CATEGORIES

TUNING OPTIMIZED

VARIABLES WITHIN FUEL-INJECTOR CONSTRUCTION CAN LEAD TO POOR ENGINE OPERATION. HERE'S HOW TO TUNE YOUR FUEL INJECTORS.

LET IT BREATHE!

Project X’s new ZZ632 big-block needed to breathe, and this do-ityourself stainless exhaust kit was just the ticket to make it happen.

Making Connections

Project T-top Coupe: We install a Terminator X Max for big power.

WILD MASH-UP

Built to long-haul the 2023 HOT ROD Power Tour, this 1984 Monte Carlo’s facade hides a performance secret!

6 TIMER!

Tom Bailey captures his 6th HOT ROD Drag Week Unlimited/Overall title with his Sick Seconds 1.0 Camaro.

JIM MCFARLAND'S INFLUENCE WENT WAY BEYOND HOT ROD MAGAZINE.

Jim McFarland, the multitalented, multifaceted Texan who enjoyed several careers in the automotive performance industry, passed away in October 2023 at the age of 88.

THE TRIBUTE FOR THE WIN

Ron Capps wins the NHRA U.S. Nationals driving a Don Prudhomme-Hot Wheels tribute Funny Car.

A RADICAL SHIFT

When you're a teenager and the police know you by name, it's not usually because of your volunteer work or class-topping GPA. Not at all. That was especially true for Jeff Kainz when he was behind the wheel of his 1975 Camaro. In the '80s, while cruising his hometown in North Dakota, his buddies with police scanners often heard the police tell one another: \"Kainz is out on Main Street.\"

So Close

Following a nearly flawless performance, a pít lane penalty kept the C8.R off the top of the podium in the IMSA Sportscar Weekend.

2024 Porsche 911 S/T

This subtle killer is peak Porsche.

AGENTS OF ZERO

WE DID IT AGAIN: RUNNING OUR VW ID4 EV OUT OF ELECTRICITY, JUST TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS

THEY LISTENED

THE NEW TESLA MODEL 3 HIGHLAND FIXES NEARLY EVERYTHING WE HATED ABOUT THE OLD CAR

2024 Land Rover Defender

The Defender 130 is a tricky one to judge. On one hand, it potentially improves upon a design and package we previously lauded enough to crown as our 2021 SUV of the Year in the form of the standard Defender 110. The 130 is more than a foot longer than the 110 and has more room for people and stuff, stretching the existing design into a new body style. (The 130’s wheelbase remains unchanged.)

2023 Ford Escape

The Escape is one of those SUVs that hasn’t ranked at the top of its class for a long time, but every time we drive one, we’re pleasantly surprised. Although it perpetually feels a little outdated, there’s some inherent goodness baked into the Escape.

2023 Lexus RZ

Lexus says it will make only battery-powered vehicles by 2035, and the new RZ 450e is the brand’s first dedicated EV. This midsize crossover indicates Lexus’ future lineup will have luxurious appeal, but we find this first effort lacking in crucial areas.

2024 Kia Seltos

If you’ve been a fan of Kia’s recent styling direction but don’t want to pay top dollar for it, the 2024 Kia Seltos is a great way to get a rolling piece of that design aesthetic at a reasonable price.

MOTORTREND SUV OF THE YEAR 2024 - CERTIFIED FRESH

THERE’S NO REST FOR SUV MAKERS IN THE INTENSE QUEST TO BE THE BEST

2023 Ford F-150 FP700

Having recently sampled a pristine OG Lightning from the 1990s (July 2023), believe us when we say the F-150 FP700 is the only modern successor to that exuberant original.

2025 Lotus Emeya

Weird name, four doors, stupid speed.

2023 BMW X7

BMW’s updates to the X7 address a few of our complaints about last year’s version. It gets a redesigned front end, retuned handling, and a particularly nice distraction: more power. Yet that might not be enough to impress for such a pricey offering.

2024 Buick Encore GX

As far as midcycle refreshes go, the 2024 Buick Encore GX’s is unusual in that the car looks all-new when really only the nose and tail see significant changes.

2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally

The Mach-E Rally is Ford’s first rally-inspired EV, a Mach-E modified to play around on unpaved surfaces. With four WRC manufacturers’ championships to its name, Ford isn’t exactly new to rallying, but it is a new space for the brand stateside, and certainly for the Mustang.

2024 Maserati MCXtrema

Maserati Centro Stile designs a racer with extreme aerodynamics.

2024 Nissan Z NISMO

Nissan Z chief product specialist Hiroshi Tamura says his aim was not to deliver an ultimate numbers car but rather a “willing dance partner” to enjoy a favorite challenging road with.

2023 Lexus LM

For the best experience, don’t even drive it.

2024 Audi Q8 Sportback E-Tron

The updated Audi E-Tron has a new name: the Audi Q8 E-Tron. But much like the old E-Tron, the design and engineering of the updated luxury electric SUV seems to be geared toward not scaring off legacy customers.

2024 Dodge Hornet

Is this a Kirkland label discount Alfa Romeo Tonale, or is it a slightly pricier but way more fun-to-drive Toyota RAV4/ Honda CR-V competitor? The former perception might earn the new Dodge Hornet value points with us, but the brand is counting on the latter impression to gain it a toehold in a hugely profitable segment and arrest its long slide into rear-drive Hellcat oblivion.

2024 Buick Envista

We had high hopes for the Envista, Buick’s new entry-level SUV. It sports a new nameplate and standout looks, especially for a model that sees even its top-tier Avenir trim carrying a starting price of less than $30,000.

2024 Hyundai Kona

The Kona enters its second generation for 2024 with a new design language. It’s larger than the outgoing Kona, too, and its uncommonly ornate (for this class) and unmistakable design is something we’re already seeing in other upcoming Hyundai products. Having really liked the previous Kona, would our judges warm to this one?

2023 Jeep Compass

When asked to identify an off-road vehicle, the average person will point to just about any Jeep.