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An outfit called Donut Lab has revealed the world's first production-ready solid-state battery. Designed specifically for electric vehicles, the battery can be recharged to full capacity in just five minutes, and that's a big deal. While some early adopters have been willing to deal with the inconveniences of EV ownership, the vast majority of those who are agnostic about what powers their cars remain unwilling to deal with the long wait times that recharging an electric vehicle requires; even if charging stations are prolific in your area, refilling the battery takes a certain amount of planning. With this technology, however, recharging an EV could take no more time than filling a combustion-powered car's gas tank. In fact, Donut Lab's CEO says the company's goal is to "make electric vehicles so good that combustion becomes irrelevant." The World's First Solid-State-Powered EV is Imminent Donut Lab The startup says its liquid-free battery cells and modules are now available at a gigawatt-hour level of production capacity, and it's inviting companies all over the world to take advantage. Verge Motorcycles, which already uses Donut Lab's futuristic in-wheel motor on its electric motorcycles, says the updated version of its TS Pro two-wheeler, scheduled to reach customers in the first quarter of 2026, will be the world's first production all-solid-state-powered EV. Donut Lab says the battery has an energy density of 400 watt-hours/kilogram, which is double the density of a typical Tesla battery, and can be fully charged - not just to 80%, as is ideal for conventional batteries - in five minutes for as many as 100,000 cycles. According to InsideEVs, the best traditional lithium-ion batteries available today only manage a density of around 250-300 Wh/kg and can only last up to 5,000 full cycles while limiting the maximum state of charge to 80%. In other words, this battery is a game-changer. Donut's Battery is Safer, Faster, and Cheaper Donut Lab View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Donut Lab's solid-state battery is not only more energy-dense, faster-charging, capable of providing more range, and lighter, but it's also safer, with the company claiming that extreme temperatures have little to no effect. Donut Lab says the battery retained more than 99% of its capacity at temperatures as low as -22°F (-30°C) and as high as 212°F (100°C). Furthermore, the company says the battery won't ignite if it's damaged, and although it didn't reveal what materials go into it, Donut says it's "100% green, made from materials that are found everywhere," meaning it can be built worldwide and have a minimal impact on the environment while costing less than comparable lithium-ion batteries. Related: The New EVs We’re Most Excited About in 2026 Donut Labs adds that Verge's TS Pro motorcycle, formerly capable of a city driving range of 217 miles with a conventional battery, can now do up to 370 miles with a solid-state battery in the same cradle. With this Large Battery option, recharging takes less than 10 miutes, with Verge saying it deliberately designed the new bike to take longer to charge to allow riders to have a coffee while waiting. This battery has been unveiled at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show, where future tech is always on display, but Donut Lab co-founder and CEO Mark Lehtimäki says its answer to when solid-state batteries will be ready for use in OEM production vehicles "is now, today, not later." Would this make you more willing to go electric? View the full article

With his $50,000 victory at the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks, two-time PDRA Pro Boost world champion Jason Harris is the points leader going into the second race of the 2025/2026 Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service, the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission. Harris and several other Pro Modified stars are now in contention for the second annual DI Winter Series championship. Harris is also in the running for the inaugural Elite Motorsports Million – a million-dollar bonus for winning all three Winter Series races – and the Jerry Bickel Clean Sweep Challenge, which awards a brand-new Pro Mod rolling chassis for qualifying No. 1 at all three races. With a special “Party Time” Harold Denton tribute wrap on his Harts Charger-boosted ’69 Camaro, Harris qualified No. 1 and went to the final round to line up against Brazil’s Sidnei Frigo. Harris left the line first and won with a 3.561-second ET at 211.06 mph to Frigo’s 3.570 at 211.33. “We all felt like [the Million] was unobtainable, but maybe it is obtainable. Who knows?” Harris said. “I’ve done crazier things, and just to be able to get a chance to even have the chance to do it just puts kudos to what we accomplished in racing. I thank Richard Freeman and Elite Motorsports for putting up the million dollars and Wes and the DI guys for setting that up. Thanks also to Jerry Bickel Race Cars for the opportunity to compete for a new car.” Working with tuners Jeff Pierce and Stevie “Fast” Jackson out of the Killin’ Time Racing camp, Frigo made a major statement with his performance in the screw-blown Artivinco Racing ’23 Camaro. He ran in the low 3.60s in the first four rounds to knock down the three winners from the inaugural Winter Series – Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod winner Steve King in round two, defending Snowbirds winner Kye Kelley in round three, and U.S. Street Nationals winner and Winter Series champion Ken Quartuccio in the semifinals. Frigo is second in points. Quartuccio ranks third with his semifinal exit and No. 8 qualifying position. The defending Winter Series champion was certainly one to watch at the Snowbirds behind the wheel of the Steve Petty-tuned, screw-blown Tidwell Nesloney Racing ’69 Camaro. He charged hard throughout eliminations, ultimately losing to Frigo’s 3.594 with a 3.601. It’s looking like Quartuccio will not defend his title, though, as he announced last week that he’s taking a step back from driving to focus on business opportunities. Spencer Hyde, the 2023 WSOPM champion turned 2025 NHRA Rookie of the Year, will replace Quartuccio in the Tidwell/Nesloney Camaro. Quartuccio’s points will remain with him, though. Three-time PDRA Pro Boost world champion Kevin Rivenbark is fourth in points with his semifinal finish driving Stan Shelton’s screw-blown Culp Lumber ’21 Mustang. Rivenbark was outside the 32-car field in the No. 34 spot after the final qualifying session, but he was inserted into the field as an alternate due to a few crashes and breakage. His 3.658 fell to Harris’ 3.576 in the semis. Kelley, who shocked the Pro Mod world when he won the 2024 Snowbirds in his steel-roof-and-quarters ’85 Camaro, rounds out the top five after qualifying No. 5 and reaching the quarterfinals. He rolled into the Winter Series with an actual Pro Mod, a screw-blown ’25 Camaro nicknamed “Uncle Larry” from Larry Jeffers Race Cars. He got a close first-round win over fellow Mississippi-based No Prep Kings star Scott Taylor and a slight holeshot win over NHRA Pro Mod’s Justin Bond before losing to Frigo by nine thousandths in the third round. The other quarterfinalists – Eric Gustafson, Randy Weatherford, and Billy Banaka – sit sixth, seventh, and eighth in the points standings. Doorslammer world record holder Jimmy Taylor is ninth on the strength of his No. 2 qualifying effort and his second-round exit. Pro Mod newcomer John Doc qualified No. 7 and went to the second round, putting him No. 10. The 2025/2026 DI Winter Series presented by J&A Service will continue Jan. 22-25 with the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission at Bradenton Motorsports Park. This story was originally published on January 6, 2026. The post Snowbirds Winner Jason Harris Leads DI Winter Series Points Going Into U.S. Street Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Five Lucky FolksIt may have been axed in 2024, but the Audi R8 managed to find a few more customers in 2025. According to its own figures, Audi still managed to shift five R8s in America last year, likely leftover stock that trickled over to 2025. To whoever bought the very last one, we say: keep it forever... unless someone offers a really good price for it. Hey, we all have bills to pay. The R8 was a landmark moment for Audi. Introduced in 2007, it spanned two generations, with the second one released in 2015. With the way things are going right now, we doubt there will ever be another like the first two models, as their successor could become a hybrid. It's an interesting tidbit from the company’s year. Unfortunately, it does little to help the sales bloodbath it went through in 2025. Sorry, Audi fans, this will sting a little. A Painful YearAs if 2024 wasn’t painful enough, Audi of America reported yet another sales decline for 2025. In 2024, Audi sold 196,576 cars in the U.S, 14 percent down over 2023’s figures. Last year, the company shifted just 164,942 cars, representing another 16 percent drop from the year prior. To put that into perspective, it's the German automaker's worst sales performance this decade. It’s even lower than 2020's figures of 186,620 units, meaning the company sold more cars during the height of the pandemic than last year. To say Audi has a terrible 2025 would be a massive understatement. Negative Figures All AroundA look at the sales chart reveals nearly all models experienced a decline. The Audi Q5, Q3, and Q7, Audi’s best-sellers in America, saw sales go down by over 10 percent. Among the three, it was the Q3 that had the sharpest decline — a staggering 27 percent down from 2024’s total. That's about 8,500 units lower than before, from 32,090 to just 23,581. The brand’s EV sales also took a tumble in 2025, save for one model. It was not a great year for the Q4 e-Tron, Q4 e-Tron Sportback, and e-Tron GT, with sales nearly halved compared to 2024. Worse still, the all-new models, namely the A5, A6, and Q5, also saw fewer sales than their predecessors. Granted, it's a transition year for those cars, but the numbers don’t look promising for the new generation of Audis. Audi Some Bright SpotsOkay, let’s look at some positives here. If it’s any consolation for Audi, the A7 actually sold better than it did in 2025, with a 5 percent increase over 2024 sales. It’s not a massive deal, but we’ll take it as a win for the company that has seen nothing but negative figures. The other car that saw a little sales bump was the Q8, also with a 5 percent increase. The extreme outlier here is the Q6 e-Tron, which recorded 1,681 percent more sales in 2024. The reason for that is that the electric crossover only started reaching customers in late 2024, and 2025 is its first full year of sales. Well, at least it's not a negative. Audi View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

The Legacy’s Last LapDespite Subaru’s overall sales decline in 2025, the Legacy recorded a 13.4 percent increase, with deliveries reaching 22,212 units. The sales uptick is notable given that the final U.S.-market Legacy already rolled off the automaker’s Indiana plant last September, bringing its 36-year run in the American market to a close. Introduced to Americans in 1989, the Legacy carved out a distinct position by offering all-wheel drive (AWD) as an option in the mass-market midsize segment. At the time, most rivals – including the Toyota Camry and Chevrolet Lumina – were front-wheel drive. Even today, the Honda Accord does not offer AWD, a feature that would arguably make sense given the wide range of weather conditions across the United States. Subaru The Rise of the CrossoverOne reason Subaru discontinued the Legacy appears to be tied to shifting market demand, as consumers have increasingly gravitated toward crossovers and SUVs over traditional sedans. The Outback, after all, is largely derived from the Legacy’s underpinnings but adds a higher ride height and more rugged styling—traits that better align with the automaker's outdoors-focused brand identity. In total, approximately 1.398 million Legacy units were produced at the Indiana plant, including 1,056,056 sedans and 342,938 wagons. Beyond the Legacy, the Crosstrek was the only other Subaru model to post sales growth in 2025. The compact crossover achieved its best full-year result on record, with 191,724 units sold—an increase of 5.5 percent. The Forester ranked as the brand’s second-best-selling model, posting only a marginal decline of 0.3 percent, followed by the Outback, which recorded 157,716 units sold, down 6.6 percent year over year. Subaru The Road ForwardOverall, the Japanese marque delivered 643,591 vehicles in 2025, representing a 3.6 percent decline compared to 2024. Subaru also reported December 2025 sales of 57,437 units, with the all-electric Subaru Solterra accounting for just 498 deliveries – a steep 57.3 percent drop compared to the same period the previous year. This decline mirrors a broader trend across the U.S. market following the expiration of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit last September. While the Legacy has exited the U.S. lineup, Subaru is preparing to introduce new models this year, including two all-electric additions: the Trailseeker and the Uncharted. The Trailseeker is set to become the largest model in the brand's EV portfolio, while the Uncharted will slot into the compact electric crossover segment, where it will compete with vehicles such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and Volvo EX30. View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Toyota’s Hybrid Bet Continues to Pay OffRight now, no other automaker in the US has a hybrid lineup as deep as Toyota’s. Instead of chasing a fully electric future at full speed, Toyota stuck to its plan: keep building out hybrids, add more plug-in options, and only sprinkle in a few battery electric models. That approach already delivered results in 2024, and the latest numbers show it worked again in 2025. Toyota Motor North America ended the year with 2,518,071 vehicles sold in the US, up 8 percent from last year. The growth wasn’t a one-off spike, either – fourth-quarter sales climbed 8.1 percent, and December alone jumped 10.3 percent. That steady pace stands out in a year when buyers faced higher prices and unpredictable demand. Looking closely, Toyota and Lexus moved 1,183,248 electrified vehicles in the US in 2025 – a 17.6 percent jump over last year. That’s 47 percent of all their US sales, putting electrified models within striking distance of becoming the majority of Toyota’s business here. Record Sales Across the RangeToyota’s real advantage in 2025 was its ability to roll out hybrids across almost every major model. The brand just had its fourth-best sales year ever, and its best since 2017. Hybrids and other electrified Toyotas made up over 1.05 million units – 49 percent of the brand’s total sales. Key models like the RAV4, Tacoma, Grand Highlander, Corolla Cross, and several hybrid variants all set records in sales. Tacoma sales shot up over 40 percent, and Grand Highlander numbers nearly doubled. Despite a new-generation model arriving, the RAV4 keeps its crown as the best-selling Toyota model, with 479,288 units sold, outpacing last year's sales by over 4,000 units. Lexus also had a strong year, setting a new record with 370,260 vehicles sold. Electrified Lexus models hit 131,851 units, showing that buyers in the luxury segment are steadily choosing hybrids and plug-ins. Toyota Waning Demand Toward the EndInterestingly, electrified vehicle sales slipped 1.9 percent in the fourth quarter, and December was basically flat. Some hybrid and plug-in models also lost ground as inventory levels evened out and the initial rush of demand faded. These softer patches hint that Toyota’s hybrid push is entering a new phase. The big question now isn’t whether buyers want hybrids – it’s how Toyota can sustain the progress while gradually adding more battery-electric models. The new battery plant in North Carolina and additional investment in US manufacturing show where things are headed for the marque, but right now, Toyota’s strategy is on the right track. Toyota View the full article

The Ford Mustang = Pop CultureThe Ford Mustang occupies a unique place in automotive history. Conceived in Detroit, unveiled to the public at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, and endlessly romanticized on the streets and highways of California, the Mustang became more than a car; it became a cultural shorthand for freedom, youth, and pop culture in general. Its long hood and accessible performance helped define the “pony car” segment and embedded the Mustang into decades of American pop culture, from suburban driveways to racetracks and movie screens. That legacy is now being reimagined in a more experiential form, both online and on the ground, through American Icon: A Mustang Immersive Experience, which opened in Los Angeles this past fall. A digital preview offers an early look at what awaits inside the physical installation, using high-impact visuals and narrative-driven design to trace the Mustang’s evolution. Instead of simply presenting its history, the experience invites audiences to step inside the Mustang’s story, engaging with its mythology in both virtual and real-world settings. Experience the Mustang Like Never BeforeInside the exhibit, physical vehicles are blended with large-scale projections, synchronized lighting, and directional sound to create the illusion of constant motion. One of the first rooms centers on a pristine mid-1960s Mustang set on a rotating platform, while surrounding walls project idealized driving backdrops inspired by Southern California. The effect is closer to a ride queue at a theme park than a car show, deliberately blurring the line between historical display and entertainment. Interactivity plays a major role throughout. Touch-based installations allow visitors to explore different generations of the Mustang, while features like “Pick Your Pony” let guests compare engine sounds across eras, reinforcing how performance and character have evolved over time. The experience culminates in a short 4D theater presentation that layers seat movement, vibration, scent, and brief water effects into a fast-paced narrative built around the Mustang as an action hero. Playful and immersive, the showcase draws on multimedia techniques familiar from gaming and immersive cinema to give depth to the Mustang’s story. Bring A Trailer View the 5 images of this gallery on the original article How and Where to Catch it“American Icon: A Mustang Immersive Experience ultimately functions less as a sales pitch and more as a brand-world experiment. It treats the Mustang as a piece of moving art rather than a product – something that Ford needs to sustain the Mustang's longevity. The experience is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (closed Tuesdays) and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with general admission starting at $25.51. For those curious before stepping inside, a digital preview of the installation is available online, offering a glimpse of how projections, interactivity, and cinematic staging come together. View the 5 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Stellantis has just released its annual sales results for 2025, and while the company with multiple brands under its umbrella saw an overall year-over-year decline of 3%, there were some noteworthy individual model successes. One of these is the Dodge Durango SUV, which achieved its best total sales year since 2005, up by 37% over 2024. Considering that the third-generation Durango first went into production in 2010, that’s an outstanding result for a vehicle on such an old platform, so what were the keys to its success? Third-Gen Durango Notches Best-Ever Sales… 15 Years Later Stellantis Dodge sold 81,168 Durangos in 2025, up from 59,357 units a year before. That 37% increase contrasts sharply with the Dodge brand as a whole, which saw sales plummet by 28% in 2025, largely due to the discontinuation of the previous-gen Challenger and Charger. The third-gen Durango’s best previous sales year was in 2023, when Dodge sold 69,196 examples. The third-gen model has sold between 60,000 and 70,000 units annually for most of the 2010s, so hitting over 80,000 units in 2025 was a significant jump. Dodge didn’t change much for the Durango over the last few years, besides shuffling around some trims and adding a few features. It did, however, make the V8 engine standard last year, only to reintroduce the base V6 engine in November. This is where the appeal of the Durango lies: Even the base 295-horsepower V6 gives the Dodge more power than most rivals. You won’t find a cheaper V8-powered SUV anywhere, and the ridiculous 710-hp supercharged SRT Hellcat is now legal in all 50 states. The Durango delivers raw, old-school performance in the three-row SUV segment, setting it apart from rivals. Related: 2026 Dodge Durango Gets Cheaper as V6 Returns The Oldest Cars Still On Sale In 2026 2016 Mazda MX-5-Miata Mazda View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article The Durango is one of the oldest vehicles still on sale in 2026, and a new one is only expected in 2029. But it’s not quite the oldest new car still on sale. That honor (or dishonor) goes to the proudly American Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans, which originally debuted in 1996. These utilitarian vans offer brawny power and massive interior space, even if they look as cutting-edge as the brick-like mobile phones from the same era. Ram’s gas-powered ProMaster van arrived in the USA in 2013, although its platform and body date back to 2006, when the model debuted in other markets under the Fiat Ducato badge, among others. The Tesla Model S (2012), Lexus IS (2013), and Mazda MX-5 Miata (2015) are other models that, like the Durango, have hung around for far longer than the average vehicle life cycle. While some of these senior models have seen a natural decline in sales, the Durango has defied its age better than most. The combination of low price, big power, strong towing, and a spacious cabin is still unbeatable, all these years later. View the full article

Blurred EyeSightIn May 2021, a class action suit was filed against Subaru, alleging that some of its cars had faulty EyeSight safety systems. The suit specifically claimed faults with the Pre-Collision Braking, Rear Automatic Braking, and/or Lane Keep Assist systems. The 2021 class action lawsuit alleged that the systems placed in the car didn't operate properly and would sometimes fail to operate when needed (especially in the case of the Pre-Collision Braking). The class action says Subaru was unable to warn customers about problems with the EyeSight systems so that the automaker could make money. After a four-year battle, a settlement has finally been reached. Subaru Settling for LessCar Complaints reports the plaintiffs and the brand have indeed settled. However, Subaru still claims that there is nothing wrong with the vehicles, and, in fact, the plaintiffs who sued settled for much less than they originally wanted. This is the list of the year and models affected by the suit: 2013-2022 Subaru Legacy2013-2022 Subaru Outback2015-2023 Subaru Impreza2015-2023 Subaru Crosstrek2014-2021 Subaru Forester2019-2022 Subaru Ascent2016-2021 Subaru WRX2022-2024 Subaru BRZThe settlement comes in two forms: an extended warranty for the EyeSight system. Seems fair, but in reality, the customer still has to pay a small amount, as the dealer will only cover 75% of the repair for 48 months or 48,000 miles from the affected vehicle's in-service date. Any car already beyond the 48-month or 48,000-mile period will receive a warranty extension of four months beyond the class action settlement notice date, which has already passed. For the second part of the settlement, affected owners will get an expense reimbursement. It will only cover covered repair, but (also) only within 48 months or 48,000 miles from the in-service date of the vehicle. Here is the settlement's definition of a covered repair: "A 'covered repair' means repair or replacement (parts and labor) of a diagnosed and confirmed malfunction or failure of a Settlement Class Vehicle's Pre-Collision Braking, Rear Automatic Braking, and/or Lane Keep Assist feature of the EyeSight system that resulted from failure or malfunction of the EyeSight camera assembly and/or rear sonar sensors." Here's the kicker: the plaintiffs will receive only $5,000 each after all is said and done. Subaru View the full article

Street Car Takeover recently unveiled their 2026 schedule, kicking off its 13th season January 9-10 at Firebird Motorsports Park in Phoenix, Arizona. SCT will also return to Phoenix to finish the 18-race schedule November 13-14. In between, the series will travel from coast to coast – from Bakersfield, California to Gainesville, Florida – and everywhere in between. Other notable stops on the tour include the Texas Motorplex, Beech Bend Raceway Park, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway, and Nashville Superspeedway, among many others. For over a decade, SCT has been one of the leading grassroots motorsports series, giving fans and racers a place to see relatable cars that can be driven around town during the week, while blasting down the drag strip on the weekend. From roll racing to no prep, muscle cars to imports, car shows to burnout competitions, the series has something for anyone and everyone who’s a fan of car culture. Coming off one of their most successful seasons in history, SCT promoter and co-founder Chase Lautenbach believes this year can be even bigger. “We’re very excited about the 2026 season,” said Lautenbach. “Street Car Takeover is coming out bigger and badder than ever. We’ve been working really hard this offseason and have a bunch of new partnerships we’re excited about. We are adding new tracks, new classes, and new rules that are more open to make it accessible for even more racers. We’re excited to get after it.” The season officially kicks off on January 8, with the SCT Night Meet and Dyno Night at Cordes Performance in Tempe, Arizona, with prizes being awarded to the top horsepower numbers on the dyno. “I know that Phoenix has some hitters out there,” Lautenbach said. “I’d like to see them up on that dyno and see who’s the baddest in town. So bring out your cars and see who can put up the biggest number.” The following night, SCT’s racing season will begin with an all-backside no prep event, featuring Small Tire and Daily Driver classes. On Saturday, the main event will include the following classes: Small Tire Shootout, Street Racer, Heavyweight, Unlimited Stick Shift, Extreme Street, Women and Wheels, Daily Driver, Daily Driver Mild, FWD Heads-Up, DCT, and Bikes, as well as Roll Racing classes. Another new addition for 2026 is the hugely popular Lil’ Gangstas class. Started by Michael Poland and Tom Gunner – better known as Jimmy Dale – in 2023, Lil’ Gangstas is a heads-up class running on a 5.30- index, with 28×10.5 slicks or 275 radials, no wheelie bars, no throttle stops or delay boxes, with no times shown. “One of our most notable new partnerships is that we joined forces with the Lil’ Gangsta guys,” said Lautenbach. “We will be bringing their class into our series at every SCT race in 2026.” For a dozen years, Street Car Takeover has grown from a grassroots idea into a must-attend experience, bringing together car enthusiasts of all backgrounds and skill levels. With an ever-growing fanbase and racer participation, the sky is the ceiling for Lautenbach and company moving forward. “We had one of the greatest years yet at Street Car Takeover in 2025, and I’m sure it’s only gonna be better in ’26. I think it’s gonna be a big year for us – 2026 should be the best SCT season yet.” This story was originally published on January 6, 2026. The post Street Car Takeover Announces 2026 Schedule first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Mercedes-Benz has announced that its new self-driving system, MB.Drive Assist Pro, will become available in the United States later this year. This Level 2 system differs from the company’s MB Drive Pilot Level 3 technology, as MB.Drive Assist Pro still requires driver attentiveness. However, like Tesla’s Full Self-Driving suite, Merc’s new Level 2 system allows for point-to-point driving in urban areas. It’s possible to get to your destination without human intervention, even if navigating unexpected obstacles and driving off highways. Here’s what’s in store for Merc fans later this year. A Smorgasbord Of Sensors Mercedes CLA with MB.Drive Assist Pro Mercedes-Benz View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article Tesla’s FSD relies exclusively on cameras to navigate from point to point, but Mercedes has gone a few steps further with MB.Drive Assist Pro. The system features around 30 sensors, including 10 cameras, five radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. These work together to feed data to a powerful supercomputer, which instantly calculates the best course of action when dealing with unpredictable scenarios. Instead of using separate navigation and driver-assistance functions, these are all combined into one setup that uses cooperative steering; even if the driver temporarily takes control of the steering, simply removing your hands will automatically re-engage the autonomous driving mode. Mercedes-Benz The self-driving system is powered by the full-stack Drive AV software and AI infrastructure from Nvidia. Nvidia says the system has redundancy and safety guardrails, along with the ability to execute lane changes and respond proactively to vulnerable road users like cyclists. The tech will initially be available on the newly revealed CLA. “Starting with Mercedes-Benz and its incredible new CLA, we’re celebrating a stunning achievement in safety, design, engineering and AI-powered driving that will turn every car into a living, learning machine,” said Ali Kani, vice president of automotive at Nvidia. New Challengers For Tesla’s Point-to-Point Driving Mercedes CLA with MB.Drive Assist Pro Mercedes-Benz View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Say what you want about Tesla’s FSD and its safety concerns, but for many people, it’s the most accessible self-driving system that can get you from point A to B with minimal or zero human intervention, especially following a series of updates last year. Most other Level 2 systems operate only on specific highways and can’t handle the unique challenges of urban environments. Tesla’s system can even be added to the base Model 3 Standard, so it’s not limited to the brand’s flagship models. Rivian But others are catching up fast. Besides Merc’s new MB.Drive Assist Pro, which costs $3,950 on the CLA, Rivian recently introduced its Universal Hands Free (UHF) system, which can handle driving duties off highways, too. Rivian’s system is cheaper than Tesla's $8,000 FSD, too, although it can’t handle all intersections and other urban scenarios like Tesla’s system yet. Like Mercedes, though, Rivian also uses a network of sensors, not just cameras. The year ahead will show us how close Rivian and Mercedes have gotten to Tesla, and if they can accomplish many of the same tasks but with a better margin for safety (and at a lower price), Tesla’s advantage in the self-driving arena may not last much longer. Related: Autonomy Showdown: Tesla's Full-Self Driving (FSD) vs Rivian's Universal Hands Free (USF) Update View the full article

A Fragile Year That Ended in the BlackNissan went into 2025 with its back against the wall. The company faced tough financial headwinds worldwide, closing factories, selling off its headquarters, and cutting costs wherever possible. With that kind of pressure, hopes for the US market were understandably muted. Even so, Nissan managed to hold its ground by the end of 2025. The brand moved 926,153 vehicles in the US, including Infiniti, a 0.2 percent bump from last year. The real story is that Nissan Division sales climbed 0.9 percent, showing that the main lineup still attracted buyers despite tight competition. Definitely not a headline-grabbing win, but in a year in which every dollar counted, staying in the black is a win on its own. Not everything went Nissan’s way, though. Sales slipped 3.7 percent in the fourth quarter, and Infiniti kept losing ground. But looking closer at the lineup helps explain how Nissan managed to keep things steady heading into 2026. Nissan The Good: SUVs and Trucks Doing the Heavy LiftingIf there’s one thing that stands out from Nissan’s 2025 results, it’s that SUVs and trucks carried the load. The Murano, which got a major update last year, yielded a stellar performance. Sales more than doubled for the year, up 121.3 percent, and shot up another 112.1 percent in the last quarter. That’s the best it’s done in a long time. The Pathfinder also had a strong showing, up 25.6 percent for the year and setting a new sales record in the fourth quarter with a 33.1 percent jump. The Kicks followed suit, climbing 33.9 percent and hitting its highest annual volume since launch. Even the Armada and Frontier chipped in, both posting double-digit growth in the last quarter. Put it all together, and it’s clear Nissan’s lineup is connecting where it matters most right now. The SUVs might not grab the spotlight, but in 2025, they quietly did the heavy lifting to keep the brand on track. The Bad: Infiniti Continues DeclineInfiniti sales dropped 9.0 percent for the year and slid another 8.4 percent in the fourth quarter, showing just how tough things are for Nissan’s luxury arm. The dip in overall fourth-quarter numbers is a reminder that not every part of the lineup is pulling its weight. Looking ahead, Nissan is counting on new models to keep things steady. There’s a refreshed Pathfinder coming this year, plus the first Rogue PHEV, both aimed at crowded segments. The XTerra is also in the cards, though its timeline is still unconfirmed at this point. If previewed this year, this puts Nissan back into the spotlight, increasing the brand recognition it desperately needs, given its current global predicament. Infiniti View the full article

A New Benchmark for In-Car Voice AssistantsBMW is taking a decisive step toward redefining how drivers and passengers interact with their vehicles. Beginning in 2026, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant will be expanded to include Amazon’s latest Alexa+ AI architecture, marking a major milestone in human-vehicle interaction. The system will debut in the new BMW iX3, making BMW the first automaker to integrate this next-generation conversational AI directly into a production vehicle. BMW sees this as a fundamental shift in how voice control works inside the car. Unlike traditional voice assistants that rely on rigid command structures, the updated BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant is designed around natural, free-flowing dialogue. Drivers will no longer need to memorize specific phrases or step-by-step commands. Instead, they can speak as they would to another person, linking multiple requests in a single sentence and following up naturally. BMW says the system understands context, learns from interactions, and responds more intelligently over time, turning the car into what the brand calls an “intelligent companion,” rather than a reactive tool. Powered by Amazon Alexa+ and Generative AIAt the heart of the update is Amazon’s Alexa+ technology, built on a Large Language Model capable of understanding and generating human-like responses. This allows the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant to go beyond vehicle controls and tap into a wider world of information. Ask about art, news, sports, or general knowledge, and the assistant can respond conversationally, then seamlessly connect that information to in-car functions like navigation, media playback, or trip planning. The integration also allows BMW owners to link their Amazon accounts, unlocking familiar Alexa features such as music streaming, news briefings, and content discovery. According to BMW, this collaboration is the result of a shared vision with Amazon to push in-car AI beyond novelty and into genuine daily usefulness. Amazon echoes that sentiment, positioning BMW as the first real-world implementation of its new Alexa Custom Assistant in an automotive environment. BMW Launch Timing, Markets, and What Comes NextThe AI-enhanced BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant will make its public debut at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, ahead of a market launch in the second half of 2026. Availability will initially be limited to Germany and the U.S., with the BMW iX3 serving as the launch platform. It will run BMW Operating System X and the new Panoramic iDrive interface, before the technology expands to other BMW models equipped with Operating System 9 and X. More importantly, this rollout highlights BMW’s broader push toward the software-defined vehicle, where features improve through updates rather than hardware swaps. Voice control has been a core part of BMW iDrive since 2018, but Alexa+ marks its biggest leap yet, turning the assistant from a command-taker into a conversational partner. If BMW delivers on its promise, Alexa may soon become your smartest backseat driver: always listening, occasionally helpful, and finally smart enough to understand what you meant the first time. BMW View the full article

It's a new year, and Ram is starting it off the right way - by launching a new, more powerful TRX pickup and by extending its highly appreciated 10-year/10,000-mile warranty for 2026. The warranty, launched in June 2025, was originally only meant to be offered until January 2 and came when Ram fell far down new vehicle quality study rankings, but "overwhelming customer and dealer feedback" encouraged Stellantis to keep it going for the 2026 model year. The best-in-segment warranty will surely be attractive to existing and potential buyers, and it will now be available to Canadian buyers, too. Let's see which vehicles are covered. 10-Year Warranty Available Across the Lineup, Besides EVs Stellantis The warranty covers 2026 model-year Ram 1500 pickups, 2500, 3500, and Chassis Cab 3500/4500/5500 trucks (including the sub-TRX RHO and the Power Wagon), as well as ProMaster vans. Fully electric vehicles (i.e., the ProMaster EV) are excluded. The limited powertrain warranty covers the engine, transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, differentials, and axles, and is available on both outright purchases and leases to individuals and businesses, excluding fleet purchases. The warranty's only major caveat is that it's only valid for the original buyer, so one can't purchase a used 2026 Ram 1500 and expect the same support. Related: Ram Is Exploring a Smarter Way to Make Pickup Trucks More Aerodynamic But that won't affect most buyers. According to Stellantis, "nearly 80% of new truck loans now exceed five years." The move to offer such a long warranty period will be welcomed by such individuals (unless they exceed the mileage limit first, of course), particularly those who come from competitor brands. Case in point: the Ford F-150's powertrain warranty only provides five years or 60,000 miles of coverage, and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500's warranty is the same. More Reasons to Celebrate in 2026 Stellantis The supercharged TRX mentioned at the outset isn't the only V8-powered Ram pickup making a comeback in 2026. Around the middle of last year, Stellantis announced that the HEMI V8 would return to the 2026 Ram 1500, with 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. Although the Hurricane twin-turbo straight-six version of the pickup recently proved far more capable than the HEMI in comparative testing, the V8 is what buyers want, and as the Dodge Charger Daytona's horrendous sales figures show, it's better to give customers something dated and full of character than something innovative and alien. Thankfully, it seems that Stellantis is eager to rectify that mistake, too, and we expect a V8 Charger to be confirmed sometime before 2026 comes to an end. View the full article

The S650 Mustang family is reportedly set to grow imminently, but how exactly is currently unclear. According to an unconfirmed report from The Supercar Blog, citing insider sources, Ford will use the Detroit Auto Show to reveal not one but two new Ford Racing models, and one of them "might be a Mustang Cobra or Boss." The annual event begins next week, running from January 14-25, and it seems like the perfect place to showcase a new high-performance vehicle since the Blue Oval has already confirmed that its annual Ford Racing Season Launch will take place at the show, as will the reveal of both Red Bull teams' Formula 1 liveries. Ford's Rebrand Muddies the Waters Ford Ford Performance recently rebranded as Ford Racing, encompassing both motorsports (see Mustang GT3) and roadgoing performance vehicles, so it's difficult to tell if reports of a new Cobra might actually hint at a Cobra Jet racecar. Regardless, Ford CEO Jim Farley has said that the company is "investing a lot in Mustang," indicating that more variants are in the works, and we've seen evidence of this with spy shots of what was may have been a new GT500. Might this development mule have been a Cobra or Boss instead? Time will tell, but we know that a new production road car will definitely be unveiled by Ford Racing this month. Teased in November, the announcement might foreshadow a successor to the Ford GT supercar, but with this new report from TSB, perhaps it hints at a new Mustang instead. Why the Cobra Name Seems Primed for a Comeback Bring a Trailer View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article From 1993 to 2004, the SN95 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra ruled the roost as the top-tier pony car in Ford's range, sitting above both the Mustang GT and the Mach 1 with its supercharged V8 until the S197 Mustang GT500 arrived for the 2007 model year. For the current S650 generation, the Mach 1 has effectively been replaced by the Dark Horse, so perhaps the GT500 name will now be dropped, making way for the Cobra's return. As for the Boss nameplate, it was most recently seen on the 2012 Boss 302, where the GT's 5.0-liter Coyote engine was upgraded with a forged crankshaft, ported cylinder heads, new camshafts, and a modified intake derived from the 302R racecar. In a nutshell, both Cobra and Boss were high-performance variants of the Mustang, with the supercharged Cobra most similar to a GT500 and the naturally aspirated Boss sharing principles with today's Dark Horse. Therefore, we may be about to get a new Cobra/GT500 with a supercharger. Fingers crossed. View the full article

Steve Phelps became NASCAR's first Commissioner in March of 2025 after previously working as the president of NASCAR since 2018. However, he will leave that position at the end of January, and NASCAR does not plan to replace the role of Commissioner for the time being. Instead, his duties will be shared by other existing executives. As for why there won't be someone else appointed to the role ...Keep readingView the full article

Rewriting The Rules of Speed EnforcementHere's something that'll make most car enthusiasts uncomfortable: a device that won't let you speed at all. The LifeSafer Intelligence Speed Assistance system plugs into your vehicle and uses GPS tracking plus an onboard speed limit database to actively manage your throttle. It knows where you are, what the posted limit is, and it won't let you exceed it. Simple as that. Aimed at teen drivers, installation takes minutes and works across gas cars, EVs, hybrids, basically anything with four wheels. According to NHTSA data from 2023, 37 percent of male drivers aged 15-20 involved in fatal crashes were speeding. That's higher than any other age group. Traditional driver's ed teaches kids how to operate a car, but cannot hardwire good judgment into teenagers, which is where this device takes the wheel. LifeSaver ISA Anti-Speeding Turned Up To ElevenThe tech itself is pretty clever. The system pulls GPS coordinates, cross-references them with mapping data to detect posted limits, then adjusts throttle response in real-time. Approaching the limit? You'll feel acceleration tapering off. Push harder? More resistance. Hit the actual limit? The accelerator pedal will do absolutely nothing. Safety advocate Tammy McGee’s 16-year-old son Connor died when another teen driver lost control, doing twice the speed limit. Now she works with LifeSafer, promoting technological solutions instead of just hoping kids make smart choices. The company's president, Michael Travars, calls the ISA system "training wheels for cars." The idea is mandatory installation during that crucial first year of driving, letting safe habits form in a controlled environment before removing the safety net. Getty Images Habitual Speeders Could Also Be TargetedLifeSafer's got a second target demographic: habitual speeders. The ones racking up tickets like there’s no tomorrow. Recent pilot programs with municipal vehicle fleets showed over 60 percent drops in speeding incidents across millions of driven miles. Fleet applications are revealing other benefits too: better fuel economy, less wear on vehicles, lower emissions, and reduced accident costs. Emergency vehicles can override the system when they flip on their sirens, so public safety response times aren't compromised. Now, nobody likes the idea of their car telling them what to do. But our "freedom" to speed ends where someone else's safety begins. As roads get more congested and driver distraction becomes the norm, maybe we need to admit some of us need help keeping ourselves in check. View the full article

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is now accepting applications for the 2026 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, an initiative designed to help students and emerging professionals launch successful careers in the automotive industry. Through the scholarship program, eligible students may receive awards of up to $5,000 to support their education at accredited universities, colleges, and vocational or technical schools in the United States and Canada. SEMA also offers loan forgiveness awards of up to $2,000 for employees of SEMA-member companies who have completed a qualifying program of study and are actively repaying student loans. “The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund exists to break down barriers and create opportunities for the next generation of aftermarket professionals,” said Joe Escobar, SEMA Manager of Recognition Programs. “By investing in both students and existing employees alike, we are building a stronger talent pipeline, fostering career growth, and securing the future of our industry.” The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund is designed to promote career development and create access to opportunities in the automotive aftermarket. As part of this initiative, scholarship recipients are invited to attend the SEMA Show, where they can gain industry insight, connect with industry leaders, and explore career pathways firsthand. For students like Zachary Beenen, the support from SEMA enabled him to attend the college of his choice: Oklahoma State University. Beenen is currently majoring in mechanical and aerospace engineering with a future career in the area of performance vehicles. “I am forever thankful for scholarships like SEMA’s that will help me achieve my career goals of working in the performance vehicle industry, while getting the many experiences that college has to offer,” he said. Scholarship applications are open to high school seniors and college students in the United States and Canada who demonstrate a passion for working in the automotive industry. All disciplines are welcome. Those interested in applying for a loan forgiveness award must be employed by a SEMA member business, demonstrate passion for an automotive career, possess a degree or certificate from a college, university, or career tech school in the United States or Canada, and have a minimum of $2,000 in outstanding student loans. Applications are open through April 3, 2026, at www.sema.org/scholarships. This story was originally published on January 6, 2026. The post 2026 SEMA Scholarship, Loan Forgiveness Applications Now Open first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Patent filings suggest a special-edition Indian Motorcycle Scout Bobber is coming. But what makes it special?View the full article

It’s been a challenging period for Volkswagen in the United States, with declining sales across most of the manufacturer’s lineup for large portions of last year. Now that 2025’s total sales numbers are in, we can take a closer look at the full picture, and it’s not a rosy one. Including both passenger cars and SUVs, VW’s sales declined by 13% relative to 2024, with 329,813 vehicles sold. All but two individual models saw declines last year, and VW’s sedans and hatchbacks put in an especially poor showing. Related: Volkswagen's 67% U.S. Profit Collapse Means Worse Deals for Buyers Jetta and Golf Moving in the Wrong Direction 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Volkswagen View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Volkswagen sold a total of 64,873 passenger cars in 2025, 26.6% lower than the tally in 2024. This group includes the Jetta, Golf GTI, and Golf R. The discontinued Arteon, one of the prettiest VW designs in recent memory, contributed 28 units last year, likely the last few examples still sitting on dealer lots. After that came the Golf R on 3,319 (down by 20.9%), the Golf GTI on 7,235 (-34.7%), and the Jetta on 54,291 (-24.4%). Sales of the Golf declined since VW discontinued the non-performance variants of the hatchback a few years ago, but more worrying is the Jetta’s decline. In the fourth quarter, Jetta sales were down by 43.5% alone. On sale since 2018, the Jetta has been regularly upgraded, but its age is showing and more modern rivals are outselling it. For the 2026 model year, VW only added a handful of features to the Jetta, not enough to spur renewed interest in the sedan. In the fourth quarter, the Golf GTI and R both experienced year-on-year declines of over 42%, too, which supports VW’s recent statement that the era of small gas-powered cars is coming to an end. Related: Volkswagen Warns the Era of Small Gas Cars Is Ending SUVs Performed Better, But Sales Still Down 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan SE AWD Volkswagen View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article VW’s SUVs proved to be a bit more resilient over the course of 2025, with 264,940 units sold, a decrease of 8.9% relative to 2024. The Tiguan remained the best-selling individual model with 78,621 units sold, down by 16.7%—this is rather disappointing considering that the Tiguan entered an all-new generation for the 2025 model year, so it’s one of the newer contenders in its segment. After the Tiguan, the Atlas hit 71,044 units in 2025 (-5.9%), followed by the Taos on 55,198 (-13.6%), and the Atlas Cross Sport on 31,564 (-18.8%). The 2026 Atlas remained largely unchanged, but its spacious three-row layout continues to be popular. Only a few new features made it into 2026 versions of the Taos and ID.4. VW’s two electric models, the ID.4 and ID.Buzz, were the only two models from the brand to see increased sales in 2025. The ID.4 sold 22,373 units, a 31.4% increase, while the ID.Buzz reached 6,140 units, up by 428.4%. Those percentage increases may sound impressive, but the ID.4’s sales were disproportionately represented in Q3, when EV buyers rushed to buy new models before the federal tax credit was scrapped. VW is planning to release a comprehensively updated ID.4 later this year. While ID.Buzz sales were up, its tally of just over 6,000 units for the year is poor. Related: Volkswagen Eyes a New Type of EV for the U.S. Market Final ThoughtsMultiple factors likely contributed to VW’s declining sales last year. Key models like the Jetta are aging, while newer products like the ID.4 haven’t moved the goalposts far enough. The impact of tariffs on European brands and resulting price increases have put many manufacturers in a tricky spot, while EVs have been particularly affected by the vanishing tax credit. But there’s some light at the end of the tunnel for Volkswagen. Besides a revised ID.4, the new ID. Polo revealed earlier this week points to a much more intuitive control interface for modern VWs. But VW will have to pay more attention to its non-EV range if it hopes to turn its fortunes around in 2026. View the full article

Stellantis has quietly transformed its most ambitious European electric vehicle project into a lesson in caution. According to Italpassion, the company has closed its Cassino plant in Italy and essentially paused three important models after realising that customers, regulators, and its own product plans were no longer aligned. View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Cassino Idled, Three Nameplates In LimboCassino currently builds the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Alfa Romeo Stelvio, and Maserati Grecale. All three are still on sale, but the factory that assembles them has been idled for weeks, with production repeatedly extended “temporarily” halted because there simply are not enough orders to justify running the lines. Volumes have sunk into the low tens of thousands per year in a plant designed to build far more. Behind the scenes, the bigger problem is what comes next, as the next-generation Giulia and Stelvio were engineered as EV-only models on the STLA Large platform, with no provision for hybrid or gas engines. That made sense on paper when Europe looked ready to stamp out internal combustion on a fixed timetable. Now, with EV demand cooling and buyers clinging to flexible powertrains, Stellantis is scrambling to rework those cars to accept gasoline, hybrid, and battery-electric setups on the same architecture. That engineering U-turn has delayed the new Alfa pair until at least 2027 and pushed further Maserati derivatives back as well. In the meantime, the current Giulia and Stelvio have to stay in production longer than planned, even as the plant that builds them runs well below capacity. Politics, Rules, And A Moving GoalpostCassino is also collateral damage in a political and regulatory fight. Stellantis has become one of the loudest voices in Europe arguing that the EU overcooked its emissions targets and timelines. At the same time, Stellantis has shown it will play hardball with governments when factory subsidies and EV incentives are on the line. That dispute showed how dependent big EV investments have become on public money and how quickly those plans can wobble when the underlying assumptions change. And in Washington, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares is one of the executives due to appear alongside Ford and GM chiefs as Congress digs into car prices, and the pace of electrification. Getty A Reset, Not A RetreatInside Stellantis, the line is that this is a reset, not a retreat. Future Alfas and Maseratis on STLA Large will still offer pure EV variants. They just will not be only EVs anymore. The company insists it is “listening to the market” by keeping gasoline and hybrid options alive longer, especially in segments where charging infrastructure or pricing makes full EVs a tough sell. For the workers at Cassino and for fans of Alfa and Maserati, the hope is that this more flexible plan actually arrives in time to save the plant from more than temporary downtime. View the full article

When Trevor and Jordan Manton talk about family, business, and drag racing, the three threads are impossible to separate. For the brothers behind Manton Pushrods and Manton Rocker Arms, their lives have been shaped by a lineage that stretches from the lunar missions of the 1960s to the quickest doorslammers on the planet. Their grandfather, Noel Manton, and father, Terry Manton, laid the foundation of a family company that became synonymous with precision, craftsmanship, and innovation in valvetrain components. Now, Trevor, 30, and Jordan, 26, are leading the next generation, balancing respect for tradition with a relentless drive to modernize. Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #197, the 30 Under 30 Issue, in November/December 2025. “I was raised at the racetrack as one of the racetrack diaper boys,” Trevor says with a laugh. “There’s plenty of diaper girls too, like Krista Baldwin (a 2016 DI 30 Under 30 honoree). I just remember us all being at the track as kids because our parents or grandparents had been involved in the industry for so long.” That early immersion wasn’t accidental. Their grandfather drove for Chevrolet and their father founded the company that would become Manton Pushrods as a teenager, buying his first lathe from Ed Iskenderian and machining Type 1 Volkswagen pushrods. “I just was blessed to be born into the fraternity with a seat at the table,” Trevor says. “Grandpa and Dad had been doing this for as long as most. Essentially, since the racing industry was around.” Even their great-grandfather, an electrical engineer for Rockwell International during the lunar program, spent weekends racing at Lion’s Drag Strip with fellow engineers. “So even Great-Grandpa was a racer,” Trevor adds. Trevor’s earliest memories aren’t of being in the stands but in the shop. “Maybe five years old I would come in,” he recalls. “We’d get large stocking orders from SCAT and CB Performance – thousands of pushrods at a time. It was a lot faster for Dad if I put the tips into the tube for him and then he assembled them. So, I’d stand there with a step stool and my safety glasses on and be putting tips in while he’s explaining different things about the family business and what’s important.” By the time he was 10, Trevor was traveling with his father to races across the country, listening to conversations with crew chiefs and team owners about what worked and what didn’t. “To be able to watch that from an unfiltered perspective at such a young age was something that gave you a different mindset,” he says. “That was really cool.” When Trevor was 16, tragedy struck. Their father, Terry, who had battled cancer and autoimmune disease for years, passed away. Their mother, Robin, had already been quietly running the business while caring for her husband and raising two boys. “She had good control of the business while I was still finishing school and building my own business, but she didn’t want to continue running it by herself.” Faced with a choice between his own growing business and the family legacy, Trevor didn’t hesitate. “Even though the business that I had had good opportunities and was growing, the opportunities that I had in the racing industry were completely different,” he says. “I can call a Steve Morris or a Pat Musi and they’ll pick up and have a conversation with me without asking why I’ve called. Because they know that I have the industry’s goals in mind – to make cars faster and safer for all of us.” Trevor sold his business, joined his mother full-time, and committed to carrying Manton Pushrods and its sister company into the next generation. One of Trevor’s proudest accomplishments has been reviving Manton Rocker Arms, which at one point was on the brink of closing. “The business wasn’t self-sustaining, and the pushrod company was carrying it,” he recalls. “I simply asked Mom to take the risk. ‘Could we buy Grandpa out of the business, and could I take control of the rocker-arm company and see what it would do?’” What it did was flourish. “We took the company from selling 10 engines worth of rocker systems a year to 400-500 sets a year in a matter of less than a decade,” Trevor says. “It’s something that I’m proud to have been able to utilize those resources that Grandpa and Dad had put around us.” Trevor’s philosophy blends pride and pragmatism. “Me and my brother have a commitment to quality while having the desire to provide great efficiency,” he says. “We’re going to continue to improve our product line as far as the offerings and expand what we offer but without compromising quality.” That commitment includes keeping manufacturing in the United States. “How many young guys are in the industry trying to be a manufacturer in the United States and not outsource parts?” he asks. “We bought Stage V Rocker Arms because we wanted to carry on Eric Hansen’s family legacy and keep a family-owned, high-quality brand still alive. We’re here to preserve quality legacy in this industry.” While Trevor was finding his footing as a leader, his younger brother, Jordan, was quietly charting his own path. “I’ve been in it my whole life, getting dragged around to different racetracks with Dad,” he says. “I remember going to Vegas all the time as a kid and staying in the Excalibur and playing at their arcade for hours and then going to see the races.” Jordan’s creative mind steered him to the design side of the business. “The first thing that I ever designed was a rocker system for a 24-valve Cummins, which we still actually sell,” he says. He taught himself SolidWorks during the summer between middle school and high school, guided by his grandfather, who had him measuring Duramax rocker shafts and learning the fundamentals of geometry and designing. Jordan eventually earned a mechanical engineering degree, a first for the family. “I thought it would be best to actually have somebody get a degree,” he says. “We’ve all been self-taught over here. I thought it would be good to try to figure out what we didn’t know, if that makes sense.” In school, his focus grew from designing new parts to improving manufacturing efficiency. “We’re making these parts but then we’re hand-loading a part into a machine three times and we’re making a thousand of these things,” he says. “What are we doing? We’re just putting a hole in a tube – it shouldn’t be that hard.” That mindset led to automation systems that tripled production efficiency, pneumatic pushrod assembly stations, and in-house machining programs that cut cycle times dramatically. “We went from high-effort 200 parts a day to low-effort 800 parts a day with the new loading systems.” Since graduating, Jordan has shifted back to rocker-arm design. He’s led new development in LS, Hemi, and sprint car applications, all while expanding the company’s in-house machining capabilities. “Maybe it is a good idea that we do it this way, maybe it’s not,” he says. “It’s worth considering the possibility that the way everybody does it isn’t the right way. You find a couple little details that people have just done maybe because it’s easy or because it’s the way we’ve always done it, and those are usually the best spots to fix.” That mindset has already yielded results, including a patent-pending Gen 3 Hemi rocker system concept. “Even our own stuff that we put effort into, if we’re doing it wrong, we want to figure that out,” he says. “I’m not against fixing something if it’s not right, even if it’s my great idea that I worked a year-and-a-half on. If it could be better, we’re going to make it better.” Both brothers understand the weight – and the privilege – of carrying their family name forward. For Trevor, it’s about stewardship. “This is a legacy-based business,” he says. “I need to do the same things for my son and my niece. We want to give them the opportunity that we were given to take over the family business if they so choose to.” For Jordan, it’s gratitude and perspective. “I do very much recognize that I have been given the opportunity to be creative in a way that other people are not able to get,” he says. “Not everybody comes into a family that has a racing background and already has a business started. And I get to go tinker around and spend days and weeks just trying to make a machine work a little better.” But the heart of Jordan’s story – and the brothers’ shared mission – comes back to their mother, Robin. “Though she’s often not looked at, I think she’s had a bigger hand in getting this company to where it is than anybody else,” he says. “It’s awesome to see her get to the point in her life where she’s able to let it go a little bit. She was the one running the business while [Dad] was at home. And now after he passed, figuring out, ‘OK, how do I steer this ship on my own and have two young kids at home that I have to take care of?’” Jordan has watched her perseverance turn into peace. “There’s times where her hair was falling out, she was so stressed,” he says. “But to see her now…she just got back from a resort in Mexico and she’s going road-tripping around. Seeing all of her hard work rewarded really warms my heart.” Looking ahead, both brothers are driven by the same mindset that defined their father. “We’re going to continue to improve our product line and expand what we offer without compromising quality,” Trevor says. “We’re here to preserve quality legacy in this industry.” Jordan envisions growth through collaboration. “I’d like to continue what we’ve started,” he says. “Continue to spread out through valvetrain and figure out ways to make things better. I want to build an R&D team. All the design work and innovation has been, in some way, channeled through the void in between my ears. We have a great team here, but I want to have a group of brains that work together and facilitate some teamwork to take care of customers better.” Offering continued value to their customers is another motivating factor for Jordan. “By improving our systems and making everything more efficient, we’re able to reduce our costs, which means we can keep prices in line for our customers,” Jordan says. “We’ve seen our competitors and other companies in the industry raise prices, and we’ve seen our material costs increase. But in some cases, we’ve actually been able to lower our prices because our processes are more efficient.” For all their technical expertise, what stands out most is their shared ethos. As Trevor sums it up simply: “My main focus in life is faith, family, and racing.”It’s a mantra that echoes through every part machined, every new design drawn, and every late-night brainstorm between brothers who know exactly what they’re building – because they’ve been building it their whole lives. The post DI 30 Under 30 2025: Trevor and Jordan Manton first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Market Shifts Spare No OneThe industry has been shaken by shifting market conditions this year, significantly affecting EV brands like Tesla. Yet despite not selling battery electric vehicles (BEVs) – at least as of this writing – Mitsubishi still posted a 13.7 percent decline in its 2025 sales in the U.S., delivering 94,754 vehicles overall. Mitsubishi’s most popular model, the Outlander, also experienced a noticeable dip. The SUV sold 35,895 units last year, marking a decline of 9,358 vehicles compared to 2024. The Outlander did receive a new off-road-oriented trim for the 2025 model year, which the company said “provided a bump in attention and showroom traffic.” However, a larger factor behind the model’s sales decline may be the discontinuation of the Mirage after the 2024 MY, a move that left the automaker without an entry in the relatively affordable sedan segment. Mitsubishi Life After the MirageAs a result, brands such as Toyota and Honda now remain among the few automakers in the U.S. offering economy sedans, with the Corolla and Civic, respectively. Even the Mirage’s direct subcompact sedan rival, the Nissan Versa, has been discontinued, effectively signaling the end of brand-new cars priced sub-$20K. However, Mitsubishi did not deliver an outright poor sales performance in 2025. The Outlander Sport, the nameplate’s smaller and more affordable five-seat variant, recorded a 35.4 percent increase, rising to 20,480 units sold. Meanwhile, the Eclipse Cross posted even stronger growth, with sales climbing to 17,508 units, a 37.6 percent increase over 2024. As for the Outlander PHEV, historically one of the world’s top-selling plug-in hybrid models, the automaker sold 6,294 units in the U.S., 681 fewer than the previous year. Mitsubishi Setting the Stage for the Coming YearsMitsubishi also noted that Q4 2025 was its best-selling quarter of the year, though it still represents a 21.3 percent decline compared to Q4 2024. The momentum from the final quarter suggests a more optimistic outlook as the company heads into the new year – an important development as it begins executing its Momentum 2030 strategy. Under the plan, Mitsubishi will launch three new products in the U.S. over the course of 2026. These include an updated Outlander PHEV scheduled to arrive in the spring, an all-new, Nissan Leaf-based battery electric vehicle (BEV) set for late summer, and a new rugged Outlander variant expected toward the end of the year. In addition to product launches, Mitsubishi plans to roll out a new retail approach called the Gallery dealership in Q1 2026. Mitsubishi View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

In the expansion into the Florida Everglades by developed property it's put the American crocodiles' recovery at risk. Too bad the reptile apparently loves jet skis to sunbathe on.View the full article

New Truck, New IdeasRight now, Hyundai’s only truck in the US is the Santa Cruz. But the brand has already said it’s building a proper, full-size pickup for American buyers before the decade is out. Hyundai has been testing out modular features like removable doors, but now there’s another idea in the mix: a midgate. New patent documents show Hyundai is working out how a midgate could fit into a modern pickup, with a focus on something most people only notice when it goes wrong: water management. The patent, filed November 19, 2024, lays down a solution to route water away from the cabin when the midgate is open. It’s a small detail on paper, but it’s the kind of thing that makes or breaks real-world practicality. USPTO A Practical Improvement for MidgatesThe United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published the filing in December 2025 (patent no. 20250376016 if you want to check). No, the patent doesn’t try to reinvent the midgate, but it digs into the less flashy side of the design. Hyundai’s midgate design builds in a drainage system that directs water away from the cabin, whether the midgate is open or rain is running down the rear glass. Think of it as a gutter molded right into the body, with shaped panels and channels guiding water down and out. Instead of just depending on rubber seals, this setup keeps moisture away from the interior, wiring, and cargo area. This is the sort of engineering detail you won’t see in glossy marketing shots, but it can make a real difference in daily use. Of course, like most patents, there’s no promise this will ever reach production. Automakers often file these to protect ideas or test solutions without committing to building them. USPTO Midgates Aren’t New, But They’re RareThe idea of a midgate isn’t exactly groundbreaking. In the US, the most visible examples today come from General Motors’ electric pickups, namely the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV, both of which use a MultiPro Midgate to open up the cab and bed into one long cargo area. These setups trace their roots back to earlier vehicles like the Chevy Avalanche and Cadillac Escalade EXT. Other brands have tried midgates before, like the Subaru Baja and GMC Envoy XUV, but the idea never really caught on. Today, only GM’s electric trucks use the concept in a big way, thanks to the extra space electric platforms allow. Whether this idea ends up in a future Santa Cruz remains unclear, especially since there’s no word yet on a next-gen model. Still, with the Santa Cruz’s small bed, more flexibility would be welcome. More likely, Hyundai is laying the groundwork for its upcoming midsize pickup, where a midgate could make a lot of sense. USPTO View the 8 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

LME debuts billet LT1/LT4 blocks featuring a water-jacketed design capable of 3,000+ HP and available in standard or tall deck heights.View the full article