Carmakers are facing a decline in overall sales in 2026 as tariffs and high prices shrink the pool of consumers able to afford a new vehicle, leaving manufacturers chasing affluent customers with expensive vehicles. Headlight.News has more.
Consumer Guides
Automotive Inflation Rages as Carmakers Pass on More of Trump Tariff Costs
Expect to pay more for that new Porsche next month, the German automaker advising dealers it will start passing on more of the cost of the tariffs Pres. Donald Trump has put in place on imported autos. Porsche isn’t alone, however, a growing number of brands are raising already record-high prices to cover those new duties, even on domestically made products due to the cost of imported parts and components, reports Headlight.News.
Rivian’s About to Let You Drive Pretty Much Anywhere Hands-Free
Rivian owners who like to drive hands-free will discover they can travel a lot further than they expected later this month. The EV start-up plans to increase from 150,000 to 3.5 million the number of miles its autonomous driving system can operate on. And, starting late next year, it plans to go even further with the release of the new R2 model which will be Rivian’s first to permit hands-free/eyes-off driving. According to CEO RJ Scaringe, there’s yet more to follow.
First Drive: 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid – Combining Power, Efficiency, Luxury in One Package
The Hyundai Palisade made an auspicious debut six years ago, taking things to a new level of roominess, style and features for the Korean carmaker. A second-generation version of the crossover takes things to new levels – especially with the launch of a first-ever Hyundai Palisade Hybrid. Headlight.News had a chance to check out the 3-row gas-electric package and here’s our review.
First Look: 2027 Kia Seltos Grows Bigger, Adds More Features, New Hybrid Option
Since its debut in 2019, the Kia Seltos has grown to become the Korean carmaker’s best-selling model line. But Kia has even bigger ambitions for the subcompact crossover as it gets a complete makeover that will see it grow larger, add more features and a first-time hybrid option. Headlight.News takes a first look at the 2027 Kia Seltos.
Is There a Kei Car in Your Future? Pres. Trump Thinks So – But Would Buyers Bite?
They’re some of the smallest cars in the world and make up 40% of the Japanese domestic market. But could “Kei cars” find a niche here in the United States? That’s something Pres. Don Trump suggested this week as he announced a rollback of federal fuel economy standards. More from Headlight.News.
Toyota Rolls Out Three New Supercars, Starting with All-Electric Lexus LFA “Concept”
Toyota rolled out three high-performance models on Friday, with an option seemingly for everyone with deep enough pockets. That includes an all-electric “concept” set to return in production form as the long-awaited replacement for the Lexus LFA, as well as two V-8 packages from its Gazoo Racing subsidiary. Headlight.News takes a closer look.
Subaru At the Head of the Class in 2026 Consumer Reports Auto Report Card
Little Subaru is a brand that has frequently surprised its bigger rivals and it does it again as the top-ranked marque in the 2026 Consumer Reports Auto Brand Report Card, besting manufacturers like Toyota, Honda and second-ranked BMW. That was one of the surprises in this year’s study. Headlight.News has more.
Trump Moves to Gut Biden-Era Mileage Standards – But Challenges Likely
The Trump administration moved ahead with plans to gut fuel economy standards set by former Pres. Joe Biden – effectively eliminating any significant role for EVs. But the proposal is expected to face stiff challenges and may have little impact on the price of new vehicles, as Headlight.News reports.
Trump Administration Set to Roll Back Fuel Economy Standards
The Trump administration has invited executives from the three Detroit automakers to be on hand at the White House today as details on the rollback of current corporate average fuel economy standards are announced. It’s the latest move by the president to back off of automotive emissions and safety standards set during the prior Biden administration. More from Headlight.News.
Toyota Set to Officially Reveal GR GT Supercar on Friday
Toyota has frustrated performance fans, so far failing to replace the exotic Lexus LFA, even as it pulls the more mainstream Supra from production. But there’s good news coming. Soon, as in this Friday, the Japanese automaker confirming that’s when it will reveal the new GR GT supercar. More from Headlight.News.
Mercedes’ 1,000 HP EV Supercar Meant to Put Halo Around Comeback Plan
Mercedes-Benz will launch a 1,000-hp all-electric supercar based on its Concept AMG GT XX, the automaker’s U.S. CEO told dealers meeting in Las Vegas. It’s part of a plan to deliver a one-third growth in sales by decade’s end, helping the German automaker catch up with luxury rivals BMW and Lexus – while also countering an ongoing slump in China. More from Headlight.News.