Final Blackwing Manual, $49K New-Car Avg, Ford Recall
PLUS: BMW wagons, Ferrari 458 soars, Waymo's $30 tier
Releases & Reviews
2026 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Manual Final Test: One Last Go With the Super CT5
Cadillac's swan-song super-sedan pairs a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 making 668 horsepower (498 kW) and 659 lb-ft (894 Nm) with a six-speed manual. The 4,076-pound (1,846 kg) sedan hits 60 mph in 3.6 seconds; with 2026 its final year, get it before it's gone.
2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA350 EV Quick Review: At Least Itâs Efficient
The third-gen CLA is EV-only, and this 349 horsepower (260 kW) dual-motor version returns an impressive 312 miles (502 km) of range. But our reviewer found a 4,700-pound (2,129 kg) sedan undermined by mushy handling, missing standard equipment, and maddening usability quirksâjust a 5/10.
Technology, Market Data & Analysis
Report: Porsche CEO Promises There Won't be a 911 EV
CEO Michael Leiters reportedly confirmed Porsche has no plans for an electric 911, keeping its flagship combustion-powered. The pledge fits a broader EV retreat: the next 718 is being re-engineered for gas engines, a new combustion SUV is coming, and the 911 sticks with hybrid assistance.
Average New Car Price Cooled Slightly to $49,220 in May
Kelley Blue Book pegged the average new-car transaction price at $49,220 in May, down slightly from April but up 1.2% year over year. Bargains remain in less-popular segments: compact cars averaged $27,443 and subcompact SUVs $31,122, while EV prices fell for an 11th straight month to $54,532.
Car Culture
8 Great V-8 Droptops for Under $30K
A Hagerty roundup of eight affordable V-8 convertiblesâeach under $30,000 in excellent conditionâfor summer cruising. Picks span a 1969 Mercury Cougar, Fox-body Mustang, and C4 Corvette up to a supercharged Mercedes SL55 AMG making at least 493 horsepower (368 kW).
Fun Facts About the Famous Ferrari in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'
Forty years on, the red 250 GT California Spider from the John Hughes classic gets its backstory told. The film's star cars were actually fiberglass replicasâthree were builtâsince a real Ferrari was too precious to launch through a window. Surviving replicas have since sold for up to $396,000.
Miscellaneous
Ford Recalls Half A Million SUVs Over Potential Interior Safety Issue
Ford is recalling 548,463 Expeditions from 2018-2024 because chrome center-console trim can bubble, peel, and form sharp edges. The automaker first declined a recall, then reversed course after concluding injuriesâ65 reported globally, mostly hand lacerationsâcould be worse than thought. It's Ford's 41st recall of the year.
Jeep Will Give Away 100 Wranglers if America Suddenly Gets Good at Soccer
In a cheeky World Cup stunt, Jeep promises to give a new Wrangler to the first 100 living Americans legally named George Washingtonâbut only if the U.S. men's team wins the whole tournament. With America's odds around 60:1, Jeep is probably keeping its Wranglers.
Quick Links
Trump Learns of Right to Repair Battle from Ford and GM, Farley Responds
Trump called the long-running right-to-repair fight "strange," while Ford CEO Jim Farley defended restricting it on safety grounds, claiming letting owners fix a new Bronco at home could "put people's lives at risk."
BMW Could Bring More Wagons To America: 'We Will Look Into Touring Concepts'
After M5 Touring demand split nearly 50/50 with the sedan, a BMW product exec says the brand will "look into" more wagons where it makes senseâfueling hopes for an M3 Touring stateside.
Waymo introduces $30-a-month premium tier for riders who want faster pickups
The invite-only $29.99 monthly plan offers priority pickups, 10% cash back, early access in new cities, and five free cancellations a month, launching first in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.
Rivian Heard You Complaining About Touchscreens So It Over-Engineered Scroll Wheels
The R2's configurable "Halo wheels" fake their satisfying detents entirely in softwareâa tiny motor generates the haptic clicksâso an over-the-air update can change what each wheel controls.
Fiat Has 5 New Models Coming Soon. Here's All Of Them
Part of 13 models due by 2030, the five include the Grizzly compact SUV, a coupe-style Grizzly Fastback, the tiny Quattrolino quadricycle, an electric Pandina starting around âŹ15,000 (~$16,000), and the three-wheeled Tris delivery truck.
With a Huge Spike in Value, the Ferrari 458 Speciale Is, Well, Special
As the last naturally aspirated V-8 Ferrari, the Speciale's excellent-condition value jumped 57% year over year to $845,000, while the rare 499-unit Speciale A convertible surged as much as 93% to $1.9 million.
This Dodge Charger Daytona Is Transformed into a Solid-State Battery Test Bed
Stellantis and Factorial have road-tested their FEST solid-state cellsârated at 375 Wh/kg and a 15-to-90% charge in 18 minutesâin a Charger Daytona, the technology's first automotive use in North America.