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Tech & Safety
Used cars: physical buttons or touchscreen?
From January 2026 Euro NCAP penalises cars that hide indicators, the horn and hazard lights inside touch menus. What that means if you are buying a used car from the all-touch years, and what to check before you sign.
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Tech & Safety
Buying a Used Car With a Black Box: 2026 Guide
Buying a used car that already has an insurance black box installed is not a problem, but it is not an automatic perk either: the discount and the driving history stay with the previous owner. What Italy's 2024 data-portability law actually changed, and what to do before and after the ownership transfer.
Tech & Safety
Euro NCAP 2026: Three Chinese EVs Score Five Stars While Cupra's Raval Stumbles Without the Add-On
In Euro NCAP's early-September 2026 round, the Aion UT, Geely E2 and Leapmotor B05 all took full marks, while Cupra's Raval stopped at four stars without an optional package. What the numbers show, and what it means for anyone eyeing a budget EV.
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Chinese Cars Under the Microscope: Beijing Launches Nationwide Inspections After BYD and Geely Fail Quality Checks — What It Means If You're Buying One in Italy
Four Chinese ministries have opened a year-long production-quality inspection after the Geely Xingyuan and BYD Qin L failed conformity checks. With Chinese brands now at 12.5% of the Italian new-car market, here is what to actually check before buying one, new or used.
Tech & Safety
Car Touchscreens: Italy's New Highway Code Fines and the 2026 Return of Physical Buttons
Italy's Highway Code reform, open for consultation until September 13, proposes fines up to 250 euros for touching or watching an in-car screen while driving, just as Euro NCAP starts penalizing touch-only cars. Here is what it means for used-car buyers.
Tech & Safety
Google Assistant Retires, Gemini Takes the Wheel: What It Means for Owners (and Buyers) of Connected Cars
From September 4, 2026 Google is retiring Assistant from Android Auto in favor of Gemini. Here is which cars are affected, why the Italian rollout is lagging and English-only, and what to check before buying a used car with Google-based infotainment.
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Modern Car Keys in 2026: The Tricks, the Relay Attack Risk, and What to Check Before Buying a Used Car
From the 1995 transponder chip to UWB digital keys, by way of the relay attack behind 285 stolen cars a day in Italy: a practical guide to how modern car keys really work, and what to check before signing for a used one.
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How to Really Check a Used EV's Battery Health (What a Tesla's Unknown Past Taught Us)
Mileage alone tells you almost nothing about battery health. Here is how to read SoH, what the warranty threshold actually covers, and what changes in 2027 with the EU Battery Passport.
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Tesla Recalls 20,349 Model 3 and Model Y Over Blinding Headlights: How to Check for Open Recalls Before Buying Used
After a two-year standoff with US regulators, Tesla must recall over 20,000 Model 3 and Model Y cars for low beams that are too bright. What happened, why Europe is not affected, and how to check for open recalls before buying a used car.
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Buying a Used Car in 2026: What AI Diagnostics and the New EU OBD Rules Actually Change
A new EU regulation just forced carmakers to open up OBD data to independent workshops, right as automakers roll out AI-powered diagnostic assistants. Here is what it actually means for anyone buying a used car privately, and how a cheap dongle can expose a tampered odometer today.