Porsche’s Taycan Turbo GT, equipped with a factory-approved Manthey Racing kit and the Weissach package, lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 6:55.553, shaving roughly 12 seconds off the Turbo GT’s previous time and posting the quickest production EV/sedan time reported for the circuit. Manthey’s comprehensive package increases aerodynamic downforce dramatically (reported as roughly tripling at 124 mph and delivering about 1,631 lb at top speed), adds large carbon aero elements and rear aerodisc wheels, widens and lightens 21-inch forged wheels, and upgrades brakes, suspension, steering and tyre options. Engineers also optimized the battery, control unit and pulse inverters—raising maximum discharge current from 1,100A to 1,300A—lifting everyday output to about 804 hp and Attack Mode to about 978 hp (peak launch power remains near 1,019 hp). Development driver Lars Kern set the lap. Porsche has not released pricing; the Weissach-equipped Turbo GT starts around $246,000, so Manthey-equipped examples are expected to carry a substantial premium and limited availability.

Honda Motor is recalling 98,892 Honda and Acura vehicles in the United States over a defect in the front passenger seat weight sensor that can crack, short-circuit and cause airbags to deploy unintentionally. The recall covers a wide range of models and model years (2016–2026) including Acura TLX, RDX and MDX, and multiple Honda models such as Accord, Civic, CR-V, Odyssey, Pilot and Ridgeline. Dealers will replace the faulty seat weight sensors free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed beginning July 6, 2026, and owners can check VINs on NHTSA’s recall database or contact Honda customer service. Honda has linked the defect to sensor failures that can cause the system to misclassify smaller occupants — including children or infants in child seats — which could allow front passenger airbags to deploy when they should be suppressed. The recall expands earlier actions addressing the same sensor issue and follows warranty claims and prior recall activity related to occupant detection systems.

Chinese EV giant BYD this week unveiled a package of measures to boost take-up of its God’s Eye assisted-driving system, pledging to compensate users for direct losses from accidents that occur while the urban navigation function is active and used in compliance with system rules. Announced May 28-29, the guarantee covers God’s Eye A, B and God’s Eye 5.0 for one year, is free, carries no stated payout cap and BYD says it will not affect customers’ following-year insurance premiums. The company also showcased a self-developed Xuanji A3 4-nanometre autonomous-driving chip delivering over 2,100 TOPS and said budget models can be upgraded to God’s Eye B for about 12,000 yuan. The move comes as BYD faces slowing domestic demand, profit declines and intensifying competition from Tesla, Nio, Xpeng and Li Auto, and aims to build consumer trust and accelerate assisted-driving adoption in mass-market vehicles.

Ferrari on 26-27 May unveiled its first fully electric car, the Luce, a five-seat, four-door model designed with LoveFrom (Jony Ive and Marc Newson). The high‑performance EV uses four independent motors (one per wheel), delivers about 1,000–1,040 horsepower, accelerates to 100 km/h in roughly 2.5 seconds and claims a range of about 329–530 km depending on the report. Ferrari set Italian pricing at €550,000 (roughly $640,000) and plans preorders in Italy immediately, with U.S. deliveries expected next spring. The launch included high-profile showings to Italy’s president and Pope Leo XIV. The reveal ignited intense online backlash from enthusiasts, critics and some politicians, and Ferrari shares fell about 6–8% on the initial trading days. Analysts and former executives questioned whether the bubble‑like, Apple‑influenced aesthetic and steep price will attract traditional Ferrari buyers; company executives say the Luce is aimed at existing EV owners and growth markets such as China. The debut also comes as many luxury makers have scaled back EV ambitions amid softening demand, making Ferrari’s move a high‑stakes bet on electrification in the super‑luxury segment.

On May 28, 2026 the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a preliminary probe into 114,922 Rivian R1S and R1T electric vehicles over concerns about the rear toe link joint. The agency said it received two vehicle owner questionnaires reporting left rear toe-link separation while driving, with one incident causing the vehicle to swerve across multiple lanes and collide with another vehicle and a roadside barrier. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation will assess the joint’s sensitivity to foreseeable road and service conditions, compare physical failure evidence from the two reports, and evaluate Rivian’s current repair procedure. Rivian said its internal data indicate R1 toe link joints are operating as intended and that it is cooperating with the probe. The action follows a January 2026 recall in which Rivian replaced rear toe-link bolts free of charge on nearly 20,000 previously serviced R1 vehicles after identifying an incorrect service assembly procedure. Regulators could expand remedies depending on findings.

Lexus unveiled its eighth-generation ES for 2026, shifting the midsize luxury sedan to an electrified-only line-up with two battery-electric models (ES 350e FWD and ES 500e AWD) and a sixth-generation hybrid (ES 350h) that will account for most sales. The new ES rides on an evolved GA-K platform, is noticeably larger than its predecessor, and adopts coupe-like rooflines and a revised spindle grille. EVs deliver up to about 307 miles (350e) and roughly 276 miles (500e) depending on wheel choice, with DC fast-charging capped around 150 kW for 10–80% in roughly 28–30 minutes. The hybrid combines a 2.5-litre inline-four with multiple electric motors for a combined 244 hp and EPA ratings near 46 mpg combined (FWD). U.S. starting prices are competitive — the EV begins near $48,895 — while higher trims and Executive rear-seat packages add luxury features such as massaging, reclining rear seats. Lexus frames the ES as its core sedan as the full-size LS bows out of the U.S. and Canadian line-up.