Michael Kahn

Articles by Michael Kahn

Apple Car Key Guide: All Supported Vehicles

Technology | Updated: May 14, 2026 Almost six years after BMW shipped the first vehicle with Apple Car Key, the technology now ships across 23 automotive brands, with ten more on Apple’s announced list. Three of those brands moved from announced to shipping in the past six months: Rivian in December, Toyota in February, and Porsche this week. The Toyota launch matters most. The world’s largest automaker spent years charging for its proprietary digital key system before quietly rolling out Apple Car Key on the 2026 RAV4 in February without a press release. Owners discovered it on Reddit. Toyota’s implementation still requires an active Remote Connect subscription at $15 per month after the one-year trial. Apple Car Key is free

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Ford Discontinues the F-150 Lightning, 700-Mile EREV Replacement Coming

Ford built the F-150 Lightning for three years, delivering approximately 63,000 trucks across three model years despite planning production capacity for 150,000 units annually. Originally promised at $40,000, the vehicles ultimately sold for $70,000, creating a pricing gap that fundamentally undermined the business case. Production ended December 2025 after Ford‘s Model e division accumulated $3.6 billion in losses through September. CEO Jim Farley addressed the reality directly: “These really expensive $70,000 electric trucks, as much as I love the product, they didn’t make sense.” The replacement arrives as an EREV, Extended-Range Electric Vehicle, Ford‘s terminology for a plug-in hybrid combining larger battery capacity with a gas generator to extend total range beyond 700 miles. The all-electric F-150 experiment concludes. What

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Wisk Aero’s Autonomous Air Taxi Flew, But $2 Billion Question Remains

On December 16, 2025, a four-seat electric aircraft lifted off autonomously at Wisk Aero’s test facility in Hollister, California. The Generation 6 aircraft hovered, maneuvered through stabilized flight sequences, and returned to the ground. No pilot aboard. No remote control from the ground beyond supervisory monitoring. This marks Wisk’s first flight of the aircraft they plan to certify for commercial passenger service by 2030. The company, wholly owned by Boeing, positions the Generation 6 as the first-ever candidate for FAA-certified autonomous commercial passenger flight in the United States. First flights represent critical early milestones in aircraft development while simultaneously representing the easiest phase of a process stretching years and costing hundreds of millions of dollars. Wisk completed the straightforward portion. The challenging

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How to Set Up Your 2025 RAM ProMaster 2500 for Work: Shelving, Tie-Downs & Upfit Guide

A flooring contractor with 30 years in the trade calls the ProMaster “by far the best vehicle I’ve had for work.” A mobile mechanic who has run every type of van over four decades says nothing matches it for cargo access. A plumber at 6’3″ walks the center aisle without ducking. These aren’t marketing claims. They come from owners who load these vans heavy, six days a week. The ProMaster’s advantage is structural: front-wheel drive eliminates the driveshaft tunnel, so the cargo floor is flat from wall to wall. The 21-inch load floor sits seven inches lower than the Ford Transit’s. The 75-inch interior width fits standard pallet racking. These dimensions shape every upfit decision, from shelf depth to partition

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2025 RAM ProMaster vs Ford Transit vs Mercedes Sprinter: Which Cargo Van Should You Buy?

Three vans dominate the North American full-size cargo market, and each one reflects a different engineering philosophy. The RAM ProMaster prioritizes cargo width and low loading height. The Ford Transit has the broadest powertrain range. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter bets on diesel efficiency and longevity. I spent a week with the 2025 RAM ProMaster 2500 High Roof, loading paddle boards and a steel workbench. The cargo versatility and parking-lot agility impressed me. But the Transit and Sprinter answer questions the ProMaster can’t, and whether that matters depends on your routes, your cargo, and your budget. All three vans here are 2025 models in High Roof configurations. Prices and specifications reflect base models before options and destination. Key Takeaways At a Glance:

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2025 RAM ProMaster 2500 Review

The ProMaster 2500 is the middle child in RAM’s commercial lineup, between the lighter-duty 1500 and the heavy-hauling 3500. The one I’m reviewing: High Roof, 159-inch wheelbase. That’s the configuration most buyers choose for its balance of standing room and cargo length without the extended-wheelbase overhang. Base price is $50,860. This one hit $63,225. The SLT Plus Package ($6,995) adds LED headlamps, a 10.1-inch Uconnect touchscreen with navigation, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, power-folding heated mirrors, remote start, and a 220-amp alternator. The Advanced Safety Group ($1,795) brought surround-view cameras, automated parking, lane centering, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. RAM also fitted the optional wood cargo floor ($495), upper and lower side-wall paneling ($590), and a Class IV receiver hitch

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Winter Driving Tips for All Vehicle Types: 2025-2026 Guide

Winter driving changes how your vehicle performs. Whether you drive a gas car, hybrid, electric, or hydrogen vehicle, cold weather brings new challenges. This guide covers specific winter tips for each powertrain type, plus universal safety advice every driver needs to know, relevant for vehicles up to 2026. Electric Vehicles (BEVs): Battery-Only Electric Cars Electric vehicles rely entirely on battery power. Cold temperatures drain that battery faster than warm weather. Understanding how this works helps you plan better winter trips. How Cold Affects Your Battery Your EV’s battery contains chemical reactions that create and release energy. When it gets cold, these reactions slow down significantly. Your battery becomes less efficient at the same time your car needs extra power to

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2025 LA Auto Show: New Car Unveilings, Test Drives, and Guide

The 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center from November 21-30, delivering ten full days of automotive innovation, immersive experiences, and exclusive debuts that solidify its reputation as one of the most influential auto shows in the world. With more than 118 years of history, this year’s show promises record-breaking automaker participation, hands-on driving experiences, and showcases that blend cutting-edge technology with Southern California’s legendary car culture. The Weekly Driver will be on the ground for AutoMobility LA on November 20, the exclusive media and industry day, delivering firsthand coverage of the vehicle debuts, press conferences, and industry insights that set the stage for the public show. Show Dates, Hours and Ticket Information The 2025

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2025 SEMA Show: Unique Experiences and Activations

The 2025 SEMA Show runs November 4-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and beyond the acres of exhibitor booths and custom builds, this year’s event delivers experiences you won’t find anywhere else. From live vehicle builds by legendary craftsmen to death-defying stunts inside a century-old steel sphere, the show pushes boundaries in ways that extend far beyond traditional trade show programming. Watch Automotive Art Take Shape Live Among the rarest opportunities at SEMA is witnessing a master craftsman transform raw materials into finished automotive art. Akira Nakai, the legendary figure behind Rauh-Welt Begriff (RWB), has previously conducted live builds at SEMA, creating his signature wide-body Porsche conversions directly on the show floor. These sessions offer attendees a front-row view

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NVIDIA and Uber Partner with Stellantis, Lucid, and Mercedes-Benz to Deploy 100,000 Level 4 Autonomous Vehicles Starting 2027

The autonomous vehicle industry reached a major inflection point this week when NVIDIA and Uber announced an expansive partnership to deploy 100,000 SAE Level 4-capable robotaxis and delivery vehicles beginning in 2027. The collaboration, unveiled by NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang at the company’s 2025 Global Technology Conference in Washington, D.C., represents the most ambitious autonomous vehicle deployment plan announced to date and signals a fundamental shift in how the world will experience mobility. At the heart of this transformation lies NVIDIA’s new DRIVE AGX Hyperion 10 platform, a reference production architecture that the company claims can make any vehicle Level 4-ready. The system features two DRIVE AGX Thor system-on-chips built on NVIDIA’s Blackwell architecture, each delivering more than

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AAPEX 2025: Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo for Industry Professionals

AAPEX 2025 (Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo) stands as North America’s leading event dedicated to the global automotive aftermarket. Spanning from November 4–6, 2025, at the Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, the event will convene manufacturers, distributors, service professionals, and industry experts. Designed for professionals working in or serving the automotive aftermarket, AAPEX 2025 integrates technical training, hands-on demonstrations, and dedicated business networking across three days. AAPEX 2025 Media Coverage Opportunity The Weekly Driver provides comprehensive editorial coverage of AAPEX 2025 to over 350,000 monthly cross-platform impressions, reaching automotive industry professionals, service technicians, and aftermarket decision-makers. Publisher and automotive journalist Michael Kahn offers on-site reporting including product features, executive interviews for The Weekly Driver, booth walkthroughs, photography, and

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2025 Lexus UX 300h Review: for the Commuter, Small Crossover, Big Efficiency

The 2025 Lexus UX 300h represents continual evolution in the subcompact luxury crossover segment. This model year brings an entirely new hybrid powertrain that delivers more power while maintaining the fuel efficiency Lexus hybrids are known for. Finished in Eminent White Pearl with a Palomino NuLuxe interior, the UX 300h demonstrates how Lexus positions its entry-level crossover against established German competitors. Lexus equipped the 2025 UX 300h with its fifth-generation hybrid system, shared with the redesigned 2024 Toyota Prius. The 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine produces 150 horsepower and 139 lb-ft of torque on its own. Combined with two electric motors in front-wheel-drive configuration, the system generates 196 horsepower. This is a 15-horsepower increase over the previous UX 250h. The new

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The 2025 Hemmings Motor Club Rally: Paso Robles Returns for an Encore Drive Through California’s Wine Country

E-Book PDF: Open in New Window | Download (804.3KB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreThe Hemmings Motor Club Rally: Paso Robles returns for its second edition October 24-26, 2025, bringing enthusiasts from both ends of California together for three days of back road driving, poolside gatherings, and the kind of automotive camaraderie that makes the hobby worthwhile. The car collector car community has a fresh opportunity to celebrate what these machines were built for: driving. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for The Weekly Driver to grab one of its own collector cars and join in on the rally to Paso. The timing of the rally coincides with Paso Robles’ most energetic season. Harvest typically runs from late September through

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2025 Best of the Bay

For 2025 Best of the Bay, Northern California’s top automotive journalists gathered in Petaluma, California, to drive and review 14 vehicles in a fast paced, real world environment, voting for the best vehicles across 5 different categories. Driving conditions ranged from urban streets to winding roads through wine country. Each vehicle received a 40 minute evaluation before journalists moved on to the next one. Categories voted upon included: Vehicles entered into the event: These 14 vehicles represent distinct visions of what driving should become, exploring both their standout characteristics and advanced technology. Whether that’s electrified muscle, luxury, or hybrid capability wrapped in off-road armor, each model tells a story worth understanding, creating unique positions within their respective segments. 2025 Acura

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Why Are My Tires Turning Brown?

If you’ve ever wondered what causes tires to turn brown – the science has a few nuances. Tires that gradually shift from deep black to dull chocolate-brown are not failing, they are “blooming.” Brown sidewalls are produced when protective antiozonant chemicals inside the rubber migrate to the surface and oxidize. Although visually unappealing, blooming shows the tire’s self-preservation system is working. Consistent cleaning, dedicated rubber cleaners, and modern water-based dressings keep sidewalls dark while avoiding sling or long-term damage. The Science of Tire “Bloom”: Antiozonants and 6PPD Manufacturers blend antiozonants, most commonly N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N’-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD), into sidewall compounds to fight ozone cracks and UV degradation. As a tire flexes, microscopic pores open, allowing 6PPD to migrate (“bloom”) to the surface where

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2027 Chevrolet Bolt Returns: America’s Most Affordable Electric Vehicle Gets Complete Overhaul

General Motors has announced the return of the Chevrolet Bolt for the 2027 model year, bringing significant improvements to what was already America’s most affordable long-range electric vehicle. The new Bolt combines updated Ultium technology with the proven formula that made its predecessor one of the industry’s most popular electric vehicles. The 2027 Bolt will begin production in late 2025 at GM’s Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas, with customer deliveries starting in early 2026. GM describes this as a “limited run model,” though the company has not specified what this designation means in terms of production numbers or timeline. Specifications Powertrain and Performance The 2027 Bolt features GM’s in-house X76 electric drive unit, shared with the Chevrolet Equinox

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