Michael Kahn

Articles by Michael Kahn

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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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 utilizes 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

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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

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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

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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

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The Secret Experiences of Monterey Car Week 2025

While Monterey Car Week’s public events capture global attention, the automotive world’s most coveted experiences unfold behind gated driveways and within private estates scattered across the Peninsula. These invitation-only gatherings, whispered about on social media and accessible only to industry insiders and loyal customers of luxury car manufacturers represent the true pinnacle of automotive exclusivity. Beyond the manicured lawns of Pebble Beach lies a parallel universe of secret events that automotive journalists and social media accounts only hint at in cryptic posts. These gatherings operate on an unspoken hierarchy where access depends less on wealth and more on relationships within the collector community. From Range Rover’s hillside mansion transformations to Ferrari’s private villa celebrations, dubbed Casa Ferrari, the Peninsula becomes

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The 28th Annual Bonhams Quail Auction Returns to Carmel

The prestigious Bonhams Quail Auction arrives at Quail Lodge’s West Farm Field, marking the 28th year of this celebrated automotive event. Located at 27050 Rancho San Carlos Road in Carmel, the preview auction starts at 10:00 AM PDT August 13, and the live auction begins August 15, 2025. WHERE:  Quail Lodge’s West Farm Field27050 Rancho San Carlos RoadCarmel, CA 93923 LIVE AUCTION: Friday, August 15, 2025 at 10am PDT PREVIEWWednesday, August 13, 9am – 6pmThursday, August 14, 9am – 6pmFriday, August 15, 8:30am – 11am Photos: Michael Kahn. Modern Hypercars Lead the Sale The 2025 auction centers around The Future Classics Collection, a remarkable assembly of 24 modern vehicles valued at over $30 million, all offered without reserve. This unprecedented

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Automobilia Collectors Expo & Auction: A Must Visit for Monterey Car Week

The Automobilia Collectors Expo, held from August 11–13, 2025, during Monterey Car Week, marks a new chapter in automotive culture, blending rare collectibles, community, and a live auction that has quickly become a must-attend event for enthusiasts and industry leaders alike. Located at Embassy Suites Monterey Bay in Seaside, CA, the Expo is one of the largest event of its kind in North America, drawing collectors and vendors from around the world for an immersive celebration of automotive history and memorabilia. The Expo features more than 425 rare lots, ranging from vintage posters and scale models to original artwork, period rally plates, badges, and showroom displays. Over 27 top-tier dealers guarantee an authentic and eclectic mix curated for both seasoned

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Hot August Nights 2025: Reno’s Classic Car Show From Street Cruises to Rock ‘n’ Roll Vibes

As the high-desert summer ignites, Hot August Nights in Reno and Sparks draws thousands of meticulously restored automobiles, transforming the streets into a rolling tribute to America’s automotive golden age. Now in its 39th year, the event stretches from August 5 to 10, 2025, drawing collectors, families and casual observers to witness classics like 1957 Chevrolet Bel Airs and 1969 Dodge Chargers cruising beneath the iconic Reno Arch, or parked at one of the 12 venues from Sparks to Downtown Reno. What began as a modest fundraiser has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, blending the growl of V8 engines with the twang of 1950s rock ‘n’ roll, offering a glimpse into the enduring romance between humans and their machines. As

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