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It’s time for the Drag Illustrated Winter Series in Florida to continue! The US Street Nationals are on this weekend, and while the rest of the easter half of the country will be freezing, the weather is going to be lovely in central Florida at Bradenton Motorsports Park. With temps expected in the 70s, and sun shining overhead, the racing should be great for the racers and fans alike. All the action will be coming to you live on Flo, so pay per view is your only way to watch once the official e

Ford almost went three weeks without seeing its name appear on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's recall list for 2026, but today, it announced three at once, catapulting it to the top of the leaderboard as the most recalled automaker in the country to date, overtaking Rivian on the way. All three recalls raise the same concern of a fire risk and are attributed to an engine block heater that may short-circuit, with one recall for equipment (impacting 2,633 devices sold as acces

There Are Still Affordable Cars With average new-car prices still hovering well above $50,000, genuinely affordable new vehicles have become harder to find. Still, a handful of automakers continue to offer smart, value-packed cars and crossovers that keep pricing within reach without feeling stripped bare. Below are the 10 most affordable new cars in America today, ranked not just by price, but by what buyers actually get for their money. Hyundai Venue ($20,550) Pro: Lowest starting price in Hyu

Buttons Aren’t Dead, They’re Just Selective Not too long ago, carmakers seemed determined to see who could strip away the most buttons from their interiors. As touchscreens took over and dashboards got sleeker, physical controls quietly disappeared (looking at you, Mercedes-Benz), hidden in menus or dropped entirely. Even simple tasks started to demand a look away from the road. But not every brand followed that trend. Hyundai vowed to keep physical controls for the features that matter most, an

2026 is a massive year for the Formula One world, with brand-new regulations, new participants like Ford, Cadillac, and Audi, and a new World Drivers' Champion defending his crown in McLaren's Lando Norris. It's also the first year in which Aston Martin will use a power unit crafted by Honda, not Mercedes, and this new tie-up may lead to a jointly-developed road car. According to Road & Track, Aston Martin executive chairman Lawrence Stroll said that while there are currently no plans to col

Kuhl's Cool Builds The 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon really lived up to the name and hype that comes with every annual show. We've extensively covered most of the headliner showcars and displays, including Kuhl Racing. This Japanese company showed off unique builds like the Blocked Iron Build Land Cruiser 250 and the GR86 Outroad. However, another Kuhl GR86 build was featured (and kind of flew under the radar) alongside the other cars at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon that we missed. This one was also based

An Update Already? Yes, that early. The A5 and Q5 just had their first full model year in 2025, but the 2026 models are already bringing a host of welcome changes. So for those shopping around for either of these cars, it might be a good time to wait for these to come out, or haggle with your nearest dealer for a better deal. Good luck with that. So, what to expect from the new(er) A5 and Q5? Well, there's been a lot of buzz surrounding the return of some buttons, but there's more to it than a c

In the winter wonderland that is snowy Sweden at this time of the year, the 2027 Mercedes-Benz C-Class with EQ Technology has been spotted. That's a roundabout way of describing the electric C-Class, but it's better than EQC, and the first electric C-Class needs to be impressive if it is to have a fighting chance in its battle with the upcoming BMW i3. Mercedes has learned that an EV-exclusive design is ineffective when the result is an amorphous blob, like the ill-fated EQS, but instead of maki

A Milestone Year for the Three-Pointed Star Mercedes-Benz is celebrating its 140th year, and as part of the likely festivities, the German marque is putting its energy into something really relevant: a major update to its flagship sedan. The W223 S-Class is getting a thorough refresh. Mercedes is, of course, still keeping some details under wraps, but CEO Ola Källenius has already given us a surprisingly open preview in a recent video ahead of the official launch. Mercedes is clear that this isn

With its hybrid powertrain and no manual gearbox, the all-new Honda Prelude isn’t exactly what fans of the coupe were hoping for, but it has still thrust the Prelude nameplate back into the spotlight. Driving all five previous generations of the Prelude reminds one of simpler times, and how fun these cars still are today. This brings us to an incredibly special 1983 Prelude, a second-generation model that belongs to Honda. Amazingly, this Prelude has never been sold and has covered under 400 mil

There were plenty of takers earlier this month when Chinese automaker Geely offered journalists attending the Consumer Electronics Show a chance to drive some of its new vehicles. For now, at least, the only alternative would be to travel abroad since no domestic Chinese brands are today available in the U.S. Related: After Years of Rumors, Geely Confirms Plans to Enter the U.S. Market

Toyota’s Land Cruiser lineage goes all the way back to the 1950s, and the Japanese manufacturer has just revealed the most powerful Land Cruiser ever. Known as the Land Cruiser 300 Performance Hybrid, this off-road bruiser is based on the J300-series of the SUV sold in other markets. Producing 457 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, the new Performance Hybrid comprehensively outmuscles the J250-series Land Cruiser currently sold in North America. Think of the new 300 as a Nissan Armada Nismo riv

The Affordable WRX Makes a Return Subaru quietly dropped the base WRX for 2025, saying most buyers skipped it for higher trims. On paper, that move made sense. But it also pushed the WRX further from its roots as an affordable, accessible sports sedan. For 2026, Subaru is reversing course. The base WRX is back, now starting under $33,000, and it keeps the same standard features buyers expect from higher trims. Subaru also cut prices across the lineup without stripping out equipment. At the other

Fire Erupts During Development Test Drive A development-phase Hyundai Santa Fe test vehicle was destroyed after catching fire during road testing in South Korea. Fire crews fully extinguished the blaze, but not before the vehicle was engulfed and rendered a total loss. The Santa Fe involved was reportedly an export-spec model undergoing real-world validation testing. According to Korea's Naver, the driver noticed smoke rising from the hood while driving, safely pulled over to the shoulder, and e

Joe Grippo is one of BANGshift’s longest running contributors and has covered everything from junkyards to car shows and drag races to drag and drives, and so much more. He drags his lovely wife, and enthusiastic brother, along with him to some of the shows and races and he’s been contributing for years. It is kind of amazing to think that he’s been a supporter of the site since its inception, and is still going strong. Big thanks Joe, we appreciate you so much. Here’s his writeup: Well, here

It feels like forever since IHRA announced a new track purchase, but they haven’t been sitting around twiddling their thumbs. Nope, yesterday they made the announcement that they had signed a lease agreement to take over operations of The Motor Mile Speedway in Virginia and were going to use the facility as the headquarter for the IHRA Stock Car Series. It was big news and the details are below. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE IHRA ANNOUNCES THE LEASING AND OPERATIONS OF THE PULASKI COUNTY MOTORSPORTS P

Kevin Tetz is a bad ass. We’ve said it multiple times, but some things are worth repeating. He’s been painting cars and trucks for decades, showing millions how to do it on tv for decades, and actually educating folks on paint and body through his Paintucation website and lessons for decades as well! He’s great to be around and absolutely free with his sharing of information which we love. In the video below, you’ll find him sharing more tips and tricks and techniques with a focus on eliminating

Dylan McCool knows how to take advantage of some good fortune. When he was offered a big boat of a Lincoln, for free, and had already been given a 460 big block Ford, for free, he knew that the horsepower gods were speaking to him. What they were saying is “let’s do burnouts with this big barge!” and he listened. If you want to see the fun, and find out just how he got both of these things for free, watch the video below. And check out his resourcefulness to do it on the cheap. We approve. Vide

In an interview with InsideEVs, Ford CEO Jim Farley says the company’s planned $30,000 electric truck has reached the prototype stage, describing the effort as an internal Apollo style mission with little margin for error. The comments frame the project as more than a new model, because Ford is trying to prove it can build an affordable EV that works as a business, not just as a technology showcase, with production targeted for 2027.

In a world where hypercars can command seven-figure prices, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 makes one question their value, delivering 1,064 horsepower for just $175,000. At least, that's the case if the purchase is made in the ZR1's home country. Across the Atlantic, the ZR1 is much less of a budget-friendly hypercar slayer. The first two examples of the ZR1 have just landed in Europe (well, technically, the United Kingdom) via retail automotive dealer Clive Sutton, and one of them is still availabl

The all-new Nissan Sentra seriously impressed us when we took it for a first drive in Phoenix late last year. In its design and how it feels on the road, it exceeds the expectations created by its low starting price of just $22,600. If there’s anything to complain about, it’s that the sole 149-horsepower engine doesn’t live up to the rest of the package. There’s no modern Sentra Nismo to satiate enthusiasts—a Sentra Nismo was last on sale for the 2019 model year—but one Arizona dealer is taking

Rivian’s next big product is getting closer to customers. In a post on X, the company says it has begun building manufacturing validation units of the R2 at its Normal, Illinois plant, a key milestone that typically signals a program is moving from prototype work to production readiness. Rivian has been targeting the first half of 2026 for initial R2 deliveries, and validation builds are the stage where factory processes, parts fit, and build quality are stress-tested before full volume assembl

The Charity Hammer Drops Again Ford has a sort of tradition of auctioning the first production example—VIN 001—for charity. After auctioning the first Mustang Dark Horse unit in 2024, the Blue Oval brand is once again following the same playbook, this time consigning the new Dark Horse SC to Barrett-Jackson. The example heading to auction comes equipped with the Track Pack. Like the original Mustang Dark Horse, proceeds from the VIN 001 Mustang Dark Horse SC will benefit Breakthrough T1D (former

Emerging Safety Crisis in the Used Car Market The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a warning after faulty replacement airbag inflators have been confirmed to be behind multiple deaths in car crashes that were deemed ‘otherwise survivable’ by investigators. The inflators in question, not manufactured or approved for use by carmakers, appear to have been installed as replacement parts after an airbag deployment during a prior crash. The NHTSA says that these inflat

Hidden Gems One of the first major automotive shows covered globally is the Tokyo Auto Salon, annually held in January. It serves as the opening salvo that the new year has begun for auto enthusiasts. Given the scale of the show and major manufacturers taking part, it's no small wonder that some incredibly unique builds are often overlooked. Tucked away in one of the many event halls and displays is a car now just hitting the spotlight, something worthy of not just attention but proper recogniti