$103K Ram TRX Returns, GR Corolla Fixed, Lucid Layoffs
PLUS: $2.4M Czinger, 3-Row Tesla Y, V8 AMG CLE 63
Releases & Reviews
The 2027 Ram TRX Is Back, and It’ll Cost You $102,790
Ram’s resurrected off-road monster packs the Hellcat’s supercharged 6.2 liter V8, now making 777 horsepower (580 kW) and 680 lb-ft (922 Nm)—enough for 0–60 in 3.5 seconds and a 118 mph (190 km/h) top speed. The $102,790 base includes hands-free driver assist; the Bloodshot Night Edition adds $9,995.
2026 Toyota GR Corolla Premium Plus Test: The Fix Is In
Toyota refined its 300 horsepower (224 kW) hot hatch without dulling it. A reworked clutch, extra cooling, and a stiffer body sharpen the 1.6 liter turbo triple, which now does 0–60 in 4.2 seconds—the quickest GR Corolla yet. The verdict: reliability and polish improved, the manic spirit intact.
Technology, Market Data & Analysis
Lucid Motors is laying off more than a thousand people.
The EV maker’s second round of cuts this year eliminates roughly 18 percent of its US workforce and axes the second production shift at its Arizona AMP-1 plant—reversing earlier plans to double output. Lucid expects about $158 million in annual savings from the move.
Toyota And Nissan Admit Their American-Made Vehicles Aren't Up To Japanese Standards
After a US trade deal opened Japan to American-built cars, Toyota and Nissan are shipping the Tundra, Highlander, and Murano home with buyer notices warning of thin paint, panel gaps, and sealant residue. Some features, like traffic-sign recognition and maps, also won’t function on Japanese roads.
Car Culture
ICON 4x4 Aims for the Old Chevy C10—And Hits the Bullseye
Jonathan Ward’s ICON 4x4 grafts an authentic 1967–1972 Chevy C10 body onto a modern Silverado 1500 V8 chassis, keeping the four-wheel drive, ABS, and infotainment underneath. The C Modern Retro Series comes restored or in weathered patina—starting at $450,000 and $500,000 respectively.
The Most 1970s Car Of All Time Drives Totally Differently Than It Looks
David Tracy discovers that the screaming-chicken 1979 Pontiac Trans Am writes checks its malaise-era 6.6 liter V8 can’t cash—an Avalon out-accelerates it from a light. With a waterbed ride and lounge-like brown cabin, it’s best enjoyed as a stylish personal-luxury cruiser, not a muscle car.
Miscellaneous
Man Driving Giant Banana Gets Pulled Over in Montana
Steve Braithwaite’s 23 foot (7 meter) fiberglass banana—built on a 1993 Ford F-150 and wearing a “SPLIT” license plate—was pulled over near Billings for a blocked tag. He escaped without a ticket, adding to the hundreds of stops he’s racked up over a decade of a-peeling road trips.
Land Rover Recalls Defender, Discovery, Range Rover; Issues Stop-Sale
A driver’s airbag defect has triggered a recall and dealer stop-sale across JLR’s three best-sellers—Defender, Discovery, and Range Rover—built between April 2019 and June 2026. Showrooms can’t sell affected stock until fixed units arrive; JLR says it found the flaw internally, with no real-world incidents reported.
Quick Links
Goin’ Nuclear: We Tested America’s 1,250-HP, $2.4-Million Hypercar and Set a Record
The carbon-fiber, 3D-printed Czinger 21C pairs a 750 horsepower (560 kW) twin-turbo V8 with electric motors for 1,250 horsepower (933 kW), hitting 0–60 in 2.0 seconds and setting a track record.
Tesla Model Y L Coming to the U.S. as a More Spacious Three-Row SUV
Tesla will reportedly bring the stretched Model Y L—about seven inches (18 cm) longer with a roomier third row—to the US by late 2026, filling the gap left by the discontinued Model X.
Cops Are Already Using License Plate Readers to Stalk People
Investigations found police using Flock’s license-plate camera network to stalk exes and strangers—one Missouri officer ran 542 searches—while data brokers move toward tracking phones and devices, not just plates.
Alpine's Next Porsche Rival Is Coming Next Month
Alpine debuts its third-generation A110 at Goodwood on July 9—an all-electric, 800-volt Porsche Cayman rival it calls the “world’s first true EV sports car,” with a larger 911-fighting 2+2 to follow.
Spy Shots Reveal V-8–Powered CLE AMG 63 Coupe
Spy shots confirm the 2027 Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 keeps a twin-turbo 4.0 liter V8—expected to top 600 horsepower (448 kW)—bucking AMG’s downsizing trend, along with a new dial-equipped steering wheel.
The Definition of a ‘Totaled’ Car Is Changing
Rhode Island may raise its total-loss threshold from 80 to 85 percent as pricey driver-assist sensors push repair bills up—total losses hit a record 23.1 percent of US collision claims in 2025.
5 Pontiac Firebirds That Deserve a Second Look
Hagerty’s valuation team picks five underrated, V8-powered Firebirds—one per generation, from the 1967 400 to the 1999 Trans Am WS6—that deliver Pontiac pony-car style without Trans Am and Firehawk prices.