Federal safety regulators are reviewing how Tesla self-certified the steering-wheel-free Cybercab under existing U.S. vehicle safety standards.

Tesla’s Cybercab is facing immediate scrutiny from U.S. safety regulators.

Just hours after Tesla began charging passengers for Cybercab rides in Austin on September 3, 2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an audit covering approximately 1,000 vehicles.

What NHTSA Wants to Know

The audit is not primarily about how well the Cybercab drives itself.

Instead, regulators are examining how Tesla determined the vehicle complied with federal safety requirements despite its unusual design.

The Tesla Cybercab has no steering wheel, pedals, or conventional mirrors.

The two-seat robotaxi was designed without a steering wheel, pedals, or mirrors, while many existing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards were written around conventional vehicles.

NHTSA says it will examine how Tesla’s certification relied on determinations that certain safety standards were not applicable to the Cybercab.

Tesla Relied on Self-Certification

Under the current U.S. system, automakers generally self-certify compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards before selling vehicles.

NHTSA can later audit those certifications or investigate potential defects.

Tesla used the U.S. self-certification system to begin deploying the Cybercab without waiting for advance federal approval.

The agency has emphasized that existing standards remain applicable to automated vehicles until new regulations are created specifically for driverless vehicles.

Tesla chose this route instead of seeking a formal exemption.

Zoox Took a Different Path

Amazon’s Zoox provides a useful comparison.

Its own steering-wheel-free vehicle initially went through self-certification before the company withdrew that claim following an NHTSA investigation.

Zoox eventually received a temporary exemption for its unconventional driverless vehicle.

Zoox later secured a temporary exemption allowing limited deployment of up to 2,500 exempt vehicles annually through July 31, 2028.

Tesla, meanwhile, wants to rapidly expand Cybercab operations to additional vehicles and cities.

The outcome of the Tesla Cybercab audit could therefore become important for how quickly that expansion happens and how regulators treat purpose-built autonomous vehicles under the current U.S. safety framework.

Ford has developed a six-wheeled Ranger Super Duty prototype for the U.K. military, adding extra capability to its already heavy-duty pickup.

Ford is turning its Ranger Super Duty into a six-wheeled military vehicle.

The prototype is being developed for the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s Light Mobility Vehicle Program, with Ricardo and General Dynamics Land Systems U.K. involved in the conversion.

A Ranger With Six Wheels

Ford and its partners are considering several military configurations, including a light tactical vehicle, an armored model, a troop carrier, and an ambulance.

Some versions feature six-wheel drive, including a crew-cab pickup with a tray bed positioned above the additional axle.

Ford and its partners are developing several Ranger Super Duty configurations for potential military use.

Ford has not released complete specifications for the military prototypes.

However, the standard Ranger Super Duty already offers impressive capability, with up to 9,921 pounds of towing capacity and 4,370 pounds of payload.

More Payload Than a U.S. Ranger

The Ranger Super Duty uses a 3.0-liter diesel V6 producing 443 lb-ft of torque.

That capability also helps explain why Ford does not offer the Super Duty version in the United States.

The Ranger Super Duty offers substantially greater payload capability than the U.S.-market Ranger.

For comparison, the U.S.-spec Ranger can tow up to 7,500 pounds and carry up to 1,767 pounds.

The F-150 can tow as much as 13,500 pounds, but its maximum payload is 2,440 pounds.

Built for Global Deployment

Ford says the Ranger is its most global truck, produced at five plants across four continents and sold in more than 180 markets.

That global footprint could be particularly valuable for military applications because it provides established parts production and potentially easier access to replacement components.

The Ranger’s global production network could help support military fleets deployed in different regions.

For the Ford Ranger Super Duty, the six-wheel military project adds another extreme application to an already capable pickup—and shows just how far Ford can stretch the Ranger platform.

Analogue Automotive’s VHPK turns the original Lotus Elise into a radical single-seat roadster with 247 horsepower and a $470,000 price tag.

The Lotus Elise restomod has been taken to an extreme.

Analogue Automotive’s VHPK transforms the lightweight first-generation Elise into a radically focused roadster that weighs just 1,320 pounds and costs around $470,000.

One Seat and Lots of Carbon Fiber

The VHPK takes inspiration from the Colin Chapman philosophy of reducing weight wherever possible.

There is only one seat, positioned in the center of the cabin, while extensive use of carbon fiber helps bring the weight down even further.

The Analogue Automotive VHPK features a central driving position and extensive lightweight construction.

Only 35 examples will be built to order, making the Elise-based machine extremely exclusive.

Analogue Automotive says the project draws inspiration from a short-lived single-make racing series featuring the S1 Elise.

247 HP From a Rover V8? No, a Four-Cylinder

Power comes from a heavily modified 1.9-liter Rover K-Series four-cylinder.

It produces 247 horsepower and sends power to the rear wheels through a five-speed sequential gearbox.

The VHPK uses a reworked 1.9-liter Rover K-Series producing 247 horsepower.

Given the car’s extremely low weight, the combination should deliver an exceptionally high power-to-weight ratio without requiring enormous horsepower.

Analogue Automotive also offers options including fully active suspension and carbon-fiber wheels.

Nearly Half a Million Dollars for Less

The carbon wheels alone can reduce weight by another 20 pounds, underscoring just how seriously the VHPK approaches the lightweight philosophy.

Optional carbon-fiber wheels can cut another 20 pounds from the VHPK’s already tiny curb weight.

At around $470,000, the VHPK costs more than many far more powerful sports cars.

But that misses the point.

The VHPK isn’t intended to be the most powerful car in someone’s garage. It’s designed to deliver something increasingly rare: an extremely lightweight, mechanically focused driving experience.

With only 35 cars planned, a central driving position, 247 hp, and a 1,320-pound curb weight, the Lotus Elise restomod takes Colin Chapman’s famous lightweight philosophy to its logical extreme.