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.
This is a busy year for Cadillac as it accelerates its push into the battery-electric market. In the coming weeks, the domestic luxury brand will bookmark its line-up with the Escalade EV at the high end and for those looking for something more affordable that still offers plenty of luxury features, there’s the new Cadillac Optiq. Headlight.News spent a couple days in San Francisco checking out Caddy’s new entry EV and here’s our review.
General Motors and Hyundai are said to be in talks that would lead to significant product sharing in the pickup and commercial EV van segments, according to a new report. Such a move would expand on the alliance the two automakers recently announced focusing on hydrogen fuel-cell technology. More from Headlight.News.
Best known as the manufacturer of Apple’s iPhone, Foxconn is reportedly locking down a deal to produce battery-electric vehicles with two Japanese automakers. Details have yet to be revealed but Mitsubishi appears to be one of the new partners and there is speculation Foxconn may be working out arrangements with either Nissan or Honda, those two Japanese automakers having failed to secure their own merger deal. More from Headlight.News.
EV maker Karma Automotive comes back around with good news, unveiling its all-new Amaris, a 2-door coupe featuring the company’s next-gen extended range powertrain. More good from Karma? Yup. Its recently introduced Gyesera 4-door will also hit the market as an EREV. Headlight.News has details.
While most EV owners charge their vehicles at home overnight, plugging in can be a real hassle when you’re on the road. With many of today’s EVs it can take an hour to go from a 10 to 80% state-of-charge. But China’s BYD claims its new “super e-platform” can allow motorists get another 249 miles of range in as little as 5 minutes at public quick chargers, essentially matching the time it takes to fill up a gas tank. Headlight.News has more.
Car thieves were far less successful last year, according to experts. The total number of vehicles stolen fell below the 1 million mark for the first time since 2021. In fact, the reduction ended a four-year run of increases — and Kia and Hyundai appear to be the reason. Find out more at Headlight.News.
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.
EV adoption rates are middling, but trying to get traditional muscle car mavens to accept an all-electric model, like the new Dodge Charger Daytona, has the Dodge folks working overtime. The brand’s new Charger Virtual Experience gives them one more tool to do just that. Check out the story at Headlight.News.
The ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada got a little more … targeted Monday. The city of Toronto announced Tesla vehicles will no longer be eligible for the city’s EV incentives for taxis. Get details at Headlight.News.
Cadillac is betting it can electrify upscale buyers with an assortment of EVs. That includes its new range-topping Escalade IQ which Headlight.News had an opportunity to drive in San Francisco this past week. The 2026 model takes the familiar flagship to new levels of luxury while delivering plenty of range – at 460 miles – and performance. Better yet, there are both standard and extended-length options. Here’s our review of the 2026 Cadillac Escalade.
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.