Connect with us

Published

on

Pope Francis photographed on August 9, 2023, in Vatican City.

Vatican Pool | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Pope Francis issued a stark reminder about the effects of climate change on Wednesday, warning that “the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point.”

“Despite all attempts to deny, conceal, gloss over or relativize the issue, the signs of climate change are here and increasingly evident,” the pope said in a letter titled Laudate Deum, or Praise God.

“No one can ignore the fact that in recent years we have witnessed extreme weather phenomena, frequent periods of unusual heat, drought and other cries of protest on the part of the earth that are only a few palpable expressions of a silent disease that affects everyone,” the letter added.

It also made a point of stressing that “specific climate changes provoked by humanity are notably heightening the probability of extreme phenomena that are increasingly frequent and intense.”

Stock picks and investing trends from CNBC Pro:

The beginning of the letter seeks to contextualize the state of play in 2023, signaling changes since the publication of an encyclical letter, ‘Laudato si’, in 2015.

Highlighting the impact of climate change on human lives, Francis said he now “realized that our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point.”

This is being felt in a range of areas, from forced migrations and healthcare to housing, access to resources and sources of employment, he said.

COP28, fossil fuels and renewables

Francis also touched on the upcoming COP28 climate change summit in the United Arab Emirates, which will kick off at the end of November.

His letter described the UAE as “a country of the Persian Gulf known as a great exporter of fossil fuels, although it has made significant investments in renewable energy sources.”

It also noted that oil and gas firms were still “planning new projects there, with the aim of further increasing their production.”

The UAE has been previously criticized for assuming the COP28 presidency, given its role as a large fossil fuel producer.

The pope expressed hope that those participating in the conference will be “strategists capable of considering the common good and the future of their children, more than the short-term interests of certain countries or businesses,” and that the summit will lead to “binding forms of energy transition that meet three conditions: that they be efficient, obligatory and readily monitored.”

He also argued that the current transition towards clean energy sources and the abandonment of fossil fuels is not advancing at the “necessary speed” and that “whatever is being done risks being seen only as a ploy to distract attention.”

Continue Reading

Environment

Chevy Equinox EV or the Hyundai IONIQ 5: Which makes the better lease?

Published

on

By

Chevy Equinox EV or the Hyundai IONIQ 5: Which makes the better lease?

The new and improved Hyundai IONIQ 5, or the hot-selling Chevy Equinox EV? Which electric SUV makes the smarter lease? Here’s the rundown.

Over 607,000 electric vehicles were sold in the US in the first half of 2025, thanks to some big discounts. Many automakers are currently offering generous savings, as Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” is set to end federal EV incentives at the end of September.

According to Cox Automotive’s latest EV Market Monitor report, EV incentives reached a record of nearly $8,500 in June, or about 15% off the average transaction price (ATP).

That’s more than double the incentives offered on gas-powered vehicles. Seven electric vehicles had an ATP below $40,000, including the Chevy Equinox EV. The Equinox EV was the top-selling EV in the price range.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Starting at just $34,995, GM calls it “America’s most affordable 315+ range EV.” The electric Equinox has already propelled Chevy to become the number two EV brand in the US behind Tesla.

Chevy-Equinox-EV-lease
2025 Chevy Equinox EV LT (Source: GM)

Through the first half of the year, the Chevy Equinox EV accounted for nearly a third of GM’s electric vehicle sales. And it could have sold even more. A dealer in California reached out to Electrek, claiming they had to wait over a month to receive Equinox EV models. It’s now on track to be among the top three selling EVs in the US.

Chevy-Equinox-EV-lease
Chevy Equinox EV interior (Source: GM)

Which EV to lease: Chevy Equinox EV or Hyundai IONIQ 5

With leases starting at just $289 per month, it’s no wonder the electric SUV is flying off the lot. The offer is for 24 months with $3,909 due at signing.

Alternatively, you can opt for 0% APR financing for 60 months, which Chevy is offering on all 2025 electric vehicle models.

2025 Chevy Equinox EV trim Starting Price EPA-estimated Range Monthly lease Price
(August 2025)
LT FWD $34,995 319 miles $289
LT AWD $40,295 307 miles $351
RS FWD $45,790 319 miles $416
RS AWD $49,090 307 miles $453
2025 Chevy Equinox EV prices, range, and lease price (Including $1,395 destination fee)

The base 2025 Chevy Equinox EV LT starts at $34,995 with up to 319 miles of range. The interior boasts up to 57.2 cu ft of space and a 17.7″ infotainment screen.

How does it compare to the IONIQ 5? Hyundai has upgraded its best-selling electric SUV with major improvements, including increased range (now up to 318 miles), a revamped interior and exterior, and a built-in NACS port to access Tesla Superchargers.

Hyundai-IONIQ-5-lease
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: Hyundai)

After cutting lease prices again last month, the new and improved 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 is now listed at just $179 per month.

In some places, such as California and other ZEV states, Hyundai is offering leases starting at as low as $159 per month.

However, that’s for the base SE mode, which has an EPA-estimated driving range of 245 miles. The longer-range IONIQ 5 SE RWD, with 318 miles range, can still be leased for just $199 per month right now. Both offers are for 24 months with $3,999 due at signing.

2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Trim EV Powertrain Driving Range (miles) Starting Price*  Monthly lease price August 2025
IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range 168-horsepower rear motor 245 $42,500 $179
IONIQ 5 SE RWD 225-horsepower rear motor 318 $46,550 $199
IONIQ 5 SEL RWD 225-horsepower rear motor 318 $49,500 $209
IONIQ 5 Limited RWD 225-horsepower rear motor 318 $54,200 $309
IONIQ 5 SE Dual Motor AWD 320-horsepower dual motor 290 $50,050 $249
IONIQ 5 SEL Dual Motor AWD 320-horsepower dual motor 290 $53,000 $259
IONIQ 5 XRT Dual Motor  AWD 320 horsepower dual motor 259 $55,400 $359
IONIQ 5 Limited Dual Motor AWD 320-horsepower dual motor 269 $58,100 $299
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 price, range, and lease price

Hyundai is also throwing in a complimentary ChargePoint Level 2 home charger with the purchase or lease of a new 2025 IONIQ 5. All IONIQ 5 trims are listed with 1.99% APR financing for up to 60 months.

The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 offers up to 59.3 cu ft of cargo space with a dual 12.3″ driver display and infotainment system setup.

Hyundai-IONIQ-5-lease
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Limited interior (Source: Hyundai)

Both the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Chevy Equinox EV are hard to pass up right now, with lease prices expected to be as low as they will ever be.

Looking to snag the savings while they last? You can use our links below to find offers on the Chevy Equinox EV and Hyundai IONIQ 5 near you.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

The legendary Nissan GT-R will reemerge, but Godzilla may look a little different

Published

on

By

The legendary Nissan GT-R will reemerge, but Godzilla may look a little different

Nissan has officially confirmed the icon will be making a comeback. Although Nissan is no longer building GT-R models, CEO Ivan Espinosa said Godzilla will “evolve and reemerge” in the future. Here’s what we know so far.

Nissan confirms the GT-R will evolve and reemerge

It seems like we’ve been talking about the next-gen Nissan GT-R for years now. After the last model rolled off the production line at the automaker’s Tochigi plant in Japan on Tuesday, Nissan’s CEO made it clear that the GT-R will be making a comeback.

After bidding farewell to the R35, Espinosa gave the many GT-R fans worldwide hope, saying, “I want to tell you this isn’t a goodbye to the GT-R forever.”

He added that it’s Nissan’s “goal for the GT-R nameplate to one day make a return.” Although this is the end of the line for the R35, the company remains committed to the GT-R nameplate and wants to “reimagine it for a new generation.”

Advertisement – scroll for more content

According to Espinosa, Nissan doesn’t have any finalized plans yet, but he promised that “the GT-R will evolve and reemerge in the future.”

Nissan-delays-supplier-payments
Nissan’s new N7 electric sedan alongside the GT-R (Source: Dongfeng Nissan)

Nissan says the next Godzilla will ensure the GT-R’s legacy lives on, but will pack even more performance. The big question is, what type of powertrain will it arrive with? Will it be electric? A hybrid? Or, will it still be gas-powered?

At the New York Auto Show in April, Ponz Pandikuthira, Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer for Nissan North America, told The Drive that the next GT-R will be a hybrid, rather than an all-electric.

Nissan-GT-R-reemerge-EV
Nissan’s new N7 electric sedan alongside the GT-R (Source: Dongfeng Nissan)

However, Nissan previewed an electric GT-R a few years ago with the Hyper Force EV concept. The electric sports car concept was promoted as a “game-changing hyper EV” with over 1,300 horsepower (1,000 kW).

All that power is expected to come from solid-state batteries. Just last week, Nissan secured a partnership with LiCAP Technologies to produce all-solid-state EV batteries on a mass scale, one of the biggest hurdles to getting the new technology to market.

Nissan-GT-R-solid-state-batteries
Nissan Hyper Force EV concept (Source: Nissan)

Since Nissan aims to launch its first EV powered by solid-state batteries in 2028, we could see the GT-R reemerge as a plug-in hybrid until the technology is ready.

Either way, it will likely be a few years before we see an electrified Godzilla. If it evolves into an EV or hybrid, it remains up in the air for now.

While Nissan says an all-electric GT-R won’t deliver the performance needed to live up to the nameplate, others are proving otherwise. BYD’s first electric supercar, the Yangwang U9, set a new EV speed record this week after hitting nearly 300 mph.

How do you feel about it? Should the GT-R go all-electric? Or will Nissan settle for a hybrid? Drop us a comment below and let us know which one you’d buy.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Toyota’s new electric SUV actually looks pretty cool on set

Published

on

By

Toyota's new electric SUV actually looks pretty cool on set

Is Toyota’s new 2026 C-HR the affordable electric SUV we’ve been waiting for? The revamped EV SUV was spotted with a stylish new look while filming a commercial.

Toyota’s new C-HR EV SUV is launching in 2026

Toyota’s compact crossover SUV is returning in all-electric form, and it’s already apparently a movie star. We got our first look at the 2026 C-HR+ in March after Toyota unveiled a trio of new electric SUVs set to launch in Europe.

The US model, revealed a few months later, looks nearly identical to the EU version, but drops the “+” at the end of the name.

You can see right off the bat that it’s an immediate upgrade from the gas-powered C-HR, which was discontinued in 2022 in favor of the more efficient Corolla Cross Hybrid.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

The new 2026 C-HR looks sharp, featuring Toyota’s updated design, with elements like its “hammerhead front end” borrowed from the new Crown and Corolla models. In a way, it almost looks like the Prius, but as a higher-riding crossover SUV.

Toyota-new-EV-SUV
2026 Toyota C-HR electric SUV (Source: Toyota)

It looks like Toyota’s new EV SUV is already drawing attention. The 2026 C-HR was spotted on set in Austin, Texas, filming a commercial.

The image from Kindelauto is one of the closest looks at the new electric SUV so far, revealing the new front-end design.

At 177.9″ long, 73.6″ wide, and 63.8″ tall, the new C-HR is smaller than bZ, Toyota’s other electric SUV (formerly known as the bZ4X). It’s about the size of the Kia Niro EV (174″ long, 72″ wide, and 62″ tall).

The new crossover SUV will be available with all-electric (EV), Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Fuel Cell powertrains.

Toyota-new-EV-SUV
2026 Toyota C-HR electric SUV (Source: Toyota)

Powered by a 74.7 kWh battery, Toyota anticipates the 2026 C-HR EV will offer a range of up to 290 miles. It will come with standard AWD with an electric motor at the front and rear eAxles.

It will also feature a built-in NACS port, enabling you to recharge at Tesla Superchargers. Toyota said the electric SUV can recharge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes.

Toyota-new-EV-SUV-interior
2026 Toyota C-HR electric SUV interior (Source: Toyota)

Inside, the updated SUV includes a “high-tech cabin that is stylish and functional.” A 14″ infotainment system sits at the center with Toyota’s Audio Multimedia System and Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

Toyota’s new EV SUV will begin arriving at dealerships in 2026. Although prices have yet to be revealed, given the outgoing model started at under $25,000, the electric version is expected to launch with a low starting price tag of around $30,000.

Last week, we learned the 2026 Toyota bZ will be one of the few EVs in the US with prices starting under $35,000. Since the C-HR is smaller, it could be even more affordable.

What do you think of the new C-HR? Do you like Toyota’s new style? Drop us a comment below and let us know your thoughts.

Source: Kindelauto

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Trending