shows – Engine Icon https://engineicon.com Latest car news and advice blog Tue, 14 Jul 2026 02:07:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://engineicon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/cropped-ME_favicon-1-32x32.png shows – Engine Icon https://engineicon.com 32 32 Nissan Qashqai e-Power shows efficiency in Tassie https://engineicon.com/nissan-qashqai-e-power-shows-efficiency-in-tassie/ Tue, 12 May 2026 06:54:46 +0000 https://engineicon.com/nissan-qashqai-e-power-shows-efficiency-in-tassie/

NISSAN has again proved the real-world efficiency credentials of its hybridised Qashqai e-Power SUV, this time a lot closer to home.

 

Last August, the Nissan team drove from one end of the UK to the other to demonstrate the efficiency of the Qashqai e-Power on the open road.

 

Now, Nissan Australia has replicated the performance on local soil, covering a 1303km lap of the island state with an average fuel consumption figure of just 4.5 litres per 100km.

 

The journey began in Geelong, Victoria, where Nissan Australia team members topped up the Qashqai e-Power’s 55-litre fuel tank before boarding the Spirit of Tasmania ferry service.

 

Upon arrival in Devonport, Tasmania, the crew charted a clockwise route of the Apple Isle, circumnavigating the state with the goal of not visiting a Tasmanian petrol station.

 

The lap was completed at the posted speed limits, across varied terrain including freeways, urban roads, and several challenging hill climbs.

 

Travelling through Launceston, Freycinet, the Bay of Fires, Hobart, the Huon Valley and Tasmania’s rugged west coast, the vehicle’s trip meter showed 1209.2km upon returning to the ferry, ultimately recording 1303km when the fuel flap was reopened.

 

“This trip isn’t laboratory testing, this is the real world and real conditions, completing a dream lap of Tasmania that so many Australians have either done, or would love to do,” said Nissan Oceania managing director Steve Milette.

 

“Now more than ever, Australian drivers are looking for fuel efficiency that doesn’t compromise driving enjoyment, and this 1300km real-world journey shows that the Nissan Qashqai e-Power delivers.”

 

The recently updated 2026 Nissan Qashqai e-Power introduces an revised hybrid powertrain with a reduced combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 4.1 litres per 100km and CO2 emissions of 92 grams per kilometre.

 

Central to the update is a new ‘5-in-1’ powertrain architecture integrating the electric motor, generator, inverter, increaser, and reducer into in a single unit, further reducing, Nissan says, both weight and complexity while improving energy transfer.

 

The revised system is paired with a redesigned turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine featuring Nissan’s proprietary STARC combustion technology, helping deliver thermal efficiency of up to 42 per cent by converting more fuel energy into usable power and reducing energy losses through heat.

 

To read GoAuto’s review of the latest 2026 Nissan Qashqai e-Power click here. For more information on the pricing and equipment details of the model, click here.

 

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VW Lost in Lake Since 1982 Shows Up on Some Guy’s Fish Finder https://engineicon.com/vw-lost-in-lake-since-1982-shows-up-on-some-guys-fish-finder/ Fri, 17 Apr 2026 03:36:12 +0000 https://engineicon.com/vw-lost-in-lake-since-1982-shows-up-on-some-guys-fish-finder/

Typically, when a stolen vehicle’s trail goes cold for 44 years, it never turns up. Crooks like to chop ’em up and sell the parts, or grind off the VIN and tack on the identifying details from another car. Neither of those proved to be the case for this 1982 Volkswagen Rabbit in Leicester, Massachusetts, as it was just found at the bottom of Rochdale Pond thanks to some guy’s fish finder.

The Leicester Police Department posted about the recovery on Facebook, sharing that the Rabbit pickup was unearthed on Monday, April 13. It required some cross-department collaboration as the Massachusetts State Police Dive Team, Leicester Highway Department, and Town of Leicester Fire Department all worked to drag out the truck. Upon closer investigation, nothing of interest was found; some goober probably ditched it after realizing there was no other way out of a sticky situation.

I have to say, too, that the VW is in surprisingly good shape considering it went under during the Reagan Administration. As a recovering Dubber (that’s what we used to call ourselves—I’m unsure of the lingo now), I’ve seen Caddy pickups rusted worse than a 100-year-old Atlantic crab trap. I’m guessing that the water actually helped preserve some parts of the rig, as a thick coat of moss and algae is probably pretty useful in fighting off corrosion.

What’s amazing is that they were able to identify the truck’s original owner and verify that it had been stolen when it was practically brand new. There’s no word on what engine it had, but if it’s a diesel, it might still start. (That’s mostly a joke, just to be clear.)

I’m not sure whether the fisherman nabbed anything else on this excursion, but if you judge your success by poundage, I’d say this fella had a pretty good day on the water. He might have been hoping for a largemouth bass or black crappie, but a Rabbit ain’t that bad either.

Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@thedrive.com

From running point on new car launch coverage to editing long-form features and reviews, Caleb does some of everything at The Drive. And he really, really loves trucks.


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New Video Shows What Ferrari Is Really Doing With Its EV Interior https://engineicon.com/new-video-shows-what-ferrari-is-really-doing-with-its-ev-interior/ Fri, 17 Apr 2026 02:52:08 +0000 https://engineicon.com/new-video-shows-what-ferrari-is-really-doing-with-its-ev-interior/

Ferrari’s first-ever electric production model, the Luce, will have a “tactile-first” interior that is the work of former Apple designer Jony Ive and the LoveFrom design collective he co-founded with Mark Newson, another Apple alumni.

After releasing the first interior teasers in February, Ferrari has now dropped a new interior walkthrough video for the Luce, offering the best look yet at the cabin and a taste of the experience the driver will have interacting with the vehicle controls.

Right off the bat, the difference between the Luce’s dashboard and existing EV interiors is crystal clear. The new cabin features many tactile controls instead of the massive displays that have become ubiquitous on electric vehicles in recent years.

A Ferrari Unlike Any Other That Came Before It

While the Luce does have a central display, it’s square-shaped with a thick metallic edge and curved corners like an older iPhone. It’s also restrained in size and features typography that reminds of older iOS-era Apple design language, according to some auto outlets. The video shows that the main screen also tilts toward the driver or the passenger, according to preferences.

The screen integrates physical switches at the bottom for the climate control system, a volume knob and three shortcut buttons. Additionally, on the top right corner there are two buttons that appear to toggle between a clock, a compass, and a stopwatch displayed in the integrated round display. The video doesn’t show a single function that is enabled by touching the screen; everything is done via buttons and switches.

Ferrari

There’s a second display behind the steering wheel that houses the instrument cluster grouped into three main round areas that imitate a classic instrument panel but are highly configurable. The largest one in the middle displays the speedometer, battery charge level and range, the one of the left shows how much energy the vehicle uses or receives at any given time from the regenerative braking system, while the one on the right is a G force meter.

The cool thing about the digital cluster is it’s connected to the steering column so it moves along as you adjust the wheel to provide the driver with a clear view of the instruments.

Ferrari

Speaking of the steering wheel, it features an old-school look with three aluminum spokes but it’s also modern, using physical control pods along with Ferrari’s hallmark Manettino rotary dial, which has been repurposed for an electric powertrain, acting as a power-flow selector. The steering wheel also includes buttons for the turn signals, wipers, and a dial for the drive mode selector—the Luce features three modes: Range, Tour and Perfo.

We also get to see the startup sequence that is triggered by inserting the glass-and-leather key into a dedicated slot in the center console. The key’s e-ink display changes appearance once docked into its place, with the instrument panel lighting up after that.

Performance Worthy of the Prancing Horse Badge

SH Proshots/Autoblog

The exterior design of the Ferrari Luce remains a mystery for now, although we do know that it’s a four-door, four-seat electric super-GT. As you would expect from a car sporting the Prancing Horse badge, the performance will be spectacular. Ferrari has so far said that the Luce features a 122-kWh battery pack running on 880 volts and offering a range of around 330 miles under European testing.

The fact that it gets a big battery is reflected in the Luce’s curb weight of just under 5,100 pounds. That makes it the heaviest production Ferrari ever made, putting it on par with the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. Still, the weight won’t be a problem as far as performance is concerned.

SH Proshots/Autoblog

The battery feeds a four-motor powertrain expected to deliver over 1,100 horsepower for breathtaking performance; the video shows how a launch is seen from the interior, with the 0 to 62 mph sprint taking 2.5 seconds. Interestingly, simulated gear shifts will also be on the menu for added driver feedback. The top speed is 193 mph, which is impressive for an EV.

The front e-axle delivers a total output of 282 horsepower (141 hp for each motor), while the rear e-axle produces 832 hp (416 hp for each motor), bringing the total peak power to 1,114 hp, according to Ferrari. A disconnect system shifts into rear-wheel drive to maximize efficiency—and allow the driver to slide the rear end should they feel brave enough.

The world premiere of the Ferrari Luce is scheduled for May 25 in Maranello, Italy, with production expected to start in late 2026, followed by deliveries in early 2027.

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China’s Luxurious Altima Shows What Nissan Won’t Give America https://engineicon.com/chinas-luxurious-altima-shows-what-nissan-wont-give-america/ Sun, 18 Jan 2026 13:36:47 +0000 https://engineicon.com/chinas-luxurious-altima-shows-what-nissan-wont-give-america/

China Gets the Nicer Nissan Sedans

China is now a key market for global carmakers, and, surprisingly, buyers there are shifting back to sedans that offer serious tech. Automakers are pushing boundaries to get noticed, and Nissan is one of them. The brand launched two new electrified sedans and a refreshed Teana late last year – the latter being the more premium take on the Altima sold in the US.

The new Teana, built by Dongfeng Nissan, puts a big emphasis on tech and interior quality. It looks a class above what you’d expect from an Altima-based sedan. Part of that comes from a glowing AI speaker on the dash, but the real surprise is the material choice. Nissan worked with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) to use Durabio, a plant-based plastic that looks and feels closer to crystal than the usual trim.

In China, buyers care about big screens, lighting, and how upscale a car feels. The Teana’s interior is built to make a strong first impression, and it stands out even more when you see it lit up at night.

Nissan

What Durabio Brings, Plus a Dose of Huawei

Durabio is more than just a marketing fluff. MCC developed it as a bio-based plastic using plant-derived isosorbide. It’s clearer and handles light better than regular polycarbonate, which helps create lighting that looks deep and high-end instead of cheap or artificial.

On the Teana, Durabio is used for the inverted-pyramid AI speaker that lights up with six pillars glowing in up to 256 colors. The material refracts light cleanly, giving it a crystal-like look without needing a clear coat. That saves manufacturing steps, lowers environmental footprint, and still meets automotive durability standards.

Teana runs a Huawei-based operating system to go with Durabio. The end result is an interior that feels modern and thoughtfully put together (at least visually), not just a quick update.

Nissan

Meanwhile, the American Altima Stays the Course

Meanwhile, the US-market Altima heads into 2026 with almost no changes from last year. It remains affordable and practical, but next to the Teana, it comes across as very restrained. Nissan still sells a lot of sedans in the US, with over 255,000 units last year (out of the brand’s over 760,000-unit sales), but the Altima’s own sales dropped to 93,268 in 2025, down 18 percent from the year before.

That drop probably comes from the Altima’s age. The current model dates back to 2018, with its last big update in 2022. It no longer stands out for design or interior appeal. After seeing what Nissan has done with the Teana, it’s fair to ask (hope, even) if a more upscale, more distinctive Altima could bring buyers back to the midsize sedan segment.

For now, there’s no clear answer. But with China getting the more ambitious upgrades, it’s easy to see how a bit of that Durabio-inspired thinking could only help the Altima.

Nissan


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