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Facelifted VW ID.4 spotted testing ahead of debut later this year. Visual changes include new doors, lights, bumpers, rear hatch. Updated MEB+ platform may add LFP batteries and extra range. Volkswagen isn’t sitting still when it comes to electric cars, even if most of its lineup in the US has struggled to gain traction this year. The ID.4, one of only two VW models whose American sales actually increased in 2025, is getting more than a light polish. Instead, it’s heading into a major refresh that reshapes it into what some within the company are already calling the “electric Tiguan.” Related: Every VW Model Dropped In Sales, Except The Two You’d Never Expect Our first spy shots show a crossover that’s recognizably an ID.4, but one that’s been carefully sharpened. The front end is squarer, clearly aligned with the upcoming ID Cross look. SB-Medien As you can see in our spy shots, the doors are new with proper pull handles, and the rear end has been subtly reworked with a concave rather than convex tailgate panel, plus a re-profiled D pillar. It’s not a ground-up redesign, because there’s only so much you can change with a facelift. The underlying structure appears mostly identical, which makes sense for a mid cycle update. However, the surfacing and proportions have been tweaked just enough to bring the ID.4 visually into sync with the new Tiguan and VW’s upcoming electric ID.Cross, which was unveiled in concept form last September, and goes on sale in Europe later in 2026. Buttons Are Back The upcoming ID. Polo seen here will be the first of many new VWs to feature physical controls. Inside is where the biggest changes may be felt day to day. Physical buttons and switches will feature prominently, including a real volume knob, alongside a new dashboard, better materials, and a revised user interface. We got our first glimpse of this direction in the official photos of the new ID. Polo’s interior (pictured above) earlier this month. The software gets an upgrade too, with an improved AI-powered voice assistant, and the currently undersized digital gauge cluster will grow in size. Powertrains and Batteries SH Proshots Under the skin sits a revised MEB plus platform that should feature LFP battery chemistry for better efficiency and potentially more range, though it’ll still be stuck with 400-volt electrics. Powertrains are expected to receive light updates rather than dramatic changes. But VW did, after all, only relatively recently dramatically improve the output of the base single-motor ID.4, which since 2024 produces 282 hp (210 kW / 286 PS). That represents an increase of 80 hp (60 kW / 82 PS) over the previous version. This facelifted ID.4 is expected to arrive near the end of 2026, helping carry the model through to 2028. That’s when a fully new version is due, this time based on a true 800-volt platform. That is nearly sure to be badged ID.Tiguan, if VW hasn’t decided that this year’s facelift is extensive enough to justify that name change for the 2027 model year. SH Proshots

Mercedes continues to test the upcoming EQE successor. The E-Class EQ will have a more traditional design. We can also expect 483 hp and a range of around 444 miles. The Mercedes EQ lineup has been an unmitigated disaster and a lack of demand forced the company to temporarily pause production to reduce swelling inventories. While assembly of the EQE, EQE SUV, EQS, and EQS SUV recently resumed, the automaker is already looking forward to a less blob-like future. More: Mercedes’ New E-Class EQ Is Coming To Right The EQE’s Wrongs That’s clear today as spy photographers have snapped the upcoming E-Class with EQ Technology. Terrible name aside, the EQE successor will fix the sins of the past with an all-new design that more closely resembles the ICE-powered model. As a result, it looks more like a sedan and less like a bar of Dove soap. Caught undergoing testing in snowy conditions, the E-Class EQ is heavily disguised but will likely feature the brand’s new ‘iconic grille.’ The chrome-clad behemoth recently debuted on the GLC EV and will also be found on the upcoming C-Class EV. If its size didn’t draw enough attention, there’s an illuminated variant with 942 lights as well as a shining star. The headlights and taillights are temporary units, but they’ll eventually be replaced by starry production components. We can also see an upward sweeping beltline and a greenhouse that echoes the one found on the C-Class EV. However, the E-Class is notable for having traditional door handles and mirrors that are mounted at the base of the A-pillar. GLC EQ Spy photographers haven’t gotten a good look inside, but the C-Class EQ follows in the footsteps of the CLA and appears to adopt a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14-inch infotainment system, and a 14-inch front passenger display. However, the more upscale E-Class EQ could take a page from the GLC and sport a massive 39.1-inch screen. Read: Mercedes-AMG Forced To Kill Some Of Its Loudest Cars Under New EU Rules The model will ride on the MB.EA platform and have a lot in common with the GLC EV. This means we can expect a two-speed transmission, a roughly 94 kWh battery pack, and a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing a combined output of 483 hp (360 kW / 489 PS) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque. SHproshots This setup enables the GLC 400 4MATIC to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.3 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 130 mph (210 km/h). The crossover also has a WLTP range of up to 444 miles (715 km). Also: Mercedes Wants Baby G-Wagen To Win Buyers The Big One Never Could When the battery is low, drivers will be thankful for the 800-volt electrical architecture and the 330 kW DC fast charging capability. It will enable the GLC to get up to 188 miles (303 km) of range in as little as 10 minutes. SHproshots

LAPD uses plainclothes officers in jaywalking sting operations. Drivers are stopped for not yielding to unmarked crosswalks. Pedestrian deaths in the Valley surpassed homicides in 2025. A random person walking in the middle of a busy street is often seen as a nuisance. They present what appears to be a completely unnecessary safety risk. Nevertheless, that’s exactly the position that LAPD allegedly put multiple people in so that the department could pull over drivers who didn’t stop for pedestrians. Officers say the “targeted operation’ was meant to enhance safety. Citizens say it’s entrapment. More: LAPD Cruiser Hits One Of Its Own Officers On Foot During High-Speed Pursuit Footage taken by a local during one operation shows officers, some in plain clothes, crossing streets outside marked crosswalks as part of a “pedestrian enforcement detail.” Drivers who failed to yield were pulled over by motorcycle units, drawing criticism from locals and online commenters. Safety Campaign or Tactical Setup? Again, many called the practice “entrapment,” questioning whether police should be orchestrating scenarios to catch traffic violations. “They’re hiding in parking lots and hiring people to walk across the street,” a witness in Woodland Hills said, as the video circulated on social media. “Whoever passes them, they get pulled over. Look at the cops. Y’all are f—– up. That is crazy!” The LAPD defended the operation to ABC 7, saying it took place in “high injury” areas known for severe collisions, and that the aim is to educate drivers and improve pedestrian safety. Here’s the kicker. California law treats unmarked crosswalks the same as marked ones, meaning drivers are legally required to yield either way. In other words, if a drunk person wanders into the road, traffic should stop completely until that person figures out where they want to go. Several local citizens took up the attitude that the LAPD probably has better things to do. That said, the police say that pedestrian fatalities are higher than homicides in the area. They didn’t define whether those deaths were the result of folks failing to stop for people crossing the road or if those pedestrians were doing something else. A few months ago, an LAPD police car hit and killed a pedestrian. It’s unclear if that death was also included in the statistics. Credit: ABC 7

Wuling has introduced the new Xingguang 560 SUV. It offers gas, plug-in hybrid, and electric powertrains. Larger than the Equinox, the model starts at $8,581. Western brands have been struggling in China, but GM is the rare exception as the company and its joint ventures delivered nearly 1.9 million vehicles last year. That was up 2.3 percent compared to 2024 and this was largely driven by sales of New Energy Vehicles such as the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV, which found over 435,000 takers. More: China’s New Cadillac XT5 Will Make You Jealous We Don’t Get It Here GM is looking for continued success with the new Wuling Xingguang 560, which is a mid-size crossover that will be offered with gas, plug-in hybrid, and electric powertrains. The company said surprisingly little about the model, but it features a slender grille that is flanked by sweptback headlights with X-shaped daytime running lights. They’re joined by a powertrain-specific front end, which is enclosed on electrified models and open on the ICE-powered variant. Moving further back, we can see plastic body cladding and an available contrasting roof. Other highlights include stylish wheels, a liftgate-mounted spoiler, and X-like taillights. The model also has a rear pillar and window treatment that closely recalls the Subaru Forester. How Big Is It? In terms of size, the Xingguang 560 measures 186.8 inches (4,745 mm) long, 72.8 inches (1,850 mm) wide, and 69.1 inches (1,755 mm) tall with a wheelbase that spans 110.6 inches (2,810 mm). To put those numbers into perspective, the model is 3.6 inches (91 mm) longer than the Chevrolet Equinox and has an extra 3.1 inches (79 mm) between the wheels. The interior has a minimalist design with a digital instrument cluster and an infotainment system that reportedly measures 12.8 inches. They’re accompanied by a two-spoke steering wheel, distinctive air vents, and a center console that appears to have a dual wireless smartphone charger. Wuling was coy on specifics, but said the crossover offers up to 68.7 cubic feet (1,945 liters) of cargo room when the second-row is folded flat. They added the model has more than 25 storage compartments, including one hidden beneath the rear seats. Powertrain Options On the performance front, the Xingguang 560 will be offered with a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine that produces 174 hp (130 kW / 177 PS) and 214 lb-ft (290 Nm) of torque. It can be paired to either a six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission. Customers can also opt for a plug-in hybrid, which offers a WLTC combined range of up to 684 miles (1,100 km). Wuling didn’t elaborate, but an earlier report from CarNewsChina said this variant has a 1.5-liter engine and an electric-only range of 78 miles (125 km). Last but not least, there’s a fully electric variant that has a CLTC range of up to 311 miles (500 km). It’s said to have a 60 kWh battery pack as well as an electric motor developing 134 hp (100 kW / 136 PS). How Much Does It Cost? To help promote the model’s launch, Wuling is offering introductory pricing that ranges from $8,581 (¥59,800) to $13,746 (¥95,800). After this offer expires, pricing will apparently climb to $9,155 – $14,751 (¥63,800 – ¥102,800).