The idea of replacing the Mustang seems misguided from our modern perspective. One of the longest-running nameplates in Ford history, this coupe/convertible combo has graduated from pony car to legitimate sports car, regularly challenging more exotic rides in terms of acceleration, grip and lap times.

There was a period in the 1980s, however, when the Blue Oval considered the Mustang to be more of an anachronism than a path forward. With its live-axle, rear-wheel drive setup and pushrod V8, the Mustang's tech quotient paled in comparison with the coupes streaming out of Chrysler, Toyota, Mitsubishi and even Chevrolet, as these vehicles brought dual-overhead cams, turbochargers, front or all-wheel drive and turbocharging to the fore.

The quest was on to substitute a more future-proof model in place of the 'Stang. While the end result, the Ford Probe, was certainly a viable competitor for entry-level performance dollars, the changing market and shifting focus at the Blue Oval brought an early end to the compact's run.

New Partners, New Horizons

Eager to leverage its new investment in Mazda, by 1983 Ford had decided that the next-generation Mustang would move in a radically different direction. Although still built in the United States, the Mustang would borrow a platform from the company's Japanese partner called the "G series," which featured a front-wheel drive layout and hosted a pair of four-cylinder engines—one of which would be turbocharged—as well as a tandem of V6 options.

Why such a drastic change? In addition to dealing with a sales slump for the current Mustang, Ford had been fearful of the chilling effect the energy crisis had had on the sales of inefficient V8 engines, which, when combined with power-choking pollution controls of the time, were beginning to feel like relics of a bygone era.

Windswept and bubble-like, with lots of glass and decidedly different proportions than what Ford performance fans were used to, the vehicle was on the cusp of production when disaster struck. Enraged by leaked details of the plan to de-muscle the Mustang, in 1987, thousands of irate owners sent letter after letter to Ford HQ urging the company to "rethink" the decision. This surprising outpouring of emotion, combined with a downward trend in fuel prices and a sudden surge in sales, bought a stay of execution to the Fox-platform Mustang.

An Intriguing Alternative

What, then, to do with the pony car's erstwhile replacement? Ford had come too far to simply dump the newcomer on the dust heap, but it needed a little more time to flesh out the details of an entirely new model that would eventually be sold alongside the Mustang.

By 1988, the plan was ready to be executed. Dubbed the Probe, a name borrowed from a past concept car, the coupe made a smashing debut at the Chicago Auto Show, which in turn lead to six-figure interest from dealers and potential buyers—momentum that carried the car through its first few years of production.

For its introductory 1989 model, the Probe was outfitted with a 110hp, 2.2L Mazda four-cylinder as its base engine, and it was possible to order a 145hp turbo version of the car (the Probe GT), which also delivered 190 lb-ft of torque. By 1990, a 3.0L V6 in the LX model provided 140hp and 140 lb-ft of twist, matched with a four-speed automatic (as opposed to the five-speed manuals offered with the sportier models). Reviews for the Probe lauded not just its attractive styling but also its excellent handling, thanks in part to an adjustable suspension system, and it compared favorably with the Mazda MX-6, which was for all intents and purposes its platform-twin.

A redesign of the Probe followed for 1993 models, and the lighter version of the car gained a more advanced DOHC 2.0L base engine that posted five horsepower over the departed mill. Even though the wider and somewhat longer Probe had a sportier look than before, it lost access to its turbocharged drivetrain, tagging in an advanced 164hp, 2.5L V6 engine (that traded in just over 30 lb-ft of the turbo's torque in the process).

Unfortunately for Probe fans, that was to be the last major effort from Ford at keeping the car competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace. As competitors continued to hone their sporty compact car options (witness the twin attack of the Honda Civic Si and the Acura Integra Type R throughout the '90s, as well as the ascendancy of the DSM Talon/Eclipse turbo AWD coupes) and the redesigned in-house Mustang claimed the lion's share of attention and promotion at home, the Probe lost its luster, falling far below its near 120,000 unit sales peak earlier in the decade to barely more than 15,000 sold by its final 1997 model year. This was despite the decision to expand the car's availability to both Europe and Asia (including Australia and New Zealand).

Ripple Effect

There is a strange and wistful postscript to the Ford Probe story. With its development dollars tied up in the development of the next-generation Mustang (the SN95, which would replace the original Fox in 1994), Ford decided that there simply wasn't enough space in the showroom for a pair of sporty two-doors. Still, eager to revitalize its sagging Mercury brand—and to give it a European flavor that it thought would entice a new demographic—it transferred the assets that had gone in to developing a replacement for the Probe to its sub-division, which eventually resulted in the birth of the front-wheel drive Cougar in 1999.

Although the Cougar wouldn’t enjoy the same longevity as the Probe, the latter's multifaceted journey from concept to production is a unique tale in the automotive pantheon. Ford's gamble on a front-wheel drive sports coupe might not have paid off as a direct replacement for the Mustang, but it certainly succeeded on its own merits, joining a raft of similar fun-to-drive options that dominated the streets in the late '80s and early '90s. It also served as an early forbearer of the smoother, more oval-intensive design language that would filter throughout the Ford family throughout the '90s.

Finally, it provided the kickstart that the Mustang needed to shake free from its 1970s roots and embrace a more modern chassis and engine update that would see the SN95 through the New Edge years all the way to the dramatic improvements that would mark the 2005-and-up editions of the car, paving the way for its current world-class performance car status.

Eager for more esoteric car history? Read about the Cadillac Allante and Chrysler TC by Maserati.

What do you think when you hear, “I’ve got another cheap car to buy”? Does the phrase conjure up images of trashed Nissan 240SXs or turbo diesels? Whatever it is, it probably isn’t something you’d want to drive around, at least not without some extensive repairs and modifications. But sometimes, when you don’t have the money for a nice car or the mods to make it nice, you’re forced to go the cheap route.

Such is the case when starting Forza Horizon 4, or when you’re trying to save up for one of the castles you can buy in the game. Fortunately, the developers were nice enough to put some pretty decent cheap cars in game that can take you far, no matter what you’re into. Below we’ve outlined our five favorite cars for under 50,000 credits and what they’re best for. If you can’t or don’t want to spend a lot of money, these are the cars for you.

Speed: 2002 Chevy Corvette Z06 — 35,000 Credits

We’ll be honest with you, speed is the hardest thing to come by without much coin. You won’t find any supercars for under 50,000 credits, but that doesn’t mean that every cheap car has a lawnmower engine. With a speed rating of 7.7, this Corvette has the highest rating of all the cheap cars. It may not get you to three stars on all of the speed traps, but we were able to get it up to 175 mph pretty easily in stock form, so there’s plenty of speed to be had.

Drifting: 1998 Nissan Silvia K’s Aero — 25,000 Credits

If it’s good enough for Matt Powers, it’s good enough for us. It’s pretty much that simple. Not only is this the cheapest car on the list, but it's only 5,000 credits away from the absolute floor of car prices in Horizon. When it comes to drift cars, it doesn’t get cheaper than this. Yes, the car as shown above has the Rocket Bunny kit on it, which costs north of 100,000 credits, but you’d want to upgrade any car, no matter how cheap or expensive, to help it get sideways. (Aside the Formula Drift car pack cars, which are in a whole other category.) Since you’ll pretty much need to dump in a ton of money for upgrades no matter the car, why not start with the cheapest base possible? The stock form can get sideways, too.  

Fitting Into Tight Spaces: 1957 BMW Isetta 300 Export — 45,000 Credits

You may be saying, why is this important? Well, it turns out the devs at Playground Games like to put reward boards in hard-to-reach places, including some spots that a normal-sized car can’t reach. If you want to find them, this is the most cost-effective way to do it. Plus, imagine the look on people’s faces when you drive by them in a car the size of a dirt bike. It’s the simple joys that make life so wonderful.

Racing: 2018 Ford Mustang GT — 40,000 Credits

If you’re looking to win races and progress through the game as cheaply as possible, this is the car to do it in. It has the best stock performance number of any car under 50,000 credits, with a rating of A 778. From speed to launch and handling, it can hold its own against much more expensive cars, and with a simple engine swap, you can even bump it up to the S1 class if you’d like. Ford has done a good job making enthusiast cars recently — at least until they stopped— so it makes sense that would be reflected in the game.

Cross Country: 1970 Volkswagen #1107 Desert Dingo Racing Stock Bug — 25,000 Credits

If you want to gallivant through the hills on a budget, this is the car for you. Honestly, there aren’t that many great off-roaders for cheap, with most of the inexpensive ones having about the same level of performance as the Isetta. This one isn’t going to win any drag races against the Corvette, but it has enough oomph to hold its own against the other cars it races against. The suspension also helps it off-road more than the other cheap cars, and we love the buggy look and feel. It’s one thing to simply go fast. It’s another to feel yourself glide over the bumps in the dirt. This car does the latter in spades.

Still not sure if you want to pick up Forza Horizon 4? Watch our video review!

When Grind Hard Plumbing Company set out to build a truck to try and take on Moab the only two things that mattered were function and the lowest possible cost. But those parameters are nothing new to Edwin Olding and Ethan Schlussler, owners of Grind Hard Plumbing Company. They’ve earned serious online notoriety through their everyman, realistic (if not severe) budget oddball builds, starting with their Mustang Barbie car turbo go-kart build and their Gambler 500 BMW 232. As you may have surmised, they’re not really plumbers. Ethan Schlussler explained, “Grind Hard means to work hard on something and we figured using plumbing in the name was different enough that it would come up quickly on Google searches. Plus, we thought it would be hilarious to stamp all our builds with a plumbing company logo.”

Starting From Scrap

With their financially restrictive plan in mind they approached a friend of Edwin’s who had the perfect platform to start their project with: a 2000 Toyota Tacoma with 212,000 miles that had been dwelling in storage for the last two years. The poor 3.4L V6-equipped Tacoma had been flipped from swerving to avoid a deer and was clearly totaled (from any insurance company's point of view), and then it was parked, wet. “He offered to give it to us, but we felt bad for our friend, so we gave him $150 and went home to go pick up a trailer.” Schlussler said. “Of course, he had lost the keys, so we had to hotwire it–we hooked up jumper cables and it started the first try!” This was one of the reasons why they chose it in the first place, given the Tacoma’s reputation for being incredibly reliable well into the hundreds of thousands of miles.

It was no surprise there were many parts of the truck that weren’t ready to tackle Moab. The automatic transmission was toast; it wouldn’t go into reverse or any gear other than second. But it was surprisingly easy to swap out the automatic for a manual trans. “For $500 we bought a kit that came with all the parts necessary for the swap including the driveshaft and clutch. The only aspect that wasn’t bolt-on was the hole we had to drill in the firewall for the clutch pedal assembly,” Schlussler said. They also welded-up the rear differential to give the truck poor-man’s posi-traction­. Unfortunately, one tire always spins when turning.

Stock Suspension

Otherwise, the truck was basically stock, including the suspension. They found a pair of spacers in the front suspension that lifted the front end about an inch and a half, but the leaf springs in the rear were as they came from the factory. They knew going to Moab in a truck would be rough, so they replaced the worn-out ball joints even though they weren’t completely broken. “We used cheap replacement ball joints thinking they would be OK, but we should have gone with higher-quality parts because they failed us and we had to replace them on the trails in Utah,” Schlussler said.

Nice Wheels and Tires

Without an actual lift, there were some modifications required to fit the Mamba M23 wheels and monster-sized Nitto tires. They had to chop four inches out of the fender areas to accommodate the 37x12.5 R17 Trail Grapplers and buy wheel spacers so they fit the stock suspension properly.

Don't Stress the Aesthetics

On a build like this, there weren’t many decisions to make regarding the interior. They tore everything out of the cab and only put the seats and seat belts back in. During the process they noticed evidence of welds all around the roof line. Apparently, the truck’s roof had experienced damage or its wheels had been in the air at least twice and the roof had been replaced. They continued their delicate massaging of the sheet metal and floor boards with a sledgehammer and welded it up as necessary and replaced the windshield. “We liked the idea of keeping it 'crunchy'—we didn’t want to waste any time or money to fix any body work,” Schlussler said.

They attacked the exterior aesthetics by avoiding them altogether. “We knew it was going to need a roll cage because we expected that the truck would be upside down again somewhere on a trail this time. We discussed it and thought we might as well do it on the outside, because it’s not exactly a show truck,” Schlussler said. “We like the look of one-and-a-half inch diameter steel tubing—anything thicker looks silly, and anything smaller might not be strong enough. Also, that’s the size die we have for our tubing bender.” They continued to build and make decisions as they went and worked their way down to the details.

Fun and Effective

Of course, they tested the truck out in the wilds of northern Idaho before they took it to Moab. “The end result was more capable and cooler than what we ever imagined. Having viewers watch the progress and get excited about it made the build more fun and helped us stay motivated,” Schlussler said.

The goal of their week-long trip was to have fun, so they towed the Taco to Moab so they wouldn’t have to worry about driving it home. “It handled every obstacle we sent at it. And, we didn’t have a lot of rock climbing or any extreme off-roading experience prior to this trip. We were really impressed with the truck,” Schlussler said. “The only problems we had were the ball joint I mentioned earlier, and one of the rear shocks broke. Tore off the bottom of the shock after we hyper-extended it—it was not intended for this use.” Other casualties of the trip included the old, stock leaf springs which were stretched and are now slightly flat instead of bowed.

“I love how ridiculous and absurd it looks. It’s so crusty and yet it has nice wheels and tires. I can’t believe how great it is to drive. It rolled over some of the more difficult trails in Moab in basically stock condition.” Schlussler continued, “We use it as much as possible, but after Moab there’s nothing as challenging here in Idaho, but the custom flatbed great for anything from an ice cooler to a dirt bike.”

So how much do they have into the build, not including the wheels and tires? $1600 total. Plus, it’s street legal in Idaho and has a legal title and plates. While they met their budgetary concerns, they put serious time into it–Edwin and Ethan both having spent roughly 100 hours, but then they're quick to admit that they’re not good at keeping track of time when they're not getting paid.

Sure, there are other budget builds out there, but rarely is much accomplished with as little money as with Grind Hard Plumbing Company’s Crunchy Taco.

Want more Toyota Tacoma Action? You need to see the Supreme Taco.

In the week leading up to SEMA, Nissan has doubled down on their performance lineup by expanding their NISMO offerings. On top of the GT-R and Sentra, Nissan just revealed the 370Z NISMO at the Philippine International Motor Show. On top of the typical red NISMO trim, Nissan has given the car a modest performance boost over the base 370Z Coupe.

Powered by a 3.7L DOHC V6, it puts out 350hp and 276 lb-ft of torque, a jump of 18 and 6, respectively. Admittedly, it’s not the most powerful sports car you can buy, but this isn’t where the performance upgrades stop.

Stopping the car is as important as starting it, so Nissan has given the 370Z NISMO 14-inch four-piston front brakes and 13.8-inch two-piston rear brakes, the biggest ever for a 370Z. On top of that, it has been given vibration dampers, an H-pipe dual exhaust system that reduces back pressure by up to 30 percent and an improved suspension.

Of course, you can’t have a special edition without some sort of special styling, and the 370Z NISMO is no different. On the exterior and performance side, the front fascia, rear diffuser and spoiler have all seen tweaks to increase downforce. They’ve also been given the typical NISMO red trim.

The interior continues the NISMO color scheme, with red and black all over, from the seats to the steering wheel. Speaking of those red and black seats, Nissan gave the car leather-appointed Recaro ones with integrated headsets, a nice performance-mined touch.

Even though this doesn’t offer the biggest performance jump from the base 370Z, the fact that it offers a performance boost at all is a welcome change. With so many “special editions” coming out now that just add a different color and fender flare, it’s nice to see some sort of performance upgrade. Hopefully more companies start making the special versions of their cars more than just aesthetic variations.

Photos courtesy of Nissan

It would be amazing if Nissan and Italdesign combined for a 370Z concept, like they did for the GT-R.

As you’ve no doubt heard in the news or seen on the roads, these days it’s all about the SUV and crossover, with traditional four-door sedans falling increasingly behind their high-riding counterparts in the sales race. For that reason, it only makes sense that we’ll see more and more performance versions of these SUVs like the recently introduced Ford Edge ST. It also reminds us of a time not too long ago when the sedan was still king and a number of brands decided to introduce factory hot rodded, front wheel drive midsize sedans.

Here are three in particular that take us back to those simple days of the mid-2000s.

1. Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart

Ah yes, Mitsubishi. While this brand has seemingly given up completely on the enthusiast market, there was a time not long ago when they built some of the most interesting performance cars on the market.

Of course, there was the legendary Lancer Evolution and the always popular Eclipse, but in 2007, Mitsubishi introduced a higher performance version of it’s midsize family sedan, known as the Galant Ralliart.

Rather than the turbo four and AWD you might expect from Mitsubishi the Galant Ralliart was front-wheel drive and a naturally aspirated 3.8L V6 making 258hp mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. When new, Car & Driver clocked the Galant Ralliart with a zero to 60 time of 6.1 seconds, which for the time was quite impressive—especially given the Galant’s weight and drivetrain.

The Galant never enjoyed the sales success of something like the Accord or Camry, and the Ralliart version has always been a rare sight on the road, especially now over a decade later. Unfortunately Mitsubishi stopped selling the Galant sometime ago, so it’s unlikely that we’ll ever see a follow up to this unusual but strangely appealing machine.

2. Chevy Impala SS V8 FWD

Nope, we aren’t talking about the recently departed Australian-built Chevy SS sedan or the B-Body Impala SS of the 1990s. We're talking about a car that came in between those: the V8 Impala SS of the late 2000s.

Unlike those cars, this V8 powered the front wheels. Yep, that’s right, it had a 5.3L “LS4” V8 that made 303hp while sitting transversely in the engine bay. It also has displacement on demand for better fuel economy while cruising.

As far as the looks go, the Impala SS didn’t look all too different from the standard Impalas, but there’s something strangely appealing about those under the radar rental car looks.

Sure, many modern V6s will out perform this particular V8 and there’s no doubt most people would prefer a RWD V8 performance sedan to this unusual family sedan, but this car is kind of charming. It might be unusual, but we dig the funkiness of the FWD Impala SS and can get on board with the idea of putting on a nice exhaust system to do front wheel burnouts with a carload full of people.

3. Nissan Altima SE-R

Hear the words “SE-R” and you’ll first think of the various hopped up Sentras Nissan has built over the years, but in 2005, Nissan decided to apply the same formula to the larger Altima. The result was a surprisingly cool Altima SE-R.

Powered by the ubiquitous VQ35DE V6, the Altima SE-R made 270hp and, like the Galant Ralliart, was also capable of hitting 60 mph in the low six second range. That said, acceleration wasn’t the only selling point.

What’s especially cool is that the Altima SE-R was available with a manual transmission and its chassis was quite athletic for a midsize family sedan. It even came with forged 18-inch wheels and high performance tires. We also like the interior, which takes a lot of inspiration from the Nissan 350Z of the same era, particularly the instrument binnacles over the middle of the dashboard.

While it’s true that one could also get a VQ35 engine in a RWD sedan with the Infiniti G35, the “wrong wheel drive” Altima SE-R has similar performance and a character that’s all it’s own.

So while it’s not likely that any of these factory hot rodded family sedans of the mid 2000s will ever become highly sought after collector items, they occupy a unique place in modern automotive history and take us back to a style of performance car that likely won’t be seen again.

The 2000s produced some other interesting cars, like the Mazdaspeed Miata. We drove one in mint condition to see if it's any good by today's standards.

Compared to its next door neighbor Tokyo, the city of Yokohama is a smaller, less crowded, but no less exciting place to visit while in Japan. It also happens to be the site of Nissan’s impressive global headquarters and gallery, which we had a chance to visit during our most recent trip.

While one’s image of a company headquarters might be one of offices and little else, Nissan’s Yokohama HQ is a destination unto itself, with a large public showroom, technology displays and even a selection of historic vehicles available for public viewing, free of charge.

Getting there couldn’t be easier. Just take a train to Yokohama station and exit to the southwest, following the marked walking path toward the massive Nissan global headquarters building. You can’t miss it.

Once inside you’ll find a spotless, modern display area featuring Nissan’s entire Japanese market lineup. Depending on where you are from, some of the cars will be familiar while others are specific to the homeland.

Nismo Overload

These displays rotate regularly, usually with the newest Nissan models taking center stage—and on this particular day it was the ever-expanding Nismo lineup that was being featured.

Some of the cars like the GT-R and Fairlady Z are quite familiar to us Americans, but other Nismo models are much more unusual—like the high performance version of the Nissan Leaf electric car. With the increasing popularity of crossover SUVs, Nismo is getting into that segment as well. Here we see their version of the Nissan X-Trail Hybrid, known stateside as the Nissan Rogue.

Perhaps our favorite of the JDM Nismo lineup though was the Nismo Serena e-Power, because what’s not to like about a Nismo-tuned version of a boxy minivan with a hybrid electric powertrain?

As you might expect, Nissan likes to show off it’s technology, and spread around the HQ you’ll find special displays with cutaway drivetrains and engines—there’s even a body-less R35 GT-R on exhibit so you can peek at Godzilla’s innards.

So Many Souveniers

As with just about any place you travel in Japan, you'll also find lots of cool stuff to spend your money on, including an entire store full of officially licensed Nissan and Nismo-branded goods and collectibles. You can get everything from phone cases to jackets and die-cast cars.

Looking for a souvenir to bring to your friends back home? How about some official Nissan cookies and sweets?

Nissan's Heritage

While the global HQ is big on showing off the latest technology along with glimpses into Nissan's future, those who are interested in the heritage of the brand will also find a lot of interesting stuff to see.

Spread among the halls you'll find a lot of cool artwork and historical items, including concept art from many of Nissan's past vehicles. This Pathfinder/Terrano should be pretty easy to recognize.

This area also includes a large display full of die-cast Nissans that stretch back through the brand's entire history, with both racing cars and road cars represented.

It's a great reminder of all the interesting cars that Nissan has built over the years, some of which are iconic while others are almost unknown today.

Speaking of scale cars, some of the coolest artifacts you'll find on display here are a couple of original 1/10 scale Nissan design models—including this one of the V36 Skyline coupe, AKA Infiniti G37.

A little more unusual is this design model of the Nissan AP-X Concept Car, which was originally shown at the Tokyo Motor Show way back in 1993. It looks kind of like an S13 from an alternative future.

Heritage Corner

Finally, we get to what might be the coolest part of the entire facility—the heritage corner. It's here you'll find an entire area dedicated to Nissan's historic vehicles, and you'll always find a couple vintage machines on display from the brand's extensive Heritage Collection.

These displays rotate regularly, but on this particular day there were a pair of R32 Skylines being shown, both of them recently given full restorations by the heritage department over at Nissan's Zama warehouse.

On one side we have an extensively restored R32 GT-R Nismo from 1990. The Nismo version was slightly upgraded from the standard R32 GT-R and was considered the base of the legendary of GT-R Group A race cars of the time.

Sitting beside the GT-R we have a R32 Skyline GTS-T Type M, a rear wheel drive model which was no slouch itself and the second highest on the Skyline food chain behind the almighty GT-R. In the case of both cars, it was awesome to see them in 100-percent original showroom condition just as they were nearly 30 years ago.

The heritage displays alone are reason enough to make a visit to the Nissan HQ, and with constantly rotating displays you can count on seeing something different every time you make the trip.

Visiting Japan offers no shortage of things to see and do for car lovers, and a visit to the Nissan Global HQ and showroom in Yokohama should certainly make the list of anyone looking to make the most of their trip.

Can't get enough Nissan history? Take a peek at Nissan Z-day: Walk Through History.

There was a time when the word "hybrid" brought to mind the image a of a slowpoke Prius moving down the freeway and little else, but anyone who has followed the world of performance cars knows that electrification has made its way into many segments, appearing in everything from sport sedans to hypercars. With the news the hybrid version of the Ford Mustang on the way, it shouldn't be shocking to hear that GM is kicking around the idea of doing a hybrid version of the Chevy Camaro.

According to a post over on the Camaro6 Forum, GM recently sent out a survey about possible engine choices on the Camaro and the choices are quite interesting. The "base" choice was a 310hp 2.7L turbocharged four cylinder, which sounds quite similar to 2019 Silverado's new power plant—but things get even more interesting from there. The next choice is 2.0L turbo with a hybrid system that would deliver 365hp and 30 mpg at a premium of $4,000.

The next choice up the ladder would be 455hp 6.2L V8 which sounds much like the motor that powers the current Camaro SS, also offered at a $4,000 premium but with only 20 mpg versus the hybrid's 30.

Last but not least is perhaps the most interesting option—a 6.2L hybrid V8 with 545hp and 24 mpg for an $8,000 charge, which considering that hypothetical price doesn't sound like a bad deal at all.

Of course the survey doesn't mean GM is actually planning to overhaul the Camaro's powerplant options, but on the other hand the shifting tides of automotive technology have us betting that a hybrid Camaro will become a reality at some point sooner or later, especially with its blue oval rival the Mustang going the same route.

Here's another hybrid article: When is a V6 better than a V8? 

SEMA has officially arrived. The builds are finished, the booths set up and every manufacturer is ready to show off their latest and greatest. While the show doesn’t technically start until tomorrow, we were able to sneak in to take a few pictures for you of the builds you’ll be drooling over all week long.

Something that quickly became clear to us is how big of a deal rooftop tents have become. We wouldn’t blame you if you confused SEMA for a camping convention. Overlanding gear is everywhere. If you ever wanted to get out into the wild blue yonder, you’ll find more than a few dream-build ideas.

Of course, there’s plenty of non-overlanding builds as well, running the gamut from massive trucks to slammed imports. If you’re as excited for SEMA as we are, flip through the gallery above to get your fill of the best from the night before the show.

Are you excited for SEMA because you want to see all the overland builds? Then you need to see the Alpha Van.

It’s safe to say that when it comes to supercars and hypercars, McLaren is absolutely killing the game right now. Not long after the reveal of their ultra track-focused Senna, the brand has followed that up with another vehicle that’s just as extreme but different in its purpose.

Known as the Speedtail, McLaren has dubbed the car a “Hyper-GT,” and in comparison to the track-going, slightly odd looking Senna, the Speedtail is a sleek car that almost looks like a throwback to the supercars of the ‘90s.

Of course, the technology is all state of the art, with carbon fiber Monocage construction and an extended body for optimal aero drag. It even has carbon fiber aero covers on the 20-inch wheels.

With a 1,035hp hybrid powertrain providing the thrust, the ultra aerodynamic Speedtail will be capable of hitting 250 mph, although we aren’t quite sure where the average person would be able to test that.

Perhaps the coolest part about the Speedtail is the cockpit, with its three-seat layout with the driver at the center, a direct homage to the iconic McLaren F1 of the 1990s. Never before has riding in the middle seat felt so good.

The McLaren Speedtail comes with a price of about two million dollars US with just 106 examples planned for production.

Not surprisingly, as with every other low production hypercar release these days, McLaren says every example is already spoken for. Darn, and just as we were getting ready to write our check!

In other really fast car news, Porsche unveiled the throwback 935.

We’re proud to announce that Driving Line issue 17 has been released. This issue is all about going further, from driving 5,000 miles to the Arctic Circle to never compromising on some of the most epic hot rod builds we’ve seen.

If you’re at SEMA this year, swing by the Nitto booth to pick up your free copy. And if you see any of us in our Driving Line shirts, say hi! We’ll be walking around the show all week. If not, don’t worry. You can view the magazine online for free!

Whether you can pick up your copy in person or online, here’s a taste of what’s in store.

This issue is all about getting out and eating up the miles. From a purpose-built, Cummins-powered Dodge Dually Custom intended to devour the long Texas highways with family and cargo in tow, to Michael Nadal’s Globex JK Jeep that went from modified to full-buggy and then back to a more practical and daily driven road- and trail-dominating fun machine. No matter the roads you drive, these rides can take you down them.

Excited for SEMA? Follow along all week as we bring you the biggest news and best builds from the show!

Well, day one of SEMA has officially come and gone. Our feet are tired, but we were able to see and, fortunately for you, photograph more awesome builds than we could count. For anyone who hasn’t ever been to SEMA, the size of the show is truly staggering. There is no way anyone could see everything in a day, which is fine, since we’ll be here all week.

Other than the glut of rooftop tents and overlanding gear, as we noted in our first night gallery, the amount of carbon fiber surprised us. From hoods to roofs to entire bodies, carbon fiber was everywhere. That said, despite all the rooftop tents and carbon fiber that was there, we haven’t seen any carbon fiber rooftop tents…yet.

There was so much other than carbon fiber to gawk at, though, from V10-swaps to massive trucks. Don’t take our word for it, see it yourself in the gallery above!

Want more from SEMA? We’ll be here all week, covering all the coolest builds!

As we noted in our first night gallery, overland has taken over SEMA. From 4Runners to Jeeps and Ram trucks, everything has a rooftop tent. Not wanting to be left out of the off-roading fun, Kia brought five versions of their new Telluride SUV that are ready to conquer the trails.

While the aesthetics vary from car to car, all of them have been given the necessary suspension upgrades to handle whatever the wilds will throw at them. Included in the upgrades are a three-inch wider track front and rear, King hydraulic bump stops, fabricated multi-link suspension and control arms and corrected bump steer and roll center.

Also included on the front suspension are KW Motorsports inverted-shaft long-travel McPherson struts with remote reservoirs, linear bearings and three-way adjustable damping, and KW Motorsports long travel inverted WRC spec shocks with remote reservoirs and three-way adjustable damping on the rear. All of this has led to a two-inch increase in travel on the front and 1.5-inch increase in the rear.

Telluride Horizon Roamer

For the first of five special editions, the Horizon Roamer was designed to take on the Rubicon Trail and comes with a striking Bright Orange paint scheme and roof rack with integrated LED lights for when you’re still on the trail after dark. For helping it cross any kind of terrain, it has been equipped with a front brush guard, snorkel, skid plate and straight pipe exhaust.

Telluride Cadet Leader

This one can fit much better into the great outdoors with its Military Green and Black paint scheme. Along with a roof rack, this edition also has Rotopak carriers on the rear quarter panels so that you never run out of gas in the middle of nowhere. Like the Horizon Roamer, it also has a brush guard with a skid plate and a straight back exhaust, but it adds a rear tube bumper with a skid plate and amber Halo LED lights up front.

Telluride Desert Drifter

The Desert Military Tan and Black Telluride was made for the sands outside the Las Vegas city limits. This one has mounted the Rotopaks to the roof rack and comes with a brush guard with a skid plate, rear tube bumper with a skid plate, straight pipe exhaust and Halo LED light bar.

Telluride Baja Glider

This edition was designed to take on the Baja 1000, as the name implies, and it reconfigures a similar assortment of gear as the previous ones. Instead of just one light bar, it ups the ante with two, in case you’re traveling fast across the desert and need the next 100 feet to look like day. Along with a rear tube bumper with skid plate and straight pipe exhaust, like the others, this one comes with a forged tube front bumper with a skid plate to help you hit the whoops at speed.

New York Fashion Week Brandon Maxwell Telluride

Heading from its debut at the New York Fashion Week to the Kia booth at SEMA was the Brandon Maxwell Telluride. Its connection to Fashion Week goes beyond the place where it was unveiled, as the car is based on designer Brandon Maxwell’s Spring Summer 2019 Collection, titled “Texas.” Considering how important the cattle industry is to Texas, it should come as no surprise that there is leather all over it, from the interior to the outside door handles and mirrors, to the cargo area and tow strap tongue. The interior leather has even been double stitched to resemble the stitching on a saddle.

It comes with a few useful additions as well, such as custom bumpers, skid plates and sidestep sills, a snorkel and a wood and aluminum roof rack. It’s even rolling on 265/50R20 Nitto Terra Grappler G2s, good for both the trail and the highway. That said, this custom Telluride is probably too nice to take out on any trails for real.

While these are nice as SEMA show vehicles, it would be nicer to see them reflect factory options for the Telluride when it goes on sale in 2020. Since this has so clearly been marketed as an overland vehicle from the get-go, we would love to see things like an upgraded suspension, light bars and roof racks come from the factory. Of course, aftermarket upgrades will always be a big part of the overland community, but lowering the barrier to entry for people wanting to get out and enjoy nature is never a bad thing.

Also, considering how popular special editions have become, we wouldn’t be surprised to see (most of) these offered as full packages from day one.

Some photos provided courtesy of Kia.

Want more from the showroom floor at SEMA? We have a full gallery from the night before and day one!

The 2018 SEMA Show has its fair share of monstrous trucks designed solely to catch the eye. Chrome wraps, 26-inch wheels and custom powder coated frames are hard to miss when walking through the outdoor truck lineup, but our eyes were trained on the more purpose-built trucks of the show. One exceptional example was the Ram 3500 parked inside the Line-X booth in the upper South Hall.

Built by the Diesel Brothers at Sparks Motors, seen on the Discovery Channel, this 2018 Ram 3500 is featured as Line-X's 25th Anniversary celebration build, lined up next to a flatbed 1993 (Line-X's first year in business) first-gen Dodge Ram D350 built by Jesse James. The dual builds feature Line-X products on both trucks.

Ready for Any Obstacle

At first glance, this Cummins-powered Ram 3500 Laramie looks like a hybrid between a show truck and overland build, but don't be fooled; the details of this build make for a formidable adventure machine. Lifted on a McGaughy's 10-inch suspension system with trailing arms and Fox shocks, the Ram sits on a set of 40x15.50R20 Nitto Tire Trail Grapplers, wrapped around custom paint-matched Black Rhino wheels. With an abundance of ground clearance and ample tire height, there are few obstacles this Ram can't overcome.

Line-X Protection

Adding to its rugged and tough exterior is a full body coating of LINE-X ULTRA, a spray-on coating that can be used on virtually any part of a vehicle. Chosen for its durability, textured finish and resistance to UV rays, LINE-X ULTRA provides for a unique exterior appearance that improves the look of any vehicle while keeping it protected from the elements. In addition to the body, LINE-X ULTRA was applied to the suspension, bumpers, steps, grill and bed. 

All the Gear You Need

Some of the other elements that make this Ram a worthy off-road adversary include Flog Industries grill and bumpers with integrated LED lighting and tow points, Truck Gear by Line-X step bars and a Leitner Design bed rack, outfitted with Rotopax fuel cans and Maxtrax traction boards. Mounted to the bed rack is a GOFSR roof-top tent, built specifically with cold-weather camping in mind.

Below the tent is a Decked storage slider for the bed of the truck, with full-length slide-out drawers, making organizing and accessing your gear a simple task. The storage box itself is rated to hold up to 2000 pounds on top of it, allowing for a fully functioning truck bed.

An important aspect to any off-road adventure vehicle is ample lighting for night-time wheeling. The Line-X Ram sports an M-Racks roof rack, complete with KC HiLites Gravity Pro6 LED light rack.

More Than a Show Truck

In an age where full size show trucks are built for catching your eyes only, often built with no intentions of off-road use, the Line-X Ram 3500 offers a fresh take on what a purpose-built, formidable show truck can look like. It will still catch your eyes as you walk through the show, but perhaps most importantly, it will capture your imagination for what's waiting to be explored beyond these show walls.

Want to see more from SEMA 2018? Here's a gallery of the best builds of day one.

These are the vehicles that hopped-up performance street cars aspire to be: they're fast, built to withstand the rigors of competition, and none of them are street-legal.

These machines perform dangerous feats and push the boundaries of speed. Many aftermarket performance parts for production cars were born on the racetrack through grueling trials a track car must endure. We, the adoring public in our production vehicles, are grateful.

So don't look for creature comforts like air-conditioning or heated seats—you'll find nothing but roll cages, spartan seats and controls dedicated to operating the vehicle for the type of racing for which it was designed. All else is focused on efficiency and power development...and it's beautiful. Enjoy the gallery above of the warriors of car culture from SEMA 2018.

See more of the best vehicles from SEMA in our gallery from the first day of this year's event.

Celebrating their 50^th anniversary, the Hot Wheels Legends Tour has travelled around the country seeking to immortalize a single enthusiast-built car into a 1:64-scale die-cast as part of the exclusive Hot Wheels Garage of Legends. Finalist cars from each of the 15 cities joined together at the SEMA Show 2018 where the winning entry was announced. Out of over 3,600 entrants, it is Luis Rodriguez’ “2JetZ” custom-built car that’s won the 2018 Hot Wheels Legends title.

"All our Legends finalists on display at SEMA are winners — each custom build embodies originality, authenticity and the garage spirit," said Chris Down, SVP & General Manager, Hot Wheels. "The 2JetZ looks like it performs and everything about it was built from the ground up. Its forward design aesthetic will add variety to the Hot Wheels line and is a car that both adult fans and kids will love."

See each of the 15 Hot Wheels Legends Tour finalists and learn more about these unique builds below: 

Winner & New York/New Jersey Finalist – 2JetZ Custom-Built Car

Inspired by a fighter plane in honor of American veterens, the 2JetZ is a single-seat cockpit pushing out more than 600hp.

"Hot Wheels has crowned me as a winner, and I get the chance to represent some of the most creative and beautiful designs that I've seen," said Luis Rodriguez. "With my car, I wanted to create something from scratch that tested my ability as a builder and I am happy that the 2JetZ has taken me on this journey." 

Seattle Finalist – 1973 Datsun 240Z

Built by father and son duo Bill & Dylan Brinkworth, the “Saisei DB240Z” has been Dylan’s first full build which he began at age 9. Now 11, Dylan collaborated with his dad for everything from design ideas to learning fiberglass bodywork on their custom fender flares.

Under the hood is a L28 engine that’s been bored, stroked, cammed and covered in a custom chrome red valve cover—one of a ton of custom touches that makes this car feel like a Hot Wheels model already.

Miami Finalist – Custom-Built “Medieval1”

With enough whimsy to remind us of crazy ‘60s builds, the Medieval1 isn’t the first thematic build made by the hands of AJ Bohatta but it’s been something he’s dreamt of for 25 years. Each inch of the car reveals details tying into the theme from the intricately fabricated header pipes to the knight’s helmet exterior. Made to be driven, this small block Chevy is topped with a Weiand Supercharger and nitrous for a whooping 1,000hp.

Nashville Finalist – 1963 AMC Rambler American Wagon “Flare Witch Project”

Designed and built by husband/wife team Suzy Bauter and Rodney Prouty, the Flare Witch Project is mostly original on the outside, save for massive 8.5-inch fender flares which begin to tell the story of what’s underneath.

A Camaro front subframe and independent rear-end are paired with fully electronic Viking Performance shocks and a LS engine that’s been shifted back 10-inches for weight balance. This all leads to a Rambler wagon that handles and corners far differently than originally intended and provides a witching good time to Suzy and Rodney.

Charlotte Finalist – 1994 Chevrolet Geo Tracker “Never Enough”

We can truly say we’ve never seen anything quite like this creation from the hands of Delton Hubbard. Seeking to turn an orphan car into a show-stopping wonder, Hubbard began with a steel tube chassis and built up from there… all the way to the 671 Weiand blower and dual Holley carbs.

Atlanta Finalist – Custom-Built “Surfin’ Rod”

It may not be fitting to find a surf-themed car coming out of Atlanta, but this is no ordinary surfmobile. Dreamt-up by 9 year old Landon Graham who loved woody hot rods and the West Coast surf scene and went on to save up allowance and build the design from scratch with plenty of help from his grandfather Robert Graham. Based on the ’31 Chevrolet Woodie Wagon, the car is entirely built from scratch from the twin Pro/Mod cage and fire system to its 383 stroker small block. Looking into the interior we were surprised to find two seats there rather than one, but we imagine both grandfather and grandson need a place to ride until Landon has his driver’s license! 

Phoenix Finalist – 1966 C10 “The Redneck Racing Truck” 

Built to race, Dan Robertson planned and plotted this project after retiring and was helped along in the build by son, Will Robertson, and friends. The 530-inch Rodeck engine with MooneyHam blower is good for 2,000hp that the “Redneck Racing Team” projects to garner 200 mph and high-6’s on the dragstrip. Having plenty of fun along the way, we know this crew will get down to business.

Los Angeles Finalist – ‘30s Graham Custom

As the only art deco custom in the finalist mix, this unique build by Steve Howard brings a little-known ‘30s car manufacturer, the Graham Company, to the scene. While it’s slopping hood and streamlined fenders shout ‘30s elegance, the custom work brings a modern interpretation—including its convertible phaeton configuration, suicide doors, custom chassis and Ford running gear.

Dallas Finalist – Hakotora Truck

Upon seeing a “Hakotora” truck, owner and builder Nestor Mendoza knew he had to have one. The truck’s design comes from Michi Ogura in Japan, who spliced together his own Nissan Sunny truck and Skyline GT-R. The design garnered so much praise, Michi now sells kits the world over to other enthusiasts executing the vehicle mash-up. Mendoza’s truck was built alongside his daughter and is powered by a 4AGE 16-valve engine.

Kansas City Finalist – 1938 Bus “Class C RV”

Bought from a wooded field of decaying vehicles, Randy Roeber saw potential in this old school bus and took it home as a night, weekend and holiday project in dreams of having a fun and functional camping RV. Using a 2011 Ram 3500 chassis and 6.7L Cummins engine, the bus is planked in marine plywood with 12-coats of shiny finish. Inside you’ll find all the amenities you need for a weekend in the woods—we guess you could say this build started and ended in the trees.

El Segundo Finalist – ’49 Ford F5 

Mitch Allread was caught by surprise when his creation won the finalist title at the Hot Wheels Legends Tour’s first stop held at their headquarters earlier this year, saying, “I’ve been driving this truck for 9 years and I forget that people are seeing it for the first time.” Not much is left of the ’49 Ford dump truck, as this build sits on a custom chassis inspired by a ’35 Miller Indy car and is powered by a 7.3L Power Stroke diesel.

Detroit Finalist – ’47 Crosley “The Blue Goose”

Created for ’59 NHRA racing, The Blue Goose is testament that good design never ages. Designed and built by Elwood Peterson, Bruce Boyce and Gordie McNutt, this de-stroked 327 Chevy powered car sitting on a 100-inch wheelbase has won numerous awards and trophies over the years including runner-up at ‘62/’63 Indy nationals and Best Engineered Car at the ’66 Toledo Autorama.

Washington D.C. Finalist – Custom-Built “Cab Over Evolved”

Coming full circle as a build inspired from a Hot Wheels toy, Aaron Buck began with a ’36 Ford truck cab and front fenders then proceeded to custom build the chassis and the rest of the body. Under the hood a 5.9L 12-valve Cummins turbo diesel powers it down the road to be a real living toy-turned-car.

Chicago Finalist – ’87 Porsche 944 custom “Widerstandsfahig 001”

Designed and built by Brian Bergeron to go fast and win at SCCA AutoX competitions, not much of the stock ’87 Porsche remains. Branding the wide-body car a “Porsche Outlaw,” Bergeron dreamt it up with one thing in mind, weight savings—001 weighs in at 2,168 lbs and is powered by an LS6.

Bentonville Finalist – Custom-Built “Rat Rod Hooker”

“It’s just how my mind works,” said builder Vin Erwin of his creation which started life as a ’54 Ford 2-ton truck. While the 256 Mercury engine is original to the truck, not much else is. Chopped, Z’d and narrowed, this life-size toy-like creation took Erwin over 2 years to create. 

Our favorite thing about the Hot Wheels Legends Tour is seeing the ingenuity and creativeness of so many home-built cars all over the country. It sounds like a tour for next year is in the works, so start dreaming up and hammering down in the garage now!

See more details in the gallery above or see everything from Detroit's stop of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour here.

Back in the mid-‘60s the Shelby Daytona Coupe was built to beat Ferrari’s 250 GTO. Carroll Shelby loosely based it on the chassis and drivetrain of the AC Cobra, but the Daytona was able to achieve a higher top speed than the AC Cobra because of the better aerodynamics of a closed cockpit. Unfortunately, there were only six Daytonas ever built, and the most affordable originals were last sold in the four-million-dollar range. 

Reasonably Priced Racecars

It’s no surprise that racing enthusiasts would be interested in owning one, but most people don’t have a disposable income that numbers in the millions. Luckily, there are reasonably priced replicas available, like the Type 65 Coupe from Factory Five Racing, that start at just $21,000.00 (unassembled and without engine/transmission/rear-end/wheels/tire/paint job). If an enthusiast is interested in racing a Daytona-style car, there’s no reason not to at that price. That's exactly why Karen Salvaggio built one for herself.

The Factory Five Type 65 Coupe wasn’t Karen’s first race car. She knew that she wanted to race since she was a child but didn’t really get into it until the early ‘80s. “Back in 1983 I was in the Air Force working as a crew chief for a B-52 and a KC-135 for the Strategic Air Command. One of my friends took me out to race a stock car on a dirt track in the central valley in California. I loved the feeling of racing so much that the next week I bought a ’70 4-4-2 Oldsmobile so I could race on my own,” Salvaggio said.

Thirty-five years since her first race, she’s still at it today. Now she’s got a ton of experience under her belt and a much better car. “Once I started racing I’ve always had some sort of race car. I’m really into wheel-to-wheel competitions, and I’ve always loved the Daytona Coupe and its history—it was a top contender in FIA in the ‘60s and won a bunch of races in the era,” Salvaggio continued. “They’re made of unobtainium but I really wanted one, so I went to Factory Five for their Type 65 Coupe.”

She intended to race it, but the complete Type 65 Coupe kit she bought wasn’t quite race ready. “The major modifications I had to make included adding a fuel cell and a roll cage. This is actually my eighth Factory Five car, and through so many purchases, the owner and I have become friends. This is their gen three, car number 002—it was sold to me as a BETA test car, so I could give them feedback on what it needed. With some of my input from racing, Factory Five has since come out with a real full-on race version that is eligible for a log book like in SCCA or FIA.”

Production-Based Power

Her car is primarily used for racing, but it’s still legal on the street. It’s equipped with a 2017 Ford Coyote 5.0 under the hood that makes 435hp at the crank with period correct side-pipes. “We tested it on a dyno with modern exhaust. While the side-pipes look cool, they cost me about 70hp,” Salvaggio said. Behind the 5.0 is a stock-ratio T56 six-speed transmission with 3.73 gear Torsen differential in the rear and a 2015 Mustang GT independent rear suspension. In total, the car weighs about 2,800 lbs.

Coilover Koni shocks grace all four corners of the car. Nitto NT01 tires 275/35R18 in the front and 305/35R18 in the rear ride on Halibrand replica rims. Wilwood brakes stop the car with six-piston calipers in the front and four-pistons servicing the back wheels.

The appearance of her car is recognizable to anyone familiar with the Daytona Coupe body style. “I made sure the paint is the exact paint code of the original Coupe from the mid-'60s: Guardsman blue with Wimbledon white stripes. I think of the car as old school meets new school. The exterior keeps the vintage look I love, but it’s all modern underneath,” Salvaggio said.

Cars Are Good for People

What does the future hold for Salvaggio? Look for her competing in future West Coast vintage racing, and of course, our Driver Battle, where she faces off against a 2015 Dodge Viper. As the interview ended, she had some words to share: “Cars are good for people. You can run on the track or turn a street car into a racer and put it on the track. I’m all about the comaraderie and encourage people to get involved. If you want to be a racer, just go do it. If you’re friendly and excited, racers will help you out.”

See another exceptional example of one of Factory Five’s cars here.

From the moment diesel lovers began taking delivery of their Duramax-powered Chevrolet and GMC HDs back around the turn of the century, they knew GM’s 6.6L V8 was very different from the outdated 6.5L it replaced. At the time (2001), the Duramax was a marvel of an engine, introducing both common-rail injection and aluminum cylinder heads to the diesel truck segment. Now, some 18 years after bringing this technology to market, the Duramax remains one of the best platforms to make horsepower with, and you can find them in some of the fastest vehicles in all of diesel drag racing.

So who’s the fastest? After scouring the NHRDA record book, pouring over results from every major national diesel event over the past decade and combing through our own comprehensive archives, we’ve narrowed it down to the top five Duramaxes in the land. Below, you’ll find the quickest elapsed times and the fastest trap speeds ever obtained by a Duramax-equipped vehicle of any kind. Three rails, an S10 and even an old Willys Americar made the list. All of them have blasted the quarter-mile in seven seconds or quicker, with one even going mid-6s and breaking the 200 mph barrier.

For the full lowdown on these quarter-mile killers, keep reading.

1. NGM Diesel: 6.53 & 200.77 MPH

Wade Moody’s NGM Diesel-backed, Flo-Pro and Industrial Injection-sponsored rail has been setting tracks on fire since 2016, when things really started to click for Moody and his team. After first dipping into the 6s with a 6.99 at the 2016 NHRDA Midwest Truckin’ Nationals, Moody has been gradually shaving tenths off of his E.T.s, as well as adding trap speed. In June of ’17, Moody flew through the traps at 200.77 mph, and almost exactly one year later he eclipsed the 1320 in 6.53 seconds. Not only is Moody’s rail the quickest (and fastest) Duramax drag racer on the planet, but it’s not too far off the pace of the overall record of 6.31 and 226 mph held by Scheid Diesel.

Billet-Aluminum Block

Said to produce 2,100hp, the Duramax in Moody’s rail is pretty serious. It’s based on an NGM Diesel-designed, billet-aluminum block that makes use of a dry sump oil system. The reason behind the aluminum block is two-fold: weight savings and durability. Since introducing the first billet-aluminum Duramax block back in 2012, the folks at NGM Diesel have all but perfected them. Wagler rods, Diamond pistons, Industrial Injection injectors and CP3s and parallel (i.e. true twins) BorgWarner turbochargers sum up the major components that make this fire-breathing Dmax tick. The whole package is stuffed in an ’05 Spitzer chassis and bolted to a Rossler Transmissions TH400 with a Pro Torque converter. Moody’s one-of-a-kind dragster tips the scales at 2,500 pounds.

2. Banks Power: 7.17 at 181.08 MPH

In what was one of the most highly-anticipated debuts in diesel drag racing history at the time, the Gale Banks Engineering dragster was released on the heels of the company’s record-setting Pro Stock truck, which was also Duramax-powered. The rail was built on a chromoly, slip-joint Spitzer chassis with a 275-inch wheel base, wore a slick, unpainted carbon fiber body with the company’s infamous Sidewinder snake on each side and weighed in at just 2,290 pounds. After being completed in 2008, the rail made several shakedown passes before setting the new Duramax record (at the time) in the spring of 2009. It would be a full six years before Wade Moody topped the Banks team’s 7.17 elapsed time.

Twin-Turbos and Nitrous

Thanks to parallel turbocharging (and proper wastegating), nitrous oxide and a Big Hoss intake manifold, the Duramax powering the Banks dragster had plenty of fresh oxygen. All fueling was controlled by a Bosch standalone ECU, and the engine made a respectable 1,200hp on the dyno. In the car, the Duramax routed power through a Molinari Racing Products clutch and a Liberty five-speed transmission before making its way to the Mark Williams rear axle. A few years later (and after a substantial hiatus from drag racing), the Sidewinder dragster reappeared packing a 427 ci Duramax with a twin screw supercharger up top, but to our knowledge no subsequent attempts were made to set any more records.

3. NGM Diesel: 7.44 at 187.55 MPH

Before Wade Moody was busy setting the current, all-time fastest Duramax record in his rail, he regularly piloted this 2,800-pound, ’02 Chevy S10 to mid 7s at more than 180 mph, even earning an NHRDA Pro Stock championship along the way. Despite making his 7.44-second pass at 187 mph more than five years ago, it still stands as the official NHRDA Pro Stock record. Believe it or not, the same Duramax engine and Turbo 400 transmission that power Moody’s rail at the present time were plucked from this tube chassis mini truck—which essentially means one powertrain holds multiple records.

4. G&J Diesel: 7.46 at 186.26 MPH

One of the most unique vehicles in diesel drag racing belongs to Brad Makinen of G&J Diesel. His ’41 Willys Americar is sponsored by MBRP, driven by veteran drag racer Jarid Vollmer and competes in the Pro Stock category within the NHRDA. The WWII-era coupe weighs just 2,700 pounds thanks to a Hairy Glass fiberglass body and a chromoly chassis built by Tommy Mauney. Appropriately named, it’s known in the diesel industry as the Batmobile. With Vollmer at the helm, the Gotham City Special has made a host of seven-second passes since being introduced in 2014, along with earning three Pro Stock titles (2016, 2017 and 2018).

Twin-Turbo LBZ

When the Batmobile ran its best pass of 7.46 at 186 mph back in August of 2016, the LBZ-based Duramax was sporting a partially-filled block, dry sump oil system, Carrillo rods, Mahle pistons, ported heads from Wagler Competition Products and ARP fasteners throughout. A twin-turbo arrangement allowed a 64.5mm Garrett GTW3884R turbo to feed each bank, while a Wagler air-to-water intercooler—mounted on top of the engine—vastly reduced intake temps. The 1,400hp Duramax was backed up by a three-speed Lenco with a Bruno’s Automotive converter drive. Much of the aforementioned setup is still in use on the Batmobile today, with the car recently wrapping up its third consecutive Pro Stock championship at the 2018 NHRDA World Finals.

5. Grand Rock/Power Flow: 7.64 & 170.41 MPH

After drag racing for 30 years (and competing with diesels since 2006), Jeff Dean partnered up with Grand Rock Exhaust to campaign this Duramax-powered rail. Introduced in 2011, the 2,100-pound dragster definitely had weight on its side when pitted against virtually any other diesel-powered dragster in existence. While Dean’s dragster never set any records, it did nab a few notable finishes, including a big win at the 2012 TS Performance Outlaw Drag Race in Bowling Green, Kentucky—a mainstay event with one of the biggest year-over-year turnouts in the diesel industry.

Single Turbo, Nitrous

In a move that just made too much sense, the same LBZ Duramax that made it possible for Dean’s ¾-ton Silverado to run 10s was swapped into the rail. To keep things simple, the engine was left void of an intercooler and equipped with a single S400-based BorgWarner turbo from Fleece Performance Engineering. Without an intercooler, nitrous was used to keep in-cylinder temps down. A Powerglide transmission from Hughes Performance handled the shifts that shuffled Dean’s dragster through the quarter-mile in seven second intervals.

Select photography provided courtesy of Stainless Diesel’s Amy Gilbert and the National Hot Rod Diesel Association.

Want more crazy fast diesel dragsters? We have full coverage from the NHRDA World Finals!

Whether you're a fan of lifted or lowered, the 2018 SEMA Show had a huge array of trucks on display, ranging from custom classic hot rods to brand new diesels on 26-inch wheels. Taking a walk around the outdoor sections of the show, you would find some trucks literally too tall to fit into the hall doors. In contrast, you could find bagged lowriders throughout the show, some with bodies actually on the ground. Whatever your preference, there's no question that wild truck builds and their fans have an ever-growing presence at the SEMA Show.

Scroll through the photos above to see some of the best trucks the 2018 SEMA Show had to offer.

As we made our way through the massive crowds at SEMA 2018, we arrived at the Chevrolet booth to look at the 50th anniversary 2019 COPO Camaro. Of course, it’s awesome to have the opportunity to see this type of vehicle up-close and in person, but what really shocked us was their concept stock drag racer: the Camaro eCOPO. As the name suggests, it’s all electric. Is this the future of drag racing? Our curiosity was piqued, so we did some research to see how it compares to the current track-only cars that are geared specifically for drag racing from Ford, Chevy and Dodge. Each brand offers a version of their stock drag car with a similar NHRA approved twin-screw supercharger, three-speed transmission, nine-inch rear axle, roll cage and hefty price tag.

Ford Mustang Cobra Jet

Ford calls this the fastest, most powerful factory drag Mustang they’ve ever built. This track-only vehicle is equipped a race-ready 5.2L version of the Coyote V8 and force-fed air with a 3.0L Whipple supercharger.

They claim quarter-mile E.T. is in the eight-second range with 150 mph trap speeds—and we believe them.

It features throwback graphics and an appearance that isn’t much different than the street-legal version. But with that badging, there’s no question it’s hiding go-fast goodies underneath the façade. 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the Cobra Jet and in honor of its 1968 debut, only 68 were built and carry an MSRP of $130,000.

Chevy Camaro COPO

First off, COPO stands for Central Office Production Order system. This name is drawn from the legacy established in 1969 when Chevrolet dealers used the system to build high-performance models like the first purpose-built Camaro drag racing specialty car.

2019 is the 50th anniversary of the COPO Camaro, and Chevy is making 69 of them to honor the race-ready model that are specifically designed for NHRA’s Stock eliminator classes.

Three engine choices are available for those lucky 69 people. One Magnuson 2.65L supercharged LSX-based 350ci, and two naturally aspirated versions: a 427ci and a high-revving LT-based 302ci. We didn’t find any official prices, but you can expect them to be within the realms of the comparable Ford and Mopar models.

Dodge Challenger Drag Pak

The Drag Pak is designed for racers in the Sportsman class who compete in nationally sanctioned drag racing series. “This generation Drag Pak combines the latest in Sportsman racing technology a host of upgrades and improvements from the previous generation with unique heritage cues,” according to Dodge’s official press release. They’re not joking, as the car runs consistent eight-second-range passes in the quarter-mile and looks great doing it.

One of the more exciting aspects of the car are the engine options, of which there are two. This version of the Drag Pak is the first time Dodge has offered a 2.9L Whipple supercharged version, and it sits atop a 354ci Gen HEMI. Of course, the naturally-aspirated motor option is a 426ci HEMI.

There were only 60 units made: 35 with the supercharged 354ci and 25 with the naturally-aspirated 426ci. They also got a little cute with the pricing which they call “cubic-inch appropriate”: $99,426 for the 426ci and $109,354 for the supercharged 354ci version.

The Future of Drag Racing: Chevy eCOPO Camaro

The eCOPO Camaro makes more than 700hp and 600lb-ft of torque—yet produces zero emissions. Projected quarter-mile times are estimated to be in the nine-second range.

So how does it do it? General Motors built the car with Hancock and Lane Racing and utilizes two BorgWarner HVH 250-150 motor assemblies that completely replace the gas engine. The BorgWarner motors are supplied with GM’s first 800-volt battery pack that enable more efficient power transfer to the motor and supports faster recharging. But they’re not telling us how fast it recharges, so we suspect that it’s considerably longer than it takes to refuel a gas-powered dragster.

Surprisingly, power is delivered to the ground from the motors through a conventional race-prepped Turbo 400 automatic trans and the same solid rear axle nine-inch used in the production COPO Camaros.

Clearly, we’re not far away from seeing something like this in competition given the numbers the eCOPO appears to be capable of. We’d guess that within the next ten years we’ll see all-electric classes emerge. But in order for that to happen, the charge time has to be reduced, parts need to be plentiful and the power delivery has to be comparable.

We're going to miss the sounds and smells of combustion-based drag racing.

Don't like the taste, smell, or sound of electric vehicles? Enjoy these black smoke belching diesel drag racers.

There are few places remaining in California where you can embark on a multi-day trip with a four-wheel drive vehicle across vast, uninhabited expanses of wilderness. Even fewer trails like this exist in the deserts of Southern California. But for those willing to take the challenge, one trail stands above the rest when it comes to epic California desert excursions.

Across 147 miles of mostly barren, open desert, the Mojave Road was once the main thoroughfare used by tribes local to the Mojave Desert, providing a direct route connecting several natural springs between the Colorado River, near present-day Laughlin, Nevada, and the Mojave River, near present-day Barstow, California. Later, it became part of the Old Spanish Trail, a vital route for Mexican traders. After the land passed into American hands, the Mojave Road became the main wagon road coming into Southern California.

We recently had the chance to take two Toyota trucks across the Mojave Road, a 2008 Tacoma 4x4 and 1991 Pickup 4x4, both equipped with Nitto Ridge Grapplers. Both trucks conquered the Mojave Road with ease, navigating a wide range of terrain. The trail offers diverse wheeling opportunities for any enthusiast, including sand dunes, rocks, mud and open desert. The Ridge Grapplers performed well in the varying terrain the the Mojave Road offered, easily transitioning from fast desert running to slow, narrow trail riding.

Today, the Mojave Road is a popular trail for off-roaders who are willing to brave it. Beyond the uninterrupted views of the Mojave National Preserve, the trail takes you along some notable points of interest. A few of these include natural springs, an alkaline dry lake bed, a water crossing, an old US Army fort and even some lava tubes you can explore.

As we reached the banks of the Colorado River, at the eastern terminus of the Mojave Road, the trail opened up into a sandy wash that winds its way back to the highway. Critical of a hybrid-terrain tire, the Ridge Grappler not only performs exceptionally off-road, but remains quiet and collected on the highway home. If you plan on taking the interstate back, you'll appreciate the tame, comfortable ride the Ridge Grappler offers.

Our verdict? After completing all 147 miles of the Mojave Road countless times with different trucks on different off-road tires, we can definitely say that the Ridge Grappler is the perfect fit for this epic adventure.

Desert season is here! Follow along as we review some of the best weekend wheeling trips in the Western United States and give you the definitive guide to taking on each trail.