Forget rising food costs and high interest rates. Soaring auto insurance costs have become a major contributor to resurgent inflation. March saw some of the biggest increases in premiums U.S. motorists have seen in a half century.
Car Culture
Breathe Easy, San Francisco: Study Finds EVs are Cleaning the City’s Air
When the EPA locked down new vehicle emissions standards last month regulators promised it would yield significant improvements in air quality by requiring a significant increase in sales of battery-electric vehicles. That’s been a matter of debate – but a new study shows that, at least in San Francisco, with some of the highest EV adoption rates in the U.S., air quality already is improving.
First Look: 2024 Toyota 4Runner – More Power, More Features, More Options
The 2025 Toyota 4Runner made its official debut Tuesday night and those looking for a rugged, midsize SUV will find plenty of reasons to give it a close look. The body-on-frame utility vehicle gets a ground-up makeover that provides more choices than ever, including an optional new hybrid powertrain, the new Trailhunter and Platinum packages, an array of new tech features and over 200 dealer-installable accessories.
Build It and They’ll Come, Manual Transmission Cars You Can Buy Today
Manual transmission-equipped vehicles are becoming hard to find but while their numbers are continuing to decrease, buyers still have a diverse array of choices to choose from if they focus on certain segments and vehicle models.
Reports of The Manual Transmission’s Death Greatly Exaggerated, Challenges Remain
Manual transmissions may be fading in popularity, but a new report suggests that while some challenges exist, they are not dead yet.
Headlight News Podcast Talks NY Auto Show Debuts, World Car of the Year and More
Headlight News for the Week of 4-1-24: NY Auto Show Debuts – World Car of the Year – Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 Review – and This Week in Automotive History.
The Past Lane: A Mid-Century Modern Small Car
In an era when Detroit’s Big Three wanted to do nothing but build ever larger cars, Nash Motors had a different idea, on ethat would prove that not everyone thought bigger was better. Read the story at Headlight.News.
Dodge Challenger Nameplate Could Make a Comeback
An all-new Dodge Charger made its official debut on Tuesday and while it hewed closely to the design of the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT concept introduced in 2022, the muscle car brand had some surprises up its sleeve, announcing that the production version will be offered in both 2- and 4-door versions (as well as all-electric and gas-powered options, as well). That leaves a big question: what happens to the once widely hailed Dodge Challenger?
First Look: All-Electric 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona – And it Gets a Gas-Powered Sibling
Dodge lifted the covers today on the eagerly awaited Charger Daytona. The replacement for the brand’s ancient muscle car line-up made its debut in concept form barely 18 months ago, billed as “the world’s first all-electric muscle car.” But Dodge offered up a few surprises during a media briefing: it will not only offer three distinct performance versions of the Daytona EV but add both 2- and 4-door models. And there’ll also be a Dodge Charger gas model using the new Hurricane engine. More from Headlight.News.
Ford Racing F-150 Lightning Demonstrator at Pikes Peak
Ford is heading to Colorado to summit Pikes Peak with an F-150 Lightning EV demonstrator in June. It’s the second straight year the automaker’s charged up the mountain with an EV, doing so last year in its electric SuperVan. More and more battery-electrics are heading to the top. Find out more at Headlight.News.
California Wants to Require Automakers to Install Speed Limiters
California lawmakers are considering a bill that could require new vehicles to come with an “intelligent speed limiter” that, in most instances, would prevent motorists from driving more than 10 mph above the speed limit. Such devices have also been recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board, though that has gained little traction on a federal level.
Used Tesla Cybertruck Sells for $244,000
It’s anyone’s guess how well the Tesla Cybertruck will do long-term. Even CEO Elon Musk has sent mixed signals about the stainless steel-bodied electric pickup. But, with production ramping up a painfully slow rate, it appears that some of those who truly want the EV will pay a substantial premium to get one – even a used one, with a brief auction resulting in one customer shelling out more than double the sticker price.