Daily Drive: VW’s Surprise ID.4 Send-Off, BMW’s Bumpy Sales Mix, a Wild Lincoln Hearse, and Weekend Track Heat

I started the morning expecting a sleepy Friday in the car world. Instead, I got a hot cup of “wait, did VW just do that?” with a side of “BMW, are you okay?” and a Lincoln Town Car that looks ready for Halloween… every day of the year. Let’s get into it.

Quick Hits

• VW is winding down the ID.4 in the U.S. and dangling up to $12,500 off to move the metal.
• BMW’s overall sales are up, but individual models are on a roller coaster—booming one month, baffling the next.
• A coachbuilt Lincoln Town Car hearse is headed to auction and it’s gloriously over the top.
• On track: Antonelli rebounds to top F1 FP3; in MotoGP, Martin edges Marquez for back-to-back poles.

EV Market Jolt: VW ID.4 Swansong Comes With a Big-Carrot Discount

Volkswagen is sunsetting the ID.4 in the U.S., and the send-off gift is sizable: incentives reportedly up to $12,500. If you’ve been EV-curious but wary of pricing, this changes the math in a hurry. I’ve run an ID.4 on dull suburban errands and some grotty city streets—its ride is calm and the cabin is quiet enough that phone calls don’t sound like you’re shouting into a leaf blower. The catch? You’ll want to be swift if this is on your shortlist, because wind-downs tighten selection fast.

What this means if you’re shopping

• Ask dealers what’s actually on the lot; late-run inventory can be a trim lottery.
• Verify if the discount stacks with state/utility incentives or lease credits, and whether it’s cash or finance-limited.
• If you plan road trips, check your charging routine first—home Level 2 makes any EV feel like cheating.

BMW’s Upbeat Quarter With a Side of Whiplash

BMW’s headline is tidy—sales up overall—but the subplots are messy. Some models are having an oddly volatile year, swinging between hot streaks and head-scratchers. Having talked to a few dealers recently, inventory quirkiness and trim mismatches are the common refrain. One month it’s a flood of high-spec cars that overshoot what people want; the next, everyone’s hunting base trims that don’t exist. If you’re after a specific configuration, patience (and a good salesperson) is your best tool.

Buying tip

• If you’re flexible on color or wheel packages, you can sometimes slide into a better deal on a slow-moving spec.
• Hot models don’t linger. Don’t expect discounts where days-on-lot are short.

Because Of Course: A Lincoln Town Car Hearse You Have to See

Somewhere between discreet luxury and rolling stage presence lives this coachbuilt Lincoln Town Car hearse, now bound for auction. If you grew up loving body-on-frame American luxo-barges, this thing is catnip—endless hood, long-roof silhouette, and the sort of serene ride you could balance a latte on. I once rode shotgun in a Town Car over frost-heaved New England roads; the front end just sort of floats across the surface like it’s skipping a stone. In hearse form, it’s more sculpture than sedan—equal parts nostalgia and spectacle. Would I daily it? Probably not. Would I valet it for dinner just to watch heads turn? Absolutely.

Hearse-curious? A few practical notes

• Check registration and insurance rules for former commercial vehicles in your state.
• Measure your garage. These things can be cruise-ship long.
• Parts are generally available—Town Cars were built in huge numbers—but specialty glass and trim can be niche.

At a Glance: Today’s Market Moves

Weekend Track Brief: Momentum Shifts and Familiar Fireworks

F1: Antonelli Tops FP3 After a Scrappy Friday

After a tough start to the weekend, Antonelli regrouped and led the time sheets in FP3. It’s the sort of turnaround that changes the tone in the garage—confidence arrives, run plans get cleaner, and suddenly qualifying looks less like damage limitation and more like opportunity. Lap times in practice don’t win points, but momentum is real. Expect a tighter midfield and some brave banker laps in Q1.

MotoGP: Martin Nicks Pole Over Marquez—Again

Jorge Martin edged Marc Marquez to take back-to-back poles, a pairing that practically guarantees elbows-out racing into Turn 1. Martin’s one-lap knife edge is as sharp as ever; Marquez looks like a metronome right behind him. If you’re tuning in, watch the first five laps—tire temps, track position, and a little gamesmanship will script the race’s middle act.

Conclusion

Value hunters just got a curveball from Volkswagen, BMW buyers need timing and flexibility, and someone out there is about to own the most dramatic Town Car on Earth. On track, the weekend promises speed and spite in equal measure. Not a bad way to close the week.

FAQ

• Is the VW ID.4 really being discontinued in the U.S.?
  Yes—Volkswagen is winding the ID.4 down in the U.S. market and offering incentives up to $12,500 on remaining stock.
• Can the ID.4 discount be combined with other incentives?
  It can depend on dealership programs and your state or utility rebates; ask specifically about stacking and whether the offer applies to cash, finance, or lease.
• Which BMW models are selling well or struggling?
  Overall sales are up, but performance varies by model. Availability, trims, and equipment mixes are driving month-to-month swings.
• What’s special about the Lincoln Town Car hearse at auction?
  It’s a coachbuilt, long-roof conversion—rare, theatrical, and very much a statement piece compared with standard Town Cars.
• Who’s hot in motorsport this weekend?
  Antonelli topped F1 FP3 after a difficult Friday, and in MotoGP, Jorge Martin took pole ahead of Marc Marquez for the second straight time.