Almost as long as cars have existed, people have raced them. From early point-to-point races like the 1908 New York to Paris event to modern short tracks, superspeedways, and road courses, thousands of circuits have existed in the past 150 years. Today, the National Speedway Directory and RacingIn.com estimate there are over 1,200 active race […]
Category: Cars
Coming to the Grid: A Round-Up of New Brands in Formula One
Change is inevitable on the Formula One circuit. There were times when fans thought Mercedes domination would go on forever or that we’d never see a day without Lotus and Brabham on the track. Admittedly, the days are long gone of seemingly half a dozen teams springing up or folding in a calendar year and […]
Seven of Honda’s Coolest Cars From Past to Present
Walking around your average Honda dealer, you’re more likely to describe the vehicles surrounding you as “practical” than “exciting.” But enthusiasts know that there’s more to Honda than commuter cars and family SUVs—the brand has long been making vehicles that are aimed at customers for whom driving is a lifestyle rather than a simple method […]
The History and Potential Future of the Toyota Celica
While the general public probably knows Toyota best for making practical commuter cars like the Corolla and Prius, auto enthusiasts know that the Japanese automaker has a fun side, too. Toyota’s history of making performance cars designed to deliver thrills stretches back much further than the official creation of the company’s Gazoo Racing division in […]
The CarLifeNation Guide to Importing an Economical Kei Car
While Japan’s kei cars have been imported to the US since the late 1940s, they’re enjoying a bit of a resurgence thanks to countless social media posts and YouTube videos. A bonafide viral sensation, kei cars are tiny cars, trucks, and vans that almost resemble playthings next to larger vehicles dominating American roadways. Defined by […]
What Is Honda Performance Development?
Have you ever been to a Honda dealer, seen the HPD emblem on a vehicle, and wondered what it stood for? Racing enthusiasts will likely clue you in on its meaning straight away. HPD stands for “Honda Performance Development,” and it has been the high-octane arm of the brand here in America for decades. Most […]
The Bugatti Tourbillon: Does This $4 Million Hybrid Shatter Performance Expectations?
For more than 115 years, the Bugatti name has been associated with vehicles that offer the highest performance and luxury. Bugatti was arguably the original supercar and hypercar manufacturer, and modern rides like the EB 110, Veyron, Chiron, and Bolide have carried on the tradition. Soon, another nameplate will be joining this illustrious list. On […]
Stick Shifters Commiserate: The 2024 Civic Hatchback Is the Last Mainstream Honda With a Manual
For decades, manual transmissions in American vehicles have been an endangered species. According to Motor1, less than 2% of cars sold stateside in 2023 were equipped with manual transmissions. Yet despite the proliferation of automatic transmissions, stick shifting has carved a niche with automakers like Honda still offering it in certain vehicles. Honda even trumpets […]
The New Corvette ZR1 Is Here!
Since Chevy announced the impending return of the Corvette ZR1, fans have barely been able to contain their excitement. The C8 Corvette Stingray and performance variants such as the Z06 are already continuing the vehicle’s fine tradition, with the Corvette Z06 winning the 2023 MotorTrend Performance Car of the Year Award. If you didn’t think […]
Vintage Cars Show Us How Far We’ve Come
Today, it seems like automotive engineering is advancing at a breakneck pace. More technology is being introduced every year, and electrification has created entirely new types of vehicles seemingly overnight. However, this isn’t anything new in the automotive world. Looking back to the early 1900s reveals an age in which engineering and design were advancing […]
The Coolest Cars of the 2024 Wilbraham Hill Climb
The Wilbraham Hill Climb dates back to 1908, when some of the earliest cars took on the challenge of being the fastest up Monson Road in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. Today, the event is still going strong and has become a celebration of vintage vehicles of all types. The 2024 Wilbraham Hill Climb had 21 entries that […]
Remembering AMC: The Story of America’s Last Independent Automaker
While it might have since faded into the rearview mirror, American Motors Corporation was a formative brand that helped shape the auto industry. The defunct automaker might not be familiar to younger drivers, but for those who remember the days of tail fins, chromed-out bumpers, and gaudy hood ornaments, AMC likely played a part in […]
Experience Vintage Racing at the Wilbraham Hill Climb
Hill climbs are one of the oldest forms of motorsports, dating back virtually to the invention of automobiles. Most enthusiasts have probably heard of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which has run since 1916, but there are even older events across the country that you have probably never heard of. The CarLifeNation team recently […]
I’m in Love with My Car: Cars That Inspired Music
When I used to DJ on college radio many years ago, I’d love to put together sets that were inspired by different subjects. Halloween would always feature scary songs, and I’d often program a block of summer sunshine music when the Massachusetts sky gave us a blizzard. But my favorite sets were the ones built […]
The C8 Corvette Looks Like a Supercar, But Does It Perform Like One?
There’s little doubt the eighth-generation Chevy Corvette Stingray is the most powerful, best-handling Corvette ever produced. The culmination of more than seventy years of research, development, and open-road thrills, this all-American machine is beloved by critics and enthusiasts alike. Over the decades, the Corvette has evolved from a basic roadster to a coupe that screams […]
The Case for Convertibles
Convertibles might seem like a luxury in today’s market, but these open-air rides were actually some of the world’s first cars. That said, these early horseless carriages don’t have a lot in common with today’s convertibles, and the original 1897 Daimler Grafton Phaeton might not draw the right kind of attention when you’re cruising by […]
The BMW M2 Coupe: The People’s Supercar
For over 50 years, the BMW M Series has brought racing-inspired performance to the streets. What started on the racetrack with the BMW Motorsport division became a way for the common person to experience the same power, precision, and thrills as the world’s best drivers from Circuit of the Americas to Silverstone. You have many […]
The 2024 GR Corolla Premium: A New Take on Toyota’s High-Performance Hatchback
When the Toyota GR Corolla hit showrooms in early 2022, it was a jolt to the system for the Corolla nameplate and for high-performance compact lovers alike; the Corolla Hatchback that people knew for decades as a solid, dependable commuter car was suddenly fun. Then, the GR Corolla Circuit Edition joined the Core trim in […]
The 2025 Suburban & Tahoe Keep Diesel Engines Going
It’s fair to say that diesel doesn’t have the best reputation in the US. Years ago, this bias was pretty well-founded: old diesel engines were loud, provided a hard ride, and emitted an ungodly amount of smog. But advances in engineering have changed that. Today’s diesel engines are quieter, smoother, cleaner, and must meet similar […]
The 2024 Mini Cooper JCW Is the Biggest Small Car You Will Find
Once the odometer finally ticked over the final mile of its recommended break-in period, it was time to finally take CarLifeNation’s new 2024 test car out for a joyride to see what it really feels like with its full capabilities unlocked. Unfortunately, winter has plagued our New England headquarters, so we weren’t able to fully […]