The JLR/Stellantis alliance may yield a US-market pickup IMAGE: GEMINI The Stellantis/JLR tie-up--intended to build a Defender-branded product in the US to take the brand into a new segment--was announced earlier this year. Given Stellantis’ portfolio, there are a number of architectures and configurations that could be adapted to fit the Defender ethos. Automotive News is reporting the companies have settled on a pickup--and that leads to all sorts of speculation in terms of

Their latest infotainment update suggests maybe so... Three years ago, GM announced plans to remove smartphone mirroring (a/k/a Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) from their EVs, claiming they wanted a “more integrated” solution. Last fall, they expanded the ban with plans to eventually remove the feature from their internal combustion vehicles as well. There was, as you may recall, an outcry from consumers. Although some expected other automakers to follow suit, no one else has

Their new commercial concept does exactly what it says on the tin Stellantis’ Pro One commercial vehicle business unit says, “It is a box, it has wheels.” It, of course, is... the Box On Wheels, or simply “BOW.” (yes, oddly, with a period after the name). Developed with UQI Robotics, it is intended to be a fully autonomous electric delivery van for urban and controlled-environment operations. There are no technical specifications, nor are there photos of the interior--which,

After unveiling the PV5 last year (named the 2026 International Van of the Year) as the first entry off their Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) architecture, the larger PV7 slots somewhere between Ford’s midsize Transit Custom and fullsize Transit (as shown in table below). The PV7 shares the same E-GMP.S 800V-capable platform and software ecosystem, now in a larger and more capable size. Kia notes the PV7 was designed around a ‘tool box’ concept, compared to the PV5’s ‘open box’

Thirteen years after its groundbreaking 240mpg XL1, VW offers up a super-efficient EV concept With drag coefficient of 0.158 (15% better than the XL1), the mundanely-named Mission Efficiency leverages the updated front-wheel-drive MEB+ platform used on the new VW ID.Polo and ID.Cross. While the XL1 was a diesel plug-in hybrid, the Mission Efficiency is, of course, pure electric, claiming a consumption rate of 7.51kWh/100km (with charging losses), about 1/3 better than a Lucid

Check out the video: https://youtu.be/Wt8XqwZuevk New A2 with an Electric Twist The Audi A2 e-tron revives the original lightweight, ultra-efficient hatchback as Audi’s smallest and most affordable electric vehicle, pairing familiar A2 proportions with modern touches such as a singleframe grille, up-to-20-inch wheels, customizable matrix LED lighting, and wing-style door handles. Built on the rear-wheel-drive MEB platform, it offers three battery sizes and four power outputs,

The first of Dacia’s four new EVs reboots the China-built Spring with a simple and stylish European-built Twingo derivative... The original Spring has a complicated origin; it was born from Renault’s City K-ZE, itself derived from the emerging-market-focused Kwid. It received numerous upgrades to increase its appeal to European buyers, and underwent two facelifts. The new Spring is based on the just-launched Renault Twingo E-Tech (off the RGEV Small platform, formerly known a

Audi has brought back the innovative 80mpg A2 small hatchback--with a zero-emissions twist... Launched in late 1999, the original A2 boasted a fixed hood, a slick profile, and lightweight aluminum construction. Now, with the entry-level A1 and Q2 out of production, the A2 e-tron becomes Audi's smallest entry and most affordable EV. It shares its rear-drive (!) MEB platform with VW's ID.3 Neo, coming in about 10% more expensive than its non-luxury counterpart (at least in Germ

Check out the video: https://youtu.be/fsrbgRwFD5c Return of the Pajero Mitsubishi is reviving the legendary Pajero as a true body-on-frame SUV based on the Triton midsize pickup, pairing updated suspension hardware with a 2.4-liter turbodiesel and eight-speed automatic at launch, while electrified powertrains and smaller Pajero variants are expected to follow. Its distinctive “Grand Charisma” design draws from the Elevance concept and nods to earlier Pajeros through details s

SEAT.com homepage Is it time to pour one out for Spain’s national automotive brand? SEAT was founded in 1950, launching initially with reworked Fiat products; it wasn’t until 25 years later that it launched its first wholly internally developed product. In the early 1980s, the relationship between SEAT and Fiat began to deteriorate, allowing VW Group to step in and add the brand to its portfolio by the end of 1986. SEAT was positioned as a value-oriented alternative to VW Gro

Can an offroad icon be a halo vehicle? Mitsubishi hopes bringing back the legendary Pajero adds some sparkle to the brand... While the Montero (the Pajero’s nameplate in North America) never achieved the status of a Wrangler or a Bronco, the picture looked quite different overseas. The original debuted 44 years ago, inspired by the Mitsubishi PX33--Japan’s first 4WD sedan. It spawned midsize, small, and kei-class variants, and exited production five years ago. Mitsubishi has

Honda's upcoming India-built 0 Series Alpha SUV India's Tata Motors has been quite busy lately, between rebooting the Sierra SUV, working with Chery/JLR on their new Avinya premium EVs, and helping Stellantis create a new affordable Jeep. Honda, meanwhile, has been facing numerous headwinds. They cancelled three state-of-the-art SUVs mere months before the first one was scheduled to hit the market, and are unwinding the relationship that yielded the now-dead Honda Prologue an

Check out the video: https://youtu.be/RhtL5YDiKNY Genesis Aims High The Genesis GV90 positions Genesis squarely in the six-figure electric luxury SUV arena, translating much of the Neolun concept’s show-car drama into production form with coach doors, high-end cabin materials, advanced lighting, and a tech-heavy interior experience. Built on a Genesis-exclusive eMP platform with a large 123.5kWh battery, an estimated 310-mile range, 800V fast charging, and a 656hp twin-motor

Dreame Technology, like the UK’s Dyson, wanted to expand their portfolio beyond vacuum cleaners. Sir James Dyson invested (and lost) $600M in a failed effort to launch a luxury electric crossover, but Dreame aimed even higher (although no one knows how much money was invested). Bugatti- and Rolls-Royce-inspired EVs were joined by supercars, highlighted by an appearance at CES in Las Vegas this past January. But it sounds like the business model for Dreame’s automotive busines

IMAGE: GEMINI Between Automotive News' future product updates and rumors of reveals at dealer meetings, we are starting to get an idea of some of the upcoming new entries to the Ford and Lincoln portfolios. I've already discussed the Mustang Mach-4, so let's look at what else is out there... Ford Bronco Pickup: There were rumors of a Bronco pickup as far back as six years ago, with Motor Trend reporting a mid-2024 launch. It was reportedly scrapped a year later; the introduct

Toyota appears to be following a path set by Cupra and Polestar image Autocar The company’s new supercar, the generically named “GT”, has no Toyota badging on it, but rather GR (as in Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s performance arm). The outgoing Supra and current 86 also carry GR badging, and performance-oriented GR variants of the Corolla, Yaris, and other models are out there as well. Autocar offers up some new info on the resurrection of the MR2 (likely to be sold as the GR MR2, b

A little over two years after the Neolun concept debuted in New York (and perhaps a bit later than we expected to see it) the production model, dubbed GV90, was officially unveiled by Genesis last week. Much of what we saw was both surprising and not surprising. The concept's coach doors, heated wooden floors, swiveling front seats, pop-up center touchscreen, cashmere trim, and indigo upholstery were appropriate for a visionary vehicle, and few expected most, if not all, of t

Investor Day deck highlights EREVs, new portfolio entries, and affordable performance... The 2nd most profitable automotive group for the 2nd year in a row, Hyundai revealed their latest strategic update at their annual Investor Day. They claim to be on track for their 2030 targets, including a 9.0% operating profit margin, 5.55M annual sales (+35% vs 2025), 60% electrified vehicles (+37 points vs 2025), and 6% global market share (+1.3 points vs 2025). They also see robotics

"What if the Slate Truck had an internal combustion engine?" I'm apparently not the only one who's asked that question--and startup REO Trucks is offering an answer.Between REO's website and The Autopian's rather extensive interview (linked below), there's a lot of interesting info available on this new affordable truck targeted to be in owners' hands in late 2028. The basic facts are intriguing: Body-on-frame construction with mechanical 4WD Existing L4 engine (preferably wi

Check out the video: https://youtu.be/PQ5cFZHkS5k image: Gemini Acura’s Next Vision The Acura Nexera concept previews the brand’s next design era as part of its 40th-anniversary celebration, introducing a dramatic “phantom lighting” signature and a sculptural, technology-focused performance look developed in California. With butterfly doors, a deployable rear spoiler, 22-inch center-lock wheels, a glass-heavy canopy, and sustainable premium materials, it presents Acura’s futu