Mercedes-Benz S-Class recalled for failing brakesMercedes-Benz is recalling 20,339 S-Class luxury sedans because of front brake hoses that could rupture and leak fluid, rendering the brakes less effective. Based on a disclosure Monday from the NHTSA, the recall includes the following versions of Mercedes' flagship sedan: 2021-2022 S 500 2021-2022 Maybach S 580 4Matic 2021-2023 S 580 4Matic 2022...
via North Carolina State Highway Patrol brings back the Mustang
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) bid farewell to their fleet of Ford Mustangs back in the early 1990s, but now the American pony car is making a comeback. The NCSHP announced it would be putting new Mustangs into service last summer.
Shortly after their announcement, Hurricane Helene threw a wrench into those plans, and forced the NCSHP to divert funds to disaster relief instead. Now the law enforcement body is getting back in gear, starting with putting 25 new Ford Mustangs into service.
North Carolina State Highway Patrol Ford Mustang fleet
The NCSHP’s new fleet is based on the 2024 Ford Mustang GT
The NCSHP bought an undisclosed number of 2024 Ford Mustang GTs last year, but it took some time to get them ready for service. Before hitting the road, the training team had to determine how the cars would behave in the real world. The logistics team also had to get them suited up with the proper police equipment.
The 2024 Ford Mustang GT rolls out with a 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. That combination delivers 480 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque that pushes the muscle car to 60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds. The police-fitted Ford Mustangs also boast a top speed of nearly 170 mph.
NCSHP previously operated a fleet of the famous Ford Mustang SSP
Before making the switch to a fleet of Dodge Chargers, which are no longer available with a V8 engine, the NCSHP operated a fleet of Mustang SSP pursuit vehicles. The Mustang SSP, or Special Service Package, was made by Ford between 1982 and 1993. The Foxbody Mustang served as the basis for the police package.
The Mustang SSP arrived as a model better suited for pursuits and high-speed chases than the old-but-gold Crown Victoria. The SSP model featured several major changes that Ford worked towards with law enforcement, including a new engine and transmission cooler, revised radiator connections, a heavy-duty front suspension, and reinforced floor pans.
At its peak, more than 60 law enforcement agencies operated a fleet of Ford Mustang SSP muscle cars. In all, more than 15,000 examples of the Mustang SSPs were put into service. That number isn’t surprising, frankly, given that one of the taglines was “This Ford chases Porsches for a living.”
The old Ford Mustang SSP models are pretty slick, both during their prime and today. One such example was the focus of an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage.
North Carolina residents have some concerns about the Ford Mustang fleet
To no one’s surprise, purchasing a fleet of Ford Mustangs was met with criticism from residents. Other law enforcement agencies are working on cutting costs by buying more practical vehicles, like the Ford Explorer. According to the NCSHP, however, the Mustang was around the same cost as the other patrol vehicles in its fleet.
2024 Ford Mustang
Ford
Cost wasn’t the only issue among residents. Some expressed concern regarding how the Mustang, which only comes in rear-wheel drive, will operate in snowy road conditions.
The NCSHP stated upgrading from the old Dodge Chargers to Ford Mustangs is a part of modernizing their fleet. The NCSHP currently employs more than 1,600 troopers who patrol nearly 80,000 miles of North Carolina roadways. That puts them second only to Texas.
Final thoughts
There’s no doubt a Ford Mustang is an asset to any law enforcement agency responsible for patrolling roadways. Considering the NCSHP has a rather large area to cover, it’s hard to argue that modernization via Ford Mustang isn’t justified. Then again, the NCSHP hasn’t disclosed the cost of each Mustang, so perhaps that scrutiny from taxpayers is warranted after all.
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via Mercedes not letting go of the V8 or V12 just yet
You won’t have to look far to find fans of the Mercedes-Benz V8, nor will you need to try particularly hard to find outrage when it comes to the latest C63 AMG. That car traded its lauded biturbo eight-cylinder for a tiny electrified four-cylinder, and it’s going about as well as expected. Now, the brand’s focus is “leaner, faster and stronger,” with renewed focus on an electrified V8 engine and continued V12 offerings.
The Mercedes press release is light on details, so no specific displacement or performance data yet. However, the German automaker assures a “strategic evolution of its portfolio,” which includes an “electrified V8.” Mercedes will offer the engine alongside EV models that will seemingly share the AMG.EA platform. If you don’t know what that is, you’re not alone. The cars are still under wraps.
The AMG.EA-based SUV model in camo, which could - eventually - end up with a V8.
Mercedes-Benz
What we do know is that the first of the AMG.EA cars will be a four-door coupe dubbed the CLE 63 that will likely run adjacent to, rather than replace, the current AMG GT63. The second will be a performance SUV. We will also see the hybridized, 4.0-liter biturbo V8 already under the hood of some current offerings, like the AMG S63 and SL 63. Chances are that the new mill is likely to draw heavily on the existing power plant.
Trust us, it's under there. V8 engine in the S63.
Mercedes-Benz
None of that guarantees the V8 will return to the C63 that sorely misses it, but sources have confirmed a revised V8-powered C63 will arrive sometime in 2026. And, of course, you have to further consider that even in Mercedes’s backyard, they’ve had to offer significant discounts to move units. The V8 was a staple in these cars, and the sales data, or lack thereof, speaks volumes.
Mercedes will continue to offer a V12 “in select markets”
BMW sent off their V12 years ago with a special edition 7 Series. While less ceremonial, Audi’s last twelve-cylinder has also been gone from the US market since 2017. Incredibly, Mercedes seems set on offering the V12 even though its rivals are out of the game. Perhaps, more likely, exclusively because of that reason.
“In select markets, 12-cylinder engines will continue to be offered,” Mercedes’s press release reads.
The best way to turn raw, unrefined cash into glorious and effortless horsepower - a Mercedes/AMG V12.
Mercedes-Benz
Usually “in select markets” translates to the US getting zilch, but not today. The V12 is available in the US and Europe, but only in exclusive Maybach models – namely, the S680. Perhaps Mercedes learned from their C63 mistake and decided not to upset arguably some of their most loyal and well-heeled customers. Don’t expect it to show up everywhere, but at least the V12 lives to fight another day.
Final thoughts
Hey, nobody’s perfect. We enthusiasts are all too willing to forgive and forget when an engine as glorious as the AMG V8 is on the table. While Mercedes is mum on specifics, we expect the new V8 to be pretty similar to the existing 4.0-liter biturbo. That is excellent news, because it means we’ll soon be able to stop wincing every time a late-model C63 drives by. However rare that may be.
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Over 167,000 Toyota Sienna minivans recalled due to seat issueToyota is recalling 167,802 Sienna minivans because certain bolts in the third-row seat assemblies of these vehicles may not have been properly tightened during assembly. The recall encompasses 2021 through 2025 models, representing every model year of the current-generation Sienna. Toyota's minivan received its first redesign in roughly a decade...
Electric vehicle (EV) sales took a predictable dip in January, following a record-breaking December. Americans purchased 102,243 EVs last month — a 23% decline from December, according to new data from Cox Automotive. However, the seasonal drop doesn't tell the full story. Year-over-year, EV sales grew over 30%, showing sustained momentum in the transition away from gas-powered cars.
EVs accounted for a record 9.1% of all new car sales in January. While this figure still leaves plenty of room for growth, it signals increasing consumer interest in electric mobility.
Even amid declining sales, Tesla dominated among the top-selling models, with the Model Y and Model 3 leading the pack. Volkswagen’s ID.4 saw a surprising 653% increase in sales, selling nearly 5,000 units,— suggesting that supply chain improvements and increased incentives contributed to its resurgence.
The used EV market, though still a small slice of the overall industry, is expanding rapidly. Sales of used EVs jumped 31% year-over-year, reaching 26,933 units in January. Month-over-month, sales saw a modest 3.5% increase, reinforcing growing demand.
Affordability is a key factor driving used EV sales. Nearly 40% of used EVs sold were priced under $25,000, making them an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers. The average used EV price fell 5.1% year-over-year to $37,476, with certain brands — including Chevrolet, Jaguar, and Toyota — seeing lower average used EV prices compared to their gas-powered counterparts.
Inventory levels for new EVs increased slightly in January, with the average days’ supply rising 5.3% month-over-month to 87 days. Despite this, EV inventory remains below that of traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, indicating steady demand. Volkswagen saw the biggest drop in supply, while Lexus experienced the largest increase.
For used EVs, supply remains tight. The average days’ supply decreased by 3% compared to December, bringing it down to 45 days — a 23% decline from last year. This trend suggests growing confidence in used EVs, aided by factors like extended battery warranties and federal tax credits.
On the pricing front, new EVs averaged $55,614 in January — up slightly from December but down 1.4% compared to last year. Incentive spending was lower month-over-month but remained 48.6% higher year-over-year, with brands like Volkswagen, Subaru, Kia, and Nissan offering the most generous discounts.
While January’s dip in new EV sales follows historical seasonal trends, the broader picture remains positive. Record market share, increasing affordability in the used EV segment, and strong consumer demand suggest that the EV market is far from slowing down.
As the Trump administration moves to repeal the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, we wouldn’t be surprised to see more drivers buying EVs before the credit is gone. As automakers refine their strategies and more models become available at lower price points, 2025 could shape up to be another landmark year for electric vehicles.
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via These are the last new vehicles sold with CD players in 2025
Who would’ve thought that in 2025, there would still be new vehicles being sold with CD players? Well, we checked, and our research shows that there are just four of them left. We get that if you’re a millennial or younger, you might have never used a CD player, but for the rest of us, it’s how we listened to music growing up.
Since the rise of streaming audio, CD players have been phased out of vehicles over the past decade, and now hardly anyone bothers to include them in their models.
For those of you who are unaware, the term stands for “compact disc”, a digital optical disc that stores and plays music back via a laser that reads the near-invisible bumps and flat areas of digital data on the underside. A sensor reads the laser’s reflection on these surfaces to produce an electrical signal, which is then converted into sound through a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) during playback.
The sound quality is clear, crisp, and wonderful. Although CDs pale in comparison to some lossless streaming audio, they often match the sound quality of streaming music. For most listeners, the difference will be negligible.
It’s unlikely that anyone would select their next new vehicle based on whether or not it has a CD player, but it’s nice to know there are still a few cars left that have one. You may have that zippered CD carrying case lying around gathering dust, and boy, would it be nice to break them out, watch that disc retract into the old-school CD player slot, and then crank out those tunes in the order the artist meant for them to be listened to.
Contrary to how stunning the exterior of the 2025 IS sedan looks, it isn’t the result of a redesign; it's actually a dramatic facelift of the 3rd and newest generation. Aside from the exterior, much of it remains the same as the previous generation, which began in 2014 when CD players were more prevalent. The lack of any significant changes in the cabin also explains why there’s still a CD player present in each member of the IS line. It’s not even a CD changer but a single disc player parked in between the physical audio knobs on the center stack.
Whether you select the base IS 300 with its 241-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine or the top dog IS 500 with its 472 horsepower naturally-aspirated 5.0-liter engine, each model gets a CD player as standard equipment, along with Apple Car Play integration and Android Auto compatibility.
You can pump your music out via the standard 10-speaker audio system, or upgrade to the available 17-speaker, 1800-watt Mark Levinson system, which is also standard equipment on the IS 500 Sport Performance.
This soon-to-be-terminated old-school grand touring coupe and its high-performance F sibling all come with a standard CD player, just like its four-door cousin, the Lexus IS. The Japanese luxury brand is ending the RC’s life at the end of 2025, and we’re sad to see it go. Two-door luxury coupes aren’t exactly flying off showroom floors, and the RC is having its headstone carved as we speak.
The RC line has been around for a decade, and as much as we love each one, we have to admit that they’ve gotten long in the tooth. We love that it has managed to keep its standard single CD player located in the same spot as the one in the Lexus IS. It’s easy to access while driving, and the audio switchgear on the center stack makes controlling the system a breeze. Just avoid the awkward touchpad control that’s still present in every trim of the RC.
Like the Lexus IS, you can upgrade the sound system from the standard 10-speakers to a booming 17-speaker Mark Levinson system, which is totally worth the additional $2,725 for a superior listening experience. This 831-watt system comes standard on the top-tier RC F Final Edition, the last of its kind. That sound system also brilliantly matches the loud 472-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engine.
The Outback is a staple in the Subaru lineup, and the wagon-esque SUV is one of the brand’s best sellers. Although the styling has recently changed, adapted from the more aggressive Wilderness trim, the 2025 Subaru Outback manages to hold onto its single CD player. The caveat is that it’s only standard on the Touring and Touring XT trim levels, not on the other seven trim levels, which is a bit of a surprise. No, it’s not even an option on those.
So, why does Subaru still make a CD player standard on two Outback trim levels? Well, the average age of a Subaru Outback owner is 61, and the CD medium hits that age sweet spot just about perfectly. You can play your CDs through a powerful 576-watt 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system that’s standard equipment on both trim levels. It also has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.
The Outback Touring comes with the base 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower, but you can upgrade to the fancier and more powerful Touring XT with the 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four with 260 horsepower for more driving verve. But don’t mistake either of these for land rockets because they’re more geared towards comfy cruising and mild off-roading with their standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive systems.
The Legacy sedan has been around for decades, but it has been virtually forgotten in the shadow of its Outback and Forester crossover brethren. This venerable sedan is going the way of the dodo next year, marking another great four-door family car that will bite the dust. With it goes its standard CD player on the top Touring XT trim level, the only one of five trim levels to get it.
Just like its Outback Touring XT sibling, the Legacy Touring XT pairs its CD player with a standard 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. If you want to go new school and opt to give the CD player a break, you can use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to play tunes, controlled via the 11.6-inch touchscreen.
Cruising with your tunes in the Touring XT comes by way of the Legacy’s best engine, the 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four with 260 horsepower mated to a CVT that drives all four wheels via the standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system. The Legacy and its CD player signal the end of an era for a model and a medium that hung on for as long as they could.
Final thoughts
Times change, and so does technology. What is groundbreaking today will be obsolete before you know it. The death of the CD player may mourned by some, but the advent of online streaming meant it was only a matter of time before we got to this point.
The good news is that if a CD player is an absolute must for you and none of these cars meet your requirements, the used car market will always be on your side.
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What's New for 2025: Honda2026 Honda Passport and 2026 Honda Prelude lead Honda forward in uncertain times Honda's hybrid versions of the CR-V and Accord become the most popular engine options for those models 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid hatchback arrives with 48 mpg combined Honda enters the 2025 calendar year with much greater uncertainty than the 2025 model year. Merger...
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