Turns out Americans still like their muscle cars loud, angry, and slightly outdated. While Dodge is trying to nudge its performance lineup into the electric era, the early numbers show many buyers are in no rush to give up their V8s—or even their V6s. In the first quarter, more people bought the long-discontinued Challengers and Chargers over the shiny new Daytona EV, which says a lot about where Dodge buyers’ heads are.

More: Thousands Of V8 Challengers And Chargers Sitting On Dodge Dealer Lots A Year After Production Ended

From January through March, Dodge sold 1,947 units of the Charger Daytona EV. That might sound decent until you realize they moved 1,052 of the last-generation ICE Charger and 922 Challengers in the same period. Combined, that’s 1,974 old-school muscle cars—just edging out the Daytona EV.

To be fair, that’s two body styles against one, but the comparison still stings considering these vehicles are museum pieces at this point. The Charger traces its roots back to 2005 and the Challenger to 2008, and both were officially discontinued at the end of 2023.

It’s not just that the Charger Daytona EV was outsold by the old duo, it’s also that 1,947 units nationwide in three months works out to just 22 cars per day. Compare that to Ford, which moved 9,377 Mustangs in the same period, even while facing a 32% drop in sales year-over-year. If that’s not painful enough, we’ll remind you that Dodge sold 9,737 Challengers in Q1 2024. That’s more than five times the sales of the new EV this year.

Inventory Hangover

Speaking of discontinued, Dodge is still sitting on a surprising number of 2023 Chargers and Challengers. An inventory check shows 657 Chargers and 691 Challengers still listed for sale across the country. The fact that these cars are still clogging up lots 15 months after production ended suggests that while nostalgia sells, it might not sell fast.

More: Gas Mustang Sales Crash 32% In Q1 But Mach-E And Bronco Are Killing It

Dodge is banking on new additions to the Charger Daytona lineup to help turn things around. The upcoming four-door version, along with new internal combustion variants powered by an inline-six, could give the brand more traction with traditional muscle car buyers. But for now, the numbers aren’t encouraging.

A Disastrous Quarter All Around

Overall, it was a rough quarter for Dodge. The brand’s total sales nosedived from 42,948 units in Q1 2024 to just 21,731 this quarter marking a 49% drop. Every model in the lineup took a hit. The Hornet was down 45%, totaling 4,108 units, while the aging Durango saw a 9% dip, settling at 13,701 units.

DODGE SALE USA Q1 2025

Nissan is having a rough go of it. Between plummeting sales, financial struggles, failed merger talks with Honda, and the resignation of its CEO, things aren’t exactly looking up. But rather than giving up, the Japanese automaker is making its move. With a fresh strategy in place, Nissan is gearing up to unveil a series of new and revamped models by 2027.

The brand’s revamped lineup will feature a mix of combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric powertrains. Nissan has already dropped teasers of several models set to roll out over the next two years, targeting various markets across the globe.

For North America, Nissan will roll out a batch of fresh cars, including new generations of the Nissan Leaf EV, the Sentra sedan, and the Rogue SUV, alongside a facelifted version of the Pathfinder.

The New Leaf Becomes A Crossover

First up, the Leaf. No longer a plain-Jane hatchback, the new version is going full crossover, complete with sleeker styling, 19-inch wheels, and a panoramic moonroof. It will be built on the CMF-EV platform, borrowed from the larger Ariya, and will have “significant range improvements” over its predecessor. Oh, and it will be the first Nissan to feature the NACS charging port, so it’s officially Tesla Supercharger-compatible.

More: Is Nissan Bringing Back The Primera As An Electric Sedan?

It’s worth mentioning that the new Nissan Leaf will be a global offering, not just for North America. It will also be available in Europe, Japan, and Australia.

Rogue and Pathfinder Updates

The 2026 Nissan Rogue (aka the X-Trail in other markets) is getting a powertrain upgrade. It’ll be available in gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid versions. The e-Power hybrid, which uses a 1.5-liter engine that acts as a generator for the electric motor powering the wheels, is back for another round.

And in case you haven’t been paying attention, the Rogue PHEV will actually be a rebadged Mitsubishi Outlander. Yes, Nissan is using its Renault-Mitsubishi-Nissan alliance to repurpose a Mitsubishi design for this one. If you were hoping for something entirely new, you might want to adjust your expectations.

More: Mitsubishi Ready To Dump Nissan Platforms

The Pathfinder, meanwhile, gets a mid-lifecycle facelift, with a new nose that should bring it into line with the rest of Nissan’s lineup. Expect that to be unveiled later this year.

New Sentra And More SUVs

Alongside it, a redesigned Sentra compact sedan will make its debut, with sharper looks that may or may not make you care more about compact sedans in general.

Finally, Nissan has also teased an “adventure-focused SUV” with an electric powertrain that will be manufactured at the Canton Mississippi plant in the US starting in 2027. The yet-unnamed model has a boxy stance and futuristic LEDs, and appears to be smaller than the Rogue and the Pathfinder.

Electric Micra and Juke for Europe

Over in Europe, Nissan is set to launch the fully electric Micra, which will finally get its production version after being teased since 2022. Sharing its underpinnings with the Renault R5 E-Tech, this little EV will likely appeal to those who want to go green while still having a cute, compact car to get around in.

Another important debut for Europe will be the fully electric version of the Nissan Juke, inspired by the Hyper Punk concept. The zero-emission subcompact SUV is different from the ICE-powered Juke, featuring a heavily sculpted bodywork while retaining some of its quirkiness.

In the same region, the Nissan Qashqai will receive the third-gen e-Power hybrid powertrain, which promises better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

A New Frontier / Navara For Latin America And A Different Pickup For Australia

Another notable debut is the new Navara/Frontier midsize pickup, set to arrive in 2026. Unfortunately, this rugged truck will be exclusive to Latin American markets (LATAM). From the teaser image, it appears to be a heavily redesigned version of the old Navara, boasting an “evolved design,” upgraded infotainment, and a promising suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).

More: 2027 Navara Will Be A True Nissan, Despite Mitsubishi Triton Roots

The successor of the global-spec Nissan Navara will be a different model, sharing its underpinnings with the Mitsubishi Triton. This one is described as an “all-new one-ton pickup” that will be launched in Australia in 2026.

Indian-Built SUV And Minivan

Nissan is gearing up to launch two new models in India, both of which will be produced at the company’s Chennai factory for domestic sales and exports. First up is a budget-friendly minivan with crossover styling, set to debut in 2025.

This will be followed by a five-seater SUV in 2026, which will be Nissan’s version of the Dacia/Renault Duster, complete with a redesigned front end. Additionally, the company has announced a five-seater SUV for select African markets, though it’s unclear if it will share the same design as the India-bound model.

In Nissan’s home market of Japan, the company will release a facelifted kei car in 2025, along with a new generation of a large minivan featuring the latest hybrid powertrain in 2026.

Ivan Espinosa, Nissan’s current chief planning officer and future CEO, had this to say:

“Over the next two years, we are excited to roll out an impressive lineup that will redefine the road! This includes the reimagined Nissan LEAF, and a daring new Micra EV. But that’s not all – we’re refreshing our range of SUVs to elevate the driving experience, and our next-generation e-POWER promises new levels of refinement and efficiency. We are committed to investing in products that embody the very best of Nissan. To our passionate fans and loyal owners around the world, I can assure you, this is just the beginning of an exciting journey ahead.”

Tesla has been dominating headlines lately, largely due to its plummeting sales in Europe and other global markets. But here’s the thing: it’s not just Elon Musk’s electric empire in trouble. Lancia is facing its own crisis, with sales in Europe dropping by a staggering 73% so far in 2025. This steep decline makes it clear that the so-called “rebirth” of the Italian brand is going to be anything but smooth.

According to official sales data for the EU, EFTA, and UK regions provided by the ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association), Lancia sold just 2,208 units in January and February 2025, a steep drop from 8,098 units during the same period last year. This decline is particularly striking considering the launch of a new generation of the Lancia Ypsilon supermini and the brand’s expansion outside Italy for the first time in years.

More: Tesla’s European Sales Have Collapsed, Down 45% As EV Market Surges 31%

For a bit of perspective, the old Lancia Ypsilon—discontinued after 13 years—sold nearly four times more units in the first two months of last year than the all-new, shiny model did. To make matters worse, the former was only available in Italy, while the new Ypsilon has already expanded to markets like France, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands. A drop of that magnitude certainly raises some serious questions.

Lancia’s Price Tag Problem

So, why this massive dip in sales? Well, one of the biggest factors is likely the higher pricing on the new Ypsilon’s mild-hybrid and electric variants compared to the non-electrified predecessor – something we’ve also seen with Stellantis brands in North America as well.

For a brand that’s been absent from many European markets for so long, it’s not surprising that buyers might be reluctant to shell out more cash for a car that feels a bit… neglected. Competing with well-established supermini brands doesn’t exactly help Lancia’s case, either.

Lancia is looking to rebound by opening 70 new showrooms across Europe by the end of 2025. Whether that’ll generate any real traction for the brand remains to be seen. The Ypsilon will eventually be joined by the Gamma flagship crossover in 2026, followed by a new version of the Delta hatchback in 2028.

Other Winners And Losers

Lancia isn’t the only one with a rough start to 2025. Alongside the 72.7% drop in Lancia’s sales, Tesla is also seeing a significant slump, with a 42.6% drop. Other brands experiencing notable sales declines include Smart (-55.4%), Jaguar (-53.4%), and Mitsubishi (-35.4%). Meanwhile, Stellantis brands like DS (-30.3%), Opel/Vauxhall (-27.2%), and Fiat (-26.9%) are all struggling. Porsche isn’t immune either, down 23.2% this year.

On the flip side, some brands are clearly having a moment. Alpine, for example, has seen a massive 137.8% sales increase, largely thanks to the launch of the A290 GT hot hatch. Cupra is also having a great year, up 42.3%, with 40,869 units sold, just shy of Seat’s 42,212 sales for the same period.

For Stellantis, Alfa Romeo is a bright spot with a 29.6% boost in sales, mostly thanks to the Junior subcompact SUV, which contributed 9,788 sales in just two months. Other companies enjoying positive results include Lexus (+32.2%), SAIC (+21.2%), and Renault (+18.5%). Volkswagen also saw a healthy 12% increase in sales, reaching 216,565 units. VW is currently the only brand with a double-digit market share in the EU, EFTA, and UK regions, holding steady at 11.1%.

Overall, the VW Group leads in Europe, having sold 525,346 units, up 4.3%. Stellantis follows with 310,091 sales, down 16.1%, while Renault Group (205,005 sales / +8.2%), Hyundai Group (156,526 sales / -5.5%), and Toyota Group (151,589 sales / -4.9%) round out the top five.

Europeans Love Hybrids And BEVs

On the powertrain front, Europeans are clearly embracing electrification. In the first two months of 2025, hybrid vehicles saw a significant jump, with 687,709 units sold, a 17.6% increase. EVs also continued their upward trajectory, with 330,584 units sold, marking a 31.4% increase.

Meanwhile, more traditional gasoline-powered cars saw a sharp decline, with sales dropping by 21.9% to 562,513 units. Diesel vehicles didn’t fare much better, falling by 27.5% to just 172,758 units.

EUROPEAN CAR SALES JAN-FEB 2025

Volkswagen’s ID.4 sales have rocketed in the first part of 2025 and now the automaker is redoubling its electric efforts and readying a new family of smaller EVs. But while European VW fans will get access to all members of that family, it sounds like their American counterparts won’t get the chance to put the smallest of them, the ID.1, in their garages.

Earlier this week, VW revealed the ID.Every1 concept, a thinly disguised preview of the ID.1 (name TBC) production EV that goes on sale in Europe in 2027. But a year before that lands in showrooms, the German carmaker will launch the production version of 2023’s ID.2all concept, and this fall we’ll get a look at an SUV spinoff of that model, the ID.2X.

Will the USA Get Any of VW’s New Small and Affordable EVs?

However, when we asked VW North America if it had any plans to offer the ID.1 or larger ID.2 in the US, it was quick to tell us not to get our hopes up for the little guy making the cut. A spokesperson told Carscoops it was “highly unlikely” that the ID.1, which is sized between the now-dead Up! and Polo subcompacts, would be sold in the US.

The prospects for the ID.2, on the other hand, look rather better. The VW rep told us they “can’t confirm anything about the ID.2,” which isn’t the same thing as saying it’s definitely coming, but it’s no denial either.

Related: ID.Every1 Previews VW’s Cheapest EV

Which version of the ID.2 they were not confirming anything about, they didn’t say. The crossover model seems the most likely to get the nod given America’s love for utilities and general lack of enthusiasm for hatchbacks. But then the ID.2 hatch would be no ordinary hatch because it could tap into the love for the Golf, which has been a part of the US auto landscape for almost 50 years.

What Do These Small EVs Bring to the Table?

All three junior ID cars share the same new MEB platform, which, unlike the current MEB architecture found in EVs like the ID.3, ID.4 and ID.Buzz, features a motor at the front of the car driving the front wheels. The 3,880 mm (152.8 inches) ID.Every1, whose production version is expected to cost just €20,000 (£17k / $21k), is powered by a tiny 94 hp (95 PS / 70 kW) motor and can only travel 155 miles (250 km) on a charge.

The ID.2all hatch concept unveiled two years ago measured 4,050 mm (159.4 in), had a 223 hp (225 PS / 166 kW) motor and was claimed to be capable of 280 miles (450 km) – stats that would be fare more palatable to an American audience. VW is targeting a €25,000 (£21k / $26k) price for the production car.

So, if VW were to bring one of these smaller EVs stateside, which would you want to see?

The Cadillac Escalade lineup is growing literally and figuratively as the American luxury brand has unveiled the 2026 Escalade IQL. It’s a stretched version of the large electric SUV and pricing starts at $132,695.

Costing thousands more than the regular model, the Escalade IQL follows in the footsteps of the standard EV but spans an additional 4.2 inches (107 mm). At 228.5 inches (5,803 mm) overall, it’s 1.5 inches (38 mm) longer than the gas-powered Escalade ESV (227 inches / 5,766 mm), making it one of the longest production vehicles on the market. Since the wheelbase remains unchanged at 136.2 inches (3,460 mm), most of the added room benefits third-row passengers

More: 2025 Cadillac Escalade Gets A Jaw-Dropping Interior With 55-Inch Display

This promises to make the power folding third-row adult-friendly as legroom climbs from 32.3 inches (820 mm) to 36.7 inches (932 mm). Rear seat occupants will also find an extra inch (25 mm) of headroom. If you’re more interested in hauling cargo, you’ll find up to 125.2 cubic feet (3,546 liters) of room behind the first row. That’s up from 119.2 cubic feet (3,375 liters) in the standard model.

The Usual Escalade Interior Charm, With a Few Twists

Aside from the extra length, it’s pretty much a typical Escalade IQ. However, the C- and D-pillar treatment is unique to the IQL and customers will find more expansive third-quarter glass. The rear liftgate also appears more upright as it eschews the angular design found on the regular model.

While there are a surprising number of styling changes, the front end carries over and the SUV rides on massive 24-inch wheels. The model is also notable for featuring an eTrunk, which can hold an additional 12.2 cubic feet (345 liters) of luggage.

Interior changes are less dramatic as there will be Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury, and Premium Sport trims with their usual equipment. Cadillac didn’t go into many specifics, but noted drivers will find Super Cruise, a 21-speaker AKG Studio audio system, and an expansive 55-inch pillar-to-pillar display. They should be joined by heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, and a heated steering wheel. Other niceties should include a wireless smartphone charger, a five-zone climate control system, and an LED ambient lighting system.

Those getting chauffeured will want to opt for the available Executive Second Row package. It features two heated, ventilated, and massaging power seats that are separated by a console with stowable tray tables, a rear command center, and dual wireless phone charging pads. The package also includes dual 12.6-inch displays to keep passengers entertained.

Power and Range: It’s Got Plenty of Both

Power comes from a 205 kWh battery pack, which feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing up to 750 hp (559 kW /  760 PS) and 785 lb-ft (1,063 Nm) of torque. This enables the luxury barge to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.7 seconds and travel an estimated 460 miles (740 km) on a single charge.

When the battery is low, a DC fast charger can deliver up to 116 miles (187 km) of range in as little as 10 minutes. With a 19.2 kW AC charger, expect to get about 36 miles (58 km) of range per hour.

Production is slated to begin towards the middle of the year and Cadillac noted the model should be able to tow up to 7,500 lbs (3,402 kg). Customers can also look forward to an Air Ride Adaptive suspension, Magnetic Ride Control 4.0, and a vehicle-to-home bidirectional charging capability.