The days when station wagons were a thing in the United States are long gone. Not only do U.S. carmakers refuse to make wagons, but European and Japanese companies stopped bringing almost all of their long-roofed vehicles to North America too. With more and more buyers opting for crossovers instead, station wagon offerings have been reduced to a handful of offerings. And, it's a shame, because U.S. buyers are missing out on a significant amount of cool stations wagons.
Many agree that competition is constructive, and that it brings about progress, and that is probably the case when it comes to the rivalry between two premium German giants, Mercedes and BMW. And, now that the CEO of the former, Dieter Zetsche, has stepped down after over a decade at the helm, the latter has made a rather amusing tribute video to honor him. The video is called "Retirement is about exploring your wide open future."
Just as the roots run deep in the James Bond-Aston Martin relationship, so too is the crossover marketing potential between the two. For as long as 007 is mentioned, Aston Martin is never too far behind. Weve seen the fruits that have sprouted from this relationship over the years. Now, we can add one more to the basket in the form of a new special edition Aston Martin, called the DBS Superleggera On Her Majestys Secret Service Edition. Excuse the... [read more]
The all-new MkV Toyota Supra is all everyone is talking about these days. But soon enough, two of its predecessors, the MkIII and MkIV Supras, will grab slices of the headlines now that Toyotas Gazoo Racing has announced plans to start up production of original parts for both models, as part of the GR Heritage Parts Project. The specifics on when, where, and what parts will be available will be announced at a later date, though if you own a... [read more]
Ryan's pictures from the road got me all fired up about travel trailers again, and reminds me of the coolest, most exclusive travel trailer from the Mid Century... continue reading
McLaren is set to launch a new hybrid sports car in 2020. Shown here in a batch of spy shots, this vehicle will be the first electrified model that won't be part of the ultimate series. So far, McLaren has launched two hybrid supercars: the P1, built between 2013 and 2015, and the Speedtail, produced in 2019. This new hybrid sports car could be part of either the Super Series or the Sports Series. Since the prototype is based on... [read more]
Electric cars represent the future of the auto industry. Its not a question of if anymore. But, just because theres a surge of momentum in desire for electric cars, that doesnt mean that electric cars will always be better than gas cars. On the contrary, gas-powered cars will remain relevant even as the EV revolution comes in full swing. Automakers can make proclamations about the robust future of EVs as much as they want, but there are more than 100... [read more]
PSA Peugeot-Citroen acquired Opel (and its U.K. arm Vauxhall) in August of 2017, and since then, its launched a few Opel-branded vehicles based on its own platforms. None, however, have been as important as the sixth-generation Corsa. The 2019 Opel Corsa shares its platform with the rakish new 208 hatch, but it promises to offer a more restrained, more Germanic take on the same city car formula.
Barter, that's the oldest form of trade but what's for barter for a bumper? Find out on today's show. 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
Barter, that's the oldest form of trade but what's for barter for a bumper? Find out on today's show. Wherever you listen to the show please SUBSCRIBE and rate and review the show. It would mean a lot to us. Thanks!
At a New Date and Place! Sunday, July 7th, 2019 from 9am to 3pm. Come one, come all to Brothers 21 st Annual Chevy and GMC Truck Show N Shine now being held in a new location at Oak Canyon Park in historic founded in 1879 Silverado, California. Brothers 21 st Annual Show N Shine is open to 1947 to 1987 Chevrolet and GMC trucks only. Registration opened May 6 th and theres only 650 spots so dont waste any... [read more]
In case anyones forgotten, Fords all-electric, Mustang-inspired crossover is still happening. In fact, its happening sooner than you think. The long-awaited and highly controversial model is arriving in concept form later this year the L.A. Auto Show, perhaps? and will go on sale sometime in 2020. The yet-to-be-named model (it could be called the Mach-E) is expected to serve as Fords champion in the increasingly competitive electric SUV market, a segment with no shortage of new models that are arriving... [read more]
My 1972 Rally Sport Chevrolet Camaro was a gift from my wife of 30 years, for my 60th birthday. The previous owner put on the SS badging but the VIN code says differently and he was up-front about it when it was purchased. Its the same model I raced back in the 80s, on the NHRA Pro Stock circuit in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. My wife also loves this model. It sports a 383ci. Stroker engine (515Hp and 480Tq... [read more]
Who doesnt love Big Daddy Roths Beatnik Bandit and if youre a San Francisco area resident and youd like to see Ed Roths first creation built to drag kids into buying a creepy monster shirt at a custom car show heres your chance. Any time of the year the Beatnik Bandit can be found on permanent exhibit at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada, but on July 21. 2019 the pearl white, bubble-topped beauty will mingle with the crme... [read more]
Over 115 years the auto industry in the east German town of Zwickau has lived through wrenching upheavals including World War II and the collapse of communism. Now the city's 90,000 people are plunging headlong into another era of change: top employer Volkswagen 's total shift into electric cars at the local plant. The world's largest carmaker is creating its first all-electric plant and phasing out production of the internal combustion-engine cars built by generations of local workers. The electric... [read more]
Like the 7 Series, the new BMW X7 is big . Certainly too big to ever get the full M treatment. But even though it outperformed most of its competitors in our figure eight test, one thing still wasn't clear: Was it too big to justify an M Performance version of the X7 xDrive50i? Today, BMW answered that question when it announced the 2020 X7 M50i. Under the hood, the 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 gets a number of performance upgrades that... [read more]
Renaults performance division, Renault Sport, is a name synonymous with hot hatches, and its latest offering, the 2019 Megane RS Trophy-R, is a reminder why that is. The new lightened, track-focused Megane RS has just beaten the Honda Civic Type-R around the Nurburgring, stealing the front-wheel-drive crown from the Japanese manufacturer.
So I had planned for day six and seven to be photoshoot stops on my way home to Austin, but the weather had other plans. Tornados tore through... continue reading
Niki Lauda, one of Formula 1's genuine heroes that survived the deadly '70s to start his own airline company and, in recent years, be a key figure behind Mercedes-AMG Petronas' success story in Formula 1 has died at the age of 70 on Monday, May 20th, 2019. The Austrian, born in Vienna in 1949, won 25 Formula 1 Grand Prix races out of 171 starts and became World Driver's Champion three times: in 1974 and 1977 for Ferrari and, again... [read more]
The Ford Escape ST is a rumored, high-performance version of the fourth-generation crossover, unveiled in 2019 for the 2020 model year. Ford has yet to confirm plans to launch an ST variant of the Escape, but the company's announced shift toward SUVs in the United States suggests that a more powerful crossover is in the making. Should it happen, it won't arrive until 2020. The trouble with the Escape ST is that Ford has never developed one before, despite the... [read more]
Sport sedan lovers, your time is now. Although crossover SUVs have invaded the market like a herd of stampeding cattle, there are still plenty of options for those who prefer a lower center of gravity in a traditional three-box shape. As youre reading this, no fewer than 12 automakers offer a spirited, premium, well-equipped four-door in the $50,000 rangefrom Acura to Volvo . The luxury sport sedan segment might be down, but it is definitely not out. In our latest... [read more]
Because it's a three-day weekend that falls at the end of the month, and it's the biggest holiday before the start of summer, Memorial Day is a perfect storm for new car deals. We've given you a rundown of the best car deals overall this Memorial Day and highlighted some of the best deals on small SUVs . Today, it's all about midsize and large SUVs. The incentive data comes fromour colleagues at IntelliChoice, and covers national offers on 2019... [read more]
When the Specialty Equipment Manufacturing Association (SEMA) held a measuring session for potential tuners to get to know the all-new 2020 Toyota Supra in April, it ranked as the best-attended of any such event in SEMA history. This suggests that the industry expects the market for Supra Mk V upgrades to be at least as hot as it is/was for the Mk IV A80 Supra. The tuners surely must have appreciated what they saw, too, as chief engineer Tetsuya Tadas... [read more]
Before photographer Robin Trajano daily-drove the MotorTrend BMW X3 M40i , he owned an E46 BMW M3 and a Honda Civic Del Sol before that. Later shortened to just Del Sol, the distinctive Honda only lasted one generation in the 1990s. So how much do you really know about this long-gone Civic variant ? Keep reading for the full story. 100 Horsepower Per Liter: The V-TEC Model It featured an optional 1.6-liter DOHC VTEC motor, codenamed b16A3, that produced 160... [read more]
What makes a car crazy? I suppose the answers vary depending on who you ask. Others think compact cars are crazy in their own definition. Others think exotics are crazy, too. In some ways, this kind of subjectiveness is a critical part of the auto industrys success. Buyers of all shapes, sizes, and financial income will always gravitate towards certain vehicles and run away from others. That said, there are a handful of unique models today that fall, unequivocally, into... [read more]
Whenever BMW launches an all-new 3-Series its a big deal because throughout its many generations (the latest one is the seventh generation) it has often been called the class benchmark. People not only praised it for its sharp handling and tight body control, but also for its excellent build and the feeling of it being well engineered. Now theres a new 3-Series, known as the G20 generation, and we tried it out to see if it holds its position on... [read more]
Youve taken down the evil lair, incapacitated your arch-nemesis after an exhausting chase down the local bobsled track, and rescued the stunning damsel from her distress. Finally, after 133 minutes of run time, you, the hero, have earned her hand in marriage. After a tasteful ceremony in Portugal, the two of you climb aboard your wedding floweradorned 1969 Aston Martin DBS and drive away as friends and family toss rose petals and see you off into married life. That was... [read more]
Now that the big grand opening and 55 Years of Mustang event is in their rearview mirror, the folks at the Mustang Owners Museum in Concord, North Carolina (just a stones throw from Charlotte Motor Speedway) are steadfastly working on events, both within the museum and outside the museum and neighboring properties. These events will run the gamut from free-to-attend public events to privately held events within the museum itself. The first event announcement comes barely six weeks after the... [read more]
The comedy of errors that doomed McLaren 's disastrous return to the Indianapolis 500 began months before Fernando Alonso failed to qualify for the race. How bad was it? A week before Alonso's first test in the car, the team realized it didn't even have a steering wheel. McLaren CEO Zak Brown acknowledged Monday the team was woefully unprepared and small oversights snowballed into the final result. Bob Fernley, the head of the operation, was fired hours after Alonso missed... [read more]
Presented by Chevrolet Performance and Driven by Continental Tire The start of the 25th annual HOT ROD Power Tour presented by Chevrolet Performance and Driven by Continental Tire is just a couple weeks away, and like last year, we are posting the route early! Click on the PDF maps to see the route with turn-by-turn driving instructions. The PDFs also have a clickable link to a Google map you can plug into your phone to help navigate the trip. Weve... [read more]
Despite having a range of competent products in the stable, the need for a pickup truck was hurting the company. But, after almost three decades, Jeep finally decided to bring back the Gladiator, and the truck has been the talk of the town ever since. Jeep has left no stone unturned to make the 2020 Gladiator the star of the lineup. Right from headlining the Easter Jeep Safari with as many as five concepts based on the Gladiator, to launching... [read more]
Presented by Chevrolet Performance and Driven by Continental Tire Hot Rod Power Tour has been one of the ultimate gear head road trips. This enormous traveling vehicular circus exposes participants to the hidden gems of small-town America otherwise passed over by road trippers and tourists. The 25 th Anniversary Power Tour is slated to be the biggest and best one yet, with record breaking numbers of participants and four locations that have never been visited by the Tour. Aside from... [read more]
Five years old as of 2019, the Land Rover Discovery Sport is the company's oldest product on the market. As a result, the British firm rolled out a mid-cycle facelift. A bit late to the party given that modern vehicles have a shorter life span, but the update is rather consistent and includes new technology and notable design changes.
The turbocharged madness that is the DTM, or the German Touring Car Championship, returned to its birthplace last weekend when the series staged a race at Zolder, in Belgium, after a 17-year hiatus. Was it worth the wait or was the diminutive track that sits merely one hour away from the more famous Spa-Francorchamps just too small from the pack of angry Audis, BMWs, and Aston Martins? Read on to find out. When you think about racing in Belgium, you... [read more]
Formula 1 great Niki Lauda , who won two of his world titles after a horrific crash that left him with serious burns and went on to become a prominent figure in the aviation industry, has died. He was 70. Lauda's family issued a statement saying the three-time world champion passed away peacefully on Monday, the Austria Press Agency reported. Walter Klepetko, a doctor who performed a lung transplant on Lauda last year, said Tuesday: Niki Lauda has died. I... [read more]
I love finding old hot rod movies that haven't been seen in years It's usually amateur 8mm drag racing footage, shot out of focus from a hand-held camera,... continue reading
Italian automaker Pagani is a rare breed in the supercar world. Unlike other exotic brands, Pagani has not only stayed relevant in the game, but its also thrived in it despite building only two models the Zonda and the Huayra in the last 20 years. The Italian automakers formula? Rebuilding existing Zondas and Huayras and turning them into unique one-off creations. The strategy has worked out well for Pagani as customers continue to ask unique and special modifications to the... [read more]
For some, the 2020 Toyota GR Supras $50,380 base price is as tough to swallow as all those BMW roundels cast in, engraved on, or stuck to its myriad hidden parts. Why not buy an 86 and spend half of the cost savings waking up its snoozy Subie motor? After all, the sweet-handling 86 is also rear-drive, it starts out weighing at least 500 pounds less than the Supra, and it can be had with a manual transmission. And if... [read more]
If you're looking to pick up a new vehicle in time for the summer, Memorial Day weekend is one of the best times to buy. We've given you a rundown of the best car deals overall this Memorial Day , but today we're highlighting the top offers on small SUVs. The incentive data comes fromour colleagues at IntelliChoice, and covers national offers on 2019 models. It's important to note that some restrictions may apply, and the coveted 0 percent financing... [read more]
As a former BMW owner, I have firsthand experience with their inconsistent reliability. Although I only had one, it was enough for me to be cautious about owning another in the future. At 70,000 miles, the VANOS system on my E46 M3 needed replacement, the SMG pump was on its way out, and I was hoping and praying my rear subframe wouldnt crack and crumble. These issues could be chalked up to neglect, and it's based on my personal sample... [read more]
Nowadays, the CX-5 accounts for more than half of all Mazda sales, leaving the Mazda3 in a very distant second place. Although it doesnt win the popularity contest, the 3 even better demonstrates the tenets of Mazda: low, nimble, and attainably sexy. For the 2019 model year, the Mazda3 has made key improvements. It moves to a new architecture that boasts 30 percent high-strength steel for improved body rigidity. The 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder becomes the base engine, making 186 hp... [read more]
Hot hatch lovers that need more practicality than what a hatchback can offer now have one more excellent car to choose - the brand new 2019 Ford Focus ST wagon, based on the fourth-generation Focus. The new Focus ST wagon retains the sporty driving edge of the ST hatch but injects extra practicality for those who need it. Some may even say its cooler than the ST hatch since hot wagons always seem to have a glowing halo around them... [read more]
Better late than never. Years after its German rivals launched cut-down versions of their mainstream SUVs, Porsche has finally got around to building a Cayenne with a lower roofline and faster D-pillars. The Cayenne Coupe arrives in the U.S. this fall with three powertrains, additional standard equipment, and a host of options, ready to take the fight to the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe. And on first impressions, its the best of the bunch. Lets skip the arguments over... [read more]
Like a lot of other people, we were pretty disappointed with the Game of Thrones finale. Half the things that happened made no sense, many of the plot points were hard to believe, and the ending felt way too rushed. After all that, we could seriously use a good long drive. That got us thinking about cars that actually are satisfying. And as much as we love sports cars, two-seat coupes don't fit everyone's lifestyle. So we decided to put... [read more]
It's no secret that SUVs have gotten expensive, especially if you want the latest features and technology. A fully loaded Honda CR-V , for example, now costs more than $37,000. As for a top-of-the-line Chevrolet Suburban , that's more than $80,000. But if you're on a budget and need a new SUV that won't completely break the bank, you still have options. And if you have a little extra to spend, you may be surprised how inexpensive some luxury SUVs... [read more]
The Acura TLX PMC Edition is a special-edition version of the premium company's compact sedan. Unveiled at the 2019 New York Auto Show, not long before the first-generation TLX is set to go out of production, the PMC Edition is more than just a limited-edition car with a few extra features. Unlike previous special-editions from Acura, the TLX PMC Edition is handcrafted in the Performance Manufacturing Center, where the NSX supercar is produced. Combining the premium interior features of the... [read more]
