Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup June 14-20, 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 14-20, 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
* It's not over. Earlier this week Automotive News reported: A framework agreement between the U.S. and Iran on terms to end their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz sent oil prices tumbling, as traders anticipated the return of flows. But industry officials say a full return to pre-war production and refining levels is likely to take weeks, months or even years. Auto shops and car dealerships have been running short of motor oil, paint and other products for months since the Middle East conflict snarled global supply chains. * Gas prices fall slowly. On Friday, the AAA national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.999. This marked the first time pump prices have dropped below the $4.00 threshold since late March, following four consecutive weeks of steady declines driven by a drop in crude oil prices. * Hidden car dealer fees. The Federal Trade Commission is preparing to enforce warnings against car dealerships for advertising dubious discounts and hidden fees. Studies by CoPilot and CarEdge found widespread use of unadvertised discretionary fees and price differences in car sales. The FTC’s settlement with Lindsay Automotive Group, involving up to $75 million in restitution, highlights potential costs for dealers. Learn more HERE * Fuel spike hurts RV industry. Spring is usually prime selling season for U.S. recreational vehicles, but thanks to high gas prices driven by the Iran war, this year is turning into a dud. As Reuters' Timothy Aeppel reports, RV registrations by consumers fell 22% in March and nearly 17% in April. The RV industry has struggled in recent years, with sales crashing after COVID-19, leaving the industry with a huge inventory overhang that has taken years to work down. As one industry consultant told Reuters, the Iran conflict and high gas prices have "killed whatever speed there was" in the market. * Corvette Flag Day. Over 250 Corvettes descended upon Detroit’s Belle Isle on Flag Day last Sunday to form a giant American flag and raise money for four veterans’ charities. 295 Corvettes obviously, yes, in red, white and blue came together to make a giant American flag. Corvettes of other colors formed a flag pole. See it HERE * Yamaha recall. Yamaha is recalling the 2025 Ténéré 700 because of a potential defect that can cause its turn indicators to fail. The recall only affects the 2025 model year, numbering 4,173 motorcycles in the U.S., plus an additional 860 in Canada. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Ténéré’s meter assembly may incorrectly detect the turn signals “should exit their activation phase.” If this happens, the system may prevent the turn signals from activating again when needed. * Ford recall. Ford is recalling 2015-2018 Ford Focus and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles. These cars are said to have an issue pertaining to the manual transmission fitted to the 1.0L Fox GTDI engines. The transmissions are prone to increased clutch slip, which overheats the clutch and might cause the plate to fracture. It can also damage the clutch cover and transmission housing, leading to a potential leak of the fluid itself. NHTSA states 100% of 5,252 affected vehicles likely have the defect. * Waymo recall. Waymo is recalling potentially 3,871 robotaxis due to a risk of them speeding through highway construction zones. The recall follows events in Phoenix and San Francisco where Waymo cars entered freeway construction zones. Waymo will implement software improvements and operational protocols to prevent cars from entering construction zones. * EVs offer bigger savings. The war in Iran has changed the math around electric cars. Driving 100 miles in a typical gas car that gets 25 miles per gallon now costs more than $16 on average. To do the same in an electric car costs just under $6.00. See the math HERE * Smartphine car shopping. Carvana, known for used cars, introduced “new-car playgrounds” for new-car sales, starting with a remodeled dealership in Dallas. The company revealed its concept for a new-car dealership designed for smartphone-based shopping. Carvana has amassed seven new-car dealerships selling Stellantis vehicles. More on this . HERE * Hagerty Road of the Year. Paved nearly a century ago to provide an automobile-friendly connector to lumber and railroad towns, Pennsylvania Route 144 is the Road of the Year. Packing hundreds of curves along its 109-mile length, Pennsylvania Route 144 runs north-south and almost perfectly bisects the mountainous northern half of the Keystone State. Start driving HERE * 2026 LeMans winner. The 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans took place from June 13–14, 2026, concluding with Toyota Gazoo Racing claiming overall victory with their #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid driven by Nyck de Vries, Kamui Kobayashi, and Mike Conway. This marked Toyota's first Le Mans triumph in four years, narrowly defeating the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 by just 11 seconds after a grueling 24 hours of racing. In the second-tier LMP2 category, Polish team Inter Europol finished one-two, while Corvette won the LMGT3 class with Ben Keating, Nicky Catsburg and Jonny Edgar. The race had a total of 62 cars and 186 drivers. * Hamilton's first F1 win for Ferrari. Jerry Perez writing for "The Drive" writes: It's finally happened. After a 41-race winless streak, Sir Lewis Hamilton achieved what even he’s admitted he doubted would ever come: his 106th Formula 1 win. But not just any win, his first Grand Prix with Scuderia Ferrari. Read the story HERE * 2026 Pikes Peak Hill Climb. The 104th running of the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is taking place on Sunday, June 21, 2026. Known as the "Race to the Clouds," the motorsport event challenges drivers to a grueling 12.42-mile course with 156 turns that climbs to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado. Robin Shute is competing in a newly engineered prototype—the 2026 Sendycar V1—and five-time King of the Mountain, Romain Dumas, in the Ford Super Mustang Mach-E. Ultra4 USA vehicles (noted for their off-road racing capabilities) are set to compete in an official capacity for the first time in 15 years. Olympic bobsledder Kaysha Love will serve as the official pace car driver in an Acura MDX Type S. * Sad news. A tornado hit Mid America Motorworks and the MY Garage Museum located in Effingham, IL. Among the items severely damaged, at best, are the historic Corvettes of its collection. That includes the last C4, the C5 Alpha and Beta prototypes, and the CERV4b, which tested the Gen III 5.7-liter Chevrolet small block. Founded by Mike Yager in 1974, the site has been a beloved powerhouse and destination for Corvette and air-cooled Volkswagen enthusiasts for over 50 years. The destruction of 52 years of collecting is devastating to Mike Yager and his family! HERE Problem using Firefox? switch to another browser. Stay safe. Be Well.
Kind regards,
Larry Nutson,
The Chicago Car Guy
The Auto Channel