telltale signs that the claims could be true. It has a rear wing that isn't as big as the Dark Horse SC's, but more importantly, the test mule uses the same wheels and uniquely shaped quad-exhaust exits. The report also suggests that the front end of the mule also has the same large rectangular air vents, hood bludge, and sharply designed headlamps as the Dark Horse SC, giving more credibility to the idea of a soft-top Dark Horse SC. Considering that the Dark Horse SC is one step higher than the standard Dark Horse, and one level below the GTD, as convincing as the spy shots are, the lack of a standard Dark Horse convertible is a head-scratcher. Why give the treatment to the SC instead? The high-performance Mustang convertible might launch around the summer, but Ford hasn't confirmed or even hinted at a convertible SC yet. Adam Lynton/Autoblog It's Been Done BeforeWhile it might seem surprising to some that something as track-focused as the Dark Horse SC might eventually be offered as a convertible, there is a market for such vehicles. We're seeing some higher-end brands introduce hardcore drop-tops to the market. Porsche is launching a 911 GT3, a first for the brand. Historically, we've also seen cars like the Porsche 718 Spyder RS, the McLaren 765 LT Spider, and the BMW M4 Convertible. All offering some form of high-performance with the thrill of open-top driving. Ford View the full article

The Nichols N1A is one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Designed by Steve Nichols, the mind behind the dominant McLaren MP4/4 Formula One car, the N1A shares a similar mantra. In photos, the N1A looks like a car that belongs on a track or in a museum. Seeing it in person at the 2026 Salon Privé Concours only reinforces that impression. It's striking, low to the ground, compact, has an engine with way too much power, and only comes offered with a manual transmission. Did we mention it's road-legal, too? The Nichols N1A Prototype Adam Lynton/Autoblog Adam Lynton/Autoblog Adam Lynton/Autoblog The car on display was the final development prototype, the one Nichols Cars will use to complete validation before customer deliveries begin in mid-2026. In other words, what you’re looking at is essentially the finished product. And up close, you'll notice it's just 4.3 meters (14.1 feet) long and under a meter tall (3.25 feet) – your face will be exposed to the elements – and has a very steep front end. The exposed simplicity is part of the appeal, as is the stance, helped by staggered wheels with tires measuring 245 at the front and 305 at the rear. Adam Lynton/Autoblog Underneath, a bonded aluminium and carbon fibre chassis keeps the weight to around 900 kg (1,984 lbs). Mechanically, it stays true to its philosophy. A six-speed manual is standard, with no automatic option – even power steering is optional. Buyers can choose between a naturally aspirated Chevrolet LT1 V8 that makes either 454 hp or 513 hp, or step up to a 7.0-litre unit producing over 640 hp. ICON 88 And A Near-Perfect Season Adam Lynton/Autoblog Adam Lynton/Autoblog Adam Lynton/Autoblog Prices start at $500,000, and production will be limited to 100 units, with the first 15 cars forming the ICON 88 series. These limited-run examples will benefit from more standard equipment, including carbon wheels, carbon brakes, an Inconel exhaust, and, of course, the 641-hp 7.0-liter V8. Each will be individually tailored and numbered to reflect one of the 15 victories achieved by the McLaren MP4/4 during the 1988 season in the hands of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. That season had 16 races, and should have been a clean sweep, but its perfect record was broken at Monza after Senna had an altercation with a backmarker. This N1A prototype represents the “16th race,” closing the gap nearly four decades later, in spirit at least. A Road-Legal F1 Car In Spirit Adam Lynton/Autoblog Adam Lynton/Autoblog Adam Lynton/Autoblog Seeing the N1A emphasises that it truly is as uncompromising as it looks. No screens, no driver aids, no creature comforts, and a body that looks nearly identical to an old F1 car. And it really does make you wonder how Steve Nichols and his team managed to make a car that looks like this road legal. According to Nichols, buyers can customize their N1A however they want, whether it be a bespoke color, material, or finish – you can even spec yours with a custom livery. Chances are, most of the 100 N1A units will hibernate in a garage and appreciate. But to the handful of owners who actually drive them, it will be a reincarnation, reminding them of a time that existed long, long ago. View the full article

The news that Doug Field, the man who led Ford’s electric vehicle and software efforts for the past five years, is leaving the company is a big one, and the automaker has tried to dampen the impact by throwing in the mix an announcement about “one of the most intensive product, software, and services rollouts in Ford’s history” coming by the end of the decade. You can read details about Ford’s product offensive in our initial coverage of the news; but that’s not what this article is about. While researching for the news story, I wanted to see if Doug Field had posted anything about his departure from Ford on his LinkedIn page. Hidden in Plain Sight? Doug Field's LinkedIn Page Shows Stillborn EV LinkedIn I found no recent career updates on his profile, but I was surprised to see something else that piqued my interest: his LinkedIn background banner. The image at the very top of the page shows an as-yet-unknown vehicle that may or may not be an unreleased Ford or Lincoln EV. Interestingly, there’s no way of knowing when Field uploaded the image on his LinkedIn page, but according to a thread on BlueOvalForums, it has been sitting there for quite a while, which is quite intriguing. Why do I think it’s an EV? For several reasons; first of all, it has an aerodynamic, teardrop shape that most battery-electric vehicles go for because it’s very important for efficiency. Then there’s the very short and low hood that couldn't possibly house a gas engine and its ancillaries. Finally, elements like the aero wheel covers and high-set, minimalist door handles are also strong clues that the vehicle may be an EV. But which EV is it? It must be one of the EV models Doug Field has led development on while working at Ford, right? And then it dawned on me: I remembered seeing spy shots of a very similar-looking test prototype a couple of years ago. The Design Is Strikingly Similar to a Test Prototype Spotted in Dearborn in 2023#news #Concepts Mystery Ford Or Lincoln Sporty Model Spotted At Dearborn Premises https://t.co/qQBsqOweb8 pic.twitter.com/MMpU7yYHfJ — Flyin18T Motorsports (@Flyin18T) February 2, 2023 Here’s what I’m referring to, courtesy of CarScoops. At the time, the website noted that the photos were taken in Dearborn, Michigan, on Ford’s home turf. Seen from the side, the camouflaged vehicle has the same roofline and proportions as the one in Doug Field’s photo. Furthermore, if you look at the door sills, you can see that the plastic cladding drops toward the wheels, exposing more sheetmetal—exactly like on the vehicle featured in Doug Field’s photo. Judging by the fact that the spy photos were taken three years ago and the prototype hasn’t been seen since, we can assume that it’s either still in development or it has been canned. The latter hypothesis seems more plausible, especially if you've read reports from 2024 about Ford initially delaying to 2027 and then canceling a three-row EV altogether. You may recall that the said Ford electric vehicle, which was announced in 2023 as a sleek, 350-mile family EV, was twinned with a three-row crossover from Lincoln, which was also dropped. So which one is it? I’m inclined more toward the Lincoln, partly because of the sleek design that suits the luxury brand better and partly because the high-set door handles are very similar to the last Lincoln Continental luxury sedan that went out of production in 2020. Obviously, I asked Doug Field for information about the vehicle, and if he ever replies, I’ll update the article accordingly. Until then, what vehicle do you think this is? Or even better, do you happen to know what it is? View the full article