Today in Cars: Toyota RAV4 Police Cars Under Payload Scrutiny, EV Deals That Matter, and a £2k Mid‑Engined Smiler

I gulped my first espresso and did the usual scroll, and straight away one story jumped off the screen: Toyota RAV4 Police Cars Under Payload Scrutiny. Not the sexiest headline in the world, granted, but talk to any fleet manager and they’ll tell you weight is the silent killer. Also on the docket: GM’s back with a sub-$30k Bolt, Cupra’s Formentor gets fresh lungs for Australia, an eight-off coachbuilt Mercedes with drama for days, and the MG TF reminding everyone you don’t need lottery numbers for a proper drive.

Toyota RAV4 Police Cars Under Payload Scrutiny

According to CarExpert, a police union has raised concerns about payload on Toyota RAV4s pressed into patrol duty. Makes sense. Compact SUVs don’t wake up dreaming about bull bars, light bars, radios, laptops, cages, first-aid packs, and two fully kitted officers. When I once stuffed a RAV4 press car with three adults, tripods, and an over-optimistic lighting kit, the rear settled like it had just eaten Christmas lunch. Ride quality got thumpy; braking felt a shade longer. Not dangerous—just different.

• Why it matters: Overloading can cook brakes, overwork tires, mess with suspension geometry, and nudge crash performance out of its design envelope.
• Real-world tell: Nose dives, tail sag, longer stopping distances, and vague steering when you pile on the gear.
• How fleets usually fix it: Heavier-rate springs, honest kit rationalization, or moving to a bigger platform with more payload headroom.

Why Toyota RAV4 Police Cars Under Payload Scrutiny resonates beyond the badge

• Payload isn’t just a number; it’s your margin of safety when the lights are on and the road’s wet.
• Compact crossovers are brilliant for urban patrols and tight parking, but only if they’re not heaving under kit.
• Drivers feel it first: extra bounce over speed humps, ABS cutting in sooner, and the car never quite settling mid-corner.

Toyota RAV4 Police Cars Under Payload Scrutiny: fixes I’ve seen work

• Spec discipline: weigh every add-on. Switching a steel drawer system to a lighter composite can save a shocking amount.
• Suspension upgrade: stiffer rear coils or helper springs keep ride height and geometry in check under load.
• Brakes and tires: higher-temp pads and load-rated rubber to cope with heat and mass.
• Right-sizing: if the kit list keeps growing, step up to a platform with a friendlier payload number.

Bottom line: a RAV4 is a great urban patrol tool if you keep it within its design envelope. Push past that, and you’re trading away the very safety and reliability you bought it for.

GWM Boss Makes Waves With Political Praise and Profit Pitch

Also via CarExpert, GWM’s leadership reportedly dubbed Donald Trump “the one” and promised the brand would “make you rich.” That’s… not language you usually hear from carmakers. The subtext is clear: politics can move tariffs and timelines, and if you’re selling sharp-priced utes and crossovers, you’re paying attention.

• Dealer reality: That “get rich” line sounds squarely aimed at retailers and investors.
• Buyer reality: Swagger is fine, but test drives decide the day—fit, finish, safety kit, and aftersales support still rule.

2026 Cupra Formentor: New Engines Teed Up for Australia

CarExpert says the 2026 Formentor brings new powertrains, and if Cupra’s pattern holds, expect more electrification threaded through the range. I’ve hustled the current Formentor over lumpy backroads and it’s a tidy bit of kit: fast steering, keen front end, and a cabin that feels a touch more night-out than school run. It is firm over coarse-chip highways—you pay a small tax for the poise—but the trade-off is worth it if you actually enjoy driving.

• Watch list: Longer EV-only range on the PHEV, calmer driver assists, and saner climate/audio controls.
• Australia specifics: Towing and high-heat performance. Local validation matters when a summer road trip is 45°C and uphill.

2027 Chevrolet Bolt Confirmed at $29,990: Affordable EVs Get a Jolt

Per Carscoops, the next Bolt is locked for 2027 at $29,990. That sticker is the psychological threshold that pulls the EV-curious off the fence—especially if home charging is in play. If GM pairs that price with credible range and grown-up fast charging, it’s going to squeeze rivals hard.

Here’s how the “affordable” end of the EV pool stacks up right now:

• Big ifs: If the new Bolt delivers ~250+ miles EPA and solid thermal management, it becomes the default recommendation for budget EV buyers.
• Ownership math: Stack federal/state rebates with off-peak electricity rates. The monthly savings can be shockingly real—school-run quiet and wallet-pleasing.

Only Eight Built: The Coachbuilt Mercedes With Suicide Doors

Carscoops also pointed to an ultra-limited coachbuilt Mercedes—rear-hinged doors, grand-occasion vibes, and a build run you can count on two hands. I can already picture the valet pause, a respectful nod, and then the quiet panic as they hunt for the right handle sequence. Theater, darling.

• Design drama: Suicide doors make every arrival feel like a red carpet moment.
• Reality check: With runs this short, practicality gets a polite seat at the back. It’s for lawns, lenses, and late dinners.

MG TF: Mid-Engined Fun for £2k? Yes, Really

Autocar’s right: the MG TF is still a cheeky bargain. Mid-engined, rear-drive, steering that chats away like an old mate—it’s that slightly unruly friend who makes every B-road more interesting. Versus an MX‑5, the TF turns in sharper and asks a bit more of you when the surface gets scrappy. That’s part of the fun. Roof down, jacket zipped, heater on, and off you go.

• Buying basics: Cooling system health, head gasket history, and subframe rot. Get those squared and it drives like it owes you more money than it does.
• Weekend use case: Early start, coastal coffee, repeated “just one more road” syndrome. You’ll forgive the boot space.

Porsche Faces EV Owner Lawsuit—But Not About the Cars

Lastly, Carscoops notes an EV owner lawsuit aimed not at Porsche’s vehicles but the experience around them—think services, policies, or digital bits that glue modern ownership together. In the EV era, the car is only half the product; apps, charging access, subscriptions, and events finish the job. Get that stack wrong and even great cars can feel like hard work.

Quick Hits and Takeaways

• Spec to task: The Toyota RAV4 Police Cars Under Payload Scrutiny conversation is a reminder to treat patrol cars like tools, not wish lists.
• Value shock: A $29,990 Bolt will put heat on Leaf, Kona, and base Model 3 buyers.
• Driver first: 2026 Cupra Formentor looks set to mix sharper tech with the chassis verve it already nails.
• Cheap thrills: MG TF proves you can still buy steering feel for pub-quiz money.

Conclusion: What Toyota RAV4 Police Cars Under Payload Scrutiny tells us

Whether it’s union halls arguing payloads, GM undercutting the EV field, or coachbuilders chasing drama, the theme is the same: pick the right tool for the job, and be honest about the details. For fleets, Toyota RAV4 Police Cars Under Payload Scrutiny is a nudge to weigh everything—literally. For the rest of us, it’s a reminder that numbers matter, but the drive still counts. Choose well, and enjoy the miles.

FAQ

• Is the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt really under $30k?
  Carscoops reports a $29,990 base price. Final EPA range and charging specs will follow closer to launch.
• Are Toyota RAV4s suitable as police cars?
  Yes—within limits. Urban patrols suit the RAV4, but equipment weight must stay inside payload to protect braking, handling, and durability.
• What’s changing with the 2026 Cupra Formentor in Australia?
  CarExpert says new engines are coming, likely with more electrification alongside the spicy variants.
• Is the MG TF a good cheap sports car?
  Absolutely, if sorted. Prioritize cooling system care, head gasket history, and clean subframes, then enjoy mid‑engine balance on the cheap.
• What’s the Porsche EV lawsuit about?
  Per Carscoops, it targets elements of the ownership experience rather than the vehicles themselves—think services and policies.