Luxury vehicles have never been immune to depreciation, but the latest sale of a nearly new Cadillac Escalade IQ shows just how punishing the first year of ownership can be for high-end EVs. After covering just 13,000 miles, a 2025 Escalade IQ Sport 2 changed hands for $105,000 despite carrying a window sticker of more than $152,000 when new. That’s roughly $47,000 that just went up in smoke over what amounts to barely a year’s worth of driving.

Sold on Bring a Trailer on July 19, the Flare Metallic example attracted 24 bids before the hammer fell at $105,000. While that’s still a six-figure SUV, it’s approximately 31 percent below its original MSRP of $152,365. Put another way, the original buyer, if they paid MSRP, lost $3.64 for every mile that this SUV was on the road. That doesn’t account for electricity, insurance, or maintenance.

Review: Cadillac’s 2026 Escalade IQ Nails The Entrance, Then Spends A Week Undoing It

Photos BaT

The sale highlights a trend that’s become increasingly common across premium electric vehicles. Buyers willing to shop the used market can often save tens of thousands of dollars while getting a vehicle that’s barely broken in. This particular Escalade IQ wasn’t exactly a stripped-down example either. It featured Cadillac’s dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain producing up to 750 hp (559 kW) and 785 lb-ft (1,064 Nm) of torque in Velocity Max mode, fed by a massive 205-kWh battery pack.

It also came loaded with virtually every luxury feature buyers expect from Cadillac’s electric flagship. Highlights included Air Ride Adaptive Suspension, four-wheel steering, Super Cruise, Night Vision, a 36-speaker AKG Studio Reference sound system, heated and ventilated massaging front seats, heated second-row captain’s chairs, a panoramic glass roof, and the massive 55-inch curved dashboard display.

Photos BaT

The seller also fitted custom 24-inch Vivid Racing forged wheels, removed the rear badging, and added gloss-black vinyl accents to the grille surround and C-pillars, though the original appearance could easily be restored. Importantly, the Carfax was clean, showing no reported accidents or damage, although it did note at least one open recall.

Don’t get us wrong. $105,000 is a boatload of money for any vehicle. Nobody needs something this expensive. But having tested one in person, it’s a truly luxurious machine in most of the ways that matter. Letting someone else absorb the depreciation just makes the ownership experience sweeter.

Photos BaT

A new study has revealed that Americans are feeling adventurous this summer, eager to get away from civilization and enjoy some off-roading. Of those surveyed, the overwhelming majority would take a combustion-powered vehicle over an EV.

Read: Jeep’s Next EV Could Be Made In China Instead Of Ohio After Stellantis Deal

Hankook Tire’s latest Gauge Index survey found that 64 percent of respondents are interested in taking an all-terrain or off-road driving adventure this year. That’s a huge jump from the 34 percent who expressed interest in doing the same last year.

But, as is often the case with studies like these, there’s more than meets the eye. Last year’s survey asked a different question. The 34 percent figure didn’t measure people planning an off-road adventure at all; it counted respondents who named “off-roading proficiency” as the top recreational driving skill they wanted to learn.

74 percent of Gen Z and 72 percent of Millennials want to take an off-road trip this year. However, it’s not just younger folk who want to make the most out of summer, as 57 percent of Gen X drivers and 42 percent of Baby Boomers want to do the same.

ICEs Rule Over EVs

The study also sheds light on what types of vehicles motorists think are best for these trips. 52 percent believe an SUV is best, while 36 percent would go with a pickup truck. Unsurprisingly, most people still favor combustion engines over EVs, with 79 percent preferring a gas-powered SUV over an electric one, while 87 percent of pickup drivers would take an ICE model over an EV.

It appears most of those interested in an off-road experience want something tame, rather than climbing over rocks at Moab. As such, 45 percent said they plan to take a trip along wooded trails while just 17 percent would prefer exploring a desert.

Of course, it’s worth noting that this study, just like so many others you read about, only polled a small group of people. In fact, Hankook quizzed just 1,000 randomly selected American drivers aged 18 and older. So, if you’re someone who has no interest in off-roading, you can rest easy knowing millions of others feel the same.

Update: Toyota Motor Europe has asked Carscoops to remove the image, noting that it was shared from a personal Facebook account. The photo has been taken down, and Toyota has not commented on the prototype itself.

A Toyota executive may have handed us our first look at the next branch of the Land Cruiser family, after the baby FJ Cruiser built for Asian markets. The camouflaged prototype standing next to the current Land Cruiser GR Sport could be the first Land Cruiser to pair an electric powertrain with a unibody chassis, and it most likely got photographed during benchmarking and development testing.

The mystery SUV appeared in a photo shared on Facebook by a Toyota Europe executive. The caption referenced the Land Cruiser and the Tahara plant, leaving little doubt about what we’re looking at.

More: New Toyota Land Cruiser Pickup May Break With A Long-Standing Tradition

The shot was taken at the Tahara manufacturing facility in Japan, which is home to production for the Land Cruiser 250 Series, the closely related Lexus GX, and the Toyota 4Runner.

The unnamed prototype is wrapped in camouflage, with cutouts for the headlights and cooling intakes. The team members posing in front of it block much of the view, but a couple of interesting details still come through.

The position of the horizontally arranged headlights and the lower bumper area are consistent with the Land Cruiser Se concept from 2023, but the prototype has a new opening on the nose. Ground clearance also looks slightly lower than on the Land Cruiser Series 300, though the overall height won’t come across as much different.

More: Toyota Brings Back The 1980s Land Cruiser 70

The 2023 Land Cruiser Se concept measured 5,150 mm (202.8 inches) long with a 3,050 mm (120.1 inches) wheelbase. That makes it 35 mm (1.4 inches) longer than the 300 Series, with an extra 200 mm (7.9 inches) between the axles. Whether the production version keeps that footprint remains to be seen.

Unibody Underpinnings

2023 Toyota Land Cruiser Se

Overall, the mysterious SUV could be similar in size to the Toyota Grand Highlander. It also rides on multi-spoke alloy wheels similar to those found on the luxurious Century SUV. The thread tying those models together is their unibody architecture (TNGA-K).

More: Toyota’s $28,500 Land Cruiser FJ Matches A RAV4 On Price, Not On Size

That same construction is expected to headline the fully electric Land Cruiser, which could use the e-TNGA platform or an evolved version of it. Switching to a unibody chassis will likely make this the best-handling Land Cruiser yet, though it will inevitably cost something in off-road capability against the ladder-frame stablemates like the FJ, 70 Series, 250 Series, and 300 Series.

On the powertrain side, and as Australia’s Drive reports, a battery-electric setup will likely outperform the current ICE and hybrid Land Cruisers. There have also been reports of a possible range-extender option, and the cooling intake on the front bumper makes that scenario sound credible.

The most potent Land Cruiser to date is the self-charging hybrid variant of the Series 300, with a combined output of 457 hp (341 kW / 464 PS) and 790 Nm (583 lb-ft) of torque from a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 and a single electric motor.

Toyota Land Cruiser GR Sport Hybrid

Subaru has officially confirmed that production of its all-new 2027 Getaway has been pushed back, weeks after Toyota acknowledged a similar setback for its closely related electric SUV. While the automaker hasn’t revealed how long the holdup will last, it says the extra time is needed to complete final adjustments before launch. Until now, Subaru had continued to publicly point to a fall 2026 arrival without acknowledging any changes.

More: Subaru’s New Getaway Is Basically A Faster, More Powerful Highlander

In a statement provided to Carscoops, Subaru confirmed the delay, saying, “The start of production for the Getaway is expected to be delayed to allow sufficient time for final adjustments before launch.” The statement is telling because it mirrors Toyota’s explanation almost word-for-word. Earlier this month, Toyota said production of its upcoming battery-electric Highlander had slipped for the same reason, more time to sort out the details before the line starts moving.

That isn’t especially surprising. The Getaway and Toyota’s three-row electric SUV are essentially the same vehicle under the skin, with both expected to roll off the line together at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky. Given their shared platform and manufacturing plans, questions quickly arose about whether Toyota’s setback would also hit Subaru’s model. Until now, though, Subaru had said nothing that broke from its original timeline.

The company hasn’t said when production will now begin or whether the slip will affect customer deliveries. It also declined to elaborate on what those “final adjustments” involve, leaving open the possibility that the changes could range from software refinement to manufacturing readiness or validation testing. Production could still begin this year.

Toyota specifically said the Highlander was facing at least an eight-week delay. For buyers, the wait probably won’t change much in the near term. The Getaway remains one of Subaru’s most important upcoming EVs, expanding the brand beyond the Solterra with a larger, three-row electric SUV aimed squarely at growing family demand. A few extra months on the clock is a fair trade if it means the Getaway arrives sorted rather than half-baked.

Electric vehicles are flooding onto Chinese roads at a staggering pace, replacing millions of gas guzzlers and cutting down on toxic tailpipe emissions. It’s not all good news, though. As big, heavy EVs grow more common across the country, the roads beneath them are taking some serious punishment, leaving authorities scratching their heads over how to pay for the repairs.

Read: America Plans 159 New Cars By 2030, China Just Launched 650 In Six Months

Data from the China Passenger Car Association shows that 60 percent of new cars launched in the country in the first half of this year stretched beyond 16 feet (5 meters), as a growing number of local manufacturers develop ever-larger and ever-more-luxurious SUVs and minivans to meet rising demand.

Some of these supersized models now weigh as much as three tons, which is where the road damage comes from. By comparison, just 2 percent of new models came in under 14.8 feet (4.5 meters), down from 13 percent a year earlier, a sign of how quickly buyers have abandoned smaller vehicles.

Ordinarily, the government funds highway and road repairs through a fuel tax. Revenue from that tax has begun to decline, and according to a Bloomberg report, the nation now faces an annual shortfall of roughly 50 percent for road upkeep and management. A study by a research unit within China’s Transport Ministry found that around 40 percent of local roads have been approved for repair but remain unfunded because of tight budgets. The gap has been estimated at up to 300 billion yuan ($44 billion) a year.

How To Fund Roads In The EV Age

New ways to fund roads are being considered. A mileage-based road user charge is one option. The government has also started trimming EV tax concessions, halving the sales tax discount for new energy vehicles (NEVs) to 5 percent, with the maximum discount now capped at 15,000 yuan (around $2,250). Annual vehicle and vessel tax exemptions will be axed for PHEVs and extended-range EVs.

There are other measures in play. Hainan province is running a pilot program that uses sat-nav to track certain vehicles, which could form the basis of a dynamic mileage tax that varies by vehicle class.

The government also wants carmakers to rein in their obsession with size. Mandatory energy-consumption figures penalize excessively heavy passenger cars, nudging automakers toward lighter materials and better aerodynamics rather than ever-larger battery packs to stretch range.

The ruling Communist Party’s official newspaper, The People’s Daily, has urged companies to “return to rationality,” noting that such large vehicles clash with existing urban infrastructure and drive up energy consumption. State broadcaster CCTV has also criticized the industry’s growing focus on oversized EVs, calling it a response to short-term market demand rather than genuine innovation.

General Motors is lining up a strategic shift for its volume brand, Chevrolet, bending its future product plans toward where the market is actually headed through 2030. The automaker is reportedly plotting a return to the passenger car business with a sporty ICE-powered sedan that could wear the Camaro name, alongside a run of updated gas models due over the next five years.

Starting with the sedan, it is rumored to break cover in 2028. No final decision has been made on what to call it, but it could mark the return of the iconic Camaro badge. That would make it a fitting rival to Ford’s long-rumored Mustang Mach-4, dragging the muscle car feud into four-door territory. It would also serve as a spiritual successor to the Camaro and the Malibu, both discontinued in 2024.

More: Chevy Sold 206 Examples Of A Sedan It Killed Two Years Ago

According to Automotive News, the new Chevy will ride on rear-wheel-drive underpinnings shared with a future Buick sedan and the next-generation Cadillac CT5. Production is expected to take place at GM’s Lansing Grand River Assembly plant in Michigan.

Analysts suggest that introducing a sedan, even one with modest sales expectations, would help diversify Chevy’s lineup, which leans heavily on crossovers, SUVs, and trucks. Stephanie Brinley, associate director of AutoIntelligence at Mobility Global, said that a new sedan could still “contribute meaningfully” to Chevrolet’s portfolio.

More: GM’s EV Trucks Bombed, So Dealers Are Offering Huge Discounts

As for the rest of the range, Chevrolet has largely scrapped plans to introduce more new EVs by 2030, driven by slower-than-expected adoption and the expiration of federal tax incentives. Production of the entry-level Bolt EV will end early next year to make room for a new ICE-powered crossover in Kansas.

Still, the Bowtie brand isn’t walking away from its current EV lineup. The Blazer EV is expected to receive mid-lifecycle updates in 2028, along with a redesign for the Equinox EV, keeping both fresh against rivals. Those two have helped make GM the second-largest seller of EVs in the United States, behind Tesla, according to Automotive News. The Silverado EV will also carry on, capitalizing on the recent discontinuation of the rival Ford F-150 Lightning.

That approach extends beyond EVs. “Chevrolet, like the other brands, is looking to lean back on existing products with face-lifts and new engines and updated powertrains to keep them going through the rest of this decade,” Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions, told the publication.

More: The Cheapest New 200-MPH Car You Can Buy Now Is A $73,495 Chevy

Beyond updates to existing models, the only new electric Chevy on the horizon this decade is a commercial van being developed jointly with Hyundai. Automotive News reports that plans for additional Chevrolet EV nameplates before 2030 are effectively on hold, with the company prioritizing updates to its existing electric models over launching entirely new ones. Finally, the Corvette is expected to enter a new generation in 2029, a full decade after the current C8 arrived.

Blame Washington for missing out on this one. The U.S. declined to authorize Polestar to sell cars here after the 2027 model year, right as the brand is gearing up for its next big debut. That model is a new variant of the 4, due in September. Shortly after the official teaser surfaced, a camouflaged Polestar 4 SUV prototype turned up lapping the Nurburgring, giving us our first proper look at what American buyers will not get.

More: Buy A New Polestar For $25,000 Off. Small Catch, It’s Leaving The US

The SUV badge oversells it, since the spy shots point to something closer to a slightly raised wagon. As the more practical counterpart to the existing Polestar 4 Coupe, it brings in a flatter roofline, a set of roof rails, and a more upright tailgate with a genuine rear windscreen, the very thing the original car goes without.

Baldauf

For all those changes, everything from the nose back to the B-pillars looks lifted straight from the 4 coupe. The lower half of the profile, the full-width LED taillights, and the rear bumper carry over as well, which keeps Polestar’s development spending in check and speeds the second body style to market.

Performance Hardware

The prototype runs 22-inch forged Performance wheels wrapped around Brembo brakes with gold calipers and large ventilated discs. That hardware comes with the dual-motor Polestar 4 Coupe through the optional Performance pack, which also brings active ZF dampers with coil springs into the mix.

Baldauf

Those same components will almost certainly carry into the Polestar 4 SUV, retuned to suit its slightly different weight balance and aerodynamics. Behind the wheel of the camouflaged tester was Polestar’s chief test driver Joakim Rydholm, the man responsible for sharpening the EV’s handling before it goes on sale.

More: We Drove The Polestar 4 And It Wants To Change Your Mind On EVs

On the performance front, the dual-motor Polestar 4 Coupe produces 537 hp (400 kW / 544 PS), enough to run from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.8 seconds with a WLTP range of 590 km (367 miles). The SUV should carry the same output, though its acceleration and range each fall off by a small margin.

Baldauf

A single-motor version of the coupe rounds out the range with 267 hp (200 kW / 272 PS), covering the same 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint in 7.1 seconds and stretching its WLTP range to 620 km (385 miles).

More: The US Just Banned Polestar From Selling New Cars, Even The One It Builds In America

The Polestar 4 SUV arrives on September 2, with production handled in South Korea. Polestar has confirmed sales across most global markets, and the glaring exception is the United States, off the list after the forced exit of the Geely-owned brand once the 2027 model year opens. Rivals range from the Tesla Model Y to Porsche’s Macan EV.

Baldauf

The third-gen Range Rover Sport is due for a mid-life update, and the big one is a new powertrain joining the range. Land Rover ran electric prototypes of the Range Rover Sport Electric at Goodwood, promising the zero-emission SUV will be “more dynamic and faster than ever” without giving up its off-road chops.

Martin Limpert, Managing Director at Range Rover, said that the electric variant “will redefine performance SUVs again” when it arrives later this year.

Review: The 2026 Range Rover Sport PHEV Is A Master Of Nothing And That’s Its Trick

At a private preview during the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend, the company put the electric prototypes through a run of theatrical trials, rolling one out of an airplane fuselage, sending another up a flight of steps, and turning it loose on the track. The point was to show the EV can still do the difficult stuff its combustion siblings handle without breaking a sweat.

According to Land Rover, the SUV “integrates a suite of advanced technologies that unleash more power and torque, amplified by an advanced new chassis tune and audio sound, creating a drive that feels as distinctive as it is visceral, across any terrain.”

The prototypes shown at Goodwood wore the bodywork of the current Range Rover Sport that has been on sale since 2022, though with new alloy wheels and EV-specific puddle lights to set them apart. The production version will almost certainly look different by the time it reaches buyers.

More: Range Rover’s New Velar Is Turning Into A Sedan Of Sorts, And May Ditch Its Rear Window

Our spy photographers recently spotted a camouflaged prototype of the facelifted Range Rover Sport at the Nurburgring, featuring different bumpers, revised LEDs, and other small design tweaks. We also expect the mid-lifecycle update to bring improved technology inside the cabin.

While the automaker declined to reveal the output of the electric powertrain, it is expected to mirror the 542 hp (550 PS / 405 kW) unit found in the Range Rover Electric. Full specifications will follow later in 2026, most likely alongside the facelift itself.

Aside from previewing the zero-emission model, JLR confirmed that the Range Rover Sport lineup will carry on with six-cylinder petrol and diesel, mild-hybrid V8 petrol, and plug-in-hybrid options, keeping the same spread of powertrains its predecessor offered.

Land Rover

Alfa Romeo fans holding out for fresh takes on the Giulia and Stelvio have heard just about everything over the past few years. The midsize pair were first slated to go fully electric, then the Stelvio slipped back on the calendar to make room for a hybrid setup, and this week both names went missing entirely from Alfa’s 2030 product plans. Standing in for them was a single vaguely worded entry, a “New D-Segment (Under Study),” which was enough to set off alarm bells.

The disappearance quickly bred cancellation rumors, which held until Stellantis circled back to us following our inquiry with word of the mysterious “D-Segment” offering still under consideration. That single line kept the door open, even if it explained almost nothing about what walks through it.

The saga started at the Stellantis Investor Day in May. The only D-Segment offerings on the Alfa Romeo slides were the current Giulia and Stelvio, which have been around since 2015 and 2016, respectively. The combustion sedan and SUV recently got a new lease of life through 2028, with the V6-powered Quadrifoglio returning to production. But what about their long-awaited successors?

More: Alfa Teases The Tonale’s Successor, And Maybe A Dodge Called Goes Like Hell

During this week’s event, a slide laying out the 2030 Stellantis roadmap named five upcoming Alfa Romeo models. The group covers a facelifted Junior, a compact SUV lined up to replace the Tonale, a premium compact hatchback, more Bottega Fuoriserie projects, and the unnamed D-Segment model wearing that “under study” tag

Prodded by the conspicuous absence of the Giulia and Stelvio nameplates, we reached out to a Stellantis spokesperson in North America to find out whether Alfa Romeo had a change of heart. The spokesperson replied with the following statement:

“All future products are being evaluated market by market, including North America, to ensure the right balance between brand positioning, customer expectations, and long-term sustainability. Alfa Romeo remains strongly committed to the North American market, with a clear focus on premium segments, product excellence, and sustainable growth.”

“As communicated during the Stellantis Investor Day on May 21, Alfa Romeo has a robust global product pipeline under development. This includes a refreshed Junior, a new-generation C-SUV on the STLA Medium platform, a new C-segment hatchback inspired by iconic Alfa Romeo nameplates, future evolutions of Giulia and Stelvio in the D segment, and new exclusive “few-off” projects developed by Bottega Fuoriserie following the success of the 33 Stradale.“

The line that jumps out is “future evolutions of Giulia and Stelvio in the D segment,” which raises the question of whether Alfa Romeo plans two separate successors or intends to fold both cars into one model to trim its R&D bill. Merging a sedan and an SUV into a single body would be an odd move, though it would explain why one entry now sits where two nameplates used to.

More: Take A Ride With Me To Alfa’s Homeland In Its Smallest SUV, Sins And All

Earlier reports suggested the Giulia successor would ditch its sedan roots for a fastback crossover stance. The only development prototype spotted so far, though, was an SUV that surfaced in 2025 looking like the next Stelvio. A few months on, patent drawings sharpened our picture of its exterior design, right before Alfa Romeo delayed the project.

Whether Alfa Romeo hauled that prototype back to the drawing board or started fresh on something new, nobody can say yet. What’s certain is that the company is reworking its plans, doing what it can to survive in a cutthroat market.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Prototype. Photos: SH Proshots

Affordable electric SUVs are arriving thick and fast, but the new VW ID. Cross thinks it has something many rivals don’t. The production version of last year’s almost identical ID. Cross Concept promises premium features and VW’s confident new design language, while keeping the starting price at a tempting €28,000 (£24k/$32k).

More: VW Group Is Killing Half Its Cars By 2030, And Some Big Names Are At Risk

The little five-seat SUV brother to the ID.Polo revealed earlier this year will arrive in Europe during autumn 2026. At just over 4,150 mm (163.4 mm) from nose to tail and riding on a 2,601 mm (102.4 inches) wheelbase, the ID. Cross is a rival for SUVs like the Kia EV2 and Renault 4.

Given those dimensions and rivals you’d probably not expect tons of space, but VW claims smart packaging allows the ID. Cross to squeeze out more passenger room and cargo space than its competitors. There’s 475 liters (16.8 cu-ft) of cargo room behind the rear seats plus a handy 25-liter (0.9 cu-ft) frunk for charging cables, a combination which throws shade on the EV2, Renault 4 and even VW’s bigger, combustion T-Roc.

Buyers can choose between two battery packs and three power outputs, all delivered from a single-motor setup driving the front wheels. The entry-level version pairs an 114 hp (116 PS / 85 kW) electric motor with a 37 kWh battery, while higher trims offer either a 133 hp (136 PS / 99 kW) motor using the same battery, or a 208 hp (211 PS / 155 kW) version coupled to a larger 52 kWh pack.

From 196 To 271 Miles Of Range

The flagship combination delivers a projected WLTP driving range of up to 436 km, or 271 miles, compared with 281 miles (452 km) for an EV2 and just 247 miles (398 km) for a Renault 4. Stick with the VW‘s base 37 kWh pack and the range drops to 196 miles (316 km), which again splits the difference between its rivals: Kia, 197 miles (317 km); Renault, 190 miles (306 km). That 196-mile figure is also predictably a little down on the 204 miles (328 km) the brand quotes for the lower and 27 kg (60 lbs) lighter ID. Polo with the same 37 kWh battery.

As with the ID. Polo, charging figures are respectable rather than groundbreaking. The smaller battery supports DC charging at up to 90 kW, while the larger pack increases that to 105 kW. Either way, VW says a 10 to 80 percent recharge should take around 24 minutes under ideal conditions, meaning drivers will be unplugging a few minutes before the Renault 4 and Kia EV2s on the adjacent chargers. Vehicle-to-load functionality is also included, allowing owners to power external devices from the battery pack.

Big Screen, But Plenty Of Real Buttons

Also borrowed from the ID. Polo, which shares the same MEB+ platform, along with the Cupra Raval and Skoda Epiq, is a cabin that tries hard to undo some of the mistakes of VW’s recent past. Premium-looking cloth covers most of the dash surfaces, and there are genuine clickable physical buttons both on the steering wheel and lined up on the console below the 12.9-inch infotainment screen.

And buyers can build on that premium feel with some fairly premium features including optional 12-way power-adjustable front seats with built-in massage programs. Depending on trim, buyers can also spec matrix LED headlights, a panoramic glass roof, adaptive cruise control, and a Harman Kardon audio system with 10 speakers.

Looks Expensive, But Isn’t

Sticking with the luxury theme, the designers clearly wanted the ID. Cross to look expensive, in the way the Mk4 Golf did almost 30 years ago. Slim lighting, clean body surfacing and a modern silhouette give it plenty of showroom appeal. It might not have the quirky character of a Renault 4, but the result is a handsome SUV that looks like it costs more than it really does.

More: VW’s Sportiest Sedan Packs 496 HP And Makes The ID.7 Look Half-Asleep

At €28,000, the base 37 kWh, 114 hp ID. Cross matches the Renault 4 on price, but beats it on range and comes up only a few horsepower short. Likely to cause a bigger headache for VW is the Kia EV2, which starts at €26,600 in Europe, squeezes a few more miles from every top-up and comes with a 144 hp (147 PS / 108 kW) motor as standard. Which would you pick?

VW

Canadians shopping for a high-end electric SUV have another name to consider, and it wears a Lotus badge. The Eletre comes into the country at a reduced tariff rate, yet the sticker still lands well into luxury territory, nowhere near the cut-rate EVs plenty of locals were hoping the China trade deal would bring to their driveways.

Thanks to a new trade deal struck between Canada and China earlier this year, EVs imported from China are now only subject to a 6.1 percent. This has generated plenty of buzz among car manufacturers looking to expand their reach into Canada, with companies including BYD, Chery, and others all planning local launches.

Read: Canada’s China Deal Promised Affordable EVs, But $100,000 SUVs Are First Off The Boat

Lotus is one of the most prominent brands to benefit, as it’s owned by Geely and already has a presence in Canada, allowing it to quickly take some of the vehicles initially available at this reduced quota. They’re built in Wuhan and start at CA$119,000 (equal to around US$84,000 at current rates) for the base model, rising to $159,000 (US$112,000) for the flagship version.

Speaking with CTV News, Lotus Cars Americas chief executive Max Trantini said interest in the Eletre has been high, although he didn’t specify how many have been sold, nor how many have been imported. In an initial shipment sent to Canada in May, we know that 18 Eletres landed.

The softer tariff has done Lotus a real favor, given that the company had to sharply hike the Eletre’s US pricing in late 2024 because of tariffs there. What was originally going to be an EV starting at US$107,000 suddenly became one costing at least US$229,000.

The “Perfect” Car For Canada?

“We developed the U.S market for this car, and also the Canadian market for this car, but then due to the tariff we had to hold the import because of that situation,” Trantini said when referring to the US cars. “We believe that the car is perfect for the Canadian market.”

Under the new importation policy, up to 49,000 EVs can enter Canada at the reduced rate over the coming year. Recent data shows that 2,910 EVs from China have arrived since March 1, though oddly, none turned up in June or so far this month.

Photos Lotus Cars

When Denza got off the ground, it did so as a partnership between BYD and Mercedes-Benz. One of its earliest products was the Denza X, a seven-seat SUV that became the N8 in 2023 with a reworked look. Mercedes has since walked away from Denza, but BYD kept the N8 alive and has now previewed a fully new version, joined by a stretched six-seat model called the N8L.

More: Denza Wants Defender Buyers And Priced The Bao 5 So They Feel Right At Home

Unlike the first two iterations, the latest N8 doesn’t have a sleek, coupe-like design, and rather takes the shape of a more traditional SUV. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, either, as the higher roofline should help significantly improve headroom. The third row has also been ditched, meaning the N8 is a strict five-seater. Those in the market for a three-row, six-seater will have to upgrade to the larger N8L, also recently unveiled.

Two Sizes, One Formula

According to information shared on China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the new N8 measures 202.7 inches (5,150 mm) long, 78.7 inches (1,999 mm) wide, and 71.6 inches (1,820 mm) tall, riding on a generous 121-inch (3,075 mm) wheelbase. The N8L stretches that by 2.0 inches (50 mm) to reach 204.7 inches (5,200 mm) overall while keeping the same wheelbase, height, and width as the standard SUV.

Family resemblance runs through the range, and the N8 borrows the LED daytime running light shape seen on the newer Z9. The main headlamps sit stacked vertically on the fascia, with a small black grille tucked into the base of the bumper.

The options sheet covers 20- or 21-inch wheels, body-colored roofs, custom brake calipers and integrated electronic side steps. Around the back, both SUVs wear a dual-strip light bar pulled straight from Denza’s latest plug-in hybrids.

Early information reveals the N8 will be launched with three powertrain configurations, at least initially. These will include two rear-driven, single-motor versions producing 429 hp (320 kW) and 496 hp (370 kW) respectively. Although both of those are very solid figures for a vehicle like this, Denza clearly couldn’t resist the urge to go bonkers with a flagship, tri-motor version.

Then There’s The Supercar-Slayer

This tri-motor model will include two 416 hp (310 kW) motors at the rear axle and a 362 hp (270 kW) motor at the front axle. All up, we’re talking a combined 1,193 hp. Yep, we’re talking about more power in a five-seat SUV than a Ferrari F80, which is capped at 1,184 hp.

Denza also offers the longer six-seat N8L.

Providing the motors with their juice will be the company’s second-generation Blade Battery, meaning it supports BYD’s 1,500 kW Flash Charging technology. There’s no word yet on what the final charging times will be, but they’ll be almost on par with filling up an equivalent combustion-powered SUV.

The tech list keeps going with the brand’s God’s Eye 5.0 semi-autonomous driving system, built for both highway and city use and running an end-to-end AI model trained on real-world driving data. Hardware backs it up, including a roof-mounted LiDAR unit and millimeter-wave radars set into the front bumper.

Porsche launched the electric Macan expecting it to take over from the combustion version outright, but strong demand for the latter kept both on sale, letting SUV customers choose between burning dinosaur juice and waiting in line at their local EV charging station. Now the ICE version has reached the end of the road, at least for the current generation.

Also: Porsche’s Macan Turbo Electric Lost Over $33,000 In Value After Just 1,500 Miles

During the announcement of their sales figures for the first half of this year, Porsche quietly slipped the exact date the ICE Macan will end production, with the last one leaving Leipzig at the end of July. The timing comes as a bit of a surprise given that the ICE version keeps outselling the EV, and once it’s gone, Porsche won’t have an equivalent gas-powered SUV to take its place.

A successor is already in the works, though buyers will have to wait a long time. Porsche admitted it misread the market and has approved a new combustion and hybrid Macan built on the Audi Q5 platform, but it isn’t due until 2028 at the earliest. That leaves at least two years where dealers must lean on remaining ICE stock, the Macan Electric, and whatever else fills the showroom. The replacement will wear a different name, so the Macan badge now belongs to the EV alone.

Read: Americans Still Want Gas Macans More Than The EV, So Porsche Is Stockpiling

In the first half of this year, Porsche sold a total of 35,315 Macan models worldwide. The majority of them, 19,695 units to be precise, were combustion models, whereas the Macan Electric accounted for the remaining 15,620 sales. Overall, Macan sales are down 22 percent compared to the same period last year, with Porsche citing a particularly strong 2025, the absence of electric and hybrid tax incentives in the US, and the “slower-than-expected ramp-up of electromobility.”

Porsche Struggles In 2026

The timing for axing the combustion Macan isn’t ideal for the company. Total Porsche deliveries have slipped 16 percent so far this year, down from 146,391 to 112,306. The decline in sales in China has been particularly dramatic, as they’ve fallen 32 percent from 21,302 to 14,501 units, while in North America, sales have slipped 13 percent to 37,712 units.

The Macan isn’t the only model off to a rough start. Cayenne sales have also slipped 9 percent to 38,141, even with deliveries of the all-electric version now underway. The Panamera is down 38 percent to 9,308 units, and the Taycan has fallen 25 percent through the first six months as well.

The only ray of sunshine for Porsche so far this year has been the 911. Sales of it have increased 19 percent this year, with an impressive 30,534 examples finding new homes.

Porsche Sales 2026

Anyone who came of age in the ’80s is living in a different world now. Back then, nobody would have guessed that the poster cars from Ferrari and Lamborghini would one day lose to a family SUV. Technology keeps chipping away at acceleration numbers, and the latest proof comes from a stunt staged by Skoda, the value brand of the VW Group.

The automaker took its quickest production model, the Skoda Elroq vRS, and lined it up against some of the most recognizable sportscars and supercars of the ’80s for a straight-line shootout. The opposition consisted of a brown Ferrari Testarossa, an orange Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary, and a burgundy Porsche 944 Turbo.

Review: The 2026 Skoda Elroq Gets The Hard Stuff Right And The Easy Stuff Wrong

Back in their heyday, these machines were the undisputed kings of the road. However, ICE nostalgia is no match for the instantaneous torque of modern EVs, and the crossover won the drag race by a wide gap, leaving the legends behind.

Watching the footage closely gives a sense of what the four cars ran at the Dunsfold track. There’s no telling how gentle the drivers were with the clutches of these coveted classics, but the finishing order reflects their real-world launch performance well enough.

More: A 9,000-Lb Camera Truck Just Gapped A Ferrari And Ford GT Like They Were Parked

The Skoda Elroq vRS crossed the line at 19.19 seconds, followed by the Ferrari at 20.08 seconds, the Lamborghini at 21.22 seconds and the Porsche at the 22.10 mark.

While this particular drag race had a clear winner, it is worth noting that all three classics would easily beat the EV on a longer stretch of road. Skoda caps the Elroq’s top speed at 111 mph (179 km/h), well under the 162 mph (261 km/h) of the Porsche, the 180 mph (290 km/h) of the Ferrari, and the 188 mph (303 km/h) of the Lamborghini.

In any case, the flagship trim of the family EV with its dual-motor AWD setup produces 335 hp (250 kW / 340 PS), allowing a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 5.4 seconds. For comparison, the 5.2-liter V12 of the Lamborghini produced 449 hp (335 kW / 455 PS), the 4.9-liter flat-12 of the Ferrari was good for 385 hp (287 kW / 390 PS), and the turbo 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine of the Porsche made 247 hp (184 kW / 250 PS) back when they left the factory floor.

More: Skoda Peaq Debuts As Three-Row EV Flagship With 402-Mile Range

Another advantage of the Skoda Elroq vRS over the classic models is its spacious five seater cabin and the generous boot capacity of 470 lt (16.6 cubic feet), making it significantly more practical as a daily in combination with the standard Dynamic Chassis Control system. Despite its larger body, it is also significantly more aerodynamic than the wedge-shaped supercars, with a drag coefficient of 0.26 cd.

Skoda UK

Performance is one thing, but the silent electric powertrain is no match for the glorious sound of the 12-cylinder engines from the past. Furthermore, looks might be subjective, but we seriously doubt anyone would pick the Skoda over the Ferrari, the Lamborghini, or the Porsche in a beauty contest.

At the end of the day, it is fun knowing that a family SUV of today can outrun the coolest supercars of the ’80s. In fact, if you drive a Tesla Model Y Performance you can probably beat supercars from the ’00s. But which one would you rather have in your garage?

Skoda UK

Zeekr isn’t satisfied with taking over the world of luxury EVs and plug-in hybrids, because Geely’s premium brand now says it wants a piece of the off-road SUV market too, and possibly the pickup truck segment on top of that. Neither is confirmed, but both are on the table.

So far, Zeekr has kept to the premium and luxury end of the market with vehicles like the X, 7X, 8X, and 9X, plus the 009 electric MPV. Speaking recently with Australian media, Zeekr vice president Mars Chen said off-roaders are being explored but stopped short of confirming anything for production.

Read: China’s Answer To The Rolls-Royce Cullinan Looked Classy, Mansory Fixed That

“Off-road hardcore SUV is definitely one direction,” Chen said, according to Australia’s Drive. “We are doing the research, but will we create a G-Wagen-style, box-style? This is not clear. But the current 9X and 8X SUVs, they are not bad off-road. They may not be that extreme, but they definitely have some capability.”

Were Zeekr to build a new off-roader, it could square up nicely against models built by Fangchengbao, one of the many brands owned by BYD. It currently sells two Land Rover Defender rivals, namely the Bao 5 and Bao 8, also badged as Denza models in certain markets, including Australia. Both are feature-packed and easily undercut European competitors.

Review: 2026 Zeekr 7X Performance Is Proof That Tesla Isn’t The Benchmark Anymore

Off-roaders aren’t the only thing tempting Zeekr. During the same interview with Drive, Chen suggested the automaker is also weighing a move into the pickup segment, potentially spawning a rival to the BYD Shark 6.

“Just now, we are having the internal discussion, it’s just a discussion,” he said when asked about a pickup. “We want to redefine every segment. We will check on how disruptive we can be if we enter.”

Zeekr’s Current Flagship

For now, those looking to get behind the wheel of the most premium and luxurious Zeekr can buy the 9X. Unveiled last year, it looks like a cross between a Rolls-Royce Cullinan and a Range Rover and is sold exclusively as a plug-in hybrid. The base version rocks a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine working alongside two electric motors, delivering a combined 885 hp. An even more powerful version with three electric motors is available, producing 1,381 hp.

Eager to offload surplus supplies of 2026 Gravity models, Lucid has announced an aggressive financing deal for the all-electric SUV. Whether it’ll be enough to sell the leftover inventory remains to be seen, but it certainly brings the Gravity within reach of more prospective shoppers.

According to a report from EV, the offer was first sent via email to customers in the US earlier this week, before being added to Lucid’s website. It notes the Gravity Touring and Grand Touring are available with zero percent financing for 72 months, but notes buyers must take delivery by July 31.

Read: Lucid Is Blaming Someone Else For The Gravity’s Second Recall In Four Months

The Lucid Gravity is also available to finance over 84 months with a monthly fee of $681, plus a $20,000 down payment. Those interested in leasing are in luck, too, as the 2026 Gravity is available with a $10,000 discount. Currently, it’s available to lease for $699 a month for the Touring and $949 a month for the Grand Touring, both over 24 months.

It’s unclear how many examples of the 2026 Gravity Lucid still holds in its inventory. It unveiled the tweaked 2027 model at the start of April, increasing the vehicle’s price tag by $4,000 but adding features as standard that were previously options, such as the DreamDrive 2 Premium advanced driver-assistance system.

Is Now The Time To Buy?

This is far from the first time that Lucid has tried to match Gravity’s sales. As of March, the financing rate had been cut to zero percent for 60 months and was available alongside up to $12,500 in lease incentives. As part of the existing deals, existing Lucid customers will be offered an additional $3,000 loyalty credit. A $3,000 trade-in allowance is also available for non-Lucid vehicles, excluding those from Ineos.

The drive to sell remaining 2026 Gravity models comes after a disappointing quarter for the American brand. Across the April-June period, it delivered 3,953 vehicles, below analyst expectations. During the quarter, it built 4,774 vehicles, fewer than the 5,500 that it built in the first quarter of this year.

Earlier this year, the tragic death of a two-year-old in Ohio pushed Hyundai to issue a global recall for the Palisade. The problem was alarming enough on its own. The second- and third-row seats could forcibly fold away even with an object, or a child, in the way. It turns out the flaw isn’t Hyundai’s alone.

GM has just issued a recall for Cadillac Vistiq models in the United States, revealing they too could suffer from a similar fault. According to the recall notice issued by the NHTSA, the third-row seatbacks can be folded into the stowed position with the press of a button in the cargo area, or a button on the pillar adjacent to the seat.

Read: 2026 Cadillac Vistiq Packs 615HP And 3 Rows, Priced From $79,000 To Nearly $100,000

As with the Palisade, the seatback will not automatically reverse upon encountering an obstruction. Crucially, and unlike the system in the Hyundai, the Cadillac Vistiq’s seatback will at least stop if it senses an obstruction. While that’s better, a child could still get trapped under the seatback as it folds, potentially causing injuries.

A total of 14,540 vehicles are involved in the recall. These consist of 13,629 examples of the 2026 Vistiq, manufactured from November 12, 2024, to April 9, 2026, as well as 911 units of the 2027 model, built from January 16, 2026, to June 15, 2026. GM halted 2027 shipments on June 8, 2026, and 2026 production has already wrapped up.

How Did It Find The Problem?

In the recall notice, GM acknowledges that an engineer submitted a report through its Speak Up For Safety program after evaluating the Vistiq’s seat following Hyundai’s recall. During testing, the seatback failed to return to its upright position after being folded down onto a box. The automaker is aware of 6 incidents or complaints potentially related to the fault, but isn’t aware of any injuries.

Dealers have been instructed to replace the folding third-row seat module, though replacement parts aren’t ready yet. As an interim step, owners can take their vehicle to a dealership to have the third-row folding function disabled. Once the parts arrive, the feature will be reinstated and updated through a separate customer satisfaction campaign. Owners can expect to hear about the recall on August 3.

Cadillac

The Polestar 4 is an unconventional all-electric four-door coupe crossover that grabbed attention for one strange reason, the absence of a rear window. Now the automaker is broadening the lineup with a new bodystyle that promises a healthier dose of practicality.

More: We Drove The Polestar 4 And It Wants To Change Your Mind On EVs

While some expected the model to be a wagon, it has officially been announced as the Polestar 4 SUV. The teaser focuses on the rear quarter, where the EV looks more like a hatchback from this angle.

A Rear Window At Last

The most notable changes compared to the regular Polestar 4 are the redesigned roofline, the slightly reworked rear glass, and the upright tail. That upright tail brings a rear windshield on the tailgate, officially making this a five-door EV. The rest of the design is expected to carry over unchanged.

Polestar 4 SUV

The SUV will almost certainly keep the coupe’s 2,999 mm (118 in) wheelbase, and it may well match the 4,840 mm (190.5 in) overall length too, since the rear bumper appears to be a carryover piece. What it adds, in Polestar’s words, is “an added layer of flexibility and practicality, with versatile storage capabilities for every journey.”

More: Buy A New Polestar For $25,000 Off. Small Catch, It’s Leaving The US

At the same time, the SUV will retain the “design, performance, and sustainability credentials” of the Polestar 4 coupe. The 400V architecture will offer a WLTP range of up to 630 km (392 miles) for the single-motor RWD variant, while the dual-motor AWD model will generate up to 544 hp (408 kW / 552 PS). Polestar adds that the SUV rides on retuned chassis components meant to strike a balance between refinement and sporty responses.

Everywhere But The States

Polestar has set the market launch for September 2 in the UK. It has also confirmed that the Polestar 4 SUV will be built in Busan, South Korea, and sold across most markets where the Geely-owned brand currently operates. That list won’t include the US, where Polestar has been forced to wind down sales after the 2027 model year over the “Connected Vehicle Rule.”

Polestar 4 Coupe

BMW just pulled the covers off the fifth-generation X5, which gives everyone a rough idea of what a next-generation X6 could look like. Independent digital artist Theophilus Chin moved quickly on that opening, working up a pair of renderings that imagine the Neue Klasse take on the coupe-SUV that started the whole segment.

More: BMW Is Fixing The X2’s Face But Skipping Its Ugliest Angle

While the X5 has been around since 1999, the X6 didn’t show up until 2008. The current version arrived in 2019 and went through a facelift in early 2023, which puts it near the end of its run. BMW isn’t saying much, though if approved, a Neue Klasse X6 could reach the road by 2027.

Same Sheet Metal, Different Roofline

Illustrations Theophilus Chin

Naturally, the model borrows the front end design from its X5 sibling, albeit with a sportier stance. In fact, the two nameplates traditionally share the same sheet metal up until the B-pillars. Behind that point the X6 goes its own way, taking the coupe-SUV path with a sloping roofline that ends in what looks like a slightly longer rear overhang.

More: BMW’s New X5 Will Get A Pure V8, Batteries Not Included

For the tail, Theottle took the sharp lines of the X2 as a starting point, an odd choice given how much flak the X2 has caught for its rear, though he did rework the taillights with more modern LED graphics to soften the reference. Even so, we’d bet a production car ends up with more elongated lighting units back there, closer to what you see on the i3, iX3, and X5.

Illustrations Theophilus Chin

The cabin and the mechanical bits underneath should carry over from the X5, which means the coupe-SUV would likely come with mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric powertrains, plus a twin-turbo V8 held in reserve for a performance variant. There’s also the chance of a Toyota-sourced hydrogen setup somewhere down the line, though BMW might keep that one exclusive to the X5.

The automaker has confirmed that the smaller BMW X4 won’t be returning for another generation due to changing market realities, with the X2 serving as an indirect replacement. The X6’s future is harder to read, since no camouflaged prototypes have turned up in testing yet. Until one does, Theottle’s rendering stands as our best preview of what Munich could plan for its next high-riding coupe.

BMW X5

After years of concepts, spy shots and shifting electrification plans, Bentley has finally put a name to its first production EV. Meet the Torcal, a new electric luxury SUV that will make its public debut in London on September 23 and will open an entirely new chapter for the British luxury brand.

Like the Bentayga, Bacalar and Batur, the Torcal – not Barnato, as some had predicted – gets its name from a famous natural landmark. In this case, it’s El Torcal de Antequera in southern Spain, a landscape known for its dramatic limestone formations. Bentley also points out that the name traces back to the Latin word torquere, linking it to the modern word torque.

Related: Mansory Charges Bentley Owners To Do This, Bentley Now Does It In-House

What’s more important than the name, though, is what the Torcal represents. It’s Bentley’s fourth standalone model line, joining the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga, and its only fully electric offering.

Company boss Frank Steffen Walliser claims it “sets extraordinary benchmarks in every area that matters” and “may just be the most considered car in our history,” though he could just mean he considered axing it every time he saw tumbling EV sales figures for the US market.

Last Year’s EXP 15 Dropped Big Clues

Bentley is still keeping most of the important details under wraps, but a confirmed length of under 5 m (197 inches) means it sits below the Bentayga in the lineup in terms of size. We also know it will feature Bentley’s next design language, which debuted on last year’s EXP 15 fastback SUV concept (seen above) and introduced a monolithic look and a return to upright grilles. And the interior will mix traditional Bentley luxury with unusual curved displays and an Audi multifunction column stalk.

Under the skin, it shares its hardware and platform with the Porsche Cayenne Electric. That means an 800 volt architecture that can add 100 miles (160 km) of range in seven minutes, and probably 108 kWh net of battery capacity. Design boss Robin Paige told Autocar to expect 300-350 miles (483-563 km) of range.

Could Have Up To 1,139 HP

Bentley hasn’t revealed power outputs yet – it says we’ll find out more in the weeks ahead – but we can be sure that dual motors and all-wheel drive will be standard. If it lifts its motors directly from the Cayenne Electric, the Torcal could start with 402 hp (408 PS / 300 kW) and top out at 1,139 hp (1,156 PS / 850 kW).

The Torcal won’t replace the Bentayga, but will be sold alongside it. Bentley has already confirmed the gasoline SUV will live on with another generation later this decade as the company embraces a slower transition toward electrification. Instead, the Torcal is designed to broaden the lineup, giving the brand’s SUV buyers another choice rather than forcing them into an EV.

Bentley