Hypercars are getting crazier and crazier with every successive generation, and the new Aston Martin Valkyrie is a perfect example of just how wild the current crop of top-shelf performers truly are. A lot of the Aston’s insanity comes down to the beating mid-ship heart of the machine, and now we’re getting a fresh take on what makes it tick.

For those living in areas with rough winters or simply refusing the lure of indoor binge-watching when the temperatures drop and the elements go all crazy, the Ram 1500 North Edition might just be the present you write Santa for.

Triumph expanded its “Modern Classics” lineup ahead of MY2019 with the new-for-’19 Speed Twin as a tribute piece that pays visual homage with all the modern yummy-goodness you’d expect tucked away under the hood and out of sight. The result; a clean-looking classic with gobs of retro appeal, and that’s an important detail because the newest generation of riders has shown themselves to have an interest in the old-school looks, much to their credit. So let’s take a closer look at Trumpet’s newest Speed Twin; not the first of its name.

Persuaded by the high interest in SUVs and crossovers in Europe, Ford decided to rough up the 2019 Ford Focus a bit and give it an Active badge. The Focus is the third model in Ford’s lineup to be offered in Active trim after the likes of Fiesta and KA+. The Focus Active can be had in both hatchback or wagon body styles, and Ford says its engineers tweaked the springs, dampers, and stabilizer bars, while also lifting the ride by 30 mm up front and 34 mm at the rear.

If there’s one thing we know about Christmas, it’s that even if we think that we’re going to have time to rest and relax, the busy nature of the season will come back and force us off our beds and couches. Whether it’s a late night dash to the nearest Walmart or Target or a trip to the parent’s house an hour away, we’re going to need our SUVs this season more than we realize. On that end, you’re going to need an SUV that can excel during the holiday season. Need space for all your Christmas shopping? An SUV with a spacious cargo area would come in handy. How about those long distance trips? You’ll need an SUV that can a provide a smooth ride while returning great fuel economy. What about if you need to tow a Christmas gift like, say, a new jet ski? An SUV with a high towing capacity is the ride for the job. All these circumstances could play out this season, which is why we’re putting the spotlight on six SUVs that could come in handy this Christmas depending on what your needs are.

Chevy is in a tough spot. Well, GM as a whole is in a tough spot. News has recently circulated that GM was closing several plants, and put five others on watch. 15,000 people are now out of work, and many more have little job security. Along with the three closures in Oshawa, Ontario, Detroit, and, Youngstown Ohio, GM will also cease production of the Chevy Cruze, Chevy Volt, Cadillac CT6, and the Buick Lacrosse. The Warren powertrain plant and Baltimore powertrain plants are also in danger of shutting down after next year as well. Things are getting ugly, but how bad is it?

For 2018, Volkswagen is introducing a new Passat GT model. The GT introduces some sporty touches to the Passat line. The Passat has mostly been about sensible family transportation until now, excluding the 2003-2004 Passat W8 perhaps. It would have been very easy for Volkswagen to come up with a sporty version of the Passat but they instead have gone for more luxurious models. It looks like Volkswagen is finally dipping their toes into the sports sedan waters to judge the public’s reaction with the Passat GT.

The seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf was introduced in 2012 in Europe, but it didn’t make it to U.S. soil until 2014, when it was launched for the 2015 model year. Slightly larger and sportier than its predecessor, the Mk7 also gained a revamped interior, new convenience and safety features, and a wide range of gasoline and diesel four-cylinder engines. The new-generation Golf also spawned a new GTi model, but a more powerful R version was also launched for 2015. With the regular model having received a facelift in 2016, an updated version of the Golf R followed for 2017.

As it is the case with most Volkswagen facelifts, the mid-cycle update doesn’t bring too many features. However, the Golf R is a bit sportier on the outside and benefits from the many technological improvements made to the lineup. The turbocharged engine was also uprated, but while the Golf R is now slightly more powerful than the Honda Civic Type R, it’s nowhere near as brawny as the impressiveFord Focus RS. How does it compare to the competition? Let’s find out in the review below.

12/12/2018: We’ve updated this review with new images of the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R taken at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Check them out in the gallery below!

The Audi RS5, built between 2010 and 2015, was powered by a screaming, high-revving, V-8 engine and was widely acknowledged as being one of the best of its kind. However, what do you do when your car doesn’t have an engine or its engine is junk and you need to replace it with something else? How about you slot in a Tesla motor and battery pack to see how that transforms the car.

Hydrogen fuel cell technology has been making headlines in the auto industry for a few decades now, with many claiming it’s the future of the fossil-free automobile. However, unlike the electric car market, the hydrogen segment has evolved rather slow, with most automakers opting to stay away from the big development costs and the expensive carbon-fiber fuel tanks. Until Toyota debuted the Mirai, Hyundai was the only company that actually launched a production model. The ix35 FCEV, also known as the Tuscon FCEV in some markets, was introduced in 2013. After several tests, full-scale production began in 2015 and examples were delivered in more than 20 countries worldwide. Come 2018 and Hyundai wants to take things up a notch with a brand-new model, called the Nexo.

Introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show, the event where automakers launch their high-tech products for a few years now, the Nexo will replace the ix35/Tucson FCEV. And the new hydrogen-powered EV is a significant departure from its predecessor. Not only riding on a new platform, it also features a unique design, a brand-new interior, and bespoke technology. And unlike many vehicles we usually see at the Consumer Electronics Show, the Nexo is ready to go into production and will become available in select markets later in 2018. Let’s find out more about Hyundai’s next-generation FCEV in the review below.

Update 12/12/2018: We’ve updated this review of images of the 2019 Hyundai Nexo taken at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. Check them out int he gallery below!

If you think that you only really need winter tires on the driven axle of your vehicle, since it does all the pulling or pushing, then think again. Doing something like that can pose a serious safety hazard. Different grip levels for the front and rear can result in a very unsafe handling experience on snow, and the vehicle can go into a snap oversteer maneuver, careening into oncoming traffic.

Although Hyundai didn’t offer an SUV until the Terracan was introduced in 2001 (the 1991 Galloper doesn’t really count since it was a rebadged Mitsubishi), the Korean firm now has four different crossovers on offer. The latest to join the family is the Kona, and it’s the company’s first subcompact offering. But more importantly, it’s the first subcompact SUV to get an all-electric version. Unveiled in February 2018, the Kona Electric is the first of its kind on the European market and crosses the pond to the U.S. for 2019.

Much like any other EV or hybrid based on a conventional vehicle, the Kona Electric is very similar to the gasoline-powered Kona. The styling carries over with a few changes inside and out, while the equipment lines remain pretty much the same. It’s the drivetrain that makes a big difference, as the Kona Electric doesn’t use dinosaur juice. What’s more, the Kona Electric comes with impressive performance and range of a crossover that will cost significantly less than the expensive Tesla Model X. Let’s find out more about that in the review below.

Update 12/12/2018 We’ve updated this review with fresh images of the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric take at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto show. Check them out in the gallery below!

Journalists have tried out the all-new, seventh-gen, 2019 BMW 3-Series G20 at its official launch event in Portugal, and first impressions of the car are really good. You’d expect BMW to want to pull out all the stops in order to get its smallest and most popular sedan right and, apparently, it did.

First introduced for the 2003 model year, the Lincoln Aviator was initially offered as a luxury sport utility vehicle for the mid-size segment. After failing to meet sales expectations, Lincoln axed the nameplate in 2005 after just a few years in production. Now, however, as nationwide SUV sales continue onwards into the stratosphere, the Aviator makes its triumphant second-generation return for the 2020 model year, slotting in between the Nautilus and the standard wheelbase Navigator in Lincoln’s lineup. The latest model offers elegant styling, a top-notch interior layout, oodles of comfort, the latest tech, and a super torquey hybrid engine option.

It’s not even 2019, and we’re already talking about the hybridized version of the new 992-generation Porsche 911. Yes, the plug-in model will only be unveiled in late 2020 for the 2021 model but August Achleitner, Porsche’s current head of sports car development, has already shed some light on how the German company prepared for this move.

We knew ever since the new 911 was presented to the world at the L.A. Auto Show that it would have some built-in features that would, later on, make the adaptation of a hybrid powertrain simpler. Now, we get a bit of insight of how Porsche is working to fit the battery pack and the electric motors onto the 911s platform.

The Porsche Macan often gets overshadowed by its bigger and more accomplished brother, the Porsche Cayenne. But, that’s about to change because the new Macan S breaks the crossover out of its shell. Not only is the 2019 Macan S sexier, but it also packs a new engine that produces more power than its predecessor. Those three elements are the biggest highlights of the new Macan S, underscoring what we’ve all been waiting for from the model since it first arrived in 2014. Put together; the new Macan S sheds its rough-around-the-edges label in favor of a more balanced ride. Don’t look now, but it appears that Porsche’s entry-level crossover is ready for the big leagues. The new Porsche Macan S starts at $58,600.

We have something special for you today - the first look at the long-awaited Toyota Supra A90. SupraMKV forum leaked the picture that clearly shows the front end of the new Toyota Supra. Of course, nothing is official as of yet, but I am really confident that this is the real deal. It shows the Toyota Supra being transported by a car transport wagon. The photo we have does show clear links with the FT-1 concept Toyota presented five years ago. That is a really good thing as the FT-1 looks rather stunning. The first public image of the new Toyota Supra in grey is the biggest news today, and I can say right now that this car does not look like the Z4 as some have feared.