Daily Recap: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
31 episodes · If you only listen to one: 2026 Mazda CX-5 Premium Plus, Talking Cars (Consumer Reports)
GM's rumored Buick sedan revival for North America appeared on one show, while other programs covered car wash paint damage, mineral-based water spots, and Suzuki's place in Japanese automakers' rise in the U.S. market. Australia's March 2026 EV sales records also got attention, along with discussions of the Corvette, Camaro, F150, Buick Regal, and Aston Martin Valhalla.
Headlines
General Motors Reviving Sedan Production with Buick Brand Return to North American Market
General Motors is bringing back a sedan to Buick's North American lineup for the first time since discontinuing the Regal in 2020.
The new Buick sedan will share a platform with the next-generation Cadillac CT-5 and Chevrolet Camaro, all built at GM's Lansing Grand River Plant in Michigan starting in fall 2027.
"GM has started requesting quotes for key parts for Buick's first sedan for the North American market since it discontinued the Regal in twenty twenty [2020]"
Production of the Buick model might be limited to 10,000-20,000 units, while GM expects to make between 60,000-70,000 CT-5s and Camaros.
Episode Spotlights
Why Dealership & Tunnel Car Washes Are Destroying Your Paint (And What To Do About It)
On why tunnel car washes leave vehicles unclean:
"they soap it they rinse it. Maybe it soaps again, whatever and then you go through the blowers, but the blowers really aren't strong enough. The car isn't even really clean by that point. And so your car exits the tunnel with all those minerals still on the surface"
Episode #219 - All Hail Suzuki
On how Japanese manufacturers outcompeted American cars:
"I think the average American consumer was still like a Japanese car, like, sure, yeah, turn their nose up at them. And then those products were just better and cheaper... these Japanese manufacturers, whether it be Suzuki... they were a lot like Kia and Hyundai in 2011, 2012."
Australia EV Sales March 2026: 14.5% | April Market Recommendations
On the Zeekr 7X's driving dynamics in its class:
"I think the Zeekr 7X actually drives, in this category, I think the best of the lot. This is a big call from me, but I think it's very BMW-like."
If You Only Listen To One
2026 Mazda CX-5 Premium Plus
Consumer Reports puts the refreshed 2026 Mazda CX-5 Premium Plus through its paces, covering design and handling changes alongside the divisive infotainment overhaul that swaps the familiar rotary knob for a touchscreen. Worth hearing if you're cross-shopping compact SUVs.
By the Numbers
Most-Discussed Cars
| Car | Mentions |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Corvette | 7 |
| Chevrolet Camaro | 6 |
| Ford F150 | 6 |
| Buick Regal | 4 |
| Aston Martin Valhalla | 4 |
| Mazda MX-5 / Miata | 3 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 3 |
| Honda Civic | 3 |
Trending Terminology
| Term | Mentions |
|---|---|
| paddock | 4 |
| torque | 4 |
| fuel economy | 3 |
| NASCAR | 3 |
| aftermarket | 2 |
| trailer | 2 |
31 episodes. 350 car mentions. 760 terms explained. Browse every episode with searchable annotations and plain-language term definitions in the Car Curious app.