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A Reset Focused on What People Are Actually Buying Ford’s decision to wind down the production of the F-150 Lightning runs parallel to a more significant shift for the brand. Instead of chasing headlines with bold EV promises, Ford has laid down a concrete outlook – one that isn't just focused on fully electric models. The plan is to put more resources into trucks, vans, hybrids, and electric vehicles that regular customers can afford. By 2030, Ford expects about half of its global sales to come

Remember the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO? Well, some Audi apprentices (14 of them, to be exact) want to make sure you don't forget with this, the GT50 concept. The car and its name celebrate half a century of Audi five-cylinder engines, a dynasty that began in 1976 with the arrival of the second-generation Audi 100. This was the first mass-production vehicle to use such an engine configuration, and nowadays, Audi is pretty much the only carmaker keeping it alive, albeit only in one car. That RS 3 i

From a radical new Honda three-cylinder engine, to Ferrari's wacky oval-shaped pistons, to the latest Toyota Hilux, things aren't the way they were yesterday. Here, we'll round up the biggest news stories of the last 24 hours on AutoBlog and divvy them up into bite-sized chunks that get right to the heart of the story, allowing you to go deeper if you want. Honda has a new V-shaped three-cylinder for motorcycles

The End of the Lightning, As We Knew It The Ford F-150 Lightning’s future has been under a cloud since last month. Production stops, cooling EV demand in the US, and big losses in Ford’s EV division all pointed to trouble. Now it’s official: Ford will end production of the current all-electric Lightning this year. The truck launched with a lot of excitement, but it never quite found its footing. But Ford isn’t dropping the Lightning name. Instead, it’s changing course. The next version will be c

The EV market is changing There’s been a tonal shift when it comes to EVs. It’s not an assertion, either. Ford has shifted its focus toward hybrids, as have several other automakers. Where we once thought electrification would dominate automakers’ lineups, we’re now seeing a regression to meet consumer demand. The expiration of federal tax credits dramatically dented EV sales and is something automakers point to as a reason they’re no longer as bullish on EVs. Now, a new study underscores that a

Check out our fourth gallery of photos below, and remember we’ve got a link to anything you might have missed already too! Check them all out and if you click on a photo it will expand and you can swipe through them all! (Words and Photos by Chad Reynolds) We’ve got photos from the 2025 PRI Show in Indy right here! Man this place is full of epic stuff that I’d really love to see under the tree, or under the hood in 2024. The PRI Show is where everyone that’s anyone seemed to be on hand checking

(Words by Darr Hawthorne) • The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) announced today that U.S. 131 Motorsports Park will host a Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event in 2026, with the inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals opening the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. The new event, scheduled for Sept. 18–20 in Martin, Michigan, will serve as the 15th of 20 races during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season and the first of six playoff rounds. Tickets go on sale February 1, 2026. U.S. 131 Motorspo

Nissan’s luxury brand Infiniti appears ready to spawn a performance-focused sub-brand. The company has already gone on record about wanting “true performance” models capable of taking on BMW M and Mercedes-AMG, developed with help from Nismo and built in limited numbers. To Infiniti and Beyond, if you will. Now, internal developments suggest that this ambition may be moving out of the concept phase and closer to production reality, with a clear starting point and a tentative timeline. From Ambit

Chances of EV Fires are Low, But Not Zero Statistically, EV fires are a rare occurrence compared to hybrid and ICE vehicle fires. Of course, they're reported more often than not, and understandably so. Nonetheless, it's hard to deny the stats, and there will always be the danger of a fire, regardless of propulsion. But what makes EV fires different is the battery's composition. Most use lithium-ion cells, which, when exposed to flames or damaged, explode. Putting out said fires is a different ch

Tesla Looks to the Skies A recent Tesla patent explores the use of radio-frequency (RF) transparent materials in the roofs of its electric vehicles, hinting at the possible future integration of Starlink connectivity. However, implementing such a system would not be as straightforward as it sounds, as these alternative materials could raise structural and compliance challenges. The patent (Pub. No U.S. 2025/0368267) references materials such as polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and

In a climate of regular price hikes, getting anything worthwhile for free is rare, and for 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E buyers, there's one fewer item that falls into that category. As reported by Electrek, Ford's new Mustang Mach-E brand manager, Teddy Ankeny, revealed to The Electric Duo that, for the 2026 model year, the controversially badged crossover will no longer provide a frunk for free, despite the fact that many EVs offer extra space in the area that an internal combustion engine would tr

A Dakar Icon, Revisited The Dakar Rally is as tough as motorsport gets. It throws everything at a vehicle – deserts, mountains, rocks, and jungle. Back in 1985, the event stretched over 22 days and 6,390 miles, with 4,650 miles of that spent racing the clock in special stages. The route even forced teams to cross the Ténéré Desert twice, just to prove a point. Out of 362 starters, Mitsubishi’s Pajero took the win – its first overall Dakar victory. Called the Montero or Shogun elsewhere, the Paje

Mercedes-Benz is lining up 2026 as a full-on anniversary year, stacking big historical milestones with what it calls the biggest product rollout in its history. The company will mark 140 years since Carl Benz patented his “vehicle with gas-engine drive” in 1886, 100 years since the Mercedes-Benz brand was created by the 1926 merger of Daimler and Benz, and 130 years since its first commercial vehicles. On top of that, it is celebrating 75 years of the crumple-zone “safety body” patent, 50 year

Ferrari Purity vs. Liberty Walk Provocation The Ferrari 458 Italia occupies a special place in Maranello history. Introduced for the 2011 model year, it marked the brand’s transition into a new era of mid-engine V8 performance, pairing a naturally aspirated 4.5-liter engine with cutting-edge aerodynamics and a dual-clutch transmission. Even today, the 458 is widely regarded as one of the last “pure” modern Ferraris, celebrated for its sound, balance, and mechanical feel. That purity is precisely

A New Chapter Begins in Taiwan Jeep has officially returned to the Taiwanese market after 15 years. However, the American marque noted that this move is “not a continuation of the past but the beginning of a new chapter.” The press release did not explain why the brand left in 2010, but the decision may have been linked to financial challenges at the time. In 2009, Jeep’s parent company, then Chrysler, filed for bankruptcy following the 2008 global financial crisis—also known as the Panic of 200

Cars Make Math More Fun Math probably isn't everyone's favorite subject. But the reality is, numbers are what make some of the best cars out there truly memorable. Engineering isn't just throwing darts at a board and hoping for the best, but rather computing for the best possible solution... and hoping for the best. We have channels like Jason Fenske's Engineering Explained that simplify the seemingly dizzying world of automotive engineering by explaining things to us as if we were five years ol

Hyundai’s China-developed Elexio electric SUV has been spotted in Australia for the first time, confirming that what started life as a China-only EV is now headed overseas. The midsize, five-seat model was photographed on a transporter in Melbourne, as per Cars Guide, wearing only light camouflage, and Hyundai has since confirmed it will launch locally in early 2026. Slotting between the Kona Electric and Ioniq 5 in size and price, the Elexio is built on an 800-volt architecture, uses BYD-suppl

Some cherished objects are symbolic of the people we know and love Throughout our interconnected lives, there are certain objects that become inseparable from the people we love. Maybe it’s your grandfather’s cool leather jacket, your mom’s favorite coffee mug, or a sport coat with a distinctive pattern that someone wore so often, it became part of their identity. These items carry memories, and when we see them, we’re transported back to moments spent with those who mattered most. They’re more

A Reimagined Roadster with European Flair The Mazda Miata is widely regarded as the benchmark for lightweight sports cars, which helps explain why designers such as Mitsuoka have chosen to work on its platform. Spanish coachbuilder Hurtan also once got its hands on the Miata, though the finished product looked completely different from the Japanese roadster enthusiasts know. To mark Hurtan’s 30th anniversary in 2022, the company transformed the fourth-generation Mazda Miata ND into a classic Eur

Tesla is all but guaranteed to miss its original claimed goal of launching the Cybercab by 2026, but the company is still making progress. While the Cybercab and the Robovan may still be some way from reaching public roads, Tesla appears to be getting closer to some sort of stopgap. The automaker was recently seen testing two different Model S sedans in California, both equipped with validation rigs previously used on the Model Y, which Tesla uses as a robotaxi while developing the aforementione

2026 Toyota RAV4's Online Configurator Goes Live The 2026 Toyota RAV4 continues to play it safe in the best possible way. It’s still one of the most well-rounded compact SUVs on sale, balancing efficiency, practicality, and everyday comfort without chasing trends. In Limited Hybrid form, the RAV4 leans heavily into refinement, pairing its proven 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain with standard all-wheel drive for confident all-weather driving. Power delivery is smooth rather than exciting, but that’s p

A Familiar Ferrari Upgrade Ferraridoesn’t exactly lack excitement, but for those who want something even sharper, there’s usually an upgrade. That’s where the Assetto Fiorano package comes in. It’s the track-focused option, which means lighter parts, stiffer suspension, and hardware built for serious lap work, taking cues straight from Ferrari’s own Fiorano test track. That familiar formula won’t apply to the new Ferrari Amalfi. While the Roma’s successor is quicker and more technically advanced

Over the past year and a half or so, Koenigsegg and Czinger have been trading blows in a fight for the outright production car lap record at the famed Laguna Seca Raceway in California. Each armed with multi-million dollar hypercars with four-figure horsepower outputs, the two boutique automakers have been battling for supremacy with the finest of margins. For example, the time set by the Jesko Attack last year (1:24.86) was just 0.58 seconds ahead of the time set by the 21C in 2021, and when th

Only 2 of 50 Ever Made Back in 2008, Hurst celebrated its 50th anniversary by teaming up with longtime and frequent collaborator Dodge to build a limited run of special 2008 Vipers. Dubbed the, er, Viper Hurst 50th Anniversary Edition, only 50 were ever made, and two of them will be up for sale at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. But what makes this sale particularly special is the VIN of these two cars. What you're looking at here are the first two cars made in the series. Oh

Filling a Need When it comes to rethinking the game, the new-generation Dodge Charger comes to mind. It's a pioneer in offering a legendary muscle car nameplate as either an all-electric Daytona model or the recently introduced combustion-powered turbocharged SIXPACK. The market has come around to the new Charger, but there was still an issue that needed to be addressed: aftermarket support and parts are few and far between, which means if you want to dress up your new Charger, your choices are