The Porsche 911 GT3 RS set one of the quickest production-car lap times ever recorded around the Nürburgring in Germany with the Manthey Kit, delivering yet another strong performance from the German tuner. With Jorg Bergmeister behind the wheel, the car recorded a 6:45.389 lap – about four seconds quicker than the 911 GT3 RS without the kit.

In a press release, Manthey said the car was fitted with its performance kit and optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires. The package further enhanced the model’s already substantial downforce capability – highlighted by its massive DRS-style wing – without increasing drag. As a result, the modified car was said to deliver performance comparable to that of a race car on slicks. The high-performance brakes also allowed the driver to brake later while maintaining consistent friction across a wide temperature range.

In addition, a semi-active suspension, used for the first time, helped the car work through the bumps and corners around the 20.832-km (12.9-mile) track.

The latest run still fell short of the 991.2-generation 911 GT2 RS with the Manthey Performance Kit, which posted a 6:43.300 in 2021. But that car had 700 horsepower from a twin-turbo flat-six, while the 911 GT3 RS relies on a naturally aspirated engine producing 525 hp.

That gap suggests outright power is not everything around the Nürburgring, especially since this latest lap was still roughly three seconds quicker than both the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series and the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, the latter producing 1,250 horsepower from a twin-turbo hybrid V8 engine.

For reference, the record for production, street-legal cars is still held by the Mercedes-AMG One, which uses a Formula 1–derived engine and set a 6:29.090 lap. It is followed by the Ford Mustang GTD Competition at 6:40.835, making it the fastest American car at the Ring.

Manthey Racing

Bergmeister, a Porsche brand ambassador who also drove the stock 911 GT3 RS around the Green Hell in 2022, expressed satisfaction with the lap, noting that both the car and the weather cooperated. “It’s truly amazing how much you can achieve with the Manthey kit, especially on the fast and medium-speed sections of the track.”

That level of track-focused upgrade, however, does not come cheap. The Manthey Kit is priced at about $116,000 before taxes and installation, and thanks to the latest lap, it proves the package delivers beyond the spec sheet.

Manthey Racing

American car buyers can't get enough of the Toyota RAV4, so much so that even 2025 model years are selling out at no discount. A couple of factors are allowing this to happen: Toyota can't make the 2026 models fast enough, leading to a shortage; the remaining pool of 2025 models is still getting bought up, regardless.

The outright demand for the RAV4, as well as the transition to the new model, is causing 2025 model-year vehicles to be sold without discounts. One of the other reasons consumers are still buying the outgoing generation is that gasoline-only variants will no longer be part of the U.S. RAV4 lineup, which means a lower average price – or so one may think.

However, one Reddit user went online to vent out a rather shady story. Apparently, his dealer is marking up his purchase by $1,400, citing it as a "Tariff Adjustment."

Toyota

According to the poster, he put a $500 deposit down on a 2025 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium back in January of 2026. According to him, he signed the paperwork, and the car finally came in about a week before he posted. The XLE Premium variant of the RAV4 comes equipped with a 2.5-liter gasoline engine paired with a hybrid system, which means it's already on the pricier side of the lineup.

After he was told the vehicle was ready for him, the dealer's "finance guy" said there was a $1,400 tariff-related market adjustment on top of the agreed amount. Talk about shady because the Toyota RAV4 isn't even an imported vehicle. In fact, U.S.-made Toyotas are heading East as reverse imports to Japan.

Toyota

Whether you're talking about the 2025 or 2026 Toyota RAV4, both models are locally assembled, with the 2025 model year built at Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky, plant. The production transition at the Kentucky plant is causing RAV4 sales to decline.

However, these products should not be subjected to President Donald Trump's tariffs at the dealership. Ironic that this came up, considering that the U.S. Supreme Court has now deemed the President's use of emergency powers to be "unconstitutional," leading to refunds to importers.

The Reddit poster asked if "[he has] any ground to push back or is this becoming a standard practice now at Toyota stores?" Other users replied, stating that there is no basis for it, the "adjustment," instead, it's likely a shady dealer markup to sweeten the deal after everything is said and done.

According to the top comment, anything the window sticker didn't specify is a dealer markup, and that even if the car was made in Japan, it would've been subject to a 15% tariff. According to the top commenter, "$1,400 does not sound like a 15 percent tariff."

Another Reddit user stated that he works at a Toyota dealership, "and that $1,400 is just a dealer markup they are trying to get away with. There could be more to this story in the coming months, but hopefully by then, Toyota can get all its cards together and actually address the RAV4 backlog it's had for months.

Toyota

The Lamborghini Temerario is getting a convertible Spyder version, and while this was always going to happen, a sighting by spy photographers at the Nüburgring has taken us somewhat by surprise. While a drop-top Temerario to succeed the Huracán Spyder was inevitable, the timing is unexpected because deliveries of the regular Temerario only began reaching customers in January of this year, and with the Revuelto already more than three years old and yet to be made available as a roadster, it seemed that the V12 supercar would be first in line to get the open-air experience.

SH Proshots/Autoblog

The Temerario Spyder will no doubt closely adhere to the formula of its hard-topped sibling, with a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-plane crank V8 combining with a trio of electric motors to produce a total of 907 horsepower. The 10,000-rpm redline will surely be even more exciting with the roof off, and the fact that these spy shots reveal a hard-top indicates that the Spyder is unlikely to suffer much in the corners. However, departing from the soft top recipe of the Huracán Spyder will surely result in a weight penalty, so the normal Temerario's 2.7-second 0-62 mph sprint time will probably suffer.

Related: Mustang GTD Competition Runs 6:40 to Beat Corvette ZR1X at the Nürburgring—But It’s Not Over Yet

If past Lambo drop-tops are anything to go by, customers will also pay more for the privilege of an open-air experience, potentially pushing the base MSRP beyond $400,000 even before options come into play. And while this Temerario Spyder sighting is unexpected, it means good news for those who like coupes, too, as rolling this variant out now means other types of Temerario will enter the discussion before long; Lamborghini has already indicated that new takes on the Sterrato and STO recipes are already under consideration.

SH Proshots/Autoblog

More good news is that this Temerario Spyder may be launched this year after Lamborghini announced late last month that it is evolving its product offering and will unveil some of its new cars at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed and Monterey Car Week festivals, among other places. For the record, Goodwood FOS is scheduled for July 9-12, and Monterey Car Week happens the following month, from August 7-16. We also expect to see a new Urus Performante before the year is out, and we won't see any electric Lambos, as those plans have been delayed in the face of minimal customer interest. We'll bring you more info on the Temerario Spyder and other Raging Bulls as we get them.

SH Proshots/Autoblog

SH Proshots/Autoblog

SH Proshots/Autoblog

The same storm system that buried Colorado's mountain passes and sent Front Range temperatures crashing into the teens overnight has now produced one of the most significant tornado outbreaks of the spring across the Midwest More than 20 tornadoes were confirmed across Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri on Friday, damaging hundreds of homes with no deaths reported. Yesterday, confirmed 60 mph wind gusts reached western New York as the system pushed off the Eastern Seaboard. The storm has passed — but the recovery is just beginning.

The National Weather Service confirmed at least 20 tornado reports across several states.Preliminary NWS reports indicate an intense EF-3 tornado tore through Buffalo County, Wisconsin, where aerial imagery shows homes leveled by the powerful twister.

In Marathon County, Wisconsin, approximately 75 homes in the town of Ringle sustained damage after a tornado moved through the area. The tornado reportedly started in Kronenwetter and moved north into Ringle, with some people trapped in their basements, though no one was injured or killed.

The NWS confirmed an EF-2 tornado touched down near Rochester, Minnesota, with neighborhoods strewn with debris. In Marion Township, around 30 homes were damaged including 12 with significant damage, and around 20 homes were damaged in Stewartville.

In Lena, Illinois, the storm caused extensive damage and the village was closed to traffic, with numerous roadways obstructed by debris and hazardous conditions persisting due to downed power lines and compromised structures. No deaths were reported following Friday's storms that barreled through the Upper Midwest.

SOUND THE ALARM 🚨: Incredible video captures a tornado churning near a farm outside Rochester, Minnesota, as powerful storms sweep through the region amid a widespread severe weather outbreak. pic.twitter.com/SZi9WorX7C

Yesterday morning, NWS Buffalo issued Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, and Livingston counties, with 60 mph wind gusts confirmed on radar. Locations impacted included Angola, Eden, Depew, Orchard Park, West Seneca, and sections of I-90 between exits 47 and 58. No tornado warnings were issued for western New York.

The worst of the outbreak is over. The Storm Prediction Center has confirmed no severe thunderstorm threat for Sunday, with the cold front that drove Friday's tornado outbreak now pushing off the Eastern Seaboard.

Rain and some high elevation snow are moving through the Northeast today as the front exits the region. The Gulf Coast and Southeast may see lingering gusty thunderstorms through today, but the organized severe weather threat that produced 20 confirmed tornadoes across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Missouri on Friday has wound down.

The focus now is recovery. Hundreds of homes across the Midwest are damaged, roads in Lena, Illinois remain restricted, and river flooding across Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana is ongoing and will persist for days or weeks regardless of whether additional rain falls.

Getty Images

Moderate to major flooding is ongoing and not resolving quickly. The Muskegon and Grand rivers in Michigan and the Shiocton, Menominee, and Wolf rivers in Wisconsin are at or approaching major flood stage, with some expected to crest at record levels and remain above flood stage for a week or more. Minor flooding along the Wabash River in Indiana and the Mississippi above St. Louis may persist for several weeks even if rainfall stops entirely.

A late-season cold front dropped Front Range temperatures more than 50 degrees in under 36 hours. Denver hit the upper 70s Thursday. By Friday night, lows had fallen to 18 to 24 degrees, triggering a NWS Freeze Warning. Above-ground irrigation lines that were not drained likely failed. Sensitive vegetation and fruit trees will show damage. Colorado's snowpack was at just 17 percent of the median peak as of April 13, the worst in four decades.

Recovery is underway. Denver is sunny and near 60 today, with the low 70s expected Sunday. Mountain passes are clearing, though residual ice remains possible on shaded sections of I-70 and Berthoud Pass. One caution for southern Colorado: NWS Pueblo has issued a Freeze Watch for Colorado Springs tonight into Sunday morning.

In Colorado, residual ice on shaded sections of I-70 and Berthoud Pass is still possible this morning. CDOT's Traction Law requires 3/16-inch minimum tread depth and remains in effect through May 31 between Dotsero and Morrison. Cold temperatures drop tire pressure 1 to 2 PSI per 10 degrees. AWD helps you move but does nothing to shorten stopping distance on ice. Carry chains, a blanket, water, a phone charger, and a flashlight if crossing the passes.

On I-25, bridge decks and overpasses between Fort Collins and Colorado Springs may still carry black ice in shaded areas this morning. Treat every overpass as a risk.

In the Midwest and western New York, the threat is severe thunderstorms moving fast with little warning. A squall line producing 60 mph gusts can drop visibility to near zero in seconds. Know your shelter options before you leave. If warnings are issued while you are on the road, get off the highway and into a sturdy building; a vehicle is not a safe place in a tornado or severe squall line.

Wherever you are driving, charge your phone, enable wireless emergency alerts, and check road and radar conditions before you go.

For years, the Ford F-150 has been the go-to truck for Americans. It’s always at the top of the sales charts, and full-size pickups still rule the market. The recipe is simple: lots of options, real capability, and a reputation built over decades.

When a truck is this popular, any problem hits harder. That’s what’s happening now: Ford just announced a recall for a huge number of older F-150s. These aren’t showroom-new, but they’re still working hard all over the country. It’s not the kind of thing that ruins the F-150’s reputation, but it does make you wonder about how these trucks hold up after years of real-world use.

Drew Phillips

The recall affects nearly 1.4 million F-150s from model years 2015 to 2017, all with the 6-speed automatic. Built between March 2014 and August 2017, these trucks are being flagged for a transmission issue linked to the Transmission Range Sensor (TRS).

According to the NHTSA’s recall report, the problem comes down to worn electrical connections inside the transmission lead frame. After years of heat and vibration, the signals between the TRS and the truck’s computer can get scrambled. That means the truck might briefly think it’s in the wrong gear.

Sometimes, that glitch makes the truck suddenly drop into second gear, even if you’re cruising at speed. It doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does, the sudden slowdown can catch you off guard. On wet roads, while towing, or at highway speeds, it could make the rear tires lose grip for a moment.

Ford began investigating after owners began complaining in late 2024. By early 2026, the NHTSA was digging deeper. Ford has now connected the problem to hundreds of warranty claims, a few injuries, and at least one accident.

Ford

Ford’s first fix is a software update. Owners will need to bring their trucks in so dealers can recalibrate the powertrain control module. The new software is supposed to detect faulty TRS signals before the truck tries to downshift, providing an extra layer of protection.

If the problem has already worsened and certain fault codes appear, dealers will swap out the transmission lead frame, too. Both the software update and any needed parts are free for owners.

That said, owners of the affected F-150s can check their VIN online or at a dealership to see if their truck is part of the recall.

Ford

Stellantis is one of the biggest and most diverse automotive groups in the world. This wide-ranging portfolio allows them to offer products at different price points to hit the key segments of the automotive market. Another key advantage is the flexibility to offer a diverse lineup of brands and models that can be made to fit any region in the world.

This type of business model and size has some drawbacks; staying in contention is tough, and 2025 exposed everyone. Stellantis saw declines in sales and shipments in the first two quarters of 2025, but rebounded in the 2nd half.

Stellantis

Stellantis has announced its Q1 global shipments and sales, and it looks like some momentum was carried from the end of 2025. Specifically, the group has published its estimated consolidated shipment numbers, with "shipments" referring to the volume of vehicles delivered to dealers, distributors, or directly from the Company to retail and fleet customers. This also generally gives an idea of revenue outlooks.

According to the report, by the end of Q1 (March 31, 2026), the tally of global shipments reached 1.4 million units, 12% higher than in the same period last year. Much of the growth is attributed to shipments coming from Europe and North America, but growth is also steadily increasing in the African and South American markets.

Diving deep into the numbers, North America's shipments grew to 379,000, up from 325,000 in 2025's Q1. According to The Detroit News, the 50,000 increase in shipments came from higher sales of the Ram 1500, Cherokee, and Grand Wagoneers.

Stellantis

Some of the surge was offset by fewer shipments and sales of the small Compass crossover because of the Cherokee's production ramping up at the same plant in Toluca, Mexico. Europe's sales jumped by 69,000 units, a 12% bump driven by Leapmotor shipments in the region. Stellantis and the Chinese automaker currently have a partnership to sell cars globally.

Despite growth in some regions, the Middle East took a significant hit due to the ongoing conflict in Iran; shipments fell by more than half. Many of the losses in the first two quarters of 2025 were due to production gaps and product lineup transitions. Q3 in 2025 saw the turnaround begin as U.S. inventory issues normalized.

Stellantis

If you're a pessimist, the news that Nissan is cutting 11 models as part of a turnaround plan might sound desperate, but if you see the glass as half full, doing so allows the automaker to work on interesting vehicles like the new Xterra and the new Skyline. And they may not be the only exciting developments in the pipeline because Nissan told numerous media outlets that it is taking seriously the idea of a proper sports car lineup that could bring the Silvia back to complement the Nissan Z and the next GT-R.

Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa is described as "a real car guy," and he's indicated a desire to revive the Silvia nameplate before, but now, the carmaker's chief of product planning is teasing its return, and that's arguably even more of a big deal because it means Nissan is on the path to more sports cars, not just thinking about it.

Ideogram/Sebastian Cenizo

Nissan seems to understand what car enthusiasts want, finally giving the Z Nismo a manual transmission, and it intends to build on that momentum, with the company's global head of product strategy, Richard Candler, telling Motor1the following:

"We are really deeply looking at a sports lineup again. We want to do some cool cars. The first car I ever bought was a Silvia, so I'd love to bring back that nameplate. I do think it's really valuable... I think there's still space for Silvia, and we need to find the right solution for it."

Similarly, The Drive reports that Candler said the announcement of the Skyline "has been a big passion product for [Nissan]," adding that, with the new Z and now a Skyline on the way, Nissan is "[starting] to bring back a good lineup."

The tricky bit will be developing a sports car that stays true to the Silvia's ethos of fun and affordability (potentially as a Toyota GR86 and Mazda MX-5 Miata rival), and those two things are difficult to put together. "We need to find the right positioning," said Candler, before hinting that more enthusiast-focused cars could find their way to production.

Ideogram/Sebastian Cenizo

"In terms of the rest of the sports car lineup, we've got some pretty great names that we would like to develop further," said Candler. Besides all the obvious Z variants (240Z, 260Z, 280Z), there have been RS, GT, GT-X, GTS, and GTS-R versions of the non-GT-R Skyline, but the 300ZX is also worth mentioning independently, as this took the Z badge to new levels of performance and luxury. We should also note the Datsun SSS, an icon in its own right. Indeed, Nissan has a rich history from which to draw, and it is preparing to leverage that.

"We’re going to shrink our portfolio a bit. We’re going to stop cars that you probably won’t even notice and then reinvest that money into a few passion projects," said Candler, adding, "All of those cars [we are going to kill] consume money, for the company to keep them on, to keep them going, keep them homologated, latest requirements, standards, etc. That takes up a certain amount of resources. 
We could sort of stop those without a lot of business impact and then bring in, you know, let’s invest in the Silvia or let’s invest in something even smaller. I mean, I've also got an ambition personally to find something maybe even smaller than that." We hope to see the fruits of these ambitions soon.

Ideogram/Sebastian Cenizo

Note: The images in this article are AI-generated renders and should not be considered official Kia concepts.

A widespread severe thunderstorm outbreak is unfolding across nine states from the southern Plains into the Upper Mississippi Valley today, Friday April 17, 2026, with the Storm Prediction Center flagging the threat of strong tornadoes, very large hail, and damaging winds through tonight. The SPC has upgraded the southern and central Plains to a Moderate Risk, the second-highest category on the severe weather scale and a designation issued only a handful of times per year. A Tornado Watch is already active across much of eastern Iowa, with a separate Severe Thunderstorm Watch covering eastern Minnesota and central-to-northern Wisconsin including Rochester, Eau Claire, and La Crosse, where hail up to 2 inches in diameter and isolated 70 MPH wind gusts are the primary threats.

Peak danger window: Friday afternoon through Friday night across I-35 from central Texas to Kansas, I-29 through Iowa, and I-94 across Minnesota and Wisconsin, where initial supercells could produce strong tornadoes before merging into a damaging wind squall line after dark.

• Tornadoes: 10% probability across the moderate risk zone, with strong (EF2+) tornadoes possible from initial supercells in Wisconsin, Iowa, and prefrontal storms in Illinois
• Hail: 30% probability of severe hail, with stones up to 2 inches in diameter (hen egg size) reported in active watches
• Damaging winds: 45% probability, with 70 MPH gusts forecast as storms merge into a squall line tonight
• Worst corridors: I-35 (central Texas through Oklahoma into Kansas), I-29 (Iowa), I-80 (eastern Iowa to Illinois), I-94 (Minnesota and Wisconsin), I-90 (southern Minnesota to Wisconsin)

NWS

The synoptic setup is textbook for a major outbreak. A strong upper trough oriented from Montana to the Southwest will eject eastward into the Plains tonight, with 40-60 knot southwesterly flow at 850-700 mb intensifying ahead of it by late afternoon. A surface dryline will extend from a High Plains low through the western Oklahoma/Texas panhandle border into central Texas, while a cold front will run from eastern Minnesota into central Kansas at midday. Ahead of these features sits a broad warm sector with mid-to-upper 60s dewpoints and temperatures climbing into the 80s, the recipe meteorologists describe as a strongly sheared and deeply unstable environment.

The most dangerous road conditions will arrive in two distinct phases. Initial supercells across the warm sector are capable of dropping golf-ball to hen-egg-size hail with little warning, which can shatter windshields and disable visibility instantly on rural highways. As the cold front overtakes the storms tonight, the threat shifts to a fast-moving squall line with damaging straight-line winds capable of pushing vehicles out of lanes and knocking over high-profile trucks and trailers. Squall lines move at 40 to 55 MPH, leaving almost no reaction time once they appear on radar near your location. Flash flooding is also a real concern with 1-2 inches per hour rainfall rates, and even a foot of moving water can sweep a car off the road.

Tornadoes get the headlines, but hail is the single most expensive weather hazard for vehicles in the United States. State Farm paid out more than $1.2 billion in auto hail claims nationally in 2024, and Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma recorded the most hail events that year, all of which sit inside today's threat zone. A single hailstorm can total a vehicle on paper without affecting the engine at all, because adjusters total the cost of every dented panel, cracked light housing, and shattered windshield, and if that figure exceeds the car's actual cash value, the insurer writes a salvage check. Only comprehensive auto insurance covers hail damage, and insurers will not let you add comprehensive coverage once a severe weather event is already in the forecast. Autoblog's guide to storm damage and car insurance breaks down exactly what your policy covers and how to document damage for a claim.

Tropicaltidbits

If you are driving in the threat zone today, the most important rule is simple: get off the road before the line arrives. A supercell can cross a highway in minutes, and the difference between baseball-size hail and missing the storm entirely can be a matter of a few miles. If you see a dark, rotating wall cloud ahead of you, do not drive into it. Exit the highway and seek shelter in a sturdy building.

If hail begins, pull over under any available cover. A gas station canopy or parking garage can prevent thousands of dollars in body and glass damage. If a Tornado Warning is issued for your location, never shelter under an overpass. Wind speeds actually accelerate through the narrow channel beneath a bridge, and you lose all debris protection. Pull well off the road, angle your vehicle away from the direction of the storm, keep your seatbelt on, and get below window level. For a fuller breakdown of severe storm driving protocol, Autoblog's recent severe storm corridor coverage covers the I-35 and I-44 playbook in detail. Monitor local NWS alerts on your phone and have a clear shelter plan before you depart.

Initial supercells are already firing across eastern Iowa and the upper Mississippi Valley this afternoon, with the Plains threat ramping up through the evening hours. The tornado and large hail risk is highest during the discrete supercell phase from late afternoon through about 9 PM local time. As the cold front overtakes the storms tonight, the threat will transition to a damaging wind squall line that will sweep east through the overnight hours, reaching the lower Missouri Valley and Midwest by Saturday morning. Conditions will improve behind the front Saturday, but additional severe weather is possible Sunday across the Mid-South as the system progresses. We'll update this article as conditions evolve.

UPDATE, Saturday, April 18, 2026, 9 AM MDT: The system delivered up to 6 inches across the Colorado foothills overnight, with Denver International Airport officially recording 3.5 inches, the city's first snowfall in more than a month. A hard freeze is now hitting the Front Range Saturday morning, with temperatures dropping into the 20s across Cheyenne, Denver, and Colorado Springs.

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Up to two feet of snow and temperatures plunging 25 degrees below the mid-April average are slamming 11 western and northern states today, Friday April 17, 2026, as a late-season "cold storm" presses from the Cascades and Northern Rockies into Colorado and the Northern Plains. The Weather Prediction Center is headlining late-season snow for the Northern Rockies, Central Rockies, and Northern Plains, with mountain passes from Washington and Oregon east through Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado all in the impact zone through Friday night, plus snow and ice probabilities extending into North Dakota and northwest Minnesota.

Peak danger window: Friday afternoon through Saturday morning across I-70, I-80, and I-25 in Colorado and Wyoming, where 70-degree highs Thursday will collapse into the 30s Friday and refreeze wet pavement after sunset.

• Snow totals: 1-2 feet across the Cascades and Northern Rockies; 8-16 inches cumulative across Utah and Colorado mountains; 4-8 inches in Yellowstone National Park
• Lower elevations: Light accumulations expected in Boise, Pocatello, Great Falls, Salt Lake City, Laramie, Cheyenne, and Aspen
• Temperature crash: 40-degree drops in under 24 hours across eastern Wyoming and Colorado
• Worst corridors: I-90 across Montana, I-84 through eastern Oregon and Idaho, I-80 across Wyoming, I-15 through Utah and Idaho, I-70 over the Colorado Rockies

The storm's heavy snow focus is shifting south and east through Friday, with Colorado terrain taking the brunt as the Utah and Wyoming snow tapers off. Snow squalls and convective bands hammered Utah and Wyoming overnight, and the WPC is flagging Day 1 snow probabilities of 10-20% for greater than 4 inches over central North Dakota, with ice probabilities of 10-30% for greater than 0.1 inches stretching from northeast North Dakota through northwest Minnesota. Per OpenSnow's multi-day breakdown, southwest Montana, northwest Wyoming, and northern Utah saw the heaviest accumulation Thursday, with Colorado now in the firing line through end of day Friday.

Mountain passes in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado will see accumulating snow throughout the day, with rapid changes in surface conditions on bridges, overpasses, and shaded stretches. Even AWD and 4WD vehicles need winter-rated tires to stop on ice, which is the threat that builds across the impact zone after dark. Autoblog's AWD vs. 4WD breakdown covers what each system actually does and doesn't do in this kind of weather. Drivers should allow extra travel time, keep emergency supplies in their vehicles, and avoid travel altogether during peak accumulation windows if possible.

US NWS

Cheyenne, Laramie, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Aspen are the textbook examples of why this event is dangerous well beyond the snowfall totals. A 40-degree temperature swing in 24 hours over wet pavement is the recipe for late-evening black ice on roads that looked perfectly drivable at lunch. If you're traveling I-25 between Cheyenne and Pueblo Friday afternoon or evening, or heading west on I-70 toward Vail and Glenwood Springs, plan to either be off the road by sunset or to slow your stopping calculations dramatically as temperatures cross freezing.

If you are driving into the impact zone today, your tires are the single most important variable. AWD will help you accelerate on snow, but it does nothing to shorten stopping distance on ice, which is exactly the threat you'll face on I-80 in Wyoming or any pass along I-70 in Colorado as temperatures crash overnight.

Autoblog's winter car readiness checklist recommends a minimum of 4/32 inches of tread depth for safe winter driving, and cold temperatures will drop tire pressure by roughly 1 to 2 PSI for every 10 degrees, so check your pressures before you leave a warm garage. Give yourself at least triple the stopping distance you would use on dry pavement, and double that again on ice. If today's storm is the reminder that your vehicle isn't set up for winter, Autoblog's full breakdown of the best cars and SUVs for snow and winter driving is worth a read, and our best practices for driving in snow, ice, and rain guide covers everything from skid recovery to what to keep in your trunk for emergencies. The smartest call on a day like today, if your schedule allows, is to wait out the peak refreeze window entirely.

The system is moving through the western U.S. today, Friday April 17, 2026, with Colorado snowfall winding down by Saturday morning as the storm exits east. The Cascades and Northern Rockies are tapering after their Thursday peak. However, the National Weather Service notes a new storm system arrives by Sunday, bringing additional rain and mountain snow to the West Coast, so this is not the last round. We'll update this article as conditions evolve.

A Tesla Model Y taxi crashed heavily in Bergen, Norway, in 2023, plowing through one of the city’s busiest public squares. Somehow, despite the car reaching 56 mph and launching into a kiosk, nobody died. The driver, a sober 12-year veteran taxi driver, had insisted from the start that the car malfunctioned. When the vehicle was sent to an independent analyst, he found the dashboard partially dismantled and electrical connections severed. Motor reports a critical piece of hardware, the network card linking the vehicle to Tesla's servers, was missing. It remains unclear when or by whom it was taken. The defense attorney has called for a full independent investigation, including a potential police raid on Tesla's servers.

Motor.no

Dashcam footage shows the car reversing into a parking spot before suddenly lurching forward, jumping the curb, and plowing through outdoor seating. Then, after a brief pause, it accelerated again. Tesla's event data recorder showed the accelerator pedal depressed throughout both impacts. But the brake lights were clearly on during the crash, and independent experts have argued that electronic faults or software errors could produce identical accelerator signals without the driver's foot ever touching the pedal. There was also a six-second gap in Tesla's data, the exact window between the two collisions, that the company says it simply does not have. Bergen police closed the case in December 2024, unable to determine whether the crash was driver error or mechanical failure. The driver was eventually cleared. The missing network card is the one component most likely to have contained those six lost seconds of data.

Motor.no

This is not the first time Tesla's handling of crash data has raised red flags. In a 2019 fatal Autopilot crash in Florida, the car uploaded a full data snapshot to Tesla's servers within minutes, then deleted its local copy, making Tesla the only party with access. When police asked for help, a Tesla technician claimed the data was corrupted. Forensic analysis later proved it was intact and had been accessed by Tesla that same day. A jury found Tesla 33 percent liable and ordered it to pay over $240 million. The missing Norwegian network card is hard to view in isolation from that history but it remains to be seen what comes of the renewed investigation.