The Nissan Leaf is back, though you might not recognize it. The first mainstream battery-electric vehicle is getting a complete makeover for 2026, returning in SUV form. It’s just one of the big announcements Nissan made Wednesday about its upcoming electrification plan including more U.S. and European EVs, new e-Power and PHEV models and more. Headlight.News has the details.
Mazda has been one of the slowest automakers to embrace electrification and its first battery-powered model in the U.S., the MX-30, didn’t last very long due to limited range. Now, however, the Japanese automaker seems to be getting serious about EVs and has offered the first look at an all-new platform expected to be used for a battery-powered SUV due out in 2027. But the automaker also is shifting resources to put more emphasis on hybrids, such as one coming for the next-gen Mazda CX-5 crossover. Headlight.News has more.
Mercedes-Benz has offered up the first look at its next-generation CLA. And while the design of the little sedan is intriguing in itself, its what we’ll find underneath the skin that delivers the real surprise. Set to arrive in both all-electric and hybrid form, the next-generation CLA will deliver potentially groundbreaking technology, including new “axial flux” electric motors in the AMG package.
The latest J.D. Power U.S. Customer Service Index revealed customers were happier with dealer service departments for the second straight year. However, the results also show that dealers are missing chances to improve the experience and engender more loyalty from vehicle owners. Headlight.News has details.
European Union officials reaffirm 2035 ban on new gasoline cars while also making revisions to help automakers reach these targets easier as the market continues to shift.
Sales of new vehicles held steady in February as Kia, Hyundai, Genesis, Subaru, Mazda and Honda all reported modest sales increases. But two of the largest automakers to report for the month, Toyota and Ford, delivered disappointing results. And Tesla’s numbers continued to show the impact of growing resistance to CEO Elon Musk and his role in the Trump administration. Headlight.News has more.
Is Polestar the next Rivian or the next Fisker? The company’s looking to be the former not the latter, but if it’s going to be a success, it has a long way to go. The EV maker secured a $450 million loan for short-term help and delayed its fourth-quarter earnings report. Find out what’s next at Headlight.News.
Of all the Japanese brands now available in the U.S., Mitsubishi is the one most likely to run under the radar for most buyers. But for those looking for a three-row SUV, it’d be a mistake to ignore the Mitsubishi Outlander. Surprisingly well-equipped, it is also one of the most affordable models in its segment. If anything, it becomes an even bigger bargain for 2025 with a modest mid-cycle update, as Headlight.News discovered during a day’s drive in and around Los Angeles. Here’s our review.
Mercedes-Benz details its new strategy as the company prepares for the launch of several new products while also making the cuts necessary to help it stay flexible in a changing market environment.
With its planned merger with Honda now likely dead, Nissan desperately needs to come up with the products that can help it head off a further decline in sales and earnings. It’s dropped a teaser showing some of what it now has in the pipeline ready to debut over the next two years – and the emphasis is on electrified drivetrain technology, with a Rogue PHEV, e-Power models and even a new Nissan Leaf in the works.
BMW has an all-electric version of the venerable 3-Series in the works and, as with much of its upcoming line-up, the changes will be significant. And that doesn’t end with the switch to battery power. To make sure the 3-Series EV lives up to expectations, BMW has developed a “superbrain,” dubbed the “Heart of Joy,” that will help deliver the brand’s familiar driving experience. It’s offering some insight into what’s coming with the new BMW Vision Driving Experience concept vehicle. Here’s more.
Millions of people appear to be suffering from problems dubbed “Long COVID.” Now, it seems, the vehicle you bought during the pandemic may have similar problems, according to J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. Reliability issues have grown worse for vehicles produced during the worst of the COVID crisis.