Street News Anchor

Subaru is off to a slower start in 2026 than expected – a much slower start. And much of the blame is on one familiar nameplate. The Subaru Outback has undergone a major identity crisis, moving away from its long-standing wagon roots toward a more conventional SUV shape for its seventh generation. A recent Subaru sales report suggests buyers are not entirely on board. Too Much Change Isn't A Good Thing Subaru Since 1994, the Subaru Outback has been offered as a station wagon. While it grew in size over the years, it never abandoned its roots. In 2025, Subaru reimagined the Outback as a crossover SUV, hoping it would attract more buyers. Turns out, demand for station wagons is strong. Instead, it lost the loyal following it had gathered over more than three decades. In March 2026, Subaru sold 10,004 units in the United States, a sharp 42.9% drop compared to the same month last year. The first quarter tells a similar story, with 27,074 units sold versus 39,934 in Q1 2025 – a 32.2% decline. While multiple factors are at play, including a $5,000 price increase, the shift away from its wagon roots is likely playing a major role. Only One Model Saw Sales Growth Subaru Subaru’s overall numbers have taken a hit as well. The brand reported 54,674 vehicles sold in March 2026, down 23.5% year over year. Looking at March sales, every single model saw a decline compared to the previous year. Surprisingly, the all-electric Solterra recorded its best month ever with 1,736 units sold, up 50.4% year over year, despite the EV tax incentive being gone. The Subaru Forester continues to lead the brand’s sales with 20,412 units sold in March, yet it too suffered a 9.6% dip, while quarterly sales grew 8.6% compared to 2025 Q1. For the first quarter, total sales dropped 14.9% to 141,944 units. The Subaru Ascent fell 27.5% in March, while the Impreza dropped 50.9%. The Subaru WRX also slid 17.3%. But the worst of the bunch is the discontinued Legacy, which had a 83.5% drop in sales, contrasting its 2025 growth figure. Subaru still sells fewer than 400 BRZ units per month, with March sales taking a 13.8% dive, while Q1 sales stayed unchanged. Subaru's Reasoning Behind The Decline Subaru Subaru insists that part of the decline is due to unusually strong sales in March 2025, which they claim makes this year’s sales drop look more dramatic. That may be true, but the scale of the decline suggests there is more going on. When a particular model's identity is its biggest strength, changing it too drastically can alienate loyal buyers. And the Outback’s transformation is living proof of that. While Subaru hoped a more SUV-like lineup would appeal to a wider audience, it seems they've shot themselves in the foot. View the full article

A Familiar Truck, With a Not-So-Familiar UpgradeIt’s no secret that the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is due for a full redesign, with the next-generation model expected to land later this year as a 2027 model. Between spy shots, early renderings, and design leaks, we already have a rough idea of where things are heading visually. But the bigger story is what’s changing inside the cabin. Apparently, the 2027 Silverado High Country will finally get a feature that’s been exclusive to its more upscale GMC sibling. It might seem like a minor update, but it hints at Chevrolet rethinking what drivers should expect from a Silverado. Chevrolet/USPTO A Long-Overdue Comfort FeatureAccording to GM Authority, the 2027 Silverado High Country will offer massaging front seats for the first time. It’s not a headline-grabbing feature, but it addresses a clear gap in the current Silverado’s comfort options. Of note, the outgoing Silverado doesn’t offer massage functionality at all, even in its most expensive trims. Meanwhile, the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate has had it for a while, reinforcing GMC’s positioning as the more upscale alternative within General Motors’ truck lineup. It’s not confirmed yet if the feature will be standard or optional, but its addition shows Chevrolet is taking comfort more seriously as buyers expect more from their full-size trucks. AutoYa/YouTube Bigger Changes Beneath the SurfaceThe massaging seats are just one piece of a larger update. The new Silverado will get a more refined cabin, better materials, and a bigger focus on in-cabin tech. Patent images also point to a more modern, layered dashboard design. Engine updates are coming, too. The 2.7-liter turbo is expected to get more power, and the 3.0-liter Duramax diesel could offer a long-range setup aiming for up to 1,000 miles per tank. There’s also talk of a new small-block V8 and a hybrid option as GM brings electrification back to its trucks. Both the next-gen Silverado 1500 and the GMC Sierra 1500 are expected to debut later this year, with the 2027 models hitting showrooms. Chevrolet/USPTO View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

The Supercar Before SupercarsThe rivalry between Lamborghini and Ferrari is widely recognized in automotive circles, with the former introducing its first true contender in 1966 with the Miura – widely regarded as the world’s first supercar. Now, a report from The Supercar Blog suggests the Italian marque could revive the iconic nameplate this year to mark its 60th anniversary. However, the revival is expected to take the form of a special edition, similar to the Aventador Miura – a tribute unveiled in 2016 to mark the Miura’s 50th anniversary. This time, the Revuelto, the Aventador’s successor, is reportedly set to receive a Miura-inspired edition, which could debut at Pebble Beach in August. Lamborghini Classic Inspiration, Modern ExecutionThe report states that the Revuelto Miura Edition could feature a two-tone exterior, echoing the Miura’s signature look. Inside, the cabin is expected to include retro-inspired touches, such as special-edition badging. Given these changes, the model will likely be priced above the standard Revuelto, which already starts at over $600,000. As for the powertrain, no mechanical changes are expected. For reference, the Revuelto uses a 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 paired with a tri-motor setup, producing a combined 1,001 horsepower. It is one of the few models to retain a V12 amid increasingly stringent emissions regulations, alongside cars like the Aston Martin Vanquish and Ferrari 12Cilindri. Kyle Edward Not the Only Card to PlayThe Revuelto Miura Edition could be just one of four models Lamborghini plans to introduce this year. These may simply be new variants of the existing lineup, especially considering that the Urus, the brand’s best-selling model, is unlikely to go away anytime soon, while the Temerario has just succeeded the Huracán. In addition, the brand’s first EV, the Lanzador, has reportedly been delayed, with the company now indicating it could arrive as a plug-in hybrid instead of a fully electric model. Following the Aventador Miura’s production run of 50 units, the Revuelto Miura will reportedly be limited to 60 examples, in line with their respective anniversary celebrations. The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance takes place during Monterey Car Week in California, where Lamborghini is expected to reveal new developments, while announcements are also anticipated at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K. in July. Lamborghini View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

In the NASCAR Cup Series, there is no driver with as many wins at Kyle Busch (63), although Denny Hamlin is moving ever-closer. The 40-year-old Busch won at least one race every year between 2005 and 2023 in his Hall of Fame career. That final year before the impressive streak came to a grinding halt was his very first with Richard Childress Racing, and the two-time Cup champion came out of ...Keep readingView the full article

It was a JR Motorsports 1-2 at Bristol Motor Speedway, and despite dominating the 2025 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS) season, few expected Connor Zilisch to prevail on Saturday. That was because of Kyle Larson, who absolutely dominated the entire race until the very end. Zilisch was one of three drivers who stayed out during a late-race caution, with crew chief Rodney Childers opting ...Keep readingView the full article

On Lap 194 of the 300-lap NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, the caution flew for an engine failure back in the pack. Mason Maggio was limping his car around the apron in the No. 91 DGM Racing Chevrolet, white smoke billowing from underneath. He quickly turned behind the pit wall and came to a stop in the garage. Just as he did that, flames erupted from ...Keep readingView the full article

The Sierra Nevada storm originally reported by Autoblog on Friday has escalated significantly. What started as a Winter Storm Warning for Mono County and the Donner Pass area has expanded into warnings covering every major mountain corridor in California, from Lassen County south through Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks. Snowfall totals have been revised sharply upward. Wind forecasts have increased. And the worst of it is arriving now. What Has ChangedThe original forecast called for up to 28 inches above 7,000 feet near Lake Tahoe and up to 4 feet at the highest peaks, with crest winds of 70 to 80 mph. Those numbers have moved. NWS Sacramento issued a Winter Storm Warning at 10:34 AM Friday for the West Slope Northern Sierra and Western Plumas County, calling for 1 to 2 feet of snow above 4,500 feet and 3 to 4 feet at the highest peaks, with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour from Saturday afternoon through Sunday. That Warning runs through 11 PM Sunday. NWS Reno upgraded the Lake Tahoe Basin to a full Winter Storm Warning, with 6 to 10 inches at lake level, 12 to 28 inches above 7,000 feet, and crest gusts now forecast at 90 mph Saturday afternoon with 20 to 35 mph sustained winds for communities around the lake. Mono County remains under a Warning with 70 to 80 mph crest gusts and up to 24 inches along the Sierra crest. And NWS Hanford reissued a Winter Storm Warning at 7:34 PM Friday covering Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks through Sunday night, with 10 to 30 inches of snow above 7,000 feet. NWS Hanford is describing conditions as potentially life-threatening. The net effect: the original story's top-end forecast of 4 feet has been revised by NWS Sacramento above 6,000 feet to 5 feet, and the wind ceiling has jumped from 80 to 90 mph at the crest. The Warning footprint has expanded from two zones to the full 300-mile length of the Sierra. Chain Controls Are Already ActiveAs of Saturday afternoon, Caltrans has chain screenings active on I-80 in both directions. Eastbound trucks are being screened at Applegate in Placer County. Westbound trucks are being screened at Overland Trail Road in Truckee and at Mogul, 5 miles west of Reno. Drivers must have maximum chains in their possession to proceed, and permit loads are prohibited. A high wind advisory is also in effect on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, where travel is not recommended for campers, trailers, or permit loads. These are the early stages. Snow levels are still dropping. By Saturday evening, they will fall to 6,000 to 7,000 feet, and by late Saturday into Sunday morning, they will crash to 4,000 to 4,500 feet. When that happens, the chain controls will tighten, and closures become likely. In February, a similar system shut down a 60-mile stretch of I-80 from Colfax to the Nevada state line and stranded hundreds of drivers for hours. The same scenario is on the table tonight. The HighwaysI-80 over Donner Pass. Already under chain screenings. With 12 to 28 inches forecast at pass elevation, 90 mph crest winds, and snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour, a full closure Saturday night through Sunday is the most likely outcome. When I-80 closes over Donner Summit there is no practical detour across the Northern Sierra. Highway 50 to South Lake Tahoe. Echo Summit sits at 7,382 feet, squarely in the heavy snow zone. Highway 50 has the same closure risk as I-80 and fewer plowing resources. When both routes close simultaneously, as they did in February, there is no realistic alternative across the central Sierra. Highway 395 (Eastern Sierra). The Warning names 395 with gusts to 40 to 45 mph and 2 to 6 inches of snow. Higher terrain west of 395 faces 6 to 12 inches. Side roads to Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain will be treacherous at best. Highway 88 through Carson Pass (8,574 feet) and Highway 89. Both exposed to heavy snow and high winds with limited plowing resources. These are typically the first routes to close and the last to reopen. Yosemite corridors (CA-120, CA-140, CA-41). With 10 to 30 inches above 7,000 feet and NWS Hanford warning of visibility below a quarter mile, expect closures and severe restrictions across all Yosemite approach routes through Sunday evening. The Worst WindowSaturday night through Sunday morning. This is when the stronger second system arrives, snow levels crash to 4,000 to 4,500 feet, crest winds peak at 90 mph, and snowfall rates hit their maximum. If you are on a mountain highway during this window, you are likely to be stopped, stranded, or turned around. The heaviest accumulation runs from late Saturday morning through midday Sunday. Sunday afternoon onward the storm weakens, but do not assume roads reopen quickly. Clearing multiple feet of heavy, wet spring snow off a mountain highway takes hours even after the snow stops, and overnight refreezing Sunday into Monday morning will keep surfaces hazardous. What To Do Right NowIf you are on the California side of the Sierra and need to get to Nevada, or vice versa, your window has likely closed. Chain controls are active, conditions are deteriorating, and by tonight the passes will be in full storm mode. If you are already committed to a crossing, Caltrans will require chains on most vehicles above 4,000 to 5,000 feet, and AWD with snow tires may still need chains under R-2 and R-3 controls. Carry chains and know how to install them before you need to. Pack a blanket, flashlight, portable phone charger, water, food, a folding shovel, and cat litter or sand for traction. Fill your tank before entering the mountains. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle, run the engine for heat in 15-minute intervals, crack a window for ventilation, and wait for road crews. For a full breakdown on preparing your vehicle for winter conditions, Autoblog's winter car readiness checklist covers everything from tread depth to emergency kit essentials. Our guide to best practices for driving in snow, ice, and rain is worth reviewing before you attempt any Sierra crossing this weekend. And if this storm is a reminder that your vehicle is not set up for mountain driving, Autoblog's list of the best cars and SUVs for snow and winter driving can help you think about what matters when the roads turn ugly. The safest decision is to wait. Monday midday offers the earliest realistic window for a Sierra crossing once crews have had time to clear and treat the passes. Check Caltrans QuickMap or call 511 before committing to any mountain travel. Track ConditionsCheck Caltrans for current highway conditions, live traffic cameras, and chain controls. NWS Sacramento and NWS Reno forecast pages have the latest zone-level details. For Nevada road conditions, visit 511 Nevada. View the full article

In qualifying at Saturday, the No. 12 Team Penske Ford of Ryan Blaney secured pole position at Bristol Motor Speedway. With a fast lap of 15.101s, he earned his 13th career pole and second at Bristol. "Just kind of got free on Lap 1, and then it was like all right, gather yourself up in (Turns) 3 and 4 and try and get a second lap," said Blaney. "Luckily, the rear tires came in better the ...Keep readingView the full article

Cars That Don’t Sit Still AnymoreOver-the-air (OTA) updates have changed what it means to own a car. Instead of being stuck with whatever features your car had when you bought it, modern vehicles – especially EVs – can keep getting better long after you drive them home. That might mean sharper driver assistance, new apps, better efficiency, or just a smoother interface. Of course, it also means you’ll sometimes wait for downloads, run into the odd bug, and realize your car now acts more like a smartphone than a machine you fully control. EVs are built for this kind of thing. Their systems already run on software, from the battery to the way power reaches the wheels, and most use a central computer to make updates simple. However, another benefit is that OTA updates keep your car feeling up to date. Most people would guess Tesla leads the pack here. The American automaker was first to make big OTA updates a regular thing, and it’s a big part of its image. But if you look at the numbers, Tesla isn’t the most active anymore. Right now, BYD is out in front. Autoblog / LeRoy Marion BYD’s Quiet Lead in the Update RaceAccording to a report by Nikkei Asia, BYD pushed out around 200 OTA updates across its Ocean and Dynasty model lines in 2025, the highest among automakers in China – the world’s biggest auto market. For comparison, Tesla managed just 16 updates in the same period, while Toyota and Volkswagen trailed with eight and five. BYD can move this fast because it builds most of its own hardware, chips, and software. That means fewer outside suppliers to wait for, so updates come quicker and more often. Some of the latest updates have improved driver assistance, especially with new AI features that help the car see and respond more effectively in challenging situations. These aren’t just small fixes – they actually let the car handle more complex driving, showing that OTA updates now go way beyond just changing the radio or adding apps. Other Chinese brands like Aito and Leapmotor are also pushing out updates at a fast pace. It’s clear that how often you update your software is now a real way to compete. Jacob Oliva/Autoblog What This Means for Buyers and the IndustryFrequent updates are changing how cars age. Instead of waiting years for a major refresh, owners can get improvements continuously. That could keep a car feeling new for longer and might even help with resale value down the line. There’s also a business side to all this. Most updates are still free, especially in China, but carmakers are starting to look for ways to charge for software. Some are testing subscriptions for features like advanced driver assistance. Tesla, for example, now offers its Full Self-Driving system as a monthly subscription. But more updates don’t always mean a better experience. There’s a balance between real improvements and just too many changes. As cars rely more on software, things like reliability, security, and trust matter even more. BYD’s lead shows that the OTA race isn’t about who started it, but who can keep it going at scale. Right now, the edge goes to brands that treat software as the main product, not just another feature. BYD View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

With modern cars becoming increasingly appliance-like by incorporating planned obsolescence and all but ignoring the right-to-repair, classic cars are currently more desirable than ever. Whether as an expression of individuality or simply for the joy of driving something with personality, this is true across the spectrum of socioeconomics. British engineering firms Halcyon and Evice Technologies, both founded by the same trio of engineers, understand this well, offering a limited run of electric restomodded classic Rolls-Royce Corniche and Silver Shadow series cars. Each of these cars can be personalized to an extent only limited by the buyer’s imagination, taking over 12 months to complete. Electric drivetrain swaps are no longer a novel idea. Taking a classic and swapping out its old drivetrain for something newer and easier on maintenance is now commonplace. Halcyon has completely flipped the script by announcing its latest series of cars - the Great Eight Series. Halcyon The Halcyon Great Eight SeriesIn a defiant move away from their roots, Halcyon’s Great Eight Series offers 60 one-of-one commissions of Rolls-Royce Corniche and Silver Shadow series vehicles - including their Bentley equivalents, offered with the legendary Crewe-built 6.75-liter V8, brought up to today's engineering standards. It may be the ultimate expression of combustion luxury, incorporating modern components and technologies into a platform that offered traditional, plush comfort, a floaty ride, and a powertrain that only wafted its passengers down the road rather than ever pushing them back in their seats. Halcyon uses modern technology and engineering to simply enhance the car's existing character without disturbing its analog experience. Halcyon A Masterclass in Discrete ModernizationDescribed as designed to “endure for generations” by Halcyon themselves, the owner of a Halcyon is somebody who questions whether or not there really is a line between art and science; an “expression of automotive art” is what Halcyon proclaims. A Halcyon customer romanticizes and appreciates the old-world charm of open-pore wood, hand-stitched leather, and knurled metal switches. Electric vehicles tend to appeal more to the sort of buyer wearing wireless headphones as he walks into a multistorey carpark with a matcha iced coffee in his hand, to drive home in his Tesla. Halcyon This does not, however, mean that the Halcyon offering is missing out on modern conveniences - each of them, at the owner's request, is offered with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, modern climate control, a reversing camera, fully adjustable electric seats with integrated heating and cooling, amongst other conveniences. One could argue that those are expected conveniences in a car for which prices start at $571,000 - not including the donor car, which Halcyon could source for you at an additional cost. In a World of Modern Electric HomogeneityThis trend of the demand for combustion drivetrains leading businesses to revisit combustion motors is noticeable across the automotive industry. With China’s EV subsidies finally ending this year, and European and American subsidies having ended already, the EV market is witnessing a profound correction. Even classic car specialists realize that they need to offer both EVs as well as perfected iterations of combustion motors alongside one another to meet every type of market demand. Halcyon In today’s world of electric homogeneity, Halcyon’s Great Eight Series is a love letter to the motoring experience of days gone by; it is a preservation of automotive heritage in an era that is racing toward disposability, and if you already have a Rolls-Royce Corniche or Silver Shadow lying around, you could have one for $571,000. Plus Taxes. View the full article

NASCAR has ejected four car chiefs and one engineer after NASCAR Cup Series inspection at Bristol Motor Speedway. Five cars failed pre-race inspection twice, resulting in the loss of a key team member for the remainder of the weekend, and the loss of pit stall selection no matter where they qualify on the grid. They will be given whatever five stalls are left after the rest of the field ...Keep readingView the full article

Alex Bowman got the ‘all clear’ from his doctors a week earlier than anticipated and he’s back in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 with a goal to methodically make the most he can out of the remainder of the season. Bowman has missed the last four races due to a bout of vertigo and was cleared after passing his medical tests and then turning competitive laps in a street car around the Ten ...Keep readingView the full article

The Visual Identity GameCar design may not be as tangible as in-car technology, but it can still play a critical role in a vehicle’s success – and in some cases, it can even prove polarizing, as seen with the Tesla Cybertruck. For Maserati, that makes its upcoming concept car, set to debut at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, especially important, as it is expected to define the brand’s design direction for years to come. Gilles Vidal, Stellantis’ newly appointed head of design for Europe, told Auto Express that Maserati has a history of periodically reinventing its design cues, adding that the brand’s current design language is “kind of finished.” The report did not offer any hint as to what might come next, though it will likely mark a departure from the modern curvier styling seen on models like the Grecale and GranTurismo. Maserati Maserati’s Early Design IdentityBack in the 1950s and 1960s, Maserati models also featured curvier styling, which has been compared to the design language seen on cars from Ferrari and Rolls-Royce. One good example is the 3500 GT, whose flowing lines also recall classic Aston Martin DB models, giving it a more posh and luxurious appearance. Moving into the 1970s and 1980s, Vidal said the Italian marque adopted a “super-edgy” design approach, which, looking back at its portfolio, comes across as sporty and aggressive. Models like the Bora and Merak even featured wedge-shaped styling, similar to cars such as the DMC DeLorean and the Lancia Stratos. “So, what we are looking at is what’s the next thing for Maserati,” the design chief said. “If you wait a few months, you’ll see what we are thinking.” Maserati A New Chapter BeginsAnother point worth noting is that Maserati has been dealing with slow sales, posting a roughly 30 percent decline in volume in 2025 from the previous year. A design direction that resonates with more buyers could help the brand regain traction, alongside any other changes taking shape behind the scenes, especially as it scales back its EV plans, including the cancellation of the all-electric MC20 Folgore. The upcoming concept car suggests the company is showing signs of resilience, after rumors – since denied by Stellantis – that it was considering selling Maserati. The Paris Motor Show is set to take place in October, with Stellantis bringing several brands, including Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Lancia, among others. Maserati View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Not Totally All-NewPrior to the current model, the Nissan Z languished without a full redesign for an incredibly lengthy time. The 370Z was produced from 2008 to 2020, and some markets continued to sell it as late as 2021. Sure, it received a facelift in 2013, but there were few changes over 12 years. The Z finally got the redesign it so desperately needed in 2021 for the 2023 model year. There was new sheetmetal, an overhauled interior, more tech, a revamped chassis, and a serious boost in performance - literally and figuratively. Heck, it even came with a new chassis code. But despite all the changes, the basic structure was that of the old 370Z. Still, Nissan did enough to make it feel different from its predecessor. Nissan Fear Not, an All-New Z is ComingThe 370Z eventually felt like a model that Nissan simply forgot to stop making. Not wanting to repeat that, the company inferred that it's already thinking about the next generation of the Z-Car. Speaking to The Drive, Ponz Pandikuthira, senior vice president, chief product and planning officer for Nissan Americas, laid out what the company wants for the future Z. "A lot of it is going to be heritage-based. Go back to the authenticity of what Z was in the past. Create special editions that resonate with that heritage and keep that animated cycle plan," Pandikuthira told the publication. "You'll see a lot of that animation coming through special versions between now and say the next three years. And then we're actively talking about what that next generation will look like," added the executive. Nissan But First, the GT-RWith that, Nissan is taking the Z much more seriously this time around. It's likely that it will share the same architecture as the rebooted Nissan Skyline/Infiniti Q50, and that one is due in 2027. There's something that the future Z could build upon, so Nissan doesn't have to develop the sports car from scratch. However, before Nissan could go all-out on developing the new-generation Z, it was placing more of its resources into building the all-new GT-R. It is, after all, the brand's halo product, and it's expected to be revealed sometime in 2030. That means that the redesigned Z will likely come out after that. Still, it's great to see Nissan keeping interest in the Z alive. As Pandikuthira, "Don't just build it and then walk away." Nissan View the full article

A Shift Years in the MakingChinese cars have long faced skepticism over quality, often tied to perceptions of low-cost manufacturing. That stands in contrast to Japanese automakers, which are widely associated with craftsmanship – an identity brands like Lexus have long leveraged. But as technology and production methods continue to improve, Chinese cars are advancing quickly and beginning to put pressure on automakers around the world. With the U.S. remaining hostile to Chinese cars, most American consumers still cannot easily get behind the wheel of one. For now, the next best thing may be hearing from people who have spent time with them. Here is one example: a report from Japan’s Best Car Web highlighted the suspension quality of the BYD Sealion 7, and Takahiro Kitami of Sanko Work's had largely positive things to say about its hardware. When a Pro Takes a Closer LookKitami has worked on rally-prepped builds of vehicles like the Toyota Hiace (a commuter van) and the Nissan Leaf, with the latter, according to the report, even scoring a podium finish in the All-Japan Rally Championship, so it is fair to say he knows a thing or two about suspension tuning. He was impressed with the suspension setup in the BYD EV, which includes front double wishbones with aluminum arms, describing the overall approach as taking cues from Mercedes and BMW. The rear suspension, which uses a multi-link design, also received praise, with Kitami noting that it was well thought out. He also pointed to the use of pillowballs, which can improve handling at the expense of some of the comfort provided by conventional rubber bushings. The owner of the BYD Sealion 7 also noted that the dampers are developed in-house. BYD The Mechanics of a Better RideA well-engineered suspension is key to delivering a satisfying driving experience. It helps keep the tires in consistent contact with the road over bumps and through corners, improving both comfort and stability. Of course, better suspension hardware also adds cost, so automakers have to strike a balance between performance and affordability. As the report suggests, that appears to be the case with the Sealion 7, a midsize electric crossover positioned against rivals like the Tesla Model Y. Whether Kitami’s assessment holds up in the real world remains to be seen, especially considering the Sealion 7 was only introduced in 2024. Still, Canadians may soon get the chance to judge Chinese cars for themselves, as Canada has opened the door to them under lower tariffs and a limited first-year quota of 49,000 units, with BYD expected to enter the market, along with Geely and Chery. For Americans, meanwhile, a trip north may remain one of the few ways to experience one firsthand, as the U.S. has made clear that Chinese-made EVs will not be allowed to cross the border. BYD View the full article

Mahindra’s tough-as-nails UTV, the Roxor, is currently on offer with 0% finance options and cashback deals ranging between $3,000 and $5,000, depending on the selected variant. The Roxor is not shy of controversy; from its introduction in 2018 until it was brought back in November 2021 after the International Trade Commission’s ruling that its revised design no longer infringed on Jeep’s trade dress, the Roxor has been making headlines for being Mahindra’s problem child in America. Since then, however, it seems to have found its market with off-roaders and farmers as an incredibly capable, robust, and honest little workhorse, leaving Jeep little to worry about when it comes to the SUV market. Mahindra AG North America Jeep Or No JeepWhile there are a few people who suggest the Roxor is a blatant rip-off of WW2-era Willys Jeeps, the fact is that Willys licensed the design of the CJ3B to Mahindra in 1947. The lawsuit claims that Mahindra violates Jeep’s trade dress with its vertical front slats in the grill with the Roxor’s 2018 and 2019 model year designs. Having now cleared legal trouble with a revised design, the Roxor has been on sale for a little under five years and offers a value proposition that very few, if any, side-by-sides can compete with. Zac Palmer Is the Roxor Really Better Than Other Side-by-Sides?In a word? Yes, but only if we’re talking about rough, off-road, and farm use-cases. The Roxor will not win any races with 55 horsepower and a top speed limited to 45mph. That said, it is a tough, traditional, and capable workhorse. Rather than plastic, it comes with a boxed steel frame and steel body. It is rated to tow 3,500 lbs rather than the 2,500 lbs that a similarly priced Polaris or Honda offers. It has automobile-grade automatic and manual transmissions, and not a CVT, which means the drive belt doesn’t burn out like with its competitors. The Roxor’s 2.7-liter turbo-diesel engine is a low-stress and proven motor that makes peak torque of 144 lb-ft at low revs and has ploughed for years on India’s dusty and cratered rural roads. In fact, Mahindra even calls it “The World’s Toughest Side-by-Side”. The Roxor’s interior is exactly what you would expect: a flat steel dash with an array of analog gauges and a digital tachometer. In fact, until Mahindra introduced the All-Weather variant, it was impossible to get the Roxor with a roof from Mahindra. Upon reviewing customer feedback, the All-Weather variant now offers an enclosed cabin, AC, and heat. Really, everything you would need to get through a hard day’s work in comfort. The PricingHere’s the hard pill to swallow. With a starting price of $22,244, it is not exactly cheap. In fact, you might be able to get yourself a tidy Jeep Wrangler for that much money on the slightly used market. Mahindra continues to run promotional deals on the Roxor throughout the year, though, so you could still get yourself a good deal on a new Roxor, considering a similarly capable Honda or Polaris costs about the same. View the full article

In the center of the Mojave Desert lies Baker, California, with little else to offer other than sunshine, which, as it happens, was all PowerStation Charging needed. This startup's first DC fast charging station is off-grid, with 1080 solar panels producing enough energy to push electricity into a 3.4 MWh battery pack that keeps four CCS fast chargers running around the clock, rain or shine. There’s no membership or app required to use the station and no bill either, until May 31st, 2026. There are a few places in the country where a solar-powered charging station makes more geographic sense, and for EV drivers grinding through the desert stretch of I-15, the timing is pretty good too. Why Solar Charging Makes SenseThe initial cost of installation may be expensive, with a home solar setup typically running between $15,000 and $25,000 before incentives. Federal tax credits can knock 30 percent off that, though. Add a home battery and a Level 2 charger, and what you're really building is a system that lets you drive on electricity you made yourself. Over time, the amount of money you spend to "fuel" your car dramatically drops. Plus, when you’re using your own generated energy, issues such as grid outages or rising electricity rates are no longer a problem. A typical home solar system can take up to 10 years to break even. However, for consumers who were considering purchasing a home solar system anyway, adding an EV greatly increases the value proposition. Nissan The Bigger Solar Charging Movement Taking ShapePowerStation has three more locations planned along the I-15, I-10, and I-8, so this isn't a one-off. Tesla's biggest Supercharger, opened late last year in Lost Hills, California, leans heavily on on-site solar and battery storage for a 164-vehicle station, though it keeps a grid connection for backup. When PowerStation's free period ends, drivers will pay between $0.30 and $0.45 per kWh, adjusted for demand and available sunlight. That's roughly in line with what most fast charging costs today, except the energy comes from the sky. View the full article

There’s something delightful about digging your toes into the warm sand along a South Florida beach. It’s another matter entirely when it’s your coastal condo sinking into the sand. That’s what’s happening at the Porsche Design Tower in Miami, a luxurious 60-story condominium on Sunny Isles Beach, a community along the Atlantic just north of Miami, a new study revealing that its one of 35 high rises that have sunk as much as three inches into the sand at a time when the ocean is rising due to global warming. Opened in 2016, the Porsche tower is one of a growing number of auto-themed residences popping up around Miami – a number of which are now facing legal and financial problems. View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Live What You DriveOver the past century, at least 700 branded real estate projects have popped up around the world, according to Business Insider, and nearly as many, about 650 in all, are now in various stages of construction. That includes a number of auto-themed condo projects that integrate automotive architecture into their design and amenities. The Porsche Design Tower is one of several with a “Deservator,” special elevators that let residents have their vehicles lifted directly up to their condos. Auto-themed projects have popped up in places like Germany, Spain and Dubai. The Gulf principality not only boasts the Bugatti Residences and the Bentley Residences but its newest project is Mercedes-Benz City , a $10 billion complex with 12 separate towers that just opened this year. That said, Miami has become the heart of the auto-residence trend, with condominium projects linked to brands including Aston Martin, Bentley, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Pagani and Porsche. Moving into one of these isn’t cheap. The 390 residences in Mercedes-Benz Places in Miami are set to start at around $1.5 million. To buy into the 70-unit Pagani Residences in Miami’s North Bay Village starts at $3 million. And one unit at Miami’s Aston Martin Residences was priced at $59 million. View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Trouble in ParadiseAutomakers like Mercedes and Porsche typically don’t have any real financial skin in the game. They look to these projects as a way to generate licensing revenue and build their brand imagery. That is, of course, assuming all goes well. But with a number of the ventures in and around Miami, things aren’t going quite as planned – and that means headaches for owners who’ve discovered not all is well in paradise. The latest problem involves the Porsche Design Tower, the first of the big auto-themed projects in Southern Florida, opening in 2016. It’s a 60-story on a barrier beach with 132 separate residences, and special elevators that let owners drive their vehicles right up to their condos. It’s also one of 35 buildings on Sunny Isles Beach that received some unwelcome news from a newly released study conducted by the University of Miami. "Almost all the buildings at the coast itself, they’re subsiding," Falk Amelung, the study’s senior author, a geophysicist at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science, told the Miami Herald “It’s a lot.” There’s been growing concern about the construction quality – and safety – of Southern Florida housing projects ever since Champlain Tower South in Surfside, Florida collapsed on June 24, 2021, causing the death of 98 people. The good news, according to the university’s study, is that there’s no sign of structural damage at the Porsche complex. But it’s unclear whether the subsidence will continue. And it’s certainly not a great time for any oceanfront property to be sinking, not with global warming expected to raise the sea level along Miami by at least 21 to 54 inches by 2070, according to the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Compact. Legal Problems Add to Luxury Residence WoesFrom a financial standpoint, the Mercedes-Benz Places condo project is already under water. The much-delayed project has been under development since 2015, construction only getting under way five years later. A sales center finally opened last year, though the formal opening was again pushed back to late 2027. The project last week became the subject of a foreclosure lawsuit filed by the Cottonwood Group which alleges the developer, the JDS Development Group, owes nearly $100 million. Interest, meanwhile has been mounting at the rate of $53,621 a day, according to the Real Deal, a local real estate publication. The lawyers are keeping busy at another auto-themed condo development, the Aston Martin Residences in Miami. In January the condo association filed a lawsuit in Miami-Dade Circuit Court alleging developer German Coto, 10 other companies and seven individuals engaged in “self-dealing” contracts unlawfully using condo association funds. “I’ve never seen this level of arrogance by a developer, such brazen self-dealing,” David Haber, an attorney representing the condo association, told the Miami Herald, estimating the losses amounted to “millions and millions of dollars.” The Projects Keep ComingBarely a quarter-mile away from the Porsche Design Tower, the Bentley Residences has its own problems. Developers have even bigger aspirations for this 62-story tower. At a planned 216-units, it already made its mark by requiring the largest residential concrete pour in Florida history, a foundation using 20,000 cubic yards of concrete. As with Porsche, developers are providing condo owners with “deservators” so they don’t have to deal with other residents on regular elevators. But a variety of snags have pushed this project back until at least late 2027. Despite all the hassles developers and residents have faced, the auto-themed condo projects keep coming. The latest to get going: the Lamborghini Residences. The Italian automaker has lent its name to a 67-story tower in Miami’s Brickell financial district. Details, including the final design and the number of residences have yet to be released but, according to those who cover the Miami real estate market, residents will begin moving into the Lambo-themed condos sometime in 2029. View the full article

In February this year, a report claimed that Scout would only launch in 2028, something the Volkswagen-backed automaker denied in a forum post, though it did concede that delays related to setting up a new factory and launching multiple powertrains were certainly possible. Now, a new report from AutoForecast Solutions, first noted by Automotive News, suggests that customer vehicles may not start to reach driveways in late 2027 or early 2028 as planned, but that the Traveler SUV will only enter production in September 2028, while the Terra pickup is only expected to launch in March 2030. Scout, however, denies this. Let's look at the full picture. Why Analysts Believe Scout Is Behind Schedule Scout Motors Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions, told AutoNews that the delayed forecasts were based on a weekly update Scout provides customers, adding that he and his colleagues also came to their conclusions with the help of various industry sources. It's also worth noting that when Scout was formed in 2022, the outlook for all-electric vehicles was far rosier than it is now, and extended range electric vehicles (EREVs) were seen almost as a side project. That outlook has changed, and nearly 90 percent of Scout reservation holders have opted for the latter. As a result, Scout has undoubtedly been forced to readjust its expectations, pivoting to meet customer demand. This is one of the biggest factors influencing analysts' expectations that Scout's SUV and truck will launch later. Related: Scout Hasn’t Started Selling Yet and It’s Already $1 Billion Over Budget "A lot of the more recent changes have been in the reengineering of the vehicle to get the EREV out first," Fiorani said. "When the vehicle was originally announced, it was going to be fully electric, and the market has shifted since then. It makes a lot more sense to target the EREV, especially when you’re looking at trucks." So what does Scout have to say about all this? Scout's Response to Delay Claims Scout Motors View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article A Scout spokesperson told Motor1 that the report was unfounded, adding that it still expects to produce its first pre-production vehicles before 2026 comes to an end: "Scout Motors has not spoken with AutoForecast Solutions, and we do not have anything additional to share regarding timing beyond what we've already announced. As we've previously shared, initial production is targeted to begin in 2027. We will start producing initial validation vehicles this year. That effort will continue and mature into 2027. We expect customers will begin taking delivery of new Scout vehicles in 2028." Whether Scout will meet its own expectations or not remains to be seen, but the pressure is on in a big way. The Ford F-150 Lightning is being turned into an EREV, and it's quite possible that one of Ford's five new affordable vehicles planned to arrive by 2030 will be a range-extended SUV, too. Moreover, Kia just announced plans to take advantage of the "untapped" EREV midsize pickup market with a truck of its own, following news that Hyundai will produce an SUV and pickup with styling inspired by the imposing Boulder concept. Scout was going to be one of the first to play in this space, and now it seems it may be just another competitor, depending on whose comments you believe. Will Scout customers start receiving their orders next year? We'll keep an eye on developments. View the full article

Dreams on Four WheelsSome are not as interested in concept cars, preferring to wait for the actual road-going model before paying them much attention. Others find them fascinating because they offer a glimpse of what the brand’s future may look like. For automakers, meanwhile, concept cars provide room to experiment with different ideas, some of which can eventually influence their production lineup. Rolls-Royce, the British luxury marque known for its bespoke approach to individualization, is no stranger to concept cars, even referring to them as Experimental, or EX, models. Now, the company is celebrating the anniversaries of three EX cars introduced since the Goodwood era began in 2003 under BMW ownership. These concepts helped pave the way for some of the brand’s hallmark innovations, including the Starlight Headliner and its first all-electric production model, the Spectre. Rolls-Royce The EX FilesThe first was the 101EX, a full four-seat coupe introduced at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. Built on the same aluminum spaceframe as the Phantom VII, though slightly shorter, the 101EX featured a lower roofline and a reworked Pantheon grille. Notably, the first Goodwood-era EX car also introduced the Starlight Headliner, which is now seen across nearly all Rolls-Royce models. Next up is the 102EX, known as Rolls-Royce’s first battery-electric vehicle and dubbed the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE). It was unveiled in 2011— a year before the now-outgoing Tesla Model S was sold — and allowed the automaker to gather data on alternative powertrains. Those learnings ultimately contributed to the development of the Spectre, which is now among the most expensive EVs on the market, excluding electric hypercars like the Rimac Nevera. Rolls-Royce Three Bold ExperimentsThe third EX car is the 103EX, instantly recognizable for its sci-fi-esque design, highlighted by large, sculpted wheel arches and a glass Spirit of Ecstasy, another first for Rolls-Royce. Perhaps its biggest talking point, however, was the interior, known as the “Grand Sanctuary.” It featured contemporary materials, a sofa made to appear as though it were floating through the use of lighting, and a digital assistant called Eleanor – named after Eleanor Thornton, who is believed to have inspired the Spirit of Ecstasy – designed to work with features such as fully autonomous driving. The 101EX, 102EX, and 103EX mark their 20th, 15th, and 10th anniversaries, respectively. Together, they offer a glimpse of what future Rolls-Royce models could look like – models that may not be exclusively all-electric after the company walked back its 2030 EV-only target and committed to continue building V12s. Rolls-Royce 103EX Rolls-Royce View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Still Pushing the EnvelopeThe Aston Martin Valkyrie is, without question, one of the most important models to come out of the brand, having been shaped by Formula 1 learnings while retaining a V12 powertrain. As such, it would not be surprising to see Aston Martin do more with the model, and a single-seater variant may be in the pipeline. A TikTok post by scubachef1969 claims that an unnamed car was being tested on the track, appearing to blend elements of the Valkyrie LM and a Formula 1 car. It had the stripped-down look of an F1 car, complete with a halo, but retained Valkyrie cues such as the wheel arches, giving it a less traditional open-wheel racecar appearance. Even the original poster said they had no clear idea what the project was. A Matter of DesignTurning the Valkyrie into a single-seater may already be relatively straightforward, given that its two-seat cockpit is tightly packaged around the center rather than made wider to prioritize cabin space. The model was designed by renowned British engineer Adrian Newey, whose work spans both Formula 1 and the Valkyrie program, while Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing also adapted the car to meet hypercar specifications. Hypercars have long been associated with Batmobile-like styling, and this mysterious car seems to capture the purest expression of that. What seemed most familiar during the test was the loud V12 soundtrack. For reference, the road-going model is powered by a 6.5-liter hybrid V12 producing 1,160 horsepower, while the LMH version is capped at 680 horsepower and forgoes the hybrid system. That engine is pushed to its limit when the race car runs at top speed through sections like the Mulsanne Straight at the Circuit de la Sarthe, home of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. scubachef1969/TikTok A New Variant in the Making?So far, Aston Martin has produced 275 Valkyrie examples, including 40 track-only AMR units. Given this mysterious car’s single-seat configuration, it will likely be another track-focused variant, though only time will tell. It could also simply be a test bed, especially considering that the British automaker currently competes in some of the world’s most competitive racing classes. In Formula 1, however, Aston Martin has had a slow start to the 2026 season, as one of only two teams yet to score a point, along with newcomer Cadillac. Aston Martin View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

McLaren is getting ready for a major reveal this summer. While details about its future models remain under wraps, one thing is already clear: fully electric cars are not part of the plan. In an interview with Autocar, CEO Nick Collins outlined a roadmap centred on brand-new ICE-powered hypercars to succeed the 750S and the very real possibility of an SUV. The Next Chapter Starts This Summer McLaren Following its merger with Forseven with the backing of CYVN Holdings, McLaren is preparing to “unpack” its future product strategy in the coming months. Collins confirmed that multiple new models are already in development, with full-scale previews already shown to dealers. The first reveal is expected to take the form of a concept rather than a production-ready car, but it will set the tone for everything arriving through to 2030. That includes a broader range of models that could push McLaren beyond its traditional mid-engined supercar formula (hint-hint, nudge-nudge). McLaren Says No to EVs, For Now McLaren Despite the industry’s rapid shift toward electrification, with even Ferrari succumbing to the trend, McLaren is holding its ground. Collins told Autocar the brand will only introduce an EV “when our customers want one.” Considering that little to no supercar buyers are interested in EVs, we doubt the day will come soon. That said, electrification is not being ignored. Cars like the McLaren Artura Spider already use hybrid assistance to enhance performance and efficiency. In fact, McLaren has also filed a patent for a rolling anti-lag system designed specifically for hybrid supercars, showing they're committed to building more hybrid-assisted models. For now, though, a fully electric McLaren remains off the table. The McLaren SUV Is Starting to Feel Inevitable DarwinPro Aero/Instagram Perhaps the biggest talking point is what McLaren is not officially confirming. Reports of a hybrid V8-powered SUV – codenamed P47 – surfaced last year in November with a potential debut in 2028. It might sound sacriligeous, but high-performance SUVs have become the norm, and everyone and their mother offers one, from Ferrari and Lamborghini to Aston Martin and Rolls-Royce. Considering how popular the SUV segment has become, it makes sense for codename P47 to make an appearance soon. And based on Collins’ comments, it feels less like a question of if, and more like when. View the full article

A Slow Start After a Difficult YearPorsche entered 2026 still feeling the effects of a tough 2025. Even strong US sales couldn’t make up for shrinking profits and bigger industry challenges. Rising costs, changing EV demand, and a need to rethink strategy forced Porsche to work more closely with Audi just to keep things steady. Anyone hoping for a fresh start in 2026 will be disappointed. The first quarter shows Porsche still wrestling with old problems – and picking up a few new ones. Model changes, shifting markets, and a slowdown in EV demand have kept the brand’s momentum off-balance. Bottom line: Porsche hasn’t settled in yet. There are a few highlights, but they can’t hide the bigger slowdown. Porsche USA 911 configurator Strong Start for the 911The Porsche 911 is doing what it always does: holding up the Stuttgart automaker's performance image and quietly lifting the numbers. US deliveries of the 911 shot up 83% year-over-year, hitting 3,826 units in the first quarter. That jump owes a lot to new arrivals like the 911 Turbo S Coupe and Cabriolet. That growth looks even bigger against the bigger picture. Total US deliveries were 16,517 units, down 12.5% from last year. The drop isn’t a shock. Porsche stopped building the 718, and electric model sales have slowed. SUVs are still carrying most of the weight. The Macan led with 6,079 units sold, followed by the Cayenne at 4,816. Porsche is getting ready to add an electric Cayenne to the mix, joining the gas and plug-in hybrid versions already on sale. Certified pre-owned sales were a small win, up 1.4% to 11,749 units. It’s not a game-changer, but it shows there’s still steady demand for Porsche, even as new car sales move around. Porsche USA 911 configurator A Tougher Picture GloballyGlobally, Porsche delivered 60,991 vehicles worldwide in the first quarter, down 15%. That’s a steeper drop than the US numbers show on their own. China is still a concern, with deliveries there down 21%, while domestic brands are catching up on price and tech. Porsche doesn't see the latter as a threat, but rather an opportunity to grow. Europe didn’t offer much relief either. While Germany posted a modest 4% increase, the rest of the region saw deliveries fall by 18%. It all points to a brand in the middle of a reset. Porsche is shifting back toward combustion engines and putting some EV plans on hold, which hasn’t been cheap. New leadership is focused on restructuring and product strategy, but it’ll take time before those changes pay off. Porsche View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

The year’s gotten off to a bad start for the U.S. auto industry, sales tumbling by 6.3% during the first quarter, with only a handful of brands in the black. Buick definitely wasn’t one of them, demand down by nearly a third year-over-year. There are plenty of headwinds facing manufacturers, including record high prices, rising fuel costs and high interest rates. But Buick faces its own unique set of challenges crippling a brand that has faced a long, on-and-off struggle survival. Point your finger at the Trump administration and the auto tariffs that have sharply driven up the cost of three of Buick’s four product lines. Buick Tariffs Weigh Buick DownDouble-digit declines were far from out of the ordinary during the January-March quarter and Buick’s parent General Motors just barely stayed in single digits, with a dip of 9.7%. But the 126-year-old brand had a sales decline nearly three times as great as sibling brands Chevrolet and Cadillac and nearly 10-fold the dip at GMC. Its 32.6% sales slump was largely the result of the Trump tariffs, especially when it came to the Buick Envision, normally one of its most important models. A year earlier, the mid-range crossover generated 15,485 sales for the brand. This year? Just 4,485. It didn’t help that Buick had raised Envision’s sticker price, on average, around $3,000 – and close to $5,000 on the highline Avenir package. From the consumer perspective, it could have been worse. That actually reflects only a fraction of the hit from a 45% tariff on Chinese-made vehicles under the tariffs the president put in place a year ago this month. GM has chosen to largely absorb such duties to minimize the hit to buyers. Instead, Buick has slashed back on the number of Envisions it’s importing from China. In many cases, even if someone was willing to cough up the extra cash they had a problem finding one of the crossovers on U.S. dealer lots. Related: Buick’s Envision Is Finally Coming Home After Years of Heavy Tariffs Three Out of FourWhile not quite as big a hit, Buick was saddled with still hefty tariffs on two of its three other U.S. models, the Korean-made Encore GX and Envista crossovers. The consolation prize? Those duties dropped from 25% once South Korea and the U.S. came to terms on a trade agreement last November. Still, that lower number still amounts to a sizable penalty on even a base Encore GX starting at $27,295, including delivery fees. Buick Even the one remaining Buick model, the Enclave, hasn’t entirely escaped the hit from Trump tariffs. It’s assembled at GM’s Lansing-Delta Assembly Plant in Lansing, Michigan – but, like virtually all U.S.-made models it’s still paying duties on imported auto parts and components, as well as foreign-made steel and aluminum. GM hasn’t broken out the added costs but industry analysts have estimated that, for the typical SUV that can add up to $1,000 or more. Manufacturers like GM have a choice of passing costs onto buyers or taking the hit. As with Envision, Buick has chosen the middle ground. Related: This Buick SUV’s Interior Looks Nothing Like the Ones in America What Is Buick These Days?All this doesn’t help when you’re a brand struggling to build a clear identity in a crowded market. “Part of the problem is that people just don’t know what Buick is anymore,” said Sam Abuelsamid, chief analyst with Telemetry Research. “It doesn’t have much of a presence, even though its products are pretty good looking.” That’s further complicated by a lack of product leaving large gaps between them – a challenged worsened by the virtual disappearance of its mid-range offering, Envision. The Encore GX and Envista both start under $30,000. You jump all the way up to $48,395 for the Enclave’s base preferred trim. Changes ComingIt doesn’t help that “Buick has pigeonholed itself as a crossover brand,” added Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions. But Buick is planning some big changes. For one thing, General Motors appears to be reinvigorating the sedan line-up its largely neglected in recent years – the automaker dropping once familiar four-door models such as the Buick LeSabre and Chevrolet Malibu. According to Fiorani, suppliers are tooling up for a new passenger car platform that will underpin the replacement for the current Cadillac CT5 while also help bring back the Chevy Camaro dropped in 2023 – though it will return as a sedan, the internal documents indicate. While it hasn’t been locked in stone, insiders indicate a Buick sedan also is part of the plan. Buick Buick also plans to shift production of the Envision out of China where it has been assembled since 2017. It recently confirmed the next-generation CUV will be assembled at the GM plant in Fairfax, Kansas starting in 2028, alongside the compact Chevrolet Equinox which, in turn, is being relocated from GM’s plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. For now, there are no plans to move either Encore GX or Envista out of South Korea, GM deciding the advantages of building there outweigh the tariff cost of importing them. View the full article

Quantity Over QualityAs automotive manufacturers fight to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving automotive landscape, more and more models are launched each year. These brands seek to have a car in every segment of the market, though sometimes the rapid growth leaves some niggling issues with quality control. In some cases, the simple things are affected. A lawsuit has been filed against German automaker Audi over a basic car feature we've been using for decades: door locks. Audi Locked In or OutClassAction.org reports that Audi of America is being sued for allegedly knowing about and selling faulty door locks across multiple models in its lineup. This, of course, poses a very high safety hazard to users of vehicles with defective door locking mechanisms. According to the 28-page class action lawsuit, the main point of contention, apart from the faulty locks themselves, is that Audi knew that multiple models were affected by these issues. The suit goes on to say that Audi continued to advertise the cars as safe and reliable. Even more alarming is that the suit says the affected year models date back all the way to 2019. The report published the list of affected vehicles, which is quite extensive and varies by year and model. The complaint lists the specific issue with the door locking mechanism and software, both of which are said to operate intermitently. This defect prevents the door locks from engaging or releasing during normal operation. This can lead to customers either being locked in or locked out of the cars, exposing them to unnecessary danger. It goes on to say that should an accident occur and the mechanism fail, it could trap individuals in the car who need to get out quickly. Failure to lock the vehicle also opens the car and other contents inside to theft. The Price of AdmissionAnother issue raised by the suit is that Audi knew about these issues through the issuance of at least eight service bulletins. One bulletin even quoted as saying that no repairs were necessary, which the suit says was clearly false. In a surprising development, the lawsuit also says that newer models are still being fitted with the faulty door mechanisms. One complaint comes from a customer who bought an Audi in 2024. This customer says the issue manifested almost instantly after the car was bought, and manifested in the worst way possible. The door locking mechanism failed, locking her infant in the car. Audi View the full article