MotorTrend

Toyota AE86 BEV Concept Drive: Yes, It’s Electric With a Manual, and a Blast!

Lexus engineers have turned an old much-loved Toyota classic into an electric delight. No, seriously, really, truly.

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History repeats in the best way for Volkswagen’s icon: the Golf lineup—GTI and R—earns MotorTrend’s 2026 Car of the Year. In refreshed Mk8 form, both models sharpen design and tech while honoring hot-hatch roots. Outside: crisper headlights, reshaped bumpers, illuminated grille bar, and a bolder R with aggressive aero and an available Euro Style package (lighter seats, no sunroof, Akrapovič titanium exhaust). Inside: a cleaner cabin centered on a quicker 12.9-inch infotainment system with conversational voice control powered by ChatGPT. On the road, MQB chassis tuning, stiffer springs, and revised mounts make it more planted and playful. Power comes from a 2.0L turbo: GTI 241 hp/273 lb-ft (FWD), R 328 hp/295 lb-ft (AWD), both with a responsive 7-speed dual-clutch. IQ.Drive driver assists are standard. Efficiency stays strong (up to 27 mpg combined GTI; 25 mpg R), and value impresses (GTI from $33,670; R from $48,325). A daily driver with real thrills—this is the Golf at its best.

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The 2026 MotorTrend Car of the Year Is the Volkswagen Golf GTI + R

Ferrari’s done it again. The 2026 296 Speciale takes the 296 GTB and cranks everything to eleven—868 hp, less weight, more noise, more feel. It’s a race car you can actually live with, delivering pure Ferrari intensity without the punishment.

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Driven: The 2026 Ferrari 296 Speciale — A Race Car Without the Misery

Two turbocharged legends face off: the 2025 Toyota GR Corolla Premium Plus and the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Black Edition. Both bring over 300 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and a reputation for delivering pure driving thrills. But which one is the ultimate hot hatch for 2025?

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Do We Have to Choose? 2025 Toyota GR Corolla vs. VW Golf R

We infiltrate hot rodding’s inner sanctum with the Lucid Air Sapphire at HOT ROD Drag Week 2025. Amid 400+ hardcore racers, the 1,234-hp EV faced skepticism, side-eye, and plenty of smack talk—but also ran 9-second passes while towing the line between ridicule and respect. From Maryland to Pennsylvania drag strips, the Sapphire proved its endurance over 660 miles of racing and road, sparking debate and surprising admiration. Could an electric sedan hold its own against six-second monsters? Watch as the Sapphire battles tradition and challenges everything Drag Week stands for.

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Can an EV Survive at Drag Week? Lucid Air Sapphire Takes On Drag Racing's Best

Comparing the very luxury vehicles used by Detroit-Three car company moguls to shuttle between their primary mansions and their up-north lake places.

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2025 Cadillac Escalade vs. Lincoln Navigator vs. Jeep Grand Wagoneer: Pure Michigan Comparison Test

Ride along with rally champion Marcus Gronholm as he storms up the Pikes Peak course in the Ford Fiesta RallyCross in an homage to the famous Climb Dance Pikes Peak run

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Peak Performance! Ford Fiesta RallyCross storms Pikes Peak

America’s smallest pickup has big ambitions. We get behind the wheel of a Telo MT1 prototype to see if it could make it in the real world.

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Tiny Truck, 500 HP: Telo EV Minitruck Prototype Drive

Welcome back to The Inevitable by MotorTrend—where we dig into the future of the automobile. Fresh off IAA Munich 2025, we compare BMW’s Neue Klasse / iX3 with Mercedes-Benz GLC Electric, talk mega watt charging, battery design, interiors, and who’s really leading right now. Guest Kyle Conner (Out of Spec) joins us first, then Frank Markus and Ed go deep on Qualcomm x BMW tech from the show floor: zonal compute, ADAS that’s less annoying, AR HUDs, and on-device vs. cloud AI agents. We also hit VW Group’s software reset (Cariad → Rivian/Xpeng), the Polestar 5 reveal (and its pricing problem), plus Kyle’s Autobahn run in a Lucid Air Sapphire to an indicated 204 mph.

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BMW’s Neue Klasse vs. Mercedes GLC at IAA Munich + AI Cars, VW x Rivian, Polestar 5 & 204-mph Lucid!

In Volvo's all-electric transition, the new EX90 is a crucial addition. This EV SUV promises better safety and luxury than any Volvo before, along with more than 300 miles of driving range and strong performance. Is the made-in-USA 2025 Volvo EX90 prepared to compete against other family-focused SUVs powered by electricity or gasoline?

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2025 Volvo EX90 First Drive: Luxury 3-Row EV Ready for Prime Time?

Whether you call it a dressed up Tradesmen or a Rebel-lite, we see just how much the 2025 Ram 1500 Warlock can handle in the rugged backcountry.

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2025 Ram 1500 Warlock Test: The Best Ram Truck for Your Buck?