Headlight News for the Week of 11-13-23: Dealer Shortage Over, Incentives Return and an LA Auto Show Preview
Technology
First Drive: 2024 BMW i5 M60 – Is This The Ultimate Electric Driving Machine?
After a long delay, BMW is flooding the market with EVs, and the i5 is one generating plenty of buzz, especially the top-trim M60 edition. Like all M models, it promises a blend of power and luxury. But does it all come together? That’s what Headlight.News set out to discover during a day’s drive of the 2024 BMW i5 M60 near the automaker’s manufacturing complex in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Polestar Betting on New Battery That Will Charge Nearly as Fast as You Can Fill Your Gas Tank
Polestar hopes to become the first automaker to adopt a unique new battery design that will address one of the biggest concerns about EVs: their long charging times. Developed by start-up StoreDot, the technology is capable of adding 100 miles of range in just five minutes. And, unlike existing chemistry, StoreDot and Polestar claim repeated fast-charging won’t degrade battery life.
2024 VW Atlas Brings Competence to a Higher Plane
With style so often counting for more than substance, it’s nice to find a vehicle with the substance to supplement middle-of-the-road style. While it may sound like a slight for the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas, being described as “very good” at what you’re supposed to be, is no slight. Find out more in the review at Headlight.News.
Full-Size Pickups Fail to Maximize Safety of Back Seat Passengers
Full-size pickups dominate new vehicle sales in the U.S., carrying the top three spots. One of the reasons they’re popular is because of their size and the perception of safety that comes with their enormity. However, a new safety test from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety shows back seat passengers aren’t as safe as they could be in the massive trucks. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Ram Emphasizes Electric Power with Ramcharger Pickup
With all the buzz about the new midsize hybrid pickup coming, Stellantis latest EV almost got lost in the shuffle. The new Ram 1500 Ramcharger introduces Stellantis’ take on an electric full-size pickup — and its different. Check it out at Headlight.News.
Searching for Fossil Fuels Two Scientists May Help Make the “Hydrogen Economy” A Reality Instead
Proponents claim hydrogen is even better than batteries as a way to the shift away from fossil fuels. The problem is how to produce “green” hydrogen that doesn’t create its own environmental issues. A pair of scientists may have found the answer — ironically, while they were searching for fossil fuels. Headlight.News has more.
Would You Pay $975,000 for a New Cadillac Celestiq? One “Lucky” Neiman-Marcus Customer Will
Cadillac is getting ready to roll out the most expensive vehicle in its history, the exotic Celestiq set to start at just over $300,000. But one customer will wind up paying more than three times that, at least if they opt for a one-off version included in this year’s annual Neiman Marcus Fantasy Gifts list. Checkout out at Headlight.News.
California Suspends Cruise Robotaxi Permit Following Pedestrian Crash
California regulators suspended the permit allowing General Motors’ subsidiary Cruise to operate a fleet of driverless robocabs on the streets of San Francisco. The move happens as additional video evidence comes to light in the wake of a crash earlier this month in which a pedestrian was run over by one of the company’s vehicles. Get details at Headlight.News.
GM, Honda Set to Unleash Cruise Robocabs on Tokyo
Any foreigner who has tried to negotiate Tokyo’s narrow, windy and painfully crowded roads knows what a challenge that can be. But General Motors and Honda say they’re confident they’ve got a better way to navigate traffic, with the partners set to launch service by Cruise robotaxis in Japan’s capitol starting in 2026.
Nissan Hyper Punk Concept Merges Traditional Origami with the Edgy Manga Lifestyle
The Nissan Hyper Punk is easily the edgiest of four EV concepts the automaker will formally reveal at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo next week. The body looks like it emerged from an origami studio. But the Hyper Punk concept could easily find a fit in Japanese manga – or, as it turns out, the Fortnite online game.
Toyota Teases Future Performance EVs with Twin Concepts for Japan Mobility Show
Slow to enter the EV market, Toyota is making up for lost time. And it’s signaling its shift in direction at this week’s Japan Mobility Show where it will unveil two all-electric concept vehicles, including one that could become a battery-powered successor to the Toyota Supra.