Daily Drive: V8 Rumors, Smarter EVs, and a Balloon in a Cybertruck Bed

I love mornings like this. Coffee still hot, inbox buzzing, and the car world doing its best impression of a plot twist. There’s talk of V8s roaring back to life, subtle EV upgrades that actually matter, a seven-seat PHEV promising a road-trip’s worth of range, and Tesla… floating a new idea. Literally.

ICE Isn’t Dead Yet: Big V8 Muscle Rumor Gathers Steam

According to a fresh report out of CarExpert, a major US carmaker is reportedly reversing course and lining up new V8 muscle cars. In 2025, that’s a sentence you don’t expect to read without a time machine. But it tracks with what I’ve heard in parking-lot chats and track-day whispers: demand for characterful performance hasn’t evaporated—buyers just want choice. Hybrids for the weekday grind, something loud and a little unhinged for Saturday night.

I’ll keep my ear to the ground here. If the rumor holds, expect a careful blend of tradition and tech: think emissions hardware, likely some electrified assist down the line, and the sort of design that makes valet lots pause mid-scan.

Family EVs and Hybrids: Smart Tweaks, Big Promises

2026 Ford Mustang Mach‑E: The Quiet Mid-Cycle Massage

CarExpert says the Mustang Mach‑E gets a minor refresh for 2026. That sounds about right; the current car’s fundamentals are solid. I ran one over some lumpy country backroads last autumn and appreciated how planted it felt—quiet, composed, with only a hint of suspension chatter on square-edged bumps. A mid-cycle tidy-up likely means cleaner styling, improved infotainment responsiveness, and the sort of range and charging tweaks that don’t read dramatic but feel better in daily life. The goal? Make the already good bits more seamless, especially in urban stop‑start and suburban family duty.

• What I’m hoping for: quicker UI transitions, smarter route planning with charging stops, and refined ride calibration over rough patches.
• What it signals: EVs maturing into appliances you trust, that still feel like a Mustang when you’re alone on a good road.

Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid: Seven Seats, Big-Country Range

Here’s the headline-grabber: CarExpert reports the 2026 Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid claims up to 1250 km of range for around $60k (seven seats included). That’s PHEV logic taken to its logical conclusion—handy EV running around town with the security of serious road-trip legs. If the price and range stand up in the real world, this could be the value disruptor for big families who don’t want to play charging-station roulette on school holidays.

• Seven-seat practicality with plug-in flexibility.
• Claimed 1250 km total range and a circa $60k price tag.
• Feels aimed squarely at budget-conscious families who travel far, often.

Mercedes-Benz VLE: The EV People Mover Takes Shape

CarExpert also says Mercedes is developing the next-gen EV people mover, codenamed VLE. This is the quiet revolution. Once electric MPVs go properly premium—and not just vans with screens—airport runs soften, family getaways get calmer, and every rideshare feels a little more first-class. Expect major gains in packaging, refinement, and cabin tech. If they nail third-row comfort and charging consistency, minivans-by-another-name suddenly become aspirational again.

Quick Compare: Three Ways to Move the Crew (Electrified)

Euro Watch: Audi A4 Gets TT Flair and Fresh Tech

Autocar reports the new 2026 Audi A4 will land with next-gen tech and a TT-inspired look. That last bit makes me smile. The TT’s design—clean arcs, crisp surfacing—always aged well. Bring some of that restraint to a modern A4, layer in the latest driver assistance and infotainment stack, and you’ve got a proper executive saloon that doesn’t scream for attention. I’m curious how Audi balances tactile controls with screen real estate; recent long-haul drives have me appreciating cars that keep core functions on real buttons.

Personalization Nation: Mahindra XUV 3XO Adds More Flavor

Per CarExpert, Mahindra’s 2026 XUV 3XO adds fresh personalisation options. That’s the right move for shoppers who care about the details: trims, textures, wheels, contrasting accents—the stuff you touch and see every day. It’s also the easiest way to make a mass-market crossover feel, well, yours. I’ve seen owners light up more over a just-right interior color than a tenth off the 0–100 time.

Fleet Sense: Why Australia’s Savvier Businesses Are Going Electric

CarExpert’s take tracks with what I hear from fleet managers: EVs are winning on total cost of ownership—lower running costs, simpler maintenance schedules, and increasingly competitive purchase pricing. In Australia, add in policy nudges and the math tilts further. I took a pool EV for a week covering both city calls and a regional loop; charging at the depot overnight turned “fuel planning” into a non-issue. The new challenge is software: getting telematics and charge management to play nicely with busy schedules.

• Lower fueling and maintenance costs over the vehicle’s life.
• Driver satisfaction: quieter cabins, instant torque in traffic.
• Operational caveat: plan for charging access and reliable software.

Weird and Wonderful

Tesla’s Balloon Idea to Curb Towing Range Loss

Carscoops flagged a delightfully odd one: Tesla testing an inflatable solution—yes, a balloon in the Cybertruck’s bed—as a way to smooth airflow and reduce the brutal range penalty when towing. If you’ve ever watched your projected range fall off a cliff with a boxy trailer in tow, you know why this matters. Aerodynamics are merciless. If an inflatable fairing can tame the wake and give back a meaningful chunk of miles, the joke writes itself, but so does the business case.

The Walking Dead Auction: Ride Like Daryl, Drive Like Dale

Also via Carscoops, props and vehicles from The Walking Dead are heading to auction. Expect screen-worn grit and apocalypse patina—motorcycles that look one bad decision from a chase scene, and that lovable RV that’s basically a character itself. If you’re the type to daily a TV-famous relic, just be ready for strangers to stop and ask for the story at every petrol station.

Final Thoughts

Today’s spread feels like a mirror of where we actually live as drivers: the heart wants a V8, the brain wants a smart EV, and the wallet wants a hybrid that goes forever between top-ups. Somewhere in there, an inflatable bubble is making towing better. Frankly, I’m here for all of it.

Quick Hits

• V8 muscle rumors suggest the soul of American performance isn’t done singing.
• Mach‑E tweaks should sharpen an already agreeable daily EV.
• Chery’s seven-seat PHEV could be the long-range family bargain to watch.
• Mercedes’ VLE hints at the luxe EV shuttle we’ve been waiting for.
• Audi’s A4 goes tasteful with TT cues and fresh tech.

FAQ

Are new V8 muscle cars really coming back?

According to CarExpert, a major US carmaker is considering a return to V8 muscle with a course correction. It’s still a rumor, but it aligns with ongoing demand for characterful performance cars alongside electrification.

What’s changing on the 2026 Ford Mustang Mach‑E?

CarExpert describes it as a minor refresh. Expect subtle styling, software, and usability improvements rather than a ground-up overhaul.

How far can the Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid go?

CarExpert reports a claimed total range of up to 1250 km, with a price around $60k and seven seats. Real-world figures will depend on how and where you drive.

What is the Mercedes-Benz VLE?

It’s an upcoming next-gen electric people mover in development, aimed at delivering premium multi-row space and refinement with a fully electric drivetrain.

What’s Tesla’s “balloon” for towing about?

Per Carscoops, Tesla is testing an inflatable device in the Cybertruck’s bed intended to streamline airflow when towing and reduce range loss. It’s an aerodynamic experiment with a practical goal.