The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a brilliant EV, but its design has always been a little controversial. Now, the brand has launched a facelifted version of the Ioniq 6, and it certainly looks a lot sleeker while retaining the streamlined shape of the model we’re all familiar with.

This new Ioniq 6 has been unveiled at the Seoul Mobility Show, although no clear images of the revised rear-end have been published. Fortunately, we have been provided with a good look at the overhauled front fascia. Not only does it look more refined than the old model, but it’s also more aggressive, particularly in N Line guise.

Read: Hyundai Ioniq 6 N Could Be Even Better Than The 5 N

One of the more peculiar parts of the outgoing model was the headlights. Just like Hyundai did with the Sonata, the carmaker has ditched these weird lights in favor of split lights, consisting of thin LED daytime running lights and separate headlamps positioned lower in the bumper. It makes a world of difference to the EV’s design.

Those who want something a little more aggressive would be wise to opt for the new Ioniq 6 N Line. It opens up the front fascia, and much like the Elantra N, includes a gaping wide grille and air intakes. Hyundai is also promising a new rear bumper that incorporates more black parts, and has showcased the N Line with distinctive silver and black wheels.

The rear of the new Ioniq 6 retains the LED light bar of the outgoing model, but now includes a large ducktail lip spoiler. It’s also ditched the odd second spoiler that was positioned at the base of the rear window, and it looks much better because of it.

“IONIQ 6 has evolved from a single Electrified Streamliner into a lineup, each model expressing its own character while staying true to one refined vision,” the head of Hyundai Design Center, Simon Loasby said of the new model. “Under the evolved design concept of ‘Pure Flow, Refined’, we’ve enhanced every line and detail to make IONIQ 6 simpler and more progressive.”

Some minor tweaks have been made to the cabin of the new Ioniq 6, too. For example, there’s a different three-spoke steering wheel, the window switches have been repositioned, and there are new USB ports. No technical details about the new model have been announced.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 N

Perhaps the most exciting titbit from these images is our first proper teaser of the long-awaited Hyundai Ioniq 6 N. It’s inspired by the RN22e concept from a few years ago and has been showcased with a bespoke rear fascia, a large fixed rear wing, and new LED taillights. There’s no word on its power, but it should have the same basic dual-motor system as the Ioniq 5 N, producing the same 641 hp and also featuring synthetic exhaust sounds and a simulated eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. It will be unveiled in July.

Xiaomi’s team has been showered with praise in recent months and has probably become used to reading nothing but positive headlines. However, the Chinese carmaker is now hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons, after the first major accident involving the SU7 sedan resulted in three fatalities. The incident has cast a shadow over the tech giant’s automotive ambitions and raised tough questions about the safety and reliability of advanced driver-assistance systems.

On March 29, a Xiaomi SU7 was traveling in China with three passengers onboard. The vehicle was driving along the Dezhou–Shangrao Expressway in Anhui Province with its Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) system engaged, maintaining a steady speed of 116 km/h (72 mph). As it approached a construction zone and a lane closed off with barriers, the SU7 struck a concrete divider at 97 km/h (60 mph), sparking a fire that ultimately engulfed the car.

Read: Xiaomi Aims To Sell More EVs In China Than All German Brands Combined

Shortly after the crash, Xiaomi released a timeline detailing the moments leading up to the collision. At 10:44:24 p.m., the SU7’s Navigate on Autopilot system issued a warning—“Obstacle ahead”—and began braking. One second later, the driver took control, steering left by 22.06 degrees and applying 31% brake pressure. Another second later, they adjusted slightly to the right by 1.06 degrees and increased braking to 38%. Despite these apparent efforts to avoid the crash, the vehicle struck the concrete barrier.

The impact immediately triggered the eCall emergency system. Within 20 seconds, the registered owner of the SU7 was contacted and confirmed he was not the driver. An ambulance was dispatched and arrived around 11 p.m., but tragically, all three occupants had already died.

The Xiaomi SU7 vehicle in China was driving at 116km/h in NOA on the highway, with the last speed reported to be 97km/h just before the collision with the guardrail.

A fire broke out after the collision, killing all three female college students in the vehicle.

Xiaomi issued a… pic.twitter.com/nxHGGYXhOR

— Tsla Chan (@Tslachan) April 1, 2025

Xiaomi says it is fully cooperating with local investigators to determine the cause of the crash. According to Reuters, which cited reporting from the Chinese newspaper Economic Observer, the father of one of the victims was told by local police that the car key failed to unlock the doors after the impact. In a statement, Xiaomi said it has not yet been able to confirm whether the doors could be opened at the time of the accident.

Shares in the Chinese technology giant fell 5% after word of the crash became public. Company boss Lei Jun has vowed to “respond to the concerns of families and society,” while investigating the crash.

Photos Weibo / Shine

Tesla will release its first-quarter sales figures later today, but before that happens, we already have some key sales data from several countries across Europe. It does not paint a pretty picture for the electric automaker that’s been struggling since Elon Musk became President Donald Trump’s right-hand man in the Oval Office.

According to the latest data, Tesla sold 3,157 new vehicles in France this March, a sharp 36.83% drop compared to the same time last year. It’s even worse in Sweden, where sales plummeted by 63.9% to just 911 units. Denmark saw a 65.5% decline (down to 595 cars), while the Netherlands reported a 61% drop, with 1,536 Teslas sold.

Read: Even Toyota Sold More EVs Than Tesla In Norway As Musk’s Brand Tanks 45%

These figures are important because the all-new Model Y has been available in most European markets since February 21, but it doesn’t appear to have reversed Tesla’s fortunes, at least not yet. Sales may start to climb once the public becomes more familiar with the new Model Y and get the opportunity to see it in the flesh.

Tesla is doing a little better in Norway. While the 2,211 models sold locally in March was down 1% from March last year, it was up significantly from January and February, when 1,606 Teslas found new homes. The Model Y was easily Norway’s best-selling new car in March, shifting 1,822 units, compared to the Nissan Ariya in second with 569 units sold.

Similarly, Tesla’s fortunes are also changing for the better in Spain, Portugal, and Italy, with sales climbing by 34.3%, 2.1%, and 51.3%, respectively, as reported by Reuters. Despite these gains, weak figures from January and February still mean quarterly sales are down in all three markets from Q1 2024.

Of course, it’s not just Musk’s involvement in US and European politics that has diminished the sentiment in the brand among some shoppers. In Europe, a growing number of Chinese car manufacturers are entering the market with competitively priced vehicles, despite tariffs placed against them.

With a constant stream of electric vehicles pouring out of China , trying to keep track of them all is starting to feel like a full-time job. There’s always something new vying for attention, but every now and then, one stands out from the crowd. One of the more intriguing entries, a lightweight electric sports car that first appeared back in 2022 as the SC-01, is now resurfacing—this time ready for production.

Recently rebranded as the JMEV01, the coupe is finally set to hit the Chinese market on April 15, after spending some time under the radar. Visually, it lands somewhere between the Tesla Roadster and a Lancia Stratos, which is no bad thing.

Read: The SSC SC-01 Is A $42,000 Chinese Electric Sports Car With 429HP

The SC-01 was originally the brainchild of a startup called Small Sports Car (SSC), but it has since found a new identity under the JMEV brand. JMEV itself is part of Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC), a Chinese automaker that was once partnered with Renault—at least until the French walked away from the joint venture in 2023. Now, the project is getting financial backing from Xiaomi, as CarnewsChina reports. Welcome to the overlapping Venn diagram that is the Chinese EV industry.

Prices for the JMEV01 are expected to start under 300,000 yuan, or roughly $41,300, and the official launch is scheduled for mid-April.

At a time when most EVs seem to double as workout equipment for suspension engineers, the JMEV01 represents a welcome change. It’s underpinned by a tubular spaceframe chassis and reportedly tips the scales at just 3,009 lbs (1,365 kg). To put that into perspective, the similarly sized MG Cyberster weighs 4,376 lbs (1,985 kg) in its flagship guise, so JMC has clearly done some clever things to keep the weight down.

Range and Performance

We don’t yet have specifics on the battery pack’s capacity, but we do know it’s being sourced from CALB and is expected to deliver up to 323 miles (520 km) of range on the CLTC cycle. That energy feeds a pair of electric motors producing a combined 429 hp (320 kW), good for a 0–62 mph (100 km/h) sprint in just 3.9 seconds.

The exterior design of the JMEV01 is something to behold. In a world where many EVs look unnecessarily futuristic and are dominated by smooth surfaces and curved lines to aid in aerodynamics, this sports car looks more traditional, and is all the better for it. The front end includes sharp headlights with black surrounds, a large grille and air intakes, and a clamshell-style hood.

From the rear three-quarter angle, the Lancia Stratos inspiration becomes impossible to miss. The JMEV01 features a flat decklid, a tidy lip spoiler, circular taillights, and a blacked-out bumper—details that give it the look of a rally icon filtered through Chinese lens.

More: China’s Giant Space Solar Station Could Beam Endless Power To EVs And Homes

It’s still too early to say whether the JMEV01 will live up to its promise, but on paper, it’s ticking a lot of the right boxes. If nothing else, it’s proof that not every EV coming out of China has to be a 5,000-pound tech pod shaped like a jellybean with lightbars.

For anyone even vaguely familiar with the current landscape, it’s clear that electric vehicles have quietly taken over the sensible side of driving. They’re smooth, quiet, efficient, and for most people, that’s exactly what daily driving should be. But for enthusiasts? Well, the story’s a little different. Most EVs just don’t hit the same nerve as a manual-equipped ICE car screaming through its rev range. Automakers know this too, and they’ve started tinkering. Ford, it seems, is the latest to join the “manual EV” experiment.

Toyota has been working on a simulated manual transmission for future EVs since at least 2022, and Hyundai has famously replicated a dual-clutch transmission in the popular Ioniq 5 N. Now, a recently published patent from Ford shows that it, too is developing a fake stick shift designed for EVs.

Watch: Toyota’s Six-Speed Manual For EVs Feels Just Like The Real Thing, Say Testers

The application, first filed in the US back in September 2023 before being published on March 20, surfaced publicly a couple of weeks ago, catching the attention of Jalopnik. It describes and depicts a shifter that uses several actuators, vertical drive posts, vertical guide posts, and motors to simulate gear shifts. While that all sounds very complex, what it means is that the shifter could be configured to simulate any kind of H-pattern ‘box with different numbers of fake gears. In theory, the setup could also allow for simply sequential up and down shifting.

This isn’t just a novelty, either. Ford also mentions the use of haptic feedback to give drivers a more tactile experience. The patent even acknowledges the elephant in the room: EVs just don’t provide the same kind of physical connection that drivers get from combustion-powered cars. As Ford puts it, electric vehicles “lack operator to vehicle physical feedback that is advantageous in conventional motor vehicles.”

Will It Ever Hit the Road?

Of course, despite Ford making this patent application over 18 months ago, there’s no guarantee it will bring it into production. Adding a fake shifter would only make sense if the EV itself is a sporty model. After all, no one is going to buy an Explorer EV with a stick shift. However, if Ford does decide to eventually launch a true electric Mustang (not like the Mach-E…), or perhaps an electric hot hatch, it could be well-suited to a shifter like this. Until then, it’s likely a clever idea stuck in the theoretical lane.

Electric cars are no longer just about efficiency—they’re turning into full-blown performance monsters. Sure, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Ultra may have nabbed some bragging rights by edging out the Taycan Turbo GT at a few tracks, but make no mistake: Porsche’s flagship EV is still an absolute weapon. Not only does it offer insane acceleration, but it is equally as impressive in braking and handling, as Motor Trend recently discovered.

Read: Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Topples 911 Turbo S At Interlagos F1 Circuit

While testing the Taycan Turbo GT in flagship Weissach guise, which ditches the rear seats, Motor Trend recorded an astonishing 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of 1.89 seconds with its typical one-foot rollout procedure. This works out to be 2.10 seconds without rollout. To put that into context, that 1.89-second sprint is not only 0.05 seconds quicker than the standard Taycan Turbo GT, but it’s also 0.18 seconds ahead of the Tesla Model S Plaid, no small feat. Even the four-door Taycan Turbo GT previously tested by MT outsprinted the Tesla to 60 mph.

Faster Than Fast

This acceleration places the Porsche ahead of some seriously elite competition. It beats the Ferrari SF90 Stradale Assetto Fiorano’s 2.10-second time and edges out the Lucid Air Sapphire’s 2.16-second figure. In fact, it’s now the fastest-accelerating car MotorTrend has ever tested in its 76-year history.

Motor Trend’s quarter-mile time is perhaps even more impressive. The electric Porsche stormed down the drag strip in just 9.23 seconds at 150.1 mph. That only trails the Lucid Air Sapphire that’s set a 9.21-second quarter-mile at 157.1 mph. As the model’s various lap records show, it also handles extraordinarily well and is the quickest sedan tested around the publication’s figure-eight testing course.

In the test, the flagship electric Porsche set a time of 21.86 seconds, pulling an average of 1.03g. This is the fourth-quickest time ever recorded, and only a hundredth of a second behind a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 with the Z07 Pack, and was close to the Ferrari 296 GTB and McLaren 765LT.

Braking performance is just as impressive. The Taycan Turbo GT Weissach came to a halt from 60 mph in just 93 feet. And when it’s time to recharge, the EV is equally efficient, needing only 19 minutes to go from 5% to 80% using a high-speed charger.

At What Cost, Though?

The example tested had a sticker price of $233,395. There’s no doubt that’s a lot of money, particularly compared to the $94,900 commanded by the Tesla Model S Plaid, although it’s more affordable than the $250,575 Lucid Air Sapphire.

It’s not unusual for a flashy EV startup to crash and burn, but Canoo’s spectacular flameout has been anything but clean. After filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in January and halting operations entirely, the company is now tangled in a messy dispute that involves hidden assets, questionable sales tactics, and accusations that its CEO may have gotten a little too good of a deal.

Read: Canoo Goes Bust With Less Than $50,000 Left And Millions In Debt

Last Friday, electric trucking startup Harbinger filed a formal objection to the sale of Canoo’s assets to its boss, claiming the sale process “unfairly favored Mr. Aquila.” According to the objection, Canoo failed to disclose certain assets acquired from another failed EV startup—Arrival—and the bankruptcy trustee approved Aquila’s purchase without securing an independent appraisal or even marketing the assets to outside buyers.

Allegations of Hidden Assets and Insider Deals

The situation gets murkier. Harbinger also alleges that Canoo listed some assets that it didn’t actually own for sale. While Harbinger did not specify what these assets were, it says that the access granted to the virtual data room for potential bidders when it considered buying the assets allowed them to make this determination, as first reported by TechCrunch.

The sale of Canoo to its CEO also includes a very important clause. Canoo sued Harbinger in 2022, claiming many of its former employees had stolen trade secrets that were used to create Harbinger. This lawsuit is still ongoing, and through the purchase, Aquila will personally benefit from any settlement that Harbinger may have to pay.

In the complaint, Harbinger notes that the former boss is buying unidentified ‘trade secrets’ from Canoo, “but Mr. Aquila alone supposedly knows what those trade secrets are.” It adds that “a process where only one bidder – an insider – has the ability to identify the assets offered for sale and their value is not a fair process.”

Even before the bankruptcy, Canoo’s financials read like a startup horror story. Since its founding in 2017, the company generated almost no revenue and racked up hundreds of millions in losses. In 2022 alone, Canoo reported a staggering $488 million loss, followed by $303 million in 2023. The first half of 2024 added another $118 million to the bonfire. For comparison, Canoo reported zero revenue in 2022 and just under $900,000 in 2023—a rounding error in the EV world.

As Canada braces for the impact of steep 25% tariffs on vehicles it exports to the United States, a missed opportunity is coming back into focus. Chinese automaker BYD reportedly expressed interest in investing in Canadian manufacturing but backed off after encountering significant pushback. With Trump’s new tariffs set to take effect on April 2, some are now wondering if Canada might need BYD more than it realized.

More: Canada Freezes Musk’s $43M Tesla EV Rebate Claim After Rapid-Fire Sales, Bans Future Subsidies

China’s ambassador to Canada, Wang Di, said moves made by the Canadian government have “seriously dampened” the confidence of Chinese companies to invest locally. For example, three Chinese mineral firms have been ordered to divest their assets, TikTok’s Canadian branch has been closed, and AI firm DeepSeek has been banned, all in the name of national security.

Why Canada Shut the Door on BYD

This hardline approach toward Chinese firms—including BYD—has been framed as a move to protect domestic industry, ensure national security, and align with US concerns. American officials, including former President Biden, had warned that Chinese automakers might try to use Canada as a backdoor into the US market. But with President Trump reimposing tariffs, the rationale for walling off Chinese investment may be shifting.

A recent report by The Logic suggests that if US-Canada trade alignment is no longer a priority, Canada might do well to reconsider its position. Letting BYD invest could bring clear benefits, especially with Canadian auto jobs now potentially at risk.

“BYD had carefully thought about coming to Canada to make investment. But they met huge difficulties, restrictions and obstruction, and they had to give up the idea of investing in Canada. And I heard that they have moved to other countries, and they have been very successful there,” Wang Di told The Globe and Mail.

Read: Chinese-Owned EV Brands Gain Momentum In Europe, Collectively Outsell Tesla

“If BYD was successful in investing in Canada, then I think the result would be the Canadian consumers would have been able to enjoy the EVs with the latest technology, with very good quality and with a cheaper price. Isn’t that a good thing?,” he added.

Too Little, Too Late?

If Trump’s tariffs force car manufacturers to shift more of their production to the United States, countless jobs could be lost throughout Canada’s auto manufacturing sector. Now, it’s Canada that may need BYD more than the Chinese automaker needs it.

However, that ship might have already sailed. According to BYD spokesperson Frank Girardot, BYD does not have any plans for manufacturing in Canada and will simply continue to service the company’s buses that some transit operators in the country use.

It’s no secret that Tesla has become something of a cultural lightning rod, whether for its tech, its CEO, or the political baggage that now seems welded to its aluminum panels. And in the current climate, even scratching a Tesla could apparently land you in serious legal territory, at least in Washington, D.C., where the politics are as tangled as the city’s traffic circles.

Read: Trump Vows To Buy A Tesla After ‘Radical Left Lunatics’ Boycott Brand

Elon Musk and Tesla have grown so closely associated with the Trump-era political ecosystem that some officials in the nation’s capital are reportedly considering whether vandalism against the brand could be prosecuted as a hate crime. D.C. has long been a Democratic stronghold, but Mayor Muriel Bowser appears to be making moves in response to mounting pressure from the Trump administration, particularly after Trump’s recent threat to assert control over the District.

Last week, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police issued a press release announcing they are searching for two suspects who allegedly defaced Tesla vehicles in the district. According to the authorities, they “wrote political hate speech on to the victims’ Tesla vehicles then fled the scene.” The exterior cameras of the cars caught clear images of both suspects, although they were wearing sunglasses.

Vandalism, But Make It Political

Unlike some incidents elsewhere in the country, the Teslas weren’t torched, overturned, or otherwise wrecked. The damage was cosmetic, limited to what amounts to political graffiti. What’s perhaps the strangest thing about the whole situation is that much of the “hate speech” graffiti on the cars wasn’t even that dramatic.

According to Politico, which reviewed police reports, several sarcastic messages were left on the Teslas. These included statements like “Let’s do away with the administrative state! Buy a tesla!” while another said, “Go Doge I support Musk killing the dept of education.”

Another read, “I like what Musk is doing,” while one stated, “I Love Musk and hate the Fed Gov.t.” Possibly the most provocative was: “Ask me about my support of Nazis.” It’s a grab bag of chaotic energy, part satire, part performance art, part political Rorschach test.

Washington D.C. is one of just a few jurisdictions that describe “political affiliation,” with race, sex, and religion as categories of bias, meaning locals cannot discriminate against someone for being a Democrat or Republican. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t shun someone for their opinion.

“I would have a hard time seeing how anti-Elon Musk graffiti would constitute political affiliation discrimination,” Arizona State University law professor Michael Selmi said. “The real issue is there’s very little case law interpreting political affiliation in D.C. or in the few other jurisdictions that include it.”

Anyone who scrawls a swastika on a Tesla has obviously committed a hate crime https://t.co/EJFkYxDHrV

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 31, 2025

Electric vehicles might be the future, but profitability? That’s still a rare luxury in the EV world. An interesting study has revealed that just four EV-only brands are currently operating at a profit, while many others continue to bleed money at impressive rates. It probably won’t shock anyone that Tesla and BYD are leading the charge, but some of the other top-performing names are a bit less expected.

Read: Only 1 In 7 Of Today’s Chinese EV Brands Will Be Profitable By 2030, Analysts Claim

The study examined the operating income ratios of major EV brands and found that in 2024, Tesla reported an operating margin of 7.2%, putting it just ahead of BYD at 6.4%. However, while Tesla’s margin has declined since 2023, BYD’s has been climbing. If that trajectory holds, as many analysts expect, BYD could soon surpass Tesla in operating profitability.

Vertical Integration Pays Off

Key to the growth of both of these brands is that they are vertically integrated, helping them to scale and reach profitability sooner. The only other two brands analyzed by the study to have reached profitability are China’s Li Auto and the Series Group, which includes the Seres, Aito, and Landian brands.

While none of the other EV brands analyzed turned a profit in 2024, a few are edging closer. Zeekr, part of the Geely group, reported an operating margin of -8.5% last year. But with sales on the rise, it may soon begin delivering profits for its parent company. Xpeng and Leapmotor are also moving in the right direction, having more than halved their losses between 2023 and 2024.

Nio is another important player in China’s EV market, but not a profitable one. Its 2024 operating margin came in at over -30%, suggesting it still has a long climb ahead before it sees black ink on its balance sheet.

Tesla Stands Alone Outside China

Tesla remains the only non-Chinese EV brand to hit profitability. Polestar hasn’t crossed that threshold yet, though it did manage to reduce its losses in 2024. Similarly, Rivian also remains in the red, though like Polestar, it continues to receive substantial external funding.

At the other end of the spectrum, Lucid holds the dubious honor of running the steepest losses in the EV sector. According to data from Rho Motion, its 2024 operating margin was -374%. That’s an improvement from over -500% the year before, but still, not exactly a sign of financial health. Heavy backing from Saudi Arabia is helping Lucid stay afloat despite the massive shortfalls.

While the Tesla Cybertruck seems to be a regular target for ridicule, one example was recently able to tow out a Ford F-150 that got stuck in the snow somewhere in Canada. Although there’s a chance that the whole thing was staged, the clip does show that with a good set of rubber, the truck can put all of its electric power to good use.

Watch: Cybertruck Stuck On Ping Pong Mode In Flowing River

These videos, shared on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum, were filmed by a group of friends who were out enjoying some snow-filled fun in both the Tesla and a Ford F-150. For reasons that are still unclear, the driver of the F-150 seemed to intentionally reverse into a snowbank just off the side of the road—promptly getting stuck, of course. Classic move.

Now, we could all roll our eyes and assume this whole thing was set up—perhaps the F-150 was driven into the snow just for the Tesla to save the day. But regardless of the setup, the video shows one thing: the Cybertruck can actually get things done when it’s not stuck itself.

Driving on snow can be difficult for any road-going vehicle, but this Cybertruck appears to have been aided by the fact that it rocks a set of Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires, providing it with better traction than the standard rubber. We’re not sure if it’s a dual-motor AWD version or a tri-motor Cyberbeast, but it apparently had more than enough power to pull out the Ford with ease.

Watch: The Cybertruck Might Be Defeated By Sand, But It Can Rock Crawl

Despite the occasional viral mishap, the Cybertruck’s electric motors and advanced electronics can be helpful in certain off-roading situations. For example, the Tesla has no trouble storming through some of the most difficult and famous rock-crawling areas in the United States, including ‘Hell’s Revenge’ and the ‘Hot Tub’ in Moab, Utah.  

Update: US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he pardoned Trevor Milton. When asked why he did so, Trump told reporters at the White House, “I think he was exonerated. And then they brought him into New York, he had a rough, rough road, and … he was exonerated. It was a big celebration.”

“They say the thing that he did wrong was, he was one of the first people that supported a gentleman named Donald Trump for president,” Trump continued, according to CNBC. “He supported Trump. He liked Trump. I didn’t know him, but he liked him.”

“They persecuted him, they destroyed five years of his life. He… fought for five years of his life, and he did nothing wrong. And he’s a good person,” the President added.

Original story follows below.

In December 2023, Trevor Milton, the founder and former CEO of Nikola, was sentenced to four years in federal prison for engaging in securities and wire fraud. Fast forward to today, and he’s sent out a press release claiming he’s been pardoned by US President Donald Trump. Furthermore, Milton says he’s about to release a documentary that promises to dive deep into the controversies surrounding Nikola.

Trump had criticized hydrogen cars during his 2024 campaign, suggesting the vehicles were prone to exploding. Meanwhile, his advisor and head of the DOGE division, Elon Musk, was locked in an ongoing feud with Trevor Milton, trading barbed insults. A few years ago, Musk tweeted, “Fuel cells = fool sells,” calling the technology “staggeringly dumb” in reference to Nikola’s hydrogen-powered trucks.

Milton, who has been out on bail since his sentencing, has vigorously appealed the court’s decision to lock him up. Originally, he was slapped with a $1 million fine in addition to his prison sentence and three years of supervised release. On top of that, he was ordered to pay Nikola $167.7 million for making false and misleading statements.

Read: Nikola Goes Bankrupt As Startup Once Valued Higher Than Ford Runs Out Of Cash

The entrepreneur has long pleaded his innocence, and in a YouTube documentary to be released soon, he says he will now tell his side of the story.

“This pardon is not just about me—it’s about every American who has been railroaded by the government, and unfortunately, that’s a lot of people,” Milton said. “It is no wonder why trust and confidence in the Justice Department has eroded to nothing. I wish judges would stop believing whatever the prosecutors feed them so Americans could trust the justice system again. Until that happens, our justice system will continue to erode until there is nothing left.”

“The 90+% conviction rate in New York is appalling and is a result of prosecutors getting whatever they want and putting innocent people in prison,” he added. “I saw firsthand the tactics they use to achieve those guaranteed convictions. I am incredibly grateful to President Trump for his courage in standing up for what is right and for granting me this sacred pardon of innocence.”

The documentary, Conviction of Conspiracy: The Trevor Milton Saga, has been directed by British filmmaker Mark Soldinger. A preview for the film claims it will be “pulling back the curtain on the media firestorm, legal maneuvers, and unseen dynamics that shaped the outcome” of the case.

The film appears to have been produced by Milton himself, and a trailer was shared to his personal YouTube channel. Whether or not it will show an accurate representation of what happened remains to be seen, but it will be interesting to see behind the scenes of Nikola’s struggles.

Today I was issued a full and unconditional pardon by @realDonaldTrump himself. He called me personally to tell me.

This pardon is not just about me—it’s about every American who has been railroaded by the government, and unfortunately, that’s a lot of people. It is no wonder… pic.twitter.com/qpT0jjI6Fy

— Trevor Milton (@nikolatrevor) March 28, 2025

Alfa Romeo is gearing up to retire the current-generation Giulia sedan after a decade of service. But before you start tearing up, don’t reach for the tissues just yet. Production may be winding down in the next few months, but the Giulia will still be hanging around in North America until 2026. And before you get too sentimental, the nameplate is definitely sticking around for the long haul.

Read: 2027 Alfa Romeo Giulia Will Be A Crossover, Abandoning Its Sedan Roots

The Italian automaker is already hard at work on a next-generation Giulia, set to launch alongside an all-new Stelvio. Both models are expected to make their debut sometime next year.

What Will the New Giulia Look Like?

Given that prototypes of the new Giulia have yet to be spotted out in public, it’s a little difficult to know what it’ll look like. Recent reports suggest that Alfa Romeo is considering a drastic shift, with the next Giulia potentially evolving into a fastback-style crossover, something in the vein of the Peugeot 408 or Kia EV6.

We toyed around with renderings of this sedan-crossover hybrid a couple of months ago, but digital artist Theophilus Chin (also known as Theottle) had a different approach. On Instagram, he posted a question: “What if Alfa Romeo reskins the Giulia while riding on the talented Giorgio RWD platform?”

A Fresh Take on the Current Giulia

Chin’s renderings show what the new Giulia could look like if Alfa Romeo decided to stick with the current chassis, extending its life rather than moving to the STLA Large platform. It’s a theoretical take, sure, but one that’s interesting, if not entirely practical.

To reimagine the car, Theottle started off by pasting the body of the Xiaomi SU7 onto the skin of the current car before making a series of significant alterations to it. It’s an odd choice, we admit, but somehow, it works.

More: Toyota bZ86 Coupe Study Imagines An Electric GR86

While the SU7 looks very different than the Giulia, it does have some sexy lines and creases, many of which have been retained in these renderings. However, the front end has been overhauled, and now includes identifiable Alfa Romeo headlights that form part of the triangular-shaped grille.

There’s also a lot to like about the rear, which sports LED taillights reminiscent of those on the current Subaru WRX. However, this time around, they’re linked by a light bar for a more modern touch.

The Future of the Giulia

If the reports are to be believed, the new Giulia will be underpinned by Stellantis’s STLA Large architecture, already being used by the new Dodge Charger. All-electric versions will be offered, but Alfa Romeo has also said it’s working on different hybrid options.

Recent statements from the brand also indicate flagship Quadrifoglio versions of the new Giulia and Stelvio could retain six-cylinder engines, perhaps related to the beloved 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 these models currently use. We’ll see if that comes to fruition, but for now, it’s just a thought.

In the fast-paced world of electric vehicles, startups often make a huge splash, only to crash and burn just as quickly. Human Horizons certainly made plenty of noise when it burst onto China’s EV scene with the launch of its HiPhi Z, an electric car that looked like a four-door Nissan GT-R blended with a BMW i8 from a sci-fi flick.

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

But, as we’ve seen time and time again, flashy debuts rarely guarantee long-term success. Despite its early promise, Human Horizons soon found itself in financial turmoil, ultimately filing for bankruptcy. This misfortune came just about a year after the HiPhi Z first launched in Europe, and now two of these rare cars are on the market looking for new homes and owners, whether or not they know what they’re getting into.

Buying an EV from a company that’s gone belly up, much like Fisker did, is a gamble at best. If something breaks—or, heaven forbid, just doesn’t work—you’ll be left high and dry, with zero technical support to rely on.

Less Than Half Its Original Price

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Now, let’s get into the specifics of what’s up for grabs. The first HiPhi model we’ve come across is a Z, which is up for sale in Germany with an asking price of €69,800 (~$75,300). The Z was the most unusual of HiPhi’s three models and, when first announced, had an asking price of €105,000 (~$113,200).

While we’re not sure when exactly this model was delivered in Europe, it has a mere 50 km (31 miles) on the odometer. So, it’s barely broken in, assuming the lack of financial backing doesn’t completely put a halt to its future prospects.

Powering the HiPhi Z is a 120 kWh battery pack feeding a pair of electric motors with 663 hp. The EV can reportedly hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.8 seconds and travel up to 345 miles (555 km) on a single charge. The Z’s exterior design is quite the conversation starter, but the cabin also looks impressively luxurious with plenty of premium materials and a large infotainment screen.

More: 1,287 HP HiPhi A Thinks The Model S Plaid Is All Go And Not Enough Show

The second HiPhi Z we found on Mobile is a slightly more expensive four-seat version, which originally listed at €107,000 (~$115,400). This one’s been used a bit more, with 10,000 km (6,200 miles) on the clock, and the photos show it’s been used as a family car with two baby seats in the back. It has an asking price of €60,000 (~$64,700). That’s roughly the same as a brand new BMW 520i in Germany, although the Z is all-electric and has much more power.

Would You Take The Risk?

So, would you dare buy an EV from a company that’s already written its own obituary? Well, that’s for you to decide. But hey, if you’re feeling adventurous, these HiPhi Zs are out there waiting to be snapped up. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you.

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We may have just stumbled upon what could very well be the highest-mileage Hyundai Ioniq 5 in existence. Despite being a 2023 model, this Korean EV has racked up an astonishing 666,255 km (413,991 miles) — nearly enough to make the round trip to the Moon. Yes, you read that right. The Moon.

This Ioniq 5 popped up on a Facebook page where owners regularly share their mileage milestones, and this one has certainly earned a spot at the top. This particular Ioniq 5 lives in Korea, and the owner has driven it more than most people will in their entire lifetime. This is a car that’s seen some serious road time.

Read: The Hyundai Ioniq 5 Is Stealing Tons Of Buyers From Other Brands

The post doesn’t clarify the exact model of the Ioniq 5, but the car’s original battery reportedly held up until it reached 580,000 km (360,395 miles). When it finally gave up the ghost, Hyundai replaced it at no charge. Now, we’re left scratching our heads a little on this one.

In most markets, like the US and Australia, the Ioniq 5’s battery warranty typically covers 8-10 years, but with a cap of 100,000 miles (160,000 km). So, why Hyundai decided to cover the cost of the replacement is anyone’s guess. Maybe they were feeling generous? Or maybe this is just an extraordinary exception to the rule.

Regardless of the reason behind the free battery pack, let’s not overlook just how much driving this Ioniq 5 has seen in a relatively short amount of time. According to the post, the owner has had the Hyundai for 3 years and 4-5 months, covering an impressive 666,255 km or 413,991 miles.

If the Hyundai’s been in their hands for exactly 3 years and 4 months (or 40 months), that averages out to 16,656 km (10,349 miles) per month, or roughly 555 km (345 miles) a day. If it’s been 3 years and 5 months, that’s a monthly average of 16,250 km (10,097 miles), or 541 km (336 miles) per day. Either way, that’s a lot of road time.

To really drive the point home: the average distance between the Earth and the Moon is around 384,400 km (238,855 miles). So, this Ioniq 5’s owner has driven the equivalent of a one-way trip to the Moon and back, and then some. And did we mention the owner is a salesman? Yeah, this guy clearly spends more time behind the wheel of his Ioniq 5 than most of us spend staring at our phones. That is, of course, when he’s not waiting for it to charge.

The $7,500 federal EV tax credit has given many Americans a financial nudge to go electric, but the program hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. While the credit can now be applied directly at the point of sale, some dealerships have been dragging their feet on the process, leaving buyers high and dry without the discount they were promised. But, good news: there’s a fix in the works.

Read: Dealers’ Paperwork Errors Are Costing Buyers Their EV Tax Credits With The IRS

It turns out that while the rebate is available at purchase, dealers have to be enrolled in the program and use a portal to submit their EV sales report within three days of the transaction for the credit to go through. Miss that deadline, and the rebate? Poof. Gone.

The IRS Steps In with a Lifeline

Fortunately, the IRS is stepping up to the plate. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), the agency is essentially hitting the reset button on the 3-day reporting rule. Now, dealers can submit reports for any qualifying clean vehicle credit transaction from 2024, even if it happened earlier in the year.

According to NADA, the IRS updated the portal earlier this week, making it fully operational for dealers. The good news here isn’t just for car buyers, it’s a win for dealerships, too. Some dealers had been offering the tax credit upfront to customers at the point of sale, only to later realize they hadn’t secured the actual rebate yet.

NADA says it “advocated aggressively for the IRS to remedy these issues” and even went so far as to send a formal letter to both the U.S. Department of Treasury and the IRS, urging them to address the problem quickly and implement a timely solution.

With the Trump administration set to impose 25% tariffs on all cars made overseas starting April 2, the tax credit is perhaps more valuable now than at any other time for consumers. These new tariffs are expected to drive up the cost of both new and used cars, possibly adding thousands to the price tag. So, for many buyers, that $7,500 credit is about to get a lot more valuable.

After committing a hefty $21 billion investment into its US operations, including the construction of a new $5.8 billion steel plant, Hyundai has officially kicked off production at its Metaplant in Georgia. The site, which began construction over two and a half years ago, will focus on producing a range of electric and hybrid vehicles, boosting Hyundai’s push into the EV market.

The Grand Opening of the site was attended by Hyundai leaders, as well as Governor Brian P. Kemp, US Representative Buddy Carter, and the president and chief executive of the Kia Corporation, Ho Sung Song. The Metaplant has already started building the electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 and, perhaps most importantly, is now also building the Hyundai Ioniq 9.

Read: New Hyundai Ioniq 9 Lands With Three-Rows And Massive 110.3 kWh Battery

Hyundai’s Ioniq 9 is its first three-row electric SUV and serves as its alternative to the Kia EV9. Presented last November, the Ioniq 9 is underpinned by the group’s E-GMP architecture and fitted as standard with a 110.3 kWh battery. The brand has yet to announce US pricing for the SUV, but we know it will be offered in several different guises.

The base model has a 214 hp and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) electric motor driving the rear wheels and a quoted range of 385 miles (620 km). Sitting above this version is the Long Range AWD, which adds a 94 hp motor up front. The flagship Ioniq 9 Performance has 214 hp motors at the front and rear, allowing it to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.2 seconds.

Initially, the Hyundai Motor Group planned to build 200,000 electric and hybrid vehicles at the Metaplant. However, as part of its increased commitment to the US market, it’s expanded annual production capacity up to 500,000 units.

“Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America not only represents the Group’s advanced manufacturing capabilities and commitment to innovation, but also our investment in relationships with our partners and communities right here in Georgia,” Hyundai Motor Group executive chair Euisun Chung said. “With the rich history of craftsmanship and manufacturing in this community, together with the talented workforce at HMGMA we are building the future of mobility with America, in America.”

If you happen to own a Lucid Air equipped with the optional all-weather floor mats, you might want to brace yourself for some unexpected news. The carmaker is issuing a recall notice, as there’s a chance these floor mats could shift out of position and interfere with the throttle pedal, raising the risk of an accident.

Read: Lucid Tries To Snag Tesla Owners Fed Up With Musk With Up To $4K Off

Sound familiar? It’s eerily reminiscent of Toyota’s infamous floor mat debacle from over a decade ago, where improperly secured mats were blamed for a series of unintended acceleration incidents.

According to Lucid, its Model -00 all-weather floor mats are only secured in place by small nibs on the underside, rather than any proper anchors. This means they’re prone to slipping forward, and this can lead to unintended acceleration. That doesn’t just put occupants inside a Lucid at risk, but could also endanger other road users.

How Did This All Happen?

Lucid first became aware of a potential issue in August last year when a sales associate was driving an Air with the floor mats in Europe suspected the mat had slipped forward and caused the accelerator to stick. The company later became aware of 13 other cases of the floor mats moving, but there were no reports of it interfering with the accelerator.

However, on February 27, 2025, a U.S. customer reported an issue: while accelerating, the throttle pedal didn’t return to its normal position after being released. Lucid determined that the potential for the floor mat to shift and interfere with the pedal posed an unreasonable safety risk.

As a result, the company has stopped selling the problematic all-weather floor mats and now only offers mats that feature holes to attach to anchors in the carpet, as you’ll find in most vehicles.

Owners of Lucid Air models with the affected mats are being instructed to remove them and will receive a full refund for their purchase. If you’re unsure whether your mats are the faulty ones or the newer, anchor-secured type, simply take your vehicle to a Lucid facility for a free inspection.

IM Motors is ready to enter Australia’s rapidly growing EV market, which, let’s face it, is already dominated by Chinese cars. However, the company is making a somewhat strange move with its branding: the vehicles will be marketed under the newly named IM Presented by MG Motor brand. We’ll let that name sink in for a moment—yeah, it doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue. But despite the curious moniker, the company plans to introduce two intriguing models locally.

The IM5 and IM6, which are already on sale in China under the names L6 and LS6, will be the vehicles taking center stage. There’s no official explanation for the name change in Australia, but what we do know is that both cars will be built in right-hand drive from the factory, thanks to a collaboration between SAIC, Alibaba, and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech.

Read: IM Motors LS6 Secures 10,000 Orders In One Week, Offered With Up To 787 HP

At this point, IM Presented by MG Motor—yes, we’re still trying to get used to that—hasn’t provided many specifics about the Australian versions of these cars. However, it’s safe to assume that they’ll likely be very similar to the models already available in China. The sleek IM5 will serve as a rival to the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4, but is longer and wider than both of them, and has been tipped to start at around AU$70,000 (about $44,200 at current exchange rates) while topping out at AU$95,000 (~$60,000).

In China, IM sells the sedan and SUV with 400V, 800V, and 900V electrical architectures and 75 kWh, 83 kWh, and 100 kWh battery packs. Entry-level rear-wheel drive models pump out 290 hp (216 kW) and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm), while the flagship versions churn out a monstrous 776 hp (579 kW) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm). The IM5 sedan can reportedly hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2.74 seconds, while the SUV needs 3.48 seconds.

Like so many other new EVs out of China, the cabins of the two cars are very tech-focused and come outfitted with plenty of plush materials. Key standouts include a large screen on the console for the climate control, much like what you’ll find in a Porsche Taycan, and then a single panoramic screen for the gauge cluster and infotainment system.

There are also twin wireless phone chargers, cupholders, and several accessories, including a table and a large wireless charging pad that can hold devices or even reading lamps.

“We’re thrilled to introduce IM Presented by MG Motor to the Australian market, setting a new benchmark for luxury electric driving,” MG Motor Australia’s chief executive Peter Ciao said, according to Drive. “With cutting-edge innovation wrapped in elegant design, both the IM5 and IM6 deliver an uncompromising blend of performance, refinement, and range – offering drivers the freedom to go further in absolute comfort. This is the future of premium electric mobility, and we’re proud to bring it to Australia and further extend our EV offering to Australian drivers.”

Dodge gave members of the public their first opportunity to see the four-door Charger Daytona last weekend at SpringFest 2025 in Southern California. The automaker has released several images of the car in the past, but this is our first chance to see it up close and painted in a special shade of blue known as Bludicrous.

While the new two-door Charger could be best viewed as a replacement to the Challenger, the four-door is a direct successor to the previous-gen Charger. No, it will not be sold with a V8, and we will have to make do with an electric powertrain or, for those yearning for an ICE, a twin-turbocharged six.

Read: Does The 2025 Dodge Charger Sedan Outmuscle Its Predecessor In Style?

While we don’t mind the shape of the two-door Charger, the doors do look a little too small and the space between the doors and the rear wheels is way too big. Fortunately, the proportions of the four-door Charger Daytona look a little nicer, and this paint color is spectacular. It could look even better with a widebody kit, but we’ll likely have to wait some time for Dodge to launch such a model.

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Customer deliveries for the four-door Charger were initially scheduled to start in Q1 2025, but production has been delayed until May, with the car launching for the 2026 model year.

In addition to showcasing this Bluedicrous Charger, Dodge brought along the black and red two-door model it previewed last week. It is bathed in black with matte black racing stripes with hundreds of small Fratzog logos and red pin stripes. Dodge’s online configurator doesn’t include these stripes, which is a shame, as we think they suit the car nicely and could be popular among shoppers if they were available.

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