News

Toyota’s global production grew for the fifth consecutive month in October, rising 4% year-over-year to 926,987 vehicles, fueled largely by surging hybrid demand in the United States. Global sales climbed 2% to 922,087, marking the automaker’s tenth straight month of sales growth, according to Toyota's latest data. The results show the company’s increasingly hybrid-heavy strategy, including major new investments. While hybrid demand continues to soar abroad, Toyota is also refining its approach

A Truck That Exists Only in Theory Genesis has admitted it flirted with an early design and feasibility work on a pickup, but the brand’s leadership says the timing simply isn’t right. Speaking to Australia's Drive, Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke has openly described the project as something that was explored and then shelved, noting that a truck doesn’t fit comfortably within Genesis’ current luxury-first identity. The brand remains focused on shoring up its sedan and SUV line-up, plus

The seventh-generation (W223) Mercedes-Benz S-Class is getting a little long in the tooth, having been introduced all the way back in 2020, but it's still good enough to get away with "just" a facelift next year. That's because the biggest changes to the 2027 S-Class won't be to the chassis or fundamental structure but to the technological architecture of the flagship luxury limo. According to recent reports, the S-Class will gain a high-performance chip for Level 2+ and Level 2++ driver assista

Perfect Timing for Holiday Travel Americans heading out for Thanksgiving celebrations found a welcome surprise at the pump this year. The national average price for regular gasoline dropped to just over $3 per gallon as the holiday weekend began, matching prices from this time last year. According to AAA, more than 73 million people are expected to drive at least 50 miles from home during the holiday period. The convergence of several factors created this favorable pricing environment. Refinerie

If you just bought a Tesla Model Y, you may want to sit down for this. In Germany’s new TÜV Report 2026, Tesla’s best-seller finishes dead last for reliability among two- to three-year-old cars. Not “below average.” Not “needs work.” Last place, with a serious defect rate of 17.3 % in its first inspection. Tesla In case you don’t know, TÜV is Germany’s independent vehicle inspecti

2026 Fiat 500 Hybrid: A Recap As you might recall, Fiat revealed full specs of its chic new Fiat 500 Hybrid a few months ago. The little hatchback oozes with charm and personality, which is what anyone expects from any European microcar. It's just started production in Turin, and there's a lot to like about it. Aside from the design, the 500 Hybrid promises great fuel economy. European test cycles claim about 46 mpg, so we're expecting something in the high-30s if we follow EPA testing. It also

(Photos by David Whealon) Here’s our final gallery of photos from David Whealon’s most recent IHRA Outlaw Nitro Drag Racing Series event and a link to the others we’ve already posted too! Check them all out below and let us know what you think. If you live under a rock and haven’t realized how huge of a splash the IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series has made in 2025, then are you in for a treat! With amazing events, huge purses, icons of the sport and new stars alike, this is a racing series that is reall

Finding New Life in China The Mercedes EQE has been hovering over the chopping block for months. Reports out of Europe describe it as one of the casualties of Mercedes' reevaluation of its electric strategy. Demand for EVs has cooled, and the EQ family, with its rounded, futuristic styling, never quite clicked with traditional Mercedes buyers. Sales of the EQE reflect that disconnect. Even so, the nameplate isn't fading out everywhere. In China – by far the world's biggest auto market – Mercedes

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.