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Independent No More After 60 years of free reign, Alpina enters a new chapter under BMW’s wing. Established in 1965 by Burkard Bovensiepen, the company became an independent automaker in 1983 but has always had close ties with Munich. It will be interesting to see where the brand goes from here, and we're keeping our fingers crossed that Bavaria keeps the essence of Alpina. But what exactly defines an Alpina? Well, there have been several examples per decade that answer that. That said, narrowin

Lexus has not yet reported detailed sales figures for the 2025 calendar year, but the luxury automaker looks set to shatter more records. Lexus expects sales to have exceeded 360,000 units by the time all the numbers are tallied up, and it’s mostly thanks to soaring demand for the brand’s SUVs. That figure would mark a roughly 5% increase over 2024, which was already the brand’s best year in its 35-year history. Unfortunately, there’s a downside, with buyers facing lengthy waiting times for cert

A Small Start That Made a Big Impact When Honda launched the first Civic in the early 1970s, it was a practical solution to global fuel and emissions challenges. Compact, light, and fuel-efficient, it quickly earned a reputation for reliability and smart engineering. The Civic stood out for its simplicity and well-thought-out design, appealing to everyday drivers who valued efficiency over flash. That balance between practicality and performance became central to Honda’s brand identity, influenc

Dodge Vipers are among the most visceral performance cars ever sold, especially the early examples that predate traction control, stability systems, and any real safety net. They were loud, crude, and built for fun. Yet, owners still love modifying them. Usually, that means more power, forced induction, or aero tweaks. However, this 2001 Viper RT/10 listed on Cars and Bids turns itself into a proper American muscle car. Its original V10 and manual transmission have been removed entirely, replace

A Promising Start Meets a Tougher Market When the Rivian R1T arrived on the scene in 2021, the California-based EV maker appeared poised to continually raise the bar for the future of electric vehicles. However, like many EV brands, Rivian was hit hard by a sudden market shift – an impact that has since been reflected in its 2025 delivery figures. Rivian, which currently sells EVs only in North America, said on Friday that it delivered 42,247 vehicles last year, representing an 18% decline from

Not Your Typical Firebird A post from Facebook user If ya squint it’s mint shows an unusual-looking Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, made especially striking by its high-riding stance and wagon-like body style. In the comments, one user who appeared to know the owner shared key details that help explain the build – most notably that the car is used for the Gambler 500. While the name may sound similar to the famed Daytona 500, the Gambler 500 couldn’t be more different. There’s no oval track, no pace

Kia America posted its best annual sales in history in 2025, with 852,155 vehicles sold across the country, a healthy increase of 7%. Together with Hyundai, the Korean brands saw strong growth last year, largely a result of class-leading design and vehicles spanning multiple segments. But what’s particularly intriguing about Kia’s sales figures are the two models that saw the biggest growth for the company in America last year. Although the Kia Sportage remains the brand’s top-selling model and

Why a Cabin Air Filter Matters More Than You Think Cabin air filters are easy to overlook, but they play a meaningful role in everyday driving. Their job is to trap dust, pollen, exhaust particles, and other debris before air enters the cabin through the HVAC system. A clogged or dirty filter can reduce airflow, strain the blower motor, and allow unpleasant odors or allergens to circulate inside the car. For drivers with allergies or those who spend a lot of time in traffic, a fresh cabin air fi

Sayonara, Ford Escape Last week, on December 17, the production line at Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant bid farewell, as the last Ford Escape made its way across the production line. Alongside its luxury twin, the Lincoln Corsair, the Blue Oval announced that the two models will end production back in August, as it prepares to retool the plant for a new electric vehicle built on its next-generation platform. On the factory floor, production line workers, including Gregorio Mosiea, expressed emo

Back From The Dead In the automotive world, a blown motor typically means replacement is the more practical option, as repairs tend to be costly. Fortunately for the guys at LOJ Conversions, they already had a spare 7.3-liter Ford Godzilla V8, which was ultimately swapped into a 2005 F-250 after its original engine suffered a rod failure that destroyed the block. Why would LOJ Conversions—known for LS-swapped Nissan projects like the LS7-powered 350Z—have a massive V8 just lying around? Accordin

Bespoke Is the Real Luxury Flex Bespoke customization sits at the true peak of luxury cars, going beyond ticking boxes on an order sheet. Rolls-Royce and Bentley have made this option their calling card, letting buyers mix and match materials, colors, and finishes almost without limits. Genesis has been quietly heading this way, too. Two years back, the Korean marque launched the One of One division in Dubai, targeting buyers who expect more than just a spec sheet. That move showed Genesis could

Safety is Luxury Measurements of luxury in the automotive world vary; most agree that vehicle luxury is defined by the car's trim level, interior comforts, or the number of gizmos. However, an often overlooked factor is safety – the more money shelled out for a vehicle, the safer it should be than most. There are even certain luxury brands that prioritize safety as one of their unique selling points (USP). Mercedes-Benz was one of the pioneers of certain safety features that are now commonplace,

BMW's M Badge stands for 'Motorsport.' If you reel in the years, BMW’s M-series cars, including the M2, M3, M4, M5, and other miscellaneous M-badged cars in its lineup, can trace back their roots to the M1, a special supercar built all the way back in 1978. During its production run, just 456 road-going M1s were ever built, as they were sold to customers to meet homologation rules. At the time, BMW had motorsport dreams, and the mid-engined M1 was initially developed to be its vehicle to compete

Ram started off the year with the exciting news that the 2500 Power Wagon pickup will get the option of the beastly 6.7-liter Cummins High-Output turbodiesel engine in the second half of 2026. With this change, the heavy-duty pickup gains a towering 1,075 lb-ft of torque and a maximum towing rating of nearly 20,000 pounds. There’s much to like if you need a beefy pickup that can take on just about any task, but the Cummins-equipped Power Wagon does come with one downside. The exceedingly large d

Buick’s Historic Nameplate at a Crossroads The Buick Regal has been a fixture in the lineup since 1973, serving as the brand’s go-to midsize model in just about every shape – sedan, liftback, and even wagon, depending on the market. In North America, though, the Regal slipped away after 2020, another victim of the shift away from sedans. But in China, the Regal never left. It’s still a regular sight in Buick showrooms, even as the brand leans harder into electrification and tech. That’s why the

A Quiet Update With Lasting Effects Toyota has rolled out a Limited-Service Campaign that covers over a million hybrid AWD vehicles sold in the US in recent years. It might look like a minor update at first glance, but for hybrid owners, this is one you’ll want to pay attention to. The problem comes down to the rear traction motor system in Toyota’s AWD hybrids. The high-voltage floor underwire connector that powers the rear motor can end up exposed to mud, water, or road salt as the miles add u

Finnegan’s Caddy is one of the more talked about projects from the Finnegan’s Garage channel, and is also one of the projects he’s most looking forward to. The plan is for this thing to run 8’s and be able to haul him and three buddies in it for a drag and drive event. I think it’s a great project, and it’s going to be a real head turner. I can’t wait to go for a ride. But as you know, this project has run into all kinds of delays and snags over the years so sometimes it is little things that ma

This could be yours! Mortske sells most of the cars and trucks he finds and features on the channel, which is good news for you because you get to see, and hear, what he thinks about these rides as he’s working on them. This 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T is a pretty cool looking muscle car, that’s for sure. It’s a real deal R/T, and although it doesn’t have the original 440 and 727 combo, it does have A 440/727 combo. This car is faded as can be, but it’s there and straighter than you might think. Chec

Dakar Rally 2026 is on! The worlds longest, toughest, and most infamous off-road race has started and we couldn’t be more excited! Famous racers and teams, well known for their prowess in the sand and on Dakar in general, have already been struggling which is just more proof of how gnarly this race really is. There are a lot of new cars and new teams mixed in with proven cars and older teams, but it’s the little things that matter at Dakar. If you don’t take care of your equipment, and keep you

The 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship was a great one, with lots of door to door racing action all over the country. The racing was hot and heavy, but Mercedes was once again able to take the season championship. They are aiming for a 3rd in a row in 2026, but nobody else on the grid is going to cut them any slack as they all fight for the win. The 2026 season starts at Daytona in less than two weeks! In the video below they review the 2025 season and talk about what is in store for

In 2025, with more information available to us than ever in history, it has become harder and harder to differentiate good information from bad. The truth is that most of it is our own fault because for some reason, in 2025, we have decided that believing experts is so 2019 and instead we’ll trust some random dude on Facebook. Lake Speed Jr, the Motor Oil Geek, is no random dude on Facebook. He’s developed some of the top performing oils in our industry, is more knowledgeable on what is going on

Can these turned up street trucks make it down the track without pitching their drivetrains on the ground? I’m always curious as to how capable these turned up modern trucks really are when it comes to putting in work. I mean I know that some of them pull trailers, but pulling a sled on the truck and tractor pull track is a whole different thing and can be really hard on transmissions, axles, differentials, and steering parts. Let’s see how they fair!   The post Truck Pulling 2025! Wild Unl

Tesla opened its long-hyped diner in Los Angeles in July 2025. It was meant to showcase a new vision for EV charging. Rather than a basic restaurant attached to a Supercharger station, it was pitched as a retro-futuristic destination blending Americana, EV culture, and Elon Musk’s flair for spectacle – finally, you'd look forward to charging your Model Y. Six months later, that promise feels largely unfulfilled. The crowds have disappeared, the novelty has worn off, and what was framed as a bold

Tesla, Chevrolet, Ford, and Hyundai dominate the EV conversation in the US, yet they all rely on lithium-ion battery technology that's more than three decades old. The industry knows its limits, which is why the race to crack solid-state batteries has become so intense, with Toyota aiming to launch the world’s first solid-state EVs by 2027. China, however, is moving on a different timeline and with a different strategy. The real story is not simply about building a better battery, but about who

The Subaru Legacy: Why it’s Important If there’s one model that brought Subaru to the modern age, it’s the original Legacy. Launched in 1989, it’s officially been retired for the 2026 model year, so we thought it would be a good time to revisit it. The car was designed to take on the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry in sales, and the Mitsubishi Galant in motorsports. It was Gunma's first true midsize sedan, and was worlds away from the brand’s previous efforts. The first-generation Subaru Legacy is