Car news briefs — Apr 16, 2026 · 5:51 PM EDT

Quick hits from the car enthusiast world, covering electric vehicles, performance models, and vehicle maintenance updates.

INDUSTRY

Global Starlink Outage Tanked U.S. Navy Drone Boat Test

A Starlink outage disrupted Navy drone boat testing, highlighting military reliance on a single communications system controlled by Elon Musk.

Polestar's leadership dismisses plug-in hybrids as irrelevant, claiming their mixed gas-electric approach is becoming obsolete.

HYUNDAI

The track-focused Elantra N TCR Edition offers manual transmission pricing below the automatic option.

MERCEDES

Despite aggressive aero and wings, this vintage 190E produced just 232 horsepower, representing a bygone era of Mercedes boldness.

TESLA

Tesla Cybertruck sales and production fall well short of the projected 250,000 annual target.

ENTHUSIAST

Reader Kristen wants to downsize from her family hauler to something comfortable for long drives and daily use.

ENTHUSIAST

The latest issue covers purpose-built vehicles from Le Mans monsters to Performance EV of the Year winners.

PORSCHE

Los Angeles police recovered a 911 Cabriolet that thieves had systematically stripped of all valuable components.

MERCEDES

The upcoming electric C-Class will offer an optional massive display stretching across the entire dashboard.

TESLA

Tesla's Signature Model S and X reportedly include hefty financial penalties for buyers who resell shortly after purchase.