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, […]
Category: Engines
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 […]
Does the Silverado 1500 RST Live up to Its Sporty Name?
What’s in a name? That which we call a Trail Boss would, by any other name, still be the boss of the trails. Still, other trucks deny their purpose and refuse their trim name, leaving themselves open to the slings and arrows of vicious mockery from enthusiasts. But where does the Silverado 1500 RST fall? […]
Tracking the Demise of the Manual Transmission
The auto industry has never been big on stagnation, with new styles, features, and entire segments steadily replacing the status quo. Some long-lost features like tail fins, ashtrays, and hood ornaments speak to changing consumer tastes, while others like CD and cassette players, telescoping antennas, and manual crank windows have been rendered obsolete by advances […]
Six American V8 Muscle Cars You Can Still Buy Used
Everyone knows the sound of a V8 roaring, even if they’re not a car person. With their massive torque and horsepower figures, V8s are the only engines that can satisfy serious cravings for what can only be described as oomph. However, it’s no secret that administrations at every level have been putting pressure on vehicle […]
The Ram 1500 RHO Is an F-150 Raptor Fighter
Looking at the new 2025 lineup that will soon start showing up at your Ram dealer, you might notice a conspicuous absence, especially if you’re an avid off-roader. The Ram 1500 TRX made its debut for the 2021 model year, and it sang its swan song during the 2024 model year. But just because it’s […]
What’s New on the 2024 F-150 Raptor
Since it burst on the scene in 2010, the F-150 Raptor has turned heads with its brash performance and devil-may-care attitude. In their original review, MotorTrend described it as what happens when hot rodders decide to go off-road racing. For my money, it’s the vehicle that truly spawned the “mainstream super-truck” category of souped-up trucks […]
The Wrangler Rubicon 392 Final Edition Marks the End of Jeep’s V8 Era
When it first hit the market in 2021, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 was unlike any model the off-road giant had ever produced. The Rubicon 392 boasted the off-road resume drivers had come to expect from the Jeep brand and was packed with a generous list of luxury features to boot, but it was the […]
Are Chevrolet Performance Parts Worth it?
Whether you’re talking about the Camaro, Corvette, or award-winning pickups like the Silverado and Colorado, the name “Chevy” has long been synonymous with performance. Walk into your local Chevy dealer and you’ll find exciting new models like the 2024 Camaro, a potent pony car powered by a small-block V8 that puts out 455 hp and […]
What Makes the Rimac Nevera THE Supercar to Watch
It’s really hard to choose the “coolest” supercar. By definition, they are superior to the daily driver production cars we see each day, at least in terms of performance. When it comes to soccer practice carpools or fishing trips with your buddies, they might not be the ideal pick, especially if you’re trying to keep […]
What’s New With the 2024 Harley-Davidson Street Glide
Since its introduction in 1984, the Harley-Davidson Street Glide evolved from a basic bagger to a bike that some argue is the best Grand American tourer of the bunch. Blending traditional style and long-ride comfort with agility for riders who want a sporty edge, the Street Glide is a bike with a wheel squarely 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 Truck Engine Battle Keeps Raging On
From what I’ve seen, few folks are as passionate about their vehicles as truck owners. It makes sense to me: people with trucks often depend on them to be able to get their jobs done and need to know they can count on them day after day. Even if you’re someone who has a truck […]
How Dodge Is Creating a New Generation of High-Performance Vehicles
Recent years have seen the Dodge brand focusing almost exclusively on muscle cars, specifically the Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger. Sure, there’s also the Dodge Durango SUV––which still packs quite the performance punch within its segment––but for the most part, you opt for Dodge if you want an awesome American muscle car. The times, however, […]
What the 2025 Ram 1500 Hurricane Engine Means for the Ram Brand
The Ram brand is changing. The last of the V8 interceptors are here, under the hoods of the 2024 model years of Stellantis’ subsidiaries. The Hemi is going away. The TRX is going extinct. There is gnashing of teeth and bawling of eyes, but change is a necessary step to embrace the future. Stellantis is […]
Liter Bikes Are Dumb, and That’s Okay
“You don’t need a liter bike!” I scream it from the rooftops hoping that every fledgling rider out there will hear me, but then I quickly scurry down the stairs to my MT-10 and ride home, hoping that none saw my hypocrisy. The argument against liter bikes is a hard one to make when only […]
The 2024 Ford Bronco Raptor Encapsulates Practicality and High Performance
To say that the 2024 Ford Bronco Raptor isn’t for the faint at heart would be an understatement. The Raptor series, which also includes the F-150 and Ranger, is Ford’s answer to those who have no fear when it comes to the most inhospitable of terrains. Hell hath no fury like an individual who has […]
What Toyota Unveiled at the 2023 SEMA Show
The annual SEMA show (Specialty Equipment Market Association) most recently happened between October 31st and November 9th, 2023. This is a massive automotive aftermarket trade show that’s hosted in Las Vegas, wherein the industry goes wild for the reveal of concept cars, big announcements from major brands, and the chance to rub elbows with the […]
Customizing the 2024 Chevy Camaro to Make It Your Own
The Camaro is undoubtedly one of the most revered vehicles ever to come from Chevrolet. From its humble beginnings during the golden age of the muscle car to today, few vehicles have amassed such a reputation of prestige, performance, and power. If you were to compile a list of the many different individuals who utilized […]