The Auto World

Hakobanya reworks the ProBox with a Land Cruiser 70-style face. The upgrade adds a lifted suspension, round LEDs, and chunky tires. Buyers can choose off-road gear plus cabin tweaks to suit their needs. The Toyota ProBox has always been the unsung hero of Japan’s workforce, a no-frills station wagon known for its low price and even lower profile. It gets the job done, nothing more, nothing less. But one tuner has decided that anonymity is overrated , giving it a far more assertive identity inspired by the legendary Land Cruiser 70 Series. More:  The Two-Door Land Cruiser FJ Toyota Should’ve Built But Didn’t Created by Fukuoka-based outfit Hakobanya, it’s called the 70 BOX, or, for those who prefer something more dramatic, the “70Yo.70 Destroyer.” Think of it as the Land Cruiser crossover wagon Toyota never actually built. The transformation starts up front, where the entire nose has been reshaped to echo the latest facelift of the 70 Series. The conversion brings...

Chrysler is down to a single minivan, leaving its future uncertain. Stellantis promises investment, yet concrete future plans still feel vague. The big question now is what kind of vehicle could revive the brand. Back in late 2023, Chrysler ended production of the 300 sedan. Since then, it’s built plenty of concepts, promised all sorts of things, but there has been little in the way of tangible progress. The updated 2027 Pacifica remains largely unchanged from last year’s model, doing little to shift that perception. More: Chrysler’s Down To One Model But Dealers Are Somehow Drowning In Inventory Now, a new report suggests Stellantis is well aware of Chrysler’s situation and is preparing to inject fresh investment into the brand. This comes after Chrysler’s first EV, originally slated to debut in 2025, failed to materialize. Meanwhile, leadership has also shifted, with Chris Feuell stepping down as CEO and Dodge boss Matt McAlear stepping in as her replacement. Here...

Ford is adopting Tesla-style gigacasting overall to simplify repairs. Its new electric pickup replaces small parts with two larger cast sections. Exec says early focus on repairability in development creates an advantage. Ford thinks it’s found a more intelligent way to build cars, and maybe rebuild them after a crash. Instead of stitching together hundreds of little pieces, it’s going big with huge aluminum castings that could make both factories and body shops breathe easier. Company leadership has framed this as one of the most significant shifts in manufacturing approach in decades, with the added goal of lowering both vehicle prices and repair costs. Starting with its upcoming electric pickup , Ford plans to swap out loads of small structural parts for just two massive sections. One up front, one at the rear. It’s the same basic Gigacasting idea Tesla has been using for years, just with Ford putting its own spin on it. The truck is expected to target a $30,000 sta...

Rivian and Jeep are launching similar electric SUVs this year. The R2 is cheaper than the Recon and offers far more range. Both have similar outputs at launch and other versions are coming. Rivian introduced the highly anticipated R2 last week and a lot of people got sticker shock. While the company had promised a starting price of around $45,000, the launch model costs $57,990. Price, Performance And Range That’s significantly more expensive than expected, but it looks like a bargain compared to the 2026 Jeep Recon . It starts at $65,000 and has a 100 kWh battery pack that feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing 650 hp (485 kW / 659 PS) and 620 lb-ft (840 Nm) of torque. This enables the model to rocket from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in as little as 3.6 seconds and travel up to 230 miles (370 km) on a single charge in Moab trim. More: Rivian’s Most Affordable Model Arrives First In Its Most Expensive Form The R2, on the other hand, has an 87.9 kWh battery a...