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Jeep Wrangler Whitecap: A Heritage Flex with Fresh Paint

Jeep has never been shy about leaning into its past—especially when the present looks this good. The brand’s ongoing Twelve 4 Twelve celebration continues with the reveal of its second limited-buzz model, the 2026 Jeep Wrangler Whitecap, a special-edition package that trades subtlety for a confident nod to 85 years of off-road heritage.

At a glance, the Whitecap is all about contrast. Inspired by the classic CJ-Universal and its unmistakable Arctic White top, this Wrangler turns a historic design cue into a modern statement. The execution is deliberately bold: a Bright White painted hardtop, a matching seven-slot grille, and crisp white graphics that pop against the bodywork. It’s retro without being kitschy—recognizably Jeep, but clearly contemporary.

Jeep isn’t positioning the Whitecap as a novelty trim, either. Offered exclusively on Sahara and Rubicon models, it builds on trims that already define opposite ends of the Wrangler spectrum: everyday livability on one side, hardcore trail dominance on the other. That duality is very much the point.

“The Jeep Wrangler Whitecap is more than a special edition, it’s a statement,” said Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf, underscoring the brand’s intention to blend heritage with customization and visual impact.

Mechanically, nothing is watered down. Buyers can choose between the familiar 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder or the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, both paired with Jeep’s proven 4×4 systems. Depending on configuration, Whitecap models use Jeep-exclusive Selec-Trac part-time or full-time transfer cases, maintaining the Wrangler’s reputation for genuine, no-excuses off-road capability. This isn’t a paint-and-decal exercise—it’s the full Wrangler experience, just dressed sharper.

The details are where the Whitecap earns its name. Along the sides, a Bright White “1941” stripe pays homage to Jeep’s origins, while Rubicon models add a white hood decal for extra attitude. Rubicon buyers can also spec body-color fender flares, bringing the whole two-tone look together. For those who want open-air freedom without committing to removable panels, Jeep even offers the Sky One-Touch power top with Bright White accents—an unexpectedly elegant twist on a typically rugged feature.

Pricing reflects the package’s cosmetic focus rather than a wholesale rework. The Whitecap starts at $2,690 on Sahara (including the optional body-color hardtop) and $3,185 on Rubicon (which also bundles body-color fender flares). The Rubicon X version carries a much smaller $495 premium, making it the easiest entry point into the Whitecap look.

In a market where special editions often blur together, the Wrangler Whitecap stands out by doing something very Jeep: mining its own history and turning it into a bold visual signature. It won’t make your Wrangler faster, quieter, or more efficient—but it will make it unmistakable. And for a brand built on identity as much as capability, that might be exactly the point.

Source: Jeep

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Chevrolet’s Stars & Steel Collection Turns the Volume Up on Patriotic Performance

Chevrolet has never been shy about wrapping itself in the American flag, but for 2026 the brand is leaning all the way in. To mark the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, Chevy is rolling out the Stars & Steel Collection, a limited-run lineup of special editions that spans everything from America’s sports car to its hardest-working pickups—and even its flagship electric truck. If the mission is to fuse heritage, hardware, and horsepower into one red-white-and-blue statement, Chevrolet clearly got the memo.

At its core, Stars & Steel is about symbolism with substance. Every vehicle in the collection is assembled in the United States, a point Chevy makes repeatedly—and pointedly—while dressing its most recognizable nameplates in flag-inspired graphics, curated color palettes, and premium hardware. The collection also carries a philanthropic angle: for every Stars & Steel vehicle sold, Chevrolet will donate $250 to organizations supporting veterans and military families.

Five Vehicles, One Theme, Very Different Personalities

The Stars & Steel Collection stretches across five models for 2026: Corvette, Silverado EV, Silverado 1500, Silverado HD, and Colorado. That breadth matters. This isn’t a one-off show car or a decal package slapped on a single trim. It’s a coordinated effort that touches Chevy’s entire identity—from performance icon to blue-collar backbone.

Chevrolet will publicly debut the collection at the 2025 Army–Navy Game, a fitting venue given the military tie-ins and charitable commitments. And for those who prefer their patriotism with a side of spectacle, a one-of-one Corvette ZR1X Stars & Steel will cross the block at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction in January 2026, with 100 percent of proceeds going to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Corvette: Limited, Loud, and Loaded

The headline act is the Corvette Stars & Steel Limited Edition, capped at exactly 250 units—one for each year of American independence. Unlike the truck variants, this is a true limited production run, available across the Corvette range from Stingray to the ferocious ZR1X, in coupe or convertible form, but only in top-tier 3LT and 3LZ trims.

Buyers choose between Arctic White with Santorini Blue or Black with Adrenaline Red, both combinations designed to lean into the theme without drifting into costume territory. Full-length satin stripes, “250” flag graphics, and subtle red accents inside and out set the tone. Unique sill plates and an interior plaque mark each car’s build sequence, while wheel options range from gloss black to exposed carbon fiber, depending on model.

It’s patriotic, yes—but also unmistakably premium. This isn’t about nostalgia alone; it’s about reminding everyone that America still builds supercars that can run with the world’s best.

Silverado EV: Electric Muscle, American Accent

The Silverado EV Stars & Steel Special Edition proves that Chevrolet’s idea of patriotism isn’t stuck in the past. Based on the RST Crew Cab, the electric Silverado wears the Stars & Steel look in either Summit White or Black, paired with a Sky Cool Gray interior.

The standout here isn’t just the graphics or the massive 24-inch high-gloss black wheels, but the hardware. Chevy fits an all-new Brembo heavy-duty brake system with red six-piston front calipers and larger 15.7-inch rotors—serious stopping power for a truck that weighs as much as it does and moves as quickly as it can.

It’s a reminder that electrification doesn’t have to dilute identity. In this case, it amplifies it.

Silverado 1500 and HD: Work Boots with Dress Uniforms

For traditionalists, the internal-combustion Silverado 1500 Stars & Steel delivers exactly what you’d expect: a 6.2-liter V-8, four-wheel drive, and a long list of performance and appearance upgrades. Available on the RST Crew Cab Short Box, it adds Brembo brakes, black exhaust tips, performance intake, blacked-out badging, and a full suite of convenience and protection packages. It’s equal parts show truck and tow rig.

Step up to the Silverado HD Stars & Steel, and the tone shifts from aggressive to authoritative. Built on an LTZ Crew Cab Trail Boss with the 6.6-liter Duramax diesel, this version piles on off-road gear, trailering tech, luxury packages, and high-gloss black wheels. It looks ready to pull a fifth-wheel across three states—and then park front and center when it gets there.

Colorado: Compact, Capable, and Themed to the Hilt

Rounding out the lineup is the Colorado Stars & Steel Special Edition, based on the Trail Boss Crew Cab with four-wheel drive. It’s smaller than the Silverados but no less intentional, stacking nearly every desirable option into one package: skid plates, technology and convenience packages, black wheels, red tow hooks, rocker protection, and a midnight-themed exterior complete with sport bar and light bar.

For buyers who want the look without committing to a full special edition, Chevrolet will also offer Stars & Steel appearance packages across the truck lineup, delivering the same striping and “250” graphics with more flexibility.

More Than a Paint Job

It would be easy to dismiss Stars & Steel as a graphics exercise, but the execution suggests otherwise. Chevrolet has tied the visuals to meaningful equipment upgrades, limited production where it counts, and real financial support for veteran-focused charities.

In true Car and Driver fashion, we’ll say this: subtlety isn’t the point. The Stars & Steel Collection is bold by design. And in an era when automakers often struggle to define what they stand for, Chevrolet is making its position unmistakably clear—loud, proud, and built at home.

Source: Chevrolet

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Nissan Teams Up With Wayve to Take ProPILOT From Driver Assist to AI Co-Pilot

For nearly a decade, Nissan’s ProPILOT has quietly evolved from a highway helper into one of the brand’s most important technology pillars. Now, Nissan is betting that the next leap forward won’t come from incremental sensor upgrades or more computing power alone—but from artificial intelligence that learns to drive more like a human.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has signed definitive agreements with U.K.-based AI company Wayve to integrate Wayve’s embodied AI software into the next-generation ProPILOT system. The goal is ambitious: deliver smoother, smarter, point-to-point driver assistance across a wide range of Nissan vehicles, with the first production model launching in Japan in fiscal year 2027.

From Lane-Keeping to Learning

ProPILOT debuted in 2016 as a single-lane highway assist system. By 2019, ProPILOT 2.0 expanded its capabilities with multi-lane support and hands-off driving under specific conditions. It was competent, confidence-building tech—but still firmly in the “assist” category.

The Wayve partnership signals a shift in philosophy. Rather than relying solely on rule-based programming, Nissan is moving toward an AI-driven approach that can adapt to complex, real-world driving environments. At the heart of the collaboration is Wayve’s “AI Driver,” an end-to-end embodied AI system designed to perceive, decide, and act in a way that more closely resembles human driving behavior.

Nissan previewed this direction in September 2025 with a prototype that combined Wayve’s AI Driver with Nissan’s “Ground Truth Perception” technology and next-generation LiDAR. The result, according to Nissan, was smooth and confident performance not just on highways, but in dense urban traffic—where traditional ADAS systems often struggle.

Why This Matters

Unlike many autonomous driving efforts that target robotaxis or tightly geofenced deployments, Wayve’s AI is designed to scale. The system can adapt efficiently to new cities and vehicle platforms with minimal additional development—a key reason Nissan is committing to deploying it across a broad range of segments.

Nissan will be the first automaker to bring Wayve’s AI to mass-produced vehicles at scale. The system will work with ProPILOT’s existing sensor suite, including cameras, radar, and LiDAR, enabling flexible configurations across different models and price points.

Just as importantly, mass deployment means real-world learning. Every vehicle equipped with the new ProPILOT will help refine the system across diverse roads, traffic patterns, and driving styles—strengthening Nissan’s long-term competitiveness in intelligent driving tech.

A Measured Path to Autonomy

This isn’t Nissan promising full self-driving tomorrow. Instead, it’s a pragmatic step forward: advanced driver assistance that feels more natural, more intuitive, and less robotic. Think fewer awkward handoffs, smoother decision-making in traffic, and assistance that works beyond well-marked highways.

Nissan President and CEO Ivan Espinosa calls the partnership “a new benchmark for driver assistance,” emphasizing safety, comfort, and inclusivity. Wayve CEO Alex Kendall frames it as a breakthrough moment—bringing embodied AI out of research labs and into everyday cars.

The Bigger Picture

As automakers race to define the future of driving, Nissan’s approach stands out for its restraint. Rather than chasing headlines with bold autonomy claims, the company is doubling down on scalable, real-world technology that can improve how millions of people drive—right now, not in some distant autonomous future.

If Nissan delivers on its promise, the next ProPILOT won’t just help you stay in your lane. It might actually start to feel like it understands the road.

Source: Nissan