MikesCarInfo Daily Car News
New Car Launches & Reveals
Honda Prelude First Drives Are In — And It's a Hit
The reborn 2026 Honda Prelude pairs the Civic Hybrid's drivetrain with the Civic Type R's suspension tuning. Reviewers are calling it one of the most fun-to-drive hybrids on sale.
Source: The Drive →Porsche Cayenne Goes Fully Electric
The 2026 Cayenne Electric ranges from a 435-hp base to a 1,139-hp Turbo, with an estimated 310–330 miles of US range. First-drive reviews are calling it a total reset of expectations.
Source: The Drive →Toyota Supra MkV Final Edition Bows Out
Toyota sends the Supra off with a 382-hp Final Edition for 2026. First drives praise its corner-linking agility on sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sports. End of an era for the A90 generation.
Source: The Drive →2026 Mazda CX-5 Redesign Lands at $38,990
The completely redesigned CX-5 gets updated styling, improved practicality, and better safety tech. At under $39K for the S Premium Plus trim, reviewers say it's one of the best compact SUV values.
Source: The Drive →NY Auto Show Highlights Still Making Waves
Key reveals from last week: Subaru Getaway 3-row EV (300+ miles, 420 hp, standard AWD), 2027 VW Atlas redesign, 2027 Chrysler Pacifica, Kia's 320-mile EV3, and the Corvette CX electrified hypercar concept.
Source: Autoblog →EV & Battery Technology
Solid-State Batteries Closer Than Ever
Solid-state EV batteries are moving from labs to production lines. Donut Lab's CES 2026 battery charges to full in five minutes and retains 99% capacity after 100,000 cycles. Changan's "Golden Bell" cell promises over 930 miles of range.
Source: Electrek →Sodium-Ion Batteries Go Commercial
CATL is producing sodium-ion cells and plans its first sodium-ion-powered EV by mid-2026. BAIC Group's sodium-ion pack delivers 280 miles of range with an 11-minute fast charge — a potential game-changer for affordable EVs.
Source: Electrek →Autonomous & Driver-Assist Tech
Waymo Expanding to Three More Cities in 2026
Waymo One now delivers over 250,000 paid rides per week and is adding fully autonomous ride-hailing in Atlanta, Miami, and Washington DC this year. Zoox plans to start charging for driverless robotaxi rides in Las Vegas.
Source: Sam & Ash Law →Mobileye Lands Major US Automaker Deal
Mobileye's EyeQ6H chip will power hands-free highway driving for a major (unnamed) US automaker, with over 19 million units projected. Audi's 2026 models also get improved Level 2 ADAS with AI parking and dash cams.
Source: Mobileye →Industry & Pricing
Tariffs Have Added $30 Billion in Costs to the Auto Industry
Imported cars now cost $5,000–$8,900 more than last year. Even US-assembled vehicles are up $1,600–$2,000. The average new car transaction price has hit nearly $50,000 — up 30% in six years.
Source: Digital Dealer →Some Tariff Relief on the Way
The administration is "de-stacking" overlapping tariffs on auto parts. GM's CFO says net tariff costs should be lower in 2026 than 2025. New tiered rules on steel and aluminum took effect April 6.
Source: Kelley Blue Book →Audi Raises Prices $800–$4,100 Across 2026 Lineup
Audi is passing tariff costs to buyers with increases across most models, but sweetening the deal with three years of pre-paid maintenance on all 2026 vehicles.
Source: CarEdge →Recalls to Know About
GM recalled 32,988 Corvettes (2025–2026) for a rear turn signal software fix and 270K+ Chevy Malibus for rearview camera issues. Hyundai recalled select Ioniq 6, Genesis G90, and Santa Fe models for seat belt anchor defects.
Source: BizzyCar →Key Takeaways
Tariff de-stacking and EV price competition mean the worst of the price hikes may be behind us. If you can wait a few months, deals should improve.
Cars like the Honda Prelude and redesigned CX-5 show that hybrids are delivering the best blend of fun, efficiency, and value right now. Don't sleep on them.
Five-minute charging and 900+ mile range aren't science fiction anymore. If you're on the fence about going electric, the next generation of EVs will be dramatically better.
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