Happy Friday Welcome to this week’s edition of the Official DoubleClutch.ca News Rundown, where we recap the top automotive headlines from the week that was in one convenient package. Let’s go.
Ford still wants to do a Mustang off-roader
As if an electric SUV wearing a Mustang badge wasn't sacrilegious enough, Ford is reportedly considering a lifted, toughened-up variant based on the coupe. Think less blob-on-wheels-with-all-terrains, more 911 Dakar or Huracan Sterrato.
This isn't the first time additional Mustang variants beyond the Mach-E have come up. In 2024, Automotive News reported in a dealer meeting, Ford teased a number of then-future Mustang variants, including the rumoured Mustang off-roader.
Ford still appears to be on that kick. Automotive News reported once again this week the previously rumoured four-door coupe and "an off-road Mustang called 'Baja' are still in the works." In no way, shape, or form is the above render even remotely official, but hey, it's fun to imagine.
Admittedly, that's not much to go on, and in no way is the above render even remotely official. But consider this: the other Mustangs teased at that 2024 dealer meeting — the RTR EcoBoost and a variant described very similarly to the Dark Horse S/C ragtop, minus the manual transmission — both panned out. Not only that, the Mustang is reportedly due for a redesign by the end of the decade, which would certainly pave the way for additional variants.
Kia reveals EV4 GT, delays 2027 Telluride launch in Canada
Kia shared some good news, and some bad news this week. First, the good news: there's now a performance-oriented version of the new-this-year EV4.
The 2027 Kia EV4 GT now serves as the top-of-the-line model, priced at $58,595 before destination. That gets you the largest 81.4 kWh battery pack, a bump in output to 288 horsepower and 345 pound-feet of torque, and naturally, bright green brake calipers peeking through 20-inch wheels, 431 kilometres of range, unique interior trim bits, and a GT-exclusive heads-up display. Order books are already open.
And now, the bad news: Kia still isn't ready to launch the Telluride in Canada. Announced last fall and already on-sale in the U.S. for months now, Kia says "logistical delays" mean we have to wait a little while longer before popping up in Canadian dealers.
Translation: they're still being hit by tariffs. The Telluride is built in Georgia, but Kia says they're still working on a plan to bring it over in the near future. We'll have more to share in the next few weeks.
Polestar's new 4 SUV is really a wagon
And we're more than OK with that. After months of teasers, Polestar has finally pulled the wraps off the all-new 2027 Polestar 4 SUV.
That's what the marketing department wants you to think, because the letters S-U-V mean big bucks. But really, Polestar's newest model is a wagon, barely earning its SUV credentials with subtle body cladding and a slight lift. It's certainly a return to form — the Swedes are known for their wagons, so it's about time Polestar got theirs.
Don't tell Nathan this, but I never quite learned to like the standard Polestar 4's fastback silhouette. This new SUV variant stretches the roof a bit more over the cargo area and adds a proper rear window, while the rest of the car is identical to the standard 4.
Everything else — the interior, the powertrain, the tech — is shared with the Polestar 4. Overall range is expected to land somewhere between 450 and 500 kilometres, and Polestar says it'll fast-charge at speeds of up to 200 kW. Production is already underway, and sales will begin by the end of this year.
And the rest
The Mitsubishi Pajero returns, Lexus pulled the wraps off the refreshed-for-2027 NX, and you can get a special edition, green Lexus IS this year. Imagine if it was the 500...