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Grand Sport X Replaces E-RayChevrolet recently announced the return of the Corvette Grand Sport with a new 6.7-liter V8 engine and a newly-introduced Grand Sport X hybrid version. The Grand Sport X takes the spot in the Corvette lineup formerly held by the E-Ray, with prices starting at $112,195 for the 2027 model (the non-hybrid Grand Sport costs $88,495). Chevrolet View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article That is a hefty sum to spend on a Corvette, especially considering the base Stingray is available for $73,495, but the Grand Sport X is still far off the price of the Z06 ($121,395), the ZR1 ($197,195), and ZR1X ($227,395). It also made us wonder; if you are willing to live with a bit less power and a subjectively less exciting name, how much could you save by purchasing a used E-Ray instead of a new Grand Sport X? Buy A Used E-Ray Bring A Trailer View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article A little over a week ago, we spotted a barely driven 2024 E-Ray go up for sale on Bring a Trailer, listed with only 286 miles on the odometer. The car sold for just $90,024, a discount of more than $34,501 from its original MSRP. That's a bargain, especially considering this particular example was a 3LZ trim equipped with the ZER Performance Package. The bold Accelerate Yellow Metallic color might have made this E-Ray less desirable to some buyers, but if you can live with a 1LZ trim or higher mileage, we found several examples listed for under $90,000. At the lowest, you can find a used E-Ray for as little as $85,000, about $27,000 less than a new Grand Sport X (before destination). Boring Name, Wild Performance Jared Rosenholtz/Autoblog View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article The E-Ray's lack of sales could be attributed to its name, which led many Corvette loyalists to believe it was electric due to the letter "E" at the beginning. By pivoting to the more familiar "Grand Sport" moniker and adding a more neutral letter like "X," Chevy hopes it can attract more buyers to the hybrid Corvette the same way they quickly embraced the ZR1X. Though its name may have deterred buyers, nothing about the E-Ray's performance is lacking. The 6.2-liter LT2 V8 and front electric motor combine to deliver 655 horsepower, good for a 2.5-second zero-to-60 mph run and a quarter-mile time of 10.5 seconds. The Grand Sport X should be quicker with its new 6.7-liter LS6 engine, cranking the total output to 721 hp, but Chevy has not quoted a 0-60 time yet as of this writing. The bigger engine and performance improvements might be worth an additional $27,000 to you, but if it's not, the E-Ray is already a used performance bargain and prices only have further to fall when the Grand Sport X arrives at dealers. View the full article

KTM’s Dakar-derived 450 Rally Replica returns for 2027, with around 35 litres of fuel capacity, limited Australian allocation and a $69,995 Ride Away price. The post Channel Chucky on KTM’s 2027 450 Rally Replica appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X may have lost its crown as the fastest American car at the Nürburgring to the Mustang GTD Competition, but it's far from done proving its abilities on track. In two YouTube clips embedded in this article, we see the 1,250-horsepower ZR1X claim two new lap records at American circuits, first at National Corvette Museum Motorsport Park, where it beat the time posted by the McLaren Senna, and then at Sonoma Raceway. It's not the first time the ZR1X has beaten the McLaren Senna, either, taking the record with a 2:34.2 lap time at Virginia International Raceway in February. ZR1X Shines Even Without Racing Drivers at the WheelEvery time Chevrolet has set a lap record with a ZR1 or ZR1X, it's done so without the help of professional racing drivers, and this time is no different. The time set at NCM Motorsport Park, 2:2.22, was set byDrew Cattell, the vehicle dynamics engineer who piloted the ZR1X around the Nürburgring, showing that even those without professional experience can be fast. The previous record was held by the McLaren Senna, which managed to perform a lap in 2:2.86. Similarly, the Sonoma Raceway lap record was set by a chassis controls engineer, Cody Bulkley, who managed to reach 148 mph heading into turn 1 before making it around the track in just 1:34.17 seconds. The previous record, 1:34.94, was set by a rear-wheel-drive Corvette ZR1, with "only" 1,064 hp. Both lap times are remarkable displays of both power and car control, and it's fitting that vehicle dynamics and chassis controls experts are the ones showing just how agile the ZR1X is, despite being a hybrid and powering all four wheels with more power than a Bugatti Veyron or Lamborghini Revuelto. But the truly remarkable bit about all this is that Chevy has extracted such world-beating straight-line and cornering performance without charging hypercar money. Corvette ZR1X Pricing Makes It a Relative BargainThe ZR1X starts at just $209,700 before options, and when the Revuelto costs over $600,000 and the Mustang GTD over $300,000, its record-breaking ability is even more impressive. This is genuinely hypercar performance for well-optioned Porsche 911 money, and it reminds us of when the R35 Nissan GT-R blew far pricier competition out of the water 17 years ago. The GT-R started at just under $70,000 in December 2009; the Ferrari 458 Italia started around $225,000, and it lost most performance comparisons to the plucky AWD four-seater. Granted, today's ZR1X is nearly twice as pricy as the GT-R when adjusting for inflation, but it's also twice as powerful and can do the standing quarter-mile in under 9 seconds without any modifications. That's surely worth celebrating. View the full article

The first IHRA Triple Crown event is shaping up to be huge. Ron Capps and Maddie Gordon will be at the Maple Grove race. View the full article

Moto News Weekly Wrap April 29, 2026 What’s New: Kyron Bacon impresses at Campionato degli Assoluti d’Italia Jaggar Townley tops 85 cc class at French MX Speedway World Cup SF-1 line-up revealed Sherco announce ISDE rental and assistance packages Lorenzo and Sherco top Carta Rallye 2026 Denno wins 2026 SMX Next — Supercross AMA National […] The post Moto News Weekly | Enduro | Rally | AFT | SX | Speedway appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Pete Harrell isn’t a racer in the current LDR rules debate. He’s the engine builder and tuner watching a class he cares about argue itself into a corner. Three days after Brett Lasala walked away from the Radial Outlaws Racing Series (RORS) over a mid-season rules change, Harrell published a 30-minute video laying out the institutional case for why fairness was never the point. Harrell runs Harrell Engine & Dyno in Mooresville, North Carolina, and the Real Good at Doin’ Stuff!!! YouTube channel. His shop has put tune-ups on Cleetus McFarland’s twin-turbo “Mullet,” Mike Finnegan’s “Blasphemi,” and a long list of high-horsepower drag-and-drive programs that survive the kind of abuse Sick Week and Drag Week throw at them. He also tunes customer cars in Radial Outlaws, which means his read on the rule book isn’t disinterested. Rule changes hit his work, too. The video is titled, “Let’s have a good rant about Snot Rocket rules!! Should racing be ‘fair’???” Spoiler: he doesn’t think it should. “These rules have nothing to do with fairness,” Harrell said. “Nothing. The rules are put in place to establish parity.” That’s the thesis, and the entire 30 minutes is a methodical defense of it. Harrell isn’t arguing that the Limited Drag Radial (LDR) rules committee handled the latest controversy perfectly. He’s arguing that the people most upset about the latest controversy have the wrong frame entirely. LDR was launched in 2016 by Tyler Crossnoe and Jason “Pooch” Rueckert with an economic theory baked into the rule book. These are not cheap cars. Top-tier LDR programs are $300,000-plus operations, some closer to half a million. But the purses are modest by heads-up standards, often around $7,500 to win. That structure is intentional. The founders’ theory was that keeping prize money low would keep the class off the radar of the well-funded teams that typically take over heads-up categories once the purses get attractive. The goal was to keep the class sustainable longer and avoid the boom-and-bust cycle that eats classes alive. Performance was always going to evolve. That’s the nature of heads-up drag racing. Pro Mod was running 4.10’s in the eighth-mile and dipping into the low-6’s in the quarter-mile in the mid-2000’s. Today the same class is in the 3.50’s in the eighth, and the NHRA Pro Mod cars – the only place the class still runs the quarter regularly – are going 5.60’s. LDR running mid-3.80’s and quicker in 2026 isn’t a failure of the class. It’s how every class moves. The drift Harrell is pointing at is different. It’s technological, not chronological. The class was designed to evolve through tuning, chassis work, and the kind of incremental gains that fit a working-man’s budget. It wasn’t designed to evolve through pro-level concessions like lockup transmissions on forced-induction combos. That’s what classes starting with the word “Pro” exist for: Pro 275, Pro Mod, Radial vs. The World. Bringing pro-level tech into LDR is the move that invites pro-level teams, which is the exact outcome Crossnoe and Rueckert wrote the rule book to delay. His starting point is the lockup transmission. Lasala’s “Snot Rocket” Mustang ran a lockup before the recent rule change banned them three races into the season – a change Lasala called “a death sentence for any LDR program trying to run in the 3.80’s” in his exit statement. Harrell’s read on the lockup question is that it never should have been allowed in the class in the first place. “At the genesis of LDR, there were several things that were just deal breakers,” Harrell said. “One of these was big-buck lockup transmissions. They were a no-starter on forced-induction combos from the beginning of the class. That was one of the centerpieces of the class. You want to do this? Go run Pro275, RvW. There’s other classes where you can run that.” In Harrell’s telling, the recent rule change wasn’t a deviation from the class. It was a correction back to it. The technology drifted in. The rule book pushed it back out. And the people calling the change destabilizing are working from a baseline that was already off-spec. The harder argument, and the one where Harrell departs most sharply from the Lasala piece, is about how rule-making is supposed to work. Lasala’s frame, in his exit statement, was that the damage wasn’t the rule itself but the precedent: a sanctioning body changing a fundamental piece of the class mid-season. Harrell agrees the precedent is the problem, but he locates the precedent further upstream. Concessions, in his telling, are the precedent that broke the system. “If you keep handing things out because somebody can’t compete, you’re not making the class fair,” said Harrell. “You’re rebuilding the class around the team that’s struggling. That’s not a rule book. That’s a customer service department.” It’s the bottom-up versus top-down rule-making argument that has been quietly running through every parity conversation in radial racing for half a decade. Harrell is squarely on the top-down side: establish a baseline, write the rule book around it, and let the field find its way to the baseline. Don’t move the baseline because part of the field can’t reach it. He also isn’t blind to the casualties. In one of the more striking moments of the video, Harrell named Rob Goss as a racer he believes has been hit too hard by recent rule changes. “If anybody got hit a little too hard, it’s probably Rob Goss,” Harrell said. “He got crushed with the rule book.” It’s a notable concession in a piece otherwise built around defending LDR’s methodology. It raises the obvious follow-up question, which is what the racer Harrell named would say about all of this if asked directly. Goss has spent the last 24 months absorbing weight penalties without publicly complaining and hasn’t said much on the record about any of it. What Harrell’s video does is fill a hole that has been sitting open since Lasala posted his exit statement. There was a class-voice argument waiting to be made – that LDR’s rule book is doing what rule books are supposed to do, that fairness is the wrong frame, that concessions are the precedent racers should worry about and not the latest single rule. Harrell didn’t go in on “Snot Rocket” or Lasala. He went in on the methodology, and he made the methodology argument out loud on his own channel. Lasala’s piece said the damage was the precedent of a mid-season change. Harrell’s piece says the damage was the methodology that got the class to the point where a mid-season change felt necessary. Two different angles reaching the same diagnosis: the class moved away from itself. This story was originally published on April 28, 2026. The post Pete Harrell on Limited Drag Radial Controversy: “These Rules Have Nothing to Do With Fairness” first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

We’ve got a few weeks until the start of all the official Indy 500 festivities, including official practice sessions, qualifying, etc, but that doesn’t mean that teams aren’t already making laps in early testing. We’ve got live streaming video from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500, where INDYCAR Series racers are making laps and testing setups in an effort to get their rides ready for the 2026 edition of the Indy 500. The post FREE LIVESTREAM: 2026 Indianapolis 500 Open Testing Is On! | Day 1 | INDYCAR SERIES appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

The Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association era – 30-plus years – will officially come to an end this weekend when the club hosts its “Last Blast” during Maryland International Raceway’s 18th annual Door Wars presented by ATI Performance Products, May 1-3. Originally scheduled for last fall, the weather-postponed Last Blast will serve as one final celebration of NEOPMA’s history and impact on regional Pro Modified racing. NEOPMA founder and president John Mazzorana announced his retirement at the end of the 2024 season, capping off 32 years of leadership with the group. Though it originally appeared that Mazzorana’s retirement meant the end of the series, four-time NEOPMA champion Andy Jensen stepped in to carry the group into 2025. But participation in the brief schedule didn’t warrant a 2026 season, and the 2025 season finale at MIR’s Superchargers Showdown was set to be the curtain call. Mother Nature had other ideas: the weekend was rained out and the Last Blast was moved to this weekend’s Door Wars. Jensen and MIR track owner Royce Miller came together to make the race happen, both as entertainment for the fans at MIR and as a tribute to Mazzorana and the volunteer NEOPMA team. Pro Mod teams will compete for $8,000 to win plus several thousand more in round money and bonuses. It’s a bittersweet time for Mazzorana, who grew up in a poor section of Brooklyn, built a successful career in the banking industry, and led NEOPMA through three decades. “First of all, I’m excited about seeing my colleagues, my friends, and my brothers and sisters in the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mods,” said Mazzorana, who will turn 85 on July 4th. “It’s been a privilege for me to work with these people because they’re professional, they’re fun-loving, they’re very nice people in general, and they give from the heart. I told my wife, Faith, whenever I have an issue or a problem and I need help, I never call my banking friends. I call my car friends. We’re more down-to-earth and interdependent on each other. I appreciate that and being part of a program that lasted 30 years. It was my privilege and an honor to work with all these people that have come and gone over the years.” Mazzorana has reflected on the club’s history over the last year or so, finding numerous points of pride. Dozens of drivers have competed in NEOPMA events over the years, from world champions and record holders to weekend warriors looking for a place to compete on a high level close to home. Participants found a competitive environment, but also one that fostered camaraderie and a sense of community. “We’ve had people join, step away, and come back, and I thought that was a wonderful thing,” Mazzorana said. “We’ve had some pretty big names race with us and we’ve had a lot of fun. For a small club, we were actually as fast as some of the national events and series. Dean Marinis in Harry Pappas’ car broke the nitrous world record (a 5.57 in 2019) at one of our races. We held the blower record for years. We were small but powerful, and that was fun. “We were a band of brothers and sisters, in that racing was obviously the main thing that brought us together, but at night we would get together and it would not be uncommon for us to party into the wee hours of the night,” Mazzorana continued. “We went out of our way to make sure that the racers were treated well. We always made sure the tracks were safe. We literally walked away from tracks that refused to prep the track properly. I wouldn’t put my people in harm’s way. Safety should be the first and most important concern.” Mazzorana is always quick to share credit with everyone else that made NEOPMA possible: racers, sponsors, track operators, and of course, the small but dedicated group of officials that, like Mazzorana, donated their time and effort to keep Pro Mod racing alive and well in the Northeast. “It wasn’t just me; it was a collective effort,” Mazzorana said. “We’ve had people who helped out in the club for years, and they became part of the core team of people that helped me manage the club. I’m appreciative that Royce and Andy and all the people who are putting this race on recognize that.” Mazzorana notes that while he would’ve liked to see NEOPMA continue on for years to come, he’s excited about the current state of Pro Mod racing and drag racing as a whole. He attended the Drag Illustrated Winter Series races over the winter and plans to visit more events this season. But for now, he’s looking forward to one “last blast” with his NEOPMA family. “My wishes for everybody for this weekend is that they have a safe race, and going forward, that they have safety, and that they continue to make drag racing a fun experience for them and their families,” Mazzorana said. NEOPMA teams can test on Friday before qualifying starts with sessions at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. A final third qualifying session is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. The club will provide a free pizza luncheon for all teams at 3:30 p.m. Eliminations will start at 6 p.m. and will continue through the evening until a winner is crowned. The winner will walk away with a guaranteed $8,000 plus a “big ass trophy” and a trailer check. Round money is also up for grabs: $3,500 to runner-up, $2,000 for semis, $1,250 for quarterfinals, and $1,000 for first-round exits. Additionally, there’s a $1,000 “Last N2O Car Standing” Bonus by Powermist Fuels and Xtreme Racing Engines, a $500 Low Qualifier Bonus from NY BOOM Truck, a $500 “Fastest 1st Round Loser” Bonus from ATI Performance Products, and a $500 Best Appearing Car Bonus from Nick Rabe and The Wax Shop. Jensen thanked the event’s sponsors for their contributions: Mark Micke at M & M Transmission, ATI Performance Products, Maxima Racing Oil, Brodix Inc., World Products Blocks and Heads, Xtreme Racing Engines, Nick Rabe & The Wax Shop Racing Team, Penske Racing Shocks, Dave Hance and NY BOOM!, PowerMist Fuels, MBE Cylinder Heads & Induction Systems, and Turn 2 RC Radio Systems. Door Wars will also feature Warriors Outlaw, Southern Outlaw Top Sportsman, and the 1320 Fabrication ET Series classes: Super Pro, Pro ET, Sportsman, and Jr. Dragster. For more info, visit https://goracemir.com/schedule/calendar/2026/26-05/26-05-01.htm This story was originally published on April 28, 2026. The post NEOPMA’s ‘Last Blast’ Headlines MIR’s Door Wars This Weekend first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

For some, the Ruhr region of Germany is defined by its industrial grit, a landscape of coal, steel, and smoke. For Dirk Oehlerking, the mastermind behind Kingston Custom, Gelsenkirchen is a sanctuary of craftsmanship. It is a place where the down-to-earth nature of the people matches the honest, mec... View the full article

Spencer Hyde, Funny Car driver of the Head Contractors and Engineers Funny Car, continued to build a rhythm in his sophomore season at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, qualifying ninth in a stacked 16-car field and gaining valuable data despite an early loss on race day. Hyde delivered a strong 3.981 second pass at 319.67 mph during Friday qualifying to secure his position. He also picked up two bonus points with that pass, since it was the second-quickest run of the qualifying session. “It’s kind of becoming our thing to come out really strong in Q1 and pick up bonus points,” said Hyde. “I don’t hate it. Every point in the battle for the championship matters, and those bonus points add up quickly.”The weekend carried added meaning, as Jim and Janet Russell of The Caine Group stepped in as primary sponsors with a special livery to honor their late son, Caine, whose passion for racing continues to inspire. Hyde, the only full-time Canadian professional racer on the NHRA tour, emphasized his appreciation for the weekend’s meaningful partnership. “Having The Caine Group on board as our main sponsor this weekend meant a lot to all of us,” said Hyde. “Jim and Janet Russell’s son was a very special guy, and we were proud to carry his name on our car. We wish we could’ve gone more rounds for them, but we’ll keep pushing to make them proud the rest of the season.” On race day, Hyde faced a formidable opening-round quad that included No. 1 qualifier and three-time world champion Ron Capps, No. 8 qualifier and recent Gainesville winner Chad Green, and two-time reigning world champion Austin Prock. Hyde’s run was cut short by traction issues, preventing advancement to the next round. Capps went on to win the race. Despite the outcome, the second-year driver and 2025 NHRA Rookie of the Year remains encouraged by the progress his team is making. “We learned a lot this weekend, and that’s what’s important,” said Hyde. “This track can be tricky, especially in the four-wide format, but Jim Head and this entire team gave me a great car. That 3.98 run shows what we’re capable of, and we’re getting closer to putting it all together on race day.” Hyde leaves Charlotte seventh in the NHRA Funny Car points standings and now turns his focus to the next event, the NHRA Southern Nationals, a new addition to the schedule that presents a fresh opportunity for every team in the field. “It’s exciting heading into a brand-new race,” said Hyde. “Nobody has notes, so it really levels the playing field. We’ll take what we learned here, apply it and come out swinging. I’m confident in this team and ready to see what we can do.” Hyde and the Head Contractors and Engineers Funny Car will be back in competition next weekend at the NHRA Southern Nationals on May 1-3 at South Georgia Motorsports Park. There will be two qualifying sessions on Friday, May 1 and two qualifying sessions on Saturday, May 2. For tickets or more information on the NHRA Southern Nationals visit www.nhra.com. The post Spencer Hyde Makes Early Exit in Charlotte first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

BYD Sales Onslaught ContinuesBYD is not slowing down. Fresh off overtaking Tesla as the world’s top EV seller, the Chinese giant has unveiled its latest flagship SUV, the Great Tang. Within just 24 hours of launch, the model secured over 30,000 pre-orders, reinforcing the brand’s accelerating dominance in the global EV race and highlighting strong domestic appetite for high-end electrified SUVs. The Great Tang backs that hype with serious numbers and hardware. The rear-wheel-drive version delivers up to 950 km of CLTC range, positioning it among the longest-range SUVs in its class. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive variant produces 585 kW and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. Fast charging is equally aggressive with a 10C rate and peak current of 1000A. Even better, plug-in hybrid variants expand their reach. The DM-i tech pairs a 1.5T engine with a 300 kW motor for efficiency. The DM-p uses dual motors with 400 kW and hits 62 mph in 4.3 seconds. Chassis tech includes DiSus-A dual-chamber air suspension, rear-wheel steering, and a tight 17-foot turning radius. Cabin technology features lidar-assisted driving, a 3 nm cockpit chip, and a 27-speaker Devialet sound system. BYD View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Demand Could Be Even HigherAccording to CarNewsChina, Early dealer data suggests the initial 30,000-unit figure may only tell part of the story. Some channel checks point to actual orders being significantly higher, with internal estimates hinting the number could approach double that figure. Even if official numbers remain conservative, the launch performance is already exceptional by any metric. A key enabler is BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery. The updated architecture improves charging speed, thermal management, and structural safety. With BYD’s in-house control of batteries, motors, and semiconductors, the company can compress costs while pushing performance forward. This tight integration remains one of its biggest competitive advantages in a crowded EV market. VYD View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article The BYD SurgeBYD’s trajectory now resembles a surge rather than a gradual climb. A global fuel crunch has accelerated the shift to electrification, and BYD is scaling aggressively to meet that demand. The irony is that its biggest bottleneck is no longer market acceptance but production capacity, as factories race to keep up with incoming orders. The competitive landscape is shifting quickly. BYD has already moved past Tesla in EV volume and is increasingly challenging legacy automakers like Ford in total sales. With improving engineering quality and growing international confidence, the brand is closing the gap to traditional leaders. If momentum holds and supply constraints ease, BYD’s push toward the very top of the global auto industry looks less like a possibility and more like an inevitability. Rachen Sageamsak/Xinhua via Getty Images View the full article

Jack Beckman took advantage of a competitor’s misfortune in Round 2 of the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals to advance to the Funny Car final round and then went on to earn himself and his John Force Racing HendrickCars.com Chevrolet SS Funny Car team the runner-up spot at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte. Beckman’s John Force Racing teammates Jordan Vandergriff (Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car) and Alexis DeJoria (Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car) were second-round finishers and Top Fuel teammate Josh Hart (HendrickCars.com Dragster) bowed out in the first round of the lone three-round, 4-wide competition on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule. The 2012 NHRA Funny Car World Champion spun the tires early and finished third in his second-round matchup with Matt Hagan, Vandergriff and Dave Richards but Richards’ car made contact with the retaining wall before crossing the finish line, forcing his disqualification and moving the HendrickCars.com team to the final round against Hagan, Ron Capps, and J.R. Todd. Beckman had his best reaction time of the event (0.058) and the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car ran 3.917 seconds at 329.50 mph but it wasn’t enough to get around Capps’ 3.905-second run at 334.90 mph. The runner-up finish is the team’s best showing in the season’s first four races and advanced them from 10th to eighth in the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car point standings. “It was an eventful race day for John Force’s Funny Cars and it was really cool to get HendrickCars.com into our first final round of the year,” said Beckman. “We had a heck of a run: we had a great car, then we struggled. We found our car, then we struggled again but we were right where we needed to be in the final round. So, we’ll take a runner-up finish, we’ll take the points to go with that and we’ll move up in the standings some. That means when we unload five days from now, we know we have a car we can leave with the trophy there so we’re getting closer.” Vandergriff was the quickest in his round one quad, with the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car running 3.874 seconds at 326.63 mph to advance to the second round. The 4-Wide Nationals #2Fast2Tasty Challenge winner lined up against Hagan, Beckman and Richards but smoked the tires almost immediately, slowing to a run of 9.698 seconds at 72.35 mph. The team maintained fifth place in the point standings. “That was definitely not what we were looking for there in the second round,” said Vandergriff. “It was maybe a little too much, a little too less, whatever it was. It’s a little disheartening when it shakes a little liked that. I checked all three lanes and was like, ’Okay, I might as well stay out of this one.’ But overall, it was a great weekend. Getting my first Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty win in a quad that included J.R. Todd, Matt Hagan, and Ron Capps was really huge for this Cornwell Quality Tools team. We have some momentum and we’re going to carry it into South Georgia next weekend.” DeJoria was the second quickest in her round one quad, with the Bandero Chevrolet SS Funny Car running 3.962 seconds at 324.36 mph. In her round two matchup against Capps, Todd and Chad Green, she ran 3.980 seconds, but crossed the finish line at just 296.89 mph. The teamed moved up one spot, to sixth, in the point standings. “The Bandero Chevy ran a little slower than we than we wanted to in the second round,” said DeJoria. “It didn’t drop a cylinder, but it was pushing me down track and I was getting really close to the center line. Luckily, it was at the very end of the run. I was giving the wheel input and it was just not reacting so, right before I thought I was going to cross the center line, I lifted and luckily missed it. In the end, it wouldn’t have mattered because we ran a 3.98. We’re doing good and just need to touch up on some areas to get going a little quicker. The performance is consistent. We’re getting down the racetrack. Now we just need to get to the finish line a little quicker.” Hart was the low qualifier in his quad for the first round of eliminations, lining up against Tony Stewart, Billy Torrance and Tony Schumacher. The cars had performed their burnouts and were about to stage when a light rain at the top end forced NHRA to halt the proceedings. When racing resumed, the HendrickCars.com dragster ran 3.753 seconds at 333.16 mph, but it wasn’t enough against either Stewart’s, 3.727-second posting or Torrence’s 3.731-second run. Schumacher was unable to repair a mechanical issue that occurred as the cars were initially being shut off for the rain so he did not compete in the first round of eliminations. “There are a lot of emotions on the starting line without all the extra chaos in that first round,” said Hart. “We’re running four wide, then we’re running three wide, then we’re running four wide again. I’m usually a lot better at focusing on what I have to do and usually we have a really, really strong car in those conditions but this time the combination, or lack thereof, in that realm put us out. I’m very disappointed for everyone involved with the HendrickCars.com program this weekend but I know that the John Force Racing group will get everything going again. I’ll refocus over the next couple of days and be ready when we get to Georgia next week.” The fifth of 20 races of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is the May 1-3 NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, Ga. The post Jack Beckman Finishes Runner-Up at NHRA 4-Wide Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Wheel Studs May SeparateTesla has recalled 173 2024-2026 Cybertruck vehicles equipped with 18-inch steel wheels (around 5% of Cybertruck production) for a potential issue with its wheel studs. According to the NHTSA recall, the brake rotor stud holes could develop cracks, which allow the stud to separate from the wheel hub. This increases the risk of a crash. Tesla If owners continue to use their vehicle on rougher roads or subject the studs to higher cornering forces, the stud could even separate from the hub. Before losing control of the vehicle, owners may notice vibrations and noise from inside the cabin that could signal a cracked stud hole. Recall Details Tesla As with all recalls in the United States, Tesla Service will rectify the issue free of charge. Cybertruck owners impacted by the issue will receive new front and rear brake rotors, hubs, and lug nuts. If your Cybertruck is affected, Tesla will send out a notification letter by June 20, 2026. Owners may also contact Tesla at 1-877-798-3752, and provide the recall number SB-26-33-003. Tesla has not discovered any occurrences of separated studs or lugs in the field in during testing, but decided to voluntarily recall the affected vehicles out of an abundance of caution. Cybertruck Recalls This wheel hub issue is far from the first recall that has impacted the Cybertruck. Tesla's controversial pickup truck was recently recalled because the off-road light bar was not glued down well enough. That wasn't even the first glue-related Cybertruck recall, as other body parts were also detaching earlier in the year. And though it wasn't an official recall, it's hard to forget that Tesla had to temporarily stop shipping the Cybertruck with its futuristic wheel covers because they were eating into the tires. These issues could partially explain why Cybertruck deliveries have not lived up to the vehicles lofty pre-reveal expectations. View the full article

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has officially announced the acquisition of Empire Dragway, marking a major step in our continued growth and investment in premier racing facilities across the United States. Located in Leicester, New York, Empire Dragway has long been a staple in the Northeast racing community, known for its rich history, passionate fan base, and competitive racing environment. Under IHRA ownership, the facility will undergo strategic enhancements focused on racer experience, fan engagement, and long-term operational sustainability. “This is exactly the kind of facility we want to invest in,” said Darryl Cuttell, Owner of IHRA. “Empire Dragway has a strong foundation and a loyal racing community. Our goal is to build on that momentum. We will be bringing more opportunities for racers, bigger events for fans, and ensuring this track continues to thrive for years to come.” “Empire Dragway has meant so much to me and to this community over the years,” said Jerry Scaccia. “I’m proud of what we’ve built here, and I truly believe IHRA is the right group to take it to the next level. Their vision for the future of the sport and commitment to racers gives me full confidence that Empire is in great hands.” Already established as a stop on our national schedule, Empire Dragway will host the Outlaw Nitro Series and Small Tire BRATZ Series on July 23–25, 2026. Under IHRA ownership, that momentum will continue to build with expanded programming, enhanced amenities, and greater opportunities for racers and fans alike. Fans and racers can expect upgrades to infrastructure, enhanced safety measures, and a renewed focus on delivering a top-tier race day experience. We will work closely with local organizations, teams, and the racing community to ensure a seamless transition and continued success of the venue. This story was originally published on April 28, 2026. The post IHRA Acquires Empire Dragway, Expanding National Footprint in the Northeast first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Still no X3 MIt took a while for BMW to develop a fully-fledged M version of the X3, but it finally arrived in 2019. The third-generation G01 BMW X3 received M and M Competition models, and was even given a special internal code of F97. Its engine would later be used in the first release of the G80 M3 and M3 Competition, so the high-performance sedan owes a lot to the X3 M. When it was time to retire the previous model for the current G45 X3, we expected a new generation of the hot crossover. But nearly two years have passed since its introduction, and there's still no sign of a second-generation X3 M. Currently, there's the M50, and while its 3.0-liter turbo straight-six puts out 393 hp and 428 lb-ft, it's still quite far away from the full-on M model's 473 hp and 443 lb-ft figure, let alone the Competition's 503 hp output. The question now is, will there be a G45-based X3 M down the line? BMW An Interesting Trademark FilingWhile skimming through trademark databases, we came across a fairly recent filing from BMW that caught our attention. However, it wasn't 'X3 M' that we saw that the German automaker filed for registration. Instead, we saw the name XB3, indicating that Alpina might build the most powerful version of the X3. Those familiar with Alpina's naming conventions would've broken that down by now, with X indicating a crossover model, B standing for benzine (gas/petrol), and 3 for, well, the X3. Now that Alpina is under BMW's wing, it's possible that the mothership is exploring the possibility of passing the performance crossovers to the newly acquired company. Do note that there was also a filing for XB8, the likely successor of the slow-selling and controversial XM. It also follows Alpina's naming structure, which is why we're inclined to believe that the XB3 could effectively become the M version of the current X3. World Intellectual Property Office Alpina Made a Hot X3 BeforeIt never made it to the U.S, but Alpina had its own take for a fast X3 for the prior two generations. It was called the XD3, and as you might have guessed, the D stood for diesel. The most recent model was powered by the Euro-market-only 3.0-liter quad-turbo diesel. That engine was good for 383 hp and 568 lb-ft, making it far more potent than the twin-turbo X3 M40d from the same era. Considering that the previous-gen X3 was never really designed to accommodate a quad-turbo engine, it's quite impressive that Alpina made it work, at least for left-hand drive markets. With that in mind, the possible XB3 model won't be the company's first foray into building a potent X3. The only difference now is that this could be the first gas/petrol-powered X3 the company upgrades. If so, we're expecting at least 400 hp, since the current M50 is close to that number. Interesting times, indeed, but we're hoping BMW doesn't fully turn Alpina into its performance-crossover division. Drew Phillips View the full article

This past weekend NHRA Funny Car driver and team owner Buddy Hull took on a new challenge on the drag strip beyond wheeling his 12,000-horsepower Nitro Funny Car on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. On Saturday night the fan-favorite driver got behind the wheel of a nitrous-fed ’06 Ford Mustang at the Clash of the Titans race at Xtreme Raceway Park in Ferris, Texas. Hull made a few shakedown test passes and then jumped right into competition, winning two rounds of the unique event before rain ended racing action. “This was so much fun, and I am so appreciative to have the opportunity to race this Mustang,” said Hull, who was beaming with excitement following the round wins. “Any time you can hit the throttle and see a win light that is just fuel for my competitive nature. Nothing is like a Nitro Funny Car, but this nitrous-fed Mustang was a handful and so fun to drive. Also, all the other competitors were so cool and helpful. This is a whole new world, and I can’t want to do this again.”This was the second radial event for Hull, who competed in a radial race that was held in conjunction with the 2025 Stampede of Speed at the Texas Motorplex. Dave Vasser, owner of Nitrous Outlet, promoted this event and is a fellow Texan which also appealed to Hull. Hull raced the nitrous fed ’06 Ford Mustang that set the Ultra Street world record at the Battle of the Thrones event at Rockingham Dragway in April of 2024. While Hull didn’t set any world record times his performance on track was a solid effort. “I have to thank Dave Vasser from Nitrous Outlet for promoting this race,” said Hull. “I have only raced radial cars one other time and this was a really cool experience. The car was flawless and you can tell that JD Campbell and his team at Dynamic Racing Solutions know their stuff.” Hull, who has been racing professionally in Top Fuel and Funny Car since 2021, represented a host of sponsors that back him at the national level. The car sported the logos from Sam Pack, FS Performance, Gates Belts, Technocraft, Impact, Dynamic Racing Solutions, 360 Wraps, WS and Herricks & Campbell Racing, as well as Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull and Drag Race Bracket Bonanza. For more information about Buddy Hull’s racing schedule and appearances visit www.hullracing.com and for more information on this weekend’s race visit www.xtremeracewaypark.com. This story was originally published on April 28, 2026. The post Buddy Hull Thrills Behind the Wheel of World Record Mustang first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Auto industry CEOs are traditionally among the best paid business executives in the world, but there are significant differences between the pay packages US automakers provide to their bosses. Last year, America’s biggest automakers paid their CEOs in the tens of millions of dollars each, with General Motors’ Mary Barra earning $29.9 million and Ford’s Jim Farley bringing home $27.5 million. As for Stellantis, its new CEO Antonio Filosa received a total compensation package of €5.4 million (approximately $6.3 million), although it’s worth noting that the pay covered only half a year of work as he started in June. But compared to the CEO of Rivian, Detroit Three CEOs made peanuts last year. RJ Scaringe, who founded the EV startup in 2009, earned a total of $403 million for his work at the electric-truck maker in 2025. That’s about 13 times more than the next best-paid automotive CEO in the US, Mary Barra. RJ Scaringe Got an Elon Musk-Style Pay Deal Phillip Faraone/Getty Images According to an April 27 SEC filing cited by the Financial Times, Scaringe received $373 million in stock options and $26.6 million in stock awards as part of a deal agreed by Rivian’s board last year. Those sums were in addition to his yearly salary of $1.1 million and $1 million bonus. Scaringe’s 2025 pay package saw a massive increase over the two previous years, when he made $14.9 million (2024) and $14.3 million (2023). In 2026, his base salary is set to double to $2 million and his maximum bonus will reach $1.7 million, according to the filing. But why is RJ Scaringe making so much more money than the CEOs of much bigger automakers that have been around for more than 100 years? It all comes down to the company hitting stock price and financial targets, as those bonuses were tied to company achievements. Interestingly, RJ Scaringe could end up making much more in the coming years after Rivian’s board in November 2025 approved a package that could be worth as much as $4.6 billion over the next decade if the chief executive hits a series of ambitious stock price and financial goals. As FT points out, this system reminds of that used by Tesla, which has given its CEO Elon Musk a potential $1 trillion pay deal last year tied to seemingly unrealistic goals such as increasing the group’s valuation six times and boosting earnings 24-fold. Midsize R2 Electric SUV Is Expected to Take Rivian to the Next Level Rivian As for Scaringe’s pay package, Rivian’s directors justified it by saying it was “entirely at-risk” and the shares would only be awarded after significant price and financial improvements would be achieved; those indicators include operating income and cash flow. To get the pay package, Rivian's valuation would have to grow by $153 billion compared to its current market cap, the directors said. Rivian’s current valuation is $21 billion, down 86 percent since the company’s initial public offering in 2021. The EV maker has been losing money for its entire existence, ending 2025 with a net loss of 3.6 billion despite selling 42,000 R1T pickups and R1S SUVs last year. Rivian is hoping that the upcoming launch of its new mass-market R2 midsize SUV, which entered production last week at the company’s plant in Normal, Illinois, will help it reverse years of multibillion-dollar losses. The company also expects to make money by selling its software and autonomous systems to other companies, following a $5.8 billion software and electrics deal with Volkswagen last year. Additionally, the EV maker relies on a $1.25 billion investment from Uber, which agreed to buy up to 50,000 R2 EVs by 2030. As part of the deal, Rivian has to turn the vehicles into autonomous, unsupervised robotaxis. View the full article

Road Racing HeritageOnly a few automotive brands still left in existence can claim that they've reached 100 years in the business. Even fewer are able to reach this milestone and also tout a true racing heritage backed up by multiple wins spanning decades and legendary drivers. Maserati's story hasn't been an easy one, going through a lot more downs than ups, but here they are 100 years later, still alive and kicking. With this major achievement reached, 2026 is set to be a very special year for the brand. Maserati View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article 100 Years of the TridentHaving been through multiple ownerships in the 100 years, Maserati's current owner, Stellantis, is going all-in on the celebrations for 2026. The automotive group giant announced that "every Maserati event around the world in 2026 - from sporting events to concours d’elegance, from product presentations to cultural initiatives - will turn this special milestone into a manifesto of identity and pride shared by Trident enthusiasts worldwide." To further amplify the celebrations, there will also be a commemorative marketing campaign. Where the tagline is "100 Years of The Trident," further enhancing the messaging is that RIDE in the word Trident will be in bold letters, to evoke the refined yet sporty driving experience that has always distinguished every Maserati. The Ministry of Enterprises of Italy is also adding to the festivities by releasing a postage stamp that is dedicated to the Trident’s centenary and to Maserati's global reach in 70 markets, which the ministry recognizes as an expression of Italian excellence. Santo Facili, Maserati's COO, says that the Trident embodies the most authentic soul of Maserati. Maserati View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Born on the RacetrackFacili also points out that this soul was born on the racetrack back in 1926, where the brand also secured its first race win during the gruelling Targa Florio. The logo was conceptualized as early as 1925, but took on full form a year later. It was designed by Mario Maserati, the only brother of a member of the Maserati clan who wasn't directly involved in the car business. His first logo sketch is currently preserved in the Maserati archives in Modena. It was first displayed on the Tipo 26 race car, the car with which Alfieri Maserati entered the Targa Florio, taking first place in the 1500 cc class. It was the first in a long series of successes, including two consecutive editions of the Indianapolis 500 in 1939 and 1940, four consecutive victories at the Targa Florio in 1937, 1938, 1939, and 1940, nine Formula 1 wins, and the 1957 Formula 1 World Championship with Juan Manuel Fangio. View the full article

Unified Charging SystemOne of the most annoying parts of EV ownership has been the different charging port standards. Over the years, each brand has claimed its technology is the best option, but it only leads to confusion and frustration for owners. Some charging stations would only support a specific charging port, which might not be compatible with some EVs. In a bid to streamline charging for EV owners, brands have begun switching to a single charging port option, making it much easier for everyone to charge at most stations. Chevrolet GM Going NACSGM announced earlier this year that part of its new EV strategy is to equip all 2026 model-year cars with the North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging port. A new announcement confirms that the recently announced 2027 Blazer EV will also include the NACS port. The Blazer EV is following in the footsteps of the Bolt EV, but officially, the first GM product featuring NACS is the 2026 Cadillac Optiq. Tesla's the biggest reason NACS is becoming the new industry standard, thanks to the sheer number of Supercharger stations across the nation. This should allow most EV owners to charge without hassle. GM does say, though, that new owners will not lose access to existing chargers that use the old CCS1 connector, as they will be providing a charging adaptor. GM says the goal is to simplify the customer experience while expanding access to more reliable charging. New Blazer owners will now have easier access to one of the biggest and broadest-reaching charging networks in America, thanks to the NACS integration, while continuing to have the flexibility to use older charging stations with the adaptor, making it easier to plan trips and go on long-distance journeys. Chevrolet Bigger ImplicationsNACS was originally a Tesla-developed and patented charging technology; it was eventually opened to others and has quickly become the go-to charging port layout for most North American EVs. GM's quick adaptation of NACS shows that the market as a whole is leaning towards NACS as the industry standard for public charging stations. Most brands, including Hyundai, Nissan, and Audi, have already shifted to NACS as early as 2025. Apart from GM, the likes of Toyota and other automotive brands have stated that NACS integration will begin with cars made in 2026. View the full article

Kia has found success in multiple vehicle segments. From cheap sedans to near-premium midsize SUVs, the company’s brave design choices and diverse powertrain lineup have seen sales surge. So, it’s especially disappointing that the brand’s first pickup, the Tasman, has been unable to achieve the same level of success as other Kias. It marks a rare misstep for the otherwise thriving Korean marque. In the latest sales results out of Australia—where midsize pickups like the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger are immensely popular—the Tasman is falling far short of its sales target. Tasman’s March Sales Were Dismal Kia Kia originally hoped to sell 20,000 Tasman pickups in Australia annually. In March, only 399 Tasmans were sold Down Under, far below the monthly target and most competitors; the HiLux and Ranger moved over 4,000 units each in the same month. Other pickups like the Isuzu D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton were also well ahead of the Tasman. Many observers have pointed to the Tasman’s unorthodox design as a reason for its poor initial sales. However, in December last year, Kia denied suggestions that it would fast-track a redesign of the pickup. Kia Australia CEO, Damien Meredith, says he knows where the company needs to focus to get Tasman sales up. “Lifestyle [sales] we’ve done very, very well and that’s probably been the Kia owner, the one who’s loyal to the product,” said Meredith to Carsales. “What we need to do is improve fleet, we need to improve our [agricultural] performance and we need to improve our provincial performance. Selling cars to people – not farmers – in provincial areas.” Dennis Piccoli, Kia Australia COO, said that cracking the fleet market is tough, as “existing brands that are out there are pretty well entrenched”. What It Means Kia For now, many Australians needing a no-frills, workhorse pickup are still turning to traditional, trusted nameplates. These cheaper pickups prioritize capability, reliability, and value, and it’s this area where the Tasman has so far failed to resonate with buyers. In the U.S., we’ve seen a similar level of loyalty for more established truck brands. Take Ford and Hyundai, for instance. Even though they entered the compact pickup segment at a similar time with the Maverick and Santa Cruz, the Ford has been comprehensively outselling the Hyundai for a while now. Like Hyundai, Kia is relatively new to the pickup space, so this trend potentially spells trouble for Kia’s upcoming body-on-frame midsize pickup. It may struggle to match the Toyota Tacoma on the sales charts, just as the Tasman is battling to compete with established truck rivals. In the pickup segment, no matter how accomplished your product may be, buyers tend to stick with what they know and trust. Earning that respect could take Kia years. View the full article

When you think of hands-free semi-autonomous driving technology, Tesla may be the first automaker that comes to mind, not always for good reasons, but it's not the only one working towards true self-driving. While the likes of BMW and Mercedes are scaling back their efforts in this space, General Motors isn't, and it's getting closer every day while simultaneously working to bring AI to more drivers. This week, GM customers in nearly 750,000 Super Cruise-enabled vehicles have driven 1 billion hands-free miles, or almost 2,100 trips to the moon and back, using the advanced driver aid. The data collected during these trips will be critical in helping the automaker advance on its path towards fully autonomous technology, something it's still determined to achieve despite the challenges associated with making eyes-off self-driving safe and dependable. And GM believes it'll get there sooner than you might think. The Data Behind Super Cruise's Widespread Use Cadillac GM intends to launch eyes-off driving with the all-electric Cadillac Escalade IQ in 2028, but the technology is intended to be available with combustion cars, too, and not only the most expensive ones like the Escalade. As with Super Cruise, which is available even on the entry-level Bolt EV, GM hopes to make self-driving in personal cars a reality, no matter how much you can afford to spend on your car. This is why the data behind today's system is so important, and there's a lot of it. GM says that over the last 12 months, customers used Super Cruise for 7.1 million hours over 28.7 million trips, logging nearly half a billion miles with Super Cruise engaged. That translates to more than a million miles every day, with the average customer spending approximately 24 minutes per trip with their hands off the wheel. But there's still plenty of room to grow. Related: WATCH: Tesla Robotaxi Tells Passenger to Exit Car at 40 MPH Over 50 percent of users activate Super Cruise weekly, and almost 85 percent use it at least once a month, with up to 40 percent of users renewing their subscription. While those figures show room for improvement, that improvement appears to be happening right now, with GM saying Super Cruise-equipped vehicles grew by roughly 70 percent over the last year, and users grew by about 80 percent. GM expects to exceed 850,000 users before the end of 2026, and in March, it began testing its next-generation automated tech, which will roll out to over 200 development vehicles. With safety as a priority, these vehicles will be supervised with a human test driver ready to take over. Upgraded AI Tech from GM and Google Cadillac Along with its progress towards self-driving, GM today announced that it will be upgrading its voice assistance tech with Google Gemini, giving some 4 million vehicles AI aids through an over-the-air software update. This won't just be for new cars, with GM saying the update will be applied to models from as early as 2022. The automaker also announced "a more deeply integrated AI experience shaped by OnStar intelligence" later in 2026. We should get more details before long, but the key takeaways from GM's announcement today are that Super Cruise usage has more than doubled year-on-year, and along with better integration of AI, General Motors is showing that it can compete with tech companies like Tesla on a bigger scale than ever. This competition will help lead to advances for all automakers, hopefully with safer, more efficient roads as the ultimate byproduct. Or are flying cars the answer? Ron DeSantis thinks so. View the full article

The three-row midsize crossover is the ideal vehicle for many American families. Some models are capable of seating up to eight occupants, you get better towing abilities than in a minivan, and there are a wide range of models to choose from. The Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, and Mazda CX-90 are three of the most trusted options in this category, but which one should you trust the most to keep your family safe? We’ve turned to the latest safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to find out. These ratings are based on 2026 models. Related: Honda CR-V Vs. Nissan Rogue Vs. Hyundai Tucson: Which SUV Is The Safest? Crashworthiness: Mazda ShinesThe IIHS evaluates the crash integrity of all vehicles in three major tests: Small Overlap Front (a collision involving the front corner of a vehicle)Moderate Overlap Front (an offset crash between two vehicles)Side (side-impact test)In each category, a vehicle receives a rating of Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor. These can make or break a vehicle’s ability to attain a coveted Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. Here’s how the three Japanese crossovers performed. Toyota Highlander Honda Pilot Mazda CX-90 Small Overlap Front Good Good Good Moderate Overlap Front Marginal Acceptable Good Side Good Good Good The Toyota and Honda struggled to varying degrees in the safety authority’s latest moderate overlap front test, automatically ruling them out of a safety award. The Highlander was especially disappointing, with the rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics achieving only a Marginal score. There was also an increase in head and neck injuries for rear passengers in this test. The Pilot was a bit better, but still stopped short of a Good rating. The Mazda was the only one of the three to achieve perfect ratings in all three tests. It’s also alone in qualifying for the top IIHS accolade, the Top Safety Pick+ award. This adds to Mazda’s growing reputation as having one of the safest car lineups on the market right now. Related: Mazda Just Took Volvo’s Safety Crown, Says Consumer Reports Crash Prevention: No Red Flags For Any Model 2025 Mazda CX-90 Mazda View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article A modern vehicle must also help the driver avoid a collision from occurring in the first place. Here, the IIHS tests the headlights, as well as the ability to avoid a crash between another vehicle and a pedestrian. Toyota Highlander Honda Pilot Mazda CX-90 Headlights Acceptable/Good (depends on trim) Good Acceptable/Good (depends on trim) Crash Prevention (vehicle-to-vehicle) Not Tested Not Tested Acceptable Crash Prevention (pedestrian) Good Good Good In these three tests, every SUV earned a Good rating for pedestrian crash prevention. Only the Mazda was tested for vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention, where it managed to avoid a collision at most speeds; at higher speeds, the Mazda could only reduce its speed but was unable to avoid a collision entirely. The Honda is the only one with Good-rated headlights, regardless of the trim. If it earns a Good rating in vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention, it will be the best of the three in this category. Related: Toyota Corolla Vs. Mazda 3 Vs. Honda Civic: Which Is Safest? Final Verdict: Mazda Bests Its Rivals Mazda While some crash-prevention results are still unknown, Mazda currently ranks as the safest of these three crossovers. It has the best crash protection in the moderate front overlap test and is the only vehicle to qualify for a Top Safety Pick+ award. Crash prevention between the three vehicles is more even, based on the tests that have been conducted so far. The Toyota and Honda are still safe SUVs, but crash-safety tests have steadily become tougher, so the older designs of these two models have been shown up in the moderate front overlap tests. View the full article

Formula 1 was on a small hiatus over the last few weeks, and it seems that Mercedes-AMG F1's Kimi Antonelli took the chance to go race dirt bikes at Valentino Rossi's off-road ranch. View the full article

EV Ambitions RecalibratedAlfa Romeo was one of the brands that once vowed to go all-electric this decade, but had to pump the brakes due to shifting market conditions. Now, the Italian marque is instead adopting a multi-powertrain approach, telling Autocar that the “world is not ready everywhere” for electric vehicles. That is because not every market has the same level of EV adoption. EVs may work in some parts of the world, while hybrids may be a better fit elsewhere. Alfa Romeo is sticking with its two long-running nameplates, the Giulia and Stelvio, which will reportedly be underpinned by Stellantis’ STLA Large platform and could be offered with combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric powertrains. “We need to find a way to satisfy the needs of our customers. What does this mean? It means BEV, and it means all the other kinds of endothermic [powertrains], so ICE, PHEV, BEV. So that's the direction,” Alfa Romeo CEO Santo Ficili said. Alfa Romeo Flexibility Pays OffSuch a strategy has worked in favor of brands that took a more gradual approach, with Toyota making a strong case. Stellantis, meanwhile, reportedly took a $26 billion hit after overestimating EV demand. Now, the automaker is recalibrating its strategy around real-world demand, echoing Ficili’s remarks. While the STLA Large platform is designed primarily for EVs, it can accommodate other powertrain types. Both the upcoming Giulia and Stelvio are expected to use a turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a mild-hybrid system to meet emissions standards. For the PHEV versions, reports suggest a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine could be paired with a rear electric motor. Details on the EV options also remain scarce. Alfa Romeo The Powertrain Mix ExpandsIn addition, the models’ high-performance Quadrifoglio variants are expected to be offered with combustion and fully electric powertrains, with reports suggesting outputs of up to 1,000 horsepower from a tri-motor setup, though nothing has been confirmed. This could be welcome news for enthusiasts, especially since the Giulia Quadrifoglio is seen as a strong alternative to the BMW M3. While waiting for further developments, observers can turn to the Dodge Charger for early indicators, as it uses the same platform that will underpin the new Giulia and Stelvio. Both models are expected to be released in 2028. Alfa Romeo View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

If you have a Rex110 or a Sierra110 youth ATV in any color in your home, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has declared them unsafe.View the full article