When you’re posting nearly $20 billion in write-offs on your EV program it’s probably a good time to rethink what you’re doing. And that’s precisely why Ford Motor Co. launched the skunkworks Universal EV program designed to deliver “affordable,” long-range EVs that are also “fun to drive.” While the first version is still a year away, Headlight.News got a deep dive look at how the automaker plans to pull it off.
The Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 2-16-26 covers big Ford losses, sliding EV sales, the 2027 Toyota Highlander EV, President Trump pushing to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, plus we review the 2026 Mazda CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus and look back at this Week in Auto History. Give us a listen.
Mazda made a big splash a few years ago with the debut of the three-row CX-90. The ute elevated the company’s profile within the “near luxury” segment. The 2026 Mazda CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus provides what you expect from a flagship: looks, performance, and style. With Mazda, you get all that at a mainstream price. Get more details about the CX-90 at Headlight.News.
Volkswagen scored big with the launch of the 2017 Atlas, but the SUV is getting long-in-tooth as newer competitors come to market. So, VW is ready to roll out a new package, the automaker showing off a camouflaged take on what’s coming for 2027. Headlight.News has more.
While much of the industry may be paring back their EV plans, Toyota is moving in a very different direction, on Tuesday evening pulling the wraps off the latest entry into its line-up an all-electric 3-row SUV. Headlight.News checks out the 2027 Toyota Highlander EV.
Ford reported a loss of $8.2 billion FY2025 due to the $19.5 billion special charge in the fourth quarter related to its EV business. The fourth quarter loss was even bigger: $11.1 billion. However, the company’s 2026 guidance provided some optimism. Details at Headlight.News.
Toyota is once again king of the world when it comes to new vehicle sales, and one of the reasons why it’s the company’s best-selling vehicle of all time: the Corolla. Once simple, affordable transportation, today’s Corolla comes in multiple variations, including a hybrid. We spent a week with the 2026 Toyota Corolla Hybrid SE with all-wheel drive (AWD) and we have thoughts. Check out the review at Headlight.News.
On this week’s Headlight News podcast, we cover the big hit to Stellantis’ earnings, Toyota’s changes at the top as well as its new EV, plus the decline of new car sales last month. We also review the 2026 Honda Prelude and more. Give us a listen!
Electric vehicle sales continue to slide, but the need to charge the millions of EVs currently on the road — and the thousands more to come — still needs to be met, and new report reveals that public DC fast-charging port installations grew 30% last year. Get the details at Headlight.News.
Toyota has a new CEO set to take charge on April 1 and, unlike the man he’ll succeed, Kenta Kon is a finance guy determined to deliver some big numbers for the world’s largest automaker. He intends to build up Toyota’s war chest – and one way he’ll do that is with a planned 30% increase in hybrid sales by 2028. More from Headlight.News.
Honda’s sixth-generation Prelude is just rolling into U.S. showrooms and one of its more intriguing features is the new S+ Shift which is designed to “simulate a performance transmission experience.” Expect to see the system start rolling out across the rest of the Honda line-up starting later this year.
Ford CEO Jim Farley’s recent positive comments about China’s growing EV fleet may have been the catalyst for talks with some Chinese automakers about potential production partnerships. Headlight.News has details.