Top Stories
Trump Puts Auto Industry in Crosshairs With Petulant Trade Negotiation Tactics
It’s fair to say that the author of “The Art of the Deal” is working in finger paint when it comes to the current round of talks with our neighbors — mostly — to the north, Canada. Find out what that will mean for automakers, dealers and consumers at Headlight.News.
These Were the Hottest Debuts During Monterey Motor Week
Remember when auto shows were the place to go for all the new vehicle previews? These days, you may be better off lining up a visit to Monterey Motor Week, the series of events surrounding the iconic Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. More than a dozen hot new products made their debut there this past weekend. Here’s a look at some of the most significant intros.
A Week With: 2026 Hyundai Elantra N
With affordability being top of mind with new car buyers in America, Hyundai is Johnny on the Spot. It has a slew of great sedans, but perhaps none of its offerings combines value and performance better than the 2026 Hyundai Elantra N. Headline.News spent a week flogging, er, driving the cheap speedster and has thoughts.
Ford Brings Track Savvy to Streets with New Mustang Dark Horse SC Convertible
Ford’s legacy of bringing its track knowledge to the streets continued Friday with the reveal of the 2027 Mustang Dark Horse SC convertible — it’s first new open-air high-performance machine in more than a decade. Check it out at Headlight.News.
With the new Nexera Vision Concept Acura May Finally Found its Soul
Acura has long struggled to carve out a successful niche in the luxury market. It may finally have found the design language that this requires in the form of the Nexera Vision concept making its debut during this year’s Monterey Car Week. Headlight.News takes a closer look.
Podcasts
Get the Latest Auto News on the HEADLIGHT.NEWS Podcast
Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 2-16-26
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.
Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 2-9-26
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!
Headlight.News Podcast for the Week of 2-2-26
This week’s Headlight News podcast chronicles the fall of GM and Tesla earnings, Toyota setting a new sales record, Mercedes showing its new S-Class, automakers not advertising during the Super Bowl this year. Give us a listen and tell us what you think.
Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 1-26-26
On this week’s Headlight News podcast, we cover the influence China is having on the U.S. automotive market, declining Cybertruck demand and sales, Mercedes equipping its 2027 E-Class with heated seatbelts and more. Check it out at Headlight.News.
Latest Reviews
Honda Teases 3rd-Generation Ridgeline Pickup
Honda is offering up a first teaser image of what will become its third-generation Ridgeline pickup. Expect the truck to arrive “within two years,’ the automaker said – which means a roughly one-year gap after the current Ridgeline ends production later this year. Headlight.News has more.
A Week With: 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ Electric Sedan
The management team at Daimler-Benz has changed things up for its next generation EVs. Rather than continuing them with a separate platform, the marque is developing its cars to run on electric or combustion-based powertrains. Headlight.News spent a week in one of the new variants, the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+. Check out the review and see what’s different.
Here’s How “Creative Subtraction” Added Up With the New Rivian R2
While Rivian showed it could deliver an impressive EV with its first-generation R1 series, it now has to take things into the mainstream. Headlight.News had a chance this week to check out the new R2 and discovered how “creative subtraction” added up to not just a solid, affordable product but one that can put the struggling EV start-up into the black.
With Bankruptcy Looming Over Lucid Could This Mark the End of the EV Start-Up Era
Lucid denies it is preparing to file bankruptcy but the company is clearly in trouble. And that raises new concerns about a handful of other battery-electric brands, like Rivian and Slate still hoping to find their own niches. Only a few years ago a flood of EV start-ups seemed ready to kick the established automakers to the curb. What went wrong? Just about everything.
Polestar, It Was Nice Knowing You
The Polestar 4, the latest performance EV from the Swedish brand is an impressive ride, but sadly, it will also be the last to come to the U.S. Perry Stern, our newest contributor, says goodbye to Polestar and explains why the brand is leaving America.