Autos
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The Legendary Small-Block Chevy V-8: A Look Back at Its Highlights
It’s not unreasonable to say the Chevrolet small-block V-8 changed the face of automotive engine history. Innovative and technologically advanced when it debuted in 1955, it greatly influenced future V-8 engine designs, both inside General Motors and among the competition. Enthusiasts embraced it and an entire performance aftermarket sprang up around it. Over the years, variations of the small-block V-8 have been used in race cars, off-road trucks, boats, and even custom motorcycles. It can also be found under the hood of everything from classic Ford hot rods to radical Jeep conversions. “The small-block Chevy is unquestionably the dominant domestic engine both in terms of sheer numbers and also in terms of longevity,” said Jeff Smith, senior technical editor for Car Craf...
This Wild 1969 Dodge Charger Has a Viper V-10 AND Twin Turbos
The definition of the word lucid in its simplest form describes something that is “straightforward and clear.” It can be used in various ways to describe certain things, but is most often associated with the thought process and the rational or sensible way to view a given situation. Crucial decisions are sometimes made when moments of lucidity take place—even when it comes to automobiles. In 2008, Dave Trevisan had what could be described as a moment of vehicular lucidity. It was a flash of mental clarity that actually took place at the racetrack while he was indulging in some drag racing with his brothers. At the time, he was in the process of modifying his 1969 Dodge Charger so that he too could join them and engage in some quarter-mile action—and then it hit him while standi...
Here It Is! World’s Greatest Drag Race 10
Gone was any option for using those velvet-smooth, 3.0-mile military runways. Thus, our three-year stint at Vandenberg Air Force Base came to a close. But where to go instead? Our original site for WGDR—the decommissioned Marine Corps Air Station El Toro—has become so degraded over time that we didn’t dare to take a field of supercars on it for high-speed runs. And most private airfields within reach of Los Angeles weren’t long enough to handle what has gone from a crazy idea to the expected: a half mile run to determine the ultimate winner. (Note for the uninitiated: It takes a lot of real estate to slow down a two-ton supercar doing 170-plus mph.) Enter an undisclosed test track in the California desert. The generous entity that donated its track has asked to remain anonymous...
2020 Kia Niro First Test: Great if the Toyota Prius Is Just Too Ugly
Kia Niro Full Overview As hybrid powertrains make their way into everything from minivans to supercars, their core mission remains the same: making stops at the gas station—and associated openings of your wallet—fewer and farther between. The Kia Niro is a hybrid built to meet that end. After a year with a 2017 model in our long-term test fleet, we know the Niro well. A 2020 refresh aimed to keep it a viable alternative to hybrid heavy hitters like the Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, and its own platform-mate, the Hyundai Ioniq. How do the Niro’s specs compare to those vehicles? And what else do you need to know about Kia’s dedicated hybrid? How Quick Is the Kia Niro? Combined output from the Niro’s electric motor and 1.6-liter gasoline I-4 measures 139 hp and 195 lb-ft of t...
1 of Just 50: Check Out This Porsche 911 Turbo S Gemballa GTR 8XX Evo-R
Even if you’re not a Porsche aficionado and can’t tell a Macan from a 911—if that’s you, why are you even reading this?—stuff like the 991-generation Porsche 911 Turbo S tend to separate themselves based on their aero modifications and performance. (In that model’s case, credit is twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-six that belts out a cool 580 horsepower that’s routed to all four wheels.) So the tough part then, at least for the high-tax-bracket types that can afford to buy these rockets, is figuring out how make those wild sleds stand out even more. Germany’s Finest Some people might go a simple route with, say, a funky vinyl wrap and fresh wheels, while others, like Eric Wong, choose to go way beyond over-the-counter bolt-ons and eye-searing color schemes. Thi...
2022 Ford Fusion Crossover-Style Wagon Spied with Full-Dash Interior Screen
In a move to spice up this absurd Bizarro World timeline, new spy shots of a mysterious long-roof prototype hints that Ford is readying a lifted five-door midsize wagon/SUV to clash with the Subaru Outback. Remember, this is the same Ford that canceled all traditional sedans and hatches in favor of a lineup populated only by trucks, crossovers, and full-size SUVs (and the Mustang). While there is no explicit Ford badging to be found on the exterior of the mule, the front fascia is very similar to the one found on the current Ford Edge, and that blacked-out oval badge in the center is a dead giveaway. Plus, we’d heard rumors of a CUV-style wagon on the horizon since soon after the demise of the original Fusion. We’re unsure of the original source of these images, but we do ...
“If 2020 Was a Car, What Would It Be?” We Asked, and Here Are Your Answers
Just ahead of the end of the dirty-diaper dumpster fire that was 2020, we asked our Twitter friends: “If 2020 was a car, what would it be?” The responses ranged from blindingly obvious to the subtlest shade of, well, shade. Some of you kept it topical to current events in the automotive industry, while others dug deep into the smelly annals of automotive history. To those who mined Google image search, Giphy, or Photoshopped their own memes, we salute you. Everyone else, enjoy scrolling through these selections from the replies—which include a surprising number of three-wheelers… From the “obvious yet 100 percent correct” department were suggestions of the Pontiac Aztek, the Ford Pinto, the AMC Gremlin, Ford’s Edsel, and the Yugo. But if you use stock ma...
2021 Lexus IS 350 F Sport First Test: Sporty Enough?
Lexus IS Full Overview Small changes sometimes bring big improvements. Just ask Lexus. The 2021 Lexus IS didn’t start from a blank piece of paper; instead, it continues on the same platform it’s been on since 2013 but receives small styling and mechanical upgrades to make the sedan better. The IS is the Japanese luxury brand’s most important sedan, and in an era where sedans are on a slow decline (and the GS is retiring), this revised sport sedan carries even more weight in the Lexus lineup. Standing out in a crowded segment (especially between sport sedans) is key for the 2021 Lexus IS. And for the last few years, the IS hasn’t really distinguished itself. Newcomers such as the Genesis G70 and Alfa Romeo Giulia gained attention thanks to their handling, o...
What Is a Belly Tank Racer? Drop Tank Cars and Lakesters Explained
Little lozenges with wheels and a view port zip along a dry lake bed. They show up in drawings and logos. They pop up at local car shows and land speed events. People call them belly tanks, tankers, or drop tanks, and they are associated with vintage dry lakes racing. But where did they come from, and why do they look the way they do? Belly tank racers are a mix of WWII aircraft leftovers and hot-rodding ingenuity. They’re part of the early days of hot-rodding but are still in use today. Let’s start with where they came from. Answer: the sky. See all 13 photos What is a Drop Tank Car? The drop tank was designed to extend flying time by acting as a portable fuel cell that could be dropped once empty. That way, the pilot could more nimbly engage the enemy. They’re also know...
Bored? Learn About Some Cars You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Whether you like it or not, you’ve got some free time to spend at home right about now. We’re here to help you make the most of it, so while you sit on the couch munching on that bowl of chips, why not read up on some of the weirder, more esoteric four-wheeled wonders you probably haven’t heard about before? The word “obscure” holds different weight depending on the person, and in this regard, we picked a few cars we believe our average car-minded reader from the States has likely never seen or read about before. (As distinct from “forgotten” rides that were sold here, such as these ’80s models, or these rad ’90s cars, or these convertibles.) In this weird, wacky world of obscure cars, there seemingly are a zillion one-off prototypes, f...
2020 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 Pros and Cons Review: Great Bones
Chevrolet Corvette Full Overview The mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette feels like other exotic cars, which is a new sensation for anyone familiar with the Chevy sports car. Hopping from Ferrari to Lamborghini to Chevy, the Corvette affirms that we made the right choice last year when we named the C8 our 2020 Car of the Year. Let’s be clear: The mid-engine Corvette Z51 is a car designed around the driver. Yes, it’s easy to look at the strip of Chiclet-sized HVAC control buttons separating the driver from the passenger and make fun. But once you’re actually behind the C8’s funky steering wheel, you’ll realize that the controls you need as the driver are the easiest to get to, and you’ll thank the car gods that they’re physical buttons, not buried in a to...
2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S Pros and Cons Review: Just Shy of Perfection
Porsche 911 Full Overview Pros Absolute magic on a back road Wonderful GT car Insanely quick Cons Magic replaced by cold competency on the track Street tires only We thought it was gone. Banished. We believed the good people of Stuttgart, with a bit of help from Weissach, had finally cured the Turbo’s one remaining weakness. Charging valiantly into our 2020 Best Driver’s Car field, though, the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S revealed that its Achilles’ heel remains. It’s easy to see why we’d think so. In two back-to-back comparisons earlier this year, both the coupe and convertible annihilated their challengers. McLarens and AMGs couldn’t hold a candle to the new Turbo S on the road. And frankly, things weren’t much different this time around. Just a few ...
