The Drive Car Show

Porsche is bringing back the kind of performance enthusiasts want, Acura is planning TWO new SUVs without going all-electric, and Europe is putting limits on Chinese hybrid imports. Meanwhile, an EV battery CEO wants Washington to do more to push electric vehicles. Who benefits, and what do American drivers actually want?
Welcome to Episode 55 of The Drive with Lauren and Karl, where automotive experts Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer cut through the hype and break down the biggest stories shaping the auto industry, new vehicle technology, and your next car-buying decision.
IN THIS EPISODE:
💡 SEGMENT 1: Are Smart Headlights Changing the Rules of the Road? New headlight technology can selectively control where light shines in real time, helping illuminate the road without blinding other drivers. Lauren and Karl kick things off with the latest headlight laws and what this technology means for nighttime driving.
🏎️ SEGMENT 2: Porsche’s Mid-Engine V8 Surprise! Porsche is reportedly preparing the Mission S, a mid-engine sports car featuring a high-revving, flat-plane-crank V8. But while enthusiasts may celebrate the return of a traditional performance engine, Porsche still plans electric replacements for the Boxster and Cayman. Is the company finally listening to its customers?
🚙 SEGMENT 3: Acura Is Planning TWO New SUVs!Acura is looking beyond the traditional luxury SUV market with plans for a larger three-row model, currently referred to as the Acura XL, and a rugged, adventure-focused SUV. With buyers still demanding capable gasoline and hybrid options, is Acura making the right move?
🇪🇺 SEGMENT 4: Europe Puts a Cap on Chinese Hybrid Imports. Europe is looking to limit Chinese hybrid imports to 350,000 vehicles annually as automakers fight to protect their home market. With hybrids gaining popularity worldwide, is this about fair competition, protecting domestic jobs, or keeping Chinese automakers at bay?
🔋 SEGMENT 5: Does America Need More EV Incentives? The LG CEO says America risks falling behind in electric vehicle development without greater support. But does the industry really need more government incentives when automakers sell vehicles globally and American buyers continue to demand V8-powered trucks and SUVs? Lauren and Karl examine the politics, business interests, and consumer realities behind the debate.
🌲 SEGMENT 6: Driving the Toyota RAV4 Woodland PHEV. Lauren takes the Toyota RAV4 Woodland plug-in hybrid through Colorado, reporting approximately 450 miles of driving range per fill-up and exploring its ability to recharge the battery on the road. From impressive hybrid efficiency to capturing energy on the descent from the Eisenhower Tunnel, this RAV4 offers a fresh look at what modern hybrid technology can do.
THE DRIVE WITH LAUREN AND KARL brings you automotive news, new car reviews, industry analysis, performance cars, emerging technology, and the stories that affect drivers and consumers.
👍 LIKE this video if you want automakers to build the vehicles customers actually want.💬 COMMENT BELOW: Should Porsche keep building gasoline-powered sports cars, and does America need more EV incentives?
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Join Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer for the ride—follow us on X and FB @thedrivecarshow
Syndicated Radio show on both AM, FM and Podcast platforms.
👉 Follow Lauren Fix on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarCoachReports
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@car-smarts
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Website: https://carcoachreports.com/
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Website: https://www.karlbrauer.com/
#TheDrive #LaurenFix #KarlBrauer #carguys #CarPodcast #AutoNews #CarTalk #AutomotiveRadio #CarShow #AutomotiveExperts #CarReviews #News #AutoIndustry #CarCulture
©Automotive Aspects, Inc., 2026. All Rights Reserved.
0:00 Headlight Glare and Automotive Trends
0:43 Are Headlights Getting Too Bright?
2:25 Smart Headlights and Adaptive Beam Control
6:37 Porsche's High-Profit Strategy Shift
11:37 Acura's New Three-Row Luxury SUV
17:54 The Global Impact of Chinese Auto Imports
26:00 The Reality of Electric Vehicle Adoption

GM is officially ditching the manual dipstick on its new trucks, diesel prices are hitting eye-watering peaks, and hybrid sales are crushing both pure gas and EVs! On Episode 54 of The Drive, Lauren and Karl break down the wildest market shifts in the auto industry right now—from online fake dealership scams to Honda's massive production shakeups.

IN THIS EPISODE:
• Fake Dealerships: How scammers are targeting online car shoppers.
• GM Drops the Dipstick: Electronic sensors replace oil dipsticks in new GM trucks—will truck buyers accept it?
• Cheaper New Cars Incoming? Reduced fuel economy standards could save $1,300 per vehicle. Will automakers pass the savings to you?
• Honda's Strategic Moves: Delaying the next-gen CR-V, moving Civic production out of Indiana, and scaling back EV plans globally.
• The Hybrid Surge: Hybrids reach 19% market share as EVs slip to 7.1%. Plus, Hyundai Motor Group outsells Ford, and Toyota closes in on GM!
• The $8.34 Diesel Crisis: Why diesel prices are skyrocketing and how the federal government is using red-dyed diesel to bring relief.

💬 QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Would you buy a truck with NO physical oil dipstick, or do you trust electronic sensors?
Let us know in the comments below!

🔔 Subscribe to The Drive for weekly automotive news, reviews, and industry insider analysis!
#TheDrive #AutomotiveNews #GMTrucks #HybridCars #CarBuying #DieselPrices #HondaCRV

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay up to speed with The Drive!
https://thedrivecarshow.com/

👉 Follow us on social media:
Join Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer for the ride—follow us on X and FB @thedrivecarshow
Syndicated Radio show on both AM, FM and Podcast platforms.

👉 Follow Lauren Fix on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarCoachReports
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@car-smarts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carcoachreports
X: https://www.x.com/laurenfix
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Car.Coach.Reports
Website: https://carcoachreports.com/

👉 Follow Karl Brauer on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KarlBrauerCars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karlbrauer
X: https://x.com/karlbrauer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarlonCars
Website: https://www.karlbrauer.com/

#TheDrive #LaurenFix #KarlBrauer #carguys #CarPodcast #AutoNews #CarTalk #AutomotiveRadio #CarShow #AutomotiveExperts #CarReviews #News #AutoIndustry #CarCulture

©Automotive Aspects, Inc., 2026. All Rights Reserved.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro & Online Car Dealership Scams
02:15 - GM Kills the Dipstick: Good Tech or Big Mistake?
06:40 - Will New Cars FINALLY Get Cheaper? ($1,300 Price Drop?)
11:10 - Honda Delays Next CR-V & Pivots Away From EVs
15:55 - Market Shakeup: Hybrids BOOM, Hyundai Beats Ford, GM Drops
22:30 - $8.34/Gal Diesel Emergency & The Red-Dyed Diesel Solution
28:00 - Wrap Up & Final Thoughts

Are automakers betting on the wrong cars? From struggling small EVs to the SUVs that could save major brands, Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer break down the biggest stories shaping the automotive industry on The Drive with Lauren and Karl, Episode 53.
Plus, Karl has a little car regret after Doug DeMuro puts his former GT up for sale on Cars & Bids. Will he wish he never sold it even more after seeing what happens next?
IN THIS EPISODE:
Karl’s GT Hits Cars & BidsDoug DeMuro is selling Karl’s former GT, and it has him wondering why he ever let it go. Lauren and Karl also catch up on the cars they’ve driven and seen over the past two weeks.
2027 Hyundai Tucson Makes Its World DebutCompact SUVs are the backbone of the automotive business. Lauren takes a look at Hyundai’s all-new Tucson and why getting this segment right matters, especially as domestic automakers leave opportunities on the table.
2027 Kia EV3 vs. Chevy Bolt and Nissan LeafCan a small electric vehicle deliver the range, features and value buyers want? Karl drives the Kia EV3, and the discussion turns to the challenges facing affordable EVs and why even the once-dominant Toyota Prius faces tougher competition from other hybrids.
2027 Volkswagen Atlas: Can SUVs Save VW?Lauren and Karl both experience the new Atlas. It still delivers the passenger space and usable third row families want, but where is the hybrid powertrain? With SUVs remaining critical to Volkswagen’s future, the answer matters.
2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE Gets a Major RefreshUpdated powertrains, suspension improvements, a more advanced interior and extensive over-the-air upgrade capabilities bring new technology to Mercedes-Benz’s popular luxury SUV.
Jaguar Type 01: Bold Design, Big QuestionsJaguar is making a dramatic statement with its all-electric reboot. The styling grabs attention, but does the design sacrifice rear-seat practicality? And can an electric luxury sedan win over American buyers?
Watch The Drive with Lauren and Karl for automotive news, honest opinions, new-car coverage and the industry debates that matter to drivers.
Subscribe, like the video and tell us in the comments: Are automakers building the vehicles people actually want, or the vehicles they want people to buy?

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay up to speed with The Drive!
https://thedrivecarshow.com/
👉 Follow us on social media:
Join Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer for the ride—follow us on X and FB @thedrivecarshow
Syndicated Radio show on both AM, FM and Podcast platforms.
👉 Follow Lauren Fix on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarCoachReports
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@car-smarts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carcoachreports
X: https://www.x.com/laurenfix
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Car.Coach.Reports
Website: https://carcoachreports.com/
👉 Follow Karl Brauer on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KarlBrauerCars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karlbrauer
X: https://x.com/karlbrauer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarlonCars
Website: https://www.karlbrauer.com/
#TheDrive #LaurenFix #KarlBrauer #carguys #CarPodcast #AutoNews #CarTalk #AutomotiveRadio #CarShow #AutomotiveExperts #CarReviews #News #AutoIndustry #CarCulture #CarNews #HyundaiTucson #KiaEV3 #VolkswagenAtlas #electricvehicles
©Automotive Aspects, Inc., 2026. All Rights Reserved.
0:00 A Packed Show of New Cars
0:28 Behind the Scenes with Doug DeMuro
6:33 Insights from the Automotive Market
7:25 The Global Launch of the Hyundai Tucson
18:58 Volkswagen's Shift in Strategy
37:06 The All-New Jaguar Type 01

One year. Some of our favorite guests. And 10 automotive technologies we could live without.
Lauren Fix, Karl Brauer and Paul Fix celebrate the one-year anniversary of The Drive with a special episode featuring some of the guests who have helped make the show a success, including Michael Harley, Anton Wahlman, Henry Payne and Alan Taylor.
Lauren and Karl look back at some of the biggest automotive stories from the past year, including Flock cameras, Right to Repair, vehicle kill switches, start-stop technology and the industry's dramatic shift from ICE to EVs and now back toward internal combustion engines and hybrids.
Michael Harley joins the conversation to tackle a question enthusiasts have been asking: What happens to the driver's car when regulations keep adding weight, complexity and technology? We talk manual transmissions, steering feel, CVTs, start-stop systems and why McLaren's approach to performance cars deserves attention.
Anton Wahlman weighs in on the EV market, including why electric vehicles continue to face challenges in the new-car market and the latest developments surrounding Tesla, autonomous vehicles and the Cybercab.
Henry Payne joins us to discuss the challenges facing Detroit's automakers as they rethink their EV strategies, competition from China, Ford's international partnerships, GM's changing approach to Apple CarPlay and the uncertain road ahead for companies including Rivian and Lucid.
Then Lauren, Karl and Alan Taylor tackle the 10 Questionable Modern-Day Automotive Technologies, including cabin cameras, cabin microphones, start-stop systems, CVTs, electric-assist steering, keyless entry, connected cars, giant touchscreens, safety systems and glass roofs.
And Alan Taylor checks in on life after radio, his new life as a farmer and a recent local car event.
It's a packed anniversary episode celebrating one year of The Drive with Lauren and Karl.
Thanks for listening, watching and supporting the show during our first year. We're just getting started.
Subscribe to The Drive Car Show for automotive news, interviews, new vehicles, industry trends, technology and more from Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay up to speed with The Drive!
https://thedrivecarshow.com/
👉 Follow us on social media:
Join Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer for the ride—follow us on X and FB @thedrivecarshow
Syndicated Radio show on both AM, FM and Podcast platforms.
👉 Follow Lauren Fix on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarCoachReports
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@car-smarts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carcoachreports
X: https://www.x.com/laurenfix
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Car.Coach.Reports
Website: https://carcoachreports.com/
👉 Follow Karl Brauer on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KarlBrauerCars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karlbrauer
X: https://x.com/karlbrauer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarlonCars
Website: https://www.karlbrauer.com/
#TheDrive #LaurenFix #KarlBrauer #carguys #CarPodcast #AutoNews #CarTalk #AutomotiveRadio #CarShow #AutomotiveExperts #CarReviews #News #AutoIndustry #CarCulture
©Automotive Aspects, Inc., 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Get the latest automotive news on this week's episode, covering Stellantis updates, new driving policies, and car longevity data.
Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer return to break down the most recent shifts in the industry. We start with the major changes happening at Stellantis and how these corporate moves might impact your future vehicle options. We also examine a new proposal in New York State regarding driving reduction and what that could mean for your daily commute.
Our focus turns to data-driven insights with the latest reports from iSeeCars.com. We analyze current car longevity trends to help you understand which vehicles are truly built to last. Plus, we cover the real-time status of gas prices and how fluctuating costs continue to affect drivers across the country.
Subscribe and turn on notifications to The Drive for weekly automotive news breakdowns, and let us know your thoughts on these industry changes in the comments below.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay up to speed with The Drive!
https://thedrivecarshow.com/
👉 Follow us on social media:
Join Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer for the ride—follow us on X and FB @thedrivecarshow
Syndicated Radio show on both AM, FM and Podcast platforms.
👉 Follow Lauren Fix on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarCoachReports
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@car-smarts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carcoachreports
X: https://www.x.com/laurenfix
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Car.Coach.Reports
Website: https://carcoachreports.com/
👉 Follow Karl Brauer on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KarlBrauerCars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karlbrauer
X: https://x.com/karlbrauer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarlonCars
Website: https://www.karlbrauer.com/
#TheDrive #LaurenFix #KarlBrauer #carguys #CarPodcast #AutoNews #CarTalk #AutomotiveRadio #CarShow #AutomotiveExperts #CarReviews #News #AutoIndustry #CarCulture
©Automotive Aspects, Inc., 2026. All Rights Reserved.
0:00 Unusual Weather Patterns Across the US
2:32 Why Coastal Living Is Tough on Vehicles
3:46 New Car Sales Trends and Market Shifts
5:19 The Reality of New Car Pricing
11:31 Ram's Bold Future and New Model Lineup
18:04 The Fight for Driving Freedom in New York
26:16 The Longest Lasting Vehicles Revealed