Update: With its world debut now confirmed for this September at the Munich Motor Show, BMW is putting the finishing touches on the new iX3. The electric SUV has been in development for quite some time, and the latest images from Nurburgring testing show the prototype fitted with what appear to be the finalized headlight and taillight designs.

More: BMW’s New EVs Come With 43 Layers Of Synthetic Vroom And Zero Shame

One of the test vehicles caught by our spy photographers was fitted with wheels that resemble those from the Vision Neue Klasse sedan concept. It’s still unclear whether these are standard alloys or aero-style covers, but the more pronounced side skirts and bulkier front bumper point to this tester being the M Performance variant, similar to the electric iX M50 or the current gas-powered X3 M50

This sportier version of the iX3 is expected to feature a dual-motor setup and will probably retain the M50 badge. Beyond the upgraded powertrain and more aggressive exterior styling, it’s expected to feature an M-tuned chassis with a firmer, lower suspension and drive modes tailored specifically for performance.

More: 2026 BMW iX3 Neue Klasse Renders Patents Into Reality

Previously, our photographers also spotted a pre-production prototype of the upcoming BMW iX3 Neue Klasse SUV not long after it rolled off the line at the automaker’s plant in Hungary. The fully electric model is now undergoing final-stage development tests ahead of its planned market launch towards the end of 2025.

The BMW iX3 Neue Klasse made its spy debut in November 2023, but early prototypes featured provisional lighting units. The new prototype is fitted with the production headlights and taillights, revealing a modern LED lighting signature. This was the last missing piece of the puzzle, as the bodywork of the SUV has already been uncovered in recent patent drawings.

What’s Up With The Frunk?

The new prototype was also spotted with its hood open. While the BMW iX3 doesn’t appear to have a frunk, as the front space is currently packed with drivetrain hardware, this setup might just be a cover in both the literal and figurative sense, acting as a placeholder for testing. The final production model will in all likelihood include front storage, similar to what’s found in other EVs.

We can also see the iX3’s pop-out door handles, which are less futuristic than the fin-shaped solution of the Vision Neue Klasse X concept. Judging from earlier spy shots, these will likely find their way into the larger iX5.

The wheels of the prototype suggest that this is one of the lesser versions of the BMW iX3. Our spy photographers suggest that the wheel diameter of the production model will be between 18 inches and 22 inches depending on the trim. The larger size will likely be reserved for the performance-focused offering by BMW M.

Neue Klasse, First of Many

The new BMW iX3 will be the first production model to adopt the Neue Klasse styling language before it gets applied to the automaker’s entire range of combustion and electric models. The iX3 will be followed by the i3 sedan, the similarly-sized 3-Series, and the new generation of the X5/iX5, which are set to debut in the coming years.

Under the skin, the Neue Klasse platform supports a new generation of lighter and more efficient electric motors. The iX3 will launch with single and dual-motor configurations, with output expected to range from around 300 to 600 horsepower. It will also feature 800V electrical architecture for faster charging and house next-generation batteries that are 20% more energy-dense, boosting range and efficiency by up to 30%. In its top configuration, the iX3 could travel as far as 800 kilometers, or about 500 miles, on a full charge.

Series production of the Neue Klasse-based iX3 is scheduled to begin later in the second half of 2025.

John Halas contributed to this story.

SH Proshots

Sometimes your car just breaks. Other times, it breaks, sits for two months, gets stolen, wrecked, and leaves you holding the bag. This is the story of how one Hyundai Ioniq 5 owner’s unlucky repair turned into a cautionary tale about EV parts, dealership security, and what happens when everything goes wrong at once.

On March 16, nearly two months ago, Massachusetts resident Ethan Blount’s Hyundai Ioniq 5 abruptly stopped working. The culprit was the ICCU, a part already known for causing problems in the Ioniq 5 lineup. It failed, leaving Blount stranded, and he had the car towed to his local dealership.

More: Huge Study Shows EVs More Reliable Than ICE Cars With One Surprising Common Issue

At the time, he had no idea it would be the last time he’d see the vehicle in one piece. On May 2, the car was stolen from the dealership. When police eventually located it and gave chase, the situation ended with the Hyundai totaled and Blount left underwater.

A Part With a Pattern of Failure

But let’s rewind. The ICCU (Integrated Charging Control Unit) plays a central role in the Ioniq 5’s electrical system. It manages the bi-directional charging between the 12V battery and the main high-voltage battery, which is responsible for powering essential systems, external devices, and even other EVs.

When it fails, the result is a completely immobilized vehicle. Dozens of Ioniq 5 owners have reported similar failures. In Blount’s case, the delay in repair came down to a parts shortage, with replacements on back order. So his EV sat, unusable and unguarded, for almost two months.

He tells The Autopian that he knew about the ICCU and suspected it immediately when he heard a loud pop. “I got only a mile or so before power started dropping precipitously, and pulled off the main road just in time. I contacted Hyundai and they dispatched a tow truck, taking my car to the nearest dealer,” says Ethan.

A Strange Notification, Then Silence

Then, on May 1, he received a notification via his Hyundai mobile app that the car was left on and idling. Good news, he thought, since it couldn’t do that without being fixed. The next day, everything fell apart. The dealer called and confirmed that the car was fixed but, strangely, they couldn’t find it.

Ethan whipped out his phone and tracked the car. It was in Boston, nowhere near the dealership. He called the police who tried to move in and secure the car, but clearly that didn’t work. The occupants sped off in it, ultimately lost control a short time later, hit a fire hydrant, and then smashed into a church. The impact was such that the Ioniq 5 was seriously damaged. The airbags all deployed, and the front is completely smashed in.

More: Kia EV6 Owner Fed Up After Multiple 12V Battery Failures

Boston police arrested three people at the scene, but they’ve left Blount in a tough spot. “Due to the rapid depreciation of the car I’m worried about what I will be offered by my insurance company since they declared it totaled today,” he said. “I fear I could end up still owing money and not even owning a car.”

In a positive turn though, Hyundai reached out to him two days ago, promising to help. Perhaps this entire saga will end up with the happy ending Blount clearly wants.

Credit: Ethan Blount

It’s not every day a tiny Spanish automaker drops an electric track weapon with supercar specs and charging speeds that put your phone to shame. You may not have heard the name Baltasar before, but that’s about to change, at least if you keep tabs on niche electric sports cars.

The company just revealed the latest version of its Revolt track car, the R Concept, at the Automobile Barcelona show. It follows a familiar recipe, combining ultra-lightweight construction with a sharp focus on aerodynamics. However, unlike most track-day specials, it is all-electric.

Read: Xiaomi-Backed $41K EV Looks Like A Tesla Roadster Hooked Up With A Lancia

As is pretty obvious from its name, the R Concept is a more potent and aggressive version of the standard Revolt. It’s hand-built with a carbon fiber monocoque and includes a chromoly steel roll cage that meets FIA specs. Suspension parts are a mix of carbon fiber, aluminum, and Kevlar, all in the name of weight savings. The end result is a curb weight of under 800 kg (1,763 lbs). For comparison, a US.-spec Mazda MX-5 Miata weighs 273 kg (601 lbs) more, coming in at 1,073 kg (2,366 lbs).

Baltasar hasn’t revealed powertrain specs for the R yet, but it likely uses the same setup introduced with the original Revolt back in 2021. That car featured two rear-mounted electric motors delivering a combined 500 horsepower and 737 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque.

Battery capacity remains a mystery, but the R reportedly uses a 700-volt electrical architecture. For context, the standard model offers a driving range of over 300 miles (482 km), and Baltasar claims an 80% recharge takes just five minutes.

Several key aerodynamic upgrades have been made to the Revolt R, which makes sense given its track-only focus. At the front, it gets a new splitter, updated headlights, and reshaped front quarter panels. Around the back, there’s a towering carbon fiber rear wing that leaves no doubt about the car’s intentions. It’s also been shown with gold-painted wheels wrapped in slick tires, completing the track-ready look.

While full interior photos haven’t been released, Baltasar has shown a few key details. The car features a carbon fiber racing seat and distinctive gold pedals, both clearly built with track performance in mind.

Pricing hasn’t been finalized, and there’s no official launch date yet, but Baltasar says to expect the Revolt R to start at around €450,000 or around $510,000 at current exchange rates when it goes on sale.

Baltasar

Faraday Future has big plans including a new mainstream FX brand. It’s expected to offer an assortment of vehicles including a Super One minivan, an FX 6 crossover, and an entry-level FX 5 that costs between $20,000 and $30,000.

That’s a lot of new product, but Faraday Future doesn’t exactly have the best track record. On top of that, they’ve released their first quarter financial results, which paint a concerning picture.

More: Faraday X Super One Minivan Teased With A Big Honkin’ Grille

How bad? In the first quarter, the company delivered a grand total of two cars. That’s less than one per month, but it didn’t stop the automaker from proclaiming they expanded their “client base” and officially entered the East Coast market thanks to a delivery in New York.

That’s some glass half full thinking and things only get worse from there. Given dismal sales of the FF 91, the company only generated $300,000 (£225,576 / €266,712) in revenue from deliveries and leases.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Faraday continues to hemorrhage money. While the press release didn’t mention their net loss, it was buried in their financial presentation and totaled over $48.2 (£36.2 / €42.8) million.

Those are some bleak numbers and their release had more warnings than a five alarm fire. These included the company’s “history of losses and expectation of continued losses” as well as risks related to operations in China.

Faraday Future did reiterate some good news including a pre-order agreement for 1,000 FX Super One vans from JC Auto. However, the forward looking statement burst that bubble as it noted the true number “may be as few as two.”

Likewise, the previously announced pre-order deal with Sky Horse Auto for 300 MPVs could be “as few as one.” On the bright side, their $30,000 (£22,550 / €26,658) deposit was non-refundable and that’s big money for a firm like Faraday.

Redesigning an iconic model is an incredibly difficult task as there’s a lot of history, anticipation, and pressure. It’s a feeling that Mustang designers know all too well, but there are plenty of other models with high-stakes including the Bronco, Charger, and Mercedes G-Class.

We’d also throw Scout into that category, but their situation is drastically different. The last International Harvester Scout was built on October 21, 1980 and marked the end of an era as over 500,000 had been made over the course of the preceding two decades.

More: Meet The New Scout Terra Truck And Traveler SUV

While Scout had become a distant memory, Volkswagen revived the brand and, thankfully, decided to embrace its roots. As part of this effort, they wanted a retro-inspired design that acknowledged the past but was still modern.

That’s easier said than done and the company recently revealed “bringing back an icon doesn’t happen overnight.” They went on to say the Traveler and Terra started as a “blank sheet of paper” and the design team obsessed over every curve, angle, beltline, and radius.

Photos Scout

While that’s to be expected, the company also used modern production methods to ensure the models were perfect. As part of this effort, 3D-printed parts played a role in making sure the vehicles were the best they could be. As Scout explained, the end result is “Not rushed. Not generic. Not a box.”

You can add not coming anytime soon as production isn’t slated to begin until 2027. However, when they arrive, pricing could start as low as $50,000 with incentives.

Scout hasn’t revealed many specifications, but electric variants are slated to offer a range of up to 350 miles (563 km). There will also be an extended range variant with a gas-powered generator.

Charging an electric vehicle can sometimes be a really peaceful experience. Some models even offer the ability to watch TV or play games during the process. One Cybertruck owner had that peace ruined recently when a Dodge Charger driver lost control and rammed his pickup. It just so happens that another Tesla owner caught the entire situation on camera too.

The situation unfolded at the Destiny USA mall in Syracuse, New York. There, a Model Y owner says that the folks in the Dodge nearly hit him. “I was out for a walk when I nearly got hit by these [explicit]. A moment later, I heard their engine rev and I KNEW they were going to do something stupid. So I started recording,” he wrote on Reddit.

More: No One Knows Where This Tire Came From, But It Ripped Through A Mercedes Roof Anyway

He couldn’t have been more correct about his assertion. Despite having an expansive parking lot at their disposal, the driver of this Charger R/T begins a donut relatively close to nearby Teslas charging at a Supercharger station. He gets quite a slide going, complete with some opposite lock, too. When he straightens out, things go sideways in a more metaphorical sense, though.

First, he drives over a calming island near the parking lot entrance. For whatever reason, it’s only after clearing the island that he engages his brakes. Video shows that despite his brakes being on, the car has enough momentum to carry it into the next calming island on the other side of the entrance. When he hits that, the front end flies up and off the ground. Ultimately, the car comes back to earth and keeps rolling until it hits the driver’s side of the Cybertruck.

Video Reddit

It’s clear from the video that the Dodge is not okay after the crash. Smoke is billowing from the front rather than from the rear tires. Part of the undercarriage protection is on the ground, and there is debris all over the lot, though it could be organic rather than bits of Mopar left behind. That said, the Cybertruck looks great for having just been hit by a car, even at a slow speed.

According to the Reddit post, the crash left motor oil and transmission fluid leaking out onto the ground. Meanwhile, the Cybertruck owner got out to check the damage and apparently found… none. “The truck looked completely fine!” the poster added. Safe to say, the Dodge driver got a little more Cybertruck than they bargained for.

Credit: Hammer Of Something/Reddit

Tesla’s massive factory in Shanghai, China, has the capacity to build roughly 1 million vehicles every year. However, it could fall quite short of that number this year based on disappointing sales figures of its Chinese-made models in April, which slipped 25.8% from the month prior.

The China Passenger Car Association revealed that a total of 58,459 Tesla Model 3s and Model Ys built in China were sold last month. Importantly, this figure isn’t a reflection of the total number of vehicles that Tesla sold in China alone, but also includes other markets where it sells Shanghai-built vehicles, including Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

Read: Tesla Sales Crash Over 80% In Sweden And That’s Just The Beginning

This is just the latest episode of Tesla’s sales drop saga in recent days. In April, its sales collapsed in key European markets like Spain, Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the UK. Its sales have also tanked in Australia, where, not too long ago, it was the EV leader. In April, seven other EV models from Chinese and Korean brands outsold the Tesla Model Y and Tesla Model 3.

Rivals Are Closing In

Many factors at play can help to explain why Tesla sales continue to fall. Obviously, negative public sentiment about chief executive Elon Musk is one of them, particularly due to his meddling in politics, not just in the US but around the world as well. Additionally, Tesla has a relatively limited and aging line-up of EVs compared to some of its competitors, with the Model 3 and Model Y being the serious volume sellers.

Rivals are also quickly gaining ground on the American brand. In April, Nio’s sales grew 53% from a year ago, with 23,900 vehicles sold. Additionally, Xpeng recorded its second-best month ever, securing 35,045 sales. Xiaomi also managed to deliver more than 28,000 vehicles in April while Li Auto’s sales rose 32% to 33,939.

Mercedes-AMG has stripped away some of the body cladding and camouflage of its long-awaited electric sedan, giving us our best look at the car yet. The car will push AMG into a new market and serve as a rival to the likes of the Porsche Taycan and Audi RS e-tron GT. So, is it worth getting excited about?

These new teasers show a prototype with a sleek and low-slung design that shares unmistakable similarities with the Mercedes Vision AMG Concept from three years ago. Like that car, the new electric sedan from Affalterbach has striking LED daytime running lights mimicking the shape of the Three Pointed Star. Similar DRLs are featured on the new CLA and will be added to other new Mercedes models, but AMG has enlarged them for this car.

Read: AMG’s New V8 Isn’t Just Coming Back It’s Coming For Everything

There’s no sign of a traditional front grille, although we can see some slats towards the base of the bumper that will provide some cooling.

The side profile of the car is certifiably sexy and has been paired beautifully with tightly-spoked wheels that should also aid in aerodynamic performance. At the rear, this prototype ditches the ugly temporary lights of other recent testers and gets a pair of circular LED taillights, which again have the star motif. There will also be an active rear wing.

The Good Stuff

While both the Taycan and RS e-tron GT represented dramatic departures for both Porsche and Audi, both cars are excellent, and AMG had better be at the top of its game to make a compelling rival to them. All the signs point towards it being just that.

Underpinning the all-electric cousin to the AMG GT 4-Door will be the new AMG.EA architecture with a battery pack from Sila Nanotechnologies in the US and electric motors from British firm Yasa. Mercedes-AMG is reportedly pursuing a four-digit horsepower figure, giving it enough power to compete with the flagship Taycan and RS e-tron GT models.

Fortunately for those who still want a thunderous engine, Mercedes-AMG will continue to sell this new EV alongside the ICE-powered AMG GT 4-Door.

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Volkswagen isn’t wasting time signaling that the GTI nameplate won’t be left behind in the EV transition. The German automaker dropped a pretty clear hint when it rolled out the ID. GTI Concept at the 2023 Munich Motor Show. While that concept was aimed at previewing the upcoming ID.2 GTI, signs now point to an ID.3 GTI being next in line.

According to a report from Auto Motor und Sport, the car will slot above the ID.3 GTX Performance, which features a 79 kWh battery pack and an electric motor developing 322 hp (240 kW / 326 PS) and 402 lb-ft (545 Nm) of torque. This setup enables the hot hatch to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 5.7 seconds and have a WLTP range of up to 373 miles (602 km).

More: VW ID.3 GTX Fire+Ice Is A Hot Electric Hatch That Pays Tribute To The Past

While little is known about the GTI variant at this point, the publication says it will arrive next year and be rear-wheel drive. However, don’t expect it to be significantly more powerful than the ID.3 GTX Performance.

Quite the opposite as they suggest the car could only have around 335 hp (250 kW / 340 PS). That’s not much of a boost, but the upgraded powertrain could be accompanied by “extensive modifications to the chassis … intended to enable even more agile handling.”

Besides the performance and handling tweaks, the car would likely incorporate a number of GTI styling cues. The hot hatch should also build on the ID.3 GTX Performance, which has revised steering, a retuned suspension, and an available DCC adaptive chassis system.

All of this will likely lead to steep pricing as the ID.3 GTX Performance starts at €48,725 ($54,706) in Germany. To put that into perspective, the Golf GTI starts at €45,655 ($51,255) while the GTI Clubsport begins at €49,225 ($55,263).

Even as the auto industry lurches toward electrification with all the grace of a three-legged shopping cart, Mercedes-AMG is reminding everyone that the V8 still has a pulse. The German brand copped a lot of flak for turning the C63 into a four-cylinder hybrid, and raised plenty of eyebrows when it confirmed a pair of high-performance EVs for production. However, enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that the AMG V8s we all know and love aren’t going anywhere, at least for the time being.

In fact, fans of AMG’s signature V8s can breathe a little easier, at least for now. According to AMG boss Michael Schiebe, there’s still a future for combustion engines, thanks in part to regulatory breathing room. With the European Union’s combustion ban not taking effect until 2035 and no firm ICE cutoff in the U.S., there are “some years to come with the V8,” he says.

Schiebe didn’t specify how many years the current engine might hang on, but it sounds like AMG isn’t just keeping the lights on. They’re actively working on a new generation of the V8.

Read: New Flat-Plane V8 Coming To Mercedes-AMG CLE 63, But It Won’t Sound The Same

Speaking with Car and Driver, Schiebe explained that the next-gen V8 could find its way into multiple future models. That’s opened the door to speculation, some hopeful, some wildly optimistic, that the engine could even make its way back into a revised C63.

“We are in the midst of developing our next generation of the V8 and I see a lot of positions within our existing portfolio, or maybe even new ones, where we could actually imagine to have a V8,” he said.

We’ve known about the next-generation V8 from Mercedes-AMG for several months now. According to reports, it will ditch the cross-plane crankshaft of the current V8 family in favor of a flat-plane crank. The company is also developing the engine to work with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that could incorporate a starter motor into the gearbox, while also adding some extra power and better efficiency.

Schiebe reinforced the idea that AMG won’t go all-in on hybridization with this engine. In his words, they don’t “necessarily need to go that far on hybridization,” suggesting this new V8 will stay closer to its roots than some feared.

That strategy could also extend the life of models like the AMG GT 4-Door, which many assumed would quietly exit stage left as AMG’s all-electric performance sedan comes to market. But according to Schiebe, that might not be the case, at least not yet.

“Let’s see how long we continue with a GT 4-Door,” he said. “Maybe there is a successor, but I don’t want to speculate about that.”

So while AMG’s future is undoubtedly electric, the V8 isn’t on the chopping block just yet. If anything, it looks like the automaker is doubling down on its combustion credentials, if only for a little while longer.

French President Emmanuel Macron has a new ride as DS Automobiles has unveiled the Presidential DS N°8. Introduced as part of the 80th anniversary celebrations for V-E Day, the one-off model sports an assortment of special touches.

Starting outside, there’s a unique Sapphire Blue exterior with contrasting black accents. They’re joined by a special DS Luminascreeen grille, which illuminates blue, white, and red as a nod to the French flag. Speaking of which, there are flag holders on the front bumper. The model also sports a retractable soft top as well as blue, white, and red badges.

More: DS No8 Breaks Cover As The New French Electric Flagship

The blue theme continues inside with Dream Blue Alcantara and Nappa leather upholstery. They’re accompanied by pleated door panels, pearl contrast stitching, and a Focal audio system.

More notably, the Presidential DS N°8 has beautiful straw marquetry. It’s made from rye straw, which has been dyed and arranged in an elegant fan pattern. The resulting trim looks fantastic and is an interesting departure from the typical wood found in luxury cars.

The company didn’t say much else about the interior, but it appears to feature a familiar digital instrument cluster and 16-inch infotainment system. We can also see a handful of special controls hidden beneath the floating center console. Some of these appear to operate flashing lights and, perhaps, a siren.

DS was tight-lipped about powertrain specifics, but confirmed the model has a range of up to 466 miles (750 km). This suggests the Presidential DS N°8 is based on the Long Range FWD variant, which has a 97.2 kWh battery pack as well as a 242 hp (180 kW / 245 PS) electric motor. However, we probably shouldn’t read too much into those numbers as the car is armored and this will undoubtedly impact its performance.

Electric vehicle sales in Australia are shifting fast, and the usual frontrunners are no longer guaranteed a spot at the top. As more buyers look beyond the legacy names, newer players are gaining ground, especially those with sharper price tags and more features for the money.

In 2023 and 2024, the Tesla Model Y was comfortably the best-selling EV in Australia. However, new options from Chinese and Korean brands have led to a massive slump in local sales of the Model Y, so much so that in April, it was only the 8th best-selling EV in the country. Evidently, it’s not just in Europe where Elon Musk’s company is falling out of favor.

Read: Tesla Couldn’t Even Sell Its Model Y Launch Editions As Hundreds Are Sitting Unsold

Storming in as the best-selling EV by far in Australia last month was the BYD Sealion 7, according to a report from Carsguide. It is the latest addition to BYD’s Ocean series of models and undercuts the Model Y on price, starting at AU$54,990 (~$35,400) and topping out at AU$63,990 (~$41,200), compared to the new Tesla that starts at AU$63,400 (~$40,800) and AU$73,400 (~$47,200) for the flagship version. Last month, 734 Sealion 7s were sold across the country.

Next up is the MG 4. While it’s been around for a couple of years now, the electric hatchback remains popular with 363 units sold in April. This positioned it just ahead of the BYD Atto 3, with 355 sold. Kia’s newly-launched EV5 and EV3 have also been well-received by local shoppers, with sales of 342 and 336, respectively. The BYD Seal then shifted 325 units while the new Geely EX5 sold 325 examples.

Then there’s the Tesla Model Y. A total of 280 were sold last month, positioning it slightly ahead of the Tesla Model 3 with 220 sales. Rounding out the top 10 was the BYD Dolphin with 216 examples finding new homes.

Now, before you start thinking recent sales represent the imminent collapse of Tesla, it’s worth noting that throughout April in Australia, Tesla was selling a mix of the outgoing Model Y and the brand new version. As we can see from the official page, Tesla still has a healthy inventory of the old crossover.

Many shoppers are likely holding off on placing an order until the new Model Y lands in earnest, which will happen over the next couple of months. Nevertheless, April’s results will likely have some local Tesla executives a little worried.

BEST SELLING VEHICLES AUSTRALIA

Wider Market Trends

Australia’s total new car sales declined in April. A total of 90,614 new vehicles were sold across the country last month, representing a decline of 6.8% compared to the same month in 2024 and quite a dramatic fall from the 108,606 new cars sold in March.

EV SALES AUSTRALIA

Americans bought 1.3 million fully-electric cars, trucks and SUVs in 2024 and tax credits of up to $7,500 on new EVs was one of the major factors driving take-up. But those credits might to be around much longer judging by comments made by a senior Republican.

“I think there is a better chance we kill it than save it,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said of the tax credit system in an interview with Bloomberg this week. “But we’ll see how it comes out.”

Related: IRS Lets EV Buyers Claim Missed Tax Credits Retroactively

It’s been no secret that the new Trump administration is not a big fan of the credits, which were introduced during Barack Obama’s time in office and have undergone changes during Joe Biden’s era governing which EVs and which buyers are eligible. Other countries, including the UK and Germany, have already scrapped subsidies, believing EV demand is now strong enough for the segment to survive without them (sales are up in the UK, down in Germany).

Axing the credits would fit in with Trump’s policies of promoting fossil fuels and dismantling green initiatives started during the four years before his second stint at the White House began. And dropping credits would also help Republicans meet their target of saving $2 trillion from government spending, though it’s real impact would be almost imperceptible considering ‘only’ $2 billion was spent on EV subsidies in the first 10 months of last year.

The impact of canning the credits on US carmakers and customer demand for EVs, however, could be very significant. Electric cars are currently more expensive to make than gas cars and credits help bring the retail price closer to ICE money, though not all battery vehicles are eligible.

Take-up of EVs was already slower in the US in 2024 than it had been in 2023 and without the credit sweetener buyers might choose to buy a combustion car instead at a time when US-based automakers have invested billions in developing electric cars and batteries, and in some cases creating entirely new plants in which to build them.

Those points may help save the incentives because some Republican lawmakers might be unwilling to vote for something that could lead to job losses in their region, while others are already in favor of safeguarding some existing green initiatives.

The dream of a driverless Tesla fleet shuttling people around while their owners kick back at home has been around for years, always just around the corner, but never quite here. Now, as the company continues to promise that reality is almost within reach, the U.S. Patent Office may have just introduced another delay.

As it turns out, names like “Robotaxi” and “Cybercab” might be too generic to trademark, and that could complicate Tesla’s rollout plans.

Read: Tesla Stiffs Cybertruck Owners On Another Promised Feature

It’s worth noting that Cybercab and Robotaxi refer to different things in the Tesla world. The former is the two-door prototype the automaker unveiled last year. The latter is the software that could enable everyday Tesla owners to let their car go around picking people up and moving them around while the owner is busy working or doing just about anything else.

According to TechCrunch, the USPTO just issued a non-final office action on the trademark application for the name Robotaxi. Specifically, the office said that name “describes a feature, ingredient, characteristic, purpose, function, intended audience of applicant’s goods and/or services.” In layman’s terms, it’s too general. The office even cited Wikipedia, Zoox, and The Verge to prove it.

“This term is used to describe similar goods and services by other companies,” the agency wrote. That mirrors a similar decision it made in April regarding Tesla’s attempt to trademark “Cybercab.”

FSD Supervised ride-hailing service is live for an early set of employees in Austin & San Francisco Bay Area.

We've completed over 1.5k trips & 15k miles of driving.

This service helps us develop & validate FSD networks, the mobile app, vehicle allocation, mission control &… pic.twitter.com/pYVfhi935W

— Tesla AI (@Tesla_AI) April 23, 2025

In that motion, the USPTO pointed to multiple concerns, including the potential for consumer confusion. In fact, it even mentioned other companies that use the word Cyber, including ones that specifically build aftermarket products for the Cybertruck. In a way, Tesla did this to itself. For now, though, the names aren’t dead and gone.

In both cases, Tesla can argue its case with whatever evidence it thinks is relevant. No doubt, the two words do seem tied to the automaker a little more all the time. Tesla must respond within three months or the USPTO will abandon the application. That runs well past Tesla’s planned June rollout, so expect more news on this topic sooner rather than later.

When it comes to automakers making grandiose promises that go unfulfilled and selling features that don’t actually work, no brand does it better (or worse) than Tesla. For Cybertruck owners, one feature that should be standard at this price point is active lane centering. But it’s not available, and it won’t be for at least another year, if it ever arrives at all.

Read: Cheapest Cybertruck Ever Offers 350 Miles But Not The $40K Price We Were Promised

At the launch of the Cybertruck, Tesla offered Supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) as standard on the Foundation Series models. Great, right? Well, not quite. For about a year, the feature was basically useless. Once Tesla started selling the non-Foundation Series models, customers had to choose between dropping $8,000 for FSD or sticking with the more basic Autopilot system. But here’s the rub: Autopilot in the Cybertruck doesn’t come with Autosteer, Tesla’s term for active lane centering.

The “Free” FSD Trial – A Clever Way to Upsell

Now, the EV maker has announced that it is offering a 1-year free trial of Supervised Full-Self Driving, and while that may sound good, it’s a little more complicated. In confirming this offer, Tesla revealed that Autosteer will not be available for the Cybertruck outside of the FSD system. That means that if you’re one of those Cybertruck owners who purchased it without FSD, you won’t get any form of Autosteer.

As noted by Electrek, Tesla likely hopes that through the 1-year free trial, it can convince existing Cybertruck owners to pay for FSD, after giving them the chance to experience the added features it offers over the standard Autopilot.

Unfortunately, for those who have no interest in paying for FSD, this essentially leaves them with an electric truck that has adaptive cruise control but no self-steering. That’s something you can get in far cheaper vehicles, making it a tough pill to swallow for Cybertruck owners who thought they were getting something special.

For those who are still holding out hope, Tesla is giving Cybertruck owners until June 6 to sign up for the free 1-year FSD trial. But, to keep things as Tesla-like as possible, you’ll need to subscribe to the program, and then cancel at any time. Why not add another layer of complexity to an already confusing situation?

Back in April, Renault gave us a bit of a price shocker when they announced that their widebody, all-electric R5 Turbo 3E, a tribute to the iconic 5 Turbo, would set buyers back an astonishing €155,000 (a little over $175,000 at current exchange rates). Naturally, many scoffed at the idea of an electric hot hatch costing more than a new Porsche 911 GTS, but as it turns out, demand for the car is, well, shockingly strong.

Read: Renault 5 Turbo 3E Is An Electric Hyper Hatch With Over 500 HP

At their recent Annual General Meeting in France, Renault shared some interesting news: within just one week of the R5 Turbo 3E’s launch, they had secured an impressive 850 orders for the 1,980 units they plan to produce worldwide. What makes this even more noteworthy is that these allocations aren’t as simple as a quick call to your local Renault dealer. Securing one of these hyper hatches is a bit more complicated – and a lot more costly than you might think.

A Hefty Deposit for a Hefty Price Tag

To get in line for the R5 Turbo 3E, prospective buyers need to fork over a non-refundable deposit of €45,000 (around $51,000). This means Renault has already pocketed a cool €38.25 million ($43.2 million) in deposits. The company has confirmed that these funds will help complete the development of the hot new EV, so it’s not just the customers who are investing in this electric dream.

Just a few days after Renault first announced that order books for the car would open, company boss Fabrice Cambolive took to LinkedIn to confirm that 500 customer reservations had already been placed alongside an additional 200 from its dealers. Evidently, there are more people out there willing to spend an extraordinary amount of money on an exciting Renault.

Impressive Specs for a Pricey Package

The R5 Turbo 3E is based around a carbon fiber monocoque with two in-wheel motors out back. Together, they churn out a combined 540 horsepower, propelling the sub-compact car to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.5 seconds.

Under the hood, the 70 kWh battery pack and 800-volt electrical architecture should give the car a range of over 250 miles (400 km). And, if you’re in a hurry, a quick 15-minute charge can take the battery from 15% to 80%. So, while it may cost an arm and a leg, at least you’ll be getting some serious performance in return.

President Donald Trump has long proclaimed that their new tariffs will encourage car manufacturers to build more of their vehicles in the United States. While some brands have indeed strengthened their commitments in the local market, Volvo has gone ahead and unexpectedly announced it will actually cut 5% of the workforce at its factory in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Swedish brand confirmed that these cuts do not form part of the redundancies it announced during the release of its first-quarter earnings last week. In total, the Charleston cuts will impact roughly 125 of the 2,500 employees who work there. It did not say who will lose their jobs or if the firings will impact production.

Read: Trump’s Tariffs Drive Volvo To Build A New Model In The US

Volvo’s South Carolina plant has the capacity to build 150,000 vehicles annually. However, it currently only builds the electric EX90 and the Polestar 3 there. It blamed the new job cuts on ever-changing trade policies, tariffs, and changing market conditions.

Despite slashing over 100 jobs, Volvo told Reuters that the US remains an important part of its long-term strategy and it’s still committed to boosting local output in the future. It also said it intends to eventually create 4,000 new jobs in South Carolina, but did not specify when these new jobs could be created.

It seems likely that Volvo is looking to slash any unnecessary expenses while global economies begin to adjust to America’s move away from globalization. As recently as last week, Volvo chief executive Hakan Samuelsson said the brand is already thinking about building an additional model in the US. While he did not specify which model this will be, the XC60 and XC90 are the most likely options.

Trump’s tariffs have also forced Volvo to rethink its local sales strategy. It will reportedly stop selling the S90 sedan in America from next year because it’s imported from China. This will allow Volvo to focus on models including the XC40, XC60, and XC90.

Nissan has several projects in the pipeline right now, and one of the more interesting ones is the fully electric Micra. A camouflaged prototype of the small hatchback was spotted testing ahead of its European market launch in 2026. The Micra will be manufactured by Renault, sharing its underpinnings with the upcoming R5 E-Tech.

More: Renault 5 Turbo 3E Is A 535-HP Supercar Disguised As A Hot Hatch

While we’ve seen glimpses of the new Micra’s exterior design in official teasers over the past few years, the spy shots are our first real look at the model. The proportions, roof structure, and overall greenhouse seem to mirror the Renault version, but the bodywork has been completely reworked.

Design Influences and Unique Features

The round headlights of the Nissan Micra are similar to those on the Mini Cooper, which also has an electric variant. However, Nissan has thankfully put its own spin on things like body-colored inserts and a grille-less front end. The bumper features a single cooling intake, and it looks like the black accents from the teaser images are actually fully blocked off.

Other interesting design touches include the round LED taillights, hidden rear door handles, and futuristic four-spoke alloy wheels. The sub-4m long, five-door hatchback will also feature glossy black cladding around the wheel arches, keeping in line with the current trends in automotive design.

Powertrain and Battery

Baldauf

The Nissan Micra will ride on the AmpR Small platform, already used by the Renault 5 E-Tech and the Alpine A290 hot hatch. It’s expected to offer a choice between 40 kWh and 52 kWh battery packs, with the larger pack providing a range of over 400 km (250 miles).

More: Mitsubishi’s American EV Will Be A Nissan In Disguise

In terms of power, the Micra could mirror the Renault 5’s options, with a single electric motor producing 94 hp (70 kW / 95 PS), 121 hp (90 kW / 122 PS), or 148 hp (110 kW / 150 PS). A future performance version of the Micra, partly inspired by the extreme Nissan Concept 20-23, might even borrow the 217 hp (160 kW / 220 PS) motor from the Alpine, though Nissan’s financial situation might put a damper on that idea, as a low-volume hot hatch would require a substantial investment.

Pricing and Availability

Given the Renault 5 E-Tech’s pricing, we can expect the electric Nissan Micra to start at around €25,000 (about $28,200 at current exchange rates) when it launches in Europe next year. Beyond the Micra, Nissan has more electric offerings in the pipeline for Europe, including a zero-emission version of the Juke and a new-generation Leaf crossover. There are also reports that the company is developing an even smaller and more affordable urban EV, based on the upcoming Renault Twingo E-Tech.

Nissan

The Mini Countryman is typically thought of as a road-focused SUV, but thanks to off-road experts Delta4x4 and the Dakar-winning team X-Raid, it’s been reimagined into something far more extreme, yet still street-legal beast. This radical conversion, currently presented as a digital concept, could potentially be brought to life in limited numbers if enough interest is generated.

More: BMW’s M2 Dakar Concept Is So Good It Hurts That It’s Just An April Fool’s Joke

The two companies recently showed a Mini Countryman X-Raid tuning package, which included a raft of upgrades like new wheels, tires, a suspension lift, and some eye-catching orange decals. These tweaks were only a warm-up, though, and they soon dove into creating a version inspired by X-Raid’s rally-winning desert warriors.

From April Fool’s Joke to Real Project

According to X-Raid, the idea started as an April Fool’s joke, but it quickly evolved into a real project. The highlight of the exterior are the front and rear fender extensions that add 200 mm (7.9 inches) of width to the compact SUV. A bull bar protects the front bumper from minor collisions, while extra LEDs on the grille and roof will turn night into day.

The roof rack provides extra space for overlanding equipment such as snow tracks, a full-size spare wheel, and a couple of tanks. Furthermore, Delta4x4 has added Defender-style storage compartments on the rear side windows, and decorative belts on the hood and tailgate. As a finishing touch, the body is wrapped in a matte gray shade with orange graphics.

Delta4x4 / Facebook

Underneath the Mini Countryman, things are looking even more serious. It now rolls on 18-inch Delta4x4 Hanma alloy wheels wrapped in heavy-duty all-terrain rubber by Loder. Combined with a rally-tuned suspension that adds an extra 50 mm (2 inches) of ground clearance, this SUV is ready for more than just the occasional gravel road.

More: Dacia Duster Soul Of Dakar Concept Could Inspire Future Special Edition Models

X-Raid hasn’t mentioned any performance upgrades, but judging by the rendering, the base model appears to be the fully electric Mini Countryman SE All4. This version comes with a dual-motor AWD setup that produces 308 hp (230 kW / 313 PS) and is powered by a 66.5 kWh battery, providing a range of 212 miles (341 km). That said, the modifications are likely compatible with any variant of the Countryman, including the hybrid turbocharged 2.0-liter engine version.

A Limited-Edition Possibility

While the vehicle is still a concept, X-Raid and Delta4x4 have hinted at the possibility of “small-scale production” if customer demand is high enough. Hopefully, the renders will resonate with the more adventurous kind of Mini Countryman owners, bringing the Dakar-inspired build on the road. Despite its wild stance, the company has confirmed that this is a “street-legal package”.

Earlier reports also suggest that Mini itself is also working on a more rugged version of the Countryman, though details about that are still vague at best. For now, we’ll have to wait and see if this wild rendition becomes a reality.

Many car manufacturers are learning that it’s easier to convince someone shopping for an affordable and efficient car to opt for an EV than it is to persuade a diehard car enthusiast to buy a car that utilizes electrification, let alone a full EV.

This shift presents a unique challenge for enthusiast brands like BMW’s M division, but the company is confident it will continue to deliver the right products for its loyal customer base as the industry makes the inevitable switch to electrification.

Read: BMW’s Next M3 Will Offer New Type Of Gas Engine And EV

If BMW M can learn anything from the missteps of arch-rival Mercedes-AMG with the four-cylinder hybrid C 63 it’s that enthusiasts know what they want and, in this case, want that familiar sound and rev building they know and love when they’re behind the wheel of a sportcar. BMW M vice president Sylvia Neubauer acknowledged this is a challenge shortly after the M5 morphed into a plug-in hybrid, and it started working on M’s first fully-fledged EV.

“It’s been a challenge to keep this up,” she told Top Gear. “If you look at our following, which mostly consists of enthusiasts, they aren’t the most natural types to go electric”, Neubauer said.

“But I think we should not describe this target group as the only target group, because we are seeing a change already. Of course, the enthusiasts are the core group, and it’s going to be harder to convince them to switch, but we will have the right product for them,” she added.

What M’s VP is saying is that the best way to keep its core customers and at the same time attract new ones interested in EVs is (obviously, but also costly) to offer options that appeal to both. Thus, this is exactly what it will do with the next-gen M3. In addition to developing a ICE model with an updated version of the inline-six found in the current G80, BMW will offer an all-electric version of its sports sedan, potentially dubbed the iM3.

Key technical specifications about these two models remain under wraps, but it’s reasonable to assume the next ICE-powered M3 will push horsepower deeper into the 500s. The electric version will likely pack a lot more grunt, as BMW has already revealed its quad-motor setup can support up to 1,341 hp, even though the electric M3 likely won’t ever get even remotely close to that number.

Nevertheless, most diehard petrolheads would happily trade a straight line performance for a much more engaging powertrain – besides, even the current combustion M3 is anything but lacking in power.