Automakers post strong May sales numbers as they prepare for summer sales surge. Toyota and Lexus have strong showing while Kia and Hyundai bank on EVs.
Lexus
First Drive: 2025 Mazda CX-70 PHEV
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.
Top Vehicle on Instagram Isn’t Sold in the U.S. Anymore
Posters used to tell you all you needed to know about what was popular. For a long time, the most desirable or popular cars in the world could all be found on one well-known wall hanging, “Justification for Higher Education.” Now you only need to go to Instagram to find out what’s hot. Get details at Headlight.News.
The 2024 Lexus RC 350 F-Sport: The Forgotten Luxury Sports Coupe
Given Akio Toyoda’s continued push to make the automaker more sporting, its benign neglect of the RC 350 remains a mystery. How recently has any attention been paid by corporate to the Lexus RC 350? Here’s all that you need to know: it comes with a CD player, so that...
These Are the Greenest – and Meanest – Vehicles You Can Buy
Looking for an environmentally friendly vehicle? You have more options than ever before. That includes a flood of new battery-electric vehicles, as you might expect, but if you’re still reluctant to go with an EV you still have plenty to choose from. In fact, the top-ranked model in the 2024 GreenerCars list is a plug-in hybrid, and even some products running solely on gasoline do well in the annual study. Better yet, there are plenty of affordable options. But there also are some surprises, as Headlight.News reports.
Sales of Hybrids Help Automakers Boost February Deliveries
With a boost from sales of hybrids leading the way, Asian automakers posted steady increases in sales during February as Honda, Toyota, Kia and Subaru all reported gains during what is often a difficult month for selling cars. Get details at Headlight.News.
Cadillac Lyriq Regains $7,500 Federal Tax Credit — Gets Leg Up on Rivals
After revising its supply chain, Cadillac once again can offer $7,500 in federal tax credits to buyers of the Lyriq EV. The automaker briefly lost those incentives after the U.S. Treasury updated guidelines under the Inflation Reduction Act on January 1. The news means Caddy gets a critical advantage over a number of competing luxury EVs that have also lost their tax credits this year.
Healthy January Sales Get Car Business Off to Good Start in 2024
Japanese automakers, boosted by their hybrid technology, posted sales gains in January, and South Korean automakers saw sales of their EVs increase. Get the details about January sales at Headlight.News.
First Drive: 2024 Lexus GX 550 — A Complete Makeover
Not long ago, Lexus buyers had a single utility vehicle to choose from: the time-tested RX. Today, the Japanese luxury brand has one of the broadest portfolios of SUVs and CUVs on the market. That includes the Lexus GX which, for 2024, gets a ground-up makeover. There’s a new chassis, a new engine, a more classic exterior design and a more high-tech interior. There’s also the all-new Overtrail trim package which adds more rugged features that, as its name suggests, will allow for more serious off-road adventures. Headlight.News headed down to Tucson, Arizona to test out the 2024 Lexus GX.
Dozens More EVs Coming in 2025 and 2026
At least 40 new battery-electric vehicles are due to reach U.S. showrooms in 2024 — and that’s a conservative estimate as we’ve had a number of surprises dropped on us by both domestic and foreign-owned brands. If anything, the flood of EV offerings will likely accelerate going forward. Here’s a look at some of the models we’re expecting in 2025 and 2026. Headlight.News checks out 45 of them.
Nearly Half of Buick Dealers Take GM Buyout Rather than Invest in EVs
Nearly half of all Buick dealers are taking buyouts from General Motors. Many Cadillac dealers accepted similar buyouts previously, and it reflects dealer concerns about the cost of converting their showrooms and service departments to handle battery-electric vehicles. GM plans to go 100% EV by 2035, though the automaker is adjusting the pace of that transition as EV sales growth slows.
Only Three Midsize Luxury SUVs Earn Good Score In Latest IIHS Crash Ratings
Poor performance of rear seat restraints cited as possibly causing injury in most of the tested models. Paying more for a midsize SUV doesn’t mean you’re safer in a crash – especially in the rear seat. That’s the message from the Insurance Institute for Highway...