For quite some time now, the Japanese dual-sport market over 300cc has been a bit of a Jurassic Park; all of the options were either full-on adventure bikes or had a design that has remained unchanged since before smartphones were invented. The only exception was the Honda CRF450RL, but since it is basically a street-legal […]
Yamaha’s Fascinating, Little-Known History of Making Car Engines
When I say “Yamaha,” there are a few things you might think of. One may be the world’s largest musical instrument manufacturer, churning out everything from pianos and guitars to drumsticks. Another is the audio company that, among other things, developed the first successful digital synthesizer and the first CD recorder. If you’re reading CarLifeNation, […]
The Ram 1500 HEMI: The History of a Historic Truck
If you’re a fan of trucks, you’ve likely heard of the Ram 1500. Seeing one drive down the road is an everyday occurrence for most of us. There are a lot of trucks on the market, but Ram always tends to stick out for good reasons. Its affordability, durability, and towing capacity make it hard […]
Heavy-Duty Showdown: Comparing the 2025 Chevy Silverado 2500 and 3500
As the pickup segment has grown in popularity, it’s also become a little watered down. There’s nothing wrong with the new generation of light-duty models that focus on efficiency, comfort, and luxury, but the influx of smaller trucks—especially unibody models like the Ford Maverick, Hyundai Santa Cruz, and Honda Ridgeline—threatens to dilute the segment’s reputation […]
Freakishly Fun: The Oddest Motorcycle Engines Ever Made
In many respects, the evolution of motorcycle engines has been straightforward. Internal combustion piston engines established themselves as the predominant engine type by the early 1900s, and most designs—two-stroke, four-stroke, parallel-twin, V-twin, etc—have built on this. Along the way, horsepower and torque kept going up, just like with cars. But in the book of motorcycle […]
Mazda Spirit Racing: Renewing a Tradition of Going Fast
For decades, Mazda has been known for quick cars that inspire exhilaration for their drivers. Their motto is literally “Zoom-Zoom.” Mazda debuted two concept cars at the annual Tokyo Auto Salon show in January 2024 as part of a new sub-brand: Mazda Spirit Racing. Dubbed the Spirit Racing RS and the Spirit Racing 3, these […]
Wrangler Rubicon: Defying the Odds
What if one of the most iconic off-roaders never existed? Well, that was almost the case with the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Long before this exhilarating trim made its way onto showroom floors across the nation, tensions were high at the factory, but lo and behold, hard work and dedication persevered. Today, we have one of […]
Exploring Honda’s New Off-Road Beast in the Pilot TrailSport
Honda has built a reputation as one of the most reliable brands on the market, and the critics seem to agree. The Japanese automaker ranks as the second-best non-luxury brand in terms of predicted reliability, earning a stellar 70/100 rating from Consumer Reports. Honda has also earned some recognition for its performance-oriented offerings, with models […]
Enjoy Luxury on a Budget With These Three Used Cadillac Models
Cadillac has always been known as a luxury brand, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to change anytime soon. While the advent of all-electric vehicles has done its part in shaking up the market, Cadillac has embraced the challenge head-on and used it as an excuse to roll out one of its fanciest models […]
The 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 May Be the Last True Enthusiast Supercar
When the redesigned 2025 Porsche 911 was unveiled earlier this year, it ruffled some feathers. Like almost every high-end sports car these days (and many cars that are neither high-end nor sporty), the new 911 introduced a hybrid powertrain and dropped the manual transmission. While the result was certainly fast, it was a double slap […]
The Koenigsegg Jesko Swedish Hypercar Arrives in America
August 17 and 18, 2024, were big days for US hypercar fans. On the 17th, the Koenigsegg Jesko made its official American debut at The Quail Motorsports Gathering in Carmel, California. The following day, Koenigsegg presented the first Jesko to a US customer, with hypercar enthusiast F.J. Miller receiving the honors. Despite small tweaks to […]
Celebrating 60 Years of Mustang History With Five Favorite Models
2025 marks the Ford Mustang’s diamond jubilee as this quintessential pony car celebrates 60 years on the market. Ford is doing its part to get in on the festivities, gifting 2025 Ford Mustang drivers with everything from a 315-hp turbo four-cylinder to a 500-hp V8 Dark Horse and a 60th Anniversary Edition that’s limited to […]
The Off-Road Capabilities of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner
In a world of crossovers, compact SUVs, and other vehicles tailored for light off-roading, sometimes you want a vehicle that returns to the roots of sport utility vehicles. The Toyota 4Runner was introduced in 1983 as just such a machine—one you can take on any terrain, from the Appalachian Mountains to the dunes of the […]
BMW’s High-Performance History and Supercar Future
With over 60 years of sports car success to its name, drivers can trust BMW to produce a thrilling ride. While the brand’s M Series offerings have helped to expand BMW’s high-performance profile, their homegrown sports cars have captured drivers’ hearts and minds worldwide. BMW now looks to take the leap into the supercar stratosphere […]
No Expense Spared…At a Budget Price? The 2025 Yamaha R9
Ever since the death of the legendary R6, Yamaha fans have been begging for another middleweight sportbike from the venerable triple-tuning fork marque. The R7 was revealed shortly after the R6’s demise, but many felt it was lacking as a successor to the R6, mostly because it was never intended to be. The R7 was […]
Five Features That Make the GMC Hummer EV Pickup an Off-Road Colossus
The Hummer’s impressive off-road resume isn’t that surprising for those who are familiar with the model’s history. Originally introduced as a civilian-grade version of the US Army’s High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle—colloquially known as a Humvee—the Hummer first hit the market in 1992. The rugged SUV boasted much of the same heavy-duty off-road equipment as […]
Exploring the Manual Advantage With the 2025 Honda Civic Si
With the Civic Si, Honda has taken one of the world’s most popular models and infused it with the sort of sportiness that can turn every drive into an edge-of-your-seat experience. It might not be able to reach some of the high-speed heights of the sportiest Civic variant you will find at your Honda dealer, […]
The RB17: A Look at Red Bull’s First Car Sold to the Public
Red Bull has said for decades that they can give you wings. Soon, 50 fortunate drivers will get to experience how a Red Bull-manufactured car does the same. On July 12, 2024, Red Bull unveiled the RB17 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England following years of development and testing. Designed by longtime Red […]
Why the Tundra TRD Pro Is the Top Dog in the TRD Family
Performance enthusiasts will agree that it takes a lot to really impress them, especially when it comes to off-road-ready vehicles. With legends like Jeep and Ford out there, it’s difficult for other automakers to really make a statement in this arena, but over the years, Toyota has come to occupy one of these top spots. […]
The Corolla FX16 Is Forgotten Legend
There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding the Toyota Corolla and its new GR (Gazoo Racing) variant, which turns the classic commuter car into a wild all-wheel drive rally car. However, veteran car enthusiasts know it’s not the first time Toyota has decided to throw caution to the wind with its venerable nameplate. Several special-edition […]