The automotive market is facing rising vehicle prices as consumer wallets tighten, but that isn’t stopping automakers from posting positive sales numbers. Hyundai is just one of the manufacturers that’s had a stellar year so far, and that trend continues into August. The South Korean automaker posted record-breaking sales numbers for multiple vehicles, including the Santa Fe, Palisade, and Ioniq 5. Hyundai’s August sales amounted to more than 88,000 units, a 12% increase compared to the same time last year.

Hyundai

“August was an exceptional month for us, with retail and total sales pacing well above our previous best August results,” said Randy Parker, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor North America. “This momentum keeps us firmly on track for our best year ever.”

As is the industry trend, crossovers and SUVs led Hyundai’s sales totals. The 2025 Hyundai Tucson, which received refreshed styling and an improved infotainment setup, stole the show, with more than 17,900 examples sold. While it may have been the automaker’s top-selling model, the Tucson’s year-over-year sales dropped by 19%. 

Hyundai

The Hyundai Palisade and Elantra each saw more than 15,000 units leave dealer lots. The Palisade, which seats up to eight passengers, posted a 39% increase in year-over-year sales. On the other side of the range, the Elantra, one of the most affordable vehicles on the market with a $22,125 price tag, saw a year-over-year increase of six percent. The Santa Fe managed to net a 26% year-over-year increase in sales, with 12,840 units sold.

On the all-electric side, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 posted a 61% increase in year-over-year sales, with more than 7,700 examples sold. With August behind it, the Ioniq 5's year-to-date sales are up 65%. The Ioniq 6 sedan, which comes restyled for the 2026 model year, posted a 30% increase in sales, with just over 1,000 models leaving dealer lots. The Ioniq 9, which just recently debuted for the 2026 model year, is already off to a strong start, with over 1,000 examples sold in August.

Hyundai

Hyundai is on track to post a double-digit percentage increase in annual sales as well. The automaker’s year-to-date sales figures sit at more than 607,000 vehicles, a dramatic increase from the 548,003 examples that the manufacturer had sold at this time last year. 

On a side note, if you have any interest in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (I do), Hyundai has sold just two examples of the Nexo FCEV so far this year. By this time last year, the South Korean automaker had moved 87 Nexo models. Currently, the Hyundai Nexo is only available for purchase in California, which is home to nearly all the nation's hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

Born from the success of the Hyundai luxury sedan bearing the nameplate, Genesis serves as the pinnacle of grandeur under the Hyundai Motor Group umbrella. Per Tedro Mengiste, COO of Genesis Motor North America, the premium brand pulled off record-setting August sales as well. Originally introduced as a brand of its own in 2015, the decade-old marque delivered 7,925 vehicles, amounting to a seven percent year-over-year increase. The 2026 GV70 led the charge, with 3,210 examples sold. 

Genesis

August 2025 marked the highest sales month in Kia’s history, with more than 83,000 models sold —a 10.4% increase compared to the same time last year. The Sportage crossover was the brand’s top-selling model, with over 18,000 units sold, bringing the year-to-date total to just shy of 120,000 units. The Kia Telluride SUV, Carnival minivan, and all-electric EV9 SUV saw steady increases in their year-over-year sales as well.

Kia

Even as vehicle prices are on the rise, Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia are still managing to post record-breaking sales month after month. Much of this success can be attributed to the South Korean manufacturer’s affordable pricing, as well as the sheer level of standard equipment available across each model’s trim range. While Hyundai may have a somewhat mixed reputation in terms of reliability, it also offers one of the industry’s most extensive powertrain warranties. As vehicle prices continue to rise, it’ll be interesting to see if Hyundai manages to keep up this momentum or if sales will fall to the wayside.

For years, automakers have promised that fully electric cars were the future, and that included pickup trucks. But as demand cools and early enthusiasm fades, a new reality is setting in: truck buyers aren’t quite ready to give up gas engines entirely. Instead, hybrids and electric range-extended vehicles (EREVs) are shaping up to be the sweet spot. Ram’s decision to scrap its all-electric pickup in favor of an EREV is the clearest sign yet.

Ford

EV sales are healthier than ever, but that's not the case for pickup trucks. On paper, battery-electric trucks looked like the future. However, the reality hasn’t lived up to the hype. Models like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV launched with strong buzz, but sales are cooling thanks to high prices, range anxiety, a lack of charging infrastructure, and concerns about towing capabilities for lower trim options. Even Mazda has flat-out refused to build electric pickups, sticking to diesel engines because the demand for EV pickups just isn’t there.

Stellantis

EREVs use electric motors for propulsion, with a gas engine acting as a generator to recharge the battery pack on the move. This setup blends the efficiency of an EV with the range and flexibility of a conventional truck. The segment stands to benefit more than most, since capability and convenience matter most to pickup buyers. A prime example is the Ram 1500 REV, formerly known as the Ramcharger. It pairs a liquid-cooled 92-kWh battery with a 130-kW generator and a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, producing 647 hp and 610 lb-ft of torque. That setup moves the truck from 0–60 mph in 4.5 seconds. While it won’t outrun the wild 2025 Rivian R1T and its 2.9-second sprint, the REV shines in range and utility. It delivers 690 miles of driving range, up to 14,000 lbs of towing – nearly double that of a base model F-150 Lightning – and a 2,625-lb payload rating. In short, it has all the workhorse strength truck buyers expect, with electrification as a bonus.

The reality is simple: truck buyers want range, towing strength, and reliability above all else. Hybrids and EREVs give them all of that, with the added benefit of fuel efficiency and electric performance. Ram’s pivot shows that automakers are starting to adapt to real-world needs, not just chase headlines. Pure EV pickups won't become redundant overnight, but right now, hybrids and range-extended trucks look more likely to win over skeptical buyers. And with brands like Ram making the shift, it might just be the beginning of a bigger industry shift.

In August, reports circulated that Mercedes-Benz and BMW were preparing a rare collaboration. Mercedes was allegedly in advanced talks to source BMW's B48 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The arrangement was said to target upcoming plug-in hybrid versions of smaller Mercedes models, with a production start around 2027. Sharing a proven power plant would help both companies meet stricter Euro 7 emissions standards, cut development costs, and even avoid potential trade tariffs.

That certainly wasn't good news for the fans of both German automakers, but thankfully, that scenario will not happen. Speaking during the IAA Mobility Show in Munich, Mercedes-Benz executives directly addressed the rumor and dismissed it.

Markus Schaefer, Chief Technology Officer and member of the Board of Management at Mercedes-Benz Group, told Motor1 that the report was inaccurate. "There is no truth to this," he said, explaining that the company has already developed its own next-generation combustion engine family known as FAME (Family of Modular Engines). The modular range spans from four to twelve-cylinder layouts and is designed to meet upcoming emissions rules in various nations.

Schaefer added that Mercedes intends to maintain a broad internal-combustion lineup, including new V8 and, surprisingly, V12 engines. He described the FAME units as fully updated and capable of meeting the most stringent global regulations. For smaller models,

Mercedes has already lined up a different partner: the next-generation CLA-Class will adopt a hybrid system from Horse, the joint venture between Geely and Renault. That arrangement does not involve BMW and remains separate from the FAME architecture.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz has a busy product schedule beyond its engine plans. The company recently teased a G-Class Cabriolet, reviving the open-top version last sold nearly a decade ago. Early images show the familiar boxy silhouette with a folding soft top, and a launch is expected around the 2026 model year.

A "Baby G" is also in development. Teased during the IAA Mobility show, it will be a smaller version of the iconic G-Wagen, likely riding on a dedicated platform rather than a shortened G-Class frame. Powertrain details remain unknown, but both combustion and electric versions are possible.

At the entry level, the GLA-Class – currently Mercedes' most affordable US model – is due for an upgrade with fresh styling, updated technology, and a new hybrid setup. These projects underline Mercedes-Benz's intention to broaden its lineup while balancing electric growth with traditional offerings.

Mercedes-Benz

Speaking from personal experience, the B58 engine in the Toyota Supra is a bit of a handful. Power comes on pretty hard once the turbos get involved, and it's real easy to run out of grip, talent, or both. We're not sure what happened to the owner of this particular model, but it didn't take long for them to have a good-sized whoopsie in their 2026 Toyota Supra Final Edition.

Related: Toyota Finally Built A V8 Supra — But Don’t Expect To Drive One

This 2026 Supra Final Edition is coming up for auction soon, but there isn't much left. Details from the IAA listing show the car was damaged as a result of a collision that led to a rollover accident. As a result, the entire body is pretty much toast. The car's certainly totaled, and for anyone hoping for a cheap B58 swap, you're potentially out of luck there, too.

There appears to be some sort of fire damage on the intake side of the motor, and the listing says there's "engine burn." The car's suspension and subframes are likely done, too, given the new "Kachow" stance of that rear passenger wheel. Still, if you think anything in here is worth saving, the car will be up for auction soon, though the IAA site hasn't specified a date just yet.

The fifth-gen Supra bowed out with the 2026 model year special edition, featuring unique wheels and some cool available decals. Other upgrades included a carbon-fiber ducktail spoiler, elevated tire spats, and flaps on the wheel arches. The crashed example above didn't benefit from the optional GT4 appearance pack (pictured), which added graphics, red mirror caps, a painted rear spoiler, and a black Supra badge.

Software tweaks to the rear diff were said to help improve traction and reduce understeer. Unfortunately, neither of them was able to save the above example. Toyota also fitted updated camber angles, stronger rubber bushings, upgraded front roll bar, and retuned dampers, as well as a new underbody brace and upgraded Brembo brakes. These weren't cheap, starting at $69,085, but we imagine the above example should go for a good bit less than that.

Used EV shoppers care about used EV battery degradation more than paint colors and wheel sizes. Fresh 2025 SOH data from telematics, on-board diagnostics (OBD) uploads, fleet health reports, and auction disclosures says the story is steady: modern packs age slowly, and the best models lose very little per 10,000 miles when they have strong thermal management and efficient heating. Large-scale telematics finds average EV packs now fade about 1.8% per year, a noticeable improvement from earlier generations.

Normalizing on degradation per 10k miles lets is from overcome age and odometer differences. It rewards cars that hold capacity mile-for-mile, not just those that are newer. Across 2025 datasets, leaders cluster at low, predictable loss rates and show stable winter behavior when fitted with heat pumps. Real-world studies confirm temperature exposure and thermal design drive much of the spread, not simply how much you drive.

Figure 1:  Top-20 Used EVs by degradation per 10k miles (lower is better).

At the top, Model 3 RWD (LFP), Bolt EV, Model Y Long Range, Bolt EUV, and Kona Electric sit in the ~0.24–0.35% bracket thanks to strong cooling/BMS—and LFP in the Tesla RWD. At the other end, Volvo XC40/C40 Recharge, BMW i3 (94/120 Ah), Audi e-tron (2019–2022), Nissan Leaf (2018+ 40/62 kWh), and Nissan Leaf (2011–2017 24/30 kWh) decline faster, reflecting heavier platforms, older chemistries, and—in the Leafs and i3—passive (air) cooling that struggles in heat and with repeated fast charging.

Each bar shows the typical percent of battery capacity lost every 10,000 miles for that model based on 2025 SOH data. Shorter bars are better—those cars keep more usable range as miles add up, while longer bars fade faster.

Thermal management: Liquid-cooled packs tend to outlast passive air-cooled ones. In model-matched comparisons, liquid cooling tracks with lower long-term fade, while hot-climate use and frequent fast charging accelerate wear.

Heat pumps: In cold weather, heat pumps preserve range and keep the battery operating in friendlier windows. A 2024 analysis shows 8–10% more winter range with heat-pump-equipped trims, an edge that helps real-world EV range retention and reduces stress in sub-freezing use.

Chemistry: LFP packs shine in cycle life and consistency, which is why trims like the Model 3 RWD (LFP) are favorites with high-miles drivers and fleets. Peer-reviewed research notes LFP’s structural stability and steady performance over extended cycling compared with many nickel chemistries.

Leaders: Sedans and crossovers with liquid cooling, heat pumps, and conservative BMS strategies top the Top-20 leader-board. You’ll see trims with LFP or well-managed NMC/NCA chemistry near the front.

Laggards: Older, air-cooled designs tend to land lower, especially in hot states or with frequent DC fast charging. Historic testing on early air-cooled hatchbacks underscored how temperature and charging intensity accelerate loss, a lesson reflected in today’s rankings.

• Prefer liquid-cooled packs and trims with a heat pump.
• Always check SOH from an OBD or telematics report, not just the odometer.
• For battery longevity, fast-charge sparingly in summer and store/charge in moderate temps. Large 2025 fleet studies back these habits.

Europe is littered with aftermarket companies producing loud body kits for luxury SUVs, so what sets the Larte Design Charisma body kit for the Mercedes-Maybach GLS apart is its restraint. Compared to the likes of Mansory, or even some of Larte's previous work, the changes are relatively tasteful.

Adding more charisma to the GLS are fender flares, a new hood and front bumper, side sill extensions, and a new rear bumper with quad exhaust tips, a rear diffuser, and racing-style vertical brake lights. All of these pieces are made of carbon fiber, as are available mirror caps and a roof spoiler.

"Larte" is Italian for "art of creating," according to Larte's website, but the company hails from a different part of Europe. The same website said Larte was founded in Dusseldorf, Germany, in 2012, although when the company launched in the United States in 2014 with a modified GL-Class (predecessor to today's GLS-Class) called the Black Crystal, the press release was dateline Moscow. It's now headquartered in Ratingen, Germany.

Larte Design

Maybach's history is even longer and even more convoluted. It was founded in 1909 by Wilhelm Maybach—who worked with Gottlieb Daimler to develop the first Mercedes-branded cars—and his son Karl. It primarily built Zeppelin airship engines before diversifying into luxury cars and engines for the Nazi war machine. In the 21st century, the name was revived by Mercedes, first as a standalone brand, then for high-end versions of Mercedes models like the GLS-Class and the S-Class sedan.

Larte Design

The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 was introduced as part of the current-generation GLS lineup in 2019, went on sale as a 2021 model, and got a mild refresh for 2023. It's powered a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 producing 550 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque, which will get it from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and up to a top speed of 155 mph, according to Mercedes. But the main attraction is a luxurious cabin with reclining seats, Nappa Leather everywhere, and even a dedicated climate control system for the rear seats.

Considering that the Maybach GLS already leaves the factory with a chrome grille, hood ornament, and massive chrome wheels, it's probably a good thing that Larte Design didn't go too far with the modifications. But other companies keep churning out ostentatious designs, even for very high-end SUVs like the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, so perhaps the market thinks differently.

Larte Design

The automotive world has spent thirty years trying to improve on the original 1996 Lotus Elise formula, adding power steering, air conditioning, and creature comforts that missed the point entirely. The Series 1 Elise weighed under 1,600 lbs and proved that lightweight engineering could deliver more thrills than any amount of horsepower. Now Analogue Automotive has taken that philosophy and made it even more exciting with its latest project, the VHPK. 

Analogue Automotive

The VHPK strips away all compromise by adopting a central driving position, borrowed directly from the single-seat Elise race cars from the early 2000s Autobytel championship. Those racing machines revealed that when you center the driver, you don't just save weight, you create perfect balance and an almost telepathic connection between car and driver. It’s the same thinking that drives Gordon Murray’s GMA T.50. The difference is that the VHPK at $475,000 costs a mere fraction of the price of either. 

Analogue Automotive

Under the VHPK's sculpted carbon fiber skin sits the Elise’s Rover K-series 1.8-liter engine bored out to 1.9-liters and pushing over 250 horsepower into a package that tips the scales at 1,322 lbs. That's a power-to-weight ratio that would humble most supercars, achieved through obsessive weight reduction rather than horsepower inflation, just as Lotus founder Colin Chapman intended.

The monocoque carbon fiber chassis forms the structural backbone. The central driving position places you directly over the rear axle for perfect weight distribution. Analogue Automotive has even engineered bespoke suspension components to maintain the Elise's legendary handling characteristics. The result is a car that delivers track-focused dynamics with road legality. It’s a package that makes even the best-engineered sports cars look unnecessarily complex.

Analogue Automotive

Where modern sports cars have grown fat and complicated, the VHPK has grown lean and focused. It's not trying to be a grand tourer or a daily driver. It's trying to be the perfect expression of what made that original Elise so special, which is the pure, undiluted joy of driving a properly engineered lightweight sports car. Thirty years later, we can definitely say it’s mission accomplished for Analogue Automotive.

Analogue Automotive isn't mass-producing these, with production limited to just 35 units. Which means the VHPK remains genuinely rare. It isn't artificial scarcity for marketing purposes, it’s the natural result of building cars the old-fashioned way, where every detail matters. The VHPK stands as proof that true exclusivity comes from doing something properly rather than simply doing it expensively.

Few nameplates carry the weight of the Toyota Corolla. Since its debut in the 1960s, it has grown into one of the world’s best-selling cars and a cornerstone of Toyota’s lineup. The current 12th generation has been on sale since 2018, and while it has received minor updates – including a light upgrade for the 2026 model year – the core design is showing its age.

Toyota appears ready to move on. Regulatory filings in China point to the arrival of the 13th generation, with a production version already nearing its debut there. This marks the first clear sign that a fully revamped Corolla is on the horizon.

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology

Images from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reveal a sedan wearing the “Corolla Allion” name. The redesign follows Toyota’s newer styling language, already seen on the latest Prius and Camry. Up front, the headlights adopt a split layout with a C-shaped LED outline and a slim light strip across the upper section. High and low beams sit low in the bumper, framed by black accents and a dark horizontal grille. A more prominent front spoiler and smaller bumper intake sharpen the nose.

The sides show few changes apart from new wheel designs, while the rear features reworked taillights now connected by an illuminated strip and darker trim in place of the previous blue hybrid badge. Structural cues such as the unchanged windshield and roof pillars suggest this is a significant refresh on the existing platform rather than an all-new chassis, but the visual update is substantial.

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology

For China, the leaked documents list a pair of familiar powertrains. A 1.8-liter hybrid setup delivers about 97 to 98 horsepower and pairs with a lithium nickel-cobalt-manganese battery. Fuel economy is rated as low as 57 mpg, with a top speed near 99 mph. A naturally aspirated 2.0-liter gasoline engine produces roughly 169 to 171 horsepower and reaches 112 mph. Front-wheel drive and either a CVT or a 10-speed automatic transmission remain the standard arrangement.

Whether this exact Allion version reaches the United States remains uncertain. China sells two Corolla sedans – the more formal Allion and a Sporty version with an aggressive fascia that more closely resembles the US-spec Corolla.

Even so, the Chinese car offers a strong preview of what American buyers can expect. A similar design and mechanical package is likely to follow when Toyota announces the next-generation Corolla for global markets, possibly later this year or in early 2026.

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology

We’ve all been worried about AI taking our jobs or robots taking over the country, but Lamborghini’s new idea may take tech in a more irritating direction. The automaker recently spoke with The Drive, telling the publication that it’s working on AI-driven tech that could help compensate for drivers’ bad behavior in real time.

Lamborghini CTO Rouven Mohr told The Drive, “we are already using AI – it’s not fully AI, it’s a kind of first step machine learning – for the torque management that is adopting torque distribution based on the surface and on the driving style of the driver.”  He also noted that future cars may be able to identify the driver’s emotional state and adapt accordingly.

Peterson Automotive Museum

While it’s easy to imagine a range of scenarios when an AI-powered vehicle could be annoying or even frightening, Mohr said the automaker would use the technologies to improve the driver experience, too. “Because if the car would be smart enough to detect if you want to have fun if the car is going a little bit more sideways, theoretically the algorithm could say, ‘okay, this guy wants to have a little more side angle,’ and it’s managing that rotation of the car in a different way.”

Future Lamborghinis may also step in to assist the driver on track, helping smooth out inputs and deliver better lap times. “If the algorithm is recognizing every time, every corner, unfortunately the driver is using too much steering angle, it’ll create more understeer,” Mohr noted.

Lamborghini

A new “6D Sensor” powers the system, forming a single, centralized sensor to replace dozens of individual units. The shift shortens communication times between sensors and the hardware they control, which is necessary when the car is doing so much to assist the driver.

While we don’t know when the new technology is coming, Lamborghini teased the new sensor setup in the Fenomeno a short while ago, so it could arrive sooner than later. That said, we prefer our Lambos without a robotic driving assistant.

Porsche's 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 gives the first-generation Macan, especially in its S guise, the punch of a proper sports car wrapped in an SUV body. With 340 horsepower and a fat torque band, it hustles off the line and cruises effortlessly on the highway. Paired with a quick-shifting dual-clutch gearbox, the Macan stays smooth even when pushed.

But talk to long-term owners and a theme emerges: the engine likes attention. Skipping oil changes or rushing a cold start can often lead to problems later, usually resulting in an expensive repair bill. Or, as this engine teardown exposes, a costly engine replacement.

The engine in question, courtesy of YouTube's I Do Cars, was a core return from a 2018 Macan S, meaning no service history and no VIN trail – just a lump dropped off after failure. At first glance, it didn't look terrible. There was some dried coolant around the water pump, and one spark plug was wetter and dirtier than the rest, hinting at potential trouble. Up top, the cams and valvetrain were clean, the turbos spun freely, and the timing chain still looked stout.

The real story sat deeper. Pulling the left cylinder head revealed heavy scoring on several bores, the kind of vertical gouges that kill compression and slowly pepper the oil with fine metal. A broken timing-chain guide added to the list of headaches. Bearings and the crank were still serviceable, but the block itself was done. This is the kind of failure Macan owners whisper about – sudden, pricey, and not evident until it's too late.

I Do Cars/YouTube

If you own one of these V6s, prevention is cheaper than parts. Stick to short oil-change intervals with top-grade synthetic oil, and let the engine warm up before applying heavy throttle so the pistons and bores expand evenly. Keep an eye out for any hint of a coolant leak; even a slow weep from the water pump can accelerate wear and break down chain guides. Sending an oil sample for analysis once in a while can catch microscopic metal before it turns into a big repair.

The Macan's twin-turbo V6 is still a rewarding engine, capable of big miles when treated right. The teardown highlights how quickly things can deteriorate if leaks and maintenance are ignored.

Porsche