Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup September 6, 2026

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Larry Nutson

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Here are Larry’s Top Auto Story Picks of the Week of August 31 - September 6, 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.

* Gas and Diesel prices. 2026 is on track to be the most expensive year for diesel in U.S. history. the YTD average sits at $4.85/gal per GasBuddy data, with the current average at $5.58. by late September, 2026 will likely surpass 2022's full-year average. If you're driving to your Labor Day destination, prepare to pay more money at the pump. Gasbuddy is predicting that drivers will pay approximately 87 cents more per gallon compared to last year.

* What do you think? Uber president and COO Andrew Macdonald predicts that in two decades, most people will get around by bike, scooter, public transit, or autonomous vehicle. "In some future world, maybe not five years, but 15 or 20 years, everyone's going to be like Harry—nobody's going to own a car," Macdonaald said in a recent episode of the 20VC podcast with host and entrepreneur Harry Stebbings. "Nobody's going to have their driver's license because you'll be able to get around. And I think bikes and scooters will be part of that. I think autonomous vehicles will be part of that. I think public transportation will be a big part of that, but I don't think you need to own a car." "The individually owned car is the most inefficient asset that anyone owns, and certainly at any level of price point," Macdonald said. "It sits idle 98% of the day. It's depreciating. The ongoing operating costs are actually high—even if you're not driving it, you're paying for that insurance cllip." TACH editor comment. People who live in high-density cities do this today. This writer, who lives in Chicago, is always deciding what is the best way to get somewhere: walk, bicycle, public transit, taxi, ride share or drive my own car.

* 2027 Green Car Awards. Green Car Journal has announced their 2027 Green Car Awards which highlight vehicles that move environmental progress forward in meaningful ways. This year’s winners represent the most environmentally positive new vehicles across a range of consumer needs and lifestyles, from attainable electric choices and premium EVs to efficient family transportation, neighborhood travel, and commercial needs. Each model brings its own story of engineering focus, design intent, and environmental achievement. See the winners here.

* New IIHS Top Picks. Two vehicles, the 2027 Kia Telluride and 2026-27 Tesla Model Y, earn TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards in the latest round of ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. New ratings for five other models that do not qualify for either award are also available. To qualify for an award this year, vehicles need good ratings in the moderate overlap front, small overlap front and side crash tests and acceptable- or good-rated headlights across all trim levels. Learn more here.

* Canada car thefts. Canada has been experiencing a flood of car thefts which coincided with the financial sanctions and export bans that Western governments hoped would punish Russia for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That made Western vehicles more valuable. A yearslong car theft epidemic in Canada has gotten so bad that, despite a police crackdown, thieves break into homes just to steal car keys. Thousands of cars vanish each year. Interpol, the international police organization, received 4,798 reports that stolen Canadian vehicles had been found in Russia from February 2024 to July 2026, according to data obtained by The New York Times and confirmed by two law enforcement officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it is considered sensitive. Pickup trucks like Dodge Rams, Toyota Tundras and Ford F-150s are in particularly high demand. More on this here.

* London luxury lane problems. In London, tony neighborhoods are clogged with Ferraris, Lamborghinis and McLarens bearing Middle East plates and tickets drivers won’t pay. London’s priciest neighborhoods are showcases for ostentatious automobiles at all times of year, V12 engines roaring through streets where speed limits top out at 20 miles-per-hour. The neighborhoods become particularly clogged with Ferraris, Lamborghinis and McLarens bearing Middle East plates in the summer, as their drivers escape the Gulf’s scorching heat. PS: It's not just a London problem. Enjoy the read here.

* Exploding sunroofs. Complaints to U.S. auto-safety regulators about sunroofs unexpectedly exploding or shattering are on track to hit a record in 2026. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not identified any verified crashes or serious injuries caused by breaking sunroofs. Regulators and automakers attribute the breakages primarily to road debris and foreign objects rather than safety defects. More on this here.

* Super-speeders get throttled-down. Illinois has joined Virginia and Washington with a new law that will target so-called “super-speeders,�?? requiring them to install speed-limiting devices in their vehicles if they commit multiple road violations. The measure officially goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2028, and passed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly by large majorities. According to the text of the law, the program will require drivers who have committed two qualifying speeding or reckless driving offenses within a 12-month period to install a speed-limiting device on their vehicles, which will prevent them from exceeding the speed limit.

* World Premier at The Art Institute of Chicago. "Route 66: The Main Street of America" is a feature-length centennial documentary directed by John Paget that celebrates the 100th anniversary of the legendary highway. A national roadshow runs from September 1 to November 7, 2026, featuring theater screenings and filmmaker Q&As. You can find local events and tickets on the Main Street of America Official Website https://www.mainstreetofamerica.com

* Ford recall. Ford Motor Co. is recalling 148,663 Mustangs in the U.S. due to a loss of driver power and loss of headlight function or windshield washing system function, which can reduce visibility, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The recall covers 2024-26 Mustang vehicles. NHTSA said the engine compartment wiring harness ground connections could cause a loss of drive power or disable functions including the windshield washer system, headlights, air conditioning, and engine cooling fan, raising the risk of a crash.

* Ford recall. Ford Motor Company is recalling select 2026 Ford Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger models due to an issue with improperly manufactured pistons. In affected vehicles, the engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power. The recall covers 10,001 vehicles. Specifically, select EcoBoost-powered 2026 Ford Bronco models built between February 16, 2026 and April 14, 2026, Explorer SUVs produced from February 20, 2026 and April 18, 2026, Mustang models built from March 31, 2026 to April 9, 2026, Ranger pickups produced between February 21, 2026 and April 20, 2026, and Bronco Sport crossovers built from February 20, 2026 to April 22, 2026.

* Bell helmet recall. Bell Sports is recalling its Pit Boss cruiser-style half helmets because they failed impact attenuation testing. According to the U.S. NHTSA, the recall affects only medium-sized helmets, though it’s unclear if that refers to the helmet size or the shell size. The Pit Boss is available in two shell sizes; small and medium-sized helmets use the medium shell, while large, XL and 2XL helmets use the large shell size. The recall affects 400 helmets in the U.S. market, produced from Jan. 1, 2025 to Jan. 31, 2026. Any helmets produced after that date have been recertified by a third-party lab.

* AMA Champion. Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence secured his first AMA Pro Motocross 450 National Championship on Saturday at Ironman Raceway, capping a hard-fought, season-long battle with his brother and teammate, Jett Lawrence. It was an emotional achievement for the 27-year-old who, after coming close on several occasions, finally achieved a lifelong goal of earning a premier-class title. After finishing a close second in the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship, Hunter approached the outdoors series more determined than ever, tallying a perfect 1-1 score at the opening round in Pala, California. That victory set the tone for an impressive season, with the Australian going on to collect a total of six overall wins across the 11-round series.

* INDYCAR Champ. Alex Palou earned his fifth NTT INDYCAR SERIES title at the Milwaukee Mile—all five of which have come with Honda power. Alex Palou's championship is the Chip Ganassi Racing driver's fourth consecutive championship title and fifth in six years, as well as the 22nd Honda-powered drivers' title in American Open Wheel competition. Palou's five titles place him third on the all-time list, with only his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon (six titles), and IndyCar legend AJ Foyt (seven titles) with more. The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES concludes with the Mission Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, September 4-6.

* INDYCAR manufacturer champ. Honda and Honda Racing Corporation clinched the NTT INDYCAR SERIES manufacturers' title 30 years after Honda's first American Open Wheel championships. This is Honda's eighth championship in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and 12th in American Open Wheel competition. Honda's previous titles came in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, a four-year consecutive run from 2018 to 2021, and 2025. Honda's success has come on all four circuit types in IndyCar: road courses, short ovals, superspeedways and street circuits—with four Honda-powered drivers earning wins across the disciplines during the season.

Stay safe. Be Well.

Kind regards,

Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy
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