Posts

Ford Says The Dark Horse Makes 500 HP, Four Dynos Said Four Different Numbers

Image
The same Dark Horse produced 420 to 465 wheel horsepower across four dynos. Ford’s official 500 HP crank rating assumes drivetrain losses the dynos disagreed on. Weather correction factors alone can shift a single pull by nearly 100 horsepower. Measurable performance is important. It’s how we know what parts enhance an engine and which ones diminish it. Horsepower and torque figures are the backbone of performance car sales, and they’re important for marketing even lesser cars like crossovers and SUVs . That’s why a new report might make you question how much stock you put in those figures. Automakers and tuners alike use dynomometers to figure out how much power and torque a car or engine or motor can produce. What most don’t know is that different dynos can read drastically differently, and in fact, the same exact car can produce wildly different readings on the same dyno. More: Ferrari SUV Dyno Pull Proves The Old School V12 Has New Secrets To prove the point, Matt ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Gas Crossed $4 A Gallon. What Would You Drive If It Was Free?

Image
Fuel prices surge past $4, up from less than $3 a month prior. Some analysts think it could reach $5-7 before dropping again. Many drivers have thought about switching to an EV or hybrid. NASA has launched its first manned lunar mission since 1972 as I write this. But Artemis II is not the only thing blasting into orbit right now. So are fuel prices , which have hit a four-year high as a result of the conflict in Iran. According to AAA, the US average for a gallon has jumped to $4.110 per gallon, up sharply from $2.997 a little over a month ago. And that’s just regular gas nationwide. Try filling up with diesel in California and you’ll be paying close to $8 a gallon. Related: Governments Told To Lower Speed Limits To Reduce Gas Use That kind of spike has people rethinking everything from weekend drives to what sits on their driveway. It’s no surprise that hybrids and EVs suddenly look very appealing. When fuel gets expensive, logic takes over. You start thinking about...
Post a Comment
Read more

Freelander’s Comeback Started Big. This Version Makes The Case For Going Small

Image
An independent artist reimagines Freelander as a compact two-door semi-cabrio. The design borrows from Concept 97 styling, but sits on a much shorter wheelbase. Triangular rear side windows echo the original 1997 Land Rover distinct design cues. The Freelander name is back, now repurposed as a sub-brand , though the Concept 97 points firmly toward a large three-row SUV. Not everyone is on board with that direction. Independent digital artist Sugar Design took a different path, imagining something smaller, lighter, and far more in tune with the original 1997 Land Rover Freelander. This reworked off-roader keeps the Freelander Concept 97’s core design language but shrinks it down with a much shorter wheelbase. It trades modern flush hardware for proper door handles and drops to two doors, giving it the stance of a cheeky counterpart to the Land Rover Defender 90. More: Land Rover Fans Might Want To Sit Down Before Seeing This Grenadier The details do most of the heavy l...
Post a Comment
Read more

Honda Went To China, Saw The Future, And Reached Back To The 1960s

Image
Honda revives independent R&D unit hoping to spark faster innovation again. Chinese automakers are developing cars twice as fast with cheaper production. A sales plunge in China is forcing Honda to rethink of strategy and global plans. Honda Motor Company is dusting off an old idea and hoping it still has some magic left. The company that recently scrapped its planned US EVs , is spinning its engineers back into a semi-independent R&D arm, effectively undoing a major shake-up from just a few years ago. If this sounds like corporate déjà vu, that’s because it is. Honda originally set up its R&D division as a separate entity in 1960, giving engineers room to experiment without corporate interference. That approach helped create breakthroughs like the early 1970s emissions-friendly CVCC engine, turned cars like the original Civic into a US hit and put Honda’s fledgling car division on the map. Related: Honda’s EV Pivot Just Wiped Out The Entire Sony Afeela Bra...
Post a Comment
Read more

Nissan’s American Murano Gets Slammed Before It Even Reaches Japan

Image
Kuhl Racing is working on a tuning kit for the Nissan Murano. The SUV gains lowered suspension and aftermarket wheels. Tuner will also offer a custom aero kit and stronger brakes. The Nissan Murano is heading back to Japan , only this time as a U.S.-built import slipped through on a new trade deal that waives local testing. Deliveries are still penciled in for early 2027, yet the tuning scene has already clocked in. Kuhl Racing has wasted no time, sketching a low-slung, street-first take on the SUV. The teaser renderings released by Kuhl lean hard into a low-down look, achieved through an adjustable suspension setup. Ride height drops by roughly 60–70 mm, putting the Murano on a similar footing to a stock R35 GT-R . Yes, a family SUV sitting with GT-R clearance. Make of that what you will. More: Who Needs A WRX When Your GR86 And BRZ Have Boost And Dirty Intentions Another highlight is the selection of aftermarket forged alloy wheels , which will be available in 21- or...
Post a Comment
Read more