The Auto World

A 1971 Chevy Chevelle SS stolen in 1993 has finally been found. Police officers discovered the muscle car during a routine stop. The classic V8-powered Chevy was returned to its rightful owner. Report a car stolen and the odds turn against you fast. Most owners spend a few months hoping, then quietly give up and write it off, but one case in California went the other way. A 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS that disappeared in 1993 has been recovered and handed back to the man who lost it, 33 years later, which is long enough for the original owner to have raised a family, retired, and stopped checking classified ads. The break came out of ordinary police work. Officers from the California Highway Patrol’s Auburn division were running a routine vehicle identification number inspection on the classic Chevy when something in the numbers stopped them. CHP said the details “warranted a closer look,” and that closer look turned into a f...

Reports tied a solar roof option to two of BYD’s models. Several brands have tested solar roofs, Nissan among them. Nissan says its Ariya concept panels can add up to 14 miles a day. Every EV engineer on the planet is currently chasing the same goal, which is more range without more battery, and the answers keep arriving from unexpected corners of the industry. The latest one comes from a Chinese glass supplier in the form of a solar glass sunroof that its maker says is finished, validated and ready for mass production. The company is Fuyao Group, one of the largest automotive glass producers on earth, counting Ford, General Motors, Subaru, Tesla and the VW Group among its customers. That client list matters more than the technology demo itself, because Fuyao isn’t some startup trying to buy its way in with a novelty. It has laminated solar cells directly into automotive glass, and the image the company put out shows a car with ce...

Hyundai could expand Georgia plant production to 800,000 vehicles annually by 2028. Expansion could make Hyundai’s Metaplant biggest vehicle assembly operation in US. Future American investment could include midsize pickups and body-on-frame SUVs. Hyundai ’s still getting comfortable in its enormous new HMGMA Georgia factory, but apparently 500,000 cars per year might not be enough. The automaker is considering boosting annual capacity to somewhere between 700,000 and 800,000 vehicles by 2028, potentially making it America’s biggest assembly plant. CEO Jose Muñoz revealed the possibility to CNBC following the debut of the Genesis GV90 flagship SUV, stressing that nothing has been finalized. The expansion would form part of Hyundai’s previously announced $26 billion US investment that finishes in 2028 as it rapidly increases local production. Related: Hyundai Is About To Flood The North American Market With 36...

Stellantis has issued new recalls for the Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee. Spoiler problems continue to haunt the Durango, sparking a third recall in five years. A handful of Grand Cherokees have software that prevents wipers from working. Stellantis is recalling nearly 75,000 vehicles in the United States over two separate issues. They involve faulty windshield wipers and a rear spoiler that can detach while driving. The larger of the two recalls impacts 74,578 Dodge Durango SUVs from the 2021-2023 model years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the rear spoiler may not be aligned properly with the roof, which can potentially result in damage when using the liftgate. If this occurs, the damaged spoiler could fall off while driving. More: Dodge Recalls Durango SUVs Because Rear Wing May Take Flight This isn’t a new problem as the company issued similar recalls in 2021 and 2023. However, in March of 2026...

Franz von Holzhausen owns the Tesla Model S Plaid Signature #001. The Tesla design chief took the special EV to Unplugged Performance. The sedan received paint protection, ceramic coating, and window tints. Franz von Holzhausen has run Tesla’s design studio since 2008, and most of what people picture when they see a Tesla came off his desk. The Model S is one of those cars, so it makes sense that he took delivery of the definitive version, the Plaid Signature Edition, chassis number #001, the one at the very front of the production line. More: Tesla’s Hidden Door Handle Drama Could Change Every New Car In America Before settling in with the car that closes out the Model S story, he drove it to Unplugged Performance in California. The tuner is better known for wheels, brakes, wraps and body kits, but detailing sits on the menu too, and that’s what he was there for. The bodywork he drew more than a decade ago stayed exactl...

Brembo launched Boldika, its strongest passenger car caliper ever. The six-piston setup debuts on the 2026 Chevy Silverado EV RST. It generates over 8,500 Nm (6,269 lb-ft) of total braking torque. When you think of serious stopping power, you probably picture track-focused sports cars and supercars with carbon-ceramic rotors and a lap time to protect. Brembo’s newest caliper goes somewhere else, as the most powerful unit the company has ever built for a passenger car application is bolted to a fully electric Chevy truck. More: The Automaker That Just Dropped Hydraulic Brakes Is Hiding Behind Brembo’s NDA The Brembo Boldika (from the words Bold and Like) is a new six-piston fixed caliper good for more than 8,500 Nm (6,269 lb-ft) of braking torque. Brembo built it for “large, heavy and high-horsepower vehicles,” which in practice means full-size trucks and SUVs that have spent the last several years getting heavier an...

Nissan has revamped the Murano crossover lineup for 2027. Entry-level SV is dead, but there’s a new Dark Armor trim. New variant has extra equipment and black exterior touches. Nissan has introduced the 2027 Murano and the cost of entry has soared by $2,320 as the company has eliminated the entry-level SV trim. Its death means pricing starts at $43,990 before a $1,545 destination fee. The trim changes don’t end there as the company has introduced a new Dark Armor variant. It starts at $46,990 and slots nearly perfectly between the SL and Platinum. Review: Nissan’s New Murano Feels Like A Missed Opportunity As the name suggests, the Murano Dark Armor embraces the night as it adopts gloss black badging, exterior accents, and 21-inch wheels. They’re joined by Dark Armor insignias as well as a color palette that includes Gun Metallic and Super Black as no cost options. Customers can get Scarlet Ember or Everest Whit...