The Biden administration is expected to roll back new rules governing vehicle emission and mileage standards, a move that should prove particularly helpful for Detroit automakers who are heavily dependent upon large, fuel-hungry models like the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Suburban. But the changes likely also will benefit some Japanese manufacturers, including Toyota and Honda, that have been reluctant to invest heavily on EV technology.
Hybrids
First Drive: 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe — A Rugged Remake
When it came to market nearly a quarter century ago, Santa Fe was Hyundai’s first SUV. Today, it’s part of a broader line-up that runs from the little Venue to the flagship Palisade – but it remains one of the brand’s best sellers. To keep momentum building, the Korean carmaker has given the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe a complete makeover, starting with the bolder and more classic SUV design. The cabin is not only roomier but adds more upscale details and plenty of welcome tech. And the XRT package now adds more rugged features for those looking to head off-road.
Spying on Drivers, Hyundai’s EV Rethink, Greenest Cars on Headlight.News Podcast
Headlight News for the Week of 3-18-24 – Automakers Spying on Drivers – Hyundai Rethinks EV Plans – New Porsche Taycan – The Greenest Cars You Can Buy – and This Week in Automotive History.
These Are the Greenest – and Meanest – Vehicles You Can Buy
Looking for an environmentally friendly vehicle? You have more options than ever before. That includes a flood of new battery-electric vehicles, as you might expect, but if you’re still reluctant to go with an EV you still have plenty to choose from. In fact, the top-ranked model in the 2024 GreenerCars list is a plug-in hybrid, and even some products running solely on gasoline do well in the annual study. Better yet, there are plenty of affordable options. But there also are some surprises, as Headlight.News reports.
First Drive: 2024 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid: Common Scents
Once one of America’s most exclusive automotive brands, Lincoln has been little more than an also-ran in recent years. But Ford Motor Co.’s upscale marque is on a mission to rebuild itself — and not just by becoming a clone of luxury market leaders like Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, BMW or crosstown rival Cadillac. And the complete makeover of the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus gives a good sense of what’s in store, as Headlight.News discovered during a day behind the wheel of the midsize crossover in Palm Springs. Here’s our review.
Ford, Volvo Report Double-Digit Sales Jumps in February
The last two automakers reporting new vehicle sales results for February, Ford and Volvo, kept up the trend if big returns. Ford sales were up 10.5% while Volvo jumped 38%. Find out more about what the big sellers were at Headlight.News.