Daily Recap: Monday, February 16, 2026

27 episodes

Toyota's plan to make the 2027 Highlander fully electric drew questions about buyer appetite as average new car prices crossed $50,000. The shows also covered Mazda's RX-8 Cup Series schedule and track lineup for 2026, plus a detailed timing belt job on a 2012 Subaru Forester. Listeners asked about electronic door handle safety and how the RX-8 handles at different circuits.

2027 Toyota Highlander Going All-Electric with Sales Concerns

Toyota is transitioning the Highlander to an all-electric vehicle in 2027 with no gas powertrain option and two trim levels.

The move comes as Highlander sales have declined significantly, dropping from over 200,000 units a couple of years ago to 65,000 last year, while the Grand Highlander has nearly doubled in sales.

From Car Stuff Podcast (Consumer Guide):

"This is the next generation Toyota Highlander and it's electric. Yeah. And there is no gas power train."

Toyota is already offering incentives including a $5,000 discount or 0% APR financing on their three electric vehicles.

From TFL Car Chat:

"There, a couple of years ago, they would sell over 200,000 of them. Last year, they sold 65,000"

Vehicle Affordability Crisis as Average New Car Price Exceeds $50,000

The average new car in America now costs around $50,000, with prices continuing to climb.

Toyota is planning three price increases this year instead of the typical two, repricing vehicles every three to four months.

From Auto Buyers Guide Podcast:

"The average new car in America is now solidly over $50,000"

This affordability crisis extends to luxury vehicles, with the Porsche Macan Electric starting at $105,000 and potentially reaching $170,000 with options.

From The AutoGuide Show:

"The average price of a new vehicle, according to automotive news, was over 49. It was flirting at like 50 earlier today."

Episode Spotlights

250: How to race in Mazda RX8 Cup Series with Ric and Tom Shaw — All Torque Car Podcast
On Mazda RX-8 Cup Series international racing operations:

"We're taking six drivers over... We did Virginia International in America to ADR races. Tommy and I drove a Mazda and we had six other drivers driving BMWs here. We drove an RX-8."

2012 Subaru Forester Timing Belt — Pawlik Automotive Podcast
On Subaru's timing belt phase-out across engine generations:

"The timing belts stopped being used on Subaru's around the 2010, 2011 model years on the 2.5 liter single overhead cams. But the duals, they continued on for quite a long time afterwards."

Is The All New 2027 Toyota Highlander REALLY Going To Sell? | Ep. 324 — TFL Car Chat
On global versus U.S. automotive sales volume differences:

"China sells, I want to say if you can Google this call for me, but I think it's 26 million cars if you'd be so kind a year and we only sell last year I think we sold 16 million."

Tyler Reddick Interview After Winning the Daytona 500 | VICTORY LAP — Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour presented by NASCAR on FOX
On what winning the Daytona 500 truly means:

"Daytona 500 is a race, but when you win this race, you become a champion."

He thought he found a great online deal until he bought a ticket, flew to Florida and arrived at the dealership — My Car Guru Podcast
On protecting yourself from remote car buying scams:

"I wouldn't give them a credit card number because they ain't no telling what they'll do with that. They're strangers. They're working in a car dealership where it's a 50-50 chance that there aren't some crooks working in the showroom or in the business office somewhere."

If You Only Listen To One

250: How to race in Mazda RX8 Cup Series with Ric and Tom Shaw — All Torque Car Podcast

Covers Mazda RX-8 Cup Series 2026 season structure and tracks, RX-8 performance characteristics at different circuits.

By the Numbers

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27 episodes. 348 car mentions. 343 terms explained. Browse every episode with searchable annotations and plain-language term definitions in the Car Curious app.