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BMW has introduced the 2027 M4 Coupe M Legacy Edition, a limited run of models to celebrate 40 years since the M3 Coupe first debuted. Of course, the M3 name was eventually dropped for the M4 on the brand’s compact coupes; all M3s are now sedans. Offered in both Coupe and Competition Coupe forms, the new M4 M Legacy Edition features exclusive exterior and interior design flourishes—including a few features previously reserved for the CS and CSL. There are just two problems, though: the striking new coupe will be produced in extremely limited numbers and is reserved for Canada. Related: Why BMW Should Go All Out for the M3’s 40th Anniversary in 2026 Design: M4 Coupe M Legacy Edition BMW For BMW M fans, the changes to the standard M4’s exterior are immediately noticeable. The 826M-style wheels have a gold bronze finish and were previously only offered on the hot M4 CS. A factory-applied graphic package in black flows from the long hood to the trunk lid, while several historic M exterior colors are available. These are Velvet Blue Metallic, Imola Red II, and Laguna Seca Blue—this last blue shade was introduced on the iconic E46 M3 in the early 2000s. BMW In the cabin, the special edition M4 gains an M Alcantara steering wheel from the CS and CSL. It’s a fully loaded model, with desirable extras like M Carbon Bucket Seats, Merino leather in black, a dashboard covered in Nappa leather, carbon fiber trim, and the M Driver’s Package. No apparent changes have been made under the skin, so the Legacy Edition gets the same 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine as the regular M4, which produces 523 horsepower in the Competition model. With xDrive all-wheel drive, this coupe can hit 60 mph in only 3.4 seconds. Related: The BMW 4 Series Has a Future, and It Includes an M4 Pricing and Availability BMW Only 40 examples of the M4 Coupe M Legacy Edition will be produced, and when you consider Canada was the number two global market for BMW M cars in 2025 (by market share), we expect the coupe to sell out quickly. The M Legacy Edition starts at $115,500 CAD, which translates to around $85,000. A base M4 Coupe already costs $82,200 in the U.S., so this looks like a good deal, given the Legacy’s extra equipment and exclusivity. Although this is a Canada-only model, we fully expect BMW to release a special M3 or M4 in the U.S. to celebrate the E30 M3’s 40th anniversary. A lot has changed since the boxy four-cylinder E30 M3 arrived on the scene, but the modern M3 (and M4) are still considered performance benchmarks in their segments. You can still get them with rear-wheel drive and a manual gearbox, something Mercedes and Audi rivals don’t offer. Interestingly, BMW has teased what looks like an angrier M3 or M4 this week, which may just form part of the E30 M3’s 40th anniversary celebrations. Whatever it is, here’s hoping U.S. fans actually get to experience it. View the full article

Last month, Honda announced that its carmaking unit posted an operating loss of over $1 billion from April through December 2025, largely because of the changing EV market and U.S. import tariffs. Now, we get to see some consequences to the fact that Honda Motor Company’s automobile division is effectively in the red, namely the cancelation of three all-electric models that were in the late stages of development and were projected to be built and sold in North America—the Honda 0 Sedan, 0 SUV, and Acura RSX. The Acura RSX Was Supposed to Enter Production This Year in Ohio Kristin Shaw This is a very big deal because the Acura RSX and Honda 0 SUV were supposed to enter production this year in the U.S., while the Honda 0 Sedan had been delayed to 2027. Automakers don’t simply cancel upcoming models so far down the development line; for Honda to do so it means that the situation is very serious. Honda’s official explanation for this surprise decision is that “it was made as part of the reassessment of the company’s automobile electrification strategy due to various factors including recent changes in the business environment.” And now comes the shocking part: canceling the three models so late will see Honda record huge losses in its consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending March 2026—approximately $15.7 billion (2.5 trillion yen), to be exact. Honda’s shocking shift will result in a change of strategy going forward, with the automaker noting that it will reassess its allocation of resources and “further strengthen its hybrid models.” Additionally, while Japan and the United States will remain its main markets, Honda intends to develop its model lineup and cost competitiveness in India, where an expansion of the market is expected. The automaker will also introduce next-generation hybrid models in other countries in Asia as well to improve its competitiveness. More details about the reshuffle of Honda’s mid- to long-term strategy will be announced at a press conference in May. A Lose-Lose Situation for U.S. Auto Workers and Buyers The canceled Honda 0 Sedan and SUV and the Acura RSX crossover, which were supposed to be built in Ohio, will deal a big blow to the state and federal economy. The Acura RSX was supposed to start production later this year, with Honda already showing a pre-production prototype of the crossover coupe. The now stillborn RSX built on Honda's new 0 series architecture would have come with a dual-motor AWD powertrain and a sporty feel—at least compared to the recently discontinued ZDX that was based on GM’s BEV3 platform. As for the Honda 0 Sedan and 0 SUV, they were developed by the Japanese automaker from the ground up as pure-play EVs built on a bespoke electrical/electronic (e/e) platform designed to support software updates, AI, a new Asimo OS software system, and manufacturing technology advancements. The Honda 0 SUV was supposed to compete against the Tesla Model Y and other similar models, while the low-slung 0 Sedan was aimed at Tesla Model 3, BMW i4 and even the Lucid Air, among other upscale electric sedans. Both models were shown as concept models at CES 2025. View the full article

Towing the Future with the Past: INEOS Quartermaster and the Pebble Flow Over my lifetime as an automotive journalist, I’ve pulled just about every type of trailer with just about every type of vehicle. But I had never attempted anything like this: towing a futuristic, self-propelled travel trailer with a deliberately old-school pickup truck. It was the meeting of two completely different philosophies, one rooted in rugged mechanical simplicity, the other driven by cutting-edge technology. And somehow, the combination worked. ND Adlen The PremiseAfter being approached by Pebble to sample one of their trailers, I started looking at how other outlets had tested it. Most paired the Pebble Flow with modern pickups or electric trucks, which makes sense given the trailer’s advanced technology. But I had a different idea. Those vehicles are already more than capable of towing a trailer like this. In my mind, a trailer equipped with its own electric motor, one capable of powering its own wheels and reducing the load on the tow vehicle, should be connected to something a bit more challenged. Enter the tow vehicle, the 2026 INEOS Quartermaster pickup truck. This brute of an off-roader feels like a mashup between a Jeep Gladiator and a classic Land Rover Defender. In fact, the Quartermaster is based on the Grenadier SUV, which itself was designed as a modern interpretation of the original Defender. That philosophy makes it something of an anachronism in today’s truck market, and exactly the kind of vehicle I wanted for this experiment. ND Adlen The ChallengeI wanted to put this unusual combination to the test on a proper camping trip. My journey began in Torrance, California, and headed south to Thousand Trails Pio Pico Campground in Jamul, near San Diego. The drive was about 140 miles each way, with a few detours and side adventures along the way. By the time everything was said and done, the total distance was well over 300 miles. The mission was simple. I wanted to see how much the Pebble Flow’s electric assist system could reduce strain and fuel consumption for the INEOS Quartermaster. To do that, I ran the same route in both directions: One leg with the trailer’s electric assist activeOne leg with the system turned offThe difference turned out to be significant. ND Adlen The Truck: 2026 INEOS QuartermasterPrice: about $84,000 Built on a beefy ladder frame with solid front and rear axles, the Quartermaster is tough right out of the box. It wasn’t designed for mall crawling. This truck was engineered to be one of the most rugged vehicles on the planet. That might sound like marketing speak, but it isn’t far from the truth. If I needed a pickup truck to explore the Arctic or the Sahara, the Quartermaster would absolutely be near the top of my list. INEOS Quick SpecsEngine 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six (BMW-sourced) Output 282 horsepower 332 lb-ft of torque Drivetrain 8-speed automatic Full-time 4WD Low range and locking front, center, and rear differentials INEOS Capability Towing: up to 7,700 poundsPayload: roughly 1,800 to 2,200 poundsBed length: 61.5 inchesFuel economy: EPA-estimated 14 mpg combinedMy tester was loaded to the gills. It had a spare tire in the bed, snorkel, winch, and multiple off-road accessories, which added weight and reduced both payload and towing capacity. And unlike many modern trucks in this class, there is no standard trailer brake controller. That detail became important later. What’s New for 2026The most significant update for 2026 is the revised steering system. It’s noticeably improved. The truck is easier to keep centered in a lane and easier to maneuver, and the turning radius has improved by about five percent. That said, the turning circle is still enormous. Driver assistance systems like lane departure warning and emergency braking are present, but this is not a truck designed for suburban errands. Everything about it prioritizes durability and off-road capability. View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Living with the QuartermasterThe Quartermaster has undeniable curbside swagger. Up front, the Recaro seats are comfortable rather than aggressively bolstered, which works well for long drives. The cabin design is equally distinctive, with aircraft-style overhead switches that make the cockpit feel like something lifted from a military transport plane. The rear seat area is tight, however. Because INEOS extended the chassis to create the pickup bed, the rear cabin sacrificed some space. Legroom is actually less generous than many midsize trucks. The bed itself is also fairly small by industry standards. Built for AdventureWhere the Quartermaster shines is off-road. With solid axles, locking differentials, substantial underbody protection, and aggressive tires, it delivers articulation and traction that many modern trucks simply cannot match. The BMW-sourced inline-six is another highlight. Smooth and torquey, it provides plenty of usable power and feels well matched to the truck’s character. But towing near the limit reveals the truck’s weaknesses. Those rugged suspension components aren’t thrilled about heavy loads. The rear suspension compresses significantly, creating noticeable sag, and occasionally the tail can wag the dog. Fuel economy is also a challenge. The Quartermaster is rated at 14 mpg combined, and even that number can be optimistic in daily driving. Add a heavy trailer, and the numbers fall quickly. Pebble The Trailer: Pebble Flow Founder’s EditionApprox. price: $175,000 If the Quartermaster represents old-school mechanical durability, the Pebble Flow represents the opposite. It’s essentially a high-tech travel trailer packed with electric propulsion and automation. Pebble Quick SpecsLength: 25 feet Width: 7 feet 7 inches Height: 8 feet 9 inches Dry weight: about 5,800 pounds Loaded weight: close to 7,000 pounds Battery capacity: 45 kWh Solar system: 1.1 kW rooftop array The electric drivetrain can power the trailer’s wheels, reducing strain on the tow vehicle. In certain situations, the trailer can even drive itself. Pebble Inside the Pebble FlowInside, the Pebble Flow comfortably accommodates up to four people. The layout includes: A separate shower and bathroomA well-designed kitchenetteOne of the best refrigerators I’ve seen in a trailerThe main bed folds down Murphy-bed style, revealing a desk and seating area during the day. A dining nook converts into a second sleeping area. Many traditional RV features have been replaced by technology. For example, the windows use electrochromic glass that turns opaque with the press of a button. The same system is used in the bathroom. Unfortunately, the control button sits close enough to the toilet that it’s possible to accidentally make the windows transparent at the wrong moment. Yes, that can be awkward. Pebble View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article A Trailer That Thinks for ItselfThe Pebble Flow includes a 45-kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack, supported by a 1.1-kW rooftop solar system. The entire trailer is controlled through an iPad interface, including: LightingClimate controlPower systemsLocksThe electric drive systemWater tanks Self hitching Remember the missing trailer brake controller in the INEOS? The Pebble Flow effectively replaces it. Its drivetrain can provide braking and propulsion assistance through the control system. In practice, it worked surprisingly well. Pebble The ResultsThis is where the experiment came full circle. Remember the premise: pairing a technologically advanced trailer with a rugged, old-school pickup truck. Related: These Are the Toyota Crowns That Americans Are Missing Out On The results proved the concept works. With the Pebble Flow’s electric assist active, I averaged roughly 10 mpg over a 100-mile stretch. With the assist disabled, fuel economy dropped to about 7 mpg. That’s a massive difference. It clearly shows how much strain the trailer’s electric drive system removes from the tow vehicle. The trade-off is that using the assist drains the trailer’s battery, reducing the energy available while camping. Fortunately, the trailer can recharge using Level 1 or Level 2 J1772 charging, and it even supports bidirectional charging. ND Adlen The Party TrickMy favorite feature is the Pebble Flow’s ability to move under its own power. Using the iPad, I could maneuver the trailer around tight campsites without the truck attached. It’s not exactly like driving a giant remote-controlled car, but it’s surprisingly effective. Even more impressive, the trailer can automatically hitch itself to the tow vehicle. Related: Rivian R2 Leak Reveals Up to 330 Miles of Range and $45K Entry Price Press a button and it: Locates the hitchDrives into positionRaises its suspensionDrops onto the hitch ballWatching it happen feels almost surreal. Pebble Flow What Needs ImprovementDespite its impressive technology, the Pebble Flow isn’t perfect. Cargo space is limited, and several design decisions prioritize aesthetics over practicality.Camera system should be able to wire into any vehicle for easier parking. The bathroom should have solid walls, for the sake of modesty. The biggest issue is the complete reliance on the iPad control system. There should absolutely be physical backup controls for essential functions.And then there’s the price. At roughly $175,000, this trailer costs more than many luxury motorhomes.Pebble says smaller, more affordable versions may arrive in the future. If they can simplify the technology and lower the price, the concept could become far more accessible. ND Adlen Final ThoughtsThis pairing is undeniably expensive. Still, if you want one of the most rugged adventure pickups available today, the INEOS Quartermaster is hard to beat. Like the Grenadier SUV, it’s immensely capable and full of personality. That probably explains why I’ve begun seeing more of them around Los Angeles. My suspicion is that many owners haven’t quite realized how uncompromising it can be in daily commuting. As for the Pebble Flow, it’s an extraordinary piece of engineering. Everywhere I stopped, curious campers and RV owners gathered to watch it maneuver and hitch itself to the truck. Some of its ideas feel revolutionary. Others feel overly complicated. But there’s no denying what Pebble has built. It may not be perfect yet, but it’s a fascinating glimpse at where camping technology is headed. I guess the opposite can be said about the macho INEOS Quartermaster. . Related: I Drove The 2026 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Sport: Here's My Honest Review. View the full article

Ferrari’s on a model launch spree like never before, preparing to launch no fewer than five new models by the end of 2026. Some of those are truly significant, like the brand’s first ever EV, the Luce. A bit less of a watershed moment in the company’s history, but – let’s be honest – much more appealing is the car it’s unveiled today, though: the Amalfi Spider. A drop-top version of the heavily updated Roma launched last year, it’s the newest in a line of ‘entry-level’ front-engined V8, four-seater convertible Ferraris dating back to the California of 2008. Amalfi Loses its Head View the 1 images of this gallery on the original article Unsurprisingly, the fundamental recipe of the Amalfi is unchanged for the Spider version. That means it packs the same 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8, here kicking out 631 hp and 561 lb-ft, and sending all that to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. It also gets the latest versions of Ferrari’s astonishing suite of chassis and dynamic tech, including brake-by-wire and version 6.1 of Side Slip Control, the overarching method through which all the other dynamic systems communicate. Despite losing the roof, it carries over largely the same aero setup as the coupe too, including the three-stage active rear wing which, in its most aggressive setting, provides up to 243 lbs of downforce at 155 mph. View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Overall, beheading the Amalfi coupe and filling with all the electric bits needed to retract the fabric roof leads to a 190 lb weight gain, for a total dry weight of 3430 lbs. This doesn’t seem to have had much bearing on performance, though: in the 0-62 mph run, the Spider will match the coupe at 3.3 seconds. Only when you double that does the Spider start to lose out, taking 9.4 seconds to hit 124 mph as opposed to 9.0. Things even out again, though: both cars top out at 199 mph. Ferrari What’s New for the Spider?While the first two cars in its bloodline, the California and Portofino, used a then-fashionable folding hardtop roof, the Amalfi Spider’s predecessor, the Roma Spider, went back to a much more elegant fabric arrangement. Happily, the Amalfi keeps this setup, and looks all the better for it. Ferrari Ferrari The roof takes 13.5 seconds to peel back at speeds of up to 37 mph, and once it’s stowed, the whole arrangement is just eight inches thick. That helps keep six cubic feet of trunk space free when the roof is down, compared to nine with it up. Ferrari also says that the five-layer construction of the roof provides insulation and soundproofing on a par with one of the firm’s folding hardtops. Away from the roof, the Amalfi Spider marks the debut of a new entry in Ferrari’s enormous stable of red paints: an orange-tinged shade named Rosso Tramonto. On the Inside Ferrari Mercifully, the Spider features the same overhauled cabin as the Amalfi coupe, which righted many of the Roma’s wrongs, mainly replacing the capacitive steering wheel controls with proper physical ones and the awkward portrait infotainment screen with a landscape setup. Of course, it’s still a modern Ferrari (that’s not the Luce), so still has most controls clustered on the steering wheel and a multitude of screens, including one to tell the passenger quite how scared they should be. The big interior change is standard convertible fare – there’s a deployable wind deflector, which can be operated at speeds of up to 106 mph. A new upholstery option is available too, a dark blue-hued technical fabric called Tecnico Ottanio. If You Have to Ask…Likely to hit the road later this year, Ferrari unsurprisingly hasn’t released any public pricing for the Amalfi Spider, such is the way with supercar makers these days. The Amalfi coupe, though, starts at roughly $262,000, so expect a small increase over that. Ferrari With heavily updated versions of the Aston Martin Vantage Roadster and Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet both having arrived during the last year, the Amalfi Spider certainly won’t have the soft-top super-sports car market all to itself, but it does have that badge on its side. And no matter what the other four cars Ferrari has up its sleeve in 2026 are, it’s hard to imagine any of them topping the appeal of pedalling the Amalfi down a good road with the top down on a sunny day. View the full article

When the second-generation Kia Telluride was revealed last year, one of the main talking points was Kia replacing the V6 with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The change also distances the Telluride from the new Hyundai Palisade, which has continued with a standard V6. But Kia’s case for using a four-cylinder instead of a V6 is a strong one. Sang Lee, Product Planning National Manager at Kia America, has explained this key powertrain strategy in a new interview, and his statements suggest that the first-generation Telluride was the first and last one to get V6 power. Torque and Emissions Decided V6’s Fate Kia As a reminder, the outgoing Telluride had a 3.8-liter V6 producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The new one has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that’s slightly less powerful (274 hp) but which has a lot more torque (311 lb-ft). “The naturally aspirated V6 is technically, at this point, inferior to the four-cylinder turbo,” said Lee in an interview with Torque News. “It is a completely superior torque delivery with the new turbo. And in the segment - and this is not just the segment, but just a snapshot of what's going on in the segment - there are only a few remaining naturally aspirated V6 vehicles that are available: Pilot, Pathfinder, and for whatever reason, the new Palisade, which decided to apply 3.5-liter V6. Not the 3.8, but a 3.5.” That last remark makes a strong point. It’s easy to think every Kia and Hyundai in the same segment are developed in tandem, but it’s obvious that the new Telluride isn’t a mechanical copy of the Palisade. Kia "Now, the other benefit of the 2.5 Turbo [Gasoline Direct Injection engine] is it's able to meet higher emissions standards,” continued Lee. “It's ACC2 SULEV 30 compliant. No way we could have met that with the V6, naturally aspirated V6. So it's higher torque output, and better lower emissions.” ACC2 SULEV 30 is the California Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulation, which limits emissions for vehicles from the 2026 model year and newer. Emissions aside, Lee said the superior torque of the turbo-four compensates for the new Telluride’s 265-pound weight gain. All things considered, the benefits in moving to a four-cylinder far outweigh the smoother soundtrack of a V6. Related: 2025 Kia Telluride Vs. 2027 Kia Telluride: Side-by-Side Gallery What It Means K The new Telluride achieved a 37% increase in year-on-year sales last month. This suggests buyers in this segment aren’t put off by the loss of the V6, prioritizing a competitive blend of performance and economy instead. Rivals like the Toyota Grand Highlander also rely on four-cylinder power, while the latest Jeep Grand Cherokee lineup is topped by a new turbo-four. This doesn’t mean that cylinder count doesn’t matter anymore; rather, it’s the segment that counts. In the performance car market, Mercedes-AMG faced relentless criticism for scrapping the V8 for a hybrid four-cylinder in the C63. Audi recently said that nothing but six-cylinder power would’ve been enough for the new RS5, solidifying the message that a higher cylinder count still matters to enthusiasts—even if equivalent power can be derived from a boosted four-cylinder. If you want your midsize three-row crossover with a V6, you’ll need to look beyond the Kia Telluride. View the full article

The Jeep Gladiator midsize pickup is many things: a capable off-roader, an adventure truck, a convertible pickup, and even a work truck, given that it has a sturdy ladder-frame chassis. Now, if you’re really serious about using the Gladiator as a work truck, the 5-foot cargo bed is an inconvenient, as it’s small compared to many midsize trucks and often requires carrying larger items with the tailgate down. But if you insist on using your Gladiator as a work truck—and many people do mostly in off-road, construction, and utility applications—there’s a company that can really up the Jeep pickup’s game. A Gladiator with A Larger Bed than Any Half-Ton Pickup Acela Truck Company Montana-based Acela Truck Company will turn your standard double-cab, short-bed Gladiator into a serious work truck by converting it into a two-door, extended-cab truck with a flat-load bed. Called the Acela Trucks Dispatcher 4x4, the conversion features a massive 7’x5’ flat-load bed—larger than any half-ton pickup bed—with fold-down, removable sides. Thanks to the much longer 7-foot bed and a reinforced forged steel frame, the payload capacity almost doubles at 3,001 pounds compared to just 1,720 lbs for the standard Jeep Gladiator. And the great thing about the Dispatcher 4x4—besides how it looks—is that the maximum towing capacity stays the same at 7,700 lbs, thanks to the 4.10:1 final drive ratio and Dana 44 front/rear solid beam axles retained from the factory truck. Acela Work Truck The spec sheet only lists one available engine, the Gladiator’s standard 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 gas unit mated to the 850RE 8-speed automatic transmission. The motor delivers 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, which should be enough for the Dispatcher 4x4, which has a curb weight of 4,560 lbs. Now, Jeep’s 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with its 442 lb-ft of torque would have been ideal for this application, but unfortunately that engine was discontinued after the 2023 model year. A Jack-of-All-Trades Work Truck Acela Truck Company Acela Truck says the Dispatcher 4x4 can be fitted with a variety of accessories for mission-specific upfits, including a winch bumper, snow plow, bed rail kit, dump bed, and more. Available also as a cab-chassis with a bed-delete option for full customization, it can be upfitted to function as a fire truck, search-and-rescue vehicle, and overlanding vehicle, with the platform also allowing for a wide range of delivery and trades bodies. The customization potential is “virtually unlimited,” according to the company, and for that reason, the truck also comes with a 240-amp alternator to support vocational equipment. Acela Truck Company "Fleet managers are being asked to do more with less, especially when access, maneuverability, payload, and uptime matter," said David Ronsen, President of Acela, in a press release. "The Dispatcher delivers higher payload and superior maneuverability compared to half- ton pickup trucks, all on a compact chassis at a significantly lower price point — even lower than some worksite UTVs. It gives Acela a powerful platform to support our customers' critical missions.” Acela did not release pricing yet, but it should do that soon as the Dispatcher 4x4 will go on sale in April. The truck is currently on display at Indianapolis' NTEA Work Truck Week (March 10-13) in the Tafco Equipment booth (#2829). View the full article

12 months ago at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Josh Berry wheeled the historic #21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford into Victory Lane and became the 206th different winner in NASCAR Cup Series history. It was a surprise win with Berry leading just 18 laps, and since then, no other driver has added their name to the NASCAR Cup Series winners list. Before Berry, Harrison Burton won for the first time in ...Keep readingView the full article

The Reality of Buying NewLet's face it, new car prices are astronomical. With most models now affordable, car buyers are struggling to fathom the sticker prices displayed across American dealerships. A lot of people are weighing in on the issue, especially in government. Some say it's the fault of the environment and safety regulations, others say the tariffs are to blame. A study has gone deeper into understanding what's causing the price increase. Reuterstook a more in-depth look at the sales figures and found a more market-driven answer. According to their findings, the main culprit behind the steady rise in car prices is that manufacturers are offering far fewer budget options than in previous years. Dealerships are being filled up with bigger, more feature-packed vehicles, raising the average price to around $47,000. Getty No More Budget OptionsThe report stated that this trend has pushed new car buying more towards the higher-income segment of the population, while the middle to lower classes are looking more towards used car lots. Cited was an example: a woman from Delaware whose current lease on a Ford Mustang Mach-E is almost up. She claims she's struggling to find affordable options to replace her current plan, even saying her current $700 payments are already high. Another risk of this continued price increase is the threat of foreign carmakers possibly entering the U.S. market. Should Chinese carmakers enter, they would severely undercut the competition, as they do in all other global markets, leaving U.S. brands vulnerable. The government is trying to take the issue seriously, with the Trump administration citing prices as a rationale for weakening fuel-economy standards. Adobe Stock Photo The Bigger the Car, The Bigger the ProfitFurther data analysis indicates that in 2010, there were 25 models priced at $20,000; last year, the equivalent $30,000 price point featured only 20 models. Over the past few years, households earning $100,000 or less accounted for 50% to 60% of new-car buyers. Last year, this bracket of the population accounted for only 36% of all new car sales. It's simple, really. Detroit automakers make more money with bigger, more feature-packed cars. When it comes to profit margins, large SUVs and pickups can earn 20% per model sold, compared with smaller economy options. Some brands, though, have said they're coming out with more affordable options in the coming years. We'll just have to wait and see whether they keep their word. Mario Tama/Getty Images View the full article

Nissan is probably regretting the decision to switch to a smaller turbocharged engine for the Rogue in 2021. Since then, Rogues spanning multiple model years have been recalled for issues with the 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, with the most recent recall being in February 2026. Due to ongoing problems with what’s known as the VC-Turbo mill, Nissan has now announced another warranty extension for the engine. Here’s everything we know so far. Related: Nearly Half A Million Nissan Cars & SUVs May Need New Engines Nissan Rogue Warranty Extension Details Nissan The latest warranty extension applies to 2023-2025 model year Rogues, according to Car Complaints. It runs for 120 months or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first. Last year, a similar warranty extension was announced for 2021-2024 Rogues that were recalled for engine bearing problems. The 1.5L three-cylinder engine’s issues have now led to three separate Rogue recalls: Engine failure due to bearing failure (February 2026)Broken throttle body gears (February 2026)Engine failure due to bearing failure (June 2025)After an initial warranty extension in 2025, the latest warranty extension now includes the Rogues recalled in February 2026. If a customer has a Rogue with an engine that’s been repaired or replaced, the original warranty applies but with extended time and mileage limits. An additional parts warranty for 12,000 miles or 12 months will also apply. Producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, the 1.5-liter three-pot engine is more powerful and efficient than the older 2.5-liter mill. The VC-Turbo has been hyped up for its ability to continuously adjust its compression ratio, but these advances have been overshadowed by its reliability woes. Older Rogue Offers Better Reliability Nissan In our analysis last year of the most reliable Nissan Rogue, we chose the 2020 model. It has the older 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, but this unit isn’t as complex as the VC-Turbo and doesn’t have the same reliability issues. The 2020 Rogue also has a low number of complaints when compared to other model years. Earlier Rogue models suffered from expensive CVT issues that led to warranty extensions for certain model years, but the 2020 Rogue doesn’t appear to suffer from the same problems. Since the powertrain carries the highest repair costs if something breaks down, you’re better off with a 2020 Rogue than a newer or older one. Owners of Rogues equipped with the VC-Turbo should find out from Nissan if reimbursements are available if they’ve had to spend money on engine repairs. They can also use their VINs to find out if their Rogues are implicated in any recalls on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website. View the full article

“Super Speeders” on the Loose Plenty of us do it, a lot of us get a kick out of it, and perhaps quite a number of us get away with it. Regardless of intent, speeding can be dangerous — emphasis on can. However, there’s always the argument about the right place and the right time. School zones aren’t one of them, and a densely populated city isn’t either. New York City Open Data has data that Transportation Alternatives picked up, which then published a heat map report of the top 10 “Super Speeders” in the state, all caught on speed cameras, FOX5 New York reports. Not the Audi A6 in question, by the way...Audi About that Audi A6 DriverThe most frequent offender drives around in a 2023 Audi A6, with the driver accumulating more than 1,000 speeding tickets thanks to NYC’s speed camera system. It’s important to note that this long string of tickets has been going on since mid-2023. Perhaps someone is enjoying their car a little too much in the Brooklyn area? Sixty-three thousand US Dollars – that’s how much the super speeder of an Audi A6 driver has paid in fines since mid-2023. To be exact, the total running cost at this time is $63,744.23. Think about it: whoever is driving this car has accumulated enough tickets to (almost) buy a new sixth-generation Audi A6, which at the time of writing starts in the ballpark of around $64,000 USD. During the Audi A6 driver’s 2025 run, they averaged a total of 259 school zone speed camera tickets, including 38 at Ocean Parkway and Ocean Court. He has paid off more than 60,000 USD in fines. Legend has it that the same vehicle is still racking up tickets as we speak, and on top of that, the same vehicle also topped New York State’s list of super speeders back in 2024 as well. If this continues, will we have a three-peat super-speeder dynasty of sorts? all those speeding tickets What About the Others? According to the report, the other super speeders on the list have largely paid off their fines; however, many have paid little to none. Nine of the ten speeders are also driving cars purchased in the last five years, which makes them pretty much brand-new. A good chunk of them are also premium vehicles from Audi (as mentioned), Mercedes, BMW, and Lexus. If you want to know who’s second on the list, it’s a 2017 Lexus IS driver who paid off $3,309.91 USD in fines and owes $19,678.97 USD. That’s a distant second to the number one super speeder in all of New York. $40,000 USD behind, the 2017 Lexus IS driver can't (and shouldn't) keep up! Jokes Aside Automation allows tickets to be doled out quickly; however, the cameras don’t appear to be affecting any of the top 10 super speeders. The problem got so bad that transportation advocacy groups like Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets outed these cars with plate numbers to boot. In fact, the data that we’re seeing came from them with the headings: “New York’s Top 10 Super Speeders & the Locations Where They Most Frequently Terrorize New Yorkers,” and “Like Shooting a Gun Into a Crowd.” From the data, “a driver with 44 speed camera tickets is 725 times more likely to kill or seriously injure a fellow New Yorker,” said Philip Miatkowski, the Senior Director of Research and Policy at Transportation Alternatives. “Some of these drivers have hundreds more than that—it’s just a matter of time before one of New York’s most reckless drivers kill someone." The problem has apparently gotten so bad that a bill is to be passed in the state to stop these repeat offenders in their tracks. The advocacy groups are pushing lawmakers to pass the “Stop Super Speeders” bill, which would require drivers who receive 16 or more speed-camera violations in a year to install a device that limits their vehicle's speed to within 5 miles per hour of the posted speed limit. Transportation Alternatives Solutions, Anyone? Even if the top 10 super speeders get stopped, none of the data presented links their vehicles to specific crashes, injuries, or fatalities. It’s not exactly connected. In a similar story, the Super Speeder Law has also nailed a Florida woman for driving over the limit, prompting her to beg for mercy. Debates aside, this piece of data also reveals other telling points, like how these speeding tickets are doing almost nothing to curb the behavior. According to the sources, these drivers are mostly ignoring the tickets or paying them off as if they were a running expense. Pleasure doing business, I guess? View the full article

BlueCruise Is Growing Fast, But Its Past Is Still Under ReviewFord’s BlueCruise might not get as much attention as some rivals, but it’s quietly become one of the most common semi-autonomous systems on the road. Drivers have already covered hundreds of millions of miles with it switched on, and Ford says you can now use it on most major highways in the US and Canada. But BlueCruise’s growth hasn’t come without problems. In 2024, two fatal crashes involving 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E EVs happened while BlueCruise was running in partial automation mode. The first crash happened on Interstate 10 in San Antonio, when a Mach-E hit a stopped 1999 Honda CR-V, killing the Honda’s driver. The second was on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia, where another Mach-E ran into two stopped vehicles. That set off a chain reaction that pushed cars into traffic and led to two more deaths. Investigators found that just before both crashes, there was no sign of driver input or any automated braking or steering. Now, federal agencies are taking another look at what happened. Ford A Federal Hearing Could Shape the System’s FutureAccording to Reuters, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has set a hearing for March 31 to dig into what caused the two fatal BlueCruise crashes. The board will also look at bigger questions about how advanced driver assistance systems should work, and what both drivers and automakers are responsible for. At the hearing, the NTSB will go over technical data, crash reports, and how the system performed before each incident. They may also vote on new safety recommendations to help prevent this kind of crash from happening again. Those recommendations could mean changes to how the system monitors drivers, new rules for when hands-free features are allowed, or stricter requirements for keeping drivers engaged. BlueCruise is a Level 2 driver-assist system, so the driver is still on the hook even when the tech is running. It only allows hands-free driving on certain highways – no intersections or traffic lights. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also investigating BlueCruise. In January 2025, they stepped up their probe to a full engineering analysis. Ford Hands-Free Driving Still Faces Scrutiny Across the IndustryFord’s situation is part of a bigger debate about hands-free and semi-autonomous driving. Automakers keep pitching these features as ways to make long highway drives easier and less tiring. But safety regulators aren’t convinced drivers really get where the limits are. The big worry is complacency. When the car handles steering, speed, and braking for long stretches, it’s easy for drivers to zone out – even though they’re still supposed to be paying attention. Of note, Ford isn’t the only brand under scrutiny for semi-autonomous driving. Tesla has famously spent years dealing with investigations and recalls tied to its controversial Autopilot system. The company has also faced multiple lawsuits over fatal crashes, including a $243 million verdict it tried and failed to overturn. The NTSB’s hearing could direct the conversation on hands-free driving, not just for Ford but for the entire industry. Ford View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

After introducing the 296 GTB with 819 horsepower and then superceding it with the 858-hp 296 Speciale, a new report from Italian media claims that the third iteration of the Ferrari 296 may exceed 900 hp, making it even more powerful than the 819-hp 12Cilindri, which has twice as many cylinders. According to Automoto, optimization of the electrical components of the plug-in hybrid powertrain and tweaks to the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged, 120-degree V6 engine could take the new 296, expected to adopt the Challenge Stradale nomenclature last seen on the Ferrari 360, to or even beyond 900 hp. Why Ferrari May Want Even More Power in the 296 CS Derek Cornelissen/Instagram Ferrari doesn't like to be shown up, even if it's only on the spec sheet, and this new variant may be its way of putting the Lamborghini Temerario in its place. When the Ferrari 458 Italia's 562-hp output was beaten by the 592-hp McLaren MP4-12C, Maranello responded with the 458 Speciale, wringing 597 hp out of its 4.5-liter naturally aspirated V8. With the Lamborghini Temerario developing 907 hp from its plug-in hybrid twin-turbo V8, it would not be a surprise to see Ferrari retake the Top Trumps title with even more power. Of course, the new road-going Prancing Horse will need more than just a higher horsepower rating to justify its undoubtedly large price. Related: Ferrari's First EV Has an Interior Designed by an Apple Visionary Spy shots of a 296 CS prototype reveal new wheels, a revised front bumper, and a swan-neck rear wing and vented hood that appear to be borrowed from the track-only 296 Challenge. Two exhaust tips peeking through a see-through mesh rear fascia also appear, and the entire package seems to be barely road-legal, but from what those images revealed, the cabin is not stripped out, so the 296 Challenge Stradale ought to be relatively civilized. Ferrari 296 Challenge Stradale Expected to Debut in 2026 Derek Cornelissen/Instagram View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Ferrari has confirmed that it will reveal five new cars in 2026, and the new 296 Challenge Stradale is almost guaranteed to be one of them, possibly as a send-off to the nameplate before a substantially restyled and revised replacement arrives with a new name by the end of the decade. The Ferrari SF90 XX closed that model's chapter before resurrecting its ethos in the form of the 849 Testarossa, and the Roma was replaced by the Amalfi, so this 296 CS would make sense as a farewell to the 296 before Ferrari introduces an updated replacement. However, we may have to wait a while to confirm any of the above assertions, as a debut is only expected at the Finali Mondiali event in Barcelona, Spain, around the middle of November. View the full article

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing?A lot of people are divided in their opinions about the Honda Prelude; most call it a wannabe sports car, while others praise it as a good grand tourer. Some people seem to be trying to find the limit. Despite its apparent sporting tendencies, the Prelude truly leans more towards being a cruiser than a canyon carver. Evidence seems to be out there, as the auction world has just posted two almost brand-new Preludes for sale. Sadly, both are listed with significant damage. IAA Inc. View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Low-Milers but DamagedThe two damaged Preludes were posted on the Insurance Auto Auctions Inc. (IAAI) website. Interestingly, both cars have less than 600 miles on the odometer and are already in dire shape. As far as anybody knows, these two cars are the first wrecked Preludes since the relaunch. The first car listing (lot#44919713) generally looks okay from most angles; the front and sides are damage-free based on the photos. It's when you look towards the rear that you notice that something is wrong. Looking at the rear right, shows that the fender has been bent in, and the tire is out of place, suggesting possible rear underchassis damage, while the rear bumper also has a massive black gash. Tragically, this car has only done 264 miles. Next up is lot#44534805. This car is surprisingly still up for auction despite featuring much more damage than the first Prelude being listed. From the front, it seems salvageable, with the only noticeable damage being the front-left side mirror. Once again, though, if you look at the back, the damage is significant. Unlike the first car, most of the rear is still recognizable, but here the whole trunk area has caved in, hinting at a rear-end collision of some magnitude. This car only has 575 miles on the odometer. IAA Inc. View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Unlucky?No specific reasons have been published for what caused the accidents, whether they were self-inflicted or just accidents. One thing is for sure, though: clearly, a certain group of people is buying the Prelude despite divided opinions. No indicative bidding prices have been set yet. However, it would be surprising to see them fetch decent coin considering the damage. Hopefully, these are isolated cases, as it would be a shame if this were a showcase of things to come. IAA Inc. View the full article

Toyota’s Updated EV Lineup Gets Even More AppealingFor 2026, the Toyota bZ gets a round of updates that actually move the needle. Range, refinement, and equipment all see improvements, and the price drops compared to the outgoing model. On paper, that already puts it in a better spot within Toyota’s still-limited EV lineup. But Toyota isn’t stopping there. According to CarsDirect, the Japanese automaker is now stacking on some serious incentives for the 2026 bZ, C-HR, and bZ Woodland to get more buyers in the door. These deals are available in most regions and apply to both purchase and lease programs. However, the offers are currently set to expire at the end of March, so buyers have a limited window to take advantage. Purchase Incentives Bring Lower Financing CostsIf you’re looking to buy instead of lease, Toyota is making it easier to get into one of its EVs. There’s a $5,000 cash incentive that comes right off the sticker price, and it applies to the bZ, C-HR, and bZ Woodland. There’s also 0% APR financing for up to 72 months, plus a $3,500 bonus if you go that route. That combo cuts borrowing costs way below what you’d usually see from a bank or credit union. These incentives make a real difference in monthly payments. Earlier this year, the entry-level C-HR was listed at about $686 a month for a 72-month loan at around 9% APR. With the new deals, that drops to about $485 a month – a big cut that puts it within reach for more buyers. The bigger bZ Woodland also gets a price break, with payments dropping to about $601 a month. Actual numbers will depend on your region and dealer, but these incentives put Toyota’s EVs right in the mix with other electric crossovers. Toyota Better Deals When LeasingLease shoppers may find even larger incentives. Toyota is currently offering $7,000 in lease cash for the 2026 bZ, C-HR, and bZ Woodland. This incentive increased from $6,500 last month and is paired with lease rates that are effectively equivalent to 0% APR. In Southern California, for example, the Toyota bZ XLE is leasing for $289 per month for 36 months with $3,999 due at signing. Factoring in upfront costs, the effective monthly cost is about $400. Interestingly, CarsDirect noted that the Subaru Solterra – which shares its platform with the bZ – can sometimes be cheaper to lease in certain areas, even though its MSRP is higher. It is not yet clear whether Toyota will extend or expand these incentives next month. However, for buyers already considering a Toyota EV, the current discounts are significant. With the offers set to expire at the end of March, shoppers interested in these deals may want to act soon. Cole Attisha View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

First of the Neue Klasse LCIsThe Neue Klasse has been established, and the all-new iX3 ushered in a new era for BMW. The next-generation 3 Series will be the next to get a radical overhaul, but the rest of the range will get facelifted to get the same look. With that, expect the 7 Series, 5 Series, and X3 to get elements from BMW's new philosophy. Of the upcoming LCI models, the 7 Series will get the Neue Klasse look first. There have been spy shots of it for the past couple of months, and now, we're not too far from the full reveal. BMW has released a teaser of it on its socials, and yes, there will still be opinions. SH Proshots/Autoblog Imposing, to Say the LeastFor those expecting a toned-down, more reserved design for the 2027 7 Series, prepare to be disappointed. If anything, it appears that BMW doubled down on taking design risks. One thing is for sure, though: it will get people talking. It's the E65 7 Series all over again. So, what's different? While it still has the quad-headlight arrangement, the daytime running lights are even slimmer than before. Its hood also looks flatter, and the grille has more defined corners. We could expect the headlights to have been changed as well, and there might be reshaped sheetmetal for this model update. This is no light facelift, folks. SH Proshots/Autoblog The Launch Date is Up in the AirGiven that it's been teased already, the full reveal shouldn't be that far away. However, the exact date for it is still unknown. We know that the electric version of the 3 Series is coming on March 18, and another M model is set to make its premiere on March 16. At the rate BMW has been unveiling new and redesigned models these days, we wouldn't be surprised if this debuts before the end of the month. BMW hid enough details to make us curious, but showed enough to stir the pot. What it isn't doing is holding back on daring and opinion-splitting designs — for better or worse. With what we're seeing so far, the Mercedes-BenzS-Class' recent major overhaul looks conservative in comparison. SH Proshots/Autoblog View the full article

Porsche has announced it will cut more jobs after the company’s profits for 2025 were largely erased by a costly €3.9 billion ($4.5 billion) write-down on reversing its EV strategy, persistent sales slump in China, and U.S. import tariffs. The luxury car manufacturer saw its operating profit collapse 92.7% to €413 million ($478 million) in 2025 from €5.64 billion ($6.53 billion) the year before. That comes after Porsche received four profit warnings last year that contributed to it being removed from Germany’s top-tier DAX index after its stock lost more than 30% of its value. The Previously Announced 3,900 Job Cuts Are Not Enough In this very difficult context, Porsche CEO Michael Leiters, who was appointed on January 1, said the company is forced to make more job cuts in addition to the previously announced 3,900 layoffs by 2030; around 2,000 temporary jobs have already been cut. Since Porsche employs approximately 40,000 people, it means that significantly more than 10% of its workforce will be eliminated. Porsche's job cuts will be part of a total of 50,000 staff reductions parent company Volkswagen Group plans to make in Germany by 2030. “The streamlining of the company needs to be sharpened and this will lead to further job reductions,” said Leiters on March 11 during Porsche’s annual press conference. “We will streamline our management structure, reduce hierarchies and cut back on bureaucracy,” he added, noting that more details will follow this fall. Porsche also said global deliveries declined 10% to 279,000 vehicles last year, causing revenue to fall 12% to €32.2 billion ($37.2 billion). China made up about 15% of the automaker’s deliveries, down from 18% the previous year, amid rising competition from domestic manufacturers. As if that wasn’t enough, the 15% import tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump have also hurt Porsche’s sales in the U.S., its biggest market. As the company imports all of the vehicles it sells in the U.S., the tariffs cost it around €700 million ($810 million) in 2025. Focus on More Profitable and Desirable Cars Porsche “We are using the current challenges as an opportunity to act even more decisively. We will comprehensively reposition Porsche, make the company leaner, faster and the products even more desirable,” Leiters said. One way to do that is add more vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, which are more profitable and in demand. Porsche has delayed several planned electric car models, including the electric versions of the 718 Boxster and Cayman sports cars, which are now expected to arrive in 2027. In addition, the Porsche K1 electric flagship SUV has been pushed to around 2029 and it won’t be EV-only, with hybrid and gas options reportedly on the table. Porsche’s CEO also said the company is considering the expansion of its product lineup to higher-margin segments. “In doing so, we are looking at models and derivatives both above our current two-door sports cars and above the Cayenne,” Leiters said, hinting at a new Porsche halo sports car and the K1 three-row SUV flagship. View the full article

The Nissan Pathfinder first arrived in 1985, kicking off a nameplate that still exists as a 2026 model. But long before it became a family-friendly crossover, the Pathfinder was a rugged, body-on-frame SUV designed for adventure. Now, a remarkably preserved 1989 Nissan Pathfinder SE V6 4x4 has appeared on Cars & Bids, showing fewer than 900 miles on its odometer. Three years ago, this exact model sold for $37,251 – will it fetch similar money this time around? With just a few hours left of bidding, it looks unlikely. A 37-Year-Old SUV That Barely Left The Garage Cars & Bids Cars & Bids Cars & Bids Finding a clean first-generation Pathfinder is already a difficult task, not to mention one that's barely been driven. The odometer shows roughly 860 miles, and no modifications have been made. Finished in bright red with a gray cloth interior, this first-gen Pathfinder looks like it just rolled off the factory floor. Yet, we can't ignore the elephant in the room. Some consider a truck preserved this carefully to be a four-wheeled antithesis. Classic SUVs are meant to be driven, especially a mass-produced, reliable one like the first-gen Pathfinder. If this were some ultra-rare exotic car, built in tiny numbers, we'd understand. Seeing one with mileage this low is fascinating, but also a little puzzling. Built for Adventure, Destined for Storage Cars & Bids Cars & Bids Cars & Bids The first-generation Pathfinder, known as the WD21, arrived alongside the two-door Toyota 4Runner when SUVs were all about being built tough. It rides on a traditional ladder-frame chassis, and four-wheel drive is engaged using physical levers. Power comes from Nissan’s 3.0-liter VG30 V6, producing 145 hp and 167 lb-ft of torque. This example is paired with a desirable five-speed manual transmission and a two-speed transfer case, making it equally capable off-road as it is practical for everyday use. You might have to buy a new set of tires, though; the current set is 18 years old. A Museum Piece? Cars & Bids Cars & Bids As we mentioned before, this Pathfinder actually returned to Cars & Bids after previously selling there in May 2023 for $37,251. The current owner has reportedly added only about 18 miles since then, meaning it remains almost exactly as it was during its last auction. With bidding still well below that previous result, the final hours could get interesting. And considering how unusually preserved this SUV is, one could argue it might even belong in a display somewhere – perhaps Nissan should place a bid and display it in a museum. After all, untouched examples like these rarely survive. View the full article

BMW's Timeline Ripping TeaserWe're just fresh off another cryptic teaser from a different automaker, and now, BMW M has rolled out another one for us to try and decipher. Admittedly, this is a bit of a tough one, and certainly a surprise move from the brand. BMW says it "will wreck timelines," whatever that means, and with no context given, it's anyone's guess as to what it could be. BMW M even commented on its own post, saying, "BMW, what am I even looking at right now?" Cheeky. Race Car or Road Car?We tried brightening the image just so we could get a hint of what it looks like. BMW was clever, though, as it completely blacked out the background, leaving only the grille and light signature as our only clues. Annoying if you're trying to guess what the car is, but it's like BMW knew folks like us would try to fork out more from the image. So, what do we think it is? One possibility is that it's a special edition of the M3 or M4. It looks a fair bit wider than those cars, though, so it's likely a GT3 race car that BMW M will run this year's motorsport season. Whatever it is, it's keeping us on our toes. When Will it be Revealed?If BMW calls it a car "that will wreck timelines," we can't wait for them to finally do it, whether it's a road car or a race car. The timing of the teaser is rather interesting. We all know that the all-new and all-electric version of the 3 Series will be revealed soon. That one will have its world premiere on March 18, 2026, so it's not too long a wait. However, this yet-to-be-known will make its debut on March 16, 2026, two days before the reveal of the new electric 3 Series. Perhaps that's what they meant about "wrecking timelines" and keeping an eye on BMW. Well, it's certainly working, as we now have two BMW launches to look out for next week. BMW View the full article

BMW has just become the latest manufacturer to reveal its 2025 earnings and sales figures, and unlike plenty of other European companies like Volkswagen and Mercedes, it has a pretty upbeat outlook on things. Despite the usual talk of tariff headwinds and intense market competition in China, the group, consisting of BMW and its motorbike division, Mini and Rolls-Royce, recorded a 7.7% profit margin – exactly the same as it did in 2024. Overall, it made a net profit of over €7 billion (around $8 billion), with some of that stability not necessarily coming from where you’d expect. M Breaks Records Again BMW The big headline from the earnings report, at least from an enthusiast point of view, is something we already had wind of earlier this year – that the popularity of BMW’s M models is growing and growing. In 2025, 213,449 of the 2,169,739 cars sold under the BMW brand came from its high performance division. That makes it the 14th year in a row that the division has had its best-ever sales year, and means that one in every 10 BMWs sold was an M model. Some of this can be put down to the fact that the M range is fairly broad these days, incorporating several SUVs as well as the traditional coupes and sedans, and also encompasses not-quite-full-fat M models like the M340i and X3 M50. However, what is clear is that the best-selling full-on M models were the M2 and M3 families – great news for fans of the division’s traditional six-cylinder coupes and sedans. EVs Grow Too BMW Despite the constant talk of slow electric car demand across the industry, BMW increased its sales share of full EVs in 2025. Across its three brands, it sold 442,056 electric vehicles in 2025, a 3.6% increase on 2024, and representing 17.9% of its total sales. Full EVs comfortably outsold plug-in hybrids too, of which the group sold 200,015. With an onslaught of EVs coming over the next few years, spearheaded by the new iX3, don’t be at all surprised to see that balance tip even further in EVs’ favor in the near future. Mini is also doing much of the heavy lifting here, with one in three of the brand’s sales now made up of EVs. Americas and Europe Compensate for China BMW There’s not a European brand to be found that’s not facing a struggle in China at the moment thanks to a combination of a weakening market and growing competition from local brands, and BMW was no exception, recording a fairly painful 12.5% sales drop there in 2025 compared with 2024. However, that drop was offset by success in other regions, with sales growing by 7.3% in Europe and 5.6% in the Americas. This was doubtless helped by the fact that BMW builds several of its wildly popular SUVs for the US market (and lots of others) at its Spartanburg, South Carolina plant, making it less vulnerable to tariffs than other European brands. What’s Next? BMW BMW, like pretty much every other car brand, expects to face much of the same challenges in 2026 as it did in 2025, namely the impact of tariffs and continued struggles in China. To offset this, it plans to make cuts in material and R&D costs, but has no plans to slow down its product launch: throughout the year, it has plans for no fewer than 40 all-new or refreshed models, including new generations of the all-important 3 Series and X5, and beginning with the new i3 next week – and given its ongoing success, we can expect a whole lot more from the M division too. View the full article

In a legal filing posted late on Wednesday night, Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson detailed his long personal relationship with Chris Gabehart and expressed deep disappointment in the lawsuit filed against them by Joe Gibbs Racing. Prior to team ownership, Dickerson served as an ex-grassroots racer, sports agent and spotter, whom eventually co-founded the Spire Sports+Entertainment ...Keep readingView the full article

In a late Wednesday night series of court filings, Chris Gabehart and his retained attorneys responded to or otherwise addressed the continued legal claims made against him and Spire Motorsports by Joe Gibbs Racing. The first document filed to the docket was a second first-person declaration in which the former engineer, crew chief and competition director made the case that his role as Chief ...Keep readingView the full article

A Premature RevealRivian is gearing up to launch the R2, a smaller, more affordable electric SUV aimed at buyers who found the R1T and R1S out of reach. The R2 keeps Rivian’s outdoorsy vibe but targets a price that could finally put the brand within reach for more people. But the run-up to launch didn’t go as planned. Tech site Ars Technica accidentally posted details a day early, and even though the article was pulled, the internet does what it does best: it remembers. That means we now have a surprisingly deep look at the R2’s specs and pricing before Rivian could make it official. Rivian Lineup Tops at $57,990Rivian Forums quickly picked up the leaked info, with one user piecing together specs and features from what was briefly online. Leading the lineup is the R2 Performance or Launch Edition, starting at $57,990 before delivery. It packs an 87.9-kWh battery for an estimated 330 miles of range, and can charge from 10 to 80 percent in about 29 minutes. Power numbers are strong: 656 hp and 609 lb-ft of torque. As expected, the top-spec Performance trim gets all the bells and whistles, including 21-inch wheels, matrix LED headlights, and both heated and ventilated front seats, plus heated rear seats. Size-wise, it’s a midsize SUV: 185.9 inches long, 78.1 wide, and 66.9 tall, riding on a 115.6-inch wheelbase. Ground clearance is 9.6 inches, and it can tow up to 4,400 pounds. Next down is the R2 Premium, due later in 2026 at $53,990. Power drops to 450 hp and 537 lb-ft, and it skips features like semi-active suspension and some drive modes, including Rally, Soft Sand, and Launch Mode. The Single Motor RWD version lands next year at $48,490. It makes 350 hp and 355 lb-ft, still uses the 87.9-kWh battery, and aims for 345 miles of range. Features are pared back: 19-inch wheels, black interior, only heated front seats, and a basic five-speaker audio system. This trim also loses the all-terrain drive mode and the drop-down rear glass window. Rivian The Most Affordable Rivian R2The real headline is the projected entry price. The R2 Standard, due in late 2027, could start at around $45,000 with a smaller battery and about 265 miles of range. That’s still higher than what many EV shoppers are hoping for, but it does put some distance between the R2 and Rivian’s bigger, pricier models. Another leak also revealed the paint color options, which include Half Moon Grey, Glacier White, Borealis, Launch Green, Midnight, Forest Green, Esker Silver, and Catalina Cove. We won’t have to wait long for answers. Rivian will officially unveil the R2 at SXSW on March 12, 2026, where we’ll see which of these leaked details actually make it to production. Rivian View the 6 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Ford has given its all-electric Explorer—the compact SUV sold in Europe, not its midsize namesake sold in the U.S.—major upgrades that make it better than ever. Built on Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform, the Ford Explorer EV has been enhanced with a new drive battery, a more powerful electric motor, an Explorer Collection limited series, as well as improved ADAS and tech features. More Range and Quicker Acceleration Ford of Europe Starting with the drivetrain, Ford Explorer Standard Range models now drive farther on a full charge and deliver faster acceleration thanks to the new 58-kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery and enhanced electric motor. More specifically, the Explorer SR is now rated at 275 miles (444 km) on the WLTP test cycle, which is 37 miles better than before (an increase of more than 17%). Using a battery with LFP chemistry is also better for the environment as this type of battery requires fewer high-demand raw materials compared to traditional battery chemistries. On top of that, users can charge it regularly to 100% without significant damage, whereas NCA (nickel-cobalt-aluminum) and NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) batteries are less tolerant of high states of charge. As for the updated rear-mounted electric motor, it now makes 140 kW (188 hp) and 258 lb-ft of torque, accounting for gains of 20 hp and 30 lb-ft, respectively. That translates into quicker acceleration, with the 0-60 mph benchmark now taking 8 seconds, an improvement of 0.7 seconds. It’s also worth noting that Explorer EV models now feature one-pedal drive as standard. Smart Driving and Parking Features Galore Moving on to the tech stuff, the 2026 Ford Explorer EV brings upgrades to its ADAS suite, which now sees the Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control system adjust the vehicle’s speed by “reading” the surroundings, including speed signs, curves in the road ahead, junctions, and roundabouts. The system also adds Traffic Light Recognition, which allows it to automatically slow or stop the vehicle if it detects a red or amber light ahead. The 2026 Ford Explorer EV also gains a Reversing Assist function, which automates steering control during the reversing maneuver for up to 50 meters, retracing the last path the vehicle took, only backward; drivers only need to handle braking and acceleration. In similar fashion, Trained Park Assist precisely replicates previously performed parking actions to place the vehicle in the desired position by automatically taking care of acceleration, braking, and steering. The system can store up to five different parking scenarios and drive up to 50 meters for each one. Finally, the Driver State Assist driver monitoring system uses the driver-facing camera and Lane Keep Assist systems to detect if the driver pays attention to the road. If no steering input is detected, the system first taps the brakes to alert the driver, and if there’s still no reaction, it switches on the hazard warning lights, brings the vehicle to a full stop, unlocks the doors and calls emergency services. Bidirectional Charging and Android-Based Infotainment System Ford’s bidirectional charging capability debuts on the Explorer EV, enabling owners to turn their vehicle into a mobile power source that can power up to 2.3 kW of combined accessories using the vehicle’s drive battery. The Pro Power Onboard outlet is located in the trunk for charging laptops, for example, but an optional adapter can be plugged into the vehicle’s charge port to charge electric bikes or other outdoor accessories. The infotainment system sees its fair share of upgrades, including a 14.6-inch moveable screen that is now powered by new Android-based software and comes with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Additionally, the infotainment system’s graphics have been refreshed for increased clarity and ease of use, including expanded views of parking and navigation screens and the ability to group apps into folders. New Adventure-Inspired Explorer Collection Limited Edition Finally, the new Explorer Collection limited edition combines an adventure-inspired design with more standard equipment. The exterior features a Cactus Grey paint exclusive for this model, new 20-inch alloys in satin black, a black roof, front and rear skid plates, as well as dedicated door and rear pillar graphics. Inside, the Explorer Collection is finished in Black Onyx with orange accents on the seat sides, lower soundbar and seatbelts. The dash and center console sport a black and orange speckle effect, while the seats feature a unique 2D knit insert inspired by the texture of high-quality sport clothing and equipment. The 2026 Ford Explorer range is available to order across Europe starting March 10, with prices starting just under €40,000 ($46,300) in Germany. View the full article

Donut Lab’s Solid-State Claim Sparks Early CriticismEarlier this year, Finnish startup Donut Lab grabbed headlines after claiming it had developed the first production-ready solid-state EV battery capable of charging in about five minutes. The announcement quickly drew criticism, with some industry observers accusing the company of exaggerating or making misleading claims about its technology. Those accusations softened after an independent test showed the battery could charge to about 80 percent in 4.5 minutes, backing up the company’s fast-charging claims. But skeptics soon raised a new concern, suggesting the technology might actually be a supercapacitor rather than a true battery. Those allegations ultimately prompted Donut Lab’s latest test, designed to prove the device behaves like a real battery when left idle. New Self-Discharge Test Targets Supercapacitor ClaimsTo address the criticism, Donut Lab worked with the Finnish Technical Research Centre (VTT) to test how much energy its battery loses when sitting unused. A cell was charged to around 50 percent and left idle for 240 hours (10 days) while its voltage was continuously monitored at temperatures between 22°C and 28°C. The results showed the battery retained 97.7 percent of its charge, losing just 2.3 percent over the entire test period. Most of the drop occurred in the first hour due to voltage relaxation, a common effect after charging. Over the remaining nine days, voltage declined only slightly, suggesting the technology behaves like a battery rather than a supercapacitor, which would typically lose charge much faster. Donut Lab Why Solid-State Batteries Are The EV “Holy Grail”Solid-state batteries are widely considered the holy grail of EV development because they promise improvements in nearly every area that matters to drivers. Most notably, they could enable extremely fast charging, potentially allowing electric vehicles to recharge in minutes instead of hours. The technology could also deliver a longer lifespan, a greater range, and improved safety. Some developers believe future solid-state packs could last decades with minimal degradation while enabling vehicles to travel over 600 miles per charge. With these advantages in mind, automakers and battery manufacturers worldwide are investing heavily in the race to commercialize the technology. JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images Progress Continues Even If Solid-State Takes TimeDespite the hype, many experts believe mass-market solid-state batteries are still several years away. Scaling production, controlling costs, and ensuring long-term durability remain major technical challenges before the technology can be widely deployed. Meanwhile, improvements in current lithium-based batteries continue to deliver meaningful gains in charging speed and performance. Even with EV demand cooling slightly in some markets, the long-term shift toward electrification remains strong. With fuel prices often volatile, advances in battery technology suggest the industry is steadily moving closer to a tipping point for broader EV adoption. Donut Labs View the full article

It's Already Being Called The Great EV ReturnMore than 300,000 electric vehicles are expected to come off lease in 2026 alone, and they are about to flood the used car market. For buyers, that surge could finally create the kind of EV bargains that have been missing for years. Three years ago, EV leasing surged as incentives peaked and early adopters jumped in. Now those three-year contracts are ending, and thousands of those vehicles are returning to dealerships almost all at once. Dave Thomas, senior manager of industry insights at CDK Global, the software company that powers a huge share of dealership operations in the United States, talks about his reading of the dealership data on Electrek. When someone with access to hard data like that starts talking about value and affordability, we tend to pay attention. Kevin Carter/Getty Images Why Used EVs Are Suddenly Great ValueThe opportunity comes down to depreciation. A three-year-old gasoline car from Honda or Toyota typically holds its value really well. That’s a good thing… until you’re the one shopping for it. Strong residual values mean the sticker price on those used vehicles stays stubbornly high. Electric cars have followed a very different depreciation curve. Because EV technology is evolving quickly and new models arrive with better range and software every year, older electric vehicles tend to lose value faster. That drop in resale value may frustrate original owners, but it works entirely in favor of the second buyer. Someone shopping with a $20,000 budget in the traditional used car market is often looking at higher-mileage vehicles or older model years. In the used EV market, that same budget could land something far newer and better equipped, potentially even a low-mileage premium EV such as an Audi e-tron, Tesla Model 3, or Hyundai Ioniq 5, that has depreciated faster than expected. The result is a rare moment where the used EV market may offer better value than comparable ICE vehicles. View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Used EVs Make Sense, On Both Sides of The TableThe surge in lease returns is also appealing for dealers. Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts, which means there is usually less mechanical wear when they come back from a three-year lease. That translates to lower reconditioning costs before the car can go on sale, not to mention EVs are spending less time on lots than gas-powered cars. For shoppers considering a used electric vehicle, focus on three-year-old lease returns. These cars tend to have relatively low mileage and predictable maintenance histories. Check the remaining battery warranty, too. Most EV manufacturers offer battery warranties around eight years or 100,000 miles, meaning many lease-return vehicles still have significant coverage left. For buyers previously priced out of electric cars, as well as budget shoppers, the Great EV Return may finally give them options that they can actually afford. View the full article