This Car Pod Ep. 97: Tesla Robots, Porsche EVs, Lexus LC, and More Car News

Euro Road Trip and Car Sales

• 🚗 The team discusses their recent Euro road trip featuring a Fiat Multipla, Audi A2, and Fiat 500 Abarth, now available for sale on Cars & Bids.
• 💰 Bids on the Multipla and A2 are noted as surprisingly low, with the hosts admitting they overpaid for the cars for the sake of the trip.
• 📈 Hagerty is highlighted as a sponsor for the road trip series, ensuring two of the featured vehicles.

Tesla's Shifting Priorities and Porsche's EV Woes

• 🤖 Tesla is reportedly discontinuing the Model S and Model X to reallocate production lines for their humanoid robot.
• 📉 The Model S, released in 2012, and the Model X, released in 2016, are considered stale and have seen declining sales, especially with the success of the Model Y.
• ⚡ Porsche is rumored to be considering canceling its electric sports car due to mounting platform development costs and a lack of desirability.

Discontinued and Refreshed Models

• 💔 The Lexus LC is confirmed to be discontinued after its current model year, with the V8 models expected to become special collector's items.
• 🌟 The Mercedes-Benz S-Class receives a subtle refresh with updated styling, more screens, and heated seat belts, maintaining its status as a flagship luxury sedan.
• 📉 Acura is canceling the RDX, its best-selling model, with plans to reintroduce it as a hybrid in 2028, signaling potential brand uncertainty.

New Models and Market Trends

• 🏎️ A C8 Corvette Grand Sport is spied testing, potentially featuring a new 6.7-liter LSX engine with around 550 horsepower.
• 🚚 The Hyundai Santa Cruz is reportedly being discontinued, with Hyundai focusing on developing a new body-on-frame truck.
• 🇨🇳 China is mandating mechanical door releases for all vehicles starting in 2027, impacting designs like Tesla's electronic handles due to safety concerns.
• 💥 A lawsuit against Dodge regarding the limited-edition status of the Hellcat Durango was dismissed, allowing the automaker to continue production beyond initial claims.
• 💡 Toyota has teased a new three-row vehicle, possibly an electric Highlander or a redesigned Sienna.
• 🇯🇵 Nissan revealed images of the new Xterra, aiming for significant sales growth.

Enthusiast Cars and Market Insights

• 💰 Doug expresses a strong desire for a silver, third-row, post-facelift E55 wagon (W210 chassis), specifically from 2000 or 2001.
• 🎶 The Audi B5 RS4 is lauded as a potential all-time great Audi, praised for its driving dynamics and usability.
• 📈 The R129 and R230 Mercedes-Benz SL models are discussed as cars that will likely never appreciate in value but offer good value for money.
• 🚀 Early Subaru WRXs are considered undervalued and cool enthusiast cars that should command higher prices.
• 🏎️ The Acura Integra is mentioned as a positive step for Acura, but the brand's overall strategy, including the RDX cancellation, is questioned.
• 🚗 The Porsche 718 Cayman is highlighted as a desirable car, with a manual transmission being a key feature for enthusiasts.
• 💡 Saab and Pontiac are discussed as missed automotive brands, with Pontiac's performance heritage and unique models like the G8 being particularly missed.
• ❓ Community questions cover topics like which automaker mishandled a nostalgic nameplate worse (Blazer vs. Prelude), dream one-off cars (Lamborghini LM002, modernized F40), and what Doug would do if YouTube didn't work out (Jeopardy champion, mid-level manager).