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Paul Eisenstein

First Drive: 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz – Updating the Urban Adventurer

First Drive: 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz – Updating the Urban Adventurer

by | Sep 10, 2024 | , , , , , , ,

The Hyundai Santa Cruz is the modern incarnation of the compact pickups wildly popular with then-young Baby Boomers a half-century ago. But it’s no retro-mobile. Santa Cruz gets a distinctive design that blends the functionality of a pickup with the decidedly modern curves of today’s Hyundai Tucson. Barely three years after the Santa Cruz made its auspicious debut, Hyundai is ready to roll out a mid-cycle update. It tweaks the truck’s distinctive design, adds a variety of new features and fixes some of the original model’s problems. Here’s our review of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz.

Californians Could Soon Get Warned Every Time They Speed

Californians Could Soon Get Warned Every Time They Speed

by | Sep 9, 2024 | , , , , ,

It’s now up to California Gov. Gavin Newsom to decide whether to sign a new bill that would require automakers to install a “passive intelligent speed assistance system” into all new vehicles sold in the state starting no later than 2030. Lawmakers sent the governor the measure as part of a crackdown on speeding – which is reportedly involved in a third of the state’s fatal crashes. The measure mandates the use of a warning device but some safety advocates want to go further, installing speed limiters.

Over-the-Air Updates Paying Off for Millions of Motorists

Over-the-Air Updates Paying Off for Millions of Motorists

by | Sep 6, 2024 | , , , , , ,

Most of today’s new vehicles come equipped with the capability of handling smartphone-style over-the-air updates. It’s paying off in multiple ways, allowing manufacturers to update EV range, the fuel economy of gas vehicles, add features to infotainment systems and improve safety systems. But OTA capabilities vary widely from one vehicle to another.

Think EVs Are Expensive? Check the Cost of the Average a Plug-In Hybrid

Think EVs Are Expensive? Check the Cost of the Average a Plug-In Hybrid

by | Sep 5, 2024 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

As the growth of EV sales has slowed in recent months, automakers have begun looking at electrified alternatives, many betting that plug-in hybrids will become a “bridge” technology for motorists not quite ready to commit to an EV. But if you think battery-electric vehicles are expensive you may be shocked by what the typical PHEV costs – an average of more than $60,000. Then again, there are a few surprisingly affordable one.

Scout Reborn: All-Electric Brand Set to Reveal First Products Next Month

Scout Reborn: All-Electric Brand Set to Reveal First Products Next Month

by | Sep 4, 2024 | , , , , , , , , , , ,

More than two years after Volkswagen AG revealed it was taking over the long-defunct Scout, the reborn off-road brand is set to reveal its first two all-electric products. And these teaser images give us a sense of what’s coming on October 24.

First Drive: 2025 Hyundai Tucson Takes Aim at Toyota, Honda

First Drive: 2025 Hyundai Tucson Takes Aim at Toyota, Honda

by | Sep 4, 2024 | , , , , , , , , , , ,

It may trail the leaders, Toyota and Hyundai, in the compact crossover market, but Hyundai is determined to give them chase and, based on the updated 2025 Tucson, the competitors need to be looking over their shoulders. Headlight.News spent time checking out the Korean CUV and files this review.

Hyundai May Build the N Vision 74, a Hydrogen-Powered Retro-Rocket, After All

Hyundai May Build the N Vision 74, a Hydrogen-Powered Retro-Rocket, After All

by | Sep 3, 2024 | , , , , , , , , , ,

They’ll build it. They’ll build it not. The fate of the retro-futuristic Hyundai N Vision 74 concept has been a source of constant debate since it was first unveiled in July 2022. The automaker subsequently insisted the show car was never going to see the light of day. Now, however, it’s starting to look like a production version really is in the works, at least based on what came out during the automaker’s latest Investor Day event.

2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT Adds Off-Road Chops

2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT Adds Off-Road Chops

by | Sep 3, 2024 | , , , , , ,

Who says EV sales are slowing down? Certainly not Hyundai where demand is up by double-digits this year. It helps to keep expanding the line-up with new models like the upcoming EV9. But the Korean carmaker also is expanding the array of variants spun off of existing models. And, for 2025, that will include its first off-road-ready EV, the Ioniq 5 XRT.

First Drive: 2025 Volvo EX90 Twin Motor Performance

First Drive: 2025 Volvo EX90 Twin Motor Performance

by | Sep 3, 2024 | , , , , , , , ,

If you ask CEO Jim Rowan, the new Volvo EX90 “is a statement for where we are and where we’re going.” It’s not the first all-electric model from the Swedish automaker but it’s certainly the most powerful and lavishly equipped, serving as a counterpoint to the familiar XC90. To get a sense of what the new model is all about I spent a couple days driving the top-line Twin Motor Performance package around the Southern California coast. Here’s what I learned.

From Plain Vanilla to Cutting Edge – Is Lexus Design Going Too Far?

From Plain Vanilla to Cutting Edge – Is Lexus Design Going Too Far?

by | Aug 30, 2024 | , , ,

It may be one of the best-selling luxury brands in the U.S. but Lexus has never been one seen as pushing the edge when it comes to styling. Not until recently, that is. But it’s upending its conservative approach with concepts like the LF-ZC and LF-ZL and could carry those edgy design themes into production. But is it going “too far”? That’s a question its global design chief is asking.

GM Facing Huge Liabilities as Court Okays Class Action Over Faulty Transmissions

GM Facing Huge Liabilities as Court Okays Class Action Over Faulty Transmissions

by | Aug 30, 2024 | , , , , , , , , ,

If you had a faulty transmission on a General Motors vehicles built between the 2015 and 2019 model-years you could be covered by a new lawsuit certified by a federal court. The class-action could result in payouts to hundreds of thousands of owners across the U.S., as Headlight.News reports.

Ford Joins Ranks of U.S. Companies Abandoning or Scaling Back Diversity Programs

Ford Joins Ranks of U.S. Companies Abandoning or Scaling Back Diversity Programs

by | Aug 29, 2024 | , , , , , ,

Ford Motor Co. will pare back its diversity efforts, joining companies like Lowe’s, John Deere and Beam Suntory, the producers of Jim Beam liquor who have entirely abandoned so-called DEI programs. Ford’s move was hailed by conservatives, but denounced as “shortsighted” by human rights advocates. For his part, CEO Jim Farley said the automaker will still work to creative an “inclusive workplace.”