Motor News

For its second generation, Kia’s subcompact SUV becomes more sophisticated, and the lineup will introduce a hybrid model too. More

Stellantis moved production away from Canada to appease the Trump administration, in the process defaulting on government-assistance contracts worth hundreds of millions, Canada said. More

Subaru’s smallest EV starts at $36,445 but can crest $45K, and the front-drive version offers over 300 miles of estimated range. More

A series of trademark filings suggests that the new MR2 could wear GR logos instead of Toyota badges, as Toyota spins off its performance subbrand. More

The two automakers are teaming up to build low-cost EVs in Europe to fight the recent flood of Chinese vehicles. More

Ram reintroduced the Hemi V-8 to the 1500 pickup for the 2026 model year, and the demand is high.Parent company Stellantis said initial units of the Hemi-powered trucks are spending just five days on dealer lots before being purchased.Typically, the fastest-selling cars in the United States spend 20 to 30 days at dealerships.Ram refreshed its popular 1500 pickup truck for the 2025 model year, dropping V-8 engines in favor of Stellantis’s new “Hurricane” twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. While the six-cylinder is more powerful and more efficient than the old V-8, Ram owners love the sound of eight cylinders working in harmony, so Ram brought back the 5.7-liter engine for 2026. So far, the move seems to be working, with Stellantis reporting that the initial versions of its Hemi-powered truck are flying off the lot. Sales of the light-duty Ram 1500 in general rose 10 percent year-over-year in the third quarter of 2025, with 44,349 new trucks finding homes from July to September. That puts the light-duty 1500 up 4 percent through the first nine months of 2025, with 143,264 sales. Unfortunately, Ram doesn’t break out sales by powertrain, but the automaker did provide a small tidbit in its latest sales release to show that customers are clamoring for the revived V-8 trucks.RamRam touted strong demand, with “dealerships reporting initial units selling in just five days on average.” While we don’t have exact data to compare how long it’s taking dealers to move non-V-8 units, it’s still an incredibly low number of days for a new vehicle to spend on a dealership lot. Typically, the fastest-selling cars in the United States take between 20 and 30 days to find a buyer, so five days is a great indication that there is a lot of interest in the new Hemi-powered Rams. This rate will likely slow as more V-8 trucks start to arrive at Ram dealerships and the company’s production starts to catch up with demand. Stellantis also stated that, so far, “orders have exceeded production.” RamStill, it’s a positive sign for Stellantis, showing that listening to its customers is starting to pay off. After sales of the electric Dodge Charger Daytona have struggled to pick up steam, Stellantis is set to launch the gas-powered six-cylinder models this fall, and we wouldn’t be shocked to see the V-8 return to the Charger in a bid to boost sales even further.More on the Ram 1500➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsCaleb 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

The 2026 Volvo EX90 receives a notable update one year after it launched, with the adoption of an 800-volt electrical system. Replacing the previous 400-volt system, the new architecture enables faster charging speeds, more power, and weight savings.The updated EX90, which is built in South Carolina, also adds an improved onboard computer that supports more advanced driver-assistance tech.UPDATE 9/26/25: A Volvo spokesperson has shared more specific details about the updated EX90. While its peak EPA-estimated range has dropped from 310 to 305 miles, that’s due to a slightly smaller battery with a 102-kWh capacity versus the previous 107 kWh. The EX90 can now charge from 10 to 80 percent in a claimed 22 minutes (or about eight minutes faster than before). The Twin Motor Performance variant also receives a significant power boost thanks to the new 800-volt system, with its total output rising from 510 to 670 horsepower.When the Volvo EX90 launched for the 2025 model year, it did so with a 400-volt electrical system. Now, just one year later, the three-row electric luxury SUV is doubling its operating voltage. Every 2026 EX90 adopts an 800-volt architecture that provides several benefits, including the ability to let owners spend less time fast-charging its 107-kWh battery.The switch to an 800-volt system—the same that underpins the upcoming Volvo ES90—lets the EX90 add about 155 miles of range in 10 minutes, according to the automaker. That’s roughly 43 miles more than before. The updated EV SUV can also now benefit from using a 350-kW DC fast-charger, with a 10-to-80 percent charge taking an estimated 22 minutes; previously, it took around 30 minutes. When we tested a 2025 example, it took 43 minutes to charge from 10 to 90 percent, with an average charge rate of 127 kW. For 2026, the EX90’s peak charge rate rises from 250 to 350 kW.VolvoAdopting an 800V system provides other benefits too, including fewer components, which helps reduce the overall weight of the hardware. Volvo says the upgrade also provides more power from the electric motors. While the automaker only shared a figure for the Twin Motor Performance, that model’s total output rises from 510 to 670 horsepower. That’s estimated to take it to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds, though we think it’ll be quicker than that, since the less powerful example we tested did the deed in 4.1 ticks. For 2026, the EX90 now comes standard with an electrochromic panoramic roof, so drivers can adjust the transparency of the glass above their heads. The EV SUV also now has a more powerful onboard computer, which enables new AI features as well as more sophisticated driver-assistance tech. The latter includes safety alerts for slippery roads, hazards in the road, and what Volvo calls Emergency Stop Assist, which will contact emergency services and safely bring the vehicle to a stop in its lane if the driver becomes unresponsive. The new EX90 can also better parallel park itself, and its automated emergency braking system works better in dark situations.Volvo hasn’t yet released pricing for the 2026 EX90, but order books are now open. The 2025 model started at $81,290, with the top-of-the-line trim priced at $90,640. It’s also built at Volvo’s assembly plant in Ridgeville, South Carolina, so it’s not affected by tariffs.This story was originally published on Sept. 23, 2025.Veer Into More Volvo Reading➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

Willow Springs was bought earlier this year, and the first track updates are being revealed.Improvements to safety were priority one, and the track has a handsome new signature livery.A debut event is planned for mid-October, with cars in attendance from Singer, The Petersen Museum, and several supercar specialists.Established in the early 1950s, Willow Springs is one of the oldest road courses in the United States. The largest track configuration is a big, fast course with plenty of elevation changes to have your stomach dropping like riding a rollercoaster. So, when the track was put up for sale in 2024, there was plenty of concern in the local racing community. Now, the latest track upgrades are being shown off, and it looks like nothing but good news.Updating an IconChange isn’t going to delight everyone, especially when it’s at a historic racetrack. However, Willow’s tracks were laid down at a time when people were still racing modestly powered MGs, so some safety upgrades were badly needed. The complex’s 1.8-mile Streets of Willow Springs course has been repaved with new asphalt, with new curbing installed as well. The track’s perimeter now has gravel to slow down any unintended off-track excursions, and there’s more runoff.Willow Springs RacewayDesigners also added three chicanes, which will bring speeds down a little and make things a bit more technical. Future plans include tire barriers, Armco railing, and catchfences for when things go really wrong.The kart track was also refurbished, and Willow Springs’ new owners are saying this work is just phase one. That ownership group is a collaboration between CrossHarbor Capital, a private equity firm, and Singer, the company well known for its restomod reimaginings of the Porsche 911. It’s little surprise then that the inaugural event to show off all this work is called Willow Springs Reimagined, and it’s set for October 11. The event also has The Petersen Automotive Museum on board, so there are sure to be some serious classics for the car show portion. Willow Springs RacewayThe big track—all 2.5 miles of it—will also need some upgrading, and it will likely receive some of the track’s new off-white and green livery on its curbs and runoff areas. Just as Singer does with classic air-cooled 911s, the intent is to modernize and enhance the track, without losing that nearly 75-year-old California desert racetrack feel. Further planned updates extend to off-track facilities, with a tech hub and Singer owner’s club on-site.Seeing as Willow Springs’ new owners only struck a deal in late spring of this year, it’s reassuring to see progress coming along so quickly. The track’s been a jewel in the desert for decades. It’s nice to see it getting a bit more polish and hope for a long future ahead.More Willow Reading➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More