Top Stories
Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 2-9-26
On this week’s Headlight News podcast, we cover the big hit to Stellantis’ earnings, Toyota’s changes at the top as well as its new EV, plus the decline of new car sales last month. We also review the 2026 Honda Prelude and more. Give us a listen!
EV Sales Fall, But EV Charger Installations Jump 30% in 2025
Electric vehicle sales continue to slide, but the need to charge the millions of EVs currently on the road — and the thousands more to come — still needs to be met, and new report reveals that public DC fast-charging port installations grew 30% last year. Get the details at Headlight.News.
New Toyota CEO “Loves Money” And Will Need it to Grow Hybrids, Software, Robotaxi Operations
Toyota has a new CEO set to take charge on April 1 and, unlike the man he’ll succeed, Kenta Kon is a finance guy determined to deliver some big numbers for the world’s largest automaker. He intends to build up Toyota’s war chest – and one way he’ll do that is with a planned 30% increase in hybrid sales by 2028. More from Headlight.News.
UAW Workers Get 20% Pay Hike at VW Chattanooga Plant
It’s taken two years, but workers at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee are set to get a big payoff after voting to approve union representation. The question is whether they will approve their tentative new contract, reports Headlight.News.
Honda Set to Roll S+ Shift Out Across its Hybrid Line-Up
Honda’s sixth-generation Prelude is just rolling into U.S. showrooms and one of its more intriguing features is the new S+ Shift which is designed to “simulate a performance transmission experience.” Expect to see the system start rolling out across the rest of the Honda line-up starting later this year.
Podcasts
Get the Latest Auto News on the HEADLIGHT.NEWS Podcast
Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 2-9-26
On this week’s Headlight News podcast, we cover the big hit to Stellantis’ earnings, Toyota’s changes at the top as well as its new EV, plus the decline of new car sales last month. We also review the 2026 Honda Prelude and more. Give us a listen!
Headlight.News Podcast for the Week of 2-2-26
This week’s Headlight News podcast chronicles the fall of GM and Tesla earnings, Toyota setting a new sales record, Mercedes showing its new S-Class, automakers not advertising during the Super Bowl this year. Give us a listen and tell us what you think.
Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 1-26-26
On this week’s Headlight News podcast, we cover the influence China is having on the U.S. automotive market, declining Cybertruck demand and sales, Mercedes equipping its 2027 E-Class with heated seatbelts and more. Check it out at Headlight.News.
Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 1-19-26
On this week’s podcast, we recap our time at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, including the new Bronco RTR variant, President Trump acting … presidential (LOL) during a Ford plant visit, and the new car affordability problem. Additionally, we review the 2026 Mazda CX-70 and more.
Latest Reviews
Consumer Reports Names its Top 10 Picks – and They’re All Electrified
Consumer Reports released its annual Top 10 Picks in New Cars, Trucks and SUVs and potential buyers might notice a theme running through them, all of the choices either a hybrid – or available as one – or an EV. Separately, the non-profit announced its first-ever “Safety Verdict,” ranking 29 automotive brands on a variety of factors. Who came out on top? Some surprises here, as well, reports Headlight.News.
A Week With: 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Hybrid Autobiography
With its formal look, elevated driving position and luxurious accoutrements, one might be tempted to think the 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Hybrid Autobiography is just another hifalutin luxury SUV. Find out just how true that is in our review at Headlight.News.
First Look: 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is Far More than the Typical “Mid-Cycle Refresh”
It’s industry norm to make some changes midway through a vehicle’s lifecycle, though the updates are typically modest. Not so the “refresh” coming with the 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. According to the automaker’s CEO, more than 2,700 components have been replaced, with updates to everything from its new “Digital Light” headlamps to its MB.OS supercomputer – and it even gets industry-first heated seatbelts. More from Headlight.News.
First Drive: 2026 Honda Prelude is the Sporty Coupe We’ve Been Waiting Ford
It’s been a long wait – 25 years, to be precise – but if you’re one of those loyal fans who’ve long been hoping for the return of the Honda Prelude the good news is that it’s back and finally rolling into U.S. dealer showrooms. Was it worth lighting a candle for? Headlight.News has this review.
A Week With: 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum AWD
Once a parent, always a parent. Perhaps at no time is that adage more true than when you slide behind the wheel of a minivan. The latest Toyota Sienna Platinum model, with its small refrigerator, on-board vacuum, and seating for seven, most certainly enhances that feeling. Get details in our review at Headlight.News.