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Atlas Has Proven Its Place in VW’s US LineupNearly ten years after it first rolled off the line, the Volkswagen Atlas has quietly hit a milestone that says a lot about its place in the US market. One million units have now come out of the Chattanooga, Tennessee plant – not because of any one big sales year, but thanks to consistent demand year after year. The Atlas has become one of Volkswagen’s most important models in the US, now second only to the Tiguan in sales. In 2025, VW sold 71,044 Atlas units here, which helps explain how the SUV reached that million-unit milestone. Volkswagen Built for the US, and It ShowsVolkswagen started building the Atlas in Chattanooga back in 2016, and from the start, it was designed with North American buyers in mind. That’s clear in the essentials: three real rows, cargo space you can actually use, and a focus on comfort instead of just style. In 2019, Volkswagen added the Atlas Cross Sport – a two-row version for those who wanted the same size and look but didn’t need all the seats. Even so, most buyers still go for the standard Atlas, which accounts for about three-quarters of production, with the Cross Sport filling the rest. Last year, the Atlas family moved over 100,000 units in the US. Nearly a third of all Volkswagens sold here now wear the Atlas badge in some form, which shows just how central this SUV has become to VW’s plans in America. This milestone also puts a spotlight on the Chattanooga plant and its team, both of which have grown with the Atlas program and now play a big part in Volkswagen’s North American operations. Volkswagen View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article A New Chapter Starts with the 2027 ModelVolkswagen isn’t letting up. The next Atlas has already made its debut at the New York International Auto Show, giving us a look at how VW plans to evolve its proven formula. The 2027 Atlas gets a bolder look, more tech, and a more upscale interior, but the basics haven’t changed. It’s still about space, practicality, and the features families actually use in a midsize SUV. More importantly, VW has confirmed that electrified versions of the Atlas family is on the horizon. The new model is scheduled to go on sale in the US this fall. Not long after, Volkswagen will roll out the second-generation Atlas Cross Sport, rounding out the next phase of a nameplate that has quietly become one of the brand’s most reliable performers. Adam Lynton / Autoblog View the 10 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

The NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday drew 2.926 million viewers on over-the-air FOX according to Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel metric. Beyond just the factual number, there is not a straightforward comparison, since this race aired on FS1 last year. NASCAR boasted a 26 percent increase from Kansas last year but that race aired on FS1. An April Cup Series race would be over 3 ...Keep readingView the full article

The Toyota GR Supra is a sports car. It's low, it's quick, and it’s impractical by design. The bZ Woodland is a rugged electric SUV with five seats, roof rails, and all-terrain tires. These two cars have no business sitting side by side on a spec sheet. And yet, in independent testing by Car and Driver, both the Woodland and the six-cylinder GR Supra equipped with the manual gearbox recorded identical 0-60 mph times of 3.9 seconds. That's not a claimed figure from Toyota, either. It's a real-world, verified number, and it beat Toyota's own claim of 4.4 seconds by half a second. The Woodland also blitzes the quarter-mile with a 12.5-second pass that's barely slower than a BMW M2. On all-terrain tires. Which begs the question: why does a family SUV need sportscar-level performance in the first place? Toyota View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article What the bZ Woodland Actually IsThe Woodland is a dual-motor, all-wheel drive electric midsize SUV, larger than the more affordable bZ, sitting on a 74.7 kWh battery pack. It produces 375 horsepower and 396 lb-ft of torque, with the torque arriving the way it always does in EVs: instantly. Range is rated at 281 miles on standard tires, dropping to 260 miles on the optional all-terrain rubber. DC fast charging at up to 150 kW can bring the battery from 10 to 80 percent in around 30 minutes, and a Level 2 home charger handles a full top-up in roughly seven hours. Pricing starts at $45,300, stretching to around $48,000 for the Premium trim. The 382-horsepower Supra, by comparison, also does 3.9 seconds, but you'll pay around $60,000 for the privilege, and you get only two seats. Toyota View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Fast Is Easy Now. Does That Actually Matter?Electric motors have made performance almost embarrassingly democratic. A family SUV matching a sports car's sprint time is no longer a headline that shocks engineers; it's just the nature of instant torque and dual-motor AWD. The more interesting question is whether any of this speed is actually what buyers of a practical electric SUV need. The bZ Woodland's job is to carry families, haul cargo, occasionally venture off-road, and make daily charging painless. Range, charging infrastructure access, and real-world usability are the metrics that determine whether an EV is genuinely useful. A 3.9-second 0-60 is a fun talking point, but a much more useful upgrade for the people actually buying these types of EVs would be a range greater than the Woodland's 281 miles, via more conservatively tuned electric motors. Sure, the speed is a bonus. A very impressive one, but it’s just a little pointless at the end of the day for the type of car the bZ Woodland is. View the full article

Every year, over 5,000 people die in commercial truck crashes across the United States. While many are tragic accidents, a disturbing number involve "chameleon carriers"—unsafe trucking fleets that dodge federal penalties by simply changing their names. And despite years of warnings, the regulatory loophole allowing them to operate remains wide open. Chameleon CarriersThe mechanism is straightforward. When a commercial carrier racks up a large number of safety violations, out-of-service orders, or crippling fines, the operators don't pay up. Instead, they fold the company. Days later, the exact same trucks, drivers, and management apply for a new Department of Transportation (DOT) number. For roughly $1,000, they buy a clean slate. Repeat offenses aren't a byproduct of the system; they are the underlying business model. AI The sheer scale of “Semi-gate”, as I like to call it, was recently laid bare by CBS’s 60 Minutes. In an eight-month-long investigation, correspondent Bill Whitaker exposed Super Ego Holding, a sprawling transport network operating between the U.S. and Serbia. The investigation revealed an operation where overseas agents routinely hacked electronic logging devices, allowing drivers to push past legal exhaustion limits. When the regulatory heat turned up, whistleblowers testified that management ordered drivers to literally slap duct tape over old company logos to display newly minted DOT numbers. The barrier to entry for this game? An internet connection and a nominal registration fee, entirely avoiding meaningful safety audits. Are American Motorists Safe?For the American motorist, the repercussions are severe. The 60 Minutes episode referred to industry analytics firm Fusable’s research, which notes that these reincarnated fleets are four times more likely to trigger severe collisions than legitimate new operators. The numbers connected to the Super Ego network alone are chilling: nearly 15,000 safety violations and 500 crashes in just two years. Federal ActionThese figures have finally triggered federal action. Super Ego is now the subject of an active federal investigation, and lawmakers recently introduced the SAFE Act (H.R. 7539) to force the FMCSA to implement automated screening to block chameleon applicants at the door. Yet, Washington has known about this for over a decade. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) first flagged the chameleon carrier crisis in 2012, citing crash data stretching back to 2005. The root problem is simple math. The FMCSA employs roughly 350 investigators to police over 700,000 motor carriers. It takes months of legal maneuvering to shut down a dangerous fleet, but only a few weeks to register a new one online. AI The freight industry runs on razor-thin margins. Until regulators mandate rigorous physical vetting over digital paperwork, bad actors will keep exploiting the system because it is cheaper to rebrand than to repair brakes and let drivers sleep. For the everyday commuter, your best defense is distance. Maintain a wide berth around battered rigs, especially those sporting fresh, hastily applied DOT decals over older paint or duct-taped doors. The company name might only be a week old, but the heavy machinery—and the exhausted driver behind the wheel—could be harboring a long, dangerous, and unresolved past. View the full article

It wasn't the loudest point of contention, but some in the NASCAR community did try to suggest after the Advent Health 400 on Sunday that race control should not have thrown the caution for a Cody Ware spin that set-up overtime and figuratively turning the race upside down. Denny Hamlin was the leader at the time, having led the most laps and just retaken the lead from eventual winner Tyler ...Keep readingView the full article

The First Signs of a Bigger PlanTesla is reportedly building two new Supercharger stations that won’t be open to the public. Instead, the sites, which have been filed for permits in Arizona, will be dedicated to the company’s Robotaxi fleet, signaling confidence that a wider Robotaxi deployment could gain approval in the state. So far, Tesla’s unsupervised Robotaxi operations are active in Texas, including its newest expansions into Dallas and Houston. In the San Francisco Bay Area, however, the Robotaxi fleet still requires a safety driver. A fully scaled operation would ultimately require removing the human driver, since people are limited by shift rules and break requirements. A private Supercharger site would also prevent the fleet from waiting in line behind other EV owners, especially now that several automakers, including Stellantis, have gained access to the Supercharger network. On the same day, Tesla also submitted a draft for another proposed location in the city of Mesa, also listed as private use. This site is located in an industrial area on the east side of the city. pic.twitter.com/jCC1IsKKKw — MarcoRP (@MarcoRPi1) April 17, 2026 The Sites Behind the StrategyThe plans to build non-public Supercharger sites in Arizona were shared by X user MarcoRP, who said one will be located in Chandler and the other in Mesa. In the city of Chandler, Tesla submitted pre-permits for 56 V4 Supercharger stalls. V4 Superchargers are Tesla’s latest generation of DC fast chargers. They can deliver up to 325 kW, compared with 250 kW on the V3 network. The underlying infrastructure is also designed to be future-proof, with the company saying it can support up to 500 kW. For a Robotaxi fleet, that could simply translate to faster turnaround times. Meanwhile, the upcoming Cybercab is expected to use wireless charging, a technology already offered for EVs such as the Porsche Cayenne Electric. That should make operations more seamless, as there would be no need for a human to plug in the charger. The Cybercab is also designed as a two-seater, which could work in its favor for riders who usually travel alone by eliminating unnecessary weight. Customers who need more space could opt for a Model Y Robotaxi. Getty Scaling the Bigger VisionArizona is just one of the areas Tesla plans to expand its Robotaxi fleet into this year. During the company’s Q4 2025 earnings call, the company also said it is targeting expansion in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Las Vegas. This latest development suggests that more private Superchargers dedicated to the Robotaxi fleet could be deployed across the U.S. in the coming years. Getty View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

The NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway bring high-stakes action. JFR drivers are ready to chase wins, momentum, and championship position.View the full article

A Class Of Its OwnThere is a space where the Audi RS6 Avant competes; alongside it are a few nameplates still holding the torch for enthusiasts who crave high-performance wagons. This segment of the automotive industry used to have an abundance of choices, but SUVs have taken their share, reducing the number of wagons available. Audi's RS6 has found a way to keep the wolves at bay by being the ultimate expression of practical high-performance. Instead of buying a fast SUV, the RS6 became a go-to for the power-hungry family man. Audi Out With The OldDespite its inherent appeal and relevance, the RS6 has been around for quite some time. A lot of questions are coming up about the next-generation model, and some answers have been provided. CarSales was able to get a quote from Audi Sport boss Rolf Michl, giving us insight into Audi's thinking for the next RS6. He was asked whether the RS6 would have any relation to the current plug-in hybrid RS5. Michl said the RS6 will have a very compelling package, and it won't simply be a copycat of the RS5. The question raised is valid, considering the RS6's party piece is that it still offers a V8. Most of the competition have downsized the engine cylinders or displacements to meet stricter emissions and noise regulations. The RS5 is equipped with a plug-in hybrid system assisting a twin-turbo V6, which, on paper, doesn't sound like much of a downgrade, but the RS6 is known for the V8. Michl also cites his numerous experiences having driven over hundreds of miles in both the RS5 and RS6. He says it's more than just about the size of the engine, but about how convincing the package is as a whole. He also basically guarantees that the new RS6 will not stand on its own and will be built from the ground up. cochespias1/Instagram Save the V8?Michl's comments are pretty telling, as he confirms the RS6 will retain the individuality of the rest of the lineup. We can speculate that the next generation could be special. The question now is, if it's not going to have the same twin-turbo V6 PHEV found in the RS5, will it still offer a V8? Lucky for Audi, they have access to multiple parts, and they could look to their siblings at Bentley or Porsche for V8s with plug-in hybrid technology. Kyle Edward View the full article

The Iron Trap Garage crew are at it, getting some work done and prepping for the upcoming Carlisle swap meet. The big job in this one is doing a Cummins swap on a cool 1947 Ford Flatbed pickup. This thing looks completely restored, so the Cummins swap surprised me on this one, but it sure is cool and it will be a hell of a runner with the Cummins under the hood. It isn’t just a bolt in though, and the boys have to do some cutting and welding to make this thing work. Check it out. The post Iron Trap Garage Video: Cummins Swapping A 1947 Ford Flatbed, Checking Out A 1934 Phaeton & Carlisle Prep!! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

An M Performance 7The 2027 BMW 7 Series just arrived with new exterior styling, a radically new interior, and some tweaks under the hood. BMW will launch the facelifted model with two gas-powered variants, the 740 and 740 xDrive. Both of which will use a B58 turbocharged inline-six engine that now delivers 394 horsepower, up from 375 hp thanks to new updates such as a different turbocharger. Jared Rosenholtz/Autoblog Speaking with Autoblog at the reveal event in New York City, BMW confirmed the upcoming V8-powered M Performance 7 Series will also see a power increase over the outgoing pre-facelift model. "The V8 will have more power than before," said Michael Keller, Vice President Product Management Americas for BMW Group US. What To Expect BMW As a reminder, the previous 760i xDrive produced 536 hp from its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8. We know this engine is capable of producing far more, even without adding plug-in hybrid systems in products like the M5 and XM, but Keller did not specify how much to expect from the upcoming M Performance variant. We'd like to see the 7 Series produce at least 567 hp, the same amount as the X5/X6 M non-Competition models. No official name has been announced for this upcoming variant, which is expected to arrive in 2027 after the plug-in hybrid model goes on sale. BMW will drop the lower case "i" at the end, and add an upper case "M" because it's an M Performance variant; expect it to be called the M760. A Better 7 PHEV BMW It's not just the gas-only 7 Series models and the electric i7 variants that will see improvements for the 2027 model year. Though the 26-page press release does not mention any specifics, a BMW product spokesperson confirmed to Autoblog the upcoming 750e xDrive PHEV will see an increase to its usable battery capacity, unlocking more electric driving range. The EPA currently rates the 750e at 35 miles of electric-only range thanks to its 22 kWh battery pack, of which 18.7 is usable. Much like how the i7 saw a battery improvement during the LCI, the 750e will unlock more usable capacity, potentially pushing its electric range closer to 40 miles. Unfortunately, this model will not receive a power bump. It will still make 308 hp from a B58 inline-six with 194 hp from an electric motor, combining to deliver 483 hp. 750e production begins Q4 of 2026, with deliveries starting in Q1 of 2027. View the full article

Nitrous oxide as a power adder has existed in NHRA Pro Mod since the very beginning when “Tricky” Rickie Smith won the inaugural race in 2001 and Shannon “The Iceman” Jenkins won the first series championship in 2002, but these days, it’s uncommon to find a single nitrous-assisted entry on the qualifying order. Smith, whose Musi-powered J&A Service/Parkway Ford Mustang is one of the two nitrous cars on the entry list for this weekend’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, says it doesn’t have to be this way. “They’ve got the nitrous cars so far behind over there [in NHRA Pro Mod]. That’s the reason I haven’t run any of them much lately,” Smith said. “I’m going to go to Charlotte and Rockingham at the end of the year because of my Parkway Ford deal, and I’d like to run more of them, but there’s no use going to a race when you know you can’t win. I’ve never done that from probably the second or third year of my career. At least when I roll in the gate, I think I’ve got a good chance to win. Even when you run good enough to win, it don’t mean you’re going to win, but you at least like to go into it with a chance.” Smith has appealed to NHRA rule makers on numerous occasions in an effort to get the nitrous combination in line with the boosted combos that currently dominate NHRA Pro Mod. He’s frequently labeled as a “crybaby” online and in the pits, but as Smith asserts, he believes his protests are warranted. “Like I’ve told [NHRA] all winter, I’m not asking you to slow those blower cars down anymore. That’s what we used to do back in the day. Oh, they’d get mad when NHRA put weight on them,” Smith said. “And this is the reason I feel like I have the right to complain and bitch about the rules: they’ve done it to me three out of the four years – put 50 pounds on me and slowed me down when I was winning. Right now, they don’t do anything for the nitrous car, but yet they won’t let me pick back up to run like I should run.” Smith opened the 2025 NHRA Pro Mod season with back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Gatornationals and the Arizona Nationals. He qualified No. 12 and 15, respectively, at those first two races and No. 13 in his final appearance of the season at the Carolina Nationals in September. Through the rest of the season, he qualified no worse than sixth, ending up No. 2 twice. When he sat No. 2 behind J.R. Gray at the Four-Wides, he was nine thousandths off Gray’s 5.680. Two races later, at the Thunder Valley Nationals, Smith’s 5.825 put him No. 2 behind Mason Wright’s 5.803. “This is supposed to be a parity class, so you adjust rules for each combination,” Smith said. “Well, they keep adjusting the rules so the blower cars and the centrifugal cars can all stay within two hundredths of each other, but they will not do nothing to the nitrous car where I can run within two hundredths of the No. 1 qualifier. Like I’ve explained to them, I’m not asking to go over there and be No. 1 qualifier. I’m just asking to be somewhere within a hundredth and a half to two hundredths of the No. 1 qualifier. Forget me, forget my name – it should be where a nitrous car could go over there and run within one and a half to two hundredths of the No. 1 qualifier if you’re going to do the parity right and they won’t do it.” Understandably so, Smith believes his statements should carry some weight. He’s flown the flag for the nitrous combo since the beginning, even when other nitrous racers fell away or switched power adders. When there was a second nitrous car, it was often one campaigned by another driver out of Smith’s camp. He’s even dabbled with other power adders himself, but he remains a firm believer in nitrous and wants to see it remain a competitive option in NHRA Pro Mod. “People think I bitch all the time about rules, but here’s the problem and the public needs to understand it: I am the only one that can bitch about a nitrous car over there because I am the only one that supported them with a nitrous car,” Smith said. “I am the only one that can cry for a nitrous car. I don’t know what else to say when it comes to that part of the deal. I’m the only guy that can cry. So yeah, I’m the one that stands out like a sore thumb, but that’s what the public needs to realize. I’m the only guy that can cry about it because I’m the only guy that supported the NHRA. I won the very first Pro Modified race that NHRA ever had. To this day, I’m still the winningest driver there, but yet they won’t even let me come and be competitive no more.” Smith is obviously well aware of his reputation for voicing his opinion on the matter. It’s not something he’s especially proud of, but he’s also not likely to back down anytime soon. “I ain’t no damn crybaby,” Smith said. “I’ve raced when it’s straight up. I’ve won championships. I’ve done away with classes in IHRA because I dominated them. I worked for what I got, but when you’ve got all this parity stuff and different combinations, I mean, they’ve got three combinations over there now that can outrun me. Used to be it was just me and the [roots] blower car. Now they’ve got centrifugal cars and screw cars and roots cars. They just wrote me out of the deal – and not just me. They just wrote a nitrous car out of the program. And it’s wrong because the nitrous car is what started Pro Modified in IHRA, period. Not a blower car, not nothing. Pro Modified was originated from a nitrous car.” Despite his frustration with the current state of the class, Smith will carry on. He’s threatened to retire on multiple occasions, but the sport keeps pulling him back, year after year. Coupled with support from backers like Jim and Annie Whiteley’s J&A Service and Junie Michaels’ Parkway Ford, it’s why Smith is pulling into zMAX Dragway this weekend to chase a diamond edition 75th anniversary NHRA Wally at the Four-Wide Nationals. “I’ve been doing this for 52 years this year. I’ve been racing going on 43 years for a living,” Smith said. “Before that, I was raised on driving bulldozers with my grandfather in construction. I got into racing in 1973. I got out of high school and started winning championships in 1976 in IHRA. It’s addictive. I done got too old – I don’t want to go back to driving a bulldozer. I’ve got myself in a position I could retire and just watch what I spend. But the problem is I just love what I do.” This story was originally published on April 22, 2026. The post Last of The Mohicans: ‘Tricky’ Rickie Smith on Nitrous Oxide in NHRA Pro Mod first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The best-selling pickup trucks in America aren’t always the safest, as we’ve seen in the full-size segment. Here, the Ram 1500 has better safety ratings than the popular Ford F-150—and the Toyota Tundra is safer than both. But what if you want a safe pickup in the class below? In this segment, the Toyota Tacoma leads on the sales charts, but is it also the safest? To find out, we’ve compared it with the Chevy Colorado and Jeep Gladiator. These results are based on 2026 ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Crashworthiness: Colorado Falls BehindThe midsize segment isn’t off to a great start, as not a single model currently qualifies for the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ awards from the IIHS. In the crashworthiness category, the safety authority conducts the following tests: small overlap front, involving the vehicle striking another vehicle or object with its front corner; the moderate overlap front, which is an offset crash between two vehicles; and the side test, which determines the structural integrity of a vehicle’s side. Each test is rated Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor, so here’s a look at how these midsize pickups fared. Toyota Tacoma Chevrolet Colorado Jeep Gladiator Small Overlap Front Good Good Acceptable Moderate Overlap Front Not Tested Marginal Good Side Good Good Good The Toyota was not evaluated for the moderate overlap front yet, so can’t qualify for a safety award. The Colorado is immediately disqualified for an award due to a Marginal rating in this test, where there was a heightened risk for head, neck, and chest injuries for rear-seat occupants. The Jeep was better overall, but its merely Acceptable rating in the first test disqualified it from an award, as the driver could experience an increased risk for lower leg and foot injuries. If the Tacoma can ace its moderate front overlap test, it will be the sturdiest of the three for crashworthiness. Due to the Colorado’s one Marginal result, it currently ranks behind its two rivals. Related: Ford Explorer Vs. Toyota Grand Highlander: Which Three-Row SUV is Safer? Crash Prevention: Toyota Best at Avoiding a Crash Toyota Modern safety involves a vehicle’s ability to avoid a crash, not just protect occupants if the worst happens. Here, the IIHS tests the headlights, along with each pickup’s ability to avoid a collision with another vehicle or a pedestrian. Toyota Tacoma Chevrolet Colorado Jeep Gladiator Headlights Acceptable Not Tested Marginal (LED projector); Poor (halogen) Crash Prevention (vehicle-to-vehicle) Good Poor Not Tested Crash Prevention (vehicle-to-pedestrian) Good Acceptable Poor In tests that were completed, the Toyota outshines its rivals. It scored a Good rating in both crash-prevention tests, although its headlights were only Acceptable. The Colorado failed to get a single Good rating for crash prevention, and the Gladiator got a Poor result because it lacks pedestrian front crash prevention tech. Impressively, the Tacoma avoided a collision at all tested speeds. It’s the best pickup here for avoiding a crash from occurring in the first place. Final Verdict: Toyota Wins Toyota Although the Tacoma has one outstanding crashworthiness result, it’s the only truck here to avoid any Marginal or Poor ratings, so it outclasses the other two and may still be eligible for an IIHS safety award. Jeep has a lot of work to do in terms of crash-prevention tech, but it’s better than older Gladiator models. Chevy has improvements to make in both areas, too, and we’d argue that crash-prevention should be a priority for pickup trucks. These are large, heavy vehicles that pose a greater risk to other road users if a collision does occur. View the full article

Chad and Hunter Green are ready for the 4-Wide Nationals. Here's what the father and son duo have planned for zMax Dragway. View the full article

In the world of custom motorcycles, there is a distinct difference between those who build for the gallery and those who build because they simply cannot help themselves. For Kyle Pereira and Suraj Thapa of Mumbai-based Garage Built Motorcycles, the latter is the only reality they know.Kyle’s educat... View the full article

Dale Earnhardt Jr. believes something was lost in translation in the back-and-forth between Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. The two-time Cup Series champion took exception to comments Hamlin made about him last week on the Actions Detrimental podcast. Specifically, Hamlin pondered if this is the end for Busch as a contender at the highest levels and suggested that Busch needs to consistently ...Keep readingView the full article

Corteco UK has strengthened its commitment to UK grassroots motorsports by becoming the Headline Sponsor of the forthcoming Street Weekend event hosted by Santa Pod Raceway, 4th-7th June 2026. Launching from Santa Pod Raceway and travelling to multiple venues nationwide, Street Weekend challenges street-legal cars to deliver both drag strip performance and everyday reliability – values that closely mirror Corteco’s focus on durability, precision and OEM-quality engineering. 2026 sees a new four-day event format as drivers tackle several hundred road miles and three tracks, with checkpoints en route, across one epic weekend. It starts at Santa Pod Raceway on Day 1, before heading to Elvington Airfield, Yorkshire, for Day 2. Day 3 sees the action move to Melbourne Raceway, before the event returns to Santa Pod Raceway for the final showdown on Day 4. That equates to around 600 miles across four days, mixed conditions and zero excuses! Street Weekend attracted more than 200 participants in 2025. “We’re proud to back Street Weekend as the Headline Sponsor,” said Steve Jarnet, Commercial Director for Corteco UK. “This event brings together passionate drivers, unique vehicles, and motorsport culture that aligns with Corteco’s commitment to performance, quality, and innovation. We’re delighted to support competitors with our contribution to the prize fund and to be part of such an exciting motorsport weekend.” Corteco UK connects the UK aftermarket with world-class engineering, offering an extensive portfolio of replacement parts backed by decades of manufacturing expertise. “We’re delighted to welcome Corteco UK as the Headline Sponsor of Street Weekend,” says Caroline Holden, Commercial Manager for Santa Pod Raceway. “Their strong reputation for quality and performance within the automotive aftermarket makes them a natural partner for the event.” The partnership places Corteco at the centre of one of the UK’s most popular performance weekends, reinforcing the brand’s ongoing support for the automotive trade and motorsport communities alike. The post Corteco UK Becomes Headline Sponsor of Street Weekend at Santa Pod Raceway first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Ron Capps and Maddie Gordon each have an opportunity to have a big weekend at zMax. Both drivers are hunting for a 4-wide win.View the full article

The Toyota Hiace The U.S. got the Hiace briefly in the 1980s, only to have it discontinued a few years after its launch. Minivans simply outpaced demand for traditional ladder-frame vans, even though Toyota outsold other Japanese rivals in the segment. Built on the bones of another legendary Toyota (also not found stateside), the Hilux, other parts of the world get to enjoy the robust reliability that the Toyota Hiace delivers. In parts of Europe and Asia, the Hiace is a household name, and it's getting a major overhaul soon, Japan's Response reports. The new Hiace is known around the world as a commercial van, passenger van, and even as a luxury MPV – similar to yet another luxury minivan the U.S. doesn't get, the Alphard. What we do get is the Toyota Sienna, which is a close-enough model for families looking for a minivan. The key difference is that the Hiace is body-on-frame, which makes it more robust than the Sienna. Toyota New DesignJapanese sources are reporting new developments regarding the Hiace, including an expected redesign and overhaul of its platform. There are two series currently in service: the H200, with its mid-ship driver-on-top-of-the-engine layout, and the H300, the one with the nose. The new platform will be built on the H300. The Hiace Concept, first unveiled at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, features a newly developed platform, a futuristic exterior, and a short hood. Back in 2019, when the H300 series of Hiaces were released, the hood and the repositioning of the engine were done in the name of safety, NVH insulation, and driving stability at low and high speeds. Toyota will do the same for the new platform moving forward, with further improvements. In Japan, the exterior design of the new Hiace will be slightly different. It's said that the model's nose will be shorter in its home country to create a familiar image for Japanese buyers. Furthermore, there will be a wide range of sizes available in the Hiace lineup, and we could still see cargo, passenger, touring, and luxury variants of the model making the rounds in several markets. Jacob Oliva/Autoblog Hybrid Tech In its current form, the Hiace came with either a four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 2.0 to 2.7-liter displacement or a 2.4 to 2.8-liter turbo-diesel option. Depending on the market, the Toyota outfit in that locale might favor gasoline or diesel more, and they have the option to go with either. However, for the new Hiace, sources indicate that we may see a 2.0- and 2.5-liter gasoline engine paired with an electric motor, making it a hybrid. The powertrain will be similar to the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid that produces about 236 horsepower. Sources claim the new Hiace could produce up to about 220 horsepower. All that means is more MPGs and better torque delivery. The question is, will the hybrid stack up? Given that diesel variants of the Hiace are preferred by many buyers, will the electric motors be able to keep up with this big van? We shall see soon, I hope. Jacob Oliva/Autoblog View the full article

Jordan Vandergriff has never participated in the four-wide format in the nitro categories at zMAX Dragway, but that doesn’t diminish the confidence he and the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team has rolling into the April 24-26 NHRA 4-Wide Nationals. “I raced at Charlotte in an alcohol dragster once, but this will be my first time in the four-wide concept so it’s going to be a new experience for me,” said Vandergriff. “I don’t really know what to expect yet but I think I’m going to have a lot of those experiences this year so I’m just going to go for it. I have the benefit of working on NHRA on FOX the last two years. Being at these races and watching the procedures, I’ve been told many things by many different people already, so I think I’m very prepared for it. I know Lanes 2 and 3 are more difficult so I know what I’m looking for already. It’s going to be a different feel, but I’ll be ready for it.” “Lanes 2 and 3 are difficult because you’re looking across the Christmas Tree,” Vandergriff added. “In Lane 2, your tree is to your left, and your stage bulb is the 2nd bulb on the left so you’re looking all the way across the tree. In Lane 3, your bulb would be the 3rd bulb on your right all the way to the right. So it’s kind of a longer view for Lanes 2 and 3. Lanes 1 and 4 are the easier ones because you’re just looking right at your bulb. I think I’m going to take a little more of my time because you never know when other people are going to go in and, with four of us, it’s going to be a little longer anyway, so I might as well take an extra second for myself, too.” The Atlanta-area resident has powerful reason for the confidence. He established a personal best speed record, 334.57 mph, in Round 1 of eliminations at the Winternationals and ran 330+ mph en route to his second-round victory. In the semifinal matchup against three-time NHRA Funny Car World Champion and eventual event runner-up Ron Capps, Vandergriff grabbed the holeshot (.069 to .077) and then made his career-best run 3.889 seconds but Capps took the win with a run of 3.863 seconds. Vandergriff and his John Force Racing team are currently fifth in the 2026 Funny Car standings after a semifinal finish in the season-opener at Gainesville, a second-round showing at Phoenix and semifinal finish at Pomona. “I feel great about how this year has gone so far,” said Vandergriff. “This Cornwell Quality Tools Funny Car has really been running well and that’s thanks to Chris Cunningham, Jason Bunker, and all of my guys. We’re sitting fifth in the points, and I think we’re coming off our strongest race in Pomona. We qualified third, made it to the semis, and only got beat by the quickest ET (elapsed time) of the whole event. So, coming out of Pomona, I think Charlotte, with the four-wide format, gives us a chance to possibly be holding one of those diamond Wally’s at the end of the weekend.” Vandergriff and the Cornwell Tools team qualified to compete in this weekend’s Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on the strength of their semifinals finish in Pomona. The event will take place as part of Saturday’s qualifying runs scheduled for 12:50 p.m. and 3:20 p.m. The post Jordan Vandergriff Ready for First NHRA 4-Wide Experience first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Nissan Rebuilds Its SUV IdentityNissan is making a bold push into the U.S. body-on-frame SUV market with the Xterra, which is set to compete against staple nameplates like the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler. In an interview with Automotive News, Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa said that the V6 hybrid expected in the Xterra will feature a parallel hybrid setup. Espinosa claims a parallel hybrid system will be “very competitive,” citing improved towing capability and more consistent power delivery under load. That contrasts with series hybrids like Nissan’s own e-Power system, which will also play a role in the company’s strategy moving forward but will likely be limited to smaller, unibody vehicles. Autoya/YouTube The Mechanics Behind the MuscleUnlike a series hybrid, which uses a combustion engine solely as a generator, a parallel hybrid can send power to the wheels from both the engine and the electric motor. Since electric motors deliver maximum torque from zero RPM, this setup should help the Nissan Xterra move heavy loads or a trailer more easily from a stop. Once the vehicle is in motion, the hybrid system can improve efficiency, helping Nissan meet stricter emissions regulations while also delivering better fuel economy for drivers. Both the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler offer V6 engines, but neither currently pairs one with a hybrid system. The Bronco’s flagship engine is a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 producing 418 horsepower. Meanwhile, the Wrangler was offered a plug-in hybrid variant called the 4xe, though it was dropped for the 2026 model year as Stellantis shifted its focus toward range-extended electric vehicles. Espinosa noted that EVs will also remain part of Nissan’s lineup, saying the company’s multi-powertrain approach is “more about being flexible and adaptable.” He added, “We want to have choice for customers.” Nissan A Balancing Act for NissanIt’s too early to tell whether a V6 hybrid will be the best solution for the upcoming Xterra, especially since such a system can add weight, cost, and complexity, potentially leading to higher repair costs if components are damaged. For now, what’s clear is that Nissan plans to launch the returning nameplate in late 2028. The Xterra will be just one of five models built on the new ladder-frame platform to be produced in the U.S. That’s quite a transformation for a brand that has long leaned on sedans and crossovers while trying to regain its footing following the era of former CEO Carlos Ghosn. Autoya/YouTube View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Josh Hart and his John Force Racing team hope to take the sting out of their second-round departure at the Winternationals two weeks ago by pulling the HendrickCars.com Top Fuel Dragster in the winner’s circle at the conclusion of the April 24-26 NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway outside Charlotte, N.C. “It’s awesome. We, as drivers, just have to pay attention,” Hart said regarding the unique format of the 4-Wide Nationals. “A lot of people don’t understand when you’re in these cars and you’re turning into a lane, you can’t necessarily differentiate which lane you’re headed towards. So as long as you know what lane you’re in and you can focus on the bulb that you need to focus on, you should be able to do your job. I think that it’s a pretty cool spectacle for the fans. The difference for me is now I’ve got a dog in the fight that I’m confident with so that we can win this race.” The HendrickCars.com scheme at the 4-Wide Nationals will be the only event that Hart’s team will run a scheme other than Speedmaster for the balance of the 2026 season. “I cannot put into words how excited I am to be affiliated with such an amazing organization that is the largest name in automotive history in my book,” said Hart. “I’ve looked up to them. I’ve followed their racing. It’s absolutely epic as I’m also in cars for my occupation. What a great role model and what a great success story to follow. So, hopefully, we can make them proud. I support the colors and am prouder than I can put into words.” The 2026 Gatornationals titlist qualified second at Pomona and charged to victory in the first round of eliminations with a run of 3.698 seconds at 336.91 mph. Lined up next to Tony Stewart in Round 2, Hart left the starting line a mere seven-thousandths-of-a-second after Stewart and was running side-by-side at half-track before slowing as he neared the finish line, allowing the eventual event winner to take the win light. “We need to use it to focus, prepare, and execute,” Hart said of the second-round exit. “It’s definitely fuel for the fire and we will do exactly that: conquer and divide.” Hart is currently third in the 2026 Top Fuel standings after victory at the season-opener at Gainesville and second-round showings at Phoenix and Pomona. Hart and the HendrickCars.com team qualified to compete in this weekend’s Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on the strength of their quarterfinals finish in Pomona. The event will take place as part of Saturday’s qualifying runs scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. This story was originally published on April 22, 2026. The post Josh Hart to Run HendrickCars.com Scheme for NHRA 4-Wide Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

THE WES BUCK SHOW – EPISODE 422 “NITROUS, TWO-WHEELS, AND STREET HEAT” SOME WEEKS ARE ABOUT WINNERS. SOME WEEKS ARE ABOUT MOMENTUM. THIS WEEK? WE’VE GOT BOTH. This week on The Wes Buck Show, we’re bringing in a lineup that covers multiple lanes of the sport, and all of them are hot right now. First up, Tommy Franklin, PDRA owner and Pro Nitrous standout. Not only is he helping run one of the baddest series in the country, but he’s also out there competing at a high level himself. Fresh off a strong weekend, we’re gonna talk PDRA, Pro Nitrous, and what it takes to juggle promoter and racer at the same time. Then we bring in Richard Gadson, one of the top names in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle. Championship pedigree, elite talent, and a guy who has been right in the mix at the highest level. We’re gonna talk about last season, how this year is shaping up, and what it takes to compete in one of the most competitive classes in NHRA. And rounding it out, we’ve got Nate Prater, who by all accounts just threw an absolute banger with Street Car Bragging Rights. The buzz is real, the turnout was big, and people are still talking about it. We’re gonna break down what made it hit, what’s next, and why this brand is catching fire. Three guests. Three different corners of drag racing. One loaded show. LET’S GO. Each week on The Wes Buck Show, Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter bring their unique insights and analysis to the most electrifying moments and storylines from a packed weekend of drag racing. SUBSCRIBE for the latest in drag racing: @dragillustrated GRAB YOUR MERCH: dragillustrated.store STAY CONNECTED: @thewesbuckshow @dragillustrated RACERS CLUB MERCH: racers.club Wanna sponsor the show? Contact us: [email protected] dragracing #wesbuck #TommyFranklin #PDRA #ProNitrous #RichardGadson #ProStockMotorcycle #NatePrater #StreetCarBraggingRights #WBS #DI #RacersClub This story was originally published on April 22, 2026. The post The Wes Buck Show | Ep. 422 | Tommy Franklin, Richard Gadson, & Nate Prater! first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Niece Motorsports has announced that Shane van Gisbergen will drive the No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado at Watkins Glen International on May 8. He will be joined by Cup Series teammate Ross Chastain at Niece Motorsports for the event. The three-time Supercars champion has six Cup wins, five O'Reilly wins, but no victories in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. His one and only start in the third level ...Keep readingView the full article

As Keith Haney pulled his Jerry Bickel Race Cars-built, Pat Musi-powered “Black Widow” C7 Corvette into the waterbox alongside Tommy Franklin for the final round of Pro Nitrous at the Summit Racing Equipment PDRA East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech, he knew he wasn’t supposed to be here. Not just the final round – he wasn’t supposed to be at Darana Motorsports Park-Benson period. Haney’s own Midwest Drag Racing Series was scheduled to have their season-opener at Xtreme Raceway Park the same weekend, but inclement weather forced them to delay the event until Nov. 6-7. The rescheduled race will now be the Ronnie Hobbs World Finals. With his own racing plans taken away, Haney pivoted. After a quick call to his tuner Brandon Switzer, Haney told his team they were headed to North Carolina to compete against the best nitrous cars PDRA has to offer. “I don’t like sitting still,” Haney said with a chuckle. “I can’t go that long without racing.” In a battle between series owners, it initially appeared like Haney would come in and snatch the 660 Man. A huge starting line advantage gave Haney a car-length lead almost immediately, but around halfway down the track a huge burst of fire out of the hood slowed him down just enough for Franklin’s “Jungle Rat 3.0” ’69 Camaro to drive past for the victory. “I had him beat on the tree, .007 to his 089. He was nowhere to be found other than smelling the parachutes coming out the back of my car,” said Haney. “But we had her spicy. We didn’t come here to run a .66 in the finals. We came here to run a low .60. I come to win. I was ready. I did my job, he [Switzer] did his job – the motor just wasn’t happy with what we gave it. Everything’s still good. We got a hole in a piston, gotta replace a couple sleeves, but we gave it all we had.” As a two-time MWDRS points champion, Haney is no stranger to final rounds. But this one felt a bit different. To understand how special it was, you have to go back to the Drag Illustrated Winter Series. Haney debuted the “Black Widow” in Bradenton at the U.S. Street Nationals with zero testing. He admits it wasn’t the plan, but parts breakage on his “Black Mamba” Camaro forced his hand. “We made the decision to go to U.S. Street with the new car because we didn’t really have a choice,” Haney said. “The Mamba was broken pretty good – the whole back end –forcing us to bring the new car out. We normally go test for a week or two before the race with nobody even seeing us, but we didn’t have that opportunity for this one. The car didn’t get finished until the week of the race, and it just takes time to learn.” Still trying to figure everything out with the new car, Haney didn’t perform as well at the Winter Series as he knows he’s capable of. And with Switzer not available to attend the MWDRS season-opener (nor the PDRA East Coast Nationals as it turned out), the duo knew they needed to test extensively. After a full day preparing the car, the team headed to Tulsa Raceway Park for three days of non-stop testing. For the first two days, the car still didn’t want to act right. But on the third day, things changed. “A lot of people don’t know this, but I’ve owned Tulsa [Raceway Park] since 2011, and I have never tested a Pro Mod at that track,” said Haney. “Our last day, Brandon said, ‘We got to have everything right. I think I’ve got everything where I know it needs to be.’ That last day, we go 3.62 at 207 mph, and Brandon says, ‘We got a race car.’” Unfortunately, as the weather forecast continued to worsen for his own event, Haney made the tough decision to call XRP owner Clyde Scott and tell him the race needed to be postponed. As both a businessman and a family man, Haney didn’t want to force teams to spend their time and money for traveling just to sit in the rain. Yet there was an opportunity gained from the unfortunate situation. “I called Brandon and the guys and said, ‘I want to make some hits. I want to go race PDRA Pro Nitrous and see how I stand up with those guys.’ And immediately the guys said, ‘Yeah, whatever you want to do, boss.’ They want to race too. They enjoy success.” Almost immediately, the team – Haney, Steve Cooks, Bobby Savedra III, Jordan Savedra, and Adam Engnes – made plans to head out to Benson, N.C. Severe thunderstorms were rolling through the Midwest as Haney was leaving with the rig – he admits if they’d left just 20 minutes later, they likely would’ve been caught up in a tornado that tore through Muskogee, Oklahoma. By Thursday morning, it was time to see if all the hard work had paid off. Three test passes, three clean hits. The “Black Widow” was more consistent than it had ever been heading into Friday’s qualifying. Three qualifying sessions, and three more clean hits – including a 3.665 at 206.64 mph that landed Haney in the No. 6 spot out of 21 drivers. For the first time since debuting it at the Winter Series, Haney knew he had a hot rod. “It took us a bit to figure it out, but I love driving this car,” said Haney. “I can see every single bit of the racetrack. Every single light that’s on the tree. I can see out of this Corvette body better than anything I’ve ever seen out of in my life. The car drives better than anything I’ve ever driven. “And let’s talk about 21 nitrous cars,” Haney added. “The most they’ve had in a long time. Go pull up any sheet. I couldn’t tell you when they last had 21 nitrous cars. They outdid the Pro Boost category.” On race day, Haney lined up against Billy Albert in round one and won with a 3.714 at 206.35 to Albert’s 3.747. He then lined up against another Brandon Switzer-tuned driver, PDRA Darlington winner Mike Achenbach, in the second round. Achenbach went -.011 on the tree, while Haney rolled to a 3.755 at 195.19. “Once I let go of the button against Albert in that first round, I said, ‘This car can’t be beat,’” recalled Haney. “When I let go of the button and the front end come up and it did what it did, I said, ‘It can’t be beat. I think I can win this race.’” A timing system malfunction with the Christmas tree plagued the semifinal pairing between Haney and Buddy Perkinson, causing Perkinson to leave the line late. PDRA officials determined the race needed to be ran again; however, after losing with a 3.691 at 204.79 to Haney’s 3.664 at 206.48, Perkinson declined the opportunity to rerun the race. “I’ll admit it – I was mad that after I had won, basically crying on the top end like, I wasn’t supposed to do this,” Haney said. “And then all of a sudden, someone comes over and said something malfunctioned in the tree, we’re going to probably have to rerun. I said, ‘I am not re-running. I’ll go home.’ I was emotional. “Buddy, being the sportsman he is, and his team are, they’re good people,” added Haney. “We’re parked next to each other. We’ve talked all weekend. They played with my dog. We’ve had a great time. Let me tell you, that’s real sportsmanship right there.” While the final didn’t go Haney’s way – an especially tough loss considering it appeared to be all but won – it was a monumental step in his program with the new car. Nine consecutive passes with zero aborted runs throughout the weekend prior to the finals, reaction times that were on point in eliminations (.031, .033, .053, .007), and a car that will be a contender throughout the rest of 2026. “We went from the outhouse to the penthouse in just three days,” Haney said with a smile. “The PDRA really showed good camaraderie for the sport with me coming here. We made more noise in drag racing…if you look on the internet, it’s everywhere. It’s been really good for the sport because you’ve seen them talking good about Midwest, and we always talk good about PDRA. I came to support this race because I believe in it and I care about the sport, and I feel like the Franklins care about the sport. I think we proved this weekend we’re something.” The post “From the Outhouse to the Penthouse:” Keith Haney Discusses Impressive Showing at PDRA East Coast Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Last year, the Bovensiepen Zagato was revealed, a coachbuilt masterpiece based on the BMW M4 Convertible. This stunning machine is a collaboration between luxury automotive brand Bovensiepen and iconic Italian design firm Zagato. At the time of its reveal, we didn’t know how much it would cost or the full extent to which it could be customized, but the company has now shared this information. Let’s just say that this dramatically prettier “M4” comes with a price tag that’s far in excess of anything you can buy from BMW. Over Four Times An M4 Convertible’s Price Bovensiepen Zagato Bovensiepen View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article The Bovensiepen Zagato is limited to just 99 units and each one will cost €369,495, which works out to around $434,000 at current rates. That’s over four times as much as the M4 Competition Convertible, which starts at $98,400 in the United States. It falls short of what BMW charged for the modern 3.0 CSL, though; that was priced at over $800k and is loosely based on the M4 CSL. Although the Bovensiepen Zagato is a coupe, it’s based on the M4 Convertible, allowing the company to create a sleek, pillarless design with Zagato’s famous double-bubble roof. The normal M4’s enormous grille has been entirely binned, and for the better. In its place is a much more attractive front fascia with a low, wide hood and reshaped headlights. The exterior body is crafted from carbon, and in total, the car has over 400 custom parts and takes over 250 hours to build. At the back, the taillights closely resemble the ones on the M4 CSL, but everything else is different. Overall, it’s a vastly more elegant car than the BMW it’s based on. Highly Customizable Bovensiepen Zagato Bovensiepen View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article Customers spending over $400k on a coachbuilt car expect to be able to personalize it to suit their tastes, and the Bovensiepen Zagato’s configurator shows just how far you can go. There are metallic, Individual, and Bovensiepen "Paintwork on demand" options for the exterior. Some of the most vivid shades include Speed Yellow, Volcano Red, Rosso metallizzato, and Azzurro California. Various diamond-cut wheel options are available, as are several brake caliper options, including milled Bovensiepen script in the color of your choosing. Bovensiepen Zagato Bovensiepen View the 5 images of this gallery on the original article The interior is clearly inherited from the M4, but materials are significantly upgraded—that comes as no surprise, since Bovensiepen was founded by the sons of Alpina's founder, and Alpina BMWs have always been a step up in quality. Merino leather is standard, with Lavalina leather in colors like Mugello Red, Verde Heritage, Birch, and Heaven (blue). The color you choose extends to the roof pillars, shift lever, and door panels. Although generally well-equipped by default, Bovensiepen allows you to add the following extras: Carbon PackageLuggage area and floor lining in AlcantaraEngine Compartment PackageLavalina steering wheel with thin rimThese options are in addition to standard items like Comfort Access, electric front seats with heating, an Alcantara headliner, a driving assistant, and a Harman Kardon sound system. The 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine has been tuned to make 602 horsepower, enabling a 0-62 mph time of 3.3 seconds—so this high-end coupe will outsprint every normal M4. Final Thoughts Bovensiepen With gorgeous looks, the proven M4 base, high exclusivity, and potent performance, the Bovensiepen Zagato is one of the most desirable coupes in the world. Its price puts it into a league with the likes of Rolls-Royce, but it’s really competing with rarities in the coachbuilt world. For the 99 lucky customers who can afford one, it’s a car that should be as good to drive as it is to look at, and it'll likely still be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars years from now. View the full article