The Production Jeep Recon EV Is an Utter Disappointment

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Table of Contents

• The Production Jeep Recon EV Is an Utter Disappoin …

• Let’s Get Real: The Porsche 992.1 Turbo S Market I …

• Everything You Need to Know About One-pedal Drivin …

• "The World's Most Beautiful Car" Lands in America

• Spy Photos and Renderings of the Week

• Is This Android Auto 2.0? Gemini Rollout Continues

• The finish line 🏁

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The Production Jeep Recon EV Is an Utter Disappointment Compared to What Was Promised

By: Cristian Agatie

Three years after unveiling the all-electric Recon, Jeep finally announced that production starts early next year in Mexico. The production model's capabilities are seriously underwhelming, especially when compared to what was promised in 2022. Coupled with the high price, this is likely to make Jeep's first fully-electric "Trail Rated SUV" dead on arrival.

Stellantis is known for unrealistic promises that they backtrack on later or simply pretend they never made in the first place. Electrification is the best example, considering that Stellantis only sells two compliance EVs in the US and is preparing to launch another one. I intentionally left out the Fiat 500e, which.. come on, clearly not a serious proposition for the US market.

Stellantis has faked electrification efforts for years, following a sound principle that children learn early on in their lives. Delay uncomfortable chores as much as possible, because at some point, they will become irrelevant and you won't have to do them anymore. That was the Ram 1500 REV right there, announced with unrealistic specifications in 2023, delayed several times in 2024, and finally scrapped in 2025 because the market "doesn't want EVs anymore."

The other Stellantis EVs, the Dodge Charger Daytona and the Jeep Wagoneer S, were also big on promises, light on achievements. The former sold 7,000 units in the first three quarters of the year, whereas the electro-Jeep was slightly more popular, at 10,000 units. That's not nearly enough to justify a production line or the development efforts.

They are both selling at significant discounts, exceeding $20,000 in the case of the Wagoneer S, while the electric Charger sells at roughly half the MSRP. Unsurprisingly, both fare pretty badly in depreciation, despite being launched recently. 

Note: please continue reading the full editorial on our site.

Let’s Get Real: The Porsche 992.1 Turbo S Market Is Unhinged

By: Sergiu Tudose

There’s something deeply wrong with us. Not with Porsche, nor its dealers. Not with the “market”. But with us. Humankind. Now that a used and factory-standard 2024 Turbo S has crossed the $400,000 mark at auction, we need to finally admit that we’re the problem.

I’ve been covering this industry for twenty years. During this time, I’ve witnessed every form of hype, speculation, and manufactured scarcity. Nothing compares to the irrational fever surrounding the Porsche 911. At this point, I can’t even call it passion or status-seeking. It’s more like a collective delusion.

Back in June, I wrote this editorial in which I called the 911 Turbo S a “marvel of engineering”. It’s a technological flex capable of making the laws of physics glitch out, and you can easily make the case for it being worth over $250,000 as far as its MSRP is concerned. Right now, a 2026 Turbo S Coupe will set you back $270,300, whereas the Cabriolet is $284,300.

At $300,000, things get suspicious. At $340,000, I said Porsche was “gaslighting its buyers”. More or less. At over $400,000 for a used example we’ve gone beyond gaslighting. This is full-on Stockholm syndrome. I don’t even know what to call this except to say that it might just be the single most ridiculous pricing phenomenon in the modern performance car world.

The car that finally sent me over the edge is this 2,900-mile 2024 Turbo S Coupe in paint-to-sample Azzuro Thetys Metallic. A stunning thing, no doubt. But spending $405,000 to land it at auction is certifiable. Can you imagine if this had delivery miles? Also, don’t forget there’s a buyer’s fee, so all in all, the buyer likely paid around $412,500 to secure the car, excluding any taxes or shipping fees.

Try and remember that the Turbo S is not a rare car. It’s not endangered, nor is it limited in any way. This is a mass-production automobile, which is to say that Porsche will build as many as you want, every year, until the sun swallows the Earth whole while expanding into a “red giant” in about 5 billion years.

This isn’t a Carrera GT, or a 918 Spyder, or a one-of-200, one-of-20, one-of-anything. It’s a regular production model with a bloated options list. It’s not even the “enthusiast’s 911” - it’s the one that Porsche sells to people who just want to feel what it’s like to teleport from point A to point B. And that’s fine, because the Turbo S is brilliant at what it does. But that brilliance cannot justify a 100% markup over MSRP.

Those who would argue otherwise usually resort to hiding behind phrases such as “supply and demand” or “people pay what it’s worth to them”.

No. Let’s be serious. If supply and demand were a thing, as far as the 992.1 Turbo S is concerned, then values would be falling, not going up. So, a purely economics-driven argument doesn’t hold water. This tells me it’s not about the car; it’s about the buyers – who clearly have a need to prove something to themselves. It’s like they’re not even buying a flagship 911, but merely the right to say they paid more than the last guy.

Note: please continue reading the full editorial on our site.

Everything You Need to Know About One-pedal Driving

By: Cristian Agatie

No matter how much carmakers try to convince buyers of the opposite, electric vehicles are fundamentally different than gas cars. Not only because there's a different propulsion system, but also because they drive differently, which means drivers need to learn new tricks. One of the most popular driving modes that is unique to EVs and PHEVs is one-pedal driving. 

As electric and plug-in vehicles have become popular, more people are exposed to an entirely different car culture. The electric powertrain requires different driving styles to maximize efficiency and performance. Among the most popular driving styles is one-pedal driving, a feature that most electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles offer, although not all.

With one-pedal driving, the car maximizes energy recuperation, storing the recovered energy in the battery. As soon as you lift the foot off the accelerator, the car switches to energy recuperation, which turns the electric motors into generators. The energy generated during braking is stored in the vehicle's battery.

The bigger the power of the electric motor(s), the stronger the braking effect, which explains why one-pedal driving doesn't work with hybrids and only has a moderate effect with plug-in hybrid vehicles. However, how much energy can be recovered depends on many factors, including the vehicle's weight, terrain, and the battery's state of charge.

Wait, what? Exactly, if the battery is full, or in cold weather, the battery cannot take all the energy that regenerative braking generates (or none at all). This doesn't mean that one-pedal braking doesn't work. Instead of regenerative braking, the car activates friction braking to achieve a similar effect. The best braking systems in modern EVs make this process entirely transparent, with no perceived transition between regenerative and friction braking.

Because every carmaker has tuned its one-pedal driving features differently, it's difficult to say which is the best. More than this, there is no consensus about how to set or configure one-pedal driving. In some cars, lifting the foot of the accelerator would produce a strong braking effect, while in others, only a minor deceleration is felt, not unlike doing the same in an ICE vehicle. Some allow drivers to set different recuperation levels, and some even allow them to do it on the fly.

Regardless of the make and model, one-pedal driving provides both benefits and drawbacks, and, in some cases, it can be outright dangerous. Potential buyers should test this feature before buying a certain car model to see if it suits them. If we caught your attention, you might want to read our deep dive into one-pedal driving on our website.

For the full article, please continue reading on our site.

"The World's Most Beautiful Car" Lands in America

By: Elena Luchian

Alfa Romeo brings the 33 Stradale to America. The model that the Italian executives labeled as "the world's most beautiful car" and described as "super sexy' will make its car show debut in Los Angeles. Alfa Romeo will only build 33 such units and all of them are reportedly spoken for already.

Alfa Romeo unveiled the 33 Stradale last year, with all the bells and whistles of a limited-production, ultra-exclusive model, condemned to become an instant collectible. Long before it was unveiled, the firm's executives estimated that it would be sold out in the blink of an eye, and they were right.

The model is now coming to the U.S. to be on display at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show. However, this is not the first time it has set wheels on American soil. The first time was back in August, when it wowed the crowd at the Monterey Car Week. Right after the event, it spent a couple of weeks at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

Now, it is returning in LA, rolling into the Convention Center with the confidence that only a halo car can have. Inspired by the original 1967 Tipo 33 Stradale, widely regarded as one of the most elegant sports cars ever made, the sports car blends retro vibes with futuristic features, in an attempt not to alter the Alfa Romeo DNA. 

Note: for the full article, please continue reading on our site.

Spy Photos and Renderings of the Week

By: Mircea Panait

The best-selling Hyundai in the United States and globally is preparing for a generational changeover. Spied in Germany with a more upright aesthetic, beautified with sharper front lighting, the 2027 Hyundai Tucson should be revealed next year in two specifications.

For the United States and back home in South Korea, a longer wheelbase is on the menu for the more family-oriented buyers in said markets. Over in Europe, it should measure 2,750 instead of 2,800 millimeters (108.3 versus 110.2 inches) between the front and rear axles. The dual wheelbase strategy is a confirmed practice, as demonstrated by the outgoing model.

Internally referred to as NX5, the redesigned crossover will also gain the all-new Hyundai Pleos infotainment system that includes a smartphone-inspired user interface and the Hyundai Gleo artificial intelligence voice assistant. Level 2.5 semi-autonomous driver assistance features are reportedly happening as well.

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Following a rather lukewarm reception of the S6 e-tron and falling e-tron GT sales, Audi Sport has refocused on internal combustion performance vehicles. The RS 6 Sedan is a member of the next-generation lineup, the first RS 6 with a sedan body since 2010. Feeling old yet? If not, how do you feel about a plug-in hybrid twin-turbo V8 versus an unassisted twin-turbo V10?

Although the Volkswagen Group has abandoned the V10 with the discontinuation of the Lamborghini Huracan, the 2027 Audi RS 6 will pack a considerably bigger punch than all of its predecessors due to electrification. The German marque needs to deliver more than BMW M5-rivaling output numbers, though.

Realistically imagined by rendering artist Nikita Chuyko, what may be the final internal combustion RS 6 has to step up its dynamic game in order to sway customers from the heaviest M5 ever. Benefitting from gorgeously flared wheel arches, the first plug-in hybrid RS 6 of them all has been caught rocking 22-inch wheels that appear to feature 285/30s, mirroring the current model's optional wheel and tire package.

Sportier chassis tuning and suspension componentry are certain, although we aren't sure if electromechanical active roll stabilization may be offered. Even though Audi Sport manages to make the 2027 model a faster machine around the Nurburgring, the additional weight of the RS-specific PHEV system will surely affect perceived handling characteristics.   

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The best-selling pickup truck outside North America has received completely different styling cues for 2026, but no GR Sport option. Toyota could surprise us with one in the latter part of 2026 for 2027, especially if you remember that executives have stated that a wide-track specification is under development.

Theophilus Chin's take on the 2027 Toyota Hilux GR Sport offers a glimpse at said model, although the front and rear tracks don't appear to be all that different from the confirmed 2026 lineup. The most rugged Hilux available in Australia for 2026 is the Rugged X, a flagship grade with a robust steel rear bumper, beefy tow hooks, a bullbar, and rock sliders to boot.

Not related to the segment-leading Tacoma for the United States, the Hilux isn't likely to get a performance-oriented powertrain with full hybrid support. Instead, the GR Sport is expected to use the mild-hybrid 2.8 turbo diesel inline-four lump of the already capable and lavishly equipped Rugged X.

Is This Android Auto 2.0? Gemini Rollout Continues

By: Bogdan Popa

Google is fully committed to delivering a more refined Android Auto experience, and the company has finally confirmed the rollout of Gemini to the first users. Gemini actually landed in the first cars earlier this month, but Google confirmed the phased rollout, explaining that it could take some users a while to receive the update. 

Google also revealed new Gemini tricks on Google Maps, as the new AI-powered assistant is here to replace Google Assistant, not only for basic tasks but also for more advanced capabilities you didn't think were possible. 

 Meanwhile, Apple is also working on building a better Google Maps rival. Apple Maps quietly received new 3D models as part of the detailed city experience overhaul. Unfortunately, Apple still shows low commitment to bringing this update to all users worldwide, so it's no surprise that many people switch to Google Maps.

 Eventually, Subaru proved that GM's anti-CarPlay crusade is not the right strategy going forward. The 2026 Outback will run Android Automotive, just like GM's new cars, but still offer Android Auto and CarPlay. 

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