It was a genuinely strange week across the auto world, spanning a reality check on cheap-EV hype, an actual winnable 850-horsepower Shelby, a deep dive into a viral auto-debt scare, and a story so odd it barely sounds real. Here’s a rundown of the stories worth catching up on this weekend.
Slate’s $25K Electric Truck Deserves a Reality Check, Not Just Hype
The internet has crowned Slate Auto’s $24,950 electric pickup the savior of the affordable car market, but the actual spec sheet tells a more sobering story: 205 miles of range, 181 horsepower, two seats, and rear-wheel drive only. We break down why “radically simple” often just translates to “several expected features are missing,” and why a refundable deposit is not the same thing as a guaranteed vehicle in your driveway.
An 850-HP Shelby Super Snake-R, and Someone Could Actually Win It
The 2026 Shelby Super Snake-R is the most extreme Super Snake the company has ever built, packing a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 producing more than 850 horsepower through a six-speed manual transmission. Serial number three of just 100 ever built is being given away, and this time getting in requires a donation rather than a serious checkbook.
We Checked the $1.7 Trillion Auto Debt Panic Against the Actual Data
A viral report warned that America’s $1.7 trillion in outstanding auto debt is pushing repossessions back toward Great Recession-era levels. We went directly to primary sources to separate fact from fear-mongering. The verdict ends up mixed: the large headline numbers are genuinely real, but the scariest interpretation of that headline doesn’t fully hold up under scrutiny.
Trump Directs the DOJ to Examine Big Oil Over Gas Prices
Anyone who’s watched the total spin past $50 before the tank hits halfway already knows the frustration, and now the administration is weighing in as well. We look at the move directing the Department of Justice to examine Big Oil over persistently high gas prices, and what it could realistically mean for drivers at the pump.
Stop-Sign Cameras Are About to Get Far More Common
Red light and speed cameras have sparked plenty of debate for years already. Now a newer form of automated enforcement is targeting a behavior millions of drivers commit daily without a second thought: rolling through stop signs and failing to yield at crosswalks. Here’s why these cameras are about to become considerably more widespread.
A Deceased NASCAR Champion Just Won a Moose Lottery
In a story that’s genuinely too strange to make up, a deceased NASCAR champion was just announced as a winner in Maine’s annual moose permit lottery. We dig into the odd circumstances behind one of the week’s most bizarre headlines in the sport.
That’s a wrap for this weekend. Check back next week for more news, deals, and deep dives from The Auto Wire.