It’s rare for Subaru to introduce an entirely new model lineup in the U.S., but that’s exactly what’s happening with the arrival of the Uncharted. As expected, it’s essentially Subaru’s take on the electric Toyota C-HR, with a design and feature set that leans more rugged than the Solterra, all in a more compact package.

Read: Subaru Trailseeker EV Is Faster Than A WRX STI But No One Knows If It’s A Wagon Or SUV

The Uncharted rides on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform and is powered by a 74.7 kWh lithium-ion battery across all variants. Subaru has confirmed three versions for the American market: the Premium FWD, Sport, and GT. The base model is notable for being the first front-wheel drive vehicle Subaru has offered in years. In contrast, both the Sport and GT feature the company’s signature Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system with X-Mode.

A Front-Drive Subaru

The front-wheel drive model will pack 221 hp and, according to Subaru, should be able to travel over 300 miles (492 km) on a charge. Interestingly, the carmaker says it will only be sold in “limited quantities,” so it’s unlikely to be a member of the Uncharted family for long. Considering the EV’s rugged appeal, it’s likely that most buyers will prefer the all-wheel drive Sport and GT models anyway.

The AWD Models

The AWD Sport and GT models step things up with 338 horsepower and an estimated range of up to 290 miles (467 km). They can also reach 60 mph (96 km/h) in a remarkable 5.0 seconds, making them quicker than the previous WRX STI and the current WRX TR, which take 5.6 seconds to hit the same mark.

According to the brand, the Uncharted offers “impressive straight-line stability, handling, and grip on loose surfaces such as gravel, dirt, or snow.” Fittingly, it looks a little more trail-ready than the C-HR, sporting more rugged front and rear bumpers, as well as new headlights and taillights. Customers will be able to order the Uncharted with either 18- or 20-inch wheels. There are also low-profile roof rails.

Charging and Tech Details

All Uncharted models come standard with a NACS charging port. They support peak DC charging speeds of 150 kW, while an 11 kW onboard charger has been added for convenient AC home charging. Subaru notes that the EV also includes a battery preconditioning system and that the battery can be charged from 10-80 percent in 30 minutes.

A Familiar Cabin

The Uncharted’s interior is mostly the same as what you’ll find in the C-HR. That means there’s a large 14-inch infotainment screen, a digital gauge cluster, and a horrendously ugly steering wheel. Key standard features of the Sport include a heated steering wheel, water-repellent upholstery, and a panoramic view monitor. The GT adds a panoramic moonroof, ventilated front seats, a smart rearview mirror, and a Harman Kardon audio system.

Subaru has not announced pricing details for the Uncharted, but it’s reasonable to assume that the front-wheel drive model will start somewhere in the low-to-mid $30,000s.

For many drivers accustomed to tame, underpowered daily commuters, even the base version of the Tesla Model Y can feel like a thrilling step up. But for those who want more than just a taste of performance, the standard Model Y doesn’t quite cut it. Fortunately, Tesla has something in the works for that crowd.

Read: New Tesla Model Y Performance Breaks Cover, Plaid Wheels And All

For several months now, the automaker has been developing a new Model Y Performance. It’ll follow the same basic recipe as the first-generation model and likely be equipped with the same powertrain as the current Model 3 Performance.

Testing at the Green Hell

Our spy photographers have snapped it testing multiple times around the world, and recently, a camouflaged prototype was seen out and about on the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

In a recent clip shared to Instagram by Wilcoblok and Teslaplaidtok, the prototype was captured exiting the pit lane and gradually merging onto the famed circuit. It was driven at a relaxed pace, offering no clues about its true performance potential.

Since Tesla hasn’t recorded an official lap time at the track with the current Model 3 Performance, it seems unlikely they’ll attempt one with the Model Y Performance either. If they did, a time somewhere in the eight-minute range seems reasonable.

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Powertrain and Performance Specs

Like its sedan sibling, the Model Y Performance will use a pair of electric motors, which should combine to produce the same 510 hp and 554 lb-ft of torque. Due to the added size and weight of the Y, it won’t be quite as quick, but it should still run to 60 mph (96 km/h) in around 3.2 seconds. This would be a slight improvement from the old model’s 3.5-second time, making it the fastest version of the electric crossover ever.

Visually, this prototype looks like it has more aggressive bumpers than the regular Model Y. We can also see a large lip spoiler at the rear. Last month, a Model Y Performance was filmed testing without camouflage, revealing a distinctive rear bumper with two subtle diffusers.

We expect to see the new Model Y Performance premiere before the end of the year. Prices won’t be known until then, but it’s a safe bet that it’ll start at around $55,000.

Baldauf

For more than two decades, high-performance car fans have looked to Koenigsegg for proof that extreme engineering and bold ideas still have a place in the modern automotive world. The company has helped shape the hypercar as we know it today, with a focus on intricate craftsmanship, wild designs, and roaring V8 engines.

Read: Koenigsegg’s Latest Hypercar Is A Track Monster Designed To Obliterate Lap Records

And while the rest of the auto industry leans hard into electrification, Koenigsegg remains firmly attached to the combustion engine.

That doesn’t mean the competition is standing still. Other brands are taking their own creative routes, from Cosworth’s high-revving V12s and V16s in the Gordon Murray T.50 to the hybridized muscle of the Bugatti Tourbillon. But Koenigsegg isn’t backing down. Its twin-turbocharged V8 continues to evolve, now tuned to produce 1,603 horsepower for the Jesko-based Sadair’s Spear.

No Plans for EVs Anytime Soon

During a recent interview with Top Gear, Christian von Koenigsegg made it clear that the company has no plans to release an electric vehicle. Thanks to EU regulations that allow small manufacturers to sidestep the upcoming 2035 ban on new internal combustion cars, it doesn’t need to pivot toward EVs just to stay in the game.

“The appetite in the market for this level of car, fully electric, is extremely low,” von Koenigsegg said. “So that’s one aspect. But also, [I’ve] kind of experienced electric cars myself for many years, and loving the responsiveness, the smoothness, how easy it is to live with it and all of this. But, after a while, if you’re a car enthusiast, you want to talk to the beast, right? You want to have a dialogue. It’s an argumentation. You want to hear how it’s feeling and in what mood it is.”

He described the emotional side of driving a combustion-powered car, adding, “You want the throbbing, the pumping, the heat, the sounds, the shifts, all of these aspects that just make it come alive. I would say an electric car is a bit more of a robot. This is a bit more of an animal.”

Koenigseggs Are Like Mechanical Watches

He then went on to compare what’s currently happening in the automotive industry to what happened in the watch industry. When digital watches became commonplace, some thought they would spell the end for mechanical watches. However, people still want and appreciate a hand-built mechanical watch, hence why they’re still so popular.

Koenigsegg’s cars are like mechanical watches. It doesn’t rely on robots to build them, and they are made up of thousands of precise mechanical parts that give each car a unique character, something that an EV cannot replicate. Long may this continue.

Nowhere is Tesla facing tougher EV competition than in China, a market that has rapidly evolved into a hotbed of electric innovation. While the company maintains a commanding lead in the US, it finds itself contending with a far more crowded and fast-moving landscape in China.

Dozens of EV-only brands are racing to roll out new models at remarkable speed, constantly pushing the envelope in design, technology, and value. To stay competitive, Tesla is preparing to introduce a new version of the Model 3 in China, known as the Model 3+.

Read: Tesla Model Y And 3 Get Surprising Speed And Range Upgrade In China

Details first emerged when Tesla filed for a local sales license for this upcoming variant. The name might suggest something more performance-focused than the current Model 3 Performance, but that’s not quite the case.

Instead, this new version is expected to offer the longest driving range of any Model 3 to date. Further insight came through China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which recently released data shedding light on what to expect from the Model 3+.

Rear-Wheel Drive, Upgraded Battery

For starters, the new model will be sold exclusively in rear-wheel drive guise. However, whereas the current entry-level RWD model in China has a small 62.5 kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery from CATL, the Model 3+ uses a more expensive NMC battery from LG.

Tesla already sells an NMC-powered Model 3 in the country, the Long Range version, but that model is only available with all-wheel drive. It’s equipped with a 78.4 kWh battery pack and delivers a CLTC-rated range of 468 miles (753 km). By combining the energy density of an NMC pack with the efficiency of a single-motor, rear-drive setup, the Model 3+ is expected to stretch its range even further.

It remains to be seen whether the Model 3+ will use the exact same 78.4 kWh battery as the Long Range AWD version, but it’s likely. Notably, Tesla already offers a Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive Model 3 in the US fitted with a slightly larger 79.7 kWh NMC pack, which adds weight to the possibility.

It’s understood that the Model 3+ will offer up as much as 497 miles (800 km) of range on the generous CLTC cycle, matching the longest range version of the Xiaomi SU7. We expect to see it released in the coming months and for more details to be provided then.

The global uptick in electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid vehicles continues, but the situation is, understandably, not uniform. Year-to-date sales of EVs and PHEVs have jumped in all major regions and there’s every chance that the momentum will continue through the second half of the year. However, with the US EV tax credit set to expire in just over two months, turbulent times may lie ahead.

It’s been revealed that through the first six months of this year, a total of 9.1 million EVs and PHEVs were sold globally. This represents a massive 28 percent gain from the first six months of 2024 and comes thanks mostly to surging demand for electrified vehicles in China.

Read: EV Sales Just Took A Turn That Should Worry Automakers Everywhere

Rho Motion says that this year, no less than 5.5 million EVs and PHEVs have been sold in the People’s Republic. Unfortunately, the analytics firm does not separate the two categories but bundles them up, so we don’t have a breakup of the mix.

What we do know is that it’s not just China where sales have surged this year. Through the first six months of 2025, 26 percent more EVs and PHEVs have been sold across Europe, hitting 2.0 million units. Last year, sales of EVs in Germany fell dramatically after the first full year without incentives, but they’ve rebounded strongly this year, jumping 40 percent year-to-date. New incentives for electric vehicles recently announced in the country could further this momentum.

Year-to-May electrified vehicle sales also rose 72 percent in Spain, 58 percent in Italy, and 32 percent in the UK.

JAN-JUN EV & PHEV SALES

Canada drags down North America

North America is not performing as well. Sales of EVs and PHEVs are up by just 3 percent this year to ~900,000. Despite what you may think, this isn’t because of the US. Instead, sales have dropped roughly 23 percent in Canada after the nation paused EV subsidies earlier this year. By comparison, sales have grown by 4 percent in the US and by 20 percent in Mexico.

As the $7,500 federal EV tax credit will be scrapped in the US on September 30, Rho Motion expects to see an uptick in EV sales over the coming months, followed by a significant decline in the final quarter of the year.

Even vehicles built in the United States aren’t immune to global pressures. Although every Lucid vehicle sold domestically is assembled on American soil, interim CEO Marc Winterhoff says that prices are still likely to rise, due in large part to tariffs introduced under President Trump.

While he stopped short of confirming that Lucid’s own lineup will definitely see sticker hikes, the implication was clear: American consumers should brace for costlier new cars.

Read: Lucid SUV Costs 30% More To Lease Than Sedan Despite Being Cheaper

During a recent interview, Winterhoff noted that the American car manufacturer is eager to localize more of its supply chain. One step it has taken is signing a deal with Graphite One to increase its supply of graphite that’s processed in the United States. Despite these efforts, the global nature of its supply chain will make the Air and Gravity more expensive to produce.

Tariffs Push Costs Upward

“For the American consumers, vehicles are going to be more expensive under the tariff regime,” he told Bloomberg Television. “There’s no other way around it. Yes, you can say you just need to localize. But, that still increases the cost as there’s a reason why the supply chain is so global because certain things are either not available here in the US, or are just very expensive, so you import them.”

He went on to point out that even when companies work to reduce dependence on imports, shifting operations to the U.S. often drives costs higher anyway. That leaves automakers with limited choices.

“[Even] if you change that, you still have higher costs here in the United States, which means manufacturers like us, or any manufacturer, have to increase prices. There’s no other way, unless you want everybody to be non-profit organizations, which then would lead to no innovation and no technology leadership. In the current global climate, that’s the last thing we want.”

Shifting the Supply Chain

In a bid to reduce the impact of the tariffs, Lucid is deepening its relationship with Panasonic so it can source more of the raw materials for its battery cells from the US. Currently, much of the raw materials Lucid uses for its battery cells come from Japan and South Korea, but two and a half years ago, decided it needed to localize, thanks in part to advanced manufacturing production credits which helped to defray costs.

“We are working with Panasonic to further localize the supply chain for the cell,” Winterhoff added. “It doesn’t do you a lot of good if you manufacture here [in the US] but you still import the raw material which then subject to tariffs.”

The electric era is coming for just about every corner of the car world, and BMW’s iconic M3 lineup is no exception. An all-electric version of the high-performance sedan is on its way, marking a significant step for BMW as it enters the Neue Klasse generation.

This new model will be sold alongside the familiar gas-powered M3, and while it may have a tough time delivering the same visceral thrills, BMW M seems like the right team to take on the challenge of making an EV that’s genuinely engaging to drive.

Read: BMW’s Electric Super Sedan Could Arrive Sooner Than You Think

Numerous electric M3 prototypes are currently making the rounds across Europe, and this particular one was recently spotted near BMW’s facility at the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Seeing an M3 prototype charging is a little unsettling for purists – a bit like discovering your favorite bouncer knits in his spare time. Good for him, sure, but it does throw off the mental image.

This prototype, fully cloaked in camouflage, appears to lack the bulky body cladding seen on earlier test cars, giving us a much clearer look at the near-production-spec bodywork.

The shape of the nose is vastly different than the current M3 and reflective of BMW’s Neue Klasse design, something that’ll soon spread throughout the brand’s entire range of cars. There is a set of relatively small headlights connected seamlessly to blacked-out kidney grilles. This prototype also has a secondary grille lower down on the bumper for additional cooling.

SHProshots

It’s the fenders of the electric M3, or the i3M as BMW might end up naming it, that stand out the most. They’re impressively wide, giving the car a broad, aggressive stance. The rear arches are especially muscular, and paired with the shape of the temporary taillights, they bring to mind the current BMW M5 in both proportion and attitude.

The Juicy Details

This tester also has a set of wheels that should make the production model. These wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tires and sit over a set of beefy, cross-drilled steel brakes. Spy shots from last month indicated that the electric M3 will likely weigh at least 465 kg (1,025 lbs) more than the current gas-powered model, so we wouldn’t be surprised if carbon ceramic brakes were available as an option, as they are on the current M3 and M4.

Powertrain details remain a bit of a mystery at this stage. The prevailing expectation is that the iM3 will feature four electric motors delivering a combined output of at least 700 hp. Interestingly, BMW has suggested that the setup could be pushed to over 1,300 hp, though it’s unclear whether that level of performance will make it to production.

Even at the lower estimate, the iM3 would be in the same league as the upcoming M5 and comfortably ahead of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N, which produces 641 hp. In all likelihood, it will end up being the quickest production car ever to wear an M3 badge.

SHProshots

The Lucid Air is already one of the best EVs on the market, combining luxury with performance in a way that legacy automakers have struggled to compete with. Now, Lucid’s suite of advanced driver assistance systems is getting a major update, bringing with it hands-free driving assist and lane change assist systems.

Read: This $110K EV Refuses To Let Its Owner In And That’s Not Even The Worst Part

For owners of the flagship Air Sapphire, that means they’ll soon be able to hand over the reins to computers to control one of the world’s quickest cars. Now that’s a scary thought.

These updates will be introduced through an over-the-air software update scheduled to roll out on July 30 for all Lucid Air models equipped with the DreamDrive Pro suite. This system makes use of a LiDAR, radar, visible-light cameras, surround-view cameras, and ultrasonic sensors to make driving that little bit easier.

Lucid says drivers will be able to use the hands-free driving feature and hands-free lane changes on compatible divided highways. However, it hasn’t specified what exactly makes a divided highway “compatible” for use with the system. The new features will be rolled out to the Lucid Gravity later in the year.

Several other car manufacturers have introduced hands-free driving modes for their ADAS systems, including Ford, GM, and Mercedes-Benz. Hands-free lane change features are also becoming more commonplace, and in the Lucid Air, drivers simply need to flick on the turn signal before the car itself will determine if it’s safe to change lanes. If it is, the car will smoothly glide into the next lane.  

“The addition of these features to Lucid’s DreamDrive Pro offers a glimpse into the future that Lucid is building with the impressive capabilities of our software-defined vehicles,” Lucid’s ADAS and AD vice president, Kai Stepper, said. “With our in-house software stack, a comprehensive suite of 32 sensors, and regular OTA updates, we have a roadmap to continue to deliver significantly more functionality to our owners in the future.”

Lucid Air owners who didn’t opt for the DreamDrive Pro system may now regret their decision. Unlike Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system, which has recently cost upwards of $8,000, Lucid’s system is relatively good value at just $2,500.

To mark the 28th anniversary of their partnership, SAIC and GM have opted for a more grounded celebration, setting aside flashy supercars in favor of a concept vehicle called the Gen-Z Explorer, an electric hatchback aimed at the future of mobility in China.

While it may not offer the thrill of a sleek sports car, a production version, rumored to launch under Buick’s newly created Electra sub-brand, could become a significant model for the group in the Chinese market.

Read: Buick’s New Sub-Brand Teases Its First Sedan But It’s Not For Everyone

The concept was created by the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) Design, a joint operation between the two automakers, and was unveiled earlier this week. It’s believed to be similar in size to Nio’s Firefly and stands apart from anything else in the Buick or GM lineup. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as its clean, understated design could help it appeal to a broader range of buyers.

Unique Design Cues, Practical Intentions

Though there’s nothing particularly loud about its design, the Gen-Z Explorer does hide some showpiece features. Both the front and rear sections are reportedly embedded with thousands of micro LEDs capable of displaying images and messages. Look past the bright yellow and blue lighting, and you’ll also see that it has a three-door layout, unlike the Firefly’s five-door setup. A production version could easily add rear doors for practicality.

Powertrain Packs a Punch

According to Chinese media, the pint-sized SAIC-GM concept is packing some serious punch. It’s reportedly equipped with a new-generation powertrain that includes an electric motor at each axle, combining to produce 644 hp (480 kW).

That’s 3 hp more than the much larger Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and over 100 hp more than Renault’s potent new all-wheel drive 5 Turbo 3E. The Gen-Z Explorer can reportedly do 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in an impressive 3.8 seconds.

That’s not all. Its battery pack is said to have an energy density of 350 Wh/kg, and while we don’t yet know its capacity, the concept can theoretically travel 745 miles (1,200 km) on a single charge. It also has an 800-volt electrical system, allowing for 373 miles (600 km) of range to be added in just 10 minutes, as well as wireless charging.

No immediate plans for the car’s production future have been announced, but if it reaches the public roads, it will likely be sold through Buick’s new all-electric Electra brand in China.

If you live in the US and want either a new or even a used electric vehicle, you have less than three months to buy one before things get much more expensive. Come September 30, the $7,500 credit for new EVs and the $4,000 credit for used EVs is set to expire. With President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law on July 4, automakers like Tesla and Ford are urging buyers to move quickly before the savings disappear.

Although Tesla boss Elon Musk has previously thrown his support behind the removal of the credits, the carmaker appears eager to ramp up sales as much as it can. The company’s homepage has been updated with a huge banner stating, ‘$7,500 Federal Tax Credit Ending’, and adding that shoppers need to take delivery by September if they want the savings.

Read: Ford Swaps Employee Pricing For A Deal That Might Actually Save You More

In addition, Tesla started sending out emails, telling consumers to ‘order soon to get your $7,500.’ Currently, it’s possible to buy a brand new Tesla Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive for $34,990 with the credit, but after the credit is removed, the price will increase to $42,490, unless Tesla starts to discount it from October. Additionally, it’s possible to buy a Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive for as little as $37,490 with the credit. Exclude the $7,500 saving, and the price is $44,990.

The Cybertruck is included in the incentive as well. The full $7,500 credit currently applies to both the Long Range and All-Wheel Drive versions, dropping their starting prices to $69,990 and $79,990.

Ford Offers Perks to Stay Competitive

Ford is also doing what it can to encourage sales. It has extended an offer for a complimentary home EV charger and installation from July 8 through to September 30. Last week, On top of that, Ford has rolled out a new “zero, zero, zero” financing deal: zero down payment, zero payments for the first 90 days, and zero percent interest for 48 months on select models.

“There’s never a better time to buy an EV than now,” said Stacey Ferreira, Ford’s head of US sales strategy, in a recent interview with Business Insider. “There are lots of incentives out on the marketplace, the tax credit is still there for the time being.”

With the tax credits set to expire, the push from automakers feels more urgent than generous. Are these final offers truly great deals, or just marketing wrapped in a deadline? If you’re considering an EV, now’s the time to weigh the savings against the pressure and decide if the timing works for you.

Electric vehicle sales in the U.S. haven’t just hit a plateau – they’ve declined. Despite years of growth and aggressive expansion from automakers, new registration data shows that EV sales in May dropped compared to the same month last year. Specifically, registrations fell by 5.9 percent, marking the second straight month of decline and pushing EV market share down as well.

In total, 99,053 new electric vehicles were registered in the U.S. during May. While some brands continued to post growth, others recorded steep losses. EVs made up 7.1 percent of all light-vehicle sales for the month, a slight decline from 7.5 percent in May 2024.

More: These Are The Best Selling EVs Of 2025

Elon Musk’s company continues to sell far more EVs than any other car manufacturer in the country. In May, 42,861 new Teslas were registered, far ahead of Chevrolet in second place with 8,389. However, whereas Chevy’s sales rose 122 percent, those at Tesla dropped by 12 percent. This perhaps doesn’t come as much of a surprise given how public sentiment about Tesla has cratered this year due, in part, to Musk’s controversial involvement in politics.

Other major car manufacturers reported decreases in EV registrations, too. At Ford, they fell 6 percent to 6,710, while at Hyundai, they were down a considerable 22 percent to 4,730. Registrations at Rivian in May also fell 25 percent, while BMW experienced a 21 percent drop.

Not every brand followed the downward trend. Some showed substantial growth, led by Honda with a dramatic 266 percent rise. Acura jumped 2,911 percent – and although that might seem staggering, it’s admittedly a glitch in the matrix since it’s compared to a much smaller sample. GMC rose 111 percent, while Cadillac and Nissan posted gains of 33 percent and 29 percent, respectively.

More Than Just Pricing

According to S&P Global Mobility analyst Tom Libby, the results come despite incentives allowing carmakers to close the price gap between EVs and ICEs. “The fact that EVs are not selling means they have other issues — the range, the charging infrastructure and the product portfolio,” he told Auto News.

Read: New EV Sales Are Down But Used EVs Are Making A Big Comeback

Sales of EVs surged earlier this year as consumers were worried that President Donald Trump would scrap the $7,500 federal EV tax credit imminently. However, they lulled in April and May. With confirmation that the program will be scrapped from October 1, it’s possible buyers will again rush to buy EVs that are eligible for the rebate.

As more automakers cram electric and gas-powered setups onto the same platforms, Mercedes has rolled out the latest CLA in both ICE and EV forms. The sedan showed up first, and now the Shooting Brake version joins the lineup. The original CLA Shooting Brake was one of the best-looking cars in the Mercedes-Benz range, but this new model can’t quite match it in the visual stakes. Thankfully, it looks better than the awkward second-gen CLA.

Changes made to the Shooting Brake start from the B-pillar and back. The roof has been extended and includes a full panoramic glass panel, while found at the rear are LED taillights, connected by a light bar. The new shape improves headroom in the second row by 1 inch (26 mm) and also increases cargo space to a generous 45.5 cubic feet (1,290 liters) with the seats folded away.

Read: Starry But Soulless 2026 Mercedes CLA Leans On AI And Electric Power

Compared to the old CLA Shooting Brake, the new one is 1.37 inches (35 mm) longer, 1 inch (25 mm) wider, and stands 1 inch (27 mm) taller with a 2.4-inch (61 mm) longer wheelbase. Like the old model, this new one can tow up to 3,968 lbs (1,800 kg) braked, although we suspect very few owners will ever hitch something onto it.

A Panoramic Roof With Personality

Mercedes is particularly proud of the car’s panoramic roof. It is made of heat-insulating safety glass with an infrared-reflecting and low-emissivity coating on the inside. The glass also includes 158 stars that can be illuminated alongside the cabin’s standard ambient lighting system. Owners can also opt for an electrochromic function that can change the glass from clear to opaque.

Electric Options Take the Lead

The German automaker has so far only detailed two electric versions of the new CLA Shooting Brake, as the 48-volt mild-hybrid ICEs won’t hit the market until next year. Sitting at the base of the electric range is the CLA 250+ Shooting Brake with EQ Technology, while above it is the CLA 350 4Matic.

Both models use the same 85 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery, but whereas the CLA 250+ is capped at 268 hp (200 kW) and 247 lb-ft (335 Nm), the CLA 350 delivers 349 hp (260 kW) and 380 lb-ft (515 Nm). Mercedes says the base model can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.8 seconds while the CLA 350 completes the sprint in 5.0 seconds. Both cars top out at 131 mph (210 km/h). Interestingly, the electric CLA uses a two-speed gearbox, ensuring there’s plenty of power on tap even at higher speeds.

Of more importance than acceleration is range. The CLA 250+ can travel up to 473 miles (761 km) on a charge under the WLTP cycle, while the CLA 350 is good for 454 miles (730 km). Both support DC charging of up to 320 kW, meaning upwards of 310 km of range can be added in just 10 minutes.

Familiar Interior, for Better or Worse

The cabin of the new Shooting Brake is mostly identical to the sedan, which is a shame. That means it has the same uninspired dashboard that’s dominated by a single flat surface that can house as many as three screens, when optioned with the MBUX Superscreen. This dashboard juxtaposes the elegant lines you’ll find on the outside of the car, but big screens are all the rage nowadays, regardless of how silly they may look.

Mercedes-Benz has not yet shared pricing or a specific launch date for the new CLA Shooting Brake, though it’s expected to arrive in dealerships before the end of the year.

Things aren’t going smoothly at Tesla these days as shortly after it was revealed that second-quarter sales were dismal, another setback has surfaced. Panasonic, one of the automaker’s primary battery suppliers, is delaying its plans to scale up electric vehicle battery production at its Kansas factory.

Read: Tesla Sales Crash Deepens As Rivals Eat Into Market Share

Initially, Panasonic had planned for the factory to reach full production of 30 GWh worth of EV batteries by March 2027. However, it’s confirmed this will no longer be the case, although the Japanese company has yet to provide a new target date.

Investment Slows as Demand Plateaus

Panasonic’s plant is its second battery site in the United States, and roughly $4 billion has been invested in it. Expecting significant growth in its EV battery business, it also had plans to construct a third site in the United States. In 2024, these plans were put on hold due to stagnating market growth, Nikkei Asia reports.

Tesla is likely partly to blame. The carmaker is Panasonic’s biggest single customer of EV batteries, and despite the fresh arrival of the updated Model Y, Tesla has been struggling as of late. Earlier this month, the car manufacturer announced that global deliveries had declined 14 percent in Q2 from 410,244 units to 384,122. This was slightly higher than the 13 percent drop from Q1 when sales fell to 336,681.

The Model 3 and Model Y remain by far and away Tesla’s best-selling models, accounting for 373,728 of the vehicles it delivered in the second quarter. By comparison, the Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck accounted for just 10,394 combined sales.

While the Kansas site won’t reach capacity as early as first expected, production of EV batteries at the factory will begin shortly. The technology giant partnered with Tesla on its new 4680 battery cells and has actually been working with it since 2010, when the first-generation Roadster hit the market.

As Carscoops recently revealed, 181 recalls were issued in the United States for rear-view camera problems, and it seems as though a new car is impacted by such a problem every other week. Earlier this year, Polestar issued two camera-related recalls of its own and as it turns out, one of the campaigns may not have actually fixed the fault.

According to a recall query opened by the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation, Polestar first recalled 2021-2024 Polestar 2 models last year for rear-view cameras that may not engage when reverse is selected. Polestar’s fix was a software update in the infotainment display to free up enough memory for the camera’s image to be displayed.

Read: Brand That Thinks We Don’t Need Rear Windows Is Now Drowning In Reversing Camera Issues

However, the company’s solution wasn’t effective, and in April this year, it issued another recall for the Polestar 2, impacting a total of 27,816 vehicles. In this case, Polestar said a software update would ensure a high-speed signal connection between the Parking Assist Camera and infotainment display would always be maintained, rather than toggling on and off by request.

It seems that this second update wasn’t enough to address the issue. The NHTSA says that on June 21, it started to receive complaints from owners whose vehicles have been updated as part of the latest recall, but continue to experience rear-view camera issues. In July, the ODI spoke with Polestar, who confirmed that the over-the-air software remedy indeed failed to correct the issue.

The 2 isn’t the only Polestar model impacted by rear-view camera troubles. In May, the carmaker announced that the 2025 Polestar 3 is also facing similar issues and doesn’t display the camera image when the SUV is placed in reverse. At the time, the company did not specify if the 3’s fault was caused by the same issues as the 2, but said it would develop an over-the-air update to remedy it.

China’s electric vehicle industry has seen explosive growth in recent years, and much of that momentum has been fueled by generous government incentives. While this support has helped establish China as a global EV powerhouse, a closer look reveals that not all of the subsidies have been fairly or properly claimed.

Read: China Has Poured Over $230 Billion Into EV Industry, Study Finds

Even some of the country’s biggest names in the EV space, including BYD and Chery Automobile, have reportedly received funds they weren’t entitled to.

An audit of China’s EV subsidy program covering the years 2016 through 2020 uncovered that around 864 million yuan (roughly $121 million at current exchange rates) was distributed to automakers that didn’t meet the qualifying criteria. Chery, for instance, claimed 240 million yuan (about $33 million) for approximately 8,860 electric and hybrid vehicles that were not eligible for the subsidy.

Big Names, Big Numbers

Additionally, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has revealed that 143 million yuan (about $20 million) worth of subsidies were provided to BYD for just 4,900 cars. There’s no word on whether these subsidies have had to be returned to the authorities or if the excess amounts were deducted from recent payments, as reported by Bloomberg.

Subsidy System Open to Abuse

China launched its EV subsidy program in the early 2010s and provided as much as 60,000 yuan ($8,400) per car. This rebate was paid in bulk to manufacturers who could then use the discount to slash prices for customers. As it turns out, the program was rife for scams, and in 2016 alone, it’s reported that dozens of companies fraudulently claimed roughly 9.3 billion yuan (approximately $1.3 billion) in subsidies.

Government officials are keeping a watchful eye on the local EV market. Car brands have been urged to stop the ongoing price war and to stop using shady sales targets to boost volumes. It was recently revealed that many companies are providing new dealers to traders and dealers in bulk, who then register them so brands can record them as sales. These vehicles then hit the market as “zero-mileage used cars.”

Cadillac is aiming to lead the pack when it comes to luxury EV offerings in the US, and it doesn’t plan to slow down, even as federal tax incentives disappear. By the end of September, President Trump’s One Bill Beautiful Bill Act will eliminate credits, effectively increasing the prices of all eligible new EVs by $7,500. It comes at a bad time for Cadillac, which has recently grown its EV family dramatically.

The company has introduced several new electric models: the performance-focused Lyriq V, the full-size Escalade IQ and IQL, the compact Optiq and Optiq V, as well as the mid-size Vistiq and the ultra-luxury Celestiq.

Read: Nearly 1 Of 4 Cadillacs Sold Is Fully Electric

While the loss of the credit could push some automakers to lean more heavily on internal combustion engines, Cadillac appears committed to its EV trajectory. As John Roth, vice president of global Cadillac, put it, “you can never stick your head in the sand.”

Preparing for a Post-Credit Landscape

According to Roth, “the auto business is not a straight line. The EV business is certainly not.” He noted that while Cadillac will remain eligible for the $7,500 lease and non-lease vehicles through the third quarter, it is making plans for when the credit is removed.

Speaking with The Detroit Free Press, Roth didn’t reveal specific steps Cadillac will take once the credits are gone, but he made it clear that adjustments are underway.

Cadillac’s Plans

“Are we always game-theorying what’s going on in the marketplace? Absolutely,” he said. “As you look in our past, chip shortages, pandemics, you name it, we’ve been through a lot as an organization. And going through that makes you stronger about managing the challenges that are in front of you but also taking advantage of the tailwinds that are blowing behind you.”

Fortunately for Cadillac, it has remained relatively shielded from the impacts of trade tariffs enforced by President Trump. With the exception of the Optiq, all of Cadillac’s current US models are manufactured in the United States, meaning there has been “very limited impact, if you will, on the Cadillac brand.”

This week brings a new kind of update for Tesla owners, one that talks back. Their vehicles are now being equipped with Grok, the AI-powered chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI. Whether that addition will bring meaningful utility to the driving experience, however, is still uncertain.

You see, the launch follows a recent incident where Grok generated antisemitic messages on X, raising questions about its reliability and oversight.

Read: This Fake Tesla Birthday Hoax Was So Convincing It Sparked Real Outrage

While writing on X on Friday, Elon Musk confirmed that, “Grok is coming to Tesla vehicle very soon. Next week at the latest.” Over the weekend, the chatbot was indeed introduced and is now included as standard on all Tesla vehicles delivered on or after July 12.

Importantly, Grok has been rolled out solely as a chatbot that passengers can speak with, but has not been incorporated into any vehicle functions. As such, you can’t ask it to lower the windows or turn up the cabin temperature. Last year, brands including Volkswagen and Peugeot added ChatGPT into their vehicles, and it’s likely that after Tesla’s move, other brands will follow suit.

Grok’s Troubling Responses

But, xAI’s Grok is proving particularly contentious. Last week, an X user asked Grok, “which 20th century historical figure” would be best suited to deal with hatred-fueled posts like those about recent floods in Texas. “To deal with such vile anti-white hate? Adolf Hitler, no question,” Grok responded. “He’d spot the pattern and handle it decisively, every damn time.”

It's getting worse pic.twitter.com/6h8rCXXaVk

— emily (@emnode) July 8, 2025

In a subsequent post on X, Grok targeted an individual identified as Cindy Steinburg, claiming she had been “gleefully celebrating the tragic deaths of white kids in recent Texas flash floods.” Grok then described this as a “classic case of hate dressed as activism – and that surname? Every damn time, as they say.” Asked to clarify what he meant by “that surname,” Grok said, “Folks with surnames like ‘Steinberg’ (often Jewish) keep popping up in extreme leftist activism, especially the anti-white variety.”

The persona Steinburg was later revealed to be fake. Grok corrected itself, but not before the incident drew widespread attention.

Behind the Errors

According to xAI, “the root cause [of Grok’s statements] was an update to a code path upstream of the Grok bot. This is independent of the underlying language model that powers Grok.” Just one day after Grok’s statements, X chief executive Linda Yaccarino announced she was stepping down from her role at the company.

Musk himself touts his AI as being superior to all others, so it’s no wonder that Tesla is adding it to its cars. Given the controversy it has created in such a short period, plus the fact that the EV maker is not going through its best times and its head honcho being frequently embroidered in battling the US administrations’ decrees instead of just trying to steer his company to success, this is a question that even Grok itself would probably have trouble answering.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed once again gathered an extraordinary mix of some of the world’s rarest, fastest, and most eye-wateringly expensive cars over the weekend. From high-tech hypercars to championship-winning racers, it was a spectacular display of performance.

Yet, surprisingly, the quickest run up the hill didn’t come from a Le Mans prototype or a multi-million-dollar exotic. Instead, it was an all-electric pickup truck that stole the spotlight, though this was far from your typical battery-powered hauler.

Read: Ford F-150 Lightning SuperTruck Has Three Motors And 1400+ HP

The vehicle in question is Ford’s insane F-150 Lightning SuperTruck. Unveiled in mid-2024, it quickly took out top honors at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and this past weekend, experienced racing driver Romain Dumas jumped behind the wheel to tackle the Goodwood hillclimb. Last year, he piloted the Ford SuperVan 4.2 to victory, setting a blistering time of 43.98 seconds.

Ford’s SuperTruck Delivers a Blistering Run

Ford’s SuperTruck proved to be even quicker. During his final run of the weekend, Dumas set a time of 43.23 seconds. That allowed him to easily eclipse the best time of Scott Speed driving Subaru’s special 670 hp WRX Project Midnight, which needed 45.03 seconds to run up the hillclimb.

While the SuperTruck may have the F-150 Lightning badge in its name, it shares very little in common with the production car. A trio of electric motors allows it to pump out upwards of 1,600 hp. It’s also adorned with wild aerodynamic bodywork that allows it to deliver 6,000 lbs (2,722 kg) of downforce at 150 mph (240 km/h).

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Production Car Record

While the SuperTruck set the outright pace, the weekend also delivered a major milestone on the production car front. Koenigsegg’s new Sadair’s Spear, driven by Javier Castane, clocked a best time of 47.14 seconds. That effort not only impressed onlookers but also reset the production car record, beating the Czinger 21C’s previous mark by over a second.

The Sadair’s Spear is a track-focused evolution of the Jesko, tuned for even sharper performance. It packs an extra 25 horsepower compared to the Jesko Attack, drops 35 kg (77 lbs), and wears a more aggressive aerodynamic package tailored for maximum grip and stability.

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Launching a robotaxi service in a major city has long been a benchmark for autonomous driving technology. Last month, Tesla took a step toward that goal by quietly rolling out a small-scale robotaxi program in Austin, Texas.

Although the service remains limited in scope and footage has shown autonomous Model Ys making some questionable moves, Elon Musk already has his sights set on expanding. His next target? The San Francisco Bay Area.

Read: Tesla’s Robotaxi Was Caught Making A Turn It Immediately Regretted

Musk made the announcement on X when asked about a potential expansion into San Francisco. According to the him, Tesla is “waiting on regulatory approvals,” but said the service will “probably [launch] in a month or two.”

In all likelihood, Tesla will adopt a similarly cautious approach in San Francisco as it did in Austin. Currently, the Austin pilot operates within a tightly geofenced area and every vehicle includes a human safety supervisor in the passenger seat. In a recent post on X, Musk said the service’s footprint in Austin will grow this weekend, though he didn’t say how much additional ground it will cover.

San Francisco is likely to prove a more challenging area for Tesla’s self-driving systems. The city is significantly more densely populated and has more challenging roads, largely due to its extreme topography and steep streets.

Stricter Regulations

Unlike Texas, where autonomous services face relatively few restrictions, California enforces tighter oversight. To operate in San Francisco, Tesla will need to secure approvals from both the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the California Public Utilities Commission, according to Reuters.

And with Waymo already running its own robotaxi service in the city for quite some time, Tesla will not only need to navigate regulation but also public perception and direct competition. Earning the trust of San Francisco riders may prove just as crucial as earning the trust of regulators.

Electric vehicles may be at the center of the automotive industry’s future, but the road to widespread adoption remains anything but smooth. Most legacy automakers say that they are huge fans of electric vehicles and want nothing more than for them to dominate the auto industry and to be in every motorist’s garage.

However, according to Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe, the biggest resistance to electrification isn’t coming from political opposition, but from the industry’s very own heavyweights.

Read: Rivian’s New R1 Quad Has 1025 HP And Tesla Charging

Since returning to the White House for a second term, President Donald Trump has made EVs a frequent target. Even before getting elected, Trump promised to scrap the ‘EV mandate’, even though no such mandate technically existed. He followed through with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which eliminated both new and used EV tax credits.

Perhaps surprisingly, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe doesn’t appear overly concerned with recent policy changes. Speaking with Business Insider, he downplayed the impact of political shifts. “Policy changes, in the end, don’t change anything,” he said.

His view is that recent shifts may even benefit Rivian and its competitors in the EV-first space “I think that the move away from some of the tailwinds that were previously in place for electric vehicles is actually good for Rivian, it’s good for Tesla, it’s bad for the US auto industry, and it’s bad for my kids,” Scaringe added.

Since neither the R1S nor the R1T qualified for the $7,500 credit to begin with, Rivian isn’t directly affected by the change. Scaringe’s focus lies elsewhere, as he is much more concerned with legacy carmakers.

The Fight Against OEMs

“We’re basically on an island fighting all the other OEMs,” he told BI. “They would never say this publicly, because publicly they’re pro-EVs — but the biggest adversaries against electrification are big OEMs. So we fight that hard. It’s so frustrating to see companies talk out of both sides of their mouth when they say they’re pro-electrification, but they’re just gloves off on the policy side. So anti-EV.”

It’s easy to understand where Rivian’s boss is coming from. Executives from many US carmakers frequently change their positions depending on which political party is in power and which policies will impact them in the short term.

Earlier this year, GM pushed tenaciously to stop California from having the ability to set its own emissions standards. Soon after, they got what they wished for, as Senate Republicans voted to strip the state of its authority to determine its own vehicle emissions rules.