Author: kirklandc008@gmail.com

Photo: Vestas Wind and solar just hit a major global milestone: For the first time ever, they generated more electricity than gas for the full month of April. According to new analysis from independent energy think tank Ember, wind and solar produced 22% of the world’s electricity in April 2026, compared to 20% from gas. Together, the two renewable sources generated a record 531 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity during the month, 54 TWh more than gas plants generated globally, at 477 TWh. The timing is notable. April marked the first full month of the latest global energy crisis tied to…

Mercedes-AMG is making a decisive return to V8 power, heralded by the incoming CLE 63 Mythos coupé. AMG’s variant of the CLE has thus far been available with only a turbocharged straight six, but the Mythos will bring a new V8 derived from that introduced by the facelifted S-Class. The twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre engine has a flat-plane crank – typically reserved for supercars – and in the S-Class it produces 530bhp and 553lb ft. That’s sufficient to propel the two-tonne saloon from rest to 62mph in 4.4sec. AMG is expected to turn up the wick on the powerplant for the new CLE 63…

Stellantis is reorganizing its brand structure, announcing new investments in global platforms and powertrains, and shedding more light on its partnerships with Leapmotor, Dongfeng, and Jaguar Land Rover as part of its long-term growth strategy spelled out today in its FaSTLAne 2030 plan at Investor Day at the North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The multinational automaker now identifies four “global brands” that will receive 70% of future investments: Jeep, Ram, Peugeot, and Fiat, along with the Pro One business unit. That leaves five “regional brands,” namely Chrysler, Dodge, Citroën, Opel, and Alfa Romeo, while “specialty brands” will include…

Auto repair shops are adapting their business models as electric vehicles change the economics of service, industry panellists told attendees at a recent symposium, with labour rates for specific EV work rising and parts margins tightening. When asked about labour charges, panellists of the Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario 2025 Symposium outlined distinct rates for conventional versus electric vehicles. Scott Eccles of Eccles Automotive reported a standard rate of $160 and an EV rate of $195 per hour. Dilraj Sekhon of R & S Auto said his shop charges $145 for standard work, with high-voltage EV jobs billed at $185…

Audi Audi is facing growing scrutiny after a class-action lawsuit was filed alleging serious defects in the water pump systems used in the automaker’s EA839 2.9-liter and 3.0-liter V6 engines. First reported by CarComplaints.com and mentioned by multiple sources like Car and Driver, the lawsuit claims Audi knowingly sold vehicles with faulty cooling system components that could lead to coolant leaks, expensive repairs, and possible engine damage across several high-volume models sold between the 2018 and 2024 model years. The lawsuit, officially titled Larr, et al., v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., et al., was filed in the…

If not for my love for Arc Browser, which has sadly become an abandonware, I would have used Vivaldi. No other browser comes even close to the customization and features it offers. And with its latest version 8.0 update, Vivaldi is making an even stronger case to ditch other browsers in its favor.  I like that while browsers like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge have been busy packing AI into every corner, Vivaldi has been quietly delivering features users actually want.  The headline feature is a new design language called “Unified”. Previously, the different parts of the browser, tabs, toolbars,…

Ram, formerly under the Dodge umbrella, is no stranger to earth-shaking muscle. With a history of beefy V8s powering some of its most prolific pickups, the American manufacturer has blessed us with V10, Hemi, and Hellcat-powered models that stand as testaments to American power and capability. That said, we haven’t had a proper road-focused muscle truck since the days of the Ram 1500 SRT10, original Ford F-150 Lightning, and GMC Syclone, all of which ceased production more than two decades ago. This changes now! The Ram 1500 Rumble Bee Has No Equal In 2026 2027 Ram 1500 Rumble Bee lineupStellantis…

Rapid depreciation means that, if you’re a luxury car buff, you run into a lot of “too good to be true” listings. A Land Rover Range Rover, for instance, launched at a whopping $92,000 for the 2021 model year’s base model, but, five years on, it sells for well under half its price. And that’s how they get ya. You find out that you can buy a top-of-the-line luxury off-roader for less than you’d spend on a brand-new Toyota (even with tariff-era price increases), and you’re forking the money over before you’ve even taken it for the test-drive, only to…

BYD launched its DM hybrid technology in Indonesia, with the M6 DM MPV being the first model equipped with the tech. Indonesia’s EV penetration has grown rapidly, surging to about 20% in the first quarter of 2026. (Image credit: BYD) BYD (HKEX: 1211) has launched its DM (Dual Mode) hybrid technology in Indonesia, initiating a more flexible product layout in the Southeast Asian country. The Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) giant introduced its DM technology to a local audience at an event held in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on May 18, according to a statement on Thursday. BYD has…

Meta has reportedly notified thousands of employees that they’ve been laid off as the company attempts to compensate for its hefty AI investments. In an email from Meta management shared by Business Insider, impacted staffers were told that the planned headcount reduction was part of the company’s “continued effort to run the company more efficiently and to allow us to offset the other investments we’re making.”Reports of an upcoming wave of layoffs started circulating in March, though at that time Meta was believed to be cutting up to 20 percent of its total company headcount. According to a recent memo…