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The Corvette ZR1 Makes More? Automakers typically advertise crank horsepower, which is always higher than wheel horsepower due to drivetrain losses. So when Hennessey Performance dyno tested a stock Chevrolet C8 Corvette ZR1 and recorded a peak output of 1,050 horsepower, the result immediately raised eyebrows. Chevrolet lists the C8 Corvette ZR1 at 1,064 horsepower from the factory, a figure that represents crank output. Under normal circumstances, wheel horsepower should be noticeably lower on

Stacey is back at it in this episode of Gearz, working on his 240Z project which is getting some suspension and brake upgrades to keep this project moving. These cars have a ton of high performance heritage and a lot of available parts, so these are going to be a pretty legit improvement that will make it a riot to drive when it is all done. Video Description: This time on GEARZ, Stacey rolls the 240Z onto the lift and starts laying out the new brakes and suspension that’s going to go under it

Here we go again with another one of Derek’s Vice Grip Garage Christmas Extras. This time he’s taking the Texas 1957 Chevrolet on a road trip for a trade. He has no clue how good the trade is, as he’s made arrangements without seeing this thing, and he’s had to do some work to the ’57 in order for it to make the 350 mile trip. Will it make it after getting some love? And will the trade be worth it? Will it make it home? Hmmm Video Description: The Texas 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is back. I spent

The Gravel What? Yes, it's a silly name, but the Subaru Impreza Gravel Express was a pioneering model in many ways. Launched in 1995 as a limited-run special in Japan, only 1,300 of these were ever built, and it is an incredibly rare car these days. So rare, in fact, that manufacturer photos are few and far between. We ended up heading to Cars & Bids and Bring a Trailer for clearer photos of this oddly-named JDM special. Mind you, this wasn't the only special edition Impreza sold exclusively

Global Sweetheart When it comes to popularity and name recall, the Toyota RAV4 can be considered one of those models. Ever since its launch in the late '90s, the nameplate has always been a consistent seller for Toyota – even outselling the Ford F-150 in the US last year. Over the years, the RAV4 has remained relevant, catering to as many customers as possible, and yes, even with outfitters looking to add a touch of personality to their vehicles. That said, the RAV4 also enjoys a healthy stream

Built for Laughs Car modifications usually aim to improve looks or performance. This builder from Detroit, however, admitted his one-of-a-kind Chrysler minivan project was created to be “silly and fun.” The result is a bizarre twin-nosed minivan, formed by welding together the front ends of two '90s-era minivans, with the rear half capable of controlling the vehicle. Zach Sutton, a Detroit-based manufacturing engineer, built the project he calls “Bak2Bak.” Speaking with USA Today, Sutton said he

New Subaru Solterra EV  The recently revealed 2026 Subaru Solterra electric SUV is a marked improvement over the outgoing car. The new Solterra, while still equipped with the dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, now boasts a new 74.7 kWh battery that pushes its EPA-estimated range up to 288 miles from the 227 miles of the outgoing model. It also gets Tesla Supercharger compatibility with a new NACS charging port, and Subaru hasn’t even raised prices, with the 2026 car still starting at $38,495. Th

Here’s a video showing you everything that has to happen to plan and prepare to chop an all original 1932 Ford Tudor Sedan. There is a lot of measuring and taping and measuring and measuring and marking and staring and measuring and staring, and measuring, before any of the cutting starts. Check it out in the video below, and if you missed the first episode on this epic machine, use the link below. This 1932 Ford Tudor Sedan is an amazing survivor. It is completely stock and untouched and has s

I remember the first time Freiburger said we needed to Comet wash a car. We hadn’t started CarJunkieTV yet, but it wasn’t long beforehand. During the next two years I’d Comet wash several cars, trucks, vans, and more with and without him. I had never heard the term before we met, but have used many a cardboard container of Comet to was my old junk and bring out the best in the patina. If you aren’t familiar with Comet washing, you will be after this video but the basics are that you use a good

I know that a lot of YouTubers get gifts and stuff from fans and viewers all the time, and many of them do videos where they are opening mail and packages from them. But when it’s Christmas time, there is a different vibe to it for sure. So in the video below you’ll find Derek Bieri and his lovely wife Jessica opening gifts from their fans this Christmas. Take a look, enjoy what they have gotten, and their reactions. It’s great to see the joy someone gets from a gift you give, and I’m sure the f

Reimagined in Aluminum The Datsun 240Z is undeniably a classic, but like many vehicles from its era, it suffered from several well-known issues – most notably rust. This particular example, however, appears to have addressed that problem almost entirely, with most of the body replaced with aluminum. Renowned automotive photographer Larry Chen interviewed the car’s owner, Topher Pine, who worked closely with Japanese Z specialist Star Road to bring the ambitious concept to life. Pine explained th

Premium automakers, especially those deep in the EV space, have developed a notable affection for retractable door handles, famously found on all Tesla models. They look clean, reduce drag, and fit the futuristic image many electric cars aim for. But while the design wins style points, safety concerns have piled up. China has now drawn a line in the sand. From January 1, 2027, retractable EV door handles will no longer be allowed on new vehicles sold in the country. Regulators argue that electri

An Enthusiast Dream That Didn’t Sell The Kia Stinger was one of those rare modern cars that earned genuine praise from enthusiasts. Its rear-wheel-drive platform and available twin-turbo V6 powertrain gave it credentials that went beyond the typical expectations attached to the Kia badge. Despite that validation, however, the Stinger never translated that appeal into a substantial commercial success. Now, the Korean automaker appears poised to re-enter the four-door flagship space, previewing a

Super 'Stang The Ford Mustang's iconic status is undoubtedly one of the things most people generally agree on. Generation after generation has garnered fans and a following, and tuning companies have also used it as a platform to showcase their skills. One of the first to enhance the Mustang is a company equally as storied as the car itself – Shelby American. Shelby and Ford go way back, dating back to the '60s when they started collaborating, winning Le Mans with the GT40. In the years that fol

Big Presence, Divisive Face Hyundai has doubled down on bold design lately, and the latest Palisade is the clearest example yet. The new model stands tall, stretches wide, and makes no apologies for its size. Up front, the grille takes over the entire face – some call it a cheese grater – and it sparks strong opinions. One thing is certain: the Palisade owns the road. It stands out in traffic and looks every bit the flagship SUV. But what if its presence is translated into a pickup truck? A digi

In 2022, BMW showed off the astonishing color-changing concept of e-Ink on an iX EV, a car that could be black, white, or grey, and the following year, it presented the i Vision Dee concept car, which could change between numerous vivid colors. It may seem like the stuff of science fiction, but BMW isn't the only automaker looking into the idea in the hopes that it will someday be commercially viable. Last year, Toyota applied for a patent for paint that could change colors using heat and light,

The GT-R’s Final Chapter Gets One More Line The Nissan GT-R R35 has been a fixture in car culture since 2007, always evolving with each update to stay ahead of the curve. For years, Nissan made sure every new GT-R was better than the last. But this year, that run finally wrapped up. Production has stopped, and for now, there’s no clear successor on the horizon. But instead of letting the GT-R story fade out, NISMO decided to give it one last send-off. Nissan’s performance arm released two offici

Charging EVs on the Move As the current decade unfolds, more and more solutions are being introduced to help eliminate what's known as “range anxiety” in electric vehicles. Over in Florida, the state is constructing a new expressway built with an integrated charging capability, allowing EVs to receive power without needing to stop and plug in. WFTV Channel 9 was granted early access to the construction site and shared the latest developments. The expressway, which will connect Orange and Lake co

The Odometer and the Illusion of Youth The odometer is about as basic as it gets in a car. It sits there, quietly ticking up the miles, giving you a rough sense of how much life a vehicle has lived. If cars could age like people, the odometer would be their tan lines or white hair – except here, age is measured in distance, not years. But that only works if the number is telling the truth. In the used car world, odometer rollback is an old trick – dialing back the mileage to make a car look fres

A Higher Starting Point Lexus has released pricing for the facelifted 2026 IS, and with the more affordable trims now discontinued, the lineup opens at $46,795 (including delivery and handling fees). That figure represents a roughly $5,000 increase over the outgoing 2025 model year, though the gap narrows considerably when comparing equivalent trim levels. The aforementioned starting price applies specifically to the 2026 IS 350 F Sport Design, which carries only a $1,640 increase compared with

Mercedes-Benz and V8 engines used to go hand in hand. The brand may have dabbled with hybrid four-cylinders, but the eight-cylinder isn’t dead just yet. A recent Instagram reel by @investmentvehicles shows a V8-powered facelifted Mercedes-Benz CLE test car roaming public roads, but its soundtrack couldn’t be further from the thunderous AMG we hoped for. In fact, we think the CLE 53 AMG might sound better in comparison, and it seems the internet agrees. A V8 Lives On, Just a Lot Quieter The head

Not Quite STIs Over the years, Subaru has been releasing STI Sport versions of its WRX in Japan. In other parts of the world, it's called the tS or Tuned by STI, and it gets a sharper suspension package, bigger brakes, and larger wheels. It also comes with unique interior touches that include deeper Recaro seats and a generous amount of blue trim. There are no power upgrades, though. Then, back in January 2025, the WRX S210 was previewed in prototype form during the Tokyo Auto Salon. It was then

(Photos by Darr Hawthorne) • MOONEYES’ Christmas Party Show & Drag has found a new home at Pomona’s legendary In-N-Out Burger Drag Strip—and it fits. What started years ago as a street-gathering hot rod hangout around the old MOON Equipment Company building in Santa Fe Springs has exploded into a full-on, sold-out Show & Drag. This thing outgrew the streets a long ago. By the time Christmas rolled around, with Irwindale Raceway bulldozed, Pomona was the only place left in SoCal that c

Trapped after impact A new Bloomberg investigation has cast a harsh spotlight on one of Tesla’s most controversial design choices: electronically operated door releases. According to the report, at least 15 people have died in Tesla crashes since 2012 after doors failed to open following an impact, in some cases trapping occupants inside vehicles that caught fire. A years-long pattern comes into focus Bloomberg’s analysis builds on years of owner complaints and safety concerns surrounding Tesla’

Repair Shop Sounds the Alarm A European repair shop reports that it has seen high failure rates when repairing Chinese-made LG NCM811 battery packs in certain Tesla Model 3/Model Y vehicles. Specifically, greater than 90% of these Chinese-made LG battery packs cannot be repaired at the individual cell level. The degradation within failing modules stands beyond what can be restored.  Compared to batteries made by other manufacturers, EV Clinic has observed significant differences between LG batte