Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup August 23, 2026

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Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup August 16-22 2026,

* Most Reliable Cars in 2026. CARFAX has compiled a ranking of the most reliable cars, trucks and SUVs based on billions of records from across the country. The Carfax Reliability rankings estimate the likelihood of unexpected repairs over the next year. While some models may seem familiar (hello, Camry & CR-V), there are some surprising results! Get the details here

* Who’s the Most American Carmaker. General Motors and Ford are clashing behind the scenes as each automaker lobbies Washington for tailored tariffs and trade policies. Ford is pushing for higher tariffs on imports from South Korea, where General Motors builds its most inexpensive vehicles. General Motors has targeted Ford’s electric-vehicle battery strategy and criticized its reliance on Chinese battery technology. Each carmaker wants to portray itself as more crucial to the U.S. economy. Who do you think? More here

* Tough EV market. Drivers who are hooked on EVs are looking for good deals in the used market, paying higher prices or switching to hybrids. More than 1,600 readers wrote to the Wall Street Journal with their stories of owning and shopping for an EV—or a replacement for one—in a market that has fewer EV options and higher prices. More on this here

* JD Power Auto Tech Index. JD Power’s 2026 U.S. Tech Experience Index reflects responses of 68,084 vehicle owners within 90 days of purchase. Passenger screen technologies remain a sticking point among customer survey respondents. Hyundai ranks highest among mass market brands for the seventh consecutive year; Cadillac ranks highest overall for tech innovation. Learn more here 

* New California tire law. The California Energy Commission (CEC) unanimously approved the nation's first replacement tire efficiency standards. This law mandates that replacement tires sold for passenger cars and light-duty trucks meet strict rolling resistance targets to lower fuel and electricity consumption. By forcing replacement tires to match the efficiency of factory-installed equipment, the state aims to save drivers nearly $1 billion annually in gas and power costs. However, the law is highly controversial as it will eliminate roughly 70% of the tires currently sold in the state by 2033.

* Fiat Topolino v. Golf Carts. The tiny Topolino two-seat electric runabout is drawing interest from golf-cart buyers and resort communities that want something with doors, a roof, and more style than a basic cart. Resorts, retirement communities, and hobbyists will likely see it as a nicer alternative to bare-bones golf carts. Instead of highway speed or long range, the Topolino focuses on low-speed duty for gated neighborhoods, campuses, and short-town hops. More here

* Best vehicles for Tailgating.  The USA Today Sports Readers’ Choice Awards has selected the 10 best vehicles for tailgating. Vehicles were nominated by an expert panel and voted by USA TODAY Sports readers as the best in the U.S. that offer the space, versatility, and features needed to power the ultimate football weekend. To select tailgating vehicles, a panel of USA Today Sports editors curated a shortlist of vehicles, then readers and the general public voted to pick the winners. Get yours before game time. here

* BMW and Spider Man. Earlier this month BMW sparked heavy online backlash by pushing unsolicited promotional pop-ups and startup animations for Spider-Man: Brand New Day to the central infotainment screens of compatible BMW vehicles across more than 70 countries. A notification banner reading "Spider-Man just dropped on your BMW!" appeared on the dashboard when starting vehicles built after July 2020. Tapping the prompt launched a 19-second full-screen movie animation complete with audio and synchronized cabin ambient lighting. Drivers expressed widespread annoyance on social media and forums, viewing it as tacky and an unwelcome intrusion into luxury vehicles, some costing over $100,000. BMW maintained that the feature was an optional themed experience rather than an intrusive advertisement, though critics argued it tested the limits of monetization in connected cars.

* Detroit, but it's not Detroit. A new commercial that advertised Chevrolet lease deals ended with an image of city skyline and the words "Chevy Detroit" emblazoned across it. Only the skyline wasn't that of the Motor City — it's downtown Austin, Texas. The commercial was run by the Detroit-area dealer association.  Enjoy the rest of the story here.

* Over-the-air radio software update. FCA US LLC is voluntarily recalling an estimated 848,511 U.S.-market Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles to address radio software that may prevent the rearview camera image from appearing on the vehicle’s media screen. Customers will receive an over-the-air radio software update across all affected brands. A prompt will appear on the vehicle’s media screen when the update is available. If the rearview camera image does not appear, drivers should remain aware of their surroundings and use their rearview and side mirrors when reversing. Affected vehicles are certain model-year: 2026-27 Chrysler Pacifica, Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid and Voyager minivans, 2026-27 Dodge Charger vehicles, 2026 Jeep® Cherokee, Compass, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, Grand Cherokee L, Grand Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer L and Wrangler vehicles, and 2026 Ram 1500 and 2500 pickups and ProMaster and ProMaster EV vans.

* Toyota recall. Toyota is recalling about 48,280 2024‑2025 Tacoma and Tacoma Hybrid trucks because corroded front and rear shock absorber flanges can cause the external oil reservoir to detach, creating a road hazard.

* BMW recall. BMW is recalling 27,720 vehicles in the U.S. from the 5, 7, and 8 Series model lines, for defective couplings between the driveshaft and rear differential, which could lead to premature wear and elevate the risk of power loss or rolling away while parked. The recall affects the 2021–2023 540i/M550i, 2022–2026 840i, and 2024–2026 750e xDrive. 

* Car seat recall. Evenflo is recalling select Revolve180 LiteMax NXT rotating infant car seats manufactured before April 1, 2025, due to a faulty level indicator, which can cause the seat to be installed too upright and increase injury risks during a crash. While no injuries have been reported, about 23,000 units, sold alone or in travel systems, are affected, and a free repair kit is being provided. Impacted models include certain Revolve180 LiteMax NXT seats, Shyft Intuiti/Omni travel systems, and accessory bases. Check the white manufacturing label on the base to see if your unit is affected. Specific models include CS160412519 through CS160422545 for standalone seats, and various TS-prefixed models for travel systems and bases.

* About car collecting. A growing crowd of car enthusiasts is collecting and showing off remarkably normal, newer and cheaper vehicles rather than vintage collector cars. Hagerty Insurance has seen the number of 2000s Honda Civics and Toyota Corollas it insures more than double in the past three years. Gen Z is the fastest-growing customer base for Hagerty. Insurance policies are up 48% year-over-year for the company’s Gen-Z drivers. Read here and start shopping. here.

* Cruisin' Woodward. The 2026 Woodward Dream Cruise happened. The world’s largest one-day automotive event, drawing over 1 million spectators and 40,000 classic, muscle, and custom cars took place on Saturday, August 15 along a historic 16-mile stretch of Woodward Avenue (M-1) in Metro Detroit.

* Pebble Beach Concours winner. A 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster from Cincinnati, Ohio, captured Best of Show at the 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday. The Duesenberg, shown by collector Harry Yeaggy of Cincinnati, received the prestigious honor as the annual Concours concluded on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links. Just two examples were built of this 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster, but this one was once owned by the “King of Hollywood,” Clark Gable. The 2026 event marked the 75th edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, which has been held on the Monterey Peninsula since 1950 and is considered one of the premier gatherings of historic automobiles in the world. A total of 218 cars, including 33 international entries from 14 countries, displayed on the showfield, and $4.3 million was raised for charity, bumping the giving past $50 million for the event overall.

* $40M for a Ferrari Luce. Ferrari’s first fully electric vehicle sold for a staggering $40 million at auction in Monterey, California. The 2026 Ferrari Luce "Tailor Made," identified as "Chassis 0," is the first production chassis from the Italian luxury automaker’s new electric vehicle program, according to RM Sotheby’s. The one-of-a-kind Ferrari was sold during RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction, with all proceeds benefiting educational initiatives through the Ferrari Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity. The buyer’s premium was waived for the sale. The Luce marks a major milestone for Ferrari as the company enters the fully electric vehicle market. Ferrari has described the model as the first fully electric car in the Prancing Horse’s history.

* NASCAR & Chicago a No for 2027. The streets of Chicago's Grant Park will not echo with the sounds of 200 mph race cars in 2027. Running out of time to strike a deal with the city, NASCAR pulled the plug on the return of the Chicago Street Race for next summer, but is still hoping to bring it back down the road. Meanwhile, NASCAR confirmed it is putting Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet back on the schedule again next summer after a successful return to the long-idled southwest suburban track over July Fourth weekend. NASCAR had been hoping to get both Chicago and Joliet on track for 2027.

* IHRA. “The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is in significant turmoil in mid-2026 under owner/CEO Darryl Cuttell (who acquired it in late 2024). Professional/national series have been largely canceled or heavily cut for the rest of 2026." More on this here

* RIP.  Hiroshi Okuda, the Toyota executive known as "the father of the Prius," has died. Okuda revived the floundering automobile maker in the 1990s by expanding production overseas, tightening decision-making at home and pushing through the introduction of the Prius, the world’s first hybrid car in regular production. He also brought the RAV4, which had debuted in 1994 in Japan, to the U.S. market, where it quickly became one of Toyota’s best-selling models. Okuda was 93. here.

Stay safe. Be Well.

Kind regards, 

Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy
The Auto Channel