It’s been a busy news week in the automotive world. The LA Auto Show just wrapped up, and honestly? It was kind of perfect. You had shiny new EVs with four-figure horsepower sitting next to a beat-up VW Bus that survived a wildfire. You had automakers unveiling their "future of mobility" while simultaneously recalling hundreds of thousands of vehicles because fuel tanks might melt.

That's the automotive world right now... equal parts promise and disaster, and we're all just trying to figure out which lane we're in.

Here's what happened while you were ignoring your own check engine light:

🚘 From the LA Auto Show (Nov 21-30, 2025)

2027 Kia Telluride Gets Boxier and Hybrid
Kia unveiled the completely redesigned Telluride at the show with a boxier design and its first hybrid powertrain. The 2.5-liter turbo-hybrid makes 329 hp, because apparently even family haulers need to be more efficient now.

Jeep Recon Finally Goes Electric
Jeep showed off the production Recon, their new all-electric off-roader that aims to bring Trail Rated credentials to the EV segment. They even put it in different outdoor scenarios at the pre-show party... forest, desert, ski area. Trail rated but make it silent.

2026 Nissan Pathfinder Gets Sharper
The refreshed Pathfinder debuted with sharper looks and smarter tech including an "invisible hood view." But the powertrain stays the same, so at least that's one less thing to worry about breaking.

Porsche Cayenne Electric Packs 1,140 HP
Porsche showcased the all-electric Cayenne with up to 1,140 horsepower. Because when you're already making heavy EVs, you might as well make them absolutely ridiculous.

Lucid Gravity Touring Gets More Affordable
Lucid brought the Gravity Touring with 560 hp, $79,900 starting price, and 337 miles of range. "Affordable" is relative when we're still talking eighty grand for an SUV.

That Palisades Fire VW Bus Is Back
Remember that vintage VW Bus that survived the Palisades Fire earlier this year, shining like a ray of hope amid the ash? It's at the show, parked near its spiritual descendent, the electric ID Buzz. Your piece of shit really is beautiful sometimes.

U.S. New Vehicle Sales Projected to Drop 5.2% in November
Total new-vehicle sales for November are projected at 1,255,900 units, down 5.2% year-over-year. The pullback is largely from the September EV tax credit expiration... people accelerated purchases before they disappeared, and now we're feeling the hangover.

EV Sales Drop to Just 6% of Market
EVs are expected to account for just 6% of new vehicle retail sales in November, down from 12.9% in September. Meanwhile, EV discounts average $11,869, up from October but still not enough to move the metal.

GM Orders Suppliers to Eliminate Chinese Parts by 2027
GM directed suppliers to find permanent alternatives to Chinese semiconductors following the Nexperia supply disruption. Automakers are shifting from global just-in-time supply chains to "regional supply chain resiliency," which is a fancy way of saying they're scrambling to figure out Plan B.

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Toyota Recalls 127,000 Vehicles for Engine Debris
Toyota is recalling approximately 127,000 Tundra pickups and Lexus GX/LX SUVs because machining debris from production may not have been completely removed from the engine. This can cause engine knocking, rough running, failure to start, or... you know, just complete engine failure. No big deal.

Hyundai and Kia Recall 336,000 Vehicles for Melting Fuel Tanks
Over 250,000 Kia K5 sedans and 85,000 Hyundai Sonatas are being recalled because a faulty check valve can allow pressurized air into the fuel tank, causing it to expand and contact hot exhaust components. Yes, your fuel tank can literally melt. Happy Holidays.

Ford Recalls 230,000 Broncos for Instrument Panel Failure
More than 229,600 Broncos and Bronco Sports are recalled because the instrument panel cluster may fail at startup, preventing you from seeing critical info like your speed and warning lights. On the bright side, if you can't see the check engine light, does it really exist?

Honda Recalls 256,000 Accord Hybrids for Stalling
Pretty much all 2023-2025 Accord Hybrid sedans produced through October 24, 2025 are being recalled because a software issue may cause a loss of drive power. The fix is new CPU software, because apparently cars are just computers on wheels now.

112,000 Jeep 4xe PHEVs Recalled for Fire Risk
Stellantis is recalling Grand Cherokee and Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrids because debris in the engine may cause engine failure or an engine compartment fire. The remedy? Still under development. So just... park outside for now.

20,500 Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair PHEVs Fire Risk
Ford's recalling Escape and Corsair plug-in hybrids because a manufacturing defect in the high-voltage battery cells may result in a short circuit and battery failure. More vehicles to park outside until further notice.

Hyundai Recalls 143,000 Santa Fe SUVs for Backup Camera
Hyundai is recalling Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid SUVs over a backup camera issue. Because apparently we can't have nice things... or functioning safety features.

FBI Seizes $13M Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster
In a high-profile case, the FBI reportedly seized a rare, multi-million dollar Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster.

Even exotic cars aren't immune to legal drama. Somewhere out there, someone's having a really bad month that makes your check engine light seem pretty manageable.

Look, we're all just trying to keep our cars running and our anxiety managed. At least we're in it together... and at least our fuel tanks aren't melting.

Want more automotive anxiety? Hit reply and tell me what's keeping your check engine light company these days.

-Nick
Founder, PURSUIT OF SOMETHING

P.S. - That VW Bus that survived the Palisades Fire is at the LA Auto Show right now, parked next to the electric ID Buzz. Seeing it brought back memories of my family's Bus... we had some absolutely wild times in that thing. I'll save those stories for another newsletter, but trust me, if you thought surviving a wildfire was impressive, wait until you hear what ours lived through.

About Pursuit of Something: I'm Nick, and I'm building a community for everyone who's ever had a complex emotional relationship with a machine that doesn't care about them. Through YouTube videos, this newsletter, and way too much time in my garage, I document the beautiful chaos of automotive ownership. Your piece of shit is beautiful.