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    Nikola, an American Electric-Truck Startup, Has Filed for Bankruptcy

    Nikola, the electric-pickup and semi-truck startup manufacturer, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.Court filings show that the company has about $47 million in cash on hand, with liabilities between $1 billion and $10 billion.Despite enjoying early enthusiasm from investors, Nikola struggled to deliver enough vehicles to turn a profit. Nikola, the Phoenix-based EV startup focused on electric and hydrogen commercial trucks, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The news comes after reports earlier this month that the fledgling automaker was running out of money.The company has experienced a rocky 10 years since it was founded in 2014 with a focus on both electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. In 2020, Nikola revealed the Badger, a tough-looking EV pickup with both EV and hydrogen powertrains. Plans looked promising enough for General Motors to sign on to aid in development ahead of a 2022 launch. The company was accused of fraud a short time later, with then-Nikola CEO Trevor Milton found guilty of multiple charges in 2022. After falling out with Milton, Nikola changed course, canceling the Badger and refocusing its efforts on commercial trucks. The company delivered its first electric semi-trucks in 2022, but it has not been able to deliver enough in the intervening years to make a profit. NikolaLate last year, Nikola announced it had $200 million in cash and $270 million in long-term debt. With new reports coming out earlier this month that Nikola was nearing a bankruptcy announcement, the company’s stock price plummeted to under a dollar. In a release confirming the bankruptcy filing on Wednesday, Nikola said it had about $47 million in cash on hand. The company intends to continue with “limited” support for trucks on the road. Court filings confirm that the automaker has liabilities between $1 billion and $10 billion, with the number of creditors it owes between 1000 and 5000. Nikola’s filing makes it the third high-profile EV startup to declare bankruptcy in recent years. Lordstown Motors, another EV pickup startup, sought bankruptcy protection in 2023. A year later, Fisker, the California-based startup headed by Henrik Fisker, went belly up. Related StoriesJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

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    McLaren Honors 2024 F1 Title with Artura and 750S Special Editions

    The McLaren Artura and 750S MCL38 Celebration Edition pay tribute to McLaren’s 2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship win, its first since 1998.The two supercars wear Papaya Orange paint and special badges inside and out, including a plaque made of carbon fiber from the MCL38 F1 race car.Only nine examples of each MCL38 Celebration Edition will be built, representing McLaren’s nine Constructors’ Championships since its founding in 1963.While Red Bull phenom Max Verstappen handily won the 2024 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, things were less straightforward in the Constructors’ Championship. A poor showing from Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, allowed the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to lead the British team to its first Constructors’ title since 1998. Now, to celebrate the win, McLaren is releasing a pair of special editions based on the Artura and the 750S to commemorate the win.Dubbed the MCL38 Celebration Edition, the cars feature a bespoke livery meant to evoke the look of the Formula 1 race car. The front end is painted a dark hue called Anthracite while the bright Papaya Orange that has become synonymous with the team adorns the rear half of the car. The first part of the special edition’s name is shared with the team’s 2024 car, which racked up eight pole positions and six Grand Prix wins over the course of last season.McLarenJust behind the front wheels is a logo featuring nine stars, one for each of McLaren’s Constructors’ Championships. The orange racing stripe bisecting the hood also features a “Champions’ Laurel” logo and a diagonal stripe design meant to echo the appearance of the F1 car’s livery. The brake calipers have also been painted Papaya. Raising the dramatic doors on either the 750S or Artura reveals the signatures of both Norris and Piastri on the carbon-fiber door sill cover on the driver’s side. Inside the cabin, the Champions’ Laurel appears once more on the headrest of the seats. A 12-o’clock hash mark on the steering wheel also comes in Papaya Orange.McLarenEven cooler, there’s a plaque dedicated to the MCL38 race car that uses a real section of carbon-fiber bodywork taken from the triumphant F1 car. In the storage area beneath the hood, there is a second plaque that lists the pole positions, race wins, and fastest laps achieved by McLaren last year.McLaren will only build nine examples of each, a nod to the 2024 title being McLaren’s ninth Constructors’ Championship win. There’s no word on pricing, but with so few being built, the MCL38 Celebration Edition will likely require a significant chunk of money atop the supercars’ base price. The 2025 Artura starts at $254,100, and the 2025 750S starts at $318,085.More on McLarenCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

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    AEV Resurrects Ram-Based Prospector XL Tray Bed for Limited Run

    The first Prospector XL Tray Bed was a concept built for AEV’s president.AEV is reissuing the Tray Bed variant in limited quantities.The HD Ram-based Prospector XL rides on 40-inch tires and packs a Cummins diesel.We’ve described off-roading outfitter AEV’s Prospector XL as the diesel Power Wagon that Ram won’t build. Now, you can get a version of the Prospector XL that AEV only builds small quantities of—and only occasionally. It’s called the Prospector XL Tray Bed, and it is magnificent.At the metaphysical heart and physical rear of the XL Prospector Tray Bed is its titular cargo carrier. This aluminum piece has drop-down sides and is supplied by a company appropriately named Ute. It’s affixed to the rear of a Cummins-powered regular-cab Ram 2500; standard Prospector XLs come with four doors and a conventional bed, although AEV will sell you a two-door chassis cab to which you can attach the backpack of your choosing.AEVAEV has offered the XLPTB in limited quantities before. Originally a pet project and personal vehicle of company president Dave Harriton, the first Tray Bed was shown as a concept at the company’s 2013 SEMA booth. A run of 10 or so was offered in 2017, and now AEV is building a handful based on the latest HD Ram.The asking price for the conversion is a not-insignificant $32,203 on top of the Ram 2500 donor vehicle, which will run you at least $63K. For that outlay, you get the tray bed, of course, as well as an AEV front bumper with integrated 20k ComeUp winch, a custom rear bumper, the company’s 3-inch DualSport on-road/off-road suspension system, and 40-inch BFGoodrich HD-Terrain tires on AEV Salta XD wheels. The result is a truck that can go just about anywhere and carry just about anything.AEVAEV says it will only build a very small batch of Tray Bed Rams this time around. Since there’s no telling when or even if they will be offered again, it’s probably best to stock up.More AEV-Modded TrucksEver since David was a wee Car and Driver intern, he has kept a spreadsheet listing all the vehicles he’s driven and tested. David really likes spreadsheets. He can parallel-park a school bus and once drove a Lincoln Town Car 63 mph in reverse. After taking a break from journalism to work on autonomous vehicles, he’s back writing for this and other automotive publications. When David’s not searching for the perfect used car, you can find him sampling the latest in gimmicky, limited-edition foodstuffs. More

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    2025 Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge Adds More Power to the Equation

    The Rolls-Royce Spectre has a new Black Badge variant that adds 73 horsepower, making it the most powerful Rolls ever. The additional power is accessible with a new Infinity drive mode, while a new Spirited mode enables launch control. Rolls-Royce claims that client demand for a sportier Spectre prompted the creation of a secret fleet of early Black Badge models.The most powerful Rolls-Royce to ever saunter down the motorways is here and isn’t powered by a silky-smooth V-12. Instead, the crown goes to the new Black Badge version of the Rolls-Royce Spectre electric coupe. The legendary automaker has been using the Black Badge moniker to denote its high-performance models for nearly a decade, but the Spectre is the first EV to get the title.As with the standard Spectre (if anything about the Spectre can be called standard), the Black Badge comes with all-wheel drive and a pair of electric motors. The standard car’s 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque are more than enough to hustle the grand two-door down the boulevard, and the performance version should be even quicker, as it packs 650 horsepower and 793 pound-feet of torque.The maximum number of horses is only accessible via the new Infinity driving mode that improves accelerator response and gives the gauge display a sportier arrangement. The max torque comes into play with a new Spirited drive mode that essentially acts as a launch-control system. The mode is engaged by pressing the brake and accelerator to the floor at the same time, waiting for the go-ahead from the car, and then letting it rip. Rolls says that the increase in power and the launch system mean the Spectre Black Badge can sprint to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, but considering we managed just 3.7 seconds in our testing of the standard car, we expect the performance model to do even better.To “inspire clients to wield the unprecedented power of Black Badge Spectre with confidence,” Rolls-Royce engineers increased the steering weight and fiddled with the dampers to reduce body roll and squatting under acceleration.We’re not sure exactly how much Rolls-Royce is asking for the Black Badge version of its EV coupe, but we imagine it’s a sizable increase compared with the 2025 Spectre’s $422,750 starting price.More on the RR SpectreJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

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    Tata Electric Car Sales Cross 2 Lakh Milestone – New Offers, Benefits Up To Rs 1.86 L

    New Tata Curvv EV – Voyager Aamir– 45-day celebration offers exchange bonuses, 100% on-road finance, and free charging benefits– Tata Power to provide six months of free charging for Nexon.ev and Curvv.ev buyers
    Tata.ev, India’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer, has reached a significant milestone with 2 lakh EVs on Indian roads. To mark this achievement, the company has announced a 45-day celebration, offering exclusive benefits to both new and existing customers.
    Tata.ev’s Contribution to India’s EV Growth
    Since pioneering the mass EV segment with the Nexon.ev in 2020, Tata.ev has solidified its position as India’s best-selling four-wheeler EV brand. Collectively, Tata EV owners have traveled over 5 billion kilometers, reducing 7 lakh tons of CO2 emissions. With over 8,000 Tata EVs crossing 1 lakh kilometers, the brand continues to prove its reliability and long-term value.
    Tata EVs 2 Lakh Sales Milestone – Up To Rs 1.86 Lakh Benefits Announced
    In addition to product growth, Tata.ev is heavily investing in charging infrastructure, with plans to install over 400,000 charging points across India by 2027, further accelerating EV adoption.
    Exclusive Benefits for New and Existing Customers
    As part of this limited-time celebration, Tata.ev has introduced special offers to make EV ownership easier and more rewarding:
    For New Customers:
    – Exchange Bonus: Up to Rs 50,000 on any passenger vehicle– 100% On-Road Finance: Zero down payment options available– Free Public Charging: Six months of free charging at Tata Power stations (applicable for Nexon.ev and Curvv.ev, MY2024)– Free Home Charger Installation: 7.2 kW AC Fast Charger included with the EV purchase
    For Existing Tata Customers:
    – Loyalty Bonus for Current Tata.ev Owners: Rs 50,000 discount on Nexon.ev and Curvv.ev– Loyalty Bonus for Tata Motors Passenger Vehicle Owners: Rs 20,000 discount on Nexon.ev and Curvv.ev
    Tata.ev’s Vision for a Greener Future
    Celebrating this momentous occasion, Mr. Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd., said, “Our foray into electric mobility began with a bold and visionary commitment to advancing India towards a future of meaningful mobility – one that is smart, safe, and fundamentally green. Since we unveiled the Nexon.ev in 2020, we have championed EV adoption to greater heights with over 2 lakh Tata EVs on Indian roads cementing our position as India’s largest EV 4-wheeler manufacturer.
    We share this success with our partners across the ecosystem – dealers, suppliers, charge point operators, and crucially, our customers, who believe in our vision to democratize cutting-edge technology. By introducing these exclusive benefits, we welcome more customers to join us in this revolution and reaffirm our commitment to grow acceptance of EVs as a technology for a cleaner, greener tomorrow.” More

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    2025 Tata Nexon EV 40 kWh Variants Discontinued – Details

    Tata Nexon EV : Image – Jayaraj
    With the shifting trends in Indian electric car segment, Tata Motors has been surpassed in sales by JSW MG Motor with the raging popularity of Windsor EV. Tata is making major revisions to the Nexon EV Long Range (LR) variants in 2025 as per a new strategy, as it aims to boost sales and re-establish dominance in India’s electric car segment.
    2025 Tata Nexon EV 40 kWh Variants
    Post the launch of Curvv EV, Tata Motors made major revisions to Nexon EV in powertrains department. For the first time, we saw the launch of 45 kWh Nexon EV LR variants, which is the same unit seen in lower variants of Curvv EV. Before this update, Nexon EV used to get a 40.5 kWh battery pack with its LR versions.
    Updated Tata Nexon EV Launched – Red Dark Edition
    In February 2025, Tata discontinued the LR versions of Nexon EV equipped with this 40.5 kWh battery pack. The company has not cited a reason behind this move. Tata is yet to reveal whether this is a permanent move or a temporary one as the company’s official website de-lists Nexon EV LR 40.5 kWh variants.
    With this move, Nexon EV is now offered with just two battery pack options – a 30 kWh unit or a 45 kWh battery pack option. The 40.5 kWh battery pack acted as a decent middle ground between 30 kWh and 45 kWh, which is not on sale anymore. Range promised by the company is 275 km with 30 kWh battery pack and 489 km with 45 kWh battery pack.
    Nexon EV Red Hot Dark Edition Panoramic Sunroof
    What else is new?
    With this revision, Tata Nexon is now offered in a total of 10 variants (5 MR and 5 LR) across 8 trim levels namely – Creative, Creative+, Fearless, Fearless+, Fearless+ S, Empowered, Empowered+ and Red Dark. Notably, Tata is offering LR variant equipped with 45 kWh battery pack right from the base Creative trim.
    Price for 2025 Tata Nexon EV MR variants starts from Rs 12.49 lakh (Ex-sh) for Creative+ and goes till Rs 14.79 lakh (Ex-sh) for Empowered trim. 2025 Tata Nexon EV LR variants start from Rs 13.99 lakh (Ex-sh) for Creative and goes till Rs 17.19 lakh (Ex-sh) for Red Dark trim. Other then these updates, there doesn’t seem to be anything new with Nexon EV. More

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    MG Windsor EV Records 15k Production Milestone – 200 New Bookings Everyday

    MG WindsorIndia’s electric car segment has witnessed a new champion in the form of MG Windsor EV. This is India’s first CUV which has appealed to the country’s electric car buyers. It has quickly climbed the ladder of success and has emerged as India’s best-selling electric car and has also surpassed 15k units production milestone.
    MG Winsor EV Production Milestone
    Ever since it was launched, MG Windsor EV has been a popular choice in India’s electric car segment. The customer reception has been excellent, making it the country’s best-selling electric car for the fourth consecutive month (October 2024 to January 2025), contributing to the overall growth of India’s electric car segment.
    Since it was launched late last year, MG Windsor has achieved 15,000 units production milestone. Windsor EV’s order books are ringing with 200 bookings per day, across India. If not for the production slowdown in February 2025 due to facility modifications in Halol plant, this milestone would be achieved much earlier.
    Windsor EV packs a bunch of features and innovations, backed by premium interiors and best-in-segment roominess and comfort. Windsor EV also has well–sorted underpinnings giving it good range, performance and other paraphernalia. What stood out with MG Windsor EV is a revolutionary pricing system.
    MG Windsor EV
    MG is not only offering competitive pricing with the purchase, but the company is also offering segment-first battery rental BaaS (Battery as a Service) offers, significantly reducing the high up-front costs associated with an electric car. For buyers who don’t have high mileage needs, are gravitating towards Windsor EV.
    Windsor EV gets a 38-kWh battery powering an electric motor rated at 134 hp and 200 Nm, driving the front wheels. There are four drive modes – Eco+, Eco, Normal, and Sport. MG promises a range of 331 km on a single charge. DC fast charger ensures 80% SOC in 40 minutes.
    Statement from JSW MG Motor India
    Speaking on the occasion, Biju Balendran, Deputy Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India said, “We are delighted with the response that the MG Windsor has been receiving and are grateful to our customers who have helped us cross the 15,000-unit production milestone. The CUV has been widely accepted by car buyers for its overall pricing and packaging, and for offering a luxurious business-class experience to customers.
    Windsor has become No 1 selling electric car in Oct 2024
    Smart initiatives such as BaaS, the buyback program, and a lifetime warranty, have all boosted consumer confidence in EVs. As we diversify our portfolio, we remain committed to bringing quality products to our customers at a faster rate. Consequently, we are increasing the capacity of the facility at Halol to meet the rising demand for Windsor.
    Additionally, we are undertaking certain facility modifications to ensure readiness for new products under MG Select which is due for launch in the first half of this year. Hence, we anticipate a production slowdown during the month of February, which may temporarily affect our wholesales during this period”, he added further. More

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    2025 Honda Hornet 2.0 Launch Price Rs 1.57 L – More Features, Equipment

    2025 Honda Hornet 2.0 Launched – Radiant Red MetallicAfter re-launching the CB200X as NX200, Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India has updated its street naked counterpart, the Hornet 2.0. With the new 2025 Honda Hornet 2.0, the company is offering new colourways to enhance its visual appearance along with new features to up its tech-savvy appeal.
    2025 Honda Hornet 2.0 Launch
    Priced at Rs 1,56,953 (Ex-sh), 2025 Honda Hornet 2.0 has stepped into a new era of motorcycling with new equipment. This premium street fighter motorcycle is offered in four striking colourways – Pearl Igneous Black, Radiant Red Metallic, Athletic Blue Metallic, and Mat Axis Gray Metallic. It is available in both Red Wing and Big Wing dealerships.
    These colourways are complemented by new and improved graphics that aim to excite prospective buyers with style. With these colorways along with the premium USD telescopic front forks finished in Gold, 2025 Honda Hornet 2.0 has a lot of substance that leads to a commanding road presence.
    2025 Hornet 2.0 gets all-LED lighting for a modern appearance. Honda has updated the features list with the addition of a 4.2-inch TFT instrument cluster. This display supports Honda RoadSync smartphone app via Bluetooth connection and unlocks features like Navigation, call alerts, SMS alerts and notification alerts.
    2025 Honda Hornet 2.0 Launched – Athletic Blue Metallic
    Powertrains-wise, 2025 Honda Hornet 2.0 gets an 184.4cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine which is OBD2B emission standard compliant. This engine is capable of 16.76 bhp of peak power and 15.7 Nm of peak torque, mated to a slip and assist clutch along with a 5-speed gearbox. Dual-channel ABS, HSTC traction control system and a Type-C USB charging port are other notable attributes.
    Statement from HMSI
    Introducing the updated Hornet 2.0, Mr. Tsutsumu Otani, Managing Director, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said, “The Hornet 2.0 has been a game-changer in the segment ever since it was first introduced in August 2020. Over the years, we have continuously updated the motorcycle and even introduced special MotoGP edition models, each receiving an overwhelming response from our customers.
    With the new OBD2B-compliant Hornet 2.0, we aim to take this legacy forward by offering an even more refined riding experience, coupled with cutting-edge technology and superior safety features.”
    Commenting on this announcement, Mr. Yogesh Mathur, Director, Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said, “We are thrilled to introduce the latest iteration of the Hornet 2.0, which comes with exciting new features and enhancements.
    The motorcycle now boasts aggressive new graphics, an advanced digital TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity, and safety features like Honda Selectable Torque Control and Dual-Channel ABS. Designed for performance enthusiasts to challenge the streets, the Hornet 2.0 is all-set to redefine the streetfighter experience.” More