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Revealed in production form earlier this year, the Red Bull RB17 is one of the most extreme hypercars ever conceived—just as you’d expect for a machine designed by Adrian Newey, who has designed winning Formula 1 cars for the likes of Williams and McLaren. The RB17, engineered to be even faster around a track than existing F1 cars, has just entered its final build phase. Rob Gray, RB17 technical director, also shared some of the exclusive design details about the car that will only see a 50-unit

Far From the Freelander You Know Remember the Land Rover Freelander? It was the British marque's entry in the compact crossover class that was sold over two generations. The Freelander was introduced in late 1997, but only made its way to America towards the end of 2001. It had a bit of a rough time across the Atlantic, as it was persistently dogged by issues. It was discontinued in 2005 and renamed LR2 in 2008. The Freelander name carried on in the rest of the world, though, and it was eventual

A Nameplate We All Once Loved For years, the Honda Fit earned a devoted following in the U.S. because of its remarkable fuel efficiency and cleverly designed practicality. Its hallmark “Magic Seat” system gave the subcompact hatchback near-mythical versatility, allowing owners to configure the interior for bulky cargo, long items, or even a quick nap. Critics praised the Fit for punching above its size, delivering a level of interior space and usability that embarrassed larger, pricier competito

It has taken me several days to be able to post something like this on BANGshift. Posting it the day we found out about the loss of our great friend would have been the smart thing for page views and likes and all the crap we unfortunately are measured on, but it just didn’t feel right. Hell, this weekend I spoke about Kyle at Holley’s LSFest Texas and couldn’t do it without getting choked up. Yesterday I spoke with Matt Frost and our conversation about Kyle featured several cracks of my voice a

Breaking Range Barriers with Smart Engineering Renault has demonstrated that electric vehicles don't need massive battery packs to achieve impressive range figures. The company's Filante test vehicle just managed to drive 626 miles on a single charge, finishing the run with 11 percent battery remaining and setting an efficiency record in the process. What’s more impressive is that this figure wasn’t a hypermiling attempt; it was achieved at highway speeds, at an average of 63 mph.  Sure, the Fil

The Niagara Following a concept unveiling in 2023, Renault is moving forward with a new nameplate for its lineup. Dubbed the Niagara, it's part of the French automaker's futureREady strategic plan, which also involves launching 14 more new models outside of Europe by 2030. With the Niagara name, Renault seeks to convey strength, resilience, and an ability to withstand the elements. It also serves as an invitation to explore the great outdoors, says the brand. Sylvia dos Santos, Head of Naming S

Mercedes’ legendary M120 V12 engine is no stranger to big displacements. Found in top-end versions of the S-Class and SL throughout the ’90s, and getting a second life in the Pagani Zonda, the smallest iteration of the engine was still 6.0 liters in size, and it went as big as 7.3 liters in the ultra-rare SL 73 AMG. Now, though, esteemed Florida-based Mercedes tuner RennTech is preparing to push the powerplant even further with a mighty 7.5-liter version, set to arrive in 2027 in the SEC V12 Wid

Last weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the SCCA ran two days of Hoosier Super Tour races and we’ve got the livestream replay right here! These are some fun SCCA regional races and feature some cool cars that look like they would be a riot to drive near their limits. Check out the livestream replay below and let us know which ones you most want to drive. Video Description: The 2026 Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour heads east to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for Rounds 11 & 12 of the se

Reinventing the Door Handle Design-wise, flush exterior handles look sleek and help reduce aerodynamic drag slightly. At the same time, electronic handles have made their way inside cars, too, ranging from buttons to, again, electronic handles. We're now at the point where the simple and reliable door pulls are getting electronically assisted. It's forced manufacturers who make such doors to make emergency door openers in case of emergencies, such as fires. However, there have been some serious

Porsche is reportedly reworking the next-generation 718 Boxster and Cayman platform so it can carry gasoline engines as well as electric power, rowing back from the original plan to make the next 718 family EV-only. Instead of using a dedicated electric architecture just once, Stuttgart is said to be engineering a flexible “EV-first” structure that can support both battery-electric and combustion powertrains across the range, not just in a limited halo model.

If Lake says it’s good, I believe him. I just wanted to start off with that. Lake Speed Jr. is one of the smartest folks in the automotive aftermarket, is a real life oil analyst and engineer, and has designed some of the best engine oils in the aftermarket for hot rodders and racers alike. He’s earned his stripes, and that’s why I trust him when it comes to engine oils. So how does this Valvoline Restore and Protect actually work? According to Valvoline it works miracles, and I’ve heard a few c

Not for the Reserved Folks Established in 2013, Rezvani has made some of the wildest and 'out there' cars over the past 13 years. Let's just say its cars aren't for the wealthy, old-money types who'd like to keep things on the down low. Rezvani's cars are unashamedly brash and attention-grabbing, and that's putting it lightly. As if you need any more proof, there's the cool Porsche911-based RR1 and the wild 1,000-hp mid-engined Beast. On the SUV side, you get the Dark Knight and Tank, the latter

A Decade-Long Wait When Rezvani introduced the Tank in 2017, it stood out as a production SUV that looked and felt unlike anything else on the market. Underneath, it used Jeep Wrangler foundations, but the design leaned heavily into futuristic, almost concept-car territory. The Tank combined high-output engines, serious off-road equipment, and available bulletproofing at a time when most luxury SUVs focused on comfort and style. Over the years, the Tank saw gradual updates, but the main concept

A Complicated Record with High-Speed Machines Richard Hammond made a name for himself by taking fast cars to their limits and making the experience accessible to viewers. Some of his most memorable moments, though, have come from things not going to plan. A jet-powered dragster crash in 2006 put him in the hospital and showed just how little room there is for error at high speed. Later, he crashed a 1,200-horsepower Rimac during a hillclimb, but walked away. These moments have become part of his

One of our favorite hot rod historians is Tommy Lee Byrd, the Hot Rod Hoarder, because he’s a fount of information and really gets into his subject. He’s so good at the history behind different race cars, so it make sense that he’s also good at the history that ISN’T behind them. That sounds funny to say, but in the racing world there are often racers from other disciplines that cross over to try their hands in other series. Over the years, NASCAR, INDYCAR, NHRA, F1, and more have had racers swi

A Different Kind of Hendrick Purchase If you know Rick Hendrick, you probably know him as the guy who always lands the first Corvette off the line. He’s made a habit of showing up at auctions, bidding big, and driving away with VIN 001 every time a new generation rolls out. But this latest buy is a different story. At the memorable Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction, Hendrick spent $1 million on something that’s about as far from a Corvette as you can get: the first 2026 GM Defense Infantry Squa

Seeing Trophy Trucks run well over 100 miles per hour across the desert is something truly special. With suspension travel that is measured in feet, not inches, and 1,000 horsepower on tap for the most powerful examples, a Trophy Truck is something truly special. These trucks are awesome and no matter where you see them running it is impressive as hell. But no matter how much footage you see of them hauling ass across the desert, you just can’t understand what driving one is like. And while it i

With the announcement of the V16-powered Tourbillon, Bugatti put an end to speculation that its Chiron successor might be a rebodied Rimac Nevera, but even so, the ultra-luxury automaker has been forced to adopt a form of electrification with the hybrid system supporting that enormous engine. And according to a report from Autocar, it may be embracing further electrification, though the form it will take is unclear. The British publication reports, following a discussion with Rimac Group Chief O

Robotaxis: Tesla’s Long Game Meets Rimac’s Bold Pivot For years, Tesla has been seen as the frontrunner in autonomous mobility. From Autopilot to self-driving cabs, the company is inching toward a future of driverless ride-sharing through gradual improvements in its driver-assist software. Elon Musk’s long-promised robotaxi network remains aspirational, its timeline repeatedly pushed back as the technology proves harder to perfect than expected. While Tesla continues to retrofit autonomy onto ex

BMW’s flagship electric sedan is about to get a refresh. The updated BMW i7 will celebrate its world premiere on 22 April at Auto China 2026 in Beijing, bringing the brand’s Neue Klasse design language into its all-electric 7 Series. While the new design is important, the real star of the show sits beneath the surface: batteries developed alongside electric hypercar maker Rimac. The Neue Klasse Treatment BMW

The Ultimate Moving Target Rimac Automobili collaborated with Red Bull athlete Dario Costa on what’s being described as a world-first aviation stunt in Turkey. While electric powertrains are not yet widely used in aviation, Rimac’s involvement had little to do with aircraft propulsion. Instead, the EV manufacturer supplied its hypercars – the Nevera and Nevera R – to serve as high-speed practice targets for the attempt. The stunt required Costa to take off from the top of a cargo train traveling

John Jackson is back at it, this time in our home state of Texas as he visits the Rio Grande Valley for the Rio Heat Show. And not only did he capture awesome cars and custom trucks, but also made a visit at a couple of really good BBQ spots. Check it out if you like cars and smoked meat! Video Description: Rio Heat Car Show & Texas BBQ Tour: Mercedes, TX Join us for an epic weekend in the Rio Grande Valley! We headed down to the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Showgrounds in Mercedes, Texas,

As Fuel Prices Rise, EV Interest Rises Too Fuel crises have often influenced car buyers to upsize or downsize their engines. When fuel prices are low and the economy is running smoothly, sure, a V8 sounds like a great idea. Economic downturns, recessions, or fuel price spikes are on the way? Well, I guess it's time to get a small hatchback with a frugal gasoline engine. Nowadays, Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) are n

A Smarter R1 Arrives After outlining updates for the Rivian Electric Delivery Van (EDV), the EV maker has released software version 2026.03 for its first- and second-generation R1 models. The update introduces Apple Watch integration and revisions to several drive modes. Like Tesla, Rivian now allows owners to use their Apple Watch to control certain vehicle functions without a smartphone. Gen 1 vehicles – models built through 2024 – can be locked and unlocked by tapping the ‘lock’ icon, while G

Rivian has taken an unusual route to showcase its commercial EV platform, building a custom electric ambulance for ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy. The company says the “vanbulance” is based on its Rivian Commercial Van architecture and was created specifically for the show, giving the production an on-screen emergency vehicle that also reflects a growing real-world interest in electrifying service fleets.