Throttle Weekly Issue 41: Volkswagen Cuts Back, Alcan 5000 Goes North, and a 2JZ El Camino Goes Sideways (2026)

The week in one pass

Coverage: September 2–9, 2026.

Volkswagen’s Supervisory Board approved a restructuring plan that eliminates 50,000 jobs and trims its vehicle portfolio by half by 2030. Rivian began transmitting its redesigned RivianOS 2 software over the air to original R1S and R1T trucks, while Stellantis pushed back the production starts for its upcoming extended-range Jeep Grand Wagoneer Hybrid and Ram 1500 REV. In the Canadian and Alaskan wilderness, the 2026 Alcan 5000 rally kicked off with diesel luxury SUVs, lifted pickup trucks, and daily drivers tackling 5,000 miles of remote terrain. IndyCar closed its championship season at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as teams finalized major 2027 driver contracts. Under the hood, modern EV batteries balance distinct chemical recipes and voltage architectures to keep packs healthy over a decade of road use. In the enthusiast garages, a 1971 Chevrolet El Camino swaps classic Detroit iron for a turbocharged Toyota Supra inline-six, and an Ohio auto recycler revealed how 122 factory-fresh C8 Corvettes were quietly dismantled after a catastrophic 2021 tornado.

Industry: Volkswagen will cut offering complexity by 75 percent and eliminate 50,000 positions to tackle overcapacity in Europe. Rivian’s version 2026.31 software adds dynamic controls, revised settings, and Google Maps route alerts to original R1 vehicles. Stellantis delayed its series plug-in hybrid powertrains for Jeep and Ram to safeguard system validation. 1 2 3
Trackside and community: The Alcan 5000 endurance rally sent Porsche Cayennes, Volkswagen Touaregs, and daily-driver crossover SUVs into northern Canada. At Laguna Seca, Scott McLaughlin earned Chevrolet’s 250th IndyCar pole before winning the finale, while Mick Schumacher signed with Meyer Shank Racing and Conor Daly secured a full-time return with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. 4 5
Explainer: Lithium iron phosphate and nickel manganese cobalt chemistries dictate EV range, cold-weather output, and production cost, while fast charging curves taper above 80 percent state of charge to preserve cell longevity. 6
Car culture: Hagerty featured a 1971 Chevrolet El Camino powered by a single-turbo 2JZ-GTE Toyota inline-six from a Mk IV Supra. A dismantler at Stricker Auto Parts detailed the secretive destruction of 122 brand-new 2022 Corvettes damaged inside GM’s Bowling Green factory during a 2021 tornado. 7 8

Industry news

Volkswagen approves deep cuts to lineup and headcount

Volkswagen’s Supervisory Board unanimously approved the executive committee’s Future Plan 2030 on September 3, launching a sweeping operational overhaul aimed at improving corporate profitability. The automaker plans to eliminate 50,000 jobs across its global operations by 2030, with management positions included in the staff reductions. The plan targets an annual sales volume of nine million vehicles and an operating margin of 9 percent. 1

To meet those financial metrics, Volkswagen will reduce its model portfolio by 50 percent and cut offering complexity across remaining nameplates by 75 percent. Company leadership cited intense competitive pressure from domestic automakers in China and substantial excess manufacturing capacity across European facilities. European plant capacity currently exceeds regional vehicle demand by more than 500,000 units annually. 1

Production runs at German manufacturing sites in Emden, Zwickau, Hanover, and Neckarsulm—which build vehicles including the ID.3, ID.4, ID.Buzz, and Audi A5—face reassessment and are unlikely to continue in their current form through 2034. In North America, the group plans to concentrate engineering resources and product offerings on its most profitable SUV and truck segments. 1

RivianOS 2 rolls out to original R1 trucks

Rivian began transmitting its new vehicle operating interface, named RivianOS 2, to existing R1S sport utility vehicles and R1T pickup trucks through over-the-air software update version 2026.31. The update brings the visual layout and menu organization originally created for the smaller R2 platform into the brand’s first-generation models. Owners receive reconfigurable center-display control panes, dynamic shortcuts that adapt to current driving conditions, and a revised search tool within the vehicle settings menu. 2

Rivian driver touching center display with RivianOS 2 interface — *RivianOS 2 brings dynamic control trays, revised system settings, and Google Maps traffic alerts to older R1 models through an over-the-air update. 2*

The update integrates Google Maps route alerts into the primary navigation system, displaying real-time speed camera notices and crowd-sourced hazard warnings. Subscribers to the Connect+ connected-services tier gain a live weather application and mobile trip management that syncs between the vehicle display and the Rivian smartphone app. While the graphical presentation remains unified across model lines, hardware differences remain. First-generation R1 vehicles utilize cloud-based processing for voice assistance and retain traditional steering-wheel buttons, whereas R2 models carry integrated infotainment processors capable of executing voice commands offline alongside dual haptic scroll wheels. 2

Stellantis pushes back its extended-range Jeep and Ram trucks

Stellantis has delayed the production debuts of two key series plug-in hybrid models, according to supplier reports confirmed by Car and Driver. The Jeep Grand Wagoneer Hybrid, originally scheduled to commence assembly in May, is now scheduled for a November production launch. The Ram 1500 REV—previously announced as the Ramcharger before the brand canceled its companion battery-electric pickup—has slipped from late 2025 into mid-April, with retail deliveries targeted for 2027. 3

Silver Ram 1500 Ramcharger pickup truck driving on highway — *Stellantis rescheduled production of the Ram 1500 extended-range electric pickup to mid-April, pairing a 3.6-liter V-6 onboard generator with a 400-volt battery pack. 3*

Supplier representatives reported that engineers requested additional development time to validate the extended-range architecture under high load and towing conditions. Both vehicles share a mechanical layout pairing a 400-volt traction battery with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine. The internal combustion engine operates exclusively as a mechanical generator, sending electricity to the battery pack and electric drive motors without any direct physical connection to the drive wheels. Ram stated that customer arrivals remain on track for the 2027 calendar year, while Jeep affirmed its intent to commence customer builds this winter. 3

Trackside and community

The Alcan 5000 proves you do not need a monster truck for the Arctic

The 2026 summer edition of the Alcan 5000 rally got underway this week, sending dozens of automotive enthusiasts on a 5,000-mile endurance journey spanning northern British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alaska. The route covers remote gravel ribbons and isolated highways where distances between fuel stations routinely stretch beyond 200 miles, with single driving legs reaching up to 820 miles. 4

Porsche Cayennes parked along a gravel forest trail on the Alcan 5000 rally — *European luxury SUVs, including diesel-powered Porsche Cayennes and Volkswagen Touaregs, represent the largest vehicle contingent in the 2026 Alcan 5000 endurance rally. 4*

European luxury sport utility vehicles formed the largest contingent on the entry roster, led by four Porsche Cayennes and two Volkswagen Touaregs. Participant Brad Brownell reported that his 2013 Cayenne Diesel easily completes 700 miles per tank, allowing drivers to finish grueling driving days on a single fuel stop while riding on aftermarket skid plates and high-sidewall all-terrain tires. A new Ineos Grenadier and a BMW X5 also joined the convoy. Heavy American machinery tackled the route as well, including a lifted Ford F-350 Super Duty Tremor, a 1,000-horsepower Hennessey VelociraptoR, a factory Bronco Raptor, and a Toyota Tundra support truck. Due to elevated fuel consumption, several truck crews resorted to auxiliary bed-mounted fuel jugs between remote outposts. 4

Everyday crossover vehicles proved equally capable of handling the northern public roads. Entrants fielded a front-wheel-drive Honda Pilot on steel wheels, a Volkswagen Golf TDI, and a skid-plate-equipped Subaru Forester Wilderness driven by veteran competitors Andy and Mercedes Lilienthal. Four adventure motorcyclists completed the roster, traveling self-contained with spare parts and auxiliary fuel strapped to their luggage racks. 4

Laguna Seca caps the IndyCar season as 2027 seats shake out

The NTT IndyCar Series concluded its 2026 championship calendar at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey. Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou arrived in California having already clinched his fourth consecutive drivers’ championship and fifth title overall at the Milwaukee Mile, allowing the title contenders to focus entirely on race execution. Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin captured the pole position—marking the 250th IndyCar pole for Chevrolet—before driving to victory on the 2.238-mile natural road course. 5

Conor Daly driving an open-wheel IndyCar on circuit — *Conor Daly signed a multi-year agreement with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing as the team returns to full-time IndyCar competition with Honda power for 2027. 5*

The finale triggered major driver announcements for the 2027 season. Meyer Shank Racing confirmed the signing of Mick Schumacher to pilot its No. 66 Honda alongside returning driver Marcus Armstrong, filling the seat vacated by 2026 Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist, who departs for Arrow McLaren. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing announced a full-time series return for 2027 backed by Honda engines, signing 34-year-old series veteran Conor Daly to a multi-year contract in the No. 24 entry. DRR purchased an IndyCar team charter from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in July, securing its place on the grid after competing primarily as an Indianapolis 500 specialist since 2012. 5

Explainer: how EV batteries really charge, degrade, and hold up

Electric vehicle battery packs represent the single most expensive and technically demanding sub-assembly in modern electrified personal transport, accounting for 30 to 40 percent of a vehicle’s manufacturing bill of materials. While consumer electronics rely on single lithium-ion cells running at approximately 3.7 to 4.2 volts, an automotive traction battery connects hundreds or thousands of individual cells in series and parallel arrangements to deliver 400 to 800 volts of direct current. 6

Cutaway structural view of a Volvo electric vehicle battery pack — *Automotive battery packs house thousands of connected cells, coolant channels, and thermal sensors managed by a centralized battery management computer. 6*

Automakers in the United States rely primarily on two lithium-ion cathode chemistries, each presenting distinct engineering trade-offs:

Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC): NMC cells deliver high gravimetric and volumetric energy density, storing more energy per pound of pack weight. They perform well in sub-freezing winter temperatures and discharge power rapidly for brisk acceleration. Raw material costs remain elevated due to cobalt and nickel extraction, and the cells experience thermal stress when charged continuously to maximum voltage.
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP): LFP packs replace scarce cobalt and nickel with abundant iron and phosphate compounds. The chemistry tolerates high operating temperatures, provides longer overall cycle life, and costs less to manufacture. Energy density is roughly 20 to 30 percent lower than NMC, leading to heavier packs for equivalent range, and chemical reaction rates slow significantly in sub-zero winter weather.

Recharging these chemical reservoirs involves three distinct tiers of electrical delivery. Level 1 charging operates from a household 120-volt alternating-current outlet, adding 3 to 5 miles of range per hour of connection. Level 2 charging utilizes 240-volt residential or 208-volt commercial AC power, supplying between 7 and 19 kilowatts through an onboard inverter to fully charge a depleted pack overnight in 6 to 10 hours. 6

Level 3 direct-current fast charging bypasses the onboard vehicle inverter entirely, feeding high-amperage DC power straight into the battery pack at rates between 50 and 350 kilowatts. Charging speed follows an electronic curve controlled by the vehicle’s battery management system rather than a flat line. Cold ambient temperatures, elevated internal resistance, and station load-sharing reduce initial power intake. Once the pack reaches approximately 80 percent state of charge, the vehicle computer sharply curtails incoming current to prevent lithium plating and excessive heat generation. As a result, replenishing the final 20 percent of capacity frequently requires as much time as charging from 10 to 80 percent. 6

Longevity differs fundamentally from consumer electronics. A smartphone battery endures 300 to 500 complete discharge cycles before capacity drops to 80 percent, typically degrading within two years of daily replenishment. Electric vehicles experience shallower charge-discharge cycles because drivers rarely drain packs to zero. Federal regulations require automotive manufacturers to warranty EV traction batteries for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles, guaranteeing that the pack retains at least 70 percent of original energy capacity. Many automakers exceed this threshold, offering 10-year or 175,000-mile warranty coverage. Routine software limits that cap daily AC charging at 80 percent state of charge prevent cathode saturation, preserving cell stability over decades of service. 6

Collector corner

A 2JZ-swapped 1971 El Camino brings Japanese boost to American steel

A custom 1971 Chevrolet El Camino currently listed on Hagerty Marketplace illustrates how builder culture continues to dissolve traditional boundaries between American muscle cars and Japanese tuner platforms. Rather than housing a Chevrolet 396 or 454 big-block V-8 beneath its sheet metal, this third-generation utility coupe features a Toyota 2JZ-GTE VVT-i 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine originally made famous by the Mk IV Toyota Supra. 7

Engine bay of a 1971 Chevrolet El Camino featuring a single-turbo Toyota 2JZ inline-six — *Built by XAT Racing, this 1971 El Camino features an extensively modified Toyota 2JZ-GTE inline-six with a Precision 6766 single turbocharger and custom intake manifold. 7*

Originally built by XAT Racing for the All Supra Show, the powertrain conversion replaced the factory sequential twin-turbo configuration with a Precision 6766 single turbocharger fitted with a high-flow inlet horn. Fuel and air delivery upgrades include a Royal Chamber intake manifold, Injector Dynamics ID1000 fuel injectors, a Fuelab pressure regulator, and an electronic fuel-injection system fed by a 450-liter-per-hour fuel pump. 7

The exterior is finished in House of Kolors Burgundy Wine paint over black multi-spoke wheels, retaining factory chrome bumpers, SS grille badging, and a functional open pickup bed. The seller noted minor paint imperfections and localized rust bubbles, yet the mechanical conversion pairs Japanese turbocharger response with American rear-wheel-drive proportions. 7

The human-interest coda

The secret salvage yard that dismantled 122 brand-new C8 Corvettes

In December 2021, an EF-2 tornado swept across Kentucky, striking General Motors’ Bowling Green Assembly facility and sparking a fire inside the plant. At the time, customer demand for the newly introduced mid-engine C8 Corvette Stingray was at its peak, with buyers waiting months on dealership allocation lists. While GM resumed vehicle assembly just 11 days after the disaster, 122 finished and in-process Corvettes inside the facility were written off due to potential smoke and structural heat exposure. Five years later, former dismantler Brandon Woodley spoke with The Drive about the secretive demolition operation that followed. 8

Bright yellow C8 Corvette body shell resting on a pallet inside a salvage facility — *Stricker Auto Parts in Batavia, Ohio received 122 tornado-damaged 2022 C8 Corvettes directly from GM; workers removed every vehicle identification number and sliced each composite body in half. 8*

The brand-new sports cars arrived on commercial vehicle haulers at Stricker Auto Parts in Batavia, Ohio, appearing to salvage yard workers as pristine showroom inventory rather than collision wrecks. Because of corporate liability policies and manufacturer destruction mandates, GM required the recycler to remove every vehicle identification number plate from the body shells and physically slice each composite chassis in half with industrial saws to prevent anyone from rebuilding the cars. 8

Woodley and his colleagues drained all vehicle fluids, removed individual 6.2-liter LT2 V-8 engines, dual-clutch transaxles, and mechanical subsystems, and tagged the assemblies for return to General Motors. In response to inquiries from The Drive, General Motors confirmed that all tornado-damaged vehicles were completely scrapped, stating that no salvaged components from the Batavia operation were reused in subsequent customer production builds. 8

This week’s automotive developments connect global boardroom restructuring with grassroots enthusiast adventure. Whether managing an over-the-air software update on an electric pickup, planning fuel stops along the Alcan highway, or setting daily charging limits to protect battery chemistry, real-world vehicle ownership rewards drivers who understand the mechanical realities beneath the sheet metal.