Mercedes-AMG Completes Winter Testing of Electric GT Foor-Door Coupé
Mercedes‑AMG has finished winter testing of near‑production prototypes of its all‑electric GT 4‑Door Coupé at a Swedish test centre, confirming performance in sub‑zero conditions. The model will be the first production vehicle built on the new high‑performance AMG.EA electric architecture and will debut in the United States this May, with deliveries expected before the end of 2026. Testing highlighted the use of AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all‑wheel‑drive, three axial‑flux motors and directly cooled battery cells designed for cold‑weather operation.
Karnataka: Pralhad Joshi Fears Taxes on EVs Will Derail India's Emission Targets
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi warned that Karnataka’s decision to scrap road‑tax exemptions for electric vehicles could boost India’s crude oil imports and jeopardize its emission goals. The state’s new tax regime imposes a lifetime levy of 5% to 10% on...
The New Qantas Reward Search Tool Is Great for Avios AND Virgin Points Collectors Too
Qantas has introduced a new reward‑flight finder on its website, using a SeatSpy‑style engine to display award seat availability across the oneworld alliance and partners like Air France‑KLM and Emirates. The tool addresses frequent complaints that reward seats are hard...
EVs Sweep 2026 World Car Awards
The 2026 World Car Awards were dominated by electric vehicles, with EVs winning every category. Mazda’s EZ‑6/6e took World Car Design, Nio’s Firefly earned World Urban Car, Hyundai’s IONIQ 6 N captured World Performance Car, Lucid’s Gravity secured World Luxury Car, and...
Are Four-Cylinder Engines Better Than Three-Cylinder Ones?
SlashGear examines the trade‑offs between inline‑three and inline‑four engines, concluding that four‑cylinders generally win due to superior primary balance, smoother operation, and broader applicability. While three‑cylinders excel in compactness and fuel efficiency, they often require turbocharging to match the power...
Magnum P.I.'s Ferrari 308 Could Be Yours, Though You'll Still Have To Grow The 'Stache Yourself
Barrett‑Jackson is auctioning the authentic Ferrari 308 GTS featured in the opening credits of “Magnum P.I.”, a car that gained iconic status in the 1980s. The vehicle, verified by Ferrari historian Marcel Massini, was only modestly altered for Tom Selleck’s height...
The Week in Charts: Jet Fuel Prices, FPI Exodus, E20 Vehicle Gap
India’s economy faces multiple pressures as the West Asia war fuels a global energy squeeze. Jet fuel prices have surged, squeezing airline fares, while the manufacturing PMI slipped to a 45‑month low of 53.9 in March, indicating a sharp slowdown....
Chrysler, Once an American Icon, Now Sells Just One Minivan. Can It Survive?
Chrysler has been reduced to a single model, the Pacifica minivan, after years of portfolio shrinkage. At the New York International Auto Show, CEO Matt McAlear unveiled a modest refresh of the Pacifica, signaling the brand’s attempt to stay relevant. Dealers...
Viasat Positions IFC as Strategic Platform for Brand Loyalty
Viasat is positioning inflight connectivity (IFC) as a strategic brand‑building platform for airlines, citing its 2024 Passenger Experience Survey where 75% of travelers say quality Wi‑Fi makes them more likely to rebook. The company’s Amara solution delivers a scalable, multi‑orbit...
STG Aerospace Takes Green Approach to Cabin Lighting
STG Aerospace is expanding its “Eco Everything” concept to cover the full range of emergency floor path marking (FPM) products, using recycled and biodegradable materials across four widths. The saf‑Tglo® eco E1™ line, launched in 2024, now contains over 85% recycled...
F/LIST Shines a Light on Integrated Lighting Technology for the Cabin
F/LIST unveiled its Lightshifter concept at AIX 2026, embedding LED lighting directly into wood‑veneer surfaces for cabin interiors. The system transforms static panels into programmable, softly illuminated touchpoints that can change color, intensity, and pattern on demand. Lightshifter supports full customization...
Muirhead Brings Circularity In-House
Muirhead announced the launch of an in‑house BioPRO foam production facility within the Scottish Leather Group, moving full‑scale manufacturing of its circular foam under one roof. The patented foam incorporates 20% reclaimed protein from Muirhead’s own processes, reducing reliance on...
Houthis Release Russian Seafarer in Apparent UN-Brokered Deal
A Russian seafarer, Aleksei Galaktionov, was released from Houthi custody on April 2 via a United Nations‑organized flight, marking the last Russian detainee held after the July 2025 attack on the bulk carrier Eternity C. The UN‑brokered exchange also returned several sick and...
FlightPath3D Reframes the Role of the Inflight Map
FlightPath3D has upgraded its AI‑driven inflight platform, Luci, with Luci Live, enabling passengers to ask natural‑language questions and receive actionable answers. The system operates both offline, using real‑time flight data, and online via Starlink‑based Cloud Map, which now powers more than...
The BTS Effect: How K-Pop Culture Is Reshaping Aviation Economics
K‑pop’s global surge, led by BTS, is prompting airlines to redesign schedules around concert tours, generating demand spikes comparable to traditional peak seasons. Carriers monitor tour announcements, venue sizes and ticket pre‑sales to forecast passenger volumes weeks in advance. Korean...
RAVE Aerospace Builds on Seatback Success
RAVE Aerospace, renamed from Safran Passenger Innovations after Kingswood’s acquisition, is pivoting to seat‑back inflight entertainment (IFE) as the data‑driven hub of the connected cabin. Its new RAVE Ultra OS platform adopts an open‑platform, modular design that lets airlines preserve brand...
Geven Reinforces Position in European Market Ahead of AIX 2026
Geven is leveraging its modular Elemento and Comoda seat platforms to deepen its foothold in Europe ahead of AIX 2026. The Elemento entered Edelweiss’s A350 economy cabin while the Comoda launched on Eurowings, showcasing flexible, lightweight designs with integrated digital...
Lucid Gravity
The Lucid Gravity is a seven‑seat luxury electric SUV that blends supercar performance with a cavernous interior. It produces 827 bhp, accelerates from 0‑62 mph in 3.6 seconds, and offers a WLTP range up to 463 mi with 400 kW fast‑charging, while weighing 2.7 t and...
Human Remains Reportedly Found on Thai Bulker Attacked by Iranians
Precious Shipping announced that human remains were found aboard the Thai‑flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, which was struck by a missile near the Strait of Hormuz on March 11. The vessel, a 30,193‑dwt bulker, suffered a fire in its engine room...
Montreal Port Chief Gascon Exits Abruptly After Two-Year Tenure
Montreal Port Authority chief Julie Gascon left her role abruptly after a two‑year tenure, with no public explanation. Her departure coincides with the start of a C$1.6 billion (US$1.15 billion) container terminal project that will be operated by DP World. The board announced...
Subaru’s Forgotten BRAT Might Be the Answer to America’s Truck Problem
Subaru’s 1978‑87 BRAT, a quirky compact pickup, sold about 100,000 units in North America and used rear‑facing jump seats to avoid the 25% “Chicken Tax.” The compact pickup segment is booming, with Ford’s Maverick hitting a record 155,051 sales in...
U.S.-Iran War Is Stranding Sailors In The Strait Of Hormuz
The U.S.-Iran conflict has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, stranding roughly 2,000 vessels and 20,000 seafarers in the Persian Gulf. The United Nations notes this is unprecedented in modern maritime history, as 19 attacks on civilian ships have already...
Charleston Looking for Retailer Shippers to Revive Port’s Growth
The Port of Charleston is launching an aggressive campaign to attract retail goods shippers and is open to co‑investing with them to revive stagnant container volumes. For the first eight months of the 2026 fiscal year, the port’s throughput sits...
Shape Up or Be Shipped Out: The New Broker and Freight Forwarder Financial Responsibility Final Rule Puts Delinquent Brokers on...
The FMCSA’s Broker and Freight Forwarder Financial Responsibility Rule is now fully active, requiring every broker and freight forwarder to maintain at least $75,000 in a surety bond or trust fund. If the security falls below that level, the carrier...
Gopuff to Work with NextNRG on Delivering Groceries Alongside Gas
Gopuff is partnering with NextNRG to launch EzShop, a service that adds grocery and household item delivery to the company’s mobile‑fueling app. The integration, set to roll out in select markets in Q2 2026, will offer more than 5,000 SKUs using...
Infiniti Is Building a ‘High-Horsepower’ Manual Sports Sedan
Infiniti announced at the 2026 New York auto show that it will launch a high‑horsepower sports sedan equipped with a manual transmission, reviving the brand’s performance sedan lineage. The model is expected to share the new Nissan Z platform and...
Truck Rollover Brings Busy Melbourne Motorway to a Standstill
A heavy truck overturned on Melbourne's M80 Ring Road early Thursday, spilling gravel and mud across the carriageway. The accident forced an immediate shutdown of the northbound lanes, halting traffic for several hours while emergency crews worked to clear the...
Michael Graham Named NTSB Vice Chairman
President Donald Trump appointed Michael Graham as vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board for a three‑year term. Graham, a former director of flight operations safety at Textron Aviation and a certified airline transport pilot with over 10,000 flight...
Hankook Truck Tire Production Line to Begin Rolling in July
South Korean tire maker Hankook will begin producing truck and bus radial (TBR) tires at its Clarksville, Tennessee plant in early July 2026, marking the first U.S.-based manufacturing of its truck tires. The Phase 3 expansion, part of a $1.6 billion investment,...
XCharge NA + JOJO Launch EV Fast Chargers in Illinois – First Sites Live
XCharge North America and JOJO Superfast have begun deploying an EV fast‑charging network across Illinois, launching nine sites with two already operational. Each location will feature four 200 kW C6 Smart DC chargers, primarily installed at Menards home‑improvement stores to capture...
Granite Scoops up $114M Job Segment on California’s Highway 101
Granite Construction secured a $114 million contract to rebuild Segment 4E North of California’s Highway 101 between Hermosillo Road and Salinas Street. The scope adds a new peak‑period carpool lane in each direction, replaces left‑hand ramps with right‑hand ramps, and installs a teardrop roundabout...
Google Planning an Open-Source Platform for Android Auto
Google unveiled Android Automotive OS for Software‑Defined Vehicles (AAOS SDV), an open‑source platform extending Android Auto beyond infotainment. The new OS will handle seat actuators, climate control, lighting, cameras, mirrors, and vehicle telemetry while providing a unified software architecture for automakers....
FMC Again Rejects Maersk Petition to Waive Notice Period for Emergency Fuel Surcharge
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has again denied Maersk’s petition to waive the statutory 30‑day notice required before imposing an emergency bunker fuel surcharge on U.S. trades. The carrier’s request, filed on March 11, was unanimously rejected, meaning Maersk cannot apply...
Podcast: EV Deliveries From Tesla, Rivian, Toyota Electric Pickup Truck, and More
The Electrek Podcast highlighted several key EV developments this week, including Tesla’s Q1 2026 deliveries of 358,000 units—missing expectations and leaving a 50,000‑vehicle inventory surplus. Tesla also announced the end of Model S and Model X production, with only about 600 units remaining,...
Simulators Poised to Play Key Role in Air Taxi Pilot Training
The air‑taxi sector is turning to advanced flight simulators to address the looming pilot shortage and high training costs. Joby Aviation’s Academy uses a $60,000 per‑pilot simulator program, targeting 250 new pilots annually, while CAE supplies similar units to Eve...
The 9 Best Portable Tire Inflators for Peace of Mind on Your Next Road Trip
Popular Mechanics’ 2025 Gear of the Year Awards crowned the Milwaukee M18 Portable Tire Inflator as the top portable inflator, thanks to its record‑fast inflation, four memory presets, and a five‑year warranty. The guide also highlights the Etenwolf Vortex S6 for...
New Economy Prime Service Set for TAP Long-Haul Flights
TAP Air Portugal will roll out Economy Prime, a new premium‑economy cabin for long‑haul flights, starting June 1, 2026. The product sits between standard Economy and Business Class on the airline’s A330 and A321LR aircraft, featuring 12 seats in a...
Trump Proposes TSA Privatization Following Long Airport Lines
The White House’s 2027 budget proposal calls for privatizing the Transportation Security Administration by expanding the Screening Partnership Program to small airports. The plan would cut $52 million from TSA spending and shift passenger screening to private contractors at participating facilities....
Why Tire Rotations Are Non-Negotiable, and What Happens If You Skip Them
Tire rotation is a simple maintenance task that extends tread life and preserves vehicle handling, especially for front‑wheel‑drive cars where the front tires bear the most stress. Mechanics recommend rotating every 5,000‑7,500 miles, roughly every six months, often timed with...
Lectric April Showers E-Bike Sale Offers up to $720 Savings, EcoFlow + Anker SOLIX Flash Sales with up to 67%...
Lectric launched its “April Showers” e‑bike promotion, slashing prices by as much as $720, with the XP Lite2 JW model now $1,099 plus $405 in free accessories. At the same time, EcoFlow’s 72‑hour Easter flash sale cuts power stations up...
Colorado’s New Speed Camera System Makes Waze Nearly Useless
Colorado has expanded its automated vehicle identification system (AVIS) to issue speeding tickets when a driver’s average speed exceeds the limit by ten miles per hour. The law, passed in 2023, allows citations to be sent directly to the vehicle’s...
APM Terminals Wraps up $73M Rail Expansion at Port of Los Angeles
APM Terminals finished a $73 million upgrade of its Pier 400 terminal at the Port of Los Angeles, adding 31,000 linear feet of new rail track and more than doubling its rail capacity. Weekly rail lifts jumped from roughly 5,000 to 11,000, a 104 percent...
French-Owned Ship Passes Through Strait of Hormuz
A Malta‑flagged container ship owned by French carrier CMA CGM became the first major Western European vessel to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the US‑Israeli war with Iran halted traffic. Iran has said “non‑hostile” ships may use the waterway, but...
ASTA Leads Industry Effort Amid DHS Shutdown
The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has launched a dedicated resource hub to guide travel professionals through the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown. ASTA is coordinating with the U.S. Travel Association and other partners to pressure Congress for...
Senators Urge Trump to Bar Chinese Automakers From Building Cars in US
Three Democratic senators—Tammy Baldwin, Elissa Slotkin and Chuck Schumer—urged President Donald Trump to bar Chinese automakers from building vehicles in the United States and from importing cars assembled in Mexico or Canada. They cite national‑security risks and an unfair competitive...
Fierce Defender: 2025 Land Rover Defender Octa Test
Car and Driver’s test of the 2025 Land Rover Defender Octa shows the first Defender engineered for outright speed, powered by a BMW‑sourced 4.4‑liter twin‑turbo V8 delivering 626 hp and 590 lb‑ft of torque. The Octa adds hydraulic suspension, wider fender flares,...
Volkswagen 'Won't Rule Out' A Pickup Truck, Says CEO
Volkswagen’s North American CEO Kjell Gruner told reporters the company has not ruled out building a pickup truck for the U.S. market, citing the segment’s size and growth potential. He highlighted interest in both B‑ and C‑segment models that could...
State Dealer Laws Add up to $5K to a New Vehicle’s Price, Think Tank Finds
A new issue brief from the International Center for Law & Economics estimates that state dealer‑franchise laws add roughly $3,934 to $4,992 to the price of a new car. The analysis, built on an updated Goldman Sachs framework, attributes the...
You Can Use Google Meet with CarPlay Now: How to Join Meetings Safely in Your Car
Google has rolled out Google Meet integration for Apple CarPlay, allowing users to join meetings directly from their car’s dashboard. The new functionality is audio‑only, offering mute, unmute and end‑call controls but omitting video, chat, and other collaboration features. The...
EV Charging – The Importance of Affordable, Convenient Access
Chinese automaker BYD unveiled its Flash Charging technology paired with the second‑generation Blade Battery, claiming a 60 % charge in five minutes. While the breakthrough highlights EV maturity, the article argues that ultra‑fast charging is not the primary solution for everyday...