News

There has never been more available aftermarket parts for your favorite hot rod or muscle car than there are today. It has never been easier to acquire parts to create the look you want for your project. But what if the parts available aren’t exactly what you want? Can you afford to have custom parts machined? Or are you going to have to modify what you can buy to make it what you really want? Sometimes that is the answer, and the solution isn’t that difficult if you know some tips and tricks.

Getting What You Paid For One of the biggest investments an individual will ever make is the purchase of their own vehicle. Knowing this, any car buyer would want to get their money's worth with every purchase, especially after paying for the entire car. In today's world, cars are incorporating more and more features, especially technological ones, and it seems some brands are having a hard time keeping track of whether all have been applied to the final product, as evidenced by lawsuits – this

Dulcich and Freiburger are putting the band back together for this one, although the reality is that these two have been doing this together long before anyone pointed a video camera at them. I’m still glad they are doing it though, and appreciate this project especially. I’m a Chevrolet guy to the core, but this Duster right here really does it for me. The stance, the wheel and tire combo, all of it. What do you think? Is this one better since Dulcich and Freiburger got a hold of it? Video Des

Rewriting The Script The 2025 Guangzhou Auto Show underscored a dramatic reversal in China’s automotive hierarchy. According to a report from Sina, the long-standing joint-venture model, where global brands like Toyota and Nissan dictated technology while Chinese partners handled scale, has effectively collapsed. With domestic EV makers surging and software-driven features now central to consumer choice, foreign OEMs have been losing ground fast. Imported-vehicle sales have slumped this year, wh

It's not something we talk about enough, but every time Toyota prepares to launch a new model, the whole automotive world sits up and takes notice. That feeling is only compounded with something sporty, and what Toyota's Gazoo Racing division is cooking up now certainly fits that bill. In a new ad shown on Japanese television, the automaker has given us our clearest look yet at the production design of its new supercar, which is being hailed as an effective successor to the inimitable Lexus LFA.

In 2023, as part of a push to minimize the expensive exercise of filling every possible niche, Mercedes-Benz combined the E-Class and C-Class coupes, creating the CLE. As we come to the end of 2025, the CLE is now reaching the middle of its lifecycle, and in 2026, a facelift will be necessary to keep its styling and capability in line with that of other, newer Benzes, like the all-new CLA. That means stars in its eyes (headlights), and some tech updates. Our spies have spotted a prototype of the

Man, what a year 2025 has turned into! It’s Thanksgiving Day, where food, drink, family and fun take center stage. And while many of you will be frying, roasting, or smoking a big bird, and watching football, we can’t forget that this day is all about giving thanks. I am incredibly thankful for the good fortune I have had this year and, on behalf of myself, the amazing BANGshift contributors, and their families, want to wish our BangShift family a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving. It certainly has

Earlier this year, the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) said it would introduce an overhauled safety testing program that would require at least a few physical controls for key functions. This move is a response to overly minimalist, touchscreen-heavy car interiors that are, in some cases, deemed to contribute to distracted driving. Euro NCAP has now detailed its revised scoring system, set to be implemented next year. This update aligns with modern driving conditions and is the m

Skids, All Day Long This new business venture in Sacramento is looking real good for California residents, specifically enthusiasts. We’re talking skid pads here, ladies and gentlemen, a dedicated facility located on Jackson Highway for legally burning rubber. CBS News Let’s get some things straight—we do enjoy slides, but not on public roads. However, not everyone shares the same

A screen-used Back to the Future Part II police cruiser, one of only two ever built for the 1989 film, is now up for auction at Bonhams, where it’s expected to sell for $80,800 to $115,444. Designed by concept artist Tim Flattery and hand-built by legendary Hollywood fabricator Gene Winfield, this full-size prop is the only version constructed on a Pontiac Fiero chassis with a functioning engine and drivetrain, allowing it to move on its own during exterior shoots. Its arrival on the auction bl

From All-Electric to Electrified It wasn't long ago that Lotus was talking about becoming a fully electric brand. The plan in 2021 leaned heavily on new factories, new architectures, and a clean break from the company's lightweight, analog past. The message at the time was that internal combustion engines were on borrowed time and the next wave of Lotus models – from the Eletre to the Emeya – would define a battery-powered future. That direction has now shifted. Luxury EV sales haven't grown the

One of the most exciting times of year is when the BACONSHIFT SALE starts at American Powertrain! With $250 in savings on your favorite 5 and 6-speed kits, there is no doubt this is the perfect holiday sale, but when you throw in the Benton’s Bacon it becomes even perfecter! So if you like bacon, and who doesn’t, and you like rowing your own gears, and who doesn’t, then you need to check out BACONshift because you can save real money on the best 5 and 6-speed kits around and also eat well. Win,

Luxury and Individuality True automotive luxury is never "you get what you see." At the upper echelons of luxury, individuality is about customers who seek to make personal statements or stand out from the rest. This is why major automakers offer bespoke, custom-made experiences for prospective buyers. In fact, if the buyer's vision is good enough, the automaker is inclined to show off the model, just like the recently commissioned Porsche Panamera Sonderwunsch.

A Range Anxiety Solution That Makes Sense BYD quietly launched the Atto 2 DM-i PHEV in Europe, a remarkable plug-in hybrid crossover also available as a pure electric. It promises over 620 miles of combined range, from both a battery and a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine working together. The WLTP testing cycle rates it for up to 56 miles of pure electric range in the top Boost trim before the combustion engine kicks in to generate power. Most PHEVs targeting American buyers sit in premium se

It's been almost a decade since Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 began a phased-in compliance schedule that mandated rearview cameras for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, but in 2025, several automakers have been struggling with the law. Among those that have issued recalls for faulty backup cameras has been Hyundai, and now the problem is affecting 2024 and 2025 Santa Fe models (including the hybrid version), with some 143,472 vehicles potentially a

An Art Deco Restomod That Stands Out Restomods have become a whole scene of their own, with countless builders remixing vintage silhouettes into something more usable today. There’s a lot of talent out there, but only a few projects really manage to rise above the noise. Every so often, one lands with a presence that doesn’t feel forced or overly modernized. That’s the case with a new speedster restomod unveiled by Iconic Auto Sports. The company already has a reputation for painstaking craftsma

Cars Aren't Getting Any Cheaper How much is the average price of new cars these days, you ask? It's now at over $50,000, which is a huge jump from about five years ago. It's mainly driven by EVs and the barrage of new models from luxury automakers, but the additional standard features are also a factor here. We're admittedly spoiled for equipment these days. We were all content with Bluetooth connectivity, but we now live in a time where people scoff at the lack of wireless CarPlay and the like.

Audi has announced several key hardware, software, and feature updates for five models. The group includes the A5, Q5, A6, A6 e-tron, and Q6-etron. Although these updates apply to the German market for now, all five of these models—including both combustion and all-electric powertrains—are sold in the United States, so we expect to see most, if not all, of these upgrades reach our shores in the near future. Some of these updates are a surprise, if only because they’ve been applied to still-fresh

Mercedes-Benz has opened its first public High-Power Charging site at a Starbucks in Red Bluff, California, marking the debut of its nationwide plan to pair ultra-fast EV chargers with major retail partners. The location sits directly on the I-5 corridor, one of the busiest long-distance routes on the West Coast, and features 400 kW DC fast chargers capable of adding up to 300 miles in around 10 minutes, depending on the vehicle. The chargers support both NACSand CCS, keeping the site open to al

Dodge’s all-electric Charger Daytona has been a hot topic among muscle car diehards for quite some time, but today we’re skipping the sound vs. silence debate. Instead, we’re focusing on what it’s actually like to service this new electric muscle car, why the process differs so dramatically from a traditional ICE model, and why it’s absolutely NOT a DIY job. High-voltage safety, controlled shutdowns, and strict diagnostic sequences mean even “simple” repairs take time. Certified Mopar technician

In-Car Video Streaming We now live in a world where automotive features and creature comforts are abundant. One of the most recent in-car tech that's becoming a fad these days is video streaming. Yes, some cars can now stream your favorite shows and movies. While it might seem like an unnecessary "gimmick," the streaming feature is actually a plus for family haulers since entertaining young ones during any road trip is a challenge in itself. Recognizing this, Audi has just announced that it's jo

Our friends over at The Korean Car Blog managed to spot the updated Genesis G80 Magma, now wearing the upcoming G80 facelift and packing a completely reworked interior centered around a massive 27-inch curved OLED display. The prototype appears to merge Genesis’s new luxury-sedan design language with the high-performance Magma program, giving the clearest look yet at how the brand plans to expand its enthusiast lineup beyond models like the GV60 Magma. The sighting also reinforces Genesis’s bro

Shaping Trends For the Future Where is car design heading? Answering that question is well above our pay grade, but the young designers of today will be the ones responsible for the cars of tomorrow. Hey, legendary stylists such as Giorgetto Giugiaro and Marcello Gandini were juniors once. Over in Japan, Daihatsu, Toyota's small-car specialist and maker of the great Copen, and the HAL College of Technology and Design had students drum up ideas for the future of the kei car, and some pretty crazy

Land Rover's Return to Dakar Any form of motorsport is tough, but when it comes to the ultimate test of man and machine, none come close to the Dakar Rally. It used to run from Paris to Dakar, but over the years, geopolitical issues and other factors have forced the rally to scale back a bit. In its current form, the Dakar Rally spans around 4,970 miles across lifeless, barren, and basically roadless deserts, with 3,107 miles of timed stages, and over 80 hours of competitive driving across a two

American Jeep Compass in a Limbo Jeep’s entry-level SUV occupies a simple role in the lineup, but its future in the US has been stuck in limbo. While Europe rolled out its all-new, Italy-made Compass this year, American buyers remain tied to the long-running generation that has been on sale for nearly a decade. The delay wasn’t because Jeep lacked a replacement. Stellantis needed to finalize where the new model would be built, and tariff considerations pushed the decision further down the timeli