Automobile News & Reviews
We Need More Power! Arr Arr Arr
Diesel Engine Questions. Brake Repairs. Electric Assist Car Motors. AFM Multi Cylinder Deactivation Systems. F150 Eats Ties Rod Ends. Engine Noise. Oil System Cleaner. Lifted Vehicle Suspensions. Press "Play" below to listen to this episode
The Perfect 32 Dash
So as most of you know, Nate is building a '32 roadster. I've been following the build thread and marveling at his metal skills with the rest of... continue reading
If You Buy a 2022 Mazda2 In Europe, Youre Basically Buying a Toyota Yaris
The partnership between Toyota and Mazda might spawn a new car, one thats going to replace the current Mazda2 sold in Europe. If the rumors are true, then the new Mazda2 could be based on the Yaris Hybrid supermini.
Audi Ditches Formula E, Chooses LMDh and the Dakar Rally Instead
German luxury brand Audi will, in a couple of years' time, be back doing two things that it does really well: go fast on dirt and go fast in really long circuit races. In other words, Audi announced that the 2020-2021 season of Formula E will be the last for Audi as a factory team, the money spent keeping the Audi Sport Team Abt Schaeffler operation at the sharp end of the world's best-well-known EV racing series being redirected to... [read more]
Happy Hot Rod Days! Tis the Season
To be honest, I get a little blue when December rolls around The sun sets before 5pm, and although I'm still digesting turkey leftovers, it's already past time... continue reading
Learn Everything About the Ferrari SF90 From The Man In Charge of Its Design
Ferrari is giving us a guided digital tour of the SF90 Spider with valuable inputs from Flavio Manzoni, the companys design chief who has signed his name on the likes of F12 Berlinetta, 812 Superfast, and Monza SP1 and SP2.
This Throw Down Between the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram TRX Is What 2020 Has Been Missing
Until the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX came out, Ford F-150 Raptor was the only full-size off-road truck that seemed to have made an impact in the market. The TRX was coined as the Raptor killer early on, but Ram took everything up a notch, leaving the F-150 Raptor unscathed to a large extent. However, weve been waiting to see these two go up against each other for the longest time, and thanks to TFL, it has become a reality. The... [read more]
Jenson Buttons GT Racing Debut Explained
Jenson Button was on the top of the world some 11 years ago when he became the first British racing driver since Damon Hill in 1996 to become Formula 1 World Drivers' Champion but there was no sign of elation on the now-former F1 star's face on November 8, 2020 as he climbed out of his McLaren 720S GT3. A lackluster race around the legendary Silverstone Grand Prix loop ended similarly inconspicuous for Button and team-mate Chris Buncombe, as the... [read more]
Car for Sale: 1988 BMW E30 M3
BMW M3 needs no introduction. The new model with the kidney grille has faced a lot of flak, but thats because the yesteryear models had set the bar so high. One such M3 from the 1980s has arrived at the Bring-a-Trailer auctions and it looks absolutely droolworthy. This 88 belongs to the first-gen of the M3s ever produced by BMW. This particular example comes with a four-cylinder engine, a manual gearbox, and has over 80,000 miles on the odo.
Heres What Its Like to Live With the Taycan In Real Life
People have been raving about the Porsche Taycan ever since it debuted. Car journos and vloggers launched controlled it, drifted it, and drove it on the track, screaming in pleasure from behind the wheel. Being a Porsche, the Taycan must deliver heavily on the performance front, which it does, regardless of trim and powertrain configuration. But whats it like to live on a daily basis with Porsches first-ever EV? After all, excellent daily-driver traits are quintessential for Porsche, so how... [read more]
Morgan 3 Wheeler P101
The 2021 Morgan 3 Wheeler P101 is a limited-edition version of the company's three-wheeled sports car. Limited to only 33 units, the P101 celebrates the end of production of the 3 Wheeler, which Morgan has been offering since 2011. Named after the internal codename given to the project that revived the 3 Wheeler almost 10 years ago, the 2021 3 Wheeler P101 comes with a range of exclusive features that mostly address the car's exterior. What makes it stand out... [read more]
Volkswagen's EV Tech Motivates This Solar-Powered Yacht
If youre an environmentally conscious one-percenter, driving an electric car simply isnt enough. You need to embrace green living in every aspect of your affluent lifestyle, and that includes your ultra-posh boat. Enter Silent-Yachts, an Austrian manufacturer of premium solar-powered luxury watercraft that has just partnered with Volkswagen Group to incorporate the auto giants MEB modular electric drive platform into its next super-yacht. Even though Silent-Yachts will develop the solar electric catamaran based around the MEB electric drive bits, the... [read more]
Interested in a Certified Used Car? These CPO Programs Are the Best
Buying a used car can save you lots of moneyor be a massive headache. How can you really know what that vehicle went through before the keys became yours? Buying through a certified pre-owned program is a great way to increase peace of mind. But CPO programs arent all created equal. So how can you know which ones are the best? Trust the experts at IntelliChoice (a MotorTrend subsidiary). What Are the Best Certified Pre-Owned Programs for 2021? To determine... [read more]
Volkswagen ID4 EV's Range Far Exceeds 200 Miles in EPA Testing
We called the 2021 Volkswagen ID4 perhaps the most important car VW has ever launched in the United States after our first drive. The key to cementing its place in the companys American history, though, likely comes down to its driving range. Thankfully for Volkswagen, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially rates the electric SUV to travel 250 miles on a full charge. That sum matches VW's predictions and ought to quell the range anxiety of most consumers. That said... [read more]
Mercedes-Benz C-Class: History, Generations, FAQs
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Essential History: Generation One The Mercedes-Benz C-Class , also known by its internal code name, W202, rolled onto the American car scene in late 1993 as a 1994 model , replacing the 190E (W201) as the brand's compact offering. The rear-drive C-Class was initially offered in four-cylinder C 220 (147-hp) and six-cylinder C 280 (194-hp) variants, with the numbers denoting engine displacement (i.e. 2.2 and 2.8 liters). The 268-hp C 36 AMG model joined the lineup for 1995... [read more]
Every Reason You Should Use Marvel Mystery Oil
Although car manufacturers often warn us against using any form of additives on a cars engine or fuel system, there are those that stand out with undeniable qualities. Mechanics might still look at it as just another market plot which aims to take your money, in return for empty promises of improved engine performance and longevity. Some, however, come through and deliver. Here are 10 reasons why you should use Marvel Mystery Oil.
The Ferrari 488 GT Modificata Is the Newest Track-Only Ferrari
Last year Ferrari unveiled the 488 GT3 Evo , a refined and massaged version of the 488 GT3 racecar that made its debut in 2016 . Per FIA rules and regulations, manufacturers are allowed to make an all-new racecar (or an Evo version of their current car) once every three years. So, if it's not an all-new racecar, what is the 488 GT Modificata you see before you? Simple answer: it's the newest track-day-only Ferrari. But you probably can't buy... [read more]
Bad News Badger: GM Drops Plans to Build Nikolas Electric Truck
General Motors has dropped plans to take an equity stake in Nikola and build the Phoenix-based companys electric pickup. The two automakers announced a new, significantly scaled back deal today that involves fuel cell systems for semi-trucks. The original deal, announced in September, gave Nikola a strong foothold into the electric truck market. GM was going to build the Nikola Badger , a 906-hp truck that was expected to reach 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. These numbers would make it... [read more]
Bentleys Gone Plaid With New Mulliner Tweed Interior Textile Accents
Tweed is one of those quintessential symbols of the British Isles, particularly Ireland and Scotland, and so the announcement that some particularly choice tweed patterns are coming to the interior of certain Mulliner-customized Bentleys is surprising only in as much as it wasnt already on the main menu. Four tweed patterns are coming to the Bentayga , Continental GT , and Flying Spur via Mulliners Personal Commissioning Guide. Each is available as door trim. Sadly, tweed is not yet available... [read more]
Watch in Amazement As a Tesla Model S Fights It Out With a Lamborghini Huracan Performante
Since the dawn of electric vehicles, all the records set by internal combustion-engined supercars and hypercars are in danger. The same applies to drag races and quarter-mile runs, too. Weve seen numerous races where EVs have obliterated some of the most beloved fuel-powered counterparts. Heres another race where a V-10 takes on a dual-motor setup. Were talking about the Lamborghini Huracan Performante and the Tesla Model S. Both the cars are closely matched in terms of performance, but the race... [read more]
2021 MotorTrend Truck of the Year: Contenders, Day 1!
If my neighborhood is any indication, one industry that hasnt been impacted by this years health crisis is home construction and repair. As I greet the morning, poking my head out the sliding-glass door with coffee in hand, I hear the dulcet resonances of circular saws, nail guns, and air compressors filling the otherwise still air. Homebuilding and construction is powered by pickup trucks, including those vying for this years MotorTrend Truck of the Year award. Whether its hauling cement... [read more]
Cyber-Monday
I've never participated in Cyber Monday and frankly, probably never will again. It just seems like a cheap and insincere way of capitalizing off a holiday season that... continue reading
1987 Honda CRX Si Restomod Is a Period Correct Masterpiece
Putting down the first few sentences of a feature like this 1987 Honda CRX Si is a little tougher than usual. Its not the familiar story of picking up an old, used Honda, adding wheels and a drop before giving in and going all out on a full-blown build. Furthermore, to be clear, its also not the prissy collectable, loaded with rare JDM gems and only pulled out of its protective bubble wrap a few times a year to gawk... [read more]
MINI Vision Urbanaut Concept
Try to predict what mobility will look like in the next 15 or 20 years judging by the current prototypes from a couple of companies and if your imagination allows it, youll be looking at a very diverse environment. I mean, Uber wants to take ride sharing to the skies, flying car startups are slowly making headway, and pretty much every carmaker out there has some sort of self-driving prototype in mind. And most often than not, these contraptions are... [read more]
Does an Old-School Mercedes SLR McLaren Hold Up Against a McLaren 540C?
Weve seen our fair share of drag races this year, possibly because theres not much else to do with the coronavirus pandemic still raging all over world. Weve seen all sorts of combinations, too, but what we havent seen is a generational drag race between two supercars that trace their roots to the same origin, or at least one of them does. This is a race between the McLaren 540C, the British automakers supposed entry-level supercar, and the iconic Mercedes... [read more]
Classic Car For Sale: 1973 BMW 3.0 CS
The old Bimmers have a charm that the new ones just cannot match. An E9 from the 70s has arrived at Bring-a-Trailer and it certainly looks like one to collect. The German automaker built the E9 from 1968 to 1975. Apart from its classic, stellar looks, the car was also a performance beast back in those days. BMW even built a homologation of this series in the form of the 3.0 CSL model, which was quite successful as a racing... [read more]
Throwback: 2006 Ford Shelby GT500 "Germany" Commercial
2006 seems like forever ago, doesnt it? At the very least, it feels like a different lifetime. Social media was still in its infancy and the world felt a lot bigger back then. 2006 was also a big year for Ford. The Blue Oval was bringing the Shelby Mustang back to life after a 25-year absence. Ford went all-out in marketing the return of the Shelby nameplate, and one commercial, in particular, effectively hammered Fords point. The Shelby Mustang was... [read more]
This Electronic Exhaust Can Make Your EV (or any other car) Sound Like a Fighter Jet or Muscle Car
Electric cars are a great way to save money by not using gas or diesel and to help the world cut down on emissions, but we can all agree that EVs sound dull at low speeds and a bit annoying under full throttle. Thanks to Thor Tuning, now we can fix that with an electronic exhaust that will make your EV sound like any car out there or even a jet fighter. And it also works on hybrids or any... [read more]
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat First Drive Review: Mr. Incredible
In September, we compared the hottest performing SUVs from BMW , Maserati , Mercedes , and Porsche , the winner of which earned a spot in our 2021 Best Drivers Car competition. Sadly, the 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is arriving just a few months too late to market to have joined that competition, so well have to wait another year or so to learn whether it can improve on the fifth-of-five finishing order its Hellcat-powered Jeep cousin achieved in... [read more]
Are Your Ready For Winter Travels
1989 Lincoln Town Car Transmission. All Wheel Drive questions. 2012 Dodge Avenger Air Bags. 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 Engine Noise up top. Exhaust Leaks. 1998 Tahoe Brakes release at low speed and wont stop. 1996 Buick Park Ave. Transmission wont shift. 2003 Caddy CTS Steering Problems. 2016 Ram Dually Turn Signals Blow Bulbs. 2002 Toyota Tundra Check Engine Light. 1996 Ford F150 2wd Brakes Get Hard. Press "Play" below to listen to this episode
Naran Automotive Comes Up With A 1,000+ Horsepower Hyper Coupe
Amidst the horde of EV hypercars, U.K.-based automaker Naran Automotive has come up with a 1,048-horsepower internal combustion-engined hypercar. This bespoke build doesnt have a name yet, so, lets just call it Naran for now. Naran will be powered by a 5.0-liter, V-8 engine thats not supplemented by any electric motors or batteries whatsoever. The automaker says it will build only 49 examples of this beast and each one can be highly customized as per the owners needs.
The Volkswagen ID.4 Will Travel Further Per Charge Than the Ford Mach-E
EPA fuel economy estimates for the new, 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 are in and the German EV is just as efficient as the company claimed it would be. The Environmental Protection Agency says that the ID.4 will be able to travel for up to 250 miles on a single change, which is identical to Volkswagen's forecast for the U.S. market. This figures places the ID.4 above the Standard Range version of the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Ferrari 488 GT Modificata
The 2021 Ferrari 488 GT Modificata is a track-only version of the 488 GTB. A limited-edition model dedicated to customers who like to drive Ferraris on the race track, the 488 GT Modificata features technology developed for the competition-spec 488 GT3 and 488 GTE cars. It's basically the third race-spec model based on the 488 GTB road car, which has been replaced by the F8 Tributo in 2020. Essentially a successor to the Ferrari 488 Challenge, the 2021 488 GT... [read more]
Everything We Learned About the Mid-Engined Ford Roush GN34 This Week
Over the years many high-performance cars have come and gone, some more memorable than others. In the 1960s, Ford created the GT40 a LeMans-winning race car, which has achieved legendary status. Since then, every decade, Ford has been trying to come up with a worthy successor. The 1970s GT70 aimed to recapture some of that essence in a smaller form, while the 1995 GT90 wend balls-out, chasing the limits of what was possible. There is another attempt in the 1980s... [read more]
Lamborghinis V-12 Isnt Going Anywhere Anytime Soon
The Lamborghini Sin FKP 37 wasnt brought to life just because Lamborghini had a fraction of its yearly budget left in the tank and wanted to burn through it. Now more than ever, its clear that the Aventador-based Sin was created with an eye on the brands future. More precisely, the brands future in relation to ICEs, and specifically, to its V-12 engine which according to a new report, will live on to throne inside the Aventadors replacement, albeit as... [read more]
Tiny Mitsubishi Bravo Microvan Is Making Waves In California
Youve never heard of the Mitsubishi Bravo before and we dont blame you. Half of our staff hasnt either, but at least we know a thing or two about Kei car (pronounced kay). Kei cars are the smallest and most affordable street legal vehicles sold in Japan . Theyre regulated by size, displacement and power, have been around since World War II, and still remain popular today. However, as you might have guessed, they never made it to U.S. shores... [read more]
See more of the new and hot Porsche 911 GT3 in this Top Gear video
Porsche has already shown a lightly camouflaged version of the new 911 GT3, but it's still delaying the official unveiling. The presentation car, which we already know it's painted blue, is being kept in the company's GT Hall, a big room where several GT3 and GT2 models from the past are being preserved. Chris Harris recently got the chance to visit the hall together with 911 GT3 mastermind Andreas Preuninger and got a glimpse at the uncamouflaged car.
Heres What the 1994 Ford Mustang Cosworth From An Alternate Universe Looks Like
We know weve been bombarding you with a lot of Subaru BRZ-related content lately especially of the how-would-it-look-in-STI-clothes variety, so lets switch it up a little, shall we? Just check out this 1994 Ford Mustang Cosworth digital unicorn that Abimelec Arellano created and somehow managed to flawlessly piece together. I mean, come on, this looks like its fresh out of an unpublished, secret book of Blue Oval concepts that never made it into production.
Those Who Purchased a Ford GT Two Years Ago Are now Cashing in Hand Over Fist
When Ford imposed a two-year resale ban on Ford GTs, it put a lot of people in precarious positions, specifically those who lucked into purchasing a GT with the intent to flip them afterward. Fortunately, two years isnt a long time these days, and those who purchased their Ford GTs in 2018 are now able to reap the rewards from all the waiting. A 2018 Ford GT is up for auction on the Bring A Trailer site, and with eight... [read more]
2008 Acura TSX: Finding That Perfect Balance
Its safe to say that Angel Pena, owner of this supercharged 2008 Acura TSX , has a type. Having been enamored with Acuras entry-level sedan ever since it was first introduced, he knew right away hed get his hands on one, and eventually, he did just that. Today, a decade later, hes moved on to his second TSX chassis and managed to find a picture-perfect combination of what so many others often strive for: an almost completely street-legal build thats... [read more]
Latest Bugatti Chiron Spinoff Pays Homage to the Dawn of French Aviation
Bugatti churns out more special editions than you'd expect, given how small it is , but these iterative models hardly get boring. Most of the time, they're pretty darn cool. The latest incarnation of super exclusive Bugs is no exception. The run of Les Lgendes du Ciel or Sky Legends pays homage to the relationship that legendary French pilots of 1920s and 1930s had with Ettore Bugatti and his road cars. The whole point is to honor France's daredevils of... [read more]
What Is Overlanding? Off-Road In-Vehicle Camping Explained
What is overlanding, anyway? It's a surprisingly common question these days. Overlanding is a relatively new (compared to other parts of the world, at least) way to explore the outdoors. During the past few years, though, vehicle-based exploration has boomed and developed a strong following by off-the-grid enthusiasts. Indeed, there now exists an entire industry dedicated to overlanding in the United States. So, What Is Overlanding? We dont usually refer to Wikipedia as a source, but in this case, we... [read more]
2021 Ford F-150 vs 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Powertrain
Pickup trucks play a very important part of the American automotive culture. Companies like Ford, Chevrolet, and Ram have capitalized on it and offer their products in various combinations. Ford and Chevrolet offer six engine options each and their spread clashes with each other, but while maintaining exclusivity over the other. For instance, the Ford F-150 is offered with a hybrid engine, but the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 isnt. The Silverado is offered with three transmissions, but the F-150 only with... [read more]
2020 Kia Telluride Long-Term Update: Still the King After 18,000 Miles
It is hard to believe that more than a year has passed us by since we named the Kia Telluride the 2020 MotorTrend SUV of the Year . The 2021 winner, the ruggedly cool Land Rover Defender , is a more than worthy torch bearer and now joins the Telluride at the top. Although the Calipers have been passed to the Defender , the Telluride is still tops in its segment. Unsuccessfully competing alongside the Defender for this years honors... [read more]
Getting to Know Faye Hadley of All Girls Garage: Old Toyotas, Chickens, and Makeup Tutorials
On Friday, November 27, 2020, David Freiburger and Brian Lohnes are subjecting six of your favorite MotorTrend hosts to a series of holiday-themed automotive challenges that you, almost certainly, have never seen the like of before. But before all the Holiday Hooptie Challenge starts, lets get to know one of the lucky contestants from All Girls Garage on the MotorTrend App and Pistons & Pixiedust on YouTube and Instagram. Meet Faye Hadley. Related: Get MotorTrends biggest deal of the year... [read more]
This Special Porsche 911 Carrera S Features Gijs van Lenneps Fingerprint
Porsche is celebrating one of its most prominent racing drivers with a special, one-off 911 Carrera S model. Designed by Porsche Netherlands on special order through Porsche Exclusive, this unique sports car pays tribute to Dutch racing driver Gijs van Lennep by featuring his fingerprint of the front hood. The coupe also boasts extra features like a a carbon-fiber roof, the Turbo SportDesign Package, and adaptive sports seats.
Is the 2020 Subaru Outback Safe? Plus, Our Long-Term SUVs Power Liftgate Has an Issue
Subaru has built its reputation on safety, reliability, and the convenience of standard all-wheel drive on every vehicle it makes. Well, almost everything . But how safe is the 2020 and 2021 Subaru Outback ? Weve spent months with a 2020 Outback Onyx and can explain its NHTSA and IIHS crash test results as well as how its active safety systems work. Oh, and before we dive in, heres the story on a new issue affecting our power liftgate... [read more]
Please Santa, Bring Us This Ferrari 488 GTE Lego Technic Set
The coronavirus pandemic is keeping us indoor more than usual and with winter just around the corner outdoor activities are becoming a rare treat. If Netflix and board games aren't enough to keep your weekends entertaining, we have good news for you: Lego is releasing a new Technic kit. And it's a Ferrari 488 GTE. It's red, it comes with colored decals, and it will brighten up your room. Not to mention the hours of fun you will have building... [read more]
GM Just Showed How Cool the Hummer EV Could Have Been
Theres been so much buzz surrounding the Hummers resurgence since the beginning of this year. Right from the Super Bowl advertisements to the delay in launch. Finally, last month, GMC launched the Hummer EV in all its glory. While the talking point was how it went from being a fuel guzzler in its past life to an environment-friendly vehicle, there were some talks about its looks as well. It seems to have a strong road presence, but no one called... [read more]
Audi TT Coup and Roadster bronze selection
The current-generation Audi TT is already long in the tooth, having been around since 2014. While there are talks of a next-generation TT in the pipeline, that model isnt expected to arrive for at least a few more years. In the meantime, Audi will continue freshening the current TT with a bevy of special edition models, including the new bronze selection thats scheduled to hit European markets in the spring of 2021. Packing visual upgrades of the burnished chestnut persuasion... [read more]