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Hunt for a Hot Hatch Begins Volkswagen has launched a new online game offering prizes that include a 2026 Golf GTI. The initiative forms part of the brand’s revived Drivers Wanted campaign – a slogan that dates back to the 1990s – and appears designed to reintroduce the ‘Drivers Wanted’ platform to a new audience in the U.S. The online game centers on subtle clues embedded within Volkswagen’s social media posts, which guide participants to a dedicated campaign website. The company is inviting a

Remember when Mercedes-AMG laughed in the face of downsizing? The 2005 CL65 AMG you see here is one of the great examples of AMG’s loudest, craziest era. Its V12 engine’s monumental torque is fed to the rear wheels exclusively, so it’s a handful off the mark. And, now that Mercedes has discontinued the CL and subsequent S-Class Coupe, these cars—and especially AMG versions—are becoming more valuable. Even so, nobody could have been prepared for the shocking selling price of this particular CL65.

The midsize performance sedan segment is not getting any bigger in 2026. That's because Audi is not planning to introduce a new combustion-powered S6 this year, despite recently giving the all-new A6 several updates, including a new infotainment interface, a revised steering wheel, improved voice control, and more. Edmunds reports that the only middle ground between the A6 and the RS6 for the 2026 model year will be the all-electric S6 Sportback e-tron, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. As

The third generation of the Porsche Panamera was first unveiled toward the end of 2023, so the 976 chassis is still relatively new, yet Stuttgart is already preparing some improvements. Our spy photographers have captured some of these updates on prototype development mules undergoing cold-weather testing ahead of the 2028 model year's launch, which is expected later this year or early in 2027, but the most significant changes will be invisible to the naked eye. While America may be loosening em

Honda Motor Company said its profit for the nine months through December dropped 42% compared to a year earlier, mainly because of U.S. tariffs and a changing EV market. Honda posted a 465.4 bilion yen ($3 billion) profit over the three quarters, down from 805.2 billion yen ($5.2 billion) as sales dropped 2.2% to 15.98 trillion yen ($102.6 billion) from the previous year, AP News reports. The Japanese carmaker maintained its full fiscal year profit target forecast at 300 billion yen ($1.9 billio

Ferrari’s Next Act Ferrari has rolled out some of its most boundary-pushing models in recent years, broadening its lineup with offerings such as the V6 plug-in hybrid–powered 296 and the Purosangue SUV. For 2026, the Italian marque is set to expand its range further with five new models, according to comments made during an earnings call on Tuesday, reported by Reuters. Details surrounding the upcoming models remain scarce. However, one confirmed release slated for this year is the Luce, which w

Cameras Are Everywhere, but Darkness Is Still a Problem It wasn’t long ago that car cameras were a luxury feature. Now, backup cameras are required by law in the US, and even entry-level SUVs come with surround-view systems. As vehicles have grown larger and sightlines have shrunk, cameras have stepped in to fill the gaps that mirrors and windows can’t cover. But even with all that progress, most car cameras still hit a wall at night. As soon as daylight fades, image quality takes a nosedive. St

Not Your Typical Budget EV Toyota reintroduced the C-HR as an all-electric model, and many expected it to compete with more affordable EVs like the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Bolt EV. Instead, the new C-HR carries a starting price of around $38,450, including destination fees – though buyers in some regions can now take advantage of substantial new discounts. A report from CarsDirect states that the 2026 Toyota C-HR is available with a $5,000 discount for cash buyers, lowering its price to $33,45

For the past couple of years there have been a ton of folks on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and more that have been showing off their automotive painting success with cheap handheld airless paint sprayers. You know, the kind that are intended to shoot household paint on walls, outdoor furniture, etc. These airless paint sprayers are nothing new, but they have gotten better and cheaper in recent years. But are they worth all the hype? How about one that is specifically designed for shooting automo

Finnegan’s Rubber Ducky, the cool yellow 1967 Pontiac Firebird that he picked up a few years ago, has been a fun ride that has taken him on Drag and Drive events, done great Christmas tree videos, and more. It’s powered by a big block, and they’ve done tons of work to the car over the years to make it quicker and quicker. But they’ve done little to the engine in comparison to the rest of the car. So what is in store for the Rubber Ducky now? In the video below, Peter Harrell, owner and head engi

Nice Paint, But... One typically has to pay extra for white pearl paint. It's understandable, though, as it requires a unique mix that varies from one manufacturer to another. It costs a little more to produce, and that cost is, well, transferred to us if we really want that color. White pearl easily adds several hundred dollars to a car's total price, so one expects it to at least stay shiny for a couple of years. However, that color is giving headaches to Nissan and Toyota owners in Japan.

Mazda has emerged as the top-rated brand in the new Safety Verdict assessment by Consumer Reports. The newly released assessment is a comprehensive look at how safe modern vehicles are, including everything from crashworthiness to emergency handling, key driver-assistance technologies equipped as standard, and even a good usability rating for interior controls. Ultimately, the top brands do the best job of protecting you in a crash while helping you avoid one altogether. Mazda outperformed every

A Hard Lesson The Mercedes-Benz EQS is still around, but it's already safe to say that it has failed to meet market expectations. It was being outsold by the fuel-fed S-Class by a huge margin, and never exceeded 30,000 unit sales worldwide. The EQ model experiment had fallen flat even before it was over. Mercedes-Benz has since learned from this very expensive lesson. Its latest EV models are integrated within its established vehicles. Prime examples of that include the redesigned CLA and, more

Aftermarket Support One major aspect of car ownership has always been self-modification. This gives the owners the freedom to express themselves and their personalities through their cars. When it comes to electric vehicles, aftermarket support is still limited; very few brands have invested in dedicated mods. A big name in the modding business has just come up with a kit to help turn your humdrum BMW i5 into a sporty-looking EV.

Not Its First Rodeo Car crashes happen every day, but when the vehicles involved are from high-end automakers, they almost always make headlines. Case in point: a Ferrari LaFerrari recently crashed in China – but there’s more to the story that makes this incident even more intriguing. According to Luxury Launches, this particular LaFerrari appears to be the same one that crashed in China back in 2015. That earlier incident was reportedly caused by aquaplaning—a situation in which the tires lose

Derek is back at it, this time with a Buick LeSabre, a car he’s actually bought and modified several times. Not this one in particular, but one that looked almost exactly the same. This one has been swapped already, so it’s got to be road ready right? Considering what comes out of some folks garages, I wouldn’t bet on it. But that shouldn’t stop Derek from finding his way into the driver’s seat and down the road in this one. Check it out as he takes it home to the Vice Grip Garage. Video Descri

Playing With Fire It seems the EV industry just can't catch the break it needs. Beyond overall perceptions and perceived drawbacks, some EV models are also prone to safety and reliability issues. Since EVs became the primary mode of transportation, we've seen reports of cars catching fire for various reasons. Needless to say, the most frightening possibility of EV malfunctions is a "thermal event." Recently, two major vehicle manufacturers have issued safety recalls following National Highway Tr

There’s something ironic about the fact that even as competitors like Ford and Stellantis are paring back their own EV programs, Toyota is rapidly ramping up its own. Two new models – the bZ Woodland and C-HR – are set to roll into showrooms in the coming weeks, and on Tuesday evening, the Japanese automaker rolled out yet another entry, an all-electric version of the familiar Highlander. “This new Highlander is designed to be a stylish, high-tech leader in the midsize SUV segment,” David Christ

Coming in 2028 Mercedes-Benz is slated to reveal the next-generation A-Class in 2028. While it was never sold as a hatchback in the U.S, it briefly appeared in sedan form from 2019 to 2022. It wasn't a massive hit, though, as more flocked to the sleeker CLA. However, it's long been a staple in the company's European lineup for nearly 30 years. So, what's next for Mercedes-Benz's entry-level offering? Well, it appears that it will be undergoing a radical redesign. At least that's according to a r

Nissan may have been slow in bringing hybridization to U.S. models, but it's reportedly introducing its unusual e-Power tech to America soon, and it plans to develop its more common plug-in hybrid and extended-range EV systems, too. In the meantime, the Japanese automaker is relying on Mitsubishi and its Outlander PHEV, rebadging it as the 2026 Rogue PHEV. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but Nissan has just announced pricing for its first plug-in hybrid for the American market, and it's nota

Toyota-Suzuki: Swapping Badges Since 2019 Outside of the U.S., Suzuki and Toyota have been exchanging badges for quite some time already. The first product of the collaboration was with the revived Toyota Starlet and Glanza, which was (and still is) based on the Suzuki Baleno. Since then, several Suzukis bore Toyota badges in select regions, particularly in South Asia and Africa. Of course, Toyota is doing its share too. In Japan, its Noah minivan is also called the Suzuki Landy, while the India

Stellantis’ U.S. sales have been declining for seven consecutive years now, and the company’s top brass told dealers they cannot tolerate this situation anymore. That’s why 2026 is the year that Stellantis sales must start growing again in the U.S.–at least that’s what transpired after a packed closed-door meeting last week between Stellantis senior executives and many of the company’s dealers at the National Automobile Dealers Association annual convention. Dealers Have "All The Tools That They

Happy 25th, BMW Hams Hall Plant When it comes to vehicle assembly, we often think of the entire car. The thing is, some plants are dedicated to churning out engines, and an example of that is BMW's plant in Hams Hall, Birmingham. This year, it turns 2025, and there's a good chance that the engine in your Mini or Rolls-Royce came from there. It opened in 2001 with its first product being the N42 engine that saw service in many four-cylinder BMW products. Since then, over 7.6 million engines have

With gas prices behaving more like a roller coaster than a steady expense this year, keeping your eyes on the large price displays at stations has become more work than spotting meme-worthy billboards for local ambulance chasing attorneys. Whether you’re a local commuting through humid Florida mornings or an interstate traveler navigating scenic coastal routes, finding a gas station that offers low-cost gas can feel like a genuine win for your wallet. We’ve sifted through real-time user reports

The Forester Now Leans Hard on Value Last year, Subaru finally added a hybrid Forester, using Toyota’s proven hybrid system with Subaru’s own all-wheel drive. It was a big move for a brand that’s been slow to go electric, but the result kept the Forester in the running against other compact SUVs. Now, Subaru appears ready to double down. Following recently announced massive price cuts for the WRX, the automaker has turned its attention to one of its core nameplates. For 2026, the Forester lineup