The automotive industry is changing fast — and we break it all down on this edition of Cruise Control Motoring. Fred Staab and Les Jackson dive into the biggest automotive news, new car pricing debates, and CES 2026 technology stories, including a major warranty move by Ram, the shocking reality of a nearly $50,000 Honda Civic Type R, Subaru performance struggles, and why Volkswagen is pausing the ID. Buzz in the U.S.

They also cover cutting-edge CES 2026 auto tech, including robotics, battery breakthroughs, and the future of connected vehicle navigation — plus why affordable cars are becoming harder to find. If you follow auto industry news, new car releases, EV trends, and car pricing, this episode delivers context, insight, and straight talk.

Fred Staab and Les Jackson discuss all the latest automotive news on the Cruise Control Motoring Podcast

Chapters

00:00 Cruise Control Motoring Opens | Auto Industry Change Ahead

03:38 Ram Adds 10-Year / 100K Powertrain Warranty for 2026

09:17 Cummins Diesel Power Wagon Returns | Torque, Off-Road & Pricing

13:44 Ram Dakota Confirmed for 2027 | Mid-Size Truck Market Shift

15:52 Is a $50,000 Honda Civic Type R the New Reality?

17:26 Civic Type R vs Golf R vs WRX vs GR Corolla

19:51 Subaru WRX Sales Collapse | Performance Sedan Trouble

26:14 VW Pauses ID. Buzz in the U.S. | EV Pricing vs Demand

31:13 Kia K4 Hatchback Pricing Revealed | Affordable Cars Return

40:51 CES 2026 Tech Talk | Solid-State Batteries & Donut Lab

44:52 BMW Conversational Navigation | AI Enters the Dashboard

47:21 Ford Ends Escape Production | Smart Move or Big Mistake?

52:35 Vehicle Affordability Fallout | Government & Pricing Pressure

59:32 Subscription Features Return | Paywalls, Heated Seats & More

01:02:26 Auto Trivia & Industry Notes

01:03:18 Final Thoughts & Sign-Off

#CES2026 #AutoNews #AutomotiveIndustry #CarNews #NewCars #CarPricing #EVNews #TruckNews #RamTrucks #HondaCivic #Volkswagen #SubaruWRX #KiaK4 #FutureOfCars #CruiseControlMotoring #carpodcast

Ford hits the brakes on electric vehicles after losing more than $19 billion, Hyundai says it plans to dominate U.S. auto sales by 2030, and Mercedes confirms hybrids are the future with the new CLA Hybrid.

On this episode of Cruise Control Motoring, Fred Staab and Les Jackson break down the biggest automotive industry stories shaping 2025 and beyond — from EV pullbacks and hybrid strategy shifts to pickup truck pricing, under-$30,000 cars disappearing, and a rare affordable 2026 model that may still give buyers hope.

We also cover: Ford’s dramatic EV strategy reversal and the future of the F-150 Lightning Hyundai’s bold plan to conquer America with a new body-on-frame pickup Why sub-$30,000 new cars are nearly extinct — and the one exception Mercedes-Benz revealing advanced hybrid tech for the next-gen CLA Jaguar leadership turmoil and brand confusion.

Kia’s fix for stolen vehicles BMW’s controversial proprietary fasteners Jeep celebrates 85 years with special-edition Wrangler models If you care about new car news, EVs vs hybrids, pickup trucks, vehicle pricing, and the future of the auto industry, this episode is packed with insight and real-world analysis.

Fred Staab and Les Jackson discuss all the latest automotive news on the Cruise Control Motoring

#AutomotiveNews #AutoIndustry #CarNews #EVNews #HybridCars #FordLightning #HyundaiPickup #MercedesCLA #NewCars #CarPrices #Under30K #TruckNews #FutureOfCars #CruiseControlMotoring #FredStaab #lesjackson

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Cruise Control Motoring

00:48 – Ford Loses $19B on EVs & Changes Course

03:40 – Ford Scales Back EVs, Returns to Hybrids & Gas Engines

06:00 – Extended-Range Electric F-150 Lightning Explained

09:07 – Why Expensive Electric Trucks Failed

11:17 – Ford Cancels Electric Vans & Battery Strategy Shifts

15:01 – Why Hybrids Make More Sense Than Full EVs

16:08 – Hyundai CEO Targets 1.44M U.S. Sales by 2030

17:29 – Hyundai’s New Body-on-Frame Pickup Plan

18:36 – Can Hyundai Take on Ford, GM, and Ram?

19:39 – Why $30K New Cars Are Disappearing (Cox Automotive)

21:23 – Full-Size Pickup Prices Drive Market Inflation

23:05 – Why Affordable Cars Are Vanishing

24:23 – Mercedes-Benz Reveals CLA Hybrid Powertrain

25:03 – CLA Hybrid Specs, Performance & Technology Breakdown

26:37 – Entry-Level Luxury Cars Go Hybrid

27:37 – The Last Under-$30K New Car: 2026 Nissan Altima

29:14 – Altima Pricing, Trims & Features Explained

30:28 – Why Affordable Sedans Still Matter

31:28 – Jeep Wrangler White Cap Special Edition Revealed

32:52 – Jeep Celebrates 85 Years With Heritage Editions

34:00 – Why Special Edition Vehicles Continue to Sell

38:10 – Market Trends Shaping New Car Pricing

42:30 – EV vs Hybrid: What Buyers Actually Want

47:15 – What These Industry Shifts Mean for Consumers

52:10 – Final Thoughts on the Future of EVs & Hybrids

56:30 – Wrap-Up: What to Watch Next in Automotive News

Fred Staab & Les Jackson are back on Cruise Control Motoring with a packed podcast covering some of the biggest automotive stories of the week.

Stellantis shocks the world with its all-new Hurricane 4 Turbo — twin-spark, port + direct injection, and up to 35 pounds of boost delivering 324 horsepower & 332 lb-ft from only 2.0 liters! We break down this advanced powerplant and what it means for Jeep, Ram, and beyond.

We also dive deep into the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee refresh, new trims, upscale tech, and incredible fuel economy + towing numbers.

JD Power warns of an EV sales collapse, Jaguar delays its Electric GT halo car, Dodge reveals its wild Dude pickup concept, and… how did a rare GM EV1 end up at an impound auction?!

#CruiseControlMotoring #JeepGrandCherokee #HurricaneEngine #Stellantis #KiaTelluride #EVNews #CarPodcast #AutoNews #JaguarEV #DodgeDude #ElectricVehicles #CarReview #LiveCarShow #sema2025 #dodgehemi #ramhemi