BMW CEO says Europe needs to cancel the 2035 gas-engine ban

Oliver ZipseEurope needs to rethink its looming ban on vehicles with a gas engine, according to BMW's CEO BMW CEO Oliver Zips said the ban will force automakers to rely on China There's concern about battery supply and competing with Chinese EVs BMW CEO Oliver Zipse on Tuesday called for an end to Europe's planned phaseout of new internal-combustion vehicle...

Honda Prelude will skip stick, unlike brand’s original hybrid coupe

Honda Prelude conceptThe Honda Prelude coupe looks set to return as a hybrid—in some markets, at least. But a manual transmission—something Honda offered on its very first Insight hybrid coupe—may not be included. Motor Trend reports that, despite speculation, the Prelude revival won't have a stick shift. That's based on comments from Honda global...

Mini EVs get sportier with John Cooper Works variants

Mini John Cooper Works Cooper and Aceman EVsMini is applying its John Cooper Works (JCW) performance badge to electric vehicles for the first time—and on two models simultaneously. On Monday, JCW versions of the electric Mini Cooper hatchback and the Aceman subcompact crossover made their public debut at the 2024 Paris auto show. The Cooper hatch is also sold with gasoline...

Audi expands E-Tron GT recall for same battery issue as Taycan

2024 Audi e-tron GTAudi has issued another recall for its E-Tron GT and RS E-Tron GT electric cars over potential battery issues that could lead to short circuits and fires, the NHTSA disclosed Monday. The recall of 6,499 vehicles from model years 2022-2024 follows a similar recalled for the related Porsche Taycan affecting over 27,000 vehicles. The Audi and Porsche...

2025 Audi Q6 Sportback E-Tron debuts as a more fashionable electric SUV

2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron Sportback (European-spec)The 2025 Audi Q6 Sportback E-Tron is a more rakish take on the automaker's electric SUV Audi said the Q6 Sportback E-Tron will have about 300 miles of range The 2025 Audi Q6 Sportback E-Tron will arrive in the U.S. in 2025 In keeping with the pattern set with its other electric SUVs, Audi on Sunday night unveiled a sleeker, coupe-like version of...

Kia marks 80th anniversary with EV restomod

1996 Kia Pride EV conversionKia is celebrating its 80th anniversary The automaker commissioned an electric conversion of its Pride hatchback A pair of 10-kwh batteries provide up to 120 miles of range in the restomod Kia turns 80 this year, and to celebrate the automaker's U.K. division commissioned an electric restomod of a humble Pride hatchback. The EV conversion was done...

Toyota exec says shift to EVs will lead to job losses

Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda at Woven City groundbreakingEliminating internal-combustion engines would also eliminate many jobs related to engine-related technology, Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda told Reuters and other media Thursday. "If electric vehicles simply become the only choice, including for our suppliers, those people's jobs would be lost," said Toyoda, who previously held the job of CEO and is...

BMW i7 and i5 recalled for steering issue

2024 BMW i5Two BMW electric sedans are being recalled over steering components that could break, requiring more effort to turn the wheel. The recall includes 202 BMW i5 sedans from model years 2024 and 2025 and just 21 BMW i7 sedans, all 2024 models, plus non-electric versions of both. The recalled vehicles may have steering spindles manufactured with...

2025 Lexus LX flagship gains hybrid powertrain option

2025 Lexus LX 700hLexus expands the LX lineup for 2025 with a hybrid The hybrid system is unlikely to make a meaningful impact on fuel economy The Lexus LX 700h hybrid arrives at the beginning of 2025 Lexus has offered hybrid powertrains in its LS flagship sedan and LC flagship coupe for some time, and now it's adding one to those models' SUV counterpart. The 2025...