The Auto Industry Is So Diverse That EVs Became Winter Kings and Caddys Got Blackwings

For example, we should start by debunking – again – the myth that EVs aren't suitable in freezing conditions. They do suffer – but so do ICE-powered cars. The best example we can give you is a recent test done at -20 Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit) in Norway, which is the land of harsh winters and extreme EV adoption these days.

Over there, the refreshed Tesla Model 3 Highland won a grueling test against a big bunch of competitors – including some that are brand new on the market: Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia EV9, Volkswagen ID.7, and Volvo EX30. That's quite an excellent roster, frankly. Anyway, the good news is that Tesla has kicked off the first deliveries of the refreshed Model 3 at home in America, and from now on, there's no turning back to the pre-Highland days.

There's a bunch of electrics to talk about, such as the newly introduced Porsche Macan EV, which doesn't impress me from the design standpoint. Hopefully, the 800-volt architecture won't be riddled with issues like it happens to GM, for example. Anyway, it will be interesting to see if the nimbler Porsche Macan EV will be capable of making a dent in Tesla Model Y's sales armor, especially if the American automaker debuts the refreshed crossover later this year.

Moving on, there are also a couple of interesting EVs coming to market – though not necessarily in America. BMW 'accidentally' lost some pictures of the i5 Touring during a recent photoshoot, and of course, they got leaked on the Internet without a second notice. The design of the xDrive40 estate is quite controversial, judging by the vehement reactions on social media.

No worries, this one won't come to America – instead, the continent is getting access, at a later date, to the feisty BMW M5 Touring that will surely brawl like there's no more tomorrow with Audi's RS 6 Avant. Well, it was about time we got more high-performance station wagons that can slap silly any crossover SUV at the local quarter-mile dragstrip. On the other hand, Jeep also misplaced some images of the upcoming Wagoneer S all-electric crossover SUV.

Either intentionally or not, the stylish cat is out of the bag, and we bet this Jeep won't face too many controversies regarding its looks. We hope it will also drive just as good – and if you don't want it, remember that Jeep also plans to introduce the rugged Recon all-electric model into the family. Before we go on with the American novelties, a word or maybe two about the 2025 Volkswagen Golf facelift – it's boring. There, I said it, let's move on (GTI is still coming to America, hopefully).

On the other hand, the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox is anything but dull. You may or may not like where Chevrolet's design is heading, but at least they are bold enough to make a statement. Now, all their crossovers are refreshed or brand-new – Trax, Trailblazer, Blazer, Equinox, and Traverse. The all-new Equinox also makes the bold choice of going after GMC Terrain's clients with the new Activ version that boasts a two-tone appearance, a bespoke front treatment, all-terrain tires, and 17-inch wheels, among others.

The design, as with the Traverse, is inspired by the company's best-selling truck lineup – and that's not a wrong decision, frankly. Of course, it remains to be seen how the Chevy Equinox will fare against the Buick Envision and GMC Terrain siblings before even trying to clash with the rest of the foes from the compact crossover SUV segment. At least, if it doesn't come close to the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, it will have an argument against Subaru Forester's Wilderness, right?

Last but not least, let me tell you a thing or two about how passionate the American car market remains for supercharged V8 gems. First and foremost, the most potent factory muscle car ever made, the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, which can reach 1,025 horsepower on E85, will be transformed into something that even Rimac's Nevera may fear. Or laugh at, nervously, worrying that it could swallow it and spit it out through the exhaust as a bundle of goo, at the very least.

The thing is simple – John Hennessey of Hennessey Performance decided to buy number 25 of the Last Call special edition, thrash it around, and then use it as the benchmark for an upgrade package that will take it to 1,700 horsepower when all things are said and done. That's basically nuts, right? Of course, the company will also sell a few of these monsters – 12, to be more precise, to anyone who can afford both a Demon 170 and an additional $200k on top of that. Frankly, if I could, I would buy one too. Just to spite the mother-in-law, not for anything else (wink, wink).

The second, last but not least, comes from Cadillac – the premium automaker is so happy about the CT5 becoming its best-selling nameplate worldwide that it's also giving it a new lease of life for the 2025 model year across the entire lineup, including the CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing. The latter two were officially announced with the mid-cycle update this past week, and they look gorgeous roaring their twin-turbo V6 and supercharged V8 together.