More than 300,000 electric vehicles are expected to come off lease in 2026 alone, and they are about to flood the used car market. For buyers, that surge could finally create the kind of EV bargains that have been missing for years. Three years ago, EV leasing surged as incentives peaked and early adopters jumped in. Now those three-year contracts are ending, and thousands of those vehicles are returning to dealerships almost all at once.

Dave Thomas, senior manager of industry insights at CDK Global, the software company that powers a huge share of dealership operations in the United States, talks about his reading of the dealership data on Electrek. When someone with access to hard data like that starts talking about value and affordability, we tend to pay attention.

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The opportunity comes down to depreciation. A three-year-old gasoline car from Honda or Toyota typically holds its value really well. That’s a good thing… until you’re the one shopping for it. Strong residual values mean the sticker price on those used vehicles stays stubbornly high. Electric cars have followed a very different depreciation curve. Because EV technology is evolving quickly and new models arrive with better range and software every year, older electric vehicles tend to lose value faster. That drop in resale value may frustrate original owners, but it works entirely in favor of the second buyer.

Someone shopping with a $20,000 budget in the traditional used car market is often looking at higher-mileage vehicles or older model years. In the used EV market, that same budget could land something far newer and better equipped, potentially even a low-mileage premium EV such as an Audi e-tron, Tesla Model 3, or Hyundai Ioniq 5, that has depreciated faster than expected. The result is a rare moment where the used EV market may offer better value than comparable ICE vehicles.

The surge in lease returns is also appealing for dealers. Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts, which means there is usually less mechanical wear when they come back from a three-year lease. That translates to lower reconditioning costs before the car can go on sale, not to mention EVs are spending less time on lots than gas-powered cars.

For shoppers considering a used electric vehicle, focus on three-year-old lease returns. These cars tend to have relatively low mileage and predictable maintenance histories. Check the remaining battery warranty, too. Most EV manufacturers offer battery warranties around eight years or 100,000 miles, meaning many lease-return vehicles still have significant coverage left. For buyers previously priced out of electric cars, as well as budget shoppers, the Great EV Return may finally give them options that they can actually afford.

A fairly recent but already somewhat accepted practice of car modding is engine swapping. This has already been going on for years with proper race cars, but as technology and capabilities improve and become more accessible, even normal tuners are trying it out.

While most people choose to swap engines from cars from the same brand, there are others who are willing (or brave enough) to dabble in experimentation. We've seen some wild engine swaps in our time, but this one has to be up there.

The project is based on a Datsun 280Z, a highly sought-after model among enthusiasts. This 280Z, though, comes with a German beating heart; under the hood is an engine from Mercedes-Benz. While a V6 would be enough, given the original 280Z engine was the inline-six, this car goes for the crème de la crème: the 6.0-liter V12.

The car belongs to Jordan Easter, who originally envisioned the build as a race car for hillclimbing. Apart from the notable engine, it also has a T56 Magnum six-speed manual transmission. There's a full walk-around and interview video with the car, courtesy of Michael Tung on his channel Tungtied. During the first hillclimb event, the car had some overheating issues, which led to another V12 swap, sourcing the engine from a '90s era Mercedes-SL.

To address the cooling issues, the second engine swap now features a Megasquirt MS3 Pro ECU, coupled with a heavy-duty custom-built Griffin radiator. An engine this big also meant that the car's wiring needed to be completely redone, and the battery was also moved to a different spot.

Other mods were done to really ensure better engine temperature management. The coolest mod, though are the headers and exhaust system, making this 280Z sound like a screaming Pagani Zonda.

For those who don't know, the M120 V12 was built by Mercedes-Benz in the '90s in response to BMW's V12. The M120 saw multiple usage in the S-Class and the top-spec SL models, too. This 6.0-liter V12 was smooth and powerful, putting out around 394 hp stock, which for the time was a lot.

The most notable M120 application, though, was its use by Pagani as the original engine for the Zonda. Pagani loved the engine so much that they pretty much used it for all their models from 1999 through the final Zonda in 2014. So while it sounds crazy to have a Mercedes V12 in a Datsun, if it was good for Pagani, it should be good for anyone.

The Australian market had the new Suzuki Swift for a minute before it crashed and was pulled from shelves. Suzuki Australia made a few calls following the results of the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) in 2024. Prior to this, the Euro NCAP tested the Swift, which scored fairly well with a three-star rating. 

Given the Euro NCAP score, it’s fair to assume the Australian-market Swift would net similar scores, but even Suzuki Australia was caught off-guard by the one-star ANCAP Safety Rating it received in 2024. Isn’t this supposed to be a global model? 

CarExpert got a minute with the General Manager for Suzuki Australia, Michael Pachota. In an interview, Pachota stated: 

“[The] European car got a three-star [Euro] NCAP safety rating, our car got one star. We then fed that back to the manufacturer, and they said 'well, there is a slight specification difference in the vehicle itself,' to which point we then said 'okay, that’s the car we need' – so we phased out the one-star car and brought in the three-star car.”

Based on the statement, it appears Suzuki Australia was blindsided, prompting their boss to call the supplier, Suzuki Global, and to promptly investigate the matter. Apparently, there was a specification difference between the European and the Australian market units. “Slight” was the word that Pachota used, which could be an understatement. However, the Euro NCAP score for the Swift isn’t that high a bar to clear, as the Swift qualifies as a three-star car only.

Suzuki is on a roll, or a slump, depending on how you want to put it. For some reason, the Japanese brand in the land down under couldn’t get things right two times in a row. As stated in a related story, the Suzuki Fronx, a compact SUV from the Japanese marque, passed other NCAP tests with flying colors, but the ANCAP remains one tough nut to crack for the Japanese marque. 

In the ASEAN NCAP results, the Suzuki Fronx earned a five-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating, a far cry from the Australian NCAP result of one star. In a similar fashion, that model was pulled from the market until Suzuki Australia could get a retest with the ANCAP. 

The very first ANCAP result in 2024 noted that the “[Suzuki Swift’s] protection of the chest was WEAK for the driver. Structures in the dashboard were a potential source of injury for the driver and front passenger, and protection of the upper legs was rated MARGINAL. The driver’s lower legs were also rated as MARGINAL, with protection of the driver’s feet rated POOR based on rearward pedal movement. Protection of the chest and lower legs of the front passenger was ADEQUATE for the lower legs. GOOD protection was offered to the head and neck of both the driver and front passenger.

After the changes, however, the Suzuki Swift currently sits at a three-star rating with the ANCAP in the 2025 crash test. Suzuki retested with another unit in September 2025 and received a three-star rating, similar to the Euro NCAP rating for the Swift. 

The Euro-spec—now Australian-spec—Suzuki Swift now has additional front-end reinforcements that were missing, unbeknownst to Suzuki Australia. Now Aussie customers can enjoy two more stars' worth of peace of mind.

South Korea’s Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has fined Mercedes-Benz 11.2 billion won ($7.6 million) after determining the automaker misled customers about the battery suppliers used in some of its electric vehicles. The ruling stated that the company’s marketing materials and dealer sales guides inaccurately described battery sourcing in certain EV models.

According to the regulator, models including the Mercedes-Benz EQE and Mercedes-Benz EQS were promoted as using batteries supplied by CATL, the world’s largest EV battery maker. Investigators found that some vehicles instead used battery cells from Farasis Energy, a lesser-known Chinese supplier, information that was omitted from dealer guides and marketing materials.

CATL

According to Reuters, the KFTC said Mercedes-Benz distributed an internal sales manual to dealers in June 2023 outlining details about its electric vehicle lineup. The materials reportedly emphasized the advantages and global leadership of CATL batteries while failing to mention that some models were equipped with Farasis battery cells.

Because dealers relied on those sales guides, regulators believe many sales staff unknowingly highlighted CATL battery technology when promoting the vehicles to customers. The commission said the Korean subsidiary had received detailed information about battery suppliers from the company’s German headquarters as early as 2021, but did not fully reflect that information in its local sales materials.

Mercedes-Benz

The investigation began after a 2024 fire involving a parked Mercedes-Benz EQE in Incheon, South Korea. Authorities later determined that the vehicle was equipped with battery cells supplied by Farasis Energy, prompting regulators to examine whether consumers had been properly informed about the battery supplier. It is interesting to note that last month, Mercedes-Benz issued a warning here in the USA, advising owners of models using Farasis batteries to charge their vehicles outdoors.

The blaze occurred in the underground parking garage of an apartment complex and caused significant damage. Reports indicated that more than 100 nearby vehicles were destroyed, while residents were temporarily evacuated as firefighters worked to contain the fire.

Mercedes-Benz

According to the KFTC, about 3,000 vehicles equipped with Farasis battery cells were sold in South Korea between June 2023 and August 2024, generating roughly 281 billion won ($191 million) in revenue. The agency issued a $7.6 million fine, which is the maximum allowed under Korean law, equal to about 4 percent of related sales. Mercedes-Benz Korea says it disputes the ruling and plans to challenge it in court.

As EV technology continues to evolve, battery development remains one of the most expensive and complex parts of the industry. With EV sales growth slowing in some markets, automakers are under pressure to control costs and protect margins, often by sourcing batteries from different suppliers. However, cases like this highlight the importance of transparency, especially as regulators and consumers increasingly scrutinize how companies communicate key details about EV technology.

Sebastian Blanco

After a long time watching the rest of the world benefit from Nissan's innovative e-Power hybrid system, which aims to combine the benefits of both all-electric and gas powertrains in a single setup, America will finally get access with the 2027 Rogue crossover. And if recent comments made at a media event outside Detroit are anything to go by, Nissan isn't stopping there. According to Carscoops, Nissan officials indicated that more e-Power models will come to the U.S. before long, and it's pretty easy to guess what they're hinting at.

Nissan

Down in Mexico, Nissan already offers the Kicks Play e-Power and has done since 2022, using a 1.2-liter engine as a generator for the tiny 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack. These supply an electric motor producing 134 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque, allowing the diminutive crossover to drive like an all-electric vehicle while still being as convenient to run as a gas car. Thus, it appears that Nissan USA is preparing to introduce a Kicks with a third-generation e-Power setup, which has already been introduced in Europe's similar Qashqai. In that vehicle, the 2.1kWh battery and an electric motor are paired with a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine for a total output of 202 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque, considerably more than we currently get with the 2026 Kicks, which makes 141 hp and 140 lb-ft from its 2.0-liter four-pot.

For the U.S., Nissan told us last year that the e-Power system will be tuned to better suit the kind of highway driving Americans do, while Euro-spec vehicles are "set up for dense traffic conditions."

Related: Nissan and Uber Could Team Up to Challenge Tesla’s Cybercab

While increased performance will make the Kicks more sprightly, the main reason it's worth getting excited about will be seen when it undergoes EPA testing, as the current Kicks scores 28/35/31 mpg on the U.S. city/highway/combined cycles. While those figures are reasonably good, Nissan's rivals at Toyota have eked out figures of 46/39/42 mpg on the same EPA tests with the Corolla Cross.

Nissan

When we tested the e-Power system in a Nissan Qashqai (which is basically the European equivalent of what we were offered in the Rogue Sport) in Tennessee late last year, we found that despite low horsepower figures, the crossover was surprisingly eager, proving more responsive and torquier than the gas-powered Rogue. We also felt that there was none of the lag often associated with conventional mild-hybrids and plug-in hybrids, nor was there much noise, despite the gas engine running most of the time, making the driving experience smooth and comfortable. Hopefully, these attributes will help Nissan get back on track in North America. It's just a matter of waiting for the e-Power's attributes to be confirmed on a U.S.-spec Kicks.

Electric pickup and SUV maker Scout Motors recently drew the ire of potential customers with the announcement that its pickup truck’s advertised tow rating could drop by 50 percent when equipped with a gasoline-powered range-extender. While this system increases overall range from 350 to 500 miles, the announcement that the Scout Terra pickup’s tow rating could drop from 10,000 lbs to about 5,000 lbs has not gone down well with prospective buyers, especially those with hauling or towing requirements. 

Scout Motors

Speaking at a recent industry event, Scout CEO Scott Keogh hinted that the company’s engineers are working on a solution to the towing limitations issue, giving fans of the rugged electric pickup some hope. He, however, declined to elaborate further with any technical details. Considering that about 87 percent of Scout’s 160,000 reservations so far are for extended-range variants of their Terra pickup and Traveler SUV, it seems like the company has no option but to come up with a solution. Both vehicles are positioned as rugged electric 4x4s and are expected to use body-on-frame construction with solid rear axles and mechanical locking diffs. 

Scout Motors

Despite this towing capacity debacle, Scout still has plenty of development time left to address this concern. Their electric 4X4s aren’t expected to hit production lines until later this decade, giving engineers plenty of time to refine the hardware and address capability concerns before actual customers get behind the wheel. 

While the smooth, conservative BMW-sourced engines in the Ineos Grenadier serve their purpose, the retro-styled off-roader hasn’t prioritized high performance. A more potent version may help the Grenadier be in the same conversation as popular 4x4 SUVs such as the Mercedes-AMG G63, but that seems like a long shot.

However, CarExpert sought an update from Ineos Automotive on whether the automaker had changed its mind. Perhaps slightly, though nothing particularly convincing so far. Ineos Australia head Justin Hocevar told the publication at the launch of the MY26 Grenadier range, “We’d like to see something like that come here.”

According to Hocevar, the V8-powered concept unveiled at Goodwood “received a lot of enthusiasm” not only from customers but also from dealer networks and distributors. Some of that interest could also be tied to markets like the U.S., where V8 engines remain particularly popular. The concept used a 6.2-liter LS V8 from General Motors, a platform that many American enthusiasts know well and one that enjoys massive aftermarket support.

What is clear, however, is the performance boost: the LS-swapped concept produces 425 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque. That represents more than a 140-horsepower increase over the standard 3.0-liter gasoline B58 inline-six from BMW. The same unit is used in the outgoing Toyota GR Supra, although the performance car delivers 382 horsepower. Ineos detuned the engine to prioritize reliability and improve low-end torque, traits better suited for off-roading.

One challenge is that mass-producing the V8 version at its France-based manufacturing plant would require re-engineering several components, which would drive up costs.

Ineos

For now, Hocevar explained that Ineos is retaining the current BMW engines, saying, “We already know there’s huge potential that’s yet to be tapped in our version of the B57 and B58 engines. Obviously, BMW and Toyota run higher output versions in some of their vehicles, and we’ve seen some solutions tested in the aftermarket already.”

He added, “So, I think that that’s the best way to go.”

In the U.S., the Grenadier with the standard B58 engine starts at $71,000, excluding destination fees. The B57 diesel, available in other markets, isn’t sold stateside. A Black Edition is also offered for $82,995 for those who prefer a murdered-out look.

Ineos

As the average price of a new car reached an all-time record high of $50,326 in December 2025, U.S. shoppers are having a difficult time keeping up with the increasing total cost of vehicle ownership, which has risen 48% since 2019 according to data from Cox Automotive.

Since only one in five American buyers can afford to pay cash up front to get a new car, it goes without saying that car loans and leases are the preferred buying method for the vast majority of consumers.

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The problem is the rate and length of auto loans have skyrocketed last year, with the average monthly payment for new-vehicle buyers through December 2025 reaching $722, up 2.4% compared to 2024, according to Automotive News.

Perhaps more worryingly, loan terms are getting longer: 20.8% of new vehicles financed had a loan term of 84 months or more. Yes, you’ve read that right: over one in five U.S. new car shoppers signed up for seven years or more of payments.

Down payments are another indicator that many buyers don’t have enough cash to put down at signing in order to have lower monthly payments later on. The average down payment for a new vehicle was around $6,228 in 2025, down 9.2% year-over-year. This is a sign that Americans are saving their hard-earned cash for other basic needs.

The downside of such long loan terms and low down payments is not hard to guess—monthly car payments are getting higher fueled by increasing new car prices and high interest rates.

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

For people who can afford to pay $700 or more each month on their auto loan, that may not seem like a problem, but experts warn that those who sign 84-month loan agreements and bring in low down payments face the risk of negative equity over time. In plain English, that means they end up owing more than the financed car is worth.

That’s probably not something most buyers worry about, but it can become a problem if they decide to sell or trade in their car before the loan is paid off. Needless to say, the longer a car loan agreement is, the higher the risk of a default.

The rise in long-term auto loans points to the financial strain many Americans are dealing with when purchasing new vehicles. And the situation is not likely to improve anytime soon. “I don't assume cars will be any cheaper five or six years from now,” Joseph Yoon, Consumer Insights Analyst for Edmunds, told AN.

And let's not forget about inflation, which could rise significantly because of the war in the Middle East, due to its potential to send oil prices to unsustainable levels and disrupt supply chains, wreaking havoc on the global economy in the process. All that paints a bleaker picture than ever for new car shoppers—at least in our lifetime.

What would you do if you suddenly won the lottery? For car enthusiasts, the answer might involve a dream garage or even a racetrack of your own. Japan already offers plenty of reasons to visit, from its unique cuisine and centuries-old traditions to its futuristic cities, but its deeply ingrained automotive culture is just as compelling. In a country where car enthusiasm blends seamlessly with everyday life, it’s perhaps no surprise that one billionaire took things to the extreme and built his own private racetrack in the mountains.

That culture runs deep. Long before social media amplified car trends globally, Japanese tuning legends were already pushing boundaries. Even global political figures have been briefly swept up by Japan’s automotive charm. Against that backdrop of deeply ingrained car enthusiasm, it’s perhaps no surprise that one of the world’s most exclusive racetracks would emerge here, built not by a manufacturer, but by a billionaire simply wanting a place to drive with his family.

Nestled in the mountains of Chiba Prefecture overlooking Tokyo Bay, with Mount Fuji visible in the distance, the Magarigawa Club is one of the most extravagant automotive playgrounds ever built. Commissioned by a Japanese billionaire, the $200 million facility was initially intended as a private racetrack where he could enjoy his supercar collection with his wife and children.

The circuit itself stretches for more than two miles and features 22 turns designed to challenge even experienced drivers. The layout was created by Hermann Tilke, the same architect responsible for modern Formula One venues like the Bahrain International Circuit and Yas Marina Circuit. One of the track’s most unusual design elements is its proximity to the owner’s residence; the circuit actually begins near the house and runs past a swimming pool before climbing into the surrounding mountains. The technical layout includes elevation changes, long straights, and tight corners intended to push high-performance machines to their limits.

Instagram - @themagarigawaclub

Today, the track is no longer just a family project. The Magarigawa Club has evolved into one of the most exclusive automotive clubs in the world, with membership reportedly costing around $230,000 per year. For those who can afford it, it’s a luxury retreat designed for wealthy collectors who want a private environment to drive their cars hard without the constraints of public circuits or crowded track days.

Magarigawa Club ultimately shows what happens when extreme wealth meets deep automotive passion. While most enthusiasts settle for the occasional track day, the world’s richest collectors can build their own circuits, breathtaking scenery, and five-star amenities. Yet the track also reflects something uniquely Japanese: a country where car culture is so deeply ingrained that even a billionaire’s private racetrack feels like a natural extension of the national obsession with performance machines.

Instagram - @themagarigawaclub

UPDATE: Retro Designs contacted us with a request to update the information in this article as their original press release included several inaccuracies; you can read the updated article below.

There are many boutique car companies out there that specialize in restoring and modifying old cars, and the restomod projects they craft are every bit as spectacular as those coming from established (and high-end) names like Singer Vehicle Design, Eagle, Emory Motorsports, Icon 4×4, Mechatronik, or Alfaholics.

If you want to breathe new life into your classic car, you’ve got lots of small workshops that can make your vision come true. Owners of old Mercedes-Benz cars are spoiled for choice in that respect, including in the United States, where many companies will happily take their money.

One of them is Retro Designs, a lesser known firm based out of Harrisburg, North Carolina, whose philosophy is to bring iconic automobiles back to life with modern engineering and subtle styling upgrades. They mostly work on classic Corvettes, but they also do American trucks and European icons.

In celebration of their 15th anniversary, they have just released a fully reimagined 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE Coupe from the W111 generation (the direct ancestor to the S-Class) with a modern AMG engine swap.

That is the hand-built, naturally aspirated AMG 5.4-liter M113 V8 engine, sourced from a 2006 Mercedes C55 AMG. Originally fitted to production models built from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s, including the C55 AMG, CLK55 AMG, SLK55 AMG and early ML55 AMG, the V8 is said to put out four times more horsepower than the stock 2.8-liter inline six-cylinder motor originally fitted to the 280 SE.

That means the M113 V8 has been significantly upgraded, too, since in stock form it was good for up to 362 hp. Enhancements include a custom wiring harness and sealed motorsport-grade electrical system from Modern Racing, aftermarket ECU integration, a stainless steel fuel system featuring a custom tank by Rick’s Tanks, Ron Davis aluminum radiator, and a Kooks stainless steel custom exhaust system.

Four times more horsepower than the 280 SE’s stock 160 hp would indicate an output of around 640 hp, which you wouldn’t expect from this iconic coupe that looks pretty much stock. No performance specs were released, but it’s not hard to imagine it's much faster than Mercedes-Benz originally intended.

The engine is hooked to a Mercedes-Benz 5G-Tronic (722.6) 5-speed automatic transmission, which was also used in various AMG models of the early 2000s. In this application, the transmission management is developed by Sound German Automotive.

Retro Designs chose this gearbox because it fit perfectly to the chassis and did not require changes to the central tunnel. Speaking of the chassis, it’s a bespoke one and it features a fully reworked suspension and an advanced braking system incorporating an electronic brake booster and E-Stopp electronic parking brake.

In the looks department, the only changes Retro Designs made to the timeless coupe include removing the sunroof, painting the body Axalta Chromax XP Irish Green, adding LED lighting, and fitting custom billet wheels inspired by the original steel wheels and hubcaps. The custom Evod Industries billet wheels feature restored chrome and brightwork refinished by Advanced Plating.

The same philosophy of retaining the original look was applied to the interior, although the modern upgrades are more obvious. They include custom door panels with integrated accent lighting, restored and custom-stitched heated front and rear seats, a fully custom carpet kit, restored wood trim and chrome finishes, an Alcantara headliner, keyless entry, and a modernized audio system featuring an Audison amplifier and Focal speakers. 

The Dakota Digital gauges and the upgraded Vintage Air HVAC system integrated to work with the original dash and firewall round off the interior upgrades.

The restoration took thousands of hours and involved a team of expert technicians and specialists that refined every exterior, interior and mechanical detail with obsessive care—and that's pretty obvious by the way this build looks.