For the first time, SEMA 2016 didn't have just one, but two Hakosukas present, both parked side-by-side, each representing two powerhouses in the Japanese tuning industry. One, more of a street build at ENEOS, the other, a fully prepped race car representing OS Giken. ENEOS wanted to tell a story this year with its vehicle selections: as cars have progressed, so has their product line. What better way to explain their JDM heritage than with iconic vehicles, such as the Hakosuka.

The Hakosuka you see here belongs to Ginash George out of Chicago, Illinois, best known for running JDM Chicago. ENEOS was looking for a classic Japanese car to display, and through a recommendation by IND Distribution, decided to bring Ginash's car.

"They wanted to showcase an older Japanese car to highlight their involvement with these historical vehicles," Ginash said. "In fact, they released a promotional vehicle that features my car, a current GT-R and their history as an OEM oil supplier." 

Ginash felt this would be a great opportunity to bring something different to SEMA, and judging by the amount of photos we saw on social media, people love different.

"To have my street Hako adjacent to [OS Giken's] purpose-built track car was really cool," he said.  

Though the popularity of the Hakosuka is soaring high right now, Ginash has owned his for a good four years. He originally wanted a R35 GT-R, but the high dealer prices prevented him from buying one. Instead, he started looking into importers that were bringing in older cars from Japan, such as JDM Legends, the shop that brought this very Hakosuka stateside. After patiently enduring some time on a wait list, he called to ask when one would finally be available, when shop manager Eric Bizek told him a clean model was on its way over. Ginash sent his deposit in immediately, and he worked with Eric to get the car cleaned up and retrofitted with some GT-R parts before it was sent back out to Chicago. 

JDM Legends gives every car a standard inspection, which includes a compression and leak down test; the Hakosuka motor was still strong, but it had been built by the previous owner at some point. As much as purists try to keep these cars as original as possible, Ginash is looking to do an engine swap soon.

"In case you're wondering, 90 horsepower is as bad as it sounds," he confirmed. "With that said, I'm looking at possibly a more modern RB for improved power, reliability and safety. As much as I love the original L20, it's time for more power and something I can take on long cruises without worrying or it needing constant tweaking." 

At the end of the day, both ENEOS and Ginash hope enthusiasts who saw this Hakosuka can walk away with a newfound appreciation for a vintage car.

"The reception was unbelievable," he added. "I was very humbled by the reactions of those who stopped by to see it."

(Photos: Byron Yoshida)

See more photos of the Nissan legend in the gallery below.

A Look Into the Future: LA Auto Show 2016

The covers are off! The 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show is officially open and here to give the public a glimpse of what's to come for the automotive world in 2017. While we saw some familiar builds in Vegas at SEMA Show 2016, there's just no telling how many more wild vehicles you might see at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The halls are filled with shiny new cars and trucks, but there are a few standouts you have to see:

Lexus has a Sriracha-themed IS that is arguably the hottest car of the show, Infiniti went gold school with a fancy Neiman Marcus edition Q60s and Toyota's new Tacoma TRD Pro is a legitimate beast on the streets.

Although, if we had to pick a star of the show, it would have to be the 1:1 scale TIE Fighter in the Nissan booth that is featuring their 2017 Nissan Rogue: Rogue One Star Wars Limited Edition. Only 5,400 of these will be made, and each will come with a wicked cool Death Trooper helmet, so if you want to see it live in person, you better make time to visit the 2016 LA Auto Show!

Check out some of our other favorites in the photo gallery at the top.

The Los Angeles Auto Show is on now until November 27! In case you can't stop by, you can check our live feed below to see what people are sharing:

When you ask people about what they associate most with the Japanese automotive scene, they'll usually respond with drifting, VIP and even bosozoku. Rarely mentioned are trucks. So with a mix of curiosity and trepidation, we headed to Odaiba to attend a show dedicated to them: the Mooneyes Truck Masters Final.

The sixth and final stop of the show on the mainland, there was plenty to drool over whether you are a fan of Japanese or American makes. Besides the large delivery and constructions models, the most common trucks found on the streets of Japan are small kei types, Proboxes and Hi-Aces. This show had few of those and a lot of pick-ups; a lot of American pick-ups.

Large pickups are extremely rare in Japan due to their size and the taxes involved, which means there is really no market in Japan. Nevertheless, there is a hearty group of fans willing to pay a hefty premium to import their favorite.

Once they arrive, like any enthusiast, they start modifying. Some choose to go up while plenty choose to go down; either way, they go all out. There were so many ultra clean mini-trucks, awesome classics and several very intimidating lifted trucks.

Below are a few that stood out in the sea of beds and lift kits.

Chevrolet Suburban

This mid-1960s Chevrolet Suburban had us imagining how it must've looked on the showroom floor when it was new.

SR Power

Air suspension, Recaros and a clean SR20DET swap had us swooning over this Nissan Hardbody King Cab. 

Toyota Crown

The Toyota Crown is a classic and the workhorse of the taxi industry in Japan. We were shocked to hear they made a pickup variation in the 1960s; we had to confirm that they were in fact Crowns. 

Datsun 520 1300 Double Cab 

There is something strangely calming about this Datsun 1300. We're not sure if it's the fact that it's a double cab, the Work Equip 03s or the flowers. Whatever the reason, we would love to take this on a lazy Sunday cruise along the ocean.

Oh!dyssey

That name was all we could come up with as there was really no way for us to articulate exactly what this (formerly) Honda Odyssey had turned into. Maybe our readers can help us out.

Maziora Deco-Trucks

These semi-tractors were not as chromed out as other deco trucks we have seen, but the fact they were fully painted with Maziora makes up for it. Maziora is the Japanese brand of ChromaFlair paint that shifts color depending on the light and angle you are looking at it.

Mini-Truckin

This Nissan Hardbody received the full lowrider treatment. Coffin interior, hydraulic bed, candy paint and of course reverse Daytons. Reminds us of when we spent all that time nose-deep in Lowrider magazine.

Citroën H

Even though it was still on its trailer, this H was nevertheless a crowd favorite. Featuring air suspension from AccuAir, we hope to see it in action next time. 

Similar to how JDM fans put Japanese plates on their cars, the reverse is true in Japan with plates from California and Hawaii, the most popular. As America is the home of trucks, it's no surprise that a lot of the trucks emulated styles commonly found stateside. It was great to see the unique interpretations and styles that define the Japanese automotive culture.

We'll leave you with this Corgi who was just trying to fit in.

Make sure to check out the gallery below to see more from the show! Maybe you'll see something that inspires your truck project.

It was an unseasonably hot November day at Buttonwillow Raceway, but luckily the weather didn't stop spectators from coming out to watch Round 3 of the Global Time Attack series, also known as Super Lap Battle. The crowds were much bigger than the ones we remember from the last four years, a welcome sign that this local event is getting popular again, just like back in the day when teams were coming from other countries to compete.

The only thing hotter than the weather was the competition on the track. Over 80 cars competed in 13 classes, with a couple familiar faces like our good buddy Roy Navarez, who was competing in three different classes with his Ariel Atom, Nissan GTR and Viper ACR. Several Formula Drift drivers were also in the mix, with Michael Essa in the Unlimited RWD class competing in his BMW Z4, and Dai Yoshihara in the Unlimited FWD class competing in the Spoon Sports Honda Civic Type R.

The last time we checked in with Dai, he was whipping a turbo-charged Toyota Sienna around Willow Springs Raceway, so we decided to follow him around and see what he could do in the center-seat Honda Civic Type R. Accompanying the racing crew was Tatsuru Ichishima, the man behind Spoon Sports.

The competition was fierce, but none more so than the Unlimited FWD class. One of the furthest traveled teams, PZ Tuning Motorsports from Canada broke Dai's record from last year on the first day, which is when most teams are still shaking down their cars to make last minute adjustments, and put down their fastest lap on the next day. When all was said and done, the top two cars in this class were only separated by fewer than 0.2 seconds. Unfortunately for Dai and the Spoon Sports team, they had mechanical issues both days and were unable to get everything dialed in to defend their title.

Overall, it was a relatively good event with few cars having major issues on the track. It helped keep the event flowing and the track constantly hot since there were no stoppages to clean up oil spills or other debris. We hope that the field of drivers continues to stay healthy because we love seeing this level of competition. 

Despite all the issues, Dai still finished in the Top 3 with his fastest lap only 2 seconds behind first! See his amazing run and scenes from the Spoon Sports pit in the gallery at the top.

It’s the auto industry’s ultimate trade show but SEMA’s annual event in Las Vegas may also have accidentally become the ultimate car show.

What started as in-situ displays of manufacturer’s goods, 50 years ago, has turned into a spectacle unto itself, a kind of "show within a show." Presumably with the understanding that all of the best builders bring cars to display in booths at the show, SEMA created a “Battle of the Builders” competition. In a nutshell, some 200 builders from around the world submit candidate vehicles for judging.

Here’s where it gets really cool. A day before the show's end, the 10 selected finalists get together for a kind of symposium. Each builder gets an opportunity to reveal the things that make their particular vehicle worthy, then each entrant judges every other entrant’s vehicle. Also noteworthy for this year’s competition is the Young Guns distinction recognizing builders younger than 35. 

Just prior to the Rollout, the formalized purging of show vehicles from the event, the top three of those 10 entrants ascend to lead the pack. Followed by a ceremony during the SEMA Ignited after-party, a winner gets crowned based exclusively upon the judgements of their peers. While everyone has their top picks from the SEMA Show, we wanted to give you a closer look at the cars selected during SEMA’s 2016 Battle of the Builders.

Winner: Cam Miller | Logan, Utah | 1969 Chevy Camaro

Don’t feel awkward if you don’t recognize the name, Cam’s shop, HS Customs, is far off the grid in Logan, Utah. You may credit that relative isolation for his team’s success, as the car they created commands attention in a fairly sophisticated way, at once standing out without making a scene.

Painter Cam Miller added car building to his curriculum only half a dozen years ago, but his ascent has been rapid - he’s consistently qualified for some of the industry’s highest accolades. Though far from conservative, the Camaro his HS Customs shop built is far from radical. Rather, it’s the recipient of ceaseless refinement on an innovative angle. This is the first time Cam exhibited a car at the SEMA Show.

Congratulations to the HS Customs crew!

Runner-up: Jesse Greening | Cullman, Alabama | 1961 Chevy Two-Door Wagon

Jesse Greening represents the generation responsible for transforming the street rod into a sophisticated, all-around performance machine. This time he stretched the roof of a ’61 Impala to make a two-door wagon, a model that Chevrolet killed that year. Drawing on his hot rod roots he chopped the top, tucked the chassis into the body, and tapered the body from front to back. 

Third: Kyle Tucker | Mooresville, North Carolina | 1941 Willys 2-Door Coupe

Kyle Tucker and his wife Stacy drew upon their engineering backgrounds to create Detroit Speed Engineering, one of the preeminent suspension manufacturers in the muscle-car world. Recently Kyle broke with his own tradition by taking on a 1941 Willys. It may have been built like a street rod to look like a drag car, but underneath it’s every bit a muscle machine. Kyle won the inaugural Best of the Builders in 2014 with a ’69 Camaro.

Jeremy and Phil Gerber (Young Gun)| Mundelein, IL | 1967 Chevy Chevelle

The Roadster Shop may have started as a street-rod business, but current owners Jeremy and Phil Gerber transformed it into one of the industry’s most significant G-machine chassis factories. The relatively stock-appearing body on their ’67 Chevelle belies an entirely new internal structure made with one of the company’s chassis.

Mike and Jim Ring | Spring Green, Wisconsin | 1969 Chevy Camaro

The Ringbrothers bring to bear elements from various motorsports on their project vehicles. As a result, the finished products achieve a kind of watershed that seemingly transforms the industry. The ’69 Camaro they submitted evokes elements of high-end European exotic cars, including a very OEM-inspired interior. The brothers also made “Top Three” at the inaugural Battle of the Builders and “Top 10” last year.

Mike and Jim Ring | Spring Green, Wisconsin | 1948 Cadillac Sedanette

Evidently one amazing build isn’t enough, as the Ringbrothers were chosen for a second this year, a 1948 Cadillac Sedanette. When a prominent GM dealer asked for a Cadillac legend that handled legendarily, they literally extracted the body from a brand-new ATS-V and dropped the ’48 body in its place, no mean feat considering the new Cadillac doesn’t even have a frame. It boasts every major component of the new car right down to its interior which includes all features except the side-curtain airbags.

Gordon Ting | Irvine, California | 2016 Prius

Until now the words Prius and racing never appeared in the same sentence. Gordon Ting challenged the very image of Prius as a droll commuter car by visualizing one as a street version of the Prius GT300s that compete in the Okayama International Circuit. This isn’t Gordon’s first time transforming a mild car into a monster, he once headed the Scion xD team competing in Rally America.

Big Mike | Garden Grove, California | 1992 Honda Prelude

Big Mike transformed Honda’s first sports coupe, the Prelude, for his build. This isn’t the car’s first pony show, it’s morphed to Mike’s will over the years. He distilled this version from his experience in various automotive motorsport cultures, drawing heavily upon European Grand Touring culture by invoking the Martini livery from the latter part of the last century.

Mark Turner | Phoenix, Arizona | 1958 Jeep FC170

When Daystar Products CEO unleashed this wild forward-control Jeep at SEMA two years ago, it rolled on tracks. He drew upon his experience building parts for OEM applications and applied it to something he could use personally. Though he deemed the project a lost cause, his employees offered to help after-hours to pull off this magnum opus.

Brad DeBerti (Young Gun)| Arroyo Grande, California | 2017 Ford Raptor

Despite his years, Young Gun Brad DeBerti had something nobody else outside the Ford booth could claim, a 2017 Ford Raptor. Working under a punishing deadline of mere weeks, DeBerti’s crew stripped the truck to the cab, fabricated a full cage, widened the suspension three inches per side, and stretched the factory fenders four inches. It’s a true Prerunner work truck and a prototype for a production kit to come.

Want more from SEMA? See Driving Line's full 2016 SEMA Show coverage here.

We are now a few days into the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show, and the excitement just keeps building as we take a look at what these automotive manufacturers have been cooking up for the coming year. While flying cars are still yet to be seen, the builds on display are guaranteed to blow you away. From cars to trucks, hybrids to electrics and whatever whacky custom vehicles you'll find inside the Galpin Auto Sports Hall, the LA Auto Show is a must for anyone in the greater LA area. It's a great way to cap off the year and take a look into the future of the automotive world.

If you can't make it to the show, the gallery above will give you your fill; but if you are going, here are a few standouts you have to stop by and see:

Nissan Rogue

Rebel scum.

Infiniti Q60s Neiman Marcus Edition

You fancy, huh?

Honda Civic Type R

Now this is our type.

Porsche 911 RSR

Magnus Walker approved.

Chevrolet Colorado

Welcome to the desert.

Toyota C-HR

YouTuber approved.

Deadmau5's BAC Mono

Head-banger.

Sriracha Lexus IS

Hot! Hot! Hot!

Mazda RT24-P

Zoom Zoom.

Jaguar I-Pace Concept

Shocking.

BMW M760Li

Views from the 7.

Lincoln Navigator Concept

Step right up.

Don't forget to check out our live social feed of everything happening at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show!

(Photos: TK Akiyama)

If you drive your 4x4 hard enough, you’ll find the weak points on the vehicle. While nobody likes breaking down on the trail, it’s an inevitable reality for many. Preventative maintenance is one way to keep from being stranded, but your trail prep shouldn’t end there. On vehicles such as the ’97-’06 Jeep Wrangler TJ, a major weak link can be found with the Dana 30’s front axleshafts.

In stock form, the 1040 steel ‘shafts are plenty adequate. However, when you add in heavier and oversized tires into the equation, along with a front traction aid such as a differential locker, the ‘shafts and U-joints are known to fail. Our friend's 2000 Jeep Wrangler TJ is equipped with a 4.5-inch BDS long-arm suspension, 35x14.50R15 Nitto Mud Grapplers and an Aussie Locker in the front end. This combo makes for great traction on the trail but can easily equate to ‘shaft failure.

To increase his Dana 30’s odds against trail failure, he opted to upgrade the stock axleshafts with a replacement set from Alloy USA. The Alloy shaft kit (SKU: 12148) includes both inner and out axleshafts, along with serviceable Alloy USA X-joints.

The stock Dana 30 axleshafts are a 1040 carbon steel. Alloy USA uses a 4340 chromoly, which equates to a 40-percent strength increase over stock. Both inner and outer ‘shafts are 27-spline, so you can reuse your stock unit bearings, and in this case, Aussie Locker.

In place of a stock U-joint, Alloy uses its X-joint, which is fit with needle grease fittings at the top of each cap. The cold-forged steel composition is comprised of chromium, molybdenum and nickel alloy. Not only is this joint significantly stronger than the OE version, it’s also easily serviceable.

Axleshaft Assembly

Since the X-joints come separate from the ‘shafts, you’ll need to assembly the set. You’ll start by unbolting the grease fitting from the caps, then pulling each cap off the body of the joint.

We like to place extra grease inside of the cap to make sure the needle bearings stay in place during the install. It’s also helpful to add a swipe of grease inside the yoke ears.

To install the caps, all you need is a hammer and a steady hand. Be sure to keep pressure on the body of the U-joint in the direction of the cap you are hammering in.

Your final step for the ‘shaft assembly will be to install the half-circle clips on the caps. This is what’s known as an inner clip, versus on outer style that would go at the top of the cap.

Axleshaft Replacement

To install the new ‘shafts, you’ll first support your Jeep’s front axle, then remove the tire. The next step will be to break the axleshaft nut free. To do so, you’ll need a 36mm socket and impact gun. If you don’t have an impact, we suggest placing the tire back on the vehicle with the wheel’s center cap removed. Place the vehicle weight back on the tire, then use a breaker bar and extension to break the nut loose.

With the axle nut removed, make your way to the two brake caliper bolts. You’ll remove both bolts and set aside the caliper. After this, you can pull off the brake rotor.

The ’97-’06 Jeep Wrangler TJ Dana 30 front axle uses a unit-bearing design. This setup serves as the front axle’s wheel bearing and hub assembly. It’s secured to the steering knuckle via three bolts, which require a 12-pt, 13mm to remove.

Once you unbolt the unit bearing from the steering knuckle, you can pull it off the axle. With the unit bearing removed, you can slide out the stock axleshaft assembly.

To install the new Alloy USA axleshaft set, grab the correct side and simply slide it into the differential housing. We recommend putting a small dab of great on the ‘shaft end going into the diff. This will help prevent you from possibly tearing the seal.

Reassembly is straight forward from removal. Be sure to put a new cotter pin in the stub ‘shaft once you’ve cinched the axle nut down.

For an added bonus, we put together a quick video highlighting the install process.

Learn more critical information about your Jeep’s Dana 30 frontend.

Don't cook your holiday bird in a boring old oven! Do it the fun way. To show us how it's done, we called in a professional fun haver. Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s secret ingredient? A Ford Mustang RTR. On Nitto NT555 G2s. That's right – Gittin's in the kitchen, and he's cooking up something real tasty. Happy Holidays, everyone!

Feast your eyes on Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s holiday creation in the video above.

(Photo Courtesy of Ford Performance)

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, the world was introduced to the first premium hybrid electric car. The Fisker Karma concept debuted at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and shortly afterward became a huge hit.

What Goes Up...

James May from Top Gear named it “Car of the Year.”  Time Magazine named it in its “Best Inventions of 2011.” German car magazine Auto Bild named the Fisker Karma "Classic Car of the Future.” Carlos Santana bought one. So did Justin Bieber. Leonardo DiCaprio became Fisker’s Brand Ambassador.

Then the hybrid hit the fan.

During a test drive by Consumer Reports, a Fisker Karma broke down and couldn’t be restarted. This, according to the magazine, was the first incident of its kind for the testing agency. Then there were the fires. A Karma caught on fire in Texas, then another one flamed up in California. And during Hurricane Sandy, 16 Karmas caught on fire while parked in a marine terminal in New Jersey. These disasters were the beginning of the end for the revolutionary automaker, whose assets were sold to Chinese company, Wanxiang, in 2014.

All images courtesy of Fisker Inc.

The Comeback Climb

But Henrik Fisker is not the kind of guy to let a little smoke get in his eyes. Fisker had been in the automotive game for a long time and wasn’t about to give up. He started his design work at BMW in the '80s where he created the E1, an electric concept car that eventually became the i3. He was also responsible for designing the Z8 roadster and the BMW x5. Fisker moved on from BMW to Ford where he worked as design chief at Aston Martin. Then he left to create Fisker Coachbuild in 2005 and shortly afterward, he was hired by a little company called Tesla Motors.

Tesla asked Fisker to work some of his design magic on their early Model S. Later that year, Fisker started Fisker Automotive, based in Anaheim, California. And, well, you know what happened there. That other company promoted a guy named Elon Musk, and things went notably better for them. 

But while Musk has been making roofing tiles and ugly SUVs while putting out fires of his own, Fisker has been honing his automotive work all over the globe. In 2015, Fiskar collaborated with Galpin Motors to create the "Rocket" — a 725 bhp Mustang made of carbon fiber. Then he created VL Automotive with industry icon Bob Lutz and manufacturer Gilbert Villarreal. Their first vehicle, the "Destino," claims that it will become the world’s highest-performing four-door GT. Powered by the Corvette LS9 V8, the Destino retails at $229,000. Next, VL announced a hyper car too, this time partnering with racer Ben Keating to create a carbon fiber two-seater. The Force 1 will have limited production, with initial units set at a mere 50.

At present, Karma Motors, a company completely disconnected from Henrik Fisker, is selling the Karma Revero, which is an updated version of the Fisker Karma. Fisker, however, is not looking back. His latest company, Fisker Inc. recently revealed the EMotion. Powered by a graphene battery, this innovative power source will be manufactured by Fisker Nanotech — a dedicated battery supplier. Its software is ready for self-driving technology and “will reveal itself soon.” Boasting a top speed of 161 mph, the EMotion is reportedly planning a best-in-class range of 400 miles, which will easily eclipse its “top competitor.” (Just guess who that is.)

Will the Fisker EMotion finally be the Tesla Model S killer?

When asked this question, Henrik Fisker responded:

"We are striving to create innovative electric cars that have a strong emotional connection with the customer on a new level. We are introducing several new exciting features in the interior that we will show next year. Once our car has been launched, people will decide for themselves who our competitors are."

Tesla has every reason to be scared. Besides Fisker’s excellent automotive design chops and industry connections, the two companies have had beef in the past. Back in 2008, Tesla sued Fisker, claiming his work on the Model S was not up to par and that he kept his best ideas for the Karma. However, the court ruled in favor of Fisker who received a reported $1.4 million in damages from Tesla.

Only time will tell whether or not the Fisker EMotion will actually deliver all that it currently promises. But if it does, the Model S will have to quickly up its game. Within five years, Henry Fisker says his company will "become the most exciting and innovative electric vehicle company and having launched a high volume affordable second model.” One thing's for sure — Fisker’s not going down without a fight.

Love electric vehicle technology? Learn about the Nissan ZEOD engineered for Le Mans.

With over 25 years of combined experience attending SEMA Show, you'd think not much would surprise us anymore. Well, think again! Each and every year builders do more and go crazier, always daring to push the envelope. With 2016 also marking the 50th anniversary for the annual SEMA Show, you know there were some amazing rides that caught our eyes. From classic to modern, off-road to out of this world, SEMA Show has a little bit of everything, and we were there to see for ourselves.

Watch the video above to see which beauties your Driving Line editors picked and why!

Were you there too? What were your favorites? Let us know!

(Video: BOWLS LA)

HB Off-Road Performance, a division of Huntington Beach Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM, hosts monthly beginner and intermediate-level trail runs to help their customers get familiar with taking their new Jeeps off-road. October's run was women drivers only, designated for Breast Cancer Awareness. Some ladies brought their husbands or boyfriends along as co-pilot, but many others brought their daughters or female friends. 17 Jeeps attended, and for most it was the first time they had taken their Jeep off-road.

The group met under stormy skies at Vista Point in the Silverwood Lake State Recreational Area to air down tires and receive goody bags with t-shirts and other swag from HB Off-Road Performance before heading out to tackle the Sugarpine Mountain Trail in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Trail boss Kimmie Davis held a drivers’ meeting to go over basic safety rules, like always keeping an eye on the vehicle behind you to make sure they aren’t having trouble. Kimmie is the wife of Ultra4 racer Randal Davis, owner of Desert Turtle Racing, and she has years of off-road experience.

A Tame Start

Sugarpine Mountain begins as an easy, graded dirt road as it enters the San Bernardino National Forest and starts the climb up the mountain. The trail heads west and runs below Cleghorn Ridge, another popular trail for beginners.

A Foggy, Soggy Climb

The trail climbs to 5,600 feet, and as we gained elevation we ran into very heavy fog and limited visibility. We had to turn our lights on so we could see each other.

Stopping at one of the scenic viewpoints, we could barely see our surrounding crew let alone the spectacular view we had hoped for. With the temperature dropping and the wind picking up, we were all eager to get back inside our warm Jeeps after our short break out in the fog.

Driving through a forest shrouded in fog has a beautiful eeriness about it. This trail is beautiful in the fall, even in the fog. The combination of tall pine trees and colorful deciduous trees make for spectacular scenery... even if it is a bit spooky.

A flooded portion of trail gave everyone a little fun...

Since Christmas is coming, I kept track of who was naughty and who was nice to the photographer as they drove past. I'll let you guess which the following Jeep was!

The cold, wet weather didn't damper our day. It's always a good time out in a Jeep!

Little Victories

Headed down the mountain, a side trail gave newbies the opportunity to learn how to navigate a steep and muddy hill. Davis gave each woman some tips and pointers before they started their ascent.

After successfully reaching the top, a turn-around had to be negotiated before heading back down.

Women were amazed to see how well their Jeeps handled the tough hill climb; they all said it gave them more confidence out on the trail.

A Rocky Descent

After a lunch provided by HB Off-Road Performance, the trail got rougher with a few rocky sections as it winded back down the mountains around the West Fork of Devil Canyon.

The final descent is a narrow, uneven shelf road with a steep drop-off. We got our first glimpse of the sun as we stopped to admire the view of San Bernardino Valley down below.

There’s not much room for passing along this section of the trail.

On the Road Again

Once back on pavement, we stopped to air up and say goodbye. The trail ends on Palm Avenue, just a few blocks from the US 215 Verdemont exit.

Before saying goodbye, I talked to each of the first-timers, wondering if they had a good time and if they planned to take their Jeeps off-road again.

Every one of them said they can’t wait to do it again. It was fantastic to see so many women fall in love with off-roading, especially the younger Jeep girls.

We had a really great time on this run. Thanks to HB Off-Road Performance for inviting us to tag along!

Trail Summary and Map

The 16-mile Sugarpine Mountain Trail is an easy day trip from the LA metro area, open all year round. It’s a great trail for off-road beginners or anyone seeking a quick escape to the mountains.

Are you an off-road beginner? We've compiled a wealth of helpful articles with newbies like you in mind.

 The holidays have us thinking of the many things to be thankful for, so we decided to ask a handful of Driving Line contributors what they’re most thankful for in the automotive realm. Do the same thing with your friends and you’re bound to discover a world of variety (and likely something new about them).

Not surprisingly, a few specific cars/car parts were mentioned…

1. Turbos

Tara Hurlin

Aside from the mushy stuff, I am thankful for turbos. The sound of turbo spool is what makes my smile stretch to full capacity. My face hurts just thinking about it.

2. Acura NSX

Motorhead Mama

I'm thankful for my recent hot laps in the new Acura NSX. The NSX is one of my fave Japanese cars of all time and frankly, I wasn't expecting much from its update. But I was so very happy to be wrong. At its launch I met the NSX's designer, the badass Michelle Christensen (yeah, she's an American woman).

Then I heard it could go 0-60 in 2.7 seconds-- a time that barely gives you enough time to swallow. This is all thanks to a mid-mounted twin turbocharged, 75 degree, 3.5L DOHC v6, plus three fun-filled electric motors. It does things around a track that don't really make sense, like hug curves when logic says that all wheels should be off the ground. To experience it at Willow Springs was amazing & the highlight of my year. Plus, I really needed that new pair of underpants anyway.

3. Diesel

Mike McGlothlin

I’m thankful for how far diesel technology has and continues to come in the truck pulling world. For instance, this 391 ci Cummins cranks out nearly 1,900 hp thanks to exotic parts such as a 14mm P8600 injection pump, massive 5 x 0.030-inch injectors and a single turbocharger with a compressor wheel inducer measuring more than 91mm. What’s more is that through the use of a 6.7L Cummins-based (concrete filled) block, crankcase girdle, 14mm main studs, cylinder sleeves and a deck plate, the engine stays together amid seeing 60+ pounds of boost, 1,600+ degree exhaust gas temperature, and 40+ hooks (an entire season). That, and this image is pure eye candy to the diesel lover.

Then of course there were some specific events that made the list…

4. Cars & Coffee

Albert Roxas

The Aliso Viejo event picked up where the world renowned Cars & Coffee Irvine left off, which left a hole in the hearts of those of us who looked forward to early Saturday mornings. Staring at amazing vehicles, talking trash with friends and, of course, drinking some coffee is what makes the start of each Saturday special for me. The locale has changed slightly, but the spirit and cars are the same - with many of the regulars now taking the extra 15-minute trip further south to attend. If you haven’t been, there’s something for everyone - and unlike Irvine, access to the lot is not restricted, so come on out!

5. Bonneville Speedweek

Tim Sutton

When it comes to automotive things to be thankful for, my mind lands on Bonneville. Anyone familiar with the salt knows some said we would never race there again, due to Mother Nature and things beyond our control, but we did in 2016! Racers there span the spectrum from rockstar millionaire to those with only pennies to their name – what all these people find in common is speed. No money is rewarded to the one who wins, but the personal passion makes us do it. We will return year after year, trying to best ourselves and our forefathers. This is Bonneville, the World’s Fastest.

6. Ultra4 (and Jason Scherer becoming 2016 Champion)

Shana Whitford

Watching Ultra Racing being born and grow in front of me… I am thankful for having the utmost pleasure of watching Jason Scherer become the iconic face that we all know, and love, today! From groupie trail riding crusades, to early rock crawling days (pictured), to winning the 2016 Ultra4 Championship, I’ve seen Jason constantly raise his own bar, but his smile remains just as sincere as when I first met him.

But of course, far beyond the metal and gasoline that engages our passions are the people who make up the automotive world…

7. Off-Roading Friends

Lori Carey

I'm thankful for all of the great friends I've made and the awesome people I've met that off-roading has brought into my life. 

8. Industry Friends

Justin Pagtalunan

I am thankful for meeting so many people in the automotive industry, it’s a true testament to how tight-knit the community is. From celebrities like Sung Kang to industry partners and fellow media, everyone has been totally cool to work with or just plain talk to. There’s something about the unspoken bond we all have thanks to these things we call cars. While I’m sure everyone I’ve met will be a lasting connection, I can say for sure some have become fast friends and I am thankful that I can rely on them for years to come.

Friends to hang out with. Friends to work with. Friends who inspire…

9. Enthusiast Builders

David Ishikawa

I am thankful for all the enthusiasts. From those that painstakingly restore a car to its former glory to those that turn it into an art-car; those that keep it simple to those that do the insane. I appreciate and thank all of you!

10. Enthusiast Passion

Lindsey Fisher

I'm thankful for the people that have shared their automotive passion with me as a journalist and photographer. As a gearhead myself, I understand where the passion to build, race, show and be part of the automotive community come from, but it's the individual stories, experiences and excitement each person brings to the car scene that makes it what it is. Not only have these people made, and continue to make, my career more fulfilling by including me in their passion, they've also become friends, confidants, inspirations, mentors and ultimately part of my family, and for that, I am extremely thankful!

For me, all of the above roll together and meld into one of my top memories of the year (automotive or not)…

11. Generosity & Racing

Kristin Cline

This past summer I was able to get my land speed license all because of the generosity of a stranger. Jerry built a 1955 Studebaker to race on the Bonneville Salt Flats and upon finding my writings about Studes and land speed racing (owning a ’55 Stude myself), he contacted me and offered me a seat at Speedweek. Zooming down the salty course was truly an experience of a lifetime and I owe it all to Jerry as well as the many committed volunteers who allow Speedweek to happen. Not only did I get my "B" and "C" class license, but I gained a friend for life!

Lets hear what you're most thankful for in the comments below! Speaking of the holidays, did you catch Vaughn Gittin Jr. "smoke" this turkey?!?

Talking Shift is a weekly series where each of our editors discuss the cool, weird, outlandish, dreamy and/or ugly vehicles they’ve stumbled upon recently. We’ve got Kristin Cline (Managing Editor), a grease girl who loves vintage cars and American muscle; Ali Mansour (Off-Road & Truck Editor), a tattooed Southern gent into all things Jeep; and Justin Pagtalunan (Associate Editor), an Asian dude who — shocker here — is big on the import scene... 

Expect colorful discussion, diverse knowledge and a lot of "shift-talking." There can never be too many opinions, so make sure you chime in and Talk Shift!

1. Mod Inspo

KRISTIN: This one is so easy for me, as we recently added a 2015 Mustang to the garage. I had never purchased a fun, modern car before, so this is a pretty big deal! I’m already dreaming of the mods to add and found this awesome-looking 2016 GT from Instagram user Lance Aldridge, the same color as mine.

(Photo: @midtenn_s550)

ALI: Blue and gold. I like it!

JUSTIN: Please don’t run me over.

2. Jumping Jeepers

ALI: My computer recently crashed, which had me digging through my external drive to see what I had saved. I stumbled upon this photo of the Synergy Suspension JK airing out from 2007. That Jeep has come a long way since that leap — which, I should add, was one of many that day.

KRISTIN: Leapfrog, anyone?

JUSTIN: WEEEE!!!!

3. Star of LA Auto Show

JUSTIN: I was never a fan of the Nissan Rogue, and I’m still not. But this 1:1 scale TIE Fighter to promote their Nissan Rogue: Rogue One Star Wars Limited Edition vehicle is the best thing I saw at this year’s LA Auto Show. Now if only I can figure out where I can lease one of these (the TIE Fighter, not the Rogue).

KRISTIN: Sign me up, too! That thing’ll take “drag race” to a whole new level.

ALI: Am I the only one who isn’t really into Star Wars? When I hear "TIE Fighter," I think of spicy Asian food.

4. The All-New ZR2

ALI: Ever since GM killed the Hummer brand, I’ve been waiting to see if we would see any of that technology slide over to the truck side. The 2017 Chevy Colorado spec sheet reads a lot like the Alpha H3T in that it is equipped with front and rear selectable lockers. While there’s no V8 option, you can get a diesel. Couple this with a cutting-edge suspension system, and you have the makings of one of the most capable mid-sized pickups to ever hit the market. Toyota better pay attention.

(Photo Courtesy of GM)

JUSTIN: I’ve always wondered if this truck was super popular in Denver.

KRISTIN: You lost me at Hummer... I’m still trying to forget that time I was picked up for a date in one.

5. Balls-Out

JUSTIN: I don’t even remember the last time I played in a ball pit, but I’m so down to drive into this one! This Honda Civic EG claims to have the first F2K engine swap in the world. I know all of us automotive enthusiasts are kids at heart, so this is an awesome way to show off that engine bay.

(Photo: @kingsofjdm)

ALI: Looks like they had a ball building this one.

KRISTIN: Umm… I lost my engine in this ball pit. 

6. "If You Could Have Any Custom Car..."

KRISTIN: A friend posed this question on Facebook this past week, and it led me to think of this gem. It’s a '49 Delahaye Saoutchik Roadster, once owned by the British bombshell Diana Dors. While there are too many famed hot rods I’d love to own to list, this one is so incredibly out there that it sticks with me as my ultimate unicorn. Last sold at auction for $3.3 million, it’s safe to say I’ll never see this one in my garage.

(Photo: Ron Kimball, Courtesy of RM Auctions)

ALI: Love it.

JUSTIN: I’m not even going to try to pronounce this car. If you thought my last name was hard...

Stay tuned for a new episode of Talking Shift, coming soon, LIVE on Facebook!

If you're going to explore the riches of the Canadian Pacific Northwest for the first time ever, you have to do it in style. Vancouver, British Columbia, is already a beautiful place, but there's just something about stepping out of a fully loaded 2016 Range Rover Sport Supercharged when you arrive at your next adventure that makes you feel extra special. Get ready for heads to turn as you cruise around the city looking for an adventure at either of their many parks or just trying to find the best joint for authentic poutine (La Belle Patate on Davie Street is the best, trust us).

In case the weather decides to get a little wet, rest assured it won't rain on your parade. Forget all your worries in the Range Rover's spacious and composed interior. You'll fall in love with the premium leather seats and might be inclined to keep your pinky up as you admire the elegant details.

Oh, and gadgets galore! This is one of the smartest interiors we've been in (well maybe other than the BMW i8). From using the navigation in the tricked out center console to finding the nearest Tim Horton's to using the power-adjusted headrest, we kept discovering more knobs and buttons to play around with; we couldn't wait to see what amazing features this Range Rover was going to surprise us with next.

While you sit in the lap of luxury, the Range Rover, especially this Sport Supercharged edition, has more than enough muscle to take care of you against the harshness of Mother Nature. Flexing a 5.0-liter V8 engine, its on-road dynamics are matched by its all-terrain performance. With the rain only coming down harder we took the Range Rover up to Lynn Canyon Park to check out some of Vancouver's famous suspension bridges. Through tall trees, falling leaves and muddy terrain, the Range performed like a trooper and didn't mind getting dirty.

We even decided to test out its puddle performance, and it handled like a true Canadian. As we drove it through the rainwater, it politely endured and got ready for more, eh.

The Ranger Rover Sport Supercharged is the perfect ride for those who want to go on an adventure but still want to feel a little classy. You will have to pay a pretty penny for this model (base MSRP of $79,950), but we can tell you from experience, it's worth every cent.

Special thanks to Jaguar Land Rover Langley of OpenRoad Auto Group who made sure we were taken care of the right way, and to Josh Chow of Drive Marketing Group for being an excellent tour guide and allowing us to explore Vancouver in such an exceptional vehicle.

View the gallery below for more shots of the Range Rover in the beautiful Canadian wilderness.

The SEMA Show is all about horsepower. And for the last couple of decades, it’s been all about horsepower and sport compacts. It’s there where everything from some of the first bolt-on turbo kits designed for hatchbacks made in Japan to tuning solutions aimed right at four-cylinder engines have been revealed.

SEMA’s 50th annual show was no different and played host to makers of parts for everything from Mazda’s all-new Miata to Honda’s tenth generation Civic and with a turbo good for around 2,500 hp that your Civic will never be able to make any use of thrown in for good measure.

1. Edelbrock 2016+ Mazda Miata MX-5 E-Force Supercharger

You don’t even have your MX-5 yet, and you already know it isn’t fast enough. So does Edelbrock, who has just revealed its latest E-Force supercharger — this time for the ’16-and-up Miata.

Nobody’s saying just how much power the Eaton-based blower is good for, but considering the company’s Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ system that yields another 77 hp and 57 lb-ft of torque from a similarly sized four-cylinder mill, assuming something similar for the MX-5 kit wouldn’t be too far of a stretch.

According to Edelbrock, the 50-state-emissions-legal kit, which will retail for $5,699.95 and be available by the end of November, will include a liquid-to-air intercooler, its own self-contained oiling system, and a pre-tuned EcuTek system, all of which is covered by a three-year warranty. 

2. DeatschWerks Sport Compact Fuel Rails

Sometimes it’s the little things you'd never really stopped to consider that matter — like the adapters you’ve been using to get those Bosch EV14 fuel injectors to fit into whatever aftermarket fuel rail you’ve got. Turns out DeatschWerks cares about the little things too.

The company has released a line of fuel rails for multiple Honda, Mitsubishi and Nissan applications that’ll allow those EV14s of yours to slide right into place with nary an adapter, spacer or whatever else you might’ve used to rig yours into place. DeatschWerks’ all-new rails also feature 1/8-inch and 3/8-inch NPT ports for pressure gauges and fuel pulsation dampers as well as a Schrader-valve test port.

3. Garrett GTX 5533R Gen II Turbocharger

In all likelihood, you wouldn’t know what in the world to do with Garrett’s new GTX 5533R Gen II turbo that’s good for as much as 2,500 hp.

The all-new GTX is so powerful, in fact, that its recommended range doesn’t even dip below the 1,000 hp mark that your Civic will never even see. Garrett’s specially forged and CNC-machined compressor wheel, its high-flow compressor housing, its dual ceramic ball-bearing center cartridge and its specially designed turbine housing with an A/R as high as 1.78 all help lead to that ridiculous power figure.

So just how gargantuan is a turbo that’s good for 2,500 hp, you ask? Well, according to Garrett, its redesigned compressor housing backing plate—a part you probably don’t pay all that much attention to—which is now made out of lightweight billet aluminum, sheds a whopping 4 lbs all on its own.

4. Fujitsubo 2016+ Civic Coupe Exhaust Systems

There are exhaust systems, and then there are Fujitsubo exhaust systems. Think of them as the Cadillac of exhausts with their all-TIG-welded designs, their lightweight, all-stainless-steel materials and their racing and manufacturing heritage dating back to 1931.

Of course, they don’t make a single thing for any Cadillac, and you’ll pay extra for all this. If you’ve got Honda’s latest-generation Civic coupe, though, there are two ways for you to shell out all of that money: by way of Fujitsubo’s Authorize RM with its carbon-fiber tip or its Rivid exhaust with its curled and color-processed outlet. Both systems are designed for low-end and mid-range power gains and were made for street use.

5. HPD Body in White Performance Parts

Honda wants you to go racing. So much so, in fact, that it’s making its Honda Performance Development (HPD) line of touring car parts available directly to you, the average schmo.

Buy a whole car if you want — a stripped-to-the-bone, body-in-white Civic chassis begging for an engine, suspension and brakes, or pick up the HPD tow strap that you can afford. The whole gamut of parts are available for Honda’s latest-gen Civic and range from brake ducts to clutches and flywheels to brake pads to suspension adjusters like camber ball joints and caster correctors.

Designed specifically for those competing in Pirelli World Challenge and IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge events, according to Honda, HPD’s engineers are on call for whatever product support you might need following your purchase. 

6. Fujitsubo 2016+ Mazda Miata MX-5 Super EX Header

More from the people who bring you some of the best exhaust systems that you can’t afford, Fujitsubo’s just released its Super EX header for Mazda’s MX-5 Miata.

The high-polished, all-stainless-steel and TIG-welded header features 42.7mm primaries that merge into 45mm tubes and, finally, into a 60mm pipe. This completes the 4-2-1 design, which in most cases is better suited for street cars when compared to 4-1 configurations that favor high-RPM use.

7. Injen FK2 Honda Civic Type R Intake

If you live in the U.S., you can’t buy Honda’s FK2 Civic Type R — the predecessor to the CTR that Americans are set to get their hands on by next year.

However, you can buy an intake for it, one made by the experts at Injen and offered by its European division for all of those blokes lucky enough to be able to actually use it. Injen says the all-aluminum and fittingly red-powder-coated short-ram is good for another 16 whp out of the turbocharged 2.0L engine, which is exactly 16 whp more than you’ll ever experience, since you won’t be getting your mitts on this particular CTR anytime soon.

8. Invidia FK2 Honda Civic Type R Exhaust

If you live in the U.S., you still can’t buy Honda’s FK2 Civic Type R, but you can own Invidia’s cat-back exhaust system, which was designed specifically for the first-ever turbocharged Type R.

Like any good turbo exhaust system, this one features massive 76mm piping that terminates into two pairs of titanium tips, all of which allows that turbine to spin more freely.

9. HKS GTIII Turbochargers

Made by way of its partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), HKS has combined its years’ worth of experience designing and building some of the most efficient compressor and turbine housings with MHI’s center cartridges.

The results are the brand’s GTIII series of turbos that have been configured for Nissan’s RB26 and SR20 line of engines as well as Subaru’s EJ20. Each feature built-in internal wastegates and, in the case of the RB, allows for gains beyond the 700 hp mark and without converting to a single-turbo layout. Typically, that sort of power on twin-turbo RB engines results in a whole lot of surging. According to HKS, its unique housings prevent that and allow for better spooling than any single-turbo conversion could ever hope for.

10. Mishimoto 2016+ Ford Focus RS Oil Cooler

You can barely get your hands on Ford’s long-awaited Focus RS, and Mishimoto’s already got most of its shortcomings figured out — like the RS’ built-in liquid-to-liquid oil cooler that isn’t all that efficient when the car’s subjected to track days.

Mishimoto’s liquid-to-air cooler keeps the engine’s radiator and cooling system out of the equation, which, according to the company, means oil temps have suddenly dropped from 200 to 170 degrees F at the inlet and 155 degrees F at the outlet, with a modest oil pressure reduction of only 7 psi.

Separated by just a few points, drivers Erik Miller, Jason Scherer and Shannon Campbell enter into the final race of the year at Wild West Motorsports in Reno, Nevada for the Nitto Tire Ultra4 Nationals Championship race. After an epic battle, only one true champion will be crowned!

Watch the video above or catch the rest of our Ultra4 Racing coverage from the 2016 Nationals race:

Unlimited 4400 Class Full Recap: Another Round of Awesome

4400 Gallery: Snapshots of the 2016 Ultra4 Nationals

Underclassmen Class Full Recap: Gumption and Grit

4800, 4600 & 4500 Classes Gallery: A Big Slice of the Action

For two decades now, Honda’s been no stranger to SEMA’s annual Las Vegas trade show. While the big blocks still outnumber the B-series, turn any corner within the convention center’s Central Hall, and you'll likely find a Honda.

Behold, the 16 best Hondas that Las Vegas wanted you to know about, in no particular order. 

1. PTP Turbo Blankets EK9 Civic Type R

You weren’t expecting to see a 16-year-old Civic Type R, left-hand-drive and all, and you weren’t expecting to see one with a 2.4L K-series engine swap good for nearly 1,100 hp. The Kinsler intake, the Wilson throttle body and the PPG dog box make this CTR every bit as impressive as it is unattainable to you.

2. Injen FK2 Civic Type R

With all the talk about Honda’s impending 2017 Civic Type R, you also weren’t expecting to see the company’s soon-to-be-overshadowed European-only model, this one outfitted with the few bits that intake maker Injen and its exhaust system counterpart, Invidia, have got to offer.

3. 2017 NSX GT3

Everyone dreams about to going racing and Honda’s has prepared something dreams are made of this year with its purpose-built GT3 racer. Here, the powerplant is said to be similar to the production NSX’s but is paired with a sequential gearbox that does away with the AWD architecture and its electric motors in favor of a much more hoonable RWD layout.

4. 2017 MDX Tow Rig

Every race car needs a proper tow vehicle, and if you’re Honda, that proper tow vehicle comes by way of an MDX with livery to match the GT3 car it’ll be hauling around. You won’t be able to miss its lowered stance and 20-inch wheels along with its NSX-like and orange-outlined front splitter that’s about as purposeful as the fake carbon fiber it’s been wrapped within.

5. 2016 GRC Civic Coupe

An engine good for 600 hp that’s been spun around for a longitudinal and all-wheel-drive layout means the 10th-gen Civic can be the Red Bull Global Rallycross car that Honda and Swedish builder Olsbergs MSE says it is. This was Honda’s first year on the circuit where it finished third in the season-long manufacturer’s championship.

6. Team Honda Research West 2017 Civic Coupe

The same people who brought you the 2016 Civic your sister wants now bring you this racing concept. It’s been built with an FIA-spec roll cage and is set to compete in domestic and international endurance sports car events, the first of which will be its debut at NASA’s USAF 25 Hours of Thunderhill in early December.

7. 2017 Civic Type R

Perhaps the most anticipated Honda of the show, it was there where North America’s first-ever Civic Type R made its U.S. debut. You think it looks like a WRX, Honda won’t tell you what’s underneath its hood and yet you want one anyways. That’s mostly because of its angular lines, brushed-aluminum-looking wrapped exterior and winged carbon-fiber splitter up front. And its red badge. You’ve always wanted something with a red Honda badge that you didn’t have to glue on yourself.

8. Tjin Edition 2016 Civic Coupe

As it does every year, American Honda made its Central Hall space available to key models that have been modified by way of select tuners, like Tjin Edition, who turned out one of four 2016 Civic Coupes, this one tastefully modified by way of its yellow exterior, its Rotiform wheels and its mix of subtle aero like the HFP (Honda Factory Performance) side skirts and Apollo Top One Auto Part front spoiler.

9. MAD Industries 2016 Civic Coupe

Show car builder and customizer MAD Industries also took its stab at Honda’s newest two-door, fitting it with a Carbon 2 Carbon exhaust and aero, Aegean Blue BASF paint, Eibach springs and 19-inch Rotiform wheels.

10. SEGA Sonic 2016 Civic Sedan

Honda says that SEGA’s take on its Civic four-door, which was designed by builder Fox Marketing, pays homage to the game-maker’s classic, Sonic the Hedgehog. Its BASF Candy Sonic Blue paint, red rims with their gold rings and yellow accents inside all agree but don’t make this Civic any faster than when it rolled off that assembly line.

11. 2017 HFP Civic Hatchback Concept

Parked alongside all of Honda’s race car goodness was the sort of Civic hatchback you’re more likely to find yourself behind the wheel of. The company’s HFP (Honda Factory Performance) Concept was shown wearing every available HFP bit possible, from it’s sizable rear wing to its larger brake rotors to its 19-inch rims, all soon to be available from your friendly Honda dealer.

12. MAD Industries 2017 Ridgeline Black Edition

MAD Industries complemented its Civic coupe buildup with an all-new Ridgeline, this one paired with a MAD-modified CB500F sport bike out back. MAD dropped the Ridgeline and fitted it with 22-inch Niche wheels painted gloss black.

13. 2011 Rocket Bunny CR-Z

The Rocket Bunny aero makes this CR-Z something you won’t mind looking at and the K-series engine swap underneath its hood makes it something you’ll want to drive. Away went the wuss-like 1.5L hybrid mill that’s neither sporty nor all that efficient, and in went the TSX’s 2.4L longblock along with a six-speed gearbox from Honda’s eighth-generation Civic Si, all by way of Hasport engine swap mounts.

14. Hush Performance Drag Civic

Import drag racing is back, and so are near-30-year-old Civics. At least so long as people like Hush Performance keep racing them and keep making parts for them, like this one here with its three-piece fiberglass front end and its built-up and boosted LS-VTEC assembly underneath its hood that’s good for a very streetable 410 hp.

15. Big Mike / Torco 1992 Prelude

Now in its third rendition, the early ’90s Prelude owned by the man known simply as Big Mike is motivated by a modestly turbocharged and seldom-used 2.0L, twin-cam F-series engine. This Prelude’s fully prepared to go racing, too, with its Wilwood brakes, its AiM Sports dash and its color-matched roll cage.

16. Seibon 2016 Civic Sedan

It’s no surprise that Seibon— a company that’s embraced cars like the Civic since the brand’s inception — has already got a mix of its carbon-fiber aero bits available for Honda’s 10th-generation model. Aside from the redesigned hood, skirts, fenders and bumpers, though, the sedan’s been fitted with ZE40 rims from Volk Racing, an A’PEXi N1 exhaust, AP Racing brakes and Hondata’s FlashPro engine management for cajoling just a little more power out of that turbocharged 1.5L.

(Photos: Byron Yoshida, Aaron Bonk)

When the 6.4L Power Stroke was introduced in 2007 (for ’08 model year Ford Super Duty’s), it had a lot to live up to. After a five-year production run of the 6.0L Power Stroke brought failure after failure to light, the Ford faithful — who were ready to usher in a new, hopefully more reliable power plant — leapt at the chance to get their hands on them. While the 6.4L V8’s compound turbocharger arrangement, common-rail injection system and 350hp and 650 lb-ft looked good on paper (and 550 to 600 horsepower eventually being achieved with just a programmer), the honeymoon was short-lived.

Failed emissions control components, fuel system contaminants and corrosion, leaking radiators and hoses, cracked turbo up-pipes and severe oil dilution all plague the 6.4L Power Stroke — and the problems only get worse with age. In most cases, the engine itself suffers some type of catastrophic failure between 150,000 to 200,000 miles. And because the repair costs on a 6.4L are so high (often double what they would be on a 6.0L Power Stroke), many owners simply walk away from the truck.

Read on for a closer look at the 6.4L’s most notorious failure points and what you should be on the lookout for if you own one or plan to buy one.

Pop a Top (Again)

It’s important to know that the ’08-’10 Super Duty’s were designed to have the cabs pulled to perform most major engine repairs. And while we agree with Ford that pulling the cab allows a technician more working space and enough room to perform virtually any engine-related repair more efficiently, it does add four to eight hours worth of labor to the job (depending on the shop you use).

Sure, any of the following problems can be tackled with the cab still attached to the frame, but most techs opt to do the work cab-off.

Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)

We would be remiss if we didn’t start off by saying the emissions control devices cause most of the 6.4L’s reliability and performance related problems. At the heart of several major failure points rests the exhaust after treatment system, specifically the diesel particulate filter (DPF). Designed to collect soot from the engine’s exhaust, the DPF requires what is called a regeneration mode to take place in order to turn the collected soot into a fine ash — otherwise the DPF would fill up, rapidly.

During the regeneration process (also known as regen or exhaust filter cleaning), fuel is used to effectively turn a portion of the after treatment system into an incinerator to burn off the accumulated particulates in the DPF. To make this possible, fuel is injected on the engine’s exhaust stroke (i.e. diesel is allowed to exit through the exhaust valves, route through the manifolds, turbochargers, and ultimately the exhaust system). When this happens, the engine sees elevated exhaust gas temperature, higher idle rpm, a reduction in power, lower fuel economy and in some cases, smoke out the tailpipe.

Inevitable Failure

As with any exhaust after treatment system behind a modern diesel engine, eventually the DPF will plug solid and need to be replaced. Unfortunately, failure is inevitable with this component.

(Photo: Ford Motor Company)

Once plugged, the DPF will force the truck to remain in perpetual regen mode. This means the engine constantly sees 1,200 to 1,400-degree exhaust gas temperatures and extreme back pressure, which overtime takes its toll on everything from the engine oil to the turbochargers.

2 EGR Coolers = 2 Failure Points

Even though the 6.4L makes use of two EGR coolers (as opposed to one, highly-prone-to-failure unit found on the 6.0L), they still plug up and/or crack.

It’s most common for the horizontally mounted EGR cooler (shown on the bottom) to fail due to it being the first unit exposed to incoming exhaust gases. The horizontal EGR cooler is located above the driver side exhaust manifold.

Water + Metal = Rust

While the use of piezoelectric fuel injectors used in the 6.4L can pull off five precise injection events per combustion cycle, their tight tolerances mean they don’t take kindly to contaminants.

A neglected or clogged drain in the water separator (along the driver side frame rail) will eventually allow water to pass through and enter the fuel system. While there, it reacts with the metal components of the injection system and forms rust, which can take out the injection pump, injectors or (in some extreme cases) the entire engine.

High-Dollar Fuel Injection System

The primary reason for the 6.4L’s immense repair costs spawns from the high price tag of its parts. Take the engine’s high-pressure fuel pump (i.e. injection pump), the K16 built by Siemens, for instance. The cost of a reputable, remanufactured replacement pump is between $1,600 to $1,700.

By comparison, the Bosch CP3 high-pressure fuel pump used on the ’01-’10 6.6L Duramax and ’03-‘present 5.9L and 6.7L Cummins would only run you $525 to $750 in remanufactured form.

The $6,000 Fix

Unfortunately, the K16 doesn’t have nearly the reputation for durability that the Bosch CP3 does, and the 6.4L’s turbochargers have to be pulled in order to access it. Most failures stem from a lack of low-pressure fuel supply via a failing lift pump or a stuck pressure control valve (PCV) or volume control valve (VCV). And since the PCV and VCV aren’t considered “serviceable,” all-out pump replacement is often the only solution.

A K16 pump that is in its death throes will typically produce a P0088 diagnostic trouble code. Like the injectors, the K16 does not tolerate contaminants well, and plenty of pump failures have been traced back to rust being present in the low-pressure fuel system (what feeds the K16). When this pump comes apart it sends shrapnel through the injectors, effectively taking them out at the same time. The parts and labor for a new high-pressure fuel system (along with a complete flush of the fuel tank) will run you $6,000 or more.

The Labor-Intensive, Simple Fix

A known problem most frequently found on early 6.4L engines (Job 1 engines built prior to August, 2007) entails the chafing of the high-pressure fuel pump’s wiring harness. Due to vibration, a hole is worn through the sheath of the wire and the bare wire touches the block, which grounds out the volume control circuit for the pump’s volume control solenoid. This leads to a loss of power or a no start condition and is accompanied by a check engine light and the truck's computer storing more than half a dozen DTC’s.

Luckily, Ford offers an updated wiring harness that incorporates a mesh wire loom to protect the wires from wear (PN 8C3Z-9G805-A). While it’s a simple fix, it’s quite labor intensive being that the high-pressure fuel pump is buried at the rear of the engine, within the block. As stated earlier, this calls for the removal of the turbochargers, which may or may not warrant pulling the cab (depending on the preference of your technician).

Springing a Leak

Unlike the 6.0L, finding a puddle of coolant under a 6.4L typically isn’t indicative of blown head gaskets. However, it does usually signal that a radiator replacement is in store. The factory radiator is known to separate at the seams and leak (where the plastic end tanks meet the aluminum core).

The updated version from Ford proved to be a bit more robust, but they can still fail. If you’re on the prowl for a used 6.4L, make sure you look for rust or white residue (from leaking coolant) along the sides of the radiator, from the top down to the tow hooks.

Spewing Soot

Cracked up-pipes, the plumbing that links the exhaust manifolds to the turbo, are extremely common on the 6.4L Power Stroke. Specifically, the pipes crack at the bellow (also referred to as the expansion joint or braided wire section).

It’s believed that a lack of flexibility in the factory up-pipes, coupled with the movement of the engine, leads to eventual cracking. When this particular failure occurs, it’s accompanied by an audible hiss, a lack of power and a layer of soot coating the firewall, transmission and transmission tunnel.

Oil Dilution

Due to fuel being used during the regen process (i.e. cleaning of the DPF), the cylinders are often washed down with fuel, with some of it inevitably accumulating in the crankcase.

This is why it’s so common for the 6.4L to gain a gallon of oil or more between oil changes. The extra oil is diesel fuel, and as you can imagine this doesn’t bode well for the main, rod and cam bearings (among other things) that rely on pure engine oil to keep them lubricated.

Writer's Tip: change your oil every 5,000 miles, not the 10,000-mile recommendation in your owner’s manual, and check the dipstick every other week.

Valvetrain Weaknesses

A major wear point in the 6.4L’s valvetrain lies in the lifters and rocker arms. Specifically, considerable wear occurs at the fulcrum ball of the rocker arms, along with the pressed-in ball on the rocker end of the pushrods.

The reason for the wear stems from a lack of oiling issue, as the only lubrication the rocker arms receive comes by way of the pushrods. Beyond that, the rocker arms are also known to break when subjected to high-rpm scenarios where valve float occurs. Many enthusiasts invest in cryogenically treating the rockers to improve their durability.

Read about a Power Stroke engine that will cure your 6.4L blues – the 7.3L.

Music and cars have always gone hand in hand. It’s a relationship that musicians and auto enthusiasts both cherish. Known for their chart-topping singles like Cruise and H.O.L.Y., Florida Georgia Line is a band that routinely ties their passion for trucks in with their music. With nearly 26 million tracks sold, the band has solidified itself as one of the strongest music duos to break out of the modern country music scene.

Band vocalists Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley have used their distinctive and powerful voices to merge country, rock, pop and hip-hop together. With a band as unique as theirs, Nitto Tire knew they would be the perfect partner to team up with for something truly special. As title sponsor of FGL’s 2016 summer concert tour, Nitto would make some noise of its own this year with the launch of the all-new Ridge Grappler. Landing somewhere between Nitto’s ultimate mud-terrain radial, the Trail Grappler, and its jack-of-all-trades Terra Grappler G2 all-terrain, the Ridge Grappler is a hybrid tire that refuses to be limited by a single category.

So what do you do when you love your fans and enthusiasts that enjoy your products? You say "thank you" by giving them this one-of-a-kind F-150. This was not a run-of-the-mill F-150, but rather a fully customized 2015 Ford F-150 Crew Cab 4x4 pickup truck. Powered by a twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine, the cutting-edge four-wheel-drive was the perfect platform to showcase some of the latest off-road components. The build was something that reflects the passion and creativity of Nitto and Florida Georgia Line.

When it comes to true truck enthusiasts, FGL is the real deal. In fact, both Hubbard and Kelley drive lifted trucks on 35s themselves. This made the decision to equip the F-150 with a 35x12.50R20 Ridge Grappler an easy one. Just like the band, the Ridge Grappler is breaking boundaries and refuses to be confined to a single category.

We recently caught up with the band for a quick Q&A, and this is what they had to say:

Florida Georgia Line has done a great job of mixing music and trucks together. The automobile and music certainly have a long history. Why do you think that is? 

Tyler Hubbard: There is nothing better than cruising around in your truck, car or motorcycle and jamming to your favorite tunes!

How has being a truck enthusiast influenced your music over the years?

Brian Kelly: We write, record and sing about our lives. We love trucks, fast cars and riding four-wheelers, which organically seems to find a way into our music.

Who do you listen to when you're driving?

TH: This changes all the time, but there is always some Wiz Khalifa and Lil’ Wayne mixed in there!

What's your funniest car story or memory?

TH: My funniest memory is when I went by my best friend Bradley’s house after school, and at the time had a Toyota 4x4 pickup. We got stuck in the mud and had to get the tractor to pull us out!

All-time favorite car or truck? 

BK: Definitely my first ride, a black 1996 two-door Chevrolet Tahoe. My dad located it in 2002 when I was a sophomore in high school in central Florida. It was owned at the time by a professional baseball player, who was only using it a couple months out of the year — if that. Dad worked his magic and got a really good deal. Since it was already broken in perfect, it felt like ‘the Chevy Gods’ were smiling down on me saying it’s supposed to be mine!

What's next for Florida Georgia Line?

TH: We'll be out on the road continuing the Dig Your Roots tour through the end of the year and into 2017.

What's one thing your fans should know about you both that you think they don't already know?

BK: It’s hard to pick one thing. As writers and artists, we’re constantly creating, evolving, and we’re just scratching the surface of showing fans who we are. We’ve been able to show a part of us on the first two albums, but there are so many sides to Tyler and I. This album gave us the chance to peel back another layer and let everyone see more. 

Bigfoot or Gravedigger? 

BK: Bigfoot, for sure!

Will we ever see a FGL monster truck?

TH: That would be pretty amazing. Thanks for the great idea! Maybe someday that will happen…

Be sure to check out FloridaGeorginaLine.com for upcoming tour dates!

The annual SEMA Show is a hot bed for new products and over-the-top vehicle builds. It’s the ultimate car show and has always provided a certain level of prestige for those lucky enough to have a personal vehicle on display. While a large majority of the vehicles are company owned, none are your run-of-the-mill company car. We’ve shown you an assortment of the wild rides that graced the 2016 SEMA Show, and now we are turning our attention to the Jeeps that were on hand.

Despite having over 50 Jeeps in our gallery, we know there were plenty that we missed. Here are some of our favorites from the show.

Spicy Chicken

Hungry for a functional Jeep Wrangler? Well, Mel Wade of EVO Manufacturing has something that might satisfy your appetite. He calls it Spicy Chicken.

It’s a 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited decked out with Dynatrac’s latest ProRock XD60 front axle; ProRock 80 rear; EVO MFG long-arm with bolt-on coilovers; EVO MFG bumpers, ‘cage, doors and tire carrier; 17-inch KMC Machete Crawl beadlocks; and 40x13.50R17 Nitto Trail Grapplers. While the anodized gold accents might give it that show vibe, it was by far one of the most trail-ready JKs at SEMA.

Flat Awesome

How do you make a Willys built in 1498 stand out in a crowd of heavily modified modern Jeeps? Well, you could drop in a 5.3L V8 and couple that LS with a Turbonetics 82mm turbo.

They call it the One Eye Willys — fitting name given the turbo takes place of the headlight on the passenger side.

We’re pretty sure with that powerplant, wheelbase and nitrous, the Willys is part terrifying and land rocket. Either way, we dig it.

Big Wheels, Bigger Rubber

One trend that seems to be moving over from the truck market to the Jeep side is the big wheels with big tires setup.

We’re talking 22- and 24-inch wheels and 40-inch-tall tires. Only a handful of tire manufacturers, such as Nitto, can accommodate this big of a combo.

XJ JK?

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. That is an actual Jeep Wrangler Unlimited JK with a Jeep Cherokee XJ front end cleverly grafted onto the front of it.

Greg Henderson of Unofficial Use Only built it for the one-touch retractable soft top manufacturer MyTop. One of the most incredible aspects of the conversion is that it’s all steel. The level of craftsmanship is OE quality. We’ll have more on this setup soon. 

Ridge Glider

Bestop showed up with an assortment of Jeeps at the show. Sitting on 37-inch Ridge Grapplers, this one showcased the company’s new Trek Top NX Glide soft top. 

How do these compare to last year’s show? Take a look at the 2015 Jeeps of SEMA, and don't forget to see the complete gallery at the top.