Not too long ago, there was a time when supersport motorbikes were by far the quickest road-legal vehicles on the planet. However, while most flagship bikes from the past decade have remained capped at around 200 hp, the horsepower wars among carmakers have continued to rage.

First, flagship hypercars like the McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder started giving bikes a run for their money. Now, we’re living in an era where all-electric sedans are among the quickest-accelerating cars on the planet. To demonstrate this, CarWow recently lined up the new Porsche Taycan Turbo GT alongside a Ferrari SF90 Stradale and a Yamaha R1M. The results are eye-opening – although not unsurprising.

Read: Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Becomes First Car To Break 2-Second Barrier In C/D’s 0-60 Test

The Ferrari SF90 Stradale is the only true supercar on test and its twin-turbocharged V8 and three electric motors combine to deliver 986 hp. However, that’s less than the 1,019 hp mustered up by the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with its launch control system enabled. The Yamaha R1M is good for 200 hp by comparison, but is also much lighter.

In the first race, all three competitors got a great start but the Ferrari edged ahead. However, the Porsche soon closed the gap and was neck-and-neck with the SF90. The rider of the Yamaha did a good job of hanging with the Ferrari and Porsche but finished slightly behind.

The SF90 got the jump off the line in the second race, but just like in the first race, the Taycan started to pull slightly away as the speeds started to build, taking the victory. In the third, the Porsche and the Yamaha got the best launches as the driver of the Ferrari turned off all the assistance systems and got a bunch of unwanted wheelspin, impacting the hybrid’s getaway.

The tables are turned in a rolling drag race from 10 mph. While the Porsche has the power advantage over the Ferrari, it doesn’t perform as well in a roll race and is left behind by the other two.

For most of the past year, it’s seemed like every other week, a major Chinese car manufacturer has revealed a new and innovative premium EV. However, some analysts expect fewer all-new premium models to be launched in 2025 due to weakening demand across the local market.

China’s luxury EVs are usually priced over 300,000 yuan (about $41,000), with several different car manufacturers competing in this segment. These include Xpeng, Nio, Li Auto, Zeekr, and BYD. All of these brands produce compelling models, but the segment is small, and there’s limited potential for it to grow. The founder of CnEVPost, Phate Zhang, believes this will force companies to slow down their launches of new premium models.

Read: China’s HiPhi EV Startup Is In Trouble, As Parent Company Files For Bankruptcy

“I think automakers will slow down their launches of new premium models in 2025 and focus on upgrading their existing models,” he told the South China Morning Post. “This market segment is not easy to expand. Coupled with the overall slowdown in the EV market, sales of high-end EV models have faced considerable challenges this year.”

Vehicles in China’s premium EV segment accounted for roughly 10% of total EVs sold through the first 11 months of the year. While sales of these models have grown over recent years, this growth has started to slow, according to China Passenger Car Association data. Ongoing price wars are also making it difficult for new offerings to enter the market and prove competitive.

“Few of the companies have succeeded in entering the premium market, with most of the rest suffering from weak sales and huge investment losses,” Jiangxi New Energy Technology Institute researcher Zhang Xiang said. “This has set an alarm for the carmakers.”

Several local brands started to feel the pinch of slowing sales growth in 2024. Last August, Human Horizons filed for bankruptcy, having sold fewer than 8,000 of its premium EV models in 2023, while in December, Geely’s Jiyue EV brand was on the brink of collapse. While growth has slowed, China’s EV market is expected to swell considerably this year. In fact, sales of new-energy vehicles – which include BEVs, PHEVs, and FCEVs – may increase by 28% this year and hit 15.78 million sales.

Just a week after Nissan announced the 2025 Ariya with a slightly higher price tag, dealers are already offering incentives for their electric SUV model. The Nissan Ariya is quite a compelling option for those in the market for an electric SUV of this size.

The 2025 model is currently available with a $1,000 loyalty discount for current Nissan and Infiniti owners, as revealed by a dealer bulletin. This incentive is available to those purchasing or leasing the 2025 Ariya. Financing could be a great option for some, as the electric Nissan SUV is offered with a 2.19% APR for 36 months or 3.19% for 60 months, the same rates as the outdated Nissan Leaf.

Read: Nissan Simplifies 2025 Ariya Lineup And Readjusts Prices Across The Range

Only time will tell if the new $1,000 discount is enough to convince existing Nissan or Infiniti owners to sign on the dotted line for a new Ariya. However, an ever bigger deal might be on the horizon for potential Ariya buyers, as Nissan might announce a $7,500 cash incentive when leased, Cars Direct notes. If the Japanese carmaker makes it official, leasing a 2025 Ariya is the best option.

Prices for the 2025 Ariya start at $39,770 for the Engage FWD variant with the base 66 kWh battery pack. This is a small price hike from the $39,590 starting price of the 2024 model but is still significantly cheaper than 2023 models, which started at $43,190 and rose to as high as $60,190 for the Platinum+ e-4ORCE. The current range continues to top out with the Platinum+ e-4ORCE, although it’s now available from $53,370.

Nissan did not make any noteworthy changes to the 2025 Ariya. In fact, all it did was add wireless phone charging as standard to all variants and eliminate several mid-range versions.

Zeekr has no immediate plans to start selling its cars in the United States, but that doesn’t stop them from bringing a trio of their models to this month’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. This will kick off what it hopes will be a year of record-breaking sales that may help establish it as one of China’s most important premium EV brands.

Attendees at CES will have the opportunity to see the Zeekr 001 FR, 009 Grand, and Mix from up close. The company is also scheduled to host a press conference and panel discussion were it’s expected to announce several new technologies and provide further details about its ongoing global expansion.

Read: Zeekr 001 FR Debuts With Four Motors, Tank Turns And 1,248 HP

This isn’t the first time the Chinese carmaker made an appearance at CES. It brought the 001 to the show in 2023 and last year, had the 007 sedan on display and announced a technology partnership with Intel.

Zeekr has big plans for 2025, as it’s aiming to deliver 320,000 vehicles. This represents a 44% increase over the 222,123 vehicles it delivered last year, an impressive figure when you consider it’s only been three and a half years since the brand launched the 001.

More: The New Zeekr Mix Is China’s Space-Age Answer To VW’s ID. Buzz

Its sales increased dramatically throughout 2024. In December alone, it delivered 27,190 vehicles, a fourth consecutive record month of sales and more than double the number of cars it sold in December 2023. During the fourth quarter, deliveries hit 79,250.

The company is charging into 2025 shortly after it was announced that Geely would shift Lynk & Co under the Zeekr umbrella. These two brands aim to grow cumulative sales to 1 million over the coming two years. This won’t just necessitate a big increase in sales at Zeekr, but also at Lynk & Co. During the January-November 2024 period, Lynk & Co delivered 259,356 vehicles, a 33.31% increase over the year prior.

BYD continued to rapidly expand in 2024, selling 4.27 million vehicles, an impressive 41.3% jump over the 3 million sales in 2023. However, the company is not expected to usurp Tesla as the largest seller of battery-electric vehicles.

The Chinese car-making giant sold 1,764,992 EVs in 2024, a 12% increase over 2023. 2,485,378 were plug-in hybrid vehicles, a 72.8% surge compared to 2023.

Read: BYD Outsold Ford Last Quarter To Become Sixth-Largest Carmaker

December was a record-breaking month for the company, selling 509,440 vehicles. Tesla has yet to release its delivery figures for 2024 but is expected to have shipped roughly 1.81 million vehicles, clinging on to the top spot in EV sales. However, BYD is expected to surpass Ford and Honda for cumulative 2024 sales, positioning itself as one of the world’s largest car manufacturers.

Bloomberg reports the vast majority of BYD’s sales come from China, with roughly half a million coming from overseas markets.

The rise of BYD in recent years has been nothing short of spectacular. Not too long ago, the company was a small brand selling bland, boring vehicles in China, but thanks in part to the local government’s heavily subsidized EV programs, BYD has established an enviable manufacturing footprint and launched several compelling vehicles. It also operates numerous sub-brands catering to different areas of the market.

BYD is also a battery giant. According to Car News China, it’s the second-largest battery supplier in China and supplies packs to companies including Toyota, Nio, and Tesla. The company installed a total of 194.7 GWh worth of batteries in vehicles and energy storage facilities last year.

Update: The Las Vegas Metro Police Department has disclosed that gasoline canisters, camp fuel canisters, and firework mortars were found in the Cybertruck’s bed. Authorities believe these items were connected to a detonation system allegedly triggered by the driver. The vehicle had been rented in Colorado through Turo.

According to ABC News, the sheriff stated that Tesla CEO Elon Musk assisted with the investigation by remotely unlocking the Cybertruck after it auto-locked during the explosion. Musk also provided investigators with video footage showing the suspect at charging stations along the route from Colorado to Las Vegas.

The original story follows.

We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself.

All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion. https://t.co/HRjb87YbaJ

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 1, 2025

One person has been killed and at least seven injured after a Tesla Cybertruck exploded and caught fire while parked outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Local authorities and the FBI are investigating the incident but do not believe there is any further threat to locals.

The explosion occurred shortly after the electric pickup truck pulled up in front of the hotel’s lobby. CCTV footage shared to X captured the devastating blast. In the clip, fire can be seeing ripping through the Tesla and it appears that several fireworks were also set off by the explosion.

Read: Feds Looking Into Fatal Tesla Cybertruck Crash That Killed Three Teens

Several videos are also circulating online that show the aftermath of the blast and the ensuing fire. ABC News reports that police are investigating the explosion as a possible act of terror. The driver of the Tesla was killed.

An individual who witnessed the explosion and fire said they saw the Tesla pull up to the lobby before it “lowered itself like a bus.”

“I and my husband were literally standing where the luggage is in the footage. I just saw it pulled up, and it lowered itself like a bus, and boom it goes. It first looked like fireworks or something but then I immediately feared our life thinking it could be a bomb and ran,” they wrote on X.

🚨New footage of the Tesla Cybertruck exploding in front of the Trump hotel

It looks like fireworks exploded

This was intentional

Someone was sending a message to Trump & Elon pic.twitter.com/aTpe0oM6jg

— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) January 1, 2025

While posting to his social media company, Elon Musk said “the while Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now. Will post more information as soon as we learn anything. We’ve never seen anything like this.”

Donald Trump has yet to comment on the incident, but his son, Eric Trump, thanked the local authorities for the quick response.

“Earlier today, a reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas,” he said. “The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response and professionalism.”

Cybertruck blew up in front of Trump hotel in Las Vegas. Those are our luggage by the door and that’s where we were when it happened. pic.twitter.com/KaVZXfGLNK

— ayackle (@kaaaassuu) January 1, 2025

The whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now.

Will post more information as soon as we learn anything.

We’ve never seen anything like this. https://t.co/MpmICGvLXf

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 1, 2025

The Chevrolet Equinox EV is involved in another recall in the United States, just two months after a handful had to be repaired for door strikers that could crack under pressure. This recall is much more widespread than October’s, impacting 7,606 examples across the United States.

Like all other EVs on the market, the Equinox EV is required to have a pedestrian alert sound system. However, Chevrolet has revealed the system in the Equinox EV may have been improperly calibrated and may not produce enough exterior sound when the SUV is traveling between 20 km/h (12.4 mph) and 30 km/h (18.6 mph). The carmaker rightly points out that if pedestrians can’t hear an approaching Equinox EV between these speeds, there’s a heightened risk of a collision occurring and a pedestrian being injured.

Read: Chevy Serves Electric Juice With Every Equinox EV Test Drive — Welcome To California

The recall impacts 2025 Equinox EV models manufactured between August 13, 2024, and October 16, 2024. GM has blamed the fault on incorrect software calibrations in the body control module. It opened an investigation into a potential problem on October 8, 2024, after an audit found the pedestrian alert sound on 2025 models was not up to spec. A decision to issue a recall was made on December 5.

Owners will be alerted to the recall from January 27, 2025. Curiously, customer-owned vehicles will need to visit a GM dealership to have the body control module’s software correctly calibrated, while unsold vehicles may receive the same update over the air. GM hasn’t specified why the over-the-air update isn’t available for all vehicles.

October’s recall for the Equinox EV also encompassed the 2025 Chevrolet Blazer and Blazer EV models. Chevy revealed these vehicles had door strikes that were improperly heat-treated and did not meet its hardness specifications, meaning the doors could swing open while driving or during a crash. Fortunately for GM, none of these vehicles had been delivered to customers at the time of the recall and were still on dealership lots.

Rimac may have quietly dropped a teaser image for its upcoming single-seater hypercar that Mate Rimac has promised will be quicker than a Formula 1 car. If you thought the Nevera and Nevera R were quick, just wait until you see what Rimac has up its sleeve.

This intriguing sketch is included in the latest issue of the Rimac Magazine that’s available to purchase on the carmaker’s website. One of the pages shows a line-up of three Rimac models, including the regular Nevera, a turquoise-colored Nevera R, and the front end of a mystery third model, triggering speculation that this could be the brand’s single-seater.

Read: Rimac Is Working On A Single-Seat Track Weapon That’ll Be Quicker Than An F1 Car

While some of the intricacies of the car’s design are hard to spot, it looks to have a pronounced front noise section that is not dissimilar to a Formula 1 car or IndyCar. However, unlike most open-wheel racers, it appears to have large sections positioned in front of the wheels, likely to aid in aerodynamics. Interestingly, there don’t appear to be any parts that shield the top of the tire, effectively giving it an open-wheeled design.

We can also see the car has a fixed canopy, which extends further forward than it does on the Nevera, and a wraparound windshield that is not dissimilar to what you’ll find in a fighter jet.

Mate Rimac confirmed work on a track-only single-seater in August, at the launch of the Nevera R. He claims it’ll be faster than an F1 car and be built around a bespoke platform. He added it will have a canopy-style cockpit, lending credibility to the idea that this image doubles as a subtle teaser for the car. The Croatian brand initially planned to reveal the model in 2024 before taking it to the track in 2025 with plans to smash several records.

No details about the car’s powertrain are known, but it will probably be all-electric. If sold to customers, it’s also bound to be exorbitantly expensive.

Replacing body panels can drain your wallet faster than a holiday shopping spree, but sometimes there’s a much cheaper and easier fix hiding in plain sight. Take this Tesla Cybertruck, for example: it was originally quoted a jaw-dropping $3,000 repair bill but was saved with nothing more than a humble suction cup. Yes, really.

This particular Cybertruck belongs to YouTuber Detroit Tesla , who somehow managed to end up with a huge dent in the driver’s door. No one knows how the dent got there (maybe an overly ambitious shopping cart?) but the owner was understandably shocked when Tesla’s repair center hit him with a $3,000 estimate to supply and fit a new door panel.

Read: Brand New Cybertruck Leaks Oil After 3 Days, Tesla Needs A Month To Fix

The door panel itself would have cost $828, which isn’t unreasonable given it’s made from high-strength stainless steel. Tesla would have then needed to ‘blend’ the finish of the new panel to match the rest of the Cybertruck’s body panels which have already been weathered. Most cars require blending of the paint when replacing parts, and while the Tesla doesn’t have paint, work still needs to be done to ensure a new stainless panel isn’t shinier than the others.

Unwilling to pay Tesla, the owner met up with a friend to try and pull out the dent themselves. The first few attempts didn’t go very well as they tried to pull out the dent while it was raining, preventing the suction cup from firmly sticking to the panel. After taking it inside, they heated the panel with a large propane heater and stuck four glue sticks to the door. Sticks like this can be useful to pop out dents but are best used on weaker materials like plastic, not stainless steel. Unsurprisingly, they didn’t work.

As a last resort, they grab the suction cup once again, and this time, it works. If you didn’t know better, you’d never guess it had once been crumpled like an aluminum can at a recycling plant.

A Reminder: Sometimes Simple Solutions Work

Even if you don’t drive a space-age electric pickup truck, this is a solid reminder that you don’t always need to shell out for costly repairs. For smaller dents like this, a quick trip to your local auto parts store for a suction cup could save you a ton of cash—and the pain of watching your savings account take a hit. Sometimes, it’s the simplest tools that get the job done.

Screenshot Detroit Tesla /YouTube

Ford is eager to show the world that electric vehicles can be quick and thrilling with several high-powered technical demonstrator vehicles over the past few years. These include the 1,400 hp Mustang Mach-E 1400 and, most recently, the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck conceived for Pikes Peak. There’s also the SuperVan 4.2 unveiled back in 2023.

This insane take on a minivan is truly unlike anything else on four wheels, coming out victorious at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb, screaming up the course in an impressive 43.98 seconds. Recently, Top Gear got its hands on the one-off and decided to put it to the test, handing the keys over to the Stig for a high-speed run around the Dunsfold Aerodrome.

Watch: Ford’s SuperVan 4.2 Storms To Victory At Goodwood Hillclimb

Back in the days of Top Gear, the SuperVan 4.2 would have been excluded from any official lap time board for not being street-legal and too low to go over a speed bump. Nevertheless, the time it set is stunning.

Just 1 minute and 5.3 seconds after setting off, the Stig crossed the finish line. This makes the SuperVan 4.2 the third fastest car to ever lap the circuit, just behind the 59-second lap of a Renault R24 F1 car and the Lotus T125 with its best time of 1:03.8. It also makes the Ford 1.9 seconds quicker than a McLaren 720S GTX, 3.2 seconds quicker than a Pagani Zonda R, and 5.6 seconds quicker than the current production car record holder, the Koenigsegg Jesko Attack.

Key to the SuperVan’s insane performance is a trio of electric motors delivering 1,400 hp. It also runs on racing slick tires and produces 4,400 lbs (1,995 kg) of downforce at 150 mph (242 km/h).

The new Dodge Charger may have left muscle car purists shaking their heads and mourning the glory days of roaring V8s. And yes, the introduction of an all-electric powertrain feels like the automotive equivalent of swapping steak for tofu. But, credit where credit is due – Dodge has at least managed to craft a design that feels modern without abandoning the Charger’s heritage. With a few nostalgic nods and some clever retro cues, the new model still looks unmistakably like a Charger.

Earlier in the year, Carscoops’ own Thanos Pappas imagined what the new Charger would look like with a dramatic widebody kit, inspired by the previous-generation model. Another talented designer, Kelsonik, has now provided us with another take on a widebody Charger, and with just a few changes, the new model can be made to look sensational.

Read: See The Dodge Charger Daytona From Every Angle In Over 200 Photos

The arches grafted onto the new muscle car are similar to those from the old Charger Widebody and suit the rest of the car’s lines brilliantly. Some widebody kits look cheap and tacky, ruining the look of a car. That’s not the case here. The bulbous fenders complement the Charger’s wide and aggressive hips, giving it a bold stance on the road.

Illustrations Kelsonik/Instagram

Adding to the visual drama are a few other thoughtful touches. Kelsonik has equipped the Charger with a subtly larger front splitter for extra flair and showcased two distinct sets of wheels. Both options amplify the car’s aggressive personality without tipping into overdone territory.

While some despise the new Charger, it’s worth remembering that we’re only at the start of its lifecycle. Two variants of the electric model will be offered with power ranging from 456 hp to 630 hp. Dodge is also finalizing a pair of ICE versions with the latest 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six Hurricane engine from Stellantis, already used in several Jeep models. This engine will be offered in 420 hp and 550 hp configurations.

If history tells us anything, it’s that Dodge has a habit of one-upping itself. Over the next few years, it’s safe to expect the Dodge Charger lineup to expand with more powerful and more audacious versions. A factory-standard widebody model feels inevitable. If Dodge can channel the same energy brought to these renders, the future of the Charger could be as bold as its legacy.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CAR DESIGN | RENDERINGS (@kelsonik)

The Tesla Model 3 Performance Hyundai Ioniq 5 N may not be direct rivals, given one is a sedan while the other is a crossover, but there’s no denying they are two of the most talked-about performance EVs currently on the market. Both offer blistering straight-line performance and impressive handling, but which is the best?

To give us an idea of the individual strengths and weaknesses of the Tesla and the Hyundai, Edmunds pitted them against each other for its U-Drag Race test. This consists of a quarter-mile sprint, a high-speed U-turn to test out the car’s cornering abilities, and a sprint back down the runway. The duo were very evenly matched and showed there are different ways to achieve extreme levels of EV performance.

Watch: C8 Corvette Z06 Battles Mercedes-AMG GT 63 in U-Drag Duel

The first test is extremely close. Off the line, the Tesla has the advantage and edges in front of the Hyundai. However, under braking, the Ioniq 5 N closes in and is able to take the U-turn tighter and quicker, allowing the driver to get back on the throttle faster than the driver of the Model 3 could. This gives the Ioniq 5 N an advantage on the sprint back home and it eventually finishes ahead of its American rival by less than a car length.

Interestingly, the Hyundai got the better launch in the second race, and this time, the driver of the Tesla took the U-turn slightly tighter, making up a little bit of time. Heading to the finish line, the Hyundai pulled ahead, taking its second victory.

A look at the figures shows the Tesla recorded the best 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time at 3.1 seconds compared to the 3.3 second time of the Ioniq 5 N. The Tesla also set the quickest quarter-mile at 11.0 seconds, whereas the Hyundai needed 11.2 seconds. However, it was the Korean that pulled the highest G in cornering and finished the U-turn drag race in 32.8 seconds compared to the 33.0 second time of its rival.

The reviewers note the Tesla makes it much easier to set up as drivers simply need to switch it to Track mode. By comparison, the Hyundai has a dizzying array of settings and customization options, meaning you need to dive into the menus to achieve the best performance.

Watch: Lamborghini Revuelto Vs McLaren 765LT Drag Race Is A Riot

It is, however, worth adding that some commentators point out that the reviewers misunderstood the Track mode as being the optimal for a drag race, which isn’t the case with the Model 3 Performance. That’s because it slows down the launch a bit and uses more energy to cool the battery so it doesn’t overheat when lapping a circuit.

According to Tesla, the Insane mode pre-heats the battery and “provides the maximum level of acceleration immediately available”, so for a quick sprint, such as the one required in a drag race that’s over in seconds, it’s preferable. Track mode, on the other hand, is designed “to modify the stability control, traction control, regenerative braking, and cooling systems to increase performance and handling while driving on closed circuit courses”.

In any case, even in Track mode, the Model 3 had an edge in acceleration over the Ioniq 5 N anyway and lost out in braking and cornering. It would be interesting, though, to see a rematch with the Tesla in Insane mode, which should settle the issue.

A decade ago, who could’ve guessed that carmakers would turn dimly-lit cabins into a battleground of LED excess? Yet here we are—ambient lighting is everywhere now. The popularity of these systems shows no signs of abating, and they can be found in everything from cheap hatchbacks to premium saloons and SUVs. To cash in on the demand for these systems, Tesla is offering an ambient light upgrade kit for the Model Y, though there’s a catch; it appears to be available only in China.

Perhaps unbeknownst to many Model Y owners in the US, examples of the electric SUV built and sold in China were updated last year to include a strip of configurable ambient lighting running across the dashboard. Now, Tesla is selling an ambient lighting kit for Model Ys assembled between January 22, 2022, and October 1, 2023, before the kit was included as standard.

Future Cars: Everything We Know About The Tesla Model Y Juniper

There are plenty of universal aftermarket ambient lighting kits, but Tesla’s option is a little more extensive. Not only does it add an LED strip to the dashboard, but it also replaces the wooden dash insert in favor of a gray textile area. The kit syncs up to the car’s infotainment display and can be configured to display any imaginable color.

Tesla Model Y owners in China can order the ambient lighting kit for 1,599 yuan, or the equivalent of $220, and this includes installation fees. Something tells us that such an option, especially at this price tag, would have become hugely popular in the States.

Read: Tesla Sued After Woman Claims Locking Flaw Let Attacker Enter Model Y

For now, there’s no word on whether or not this kit will eventually be offered in the United States next year, but even if it’s not, the Model Y could get ambient lighting soon enough. As part of the Model 3’s mid-life facelift, Tesla designed a strip of ambient lighting across its dashboard and door panels. In all likelihood, the heavily-revised Model Y, currently known as the Juniper, will get a similar LED array at launch.

In the meantime, American owners will just have to admire the glow from afar or dig into the aftermarket scene for a DIY solution. Either way, the days of dark car interiors are well behind us. Whether that’s a step forward or just a new form of distraction is, of course, up for debate.

The electric vehicle revolution isn’t coming, it’s already here, and nowhere is this more evident than in China. In just a few years, the world’s largest car market has flipped the script on internal combustion engines, with sales of EVs, plug-in hybrids, and hybrids chipping away at the dominance of traditional gas-powered cars. By 2025, EVs alone are set to outsell ICE vehicles for the first time.

EV Sales Are Skyrocketing

According to forecasts from investment heavyweights like UBS, HSBC, Morningstar, and Wood Mackenzie, China’s EV sales are expected to hit 12 million units in 2024, a massive 20% jump from 2023. Meanwhile, ICE sales are predicted to nosedive by 10%, falling below 11 million units. If these numbers hold, EVs won’t just overtake ICE cars, they’ll obliterate official goals.

In 2020, the Chinese government set a target for EVs to account for 50% of new car sales by 2035. At this pace, the country will blow past that milestone a full decade early.

Read: China Becomes First Country To Hit 1 Million Monthly EV Sales

When the cross-over point is reached next year, electric vehicles will continue to surge and could exceed 18 million by 2034, data published by The Financial Times suggests. Meanwhile, sales of ICE models will follow a downward trajectory and, in 2034, could drop to as low as 2.93 million. In 2025, more PHEVs are also expected to be sold than any year previously, reaching 4.39 million, and may grow steadily to a peak of 6.05 million in 2033. Traditional hybrids may hover between 730,000 and 1 million units over the coming decade.

However, while strong EV sales are predicted well into the future, increasingly stiff competition will likely squeeze out many brands as the market moves towards consolidation.

“While China’s domestic EV sector is clearly flourishing, it is also facing slowing growth — from a very high base — models oversupply, intense competition and a price war,” says HSBC analyst Yuqian Ding. “The longer-term direction of travel is clear — China’s EV juggernaut is unstoppable.”

In short, the EV gold rush is evolving into a cutthroat survival game. The winners? Likely the automakers that can deliver high-quality EVs at the most competitive price points.

China’s dramatic shift to EVs also means that existing factories producing millions of ICE vehicles will have very little domestic market to serve. Foreign brands will also feel the pinch. In 2024, the market share of foreign cars plunged to just 37%, compared to 64% in 2020.

This demonstrates Chinese buyers’ increasing preference for local vehicles in the planet’s largest new car market, which results in German, Japanese and US manufacturers seeing a significant source of revenue diminished.

Turning a classic sports car into an EV is like turning a samurai sword into a butter knife—sure, it works, but it kind of misses the point. On the other hand, taking a stately luxury barge like a Rolls-Royce Corniche or Silver Shadow and giving it an all-electric rebirth? Now that’s something even purists might get behind. British firm Evice has stepped into the electric restomod game, and their work on these classic Rollers is nothing short of impressive.

While other projects might prioritize flashy gimmicks or Tesla-style acceleration, Evice’s approach feels refreshingly thoughtful. Their first prototype, dubbed XP1, is based on the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. This car, along with Evice’s future production models, features an 800-volt electrical architecture developed in-house. A 77 kWh battery pack powers a pair of electric motors, delivering a combined 400 hp.

Read: Another Rolls-Royce Cullinan Falls Into The Hands Of Mansory

Evice, founded last year by three engineers, claims that each electrified Rolls-Royce leaving its shop will offer over 200 miles (about 320 km) on a single charge. The company has also added an active suspension and upgraded braking system, ensuring that these restomodded classics handle and brake as well as modern cars.

Evice’s upgrades go well beyond the electric powertrain and chassis. Inside the cabin, the restomod treatment includes heated and ventilated, electrically adjustable seats, a modern air conditioning system, a revamped audio setup, and an infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay compatibility. To top it off, they’ve added a reversing camera too.

Evice CEO Matthew Pearson described the company’s mission as a careful balance of preserving history while embracing innovation. “Our work with the Corniche and Silver Shadow is about reimagining their timeless elegance while modernising them for greater refinement, performance, and reliability,” he explained. Pearson emphasized that Evice approaches each project as a “ground-up remastering,” refining everything from the powertrain and chassis to interior design and technology. In his words, a Rolls-Royce remastered by Evice is “what the factory would have created 60 years ago, had the technology existed.

The first cars ordered by customers should be ready for delivery in the spring of 2026.

This year has been a very busy one for Chinese electric car manufacturer Nio. Not only has it launched a semi-solid state battery and continues to expand its battery-swapping network, but it’s also introduced two new sub-brands – Onvo and Firefly. Now, Nio chief executive William Li says he wants to see the brand become one of the world’s top 10 largest car manufacturers by 2035.

Li laid out his ambitions while speaking at a recent media conference in China. He said that he does not want to see Nio left behind by its “excellent Chinese peers” and doesn’t expect many car manufacturers to survive the current upheaval across the global market. Li thinks that in 2035, five of the world’s top 10 carmakers will be Chinese, and says the country’s brands could account for 40% of all new car sales, IT Home reports.

Read: Nio’s Affordable New Firefly EV Hatchback Has LEDs That Look Like iPhone Cameras

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard the boss of a new Chinese company announce grand ambitions to become one of the world’s largest automakers. In late 2022, a year before launching the SU7, Xiaomi founder Lei Jun said he sees a future where the technology giant could be one of the planet’s top 5 largest car brands. At the time, Jun suggested the world’s top 5 brands would account for 80% of the total new car market, and targets annual sales of over 10 million cars for Xiaomi to be in that club.

Nio will need to ensure both its Onvo and Firefly sub-brands are successful if it wants to establish itself as a global player. The first EV from Firefly is a hatchback similar in size to the BYD Dolphin. It has a cute exterior design that may appeal to tech-savvy Chinese buyers and rocks a large infotainment screen in the center of the dashboard. No details about its powertrain have been announced at this stage, although pre-orders have opened. Chinese prices will start at ¥148,800 or ~$20,400.

A contractor for Chinese carmaker BYD in Brazil, Jinjiang Group, has vehemently denied claims it’s keeping employees “enslaved” at a construction site where a new BYD factory is being built. As is so often the case, there are two sides to this story.

On December 24, Brazilian authorities said they had found 163 Chinese nationals working in “slavery-like conditions” at the factory. Authorities suggested these employees were working long hours in excess of those permitted by local laws and working up to seven days a week. It was also claimed there was just one toilet for every 31 workers and that the employees were being housed in dorms with no mattresses and sparse cooking facilities.

Read: 163 Workers Rescued From Shocking Slave-Like Conditions At BYD Construction Site In Brazil

The local labor prosecutor’s office added that the conditions at the site were dangerous and that 107 of the workers were having their passports withheld by the contractor.

However, both Jinjiang and BYD have denied the claims. Workers have also gathered and released a statement, claiming there had been misunderstandings and stating they want to continue working at the site.

“In the matter of smearing Chinese brands, smearing China, and attempting to undermine the friendship between China and Brazil, we have seen how relevant foreign forces maliciously associate and deliberately smear,” BYD spokesperson Li Yunfei said, according to ABC News. In a separate statement published to its Weibo account, Jinjiang said “being unjustly labeled as ‘enslaved’ has made our employees feel that their dignity has been insulted and their human rights violated, seriously hurting the dignity of the Chinese people.”

The contractor also shared an online video showing its workers. In the clip, a group of workers read a letter they jointly signed. They say reports of “slave-like” conditions had violated their human rights, adding, “We cherish this work and want to stay and work here.” They said they had provided their passports to the company to assist in applying for temporary work permits that they couldn’t do on their own, due to local language barriers.

Nevertheless, after news of the alleged poor working conditions emerged, BYD said it had terminated its contract with Jinjiang and that workers would be housed in nearby hotels for the time being. Moreover, it stated that it had been changing working conditions at the construction site and had informed its contractors that “adjustments” had to be made.

Which, naturally, raises the following question: if things at the site were not the ones described by Brazilian authorities, the workers are actually happy there, and that’s all a part of a smearing campaign, why did BYD had to cancel its contract with Jingjiang, change working conditions and make “adjustments”?

Numerous Tesla Cybertruck owners say their EVs are becoming bricked after installing a recent software update, and several others are experiencing issues with the brand’s new HW4 onboard self-driving computer. The issues have left owners of various different Tesla models stranded and forced the automaker’s technicians to reset vehicles.

News of issues first started to emerge last week. It’s understood that vehicles with the new HW4 computer are short-circuiting, perhaps during the camera calibration process. The issue involves vehicles such as the Model 3 and Model Y and renders important features such as the GPS, navigation, range estimations, and cameras inoperable.

Read: Brand New Cybertruck Leaks Oil After 3 Days, Tesla Needs A Month To Fix

At the same time these issues have been occurring, several Cybertruck owners claim their pickups are getting bricked after installing software 2024.45.25.5, although it’s unclear if the same computer fault has caused these failures. Several members of the Cybertruck Owners Club forum report their trucks getting crippled during a software update.

In one case, a Tesla technician says they “found firmware hammered for an unknown reason midway through install,” and that a “partial update disabled vehicle.” After successfully reinstalling the software, the truck was confirmed to be operational.

It appears issues directly related to the HW4 computer are more widespread. Electrek says it has been contacted by numerous owners experiencing issues with the new computer that’s rolled out over the past few months. This new computer reportedly has less RAM and storage than the HW3 it replaces, likely in an effort to cut costs.

Unnamed sources claim Tesla has received a large number of complaints related to the issue and that it is instructing service centers to downplay any safety concerns. Tesla’s immediate solution seems to be replacing the faulty computers, but it’s also said to be working on a temporary software patch. The report adds that “Tesla service is currently being overwhelmed by the issue” and has had to push back appointments for several weeks.

Tesla vehicles with the new computer are eligible for the latest version of the Full-Self Driving system, while those models with the older HW3 computer will have to wait for a separate update. Notebook Check reports Elon Musk recently said Tesla will retrofit the new computer for free if it can’t get the latest FSD to work on the HW3 unit.

If you own a 2023 or 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning, this one’s for you. Ford has issued a recall for nearly 12,000 of these electric pickups in the US, citing a safety defect with the front upper control arms. Why does this matter? Because this flaw could cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles entirely.

It’s a significant safety concern that has already been linked to at least one alarming incident. In that case, an F-150 Lightning unexpectedly swerved into a highway guardrail at 60 mph. Now, Ford is taking steps to ensure no one else faces a similarly dangerous situation.

The F-150 Lightning was one of the first electric pickup trucks to hit the market, but several recalls have been issued for it over the past couple of years, addressing problems related to the battery pack, the cabin coolant heater system, and even a potential fire hazard. This latest recall impacts 11,922 models manufactured from November 5, 2023, to February 13, 2024.

Read: F-150 Lightning Owners Might Get Chilly This Winter As Ford Recalls 931 EVs Over Busted Heater

Ford’s recall notice states that certain F-150 Lightnings may have an improperly torqued nut on the ball joint, which secures the front upper control arm to the knuckle assembly. A loose nut could cause the upper control arm to separate from the knuckle assembly. If this happens, drivers may “experience a partial loss of directional control.” Clearly, that’s not a good thing, and increases the risk of a crash.

The nut in question may not have been torqued correctly due to variances in the alignment or orientation between the fastening tool and the fastener. This could have induced lateral forces on the tool, preventing it from properly seating on the fastener. According to the recall notice, owners of trucks with a loose or missing ball joint nut might notice unusual vehicle vibrations or hear clunking or rattling noises while driving.

Ford is aware of two field reports and one warranty claim related to the issue.. The problem came to light on September 12, when an owner’s F-150 Lightning unexpectedly veered into a highway side rail. While the truck had just 639 miles on the clock, an inspection by a Ford dealer revealed that the upper control arm nut was missing, and the joint had separated from the knuckle, resulting in the crash.

The Blue Oval plans to alert owners starting February 3, 2025. Dealerships will inspect the nuts on affected vehicles and run a torque test. If the nut fails the test, both the nut and the knuckle assembly will be replaced. For now, if you own one of these trucks and hear unusual noises or notice anything off with your vehicle’s handling, don’t wait, get it checked out immediately.

Faraday Future has teetered on the brink of collapse numerous times in recent years, but it refuses to die, at least not yet. In September, it announced a new mainstream brand dubbed Faraday X (FX), and it’s now revealed that it will display two prototype mules at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on January 5.

Helping make Faraday X a reality is a new $30 million round of financing that the embattled car manufacturer has secured. Of this, $7.5 million has been made immediately available to the company, while it has $22.5 million in new cash commitments it will receive if it meets its objectives.

Read: Faraday Future Teases Mainstream FX Prototype

The two FX prototype mules will arrive at the firm’s Los Angeles headquarters later this month, before they’re shown to the world at CES. During the event, the brand will also “provide updates on its FX strategy.” Faraday Future is remaining tight-lipped about its immediate plans, but we know it wants to launch two more affordable electric vehicles dubbed the FX 5 and FX 6. The first is “expected” to be priced between $20,000 and $30,000, while the latter should cost between $30,000 and $50,000. Interestingly, both battery-electric and range-extended powertrains will be offered.

“The new funding lays a solid foundation for both FF and its new brand as the Company approaches the end of 2024 and enters the new year,” global chief executive of Faraday Future Matthias Aydt said. “I am optimistic about the opportunities that this new funding will bring, including supporting the ongoing production of our FF 91 2.0 and the growth of the FX brand.”

Launching an electric vehicle brand is not easy, and Faraday Future has experienced this firsthand. It was founded in 2014 but has seemingly spent more time trying to sure-up its finances than developing and testing its first production vehicle – the FF 91. Not too long ago, Fisker went belly-up as it attempted to go mainstream with the recall-plagued Ocean. Can Faraday Future avoid this fate?