The Polestar 5 weighs nearly half a ton more than a Porsche Taycan. This significant difference, approximately 5600 pounds (2540 kg) for the Polestar versus 4630 pounds (2100 kg) for the lightest Taycan, is explained by several fundamental technical and philosophical choices between these two electric competitors.

A Larger Battery and All-Wheel Drive

The first reason for this mass difference lies in the battery. The Polestar 5 is equipped with a 112 kWh battery pack, larger than the Taycan’s 105 kWh. According to the rule of thumb, each additional kWh adds between 6 and 8 kg. This 7 kWh difference could therefore represent a weight surplus of 42 to 56 kg for the Swedish sedan. Furthermore, the Polestar 5 will be offered exclusively with all-wheel drive (AWD), a mechanically heavier configuration than rear-wheel drive.

Divergent Philosophy and Construction

The Grand Tourer versus the Sports Car

The two manufacturers did not design their vehicles with the same vision. Polestar clearly positions the “5” as a luxury Grand Tourer, prioritizing space, acoustic comfort, and convenience technologies. The Porsche Taycan, on the other hand, retains the soul of a more radical sports car, even if it means sacrificing a bit of comfort for lightness and agility.

Different Platforms and Materials

The Polestar 5’s Performance Architecture platform uses an intensive structure of welded and riveted aluminum. To achieve its rigidity goals, it is likely that the manufacturer had to use a greater quantity of material. The Taycan’s J1.2 platform uses an intelligent mix of aluminum and steel (notably on the B-pillars and roof) to gain strength without excessively weighing down the whole.

Conclusion: Two Visions of the Electric Car

Ultimately, this weight difference is not a surprise. It perfectly illustrates two distinct philosophies: on one side, the Porsche Taycan, a sports car designed for pure performance; on the other, the Polestar 5, a comfortable and spacious electric GT. The choice between the two will therefore depend entirely on the driver’s priorities: agility or comfort.

The long-awaited return of the Dodge Durango V8 comes with a significant geographical restriction. According to information from dealer bulletins, the most powerful versions of the SUV, equipped with the 392 and Hellcat engines, will only be sold in U.S. states that do not follow California’s emissions standards, known as CARB.

Limited Availability for High-Performance Models

While the 2026 Dodge Durango lineup will start with a 360-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V8 available everywhere, the more aggressive engines are subject to limitations. The website MoparInsiders confirmed the news by obtaining an official statement from Stellantis: “The Durango R/T 392 equipped with the HEMI and the Durango SRT HELLCAT are available in non-CARB states. We continue to evaluate the possibility of offering the full range of V8-powered Durango to all customers.”

A Precedent for Stellantis

This decision is not a surprise for the Stellantis group. The company has already adopted a similar strategy in the past. In 2023, it reserved the electrified versions of certain Jeep models for states adhering to CARB rules, such as Colorado, Oregon, or Delaware, forcing customers to specifically order the gasoline versions.

An Underlying Regulatory Conflict

This situation reflects a broader dispute between Stellantis and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The manufacturer had previously challenged the method of calculating its compliance with regulations, compared to that applied to other manufacturers. An agreement was reached just over a year ago, with Stellantis committing to follow California’s rules, regardless of future federal decisions.

What Future for These Models?

For now, the less fuel-efficient versions of the Dodge Durango will remain unavailable in the 17 states with the strictest standards, pending the outcome of Dodge’s “evaluations.” Orders for the 2026 Durango Hellcat and its highly customizable Jailbreak version opened last month. The future of their widespread availability therefore depends on internal and regulatory decisions.

Horse Powertrain made headlines this month by presenting its new C15 engine at the IAA Mobility show in Germany. This 1.5-liter 4-cylinder block, the size of a carry-on suitcase, delivers nearly 100 horsepower and is designed as a range extender for electric vehicles. Shortly after, a Caterham Seven race car was equipped with a Horse engine. This has sparked curiosity about this little-known yet massive engine manufacturer.

Horse Powertrain: An Industrial Giant in the Shadows

Although discreet, Horse is not a newcomer. Based in Madrid, the group produces no less than eight million powertrains per year. It has 17 production sites and 5 R&D centers spread across Europe, South America, and Asia. Built on the heritage of 125 years of Renault and Geely, Horse positions itself as an independent leader in thermal and hybrid engine technologies.

A Franco-Chinese Alliance Supported by Saudi Arabia

Horse was born from a joint venture between French Renault and Chinese Geely, each holding 45% of the shares. A third entity joined the capital last year: Aramco, the Saudi national oil company, which now holds 10% of the company. Horse supplies engines and hybrid systems to the Renault and Geely group brands but also works for other manufacturers such as Mercedes, Volvo, Proton, Nissan, and Mitsubishi.

The C15 Engine: A Modular Range Extender

The big news is the C15. Its goal is to allow manufacturers to focus on their electric platforms without having to develop a small thermal range extender engine internally. Modular and adaptable, it is designed to fit into different vehicle compartments. A turbocharged version is planned for larger models. Its dimensions (50 x 55 x 27.5 cm) already include a generator, an exhaust system, and a cooling system.

Horse and the Racing World: The Caterham Case

The other facet of Horse is supplying engines for performance applications, as evidenced by the partnership with Caterham. The English brand uses the HR13DDT engine (already found in the Dacia Duster, Nissan Qashqai, and Mercedes A-Class in Europe) for its Caterham Academy program, following the discontinuation of Ford Sigma engine production. This is currently the closest gateway to the world of enthusiasts and DIY for the engine manufacturer.

The Future of Range Extender Vehicles

Electric vehicles with range extenders could gain popularity. As battery energy density improves, they might not only match the range of thermal models but significantly exceed it between charges, thanks to their small auxiliary engine. If this vision materializes, Horse engines could equip a multitude of new vehicles.

It is well known what a V8 can accomplish in a small pickup. But what is truly exciting is a project like this Chevy Colorado equipped with a supercharged Atlas I6 engine. Instead of choosing the classic LS route, Sky Perry, from the YouTube channel Reignited – Cycle and Automotive, opted for a GM inline 6-cylinder, a “GM 2JZ”, enhanced with a large turbo. After several months of work, the race pickup is now operational and promises thrilling sensations.

The Origins of a Budget Project

It all started with the purchase of a $1200 Colorado with a blown engine. Although known for his Hemi swaps, like on his twin-charged 392 Dodge Magnum, Perry found an Atlas 4.2-liter I6 engine in a Chevy Trailblazer for only $300. This low-cost project ultimately cost him about $7800, including the pickup.

A Herculean Task and High-Level Modifications

The budget would have been much higher without Perry’s manual labor. He estimates dedicating 250 hours to this project. Among the major modifications: the fabrication of a custom exhaust manifold for the VS Racing turbo, tuning via a MaxxECU, installation of an 8.8-inch rear axle, and a 3-inch suspension drop. Remarkably, the original AR5 manual transmission was retained, requiring a custom-machined flywheel. All of this was topped off with a… $100 clutch.

The Community Around the Atlas Engine

Sky Perry was assisted by Calvin Nelson (Nivlac57 on YouTube), a specialist in this engine. Nelson is famous for installing a 1000-horsepower Atlas 4200, nicknamed “AmeriBarra,” in a fifth-generation Camaro and for pushing an I6 Trailblazer into the 10-second quarter-mile club. A community of enthusiasts is forming around these swaps, and that’s great news.

Expected Performance

The pickup was scheduled for a dyno run on September 6th. Although the results are not yet public, Perry expects power exceeding 400 horsepower. Whether it’s fast or not, one thing is certain: with its turbo and manual transmission, the driving experience will be explosive.

3D printing was the decisive tool for optimizing the Ford Mustang GTD on the legendary Nürburgring circuit. In the spirit of “Ford v Ferrari,” where every detail counts for victory, Ford’s engineering team adopted an unconventional, real-time development approach to push the boundaries of performance.

A Revolutionary Development Philosophy

At the launch of the 2025 Mustang GTD, Greg Goodall, Chief Program Engineer, revealed a complete break from the traditional process. Typically, development stops abruptly to focus on production. For the GTD, this rule did not exist. The team printed and tested parts directly on the Nürburgring track, a first that allowed for live data analysis and instant feedback into the design process.

The Birth of “Click Flicks”

The major innovation came from a call by vehicle dynamics specialist Steve Thompson from the ‘Ring. He informed the team that he had tested 3D-printed parts around the hood vents, small “ski bumps” dubbed “click flicks.” These additions, not part of the initial design, proved effective enough to shave off precious (undisclosed) time per lap.

A Fast and Effective Collaboration

Motivated by these results, an intense collaboration between Goodall’s engineering team and Anthony Colard’s design team enabled the finalization of a viable design within one to two weeks. The goal was clear: replicate the aerodynamic effect of the prototypes while seamlessly integrating it into the bodywork. After seven to eight iterations and nearly 20 wind tunnel runs, the solution was found.

A Decisive Impact on Performance

The result was a major aerodynamic innovation: the “click flicks” are neutral in terms of drag but generate crucial additional downforce. These appendages were attached to a pre-existing lower lip on the hood. Their contribution was such that Greg Goodall admitted that a lap under 7 minutes would have been “very tight” without them. Proof was delivered in August 2024 when the Mustang GTD became the first American car to complete a Nürburgring lap in under 7 minutes (6:57.685), before setting a record time of 6:52.072 in April 2025.

He lost millions on a disastrous car movie and helped bring down the global economy. Let’s go back to the 2000s, when underground car culture was at its peak. It was the decade of Fast and Furious, Torque, and Driven… Ah, Driven… If only I could forget it. I still see that flying manhole cover when I close my eyes at night.

Redline: The Cinematic Fiasco Funded by a Subprime Lender

But if Driven was bad, Redline was worse. Not only was it a spectacular cinematic failure, but it also had the “privilege” of being funded by one of the architects of the 2008 financial crisis: Daniel Sadek, the owner of Quick Loan Funding.

Sadek may not be the only aspiring Hollywood producer to have lost 18 million dollars on a film that cost 26 million, but he is the only one who destroyed a Porsche Carrera GT and a Ferrari Enzo in the process. Technically, it was Eddie Griffin who killed the Enzo, but who’s really counting? Certainly not those writing NINJA loans on the eve of the Great Recession.

A Film with an Exorbitant Budget and an Absurd Plot

Redline‘s B-list cast could have made for a fun racing movie if someone competent had been in charge. But it was clear that wasn’t the case. Between the convoluted plot and the lead role written specifically for Sadek’s girlfriend, the red flags should have been enough to scare off the entire production team. But Sadek’s money was good—at least at first—and his lending business was booming.

The Fall: From Cinema to the Subprime Crisis

What could go wrong? The answer turned out to be “just about everything.” The two destroyed supercars didn’t help the already overpriced project. But most importantly, don’t think the link to the financial crisis is clickbait: Sadek’s company held the records for nearly 4 billion dollars in subprime loans when the bubble burst. He even made Vanity Fair‘s list of the 100 people responsible for the 2008 crisis. Sure, he was only 86th, but his aggressive pursuit of uncreditworthy clients earned him the nickname “Predator Zero.”

The Bankruptcy of a Credit-Based Empire

He was so over-leveraged from financing the film that he couldn’t cover the torrent of defaults, which ultimately cost him his company. The resounding failure of Redline was the catalyst for the dizzying collapse of an empire built on easy credit, thus contributing to the global economic crash.

Perfectly mastered simplicity is what defines the 2026 Nissan Leaf. Far from the small city car that popularized electric vehicles in 2010, it now presents itself as a crossover with serious range, solid technology, and a refined driving experience.

The Basics

The 2026 Leaf is a complete overhaul of Nissan’s electric offering. Starting at $29,990 for the S+ trim, it offers 487 km of range, tripling that of the original. Higher versions, like the Platinum+ ($38,990), slightly sacrifice range (417 km) for luxury and technology.

Design and Features

Transformed into a crossover, the Leaf sports an aerodynamic silhouette. Inside, the modern and clean cabin features comfortable “zero gravity” seats, intuitive physical controls, and a panoramic roof. The trunk offers 566 liters (1869 liters with seats folded).

Driving Experience

This is where the Leaf excels. The steering is precise and the torque is immediate (261 lb-ft). The new multi-link suspension improves comfort. The steering wheel paddles allow for playful energy recovery. The real-world range is impressive.

Technology and Price

The Google infotainment system and bidirectional charging are practical. With its aggressive pricing and range superior to its rivals (Kona Electric, Niro EV), the 2026 Leaf represents a safe bet, combining simplicity, driving pleasure, and efficiency.

The Toyota Corolla GRMN, the ultimate version of the GR Corolla, was caught completely undisguised at a dealership event, revealing exclusive details that confirm its status as a hardcore vehicle. These images, initially shared on the GR Corolla Forum, unveil a track-ready hot hatch.

An aggressive design and performance materials

The front of the car features aggressive air intakes and fins on the bumper, perfectly matching the official teasers released by Toyota in the spring. The standout feature is undoubtedly its exposed carbon fiber hood, a tribute to the tuning cars of the 2000s. At the rear, a large spoiler and a GRMN badge leave no doubt about its identity.

An interior focused on performance

The interior images confirm several specific features. Like the Morizo edition, this GRMN removes the rear seats to lighten the structure. The steering wheel and gear lever are wrapped in Alcantara, a finish not found on standard GR models. The biggest surprise lies in the new bucket seats, which are much more enveloping and closer to those of a race car than a typical city car.

Gold wheels and a mysterious powertrain

One cannot ignore its beautiful gold forged wheels, which appear identical to those already available but in this exclusive color. While the leaks reveal a lot about the appearance, they remain silent on the powertrain. The current GR Corolla has a turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower. Toyota has mentioned a “torque increase” and the possibility of inheriting the short-ratio gearbox from the Morizo, suggesting the engine’s power may be reworked for the track.

An imminent reveal

The wait shouldn’t be much longer. Toyota has promised to release more information in the fall of 2025, making the official unveiling of this Toyota Corolla GRMN imminent.

Driver assistance systems (ADAS) are often a source of frustration for drivers. Lane keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control… So many technologies designed for safety, but which tend to intervene inappropriately, even when they are neither necessary nor desired. Nothing is more annoying than having to fight against an electronic assistance that tries to save you against your will.

The Nightmare of Intrusive ADAS

Imagine: you’re driving on a two-lane country road. A delivery truck is blocking your lane. The opposite lane is clear, so you calmly begin to overtake. Suddenly: BEEP BEEP BEEP! The lane departure warning triggers and the lane keeping system tries to pull the steering wheel back to the right, straight towards the truck. You counter-steer, complete your overtaking, and move on. Or, worse, you spend five precious minutes searching through menus to figure out how to disable this “assistance.”

The BMW Revolution: The ADAS That Understands Your Intention

But BMW is arriving with a new “super-brain” architecture that radically changes the game. Its special feature? The ability to… do nothing. No, it’s not simply about being able to deactivate the system – that option already exists. It’s also not just a simple improvement in object detection to reduce false positives, although that is certainly included.

An Eye Tracker to Anticipate Your Maneuvers

The real innovation lies in a capability to read your thoughts, or at least, your eyes. The system is now capable of recognizing signs of an intended maneuver from the driver. When you approach an obstacle and glance into the opposite lane to check for traffic, BMW’s eye-tracking sensor – the same one that already monitors attention and signs of drowsiness – detects your gaze.

When this gaze is coupled with a corresponding action on the steering wheel, the system understands that you are acting deliberately. If it detects no immediate safety threat on your new trajectory, it will not trigger any alarm and will not intervene to correct your direction.

The Result: Finally Harmonious Driving

The result? Silent compliance. The dream for any driver annoyed by untimely interventions. This new logic also smoothens the transitions between manual and hands-free driving modes, practically eliminating the need to activate or deactivate them; the car simply yields control to the driver in response to their actions.

This advancement is just a first glimpse of the possibilities offered by BMW’s new electrical architecture. In the future, expect even more intelligent integration of its systems.

Scout CEO Scott Keogh strongly criticized the traditional dealership sales model, calling it “a lot of noise.” He compared the car buying experience at a dealership to shopping at Best Buy, while presenting direct sales, like Apple’s approach, as “the right strategy” for a superior brand experience.

Automotive News in Brief

Mercedes-Benz Strategy Change

Mercedes-Benz is dropping the “with EQ technology” designation for its electric vehicles. Future models, like the upcoming GLC Electric, will simply bear the “Electric” label.

Subaru Introduces Its Special Edition Series.Yellow

Subaru unveils its seventh edition of the special Series.Yellow series, including distinctive versions of the BRZ and WRX.

Pricing and Recalls

Mercedes announced the price of the 2026 AMG E53 Plug-in Hybrid wagon: $94,500 upon its arrival in the U.S. market this fall. Meanwhile, Tesla is now offering its Superchargers to businesses, unbranded, to generate new revenue. Additionally, the 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona and Jeep Wagoneer S electric vehicles are subject to a recall due to a risk of unintended movement when stationary. Finally, the base 1958 version of the 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser sees a $750 price increase ($58,650), while the top-tier version decreases by $405 ($63,900).