Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup June 7-13, 2026
 |
The Auto Channel — Trusted automotive reporting for 31 years.
This article is part of The Auto Channel’s independent automotive coverage library — one of the longest-running automotive publications online (since 1995). Our editors test, research, and document vehicles, technologies, recalls, and ownership experiences to help drivers make informed decisions.
Unlike short news blurbs, our content is written for long-term usefulness — explaining what the vehicle is, why it matters, and how it affects real owners.
Coverage includes reviews, specifications, safety data, recall history, industry context, and real-world driving impressions collected over decades of reporting.
 |
The full version of today’s News Nuggets — along with hundreds of thousands of additional articles, reviews, and editorial insights — can be found in The Auto Channel’s Million-Page Automotive Library, built and indexed over three decades. To dive deeper, simply copy any headline and paste it into this or any Site Search box on The Auto Channel.
LEARN MORE FROM THE WEB'S LONGEST RUNNING AUTOMOTIVE COLUMN
Here are Larry’s Top Auto Story Picks of the Week of June 7-13, 2026; Larry picked these as important, relevant, interesting and sometimes semi-secret stories you need to know—served up as snappy, opinionated, and insider-sharp, these are expertly crafted, easy-to-understand news nuggets that cut through the noise and get right to what matters to you in the automotive world.
 |
* America’s cars are older than ever. Automakers, dealers and repair shops are changing business practices to adapt to a new normal: the 13-year-old car. Thanks to advancements in engineering, materials and safety technology, today’s cars last longer than vehicles of generations past. Automakers, long laser-focused on the new-car market, are now pouring resources into propping up used-car sales, aftermarket parts and maintenance work. Cars continue to get more expensive; the average selling price in April jumped 1.8% from a year earlier. Elevated interest rates make new-car purchases even pricier. Learn more HERE
* New vehicle prices. New-vehicle prices moderated slightly in May and incentive spending grew, according to data released by Kelley Blue Book. The average transaction price (ATP) for a new vehicle purchased in May declined from April and rose a mild 1.2% year over year, the smallest annual gain of 2026 and below the long-term average gain of 3.5% for May. Vehicle sales last month were higher year over year and compared to April. According to Kelley Blue Book, the ATP for a new vehicle in May was $49,220, a relatively small decline compared to the revised lower ATP of $49,456 in April. But, take note, for four of the five best-selling vehicle segments, annual ATP gains in May were well above the industry average of 1.2%. See that data HERE
* Gas prices. For the fourth week in a row, average U.S. gas prices have declined, shedding 18c/gal in the last week with the national average at $4.08/gal this week. GasBuddy counts 24 states with average gas prices below $4/gal. Every state but Georgia has lower prices than a week ago. Motorists today will be spending ~$137 million less on gasoline than they did a month ago, but also $385 million more than a year ago
*Ride to Work Day. The 35th Annual International Ride to Work Day took place on Tuesday, June 9. This global event encourages motorcyclists and scooter riders to use their two-wheeled vehicles for their daily commute, errands, and social trips. Organized by the non-profit Ride to Work organization, the day aims to highlight several benefits of powered two-wheel transportation. Learn more HERE
* Catalytic converter thefts. New Carfax data shows that in 2025, more than 137,000 converters were stolen, which is down from the peak of thefts back in 2023. Thieves hope to make a big payday by melting down the precious metals found in the anti-pollution devices – namely, platinum, palladium and rhodium. Many of the top-targeted vehicles are pickup trucks and SUVs, which tend to sit higher off the ground, making it easier for thieves to do their work. See the top 10 HERE
* Jeep recall and park outside notice. Stellantis is recalling more than 1.3 million Jeep SUVs and trucks worldwide over fire concerns and is urging owners to park outside and away from structures or other vehicles until a fix is completed. In a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Stellantis said the recall covers 2021 through 2025 model year Jeep Wrangler SUVs and Jeep Gladiator trucks over an electrical connection issue in the electric hydraulic power steering pump wiring. The automaker said the issue could in rare circumstances cause combustible materials to overheat, potentially leading to a vehicle fire.
* Honda and Acura recall. Honda Motor America is recalling 880,514 vehicles in the United States over the failure of rear suspension components in the vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said. The recall includes certain Honda Pilot, Ridgeline, Passport, Acura MDX vehicles, the NHTSA said. The vehicles can experience failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm which could lead to the loss handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
* Ford recall. Ford Motor Co. is recalling 548,463 vehicles in the United States over an issue with the center console, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The issue relates to the console's chrome plating, which may bubble and peel over time, potentially resulting in sharp edges. Passengers who come in contact with these edges face an increased risk of injury, the regulator said. The recall, which affects certain 2018-2024 Ford Expedition vehicles, may have been caused by the center console chrome trim that was manufactured by a supplier using parameters that did not meet Ford specifications, NHTSA said.
* Ford recall. Ford Motor Co. is recalling 255,404 vehicles in the U.S. over an issue with the canister purge valve, which may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The recall affects certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles which were previously repaired incorrectly, the regulator said.
* Private race track boom. A boom in sales of high-performance cars has created demand for places to drive them. Singer Vehicle Design and CrossHarbor Capital Partners launched the Singer Drivers Club at Willow Springs International Raceway for high-income car enthusiasts. The demand for members-only race courses is fueled by a sharp rise in sales of big-ticket, high-performance automobiles. Between 2016 and 2025, roughly 2,400 vehicles sold for $1 million or more at global auctions, up from 1,350 from the early 1980s to 2015. HERE
* 2026 Hot Rod Power Tour. Hot Rod's huge rolling car show started at the Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois. The official start was Monday, June 8. From there they traveled to the Village of Rantoul, Illinois on June 9 and then on to St. Louis area on the 10th when they descend upon the Worldwide Technology Raceway, which coincidentally is the home of Bloomington Gold, which takes place June 11-13. HERE
* Bloomgington Gold. The 2026 Bloomington Gold Corvette Show takes place from June 11 to June 13, 2026, at the World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois. Known as the "Granddaddy of Corvette Shows," this family-friendly event serves as the ultimate national gathering for Corvette preservation, historic curation, and high-speed track laps. Founded in 1973, it is widely recognized across the automotive industry for pioneering the "Gold Standard" of judging classic car authenticity and preservation. Unlike traditional car shows that rank vehicles against one another, Bloomington Gold inspects each car individually against a factory-original standard. Owners aim to achieve one of several prestigious certifications from Bloomington Gold Judging. Read here and go HERE
* Formula 1. Kimi Antonelli is writing his place in Formula 1 history at record speed. Antonelli, who is 19, replaced Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes last year, and only won his first race in March. He now has five wins in a row and a vast lead of 66 points over Hamilton, who was second last Sunday in the much-delayed Monaco Grand Prix. Antonelli was on course for victory with 10 laps remaining when the race was red-flagged after parts of the asphalt broke away and two cars crashed in quick succession, one of them Charles Leclerc in third place.
* 2026 Mille Miglia. The 44th edition of the historic 1000 Miglia 2026 took place from Tuesday, June 9 to Saturday, June 13, 2026, bringing over 400 vintage cars along a spectacular "figure-eight" route from Brescia to Rome and back. Known historically as "the most beautiful race in the world," the event covers roughly 2,000 kilometers of iconic Italian landscapes across five days of racing. Only car models that participated in the original speed races between 1927 and 1957 can enter.
* 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place from June 10 to June 14, 2026, serving as Round 4 of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). The highly anticipated twice-around-the-clock main race started on Saturday, June 13, at 16:00 local time (CEST). The grid features 62 cars across three competitive classes: Hypercar: The premier class features 18 top-tier prototypes, including factory programs from Porsche, Toyota, Cadillac, Ferrari, and a brand-new top-class debut from Genesis. LMP2: A highly competitive, spec-engine prototype category featuring 19 cars (utilizing Oreca chassis). LMGT3: The production-based class includes 25 cars representing nine premium manufacturers, using standard GT3 machinery tailored for multi-class endurance environments
* RIP. Rick Treadway, a former IndyCar driver who raced at the 2002 Indianapolis 500, died in a motorcycle crash on May 30. He was 56. Treadway raced the 2002 Indy 500 under his father Fred Treadway’s race team. He started in 17th and finished in 29th in that race. He got his first start on the IndyCar circuit in 2001 in Kentucky midway through the season. He made eight starts the following season.
Stay safe. Be Well.
Kind regards,
Larry Nutson,
the Chicago Car Guy
The Auto Channel