The news comes as Nissan reports that Versus will sell just 51,310 units in 2025, making it the slowest-selling of its mass-market sedan models. Among Nissan’s models, only the sports cars Z and GTR had lower sales than the Versa.

Reporting from Nashville: Nissan discontinues Versa as American buyers opt for higher-priced models

Why did Nissan discontinue Versa?

“In line with Nissan’s product strategy, Nissan Versa will be discontinued for the U.S. market in December 2025,” the Japanese automaker, which once had some of the most popular models in the sedan segment, said in a statement provided to USA TODAY.

“Nissan remains committed to providing affordable and stylish vehicles in the sedan segment with the Sentra and Altima, as well as strong value in the compact SUV segment with the Kicks,” Nissan said in a statement.

Inspired by the “taste and comfort people crave during winter,” the seasonal collection will introduce four “all-new” donuts to customers. Krispy Kreme’s latest product will act as a catalyst for “five limited-time seasonal lineups” through 2026.

“Each (assortment) is created to offer a unique flavor that provides the seasonal flavor and comfort people crave during winter, spring, summer, fall, and the holidays,” the donut company and coffee house chain said in a news release.

Krispy Kreme’s “Winter Seasonal Collection” will be available for a “limited time” at participating stores nationwide.

However, if you maintain your car properly, you can extend its lifespan. By taking care of your engine, fuel tank, and battery and using the highest quality products in your car, you can help your car last longer. If done correctly, it could last up to 300,000 miles.

Use good quality gas

Something that most car owners tend to overlook is the quality of their gasoline. While the average driver may choose the cheapest fuel price, they should choose the highest quality gasoline instead. Brands such as Shell, Chevron, Exxon, BP, and Mobil use high-quality additives in their fuels. In addition to filling your gas tank, it also helps clean some components of your fuel system. It’s also a good idea to add a bottle of fuel system cleaner to your gas tank at the same time as your oil change.

Always use high quality oil and oil filters

Just like gasoline, you should use the highest quality synthetic motor oil in your vehicle. Using the oil recommended by your car manufacturer will extend the life of your engine. A high quality oil filter should also be used. We recommend changing your oil approximately every 5,000 miles, but the interval depends on your mileage and the oil blend you use.

CSM Lodging, which operates the Residence Inn near the Mall of America, said in a statement: “The privacy and safety of our guests is of the utmost importance to us. We learned of this situation Wednesday evening and immediately investigated and identified the person responsible for taking the image in the post.” said in a statement.

CSM Lodging first confirmed to Fox News the employee’s termination, saying, “The individual is no longer an employee of our organization.”

ICE Shooting Live Updates: Renee Good’s wife speaks out for the first time

An image of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers checking into a Residence Inn was posted on Reddit, but was removed by the social media platform for violating its rules.

Will anyone address rising costs? Will a new vehicle with a familiar name impress people? Will a new hit be born? What brand spends billions of dollars on a new model only to fail?

As always, I’m grateful for Automotive News’ authoritative Future Product Guide. This guide made a huge contribution to the research for this column.

Here are more than a dozen vehicles to keep an eye on as the new year begins.

2026 Afera

Afeela, a 50-50 joint venture between Sony and Honda, is notoriously secretive, but the Japanese industrial giants are promising more information when the company’s first vehicle, the Afeela 1, debuts at the CES electronics show in January.

According to the IRS, Americans have until April 15 to file their 2025 tax returns and pay any taxes owed. The agency expects to receive about 164 million individual income tax returns this year, with most taxpayers filing electronically.

According to a study by Credit Karma, which provides credit score information, one-third of Americans rely on their tax refunds to get by. And with refunds expected to be larger than usual this year thanks to the tax and spending package passed by President Donald Trump in July, Americans may want to prepare their refunds early and get in line for the big day, experts said.

“Many filers can expect an increase in their refund amount or a reduction in their outstanding balance, in some cases by up to $1,000,” said Lisa Green Lewis, a certified public accountant (CPA) and tax expert at TurboTax. The average refund in 2025 was $2,939.

Every year, tax refunds provide a windfall benefit to millions of Americans. For most people, it’s the biggest payday of the year. Typically, 75% of Americans receive a refund each year.

The average refund in 2025 was $2,939, according to IRS data. Some tax experts expect the average to rise this year because of the tax and spending package that President Donald Trump passed in July. Nancy Vanden Houten, chief economist at the University of Oxford, said the total tax savings for taxpayers could reach an additional $50 billion because the IRS did not update its withholding schedules to account for the new provisions retroactively to early 2025.

Although the IRS can mail you a paper check, the fastest and safest method is through free electronic direct deposit, the tax agency says. More than 9 out of 10 taxpayers receive their refund through direct deposit, but the IRS wants to push that number even higher. The IRS began phasing out paper checks for individual taxpayers on September 30 of last year.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat considered a likely 2028 presidential candidate, announced on Friday, January 9, a plan to spend $200 million from the state’s budget to provide an “on-the-bond” electric vehicle rebate that would provide instant discounts on EVs in the state, which has more plug-in models than any other state in the nation. The governor did not specify the specific amount of credits he expects to soon be available to car buyers in the state.

California’s plan comes shortly after President Trump won the 2024 presidential election and a year after Newsom promised to step in to offer consumers discounts on electric vehicles if Trump followed through on his campaign promise to eliminate the $7,500 federal tax credit. In fact, President Trump made good on these promises and passed a bill in Congress that would end the tax credit on September 30, 2025.

Why is California stepping in to provide cash for EV buyers?

California has the highest percentage of car buyers choosing electric vehicles.