7+ mon, 3+ week ago (416+ words) Called Slate, the startup aims to bring a very attainable $25,000 price tag to the EV truck space. And it reportedly has a big backer. New cars are ridiculously expensive. New electric cars, even more so. Could a new American EV startup change that equation? According to a scoop from TechCrunch's Sean O'Kane, that's the goal of Slate Auto. It's a new automaker that could go out of "stealth mode" soon with an electric pickup truck aiming for an enticing price tag of around $25,000. Launching an entirely new car company is no easy endeavor, but Slate reportedly has at least one very deep-pocketed investor: Amazon founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos. "Slate, which took root in another Bezos-connected company called Re:Build Manufacturing, has been operating quietly since its founding in 2022," the tech news publication reported. It has since poached employees…...

10+ mon, 4+ hour ago (311+ words) We often forget this because it feels like a billion years ago now, but Polestar was originally the motorsports, tuning and performance arm of Volvo before it was spun off into an independent EV brand. And Volvo has a long history in both rally car and touring car racing. That's why it's nice to see the modern iteration of Polestar lean into that vibe with this new family of EVs. Let's get this out of the way first: No, these Polestar electric vehicles are concepts, not destined for production. But the Arctic Circle collection, as it's called, gives us something fun to fantasize about as we sit in our cubicles waiting for winter to be over. And it certainly makes me wish Polestar would spring for some rally-inspired performance on its street cars too. Polestar last gave the original Polestar…...

2+ mon, 3+ week ago (511+ words) The so-called "legacy" car companies have faced an interesting conundrum in recent years: what on Earth are they supposed to call their electric vehicles? Do they give these things unique names, or lean on the strength of the established models that everyone knows and loves?" More and more, they're moving toward the latter plan. Volkswagen is the latest to make such a move, announcing today that the VW ID.2all compact electric hatchback will go into production as the ID. Polo. And, in great news for gearheads everywhere, it will come with a faster and more powerful ID. Polo GTI version as well. The prototype versions of those cars will be shown at Europe's biggest automotive trade show, IAA Munich, starting this weekend. But that's not all. The automaker will also show off the ID. Cross SUV, slated as an electric counterpart to the T-Cross…...

6+ mon, 3+ week ago (459+ words) It still has its original battery pack after driving over 100,000 miles. Going down the used route when considering buying your first electric vehicle can usually land you a great deal. Depreciation tends to hit EVs harder than their combustion-powered counterparts, especially if it's a luxury car we're talking about. However, getting a used EV immediately raises a very important question: how much range does it still have? It's a well-known fact that batteries degrade over time, so knowing how many miles a full charge can bring is very useful information. Take the 2014 Tesla Model S featured in the video below. It was bought earlier this year by The Fast Lane EV for just $13,000. It's a one-owner car with a clean title, so the price seems like a pretty good deal. That said, it's an 11-year-old car with over 100,000 miles on…...

4+ mon, 1+ week ago (398+ words) Most electric cars, even the sporty ones designed to thrill you in the corners, have a weight problem. It's an inevitable problem brought on by the fact that they have to carry a big and very heavy battery pack that makes them overweight compared to a similar sports car powered by combustion. We've covered the SSC (which stands for Small Sports Car) SC01 before, saying that it's notable for being a dedicated small, light electric sports car that held a lot of promise. We featured a first drive video centered around a prototype drive on a closed course, where the reviewer raved about its responsiveness and cornering capability. Now another video has come out, and it paints an even clearer picture about why the SC01 is so great. In this Wheelsboy review, we get to see it driven out on public roads,…...

9+ mon, 5+ day ago (442+ words) Some Tesla owners are more fed up with Elon Musk than ever and looking to dump the brand. Rival EV maker Polestar is wasting no time trying to scoop them up." Polestar says customers who can prove their household currently owns a Tesla can get up to $20,000 off of a leased Polestar 3 SUV. I'll repeat: $20,000 off." Now, that number requires a"little extra context. Polestar is already offering a $15,000 incentive for prospective Polestar 3 lessees (in part, that's likely thanks to the addition of the federal EV leasing credit). So the "Conquest Bonus" that Tesla owners get is a $5,000 sweetener. Still, not too shabby. The deal started on Feb. 21 and runs through Feb. 28." Read Our Polestar Reviews Taken together, that should drastically drop the monthly cost of a Polestar 3 lease, which starts at $599 including the $15,000 cash on the hood. Tesla owners…...

11+ mon, 6+ day ago (777+ words) Try and think of a two-seat electric roadster. Once you've come up with "Tesla Roadster' and realized that it hasn't been on sale for years, and that Musk's delayed flying-machine sequel may never happen, I'd like to direct you to a real car that currently exists: The MG Cyberster. (Full disclosure: MG loaned me a Cyberster for this review.) On sale in European and other international markets, the Cyberster is in a class of one. It's the only ragtop two-seater EV out there, and while some may use that as an excuse to rest on their laurels and phone the job in, MG has put a lot of effort into this one. It's available either as an all-wheel-drive, dual-motor 503-horsepower GT, or rear-wheel-drive single-motor 335-hp Trophy. Each boasts a 77kWh (74.4kWh usable) battery to deliver a WLTP range of 276 or 316 miles, respectively....

8+ mon, 3+ week ago (306+ words) Telo wants to be the cure for the bloated trucks we see today. The company is promising to provide big-truck utility in a package no longer than a Mini Cooper. Now, we're finally getting a look at what the final product may look like. The Fast Lane Truck takes the Telo MT1 for a very brief, low-speed drive in their latest video. It's still very much a prototype'the screens cannot be used, for instance, and even the shifter and other controls are temporary. But it's our first real look at a vehicle that the company has been teasing for a while." The MT1 combines a full five-foot bed with a downsized passenger and frontal area, giving it something of a cab-over look. Combined with a folding mid-gate (a-la the GMC Sierra EV), he Telo can swallow eight-foot long items. Add a tonneau…...

9+ mon, 3+ week ago (705+ words) At this point, it's no secret that car dealers in the United States haven't exactly welcomed electric vehicles with open arms. Being an all-electric automaker, you might expect Polestar to be opposed to the franchised dealership model. But'Michael Lohscheller, its new CEO, said he strongly believes dealers will be instrumental in making people aware of what the brand does. "I see a much higher importance of dealers in general going forward,"'Lohscheller told InsideEVs in a recent interview. "Polestar [has] direct distribution, and while that is a possibility for several people, I think in general, we need to be closer to our customers."' Getting customers is key to any company's success, but right now, Polestar needs the boost.' Lohscheller took the top job during a tough time for Polestar. The brand, owned by China's Geely Holding Group, has endured years…...

2+ mon, 1+ week ago (463+ words) A video showcasing the complex process of tinting a Cybertruck has left many viewers questioning how much it costs to tint the highly recognizable vehicle." On Sept. 9, TikTok user @therealunclemuuk posted a video showcasing the Cybertruck tinting process, which has amassed over 25,600 views as of Monday. In the video caption, he specified that he had tinted a 61-inch windshield. This video has led many to not only question how expensive the process is but also why Cybertruck owners should consider tinting their electric vehicles." There is no overwhelming consensus as to whether Cybertruck owners should tint their vehicles in the first place, as internet forums indicate there are many pros and cons to doing so." The Cybertruck windshield does already come with a light factory tint. Additionally, many states have laws surrounding the amount a windshield can be tinted. For…...