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Once again, Pres. Donald Trump is revising his tariff playbook, this time announcing he will increase tariffs on European auto imports to 25%, up from the 15% figure set in a trade deal the U.S. and EU reached last year. The move comes at a perilous time considering the economic challenges already posed by Trump’s war with Iran. And it could cost European automakers and suppliers hundreds of millions of dollars in additional tariffs each month, based on forecasts previously made by EU officials. The president accused the Europeans of “not complying” with terms of last year’s trade agreement. But EU officials previously said they expected the U.S. “to honor its commitments.” Volkswagen The Trade War Heats Up AgainAs far back as his first term in office, from January 2017 to January 2021, Trump frequently threatened to take steps to increase duties on, and even ban, European auto imports. He finally acted shortly after taking office for a second term last year. Last July, Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reached terms on a broad deal setting tariffs at 15% on most imports from the EU, including automobiles. But the so-called Turnberry Agreement – named after a Trump golf course in Scotland – has since come under review. Now, he said in a Truth Social post. "Based on the fact the European Union is not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal, next week I will be increasing Tariffs charged to the European Union for Cars and Trucks coming into the United States. The tariff,” he added, will be increased to 25%.” Kristen Brown A Big Hit to European BrandsThe impact of the planned tariff hike could be substantial, especially for German and British luxury brands. Tariffs are based on what are, effectively, wholesale prices. But that could still add up to several thousand dollars on a model like the Golf GTI, which starts at $34,590 before delivery fees. The increase could push into the tens of thousands of dollars on high-line models, like the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class which starts at $185,000. Last September, EU officials estimated that the 15% figure set in the trade deal with the U.S. would save its manufacturers from 500 million to 600 million euros, or $585 million to $700 million, a month compared to the 27.5% tariff the White House originally set. That offers a sense of how much costs go up under Trump’s latest shift. European automakers like Mercedes, VW, BMW and Volvo do produce a number of vehicles in U.S. plants – but their costs could go up substantially, as well, if the revised tariffs broadly cover auto parts and components, as well as fully assembled vehicles. Most of the American-made models still use thousands of dollars of everything from anti-lock brake systems to powertrains supplied from the EU. Alicia Windzio/picture alliance via Getty Images A Deal is a DealThe European Union is America’s largest trade partner, accounting for a bilateral 1.7 trillion euros, or $2 trillion, in goods and services in 2024, according to European statistics organization Eurostat. EU Pres. Von der Leyden welcomed the deal after it was approved last year, but the European Commission spoke out after the U.S. Supreme Court subsequently weighed in, ruling Trump “lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency and charge tariffs on EU goods,” according to the AP. “A deal is a deal,” the European Commission responded in February 2026. In that statement, the commission said it “stands by its commitments (and) expects the U.S. to honor its commitments set out in the Joint Statement. In his Truth Social post, Trump did not offer any specific examples of where he felt the EU was not complying with last year’s trade deal. View the full article

The year 2020 was a tumultuous one for the world, but for the custom motorcycle scene, it was a year of focused, high-caliber craftsmanship. While the global pandemic slowed the pace of life, it gave builders the solitude they needed to refine their art.In this Flashback Friday special, we count dow... View the full article

A functioning brake light is essential for safe and legal driving because it alerts other drivers when you are slowing down or stopping. If your brake light is out, replace it quickly to avoid traffic tickets and stay visible on the road. Searching for brake repair Houston can help you find professional help if you need an electrical or brake system inspection. Changing a brake light is a simple maintenance task that most car owners can complete with basic tools […] The post How to Change a Brake Light appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers. View the full article

Scrappers Racing team owner Mike Salinas will return to Top Fuel competition later this month when he joins his daughter, Jasmine Salinas, at the IHRA Triple Crown event at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pennsylvania. The father/daughter duo will compete in the same category for the first time in their careers, with both drivers racing under the Valley Services banner. In 2024, just one race into the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, the Scrappers Racing organization announced that Mike would be stepping back to address health issues, and Jasmine would replace him as the pilot of the 12,000-horsepower Scrappers Racing Valley Services machine. Now, depending on how the qualifying sheets shake out, the two Top Fuel drivers may have the opportunity to line up their Todd Okuhara-tuned dragsters side-by-side in eliminations. “I’ve been working to get back in the driver’s seat since I had my surgery,” said the elder Salinas. “But I had to get healthy again. Then work has been so busy, it became my main priority, and I haven’t had the time. The last time I raced, Jasmine was ‘Mike’s daughter in A/Fuel.’ She’s been doing good in Top Fuel, and now I’m coming back as ‘Jasmine’s dad.’ When we do line up together, it will be pretty fun.” Since making her Top Fuel debut at the 2024 NHRA Winternationals, Jasmine has come into her own as a driver and has been managing the day-to-day operations of the race team. This year, the fan-favorite is competing in a hybrid schedule of NHRA and IHRA events in order to maximize seat time on a limited budget as the team continues to seek full-time funding. “I’m excited for my dad to get back into the driver’s seat,” added Jasmine, who raced her way to a runner-up finish at an IHRA event earlier this year in Benson, North Carolina. “He’s been working so hard to make this happen, and there’s been a lot that he’s had to prioritize, both with his health and business. We’re planning to do more races together this year, so I can’t wait to see what it’s like to line up against my dad and have him as a teammate. This has been a dream of ours for years, and I can’t wait to finally make it happen.” The first of the IHRA Triple Crown events will take place at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania, May 22-24. Mike Salinas plans to add more races throughout the year as his schedule allows. The post Mike Salinas to Return to Top Fuel Competition with Daughter Jasmine at IHRA Triple Crown at Maple Grove first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

For the first time as an official series in the NHRA, the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports will compete at South Georgia Motorsports Park, bringing a wealth of talented racers and action to the area as part of this weekend’s NHRA Southern Nationals. This weekend’s event is the fourth of 11 races in the category during the 2026 campaign and this weekend’s race is powered by Dixie Trucking. Scott Tidwell, a racer and team owner in the NHRA Pro Mod ranks, owns Dixie Trucking and he’s thrilled to see the class – and the NHRA national event tour – make its official debut at South Georgia Motorsports Park and the region’s impressive fanbase. “Being the ‘Powered By’ sponsor this weekend in Valdosta is a great opportunity for Dixie Trucking to connect with the racers, teams, businesses and fans who make this sport so special,” Tidwell said. “Pro Mod is built on hard work, trust and strong partnerships, and that is exactly how we run our company. We’re always looking to build new business relationships, grow with the right partners and bring great people onto our team. If you’re looking for a company that values relationships and drives for its people, Dixie Trucking is ready to talk.” It’s the first back-to-back race of the season for the category as NHRA Pro Mod nears the end of the regular season. There’s been a different winner at each of the first three races, with Mike Stavrinos taking the win last weekend in Charlotte. He’ll look to keep rolling against a stellar field as he jumped to second in points behind only Justin Bond, who won in Phoenix. The rest of the loaded field includes past world champions Stevie “Fast” Jackson and Mike Castellana, as well as the likes of Billy Banaka, Gainesville winner Derek Menholt, Alex Laughlin, Mason Wright, Stan Shelton and Chip King. The JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports features two qualifying rounds at 1 and 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday, and the final two qualifying rounds at 11:55 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. The first round of eliminations is slated for 1:05 p.m. on Sunday. The first qualifying session of the day on Friday and Saturday, as well as the first round of eliminations, will be broadcast for free on NHRA’s YouTube page. To purchase tickets to the 2026 NHRA Southern Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information about the NHRA, visit www.nhra.com. This story was originally published on May 1, 2026. The post JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Series Thrilled for SGMP Debut at Race Powered by Dixie Trucking first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Stellantis had a pretty rough year in 2025, posting a $26.3 billion net loss after writing down billions due to a strategic pivot away from aggressive EV targets, product plan restructuring costs, and slowing consumer demand. But there are encouraging signs for 2026, especially in North America. The company’s first-quarter 2026 financial results are in, and Stellantis’ U.S. unit is by far the main growth driver for the entire group. North America Unit Lifts Stellantis' Global Net Revenues and Profit Stellantis The company’s net revenues increased to €38.1 billion ($44.7 billion) worldwide, up 6% versus Q1 2025, supported by improved performance in North America, as well as gains in Enlarged Europe and Middle East & Africa. The company also posted a net profit of €377 million ($443 million), reflecting volume growth and stronger operating performance, according to a Stellantis press release. Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa praised Ram and Jeep in the financial report, as these two brands were the automaker’s main growth drivers in North America, where its sales increased 6% compared to Q1 2025 while consolidated shipments rose 16.6% to 379,000 units. U.S. sales were up 4%, bucking a declining U.S. industry trend which was down 6% in the first quarter of the year, making Stellantis the fastest-growing automaker in the region. The company’s Canada and Mexico sales rose by 15% and 19%, respectively. Ram 1500 Hemi, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Dodge Charger Sixpack Stellantis Stellantis’ U.S. market share rose to 8.1% driven by Ram, which was North America’s fastest-growing brand with U.S. sales increase of approximately 20% year-over-year—the highest since 2023. This was due to strong sales of Ram trucks, especially the 2026 Ram 1500 Hemi; sales of the Ram 1500 line were up 27% in Q1 2026 year-over-year while Ram Heavy Duty sales rose 21%. Jeep was also singled out in the report thanks to increased deliveries of the all-new 2026 Cherokee and refreshed Grand Wagoneer. Stellantis also noted that these models, along with the new gas-powered Dodge Charger Sixpack, are now available in dealer showrooms across the U.S. after their launches in late 2025. "As we initiate quarterly reporting, the first three months of 2026 reflect the early results of our actions to return Stellantis to sustainable, profitable growth,” said CEO Antonio Filosa. “The products we launched in 2025 have been well received and we’re confident that the 10 new vehicles planned for 2026 will build on this momentum.” Customers "Back at the Center of Everything We Do": Stellantis CEO Elisa Marchina/NurPhoto via Getty Images Filosa added that the company’s priority is “to put our customers back at the center of everything we do.” The executive noted that Stellantis will share more on this at its Investor Day on May 21 in Auburn Hills, Michigan, likely hinting at new product announcements. “And looking ahead for 2026, I’m very excited about the upcoming launches of the new Ram SRT TRX, the new Jeep Recon BEV, and our first range-extended, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer REV coming this year,” Filosa said on the Q1 2026 earnings call. He added that Stellantis North America order book remains strong, growing more than 20% year-over-year. Last week, Reuters reported on Stellantis plans to focus on Ram, Jeep, Peugeot, and Fiat going forward. The company will reportedly prioritize these four brands in terms of investments, with Ram and Jeep doing the heavy lifting in North America, while Peugeot and Fiat will do the same in Europe and Latin America. That may result in brands like Chrysler, Dodge, Citroën, Opel, Alfa Romeo and Maserati being relegated to the status of regional players and receiving less attention. Stellantis is expected to shine more light on the plan at the May 21 Investor Day event. View the full article

So, Who's at Fault?Over the past few years, autonomous driving vehicles have somewhat enjoyed a more lax treatment when it comes to following the rules of the road. In California, for example, there was a loophole that allowed autonomous cars to operate freely and without fault. To resolve that, California has just released new regulations that promise to be stricter for autonomous driving vehicles and their owners. So, who's at fault? The manufacturer, apparently. Hyundai New RulesPreviously, officers who would apprehend robotaxis for traffic violations would have to hold the person behind the wheel at the time liable for the violation. If there were no person sitting behind the wheel, there was no law/rule that empowered the officers to issue any ticket despite a violation having been committed. As spotted by Carscoops, a new law, Assembly Bill No. 1777, aims to fix that loophole. Now, the officers who want to go after a robotaxi can issue a notice of non-compliance, which effectively treats the manufacturer as the driver under the law, making it liable for the violation. To ensure proper tracking of violations, the law requires that the company report the citation within 72 hours, and, if the incident involves a collision or is more serious, within 24 hours. California's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can also impose stricter sanctions, such as capping a company's fleet or suspension of its permits, if its vehicles are serious repeat offenders. Getty Images Self-Driving TruckingPart of the new legislation also gives first responders more control over these autonomous driving taxis, following previous incidents in which these cars obstructed fire and rescue operations. Moving forward, the legislation requires cars to respond to commands from first responders during emergencies. One measure is through geofencing, where a command can be sent to direct robotaxis to avoid a certain area while operations are ongoing. Another huge part of the new legislation is that heavy-duty autonomous driving trucks are now allowed on the state's highways. The California DMV lifted the ban on vehicles weighing over 10,001 lbs and on medium-sized trucks weighing 14,001 lbs. However, these trucks must undergo 500,000 miles of testing with a human safety driver before moving to fully driverless operation. Tesla View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Do you have what it takes to win the $10K Drag Shootout? Here's your chance to apply and be a part of the ultimate drag racing show.View the full article

The Sales LeaderYou don't need a rocket scientist to figure out the best-selling model in Porsche's lineup. For over a decade, the Macan has been Stuttgart's moneymaker, and has sat at the top of the company's sales charts since 2015. It has consistently sold over 80,000 units, taking up a good chunk of the company's total sales. Without it, Porsche probably wouldn't even sell 200,000 cars per year. Despite the arrival of the Macan EV, the first-generation model is still serving the brand, even 12 years after production began. In 2025, the millionth unit rolled out, and the nameplate achieved that far quicker than the Cayenne and 911. But now, the time has come for original Macan, as Porsche has a date for its retirement. Porsche So Long, First-Gen MacanAccording to a report from Automotive News, the final first-generation Macan will roll off the assembly line in the summer of 2026. That said, Porsche isn't winding down production; in fact, it will do the opposite. Sales are still strong for the gas-fed Macan, and the Porsche CFO Jochen Breckner has said "we produce as much as we can" in the final month. Breckner didn't specify an exact number of first-gen Macans to be built before production ends. However, the executive said that there might be challenges in making as many as possible. "Of course, our capacity is one factor there, but that's not limited. Supplier parts are the other issue," said Breckner. Porsche Filling the GapLast year, Porsche sold 84,328 Macans, but that's not the entire story. According to the company's own figures, over half of those were the EV model with 45,367 units. It's a good sign for the electric Macan, but the company risks losing a chunk of those once the supply of first-generation models dries up. The question now is whether Porsche can build enough of the gas-powered Macans to minimize that potential sales loss. Of course, there will be a second-generation ICE/hybrid Macan, but that's not due until 2028. It will be based on the current Audi Q5 and utilize Ingolstadt's Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture. There's expected to be more parts commonality between the two models in a bid to cut down costs and speed up development. Breckner did say it's the U.S. market that has the highest demand for fuel-fed Macans, so a good chunk will be headed stateside. He also added that sales of the first-gen Macan might spill over into 2027, which actually might be good news for those who can't wait for the 2028 model. SH Proshots/Autoblog View the full article

Not Your Usual Amphibious ExperimentAmphibious vehicles have been around for a while, but most of them feel more like engineering projects than practical daily drivers. Not the modern ones, though. We’ve already seen BYD’s Yangwang U8 wade through surprisingly deep water, proving that a fully electric platform can be sealed and protected well enough to survive the elements. Another Chinese marque, Jetour (a brand under Chery Automobile), is now entering this space with the G700 Ark Edition, but with a different approach. Instead of going fully electric, the G700 keeps a traditional combustion engine as a range extender. Even so, it’s been shown to do more than just wade through water – it can supposedly move across the surface when the wheels are no longer touching the ground. Jetour How It Floats Without Falling ApartThe G700 Ark Edition uses a system that alters how the SUV operates in deep water. Rather than depending on the wheels for movement, the powertrain disconnects from the wheels and sends power to a separate fording setup. The Ark Edition comes with extra features to enable the vehicle to move through water: electric propellers. There’s also a gyroscopic stability system to keep the SUV balanced and heading where you want it to go. In effect, the G700 transforms from a car into a more controlled watercraft when afloat. To make this work, Jetour uses reinforced sealing throughout the G700. Key components are rated at IP68 for waterproofing, and the engine has its own protection against water entry. An integrated buoyancy and navigation system manages how the SUV floats and moves, so it doesn’t just drift aimlessly like most vehicles would in deep water. Jetour describes this as passive wading – where you simply hope not to stall – as opposed to active fording, where the SUV can keep its direction even when it’s fully floating. Of note, we’re still waiting for actual footage of the G700 Ark Edition, showing the claimed public fording test. We also don’t know for how long the G700 can “swim” through water when fully charged. What we have for now are images and not-so-technical information from the press release. Jetour A Gimmick, or Something More Useful?Most drivers won’t need amphibious capability every day, but Jetour sees it as an extra level of safety for extreme situations. The focus isn’t on turning SUVs into boats, but on helping drivers navigate flooded roads, river crossings, or remote areas where getting stuck could become a real problem. Beyond the amphibious system, the G700 is built as a capable off-roader. It uses a body-on-frame chassis, has triple differential locks, and reportedly makes up to 892 horsepower. Features like tank turn, crab-walk modes, and a 38.2-inch water wading capacity show that Jetour wants the G700 to stand up to established off-roaders, even without the amphibious features. Whether this technology becomes common or stays a niche feature will depend on how well it works in real-world use and how easy it is to own. If Jetour can deliver on both, it could set the G700 apart. Not in the US, though, as Chinese vehicles are still not eligible for a green card. Well, at least for now. Jetour View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

The Green family is ready for some nitro at the Southern Nationals. The father and son duo both have their eyes on the Funny Car Wally.View the full article

Adding to the ongoing recall crisis of 2026, Volkswagen Group of America has issued a formal safety recall for 7,425 of its popular 2025 Audi Q5 and SQ5 crossovers. When a high-volume seller like the Q5 is involved, even a small defect percentage demands immediate attention, and this particular issue centers on a critical safety component: the front seat belt assemblies. What's WrongAccording to the defect report recently filed with the NHTSA (26V266), the seat-belt pretensioners for both the driver and front passenger seats may fail to maintain proper tension during an accident. The components, sourced from tier-one supplier Safety Autoparts Mexico, suffer from a manufacturing variance that allows for "gas blow by" at the sealing piston upon activation. In practice, if you are involved in a crash, the pretensioner's locking mechanism may suffer a thermally induced failure. This means the seat belt could allow excessive slack rather than locking - "tensioning" - the occupant firmly against the seat, substantially increasing the risk of injury when you need restraint the most. Audi The InvestigationAudi first caught wind of the irregularity during routine testing back in November 2025. What followed was a rigorous, months-long investigation involving extensive testing to isolate the root cause. Fortunately, Audi's proactive internal monitoring caught the issue before the public did; the automaker reports that there are currently no known crashes, injuries, or warranty claims associated with this defect in the wild. The supplier officially implemented a new, alternative ball-lock design on February 24, 2026, to correct the issue on the assembly line. The recall population specifically targets vehicles produced between July 10 and December 14, 2025. The breakdown of affected models is as follows: 2025 Audi Q5: 5,344 units2025 Audi Q5 Sportback: 769 units2025 Audi SQ5: 1,041 units2025 Audi SQ5 Sportback: 271 units Audi What To Do About ItTo remedy the situation, Audi dealers will replace one or both front seat belt assemblies entirely free of charge. Because all affected vehicles remain well within their New Vehicle Limited Warranty, no reimbursement program for prior out-of-pocket repairs is necessary. Dealer notifications are officially rolling out on May 1, 2026. Owners of the affected luxury crossovers can expect to receive their formal notification letters via mail on or before June 23, 2026. As always, owners can proactively check their VIN against the NHTSA database to confirm if their daily driver requires a trip to the service bay. View the full article

John Deere just offered $99 million and amendments to its repair policy to settle a right-to-repair lawsuit, but won't admit any wrongdoing, possibly due to a secondary ongoing lawsuit.View the full article

TSR is showing off new paint at the Southern Nationals. Here's a look at how the team is preparing for this new event at SGMP. View the full article

A lot of people adore the adorable Suzuki Samurai for its pint-sized off-road prowess. But what if you stick a different Suzuki engine into it? What happens when you stick a Suzuki Hayabusa engine into a Samurai?View the full article

As the NHRA celebrates its 75th anniversary this season, fans can expect to see plenty of familiar and even nostalgic elements – the return of legends, the celebration of the people and moments that made NHRA history, and even official uniforms that harken back to the “glory days” of the sport. But the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour will also see some new scenery as an unprecedented four new venues join the national event tour. It’s the first time a new track has joined the lineup since the inaugural New England Nationals at Epping, New Hampshire’s New England Dragway in 2013. And excluding the formative years of the NHRA professional series, it’s the first time four new venues join the tour in one season. Two of these new tracks are owned and operated by longtime track operators with extensive experience outside of hosting NHRA national events, while the other two are led by comparatively green owners. In the days leading into the 2026 season, Drag Illustrated spoke with these new NHRA national event track owners to get their perspectives on all the things that come with hosting an NHRA national event for the first time. Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from a roundtable interview that originally appeared in DI #199, the Interview Issue, in March/April 2026. Stay tuned for interviews from Maryland International Raceway’s Royce Miller, U.S. 131 Motorsports Park’s Jason Peterson, and Rockingham Dragway’s Dan VanHorn. Raul Torres is the first of these four owners on the schedule, as his South Georgia Motorsports Park will host the NHRA Southern Nationals May 1-3. Located in Adel, Georgia, SGMP isn’t new to NHRA sanctioning and was actually slated to hold the now-scrapped Peach State NHRA Showcase of Speed event last fall. Torres and wife Jennifer purchased the facility from Ozzy and Maria Moya in 2023. SGMP is known primarily as the home of Donald Long’s iconic radial races, Lights Out in February and No Mercy in October. A Division 2 double divisional at SGMP was also scheduled for early April. How long has hosting an NHRA national event been on your wish list? Raul Torres: From the very get-go. I set my goals and my expectations very high in anything I’ve ever done. Just getting three quarters of the way into some of our goals would be extremely successful. But this one was like the epitome of all my goals. I think we host one of, if not the, most successful and popular small-tire radial series in the country with the Radial Outlaws and No Mercy and Lights Out. We have a huge race in the no-time world with Michael Hill’s Year End Finale. So I wanted two big races, which is a no-prep race, which I’m still working on, and an NHRA national event. With the NHRA national event being the biggest race in the country, that was my ultimate goal. To think we’re shy of three years of ownership and achieving that goal within those three years, I would’ve never believed that were the case back in March of 2023 when we were in conversations with Ozzy and Maria about buying the property and the business. What are the opportunities that come with hosting one? What are the challenges? RT: The challenges are the infrastructure of the property. It’s 22 years old. Their goal may or may not have been a national event when it was built. There are things that I would do differently as far as the ingress and egress of the property. The tower and the lack of buildings are our other biggest challenges. It’s a bare-bones facility right now, so we’ve had to make numerous improvements in order to host a national event. The opportunities are endless. Once you get a national event, that opens the doors to these national accounts and bigger companies because we would get a lot of exposure, and in turn, they would get a lot of exposure. Just being on national television for four hours in May, that in itself is a huge value to the property and the name. That is a big opportunity. The government, both local and state, have started to work with us, and it’s been a challenge at times to reach out to some of these elected officials and get them to work with us. We were bringing good revenue to the local economy, but now the whole state is benefiting from it. Now North Florida’s benefiting from it because people are flying into Tallahassee and they’re flying into Jacksonville. Now we can reach out to our neighboring state and they’d be willing to work with us because we’re bringing local economic benefits to them as well. What have you done already to prepare and what’s left to do? RT: There’s been five major improvement projects. Our biggest task at hand was raising the wall 6,600 feet. We had to raise it 10 to 12 inches of height for the Top Fuel and Funny Cars. That in itself was a couple months’ worth of work and it’s very expensive. With material costs going through the roof everywhere you turn, whether it’s aluminum or concrete or metal, everything’s not what it was 10-15 years ago. It’s building the mold, pouring concrete day after day after day, and it’s an outdoor project, so you have the weather and the cold to work with. Aside from that, we had to move the scoreboards away from the race surface. Our scoreboards on both sides were up against the wall. Well, they needed moved at least 25 feet, and it’s just not picking up a sign and moving it over. We’ve got the entire timing system that’s connected to those scoreboards. With Compulink and these computer systems, they’re just microscopic wires. They’re little telephone wires basically, and there’s dozens of them for every last connection. We’re on eggshells for four weeks while these scoreboards were disconnected, moved over 25 feet, and reconnected. Fortunately, that was one of the first tasks we took on, and we’re back up and running, and we’ve had real flawless events knowing that our timing system is 100 percent. Our first turnoff was an opening in the wall for racers that run eighth mile. Considering these nitro guys go 300-plus mph, NHRA requires that it’s a complete wall all the way down to the finish line, which is 4,400 feet of concrete wall. We had to put a metal gate where it’s available for first responders to come out into an accident scene, but it’s closed while we’re racing and there isn’t an angle where a car could impact it head-on. We had to bring in over 2,000 new bleachers, which we’re completing here in the next month or so. That’s our final phase, and then we had to redo our top end containment. We’re adding walls to the side of our sand traps and then putting tires in a top end containment on the top end after the walls at our sand traps. What do you hope this event accomplishes for your track, your fans, racers, community? RT: Aside from the economic impact that makes a huge difference to our local economy in Adel, Cecil, and Valdosta, we’ve sold just in Lowndes County alone over 750 rooms. The fact that we’re able to give back to our community by bringing these guests in from all over the world, but then also bring this type of excitement to our local fan base and bring this type of race to their backyard, you can’t put a dollar amount on it. It’s extremely gratifying to hear the conversations or hear our fans calling me on a daily basis asking for tickets and their excitement about their race coming. Just the joy that we’re able to bring to these families that have never been able to go to either Gainesville or Atlanta when it held the Southern Nationals, that in itself is the biggest benefit I take from all this – bringing so much joy to our local fan base and racers here at South Georgia. This story was originally published on May 1, 2026. The post SGMP’s Raul Torres Talks Preparation Ahead of NHRA Southern Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

This is Not Your Typical Affordable Chinese CarFor years, coverage around Chinese automakers has centered on value. Brands built momentum by undercutting legacy players with aggressive pricing and solid tech. That narrative is now being challenged at the very top end. According to a report from CarNewsChina, BYD has sold its most expensive production vehicle ever at the Beijing Auto Show 2026. The Yangwang U9 Xtreme commanded a staggering $2.76 million per unit. The U9 Xtreme is a limited production model capped at 30 units globally. At least one unit was handed over on site by BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu, signaling confidence in both product and buyer demand. The transaction stands as the highest recorded at the event. It marks a decisive pivot from mass-market dominance to ultra-high-end ambition. The Yangwang U9 Is One of the Wildest Hypercars Ever BuiltThe U9 Xtreme backs up its price with serious hardware. It produces over 3,000 horsepower and runs on a 1200V architecture. It features BYD’s DiSus-X fully active suspension system, which allows the car to actively control body movement in real time. Reinforced carbon ceramic brakes handle the stopping duties. The package is engineered for extreme performance rather than grand touring comfort. On track, the numbers are just as aggressive. The U9 Xtreme recorded a 6:59.157 lap time at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. That places it at the top of the production EV leaderboard. It has also set records across major Chinese circuits including Zhuzhou and Shanghai. Combined with prior reports of extreme top speed capability, the car is positioned as one of the fastest electric machines ever built. That Was QuickThe pricing alone forces a rethink of what Chinese automakers represent. For decades, Japanese and Korean brands followed a path from budget offerings to premium credibility. Chinese brands appear to be compressing that timeline dramatically. Vehicles like the U9 Xtreme show that engineering depth and brand ambition are now aligned at the highest level. There is also growing global curiosity. Enthusiasts have already explored ways to import the U9 Xtreme into markets like the United States. That said, regulatory and geopolitical barriers remain significant. Until those conditions shift, this hypercar will remain a rare sight outside select regions. For now, it stands as a statement piece that China is no longer just competing on price. It is competing at the very top. BYD View the full article

Bushwakka's new and updated rooftop tents are the stuff we dream of adding to our side-by-sides. One even has a skylight for dark-sky perfection. If only they'd come to the United States. View the full article

New Drip of DetailsThe Mitsubishi Pajero is one of those SUVs that keeps pulling us back in. Official news is scarce, but every so often, a fresh batch of updates drops all at once. Some weeks, there’s nothing. Then suddenly, we get a few new pieces to the puzzle, like leaks and sightings, among others. The latest info comes from Japan, courtesy ofBest Car, so it’s smart to stay a bit skeptical. Even so, it matches what Mitsubishi has been hinting at. The new Pajero is expected to launch with three grades, ranging from basic and rugged to something more upscale. That’s a clear sign Mitsubishi wants the Pajero to be more than just a nostalgia play. The automaker’s aiming to make it fit a wide range of buyers right from the start. MitsubishiMotorsTV/YouTube Three Grades, Wider MarketIf the report holds true, the entry-level Pajero should stick to what the nameplate stands for, such as unpainted bumpers, rugged trim, and a focus on durability rather than posh. Meanwhile, the higher trims should offer body-colored bumpers and a more refined overall vibe. It’s a small difference, but it draws a clear line between buyers who want a rugged toy and those who want something a bit more luxurious. This lines up with earlier talk that Mitsubishi has been benchmarking the Pajero against the Toyota Land Cruiser. That’s a big target, and offering several trims helps close the gap. There’s also been some hints from Mitsubishi’s leadership about keeping features like manual transmissions on the table, but it’s still anyone’s guess if those will make it to showrooms. A Bit of CautionAs for the timing, we can safely say that the wait is almost over. Most reports now point to a debut sometime this year, with Mitsubishi confirming that a “cross-country SUV” will be released by the end of the year. However, it’s still safe to be cautious with expectations at this point. No detail is official just yet, and the source’s track record is unfortunately hit-or-miss. Mitsubishi’s goal is clear, though, but details like trim levels and features could change before the Pajero actually arrives. We’re expecting to get our hands on one before the official launch, so keep us in your tabs. From our perspective, launching the Pajero with three distinct versions makes total sense. The name still means something, and giving it a range of personalities, especially that off-road-ready version, should help it stand out in a packed SUV field. The real question is how bold Mitsubishi will go, especially with global heavyweights like the Toyota Land Cruiser in the mix. Mitsubishi View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

More than $2 Billion in Refunds Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis will receive a tariff refund. Auto News reports that import tariff refunds for American automakers total around $2.3 billion. With this, we can expect these brands to have a bit more breathing room and a better financial outlook, given the current global landscape. The tariffs were deemed unconstitutional in February of this year, but the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Government is set to return its collected tariffs to affected companies across the board, with the U.S. auto industry alone expected to receive up to $20 billion. In total, the U.S. Government is set to refund up to $170 Billion for the entire country. In a previous story, sources have stated that Trump Tariffs cost auto makers up to $35 billion since 2025. Ford Compounded Problems One of the biggest repayments in U.S. history is currently in the process of being reversed. Car brands that are in the U.S., such as Volkswagen, Hyundai, Kia, and more, have suffered losses due to this. Pair the tariffs with the rise in energy prices across the board, and profits tend to disappear overnight. Thankfully, the refund will alleviate some of the troubles associated with rising prices and inflation. The Ford Motor Company is set to receive $1.3 billion in refunds from the U.S. Government, while General Motors and Stellantis are expected to receive about $500 million each. It's not just a direct transfer, however. The Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) tool will be used by the U.S. Government to facilitate the refund process. Even with this tool in play, the refunds could be "get litigated for the next two years," as President Donald Trump stated after the tariffs were deemed "unconstitutional." Bill Pugliano/Getty Images Good News For Detroit General Motors has already raised its profit outlook for the year because of this development,Automotive News reported. Thanks to this, the company has potential upside in the near future. Meanwhile, Stellantis hasn't yet adjusted this year's financial forecasts, or possibly won't, citing that increased costs offset the tariff refund. Meanwhile, Ford and General Motors went on record stating that they don't know when the refunds will arrive. Perhaps within the next two years, maybe? The refund will cover payments made for importing parts that are not covered by the automotive tariff. There are other things, such as robotics and other manufacturing equipment, that the companies imported. According to the source, automakers still expect tariffs to burden their finances in 2026, still. For GM, it projects a burden of $2.5 to $ 3.5 billion; Ford expects $1 billion; and Stellantis expects $1.5 billion. Stellantis View the full article

This carbon-fiber flat track machine, built by Picasso, was created in Switzerland to race in the Flat Track World Championship, but now there's a street-legal model.View the full article

A Shift in Strategy from Volvo LeadershipLast week, I asked Victor Yang, Vice President of Geely Holding Group, whether the company sees an advantage in leveraging its U.S. manufacturing footprint through Volvo Cars and Polestar plants in South Carolina. While he said there are no plans at the moment, the tone from the top is starting to change. In an interview with Business Insider, Håkan Samuelsson of Volvo Cars said the door is open to building Geely-based EVs in the U.S., citing available plant capacity. “We could discuss building cars in the plant, as we have capacity,” he stressed it depends on navigating strict U.S. regulations on Chinese tech. The move comes as Chinese automakers gain ground globally with aggressive pricing and advanced tech, putting increasing pressure on Western brands to stay competitive. Geely U.S. Manufacturing as a Strategic LeverVolvo’s U.S. manufacturing base, particularly its South Carolina facility, has become a critical node in its global supply chain. The plant currently builds models like the EX90 and vehicles for Polestar, serving both domestic and export markets. Utilizing this facility for Geely-developed vehicles could offer a workaround to steep tariffs that exceed 100% on Chinese imports. Geely’s portfolio extends far beyond budget EVs. The company produces hybrids capable of nearly 59 mpg and priced at around $16,000 in China. That kind of value proposition is precisely what the U.S. market lacks today. Still, political resistance remains strong. Ford CEO Jim Farley has openly opposed the entry of Chinese vehicles, citing risks to domestic manufacturing. Meanwhile, proposed legislation could outright ban Chinese cars from U.S. roads. Even if production shifts stateside, regulatory scrutiny over software and supply chains will remain a significant barrier. Jacob Oliva/Autoblog Younger Buyers Are Open to Chinese BrandsConsumer sentiment may ultimately force a shift. A recent study found that 69% of Gen Z buyers are open to purchasing Chinese car brands, largely driven by affordability and perceived value. That is a critical data point as younger buyers begin shaping market demand. It feels less like a question of if and more of when. If Chinese-developed vehicles do arrive via localized production, pricing will be the defining factor. Tariffs, compliance costs, and political friction could erode their biggest advantage. The real test will be whether these cars can stay disruptive once they land on American soil. Geely View the full article

For enthusiasts of heritage performance with modern reliability, this 2017 BMW R nineT Racer—now offered on Bring a Trailer—represents a compelling, low-mileage example of BMW Motorrad’s factory-built café racer vision. Showing just 1,200 miles, the bike captures the spirit of 1970s endurance racing while delivering contemporary engineering precision. BMW conceived the R nineT Racer as a turnkey homage to icons like the BMW R90S, translating classic motorsport aesthetics into a road-ready package. This example is finished in Light White with […] The post FOR SALE: 2017 BMW R nineT Racer appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers. View the full article

Software Is Now the ProductPerformance still counts, but these days, what really sets a car apart is the software running underneath. That’s the thinking behind software-defined vehicles – cars that keep changing and adding features long after you’ve bought them. That’s exactly where Hyundai Motor Group is headed with Pleos Connect. Instead of treating cars as finished products, they’re building a platform that lets vehicles keep getting better over time. Pleos Connect rolls out first in the Hyundai Grandeur in Korea, then heads to models like the Ioniq 3 in Europe. After that, expect it to show up in more and more Hyundai vehicles. By 2030, Hyundai wants Pleos Connect in about 20 million vehicles – yes, including Kia and Genesis. It’s set to become the digital backbone for the whole group. Hyundai A New Take on the In-Car ExperienceAt first glance, Pleos Connect seems like just another infotainment system. But it’s really about making all the new tech in cars easier to use. The setup uses two main screens: a big central display split into sections for driving info, apps, and shortcuts, plus a slimmer screen right in front of the driver for immediate basic information. Thankfully, Hyundai didn’t ditch physical controls as promised. You still get real buttons on the steering wheel and under the main screen. The interface feels familiar if you use a smartphone. You get split screens and floating info cards, and you can arrange apps however you like. Navigation isn’t stuck in one view, either – you can run it next to your music or other apps, with things like ETA popping up where you need them. Behind the scenes, Pleos Connect is set up for regular updates. Features, services, and even performance can all get better over time – so your car doesn’t feel outdated after a few years. Hyundai What is Gleo AI?The big leap is the AI layer, called Gleo AI. It’s more than just a voice assistant as it can actually understand what you’re asking, not just follow basic commands – a common feature among modern cars. You don’t have to memorize exact phrases. Gleo AI can understand what you mean, whether you ask for a nearby restaurant or for directions. It handles more than one request at a time and can handle things like climate and navigation without you having to spell them out. There’s also an app store built in, so you can add things like streaming or web browsing. Hyundai plans to keep adding more apps – entertainment, games, and tools for the car itself – so your vehicle becomes just another part of your digital world. Hyundai View the 5 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

A 1965 MV Agusta 500 GP with ties to Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini just crossed the block at Bonhams for serious money. View the full article