+++ ELECTRIC CAR BATTERIES are lasting longer than expected, according to the largest-ever British used EV battery study, conducted by battery health experts Generational. The firm analysed 8.000 EVs across 36 manufacturers, aged between 0 and 12 years and ranging from 0 to more than 300.000 km. Experts discovered that the average state of health (SoH) of the batteries, all ages considered, was 95 percent; well above the 70 percent usually stipulated by manufacturer warranties as the grounds for battery replacement. In fact, even the oldest EVs, aged between 8 and 12 years, showed a median battery SoH of 85 percent; the lowest 25th percentile showed an average battery SoH of 82 percent, while the best-maintained models of this age group still retained 90 percent of their original capacity. Generational’s CEO, Oliver Phillpott, said: “The data definitively shows that EV batteries are performing far better than many consumers and industry stakeholders have been led to believe. With an average State of Health of more than 95 percent, and even older vehicles comfortably exceeding warranty thresholds, the underlying fundamentals are extremely strong”. One interesting learning point from the study is that a car’s mileage isn’t always an indicator of its battery’s SoH; Generational found that EV examples with much more than well over 150.000 km on their clocks “frequently return 88-95 per cent battery health, challenging traditional age-and-mileage valuation models”. The firm points out that a newer, higher-mileage model may provide a better option in terms of battery SoH than, say, a slightly older one with fewer miles on the odometer. Ultimately, Generational’s study is perhaps one of our most enlightening first looks at battery degradation; something that has been the concern of many in the switch to EVs. The data should, in theory, allow insurers to provide a more accurate (and hopefully affordable) quote knowing the true lifespan of battery packs, while fleet operators should get a better idea of the total costs of ownership. Generational believes, however, that things could go a step further by standardising battery condition reports in the form of battery passports. These would provide prospective used-EV buyers an insight into the SoH of a car they may be looking to purchase. Philip Nothard, Chair of the Vehicle Remarketing Association, explained: “Potential buyers of used electric cars understandably place a huge emphasis on battery health. They need to trust that this fundamental and expensive vehicle component will meet their needs without any unpleasant surprises. Transparency will prove crucial in building future consumer confidence and dispelling the many misconceptions that have gained currency around EV batteries”. +++
+++ The HONDA CIVIC is being recalled as a manufacturing defect has been discovered that could ultimately result in the car’s wheel falling off while owners are driving along. The problem comes down to what has been described by the EU Commission as a wheel nut that has been fastened with “tightening torque that is too low”. This, the Commission says, “could cause the nuts to come loose while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in a risk of wheel loss, accident and injuries”. The issue affects examples of the Honda Civic manufactured between 2017 and 2021. Honda says it will begin contacting customers in the early part of this year, with drivers able to submit their information via a QR code by visiting a main Honda dealer. The information will then be checked and, if required, an appointment will be made in order to rectify the issue. For those worried about getting behind the wheel of their Civic given the recall, Honda reassures customers that they “can continue to drive their vehicle in its current condition”. This is not the first time vehicles have been recalled for incorrectly fastened wheels; Porsche carried out a massive recall in 2024 spanning thousands of cars after it was found that models outfitted with centre-lock wheels had wheel bolts that “did not meet the required specifications”. However, unlike this occasion where owners are advised to continue driving their cars, Porsche issued a stop-drive order. +++
+++ As with many other EV-only automakers, LUCID MOTORS is forced to face the new realities of the U.S. electric car market in the wake of last year’s termination of the $7,500 EV federal tax credit and the rollback of stricter fuel efficiency targets by the Trump administration. For the California-based EV startup, the drop in electric car demand has led to a 12% reduction of its global salaried workforce. In an email, Lucid interim CEO Marc Winterhoff said the “difficult but necessary decision was made to improve operational effectiveness and optimize our resources as we continue on our path toward profitability”. Lucid has yet to turn a profit as it continues to burn cash at an alarming rate. The company has been burning roughly $310 million per month, with quarterly losses reaching around $1 billion in some quarters; for example, Lucid posted a $1.03 billion net loss in the third quarter of 2025. The memo did not specify how many employees were being let go but noted that hourly workers across the manufacturing, logistics and quality teams at its Casa Grande, Arizona assembly plant were not affected by the cuts. Lucid Motors reported having 6.800 full-time employees worldwide at the end of 2024, which suggests that the layoffs are in the hundreds, if not closer to 1.000 assuming staff had grown since late 2024. The magnitude of the layoffs will become clear when Lucid files its annual 10-K filing with the SEC. Winterhoff said the employees impacted by the layoffs would be provided “severance, bonus, continued health benefits, and transition support to help them through this period”. The job cuts affected professionals in battery testing and R&D, EV test and validation, continuous improvement and reliability engineering, simulation and thermal engineering, vehicle logistics, and corporate innovation. In addition, departments like manufacturing engineering, functional safety and autonomous driving, quality engineering, and talent acquisition were reportedly affected. The same source claims that some of the affected workers are former Nikola engineers who joined Lucid less than a year ago after the EV maker acquired select Nikola facilities and assets in Arizona; the electric truck manufacturer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2025. News of the job cuts comes as Lucid is in the middle of ramping up production and deliveries of the Gravity large SUV and is also gearing up to launch a more affordable mid-size EV later this year. The vehicle will start around $50,000 and will likely be a crossover. The Saudi-backed EV maker struggled with Gravity production and quality issues during the first few months after the electric SUV entered production in late 2024 but managed to ramp production last year, ending it with 15.841 units delivered, a double output compared to 2024. Lucid’s interim CEO pledged that the layoffs will not affect the company’s strategy, which includes the start of production of the new midsize model this year, increasing sales for the Air sedan and Gravity SUV across the world, continued ADAS and software development, and an expansion into the robotaxi market. The company is working with Uber and autonomous vehicle company Nuro to launch a robotaxi service in the San Francisco Bay Area late this year. +++
+++ MAZDA has made it clear that combustion engines are still part of its plans, and Skyactiv-Z is the strongest proof yet. This new 2.5-liter 4-cylinder follows Skyactiv-G and the less successful Skyactiv-X, but the focus this time is on getting more real-world efficiency out of every drop of fuel. For the uninitiated, Mazda’s Skyactiv-Z takes a different approach, using ultra-lean combustion and lambda-one control to get closer to what Mazda calls “ultimate combustion”. In a nutshell, the focus is on thermal efficiency across the rev range. On paper, that means lower fuel use, less CO2 and more consistent performance as emissions rules get stricter. This engine will also be the core of Mazda’s next in-house hybrid system, which uses a parallel setup instead of the Toyota-based systems found in bigger Mazdas. A recent report from Japan says Mazda’s best-selling nameplate, the next CX-5, will be the first to get this pairing, starting with a mild hybrid before a full hybrid version follows. Mazda hasn’t shared full specs yet, but it has confirmed Skyactiv-Z will meet Euro 7 emissions standards. Power numbers are still under wraps, but Mazda says the priority is usable performance, meaning efficiency, not just headline figures. Even without full specs, Skyactiv-Z is shaping up to be Mazda’s most ambitious combustion project in a long time. With the Skyactiv-X flopping, we are a bit cautious about expectations, though we must admit Mazda’s new approach feels more realistic. The CX-5 isn’t the only model in line for Skyactiv-Z. Mazda has already said the next MX-5 will use this tech too, which should reassure fans worried about the roadster going fully electric. Mazda also plans to bring these combustion ideas to its inline-6 engines for bigger models. That means fewer engine families to manage, and better emissions numbers across the board. +++
+++ The MERCEDES-BENZ LITTLE G will arrive in 2027 as a baby off-roader that will serve as the new entry point into an expanded G-Class range, and it will be sold with both ICE and EV power. The new model has been conceived as Mercedes’ answer to JLR’s incoming ‘Defender Sport’, so it will posses a set of hardcore attributes. This will pit it against a new breed of rugged crossovers, including the upcoming Toyota Land Cruiser FJ and Ford’s European-made Bronco. Nicknamed Little G by Mercedes (it will take a different name for production), the model was initially billed as electric-only. However, the 4×4 car (which will sit on a unique architecture and use an array of bespoke parts) will now also be offered with the option of an internal combustion engine. This decision reflects a change in Mercedes’ strategy for its new models as it aims to balance varying global regulatory demands with consumer powertrain preferences. The move also comes amid disappointing sales of the electric G-Class. Indeed, Mercedes recently scrapped previous targets to go EV-only, with CEO Ola Källenius saying it will sell ICE models “well into the 2030s” as the brand aims to “remain strategically focused and tactically flexible”. Mercedes’ shift reflects wider global automotive industry trends that have prompted rivals to alter their plans too, notably Porsche’s recent change to its original EV-only intention for the Macan and Cayenne. The engine the Little G will use is understood to be the turbocharged and hybrid-assisted 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol unit fitted to the CLA. It is designed and developed by Mercedes but produced by Horse Powertrain, a joint venture operated by Geely and Renault, in China. In the CLA, the engine delivers up to 190 hp and 300 Nm of torque. It is paired with a gearbox-mounted electric motor that is capable of providing engine-off running. The pure-electric version of the Little G is set to use a pair of Mercedes’ ‘eATS2.0′ electric motors: one operating on the front wheels and a more powerful unit driving the rear wheels. An 85 kWh NMC battery is expected to provide a WLTP range of close to 700 km. Regardless of the powertrain, it is understood that the Little G will be sold exclusively with four-wheel drive as part of its brief to deliver class-leading off-road performance. The hybrid and EV versions are both also due to receive sophisticated power management, with torque vectoring allowing individual drive to each wheel in an effort to offer similar off-road performance to the existing full-fat G-Class models. The Little G was initially planned to share its platform with the new electric GLC and the 2026 electric C-Class saloon, but Mercedes’ outgoing tech boss Markus Schäfer recently revealed that it will be based on a unique architecture to be “as authentic as possible”. As a result, Mercedes is now thought to be engineering the Little G around a new ladder-frame chassis. The 5-seat Little G is expected to measure up to 4.400 mm in length, positioning it as the new entry point to the G-Class sub-brand. Recent photographs of camouflaged test cars reveal that it will also be a much smaller proposition than the full-fat models, particularly in its height. The standard G-Glass is 1.969 mm tall, yet the test car appears to be lower than a 1.718 mm-tall EQS SUV. In its design, the Little G follows a similar, blocky aesthetic to the full-fat models, complete with three full-size side windows and a fixed spare wheel. Outgoing Mercedes design boss Gorden Wagener recently told that the new model will retain the larger G-Class’s key design elements, including its characteristic round headlights and wing-mounted indicator units. Schäfer added that the Little G will use a significant number of unique components “far more than I ever wish to tell you”. These include most of the bodywork panels. Production of the Little G remains scheduled to begin in 2027, with the electric variant set to be launched first. Timing for the arrival of the combustion-engined version has yet to be confirmed. +++
+++ OPEL has confirmed it will launch a performance version of the Corsa later this year; its first hot hatch since the Corsa OPC went out of production 8 years ago. The Corsa GSE will be the second model after the 280 hp Mokka GSE to get the GSE treatment since the sub-brand was relaunched last July as a badge for more performance-honed EVs, rather than as a glorified trim level. It will be marked out by sportier elements, such as flared wheel arches and bespoke 18 inch alloys. Opel hasn’t detailed upgrades underneath, but it will surely follow those made to the Mokka GSE, which received almost double the power of the standard car and extensive chassis modifications to cope with that increase in grunt. For example, it gets the same 280 hp motor as the Abarth 600e and features a limited-slip differential at the front and anti rolls bars and new, tauter bushings at the rear. It also got upgraded brakes and was shod with Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres. With the same upgrades, it’s fair to suggest that the smaller Corsa GSE will likely better the Mokka GSE’s 5.9 seconds 0-100 kph time. More details on what to expect visually from the Peugeot e-208 GTi rival can be found by looking at the Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo concept unveiled last August, built to show the future capability of the sub-brand. While elements such as the moveable rear wing and diffuser are far too radical to feature on a road-going Opel, the concept’s interpretation of the brand’s Vizor fascia could feature. Indeed, design boss Mark Adams told previously that this was an element that Opel was exploring for production. When it arrives later this year, the Corsa GSE will be the latest in a long lineage of Opel hot hatches that most notably includes the Corsa GSi and Corsa OPC. More details will be confirmed later this year, but the Corsa GSE will likely cost from around €40.000. +++
+++ POLESTAR has pledged to up its game in terms of performance models, with a renewed focus on more sporting cars part of the firm’s three core pillars alongside design and sustainability. “In terms of how we will continue to deliver performance with our future models, I think we’re going to deliver a more consistent way in terms of performance cars, in terms of the specifications”, Polestar chief executive Michael Loscheller told a small group of journalists at the company’s headquarters in Gothenburg this week. “We want to focus a bit more on performance, because that is where we can do even better going forward, on track, on acceleration, but also in terms of being superior to others”. What that means in production terms is still to become clear, but the company has pedigree in the form of the limited-run Polestar 2 BST Edition 270 (the ‘BST’ short for ‘Beast’), which launched in 2023 with chassis tuning, increased power and a prominent bonnet stripe differentiating it from the standard 2. A BST version of the Polestar 6 roadster concept car was also revealed in 2024, and the company’s head of design Philipp Romers has previously talked enthusiastically about the 2 BST Edition 270. “This is inspiration for the future: it has character, looks sporty and drives fantastically”, he told at the Munich Motor Show last year. Loscheller said that despite closing the UK engineering base that developed the new Polestar 5, a car that has rave reviews from early prototype drives, the expertise remains in the company to take on the likes of BMW M, Mercedes-AMG and Audi RS, should Polestar choose to go in the direction of a range-topping icon for its model lines to fullfill its performance ambitions. +++