News Roundup: Oct 13, 2025
- Adam Bernard
- Oct 14
- 5 min read
Dacia’s Hip New EV
Who doesn’t like a stylish, innovative, urban EV? Several European automakers have talked about the idea of an “E-car”, comparable to Japan’s kei car (which has limits on length, width, and engine displacement): an affordable entry-level vehicle that would be subject to fewer costly regulations. Dacia notes that 100 automotive regulations have been added in Europe since 2010, and another 100 are due by 2030—all adding mass, cost, and complexity.
The Dacia Hipster is slightly shorter and wider than a classic Mini, with minimal overhangs and tumblehome, and falls somewhere between a quadricycle (like the Citroën Ami) and a traditional European minicar (like Renault’s upcoming Twingo). It seats four and offers up to 500 liters of cargo—enough for a washing machine—while weighing less than 1800 pounds.
The goal was to halve the carbon fiber footprint of a typical small EV, and the Hipster starts by coming in just one color (like the Slate truck) with only three painted parts. Even the traditional mechanical door handle is replaced with a pull strap. It features sliding glass windows (simpler, and allowing for slimmer doors), and the taillamps are mounted behind the upper portion of the split tailgate—so they don’t need their own lenses.
Inside, there’s a dock for your phone instead of a touchscreen, and the seats feature visible frames and a bench-style structure. Dacia’s scattered 11 of their YouClip accessory mounts to add your own cupholders, armrests, Bluetooth speakers, and extra lights. There are no technical specs, but Dacia says it only needs to be charged twice a week, based on an average daily drive of 24 miles—so the total range is likely well under 100 miles.
WHY IT MATTERS: While Dacia will get a variant of the new Twingo, there are no plans for anything smaller, but this makes Renault Group the first automaker to explore what an E-car might look like.
THE BOTTOM LINE: An innovative, stylish, affordable EV that seems to fill a market need in Europe and is perfectly in line with Dacia’s brand promise
Tech Info on Ferrari’s New EV
Ferrari first announced their EV in June 2022, targeting a 2025 launch, and hoping that 40% of their sales would be EVs by 2030. Now, we have a new timeline: tech reveal this month, an interior concept early next year, a full reveal in the spring, and sales next fall—and only 20% EVs by 2030.
During Ferrari’s Capital Markets Day, the company revealed multiple details about its upcoming unimaginatively named Elettrica:
Over 60 patents have been filed, including one that uses a high-precision sensor on the rear axle to pick up the frequencies of the powertrain and amplify them like an electric guitar.
The new Torque Shift Engagement system lets the driver select five power and torque levels with the right shift paddle, and adjust regenerative braking with the left paddle.
Two 143-horsepower motors with disconnect capability and two 421-horsepower motors, developed in-house, so well over 1000 horsepower and 0-100 kmh in 2.5 seconds
An 800V architecture with a 122 kWh battery in a Ferrari-designed pack with a claimed industry-best 195Wh/kg, and a curb weight just over 5000lbs—about the same as a Maserati Granturismo Folgore
All new platform uses 75% recycled aluminum, with a separate rear subframe to reduce NVH and evolution of F80’s active suspension.
The Elettrica will be a cab-forward four-seater, possibly a spiritual successor to the GTC4Lusso.
WHY IT MATTERS: With Aston Martin’s Lucid-based EV delayed until later in the decade and Lamborghini’s upcoming Lanzador delayed and possibly switching to a PHEV powertrain, this leaves Ferrari out front in ultra-high-performance EVs.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Ferrari appears to be approaching EVs the same way they do ICEs—by innovating and developing leading-edge technology solutions to enable high performance.
Chevrolet Bolt 2.0
Just over two years ago, Chevrolet announced a “next generation” Bolt. Then, this past July, they released a couple of teaser photos—and, last week, invited Bolt owners to see the 2027 model. Apparently, that was the “big reveal”, along with a $29,990 price and the note that the new Bolt will only be available for a “limited time”.
It turns out the new Bolt is less “next generation” and more “midcycle update", with revised front and rear styling, a new look-faster RS variants, a new instrument panel with more and bigger screens (but no CarPlay), an NACS port, 150 kW DC fast-charge capability (a nearly threefold increase), and V2H capability. Fortunately, it still has SuperCruise, so it’s one of the cheapest vehicles available with hands-free driving. Range jumps up a bit to 255 miles, and the new 210-horsepower motor is now shared with other GM EVs.
It’s worth remembering a few data points here:
GM killed the Cadillac XT4 to make room for the Bolt at its Fairfax plant.
GM announced plans to bring the ICE Equinox to its Fairfax plant in late 2027
The Bolt will launch with CATL LFP batteries sourced from China.
Like everyone else, GM was probably hoping the $7,500 incentive would stick around—and postponed plans for a second shift at Fairfax due to changing market conditions.
New government emissions regulations mean that the Bolt is not as necessary as it once was
What this means is that all these factors conspired to create the “limited time” approach; this is not a moneymaker, and so they may be looking to limit production to limit red ink. It’s also unclear what would happen at the plant between the end of Bolt production and the start of Equinox production.
WHY IT MATTERS: While GM is addressing the issue of EV affordability with the new and improved Bolt, they seem to have fumbled the launch and are backing away from their commitment with no long-term plan in sight.
THE BOTTOM LINE: The new Bolt is definitely better, just not “next generation”—and that might be enough for value-oriented buyers willing to overlook this model’s short life cycle.
Tesla’s New “Standards”
In the fall of 2020, Tesla announced plans to build a $25,000 EV with a new “unboxed” manufacturing strategy. Then, after essentially no follow-up news, Reuters reported the program was scrapped in spring 2024, and Elon Musk said they were lying. Six months later, he essentially confirmed the cancellation and said a $25,000 EV was “pointless” shortly after unveiling the $30,000 two-passenger Cybercab. He then announced new affordable models in the first half of 2025, claiming they “will utilize aspects of the next generation platform as well as aspects of our current platforms.”
Now, in the second half of 2025, we have the Model 3 and Model Y Standard. Is there any aspect of the “next generation platform” in evidence? No. But there’s plenty of old-school cost-cutting, just like you’d see from any legacy automaker. The Model Y and Model 3 Standard are $5,000 and $5,500 cheaper, and here are the cuts…
The Glass roof in the Model Y is now covered by a single-piece headliner.
Less power and shorter driving range (321 vs 356 miles)
18” instead of 19” wheels, no Autosteer
No lightbars or adaptive high-beams
Fast charge reduced from 250 kW to 225 kW
Fewer speakers, no AM/FM radio, no rear touchscreen or armrest, no power mirror adjusters, cloth and vegan leather seats
Limited to black, white, or grey, with a black interior
And, to pile onto the ‘legacy automaker’ behavior, Tesla arguably managed this launch better than Chevrolet. They offered a reveal date, a full array of data for blogs and websites to review (rather than relying on photos and videos from owners), and they even highlight the new models on their website (while the new Bolt is simply listed along with the rest of Chevy’s portfolio)
WHY IT MATTERS: Not only does this continue Tesla’s streak of broken promises, but it seems unlikely to boost sales given what buyers are giving up, and it seems like a stopgap measure until a truly new product gets launched… someday.
THE BOTTOM LINE: $7,000 does get you a vehicle that’s faster, drives longer, charges faster, and is likely more fun to drive than a Bolt—but is it more of a sacrifice overall?
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