MIKESCARINFO DAILY CAR NEWS — Saturday, April 18, 2026
MikesCarInfo Daily Car News
New Car Launches & Reveals
New York Auto Show Delivers 9 Major Reveals
The 2026 NYIAS wrapped with a redesigned 2027 Volkswagen Atlas (Tiguan-inspired styling), a refreshed Kia Seltos plus the all-new Kia EV3 (up to 320 miles of range), an updated Chrysler Pacifica, a body-on-frame Hyundai Boulder concept aimed at Bronco and Wrangler, and Subaru's electric three-row Getaway with 420 hp and 300+ miles of range.
Source: Cars.com — NYIAS 2026 RecapTesla Roadster Unveil This Month
Tesla is unveiling the next-gen Roadster in April 2026 ahead of a 2027 production start. Sub-one-second 0-60 claim and aerospace-derived tech — Tesla's bid to refocus attention on its performance story.
Source: Top Electric SUV — 2026-2027 EV LaunchesMercedes CLA 250+ Lands Under $50K
The new entry-level Mercedes EV sedan starts just under $50,000 with 370+ miles of estimated range — a direct punch at Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4.
Source: Autoblog — New EVs for 20262026 Lexus ES Pricing Published
Hybrid starts at $50,995 and the all-new EV variant starts at $48,795 (including a $1,295 destination fee). The EV is now the cheapest ES you can buy.
Source: Kelley Blue Book — 2026 Lexus ES PricingPorsche Cayenne Electric First Drives Hit
Reviewers praise the new Cayenne Electric from the 435-hp base all the way up to the 1,139-hp Turbo. Porsche is clearly not ceding the performance SUV crown.
Source: The Drive — Cayenne Electric First DriveNew Car Technology
Solid-State Batteries Hit A-Sample Production
A GAC-backed supplier rolled the first A-sample all-solid-state cells off the line this month with 260-500 Wh/kg — nearly double today's packs. Cells passed needle-penetration, crush, and thermal-shock tests. Mass production targeted within 2026.
Source: Electrek — Solid-State BreakthroughFive-Minute EV Charging Is Real
BYD's Blade Battery 2.0 with Flash Charging hits 10-70% in 5 minutes and 10-97% in 9 minutes. 20,000 flash-charge stations are planned across China by year end. Donut Lab showed a comparable 5-minute cell at CES 2026.
Source: Electrek — 10-Minute Charging1,000-Mile Range on the Horizon
University of Surrey announced a battery chemistry breakthrough that could offer up to 9x more power per charge — a realistic path to 1,000-mile EVs within the decade.
Source: T3 — 1,000-Mile EV RangeBig ADAS Money and Audi's Next-Gen Tech
AMD, Arm, and Qualcomm collectively invested $60M in Wayve's Series D. Bosch and Qualcomm expanded their Snapdragon Ride ADAS partnership. Audi's 2026 A5, A6, Q5, and Q6 add upgraded Level 2, AI parking, and built-in dash cams.
Source: American Bazaar — Wayve FundingIndustry Developments
Supreme Court Kills Trump Tariffs — $170B Refund Coming
Customs begins accepting auto tariff refund applications by April 20. Automakers that absorbed roughly $30B in 2025 tariff costs are in line for refunds. Watch for pricing to soften on import-heavy brands.
Source: Autoblog — Tariff RefundsNew Car Average Hits $48,841
Average new-car transaction now sits just under $50K, up 30% in six years. Average monthly payment (10% down, 72-month loan) is around $775. 2026 MY base MSRPs climbed ~1.4% ($691); loaded trims climbed 1.8% ($1,126).
Source: MoneyGeek — Average New Car PriceFord Recalls 19.5M Vehicles in 12 Months
From April 2025 to March 2026, Ford recalled more vehicles than every other automaker combined, driven by a 4.3M electrical-system campaign that alone accounted for 35% of all Q1 recalls.
Source: 24/7 Wall St. — Ford Recall VolumeKey Takeaways
- If you're shopping imports, wait a beat — the tariff refund ruling could ease pricing on brands that leaned on 2025 price hikes.
- Solid-state and five-minute charging are no longer theoretical. If you're on the fence about an EV, the next 24 months bring real game-changers — but today's EVs could depreciate fast.
- Ford's recall volume is not a quirk — it's a data point. Before you buy any late-model Ford, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov and check for open campaigns.
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