Autoblog News
Hosted by Chris Shunk, Dan Roth and Zach Bowman, the Autoblog Podcast is the long-running no-holds-barred audio-only counterpart to Autoblog.com. On the show we drop the pretense of being professional automotive journalists so we can passionately talk about cars like the real automotive enthusiasts that we are. Special guests including other Autoblog.com staff and titans of the auto industry are also common, and every week we answer your questions.
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The Top Gear Discovery Jeremy Clarkson Drove Up a Mountain Has Been Found
<h2>The Life of a Press Car</h2> <p>Press cars lead a hard life, no matter where they’re based. Sure, some motoring journalists are careful with them, but that doesn’t mean they won’t see some abuse over their lifetime. While these are maintained and repaired when needed, that doesn’t necessarily undo what it’s been through. It’s probably not as bad as rentals, but you get the picture.</p> <p>In many ways, press cars see a lifetime’s worth of abuse in a shorter amount of time, maybe even more. While some are kept in herita...
Travis Pastrana Says This Fan EV Is the Fastest Car He’s Ever Driven
<h2>It Sucks, In a Good Way</h2> <p>When proving that horsepower isn’t everything in building the fastest car, the McMurtry Spéirling is undoubtedly among the prime examples. This all-electric hypercar features a unique twin-fan system capable of generating 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) of downforce, enough to hold the car upside down at a standstill like Spider-Man. On the track, that means maximizing grip, limiting wheelspin, and improving cornering.</p> <p>Fittingly, such a vehicle was recently featured by Travis Pastrana, an American professional racecar driver and stunt performer. For a guy like Pastrana, who has competed in rally rac...
Lexus Updates the LS in Japan After Killing It in America
<h2>The Luxury Sedan Squeeze</h2> <p>Since the start of the decade, the business case for sedans in the U.S. seems more complicated, let alone full-size luxury ones. Interestingly, the Audi A8 returned to the U.S. for the 2027 model year despite reportedly ending orders in Germany. What did not survive, however, is the Lexus LS, the pioneer in this segment following its debut in 1989. But its story is not over yet.</p> <p>In Japan, Lexus continues selling the LS and has updated the luxury flagship sedan. The changes are not a full redesign, but they are...
BMW Z4 Returns as a 429-HP Roadster BMW Never Made
<h2>A Z4 With a Different Last Name</h2> <p>BMW ending production of the Z4 is such a tough farewell, given the model’s roadster characteristics that set it apart from the brand’s full-fledged performance cars like the M2 and M4. No successor has been confirmed yet, though a new limited-series Z4-based model just emerged thanks to Bovensiepen.</p> <p>Sure, this may not be a factory Z4, but Bovensiepen has deep ties to BMW. The family behind Bovensiepen founded Alpina before selling the brand rights to the Bavarian automaker, but the family still wanted to build cars...
Volkswagen Eyes F-150 and Wrangler Territory to Revive U.S. Sales
<p>Volkswagen Group has been trying to fix its underperforming U.S. business for years, and this has now become its top priority as the automaker navigates troubled waters in China and Europe.</p> <p>Apparently, VW is willing to go all the way and fight Ford, GM and Stellantis on their own turf with rugged SUVs and pickups based on body-on-frame platforms. </p> <h2>VW Group CEO Sees Rugged SUVs And Pickups As The Way To Revive U.S. Division</h2> <p>Volkswagen</p> <p>VW Group CEO Oliver Blume said at a meeting with investors that he sees...
Chevy Silverado EV Stays for 2027 as Ford F-150 Lightning Bows Out
<h2>No Major Changes </h2> <p>The Chevrolet Silverado is sticking around for at least another year. The 2027 model year will get a $400 price bump. No major changes are expected for next year’s model, and the price increase depends on the trim: work trucks get a $400 bump, while the Trail Boss and LT trims get a $200 bump.</p> <p>It is a modest price increase, hitting slightly harder in the Silverado EV’s utilitarian lineup, but Chevrolet is at least keeping the Silverado EV around, a move that’s not mirrored by rivals like the Blue Oval, which axed its full...
Honda Vs. Mazda Vs. Nissan at 250,000 Miles: It's Not Even Close
<p>While some cars call it quits at 150,000 miles, the Japanese automakers are known for producing vehicles that can last for 250,000 miles and beyond. Good build quality, tight quality control measures, and conservative engineering are ingrained into how many Japanese carmakers operate, but which ones are best? A new longevity study reveals the brands with cars that are most likely to reach 250,000 miles, and we’ve compared the findings for Honda, Mazda, and Nissan. As things stand, there’s a surprising gulf between the best and worst of these rival automakers.</p> <p >Related: Toyota Vs. Subaru At 250,000 Miles: It’s Not...
Ford Wants an F-150 That Can 3D-Print Parts on the Job
<h2>Ford Patented a What?</h2> <p>If you’ve ever been on a construction site, you know the drill: plenty of tools, but always missing that one random part nobody thought to bring. Maybe it’s a bracket, maybe it’s a weird-shaped mold, maybe it’s something nobody even knew they’d need until five minutes ago. Usually, that means waiting around for a delivery or making a mad dash across town.</p> <p>That’s why the idea of mobile manufacturing – especially now that 3D printing isn’t just for plastic toys – suddenly sounds a lot less like science fictio...
Range Rover's Response to Chinese Brands Is to Go Upmarket, Not Chase Volume
<h2>Imitation Is Flattery</h2> <p>The influx of Chinese vehicles has undoubtedly changed the game, mostly through their generous in-car technologies without premium price tags. But despite this attractive proposition, Jaguar Land Rover isn’t worried, even saying that Chinese brands imitating its models is “probably a bit of a badge of honor.”</p> <p>JLR may not be able to compete with Chinese brands on sales volume, but the British automaker is confident it can stay afloat by offering high-margin vehicles. Those would include bespoke creations, for which the company previously said it hasn’t set a price limit. R...
Maker of a 1,527-HP EV Introduces an SUV With a Pop-Up Roof Cabin
<h2>Standing Out </h2> <p>We recently wrote about just how competitive and cutthroat the local Chinese EV market is. China’s ability to do R&D and produce a vehicle continues to allow it to rapidly launch new cars at a staggering rate. Given the sheer number of brands that exist in China, brands are now finding more ways to stand out from the sea of models being sold.</p> <p>Xiaomi is a powerful technology company; apart from globally selling phones, laptops, and back massagers, it has also ventured into cars. A lot of people highly touted the fi...
