The Land Rover Defender and the Ford Bronco having been reanimated for release into the American automotive population (plus the ongoing popularity of the Jeep Wrangler) serves as proof that public interest in capable 4x4s hasn’t been dampened by the swarm of pavement-oriented crossovers that currently dominate automotive sales charts. To mark this off-road reawakening,
Month: March 2020
Delium’s Terra Raider M/T KU-255 offers maximum traction in muddy terrain. Its unique compound provides longer wear, enhanced wet traction, and more.
Remember when Japanese cars wore all their features right on their sleeves? Big, bold rocker graphics proclaiming “DOHC 16-VALVE,” “VTEC,” “Twin-Cam,” and that sort of thing. Well, the Isuzu Impulse RS might take the crown for U.S.-market Japanese cars with long-winded decals, with its back panel blaring: “ALL-WHEEL DRIVE INTERCOOLED TURBO.” And it’s all true.
Finally! A LEGO kit that lives its life a quarter-mile at a time. For $99.99, you can have your very own black 1970 Dodge Charger R/T just like Dominic Toretto’s from the Fast & Furious movie franchise. (You know, the juggernaut whose latest installment, F9, is delayed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.) This
The hype for the Tesla Cybertruck pickup is real. Alas, the production version of the electric truck still isn’t. On the other hand, the classic Volkswagen Type 2 Pick-Up is a fully realized truck that’s available today on the used-car market. Ignore, for the moment, that the VW is powered by a weak gas-fed flat-four cylinder and
The rugged, two-door 4×4 is a fast-fading vehicle format. Jeep’s Wrangler has kept it alive, though, and now it is joined by the return of Land Rover’s Defender SUV, which is available in two-door “90” guise. (The Defender 110 is the four-door model; similar to Jeep’s Wrangler Unlimited.) At first blush, the Jeep Wrangler and
Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains, the U.K.-based operation that develops and builds the high-tech hybrid powertrains for the six-time world champion Mercedes F1 team, has helped get a breathing aid for seriously ill COVID-19 patients ready for production in just 13 days. Mercedes-AMG HPP worked with engineers at University College of London and doctors at University
Organizers have canceled the North American International Auto Show scheduled for this June in Detroit, as the TCF Center (formerly Cobo Hall) becomes a Federal Emergency Management Agency temporary field hospital in the effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Dates have been scheduled for the next Detroit show in June 2021. “Although we are disappointed,
Sometimes on Hot Rod Garage, we work with spotless, classic cars. And sometimes we work with old clunkers we found in a junkyard and fixed up for cheap.
It may be a bit unorganized, even chaotic, but the Arsenal of Democracy is gearing up as the auto industry is scrambling to help health care workers fight a pandemic. Politics and confusion aside, carmakers and suppliers are forming partnerships and retooling idled plants to make masks, respirators, ventilators, and protective gear. Despite the voluntary
On Friday, after hinting that he may do so previously, President Trump invoked the Defense Production Act (DPA) compelling General Motors to make ventilators. This action is specific to General Motors, but confusingly comes several hours after that company announced plans to build ventilators at its Kokomo, Indiana, plant with partner Ventec Life Systems, which
We’ve seen all kinds of “tiny homes,” but this incredibly, wood-lined one doesn’t feel so small thanks to its clever use of space and materials. Also, it’s actually a school bus—so it’s not really that tiny, and combined with its excellent execution, it has just about everything a camper could need for you to live
The Bloodhound LSR team, caretakers of the long-gestating effort to eclipse the 763-mph land-speed record using a jet-powered wheeled missile of the same name, released a really cool video that shows how its car stacks up against representations of a Formula 1 racer, a Bugatti Chiron, and a regular road car in regards to acceleration
Is it just us, or does it seem like every last morsel of scandale and rumor about the new Chevrolet Corvette has cropped up in the internet’s every nook and cranny? GM employees have been arrested while driving it. One poor example had its wheels stolen while parked in Detroit, Michigan. There are aftermarket parts for it already, and
Mini is bringing back a stylish special edition that launched way back in 2007. Arriving in dealerships this April, the 2021 Mini Cooper S Convertible Sidewalk Edition receives special wheels, colors, and interior features. The Sidewalk Edition offers two paint color options: Deep Laguna Metallic and Enigmatic Black Metallic. Both hues are complemented by a special
The NTT IndyCar Series on March 26 announced that its biggest race, the Indianapolis 500, is postponed until August 23. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause organizers of major events—sporting and otherwise—to search for alternative dates in the hope they can salvage their seasons if spread of the virus is brought under control in time
You’re looking at “Brown Sugar,” a 1983 Chevy C30 dripping with nearly as much early 1980s nostalgia as Stranger Things. This was built for the 2019 SEMA show by River City Rods of Davenport, Iowa, a shop that was only founded in 2016. As you can see, they figured things out pretty quickly. This is
You have to love the Train à Grande Vitesse, the TGV, France’s iconic high-speed train, the pride of a nation of vehicular pioneers. And in the midst of an absolutely horrible disease outbreak (the coronavirus pandemic and the illness), the French have put the TGV to a novel use: carrying severely ill patients to less-impacted areas.
Morgan managed to squeeze out only four copies of the Plus 4 70th Anniversary Edition before shutting down its U.K. factory over mounting coronavirus concerns. A total of 20 vehicles will eventually be made, all featuring special badges, a gold-painted chassis, and slick Platinum metallic paint—a nod to the 70-years-young Plus 4 nameplate’s platinum anniversary. The
Quick stats: Jesse Colin Young, singer/songwriter for the Youngbloods Daily driver: 2019 Tesla Model X (Jesse’s rating: 10 on a scale of 1 to 10) Other cars: see below Favorite road trip: Point Reyes to Santa Barbara Car he learned to drive in: 1950s Mercury Monterey First car bought: Plymouth Barracuda While most people his
The Chevrolet Camaro coupe and convertible enter the 2021 model year with minimal changes according to the bow-tie brand’s fleet order guide. The most noteworthy change to the model is the addition of standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility across the line. It joins newly standard wireless charging on higher-end 3LT and 2SS
The 2020 Mazda CX-30 might be the newest addition to the Mazda family, but one peek inside makes it abundantly clear this crossover belongs in the same showroom. The Japanese automaker might not have the size, clout, or breadth as larger full-line global automakers, but the CX-30 continues the tradition of excelling in the areas
For many overlanders and off-roaders, modifying their SUV or truck is half the fun—I know this full well, as I’ve watched my wife turn her Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid into a light-duty overland expedition rig. But modifying any vehicle (not to mention assuming you know better than a team of highly skilled automotive engineers) can be
As a car fanatic, you already know that JDM stands for Japanese Domestic Market, and that Japan has a propensity for giving cars unintentionally funny names. You also know that a lot of Japanese cars don’t make it to North America—and to our dismay, they’re usually the coolest and/or weirdest ones. That forbidden fruit appeal
Yes, you can give your Fox-body Mustang a new paint job or an engine rebuild, but one of the easiest ways to make your classic sports car look and feel like new is to get an original-style window sticker. It’s a surprisingly cheap and simple add-on that you can get for your 1987-1989 Mustang on
Let’s cut to the chase: The McLaren F1 is one of the most legendary supercars ever made. There is simply no overstating how mind-blowing the F1 and its race-bred counterpart, the F1 GTR, were in the early 1990s. Just 104 F1s were ever made, but the F1 GTR is even rarer (26 made), and its
It’s no secret that the automotive industry moves fast, with fierce competition in every segment. It’s normal for vehicles generations to be replaced every five or six years, bringing new technology on board and under the skin, as well as better safety technologies. Jeep introduced the current-gen Cherokee as a 2014 model at the 2013
Most PowerPoint slide shows are a real snooze. Not this one that reportedly shows Toyota’s future product timeline, though. Credit a snitch at a recent dealer conference who snapped this pic, which reveals the launch timeline for several of our favorite Toyotas, as well as news of two new crossovers. Surprised? According to the sleuths
The current health crisis gripping the nation has halted the automotive industry and left many of us stuck at home for the next few weeks. And though we should feel proud that we’re doing our part to help flatten the curve, that doesn’t make the isolation and boredom any easier to deal with. (And we’re
Everyone is going electric, but given the high costs associated with developing EVs, it’s little surprise luxury brands now lead the mainstream push. Tesla (and to a lesser extent, Nissan) got the ball rolling, Mercedes-Benz created its EQ brand, the VW Group introduced the Audi E-Tron and Porsche Taycan, Ford says the Lincoln brand will