Morning Drive: Seatbelts, Six-Figure Skylines, and a V6 Everest With Raptor Swagger

Some days the car world hums along on specs and spy shots. Today? It’s a little messier—and more interesting. We’ve got a serious safety recall out of Suzuki, Polestar tightening its belt while taking a big lifeline, a Ford Everest that’s been hitting the same gym as the Ranger Raptor, and a robotaxi reality check that reads like the setup to a dystopian film. Sprinkle in a $600k Skyline, a dieselgate aftershock, and a Scottish holiday food run in a BMW M3, and you’ve got the kind of news brief that reminds you why this business is never dull.

Safety First: Suzuki Fronx Recall After Seatbelt Failure

Start with the serious one. Suzuki has issued an official safety recall for the Fronx after a reported seatbelt failure triggered what they called an “urgent investigation.” If you’re running school drop-offs or holiday road trips in a Fronx, this is not the bit of drama you need. The advice is simple: check your VIN, book it in, and get the fix done promptly. I’ve dealt with enough recall campaigns over the years to know the best ones are the boring ones—quick dealership visit, updated part, back on the road with minimal fuss.

• Issue: Reported seatbelt failure leading to recall
• Action: Owners should schedule dealer inspection and remedy
• Tip: If you share the car, make sure everyone knows to belt up correctly until remedied

EV Reality Check: Polestar Shutters UK R&D, Secures $900M Lifeline

Polestar’s week is a tale of two headlines. The Swedish EV brand is closing its last UK R&D facility while taking a roughly $900 million lifeline to steady the ship. On one hand, it’s a consolidation move we’ve seen before in leaner times; on the other, R&D closures rarely scream “growth mode.”

I’ve always liked how the Polestar 2 feels over a scruffy B-road—taut but not brittle, with that quietly obsessive Swedish vibe to the cabin. The brand’s challenge is less about building good cars and more about surviving the next 24 months of EV market turbulence. Cash in, costs out. Expect a sharper product focus and longer gestation between variants. For owners and would-be buyers, that probably means more over-the-air updates and a slower cadence of new sheetmetal.

• Funding secured: approximately $900M
• Operational change: final UK R&D site closed
• Outlook: leaner lineup strategy, heavier emphasis on software updates

Big-Torque Family Bruiser: Ford Everest Tremor Gets the V6 Treatment

Ford has decided the Everest deserves some of the Ranger Raptor’s thunder. The new Everest Tremor adopts a 260 kW V6—yes, that’s the “proper” shove you feel in your spine merging uphill with a trailer on the hitch. Ford’s off-road tune and suspension tweaks should make it a nicely judged adventure family bus. I ran a Ranger Raptor on corrugated dirt last month and came back grinning; if the Everest Tremor borrows even 70% of that composure, it’ll be a standout on rough camping tracks and school-run speed humps alike.

Two quick thoughts from a dad who’s packed an SUV to the roofline more times than he’ll admit:

• If Ford keeps the cabin storage smarts (that deep center bin and handy door cubbies), this will be a road-trip ace.
• Watch tire choice. Aggressive rubber looks tough but can add drone on long freeway stints.

How It Stacks Up (On Paper)

If towing is your life, the diesel still makes a strong case. If you want the weekend fun and a bit of snarl, this V6 Tremor is the one you’ll test-drive twice.

Motorsport Meets Couch: Hyundai i30 N TCR Hits Gran Turismo 7

Hyundai’s “N” division turns 10, and to celebrate, the i30 N TCR racer is landing in Gran Turismo 7. It’s a neat full-circle moment—remember the first i30 N hot hatch? It felt like Hyundai kicked the door in at the front-drive performance party. I’ve done track days in the road car, and the character is all about playful rotation and a punchy midrange. Now you can chase lap times in the virtual paddock too. Maybe dial back the traction control, leave stability in its friendlier setting, and learn to breathe on turn-in. Sim time genuinely sharpens real-world car control.

Collector Corner: The $600K “Not-So-Regular” R34 GT-R

Here’s one that stopped me mid-scroll: a Skyline GT-R that looks almost stock but isn’t—tuned by Tommykaira and reportedly trading north of $600,000. The charm with these cars is how subtlety equals status. OEM-like bodywork, factory vibe inside, and then the right people realize what it is and start nodding. We’re past the point of rationality with rare R34s, but if you’ve ever driven one hard, you’ll understand the cult. The steering has that perfect telepathy, and once the turbos wake up, it’s all horizon and heart rate.

• Model: R34 GT-R with Tommykaira tuning
• Reported price: over $600,000
• Why it matters: top-tier tuners and period-correct builds keep appreciating

Regulation, Money, and Other Grown-Up Stuff

Mercedes’ Dieselgate Aftershock: Another $150 Million

Dieselgate’s long tail just flicked again—this time for Mercedes, with an extra bill in the neighborhood of $150 million. The financial sting is one thing; the reputational drag is the bigger tax. Every new diesel they sell now has to pass through a denser cloud of skepticism, even as many buyers quietly love the real-world range and torque. Lesson learned, repeatedly: the emissions game leaves no wiggle room in 2025.

Robotaxis vs. Blackouts: Not a Great Night Out

In a citywide blackout, several robotaxis reportedly froze, blocked lanes, and generally became high-tech street furniture. It’s the nightmare scenario I’ve asked AV engineers about over coffee: what happens when the lights go out and the network blips? Redundancy matters. The path to autonomy isn’t just AI and sensors—it’s resilience. Backup comms, safe-harbor protocols, and human override strategies need to be bulletproof, because chaos doesn’t RSVP.

California’s Gas Price Risk: A Self-Inflicted Squeeze

California could see gasoline prices spike as refineries shutter and the state’s boutique fuel requirements shrink supply elasticity. It’s a classic case of policy and infrastructure not marching in step. If you’re running a long commute in LA and your spreadsheet says “EV,” your gut might be right. If you can’t make the switch yet, keep an eye on pricing windows and loyalty programs—boring advice, yes, but it adds up.

Road-Trip Therapy: An M3 and Scotland’s Festive Best

Autocar’s seasonal adventure in a BMW M3 across Scotland in search of the best festive food reads like an enthusiast’s love letter to winter. I’ve done that dance in an M3—cold start chatter, Michelin rubber finding faith on damp tarmac, that precise front end sniffing out grip on a single-track pass. You end up timing lunch stops to the good roads, and if you arrive early? Even better. More time for a muddy layby photo and a warm pie.

Quick Hits

• Suzuki Fronx owners: act on the recall; safety-first, no excuses.
• Polestar trims costs, banks $900M—expect fewer variants, more software polish.
• Everest Tremor finally gets the muscle to match its stance: 260 kW V6.
• Tommykaira-tuned R34 GT-R nudges past $600k; unicorns keep unicorn-ing.
• Robotaxis need better blackout playbooks. Full stop.

Conclusion

From seatbelts to six-figure Skylines, today’s headlines are a mix of practical decisions and passion-fueled madness. If you’re shopping: watch the Everest Tremor. If you’re an EV skeptic: keep an eye on how Polestar tightens its game. And if you’re heading for holiday roads, treat yourself to a detour that makes the drive the point. That’s what keeps us in love with this whole noisy, complicated universe.

FAQ

Is my Suzuki Fronx affected by the seatbelt recall?

Check your VIN with your dealer and schedule an inspection. If your car is in the affected build range, the fix will be performed at no cost.

What engine does the Ford Everest Tremor use?

A V6 petrol rated at 260 kW. Full torque figures and detailed hardware will vary by market; expect a 10-speed auto and serious off-road intent.

What does Polestar’s UK R&D closure mean for owners?

Primarily an internal cost move. Your car’s support continues, and software updates should keep rolling. New product cadence may slow.

Why did robotaxis struggle during a blackout?

Loss of power and comms can disrupt mapping, connectivity, and decision-making redundancy. It underlines the need for robust fail-safe protocols.

Could California gas prices really spike soon?

Yes. Refinery closures and specialized fuel requirements reduce supply flexibility. Timing fill-ups and considering an EV or hybrid can help manage costs.