news roundup: sept 29, 2025
- Adam Bernard
- Sep 30
- 4 min read
Check out the video: https://youtu.be/HDX_K7ehFZU
LOOK—A NEW CAR!
It’s not often these days that you see a steel-bodied, internal combustion, unelectrified sedan from a legacy automaker—but that’s what Nissan’s done with the 2026 Sentra. The platform is largely carryover, but everything is new inside and out, from the Murano-inspired face to the aero-influenced design (although no drag coefficient is quoted). The 2nd cheapest car in America (after Nissan’s own Versa) gets an optional stylish pale grey and blue interior, and all but the cheapest Sentra get a 12.3” instrument cluster and 12.3” touchscreen—and, yes, physical climate controls. You also get standard adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, and forward collision warning. Under the hood is the aging 2.0-liter, 149-horsepower L4 with an uninspiring CVT (but there is a nice multilink suspension out back). There’s also an SR, but don’t get too excited—it’s an aesthetic upgrade only.
WHY IT MATTERS: Although some brands have exited the car market, Nissan still sees a value in having both cars and SUVs for entry-level buyers—and that will help them get first-time buyers into their showrooms who aren’t fans of SUVs.
THE BOTTOM LINE: The Sentra won’t set the world on fire, but it’s a reasonably attractive and well-equipped sedan for value-oriented buyers—and a choice that not every brand can offer.
VOLVO’S BIG UPGRADE
The 2026 Volvo EX90 might look exactly like last year’s model, but under the skin are two significant technological tweaks:
The SUV’s 400V architecture was switched to an 800V architecture shared with the ES90, its platform sibling. This results in faster EV charging (from 250kW to 350kW, or about 120 miles of EPA range in 10 minutes) and a lighter weight due to a smaller battery and motors.
New dual Nvidia Drive AGX Orin chips, at 500 trillion operations per second, comparable to Tesla’s HW4—and current EX90 owners can go to their dealer to get the new chip. This adds the ability to steer away from cyclists and pedestrians in the dark. Volvo has said they are planning four major software updates annually.
There’s also a new emergency stop assist connected to e-call to connect to an emergency call center in case the driver suffers a sudden health issue.
WHY THIS MATTERS: Most of the global luxury brands are moving to 800V architectures, which now makes the EX90 more competitive in terms of charging and performance. It also illustrates the relative ease of upgrading electrical architectures within a given platform—something that not all automakers can easily execute.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Better EV performance and more computing power make the EX90 a legitimate alternative to Mercedes and BMW midsize EV SUVs—neither of which offer third row capability.
OFFROAD BRAWLING
Utah-based Vanderhall was founded 15 years ago, and launched the company with a stylish, retro-inspired three-wheeler that was legally recognized as a motorcycle. Their second entry takes them offroad, in a $50,000 UTV (and so not subject to conventional automotive safety regulations): the Brawley. With a fully enclosed cabin (with heating and air conditioning) and 404 horsepower from four independent motors, the Brawley is an electric alternative to the Wrangler and Bronco. The 40 kWh battery limits the range to 140 miles, unfortunately, but the 18” of ground clearance, 20” of suspension travel, and 35” all-terrain tires mean it can go just about anywhere. It even features a Hummer-like “crab mode.”
WHY THIS MATTERS: Offroading is a hot topic these days as automakers either introduce new models or add more capability to their existing entries. The Brawley goes after a rather unique niche, but other automakers (and UTV makers) may follow.
THE BOTTOM LINE: The Brawley is a cool but somewhat impractical toy for someone who’s already got a fleet of more rational transportation options.
DREAME DREAMS BIG (PART 2)
Last week, Dreame unveiled a blatantly Bugatti-inspired four-door EV—and now we see the other side of the coin from subsidiary Starry Automotive. The unnamed electric SUV is clearly patterned after the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, from the Parthenon-style grille to the coach doors (in this case, without a B-pillar). The interior features a full-length console and two individual rear seats that recline 145 degrees. There’s a 100 kWh battery with an optional range extender—but range and performance remain unknown. The launch is expected in 2027, with a price range of roughly $40,000 to $80,000.
WHY IT MATTERS: In recent years, the Chinese have moved away from ripping off legacy automakers’ designs, which is why Dreame has caught the eye of quite a few industry observers. Like Xiaomi, which brought vehicles to market three years after announcing its intent to enter the EV market, Dreame is hoping to follow a similar path.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Some buyers aren’t concerned about buying a “clone”, especially if it’s 75% cheaper than the original model. Whether Dreame can pull everything together in another two years remains to be seen.
THE EV FOXTROT
In 2022, Porsche’s CFO said, “We believe Porsche is at the sweet spot of the luxury car BEV transition.” Three years later, the target of 80% EV sales by 2030 is gone and Porsche is writing a $3.6 billion check to extend the lifespan of their ICE vehicles. The flagship K1 three-row SUV, targeted to launch in 2027 as an EV, is still on track—but will now launch with ICE and PHEV power (suggesting a switch to VW Group’s new PPC architecture). The Panamera Electric has been scrapped, and high-end variants of the new Boxster and Cayman will now be ICE-powered, which raises the question of whether the current models will continue in some low-volume form after the EVs are launched. Meanwhile, Bentley’s “urban SUV” EV is still on track, but their target of being fully electric by 2035 is gone—and that means the next-generation Bentayga, Continental, and Flying Spur will be ICE and PHEV, not electric.
WHY IT MATTERS: Not even the ultra-wealthy are immune to market shifts, and this leaves Rolls-Royce as the only high-end brand that still has a 100% EV future in its sights. Will that last the year?
THE BOTTOM LINE: Porsche and Bentley both have established hybrid capabilities courtesy of parent VW Group, and this sounds like a plan to weather out the storm as EV adoption slowly continues.
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