Paul Eisenstein, Author at Headlight.news

First Drive: 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST First Edition

by Paul Eisenstein | May 23, 2024 | *Daily News*, Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, GMC, Ram, Rivian, Tesla

After an unexpectedly long wait, Chevrolet finally brings the retail version of its new, all-electric pickup to market with the arrival of the 2024 Silverado EV RST. The initial First Edition package is loaded with an array of features that should grab potential buyers’ attention. It’s now the longest-range EV pickup on the market at up to 440 miles per charge, and delivers up to 750 hp in WOW mode. It’s also targeted at those with deep pockets – until later, more affordable trims arrive. Here’s our review of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST First Edition.

Review: 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R – the “Ultimate” Off-Road Beast

by Paul Eisenstein | May 23, 2024 | *Reviews*, Car Culture, Chevrolet, Consumer Guides, First Drive, Ford, Motorsports, off-road, Ram

Ford has long been the king-of-the-hill in the full-size pickup market, outselling all competitors, domestic and foreign. So, it’s no surprise to see it determined to rule the off-road segment, as well. With the big F-150 getting a major update for 2024 that means a new version of the rugged Raptor R, as well. Ford’s “ultimate” off-roader gets more power, and new features designed to help it overcome the toughest obstacles – whether you’re crawling a boulder-strewn trail or racing down the Baja.

Drivers in California May Soon Pay By the Mile

by Paul Eisenstein | May 22, 2024 | *Daily News*, Business, Consumer Guides, Environment, EVs and batteries, Government, Green Power, Regulatory, Technology

States have long relied on gas taxes to cover the cost of building and maintaining their highway infrastructure. That approach falls apart as more and more EVs take to the road. California is exploring another option: tracking the mileage motorists log and charging them according to how far they drive. That could help prevent a gas tax shortfall of more than $4 billion over the next decade.

First Look: 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid

by Paul Eisenstein | May 21, 2024 | *Daily News*, Consumer Guides, Environment, EVs and batteries, Green Power, Honda, Hybrids

After a several-year absence, Honda is bringing back the Civic Hybrid, offering it as an option for both sedan and hatchback buyers for the 2025 model year. While if will offer as much as 50 mpg fuel economy, the new hybrid will put more emphasis on performance than past versions, the automaker said Tuesday.

First Drive: 2025 Mazda CX-70 PHEV

by Paul Eisenstein | May 21, 2024 | *Daily News*, *Reviews*, BMW, Consumer Guides, EVs and batteries, First Drive, Green Power, Hybrids, Jeep, Lexus, Mazda

There was a time when the little Miata defined the Mazda brand. Though the roadster remains a much beloved part of the Mazda portfolio, the new CX-70 is much closer to what the automaker is all about these days. New for 2025, it’s the two-row sibling of the Mazda CX-90 that made its debut a year ago. Like that three-row crossover, it’s well equipped and well appointed. And it offers some intriguing powertrain options, including the plug-in hybrid I had the chance to drive during a couple days behind the wheel in Palm Springs earlier this month.

Little Mitsubishi Has Big Plans for the U.S.

by Paul Eisenstein | May 20, 2024 | *Daily News*, Auto Shows, Business, Consumer Guides, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, Green Power, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Sales, Technology

Mitsubishi…remember it? Going back a couple decades, it was a rising star in the U.S. market. Now, it hopes to make a real comeback with its 5-year Momentum 2030 North America business plan. That will “start immediately,” the Japanese automaker says, with an assortment of new and completely refreshed vehicles heading to American showrooms — including EVs, plug-ins and conventional hybrids.

Shake-Up at Stellantis Claims Once-Rising Star Tim Kuniskis

by Paul Eisenstein | May 17, 2024 | *Daily News*, Advertising & Marketing, Aftermarket, Alfa Romeo, Business, Chrysler, Dodge, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, Executives, Personalities, Ram, Sales

In the wake of the mega-merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Paris-based PSA, Tim Kuniskis seemed the fair-haired boy, the American executive CEO Carlos Tavares could turn to when there was a problem to be solved. But Kuniskis unexpectedly announced his retirement Friday, with replacements named to take on his duties at Dodge and Ram.

Musk’s Antics Could Cost Him $56 Billion Pay Package

by Paul Eisenstein | May 16, 2024 | *Daily News*, Business, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, Executives, Green Power, Legal, Personalities, Regulatory, Tesla

Elon Musk’s increasingly mercurial behavior is having a substantial impact on the Texas-based EV maker. But it may also have a serious impact on the Tesla CEO himself as shareholder resistance grows to the $50 billion pay package the automaker wants to give Musk. A key investor, and former Musk “fanboy,” voting no.

Here’s How Much You’ll Spend on Gas in Your Lifetime

by Paul Eisenstein | May 15, 2024 | *Daily News*, Business, Car Culture, Consumer Guides, Environment, Green Power

The typical American driver spends plenty of time behind the wheel – and plenty of money at the gas pump. Just how much money depends, of course, on a variety of factors, but it all adds up to a lot more than you might expect. And, over the course of a lifetime, you might shell out nearly as much as you’d spend on a new home – motorists in some states expected to spend around $200,000 on fuel.

Mercedes Workers Next to Vote on UAW – But “Alabama is Not Michigan”

by Paul Eisenstein | May 14, 2024 | *Daily News*, Business, Mercedes, Regulatory, Union, Volkswagen

After winning a historic vote at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga last month, the United Auto Workers Union takes aim at a repeat victory as workers at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa cast their ballots. But the UAW faces strong local opposition from, among others, Gov. Kay Ivey who declared “Alabama is not Michigan,” as she signed a bill to discourage future union efforts.

Chinese EV Imports Pose “An Extinction Level Event”

by Paul Eisenstein | May 14, 2024 | *Daily News*, Auto Shows, Business, BYD, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, Ford, geely, General Motors, Green Power, Sales, Technology, Tesla, trade, Volkswagen, zeekr

President Joe Biden raised tariffs on an assortment of Chinese-made goods, including the battery-electric vehicles manufacturers like BYD, Geely and Great Wall have been hoping to start selling in the U.S. The threat of these inexpensive EVs – some starting at barely $10,000 – has sent shivers through the American auto industry, one trade group warning their arrival poses an “extinction-level event.” Headlight.News explains why.

Musk Appears to Reverse Course on Tesla Supercharger Cuts

by Paul Eisenstein | May 13, 2024 | *Daily News*, Business, Consumer Guides, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, Executives, Government, Green Power, Sales, Technology, Tesla

Just days after firing the head of Tesla’s Supercharger operations – and dismissing her entire 500-person staff – CEO Elon Musk appeared to reverse course, announcing on his social media site X that the automaker still will invest “well over” $500 million on “new sites and expansions” of the public charging system. The apparent turnaround comes as Tesla comes under increasing pressure from Tesla investors, analysts, owners and other automakers who have done deals to gain access to the Supercharger network for their own EV customers.

Paul Eisenstein