When rumors first emerged that Renault’s Alpine brand might be coming to North America, driving enthusiasts seemed excited by the prospect of the mid-engine A110 being available. However, subsequent talk from the automaker has confirmed that the French performance marquee might take a while to get here and had opted to focus entirely on all-electric vehicles.

Following the introduction of an updated version of its moderate overlap crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has reported that five of the most popular small cars sold in the United States had failed to receive a “Good” rating due to simulated injuries sustained among rear passengers.

It seems most Americans are continuing to hang onto their cars for extended periods of time, with a new report suggesting the nation’s average vehicle age is 12.5 years. According to the crew at S&P Global Mobility, it’s the sixth straight year this number has increased.

Hyundai Motor Group might quite literally end up paying for having failed to equip engine immobilizers to some of its older models. You’ll undoubtedly recall the TikTok Kia Boyz Challenge, where “at-risk youths” utilized USB connectors on torn open ignition slots to hotwire Hyundai and Kia models. Originating in the summer of 2021, the trend was in the mainstream media the following year and caused serious publicity issues for the manufacturer.

Numerous U.S. insurance agencies have reportedly joined forces to sue the automaker for damages they claim could reach up to $600 million.

Honda raised the curtain for its second all-electric model for the European market this week. The e:Ny1 is an atrociously named battery-powered crossover that serves as the electrified counterpart to the Euro-spec HR-V. While not a formal debut, the Japanese manufacturer is teasing the EV’s design language and offering up some relevant details — perhaps foreshadowing things to come in North America.

Toyota was far behind the times when it came to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with some at the company citing concerns around owners’ privacy as a significant speedbump to implementing the tech. Now, it seems those concerns didn’t completely extend to other areas of the automaker’s business. It recently apologized for leaving millions of owners’ data on the internet for several years.

Let’s be clear: Street takeovers, sideshows, or whatever you want to call them are not held or attended by legitimate car enthusiasts. They often feature stolen vehicles and frequently end with crashes and injuries – many times to the people on the sidelines watching. One Los Angeles suburb has had enough, and its city council recently passed an ordinance directing police to permanently confiscate vehicles seized during the events.

Cake is often served as a dessert at business meetings, but not like this.

Activists crashed Volkswagen's annual meeting in Berlin to throw cake at executives.

Lexus teased the updated GX this week, suggesting that the model is about to become a bit more brutish looking. While the SUV has always resembled a Toyota 4Runner in a tuxedo, the next version is posed to share a platform with the Tundra and Sequoia — both of which are quite boxy.

Even the most prestigious sports car brands are going electric, though McLaren recently announced an extension of its gas and hybrid engine partnership with Ricardo. Maserati, whose Ferrari-derived gas V8s sing one of the most intoxicating songs, just did the opposite. The Italian automaker announced that it would discontinue its V8 production at the end of 2023.

Subaru currently offers one EV that it developed alongside Toyota. The Solterra is an electric SUV for outdoorsy types, and while it might satisfy the brand’s loyal customers, it’s not quite enough to make Subaru a competitive force in the EV market. That’s going to change over the next few years, as the automaker said it plans to offer four EVs by the end of 2026. 

Few companies – automotive or otherwise – are as skilled with the fine art of introducing special editions of existing products as Stellantis. It’s a great way to string along an interest in an existing product; for the sake of a pot of paint and some creative naming, they get fresh coverage from a site like this while moneyed gearheads get a new color to distinguish themselves from their equally moneyed friends.

With Ford having debuted the global version of the midsize Ranger pickup in 2021, the only question was what kind of changes would be made for the American market.

Well, we aren’t getting the diesel powertrains available in other parts of the world. But that’s hardly a surprise. I suppose the big shocker is exactly how similar the U.S. Ranger happens to be to the versions you can already buy in countries where they have the steering wheel on the wrong side. However, that’s hardly an insult when you take into account what you’re getting.

The Porsche 718 Spyder has always delivered a thrilling open-top driving experience, but there’s a new variant coming that promises to up the ante significantly. The 2024 718 Spyder RS borrows the 4.0-liter flat-six from the 718 Cayman GT4 RS and combines it with Porsche’s excellent seven-speed PDK transmission. Power output is prodigious, at 493 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. 

The Ford Ranger returned to America a few years ago as the automaker’s entry to the midsize truck market, but the rest of the world had been enjoying the pickup while it was on hiatus here. Ford released a new Ranger for other countries last year, and now the U.S. is getting it, along with a Raptor variant for the first time.

On Tuesday, General Motors confirmed Apple’s Mike Abbott as the executive vice president of its Software division — an important role considering that the automaker is betting large on shifting revenue toward connectivity. The company has been stressing the importance of integrated mobile services for years and recently announced it would be dumping Apple CarPlay so that drivers would be required to interface with its proprietary operating system.

It’s an open secret that most of us here are fans of the new Defender. Comfortable, capable, and shod with boxy good looks, the off-roader checks many boxes on our list – except one: Wrangler- or Bronco-style open-air wheeling.

A custom shop in The Netherlands has changed that with a new creation called the Valiance.

Stylists at the Big T have re-upped the Nightshade trim for their Corolla. Set to appear as an option on the sedan, hatchback, and hybrid models, the package will bring some visual interest to the brand’s popular compact car.

Lucid Group’s report for the first quarter of 2023 was off the mark, with the automaker suffering a $780-million net loss. While any burgeoning carmaker should expect to burn through cash for a while, electric-vehicle firms seem broadly dedicated to the practice. Many EV startups have floundered and some have even bordered on shell games, promising things they shouldn’t in the hopes to draw in more investment capital. However, Lucid has seemed committed to delivering enviable products — making the financial report genuinely disappointing. 

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are among the most asked-for tech features in new cars, but automakers can’t seem to come to terms with what that means for their own technology interfaces. Toyota was super slow to offer the tech, much to the irritation of buyers, and we recently learned that GM plans to phase the feature out in EVs going forward. The automaker’s cross-town rival, Ford, won’t be heading down the same path, as CEO Jim Farley said the battle has already been lost.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma is coming soon, but the internet has been abuzz with rumors and leaked images. The latest comes from a Reddit user who claims the image above came from navigating Toyota’s website.

Most of us have forgotten something in a mode of public transport – be it a smartphone, sunglasses, or a jacket hastily flung onto the seat whilst fumbling around with luggage. Heck, a former managing editor of this place once managed to inexplicably leave his passport on an airplane, stranding him in a foreign country whilst he frantically sought a replacement.

In that vein, ridesharing company Uber has complied its 7th annual snapshot of riders’ most forgotten and most unique lost items. 

The Ford Ranger is sold worldwide, but Americans have been slower to get new variants and models. That’s about to change, as Ford recently confirmed that it would reveal the truck on Wednesday, May 10.

Driverless cars for everyday drivers do not exist, but a handful of cities in the country have allowed companies like Waymo to begin limited testing of autonomous taxis and other vehicles. Tech-heavy San Francisco is at the forefront of the movement, but its time with robo-taxis hasn’t been without drama. 

The R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R is one of the most iconic JDM cars in history, thanks to the Fast and the Furious movies, and the few that have made their way here over the years have sold for big bucks. Recently, a blue GT-R driven by Paul Walker in Fast & Furious 4 hit the auction block, and the result is surprising, even for an R34.

It’s the week to write about truck teasers, it seems. Perhaps tired of Toyota getting all the digital ink about shadowy references to future product, Ram dropped a post on Instagram suggesting they also have something up their sleeve.

Though it’s been several years since the first problems were reported, we’re still feeling the effects of the massive Takata airbag recall. B MW recently issued a “do not drive” warning to owners of its older vehicles over concerns about their airbags, adding to the list of automakers still recalling vehicles.

Ford Motor Company is tweaking plans in China and seeking to turn around financial losses after five years of lackluster sales within the region. The new strategy will be focused on exporting to other countries, commercial product, and reinforcing the necessary supply chain for all-electric vehicles.

Acura has finally announced pricing for the new 2024 Integra Type S and it has predictably come out as more expensive than the Honda Civic Type R with a starting MSRP of $51,995. The Acura offers additional standard equipment, however, and produces a smidgen more power from the 2.0-liter turbo the two models share. Though the over $7,000 pricing premium might make the fancier badge a tough sell, especially these days.

Though their electric vehicle lines are among the most compelling new zero-emissions models, Kia and Hyundai’s EVs don’t currently qualify for federal tax credits because of where they’re built. Both are working toward bringing EV production to the U.S., but in the meantime, Kia is looking to take advantage of a little-known provision in the new rules that allow customers to receive the credit on ineligible vehicles when leasing.

After what seems like a lifetime of being strung along, Toyota has finally dropped a firm date on which they will introduce the new Tacoma. And, true to form, they also published some photos from which we can parse some detail.

Alfa Romeo is not known for its vehicles’ efficiency or environmental consciousness, but the company is heading toward an all-electric future like many others. The automaker’s North American CEO, Larry Dominique, told The Drive that Alfa’s working on an electric SUV for the American market and promised that it would be different from the sea of increasingly homogenous vehicles hitting the market.

Porsche will reportedly be raising prices between 4 and 8 percent on the European and U.S. markets during the second half of 2023 to cope with higher operating costs noted in its first-quarter earnings announcement. Even so, higher-end brands appear to be doing fairly well at present, and Porsche itself noted that operating profits rose to €1.84 billion ($2.03 billion USD) while revenue increased to €10.1 billion in Q1 — which is about 25 percent higher than they were last year.

Things change quickly at Tesla, including pricing and the models it sells. The automaker has listed a Model 3 long-range model on its site with a “coming soon” tag for a while, and buyers can now order the car after a several-month hiatus from the company’s catalog.

Movie adaptations of video games aren’t always the most well-received at the box office, but the popularity of recent films may change that. The Super Mario Brothers movie just hit $1 billion in ticket sales, so it’s not surprising to see another beloved video game franchise headed to the big screen. A new trailer for the Gran Turismo movie just dropped, giving a glimpse before its August release.

While some may be perturbed by the premise that Toyota is adding complexity to the next-generation Tacoma via hybridization, the current model has been around since 2015 and is arguably due for an update. To pave the way for the new truck, the manufacturer recently sought to assuage fears that there will be no manual option by issuing a press release vowing be-clutched variants would remain available.

If you’ve taken a car to the dealer for repairs, you’re probably aware that costs can add up fast. Independent shops are a great way to save money on car repairs, but a new J.D. Power study found that owners are less satisfied with aftermarket service providers than in years past. 

Like a petulant child who won’t share their toys, Ford has released a handy smartphone app filled with crowd-sourced and professionally curated tools such as trail maps for off-road journeys – but the only ones who can use it are Bronco owners.

Talk about walling off your garden. Or off-road trail, in this case

Lordstown Motors is back in the headlines with news that it could end up in bankruptcy if it can’t negotiate a dispute with Foxconn. The Taiwanese giant threatened to withhold funding, which could have a dire impact on Lordstown’s ability to operate.

Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius has told the German media that the brand has no intention of cutting ties with China, saying such a move would be unwise for the whole of Germany industry. 

"The major players in the global economy, Europe, the U.S. and China, are so closely intertwined that decoupling from China makes no sense," he was quoted as saying in Bild am Sonntag.