Electric vehicles can now last just as long and often be more reliable than comparable ICE cars. That’s the conclusion of a new multi-national study conducted by researchers from the University of Birmingham and the London School of Economics (LSE), which analyzed over 300 million records, including data from 30 million cars.

Published in the journal Nature Energy, the findings are an interesting indication of just how far EV technology has come. Even so, the researchers caution that further study is needed to fully understand the long-term potential of these vehicles.

The study leveraged anonymized MOT test data from Great Britain for its main data set. This enabled the researchers to look at records from 2005 through 2022. Those records are detailed enough that they could infer when a car’s life ended and what type of powertrain each one used.

More: Are EVs Safer Than ICEs? Australian Crash Safety Body Has The Answer

In short, the peer-reviewed study found that early EVs struggled to last as long as ICE cars but at this point, they’ve already caught up. “While BEVs represent a newer technology that was traditionally less reliable, they have rapidly evolved, with the latest BEVs expected to outlast the average ICEVs within the same cohort,” the study said.

Faster Gains for EVs Than ICE Cars

One of the standout findings from the research is how quickly battery electric vehicles have improved in terms of reliability. The study found that, for every year of production, the likelihood of failure dropped by 12%, a figure that’s notably higher than the 6.7% improvement for gas engine vehicles and a mere 1.9% for diesels. In other words, if you’re considering a BEV, the chances of it not breaking down are dramatically higher with each newer model, making those early EV hiccups seem like a distant memory.

Co-author Dr Viet Nguyen-Tien from the LSE, said: “Our findings provide critical insights into the lifespan and environmental impact of electric vehicles. No longer just a niche option, BEVs are a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional vehicles – a significant step towards achieving a net-zero carbon future.”

Co-author Robert Elliott, Professor of Economics at Birmingham University, addd: “BEVs offer significant environmental benefits, especially as Europe switches to a more renewable energy mix. Despite higher initial emissions from production, a long-lasting electric vehicle can quickly offset its carbon footprint, contributing to the fight against climate change – making them a more sustainable long-term option.”

How Do Modern EVs Compare?

To quantify the progress, the researchers provided some hard numbers. A modern BEV now boasts an average lifespan of 18.4 years and can cover 124,000 miles (200,000) before calling it quits. This mileage not only matches but surpasses the average for petrol-powered cars.

For comparison, petrol cars typically have a slightly longer lifespan, averaging 18.7 years, but they cover fewer miles, around 116,000 (187,000 km) on average. Diesel cars, by contrast, have a shorter lifespan of 16.3 years but compensate with significantly higher mileage, often reaching about 255,000 miles (410,000 km) before retiring. These, of course, are averages, so, as the saying goes, your mileage may vary—yes, we know about your Japanese SUV that’s sailed past 300,000 miles without a hiccup.

Challenges Ahead

At the same time, they acknowledge that the community needs to continue researching the topic. For one thing, we’re still somewhat in the early days of the EV transition. We still don’t know how modern mainstream EVs will fare 20 or 30 years down the road.

In addition, battery replacement costs are still exponentially higher than similar component replacements in ICE cars. Finally, the researchers admit that some of the data included by the MOT could be faulty or flawed because of how they are recorded. In any case, it’s interesting to see that EVs are making the type of rapid progress needed to put them into the same realm as ICE-powered vehicles on the road today. 

Image Credit: Nature Energy

Polestar is a relatively young player in the automotive industry. Launched as a standalone brand by Volvo and its parent company, Chinese auto giant Geely in 2017, it has spent the past eight years trying to establish itself while missing several sales targets along the way. In August 2024, Polestar appointed a new CEO, Michael Lohscheller, to help steer the company toward profitability.

Now, Lohscheller has an interesting (to say the least) plan: he wants to win over Tesla customers who are fed up with Elon Musk’s politics.

Musk has been at the center of multiple controversies, many of his own making. Very recent events aside, he’s polarized consumers with his support of President Donald Trump. On top of that, he’s made his opinion of politics in other nations well known too. In December of 2024, for example, he openly endorsed Germany’s far-right AfD party, while he has also made some controversial comments concerning the political landscape in the UK.

More: Polestar Pins Turnaround Hopes On Porsche Macan-Sized SUV

Lohscheller thinks this might play into the hands of Polestar. Speaking to Bloomberg News, he said that, “We get a lot of people writing that they don’t like all this. It’s important to listen closely to what they say. And I can tell you, a lot of people have very, very negative sentiments.” In fact, he was even more willing to condemn Musk’s support of the AfD.

“For Germany, somebody outside of Germany endorsing right-wing political parties is a big thing. You want to know what I think about it? I think it’s totally unacceptable. Totally unacceptable. You just don’t do that. This is pure arrogance, and these things will not work.” That said, he did temper his language by saying that Musk was very successful and that he’d done “incredible things with Tesla.”

While Lohscheller’s condemnation of foreign interference in national politics is pointed, it highlights an interesting contradiction. As CEO of Polestar, owned by Chinese automotive giant Geely, he represents a brand tied to one of the world’s most politically influential nations. At a time when China’s role in global industries faces scrutiny, critics might question whether his rebuke of Musk’s “arrogance” fully aligns with Polestar’s own context.

On the flip side, Lohscheller sees an opportunity here to take advantage of disgruntled Tesla owners who want out of any association with Musk. He’s told his salespeople to specifically target such individuals in an effort to get them into a Polestar. Ultimately, whether they come from Tesla or any other brand, Lohscheller just needs customers in seats right now.

Polestar is actively burning through some $110 million a month. It’s surviving in part thanks to almost a billion in funding from banks. To turn things around, though, it’ll need to continue to cut costs while it introduces new models and, hopefully, gains market share. 

One of the biggest headaches for classic car owners is tracking down replacement parts. Sometimes, the automaker stopped making the part decades ago, and the aftermarket scene never picked up the slack. But what happens when the car in question isn’t a vintage relic but a new production model? That’s exactly the problem here: a new Cadillac owner has been waiting on a part from GM for over nine months.

The customer, Levan Azrumelashvili, purchased his brand-new Cadillac Lyriq in late 2023, intending to make it the centerpiece of his limousine business. Only a few months later though, he ended up in an accident that damaged the front bumper. As of this writing, it’s been nine months, and he still hasn’t received the parts his car needs to get back on the road.

The Car Can’t Roll, but the Bills Sure Do

“At this point, my business is destroyed, I have not been able to drive my limousine for nine months, and I am told by GM that they can’t get my parts, yet they continue to build the cars, which obviously contain the parts my car needs,” Azrumelashvili told Karin Price Mueller of NJ.com. At the same time, he’s still stuck paying both the insurance and the monthly car payments for a vehicle he can’t even use.

Read: GM Buys Back Lemon C8 Corvette And Allows Customer To Upgrade To New Z06

On top of that, the insurance payments aren’t exactly your run-of-the-mill, but rather the higher rates associated with a limousine business. In his case, that’s $1,100 a month just for insurance, not to mention his $1,437 monthly car payment. Moreover, he’s also losing money by not being able to use the car for business. Evidently, GM hasn’t explained why it can build several of these cars but can’t get Mr. Azrumelashvili a new bumper.

“For the first five months, I received phone calls from the dealer just about weekly, saying that the needed part would arrive in about a month,” Azrumelashvili said. Then, he was informed that it would (finally!) arrive in October.

Congrats On Choosing A Lyriq… That You Can’t Drive

Guess what: it didn’t. Instead, after writing two letters to GM execs, including CEO Mary Bara, the company sent him a “good will adjustment” check of $3,593.47, which he reportedly chose not to cash. Perhaps the most baffling twist came in December, when Azrumelashvili discovered that GM had approved a buyback of his Lyriq back in September, but no one had bothered to inform him. To top it off, the company rescinded the offer in mid-November.

More: Cadillac Aims To Become America’s Best-Selling Luxury EV Brand In 2025

Adding insult to injury, he subsequently received an email from Cadillac – however it wasn’t about the part but, rather ironically, congratulating him for owning the Lyriq for one year! Yeah, he sure found it to be a very pleasant experience…

“The Standard Of The World”? Not Even Close

“It is my hope that GM will take back this car and reimburse me for my total losses, including all car payments, livery insurance payments, and lost income,” he said. At this stage, it’s anybody’s guess as to what will happen next.

Even if this case is eventually resolved, it’s not the kind of experience one would expect after purchasing a new car, regardless of the brand. For it to happen with Cadillac, which is trying to brand itself as “The Standard of the World”, well, let’s just say that such incidents illustrate that they still have some way to go before they can make that bold statement.

The tides are shifting at Stellantis, and no, it’s not just because they’ve finally figured out how to expand their woefully inadequate lineup in North America. A new report says that the Ram REV Long Range has run out of juice. It won’t make it to production after all. Instead, Ram will focus its energy on its range-extended pickup, the Ramcharger. Here’s what we’re hearing, why this move might make sense, and what we’re losing out on in the process.

Ram Rev: A Truck That Never Was

Ford was the first of the big three to the market with an electric truck. Chevrolet managed to come in second, and Ram still hasn’t managed the feat. That said, it was supposed to finally break down that wall this year with the Ram Rev. In fact, it planned to introduce two versions. The first uses a 168 kWh battery pack and the second, dubbed the XL or long range, was going to use a 229 kWh pack.

Read: Stellantis Delays Electric Ram To 2026, Range-Extended Truck To Launch First

According to an email notice sent to suppliers and obtained by MoparInsiders, the XL has been officially chopped off of the family tree. The report states that Ram recently informed suppliers of the decision. Additionally, it claims that ‘reliable sources’ have confirmed the cancellation of the Ram REV XL production plan. Evidently, a Ram official further explained, “This decision was related to the recent move that created an opportunity to lead with Ramcharger technology.'”

Ram VS Ram

The Ramcharger, for those of you just tuning in, isn’t some ‘70s muscle car revival. It’s the name given to Ram’s new range-extended electric truck. It’ll carry a gas-burning engine onboard to supply power to electric motors when the battery runs out of juice. In theory, it could go 690 miles (1,110km) between fill-ups and it’s not exactly a weak fuel-sipping eco-truck either. Ram says it’ll make 663 hp (494 kW) and 615 lb-ft (832 Nm) of torque, which is more than any gas-burning 1500 truck it makes right now.

Why the Ram REV Long Range Wasn’t Meant to Be

In reality, focusing on the Ramcharger makes sense given the segment right now. Even with the original 229 kWh battery Ram planned, the Ram REV Long Range would’ve likely been less efficient than rivals. In addition, Scout Motors just announced huge interest in its range-extended truck and SUV. That interest no doubt comes in part due to the flexibility of the technology.

Those who want a pure EV truck can still use the vehicle in exactly that way. In emergencies or when wanting to tow or drive exceedingly far, they can put some fuel in the gas-burning engine and not have to worry about charging infrastructure. It’s a win-win for many consumers. A different Ram spokesperson tells MotorAuthority that this shift in priority is driven by “consumer interest and maintaining a competitive advantage in the segment.”

All in all, this doesn’t sound like too bad of a deal for electrified truck lovers. Sure, a longer-range Ram REV would’ve been nice but the reality is that the Ramcharger offers much of the same appeal without some of the drawbacks. Stellantis tells Carscoops that “it has made the decision to pull launch timing of its range-extended Ram 1500 Ramcharger ahead of Ram 1500 REV,” 

It did not address whether or not the long-range Ram REV will make it to production or not. It did confirm that the Ram REV won’t arrive in any form until 2026. That’s plenty of time for it to change form in one way or another.

Semi-autonomous driving technology has become one of the hottest—and most controversial—topics in the automotive world.Perhaps none of it is as opinion-splitting as Tesla’s poorly named Full Self-Driving (Supervised). One Cybertruck owner recently discovered just how divisive this tech can be after sharing a video of FSD allegedly putting them in a precarious situation.

The onboard video from the truck that was posted on CybertruckOwnersClub by user ‘igs’ shows the driver’s side of the vehicle as it transitions from I-15 in Las Vegas onto West Sahara Avenue. That intersection has a yield sign for drivers as they merge onto the street. For whatever reason, the Cybertruck‘s FSD system appears to ignore that sign and drive into the far right lane with no regard for surrounding traffic.

More: Tesla Cybertruck Survives 75 MPH Deer Impact With Impressively Little Damage

The timing couldn’t have been worse. In the same lane, a Toyota pickup truck with the right of way barrels forward at speed, closing in fast. Fortunately, the Toyota’s human driver reacts quickly, swerving into the open middle lane to avoid what could have been an ugly collision for everyone involved.

Driver Attacked For Claiming FSD Failed “Big Time”

The Cybertruck driver posted to the CybertruckOwnersClub calling it an “FSD Fail.” Their description of the situation sounds quite damning. “FSD failed big time. I almost died. No amount of manual intervention could have prevented it. Good thing the other driver swerved. FSD is fatally flawed.”

Video CybertruckOwnersClub/igs

That might sound cut and dry but the reality is that as a Level 2 system, the driver should always be aware of what’s going on and be ready to assume control. Starting at the four-second-mark of the eight-second clip they provide, the Toyota is in clear view and doesn’t change its pace. Commenters were quick to point that out to the original poster.

More: Self-Driving Tesla Terrifies Owner By Turning Onto California Train Lines 

“Fatally flawed…. and yet you didn’t die. You also weren’t paying attention. What part of supervised can you not understand??” said one. “How about stepping on the brake pedal?” said another. On the flip side, several folks came out in defense of the original poster and had their own negative things to say about FSD.

Not Everyone Is A Tesla Fanboy

“Looks to me like the Cybertruck blew through (I assume) a yield sign into the path of traffic with a green light. Could the red truck have moved over, sure; but they pretty clearly had the right of way and FSD should have yielded. That’s exactly the kind of thing that needs to be fixed before FSD (Supervised) can become FSD,” said another forum member.

Others had a more measured view, like Dalton108 who said “FSD will kill you and others if you allow it to. You’re the supervisor. Don’t get complacent.” That’s excellent advise for anyone behind the wheel. Complacency can be deadly regardless if the car has a Tesla or any other badge on the hood.

All automakers make it clear: those are Level 2 driving assistance systems and the driver must always keep their eyes on the road and be ready to take over. They are definitely not fully autonomous, Level 5 systems that can operate without supervision – and even companies who have been testing those in robotaxis, like GM’s Cruise, have found out that the tech is not ready yet to be deployed safely on public roads.

Credit: IGS

Animal collisions on the road are a sad reality we all face from time to time. Preventing those accidents from becoming fatal to vehicle occupants is imperative wherever possible. Now, a new video showing the damage to a Tesla Cybertruck after a high-speed deer impact suggests that the truck is quite safe in such a scenario.

According to Justin Demaree, the incident happened at around 4 am as he and others traveled to Boca Chica. Out of nowhere, a deer stepped into the path of the Cybertruck and there was no way to avoid hitting it. This wasn’t a tiny deer either. It was a six-point buck and it hit the pickup on the front driver’s side corner where the front wraps around to the side.

More: Cybertruck Attack Exposes Chilling Truth About How Much Cars Spy On Us

The deer, tragically, didn’t survive the collision, but the truck came out with flying colors. Demaree, who runs the BeardedTesla social media accounts, showed off the damage soon after the crash. The front fender is pushed back toward the cab slightly, the inner fender liner is damaged, and the strip of metal above the window is bent back. Demaree says this is a Turo rental so he won’t be able to track the repair timeline but estimates that it’ll cost around $5,000 to repair.

That might sound like a lot but keep in mind the forces at play at such a speed. Erik Lutes, a former law enforcement officer, said of the crash and resulting damage “I worked in Law Enforcement for 5 years, worked countless deer wrecks. This is insane how well it held up.” Demaree provided a few more details about the wreck on X.

Cybertruck vs Deer at 75 MPH

This thing drove on FSD after this too 😳 pic.twitter.com/bgmNSMpKVr

— Bearded Tesla (@BeardedTesla) January 15, 2025

For example, Demaree noted that the Tesla did not have Full Self-Driving (FSD) engaged at the time of the collision, as the driver was in full control throughout. Impressively, the truck was able to drive away from the scene without any major features being compromised. In fact, after leaving the crash site, the driver activated FSD, which successfully handled most of the remaining trip to the group’s destination.

Credit: BeardedTesla

The 2025 Rivian R1S is a large electric SUV aimed at doing just about everything well. It’s meant to be spacious, good off-road, and wildly capable on pavement too. And for the first time, we’ve got one in our hands. Over the next few days, we’ll be putting it to the test across New York state, from the chaos of NYC traffic to the winding, snowy roads upstate. Got questions? Let us know, and we’ll report back with answers.

Rivian offers the R1S in several configurations, each catering to a different flavor of SUV performance. You can go for a dual-motor setup (one motor per axle), step up to a tri-motor (two motors at the rear, one in the front), or go all-in with a quad-motor system (a motor for each wheel for maximum control). Prices start at $75,900, but can easily tip past six figures depending on how many boxes you tick on the options sheet.

More: A Rivian R1S Started Smoking As Driver Was ‘Trapped’ Inside, Couldn’t Open Doors

Photos Stephen Rivers / Carscoops

A Closer Look at Our Test Car

The version we’re testing is the Dual Motor Max Pack, which Rivian says is good for an EPA-estimated 410 miles (660 km) of range, 665 horsepower (495 kW), and a blisteringly quick 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 3.4 seconds. It’s a family-friendly SUV that can outrun some sports cars – just what every suburban parent needs, right?

Let’s break down the options on our tester. First, the Max battery pack adds $14,000 for those extra miles. The El Cap Granite paint on the exterior is another $2,500 and the 22-inch wheels we have tack on an additional $1,000 to the final price. The cabin features what Rivian calls an “Ocean Coast with Dark Ash” color pallet for $2,000. The brand also added its own premium audio option to this car for another $1,750.

In total, this same SUV would cost you $98,950, including a destination fee of $1,800. But here’s one perk: Rivian sells direct to customers, so there’s no need to worry about dealer markups, as what you see is what you pay, whether you’re in New York or anywhere else in the USA.

From Urban Chaos to Upstate Adventures

Over the next few days, we’ll be treating this R1S like it’s our daily driver, pushing it to do all the things SUVs are supposedly built for. On top of that, we’ll be testing it with a party of five and all of their luggage, navigating tight city streets, and heading into the countryside to see how it handles less forgiving terrain.

The goal? To figure out if the R1S can really deliver on its promise of being the ultimate do-it-all SUV. Can it thrive as both a luxury commuter and a rugged adventurer? Does it justify its near-six-figure price tag? And, perhaps most importantly, how will those 22-inch wheels look when caked in mud?

If there’s something specific you’re curious about, be it the ride quality, the tech, or just how bad the range drops when you’re flooring it on the highway, just drop us a comment. We’ll make sure to put it to the test and return with answers soon.

Photos Rivian

Launches at CES this year are somewhat wild and the Italdesign Quintessenza fits right in. While its exterior design is unchanged from when we saw it last year, it features new Elaphe electric motor technology. This means it now has a motor on each wheel, which gives the futuristic truck concept a host of benefits.

Elaphe already advertises a motor technology called Sonic 1, which provides up to 255 kW (341 hp) peak power in short bursts. It can continuously provide 200 kW (268 hp) per wheel. Italdesign says that the upgraded motors Elaphe is building for the Quintessenza are even more powerful.

More: Italdesign Updates Classic 1970s Audi Concept That Inspired The VW Scirocco

According to the Italian firm, the Quintessenza offers up to 1,600 kW (2,145 hp) of combined power. Talk about overkill. On top of that, the truck concept features a 2+2 design with rear seats that flip backward and forward.

In their rearward position, they position the rear occupants to look out of an open truck bed area. Basically, it’s a cooler version of the Subaru Brat. Quad-motor tech isn’t the only big news from Italdesign. The firm also staked out a new headquarters near Detroit and plans to spend some $20 million on it.

Specifically, the brand is opening a location in Bloomfield, Michigan. It expects to hire 24 people. “The United States plays a key role in our global strategy: partnering with major automotive players providing the widest range of services today available on the market,” said Antonio Casu, Italdesign Global CEO.

“From Styling and Engineering to prototyping, testing & validation, and complete vehicle development…. Who else could provide such a range of services? With almost six decades of expertise in the automotive industry, we are the right partner to support U.S. customers with innovative solutions and proven excellence. We are ready to make a difference.”

It’s unclear exactly what, if anything, will come of the Quintessenza. As a concept, it certainly won’t make it to production, even with these new motors. That said, some of the design cues we see here could end up on the road in the not-too-distant future. 

Photos Italdesign

After several years of teasers, Scout Motors finally showed off both of its products late last year. Now, it’s revealing a bit more about how the public reacted, and things look good. Here are some interesting details about what customers appear most interested in and how Scout is reacting.

Initially launched in 1961, the brand left the market for decades before VW bought and relaunched it. Now, it’s working to bring two models to market, the Terra pickup truck and the Traveler SUV. Each will be available with either an all-electric or an electric range-extended (EREV) powertrain that promises a range of up to 500 miles (805 km).

More: California Dealers Tell VW To Cease-And-Desist Scout Direct Sales Model

A new report says that over 50,000 clients have signed up and paid a deposit to buy a new Scout. Of them, the majority have requested the range-extended EV. That enables them to run solely on electric power alone or to add range via the on-board gas-burning generator. For Scott Keogh, Scout’s CEO, the EREV platform is a big part of why these cars are drawing so much attention.

EREV Puts An End To Range Anxiety

“This gives us a 50-state vehicle,” Keogh said Tuesday in a Bloomberg TV interview with Ed Ludlow. “The two challenges we see with electrification, charging infrastructure — and of course this takes that all off the table — and plus there’s convenience. I think with those two things, a range-extender makes a lot of sense.” He added that around 70% of the reservations have been for the Traveler SUV, which confirms the company’s own expectations.

VW CEO Oliver Blume laid out his view of the success while at CES. “The market response has been very, very positive,” he said.” The response was ‘This is heritage.’ … It is kind of a love story.” On his part, Keogh told CNBC “We’re super happy with the numbers. There’s been good reaction to the EREV.”

Leveraging a range-extended electric drivetrain is a smart move for Scout. Few other automakers have used it and there’s no doubt that it can reduce the range anxiety many prospective electric vehicle owners have. The charging network isn’t big and consistent enough for peace of mind for those who want to take a trip in their EV.

Flexible Enough To Respond To Any Policy And Market Changes

Gas-burning SUVs aren’t clean enough for others, so an EREV could be the best of both worlds. VW is currently building a $2 billion plant for Scout in South Carolina and, according to Keogh, it doesn’t need significant modifications to manufacture the range-extended versions.

More: VW And Rivian Team Up To Develop EV Tech for 2027 Launch

Given the uncertainty concerning the incoming Trump’s administration’s stance on electric vehicles and the (quite possible) scrapping of tax credits, Scout’s CEO believes that “This gives you ultimate flexibility. Regardless of the way America goes, we are put in a position for the next 20 or 30 years to have a tech platform that can navigate it.”

Scout is also continuing to innovate. The brand says it’s now going to offer satellite internet connectivity, meaning you can stay connected while being off of the grid.

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For most of the history of the automobile, the car symbolized freedom, a ticket to the open road, a personal sanctuary on wheels. But in the digital age, that once-sacred space has turned into a surveillance tool for third parties, tracking data to an extent most people would never suspect.

That’s all the more evident after police used data collected by Tesla to learn more about the Cybetruck explosion that happened on January 1 outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas.

More: Cybersecurity Experts Warn Mazda’s Connect System Is Vulnerable To Hackers

“I have to thank Elon Musk, specifically,” said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill at a press conference. “He gave us quite a bit of additional information.“ That information included where the truck had been, how it made its trip from Colorado Springs to Las Vegas, and more.

While you and your loved ones might not have any sort of negative intentions, your car might track you in the same way that Cybertruck tracked the attacker.

Constant Surveillance: A Double-Edged Sword

To David Choffnes of the Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute at Northeastern University, this really is an indication of just how much everyday citizens are under surveillance. “It reveals the kind of sweeping surveillance going on… When something bad happens, it’s helpful, but it’s a double-edged sword. Companies that collect this data can abuse it,” he told Newser. And he’s far from wrong or misguided in that thinking.

General Motors stopped sharing consumer data with LexisNexis and Verisk after reports highlighted how detailed that data was and how in some instances, it led to higher insurance premiums for owners. In May of 2024, a report surfaced saying that of 14 automakers, only five required a warrant when authorities asked for location data. Just a month ago, a security flaw found that some 800,000 Volkswagen owners had their GPS data, vehicle status, and more accessible online to just about anyone.

Automakers Want To Know Your Political And Religious Beliefs… And Sex Life!

It’s not just GPS data that car companies collect either. Here’s a blurb from Kia’s website Privacy Policy section about what it’ll collect when it comes to what the company itself labels as “Personal Sensitive Information”:

“This category may include Social Security number, driver’s license, state identification card, or passport number; account log-in, financial account, debit card, or credit card number in combination with any required security or access code, password, or credentials allowing access to an account; precise geolocation; racial or ethnic origin, religious or philosophical beliefs; union membership; genetic data; unique biometric information; citizenship or immigration status; contents of certain mail, emails, and text messages; or health, sex life or sexual orientation information.”

If that wasn’t enough already, in “Professional Or Employment-Related Information”, the Korean automaker says that it collects “current or past job history or performance evaluations.” That’s right, we hope you filed those TPS reports because if you didn’t, Kia could tell the next company you want to work for.

More: 6 Ways AI-Powered Cabin Monitoring Will Transform Your Driving

Again, Kia and Tesla aren’t alone in this. Many major brands employ the same tactics. Volvo, for instance, also states in its Customer Privacy Policy that it collects “Sensitive Personal Data”, which it defines as follows:

“Personal Data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, and the Processing of genetic data, biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person, data concerning health or data concerning a natural person’s sex life or sexual orientation.”

Who Guards The Guardians?

All this raises some very serious questions. Why on earth should a car company be interested in gathering information about things like one’s performance evaluations, religious beliefs, political opinions, sex life, or sexual orientation? And who ensures that those data won’t be used for nefarious purposes?

More: Massive VW Data Leak Exposed 800,000 EV Owners’ Movements, From Homes To Brothels

Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety” inadvertently springs to mind. And while one of the Founding Fathers couldn’t possibly, in the 18th century, have imagined things such as cellphones and connected cars, and the government is supposed to safeguard our privacy, there seem to be no guarantees.

Moreover, the Mozilla Foundation points out that “When all of the 25 car brands we reviewed earn our *Privacy Not Included warning label for failing to respect and protect their customers’ privacy, something is seriously wrong”. So, you may want to think twice before pushing that “OK” or “Accept” tab on your car’s infotainment screen when (or should we say if?) it asks you about collecting your data.

Lead photo LVNMPD

The era of the new all-electric Dodge Charger is officially underway. Across the USA, several dealers have examples of the Charger Daytona available to customers. Clearly, this new car has some gigantic, one might even say Hellcat-sized shoes to fill. Here are a few of the places you can grab your Charger Daytona should you be in the market.

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

While the reviews of the new Charger Daytona might be mixed, the hype around the car itself is big. This is the world’s first electric “muscle car” if you believe Dodge. Even if it weren’t electric, it’s the first new Charger in over a decade and the first two-door Charger in several decades.

No Markups? Well, Not Publicly, Anyway

Interestingly, most of the dealers we’ve found with the Charger Daytona listed for sale aren’t marking it up. At least, they’re not marking it up publicly. How things fare when customers get to the dealer could be different. Nevertheless, several openly price the car at or below MSRP online.

One such dealer is Fremont Motor Rawlins in Wyoming. It has a black Charger Daytona R/T with 456 hp (340 kW) listed for $70,175 which is the same as its MSRP. The dealer also notes that the car could be eligible for additional offers depending on the buyer.

Klaben Dodge out of Kent, Ohio has a similar situation but this time for the Daytona Scat Pack with 630 hp (470 kW) and a price matching the MSRP of $79,680. Other dealers across the nation are playing it a little more coy with regard to pricing. Nevertheless, the point here is that finally, after all of the waiting, the Dodge Charger Daytona is likely at a dealer near you.

Read: Stellantis Sales Collapse 15% In 2024, But One Brand “Soars” 154%

Keep in mind that should you want one of these cars, the dealer is supposed to offer the car for the sale price listed online. If you arrive at the dealer and they inflate the price the FTC might want to know about it. After all, they just fined a dealer group over that exact type of scam.

Credit: Butch Hora

Back in 2020, Elon Musk floated the idea of building a tunnel out of Giga Texas—because when you’re Elon, a simple road just won’t cut it. Fast forward to today, and not only is the tunnel nearly finished, but Tesla has added a uniquely Tesla-esque flourish to it. As Cybertrucks and other models roll off the production line, they’ll make their grand exit through what can only be described as the frunk of a giant Cybertruck.

The Boring Company (TBC) was working on this throughout 2024. A video from June shows the company’s Prufrock-3 boring machine carving its way under State Highway 130, connecting Tesla’s production facility on one side of the highway to its logistics site on the other. By mid-summer, TBC had moved on to the finishing touches, and now, as 2025 begins, we’re finally getting a look at what the public-facing end of this tunnel will look like.

More: Tesla Cybertruck Explosion Outside Trump Hotel Kills One, Injures Seven – Musk Responds

The tunnel’s exit is unmistakably Tesla in design. Large, angular metal panels emulate the distinctive shape of a Cybertruck, complete with a sloping hood and even a strip of lighting meant to mimic the vehicle’s daytime running lights.

Full timelapse of Prufrock-3 retrieval onto The Monster inside Giga Texas pic.twitter.com/6MyJNdPFBw

— The Boring Company (@boringcompany) June 13, 2024

Birthing tunnel

— Cybertruck (@cybertruck) December 16, 2024

It’s unclear exactly how much of the giant Cybertruck-shaped exit is viewable from the highway but it’s a fun touch regardless. In fact, Tesla’s attitude around the tunnel is fun too. On X, the Cybertruck account calls it the “birthing tunnel,” and jokes that “pre-canal” trucks are birthed via “CT Section.”

The tunnel itself is a sleek and minimal affair, lined with clean white panels and designed to fit a single vehicle at a time. That’s perfectly fine since it’s a one-way tunnel designed specifically for one purpose.

When cars make it to the end of the tunnel, they’ll go on their first post-production validation test drive before shipping and delivery. TBC might not be doing as much as Musk once proposed, but at least this is a quirky little project.

Giga Texas’ @boringcompany Cybertunnel testing out its lights … specifically the @cybertruck daytime running lights! Work continues to get the tunnel completed & operational. pic.twitter.com/SmOIpR9ESl

— Joe Tegtmeyer 🚀 🤠🛸😎 (@JoeTegtmeyer) January 3, 2025

Photos Joe Tegtmeyer/X

A ballistic missile that redefines EVs. That’s most likely what Lamborghini would like us all to say about its first production electric vehicle. Coincidentally, that’s how we defined the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N when we tested it last year. Given that it has generally received raving reviews from the press, the House of the Raging Bull probably wants to see what all the fuss is about, because it is seems to be benchmarking it.

A recently surfaced video from a Lamborghini production facility, captured by YouTuber Varryx, reveals familiar scenes. Test drivers come and go in various supercars made in the building including, the Temerario and Revuelto. In fact, a few models from other brands make appearances too, such as a Ferrari and a McLaren.

More: Lamborghini Delays First EV Until 2029

That’s no surprise, as automakers often benchmark their upcoming models against their main rivals. It’s the light-blue Hyundai Ioniq 5 N that really sticks out though. Boasting 641 hp (478 kW), it’s the fastest thing Hyundai has ever built to sell to the public. Across the automotive world it’s been a revelation for electric vehicles because it’s not just quick, but is also heavily engaging. That said, it makes sense that Lamborghini would like to discover what makes it so good.

Electric supercars aren’t exactly flying off of the shelves. Cars like the Aspark Owl, Hispano Suiza Carmen, and the Nio EP9 make great headlines but none have truly set a new standard for supercars in general. On top of that, reports indicate that even the highly rated Rimac Nevera doesn’t have as many suitors as the brand would like.

More: Frank Stephenson Is A Big Fan Of The Lamborghini Lanzador’s Design

With all of that in mind, the Italian brand needs to be sure that its first EV, the Lanzador, which is due before the end of the decade, will be worthy of the badge on the hood. CEO Stephan Winkelmann has previously said that a Lamborghini is, in no small part, defined by “how much emotion you experience when you drive.”

There is no question that maintaining that emotional connection is vital for the brand. After all, EVs such as the Ioniq 5 N already have supercar-like levels of performance – and the likes of the Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Sapphire enter hypercar territory.

Thus, straight-line performance is no longer enough. Lamborghini will need more than that to really stand out and demonstrate that, even with an electric powertrain, it can still build cars that are exciting to drive while staying true to its rich heritage.

Kudos to them for not hesitating to bring a Hyundai in for testing in an effort to make the best car possible. Skip to the 21:01 mark in the video below to see the Ioniq 5 N leave the Lamborghini factory.

H/T to Carbuzz

The Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro are now long out of production, leaving Ford’s Mustang as the last true muscle car standing. You’d think this would send Mustang sales soaring. After all, it’s now the only game in town. Instead, the pony car just suffered its worst sales year ever.

To twist the knife, the all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUV outsold the classic sports car, officially becoming the best-selling vehicle with “Mustang” in its name—even if purists would argue it’s not a real Mustang.

Mustang sales have been a roller coaster over the last few years, and not the fun, thrill-ride kind. Back in 2022, Ford’s muscle car hit rock bottom with just 47,566 units sold. That handily beat the Camaro but trailed the long-in-the-tooth Dodge Challenger at the time. In 2023, Ford retook the Muscle Car sales crown with 48,605 sales. Now, things are taking a big dip in the wrong direction.

More: Hyundai Crashes Into Ford Dealership, Wrecks Brand New 2000 Mustang SVT Cobra R

For the full year of 2024, Ford sold just 44,003 Mustang sports cars, marking a 9.5 percent decline from the previous year. To put it bluntly, two of the Mustang’s worst sales years in history have occurred in the past three years. Ford hasn’t shared any clear plans to reverse this slide, but they’ll need to act fast if they want to keep the Mustang’s legacy alive.

The Mach-E Steps Up

As Motor1 rightly points out, the fourth quarter was a big issue for Ford’s Mustang and one that looks a lot like the last quarter of new Chevrolet Camaro sales. That’s potentially an issue but for now, the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover is helping the brand’s bottom line.

In 2023, Ford sold 40,771 units of the Mach-E. Fast-forward to 2024, and sales jumped 26.9 percent to 51,745 units. Generous dealer incentives likely played a big role, but it’s still an impressive feat. The Mach-E’s success even eclipsed other Ford staples like the Ranger (46,205 units sold, up 42.9%) and the F-150 Lightning (33,510 units, up 38.7%). It also outsold every single Lincoln model. Say what you will about the Mach-E’s Mustang nameplate—the increase in sales demonstrates a source of success for Ford.

Bright Spots in the Lineup

The Mach-E wasn’t the only Ford model on the rise. The Explorer continued its reign as America’s best-selling three-row SUV with 194,094 units sold—a modest but solid 3.9% increase over 2023. The rugged Bronco saw 109,172 sales (+3.3%), while the Maverick pickup had a standout year with 131,142 units sold, marking an impressive 39.4% growth.

Across all of its models, electric vehicles, and hybrids saw the largest sales increase year over year. EVs were up 34.8 percent, hybrids (Ford and Lincoln combined) were up 40 percent, and internal combustion cars (Ford and Lincoln Combined) only managed a 0.2 percent bump. 

Across all of its models, electric vehicles and hybrids saw the largest year-over-year sales increases. EV sales rose by 34.8 percent, hybrids (Ford and Lincoln model combined) climbed 40 percent, while internal combustion vehicles (also Ford and Lincoln combined) managed a meager 0.2 percent bump.

Overall, the Ford brand recorded a modest 3.1 percent increase in sales in 2024, rising from 1,914,094 to 1,974,009 units delivered.

Tesla’s fourth-quarter sales results are in, and, as expected, they’re a bit of a mixed bag. On the upside, the company set a new record for quarterly sales. On the downside, it missed projections and sold fewer cars in 2024 than in 2023, marking its first-ever annual sales decline in over a decade amid growing competition in the global electric vehicle market. Unsurprisingly, this has contributed to a drop in the company’s stock price. Let’s break it all down.

See: Tesla Model Y Juniper Caught With Split Headlights And Rear Light Bar

First, Tesla delivered 495,570 vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2024. That’s an improvement over its previous record-breaking quarter (Q3 of 2024), which saw 462,890 deliveries. However, analysts had projected that Tesla would deliver closer to 500,000 vehicles. To match its 2023 total sales , Tesla would have needed to deliver more than 510,000 cars in Q4, meaning it fell short of what was necessary to avoid a year-over-year decline.

2024 vs. 2023: The Numbers Game

As a result, Tesla fell short of its goal of surpassing the 1.8 million deliveries achieved in 2023, ending 2024 with exactly 1,789,226 vehicles delivered. The breakdown of these numbers is particularly noteworthy: 1,704,093 of those deliveries came from the Model Y and Model 3. This means the Model S, Model X, and the newly launched Cybertruck collectively accounted for less than five percent of Tesla’s total sales.

In addition to its vehicle deliveries, Tesla reported strong performance in its energy business. The company says that it delivered a record 11.0 GWh of energy storage products in the fourth quarter of 2024. It hasn’t released financial results yet which could shed some additional light on how the brand is doing. Those will come out on January 29 after the market closes.

Tesla Stock Faces Continued Pressure

Tesla’s latest sales report hasn’t done much to stabilize the company’s ongoing stock slump. As of this writing, Tesla shares have dropped 6.8% for the day, capping off what’s been a rough week. Over the past five trading days, TSLA has fallen from a high of $465 per share to just $375.

It’s unclear what might stop the bleeding, or so-to-speak, at least in the short term. Perhaps the alliance between Elon Musk and Donald Trump will come into play but we’ll have to wait a little while longer to see how that shakes out.

Refreshed Model Y And New Sub-$30K EV

One factor working in Tesla’s favor is the imminent launch of the updated version of its bestselling Model Y, codenamed Project Juniper. Expected to hit most global markets in the coming months, this refreshed model should help boost sales and bolster confidence as the company moves into 2025.

Read: Tesla Exec Confirms Sub-$30K Model Q And 2025 Product Plans

Additionally, CEO Elon Musk has expressed optimism about the company’s future, predicting more than 20% growth in sales for 2025. Adding to this, a recent Deutsche Bank report revealed that Tesla’s Head of Investor Relations, Travis Axelrod, confirmed the planned launch of a lower-cost vehicle priced under $30,000 in the first half of 2025. With the introduction of this budget-friendly model alongside the updated Model Y, could reignite Tesla’s sales momentum and help the company regain its footing in the crowded EV market.

It turns out that getting your hands on a Tesla Cybertruck might be just as nerve-wracking as waiting for it in the first place. One hopeful owner is finding out the hard way that Tesla doesn’t play nice when it comes to deadlines or refunds. According to him, the company has given him a simple ultimatum this holiday season: take delivery now or kiss $2,500 and his spot in line goodbye. Happy holidays, right?

Despite his requests for a little breathing room, Tesla seems uninterested in bending its rules. And, based on the fine print, it’s hard to say he didn’t see this coming.

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

Right now, ordering a Cybertruck requires a $250 non-refundable order fee. That’s different from the deposit that a Facebook user put down by a factor of ten. He dropped $2,500 to configure a truck and on December 28 received word from Tesla that he had to accept delivery now or lose that money. “You have exceeded your final hold on your Cybertruck and have been assigned a truck that is on island readily available,” reads a message reportedly from Tesla service.

According to his own post on the Tesla Cybertruck Owners group on Facebook, he needs more time, which is what he allegedly told the company rep. They simply responded “Your order will be cancelled with your deposit forfeited.” Butcher pleaded that this didn’t seem fair and that he would like the deposit to go to a future purchase of a Cybertruck.

Based on the details provided and Tesla’s response, it seems clear that he agreed to these terms when placing his order. While he doesn’t explicitly clarify, all signs point to this being a confirmed order rather than a simple reservation—likely involving specific options or configurations. If that’s the case, does it mean Tesla is entirely in the right here, and the customer is in the wrong? It’s a tricky situation, but the fine print seems to be working in Tesla’s favor.

Interestingly this isn’t the only non-refundable part of the Cybertuck buying experience. At some point in mid-2025, the automaker plans to launch the battery range extender for the truck. In October, it increased the non-refundable deposit for the accessory from $500 to $2,000. Perhaps this is just a lesson to be careful about counting your eggs before they hatch. 

Buying a new car is supposed to come with a little peace of mind. Warranties exist for those “just-in-case” moments, protecting buyers from hefty repair bills should something go wrong. But as one Tesla owner learned just before Christmas, warranties can be as fragile as a cracked windshield—literally. What followed was a near-miss with a $1,700 repair bill, a lot of confusion, and a lesson in persistence that every car owner should hear.

Imagine walking out to your six-day-old car to find a giant crack in the windshield that wasn’t there when you left it. That’s exactly what happened to Reddit user Heartvu on December 23. They say they’d only driven their new 2025 Tesla Model 3 some 200 miles (322 km) and didn’t think anything had hit the windshield during that time.

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

Just to be sure, they checked the on-board cameras to look for potential vandalism too. They also submitted a ticket to Tesla for service and because they live near a service center, they scheduled an appointment for the next day. When they arrived, the center made it clear that windshields aren’t covered under warranty, which is sort of a half-truth.

A Cautionary Tale for Tesla Owners

In reality, they are if the windshield cracked due to a stress fracture. Heartvu didn’t know that initially and was preparing to drop $1,700 on a new windshield before one very important act. They specifically asked the Tesla service center if the crack was due to impact or stress. “After checking the car again, they said it was stress, and only at this point did the person on the phone say that the windshield can be repaired under the warranty,” they say.

On top of that, the owner had the service center repeat that confirmation in the Tesla service center app chat room. We’re only learning about this because Heartvu wanted to make sure other owners know about the propensity for stress fractures to crack windshields.

“I’m making this post because this sub has been really helpful to me in understanding Tesla and their shitty customer service”, they wrote. “If I hadn’t read from another redditor that there was a difference between impact and stress fractures, I would have been stuck paying the deductible or full fee to replace the windshield on my brand new 2025 Model 3. Also, Tesla insurance in my state does not specifically cover glass or windshields.”

Other Owners, Similar Issues

Notably, another owner reported a nearly opposite situation where they had a broken windshield. They thought the crack was the product of an impact and planned to pay for the replacement. When the Tesla technician removed the broken pane they spotted a problem in the bodywork. They explained to the customer that the bracket the windshield rests on was missing a weld and thus was not flat, putting stress on the glass and eventually causing the crack. So they received a free fix for the bodywork and the windshield.

The takeaway here is simple: if you find yourself staring at a cracked windshield, don’t assume the damage is your fault or blindly accept the first repair bill thrown your way, whether it’s from Tesla or any other automaker. Always dig deeper. Ask questions, demand clarity, and insist on determining whether the crack is due to impact or a stress fracture. And whatever you do, get that confirmation in writing. Tesla’s customer service isn’t exactly known for being user-friendly, so you might need to channel your inner detective to get what you’re owed.

Screenshot Credit: Heartvu/Reddit

Chinese automaker BYD has been aggressively expanding its global footprint, with Brazil being a key part of its growth strategy. However, that momentum screeched to a standstill on Monday when Brazilian authorities halted construction on a new manufacturing plant, throwing the company’s plans into uncertainty.

According to government officials, the construction company responsible for the project, called Jinjiang Construction, treated its 163 workers like modern-day slaves. These workers, reportedly hired in China by a separate firm, were allegedly brought to Brazil through irregular—and highly questionable—means. To make matters worse, over 100 of them had their passports withheld, effectively trapping them in exploitative conditions.

The conditions we’re talking about here are truly brutal. The workers lived on the construction site. The accommodations offered by the company included beds without mattresses and, in one case, one bathroom for 31 workers. As such, an official report from the government says workers would often all wake up around 4 a.m. so that everyone could have access to the restroom before beginning work at 5:30 a.m.

More: BYD To Finalize Location For Mexican Factory This Year

“In one of the rooms, occupied by a cook, pots with prepared food were found left open on the floor, exposed to dirt and without refrigeration, to be served the following day,” says the Public Labor prosecutor’s office.As if that weren’t bad enough, the construction company, Jinjiang Construction Brazil LTD., based in Sichuan, China, evidently made life harder when it came to pay and job freedom.

“The workers were required to pay a deposit, had 60% of their wages withheld (receiving only 40% in Chinese currency), faced excessive costs for terminating their contracts, and had their passports withheld by the company,” authorities added.

These conditions were bad enough that Jinjiang Brazil LTD is now prohibited from continuing its operations. While the workers will remain in the same accommodations for the time being, they are no longer allowed to work for Jinjiang. Authorities are scheduled to meet with BYD and Jinjiang on the 26th to determine the next steps.

Alexandre Baldy, Senior Vice President of BYD Brasil, stated, “BYD Auto do Brasil reiterates its commitment to full compliance with Brazilian legislation, especially with regard to the protection of workers’ rights and human dignity.”

BYD, short for Build Your Dreams, is already the top-selling EV car brand in the country and the new facility was supposed to come online next year. However, it’s now unclear how this controversy will impact the company’s plans moving forward.

Credit: MPT Brazil / HT: SCMP.com

Canoo seems to be up a creek without a paddle. On December 18, the company sent its employees home on a “mandatory unpaid break,” which is set to last through the end of 2024. As of now, the outlook for the EV startup in 2025 remains uncertain. o put it simply, nothing appears rosy for the once-promising electric vehicle manufacturer.

All of this caps off an incredibly challenging year for Canoo. In April, reports revealed that the company spent twice as much on the CEO’s private jet as it earned in all of 2023. By August, it was facing lawsuits for missing payments to a debtor. Then, in November, the company furloughed 23 percent of its staff.

Read: Canoo Furloughs 23% Of Factory Staff After Selling Only 22 Vehicles Last Year

TechCrunch reports that the brand locked employees out of their access to Canoo systems beginning on December 20. Benefits are said to last throughout the rest of the month. On top of this, a new report from KFOR says that Canoo lied about building cars in Oklahoma.

In November 2023, the brand announced it was delivering its first “made in Oklahoma” EVs to the state government. The governor even celebrated the occasion, stating, “For the first time in 17 years, vehicle manufacturing is back in Oklahoma.” However, it turns out that might not be entirely true.

In an interview with KFOR, a former employee of Canoo claims that not a single car was made in the factory there. They also shed some light on the financial trouble the brand is facing. “They hired too many, too quick, and paid too much,” the former employee said. “Everybody was a boss, and everybody wanted to be everybody’s boss… everybody had a director title, so nobody’s doing anything. They have tons of equipment… It looks great. They have literally everything to run an entire assembly line for cars.”

Despite that equipment, they made no bones about where the production cars came from. “I can tell you, those did not come off our assembly line… If you talk to any Canoo employee, they’ll tell you those do not come off the assembly line.”

Read: Canoo Made $886,000 In 2023, Spent $1.7 Million On CEO’s Private Jet

“All those were handmade in Justin, Texas, by a totally separate company called AFV,” the unnamed employee said. “They made them, they handmade them, and then they just brought them here. And most of them, they ended up just getting – like 90 percent of all the vehicles just got decals swapped out on them.”

Notably, the CEO of Canoo, Tony Aquila also owns AFV. Carscoops reached out to the company to get its take on the situation and has not receive a reply as of this writing. 

The Hemi is barely alive over at Stellantis and reports say that Carlos Tavares killed it. Whether or not that’s true, it’s clear that Dodge understands that buyers want a gas-only option. That is why the production of the gas-powered Charger is ahead of schedule. A new report says that even with all the various factors at work, the new Charger isn’t going to end up with a Hemi V8 anytime soon.

As a reminder, those who claim to be familiar with the matter say that now-former CEO Tavares axed the Hemi so that Dodge and Ram could be “greener.” However, he left the company earlier this month. Now, despite some less-than-spectacular reviews of the new Charger Daytona, at least one report indicates that it won’t get a V8.

More: Dodge Dealers Already Discounting New Charger Daytona EV Under MSRP

According to Jalopnik’s Andy Kalmowitz, engineers at Dodge say there are two main problems. First, the Hemi V8 won’t even fit under the hood of the new Charger. While I’m personally all for Dodge selling a Charger with a V8 literally sticking up out of the hood itself, that probably doesn’t meet safety standards.

Evidently, the engineers claim that shoehorning a V8 into the Charger would require moving the cradle and the firewall. That’s unlikely to happen simply based on the cost of re-engineering such pivotal parts. Dodge would have to run new crash tests too on top of everything.

In addition, the engineers claim that going back to the V8 would “fly in the face of what they were trying to accomplish with the car.” To be very clear, the goal was to build the next generation of muscle cars for the modern world. Did Dodge pull that off? The reviews are mixed and there’s still no indication of exactly how customers will adopt the car. In any case, a Stellantis spokesperson responded to the report with the following statement:

“Dodge is focused on launching the all-new, all-new electric Dodge Charger Daytona models, as well as the Dodge Charger SIXPACK ICE-option models coming next year. We have nothing additional to share in regard to potential future products.”

Granted, this neither confirms nor refutes the original report, although, given the engineering hurdles, it’s unlikely that the new Charger will be available with a V8 in the future. At least, for now, the Hemi lives on in cars like the Jeep Wrangler 392 and the Durango that we drove recently, as well as in heavy-duty Ram trucks. Nevertheless, if you insist on having it in a muscle car, there are still plenty V8 Chargers and Challengers sitting at dealers’ lots.