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Ask Nathan: What the Heck Is Happening With VW and I Finally Drive a Lamborghini Revuelto (It Was…)

In this week’s Ask Nathan:

  • Serious Volkswagen ID. Buzz regrets?
  • What’s it like to drive a Lamborghini Revuelto in SoCal?

This week’s first question comes from a Volkswagen ID. Buzz fan who has serious regrets about the brand’s trajectory.

Q: RE: I regret the way the Volkswagen ID Buzz failed in the USA.

It’s not the fault of The Fastlane or any of the other reviewers out there that were honest about the Volkswagen ID Buzz. It was entirely Volkswagen’s fault that the ID Buzz failed here. I am a big fan of the design and I am a sixth generation GTI owner who has been a VW fan since the 90s. Way back in 2018 I knew that the Buzz was coming and I started to plan to buy one. The idea was to get one for expensive mini van money. I planned for under $50,000 dollars for one with every possible option.

Boy was I wrong about the pricing. Even the dealerships that weren’t trying to rob you were posting these things for over $60,000 dollars and man did they go to the moon on the top spec models! I simply cannot afford a minivan for over $70,000 dollars that only has 250 miles range. You mentioned before about European ones that were less feature filled for less money. Why didn’t they sell an affordable base model here? Why are we always stuck with the most expensive option?

Now surprise surprise, VW has to kill the ID Buzz in the USA. You mentioned elsewhere that the Ioniq9 is better in every way and I think you’re 100% right. Except for looks, it’s a smarter buy. I am so mad at VW right now. They could have done something special with the Buzz, even if they lost money for a few quarters selling a cheaper and affordable Buzz.

I doubt it will ever come back.

— Costco-Ranger

A: It may not be all gloom and doom for the VW ID Buzz; and it may return.

When it came out in the United States, at the beginning of 2025, we (TFL Studios) had to buy one as a long-term tester. Additionally, all of us have sampled several models for short-term testing in Colorado and California. While it wasn’t perfect, there was a lot to love. Most importantly, it was on of the few EVs that oozed personality, and made people happy who saw it. We have a multitude of reviews, and they all come to similar conclusions: it’s cool, but it’s expensive, with a ton of quirks and it has poor range.

With that being said: if I still had little ones, this would be a fun option to drive in SoCal. I kind of enjoyed the driving experience, and it had great power – for a rolling box. It just needed more of the convivences you can get from any run-of-the-mill minivan, and a better battery. If they bring it back, I suspect some of these issues may be addressed.

Let me clarify: Volkswagen said it will return, according to the report sighted below.

“Volkswagen Group of America CEO Kjell Gruner said in a statement that the ID.Buzz “remains an important part of the Volkswagen portfolio,” and that “we are not canceling this product in the U.S. market.” Gruner said Volkswagen wants to “optimize inventory” by “leveraging 2025 models to support our dealers through mid-year.” Gruner also confirmed that the ID.Buzz will return for the 2027 model year at some point in 2026.”

Car & Driver

Volkswagen is seriously updating their EV batteries with a new Unified Cell platform developed by its subsidiary PowerCo. Solid state and sodium ion batteries are very much in play, and could be vastly better than the current battery chem they use. That is to say: IF the Volkswagen ID Buzz comes back to the USA, it may have a new battery. This could help keep the range higher, charging faster, and even lower the prices. Maybe.

Stay tuned.

— N


The last question comes from Facebook from a fan of (TFL Studios) who saw my post on testing a Lamborghini Revuelto

Image: ND Adlen

Q: (Via: Nathan Adlen Journalist Facebook) RE: So, did you drive that sick looking (Lamborghini) Revuelto?

Is it the best car ever? Are there videos? Is it actually a hybrid?

  • Outibanks 4r
Yes, I fit – barely. Getting in and out was a hoot. (Image: H. Leon)

A: I did everything I could to make the most of my time with the Lamborghini Revuelto.

Just to get a few things out of the way: I tested the Revuelto over a few days, mainly to do a few writeups. I’ll drop some more short form videos about the vehicle over time. Yes, this is the 1,001-horsepower V12-equipped monster that is capable of flying from – to 60 mph in just over 2 (TWO) seconds. It IS the fastest production vehicle I have ever tested, and it truly is the stuff dreams are made of.

Equipped with three axial flow electric motors (each one about the size of a medium pizza box) one motor acts as a starter/generator and is paired with the V12. The other two power the front wheels. The Lamborghini Revuelto is a plug-in hybrid, and it can run solely on electracy, but for only 6-ish miles. The point here is: you have plenty of EV power to quietly enter or exit an area, or be somewhat covert when you want to be. That battery and the overall electric motor setup is more for performance. This thing’s AWD adherers to pavement like a wet tung on a frozen flagpole.

What did I actually DO with the Lamborghini Revuelto?

Time was short, and I spent way too long drooling over the Verde Ermes (an amazing deep metallic green) Lamborghini. The combination with the silver 20″ and 21″ wheels (and those yellow brake calipers) forced me to gnaw at the back of my hand in excitement. You see: I’ve seen the other colors on this car, and they make it look like a pastel toy. It looks cool, but this color makes it look sexy.

There’s a bit of a trick starting this thing up. I Punching the missile-launcher-like :”start” button gives you.. nothing. No V12 roar. You just start and click the 8-speed dual-clutch paddle-shifter to get rolling. Ah, but there’s a trick: if you keep your foot off the brake, hit start, switch to CORSA or higher settings, it WILL respond with a roar when started. It’s worth trying, and the sound can scare small animals and children.

I joined a group of like-minded drivers, and we toured deep into the hills. Corvettes, Porsches and others joined as we tested the AWD system of the big Lamborghini. Making myself a glutton for punishment, I fought through the challenging traffic through Los Angeles. Then, with a passenger along, we explored the Revuelto’s ability to rumble down the highway – like a GT car, down to Carlsbad, CA.

It was epic, and a bit terrifying. The car itself is easy enough to drive, but with a price tag passing $800K (it starts at about $665K) you worry constantly about… everything. Curbs, speed bumps and the dreaded driveway will create tension like you’ve never experienced before. Fortunately, the simply nose lift button on the steering wheel mitigates some of that fear with decent ground clearance; up to about 30 mph.

Five Unusual Tidbits

  1. The turn signal is still on the steering wheel, but it has a cancel button
  2. The rear view display is a lifesaver, as are the other camera angles. This isn’t an easy vehicle to see out of.
  3. Seating surfaces are far more comfortable than the Aventador, and it’s slightly easier to enter & exit.
  4. If you follow a Revuelto too closely, your car will get pelted by debris. The back is fairly open for aero & cooing, and it has fat rear tires.
  5. The Revielto is long. At 194.8″ it’s over 10-inches longer than a modern Corvette. It barely fit in my garage!
  6. (Bonus!) The steering wheel has over a dozen buttons (front and rear), four dialing nobs, paddle shifters in back and launch control activation.

After my experience; when people ask, “what is the most amazing car you’ve driven?” It has moved from the stunning Porsche GT3 and McLaren to the freakishly cool Lamborghini Revuelto.

– N

Roman had some wheel time in the past…

The Volvo V60 Is Dying in the US Next Year, As the Company “Evolves” Toward SUVs

Volvo V60 Cross Country - Forest Green (featured)
(Images: Volvo)

After seven decades in business and nearly as long building wagons, Volvo will end V60 Cross Country production for the US in April.

Even if you aren’t a huge Volvo fan or owner, most folks out there remember a time when brick-like wagons absolutely dominated the Swedish brand’s identity. It’s a distinctive part of its 70-year history, as Volvo Cars celebrates a major milestone in the American market. From 2026 onward, however, it will no longer have a wagon in the range for the first time in decades, as it moves on from the V60 Cross Country model in just a few months’ time.

If you’ve been following not just Volvo but several other automakers over the past several years, I’ll grant you this isn’t surprising news. We’ve seen it coming for awhile now, as the automaker dropped the larger V90 wagon and its more rugged Cross Country variant, while paring back the V60 lineup at the same time. The V60 Cross Country has been, for a little while, the last wagon Volvo’s been willing to sell you. To wit, you could only get it with a single powertrain and one of two trim packages…so it’s not like there was much choice left by this point anyway.

Nonetheless, Volvo will finally can production for the US market in April, with order books for American customers ending next month. To be clear, the V60 will still be sold in certain global markets, but we will no longer have access to a Volvo wagon of any variety (or a sedan, for that matter).

Specifically, Volvo said in its pre-Christmas statement, “As our customers in the U.S. overwhelmingly prefer SUVs, early next year we’ll take the last orders for this generation of Volvo wagons, with the V6 Cross Country ending production in April 2026. For U.S. customers who love wagons, there’s still a bit of time: orders will be accepted until late January 2026, and we expect to have V60 Cross Country available in retailer inventory for a few months after that.”

Note Volvo said “this generation” of wagons is coming to an end, so you could interpret that with some hope for the future. That said, from a business perspective, Volvo’s not wrong. The American customer base does heavily prefer SUVs, hence why wagons are going the way of the dodo, and have been for decades.

Nevertheless, wagons have at least been an alternative to the veritable sea of SUVs flooding out of assembly plants far and wide, and now we’ll no longer have that option. Much like manual-equipped cars and sports coupes, wagons are niche vehicles. The few options that remain lie almost exclusively in the performance market, with the likes of the BMW M5 Touring, Audi A6 Avant and Mercedes-AMG wagons and their eye-watering price tags.

Progress waits for no one, though, and if you’re looking into buying your next new vehicle, only having SUVs to select apparently counts for progress. I’d like to still take a moment of silence for the passing of Volvo wagons here in the US, though.

The Nissan Versa Is *Officially* Dead for 2026, And I’m Actually Sort of Sad About That

(Images: Nissan)

The 2025 Nissan Versa officially rolled into the history books this month, and so did the idea of a sub-$20K car.

It’s a move we’ve seen time and again over the past several years. Automakers are ditching small, cheap and cheerful (or sometimes not so cheerful) cars as prices continue to creep ever northward. The Dodge Dart, Ford Fiesta and Chevy Sonic were early casualties in the cause, with models like the Kia Rio and Mitsubishi Mirage hanging on until the bitter end. Now, the Nissan Versa is also officially dead, after the company confirmed production ended at its Aguascalientes, Mexico plant this month.

Granted, that’s one of the least surprising bits of news you’ll likely see if you’ve been watching the market. Nissan discontinued the manual version of the Versa earlier this year. When car companies start paring down options — as they’re also doing with the Altima…a bit of foreshadowing for you there — you know the writing is on the wall. That said, to be clear, Nissan says it is still aiming to offer affordable cars, with the Altima sticking around for 2026 and a redesigned Sentra hitting the streets.

I’ll still miss the Versa as an option in the market, nevertheless. Is it the most engaging, dynamic or interesting car in the world? Absolutely not. What it did do, however, was offer a solid and economical option that’s decently equipped for its size and price tag around $20K. With Nissan’s decision to kill it off, there are no more small and affordable subcompact options on the market, so you have to step up above that $20K price point into compacts like the Toyota Corolla, Kia K4, Subaru Impreza, Mazda 3 and Honda Civic. Notice there are still no American options in that list? The Chevy Trax is the most affordable option among the Big Three (and it is a solid option), but neither Ford nor Stellantis offer a car anywhere close to that price point…at least not without heavy discounts.

The 2026 Kia K4 Sedan Is About As Affordable As New Cars Come These Days

2026 Kia K4 sedan
(Images: Kia)

The 2026 Kia K4 isn’t changing much, apart from spawning a hatchback model. But that may be a blessing, since it’s still relatively affordable.

Look, no matter where you’re shopping, buying a new car can be an expensive undertaking. The average price for a new vehicle is stubbornly hovering right around the $50,000 mark. While it’s not moving a whole lot these past couple months, that’s still an eye-watering amount of money for folks who have to take increasingly long loans to even make the purchase feasible. There are still a few cheaper options left on the market, like the Kia K4 sedan. Following the hatchback, we now have pricing on the four-door model, which isn’t moving too much from Kia’s launch pricing.

In fact, the 2026 Kia K4 LX starts at $23,385 including destination making it about $240 more than it was when it launched for the 2025 model year. That price hike comes in two pieces, as both the baseline MSRP and the destination fee are a bit higher this time around.

From the base LX model, the LXS comes in at $24,485 and the mid-range EX at $25,585. Both the lower trims don’t see any changes, but the EX and GT-Line so get new SynTex leatherette upholstery. The EX also gets heated front seats and a rear folding armrest as standard equipment, which helps explain a $440 higher price tag.

The sportier GT-Line and GT-Line Turbo trims round out the 2026 Kia K4 sedan range at $26,585 and $29,485 respectively. The main difference between the two is the powertrain. All the non “Turbo” trims get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine putting out 147 horsepower through a CVT to the front wheels. The Turbo, on the other hand, gets a 1.6-liter engine kicking out 190 horsepower, as well as an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The 2026 Kia K4 sedan is available to configure now, while the hatchback is due out early next year.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder Gets a New Look, But It Also (Predictably) Costs You More Money

2026 Nissan Pathfinder
(Images: Nissan)

With the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder, you get some fresh styling and some quality-of-life upgrades.

Right after compact crossovers, midsize family SUVs are another fiercely competitive segment featuring every automaker trying to pull an increasingly large chunk of your money. The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder is one such contender, bringing a mid-cycle update as its pitch to woo you away from something like a Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer or Mazda CX-90 (to name just a few). Nissan took a scalpel to the Pathfinder’s front end this year, along with giving it a range of minor tech tweaks to overall make it a more enjoyable experience. Predictably, though, the updates command a higher price tag than the outgoing 2025s.

You’ll feel it hardest on the entry-level end, too. The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder S sees an $1,100 price hike from the previous model year, and will now set you back at least $38,995 including Nissan’s $1,495 destination charge. You still get the redesigned grille here, as well as a larger 12.3-inch standard touchscreen setup. Front-wheel drive is still the default, with all-wheel drive being a $2,000 upgrade.

The mid-range SV trim gets a $510 price hike to $41,395 (AWD $43,395), and opens up access to a (faster) optional wireless smartphone charging pad. Stepping up one from there, the SL increases by $410 to $43,995 (AWD $45,995) and gets a couple extra cameras as part of its 360-degree camera system.

If you’re feeling a bit more of an adventurous type, the $46,495 Rock Creek still gets standard all-wheel drive, naturally, while sporting a $46,495 MSRP — $510 more than before. At the top end, the $50,895 Platinum ($52,895 for AWD; $760 higher than before) gets a new set of 20-inch wheels and new seat quilting patterns and wood trim.

Is the updated Pathfinder worth the extra cash?

Whether the changes are actually worth it will come down to how you weigh the relatively minor updates. That said, Tommy goes through all the details of the refreshed model in the video below.

While the styling has changed a bit, the powertrain for the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder hasn’t. It’s still rocking a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine putting out 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque through a 9-speed automatic transmission. Standard towing capacity for Pathfinder remains 3,500 pounds, though that does increase to 6,000 pounds when properly equipped.

Head Gasket Repairs for Prius: 3 Myths That Cost Drivers Thousands

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A Prius can run like a polite roommate for years, then suddenly start acting like it forgot its own schedule. In that moment, Prius head gasket repair becomes the phrase nobody wanted to Google, yet it often pops up for a reason. Thankfully, most “rules” floating around forums are half stories and half wishful thinking, and myths love to sound confident.

Is it really safe to keep driving until it overheats?

Myth one says a gentle commute will be fine as long as the temperature gauge behaves. Unfortunately, a head gasket can leak in tiny bursts, especially on cold starts, so the damage stacks quietly like unread notifications. Misfires may vanish by the second stoplight, then return tomorrow with extra attitude. Typical early clues include:

  • Cold start shudder that fades after one awkward, cough-heavy minute.
  • Coolant level slowly dropping while the driveway stays strangely spotless.
  • Sweet exhaust smell that hangs around long after normal morning vapor.
  • Heater blows cool air as the engine strains on longer climbs.

If several signs appear together, the Prius head gasket repair cost usually climbs fast, because heat and coolant loss rarely stay polite. That is usually when “one more trip” stops being funny. Seriously.

Does a bottle of sealer count as Prius head gasket replacement?

Myth two is the “magic potion” approach, usually recommended by a well-meaning friend who swears it worked once in 2009. Stop leak products may buy a little time, but they can also clog small cooling passages, and a Prius cooling system is not a place that enjoys surprises. A temporary quiet spell can feel like victory, and then the misfire returns at the worst moment, like a sitcom plot twist during rush hour. Sealer can mask symptoms long enough for an overheat event to warp sealing surfaces, turning a small leak into a bigger bill. Real Prius head gasket replacement means fixing the leak and restoring cooling flow, not asking chemistry to negotiate with combustion gases.

The cheapest fix is rarely the cheapest story

Myth three says every shop does the same job, so the lowest quote wins. In reality, the difference lives in the boring details that keep engines alive, and those details never fit on a price tag. That is also why Prius head gasket replacement cost can swing wildly, because one estimate may include real testing and careful prep, while another is basically a speed run. It helps to ask what will be tested, cleaned, and measured, not just “replaced.” A solid plan often includes:

  • Confirm combustion gases in coolant using a chemical block test.
  • Check cylinder head flatness for warpage, not just a quick glance.
  • Clean EGR and intake passages that can trigger repeat overheating.
  • Replace oil and coolant, then properly re bleed the cooling system.
  • Scan misfire history, then road test under real load conditions.

Those steps protect the repair from becoming a sequel, and they make it easier to trust the result when the car rolls out.

A calmer next step with Prius head gasket repair

When symptoms show up, it helps to log when they happen, how long they last, and whether the coolant level is changing. Ease up on hard acceleration and long uphill pulls until a technician can run proper tests, because guessing tends to get pricey. Then compare warranties, ask for a clear explanation of what will be checked, and pick the shop that talks like a person, not a checkout screen. A careful fix beats a quick patch, since hybrids remember neglect and charge interest. A short diagnostic visit feels boring, but it usually keeps the story from getting loud and expensive.

There Won’t Be a 2026 Volkswagen ID. Buzz for the US or Canada — And There’s Doubt It Will Come Back Later

(Images: TFL Studios)

High prices and slow sales could have doomed the Volkswagen ID. Buzz before it could really even get going.

Love or hate electric vehicles, VW’s ID.Buzz was certainly one of the more interesting options on the market. It’s quirky and it’s fun, and I had folks consistently asking questions about it any time I parked or pulled up to a charging station when we had our most recent example for review. Now, though, the electric take on the classic Microbus is in doubt, as Volkswagen has pulled it from contention for the 2026 model year in the US and Canada.

The automaker did officially confirm that bit of news, after dealers told their customers it wouldn’t be on the menu for the upcoming year. It has not technically been discontinued (yet), but if you read between the lines of VW’s statement…well, it certainly seems like the company at least just soft canceled it.

“Following a careful assessment of current EV market conditions,” the company told media outlets, “we have made the strategic decision not to move forward with MY26 ID. Buzz production for the U.S. market.” Sounds familiar over the past few months, doesn’t it?

Take a look at existing ID. Buzz stock, and you’ll see why VW and its dealers aren’t too keen to keep it rolling.

To be clear, Volkswagen of America did not make the decision to outright scrap the ID. Buzz from the US and Canada. Officially, it’s just hitting the pause button until at least 2027. That model year, VW contends, may mark a “transition” for the Buzz, though we don’t have any information for what that means just yet.

There’s a more immediate problem driving that decision to at least hit the pause button, however. Broadly speaking, the entire EV market is reeling from the loss of the federal EV tax credit at the end of September, which was a boon to sales to those interested in taking the plunge. With the incentive gone, automakers are just as often as not putting cash on the hood themselves to move units…and VW dealers are advertising that with the ID. Buzz. Just looking at our local VW dealer, as a cursory example, yields a Pro S model with more than $15,000 in discounts from MSRP.

And why do dealers have to discount the ID. Buzz units so heavily? Why, that’s because pricing has been the key issue for this funky electric van from the start. At $47,000 or so, it’s a roomy and practical family hauler that still isn’t cheap, but at least it’s somewhat more affordable. At more than $62,000…it’s an entirely different conversation we’re having.

When or if the 2027 Volkswagen ID. Buzz does make its return, the automaker may bring some different ideas to the table, both on what the Buzz itself is, and how much it will cost. That’s essentially what needs to happen for this long-hyped model to find a stable customer base. If we’re just looking at the same van again after a production gap, it’s likely we’ll just be right back in the same situation, with dealers needing to discount Buzzes by $15-20K before they’ll sell (at a loss).

Scout Gets the OK to Sell Directly to Customers in CO: Will the Momentum Build?

(Images: Scout Motors)

Colorado’s Department of Revenue just gave Scout the greenlight to practice its direct sales model in the state.

We’re still a couple years off from new Scout Traveler SUVs and Terra trucks actually hitting the streets. Nonetheless, VW Group subsidiary Scout Motors hasn’t just been in the trenches getting its new products ready for launch. It’s also been lobbying state governments to allow it to bypass the traditional franchise dealership model, and sell directly to the public like Tesla, Lucid and Rivian. Within the past few days, Colorado officially signed off on the effort, allowing the company to go directly to the public rather than through a dealer system (per Automotive News).

On December 16, the state Department of Revenue’s Specialized Business Group, which includes a Motor Vehicle Dealer Board, voted 6-2 to allow Scout Motors’ license to sell vehicles directly within the state. The automaker’s roadmap is built on such a practice, with CEO Scott Keogh likening the experience to buying your iPhone directly from Apple, instead of having to go through a big-box retailer.

It’s a start, but where could the company hit roadblocks?

Now, it’s worth noting that even though the Board within the Colorado Department of Revenue favor the decision, it is not actual policy just yet. Colorado dealers immediately decried the decision, calling Scout Motors’ efforts a “circumvention of the traditional franchise system”. Former AutoNation executive and dealer network CEO Mike Maroone said it is being insincere in its messaging that it is a separate entity to the rest of Volkswagen Group (which does have dealers under VW and Audi brands, among others). In an interview with CBT News, Maroone said, “If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck.”

Colorado’s market accounts for a significant share of total EV shares throughout the U.S., after other populous states like California, Texas and Florida. The ultimate decision could trigger the beginning of the kind of momentum Scout Motors will need to push in those states as well.

It’s worth noting, on the EV direct-to-consumer sales model, even Tesla still isn’t allowed to sell vehicles straight to consumers in several states, including Texas. To get around that, Tesla treats the actual sales transaction as an out-of-state purchase, before shipping it to a service center. Scout could (and may, depending on circumstances) do the same thing, although conducting business that way creates additional steps for all parties involved.

The Colorado Motor Vehicle Board’s decision to allow Scout to sell directly to the public, barring a successful appeal from the state’s dealer association, could set some precedent for Scout to at least widen its presence to sell straight to the public through company-owned showrooms. In this case, Tesla, Rivian and Lucid are already allowed to sell direct-to-consumer thanks to S.B. 20-167 passed in 2020. So, Scout will most likely be able to press forward, at least in the state of Colorado.

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