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Fuel costs are front of mind for today’s car shoppers, and Japanese automakers have answered the call with a wider and more capable lineup of hybrids than ever before. Whether you’re drawn to the efficiency of the Honda Accord Hybrid, the all-weather versatility of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, or something in between, the savings at the pump can add up to hundreds of dollars a year — and the right choice depends heavily on which segment fits your life. Note that we won’t be covering the newly announced Nissan Rogue E-Power Hybrid here, as it isn’t yet on sale. If…

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. have signed a joint development agreement to create shared electronic control units and software for next‑generation software‑defined vehicles. The companies said the standardized systems will be used in both automakers’ SDVs starting in fiscal year 2029. According to Honda and Nissans joint announcement the software domain has become central to vehicle intelligence and electrification, and both companies are looking to speed development and reduce costs. They said extensive studies on collaboration showed a need to strengthen competitiveness through faster development cycles and more efficient investment. The companies said they have agreed…

The biggest car news and reviews, no BS Our free daily newsletter sends the stories that really matter directly to you, every weekday. Welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short, The Drive’s morning automotive news roundup bringing you the biggest headlines from around the globe. The Downshift summarizes stories with a sentence or two, along with links for those who wish to dive deeper. Here’s what’s cooking on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. 🔊 A new episode of The Drivecast, The Drive’s weekly podcast, will go live later today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. ♦️ Mitsubishi has finally revealed the long-awaited Pajero for overseas markets. Built…

Off-road tires are expensive. SUV and truck enthusiasts can easily spend as much as a Porsche 911 owner when it comes time for new rubber. The latest tires from Leao, one of China’s largest manufacturers, are looking to eat into the competitive off-road market by offering similar performance at a remarkably lower price. I tested the Lion Climber X/T and R/T on Jeep Wranglers on a certified Honor Trail to see if they earn a badge of their own. This tire review is focused on real-world driving impressions, feel, and feedback—vibes over VBOX numbers. It’s rare that I can do…

Automotive McLaren’s newest flagship supercar is heading into the virtual world as the McLaren W1 joins Forza Horizon 6 on September 10 as part of the game’s British Automotive Series update. The W1 will be available to players who own the Car Pass downloadable content pack, with the car added directly to their in-game garage. Its arrival expands an already deep McLaren presence in the Forza franchise and gives players a chance to experience the newest member of the brand’s exclusive “1” lineage alongside icons such as the McLaren F1 and P1. The W1 is especially fitting for…

A screenshot from a Chery video shows a solid-state battery cell continuing to operate after a puncture test. Credit: Chery Chery plans to install solid-liquid hybrid batteries in vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2026 and begin vehicle validation of all-solid-state batteries in 2027. The latest timeline puts Chery among Chinese automakers racing for the 2027 commercialization window for solid-state batteries. Chery Auto (HKEX: 9973) has unveiled its latest solid-state battery timeline, with plans to begin vehicle validation of all-solid-state batteries in 2027. The Chinese automaker’s chairman Yin Tongyue announced the plan on Thursday at the 2026 World Power Battery…

Kia opened orders for the 2027 EV4 GT, its third “affordable” EV to receive the GT treatment in Canada. Kia EV4 GT prices and specs in Canada The EV4 is the all-electric sedan (and hatch) we want in the US, but can’t have. Kia said it was delaying the EV4 for the US “indefinitely” almost a year ago, and that’s the last we’ve heard. At least those in Canada can buy it. Kia launched the standard EV4 in late 2025, deeming it Canada’s most affordable EV. Starting at CA$38,995, Kia’s electric sedan is even cheaper than the Fiat 500e (CA$39,995).…

AI might be taking over the workplace, but Meta employees apparently won’t need to prove quite so enthusiastically that they’re using it anymore. Meta has updated its performance review guidance so employees will no longer be evaluated based on how much they use AI tools, according to a new WIRED report. The change moves the company away from language around AI usage and puts the emphasis back on something considerably simpler: the actual impact of an employee’s work. It sounds obvious, but the distinction matters. Meta told workers last year that “AI-driven impact” would factor into how they were evaluated,…

Motorcycles with character are dwindling in today’s age of technological overload and electric powertrains. Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle are the obvious no-brainer choices that abide by a character-before-performance theme. But British motorcycles are the lesser-appreciated bunch that also offer a wholesome lineup of character-rich bikes, especially in the old-school and neo-retro categories. Beyond the current Triumph lineup, this list also includes a few rare and forgotten classic British bikes from Vincent Motorcycles, Brough Superior, BSA, and Norton. This list is organized from the oldest to the newest British motorcycles by production year. Vincent Black Shadow Production Years: 1948–1955 A 1951 Vincent…

Google launched Gemini 3.8 Flash, arriving just a few weeks after its predecessor. The company claims the new model “works harder” than Gemini 3.7 Flash by performing more reasoning steps on complex tasks and “calling tools iteratively.” It has the same introductory pricing as 3.7 Flash, $0.75 per million input tokens and $3.75 per million output tokens, but could still end up costing users more. Google warns that “the model might use more tokens to maximize performance, especially at higher effort levels.” Developers can keep using Gemini 3.7 Flash if they want to minimize token usage.Gemini 3.8 Flash’s launch was…