Time flies. Believe it or not, it’s been eight whole years since Tesla first unveiled the second-generation Roadster. Back then, the all-electric sports car was pitched as a new benchmark for EV performance, a car that would silence skeptics and rewrite the rulebook.

Since then, though, plenty of other brands have done the rewriting themselves.

Over the years, the brand has launched the Cybertruck, refreshed the Model 3 and Model Y, and promised real Full Self-Driving several times, while the Roadster feels like its been surpassed at best, vaporware wortse.

According to Tesla’s chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, however, it’s not dead, it’s simply fashionably late.

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

Speaking on the Ride the Lightning podcast, von Holzhausen was asked if the long-promised “most epic demo ever” that Elon Musk teased earlier this year is still happening in 2025, he said “We are planning on this year,” suggesting Tesla still aims to showcase the car before the year’s end.

However, with roughly 10 weeks left until New Year’s Day, time is running out. 

Pressed further about when customers might actually take delivery, von Holzhausen replied: “Definitely within two years.” That would put first deliveries somewhere around the end of 2027, assuming nothing slips, which, given Tesla’s track record with timelines, is far from guaranteed. 

When it arrives, Tesla claims the Roadster will be capable of hitting 60 mph in under two seconds, reaching a top speed north of 250 mph, and have up to 620 miles of range, with talk of rocket-style thrusters for good measure.

Those are very lofty numbers, but until someone sees one outside of a studio light, they are just that: numbers.

Read: Ex-Tesla Alums Debut New Electric Roadster Named To Taunt Elon Musk

It’s worth remembering (as if anyone forgot) that Tesla might be as well known for over-promising and under-delivering as it is for actual automotive innovation. The Cybertruck famously showed up late with less range and a higher price than initially promised – and that’s but one example among many.

Right now, von Holzhausen insists the final product will be worth the wait. But as the years go by, the Roadster’s story feels less like a promising sequel and more like a project Tesla simply can’t afford to get wrong. 

The autonomous driving space is always shifting, and today General Motors revealed that buyers of the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ will be able to drive without watching the road. That’s only one part of the automaker’s new announcements that also include Google Gemini and Vehicle-to-Grid power.

Moving Autonomy Forward

Eyes-off driving is something plenty of automakers have talked about, but few are even close to delivering. General Motors currently sells cars with Super Cruise, a Level 2 system that can accelerate, brake, and change lanes.

However, it can only do this on specific highways and the driver must maintain attention on the road at all times. That said, it’s Super Cruise that is laying the foundation for eyes-off driving.

More: I Tried Out GM’s Smarter Super Cruise And It Feels Promising

So far, GM says Super Cruise has accrued some five million miles without a single accident attributed to it. The car of the future won’t just let you drive without watching the road – it’ll also let you leverage Google‘s AI bot Gemini to do all sorts of things.

That includes changing settings in the car, but it goes further to the extent that it should be able to learn driver preferences. Think of it as a supercharged version of the memory button.

Rather than just remembering seating and mirror position, it could remap the media buttons, change the display layout, automatically pull up navigation to a routine destination, and more.

Launching next year, it’ll even give drivers guidance on one-pedal driving, monitor maintenance, and help with things like finding a place to eat.

Going Beyond Cars

GM isn’t stopping at AI and autonomous driving. It appears to be picking up some of the Tesla playbook as it says it’ll soon offer bidirectional EV charging, solar integration, and a stationary home battery.

In other words, owners will have the opportunity to sell some of their extra juice back to the grid and then purchase it again later when rates are lower.

Apparently, while electric vehicles might not be growing as rapidly as they used to, the technology around them continues to mature – and that can only be good news for consumers.

It’s no secret that Rivian has had its eye on e-bikes for quite some time. Patents and other leaks have popped up over the years, but now, we’re finally getting a look at the results of that interest. What you see here is the new TM-B, which made its debut today.

It’s the flagship product from Also, a new brand spun off from Rivian. It’s an intriguing new e-bike option coming to a road near you soon, assuming the company can convince buyers to take the plunge on such an unconventional two-wheeler.

What Exactly Is It?

Also’s TM-B is less a conventional bicycle or even ebike, and more of a modular compact vehicle on two wheels. The design centers on a chunky, weatherproof block at the bottom of the frame.

Inside that block, you’ll find the battery, a small generator, and the pedal system. Notably, the pedals do not directly power the rear wheel at all. Instead, pedal strokes power the generator and the pedal-by-wire drivetrain sends power to the rear wheel.

More: The Cheapest Electric Audi e-tron You Can Buy Comes With Pedals

Also offers three distinct riding profiles and a swappable seat system. Buyers begin by choosing if they want the small or large seat. From there, they can add more seat options including a cargo seat and a moto-style bench seat.

They can also choose between an All-Terrain package with knobby tires and two extra drive modes or a Street package with smoother tires. The AT package costs an extra $200 despite it appearing as though the only hardware changes are Kenda mountain bike tires.

A five-inch touchscreen cockpit with a rotatable bezel allows users to get important ride data along with GPS navigation. The bike features full suspension with 120mm of travel but Also doens’t say whether or not you can lock it out for climbing or flat roads.

The brakes are especially interesting as they feature regen technology to feed juice back to the battery and ABS. A special auto-lock system promises enhanced security as it locks the rear wheel, battery, and frame when engaged.

Also says it’ll sell bikes offering between 60 and 100 miles of range (roughly 97 to 161 kilometers) and up to 180 Nm (133 lb-ft) of torque. Payload tops out at 324 lbs (147 kilograms) on higher-spec models.

How Much Does It Cost?

The base TM-B will start at “under $4,000,” but the Launch Edition, available for order now, starts at $4,500 before options. That’s not a terrible price in this segment. No doubt, it’s aimed at people who are casually interested in two-wheeled travel. Hardcore cyclists will likely find it a bit lacking.

It may not replace a traditional bike, and it won’t appeal to every purist, but it does offer a refreshing reinterpretation of a form that’s been part of daily life for more than a century.

Every so often, an automaker decides to walk straight into the lion’s den. Chinese giant BYD is doing exactly that by taking on Japan in one of its most tightly held automotive arenas.

And it’s not with some brash performance car or luxury SUV, but with something much humbler, and far more symbolic: a kei car, the pint-sized machine that’s been a fixture of Japanese roads since the aftermath of World War II.

More: Nissan’s Tiny Kei Car Hides A Big Surprise Inside Its Boxy Little Body

The company has just released a teaser for its first-ever electric kei car, designed specifically for Japan’s uniquely regulated microcar segment. The tiny EV will debut, likely in production form, later this month at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Based on the side profile, BYD’s new city car embraces the classic Kei boxy proportions. This model has short overhangs, a tall roofline, and wheels at the extreme corners to help maximize cabin space.

Spy photos circulating on Chinese social media indicate that it’ll have sliding rear doors, further boosting its practicality. Inside, it features a floating digital gauge cluster, a larger infotainment screen, and double A-pillars for better visibility.

Early indications are that the mini BYD will have a 20 kWh battery with a range somewhere around 180 km (111 miles) (WLTC). It’ll likely have a heat pump for more comfort and efficiency, and should support up to 100 kW fast charging.

Why It Matters

By American standards, those figures might seem small, but they’re appropriate for this class and size of car in Japan. Pricing is expected to start around ¥2.5 million (approximately $17,000), putting it below rivals like the Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi eK X EV when not accounting for incentives.

BYD has already sold a few thousand cars in Japan, but this is a very different foray. It’s a car built specifically for the Japanese market. Since the Kei segment is unique to Japan, it’s dominated by domestic products.

A foreign EV contender, particularly from China, represents a major strategic step. It might be akin to BYD introducing a Cadillac Escalade contender in America (tariffs be damned) for $40,000.

The new BYD will test consumer appetite for Chinese-made cars in Japan. It’ll also shed some light on how successful BYD’s global ambitions can be. We don’t expect to see this model in other markets, and it won’t even arrive in Japan until 2026. That all said, it’s a fascinating development. 

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz was supposed to usher in an entirely new vibe for the brand. It leaned heavily on nostalgia, it came with outstanding packaging, and it drives better than it has any right to.

At the same time, it has less range than almost any other EV, and it’s so expensive that only wealthy people can afford it. Now, a new report says that VW isn’t just slowing production of the van but is halting it altogether. We’re not exactly shocked.

From October 20 through 24, Volkswagen will pause production of the ID. Buzz and its Multivan sibling at its Hanover, Germany, plant, according to Autonews.

The company told Germany’s DPA news agency that the move will allow it to “flexibly adapt production processes to changed market conditions.” In plain English: sales aren’t meeting expectations.

More: VW Denies Halting ID. Buzz Exports To US Over Tariffs

When the ID. Buzz was launched, VW claimed the Hanover factory could build up to 130,000 units annually, but reality never got close. The model managed around 30,000 global sales in each of the last two years.

Clearly, those totals fall well short of those early ambitions. Meanwhile, European EV demand has softened, Chinese competition is surging, and VW is trimming costs and hours across its German plants.

Priced Out Of Its Own Market?

Part of the problem is self-inflicted. The ID. Buzz starts at roughly $61,500 in the U.S., more than many three-row SUVs, and even higher trims crest past $70K.

That’s a far cry from the spirit of the original Microbus, which became iconic precisely because anyone could afford one. By aiming high, VW built a great electric van that few can justify buying.

The automaker says it’s stepping up marketing and incentives to boost interest in its light commercial lineup, but the challenge is steep. New rivals like the Kia PV5, which promises similar space, more range, and a lower price tag, are waiting in the wings.

Credit: Stephen Rivers

Electric cars have a lot of negative myths that swirl around about them but they often carry a kernel of truth. While there are potential risks around charging, it’s rare that they pop up in reality.

More: There Are More Public Charging Stations Than Ever, But That’s Still Not Enough, Study Finds

Yet, every so often, one of those outliers surfaces, and in this case, it happened in Canada, where a charging adapter was destroyed by a short circuit, and it was all caught on camera.

A Tesla driver was trying to charge his car at a non-Tesla commercial charging station in British Columbia. To do so, he used an A2Z adapter that allows the charging station to plug into the car.

What Actually Happened?

When he plugged the charger with the adapter connected to it into the Tesla, there was an arc flash explosion. Thankfully, the man was a few feet away from the connection when the explosion happened.

While he experienced minor scrapes and abrasions, the man escaped serious injury. His spouse, sitting in the front passenger seat, was unharmed. An investigation into the incident found that the charging adapter and the charger itself had issues that led to the explosion.

More: Chinese EV’s Fire Fix Shoots Battery Into Traffic And Makes It Their Problem

The adapter wasn’t certified for use in Canada because the standards hadn’t been created yet when the unit went on sale. In addition, the charger itself sent “abnormal voltage,” into the adapter. When that happened, the arc explosion took place and blew the adapter into multiple pieces.

Lessons From a Flash

Bob Porter, of the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association told the Vancouver Sun that “There are risks with third-party things if they aren’t approved. They haven’t been tested for safety. You don’t jerk around with electricity.”

The Tesla owner mentioned that he’d used the same setup for two years without issue, which makes the event a reminder that even supposedly reliable gear can fail suddenly if it hasn’t been certified or tested under the right standards.

This clearly isn’t a major issue across the industry, but it’s a good reminder that when things go wrong, they can go seriously wrong in the blink of an eye.

Photos Technical Safety BC

The latest Leaf has arrived, and Nissan wants drivers to see it as something more than another electric hatchback. It represents years of accumulated know-how from across the brand’s lineup, from mainstream cars to the Z sports car’s precision DNA.

Now, Christian Spencer, Nissan’s senior manager of Marketability and a long-time engineer, explains to Carscoops how the new Leaf embodies what it means to drive a Nissan.

A Familiar Feel or Something New?

Spencer has worked across nearly every segment, including trucks, sedans, SUVs, and sports cars. In his view, making a car drive like a Nissan isn’t about one singular type of experience but rather an attitude that begins at the design phase.

Review: Nissan’s $29,990 Leaf Costs Less But Feels Like So Much More

“We have people who stick around this company for a very long time, and they really like it because it’s a hands-on company,” he said. “That doesn’t mean you make a Z drive like a LEAF, or a LEAF drive like a Pathfinder, but you carry the passion through and make sure the customer experience is right.”

Engineers applied Z-inspired strategies like steering precision and controllability to the Leaf, adapting them to an EV platform without overcomplicating the car.

“You can still enjoy driving the car even though it’s not a high-performance sports car,” Spencer said. “We want it to be enthusiastic, fun, and intuitive for the customer.”

Comfort and Quality Above the Segment

The 2026 LEAF’s rear multilink suspension comes from the larger Ariya, reducing impact stiffness by nearly 30%. Redesigned motor mounts soak up vibration, the floor is 80% stiffer, and the doors are better insulated, giving the EV a quieter, more refined ride.

More: Nissan Says We Made A Mistake With New Leaf’s Taillights

“It really was more luxurious with more refinement than [other options] at the price point it was,” Spencer said. This pursuit of comfort is intentional. The team focused on creating an accessible EV that feels high-quality without overcomplicating features.

“We wanted it to be simple, efficient, and around $30,000, with 300 miles of range,” he explained. “That was how we kept the costs down while still giving the customer a premium-feeling product.”

On top of that, the LEAF integrates both NACS and J1772 charge ports. In other words, owners can use both Tesla Superchargers and traditional home units. Spencer emphasized the importance of prioritizing what the customer actually needs over copying competitors.

“If we were going to bet on how you’re going to charge the car, our solution is probably going to be the best for you today as the customer.”

Now, the question is whether or not these big changes will lead to big sales. What’s unquestionable is that Nissan has taken a bold new tack in the design of this Leaf.

When the GMC Hummer EV came out, it broke the internet. Fans were eager for its return, huge celebrities endorsed it, and the first units went for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Dealers asked for double MSRP, but times have since changed. Like a lot.

Now, even with discounts that reach $40,000 or even more in some cases, GM is finding it difficult to move its mighty electric giant. To put that in perspective, the markdown alone exceeds the price of a brand-new BMW 228 Gran Coupe, which starts at $39,600 in the US!

Market Reality

That’s not to say that suddenly GMC‘s truck is a stellar deal. Expressway GMC in Mount Vernon, Indiana, demonstrates both sides of this coin beautifully. One 2024 Hummer EV SUV 3X Omega Edition has a list price of $99,780, including a $42,550 rebate.

Read: Depreciation Crushed This Tesla So Hard After Just 18 Months, It’s Almost Laughable

According to GM Authority, Jerry’s Buick GMC in Weatherford, Texas, isn’t far behind with a discount of $40,648 off another Omega Edition. As a reminder, the Omega Edition is basically a fully-loaded Hummer EV with every bell and whistle, along with unique matte Neptune Blue paint.

Apparently, the rich features haven’t been enough to justify the price, and buyers have withered up.

Oversupply Blues

GMC provides an online tool to search for units nationwide, and there are 130 Omega Editions sitting around waiting for buyers. In addition, another 155 Hummer EVs are also gathering dust on dealer lots.

Oh, and those are just the 2024 model year units that have basically been around since late 2023. In addition, there are over 2,300 units from the 2025 model year and another 1,816 already on lots as 2026 units.

Also: This Hummer EV Lost $45K Without Ever Touching a Driveway

In other words, if you’re in the market for a GMC Hummer EV, you’re spoiled for choice with over 4,400 of them sitting around. To help dealers move these units, GM is using a program called Dealer Rent A Car (DRAC).

In essence, dealers temporarily use Hummer EV units as loaners, and after they accumulate a few thousand miles, the dealers sell them at steep discounts.

The moral of the story? For anyone who didn’t cave to early markups, patience has officially paid off… for some, to the tune of six figures.

Lucid sometimes offers some pretty sweet lease deals, and on paper, they can look like a solid way to get behind the wheel of an Air without the long-term commitment. But as we’ve seen more than once, there’s usually a sting in the tail. If it’s not a hefty down payment, it’s what happens when the car goes back at the end of the term.

Back in August, we reported that Lucid itself acknowledged problems with its lease return program. The process, it admitted, wasn’t consistent. Damage assessments were all over the place, and some customers ended up with surprisingly high bills for barely noticeable issues.

Ongoing Frustrations

Two months on, the situation doesn’t appear to have improved. At least two owners have come forward with worrying stories, and one has even taken the matter to regulators.

Over a week ago, one owner posted a thread on Reddit titled “Just got my excess wear report and it’s ridiculous.” Plenty of folks are upset to pay extra cash after a lease ends, but this person seems to have a really good case.

Read: Lucid Lease Customers Hit With Four-Figure Bills Over Scuffs You Can’t Even See

Photos showing the underside of the Lucid Air, along with the digital invoice from the company, reveal that the $2,400 charge was issued for scratches found on the car’s underbody panel.

We’re not talking about a panel that is torn into several pieces, features a giant hole or two, or one that is somewhat missing. No, we’re referring to the kind of scratches that almost anyone with a low-to-the-ground car would have.

The owner claims that he never had an accident or drove over anything significant, but instead that these marks are from things as innocuous as speed bumps.

“Guess we’re supposed to only drive on perfectly flat roads with no speed bumps, and make sure to ‘research’ every driveway before entering,” the frustrated owner said. Interestingly, Lucid seems to have decided not to charge for the fact that the owner’s manual was missing from the car.

Different Case, Same Pattern

This isn’t the only recent example of Lucid’s lease troubles. Another customer, who was billed $585, may have an even more compelling case. According to the owner, the Lucid representative at the lease return appointment found no damage whatsoever.

Less than two weeks later, though, a third-party company carried out a “final inspection” and identified $785 worth of wear-and-tear damage. The owner says Lucid waived $200 for a wheel, but still demanded the remaining $585.

“I just filed a complaint with the California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation (DFPI) against Lucid Financial Services and their collection agency over a bogus “excess wear & tear” charge,” they wrote in a Reddit thread.

It’s pretty clear that owners are losing faith in the brand’s lease policy. “If that’s what it’s going to be like, we’re all screwed. There’s no possible way that part doesn’t get scratched or gouged – that’s what it’s there for, to protect the rest of the undercarriage,” said one. “Up next, being charged for scratches on the inside of wheels,” said another.

For now, the ball is squarely in Lucid’s court to explain how it’s handling these lease-end assessments and what steps it plans to take to rebuild customer trust. If you’ve leased a Lucid yourself, drop your experience in the comments below, we’d like to hear how it went down.

Photo: TackleTurbulent9134 / Lucid

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a game-changer. It proved all on its own that electric cars can deliver genuine driving enjoyment, not just straight-line speed. No doubt, that’s partially what convinced one Texas buyer to snap up one of the very first examples available in the state.

The excitement behind the purchase has soured, though, because at the 8,000-mile mark, the Ioniq 5 N allegedly failed. Now, it’s reportedly been sitting at a dealership for two months straight with no end in sight.

More: Hyundai Dealer Fixed His ICCU Then Let Thieves Total The Rest Before He Even Saw It

The public saga began on August 27 when the owner, William, posted about his situation on Reddit. In a thread with the title “Help me navigate the run around I think I am getting from service,” he details how one day his car displayed a red warning light and refused to charge.

At that point, the car had already been in service for weeks “with no clear answers,” he says. Notably, the service advisor reportedly told him the issue wasn’t the ICCU, or Integrated Charging Control Unit, the system that controls charging and power flow in the car and has been a known weak spot on some Ioniq 5 models.

Shared Frustrations

Other Reddit users claiming to own Ioniq 5 N or Elantra N models described similar frustrations with the same dealer in San Bruno, California. One said their car was misdiagnosed before ultimately receiving a new ICCU after 45 days.

“They are an absolute mess over there,” another commenter added about the same Northern California dealership. A week ago, William posted another update.

“After 2 months, I still don’t have my car and no end in sight. Good luck to folks out there waiting on a battery”, he wrote. In a screenshot from the dealership, a service advisor reportedly confirmed that the vehicle’s main battery was “on backorder” with “no ETA.”

Communication Breakdown

William went on to tell Carscoops that Hyundai’s lack of transparency has been the most frustrating part of the process. “Even giving Hyundai the full benefit of the doubt on supply-chain issues, the lack of transparency is inexcusable,” he said. “Every week it’s the same line – no ETA on a battery and no ETA on my car.”

Also: $120 For An Oil Change? No Thanks, I’ll Do It Myself For $6,000

The owner, who has already initiated a buyback request, says that process has also stalled: “Four weeks in, and no progress.” Carscoops has reached out to Hyundai for comment regarding the reported battery issue and ongoing parts delays.

The automaker confirmed that it is looking into the issue as of this writing, but hasn’t provided any additional insight at this point. We’ll update you here if we hear back.

Credit: William

Imagine the feeling of getting a call from the police that they’ve found your stolen Porsche 911, but that it’s been burned to the ground. No doubt, that would be rough for anyone, but for one man in Brazil, the call got even worse, because police think he’s the one who did it – and it seems like the video evidence they possess is pretty convincing.

Read: A Prototype Exploded Inside Faraday Future’s HQ Leaving The LA Building Condemned

The incident happened in Lapa, a rural town in the Curitiba metro region of Brazil. According to local outlet G1.globo, the owner told the police that he was the subject of an ambush.

Armed individuals in a truck stole his car with him in it, drove it down a deserted road, and then set it on fire. In fact, he went to the hospital for burns, which initially seemed like clear evidence of his credibility.

Caught on Camera

State Highway Police didn’t just take the man at his word, though. It turns out that of all the rural roads in the area, the place where the Porsche burned down, just happens to have a security camera nearby.

Police say that the man who walks up to the car and sets it on fire bears a striking resemblance to the owner. The clothes even matched, and police think they know what the motive was, too.

Evidently, the 911 in question, reportedly worth around R$700,000 (roughly $120,000 USD) was subject to expensive unpaid tax debts. The Civil Police in the area confirm that the situation is under investigation of being a false crime report. That said, they haven’t released the name of the owner, nor have they made any arrests.

A Fiery Mistake

Video from the scene doesn’t show any kidnappers, a truck, or anyone other than the man who allegedly sets the car on fire. Whoever it is seems to stop and take a moment to consider what they’re about to do before lighting some sort of accelerant in the Porsche. The fire is so violent at first that the man in question recoils as it grazes him.

It’s unclear where the case will go from here, but hopefully justice will be served. If this owner did indeed set his very special car on fire in front of the only camera within miles, it feels like karmic justice.

Sources: G1.globo | H/T to ÁTILA!

To say that Nissan had a rough 2024 would be a big understatement, but it’s already hard at work to turn things around. Along with the introduction of new and updated models, it’s looking to partner with other brands, some of which are fierce rivals, like Ford and Stellantis. Before the end of the decade, though, Nissan could be building hybrids for multiple automakers.

Sleeping With The Enemy

According to a new report, the latest Rogue could be the basis for the vehicles in question. Nissan’s compact SUV features the brand’s proptietary e-Power hybrid system that uses a gas engine to power an electric battery and motors. The models that could come from partnerships would be built alongside the Rogue in Smyrna, Tennessee.

More: Nissan Confirms Plug-in Hybrid Frontier

Nissan’s e-Power technology has been available in Japan and Europe for years, but it won’t debut in the U.S. until late 2026. It promises 15 percent better fuel economy at highway speeds than in the outgoing Rogue.

That’s a promising figure, and U.S. manufacturing makes it a tempting platform for Ford and Stellantis, according to Autonews. In fact, Nissan might ink some sort of deal with either of these brands even if it doesn’t secure an order for badge-engineered cars.

Nissan spokesman Brian Brockman confirmed that the company is “exploring options” to localize vehicle and powertrain production to meet rising hybrid demand. He added that Nissan “remains open to dialogue” but has “no agreements in place regarding production at our U.S. plants.”

Partners Could Come From All Over The Globe

Interestingly, potential partners don’t stop with two of the Big Three. Mitsubishi is allegedly interested in joint production, too, and would reportedly use e-Power engines for the Outlander. Foxconn could even enter the fold as a contract manufacturer. For Nissan, making two or even three deals of this sort would be a huge step forward.

After initially leading the EV charge with the Leaf, the brand has fallen behind many competitors when it comes to electrified vehicles. As AutoForecast Solutions analyst Sam Fiorani put it, “They can’t get to market soon enough.”

If there’s one automaker in America willing to think completely outside of the box, it’s Tesla. In this case, it’s literally thinking outside of the box, or more precisely, from the bed of the Cybertruck.

A new patent application indicates that the company could soon sell an inflatable balloon that acts as a spoiler of sorts. If it works as intended, it could extend towing range by a significant amount.

A Wedge in the Wind

Officially dubbed an “Inflatable Aerodynamic Deflector,” the device uses the same drop-stitch fabric that you’ll find on a paddleboard or life vest. When stowed, it’ll lie flat in the bed of the Cybertruck.

When it’s time to tow, the owner can deploy the contraption, which will take the shape of a wedge. And when we say wedge, we mean a really big one.

More: Cybertruck Nails Crash Tests Until The Lights Go Out

Based on diagrams in the patent application first discovered by Carbuzz, the inflatable will basically extend the body line made by the front hood and windshield section of the truck. It’ll continue on that same plane several feet and end just before the tailgate.

Inflate To Tow Further

In essence, the device should smooth the air out over the truck and then over any trailer that may be in tow. Why make it inflatable? Elementary, dear Watson: weight savings.

Every ounce added to a vehicle has a small penalty in performance. That’s true in all vehicles, no matter their method of propulsion, but since it’s harder to find a charger and slower to charge an EV, it’s more important to keep weight down as much as possible in something like the (already pretty heavy) Cybertruck.

It’s worth noting that towing range is something that Tesla has been trying to sort out for a while. It infamously promised a huge range-extending battery that would’ve sat in the bed.

Despite several customers placing an order, the brand canceled the project and hasn’t really had a backup way to improve range during towing.

This new inflatable could be one small way to claw back some additional range. Now all Tesla has to do is, unlike that range-extending battery, actually put it into production rather than letting it float away like its last big idea.

Sources: Carbuzz, USPO | Lead illustration by John Halas / Carscoops

Tesla is an automaker that has its fingers in several other industries. One is insurance, which it has long promised to be the best in the business for its customers. According to authorities in California, not only is it not a leader, it’s actually so bad that it might lose its license to offer insurance altogether.

The California Department of Insurance (CDI) announced on October 3 that it’s taking enforcement action against Tesla Insurance Services, Inc. and Tesla Insurance Company, alongside State National Insurance Company, which underwrites Tesla’s policies in the state.

Regulators say the three companies failed to comply with California’s claims-handling laws over and over again. It accuses all three of “significant harm” to Tesla drivers who held policies with them.

Read: Tesla Owners Brace For Soaring Insurance Costs And Even Bans As EV Attacks Escalate

In plain terms, Tesla Insurance Services acts as the broker selling the policies, while Tesla Insurance Company and State National handle the underwriting and claims.

A Pattern of Misconduct

Together, the CDI says, they’ve developed a pattern of misconduct so severe that the state may suspend or revoke their licenses and impose monetary penalties of up to $10,000 per willful violation.

According to the department, Tesla’s alleged offenses include extensive delays in paying valid claims, unreasonable denials, and failures to conduct “thorough, fair, and objective investigations.”

The department also accuses Tesla of not informing policyholders of their right to have claims denials reviewed by the state.

Complaints on the Rise

This isn’t an issue that the state just started tracking, either. In 2022, it noted 21 justified complaints against State National Insurance Company, which accounted for 40 regulatory violations.

The next year, those figures grew to 63 and 195, respectively. In 2024, Tesla Insurance Services joined the fray, and together, complaints rose again to 291, along with 835 violations. 

So far in 2025, the department says it has received nearly 2,000 complaints, over 500 of which were justified, with more than 2,000 regulatory violations. Now, Tesla Insurance Services, Tesla Insurance Company, and State National have 15 days to respond to the accusations before they face a potential administrative hearing.

If the department prevails, the companies could be barred from transacting insurance business in California and hit with significant fines.

Federal EV tax credits may be gone, but automakers holding unsold electric models aren’t simply waiting for customers to arrive. Instead, they’re putting together their own incentives. BMW has stepped in with one of the most direct responses so far, offering a $7,500 purchase credit across its lineup, and in some ways the deal is more straightforward than the federal program ever was.

Read: BMW Exec Says “Combustion Engines Will Never Disappear. Never!”

BMW says the incentive applies across its full EV lineup, from the $57,900 i4 to the $169,675 i7 M70. Unlike the now-defunct federal credit, this deal doesn’t hinge on income caps or complicated tax liability math; it’s a straight MSRP discount at the time of purchase.

More Than Just a Credit

The move makes BMW one of the first luxury brands to replace the credit in full, and it’s not stopping there. According to AutoBlog, buyers also get access to 2.99% financing for up to 60 months. Returning or “loyalty” customers can also get up to $5,000 extra, with the biggest rewards reserved for buyers of the equally big i7.

For some shoppers, that structure makes BMW’s plan more useful than the federal version ever was. The tax credit never helped customers who didn’t owe $7,500 in taxes, and it locked out high-income buyers and expensive models. BMW’s deal skips the fine print and extends the benefit to anyone financing through its system.

Following a Familiar Formula

While BMW stands out in the luxury field, it’s far from the first automaker to go down a similar road. Hyundai slashed sticker prices on the Ioniq 5 in recent days. General Motors and Ford both bought up a bunch of their own EV stock, obtained the federal EV credit before it ran out, and are passing it on to buyers.

More: BMW Somehow Sold Fewer Electrified Cars Than Last Year In Q3

BMW is just approaching the same problem with almost the exact same solution. These offers run through October 31 and, importantly, only apply to vehicles bought through BMW Financial Services. 

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

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

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

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

What extras buy you

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

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

Everyday reality check

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

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

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

Could Tesla have done more?

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

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

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

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

Strategy in Flux

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

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

Rules No Longer Binding

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

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

Credit: Michael Gauthier / Dodge

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

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

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

SUV Strength

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

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

Acura’s Mixed Bag

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

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

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

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

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

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

Early Prototype Up in Smoke

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

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

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

Not the First Fire

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

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

Statement on Fire Incident at Faraday Future Satellite Office Building

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

— Faraday Future (@FaradayFuture) September 30, 2025

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

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

Source: Faraday Future, Techcrunch

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

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

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

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

Battery Gains Build Momentum

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

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

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

Balancing Old and New

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