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

Read more

Best Hybrid SUVs for 2026: 12 Models Ranked by Value, Efficiency, and Capability

,

The best hybrid SUVs for 2026, from the redesigned RAV4 to the new Palisade Hybrid. Specs, pricing, MPG, and clear verdicts for every buyer type.

Read more

2017 Bentley Bentayga: Plush, Powerful, Fit For A Queen

Two friends recently joined me for a weekend morning drive to breakfast in a 2017 Bentley Bentayga. One buddy wore a fedora for the occasion, the other a touring cap. Another friend dressed up for a lunch meeting. It wasn’t for the restaurant’s stature, but for his passenger’s role in the plush sport utility vehicle. (All images © Michael Kahn, https://www.mklibrary.com) Bentley does that to people. It’s the manufacturer of cars for royalty, including the Queen of England’s 2002 limousine. It’s the original car author Ian Fleming selected for his James Bond character to drive while wearing his custom-tailored suits.

Read more

2017 Bentley Mulsanne: Classic sedan, royalty for all

Highway 128 in Northern California often winds through manicured vineyards and rolling open terrain decorated with gnarly old oak trees. It’s a road ideally suited for a warm day’s drive in a small, lightweight vintage sports car, convertible top retracted. But it’s just as delightful navigating the same twisting, narrow two-lane road in a 2017 Bentley Mulsanne Speed. It’s a 6,000-pound luxury furnished apartment on wheels. It’s about the same size as one of the trendy new tiny houses infiltrating the national landscape. But those don’t yet have a 2,200-watt, 19-speaker symphonic-quality sound system or chilled champagne flutes snuggly stored

Read more

2018 Lexus GX 460: Beauty and the Beast

,

The 2018 Lexus GX 460 is a large, plush three-row sport utility vehicle that transports seven occupants in style but has the ruggedness to venture off road. It’s largely unchanged from the 2017 edition. Sales have increased yearly since the GX 460 was introduced in 2010. The luxury SUV segment is appealing to more buyers simultaneously seeking prestige and versatility. Key Takeaways 4.6-liter V8 delivers 301 hp and genuine off-road capability: Body-on-frame construction with a 32-valve V8, 6-speed automatic, and full-time all-wheel drive across all trims, unusual in the modern luxury SUV segment. Seven-passenger capacity with 40/20/40 second row: Optional

Read more

2018 Lexus GS 300: luxury sedan, sports car appeal

The 2018 Lexus GS 300 is among a half-dozen luxury sedans all vying for a market share in a segment packed with superior choices. Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz join Lexus in the mix of buyers whose decisions are often based on status, brand loyalty and overall quality. Which designation is the most important doesn’t matter. But choose the Lexus GS 300, and the top-three buying reasons all resonate. Reliable performance and a sporty design give the upscale Toyota marque more clout. Key Takeaways Renamed from GS 200t, mechanically identical: The 2018 GS 300 carries the same 2.0-liter turbocharged

Read more

2018 Lexus LC 500: a beauty of a beast

,

A middle-aged man and his three teenage companions stopped in a coffee shop parking lot, gawked at the exterior of the 2018 Lexus LC 500 and asked if they could check out the inside. A guy in an old pick-up with a dilapidated camper shell stopped in the middle of a street near to where the Lexus was parked and started a conversation about saving his money to buy one. Some people pointed, others provided a thumb’s up or exclaimed “nice wheels, dude.” A few young drivers pulled up near me on the freeway, momentarily glared and sped off, perhaps

Read more

Underdog 2019 Kia K900 joins luxury sedan elites

Introduced four years ago, the Kia K900 is the South Korean manufacturer’s flagship luxury sedan. The vehicle had an unheralded debut and newly designed 2019 edition remains under-appreciated. But perhaps not for long. Hyundai owns about one-third of Kia and the two manufacturers, despite independent vehicles, share much. The new K900 is based on the Genesis G90, the luxury sedan now on its own as a brand from its original mothership, Hyundai. Key Takeaways Second-generation flagship built on Genesis G90 architecture: Kia’s top sedan shares bones with Hyundai’s luxury arm, gaining a 2.3-inch longer wheelbase and more extensive structural adhesives

Read more

How Frequently Should High-Performance Vehicles be Serviced?

If you have a high-performance vehicle, you know it needs a bit more care than other vehicles. High-performance vehicles are built for speed and power, so maintaining their performance is essential. Here’s the bottom line: You need to get them serviced more often than you think. Why High-Performance Engines Are a Different Beast A turbocharged engine running at high boost, a naturally aspirated V8 pushing redline on track days, or a supercharged sports car used for weekend driving, each of these puts extraordinary stress on engine components. Heat cycles, oil degradation, and tighter manufacturing tolerances all mean that standard service

Read more

Honda Orders Massive Recall of Honda Odyssey minivan

A recall and a stop-sale order has been issued for the Honda Odyssey minivan for two separate issues by American Honda. The recall affects 641,302 vehicles built between Aug. 17, 2010 and Oct. 24, 2016. The majority of the recall, covering 633,753 minivans built between Aug. 17, 2010 and Oct. 1, 2015, involves a faulty seat mechanism. In a statement, the automaker said one of the recalls involves a mechanism that “allows the outboard second row seats to tilt and slide forward for access to the third row seating area may not properly lock the seat into place when the

Read more

Takata airbag issues affect 250,000 Nissan vehicles

The Takata airbag issue won’t go away. This time, the Japanese supplier of safety equipment to many domestic and international brands is facing a recall from Nissan SUVs, trucks and vans. The Nissan recall covers about 250,000 Nissan NV Cargo and Passenger vans from 2012 to 2017, the 2013 to 2015 Nissan Titan pickup and Armada large SUV, and the 2011 and 2012 Infiniti QX56 SUV. Projectile shrapnel is the problem. The vehicles have airbags with volatile ammonium nitrate that can explode with too much force. The airbags have a moisture-absorbing chemical that was supposed to make them safe. Takata

Read more

GM recall woes: 624,000 trucks, SUVs

, ,

Faulty seat belt brackets have prompted a recall of 624,000 pickup trucks and SUVs from the current and past two years General Motors’ brands. The issue affects model-year 2019-21 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks as well as model-year 2020-21 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 and GMC Sierra 2500/3500 pickups. GM recall woes: faulty belt bracket The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL SUVs are also being recalled. Vehicles affected have 40/20/40 split-folding front bench seats. Vehicles with front bucket seats are not being recalled. The issue: The seat belt bracket may not be secured to

Read more

Tesla fights but agrees to $250 million recall

,

Tesla, despite resisting a previous request by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is recalling 135,000 vehicles made during a seven-year span because the cars’ touch screens can potentially fail. According to the NHTSA report, vehicles’ touch screens could fail when their memory chip is full. If a failure occurs, the vehicle’s backup cameras, defrosters and turn signals could malfunction. The recall includes some Model S luxury sedans built between 2012 and 2018 and Model X SUVs built between 2016 and 2018. In the previous its previous request, NHTSA said the issue could affect 159,000 vehicles. The carmaker said

Read more

Another GM shock: All Chevy Bolts have been recalled

Every Chevy Bolt ever made dating to 2017 has now been recalled after 73,000 vehicles were added to the list because of potentially defective battery modules. The latest recall includes 73,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada from 2019 through 2022 model years, including the recently launched larger version called the Bolt EUV. With the previous recall involving about 69,000 cars globally, including nearly 51,000 in the U.S., the recall expansion is expected to cost the automaker an additional $1 billion. It brings the recall’s total to $1.8 billion. Both issues are related to the same two potential battery defects,

Read more

New Tesla rear camera, trunk woes prompt 475,000 recalls

,

Tesla is recalling more than 475,000 of its Model 3 and Model S electric cars from model years 2014 to 2021 because of rearview camera and trunk issues that increase the risk of crashing. The U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer is recalling 356,309 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles to address rearview camera issues and 119,009 Model S vehicles due to front hood problems, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced The federal regulator has been discussing another camera issue with the automaker while probing the electric vehicle manufacturer’s driver assistant system and other issues. According to the manufacturer’s sales figures, the

Read more

What’s Important About the Ford MT82 Transmission Recall

,

Ford MT82 Transmission Recall notice: Mustangs and Mustang GTs from 2011 to 2019 were equipped with a Ford MT82 transmission with a six-speed manual. Many owners have found the transmission faulty. Further, according to Car and Driver, Ford was aware of the problem since the car began testing in 2010. The company had issued no less than seven notices to dealers on how they could fix the problem. The transmissions, supplied by Getrag, had a wide array of issues, and it led to Mustang owners to file a Class Action Suit. Problems Included • Issues with the gearbox• Transmission that

Read more