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Kei Madness If there's one segment of the automotive world (though odd and quirky) that has captured the world's attention – yes, even President Donald Trump – it is the Japanese Kei Car. "Kei," meaning "light," cars have been built and sold since after the war as a means of offering affordable, practical mobility to a rebuilding Japan. It has then become a primary model for those who live in the cramped streets of Japan's metropolitan areas. Kei cars have generally been a curiosity for the res

The Return of a Gearhead Favorite “Leno’s Law” is being revived in California as a proposal to preserve car culture by allowing certain classic cars to skip smog checks. Previously filed as California Senate Bill 712, the proposal was shelved in September 2025, but supporters believe it now has a better chance of passing. Now dubbed California Senate Bill 1392, the proposal – sponsored by Senator Dave Cortese, Senator Shannon Grove, and car enthusiast Jay Leno – seeks to redefine a “collector mo

When Jay Leno has really nice things to say about a car, you know he’s saying it from the bottom of his heart and he’s being genuine about it. As the owner of one of the world’s finest car collections, the former talk show host knows his cars all too well and is always telling it like it is. It will come as no surprise then that Jay is full of praise for the 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, having recently bought a fully loaded example for himself. A Fully Loaded ZR1X Is Still a Bargain, Leno Say

The Rarest Packard You’ve Never Seen In the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, Jay Leno gets behind the wheel of one of the rarest pre-war American performance cars ever built, the 1930 Packard 734 Speedster Victoria Coupe. The car comes courtesy of one of the most prestigious car collections, the Nethercutt Collection, with curator Cameron Richards providing historical and technical context throughout the episode. Out of 113 total 734 Speedsters produced across five body styles, only about tw

We’ve seen Jay Leno drive all sorts of rare and exotic cars over the years, but the episodes that stand out the most are always those that feature unexpected vehicles, such as tractors, buses, semi trucks, fire engines, tanks, and even steam locomotives. You probably remember Jay Leno drove a pre-production version of the Tesla Semi Class 8 electric truck in October 2023 in a famous episode that saw the famous car collector and TV personality towing a trailer with another Tesla Semi on it. That

Just 187 1967 Pontiac 2+2 HOs were built from the factory, and man is this thing a real unicorn. With the 428 under the hood, and a factory 4-speed, it was a fun car to drive, but it’s a whole other thing now thanks to the 6-speed underneath it. Jay talks about not only the swap, but the car itself, and how this really does transform this big beast. This is a cruiser muscle car, the gentleman’s hot rod if you will, and it shows. Check this thing out and let us know what you think, because we dig

A Cadillac With an Italian Twist Normally, automakers tap coachbuilders to experiment with fresh styling, but that wasn’t the case with this Cadillac featured in the latest episode of Jay Leno's Garage. Owner Lee Carr brought in his exceptionally rare 1953 Cadillac Series 62, one of only two examples ever built by Italian coachbuilder Ghia. In the early postwar years, Ghia was eager to rebuild momentum after its factory had been destroyed in a wartime air raid. Looking to broaden its presence be

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Skyline Gathering in the US Jay Leno’s Garage is no stranger to rare metal, but this episode lands differently. With legendary car photographer, Larry Chen, Jay walks through time examining one of the rarest assemblies of Nissan Skylines ever filmed in the United States. Seven generations are represented, from the earliest Nissan-badged models to the coveted R34 GT-R, all legally imported and all never sold new in America. That detail matters because these cars exist in the

Jay Leno’s Garage just gave viewers an early look at the Slate Truck, a low-cost electric pickup prototype that Slate says is designed to be repaired and customized by owners, not locked behind a dealer network. In the episode, Slate leaders Tisha Johnson and Jeremy Snyder outline a plan built around simplified manufacturing, modular upgrades, and a service model that leans on independent repair shops, with a target price under $30,000 and marketing that often frames the truck as a $25,000 EV.

If you listen to music, chances are you may have come across a certain DJ Khaled. Although now known for his rather extravagant lifestyle, flaunting cars, cash, and excess, the media personality wasn’t exactly born into extraordinary wealth. As he often points out, the man had humble beginnings, and his most recent Instagram upload reaffirmed things after being reminded of his hustle days while celebrating his 50th birthday. In the video, Lenny Santiago, a veteran of the music business and a clo

Earlier this week, eagle-eyed Jeep fans noticed that the brand’s Wrangler and Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid SUVs disappeared from the manufacturer’s website. Jeep said this was due to a stop-sale while it finds a remedy for a large recall affecting these models. But in a more dramatic twist, Stellantis has decided to discontinue these models completely. And, in what appears to be a more comprehensive realignment of the company’s electrification strategy, Chrysler’s Pacifica hybrid has also b

The big news today comes from Stellantis, the conglomerate in charge of Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Ram, and more, with the automaker announcing that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with JaguarLand Rover. The goal? To potentially "collaborate on product development in the United States." In other words, Stellantis and JLR could jointly develop vehicles that will be sold here in America, likely including new SUVs. Importantly, JLR is owned by India's Tata Motors, and this announcement may lead

2025 on the Black Stellantis has been working to get back on track after a tough run, despite 2025 showing slightly positive signs, especially in the US. Jeep, Ram, and Dodge have been doing the heavy lifting, driving up shipments and building momentum after months of inventory headaches, pricing problems, and slow EV sales. Ram and Jeep are still the main profit engines in North America, while Peugeot and Fiat hold things down in Europe and Latin America. So this latest report isn’t really a sh

The Brand America Still Associates With Freedom Ford and General Motors have long positioned themselves as deeply American brands, with the former even winning TIME and Statista’s Most Iconic American Companies list earlier this year. But according to a Brand Keys survey, Jeep is America’s Most Patriotic Brand, and rivals still cannot catch up. That’s because Jeep has held the title since the survey began in 2001, marking its 25th consecutive win this year. For 2026, Brand Keys surveyed more tha

An Anniversary With Monthly Surprises Jeep is gearing up for its 85th birthday in 2026, but rather than dropping just one anniversary edition and calling it a day, the brand is rolling out a year-long celebration called Twelve 4 Twelve. Basically, every month, a new special-edition Wrangler arrives, each one spotlighting a different piece of Jeep’s story. Things started strong in November with the Wrangler Moab 392, a V8 brute built for serious off-roaders. December goes a bit differently with t

The Price Of Uniqueness What's interesting about the U.S. car market is that it represents a benchmark for major automotive manufacturers. It is also, however, its own ecosystem that makes it different from the rest of the world. Because of America's preferences and market demands, some models aren't available stateside, but these missing models could actually be best sellers in the U.S. One model, the Jeep Meridian, has received an update that might be a good buy for Americans if it ever gets

The previous-generation Jeep Cherokee has new blemishes on its reliability and safety reputation. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the 2019-2023 Cherokee is facing a recall potentially impacting 61,711 vehicles whose power transfer units (PTUs) may fail. When this happens while driving, it can result in a loss of power, and when this happens while parked, the vehicle could roll away, potentially crashing into obstacles despite being left in park. In fact, an accid

Celebrating Legacy There are very few brands that have the same status and history as Jeep. In fact, if you look at most automakers today, Jeep stands as an institution for staying true to its roots, yet it is still widely regarded as a leader in its segment. As a testament to Jeep's status, the brand is celebrating a huge milestone; in 2025, Jeep turned 85. As part of the celebration, the brand launched the Twelve 4 Twelve series, a new special-edition model that will debut on the 12th of every

Time's a Changin' 2025 was a turning point year for EVs, not just globally but, more importantly, in the United States. While the rest of the world stopped buying due to other concerns, one major reason the U.S. stopped was the removal of the $7,500 tax credit for EV purchases just before Q4 of 2025. This saw panic buying in Q3, following a major sales slump in Q4. Numbers don't lie: EV sales dropped 46% in Q4 compared to the previous quarter. More alarmingly, in 2025, EVs accounted for only 5.8

Jeep has been leaning into its roots lately with what they call their "Convoy Campaign." So far, we've seen unique models like the Gladiator Shadow Ops and Wrangler Willys 392. Now the Jeep Gladiator will get a nostalgic appearance package called Whitecap. It is a simple, low-cost add-on that gives the pickup a classic two-tone look inspired by early Jeeps. Small updates like this also show why Jeep remains a key pillar for Stellantis during a turbulent period. A Heritage Look Without The Hefty

Trouble In 4xe Land The reliability concerns surrounding the 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain have haunted some Jeep owners, and this case reported by StacheD Training shows why. This Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe owner was left dealing with a financial burden after her vehicle experienced thermal runaway, and now, neither Stellantis nor her insurer, State Farm, appears to be giving her an easy time. StacheD Training shared a video of the parked Grand Cherokee 4xe releasing smoke as the thermal runaway u

Grand Cherokee V8 Comeback Teased by Lead Engineer Joe Aljajawi, lead engineer for the WL-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, has hinted that the Hemi V8 may not be gone for good. In an interview with The Drive, Aljajawi stopped short of confirming a return but delivered a clear message to loyalists. “I would say for the Grand Cherokee customers that we are listening to you, and then stay tuned for more,” he said. For a brand that officially pulled the plug on the V8 just two years ago, that phrasi

Jeep has solved the biggest safety problem of the Wrangler and Gladiator, and that is the off-road SUV and truck’s tendency to roll over. Interestingly, the news doesn’t come courtesy of the automaker but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which recently crash-tested the 2026 Jeep Wrangler 4-door off-roader. During the driver-side small overlap crash test, the vehicle remained upright, with the independent safety watchdog noting in a statement that this is a sign Jeep has resolve

The Gladiator is Getting its Stick Shift Back The Jeep Wrangler remains one of the most affordable ways to get a manual SUV today. That alone makes it an outlier in a market that has largely abandoned the format. For Jeep, it is not just about cost. It is about identity and maintaining a connection to its off-road roots. The Jeep Gladiator used to mirror that formula. Buyers could once pair the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with a six-speed manual. That option was quietly discontinued for the 2025 refr

The Celebration Expands Across the Lineup Jeep turns 85 this year, and the brand is leaning into its legacy of building vehicles for people who want to get outside and go further. The anniversary kicked off with the Twelve 4 Twelve campaign, which means we’ll see a new special-edition Wrangler every month until the end of 2026. One of the first big moves was bringing back a HEMI-powered Wrangler. The Moab 392 puts a V8 under the hood again, and Jeep says it’s because customers kept asking for it