Automobile News & Reviews
Fear the Funnel!
Hot rodding can be serious business. Other times, its not. Earlier this week, I was reading the December 1949 issue of Hot Rod Magazine when I stumbled upon... continue reading
2021 Goodguys Spring Nats Brings Hot Rod Heat to Arizona
The best show cars and AutoCross Action from the FiTech Fuel Injection Spring Nationals in Scottsdale. Goodguys continued its successful 2021 series in April with the 11th FiTech Fuel Injection Spring Nationals in Scottsdale, Arizona. When most of the country is just starting to fire up their hot rods after a long, cold winter, the Arizona car scene is already in full swing, enjoying the regions temperate winter and spring weather before that sweltering summer heat sets in. Goodguys annual... [read more]
Adorably Terrible 92 Geo Metro Convertible Sold for Thousands by Fancy Auction House
This bright blue 1992 Geo Metro Convertible was the headliner of RM Sotheby's Handle With Fun online auction that ended today. The time-limited auction featured a variety of rare and vintage collectibles and memorabilia, including several gumball cross-country racing machines, but this humble subcompact stood out. How could it not? It just seems so wonderfully incongruous with the silver-spoon RM Sothebys auction house handling the sale. The Geo was listed for sale for $3,700 (there was no reserve) before bidding... [read more]
All-New 11th-Gen 2022 Honda Civic Sedan Pricing Holds the Line
The Honda Civic is small car royalty, and for its all-new, 11th generation, its arguably better looking (inside and out) than ever before. We dont quite know what the new 2022 Civic sedan is like to drive yet, but we now have a very good idea of how much it will cost when it finally arrives in dealerships in June. Thanks to what looks like a screengrab from a dealer presentation posted to enthusiast forum Civic11Forum , we have pricing... [read more]
Be Thankful That Jeep Wont Make An Off-Road Minivan
Okay, so Im quite conflicted about this idea. An off-roading minivan sounds pretty cool, but I dont want to see it happen. Its like machines and AI taking over the world; I want to know how it would be in reality, but I dont want it to happen. Anyway, I digress. Some renderings of a pretty cool off-road Jeep minivan surfaced on the internet sometime back and it became the talking point for a lot of folks. It looked so... [read more]
Mazda Just Restored Its Amazing MX-81 Aria Concept Styled by Bertone
At the intersection of Italian design and Japanese technology, Mazda unveiled the MX-81 Aria concept at the 1981 Tokyo Motor Show. It was Mazdas firstmodel to receive the MX badge (for Mazda eXperimental), a moniker the Japanese automaker would reserve for vehicles that pushed boundaries, and the futuristic MX-81 set the standard. Marc Deschamps, head of design at Turin-based coachbuilder Bertone , designed the MX-81 and borrowed styling cues from the 1979 Volvo Tundra concept. The prolific Italian designer Marcello... [read more]
The Gordon Murray Project Two Will Blend T.50 Power With Smaller Packaging
The path to the reveal of the Gordon Murray T.50 was a fast one. It started in mid-2019 when it was announced that Gordon Murray was working on a spiritual McLaren F1 successor and six months later we got our first look at the T.50s crazy aerodynamics. Six months after that, the T.50s V-12 went into testing and a week later, we heard just how epic that Cosworth V-12 really sounds. Why is all of this relevant? Because it took... [read more]
The Colonial Pipeline Shutdown Is Over, So Why Is Everyone Panicking?
If you live along the Eastern seaboard of the United States, you're probably thinking about gas today, and not the kind generated by that weird burrito you ate for lunch. We're talking gasoline, and the panic gripping drivers in the aftermath of the Colonial gas pipeline, which runs from Texas to New Jersey, being hacked and subsequently going offline over the weekend. Thing is, just because the key pipeline was shut down following a cyberattack, there isn't any reason to... [read more]
Fordlandia: A Hot Rod Amusement Park?
I'm sure you've read the stories about Fordlandia', Henry Ford's failed attempt to build a massive rubber production facility deep in the Amazon rainforest. It was a monumental... continue reading
Check Out The Craziest Larger-Than-Life 6x6 Pickup Trucks Weve Ever Seen
There is no dearth of 6x6 trucks in the market. Many aftermarket companies have cracked the code to creating fantastic six-wheel-drive pickup trucks. Not a lot of automakers make them, unless they are for military or non-civilian use, but that doesnt mean there arent a lot of choices available for folks interested in these big brutes. While most of the 6x6 builds you see are generally based on the Jeep Gladiator, weve created a list of five impressive conversions from... [read more]
Alexa, Thanks For Embedding Yourself in My New Ford
Alexa, start my Ford and crank the air conditioning is the kind of verbal command owners of Ford vehicles will be able to seamlessly make from the comfort of their home in the future. The automaker is planning a wireless software update to make Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant a built-in feature for 700,000 Ford vehicles in the U.S. and Canada this year. Alexa integration will be introduced, starting this fall, into the 2021 Ford F-150 full-size pickup truck and the... [read more]
Can Jim Farley, a Real Car Guy, Fix Ford?
Many men have tried to improve Ford . In the modern era, few have had the luxury of sitting back and watching the hits and the money roll in. The latest man in the big Ford CEO chair is automotive industry veteran Jim Farley. Ford has a history of choosing leaders from within who climbed the ladder and arrived at the top well-versed in the company and industry. Ford has also gambled on outsidersto both the company and the auto... [read more]
Renault Sport Just Assumed The Identity of Alpine!
It is official. The performance division of Renault will no longer be called Renault Sport but Alpine. The Renault Sport name will no longer be present on the Formula One grid, as the team is becoming a part of the Alpine Business Unit. Since the entity incorporates all performance and motorsport aspects of the Renault brand, this means that the performance versions of Renault, like the Megane RS, will be under the Alpine name going forward.
Whats the Best 2021 Nissan Rogue Trim? Heres Our Guide
The 2021 Nissan Rogue is a truly substantial upgrade from the last generation, even if the powertrain is still less than impressive. But thats one of the only demerits in an otherwise worthwhile compact SUV that's also Nissan's best-selling vehicle. With four different trim levels and all-wheel drive available on each one, theres a lot to consider. Read on for our trim review as well as our pick for the best trim of the bunch. 2021 Nissan Rogue S Pros... [read more]
2021 GMC Canyon AT4 First Test: Still Sweet
The GMC Canyon AT4 is the automakers off-road-oriented midsize pickup truck, but dont think of it as the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 s twin sibling. The Canyon AT4 has some off-road goodies but lacks the fancy suspension, front locker, and other rugged parts of the ZR2, although both trucks share the same basic setup and powertrains. Its no secret that we love the Chevy Coloradowe twice named it our Truck of the Year , and it has won every single midsize... [read more]
That Moment Your Chevy C8 Corvette Is Too Fast For The Drag Strip
The ultimate purpose of racing on a drag strip is to see how quick and fast your car is. The quicker the car, the better it is. But, did you know that being too fast could get you kicked out of the drag strip? Well, the worlds fastest Chevy C8 Corvette was booted from the LS Fest because it was too fast. Theres more than meets the eye, but at the onset, this is exactly what happened.
Mazda Sets Its Sights On The Future, And The Next-Gen Mazda 6 Is The First Big Step
Mazda sits in a segment I like to call affordable luxury they are fun to drive, fairly nice on the inside, very comfortable, and they have a sporty edge to them. This has become even more true as Mazda has starting improving both quality and its design language. However, with the hype leading up to the introduction of the Mazda 3 Turbo, weve sort of forgotten about the rest of the lineup. Today, I want to talk to you about... [read more]
Huge Event Gallery! Super Chevy Chicago Lost Show Images
Chevys from across the country descended on Joliet Illinois for the annual Chevrolet/GM get together and a few gratuitous burnouts. 2020 was a train wreck in terms of events, and while we had high hopes for getting to some car action in 2021, this year has been hit or miss so far. We miss going to shows, cruises, races, and other car events just like you do, so we dug through our archives and found some show coverage that was... [read more]
The Ultimate BMW M8 Is a 12-Cylinder Prototype From the 1990s
It might come as news to those less familiar with BMWs past that the 8 Series is actually a 30-year-old nameplate . First launched in 1990, the original 8 Series was similar in concept to the current coupe that shares its name. Alas, unlike today's car, BMWs M division never laid its hands on the original 8 Series . Or maybe we should say that M never managed to leave its mark on a saleable 8 Series model. The little-known... [read more]
2022 Chevy Bolt EUV's Range Falls Short of Original Estimates
When Chevrolet revealed the 2022 Bolt EUV , it estimated the electric SUV would manage approximately 250 miles of driving range on a full charge. Turns out the American brand was off by a few milesspecifically, three. The Bolt EUV returns an estimated driving range of 247 miles on a full charge of its 65-kWh battery pack, per the Environmental Protection Agency. While it might not break the 250-mile barrier, the Bolt EUV still offers plenty of driving range for... [read more]
This Not-a-Ferrari Is Getting a Bespoke V-12 Engine
Plenty of Ferrari fanatics want a real 250 GTO . Few, if any, will get one of these iconic and rare sports cars. Thats why folks have been building their dream cars out of less desirable cars, or even whole-cloth from kits or replicas, for decades. Who has $48 million laying around, anyways? Thats where an outfit like GTO Engineering plays a role. It can build something awesome out of a used-up period Ferrari, known as a revivalessentially, a recreation... [read more]
The MG Cyberster Is Officially Heading To Production
Not long ago, we shared information about MGs return to making exciting sports cars. The Cyberster, as they call it, is a futuristic concept, with a retro throwback. What isnt retro is the drivetrain, as the roadster will be powered by electricity. In any case, the MG Cyberster boasts some pretty epic figures. Although we still dont know all the details, we do know that the 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) sprint will happen in under 3.0 seconds. In... [read more]
Holy Hofele! This Custom Mercedes-AMG G63 Should Be in a Music Video
Hofele Design, a German company that has been in the automotive design and engineering business for 35 years, specializes in producing components and concepts exclusively for the Mercedes-Benz brand. It also builds complete bespoke Mercedes-Benz vehicles, as exemplified by a Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 that it recently created for a customer. Dubbed Limitless, the HG63 by Hofele shows off the unique style of its owner, who undoubtedly wants their G-Class to leave a trail of bling wherever it goes. Hofele aims... [read more]
2022 Ford Mustang Next-Gen NASCAR Cup Series Racer Gallops Into View
Far ahead of its racing debut at next year's Daytona 500, Ford unveiled the all-new 2022 NASCAR Next-Gen Mustang in Charlotte, North Carolina, this week. Ushering in a new era in stock car racing, the Next Gen changes hit the entire the field; Toyota has already shown off its Camry Next Gen racer , and Chevy its Camaro ZL1 entrant . The new Mustang will compete with those models in the NASCAR Cup Series beginning next season. Ford Performance and... [read more]
Rare Versions Of Japanese Cars You Didnt Know Existed
The Japanese car community is among the biggest and most fanatic automotive communities out there. Although the term JDM is being widely misused (thats a topic for another time), there are cars out there that even the most adamant fans do not know about. Sure, everybody is familiar with the Mk IV Supra, or the R34 Skyline, among others, but even they have versions that are quite exclusive and, quite often, sold only on their home turf: Japan. These are... [read more]
2022 Bentley Flying Spur: More Luxury Is Standard
When W.O. and Horace Bentley put pen to paper and created the Bentley Motor Company in 1919 , their objective was simple: build some of the best cars in the world. Now, more than 100 years into the companys life, Bentley might be closer to that ambition than ever before. Weve already gone over the excellence of the new Flying Spur in detail , but Bentley recently made some changes that will hopefully make its only sedan even better... [read more]
The Genesis G70 Shooting Brake Is A Tasty Piece of Forbidden Fruit
Europes wagon market just got a little bit bigger, as Korean brand Genesis is looking to take its piece of the pie with the all-new G70 Shooting Brake. Of course, its not a shooting brake as you or I would think of it as in it only has two doors so its really just another wagon. A fine looking wagon, at that. Featuring the G70s sporty front end paired with a sloping rear roof and tons of cargo room, the... [read more]
The Rube Goldberg Disaster of 2021
The video below describes the actions that took place early last week. It was one of those avoidable disasters, but only if you have the tightest of asses... continue reading
Mercedes-AMG E63 S Brabus 800
When you think of high-end aftermarket companies, some of the top names that come to mind include Hennessey, Mansory, and Brabus. While Hennessey is known for outright performance builds and Mansory for the most radical and unusual mods, Brabus is a blend of the two. It is back with yet another Mercedes build, this time, for the AMG E63 S called the Brabus 800. New wheels and aerodynamic elements on the outside, plush treatment on the inside, and power enhancement... [read more]
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD First Test: A Very Cool Electric Pony
How does it feel to drive the new Mustang Mach-E ? asked a passerby as I loaded my belongings into the rear seat of the four-door electric SUV. I paused for a few seconds while resting one hand on the door and summed it up in three words: It feels spectacular. Oh yeah, how so? he continued. The build quality, comfort, performance, technology, and styling are all impressive, I said. In due time, Ford is going to give Tesla a... [read more]
After Failing To Take On BMW and Audi, Jaguar Makes An Even Bigger Mistake
If you dont think Jaguar has been confused about what its doing lately, then you should probably pay a little more attention. As an example, back in 2019, Jaguar teased its new XJ electric saloon at the reveal of the 2020 Land Rover Defender launch event. The very next day Jaguar said theres still life in saloons and sports cars, claiming to never give into the SUV craze. And, this is where things start to get a little wonky..
2022 Mitsubishi Outlander First Test: Rogue Buyers, Listen Up
Theres a lot to say about the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander . The newly redesigned three-row SUV is Mitsubishis most competitive effort in over a decade, and now shares its underpinnings with the much-improved new Nissan Rogue . Weve already had the opportunity to talk about the context of the new Outlander and what it means for Mitsubishi in our First Drive . Now weve spent a week with the car for additional impressions and to run it on our test... [read more]
Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock HPE1000 by Hennessey
Dodge unveiled a special-edition model of the Challenger Redeye Widebody last year called the Challenger Super Stock. The car comes with the famous 6.2-liter, V-8 supercharged HEMI engine that churns out over 800 horses. Hennessey brought this car over to its factory and equipped it with its HPE1000 Performance Upgrade package. The result? 1,000+ horses on paper, but around 800 horses on the dyno. In Hennesseys defense, it is still more than the Challenger Super Stocks dyno figures.
2021 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 First Test: GT4 Goodness at a Deep Discount
Despite the gains in engine output and highway fuel economy, Porsche-philes were in an uproar when the mid-engine Cayman (and Boxster) turned away from the stalwart flat-six engines in favor of two new turbocharged flat-fours in 2017. Even the Cayman GTS came with one. The only way to get a naturally aspirated six-cylinder Cayman was with the pricey Cayman GT4 . The GT4 was and is widely praised for its track-focused demeanor and trick bitsbut also has diminished livability and... [read more]
Maserati MC20 - Making The Sprint to 200 KM/H
Maseratis first supercar in over 15 years is highly anticipated. We already know that the Maserati MC20 will arrive as a 2022 model and that it will have a twin-turbo V-6. At 3.0 liters, the new engine may have half the displacement and half the cylinders of the MC12, but it more than makes up for it. With twin-turbocharging, the unit makes 621 horsepower almost the same as the MC12 and 538 pound-feet (730 Nm).
The Audi A6 E-Tron Could Become the Electric Wagon 2025 Needs
When Audi revealed the A6 E-Tron Concept back in April 2021, there was a very big elephant in the room: The A6 name. Despite the fact that it featured A7-like proportions, like the four-door coupe body, for example, Audi chose the A6 name instead, and theres actually a logical reason.
Watch the Lamborghini Huracan Performante and EVO Throw Down On The Track
Lamborghini Huracan EVO or the Huracan Performante: this question gave a lot of potential Lamborghini owners a headache. While one is newer and comes with an updated interior, the other one is quicker to hit the 200 mph mark and is lighter, too. The host of this video was in this boat but purchased the EVO over the Performante for a variety of reasons. But, he decided to pit the beast against a Performante to see how it fares. Which... [read more]
Life After AMG: How CEO Tobias Moers Is Re-Energizing Aston Martin
Having worked for Daimler AG for 26 years, seven of them as the successful CEO of the companys in-house hot-rod shop, Mercedes-AMG, its fair to say that running storied British sports car brand Aston Martin was not a career move Tobias Moers had ever considered. But when billionaire Canadian businessman Lawrence Strollwho was assembling a consortium to buy the 16.7 percent stake in the troubled automaker that would make him executive chairmancalled Moers in January 2020 to discuss the idea... [read more]
2022 Volkswagen Tiguan First Look: A Sleeker Compact SUV
Volkswagen enthusiasts might not want to hear this, but the glory days of the Golf are long gone. The Tiguan compact SUV has been a major sales success both here and abroadVW sells over a million units per year worldwide. Thats why its important for VW to keep the Tiguan looking fresh and full of desirable features. A few years after it was unveiled at the 2017 North American International Auto Show, we got a first look at the revised... [read more]
Porsche Sonderwunsch: Your Source for Factory Quality One-Offs and Restorations
You may be familiar with Porsche's Exclusive Manufaktur personalization program, or its Classic setup that provides parts and restoration support to classic Porsche models. Meet the zenith of these two services: Porsche Sonderwunsch. If you're thinking that sounds like the word sandwich in German, rest easysandwich is the same in German as it is in English. Sonderwunsch, on the other hand, translates from German as special request, and applied here is shorthand for a new one-off custom car and total... [read more]
The 2021 Ford Bronco's Fuel Economy Is Not Good, Trails Even the Thirsty Wrangler
The Ford Bronco will wear a few hats: reviving an iconic model, tussling with the Wrangler for off-road-oriented SUV supremacy, headlining a new sub-brand that includes the smaller Bronco Sport. No one expected that brief to include miserly fuel economy, and with the official EPA fuel economy numbers spilling out a little earlier than expected (by way of Bronco Nation , which has a full breakdown of the economy numbers for all trims), thats definitely proven out. The question remains... [read more]
Ford CEO Promises Electric Versions of Iconic Vehicles, Hints at Bronco
Ford is doubling down on its commitment to electric vehicles , spending $22 billion over five years on electric SUVs, trucks, and vans for retail and commercial customers. We talked to Jim Farley, who became Ford CEO on October. 1, 2020 , for an update on the Blue Ovals efforts to become a dominant e-mobility player, including how it plans to electrify key models. Ford is coming up with more aggressive electrification plans. How is it shaping up? Farley: Were... [read more]
Ford Could Be Working on An Electric Bronco, But When Will We See It?
There are a ton of speculations out there about famous products and their future. The new Ford Bronco hasnt even settled in yet, but there were talks about its future already. While some prefer having discussions amongst their peers, some folks decide to question the head of the company about it. A Twitter user questioned Fords President and CEO, Jim Farley, why theres no Bronco EV yet and the boss hinted that there is one already in the works.
The 2022 Honda Civic Looks Great Lowered and on Iconic Tuner Wheels
Moments after the official images of the upcoming 11th generation Honda Civic sedan hit the airwaves, the enthusiast community began pitching potential changes. Some want a complete do over, while others appreciate the 2022 Civic's design departure from its older sibling's rather aggressive nature. Regardless of what side of the fence you're viewing things from, most will agree that a tasteful set of wheels and tires, along with the elimination of at least a portion of that often dreaded factory... [read more]
The Ford Bronco Has A Little More Heart Than Expected
Ford denied us the pleasure of driving a powerful V-8 Bronco, but it looks like the automaker is covering it up in different ways. Or, another way to look at it is Ford is rewarding the customers for taking longer than expected to deliver the Bronco. What the reward is, you ask? Well, you will be getting more power in your Bronco than the initial specs. This will be the case with both, the four-pot and the V-6 mills. Exciting... [read more]
The UK Sets Rules Defining, Legalizing Self-Driving Cars
With the rise of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) becoming more capable when handling lane keeping (self steering) and the braking and acceleration of vehicles so equipped, the UK government is about to set rules to narrowly legalize self-driving vehicles on roads . And it believes such technology would help ease urban congestion and improve road safety by reducing human error. But we're not talking self-driving vehicles like those you're probably thinking of. Instead, the UK Department for Transport saysAutomated... [read more]
Porsches Boxster EV Will Force Audi And BMW To Step Up Their Game
We already know that the Porsche 911 will most likely be the last of the brands cars to transition into an electric vehicle, and rightfully so, I might add. However, as of today, there arent any real electric sports cars on the market. I suppose you could argue that the new Tesla Roadster is a sports car, but for the sake of argument Tesla kind of stands on its own and who knows when the Roadster will really make production... [read more]
Subaru's New 2023 Electric SUV Gets a Name: Solterra
Subaru's long-anticipated electric SUV, which is being co-developed with Toyota , is almost here. And now we have a name to put to this new Subaru EV: Solterra. According to Subaru, the name is an amalgamation of the Latin words for sun and Earth, so you can bet that while the Solterra's powertrain is a change of pace for Subaru, its wholesome, crunchy-granola, dog-loving vibe will surely be played up to commensurate levels. Subaru has revealed the 2023 Solterra's tailgate... [read more]
Top 5 Best Alternators 2021
In the vehicle's engine bay right next to the battery is an Alternator, one of the key components in the vehicle's electrical system. As you drive, the alternator supplies the electrical power to both, recharge the battery, and supply power to your in-car electronics such as ignition system, car audio, vehicle accessories, A/C, and heater. If you are looking for the best alternators for your car or truck, we have reviewed the top 5 best alternators available today to assist... [read more]