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Forget the clichés of the commuter hack or the pizza delivery drone. When a talented builder gets their hands on a scooter like a Vespa, a Lambretta, or even a humble Honda Cub, the results can be just as breathtaking, challenging, and technically brilliant as any large-capacity custom motorcycle. T... View the full article

For more than a decade, the name Larry Larson has lived more in legend than in lanes when it comes to drag-and-drive competition. That may be about to change. Fresh signs of life from Larson’s infamous 1998 Chevy S-10 – a truck that once redefined what “street legal” meant – have reignited speculation that the five-time HOT ROD Drag Week champion could be preparing for a long-awaited return to the drag-and-drive arena. If that turns out to be the case, the implications are massive. Larson’s résumé in drag-and-drive competition is unmatched. During his reign at Drag Week, he not only collected overall wins, but rewrote the record book entirely – recording the first six-second pass, the first 200-mph run, and ultimately becoming the first street-legal competitor to dip into the five-second zone. His S-10 didn’t just win events; it changed expectations. But while Larson never truly left the drag-and-drive scene, his focus shifted. Over the past several years, his attention moved toward no-prep competition and television-driven racing, including prominent appearances on Street Outlaws and No Prep Kings. Drag-and-drive, meanwhile, evolved without its most dominant figure. Now, signs point to unfinished business. Behind the scenes, Larson has been quietly developing a radically updated version of his iconic S-10 – and recent testing suggests the combination is not only real, but terrifyingly capable. The truck was recently put through durability testing on a Mainline hub dyno, where it produced an eye-opening 3,500 horsepower at the rear wheels with conservative boost levels according to HOT ROD Magazine. That number alone would be headline-worthy. But it’s what sits behind it that has the drag-and-drive world buzzing. At the heart of the S-10 is a 598-cubic-inch billet engine developed by Visner Engine Development. The package is built around a 5.00-inch bore spacing – significantly larger than traditional big-block Chevrolet architecture – allowing for increased displacement while prioritizing stability and longevity. Larson reportedly selected a bore-and-stroke combination designed to favor rod angle and durability, a key consideration for any true drag-and-drive effort. Notably, the engine utilizes wedge-style cylinder heads rather than the Hemi-style layouts common at this power level. The decision was deliberate, aimed at maintaining valvetrain stability during long street drives. Water jackets in both the block and heads further underscore that this isn’t just a dyno hero – it’s an engine intended to survive real-world miles. Boost is supplied by a pair of Hart’s 102mm turbochargers, and even at a conservative 50 psi, the combination is already making substantially more power than Larson’s previous setup – the same one that propelled the S-10 to 5.80-second passes at more than 250 mph. Engine management duties are handled by a FuelTech FT600 system, a platform Larson has firsthand experience with dating back to FuelTech’s earliest days in drag racing. The rest of the drivetrain is equally serious: a Rossler TH400 three-speed with a Pro Torque lockup converter feeds power to a Strange Engineering 11-inch rear housing with a Quick Performance center section, ultimately planting the power through Hoosier slicks. Put simply, this is not a project that features parts and pieces lying around Larson’s Missouri-based shop. If Larson does indeed return to drag-and-drive competition – whether at Drag Week, Sick Week, or beyond – the bar for the Unlimited category would move yet again. With five-second capability clearly within reach and durability engineered into the combination, the S-10 instantly becomes a threat to every existing benchmark. For now, Larson hasn’t publicly confirmed a specific event or timeline. But with testing underway, dyno numbers climbing, and one of drag-and-drive racing’s most famous machines back in motion, the question feels less like if – and more like when. And if history is any indication, when Larry Larson shows up, the record book won’t be safe for long. This story was originally published on January 7, 2026. The post Larry Larson Headed Back to Drag-and-Drive? Legendary Chevy S-10 Signals Possible Unlimited Return first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

A dramatic crash at New Zealand event underscored the importance of proper safety, as two racers walk away uninjured despite heavy damage. View the full article

The CX-30 Slide Isn’t as Simple as It LooksOn the surface, the numbers tell the story: the Mazda CX-30 took one of the biggest hits in the automaker's US lineup in 2025. December sales dropped to 2,749 units, down 69 percent from the year before. For the full year, sales fell to 56,684 from 96,515 – a drop of over 41 percent. However, Mazda says there’s more to these numbers that could explain the decline. According to a statement sent to CarBuzz, the CX-30’s slump was a deliberate move, not a sign that buyers lost interest. “The CX-30 is currently built in Mexico, and with ongoing uncertainty around US-Mexico tariff agreements, we made a strategic decision to scale back production of this model.” In short, Mazda built and shipped fewer CX-30s to the US, and the sales numbers reflect that. Whether this is just a short-term move or a sign of a bigger shift is still unclear, but for now, Mazda seems content to let the CX-30 sit on the sidelines. Kristen Brown Where Mazda Found Its Wins in 2025While the CX-30 stumbled, the rest of Mazda’s US lineup wasn’t all bad news. The CX-50 was the clear winner, posting its best December ever with 10,783 units sold and ending the year up 35.5 percent. The CX-5 remains as Mazda's best-seller with 136,355 units sold – up by 2 percent from last year. That's despite the fact that this model will be the last of the current generation, with an all-new version arriving in showrooms this year. That growth helped offset losses elsewhere and showed that Mazda’s shift toward bigger, more lifestyle-focused crossovers is working. Certified pre-owned sales were another win. Mazda moved 76,009 CPO vehicles in 2025, setting a new record for the second year in a row. December CPO sales jumped 14 percent year over year. That’s a sign buyers are still interested in the brand, even if they’re holding back on new cars. Mazda View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article What Comes NextEven with those bright spots, Mazda ended 2025 with US sales down 3.3 percent from the year before. December was especially weak, dropping 18.9 percent year over year. The CX-90 is another key model that saw the most significant drop alongside the aforementioned CX-30. Looking ahead, Mazda’s attention is shifting to its next major volume player. The new-generation CX-5, revealed last year and set to arrive soon, is expected to bolster the brand’s US lineup once again. With refreshed styling, updated tech, and a familiar footprint in a still-competitive segment, the CX-5 could pull Mazda’s numbers back into the green this year. Mazda View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Breaking Records, AgainUnlike Audi, BMW had a wonderful 2025. For the third year in a row, the German automaker has broken yet another sales record in America. Last year, it shifted 388,897 vehicles in the U.S, beating its previous record of 371,346. That's 17,551 more or 4.7 percent higher, in case anyone is keeping tabs. By the way, that figure doesn't include Mini sales yet. The British marque also had a good year, posting a 9.3 percent increase over 2024 and 28,749 unit sales. Combined, the BMW Group sold 417,646 vehicles last year versus 397,645 from the year prior. That's an improvement of 5 percent. The Top Three SellersIt's no surprise that the X3 has topped the charts yet again. Buoyed by an all-new generation, the redesigned model's first full year of sales saw 76,546 deliveries, up by 11.3 percent. Perhaps it's no surprise given that the X3 has consistently been BMW's best-selling car worldwide for the past couple of years. Close behind was the X5, and we mean really close. In 2025, the midsize luxury crossover posted 76,246 units, just 300 shy of matching its smaller sibling. Considering the price difference between the two, it's an impressive feat. We could see more X5 sales just before the all-new model is shown later this year. In third was the 4 Series, outselling the 3 Series yet again by a good margin. With all the body styles combined (Gran Coupe, coupe, and convertible), it sold 39,379 times over the last year. For comparison, the 3 Series had 33,031 unit sales in 2025. And to prove how popular the X3 is these days, combining the numbers for both 3 and 4 Series still isn't enough to surpass it with 72,410 total. BMW Mixed Results for Electrified VehiclesAs a whole, BMW's pure electric model sales went down by a good chunk last year. All of its EVs, namely the i4, i5, i7, and iX, had their fair share of struggles. The i4 lost the least with a 14.1 percent dip, while the i5 numbers dropped the most at 21.5 percent. All in all, BMW EV sales are lower by 16.7 percent, 42,484 versus 50,981 in 2024. On the flipside, its plug-in hybrid range is doing quite well for itself with 25,351 sales. Okay, the EVs still outsold them, but it represents a 30.7 percent gain against 2024's total of just 19,398. The breakdown of each plug-in hybrid model wasn't given, so it's hard to determine which one topped the list. At the moment, BMW offers plug-in hybrid versions of the 3 Series (330e), 5 Series (530e), 7 Series (750e), X5 (xDrive50e), and XM. Well, we're pretty sure the XM isn't the company's best-selling PHEV, given that only 1,878 of these found new homes. BMW View the full article

Street Car Takeover, the nation’s premier street-legal drag racing event series, announced today that longtime grassroots racing advocates Tom “Jimmy Dale” Gunner and Michael Poland have secured an ownership stake in the rapidly growing series, solidifying a partnership that is set to reshape the future of grassroots drag racing in America. The move formalizes a collaboration that has been building momentum over the past two seasons, most notably through the explosive growth of the Lil’ Gangstas 5.30 index class – a category founded by Gunner and Poland that has quickly become one of the most competitive and talked-about grassroots classes in the sport. Street Car Takeover, co-owned and promoted by Chase Lautenbach, is coming off one of the most successful seasons in its 13-year history and recently unveiled a coast-to-coast 2026 schedule that spans 16 events, opening January 9-10 at Firebird Motorsports Park in Phoenix, Arizona, and concluding November 13-14 at the same venue. As part of the expanded partnership, Lil’ Gangstas will be contested at every Street Car Takeover event in 2026, further integrating the class into SCT’s national platform and fan-first event model. “Street Car Takeover and Lil’ Gangstas uniting is about more than a class addition – it’s about raising the bar for grassroots drag racing across the country,” said Lautenbach. “Individually, both brands have reshaped the landscape. Together, we form a powerhouse that puts racers first, delivers real competition, and gives fans a show that’s worth the trip.” Founded on the idea of relatable, street-driven cars competing at a high level, Street Car Takeover has grown into one of the largest and most attended grassroots racing series in the country, blending heads-up drag racing, roll racing, car shows, burnout contests, and fan-focused entertainment into a single weekend experience. For Gunner and Poland, the ownership move represents both belief in the SCT platform and a long-term commitment to pushing the sport forward. “Jimmy and myself continue to push the needle – for ourselves and for this industry,” said Poland. “We want to leave it better than we found it, and this is another step in the right direction. We’re excited for the partnership with Street Car Takeover and hope to keep pushing promoters, sponsors, tracks, and racers to work together toward what’s best for drag racing.” Gunner echoed that sentiment, emphasizing accessibility and opportunity as the driving forces behind the deal. “The future of drag racing depends on creating opportunities – bringing new faces in, supporting grassroots racers, and making sure anyone with passion has a place in this sport,” Gunner said. “That’s what Street Car Takeover does best, and that’s Poland and my main focus for 2026.” The 2026 Street Car Takeover schedule will once again crisscross the country, with notable stops at Auto Club Famoso Raceway, Texas Motorplex, Beech Bend Raceway Park, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Maple Grove Raceway, Nashville Superspeedway, and Gainesville Raceway, among others. Additional details regarding class integration, payouts, and event-specific announcements will be released in the coming weeks. For more information, visit www.streetcar-takeover.com. This story was originally published on January 7, 2026. The post Street Car Takeover and Lil’ Gangstas Unite to Redefine Grassroots Drag Racing in America first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

After a runner-up finish a year ago at the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission, veteran driver Lyle Barnett believes his team can have a repeat performance – or better – when the best Pro Mod teams in the country return to Bradenton Motorsports Park January 23-25 for the second race of the Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service. Last month at the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks, fans saw an incredible 80 Pro Mod teams attempt to qualify. Barnett barely snuck his Harts Charger-powered 2018 Camaro, owned by Tommy Youmans, into the 32-car field as an alternate. Fighting mechanical gremlins all weekend, Barnett finally ripped off a 3.618-second pass at 209.49 mph early in the final qualifying session to get in, only to drop to No. 36 by the end of the night. However, due to parts breakage by four of the qualified drivers, he made it into the show in the final slot. “The Snowbird Outlaw Nationals were a wake-up call for everybody,” said Barnett. “That final qualifying session was one of the toughest I’ve ever been a part of. There was zero room for mistakes. That field was unbelievably tight, and to qualify where we did in that group really validated what this team has been building.” In the month since then, Barnett said the team basically tore the entire car apart and went through everything to find the issues plaguing them – and it appears they have. Testing this week in Bradenton, Barnett posted a timeslip on social media showing a 3.580 e.t. at 211.66 mph, a run that would’ve put him No. 6 in the qualifying order at the Snowbirds. “We’re coming off a test session where the car is consistently in the 3.50’s,” Barnett said. “The team has worked incredibly hard, and our recent test session proved that we now have a package that’s consistent and repeatable. That kind of repeatability is exactly what you want heading into the U.S. Street Nationals. Right now, confidence is high and the momentum is real.” Adding to that confidence is the fact that Barnett runnered-up at this same event just one year ago, falling in the final round to eventual Winter Series points champion Ken Quartuccio. Barnett defeated Kenny Lang, former No Prep Kings star Scott Taylor, NHRA Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown, and 2024 Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association champion Mike “Hollywood” Decker III en route to the finals. “I’m living a dream that most will only dream of, and I’m so grateful for that,” Barnett said after last year’s final. “Tommy Youmans gave me an opportunity, and I’m so thankful he did. I’m trying to do the best I can for him.” Barnett is still taking full advantage of that opportunity, and will pull double duty in Bradenton, competing not only in Pro Mod, but also Pro275 in the Tommy Youmans Racing “Salvage Title” Mustang. And now, with Barnett’s proven driving skills combined with a car that’s performing like it should, the next logical step is to simply go one round farther than last year. “When you look at how brutal that Snowbirds field was, just getting qualified was a statement in itself,” said Barnett. “But what really excites me is what we’ve found since then. The car has flat-out responded to the changes we made. We’re not guessing anymore – we’re executing.” This story was originally published on January 7, 2026. The post Lyle Barnett Confident Heading Into U.S. Street Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Start your 2026 the mischievous way with Cub House Honda's trio of everyone's favorite 125cc, with a few small design tweaks to change it up.View the full article

Lucid Motors built twice as many vehicles in 2025 as it did the year before, cranking out 18,378 EVs and delivering 15,841 of them. That 104% production jump and 55% delivery gain suggest the startup has finally found its footing on the factory floor after a rocky Gravity SUV launch. The question now is whether it can turn that momentum into a sustainable business in a tougher luxury EV market. Lucid Motors Production Doubles, But Old Promises Look Very Far AwayThe raw numbers are Lucid’s best yet, as the company built 8,412 vehicles in the fourth quarter alone, more than it managed in the entire first half of the year. It also slightly beat its own guidance of “around 18,000” vehicles for 2025, a welcome change from the under-delivery that defined its early years. Stack that against the projections Lucid floated when it went public in 2021, though, and the gap is brutal. Back then, the company told investors it would deliver 135,000 vehicles in 2025: 86,000 Gravity SUVs, 42,000 Air sedans, and 7,000 mid-size EVs. Reality landed an order of magnitude lower. That matters for confidence, even if the cars themselves are good enough that Lucid just edged past Tesla and Porsche to be named the best luxury EV brand for 2025. Lucid also built more vehicles than it sold, adding roughly 2,500–2,600 units to inventory over the year. That is a sign that getting the factory up to speed was only half the problem; finding enough buyers at current price points remains the other half. Gravity’s Rough Start Shows In The DetailsA lot of 2025’s story revolves around the Gravity SUV. Lucid struggled early in the ramp with supply chain bottlenecks, software integration issues, and quality snags specific to the new platform. Things got messy enough that interim CEO Marc Winterhoff emailed customers in December to acknowledge “lingering software problems” and say he shared their frustration. By the end of the year, things were getting sorted out, and Gravity really boosted Q4 sales. The introduction of a more affordable Gravity Touring trim, priced at about $79,900, made a big difference. Meanwhile, Lucid relied on promotions to keep the Air sedan selling, and on the product side, Gravity itself looks competitive. Lucid Motors Next: A $50,000 Mid-Size EV And A Reputation To DefendThe strong finish to 2025 sets up a crucial year ahead. Lucid is preparing to launch the first model on its new mid-size platform, with a target price around $50,000. That will drop it into the same rough space as the Tesla Model Y and Rivian’s upcoming R2, where volumes are bigger but buyers are harsher on value. If Lucid can carry over the efficiency and refinement that won it luxury EV bragging rights, and avoid repeating Gravity’s early quality missteps, the doubled output in 2025 will look like the start of a real ramp. If not, those old SPAC-era promises will keep haunting it, no matter how fast the Casa Grande plant can run. View the full article

Six years after Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida walked out on stage at the Consumer Electronics Show to reveal plans to crash into the automotive world with a high-tech EV loaded with the latest in high-tech entertainment technology, officials with what’s now known as Sony Honda Mobility announced they’re finally set to begin delivering their first vehicle, the Afeela 1. P But despite the flashy tone of this year’s CES presentation, a lot of things have changed over the past six years. For one thing, the Afeela 1 sedan won’t be able to operate without a driver. And the company won’t make most of its money delivering entertainment into the vehicle, rather than by selling you the car itself. Most significantly, at a time when the U.S. EV market appears to be in retreat, SMH officials acknowledged their once lofty sales aspirations have been downsized significantly. “We’re okay with being very niche and having lower volumes” than originally expected, Shugo Yamaguchi, the CEO of Sony Honda Mobility of America, told Autoblog following Monday evening’s presentation. Afeela for You P In some ways, Afeela 1 hasn’t strayed far from the Vision-S concept Sony chief Yoshida revealed back in 2020. For one thing, it hews closely to the design of that prototype sedan and is studded with a variety of radar, camera and Lidar sensors. They’ll help improve the safety of the vehicle, SMH officials promised, while eventually, someday, perhaps allowing the EV to operate without a driver. Inside, there’s a massive pillar-to-pillar digital display powered by Qualcomm technology, as well as screens for rear seat passengers. “It’s no longer about driving,” said Izumi Kawanishi, chief operating officer of Sony Honda Mobility of America. “It’s about how you use your time on the road.” Afeela occupants will be able to interact with a “conversational agent” – think Amazon’s Alexa – to do anything from plotting a route to checking the weather or selecting something to stream on those screens. Afeela 1, meanwhile is set to become the first vehicle that can directly tie into the PlayStation Portal, giving mobile access to the system’s extensive game collection. Not Ready for Prime TimeAt least one key function promised for Afeela won’t be ready at launch – and possibly not for quite some time. Initially, Afeela 1 will offer modest “Level 2+” autonomy. This is similar to the General Motors Super Cruise system, meaning a motorist can take hands off the wheel but must still keep eyes on the road, ready to retake control in an emergency. “We’re targeting Level 4,” said Yamaguchi, which translates into the ability for the vehicle to drive completely on its own, without any driver intervention. That creates the sort of living room on wheels environment perfect for selling streaming content and video game time to occupants. But SMH has “no timing” in mind to reach that target. At best, it’s hoping to move up one step at a time, next introducing Level 3 “hands-off/eyes-off” autonomy which will still require a licensed driver behind the wheel but allow them to play games and watch videos – as long as they’re ready to take over in an emergency. Until those next-level technologies come online there’ll clearly be less payoff for motorists to buy an Afeela, several experts cautioned – and less profit potential for the entertainment side of the Sony entertainment juggernaut. The Trump FactorPres. Donald Trump is clearly not a fan of battery-electric vehicles. He’s curbed federal spending on public quick chargers, rolled back federal mileage standards that would have encouraged automakers to rapidly increase EV sales, and convinced Congress to phase out federal tax credits for EV buyers. While the $90,000 starting price for Afeela 1 means customer wouldn’t have qualified for those incentives, the Trump trade war will take its toll. The good news is that the electric sedan is set to roll off the Honda assembly line in E. Liberty, Ohio. But tariffs on the imported metals, parts and components used for Afeela 1 still will have “some impact,” said Yamaguchi. (He declined to say how much that will drive up production costs but Michigan-based Anderson Economic Group has indicated even domestic vehicles face an added $1,000 or more in production costs. Afeela Prototype 2026 Even as Sony first revealed the original Vision-S concept skeptics questioned the company’s strategy. Sedans were already on the wane and are today barely a shadow of their former glory. That’s where the Afeela Prototype 2026 offers some hope for SHM. It’s not quite an SUV, with a body style that’s more in line with the new Toyota Crown Signia. But it’s certainly a more contemporary look and, acknowledged Yamaguchi, more in line with what family buyers might like. “Afeela 1 is too small for them,” he said during a media roundtable at CES. But the production version of the Prototype 2026 could compound, rather than resolve, another challenge for SHM: affordability. The $90,000 price tag for the Afeela 1 already puts the sedan in a rarified niche. As with the Tesla Model X, expect the Afeela SUV coming in 2028 to be more expensive than the original sedan. Tesla sold just over 7,000 of the its Model S sedans worldwide last year. And, despite having a more mainstream design, buyers purchased just over 3,500 Model X SUVs. Clearly, Sony Honda Mobility officials have been adjusting their expectations downward. To start with, they now plan to offer Afeela 1 solely in California this year. And, while they claim “50%” of the country has shown interest in the EV, they’re only planning to expand into Arizona in 2027, while sending a handful of the EVs to select Japanese buyers about the same time. It’s unclear if the new brand will ever be available across the entire U.S. More OptionsWhile company officials declined to reveal hard sales forecasts, Yamaguchi made it clear the latest target is small. “We’re okay with being very niche and having lower volumes,” he said. One way to increase sales would be to deliver a more affordable line-up, of course. Tesla did that with the Models 3 and Y, Rivian has the upcoming R2 and R3, and even Lucid is working up a lower-priced crossover expected to be called “Earth.” For now, however, Yamaguchi said that’s not in the cards for Afeela. And don’t expect to see an Afeela robotaxi, either, he added. “We’re not looking at that. It’s not in our purview." Related: Lucid Now Planning 3 Midsize Models – But Needs Millions in New Capital to Bring Them to Market That concerns a number of industry analysts who question whether Afeela 1 can generate even the modest sales SHM now anticipates. "It's a nice car," said Autoline analyst John McElroy, "but, for nearly $100,000, it really doesn't stand out." View the full article

The introduction of plug-in hybrid variants of the Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee a few years ago was a smart move for the brand. These vehicles had the same rugged capability as their non-hybrid siblings, but without the big gas bills. In fact, the Wrangler 4xe has previously held the title of best-selling PHEV in the country. But the immediate future of these PHEVs is in doubt. Not only have the hybrid SUVs been hit by a huge recall, but they’ve now vanished from Jeep’s website without an official announcement from the automaker. Not only that, but there are no published EPA ratings for these 2026 hybrid SUVs. Here's everything we know so far. Only Non-Hybrid Models Can Be Ordered Stellantis Make your way onto Jeep’s website, and there’s no sign of the Wrangler or Grand Cherokee 4xe models. These hybrids should appear under the Electric & Hybrid tab on the automaker’s site, but the only hybrid you’ll find there is the newer Cherokee. The individual Wrangler and Grand Cherokee tabs are also missing options for the 4xe models. While the 4xe models haven’t officially been discontinued, a Jeep spokesperson did provide some clarity in a statement sent to The Drive. “We can confirm for declared safety recalls as we currently have with certain Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler 4xe models, a stop sale is always enacted for any new vehicles on dealer lots as is standard practice. Once a remedy is in place with dealers, the stop-sale will lift immediately,” said the spokesperson. Jeep Clearly, Jeep has not yet been able to find a fix for the recall, which relates to a battery pack that could lead to a fire risk. Over 320,000 examples of the Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe are implicated in the recall. It wasn’t the only recall facing these Jeeps, as a separate one involves potential engine failure caused by sand contamination. With these reliability issues to resolve, Jeep’s quiet stop sale for the hybrid SUVs is perhaps not a great surprise, but removing the models from its site entirely does underline the seriousness of the problems. Related: Over 320,000 Jeep 4xe SUVs Were Recalled—This Owner Documents the Repair Fewer Options For Jeep Fans With the PHEV not currently available, Wrangler fans are limited to the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo and 3.6-liter V6 models. These variants get up to 21 mpg/20 mpg combined, respectively, whereas the Wrangler 4xe hits 49 MPGe and has a 21-mile all-electric range. The Grand Cherokee, meanwhile, also has a 3.6L V6. It gets up to 22 mpg, whereas the unavailable 4xe manages 56 MPGe and a 25-mile all-electric range. Even worse for the Grand Cherokee is the fact that the rugged Trailhawk trim can’t be ordered at all, since it was only available with the 4xe powertrain. Fortunately, the 2026 Grand Cherokee does come with a new turbo engine for those wanting a better mix of power and efficiency. A few months ago, Jeep scrapped plans for the Gladiator 4xe hybrid, citing low demand for electrified pickups. However, the electrified Wrangler and Grand Cherokee were clearly popular, so here’s hoping they don’t follow the Gladiator 4xe to the grave. View the full article

This EV dirt bike is what happens when hard enduro’s most disciplined mind, Graham Jarvis, applies electric power to the sport’s toughest problems.View the full article

The Thief River Falls snowmobile manufacturer went from almost dying to purchasing another company in just a few short months, showing that Arctic Cat wants to be a bigger player in the space. View the full article

The BMW B48 EngineGranted, BMW doesn't exactly have the best track record with four-cylinder engines. However, the (relatively) new B48 engine has been proving itself a pretty sturdy unit. That said, no engine is truly indestructible, and European powertrains do need a little more due care and attention. Maintain it like a German, as they say. The B48 engines come in many tunes, but in the U.S., the '30' version is most commonly seen. It's installed in a good chunk of BMW models, from the 2 Series Gran Coupe (228i) to the 5 Series (530i). It's also used in a couple of Mini models. Zac Palmer Zero Tolerance for NeglectAs (reportedly) reliable as the B48 has been, it becomes especially unhappy at the first signs of neglect. Yes, all engines are like that, but you'll feel it more with these European motors. Case in point, I Do Cars tore down a block from a 2017 230i that suffered a catastrophic failure at about 112,000 miles. The reason why it blew? It simply didn't have enough oil in it. Now, it's unknown why it was low on oil, but the engine was modified, did a hard pull, and met a violent and explosive end. High revs and little lubrication are, indeed, a combination for disaster and nearly tore up the bottom end of this engine. A Possible LeakDuring the teardown, the engine was already showing signs of leaks around the water pump. That said, it wasn't the main reason for the failure. I Do Cars reckons it was due to an oil leak from the oil filter housing gasket. Still, a low oil level was the main culprit, given the kind of damage the engine sustained. It could've been prevented by checking the oil level, but it's not exactly a straightforward thing in BMWs these days. With no oil dipstick, the only way to do that is through the infotainment system and trust that the correct level is displayed. We do wish more automakers would bring back the dipstick. However, assuming it was correct, there should've been signs that something wasn't right with the engine anymore, whether through warning lights on the dashboard or the engine sounding different. Again, it's worth pointing out that the engine was modified. It's a reminder that tuning can increase wear on components, and even more care is needed to keep them healthy, especially when driven hard. BMW View the full article

One Wrong Move From DisasterTesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system has faced widespread safety scrutiny, with some incidents escalating into lawsuits. However, a recent report by CBS Austin highlights a scenario in which the system appeared to perform effectively during a situation that could have otherwise turned fatal. Clifford Lee, an owner of the all-electric Cybertruck, was traveling at approximately 75 mph on a two-lane stretch of Highway 54 in New Mexico when a pickup truck traveling in the opposite direction suddenly crossed into his lane. According to Lee, the FSD system reacted at the last moment, steering the Cybertruck toward a narrow gap near the guardrail. The margin for error was so small that the oncoming truck clipped the Cybertruck’s side mirror, though Lee escaped without injury. Tesla A Closer LookTesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is an $8,000 option on the Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck, while the Model S and Model X, based on Tesla’s customer-facing website, already include it as part of the Luxe Package. The software builds on the standard Autopilot suite by adding features such as Navigate on Autopilot, Auto Lane Change, and Autopark. Despite its name, FSD does not deliver true autonomous capability. The system is classified as an SAE Level 2 driver-assistance system—similar in classification to the likes of Ford's BlueCruise and General Motors' Super Cruise—which still requires constant driver attention and supervision. In this configuration, the technology functions strictly as a driving aid rather than a replacement for the driver. Even so, while Lee appeared visibly shaken by the incident, the FSD system was able to take control of the Cybertruck during the critical moment. “I almost got killed,” Lee told CBS Austin. “I was shaking uncontrollably for a while.” Software Continues to EvolveThe outcome carries a positive note as regulators continue to investigate FSD over safety concerns. Reported cases include Tesla vehicles with FSD engaged allegedly running red lights, as well as complaints involving vehicles entering opposing lanes. Some legacy automakers have also declined to license the system, which is reportedly tied more to the “Full Self-Driving” name, which critics argue is misleading. The latest iteration, FSD v14.2.2, was rolled out in December 2025. The update reportedly improved several aspects of the system, including its neural network vision encoder—an AI-based driving component that converts camera feeds into structured data for driver-assistance functions. Tesla View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Audi has been struck by the same issue that continually plagued numerous automakers in 2025: a recall for a faulty rearview camera. While it's a relatively basic problem and one that drivers will be able to live without for a short time, what's concerning is the sheer scale of the recall, filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It impacts 117 vehicles from the 2019-2026 model years, potentially affecting 356,649 units. This is the same problem that afflicted more than 173,000 Porsche vehicles not long ago, showing that shared software has its drawbacks. Volkswagen Group of America filed the recall report late in December, so this, technically, isn't the first recall of 2026, but it's a problem that will only be resolved next month. Audi's Problem Affects Numerous Models Audi The NHTSA recall report tells us that, "in certain situations, a software issue may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying," thereby making the impacted vehicles noncompliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, for Rear Visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash due to the driver's reduced visibility behind their vehicle. In total, 19 different model types from up to eight model years are impacted, and they are listed below with the number of potentially involved vehicles in brackets. For the record, the RS e-tron GT appears twice due to different production runs. 2025 Audi RS e-tron GT (344)2022-2026 Audi RS e-tron GT (2,878)2020-2026 Audi SQ8 (11,586)2020-2026 Audi SQ7 (8,052)2020-2026 Audi S8 (3,002)2020-2025 Audi S7 (2,570)2020-2025 Audi S6 (2,904)2020-2026 Audi RS Q8 (7,681)2021-2026 Audi RS 7 (4,403)2021-2026 Audi RS 6 Avant (6,425)2019-2026 Audi Q8 (60,712)2020-2026 Audi Q7 (120,597)2020-2024 Audi e-tron Sportback quattro (10,191)2019-2024 Audi e-tron quattro (37,075)2022-2026 Audi e-tron GT (3,859)2019-2026 Audi A8 (12,220)2019-2025 Audi A7 (11,449)2019-2025 Audi A6 (45,175)2020-2026 Audi A6 allroad (5,526)A Long-Standing Problem for Audi Audi After receiving reports of the rearview camera glitch, an investigation was initiated way back in December 2023, but over the following 10 months, the root cause could not be determined because the issue occurred highly sporadically. Then, in November 2024, corrupted register entries were identified for the first time, and further testing finally confirmed that electrical noise between the control unit and the cameras could cause corrupted register data, which in turn could sporadically affect the performance of one or more cameras. Related: 10 Car Brands With the Most Recalls in 2025 In the last three months of 2025, Audi and the NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation determined that an increased shielding resistance in coaxial cables, along with reduced electromagnetic interference protection, potentially caused by variations at crimp connections, could result in camera failures within the Top View System. This surround-view system explains why smaller, less expensive Audi models are not mentioned in the recall. Regardless, Audi's solution is software that can perform a "self-healing process of the cameras." Owners will be notified of the remedy on February 17, 2026, but VINs are already searchable on the NHTSA's site. View the full article

Designed in Italy and built for A1 riders, the Benelli BKX 125 blends real off road capability with everyday approachability.View the full article

The current Honda Civic Type R is one of the best hot hatchbacks out there, but it’s nearing the end of its life cycle. In June, Honda announced the Type R Ultimate Edition for Europe, a limited run of 40 units as sales of the hatch drew to a close in that region. This sparked fears that the Type R would be discontinued in America before the 2026 model year, but we're happy to report that’s not the case. American Honda Motor Co. has just published new pricing information for the 2026 Civic Type R, confirming its continued sale here for at least one more model year. The bad news is another price bump. Over $4,000 Pricier Than When Originally Launched Honda The 2026 Honda Civic Type R will cost you $46,895—or $48,090 when you include the destination charge of $1,195. Add some optional paint and the forged alloy wheels (as available for the 2025 model), and you’ll have to cough up over $50k for the rorty Honda. The latest price increase makes it $1,000 pricier than last year’s model and over $4,000 more expensive than when the car originally launched. It’s also a lot more expensive than some rivals. The Toyota GR Corolla starts at $39,920 and the Volkswagen Golf GTI (admittedly not as extreme) costs $34,590, while the more powerful Golf R (with 328 horsepower and standard all-wheel drive) isn’t too far ahead at $49,455. Pricing for sportier Hondas has come under the spotlight recently, most notably with the new Prelude, which starts at $42,000 before destination. However, dealer markups have pushed the coupe’s price to over $60k, and as the Civic Type R enters the twilight of its career, we expect it to be challenging to find one selling at the sticker price. No Changes For America’s Type R Kristen Brown Europe’s Civic Type R Ultimate Edition comes with unique touches like red decals and stripes, a black roof, and special carbon accents inside. But no such changes have been announced for the 2026 model sold here—Honda only shared the pricing. However, we do expect Honda to release a similar special edition for this market closer to the end of the 2026 model year. Performance is almost certain to be unchanged, not that this is a bad thing. The Type R’s fiery 2.0-liter turbo-four engine makes 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. It revs to 7,000 rpm and has been able to haul the hatchback to 60 mph in under five seconds, based on independent testing. Although it’s loud and not especially comfortable, the Type R’s remarkable chassis composure and precise six-speed manual gearbox make for a fantastic driver’s car. Zac Palmer With Honda rapidly hybridizing its range, the FL5 could be the last Civic Type R to be powered by a non-electrified powertrain, and it may also be the last manual version of the iconic hatch. Honda hasn’t confirmed anything, but the next Type R could very well have a more powerful version of the Prelude’s hybrid powertrain, complete with that car’s S+ Shift system with simulated gearshifts. If you want a Civic Type R with a classic manual, the time to buy one is now. View the full article

A CARB filing for the Kawasaki W175 LTD suggests the US market is finally warming up to simple, lightweight motorcycles.View the full article

Eyes on the PrizeAutomakers rewrote their EV roadmaps in 2025 as the market turned. Nonetheless, this year’s World Car of the Year (WCOTY) top 10 finalists are all available with some form of electrification, selected from an initial field of 58 contenders. The shortlist includes the Audi Q5/SQ5, BMW iX3, BYD Seal 6 DM-i, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Hyundai Palisade, Kia EV4, Kia EV5, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Nissan Leaf, and Toyota RAV4. These vehicles will be evaluated by a jury of 98 automotive journalists from 33 countries as they compete to dethrone the reigning WCOTY winner, the Kia EV3. Hyundai The EV DynastyNot every finalist employs the same type of electrification. Models such as the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz CLA are available with 48-volt mild-hybrid systems, while others – including the Nissan Leaf, BMW iX3, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Kia EV4, and Kia EV5 – are fully electric. For the 2026 model year, the Toyota RAV4 lineup in the U.S. is hybrid-only, while the Hyundai Palisade now offers a hybrid variant producing around 329 horsepower. Chinese automaker BYD enters the race with the Seal 6 DM-i, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) as part of the brand’s DM-i series. With four entries on the WCOTY top-10 list, Hyundai Motor Group – the parent company of Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis – is well positioned to extend its winning streak to five consecutive years. The group’s previous WCOTY winners include the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (2022), Hyundai Ioniq 6 (2023), Kia EV9 (2024), and Kia EV3 (2025). Here are the other lists of awards, along with their respective finalists: 2026 World Electric VehicleAudi A6 e-tron/S6 e-tronBMW iX3Hyundai Ioniq 9Mercedes-Benz CLANissan Leaf2026 World Luxury CarAudi A6 e-tron/S6 e-tronAudi A6/S6Cadillac VistiqLucid GravityVolvo ES902026 World Performance CarBMW M2 CSChevrolet Corvette E-RayDefender OCTAHyundai Ioniq 6Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro2026 World Urban CarAlfa Romeo JuniorBaojun Yep Plus/Chevrolet Spark EUVFireflyHyundai VenueWuling Binguo/Ari Poly Toyota Mark the CalendarAll nominees across these categories are also eligible for the 2026 World Car Design of the Year award. The top three finalists for the WCOTY title will be announced on March 3, ahead of the final winners in all six categories, which will be revealed on April 1 at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS). The 2026 ceremony marks the 21st year of partnership between the World Car Awards and NYIAS, dating back to the inaugural winner, the Audi A6, in 2005. View the 7 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

A wild winter motorsport born in Europe called Motoskijoring and sponsored by Red Bull offers the kind of mayhem and pure spectacle that America’s risk-averse landscape desperately needs.View the full article

2026 Dakar Rally Stage Four – Alula to Alula (Marathon Part 1) Tosha Schareina took the Dakar Stage Four win, making four stage wins to Spain of the five run so far – including the prologue. Riders undertook the opening half of the first marathon, with a 417 km special looping around AlUla, stopping at […] The post Schareina leads Dakar after marathon Stage Four appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Motos America has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to rising interest rates and financial pressure. It joins a list of many recent powersports businesses filing for the same thing.View the full article

Meet Atlas. It’s the latest member of the growing robot family to emerge from the laboratory at Boston Dynamics – perhaps best known for its canine-like Spot. Atlas, however, walks on two legs and boasts a decidedly humanoid shape. And if the company’s parent, Hyundai Motor Group, has its way, Atlas will soon start showing up at its U.S. parts and assembly plants. Hyundai hopes to be building as many as 30,000 of the machines annually later this decade. And while officials say Atlas is designed primarily for factory applications, a senior Boston Dynamics official told Autoblog he’d like to have a version of the robot ready for home applications by 2035. On the Cusp“We’re on the cusp of a transformation that will be as impactful as the introduction of the smartphone,” said Zachary Jackowski, the Boston Dynamics vice president in charge of the Atlas program. Mercedes-Benz Founded in 1992, the company has been a pioneer in the robot space, focusing on machines that can move freely and serve a variety of services, including search and rescue, like Spot, the robot dog. Boston Dynamics was acquired by Hyundai in 2020 and has since been working up robots that can augment the more traditional, fixed automation that have become a mainstay in auto plants and other factories around the world. Atlas is the initial result of that effort. It looks like it might have rolled off the set of a sci-fi flick, though it’s round, clock-shaped head is decidedly less threatening than the angry face of the robots in the “Terminator” film series. But Atlas can walk, bend down, even dance a bit. It’s motorized arms can move in even more directions than a human, and its claw-like “hands” feature tactile sensors allowing it to pick up delicate objects. It’s capable of lifting up to 110-pound loads – such as the bumpers that it might help install on a Hyundai assembly line. Production Plans“Our vision is a general-purpose humanoid robot that can go anywhere and manipulate any object,” explained Aya Durbin, a product lead on the Atlas program. Hyundai intends to set up a dedicated plant to put together about 30,000 Atlas robots annually, with production expected to begin in 2028. Initially, officials said, they will start rolling, er, walking into Hyundai factories, such as its Metaplant in Georgia. The company then plans to start offering them to other manufacturers. It foresees a “robot-as-service” business where they will be leased on an as-needed basis. Boston Dynamics officials noted that they have set up special training facilities for Atlas, adding that the latest AI software allows the robot to learn on the fly, rather than needing to have its movements specifically programmed like traditional factory automation. And once one of the robots learns a task – such as unloading pallets of automotive parts – it can digitally transfer that knowledge to its clones. A Friendly Face Hyundai is just one of many companies working up humanoid robots. Quite a few competitors – many of them from China – are displaying similar machines at CES this week. Absent from the annual gathering: Tesla, which is beginning to accelerate production of its own Optimus robot. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has laid out aggressive plans for Optimus, and not just on the company’s assembly lines. His vision could have been lifted from the old Jetsons animated television series, imagining the humanoid machines as commonplace in American homes. Related: Tesla Just Signed a $16.5 Billion Chip Deal While Its Sales Are Tanking That idea doesn’t necessarily resonate with everyone, acknowledged Hyundai Motor President and CEO Jaehoon Chang, during a media roundtable. There have been far too many robots serving as protagonists in films, like “Terminator.” And even for those who don’t see robots as a sign of the apocalypse, there’s the question of what they might mean for factory jobs. For its part, Hyundai and Boston Dynamics took great pains to downplay such concerns, promising that, if anything, the arrival of Atlas will create even more jobs. A Robot Maid? That said, Boston Dynamic CEO Robert Playter cautioned that Atlas isn’t ready to find a place in your home. Not yet. The first concern, he said, “is safety.” And it will take time to make sure the next-generation Atlas will be able to not only wash and put away your dishes but tuck your child into bed at night. More likely, he told Autoblog, such humanoid robots could be particularly helpful in eldercare situations, a field in which there’s a growing shortage of human workers as Baby Boomers and Gen X-ers grow old. Asked how long it will take to make Atlas house-trained, Playter suggested that could happen by as early as 2035. The other challenge, he added, will be cost. Factories might be able to justify six-figure price tags. To become affordable for homeowners, he suggested, that will have to come down to somewhere between “$10,000 and $20,000.” View the full article

Initial D Meets the Modern AgeFor years, the Toyota GT86, and Subaru BRZ have been described as spiritual successors to the legendary AE86 Corolla. Light, rear-wheel drive, affordable, and built for drivers, the lineage has always been obvious. But at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, Osaka-based tuner Result Japan has taken that idea to its logical extreme. Its new Neo86 widebody kit doesn’t just nod to the past, it practically time-travels straight out of Initial D and into 2026. The headline feature is impossible to miss: fully functional pop-up headlights, paired with a flattened hood, black bumpers, amber markers, and yellow fog lamps. Finished in the iconic panda-style black-and-white livery and sitting on genuine Watanabe wheels, the Neo86 instantly recalls the legendary AE86 Trueno made famous by Initial D. It’s nostalgia done with confidence, not irony, and that’s what makes it work. More Than Just an Anime CosplayUnlike many tribute builds that stop at a fascia swap, Result Japan has gone all in. The Neo86 replaces every panel ahead of the windshield, adds aggressively flared fenders, new door panels, extended side skirts, and a wide rear bumper capped with a subtle ducktail spoiler. The result is a much wider, lower stance that looks every bit like a period-correct ’80s tuner special, just scaled up for modern proportions. 遂にNEO86が完成しました❗️ 東京オートサロン2026にてプレオーダーを開始します👍 pic.twitter.com/54p1Wq0Sul — Result Japan【公式】 (@ResultJapan) January 4, 2026 Crucially, the kit avoids tipping into parody. The black accents visually slim the body, the rear spoiler balances the puffed-out arches, and the proportions remain cohesive even without the panda paint. Built from fiberglass-reinforced plastic, the kit is serious hardware, though buyers should know installation requires cutting the original bodywork. This is a one-way transformation, not a reversible weekend mod, but that commitment is part of the appeal. RESULT JAPAN Tokyo Auto Salon DebutUnder the skin, Result Japan appears to have left the car mechanically stock, retaining the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter boxer’s roughly 200hp output. Purists may applaud the restraint, while others will inevitably imagine turbo kits and suspension upgrades to match the aggressive new footprint. Either way, the aftermarket support for the ZN6 platform means owners won’t be short on options. The Neo86 will make its public debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon, running January 9–11, with pre-orders opening at the show. Even better, Result Japan has hinted that availability won’t be limited to Japan, suggesting global buyers may soon get a shot at building their own modern-day hachi-roku. RESULT JAPAN View the full article