Headlight News for the Week of 11-20-23 – LA Auto Show – Hyundai Ties up with Amazon – This Week in Auto History
EVs and batteries
Kia EV3, EV4 Concepts Likely to Go Into Production
They’re just concept vehicles. For now, at least, but Headlight.News has confirmed that Kia is all but certain to put into production the two prototypes it revealed at the LA Auto Show, the EV3 crossover and EV4 sedan. Both will help the South Korean carmaker appeal to a more budget-constrained mainstream audience than the current Kia EV6 SUV. More from Headlight.News
Cadillac Teasers its Fourth EV, the Optiq
General Motors CEO Mary Barra likes to say the carmaker is “on a path to an all-electric future,” and no GM brand is moving faster than Cadillac. It’s already building the Lyriq, and is getting ready to roll out both the Escalade IQ and the exotic halo car, the Celestiq. Next, it seems is a downsized electric SUV, the Optiq, and these are the first teaser images. Headlight.News checks out the new EV and has insight on what it will offer.
Lucid Is Hoping Gravity Will Keep it Afloat — the New Gravity SUV, That Is
It’s been a tough year for Lucid, the startup’s Air sedan falling short of sales goals, and weak revenues requiring a $3 billion bailout to keep things going. But the California-based EV maker is betting that it can get the boost from its second product line, the all-new Gravity SUV debuting at the LA Auto Show. Roomy, stylish and sporty, it will also offer, at 440 miles per charge, industry-leading range. Headlight.News was on hand for the debut of the 2025 Lucid Gravity.
NACTOY Names Car, Truck, Utility Vehicle of the Year Finalists
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.
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.