Brake failure is never any fun but what's up with this one? What Car-song titles can you think of. Wherever you listen to the show please SUBSCRIBE and rate and review the show. It would mean a lot to us. Thanks! Press "Play" below to listen to this episode
Sliding behind the wheel of some big, nasty sports car with a bajillion horsepower and tires wider than Wisconsin certainly has its appeal. That said, beating a bajillion-horsepower sports car with a lightweight little econobox also has its appeal. And while YouTuber Shmee150 certainly has loads of experience with the former, this video shows him trying out the latter. The featured vehicle this time is called the Sub 7Up - a modified, stripped-down Volkswagen Up! with the potential to spank... [read more]
Racers put it all on the line in final qualifying to create the two craziest fields in outlaw drag racing. In just two days, the Radial vs. The World and X275 categories set the record book on fire and crushed any sense of reality by locking in the top 16 racers to the quickest and tightest fields in the history of street-legal drag racing. With $101,000-to-win in Radial vs. The World and a stack of cash that totals $50,000 for... [read more]
We don't have to tell you how difficult it has become to drive in a metropolitan city these days. The ever-growing traffic and lack of parking space sometimes pushes you to take an Uber instead of driving yourself. But if you have multiple things to do, like dropping off the kids to school, going to work, and run daily errands, you cannot rely on cabs all the time. For that, you need a car that is practical and capable of... [read more]
The scene may have been busy over the past few days, comparing the new Tesla Model Y and the very similar Model 3, calling them too similar, but the fact of the matter is, the new small Tesla crossover has a direct rival. I am, of course, talking about the Polestar 2, itself a strange model thats neither a sedan nor a crossover - thats right up the Model Ys alley. These two cars are direct rivals if weve ever... [read more]
During our First Drive of the 2019 Mazda3, we praised the cars agile handling and superbly executed interior. Now that weve driven the new all-wheel-drive variant, were happy to report that the sporty compact car is even better to drive with four-wheel traction. The 2019 Mazda3 AWD handles better in all weather conditions, turning it into a sophisticated all-weather drivers car that puts entry-level offerings from luxury brands on notice. At a drive event for the 2019 Mazda3, we started... [read more]
Coupe SUVs tend to suffer from polarized opinions you either like them or absolutely despise them. They represent the weirdest blend between body styles that the automotive world has ever seen. BMW is the culprit for starting the trend, and other automakers must follow. Thats why were looking at the new 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe Porsche had to have a competitor for the BMW X6, and now they do. Powered by either a 3.0-liter six-cylinder or a 4.0-liter V-8, the... [read more]
Today's automotive market includes plenty of offers for all pockets. Whether you want a very affordable car to take you from point A to B or a very expensive luxury sedan or supercar, you have plenty to choose from. But what if you're stuck somewhere in the middle with $50,000 and you're not sure at what segments to look at? Well, you'll need plenty of time to consider all options, but here's a list of candidates you should really look... [read more]
Ken Blocks Ford Escort RS Cosworth rally car must be cursed. A little over a year his first Escort RS Cosworth rally, which after he affectionately calls Cossie, caught fire and burned down, the second Escort RS Cosworth, called Cossie V2, once again came up short at the most inopportune time, conking out in the middle of the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood race. In a span of 20 months, Block has raced in two Escort RS Cosworth rally... [read more]
Fastback SUVs are all about the look, considering they provide no practical benefit over traditional utility vehicles. With their dramatic rooflines, they attract customers who want something a little different. The 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe is the latest entry in this growing segment, competing against the BMW X6 , Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe , and the new Audi Q8 . But which is the best looking of the bunch? Unsurprisingly, the Cayenne Coupe looks pretty much like the regular Cayenne from... [read more]
Tesla ended its customer referral program in early February, citing significant costs associated with the offer. Less than two months later, the automaker is announcing a new referral program, and this one works quite differently. Under the new offer, Tesla owners and those they refer get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging. Each referral also enters you to win a Founders Series Model Y monthly and a Founders Series Roadster quarterly. The vehicles will come signed by CEO Elon Musk and... [read more]
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that an average time for the one-way daily commute in the U.S. is precisely 26.1 minutes. Remember, you have to come back too. That roughly equals to 4 and a half hours commuting weekly and over 200 hours in traffic per year. Only for your daily commute. Sure, the national average does not apply to any state or a city. For example, on average, you will commute about 16.6 minutes in South Dakota (shortest commute... [read more]
General Motors Co confirmed on Friday it will invest $300 million in a suburban Detroit assembly plant, adding 400 jobs to build a new Chevrolet electric vehicle . The largest U.S. automaker has come under heavy criticism from President Donald Trump in recent days over its decision to end production at its Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant earlier this month. GM officials said the announcement was planned well before Trump's series of angry GM tweets that started on Saturday. Trump called... [read more]
The much-rumored BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, a car we already spotted on public roads as a camouflaged prototype, was just confirmed by the German automaker. The four-door coupe will make its public debut at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show in November and will be a global vehicle.
Radial vs. the World and X275 racers unleash record runs in the first day of qualifying for the Sweet 16 Last month we covered the Lights Out 10 radial race at South Georgia Motorsports Park, which was headlined by two of the wildest door-slammer classes in the outlaw drag racing worldRadial vs. The World and X275. If you followed along with our daily updates youd see it is a spectacle that attracts fans from around the world and offers several... [read more]
There were some rumblings that the Toyota 86 may not return for a second generation, but a new report revives our hopes. Toyota s European marketing boss has confirmed that the company will indeed build a new GT86, as its known in Europe. Matt Harrison told Autocar that the GT86 has been a successful halo model for Toyota. He also reiterated that the new Supra was not intended to replace the GT86. They are for different audiences and are different... [read more]
Highway driving is a big part of your daily routine if you have a longer commute to and from work. There are some 146,000 miles-worth of highway in the U.S. and, with 143 million Americans commuting to and from work, 83% of whom use their personal cars (and most of them take aboard no passengers), millions of cars are utilizing the highway system on a daily basis. Approximately 3.3 million people have a commute that's longer than 50 miles, and... [read more]
The 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe is a sleek, coupe-style version of the familiar Cayenne SUV and the German companys competitor for the BMW X6, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, and the Audi Q8. Unveiled in 2019, it goes on sale for the 2020 model year with drivetrains borrowed from the regular Cayenne. Design-wise, it has a much sleeker rear end, but Porsche also altered the front fascia, which looks a bit more aggressive than the regular SUV. Aimed at premium crossovers built... [read more]
Performance Solutions, a Czech company specialized in prototyping and technology consulting, is now breaking into the world of supercars with the Mosquito. Named after the British 'Wooden Wonder' from World War II, it only weighs 2,147 pounds and is powered by a naturally-aspirated V-8 good enough for 600 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. Target acquired on the Brabham BT62. By and large, there are two types of supercars out there: those that impress you with buckets of power and... [read more]
While searching the classifieds, Ive noticed that roadster pickups are some of the most reasonably priced early Fords. That makes sense, really, considering theyre not much more than... continue reading
The Hyundai Tucson becomes the third model to receive the N Line treatment, following in the footsteps of the i30 and i30 Fastback that came before it. The launch of the Tucson N Line marks as a coming-of-age for the Korean automakers resident compact SUV. A unique appearance package bolsters the more aggressive-looking SUV. Hyundai also added some subtle interior upgrades and improved the SUVs driving setup, ensuring that the Tucson N Line can live up to the performance billing... [read more]
Like a unicorn in a prairie, the mid-engined 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 has become the stuff of myth, randomly showing up in a random corner of the U.S at, well, random times. Its been spotted in Detroit, Arizona, Colorado, California, and Florida. Most of the time, the Corvette C8 is seen with heavy camo wraps, but a few photos of the mid-engine supercar sitting idle in a gas station revealed something unique about it: a spacious front trunk, or frunk... [read more]
A look back at the original BMW 8 Series should make you appreciate the new one even more. Unveiled almost three decades ago, the first-gen 850i enamored us with gorgeous styling, impressive tech, and tanklike solidity at triple-digit speeds. And its big V-12 and six-speed manual gearbox? Very enticing. But overall the 850i failed to elicit much in the way of a visceral reaction, we noted. Handsome but unfulfilling. --> The hard, cold numbers confirmed our feelings. It needed 6.7... [read more]
Quick Stats: Cary Deuber, nurse/star of The Real Housewives of Dallas Daily Driver: 2018 Porsche Panamera GTS (Carys rating: 9 on a scale of 1 to 10) Other cars: See below Favorite road trip: Texas to Colorado Car she learned to drive in : 1994 Jaguar XJ Vanden Plas First car bought: 2002 Acura TL The Real Housewives of Dallas star Cary Deuber grew up with eclectic cars in her family garage, and when it comes to her 2018 Porsche... [read more]
A fresh batch of spy photos of the upcoming Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 has come to light. As expected, the new photos show very little of the models prototype. The sedans entire surface area is covered in wraps, though, so expect plenty of aesthetic changes to happen to the updated model. Mercedes-AMG has yet to pinpoint a specific debut for the for the upcoming CLA model, but all signs seem to indicate a 2019 launch timetable. As for the AMG CLA... [read more]
Its no secret that Im not exactly the biggest performance SUV fan. On more than one occasion Ive likened the segment to training elephants to tap dance (sure you can do it, but whats the point?). To me, an SUV is really good at carrying lots of people and stuff, occasionally good at going off-road, and thats about it. Sure, you can stuff it with power and mechanical grip and every speed trick in the book to make it fast... [read more]
From street racer, to record-breaking drag racer, to winning professional drift team owner, Stephan Papadakis is hands down one of the most important figures in import performance culture. We got a chance to pick his brain.
The off-season for Optimas Search for the Ultimate Street Car presented by Advance Auto Parts seemed to fly by this year. Were only midway through March and already competitors in the street car series are announcing their presence with authority in the first event of the year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS). Defending OUSCI Champion Mike DuSold is getting one final chance to defend both the OUSCI crown as well as his regular-season Holley EFI GTL class title before... [read more]
BMWs largest SUV offering used to be the X5, but in the context of there being even larger premium SUVs on the market, the German automaker decided to make its own - the new X7. Now its being tested by the international motoring press, and they seem to like it quite a lot - some of them even go so far as to say its huge twin-kidney grille is not oversized and it looks suitable with the rest of the... [read more]
I sat down for lunch with Lamborghini s CEO, Stefano Domenicali , on the patio at the Polo Lounge inside the still-posh Beverly Hills Hotel. Domenicali was swinging through Los Angeles after visiting Australia (sales are up!) before heading back to Lambo HQ in SantAgata, Italy. One day only, and I was lucky enough to enjoy lunch with the man himself. But I should stress, we were eating lunch, talking shop about Lamborghini of course, but also the car world... [read more]
During my early days at MotorTrend , there was a running joke in the office that our long-term Kia Borrego was abandoned. Long-term test vehicles typically stay for a year, but our burnt orange Borrego was a fixture in #MTGarage for almost twice as long before it finally went back to Kia. Coincidentally, just as we were saying bye to the Borrego, so was the rest of the U.S.Kia discontinued the SUV after just one model year on the market... [read more]
Weve heard rumors that Hyundai will introduce a high-performance Tucson N making as much as 340 hp. Still no official word on that front, but we do know Hyundai is rolling out a less aggressive but still sporty N Line version of the compact crossover. The Hyundai Tucson N Line is coming to Europe with cosmetic and mild performance upgrades. Look for new bumpers, a dark mesh grille with a dark chrome frame, and dark 19-inch alloy wheels. The dark... [read more]
Its like 1970 all over againwell sort ofdrag racing is alive and well with factory-built race cars battling for the sake of bragging rights and a healthy dose of Win-on-Sunday, Sell-on-Monday. Were talking about the SAMTech.edu Factory Stock Showdown, where Mustangs, Camaros, and Challengers go head-to-head in quarter-mile warfare. Over the past few seasons, NHRA Factory Stock cars have evolved into 7-second production-based machines that compete in an ultra-attractive heads-up format. The field is comprised of 2008-present Ford Cobra Jet... [read more]
Argue over the semantics if you will, but four-door coupes are a thing. So, too, are four-door coupe SUVs. BMW offers the X6, X4, and X2; Mercedes-Benz has its GLE and GLC Coupes. Audi 's flagship Q8 flirts with the format, as does the forthcoming electric-powered E-Tron Sportback. And now here's Porsche arriving fashionably late to the party with the 2020 Cayenne Coupe, scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. this fall. Porsche's tardiness might seem surprising, given the... [read more]
The 2020 Volvo XC90 is an updated version of the second-generation SUV. Unveiled in 2019, it features a mild exterior upgrade and adds new technology inside the cabin. The Swedish SUV carries over with the same engines, but it now includes an energy recovery braking system that enhances fuel economy. Additional safety equipment rounds out the XC90's mid-cycle facelift, which keeps the crossover competitive against vehicles like the BMW X3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class.
The Ford F-150 , Nissan Titan , and Ram 1500 earned top scores in the passenger-side small overlap test from IIHS . But the agency says most pickups need better protection in this area. The test involves a vehicles right front corner crashing into a rigid barrier at 40 mph. IIHS started issuing these ratings in 2017 over concerns that automakers were focusing more on driver-side safety. IIHS has rated 11 crew cab pickups in the passenger-side test. The Honda... [read more]
Did the world really need a Porsche Cayenne with a steeply sloping, fastback-style roof and more squatted rear end? Apparently, it did because the new Cayenne Coupe is real and has just broken cover with its sights firmly set on the BMW X6, Mercedes GLE Coupe, Lamborghini Urus, and Audi Q8.
The popularity of Lister's LFT-666, formerly known as the Thunder, prompted the British outfit to create the LFT-C as an attention-grabber while it works on the Knobbly. The LFT-C features "an almost unlimited options list," packs the same 657 horsepower V-8 as the fixed-head version, and it costs $182,424. Unlike the coupe, though, only 10 LFT-Cs will ever be made. Lister seems to be doing better than ever. The company based in Cambridge, England currently assembles the LFT-666 Coupe and... [read more]
If your ever down in Mesquite, Texas, there's a dirt oval track that's been the home of dirty driving derbies since the 1950s- The Devil's Bowl Speedway. I... continue reading
Mercedes line of front-wheel drive-biased models used to be pretty simple: you had the A-Class, a practical yet rakish compact hatchback, the B-Class, a more MPV-like (or people carrier-like version of the A-Class,) and then the sleek CLA that successfully impersonated a smaller version of the sexy CLS. However, you can now order a sedan version of the A-Class and the new CLA. Sure, the latter is certainly more dramatic to look at but not to a huge degree. If... [read more]
Making its big public debut at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show, the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is an absolutely beastly machine. Rocking a hyper-aggressive aero package with a plus-sized front intake and GT-style rear wing, a carbon fiber and suede interior, and a supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 blown to produce well over 700 horsepower, theres no denying the appeal of this modern muscle car. Now were getting a listen to its exhaust note and a look at it on the... [read more]
Becoming an elected official is not as easy as it may seem. If you aren't a senator but want to pass as one, there's now the car that'll play along perfectly, the Aurus Senat S600. It's the civilian version of Putin's ride, the Senat L700, and it looks like a Rolls-Royce knock-off. With a +$160,000 price tag and almost 600 horsepower from a twin-turbocharged V-8, the Senat is sure to make some waves. Russia isn't really the country your first... [read more]
The Alfa Romeo Tonale is a crossover concept introduced at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. Smaller than the Stelvio, the Tonale concept is based on the Jeep Renegade and previews the company's second crossover. It's also Alfa Romeo's first hybrid vehicle. There's no word as to when it will go in production, but it should happen sometime in 2020. It's been three years since Alfa Romeo joined the SUV market with the Stelvio, and the Italian firm is considering an... [read more]
Since its debut in 2009, the Kia Soul has been winning consumers hearts with its combination of usability, youthfulness, and character. Although it arrived late to the boxy hatchback segment, the Soul became one of Kia s best-selling models and outlasted the Honda Element, Scion xB, and Nissan Cube. With its original competitors gone, the 2020 Kia Soul straddles the compact car and subcompact crossover segments with tidy dimensions and a roomy interior. --> The 2020 Souls upright greenhouse provides... [read more]
Few luxury cars handle my soup as well as our long-term Acura RDX . Driving performance is incredibly important, but entertaining daily drivers will fall short if they cant meet certain everyday testsin my case, one is how well it handles a to-go container of soup. For its segment, the 2019 RDX is one of the best in interior space and functionality. --> Whenever we visit our favorite Mediterranean restaurant, I leave with a decent-sized to-go container of creamy chicken... [read more]
For its 120th birthday, Fiat went to the 2019 Geneva Motor Show to present a concept car, except its really not a concept car. Its called the Centoventi Concept, which literally translates to one hundred and twenty in our language. Its not the most creative concept name in the world, but itll do, especially when you begin to understand what its really all about. Fiats press release calls the Centoventi Concept a vehicle that perfectly expresses the Italian brand's idea... [read more]
Saleen Automotive has partnered up with SRO Motorsports Group to host the Saleen Cup, an arrive and drive-style GT Class race to showcase its newest turbocharged, mid-engine sports car, the Saleen 1. The Saleen Cup will have a five-race schedule running a 20-car grid parallel to the Blancpain GT World Challenge America. All cars will be maintained, serviced, and transported to each track by Saleen Automotive. Throughout the season, drivers (two per car) will have the opportunity to win a... [read more]
