Author: News Room

There’s a common horror movie trope that no matter how frightening the monster may be, humans are the real monsters. Some Arizonians have taken that to heart, as they’re sending their children to school in autonomous robot cars to avoid potentially dangerous interactions with a human Uber or Lyft driver. According to AZ Family, parents are putting their unaccompanied teenagers in driverless Waymo taxis, despite it being against Waymo’s rules. As a parent, I mostly understand that. Stranger danger, right? People can be weird and unpredictable, which is why many parents teach their kids not to talk to strangers. So…

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I pulled up to a Moab, Utah overlook in a 2026 Honda Passport Trailsport prototype and hopped out into the red sand. My group of six Passports, all in orange camouflage, was about 5,000 feet above sea level, parked alongside Jeep Wranglers, Ford Broncos, and side-by-sides that slithered over rocks like their wheels were tentacles.  Those hardcore, purpose-built off-roaders are what most people imagine in Moab, conquering the world’s terrain with no phone signal, shade trees, or access to plumbing. They don’t expect a cushy, unibody Passport. But to my surprise, we fit right in.  The Passport is all-new for…

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Many carmakers are caught in a pickle in the European Union. Meeting the stricter emissions regulations scheduled to come into effect in 2025 requires selling considerably more electric cars, but sales data shows that motorists remain more interested in piston- and hybrid-powered cars. Stellantis has a solution: If EVs don’t sell, it’s open to slashing production of piston-powered cars to keep its fleet-wide CO2 emissions in check. Starting on January 1, 2025, mass-market car companies will need to achieve a fleet-wide CO2 emissions target of 95 grams per kilometer. That’s down from the 106.6 grams per kilometer target set in…

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Lincoln found the sweet spot of understated luxury The Nautilus hybrid is a smooth and efficient companion Would-be Lexus RX buyers should put Lincoln Nautilus on their shopping list Luxury crossover SUV buyers coming out of a decade-old Lexus RX should turn their attention to Lincoln. My mom is and you might want to as well. My mother, who has a 2013 Lexus RX, feels like Lexus has lost its way both in terms of design and refinement. She’s rarely wrong.  In comes an unexpected possible replacement from Lincoln in the form of the 2024 Nautilus hybrid. Redesigned with an…

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Last month, Stellantis admitted it has too many unsold cars in North America. To get rid of excess inventory, it plans to assemble fewer cars in the coming months. Over in Europe, production could be cut as well, but for a different reason. The automotive conglomerate is concerned making too many ICEs will increase the risk of paying fines for exceeding fleet emissions targets. Freshly appointed Chief Operating Officer of Stellantis’ operations in Europe, Jean-Philippe Imparato, said the company is ready to reduce the output of gasoline and diesel cars. The COO told Automotive News Europe the production cuts could…

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If you have a severe case of range anxiety, then a fully electric vehicle is probably not the right choice. A hybrid makes more sense, especially if you frequently do long trips and don’t want to worry about running out of juice. After Subaru launched a Crosstrek hybrid that can do 621 miles before refueling, Kia promises to smash the 1,000-mile barrier with its own electrified compact crossover. The Niro Tri-Fuel isn’t your run-of-the-mill hybrid crossover despite looking instantly familiar. That’s because it also runs on liquified petroleum gas thanks to an LPG tank mounted under the cargo floor where…

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Stellantis will cease operations at its large proving grounds near Yucca, Arizona by the end of 2024. The company’s proving grounds in Chelsea, Michigan will remain open and active. It’s unclear if there are any buyers interested in buying the 4,000-acre facility. It’s no secret that Stellantis isn’t having a great year. Nor is it a secret that its North American brands under Fiat Chrysler Automobiles are feeling pressure to turn things around. Now, they will have to do it without the use of the Arizona Proving Grounds, a 4,000-acre testing facility that Chrysler purchased way back in 2007. It’s…

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The 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E is $3,500 cheaper than before.  It will start at $36,495, plus a $1,995 destination charge.  A new Sport Appearance Package brings GT styling cues to the Premium trim.  The entry-level Ford Mustang Mach-E will be cheaper to start in 2025. The electric crossover will go on sale early next year with a starting price of $36,495. That’s $3,500 cheaper than the 2024 Mach-E Select before adding the $1,995 destination charge. A new starting price isn’t the only update for the Mach-E. The crossover now comes standard with a heat pump, and the Blue Oval decided to…

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Ford filed a patent for a vehicle-based security system that can launch drones. The vehicle is also equipped with sensors to monitor areas around buildings. There’s no indication at this time that such a system is headed for production. Home security is a big deal these days, and Ford has an idea to get your vehicle in on the action. The automaker recently published a patent detailing a vehicle-based security system, but it doesn’t simply monitor the vehicle. Just the opposite in fact—the vehicle monitors you. And it uses a drone to see areas beyond the street or driveway. The…

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The Audi A2 celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2024.  Audi let its apprentices modernize the A2 by turning it into an EV.  The Audi A2 E-Tron features modern design cues borrowed from other E-Tron models.  The Audi A2 was an oddity when it launched 25 years ago. It had short overhangs, a tall roof, and an aluminum body. But the five-door hatch only existed for about five years. A team of Audi apprentices has now revived the funky hatch for the modern era by turning it into an electric vehicle. Audi didn’t provide details about the A2 E-Tron’s powertrain, as…

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