It’s official. The new Tesla Model Y Performance is rolling out across most global markets, including the US where it comes in at $57,490, as well as Europe. Buyers get more power, more speed, updated styling, and subtle chassis tweaks.

In Britain, the starting figure is £61,925 (around $75,500), which makes it roughly £10,000 more than the Long Range AWD. In the US, the gap is a little narrower at $8,500. Even so, Top Gear argues that the premium is enough for buyers to think twice before ticking the Performance box.

More: New Tesla Model Y Performance Turns Supercar Thrills Into A Bargain Family Affair

Tom Ford from the famous British auto journal drove the updated Performance variant and found that while it delivers excellent performance, the upgrades don’t make it a must-have. The SUV is unquestionably quicker and sharper, but Ford noted that the standard Long Range already accelerates in under five seconds, offers slightly more range, and costs £10,000 less in the UK.

What extras buy you

The Performance gets a handful of changes to justify that price hike, including staggered Arachnid 2.0 21-inch wheels, red-painted calipers, revised bumpers, and a carbon spoiler. Tesla claims it’s cut drag by 10 percent and lift by 64 percent compared to the original Model Y Performance. It also gets a larger 16-inch infotainment system, carbon interior trim, and sport seats with extra bolstering.

Under the skin, it has a lot going for it on paper. The suspension features reinforced parts, stiffer bushings, and adaptive bits as well. It’s good enough that Ford says it’s “class-leading.” Despite that, the sum of its parts doesn’t end up being good enough for an all-out recommendation. “It’s not night and day better than the standard vehicle,” he says.

Everyday reality check

Drilling down further, he gets into the nitty-gritty of the situation for real, everyday buyers. This is, after all, a relatively (if not slightly pricey) mainstream crossover. It’s not a Model X or another flagship of sorts.

As he put it, “A Y is a family SUV, so more go isn’t needed – the fast stuff makes more sense in, say, a Model 3. And then there’s the fact that the standard all-wheel drive long-range car is still sub-five to 62mph, has a smidge more range, doesn’t look much different, and costs a straight £10k less.”

At this point, it sounds like the Model Y Performance is indeed an upgrade over the Long Range in terms of driving engagement. At the same time, it’s not a leap-and-bound sort of improvement.

Could Tesla have done more?

That’s a bit curious considering a few small things, like perhaps simulated gear shifts and some fun faux exhaust or rev noises might have amped up the fun like Hyundai does with the (a lot) more expensive Ioniq 5 N. We’ll have to wait to test one stateside to make our own determination. Until then, what do you think of the latest high-spec Model Y?

The end of the federal EV tax credit has left the industry on edge, and Ford’s top executive is warning of serious consequences. Without the $7,500 incentive, Jim Farley believes demand for electric vehicles in the United States could collapse, with sales potentially dropping by half. It’s a sobering reminder of how much the credit has shaped America’s shift toward electrification.

Read: Jim Farley – “If We Lose This, We Do Not Have A Future Ford”

Speaking at the automaker’s  “Ford Pro Accelerate” event in Detroit, Farley said EVs might soon represent only 5 percent of the overall US car market, a level last seen in 2022 and well below the record 10 to 12 percent share expected this month. That projection paints a far more modest future for electric adoption than many in the industry had anticipated.

A Shrinking Market?

“I think it’s going to be a vibrant industry, but it’s going to be smaller, way smaller than we thought, especially with the policy change in the tailpipe emissions, plus the $7,500 consumer incentive going away,” Farley said. “We’re going to find out in a month. I wouldn’t be surprised that the EV sales in the U.S. go down to 5%.”

According to Farley, Ford’s Model e team is continually analyzing the demand for electrified vehicles. The car manufacturer will also have to change plans and decide how it should make use of excess EV capacity and its battery factories.

Adjusting To New Rules

“We’ll fill them, but it will be more stress, because we had a four-year predictable policy,” Farley noted. “Now the policy changed. … We all have to make adjustments, and it’s going to be good for the country, I believe, but it will be one more stress.”

During the same event, Farley also acknowledged that Ford’s customers are not interested in an expensive electric car. As such, the carmaker will need to make cheaper EVs, but now that the tax credit is gone, doing so will be much more difficult than before.

“Customers are not interested in the $75,000 electric vehicle,” the Ford CEO said. “They find them interesting. They’re fast, they’re efficient, you don’t go to the gas station, but they’re expensive.”

The clean vehicle tax credit expired yesterday and Hyundai isn’t wasting any time as they’ve lowered Ioniq 5 pricing by an average of $9,155. That’s a huge drop and the entry-level model now begins at $35,000, which is $7,600 less than last year’s model.

Buyers looking for more power and range can upgrade to the Ioniq 5 SE, which begins at $37,500. That’s down $9,150 from last year’s starting price of $46,650.

More: Hyundai’s American-Made Ioniq 5 Costs More But Goes The Extra Mile

The biggest decline can be found on the well-equipped SEL trims, which cost $39,800 with rear-wheel drive and $43,300 with all-wheel drive. Both variants are a staggering $9,800 less than their predecessors.

Hyundai said they’re repositioning the model to “better align with current market dynamics and support increased U.S. production volume.” They added the changes come as “part of a broader strategy to maintain the Ioniq brand’s leadership in the electric vehicle space while responding to shifting consumer expectations and competitive pressures.”

Despite the significant price cuts, Hyundai appears to have avoided removing equipment to lower costs. In fact, they added a dual-level charging cable.

Additional changes are limited, but there’s a new Sage Silver Matte paint job. Cosmic Blue Pearl and Vibrant Ultimate Red have also been extended to all trims.

While Hyundai didn’t mention the tax credit, they’re offering a $7,500 incentive for customers who purchase or lease a 2025 model. However, you might be better off waiting for the 2026 Ioniq 5, unless there are some serious discounts on top of that.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Pricing

Prices exclude a $1,600 destination fee

The electric Dodge Challenger hasn’t had the greatest start to life. After middling reviews, low sales, and many reports of problems, things might be getting even worse. According to industry sources, the 800-volt Banshee halo trim is dead before it ever arrives.

More: Ford, GM, And Stellantis Paid Billions To Tesla And Rivian Until Trump Pulled The Plug

Over the past six months, Stellantis has made a dramatic pivot from its EV goals to a more conventional ICE-focused plan. The HEMI V8 is reigning supreme once again with its reintroduction to the Ram 1500, exclusive use in the Durango, and continuation in the Jeep Wrangler. Heck, even the Gladiator might get one.

Strategy in Flux

That makes a report from MoparInsiders indicating the death of the flagship SRT Banshee all the more believable. Suppliers allegedly claim that Dodge has axed the car entirely. Dodge didn’t confirm or deny the decision when we asked for comment.

“Stellantis continues to reassess its product strategy to align with consumer demand”, a press spokesperson told us. “Our plan ensures we offer customers a range of vehicles with flexible powertrain options that best meet their needs. With the great news announced in July that Stellantis is bringing back its iconic SRT performance division, it follows that we are also reviewing the plan for future SRT vehicles.”

Rules No Longer Binding

Undoubtedly, the brand is clearly willing to make big sweeping changes now that EPA regulations basically don’t matter, and as a result, automakers won’t have to pay for carbon emission credits. The all-electric Ram REV is dead, as is the Jeep Gladiator 4xe plug-in hybrid. What’s one more EV that would’ve cost more than the Charger Daytona already does?

That said, it’s not as if performance at the brand is going by the wayside. The Charger SIXPACK is rolling out and promises a taste of what the Hellcats once offered. The possibility of a V8 Charger feels more plausible than ever, even if it’ll take reworking of the chassis and engine bay. We’ve reached out to Stellantis and will update this piece if we hear anything new. 

Credit: Michael Gauthier / Dodge

Volvo introduced the upgraded EX90 last month, so it comes as little surprise that Polestar has taken the wraps off the updated 3. Like its counterpart, the changes are extensive and CEO Michael Lohscheller described it as being “like an entirely new car.”

That’s a bit of a stretch, but the crossover trades its 400V electrical architecture for an all-new 800V setup. This allows for a 350 kW DC fast charging capability, which significantly lowers the time it takes the battery to go from a 10% to 80% charge. Polestar says this can now be accomplished in 22 minutes, which is 25% faster than its predecessor.

New Batteries And Upgraded Electric Motor

Besides an improved charging experience, the model has been equipped with new 92 and 106 kWh battery packs. Polestar also noted the crossover is up to 6% more efficient in the WLTP cycle.

The powertrain upgrades don’t end there as the Polestar 3 has been equipped with a new rear-mounted electric motor that was developed in-house. It produces 329 hp (245 kW / 333 PS) and 354 lb-ft (480 Nm) of torque, which is an increase of 34 hp (25 kW / 34 PS) but a decline of 7 lb-ft (9 Nm).

The dual-motor variant now develops 536 hp (400 kW / 544 PS) and 546 lb-ft (740 Nm) of torque, which compares to the previous rating of 483 hp (360 kW / 489 PS) and 620 lb-ft (840 PS). This lowers the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time from 4.8 to 4.5 seconds.

Lastly, the 3 Performance has a combined output of 671 hp (500 kW / 680 PS) and 642 lb-ft (870 Nm) of torque. This is a huge increase of 154 hp (115 kW / 156 PS), but the torque rating drops 29 lb-ft (39 Nm). Thanks to the extra oomph, the crossover hits 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.8 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h).

Furthermore, the front-mounted motor now features an automatic disconnect function. This helps to improve efficiency and range, when extra traction isn’t needed.

Driving dynamics have also been improved thanks to updated anti-roll bars and new steering software. Polestar said the changes result in a “more direct and engaging driving experience across all model variants.”

A New Processor For Customers Old And New

On the tech front, buyers will find a new NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Orin processor. It replaces the previous Xavier unit and the company said the swap increases processing power from 30 to 254 trillion operations per second. That’s a huge increase and it allows for “faster, more intelligent management of active safety systems, battery performance, and sensor data.”

As with the EX90, current owners won’t miss out on the hardware upgrade as it’s being offered as a “complimentary retrofit.” Starting early next year, existing owners will be able to visit their nearest service center and have the processor replaced for free.

New Names And Revamped Equipment

Polestar announced a handful of other minor updates including a simplified naming structure that consists of Rear Motor, Dual Motor, and Performance variants. That’s a small, but welcome change as “Long range Dual motor with Performance pack” didn’t exactly roll off the tongue.

Buyers will also find updated equipment, including seat belts that reflect the trim level. Rear Motor variants have black belts, while Dual Motor models have black belts with a Swedish gold stripe. The range-topping Performance has full Swedish gold belts, making for an unusual distinguisher.

Polestar also mentioned a new Climate pack with heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel as well as a Prime pack that “bundles together Pilot, Plus, and Climate packs in combination with rear privacy glass.” Additionally, active road noise cancellation and a Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system can now be had as standalone options.

More: New Polestar 5 Doesn’t Need A Rear Window To Put Porsche On Notice

Exterior changes are minor, but Storm replaces Thunder on the color palette. Customers will also find larger “Polestar 3” badging on the doors, which is now accompanied by a trim identifier.

Interior changes are more modest, but the crossover now comes standard with bio-attributed MicroTech upholstery in Charcoal. It’s paired with repurposed aluminum trim, which used to be optional.

The 2026 Polestar 3 will initially be launched in the United Kingdom, where it sold out last year. It will then spread to other markets, although some details may vary slightly.

Car buyers might be feeling the pinch of limited supply, but Honda’s sales figures show that demand for its lineup remains strong. Together with Acura, the group moved 105,097 vehicles in September, despite tighter inventories across popular models. The real standout was the Passport, which is having its best year ever. On the flip side, Acura’s ZDX, which was recently discontinued after just a single year on the market, struggled.

More: Should The Next Honda Ridgeline Look Like The New Passport?

Total Honda sales reached 95,391 for the month, which is virtually unchanged from last September at just 0.3 percent lower. Looking at the bigger picture, year-to-date deliveries are up 4.1 percent. Passport demand has been a major driver, with sales up 75.5 percent for the year and a striking 108.8 percent for September alone. Nearly 80 percent of buyers are choosing the rugged TrailSport trim, suggesting that Honda’s more adventurous positioning has struck a chord.

SUV Strength

The CR-V continued its domination with over 28,000 sales in September, more than half of which were hybrids, while the Pilot and HR-V chipped in another 20,000 sales combined. On the passenger car side, Honda sold almost 30,000 sedans and coupes in September.

Accord and Civic hybrids made up 47 percent and 36 percent respectively. Electrified models in general set a new monthly record (32,387), thanks in part to the rollout of the Prologue EV.

Acura’s Mixed Bag

Acura, meanwhile, moved 9,706 vehicles in the ninth month of the year. That’s actually a drop in sales year over year of 2.2 percent. The Integra held firm at sales of over 1,500 units. The MDX and RDX combined for over 4,800 deliveries, and the ADX is, according to the brand, “capturing a segment-leading nearly 30% of retail sales”.

On the downside, the ZDX continues to be the white elephant in the lineup, experiencing a 61.3 percent drop in September sales year over year. While that might sound excessive, in cold hard units, that’s a drop from 979 units in 2024 to just 395 this year.

Since the start of the year, Acura has delivered only 11,915 examples. To put that into perspective, Honda has already sold more than three times as many Prologues in the same period. With numbers that lopsided, it is not surprising production of the ZDX has already been cut short.

Faraday Future is back in the news, but not for the reasons it would prefer. Early on the morning of September 28, an early FF91 prototype caught fire in the company’s headquarters. Nobody was hurt, but we can’t say the same for the building, which is now off-limits for workers.

More: This Used Faraday Future FF 91 Sold For $235,000

The Los Angeles Fire Department received a call at 4:37 a.m. about the blaze and managed to extinguish it within 40 minutes, says TechCrunch. Sprinklers inside the building helped slow the fire, but not before an explosion blew out part of a wall. Firefighters had to force entry into the building, and once the fire was out, an inspector red-tagged the property.

Early Prototype Up in Smoke

After the fire, the company quickly moved to temper concerns with a public statement. It stressed that the battery pack wasn’t involved and pointed out that the vehicle in question was an old prototype.

Internally referred to as B40, the company said the car is about nine years old and that “its interior materials do not meet the flammability standards of production vehicles. This beta prototype is entirely different from FF 91 production vehicles, and therefore, we believe this incident will not result in any recall of production models.”

The brand will conduct a full investigation, and for now, they think the fire started due to a short circuit in the showroom wiring itself or a loose connection in the vehicle’s 12-volt system.

Not the First Fire

This isn’t the first time Faraday Future has faced a blaze involving one of its test cars. Back in 2022, another prototype reportedly went up in flames, though few details ever emerged about that event other than a set of photos. For a company already fighting for stability, each incident adds to a growing cloud of doubt.

The latest fire comes at an especially volatile time for the embattled company.

Statement on Fire Incident at Faraday Future Satellite Office Building

In the early morning of Sunday, September 28 (PST), a fire occurred at FF’s satellite office building at our U.S. headquarters. The company attaches great importance to this matter and would like to provide…

— Faraday Future (@FaradayFuture) September 30, 2025

After the FF91 turned out to be a flop, Faraday Future has been working on plans to federalize and sell a Chinese-made van with a screen on its face. In recent months, it’s come under fire for a controversial crypto-related pivot and for allegedly missing payments for the property where the fire happened. The lease ended at the end of September.

While the company says the fire poses no risk to production vehicles, it’s certainly not going to restore trust or confidence in owners, landlords, and shareholders alike. 

Source: Faraday Future, Techcrunch

Ford just posted its seventh straight month of growth and capped off a successful third quarter. It wasn’t just one or two models that did the heavy lifting, either. Not only were traditional ICE vehicles like Bronco, Explorer, and Expedition big hits, but electrified cars, trucks, and SUVs smashed records. Here’s a look at the details.

More: Ford Sold More Than Twice As Many Electric Mustangs As Gas Ones

During the quarter, Ford and Lincoln sold a combined 85,789 electrified vehicles, which include both hybrid and pure battery-electric vehicles (BEV). That’s up 19.8 percent compared to last year, and it made up 15.7 percent of the brand’s sales mix. Last quarter, electrified cars made up just 13.5 percent of sales.

No doubt, some, well, scratch that, most of those sales came from buyers eager to grab a tax credit before it expired on September 30. Ford and GM, however, seem to have found a loophole to keep it alive a little longer, as we reported yesterday.

Battery Gains Build Momentum

That’s backed up in part by the huge gains Ford saw in its BEV sales. It delivered 30,612 EVs in the quarter. That’s a 30.2 percent increase over the same time period in 2024. Leading the way was the Mustang Mach-E, which recorded its best quarter since launching in 2020, climbing 50.7 percent to 20,177 units. The F-150 Lightning also posted a record quarter with 10,005 trucks sold. That’s up almost 40 percent.

Hybrids still make up the majority of Ford’s electrified sales. They accounted for 55,177 sales. The F-150 Hybrid continued its reign as the best-selling full-size hybrid truck in America with 22,212 sales. The Maverick Hybrid continued to dominate the midsize hybrid pickup segment with 63,516 sales, an 11.5 percent increase.

Andrew Frick, president of Ford Blue and Model e, said the results highlight the company’s balance across powertrains. “We saw strong performance in gas, hybrid, and electrified powertrains, while at the same time growing our paid software solutions, all embedded in vehicles such as Expedition, Explorer, and F-150.”

Balancing Old and New

While some big automakers are pivoting around a shifting market, Ford seems on track to move from strength to strength. It’ll likely outsell GM and Stellantis combined with regard to electrified sales this year. And it’s managing that while ICE-powered vehicles see success as well.

Tesla’s facelift of the Model Y SUV hasn’t proved enough to halt a decline in sales, but from this week, there’s a fresh reason to give the automaker’s showrooms some of your time. The range-topping Model Y Performance is officially on sale in the US, and at just $57,490, it looks like a seriously good value for what it puts on the table.

If you’d rather lease the flagship Model Y Performance, Tesla’s current terms start with a $4,300 down payment and $635 per month for 36 months with a 10,000-mile annual limit. Opting for a shorter 24-month lease bumps the payment to $745 per month. The down payment is flexible, however, and can drop as low as $1,427 depending on how you structure the deal.

Related: Tesla’s Budget Model Y Is So Stripped Down It’s Begging For Tips

For that money, you get a bi-motor, all-wheel drive, five-seat SUV that can explode from zero to 60 mph (97 kmh) in just 3.3 seconds, tops out at 155 mph (250 kmh), and has a 308-mile (496 km) range. That compares with 4.6 seconds, 125 mph (201 kmh), and 327 miles (526 km) for the next Model Y down, the $48,990 Long Range All-Wheel Drive.

If you don’t care about the more explosive performance and a selection of other goodies like the body-hugging front sport seats and the improved suspension with adaptive damping that promises to offer a better handling and ride, you’re better off pocketing the $8,500 difference and opting for the Long Range AWD instead.

Options? What Options

Tesla doesn’t offer many options for the Performance, giving buyers the choice of six colors at no extra cost and no alternative wheel selections other than the standard 21-inch Arachnid 2.0 rims. The only really pricey available add-on is the over-promising Full Self-Driving package for $8,000, though buyers can inflate their bill with stuff like a roof rack and air mattress.

We already knew some of the Performance tech details, plus how much it cost in Europe, but until now, US prices remained an unknown quantity. At $57.5k, the Performance massively undercuts Hyundai’s Ioniq 5N, which costs $66,200, but not Ford’s Mustang Mach-E in GT trim. One of those is only $54,495, but it is also half a second slower to 60 mph and has a poor 280-mile range. Then again, the 5N, which does match the Y against the clock, is rated at a pathetic 221 miles (356 km).

Though various states, such as Colorado, offer EV incentives that can bring the price of a Performance lower, the federal EV tax credit program finished at the end of September, having been axed by President Trump. That means no opportunity for a chunky $7,500 discount. And it also means leasing a Tesla just got more expensive.

Lease Prices Jump

Although Tesla so far hasn’t changed the MSRPs of its other cars, it did raise leasing prices when the tax credit availability expired, Reuters reports. Lease deals for the Model Y RWD and AWD jumped from a range of $479-$529 to $529-$599 a month. Meanwhile, Model 3 lease prices, including the Performance, jumped from a range of $349 to $699 to $429 to $759 per month.

Tesla

Rumors of the Volvo EM90 minivan launching in the United States have kicked into overdrive after the company made a recent filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Not only that, but the vehicle depicted in the patent images appears to be a plug-in hybrid, while the EM90 introduced in China is all-electric.

Read: New Volvo XC70 Dumps Its Wagon Past And Goes Full Crossover

Car and Driver spotted the filings and noted that the the Volvo EM90’s design is nearly identical to its Chinese counterpart, save for one detail that stands out. While the EV wears its charging port on the left rear quarter, the U.S. patent drawings add an extra flap on the right rear side.

What’s Behind The Extra Flap?

That second hatch led to speculation that the model in question could be hiding a fuel filler, keeping the charging port in its original place and thereby creating a plug-in hybrid setup. On the other hand, several manufacturers, Audi among them, have opted for dual charging ports on their electric models to make public charging easier. With that in mind, Volvo could just as easily be following a similar path with the EM90.

Volvo’s Hybrid Plans

The emergence of this patent prompted suggestions that a plug-in hybrid EM90 could be the new hybrid Volvo has been promising to build at its Charleston factory in South Carolina. However, in a statement issued in response to the original story, Volvo denied any plans of selling the EM90 in the US and downplayed the possibility of it being the hybrid to be built in the US.

“[Volvo does] not have any plans to bring EM90 to the U.S. [Volvo] will share more details about the future hybrid to come to our Charleston plant at a later date,” the automaker said.

Of course, this begs the question as to why Volvo went to the trouble of patenting the vehicle in the US if it has no intention of selling it locally? It may have done so on the off chance that it reconsiders and decides to sell the EM90 in the United States.

It’s been eight long years since Tesla promised the second-generation Roadster, and yet the car still doesn’t exist outside of renders, prototypes, and Elon’s Twitter, err, sorry, X feed. Back in 2017, Tesla managed to talk plenty of people into dropping $5,000 for a reservation, followed by another $45,000 as a deposit, all with the confident assurance that production would begin in 2020.

The Refund Maze

For years, people have quietly wondered how you cancel a Roadster reservation, assuming anyone at Tesla would, you know, actually pick up the phone. Thanks to YouTuber Marquess Brownlee, better known as MKBHD, we finally know what the process looks like. Predictably, it’s a bit of a mess. Still, reservation holders can get their money back, even if it takes some persistence.

Read: 8 Years Later, Tesla’s Still Taking $50K Roadster Reservations Musk Promised For 2020

While speaking on a recent podcast, Brownlee said that he paid the $50,000 deposit for a next-gen Roadster when it was first announced in late 2017. When he later decided to cancel, he followed the required steps on the Tesla app and was given a phone number, but when he reached out, his call went straight to voicemail. When he did finally speak with someone, they said they didn’t know how to cancel the order, but assured him that they’d work out how to do it.

Money In, Money Out

Eventually, Tesla was able to confirm to Brownlee that he would receive the refund, but only for the $45,000 deposit, and not the initial $5,000 reservation fee that he had paid. Roughly a week after first sharing the story, the YouTuber took to X to reveal that Tesla had, in fact, also refunded him the $5,000, perhaps after realizing that its own website confirms this $5,000 is “fully refundable.”

The money paid to Tesla by Brownlee, as well as others who have placed deposits on the Roadster, may have been used by the electric automaker to help fund the development costs of the car, as well as other models. Either that, or it has been sitting in an account somewhere collecting interest over the past eight years.

Fun fact, had Brownlee put that $50,000 into Tesla stock back in 2017, when shares were around $22 a piece, instead of reserving a piece of vaporware, he’d be looking at more than $1 million today with the price sitting at $454 on October 1!

At a time when prices of new cars keep climbing out of reach for many households, Italy has launched a surprisingly generous scrappage scheme that makes some EVs almost absurdly affordable. Under the program, low-income buyers who trade in a car registered before 2015 could drive home in a brand-new Dacia Spring for as little as €3,900 (about $4,600 at current exchange rates).

The €597 million ($700 million) initiative is designed to increase electric car sales to at least 39,000 units by June 2026. Right now, fully electric vehicles represent only 5.2% of Italy’s market, far behind the European Union average of 15.8%.

More: The Cheapest Peugeot 308 Has Something You’ll Miss In Pricier Trims

To qualify for the full €11,000 ($12,900) discount, prospective EV buyers must scrap a Euro 5 (or earlier) vehicle, live in an urban area with more than 50,000 residents, and have a family income below €30,000 ($35,200). Households earning up to €40,000 ($46,900) can still access a reduced €9,000 ($10,600) bonus. Small companies also benefit, with subsidies covering 30% of an EV’s cost capped at €20,000 ($23,500) per new vehicle.

Pocket-Sized Prices

Dacia has trimmed the Italian starting price of the Spring EV from €17,900 ($21,000) to €14,900 ($17,500). With the full scrappage bonus applied, the figure falls to the headline-grabbing €3,900 ($4,600). That entry point is for the Essential Electric 45 trim, equipped with a 44 hp (33 kW / 45 PS) motor and a 26.8 kWh battery, good for a range of 225 km (140 miles).

Stellantis has also dropped the cost of the Leapmotor T03 from €18,900 ($22,200) to €15,900 ($18,700), meaning it can be purchased for €4,900 ($5,800) under the same scheme. As reported by Autonews, the Chinese brand claims that the heavily discounted price is “less than what you paid for your bicycle.”

More: Kia’s K4 Just Struck A Killer Blow To The VW Golf

Electric vehicles from other automakers are also eligible under the same scheme. Fiat offers the 500e from €9,950 ($11,700) and the electric version of the Grande Panda from €11,950 ($14,000). The closely-related Citroen e-C3 starts at €12,900 ($15,100), while the spacious e-C3 Aircross SUV is now offered from a discounted €15,790 ($18,500).

These prices are undeniably attractive, but the strict eligibility requirements mean the incentives only reach a narrow slice of the population. For now, the question is whether the subsidy will genuinely reshape Italy’s car market or simply deliver a short-term boost among those who qualify.

Citroen

The clean vehicle tax credit expires today, but Ford and General Motors have found a loophole that will enable them to offer the incentive for a little longer. This is a brilliant move as it will save shoppers thousands of dollars, while also enabling the automakers to offer discounts that rivals can’t.

More: IRS Quietly Extends EV Tax Credit Deadline But There’s A Catch

As we reported in August, the IRS issued new guidance related to the elimination of the tax credit. It effectively said the credit could be extended to vehicles received after September 30 as long as there was a “written binding contract” as well as a nominal payment made.

A Timely Loophole

The automakers appear to have taken advantage of this as the Detroit Free Press reports Ford and GM decided to use their financing companies to place down payments on EVs. This secured the tax credit and effectively stopped the clock.

Thanks to the clever accounting, the companies will continue offering vehicles with the incentive. The specifics are a little hazy, but the publication said “When a customer leases an EV through the program, their payment reflects application of the tax credit and the finance company gets reimbursed.”

What It Means for Buyers

Of course, the specifics don’t really matter to shoppers as long as they get their $7,500 credit. A GM spokesperson alluded to this as they told the paper, “It’s business as usual for the customer” and “They can walk in on Oct. 1 or Oct. 31 and lease an EV and get the benefit of the credit if the dealer is participating in the program and still has inventory.”

The Kona Electric isn’t cool enough to be part of the Ioniq family and it appears Hyundai is turning its back on the affordable EV. This is having a devastating impact as the 2026 model has been gutted.

While Hyundai only released a handful of initial details, a majority of the lineup is toast. As part of the killing spree, the SEL, Limited, and N Line trims are all dead. That means the sole survivor is the entry-level Kona Electric SE, which is available exclusively with the Standard Range battery.

More: Hyundai Kona EV Gets An Outdoorsy Edition In Japan

The automaker hasn’t gotten around to releasing 2026 specifications, but they should carryover from last year. This means the SE should have a woefully uncompetitive 48.6 kWh battery pack, which delivers a mere 200 miles (322 km) of range. That’s 103 miles (166 km) less than the 2026 Nissan Leaf, which costs $2,985 less than the 2025 Kona Electric.

Sticking with the powertrain, the model will likely use a familiar front-mounted motor producing 133 hp (99 kW / 135 PS) and 188 lb-ft (255 Nm) of torque. Throw in a slow 100 kW DC fast charging capability and the Kona looks more like a compliance car than a modern EV.

That’s a recipe for disaster, especially with the Leaf and reborn Chevrolet Bolt coming soon. However, the 2026 Kona Electric does have a “larger console tray,” so there’s that.

The Genesis GV60 Magma is almost ready for its big debut as the company has announced the high-performance electric vehicle has completed validation testing. This paves the way for an unveiling later this year.

While Genesis is staying tight-lipped on specifics, they said the car has proven itself in the “world’s toughest conditions.” They’re not kidding as prototypes traveled to Arjeplog, Sweden earlier this year for cold weather testing. On the flip side, the model was subjected to extreme heat at their California Proving Ground, which helped to “validate power output, cooling efficiency, and thermal protection.”

More: Genesis Cranks The Ioniq 5 N Formula Up To 11

In New Zealand, the crossover faced “sub-zero conditions at 1,500 meters (4921 feet) above sea level, where engineers examined chassis precision, traction stability, braking robustness, and agile cornering on icy, wind-swept terrain.” Back at home in Korea, the model was pushed to the limits at the Inje Speedium Circuit.

Thanks to all this testing and development, Genesis says the GV60 Magma will deliver “exhilarating performance and refined comfort.” That’s not a lot to go on, but the company released an official teaser image showing a camouflaged prototype.

It reveals the model will be distinguished by a more aggressive front fascia that features three oval-shaped intakes. They’re joined by a new front bumper, which sports a larger simulated intake.

Moving further back, we can see canards and a high-performance braking system with orange calipers. We can also get a glimpse of a sporty rear wing. In effect, the model will closely resemble the GV60 Magma concept that debuted in 2024.

How Much Power Will It Have?

The company hasn’t said much about the crossover, but it’s expected to follow in the footsteps of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Kia EV6 GT. This means the model will likely have an 84 kWh battery pack that feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive system with around 641 hp (478 kW / 650 PS) and 568 lb-ft (769 Nm) of torque. The Magma may have a range of approximately 231 miles (372 km), but we’ll learn full details in the coming weeks.

SHProshots

Anyone who thought that Audi’s foray into ebikes might be a one-and-done better think again. The German automaker is back with a new ebike designed to crush trails with upgraded components and, somehow, a lower starting price. In fact, at just $5,850, it’s more attainable than some traditional ebikes that aren’t connected to luxury cars.

Built in partnership with Italian motorcycle and ebike builder Fantic, the eMTB 2.0 uses the same aluminum frame as the original Audi eMTB. At the same time, there are some key improvements here.

Read: McLaren Unleashes World’s Most Powerful Trail-Legal eBike Ever

The drivetrain now features a SRAM GX Eagle Transmission AXS electronic derailleur paired with a SRAM XX SL Eagle 12-speed 10-52T cassette for crisp wireless shifting. Braking gets a big boost too, thanks to new EPTA STAGE rotors measuring 220 mm up front and 203 mm at the rear. Sunstar F.I.R.S.T. calipers provided improved control when the trail points downward.

What doesn’t change is the electric motor. It remains a Brose S-MAG 250-watt unit good for up to 90 Nm of torque. A 720-Wh battery pack feeds it power while remaining fully integrated into the frame. Riders can pick from four assistance settings, including eco, tour, sport, and boost. It really feels like at least one of those should’ve been RS.

That said, the eMTB will assist riders up to 20 mph and has a range that could be as little as 12 miles or as much as 90, depending on terrain and effort. Having ridden mountain bikes and eMTBs, that range will be plenty for the vast majority of folks. A small digital display keeps tabs on speed, assist level, and battery status.

This is what riders often call a mullet setup with a 29-inch wheel in the front and a 27.5-inch unit in the rear. That helps with managing big obstacles while keeping the bike nimble. An Öhlins RXF38 m.2 fork and TTX22m.2 rear shock provide 180mm of travel on each end, while Audi even offers some accessories to go with the bike, including a helmet and hydration pack. Deliveries are already underway to some lucky customers. 

If you want to get behind the wheel of a Tesla Cybertruck in Germany, you’re out of luck. Not only is the electric pickup not directly sold by Tesla in the country, but it also fails to comply with European Union safety regulations. And based on a recent document shared online, it seems that not even US military personnel will be permitted to drive the Cybertruck on German roads.

The guidance, shared this week by the U.S. Army Customs Agency, sets out the reasons the Cybertruck is officially barred in Germany.

Rules For Imported Vehicles

Under an agreement between the US military and the German Federal Ministry of Transport (FMoT), American service members can bring in personal vehicles from the US and drive them locally without having to meet all European safety standards. That arrangement, however, doesn’t stretch to the Cybertruck.

Watch: Even With Rubber Edges, Critics Want Tesla’s Cybertruck Off Europe’s Roads

According to the agency’s letter, US Forces had asked the FMoT whether military personnel would be allowed to import the truck. The answer was a firm no.

The rejection centers on “significant passive safety concerns.” The Cybertruck lacks EU type-approval because its sharp-edged stainless steel bodywork doesn’t comply with safety standards designed to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. The agency states the truck “deviates significantly” from EU legal requirements and that “safe operation in German public road traffic…is not ensured.”

Attention Not Welcome

Beyond the safety issues, the document also highlights that the Cybertruck would inevitably attract unwanted attention in traffic, which conflicts with the purpose of USAREUR-AF cover plates intended for force protection. As the Customs Agency explained, “For the above reasons, U.S. Army Customs Agency will not issue import certificates for Tesla Cybertrucks.”

The US Army Customs Agency added that any military personnel who do personally import a Cybertruck to Germany risk having to ship it back to the United States at their own expense.

We’ve heard a lot about VW’s next generation of ID. electric models and their new MEB+ platform. But today we get our first look at what sister company Audi plans to do with the same DNA to create its dinkiest ever EV .

This little monobox electric SUV is designed to slot below the existing ID.4-sized Q4 e-tron in Audi’s lineup starting in 2027, and it would seem logical for it to get the Q2 e-tron name. But some people have suggested it could be called A2, and we can certainly see some similarity between the classic aluminium-bodied A2 subcompact of the early 2000s and this prototype in the profile view.

Related: Audi To Launch An Entry-Level EV In 2027

But the Q2/A2 looks wider, lower, and sportier than the old A2 with a more aggressive windshield rake and roofline that plunges even harder after the C-pillars.

We can also see that the pint-sized EV has a split-headlight treatment and the same style of door handles we’ve seen on prototypes of the upcoming Q7, which look very much like the ones on the front doors of a Ford Mustang Mach-E. And also, strangely, like the little chest-height cigarette shelves you used to get above public urinals in the 1980s, though I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the inspiration here.

There seems to be more A2-inspired detailing at the back though, where a high-level spoiler appears to bisect the rear window. But this being 2025 and not 2000, we also get a transverse LED light bar instead of a stack of vertically-arranged lights in each corner.

Not visible, but almost certainly present beneath the “brake test” sticker on the prototype, is an illuminated four-ring Audi badge.

While the bigger Q4 e-tron uses the older MEB platform shared with cars like the ID.4 and ID. Buzz, the Q2/A2 adopts the newer MEB+ architecture. It places a single motor at the front, driving the front wheels (single-motor MEB cars are rear-mounted, RWD) and, based on what we know of MEB+ VW models like the ID. Polo, could deliver around 280 miles (450 km) of range and 223 hp (226 PS / 166 kW) for sub-7-second zero to 62 mph (100 kmh) sprints.

SHProshots

The end of BMW’s Z4 is on the horizon, and when production finally winds down next year, it will mark the departure of one of the brand’s most distinctive sports cars. The Z4 has never been a high-volume seller, but for buyers who wanted a stylish two-seater that mixed weekend fun with everyday usability, it carved out a loyal following.

Read: BMW Needs A Neue Klasse Z4 That Looks As Good As This

What happens after that is less certain. BMW has yet to confirm whether a next-generation Z4 will ever reach production, though in a recent interview one of its top executives suggested the Neue Klasse era could still make room for a sports car.

Space in the Neue Klasse?

Joachim Post, board member for development at BMW, recently spoke with Australia’s Drive and was asked directly if the Neue Klasse platform can support a sports car. He responded by saying it’s “feasible.”

The current Z4 was born from a collaboration with Toyota that also produced the Supra, though the Neue Klasse platform presents an opportunity for BMW to go it alone. When pressed on whether this would be the case, Post avoided specifics, instead stressing the company’s modular development approach.

“The philosophy of BMW also has been in the past to… we say baukasten, and that means that we have communal parts for different types of cars and different segments,” he explained. “Electronic control units, for example, a battery cell, all the things are the same, but integrated into a different package. So for us at BMW, it’s always core to think in that way, how we can develop a component and we can scale it in every one of our cars.”

That’s why we can be so fast to [spread] this new technology [across the line-up] in two years, in 40 derivatives – that gives you the possibility to make scaling combinations to make that feasible to run, from a business case [perspective]. We will see what’s coming up for future.”

According to Post, this strategy is what enables BMW to roll out new technologies quickly. “That’s why we can be so fast to [spread] this new technology [across the line-up] in two years, in 40 derivatives – that gives you the possibility to make scaling combinations to make that feasible to run, from a business case [perspective]. We will see what’s coming up for future.”

Electric or ICE?

That last point is key and leads to the bigger question: if BMW does bring back the Z4, which powertrain makes more sense? Slotting in an existing battery pack and motors would be the straightforward option, yet as Porsche has discovered while shaping the next 718, appetite for electric sports cars is thin.

That reality points to internal combustion as the safer starting point, perhaps with an electric spin-off later. The snag is obvious, though: pouring that kind of money into a low-volume roadster is hardly the kind of business case that keeps accountants and shareholders smiling.

Illustrations LS Design/Instagram

When Tesla started customer deliveries of the Cybertruck in late 2023, it seemed that every man and their dog was trying to buy one. For a brief moment, this demand led to a massive spike in prices on the used market with flippers rushing in to cash out. However, as is so often the case, these prices soon began to crash and can now be so low that it almost beggars belief. Take this 2024 Cybertruck, which recently failed to sell over at Bring a Trailer.

Read: Cybertruck’s Cheapest Version Is Already Dead

The first thing that stands out about this Cybertruck is the Gulf Racing livery. The blue and orange theme is one of the most iconic liveries ever used in motorsport and has previously adorned racing legends like the McLaren F1 GTR, Porsche 917, and Ford GT40. On a supercar, it looks great, but the livery seems totally out of place on a Cybertruck. Then there’s the fact Gulf is an oil company, so slapping its logo on an EV feels about as fitting as a steakhouse sponsoring a vegan festival.

The Depreciation King

While the aftermarket wrap is a little odd, this Cybertruck is a flagship tri-motor Cyberbeast model, carrying a $105,485 sticker price. Given that it has only been driven 2,200 miles (3,540 km) and was offered with a clean Montana title, it’s a little shocking that bidding topped out at a measly $76,500.

Bring a Trailer

That’s an extreme amount of depreciation, even by Tesla’s usual rollercoaster standards. The top bid came in nearly $29,000 under the original MSRP, which works out to around $13 lost for every mile driven. Factor in the $10,000 spent on the wrap, and the seller is staring at close to $40,000 gone in less than a year.

While the Cybertruck is controversial, as is Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, there’s no denying that the Cyberbeast is quick. Thanks to its three electric motors, it delivers an impressive 845 hp, allowing it to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 2.6 seconds. Evidently, not even the promise of performance like that, or a motorsport-inspired livery, was enough to convince someone to buy this Tesla.

Bring a Trailer