In a recent update spotted on Tesla’s online configurator for the Model S sedan and Model X SUV, enthusiasts of the brand’s distinctive steering yoke will need to dig deeper into their pockets to enjoy this unique control feature. How much deeper? Well, U.S. customers will now have to shell out an additional $1,000 for the yoke option, while European and Chinese buyers will face additional charges of €1,000 and RMB 8,000, respectively. For those keeping tabs, this marks a significant four-fold increase from the previous $250 price tag for this “upgrade.”
The story of the steering yoke goes back to 2021 when the latest generation Model S and Model X vehicles were exclusively equipped with this distinctive feature. However, earlier this year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk succumbed to criticism and began manufacturing these flagship models with conventional round steering wheels. For customers who had purchased their Teslas during the mandatory steering yoke era, a dealer-installed retrofit to a round wheel became available in January 2023, albeit at a cost of $700, and it quickly sold out.
The current steering yoke design, reminiscent of something from the 1980s television show “Knight Rider,” has stirred strong opinions among Tesla aficionados. Some owners cherish it for its uniqueness and novelty, while others find it somewhat cumbersome to handle, especially at lower speeds. A similar divide exists among racing drivers who navigate Teslas, with a round-wheeled Model S Plaid dominating its class at the 2021 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, while another Model S Plaid set a record lap for production all-electric vehicles on Germany’s renowned Nurburgring track using a steering yoke.
According to reports from InsideEVs, Tesla is not ready to bid farewell to its idiosyncratic steering wheel just yet. The company is said to be working on an updated yoke design that merges elements of the yoke and a conventional steering wheel, possibly making it more appealing to a broader audience. A steering wheel fitting this description (pictured above) was observed on the upcoming Cybertruck at Tesla’s Investor Day event.
This recent alteration is just one of many in a continuous series of adjustments to pricing and option availability across the Tesla lineup. Additionally, Tesla enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the redesign of the brand’s staple, the Model 3. Tesla’s ability to adapt and innovate in response to consumer feedback remains a defining characteristic of the company’s trajectory in the ever-evolving electric vehicle market.
The Mazda CX-5 has been one of Mazda’s most influential models since its debut in 2012. Now entering its third generation with the 2026 model year, this compact SUV remains at the heart of the brand’s global success. Over 4.5 million units have been sold worldwide, of which 1.6 million were purchased in the United States, thus easily making it one of Mazda’s most successful nameplates.
But for many shoppers, especially in the used market, one major question remains: How well does the Mazda CX-5 hold its value over time?
Depreciation Breakdown: How Much Value Does a Mazda CX-5 Lose?
The resale value largely depends on the level of depreciation-the natural decline in a vehicle’s worth as time and mileage pile up. While CarEdge data indicates that the CX-5 holds its value relatively well for its class, it still depreciates more quickly than many of its top competitors.
Two-Year-Old Mazda CX-5
Average Depreciation: $12,963
Value Retained: 66.57%
Estimated Resale Value: $25,815
Mileage Assumption: 27,000 miles total (13,500 per year)
Five-Year-Old Mazda CX-5
Average Depreciation: $16,217
Value Retained: 58.18%
Estimated Resale Value: $22,561
Mileage Assumption: 67,500 miles total
These numbers suggest that while the CX-5 retains decent value, it nevertheless surrenders a significant portion of its value within the first five-year period, which is typically where most vehicles lose their value the fastest.
What Influences Depreciation Beyond Age and Mileage?
While time and mileage are the primary drivers of depreciation, several other factors play a major role in how much a used CX-5 is worth:
History of maintenance
The better choice will always be a well-maintained CX-5.
Consistent oil changes
Scheduled services according to Mazda’s recommendations
Proper care for brakes, tires, and fluids
Complete service records can help your vehicle sell more quickly and bring a better sale price.
Type of Driving
A car that does a lot of highway driving is often easier on the vehicle than constant stop-and-go city driving. A CX-5 that has spent its entire life doing long road trips might show less wear than one used to commute daily.
History of Accidents
Clean CarFax or AutoCheck reports greatly increase resale value.
Trim Level and Features
Higher trims, such as the Grand Touring or Signature, especially those with premium packages, will generally retain value better than their base-model brethren.
How the CX-5 Stacks Up Against Its Rivals
The compact SUV segment is highly competitive, with vehicles like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Subaru Forester always ranking near the very top in resale value. Here’s how the CX-5 compares:
After 2 Years
Toyota RAV4: 83.52% retained
Honda CR-V: 78.77%
Subaru Forester: 77.20%
Mazda CX-5: 66.57%
After 5 Years
Toyota RAV4: 69.42% retained
Honda CR-V: 67.01%
Subaru Forester: 65.98%
Mazda CX-5: 58.18%
These figures indicate that the CX-5 depreciates more quickly than its most popular rivals. For buyers, this is actually a good thing – used CX-5 models usually sell for less than similarly-equipped RAV4s or CR-Vs.
For sellers, though, the lower resale value means they may not recover as much of their investment when it’s time to move on.
The Bottom Line: Who Benefits Most?
Buyers: Buyers benefit by paying lower used prices because of higher depreciation.
Sellers: See resale returns lower than that of CR-V and RAV4 owners.
Simply stated, high depreciation works in the buyer’s favor, while strong resale value benefits the seller. Knowing which side you’re on helps you make the smartest financial decision.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Mazda CX-5
Mazda is getting ready to introduce the highly anticipated third-generation CX-5 for the 2026 model year. Early reports indicate that
Refined design inspired by the CX-60 and CX-70
Updated safety and entertainment technology
More efficient powertrains
Improved handling and comfort These upgrades might be worth considering for shoppers who are torn between buying used or waiting for the latest model.
Generative AI has moved from specialist interest to part of daily life — transforming all from entertainment to the workplace. From AI-generated art, deepfakes, and intelligent chatbots capable of talking like humans, AI is now part of modern life. Yet with technology racing ahead, so do fears it will spin out of control.
Now, a new generation of scientists, business leaders, and celebrities are calling for a slowdown on the next frontier: AI superintelligence — a form of artificial intelligence that potentially could surpass human intellectual ability in almost every dimension.
The Pushback: A Global Call to Slow Down AI Development
A collection of public personalities — such as Virgin Group creator Richard Branson, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and musician will.i.am — signed a new open letter called the “Statement on Superintelligence.”
The warning asks developers and businesses racing towards state-of-the-art AI systems, including OpenAI and Elon Musk’s xAI, to delay the magnitude of massive AI projects until there is a “broad scientific consensus that it will be done safely and controllably” and a “strong public buy-in” to support it.
Notably among them are two of the leading AI researchers, who are also cofounders of modern machine learning. The movement is thus quite heavily weighted.
“We must ensure that AI is serving humanity, and not vice versa,” the letter demands, threatening dire consequences in the event of runaway progress.
What Is AI Superintelligence — and Why Does It Worry Experts?
In order to understand the alarm, defining what AI superintelligence really is, is essential. Superintelligent AI, according to IBM, is a system which not only matches but far exceeds human intelligence — capable of reasoning, learning, and solving problems for itself in every respect, free of human control.
Contrary to current AI systems such as ChatGPT or Gemini, whose boundaries and data sets are defined, superintelligent AI would be continuously learning and evolving, rewriting its own code to increase efficiency and capability. Such recursive enhancement could make it almost impossible to contain.
“A true superintelligence would no longer need human oversight,” said Stuart Russell, an AI researcher at UC Berkeley. “At that point, its goals might diverge from ours — and we’d have no way to stop it.”
The Risks: From Job Losses to Existential Threats
The possible dangers of AI superintelligence go much beyond job automation or misinformation. The threat is mentioned by experts as the possibility of AI systems executing on their own in pursuit of ends that are in conflict with human values or safety.
Some of the highest threats:
Massive Job Displacement – AI already revolutionizes industries, but an entirely automated self-enhancing system could eliminate entire professions, ranging from programmers to creative professionals.
Loss of Human Control – The moment an AI begins to be smarter than the people who create it, it might be beyond control.
Weaponization and Surveillance – AI might be utilized by governments or corporations for total surveillance or robot war.
Existential Risk – In the worst-case scenario, a rogue AI with goals of its own would view humankind as an obstacle — one which scientists describe as a “digital doomsday.”.
Even if these ideas sound like science fiction, specialists argue that rejection of them would be naively dangerous. History has shown that humanity always underestimated the capabilities of its own inventions — from nuclear energy to biotechnology.
Increasing Public Alarm and Demand for Regulation
Public sentiment is shifting rapidly. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found that 67% of Americans now support greater government regulation of AI, up from 42% two years earlier. The European Union has already legislatively signed the AI Act into law, establishing the globe’s first extensive regulatory framework for artificial intelligence, while U.S. lawmakers are determining how to follow.
Tech giants, however, are still racing ahead. OpenAI, xAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic are investing billions in “next-generation” AI models that could approach or surpass human-level reasoning.
“We’re in an AI arms race, and everyone wants to be first — but that could also mean being first to make a catastrophic mistake,” warned Richard Branson in a recent statement.
Is It Already Too Late to Stop?
Until now, actual AI superintelligence is still theoretical, although most experts foresee that it might arise in the next two decades if trends continue. The question is not whether or when it will happen, but whether human civilization will be prepared — morally, technically, and legally — when it does.
“The clock is ticking,” declared Yoshua Bengio. “We still have time to make this technology safe. But not much.”
The Bottom Line: Humanity at a Crossroads
The debate over AI superintelligence is no longer confined to labs or tech circles — it has become a global conversation about the future of humanity itself. As generative AI becomes ubiquitous, the next phase could redefine civilization in ways we’re only beginning to imagine.
Whether the Statement on Superintelligence does indeed result in change is yet to be known. But this much is definite: the world has finally realized that the latest technology human beings have ever come up with has the potential to be the most deadly — unless we can learn how to control it before it controls us.
