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Canada May Drop 100% Tariff On Chinese EVs To Help Farm Owners
BY COLLIN WOODARD SEPT. 11, 2025 4:38 PM EST

Eric Alonso/Getty Images
It didn’t exactly require a PhD in economics to predict that Donald Trump blowing up our trading relationship with countries we previously considered allies would only encourage those countries to work more closely with China. And that goes double for Canada, since Trump also reneged on the terms of the free trade deal he so proudly negotiated with them in his first term, while also loudly proclaiming that Canada should give up its sovereignty and become the 51st state. So it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that InsideEVs reports Canada is considering dropping its 100% tariff on Chinese EVs.

If Canada does go through with dropping its tariff on Chinese EVs, it would be about more than just making EVs more affordable for Canadians. The goal would be to get China to drop the 100% tariff it placed on Canadian farm and food products. That would, of course, help farm owners, since they’d be able to sell a lot more of their products, including canola oil and soy beans, to China, while the rest of Canada would benefit from access to more affordable EVs. 

That said, it’s far from a done deal and may still not go through. “The prime minister did say there is an EV review. We will see where that leads … the discussions are ongoing,” Canada’s Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald told CTV News on Tuesday. “We are in a fragile position, but we are here to support the farmer first and foremost, and if that decision has to be made, then that decision has to be made.”

Canadians already approve

Art Konovalov/Shutterstock
While Canada is still debating whether to drop its tariff on Chinese EVs, doing so would likely prove popular. As CTV News points out, a recent poll found 62% of Canadians surveyed “either support or somewhat support removing a 100 per cent tax on all Chinese-made EVs.” Meanwhile, only 29% of Canadians surveyed oppose or somewhat oppose the move.

As Simon Fraser University professor Jonn Axsen told CTV News, Canada is likely headed toward an electric future, regardless of any temporary dips in demand, saying, “It is going to be a more efficient transition if we open up the market to anyone who can provide quality EVs that customers choose to buy. If anyone can enter the market, then there is only more choice for buyers.”

If Canada does open up its country to Chinese EVs, cheap cars such as the BYD Seagull, which sells for about $13,800 in China, would probably still sell for more than they do back home. After all, they’d need to meet Canadian safety requirements, and they’d also need to be shipped over. But they’d probably still undercut the prices for EVs built by legacy automakers that cost far more. 

Meanwhile, Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, told CTV News, “As much as we don’t like the way the Chinese have build the industry, we know it is the future, so we can’t be running around with a blindspot. But also, giving away part of the market because enthusiasts want Chinese vehicles, well, we should also remember that these enthusiasts don’t employ anyone.”

Read More: https://www.jalopnik.com/1965703/canada-may-drop-100-percent-tariff-on-chinese-evs-help-farmers/

These States Still Allow You To Ride In Truck Beds
BY CHINO ORTIZ SEPT. 11, 2025 5:25 PM EST

Shironosov/Getty Images
If you grew up around those big pickup trucks, chances are you saw a few kids bouncing along in the back — maybe you even did it yourself. For a long time, it was practically a rite of passage in rural America. You’d pile in after a ball game or ride out to the fields on a summer evening, hair whipping around, no one worrying about seat belts or crash ratings. It felt free, almost rebellious. But nostalgia doesn’t erase the reality: truck beds were never designed for passengers. As for what states allow it, it really depends.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reminds us that truck beds offer zero crash protection or seat belts, but many states still let adults ride unrestrained back there — they don’t seem to care. It has been clear — no seat belts, no protection, and in a collision, the risk of ejection is high. The North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program conducted a crash test on riding behind the truck bed, and well, it ain’t a pretty result. 

So why do some states still allow it? Partly culture, partly practicality. In farming communities, the bed was —and still is — used for hauling workers as much as hay. Lawmakers carved out exemptions to preserve that, and those rules just…stuck. However, as traffic got heavier and vehicles faster, the safety trade-off became harder to ignore. What once looked like a charming slice of Americana now reads more like an accident waiting to happen.

The law says…it depends on what state you’re in

oasisamuel/Shutterstock
Unlike seat belt laws, which are fairly universal, truck bed riding rules are scattered across the map. In some states, it’s fully legal for adults to ride in the back, no strings attached. Alabama, Alaska, Indiana, and Wyoming have no explicit laws banning passengers in cargo areas, which means by default it’s legal. The “I” states (Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa) also joined team legal. You can party out on the truck bed, just don’t fall. Please. 

Other states set conditions. Florida, for instance, allows adults but restricts kids — minors can only ride in truck beds if the area is enclosed or if they’re belted in somehow. Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, and Texas take a similar stance, letting adults over 18 ride in the back, but minors? Only if it’s a hayride, a parade, or agricultural work. Otherwise, the driver can be fined, and if something happens, face criminal liability. If you are aged 12 and below, it’s a no-no in Louisiana and Massachusetts. In Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, you must be at least 16.  

Then, you have the stricter camp. New York, New Jersey, and Arkansas flat-out prohibit it, except for emergencies or official events like parades. That patchwork means a cross-country road trip could technically have you legal one day and illegal the next — without ever leaving the interstate. Unless you’ve memorized each state’s statute, it’s easy to trip over the differences.

Riding in the back feels free – until it feels fatal

Monkeybusinessimages/Getty Images
Even in states that allow it, the safety argument is hard to ignore. A truck bed isn’t a passenger compartment — it’s metal and wood, not padded panels and air bags. A sudden lane change, a rear-end collision, or even a sharp pothole can send someone flying. Since so many states only restrict minors, adults often assume it’s fine, but legal doesn’t equal safe. 

There’s also liability. In Texas, for example, drivers can be cited and fined between $25 and $200 for having minors in the back unlawfully. If an accident happens, the driver may face lawsuits for negligence. However, that legal gray zone still leaves plenty of room for argument in court. For minors, especially, courts tend to side with safety.

And yet, the tradition persists. Rural communities still see pickup truck beds as functional seating, not a legal gamble. It’s a tension between culture and modern traffic realities. So yes, some states still let you do it. However, just because the law hasn’t caught up doesn’t mean physics won’t. What feels like freedom to ride at the back of that satisfying pickup truck at 30 mph on a dirt road feels very different at 70 mph on the interstate.

Read More: https://www.jalopnik.com/1963804/states-that-allow-riding-in-truck-bed/

IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Winners Must Have Anti-Speeding Tech By 2027 — And DUI Detection By 2030
BY LOGAN K. CARTER SEPT. 11, 2025 5:39 PM EST

IIHS
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS, is an independent non-profit scientific organization that evaluates the safety of most cars and trucks on sale today. Its mission is to reduce deaths, injuries, and property damage from motor vehicle crashes through research and evaluation, and through public education. Its crash tests and other vehicle safety tests are more rigorous, wide-reaching, and comprehensive than those of the National Highway Traffic Administration, which is part of the United States Department of Transportation.

The organization has continuously implemented new, more rigorous tests and safety standards to evaluate and rate the safety of new cars through its ranking system, and it awards the vehicles that perform best in its wide array of tests with Top Safety Pick+ awards. Automakers are not required to conform to IIHS guidelines, but most have chosen to produce new vehicles that are designed to perform better in IIHS tests, and the Top Safety Pick+ has become a coveted achievement that appeals to consumers. 

IIHS announced on Tuesday that it will further strengthen the qualifications for this award in 2027 by requiring Top Safety Pick+ winners to have an intelligent speed assistance (ISA) device that detects when drivers exceed the speed limit and issues warnings. It is also planning to require award winners to have impairment detection devices by 2030 or sooner, which will monitor driver intoxication and impairment and prevent anyone with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher from driving. Time will tell if automakers decide to produce new vehicles with these features in order to receive meet IIHS Top Safety Pick+ requirements.

Impaired driving deaths represent nearly a third of all road fatalities today

Automakers have made massive strides in automotive safety over the course of the past few decades, due in part to the work of IIHS. Its rigorous tests and publicly available safety ratings and crash test videos have encouraged automakers to improve their vehicles’ safety. IIHS president David Harkey said, “As part of our 30×30 vision to cut U.S. road deaths 30% by 2030, we are committed to addressing the risky — and often illegal — behavior that underlies most fatalities today. One way we plan to do that is to leverage our ratings and award programs to encourage automakers to adopt this new class of safety technology, just as we got them to improve vehicle structures, airbags and collision avoidance systems.”

Harkey announced these changes at a roundtable discussion organized by the prominent community organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), which advocated for stronger laws against, and enforcement of drunk driving. MADD resulted in significant reductions in drunk driving fatalities in the 1980s and ’90s, but that progress has stagnated since then. IIHS analysis found that DUI prevention technology could save more than 10,000 lives per year.

Intelligent speed assistance device requirements come first

The timeline for institution of the impaired driving detection devices is unclear as of now, though the IIHS says to expect this requirement to be added by or before 2030. IIHS will update its Top Safety Pick+ criteria before the impaired driving detection requirements to include ISA devices in 2027. Data shows that 29% of all crash fatalities in 2023 — 11,775 deaths — occurred in speed-related crashes, so the impending requirement for Top Safety Pick+ winners to include ISA devices aims to decrease those deaths. Harkey said, “the sooner we can start getting these features into vehicles, the sooner we can make risky-driving deaths a thing of the past.”

All vehicles sold in Europe have been required to have standard ISAs since July last year, and studies have shown significant reductions in speeding by drivers of vehicles equipped with ISAs. There are active and passive ISAs, with passive systems issuing a visual or audible warning when drivers speed, while active ISAs can include increased resistance against the accelerator pedal for speeding vehicles, and limiting engine power so drivers can only accelerate up to, but not over the speed limit.

A 2025 IIHS survey found that more than 60% of U.S. drivers would accept a system that issued audible and visual warnings when they exceed the speed limit, and about half would accept an active ISA system. If Jalopnik readers were asked the same questions, I don’t think the results would be quite so positive, though. What do you think?

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QOTD
These Are Your Worst Experiences With A Recall
BY RYAN ERIK KING MARCH 26, 2025 10:30 AM EST

OWS Photography / Wikimedia Commons
Car owners worldwide wish that every vehicle rolled off the assembly line perfectly designed and manufactured, but nobody’s perfect. We asked earlier this week for your worst experiences with a recall. The comments section was filled to the brim with tales of mechanical woes and lackluster customer service spanning decades of automotive. There were faulty cars that were refused recall service, and vehicles claimed to be repaired but still had the reported issue. Not to spoil anything, but not even dealership employee are immune from a frustrating recall. Without further ado, here are the most egregious stories:

Shoddy repair just made things exponentially worse

Greg Gjerdingen / Wikimedia Commons
In 1991, I had a 1986 Fiero and there was a recall about the exhaust manifold, which could crack and lead to a fire risk. I was in college and took it into the local Pontiac/BMW place for the recall, which took a couple hours.
When I drove off, the gauges were all messed up, the windows rolled up and down without commands, the headlights came on and turned off randomly, etc . I turned around within 100 feet of the dealership and drove it back, and told them they had messed it up, which of course they claimed they did not. So, I opened the engine hatch/truck and found the problem.
Instead of unplugging the wiring harness to get to the exhaust manifold, they had cut it. They butted the two halves together and wrapped it with tape. They claimed the car was like that when they got it, but I happened to have a picture of the engine bay available. They refused to replace the wiring harness, but they did splice each wire they cut. I ended up with the car running right, but a ball of electrical tape the size of a softball back there.
The entire time, the BMW salespeople kept strongly suggesting that I get a new car. They offered $100 for the Fiero in trade-in because it was messed up.

Submitted by: hoser68

Dreading a date with a recall repair

Benespit / Wikimedia Commons
The Kia Stinger forums are filled with horror stories of people getting their Turbo Oil line recall done and the dealerships having no idea how to work on the engines, Kia quoting a 3-hour job that supposedly takes six and some places thinking they need to drop the whole engine.
I need to get mine done, and I’m worried.

Submitted by: ProjectNeo

Who needs replacements anyway

Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons
My dad had a 1975 Corvette and back around 1978 or so he had a set of Firestone 500 radials put on the car. They were recalled and replaced before there was any issue, fortunately.
Fast forward 20 years and my dad lets me take the car on a road trip about 200 miles from home. My buddy and I hear a noise from the right rear and sure enough, the tire’s gone flat. I nurse the car to a safe spot, jack it up and drop the spare from underneath and, boom… there’s a 20-year-old Firestone 500 just waiting to finally see daylight.

Submitted by: BuddyS

Not our Saab to deal with

Daboo / Wikimedia Commons
Getting a recall taken care of from a defunct OEM is really difficult… I had a 2006 Saab 9-2X (essentially a rebadged Subaru Impreza) that fell under the Takata recall. I get the recall letter from GM telling me that the car needs to be taken to a certified Saab service center in order to get it taken care of. Problem is, Saab had gone under 8 years prior. Logic would dictate that any GM dealership or even a Subaru dealership could handle it but nope. I had to call GM’s customer support line to find an aftermarket shop that GM was willing to work with to handle the recall. The shop was a 2-hour drive in a complete different county from mine.

Submitted by: RemainKalm916

Impacted by my own employer’s recall

Cjp24 / Wikimedia Commons
Where to start? Well, my worst experience with a recall was the Chrysler A-604 transmission back in the early ’90s. Good old Lee Iacocca pushed this new FWD application 4-speed auto out to the market well before it was fully baked.
It was a disaster on all fronts.
As a young Chrysler District Service Manager at the time, I had the misfortune of dealing with a lot of VERY angry customers who bought new cars that very quickly failed spectacularly.
Typically, the cars went into limp-in mode, which locked them in 2nd gear and made them barely drivable, aside from limping them into one of our overwhelmed dealers who neither had the parts nor enough transmission techs to fix them.
The issue was not so much that there was a recall. It was that we were ill-prepared to fix them, even when the recall came out.

One of the challenges with NHTSA regulations is manufacturers are required to send recall notices out within a very tight time window, regardless if they have the parts or training to do the fix.
Of course, being Chrysler in the early ’90s, we ran fast and loose with quality on most fronts. There were plenty of disasters somewhat akin to the A-604, but it was the pinnacle of doing things the wrong way.
I still remember driving in one morning to see one of my dealers when my own company car’s transmission went into limp-in mode.
I was not amused.

Submitted by: Factoryhack

Knock, knock! Don’t let anyone sue us

HJUdall / Wikimedia Commons
2017 Kia Optima PHEV. Get a recall notification to install anti-knock software to keep the engine from grenading. Never had an issue with knocking or ticking before this. Pick the car up after the work is “done”. Within 20 miles of driving, engine starts knocking on the freeway and completely grenades. Between that, hybrid battery failure, wiring harness failure, and a short in the stereo that drained the 12V system, it sat at the dealer for 18 months between Dec 2021 and April 2024
Cherry on top: they offered me a $2000 “goodwill” payment tied to an NDA and a clause that said if I sold the car and the next owner sued them, I was on the hook for the damages. No thank you

Submitted by: dubgasm

Stellarly poor service from Stellantis

HJUdall / Wikimedia Commons
2018 Pacifica hybrid. It was undrivable due to a wiring issue in the transmission. We had to wait 4 months for a new transmission because of the UAW strike. Chrysler did cover a rental.
We’re still waiting to get the charging system recall fixed (again) so it doesn’t burst into flames when charging. We haven’t been able to charge it for over a year, and that’s the main reason we bought it over Honda/Toyota.
The first and absolutely last FCA product we will ever buy…

Submitted by: DCnative

A refusal to repair

Michael Gil / Wikimedia Commons
The Hyundai engine recalls on my manual 2014 Elantra GT.
In mid-2021, I got the knock-sensor recall upgrade from Hyundai Canada meant to monitor my engine for signs of engine knocking. It would put my engine into a safety mode if any engine knocking was discovered. Potentially, I could get the engine replaced under warranty. The warranty had been extended to 10 years or 200,000km. I fell within both criteria, luckily.
Early January 2022, the knock sensor engages and I limp back to the dealership in safe mode (can’t rev the engine over 2000 RPM in safe mode). Hyundai Canada had the car for 4 weeks, no communication with me. Finally, they gave me back the car, claiming my oil filter was the issue (they said it wasn’t OEM and that caused the knock sensor to falsely engage). Next day, the knock sensor kicks in while on the highway as I drove 110kmph; it was like someone slammed on the brakes and I nearly got rear-ended getting off the highway when it happened. I parked the car at home, called the dealership back, told them to come tow the car back and fix the issue and that I wouldn’t drive it again until fixed as it was not safe to drive.
For 3 weeks, they wouldn’t give me an update or rental. Finally, after 4 weeks, they said they found metal shavings in the oil pan and engine and I got a rental car. 6 weeks total elapsed before I got the car back with a brand new engine, but they made me pay for a new oil pan (they said the warranty wouldn’t cover it and it was needed).

Sold the car only a few months later.

Submitted by: Jeffaulburn

A Veloster’s handbrake-only challenge

order_242 / Wikimedia Commons
Here in Canada, some Hyundai models have a recall for premature rusting on the brake lines and subframe. My 2015 Veloster was under this recall. As a tech of a Hyundai dealer, I knew it had to be done. The day I drove it in, the brakes were getting worse and worse. After being left in the parking lot for a few hours, the brakes were completely lost and it had to be driven in using the handbrake to stop it.

Submitted by: ThatYoteGal

Acura parked until further notice

Wolterk/Getty Images
The airbag recall for Acura several years ago…. Was told to park my car and not drive until parts became available…. That ultimately was 6 months… Fortunately, my lawyer got Acura to supply a free rental from Hertz for the entire time. The Hertz rental experience is a whole other story and near disaster.

Submitted by: Jdg000

There’s no such thing as a free repair

Heritage Images/Getty Images
I got a ticket due to a recall once. I brought my Miata in for an annual inspection/preventative maintenance. The recall fix required a computer reset, which they did before running the emissions test. But when you reset the computer, you’ve got to run the engine for some number of miles (maybe 100?) before you can run the test. I only drive the car maybe 1500 miles a year, so it took me a while to hit 100 miles. And in that time, I got a late registration ticket.

Submitted by: Give Me Tacos or Give Me Death

The defect en route to the recall notice

Joe Raedle/Getty Images
I knew a guy in college who was on his way to pick up some mail that had been delivered to his previous address. On the way, he was in an accident and was seriously injured by a bad Takata airbag. The mail he was going to get included a recall notice for the airbag.

Submitted by: Tycho

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These Are The Dumbest Looking Cars Of All Time, According To You
Some cars just look dumber than others. It is what it is.
BY  ANDY KALMOWITZ MARCH 4, 2024 7:15 AM EST

Ferrari
Sometimes cars look beautiful. Sometimes cars look functional. Sometimes cars look downright ugly. And sometimes, well, cars just look dumb as hell. Of course, “dumb” is a very subjective concept, possibly even more subjective than beautiful and ugly. It’s an interesting concept in that way, and it’s what led us to our question from last week.

We wanted to know what you thought the dumbest-looking car of all time was, and by George did you deliver. We’ve got everything from the highest-end exotics that look goofy to three-wheeled economy vehicle mistakes and pre-Great Recession American cars.

What I’m saying is, you folks understood the assignment. You get that “dumb” is more of a feeling and a vibe than an actual objective observation. I’m really proud of all of you. And with that, let’s take a look at what cars your fellow Jalops think are the dumbest looking of all time.

Reliant Robin

Riiiiiiiight, put one wheel in the front for maximum instability…it’s “genius”.

And then there was the time on Old Fart Top Gear when Clarkson took one of these deathtraps for a literal spin.

Un-effing-believable.

The Robin does look dumb as hell, but I really appreciate it for the sheer fact it gave us so many iconic bits on Top Gear.

Submitted by: the1969DodgeChargerFan

Fiat Multipla

Fiat
It just looks like no adult was involved in the design process.

Here’s the thing, 4jim. You’re wrong. The first gen Multipla is actually really cool looking. I will not debate this. Sorry, amigo.

Submitted by: 4jim

1960 Plymouth Valiant

Plymouth
1960 Plymouth Valiant -The wimpiest of Mopars with lines going all the wrong directions that helped kill the fin craze

Holy hell, this thing is dogshit. The auto industry was in a dire situation before the muscle car came around, wasn’t it?

Submitted by: Alan Schwarz

Ferrari Enzo

Ferrari
Veeerrrryyy unpopular opinion incoming.

I know, I know. It’s a technological wonder. I know Ferrari made you own a GTO, F40, and F50 just to be allowed to buy it. I know it’s a Ferrari halo car.

It’s goofy looking. It’s got an overbite that just screams “My parents couldn’t afford braces.” No car should look like it was rear-ended so hard that the body got pushed forward.

You’re braver than me for saying this. The Enzo is confusing. I think it’s overall a good-looking car, but when you compare it to the rest of the Ferrari hypercar lineup (F40, F50, LaFerrari), it’s not very good.

Submitted by: JohnnyWasASchoolBoy

The Amber

NEXTA/Twitter
The anticipated Amber Russian EV…a face only a tadpole could love.

Lol I forgot about this thing.

Submitted by: gokstate

Youabian Puma

You mean other than the Youabian Puma? It’s the de-facto answer to this question…

I remember seeing this thing on some Discovery Channel show when I was a kid. I thought it looked badass, and honestly, I still do.

Submitted by: Skamanda

Gen. 2 Dodge Durango

Dodge
There’s something about the 2nd gen Dodge Durango that never sat quite right with me. Most of it from the A-pillar aft is fine, if a bit boring, but the front fascia just looks a mess. The bumper juts out like a French Bulldog with an underbite, and they tried to make the headlights and crosshair grille look like a Ram but instead of blending into the wheel arch it awkwardly juts out like it was tacked on. Even though its Chrysler Aspen sibling was a forgettable badge-engineering job, it at least had a coherent design throughout.

These things looked bad then, and they look even worse now. However, the Durango that followed it (which is still on sale) actually held up pretty well in the looks department.

Submitted by: pardsecar

The Amphicar

Amphicar
May I submit for your consideration, the Amphicar. It’s a car! It’s a boat! It’s not really good at being either! And it’s ugly…

Well, LBJ was a pretty cool dude, and a cool dude would never own anything that was dumb, so I am inclined to say the Amphicar does not look dumb. Sorry, fella.

Submitted by: GTB

Gen. 1 Hyundai Tiburon

Hyundai
Look at this thing.

It’s not designed for practicality so it doesn’t get a pass there, it’s supposed to be a “cool” car you wanted to buy to look sporty. But those headlight bulges with oddly-proportioned outside lights and signals/reflectors, none of which lined up, weird badge in intake that looks like a booger, and the HUGE hips both front and rear that make the already tiny wheels look even tinier. And finally the rear spoiler which was inexplicably kinked at the ends with straight lines when the rest of the car is all swoopy. Just dumb.

This is indeed dumb looking, but the second-generation Tuburon was so cool I am willing to forget it.

Submitted by: savethemanualsbmw335ix

Diahtsu Copen

Diahatsu
Do we like the Daihatsu Copen here. i always thought the design language looked.. a little confused and “doofy” the low headlights.. the almost sporty nature of it… not sure what it is about this thing that bugs me.

HORRIBE TAKE. STOP IT.

Submitted by: the_AUGHT

‘58-’60 Dodge Truck

Dodge
Can we put fins on a truck? and stick its tongue out behind braces?

The 58 face looks like a geek with horned rim glasses being upset because you knocked over his chocolate Milk.

The removal of the bumper guards and additional chrome make the 59 just say “Ahhhh”

The 60 changed the grill but kept the tongue out. It also looks like it’s caught between thoughts it will never have.

Fortunately Dodge, Changed the style dramatically in 1961.

And the scale drifted from “So Stupid it’s ugly” to “So Ugly it’s stupid.”

I’m sorry, dude, but this looks good. This is not dumb. Fins are cool.

Submitted by: hoser68

Ssangyong Actyon

Ssangyong
A coupé SUV before coupé SUVs were a thing, with the ugliest nose and butt to ever disgrace the roads (and yes I’m saying this knowing that the Edsel and the Aztek exist)

That’s the dumbest boy I’ve ever seen, good lord.

Submitted by: edu-petrolhead

Landau Baby

Cutlass via Wikimedia Commons
The anodyne Japanese sedan with the dealer-installed vinyl roof. It’s already kind of dumb enough on a big boxy Malaise era land yacht, but it’s even worse stripped of full context. Like, imagine walking around in athleisure wear with a massive powdered wig on your head because that’s what classy people wore like 200 years ago.

I (please don’t judge me) really enjoy a Landau top on cars that don’t deserve one.

Submitted by: Maymar

Chevy HHR Panel

Chevrolet
In line with the SSR, I’m going to go with the HHR. Specifically the work-ified version with no side windows. It practically screams “I shouldn’t be allowed within 500′ of a school”.

Sounds like there are some issues here that need to be worked through.

Submitted by: IstillmissmyXJ

Tesla Cybertruck

Tesla
We’re all hear to say Cybertruck, right?

Yeah.

Submitted by: skeffles

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NEWS
Toyota Is Increasing Prices This Summer, But Not Because Of Tariffs
BY JUSTIN HUGHES JUNE 25, 2025 3:37 PM EST

Kenishirotie/Shutterstock
Toyota has announced an average price increase of $270 across some models in July. Lexus prices will also increase by an average of $208. This isn’t much of a surprise, given the Trump Administration’s on-again, off-again tariffs. However, Toyota denies that the increase has anything to do with tariffs.

“The latest price hike is part of our regular review of the prices,” Nobu Sunaga, a Toyota spokesperson, told Reuters. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi stopped shipments to dealers altogether, Ford has raised prices on vehicles made in Mexico, Hyundai has considered a 1% increase across the board, Nissan desperately wants to make a deal, and Audi is trying to ignore the whole thing. Is Toyota following Audi’s lead?

Not at all. Although Toyota is a Japanese company, it is also a major domestic manufacturer, with 11 factories in the United States. Models like the Camry, Tundra, Highlander, and Sequoia won’t be hit as hard by tariffs because they’re built here rather than in Japan. About half the vehicles Toyota sells in the U.S. are built in the U.S.

Flying under the radar

RidhamSupriyanto/Shutterstock
However, the other half of Toyota’s vehicles, including the 4Runner, Tacoma, Prius, and most of the Lexus lineup, are still imported and subject to tariffs, which would add thousands of dollars to their prices. A price hike of a few hundred dollars seems more like a standard market adjustment than compensation for tariffs.

Toyota is all too aware of the looming tariffs, but is taking a wait-and-see approach when it comes to pricing and production decisions, according to MotorTrend. Executives say they are thinking in the long term, but this is extremely difficult when the tariffs change as frequently as they have been. Toyota is hoping to negotiate some trade deals, and as the world’s largest automaker, it is in a good position to do that.

Another reason for this approach may be political. Companies like Walmart have come under heavy criticism from the Trump administration after announcing that tariffs would cause price increases. Unlike other automakers, Toyota may be avoiding making any statements about tariffs that Trump could interpret as negative. That would put Toyota in a better position to make a deal that would help keep prices down.

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Buy One Of These Electric Pickup Trucks Instead Of Humiliating Yourself With A Tesla Cybertruck
BY OWEN BELLWOOD MARCH 19, 2025 1:25 PM EST

Jetcityimage/Getty Images
When it was first revealed back in 2019, the Tesla Cybertruck was just a ridiculously angular truck that nobody thought would ever actually exist. By the time it finally went on sale in December 2023, it had become an emblem of everything wrong with Tesla boss Elon Musk, and over the past year that’s only got worse for the big dumb truck.

Things have now gotten so bad for Cybertruck owners that they’re getting poop and eggs thrown at their stainless steel trucks, and some are resorting to novelty bumper stickers to argue that they aren’t fans of Musk anymore, either. If all the abuse has got too bad for your friendly neighborhood Cybertruck owner, then they needn’t worry, as there are a handful of other electric pickup trucks out there that aren’t half as dumb as Tesla’s Cybertruck.

Ford F-150 Lightning

Ford
Starting price: $65,090

Range: 240 – 320 miles

If you just want a pickup truck that happens to be electric, then the F-150 Lightning is Ford’s truck for you. It looks like a regular F-150, drives like a regular F-150 and, despite having to haul around its own weight, is still rated to tow around 8,500 pounds of stuff whenever you need it to.

When compared to the Cybertruck, the F-150 Lightning is much more likely to blend in and avoid the assaults of any eco-minded activists that brand trucks like this as greenwashing. It’s also much cheaper, but isn’t able to charge quite as quickly as Tesla’s truck, and can also share its power in an emergency situation through clever tech called bidirectional charging, which the Cybertruck also has.

Rivian R1T

Rivian
Price: $71,900

Range: 258 – 420 miles

The slickest alternative to the Cybertruck you can buy right now is the R1T electric pickup from Rivian. The American startup’s flagship boasts distinctive style, but not in an “I was designed by a five-year-old” kind of way, a very usable range and a host of innovative flourishes baked into the design.

The R1T produces up to 1,025 hp, more than the Cybertruck; has an 11,000-pound tow capacity, more than the F-150; and comes with a nifty gear tunnel to add in extra storage space, also not offered on any of its rivals. It also starts at nearly $10,000 less than Tesla’s offering.

Chevrolet Silverado EV

Chevrolet
Starting price: $75,195

Range: 390 – 492 miles

Prefer your electric pickup truck from a legacy automaker? Then the Silverado EV could be the option for you. The electric iteration of Chevy’s iconic truck comes with a little design flair to set it apart from the gas-powered truck, as well as increased range compared with the options from Ford and Rivian — albeit at a premium.

More expensive doesn’t always mean more better, however, and while the Silverado EV is an impressive machine, our testing of the truck found that it didn’t quite live up to the polish of the F-150 Lightning or Rivian R1T.

GMC Sierra EV

GMC
Starting price: $91,995

Range: 390 – 460 miles

If you want to be able to cover more than 500 miles in your electric truck, then the GMC Sierra EV could be the perfect replacement for your Cybertruck. Based on the same platform as the Silverado EV, GMC’s offering comes with more range and a whiff of luxury that you might miss in Chevy’s EV.

It is, however, a pretty ugly truck and might not appeal to everybody out there. At least its looks might not get you egged, but it’s something you’ll be aware of while utilizing its 10,000-pound towing claims or its charging speeds of up to 350 kW.

GMC Hummer EV

GM
Starting price: $98,845

Range: 282 – 318 miles

Like the sound of all that but don’t totally want to lose the attention your Cybertruck brings, get a Hummer EV instead. Based on the same platform as Chevy’s Silverado and GMC’s Sierra trucks, the Hummer EV is a brute that’s almost as ridiculous as the Cybertruck. Almost. 

For pretty much the same price as the Cybertruck, GM will sell you a Hummer with an extra 1,000 pounds of towing capacity, the ability to drive sideways (like a crab), and the largest battery of any EV in America. What more could you want from an enormous electric pickup? 

RAM 1500 REV

Stellantis
Starting price: Unknown 

Range: 350 miles

If you aren’t in a rush to abandon your Cybertruck out of fear it’ll be the victim of a domestic terrorism, then you could soon swap it for Stellantis’ electric truck offering: the Ram 1500 REV. This beast will be the first all-electric pickup from Ram and is slated to launch once the hybrid Ramcharger model hits the market.

When it launches in 2026, the 1500 REV will offer the greatest towing capacity of the trucks listed here at around 14,000 pounds, a range of roughly 350 miles on a single charge, and a payload capacity of more than 2,600 pounds, which is over 100 more than the Cybertruck can manage.

Scout Terra

Scout Motors
Starting price: Under $60,000

Range: 350 miles

Another electric truck that might be worth waiting for is the Terra from the relaunched Scout brand. Revived by VW last year, the Scout Terra is an all-electric truck that offers 350 miles of range, a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds, and it’ll be sold direct-to-consumers, so you won’t have to deal with a salesperson piling on markups.

What’s more, the Terra will also be available with an optional range extender in the form of a gas-powered motor. The range-extender models will be capable of covering around 500 miles on a charge, but will take a hit on towing capacity, which will be around 5,000 pounds when the new trucks launch in 2027.

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The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Is Exactly What You Want It To Be
Forget what you heard, the Ranger Raptor is the rowdy little off-roader you’ve been waiting for
BY  RORY CARROLL MARCH 21, 2024 5:00 AM EST

Ford/Other

Ford
Two, maybe three times in the lead up to driving the new Ford Ranger Raptor, I heard it compared to a rally car. This something that car companies have been increasingly eager to say about their cars in the last few years, and it’s also something that trips the old switch in my brain marked “skepticism.” As I approached the end of my day driving the Ranger Raptor, my I was feeling pretty good about my skepticism and kind of weirdly bummed, or at least undecided about the truck which, as I was about to discover, rips. Or at least can rip, and is not at all a bummer.

Full disclosure: Ford wanted me to drive the Ranger Raptor, so I got to go to Utah. Utah is so beautiful.

When we first saw the F-150 Raptor in 2010, the high speed off-roader was a miracle of automaker exuberance, a truck that for a million reasons should and could not exist. You, or someone like you could walk into a Ford store and walk out with a machine capable of traveling at highway speeds in the open desert. Obviously, it sold like crazy and hasn’t been off the F-150 menu since.

Ford
With the American reintroduction of the Ranger nameplate in 2019, there were a lot of people kind of eyeballing the F-150 Raptor, then looking back to the Ranger and saying “EHHHH?, EHHHHH?” like a Ranger Raptor was the most obvious thing in the world. As it turned out, it was obvious in the world, but not in North America. We didn’t get one. But, we got one now.

The Ranger Raptor shares Ford’s T6 platform with the Bronco Raptor and its twin-turbo V6, making 405 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque here. The frame has been reinforced, lightened upper and lower control arms mounted, and Fox’s live-valve suspension installed. But, really, all the stuff is there: Two lockers, decent angles (approach 33 degrees, breakover 24.2 degrees, departure 26.4 degrees), manageable dimensions, 10.7 inches of ground clearance, two-speed transfer case, BFG KO3 tires. It looks cool too, though I’d have to pull the stickers off mine.

Ford
We started our day at the Raptor Assault School, a driving school that will be available for free to Ranger Raptor owners. I have to pause here and say, that’s not the name I would have picked for it. I am being one-hundred percent serious when I say that when I saw “Assault School” on the itinerary, I wondered if there’d be shooting involved and if I was going to to be asked to practice clearing a room. The word “assault” describes a felony, it does not make off-roading seem fun or approachable. Ford is generally very good about welcoming all kinds of people into their cars, into off-roading. It take pains to emphasize that off-roaders have a responsibility to the land they adventure on. The name just feels a little out of step with all that. Not a huge deal, but I feel compelled to meddle. Someone suggested you could call it the Ranger Raptor Flight school, as you get to do a fun little jump. Bingo bango.

Ford
Anyway, you wouldn’t know it from the name, but Raptor Assault School is a fun place. After a short on-road drive were I learned that the Raptor Ranger can drive on the road and has better steering than the standard Ranger, we got set up to do a little rock crawl into the mountains. We activated and deactivated the rear locker, tried the hill descent system, used the camera to place the tires, and generally kind of became aware that the Raptor Ranger was not exactly being challenged by any part of the course. In fact, we probably could have fully removed any two of the trucks wheels and still made it around. The program we were on hosted a lot of different people and they all had different levels of off-roading experience. I wasn’t expecting the Rubicon Trail, and the point, that the Ranger Raptor can handle crawling, was made.

We also learned about the many modes that are available to the driver of a Ranger Raptor. It’s not that the modes aren’t useful, or effective, they do what they say they do. It’s just that there are so many of them. In order, the modes are: Normal, Tow/Haul, Sport, Slippery, Off-Road, Rock Crawl, and Baja. I kept thinking of my CJ2A, GX470 and F-150, which have zero modes, or I guess one mode.

Ford
After the rock crawl, we did some familiarization exercises to get us used to how the Ranger Raptor performed at higher speeds on loose surfaces. This is why you buy a Raptor instead of say, a Wrangler Rubicon. Raptors don’t just trundle over rocks or through the woods, they go fast.

As I said, this program was designed to demonstrate the truck to people with varying levels of experience doing this sort of thing. We got strict instructions not to select gears with the paddle shifters and we got just a couple of chances to do each exercise. The first was more or less one of those loops you do at your first track day. Accelerate, turn, brake.

Ford
Pretty quickly, I became aware of a couple things. One, if you try to upset the Raptor and initiate a slide by braking with your left foot, you really, really have to jam it or the suspension just soaks it up. The other is that under certain circumstances, the Raptor is going to cut power on you, even in the most permissive “Baja” mode. I obviously haven’t read anyone else’s review of the truck, but there was some grumbling on-site about it, and some of the other journalists seemed a little less than in-love with the truck after their time on the high-speed course. The Ranger Raptor value proposition is big hooning on the gravel or in the desert.

I asked Ranger Raptor Program Manager and affable Australian, Justin Capicchiano what was going on. He said basically that the truck would let you have the your first big, satisfying slide, but that they didn’t want drivers chasing big slides and getting into trouble trying to correct them. So, once the wheel comes back to center from slide one, power is reduced and the truck settles down. He said that once you know this, you can drive around it and still have fun, which as I found out on the larger, faster Baja course, is true. It’s just a thing you have to learn.

Ford
Another thing you can learn about the Ranger Raptor (sorry) is that if you push, then release, then hold the traction control button on the center console, you can turn that off. I wasn’t explicitly told not to do that, but I understand that it was probably outside the spirit of the program, which again was first and foremost, focused on keeping everyone safe, regardless of their level of off-roading experience. You should not do it, and you should definitely not do it at Raptor Assault School. I was coming off a rally school and feeling pretty confident, so I did it.

What I learned by pressing the forbidden button is that the Ranger Raptor is everything you hope it is. It’s too tall an heavy to be exactly a rally car, but it slides beautifully and controllably, it will absolutely explode out of a corner and carry enough speed to leave the ground when you hit the dip on the back straight of the Ranger Assault School’s Baja course. It is a profoundly fun machine and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.

Ford
With destination, you’ll pay at least $56,960 for a Ranger Raptor. That’s the tough thing about mid-size trucks, it’s so easy to get out of whack on the value end of things. $60k buys a lot of pickup and for people who want to use their truck as a base for longer camping trips, choosing a Raptor reduces the Ranger’s payload to 1375 pounds.

But, if you want to use your pickup to go sideways or fly through the air, there’s the Ranger Raptor and it’s absolutely worth the price of admission. I haven’t driven a ZR2/AT4X, but as it stands right now, driving the Ranger Raptor is as much fun as I’ve had in a modern pickup truck.

Ford

Ford

Ford
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Tesla Kills Cybertruck Range Extender As The Sky Continues To Fall
BY ANDY KALMOWITZ APRIL 7, 2025 2:25 PM EST

Tesla
The Tesla Cybertruck represents a place where promises go to die. Promises about durability, safety, price, power and even range fell apart as soon as the thing went on sale at the end of 2023. Years ago, we were promised that the tri-motor version of the Cybertruck would have over 500 miles of range, but when it hit the market, it only got around 320 miles (the dual motor gets about 325 miles). To make up for this screw-up, Tesla offered a $16,000 range extender that takes up about a third of the CT’s entire bed. However, it never got into the hands of any customers, and now it seems to be gone from Tesla’s configurator completely, according to Electrek, Like most other Tesla products, the range extender has been delayed repeatedly. The “445+ mile” battery pack was initially pushed to “early 2025” and then at the end of 2024, Tesla said it would actually show up sometime in “mid-2025,” we’ve reported. Well, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. The option has been removed from the Cybertruck’s configurator. It’s not totally clear if Tesla is planning to launch a modified version of the product, or if it has just scrapped it altogether. If I were a betting man, I’d say the automaker gave up on it.

Previously, the Austin, Texas-based automaker would happily take your $2,000 non-refundable deposit” for the piece of equipment. There’s no word on if the suckers who opted for the pack will actually see any of that money ever again.

Cyberissues

Mark Roger Bailey/Shutterstock
Back in early 2024, InsideEVs reported on an unofficial survey that showed that about 25 percent of Tesla Cybertruck owners put down a deposit for the Range Extender. At the time though, it only cost a $500 deposit. Still, who knows if anyone will ever actually get that money back?

In theory, the truck will soon get a big battery upgrade because of Tesla’s 4680-cell program, according to InsideEVs. It remains unclear as to whether the new battery pack will improve performance, range, both or neither. However, it’s expected to be a pretty big cost savings for Tesl — a company that could really use a win as its CEO, Elon Musk, attempts to destroy every last bit of goodwill it has.

If Tesla’s first quarter sales report is any indication, Musk’s company is in for a very long year as more and more folks refuse to buy them. Perhaps Elon should have thought about that before he got all strange and weird with Trump, but here we are.

In just the past few days, we’ve told you about how Cybertruck values are cratering, how body panels are flying off as people drive down the road, the fact it can’t really tow and we’ve shown you The Worst Cybertruck.

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These Are The Best Tires For Your Car, Truck Or SUV, According To Consumer Reports
Good tires are arguably the most important safety feature on your car
BY  COLLIN WOODARD OCTOBER 25, 2024 8:00 AM EST

Honda
Outside of enthusiast circles, most people don’t think about tires all that often. You have to have them to drive, they’re expensive to replace, and then they’re mostly forgotten until you get a flat. The thing is, tires are important. Really important. They’re the only thing that connects your car to the ground, and unfortunately, they aren’t all basically the same.

So if you’re looking to replace your tires, which ones are going to be the best for your particular vehicle? Well, it depends on what you drive, but our friends over at Consumer Reports recently published a list of the best car tires, as well as one for trucks and SUVs. These likely won’t be the least expensive tires you can buy, but the driving experience and significantly longer tread life should more than make up for it.

Click through to see which tires performed the best in Consumer Reports’ testing. We also included a separate video review to give you a different perspective on the top tire for each segment.

Car – All-Season

If you just want a tire you can use year-round, it’s going to be hard to beat the $189 Michelin Defender2. It performed well in all weather conditions and also comes with a shockingly high predicted tread life of 100,000 miles. Alternatively, consider the Hankook Kinergy XP, which scored almost as well as the Michelin. It’s less expensive but has a lower projected tread life of 75,000 miles, which is still impressive.

Car – High-Performance All-Season

While you probably don’t need performance tires on your Mazda CX-50, if you drive something sportier, it helps to pair it with tires that will help it handle and steer like it should. If you want one tire to do it all, you’re going to want the $195 Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4. Rolling resistance is higher than average, but that’s to be expected from a performance tire, and it still has a 60,000-mile projected tread life.

Alternatively, you could go with the BFGoodrich G-force Comp-2 A/S plus, which barely lost to the Michelin. It really shines in dry weather and may be the better choice if you don’t get much rain.

Car – High-Performance Summer

All-season tires are a good choice for most drivers, but if you want to get the most out of your performance car, you probably want a pair of dedicated summer tires. If that’s the case, then the Michelin Pilot Sport 4s is still the tire to get. It costs more than $200, but Consumer Reports loves it, owners love it and you probably will, too.

You could also look at the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02. It scored similarly but comes with a slightly shorter shelf life and lower owner satisfaction.

Car – Winter/Snow

All-season and all-weather tires are significantly better than they were in the relatively recent past, but if you live in an area that gets extremely cold and snows a lot in winter, it’s likely worth it to invest in winter tires. If that’s the case, look at the $189 Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5. You’ll see the benefits more on snow or ice than on dry pavement, but it still did well there, too.

As far as alternatives go, Consumer Reports actually recommends two options here — the Continental Viking Contact and the Michelin X-Ice Snow.

Car – High-Performance Winter/Snow

It may sound crazy to drive a sports car in winter if it snows so much that you need dedicated tires for it, but why shouldn’t you get to enjoy your performance car just because a blizzard just blew through? Throw a set of pricey ($278!) Bridgestone Blizzak LM005s on your Corvette, though, and you’ll be free to drive all winter.

If you can’t justify paying so much for tires you only use part of the year, the next-best alternative is the Hankook Winter I*cept Evo 3, which scored nearly as well but is also cheaper.

SUV – All-Season

Michelin has a reputation for making some of the best tires you can buy, but the Michelin CrossClimate2 really stands out among other all-weather and all-season SUV tires. They cost more than $250 each, but it’s also important to remember these tires are projected to last 95,000 miles and will last for years.

Alternatively, you could go for the Vredestein HiTrac that placed second. Its projected tread life is significantly shorter at 60,000 miles, though and isn’t as comfortable, so there will be tradeoffs even if it’s probably $50 cheaper per tire.

Truck – All-Season

If you drive a truck, Consumer Reports recommends the Continental TerrainContact H/T. It also costs more than $200, but that’s just the price you have to pay to get the best all-around truck tire. It also stood out for being quiet, as well as its snow performance, and it has a projected tread life of 70,000 miles.

If you live in an area that gets a lot more rain than snow, you should probably look at the General Grabber HTS60 for its better hydroplaning resistance. Its projected tread life is shorter at 55,000 miles.

Truck – All-Terrain

When choosing a truck tire, weather and temperature aren’t the only things to consider. You also have to think about how much off-roading you expect to do. If it’s going to be a regular thing, it may be worth investing in some all-terrain tires like the pricey Continental TerrainContact A/T. It should also last about 65,000 miles, which is pretty impressive for a good off-road tire.

If you want a longer tread life and don’t mind additional tire noise, the Michelin LTX A/T 2 and its 80,000-mile projected tread life would make a great alternative. Plus, it offers better resistance to hydroplaning.

General Truck/SUV – Winter/Snow

If you own a high-riding vehicle of any kind, wouldn’t you know it, Consumer Reports still recommends you buy the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5. As far as alternatives go, the Continental Viking Contact 7 and Michelin X-Ice Snow are also recommended. Hey, a good tire’s a good tire, and your CR-V probably has more in common with a sedan than a Suburban.

(Either that, or some intern created a linking error while building the post.)

SUV – Winter/Snow

You can also get an SUV-specific version of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV if you want to make sure your SUV has the best possible tire for the winter. It’s not like the regular Hakkapeliitta R5 will cause you to crash, but it will likely be a bit better suited for an SUV. They’re more than $200, though, so you may want to consider the less expensive GT Radial IcePro SUV 3.

Read More: https://www.jalopnik.com/1828795/tesla-drops-range-extender-cybertruck-option/

A Turbocharged, Caged, Lifted Honda Element With Half-Doors Is The Perfect Off-Roader
BY AMBER DASILVA SEPT. 10, 2025 3:25 PM EST

Facebook Marketplace
Have you ever wanted a Jeep, but not wanted it to be a Jeep? Well, that’s a very specific and weird ask, but luckily one Facebook Marketplace seller has you covered. Introducing the Heep, a Wrangler made out of a Honda Element. It has a rollcage, half-doors, a four-inch lift, and a turbo sticking out of its hood, and it could all be yours for just $3,500 — you can tell me there’s a better off-roader out there, and I will simply not believe you. 

The seller says this build was put together as a joke, but that doing so inspired him to remake the same concept again out of even better parts. Thus, this first draft is now up for grabs. Sure, it may not “have a clean title” or “be rust-free” or “be street legal,” but do you care about that? Are you going to let a little bit of paperwork and oxidation stand between you and automotive perfection?

First thought, best thought

Facebook Marketplace
The Heep’s 64 mm turbo sticks out its hood, to show off how turbocharged the Element is. Its boost runs through a front-mount intercooler that sits behind its winch before running into the engine, making presumably some amount of horsepower — the seller doesn’t specify or offer dyno charts. He does, though, specify that both the Heep’s green paint and its tube half-doors come from the Wrangler. It’s so Jeep, and yet so distinctly not a Jeep. 

This is the kind of build you only see from enthusiasts with too much time on their hands, who always seem to create genuine art in their garages. Off-road Elements aren’t uncommon, but this is something else entirely — part Jeep, part turbocharged track car, all unique. I’d say there’s no better four-wheeler out there for $3,500, but I think there may not be a better off-roader at any price. Someone buy this so I can’t. 

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The 2025 Land District Might Kick Off A New-Era Of American Moto
BY BRAD BROWNELL MARCH 3, 2025 4:25 PM EST

Land Moto
While walking my 17-year-old Basset hound his constantly busy nose took us down a road we’d never travelled before. A nondescript brick warehouse on this undiscovered route was adorned with the simple signage for Land–an electric vehicle maker. Living in Cleveland, the city from which Land derives its name, I knew about Land and had previously met the company’s CEO, but was completely unaware that the company was literally in my neighborhood. I’ll admit that I’m a real homer for electric mobility, but I truly believe that life in America would be so much better if a greater percentage of the population commuted on a small electron runabout than a three-ton gasoline-burning behemoth. So I had to get my hands on one of the company’s products. The America I love was built on supporting local manufacturing, so I wanted to see if we’re still capable of building good stuff. 

Full Disclosure: Land invited me to tour its headquarters and manufacturing facility on the west side of Cleveland, Ohio. I was given a couple of hours to ride a District motorcycle around the neighborhood and into downtown, and free use of the electricity in the battery. I walked from my house and walked back when I was done. 

Future proof?

Land Moto
Let’s get down to brass tacks: This is a $7,000 bike, which can be a lot or a little depending how you look at it. Sure, it’s twice the price of a gas-powered mini-commuter bike like a Honda Grom, but the District is also capable of a lightning quick 0-60 time and the Grom isn’t capable of 60 at all. In the same way a Grom does, I found the District put a smile on my face that even below-freezing February Ohio lakeshore weather couldn’t wipe off. Even with my nearly-300 pounds frame onboard, which has the aerodynamic profile of a lengthways brick wall, this little pocket rocket can run with some of the quickest gas bikes out there, and most of the big electrics. Despite its relatively meager 23 horsepower, a dash from stopped to 30 mph feels about as quick as any other bike I’ve ever twisted a wrist on, and its 70+ mph top speed feels effortless. This machine incorporates different ride modes you can use to graduate from the just-above-walking-pace mode 1, which apes a typical stand-up mobility rental scooter, all the way to full-tilt bonkers mode 4. If you aren’t confident in your skills as a rider, keep it limited to the lower power modes until you gain some experience. 

Cleveland’s finest

Bradley Brownell
Electric motorcycles don’t have to look like gas motorcycles. It’s something I’ve believed since the beginning, and Land apparently does, too. Land’s founder and CEO, Scott Colosimo, was once a professor of design at Cleveland Institute of Art, after all. While this little machine does have a plastic “tank” shape, it exists mostly because you need something to brace your legs against. The long, low, and flat look of the District is fetching and quasi-futuristic. It’s simple and pared back as a function of its price point and as a form of its unembellished aesthetic. There’s not much to report about the visuals of this bike that you can’t see for yourself. It’s all on display with the aluminum-cased removable battery taking up most of the real estate. With an upright riding position, a standard 32-inch stand-over height, and simple controls, this is the kind of bike that just about anyone can get on and ride comfortably. It’s functional design without being more of the same, looking forward without forgetting the functionality that made the past work.

The unpainted matte molded plastics are indicative of what makes this bike different than most. It’s built to be used instead of looked at. Colosimo, pointed to a full-fairing Ducati sport bike as the antithesis of the District’s ethos. If you were to drop a Panigale you’d be faced with replacing thousands of dollars in gorgeous Ducati Rosso plastics. Land wants its bikes to be seen as usable, durable goods, which can easily and inexpensively be repaired, and stand the test of time. The plastics on a Land are left rough finished to keep costs down and add to the durability and function-forward design of the bike. There’s something to be said for preventative patina, especially when it gives the bike a more industrial and worn-in appearance. The steel tube frame isn’t as light, stiff, or form-fitting as an aluminum subframe, but it’s a hell of a lot more resilient to dings and scratches. 

How I would spec it

Bradley Brownell
Outside of the drivetrain, the company works exclusively with local manufacturers in Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania as a way to keep quality control and iterative manufacturing possible. If the engineers want to see a new revision to a part, or look at a new powdercoat, they can just go there and see it first hand instead of waiting for a part to slow-boat from China. This is where the startup mentality can help manufacturing, as Land can move a lot faster and make improvements from year to year. That’s one of the things that I think sets the District apart is that Land has engineered it to be future proof. Not only can the batteries be removed from the bike relatively easily so you can carry them into your apartment or home to charge overnight, but the company is banking on developing battery technology to improve weight and range targets. If batteries keep getting better, the District can keep getting better. Most electric motorcycles these days mount the battery as part of the chassis, making upgrades much more difficult, if possible at all, and costly.

Stay seated

Bradley Brownell
After spending a couple of hours at the manufacturing facility and in the saddle, I think Land has really figured out the formula. The District is the right blend of cheap and cheerful for an electric runabout, but unlike all of the other cheap electric machines I’ve ridden, this one can actually keep up with traffic, and it feels like it was built with substance. To summarize this thing, it’s light enough to be a ton of fun to rip around the city, while being fast enough to run with traffic on your suburban commute. Too many electric motorcycles pick one or the other, but this straddles the divide, which is the real genius of it.

This is maybe the perfect beginner bike, which is another part of the Land mission. The company wants to open up motorcycling to be accessible to more people. Whether you’re a teen rider slinging a leg over for the first time, or on the shorter side of the spectrum as many women are, for example, Land offers an even shorter version of its already pretty short bike. You can option the District with a 30-inch seat height if you desire two additional inches of crotch clearance.

What options are available?

Land Moto
The Land District can be a few different things depending on how you order it. The bike I rode was the “Street” model, which comes equipped with Pirelli Angel CT Street tires, lower suspension, and a low-mounted fender. You can option the District as a “Scrambler” as well, with Shinko Dual Sport tires, an extra inch of suspension height, and high-mount fenders. If you really want some off-road prowess from the Scrambler, you can order up a smaller rear gear to sacrifice top speed for some extra wheel speed. I think that’s how I’d have mine, if I were looking to fill a spot in my garage with another electric motorcycle. Both versions of the bike can be had with three different battery arrangements. The standard single-battery model has just 1.8 kWh of battery onboard, which cuts weight significantly, but reduced range is a byproduct with just about 40 miles of low-speed city riding available. If you have a short commute and don’t need the miles, go for it. You can get a second Land battery pack installed for 3.6 kWh nominal and a claimed 80 miles, and that’s just $1500 more. But if you really need the extra range you can get Land to put a double-wide case in the bike to fit a full 4.8 kWh nominal for up to 110 miles of city riding pleasure. That’s the one I was riding, and probably the one I would pick, It’s a pricey upgrade at $2,000, but the range is probably worth it. The plastics are available in black, grey, or seafoam, and I would personally pick the colorful option for a bit more whimsy.

Who is this for?

Bradley Brownell
This isn’t a bike for the kind of people who hop on a Harley Road King or a BMW GS and rip 800 miles in a single sitting, so all you dorks can shut up about that. If you are an average American commuter who lives in the suburbs and drives to a job 12 miles every morning through rush hour traffic, this little ripper will absolutely serve you wonderfully and add a good dollop of fun to your daily ride. You’ll easily out-accelerate everything this side of a supercar and when the going gets super slow you can kick it down to e-scooter mode and take to the bike lane to subvert traffic altogether. This little bike might just be the sweet spot for just about every two-wheeled commuter on the planet, and most cagers. It splits the difference between something like a much more expensive Zero and a much slower Bosch electrified bicycle, but somehow feels better constructed and more cohesive than either. Ultimately I still like my own LiveWire better, but that cost more than twice as much as a fully-loaded Land and is hardly fit for newbies. This might be my new favorite bike under $10,000. Ride one, it might surprise you.

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Ram Will Still Sell You A Brand-New, 16-Year-Old Truck
There’s a new 1500 coming this year, but that’s not stopping Ram from keeping the previous generation around.
BY  LAWRENCE HODGE JANUARY 5, 2024 9:45 AM EST

Ram
There’s a strange automotive tradition of keeping old models around while the new generation of the same model goes on sale. Often its because the old model is still selling pretty damn good. Nissan did it with its Rogue Select; Chevy has done it a few times with Classic models. Ram is still currently doing it with the previous-gen Ram 1500.

First spotted by Motor1, who also got Stellantis to confirm, the Ram 1500 Classic is returning for 2024. Why’s this a big deal you may ask? Because this thing is old as hell. The Classic is based on the fourth-generation Ram, a truck introduced so long ago it came around when Rams were still known as Dodge trucks. It was introduced in 2008 for the 2009 model year. If you’re keeping count, that’s 15 years ago—ancient by auto industry standards.

Ram Trucks
It must sell pretty well for the brand to continue to keep it around for this long, despite it now surviving over two generations (I wish I could say exactly how well it sells. Stellantis doesn’t list the 1500 Classic as a separate model in its sales results.) Part of its appeal is probably how cheap it is compared to other full-size trucks on the market. Using the 2023 Ram 1500 Classic as an example (Stellantis hasn’t released any pricing info or changes for the ’24 Classic yet) it starts at just $32,345 for a regular cab two-wheel drive with an eight-foot bed; the only other trim for the Classic is the Warlock and it starts at $43,645.

The Classic is also one of the cheapest ways to get a V8 truck on the market. Stick with the fleet-like trim of regular cab with the eight-foot bed and no other options besides the 5.7-liter V8 and you can drive off for just $36,335. With pricing like that and the ever increasing cost of full-size trucks, hopefully the Ram 1500 Classic will stick around for a little while longer.

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Both GameStop And Love’s Truck Stop Feature In Massive $1.4 Million Nintendo Switch 2 Heist
BY MATTHEW DEBORD JULY 1, 2025 4:31 PM EST

Neiu20001/Getty Images
This one is a long-haul trucking story that has everything, including some expensive cargo, a trucker in the dark about what he was carrying, and a Love’s truck stop. The trucker was transporting thousands of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles from Washington to Texas when, at a Love’s in Colorado, he discovered that he had been the victim of a theft. According to the local NBC affiliate in Dallas-Fort Worth, more than 2,800 Switch 2s worth over $1.4 million were taken about two weeks ago.

The devices were headed for a GameStop, and the company briefly trolled the thieves on X before reportedly taking down its post that read, “Come trade them in, we dare you.” That’s obviously a pretty GameStop-y taunt, rounding out the entire tale (GameStop is well known for its trade-in policy). The Switch 2 has only been on sale since early June and is in high demand, and evidently they were on shipping pallets, making the heist all the more impressive as the trucker didn’t even notice the units were missing for much of his trip.

In the dark about the cargo

Arapahoe Sheriff
The trucker said he didn’t know what his specific cargo was. That’s not surprising. He probably just hooked up his tractor to a trailer in Redmond, Washington, with the understanding that there were some Nintendo-ish things in it. He also called the sheriff as soon as he discovered the missing game units, suggesting that this wasn’t some kind of inside job. Rather, the trucker was perhaps a bit inattentive during his stops, failing to check the security of his trailer each time. We’ll see how the investigation pans out.

Almost everybody who has done some road-tripping has encountered a Love’s at some point. This location is just off I-70 in Bennett, Colorado, roughly 30 miles from Denver. In my experience, there’s always a lot of action at Love’s truck stops, which operate 24 hours a day and are beacons for long-haul truckers. I’m no detective, but I’m going to suggest that due to these factors, the theft didn’t happen where the trucker finally noticed it but at some other point on the journey.

So who did the crime?

Kevin Carter/Getty Images
Maybe the thieves knew what was in the trailer, maybe they didn’t. Regardless, they must have had a way to make off with over 2,800 Switch 2s, so they were probably well-organized professionals. The FBI has a page dedicated to cargo theft, which is widespread. The National Insurance Crime Bureau estimates that it adds up to more than $35 billion a year — and it’s on the rise, going up 27% in 2024 with an anticipated increase of 22% in 2025.

That’s a lot of stuff getting stolen. And we are heading into one of the biggest periods for truck cargo theft on the calendar: the July 4th holiday. Trucknews.com altered its readers and ran down some larcenous highlights from previous years. For example, a whopping $700,000 in e-cigarettes were boosted in California.

A big number, but half of what just one heist got with this Great GameStop/Nintendo Heist. The Arapahoe County Sheriff has set up a tip line for information: 720-874-8477.

Read More: https://www.jalopnik.com/1901212/nintendo-switch-2-consoles-stolen-from-semi-truck/