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2025-06-09

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Releases & Reviews

You could own* this Le Mans-spec Aston Martin Valkyrie LM (4 minute read)

The 10-unit Valkyrie LM dumps the hybrid system yet still delivers 697 horsepower (519 kW) from its 6.5-liter Cosworth V12. A seven-speed sequential, push-rod suspension and Pirelli slicks promise Le-Mans-style pace, while Aston’s program adds bespoke seats, sim training and full track-side support for owners.

2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Sport Review: Better Specs, Weaker Vibes (10 minute read)

Toyota’s sixth-gen 4Runner moves to the TNGA-F frame and replaces its V6 with a 2.4-liter turbo four delivering 278 horsepower (207 kW) and 317 lb-ft (430 Nm). Efficiency improves to 21 mpg (11 L/100 km), but extra bulk, body cladding and a skyscraper hood erode the SUV’s scrappy charm.

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Technology, Market Data & Analysis

Geely chairman says global auto industry faces 'serious overcapacity' (1 minute read)

Geely founder Li Shufu warned that the global industry faces “serious overcapacity” and pledged to halt new plants and expansions. His caution underscores how China’s bruising price war is squeezing margins and forcing automakers, including Geely’s Volvo and Zeekr brands, to rethink growth strategies.

Rivian R2 'Will Underpin All Future EV Projects' At Volkswagen (4 minute read)

Rivian’s software chief says the forthcoming R2’s modular zonal platform will become the digital backbone for every future Volkswagen Group EV, starting with the sub-$25 k ID Every1. The $5 billion joint venture gives VW brands—from Audi to Porsche—shared code while still allowing bespoke UIs and chassis tuning.

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Car Culture

The ‘Disposable’ Era Of The Jeep Cherokee XJ Was One Of The Greatest Times To Be A Car Enthusiast (8 minute read)

David Tracy reminisces about the 2005-15 “Cheap Cherokee” heyday when $600-$1,400 Jeep XJs, powered by a 4.0-liter straight-six capable of 500,000 miles (805,000 km), let anyone lift, thrash and daily-drive real off-road capability, creating a uniquely classless, high-flying enthusiast community now priced out by nostalgia.

The Manual BMW Z4 Won't Die Because Too Many People Have Good Taste (2 minute read)

BMW is extending U.S. production of the six-speed Z4 M40i to May 2026 after manual demand pushed first-quarter deliveries up 4.2 percent. The 382-horsepower (285 kW) roadster, one of three stick-shift BMWs left, starts at $71,825—so act before the analogue, rear-drive convertible fades.

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Miscellaneous

A Tiny Part Is Giving Ford’s Cheapest Truck A Big Problem (3 minute read)

Ford is recalling 63,898 2025 Maverick pickups because loose retaining clips can disable the dash airbag-warning light, potentially hiding a fault. Owners will receive notices starting 9 June 2025; dealers will install revised clips free once parts arrive, continuing a string of quality-related Ford callbacks.

Oregon Could Be the Next State in America to Legalize Kei Trucks (3 minute read)

Oregon’s Senate Bill 1213 would let 25-year-old kei trucks—limited to 660 cc, 63 horsepower (47 kW) and 11 × 4.9 ft (3.35 × 1.49 m)—gain local road plates, though highways remain off-limits. The move follows Texas and Colorado, encouraging small businesses and enthusiasts to import Japan’s pint-size workhorses legally.

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Quick Links

The Mustang’s New Appearance Pack Is a 1980s Fever Dream (3 minute read)

Ford’s retro FX Pack dresses the 2026 Mustang GT Premium in Adriatic Blue paint, Oxford White 19-inch wheels, white badging and plaid-inspired leather inserts, reviving Fox-body flair without touching the 5.0-liter V-8’s output.

Volvo EX90 vs. Kia EV9 vs. Volkswagen ID. Buzz: Which 3-Row EV Is Best? (24 minute watch)

Edmunds Cars pits the Kia EV9, Volvo EX90 and VW ID. Buzz head-to-head, praising the EV9’s balance, noting the EX90’s 310-mile (499 km) range but glitchy tech, and lauding the ID. Buzz’s cavernous cabin.

2025 Has the Fewest New Car Model Launches in Decades (4 minute read)

Bank of America’s forthcoming Car Wars study reveals just 29 new models will debut in 2025—the lowest in decades—as carmakers delay or cancel EVs, trimming the four-year pipeline from 200-plus to 159 entries.

This Rusty Old Truck Is Actually a New Silverado Underneath (2 minute read)

Icon’s latest Derelict grafts a 1970 Chevrolet C20’s weather-beaten shell onto a modern Silverado chassis, hiding a stock 5.3-liter Ecotec V-8, touchscreen and Recaro-trimmed plaid cabin beneath convincing patina.

Only One? The Porsche 963 RSP Is a Modern Le Mans Race Car for the Road (11 minute read)

Porsche’s one-off 963 RSP road car gifts Roger Penske a 680-horsepower (507 kW) hybrid Le Mans prototype weighing about 2,300 lb (1,043 kg), re-trimmed in tan leather but still demanding a laptop to fire its 800-volt powertrain.

Here’s Why GM Designed a Gas Exhaust for EVs (2 minute read)

A new GM patent outlines a battery “exhaust” that vents hot, flammable gases through baffles if thermal runaway begins, acting like a water-heater relief valve to prevent EV fires without adding weighty cooling hardware.

Report: Most 2026 BMW Models Will Receive a Price Hike on July 1 (3 minute read)

CarsDirect says most 2026 BMWs will jump 1.9 percent—$1,100 to $2,500—on July 1, with electrified i5 and iX, M2 and Alpina XB7 temporarily spared as the brand cites inflation and equipment tweaks.

Mopar Back to NASCAR! Ram to Go Racing in Craftsman Truck Series in 2026 (3 minute read)

Ram will rejoin NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series in 2026 after a 17-year factory absence, targeting a four-truck Daytona debut next February and leveraging Direct Connection branding to spotlight its revived Hemi pickups.

Airstream's New Trailer Embodies Frank Lloyd Wright's Iconic Designs (7 minute read)

Airstream’s 28-foot Usonian trailer channels Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West with panoramic windows, fold-away furniture and compression-and-release hallway, limited to 200 units at $184,900 apiece for design-savvy road-trippers.

The Cheapest Pickup Trucks You Can Buy in 2025 Aren't All Small (11 minute read)

MotorTrend’s 2025 price roundup still finds pickups under $30 k, crowning Ford’s 41 mpg (6 L/100 km) hybrid Maverick XL at $29,840 while noting full-size F-150 and Sierra work trucks now start just below $40,000.