A British friend of mine recently asked my opinion on several vehicle models, saying he was browsing company cars. What I assumed would be a quick chat quickly devolved into my being educated on British tax codes, especially the benefit-in-kind (BIK) taxes applied to any items of value provided to employees. While familiar with the concept, I was not ready to traverse the graphs and tables required to determine how much you’re on the hook for depending upon what type of vehicle you’ve chosen.

Stellantis has been slow to roll out new electric models, so it’s not surprising to see the automaker being one of the last to join Tesla’s North American Charging Standard. That changed yesterday, as the automaker announced that it would begin offering the tech on some electrified vehicles starting in 2026.

Super Bowl commercials are lots of fun, but they sometimes spur controversy instead of lighthearted giggles. The Dawn Project, founded and helmed by billionaire CEO Dan O’Dowd, sponsored an anti-Tesla ad during the Super Bowl last weekend, but the group’s claims were almost immediately called out by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), whose logo The Dawn Project used without permission.

I'll admit, I struggled for a headline for this one. Press releases are, across the board, buzzword-heavy, and that's never more true than when it comes to concept cars.

It makes sense -- concept cars have less in the way of concrete specs to discuss than production cars do. And it certainly applies to the Chrysler Halcyon Concept.

Hitting the powertrain of its pickup truck and SUV with a shrink ray has permitted Rivian to offer a new battery option – and a new price point – for its pair of all-electric models.

Last year, the owner of a 2015 BMW i3 REx was reportedly quoted over $71,000 to have a new battery pack installed. For reference, that particular model would have retailed somewhere around $50,000 brand new. While we’ve seen some staggering high prices being entertained for EVs in need of a new battery pack this has to be one of more egregious examples on record.

The Tesla Model Y is the world’s best-selling electric vehicle, but that hasn’t stopped the automaker from exploring new ways to boost buyer interest. Though it’s eligible for federal tax credits, Tesla is temporarily decreasing pricing on the SUV, dropping it to $42,990 for the base model and $47,990 for the Long Range model.

Autonomous vehicles don’t have the best track record when it comes to earning and keeping public trust, even in tech-forward California. General Motors’ Cruise is taking a hiatus testing its vehicles after a high-profile crash and recall, and most recently, a Waymo vehicle was set on fire in San Francisco.

Many so-called “analysts” in this industry more than live up to the first four letters in their name, either crying foul over something obvious or failing to recognize the trainwreck of a situation until it’s far too late. The latest? A specter of EV charging prices eventually going the way of gasoline prices, complete with dynamic pricing and unpredictable costs.

You know – things with which drivers of ICE-powered vehicles have been dealing with for decades.

We’ve seen a few Abarth-branded vehicles here in the States, but the Italian performance shop has a long line of vehicles that never graced our shires. The latest might be the 600e, or Scorpionissima, an all-electric hatchback with ties to the vintage Fiat 600 from decades ago.

Football and marketing - does it get any better? In this era of fragmented streaming services, there are precious few moments of what was once dubbed Must See Tee Vee where one be assured hundreds of million eyeballs will be glued to the same message simultaneously. We likely will never have another shared broadcast moment like the finale of M*A*S*H, so The Super Bowl is it.

Europe has, and will likely remain, far more aggressive with emissions-cutting measures than we are here in the United States. Strict climate-related regulations on the Old Continent mean that gas vehicles – even those that we consider relatively efficient here – are extremely expensive and difficult to find. That’s how the 2024 Toyota GR Yaris, a car powered by an (admittedly powerful and turbocharged) three-cylinder engine, costs nearly double its sticker price in France.

While Audi had previously confirmed 2023 as the last year of the R8, production of the model has continued into 2024. The automaker will reportedly be keeping the mid-engine coupe around through March to satisfy demand.

The presence of the 2025 Kia K5 at the 2024 Chicago Auto Show is a reminder that the K5 still exists.

The 2024 Chicago Auto Show is a slow one, debut-wise, this year. This makes Kia the star of this year's show by default.

Last week, Ford CEO Jim Farley asked a group of dealers for some open and honest feedback while promising to spend the next few weeks visiting showrooms. The point was to create a conversation between the automaker and dealerships that have grown annoyed with some of the changes Ford has been asking them to make. However, the latest from the North American Dealers Association (NADA) meeting makes it sound like the relationship may still be dicey.

With New York City having decided to embrace European-style congestion charging as local residents express their displeasure, it might be wise to take time to look at other roadway initiatives that might soon migrate across the Atlantic to see how they’re fairing. Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) seem to be the next step, as they’re reliant on the same camera systems and vehicle tracking used for congestion taxes. However, they’re also following a similar trajectory as Britain's speed cameras in Europe. Disgruntled citizens have not only continued destroying the devices, they’re reportedly picking up the pace.

Though this year’s hot Hyundai enters 2024 with meaningful refinements to gear like its engine mounts and suspension bushings, not to mention its fresh new face, the brand has added less than a thousand bucks to its starting price.

Tesla has the best-selling EV in the world, but that hasn’t made the automaker immune to cost-cutting measures. A recent report describes an internal memo that asked managers to justify their teams’ employment.

General Motors’ Cruise division has been in the news a lot lately, but Waymo has stayed mostly out of the spotlight. That changed earlier this week when one of its autonomous taxis struck a bicyclist in San Francisco, though it appears the situation might have even challenged human drivers.

This is a marque which will celebrate its centenary next year with only a single model on sale in its showrooms, showing up as the Pacifica and its numerous variants. Suits in corner offices seek to right this detail with an electric vehicle they will unveil early next week.

Aston Martin is reportedly reaching out to candidates to replace Amedeo Felisa as the company’s chief executive officer, potentially setting the business up to have its fourth CEO in four years. Felisa has headed the UK-based automaker since May of 2022 and inherited a situation where the business was already taking on sizable amounts of debt annually.

Ford was the first company to announce a move to Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), explaining that its vehicles would soon be able to seamlessly charge at Supercharger locations across the country. The automaker hadn’t detailed the transition and steps owners need to take to charge until recently, when it confirmed that owners would be able to charge using the FordPass app instead of needing a separate Tesla app.

Beyond being one of my absolute dream cars, the Audi RS 6 Avant is just a very impressive car. It’s getting even more impressive in 2025 with the super-limited RS 6 Avant GT, a unique special edition with a throwback livery and handcrafted details. The automaker hasn’t detailed North American pricing yet, but the car starts at $235,777 (219,355 Euro) on the Old Continent.

Production has officially ended on the Mini Clubman, with the automaker giving its farewell address for the model which saw nearly 21,000 deliveries inside the United States for 2023. While the brand isn’t known for trading in high volumes, Clubman deliveries have been hovering around 20,000 units for the last few years. That’s down from a peak of roughly 54,000 units in 2008.

Don’t expect to see many SUVs in the background of future photos of the Eiffel Tower. Results of a weekend referendum have tripled parking rates for some types of vehicles in Paris, France. Based on weight, the new rules target out-of-towners who bring SUVs into the City of Light.

Lincoln Aviator sales slipped in 2023, but the automaker is looking ahead to 2025 with a refreshed SUV that it hopes will boost interest in the three-row premium model. The 2025 Aviator picks up new available features, including BlueCruise and updated styling elements that give it a more modern look.

I review cars online and on the radio, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned in almost a decade of doing it is that, car reviewers are often at odds with the people who actually buy and own the vehicles. Spending a week or a few days on a first drive event are great ways to get a feel for how a car performs and get a handle on its basic features, but living with a vehicle reveals so much more.

That’s the case with Rivian, which recently landed atop Consumer Reports’ list of most-loved auto brands, despite the publication listing the R1S as one of its least favorite test vehicles of 2023.

For a long time, Tesla took criticism for bypassing the recall process in favor of issuing over-the-air software updates. That practice has changed, and the automaker has issued several recalls in recent months, including the most recent one, which covers 2.2 million vehicles for an issue with the size of its warning lights.

Italian car buyers haven’t warmed to EVs with the same enthusiasm of other European countries, but the government looking to change that. Beyond investing with incentives and other efforts, the Italian government could take a stake in Stellantis, owner of Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and Fiat. The automaker and government have been at odds for a while, as Setllantis has moved away from Italian auto production in favor of less expensive markets.

A recent survey, conducted by Automotive News, has indicated that automotive dealerships are still broadly dissatisfied with the Biden administration’s strategy to force the United States to pivot toward all-electric vehicles. According to the 2024 Dealer Outlook Survey, 83 percent of respondents said the government was pushing the transition toward EVs too quickly and mucking up the auto market.

The Ford Explorer has been among the top-selling SUVs for years, but the current generation is a bit stale. Ford’s solving that in 2025 with a refreshed Explorer that brings a new face, an updated interior, and new tech.

Volvo spun off Polestar years ago, but the Chinese-owned Swedish automaker has been footing part of the bill for Polestar’s operations since then. Things are changing for Polestar, however, as Volvo will hand the brand over to parent company Geely to focus on its growth and stability.

Andretti-Cadillac's bid to join the Formula One grid has been officially rejected, confusing plenty of people that thought the team had a good chance of being the first American entrant since Haas. Despite the FIA making the motorsport franchise the singular finalist in its Expression of Interest process, F1 appears to have had a chance of heart.

Following fears that Ford’s electric vehicle supply chain may represent a national security issue, concerned legislators are doubling down by outlining the path battery components are required to take in order to get here. On Monday, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) accused the automaker of having plans that required contracting technology and software firms with close ties to both the Chinese and North Korean governments. 

It’s increasingly difficult to find cars with manual transmissions in the U.S., but occasionally automakers surprise us. My Toyota GR Corolla is a great example of an unexpected treat, but BMW recently announced a much quicker, open-top manual. The 2025 Z4 M40i is getting a manual option for the first time as part of an options package with other performance goodies.

People poked fun at Stellantis in the U.S. for stretching the Hellcat engine as far as it could possibly go, but the automaker is now eying electrification. Even Jeep is involved, first announcing the Recon EV and now, the Wagoneer S. The sharply styled EV is set to debut this fall.

Automakers have seen wavering demand for EVs across the country, but California has always been the stronghold for electric adoption and infrastructure. Even so, the tides turned late last year, which could signal slower times ahead for the industry.

Despite previously having committed itself toward a future where it builds all-electric vehicles, General Motors has made plans to bring plug-in hybrids back to our market. That’s according to CEO Mary Barra, who announced on Tuesday that the automaker would be leaning on hybrid vehicles to help contend with increasingly strict emission regulations.

Tall hats at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have indicated they have wrapped an investigation into the gear selector design found in some Durango SUVs and Ram pickup trucks.

Electric vehicle demand among potential buyers is growing, but it’s slower than many had hoped. That said, commercial buyers, especially those with large fleets, may be the short-term savior for automakers with deep EV investments. Ford recently announced that Ecolab would purchase more than 1,000 EVs to electrify its California operations through the next year.

The Volvo EX30 promises to be one of the most affordable new EVs on the market, but it’s not quite ready for primetime. Volvo recently announced that it was delaying European deliveries of the SUV to fix software issues.

Imagine this: You're looking for a crossover with a pinch of sportiness. None of the current crop of two-rows in the upper $30K to $50K range are doing it for you. You like the swoopy Mazda CX-90 but it's too big for your wants and needs. You hear the phrase "zoom zoom" whispered by unseen forces. You get to your Mazda dealer and see that a new contender has emerged. Enter the 2025 Mazda CX-70.

While we’re constantly hearing about tightening emissions regulations, the relevant timelines issued by government actors are rarely adhered to. Electric vehicle subsidies went from temporary to indefinite and combustion bans have gone from right around the corner to anyone’s guess. This is also true of the industry itself, which often makes bold promises designed to appease a subset of the public only to repeatedly move the target date back a few years. 

With this in mind, Porsche’s CFO was recently quoted as saying European combustion bans will probably need to be delayed and there’s good reason to believe him. 

The all-new 2024 Toyota Tacoma is starting to land on dealers’ lots, but the EPA hasn’t released fuel economy figures for the truck. Natural Resources Canada has posted its estimates, however, and they’re in line with the numbers seen on window stickers in the United States.

General Motors is pushing ahead with plans to become an electric automaker, but the road toward that goal hasn’t been the easiest so far. Cadillac and Buick dealers accepted buyouts in large numbers to avoid making investments to sell EVS, and now the automaker’s dealers are pushing it to develop more hybrids instead of releasing new electric models.

If you’ve never attended a Barrett-Jackson event, think of it as a massive car show blended with the insanity of an auction and the food trucks from a county fair plus a SEMA’s worth of retail vendors. The whole thing is wonderful, glorious, organized gearhead chaos – and its marquee event is happening right now in Arizona.

Tesla recently recalled almost every vehicle it has sold to update the Autopilot system with new driver monitoring features and safeguards. We’re now learning of another significant recall, this time involving almost 200,000 cars for issues with the backup camera software that could obstruct visibility.

Every new car has a limited top speed programmed in at the factory, but for most, it’s usually deep into triple-digit numbers that most people never see. A proposed bill in California could drastically change the way automakers limit vehicle speeds, as one state senator wants to keep vehicles traveling within 10 mph of the speed limit.

Despite trying to stay away from politicians during last year’s labor strike, United Auto Workers’ leadership endorsed Joe Biden for president on Wednesday. This comes after union-head Shawn Fain said UAW dealings with domestic automakers would not be undermined by those seeking to garner political support. Now, Fain is backing Biden on claims that his administration supports the American workforce.

Regulators in Germany have opened an investigation into alleged diesel exhaust rule circumvention on the part of BMW. Claims have been made that the automaker used an illegal defeat device on select models to achieve lower tailpipe emissions during testing. It’s a situation reminiscent of the Volkswagen Dieselgate scandal from 2015. However, government regulators have been on the offensive ever since — roping in loads of manufacturers and leaving a subset of the public wondering whether modern emission laws are even tenable.

It’s a great time to be a fan of burly off-road pickup trucks from the Bowtie brand. With multiple flavors of dirt road fun in three different sizes, Chevy has covered just about all bases.

Tesla was recently overtaken by Chinese automaker BYD as the world’s largest EV builder, but the American company had the world’s best-selling vehicle overall last year. According to a new report from data company JATO Dynamics, the Model Y sold 1.23 million vehicles, making it the global best-seller by a large margin.

The Detroit Lions have never played in a Super Bowl, but the team’s appearance in this Sunday’s NFC Championship game may pave the way for its first Big Game. The whole city is understandably excited, and to help its employees enjoy the game, General Motors is delaying a shift at its Flint Assembly Plant.

Cadillac will soon be an electric automaker, but before it’s got some tricks left before it makes the leap completely. The company recently revealed the 2025 CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing with refreshed exterior styling, an updated interior and new features.

A Detroit-based startup hoping to normalize robotic tire changes has filed for bankruptcy, perhaps offering hope to all the humans worried that they're about to be displaced by automation. RoboTire, which launched in 2019, had stated its intention to speed up vehicle maintenance for auto repair shops, fleet operators and dealerships. Now its status is Chapter 7.

If you’ve been putting off picking up a new Wrangler just because Jeep doesn’t offer the Xtreme 35 Tire Package on two-door models of the Rubicon and Willys, you have officially run out of excuses.

The long-rumored affordable, entry-level Tesla is almost here – maybe. Four years after the automaker first said it would build a cheaper EV, it appears things are in motion. Tesla reportedly alerted suppliers that it would start building a mass-market compact crossover in the middle of 2025, which would become one of the most affordable electric models on sale if it becomes a reality.

Volkswagen is giving the Golf a makeover for its 50th birthday, adding an illuminated badge along with some novel LED headlight and taillamps. VW doesn’t like to make aggressive changes to the iconic hatchback, so the alterations made on the Mk8 Golf are fairly subtle. They’re also largely irrelevant because the only version of the model still sold on our market is the sporting GTI. 

Maserati has delayed the launch of the seventh-generation Quattroporte, citing concerns that the model needs to adhere to a certain level of performance outlined by the manufacturer. However, the benchmarks the brand intends on reaching are largely a mystery and the company has already expressed some troubles related to transitioning its lineup toward all-electric vehicles.