On this week’s podcast, Headlight News covers the debut of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ new EV company, Slate, and its first product and electric pickup. We also review the 2025 Cadillac Optiq and look at the other stories coming in the week ahead.
Safety
Trump Administration Eases Rules for Autonomous Vehicle Development Standards
Under the guise of unleashing “American ingenuity,” the Trump administration eased some of the rules regarding the development and testing autonomous vehicles. Among the changes, automakers will not be required to report certain types of crashes involving their self-driving cars. Find out more at Headlight.News.
A Week With: 2025 Nissan Rogue Platinum AWD
Despite its current troubles, Nissan’s classically been known for providing vehicles with attractive styling and good value. The 2025 Nissan Rogue Platinum AWD holds true to that legacy as it’s an above average offering, at a below average price. Check out our review at Headlight.News.
A Week With: 2025 Range Rover Velar P400 Dynamic SE
Land Rover offers more versions of its Range Rover model lineup than Chrysler offers models — period. Given that you can buy only one Chrysler at the moment, that’s not the brag it may sound like. However, you can choose from four Range Rovers, including the 2025 Range Rover Velar P400 Dynamic SE we reviewed this week at Headlight.News.
A Week With: 2025 Kia Sorento HEV SX-Prestige AWD
When it comes to SUVs, flexibility is king! If you’re looking for a smaller 3-row midsize SUV, you’ve got plenty of options from Hyundai, Mitsubishi and others. However, the best of the group may be the 2025 Kia Sorento HEV SX-Prestige AWD. Check out our review of the Sorento hybrid at Headlight.News.
Volkswagen Storms NYC With New, More Powerful 2026 Tiguan
Volkswagen came to the New York International Auto Show to reveal its all-new 2026 Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo. The new model will be marque’s flagship trim beginning with the 2026 model year. Fittingly, its more powerful and sportier than the rest of the Tiguan lineup, VW officials noted. Check out Headlight.News for the story.
A Week With: 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro S 4Motion
After nearly 25 years of telling us “It’s coming,” Volkswagen finally began stocking U.S. showrooms with the contemporary version of the iconic Volkswagen T Series bus. And after a more than two decade wait, we spent a week in it. Check out the review at Headlight.News.
A Week With: 2025 Nissan Murano
It seems like people always forget the Nissan Murano when talking about luxury SUV options, yet the 2025 Murano makeover offers a compelling experience that is attractive, well equipped – and just might save you some money, too. Read the whole review at Headlight.News.
A Week With: 2025 Lexus NX 350h Luxury AWD
A week in one of a longtime Lexus mainstay, the NX, shows the luxury marque knows how to ensure the brand’s best qualities permeate its entire portfolio. We drove the 2025 Lexus NX 350h Luxury model and found the brand continues to get better. Check out our review at Headlight.News.
U.S. Traffic Deaths Fall 3.8% in 2024 Continuing Trend
U.S. roads were a bit safer last year, according initial estimates by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The federal safety agency projects that 39,345 people died in traffic crashes last year — a 3.8% decline over 2023. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Caught Speeding in Virginia? You Might Need to Install a Speed Limiter
If you get caught speeding in Virginia you could find it difficult to break the speed limit again. The state is set to become the first to allow its judges to order speeders to install a device limiting how fast they can drive in the future. The new rules go beyond the speed warning devices European lawmakers have enacted, reports Headlight.News.
Feds Open Investigation into 1.3M Ford Full-Size Pickups
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began a probe into a transmission issue that could affect as many as 1.3 million Ford F-150 trucks from model years 2015 through 2017. The investigation began after the agency received more than 135 complaints. Get details at Headlight.News.