News

Opel’s 50,000-Pixel Headlight Gambit Opel is betting big on brains over brute force with the new Astra and Astra Sports Tourer, unveiled at the 2026 Brussels Motor Show. The headline feature is Adaptive Intelli-Lux HD lighting, a system boasting more than 50,000 individual light elements, 51,200 to be exact, now trickling down from their Grandland SUV, which shares a platform with the Jeep Compass, to Opel’s compact car. On paper, the technology is designed to dramatically improve nighttime vis

If you are used to driving modern Formula 1 cars, and someone throws you into a Model T Ford, you are probably scratching your head and wondering who thought to design things so backwards compared to 2026 standards. But it’s fun driving different cars, so I’m sure these guys had fun when they were told they got to drive some special Fords that represent 100 years of advancement. And because anytime two or more people are going the same way in a car, truck, van, bike, or boat, it is automatically

Hyundai Thinks Car Doors Are Due for a Rethink Automakers have spent decades refining engines, suspensions, and software, but Hyundai is aiming at something far more basic: how people actually get in and out of cars. A newly published patent application shows the company experimenting with a double-sliding-door setup that feels less inspired by minivans and more by subways and commuter trains. Published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in January 2026 (you can look it up

Well, it’s that time of year where the LIWA Hillclimbs are happening. This is some really fun stuff, where folks come from all over to race up an epic dune in Dubai. Located not far from the Liwa Oasis, this is a hot spot for dune racing. In fact, every Friday evening huge crowds show up to have fun, eat, race, and enjoy the sand. They show up in everything from build 2JZ combos to twin turbo LS engines, and even Pro Mod combos. Yep, there are some serious players here, and when you see these pu

It’s winter, and the last thing anyone wants is to be stuck on the size of the road with a flat tire in freezing conditions. But if you own a 2026 Nissan Rogue—the company's best-selling model in the United States, with almost 220,000 models sold in 2025—your problems may continue even after fitting your spare tire. Nissan has issued a recall for some 2026 Rogues for having spare tires that may not match the size and inflation pressure information on the tire placard. While no incidents have yet

A Type R That Refuses to Bow Out The Honda Civic Type R is starting to look like it’s running out of road, at least outside the US. Japan has already shown off a Civic Type R Final Edition, and Europe has rolled out its own Ultimate Edition as emissions rules tighten and priorities shift. For a lot of markets, the FL5 is being treated as the last hurrah, making it feel like the Civic Type R is about to bow out. The US, however, is telling a slightly different story. American Honda confirmed that

Say hello to the Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC. As the name implies, it's a supercharged Dark Horse. Except, it's more than that. Rather than the 5.0-liter naturally aspirated Coyote engine in the regular Dark Horse, this has a 5.2-liter supercharged V8, and although Ford isn't saying so, it's effectively a GT500 for the S650 generation. First of all, the lower side intakes are more than a little reminiscent of the S550 GT500. Secondly, you can have carbon fiber wheels. And quite simply, this is bu

Say hello to the Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC. As the name implies, it's a supercharged Dark Horse. Except, it's more than that. Rather than the 5.0-liter naturally aspirated Coyote engine in the regular Dark Horse, this has a 5.2-liter supercharged V8, and although Ford isn't saying so, it's effectively a GT500 for the S650 generation. First of all, the lower side intakes are more than a little reminiscent of the S550 GT500. Secondly, you can have carbon fiber wheels. And quite simply, this is bu

The BMW iX3 has been getting plenty of praise for its impressive range, next-generation technology, and overall style, and now Volvo wants a piece of its pie with the new EX60 crossover, set to be unveiled next week. While we wait, the Swedish automaker is whetting our appetites with a new teaser that gives us a glimpse of the interior, specifically the central touchscreen. That's not all Volvo has to be proud of with the new electric crossover, but more on that in a moment. First, let's discuss

It’s Stage 9, and after running hundreds of miles through the desert on Stages 7 AND 8, there’s a few hundred more in store for all these racers as they get into Day 3 of the 2nd Week of Dakar. This is going to be good. After all, the desert is ready to rock each and every day, and Stage 8 is no different. There is still a lot of Dakar 2026 left to go, and rest day was welcome, but they all needed it after Stage 6 which was hell for many teams. We’ve been sharing every day’s coverage from the 2

Ford Wants to Prove Bronco's Worth Where it Counts Ford is expanding the Bronco’s role beyond recreation, announcing a new initiative aimed at putting its off-road SUV directly into the hands of search-and-rescue teams that operate in extreme conditions. The move follows a firsthand experience by Ford President and CEO Jim Farley, who last summer observed Grand County Search and Rescue in Utah using a Bronco to navigate difficult terrain during active rescue operations. The moment underscored a

Everyone Moved On Except Manual Buyers Today’s car market looks vastly different from decades ago, shaped by the rise of electrified vehicles and the steady decline of manual gearboxes. Interestingly, however, a report fromMotor1shows that some automakers still saw a notable share of U.S. buyers favoring stick shifts over automatics last year. Sales of the Acura Integra equipped with a manual transmission rose from 19.8 percent in 2024 to 22 percent last year. Similarly, the ultra-limited Pagani

Alfa Romeo first revealed the 2026 Tonale in October last year, with changes like revised exterior styling—it’s one of the most eye-catching crossovers around, that’s for sure. The 2026 model was originally scheduled to reach North America showrooms at the end of 2025, but that never happened. This raised some alarm bells, especially since Dodge has discontinued the Hornet, the Tonale’s twin. But we’re happy to report that the 2026 Tonale will arrive at dealers this quarter. It now has the tough

Pirelli: Still Italian, But With a Twist Pirelli is one of the default names for drivers who care about performance. From high-end road cars to Formula 1, the Milan-based tire maker is renowned for its premium rubber and proprietary technology. To regular consumers, it’s Italian through and through, both in image and in heritage. Here’s what most people don’t realize: over a third of Pirelli is owned by Sinochem, a Chinese state-run chemical giant. That 34 percent stake is now a major headache,

General Motors is starting the year with a fresh skyline address and a carefully chosen message. As it opens the doors to its new headquarters in downtown Detroit, the company is keen to remind everyone that this is more than a new office. GM says its footprint is woven into the US economy at a basic level, from the people it employs to the suppliers it leans on and the towns that grow around its plants. GM

Not One Truck Fits All The Ram 1500 lineup is more alive than ever with the TRX’s return. However, according to Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, the 1500 TRX isn’t meant for everyone, as other variants may better address the brand’s diverse range of customer needs. Speaking with The Drive, Kuniskis suggested that customers planning to daily drive a 1500 should skip the TRX and opt for the RHO instead. From a sales perspective, steering buyers away from the most expensive trim may sound counterintuitive. Bu

It appears that Tesla can’t catch a break from being bombarded with lawsuits. Yet again, it’s door handles. While the EV maker was recently taken to court for the Model 3’s door handle design, this one’s slightly different in that it’s a pre-facelift Model S, specifically MY 2014-16. Newer Teslas feature a flush door handle design, which looks noticeably different from older models. Although they were of a similar retractable pop-out type, the design wasn’t all that reliable, claims the plaintif

The Headline Comes First Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on X that its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system will be offered exclusively on a monthly subscription basis starting after February 14. However, as is often the case with developments from the company, specific details remain limited, at least as of this writing. What is known so far is that FSD is currently available in the U.S. as an $8,000 option or a $99 monthly subscription on the Tesla Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck. The advanced driver

Trick Rides Modernizes the GT350 Formula Trick Rides has built its reputation on obsessive craftsmanship and reverence for American muscle. Recently, it unveiled the Shelby GT350TR, a modern, track-focused reinterpretation of one of the most important names in American performance. Built entirely in the company’s 31,000-square-foot facility in Yukon, Oklahoma, the GT350TR blends classic Shelby styling cues with contemporary engineering, aiming to deliver modern performance without abandoning the

The Detroit Auto Show has kicked off, setting the stage for the Automotive Press Association to announce the winners of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards (NACTOY). Choosing from a pool of nine finalists (three in each category), judges have selected the following as the best all-new or substantially redesigned vehicles on the market in an independent process that involves them voting individually, with the votes only being counted by Deloitte just before the p

Keeping the V8 Running Downsized turbos have been the way for the last couple of years. Sixes have been replaced by boosted fours, turbo-sixes have substituted V8s and V12s, and, well, you get the picture. Yes, the V8 is still around, but the options are slimming down by the minute. Thankfully, there are still automakers who want to keep it alive by any means necessary. One of those manufacturers is Ford, and it's hoping its planned solution will keep them around for much longer. According to CE

Backing Away From The Brink of Trade War After months of escalating tensions, the European Union and China have agreed to a framework replacing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles with minimum pricing agreements. Rather than forcing Chinese manufacturers to pay tariffs, the EU is asking China to sell cars at or above a predetermined price floor. China's Ministry of Commerce called the framework an important breakthrough. It marks a marked departure from 2024, when China threatened countermeasur

Around a month ago, Dodge dealers were still battling to sell 2024 versions of the Hornet plug-in hybrid. At that stage, inventory of the 2024 electrified SUV still sat at over 80%. But the Hornet’s problems run far deeper than the hybrid model, as Dodge has seen fit to kill off the crossover entirely, including the base non-hybrid model. This means there’ll be no 2026 Hornet, with the sporty crossover surviving for a mere three model years. Dodge Blames Policy Shift For Hornet’s Demise

Like a growing number of Americans, you might look back fondly on your younger days, strapping on a backpack and hiking into the woods for a weekend of camping adventures. But the days of sleeping on the hard ground are but a memory for most campers who prefer to have at least a few of the comforts of home wherever they bed down for the night. Honda That’s given rise to a growing

Redefining the Lens The six category winners of this year’s Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY) have been announced. Before anything else, it’s worth emphasizing that there is no such thing as a “woman’s car” – a point the awarding body itself has long maintained. Rather, the jury is composed entirely of women, giving them a voice in what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry. Now in its 15th edition, this year’s category winners are the Nissan Leaf (Compact Car), Škoda Elroq (