Author: kirklandc008@gmail.com

For a lot of people, the most appealing reason to use a local chatbot will be the amount of money you can save. Right now, running a local model on your iPhone involves, at most, a one-time purchase of $5. Compare that to a subscription from any of the big AI labs. For instance, if you want to use ChatGPT without ads, you’ll need to spend at least $20 per month on OpenAI’s Plus plan. You could get away with the more affordable Go tier or even stick with the free offering if you plan to use ChatGPT only sporadically,…

Yet if the car you’re looking at has the right mileage, is the correct colour, and has the widescreen infotainment system you crave, swapping the wheels or replacing the floor mats are easy fixes that can breathe new life into a second-hand hatchback. A good valet can revive tired-looking paint, while simple sprays will see stains or spills lifted from the doors and dash with ease. I recently replaced the front and rear badges on my classic car with new-old stock purchased online. I’ve also fitted a new gearshift gaiter, plus a period-sympathetic stereo with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. For…

This D-Max EV is offered solely with a 66.9kWh battery, which produces a meagre range of 163 miles, although that’s still more than Toyota’s upcoming Hilux EV (estimated at 159 miles). DC charging speeds are poor, at 50kW, but it does have access to 11kW three-phase AC charging, meaning a top-up can complete from empty in six hours. Given that most farmers and fleets will have access to on-site charging, the lack of rapid charging isn’t much of an issue. Much of the electric D-Max’s underpinnings, including its chassis, are taken from the diesel. That said, Isuzu has added a bespoke…

A Li L9 Livis on display at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2026. Credit: CnEVPost Li Auto’s first-quarter net loss reached 2.3 billion yuan ($330 million), ending its previous streak of profitability. The company expects second-quarter deliveries of up to 100,000 vehicles, trailing the guidance of rivals Nio and Xpeng. Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI) reported disappointing first-quarter financial results, with the company unexpectedly posting a massive loss in the first three months of 2026. In the first quarter, Li Auto’s net loss reached 2.3 billion yuan ($330 million), according to unaudited financial results released on Thursday. By comparison, the…

California-based Rezvani Motors is known for building armored and tacticool SUVs like the Jeep-based Tank and the Escalade-hiding Vengeance. Now it has given another model the futuristic armored assault look, and this time it’s a pickup. Rezvani calls it the Fortress, and labels it as the first tactical off-road truck. The Meanest Looking Pickup Ever? Rezvani FortressRezvani Motors You’d never know it, but this truck started life as a Ford F-150 Raptor. Rezvani has gone over almost every part of it, though, throwing nearly everything factory in the trash to build up the Fortress brick by brick. Rezvani’s design is…

With the Tesla Model S and Model X exiting production earlier this month, one of the EV world’s most recognizable performance badges is also out the door: Plaid. That effectively leaves the Cybertruck Cyberbeast as Tesla’s new performance flagship thanks to its Plaid-like tri-motor setup and brutal straight-line pace, though few enthusiasts would argue that Tesla’s unloved stainless steel pickup is a true replacement for Tesla’s former performance flagships. 2025 Tesla Model 3 Performance Red Front AngleTesla That may not be the case for long. Recent comments from Tesla’s top engineer suggest the automaker could be exploring something even more…

Independent auto repair shops are playing a vital role in Canada’s electric vehicle market as EV ownership grows and service demands change, according to a panel of industry experts. Daniel Breton, chief executive officer of Electric Mobility Canada, discussed how independent garages are increasingly essential, sharing his own experience with dealer wait times. He told the story of having a charging issue with his EV. He called the dealer and asked if he could come by. The dealer’s response? The next available appointment was in 32 days. “So I went to an independent shop,” Breton said at the 2025 AARO…

Catalina Cove The hotly-anticipated Rivian R2 is nearly upon us, and Rivian just gave everyone a single date to focus on: June 9. Rivian has announced that the “official launch” of the R2 is less than two weeks away, with the first big salvo of order invites, customer deliveries, and demo drives all starting on that day. It was announced via a Rivian Story blog post, which gives the specifics of what to expect on that day. The R2 configurator has already been open for a couple weeks, but what will happen on June 9th is the first batches of…

Chery, the parent company of Omoda and Jaecoo, is aiming to crack the fearsome Japanese market, partnering with four Asian auto firms to form a new EV brand called Emta. The Chinese company – which now has four SUV brands in the UK and could soon add the reborn Freelander as a fifth – will supply platforms and drive hardware for the Japan-focused brand. Chery holds a share of 27.27% in the Singapore-based business, matching that of Chinese manufacturing group Jiangsu Yueda. Japanese vehicle parts maker Autobacs Seven and Chinese battery firm Gotion hold 18.18% apiece, while Japanese machinery firm Anest has the remaining 9.09%.…

We’ve all heard about how a cheap German car is the most expensive purchase of your life. While that might be an exaggeration, used German luxury cars are certainly not cheap to own and maintain once their warranties run out. That doesn’t just mean it’s expensive to repair — insurance costs, fuel economy, and more add up to turn what seemed like a reasonable purchase within your budget into a nightmare. That’s not to say all aspects of owning one are hellish, though. The BMW M5 sedan has been around in America since the 1986 model year; some years make…