Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrap-up September 13, 2026

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Larry Nutson

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Here are Larry's Top Auto Story Picks of the Week of September 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.

* New-vehicle transaction price back above $50,000. New data from Kelley Blue Book's August Average Transaction Price (ATP) report shows new-vehicle prices moved back above $50,000 for the first time in 2026, with the average price paid reaching $50,089 in August, up 0.5% from July and 1.9% year over year. Prices increased across each of the five highest-volume vehicle segments, with some of the most affordable segments seeing the largest gains. The average MSRP also climbed to $51,852, up 2.2% year over year. The Subcompact SUV ATP rose 2.2% year over year to $31,149, while Compact Car ATP increased 2.9% to $27,997, the largest year-over-year gains among the top-five segments. The average price paid for a new EV fell to $54,813 in August, down 1.2% month over month and 2.7% year over year. The premium paid for an EV also narrowed to 9.4%, down from more than 16% a year ago, suggesting EV pricing is continuing to move closer to parity with ICE+ vehicles. KBB's ATP data is determined from 20 vehicle segment categories.

* Here comes the EREV. The auto industry has a new solution to Americans' fear that electric vehicles will run out of juice: a gasoline engine. EREV is: Extended Range Electric Vehicle. Hyundai, Ford , and Jeep have them in the works. The new Scout brand says most customer vehicle orders are for EREV power vs. BEV. Mickey Bly, Stellantis' propulsion chief, said that while the industry spent years racing toward full EVs to meet government regulations, EREVs may represent a middle-ground solution customers are happier with. At the same time, they will likely cost more than comparable gas vehicles and possibly more than full EVs, analysts and engineers say. Learn more here.

* The most googled cars in every state. It's not the Ford F-150. The Honda Civic led online searches in more states than any other vehicle. But there are a few surprises among the states. The research, based on Google Keyword Planner data and 175 auto-related keywords across 50 states, was done by Car Mats Customs. The data was collected in August, long after early March when gas prices started their meteoric rise because of the Iran war. Have a look here.

* Hypermilers save on gas. Gas prices have risen sharply since the start of the Iran war. Some drivers are using special techniques to maximize their miles per gallon and save at the pump. Hypermilers mostly aim to maximize fuel efficiency by driving smoothly, without hard stops or starts. But sometimes they employ more extreme measures, like not using air conditioning or removing a vehicle's interior door panels to reduce its weight. Learn the tricks here.

* The Battle Over Uber Air Fresheners. Getting into an Uber or Lyft has become an assault on the nostrils. Drivers pack their cars with air fresheners - and not just the dangling kind. Trees and vent clips can make rides a special kind of hell. Drivers say it's better than the smells emitting from the back seat. A driverless car means no one to hang anything from the mirror. See for yourself here.

* Trump blasts Ford; Ford fires back. Reuters reports as follows: The Trump administration blasted Ford Motor's business partnerships with Chinese companies, saying they pose national security concerns. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a letter to Ford CEO Jim Farley sent on Tuesday, said the automaker's dealings with Chinese battery maker CATL and Chinese automakers Geely and BYD raised "profound concern." He urged Ford to cut ties with major Chinese companies. Duffy said USDOT was "deeply alarmed" by Ford's reliance on licensed technology from Chinese battery manufacturer CATL at its plant in Marshall, Michigan, and noted that CATL is on the Pentagon's list of companies accused of ties to China's military. He also criticized the company's decision not "to move production of the Lincoln Nautilus from China to the United States until 2030, as it leaves the company reliant on Chinese manufacturing for several more years." Ford, in a statement, said Duffy's "letter is a wrongheaded attempt to capture headlines." The company added that "while others continue to import Chinese batteries, Ford is investing to build batteries "here in America" and added that Ford owns the plant, controls the operation and employs the workforce."

* Jeep recall. Stellantis NA is recalling 201,976 "Jeep vehicles in the U.S. due to a software error that may cause the tire pressure monitoring system to fail to detect low tire pressure or illuminate the warning light, the U.S." a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. Affected vehicles "include certain Jeep Wagoneer, Grand Cherokee, Grand Cherokee L, Grand Cherokee 4XE, and Grand Wagoneer models," the regulator said. It also includes certain Jeep Wagoneer L, Grand Wagoneer L, and Cherokee Grand Wagoneer L PHEV vehicles. NHTSA said the malfunction may prevent the tire "pressure monitoring system from alerting drivers" to low tire pressure, increasing crash risk.

* Toyota recall. Toyota is recalling approximately 10,000 C-HR electric crossovers sold in North America over a potentially dangerous safety issue. When the C-HR's battery has a high state of charge, a software issue can cause the regenerative braking to overcharge the battery, causing power loss. The affected vehicles, all 2026 models, could cut power while driving, which increases the risk of a crash.

* Route 66 turns 100. Every year, thousands of travelers cross America on Historic Route 66, a 2,500-mile stretch that was once the country's most famous roadway. About a third of these road warriors are from overseas, and they're often searching for a glimpse of a lost era filled with motels, neon signs and hokey roadside attractions. As Route 66 turns 100, tourists in search of Americana try to keep war, inflation and politics in the rearview. Enjoy the read.

* 2026 NHRA Funny Car Champ. Matt Hagan driving his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car for Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) has clinched the NHRA 2026 Funny Car regular-season championship. After advancing to the semifinals at the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, Hagan has clinched the 2026 Funny Car Regular Season Championship. Hagan entered the U.S. Nationals second in the standings behind Ron Capps, but his run through eliminations — including a hard-fought second-round victory over Paul Lee — put him in position to secure the championship.

* RIP. Former NASCAR driver Gary Myers, who was part of four generations of racers in his family, has died. He was 76. His family initially announced his passing over social media but did not disclose a cause of death. Myers began racing in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 1974 and also competed in the SMART Modified Tour, where he won the championship in 1996.

Stay safe. Be Well.

Kind regards,

Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy
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