reporter

From middleweight adventure bikes to urban scooters, the latest updates from Piaggio's brands focus on refinement, electronics, and rider experience.View the full article

Heads of State, Your Ride is HereFor decades, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has long been associated with being a car for heads of state, movers and shakers aside, of course. Granted, SUVs have also crept into that space, but you're guaranteed to still see a couple of S-Class in presidential fleets in some countries. The company is well aware of that, hence the S-Class Guard models. With the launch of the heavily updated S-Class, it's inevitable that there will be a Guard version. We just weren't expecting it to debut at the same time as the standard models. So, presidents, prime ministers, royalty, and plutocrats, say hello to the new S680 Guard. Mercedes-Benz Defense is its Best OffenseWe'll go right to the main highlight of the S680 Guard, and that's its armoring. Mercedes-Benz claims it's the only vehicle of its type to come out of the factory with the highest civilian protection level of VR10. That means it's designed to withstand armor-piercing and incendiary rounds, as well as high-caliber bullets such as a 30-06, and to some extent, .50 caliber rounds. Not only that, but VR10-rated vehicles can also survive blasts from grenades. Of course, Mercedes-Benz didn't mention how it armored the S680. It's fair to say that there are layers upon layers of ballistic panels, drums' worth of Kevlar, and glass thick enough to plink off small bullets like they were BB rounds. The company calls the collective protective measures its Integrated Protection System. Mercedes-Benz Options to ConsiderIf that's still not sufficient protection, one can install a fire-suppression system in the S680 Guard. There's also an emergency fresh air system to keep the vehicle's occupants unharmed in case of a chemical attack. One can also add a PA system, servo-assisted front and rear doors (we think it's worth ticking that option), and something called a Threat Alarm System. S680 Guards are also tailor-made to suit the exact needs of their users. Lights and sirens can be added, as well as document storage compartments and flag holders, to name a few. The Guard team that will build the car will be in close communication with the customer throughout the whole assembly of the vehicle. Mercedes-Benz What Else Does It Have?It's still an S-Class, albeit a heavily armored one. That means it still has all the luxury trappings one expects from a plutocrat sedan. There are acres of leather, wood, and high-end materials in there, along with other tech features already seen in the standard S-Class. Mercedes-Benz is rather proud of the fact that it comes with the MBUX rear seat entertainment system that includes a teleconferencing function, likely for world leaders to touch base. With all that weight piled on by the necessary protection enhancements, it'll need an engine to move all that mass. The S680 Guard gets the biturbo 6.0-liter V12 engine producing 604 hp and 612 lb-ft of torque. That power is then coursed to all four wheels via 4Matic all-wheel drive. Don't expect it to be a rocketship, though, but it should be enough to get out of its own way and, more importantly, out of danger. The price? It wasn't disclosed yet, but it'll surely be more than a Mercedes-Maybach S680. Based on the starting price of the pre-facelift S680 Guard, we're looking at about €450,000 €550,000 sans other upgrades. Still, at least this model showed us what a non-AMG Line S-Class looks like, and we have to say it still looks pretty neat. Mercedes-Benz View the full article

Limited Drag Radial, aka LDR, is one of the best door car classes in drag radial racing. With a maximum tire size of 295/65/15 they look like a normal car and are identifiable. In fact, the rules are very particular on the body of these cars, requiring stock quarter panels, all factory body lines, and more. Composite panels are allowed for some of the body parts, but they must have the stock shape and size for the body being used. They can’t have wheelie bars, must use stock front frame rails, and are required to stay with stock wheelbase, +/- 1 inch. Competitors are allowed a variety of engine combos, with the power adders of their choice, and all engine and power adder combos have minimum weights in the rules. This class has been around for a long time, and the rules are very well scienced out. In the video below you’ll see some LDR racing action from the US Street Nationals at Bradenton Motorsports Park, along with some of the resulting carnage. Ouch. The post LDR Madness at the US Street Nationals! Check Out The Carnage and Racing Right Here! Limited Drag Radial Racing Action. appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Rivian patents a telemetry-based virtual off-road coach that could change how trucks, ATVs, and UTVs tackle trails. View the full article

Nissan Entered the Year with High ExpectationsNissan began 2026 expecting a rebound. After a turbulent 2025, management aimed to stabilize performance and rebuild momentum. A central part of that narrative was the decision to sell the Yokohama headquarters in a sale-and-leaseback transaction worth about $610 million. It also cut seven plants and about 20,000 jobs to reduce costs and bolster its coffers. The company presented the move as a way to strengthen its balance sheet while continuing to invest in future technologies and product development. Investors and analysts initially saw the sale as pragmatic. Nissan needed liquidity after reporting significant operating losses and declining global unit sales. The cash from the asset sale was meant to support restructuring and future growth initiatives. Yet the deal also sent an unintended signal: Nissan’s need to monetize core assets pointed to deeper issues rather than confidence in a strong market rebound. Cole Attisha New Products Arrive, But Demand Is Weak in JapanNissan’s product slate in Japan was expected to drive renewed demand. The redesigned Leaf EV entered the market with a longer range and a new body style. The Ariya crossover was updated. The X-Trail e-POWER underwent a refresh, and the Skyline sedan received revisions. Dealers were counted on to convert interest into orders and help restart Nissan’s volume growth. Instead, early order data in Japan tells a starkly different story. According to a report by the Japanese publication Creative Trend, the updated Ariya registered zero confirmed orders at launch. Dealers cited weak customer interest and pricing that made sales difficult. The redesigned Leaf has offered some orders but not at the pace Nissan hoped for, with buyers often waiting for lower-priced trims. Even the Skyline shows little traction in a market shifting away from sedans. This underwhelming intake is a disappointment given the importance of Japan to Nissan’s brand and wholesale volumes. Top Gear Rivals Are Making Gains While Nissan StumblesAs Nissan struggles to turn its product momentum into sales, competitors are capitalizing. According to Nikkei Asia, Toyota recently overtook Nissan in quarterly EV sales in Japan for the first time. Toyota’s efforts with models such as the bZ4X and other electrified vehicles have resonated with buyers, eroding Nissan’s long-held advantage in EV leadership. Toyota’s ascent in EV sales adds to the pressure on Nissan. It once dominated Japan’s plug-in market with the Leaf. Losing that top spot reflects not just one quarter’s performance but a broader challenge the automaker now faces in aligning product appeal, pricing, and marketing execution. Nissan still has strong global name recognition and a loyal customer base, but its competitors are moving quickly. Unless it accelerates changes to pricing, incentives, and product relevance, its weak start to the year risks defining its performance for 2026. Nissan View the full article

We shared some of Shannon Campbell’s history at King of the Hammers the other day, and you can use the link below to check that out, but here are Shannon’s Daily Updates from the Lakebed at King of the Hammers 2026. He and Jess are putting out daily videos, so make sure you check back each day to see just what’s going on. We’ll be sharing the King of the Hammers livestream as well, so if you are in the mood for amazing desert racing, rocks, and more, you are going to love King of the Hammers. CLICK HERE TO SEE SOME OF SHANNON’S HISTORY AT KING OF THE HAMMERS Check it out. The newest video is on top, oldest at the bottom. Video Description: Day 2 at King of the Hammers is in full swing! We kick off the day on the lakebed with some important shock tuning, dialing things in and making sure everything feels right as race week continues to ramp up. Once the work is done, it’s time to slow things down and enjoy what King of the Hammers is really about—good food, great friends, and lakebed nights done right. Jess takes care of taco night (because priorities ), friends swing by The Coop, and we hang out around the fire pit soaking in another unforgettable evening in Hammertown. This is life on the lakebed—work hard, eat well, and enjoy the people around you. Video Description: Day 1 at King of the Hammers is officially underway! This video kicks off our daily King of the Hammers series as we wrap up the final last-minute shop prep before heading out to Hammertown. Once we hit the road, it’s all about getting settled on the lakebed—setting up camp, unloading the trailer, and turning our setup into the Mobile Coop that we’ll be calling home for the next two weeks. Living on the lakebed means comfort matters, and we’re getting everything dialed in so we can focus on race week, friends, and the incredible KOH atmosphere. The day wraps up the best way possible—with friends stopping by, laughs all around, and soaking in the start of another unforgettable King of the Hammers adventure. The post Shannon Campbell’s King of the Hammers Daily Adventures 2026: Watch All Of Shannon’s King of the Hammers 2026 Videos Right Here! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

The guys at the UK's premiere supercharging moto candy factory TTS Performance are at it again, and this GSX1400 has been bulking up.View the full article

New developments in the car world are always closely guarded secrets, but in a world where a social media presence is essential to the sustained growth of a brand, mistakes are made relatively frequently. Presumably meant to be published later in the year, a now-revised post on LinkedIn appears to have accidentally leaked the news that the all-new Audi RS 5 will debut this year with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, as first reported by Motor1. The same post also revealed that the Ingolstadt-based brand will unveil a new "entry" EV sometime before 2026 comes to a close. All mention of either of these vehicles has since been removed from Audi's social media, but the announcements will likely be remade not too long from now. What to Expect from the New RS 5 Audi The post on LinkedIn read as follows: "The new Audi RS 5 is also nearing its debut and will be our first performance plug-in hybrid. Furthermore, we will unveil a new electric entry model. Stay tuned to our channels so you don't miss any news." This doesn't tell us very much, but we already know a few things, including that this new RS 5 won't be offered in coupe format. It will likely be available in both Sportback (sedan-aping hatchback) and Avant (station wagon) forms, though America will almost certainly miss out on the latter unless there is immense demand. Both variants are expected to feature the B9 generation's 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6, and combined with an electric motor, more than 600 horsepower is possible. Related: First-Ever Hybrid BMW M3 Spied With Big Bulges Spy shots reveal that the RS 5 Sportback will have vents behind the front wheels like the most recent RS 3, as well as a small wing on the edge of its tailgate. At the front, a large Singleframe grille with diamond-shaped mesh will be flanked by a pair of upright grilles for cooling the brakes, among other components. Flush door handles are also evident, as we can see in the video below, and large, oval tailpipes in a pronounced diffuser will help identify the M3 competitor, as will blistered rear fenders. An Affordable Audi EV?As for the other part of the announcement, little is known, but it seems that Audi was hinting at something that will slot in below the Q4 e-tron, its current smallest EV. Roughly two years ago, Audi mentioned that a new Q2 would arrive in 2027, and Audi's announcement blunder comes at the right point for that timeline target to be achieved. A version of the Volkswagen Group's MEB platform makes the most sense for this new entry-level EV. This architecture already underpins the Q4 e-tron, while the MEB+ platform will find a home beneath the hotly anticipated Volkswagen ID. Polo. Thus, one can't help but think that this new EV might even be a new take on the Audi A1. Either way, a small, relatively attainable Audi e-tron EV is unlikely to reach U.S. shores, but we'll have to wait for an official announcement (that Audi doesn't subsequently delete) to know more. Volkswagen View the full article

Hyundai’s experiment with a compact lifestyle pickup appears to be heading for an earlier-than-expected conclusion. The Santa Cruz, launched to tap into demand for smaller, more city-friendly trucks, is now reportedly set to exit production sooner than originally planned as sales continue to trail expectations. While the model helped Hyundai break into the pickup segment, the Korean automaker is already shifting its focus toward something bigger and far more traditional. Santa Cruz Set for an Early Exit Hyundai According to Automotive News, Hyundai is preparing to discontinue the Santa Cruz ahead of its originally planned second-quarter 2027 end date. Although Hyundai has publicly maintained that the model’s “life-cycle plans remain unchanged,” the report suggests internal timelines are being accelerated due to weak demand and elevated inventory levels. The Santa Cruz arrived for the 2022 model year alongside the Ford Maverick, with both targeting buyers who wanted pickup utility without the bulk of a mid-size truck. Early momentum suggested promise, but the gap between the two quickly became impossible to ignore. Hyundai sold 32,033 Santa Cruz units in 2025, while Fordmoved 155,051 Mavericks during the same period – about 5 times more than the Hyundai pickup. The sales flop becomes even more apparent when you consider this is Hyundai's fifth consecutive year of record sales, proving just how isolated the Santa Cruz’s struggles have been. Hyundai's Glass Half-Full Outlook Hyundai In a statement provided to Motor1, Hyundai stopped short of directly addressing the Santa Cruz’s reported early exit, instead pointing to broader planning considerations. The company said its product decisions are “guided by many factors, including consumer demand and overall market trends”, adding that it does not comment on future product speculation. Hyundai also framed the Santa Cruz as a learning exercise, noting that the model helped the brand gain valuable experience in the open-bed segment. That experience appears especially important as the pickup market becomes more competitive. Established players are not standing still, with General Motors preparing to launch all-new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra models this year, including updated V8 engines and new hybrid options. While some may argue that the Santa Cruz’s underwhelming performance was the result of a subpar product, the fiercely competitive segment it fought in didn't make it an easy battle either. A Bigger Pickup Is On The Way Hyundai While the Santa Cruz looks set to bow out early, Hyundai is not abandoning pickups altogether. The automaker has already confirmed plans for a mid-size, body-on-frame truck that will take aim at stalwarts like the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger, and should arrive before 2030. But that's not all. Hyundai also wants to use that platform to build a new SUV that will take aim at the Toyota 4Runner. While all of this sounds promising, Hyundai will face an uphill battle to deal with new US tariffs on South Korean imports. Looking at the bigger picture, it seems as if the Santa Cruz is merely a stepping stone for Hyundai. The Santa Cruz may be leaving earlier than planned, but it appears to have laid the groundwork for two of Hyundai’s most promising family vehicles yet. View the full article

Meet the Micrabusa, the unholy custom spawn of a Suzuki Hayabusa and a second-gen Nissan Micra hatchback, and it's a treat to see come to life.View the full article

Steve Pearce, President Trump's nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management, has a horrendous record of advocating for public land sell-offs. And his appointment would mean the death sentence to your public land trails. View the full article

With a new year, automakers often like to offer new paint colors, and for the 2027 Chevrolet Corvette, there will reportedly be two. The HorsePower Obsessed YouTube channel recently revealed that a leak from GM's ordering system shows two new codes: GEC and GTR. The former refers to a brand-new color called Pitch Metallic, which sounds like a grey or black hue, while the latter is listed as Opulent Blue Metallic. This one is of particular interest. If neither description is familiar, it's because these are internal names, but you may know the latter as Admiral Blue, a color we've previously seen on a variant that hasn't made its way to the C8 Corvette, the Grand Sport. At least, not yet. Admiral Blue Could Be More Confirmation of a C8 Grand Sport Chevrolet Admiral Blue was previously applied to the C7 Corvette Grand Sport, and the C4 Grand Sport before that. Therefore, the reappearance of this color seems to be yet another sign pointing to the return of the Grand Sport nameplate, after an audio clip last month was said to tease the sound of its engine and a separate GM Parts Book leak seemingly confirmed a new LS6 V8 engine with both direct and port injection, dual overhead cams, and a monstrous 6.7-liter capacity. Of course, it's entirely possible that GM could offer Admiral Blue on the Stingray, or the Z06, or even the ZR1 twins, but that would be like finishing a Mustang in Dark Highland Green paint and not calling it "Bullitt." As advanced as the C8 Corvette is, nostalgia is important, too. And as pointed out by Corvette Blogger, another RPO code uncovered at the end of December applied to the Z15 Grand Sport Heritage Package. Related: Chevy Is Letting Buyers Build Corvette Engines Again, But Only for Top Trims This was previously offered with the 2017 C7 Corvette, adding fender hash mark graphics and center stripes. Put all these facets together, and a C8 Grand Sport is all but confirmed. As for the other new color, Pitch Metallic, the only thing we can be certain of is that it will vary from the one-off Dark Satin Steel ZR1X that recently sold for $2.6 million. In with the New, Out with the Old Chevrolet Chevy has given with one hand and taken away with the other, as these new colors won't add to the overall count of colors for the Corvette. Riptide Blue, a lighter hue, is leaving this year, as is the attention-grabbing Hysteria Purple. For the record, the 2026 Corvette's other available colors are Arctic White, Black, Torch Red, Blade Silver Metallic, Roswell Green Metallic ($500), Competition Yellow Tintcoat Metallic ($995), Sebring Orange Tintcoat ($995), and Red Mist Metallic Tintcoat ($995). View the full article

From a massive six-figure recall on the Hyundai Palisade, to Trump's plan to lure Mercedes-Benz from Europe, to the end of two Tesla EVs, things aren’t the way they were yesterday. Here, we’ll round up the biggest news stories of the last 24 hours on AutoBlog and divvy them up into bite-sized chunks that get right to the heart of the story, allowing you to go deeper if you want. Hyundai recalls 570,000 Palisade SUVs Hyundai USA News Room Per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 568,576 Hyundai SUVs have a problem with their third-row side curtain airbags, which may deploy improperly. The issue means Hyundai is forced to issue a recall over the malfunction, which puts the Palisade SUV in violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for occupant ejection mitigation. Curtain airbags help control debris and mitigate the risk of an occupant being thrown from the vehicle in a crash. To read more on the issue, check out our full coverage below. Read More: Almost 570,000 Hyundai Palisades Recalled Over Third-Row Airbag Failure Dead: Tesla Model X and S Tesla View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Tesla's game-changing Model S and its SUV counterpart, the Model X, are dead. The Model S catapulted EVs into the mainstream public consciousness back in 2012 and inarguably set the standard for what people expected from EVs for years to come. Other automakers spent billions trying to catch up to, and in some cases surpass, what Tesla had done. Now, the two are dead. Tesla made the announcement to shareholders before the end of the year. To read more on the abrupt cancellation, follow our coverage below. Read More: DEAD: Tesla Is Killing Off the Model S and Model X GM loses money by cancelling its EVs GM General Motors insists it still believes in an electric future, but its latest letter to shareholders tells a different story. After publishing its full-year results, the automaker confirmed it will significantly cut EV production in 2026, despite electric vehicles bringing nearly 100,000 new customers to the brand last year. They blame their losses on an abundant amount of “EV-related charges”, but most of them were self-inflicted. To read more on GM's future EV plans (or lack thereof), read on below. Read More: GM’s EV Losses Weren’t From Making Cars—They Were From Canceling Them Trump attempted to lure Mercedes out of Germany Chase Bierenkoven Mercedes-Benz Group AG CEO Ola Källenius confirmed that the Trump administration attempted to persuade the automaker to move its global headquarters from Germany to the United States. In an interview with German outlet The Pioneer, Källenius said the proposal came about a year ago through US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The offer included tax relief and other incentives intended to relocate the company’s executive base out of Stuttgart. To read more on Mercedes' big fat "no," click the link below. Read More: Trump Tried to Lure Mercedes Out of Germany—CEO Flatly Said No View the full article

Buddy Hull is ready to focus his endless energy on team ownership. Hull talks about his new role as Funny Car team owner and driver.View the full article

Durability & Performance Without Complicating Your Suspension Setup In this review, I will be covering the main reasons why JBA Standard Upper Control Arms (UCAs) are ideal for daily driven... The post 6 Reasons JBA Standard UCAs Make Sense For Daily-Driven 4Runners appeared first on Trail4R.com - 5th Gen 4Runner Mods. View the full article

Ramdiscontinued the ProMaster City in 2022, leaving a noticeable gap in its commercial lineup. Since then, big trucks like the Ram 1500 have been their bread and butter, while the idea of a compact Ram work van lingered as a "what if". After hinting at the return of a passenger van last year, Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis has confirmed the ProMaster City will return. Kuniskis Let The Cat Out Of The Bag Stellantis During an exclusive interview with Mopar Insiders at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show, Kuniskis outlined Ram’s renewed commitment to commercial vehicles. With increased light-duty truck production capacity and greater flexibility in powertrain supply, Ram is once again expanding its focus beyond pickups. “And one of the things we’re going to do is ProMaster City,” Kuniskis said. “I don’t know if we said it publicly, but yeah, we’re bringing back ProMaster City.” Kuniskis never mentioned when it'll return, but the ProMaster City is officially part of Ram’s exciting future plans, which include the return of the HEMI V8 and a rival to the Ford Maverick. Does an EV ProMaster City Make Sense? Seyth Miersma Yes and no. EV demand in the US is declining fast. So much so that Stellantis killed off the all-electric Ram 1500 due to a lack of interest. With that in mind, an all-electric compact van doesn't make sense. But a gasoline, hybrid, or even an EREV does, especially considering the range anxiety many small business owners and delivery drivers will face everyday. So, if you want the efficiency of electrification, without the limited range, an EREV ProMaster City hits the sweet spot. However, this is all speculation. Ram is yet to confirm what powertrain the upcoming Promaster City will utilize. A Gap In The Market Seyth Miersma The compact van space remains underserved. Full-size vans like the Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and Ram ProMaster are often overkill, and the Transit Connect has exited the market, making the need for a compact van even greater. The ProMaster City doesn't even need to dominate; it just needs to exist. Its return fits alongside a three-row Ram SUV due in 2028 and makes Ram's future strategy clear: Balance innovation with demand. Timing remains the final piece of the puzzle. View the full article

We’re thrilled to have onX Offroad back as the Official GPS Mapping Partner for the 2026 Griffin King of the Hammers powered by OPTIMA Batteries. The official 2026 King of the Hammers race course is now live on the onX Offroad app and has been added to the app’s Basemaps for the Johnson Valley area. Participants will be able to use this as a tool to navigate around the lakebed and through Hammertown and find the best spectator locations on race day. After downloading onX Offroad, users can search for “Johnson Valley OHV” to see the race course, as well as view the “streets” of Hammertown, pit locations, mile markers, spectator viewing areas, and start and finish lines. The map can also be marked up to make it their own, creating routes and dropping waypoints that indicate camp spots, meet-up areas, and destination points – and easily share them with friends. Before you make the trip to Johnson Valley, onX Offroad encourages participants to download the area’s offline maps so they can better navigate the desert, even when out of cell reception. King of the Hammers participants and fans can take advantage of a 50% discount on onX Offroad subscriptions, of both Premium or Elite levels. To redeem, enter the code koh2026 at checkout at the onX Offroad website. For more information, visit KingoftheHammers.com and follow the event on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The post onX Offroad: The Official GPS Mapping Partner of King of the Hammers appeared first on UTV Guide. View the full article

Genesis builds some of the best bang-for-your-buck luxury SUVs on the market, but the brand is now pushing those vehicles in a very different direction. Far from paved roads, Genesis has revealed three off-road-focused models designed to handle extreme terrain: the GV60 Outdoors Concept, GV70 Outdoors Concept, and GV80 Desert Edition. Shown clawing their way up vast sand dunes, the trio shows that, despite already having a diverse model lineup, Genesis is eager to explore new ground. GV60 and GV70 Outdoors: Compact Luxury, Rugged Intent Genesis Let's address the elephant in the room first: the GV60 Outdoors Concept. No, your eyes aren't deceiving you; those are continuous tracks you'd usually find on military tanks or snowmobiles, designed to conquer any terrain imaginable. The GV60 Outdoors is based on the electric GV60, and comes with some added off-road goodies like a roof rack and extra lighting. Genesis says it's "designed for operation in rugged terrains and challenging weather conditions" – basically what the upcoming baby G-Wagon aspires to be. The GV70 Outdoors Concept, on the other hand, is much closer to its road-going version. First shown as the GV70 Snow Concept in St. Moritz, it features a revised suspension for added ground clearance, roof-mounted accessories, chunkier tires, and dedicated off-road lighting. Crucially, it retains the current GV70's design language, suggesting this is the model most likely to resonate with buyers if Genesis ever greenlights this off-road variant – perfect to take on BMW's upcoming line of off-road SUV variants. GV80 Desert Edition: Luxury SUV With Dakar DNA Genesis At the top of the food chain sits the GV80 Desert Edition. Developed with Middle Eastern specialist W Motors – the brand responsible for the Lykan Hypersport – this rugged GV80 celebrates the 80th birthday of one of the most versatile racing drivers of all time, and Genesis brand partner, Jacky Ickx. Genesis says the goal of the GV80 Desert Edition was to "deliver style, resilience and elevated performance", without sacrificing any of the road-going GV80's comfort and refinement. Part Of a Broader Off-Road Vision Genesis These three vehicles were showcased alongside the extreme 1,100-hp X Skorpio Concept, underscoring Genesis’ wider concept-car strategy. From the elegant G90 Wingback wagon concept to the Magma GT mid-engine supercar pipedream, and even the forgotten-about electric pickup truck idea, Genesis continues to use bold concepts to test emotional, lifestyle-driven ideas – even if not all of them are destined for production. View the full article

2026 MV Agusta Rush Titanio MV Agusta has taken the wraps off the Rush Titanio at The I.C.E. in St. Moritz, using the winter event to introduce a new limited edition of its Rush hyper-naked that is slated to arrive later in 2026. The headline number is the production run: 300 individually numbered units, built […] The post 2026 MV Agusta Rush Titanio revealed appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

BMW is preparing a subtle but widespread branding update, with BMWBlog reporting the automaker will begin fitting a revised physical BMW roundel to all newly built vehicles starting in February. The change is not a full redesign, instead it is a refinement of the familiar badge meant to look cleaner and more modern as BMW transitions into its next design and technology era. What Changes On The New BadgeFirst seen on the Neue Klasse iX3, the revised emblem removes the inner chrome ring and the chrome outlining inside the blue and white quadrants, replacing the shinier look with a darker, more satin finish on the outer ring. The result is a simpler, more contemporary appearance that aligns with the direction BMW has been taking in digital branding and in newer product styling. BMW is moving away from using a distinct EV focused badge treatment, which would standardize the roundel across gas, hybrid, and electric models so the powertrain is not signaled by the logo itself. BMW View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Where It Will Show Up And What It Means For OwnersBMWBlog describes the rollout as a factory change for new production rather than a retrofit program, meaning buyers will see the updated badge arrive naturally as model year builds continue. The report indicates the hood badge will be the most consistent place to expect the new roundel, while details about other locations such as the trunk, wheel center caps, and steering wheel may vary by model and timing. The badge first appeared publicly in BMWs Neue Klasse context, which gives the update added significance, because it ties the emblem change to a larger shift in how BMW wants its cars to feel and present. The badge update arrives as BMW expands its future facing lineup and its regional product strategy. Neue Klasse products are expected to anchor that shift, starting with the iX3. BMW has also been thinking about identity beyond design surfaces, including how its electric performance cars might feel emotionally familiar. That kind of retrofuturistic approach matches the logo update, which keeps the heritage shape but modernizes the execution. The same branding logic is likely to carry into the next generation of BMWs largest models too. View the full article

WorldSBK 2026 January Portimao Test January 28-29, 2026 The second and final European pre-season test for the bulk of the WorldSBK paddock unfolded at Portimao this week under much the same theme as Jerez seven days earlier: plenty of planning, not much meaningful dry track time. After intermittent rain and mixed conditions curtailed the two-day […] The post Weather again dominates WorldSBK pre-season as Portimao test yields little appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

NASCAR's pre-season exhibition race known as 'The Clash' continues to face a major obstacle in the form of winter weather. As crews clear the track and surrounding area of snow and ice, another system is set to move into the area just in time for the race weekend. The storm is expected to dump four to eight inches of snow and will cause temperatures to plunge into the low 20s with a feel like ...Keep readingView the full article

Designed with the help of AI-powered software and realized in forged carbon fibre, this Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 has factory prototype written all over it.Between CGI whizz-kids and AI prompt-jockeys, it's getting hard to separate fact from fiction these days. But while we admire their skill, the... View the full article

The first race of the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season will feature the usual stars of NCTS, but several other notable names. It's already been announced that NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart will join the Kaulig Racing Ram squad, making his first appearance in the Truck Series in almost 20 years. The field will also feature former Daytona 500 winners Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Michael ...Keep readingView the full article

Pro Modified’s first million-dollar prize will have to wait at least another year, as Snowbird Outlaw Nationals winner Jason Harris’s attempt at the inaugural Elite Motorsports Million came to an end Sunday when he lost in the second round at the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission at Bradenton Motorsports Park. After winning the Snowbirds, Harris needed to win the other two races in the Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service, the U.S. Street Nationals and the DI World Series of Pro Mod, to win the $1 million bonus from Elite Motorsports. Harris was understandably dejected after his second-round loss to Derek Menholt, but he also recognized the odds were against him. “I think we all looked at the Million when it first came out and thought it’s not feasible, but then I think when you actually get in the seat where you think you can do it, then it is feasible,” Harris said. “It’s not like I lost it by a thousandth. I lost it by a lot of rounds. I had to go 10 more rounds to be perfect [after the Snowbirds], so everything had to be perfect. Car had to be perfect. I had to be perfect. That’s going to be a hard feat. Is it impossible? No, but it’s a very, very hard task.” By qualifying No. 1 at the Snowbirds, Harris was also contending for the Jerry Bickel Race Cars Clean Sweep Challenge, which offered up a brand-new Pro Mod rolling chassis for any driver who could qualify No. 1 at all three races. Harris ended up No. 2 on the final qualifying order for the U.S. Street Nationals with a 3.556 at 2111.33 behind Jimmy Taylor’s 3.555 at 224.77. Once qualifying was over, Harris came out swinging. He drew former PDRA Pro Nitrous rival Jim Halsey in the opening round. Harris unleashed a .009 reaction time and a 3.547 at 211.89 – second-quickest of the round – to get past Halsey, who lifted to a 5.443. He was aggressive again in the second round against Menholt, leaving first with a .017 to Menholt’s .037. Harris’s Harts Charger-boosted “Party Time” ’69 Camaro was ahead at the 60-foot mark, but he lost traction and coasted to a 5.156 while Menholt ran a 3.565, eventually reaching the final round. Just like that, the dream was over. Never before had Harris raced for so much on the line, and similarly, losing the round stung a little more than the average second-round loss. “I’ve had a lot of pressure on me this weekend,” Harris admitted. “Losing No. 1 by a couple thousandths hurt. I lost a lot of money this weekend. I lost $12,000 for No. 1 and Off the Trailer bonuses. I lost a $250,000 race car, and I lost a million dollars and $75,000 for winning here. I feel like Vegas has kicked my butt this weekend. But, it is what it is.” Harris wasn’t sulking for too long after the second-round exit. He was back in the Strange Engineering VIP Tent for the third-round chip draw to support teammate John Doc, who ended up losing to Menholt as well in the quarterfinals. Harris noted that he’s already moving on to the Winter Series finale, the World Series of Pro Mod, Feb. 26-28, at Bradenton. “We’ve got a great team. We just missed it a little bit. That’s all it is,” Harris said. “When you’re running mid-.50s, and with the competition you’ve got right now, you’ve got to keep it at the fastest possible. Maybe we got a little greedy there, but that’s something you don’t really see out of my team, shaking the tires like that. I’ve been driving great. I feel like I was on my game. We win as a team, lose as a driver, but this weekend, we’re gonna pick ourselves back up, come back to the World Series, and I’m looking forward to that because that’s one I’d like to put on my resume.” This story was originally published on January 29, 2026. The post Jason Harris Reflects on First Elite Motorsports Million Attempt first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article