Automobile News & Reviews
The Fisk 41
This morning, I had planned on posting a depressing outlook of our industry given social isolation. But, it was just too damned disheartening to carry through to the... continue reading
Mazda 3 - Driven Review
Flying in to Newark International Airport last month, I arrived at the Budget Rent a Car counter and received the keys to a familiar staple of rental fleets: a 2019 Nissan Sentra wearing scratched-up Ignore Me Silver paint. Plenty of travelers would likely ask if, pretty please, anything else was available. This previous-generation Sentra (the car was fully redesigned for 2020) is generally reviled by anyone who appreciates a fine automobile. Its underpowered, it lacks handling poise, and its drab-looking... [read more]
Modern Mercury Cougar Coupe Render Mixes Luxury and American Muscle
The Cougar was a model concocted by the now-dead Mercury brand back in 1967. The Cougar was also Mercurys first pony car, a vehicle that slotted between Fords Mustang and Thunderbird. Unluckily, the the Cougar was discontinued in 2002, and Mercury would follow suit in 2010, when Ford signed, sealed, and delivered the brands closure. Luckily, someone thought of bringing back Mercury, specifically the Cougar coupe, albeit in the digital world.
Instead of Buying a McLaren 765LT, Just Gat a Base 720S and a Porsche 718
McLaren just announced U.S. pricing information for the 765LT, and it costs quite a pretty penny at $358,000. That's a notable premium over the base 720S, which retails from around $300,000 before options. Needless to say, for the price of 765LT, you can buy a 720S, which is still awesome, and still have enough money for a second sports car, like the Porsche 718.
You Will Soon Be Able To Perfectly Launch Your Tesla With The "Cheetah Stance"
Musk had announced last year that the Cybertruck will be Teslas last new product in the near future. This year, the automaker will look to work on technologies and other such stuff. Planning for the production of the Cybertruck couldve also been one of the reasons. That said, Tesla has been proactive in rolling out new features and tech on its cars lately. It recently revealed a new exciting Track Package and Track Mode V2 for the Model 3 Performance... [read more]
Everything You Should Know About The The Trans Am From Smokey And The Bandit
Launched on the big screen in 1977, Smokey and the Bandit revolves around two bootleggers as they attempt to illegally transport 400 cases of Coors beer from Texarkana to Atlanta. The film was a sleeper hit, and following a poor initial performance, it went on to gross $126.7 million in North America, versus a budget of only $4.3 million. It was the second-highest-grossing movie of 1977 after Star Wars. On top of Burt Reynold's top-notch acting, Smokey and the Bandit... [read more]
Fisker Is Teasing a "Rescue and Mil-Spec" Package for the Ocean SUV
The Fisker Ocean SUV was unveiled at the 2020 Consumer Electronics. The company has had beautiful vehicles in the past, but none of them really hit the market. Henrik Fisker, the CEO of Fisker Inc., has the propensity to overcommit and under-deliver, so no one took him seriously when he announced in 2019 that Fisker is planning to build an affordable electric four-wheel-drive SUV with a range of 300 miles. However, Fisker not only revealed the SUV, but also announced... [read more]
Audi RS6-R Avant by ABT
The Audi RS6 Avant is arguably one of the hottest wagons on sale today. This powerful family hauler seems to be every tuners wet dream these days. One such aftermarket company is the Kempten-based ABT. ABT is known to give a twist to almost all the Volkswagen Group cars. Recently, it revealed its version of the RS6 Avant itself, but it looks like that wasnt enough. ABT decided to work on this wagon again by equipping it with the Power... [read more]
McLaren Has Decided to Cut Production of the Elva From 399 to 249 Units
In late 2019, McLaren introduced the Elva, a unique, open-cockpit road car based on a race car design from the 1960s. The company's lightest road-legal vehicle, it's also McLaren's most powerful non-hybrid car. Priced from almost $1.8 million, the Elva was scheduled to be built in 399 units, but McLaren recently dropped that figure to 249. The decrease is the result of feedback from customers who think that the Elva isn't exclusive enough.
Exactly 100 Years Ago on Daytona Beach
April 27th, 1920 to be exact. Tommy Milton ran over 156 mph on the sands of Daytona Beach, Florida breaking Ralph DePalma's 149 mph record that was only... continue reading
Polestar Precept Concept: Up Close and Personal With the Sustainability-Crazed EV Concept
If Polestar 1 and Polestar 2 , the first vehicles from Volvo s new Polestar electric-powered performance and sustainable technology brand, have seemed somewhat familiar, thats understandable. Polestars CEO, Thomas Ingenlath, is Volvos former design chief, and Polestar design chief Max Missoni is still moonlighting shaping Volvo exteriors. The Polestar Precept concept is designed to move the needle and break free from Polestar's Volvo visual connection. Originally scheduled to have been revealed at the Geneva Show, the Precept hints at... [read more]
ABT Pupil: 2021 Audi RS6-R Wagon Makes 690 HP!
The wait is almost over, and the $109,995 2021 Audi RS6 Avant s North American arrival is imminent. But what are fans of Audi s hotted-up wagon to do if the factory-spec RS6s twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engines 591 horsepower just isnt enough to satiate their need for speed? Well, maybe ABT has the answer. The Germany-based tuning firms RS6-R is a limited-edition, tuned variant of the high-performance Audi wagon with an extra 99 horsepower over stock. That brings the Audi's... [read more]
McLaren 765LT Has a Long Tail, and An Even Longer Price Tag
The 2020 McLaren 765LT is quicker, lighter, and even sexier than the 720S on which it's based. Oh, and as youd expect, it's also more expensive, as we now know from official pricing released by McLaren . The newest Longtail (that's the LT in the name) carries a price tag of $358,000. Of course, the 720S isnt cheap, either. Youll pay around $300,000 for a 720S at the minimum, and even more for a Spider . The 765LT is expected... [read more]
Boss 302 Driver Ignores Quarantine Orders, Ends Up Driving Off Cliff
Ford Mustangs have developed a bit of a meme-tastic reputation over the last few years, thanks to drivers speeding out of cars and coffee meetups and crashing. It's a case of those owners pushing their cars past their own abilities. Unfortunately, a recent incident on Angeles Crest Highway in California won't help shake the stereotype. A week ago, the driver of a Grabber Blue Mustang Boss 302 decided to ignore shelter-in-place orders and go for a drive in the canyonssadly... [read more]
Tesla's COVID-19 Ventilator Is Packed Full of Model 3 Parts
The news lately has been impossible to miss: As COVID-19 cases overwhelm hospitals in hard-hit regions, those regions beg for more ventilators to help the badly affected breathe. And there just dont seem to be enough. Ford and GM are building ventilators to meet the need, and the President is using the Defense Production Act to order companies to build more. Tesla , looking for a way to contribute to the desperate need, has rummaged around in its parts bin... [read more]
Bouncy House Kings Secret Car Collection Up for Sale
At some point, Bob Regehr had an idea. We dont know when or where it happenedin the shower? at the breakfast table? during a nightcap?but the idea was to create the Moon Walk bouncy house, an inflatable contraption for kids to jump in. At that point, Bob Regehr owned a few gas stations, but it was his invention that made him rich. And so Bob did what any of us would do upon coming into money: He bought a ton... [read more]
Top 10 Cool Cars For Under $5,000 You Should Buy
Used cars come in all shapes and sizes and believe it or not, there are a lot of such vehicles out there that were blessed with the cool factor. All you need is know where to look and a tad of patience, because even if youre operating on a budget, cool used car alternatives can be found and take advantage of.
Get the BEST DEAL EVER: Stream MotorTrend For $1 A Month
Looking for some automotive-themed diversions right about now? We bet you are. Looking for a deal? Arent we all. Then do we ever have an offer for you! For a limited time, new subscribers can sign up for the MotorTrend Streaming Service for just one dollar a month . What do you get for that buck? How about access to 3,500-plus hours of binge-worthy automotive entertainment, including 180-plus episodes of the seminal hit series Top Gear all in one spot... [read more]
Coming Soon from Hyundai? A Performance Kona N, Spicier Elantra, and More
In recent years, Hyundai has bulked up or revised its American SUV lineup to include the subcompact Kona crossover, the Palisade large three-row, and everything in between. This year, the expansion and updates will only continue. What appears to be the 2020 production schedule for Hyundais Ulsan, Korea, plant has surfaced online, and if accurate, it reveals some important vehicles we can expect to see from Hyundai this yearand when: Santa Fe An updated Hyundai Santa Fe will arrive in... [read more]
This Mid-Engine Chevy Camaro Looks Good, But Wont Happen
Ever since the C8 Corvette got out of the bag, people have been wondering whether the Camaro is next in line for a layout revamp and whether GM and Chevrolet are going to give it the mid-engine treatment as well. While we do not believe that is going to happen anytime soon, if ever, there are some concept artists out there that have had a go at picturing a mid-engine Camaro. One of the first renders weve seen looked a... [read more]
Ford F-150 by Mil-Spec
Ford F-150 is the hot favorite pickup truck for tuners and heres another proof. Michigan-based Mil-Spec Automotive has laid its hands on this truck and transformed into a complete beast. Although a lot of tuners and aftermarket companies are customizing the F-150 in their own ways, this example actually stands out. Mil-Spec has made cosmetic upgrades on the outside, some plush changes on the inside, and a whole lot of changes to the mechanicals and drivetrain of the truck. From... [read more]
2021 Nissan Rogue First Look: What to Expect from the All-New Compact SUV
The Nissan Rogue has been the automakers bread-and-butter model in the U.S. for years, having surpassed the Altima sedan as the brands bestseller in 2016. It hasnt been challenged as Nissan s sales volume leader since. So you know the Rogue is a hugely important model for Nissan, and any redesign thus carries tremendous expectations on its roof rack. The next-generation Nissan Rogue is expected to arrive soon for the 2021 model year, and although we dont have many hard... [read more]
BMW M5 Hurricane RS by G-Power
With a 4.4-liter turbocharged V-8 engine producing 591 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, the BMW F90 M5 packs a mean punch. The performance sedan is capable of sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Its also capable of maxing out at 155 mph, though if you take the limiter off, the M5 can blitz its way to a top speed of 186 mph. All these numbers paint a clear picture of the M5s performance capabilities, and... [read more]
Top 10 Cars Women Love Seeing Men Drive
Cars may serve the primary purpose of transporting people from point A to point B, but thats not all there is to it regarding these four-wheeled rides. Just as important are the optics that come with owning a specific type of car. One such optic is the appeal these cars have towards the opposite sex. Yes, its vanity manifested on four wheels, but thats the world we live in now. The vehicle you drive says as much about your appearance... [read more]
Second Chances: 10 Vehicles Where the Sequel Topped the Original
In the movie business, it's rare that a sequel outawesomes the original, but that doesn't stop studios from trying (and trying and trying). Although retreads have become big business in the world of entertainment, few would argue there's anything other than diminishing returns to be found at the end of reboot road. The automotive world, though,turns this particular wisdom on its ear, as cars are redesigned and replaced all the time. And given that, there are more than a few... [read more]
The Mercedes EQS Will, In fact, Get AMG Tuning Comparable to that of an AMG S65
Back in 2016, Mercedes-Benz introduced EQ, a sub-brand that would handle its electric car lineup. The German firm has already introduced the EQC crossover and EQV van and it plans four more models until 2022. One of them is the EQS. Previewed by the Vision EQS concept, the EQS will become the brand's flagship model, essentially an all-electric S-Class with sleeker styling. Confirmed for 2021, the EQS will also spawn an AMG version that's said to be just as hot... [read more]
COVID-19 Pandemic: 2020 Beijing Auto Show Postponed Until September
The 2020 Beijing Auto Show was postponed until late September due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Original scheduled for April 21 to 30, the event will take place between September 26 and October 5. The Beijing Auto Show joins several major car shows across the world that had to either be canceled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Detroit Auto Show was canceled, New York was postponed but could be canceled as well, while the Paris Motor Show... [read more]
1,300-HP Audi TT RS Is Faster Than Your Dream Car
These days, anythings possible in the world of tuning. But you already knew that. What you didnt know was that someone built a 1,300-horsepower Audi TT RS that can pull off mad half-mile runs. We bet the name Don Octane doesnt ring too many bells. Are we right? Well, get ready to put this German tuner on your follow list because their Audi TT is dubbed as one of the fastest in Europe. And theres proof to that.
Heres a 1968 Chevy C10 Swapped With A Hellcat Engine!
Each restoration project out there is unique in its own way. Heres one where this gentleman converted a 1968 Chevy C-10 into a fun-looking pickup truck. Not just that, it is now powered by a Hellcat engine! The owner found it in a mess and transformed it into a sweet-looking truck that has 745 horses under the hood. Hellcat engines have been a top choice for people looking to power their vehicles to glory. The 6.2-liter V-8 mill started making... [read more]
Tesla Releases A Video That Shows Ventilators Being Built From Car Parts
Tesla was one of the first automakers to come to the aid in fighting off this pandemic. After the U.S. administration appealed for donations to make respirator masks to fight out the shortage, Elon musk offered to do his bit and make ventilators for COVID-19 infected patients. The announcement came through a reply on Twitter when a user asked Musk to focus on making ventilators at his facility. Fast forward to the present, Tesla has released a video that shows... [read more]
Its Time to Talk About Our Long-Term 2019 Ram 1500 Laramies Fuel Economy
Efficiency is one of the six key criteria of our Truck of the Year and other Of The Year awards , and the 2019 Ram 1500 s long list of efficiency-enhancing hardware was a major factor in its win . Naturally, then, we ordered our long-term Ram 1500 Laramie with the eTorque mild hybrid V-8 for the best combination of power for doing truck stuff and fuel economy for saving money and the air. After more than 16,500 miles and... [read more]
WWI Dazzle
With Covid-19 comes writer's block. It's hard to write about hot rods and customs on a daily basis without inspiration and it's damn hard to get inspired without... continue reading
NMoto Reimagines The Historical BMW R7 with a Limited Edition 85th Anniversary Motorcycle
Archived for over 70 years, the inspiration behind the exquisite BMW R17 and R5 models never saw the light of day up until its rediscovery in 2005. Built in the height the Art Deco movement, the one-off radical R7 concept never entered production and was swiftly stored away just before the start of World War II. NMoto Reimagines The Historical BMW R7 with a Limited Edition 85th Anniversary Motorcycle Fully restored to its original beauty and placed on display at... [read more]
The BMW R9T By Zillers Garage Showcases Raw and Post-Apocalyptic Appeal
Unveiling a one-off customized version of the BMW R18 cruiser, dubbed BMW R9T, Moscow-based automaker, Zillers Garage channels post-apocalyptic ferocity and state-of-the-art design in its latest creation. The BMW R9T By Zillers Garage Showcases Raw and Post-Apocalyptic Appeal Whilst maintaining the bikes internal build, Zillers Garage focused on redesigning its outer body, featuring a new and improved shell made entirely from fabricated aluminum parts, which enclose each and every element in a metal-finished mass, all the way from the headlight... [read more]
Have You Seen A Car With A Million Miles
A listener with a million mile pickup. Charades, and pop culture. Please share and subscribe to the podcast. No bad news or politics just fun and free information. Press "Play" below to listen to this episode
1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Found in a River
It probably took only a few minutes for this 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 to sink to the bottom of Oregon's Tualatin River decades ago, but it took the volunteers with Adventures with Purpose a hell of a lot longer than that to pull it out. The same boat launch where the Mach 1 was fished out has a handful of other derelicts, and this is the second car Adventures with Purpose has extracted. (The first was a first-generation Mazda... [read more]
AM General Loses Humvee Lawsuit Against Call of Duty' Video Game Developer
The Humvee is an iconic military vehicle that has been at the center of many conflicts the world over the past 30 years or so. Its also been at the center of a legal conflict between its manufacturer, AM General , and the video game developer Activision Blizzardthe company behind the Call of Duty first-person shooter series. Those games feature HMMWVs Humvees and, AM General alleges, have been helping Activision reap billions in revenue using their famous vehicle. The trademark... [read more]
Teslas Next Autopilot Feature? Traffic Light Recognition and Response (Sort Of)
If you go to Tesla 's website to order a car today, youll find that a new upcoming feature for the brand's Full Self-Driving Capability (a $7000 add-on promising autonomous capability in the future, but not now). Is it full self-driving? No. But the new addition, dubbed Recognize and respond to traffic lights and stop signs is a step toward FSD's promised autonomous capabilities, even if it's not yet been officially rolled out. What does the still-beta-phase feature do? Just... [read more]
Century Club! Mazda Launches Special 100th Anniversary Models
It's hard to believe Mazda's been building cars for 100 years. Wait, it hasn't. Then what's all this talk about Mazda's 100th anniversary ? Despite only building its first four-wheeled passenger car a mere 60 years ago, Mazda 's been in the business of building various things (be it corks or three-wheeled motorcycles) for a grand total of 100 years. No surprise, then, that the Japanese automaker wants to celebrate such a feat. One way it's doing so isvia a... [read more]
14 Vehicles With the Longest Running Nameplates
The automotive landscape is constantly changing, with makes and models coming and going at all times. But there are a few nameplates that continue to be renewed generation after generation. Here are 14 of the longest-running nameplates in the U.S. Honda Accord In 1976, Honda introduced a compact car that was larger than the Civic . The company chose the name Accord because its goal with the model was to achieve harmony between society, people, and the automobiles amid the... [read more]
The RS 3 Nardo Edition Is a Faster and Rarer Version of Audi's Pocket Rocket
The pocket-rocket Audi RS 3 is about to get even sharper performance. The Audi RS 3 Nardo edition reaches a greater top speed than the standard model, and it has the styling details to match. A mere 200 units are earmarked for sale in the United States. Audi increased the top speed to an electronically limited 174 mph. Thats a 19-mph bump over the regular RS 3. Engine output hasnt changed, though. The Nardo's 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine makes the... [read more]
It Feels Like a Billion Years Ago, But Remember NASCAR and the Crazy 2020 Daytona 500?
What we thought was wild, way back in those innocent days before the coronavirus pandemic, seems a bit strange today. Take NASCAR , for exampleremember the 2020 Daytona 500? We thought that was a wild ride, and it seems like it happened five years ago. In fact, it was just 45 days ago. And it started off with a bang. Or rather, a wall of water, like a rain tsunami, that halted the race after 20 laps, to resume the... [read more]
Jeep VIASA Vans and Trucks Are Awesome Spanish Obscurities
When is a classic Jeep not a classic Jeep ? When it's an Ebro! Or a VIASA! Or, well, any one of these unusual sorta-Jeeps built under license in Spain during the 1960s. The story of these cross-Atlantic oddballs dates back to the 1950s, when a company called Vehculos Industriales y Agrcolas, S.A (VIASA for short) was formed to take advantage of an agreement with Willys Overland to build a version of the CJ , or civilian Jeep, after the... [read more]
Cadillacs 500-HP-Plus Blackwing V-8 Engine May Live to See Another Engine Bay
The Cadillac CT6 won't live to see the 2021 model year in the United States, but the limited-production CT6-V model's twin-turbo 4.2-liter V-8 engineknown as the Blackwingwill likely find a home in another vehicle's engine bay. Well, thats if Cadillac s executive chief engineer, Brandon Vivian, has a say in the matter. Would I relish the opportunity to put in something else? Yes, Vivian told MotorTrend in a phone interview. Which Cadillac product, then, might be the next recipient of... [read more]
1999 Acura NSX Zanardi Edition Is the Lightweight, Fixed-Roof NSX to Lust After
Prices have skyrocketed for 90s Japanese supercars in recent years, making what were once attainable dream cars significantly less so. MkIV Toyota Supras and first-generation Honda / Acura NSXs can now command as much as six figures at auction, so just imagine what this incredibly rare 1999 Acura NSX Zanardi Edition might go for when it crosses Bring a Trailers virtual block . Driving Honda-powered cars, race car driver Alex Zanardi won back-to-back championships in the CART open-wheel series. To... [read more]
Rolls-Royce Phantom II endures trans-continental Peking to Paris Rally with Dato Sia Hok Kiang
Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Luxuries only became luxuries because they were made to last. Rolls-Royce cars are no different. The Rolls-Royce Phantom II was among one of the British marque's most iconic and legendary automobiles. Immortalised in Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the renown luxury car was considered a kingly offering: Sultan:Rolls-Royce Phantom II. 4.3 litre, 30 horsepower, six cylinder engine, with Stromberg downdraft carburettor, can go from zero to 100 kilometres an hour in 12.5 seconds. And... [read more]
How To Maintain a Battery-Electric Vehicle
More than 50 years before Carl Benz applied for his 1886 patent for a vehicle powered by a gas engine , Scottish inventor Robert Anderson strapped a motor and a battery to a carriage, creating the first electric vehicle (EV). His creation was far from ready for mass consumption, mostly thanks to its intense maintenance. With the innovation of rechargeable lead-acid battery decades away, the Scotsmans EV required the replacement of its electric cells every time it ran out of... [read more]
A Winter Road Trip in a Model T
For all of us here on planet Earth, the past few weeks have been filled with uncertainty. Yet, even in the gray days, things like a call, text... continue reading
Friday Night Watch Party: Join NASCAR Driver Corey LaJoie and Stream NASCAR ALL IN: Battle for Daytona'!
If you haven't seen the MotorTrend original streaming series, NASCAR ALL IN: Battle for Dayton, and taken a revelatory inside look behind the scenes of professional stock car racing , now is the perfect opportunity. Not only do plenty of us have extra time at home on our hands right now, but on Friday, April 3, driver and NASCAR ALL IN star Corey JaJoie will help us disrupt the monotony by hosting a series-finale watch party on the MotorTrend YouTube... [read more]