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Yamaha officially closed the book on the YXZ1000R in the most fitting way possible—by winning championships. Debuting in 2016, the YXZ1000R carved out a unique place in the UTV world with its high-revving three-cylinder engine, true manual transmission, and a design that rewarded skilled, engaged drivers rather than casual trail cruising. At the 2025 Championship Off-Road finale at Glen Helen Raceway, Yamaha factory pilot Owen VanEperen delivered a storybook ending, clinching both the Pro SxS and Pro Stock SxS titles behind the wheel of the YXZ1000R. Adding to the historic moment, Owen shared the celebration with his father, Rodney VanEperen, creating a rare and memorable father-son championship pairing. About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Yamaha Motor Corp., USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars [sold, serviced, and distributed by Yamaha Golf-Car Company], Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States. YMUS has a corporate office in California, three corporate offices in Georgia, as well as facilities in Wisconsin, Alabama, and Florida. YMUS subsidiaries Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America (YMMC), based in Georgia, and Yamaha Jet Boat Manufacturing USA (YJBM) based in Tennessee, each assemble and manufacture selected Yamaha brand products. YMUS owns Skeeter Boats [Texas] with its division G3 Boats [Missouri]. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company, Inc. (YMSC) with subsidiary Siren Marine [Rhode Island] and divisions Bennett Marine [Florida], Yamaha Marine Rotational Molders [Wisconsin] and Yamaha Precision Propeller Inc. [Indiana]. Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, USA (Yamaha Financial Services), an affiliate of YMUS, offers financing solutions to support Yamaha Dealers and loyal Yamaha Customers nationwide. Yamaha Financial Services provides retail and commercial financing for the diverse line of Yamaha brand motor products based out of Cypress, CA and Marietta, GA. The post Yamaha Sends Off the Legendary YXZ1000R With a Championship Finale appeared first on UTV Guide. View the full article

Before Bugatti has even delivered a single Tourbillon to a customer, the aftermarket has started to circle. Vossen has unveiled a set of forged LC3 wheels for the new V16 hypercar, using high end CGI to show how its designs would look bolted to Molsheim’s next flagship. The result is equal parts fantasy configurator and early shot in the personalization race around a car that will start around four million dollars. View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Two LC3 Designs For A Four Million Dollar CanvasVossen’s renders pair a white and blue Tourbillon with a staggered wheel setup. Up front sits the LC3 11T, a forged monoblock with a deeply concave face, multi spoke layout and a ring of small vents that hint at brake cooling. Out back is the LC3 01T, a more conventional Y spoke pattern that gives the rear axle a motorsport feel without drowning the body in design noise. Both are shown in Brushed Gloss Clear, which lets the machining do most of the talking and plays nicely with the Tourbillon’s clean surfacing. Sizes for the LC3 range from 19 to 24 inches, with widths from 8.5 to 13 inches, and pricing is around 2,600 dollars per wheel. That is not out of line in the supercar world, but it still means five figures of hardware before you even think about tires. Bugatti will have its own factory wheel families, tied into option packs and the brand’s new Atelier in Molsheim. The whole point of that space is to make each build feel bespoke straight from the brand. Vossen’s pitch is that some owners will still want to go off menu. View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Does Aftermarket Metal Belong On A TourbillonThe debate kicked off immediately, as some fans like how the LC3 shapes echo the car’s aero theme. Others argue that swapping wheels on a limited run, 1,800 horsepower hybrid V16 that has been engineered to the millimeter is asking for trouble, both technically and in terms of value. The Tourbillon is packed with radical tech, yet its cabin rejects the usual screen wall in favor of an analog inspired layout. The central instruments are built like a high end mechanical watch. It is a car that already feels customized before any tuner gets near it. There is also the small matter of what Bugatti is doing in house. The firm is preparing a new Bugatti one off hypercar later this month, and history says it will come with its own unique wheels, aero and trim. When the factory is already spinning out special builds that sit above the “standard” Tourbillon, third party styling parts start to look more like seasoning than a main course. View the full article

Stage 3 action, highlights, and more are below! This was some carnage filled action! If you missed the previous video, use the link below. Dakar Rally 2026 is on! The worlds longest, toughest, and most infamous off-road race has started and we couldn’t be more excited! Famous racers and teams, well known for their prowess in the sand and on Dakar in general, have already been struggling which is just more proof of how gnarly this race really is. There are a lot of new cars and new teams mixed in with proven cars and older teams, but it’s the little things that matter at Dakar. If you don’t take care of your equipment, and keep your teams and people healthy, then you’ll never finish and if you don’t finish you can’t win. This race goes all over Saudi Arabia and will subject drivers and riders to all kinds of sand terrain and more. But the sand is what swallows teams. It’s the most fierce of the challenges. Will 2026 prove to be even tougher than last year? Would you run at Dakar if given the chance? Let us know in the comments section below. CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE COVERAGE FROM PREVIOUS STAGES! The post Dakar Rally 2026 Coverage: Stage 3 Rally Racing Action From The Insanely Rocky and Dangerous Conditions in Alula appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

The Bright Headlights Crisis Is Far From OverIf you find yourself squinting while driving at night, you’re not alone. The IIHS reports that average headlight brightness has roughly doubled in the last decade. The NHTSA receives more consumer complaints regarding headlight brightness than any other category. There's a real, widespread anger out there; there's even a subreddit with over 44,000 members complaining about this growing and very real crisis. The numbers support the public's frustration. Older halogen bulbs produced approximately 1,000 lumens. Newer factory-fitted LEDs produce up to 4,000 lumens or more. Some aftermarket LEDs have been found to produce 10,000 lumens or more. But the problem is that the federal brightness standards for automotive headlights have not changed for decades. Getty Regulatory Loopholes Made The Issue WorseThe Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 hasn't had significant updates since 1986, with the NHTSA last investigating the issue of headlamp glare in 2003. The current standards include huge loopholes for auto manufacturers to emit as much light as desired, as long as the manufacturer meets the requirements of the other parts of the regulation. LEDs can be made to focus light using lasers, and auto manufacturers use this ability to their advantage. The regulatory standard prohibits excessive light in certain areas by referencing old technologies, but manufacturers design the areas in question to be shaded so that the total light output can still be increased greatly overall. Manufacturers want as much light as possible in order to get a high score for the IIHS headlight safety ratings. Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) Blinding Headlights Are a Global ProblemBlinding headlights are something that people from all over the world are complaining about, but very few countries have taken proactive measures. The UK has decided to require all new vehicles sold after December 2025 to have adaptive headlights. Since 2010, European countries have utilized Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) technology, which automatically dims the light in areas that are directly ahead of oncoming vehicles. Although the U.S. finally approved the ADB technology in February 2022, manufacturers are wary of implementing it because of conflicting regulations, with a few exceptions, such as Rivian. Rivi Less Brightness, More LogicTo fix this problem, the first step is to update Standard 108 with a cap on the maximum allowable brightness for LED technology. Next, states should begin requiring headlight alignment inspection during vehicle inspections. Finally, NHTSA should enforce a ban against the sale of aftermarket LEDs that exceed the allowed brightness, at least for on-road use. The Soft Lights Foundation has collected over 77,000 signatures calling for federal action to limit headlight brightness. People are frustrated with being temporarily blinded while driving, and it’s high time some regulation was put into place. Vehicles have become cleaner and safer through smart regulation; the same just needs to be done with headlights. View the full article

Last month, NASCAR legend Greg Biffle was among seven killed in a tragic plane crash in Statesville, North Carolina. The veteran driver spent the majority of his career with RFK Racing, which took it upon themselves to honor Biffle with a new display at their team museum, which is open to the public. It includes the car Biffle won his 19th and final Cup race with at Michigan in 2013, which was ...Keep readingView the full article

The Name Wasn’t ReadyThe stage was set, and the lights were bright when Tesla debuted the Cybercab at the “We, Robot” event last October 2024. However, the EV maker appears to have failed to do its homework, as it now faces what looks like a squatter situation with the "Cybercab" trademark. According to a report from Electrek, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a suspension notice on Tesla’s Cybercab trademark filing. The notice states that there was already a pending priority application for the same name, which belongs to a company called Unibev. Notably, Unibev is described as a French beverage business, suggesting that the Cybercab nameplate may ultimately have nothing to do with a vehicle rolling on four autonomous wheels. You can look up the trademark yourself by typing in "Cybercab" on USPTO's online search tool. Tesla Getting Déjà VuWhat makes the situation more intriguing is that Unibev also holds TESLAQUILA trademarks, a name Tesla once explored for its branded alcohol. Viewed in that context, the Cybercab dispute appears less coincidental. The pattern suggests that Unibev may be actively monitoring Tesla’s branding activity, particularly delays in trademark filings. As for motive, one possible explanation is financial leverage. By securing priority rights to the Cybercab name, Unibev could be positioning itself to extract a significant payout if Tesla seeks to acquire the trademark – an approach that aligns closely with classic trademark squatting behavior. Tesla The Clock Is TickingTesla plans to begin producing the Cybercab – or whatever name it ultimately adopts – as early as April this year, making a swift response to the trademark issue time-sensitive. Moreover, the company has yet to secure regulatory approval for its fully autonomous system. Recent sightings of two Cybercab prototypes in Austin, Texas, showed the vehicles operating with a human driver and a steering wheel. For additional context, Tesla has said the Cybercab is ultimately intended to be produced without a steering wheel or pedals, supporting the company’s vision of a fully autonomous, two-seat robotaxi. Whether Tesla chooses to negotiate with Unibev for the Cybercab trademark or abandon the name entirely remains to be seen. However, retaining a nameplate that includes the word “Cyber” would align neatly with the company’s existing product strategy. The Cybertruck already anchors that branding approach as Tesla’s answer to electric pickups like the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the Rivian R1T. The brand has also extended the naming theme to non-automotive products, including the Cyberquad for Kids electric four-wheel ride-on toy. Tesla View the 5 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

At just 27 years old, Sydney Marshall is already the face of a new generation in drag racing. He grew up at the racetrack, learned every inch of it from the ground up, and now runs one of the most active racetracks in Florida – Orlando Speed World Dragway. Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #197, the 30 Under 30 Issue, in November/December 2025. Growing up in central Florida, Marshall spent his earliest weekends at the track, tagging along as his father raced in local bracket programs before running the Outlaw Pro Street Motorcycle class across the country, from Gainesville to Indy to Rockingham. “I started coming to OSW when I was probably like two or three months old,” Marshall recalls. “My dad was racing before I was born and continues to race now. He was always into motorcycles, so that’s how I got into it.” For Marshall, the sights and sounds of the racetrack left an early impression. Staple events like Night of Fire and the World Street Nationals were, and still are, two of his favorites on the yearly schedule. Along with his father, Marshall’s mother, and his cousin, Isaiah Rojas, driver of the ProCharged Mech-Tech Pro Mod Corvette, also influenced his involvement in the sport. While still in high school, Marshall first joined the staff at Orlando Speed World in a part-time position that gradually became a full-time career. By 2020, when a management change occurred, owner Ozzy Moya already had a replacement in mind. “Ozzy called me and gave me the opportunity to come on board full-time,” he says. “I took it and went into the management side of Orlando Speed World. Now it’s my show to run.” The promotion, however, did not come without challenges. Marshall works an average of 50 hours a week while taking classes toward his mechanical engineering degree at Seminole State College, with plans to transfer to UCF. He admits that earning respect from racers was a hurdle in the beginning but has improved over time. “They see a new young kid come in and they’re not as open to that,” he says. “But I think overall we’ve gotten where we need to be. Everybody knows the deal and I’m not just some young kid here just to fill in a spot.” With six full-time employees and a rotating staff of about 55, Marshall oversees multiple departments, including office management, marketing, maintenance, and groundskeeping. During the week, he hosts private track rentals, while weekends are packed with a variety of events. “Lack of sleep is the way to do it,” he says with a laugh. Marshall is also experienced in track prep, a skill he learned firsthand from a previous manager. “I’m always a person to try different things. Franco told me to hop on the tractor, so I did. And from there, I learned more about prepping the racetrack and got better over time,” Marshall says. That willingness to dive in has earned him respect beyond OSW. He has been contracted to assist other facilities, including Gainesville Raceway for Sick Week, as well as South Georgia Motorsports Park. In 2022, he had the opportunity to help Kurt Johnson with Total Venue Concepts at the Night Under Fire event at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. “That was my first time doing anything fuel-related. Prepping for fuel cars is way different than anything I’ve ever seen before,” he says of working with Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars. In addition to managing one of Florida’s busiest dragstrips, Marshall is building his own Limited Drag Radial car, a 2018 Infiniti Q60 with a billet 2JZ engine, 106mm turbo, and 5-speed Liberty transmission. His dad is helping with the build, and Marshall values that time spent together in the shop. “I wanted to build something that people don’t normally see,” he says. “Hopefully by June, the car will be on the track, if not earlier. There’s not much left to do, but it’s all the little tedious stuff.” While Marshall continues working toward his college degree, he sees his long-term future at Orlando Speed World, where a succession plan is already in place for the facility. “I always wanted to get my engineering degree since I was a child, but that’s not the field I plan to go into. I want to carry this out as long as I can,” he explains. “Within the next few years, Ozzy has plans for me and his two kids to take over the business. His son, Junior, and his daughter, Isabella, and I will fully run the company and basically lease the facility from him.” For now, Marshall is focused on building events like Night of Fire and Sport Compact Challenge, which is the biggest import race in the world held every October. He also wants to make the facility a place that welcomes a wide range of events, racers, and spectators. “Right now, Orlando is mostly known for the import series. My goal is to make us known for everything – this is a multicultural place,” he says. With a clear vision and a lifelong passion for drag racing, there’s no doubt Orlando Speed World is in good hands with Marshall at the helm of track operations. He’s excited and focused on improving the 60-year-old facility, but also emphasizes what truly drives its success. “You could have the best track in the world, but if you don’t get the people to come and race here, it doesn’t matter,” he says. “It means nothing without the racers and the people who show up to our facility.” This story was originally published on January 7, 2026. The post DI 30 Under 30 2025: Sydney Marshall first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Running both pump gas and methanol with a Holley Dominator is possible. Rick Trunkett walks us through how this advanced system works. View the full article

Ford’s 2025 sales numbers have just come in, and it was a generally strong year for the Blue Oval. Not only did the company’s total sales rise by 6%, but its market share went up by 0.6% and Ford achieved its highest sales this decade. Overall, Ford sold 2,204,124 vehicles last year, with its market share reaching 13.2%. By comparison, rival Chevrolet sold 1,829,235 vehicles. Ford outperformed the industry for the 10th consecutive month in December, and attributed some of this success to the diversity of trim and powertrain offerings. Let’s take a closer look at the specific models and powertrains that made 2025 such a strong year for Ford. Trucks Continue To Lead The Way Ford Ford sold 1,268,749 trucks last year, an increase of 9.5%. Once again, the F-Series was America’s best-selling pickup, with 828,832 units sold. But it wasn’t only Ford’s large trucks that performed well, as cheaper models grew at a much higher rate in percentage terms. The Ranger hit 70,960 sales, a significant 53.6% increase but still behind the 107,867 Colorados sold by Chevrolet. Still, no other Ford posted better sales growth than the Ranger last year. This figure was bolstered by the base Ranger XL, which saw sales jump by 82.3% as consumers look to purchase more affordable trims. The Ford Maverick, the brand’s cheapest pickup and the cheapest pickup in America, had a record sales year with 155,051 units sold, up by 18.2%. Here are a few other key insights from Ford’s truck sales in 2025: 84,934 F-150 Hybrids sold, a record that makes it America’s top-selling hybrid truckF-Series secures 49th consecutive year as America’s top-selling truckBase Maverick XL sales climbed by 29.5% for the yearSuper Duty pickups achieved best sales since 2004The F-150 Hybrid’s performance is notable, as it contributed to last year being Ford’s best-ever year for hybrid sales, with a 21.7% increase. The Maverick Hybrid also contributed to that increase, with 81,034 units of the electrified pickup sold. SUV Sales Remain Steady Kristen Brown/Autoblog Overall, Ford sold 890,042 SUVs last year, a more modest increase of 1.6%. However, this can be considered a positive result, given that Ford discontinued the popular Escape recently, a model that still sold almost 140,000 units in 2025. The Explorer was America’s best-selling three-row SUV, selling 222,706 units, up by 14.7%. This model was supported by the Expedition, which hit 85,921 sales (+10.%, its best year since 2019). The Bronco saw the greatest improvement of any Ford SUV, with sales rising by 33.7% to 146,007 units. The Bronco Sport hit sales of 134,493, up by 7.9%. Off-road performance trims like the Raptor performed well, as did cheaper Bronco trims like the base and Big Bend derivatives. “We’re growing share and beating the trend because we offer a great range of products, from accessible entry-level models to high-performance off-roaders,” said Andrew Frick, president, Ford Blue and Model e. Mixed Fortunes For Mustang and EVs 2025 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Premium Cole Attisha View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article While gas and hybrid trucks/SUVs led the way for Ford in 2025, the Mustang also had a decent year, with sales rising by 3% to 45,333 units. The same can’t be said for EVs, though. Electric Fords were down by 14.1% to 84,113 units. The Mustang Mach-E held firm at 51,620 units, just 0.2% down, but many of those sales came before the federal tax credit for EVs was dropped; in Q4 alone, Mach-E sales tumbled by 40.1%. The F-150 Lighting sold just 27,305 units, down by 18.5%. Ford confirmed late last year that the electric pickup would go out of production, as it’s simply not profitable. Ford isn’t giving up on electric pickups, though. A new midsize electric truck based on the Universal EV Platform is coming in 2027, when production begins at the Louisville Assembly Plant. It’s expected to be a lot more affordable than the F-150 Lightning. Related: Ford's $30,000 Electric Pickup Truck Is On Its Way. What Could It Look Like? Final ThoughtsLike General Motors, Ford sales grew by 6% over the course of 2025, but the two brands are excelling in different areas. GM was the number 2 EV brand in 2025, whereas Ford’s EV sales decreased and its F-150 Lightning was discontinued. Ford’s pickups and SUVs performed strongly, though, including those motivated by hybrid powertrains. The sheer amount of choice throughout Ford’s lineup, from trims to powertrains, means there’s something to suit almost every type of buyer. And, as car prices rise, it's clear that Ford's cheaper, frill-free base trims and striking a chord with consumers. View the full article

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