Headlight News for the Week of 11-24-25 covers the LA Auto Show, Hyundai going off-road, Porsche’s new Cayenne EV, more robotaxis coming and the NACTOY finalists. We also review the 2026 Nissan Leaf Premium+ and look back at this week in automotive history.
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.
Before the Mach-E, before the Bolt, before the Model 3 there was … the Nissan Leaf. Small with limited range and an awkward exterior, the Leaf was the first mainstream electric vehicle. Since then, the OG EV has been pushed to the back of the line; however, the 2026 Nissan Leaf Premium+ is making a statement: I’m back. See if it is in our review at Headlight.News.
The Hyundai Crater Concept was one of the most intriguing products to make its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week. But the aggressive-looking SUV is really more than just your typical show car. As Headlight.News notes in this exclusive report, Crater is the prototype of what are expected to be a series of ever more capable off-road products the Korean carmaker plans to bring to market in the coming years, vehicles that could challenge the likes of icons including the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco.
Lucid has finally launched a more affordable version of its first all-electric SUV. The Lucid Gravity Touring package will start at $79,900. That’s $15,000 less than the current “base” Grand Touring package. The automaker clearly hopes the new entry model will help it boost lagging sales, reports Headlight.News.
The second-generation Kia Telluride made its debut at the LA Auto Show Wednesday and offers a number of upgrades over the Korean brand’s already popular flagship model. Among other things, the 2027 Telluride gets a first-ever hybrid drivetrain option yielding as much as 35 mpg combined. It also is available with upgraded off-road capabilities on the X-Pro package. Headlight.News has more.
While EV sales may be taking a hit as 2025 draws to a close, you wouldn’t know based on the nine finalists for North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year. Two-thirds of the models chosen by a panel of 50 U.S. and Canadian journalists are either hybrid or all-electric. Headlight.News has the list.
The field to perfect robotaxis inched closer to getting crowded as Tesla secured a permit for a ride-hailing service in Arizona while Amazon-sponsored Zoox opened up for free robotaxi rides in San Francisco. Details at Headlight.News.
Barely a year after launching its first all-electric SUV, Jeep is ready to bring out a second one. But where the original Wagoneer S was what can politely be described as a “soft-roader,” the 2026 Jeep Recon is meant for those tackling the toughest trails in places like Moab or the Rubicon. Headlight.News checks out Jeep’s latest entry.
More Americans are going off-road than ever before – or, at the least, are looking for vehicles capable of taking them out onto the trails. Hyundai has been moving in that direction with its recent XRT trims but appears ready to take things to a new level, at least if...
After a quarter-century absence the reborn Honda Prelude is back in U.S. showrooms, officially going on sale today. Available in just one “well-equipped” trim, the hybrid-only 2026 Prelude will start at $42,000, reports Headlight.News.
In this week’s podcast, we talk the state of automotive tariffs, price hikes, electric vehicle cuts, U.S. investments, robo taxis as well as reviewing the new 2026 Nissan Sentra and looking back at this week in automotive history.