We have reached a point where electrification is truly ubiquitous in the automotive industry. It has long been discussed, emphasizing that our everyday cars as well as our performance vehicles would be battery-assisted, or even fully electric, and it must be acknowledged that these predictions were correct. At least, for the most part, since nine out of the ten powertrains on Wards Auto’s Best Engines and Propulsion Systems list are electrified in one way or another. The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1’s LT7 V8 is the only pure combustion engine to have made it onto this list, and, let’s face it, that makes sense.

Wards has been publishing this list for 31 years now, and there’s no need to recall how much the automotive industry has changed during that period. Until 2020, Wards simply called it the “10 Best Engines” list, but it adapted its title at the turn of the decade to better reflect the nature of the powertrains being honored.

The Complete 2024 Winners List

Before continuing, here is the full list of winners, presented in alphabetical order:

• BMW M5 – 4.4L Twin-Turbo V8 PHEV
• Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 – 5.5L Twin-Turbo V8
• Dodge Charger Daytona – Electric Propulsion System
• Ford F-150 – 3.5L Twin-Turbo V6 HYBRID (2024 Repeat Winner)
• Honda Civic Hybrid – 2.0L Inline-4 HYBRID (2024 Repeat Winner)
• Hyundai Ioniq 9 – Electric Propulsion System
• Lexus LX 700h – 3.4L Twin-Turbo V6 HYBRID
• Lucid Gravity – Electric Propulsion System
• Mercedes-AMG E53 – 3.0L Inline-6 Turbo PHEV
• Nissan Leaf – Electric Propulsion System

Thus, this list clearly includes hybrids where a robust internal combustion engine does the bulk of the work. Two of them are reigning champions: the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Ford F-150 Powerboost.

The Corvette ZR1’s LT7 V8, a Remarkable Exception

It is important to note that Wards does not rank its winners. The vehicles above are simply listed in alphabetical order. That said, no one expects the Nissan Leaf to outperform the ZR1.

The Corvette’s 5.5-liter V8 is a true beast in every sense of the word. It is a flat-plane crank engine equipped with the largest turbochargers ever fitted to a production car (76 millimeters each, for the curious). Without the aid of a lithium-ion battery, it produces an impressive 1,064 horsepower and 828 lb-ft of torque.

As explained by the LT7’s Assistant Chief Engineer, Dustin Gardner, the entire history of the Corvette led to the creation of this engine.

“These engines [LT6 and LT7] – the Gemini twins, as we call them – I’ve been working on them for over seven years. This was always the plan. The C8 architecture was there to enable this. The LT6, simply by its height, could never have been placed in the front, and the LT7, by its width… and with that much power and torque, you need a chassis like this to be able to use it. You put 1,000 horsepower in a front-engine car and you won’t be able to enjoy it.”

All this work is paying off, resulting in awards like this one as well as lap times on the Nürburgring under seven minutes. It’s quite crazy to think that no other purely internal combustion engine found its place on this list, but rather than lamenting it, we can rejoice that manufacturers continue to invest in overpowered internal combustion engines for as long as they can.

A busy street in Bangkok, Thailand, collapsed on Wednesday, wiping out an entire section of the roadway along with other infrastructure elements. Dramatic footage shows everything that was swallowed by the massive sinkhole. And, in a scene almost straight out of Top Gear, a lucky Toyota Hilux remained balanced on a precarious piece of asphalt that survived the initial collapse.

The videos below capture the exact moment it all happened, showing how the ground literally disintegrated beneath this part of the city. Electrical poles can be seen being forcefully sucked into the sinkhole, causing sparks and cutting off power to the surrounding areas. The foundations of nearby buildings are now completely exposed to the elements, a concerning situation given the country’s rainy season.

No casualties but significant damage

Fortunately, despite the scale of the material damage, there were no casualties. The damage caused by the sinkhole appears to be limited to vehicles and infrastructure. According to authorities, the collapse is believed to have been triggered by nearby construction work related to an underground subway station.

A second collapse

It appears that a second collapse occurred overnight on Thursday. Current photos show that the piece of asphalt on which the Hilux was perched has now also given way.

I’ve spent enough time with our long-term 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport – nearly 6,500 kilometers, to be precise – to have tested most of its features. Most are quite straightforward, like media, climate, and comfort management, while others, more remote like the Honda Link app, require a bit more time and effort to explore.

Most importantly, I’ve had the opportunity to use them dozens and dozens of times, which helps me understand their real utility or their gimmicky side, their reliability, and in some cases, whether they are worth their price or not. It was also a pleasure to receive feedback from many readers, asking me questions about the Passport, its strengths and weaknesses. Some even shared their own experiences with their Passport.

I’ll get straight to the point and classify them into three categories: I Like, I Don’t Like, and Mixed. Each point will include a brief explanation of its classification, as well as relevant details or various thoughts.

What I Don’t Like

• Fan Speed: When I mentioned this point on a quick list of particular things noticed on the Passport, I received several emails from owners expressing the same frustration. Fan speed 1 is too strong to be comfortable, more akin to levels 2 or 3 in most other cars. An update for the 2027 model, Honda?

• Adaptive Cruise Control: Although I understand that most ADAS systems prioritize caution, the Passport’s adaptive cruise control tends to brake abruptly at any sign of traffic – even when that traffic is, uh, invisible. I was driving on the highway at 120 km/h when the system braked for no apparent reason, dropping me to 115 km/h. No car in front, no swerving to the side, nothing. This happens whether lane keeping assist is activated or not. This isn’t a problem exclusive to the Passport, I’ve also experienced it in other Honda models.

• Lane Keeping Assist: Just like adaptive cruise control, the lane keeping assist is disappointing, constantly making the Passport weave back and forth between the lane markings. And although I understand it’s an *assist* and not an autonomous driving level, the steering assistance is weak and often insufficient to negotiate a long curve on the highway.

• Shutdown Sequence: The problem is that when you turn off the engine, *everything* turns off. If you’re listening to music, it stops immediately. If you’re on a phone call via the car’s Bluetooth or Apple CarPlay, that stops too. If you’re parking on a busy street, your blind spot monitors won’t alert you if a car or cyclist is approaching, to avoid opening the door. Why? Because all power is cut. Most cars allow auxiliary power to remain active for 60 seconds after pressing the start button, or to customize this setting via the multimedia screen. Not the Passport. If I ranked the items on the “I Don’t Like” list from most annoying to least annoying, this would solidly be in second place behind the fan speed.

• Garage Door Opener: I could write a thousand words about the frustration of knowing that my 2009 Honda Odyssey had physical buttons to operate up to three garage doors *for free*, while a top-of-the-line 2026 Passport does not. Worse, you have to pay $129 for 3 years of the MyQ service to use the garage door function via the central touch screen (no physical button), on top of the $110 per year required for the HondaLink Remote subscription.

What I Like

• Customizable Gauges: Although being able to change styles, themes, and functions on a digital screen isn’t new, the level of customization offered by the Passport is typically found in high-end vehicles. You can customize the display in three parts: left, center, and right. You can swap your tachometer for a dozen other visuals, like media settings, or a classic speedometer for your trip computer, or a map view with GPS guidance, while keeping two other customizable views. If you prefer a full map view, that’s possible, or keeping a sober and traditional display.

• GPS Popup: This is by far one of my favorite features. I have my cluster divided into three sections: music on the left, speedometer and ADAS in the center, trip computer on the right. When I use GPS, the system automatically displays my route on the right side of the cluster. And what I like even more is that it doesn’t display it all the time. It only appears when approaching a turn or a point requiring my attention. Once the turn is taken, it disappears!

• Headlights: These reflector LED headlights are probably the best in the entire Honda lineup, and are comparable to Acura units in terms of performance. They are bright, offer great range, and do an excellent job overall.

• Power: 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque isn’t huge in the world of EVs, but it’s plenty sufficient. I’m always pleasantly surprised when I need to accelerate for a quick pass, because the Passport has what it takes to move forward confidently.

• Pedal Calibration: The accelerator and brake pedals are simply perfect. Soft but responsive, a real success from the engineers.

• Seats: Same as above. Five stars.

• Storage Solutions: Families will rejoice! The Passport has learned from the best in storage, an area that the Honda Pilot has mastered for years. You will never run out of places to store your belongings or your water bottles. I particularly love the hidden storage under the trunk floor. Super convenient.

• Google Infotainment: I’ve learned to love the new Google-based system. Once connected to my Google account, it knows everything about me. I press the Google Assistant button and ask it to guide me, call someone, or give me information. All without taking my eyes off the road.

Mixed Feelings

• HondaLink: At $110 per year, this subscription for an app that allows you to locate your car, start it remotely, control the climate, seems a bit expensive, even if it includes safety functions. Some will get more benefits from it than others. Take it or leave it.

• Color Combination: The Sunset Orange shade is superb and suits the rugged side of the SUV. However, combined with the brown leather interior of my test model, it seems a bit excessive. If I were buying, I would choose an all-black interior, or ideally a Sonic Gray Pearl body with a Gray interior. It would look more sober.

• Bluetooth Microphone: I personally haven’t encountered any major problems with the microphone. People on the other end of the line say there is a bit of noise and they can tell I’m using a hands-free system. However, several readers contacted me to complain about poor call quality, with too much background noise. I’m classifying it here because I haven’t experienced it, but the feedback is too numerous to ignore.

I’ve just passed 6,500 km with the Passport, so you can expect a full test for the next installment of our long-term trial in the coming weeks.

Author’s email: jerry@thedrive.com

Credit where credit is due to Toyota. While many manufacturers would have launched a niche car like the GR Corolla only to forget it after two or three years, Toyota has continuously improved its sport compact every year since its launch in 2023. In 2024, it received aerodynamic improvements, and in 2025, its torque increased by 22 lb-ft, its suspension was optimized, and an automatic option arrived. The pace isn’t slowing for 2026, but unfortunately, all these refinements have had an inverse relationship with the model’s price.

A Significant Price Surge

Before detailing the 2026 model’s improvements, it’s important to highlight how much more expensive this car has become since its debut in late 2022. At launch, the base version, then called “Core,” was available for under $37,000, including delivery fees. The fully-equipped Circuit edition, with a forged carbon fiber roof, started at under $44,000. Today, the cheapest GR Corolla costs $41,115, and its Circuit equivalent, now named Premium Plus, starts at $47,160.

You’ll need to step up to the Premium Plus level to get luxuries like faux-suede seats. At the same time, it would be negligent not to point out that today’s GR Corolla offers more than the 2023 model. Beyond the torque increase and chassis improvements, front and rear limited-slip differentials were not standard on all models back then, unlike today.

Nevertheless, we’re talking about a $4,120 increase for the entry-level model and a $3,165 increase for a fully-loaded version. Add the automatic transmission, and you’re nearing $50,000 for a Corolla, which truly reflects the current times.

A Questioned Competitive Positioning

Another point to consider: the GR Corolla previously offered access to a high-end sport compact in the $35,000 to $40,000 range. This made a difference compared to the Honda Civic Type R and the Volkswagen Golf R, but that gap has narrowed, and the Hyundai Elantra N has arguably taken its place. For 2025, the Civic Type R cost $47,090 and the Golf R started at $48,325. Both these models offer active dampers, which the GR still lacks. At an equal price, is Toyota’s offering better? This question was less crucial when saving a few thousand dollars, but now, customers must think about it.

Technical New Features of the 2026 Model

What does the 2026 model year bring to the GR Corolla? It now features “45.6 feet of additional structural adhesive” around the body, supposedly to improve rigidity. There is also a new secondary air intake duct, aimed at keeping engine temperatures low during sporty driving – an area where the owner community found the car somewhat ill-equipped. Inside, the Premium Plus trim receives a more powerful JBL audio system including a subwoofer. The infotainment screen is still only 8 inches with large bezels, whereas regular Corollas have more modern equipment. These aren’t the main reasons to buy this car, but for daily use, these details matter.

And What About the Radical GRMN Version?

So that’s the 2026 GR Corolla lineup, but it’s not the *complete* lineup. Toyota promised months ago a model with “track-focused enhancements,” supposed to bear the GRMN badge. And guess what, images of the GRMN-badged vehicle taken at a recent dealer event have already been removed from social media. The suspense, much like Toyota’s profit margins on this model, is intensifying.

Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com

Incentives for electric cars and emissions regulations may not be the only casualties of the current administration in the United States. With the dismantling of EPA fines for emissions violations and the additional costs from customs tariffs, automakers are under pressure to remove expensive lightweight materials from their designs to control price inflation. In other words, the curb weight of your next car could increase as much as its starting price.

A Significant Cost Increase for Manufacturers

According to Automotive News, the Center for Automotive Research estimates that manufacturers will have to absorb an average of $4,600 in additional costs per vehicle produced by 2027. Faced with negative reactions regarding price increases after COVID, automakers are looking for ways to avoid a price shock, and this will likely involve using cheaper components made from heavier and less expensive materials. Expect an increase in the use of lower-grade steels and a reduced proliferation of aluminum alloys and advanced composites, at least for cars whose main market is the United States.

The End of a Major Incentive for Lightweighting

Even though we like to believe that lightweight sports cars lead the way in automotive development, efficiency was the main driver behind the increased use of high-tech materials. Both internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles have greatly benefited from lightweighting, with the latter being encouraged to increase range. Now that vehicles intended for the American market will no longer be subject to fuel consumption fines and government tax incentives for EVs are soon to disappear, the pressure to spend more on lightweight components has evaporated.

The Dream of an Affordable Sports Car Fades

So, where has the mythical basic, very cheap sports car with a manual transmission and a V8 that was promised to us once government regulations were lifted gone? We shouldn’t get our hopes up too much. As we have already seen with Dodge and Ram, simply reducing the power of the EPA will not be enough, and the administration will need time to tackle CARB and the 16 other states (plus Washington D.C.) that have modeled their regulatory framework on it again.

Development Cycles Too Long for Rapid Changes

Furthermore, since automakers work with development cycles that typically span three to five years at a minimum, an administration can come and go during the time it takes to bring a single model from concept to production. The possibility of another major political shift will limit the ability of an already timid industry to make bold leaps to reach an audience that represents barely more than 2% of car buyers. Even if a manufacturer had a design ready on the shelf, the potential cost of failure remains very high.

Got a tip? Contact us at tips@thedrive.com.

This article is an adaptation of “Cars Will Get Heavier Thanks to Higher Tariffs, Deregulation: Analysts” originally published on The Drive.

Hello and welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short.

Concise, light, and relevant, TDS gathers the latest automotive news from around the world and centralizes it in one place. Articles are summarized into a single (sometimes long) sentence accompanied by a link for those who wish to delve deeper into the topic.

It’s early, and the first two cups of coffee are already finished here in Leipzig, Germany, so let’s get started.

What I’m driving: Nothing today, but I will be riding in a (presumably) camouflaged prototype with engineers and will report back next week.

Ford is enticing buyers with the lowest acceptable, or even weaker, credit scores with reduced interest rates in a race to sell more F-150s before the end of the quarter. Although this unusual end-of-quarter sales promotion addresses the issue of financial accessibility for buyers with weak credit, it could also place them in a risky situation if the job market turns.

Other Automotive News

Koenigsegg’s founder and CEO is considering adding an affordable sports car to the supercar manufacturer’s lineup.

McLaren’s CEO confirmed that the automaker is working on a vehicle with more than two seats.

Audi announced that the 2026 combustion-engine A6 will cost $65,395, including a $1,295 destination fee.

A Toyota executive said, “Is it desirable? I think over time, it will be,” regarding hybrid sports cars, giving the clearest confirmation to date that GR-badged hybrid sports cars are on the way.

Subaru has added special edition BRZ and WRX Series.Yellow to the 2026 lineup, with only 350 units of each model to be produced.

The National Corvette Museum just celebrated its 20,000th Corvette VIP Delivery Experience, which costs $1,495.

Have feedback on TDS’s format? Send us a message: tips@thedrive.com

After years of rumors and persistent fan requests, it’s finally official: the Horizon Festival is heading to the Land of the Rising Sun. Forza Horizon 6 arrives next year, as Xbox announced at the Tokyo Games Show, and it will be set in Japan. Players have been requesting this destination for a very long time, and it’s hard to imagine another location generating as much excitement. Japanese car culture is unique. However, according to some developers at Playground Games, there are reasons why Horizon has waited until now to go there.

Ambition Made Possible by Technology

Last week, I had the privilege of speaking with Don Arceta, art director of Forza Horizon 6, and Kyoko Yamashita, cultural consultant. Our conversation, although very pleasant, was unfortunately quite limited; at this stage, Playground is only communicating about the location of the action. I tried to get more information about the types of environments, the map size, and its impact on traditional gameplay. The answers were quite evasive, but one thing became clear: the diversity of this world, an area where FH6 seems to want to surpass all its predecessors.

“To be honest, whenever we chose our locations, Japan was always on the list,” said Arceta when asked why Playground decided now was the right time. “Through each game, there has been a lot of learning from the first Horizon games up to 5 and now 6. I think that with all this learning, technically, we are capable of building this game and doing it justice, but it’s also related to the evolution of the game since [Forza Horizon] 1.”

Tokyo, the Most Ambitious City in the Series

Naturally, the city of Tokyo will be represented in Horizon 6, and Arceta described this part of the map as “the largest and most complex area we have ever created in a Horizon game. It has incredible depth, with elevated roads and varied road sizes.” The technology that enabled this density comes from a somewhat unexpected source.

“A lot of our technology, in terms of tools for building our open worlds, has really progressed since FH1,” explained Arceta. “One example would be Hot Wheels. In the Hot Wheels expansion for Forza Horizon 5, we developed technology to create our orange tracks in a different way than in Forza Horizon 3. It was a new way to iterate quickly, achieve higher quality, and get a really fun result. And we adapted that technology, for example, for our Tokyo city. It’s not covered in Hot Wheels tracks, but we used it to develop our elevated roads, of which there are many levels in Tokyo.”

Urban environments have always seemed somewhat neglected in previous Horizon games, but density is essential to convey the feel of an authentic Tokyo. Arceta claimed that not only is Tokyo the largest city in Horizon to date, but overall, FH6 has “our largest map to date” and “probably the richest map as well – there is an enormous amount to do there.”

Authenticity and Adaptation to Gameplay

As fans would expect, the regions on the map will not be exact digital replicas of their real-world counterparts. When I mentioned Japan’s notoriously narrow streets, Arceta clarified that “we don’t do copy-paste, which we never do in Horizon games. We try to capture the authenticity, the feeling, and the spirit of the place, as in past projects, but also because we want to match the gameplay for which the franchise is known.” Beyond the city limits, the Japan of FH6 will include coastal regions, mountain roads (Mount Fuji is glimpsed in the trailer), and open countryside.

Seasons, a Key Dimension

This world will also be transformed by seasons, like the UK and Mexico versions in Horizon. The addition of seasons in FH4 profoundly enriched the sense of place. As Yamashita explained to me, the way seasons affect specific areas of the country influenced the choice of locations representing the “best-of” Japan in FH6.

“You don’t need to be Japanese, but if you were born and raised, or have spent a lot of time in Japan, your body begins to adapt to the seasons, literally and figuratively,” said Yamashita. “Technically, we even have a word in Japan that says there are something like 72 micro-seasons in a year. People are used to saying we have four seasons, but it shows how many transitions there are.” Yamashita highlighted the diversity of Japan’s climates, over an area roughly equivalent to the length of California and part of Oregon combined.

“When you think about this area having such a distinct and unique character across the four seasons, which touches every level of daily, weekly, monthly life – from the food to the colors you wear, to the colors you see while commuting – it’s so natural for Japanese people, but also, I think, so elegant and unique for a foreigner or visitor,” she added. “With Don and his team, we talked about so many different personalities that we want to try to extract and bring to life in Horizon.”

Exploring Japanese Car Culture

One of those images is certainly that of cherry blossoms in spring, which is seen in the teaser trailer. Exploration has always been at the heart of Horizon. Just think of the potential of a Forza Horizon in Japan to imagine meeting up with friends in a recreation of the Daikoku Parking Area. How will these iconic meeting places manifest in FH6?

Discussing the legendary Japanese car culture, Arceta mentioned all the places “where you can imagine people meeting up, forming convoys, taking photos, and hanging out together. I think by being authentic to the locations we’ve chosen, these areas appear naturally on the map. So, yes – without revealing too much – we are offering that opportunity to players.”

A Gradual Reveal

For every question answered in this interview, I had twenty more. However, it’s clear that the reveal of FH6 will happen at a different pace than its predecessors. In the last two games, we immediately got rich two-minute trailers. This time, Playground couldn’t even tell me on which platforms the game will release, nor the specific date next year. Undoubtedly, they are letting this game breathe because they know how important this moment is for everyone following this franchise.

“I feel like Japan has been discovered,” said Yamashita, “because of how I’ve seen Japan evolve, especially in the video game space, but also in entertainment broadly, the artistic community in general, and everything we love – electronics, from the 80s to today’s Japan. But I think if you had asked this question 20 or 30 years ago, when I started in this industry, it wasn’t as accessible and approachable for a foreigner. Now that there is more awareness, I think the average understanding of the culture will make this installment of Horizon more welcoming and approachable.”

“For me, it’s as if Horizon has finally landed in Japan, and it deserves to have this moment in Japan,” Yamashita summarized. Something tells me the fans will agree.

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A rather surprising product demonstration, filmed at a Chinese automotive safety exhibition, went viral this week, causing widespread hilarity. The video shows an angular SUV violently ejecting its massive electric vehicle battery located under the chassis with such force that it resembles a gadget straight out of a James Bond movie. From a safety perspective, this solution seems at the very least risky.

A Safety Concept That Divides

The underlying idea would be to expel the battery if it were to catch fire. However, as many internet users were quick to point out in comments on social media, turning a huge flaming battery block into a projectile is probably not the safest solution for the immediate surroundings of the vehicle.

The very operation of such a system in an emergency situation raises questions. Faulty batteries often tend to swell, which could prevent them from being cleanly ejected through a designated hatch. Moreover, in the event of a fire, the ejection mechanism itself would likely be one of the first components to be damaged, rendering it inoperable.

It must be admitted that the spectacle is nonetheless spectacular to watch.

Vague Origins and Official Denial

The demonstration vehicle closely resembles, without being identical to, a BAIC Jishi 01. Initial articles in the specialized Chinese press reported that this battery ejection system was the result of a collaboration between the China Automobile Technology and Research Center (CATRC) and a company named Joyson Electronics. This information was quickly denied by one of the parties involved.

CATRC is a very real organization that has indeed just organized a major public event on road safety. Banners visible in the background of the video confirm the date of September 19, 2025. But the staging and the quality of the recording remain strange. China possesses advanced automotive technology, which makes the presentation of such a rudimentary concept as a battery missile all the more surprising. Similarly, the poor video quality, as if filmed with an old phone, contrasts with the usual resources.

An Enigmatic Demonstration

One might want to give the organizers the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps they were trying to illustrate the violence with which a battery could be accidentally ejected during a collision. However, the banners clearly mentioning a “battery launch technology” suggest that it would indeed be an intentional function. No fully convincing explanation has emerged so far, but one thing is certain: if you haven’t seen this video yet, it will undoubtedly surprise you, as it has for thousands of internet users.

Do you have information or an idea to explain what is happening here? Contact us.

Switching phones is often a chore, mainly because you have to transfer your entire life from one device to another. Even though cloud backups make things much easier today, you still have to go through that annoying transition phase. I recently bought the new iPhone, and although the transfer went well, I wasn’t prepared to say goodbye to the list of all the cars I’ve connected to via Bluetooth over the past four years.

Just like serial killers keep macabre trophies of their victims, automotive journalists have a particular attachment to the little mementos of the cars they’ve driven. I’m not the only one, am I?

I’ve heard that some people carefully keep the energy labels of test cars, others take a photo of each model in the same place, with the same background. Others used to collect USB keys from press kits when that was trendy, and I’ve even known people who kept the original first aid kits from the trunk. Most of these people no longer work in the field, but it was a common practice at one time.

My Memento: The Bluetooth List

I’m much more basic. I like browsing through my list of Bluetooth devices, just like my Chick-fil-A app, where I always have to specify which car (and what color) I’m driving so they can spot me at the drive-thru. I started using my previous iPhone in November 2021, so after a little less than four years, I had accumulated about 60 cars on the old device. This number doesn’t reflect all the cars I’ve driven since then, given that I probably don’t connect to half the models I test each year – especially those I drive near home – so I estimate the total number is closer to 150.

Cars and Memories

Anyway, there are some really nice cars on this list that bring back wonderful memories. Like that Polestar 2, which was my first solo driving experience with an electric vehicle abroad. I picked it up at Brussels Airport and had to get to the Spa-Francorchamps circuit for a WEC race. I was apprehensive about driving an EV in a place where I didn’t know the infrastructure and didn’t speak the language. Everything went perfectly and it turned out to be a great experience!

Although there are a dozen Hondas on the list, the one that stands out is the Odyssey, which transported my family and me to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for a birthday weekend. Just great memories from that time with my loved ones, especially now that the kids are growing up and planning their own weekends.

The Exceptional Models

There are also two special Ferraris on this list, a 296 GTB and the powerful Purosangue. The red 296 GTB served my wife and me well on a trip to Northern California, which included a drive along the coast through the beautiful Monterey and Big Sur area. Similarly, a blue Purosangue provided the coolest wheels for a multi-day trip in Northern Italy with my father. Just two guys cruising the mountains around Lake Como in a then-not-yet-on-sale $550,000 Ferrari, loaded with suitcases and other bits and bobs.

A Digital Memory Album

From Hyundais to Toyotas, to Rolls-Royces, Mercedes, BMWs, and everything in between, this list is a nice little reminder of the fantastic things my job gives me the opportunity to do. And even though not everything is rosy in this still-volatile industry, it’s the cars and the memories I create with them that I will cherish forever. Time to start a new list on the new iPhone, I suppose.

Author’s email: jerry@thedrive.com

The revival, so to speak, of the Acura ZDX is already over. After less than 18 months on the market, the Acura version of the Prologue – itself very similar to the Chevrolet Blazer EV – has been paused indefinitely, and this just a few days before the expiration of federal incentives for electric vehicles.

A coincidence? Probably not

Honda confirmed that ZDX production has been halted, effective immediately. A spokesperson cited “market conditions,” referring to the end of the tax credit, as one of the main drivers of this decision. After a brief review of sales figures, it appears that this is the primary reason for the ZDX’s disappearance.

Plummeting sales

The Prologue, a less expensive Honda vehicle built on the same platform, remains in production. Honda sold over 33,000 of these mid-size electric SUVs in 2024; ZDX sales, on the other hand, stood at just under 7,400 units.

ZDX sales had been promising until June of this year, by which time Acura had already sold more than 10,000, putting the brand on track to triple the previous year’s volume. However, sales dropped sharply in July and August.

A first political casualty?

It is unlikely that the ZDX will be the last casualty of the 2024 presidential election. With the tax credit about to expire, other models may well disappear from dealerships before the end of the year.