The updated 2026 Acura Integra is now on sale, with pricing confirmed as being very close to the 2025 model. The base model starts at $34,595 with a $1,195 destination charge that's unchanged from the previous model year. That's an increase of just $400 counterbalanced by a new standard 9-inch touchscreen (two inches larger than before), standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and standard wireless phone charging.

The rest of the lineup looks the same as before. The Integra A-Spec is one step up from the base model at $37,145 with destination. There's also an A-Spec with Technology Package starting at $40,395 available with either a six-speed manual transmission or the continuously variable transmission (CVT) that's standard on lower grades. Finally, the sporty Integra Type S starts at $54,595.

The bigger touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto are major upgrades for the base model, as customers previously had to step up to the A-Spec with Technology Package to get those features. However, shoppers still need to go to that trim level to get a head-up display and upgraded 16-speaker ELS audio system (a generic-brand eight-speaker system is standard).

The other big update applies to the A-Spec model, which gets a body kit, 18-inch wheels, and ambient lighting. The body kit includes a body-color grille insert that Acura claims will improve aerodynamics, but might also prove to be an acquired taste. Three new colors are also available: Solar Silver Metallic, Urban Gray Pearl, and Double Apex Blue Pearl. Fans of the brand will recognize the latter from the Acura ZDX Type-S electric SUV.

Sharing most of its engineering with the current-generation Honda Civic, the front-wheel drive Integra hatch comes standard with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. The Integra Type S—essentially a luxe Civic Type R—is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo-four making 320 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque.

The Integra is one of many nostalgic names to make a comeback in recent years, and its return in updated form for 2026 is an encouraging sign after the flameout of the latest Toyota Supra and the lackluster sales performance of the current Nissan Z. Being a more practical hatchback probably helps, as does the availability of a manual transmission at a time when other choices are dwindling. Acura also claims the Integra has found a niche for itself since returning in 2022.

The Integra now accounts for 37% of sales in the premium compact segment, has attracted younger buyers, and has the highest conquest rate of any Acura model, meaning it's pulling in the most buyers from other brands, according to the automaker. That's despite initial criticism from brand loyalists that the Integra was too similar to the Civic (a criticism that could also be levied against the original) and wasn't true to the name because it lacked a two-door body style (this was before Acura announced it was repurposing the RSX name for an electric SUV).

Ford is shaking up the dictionary. The company has recently filed trademark applications for some unusual names—Mythic, Hive, Fuze, and Fathom—that could hint at a very different naming strategy for its next wave of vehicles. Instead of leaning entirely on heritage badges like Mustang and Bronco, Ford appears to be building out a fresh lexicon for its upcoming electric models.

This isn’t just a case of clever brainstorming over coffee. Ford is actively hiring a Nomenclature Strategist to ensure each new name carries weight, legal protection, and global resonance. That role underscores just how central branding has become at a time when the company is rethinking not just cars, but how it builds and sells them.

The approach aligns with CEO Jim Farley’s push for a “Model T Moment” as Ford works on a new generation of affordable EVs. The first of that family is expected to be a small electric pickup, built on a radically simplified $5 billion assembly plan that could slash EV prices in half compared with today’s models.

In that light, oddball names like Hive or Fathom may end up fronting the very vehicles Ford hopes will make EV ownership truly mainstream.

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Each of these names carries an air of intention:

• Mythic could be earmarked for something aspirational—perhaps a performance EV that signals a new legend in Ford’s lineup.
• Hive suggests community, energy, and smart tech integration. That could make it a natural fit for an urban EV designed around connectivity and sharing.
• Fuze reads like an explosion of torque and speed, hinting at a sporty crossover or even a lower-priced performance pickup.
• Fathom evokes exploration and range—an adventurous SUV that could stretch further on a charge.

Ford is positioning these as names with flexibility, covering everything from entry-level EVs to halo models. And given that the Escape and Lincoln Corsair are ending production next year to clear the way for Ford’s $35,000 “Model T” pickup, there’s real product space for fresh branding.

Of course, this doesn’t mean Ford is abandoning its history. The company has also revived names like Capri and is considering a return for Ranchero, positioning them on modern EVs. The playbook is familiar: take an old badge with built-in recognition, attach it to something new, and let nostalgia do half the marketing.

But unlike Capri, the likes of Hive or Fathom offer a clean slate. That may be exactly what Ford needs as it builds a lineup designed to be cheaper, more efficient, and easier to manufacture. By divorcing these names from decades of gasoline heritage, Ford avoids the backlash that came when it stretched Mustang into an EV crossover.

Ford’s strategy shows that in the EV era, names matter just as much as kilowatts. Heritage models like Bronco and Mustang will remain anchors, but the future may belong to names that feel futuristic, approachable, and global.

With a radical new production system on the way and entirely new vehicle segments replacing stalwarts like the Escape, expect these freshly trademarked names to surface on cars and trucks that don’t look—or feel—like the Fords of old.

And if Mythic or Hive sound strange now, give it a few years. They may become as familiar in Ford’s stable as Mustang once was.

The Ford Mustang GTD barely had any time to enjoy its Nürburgring record for American cars before Chevy came along and broke it with the Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X. Well, it didn’t take long for Ford to earn back some brownie points at the ‘Ring, but the Blue Oval has done so with the most unlikely rig: A Ford Transit, but this is not your average cargo van or practical people-mover.

This Ford Transit SuperVan 4.2 is what happens when the Ford Performance team is allowed total freedom to pursue the unthinkable. Not only does this SuperVan’s Nürburgring run pay tribute to a legendary race car driver, but the van also lapped the ‘Ring faster than a ZR1X.

Back in Top Gear’s heyday, then-host Jeremy Clarkson was tasked with driving a Jaguar S-Type around the track in under 10 minutes. He did so, which prompted the late racing driver, Sabine Schmitz, to say: “I can go faster than that in a Ford Transit.”

According to the Ford team, Schmitz’s quip led to a wild dream to take a modified Transit to the ‘Ring. That’s how Ford ended up with the SuperVan 4.2, which lives up to its name with a wild output of 2,000 horsepower. 

This electric Transit already impressed in the Goodwood Hillclimb last year, when it set a time of 43.98 seconds. Romain Dumas was behind the wheel back then, and he returned for this new Nürburgring run that would have done Schmitz proud. In case you forgot, Schmitz worked as a driver for BMW and Porsche, while also becoming the first woman to win a major 24-hour race.

The Ford Transit SuperVan 4.2 posted a lap time of just 6:48.393, making it the ninth fastest vehicle to complete a lap of the Nürburgring. That time beats the 6:49.275 effort of the ZR1X, and it’s also quicker than the 6:49.328 effort of the mighty Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

Of course, the SuperVan is not a production vehicle—it’s a bespoke race car running on slick tires that just happens to be shaped like a van. Because of that, its achievement carries less weight, but it’s still a remarkable effort. Ford also hinted at a similarly impressive lap time from another EV, while paying tribute to Schmitz.

Ford

“We are very proud of our remarkable SuperVan but we never rest,” said Ford. “There is more to come, not least with the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck that was also at the Ring on the same day. For now, we will celebrate this achievement and also remember Sabine Schmitz and her part in this amazing story. She will never be forgotten.”

Beating the Corvette pair with an electric racing van may not be the record Ford fans were hoping for, but something tells us the GTD has another trick up its sleeve.

Related: Ford CEO Hints At Revenge Lap After Corvette Steals Nurburgring Record

In the first-ever collaboration between Roush Performance and Nissan, the two companies have come up with the 2026 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X R, the most hardcore Frontier pickup you can get right now. Roush has plenty of experience with upgrading popular pickups, so this Frontier is not to be underestimated.

Priced at well under $50,000, the Frontier Pro-4X R delivers impressive all-terrain performance in the mid-size pickup segment, without the high price commanded by the Ford Ranger Raptor or even Chevy’s Colorado ZR2. Here’s a closer look at what’s new for this purpose-built Frontier.

Related: 2026 Nissan Frontier Adds Fresh Features Without Big Price Jump

The Frontier Pro-4X R gets a string of external upgrades to identify it as a rather special member of the frontier family. In front, there are titanium-painted front grille inserts and red tow hooks to match the red Nissan emblem. An off-road skid plate with a titanium-painted finish provides a tougher look and additional underbody protection.

Along the sides, there is special R badging on the fenders. The upgraded wheels—with a titanium finish and R center caps—are sensibly sized for off-roading at 17 inches, and these are wrapped in all-terrain tires. 

At the back, not too much changes, but there is another R badge to match the ones on the fenders. 

Nissan

The Pro-4X R’s most important upgrades aren’t all visible to the naked eye. It gets a Roush performance x Öhlins two-inch suspension lift, boosting ground clearance. Off-road shocks with remote reservoirs have also been fitted. These aluminum shocks have external gas reservoirs, 18 mm steel shafts, and rear cooling fins, which assist with maintaining damping over rough surfaces.

Off-road front upper control arms are also equipped, which increase travel and improve suspension geometry. Combined, Roush claims that these changes not only make for a better off-roader, but improve the Nissan’s ride quality, too.

No changes were mentioned for the 3.8-liter V6 engine, and it’s here where the Frontier loses out to the Ranger Raptor. The Nissan produces 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque, but the Ranger Raptor’s turbocharged V6 generates 405 hp and 430 lb-ft, so the Ford is comfortably more powerful.

Inside, the Nissan Frontier Pro-4X R gets upgraded seats with the R logo embroidered into the front seat headrests. Orange stitching finds its way onto the seats, center armrest, and doors, which contrasts nicely with the black leather upholstery. No other interior changes were mentioned, so we expect the same seven-inch drive-assist display and 12.3-inch touchscreen as found in the standard Pro-4X.

Whereas the Pro-4X starts from $41,870, the Pro-4X R has an MSRP of $47,960, so it’s easily the most expensive Frontier you can buy. That seems reasonable for all the add-ons, though, and it’s still a lot cheaper than the Ranger Raptor, which begins at $56,070. 

A closer alternative to the Frontier Pro-4X R is the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, which starts at $49,600. Like the Nissan, this Chevy gets a suspension lift and a special suspension. In this case, it has DSSV Multimatic suspension dampers. The ZR2 gets a 310-horsepower engine, matching the Nissan, but the Chevy's turbo means it has a much healthy 430 lb-ft. Then again, a lot of buyers will prefer the Frontier's simpler V6.

We found the normal Frontier Pro-4X to be equally capable off-road as it is on a road trip, so the Pro-4X R improves on what is already a solid and underrated midsizer.

Self-driving cars are still far from the mainstream technology many predicted they would be a decade ago, but a man who has done more than most to get them where they are are today is not impressed with Tesla's Robotaxi service, which just arrived in Waymo's home turf in the San Francisco Bay Area.

As CEO of Waymo, John Krafcik oversaw the commercial deals and negotiations with local governments that allowed the Google spinoff to shift from proof-of-concept to small-scale commercial ridesharing service. When asked his opinion of Tesla's effort by Business Insider, Krafcik said the automaker isn't measuring up.

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"If they were striving to re-create today's Bay Area Uber experience," Krafcik, who led Waymo from 2015 to 2021 following a stint at Hyundai, said in an email to Business Insider, "looks like they've absolutely nailed it."

After almost a decade of promises of autonomous ridesharing, Tesla launched its Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, in June, adding service in the Bay Area in July. For now, a human driver sits behind the wheel as a backup; Tesla hasn't applied for the California permits that would allow it to test and operate truly driverless cars, as Waymo currently does. In Austin, where the rules are less strict, a person sitting the front passenger seat serves as a safety monitor. The presence of human backups means Tesla isn't the same league as Waymo, as far as Krafcik is concerned.

"Please let me know when Tesla launches a robotaxi—I'm still waiting," the former Waymo CEO said in the email. "It's (rather obviously) not a robotaxi if there's an employee inside the car."

Tesla's service remains invite-only, but CEO Elon Musk said on August 10 that it will be "open access" by next month. Don't expect Krafick to takes Musk up on that offer; he told Business Insider that he has no interest in trying the Tesla Robotaxi service.

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Tesla is indeed far beyond Waymo, which offers driverless rides in multiple cities, including Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin, with a fleet of about 1,500 self-driving cars. But it's taken the Silicon Valley-based company a long time to get there.

Waymo first began offering rides to the public in 2017 in the form of an "early rider" program that was invite-only and used human backup drivers—just like Tesla is doing now. Waymo began offering driverless rides in Phoenix in 2020 before expanding to other cities. And while Waymo's sensor-clad Jaguar I-Pace EVs have become a common sight in San Francisco, they're still vastly outnumbered by taxis, buses, and conventional rideshare vehicles.

The difference is that Waymo followed a methodical approach in both technological development and messaging. Instead of teasing a self-driving future that's always right around the corner, but never quite here, as Musk has done, Waymo has announced business updates when they are ready, while making enough progress to keep investors and the public interested. That approach has gotten Waymo a lot further than Tesla, which explains its former CEO's reaction to the latter's ridesharing ambitions.

We got our first look at the more practical Tesla Model Y L a month ago, and now it has officially launched in China, introducing a host of cool new features to the vehicle in the process. Tesla has showcased some of these features in a series of new videos. This version of the electric crossover has a wheelbase stretched by almost six inches, allowing for much more comfortable three-row seating, the likes of which the normal three-row Model Y could never offer. Let’s take a closer look at what this new Model Y L offers.

Related: Tesla Model Y Aiming To Become A True Luxury Car This Year

While lengthening any car’s body is an easy way to improve spaciousness, it can often result in an ungainly appearance—just take a look at the Jeep Grand Wagoneer L to see what we mean. However, the Model Y L still manages to look fairly well-proportioned, even though it’s roughly seven inches longer than the standard one. 

Tesla

A unique wheel design, Tesla’s typically limited color palette, an extra brake light beneath the rear spoiler, and the visual changes introduced for the facelifted Model Y all apply here, but the big changes are inside this six-seater crossover.

In China—so far, the Model Y L is only available there—the more practical Model Y starts at the equivalent of about $47,000. It has a 466-mile CLTC range, but the range will be much lower by EPA standards.

The front seats in the Model Y L have a different shape. From behind, the front-row headrests appear to be completely integrated into the seat design, but they’re actually adjustable. There is a new 16-inch center touchscreen, slightly larger than the 15.4-inch unit on the current Model Y. 

In the second row, Tesla has installed a rare feature: Power-adjustable armrests. These gently rise into place for the second-row captain’s chairs, adding quite a luxurious touch for a vehicle in this segment. When not in use, the armrests vanish into a panel alongside the seat as if they were never there. There are also new air vents on the second- and third-row pillars, handily providing ventilation to passengers seated at the back.

This has to be one of the strangest implementations of a second-row armrest I've ever seen, but I like it! lol.

Folds completely flat. https://t.co/S1hU9iuGxa pic.twitter.com/D9Z6VFgDw8

Third-row occupants also get their own cupholders, and at the touch of a button, cargo space can be expanded by automatically lowering the back rows. Seats in every row are heated, and those in the first two rows are ventilated.

Cooled wireless phone chargers, including a driver’s-side charger that supports charging at 50W, are also new. An all-black headliner is another first for a Model Y. For audiophiles, there is an 18-speaker sound system.

Here is the interior of the new Tesla Model Y L: pic.twitter.com/yrHpZ0BB88

In China, at least, the new Model Y L calls into question the need to spend more on a Model X. Tesla’s biggest SUV, together with the Model S, are rapidly fading into oblivion. These flagship models aren’t selling strongly and have already been discontinued in certain major markets.

The Model Y L effectively addresses the main criticism of the older, smaller, three-row Model Y: A lack of space. Not only is the Model Y L more practical, but it adds a host of new features and refinements that benefit occupants in all three rows.

Deliveries of the new Model Y L are set to begin in September 2025 in China, and while there is no sign that this model will make it to the United States, we can only hope that Tesla changes its mind at some point.

Related: 5 Reasons Tesla Should Worry About BMW’s Next-Generation i3

Update (8/19/25): Lucid Motors' Vice President of Communications, Nick Twork, contacted us to add a comment to this article.

1. Our financial footing is stronger than portrayed

Yes, 2024 reflected significant investment and cash flow used to build our business, but that is entirely by design. These expenditures were strategic, aimed at scaling production, launching the Lucid Gravity SUV, and establishing the world-class manufacturing capability we now have.

Autoblog’s suggestion that our “future is uncertain” ignores that we have projected to more than double production, from approximately 9,000 vehicles in 2024 to 18,000 to 20,000 in 2025, as stated on our Q2 earnings call. That projection is not speculation, it is based on real production targets tied to Gravity and Air model rollouts. Furthermore, Uber’s $300 million investment and commitment to deploy at least 20,000 Lucid EVs as robotaxis is a powerful endorsement from one of the most influential mobility players in the world.

1. Our liquidity runway is real and robust

Contrary to implications in the article, we are not teetering on the brink of collapse. We ended Q2 2025 with $4.86 billion in liquidity, which, while you reported, you completely mischaracterized the fact that this is in fact liquidity that we can draw down to support our business. We strategically invest this liquidity. Your characterization suggests that someone who has money in their savings account cannot access it unless it is in the checking account. Furthermore, we have shown time and time again that we have strategic support from the Saudi Public Investment Fund, our majority stakeholder, which stands behind us as a long-term partner.

1. Misplaced alarm over “cash burn” rhetoric

Yes, creating a premium automotive brand in the EV space comes at a high initial cost. But this is not a bug, it is a feature. We are investing to capture the luxury EV market, to build high-performance, long-range vehicles that lead the segment, including the Gravity SUV and the upcoming midsize vehicle launch in 2026. This takes a lot of capital and therefore our cash usage is not burn, it is investment in our future product pipeline.

As numerous analysts have observed, Lucid’s approach is fundamentally different from speculative embattled startups. We have clear technology leadership, credible vision, and institutional, and sovereign, backing. That is something the Autoblog narrative obscures, intentionally or not.

When you see a Lucid Air Sapphire drive by, it's hard not to stare. The $250,000, 1,234-horsepower luxury EV gets attention. Lucid is also getting its fair share of negative attention these days due to massive losses amounting to $790 million amid a record $259 million in revenue. Lucid's year-over-year sales volume of 3,309 vehicles is its best yet, but that doesn't cover up the fact that the company is struggling.

Lucid

Although Lucid vehicles get rave reviews from the motoring press, the real story behind the company is far less glamorous. Sales are up, but losses are far greater. What's going on with Lucid Motors, after all, and will it manage to dig itself out of a financial tailspin?

Lucid Motors

Lucid Group has a fat cash cushion of $4.86 billion in total liquidity, but only about $3.63 billion of that is in cash, cash equivalents, and investments. Less than $2 billion is actually liquid. That's not enough to help them in their time of need. The company incurs mounting losses of a billion dollars every few months, so its funds are dwindling.

At the time of this writing, Lucid stock is at $2.18 per share, in penny stock territory. The share price was $55 in November of 2021. The dire stock price forced the company into a reverse stock split a few weeks ago (ten shares consolidated into one) just to stay compliant with NASDAQ listing requirements.

Lucid

Investors are already doubtful about Lucid's future. Officially, Lucid states that it can continue to operate through mid-2026. Unofficially, the company will likely need a significant cash infusion, comparable to the $4.4 billion it raised in 2021 when it went public. That's a lot to ask when you keep digging a hole for yourself.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) from Saudi Arabia could be its saviour. Lucid’s largest shareholder owns about 60% of the company and has acted as its safety net since day one. With hundreds of billions in assets, the PIF has the means to keep the company afloat, but do they actually want to keep losing money when the math is not on Lucid's side? Lucid Group spent more than $850 million this quarter to generate just $260 million, which may not be the best investment.

One of the largest obstacles to investor confidence and wise direction is the fact that there's still no permanent CEO to helm the ship. Leadership uncertainty only compounds the risk. The company still hasn’t replaced former CEO Peter Rawlinson, who left in February 2025, leaving interim leadership to steer the company through a high-stakes turnaround. Rawlinson transitioned to the position of Strategic Technical Advisor to the Board Chairman. Marc Winterhoff, the company's Chief Operating Officer, was appointed as the interim CEO. As yet, Rawlinson's successor hasn't been named.

Meanwhile, Lucid’s future bets are still works in progress. The Gravity SUV, touted as the brand’s volume driver, has yet to deliver meaningful sales, and production challenges remain. Lucid will start making volume deliveries next year. Orders for the Grand Touring trim are currently open, while orders for the less expensive Touring trim will open in late 2025. The real make-or-break moment could arrive in late 2026 when Lucid plans to launch a more affordable, sub-$50,000 mid-sized electric SUV purportedly dubbed 'Earth'. This could be the brand's ticket to achieving volume sales, but the question remains whether the company will live to see the day.

The polish and power of Lucid vehicles are deceptive. Underneath the shiny surface, Lucid is running out of time to prove it can be more than a niche luxury automaker burning through mountains of cash at accelerated rates. Its deep-pocketed Saudi investors may decide to keep writing checks to try to save Lucid's bacon, but the appetite for doing so may be dwindling. It would be in the brand's best interest to find a CEO ASAP, as well as bring its more affordable SUV to market as quickly as possible.

In South Korea, the country that's home to popular automotive brands like Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, traffic safety is taking a positive, more conscious turn with fewer incidents over the past five years.

But while the local governments in municipalities and major cities in the United States, like New York City, have implemented traffic safety initiatives like Vision Zero to help take action and spread awareness, a new report shows that the most prominent South Korean tech companies are making a positive impact on their country's roads through a smartphone maps feature that drivers use as badge of honor.

Tmap Mobility

According to a new report by The Korea Herald, the "driving score" feature of popular smartphone map applications has had a positive impact on drivers and their behaviour on the open road. In 2016, Tmap Mobility, a company spun off from SK Telecom's mobility division, introduced the "driving score" feature to its flagship Tmap application, the most popular of several applications that function similarly to Waze or Google Maps in the country.

The application records the score using the user's smartphone's built-in accelerometer to track movements like acceleration, braking, cornering, and speeding. In essence, the smoother and cleaner you drive, the higher your score and the more points you earn, which can be used towards discounts on car insurance and/or gift cards.

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According to data released by Tmap last year, over 19 million drivers participated in the Driving Score program, and more than 10.1 million of them scored well enough to secure insurance discounts. Although similar programs are offered by insurance companies like Progressive and Allstate in the United States, Tmap, along with other South Korean tech giants such as Naver and Kakao, makes this information public, ranking drivers against one another.

“It is one of the few score-based competitions in Korea where everyone benefits when scores rise,” Chun Ji-yeon, senior researcher at the Korea Insurance Research Institute’s mobility center, said. “Safer driving lowers accident risk, insurers save on claims, and drivers save money. It is a rare alignment of interests.”

Tmap claims that their contribution has yielded real results in road safety statistics. According to their internal data, Tmap claims it has prevented 31,336 traffic accidents between 2018 and 2020. Over the years, the South Korean government has made strides to tighten its traffic laws, including the deployment of more speed cameras and tougher drunk driving and school zone speeding laws.

Tmap Mobility

In addition, cutting-edge safety tech like automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist in cars (especially in the ever-popular Hyundai and Kia models in the country) has contributed to the decline. However, Seo Beom-kyu, head of the traffic safety division at the Korea Road Traffic Authority, notes that the apps do something that the government couldn't do by itself.

“Enforcement and better technology are still the main drivers of change in road safety,” he said. “But the private-sector model adds something new. It rewards good behavior, which government programs struggle to do at scale.”

According to government data, the number of traffic accidents in South Korea fell from 223,552 cases in 2014 to 198,296 in 2023. During this time, the number of accidents per 10,000 vehicles decreased from 2.0 to 0.9, while fatalities per 100,000 people declined from 9.4 to 5.0.

Naver

Although researchers in the country argue that the motivation to provide such services is purely a marketing and branding scheme for both insurance companies and navigation app providers, for Tmap and similar app users, the benefit is much more than just an insurance discount; it's a flex on social media.

“When I got a perfect 100 [score] last month [on the Tmap application], I posted it online like a medal,” Incheon-based app user Lee Ji-yeon told The Korea Herald. “It made me think more about how I drive, even when no one is watching.”

However, other drivers told the Herald that they found some loopholes.

“If I have to drive in heavy traffic, I switch to Naver so my Tmap score doesn’t drop,” Seoul-based app user Kim Min-su said. “It might sound silly, but last year it saved me almost 200,000 won (~$144) on insurance.”

Would such a thing work in the United States? It might be tricky to get off the ground. In recent years, insurance giants such as Allstate and Progressive, as well as auto manufacturers, have faced lawsuits and scrutiny from lawmakers over the handling of drivers' data.

However, in remarks to the Korea Herald, Hyun Chul-seung, the head of the Traffic AI and Big Data Center at the Korea Road Traffic Authority, noted that the "public square" element of these scores and ranking is the sauce that makes Tmap Mobility and the other tech giants' features work, noting that the South Koreans have “a deep familiarity with measurable performance.”

“From school grades to fitness apps to delivery driver ratings, we are used to seeing our performance compared to others,” he said. “Here, it has found a relatively healthy outlet.”

Volkswagen has officially delivered its 1.5 millionth all-electric ID. model, a milestone reached in under five years since the first ID.3s rolled off the line in 2020. The landmark car was an ID.7 Tourer Pro, presented at VW’s Emden plant in Germany, a site that has become one of the automaker’s biggest electric hubs. It’s a statement that the once diesel-dominated brand has truly pivoted, at least in volume, to electrification.

That said, VW hasn’t been shy about experimenting with its customers, as UK buyers recently discovered when reports revealed Volkswagen UK is locking EV horsepower behind a monthly subscription. For every milestone like this, there’s still a lingering question: how far can VW push the EV experiment before drivers push back?

The milestone delivery took place at Emden, VW’s third EV-dedicated facility after Zwickau and Dresden. More than €1 billion has been invested in converting the plant for electric models, and it now produces the ID.4 and ID.7 for Europe. Add in production from Chattanooga, USA, plus VW’s partnerships in China, and the ID family is now a global proposition.

The ID. range itself has expanded well beyond the hatchback roots of the ID.3, including SUVs, sedans, and even the retro-inspired ID. Buzz. Yet, even with this mass EV rollout, Volkswagen hasn’t forgotten its heritage. Enthusiasts still celebrate models like the Golf R, with oddities such as this one-of-one Volkswagen Golf R fetching attention for its rarity and quirky extras. It shows VW is still balancing nostalgia with forward-looking ambition.

Reaching 1.5 million sales is more than a marketing brag; it highlights the scalability of the MEB platform, VW’s dedicated EV architecture. By building everything from a compact hatch to a full-size tourer off the same bones, VW has achieved economies of scale that few rivals outside of Tesla can match.

Yet, the EV landscape is shifting fast. Customer expectations remain high, and competition from Asia, particularly BYD, is forcing VW to double down on affordability and features. While electrification leads the headlines, the brand knows its ICE legacy still matters. Comparisons like VW Golf GTI vs. Honda Civic Type R continue to shape how enthusiasts see Volkswagen, a reminder that VW’s sporting credibility is as vital as its EV milestones.

Volkswagen

The future is already mapped out. The upcoming ID.2 all aims to be the people’s EV in the truest sense, a compact model priced to compete with entry-level petrol cars. With European regulators pushing for stricter CO₂ targets, VW’s momentum is crucial to meeting both sales goals and compliance obligations.

Still, the subscription experiments, pricing pressure, and an increasingly skeptical buying public could challenge VW’s EV dominance in the next five years. For now, though, the 1.5 million milestone is a clear reminder that the ID. family has gone from curiosity to core business in record time.

Tesla has nearly halved the cost of leasing some of its most popular cars in the UK after a brutal summer of sales. Model 3s that were nudging £600–£700 a month just a year ago are now going for as little as £252 plus VAT, while the Model Y has slipped under the £400 mark.

The deals aren’t advertised directly by Tesla, but leasing firms say the brand is quietly funneling them significant discounts to keep unsold inventory moving. It’s a way to protect headline retail prices while keeping the pipeline from jamming up with unclaimed EVs — a neat trick on paper, though it hardly screams confidence.

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The move comes after a disastrous July, when Tesla’s UK registrations plunged 60% year-on-year. Fewer than 1,000 cars were delivered in the month, leaving the brand with just 0.7% market share and marking one of its weakest showings since entering the market. The sharp drop highlights how quickly Tesla’s dominance is being eroded as traditional automakers and new rivals step up their electric offerings.

To put it bluntly, Tesla is losing ground fast while rivals are finding their stride. Chinese automaker BYD, for instance, quadrupled its UK sales in the same period, topping 3,000 deliveries. For a company once synonymous with EV dominance, this is a reversal with sharp edges. Worse, the slump is mirrored across Europe, where Tesla’s numbers continue to erode despite growing overall EV adoption.

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Cheaper leases are only one battlefront. Tesla is now juggling an increasingly messy legal calendar that could sap time, money, and investor patience. The company faces nine major legal fights, ranging from union crackdowns to regulatory probes worth billions.

Meanwhile, Musk’s heavily hyped robotaxi project has veered from savior narrative to legal nightmare after shareholder lawsuits triggered a $68 billion market cap plunge. And in Florida, a $243 million verdict over Autopilot sparked fresh lawsuits, with California trials looming. The timing couldn’t be worse: fighting for market share while also fighting for survival in court.

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For British buyers, this all adds up to a rare opportunity. If you’ve been sitting on the fence, these heavily discounted leases make Tesla ownership cheaper than ever, especially compared to rivals who aren’t slashing terms so aggressively. Yet the discounts also hint at deeper structural weaknesses.

Tesla is fighting softening demand, rising competition, and now an onslaught of courtroom challenges, all while Elon Musk juggles politics, rockets, and promises of full self-driving. Bargains may be there for the taking, but whether Tesla can keep them coming is an open question.