Headlight News for the Week of 6-10-24 – May Auto Sales – Who Gets The Most Speeding Tickets – Ford’s Big News – Toyota Crown Signia Review – and This Week in Automotive History
Toyota
First Drive: 2025 Toyota Crown Signia – Wagon, SUV or Something Entirely New?
Station wagon or SUV? The 2025 Toyota Crown Signia is a bit of both. Offered only in hybrid, all-wheel-drive form, it’s the second model to wear the Crown badge as part of a new Toyota sub-brand. The Signia is just rolling into U.S. showrooms and Headlight.News offers this first drive review.
Shift to Plug-in Hybrids and Range-Extenders Accelerates
While growth in the battery-electric vehicle segment has slowed sharply this year, sales are rising fast for hybrids – and automakers like Toyota, General Motors, Hyundai Motor Group and others are forecasting demand could grow at a near exponential rate for plug-in hybrids and range-extenders – driven in part by revised federal emissions standards.
Toyota, 3 Other Japanese Automakers, Acknowledge Cheating on Safety and Emissions Tests
Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda “sincerely” apologized Monday for the automaker’s role in a cheating scandal that has swept through the Japanese auto industry. The industry giant, along with Honda, Mazda and Suzuki have pleaded after a government investigation in their home market revealed they rigged emissions and safety tests. Production of some of the vehicles have been halted, as a result.
Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai Report Strong Sales During May, Electrified Vehicles Leading The Way
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.
Jeep Will Offer Six Different Electrified Powertrain Options: From Mild Hybrid to EV
Jeep launched its first all-electric model, the Wagoneer S, this week and has more coming. But the brand wants to give buyers “freedom of choice” and, rather than go 100% EV, officials told Headlight.News they’ll soon offer six different electrified powertrain...
Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru Enter Triple Alliance to Accelerate Combustion Engine Development
Toyota, Mazda and Subaru are showing that combustion engines still matter with triple alliance that aims to streamline and accelerate their development.
Gazoo Racing Chief Admits Brand Needs Performance SUV To Expand
Gazoo Racing’s CEO admits that the brand needs an SUV entry to help it get a bigger piece of the sales pie.
First Drive: 2024 Toyota GR Corolla Premium – The Spiciest Corolla Yet
2024 Toyota Corolla GR Premium shows that the company doesn’t need the help of others to produce budget performance.
Subaru Plans 8 EVs by 2028 – 4 From Partnership with Toyota
Subaru’s only EV, the Solterra, is a product of a joint venture with Toyota – and the Japanese automaker plans to take the same approach with its next three battery-electric vehicles, all due out by 2026. Then it plans to bring out four more, developed in-house, by 2028, its CEO said Monday.
Alpine Alpenglow Hy4: From Concept to Rolling Hydrogen-Powered Testbed
Originally introduced in pure concept form at the 2022 Paris Motor Show, French automaker Alpine apparently has some serious plans for the Alpenglow hypercar. A running version, dubbed the Alpine Alpenglow Hy4 is set to take to the track for the 6-hour Spa-Francochamps endurance race this weekend. What stands out is not just the exotic design and impressive performance but the fact that the Hy4 uses a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine.
Japanese Automakers Post Strong April Sales Numbers, Korean Automakers See Sales Dip
The expanding popularity of electrified vehicles, particularly hybrids, continues to help boost sales of new vehicles amid growing signs consumers are switching to smaller, more affordable vehicles in the face of rising prices and the highest interest rates in nearly a quarter of a century.