Lucid may have just delayed plans for a cheaper, mass-market model, but that doesn’t mean the EV manufacturer wants to let its current range go stale. Enter the Gravity GT-S, a new high-performance flagship SUV that follows in the footsteps of the Air Sapphire.

Premiering at Monterey Car Week, the perfect location for a high-end, high-priced vehicle like this, the Gravity GT-S doesn’t look much different than the standard model, retaining most of the SUV’s subtle and sophisticated lines, while introducing just a few design tweaks.

Read: After Less Than A Year, This Lucid Gravity Lost Over $30,000

Chief among the changes are several blue exterior accents, including the brake calipers. The blue touches continue into the cabin of the Gravity GT-S, with blue stitching and piping on the steering wheel, door armrests, and front center armrest, as well as blue seat belts. The Lucid Bear has also been embossed onto the front seat headrests.

Performance is what really sets the Gravity GT-S apart from lesser models in the line-up. Thanks to upgraded motors, it now delivers 1,070 hp, the type of power which was once reserved for million-dollar hypercars, but is now becoming far more accessible thanks to high-end EVs like this.

How Quick Is It?

Lucid hasn’t quoted any weight figures for the Gravity GT-S, but notes the all-wheel drive traction allows it to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 3.1 seconds. No quarter-mile time has been released, but given how quickly the Air Sapphire can power down the drag strip, expect to see the Gravity GT-S return times in the mid-9-second range, if not a little quicker.

Working alongside the upgraded powertrain is Lucid’s Dynamic Handling Package, now installed as standard. This upgrade includes independent rear-wheel drive and adaptive three-chamber air suspension, which automatically adjusts the ride height based on vehicle speed.

While Lucid says it’s opened orders for the Gravity GT-S, with prices starting from $125,900 excluding tax, title, license, options, and destination and delivery fees, it has failed to mention when customers can expect to take delivery. The only option will be a Tahoe leather interior, priced at $1,300.

“With Lucid Gravity GT-S, we’ve created a more expressive and exhilarating interpretation of the Gravity SUV,” Lucid chief creative officer Derek Jenkins said. “It combines extraordinary performance with the comfort, space, and versatility that define Gravity, delivering an exceptional experience for our customers that is uniquely Lucid.”

With the R2 trickling into the hands of owners, Rivian is revamping the R1T and R1S. The changes started earlier this year with the elimination of the entry-level Dual Standard variants and is continuing for the 2027 model year.

As part of an effort to sharpen their flagship status, the R1 lineup has been simplified into three “curated” trims. The R1 Premium has a dual-motor all-wheel drive system developing 533 hp and 610 lb-ft of torque, which enables it to accelerate from 0-60 mph in as little as 4.5 seconds. Customers can also order a $5,000 performance upgrade, which increases the output to 665 hp and 829 lb-ft. This lowers the 0-60 time to 3.4 seconds.

More: Rivian Revives Its Forest Edge Cabin And Wants $9,000 For It

The R1T Premium has a range of 300 miles, while the R1S can travel 329 miles between charges. If that’s not far enough, a $7,000 long range battery increases the distance to 410 miles on the R1S and 380 miles on the R1T.

The R1 Performance family has a tri-motor powertrain producing 850 hp and 1,103 lb-ft of torque. This drops the 0-60 mph time to as little as 2.9 seconds, while both models are rated at 371 miles of range.

While the Dual and Tri names were phased out, Rivian kept the Quad moniker for the range-topping R1. It has 1,025 hp and 1,198 lb-ft of torque, which enables the models to hit 60 mph in as little as 2.5 seconds. Buyers will also find a range of up to 374 miles, depending on which tires and wheels they opt for.

Small Changes Inside And Out

Besides revamped trim names, Rivian has updated the cabin. The Performance and Quad have three Signature interiors known as Slate Sky, Black Mountain, and Ocean Coast. They have colorful seats as well as walnut, ash, or weathered driftwood trim.

Speaking of the cabin, Rivian has finally listened to consumers and delivered the “most requested interior feature to date.” It’s second-row captain’s chairs in the R1S and they cost a whopping $4,000 on the entry-level Premium. However, they’re only $1,500 on the Performance and Quad.

The new six-seat configuration sees the crossover outfitted with heated, second-row captain’s chairs that are separated by a small pass-through. The seats are also notable for featuring integrated cup holders that fold down.

On the styling front, there isn’t much to report but the R1T and R1S gain a new color known as Esker Silver. The R1T Premium also rides on a new 20-inch Adventure wheel, which is wrapped in all-season rubber.

The 2027 Rivian R1 configurator is already live and pricing starts at $79,990 for the R1T and $83,990 for the R1S.

Ford’s long-promised affordable EV program has finally taken physical form. The 3-million-square-foot Louisville Assembly Plant that once built gas-powered vehicles is no longer just a familiar factory with a few new robots. Ford stripped it to its shell, spent $2 billion rebuilding it, and is now preparing it for the $28,350 Fathom electric pickup. The result is a very expensive experiment.

According to Ford’s latest progress update, production-qualified Fathom prototypes should begin rolling off the line in the first quarter of 2027. Customer trucks will follow later that year. The Fathom is the first vehicle on Ford’s new Universal EV platform and carries a $28,350 starting MSRP before its $1,595 destination charge. Ford still hasn’t revealed the range, payload, towing capacity, or most of the other figures truck buyers will care about.

Read: Ford Promised A Sub-$30K Electric Truck, The Fathom Came In At $28,350

For now, the story is the factory and how production will work. Instead of sending a mostly complete body shell down one long line, Ford splits each Fathom into three sections: the front clip, rear clip, and a structural battery-and-interior assembly. Workers outfit those sections in parallel, then bolt and bond them into a finished truck.

The front and rear sections rely on large aluminum unicastings that replace dozens of stamped and welded components. Meanwhile, the battery serves as the truck’s structural floor. That means workers can install a seat before there’s even a cabin structure in the way, rather than squeezing through a doorway with tools in hand.

There’s real potential here beyond the usual manufacturing buzzwords. Ford says the system reduces the need to reach over a fender by 84 percent. It also says the Fathom’s wiring harness is more than 4,000 feet shorter and 22 pounds lighter than the one in its first-generation electric SUV. Less twisting, less reaching, fewer parts, and fewer chances to mess something up all sound like wins. Especially for a brand so closely associated with recalls of late.

Ford says the plant will allow it to build cars 15 percent faster than its current Louisville products. A new software-flash station can even update modules while the truck moves through the plant rather than holding it up after assembly. Now, we just have to wait and see if this new production plan pays off. It’ll take a lot of $30k EV pickup truck sales to make a $2B investment look smart. But the real play here could be insight and experience that could spread to other Ford products.

Photos: Ford

Acura is celebrating its 40th anniversary at Monterey Car Week with a sharp two-seat sports car named the Nexera Vision. The bad news arrives fast, as the concept isn’t headed for a showroom. Instead, it previews where the brand’s design is going, and its influence will surface on future products including the upcoming RDX Hybrid SUV.

The concept plants itself with an aggressive stance, a long hood falling away toward a low, sharp nose. Its bodywork wears a Matte Titanium finish that puts the clean surfacing along the profile on full display, and that surfacing owes its tension to a generous dash-to-axle ratio,

More: Acura Plans A Bigger SUV Than The MDX And Is Calling It The XL

The exterior’s headline act is the new phantom lighting signature, with LED headlights and taillights that stay hidden until they’re switched on. The V-shaped units draw from the Acura emblem and will reach production vehicles soon, beginning with the next-gen RDX Hybrid. Acura fans have already seen these lights on the recent Acura Hybrid SUV Prototype, which previews the production RDX.

Acura

The rest of the exterior keeps pace with large dual-hinge butterfly doors, an aerodynamic greenhouse, air channels on the nose, an active rear spoiler and a forged carbon bodykit. The six-spoke 22-inch center-lock wheels use a 3D directional design and pair a matte anodized finish with forged carbon inserts and Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes.

More: Acura’s 1980s Retro Dealership Is A Better Ad Than Anything It’s Running Now

The interior was designed to be futuristic, minimalist, and sustainable. Rather than lean on screens, Acura went with a curved digital instrument cluster behind the yoke-shaped steering wheel. The goal was to eliminate distractions, evoking memories of the Honda S2000.

To reach the lowest possible seating position, the bucket seats are fixed to the floor, so the driver moves the steering wheel and pedal box instead. The cabin runs a black-and-white theme with pink accents. On materials, Acura used CircuLeather upholstery that claims a lower carbon footprint, plus Alcantara made from post-consumer recycled polyester, recycled aluminum, and forged carbon details.

The concept came out of the Acura Design California studio in Los Angeles. Yasutake Tsuchida, Acura Creative Director and Vice President of Auto Design, who oversaw the project, said:

“Our goal with this new design direction is to define Acura performance through disciplined proportions, sculpted form and the seamless integration of advanced technology, creating an expression that is both progressive and authentic to the brand.”

More: Acura Is Going All-In On Hybrids, Honda Is Keeping Gas Cars Affordable

Tsuchida added that the Nexera Vision “sets the course for the next generation of Acura design, and we are committed to evolving that direction with clarity, consistency and purpose across future Acura products.”

Acura shared nothing about what powers the concept. The packaging, though, hints at a fully electric powertrain.

More: Honda Took A $16 Billion Bath On EVs, So Now Wants More EVs On A Platform That Can Switch Sides

The Acura Nexera Vision makes its public debut at The Quail on August 14, then appears at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Concept Lawn on August 16.

Acura

The company doesn’t mention plans to turn the concept into a production car, though it says that elements of its exterior and interior will reach the future Acura lineup soon. A warm public reaction could still push it toward development.

The Nexera Vision continues a line of two-door sports car concepts from Acura, including the HSC (Honda Sports Concept) from 2004, the Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept from 2007, and the NSX Concept from 2012, which evolved into the hybrid production supercar of the same name.

Acura

Some cars spend their first 110 miles (177 km) gently running errands and getting photographed by their excited new owners. This Rivian R2 took a rather different path. Barely out of the wrapper, the electric SUV has already been crashed and is now waiting for a new home through a salvage auction.

Rivian only opened the R2 configurator on its retail site at the end of May, and strong demand means anyone joining the queue for a new one today won’t receive it until 2027. But somehow this R2 has already been delivered, driven, bent and left in a dusty lot while it waits for a second owner to rescue it.

Related: Bad News Rivian Flippers, A Day One Holder’s R2 Cleared Sticker By Just $2,015

The Launch Green SUV’s passenger-side front fender has taken the obvious hit. It’s crumpled inward, exposing a cracked fender liner, while the outer wheel arch trim has detached and is dangling rather sadly on the ground next to the 21-inch wheel.

IAA

At first glance, it doesn’t look catastrophic. The damage appears concentrated around the fender rather than extending into the passenger door, potentially making this seem like an easy repair and a sneaky way into an R2 without joining the backlog. Unfortunately, there are a couple of reasons not to start celebrating just yet.

First, the IAA auction listing identifies suspension damage as a secondary issue, suggesting there’s more going on underneath than the photos immediately reveal. And the photos show multiple airbags have deployed. Second, experience with the larger R1S has shown that damaged Rivians can generate repair bills rather more intimidating than you might expect from similarly bruised mainstream Ford or Chevy SUVs.

656 HP And AWD

IAA

But it could still be worth the effort. This must be an R2 Performance Launch Package, currently the only version Rivian is delivering. It starts at $57,990, with slower, more affordable variants coming later this year and then in 2027.

That $58k gets you dual-motor all-wheel drive developing 656 hp (489 kW / 665 PS) and 609 lb-ft (825 Nm) of torque. Rivian says it’ll rocket from 0–60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.6 seconds while delivering 330 miles (531 km) of range. We just hope the owner (presuming this wasn’t a demo car) got to experience that punch at least once before they wrecked it. Although you have to consider that maybe trying that 656 hp out is why it now looks like it does.

IAA

Well, there’s no way that this information will be controversial at all. A new study out of MIT appears to completely crush the claim that EVs simply move pollution from the tailpipe to a smokestack. The analysis tackled the variables usually missing from that argument, like where drivers live, what powers their grid, what they drive, how far they travel, and even the weather. 

Its conclusion isn’t that EVs are perfect. It’s that battery-electric vehicles beat comparable gas cars on lifecycle emissions across the U.S., including where electricity still comes heavily from fossil fuels.

Published in Environmental Research Letters, the MIT-led research first reported by InsideEVs found that EVs cut emissions by 40 to 60 percent in most locations. That’s not cherry-picking statistics either. The researchers considered vehicle and battery manufacturing, fuel and electricity production, regional grids, local temperatures, vehicle types, and how people actually drive. Re-read that maybe, because that’s a dearth of variables and considerations.

Read: Should Fossil Fuel Ads Be Banned Like Tobacco

The reason is pretty simple. Internal-combustion engines waste an enormous amount of the fuel they burn as heat. EVs lose energy too, including at the power plant and during transmission, but electric motors are so much more efficient that they retain a massive advantage even after those losses are counted. A dirty grid narrows the gap. It doesn’t magically erase it.

What The Study Doesn’t Claim

Before the angry comments come in, though, it’s worth being clear about what this study does and doesn’t say. It is a lifecycle greenhouse-gas analysis, so battery production is already in the equation. But it doesn’t claim EVs have no environmental cost, nor does it settle every issue people may cram under the word “green.”

Mining, water use, local air pollution, labor practices, battery recycling, and grid reliability all deserve their own scrutiny. Like every model, its results also depend on assumptions about battery life, manufacturing, charging behavior, and future electricity mixes. Those details can affect the size of an EV’s advantage from place to place.

Still, the core finding holds. Even with the country’s most carbon-intensive electricity mix, the researchers found battery EVs do not increase lifecycle emissions compared to combustion vehicles. That’s a remarkably direct answer to the smokestack argument.

The Grid Only Gets Cleaner

And the picture should keep improving. The EIA says wind and solar accounted for a record 19 percent of U.S. electricity generation in 2025. Every cleaner kilowatt-hour makes the EV already in your driveway cleaner to run. A gas car gets no such upgrade. It just keeps burning gas. You can prefer an ICE car. That’s fine. Plenty of us do. But pretending a fossil-fueled grid turns an EV into a gas car isn’t skepticism. At this point, it’s simply ignoring the evidence.

Rather than combining its European emissions with the Volkswagen Group across 2026-2027, Porsche will pool its figures with Chinese automaker Xpeng, according to a new report citing analyst Matthias Schmidt. The move puts the VW Group in a stronger position to hit its targets and steer clear of expensive fines, since carving Porsche out of the group average pulls that number in the right direction.

In 2025, the VW Group’s average European emissions, Porsche included, landed at 100 g/km, above the EU’s mandate of 93.6 g/km. Miss those targets and the conglomerate could be on the hook for as much as €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) in fines across 2025-2027. As it stands, the penalty runs €95 ($109) per gram of CO2 over the limit, per vehicle.

Read: Xpeng CEO Eyes US Launch, Suggests Company Could Build Plants In America

Porsche would likely weigh on the broader VW Group because its local EV sales have slipped, driven mostly by softening demand for the Taycan and the all-electric Macan. The brand has also pivoted back toward combustion-powered models.

There’s no word on how much Porsche is paying Xpeng to pool their emissions, but the company has clearly decided the cost beats pushing the VW Group over the limit and eating a fine. According to Auto News, Xpeng sold roughly 19,000 EVs across Europe in the first six months of this year, up 126 percent.

The Porsche and Xpeng pool remains open so other car manufacturers can choose to enter it should they wish. Pools can be joined until December 31. Two other important pools include a Tesla one, which includes Ford, Honda, Mazda, and Suzuki, as well as a Mercedes-Benz pool with Volvo, Polestar, and Smart.

It might look odd for Porsche to team up with Xpeng, but the VW Group already has a tight relationship with the automaker in China, where the two are developing a shared architecture and several new models together.

Automakers recently waved the white flag and decided to adopt the North American Charging Standard popularized by Tesla. On top of that, they signed up to gain access to the company’s massive Supercharger Network, which consists of more than 80,000 chargers globally.

While Tesla is the gold standard, they’re not the best. That’s according to a new study, which examined the user experience at various charging stations.

More: Tesla’s V4 Set The Bar At 500 kW, ChargePoint Just Made It Look Slow

Conducted by JD Power, the U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Public Charging Study found Ionna provided the best experience. The firm – which is backed by numerous automakers including BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes, Stellantis and Toyota – operates a handful of “Rechargeries” across the country.

Despite coming out on top, Ionna has big gaps as there are zero stations in Michigan and only one in New York. However, the company inked a deal with Circle K earlier this year, which will see more than 350 gas stations outfitted with Rechargeries.

Second place went to the Mercedes-Benz Charging Network, which has a handful of locations mostly in the south and on the east coast. The final podium position was taken by the Rivian Adventure Network, which is “planned to grow to more than 3,500 fast chargers at over 600 sites across the US and Canada.”

Tesla came in fourth place, which is pretty surprising. Of course, McDonalds also has a lot of locations and you certainly wouldn’t say they have the best hamburger in America.

Rounding out the list is Red E, Electrify America, EVgo, and ChargePoint. As you’ve probably noticed, consumers clearly prefer automaker-back charging networks over ones from private companies.

EV Charging Experience Largely Improves

While the rankings are surprising, the study found satisfaction with DC fast chargers improved. The overall score climbed 12 points to 666 out of 1,000, and JD Power said all ten attributes improved. The biggest gains were charger availability (+27), how safe customers feel at charging locations (+18), and charging cost (+18).

The good news didn’t end there as EV drivers are being greeted by fewer broken chargers. According to the study, the “industry non-charge visit rate” dropped to an all-time low of 12%. That’s down from 14% last quarter and JD Power said the newer OEM-backed networks had the “lowest failure rates.”

It wasn’t all good news as satisfaction with slower, Level 2 public chargers dropped 12 points from a year ago. This was largely due to problems related to “ease of payment and ease of charging.” Drivers were also underwhelmed by DC fast chargers located at dealerships and stand-alone parking lots or garages.

JD Power’s executive director of EV solutions, Brent Gruber, said “The public charging experience is becoming more consistent, and that’s critical as the EV market matures.” He added “data consistently shows that public charging is the top reason new-vehicle shoppers reject EVs,” so these improvements “go a long way toward supporting the infrastructure needed to meet the rise in forecasted EV sales in the coming years.”

The all-electric Genesis GV90 is nearly here, and ahead of its launch, a batch of key technical details has surfaced online courtesy of South Korea’s Ministry of Environment. The filings show the GV90 gets a larger battery pack than the related Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, along with more power.

Read: Genesis Is Really Putting Rolls-Royce Coach Doors On Its New Flagship

Found under the skin of the GV90 will be a sizeable 123.52 kWh gross battery pack with a usable 115 kWh capacity. By comparison, the biggest pack offered for the Kia EV9 is 99.8 kWh gross or 96 kWh usable, while the largest pack available for the Hyundai Ioniq 9 is 110.3 kWh gross, which works out to be roughly 106 kWh usable.

SHproshots

The emissions certification document published in Korea and shared online by The Korean Car Blog then notes the GV90 will have a 322 hp front-mounted electric motor, while at the rear there will be a 335-hp unit. Combined, it works out to be 657 hp. Given the GV90 will tip the scales at 6,680 lbs (3,030 kg), it needs all the power it can get.

The paperwork also lists the GV90 as having a combined driving range of 481 km (299 miles), as well as a city range of 503 km (312 miles) and a highway range of 453 km (281 miles). While this may not sound very impressive given the size of the battery, Korea’s testing procedure is stricter than the WLTP cycle in Europe, so the European range is expected to be around 580 km (360 miles), while in the US, the range will probably end up close to 300 miles.

SHproshots

It’s unclear if the GV90 will be offered with other battery pack and electric motor options, or if this powerful model will be the only version. Both six- and seven-seat versions are mentioned in the data.

Design-wise, the GV90 will follow in the footsteps of the Neolun Concept from 2024. No doubt the highlight will be the rear-facing suicide doors and black B-pillars, something largely unheard of for a vehicle expected to play in this price bracket.

Genesis Neolun Concept

Kia has revealed pricing for the 2027 EV3, the cheapest EV it sells in the US. The starting figure lands under $30k, and the SUV carries design and tech cues from the flagship three-row EV9.

The entry-level Kia EV3 Light starts at $29,890, roughly $10k less than the discontinued Niro EV ($39,600). It also slips under rivals including the Volvo EX30 ($40,345), the Chevrolet Equinox EV ($34,995), the Hyundai Kona Electric ($32,975), and the Nissan Leaf ($29,990).

More: Kia’s Affordable Niro Gets An Upscale Makeover For 2027 And Drops The EV

At the top of the range, the flagship EV3 GT reaches $45,890. That figure overlaps entry-level RWD versions of larger electric crossovers such as the Tesla Model Y ($39,990) and the Ford Mustang Mach-E ($37,795).

The EV3 Lineup

Kia EV3 GT Line

The EV3 range runs through Light, Wind, Land, GT-Line and GT trims. The cheapest Light comes only with a single electric motor making 201 hp (204 PS / 150 kW) and a 58.3 kWh battery good for 221 miles (356 km) of EPA range. Standard kit includes dual 12.3-inch screens, a six-speaker stereo, 17-inch alloys, rear privacy glass, and an ADAS suite.

More: 2027 Kia Seltos Has A Higher Price To Match Its More Upscale Design

The mid-spec Wind and Land step up to the larger 81.4 kWh battery, which pushes range to 321 miles (517 km), and both can be optioned with the dual-motor AWD setup producing 261 hp (265 PS / 195 kW). On equipment, the Wind adds a battery heater, SynTex upholstery, heated seats and a 10-way power driver’s seat, while the Land adds 19-inch wheels, ventilated seats, taller roof rails, a power sunroof, a smart tailgate and more.

Kia EV3 GT Line

The higher-spec GT-Line and GT come in AWD only, with the GT lifting output to 288 hp (292 PS / 215 kW) alongside a sportier suspension and steering tune. Both use the 81.4 kWh battery for 280 miles (451 km) of EPA range. The EV3 handles 350kW DC fast charging through its NACS port, so a 10-80% top-up takes around 31 minutes.

More: Kia’s Next Sportage Is Getting A Rugged Redesign

The GT-Line and GT models are visually distinguished by different bumpers, though only the more powerful GT gets the machined 19-inch wheels with Neon Green brake calipers. Both include Harman Kardon audio, V2L capability, a heat pump, and power-folding mirrors, with the GT adding a 12-inch head-up display and sport seats with suede inserts.

Finally, also offers the Nightfall Package, which brings black 19-inch alloys, matching exterior accents, bridge-type roof rails, and a dark gray interior. Below are the prices for every EV3 trim in the US, excluding a $1,495 destination fee.

2027 Kia EV3 US Pricing

Cadillac began Celestiq deliveries last summer, and the ultra-luxury sedan has been slowly trickling into the hands of wealthy buyers. One of the latest to be hand-built in Michigan is this moody 2027 model known as the Night Test.

The specially commissioned Celestiq draws inspiration from Cadillac’s race cars and wears a midnight blue exterior with two-tone wheels sporting a dark finish. The model also trades its usual brightwork for subdued, low-contrast accents.

More: Cadillac Delivers Another Celestiq As The Brand Looks Beyond EVs

The dark and moody styling continues inside, where you’ll find black and white seats with contrasting vertical accents in the center. We can also see metallic door trim as well as carbon fiber on the center console. They’re joined by a familiar panoramic glass roof and two individual rear seats.

Cadillac said the “one-of-one example demonstrates how a bespoke vehicle can embody a singular creative vision, with every visual and tactile detail contributing to a disciplined, unmistakable atmosphere.” They added the Night Test “evokes moments of solitude when perfection is its own reward.”

The resulting design looks pretty classy, and it should, as the car likely cost around $400,000. As a refresher, the Celestiq has a 111 kWh battery pack that feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive system developing 655 hp (488 kW / 664 PS) and 646 lb-ft (875 Nm) of torque. This enables the 217.2-inch (5,517 mm) long car to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3.7 seconds and travel around 303 miles (488 km) on a single charge.

Putting the electric powertrain aside, the Celestiq sports a 55-inch pillar-to-pillar display, an 11-inch Front Command Center, and an 8-inch Rear Command Center. Customers will also find two 12.6-inch rear passenger displays as well as the Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system.

Zeekr, one of China’s most popular premium EV and hybrid manufacturers, has quickly reacted to a clip spreading across local social media showing a 7X catching fire while parked at a charging station. According to the Geely-owned brand, this particular 7X had been in a collision beforehand and had never had its repairs inspected.

In the video, the driver of the 7X can be spotted leaning over the frunk while parked at a charging station, although the electric SUV wasn’t actually plugged in. Moments later, sparks and flames can be seen violently spewing out from the underside, triggering a plume of smoke to fill the air.

Read: Zeekr’s Biggest, Plushest SUV Rolls Into Europe With 897 HP To Take On The BMW X7

For a few seconds, it seems the 7X had decided against setting itself on fire. Then sparks and flames erupt from the rear, swallowing large sections of the SUV as the battery pack keeps throwing off sparks. A bystander, presumably the driver, grabs a fire extinguisher and manages to smother the flames.

The incident happened on Sunday in Ningbo City, and local fire crews arrived quickly and brought everything under control, CarNewsChina reports.

A PR Problem, And An Unanswered Question

Obviously, the sight of an EV seemingly randomly catching fire while parked isn’t the type of publicity any car manufacturer would want. Zeekr quickly sought to quell fears among owners, stating its initial investigation had revealed this 7X had previously been involved in a collision and that it had not been properly inspected or reported at a Zeekr facility.

However, the company has yet to provide an explanation as to what exactly triggered the blaze, although it certainly looks to be battery-related.

Like so many other brands in China, Zeekr initially launched exclusively in its home country, but it is embarking on an ambitious overseas expansion. In addition to already launching in markets like Australia, it has also arrived in Europe, selling its premium EVs and hybrids at prices that easily undercut similar vehicles from legacy rivals like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.

Few things grate more than driving at night while an oncoming car’s headlights sear your retinas. Usually that’s just the price of the powerful LEDs bolted to most new cars, but on certain Model 3s and Model Ys, Tesla has admitted the low beams genuinely exceed the maximum intensity allowed in the US, which is what triggered the recall.

The recall impacts 2017-2023 Tesla Model 3s and thousands of 2020-2023 Tesla Model Ys. According to Tesla, the headlights, sourced from Marelli Automotive Lighting, exceed the permitted intensity in the outer upper-right and outer upper-left areas. As Tesla’s recall notice rightly points out, this could reduce visibility for the driver and other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.

Read: Over 150 Complaints Of Teslas Losing Front Suspension Just Put 1.2 Million Under Probe

Interestingly, while the recall impacts Model 3 and Model Y vehicles from several different model years, surprisingly few vehicles are impacted. In the case of the Model 3, 1,614 examples are being recalled, all of which were manufactured from July 24, 2017, to December 2, 2023.

As for the Model Y, a total of 18,735 need to be repaired. These were built between February 11, 2020, and December 24, 2023.

An Issue Uncovered In Canada

Tesla became aware of a potential issue on January 16, 2024, several months after Transport Canada’s annual compliance program found the low beam headlights of a 2019 Tesla Model 3 failed to comply with local safety standards. The automaker first announced a recall related to the fault on March 9, 2024, and a few weeks later, petitioned the NHTSA for an exemption, claiming the fault was inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. The NHTSA denied this petition three weeks ago.

Most of the Model 3s and Model Ys impacted by this latest recall are the same as those originally covered by the 2024 recall. However, Tesla has added 432 vehicles to the list after discovering non-compliant headlights continued to be used in service longer than it had originally thought. Tesla is still working on a fix.

Jaguar has released the first official images of the Type 01 interior, ahead of the model’s debut on October 6. The four-seater cabin of this electric GT runs on straight lines, concealed compartments, and retro-inspired shapes and colorways, along with “hidden-until-needed technology” that carries over the same minimalist and divisive design language Jaguar used on the exterior. Love it or hate it, the cabin commits to the same idea.

More: Jaguar’s 1,000-HP Answer To Bentley Looks Nothing Like The Jaguar You Knew

The production interior traces directly back to the Type 00 concept, with the wilder details reined in for the real world. Jaguar held onto the central spine, which cuts the cabin into two halves and locks capacity at four occupants. The automaker describes an interior that “shrinks around the driver with a low seating position that cossets and inspires confidence,” which is a lot of words for a snug cockpit.

The Screens, Or Lack Of Them

The driver faces a large digital instrument cluster that stands in for the traditional infotainment screen missing from the center stack, and it covers everything from speed to navigation. Jaguar has skipped a separate display for the front passenger as well. Backing up the cluster is a mirror-replacing screen called the “ClearSight Rear View Display,” set at the base of the windscreen, plus a small smartphone-style touchscreen that pokes out of the center console. That touchscreen holds the climate and media controls, and what look like haptic buttons sit on either side of the two-spoke steering wheel’s central hub, home to the new Jaguar logo.

More: Jaguar’s 1,000 HP Type 01 Is Chasing Bentley Money And Influencers On Monaco’s Streets

Screens aren’t the only thing Jaguar kept to a minimum, at least by today’s standards. Physical buttons are nearly absent, with only the window switches visible in these photos.

Hidden Compartments And Surprise Touches

Jaguar said the vehicle has “concealed compartments, hidden-until-needed technologies and unexpected moments of color,” which hints that occupants might be met with a few surprises. The large center console should hide storage cubbies as well. Shots from other angles show a floating center tunnel, a panoramic sunroof and ambient lighting strips along the doors. The production model does without a rear windscreen, following the example of the Avatr 12 and Polestar 4.

A ’70s Palette Reworked

Jaguar

The color palette draws from “travertine stone and the rich textures of artisan textiles,” giving off ’70s concept car vibes. Cream and brown upholstery meets brass accents on the central spine, while the door cards carry embedded Jaguar leapers. Linear graphics visually merge the hood and the dashboard for a retro-futuristic feel, with the same motif echoed on the steering wheel.

Thomas Holden, Jaguar’s Chief Interior Designer, said:

“Our holistic design philosophy translates the vehicle’s exterior presence into a distinctive interior architecture. In contrast to the horizontal interior design norm, we emphasise its dramatic longitudinal nature through the central spine – an architectural statement that creates four individual spaces. With authentic materials, technology on demand and reductive flowing surfaces, Type 01 presents unmistakable drama and theatre that will define the modern luxury automotive interior of the future.”.

The Hardware Underneath

Jaguar / Instagram

The production GT rides on a brand-new EV-dedicated Jaguar Electric Architecture (JEA). The company is targeting a range beyond 400 miles (644 km) on the EPA cycle, or 700 km (435 miles) on the WLTP cycle, from a 120 kWh battery pack, and output north of 986 hp (735 kW / 1,000 PS) from an AWD tri-motor setup. Jaguar has also confirmed 959 lb-ft of torque.

More: Jaguar Benchmarked Its Electric GT Against One Classic Above All Others

The Jaguar Type 01 prototype will appear at Pebble Beach Concours on August 16 wearing a new camouflage wrap. The full reveal of the production EV is set for October 6 in New York.

Electric vehicles have historically been more expensive than ICE-powered vehicles, but new data has revealed that last year, the average global prices for EVs were below those of hybrids. As you’d probably expect, this is largely due to the growing number of budget EVs from China hitting the roads across the world.

By looking at average sticker prices without accounting for subsidies, and weighting them based on sales volume, Mobility Global determined that last year, EVs typically averaged around $37,000, reports Nikkei Asia. This is down 9 percent from 2020. Over the same period, average hybrid prices rose 16 percent to $39,000.

This comes primarily thanks to falling lithium-ion battery costs, which have fallen by 37 percent between 2020 and 2025. The battery pack typically accounts for 30-40 percent of an EV’s overall cost. BloombergNEF attributes much of that decline to a capacity glut in China, which controls roughly 80 percent of the battery market.

Read: The World’s Biggest EV Market Just Went Into Reverse After Years Of Growth

Importantly, a growing number of EVs are also adopting lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, free from cobalt, which frequently experiences significant fluctuations in prices. While LFP batteries have traditionally been considered less energy-dense, their performance has been improving. Renault and Volkswagen said last year that they would adopt the chemistry.

China’s Global Expansion

The ongoing global expansion of EV firms from China has played a crucial role in reducing average prices. In 2020, fewer than 100,000 electric cars were exported from China, whereas last year, that figure soared to 1.64 million units.

As noted by Nikkei Asia, emerging markets could follow in the footsteps of nations including Norway and China, where EVs are hitting the roads at a rapid pace. Across Southeast Asia and South America, for example, electric models are typically cheaper than the average hybrid. In Thailand specifically, Chinese brands currently make up almost 30 percent of new car sales.

ICE Prices Went the Other Way

Pricing data shows that while average EV prices have decreased over the past five years, average ICE prices have actually increased slightly. As this has happened, prices of plug-in hybrids have decreased considerably, likely also reflecting falling prices of lithium-iron batteries.

Adding fuel to EV demand in recent months is the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has driven a significant surge in oil prices. When gas gets more expensive, the math on an electric car starts to look better to a lot more buyers.

Volkswagen’s commercial division is bringing two premieres worth a look to the Caravan Salon 2026 in Germany. The headliner is the ID. California Cruise concept, which previews an entire family of electric campers. Next to it sits a California Beach kitted out with inflatable kitchen and bed modules, the idea being that one vehicle can handle the daily commute and the weekend escape without asking you to pick a side.

Starting with the ID. California Cruise, the company has yet to publish photos but confirmed it will be based on the ID. Buzz platform. The concept is expected to go a step further than the already available Good Night kit, which adds a folding bed, window blinds, and a 48-hour climate control mode for €2,600 ($3,000).

More: VW’s $3K ID.Buzz Camping Kit Adds A Bed And Runs The A/C For Two Full Days

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

VW says the ID. California Cruise “lays the foundation for a new family of electric campervans set to arrive step by step through 2028”. The company had confirmed a California version of the ID. Buzz back in 2023, though the project stalled over worries about market demand. The rest of the details will land during Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, which runs from August 28 through September 6, 2026.

Blow-Up Camping

Alongside the electric concept, VW has revealed a pair of inflatable interior modules for the T7-based California Beach in partnership with startup Stuff Bubble. Instead of leaning on heavy, permanently mounted wooden cabinets and metal framing that eat into everyday usability, the two companies looked to kitesurfing, paragliding, and inflatable tent structures for the ultra-lightweight modular system.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

The inflatable kitchen measures 120 x 44 x 47.5 cm (47.2 x 17.3 x 18.7 in) and clips straight into the existing luggage shelf mounting rails of the California Beach. It weighs under 10 kg (22 lbs) and includes an integrated closed water circuit. A split design lets you use it inside the vehicle or pull it out and set it up at a campsite or a lakefront pitch.

More: VW Wants $72K For A Camper That Comes Without The Camper

The inflatable bed system features a breathable multi-layer construction measuring 200 x 134 cm (78.7 x 52.8 inches). It can be configured as a single bed weighing 6 kg (13.2 lbs) or a double bed weighing 12 kg (26.5 lbs). Combined with the upper pop-up roof bed, the van to sleep up to four adults.

One-Person Setup, Zero Dead Weight

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

VW claims that the kitchen and the bed can be installed and removed by a single person in a matter of minutes. The setup converts the van into a fully functional camper without forcing owners to haul around permanent additional weight during routine city driving. Furthermore, the modules can also be adapted to fit the rest of the Multivan T7 lineup, which recently gained subtle styling upgrades and new screens.

More: The New VW Caddy Gets The Golf’s Best Screen And Its Worst Touchscreen Habit

The inflatable modules will be showcased at the Caravan Salon in a California Beach. There, the automaker plans to gather customer feedback “to help shape future development” meaning we could be seeing the accessories enter production in the near future.

Stefan Mecha, CEO of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said that the new product “appeals to customers who do not want a permanently fitted interior but still want to enjoy the comforts of camping on spontaneous getaways, festival weekends or outdoor adventures.”

Cadillac has embraced customization and there’s no better example of that than Cadillac House. Located at the heart of the Warren Tech Center in Michigan, the building is where customers can go to commission their ultra-luxury Celestiq.

Once inside, buyers work with Celestiq designers as well as a personal concierge to craft a one-of-a-kind vehicle. As part of the visit, they’ll browse a “magic wall,” which houses automated panels that open to reveal a host of vehicle options. This includes dozens of paint colors, numerous upholstery options, an assortment of trims, and a handful of metal accent colors.

More: We Visit Cadillac House, Home Of The Celestiq

Last year, the Celestiq commissioning process inspired a new Curated by Cadillac program. It launched with the CT5-V Blackwing and is now expanding to the Escalade IQ.

Designed to set a “new standard in customized luxury,” the Curated by Cadillac Escalade IQ will offer customers more than 160 premium exterior colors and finishes. This includes everything from your typical solids and metallics to tri-coat paint jobs as well as matte and frost finishes.

While the $150,600 Escalade IQ Premium Luxury only offers three interior colors, the Curated by Cadillac version offers up to 44. This appears to include an assortment of two-tone designs including red and black as well as white and tan.

Given the wealth of options, customers and dealers will be supported by a dedicated design concierge. They’ll guide you through the customization process and inform you of your options. As part of this experience, buyers can expect “guided configurator sessions.”

Each vehicle will be hand-built at the Artisan Center in Warren, instead of the nearby Factory Zero. The models will be hand-painted, feature unique VINs, and come equipped with a serialized builder’s badge.

Unsurprisingly, this level of craftsmanship doesn’t come cheap as the Curated by Cadillac package costs $54,995 on top of the price of the Escalade IQ. This means buyers should expect to shell out more than $185,000 and well-equipped models could easily top $215,000.

The Curated by Cadillac Escalade IQ will be offered in “ultra-low” numbers in the United States and Canada. Deliveries are expected to begin in the second half of 2027 and a concept will debut at Monterey Car Week on August 14.

As a refresher, Cadillac’s flagship electric SUV has a 205 kWh battery pack that feeds a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system developing up to 750 hp (559 kW / 760 PS) and 785 lb-ft (1,063 Nm) of torque. This enables the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.7 seconds and travel up to 465 miles on electricity alone.

Yale Zhang is the managing director at the consultancy Automotive Foresight in Shanghai. He’s well-versed in the Chinese auto industry, and he knows all about the tariffs that keep its cars out of the USA. Despite them, he believes that Americans will force politicians to let Chinese cars into the USA sooner rather than later. Mexicans and Canadians with access to more affordable Chinese EVs could help sway them, too.

“[US carmakers] would face complaints from consumers who are supposed to enjoy affordable smart EVs [made by Chinese companies],” Zhang told the South China Morning Post. Mexico already has access to Chinese cars and benefits from the lower prices they can come with. Canada is also now opening up the way to sell Chinese cars after the start of a trade war with the USA.

More: Chinese Cars Got Cheap, So Toyota’s Are Getting More Expensive

Washington has made it abundantly clear that it sees Chinese vehicles as both an economic and a national-security concern. Chinese-built EVs face a 100 percent tariff, and connected-car rules make direct entry still harder. A Chinese badge on an American dealer lot is not exactly around the corner.

Plenty of new cars are wildly expensive, and affordable EVs remain even harder to find. Ford CEO Jim Farley recently told employees that Chinese automakers could enter the U.S. within five to 10 years. Ford is trying to get ahead of that with its own affordable EV program, but Farley has been more candid than most about the ground Detroit needs to make up.

Canada’s decision to permit up to 49,000 Chinese-made EVs each year and Mexico’s growing appetite for Chinese brands will give American buyers plenty of nearby examples. That does not mean the U.S. will suddenly throw open the gates. It may never happen through simple imports, either. Local assembly, familiar brand names, partnerships, and Chinese-built technology could all be part of the route in.

For now, tariffs can buy domestic automakers time, but they can’t build a compelling $25,000 EV. If the Big Three can’t figure out how to do that fast enough, consumers might get impatient and unwilling to wait any longer.

Lead Photo: BYD

Tokyo’s metropolitan government wants more residents behind the wheel of electric cars, and it’s rolling out fresh purchase subsidies worth as much as 1.3 million yen ($8,160) per vehicle to make it happen. How much a buyer actually pockets depends on which manufacturer built the car. Both individuals and businesses are eligible for the program, with no limit on the number of vehicles that can qualify.

Under the new scheme, subsidies for EVs and hybrids each climb by 300,000 yen ($1,880), pushing them to 1.3 million yen ($8,160) and 1.15 million yen ($7,220) respectively. Tokyo is keeping several existing incentives on the table too, among them a 100,000 yen ($620) payout for cars that come with vehicle-to-load capability.

Read: BYD’s Kei EV Has The Lowest Sticker In Japan And The Highest Price On The Road

On top of that, a 100,000-yen ($620) subsidy covers the installation of charging and discharging equipment, and another 150,000 yen ($940) goes to anyone signed up with an electricity provider running on 100 percent renewable energy. EV and hybrid buyers can qualify for a further 300,000 yen ($1,884) if their home or workplace uses solar power.

Not All Brands Are Treated Equally

Those wanting to maximize their savings will need to carefully decide which brand they want to buy a new EV or hybrid from. According to a report from Nikkei Asia, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda models are all eligible to receive a 400,000-yen ($2,510) subsidy, while this incentive drops to 300,000 yen ($1,880) for models from Mitsubishi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Tesla. Vehicles from BYD can only receive a 100,000-yen ($620) subsidy. Daihatsu models currently receive no additional manufacturer-based subsidy.

Additional incentives are offered depending on vehicle sales. For example, manufacturers who have sold at least 60 new zero-emission vehicles in Tokyo prefecture in 2025 can get an additional subsidy. An incentive worth up to 200,000 yen ($1,250) is also available as part of a “green transformation category.”

These incentives can be stacked with those offered by Japan’s federal government, which also offers incentives valued at up to 1.3 million yen ($8,160). However, like the savings offered in Tokyo, those from the federal government vary, with vehicles using Japanese batteries eligible for the most significant savings. By comparison, those from BYD get a minimum subsidy of 150,000 yen ($940). That creates a 1.15 million yen ($7,220) gap between BYD and models qualifying for the maximum national subsidy.

Toyota’s bZ4X is among the models that qualify for the full 1.3 million yen ($8,160) national subsidy. Stack that on top of Tokyo’s maximum incentive and the total discount could hit 2.6 million yen ($16,320), trimming the car’s 4.8 million yen ($30,150) sticker to roughly 2.2 million yen ($13,820).

It is hoped these subsidies will help encourage EV sales across the country. Due in large part to the price differential between EVs and combustion-powered cars locally, EVs accounted for just 1.6 percent of Japan’s new car market in 2025.

Tesla Expects A Rush

Thanks in part to these subsidies, Tesla is preparing for a surge in demand for its vehicles. The automaker sold more than 10,000 vehicles in Japan in 2025, comfortably beating its previous record of roughly 5,900 in 2022, reports Nikkei Asia. Demand has accelerated further this year, with around 12,000 vehicles sold in the first six months of 2026 alone. Tesla has also stopped selling its traditional premium models, including the Model S, to focus on the mass-market Model 3 and Model Y.

Handling that kind of growth takes infrastructure, so Tesla is growing its delivery network from seven locations to 11 by the end of the year. The automaker has also doubled its potential import capacity to roughly 48,000 vehicles a year, which leaves plenty of headroom above even this year’s accelerated pace.

Mercedes-AMG introduced the redesigned GT 4-Door in May and now it’s almost time for the company to unveil its SUV counterpart. As a result, they released new teaser images on social media this weekend.

“Built to challenge all you know,” the crossover coupe features a wide grille that is flanked by star-infused daytime running lights. They’re slightly less gimmicky here as the inner line is elongated.

More: Will More Power Than A Veyron Convince You This Electric SUV Is A True AMG?

Moving further back, we can see pronounced wheel arches and a long hood that flows into a rakish windscreen. They’re accompanied by a sporty roofline and an angular rear window.

The rear end appears to echo the four-door coupe, but we can only see a pair of circular taillights with integrated star graphics. This stands in contrast to the six found on the car.

While there isn’t much else to see, the cabin will likely feature a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14-inch infotainment system, and a 14-inch front passenger display. We can also expect sporty seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and a dual wireless smartphone charger. They should be accompanied by an ambient lighting system and a Sky Control panoramic glass roof, which transitions from transparent to opaque at the tap of a button.

Powertrains should echo the car and this means we can expect a 53 variant with a roughly 106 kWh battery pack that feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive system developing 536 hp (400 kW / 544 PS) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque. This enables the four-door coupe to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.9 seconds, before hitting an electronically limited top speed of up to 155 mph (250 km/h).

The GT 4-Door 53 also has a WLTP combined range of between 424 and 503 miles (682 and 809 km). When the battery is low, a 600 kW DC fast charger can deliver 332 miles (534 km) of range in as little as ten minutes.

We can also expect a more extreme 63 variant with three axial flux motors producing a combined output of 1,153 hp (860 kW / 1,169 PS) and 1,475 lb-ft (2,000 Nm) of torque. It enables the car to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 2.4 seconds, top out at 186 mph (300 km/h), and have a range of up to 432 miles (696 km).