Category Archives: NEW CARS

NEW CARS

The Bolt Is Back: Chevrolet’s Electric Hero Returns for 2027

You can’t keep a good EV down. After a brief hiatus (and a collective sigh from its cult following), General Motors is resurrecting the Chevrolet Bolt — the plucky, affordable electric hatchback that proved you didn’t need to be rich, smug, or Scandinavian to drive on electrons.

This time, it’s back by popular demand — literally. Chevy says fans practically shouted it back into existence. The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt LT launches from $29,990 (including destination), with an even cheaper version coming later at $28,995. That makes it, once again, the most range for under 30 grand — a figure that should make both your accountant and your eco-conscience rather pleased.

Familiar Name, Sharper Bite

At first glance, it’s the Bolt you remember: tidy proportions, friendly face, roomy cabin. But under that familiar skin lies GM’s new X76 electric drive unit, their most advanced yet. Designed in-house to be cheaper, more efficient, and less reliant on rare earths, the X76 motor is a nerdy marvel — magnets that run cooler, inverters that sip energy, and a blended braking system that recovers power like a caffeine-addicted squirrel hoarding nuts.

The result? 255 miles of range, 150kW fast-charging (2.5x quicker than before), and a 10–80% top-up in just 26 minutes on DC power. Oh, and it’s now fitted with a native NACS port, meaning it can plug straight into Tesla’s Supercharger network without begging for an adapter.

The Tech-Head’s Hatchback

Inside, the Bolt feels like it’s been through Silicon Valley finishing school. The dashboard is anchored by an 11.3-inch infotainment display, flanked by an 11-inch digital driver screen, all powered by Google built-in. Want to watch HBO Max or play Angry Birds while charging? You can. Want your route planned around your battery, driving style, and charging stops? Google Maps has you covered.

And for those long, boring highway stretches, there’s Super Cruise, GM’s ever-improving hands-free driving tech — now synced with Google Maps so it can tell you exactly how many minutes of your journey can be spent pretending to be a passenger.

Affordable, But Not Apologetic

Chevy’s made sure the Bolt doesn’t feel like an economy car pretending to be an EV. Expect over 20 standard safety systems, wireless charging, USB-C ports galore, a panoramic roof, and an interior that finally feels properly modern rather than “techy Ikea”. There’s even Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) capability, so during a power outage, your Bolt can literally keep the lights on.

Then there’s the new RS trim — black wheels, sportier body bits, and a cheeky Atomic Yellow paint job with red stitching inside. It’s the Bolt in gym clothes, and we rather like it.

EV of the People

From day one, the Bolt was a democratizer — the EV that didn’t require Silicon Valley stock options. And while the world has gone crossover-crazy, Chevy clearly knows its audience: practical folks who want electric power without the premium tax.

Chevrolet’s VP, Scott Bell, puts it bluntly: “This is a celebration of what Bolt means to our customers and to Chevrolet.” Translation: you begged for it, they listened, and now you’ve got one last chance to buy it.

The Final Word

This won’t be a forever car — Chevy says the 2027 Bolt is a limited-run celebration, not a permanent fixture. But that almost makes it cooler. Like a cult band getting back together for one last tour — sharper, faster, and more connected than ever.

With its combination of real-world range, improved tech, and that under-$30k sticker, the Bolt might just be the people’s EV… again.

So yes — the Bolt is back. And if you’ve ever muttered that “EVs are too expensive,” well, Chevy just called your bluff.

Source: Chevrolet

NEW CARS

The Century Coupe: Japan’s Crown Jewel Goes Rogue

The 2025 Japan Mobility Show is shaping up to be less of an auto expo and more of a fever dream for people who like their cars slightly unhinged. Lexus is already flirting with absurdity by turning the stately LS into a luxury minivan, but it’s another Toyota offshoot that’s properly stealing the spotlight. Step aside, chauffeurs — the Century has gone rogue.

Yes, that Century — Japan’s most aristocratic set of wheels, the one that’s spent decades wafting prime ministers and emperors around in monastic silence. Traditionally, it’s been Toyota’s ultimate expression of restraint and craftsmanship: a stately sedan powered by a whispering V12, later by a hybrid V8, and most recently, reincarnated as a cushy SUV. Now, however, the brand has decided to throw its silk gloves out the window and build… a coupe.

And what a coupe it is. Think less “Gran Turismo” and more “rolling art installation.” Teaser shots reveal a long, tall shape that’s unmistakably Century yet oddly futuristic — complete with sliding doors, no B-pillars, and what appears to be a central driving position. Yes, Toyota might have gone full McLaren F1 on its most conservative nameplate. The steering “wheel” is rectangular, because of course it is, and the rear glass is gone entirely — a design quirk straight out of the Polestar playbook.

From the front, it looks imperious. The vast grille — still wearing the golden phoenix badge like a royal crest — isn’t fully closed, which hints there may still be a combustion engine somewhere in there. Vents on the bonnet seem to support that theory, suggesting this might not be purely electric after all. The dual-layer LED lighting gives off Genesis vibes, while the stance is unusually upright for a coupe — as if someone tried to crossbreed a grand tourer with a luxury monolith.

Toyota describes it as a “one of one”, so this might be a bespoke commission for someone with a garage full of rarities and a phone number that starts with “+81.” Or it could be a concept car — a design manifesto showing how far the Century brand can stretch. Either way, it’s a strong signal: Toyota wants the world to notice the Century name.

Until recently, the Century was a Japan-only affair, quietly existing in a parallel universe where chauffeurs wore white gloves and V12s purred in perfect harmony. But with the launch of the SUV and now this coupe, the brand’s ambitions are clearly expanding. Toyota has already hinted that the Century family will go global — and if this is the new design direction, Rolls-Royce and Bentley might want to pay attention.

The Century Coupe will make its full debut at the end of the month at the Japan Mobility Show, where it’ll share floor space with a new Corolla concept (because Toyota never forgets its everyman roots). But make no mistake — this is the headline act.

From chauffeur’s car to showstopper, the Century’s transformation might just be the boldest thing Toyota’s done in years. And if this is what “Japanese luxury” looks like in 2025, the rest of the world better start taking notes.

Source: Toyota

NEW CARS

2026 Lexus IS 350: The Last Samurai Sedan

There’s a certain poetry to Lexus choosing Road Atlanta for the first public showing of its newest IS 350. The smell of race fuel, the howl of GT3 cars slicing through Georgia air — and in the Fan Zone, a neatly tailored Japanese sports sedan that’s still stubbornly clinging to six cylinders and rear-wheel drive. In 2025, that makes it something of a hero. Or a holdout. Maybe both.

After a digital debut last month, the 2026 Lexus IS 350 is stepping into the real world at this weekend’s IMSA Petit Le Mans, the spiritual finale to America’s endurance season. The move is fitting — endurance is what the IS has been about all along. While rivals are downsizing, hybridizing, and in some cases vaporizing entirely, Lexus has doubled down on what made the IS great in the first place: a front-mounted V6, a proper rear-wheel-drive chassis, and a driving position that whispers, “Go on then.”

All F SPORT, All the Time

The big news? The IS lineup has gone full F SPORT. Every model now looks, feels, and drives like it’s been spending weekends at track days. The familiar 3.5-liter V6 soldiers on with 311 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed auto for rear-drivers or a six-speed if you insist on all-wheel traction. Sure, the numbers haven’t changed — but it’s not about numbers. It’s about attitude.

And attitude is what the new Wind paint color and Radiant Red interior scream from the rooftops. The IS on display at Road Atlanta looks like it’s just stepped off a Tokyo concept stand: red-painted calipers, dark gray 19-inch alloys, triple-beam LEDs, and those staggered-width tires that hint at a chassis ready to play.

A Cockpit for the Modern Samurai

Inside, Lexus has quietly dragged the IS into 2026. The cabin now centers around a crisp 12.3-inch touchscreen running the latest Lexus Interface system — fast, logical, and mercifully less shouty than some German setups. The seating position is still spot on, the materials feel expensive, and the new color options make the place feel less like a banker’s lounge and more like a driver’s den.

From Trackside to Showroom

The IS 350’s debut also doubles as a celebration of Lexus Racing’s presence at Petit Le Mans. While the brand’s RC F GT3s battle it out in the GTD PRO and GTD classes, fans can wander over to the Lexus Racing Experience to see the IS up close. And if you’re lucky enough to snag an invite, Lexus is hosting a Sunday event where Richard Hollingsworth and factory drivers will walk guests through the car’s finer details. Expect polished shoes, strong coffee, and maybe a whiff of race rubber in the air.

The Last of Its Kind?

The 2026 IS 350 might just be the last naturally aspirated, non-electrified, rear-drive sport sedan Lexus builds. And that gives it a certain magic. It’s not the fastest, or the flashiest, but it’s one of the few that still feels built by people who like driving.

Pricing and fuel numbers will arrive before its early 2026 on-sale date, but really — who cares? The point of this car isn’t efficiency. It’s faith. Faith that somewhere between the SUVs and the EVs, there’s still room for a proper driver’s sedan.

Source: Lexus