In imagery taken by the Sentinel-2 satellite on May 9, the sanctioned Iranian-flagged dark fleet tanker Sevda (IMO 9172040) appears to be damaged and...

 An unexpected release of up-to-date Sentinel-2 satellite imagery covering the Arabian Sea and CENTCOM area on May 6 and 7 has enabled analysts to gai...

Renault’s retro-flavored 4 E-Tech has already borrowed plenty of design ideas from the original Renault 4, but now it’s reviving one of the old car’s coolest features too. Meet the new Plein Sud version, which swaps the standard roof for a giant electrically operated folding canvas setup.

The fabric opening stretches 800 by 920 mm (31.5 x 36.2 inches) and folds back electrically in multiple stages, giving both front and rear passengers a proper open-air feel. Renault says it’s the only fully electric B-segment SUV currently offering this kind of setup.

Related: Radical Espace Reboot Leads Renault’s 36-Car Plan To Fight China’s Threat

The roof itself is a pretty clear nod to the original Renault 4’s simple manually retractable fabric roof from the 1960s. But this one is a whole lot smarter. Not only is it fully electric, but you can open it by asking the Reno voice assistant if you’re feeling too lazy to press a button.

Underneath, nothing about the Renault 5 E-Tech‘s SUV brother changes mechanically. Buyers still get the familiar 148 hp (150 PS / 110 kW) front-mounted motor and 52 kWh battery pack delivering up to 242 miles (389 km) of WLTP range. That’s only slightly lower than the fixed-roof version, which manages up to 249 miles (400 km), proving the folding roof’s hasn’t hurt efficiency too badly.

Cheaper Than A Beach Holiday

The Plein Sud arrives in mid-spec Techno+ and top of the line Iconic+ trims, and costs £1,500 ($2,000) more than equivalent fixed-roof models. Prices start at £27,445 ($37,412) in the UK after applying the government’s £3,750 ($5,111) Electric Car Grant. In France, prices start at €31,110 ($36,684) after incentives.

Early access ordering opens immediately for Renault’s R Pass holders, basically customers who previously paid for priority reservation access to skip ahead in the queue. Everyone else can place orders from May 14.

Aside from the roof, Renault’s also rolled out updated safety tech across the 4 E-Tech range to comply with Europe’s latest regulations. New systems include driver fatigue monitoring and an emergency stop function capable of safely slowing the vehicle if the driver becomes unresponsive.

Renault

BMW’s Neue Klasse offensive is picking up pace, and having this week been impressed by the price and EPA range of the iX3, we’re now getting a closer, though unofficial look at its coupe brother, which could stretch a full charge even further.

Like its boxier sibling, the iX4 adopts BMW’s new visor-style face that’s becoming a defining Neue Klasse trait. The same design language is also heading to the upcoming electric i3 sedan, helping tie the next generation of BMW cars together visually.

More: BMW’s New iX3 50 Is Cheaper And More Powerful Than Its Own Gas X3 M50

But beyond the nose, the iX4 starts doing its own thing. The roofline drops lower and flows into a fastback rear end, giving the crossover a sleeker silhouette than the standard iX3. It definitely looks sportier, though very tall rear passengers might not be celebrating the compromised headroom or smaller trunk.

The latest spy shots also reveal colored brake calipers hiding behind the wheels, strongly hinting this prototype wears M Sport trim, or is an M Performance variant. The basic M Sport package of interior and exterior trim is $2,500 on the new iX3 that arrives in US showrooms this fall, but upping the spend to $4,000 gets you the Professional version that adds colored M brakes and the Iconic Glow illuminated grille.

Inside, expect the same tech-heavy minimalist cabin already previewed by the iX3 and since rolled out to the facelifted 7-Series. That means a big 17.9-inch infotainment display, BMW’s pillar-to-pillar Panoramic iDrive setup, a futuristic four-spoke steering wheel, and an updated head-up display system.

40 And 50 Powertrains Planned

Underneath, the iX4 should mirror the iX3 lineup almost exactly. Earlier leaks tied to BMW’s accidentally published US product plans suggested America will get both 40 and 50 variants of the iX3 in rear and all-wheel drive configurations. It’d make little sense for BMW not to offer matching iX4 versions, though it looks like BMW will restrict the electric coupe to all-wheel drive.

That means entry-level models could use the European-spec iX3 40 setup featuring an 82.6 kWh battery and a 316 hp (235 kW / 320 PS) motor. Higher-end 50 xDrive versions should pack dual motors producing 463 hp (345 kW / 469 PS). Both versions will be capable of charging at 400 kW.

BMW recently confirmed the iX3 50 xDrive for America with a surprisingly low $62,850 starting price (including $1,350 destination) and an impressive EPA-rated 434 miles (699 km) of range. Since the iX4 slices through the air more cleanly, it could potentially travel even farther between charges, though expect pricing to climb past the $65,000 mark.

Buying a new car is almost always a terrible financial decision. But losing nearly $50,000 in a single year after just a few thousand miles takes things to an entirely different level of painful. Unfortunately for Edmunds, that’s exactly what happened with its 2024 Charger Daytona Scat Pack.

Unlike many magazines and websites, that simply borrow their long-term test cars from automakers, Edmunds buys them with real cash. True, it got a small discount from Dodge on the as-tested price of $85,965, but it still paid a hefty $82,000 to get behind the wheel of Detroit’s first electric muscle car.

Related: The Last Dodge Challengers Were Supposed To Age Into Money, Not Lose $14,000 With Delivery Mileage

But 12 months later when it came time to move the car on, Edmunds was shocked to find its Daytona was worth just $35,000. That’s almost a 60 percent hit, and not because the road test team had put a lifetime’s worth of miles on the EV. It had covered less than 7,000 miles (11,300 km), which is the kind of distance some drivers do in six months.

Even worse, the massive financial hit came after most of the Edmunds staff spent a year actively disliking the thing. Reading through their long-term test notes would be enough to send anyone wavering over which pony car to buy straight into the arms of a V8-powered Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

Digital Headaches

Complaints ranged from glitchy infotainment and strange drivetrain clunks to awkward ergonomics and bizarre software behavior. One editor described the fake Fratzonic exhaust sound as “an insult to V8s everywhere,” while another said the car was simply “boring,” which is probably the most brutal criticism you can level at something wearing a Charger badge.

Others hated the turning circle, massive dimensions, inconsistent regen braking, and handling that apparently couldn’t back up the car’s straight-line punch. But the year didn’t pass without the Charger getting some praise. Several staffers liked the styling, roomy hatchback practicality and surprisingly good range. The 670 hp (679 PS /500 kW) Daytona managed 255 miles (410 km) in real world use, comfortably beating its pathetic official EPA estimate of 216 miles (348 km).

“The Charger was a big, expensive disappointment,” the outlet said, summing up the year-long experience. “We won’t miss having this thing in our fleet.”

Dodge

Hertz has a long history of renting out modified cars from Shelby to its customers, and often these vehicles become prized collector’s items. That does not appear to be the case with the Shelby-tuned Ford Mustang Mach-Es that it had in its fleet.

Read: Hertz Slashes Prices On Shelby Mustang Mach-E, Some With Just 3K Miles

The rental giant started offloading a bunch of these special black-and-gold Mustang Mach-Es back in late 2024, asking around $65,000 for most of them. Fast forward just a couple of months to January 2025, and the prices were slashed to around $60,000. Hertz, clearly desperate to offload its remaining inventory, has reduced prices by a further $20,000. Could this be a deal too good to pass up?

Photos Hertz

A scan of Hertz’s current inventory across the States turns up 31 Shelby Mach-Es, with prices spanning a narrow $40,085 to $40,999 and mileage stretching from 3,275 to just over 15,000. The cheapest examples sit in California, while a Scottsdale car claims the lowest mileage of the lot at 3,275 for $40,649. One in New Orleans splits the difference at 8,215 miles for $40,436. A new Mach-E GT, the donor car for the Shelby treatment, stickers at $53,395.

A Performance Bargain?

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Hertz has slashed prices of these cars so significantly. After all, they are EVs, and current electric cars tend to depreciate very quickly. We suspect the designs of the Shelby models also turn off many prospective buyers, particularly because of the go-fast gold racing stripes and carbon fiber parts, including the hood.

Shelby is believed to have built just 100 examples of the Hertz-exclusive Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, so it does have exclusivity going for it. In addition to the gold stripes and the carbon parts, Shelby added custom black wheels and sourced an exhaust sound system from Borla, aiming to replicate the sound of an internal combustion engine. Sadly, no real performance upgrades were made that could justify the price.

There is also the usual caveat that comes with any ex-rental: someone else got the keys first, and they probably did not treat them gently.

The Little Tikes Cozy Coupe is one of the most widely recognized vehicles on the planet, with an estimated 25 million sold since 1979. The toy car is actually leg powered, but it spent decades pretending to run on gasoline, which, with pump prices now north of $4.50 a gallon, is starting to feel like a uniquely cruel bit of make-believe. Now, Kids who’d rather go green can grab the charging station accessory and do their part for the EV transition.

More: World’s Skinniest Jeep Wrangler Is A Real-Life Little Tikes Cozy Coupe For Grown-Ups

The Cozy E-Charging Station is designed to bring zero-emission infrastructure to backyards and playrooms, mirroring the real-world shift toward electric cars. The accessory first appeared in late 2022 as part of a UK campaign before graduating to a permanent fixture in the brand’s global lineup, now with a cleaner, more modern look.

The unit functions as an interactive charger, featuring a cable and a plug designed to slot into the fuel ports of all the existing Cozy Coupe models. Pressing the power button activates a sequence of light-up effects and electronic charging sounds, simulating a high-voltage top-up. The charger is powered by batteries making it suitable for outdoor play.

More: It’s Cute, It’s Short, And It Could Absolutely Kill You

The Cozy E-Charging Station is about the same size with the old Cozy Pumper, measuring 17.50 inches (44.45 cm) tall and weighing about 3 lbs (1.36 kg). It is fitting for toddlers and kids aged from 18 months to 5 years, allowing them to “plug in and charge their car just like mom and dad“.

It retails for $32.99, a small premium over the $29.99 Cozy Pumper. Unlike their parents, however, toddlers do not need to buy a new vehicle to make the switch, since the charger is compatible with the existing fleet. They are also spared range anxiety, because the Flintstones-spec drivetrain of the Cozy Coupe will keep going as long as the driver is well rested and well fed.

Bentley’s customers cannot seem to get enough of the Bentayga, so the company in Crewe is expanding its SUV lineup with a second model. Expected to wear the Barnato name, in tribute to Woolf Barnato of Bentley Boys fame, the new model will slot in below the Bentayga and ditch combustion entirely.

While it remains to be seen how much demand Bentley will see for the new model in markets like the US, where EV sales have stagnated, it will certainly appeal to those seeking the most serene and comfortable driving experience. The use of electric power will also help Bentley lower its overall fleet emissions. Bentley is expected to reveal the new EV later this year, with customer deliveries reportedly beginning in 2027.

Read: Bentley Just Told Us What The Barnato SUV Will Cost, Sort Of

Spied here doing the rounds at the Nurburgring, this prototype is wearing the same camouflage we’ve seen on others. As such, key areas of the vehicle’s design remain hidden, though we can see the blacked-out lower grille.

Concept Looks

SHProshots

Earlier test cars used lighting designed to resemble the twin-headlamp setup of the Flying Spur and Bentayga, but this prototype is closer in style to the single-unit design of the Bentley Batur. The clusters also feature four separate LEDs, similar to the arrangement found on the Porsche Macan and Cayenne Electric.

It’s hard to say exactly what the grille will look like, though we expect it to be body-colored and used largely for visual effect rather than cooling duties. The design could take inspiration from last year’s EXP 15 concept. Cooling is instead handled by functional air intakes in the lower front bumper, while a radar sensor sits at the center of the fascia.

Porsche Power

We know the Barnato uses the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, as do other VW Group models, including the Cayenne Electric. Carscoops understands it’ll come equipped with a sizeable 113 kWh battery pack that supports DC fast charging, adding 100 miles (160 km) of range in under seven minutes.

Bentley is also expected to lean on the Porsche parts bin for its electric motors, with the Cayenne Electric the most likely donor. Output in the Porsche ranges from 402 hp at the entry point to 1,156 hp at the top, and the Crewe interpretation is tipped to offer more than 1,100 horsepower in its flagship forms.

The similarities to the Cayenne Electric will continue with the in-car technology. While these spy shots captured only a small portion of the interior, previous prototypes have shown that several tech components will be shared with Porsche, including a curved OLED central display running Android Automotive OS. Bentley is expected to give the cabin its own identity through more extensive use of leather, wood, and metal trim throughout.

SHProshots

Brian Fennessy, new head of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, says his agency is 'trying to bring on additional aircraft and bring them on early,' and dismisses criticism of prevention methods.

(Image credit: Joe Raedle)

Scientists have uncovered a hidden “stop-scratching” signal in the nervous system that tells your brain when enough scratching is enough. The discovery centers on a molecule called TRPV4, which acts like part of an internal braking system for itch relief. In experiments involving chronic itch similar to eczema, mice missing this signal scratched less often—but when they did scratch, they couldn’t stop.

Rebooting the gut microbiome with bacteria from youth may help stop aging-related liver damage and even prevent liver cancer, according to new research in mice. Older mice that received their own preserved youthful microbiome showed less inflammation, reduced DNA damage, and no signs of liver cancer. Researchers also found that the treatment suppressed a cancer-linked gene called MDM2, making older mice biologically resemble younger ones.

A colossal underwater volcano in the South Pacific may have revealed a surprising new weapon against climate change. After the 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai, scientists detected enormous amounts of formaldehyde in the atmosphere — a telltale sign that methane, one of the planet’s most powerful greenhouse gases, was being destroyed. Researchers now believe volcanic ash mixed with salty seawater and sunlight created reactive chlorine particles that effectively “cleaned up” some of the methane released by the eruption itself.

Scientists have uncovered strong evidence that a major Atlantic Ocean current system tied to global climate is weakening. The slowdown has been detected across a vast region of the North Atlantic over nearly two decades. Since this ocean circulation helps regulate weather and temperatures, changes could affect storms, rainfall, sea levels, and even winter conditions in parts of Europe and North America.

Scientists have uncovered a hidden Antarctic threat that could accelerate global sea level rise far faster than expected. Deep beneath floating ice shelves, long channels carved into the ice appear to trap warmer ocean water, dramatically speeding up melting from below. Even regions of East Antarctica once considered relatively stable may be far more vulnerable than scientists realized. Researchers warn that current climate models may be missing this dangerous process entirely, meaning future sea level rise could be underestimated.

Scientists may have found a smarter, safer way to wipe out termites hiding inside homes. A chemical called bistrifluron prevents drywood termites from forming new exoskeletons during molting, killing entire colonies from within. In tests, it eliminated about 95% of termites while avoiding the toxic side effects of traditional fumigation. Researchers say the method could provide longer-lasting protection as termites spread into new areas.

Physicists may have just cracked open a hidden side of the quantum world. For decades, every known particle was thought to belong to one of two categories — bosons or fermions — but researchers have now shown that bizarre “in-between” particles called anyons could also exist in a one-dimensional system. Even more exciting, these strange particles may be adjustable, allowing scientists to tune their behavior in ways never before possible.

Scientists have taken a major step toward ultra-secure quantum communication by demonstrating a remarkably stable quantum encryption system that worked across more than 120 kilometers of optical fiber. Using tiny semiconductor quantum dots that emit single particles of light on demand, the team achieved one of the highest secure key rates yet for this type of technology while maintaining continuous operation for over six hours without manual adjustments.

Researchers have developed a stem cell-based model of the human intestine that may transform how new IBD treatments are discovered. After testing thousands of compounds, they identified glycyrrhizin — a natural substance found in black licorice — as a promising anti-inflammatory candidate. In both lab-grown tissue and mice, the compound reduced intestinal damage and cell death linked to IBD.

A major obstacle may be standing in the way of the next generation of ultra-tiny computer chips. Researchers discovered that many promising 2D materials lose their advantages because an invisible atomic-scale gap forms when they are combined with insulating layers. That tiny gap weakens electronic performance and could prevent further miniaturization. The team says new “zipper materials” that lock together more tightly may offer a path forward.

A new study shows that listening to your own favorite workout music can dramatically boost endurance. Cyclists exercising with self-selected songs lasted nearly 20% longer than when riding in silence, yet they didn’t feel more exhausted at the end. Researchers say music may help people stay in the “pain zone” longer without increasing perceived strain.