StreetNewsReporter

I’ve heard about this trick a few times, but have never actually tried to form my own molded rubber hose using it. But this guy seems to suggest it is not only possible, but very very effective. So I’m going to watch it now. How about you? Are you going to watch it nd see if this is a technique that you can use for your own projects? Video Description: How to bend rubber hoses using boiling water and ice water for your project car! If you’re having trouble finding old discontinued parts like coolant hose, transmission cooler hose, power steering hose, or any other kind of hose, you can bend your own hoses at home using this easy and cheap trick! Just get yourself a spring tube bender, boiling water, and some ice water, and you can form any hose to any shape you want. Easy! The post EASILY Bend Rubber Hoses Without Kinking Them! Does The Hot Water Trick Actually Work Or Not? appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Gone is the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 previously found in the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. In fact, gone is everything you might have previously associated with the fast, sleek, sloping sedan, as the AMG GT 4-Door is now an EV with a monstrous 1,153 horsepower (during launch control) and 1,475 lb-ft of torque from a Formula One-derived 800-volt battery featuring directly cooled cylindrical cells that promise repeatable and sustained power delivery. The platform also allows for 600+ kW charging, enabling a recharge from 10-80 percent in as little as 11 minutes. Once full, the battery will deliver roughly 460 kilometers/285 miles of range, though that estimate is on the WLTP cycle, which is more forgiving than the EPA's tests here in the U.S. As the styling suggests, this is the production version of the AMG GT XX concept, and plenty of next-gen tech has made its way to the real world. Let's take a closer look. AMG.EA Architecture Makes for One Impressive EV Mercedes-AMG The AMG.EA platform under this new AMG GT 63 4-Door features a trio of axial flux motors (two on the rear axle and one on the front), making this the first series production EV with the advanced motors. They spin at over 13,000 rpm and top speed, and the result is 0-60 mph in 2.0 seconds flat and 0-124 mph in 6.4 seconds. These figures will be slightly worse with the AMG GT 55 4-Door Coupe, which has "only" 805 hp. Opt for the AMG Performance Package, and the top speed is limited to 186 mph, or only 11 mph less than its combustion-powered predecessor. And if you still miss the sound of a V8, the AMGFORCE Sport+ drive program may have a weird name, but Mercedes says it "delivers a highly authentic, signature AMG V8 sound" derived from the C 190 AMG GT R. The mode also provides "an immersive haptic experience" by interrupting progress with simulated gear changes, much like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, and the setting provides a unique driver display. Launch Control, Boost, and Showtime modes feature sounds inspired by the AMG ONE hypercar, too. Mercedes-AMG Active aero is a similarly big part of the new EV, with optional active AEROKINETICS venturi flow elements for the underbody and an active AEROKINETICS rear diffuser also available, deploying at speeds of 75 and 87 mph, respectively. The car is also 1.6 inches lower than its gas forebear, despite having a battery in the floor. With the GT 55, AMG RIDE CONTROL+ air suspension is standard with triple-adjustable air springs, while the GT 63 gets access to ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL, which adds active roll stabilization that should work no matter how hard you push the car, thanks to an 8.2-liter pressure reservoir. Whichever system you have, the car hunkers down at speed, and multi-link suspension appears at each end of the car, with everything at the front but the tie rod made of forged aluminum, and everything but the rear aluminum spring links made of steel. Speaking of the rear end, rear-axle steering also features to increase low-speed agility and high-speed stability. When it's time to come to a stop, carbon-ceramic brake discs up front work with steel brakes on the rear, and of course, there's brake energy recuperation, too. AMG GT 4-Doo Looks Wild Inside and Out Mercedes-AMG Illumination is all the rage for automakers trying to stand out at night, and the AMG GT 4-Door's vertical slats can be lit up. An illuminated Mercedes star and the star-shaped daytime running lights reinforce the brand identity further, which is probably necessary on something that looks this different than other AMGs. To be fair, the front of the car with its splitter and gaping grille looks fairly similar to the AMG GT Coupe (the real coupe, with two doors), and the shape of the body is arguably normal, even with flush door handles, but at the rear, the concept-inspired design is totally new. Three circular taillights sit on each side of the rear fascia, which features a grille-like set of strakes across it, and this black element is framed by more (optional) LEDs swooping around in a semi-circular shape beneath the retractable rear spoiler, which deploys above 50 mph at different angles depending on whether the car is chasing stability or speed. Lower down, the sculptural diffuser panel has elements that look almost like square AMG exhaust tips, and buyers can choose from 20-/21-inch forged wheels, including a 21-inch design that increases WLTP range by up to 14 km/8.7 miles. There's also a panoramic roof that can be fitted with SKY CONTROL illuminations. Related: Mercedes-AMG GT XX Breaks Multiple EV Distance Records With 3,405 Miles in 24 Hours AMG GT 4-Door Drive Programs: Comfort: Gentle throttle response, regular ride heightSport: Permanent all-wheel drive, lower ride height, firmer suspensionAMGFORCE Sport+: AMG V8 sounds, simulated gear changesRACE: Access to Drift Mode, Drag Race, or Track Race settingsSlippery: Understeer-oriented handling, low steering effort, gentle accelerator response, normal ride heightEco: Maximum efficiency, rear-wheel drive, lower performance and top speed, lower ride height, certain features deactivated to save energyIndividual: Customizable to the driver's preferences, with settings for sound, throttle response, suspension setup, ride height, rear spoiler position, and electronic stability programInside, the driver gets a 10.2-inch display connected to a 14-inch infotainment display, which is angled toward the driver. On the other side of the GT 4-Door cabin, another 14-inch display appears for the front passenger, and this is standard. Typical Mercedes round climate control vents with a turbine design also appear on the dash, glowing in sync with the ambient lighting system, while the center console adds physical rotary controls in a similar design. The front seats are also new, with optional AMG Performance seats featuring openings in the backrest, much like BMW's M Carbon seats. We should also talk about the steering wheel, which can be finished in leather, carbon fiber, or microfiber suede. This has paddles for control energy recuperation under deceleration, as well as two AMG DRIVE UNIT buttons for adjusting various vehicle settings. As a so-called coupe, the rear-seat experience is less lush, but as a dedicated four-seater, it's not bad. Sure, you can spec a three-passenger rear seat, but making the most of the legroom recesses in the floor would be tougher. Either way, the backrests can fold down. Mercedes-AMG Mercedes has not yet revealed pricing, but the AMG GT 55 arrives in U.S. dealerships later in 2026, and the GT 63 will launch in early 2027. Both will have native NACS ports to make charging easier, and both will surely be pricy, but will they be successful? Is the typical AMG GT 4-Door customer attached to a V8, or will the EV experience be an exciting new way of going fast in something that looks unique? Time will tell, but Mercedes can make the car better if responses aren't warm, with AMG saying up to 1,300 hp is possible, and potentially over 700 km/435 miles of WLTP range. Mercedes-AMG View the full article

The Mid-West Drag Racing Series is collapsing two of its 2026 Flying H Drag Strip dates into a single weekend, turning what had been the June and October Smack Down stops into a four-day double-header September 24-27 – two complete, separately scored races run back-to-back with their own purses, their own qualifying, and their own eliminations. Series founder Keith Haney announced the move alongside Flying H Drag Strip owner Scott Higgs, citing a stack of scheduling and economic pressure points that made consolidating the dates the right play. The FIFA World Cup, competing series stepping on MWDRS race dates, and a regional hotel market running north of $300 a night – when rooms can be found at all – all factored in. “We looked hard at what racers are actually spending to make one of these weekends, and the math doesn’t look the way it used to,” says Haney. “Fuel is up, hotels are up, food is up, payroll is up. Instead of asking our people to make two separate trips and pay two separate sets of bills, we’re giving them two complete races in one trip. More racing, more purse, one hotel bill.” The format was Higgs’s idea. “Scott laid it out and it made too much sense to ignore,” says Haney. “He knows what our racers are dealing with. He knows what this track can deliver. We figured if we’re going to do it, let’s do it big, and that’s exactly what this weekend is.” The format runs Thursday through Sunday. Race 1 qualifies Thursday and runs eliminations Friday. Race 2 qualifies Saturday and runs eliminations Sunday, a departure from MWDRS’s standard no-Sunday policy. Wednesday is open for paid testing and track rental, with reservations going through Blake Housley directly. Every class will race for two complete purses across the weekend. Pro Mod tops the card at a combined $82,000. Top Sportsman and Top Dragster will race for $12,500 in total purse money, Pro 4.20 for $11,300, and the junior dragster categories – PJD and SJD – for $900 across the two events. Racers are free to enter multiple classes, and class entries carry across both events, meaning a driver doubled up in Pro Mod and Top Sportsman is looking at four shots at money in four days. The structure comes with a clear caveat: this is two races, not one stretched into four days. That means two entry fees and two crew fees. A single registration link will cover both events, but racers will need to buy in for each race individually, and the on-site schedule will look different from the standard MWDRS template to fit two complete races into the window. Local class lineups are still to be announced, and Haney hinted at the possibility of a brand-new class added specifically for the weekend. “Our marketing partners deserve two big shows, and that’s what we’re going to deliver,” says Haney. “We’ve got more news coming on local classes, and there’s a real chance we add something brand new just for this weekend. Stay tuned, because we’re not done announcing yet.” A registration link and final schedule are expected in the coming days. This story was originally published on May 19, 2026. The post Mid-West Drag Racing Series Combines June and October Flying H Events Into One Double-Race Weekend first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is proud to announce the appointment of Dustin Farthing as the new President of the organization, marking a major step forward in the company’s continued expansion across multiple motorsports disciplines. Farthing brings decades of experience as both a world champion racer and successful business leader. Widely recognized as one of the most accomplished personal watercraft racers in the world, Farthing has earned more than 30 professional world championships throughout his career while also competing across multiple forms of motorsports including offshore racing, snowcross, and Lamborghini Super Trofeo competition. Beyond racing, he has built and operated multiple successful businesses nationwide, including powersports dealerships, motorsports operations, sponsorship programs, and large-scale construction companies. As President, Farthing will oversee the continued growth and strategic direction of the IHRA across all divisions including drag racing, offshore powerboat racing, personal watercraft, stock car racing, pulling, snowmobile competition, concerts, and future motorsports expansions. “IHRA has an incredible foundation, an iconic brand, and some of the most passionate racers and fans in motorsports,” said Farthing. “This organization has the opportunity to become one of the most powerful motorsports platforms in the world by uniting multiple disciplines under one vision. Our focus moving forward will be growing the sport, supporting racers and tracks, building stronger sponsor partnerships, and creating world-class experiences for fans, competitors, and communities across the country.” Founded in 1970, the International Hot Rod Association has long been recognized as one of the premier sanctioning bodies in North American motorsports. Originally built around drag racing, the organization has rapidly expanded in recent years into offshore powerboat racing, stock car racing, pulling, and personal watercraft competition. Under the ownership of Darryl Cuttell, the IHRA has entered an aggressive growth phase with expanded national schedules, acquisitions of additional racing properties, and the continued development of new motorsports divisions designed to bring racers and fans together under one unified championship platform. “Dustin is exactly the type of leader this organization needs as we continue building the future of the IHRA,” said Cuttell. “He understands racers, sponsors, promotion, operations, and the business side of motorsports at the highest level. More importantly, he brings energy, vision, and a racer-first mentality that aligns perfectly with where we are taking this company. We believe Dustin will play a major role in helping elevate IHRA into one of the most recognized motorsports organizations in the world.” Farthing has already played a major role in helping expand the IHRA’s presence in powerboat and personal watercraft racing, where the organization has experienced rapid growth through new national events, major sponsor partnerships, increased racer participation, and expanded media exposure. The IHRA continues its 2026 season with events across the United States spanning multiple disciplines and championship series. Additional announcements regarding future expansions, sponsorship initiatives, and upcoming event properties are expected throughout the year. This story was originally published on May 19, 2026. The post IHRA Names Dustin Farthing President of the International Hot Rod Association first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The new Norton Manx R combines a 206 hp 1,200 cc V4, Marzocchi semi-active suspension, Brembo Hypure brakes and serious TVS backing. We ride it on road and track in Spain to see whether Norton’s latest rebirth has real substance. The post 2026 Norton Manx R Review | Reborn British V4 delivers appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

In a major disappointment for budget-conscious American buyers, Volvo has officially pulled the plug on the highly anticipated EX30 in the US. Volvo says, however, that an affordable alternative to the EX30 for the American market is already in the works, promising it will be specifically designed to cater to American tastes. What Happened?Why did a car with so much promise disappear so fast? It comes down to basic math and bad timing. Stiff new tariffs on Chinese-built EVs inflated that appealing $35k sticker price by nearly $10,000. Add in a recent, high-profile battery recall over fire risks, and the compact EX30 simply stopped making financial sense for the US market. Volvo But don't count Volvo out of the affordable EV race just yet. For Americans who are still looking for a compact and efficient runabout, Luis Rezende, President of Volvo Cars America, during an interview with reporters while discussing the brand new EX60, confirmed that a spiritual successor to the EX30 is already in the pipeline for 2027. While it might not match the original $35,000 price tag to the penny, Rezende promised it would be "very similar." Even better? He noted the new model will offer "a bigger space" while remaining incredibly fun to drive—a welcome upgrade for American families who often find subcompact EVs a bit too cramped for everyday life. EX30 AlternativesIf you can't wait until 2027, Volvo is currently rolling out the all-new EX60. The catch? It starts at $59,795, placing it squarely in luxury SUV territory. To broaden its appeal, Volvo is also planning to utilize its factory in South Carolina to build larger, family-oriented vehicles using a "multi-fuel" approach instead of going exclusively electric from day one. Volvo Building an EV that is both desirable and truly affordable in the US is a massive hurdle right now, heavily complicated by international trade tensions. However, Volvo's commitment to delivering a roomier, cost-effective electric option by 2027 proves they know exactly what American drivers are looking for: practical space, reliable range, and a price tag that doesn't require a second mortgage. View the full article

IHRA Names Dustin Farthing President of the International Hot Rod Association FAIRFIELD, OHIO — The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is proud to announce the appointment of Dustin Farthing as the new President of the organization, marking a major step forward in the company’s continued expansion across multiple motorsports disciplines. Farthing brings decades of experience as both a world champion racer and successful business leader. Widely recognized as one of the most accomplished personal watercraft racers in the world, Farthing has earned more than 30 professional world championships throughout his career while also competing across multiple forms of motorsports including offshore racing, snowcross, and Lamborghini Super Trofeo competition. Beyond racing, he has built and operated multiple successful businesses nationwide, including powersports dealerships, motorsports operations, sponsorship programs, and large-scale construction companies. As President, Farthing will oversee the continued growth and strategic direction of the IHRA across all divisions including drag racing, offshore powerboat racing, personal watercraft, stock car racing, pulling, snowmobile competition, concerts, and future motorsports expansions. “IHRA has an incredible foundation, an iconic brand, and some of the most passionate racers and fans in motorsports,” said Dustin Farthing. “This organization has the opportunity to become one of the most powerful motorsports platforms in the world by uniting multiple disciplines under one vision. Our focus moving forward will be growing the sport, supporting racers and tracks, building stronger sponsor partnerships, and creating world-class experiences for fans, competitors, and communities across the country.” Founded in 1970, the International Hot Rod Association has long been recognized as one of the premier sanctioning bodies in North American motorsports. Originally built around drag racing, the organization has rapidly expanded in recent years into offshore powerboat racing, stock car racing, pulling, and personal watercraft competition. Under the ownership of Darryl Cuttell, the IHRA has entered an aggressive growth phase with expanded national schedules, acquisitions of additional racing properties, and the continued development of new motorsports divisions designed to bring racers and fans together under one unified championship platform. “Dustin is exactly the type of leader this organization needs as we continue building the future of the IHRA,” said Darryl Cuttell. “He understands racers, sponsors, promotion, operations, and the business side of motorsports at the highest level. More importantly, he brings energy, vision, and a racer-first mentality that aligns perfectly with where we are taking this company. We believe Dustin will play a major role in helping elevate IHRA into one of the most recognized motorsports organizations in the world.” Farthing has already played a major role in helping expand the IHRA’s presence in powerboat and personal watercraft racing, where the organization has experienced rapid growth through new national events, major sponsor partnerships, increased racer participation, and expanded media exposure. The IHRA continues its 2026 season with events across the United States spanning multiple disciplines and championship series. Additional announcements regarding future expansions, sponsorship initiatives, and upcoming event properties are expected throughout the year. The post IHRA Names Dustin Farthing New President Of The International Hot Rod Association appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

General Motors was hit with a record privacy violation penalty, agreeing to a $12.75 million settlement with the state of California after an investigation revealed the automaker illegally sold driver data. The ChargesFrom 2020 to 2024, GM used its popular OnStar subscription system to collect highly specific driving behavior. They weren't just keeping an eye on your mileage; they were tracking your precise location, how fast you were going, how hard you hit the brakes, and how rapidly you accelerated. Buick According to the California Attorney General's office, GM took this data and sold it to third-party data brokers like Verisk Analytics and LexisNexis Risk Solutions. The main issue is that GM’s own privacy policy explicitly reassured drivers that it would not sell their location or driving information. While California state law protects its drivers from having this data used against them by auto insurers, investigations found that many drivers across the rest of the country saw their car insurance premiums spike because of this secretly shared data. The PayoutIf you're a GM driver in California, don't wait by the mailbox for a payout. This is a civil penalty, meaning the millions go directly to the state, not to individual consumers. OnStar However, the settlement does force some major changes. GM is now banned from selling consumer driving data to data brokers for the next five years. For its part, GM stated that it already discontinued the specific data-sharing program, known as "Smart Driver," back in 2024. Leaving GM to keep the data to itself. This case is a wake-up call that today's vehicles are basically giant, rolling computers. Next time you buy a car or set up your infotainment system, take a few minutes to check your privacy settings—you might be sharing a lot more about your morning commute than you think. View the full article

Coming Soon: The Next-Gen BMW X5As it is, the current X5 is already approaching its seventh year in production. For those familiar with BMW's life cycles, that means the next-generation model is just around the corner. The crossover had been spied before, and an alleged leaked photo of it is currently floating around the web. The 2027 range was also leaked a few months ago, and the redesigned X5 appears to be part of it. Further hinting that its world premiere is drawing closer is the fact that the car has been undergoing numerous shakedown runs on the Nürburgring. One can say that BMW has been very busy lately and will be for the next couple of years. SH Proshots/Autoblog See How it RunsLast time out, we saw the M3 EV/iM3 and the gas-fed 3 Series (likely an M350) do hot laps around the demanding track. This time around, it's the turn of the midsize crossover. Seen testing in both electric and ICE guises, we can now make out more of its shape as its world debut comes closer and closer. Obviously, the quiet one is the electric version, while the gas-powered tester sounds like it's packing a six-cylinder engine. Of course, we can say that the six-cylinder is a sure model, as the leaked file from earlier stated that it is an sDrive40 model. As for the way these heavyweights move, it's not bad at all considering these are expected to blow well past the two-ton mark. We also have to admit that the ICE version is a little on the hushed side, and it's still unknown if a V8 will live for this generation. Subtle DifferencesBased on what we saw in the video, both gas and electric X5s appear to have the same body. Both employ the Neue Klasse design language, and we see elements from the iX3 present. This likely means BMW SUV models will feature a taller grille, while the sedans and wagons will have a shorter grille, like the i3. It seems that the iX5 sits slightly lower to the ground. It's not as low as, say, a 5 Series Touring would be, but the difference is noticeable once you see the ICE version. We also noticed that the iX5 has a different set of front and rear bumpers, likely to aid aero efficiency. As for the gas X5, it appears to have more clearance and leans a little more in the corners. The bumpers also have more cooling elements. Little by little, we're starting to see the final shape of the 2027 X5. That said, it's interesting to see that the gas and electric models don't ride on different architectures like the 3 Series and i3, and the X3 and iX3. Perhaps BMW is still developing it for larger models that will come after these. SH Proshots/Autoblog View the full article

Norton Executive Director Richard Arnold discusses the TVS-backed brand’s rebirth, why the Manx R leads the new era, how Norton plans to support customers globally, and what needs to happen before Australians are asked to take the plunge. The post Norton’s next chapter | Richard Arnold on TVS backing, trust and global ambition appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Norton CTO Brian Gillen explains the engineering thinking behind the new Manx R, including its 72-degree V4, road-focused superbike brief, Marzocchi semi-active suspension and the decision to avoid the winglet-heavy direction taken by many modern superbikes. The post Norton Manx R engineering deep dive | Brian Gillen on technical development appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Norton Head of Design Simon Skinner talks through the thinking behind the new Manx R, the challenge of balancing heritage with modernity, and how the TVS-backed brand is trying to define a new design language. The post Simon Skinner interview | Designing Norton’s future without being trapped by its past appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Heated & Ventilated ClothCloth seats are exceedingly rare in luxury vehicles, but in a bid to be environmentally friendly and kind to animals, Volvo started offering wool interiors in its cars a few years ago. Americans generally prefer leather in their luxury vehicles, and there's one big problem with cloth seats as they pertain to feature content: you can't have heating and ventilation (typically). Plenty of new vehicles are available with heated cloth seats, but hardly any have ever been sold in the US with heating and ventilation. Volvo is about to add one to the list. Volvo View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article The 2028 Volvo EX60 Cross Country arrives next year and will offer a heated and ventilated tailored knit textile interior. This material is technically a woven fabric, but Autoblog had a chance to see it in person at the EX60 First Drive in Spain, and it feels breathable like cloth not smooth like leather. Volvo will even offer it in a cool new indigo blue color that looks fantastic, and pairs beautifully with the weathered grey ash trim that's exclusive to the Cross Country. Current & Past Examples Nissan View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article In my time as an automotive journalist, I've only tested two vehicles with "cloth" seats that offered heating and ventilation: the Nissan 370Z Convertible and Maserati Ghibli. The 370Z featured mesh inserts for the ventilated air, while the Ghibli was available with Ermenegildo Zegna silk inserts, a form of textile that could be classified as cloth (also available in other Maserati models). Aside from these rare examples, we can't think of any other vehicles that were sold in the US with cloth seats that offered both heat and ventilation. Even Volvo's previous wool and cloth seats only came with heating elements, as cooling is far more difficult to integrate into fabric. The BMW 7 Series and i7 may be the only new vehicles on sale with some form of ventilated cloth, a cashmere fabric, in their case. If you are one of the rare buyers who has been waiting for a car that offers a non-leather seat with both heating and ventilation, the EX60 Cross Country will soon answer the call. View the full article

More Americans than ever say they want an electric vehicle. A recent JD Power survey found that 26 percent of car shoppers were "very likely" to consider buying one, a three-point jump from the month before. And yet EV sales in the US have plateaued. People want EVs, especially in the wake of rising gas prices, but they aren't buying them. The gap between intent and action comes down to three things sitting in the buyer's head: cost, charging, and range. At least two of those three are largely built on outdated assumptions, according to the experts at JD Power. The information exists, but it has not reached the showroom floor, where dealers have quietly pulled back on EV education since federal tax credits expired. Tesla The EV Myths That Don’t Add UpNearly three-quarters of the most resistant EV shoppers say they need at least 500 miles of range before they would consider going electric. That number sounds reasonable until you look at how people actually drive. JD Power's research shows the average American takes two to three road trips a year, and most of those cover 200 to 300 miles. Most modern EVs handle that on a single charge with room to spare. In which case, the 500-mile expectation is not a real need; it’s unfounded range anxiety dressed up as a specification. Getty Another common concern is that public chargers are too far apart to make EV ownership practical. Many shoppers say they would need chargers within 50 miles of each other. That charging network density is already met across a large portion of the country, something most people simply do not know. Where the Hesitation Is Actually FairPurchase price has climbed to the second most commonly cited reason for rejecting an EV among shoppers who say they are unlikely to consider one, moving up from third place. More than half of the most resistant buyers say they would not pay any premium at all for an electric car over an internal combustion car, a figure that becomes harder to work around now that the federal tax credit is gone. Getty Images Resale value on EVs does remain shakier than comparable petrol cars, and the used electric vehicle market has not fully stabilised. Charging costs are genuinely higher for drivers without home setups, since public fast-charging rates can rival or exceed what you would spend on gas. Now those are real considerations worth factoring in, not fears to be dismissed. The EV conversation has matured enough that buyers no longer need to be sold on the idea. They just need better information than they are currently getting, and that is a much easier problem to solve. View the full article

Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Larry Phillips will soon be enshrined into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. On Tuesday, members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met for an in-person closed session at the Charlotte Convention Center to debate upon the 15 nominees. This Class of 2027 was determined by votes cast from the 50-member panel. The panel includes current living members of the Hall of ...Keep readingView the full article

You might think of Nissan as a well-established brand in America, one that is perhaps as big as it can be, but if last year's financial results are any indication, Nissan is still growing, and fast. The automaker has announced that it finished its 2025 fiscal year (April 1-March 31) as "the fastest-growing mainstream automotive brand in the U.S. over the past 12 months, thanks to 12 consecutive months of sales growth." It's attracted a 19.6 percent year-on-year increase in retail market share, with figures up by more than 43,000 vehicles compared to the year before. Which vehicles drove this growth? SUVs and a pickup; cars are not finding many buyers right now. Nissan's Big Winners: Armada, Pathfinder, Rogue, Frontier Nissan View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article Nissan Americas chairman Christian Meunier attributes these strong results to putting "the customer experience and brand strength first," instead of selling more vehicles through lower-margin fleet buyers, and the vehicles that led the charge were the Armada, with sales up 72 percent, the Pathfinder, with sales up 44 percent, the Rogue, with sales up 17 percent, and the Frontier, with sales up 15 percent. Nissan Americas should be able to maintain or build on this growth despite challenges like tariffs, thanks to its efforts in 2025, which included increasing localization from 44 percent to a peak of 65 percent. The goal is to increase localized production to 80 percent, said the automaker, and the arrival of the Rogue Hybrid e-POWER, revealed in April, is expected to help retain buyers' interest, as will the recently revealed Frontier Sport, which just debuted for 2027. Related: Nissan Frontier PRO-4X Turns Into the Ultimate Overland Build for 2026 Nissan is giving buyers of its best-sellers more options, and not just in the near term, either. Nissan is also reportedly working on a cheap sedan and will be bringing e-POWER technology to more U.S. models, potentially including the Kicks. If that goes well, Nissan could soon be in a position to add to its sports car lineup. Nissan Has Big Plans for Fun Cars Ideogram/Sebastian Cenizo The positive sentiment evident at Nissan Americas is reflected by the whole company, and that could be good news for enthusiast cars. With Nissan cutting up to 11 models to streamline its portfolio, the company will only get more efficient, potentially enabling the return of the Silvia nameplate and the introduction of a Z Convertible. Nissan USA product planning boss Ponz Pandikuthira has said that if the company is very successful over the next two years, it could be in a position to launch these fun new cars after the relatively affordable (sub-$40k is the target) new body-on-frame Xterra. In a nutshell, Nissan has pulled itself out of immediate danger since Ivan Espinosa took over as CEO, buyers are responding, and the automaker seems well prepared to weather storms in America and abroad, with several new iterations and new products in the pipeline. View the full article

The Nürburgring Nordschleife has a new SUV king, and it comes from Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi. The Xiaomi YU7 GT has beaten the Audi RS Q8 by a significant margin to take the title of the world’s quickest production SUV round the Nürburgring with a lap time of 7 minutes 34.931 seconds. That’s nearly two seconds quicker than the Audi RS Q8’s previous record of 7:36:69 set in 2024. Interestingly, there’s still room for improvement, as Xiaomi Auto noted that the YU7 GT previously set a lap time of 7 minutes and 32 seconds during Nürburgring Nordschleife testing, according to CarNewsChina. That speaks volumes about the electric SUV’s chassis tuning and high-speed stability. Xiaomi's Electric Performance SUV Has a Top Speed of 186 MPHThe YU7 GT is the performance version of the Xiaomi YU7 and it is currently arriving in dealerships across China. Pitched by Xiaomi Auto as a “sports car-level SUV suitable for long-distance travel,” the YU7 GT features a dual-motor AWD system with a combined output of 990 horsepower (738 kilowatts). Power comes from a 101.7-kWh ternary lithium battery pack that enables a range of 438 miles on China’s CLTC cycle. The Xiaomi YU7 GT is built on an 800-volt electrical platform and can charge from 10% to 80% in 12 minutes, according to the manufacturer. MIIT As you can see in the video above, the onboard footage of the record lap looks spectacular, if a bit too quiet given the YU7 GT’s electric powertrain. It would have been nice if Xiaomi had also shown the range indicator on the screen, which we assume showed a dramatic drop as the electric SUV almost topped out at 298 km/h (185 mph) on Döttinger Höhe, the track’s longest straight. Still, we’re happy to get a speed indicator along with accelerator and brake graphics in the video. Record-Setting Vehicle Featured a Track Pack Specification Xiaomi Auto It’s worth noting that the record-setting YU7 GT featured a Track Pack, which includes Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, ultra-wide 21-inch alloys wrapped in high-performance Michelin tires, and upgrades to the suspension software, active ride stability, and traction control calibration. In addition, the Track Pack brings a more aggressive aero kit consisting of a deep front splitter, an upgraded front bumper, broader wheel arches, a chunky diffuser, and a ducktail spoiler to increase downforce at high speeds. Xiaomi Auto The YU7 GT’s record lap was achieved by Xiaomi chief test driver, Ren Zhoucan, who became the first Chinese national to receive official Nürburgring lap certification. The Xiaomi YU7 GT is going on sale on May 21 in China, when pricing information will be released. The electric performance SUV's base price is expected to range between 450,000 and 500,000 yuan (roughly $66,000 to $73,500). Xiaomi only sells two EV models in China, the YU7 SUV and the highly popular SU7 sedan. MIIT View the full article

Dale Earnhardt Jr. largely enjoyed the All Star Race on Sunday afternoon at Dover Motor Speedway but largely as a standard race and not as part of the lineage it represented. To that end, the Hall of Famer and winner of the 2000 running of ‘The Winston’ has his own ideas with what to do with the event. “We’re doing too much,” Earnhardt said on his Dale Jr. Download podcast on ...Keep readingView the full article

Big money was on the line at Byron Dragway. Here are the winners that brought home the cash from the Autoland Door Car Challenge. View the full article

Natalie Decker is back in the news after her recent NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at Dover. Earlier this year, she received criticism for arriving late to a wreck in the NASCAR O'Reilly season-opener at Daytona, but this situation was different. After being penalized by NASCAR for changing lanes before the start, and later told she was not meeting minimum speed, she got very upset on the ...Keep readingView the full article

Moscow is a city of superlatives, a sprawling, historic metropolis where architectural grandeur meets the relentless pace of modern Russian life. It’s a place that demands a certain level of intensity to survive, let alone create. In this high-pressure environment, Alexey Sorokin operates Copper Cho... View the full article

At the recent Samson International Smart Mobility Summit in Tel Aviv, Tesla CEO Elon Musk delivered a familiar statement: unsupervised "Full Self-Driving" (FSD) will be "widespread in the US by the end of this year." However, a closer look at the company's current footprint and historical track record suggests this ambitious timeline is on a collision course with reality. The Gap Between Rhetoric and RealityDespite the promise of a nationwide rollout within seven months, Tesla currently operates a meager fleet of roughly 30 unsupervised robotaxis, entirely confined to three Texas cities: Austin, Dallas, and Houston, with promises to expand to an additional two cities. Scaling such a limited pilot program to a "widespread" national presence by December defies the company's current rate of technological and geographical expansion. Tesla This latest prediction fits neatly into a decade-long pattern of missed deadlines. For over a decade, Musk has routinely heralded imminent breakthroughs in autonomous driving, amongst other claims that ultimately fail to materialize on schedule. Contradictory Messaging and Flawed DataFurther complicating Musk's narrative are his contradictory claims regarding vehicle safety. At the mobility summit, he carefully framed FSD as being on a "path" to becoming safer than human drivers. Yet, when addressing his followers on social media just weeks prior, he definitively declared the system is already "10X safer" than a human behind the wheel. These bold safety assertions rely on methodologies that analysts and safety advocates have heavily criticized: Mismatched Road Types: Tesla routinely compares its highway-heavy FSD mileage—which occurs on statistically safer, predictable roads—against national averages that include chaotic city streets and complex rural routes.Skewed Crash Definitions: The company compares its severe, airbag-deployment crashes against all police-reported crashes nationwide, the vast majority of which are minor fender benders.By relying on mismatched crash definitions and road types, the data is artificially skewed to flatter Tesla's technology. Tesla The Road AheadIf Tesla's unsupervised FSD is to achieve true mainstream adoption, the path forward requires more than lofty conference predictions. Until the company can align its aggressive timelines with its physical fleet size and publish transparent, peer-reviewable safety data, claims of a "widespread" rollout will remain just another recurring entry in a long history of unfulfilled promises. View the full article

This weekend marked the 9th Annual running of the revived Doorslammers event, powered by Fueltech, at Santa Pod Raceway. Being an outlaw event, there is always a huge variety of cars and combinations that don’t fit the standard FIA rulebook, and some of the cars running in FIA competition will change their combos for this event only. With Andy Robinson and the Anger Management team being one of the few remaining Pro Mod cars using a clutch, they decided to take full advantage of the Outlaw format, installing an EZ Motorsports lock up clutch. Qualifying was cut short due to some inclement weather conditions, but the Anger Management team qualified in a strong No. 4 position, with worldwide Pro Mod racer and superstar DJ Carl Cox holding the No. 1 spot. Qualifying position isn’t as important on race day, however, as pairings are drawn at random in a chip draw for each round, adding to the outlaw style drama of this event. Robinson drew FIA Pro Stock racer Michael Malmgren in the first round, the same driver who defeated Andy last year. This time the Anger Management team flipped the script, defeating Malmgren, David Vegter and Lars Sjoholm on the way to the final. Perhaps more impressive was the team’s improvement in performance, from an opening 5.90 on Friday to a near personal best 5.821 at 247.82 mph as the team dialed the new clutch system in. Unfortunately, Robinson couldn’t quite overcome the mighty turbo power that Andres Arnover and the Fast Ford Racing team from Estonia utilised in the final, with Robinson’s 5.82 coming up short against Arnover’s 5.73 at an impressive 259.65 mph. However, the team is thrilled with an excellent second-place finish after a weekend of relentless competition. The result marks another major achievement for Robinson and the Anger Management operation, adding further momentum to their 2026 campaign ahead of the upcoming FIA European Championship season. The Anger Management/Robinson Race Cars team would like to thank their sponsors and performance partners: Star Racer belts, Mike Janis Superchargers, NGK Spark Plugs UK, Nimbus Motorsport, PAC Racing Springs, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Noonan Race Engineering, EZ Motorsports, PRS and Manton Rocker Arms, as well as a huge thanks to the dedicated and hard working ‘Anger Management’ crew. The post Andy Robinson Delivers Final-Round Performance at The Doorslammers 2026 first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

NASCAR on Prime Video is back! As the Cup Series heads to streaming for the next five weeks, the popular trackside coverage that featured lengthy post-race shows is back. Alongside Danielle Trotta and Corey LaJoie, who will be there every week, the panel will have a rotating cast of NASCAR legends for each of the five races the streaming platform will broadcast. NASCAR Hall of Famer Carl ...Keep readingView the full article

Now two races into the seven-race 2026 Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series season, serious contenders are emerging as the series returns to Virginia Motorsports Park this weekend for the Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix, May 21-23. It’s still early in the world championship battles, but racers across the PDRA’s professional, sportsman, and Jr. Dragster categories are fighting for all the points they can get to contend for a season title. VMP, located in the history-rich area just outside Richmond, is the next battlefield in that fight. “Virginia Motorsports Park has been a part of the PDRA since the beginning,” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. “We called this track home for several years and it’s always great to come back. From the pro ranks to the Jr. Dragster classes, a lot of our racers call Virginia and the surrounding area home as well. They grew up racing here or they race here on a weekly basis. The local fans always know when we’re coming to town, too, so we’re excited to put on a show for them. We’re going to deal with some weather, no doubt, but our team is prepared to do what it takes to keep things rolling.” For the second consecutive race on the PDRA tour, FloRacing will offer a free livestream through its FloRacing 24/7 channel. For Friday qualifying only, fans can stream for free on FloRacing 24/7 through Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Fubo, and other free video platforms. Saturday eliminations will also be available for FloRacing subscribers. Three-time world champion Tommy Franklin is back on top as the points leader in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous presented by Jerry Bickel Race Cars driving his Musi-powered “Jungle Rat 3.0” ’69 Camaro. He qualified No. 1 at the season opener and raced to victory at the last stop on tour, the Summit Racing Equipment East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech at Darana Motorsports Park – Benson, NC. “Mountain Man” Mike Achenbach, who won the season opener in his return to Pro Nitrous, sits second in his Fulton-powered ’20 Camaro. Defending world champion Marcus Butner is third in his Musi-powered “Heartbreaker” ’69 Camaro with a semifinal finish at the season opener and a No. 1 qualifier award at the last race. There’s a new E.T. record holder in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive since the class last raced at Virginia, as Johnny Camp set a new record at the season opener and proceeded to win the event as well. With a semifinal finish in his ProCharger-boosted “Hells Bells” ’69 Camaro at Benson, he’s also the points leader going into Virginia. Two-time Pro Boost world champion Jason Harris, who won at Benson in his Harts Charger-boosted “Party Time” ’69 Camaro, is second in points. Melanie Salemi sits just a few points behind Harris in third with a No. 1 qualifier award and runner-up finish at the last race in her screw-blown Al-Lee Installations “Purple Reign” ’68 Firebird. Blake Denton, the 2023 Super Street world champion, is pursuing a second PDRA title, this time in Liberty’s Gears Pro Street presented by KTR Drag Racing. Behind the wheel of the nitrous-fed “Bonnie” ’69 Camaro previously driven by the late Lizzy Musi, he won the most recent event and went to the semis at the season opener to enter Virginia as the points leader. Jerry Morgano, who qualified No. 1 and reached the final round at the season opener in his turbocharged, small-block “Copperhead” ’02 Mustang, is second in the standings. Virginia’s own Ron Green is third chasing his first win of the season in his screw-blown “Gamechanger” ’00 Firebird. J.C. Beattie Jr. is running away with the points lead in Pro 632 presented by Mark Williams Enterprises, where he won both races, qualified No. 1 at the season opener, and qualified No. 2 at the second race in his Reher-Morrison-powered ATI Performance Products ’18 Camaro. Former Top Sportsman standout Jeff Pittman, now in his second year in the class, earned his first career No. 1 qualifier award at the last race driving his Barry Allen-powered Hickory Enclosed Trailer Sales ’68 Chevelle and was runner-up at the season opener to sit second in points. Newcomer David Cook Jr. is third in his Nelson-powered Copy&PrintWarehouse.com ’10 GTO with a runner-up finish at Benson. Defending 1320 Fabrication Super Street presented by Brian’s Heating & Cooling world champion Connor McGee picked up where he left off, as he’s the points leader once again two races into the season. The driver of the Fulton-powered Brian’s Heating & Cooling ’90 Mustang won the season opener and qualified No. 1 and raced to the final round at Benson. His championship challenger last season, Austin Vincent, is chasing him again as the No. 2 driver in points. Vincent in his nitrous-fed Vincent Performance ’88 Mustang won the last race in Benson. Dan Whetstine, the 2024 world champion, is third in his ProCharged “Red Velvet” ’91 Mustang with a runner-up finish at the season opener. The points leaders in the sportsman classes going into Virginia are Scott Duggins in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Josh Duggins in Greenbrier Excavating & Paving Elite Top Dragster presented by American Race Cars, Joe Roubicek in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman, and Steven Boone in ATI Performance Products Top Dragster presented by TBM Brakes. Local bracket racers will also get the chance to race at the Mid-Atlantic Showdown in Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by Philadelphia Racing Products. In the PDRA’s Jr. Dragster ranks, the points leaders are Katelyn Page in Pro Jr. Dragster and Carter Hayes in Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster. Due to rain in the forecast, PDRA officials have adjusted the typical event schedule for the Mid-Atlantic Showdown. After a pair of test sessions on Thursday morning, qualifying for all classes will begin at 3 p.m. starting with Top Sportsman and Top Dragster, rolling into the pros, and ending with the Jr. Dragster classes. Two more qualifying sessions are set for Friday. Saturday eliminations are scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. with pros on-track around noon. The schedule is subject to change. For a detailed schedule and updates, visit www.Facebook.com/PDRARacing. Tickets are available for $20 on Thursday, $25 on Friday, and $30 on Saturday. Discounted Junior and Kids tickets are also available, while kids 5 and under get in free. Purchase tickets at www.PDRA660.com or at the gate. PDRA fans around the world can catch all the action live on the official event live stream through www.FloRacing.com. The post PDRA Season Carries On With Mid-Atlantic Showdown at Virginia Motorsports Park first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article