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- V8 S-Class Driven, Cheap Car Loans, Supra Finale
V8 S-Class Driven, Cheap Car Loans, Supra Finale
PLUS: New Audi Q9 Reveal, 1000-HP Lotus, Jeep Debacle
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Releases & Reviews
Mercedes' refreshed flagship debuts an evolved M177 V-8 with a flat-plane crankshaft and Miller-cycle combustion, making 530 hp (395 kW) and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm). The 5,016-pound (2,275 kg) S580 4Matic hits 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, and the new MB:OS operating system debuted on the cheaper CLA first.
The send-off Final Edition gets larger front rotors, added camber, and stiffer bushings, and still rips to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. The 0.98 g skidpad result fell short of earlier Supras on aging Pilot Super Sports, but pricing of $70,645 reflects a properly focused farewell.
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Technology, Market Data & Analysis
Lenders approved 71% of car-loan applications in April—a near-four-year high—with subprime share dropping from 19.5% to 17.4% and down payments averaging 13.4%. A record 29.7% of new loans now exceed 72 months, while 58.5% still carry rolled-in negative equity from prior loans.
Reps. John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) introduced bipartisan legislation Monday that would codify and expand the Biden-era executive order banning vehicles with Chinese-developed software or connectivity systems. The bill has broad support from Detroit, Toyota, VW, and Hyundai trade groups, all citing national security.
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Car Culture
Thomas Klockau's love letter to the downsized '77 Fleetwood Brougham celebrates Cadillac's 75th anniversary year, when 28,000 buyers ordered the rightsized luxury barge with its new 425-cubic-inch (7.0 L) V-8 making 180 hp (134 kW)—or 195 hp (145 kW) with optional fuel injection. Sticker price: $11,546.
Dutch coachbuilder Autoforma turned a first-gen TT Roadster into a one-off restomod inspired by the 1995 TTS Roadster concept. The folding top gives way to a tonneau panel, new flush bumpers and fender vents emerge, but the powertrain stays untouched—just a lowered stance over Nimbus Gray paint.
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Miscellaneous
After 14 years and a legacy that pushed the industry to electrify, Tesla built its last Model S and Model X at Fremont over the weekend. The line will now pivot to robot production, and the 1,020 hp (761 kW) Plaid exits as a defining statement on what EVs could be.
Vin Diesel is executive producing a live-action Fast & Furious series for Peacock, with up to four shows reportedly in the franchise's universe. The announcement coincides with the original film's 25th anniversary and a Cannes screening, ahead of franchise finale Fast Forever in March 2028.
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Quick Links
Audi's first full-size three-row SUV gets a wraparound dashboard inspired by the Grandsphere concept, matte finishes with optional olive wood, and cupholders sized for Stanley mugs—debuts later this summer.
Lotus's Focus 2030 flagship pairs the brand's 900V X-Hybrid architecture with a V-8 promising more than 1,000 hp (746 kW), built in Europe to dodge tariffs and styled after the Theory One concept.
Jeep's fourth Cherokee PTU recall covers another 61,711 vehicles built 2018–2023, bringing the total recalled past 200,000 after software patches failed to fix the spline-failure pattern that strands drivers without power.
Honda's revived hybrid coupe shares its 200 hp (149 kW) and 232 lb-ft (315 Nm) powertrain with the Civic Hybrid but runs a tick slower—6.4 seconds to 60 mph—while the simulated S+ Shift gear changes don't fully convince.
NEVS is auctioning eight final cars from Saab's Trollhättan factory May 21–30: seven 9-3 prototypes including a four-in-wheel-motor electric, an autonomous dev car with LIDAR, and a NEVS-built Chinese 9-3.
Rivian's in-house AI assistant rolls out today via OTA to Gen 1 and Gen 2 owners with the $15/month Connect Plus subscription, handling HVAC, drive mode, and Google Calendar via voice.
Kia design chief Karim Habib hinted to Autocar that the wedge-shaped Vision Meta Turismo concept could spawn an electric Stinger successor—if Kia can make a low-volume sport sedan pencil out financially.
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