CARS NEWS
Sales Prove the Manual Transmission Is Saving the BMW Z4
It took BMW nearly five years to bring the manual Z4 to the US following its launch in Europe. American buyers were finally able to get their hands on the six-speed beginning early last year. But for BMW, that holdout may have been worth it; the manual Z4 outsold the automatic in the US in 2024 by a pretty significant margin. According to BMW, the manual Z4 accounted for 65 percent of the convertible's total sales in the US last year. Granted, the brand only sold 2,129 examples of the Z4 ... Read more
Tags: BMW
Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid - Tons of power, tons of weight, tons of money.
Nothing inspires mixed emotions quite like a performance plug-in hybrid. At first, it seems like a perfect middle ground between gas and electric. There’s smooth, emissions-free driving for running around town, big range and quick refueling for long trips, and huge performance when you let the engine and motor work in tandem. The new Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid does offer all that. But, it’s not quite as simple as having your cake and eating it too. Porsche facelifted the third-generation ... Read more
Tags: Porsche
2025 Toyota bZ4X
The Toyota bZ4X rolls into 2025 with more black and less green. There's a new Nightshade Edition in the mix, and the price tag is lower—way lower. The electric crossover now starts well below $40,000, including Toyota's $1,395 destination charge. The 2025 Toyota bZ4X starts $38,465—$6,000 less versus last year's model. That gets you a single-motor XLE turning just the front wheels, still making 201 horsepower. Stepping up to the dual-motor XLE AWD costs $40,545, but you'll only get an extra ... Read more
Tags: Toyota
2024 Kia EV6
Here's what I learned about route-planning and charging for an electric road trip in 2024. I had no particular apathy toward America's biggest brand of superstores. But when you're an EV owner and you're off the beaten path, Walmart can be a godsend. The stores have been adding Electrify America DC fast chargers to parking lots all over the country at a rate that far surpasses other retailers. When you're on the road, and you're low on juice, look for a Walmart-it may just save you from ... Read more
Tags: Kia
New Renault 5 Turbo 3E is Coming Back
Electric hot hatches are few and far between. Models that spring to mind include the Abarth 500e, Cupra Born VZ, Mini John Cooper Works, and the lesser-known MG4 XPower. Renault wants to overshadow all of them—including its very own Alpine A290—with a ludicrously powerful iteration of the reborn 5. Yes, the Renault 5 Turbo is back, and just like the Porsche Taycan, it's an electric car with "Turbo" in its name. Confusing, I know. Although it may send a concept vibe, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E is ... Read more
Tags: Renault
Tesla Confirms Sub $30,000 "Model Q" For 2025
Tesla has teased the idea of a more affordable car slotted beneath the Model 3 for many years. But as recently as a few months ago, the company said the project was off the table. Now, a new report suggests otherwise; Tesla's entry-level EV could show up in 2025. Referred to internally as the "Model Q," Tesla's head of investor relations, Travis Axelrod, reportedly told Deutsche Bank that the $30,000 EV would debut early in 2025. It will be priced below $30,000 with subsidies, or $37,499 if ... Read more
Tags: Tesla
The FIRST-EVER all-electric Cadillac ESCALADE IQ 2025
The 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ starts at $129,900 including destination. That's over $40,000 than the cheapest gas-powered Escalade. Cadillac has released pricing for the Escalade IQ, the all-electric version of its extremely popular luxury people-mover. The 2025 Escalade IQ will start at $129,900 with the $2,290 destination fee included, which is over $40,000 more than the cheapest gas-powered model. Despite the similar names, the electric IQ and the gas-powered Escalade are fairly different ... Read more
Tags: Cadillac
Aston Martin Valhalla production begins in the second quarter of 2025.
The Aston Martin Valhalla's origin story goes clear back to 2019 with the AM-RB 003 concept. If this were normal times—and a normal car—we might be talking about a mid-cycle refresh at this point. Instead, Aston has officially revealed its long-awaited mid-engine supercar after years of delays. Was it worth the wait? We won't have a definitive answer until we get some time behind the wheel, but the stats are compelling. There's 1,064 combined horsepower from its plug-in hybrid powertrain, a ... Read more
Tags: Aston Martin
Mazda Iconic SP Concept
It's been a little over a year since Mazda hinted at the return of the RX. The Iconic SP took the shape of a slinky coupe with a two-rotor engine. Ever since the gorgeous concept premiered at the Japan Mobility Show, the Zoom-Zoom company has been dropping hints about putting the car into production. In a new interview with Automotive News, the head honcho strongly suggested the two-seater sports car is happening. According to Masahiro Moro, Mazda's Chief Executive Officer and President, ... Read more
Tags: Mazda
Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed 2025
The SL63-based PureSpeed is inspired by over 100 years of Mercedes motorsport greats. Mercedes plans on building 250 examples. Six months after showing it off as a concept, Mercedes-AMG just revealed the PureSpeed, a roof-less, windshield-less version of the SL63. It looks basically identical to the concept car, complete with the Formula 1-inspired "halo" bar that splits the cockpit in two and the 300SLR-referencing humps behind the seats. Mercedes plans on making 250 examples as part of its ... Read more
Tags: Mercedes