A sporty new take on the “Z car” debuts at NY Auto Show next week getting upgrades including a manual gearbox for the 2027 Nissan Z NISMO..
Toyota
Backed by 8 Automakers, This Start-Up Wants to Change How You Charge Your EV
If the name isn’t familiar, no surprise. The company has just turned two years old and only just opened its 100th location. But with the backing of eight major automotive manufacturers – including General Motors, Toyota, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz – Ionna aims to transform the process of charging up battery-electric vehicles. That’s a critical step, its CEO told Headlight.News, in increasing consumer acceptance of EVs.
Ford on Track to Set Yet Another Recall Record in 2025
After ordering an all-time industry record 153 recalls in 2025, Ford Motor Co. hoped to bring its problems with quality and reliability under better control this year. But with three more service actions announced this week the automaker has already had to recall another 7.4 million vehicles to address potential safety problems. More from Headlight.News.
Honda Scraps Plans for 3 U.S. EVs as it Warns of Potential $16 Billion Loss
Honda scrapped plans to bring three EVs to the U.S. market, joining a growing list of manufacturers shifting plans following the phase-out of federal tax credits last September. Honda executives also warned the company could post losses of up to $16 billion due to factors that also include the cost of U.S. tariffs. More from Headlight.News.
A Week With: 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE
Making more out of less. That should be Toyota’s real motto, and the latest example of that is the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE. The latest crossover creation from the automaker reveals just how good it is at taking what it already has and creating something new and excellent. Check out our review to find out why it’s so good at Headlight.News.
Soaring Vehicle Delivery Fees Are Becoming “Budget Breakers”
New vehicle prices have been running at record levels over the last several years, and posted another big jump in February. A lot of factors catch blame, including the Trump administration’s auto tariffs. But there’s another factor buyers often overlook: the delivery fees manufacturers tack on – in some cases adding more than $3,000 to a vehicle’s MSRP. Headlight.News has more.
Honda to Join Toyota, Exporting U.S.-Made Vehicles to Japan
Honda will begin exporting two models from U.S. plants to Japan, Headlight.News learned, marking the first time it has done that in four decades. The move echoes plans by Toyota which late last year said it would export three American-made products to its home market.
A Week With: 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max Platinum
Automakers continue to carve up the SUV segment into smaller, more specific niches. It used to be just compact, midsize, and large utes heading into the last decades. Then consumers were looking for … more. Nicer, slightly bigger, slightly smaller, sporty, rough-and-tumble, and more. So Toyota introduced the Grand Highlander, the larger, nicer version of its longtime favorite, the Highlander. Find out if it’s better in our review at Headlight.News.
Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 2-23-26
This week’s Headlight News podcast covers the latest on Trump and his tariffs, improved new car affordability, VW cutting costs and that EV owners are a loyal group while reviewing the 2026 Toyota C-HR and looking back at this week in automotive history.
First Drive: 2026 Toyota C-HR
Few major automakers have been more reluctant to embrace the shift to EVs. So it was a surprise to learn that Toyota will bring three new all-electric models to market this year – even while giving the original bZ4X both a new name and an upgraded powertrain. That system is shared with the smaller 2026 Toyota C-HR, it turns out, and transforms it into a sporty, fun-to-drive – and reasonably affordable package. Here’s the Headlight,News review.
U.S. EV Registrations Slipped for 1st Time in a Decade
Driven largely by the phase-out of federal tax credits, U.S. sales of battery-electric vehicles slid last year, with registrations down for the first time in a decade. Most experts anticipate a rebound, though how much and how fast that recovery will happen is uncertain. Headlight.News has more.
Toyota Bucks the EV Pullback with All-Electric Highlander
While much of the industry may be paring back their EV plans, Toyota is moving in a very different direction, on Tuesday evening pulling the wraps off the latest entry into its line-up an all-electric 3-row SUV. Headlight.News checks out the 2027 Toyota Highlander EV.