From 52 down to nine. Jurors for NACTOY, the most prestigious vehicle awards program in North America, have announced the nine finalists for Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle-of-the-Year, three in each category. And battery power clearly has the 50 U.S. and Canadian journalists who make up the jury charged up. Headlight.News checks out the nominees.
EVs and batteries
Honda Surprises with Prelude Appearance at LA Auto Show
Everyone ready for their first look all-new Honda Prologue in Los Angeles got a very welcome surprise … the Honda Prelude concept. The company’s hybrid electric concept was a big hit at the Japan Mobility Show last month and now it’s at the LA Auto Show. Get the story at Headlight.News.
Look Quick: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is An Electric Rocket for the Masses
Whatever you might think about EVs, electric motors make massive amounts of torque. And that’s what Hyundai is set to take advantage of with the 2025 Ioniq 5 N. The high-performance version of the automaker’s all-electric SUV could make traditional muscle car fans weep. Get the details at Headlight.News.
Mercedes-Benz Launches Branded High-Performance Luxury Charging Network
The race to not only produce desirable EVs, but get a portion of the charging revenue just got a little more competitive today. Mercedes-Benz cut the ribbon on the first of scores of new Mercedes-branded charging stations coming across the southern U.S. Read the whole story at Headlight.News.
Stellantis Looks to Make Big Cuts to Salaried Workforce in U.S.
UAW concerns about jobs being cut due to the transition to electric vehicles may be ready to play “We Told You So” Tuesday as Stellantis is offering voluntary buyouts to about half of its white collar workers in the U.S. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Karma Automotive Reboots with new All-Electric Portfolio
Karma Automotive’s new president, Marques McCammon, talks with Headlight.News about the up-and-down company’s future, particularly its new product making its debut at the LA Auto Show in the coming days. Find out more about the company’s new leader and its product portfolio.
First Drive: 2024 BMW i5 M60 – Is This The Ultimate Electric Driving Machine?
After a long delay, BMW is flooding the market with EVs, and the i5 is one generating plenty of buzz, especially the top-trim M60 edition. Like all M models, it promises a blend of power and luxury. But does it all come together? That’s what Headlight.News set out to discover during a day’s drive of the 2024 BMW i5 M60 near the automaker’s manufacturing complex in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Polestar Betting on New Battery That Will Charge Nearly as Fast as You Can Fill Your Gas Tank
Polestar hopes to become the first automaker to adopt a unique new battery design that will address one of the biggest concerns about EVs: their long charging times. Developed by start-up StoreDot, the technology is capable of adding 100 miles of range in just five minutes. And, unlike existing chemistry, StoreDot and Polestar claim repeated fast-charging won’t degrade battery life.
Mini Maxes Out
When is a Mini no longer a Mini? The British brand is about to test its limits with the launch of the 2024 Countryman. But that’s not the only change in store as Mini also begins its shift to EVs with the launch of the 2025 Countryman SE. What else is in the works? Headlight.News spoke with two of the automakers top executives to find out.
From Bad to Worse — Startup EV Brands Face Mounting Problems
Only a few years ago, an array of EV start-ups appeared poised to revolutionize the auto industry. Today, many have vanished while others struggle for survival. There have been a few success stories but the shake-out is likely to continue, reports Headlight.News.
More Bad News for Lucid
The struggling Lucid Group revealed another series of setbacks once again announcing cuts to its full-year production plans. Revenues fell well short of expectations, as well, though it did beat earnings forecast. Headlight News has more.
Ram Emphasizes Electric Power with Ramcharger Pickup
With all the buzz about the new midsize hybrid pickup coming, Stellantis latest EV almost got lost in the shuffle. The new Ram 1500 Ramcharger introduces Stellantis’ take on an electric full-size pickup — and its different. Check it out at Headlight.News.