Now that former champion Matt Kenseth has officially kicked over the first domino, NASCAR’s annual “silly season” can begin in earnest.On Friday, at Kentucky Speedway, the 2003 NASCAR champion said he wouldn’t return for a sixth season in the No. 20 Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing. It’s unclear whether the 45-year-old Wisconsin native was told to make the announcement, or whether he did it without asking permission. In either case, he’s leaving JGR after five seasons that produced 11 poles, 14 victories, and three top-10 points seasons, including being the championship runner-up in his seven-victory season of 2013.Kenseth’s resume will help him find another ride. He was successful (19 poles, 38 victories and the 2003 title) in 13 full seasons with Roush Fenway Racing, then proved himself again at JGR. Except for his rare meltdown at Martinsville in the fall of 2015 –remember how he intentionally wrecked Joey Logano as … [Read more...]

John Force Racing's Robert Hight powered to the Funny Car qualifying lead Friday evening at the 20th annual Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by K&N Filters at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Tanner Gray (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also provisional qualifying leaders in their respective categories at the 13th of 24 events on the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.Hight set both ends of the track record after a 3.851-second pass at 334.73 mph in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS during the second qualifying session. He is aiming for his second No. 1 qualifier of the season and is currently chasing his first win of 2017.“We had a pretty good idea that track records were going to fall this weekend, and the advancement of Funny Cars over the years allows us to put these exciting runs together for the fans,” Hight said. “If we are able to lock … [Read more...]

Assembling the ‘best’ cars on sale, then. This, on a website where opinion is not in short supply, is obviously as far from a breeze as you’d think it would be. It works like this: an Autocar writer distributes a list of what he is absolutely sure are the best 50 cars on sale; the 50 cars that must be on the list. It is approximately 68 cars long. He asks for feedback, and it is widely given, and so the ‘best 50 cars on sale’ list gains another 10 cars and then loses a few through immediate howled derision. And so begins a short series of exchanges and revisions until we have something we mostly agree on, based on our extensive testing experience, objective measurement and analysis, and, naturally, blind prejudice – because sometimes only the latter will do. But then a curious thing happens, from around 15th position up to the top. From that point, there is less argument, more consensus. And when placings for the top 10 are being decided, and when … [Read more...]

Autoweek in review is where we bring you the biggest stories in the car world that you might have missed this week. Whether you were actually getting some work done or you stepped away from your computer for a moment, here's your chance to catch up and have something cool to talk about over the weekend. 2017 BMW 530i review: Redesign or big refresh? After spending the weekend tooling around in the new, seventh-gen BMW 5-Series, I really don’t know if I like it. I need to think about it more. According to BMW, compared to the outgoing model, ... Here's the first 'Top Gear America' trailer "Top Gear America" is just a month away from airing, no small feat given the demise of "Top Gear USA" exactly a year ago, and the BBC has just released the first brief teaser ... … [Read more...]

The 2018 Mustang is coming soon, but we're getting a little sneak peek of packaging and colors that will be available thanks to a leaked order guide. Posted on the Mustang6g forums, the guide shows the 2018 Mustang will continue to offer optional performance packages, but exterior/interior packaging gets switched up a bit.Both the EcoBoost and GT will carryover their respective performance packages from 2017. The EcoBoost gets unique suspension and stability control tuning, a larger radiator, 19-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in summer rubber and an upsized rear sway bar to aid handling and performance. Meanwhile, the GT continues to offer Brembo six-piston front calipers, revised suspension tuning, heavy-duty front springs and a larger rear sway bar. Here's what the interior will look like with the carbon fiber package on the 2018 Mustang. Photo by Mustang6g … [Read more...]

Thanks to user disneyfun1 at the Mustang forum Mustang6G, we're getting our first look at some of the revised option packages for the equally revised 2018 Ford Mustang. The forum user posted photos of an alleged dealer ordering guide, which revealed the updated packages as well as a completely new one. The new one is the "Carbon Sport Interior Package" which uses the order code, 68C. Unsurprisingly, it features a carbon fiber dashboard panel and carbon fiber shift knob. The door panels get some black Alcantara, as do the seats. Other existing Mustang packages continue on, but with minor changes. Performance packages for both the EcoBoost and V8 models now include a tall rear wing, which is the same for both cars. The wheel sizes, brakes, interior trim, gauges, and most of the suspension items remain the same. The only mechanical difference appears to be a lack of retuned springs on the EcoBoost version. It's worth noting that both models with the performance packages will also be … [Read more...]

Loyal Car Crafters will remember that our 5.0L Fistfight adventure started back when we compared the 5.0L Ford against the LB9 305 TPI Chevy in stock trim. The Chevy won round one thanks primarily to the condition of the two test engines. The TPI 305 was basically brand spanking new, while the used Ford, an LKQ Pick-Your-Part special, had previously logged 150,000 miles, and possibly more than that. In round two, we subjected the dynamic duo to the usual array of fuel-injected modifications, including heads, cam and intake. The 5.0L Ford received Trick Flow Specialties’ Twisted-Wedge heads, a Comp XE274HR cam and TFS’ Track Heat intake system. The Chevy received similar components, including Trick Flow’s Super 23 heads (designed for the small-bore 305), a Comp XR276HR cam, and Holley’s Stealth Ram EFI intake. When the dyno smoke cleared, the 5.0L Ford won round 2, but only by the smallest of margins. Here in round three, we decided to ditch the fuel injection in … [Read more...]

David Norton’s 900-horsepower wide-body Lincoln LS is an “if only” car. Imaginary auto executives fantasize, “if only they would let me build cars like that, I could fix Lincoln!” New car dealers dream, “if only they would ship me some of those, I could charge double the MSRP!” And the tetchy bean counters, anonymous committee persons, and bus-riding bureaucrats gleefully posit, “if only I could veto such outrageous, expensive engineering excess!”Showroom-stock 2000 to 2006 Lincoln LS sedans did not typically spark such passionate thoughts. Sharing the DEW98 platform and engines with a forgettable Jaguar in Ford’s ill-fated Premium Auto Group (and in 2002-05 with the flaccid revival of the two-seat boulevardier Ford Thunderbird), the Lincoln LS was supposed to make a generation of young Europhiles forget about decades of Continental Mark-series mobile isolation chambers.Although the LS triggered a round of nasty attorney … [Read more...]

You may remember last year the story of how one lucky Ford Fiesta ST buyer snagged the only example painted in Liquid Blue, a color exclusive to the Ford GT. But to recap for those that don't remember, the car was custom built by Ford with a unique interior and the special color for auto shows, and then the company sold it at auction to a dealer. From there it ended up in the hands of a private owner. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a new, one-off car for not much money. At least it would be if it weren't going for auction right now on BringATrailer.com. At the time of this writing, there are five days left on the auction, and the bid is currently at just over $17,000. With so much time left on the clock, we expect it will go higher and will likely equal the cost of a brand-new Fiesta ST. That being said, this two-year-old Ford is still pretty much new with just 727 miles on the odometer. Factor in the unique black and white interior with faux suede steering wheel, the … [Read more...]

Free Price Quote From a Local Dealer View Special Offers There are many firsts in life, and the lucky are able to make them count. I had never ventured into the English countryside to Lord March’s estate to experience the Goodwood Festival of Speed where vehicles of every age, size, and description see who can get up the Lord’s driveway the fastest or with the most panache.This year I not only witnessed the famous Hill Climb, but I also got to drive it behind the wheel of a 2016 Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Despite being a bit bleary-eyed coming right from Heathrow airport after a long flight, it was an adventure to remember.Like everything at Goodwood, there are scheduled times for batches of vehicles to make the climb. They are often changed or delayed, but they bring about some semblance of order at an event that celebrates the automobile in all its forms by inviting them to a giant car show where they can be admired in motion.Our chance to make the climb is part … [Read more...]

Free Price Quote From a Local Dealer View Special Offers A few months ago, we stunned pretty much every premium automaker—and the folks that shop them—by proclaiming the Alfa Romeo Giulia the winner of our Big Test of 2.0-liter compact luxury sport sedans available with a $399/month, 36-month lease.Brackish coffee was sputtered in Bavaria, a host of Nagoya salarymen were volun-told to work even later into the night, and folks in Detroit just shook their heads at how a brand with a heritage of erratic quality overseas could win such a contest. But there was no arguing with the numbers. When added up, the Giulia lapped the Lexus, mashed the Mercedes, aced the Audi, crushed the Cadillac … you get the point.Well, we’re going to have to recalculate those results. The Alfa Romeo Giulia now has an even more enticing lease deal, one that further skunks the German and Japanese luxury brands, putting it within reach of those who might be shopping for a … [Read more...]

When it comes to endurance racing, you'd be hard pressed to find an event as exciting and historied as The 24 Hours of Le Mans. The race has been held every year since 1923, and in that time it's brought euphoria, tragedy, and everything in between to observers and participants alike. This year, The List hosts Patrick and Jessi got to experience the race trackside and even got to speak to the teams involved to get a real sense of the emotion that goes on behind the scenes of a 24-hour automobile race. The first stop on our Le Mans tour was to talk to the Ford Performance team. Ford returned to the race last year with their new Ford GT and won the GTE Pro class. When Patrick asked the global director of Ford Performance Dave Pericak what it was like to have a target on their back this year, he responded with "...We're here with more confidence... We've been racing it and we've been successful with it so, I don't know man, the pressure's on." Throughout the grueling 24-hour race Jessi … [Read more...]

It’s a generally accepted axiom that all records are made to be broken. It’s also true that there are exceptions to every rule. Richard Petty, who turned 80 on July 2, is one of the exceptions. Among the Petty records set in a 34-year driving career are two that almost certainly will stand the test of time—and both were recorded 50 years ago, in the 1967 NASCAR season. Petty won an astonishing 27 races (of 48 total run) and, more remarkably, won 10 in a row. Let that sink in for a moment. Yes, 10 in a row. Across the 68-year history of NASCAR’s top series, no one else has come close to 10 straight. The next best number is five straight and, perhaps not surprisingly, Petty is one of the drivers who hit that figure. He won five in a row in 1971, as did Bobby Allison. The idea of scoring 10 straight wins in the current NASCAR landscape is almost comical. In 2017, only one driver … [Read more...]

When it comes to import coupes from the 1970s, just about everything is within reach of eBay Motors, with a few exceptions. The Plymouth Sapporo is one such exception, being the product of Chrysler and Mitsubishi's alliance that brought the Mitsubishi Galant Lambda to the U.S. under the Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Sapporo badges. That's right: One ancestor of the current Dodge Challenger was a rebadged Mitsubishi. And besides, these were surprisingly well-made and stylish cars back in the day, even ahead of their time given the other personal luxury coupes that domestic automakers were churning out.But just about any U.S. version of the Galant Lambda is hard to find now. And that brings us to this Craigslist ad for an early first-gen model from 1978. Per Craigslist custom, the listing is breathtakingly brief, calculated for a contemporary attention span worn down by fidget spinners and Twitter, but we do learn that this example displays a claimed 79,667 miles on … [Read more...]

Free Price Quote From a Local Dealer View Special Offers In its latest round of crash testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety examined six large cars and gave three of them a Top Safety Pick+ award.The Lincoln Continental, Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan, and Toyota Avalon nabbed top honors from the agency. All three vehicles earned “Good” scores in all crash categories and “Superior” ratings in front crash prevention technology. Thanks to automatic braking, the three vehicles were able to avoid collisions at test speeds of 12 mph and 25 mph. The E-Class and Continental earned “Good” headlight scores with optional equipment, while the Avalon received an “Acceptable” score in this category.<!-- --> The Tesla Model S and Chevrolet Impala fell short of earning an award from IIHS because they received “Acceptable” scores in the small overlap test. This … [Read more...]

America has spoken, and we are now the land of the SUV and crossover. Whether or not they're our preference as enthusiasts, we’ll still drive them all and report back to you with our findings. Halfway through 2017, these are the most popular SUV and crossover reviews we've posted. 2018 Toyota C-HR first drive: When does a car become a crossover? It’s no secret that we live in a world where everything from hate groups to Fruit Loops can be rebranded to become more or less appealing to a particular audience, and the auto industry is no ... 2018 Volkswagen Atlas first drive: American-style family hauler done right Volkswagen, at last, has a serious midsize SUV player: The new Chattanooga, Tennessee-built Atlas has learned the lessons of the two generations of the … [Read more...]

The Hyundai Azera managed to fly under the radar for years, but no more. Hyundai announced it will stop selling the large sedan in the U.S., apparently because the model has been overshadowed by other cars in the lineup. “Over the last few years…the Hyundai and Genesis line-ups have continued to increase the appeal of their models,” the automaker said in a recent release, pointing out the refreshed midsize Sonata as an example. It’s true the 2018 Sonata receives a more upscale interior and exterior helping it close the gap with more premium models like the Azera. Hyundai also seems to blame Genesis for the Azera’s departure. “The Genesis brand continues to broaden the appeal of its mid-luxury G80 and premium luxury G90 models with attributes appealing to buyers holding the Azera on the periphery of purchase consideration,” the automaker said. <!-- --> <!-- --> During the first half of the year, … [Read more...]

Free Price Quote From a Local Dealer View Special Offers The Hyundai Azera managed to fly under the radar for years, but no more. Hyundai announced it will stop selling the large sedan in the U.S., apparently because the model has been overshadowed by other cars in the lineup.“Over the last few years…the Hyundai and Genesis line-ups have continued to increase the appeal of their models,” the automaker said in a recent release, pointing out the refreshed midsize Sonata as an example. It’s true the 2018 Sonata receives a more upscale interior and exterior helping it close the gap with more premium models like the Azera.<!-- -->Hyundai also seems to blame Genesis for the Azera’s departure. “The Genesis brand continues to broaden the appeal of its mid-luxury G80 and premium luxury G90 models with attributes appealing to buyers holding the Azera on the periphery of purchase consideration,” the automaker said.During the first … [Read more...]

SEOUL - US auto imports from the likes of General Motors and Ford must become more chic, affordable or fuel-efficient to reap the rewards of President Donald Trump's attempts to renegotiate a trade deal with key ally South Korea, officials and industry experts in Seoul say. Meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-in last week in Washington, Trump said the United States would do more to address trade imbalances with South Korea and create "a fair shake" to sell more cars there, the world's 11th largest auto market. "What we really want to say to the United States is: Make good cars, make cars that Korean consumers like." While imports from automakers including Ford, Chrysler and GM more than doubled last year largely thanks to free trade deal which took effect in 2012, sales account for just 1 percent of a market dominated by more affordable models from local giants Hyundai and affiliate Kia. Imports make up just 15 percent of the overall Korean auto market, and are mainly more … [Read more...]

Tesla's Model S did not get the top score in certain tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the agency said on Thursday. The Chevrolet Impala, Ford Taurus and Tesla Model S were the three sedans that got "only an acceptable rating" in a test designed to simulate what happens when the front driver-side corner of a vehicle strikes a tree or another vehicle, the IIHS said. Ford's Lincoln Continental, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Toyota Avalon received the highest rating overall, the agency said. In the test, the seat belt in Tesla's Model S was not effective and could lead to the driver's head striking the steering wheel hard through the air bag, according to the report. Tesla's Model S received the highest rating in IIHS's crash testing in every category except one, the small overlap front crash test, where it received the second highest rating available, a Tesla spokesperson said in an email. "IIHS and dozens of other private industry groups around the world … [Read more...]