MIKESCARINFO DAILY CAR NEWS Sunday, April 19, 2026
MIKESCARINFO DAILY CAR NEWS
New Car Launches & Reveals
Revealed at NYIAS with an LT trim starting at $27,600, the new Bolt delivers 262 miles of range, 150-kW DC fast charging, and Chevy's first native NACS port. The RS trim opens at $31,600, resetting the bar for entry-level EV shopping.
Source: The Weekly DriverNissan revealed the Z Nismo in New York with a purpose-built six-speed manual, 420 hp from the twin-turbo 3.0L V6, and GT-R-derived two-piece brake rotors that cut 19 pounds of unsprung weight. Priced at $65,750.
Source: TFLcarRivian displayed the R2 at NYIAS as deliveries ramp. The Performance Launch Package lands at $57,990 with 656 hp, 609 lb-ft, and a 3.6-second 0-60 mph sprint.
Source: AutoblogToyota dropped full pricing for the redesigned RAV4. The base hybrid starts at $33,350, while the new GR Sport plug-in hybrid tops the lineup at $49,950.
Source: EdmundsThe electric version of the Lexus ES begins US sales in April, priced from $47,500 to $60,195 - adding another premium mid-size EV sedan to the market.
Source: Consumer ReportsNew Car Technology
Greater Bay Technology rolled its first A-sample solid-state cells off the production line with 260-500 Wh/kg density - nearly double today's packs. Cells passed needle, crush, and thermal-shock tests without fire. GWh-level mass production is targeted this year.
Source: ElectrekDonut Lab showed an EV battery that can recharge to full in just five minutes. First real-world application is going into electric motorcycles, with automotive use expected to follow.
Source: Modified RidesGAC Aion opened pre-sales of the Aion N60, the first mass-produced passenger vehicle jointly developed with WeRide. The WRD 3.0 ADAS covers urban, highway, parking, and active/passive safety - the kind of end-to-end capability now shipping in Chinese-market vehicles.
Source: GlobeNewswireLucid and Uber expanded their robotaxi partnership with $750 million in new investment and a commitment to at least 35,000 vehicles, targeting a commercial launch in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Source: Sam and Ash LawIndustry & Pricing
Tariffs have added roughly $30 billion in industry costs. Imported vehicles are up $5,000-$8,900 versus last year; US-assembled vehicles are up $1,600-$2,000. The average transaction price now sits at $49,275.
Source: Kelley Blue Book2015-2017 F-150s equipped with the 6R80 six-speed automatic are being recalled for potential unintended downshifts. Fix is a free dealer software update.
Source: BizzyCarKia recalled 141,032 Carnival minivans and Genesis recalled 94,760 vehicles for fuel-pipe fire risk. Honda recalled 440,830 Odyssey minivans (2018-2022) for inadvertent airbag deployment.
Source: BizzyCarUS new-vehicle sales totaled 1.4 million in March, down 12.3% year-over-year as last year's tariff pre-buy pulled demand forward. Incentives climbed to 7.2% of ATP, the highest in months.
Source: Cox AutomotiveKey Takeaways
- Timing matters for shoppers. Imported cars now carry a $5,000+ tariff premium over last year. If you can flex between an import and a US-built equivalent, the domestic option is the lower-pain buy right now.
- The sub-$30K EV is back. The new $27,600 Chevy Bolt resets the entry-level EV conversation. If you've been waiting on an affordable EV, this is the benchmark to cross-shop.
- Solid-state is no longer "years away." Production-line cells with nearly double today's energy density shipped this month. Factor that into any "buy now vs. wait" decision on a long-term EV purchase.
- Check your VIN. Between the Ford F-150, Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival, and Genesis recalls, nearly 2 million vehicles got flagged this month. A 30-second VIN check is worth it.
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