Author: admin

State puts out call for heavy EV charging hubs as part of fuel security plan

The New South Wales state government is seeking proposals for projects valued at $100 million or more that will address fuel security issues, including for renewable fuels and heavy electric vehicle charging hubs.

The state’s Investment Delivery Authority (IDA) is calling for expressions of interest (EoI) for support for projects that will boost supply, reduce the reliance on imports, and to encourage the development of new technologies.

The IDA round is focused on projects valued at $100 million or more that can directly improve fuel security, and includes a relatively wide definition that encompasses a range of technologies.

Heavy electric vehicle (EV) fleets and charging hubs are on the agenda, with a view to eventually reducing the state’s reliance on diesel.

Such projects would exclude all electric passenger vehicle fleets but include a wide array of commercial and fleet vehicles including rigid trucks, articulated trucks, and other freight or service vehicles.

The IDA is also willing to canvass projects that promote renewable fuels and their feedstocks – including aviation fuel, renewable diesel, biodiesel, biomethane, and green ammonia.

“We’re inviting industry to bring forward the next generation of fuel security projects,” said Daniel Mookhey, NSW state treasurer.

“This isn’t only an energy issue, it’s a cost-of-living issue for families and businesses across NSW. This is about partnering with investors to strengthen supply, support jobs and reduce our exposure to global fuel disruptions.

“By opening both an EOI and Market Sounding process, we are making sure we capture projects that are ready to proceed, as well as those that can shape future investment.”

Expressions of Interest will remain open till 11:59am Monday 22 June 2026 and projects can be submitted with the IDA here.

Sign up for The Driven’s free daily newsletter and get the latest EV news and analysis delivered straight to your inbox.

Source link

June 3, 2026
How Dozens of Classic Cars Ended Up Stacked Like Firewood in a Utah Canyon

The biggest car news and reviews, no BS

Our free daily newsletter sends the stories that really matter directly to you, every weekday.

Right off Highway 89 in Utah near mile marker 25, just above the border with Arizona and about 80 miles east of Zion National Park, lies an oddity: the ruins of Detroit metal in various hues, piled from the canyon floor up to the road itself. These scrapped cars have been here for around six decades, but today they look completely out of place in the desert. There’s a good reason for their existence—or, at least, there was.

This area is known as Catstair Canyon, and the junked car wall, the Catstair Riprap. “Riprap,” for those of us not well versed in waterway studies, is any sort of material deposited along banks to protect the adjoining land from erosion. You can do this with rocks or concrete, of course, but in the middle of the 20th century, some experts favored using junked car bodies filled with gravel and tied to a slope.

Strange as it may seem now to see a stack of ruined Bel Airs, Contintentals, and Corvairs tall enough to climb (though we’d recommend exercising caution, as the explorer in the video below does) this practice was actually somewhat common at the time.

Catstair Canyon

On the banks of the Loup River outside Columbus, Nebraska, for example, you’ll find rows of cars lining the river, spaced out about a car width between them, stretching almost as far as the eye can see. Though it looks very different than the Catstair Canyon installation, the goal was the same: disrupt the flow of water and protect those riverbanks from being eaten away at over time. For Catstair, the concern was rainwater rushing in those troughs.

Did it work? Well, yes, but at an obvious cost. “It was part of a long habit of treating rivers as little more than sewers and riverboat highways,” David L. Bristow of the Nebraska State Historical Society wrote in a 2022 article. “For many years a town’s riverfront was predictably its poorest, ugliest, and most industrialized area.”

By the early ’70s, the act of using cars as riprap was beginning to fall out of favor, per Hot Rod Magazine’s Steven Rupp, due to the Clean Water Act of 1972 and the onset of new construction technology and techniques. Of course, even though the practice stopped, the junk isn’t going anywhere.

Harry Hayashi/Adobe Stock

You can hike to the Catstair Riprap from small dirt parking areas located to the east and west of the attraction itself. The west lot is much closer than the east lot and its path is much easier, too, so it’s best to aim for that one. Continue walking past the cars from that side, and you’ll meet a 10-foot drop and a much more challenging journey, per My Zion Vacation.

Have you seen Catstair Canyon in person? Comment below and share pics if you got ’em!

Backed by a decade of covering cars and consumer tech, Adam Ismail is a Senior Editor at The Drive, focused on curating and producing the site’s slate of daily stories.

Source link

June 3, 2026

VFACTS: Electrified sales hit 46pc in May

THE IRAN WAR has seen Australian new car buyers shift rapidly towards the purchase of electrified vehicles with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric sales accounting for 46 per cent of the overall count for the month of May.

Combined data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) show Australians purchased 106,887 new vehicles in May, down 2538 units on the month prior (-2.3 per cent).

The year-to-date tally for 2026 sits at 491,525 units from both sources, down 5168 units on the May 2025 (-1.0 per cent).

Across the segments, we note a further decline for the majority of passenger cars segments with the Micro passenger segment down a further 2.8 per cent YoY (to 562 units in May), the Small passenger under $45K segment down a whopping 18.9 per cent (to 3693 units), the Small passenger over $45K segment down 3.1 per cent (to 1424 units), and Large passenger vehicles on either side of the $70K price divide down 52.9 and 34.2 per cent respectively (to eight and 129 units).

The Light passenger segment bucked the trend rising 5.4 per cent YoY (to 2383 units), as did the Medium passenger vehicles on either side of the $60K barrier, up 18.7 and 35.3 per cent respectively (to 1795 and 1437 units), buoyed in no small part to the greater availability of new energy entrants from within the segment.

Upper Large segment passenger cars fell 50.0 per cent (to just 15 units) while People Movers under $70K fell 20.2 per cent (to 970 units). People movers over $70K increased by 26.6 per cent across May (to 214 units).

Perhaps indicating a holdback on discretionary spending, we note a decline across all Sports car segments in May. Sports cars under $90K fell 49.4 per cent (to 503 units), Sports cars over $90K dropped 34.0 per cent (to 246 units), and Sports cars over $200K slid 25.9 per cent (to 100 units even).

Shifting focus to SUV sales and we note more mixed results…

Light segment SUV sales fell 25.7 per cent (to 3350 units) YoY for the May period, while Small segment SUV under $45K sales rose 7.8 per cent (to 14,987 units). Small segment SUV over $45K sales fell 18.3 per cent (to 3076 units), while Medium segment SUV under $65K sales rose 26.9 per cent (to 23,406 units, the highest singular segment in May 2026).

Medium segment SUV over $65K sales were likewise up in May, rising 36.9 per cent (to 10,865 units), while Large segment SUV sales on either side of the $80K split sank, down 25.4 and 16.2 per cent respectively (to 9846 and 2030 units).

Upper Large SUV sales on both sides of the segment’s $120K division were also down, falling 27.0 and 9.6 per cent respectively (to 2017 and 44 units).

Light passenger buses were also down in May, the segment showing a decline in both the under and over 20-seat categories. Sales of lower capacity light passenger buses dropped a substantial 85.6 per cent in May (to 68 units), while higher capacity light passenger buses declined by 44.4 per cent (to 35 units).

Interestingly, counterpart light commercial vans rose incrementally across the same period, with vehicles in the sub-2.5t category up 13.1 per cent (to 138 units) and vehicles in the 2.5-3.5t category up 2.5 per cent to 2035 units.

Perennially popular light commercial utility vehicles faced a fall from form in May, with sales of two-wheel drive pick-up and cab-chassis models sliding 4.8 per cent (to 2008 units) and four-wheel drive pick-up and cab-chassis models slipping 18.0 per cent (to 14,891 units).

Despite the descent, pick-up and cab-chassis models remain high in the sales charts for May with the Ford Ranger (4474 units) and Toyota HiLux (4005 units) ranking in first- and second place for the month.

Countering the downward trend, Larger pick-up and cab-chassis models, those in the over $100K category, rose 44.2 per cent across May to achieve sales of 851 units. However, Heavy commercial vehicle sales elsewhere were down, falling 14.4 per cent (to 3362 units).

On a brand-by-brand basis, we note Toyota on top for May with sales of 16,342 units. That figure represents a year-on-year decline of 30.7 per cent (or 7234 units), reducing the Japanese brand’s market share to just 15.3 per cent.

BYD placed second in May with sales of 8211 units (up 7.7 per cent) ahead of Ford with 7195 units (down 15.0 per cent), Hyundai with 7007 units (up 4.5 per cent), Kia with 6761 units (down 2.1 per cent), and Tesla with 6433 units (up 65.1 per cent).

Top models for the month of May saw Tesla top the charts with 5605 registrations of its newly updated Model Y (up 56.6 per cent YoY), leading the four-wheel drive Ford Ranger with 4051 unit sales (down 9.6 per cent YoY), the Toyota RAV4 with 3865 unit sales (down 3.4 per cent YoY), the Toyota HiLux with 3685 units (down 12.4 per cent YoY), and the Hyundai Kona with 2291 unit sales (up 17.4 per cent YoY).

While economic challenges continue to take their toll on the new car market more broadly, we note steady sales from private buyers across passenger and SUV segments. Business buyers purchased more light commercial vehicles in May, while rental fleet buyers purchased more passenger and SUV models than government fleet purchasers.

Unsurprisingly, Chinese-made vehicles continued to lead as Australia’s preferred source of new vehicles in May with 37,229 units from the People’s Republic registered (up 74.1 per cent YoY). Japan trailed in second place with 22,823 registrations (down 28.9 per cent) ahead of third place Thailand with 17,552 units (down 22.1 per cent), fourth place South Korea with 13,184 units (up 5.2 per cent), and fifth place Germany with 4597 units (down 6.5 per cent).

As indicated at the outset, however, is a shift in Australian’s driveline preference that comes as a most significant alteration.

Spurred by fuel shortages as a result of the Iran War, Australians are rapidly changing the type of vehicles they purchase, with FCAI data showing a significant shift away from internal combustion power and towards electrified options.

In May, sales of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) across all categories rose by 202.3 per cent year-on-year (to 9315 units). Traditional hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) sales jumped 11.3 per cent (to 19,024 units) while battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales shot up 111.7 per cent (to 21,303 units).

Despite a fall in popularity of 30.3 per cent, petrol-powered vehicles continued to prove the most popular overall in May with 28,692 unit sales, closely followed by diesel-powered vehicles with 25,191 units (down 26.2 per cent).

FCAI chief executive Tony Weber said the results demonstrated the pace of consumer adoption of lower-emission technologies in response to an international energy shock.

“The shift is particularly evident in the SUV segment, where consumer preferences are changing rapidly,” he said, while noting that more work was to be done on EV charging infrastructure if a greater update of PHEV and BEV models was to eventuate.

“Today’s SUV buyer is increasingly choosing hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric options,” he noted.

“(But) as the number of EVs on the road continues to grow, charging infrastructure must become more of a priority.

“Continued investment and enabling policy settings will be essential to ensure infrastructure keeps pace with consumer adoption.”

Mr Weber said yesterday’s findings by Victoria’s parliamentary inquiry reinforce what consumers and industry have been saying for some time.

“Charging infrastructure rollout must accelerate if Australia is to maintain consumer confidence and support continued uptake,” stressed Mr Weber.

“The evidence increasingly demonstrates that NVES is encouraging manufacturers to bring more low emissions vehicles to Australia, increasing both consumer choice and technology availability.

“Regulatory stability and growth in public charging infrastructure is now critical to maintaining investment, consumer confidence and continued growth, particularly during a period of global economic uncertainty.”

Top 10 vehicle sales by make (May 2026)*:

Make	Sales	Share	Variance
Toyota	16,342	15.3%	-30.7%
BYD	8,211	7.7%	+7.7%
Ford	7,195	6.7%	-15.0%
Hyundai	7,007	6.6%	+4.5%
Kia	6,761	6.3%	-2.1%
Tesla	6,433	6.0%	+65.1%
Mazda	5,698	5.3%	-27.4%
GWM	4,660	4.4%	+9.1%
Chery	4,401	4.1%	+59.7%
MG	3,872	3.6%	+18.4%
Mitsubishi	3,307	3.1%	-30.6%

Top 10 vehicle sales by model (May 2026)*:

Make/Model	Sales	Variance
Tesla Model Y	5,605	+56.6%
Ford Ranger 4×4	4,051	-9.6%
Toyota RAV4	3,865	-3.4%
Toyota HiLux	3,685	-12.4%
Hyundai Kona	2,291	+17.4%
Hyundai Tucson	2,287	+27.5%
Omoda Jaecoo J5	2,172	New entrant
Chery Tiggo 4	2,123	+23.1%
Ford Everest	1,876	-20.8%
Geely EX5	1,814	+255.0%

State-by-state sales (May 2026)*:

State/Territory	Sales	Variance
Australian Capital Territory	1,575	-1.5%
New South Wales	33,465	-0.4%
Northern Territory	821	-5.7%
Queensland	22,182	-6.2%
South Australia	6,737	+0.1%
Tasmania	1,667	+5.2%
Victoria	29,382	-1.6%
Western Australia	11,058	-4.4%

*All sales data is supplied courtesy of the FCAI and the EVC.

Source link

June 3, 2026

Why the 7.3L Is the One To Buy

Southeast Michigan may not be Texas, but we have more than our fair share of big trucks around here. Second only to the Escalades and other full-size SUVs that prowl metro Detroit, heavy-duty pickups like the 2026 Ford F-250 Super Duty are still coveted chariots even in some of America’s wealthiest suburban zip codes. But there’s a flip side to that.

When I’m testing a flashy luxury SUV or fancy sports car, the neighbors will often wander past. They want to know what it is, and more often than not, what it’ll do. Something like an F-250 Super Duty, on the other hand, is a known quantity—even if that quantity tends to be quite large.

The Basics

Just days before the truck arrived, we learned that the 7.3-liter “Godzilla” V8 had become the truck’s new default engine. To that, I have one thing to say: Hallelujah.

Don’t get me wrong; diesels are awesome machines, and if capability is all that you care about, the Power Stroke is ultimately going to punch harder. You’ll get no argument from me if that’s your use case. But if you’re going to be driving your truck empty or close to it (depending on what you’re hauling, even a full bed in a Super Duty might qualify as “nearly empty” in terms of actual payload), the 7.3 is the engine to get—period.

It may not look like much, but hey, the average American man has to stand on his toes just to get a decent look at this thing anyway. If you’re the DIY maintenance type, you may want to consider investing in a step stool.

Driving the F-250 Super Duty Tremor

Last year, I tested a monster of an F-350—a dual-rear-wheel behemoth that only cleared the door framing of my new carport by a couple of inches. It took sincere effort (writers don’t typically spend their days hauling construction-grade block around) to even scratch the surface of what that truck was capable of, and driving it around unladen didn’t help it put its best foot forward. With no trailer and an empty bed, the diesel always felt underworked and, at the same time, annoyed that it had been asked to show up at all. Despite the temperament its name might imply, Godzilla simply hums along at whatever pace you desire.

The big V8 may be simple, maybe, but not exactly mundane. Its 7.3-liter displacement is impressive on its own, and it produces 430 horsepower and 485 pound-feet of torque. That’s less than you get from the new LT6 in the 2026 Corvette, which is decidedly not a pickup truck, but the pushrod Ford also isn’t as highly stressed as the ‘Vette engine. Meanwhile, the 6.7-liter high-output diesel cranks out an almost incomprehensible 1,200 pound-feet.

Here’s the thing about diesels (just about anything turbocharged, really): You may not need revs to get gobs of torque, but you do need throttle to spin that turbine. That big turbodiesel may not lag much, but Godzilla doesn’t do it at all—nor does it sound like somebody threw a live goose down a garbage disposal. And even if it may be down on raw grunt, the 4.30:1 axle ratio makes Godzilla feel plenty quick.

This time around, I didn’t have any stress tests for the F-250; the biggest item it brought home was a nine-foot Freeman maple that the township’s beautification commission offered after we lost one of our tree-lawn silver maples to old age. Are you even using a truck if you don’t exceed at least one of its cargo dimensions?

2026 Ford F-250 Super Duty King Ranch Tremor — *Byron Hurd*

The Highs and Lows

My biggest complaint about driving the F-350 last year was its unladen road manners. When you engineer a truck to haul that much weight on the rear axle (and then stick extra tires on it to accommodate more load), you need a correspondingly stiff suspension so that the truck doesn’t droop in the rear when you max out its payload or tongue weight. Sag out back lifts the nose, which makes the nose light (compromising steering response and feel) and reduces stability at speed.

This single-rear-wheel Super Duty won’t hold as much in the bed, nor can it pull quite as large a trailer, but it rides beautifully by comparison—even this Tremor package, which ostensibly cranks the aggression up a notch. Fortunately, those knobby tires have nice, thick sidewalls that greedily soak up surface imperfections and smooth out what might otherwise be a jittery ride.

The advantage is even more obvious because this F-250, like last year’s truck, was a King Ranch. Named for a sprawling Texas homestead, this not-quite-a-Platinum treatment coats the interior in what is likely enough leather to deplete its namesake cattle herd. It’s not quite a Lincoln, but you probably wouldn’t be disappointed if you were coming from one.

As for lows, there aren’t many. It’s still huge, but you don’t buy a crew-cab pickup with an eight-foot bed because it’s compact and maneuverable. Nor, for that matter, do you buy it because it’s a fuel miser…

Fuel Economy

In a word (or three), LOL. Automakers aren’t required to publish fuel economy figures for their heavy-duty pickups, and given the F-250’s massive 48-gallon tank, getting a meaningful average in the space of just a week is essentially its own speedrun challenge. In short, if you’re buying a truck to be frugal, this is the wrong one. If that’s the case, the F-150 hybrid may be more your speed, and don’t feel bad—it’s more mine too.

2026 Ford F-250 Super Duty Features, Options, and Competition

The full-size truck market is a complex and high-dollar segment to parse. Realistically, the buyer for an F-250 knows better what they need than I do, especially given that my job’s version of “heavy lifting” often involves a ceramic mug and pensive stares.

But as stagnant as this little corner of the market might get, we do occasionally see big changes. Ram’s latest HD overhaul gave it broader aftermarket support for power take-off accessories and introduced a new transmission lineup-wide, bringing the Cummins diesel some long-anticipated upgrades. But loyalty, being what it is among truck buyers, may not matter much.

Given the many ways the Super Duty lineup can be configured (and the wide disparity in use cases), it’s hard to make a definitive judgment call about trucks in this segment. And hey, I’m a city slicker, remember? It’s my job to tell you when you’re enduring a crappy experience just for the sake of pickup squad credibility, but it’s virtually impossible for me to say which truck best fits your lifestyle. If you pick the wrong tool for the job, that’s on you.

Value and Verdict

Value can be a nebulous thing to define in any automotive segment; things get even trickier when you’re talking about heavy-duty pickups with six-figure price tags (after taxes in this case, but still). We’re firmly in the domain of maximalism. More is more; less is unconscionable.

Appropriately, this truck’s name is no less of a mouthful than last year’s: 2026 Ford F-250 Super Duty King Ranch Tremor Crew Cab Long Bed Single Rear Wheel, but the truck itself is a lot easier to wrap one’s head around. It’s still long, but the single-rear-wheel setup makes the whole thing feel manageable. It’s still too long to fit in my smaller suburban garage, but it will fit (albeit snugly) in the gravel space next to it. Of the trucks that are too big for me, this is at least one I could rationalize. It could do anything I’d throw at it and more, and all with a basic V8 under the hood.

Now if only I could justify a second mortgage.

Ford provided The Drive with a seven-day loan of this vehicle for the purpose of writing this review.

2026 Ford F-250 Super Duty Tremor 4×4 Specs

Base Price (King Ranch Long Bed SRW as equipped)	$77,775 ($99,080)
Powertrain	7.3-liter naturally aspirated V8 \| 10-speed automatic transmission \| 4WD
Horsepower	430
Torque	485 lb-ft
Seating Capacity	5
Curb Weight	6,000 pounds (approx.)
Towing Capacity	18,200 lbs (conventional) \| 18,800 (gooseneck)
Payload Capacity	4,302 pounds
Ground Clearance	10.8 inches
Score	7/10

Quick Take

It’s maximalism incarnate, but it’ll do everything you ask of it.

Source link

June 2, 2026

2026 Honda Passport Trailsport Review — New And Bigger

Published: November 18th, 2025

Share

Source link

June 2, 2026
Tesla Is Selling Discounted Used Cybertrucks Now
- Tesla has started selling pre-owned Cybertrucks through its website.
- The cheapest used electric pickup starts from less than $67,000.
- Some models have the Foundation Series package, while others come with three months of free Supercharging.
Tesla’s Cybertruck hasn’t been quite the success the company had hoped for. Despite holding the title for America’s best-selling electric pickup for a brief moment, the controversial EV’s numbers fell sharply, just like some of its rivals.

The price didn’t really help, but now there’s a way to get a Cybertruck with a factory discount, as Tesla has officially started selling pre-owned models on its website and at its stores across the United States.

Pre-owned Tesla Cybertruck inventory

Photo by: Tesla

The cheapest used Cybetruck I could find on Tesla’s website was a 2024 All-Wheel Drive model with the Foundation Series pack. With just 2,566 miles on the odometer, it’s available for $66,200 excluding delivery. As a reminder, the Foundation Series models came with pretty much all the available accessories, making this a very good deal.

By comparison, a brand-new Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD starts from $69,990, but lacks adaptive air suspension with adjustable ride height, heated rear seats, a second-row touchscreen, ventilated front seats, and a premium sound system.

All this being said, there is a big difference between the used Foundation Series models and those that were bought new. Back in 2024, the fully kitted-out electric pickup included the so-called Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature for life, but the ones that are sold as pre-owned vehicles get a one- or three-month trial for FSD (Supervised). After the trial is over, the new owner will have to pay a $99 monthly subscription to keep the feature.

On the pricier end of the list, there’s a 2025 Cyberbeast with 5,256 miles that’s priced at $94,800. It gets one month of FSD (Supervised), a 294-mile estimated range, and a tow package that enables a maximum towing capacity of 11,000 pounds. A new Tesla Cybertruck Cyberbeast is rated for 320 miles of range and starts from $99,990.

All used Cybertucks sold by Tesla come with the remaining balance of the original warranty, as well as an additional one-year or 10,000-mile pre-used vehicle warranty, which begins after the original warranty runs out.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Insideevs.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

– The InsideEVs team
Source link
June 2, 2026
Behold the Fire-Spitting Twizy ‘Unsafety Car’ Leading a 100-Lap Citroen Ami Race on a Velodrome

The biggest car news and reviews, no BS

Our free daily newsletter sends the stories that really matter directly to you, every weekday.

If you aren’t sure what to make out of the headline above, let me tell you, you are not alone. It’s a lot to process, especially on a Monday. Let’s try again: fire-spitting Renault Twizy monster “truck.” Citroen Ami micro EVs racing on a velodrome. One hundred laps. Get it now?

No, it’s not AI, and trust me, several of us on staff thought the clip below showing 10 Amis on a bicycle track was AI-generated. What you’re seeing here is an event called L.A. C.O.U.R.S.E., which, according to this YouTube video, stands for the L’Ami Challenge Original Ultra Racing Sport Event.

Because everything is in French, I couldn’t really understand much of what’s going on in the Twitch stream, but you don’t really have to to appreciate the race itself. However, this Reddit post claims that this one-off race was organized by famous French YouTuber Sylvain Lyve, who pitted 10 French streamers against each other in the little EVs.

You can watch the full, one-hour race here:

As a big fan of the Citroen Ami micro EV—I’ve never driven one, but I have its corporate sibling, the Fiat Topolino—I was immediately hollering when I saw that some brave souls decided to get together and race against each other. And even more so when I saw the racing venue and the fire-shooting safety car. Oh, I’m sorry, I meant “Unsafety Car,” which is literally what they call it. I don’t know who out there makes Twizy monster truck conversions that look like open-wheel formula cars, but whoever you are, thank you.

Per that Reddit thread, the goal of the 100-lap race is, well, to win, but primarily to finish the long race with at least 10% battery remaining. Like the Topolino, the Ami can squeeze an estimated 46-mile range from its 6 kW single-motor and 5.5-kWh battery combo. Top speed in the Topolino I drove was 30 mph downhill, so I don’t know what speeds they were hitting on the velodrome, though Lyve’s video claims the speed limiters were increased to 70 km/h, about 43 mph.

I thought the Wiene 500 was incredible, but this… this may be better than that. Thank you, French people.

Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com

As deputy editor, Jerry draws on a decade of industry experience and a lifelong passion for motorsports to guide The Drive’s short- and long-term coverage.

Source link

June 2, 2026
Toyota Just Made the GR86 Even Better to Drive for 2027

A new, third-generation Toyota GR86 is expected to arrive around 2028 with a mild-hybrid system, but until then, Toyota isn’t ignoring the current, second-generation sports car, with a slew of updates announced for the 2027 model year, both inside and out. The majority of the upgrades are aimed at the keen enthusiast, with Toyota not only offering a new performance package with upgraded brakes and suspension, but also providing improvements to all GR86s in the throttle and transmission departments. Let’s take a closer look at the mechanical changes and then discuss color and trim updates.

2027 Toyota GR86 Promises Better Engagement with Latest Updates

Toyota

As before, the GR86 is powered by a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine, and it still delivers 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels through your choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions, whether you order a base with fabric upholstery or a Premium model with Ultrasuede and leather (the Yuzu Edition is not available after 2026, but we expect a special edition will be offered later). However, Toyota says the throttle calibration has been updated for a “smoother, more linear response,” and the engineers have also improved the downshift from fifth to fourth by widening the chamfer of the shifter interlock between the two gears by approximately 0.02 inches to make slotting into the lower gear smoother during “spirited driving.” In other words, you should be able to get away with more brutal gear changes.

Toyota

View the 4 images of this gallery on the
original article

The changes aren’t limited only to driving pleasure, but also driving safety, with the recognition range of the stereo camera almost doubling in the updated model, improving the detection of vehicles ahead of the car when using cruise control. Toyota also added a monocular camera to help detect nearby objects at intersections. But enough of what’s standard – let’s talk about those new options.

New Options and Colors for 2027 Toyota GR86

Toyota

View the 2 images of this gallery on the
original article

The 2027 GR86 now gets access to a Performance Package, regardless of which trim you start with, and this adds SACHS Dampers and Brembo brakes with red-painted four-piston front and two-piston rear calipers married to 12.8-inch front and 12.4-inch rear discs. That should mean better control through the corners and greater confidence in the braking zones. For the cosmetically conscious, there’s a new Thunder exterior paint finish for the body, likely replacing either Pavement or Steel from the 2026 palette. Inside, a Cockpit Red cabin option mixes red leather side bolsters, red floor mats, and red door accents with black Ultrasuede, but those wanting something a little more restrained can have an all-black interior.

Pricing for the 2027 model year and its Performance Package has not yet been announced, as the updated sports car is only due in the summer, but we’ll likely hear whether the 2026 model’s base MSRP of $31,400 has changed in the next few weeks. If you’re not too fussy about having the latest and greatest, Toyota is trying to shift inventory for the 2026 model year with attractive lease deals, and we suspect most dealers will have competitive pricing as they try to clear their floors for the summer.

Toyota

Source link

June 2, 2026
The Best Ways to Protect Your Car During a Flood

Hurricane season impacts millions of Americans every year, bringing flooding and damaging weather, but high water is increasingly becoming a problem for people well beyond hurricane-prone regions. Flood damage is a big concern for vehicle owners, as it can lead to a total loss scenario or extreme repair costs. The good news is that there are steps you can take to protect your vehicle from rising floodwaters. While no solution offers complete protection, it’s often better to make an effort than to hope for the best. Here are some of the best ways to keep your car out of harm’s way.

Car Lifts

Many enthusiasts would love to have a hydraulic lift in their garage, but you don’t have to go all-out to get a product that could potentially save your car during a flood. While they aren’t as stable as an actual lift, you can buy jack stands that are safe, properly rated, and reliable for a few hundred dollars to hold your car at an elevated position. Spending a little more can get you a basic lift setup, and more expensive hydraulic lifts can provide several feet of protection.

How Much Do Car Lifts Cost?

Costs vary widely across the three lift types and even within each type, depending on the brand and features. Generally, scissor lifts are the most affordable complete systems, followed by 2-post and then 4-post lifts. Pricing ranges from roughly $1,500 to $10,000 or more. Many lifts require additional installation costs. Jack stands are the least expensive alternative.

Home Flood Protection Barriers

These products offer varying degrees of protection and span a wide price range, but some people have found that home flood protection barriers can help prevent or slow flood damage. That said, some of the products available today come with exorbitant price tags, and many require complicated, multi-person installations. There is also a limit to the protection, as deep or fast-flowing water can overwhelm even the most advanced flood barrier system.

Parking Garages

One of the easiest ways to protect your car from flood damage is to park on an upper floor of a covered parking garage. A garage’s solid construction and elevated position can give your car strong protection from the elements. Still, parking garages aren’t always available, and you might be competing for a spot with everyone else in your area. Additionally, there may be expensive parking fees, but they are generally much lower than the headache and costs of replacing or repairing a flood-damaged vehicle.

Leave the Flood Danger Zone

When all else fails (or you don’t want to spend the money on other measures), moving your car outside of the projected flooding area is the best way to keep it out of harm’s way. Taking your car to another location ensures it stays dry, and you won’t be left worrying or relying on an unfamiliar product to protect it. Retreating to higher ground when you’re looking at a potentially dangerous forecast doesn’t protect your home or other possessions, but it can help put you and your loved ones in a much safer situation.

Always follow evacuation orders issued by local authorities.

Do Flood Protections for Cars Work?

Your mileage may vary. The companies behind these products sometimes make incredible claims, but every flood event is a different beast. You may have great results, but you may also find that the difficulty, costs, and time involved with installing and using a flood-protection system are overwhelming.

Can a Flood-Damaged Car Be Repaired?

How much money are you willing to spend, and are you able to handle potential slow-to-surface issues down the road? Flood-damaged cars can be repaired, and many are, but there can be crippling latent problems with electrical systems, corrosion, and more. The question becomes a little more complicated with rare and expensive vehicles, but the potential problems remain. Finally, it’s worth noting that saltwater can be a death sentence for any vehicle. It’s extremely corrosive and can create problems that even the most experienced mechanic can’t fix.

Source link

June 1, 2026
2026 DS N8 AWD review
DS Automobiles spent the last decade trying to carve out a place for itself as one of France’s most premium brands. Born from Citroen’s most daring and elegant creations – and carrying the spirit of the legendary 1955 Citroën DS – the now standalone DS brand invests heavily in design, craftsmanship and French flair.

Table of Contents:

The issue was that, while featuring stand-out design many of its products had one drawback or another holding them back. The new DS N°8 aims to change that. It is the company’s most serious attempt yet at building a genuinely credible premium car. Given that the French prime minister is being chauffeured in a DS N°8, our hopes for the vehicle were high going into the review.

Today we have the best version of the N°8 at our disposal – we are driving the DS N°8 AWD Long Range Jules Verne edition. It comes with all possible features included, as well as a two-tone hood and a unique blue interior that give it the luxurious feel, befitting its premium aspirations.

The combination of a huge battery and a new design enable a long range, while the platform that’s more of a lowered SUV allows for more space and improved ground clearance compared to rival sedans.

DS N°8 AWD Long Range 2025 –
- Dimensions: 190.3 inches x 75.6 inches x 62 inches, 114.4 inches wheelbase.
- Drivetrain tested: AWD Jules Verne – AWD 276 kW (375 hp), 375 lb-ft, 97.2 kWh usable battery capacity, 101 kWh total battery capacity
- Other drivetrains: FWD Long range – FWD 206 kW (280 hp), 253 lb-ft, 97.2 kWh usable battery capacity, 101 kWh total battery capacity
- Charging: 200 kW CCS
- Range: 426 miles WLTP
- Weight: 5,046 lb unladen
- Other features: Rear-view mirror camera, Neck warmers, OTA updates.
Exterior

The exterior of the DS N°8 is unmistakably French in the way it blends drama with elegance. Unlike many modern EVs that take minimalism to the point of anonymity, the DS is deliberately theatrical. It garners attention not through aggression but through an unmistakable silhouette from every angle.

From the front, the wide grille and large logo create a sinister look. The lighting elements extend both towards the grille and downward into the front splitter. The details up front make the DS N°8 look unique, yet the styling doesn’t seem to appear busy.

DS N°8 front end

At night, the illuminated front grille enhances the sense of occasion, giving the car a refined and almost gallery-like presence.

DS N°8 at night

The side profile of the DS N°8 looks like a typical liftback until you notice the size of it in person. Then, it becomes more of an experiment of blending sedan, SUV and coupe characteristics into one. It looks like nothing else on the road and somehow manages to pull off this polarizing look with style.

The upper 2 trim levels come with two-tone paintjobs that underline the roof’s aesthetics and highlight its design elements in chrome or body-color to create wonderful contrast.

The door handles on the DS N°8 differ between the front and rear, though neither solution feels particularly intuitive. At the front, flush-mounted handles extend outward when the vehicle is unlocked, while rear passengers must adapt to an unusual motion due to the high-mounted handles and reverse opening mechanism. While the setup may suit chauffeur-driven use, it feels unnecessarily complicated for regular passengers entering and exiting the vehicle.

DS N°8 side profile

The wheel size increases one inch with every trim level and in the test unit we got the 21-inch wheels that improve the looks of the DS N°8 but certainly lower the range and comfort inside.

The rear of the N°8 once again incorporates multiple different styles. DS AUTOMOBILES is printed across the entire trunk, complemented by a N°8 print with a little diamond-looking dot to add extra flair to the design.

The taillights borrow inspiration from the headlights and extend in all directions, with the lower part being the rear blinker. It is a huge unit that will not leave anyone wondering if you’re turning or not.

DS N°8 rear end

Interior

The cabin of the DS N°8 combines typical French weirdness with Stellantis’ minimalist optimization. All of the Jules Verne models come with this blue interior the test unit sports, which is not a sensible decision but so is the N°8 as a whole.

Material choice inside is wonderful for the most part and makes the DS feel like a more upscale vehicle than it is.

As you open up the door you realize it is one of the more refined elements in the car. The door card is mainly made out of leather and suede, with a pretty embroidery and a contrasting metal audio cover.

Once behind the wheel of the DS N°8, its unconventional character becomes immediately apparent. The steering wheel spokes are positioned in unexpected places, and drivers accustomed to the traditional nine and three hand position may find the setup uncomfortable during longer periods behind the wheel.

Additionally, the steering wheel buttons for the stereo and cruise control are a single plastic unit with haptic feedback that are hard to get used to.

DS N°8 driver area

The stalks for the indicators and wipers are also used to control the gauge cluster, which is wonderfully customizable and offers great usability.

The head-up display unit is controlled with the same switch that controls the side mirrors, which must be the first time a button does that function instead of a menu setting in the infotainment.

The dashboard is a mix of alcantara and metal that gives the DS N°8 soul and character, unlike any of its rivals that lean too much on the minimalist side.

The infotainment screen stands prominently in the middle of the cockpit with its large 16” size. Sadly, it is also very short, making its buttons small and compromising its usage compared to more squared-off units.

There are a few air conditioning buttons above the center console, accompanied by the hazard lights and a vehicle icon, which pulls up a menu with the vehicle’s settings.

DS N°8 dashboard

What can be perceived as the second level of the center console begins with a wireless phone charger, which is too shallow to hold a phone in most corners. The entire panel is made up of cheap plastic and creaks when pressed.

Six crystal buttons for the drive modes and stereo surround the gear lever, which is directly borrowed from multiple other Stellantis models at various different price points.

The armrest offers significant storage underneath, as well as a single cup holder that can be closed off to create space for your wrist to rest.

Underneath the visible surface is a lower center console, which allows for large items to be stored. There is also space for two more cups and two USB-C charge ports to charge your devices. It is a cheap-feeling console but adds lots of practicality in a convenient area.

DS N°8 center console

The front seats of the DS N°8 are one of the most comfortable in this segment. They are plushy and soft, but also provide some side support so that you don’t slide around in corners like in some old-school luxury land yacht.

They also offer plenty of amenities for the segment, including heating, cooling and massaging features. One thing no other sedan has ever offered a neck warmer, which is a special fan around the neck area in the seat that blasts hot air at the driver and passenger. This is a feature that used to be available only on high-end luxury convertibles, yet DS brought it in a sedan.

DS N°8 seats

In fact, its roof doesn’t even open at all. It is a fixed glass that stays transparent at all times. That helps in gloomy weather but on hotter and brighter days we would love to have the opportunity to close it or at least dim it.

The rear-view mirror also sports a camera feature in order to project an image of what’s going on in the rear. If you have passengers or luggage that block your view it might be a useful feature, yet in most cases it proves less convenient than the regular mirror. It is also a zoomed-in image that makes it harder for the driver to realize the actual gap between the vehicles.

In the rear, passengers get to enjoy a lot of amenities. Heated and cooled seats with individual A/C controls come from the second trim level onwards.

Sadly, space is not as generous as one might think. Given that the French prime minister gets driven in a DS N°8, we expected a lot more getting into this review. Our reviewer is a taller guy at 1.95 m (6’4”) and can barely fit behind his driving seat. Both leg- and headroom are compromised and don’t suit the ambitions of a vehicle with diplomatic aspirations.

DS N°8 rear seats

Storage & practicalities

Unlike the rear seats, the trunk is spacious and can carry around lots of luggage. In regular form it offers 21.9 ft³ of cargo, which can more than double with the rear seats folded down.

There isn’t much space underneath the main trunk because of the subwoofer.

A power outlet makes its way into the trunk to offer more usability.

DS N°8 storage space

Sadly, the DS N°8 has no frunk (front trunk) and therefore doesn’t offer some extra hidden storage compartment for the charging cables and other rarely used items.

Driving experience

A proper luxury limousine is supposed to drive smoothly and effortlessly. The DS N°8 is not quite on that level but is still pleasant to drive.

The steering is light but weights up nicely in corners to give the driver the needed feedback from the road underneath. It isn’t direct and allows for plenty of play until a notable change in direction is made but is far from the likes of the Citroen DS of the 50’s or even modern luxury sedans like the S-class.

There isn’t that much body roll in corners, which is commendable and rare for the class. It is likely due to the low-mounted battery pack but the chassis must also be exceptionally rigid to allow for this to happen.

The ADAS system is easy to configure and the mandatory features are easy to disable. The lane-keep assistant works well and is non-intrusive, but the traffic sign recognition is inadequate and picks up random limits.

Luckily, it is easy to disable those features by clicking on the car menu and setting the features you don’t like as favorites, you’re one click away from disabling them all at once.

The camera system eases parking as the DS N°8 has huge blind spots and it’s not that easy to determine its exact positioning based solely on what you see.

The camera eliminates the blind spots

Maneuvering, on the other hand, is wonderful, which makes the N°8 perfectly suitable for urban usage. Tight parking spots are easy to reach and even some vehicles with rear-wheel steering might get jealous of the N°8’s capabilities.

Ride comfort

The ride quality is soft but not exceptionally so for the class. Many sedans offer a smoother ride without the diplomatic ambitions of the DS N°8. It is sad because urban areas are frequently ridden with potholes and if you’re an important person being driven around in the tight backseats, you wouldn’t enjoy the bouncing experience either.

Tech features

Stellantis uses a version of the infotainment of the DS N°8 in multiple models of its brands. It is a good unit that doesn’t particularly shine with any outlandish features but works well and intuitively, which is the most important part.

Unlike the Jeep Compass e we recently reviewed, the DS N°8 doesn’t allow passengers to use the right section of the display while Apple CarPlay is in motion, which would’ve made the display usage even better. Otherwise, CarPlay works tremendously well and even projects the navigation on the gauge cluster display to optimize the driver’s convenience.

Apple CarPlay eliminates the right screen functionalities

The home screen is customizable and displays plenty of shortcuts to vital settings. The seat functions are easily accessible in that vicinity, whereas a quick slide down like a smartphone opens a shortcut and notification menu.

Infotainment

Ambient lighting completely changes the atmosphere inside the N°8 when turned on. It underlines all the key design elements and creates a soothing sensation when riding at night.

Ambient lighting

Sadly, the air conditioning controls are mostly buried within a menu in the center display, which is suboptimal for daily usage, although some of them are placed on the row of buttons below the display and the temperature controls stay on at all times.

The gauge cluster display is among the greatest in the industry in terms of capabilities and practicality, although adding a bit of spice to its design wouldn’t hurt in making it even better.

As for the audio system, it is truly phenomenal and rightfully deserves the plethora of logos throughout the interior. Focal has created not only a visual masterpiece but also an audio experience usually connected to the utmost luxurious manufacturers.

Electra 3D by Focal works amazingly

Cabin noise

Driving around in the DS N°8 is quiet, especially at higher speeds. It is not the best in any category but is up there. There are some slight wind noises that make their way into the interior, as well as tire noise from the front but nothing major or concerning by any means. The interior is also nicely built in its majority and therefore creaks and rattles don’t make their way into disturbing your inner peace inside.

Sound level tests are carried out with a specialized sound level meter placed in the car’s cupholders. The test is conducted with air conditioning and radio off and while maintaining a steady speed.

Acceleration and braking

The DS N°8 is quick off the line without boasting its capabilities. The manufacturer states 5.4 seconds but we managed to do the sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 5.27 seconds, which isn’t bad for the weight and power of the N°8 AWD. It is a sufficient figure for the segment and leaves no desire for improvement.

Braking is arguably more important of a metric for the luxury sedan segment. We managed to do the full stop from 62 mph in 34 meters, which is a wonderful result. The summer tires and optimal conditions certainly helped but the DS N°8 managed to replicate the result in four consecutive launches and braking tests.

Acceleration and deceleration are measured with a RaceBox device inside the car. Testing is done with a single person inside the car, with air conditioning and traction control off.

Consumption

DS has masterfully tuned the N°8 AWD to not need much energy in order to move forward. Combined with the large 97.2 usable battery capacity, the N°8 is among the longest range sedans available. Due to the aerodynamic shape and efficient drivetrain, the DS N°8 is among the best vehicles we’ve ever tested in all categories. This is an important metric and a big standout feature among rivals.

If you want to hear our detailed thoughts on the DS N°8’s consumption and efficiency, check out our dedicated range test article.

We measure consumption by driving at constant speeds on an identical test route during the day. Testing is conducted with air conditioning, all safety systems and radio on. The data comes from the vehicle’s board computer. Specific testing parameters such as ambient temperature are mentioned in the text on a case by case basis.

We now suggest you use the widget below to find out the DS N°8’s range in every combination of speed and temperature you might need. We’ve used our real world tests and a complex model to provide an estimate that should be as close to the actual performance as possible.

Charging speed

Charging is the N°8’s Achilles heel. It isn’t bad with 200 kW advertised charging speed but we went out and tested how it performs in the real world and even with battery preconditioning turned on, we couldn’t get the DS to charge with more than 100 kW even when all the optimal conditions were met. We would like to give it the benefit of the doubt and blame the charger but we got to test an upcoming vehicle on the same charger shortly after and it performed just as well as the manufacturer promised.

Competition

The DS N°8 plays in a league of its own but is actually pitched against multiple similar vehicles. It bridges a gap between SUV practicality, sedan looks and liftback accessibility that is likely not that much of an important combination for most but is available nonetheless. It primarily rivals sedan models as it is closer to them but one could also cross-shop it with an SUV with very good reasons.

The first rival we chose for the N°8 is the BMW i4, which is now becoming an older product but is still registering solid sales figures. It offers significantly less range and slightly less interior space but it also doesn’t highlight these features. The BMW drives much better and offers similar built quality, although the design of the Frenchman is much more individual.

The second rival we chose is the Mercedes C400 that is expected to reach customers by the end of 2026. It offers much more power, more technological advancements and a much better brand perception. Funnily enough, both vehicles cost similar money and at that point choosing the DS becomes an increasingly harder option.

BMW i4 xDrive40 2023 – • Mercedes C400 4MATIC 2026 –

Verdict

DS did a spectacular job getting back into the luxury sedan market. They have managed to capture the uniquely French flare that made them so popular years ago but also incorporated enough modern features to satisfy the current market’s needs. Due to it being an SUV-based sedan, the N°8 looks uniquely on the outside, whereas the inside merges modernity with visual drama to make passengers feel special at all times.

Of course, the N°8 has its downsides like any other vehicle but all of our gripes with it are secondary to the overall wonderful experience. However, one downside remains prevalent at all times and that is pricing, which is simply too expensive for the segment and for what the N°8 offers. It needs to be heavily discounted for the DS to make sense in a class dictated by brand perception and heritage.

All of that doesn’t make the DS N°8 a bad car. On the contrary, it is a tremendous overall proposition and we are glad it exists to break the mold of modern design. If you like the DS, don’t really care that much about the money or are able to get it for a good deal, we highly recommend checking out the N°8. It is a highly capable model that excels in multiple areas without showing any weaknesses in any particular area besides price.

Pros
- Huge range on a single charge.
- Nicer inside than rivals.
- Intuitive infotainment.
- Distinctive styling.
- Wonderful audio system.
- Neck warming seats.
- Easy to disable ADAS system.
- Practical gauge cluster display.
Cons
- Very expensive for the class.
- Slow charging.
- Tight space in back seats.
- Always-open glass sunroof.
- Harsh ride for the ambitions of the vehicle.
Source link
June 1, 2026