Autoblog News

Ford Finds a New AllyCanada and Mexico have opened their markets, to varying degrees, to Chinese automakers, but the U.S. remains reluctant. If that changes, American legacy brands could face stiffer competition – and potentially lose market share – to Chinese automakers offering affordable vehicles without sacrificing too much in features and technology.Over in Europe, something similar is already happening. Ford recently announced a joint venture with Geely centered on the Blue Oval brand’s Valencia plant in Spain. Ford will gain a cheaper and more sustainable way to keep the factory running, while Geely...

America buys hundreds of thousands of Toyota RAV4s every year. It is a dominant force on highways and in driveways across the country. Toyota now wants buyers to believe this crossover can also conquer the wilderness, especially the rugged Woodland Edition. To see if the 2026 RAV4 is actually capable off the pavement or just playing dress up, YouTube channel The Fast Lane Car put it through its paces in an off-road environment; here's what happened.RAV4 All-Wheel Drive SetupThe 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid uses a highly unconventional AWD setup. You will not find a...

Open-Top LifestyleWhen you think about open-top driving, the images that you have in mind are mostly two-door sports cars, sometimes called a Cabriolet. However, when it comes to SUVs and the off-roading segment, open-tops are also part of the appeal, allowing you to take in the great outdoors by removing the roof.Classic examples are the Jeep Wranglers, the old-school Toyota Land Cruiser, Land Rover Series 1, and even the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon (G-Class). The latter is one of the few on that list that has retained its original form (more or less), thus making it...

The "Purist" CSMany passionate sports car fanatics call the BMW M2 the ultimate modern M car because of its small size. This billing is even more true of the hardcore M2 Competition Sport version, which was the only rear-drive CS model up until recently. It may produce less power than its M3 CS and M4 CS counterparts, and the lack of xDrives means it's slower to 60 mph, but the M2 CS is a car that demands respect. This is no "baby" M car. Jared Rosenholtz/Autoblog View the 3 images of this gallery on...

Summer is in full swing, and it seems like everyone is eager to leave the asphalt behind. According to the longest-running driver behavior study in the tire industry, Americans are shifting gears and seeking out dirt, mud, and gravel in unprecedented numbers. The urge to get away from the daily commute and head into the wild is stronger than ever before. In fact, it genuinely feels like we're entering a new golden age of all-terrain exploration.The latest Hankook Tire Gauge Index, released this July, indicates that a staggering 64% of U.S. drivers are interested in taking...

AMG is (Somewhat) HealingAdmittedly, it's the electric models that are making headlines over at Mercedes-AMG. The GT Four-Door attracted all sorts of attention good and bad, and more recently, the CLA ditched its turbo-four and turned it into an electric pocket rocket. But off to the side are the new flat-plane crank V8s that have found a home under the hoods of the GLE and GLS.AMG committed to bringing back more V8s in its lineup, and while it's a slow roll, it is happening. Not only that, even the six cylinders...

The Baby Outback America Can't HaveWhile it's good that Subaru's gamble to turn the Outback into a more SUV-like vehicle is paying off, that meant there's no more high-riding wagon in the North American lineup. If anything, the original Legacy-based Outbacks were instrumental to the company's success in North America, so it's a little sad that the model had somewhat strayed from its roots.Meanwhile, in Japan, Subaru has a model called the Levorg Layback. While based on the Impreza, it's effectively the spiritual successor of the original Outback by being, you guessed it...

One Idea, Two GenerationsEver daydreamed about parking a brand-new Range Rover SV Ultra next to a matching, old-school Range Rover Classic in your garage? Sounds like something only the most die-hard collectors would even dare to imagine, but Range Rover has actually made it happen.Just in time for Monterey Car Week, Range Rover has dropped a one-off 1993 Classic that’s been restored to look and feel just like the latest SV Ultra. This isn’t your average restomod job – the Classic division went all-in, treating it as a full-on bespoke commission.The re...

Feeling The HeatEarlier this month, a deadly heat wave swept across much of the U.S., disrupting Fourth of July celebrations marking the country’s 250th anniversary, during which several automakers also released special-edition vehicles commemorating the milestone. Coincidentally, General Motors launched a new program addressing a Cadillac Optiq windshield foam-seal problem linked to high temperatures.Customer Satisfaction Program N252534680 was sent to dealerships with instructions for inspecting and repairing the issue. While the Optiq was Cadillac’s best-selling electric vehicle in the second quarter of this year – surpassing the Lyriq – the program noted that onl...

True IconMercedes-Benz has over 100 years of heritage; this, of course, also means that the German automaker has produced multiple iconic and legendary models, each coveted by specific fans of the brand. When it comes to the brand's ultimate icon, though, the G-Class is unmatched. Why? Out of all the Mercedes-Benz models, this has changed the least, keeping the same overall design and ingredients since it was first launched decades ago, while its popularity remains strong. Some of the older examples are increasing in value on the classic car market; one of the rarest models...

Already a Range ChampThe BMW iX3 has already established itself as quite the range champion. Not only does it back up the manufacturer claims, but it can also actually eke out a little bit more out of its battery packs. While having large batteries does help, it's the energy efficiency that's worth commending here.Per the EPA, the iX3 50 xDrive can go as far as 434 miles on a single charge. However, an independent real-world test managed to beat that by going 485 miles. If anything, BMW can be proud of its EVs and be glad...

The Security Arms RaceAnti-theft devices such as engine immobilizers have helped curb car theft, with Ford even offering a more advanced remote start-blocking feature called Start Inhibit. But despite these efforts, vehicle theft is far from eliminated, especially as thieves continue finding new and smarter ways to break in.In an ironic twist, a new study from the University of California San Diego found that at least 2.2 million vehicles could be more vulnerable to theft because of a dealer-installed anti-theft device. Researchers found that an attacker within Bluetooth range could connect to affected devices and...

Australia is moving forward with strict mandates for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). By March 2029, active lane-keep assist and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with cyclist detection will become compulsory on all new passenger and light-commercial vehicles imported into the country. This aggressive regulatory shift creates a stark contrast with North American policies, forcing automakers to navigate a fractured global market.While the Australian government forces manufacturers to adopt active safety technologies, United States regulators remain stalled. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently postponed its own regulatory overhaul. Because federal regulators delayed updates to national crash-testing protocols...

Customization There is a growing number of car enthusiasts who are delving into aftermarket customizations. Customization is a reflection of one's personality, but is also a very time-consuming and tedious activity with a lot of time spent sourcing the right parts from all places.Ford has taken notice of this, especially within its own community; according to them, over half of the brand's customers are customizing their cars in various ways. To help the community, Ford is investing heavily in boosting that aspect of its business. Ford Make It Yours<...

Two Trucks & Two TripsThere's one criticism of electric vehicles that seems to come up in nearly every conversation: "EVs seem fine, but the infrastructure just isn't there if you want to drive across the country." I've heard this line so many times, it's become a cliché. Though it was far from a cross-country pilgrimage, this month gave me an excellent opportunity to put the EV condemnation with two trips to visit my in-laws in South Florida. Jared Rosenholtz/Autoblog View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article My wife and I...

Building BlocksAutomotive manufacturing is serious business; not only is it the backbone of every major automaker, but most brands' successes are made or broken on the manufacturing floor. Given its importance, the bigger groups invest heavily in keeping their manufacturing infrastructure updated and capable of meeting the ever-changing and growing demands.General Motors (GM) has just announced that it's investing heavily in its major production plants to keep up with the competition and better ensure quality across the board. GM $430 million upgradesIn its announcement, GM just laid...

Insider Info Rivian recently got a $5 billion injection thanks to a new joint venture agreement with Volkswagen, and that's great news for the electric automaker. With the agreement finalized on June 26, 2026, VW will aid Rivian in a slowing EV market by providing a lifeline for the brand moving forward.That's great news for Rivian, but not so great news for two former VW engineers who took advantage of their position for profit. These two former employees were arrested by federal prosecutors for insider trading. Jared Rosenholtz/Autoblog Okay Google, What's Insider...

The Human Problem With RobotaxisBecause robotaxis don’t have drivers, some passengers might feel they have a little more freedom. This may have contributed to the growing number of passenger-related problems, with riders falling asleep, spilling drinks, dropping food, vomiting, and experiencing medical emergencies – including giving birth. Making matters worse, first responders are sometimes called to incidents that turn out not to require medical treatment.Automotive News reported that these types of incidents have been recorded in Austin, Texas, where Waymo had been operating for nine months at the time of the report. Austin reco...

Naturally aspirated engines and big-displacement powerplants are slowly disappearing as emissions regulations become stricter in an effort to reduce pollution and protect the environment. That has sparked a wave of smaller turbocharged engines, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and EVs. But two teenagers from Pennsylvania may have found a different way to make today's combustion engines significantly cleaner.Two Teenagers May Have Changed The Game Chadds Ford Live Rohan Kapoor and Jack Reichert, both 18, have developed the Go Green Filter, an innovative tailpipe attachment that uses living microalgae, water, and light to convert harmful exhaust...

A New Take on TailgatingPickup trucks are built to be utilitarian, so automakers try to get creative. Rivian, for example, once offered an optional Camp Kitchen that could slide out of the R1T’s Gear Tunnel. General Motors, meanwhile, is exploring a simpler creation: a seat built into the tailgate.First spotted byGM Authority, the patent application was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on January 13, 2025, and published on July 16, 2026, under publication number US 2026/0200380 A1. For longtime pickup owners, this may sound a little absurd, given that tailgates have long be...