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Hyundai Ioniq 6 electric sedan unveiling: 340-mile range, 320 horsepower, 77.4kWh battery
Hyundai has unveiled its new all-electric sedan, the Hyundai Ioniq 6.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 made its first appearance earlier this year, and now the vehicle will be coming to the U.S. in the spring of next year. Today’s unveiling at the LA Auto Show included numerous details about the model coming to the U.S. There is a lot to be excited about.
First of all, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 offers some impressive technical specifications. The sedan has either a single-motor rear-wheel-drive or a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. The model with the single-motor rear-wheel-drive setup produces a respectable 225 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. While with the Ioniq 6’s optional AWD system, customers get 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. An impressive amount of power that will rocket the family sedan from 0-60 in under 5 seconds.
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- Credit: Hyundai
Both drivetrains are powered by a 77.4kWh battery that gives the aerodynamic sedan a range of up to 340 miles. And charging the battery will be no problem either, charging from 10-80% in 18 minutes. Sadly, the smaller 53kWh battery sold in other markets will not be available in the U.S. Hyundai didn’t specify an MSRP for any of the upcoming trims at the launch event today.
Outside of just the drivetrain, the Ioniq 6 has a myriad of features, such as vehicle-to-load capability, over-the-air updates, and numerous charge ports sprinkled throughout the cabin to keep your devices topped off.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 has nearly identical specifications to its larger sibling, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, because both vehicles are built on the same “E-GMP” platform. However, with the improved aerodynamics of the Ioniq 6 (a drag coefficient of 0.22), customers have access to increased range with the same battery system.
While impressive, the specifications of the vehicle were not the focus of the unveiling today. Presenters focused on the numerous design elements of the new car and how they affect the occupants’ experience. “We want our cars to always connect with customers on an emotional level,” said SangYup Lee, executive vice president and head of Hyundai Design Center.
First, the sedan’s interior space was a central focus point. Hyundai specifically outlined the significant legroom and width found within the new car. Body panels have been compressed to allow maximum interior space, while the ambient lighting system makes the already spacious cabin feel even more extensive.
The lighting system wasn’t only a selling point for the interior space. Much like the active sound design, the ambient lighting can be set to brighten and dim as the vehicle accelerates and decelerates, only furthering the feeling of speed.
Lighting was also a focus on the exterior design of the Ioniq 6. Hyundai has created a unique design language using square lights, most prominently seen on the headlights and taillights of both the Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 5. These “pixels,” as Hyundai calls them, are added to the top of the Hyundai Ioniq 6’s functional rear wing, and even make their way inside as part of driver-focused U/I elements.
Finally, Hyundai stressed the sustainability focus of its design. Not only was the company dedicated to using “earth-friendly materials,” but it also emphasized that the aerodynamic shape added to the product’s sustainability, helping consumers charge less often and use less energy in their transportation.
In his concluding statements, José Muñoz, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor North America, stated, “[the] Ioniq 6 fits the image, efficiency, and sportiness that many owners desire. Ioniq 6 and its interior space, battery options, charging speed, and all-wheel drive capability will exceed customer expectations.”
After introducing the Ioniq 6 in the spring of next year, it will eventually be produced at Hyundai’s new Georgia-based EV production facility along with numerous other planned products, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 7 full-size SUV that will be coming in 2024.
It is clear that Hyundai has found success with its uniquely designed electric vehicles, and many are looking forward to their Ioniq 6 reservation being filled. It will certainly be an exciting day when the Ioniq 6 finally hits the roads of North America.
Photo Credit: Hyundai Motors North America
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Tesla arsonist who burned Cybertruck sees end of FAFO journey
The man has now reached the “Find Out” stage.
A Mesa, Arizona man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for setting fire to a Tesla location and vehicle in a politically motivated arson attack, federal prosecutors have stated.
The April 2025 incident destroyed a Tesla Cybertruck, endangered first responders, and triggered mandatory sentencing under federal arson laws.
A five-year sentence
U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa sentenced Ian William Moses, 35, of Mesa, Arizona, to 5 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for maliciously damaging property and vehicles by means of fire. Moses pleaded guilty in October to all five counts brought by a federal grand jury. Restitution will be determined at a hearing scheduled for April 13, 2026.
As per court records, surveillance footage showed Moses arriving at a Tesla store in Mesa shortly before 2 a.m. on April 28, 2025, carrying a gasoline can and backpack. Investigators stated that he placed fire starter logs near the building, poured gasoline on the structure and three vehicles, and ignited the fire. The blaze destroyed a Tesla Cybertruck. Moses fled the scene on a bicycle and was arrested by Mesa police about a quarter mile away, roughly an hour later.
Authorities said Moses was still wearing the same clothing seen on camera at the time of his arrest and was carrying a hand-drawn map marking the dealership’s location. Moses also painted the word “Theif” on the walls of the Tesla location, prompting jokes from social media users and Tesla community members.
The “Finding Out” stage
U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine noted that Moses’ sentence reflects the gravity of his crime. He also highlighted that arson is never acceptable.
“Arson can never be an acceptable part of American politics. Mr. Moses’ actions endangered the public and first responders and could have easily turned deadly. This five-year sentence reflects the gravity of these crimes and makes clear that politically fueled attacks on Arizona’s communities and businesses will be met with full accountability.”
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell echoed the same sentiments, stating that regardless of Moses’ sentiments towards Elon Musk, his actions are not defensible.
“This sentence sends a clear message: violence and intimidation have no place in our community. Setting fire to a business in retaliation for political or personal grievances is not protest, it is a crime. Our community deserves to feel safe, and this sentence underscores that Maricopa County will not tolerate political violence in any form.”
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Tesla says its Texas lithium refinery is now operational and unlike anything in North America
Elon Musk separately described the site as both the most advanced and the largest lithium refinery in the United States.
Tesla has confirmed that its Texas lithium refinery is now operational, marking a major milestone for the company’s U.S. battery supply chain. In a newly released video, Tesla staff detailed how the facility converts raw spodumene ore directly into battery-grade lithium hydroxide, making it the first refinery of its kind in North America.
Elon Musk separately described the site as both the most advanced and the largest lithium refinery in the United States.
A first-of-its-kind lithium refining process
In the video, Tesla staff at the Texas lithium refinery near Corpus Christi explained that the facility processes spodumene, a lithium-rich hard-rock ore, directly into battery-grade lithium hydroxide on site. The approach bypasses intermediate refining steps commonly used elsewhere in the industry.
According to the staff, spodumene is processed through kilns and cooling systems before undergoing alkaline leaching, purification, and crystallization. The resulting lithium hydroxide is suitable for use in batteries for energy storage and electric vehicles. Tesla employees noted that the process is simpler and less expensive than traditional refining methods.
Staff at the facility added that the process eliminates hazardous byproducts typically associated with lithium refining. “Our process is more sustainable than traditional methods and eliminates hazardous byproducts, and instead produces a co-product named anhydrite, used in concrete mixes,” an employee noted.
Musk calls the facility the largest lithium refinery in America
The refinery’s development timeline has been very impressive. The project moved from breaking ground in 2023 to integrated plant startup in 2025 by running feasibility studies, design, and construction in parallel. This compressed schedule enabled the fastest time-to-market for a refinery using this type of technology. This 2026, the facility has become operational.
Elon Musk echoed the significance of the project in posts on X, stating that “the largest Lithium refinery in America is now operational.” In a separate comment, Musk described the site as “the most advanced lithium refinery in the world” and emphasized that the facility is “very clean.”
By bringing large-scale lithium hydroxide production online in Texas, Tesla is positioning itself to reduce reliance on foreign refining capacity while supporting its growth in battery and vehicle production. The refinery also complements Tesla’s nascent domestic battery manufacturing efforts, which could very well be a difference maker in the market.
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Tesla Optimus V3 gets early third-party feedback, and it’s eye-opening
Jason Calacanis’ remarks, which were shared during a discussion at CES 2026, offered one of the first third-party impressions of the yet-to-be-unveiled robot
Angel investor and entrepreneur Jason Calacanis shared some insights after he got an early look at Tesla’s upcoming Optimus V3. His remarks, which were shared during a discussion at CES 2026, offered one of the first third-party impressions of the yet-to-be-unveiled robot.
Calacanis’ comments were shared publicly on X, and they were quite noteworthy.
The angel investor stated that he visited Tesla’s Optimus lab on a Sunday morning and observed that the place was buzzing with energy. The investor then shared a rare, shocking insight. As per Calacanis, Optimus V3 will be so revolutionary that people will probably not even remember that Tesla used to make cars in the future.
“I don’t want to name drop, but two Sundays ago, I went to Tesla with Elon and I went and visited the Optimus lab. There were a large number of people working on a Sunday at 10 a.m. and I saw Optimus 3. I can tell you now, nobody will remember that Tesla ever made a car,” he noted.
The angel investor also reiterated the primary advantage of Optimus, and how it could effectively change the world.
“They will only remember the Optimus and that he is going to make a billion of those, and it is going to be the most transformative technology product ever made in the history of humanity, because what LLMs are gonna enable those products to do is understand the world and then do things in the world that we don’t want to do. I believe there will be a 1:1 ratio of humans to Optimus, and I think he’s already won,” he said.
While Calacanis’ comments were clearly opinion-driven, they stood out as among the first from a non-Tesla employee about Optimus V3. Considering his reaction to the humanoid robot, perhaps Elon Musk’s predictions for Optimus V3 might not be too far-fetched at all.
Tesla has been careful with its public messaging around Optimus V3’s development stage. Musk has previously stated on X that Optimus V3 has not yet been revealed publicly, clarifying that images and videos of the robot online still show Optimus V2 and V2.5, not the next-generation unit. As for Calacanis’ recent comments, however, Musk responded with a simple “Probably true” in a post on X.
Tesla arsonist who burned Cybertruck sees end of FAFO journey
Tesla says its Texas lithium refinery is now operational and unlike anything in North America
