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Mercedes-Benz is overhauling its electric vehicle strategy, abandoning single-source dependencies to sign a 10 trillion won ($6.8 billion) direct battery supply deal with Samsung SDI. This multi-year agreement centers on securing high-nickel NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese) prismatic batteries, in the wake of Mercedes' unimpressive sales performance. Independently, both Mercedes and Samsung rank among the leading R&D investors globally. The automaker aims to secure a technical edge against riva

Earlier this year, Mercedes teased an extreme new AMG CLE under its Mythos sub-brand, a division dedicated to ultra-low-volume special editions, and now the Autoblog spies have snapped a development mule up close at the Nürburgring. First impressions? This will be a far more aggressive vehicle than anything in the BMW lineup, including the 543-horsepower M4 CSL, with plenty of aerodynamic aids and even a roll cage. Okay, the roll cage may only be there for on-track security during testing, but w

Mercedes-Benz has officially opened the order books for the all-electric C-Class in Europe, giving buyers their first look at pricing for the brand’s new luxury EV sedan. While BMW has yet to officially reveal pricing for the upcoming i3 sedan, Mercedes’ online configurator already shows the electric C-Class can climb well beyond $110,000 when heavily optioned. Electric C-Class Starts At Around $80,000 Mercedes-Benz

The 1320Video crew was back at it for the Merrill Ice Drags and the action did not disappoint. It was plenty cold, but thanks to clear skies and sunny conditions there was definitely some shine to the ice and the first couple of inches were definitely slushier than previous races this season. This is some special drag racing right here with everything from daily drivers to full on drag cars competing for bragging rights. Other than changing tires, these cars are pretty much the same as they woul

Every year the message is pretty similar, and on behalf of the Reynolds family, along with our amazing BangShift.com sponsors, I’d like to wish all of our friends and readers a very Merry Christmas. We also send a hearty Season’s Greetings from all the BangShift Contributors, who have given their weekends and evenings to us in pursuit of great content and coverage. But I’d also like to remind everyone out there that with all the stress, anger, and hatred we see in our daily lives nowadays, it is

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.

I’ve always wanted a car with a metal flake roof, panel paint, and the whole nine yards. It’s custom 101 to have metal flake, and when you go to shows that cater to old school customs, traditional hot rods, and lowriders you will see a lot of metal flake. That’s because it’s not just for bass boats! In the video below you’ll see a cool old classic hot rod getting the roof primed, and then black base coat going on, and then the metal flake and clear. If you aren’t aware, metal flake like is bei

Not even a day has passed since Cadillac aired its headline-grabbing Super Bowl half-time ad showing its first-ever Formula 1 car with its distinctive split black-and-white livery, but it’s already the subject of a lawsuit from a rather unexpected source – director Michael Bay. The Athletic, the sports department of the New York Times, has acquired a copy of a breach-of-contract a

Jordan Takes NASCAR to Court When Michael Jordan entered a federal courtroom this week, it was a pivotal moment for NASCAR. The six-time NBA champion and owner of 23XI Racing is leading an antitrust lawsuit against the sport’s governing body, claiming NASCAR’s proposed 2025 charter agreement unfairly limits team control and long-term financial stability. Alongside Front Row Motorsports, Jordan argues that the system, originally designed to give teams business security, has evolved into one that

The 1990s were a golden age for basketball, thanks to the global explosion of NBA, which offered spectacular gameplay, iconic rivalries, and legendary star power. The main driving force behind it all was Michael Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to six championships in eight years and transformed the league into a global phenomenon. It may be hard to comprehend now, but Jordan’s popularity in the 1990s was unparalleled, and everywhere he went, overwhelming crowds would cause chaotic scenes. That

The Importance of Tires Tires are a vital part of every car; most drivers overlook them as simple rubber that allows the car to move on the road. The fact is, they affect your car more than you know, and using the right kind of tire can actually benefit your driving and ownership experience for the better. One major aspect of tire performance can be traced to efficiency and performance. EVs rely heavily on their tires to eke out as many miles of range as possible. Michelin recognizes this and h

A Colorful Motorsports Career With its diminutive size and go-kart-like handling, it was inevitable that the Mini would eventually enter motorsports. In the '60s, not only did it find success on the race tracks, but it also bagged several wins in the world of rallying. The Mini's biggest wins came from the Monte Carlo Rally. It took the top step of the podium in 1964, 1965, and 1967. Paddy Hopkirk won it in '64, Timo Mäkinen in '65, and Rauno Aaltonen in '67. Mini could have won in '66 to make i

Mini wrapped up 2025 with its strongest performance in years, growing global sales and nearly doubling fully electric volume as the brand’s transition away from purely gasoline power gathered pace. Mini EVs Move From Niche To Core Worldwide deliveries rose 17.7% year-over-year to 288,290 vehicles, but the standout figure was on the electric side: Mini delivered 105,535 fully elect

The Outdoor Life If one thing changed over the past few years since the pandemic, more people have become interested in outdoor life. As this lifestyle gains more popularity, people are also now more inclined than ever to go for taller and rugged vehicles to support their overlanding dreams. The market is saturated with nameplates and models that cater to this outdoor segment; for some manufacturers, this segment could be lucrative. Mini isn't a brand known for going off the beaten path, apart f

Show Cars with a Point One-off show cars usually exist to test boundaries, not rack up sales. They’re rolling design exercises that let brands explore ideas without worrying about production realities. In the case of Mini, that idea has always revolved around individuality. Mini Mini teamed up with Austrian design studio Vagabund to create two Countryman SUVs that look nothing lik

A Dream Mini Seven Years in the Making When you think of Mini, you think of cheeky little city cars. Which is why 2014’s Superleggera Vision raised some serious eyebrows. Picture a concept that previewed a lightweight sports car that could’ve been Mini’s Miata moment over a decade back. The concept paired gorgeous bodywork, penned by Mini designers and coach builders Touring Superleggera, with a hybrid drivetrain borrowed from the i3. Engineers who got behind the wheel even said it drove like a

Constant Evolution There are classic automotive shapes that simply cannot be changed dramatically. A prime example of that is the Porsche 911. We still remember the uproar over the 'fried egg' headlights on the 996, a seemingly minor thing that led fans to raise their figurative pitchforks. Another example is Mini, and the rebirth of the car in 2001 was, thankfully, met with a strong reception. It's always risky to modernize a classic shape, but so far, the company has been doing a fine job of i

Yet Another Special Edition When it comes to rolling out special edition models, Mini is one of the top automakers that can't stop making them one after another. We're still relatively fresh from the launch of the 1965 Victory Edition, but the British automaker has introduced yet another limited-run model. Exclusive to the U.S. market is the Red Line Edition, based on the Cooper S but featuring goodies from John Cooper Works models. It's an interesting addition to the Mini lineup, but you'll hav

If you don’t dig old school Minis, then you are NOT my kind of people. These little machines are responsible for so much in motorsports today and are an absolute riot. They weigh 5 lbs, are surprisingly roomy inside considering their tiny size, and even though they don’t make much power it feels like a lot because of their ultra light weight. I’ll never forget the first time I was in one on a track, and would absolutely LOVE to add one to the collection of muscle cars and trucks at my shop. In

A Virginia driver stared death in the face as her minivan exploded after she attempted to light a cigarette while driving with a propane tank in the vehicle. As if that did not constitute a major red flag in of itself, the propane tank had a small leak, which led to gas buildup in the Chrysler Pacifica minivan and an inevitable explosion that shook up the entire neighborhood in Burke, Virginia, in the morning of April 9. It's a Miracle That the Driver Escaped with Minor Injuries Miraculously, th

It’s been a quarter century since the minivan market hit peak. Since then, sales have tumbled by nearly 70%, with these people-movers largely relegated to a narrow niche of “soccer moms.” Or so goes conventional wisdom. But a closer look at the numbers reveals that reports of the minivans demise, as Mark Twain might have said, have been “greatly exaggerated." Stellantis While unl

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

Mitsubishi Sets Its Sights on the “Real” Land Cruiser We already know the Mitsubishi Pajero is returning. The name is confirmed, the comeback is locked in, and the timing is starting to look clearer. Current reports point to a global debut sometime in the third quarter of 2026, with order books opening shortly after and first deliveries trickling in toward December. It’s also clear where Mitsubishi is aiming. The new Pajero isn’t returning to blend in with the crowd. It’s being developed to go h

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

Some of the biggest automakers in the U.S. are Japanese, led by Toyota and Honda. But on the other side, there’s Mitsubishi, with sales volumes that are only a fraction of those brands. Last year, Mitsubishi sales declined by 13.7%, and the brand closed a high number of dealerships in the country over the last few years. Many remaining dealers have expressed frustration with the automaker’s dated, uncompetitive lineup, as well as the its heavy reliance on fleet sales. Here’s a closer look at wha