The Auto World

We all love to daydream about what car we’d want to buy, so today let’s do just that. The rules are simple: name as many (or as few) cars as you like, but don’t spend over $50k. Data suggests that the average price of a new car right now is just below $50,000. That means that in our little thought experiment, you have just enough cash to buy one “average” new car. That’s right, the goal today is to tell us what car—or cars, if you’re super frugal—you’d buy if someone generously donated a cool 50 Gs to your account right now. Our lead image is a great example of the top end of the spectrum and a cool car. The Alfa Romeo Giulia is about to turn into a tall fat crossover. If ever there was a time to bet on red and hope for the best, it might be on the last Giulia sedan to come with a full warranty. No, the 503 hp Quadrifoglio isn’t available at this price, but the base version will still do just fine while looking absolutely gorgeous, even if it lacks the grunt and soundt...

The rise in pickup truck prices may have influenced the decision to pause tariffs. Pickup owners are twice as likely to identify as Republicans over Democrats. Analysts say vehicles made in Mexico or Canada could cost $7,000 more on average. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump announced that auto-related tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports would be postponed until April. This is the second time the US president has moved the goalposts, and the latest change came only a day after touting how America’s big three automakers were “excited” about the incoming 25 percent levies. Read: These 47 Cars Made In Canada And Mexico Could See Major Price Hikes The official explanation as to why the automotive tariff can was being kicked down the road is that the same automakers, namely Ford , Stellantis and GM , had requested the extension. “We spoke with the big three auto dealers. We are going to give a one-month exemption on any autos coming through the U.S.-Mexico-Cana...

Around 23% of MY2020 Tesla Model 3s failed a compulsory safety test last year. Vehicle inspectors logged 1,392 defects – triple the number found on other EVs. Problems with lights, braking, steering and suspension were commonly found.  Electric cars contain fewer moving parts than combustion cars so, theoretically, should be less likely to go wrong, but Tesla ’s Model 3 seems to be turning that logic on its head. That’s because close to one in every four examples of the electric sedan failed safety tests in Denmark last year. MY2020 Model 3 s became old enough to require an inspection by the Danish Road Traffic Authority in 2024, and of the 4,668 examples tested, 1,051 failed. That’s a 23 percent failure rate and compares badly with a 9 percent rate witnessed in rival EVs, the Federation of Danish Motorists (FDM) reports . More: Tesla Model 3 Ranks Dead Last In German Reliability Tests For Newer Cars Inspectors logged 1,392 defects on the Teslas, three times as man...

Automotive interior design has been focused on screen size and count as of late. There’s also been a trend towards minimalist, Tesla-like interiors that are very sparse. Some designers are fighting back and acknowledging that screens aren’t luxurious. Over the past few years, automakers have embraced bigger and bigger screens. Now, it’s not uncommon to find luxury vehicles with pillar-to-pillar displays instead of elegant leather and wood dashboards. While every automaker does things differently, there’s been a general trend towards minimalist interiors focused on screens. This has left a number of vehicles feeling cold and clinical. More: Mercedes Design Boss Admits “Screens Aren’t Luxury” And The Software’s Not Great Either Lexus is a prime example as many of their interiors have embraced a minimalist design with a screen. This doesn’t look particularly luxurious, especially given the brand’s lofty price tags. Even Mercedes has gone down this path as the EQS has...

Mustang Mach-E owners are suing Ford due to the absence of manual door handles. They say that without them, getting in when the battery dies is a major hassle. A court win could force Ford to rethink the Mach-E’s door design for the future. When the Ford Mustang Mach-E was released, it brought a new twist to the Mustang legacy by adding a pair of doors, but in doing so, it also ditched the conventional door handles. Now, that design choice has become the focal point of a legal battle between a handful of owners and Ford. According to the drivers of the Mach-E, what Ford marketed as a feature is actually more of a flaw. More: The Dodge Charger Daytona EV Follows Tesla’s Hidden Manual Door Handle Lead For those of you who haven’t encountered the Mach-E in person (or haven’t been fortunate enough to get locked out of one), here’s the deal: The electric crossover doesn’t feature the usual door handles or even a traditional keyhole . Instead, it relies on electric latches t...

This 1994 Taurus SHO was transformed into a unique hybrid with a Ranger bed. Power comes from a 3.2-liter V6 with 220 hp and 215 lb-ft paired to a 4sp auto. The pickup is said to have 139,000 miles and is listed for sale at a reasonable price. What happens when you cross a second-gen Ford Taurus SHO with a Ranger pickup? Well, you get a strange and oddly compelling creation we recently found lurking in Beloit, Kansas. . The combination may not make much sense, but that doesn’t make it any less cool. In fact, aside from a Ranger Raptor or an F-150 Raptor, we’re hard-pressed to think of a Ford pickup cooler than this. Back in its heyday, the Taurus SHO was one of Ford’s crown jewels of high-performance sedans. But at some point, someone had the brilliant (or insane) idea to slice off the rear half of the body and swap it for the bed of a 1994 Ranger Splash, giving us America’s unofficial answer to classic Aussie utes like the Holden Commodore or Ford’s own Falcon. Read:...

A new bill in Georgia would remove speed cameras from all school zones statewide. Drivers say speed cameras issue unfair tickets, citing errors in calibration and timing. Opponents believe the cameras provide constant enforcement even without police. Georgia lawmakers seem to have a bit of a short memory, as they now want to kill off speed cameras in school zones, less than a decade after they first authorized them. Back in 2018, the state gave the green light for these cameras, but only in school zones, for reasons that probably seemed reasonable at the time. Now? The same lawmakers are ready to backpedal. And while the bill has its detractors, it’s already breezed through the House. Speed cameras are a sticky topic pretty much everywhere. In Georgia , complaints are reportedly flooding in over incorrectly issued tickets. Citizens claim that the cameras are citing them for driving over the speed limit even when school isn’t in session. “The cameras are not calibrated ...

The update boosts charging speeds for both the 98 kWh and 131 kWh versions of the EV. Before the update, models with the 98 kWh pack could charge from 15-80% in 32 minutes. The over-the-air software changes also improve the electronic parking brake system. Last month, Ford began rolling out an over-the-air software update to F-150 Lightning owners across the United States. While the update introduces only a few changes, one of the most notable is an improvement in DC fast charging times, something that’s bound to be welcomed by owners across the country. Before the update, F-150 Lightning models with the standard 98 kWh battery could theoretically charge from 15-80% in about 32 minutes, while the larger 131 kWh pack took around 38 minutes for the same. Ford’s release notes for the OTA update don’t give specifics on the exact improvements, only mentioning that the “charging rate at DC fast chargers” has been increased. Thankfully, an owner has given us a clearer picture...

Mercedes-AMG GT R lost control in Vancouver after a powerslide on wet roads. After losing control, the driver crashed into a small tree and a grass embankment. The Mercedes -AMG GT R is anexhilarating sports car, powered by a formidable 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 driving the rear wheels. Messing with the traction control system while driving in wet conditions, however, should be treated with caution. Unfortunately, the driver of this GT R didn’t get the memo. This incident recently happened in Vancouver, Canada , where the driver of an AMG GTR pulled away from a used car dealership near Granville Island. Despite the rain, it looks like the driver was eager to show off their driving skills while leaving the midnight meet at the dealer, kicking out the car’s rear end while leaving. Read: Deep Purple Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro Laden With Carbon Looks Near Perfect Dashcam footage from another motorist initially shows the driver managed to successfully powerslide the Mercede...

A man bought a $28,000 RAM 2500 from a person on Facebook marketplace. Two weeks later, police surrounded him and took that truck away for good. It turns out that it was stolen and a clone of a different Ram in another state. Imagine paying for a new-to-you vehicle used vehicle, convinced you’ve done all your due diligence, only to discover the deal isn’t what it seemed. Instead of driving away with a clean car, you find out it’s actually stolen. That’s exactly what happened to one man in Ohio, and it’s a textbook case of what’s known as a “cloning scam .” Here’s what went down in this instance and how you can avoid falling into the same trap. The Deal That Went Up in Flames The victim in this case is John Turco, a well-meaning (and probably too trusting) buyer, who purchased a 2021 Ram 2500 from a private individual on Facebook Marketplace for $28,000. Before doing so though, he seemingly did everything right. That included getting three different VIN history report...

Volvo gave us a glimpse of the new EX60 crossover, ahead of its launch next year. It will ride on the new SPA3 platform, which will eventually underpin all future Volvos. The XC60 recently got a facelift with styling tweaks and a new infotainment system. After a series of high-profile leaks, Volvo finally unveiled the ES90 mid-size sedan earlier today. However, most people probably didn’t watch the reveal video that was livestreamed from Stockholm, Sweden. If they had, they would have found a short teaser for the upcoming EX60 , which will serve as the electric equivalent of the popular gas-powered XC60. It appears roughly 25 minutes into the clip as a woman opens a door to reveal a partially covered clay model. She quickly closes the door, but not before revealing an EX90-like rear end. More: Volvo To Introduce 5 Models In 2025, EX60 Coming In 2026 While there isn’t much to see, the electric luxury crossover has angular upper taillights that reside on either side of ...