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Small tire drag racing has been the hot thing for the past few years, and with all kinds of small tire classes taking over events all over the country for the last few years, it is no wonder the IHRA decided they wanted to jump on the bandwagon as well. Small Tire No Time drag racing has not typically been something you’d see at national event level races, so when IHRA made the announcement it hit really hard with the No Time racing community. Add to that big payouts and it’s no wonder they have

For much of the past decade, Mazda has been the Japanese brand that punched above its weight, offering premium-feeling interiors, driver-focused dynamics, and dependability that kept loyal buyers coming back. Consumer Reports' brand reliability rankings consistently place Lexus, Subaru, and Toyota at the top, and seven years back, Mazda was right up there with them, clinching second spot on the list. Fast forward to 2026, and Mazda has seen the biggest drop in the reliability rankings of all car

A Segment Hyundai Can’t Ignore Not much is known yet about Hyundai’s upcoming midsize pickup, but the model is already drawing attention, given the high demand for trucks in the U.S. In Australia, meanwhile, CarExpert reported that expectations are also high, reflecting just how popular pickups, or “utes,” are there as well. Bill Thomas, Hyundai Australia’s General Manager of Public Relations, told the publication the new pickup is primed to help the brand make a splash in the Land Down Under –

At the beginning of the year, the 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was revealed, and it's an elegant combustion-powered machine with brilliant tech. While an all-electric S-Class is eventually coming to replace the egg-shaped EV that failed to capture the hearts of buyers, Mercedes is keeping the EQS name alive for the time being, and for 2027, it's even more technologically advanced than ever. Sadly, it's also weirder than ever, gaining a yoke that looks like an afterthought in the midst of the Hyper

Have you ever heard that clicking sound after you get out of your car and thought, “Is it going to blow up?”, as your anxiety sets in. What happened while you were driving is that the extreme temperatures in and around your drivetrain caused various metal components to expand, and now that you’ve turned the car off, these parts begin to lose heat and cool down rapidly. As they shrink, these components rub against each other, and against other metal components such as bolts and brackets, and thes

(Words By Darr Hawthorne) • Drag racing, and motorsports in general, has never been an easy sell. It wasn’t in 1965, it wasn’t in 1985, and it sure isn’t now. Somewhere along the way, we all started pretending it should be. Here’s the reality: nobody wakes up on a Saturday morning automatically deciding to go to the dragstrip anymore. Families have options, endless options. Youth sports, concerts, beach and lake days, streaming services, backyard barbecues. If you’re not already in their head b

The Era Of Excess Most people will argue that the '80s were the true era of excess, especially in the automotive scene, but the '90s pushed things even further. The true birth of the hypercar class can be traced back to the '90s, with the top-speed science project McLaren F1, the Jaguar XJ220, and the elusive but infamous Bugatti EB110. The latter, for all intents and purposes, reignited the Bugatti brand and set it on the path we know it for today. Back then, though, Bugatti wasn't yet funded b

Charging at Drive-Thru Speed BYD has announced on its WeChat account that its Flash Charging technology – capable of charging an electric vehicle to about 97 percent in as little as nine minutes – is coming to KFC locations in China. What sets this apart from typical charging stations is the added convenience: customers can order food directly through their vehicle’s infotainment system while en route. This partnership could prove significant, given that both BYD and KFC are leaders in their res

The GT World Challenge races are going on all over the place, but this past weekend’s Circuit Paul Ricard race in Le Castellet, Var, France. This 6 hour endurance race featured plenty of racing action, including some serious drama, plenty of safety car cautions, and more. There was no shortage of excitement, that’s for sure. Check it out below. Video Description: Extended highlights from the 6 Hours of Circuit Paul Ricard 2026, featuring early race chaos, multiple safety car interruptions, and

A couple of weeks ago we shared the video of Derek picking up this machine and getting it ready to drive 850 miles home. Seemed like a pretty stout trip in an unknown RV, but that was nothing when compared to the 3,000 miles planned for this trip here. I mean this is 7 states of fun, which means this bad boy needs to be ready to drive, camp, cook, and more. Will this vintage big block powered RV make it around the country? I don’t see why not! Many just like it drove millions of combined miles

There are tons of historic spots around Southern California that impacted hot rodding, racing, and custom car building over the last 80 years or so, but no matter how many you can think of there are hundreds more. I was going to say dozens, but that just won’t cover it. Not by a lot. Having been fortunate enough to see many of them with David over the years, and having heard the history from so many during my time living there, I can tell you that they are nearly everywhere you look. Los Angeles

Not Pulling Punches Volkswagen's current CEO, Thomas Schäfer, is well aware of the problems and missteps the company has made over the years. Customers bemoaned the initial ID electric models, critics slammed the cars, and ergonomics and user experience took several steps back. Ever since he took the post in 2022, Schäfer has acknowledged most, if not all, of Volkswagen's shortcomings that have led up to this point. Speaking to Auto Express and other members of the European motoring press, the C

Every month in the United States, thousands of compact crossovers are sold. This is a crucial segment in the country, where vehicles are expected to do everything well, including safety. Often used as family vehicles, these crossovers should protect you in a crash and have the necessary technologies to help you avoid an accident in the first place.  Since the 2026 Toyota RAV4 hasn’t been tested for safety yet, we’ve compared the latest results of three other big-sellers in this category: the Hon

When Maintenance Isn’t the Problem The 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 doesn’t have a flawless track record. It’s seen as one of Ford’s sturdier modern turbo engines, but, like most small-displacement turbos, it brings its own set of quirks. The standard advice still stands: keep up with maintenance, and you’ll probably steer clear of major problems. Regular oil changes and proper servicing usually pay off. But what if you follow the book and the engine still fails? That’s exactly what happened with this

Hanging in There Despite its rivals being offering models a generation or two older, Alfa Romeo is still holding on to the current iterations of its Giulia and Stelvio. The Giulia debuted in 2015 for the 2016 model year, dusting off a name last used in the early-70s. After that, it was the Stelvio, the Italian automaker's first true attempt at the luxury compact crossover market. Today, both are at least a decade old and will be hanging around for a little longer. The two actually received a sta

GM’s Watching the Weight General Motors filed a patent application for a detection system designed to identify improper loading. The system would use additional components, such as cameras, to warn drivers of overloading or imbalance, while also suggesting ways to correct it. Filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office under patent number US 2026/0091799 A1 and published on April 2, 2026, the load detection system aims to improve safety, as improper vehicle loading can affect stabil

The Pajero’s Return Is No Longer a Rumor The Pajero is coming this year. This has been news because of dealer leaks, but now, it’s official. Mitsubishi Motors President and COO Keisuke Kishiura confirmed the timeline at the Automobile Council 2026 in Japan. That ends months of speculation. Speaking to Best Car, Kishiura said, “It will be released by the end of the year as a new cross-country SUV, so please wait for that.” He stopped short of explicitly naming the Mitsubishi Pajero, but the direc

Volvo’s goal to increase U.S. sales by 60% by 2030 is a lofty one, but it’s going to need a significant turnaround between now and then to make it happen. The Swedish automaker has just reported first-quarter sales in the U.S., and every single model has seen a decline in sales relative to the same quarter last year. Overall, the company sold 22,651 vehicles in Q1 2026, a steep 32% drop from last year. With a lineup now almost exclusively made up of SUVs and heavily focused on electrified models

Luxury Expectations, Unexpected Problems Land Rover built the Range Rover’s reputation on status and refinement. These SUVs usually end up in garages where expectations run high – not just for comfort and capability, but for longevity that justifies the price. At this price point, you’d expect major parts – especially brakes – to last. For some Range Rover and Range Rover Sport owners, though, that’s not what happened. A class action lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the District of New

Here’s gallery #2 from Mike Brooks coverage of the Run to the Sun car show in Myrtle Beach South Carolina. If you missed gallery #1, use the link below to check them out too. (Photos by Mike Brooks) The Run to the Sun car show in Myrtle Beach South Carolina celebrated it’s 37th anniversary this year and as usual had a sellout crowd. This show sells out every year, and features some awesome Pre-1990 muscle cars, hot rods, street machines, and trucks. It’s a special event, that’s for sure, and wh

Cadillac’s $3,995 Paint Option Pushes Lyriq Pricing Into Unusual Territory Cadillac has found a new lever to pull on pricing, and this time, it has nothing to do with batteries or supply chains. For 2026, the automaker is introducing Magnus Metal Frost, a $3,995 paint option available only on the Lyriq-V Premium. That figure brushes up against the cost of an entry-level used car, with older Honda Civics in some markets still trading in that range. The move lands at a moment when affordability is

Refreshed Genesis G90 Spotted Testing With Radical Front-End Redesign The upcoming Genesis G90 facelift has been spotted testing in the U.S., giving us a clearer look at how the brand is evolving its flagship sedan ahead of its expected Q3 2026 debut in Korea. While heavy camouflage still obscures finer details, the overall design direction is already emerging, marking a notable shift from the current model’s more traditional luxury proportions. Most striking is the front end. The oversized cres

Last year, Stellantis introduced the Ram 1500 Special Service Vehicle, a pickup designed for use by park rangers, fire departments, police, and other government agencies, and now the 1500's bigger brother is getting similar treatment with the reveal of the 2027 Ram 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle, which the brand is calling the "first pursuit-capable heavy-duty truck." Like the 1500 SSV, it's aimed at law enforcement, fire, rescue, and emergency response agencies, providing them with the towing

Staying Alive It's been a tough 2025 and the start of 2026 for the automotive industry, from the EV slowdown and market preference shift to the oil crisis. Automakers have been putting out fires left and right, pivoting strategies, or offering more incentives to entice new car buyers. To tackle the fuel price issue, Ford in the US is offering a very unique incentive program. One that tackles fuel prices head-on for potential new car buyers through gas cards. This might also be the way the brand

Jeep has unveiled nostalgic special editions of the Wrangler SUV and Gladiator pickup truck. Known as the Rewind special editions, they’re inspired by the Easter Jeep Safari concept previously shown by the automaker. In the case of the Wrangler Rewind, this marks the sixth of 12 special-edition Wranglers to be revealed as part of the ongoing Twelve 4 Twelve campaign. The Rewind editions feature a slew of exterior and interior flourishes, along with additional standard amenities—and for a fairly