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A Mustang With a Point to ProveWhen Top Gear stages a lap-time test, the results tend to resonate well beyond the perimeter fence of their test tracks. It has long served as a neutral proving ground where marketing claims collide with the stopwatch. In the show’s latest YouTube feature, that tradition continued with the arrival of the Ford Mustang GTD, handed to The Stig for a full-bore attempt to validate Ford’s boldest performance promises yet. Ford’s ambition for the GTD has never been subtle. CEO Jim Farley has openly cited the Porsche 911 GT3 RS as the benchmark, framing the GTD as a road-legal offshoot of Ford’s GT3 racing program rather than a conventional muscle car. On the Top Gear leaderboard, that meant aiming at the GT3 RS’s 1:14.8 lap time. Given the Mustang’s front-engine layout, substantial curb weight, and sheer physical size, the target looked aggressive. Even so, Ford arrived armed with 815 horsepower, race-derived Multimatic suspension, carbon bodywork, and active aerodynamics rarely seen on an American production car. How the GTD Delivered a Shock ResultEngaging Track mode fundamentally alters the GTD’s character. The suspension drops the ride height by roughly 2 inches, stiffening the springs and dampers while recalibrating the car for maximum circuit performance. At the same time, its active aerodynamic systems come alive, with adjustable front splitter elements and a hydraulically controlled rear wing capable of deploying drag reduction on the straights, generating meaningful downforce without sacrificing straight-line speed. That hardware translated into immediate confidence on the stopwatch lap. Through notoriously awkward sections such as Chicago and Hammerhead, the GTD remained composed, absorbing bumps and kerbs that often unsettle stiffer, lighter cars. Data shown during the lap revealed braking forces of 1.64 G and lateral loads exceeding 2.0 g through Follow Through, figures that place the Mustang firmly in supercar territory. On the back straight, the GTD reached 149 mph before hauling itself down for the final corners, its carbon brakes visibly glowing under sustained punishment. Ford And the Results are In...The final time is 1:13.7, putting the Mustang GTD more than a second clear of the GT3 RS on the Top Gear test track. Context matters, however. On longer, more complex circuits such as the Nürburgring, Porsche still holds the advantage, with its benchmark laps remaining several seconds quicker than Ford’s best effort. Dunsfold’s bumps, transitions, and short straights played to the GTD’s strengths. Even so, the significance is hard to overstate. This lap reframes the Mustang nameplate, positioning it as a credible threat to Europe’s most focused track cars rather than a straight-line bruiser with racing stripes. Ford View the full article

Team Z's new tubular front ends for the 4th Gen F-bodies save weight and create space. These kits make it easier to add turbo kits and more.View the full article

A revived Phelon and Moore is launching cruisers, adventure bikes, and scooters all at once, and that’s a big move for a brand many riders have never heard of.View the full article

At the beginning of December, Stellantis had to recall some 2019 and 2020 Ram pickups, including the 1500, 2500, and 3500, over an airbag problem that could send metal shrapnel flying through the cabin. And now, as the month draws to a close, Ram is being forced to recall its biggest pickup trucks for airbag problems once again, according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This time around, there's a single malfunction that could result in three different and dangerous problems, with the airbags, seatbelts, and electronic stability control system all potentially failing to work as intended. And this time, the recall impacts every class of Ram truck but the smallest (the 1500). More Than 52,000 Ram Pickups Being Recalled Stellantis According to the NHTSA recall report, 52,565 examples of the 2025 Ram 2500, 3500 Pickup and 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis are potentially impacted by a software error in the occupant restraint controller module. The vehicles, produced between July 18, 2024, and May 22, 2025, have modules "which may go into an offline state while driving," and if this happens, it could not only mean a faulty driver's side airbag, but also a faulty seatbelt pretensioner and a disabled electronic stability control system. As winter is officially upon us, this is particularly worrying. Not only could these drivers of these trucks be at a greater risk of losing control of the pickups and crashing, but they might not be adequately protected when they do. And there's another problem. Sorry, Ram Owners, but This Recall Requires a Dealer Visit Stellantis Although this is a software-related issue, much like the problem that caused a recall of 72,000 Ram pickups earlier this month for faulty instrument clusters, it cannot be resolved with a simple over-the-air update, and owners will have to visit the dealer for a reflash of the occupant restraint module. And although dealers have already been informed and VINs are searchable on nhtsa.gov, the remedy notification program is only planned for January 15 and 16, 2026, so owners will have almost four weeks of waiting before their pickups are deemed safe again. With these heavy-duty trucks used for a variety of purposes nationwide, including as tow trucks, snow plows, flatbeds, and dump trucks, this isn't good news. The one upside is that the problem isn't deemed serious enough to warrant a Do Not Drive warning. Hopefully, the midsize Dakota will be more reliable when it returns in 2028. View the full article

Straight-Line Racing Still Tells a StoryDrag races don’t tell the whole story about a car’s performance, but they do reveal a lot about straight-line speed, traction, and how well a car actually puts its power down. In that sense, the Tesla Model S Plaid comes out swinging. Thanks to its tri-motor setup and instant torque, there’s no waiting for revs, gear changes, or boost – it just launches. On paper, it’s a weapon off the line. But drag racing isn’t just about who gets the best launch. To really see how the Plaid measures up against the tod-dog version of America’s sports car, Hennessey Performance put it head-to-head with the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 in two types of races: standing starts and rolling starts. Strip away the corners, focus on pure acceleration, and you get a clear look at which approach works best depending on how the race kicks off. The Tale of the TapeOn paper, this matchup is tighter than you’d think. The Model S Plaid throws down about 1,020 horsepower, hits 0-60 mph in just under two seconds, and can blast through the quarter-mile in the low nines at 155 mph. But it’s also hauling more than 4,800 pounds, and needless to say, that extra weight matters in this scenario. Meanwhile, the Corvette ZR1 champions the combustion-powered performance. Its twin-turbo 5.5-liter flat-plane V8 cranks out 1,064 hp and 828 lb-ft of torque, sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. With carbon-ceramic brakes and real aero, it’s built to stay planted even as the speed climbs into serious territory. The ZR1 has already shown what it can do on proper race tracks, including the dreaded Nürburgring in Germany. But here, the test is stripped down to basics. No corners, no braking – just a straight shot to see how fast each car can cover a quarter-mile in different scenarios. Chevrolet View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article The Results Depend on the StartIn the standing-start quarter-mile runs, the Model S Plaid took both wins. Instant torque and all-wheel-drive traction let it leap out front and stay there all the way to the line. From a dig, the Tesla does exactly what you’d expect, just like it did at a proper drag strip before. On rolling starts, however, the results were different. While the Model S Plaid got the early jump, the Corvette ZR1 pulled considerably ahead in both runs at around 100-120 mph. Evidently, the ZR1’s power and gearing took over at high speeds, proving the gas-powered supercar isn’t outmatched once traction stops being the main hurdle. Tesla View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Lainey Abney’s path to the driver’s seat wasn’t traditional. Jr. Dragsters weren’t her thing, and she instead opted for a 110cc dirt bike to get experience going down the dragstrip. She estimates she’s made a thousand passes on the dirt bike starting at age 11. Now 21, she races in Lil Gangstas and True Street in her turbocharged, LS-powered ‘06 Mustang, turning on win lights while hoping to inspire the next wave of young girls interested in the sport. Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #197, the 30 Under 30 Issue, in November/December 2025. Abney graduated from the dirt bike to a door car when she was just 13 years old. Her father, Mike, let her make a pass in his C5 Corvette. “I was hooked,” she says. “We took it out every weekend after that and I just made pass after pass after pass.” Eventually, they made upgrades including adding a Nitrous Express kit. “It reached the point where it was way too fast without a cage,” she says. “That’s when we got into the Mustang I have now.” As far as actual event wins go, Abney counts her Power Adder class victory at Holley’s LS Fest this year as a career highlight. But it was a True Street win at her home track over longtime mentor Tom Gunner – better known as “Jimmy Dale” – that held more personal meaning. “Tom has always taken Lainey under his wing,” explains Mike Abney. “He’d always work with her and push her to be a better racer. He let her drive ‘Magic,’ his pride-and-joy car, when she was 16. It meant a lot to her to finally beat her mentor after all these years.” Lainey remembers the moment clearly. “It was a heads-up race and I beat him. I was so pumped. I got out of the car screaming, ‘Oh my gosh, how did I beat you?’ I didn’t think there was any way.” With experience, Abney has also grown into a more mature, composed competitor. “I used to be a very sore loser,” she admits. “If I lost, I’d be very mad. I would throw my helmet, not talk to anybody. Now, this is just for fun, even if I lose.” With that mindset, she finds validation in more than just win lights, trophies, and big checks at the end of the night. “I really like just seeing kids’ faces light up when they find out I’m a girl or that I’m young,” she says. “I think that really motivates me and pushes me to keep doing this.” Abney’s schedule for the 2026 season includes plenty of outings with the Lil Gangstas class, which is quickly growing into one of the biggest movements in grassroots racing. That suits Abney’s goals perfectly. “I would like to go to more states and travel more,” she says. “And get faster. I would like to be able to go up in classes and compete with the real fast people.” Her support system will be with her every step of the way. “I would first like to thank my family – especially my mom and my dad for always being there and supporting me,” she says. She also credits mentors like Mike Wood, Michael Poland, Brent Albury, Tom Gunner, and Dakota LSX, along with her sponsors. “Without all of your help, I would not be able to be as fast and as reliable as I am.” The post DI 30 Under 30 2025: Lainey Abney first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Ducati’s off-road stars carried the Olympic flame across Italy for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games.View the full article

Different NCAPs, Very Different OutcomesMost people see New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) safety ratings as a universal standard, but the truth is, they’re anything but. Each region has its own tests, priorities, and scoring standards. The Suzuki Fronx, a subcompact SUV sold in most Asian countries and Australia, is a perfect example of how those differences play out. Of note, the Fronx is also sold in some parts of the world with a Toyota badge. In October, the Fronx received a five-star rating from ASEAN NCAP, which should have made it a safe bet for families in Southeast Asia. But when ANCAP put the same model through its paces, the result was a shock: just one star, missing the lowest rating a vehicle could get by a whisker. The consequence was immediate – Suzuki Australia pulled the Fronx from showrooms while they figure out what went wrong. That doesn’t mean one test is right and the other is wrong. What it does show is how easy it is for buyers to get the wrong idea if they just look at the stars and skip the details. In this case, the ANCAP result raised red flags that no one could ignore. What Went Wrong in ANCAP TestingANCAP’s tests showed the Fronx struggled in several crash scenarios, especially when it came to protecting adults and kids inside. The biggest problem showed up in a full-width frontal crash, where the rear seatbelt retractor failed. That meant the belt let go, leaving the rear dummy unrestrained and sending it straight into the front seat. ANCAP called the seatbelt failure “rare and serious,” and told owners of about 1,300 Fronx units in Australia and another 1,000 in New Zealand not to use the back seats until there’s a fix. Even before the seatbelt issue, the Fronx had already scored zero in some parts of the test, so the one-star rating wasn’t just about that one problem. Suzuki Australia says it’s working closely with the factory in Japan and local regulators to get to the bottom of the problem and has stopped sales of the SUV. The Fronx already meets local certification and comes with features like AEB and lane-keeping assist, but right now, the priority is fixing the basics – making sure the seatbelts do their job. Jacob Oliva/Autoblog This Isn’t Suzuki’s First Safety Wake-Up CallThis isn’t the first time Suzuki has faced tough questions about safety. The Swift hatchback, which shares its platform with the Fronx, got a zero from Latin NCAP in 2021. The S-Presso, a small city car, also scored zero in 2020, but after some updates and a retest, it managed three stars in 2022. Whether the Fronx can bounce back from this recent fall is a mystery at this point. For now, this is a caution that safety ratings can change, and a five-star badge in one region doesn’t mean much somewhere else. Plus, seatbelts not working is a dire issue, which shouldn't have happened in this day and age. Jacob Oliva/Autoblog View the 5 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Big motocross jumps are already insane. But what if you tether a bunch together, and then jump gaps over open water? Easy, you get a Red Bull video. View the full article

This untouched two-stroke survivor just resurfaced after two decades, offering enthusiasts a rare shot at true powersports history.View the full article

Safety SellsIf there's one truth about automotive sales these days, it is that, apart from sustainability and value-for-money, safety is a top priority for car buyers. In comparison, it may not seem like the most interesting topic about cars, safety tests, and the results are – and should be – significant considerations for anybody looking to buy a brand-new vehicle. Subaru is one of the brands that uses safety to further its brand, pioneering the use of its award-winning Eyesight technology and improving production to ensure safety for all its customers. More importantly, the star-spangled brand recently added a notch to its safety front, with the latest Subaru Forester getting the Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – the highest honor the institution awards. Hitting the MarkThe Subaru Forester's recent award was announced on the IIHS's official list of results, the latest round of its safety tests. Of note, to earn the coveted TSP+ rating, the car had to score "Good" in all three of the following categories: Crashworthiness, Crash Avoidance and Mitigation, and Seatbelts and Child Restraints. Digging a little deeper into the IIHS results, the intensive testing shows that all the hard work Subaru puts into safety pays off across all significant aspects. In terms of driver's safety, the Forester got a Good rating for Head, Chest, Hip, and Thigh safety, with the lower leg or foot rating at A (acceptable). Passenger safety results show as Good-rated across all aspects in front- and side-impact tests. As mentioned, Subaru is very proud of its Eyesight safety suite technology, and during the test, it performed as intended. The IIHS tested the Eyesight pre-collision braking at speeds from 31 to 43 mph using different obstacles, such as a passenger car, a motorcycle, and a semi-trailer. The Eyesight system promptly detected and avoided a collision, earning it a Good rating. It also performed well on pedestrian collision avoidance, with the test conducted in "day" and "night" simulations. Safest Ever ForesterThe results speak for themselves: the 2026 Forester is one of the safest vehicles you can buy today. It must be noted, though, that an A rating is more than sufficient for pedestrian front collision prevention and headlight performance. This is because the standards are slightly more lenient on these criteria. The last time a Forester received the TSP+ rating was in 2022, but back then, safety tests weren't as rigorous as they are now, making the 2026 model the safest ever. Cole Attisha View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Rad Bikes has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and hopes to sell the company within the next two months, but its debts far outweigh its assets.View the full article

The F-Pace Bows OutJaguar has officially rolled the final F-Pace off its production line in Solihull, England. More significantly, the milestone marks Jaguar’s last internal-combustion model to be built as the brand prepares to transition to an all-electric future, even as more competitors across the industry scale back their EV ambitions. According to a report from the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club, the final example built was an F-Pace SVR, the range-topping performance variant of the luxury SUV. The SVR is powered by Jaguar’s in-house 5.0-liter supercharged V8, an engine that produces 542 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque in standard form. As a fitting tribute to the end of an era, the vehicle has been handed over to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust in Gaydon, where it will be displayed alongside other historically significant models, including the final Jaguar XE and the very first SS Jaguar. Turning the Page on CombustionWhile the final unit has now been produced, the F-Pace, which went on sale in 2016, is not gone just yet. In the U.S., the F-Pace currently starts at around $57,000, while the range-topping SVR 575 Edition, which increases output to 567 hp, starts at approximately $93,000. That availability, however, is time-limited. As Jaguar restructures its portfolio under the all-electric Reimagine strategy, the F-Pace – along with the rest of the brand’s current lineup – is set to be discontinued. This includes the I-Pace, Jaguar’s first battery-electric model, which remains in service today as part of Waymo’s autonomous vehicle fleet. No direct replacement has been officially revealed yet, although Jaguar has offered a glimpse of its future direction through the four-door grand tourer Type 00 concept. Details surrounding Jaguar’s first next-generation EV remain limited, but early reports suggest it will feature a tri-motor configuration producing around 1,000 horsepower. That would place it in the same performance bracket as the Tesla Model S Plaid. The new model is widely expected to make its debut sometime in mid- to late-2026. Setting the Stage for Jaguar’s EV EraBy the time that vehicle arrives, several rivals that once committed to all-electric futures will already have adjusted their strategies to retain combustion or hybrid options. Volvo, for example, previously pledged to go fully electric by 2030 but has since pivoted toward a more diversified lineup that includes plug-in hybrids. Jaguar’s corporate sibling, Land Rover, has also slowed the pace of its EV rollout, with earlier expectations of a larger lineup of electric models by 2026 now giving way to a more conservative rollout focused on key vehicles such as the Range Rover EV. How these recalibrated strategies ultimately play out remains to be seen, though Jaguar will be hoping its reboot helps reverse its recent sales challenges, even if that means operating as a more exclusive, niche brand going forward. In the meantime, Jaguar’s U.S. customer-facing website continues to list the E-Pace, I-Pace, XF, F-Type, and, as mentioned, the F-Pace – the brand’s best-selling model of the modern era. Cole Attisha View the 6 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

The Red Bull Erzbergrodeo regulations have been amended to allow electric motorcycles, namely the Stark Varg, to run in all events. Here are the details.View the full article

Our politicians continue their fight to sell off public lands. More insulting than the overwhelming support for them, they want to sell these lands off for pennies compared to what they bring in. View the full article

When you hear that the Simola HillClimb is the biggest motor racing event in the entire country of South Africa, it really hits home as to how popular this event really is. And with 2025 being the biggest one ever, it is awesome to hear that all the heavy hitters, who have won the title of King of the Hill in the past, were on hand to take a swing at the mountain for another title. Check out the Top 20 below! Video Description: Simola HillClimb 2025, the biggest Motor Racing event in South Africa, has reached new heights this edition, with all the the great Monsters in the country being reunited during a weekend to find out a new King of the Hill!! In an event where having 1000Hp has become normal and the level of the machinery has risen to absurd levels, here we have some of the best Nissan GT-R, Lotus Exige, Audi, Toyota builds in the World, this year also accompanied by a very Special guest, the most dominating RallyCross driver ever, Johann Kristoffersson, with the fully Electric VW Polo RX1e, to give a very unique perspective. The event would also be marked by a very unfortunate trgedy, the crash of Pieter Joubert, which ended up having the worst outcome possible. With his brother allowing the evtn to proceed, we would also see a New Record being broken by an incredible margin, marking an entirely new Era in Simola, where the times are tumbling down in an insane rate!! The post TOP 20 VIDEO: HILLCLIMB MONSTERS FROM SIMOLA || KING OF THE HILL 2025 SET A NEW RECORD! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

When Freiburger and Finnegan weren’t able to be at the WireCare booth during the PRI Show where they were supposed to rewire the Rotsun, Finnegan stepped in and said “Hold my beer.” Video Description: Welcome to Newbern’s Garage. In this episode I haul the Famous Roadkill Rotsun from Georgia to Indy for PRI 2025. As it shined bright among all the other cars in the building, the fun began when it was time to leave. The snow came down and tempers flared. It was quite an experience. The post Finnegan and Newbern Drove The Rotsun Out Of The PRI Show! Will The Rotsun Be Allowed To Return To PRI Now? appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

After dominating the 2025 MotoGP season, and securing his 9th championship, Ducati is celebrating Marc Marquez's win with a special, limited-edition replica based on the Panigale V4S sportbike.View the full article

RideApart's Editor-in-Chief Jonathon Klein has been riding a Stark Varg EX for over six months now. Living with it, he has some thoughts you'd probably like to hear. View the full article

This horizontally opposed, 250cc engine delivers an impressive 62 horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque.View the full article

At the Ironwood ISOC Amsoil Championship Snocross race, Arctic Cat returned to the podium's top spot after the company nearly went under. View the full article

Buell's new Super Cruiser motorcycle has been waiting for EPA and CARB approval for a while now. Finally, it has it, and will start getting into waiting customer hands. View the full article

We were just looking through all of our old emails and articles and realized we hadn't done a featured routes article in quite some time. And just because it may be cold, dark, and snowy in your locale, there's plenty of places to explore during the winter months! . In Search of Solitude? Overlanding and outdoor recreation in general has absolutely exploded since Covid hit 5 years ago. And those once hidden gems seem to have been discovered by the weekend warriors. But, if you know where to...View the full article

Add MOLLE Storage To Your Factory Or Aftermarket Roof Rack Tacoma or 4Runner? Truck or SUV? This is a question many potential Toyota owners have asked themselves when faced with... The post Bison Gear External MOLLE Panel For 5th Gen 4Runner – Install & Review appeared first on Trail4R.com - 5th Gen 4Runner Mods. View the full article

You might not need it againGeneral Motors made a bold move that might prompt you to reconsider whether you actually need Apple CarPlay. Starting today, the automaker is rolling out native Apple Music integration to select 2025 and newer Chevrolet and Cadillac models, bypassing your iPhone entirely and plugging the streaming service directly into your vehicle’s infotainment system. Unlike CarPlay, this isn’t Apple Music mirrored from your phone; it runs directly on GM’s software platform that powers its infotainment. For drivers tired of fumbling with cables or dealing with wireless connection hiccups, this could be a game-changer. This new integration means that drivers of select GM vehicles will gain access to all the features of the streaming service, including ad-free access to over 100 million songs, curated playlists, exclusive content, live global radio, and personalized recommendations, without needing to connect their iPhone. General Motors Apple Music will come with OnStar BasicsAccording to GM, it is making audio streaming capabilities a standard feature through OnStar Basics, a suite of core OnStar features that includes Automatic Crash Response, remote commands, Google Maps, Google Assistant, and navigation, for all 2025 and newer vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. In essence, this means that you can stream using Apple Music at no additional cost for eight years after purchasing your vehicle. “We are bringing the Apple Music app to GM vehicles in a way that takes full advantage of our industry-leading audio capabilities,” Tim Twerdahl, GM’s vice president of global product management, said in a statement. “It’s the latest example of how we’re expanding entertainment choices built directly into our vehicles.” General Motors Cadillac owners get the premium experienceHowever, drivers in Cadillacs will reap the most significant benefits from the GM-Apple Music integration. The native Apple Music integration also unlocks access to the service’s full library of Spatial Audio tracks with Dolby Atmos, transforming the cabin into what GM describes as a “studio-grade acoustic space.” According to them, Cadillac models like the 2026 VISTIQ, for example, which packs a commanding 23-speaker AKG audio system with strategically positioned Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers, would be transformed “into an immersive, three-dimensional sound environment designed around the vehicle’s acoustics.” GM states that with Apple Music’s spatial audio capabilities, the cabin of the VISTIQ would turn into a “soundstage where instruments occupy distinct physical spaces and vocals float precisely where the artist intended.” Select Chevy and Cadillac vehicles will get it, with Buick and GMC to followThe rollout starts with select Chevrolet and Cadillac models, with Buick and GMC vehicles coming soon. On the Cadillac side, you’re looking at the 2025 and 2026 CT5, the 2025 ESCALADE IQ, and the 2026 VISTIQ (which gets the premium Spatial Audio treatment). Chevy drivers aren’t left out either—the 2025 and 2026 Blazer EV, Equinox EV, and Silverado EV are included, along with the 2026 Corvette, Suburban, and Tahoe. Even the upcoming 2027 Chevrolet Bolt is on the list. Honda’s tech integration continues to improve, and in the 2026 Civic Sport Touring Hybrid, it finally feels cohesive. The dash-mounted 9-inch touchscreen isn't big or fancy, but its no-nonsense functionality doesn't detract from driving focus. Reponses click with satisfaction, and the accompanying physical controls are easy to use while driving. The system runs a straightforward interface that avoids the clutter of overly animated menus. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as are wireless phone charging, a premium 12-speaker Bose audio system, and a fully digital 10.2-inch gauge cluster. If you’re already an Apple Music subscriber, just sign in with your existing account when connected via OnStar, and you’re streaming. New to the service? Sign up with just a tap on your dashboard. The app appears automatically in eligible vehicles after the latest software update, so there’s nothing to download or install manually. In addition, Apple Music connects through GM’s continuous delivery model, which means that owners will receive new features and updates over the air long after driving off the lot. This development follows a clarification the automaker provided a few months ago regarding the phase-out of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, which it announced will occur in its electric vehicle lineup. Following an interview between The Verge and its CEO, Mary Barra, GM has quickly clarified to MacRumours that CarPlay and Android Auto will remain in all gas-powered vehicles "for the foreseeable future." It plans to roll out a new centralized computing system, featuring a new conversational AI assistant, starting with the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ. In a statement at the time, GM emphasized that this AI feature will help drivers do everyday tasks, as “it will be fine-tuned with your vehicle’s intelligence and your personal preferences, all connected by OnStar.” Final thoughtsIn the end, GM is not the only manufacturer that is leaning on the CarPlay/Android Auto alternative that is full-on infotainment integration, where automakers have them "built-in" into the car, instead of relying on drivers to mirror their smartphones onto their screens. Notably, EV brands such as Tesla and Rivian, as well as luxury automakers like Mercedes-Benz, have had this kind of integration for a while and also include integration for services like Tidal and Spotify. Personally, I find this type of experience to be much less cumbersome than dealing with smartphone mirroring, such as CarPlay or Android Auto, as it doesn't require any wires or a Bluetooth connection to function. From what I have experienced, using Spotify in a Rivian feels like tuning into SiriusXM in any other car. It would be interesting to see whether GM will follow up on this partnership with integration for other services, such as Audible, Spotify, or even Tidal, as the latter two feature lossless audio capabilities that should sound incredible in the back of a Cadillac. View the full article