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2025-08-27

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Releases & Reviews

Prototype Drive: 2026 Porsche Cayenne Electric Brings a Ton of New Tech, Up to 1000 Horsepower (7 minute read)

Car and Driver samples camouflaged prototypes near Barcelona, with the Turbo targeting nearly 1000 hp (746 kW), the base around 500 hp (373 kW), and the S topping 600 hp (448 kW). An optional V-8-like synthetic soundtrack, revamped chassis, and richer infotainment aim to deliver Taycan pace in SUV form.

2025 Mazda MX-5 RF review: Buy the soft top; the hardtop sucks (2 minute read)

Ars Technica says the RF’s folding targa roof adds complexity, noise, and compromised rear visibility, dulling the MX-5’s light-on-its-feet charm. With less trunk access and extra mass, it feels fussier than the soft top, though the revvy four and manual remain delightful.

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Technology, Market Data & Analysis

This Electric Chinese Hypercar Just Went Faster Than a Koenigsegg Agera RS (4 minute read)

BYD’s YangWang U9 Track Edition hit 293.54 mph (472 km/h) on a German test track, a claimed EV top-speed record. Its quad-motor setup makes about 2,959 hp (2,207 kW) with 30,000-rpm units, eclipsing Rimac Nevera R and Aspark Owl benchmarks while signaling China’s hypercar ambitions.

Report: Americans Owe an Average of $24,602 on Cars (3 minute read)

TransUnion’s Q2 2025 Credit Industry Insights Report pegs the average auto loan balance at $24,602 with a typical new-car payment of $758. Sixty-day delinquencies are still rising, but the pace is easing as overall credit behavior shows signs of stabilization and access improves.

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Car Culture

SECRET Handmade Process of Watanabe Wheels, 2 Year Wait - FIRST LOOK INSIDE |Capturing Car Culture (50 minute watch)

Rare factory access shows R.S. Watanabe’s hand-built eight-spoke wheels from pattern making to manual machining and finishing (Hagerty). A tiny crew, vintage equipment, and meticulous inspection explain the two-year backlog, while JDM icons like the AE86 and S30 illustrate how the look defines eras of Japanese tuning.

Jeff Dunham Takes a Spin in Jay Leno's 1972 Scorpion Tank! | Jay Leno's Garage (22 minute watch)

Comedian Jeff Dunham joins Jay to trundle a 1972 Scorpion tank, exploring steering a tracked vehicle, visibility quirks, and road manners on Jay Leno’s Garage. The episode blends history, maintenance realities, and punchlines, showing why private armor ownership is equal parts passion project and conversation starter.

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Miscellaneous

Florida's 'Super Speeder' Law Is Only a Month Old—But Police Have Already Arrested Dozens (3 minute read)

Florida’s July 1, 2025 “super speeder” law mandates 30 days in jail and a $500 fine for driving 50 mph (80 km/h) over the limit or exceeding 100 mph (161 km/h). In just over a month, 70-plus drivers were cited, including one allegedly at 155 mph (249 km/h).

This $199 Hacking Device Will Probably Let Thieves Steal Your Car (Updated) (4 minute read)

404 Media documents how the $199 Flipper Zero can exploit keyless vulnerabilities to unlock and, in some cases, start vehicles from more than a dozen brands, The Drive reports. Automakers are racing to patch weaknesses; owners should disable passive entry where possible and store keys in signal-blocking pouches.

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Quick Links

Mercedes-Benz offloads Nissan stake for $325 million, source says (3 minute read)

Mercedes’ pension trust sold its entire 3.8% Nissan holding for 47.83 billion yen (~$325 million), sending Nissan shares down over 6%—their biggest single-day drop since early July—amid skepticism about the automaker’s turnaround.

2026 Audi Models Now Have Free Scheduled Maintenance Like BMW (2 minute read)

Audi will include complimentary maintenance on 2026 models covering the first three services, scheduled annually or every 10,000 miles (16,000 km), mirroring BMW and Genesis programs as it courts buyers after sluggish EV sales and branding stumbles.

Mystery Turbocharged Porsche 911 Could Be New GT3 RS or Revived GT2 (3 minute read)

Spy shots capture a 911 GT3 prototype at the Nürburgring with a revised rear bumper and turbo-like soundtrack, hinting at forced induction or hybrid assist to meet Euro 7 rules—potentially previewing GT3 RS or GT2.

Mercedes Is Making a New V-8 That Could Be Even More Powerful Than the Last (3 minute read)

AMG is developing a next-generation electrified V-8 for the AMG.EA platform, targeted for late 2027, promising more efficiency and likely eclipsing the M178’s 720 hp (537 kW), even as the latest C63 sticks with a four-cylinder.

Lamborghini Hasn’t Found the Power Ceiling on Its V12 Yet (3 minute read)

Lamborghini’s Fenomeno hit 823 hp (614 kW) from its naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12, yet CTO Rouven Mohr says headroom remains and combustion power will persist well into the next decade without resorting to turbos.

The 2026 Subaru Outback Goes More SUV-ish—Guess What That Does to the Price? (6 minute read)

By dropping its entry trim, the 2026 Outback’s starting price jumps $5,030, but MotorTrend says the more SUV-like redesign still delivers strong value among midsize two-row SUVs after more than 3 million sold since 1995.

Millions of Hondas Under Federal Investigation for Faulty Engines (3 minute read)

NHTSA opened an Aug 20 investigation into 1.4 million Honda and Acura vehicles over 3.5-liter V-6 connecting-rod bearing failures, spanning TLX, MDX, Pilot, Odyssey, and Ridgeline, citing hundreds of complaints and a potential manufacturing defect.

Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez have been announced as Cadillac’s F1 drivers for 2026 (3 minute read)

Cadillac’s 2026 F1 entrant locks in Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, with team principal Graeme Lowdon emphasizing their experience and leadership as the fledgling outfit builds systems, culture, and pace from scratch.

New BMW M2: Faster, More Powerful, Better? (20 minute watch)

carwow puts the updated M2 through road and track testing, discussing stronger mid-range pull, chassis and brake tweaks, and infotainment revisions while weighing manual involvement against automatic pace for daily driving and weekend fun.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Full Review: The 3-Row EV Everyone Wants (26 minute watch)

Doug DeMuro’s full review highlights the Ioniq 9’s adult-friendly third row, clever storage, and road-trip comfort, but notes that pricing, real-world charging speeds, and driver-assist tuning will determine how compelling this three-row EV feels.