Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:10:37 +0000 Motor1.com Car News, Reviews, Owner Tips and Information | Motor1.com https://www.motor1.com/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810998/honda-dynamic-wireless-charging-road/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:08:34 +0000 Honda Builds Roads That Charge EVs While They Drive Honda’s dynamic wireless charging road readies for a late-2026 durability track, then a 984 foot E14 Tateyama Expressway trial.
Honda does not want electric vehicles to pull over and plug in. It wants the road to send power to the car while it keeps moving, and that idea is moving from a closed test track to Japan's public highways.
Honda, Taisei Corporation, and Taisei Rotec have built a system that wirelessly charges electric vehicles (EVs) while they drive. Logistics and commercial trucks are first in line for public-road trials in Japan's 2027 fiscal year, which starts April 1, 2027.
Honda's Dynamic Wireless Charging Road Moves Into Testing
Honda Wireless Power Transfer Road System
Photo by: Honda
The setup embeds transmitter coils in the pavement. They create a magnetic field that a receiver on the vehicle turns back into electricity. Honda builds the hardware on both sides and feeds it with direct current (DC).
Honda says these units are the first to put the inverter and coil in one package. That lowers the parts count and the amount of roadwork needed to install each unit. It also makes it easier to install them into existing roads instead of building new lanes from scratch.
Taisei supplies a fast-responding DC power system for the embedded coils. Taisei Rotec develops the construction methods to install the hardware in existing pavement without weakening the road surface.
Honda has worked on dynamic wireless power transfer since 2021 and, with its partners, has focused on this magnetic coupling road system since 2025. The company already runs Honda Charge in Japan as a separate EV charging network.
Honda also sees its upcoming electric SUV lineup as a future candidate for this charging road, once the system is proven on the commercial trucks that remain the first target.
Honda's Late-2026 Test Track Will Check Durability And Safety
Honda Wireless Power Transfer Road System - VA unit
Photo by: Honda
Before any public demo, the hardware has to prove it can survive heavy trucks. An earlier Taisei test road in Satte already showed the embedded units and pavement can carry vehicles weighing about 44,000 pounds, which matches the heavier trucks Honda wants to serve first.
A second test track at Taisei's T-FIELD/TAMURA site, planned from late 2026, turns that up. Real vehicles will put the system through 1 million wheel-load cycles at 11,000 pounds per wheel to simulate years of punishment in a shorter test.
Engineers will also measure electromagnetic-field leakage at that site. Any road that moves power into a vehicle has to pass that safety check before it opens to regular traffic.
Later trials will raise power output to as much as 150 kilowatts for large commercial vehicles. They will also check if the system can keep charging while a vehicle runs at highway speed, since power level and speed together decide whether this works for real-world trucks or only slow test vehicles.
If the durability and safety work clears, Honda and its partners plan to join the Tateyama Project, an East Nippon Expressway (NEXCO East) trial on 300 meters (about 984 feet) of the E14 Tateyama Expressway near the Kimitsu rest area in Chiba, starting in fiscal 2027. Road-installation cost and long-term maintenance still have to pencil out before anyone talks about wider use.
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Source: Honda
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Brian Potter) https://www.motor1.com/news/810998/honda-dynamic-wireless-charging-road/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810954/how-to-void-warranty/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Mechanic Works On Car. Then He Realizes His Customer Void The Warranty Without Realizing It: ‘Fastest Way To’ "Can you extract this bolt for me?"
New cars generally come with warranties. Ideally, you'll never have to use one. But there's a safe feeling knowing that unexpected issues may be fixed at no cost to you.
A dealership mechanic is warning people against making a common mistake that could void their vehicle's warranty. TikTok creator Mozalez Auto Repair (@mozalez_autorepair) recently posted a video about a customer who learned this the hard way.
“You know what’s the fastest way to void your warranty?” he asks. “It's not taking it to another shop. It’s putting your own dirty hands into the mix.”
He says his customer decided to start poking around under the hood. “How are you going to send me a picture and say, ‘Can you extract this bolt for me?’” he says. “And when I check it has to do with the timing that I just did three, four months ago? What do you do? No, I can’t fix the bolt. I’m so sorry. Nope.”
What Kind of DIY Repairs Can Void Your Vehicle’s Warranty?
The law protects car owners with warranties who use third-party mechanics for routine services. This stops manufacturers from dictating where customers get their maintenance done. So, no, you can’t have your warranty voided just because you changed your own oil.
When it comes to work on the car’s engine, transmission, emissions and other safety systems, the answer is slightly more complicated. These are jobs that can easily go wrong and therefore the manufacturer can, in some cases, void the warranty if those systems are touched by someone who isn't authorized by the company. A DIY mechanic messing around under the hood at home can absolutely fall into this category, particularly if they botch the job.
Of course, this isn’t automatic. Manufacturers still have to prove that an improper repair led to the damage they are deciding to not cover under the warranty. So they can’t just say, you had someone properly work on this a year ago, your warranty is therefore void.
How Does Car Warranty Policy Work in Practice?
In a Reddit thread posted to r/hyundai, a car owner said their warranty was potentially voided because they had an independent mechanic work on a piston issue. “Is this true? Where would I be able to read about this?” they wrote.
One person wrote, “I don’t know where you are, but if you are in the US, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (a 1975 federal law) protects consumers by making it illegal for manufacturers to deny coverage simply because a car wasn’t serviced at a dealership. Unless that third party work caused the issue.”
A second person said the work described in the original post wouldn’t constitute “service.” The person wrote, “If you replace the cylinders, then, yes, the warranty is voided. C’mon, guys, you should know this.”
Another person said, “For them to void your warranty, they have to prove the work did by the other person or yourself is directly responsible for the failure.”
Motor1 contacted Mozalez Auto Repair via TikTok comment and direct message for comment. We'll be sure to update this if he replies.
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Nina Hernandez) https://www.motor1.com/news/810954/how-to-void-warranty/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810988/jaguar-type-01-horsepower-details-specs/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:01:25 +0000 The Jaguar Type 01 Is Here. It's Jag's Most Powerful Road Car Ever The Type 01 combines dramatic styling with a high-performance electric powertrain and sophisticated chassis.
Jaguar spent years building some of the world’s most distinctive sports cars, but now the British brand is reinventing itself. The Type 01 debuts today as the first step toward a new era for the automaker.
The Type 01 is a four-seat grand tourer, Jaguar’s most powerful road car ever, and it’s electric. That makes it a very important car for the brand: a statement of intent that has to prove to fans it offers the same fun and engagement as Jaguar’s past models.
The Type 01 certainly appears to have been engineered with that goal in mind, rather than simply being another luxury EV, with a lot going on underneath its dramatic styling. Here’s a closer look at Jaguar’s ambitious new flagship.
Jaguar’s Most Powerful Road Car Ever
Jaguar Type 01
Photo by: Jaguar
The Type 01 has three electric motors, one on the front axle and two at the rear, creating the most powerful road car ever from the automaker. The combined output is 1,016 horsepower and 1,007 pound-feet of torque.
Jaguar claims the Type 01 can accelerate from zero to 62 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds and has a perfect 50:50 weight distribution.
The EV features an 850-volt architecture and an 118.0-kilowatt-hour battery. The automaker claims the Type 01 has 450 miles of range under European WLTP and up to 320 miles at sustained highway speeds.
Here’s what the full specs look like:
Output: 1,016 HP / 1,007 LB-FT 0-60 MPH: 3.2 Seconds Battery: 118.0 Kilowatt-Hours Range: 450 Miles (WLTP) Length: 206.4 Inches Height: 55.24 Inches
Jaguar outfits the EV with a double-wishbone front suspension and integral-link rear suspension with its Dynamic Air Suspension. The Jag has switchable-volume air springs and active dual-valve dampers.
The Type 01 has five drive modes: Jaguar, Dynamic, Efficient, Ice & Snow, and Curated. Dynamic sends up to 87 percent of the power to the rear axle, stiffens the active air springs, and sharpens the steering and accelerator.
Dynamic Cat
Photo by: Jaguar
Jaguar worked hard to create a dynamic and engaging vehicle. The Type 01 measures 17.2 feet long, with 17 percent of the car’s length sitting between the front axle and door. It’s a big car, but the center of gravity is 2.4 inches below the driver’s hip point, and the yaw center sits between the occupants.
Jaguar says this helps create the sense that the Type 01 “wraps around the driver,” and the all-wheel steering helps. At low speeds, the rear wheels can turn up to 6.0 degrees, giving the EV a 37.7-foot turning circle.
The 2026 Mazda Miata has a 30.1-foot turning circle, while the Ford Expedition has a 41.0-foot circle, for comparison.
The Type 01 also features active aerodynamics. At the front, active vanes open when the powertrain and brakes require cooling. An active, three-stage rear spoiler can generate up to 165.3 pounds of downforce at speeds above 96.3 mph, and when deployed, the car lowers by 0.59 inches.
Sleek And Stylish
Photo by: Jaguar
The Jaguar Type 01 looks a lot like the concept. It’s low and long, measuring just 55.24 inches high, or about the same as a modern Ford Mustang. It has flush door handles, which the automaker says can deploy with up to 0.16 inches of ice.
Up front, the Jaguar has HD LED projector headlights with auto-leveling. They are the thinnest units ever, at just 3.31 inches tall. Each headlight contains 20,000 LEDs. At the back, designers hid the full-width taillights in the rear bumper grating.
The car has massive 23-inch wheels, with optional 21-inch units and an aluminum finish around the base. Other details include the fender ingot with a laser-etched leaping cat emblem and the hidden ADAS hardware behind the Jaguar wordmark on the front.
Jag's Minimalist Interior
Photo by: Jaguar
Jaguar revealed the Type 01’s interior in August, but now we have more details. A large 24.0-inch OLED screen sits behind the steering wheel, while a central 7.0-inch vertical touchscreen controls key functions like media and HVAC.
The Type 01 lacks a traditional rearview mirror. Instead, the Jaguar has the ClearSight Rear View display embedded in the panoramic soundbar at the base of the windshield. The automaker positioned it at the same height as the exterior mirrors.
All four seats are heated and cooled, with front-seat passengers getting 12-way adjustable seats. The rears fold 50:50, expanding cargo capacity from more than 15.9 cubic feet in the rear hatch to 35.3 cu ft.
Availability And Price
Jaguar has not announced when the Type 01 will go on sale or how much it will cost. The car is expected to start in the low- to mid-$100,000 range.
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Source: Jaguar
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Anthony Alaniz) https://www.motor1.com/news/810988/jaguar-type-01-horsepower-details-specs/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810961/woman-mclaren-question/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Woman Test Drives McLaren. Then The Salesman Humbles Her For Asking A Routine Question: ‘If You Have To Ask, You Can’t Afford It’ “Even if I had McLaren money..."
Theoretically, anyone with a valid license can test drive any vehicle. In practice, however, some luxury dealers require proof that you have the means to afford the vehicle you want to take a spin. It may seem harsh, but it can save salespersons time and limit the mileage on the merchandise.
One woman recently test drove a McLaren. During the drive, she asked a question that the salesman said immediately signaled that she couldn't afford it.
TikTok creator Julia (@juliaagonzaa) posted a video from her test drive. She's behind the wheel of the McLaren and the salesman is in the passenger seat.
“What is the MPG on this?” she asks. The salesman promptly responds, “If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.”
The two clearly know each other, because they immediately start to laugh. “You just clocked me,” she says. The salesman replies, “That’s honestly what I say.”
In the on-screen text, Julia wrote, “Getting humbled while test driving a McLaren was not on my agenda today.” In the caption, she added, “I was NOT expecting that response.”
It's worth noting that Julia's wearing a McLaren shirt, so the bit may be more of a joke than a sincere interaction.
McLaren Salesman's Quip Lands Flat
In the comments section, viewers weighed in on the interaction between Julia and the McLaren salesman. Some clearly did not find the salesman’s joke as funny as she did.
“His response was unprofessional,” wrote one commenter.
“He’d never say that to a man,” a second person said.
A third person said, “Even if I had McLaren money, that man wouldn’t get any of my commission.”
Another person asked, “What if you just want to know how often you need to go get gas?” Someone else agreed, “It’s not a cost thing, it’s a ‘how far can I get’ question.”
How Much Does A McLaren Cost?
A brand-new McLaren starts at around $230,000. Some models run for twice that—or more. The ultra-luxe W1 starts at $2.1 million, per Car and Driver.
The other question, which the salesman referenced in the video, is whether a buyer can afford one. The cost, after all, isn't just the up-front price. Maintenance needs to be factored in.
A Reddit user posted a thread to r/mclaren to discuss the subject with other enthusiasts.
“It’s quite frustrating when I look at the price of a used McLaren 12c or 570s and think I could afford to buy this,” they wrote. “Only to watch hundreds of YouTube videos saying maintenance is a nightmare for these used cars. If I’m worried about $2K yearly service or $600-$800 oil changes, or $5K extended warranty cost, does this mean I actually can’t afford it? Or is it not that bad once you own the car? I tend to be more frugal and for some reason it doesn’t seem worth the headaches.”
Another user replied, “If you are worried about the service costs, you probably shouldn’t. Or do your own oil changes and stuff.”
A second person said, “I purchased a 675LT at 24 not knowing if I was ready. At the time, I made around $250K/year in a low-cost of living area and I was very close to not being able to afford it. Just last month I spent $25K getting it serviced and another year of the extended warranty. If you are not ready for this at any time, then you aren’t ready for that level of car. Keep working, you’ll get there.”
Motor1 contacted Julia via email for comment. We'll update this if she responds.
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Nina Hernandez) https://www.motor1.com/news/810961/woman-mclaren-question/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810830/cadillac-airbags-deployed/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:00:00 +0000 Man Closed The Door Of His New Cadillac. Suddenly, All Of The Air Bags Deploy “They have been discontinued by GM."
A man closed the door to his Cadillac Escalade and nearly all the airbags deployed. Now he wants to know who covers it: warranty or insurance. Because he doesn't think it should come out of his pocket.
TikTok creator Gym Dad (@gymdad77) posted a video about the situation while standing outside of his Escalade.
“So I’ve got this 2016 Escalade,” he says to start the video. “It’s a great car. No issues. Never had one issue with the engine or the transmission.”
Then, one day, Gym Dad got home (presumably from the gym), shut the door, and realized that nearly all the airbags inside the vehicle had deployed.
What Happened After The Cadillac Airbags Deployed?
“All in the back they deployed,” Gym Dad says, panning the camera so that the audience can see. “And the good news is, USAA is denying it. They’re saying since there was no collision, it doesn’t fall under the collision or comprehensive coverage that I have. Well, I have full coverage on it.”
Apparently, Gym Dad’s insurance company believes it was due to a mechanical failure; the dealership where he purchased the car disagrees. And on top of all that?
“I can’t even replace those airbags,” Gym Dad says. “They have been discontinued by GM. I couldn’t even fix it if I wanted to.”
In the caption, Gym Dad wrote, “USAA is awful. Denying my claim saying mechanical failure when Serra Nashville is saying no mechanical failure.”
What Should He Do Now?
In the comments section of the video, viewers weighed in on what happened and what Gym Dad should do with the car.
“The car is totaled,” said one person.
A second person disagreed. “Just order used airbags from eBay,” they wrote. “The back roof ones are like $100 for the whole strip.” Someone else replied, “You need airbags and two modules.”
“Dude, I got a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado single cab and it did the same thing,” wrote a third person. “I cut them out and kept driving it.”
Another person asked, “Isn’t there a recall for that exact issue?”
Is There An Airbag Recall From GM?
General Motors did recently announce recalls impacting certain Cadillac models with regard to an issue of airbag inflators that can potentially rupture during deployment. Another recall has to do with airbags failing to deploy at all.
That’s a bit different from Gym Dad’s report of spontaneous airbag deployment. However, one Escalade owner posted to Cadillac Forums in 2024 about a similar occurrence. There was no follow-up about what ultimately happened with the car.
Obviously it's not safe to drive without airbags. According to Byers Collision, it is possible to replace the airbags, but in some cases the cost of replacing the airbags will result in a total loss of the vehicle. It can also be illegal to reinstall airbags that have previously deployed.
It is possible for some more mechanically inclined drivers to replace their airbags themselves. This would require not only installing new airbags, but also replacing any sensors that were destroyed when they deployed.
Motor1 contacted Gym Dad via TikTok comment and direct message for comment. We also contacted USAA via email for comment.
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Nina Hernandez) https://www.motor1.com/news/810830/cadillac-airbags-deployed/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810929/stolen-c7-corvette-grand-sport/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:08:13 +0000 Stolen Corvette C7 Grand Sport Recovered After Five Years Underwater An underwater search in Georgia, a visible Instagram handle, and an old theft report combined to confirm this Chevrolet Corvette C7 Grand Sport.
A Chevrolet Corvette C7 Grand Sport stolen from its owner in December 2020 has turned up at the bottom of a Georgia river, nearly six years after it vanished. Diver Jeremy Sides found the submerged sports car and posted the discovery to Instagram.
What happened next was pure internet detective work. Viewers spotted an old Instagram handle still stuck to the windshield, traced it back to the owner's December 11, 2020 theft report, and confirmed the car's identity within hours of the post going live.
Found In A Georgia River
Sides is president of Rapid Compassion Collective, a nonprofit that searches waterways for missing people and removes submerged vehicles and other large debris. He came across the Grand Sport during a routine dive and shared the find on his account, exploringwithnug, without initially knowing what he had stumbled onto.
The Grand Sport trim sits between the base Stingray and the track-focused Z06 in the C7 lineup, pairing wider bodywork and Brembo brakes with an LT1 V8 rated at 460 horsepower. This particular example disappeared the same month its owner reported it stolen on December 11, 2020.
Water intrusion does not forgive a modern performance car. The infotainment system, the Performance Data Recorder, and the drive-mode electronics are very likely compromised well beyond reasonable repair after years submerged in a river.
The LT1 engine itself is a 6.2-liter pushrod V8, and years underwater make internal corrosion highly likely. The reporting on the recovery has not detailed any teardown or salvage assessment for this specific powertrain.
The Instagram Clue
The Corvette's exterior held up better than anyone watching the video expected. The wrap stayed largely intact, the body panels showed no obvious damage, and the silhouette was unmistakably C7 despite the long time underwater.
Comments on the post reflected that surprise directly. "Dang, the wrap withstood the elements," one viewer wrote, while another added, "Not gonna lie, for being in water for 5 years, it looks decent." One commenter even floated swapping the drivetrain into a different project car entirely.
Two questions remain open. Nobody has been identified or arrested in connection with the original theft, and investigators still do not know how the Grand Sport ended up in a Georgia river in the first place. Current reporting does not analyze whether it was dumped in a hurry or placed there in a more deliberate attempt to hide it.
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Source: exploringwithnug via SupercarBlondie
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Brian Potter) https://www.motor1.com/news/810929/stolen-c7-corvette-grand-sport/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810970/street-fighter-ii-car-giveaway/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 19:00:00 +0000 The Street Fighter Car Is Real, And Someone Is Going To Win It The General, and partners, recreated the iconic Lexus LS400 from Street Fighter II—and one lucky fan will take it home with more than $25,000 in cash.
The Street Fighter series kicked off in 1987, but the arrival of Street Fighter II in 1991 was when the game really exploded in popularity. Quarters poured into arcade machines across the globe, and the video game franchise met fast fandom thanks to its entertaining gameplay and fascinating cast of characters.
One of those characters has been made real, and no, I'm not talking about the human ones (or human-esque ones). During one of the game's bonus stages, players were tasked with destroying a car that loosely resembled a Lexus LS400.
Thanks to Capcom, The General Insurance, and movie car builder Vehicle Effects, the Street Fighter Lexus is now real. Even better? You can enter to win it.
The Lexus Comes To Life
Photo by: The General Insurance
Vehicle Effects, the company best known for building the wild machines of the Fast and Furious cinematic universe, has crafted an amazing real-life version of a true video game icon.
Instead of just slapping a few badges on an old Lexus LS400, the car looks like it came straight from the game. The pixelated texture perfectly mimics the poor car that gets bashed to bits by the likes of Chun-Li, Blanka, Guile, and the rest.
On the inside, Vehicle Effects added new seats with "You" and "Win" on the front headrests. There's a coin slot inside that activates a seat warmer. And the crew even upgraded the speakers.
This is, after all, a running, driving car that will be given away to a lucky winner. You have until November 18th to enter the sweepstakes and take your shot at putting this iconic bit of video game history in your driveway.
The Street Fighter Movie
Capcom and The General Insurance teamed up with the builders and Paramount Pictures to create a unique marketing piece ahead of the film's release. Street Fighter hits theaters October 16th with a stacked cast taking on the roles of your favorite characters from the series.
The film takes place in 1993 and focuses on estranged friends Ryu and Ken. Andrew Koji's Ryu no longer wishes to fight, but he's dragged back into the world of combat, where we'll see the full suite of amazing fighters we've come to know over years of playing this series.
Hopefully, the Lexus makes a cameo in the film too. This time, though, with less smashing and more appreciation for the automaker's high watermark of design and engineering.
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Source: The General Insurance
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Jeff Glucker) https://www.motor1.com/news/810970/street-fighter-ii-car-giveaway/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810957/alpine-sports-car-concept-teaser/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 16:30:00 +0000 Alpine Teases A Mysterious New Sports Car With Hidden Headlights The PS1 is part of Alpine’s special projects and it debuts this week at the Paris Motor Show.
Alpine, Renault’s high-performance brand, will unveil a new concept car later this week at the Paris Motor Show. It’s called the PS1, short for “Projet Spécial 1,” and the lone teaser reveals the car’s pop-down headlights and lighting signature.
The short clip shows a section of the front fascia folding down to reveal five hidden lighting elements: four short rectangles and a longer one. A thin light below the hidden feature appears uncovered. In the video, there’s a momentary flash of light that brightens the vehicle. The car appears low and wide, with a prominent wing or spoiler.
Alpine says this concept is part of its “special projects pillar,” designed for exclusive, limited-run models like the A110 R Ultime, and personalization. These vehicles are supposed to feature the brand’s highest level of design and materials.
Alpine’s other two pillars are Everyday Extraordinary (A290 and A390) and Icons (A110). The automaker will reveal the PS1 at the Paris Motor Show on October 12.
What Else Will Alpine Reveal In Paris?
In addition to the PS1 launch, Alpine will also display its A110 Sculpture in public for the first time, which the automaker unveiled last month. The sculpture previews Alpine’s next-generation two-seat, fully electric sports car.
The automaker will also showcase its expanding customization options, which are available for the first time on the A290 and A390. Atelier Alpine offers a range of new colors, trims, and finishes.
Alpine is launching a new Collection trim for the A290 through the program. It pairs Blanc Nival with a black roof, 19-inch Snowflake wheels, and silver brake calipers. The Alpine A390 GTS gets Bleu Tempête Mat with a black roof and features new sport seats.
Alpine’s North American Expansion
It has been nearly four years since former Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi first suggested the brand might come to America. The automaker previously announced it would enter the United States by next year and was considering it less than a year ago, but new tariffs have disrupted that plan.
Now, Alpina is thinking about Canada. Earlier this year, Philippe Krief, Alpine’s current chief executive, said the brand plans to launch in Canada in 2029.
By then, Alpina will have launched its new architecture, the Alpine Performance Platform (APP), which will underpin the next-generation A110 successor. The platform will have dual rear electric motors and a targeted weight of around 3,300 pounds.
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Source: Alpine
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Anthony Alaniz) https://www.motor1.com/news/810957/alpine-sports-car-concept-teaser/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810956/mini-countryman-untamed-edition-reveal/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 16:02:40 +0000 Meet Mini's Most Rugged Countryman Yet The new Countryman Untamed Edition gets a suspension lift, all-terrain tires, and standard all-wheel drive.
Mini is taking the Countryman a little farther off the beaten path than usual.
Today, the automaker unveiled the 2027 Countryman Untamed Edition, a more rugged version of its pint-sized SUV, complete with a suspension lift, all-terrain tires, standard all-wheel drive, and a handful of outdoor-focused upgrades.
The Untamed Edition will come to the US in two forms: the gas-powered Countryman S ALL4 and the electric Countryman SE ALL4. Production starts in November 2026, with deliveries expected to begin in early 2027.
For the US, the Countryman S ALL4 Untamed Edition starts at $45,250 with the $1,350 destination charge included. Mini hasn't announced pricing for the electric SE ALL4 version yet.
More Ground Clearance = More Adventure
2027 Mini Countryman Untamed Edition
Photo by: Mini
The biggest changes are underneath the body. The Untamed Edition gets a 15.0-millimeter suspension lift, while its unique wheel-and-tire combination increases total ground clearance by up to 19.0 mm, depending on the powertrain.
The Countryman also gets special 19-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires. Mini has recalibrated the ABS, stability control, steering, and chassis to work with the revised suspension and tires, while the extra ride height improves the Countryman's approach and breakover angles.
Here's what the Untamed Edition gets to make it more capable off-road:
15-MM Suspension Lift Up To 19 MM More Ground Clearance 19-Inch Wheels Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires ALL4 All-Wheel Drive Revised ABS, DSC, And Steering Improved Approach And Breakover Angles 3,500-Pound Towing Capacity 661-Pound Maximum Roof Load (Stationary)
US-spec models also come standard with a factory trailer hitch capable of towing up to 3,500 pounds. The stationary roof-load limit is 661 pounds, which should come in handy if you're actually planning to use the rooftop tent Mini is selling for the Countryman.
A Rugged Makeover
Photo by: Mini
The Countryman Untamed Edition gets a collection of visual changes to set it apart from the regular model. The front grille gets new angular inserts and a Dark Steel surround, while the front and rear underbody protection elements and rear diffuser have been redesigned. Matte-black protective film covers portions of the wheel arches, side sills, and hood to help protect against stone chips.
There's also an Untamed logo with a mountain motif on the C-pillar.
Photo by: Mini 
Photo by: Mini Photos by: Mini
The 19-inch wheels are unique to the model, with five thick spokes inspired by classic off-road steel wheels. They're finished with Dark Steel details and paired with those chunky Pirelli all-terrain tires.
Mini will offer several colors specifically for the Untamed Edition, including Hideaway Grey, Nomad Blue, and Frozen Nomad Blue. The latter is the first matte exterior finish offered on a production Mini.
The Interior Gets An Outdoor Makeover, Too
Photo by: Mini
Inside, the Untamed Edition gets Vescin Nightshade Blue sport seats with perforated upholstery and knitted sections around the shoulders and headrests. The pattern is inspired by rock formations, while Cornflower Blue stitching and piping add some contrast.
The dashboard and door panels also feature knitted surfaces in a new Millennial Melange color scheme. Dark Steel replaces the usual Vibrant Silver trim, while additional blue accents are scattered throughout the cabin.
There's even a redesigned center-console storage box with elastic straps inspired by outdoor gear such as backpacks and climbing equipment. Rubber all-weather floor mats and a matching cargo-area mat add some extra practicality.
Naturally, Mini also has a collection of accessories designed for spending time outdoors.
The automaker partnered with Italian roof-tent specialist AutoHome on a dedicated rooftop tent for the Countryman. Integrated gas struts make it quick to open, while weather-resistant materials, panoramic openings, and a glass-fiber-reinforced construction should make it suitable for extended use.
Mini also teamed up with outdoor-equipment company Helinox on a matching collection of folding camping chairs and tables.
The Countryman Untamed Edition Is Coming To The US
The 2027 Countryman S ALL4 starts at $38,900 before options. Adding the required Iconic Trim with Comfort Package Plus for $3,400 and the Untamed Edition package for $1,600 brings the total to $43,900 before destination.
With the $1,350 destination charge included, the final MSRP is $45,250.
The electric Countryman SE ALL4 Untamed Edition is also coming to the US, although Mini will announce its price closer to launch. Production begins in November, with customer deliveries expected in early 2027.
Mini Sends Countryman With Roof Tent Into Rebelle Rally
Mini Rooftop Edition Turns Its Signature Contrast Roof On Its Head
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Jeff Perez) https://www.motor1.com/news/810956/mini-countryman-untamed-edition-reveal/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810925/fan-making-cars-prequel-nascar/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 15:00:00 +0000 Someone Is Making The 'Cars' Prequel Pixar Never Did. And It Looks Legit Animator Ariya Alexander Berenji is making a Cars prequel from scratch, complete with new characters.
You've all seen the Cars movies, right? They follow the story of Lightning McQueen, his racing career, and his time in Radiator Springs. Now, someone is making a series about what happens before Lightning McQueen. And it actually looks awesome.
YouTuber Ariya Alexander Berenji is building a prequel nobody at Pixar asked for. And the fan film is already turning heads for one reason: the cars look flawless.
Berenji's project reimagines Strip Weathers, the character fans know as "The King," before he earned that nickname. The story is set in the 1980s with a cast of NASCAR-inspired vehicles rendered in detailed 3D.
Cars Prequel Centers On Strip Weathers
The film tracks a younger Strip Weathers, the character built on NASCAR legend Richard Petty, in the years before Radiator Springs and before Lightning McQueen ever showed up on his radar. Berenji's take puts him on dirt and asphalt alongside rivals who would later shape his legend.
Anchoring the story is Toni Jo Torque, an original character billed as "The Queen," a five-time champion who mentors both Weathers and a young Chick Hicks. She has no equivalent in the official films.
A place called Copper Canyon Speedway anchors the scenes, while a bowling alley and an ice cream parlor serve up a fictional treat called frozen coolant and help round out the world-building. They're period-appropriate touches for a decade the original Cars universe backstory never fully explored.
Berenji has said he wants to keep expanding the roster. "I'm hoping there's room for a David Pearson-based character as well," he said, pointing to one of stock car racing's most decorated drivers as a possible future addition to the cast.
NASCAR Icons Help Shape Designs
The clearest connection to real racing history shows up in the livery work. A character modeled on Dale Earnhardt carries the number three and a black paint scheme, a direct nod to the Intimidator's signature Chevrolet from his Richard Childress Racing years.
Young Chick Hicks gets the bigger visual swap. Instead of the green paint audiences remember from the first Cars film story, his prequel version wears a red-and-gold scheme lifted from Bill Elliott's Coors-sponsored No. 9 Ford Thunderbird, one of the most recognizable paint jobs of that NASCAR era.
The original feature trilogy ran from 2006 through sequels in 2011 and 2017, and Pixar still has no Cars 4 on its theatrical slate. But the universe has carried on through shorts and the Cars on the Road series on Disney+. A new Cars: Lightning Racers series from Disney Television Animation, made in association with Pixar, debuts on Disney Junior in 2027 before streaming on Disney+.
Berenji's film now sits alongside an expanding official canon instead of filling a dormant gap.
Pixar’s Radiator Springs Is Real, And It’s Hiding in Arizona
Porsche 911 Sally Carrera Edition Brings The Pixar Cars Character To Life
Source: R-ya Productions via The Drive
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Brian Potter) https://www.motor1.com/news/810925/fan-making-cars-prequel-nascar/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810913/usa-car-thefts-21-percent-down/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 11:09:27 +0000 Car Thefts Are Down In All 50 States This Year Vehicle thefts fell 21% during the first half of 2026, continuing a nationwide decline that began after the pandemic-era peak.
Car thefts are becoming less common across America, and the latest numbers show the decline is happening pretty much everywhere. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), vehicle thefts fell 21 percent during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year. Even better, all 50 states recorded a year-over-year decrease.
That doesn't mean America's car-theft problem has suddenly disappeared. A total of 268,415 vehicles were reported stolen during the first six months of 2026, or roughly one vehicle every minute. Still, the trend is encouraging.
The latest figures continue a trend that started after the pandemic-era spike in vehicle thefts. In 2024, thefts dropped 17 percent, followed by an even larger 23 percent decline in 2025. The NICB recorded 659,880 stolen vehicles last year, the lowest annual total in several decades.
Car Thefts Are Lower Across America
The improvement isn't limited to a handful of states, either. Every state saw fewer vehicle thefts in the first half of 2026. The District of Columbia posted the biggest decline, with thefts down 52 percent from the first half of 2025. Tennessee followed with a 42 percent drop, while Vermont and New Hampshire recorded declines of 37 percent and 35 percent, respectively. Colorado also saw thefts fall 35 percent.
At the other end of the spectrum, California still had the most stolen vehicles. A total of 57,821 were reported stolen there during the first half of 2026. That's a huge number, although it doesn't mean California bucked the national trend. The state also recorded a year-over-year decline.
The same goes for America's biggest metropolitan areas. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had the most vehicle thefts during the first half of 2026, with 21,540 reported cases. New York followed with 11,306, while Chicago came in at 11,761. Interestingly, Chicago was the only one of the 10 metropolitan areas with the highest theft totals to record an increase, with thefts rising 2 percent compared with the first half of 2025.
The Most Stolen Cars In 2025
While the latest NICB report focuses on the first six months of 2026, it doesn't provide a new ranking of the most-stolen vehicle models. For that, we have to look back at the organization's latest full-year data. In 2025, the Hyundai Elantra was America's most-stolen vehicle with 21,732 reported thefts, followed by the Honda Accord with 17,797 and the Hyundai Sonata with 17,687. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 took fourth with 16,764, followed by the Honda Civic with 12,725, Kia Optima with 11,521, Ford F-150 with 10,102, Toyota Camry with 9,833, Honda CR-V with 9,809, and Nissan Altima with 8,445. Importantly, those are 2025 figures, not a ranking for the first half of 2026.
Hyundai and Kia have also seen a notable shift. Their vehicles became notorious theft targets during the pandemic-era surge, partly because certain models lacked electronic immobilizers that were standard on many competing vehicles. The NICB says thefts involving Hyundai and Kia vehicles declined for a third consecutive year in 2025, suggesting the problem is finally moving in the right direction.
Ninth Circuit Revives $1 Billion 'Kia Boys' Theft Insurance Suit
Alleged Los Angeles Car Theft Ring Exposed By Victim
Ford Worker Stole Millions in Parts from Factory, Police Say
Police Are Fixing Ford's Taillight Theft Problem
268,415 Is Still A Huge Number
Even with the encouraging numbers, 268,415 stolen vehicles in just six months is hardly insignificant. The NICB points out that organized crime groups have increasingly shifted away from traditional vehicle theft, but other vehicle-related crimes and fraudulent schemes remain a concern.
For owners, the advice remains remarkably low-tech. Lock the doors, roll up the windows, take the keys, don't leave the engine running unattended, and park somewhere well-lit. The NICB also recommends adding another layer of protection with devices such as steering-wheel locks, audible alarms, or GPS trackers. None of that is particularly glamorous, but given how many cars still disappear every year, boring can be a very good thing.
The bigger takeaway is that America's car-theft problem is finally heading in the right direction. The first half of 2026 brought another substantial decline, and for once, every single state is moving the same way. That's about as encouraging as theft statistics can get.
Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Adrian Padeanu) https://www.motor1.com/news/810913/usa-car-thefts-21-percent-down/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810911/2027-roush-super-duty-package/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 10:51:44 +0000 Roush Offers 2027 Super Duty Package For $21,399, No Power Upgrade Roush’s 2027 Super Duty package adds 35-inch tires, suspension and styling tweaks for F-250 and F-350, but leaves engine output unchanged.
Roush builds its reputation on making Mustangs faster. Its latest project is all about going slower, over rougher ground. The 2027 Roush Super Duty package lands on select Ford F-250 and F-350 trucks for $21,399, on top of whatever the donor truck already costs.
That is a steep number for a package that does not touch the engine. Buyers get a reworked suspension, bigger tires, new wheels, and a sharper look. Roush has not published new approach-angle or ground-clearance figures, but there is no doubt the package still turns the Super Duty into a more versatile tow-and-trail rig.
What The $21,399 Roush Package Actually Buys
Roush Super Duty Package For Ford F-Series
Photo by: Roush Performance
The centerpiece is the Roush Performance Suspension System, tuned to improve ride quality and stability without compromising the Super Duty towing and payload numbers. It rides on new 20-inch gloss black Roush Off-Road wheels wrapped in 35-inch General Grabber A/TX all-terrain tires, a meaningful jump in sidewall height and tread aggression over the factory setup.
Roush also gives the truck slotted front brake rotors meant to hold up under repeated hard use. Diesel trucks can be optioned with a Roush exhaust system that is part of the 2027 model-year update.
Roush's materials are notably missing a horsepower figure. This is a styling, suspension, and tire package, not a power upgrade, and the $21,399 price tag buys handling and looks rather than extra output under the hood.
Inside, the changes are a lighter touch but still Roush-branded. The carbon fiber trim, Roush floor liners, unique key fobs, and a serialized console badge mark the cabin as something other than a standard work truck.
Off-Road Hardware And The Clearance Question
A new shortened front air dam is meant to improve front-end clearance for trail driving. It pairs visually with the new gloss black illuminated grille up front. Color-matched fender flares with integrated accent lighting extend the body width to cover the larger tires.
Graphics are part of the formula too. Rocker, hood, and door graphics, a roof banner, an American flag decal, and Roush lettering across the tailgate come standard, with a choice of silver or red accent colors depending on buyer preference.
What Roush has not done is publish revised approach, departure, or breakover angle specifications, nor a new ground clearance number, despite the taller tires and reshaped front fascia. Buyers cross-shopping this against factory off-road hardware now have direct Super Duty options, including the Tremor Off-Road Package with 35-inch tires and the XL Off-Road 35-Inch Tire Package on certain F-250 and F-350 trims.
The Roush package bolts onto either the F-250 or F-350. Final pricing depends heavily on which cab, bed, and powertrain configuration a buyer starts with before the $21,399 premium gets added on top.
The 2027 Honda Passport TrailSport Just Got A Lot More Capable
Toyota's Biggest Off-Roader Gets Even More Capable With A New Trim
This Rugged Jeep Grand Cherokee Trim Is Back For 2027
Honda Gives SUV Owners A Free Way To Have More Fun Off-Road
Source: Roush Performance
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Brian Potter) https://www.motor1.com/news/810911/2027-roush-super-duty-package/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810901/gasoline-cars-fall-below-half/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 10:02:37 +0000 Gasoline Cars Lose Global Market Majority As Sales Fall To 49 Percent Pure gasoline models fall to 49 percent of 2026 first-half sales as China and Europe shift faster toward hybrids and battery-electric vehicles.
Gasoline-only vehicles slipped below half of global new-car sales for the first time ever during the first six months of 2026, arriving at 49 percent of the market. A year earlier, that figure stood three percentage points higher.
Gas-only cars held 73 percent of the market as recently as 2021.
The decline varied sharply by region. China and Europe posted much steeper drops in internal-combustion-based vehicles than the global average, while hybrids and battery-electric vehicles kept adding ground. The figures mark a clear break from the decades when the gasoline engine dominated new-car sales almost everywhere.
Gasoline-Only Sales Dropped To 49 Percent Worldwide
2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-in Hybrid
Photo by: Nissan
Pure gasoline vehicles, meaning cars with no electrified assistance of any kind, totaled 20.25 million units sold globally from January through June 2026. That is a 10 percent drop year over year.
The 49 percent figure excludes hybrids entirely. Regular hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and full battery-electric vehicles all count separately, so the number is not measuring electrification as a whole. It is measuring how much ground the traditional gas-only engine has lost on its own.
China and Europe drove most of the shift. Sales of internal-combustion-based vehicles decreased about 26 percent in China and roughly 13 percent in Europe during the same six months, both steeper declines than the global average. Those regions already have deeper electrified penetration than markets where gasoline-only models still dominate new registrations.
A six-month snapshot is not a forecast. Sales patterns can shift with fuel prices, incentives, or new model launches in the back half of any year. Nothing here guarantees gasoline-only cars stay under half the market through December.
Hybrids And EVs Are Splitting The Difference
Tesla charging at Superchargers
Battery-electric vehicle sales rose 12 percent to 6.87 million units worldwide in the first half of 2026, putting EVs at 17 percent of the global new-vehicle market. That share sits in the mid-teens range that many technology-adoption studies treat as the point where uptake can start to accelerate on its own.
Hybrids grew just as fast. Sales climbed 10 percent to 7.27 million units, giving hybrids an 18 percent share, slightly ahead of pure EVs for the period. Hyundai's hybrid sales growth this year reflects that same pattern. Buyers are choosing hybrids as a middle path between gasoline and a full battery commitment.
Europe's shift has been building for a while. EVs already outsold pure gas cars there once before, back in December 2025, and the region has kept adding plug-in share since. BMW is targeting half its lineup as electric by 2030.
Fuel and electricity costs, local incentives, and model availability all influence how quickly buyers switch to electrified options. How those factors play out through the rest of 2026 will decide if gasoline-only cars stay below the halfway mark or climb back above it by December.
Toyota Camry And Honda Accord Lead A Surprise Sedan Comeback In 2026
Winners And Losers From September Auto Sales
Gas Prices Are Up, And So Are EV Sales
EV Registrations Have Rebounded After Months Of Decline
Source: Nikkei Asia
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Brian Potter) https://www.motor1.com/news/810901/gasoline-cars-fall-below-half/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810845/towing-company-ghosts-men/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Tow Company Takes Man’s Car. Then They Ghost Him. He’s Not Alone: ‘They Send Everybody To Voicemail’ "File a report with the city."
A towing company recently towed a man’s vehicle. If that wasn’t bad enough, he says it ghosted him when he showed up to pick up his vehicle.
Turns out, he wasn't the only one.
In a TikTok with over 42,500 views as of this writing, YBC Peso (@peso4hunnit) says there were five other men waiting outside the gate of NRJ Towing in Orlando, Florida trying to get their cars back.
“Man, I ain’t gonna lie, dog. You wake up in the morning and your car got towed and you see that these people right here NFJ Towing got your [expletive], just know dog. You [expletive] up,” he begins.
“They send everybody to voicemail,” YBC Peso adds.
One of the men was on the phone with the city. A city worker purportedly said that there was nothing that could be done at the moment, noting that it’s a civil matter.
“We can’t force them to come to work or anything like that,” they reportedly added.
The caller persisted, saying that the company was open and was refusing to let them in to retrieve their vehicles.
“They are purposely ignoring us,” the caller claimed.
According to the post, the worker said they’d gotten in touch with the owner over the phone—yet none of the men were able to speak with anyone. The man who called the city asked for a time frame and was purportedly told that they’d be able to get their rides that evening.
“Are you kidding me? You don’t even got nobody working the office dog. Yeah we gotta contact triple BBB for sure. We got to contact the Better Business Bureau,” he concludes.
Eventually, a worker came to the gate to unlock it. The men proceeded to confront them.
In the comment section, it was revealed the men got their vehicles at noon. They’d reportedly been told to get there to pick them up hours earlier.
How To Report A Complaint Against A Towing Company?
One of the last things anybody wants to deal with is their car getting towed.
In some cases, it feels like the towing company is straight up stealing your car. People have been towed in front of their own homes where their vehicle is registered to park.
You do have some options if you get improperly towed, however.
Justice Direct reports that there are four ways to report a complaint against a towing company. Complaints can be submitted for any predatory towing, nonconsensual towing, excessive charges, refusal to return property left in vehicle, and damage to vehicle or property.
The first approach is to send a demand letter to the company. This letter can be a way to settle the dispute without taking the issue to court. The demand letter will consist of an outline of what happened, your demands, and a deadline to comply. It’s important to clearly state how much money is owed, why that money is owed, and where to send the money.
The second way is to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). While BBB doesn’t necessarily have the authority to force a towing company to resolve an issue, the towing company’s reputation may be hurt if it ignores the bureau. The BBB will not accredit a business that disregards customer complaints and posts negative user reviews. Once a complaint is submitted, the BBB may contact the towing company on your behalf.
The next approach involves getting a lawyer and taking the towing company to court, typically small claims, which is faster and simpler to navigate. Small claims court limits vary by state, ranging anywhere between $2,500 to $25,000.
You can also file a complaint with your state agency that regulates towing companies. Each state has their own department that handles towing company complaints.
In towing company disputes, it’s best to act quickly, Rak Law Firm reports. And make sure to preserve all documentation, including towing receipts, photos, videos, witnesses, and police reports.
“Pay With Your Credit Card And Dispute It”
Many viewers offered suggestions about how the men should handle their issues with the towing company in YBC Peso’s video.
“If they're within city limits, you can call and file a report with the city. I did it with Johnson towing recently,” one person shared.
“File a complaint with the state,” another added.
“Pay with your credit card and dispute it,” a third suggested.
Someone else suggested going to the media, writing, “Call Channel 9 to investigate! They'll be on ‘em.”
Other viewers noted that towing companies in Florida legally have a time limit to release a vehicle after the fee is paid.
“Legally they have 1 hour to come during their business hours to come and allow you to retrieve your car,” one commented.
“If they don’t release your car within an hour after they impound it, that's a fat lawsuit,” one wrote.
“Call the sheriffs. They got one hour from the time you hit the gate,” one says.
Motor1 has contacted YBC Peso via TikTok direct message and commented on the post. Reached via phone last week, NRJ Towing told Motor1 to text a list of questions. As of this writing, it has not responded. This post will be updated if either party replies.
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Steve Ecker) https://www.motor1.com/news/810845/towing-company-ghosts-men/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810888/renault-twingo-weird-glass-roof/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:54:55 +0000 Renault's Cheerful Twingo EV Gets A Weird Glass Roof The almost egg-shaped panoramic top will be a relatively cheap option.
Renault has found a way to make the new Twingo even more cheerful, because apparently the little electric city car wasn't already happy enough. Meet the Twingobay, a new panoramic glass roof designed specifically for the French automaker's cheapest EV. The name is wonderfully silly, which feels entirely appropriate for such a charismatic little hatchback.
The Twingobay covers 0.7 square meters (7.53 square feet), giving occupants in both rows a much brighter cabin. Renault has also gone with rounded contours rather than simply slapping a giant rectangular piece of glass onto the roof. The design complements the Twingo's playful styling, while the interior side of the glass features the car's distinctive graphic alphabet.
The unusual shape is arguably the Twingobay's biggest talking point. Renault has given it a distinctly oval, almost egg-like shape that stretches across much of the roof. It's an appropriately playful design choice for a car as cheerful as the Twingo, and it certainly makes the panoramic roof stand out more than your average slab of glass.
First-generation Renault Twingo
Renault 4 E-Tech Plein Sud
Photo by: Renault
Out With The Fabric, In With The Glass
Some older generations had a sliding fabric roof, so opening up the cabin to the sky isn't entirely new; Renault has swapped the canvas for a much more modern pane of glass. That’s not to say the company has completely abandoned the old setup, as the Renault 4, another retro revival, comes with an optional opening canvas roof.
Beyond the material choice, another major difference is that the roof slides open on the crossover, whereas this fixed glass panel on the quirky hatchback doesn't let fresh air into the cabin. That brings us to our next point: We've noticed a trend with newer cars: automakers tend to prefer panoramic glass roofs that stay shut over sunroofs with an opening section.
No Sunshade Needed, Apparently
We're told it doesn't have a conventional sunshade. Renault says the multilayer glass filters out 99.9 percent of UV radiation while blocking most infrared radiation. A low-emissivity layer also helps keep the cabin comfortable in both summer and winter. In other words, Renault reckons you don't need a curtain getting in the way of all that glass. Of course, that would add cost, but you won’t read that in any press release.
The glass roof also bathes the cabin in natural light, which is especially important in a car as small as the Twingo. With such a tiny interior, every trick counts when it comes to making the cabin feel more spacious, and flooding it with light helps create the illusion of extra room. It won't make the Twingo physically bigger, but at least it should make those cramped quarters feel considerably less claustrophobic.
Small On The Outside, Big On The Inside
That's also supposed to make the Twingobay lighter and help preserve the feeling of space inside. It sounds like a small change, but the Twingo has always been about making a tiny car feel like it has considerably more room than it actually does. The latest generation continues that philosophy with two independently sliding rear seats and up to 360 liters (nearly 13 cubic feet) of cargo space, a remarkable volume for such a petite EV.
For a car that's supposed to bring some of the original Twingo's carefree spirit into the electric age, a goofy name for a big glass roof feels about as on-brand as it gets.
The Glass Roof Is Reasonably Priced
Renault will have the Twingo with the oval-shaped glass roof at the 2026 Paris Motor Show from October 12 and will open orders across Europe a day later. Depending on the country, the Twingobay panoramic top will cost €550 to €600, which feels reasonable for an option that should have a significant impact on the ownership experience.
If the Twingo's styling isn't to your liking, the diminutive EV has already spawned two sister models: the Dacia Spring and the Nissan Pixo.
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Renault Made A Rear-Wheel-Drive Coupe You Can’t Buy
Renault Refuses To Kill Physical Buttons, Even If They Cost More
The Electric Renault Megane Gets A Fresh Face And More Range
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Adrian Padeanu) https://www.motor1.com/news/810888/renault-twingo-weird-glass-roof/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810894/daimler-truck-2070-future-transport/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 08:57:58 +0000 Daimler Truck Shows Robot Rigs, Airships, Vertical Cities For 2070 Four Daimler Truck design studies sketch autonomous maintenance, electric freight, airship travel and vertical logistics as speculative visions far beyond current product plans.
Daimler Truck has pulled a set of long-range design studies out of its development centers, and none of them are coming to a dealership. The project sits inside the company's "130 Years of Forward" anniversary program, marking 130 years since the first truck.
Designers from Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Freightliner, Setra and BharatBenz each sketched a different piece of freight transport as they imagine it by 2070. The studies range from robotic maintenance systems to a Zeppelin-inspired passenger airship, and Daimler Truck is upfront that they are exploratory.
Four Studies, Zero Production Plans
Global Design Inspiration IAA 2026 - Bharat Benz
Photo by: Daimler Truck
The initiative is called "Global Design Inspiration," and it pairs veteran designers with younger talent across Daimler Truck's international design centers. Stefanie Eßers, head of design for Mercedes Trucks, said the goal plainly: the teams are meant to "think beyond today" and explore how people and goods might move decades from now, not next year.
The Mercedes Trucks entry follows a "do more with less" logic, stripping down components and pushing modularity to cut material use and simplify manufacturing. It is the most grounded of the concepts, reading less like science fiction and more like a sustainability exercise applied to a familiar truck silhouette.
Context is important here because Daimler Truck already sells a real electrified product tied to this same anniversary push. The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 carries a battery pack over 600 kWh and a stated range of 500 km (311 miles) on a single charge, and it is currently hauling beer kegs to two of Germany's biggest folk festivals.
Robot Trucks, Flying Buses And Vertical Cities
Global Design Inspiration IAA 2026 - Freighliner
Photo by: Daimler Truck
The Freightliner team in Portland built its study around autonomous freight and what the company calls vehicle-robot interaction. The concept imagines automated systems handling maintenance and roadside assistance on their own, cutting humans out of tasks that currently require a technician and a service bay.
Setra's contribution, named "Miyanoura," takes the farthest leap with an airship-style passenger vehicle drawing visual cues from Zeppelins. The idea is not speed or efficiency, it is recasting travel as a comfort experience, something closer to a lounge in the sky than a bus route with wings.
BharatBenz closes the set with "VertiHaul," a logistics concept built for vertically stacked cities and industrial facilities. It imagines goods moving through multidimensional infrastructure, stacked loading points and vertical corridors, rather than the flat road networks trucks rely on now. Like the other studies, it is a design-center thought experiment with no stated path to a factory floor.
Stellantis BOW Driverless Concept Is Literally A Box On Wheels
Tesla Robovan revealed: Autonomous bus with 20 seats
Renault Concept U1st Vision: the doctor's surgery on wheels
Butlers, Buses, and Droids: Hyundai Welcomes Future Robot Overlords
Source: Daimler Trucks
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Brian Potter) https://www.motor1.com/news/810894/daimler-truck-2070-future-transport/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810843/car-salesman-joses-girl/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Car Salesman Says Customer Came In Looking To Buy A Dodge Charger. Now He Has A Message For Jose’s Girl: ‘If You Live In Austin…’ "...and you see a car payment going out for around $799..."
If your love life is messy, you might want to be careful about what car salesperson you go to. They could end up putting the pieces together and sharing a bit of gossip that’s too juicy to keep to themselves.
That’s what one car salesman did when he figured his client might be stepping out on his lady.
Now people are looking for Jose's girl in Austin, Texas.
What Tipped The Salesman Off?
In a video with more than 72,000 views, car salesman Sean Ottey (@temuicecube) gives a warning to a very specific group of women.
“If you live in Austin and your man's name is Jose, I'm gonna need you to just hear me out for one quick second,” Ottey says.
Ottey explains that a customer named Jose walked into the dealership and said he wanted a Dodge Charger. Naturally, Ottey was happy to help him find one. As they were looking at the cars, Jose's phone started ringing.
“He said, ‘Oh, that's my girl. I probably shouldn't pick up,’” Ottey recalls.
But Jose ultimately answered anyway. Ottey said he heard him tell whoever he was on the phone with that he was working late and would get home later than expected.
At first Ottey gave him the benefit of the doubt, thinking that Jose was covering his tracks because he planned to surprise his girlfriend with the Charger.
But that theory did not hold up.
Jose told Ottey he wanted to lease the Charger, but not in his name. Ottey again gave him the benefit of the doubt, figuring Jose wanted the lease in his girlfriend's name because the car was for her.
But a few minutes later, a woman arrived at the dealership to meet Jose.
“I'm thinking, ‘Oh, homegirl saw, or his girl saw, his [expletive] location, pulls up on him,’” Ottey says. “Not that at all.”
Instead, Ottey says Jose greeted the woman affectionately and told her he would take care of everything. (It seems unlikely that a woman who thought her man was working late and randomly pulled up on him at a car dealership would react so nonchalantly. Even if he was surprising her with a car.)
The pair sat at the desk and Jose put the lease in her name but said he’d make the payments himself.
Throughout the exchange, Ottey says the pair called each other “sugar” and “baby.”
“If you live in Austin and you see a car payment going out for around $799 a month, yeah,” Ottey says. “That's a lease for somebody else. But you ain't hear it from me.”
In the caption, Ottey added: “I just like the chisme.” (Chisme is Spanish for gossip.)
Can You Lease A Car For Someone Else?
Carwow says some leasing companies allow a customer to lease a car that another person will drive, some don’t, noting that the finance company has to approve the arrangement.
Even if they do allow it, ultimately the person whose name is on the agreement is on the hook for the payments, mileage overages, maintenance, and condition of the car.
LeaseLoco says many lease agreements permit an additional driver as long as that person is properly insured. But the named leaseholder is generally expected to be the main driver. Failing to tell the insurer who really uses the car most can create problems if there is an accident or you have to file a claim.
Insurance is also usually separate from the lease payment, so adding a second driver may mean your insurance costs will change based on that person's driving history.
Hot Gossip About Strangers
While obviously the vast majority of people who watched Ottey’s video have no connection to any of the parties involved, it nevertheless struck a chord.
“Ohhh you messy messy, I’m HERE for it,” a top comment read.
“I live in Austin, I’m single, don’t know a Jose, but I do know I’m chismosa because I stayed and listened,” said a second.
“Jose is common name down here in state of Texas. Bless his girl’s heart. Girls’ intuition will always protect her if she has discernment,” another wrote.
Motor1 reached out to Ottey via Instagram and TikTok direct message for comment. We'll be sure to update this if he responds.
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Stacy Fernandez) https://www.motor1.com/news/810843/car-salesman-joses-girl/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810882/toyota-camry-honda-accord-corolla/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 07:51:15 +0000 Toyota Camry And Honda Accord Lead A Surprise Sedan Comeback In 2026 Hybrid-heavy versions of the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Corolla and Civic are powering a US sedan sales rebound without knocking SUVs off the throne.
Toyota and Honda just posted numbers that do not fit the narrative anyone had written about sedans. The Toyota Camry moved 260,684 units through the first nine months of 2026, up 11.2 percent, while the Honda Accord jumped 32.7 percent to 145,520 sales over the same stretch.
SUVs and trucks still move the most metal in America. American Honda as a whole just logged its best third quarter since 2019, and the strength is not buried in one segment.
Toyota Camry Leads US Sedan Sales In 2026
2026 Toyota Camry Nightshade Edition
Photo by: Toyota
No sedan sold more copies than the Camry this year. Toyota's third-quarter sales reached 633,223 vehicles overall, up 0.6 percent year over year, with electrified models accounting for 363,367 of them, a 28.5 percent jump, according to Toyota Motor North America.
The Corolla backed up the Camry's run with 195,141 sales, an 8.4 percent increase, and hybrid demand did a lot of the lifting. Corolla hybrid sales hit 13,003 units in the third quarter alone, nearly 36 percent above the same period a year earlier.
Toyota's hybrid momentum was not confined to one nameplate. The brand's overall US hybrid sales climbed 29 percent in the third quarter, a trend that lines up with the kind of growth tracked in last year's Corolla and Camry sales, except this time the gains are even steeper.
Camry: 260,684 units, up 11.2 percent Corolla: 195,141 units, up 8.4 percent Corolla hybrid (Q3 alone): 13,003 units, up nearly 36 percent
Honda Accord Posts The Biggest Year-Over-Year Gain
2026 Honda Accord Touring
Photo by: Honda
The Accord's 32.7 percent surge is the standout number of the quarter, and it was not a one-month blip. Honda sold 16,507 Accords in September alone, a 27.7 percent jump, while the Honda Civic reached 17,724 units that month, up 8.4 percent.
Hybrids explain a big chunk of that growth. Honda said hybrid versions made up 44 percent of Accord sales and 35 percent of Civic sales in September, figures that come from American Honda's September and third-quarter sales release.
American Honda's total US sales rose 9.3 percent in the third quarter, and the company reported selling just over 80,000 hybrid vehicles in that span in the United States. The brand's sedans, hatchbacks and sports cars rose 15.6 percent year over year, while its SUVs and trucks grew just 0.3 percent.
That gap helps flip the usual script. However, Honda's crossovers are not struggling as the CR-V lineup keeps selling well, but the passenger-car side is growing faster than anything with a tailgate.
The Rebound Reaches Beyond Honda And Toyota
2025 Mazda3
Hyundai's Elantra gained about 18 percent on a year-to-date basis even as it nears the end of its current generation, and Mazda3 sales jumped 42.3 percent over the same January-to-September window. The resurgence has climbed upmarket too, with BMW 3 Series sales up about 51 percent and the Lexus IS up 51.7 percent year to date.
Not every brand is riding the wave. Nissan's Sentra and outgoing Altima are both down for the year, even as the brand's SUVs and trucks improved. That split stands out against the gains logged elsewhere on this year's list of best-selling cars.
Price is doing a lot of the persuading. A Civic or Accord can still be had for less than $30,000, often several thousand dollars below a comparable compact SUV, and hybrid versions of both return more than 48 mpg combined without requiring a buyer to go fully electric.
Nissan Sales Are Up For The 19th Straight Month In The US
Winners And Losers From September Auto Sales
The Base Ram 1500 Rumble Bee Is An Instant Sales Hit
Gas Prices Are Up, And So Are EV Sales
Source: Toyota and Honda
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Brian Potter) https://www.motor1.com/news/810882/toyota-camry-honda-accord-corolla/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810881/2026-renault-espace-concept/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 07:47:11 +0000 Renault Wants To Make Minivans Cool With New E-Space Concept The original Espace helped pioneer Europe's minivan boom. Now, Renault wants to make the segment cool again.
Renault is going back to its roots with a new Espace concept, and that's rather fitting considering what happened to the actual Espace. The French automaker has announced that the E-Space Concept will make its world debut at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, where it will reinterpret the company's famous "voiture à vivre" (“cars for living”) philosophy for a new era.
The timing is almost comical. Renault still sells an Espace, but you won't find a traditional minivan underneath the familiar name. Rather blasphemously, the sixth-generation model is an SUV, complete with the obligatory raised ride height and chunky body cladding. It's one of many models that have betrayed their roots after catching the SUV bug.
Now, Renault is teasing a concept that seems to take that original idea in a new direction. Details are still being kept under wraps, but the company describes the E-Space Concept as a reinvention of the OG model launched in 1984. The original Espace was a pretty wild idea for its time. Developed with Matra, it put a huge, airy passenger compartment into a relatively compact footprint, with up to seven seats and an interior that could be configured in countless ways. The rear seats could be removed or rearranged, while the front seats could even swivel to create something resembling a lounge on wheels.
First-generation Renault Espace
Photo by: Renault
The First Espace Was A True Automotive Icon
It was also pivotal to the European minivan segment. Renault's own historical material describes the Espace as a pioneer of the genre, and the company wasn't kidding. The Espace arrived at a time when conventional hatchbacks, sedans, and wagons still dominated the European family-car market. It effectively demonstrated that a family car could prioritize interior space and flexibility without simply being a commercial van with windows.
Of course, the Espace wasn't an immediate smash hit. Renault famously sold just nine examples during its first month on the French market. Buyers needed some time to wrap their heads around this strange, boxy thing that was neither a conventional car nor a van. Eventually, though, the concept caught on, and other automakers followed Renault into the booming European MPV market.
That makes the Espace one of those rare cars that didn't merely compete in an existing segment. It helped create one. Ironically, the segment it helped create eventually almost disappeared under the weight of the SUV boom. Now, Renault is preparing to show a concept that promises to revisit the very philosophy that made the nameplate famous.
The Espace Is Coming Back, At Least Conceptually
The boxy shape, short overhangs, and retro-futuristic grille seem inspired by the original Espace. But in 2026, it has the obligatory massive wheels and a light-up badge, while, in typical concept-car fashion, the side mirrors have been replaced by cameras. To clean up the profile, traditional door handles have made way for winglets built into the beltline.
Renault is tight-lipped about the technical specifications, but it says the concept is 4.7 meters (185 inches) long, making it about the same length as the Espace SUV. But while the sixth-gen model has a combustion engine, the E in E-Space points toward a purely electric drivetrain.
The timing is particularly interesting because the minivan's decline wasn't caused by a lack of practicality. If anything, MPVs offered exactly what families needed: loads of space, flexible seating, excellent visibility, and a relatively compact footprint. They simply lost the image war to SUVs, which offered a more fashionable alternative without sacrificing much utility. Renault now seems interested in whether it can make that formula desirable again.
We don't yet know whether this is simply a design exercise, a preview of a future production model, or something else entirely. Renault isn't giving away the good stuff just yet. What we do know is that Renault will unveil the Espace Concept on October 12. If a production version follows, it'll compete against another nostalgia-heavy minivan: the Volkswagen ID. Buzz.
Now, Renault, how about making another Espace F1? The V10 era of Formula 1 engines may be long gone, but even with a V6, it would sure make for another amazing concept.
Renault Made A Rear-Wheel-Drive Coupe You Can’t Buy
Renault Refuses To Kill Physical Buttons, Even If They Cost More
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Adrian Padeanu) https://www.motor1.com/news/810881/2026-renault-espace-concept/ https://www.motor1.com/news/810875/bugatti-screens-not-luxury/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 06:59:38 +0000 Bugatti Gets It: Screens Are Not Luxury Mate Rimac says Euro automakers shouldn't try to beat China at its own game because they'll lose.
The European automotive industry is in trouble, and Mate Rimac has a pretty simple solution: Stop trying to beat the Chinese at their own game. That means fewer giant screens, fewer buttons replaced by touch-sensitive surfaces, and less obsession with charging speeds. Instead, Bugatti's boss argues that European automakers should focus on something China can't replicate as easily: luxury and craftsmanship with genuinely premium materials.
Rimac makes his point while poking around the interior of a Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph (aka Bentley Arnage), pointing to the leather, wood, and other high-quality materials used in the cabin. The message is pretty clear: This is what luxury used to look like, and perhaps it's something the European automotive industry has lost sight of while chasing the latest tech trends.
The automotive industry has spent the last few years turning the interior into a tech demo. Screens have gotten larger, physical controls have disappeared, and automakers routinely brag about how much computing power they've packed into their latest cars. None of that necessarily makes a car feel more luxurious.
Mate Rimac Believes Companies Should Find Their Niche
A 12-inch display is still a 12-inch display, whether it's in a €30,000 family crossover or a €300,000 luxury car. In some cases, the cheaper car can even have a larger screen. That's where Rimac's argument gets particularly interesting. He believes European automakers need to find their niche in much the same way Switzerland did with watchmaking. Swiss companies don't try to make the world's cheapest watches. They focus on craftsmanship and exclusivity, selling relatively small volumes while capturing a huge share of the industry's profits.
It's an appealing strategy for companies at the top end of the market. Brands such as Bugatti, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and even some of the more expensive offerings from BMW, Porsche, and Mercedes can charge a premium for hand-finished interiors, exotic materials, and the feeling that you're buying something genuinely special.
It's Not A One-Size-Fits-All Solution
But there's a rather large problem with applying that philosophy to the entire European car industry: not everyone can become Bugatti. Its former parent company, Volkswagen, can't suddenly turn the Golf into a six-figure luxury hatchback and expect millions of buyers to stick around. Renault can't cover every Clio in leather and carbon fiber. Skoda can't transform the Octavia into a Swiss watch on four wheels. Even premium automakers such as BMW and Mercedes still need relatively affordable models to keep their factories running and their sales volumes high.
Bugatti La Maison Pur Sang Veyron 20 Years
Photo by: Bugatti
Mainstream Automakers Shouldn't Chase Luxury
That's the part of Rimac's argument that needs some qualification. Yes, European automakers probably shouldn't blindly copy every Chinese trend. There is a legitimate question about whether buyers actually want enormous screens replacing conventional controls, or whether charging speeds alone are enough to win customers. And there is certainly value in offering something beyond a list of technical specifications.
But mainstream automakers have a completely different problem from Bugatti. They need to build cars that millions of people can actually afford. You can't solve Europe's competitiveness problem by making every car more expensive, because plenty of customers aren't shopping for hand-stitched leather, exotic wood, and individually finished trim. They want a practical car that gets them to work, fits the family, and doesn't cost a fortune.
Another uncomfortable reality is that Chinese automakers aren't limited to building bargain-basement cars with enormous screens. They're moving upmarket, too, and increasingly offering impressive materials, fancy interiors, and technology at prices European manufacturers may struggle to match. Simply adding leather and removing screens won't magically create an unbeatable product.
Bugatti Tourbillon
Still, Rimac's broader point is worth considering. Europe doesn't necessarily need to win by having the biggest display, the fastest-charging battery, or the longest list of software features. It needs to figure out what makes its cars worth buying in the first place.
For Bugatti, the answer is obvious: exclusivity, craftsmanship, and absurd amounts of money. For the rest of the industry, the answer probably has to be a little more complicated.
It's Over: Bugatti Is No Longer Part Of The Volkswagen Group
Bugatti Says No To Fake Engine Sounds, Yes To 'Dirty And Raw' V16 Notes
]]> feedback@motor1.com (Adrian Padeanu) https://www.motor1.com/news/810875/bugatti-screens-not-luxury/