Until then, not a lot of real news, but at least we should be getting a little detail on what Stellantis plans to do with the brand.

Ever notice that you never see new sedans or hatchbacks for sale with factory-installed rear privacy glass (tinted windows).

This is because of a definition created in the late 1960s that defines Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles (MPVs).

As long as the vehicle isn't sold as a traditional car, it qualifies as MPV.

And NHTSA "safety" rules state that rear privacy glass is not allowed for traditional cars.

So 82% of vehicles sold in the USA are "safe" for factory-installed rear privacy glass because of the MPV definition, while 18% are not, simply because they aren't sold with SUV branding. 😵

The actual article is less about the site in question (Carscoops) and more about the severe drop in revenue due to AI summarizing. I think most of us already knew a lot of this, but it is still worth seeing spelled out with evidence.

Quality reporting is going to get harder and harder to come by and will probably need to be directly supported (through subscriptions) at a time when many people have less and less money to do so.

https://www.theautopian.com/one-of-the-last-independent-car-sites-loses-its-independence-as-google-strangles-publishers/

Volvo Cars’ volume EX60 electric crossover is mired in a production crisis that’s likely to leave U.S. dealerships without “significant volume” deep into 2027.

The Swedish automaker had expected to sell about 7,000 EX60s in the U.S. this year, dealers told Automotive News in January.

Instead, two manufacturing problems have the company on track to deliver a fraction of that volume, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Volvo began building the midsize luxury EV in late April in Torslanda, Sweden. But production volume to date is only about one-tenth of the company’s 2,000-vehicle weekly build target, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the information is private.

Volvo sold about 500 EX60s worldwide in July before volumes tumbled to roughly 250 in August, according to GlobalData estimates.

With supplies running short, the automaker plans to prioritize deliveries in Europe, where EV adoption is stronger. That leaves no additional allocations for U.S. retailers the rest of this year, with significant volume not expected until the second half of 2027, the person said.

Volvo told its U.S. retailers that it has delayed customer deliveries in a late September memo reviewed by Automotive News. “Introducing a brand-new platform and product into a running factory is always a challenge,” the memo said. “The delays are not related to vehicle quality, safety, or product performance.”

The EX60 manufacturing issues involve difficulties integrating the vehicle’s battery pack into its body and producing electric motors.

The EX60 is Volvo’s first model to use megacasting and cell-to-body construction. Mating the battery system to that cast structure has proved more complex than anticipated, according to the source who spoke to Automotive News.

Video link: YouTube

Video description: We do a full review of the new 2027 BMW X5 40. The B58-equipped next-generation SUV builds on previous success while adding more technology to compete globally. With billions spent on R&D, we cover the brand's strengths and weaknesses and why we're mixed on it. Other options to consider include the Tesla Model YL, Kia EV9, Rivian R2, Lucid, Porsche Cayenne, and more.

My thoughts: Lately, I've been grappling with our consumer culture's insistence that new must necessarily mean better. I drive an F10 5 Series. I have no intention of replacing it anytime soon, but I still watch new car reviews and wonder what it would actually take to convince me to upgrade.

Luxury used to be defined by materials and craftsmanship as much as brand cachet. But having recently sat in the new X3, it seems BMW has traded material quality for screens and glowy bits, relying on technological novelty and brand prestige to sell an increasingly compromised product.

The new X5 seems emblematic of this trend. It's arguably less attractive than its predecessor, with a more cumbersome interior, styling reminiscent of modern Ford and Lincoln products, and the continued soap-bar-ification of SUVs. Meanwhile, the pursuit of higher profit margins puts pressure on automakers to cut costs, often at the expense of the qualities that once distinguished luxury vehicles.

These cars increasingly seem to sell simply because they're new, with their appeal fading as soon as the next model arrives. The pleasure of novelty is fleeting, and looking at BMW's current offerings, I see very little that makes me want to replace my F10.

There are a lot of people that comment on the prices of EV cars in America wishing for Chinese-made EV's. Whether or not this article is true, it is alarming to see the picture of the brake pedal mounted to what looks like ABS plastic composite. The brake pedal should be strong and withstand any collision, or damage is what I've been told...

What are your thoughts about Chinese EV's and their surprising cost? Should car manufacturers enact basic rules to building cars safely?

Everything about this car is speculation but we do know it'll have some cold gas thrusters and internal charging system for it being run off the electrical systems.

Will it technically hover? Eh, probably?

Will it very likely use the thrusters to push it into the ground for some crazy down force? Almost certainly.

Will it use the thrusters to help it turn or corner? 50:50?

Is the 7:55pm event time a hint at the 1/4 mile time? That's my theory.

Will SpaceX merge with Tesla by end of year? Probably as well.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/tesla-roadster-spacex-package-flying-car-capability