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A promotional image highlights the Buick Electra E7’s reclining seat configuration. Credit: Buick. The refreshed Buick Electra E7 arrives just 5 months after its initial rollout, underscoring pressure on joint-venture brands to catch up in China. The new Pro version combines a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with advanced driver assistance. General Motors (NYSE: GM) brand Buick launched a refreshed version of its Electra E7 plug-in hybrid SUV (sport utility vehicle) in China on Wednesday, just 5 months after the model’s initial rollout. The updated model comes in 3 variants with official guide prices ranging from 159,900 yuan ($23,700) to 199,900 yuan.…

When it comes to high-end luxury automotive manufacturers, having some form of flagship is crucial. Acting as the halo offering within a luxury range, it serves as an aspirational model that buyers can aim to reach, as well as showing exactly what it’s capable of. The result is that it makes the manufacturer’s cheaper vehicles look more appealing, since they’ll share the same sort of parts and engineering as the flagship, at least in the eyes of consumers. These cars usually come in the shape of a full-size sedan, though Lexus has now rethought this approach. In the US, at…

The Drive 🤝 your inbox. Every weekday The Daily Brief wraps up the biggest stories and our exclusive reporting on the auto industry and car culture. In case you hadn’t noticed, GM is making a big to-do over the launch of its updated trucks. Back in August, GMC invited select members of the media to take a look at its new range-topping models—the 2027 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X and Denali Ultimate—to give us a better idea of what the company has in store for its premium half-tons. Our walkthrough was light on details, but we’ve since learned quite a bit…

Following right along with yesterday’s early Prime Day coverage, we have today’s Green Deals led by the freshly launched Jackery Early Access Prime Big Deal Days Sale with up to 65% power station discounts, like the new 3,584Wh HomePower 3600 Pro Max Power Station down at $1,799, among others. Right behind that is Lectric’s 4-Day World Car-Free Flash Sale with up to $804 savings on e-bikes and 30% extra battery discounts – with e-bike prices starting from $799. There’s also the 2026 Greenworks 24V 20-inch Cordless Electric Hedge Trimmer at a $90 low, the BLACK+DECKER 12A 3-in-1 Electric Leaf Blower,…

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is mostly known for its global dominance over petroleum production and oil reserves — not necessarily cars and auto manufacturing, and certainly not electric vehicle production. So it was a little surprising on Monday when a Saudi startup called Ceer unveiled a pair of hyper-angular, spaceship-like EVs, with plans to launch an additional five models by 2030.The Exobot (yes, that’s the real name) sedan and SUV are expected to go on sale in Saudi Arabia starting in 2027. The ultra-futuristic designs scream Tron, Blade Runner, and every other sci-fi movie you’ve seen — and then…

CarPlay can become even better when you take a few minutes to customize it. Your iPhone turns your car’s infotainment system into a navigation and communication hub, thanks to CarPlay. While it works great by default, there are several ways to make it even better, plus new features that arrive every so often.  From configuring CarPlay basics to designing the perfect app layout, adjusting the feature can make your commute safer and more entertaining. And with iOS 27 bringing several new updates to CarPlay, now is a great time to dive into this core iPhone function. Make the most of the layout and…

Small car safety is often cited as one of the reasons why people buy bigger, and in general, it’s hard to argue that they’re wrong. A smaller car will almost always come off second best against a larger car in a crash, especially if they come from comparable eras with similar philosophies on construction and crumple zones. The simple science is that big cars have more momentum in a crash, and the smaller car will absolutely get blasted out the way. But that doesn’t mean small cars are unsafe. In 2026, eight small cars have earned an IIHS Top Safety…

A heavily camouflaged prototype of Yangwang’s new executive sedan beside a BYD flash charging station. Credit: Wu Ying/Weibo. The new model is said to measure about 5.5 meters long, with an estimated price above 2 million yuan ($296,440). Yangwang’s existing U7 sedan starts at 658,000 yuan, while the new model could further expand the brand’s ultra-luxury lineup. Spy shots of a new executive sedan from Yangwang, the ultra-luxury brand of BYD (HKEX: 1211), have emerged, signaling a further push upmarket. Several prominent automotive bloggers, including Wu Ying, shared spy shots of the vehicle on Weibo on Wednesday, citing an estimated…

The Drive 🤝 your inbox. Every weekday The Daily Brief wraps up the biggest stories and our exclusive reporting on the auto industry and car culture. Hello and welcome to The Downshift, a daily sweep of the morning’s 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 happening on Tuesday, September 22, 2026: 🔋 Toyota will reportedly get into the extended-range EV game, first in China. Of course, when Toyota gets involved in something, as one…

Automotive Tesla has reopened reservations for the long-awaited second-generation Roadster, putting the electric sports car back in the spotlight just ahead of its planned October 1, 2026 reveal. The timing is notable because the Roadster has been in limbo for years after first being shown in prototype form back in 2017. Tesla is now once again accepting deposits from buyers who want a place in line, even though the company has yet to reveal the final production car, complete specifications, or a confirmed delivery timeline. Getting on the reservation list requires a substantial commitment. Tesla is asking for…