After more than two decades, it appears Mazda is about to debut a new corporate logo.
A crucial part of any successful brand is its logo, and Mazda just received a new trademark for a flattened 2D version of its well-recognized “winged M”.
Fundamentally, Mazda appears to be going for a Nissan or Kia-level update: You can still see the clear resemblance to the company’s past logo, but this is more of a modern take for the next era of vehicles. To that end, we did actually see this logo on the Arata EV concept, which the automaker debuted alongside the EZ-6 sedan at Auto China in April.
Mazda’s current logo originally debuted in June 1997. (Image: TFL Studios)
Mazda has been using its current logo since 1997, with the company slightly tweaking the font alongside the logo from flat blue to a gradient gray in 2015. It’s worth noting that manufacturers file a plethora of patents each year for a wide range of purposes, but it’s possible this new logo precedes a global rebranding, of sorts. For the moment, Mazda itself did not make an official comment on what it’s going to do with this new logo in the future.
Major automakers including Nissan, General Motors, Mini, Volkswagen, Kia and Honda have all redesigned their logos in the past few years. Most of them have also shifted from a more complex 3D logo to a flat 2D design. Time will tell whether Mazda’s latest trademark will ultimately replace the chrome winged M we’ve known for the past 27 years.
The NHTSA has opened a preliminary investigation into whether V8-equipped 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs should be recalled.
This week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a probe into 2022 Jeep Wagoneer and 2022 Ram 1500 models with the 5.7-liter eTorque-equipped Hemi V8. According to the agency, at least 80 owners have filed complaints that vehicles can stall at slow speeds, shift into park and apply the emergency brake. Intermittently, some were able to restart their vehicle in that condition, but several also were unable to do so while also receiving a low-voltage condition fault.
On April 13, 2023, FCA did recall 2021 Ram 1500 trucks with 5.7-liter eTorque engines for a defect in the powertrain control module software. That problem could result in an incorrect fuel mixture within the engine, also causing a stall. However, after reviewing complaints the agency’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) forwarded in February 2024 to FCA, the automaker said, “the loss of motive power was likely not caused by an over-rich fuel condition (as outlined in recall 23V-265), but rather some other cause, (e.g., an electrical concern that causes the engine to shut down).”
The assumed electrical problem causing eTorque-equipped engines to shut down is still under investigation, so we still have some time before we could see an actual recall. At the moment, though, the issue at the heart of consumer complaints could impact up to 150,000 vehicles for the 2022 model year. To be clear, this does not affect the Jeep Grand Wagoneer that’s equipped with a larger 6.4-liter V8 (without eTorque), nor does it affect newer Wagoneers or Ram 1500 trucks with the 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six engine.
More details will be published to the NHTSA’s website as they become available, and we’ll post an update when we know more. For now, if you do own a 2022 Jeep Wagoneer or Ram 1500 with the 5.7-liter Hemi eTorque system, keep an eye out for any developments.
One of America’s original and best-selling SUVs, the 2025 Ford Explorer, gets refreshed this year. New Explorers are shipping to dealers as we speak. The 2025 model gets light exterior update and a significant interior and technology upgrade on the inside. Ford simplifies the lineup to four trim levels and two powertrain options. The new Explorer has a slightly lower tow rating than before and the Hybrid is no longer available for consumers. We have all of the answers and details for you here. Let’s dig in!
The 2025 Ford Explorer is a refresh of the 6th-generation. The 1st-generation Explorer came out in 1991. Remember the original Jurassic Park movie from 1993? The 1st-gen Ford Explorer was part of the movie, along with the Jeep Wrangler. Fast forward to today, and the Explorer is once again based on a rear-wheel-drive architecture. It has one of the longer wheelbases in the segment (just over 119 inches). It has available 4WD/AWD that costs $2,000.
The Explorer has a new front fascia and rear tail-lamp design. There is an updated 2.3-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine under the hood with 300 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm and 315 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500 rpm. It’s mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. This is the base powertrain. There are currently four trim levels available: Active, ST-line, Platinum, and ST. A new off-road trim should be joining the lineup soon. We do not yet know if it will be called Timberline or Tremor, but we should learn more about this later this year.
The optional power plant is the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with 400 hp @ 5,500 rpm and 415 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500 rpm.
This engine is also mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. It’s available with Platinum and ST trims. The V6-powered Explorers gets a slightly larger fuel tank than the four-cylinder version. The V6 gets slightly worse fuel economy (24-26 MPG on the highway versus 28-29 MPG), but the larger tank ensures it still has plenty of driving range.
The big difference is on the inside! The front dash, screens, technology, and console are redesigned. There is a new 13.2-inch landscape center infotainment screen. The length of the dash is a sound-bar material that houses the audio system speakers. The gauge cluster is also a digital screen. There is no more SYNC. The infotainment system is now Google-based. It’s called the Ford Digital Experience. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are still there.
Most of your 2025 Ford Explorer questions are also answered in this deep dive TFL Car Chat podcast:
The new 2025 Explorer is rated to tow up to 5,000 lbs. The previous Explorer was rated to tow up to 5,300 lbs or 5,600 lbs. I asked why the lower tow rating, and the Ford team said that Explorer customers did not prioritize towing heavy trailers. 5,000 lbs of towing is a competitive number when you look at the Toyota Highlander/Grand Highlander, Honda Pilot, and others. Every new 2025 Explorer gets a 2-inch hitch receiver and 4pin/7pin trailer wiring. There is not trailer brake controller available, so you will have to install an aftermarket one if you need to tow over 3,000 lbs (that is the law in most states).
The Explorer Hybrid is no longer available for civilian consumer duty.
The 2025 Explorer Hybrid will continue to be offered for police duty or for fleets with a similar demand. Many competitors are switching to gas/electric hybrids. I asked Ford about this and they said that the police fleet needs can and will consumer the entire Explorer Hybrid production capacity. Civilian customers were not choosing the Explorer Hybrid in high numbers. The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid gets up to 36 MPG combined. Hopefully, the Ford Explorer will have a high efficiency model soon.
Honda’s manual-only Civic Si adopts styling updates, as well as some upgrades under the skin.
Following up the standard Civic sedan’s debut including the new hybrid model, the updated 2025 model year rollout continues with the enthusiast-minded Si. Fundamentally, the eleventh-gen car is not radically changing — it only launched in 2022, after all. Instead, Honda is focusing its efforts on making this mid-range, manual-only option stiffer and sharper to drive, while also bringing in more tech for the $31,045 asking price.
On the styling front, the 2025 Honda Civic gets a sharper-looking, more aggressive front bumper with smaller side intakes and not quite so much black plastic. Around back, the Si adopts the normal sedan’s darkened headlights, and you also get a new set of 18-inch wheels to the outgoing model. Urban Gray Pearl (shown here) is this year’s new exterior color.
Honda says it’s made further invisible improvements to the 2025 Civic Si, including a more rigid chassis and suspension tweaks. New lower B-pillar and rear door sill supports help stiffen the car overall, with the added benefit that it’s more likely to hold up to tougher side-impact crashes. Engineers also retuned the shock absorbers to suit the stiffer chassis, so the Si should be even more tossable in the corners than it already was. We’ll have the opportunity to test that out soon, so we’ll offer more details on that as soon as we can.
Inside, the main driving-focused update involves the Si’s rev-matching system, which now also works on 2nd-to-1st downshifts. Honda notes it also perfectly matches engine revs to the corresponding gear in 430 milliseconds.
Interior changes for the 2025 Honda Civic Si help class things up a bit.
One of the Civic Si’s major draws is its affordable price tag, but you missed out on some features in the process. The 2025 model aims to redress that balance with a 10.2-inch, fully digital instrument cluster display, as well as an updated 9-inch infotainment screen packing the automaker’s latest Google built-in system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also available, but this new system integrates popular Google apps into the native platform, so it’s not as imperative to bring your phone to get the most out of the system. 2025 Civic models also get USB-C ports as standard fare.
On the comfort front, the 2025 Honda Civic Si also gets heated seats, which is a first for the American market. Like the standard 2025 Civic and Civic Hybrid models, the automatic emergency braking system has also been improved to better spot motorcyclists and bicyclists, while the adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist systems should also feel more natural in everyday use, rather than ping-ponging between lanes or suddenly braking.
Under the hood, the 2025 Honda Civic Si is the only model to retain the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. As before, it puts out 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels exclusively through a 6-speed manual transmission.
Pricing for the 2025 Honda Civic Si starts at $31,045, with the only option being a $300 premium for summer tires. That’s not a huge jump over the 2024 model (about $850), so if you’re looking for a fun affordable car, it’s still a good option. Honda will put the updated Si on sale later this summer.
While we do have to wait a bit to test the new Si, Tommy and I did get a chance to drive the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid in Montreal recently. This model is obviously aimed more toward efficiency, but with 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque on tap, it’s actually more potent than the Si (though you lose the manual transmission):
The 2025 Ford Mustang lineup gets more expensive, at least if you want a V8.
We’re entering the new Mustang’s second model year, and the switchover comes with $2,600 to $3,645 price hikes on the V8 model. Option packages also change across the entire lineup, including the EcoBoost trims, so changes for the 2025 lineup are a mixed bag depending on which specific Mustang you’re shopping.
Right off the bat, though, expect to see the Mustang you’re likely eyeing, the GT, get $2,600 more expensive. The base model along with the rest of the 2025 Ford Mustang range is available to build on the automaker’s configurator site, with the GT coupe now starting at $47,055. The GT Premium gets the same price increase, and now kicks off at $51,575. It’s also the only way you can get a V8 convertible (for $57,075 before options).
While the normal GT is plenty potent, with its 5.0-liter engine kicking out 480 horsepower, the 500-horsepower Dark Horse is still top of the tree, for the time being. It gets a heftier price hike, with its base MSRP starting at $64,875 or $2,645 more expensive than 2024. Finally, the Dark Horse Premium kicks things up another notch with a $3,645 bump, so building out one of those will set you back at least $69,870.
There is some good news on the GT pricing front, however. If you opt for the 10-speed automatic over the 6-speed manual, it’s now a no-cost option. The base GT also gets leather front seats and vinyl rear seats instead of cloth. Other packages do get more expensive, however, including $370 more for the active valve exhaust ($1,595), $300 more for the Brembo brake option ($1,995), and $200 more for the California Special package ($2,195).
Exterior color options are shifting as well, with Molten Magenta Metallic joining the lineup and Atlas Blue, Splash Yellow, Rapid Red and Dark Matter Gray going away. Other options shuffling on the GT means the $2,900 Premium High Equipment Group no longer includes the 12-speaker B&O sound system (that’s now a $995 standalone option), while brake caliper paint colors are changing for the GT and Dark Horse.
The EcoBoost costs the same as before, but…
If you’re looking for a more affordable Mustang, the 315-horsepower, 2.3-liter EcoBoost version still starts off at $33,515 like it did before. The $39,040 EcoBoost Premium also remains, as does the coupe and convertible option on both four-cylinder models. There is a “but”, though, and that comes with Ford’s elimination of the High Performance Package (HPP). For 2024, you could get the package adding a 3.55 Torsen limited-slip differential, heavier front springs, a larger rear sway bar, Brembo brakes and larger 19-inch wheels on summer tires. Now, that $3,475 is no longer an option.
Other small, but noticeable changes for the 2025 Ford Mustang EcoBoost is wireless phone charging — you can’t get it anymore, even on the Premium — and the Carmine Red interior can only be had with the $3,000 Premium High Equipment Group.
Whichever 2025 Ford Mustang you’re looking at, odds are it will be more expensive than it was for 2024. At the top end, a Dark Horse Premium with the Appearance and Handling Packages will cost you $80,550.
We first saw some styling updates for the 2025 Santa Cruz, and now Hyundai has translated those changes to the closely related Tucson crossover. (Images: Hyundai)
The updated 2025 Hyundai Tucson will go on sale later this summer.
As it enters its third model year, we’re seeing some changes make their way to the U.S.-spec Tucson that first made its appearance (alongside its Santa Cruz sibling) at this year’s New York Auto Show. On the whole, the changes aren’t too crazy — there’s a new grille design, new bumpers, slightly larger daytime lights and a fresh set of wheel designs. Powertrains across the model range remain pretty much the same, as well, including the Tucson Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models sitting above the base 2.5-liter gas-only option.
Inside, though, things are a bit different. The 2025 Hyundai Tucson adopts a pair of 12.3-inch screens for the digital gauge cluster and infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available across the range, while the latest model also gets a column-mounted gear selector (like the Santa Fe as well as the electric Ioniq models) on higher trims, and a redesigned center stack with touch-sensitive climate controls.
Lower-end models, to be clear, do still get a console-mounted shifter, while the higher models with the column setup get a wireless phone charging pad in that space instead.
Other technological updates for the 2025 Hyundai Tucson include the second-generation version of its ‘Digital Key’, allowing you to use your smartphone in place of the normal key fob to unlock and drive the vehicle. A larger 12-inch head-up display is available, as is biometric authentication like you can get on the larger Santa Fe and Palisade (again, so you can drive your vehicle without the fob). A new Forward Attention Warning system also debuts here, to ensure drivers keep their eyes on the road ahead.
Across most of the range, Tucson prices are up for the new model year, except one: the XRT.
Including a $1,395 destination fee, pricing kicks off at $29,750 for the base SE. That includes the standard 2.5-liter gasoline engine putting out 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive is still the default, while AWD costs an extra $1,500. From the SE, there’s the $31,610 SEL (up $585) and the top-end Limited at $39,690 (up $1,555). Weirdly, though, the XRT is actually $1,640 less than before, with a starting price of $34,060. That pricing does put it on equal footing with the SEL Convenience, so it’s perhaps to offer a choice between features or rugged styling, but that does sort of put the Limited in a league of its own.
2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid prices are more clear-cut: They’re all higher this time around. The exact increase ranges between $440 and $1,230 depending on the trim, with the mid-range N Line Hybrid ($39,260) seeing the biggest increase. Hybrid pricing kicks off with the Blue at $34,510 and rises to $42,340 for the Limited Hybrid. The setup here offers a total output of 231 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.
The PHEV, as before, is the most expensive Tuscon of the bunch, but you also get the most power. Here, you get 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, as well as around 33 miles of all-electric driving capability. The 2025 Hyundai Tucson SEL Plug-in Hybrid starts at $40,775 ($675 higher than before), while the Limited PHEV kicks the price up to $48,485 (up $1,660 from last year).
The Cadillac Sollei is an all-electric, 2+2 convertible that’s a “design exercise”, at least for now.
This is far from the first time Cadillac has introduced a larger-than-life convertible concept. A little over a decade ago, the automaker introduced the hybrid-electric Ciel concept, and now they’re back with this: the Sollei.
“Sollei reimagines the discovery of travel,” says Cadillac design director Erin Crossley, “envisioning a personalized driving experience that connects one with the natural world around them.” It’s high luxury, she goes on, and a nod to the brand’s long-running history of building memorable droptop models, right down to the Manila Cream paint used on 1957 and 1958 Cadilacs. The Sollei doesn’t have massive fins, granted, but it does have a boattail design endemic of other luxury roadsters (like this Rolls-Royce), and a host of other neat touches like vertical taillights and the Celestiq-like front end that gives it some serious presence.
Speaking of the Celestiq, you could reasonably boil down to the Cadillac Sollei concept to being a cabriolet version of the brand’s $340,000 flagship. The Sollei brings a range of bespoke and hand-crafted touches to suggest a low production volume and eye-wateringly high price tag, were Cadillac actually to put this into production. And they aren’t, at least for the moment — they’re being rather emphatic on saying this “explores the possibilities of custom-commissioned vehicle design.” So, maybe a few will make it into the collections of the ultra-wealthy, then on to the likes of Pebble Beach? The concept will make its appearance at the Concours d’Elegance in August, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens beyond that.
The Cadillac Sollei brings a host of other special touches to the party, including the 55-inch pillar-to-pillar display shared with the new Escalade. The automaker also mentions more renewable interior materials, including the charging pad and map pockets made from ‘Fine Mycelium’ (mushroom roots) by specialist biotechnology company MycoWorks. The Sollei concept also has textured floormats amde from “Bask”, a textile made from boucle (looped) yarn.
While this is the latest concept from Cadillac’s design studio, it certainly won’t be the last. This is just the latest example after concepts like the Ciel I mentioned earlier, as well as the Elmiraj and the Expressive concept, the latter being a predecessor to the CT4 and CT5 sedans.
The Honda Odyssey gets another facelift after its last revamp in 2021.
While sedans are exiting the market left and right, the long-standing players in the minivan market continue to duke it out for their slice of the family hauling market each year. The 2025 Honda Odyssey gets some updates aiming to keep it competitive in the segment, including some fresh styling as well as some noteworthy tech updates. In line with some of its crossovers, Honda also saw fit to drop its base model from the lineup, making the Odyssey EX-L the new entry point (rather than the EX, as it was in 2024) with a higher $43,315 price tag.
Beyond the EX-L, pricing and features rise as they did before through the lineup. The Sport-L comes in at $44,465, offering up blacked-out trim and different 19-inch wheels. The $48,005 Touring adds in navigation, CabinWatch and the rear entertainment setup, as well as an additional USB-C port and sunshades for third-row passengers. The Elite, at $52,275, brings in nicer leather seats, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel and front/rear parking sensors.
So, what do you get for the money? Well, Honda designers have tweaked the fifth-generation minivan with a new grille and revamped front bumper. The company contends this makes the Odyssey a sportier choice against some of the competition, as well the rear bumper that integrates the same vertical reflectors used on the second-generation NSX. No, I’m not kidding — but you have to admit that makes for a fun little conversation piece. Does your neighbor’s Pacifica have rear reflectors from a Viper? Didn’t think so.
Beyond that, the 2025 Honda Odyssey also brings two new exterior colors to the palette, Solar Silver Metallic and Smoke Blue Pearl, as well as new wheel designs that top out with 19-inch units on the Elite trim.
Inside, a new 7-inch digital instrument display comes as standard fare, as does a larger 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. It’s not the Google built-in system available on some other new Hondas like the Accord or the CR-V, but the company does promise a more responsive and lag-free experience thanks to a faster processor onboard. Rear passengers in Touring and Elite models also get a larger 12.8-inch screen for a better infotainment experience, while Honda also relocated the HDMI port inside a storage compartment dedicated to streaming devices like tablets.
What stays the same: the 3.5-liter V6
The 2025 Honda Odyssey sees another styling update, but what hasn’t changed is what’s under the hood. You get a 3.5-liter V6 engine putting out 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission. At this point, with the Kia Carnival gaining a hybrid option this year, it’s interesting that Honda hasn’t made that leap (at least not yet).
The Odyssey is now the only option in the segment that doesn’t offer a more fuel efficient choice, which I find a bit strange given the model’s close proximity to the Accord Hybrid, the CR-V Hybrid and even the new Civic Hybrid. Perhaps we’ll see a development on that front in the near future. Right now, though, this is what the 2025 Honda Odyssey brings to the table: fresh styling and new tech, which definitely won’t hurt in keeping its sales going. So far, Honda dealers have moved more than 39,000 Odysseys in the first six months of the year, which is rock solid from 2023 and a figure that makes it one of the Brand’s stronger sellers, behind its SUVs.
