News Blog

Auto news blog | Summary of current auto news by the TTAC staff

UAW Announces Volkswagen Workers Filing for Unionization Vote in Tennessee

Volkswagen employees in Chattanooga, TN, have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for a vote to join the UAW. Clearly pleased, the union shared this world with the news on Monday to be accompanied by the requisite media agitprop.

This will be the first time a non-union automotive plant has filed for a union election in quite some time. The UAW called it a “grassroots effort” following the UAW’s previous contract negotiations with Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis.

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Mercedes-AMG Gifts All-Wheel Drive to Slinky GT, Jacks the Sticker

It will be of little surprise to learn that Mercedes-AMG, like just about every other car company on this green earth, are fettling the prices of their wares. Still, even the one-percenters who fork out for sporty machines like the Merc GT coupe may be blinking in askance upon seeing that model’s new sticker price.

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Ford's BlueCruise Under Scrutiny After Fatal Crash

Tesla’s Autopilot and Full-Self Driving tech have been under scrutiny for a while now over their repeated failure to stop collisions and monitor driver behavior. Now, it’s Ford’s turn under the spotlight with its BlueCruise system. The NTSB said it wants to find out if the system was in use when a Mustang Mach-E was involved in a deadly crash in San Antonio, Texas.

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Tesla Looks to Boost Model Y Sales with Threats of Nearing Price Increases

The Tesla Model Y is a wildly popular EV on the global stage, but the automaker is still looking for ways to boost sales and keep it relevant. As we approach the end of the first quarter of 2024, Tesla is pushing the Model Y with a message that prices will increase on April 1 in hopes that the threat of higher purchase price s will drive buyers to act in the next two weeks.

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Toronto Police Recommend Letting Thieves Steal Your Car

While car crime has been up generally in recent years, some North American cities have seen staggering increases in automotive theft. Toronto estimates that it has endured a nearly 150-percent in automotive crime over the past six years and local authorities are rolling out a new tactic to cope with the situation — police have advised the public to just let thieves take their vehicle.

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Nissan Fettles GT-R for 2025, Could Be Last Call

In what may very well be the  final round of drinks at the GT-R table, Nissan has rolled out a few changes to Godzilla for the 2025 model year.

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AAA: Most People Don't Trust Autonomous Vehicles

Most people in the U.S. are distrustful of autonomous vehicles. That’s the message from AAA’s latest study, which found that a surprising number of people express fear, and many are uncertain about autonomous technology.

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EV Sales Numbers are Growing, Just Slower Than Expected
Honda and Nissan are Teaming Up to Accelerate EV Development

Honda’s partnership with General Motors yielded the Prologue EV and Acura ZDX, and the Japanese automaker is now looking to team up with Nissan to do more of the same. The pair announced their fresh collaboration at a news conference earlier today.

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Driving Dystopia: Automakers Are Selling Your Driving Data to Insurance Companies

A recent report from The New York Times has accused automakers of selling customer driving data to insurance firms. While this is something many drivers had already been made aware of since the implementation of connected vehicles, the outlet claims that the amount of data has ramped up to a staggering degree. Not only is the amount of data being shared staggering, so is the specificity and degree to which it’s impacting people’s insurance rates.

The report focuses on LexisNexis’ “Risk Solutions” program formerly dedicated to keeping track of accident reports and moving violations. However, the division has expanded dramatically over the years and now oversees just about every scrap of relevant data modern vehicles can accumulate about you.

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What Kind of Cars Do Women Actually Want?

On International Women’s Day, the Kia EV9 was announced as the “Supreme Winner” of the Women's Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY) 2024. However, saying that this is the vehicle women most desire — let alone are willing to spend money buying — is probably a stretch.

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Report: Fisker Hired a Bankruptcy Consultant Ahead of Possible Restructuring
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq N Will Land With an Almost $70,000 Price Tag

Hyundai is expanding its “N” performance line with the new electric Ioniq 5 N, which will land as a 2025 model. The automaker recently priced the hot EV, making it the most expensive vehicle in its lineup in the United States.

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Cadillac's New Electric V-Series Concept is Far From a Silent EV

It was easy to make fun of Dodge and the “fake” exhaust it chose to employ on the new Charger EV, but it’s no longer the only one trying to capture the thrill of a performance gas engine with a silent electric powertrain underneath. We’ve seen “exhaust” systems for the Mustang Mach-E that mimic a V8 sound, and now, Cadillac’s getting in the game with a new concept car. While we haven’t seen a complete picture of the new electric Opulent Velocity concept, the automaker’s short teaser film let us hear the car, which sounds somewhere between a spaceship and an eight-cylinder’s roar.

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In Memoriam: Marcello Gandini, an Automotive Design Master

The world lost one of its preeminent car designers today, as Marcello Gandini has passed away at the age of 85. Though perhaps best known for the flashy and outrageous Lamborghini Countach, Gandini’s pen was applied to many other Italian, German, French, British, Japanese, and Swedish concepts and production designs. Gandini’s prolific portfolio of work made a permanent mark on automotive design.

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Ford Trademarks 'RS200' Name in Europe

Ford has trademarked an interesting name from its back catalog. Oval has filed trademarks for "RS200" and "Ford RS200" within the European Union Intellectual Property Office, according to our sister publication.

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Self Driving Probably Won’t Improve Until Artificial Intelligence Does

Following yesterday’s article about the IIHS suggesting the implementation of driver-monitoring as a way to mitigate lackluster advanced driving systems, many readers asked why automated driving still seemed so far behind in terms of development. After all, we have had companies promising the sale of commercially viable autonomous vehicles for years. But companies are nearly half a decade behind schedule with a public that has almost completely lost faith in the program.

What happened?

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Porsche 911 Hybrid Confirmed for Summer Debut

For years, the possibility of a hybridized Porsche 911 has been the topic of much discussion among enthusiasts. Some said the move would spoil the recipe, suggesting the brand create an entirely new model for electrification like it did with the Taycan. Others believed the potential performance gains associated with hybridization were too lofty to ignore, often citing the legendary Porsche 918 as proof. Regardless of which camp you happen to occupy, Porsche is indeed building a hybrid 911 and has even confirmed its official debut for this summer.

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Driving Dystopia: IIHS Suggests Driver Monitoring Systems Need Improvement

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has cooked up a new ratings program to encourage automakers to implement even more electronic nannies, including the kind that watch your every move behind the wheel, because the current batch have been deemed inadequate.

“We evaluated partial automation systems from BMW, Ford, General Motors, Genesis, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Tesla and Volvo,” IIHS President David Harkey said. “Most of them don’t include adequate measures to prevent misuse and keep drivers from losing focus on what’s happening on the road.”

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Is Jaguar Inches Away from Death's Door?


Rumors of Jaguar’s death may be greatly exaggerated, or are they? Recent posts on social media claim to feature a letter from a Jaguar dealer that tells an owner of the brand’s demise. While we don’t tend to fall for shaky internet rumors, there’s enough smoke around Jaguar to warrant a closer look for fire.

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Researchers Find Super Simple Way to Hack Tesla Keys

Security researchers have found numerous vulnerabilities in some of today’s most popular vehicles, including finding ways to access owner data, take control of vehicle systems, and more. Tesla’s vehicles aren’t immune, and a team of researchers recently showed how easy accessing one of the advanced EVs with a simple electronic device can be.

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The New Audi A3 Comes with Subscription Fees in Europe

European-market cars are a great way to see what some of America’s favorite luxury brands have in store for the New Continent, but the Euro updates don’t always make their way here. One we’re hoping skips North America is Audi’s new subscription scheme, recently introduced with the new A3 in Europe. We’ll see the new car in 2025, but let’s keep our fingers crossed this change stays out of North America.

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Next Infiniti QX80 to Offer Hot Tunes, Cool Air

The steady stream of teasers for the 2025 Infiniti QX80 continues apace, and it appears your author has drawn the straw to act as yer guide in this matter until the thing actually drops later this month.

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Fact Check: Did President Biden Help Bring An Auto Plant Back?

During last week's State of the Union address, President Joe Biden made a claim that seemed to suggest that his administration, along with the UAW, helped Stellantis resurrect a plant in Belvidere, Illinois. Did it actually happen that way?

The answer is unclear.

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Report: The Next-Gen BMW M3 Will Land with Electric and ICE Powertrains

BMW has aggressive electrification plans, but the automaker isn’t taking its eye off the internal combustion ball. A new report from BMW Blog states that BMW is planning a next-generation M3 between 2027 and 2028 that will land with gas and electric configurations.

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Report: Nissan Might Kill the GT-R After 2025

The automotive world is going electric while many companies are focused on keeping the lights on. Both are true for Nissan, so it’s not surprising to see that 2025 might be the last for its R35 GT-R sports car. The car hasn’t changed much in its 17 years on sale, but it’s hard not to mourn the death of another iconic gas vehicle.

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Tesla Might Soon Offer a Supercharger Extension Cable

For a long time, Tesla’s Superchargers only supported its vehicles, but the automaker has recently opened the network to outside brands. While some challenges, such as delays and crowded locations, were expected, there have been a few issues relating to the fact that some automakers don’t install their vehicles’ charging ports in places where they can be reached by a Supercharger cable. To remedy that issue, Tesla is working on an extension cable that would allow non-Tesla EVs to charge without hassle.

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Notable Updates are Coming to the VW ID.4 for 2024, but Only the More Expensive Models

Volkswagen has sold tons of ID.4s, but the EV is getting an update heading into the 2024 model year to keep it current. Changes include more tech, new advanced driver assistance features, but they’re limited to higher, more expensive trim levels.

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Jeep Showcases Easter Treats

The annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab will kick off later this month, meaning we’re in for a deluge of teaser shots for whatever the mad scientists have cooked up in the Jeep labs ahead of this year’s gathering.

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Homeland Security Now Combating Street Takeovers

Homeland Security was reportedly involved in stopping a street takeover in Conroe, Texas, after a prior event became violent when the police arrived. The takeover occurred in the wake of the Lone Star Throwdown, a truck-focused automotive meetup, with organizers complaining about the trend in the aftermath.

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Study Claims EVs Will Not Save the Environment, All Cars Are Bad

A recent study published in the Journal of Transport Geography has alleged that “car harm” cannot be undone by the world pivoting to all-electric vehicles. 

However, the paper doesn’t favor everyone running out to buy the largest diesel pickup they can afford. Instead, it adopts the same anti-driving nonsense we’ve seen from the Vision Zero Network and government regulators that have been caught up in its activism web. The issue, as framed in the study, isn’t that EVs still pose a problem. The complaint is that all vehicles are problematic and the paper recommends sweeping policy changes pertaining to how roads are managed to deal with the matter. 

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Rivian Introduces $45,000 R2, Surprises With R3

In a California two-fer, electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian rolled out a pair of new EVs today, both of which have deep familial resemblances and a host of appeal to overlanders.

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Stellantis is Dropping Billions on Ethanol Tech in South America

Dodge is in the news this week with its new Charger, which will be offered with gas and electric powertrains. While the automaker’s parent company is moving toward electrification, it remains dedicated to internal combustion, announcing that it would invest billions in a new engine that runs on ethanol. The automaker said its investments in South America, specifically Brazil, show its confidence in the continent and a desire to reduce emissions with bio-hybrid technologies.

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Report: Tesla Readying New Model 3 Performance

Tesla released a new Model 3 for 2024, but keen eyes immediately noticed that the automaker had only refreshed two of the car’s three previous configurations. The standard range rear-drive model remained, along with the Model 3 Long Range, but the Performance was nowhere to be found. That could be changing, though, in typical Tesla fashion, there are no official confirmations.

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The Nissan Leaf is Eligible for a $3,750 Tax Credit Again

The Nissan Leaf was already the most affordable EV on sale, but recent changes have made it even cheaper. The automaker announced that the car has regained eligibility for federal tax credits, though for only half of the maximum $7,500.

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Dodge Confirms No Manual Transmission for New Charger

With the 2024 Dodge Charger having finally been previewed, driving enthusiasts have been arguing about whether the all-new model is an improvement from the original or a grotesque misstep. While it looks similar to its predecessor, Stellantis opted to abandon V8 powertrains for a turbocharged I6 or 400-volt electric architecture. The car has also fully embraced all-wheel drive at the expense of rear-drive variants. Considering the above, it should be no shocker that the brand likewise snubbed manual transmissions — with Dodge having just confirmed the decision.

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Nissan Rental Sales: The Altima Might Remain the Fastest Car on the Road

If you’ve rented a car in recent years, there’s a great chance you were offered a Nissan of some sort. Whether it’s the Altima or Rogue, Nissan has long relied heavily on fleet sales, and the company’s most recent sales numbers show that the habit hasn’t died yet. A whopping 44 percent of its February 2024 sales, or around 40,000 vehicles, went to fleets, so get ready to be a temporary Nissan driver the next time you rent a car.

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Rivian R2 Specs Surface Ahead of March 7 Reveal

Upstart automaker Rivian has had its ups and downs, but buyers have pretty consistently rated it highly for satisfaction. Though the company’s first two vehicles, the R1T pickup and R1S SUV, are expensive, high-end EVs, Rivian has announced smaller models riding on a new R2 platform. The first, a lower-cost electric SUV, is expected to be revealed on March 7, but we’re getting a sneak peek at the specs and pricing thanks to the internet sleuths on X/Twitter.

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The Honda Prologue Gets Major Boost with Federal Tax Credit Eligibility

Honda leaned on General Motors to help get its EV program off the ground here in the U.S., and it appears that the partnership is paying off in other ways. The automaker recently announced that its upcoming Prologue EV would be eligible for federal tax credits of $7,500, meaning buyers can get around 15 percent off the SUV’s purchase price at the point of sale.

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More EV Price Cuts in 2024, This Time From Nissan

A thesis will surely be written in the future about the yo-yo behavior of EV prices which are seeming to coincide with early adopters getting their fill while everyone else needs to be talked into the things. The latest? A round of cuts at Nissan on the tongue-twisting Ariya.

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BMW is Willing to Pay to Attract Customers from Other EV Brands

Tesla might not be the most dominant EV maker in the world, but it’s on top of the market here in the United States. Legacy automakers like Ford and General Motors are in the hunt, but so far, no one has been able to topple Tesla’s top spot. BMW is hoping to take some of the shine off of Tesla’s crown with a new incentive that gives buyers a $1,000 discount to buy one of its new EVs.

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2025 Infiniti QX80 Ditches V8

Pour another one out for the eight-cylinder engine. With the configuration departing from machines like the Ram half-ton pickup truck, Dodge Charger, and comprising only a relatively slim percentage of F-150 sales, it should be no surprise it is vanishing at some other brands as well.

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F1 Drama After Whistleblower Accuses FIA President of Shenanigans

A whistleblower has accused FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem of abusing his authority to influence the results of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The alleged action was attributed toward influencing the results of the Formula 1 event.

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Automakers Sticking with Screens Are Going to Receive Bad Safety Ratings in Europe

Updated European safety certifications may discourage global automakers from leaning so heavily upon touch controls in the future. While not a formal government regulator, the European New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) is extremely influential in a manner similar to the United States’ Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). These are the entities testing the crash worthiness of modern automobiles, or bench-marking industry safety standards, and Euro NCAP has elected to make distracted driving a major issue moving forward. By 2026, any vehicles sold within the European market will need to include physical controls to be deemed truly safe.

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Toyota's EV Battery Production Efforts are Looking Up

Toyota may be pushing hard toward more diverse propulsion options instead of solely focusing on EVs, but that doesn’t mean it’s not looking for ways to make headway on electrification. The Japanese auto giant recently announced its acquisition of Primearth EV Energy from Panasonic, which it said would give it a significant boost toward EV battery mass production.

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Possible Arson Causes Tesla to Temporarily Shutter Gigafactory Berlin

We’ve heard of automakers shuttering factories for production issues and parts shortages over the last few years, but Tesla’s recent shutdown is a new one. The automaker said it shut down production at its Gigafactory Berlin due to a potential sabotage attack, which left the facility without power.

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Charged Up: The 2024 Dodge Charger is Finally Here

Muscle cars are going electric.

Well, maybe not across the board. The internal-combustion engine Mustang seems safe, at least in the short term. That said, there will be at least one muscle-car EV on the market soon: The 2024 Dodge Charger.

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Lone Star Special: 2024 Jeep Gladiator Texas Trail

Car companies have been building vehicle trims specifically for the Texan market for some spell, pandering to celebrating the Lone Star State with these special editions.

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Feeling the Pinch: Jeep Recalls 338k SUVs

In a new recall, some members of the Grand Cherokee family will require a dealership visit to sort out a problem with upper control arm pinch bolts which may have been damaged during vehicle assembly.

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Struggling Fisker Could Get a $400 Million Lifeline from Nissan

Things looked promising for Fisker at first, and the automaker actually delivered on its promise to design and manufacture a new EV. Even so, the automotive market is brutal and unforgiving, and Fisker’s fortunes have turned as it has had an uphill battle getting its new Ocean SUV out the door. The company recently announced a layoff of 15 percent of its workforce and said it would pause investments until it could find a new partner.


It now appears that help could come from Nissan, who, according to Reuters, might be close to investing $400 million into the struggling EV maker.

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Honda Introduced the 2025 Pilot with a New Black Edition Trim

The Honda Pilot has always been a family-friendly SUV with plenty of room, but the automaker has been pushing it toward more rugged styling and an adventurous personality in recent years. Honda recently introduced the TrailSport variant with all-terrain tires and an off-road look, and for 2025, the SUV is getting a new Black Edition that brings 20-inch wheels and dark exterior trim for an aggressive look.

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Report: The GMC Hummer EV Isn't That Great for the Environment

Big shocker here: Inefficiency is inefficiency, and it doesn’t matter if it comes from a gas or electric powertrain. Big, heavy EVs have proven to be just as wasteful as many of their internal combustion engine counterparts, though they aren’t producing any tailpipe emissions in the process. The GMC Hummer EV SUV ranked high on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE) list of “meanest” vehicles for the environment, placing only slightly better than the gas-powered Mercedes-Benz G 550 SUV.

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Yay or Nay? Volvo Launches Accident Ahead Alert Service

Volvo is introducing a new feature that alerts drivers of accidents reported on the road ahead. With similar services available for free on select phone apps, many of which can be integrated with your vehicle’s infotainment display, Volvo’s offering doesn’t sound incredibly novel on its face. But it’s leveraging real-time data from government-operated traffic management centers via the automobile’s proprietary user interface, technically making the feature the first of its kind within the automotive industry.

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White House Vows to Investigate Security Risks Posed by Foreign-Connected Vehicle Tech

On Thursday, the Biden administration announced plans to investigate the potential national security risks being confronted by American automakers and any threats posed by connected vehicle technologies controlled by foreign adversaries — including China.

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China’s BYD Says Prospective Mexican Plant Won’t Export to U.S.

Chinese automaker BYD has been seeking to build an automotive plant in Mexico, with the company’s regional chief executive confirming the plan on Wednesday. CEO Stella Li has stated that BYD has yet to decide upon a final location. But that plan is for the site to boast a production capacity of 150,000 vehicles annually, with none being slated for export to the United States.

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GM Recalls the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon for Unexpected Braking Issue

The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon bring a lot to like in a more maneuverable package than full-size trucks can offer. Tens of thousands of them might also bring unexpected automatic emergency braking, leading to a recall.

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Ford Owners Can Begin Using Tesla Superchargers in the U.S. and Canada

Ford was the first company to announce a move to Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), and the automaker is now the first to offer access to the Supercharger network. The Blue Oval announced that its customers can now get a free Fast Charging Adapter that lets their vehicles access Tesla’s chargers.

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Senate Bill Seeks to Tariff Chinese Vehicles Out of Existence

This week, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) is introducing legislation to increase tariffs on imported Chinese vehicles this week with the stated goal of dealing with the “existential threat posed by China.”

The bill seeks to raise the base tariff rate from 2.5 percent to 100 percent, including vehicles owned by Chinese-based automakers that are assembled in places like Mexico. With Chinese exports already under a 27.5 percent tariff, the changes would effectively make those products prohibitively expensive.

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The Tesla Roadster Might Finally Arrive Next Year

Tesla has this awesome habit of announcing a vehicle and then waiting several years to start selling it. The Cybertruck just went on sale in late 2023, four years after its reveal, but it’s not the worst offender on Tesla’s “Is it really coming?” list. That honor goes to the Tesla Roadster.


Announced in late 2017, the car was initially scheduled for release in 2020, but CEO Elon Musk pushed the date back, citing the need to focus on developing other models. Musk first set the date in 2023, but in a post on X this morning, he moved the goalpost again, this time to 2025.

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Deez Nuts: Toyota Recalls 381,000 Tacoma Trucks

The hackneyed old joke of a ‘loose nut behind the wheel’ causing a crash may be even more worn out than your author’s favorite Cole Haan loafers, but a manufacturing issue involving potential loose nuts on the axles of certain Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks is a very real problem which has led to a large recall.

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  • B-BodyBuick84 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport of course, a 7 seater, 2.4 turbo-diesel I4 BOF SUV with Super-Select 4WD, centre and rear locking diffs standard of course.
  • Corey Lewis Think how dated this 80s design was by 1995!
  • Tassos Jong-iL Communist America Rises!
  • Merc190 A CB7 Accord with the 5 cylinder
  • MRF 95 T-Bird Daihatsu Copen- A fun Kei sized roadster. Equipped with a 660cc three, a five speed manual and a retractable roof it’s all you need. Subaru Levorg wagon-because not everyone needs a lifted Outback.