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It’s been an open secret since an early prototype was spotted during the run-up to last weekend’s race at Sebring. Now, Chevrolet is confirming the Corvette Grand Sport is making its return after a seven-year absence. The bowtie brand has an even bigger surprise in store for ‘Vette fans: a first-ever Corvette GS hybrid, the Grand Sport X, which adds another 186 horsepower to the package, while adding the benefits of all-wheel-drive. Even the “base” Grand Sport promises to be a beast thanks to th

The Toyota bZ Woodland is the unlikely performance hero in the Japanese company’s lineup. Positioned as a rugged and practical midsize crossover, its 375-horsepower output allows it to hit 60 mph in a claimed 4.4 seconds, making it one of the quickest new Toyotas on sale. But in a new independent test, the bZ Woodland shattered this claim with an even quicker sprint time, making it as quick off the mark as a GR Supra. Here’s a look at the surprisingly swift numbers put down by this Toyota. Relat

Going Global Our world prides itself on being a global market; it used to be a struggle to ship goods across the world and sell them, but in recent years it has become easier to sell products in almost all parts of the world. The only disruption to this global economy we now enjoy has been the latest conflict in the Middle East, where the closure of vital shipping lanes like the Strait of Hormuz and regional instability have caused some problems getting cars from one place to another.

Spring is finally here. Well, maybe. But the folks planning Jeep’s annual Easter Safari are nothing if not optimistic. To mark the 60th excursion to Moab, Utah the Jeep team has come up with six wild new concepts, including one very retro package looking to the past to get a sense of the brand’s future. “Moab isn’t just a place we visit,” said Bob Broderdorf, the Jeep CEO. “Easter Jeep Safari has shaped the Jeep brand for decades, fueling the evolution of our 4x4 vehicles and strengthening our b

The New Telluride, Familiar Foundations The new Kia Telluride gets the expected updates – sharper looks, a refreshed cabin, and a hybrid setup that pushes the SUV in a more modern direction. But underneath, it shares its bones with the Hyundai Palisade. Sharing a platform has always meant both SUVs get the same strengths: roomy packaging, smooth ride, and family-friendly features. Now, it looks like they share the same weak spots, too. Kia has already recalled some early 2027 Telluride models be

A Smaller Lineup, But Not a Slower Pipeline Tesla’s lineup is in transition. The Model S and Model X are being dropped, leaving just the Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck. That’s a big shift from Tesla’s earlier plans, especially for buyers looking for something more premium. The Cybercab is also coming, but it’s built for robotaxi use, not for families or buyers who want a practical, everyday vehicle. It doesn’t fill the gap left by the outgoing flagships. Here’s where it gets interesting. The R

Last year, the Ford Mustang GTD’s Nürburgring lap record for American cars was broken by two Chevy Corvettes, those being the ZR1 and ZR1X. Despite the Corvettes being a lot cheaper than the $300,000 GTD, they both managed to edge the hot Mustang around the Green Hell. Not long after that, Ford CEO Jim Farley hinted that a revenge lap was on the cards. Now, new evidence has emerged that an optimized version of the Mustang GTD has claimed back its Nürburgring record—and by a much wider margin tha

It’s the end of the line for Sony’s electric car project, which included the Afeela 1 sedan and a new SUV sharing the same battery electric architecture provided by Honda. The Sony Honda Mobility (SHM) joint venture officially announced the sad news, which follows Honda’s decision to axe three upcoming EVs for the US market that were months away from the start of production in Ohio—the Acura RSX, Honda 0 Sedan and 0 SUV. Honda’s canceled EVs shared the 0 Series platform with the Afeela 1 electr

Not Its Best Year, But Not All Bad Audi has been grappling with a challenging U.S. market after posting back-to-back annual sales declines, delivering 164,942 units last year – a stark contrast to BMW’s 388,897. One bright spot, however, is safety: Audi currently leads all luxury brands in 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ awards, earning six of the organization’s highest honors. Safety may not be the kind of feature buyers can see on the showroom floor, but it remains a major factor in purchasing deci

Seeing It in the Metal I remember seeing the Nissan Formula E car and the Leaf Nismo RC up close back in 2023. Both felt completely detached from their road-going counterparts – low, wide, and clearly engineered for nothing but lap times. Carbon fiber everywhere, purpose-built everything. That was exactly the impression I had when I stood in front of the Isuzu Challenge D-Max at the 47th Bangkok International Motor Show. This is Isuzu, a brand most people know for their work trucks, now showing

Porsche Brings a Forgotten Racing Icon Back to Life Long before heritage builds became a marketing play, the 1972 Porsche 911 S/T earned its reputation the hard way. It was not a factory-backed hero like the RSR. Instead, it was a privateer weapon shaped by necessity and ingenuity. Entered by Equipe de Course Marc Dancose and later refined by Brumos Racing, this Phoenix Red coupe competed in 27 races across North America between 1973 and 1978. Its resume includes some of the most demanding venue

Kia has confirmed that the North American premiere of the second-generation Seltos SUV will take place at the 2026 New York International Auto Show on April 1. Already available in South Korea, the new Kia Seltos for the US is expected to carry over the same 'Opposites United' design language that is featured on the latest models from the brand, including the new Telluride. The design philosophy is said to “highlight the intersection and tension between nature and humanity.” No Surprises on the

A Smash Hit for Honda When Honda reintroduced the Passport in late 2018, it practically banished memories of the old Isuzu-based model sold from 1994 to 2002. It was now a crossover, essentially being a shorter, five-seat version of the more family-oriented Pilot. Since then, the Passport has been a smash hit and sold more than enough to merit a new generation model. It continues to build on the success of its predecessor, and it's still a strong and steady seller for Honda. So far, it's been pr

Audi and Porsche: A 2025 to Forget After successive years of cashing in profits, Audi and Porsche had a bloodbath in 2025. For Audi, it had a particularly rough time in the U.S., with sales dipping even below pandemic levels. For Porsche, profits plummeted by a whopping 90% from €5.64 billion to a middling €413 million. The reason? On one hand, there's the cooling demand for EVs, and the two brands banked heavily on electric models. There are also a couple of cancelled projects, delayed plans, a

(Photos by Mike Brooks)  Continuing with his Toronto Motorama traditions, Mike Brooks has visited the great white north for the Toronto Motorama again this year. We’re used to seeing Brooks visit the Buffalo Motorama, to shoot great photos to share with all you BANGshifters, but this is the second year he’s visited Toronto and we dig it. The indoor car show scene has been off the hook this year, and it seems like the level of cars just keeps getting better and better. In the North East, the col

An Expert In Safety Car brands often claim to be the leading experts in something; this gives them an edge in attracting prospective customers. A common claim by car brands is fuel efficiency or environmental friendliness. Others, though, are taking on the tough task of being the safest brands on the market. Safety can be tested and measured, but the standards or criteria used vary widely. The IIHS is considered one of the top safety testing and awarding bodies globally, and any recognition fro

(Words by Jim McIlvaine, Photos by Kaleb Kelley) The 2026 season of OPTIMA’s Ultimate Street Car series officially kicked off at G2 Motorsports Park in Anna, Texas. When the grid lined up, the field included the defending OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational (OUSCI) champion, Austin Barnes, five of the regular season class champions from 2025 and five of the top-10 OUSCI finishers from last season. What do they all know about G2 Motorsports, that compelled them all to make sure they started t

We’ve shared a few galleries of photos from David Whealon already but now we’re getting into some of the photos from Richard Pasley too. Check them all out below by using the link to all the galleries we’ve posted so far! (Photos by Richard Pasley and David Whealon) – NHRA Drag Racing at the Gatornationals was off the hook yet again in 2026! The week started with new drivers, crew chiefs, and teams, plus record breaking performances in testing, and ended with big wins and happy fans. This is th

Safety That Speaks for Itself Subaru has long built its brand around safety, and this year is no exception. The Japanese automaker announced that the 2026 model year of the Forester, Ascent, and Outback earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ awards, the highest honor in the organization’s safety ratings. The Forester, Ascent, and Outback are among the 45 vehicles to earn IIHS Top Safety Pick+ awards so far this year, with the Forester collecting its 20th consecutive Top Safety Pick honor. That streak date

The Future Is About Safety We often talk about what the next step is for the automotive industry. What used to be a conservative industry has quickly become an adaptive one, making sure that all products on sale are up to par with modern times and needs. Safety is a huge selling point for all brands, ensuring fewer chances for drivers, passengers, and bystanders to be involved in accidents. In fact, most developments and next-generation technologies are geared towards safety, with advancements i

Hyundai Wasn’t Always Cool, Now It Is Demanding Attention Hyundai was not known for standout design in the past. The brand built its reputation on value and reliability. That approach worked, but it rarely created excitement. Over the last few years, that has changed. Hyundai’s latest models are sharper, more expressive, and harder to ignore. The company is now producing vehicles that generate conversation rather than blend into traffic. Much of that shift can be linked to Brad Arnold, now offic

Battery Trouble Goes Global Volkswagen is recalling nearly 100,000 electric vehicles due to potential issues with their high-voltage battery modules. According to Automotive News, citing Germany’s motor vehicle authority (KBA), the defect can lead to reduced driving range and may pose a fire risk. While recalls in the U.S. are typically handled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this particular safety campaign covers nearly 75,000 Volkswagen ID. vehicles worldwide – i

Cheap, Cheerful, and Safe The Nissan Sentra is one of the least expensive cars in America today. Starting at just $22,600, it costs just a little more than the Kia K4, slightly undercuts the good ol' Corolla, and is over $2,000 less than a Civic. Admittedly, the brand gets flak due to certain owners driving its products in an over-enthusiastic way. The reality is, the Sentra is a hugely competent compact sedan. Brush aside the undeserved reputation, and the Sentra is a solid, well-equipped car f

I’m a big fan of a good drill bit, like anyone else who’s having to drill holes. But there are some serious differences in bits, regardless of the price. With all the different coatings, tip designs, and more available it is often hard to decide which ones you need in your tool box. The nicest bits I’ve used in recent years are the stepped tip bits, which power through thinner materials. One thing that I learned many years ago was that the drill bit only needs to be long enough to go through the

The founder and chairman of CATL, the world’s largest EV battery manufacturer, believes the protectionist measures the US has taken in recent years to prevent Chinese EVs and batteries from penetrating the market will hurt the US auto industry more in the long term. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Robin Zeng, who is China’s fourth richest man, said the American EV market is doomed without CATL. While the Biden and Trump administrations have imposed prohibitive tariffs on Chinese-ma