Stellantis has publicly condemned two influencers after a viral video showed them dismantling parts of the new fully-electric Jeep Recon during the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show. The clip, which spread quickly across social media, reopened the debate over how pre-production prototypes ought to be treated at auto shows.

The automaker explained that the show car mocked for its poor build quality was a hand-assembled pre-production prototype, not the finished model, describing the creators’ actions as “destructive.”

Online Outrage or Honest Critique?

The viral video, posted by an LA-based channel called “The Middle Lane,” has drawn more than 1.1 million views and 2,300 comments on TikTok since November 22. It reportedly appeared on YouTube and Instagram as well, though it has since been removed from both platforms.

More: Jeep’s $65,000 Recon Is Surprisingly Fast, But Can It Outrun The EV Slowdown?

The creators blasted the build quality of the latest Jeep, saying they expected better fit and finish for a vehicle with an MSRP of $65,000. They are shown removing and then reattaching plastic pieces from the Recon’s interior, including trim around the center console and above the digital instrument cluster.

They also zoom in on uneven gaps between materials on the door panels and wiggle the infotainment screen and passenger grab handle, saying they were simulating “off-road use.”

@themiddlelanes Jeep Recon Moab build quality… #laautoshow #tiktokcartalkcontest #electriccar #buildquality ♬ original sound – The Middle Lane

Stellantis Responds

In response, Stellantis released a statement: “The vehicle in question is a preproduction show car, built exclusively for reveals and events to highlight the design inspiration for the final product. These prototype units are typically hand-built and not intended to demonstrate final production, durability, quality, or integrity of materials.”

More: Jeep’s Latest Special Edition Honors A Classic Military Truck

Kaileen Connelly, Senior Vice President of North America Communications at Stellantis, added in an email to the Detroit Free Press: “The actions taken to disassemble the all-new Jeep Recon on display at the LA Auto Show were both destructive and unprofessional.”

What the Creators Say

The Detroit Free Press later spoke with Luke Miani, founder of “The Middle Lane,” who said they were surprised by the video’s reach and the conversation it triggered. According to Miani, their intention had simply been to share “thoughts on many different cars.”

Addressing Stellantis’ statement, he explained, “I want to push back on the claims of ‘destructive’ conduct as the video clearly shows the clips holding certain interior parts together were loose and the parts easily pop out by hand without damage.”

He added that he looks forward to seeing the production version of the Recon, hoping that “the build quality is indeed improved.”

How the Public Reacted

Reaction online has been mixed. Some commenters expressed disappointment with what they perceived as poor craftsmanship, placing blame on Stellantis. Others defended the automaker, noting that the vehicle was a pre-production demo unit brought to LA for the show and never intended for close physical inspection.

The story also gained traction on Reddit, where many users criticized the influencers for “unprofessionalism,” while others argued that automakers should be more discerning about who gets access to display cars.

One self-identified “interior trim engineer” commented that building pre-production models is “way different” from production, describing a process where “employees are working on a table with a drill and some screws” long before an assembly line is operational.

The electric 2026 Jeep Recon is scheduled to enter production in early 2026 at Stellantis’ Toluca plant in Mexico. Initial deliveries in North America are expected shortly after, with global rollout planned for the final quarter of the year. The first version, a Moab trim exclusive to the US and Canada, will start at $65,000, with more affordable variants to follow

Kia had a plan just six months ago, one that mapped out several new electric models for the North American market. Now, that plan seems to have hit a wall, stalling before it ever gained momentum.

At the recent Los Angeles Auto Show, Kia America’s vice president of marketing, Russell Wager, shared a candid update. The fate of both the EV4 sedan and Kia’s upcoming pickup truck now hinges on something entirely beyond the company’s reach: tariff stability.

Read: Hyundai And Kia EV Sales Collapse After Tax Credits Vanish Overnight

Speaking to Car and Driver, Wager called out tariffs as the reason that Americans haven’t had access to the EV4 to this point. The car has suffered one delay after another.

What’s the Hold-Up?

When asked about that delay, Wager said “Can you give me the answer of when the tariffs are going to be resolved in Mexico, Canada, and Seoul? If you give me that answer, I’ll be as specific as possible.”

Wager made it clear that the Korean automaker isn’t waiting for tariffs to go away altogether, either. It just wants to see them set at a specific stable figure.

“At that point in time we look at it and say, are we at 25 [percent], are we at 15—and then we can build our business case,” he said. “It was originally designed and engineered when the tariffs were zero percent.”

For now, it’s the uncertainty that keeps cars like the EV4 and Kia’s planned EV pickup out of the USA. Of course, customer demand might not be strong enough anyway after the end of the federal tax EV credits.

Wager admitted that both factors are playing a role. “We’ve got a great portfolio of EVs that are on sale in a lot of other places in the world that we could choose from,” he added. “We just need resolution, and then we also need the consumer market here to want them.”

Get Ready for Price Increases

Between now and whenever Kia decides what to do with the pickup and EV4, it might have to bump prices up.

“Others have raised prices,” Wager said. “I’m not going to name names, and we’ve seen their sales drop. The takeaway is we can’t do it forever. We’ve made it eight months since April so far. If tariffs don’t get resolved or they’re that high, we’ll have to make the business decision. As far as parts tariffs and import tariffs, at some point in time, we can’t absorb it all.”

Hyundai Motor Group has already proven that it can bend a little but part of its biggest draw is being a solid value proposition against rivals. The near future will determine if it can bend enough to keep that reputation without breaking.

The Lucid Gravity is a finalist for 2026 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year and their case is getting stronger with the introduction of a new Touring trim. It was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show and is currently available to order.

Designed to slot beneath the range-topping Gravity Grand Touring, the latest variant is instantly recognizable and features a familiar design. Few details were released, but it sports LED lighting units, a glass roof, and flush-mounted door handles. They’re joined by 20-inch wheels, acoustic front glass, and a power liftgate and frunk.

More: Meet The Finalists For North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle Of The Year

The five-seat interior sports PurLuxe upholstery as well as heated front chairs with 12-way power adjustment. Buyers will also find a 34-inch curved display as well as a lower 12.6-inch touchscreen.

Elsewhere, there’s a wireless smartphone charger, a ten-speaker audio system, and a four-zone climate control system. Other highlights include an ambient lighting system and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

An assortment of options will be available including leather, a third-row, and a 22-speaker premium audio system with Dolby Atmos technology. Customers can also get a heated steering wheel as well as heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats.

Tech That Watches Your Back

The crossover comes standard with an air suspension as well as the DreamDrive 2 suite of driver assistance systems. It includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Drive Assist (Lane Centering).

There’s also Lane Departure Protection, Front & Rear Cross Traffic Protection, and Blind Spot Monitoring with Active Intervention. Rounding out the highlights are Speed Limit Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Safe Exit Warning, and High Beam Assist.

While that’s a pretty comprehensive list, buyers can upgrade to DreamDrive 2 Premium or DreamDrive 2 Pro. The latter allows for hands-free driving as well as remote automatic parking.

Performance and Range

Power is provided by an 89 kWh battery pack that feeds a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system developing up to 560 hp (418 kW / 568 PS). That’s 268 hp (200 kW / 272 PS) less than the Grand Touring, but the crossover can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in four seconds flat.

The Touring has an EPA-estimated range of up to 337 miles (542 km), which trails the Grand Touring by 113 miles (182 km). That’s a pretty significant difference, but the 300 kW DC fast charging capability enables the crossover to get 200 miles (322 km) of range in as little as 15 minutes.

If you want to take advantage of the native NACS port and use a Tesla Supercharger, you’ll be limited to 220 kW. That’s a bit of a bummer, but it’s still relatively speedy.

What Will It Cost You?

Pricing starts at $79,900 before a $1,650 destination fee. This makes it significantly cheaper than the Gravity Grand Touring, which begins at $94,900.

In Canada, pricing starts at $113,500 and this includes a $2,300 destination fee, a $200 documentation fee, and a $100 federal air conditioning tax.

The Los Angeles Auto Show continues and Hyundai has used the event to introduce the US-spec Ioniq 6 N and Elantra N TCR Edition. The former originally debuted over a year ago, while the latter was introduced this summer.

Starting with the high-performance Ioniq 6 N EV, it features an 84 kWh battery pack and a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing a combined output of 601 hp (448 kW / 609 PS). However, a boost function increases that number to 641 hp (478 kW / 650 PS).

More: Hyundai’s Fastest Electric Sedan Can Drift And Snarl Like A Gas Car, Hit 62 MPH In 3.2 Seconds

This setup enables the car to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in approximately 3.2 seconds when using Launch Control. Drivers can also expect to hit a top speed of up to 160 mph (257 km).

Hyundai declined to reveal the car’s range, but noted the model has a 350 kW DC fast charging capability. This will enable the battery to go from a 10% to 80% charge in as little as 18 minutes.

Other highlights include a sport-tuned suspension with electronically controlled dampers and N e-Shift technology. They’re joined by N Launch Control, N Drift Optimizer, N Grin Boost, N Torque Distribution, and an N Active Sound + system.

Since we’ve already seen the model numerous times before, we’ll briefly note the car features black and red accents as well as 20-inch forged wheels. They’re joined by sportier bumpers and a rear spoiler.

Hyundai hasn’t released full details, but said the car will have a Black interior with Performance Blue accents. Buyers will also find sporty seats with Alcantara upholstery as well as leatherette bolsters. Other highlights include a unique steering wheel as well as additional physical switchgear for more intuitive operation.

The Ioniq 6 N will arrive next year and be offered in “limited quantities.” There’s no word on pricing, but the 2025 Ioniq 5 N starts at $66,200.

Elantra N TCR Edition

Speaking of yesterday’s news, Hyundai introduced the Elantra N TCR Edition. Designed for boy racers on a budget, the car has a massive carbon fiber rear wing that tells everyone you’re compensating for something. It’s joined by special badging as well as gloss black 19-inch forged wheels that are backed up by a four-piston front braking system.

The interior sports an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, shifter, and handbrake. They’re accompanied by Performance Blue seat belts, aluminum door sill plates, and unique door puddle lamps.

Hyundai didn’t mention pricing or specifications, but the model should have a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine pumping out 276 hp (206 kW / 280 PS) and 289 lb-ft (391 Nm) of torque. It can be connected to either a six-speed manual or an optional eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The Hyundai Elantra N TCR Edition will arrive in the first quarter of 2026 as a “limited production run.” There’s no word on how many will be offered stateside, but expect it to cost more than the regular model, which begins at $35,100.