On this week’s Headlight News podcast, we look at the new Tesla affordable trim level, Ferrari’s new EV, the departure of the Kia Soul and review the VW Tiguan R-Line Turbo. Check out the ‘cast and give us some feedback.
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A Week With: 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
Few vehicles enjoy the loyalty and fervor that the Toyota 4Runner does. And when Toyota rolled out the sixth-generation model, the expectations were high. Find out if they were met in the Headlight.News review of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro.
Slowing Sales Means We Won’t Be Seeing These EVs in the U.S.
Ferrari on Thursday revealed details about its first battery-powered model, the Elettrica. But the Italian automaker is delaying a second EV. And it’s not alone. Ford has scrapped several all-electric models, while Nissan pulled the plug on the 2026 Ariya. Acura just ended production of the ZDX and Stellantis has abandoned the all-electric Ram REV. Those are among a growing list of planned EVs that no longer will make it into production — or will be substantially delayed. Here are some of the others.
Tesla Disappoints with Cheaper Trim Levels Instead of New Entry-Level Model
Fans and investors alike were disappointed with the debut of less expensive variants of the Model 3 and Model Y, both dubbed “standard.” Both groups — and others — were hoping to see an all-new entry-level vehicle from the EV leader. Get details at Headlight.News.
Rivian Chief RJ Scaringe Upbeat Despite Loss of Fed Tax Credits, Threat of Chinese Competition
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe says he has “never been more confident than I am today” about the future of the struggling EV manufacturer. That’s despite a series of challenges facing the battery-electric vehicle sector in general – including the loss of federal EV tax credits and the rise of the low-cost Chinese competitors who are threatening to enter the U.S. market. A critical test will come early next year with the launch of Rivian’s more affordable R2 model line. But it’s also counting on joint ventures and alliances like those with Volkswagen and Amazon, reports Headlight.News.
Stellantis Finally Pulls Out of its Sales Slump – But Federal Shutdown Weighs Over the Entire Industry
Strong sales by the Jeep and Ram brands helped Stellantis reverse its long sales slide during the third quarter, even as Volkswagen faltered in the face of a challenging economy. While U.S. auto sales are running stronger than expected, analysts still worry about the impact of tariffs and the federal government shutdown in the months ahead.
Record EV Demand Charged Up U.S. Auto Sales in September
U.S. auto sales took a sharp upturn in September, largely driven by charged-up demand for other electrified vehicles. General Motors and Ford were among the manufacturers reporting record EV numbers for the month, motorists racing to take advantage of federal tax credits before they expired at the end of the month. Headlight.News has more.
Hertz Launches Online Used Car Sales
Hertz wants to put you in the driver’s seat, especially if you’re looking for a used car. The car rental giant on Tuesday announced a new online buying channel that will allow potential buyers the ability to do everything from browsing inventory to setting up financing without ever leaving home. More from Headlight.News.
Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 9-29-25
On this week’s podcast, we talk about the $2B hack of Jaguar Land Rover, the rise of new vehicle prices as automakers stop covering all the costs of the tariffs, the end of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, increasing road rage incidents and more. You can get a link at Headlight.News or go straight to Spotify.
A Week With: 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club
If you believe in adages, then “Miata is always the answer” is definitely true when it comes to the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club. We spent a week in the convertible and were reminded just how good this little car continues to be. Get the details at Headlight.News.
Acura Cancels ZDX EV While it Prepares to Launch the New RSX
Acura has canceled production of the all-electric ZDX, largely due to weak sales and concerns about the future of the EV market. But the Japanese luxury brand isn’t giving up on battery power entirely. It’s moving forward on plans to launch the new RSX EV sometime next year, reports Headlight.News.
A Week With: 2025 Toyota Crown Signia Limited
Toyota took a chance when it introduced the Crown hybrid sedan a few years back. It was awkward looking and seemed almost cartoonish in its dimensions. However, if there’s one thing Toyota does better than most, it takes lemons and makes lemonade — I give you the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia Limited! Good looks. Good performance. And more good.