Scion returns, 670-HP Lotus Esprit, $51K price record
PLUS: $70K manual Corvette, V8 Alpina, Navigator recall
Releases & Reviews
Toyota Revives Scion Brand With US-Legal Kei Truck, and There’s More Where That Came From
The KEI-01 will be built in Indiana and sold only to fleets from the second half of 2027. It is right-hand drive, uses a 660cc three-cylinder engine with four-wheel drive, and is capped at 25 mph under federal low-speed-vehicle rules. Toyota says limited retail sales could follow.
The New Lotus Esprit Supercar Will Be Powered by a 670-HP V-8
Supplier Horse Powertrain confirms the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 makes 670 horsepower and 590 lb-ft on its own. Lotus says the full hybrid system will total at least 986 horsepower through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The car, codenamed Type 135, is due to launch in 2028.
Technology, Market Data & Analysis
Average New Car Prices Just Hit Another Record: $51,000
Kelley Blue Book puts October's average transaction price at $51,109, up about 2% from a year earlier. Full-size pickups averaged about $68,000, and mid-size SUVs became the highest-volume segment. EV prices averaged about $56K, nearly 3% lower than last October.
Mercedes-Benz Wants to Turn Windshields Into Screens. The Tech Already Exists, Too
A dashboard projector and laminated glass with holographic optical elements create images on the windshield that Mercedes claims stay visible in direct sunlight. Driver and passenger can be shown different content. The Drive's Stephen Edelstein argues the feature puts more potential distractions in front of drivers.
Car Culture
I Bought a (Different) Ford GT!
Doug DeMuro sold his blue-and-white Ford GT for $540,000 on Cars and Bids and bought a Heritage edition, one of 343 built, with 19,000 miles. He says he never liked the old car's colors and expects Heritage values to keep rising.
Beware the Patina Princess
Nick Jaynes bought a sun-faded 1979 International Scout II sight-unseen and found its steering, brakes, suspension and transmission worn out. Repairs came to over $13,000 before he sold it at a loss. He advises an independent inspection and a parts-availability check before buying any patina vehicle.
Miscellaneous
Genesis Magma GT: World’s Coolest New Supercar?! | 4K
Top Gear walks around the mid-engine, rear-drive Magma GT concept, which has no rear window and rides on staggered 20- and 21-inch wheels. The channel reports rumors of a small twin-turbo V8 with electric assistance and about 800 horsepower. It says the car feels close to production.
Polestar’s Formula 2030 Concept Car Is a Futuristic Look at Tactile Driving
The four-door concept has coach doors with no B-pillar, inflatable seat bolsters and eight physical controls that drivers can reassign. Its design will inform the next Polestar 2, due in early 2027, and the Polestar 7. Polestar is banned from selling new cars in the US.
Quick Links
The Manual C8 Corvette Is Real, And Really Expensive
Peitz Performance Tune founder Alex Peitz estimates the conversion at $60,000 to $70,000 on top of the car, limited to the base Stingray for now, with Tremec starting transmission production in mid-2027.
BMW Is Considering A V8-Powered Alpina Coupe
Autocar reports that BMW is weighing a limited production run of the Vision BMW Alpina concept, a front-engine 2+2 grand tourer shown at Villa d'Este in May, with no final approval yet.
2027 Acura ADX, MDX, and Integra Urban Spec First Look: $1,500 and Limited
The package pairs Urban Gray Pearl paint with gloss-black trim and larger black wheels, 18 inches on the Integra, 19 on the ADX and 20 on the MDX, and debuts at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
You Can Now Shop for a BMW in ChatGPT
BMW of North America's plug-in lets US shoppers configure a car, compare it with in-stock vehicles, view financing options and book a test drive, as Cox Automotive finds over 60% of shoppers plan to use AI.
Lincoln Recalls 37K Navigators for Front Seat That May Move on Its Own
Residue on the rear-seat touchscreen that controls the Chauffeur Seat Feature can move the front passenger seat on 2025–2027 Navigators, and dealers will deactivate the feature at no charge.
TWR Supercat Review
Throttle House drives the 660-horsepower supercharged V12 restomod based on the Jaguar XJS, calls the engine unbelievable, and notes that only 88 will be built at over $500,000 each.
Startup Gives New Life to Salvage Teslas by Turning Them Into Simple Vans and Trucks
Hoffman's Badger uses seats, screens, airbags and software from used Model 3s and Model Ys on its own platform, will be sold as a kit or turnkey at about 100 a year, and keeps Supercharger access.