Michael Kahn

Articles by Michael Kahn

,

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:

Read more
,

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

Read more

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. Electric Vehicles (BEVs): Battery-Only Electric Cars Electric vehicles rely entirely on battery power. Cold temperatures drain that battery faster than warm weather. 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 heat the cabin. Real-world data from 2024-2025 shows that the average EV keeps about 80 percent of its range at freezing temperatures. On days when it is 20 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, you might see

Read more

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 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 LA

Read more

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 master 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 founder of 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 of

Read more

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

Read more

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

Read more
, ,

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

The 2025 Lexus UX 300h 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 hybrid architecture uses a lithium-ion battery pack located under the rear seat,

Read more
,

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

Read more

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: 2025 Acura ADX A-Spec Advance AWD Acura took a gamble with the ADX. The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder produces just 190 horsepower. Yet, the A-Spec Advance trim makes its case through refinement rather than raw power. The 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system transforms the cabin into a

Read more

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

Read more

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

Read more

FutureTech Studio at the 2025 SEMA Show: Hydrogen Racing, Flying Cars, and AI Mechanics

The 2025 SEMA Show promises to be the most innovative yet, with FutureTech Studio emerging as the epicenter of automotive evolution. Running November 4-7 in Las Vegas, this year’s interactive experience brings together over 45 cutting-edge displays, 30 vehicles, and breakthrough technologies that will define the future of mobility. Future Fuels Yamaha’s Hydrogen Golf Car Leading the hydrogen charge is Yamaha’s Drive H2 concept, a groundbreaking hydrogen-powered golf car that made headlines at the 2024 PGA Show. This innovative vehicle represents Yamaha’s first foray into hydrogen combustion engines for consumer applications. The Drive H2 uses two high-pressure hydrogen tanks (25L each) strategically positioned under the driver’s seat and behind the rear seat. Based on Yamaha’s popular Drive2 Concierge4 four-seater, this

Read more

A Reality Check to EV Ownership: Ranking All 50 States + DC in 2025

This article has been updated for 2026 with new and updated date: EV Ownership in 2026: Ranking All 50 States + DC Vermont beats California. Wyoming outpaces New York. North Dakota ranks higher than Texas. In the geography of electric car ownership, nothing is quite as it seems. With 3.57 million electric vehicles now registered across America, choosing where to live has become one of the most important decisions for prospective EV owners. A state-by-state examination of charging infrastructure, electricity costs, government incentives, and market conditions reveals stark differences that can make or break the electric car experience. The Complete Rankings: Four Performance Tiers America’s EV landscape divides into four distinct performance categories, with 12 states achieving excellent conditions, 17

Read more

Waymo Receives New York City’s First Autonomous Vehicle Testing Permit

New York City has granted Waymo its inaugural autonomous vehicle testing permit, marking a significant milestone in the deployment of self-driving technology in one of America’s most challenging urban environments. The announcement, made by Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on August 22, 2025, represents the first time the city has authorized autonomous vehicle testing within its boundaries. The permit allows Waymo to deploy up to eight Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in designated areas of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn through late September 2025. Under New York State law, each vehicle must maintain a trained safety specialist in the driver’s seat at all times, prepared to assume control when necessary. After the initial pilot period concludes, Waymo may

Read more

Tensor Robocar: The First Level 4 Self-Driving Vehicle Designed for Private Ownership

Tensor emerges as the world’s first company to design and market a Level 4 autonomous vehicle specifically for private ownership. Unlike the robotaxi-focused approach that has dominated the industry, Tensor’s philosophy centers on “Own Your Autonomy,” a vision where individuals possess their own Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) agents rather than relying on fleet-based services. The company’s core mission extends beyond traditional automotive boundaries, positioning the Tensor Robocar as an embodied personal AGI that empowers owners with time, freedom, and autonomy. This approach challenges the prevailing industry assumption that autonomous vehicles must operate as shared fleet assets to achieve economic viability. Tensor’s origins trace back to AutoX, founded in August 2016 by Jianxiong Xiao, a former MIT PhD and Princeton University

Read more
Previous Next