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- Valhalla Arrives, Prices Up 10%, New VW Atlas
Valhalla Arrives, Prices Up 10%, New VW Atlas
PLUS: Freelander Returns, GLS V8, Bronco RTR
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2026-04-01
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Releases & Reviews
Hagerty's Henry Catchpole gets behind the wheel of Aston Martin's long-awaited mid-engine hybrid hypercar, which pairs a twin-turbo flat-plane V8 with electric motors for a combined 998 hp (745 kW). The Valhalla positions itself as a more attainable alternative to the Valkyrie.
Built on VW's MQB Evo platform, the redesigned Atlas features a more powerful turbocharged four-cylinder, a new 15-inch touchscreen, and an upscale interior with eye-catching spiral-patterned ambient lighting. Covered by four major outlets, this is a serious upgrade for VW's largest SUV.
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Technology, Market Data & Analysis
One year after tariffs were imposed, the automotive industry has absorbed an estimated $30 billion in additional costs, with imported vehicles seeing price hikes of $5,000 to $8,900 per unit. Even domestically assembled vehicles are $1,600 to $2,000 more expensive than a year ago.
As two- and three-year leases on electric vehicles expire, a flood of used EVs is returning to market at roughly 40% of their original value. The resulting billions in residual value losses are forcing automakers to reckon with the true cost of aggressive EV leasing incentives.
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Car Culture
When the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School launched in 2008, GM was genuinely worried that 400 hp (298 kW) was too much for average Corvette buyers. The story reads as a time capsule from an era before four-figure horsepower became commonplace.
We Bought the Cheapest-to-Drive Car in America, and It Ruined All Other Cars for Us (16 minute read)
This long-form essay chronicles one couple's descent into Prius ownership, driven by extreme frugality, and how the car's absurdly low running costs made every other vehicle feel like a financial betrayal. It's equal parts love story and cautionary tale.
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Miscellaneous
A new AAA survey confirms what every driver already suspects: headlight glare is getting worse, not better. While LED and HID tech has improved forward visibility, the blinding effect on oncoming drivers remains an unsolved and increasingly annoying problem.
Cody Walker revealed at FuelFest that when Vin Diesel announced the franchise-ending Fast Forever last year, Universal hadn't even greenlit the project. The 2028 film will close out the 25-year saga that helped define modern car culture.
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Quick Links
The refreshed GLS580 now packs a flat-plane-crank V-8 making 530 hp (395 kW) alongside a dramatically upgraded interior that Mercedes calls "the S-Class of SUVs."
The off-road-focused Bronco RTR's cabin goes all-in on Hyper Lime green accents and a unique topographical dashboard design, with customer deliveries starting January 2027.
A collaboration between JLR and China's Chery, the revived Freelander rides on an electrified platform offering both BEV and PHEV options, though U.S. availability is unlikely.
Doug DeMuro explores the oddity of slapping Nissan's performance badge on a full-size SUV, with predictably entertaining results.
Polestar and Volvo are consolidating all Polestar 3 production at the Charleston, South Carolina factory, ending Chinese manufacturing of the electric SUV.
A BMW executive hinted that an electric successor to the Z4 roadster could happen "in the evolution of things," keeping enthusiast hopes alive.
Nokian's Hakkapeliitta technology lets drivers retract tungsten studs at the push of a button, eliminating the road damage and noise of traditional studded winter tires.
Senator Bernie Moreno plans legislation next month to expand the existing ban on Chinese automakers selling passenger vehicles in the U.S., citing national security concerns.
The QX65's debut Sunfire Red color features actual gold-coated glass flecks in the paint, requiring two gallons per car for a finish reminiscent of the 2015 GT-R's Regal Red.
Jay Leno examines a one-of-a-kind 1930 factory hot rod valued at $400,000, the only known surviving example of its kind.
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