Rachel Thompson

Rachel Thompson

With over 15 years of experience in web writing, I have collaborated with numerous magazines and websites, primarily in motorsports, before broadening my focus to the automotive industry as a whole. I joined The News Wheel team in September 2024. To contact me : [email protected]

Toyota Still Sells This 2002-Era $12K Wagon in 2025 — And These Drivers Love It

Boxy, basic, and nearly untouched since the early 2000s, the Toyota Probox continues to sell in Japan for under $13,000.

U.S. Regulators Greenlight Advanced Female Crash Test Dummy To Address Safety Gap

For the first time in U.S. automotive history, regulators have approved the use of an advanced female crash test dummy in vehicle safety testing

Up to $17,000 Off: The Best Black Friday 2025 Car Deals You Won’t Want to Miss

Black Friday has long been a key moment for retail bargains, but in recent years, the auto industry has increasingly participated in the rush.

Audi Brings Back Physical Controls in New Models After Customer Complaints

Audi is making a surprising yet welcome shift back to physical controls in response to customer demand.

Land Rover Unveils Defender Dakar D7X-R: Flight Mode and a V8 Engine Built for Extreme Desert Racing

Land Rover has unveiled a new, race-ready version of its iconic Defender, the Dakar D7X-R, built to tackle the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship's toughest challenges.

BYD’s New Hybrid to Feature First-Ever Porsche-Inspired Boxer Engine

In a world where automakers are racing to meet ever-stricter environmental standards, BYD has unveiled an innovation that stands out in the hybrid car market

BYD Ditches Rotating Screens in Its Latest Models

BYD, the Chinese automaker known for pushing the envelope with its tech, has decided to ditch its signature rotating infotainment screens.

Chinese EV Sales Surge in South America, Beating Tesla at its Own Game

Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) have rapidly gained traction in South America, surpassing Tesla in several key markets.

2026 Toyota RAV4 Gets $2,100 Price Increase, But Still More Affordable Than Competitors

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 has officially arrived with a starting price of $31,900 for the base LE trim, marking a modest price increase from the previous generation.

Yenko’s 1,000-Hp Silverado Brings Back the Street Truck With a Stick and Rear-Wheel Drive

A Silverado with 1,000 horsepower, a six-speed manual, and rear-wheel drive sounds like a fever dream in 2025—but it's real, and it’s loud.

You Can Now Buy a New 5VZ V-6 Crate Engine for Your Classic Toyota 4Runner and Tacoma

For owners of aging Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner models, a unique opportunity has emerged: a brand-new version of the iconic 5VZ-FE V6 is now available as a crate engine.

Tesla Responds to Waymo’s Calls for Transparency With New Safety Report

Tesla has released a comprehensive safety report on its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, responding to calls for more transparency from industry leaders.

Mazda Unveils 6e: Electric Rear-Drive Sedan with 500km Range, Ready to Compete with Tesla and BYD

Mazda has officially entered the electric sedan race with the 6e, a sleek rear-wheel-drive liftback built in partnership with Changan.

GM Confirms New Small-Block V-8 in Two Displacements for Next-Gen Pickups and Performance Cars

Despite its billion-dollar push toward electrification, General Motors isn’t putting the internal combustion engine to rest just yet.

Ford and Google Team Up to Map America’s Wildest Trail With Street View

Over 32 days and nearly 6,000 miles, Ford and Google teamed up to digitally chart the TransAmerica Trail, one of the most remote off-road routes in the United States.

Ford Google Maps TransAmerica Trail

2026 Toyota Hilux Base Model Unveiled with Manual Gearbox and Simple Design

Toyota has unveiled the barebones version of its next-generation Hilux, showing a refreshingly spartan configuration that ditches modern excess for mechanical simplicity.

Dodge’s Durango SRT Hellcat Gets Approval for Sale in 10 More States

Dodge has lifted the ban on its high-powered Durango SRT Hellcat in 10 additional states that follow strict emissions standards, a significant shift from earlier restrictions.

Kia Unveils the 2027 Telluride — And It’s Closer Than Ever to a Range Rover

Kia has pulled the wraps off the 2027 Telluride, revealing a more rugged exterior, stretched dimensions, and a fully overhauled cabin.

Google Maps Just Got a Brain — And It Talks Like a Human Thanks To Gemini AI

Google has begun rolling out a significant upgrade to Google Maps, powered by its latest Gemini AI technology.

Google Maps

Ferrari Teases First Electric Supercar, Promises Over 1,000 Horsepower and Iconic Engine Sound

Ferrari has officially lifted the veil on its first all-electric vehicle, the Elettrica, confirming that the new model will deliver over 1,000 horsepower and reach 60 mph in under 2.5…

This Gym Offers a Porsche to Anyone Who Can Lose 50kg in 3 Months

A gym in Binzhou, Shandong province, has launched a bold and controversial weight-loss challenge, offering a Porsche Panamera to anyone who can lose 50 kilograms in just three months.

Tesla Sales Are Falling, but Elon Musk Still Gets Approval for His Record $1 Trillion Compensation Plan

Elon Musk has secured the largest pay package in corporate history after Tesla shareholders approved a plan that could reward him with up to $1 trillion over the next decade.

Ford Unveils 900+ HP F-150 Raptor R at SEMA – But No Production Plans (At Least, Not Yet)

Ford has pulled the curtain back on a stunning new version of its F-150 Raptor R at the 2025 SEMA Show, revealing an upgraded concept truck pushing over 900 horsepower.

The Ford F-150 Raptor R for SEMA 2025

EV Sales Drop Sharply in October After Tax Credit Ends

Sales of electric vehicles took a steep dive in October, following the end of the federal $7500 tax credit that had propped up demand throughout the year.

An EV is traveling on a road

Toyota Teases Mysterious Fourth GR Model for America: Fans Think It’s the Return of a Legend

Toyota just dropped a major clue about its next GR sports car—but not where you'd expect. Hidden in a nine-minute anime film, a shadowy figure and cryptic message hint at…

A new Gazoo Racing sports car

Over 1 Million Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Vehicles Recalled

More than 1 million vehicles from Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru are being recalled due to a critical issue.

rearview camera system

This Proposal Could Solve Plug-In Hybrids’ Biggest Problem

Germany's largest auto industry association, VDA, is pushing for a controversial plan to compel plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) drivers to charge their cars more frequently.

Electric car plugged into a charging station

Waymo Readies Its Autonomous Cars to Face Their Toughest Test

Waymo is taking its self-driving cars into winter for the first time, preparing its autonomous fleet to navigate snow, ice, and freezing rain in U.S. cities and international markets like…

A Waymo taxi

Student Finds Lamborghini and Ferrari Worth Over $500,000 Sitting Untouched for 20 Years in Grandmother’s Garage

A student exploring his grandmother’s garage uncovered a dust-covered 1981 Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari 308, left untouched for 20 years after being retired from his grandfather’s exotic car rental fleet.

Lamborghini and Ferrari found in grandma's garage

Volvo Delays Electric-Only Lineup, Will Keep Gas Engines Into Late 2030s

Volvo delays its all-electric shift, planning to keep gasoline engines into the late 2030s while relying on next-gen plug-in hybrids as a bridge amid slower-than-expected EV adoption.

Toyota Brings an Icon Back to Life: The Legendary Land Cruiser FJ60 Is Reborn

This modernized version blends classic off-road style with cutting-edge performance, offering improved suspension, larger tires, and a nod to its heritage with a "Turbo" emblem.

It’s Official, Toyota Unveils Two New Global Brands

At the Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota announced the global launch of two new brands—Century and GR.

This Tiny Electric Motor Is More Powerful Than Four Tesla Model Y Combined

A miniature electric motor developed by YASA, a British company, has set a new record in power density. Weighing just 12.7 kg, this motor generates an impressive 750 kilowatts (over…

New Chinese Solid-State Battery Promises 800 Miles on a Single Charge

China is making waves in the EV industry with a new solid-state battery that promises a range of up to 800 miles on a single charge.

The CHERY panel

These 10 Electric Vehicles Have the Most Durable Batteries, New Study

A recent study by Swedish company Kvdbil examined over 1,366 electrified vehicles, including 723 fully electric cars and 643 plug-in hybrids, to assess battery durability.

China Learned From the West — Now It’s Pushing It Out of the Car Industry

China’s automakers now outproduce foreign partners 2 to 1, after decades of learning through joint ventures—flipping the script and pushing Western brands out of their once-dominant market.

Chinese Car Industry

More Americans Open to Buying Chinese Cars — Even If They Can’t Yet, New Study Finds

Over half of Americans are open to buying Chinese cars like Huawei, Xiaomi, and BYD, even though they're not sold in the US—interest is rising fast despite trade barriers and…

BYD cars

Drivers in the U.S. Are Dying After Repairs With Illegal Airbag Parts

A federal investigation is underway after a series of fatal airbag explosions in the United States were traced back to counterfeit components manufactured in China.

Airbag Deployed

Musk Confirms Tesla Cybercabs Will Run Without Safety Drivers in Austin by End of 2025

Tesla will remove safety drivers from its Cybercab fleet in Austin, Texas, by the end of 2025, marking a pivotal step in the company’s long-promised rollout of autonomous vehicles.

Tesla Cybercab Laser Headlights

Lamborghini Now Offers a 10-Year Warranty Like Kia — But There’s a Catch

Lamborghini has launched a new 10-year warranty program for its vehicles, aligning itself with more mainstream automakers like Kia.

Lamborghini Gallardo

Tesla Recalls 380,000 Model 3 and Y After Reports of Sudden Power Loss

Tesla is recalling over 380,000 of its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles from the 2023 model year due to a potential power steering failure, which could significantly increase the…

Tesla Model Y

Kia’s Teaser of the Upcoming Telluride Just Dropped — and It’s a Masterclass in Shadowy Reveals

Kia unveils the first shadowy teaser of the 2027 Telluride ahead of its full debut at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show, offering a glimpse of the next-gen SUV’s updated…

The upcoming Kia Telluride

It’s Not Just the Bolt Coming Back — Chevy Is Planning a Full $30K EV Lineup

Chevrolet is bringing back the Bolt and launching a full lineup of affordable EVs around it, all priced near $30,000, marking a bold move by GM to lead in the…

Chevy Bolt

Here’s Every EV That Got Canceled or Delayed in the U.S. This Year

A wave of EV delays and cancellations hit the U.S. in 2025 as automakers face rising costs, shifting demand, and policy changes, forcing many to pause or scrap electric vehicle…

Black Polestar 1

The $7,500 EV Credit Is Dead—But These States Will Pay You Even More

As of Sept. 30, 2025, the federal EV tax credit is gone—but some U.S. states now offer up to $9,000 in rebates to keep buyers interested and the electric vehicle…

Dodge’s Purple Haze Charger and V-8 Ram 1500 Just Broke Cover — And They’re Wild

Stellantis teases bold Mopar-built concepts for SEMA 2025: a purple Dodge Charger Scat Pack and neon green Ram 1500 V-8, signaling a strong return to classic American performance.

dodge charger concept teaser sema

Subaru Adds Four-Wheel Traction to Its Most Affordable SUV

Subaru’s Japan-only Rex now offers all-wheel drive for the first time, aligning it with its platform mates—the Toyota Raize and Daihatsu Rocky—which have featured AWD since 2019.

A White Subaru Rex

Ford Recalls 59,000 Vehicles over Fire Risk Linked to Block Heater Defect

Ford is recalling nearly 60,000 vehicles over a block heater defect that may cause short circuits and fires, affecting multiple Ford and Lincoln models ahead of peak cold-weather use.

Close-up of the front of a FORD SUV,

789 Violations, $3M in Fines… But Elon Musk’s Boring Company Pays Just $242K

Elon Musk’s Boring Company committed 789 environmental violations in Las Vegas tunnel works but avoided a $3M fine, receiving a reduced $242,800 penalty after Nevada officials exercised discretion.

station de The Boring Company du Vegas Loop

Genesis’s GV90: The New Luxury SUV Ready to Take on Cadillac’s Escalade

Genesis is ready to make a bold statement in the luxury SUV market with its upcoming GV90, a three-row, seven-seat vehicle aimed squarely at the Cadillac Escalade.

Genesis car hood