Today’s Drive: Ford Mustang GTD Goes Desert-Fast, Bolt Overdelivers on Range, and a Japan-Only Lexus IS Perk

Some news days feel like mist; this one hits like a dust storm. The big noise is the Ford Mustang GTD, a carbon-clad bully with 815 bhp and the sort of aero hardware that usually needs a race entry form. Elsewhere, the Chevy Bolt quietly sneaks past its own range promise, the Lexus IS gets a home-market trinket we can’t have (grr), and 2026’s discontinuation list keeps growing. Oh—and Tennessee’s “sober DUI” tally just ballooned. Seatbelt on; coffee in the cupholder; let’s get into it.

Desert thunder: 815 bhp Ford Mustang GTD actually walks the talk

Autocar spent time with the Ford Mustang GTD and came back speaking in short sentences. Understandable. Big supercharged V8 up front. 815 bhp. Rear-drive. Aero furniture that means business. That’s the spec-sheet spiel. The twist is how composed it stays once the surface gets choppy and the needle’s north of sensible. I’ve hustled GT350Rs and GT500s over puckered two-lanes where most cars feel like a dropped drum kit—the big Fords stayed weirdly serene. If the GTD builds on that, and early reports say it does, you get that rare, addictive feeling where triple-digit pace suddenly feels… normal. Dangerous talent, that.

• Power: 815 bhp from a supercharged V8. It’s not shy, and the downforce helps you cash the check.
• Purpose: road-legal, track-hearted, Ring-motivated weapon.
• Reality: not a commuter. It wants space, heat in the tires, and apexes that arrive fast.

I’d bet good money it’s flatter and more stoic than any Shelby before it. Also louder. Pack earplugs if you’re the type who calls any exhaust “boomy.” And maybe don’t bring tall luggage—the racy hardware eats into the “Mustang as road tripper” fantasy.

Feature highlights: Ford Mustang GTD at a glance

• 815 bhp supercharged V8; rear-wheel drive
• Serious aero package with functional wings, vents, and ducts
• Chassis tuned for repeatable hot laps, not school runs
• Brakes and steering set up for confidence at the silly end of the speedo

EV corner: Chevy Bolt beats its own estimate, Peugeot 408 tidies its tech

Chevy Bolt: promised 255 miles, delivers 262 miles

The 2027 Chevy Bolt strolls in with an EPA-rated 262 miles, seven more than Chevy initially floated, per Carscoops. Not the sort of number that launches think pieces, but it’s the difference between stopping for a mercy charge on a stormy Thursday or getting home with 9% and smugness.

• Range: 262 miles (EPA), beating the 255-mile target.
• Sweet spot: commuting, city life, and budget hawks who love low running costs.
• From my old Bolt notes: perfect urban size, satisfying one-pedal driving, better seats than early cars, and DC fast charging that’s fine… as long as you’re not racing a 911 to the beach.

If Chevy keeps the pricing sensible and the interface clean—an underrated Bolt strength—this is the EV you buy so that electric life stops being a project and starts being just… life.

Peugeot 408: sharper lights, calmer electrons

Peugeot’s 408 gets headlights you’ll spot from the far side of a Tesco, but the real work is in the EV refinement, says Carscoops. Less noise, better efficiency, smoother power delivery—none of it wins parking-lot debates, but it’s exactly what you appreciate after an hour in traffic with a lukewarm latte.

• Design: refreshed lighting that doubles down on the brand’s fang motif.
• EV focus: polish over fireworks, which is what you feel every day.
• Result: fewer charge stops, less wind whoosh, more “did we already get here?”

Market tease: Japan’s refreshed Lexus IS keeps a toy for itself

Carscoops points out that the latest Japanese-market Lexus IS includes a perk the rest of us won’t see—classic home-market favoritism. The IS remains one of those cars you just gel with: compact, honest, feels light on its feet. If your weekends are equal parts IKEA runs and sneaking out for a sunrise B-road loop, you get why this stings a bit. And yes, the infotainment is better than it was, but it still has the occasional “wait, where’s that menu?” moment.

• Theme: small, worthwhile tweaks—plus one JDM-only goodie.
• Why it matters: the IS nails a size and feel most crossovers can’t imitate.
• What to watch: whether that Japan-only treat migrates later. Sometimes it does.

The obituaries: Vehicles confirmed dead for 2026

Car and Driver’s “dead for 2026” list reads like a changing-of-the-guard memo. Fewer niche sedans. Thirsty engines headed for the history shelf. Some coupes slipping away without even a last-call sticker pack. Emissions, safety, and buyer trends are holding the pen—people want crossovers and hybrids, and the math says build where the demand is.

• Trendlines: consolidation, plug-in proliferation, fewer low-volume passion plays.
• Silver lining: end-of-line cars often come with heroic discounts if you time it right.
• But: resale is a coin toss unless the car goes cult later.

Policy lane: Tennessee’s “sober DUI” numbers spike

Carscoops reports Tennessee has revised its count of so-called “sober DUIs” from hundreds to thousands—cases where drivers tested under the legal alcohol limit but were charged for alleged impairment anyway. It’s a messy knot of safety, science, and semantics. Spend five minutes in traffic court and you’ll see: body-cam gaps, testing thresholds, and paperwork typos can sway big outcomes. Expect louder challenges and tighter standards ahead.

• Core issue: defining impairment when alcohol isn’t the trigger.
• Why it matters: insurance, precedent, and how enforcement plays out on the roadside.
• Likely next: courtroom clarifications and rules that force cleaner evidence.

Today’s quick takes: Ford Mustang GTD, Bolt, Peugeot 408, Lexus IS, and more

• Ford Mustang GTD: the trick isn’t 815 bhp—it’s making 815 bhp feel calm.
• Chevy Bolt: 262 miles is the difference between planning your life and living it.
• Peugeot 408: grown-up updates you hear and feel, not just Instagram.
• Lexus IS (Japan): proof small, sweet-driving sedans still have a pulse.
• 2026 discontinuations: shop the closeout aisle, but eyes open on resale.
• Tennessee DUIs: policy needs precision; drivers need clarity.

At-a-glance table: Ford Mustang GTD headlines a busy news day

Conclusion: Ford Mustang GTD tops a day of contrasts

The Ford Mustang GTD shows how brutality can feel strangely gentle when the chassis and aero are doing their best work. The Bolt quietly overachieves on range, the Lexus IS plays keep-away in Japan, and the industry prunes for 2026 while policy debates get louder. The through line? The best machines make complexity fade into the background. Our job is to stay curious—and keep driving.

FAQ

How much power does the Ford Mustang GTD have?

Autocar cites 815 bhp from a supercharged V8. It’s built to turn that number into real pace with big downforce and serious chassis tuning.

What is the EPA range of the new Chevy Bolt?

262 miles, according to Carscoops—seven more than Chevy’s original target.

Is the refreshed Lexus IS coming to the U.S. or Europe?

The update highlighted here is for Japan and includes a feature other markets won’t get (for now). Lexus hasn’t announced an equivalent global spec.

Which cars are discontinued for 2026?

Car and Driver has the full list, but the pattern is clear: fewer niche sedans and thirsty engines as brands shift toward crossovers and electrified lineups.

What is a “sober DUI” in Tennessee?

It refers to impairment charges where drivers reportedly tested under the legal alcohol limit. The surge in cases raises questions about evidence standards and how impairment is defined.