Author: kirklandc008@gmail.com

Mercedes-Benz turned 140 years old this year, or rather, the 29th of January marked 140 years to the day since Carl Benz filed the patent for the Benz Patent-Motorwagen in 1886 — the world’s first car. But what does that have to do with a new flat-plane crank V8? Well, to celebrate 140 years of innovation, Mercedes launched a new S-Class on that date, and just days after, it embarked on a road trip around the world in three (almost) identical 2027 S-Class sedans powered by this new flat-plane crankshaft motor. The goal: visit 140 places around the world, one…

Playdate’s “seasons” are basically curated collections of games that are released over a short period of time. For season 3, there are eight games in total, with two launching weekly over the span of four weeks. The whole thing costs $39, and the season is off to a pretty good start with two games that are indicative of what the overall Playdate experience is like.One is called Soggy Froggy, and it’s an arcade game about giving a frog a bath. The little guy sits in a cauldron over a fire, and your job is to keep the water at just…

There’s this common belief that German cars, such as Volkswagens, are built to be robust, well-engineered, and durable, with the sort of build quality that will last you a really long time. But, while that might’ve been the prevailing stereotype in the past, how true is that today, and are Volkswagens reliable? Before, you had good reason to think that your Volkswagen Golf or Volkswagen Jetta ought to offer superb reliability, handily keeping up with what Toyota or Honda are cooking up, but here and now, the landscape has changed, and the facade of Volkswagen reliability has shattered in the…

Get The Downshift in your inbox A daily hot lap of headlines from the auto industry and car culture, curated by The Drive’s editors. Good morning and welcome to The Downshift, a daily sweep of top headlines from the auto industry and car culture, curated by The Drive’s editorial team. Each story gets a short summary and a link to the original source if you want to dive deeper. Here’s what’s cooking on Thursday, October 8, 2026: 🔊 A new episode of The Drivecast, The Drive’s weekly podcast, is live on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. 💡 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that…

Automotive A clear forecast in Denver can turn into a whiteout at the Eisenhower Tunnel. When that happens, the Colorado Department of Transportation can switch on its traction law in minutes. Cars that do not meet it can be fined, and they become a risk to everyone around them. Plenty of enthusiast setups fail the test without the owner knowing it. This guide walks through what the law asks for, where performance cars fall short, and how to check your own tires. It also covers the part nobody plans for, which is a winter crash and the questions…

Tesla China Monthly Sales (Exports Included) 2024-2026 Month 2024 2025 2026 January 71,447 63,238 69,129 February 60,365 30,688 58,599 March 89,064 78,828 85,670 April 62,167 58,459 79,478 May 72,573 61,662 85,982 June 71,007 71,599 89,091 July 74,117 67,886 93,579 August 86,697 83,192 86,166 September 88,321 90,812 95,366 October 68,280 61,497 November 78,856 86,700 December 93,766 97,171 Tesla China monthly sales (exports included) 2024 2025 2026 Strong export growth continued to offset declining domestic deliveries in China. Third-quarter wholesale sales reached a record 275,111 vehicles, while domestic deliveries in China accounted for 29.21% of global deliveries. Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) China’s wholesale…

The company is reportedly rebooting its smart home ambitions with a smart display and a whole bunch of other accessories. Apple Apple is hosting its second fall event on October 13, and the “Welcome home” tagline on its invitation heavily suggests it will be focused on smart home products. Depending on your perspective, you could trace the company’s entry into the space with the introduction of the Apple TV, HomeKit or the first HomePod, but this new push is reportedly built around the improved functionality of Siri AI and several new pieces of hardware that will…

BMW Group Canada has introduced the eighth-generation BMW 3 Series, marking the model line’s transition into the manufacturer’s Neue Klasse design and technology architecture. The lineup will include the fully electric BMW i3 alongside gasoline-powered models featuring 48-volt mild-hybrid technology. The electric BMW i3 50 xDrive produces 463 horsepower through a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, with an estimated range of up to 750 kilometres and a 400-kW DC fast-charging capacity capable of adding 335 kilometres of range in 10 minutes. The gasoline flagship, the BMW M350 xDrive, generates 437 horsepower, accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds, and introduces…

During multiple historic fuel crises and a climate crisis that left tens of thousands dead across Europe this summer, the bloc is reportedly close to striking a deal to allow its automakers to produce more of the vehicles that directly caused each of those problems. In doing so, it would only ensure that its automakers are unprepared to compete against the country that actually is providing solutions to those problems: China. Back in 2021, Europe announced a target to phase out new gas car sales by 2035, in order to meet an overall goal of 55% emissions reductions by 2030 and full…

The all-new 2028 Bentley Torcal and the Porsche Cayenne Electric, launched for 2026, may share the same Volkswagen Group PPE platform, but that’s where much of the common ground ends. The Cayenne continues to deliver the blend of performance and everyday usability the nameplate is renowned for, while Bentley has given the Torcal a very different brief centered on comfort, exclusivity, and a sense of occasion. Those contrasting missions come through clearly in the execution, with each brand managing to successfully put its own distinct stamp on the shared architecture. Exterior Design: Conspicuous Styling Versus Subtlety 2028 Bentley TorcalBentley Anyone…