Skip to main content

mod@tech

Suzuki, a renowned Japanese automaker, has built a global reputation for producing innovative and reliable vehicles. (showroomex.com) Despite this acclaim, several of its standout models have never been available in the United States. Various factors, including market preferences, regulatory challenges, and strategic decisions, have influenced Suzuki’s vehicle offerings in the U.S. market. Understanding these dynamics sheds light on why certain Suzuki cars, celebrated elsewhere, remain absent from American roads.

Source

This ’34 Ford is a full-fendered, fiberglass-bodied coupe that is powered by a 350ci V8 equipped with a Weiand supercharger and linked to a three-speed automatic. It rides on staggered Mickey Thompson tires mounted on billet 18″ wheels and has a Mustang II-style front end, a four-link rear end, adjustable coilovers, and four-wheel discs. The red paintwork is contrasted by a flame job, and color-coordinated alligator-pattern upholstery covers the interior. Additional details include a B&M shifter, a billet steering wheel, a Sony stereo, power-adjustable bucket seats, and a console. Acquired by the current owner in 2018, this ’34 street rod is now offered by the seller on their behalf with a clean California title listing the car as a 1934 Ford.

The fiberglass body features a chopped three-window top, smoothed fenders, a molded roll pan, and red paintwork accented by outlined flames. The seller notes a repair on the roll pan.

The car rides on staggered Mickey Thompson tires mounted on billet 18″ wheels and has a Mustang II-style front end with rack-and-pinion steering and tubular control arms, a four-link rear end with a Panhard bar, adjustable coilovers, and four-wheel discs.

The power-adjustable bucket seats, center console, doors, and right side of the dashboard have red upholstery with alligator-style accents. A Sony stereo is mounted ahead of the B&M shifter.

The billet wheel is mounted on a tilt column, and AutoMeter gauges were used. The owner has driven ~350 of the ~2,100 miles indicated.

The 350ci V8 is topped by a Weiand supercharger, two Edelbrock carburetors, and a scoop. Tubular headers are linked to a side-exit dual exhaust system. MSD ignition and an aluminum radiator were also used.

The three-speed automatic is linked to a 10-bolt rear end with a Trick Flow cover.

The car is titled as a 1934 Ford using VIN R1020.

Suzuki has long been celebrated for crafting vehicles that defy the stereotype that affordability equates to dullness. Models like the Swift Hybrid have been recognized for their blend of low cost and engaging performance, earning accolades such as Money Magazine’s Best-Value Small Car of 2025. (qsuzuki.com.au) Similarly, the Suzuki S-Presso, with its bold design and surprisingly spacious interior, offers a vibrant driving experience without breaking the bank. (auto.suzuki.com.ph) These examples underscore Suzuki’s commitment to delivering cars that are both economical and exciting to drive.

Source

Fans of certain vehicles have had to wait a long time for them to return to the U.S. market. There were 25 years between the last and current generations of the Ford Bronco. Jeep took more than three decades to bring out a new Grand Wagoneer for the 2022 model year. Stateside Toyota Crown fans had it even worse: The automaker sold the sedan here from 1958 until 1972, but brought it back more than 50 years later as a high-riding, all-wheel-drive hybrid with available two-tone finishes.

As it eventually does with many of its models, Toyota added a Nightshade trim level to the Crown lineup last year. Based on the Limited, the Nightshade model comes standard with quad-LED headlights, a panoramic fixed-glass roof, leather seats with heating and ventilation in the first row and heat in the second row, 12.3-inch gauge and infotainment screens, and an 11-speaker JBL audio system. The Nightshade package consists of dark badging, mirror caps, window trim, and door handles, and matte black 21-inch wheels. The 2026 Crown Nightshade that my colleague Luke Lamendola and I tested separately had a starting price of $48,765 and – thanks to a lack of optional extras – an as-tested price of $49,900.

The word “hybrid” applies to the Crown Nightshade in a couple of major ways. One of the reasons people like crossovers and SUVs more than sedans is that they ride higher and provide a better view of the road ahead. The Crown is officially a sedan, but its Toyota GA-K platform-derived underpinnings make it nearly four inches taller than the Camry.

Of course, the Crown Nightshade is also a hybrid under the hood. Its 2.5-liter I4 joins forces with a pair of electric motors and a nickel-metal hydride battery pack to produce a total of 236 horsepower, which an eCVT and an all-wheel drive system with an on-demand rear electric motor delivers to the road. According to the EPA, the Crown Nightshade is capable of hitting 42 mpg in the city, 41 on the highway, and 41 combined. Acceleration was modest and noisy, but my test vehicle performed as advertised, returning 42.1 mpg across 360.2 miles.

The Crown Nightshade was not what it seemed to be at first glance. Its fast roofline made it appear to be a liftback along the lines of an Audi A7, but its rear glass stayed in place above the conventional rear trunk lid.

It was a similar situation inside. Given the Nightshade’s standard equipment, I wasn’t surprised that the first row was comfortable and convenient. Once again, the roofline was misleading: I thought its dramatic slope would significantly detract from second-row headroom, but I’m 5’10” and I had no issues sitting back there. Legroom was also abundant, giving the Crown Nightshade an unexpected touch of luxury. I felt like a VIP. It’s too bad that nobody in my family was authorized by Toyota to drive me around in it.

Perhaps I should’ve asked Luke to do that. Then again, maybe it’s a good thing that I didn’t. As you’ll learn in Luke’s full video review below, he enjoyed whipping the 2026 Toyota Crown Nightshade around.

Click above and watch our full video review on YouTube!

This video is sponsored by Legendary Car Protection. Car ownership today comes with high expectations and high risks. A well-designed Vehicle Service Contract not only protects your finances, but also ensures your vehicle receives the care it deserves – no matter how iconic, rare, or routine it may be. To explore tailored protection options for your specific vehicle, visit LegendaryCarProtection.com.

It’s difficult to be a Dodge fan these days, but there is something called faith that keeps enthusiasts alive while they hold their collective breaths for a Hemi V8. It’s the same reason people follow a long-dead carpenter or a Chicago football team, but no one ever said following those things is difficult. Why is it different for a Dodge enthusiast?

Image courtesy of Stellantis

Perhaps because, despite the odds, Dodge was able to persevere into relevance. Both the Charger and Challenger were based on quasi-obsolete components (thanks—but no thanks—Mercedes-Benz!), yet sales were robust thanks to strong, cheeky marketing, giving a nod to the past with colors and features, and being instrumental in the horsepower wars the likes of America hadn’t seen since 1970. Dodge has been the American anti-hero, rubbing Yankee sensibility into the face of a global industry while playing the part of a lonely brand within a multinational automotive corporation.

Image courtesy of Stellantis

And then, it felt that America lost—not a war, but something even bigger. No more Hemi V8 sedans and coupes. None of the spirit that had brought us the Viper, revitalized Ram, Prowler, or (gulp) the PT Cruiser or Magnum. Globalism won, and it didn’t feel right. All that brand equity that made kids want a Dodge went down the drain. How’s that working for ya, Dodge?

Image courtesy of Stellantis

The good news is that Dodge will once again produce a Hemi Charger for 2026, but it will not be street-legal as it’s part of the serial Drag Pak racers for the drag strip. It is the first race car to be produced under the umbrella of the newly reestablished SRT Performance division, a promising development that aids in the faith. Officially, it’s known as the Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection, and it will be powered by a supercharged 354ci Hemi V8. For you folks who lived it (or those well-versed in muscle car history), Hustle Stuff was Dodge’s branding of “in-house aftermarket equipment” for folks who wanted to modify their cars for drag racing, from the lowly 198ci “Slant Six” to the 426 Hemi.

Image courtesy of Stellantis

The new Hustle Stuff drag car is constructed “with select carbon-fiber components” that makes this Charger 100 pounds lighter than the Challenger Drag Pak that preceded it. Like that car, the new Charger is powered by a supercharged 354ci Hemi V8 that helps it run sub-8-second ETs. Engine upgrades include a new Generation III aluminum Hemi block, new H-beam connecting rods, Diamond aluminum pistons, forged steel eight-counterweight crankshaft, and new lightweight billet supercharger belt tensioner, among other items (you can read about all the modifications on, ahem, Stellantis North America’s media website) Only 50 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection cars will be produced, all serialized. They will be race-prepped by Riley Technologies, a Mooresville, North Carolina-based shop that has a history of collaborating with SRT. The limited-production drag car is engineered for grassroots NHRA Sportsman drag racers, with each of the 50 race cars NHRA-approved for Factory Stock Showdown (FSS) competition.

Image courtesy of Stellantis

For those of you headed to the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, we won’t be surprised if this Charger will be on display, perhaps in the Dick Landy-esque paint scheme showed here. However, if you’re planning on being one of the 50, you will have the ability to choose from classic hues like B5 Blue, Go Mango, Sublime, and the ever-popular Plum Crazy (just like the old days . . . if the old days were two years ago), or newer classics like Frostbite and Sinamon Stick. Dodge also will offer optional graphic packages because, well, you know how faith manifests.

Image courtesy of Stellantis

If you’re a modern guy or gal who loves the new Charger and are fine with going fast without the burble of a V8, then it’s worth mentioning that you now can officially place an order for a Sixpack-powered Dodge Charger Scat Pack four-door, which is claimed to be the most powerful sedan under $60,000. The Dodge Charger Scat Pack will be capable of 0-60 in 3.9 seconds thanks to a high-output 550-horsepower 3.0-liter, twin-turbo, inline-six Hurricane and standard all-wheel drive. Though 12.2 ETs pales in comparison to the Track Pak Charger’s, it bears mentioning the Sixpack is completely street-legal.

But, for now, keep the faith!

This 1939 Ford Deluxe Fordor sedan is a project that has been modified with a 1991 Mustang drivetrain, a Mustang II-style front end, four-wheel disc brakes, and 17″ steel wheels. Inside, bucket seats, a Lokar shifter, and an aftermarket steering wheel have been added. The incomplete project requires mechanical work and is not currently driveable, and the inner fenders and hood are not currently mounted but are included. Also included are additional parts such as spare metal, an uninstalled Vintage Air climate-control system, a Bosch tachometer, a rear sway bar, and additional components and brackets. Acquired by the seller in 2007, this ’39 Fordor Sedan is now offered at no reserve with spare parts, a car cover, and a clean Indiana title in the seller’s name.

The body has been painted bronze, and the removed hood is included along with the inner fenders, which have not been remounted since installation of the Mustang II-style front end. The car retains a crank-open windshield and has dual spotlights, and the seller replaced the headlights and fitted purple-dot taillights. Some of the glass is cracked, and the paint is noted as exhibiting evidence of age. The listing photos were taken over a year ago, and the seller reports that the car has been primarily stored since.

The suspension has been modified with a Mustang II-style front end, rear leaf springs from Zig’s Street Rods, and Weldon shocks. Discs are mounted at all four corners along with 17″ steel wheels that wear a mix of staggered tires.

Bucket seats have been installed, and the driver’s side has six-way power adjustments, though the wiring is incomplete. The doors do not latch well and there is no wiper motor. The battery has been relocated to the truck.

A three-spoke wheel is mounted on a tilt column, and the shifter is from Lokar. The gauges were converted to operate on 12V power. The seller states he added ~400 of the ~94k miles indicated, though total chassis mileage is unknown.

The seller tells us the 5.0L V8 and AOD automatic were sourced from a 1991 Mustang and installed in 2016, before which it was rebuilt. The radiator was also replaced, and polished valve covers were fitted. The AOD transmission was rebuilt in 2025, though the shop could not adjust the throttle pressure settings for proper shift points due to an engine surge, and the car remains undriveable.

An 8.8″ differential and dual exhaust system were added.

The car is titled as a 1939 Ford using the California-assigned VIN CA394147.

This 1931 Ford Model A is claimed to be based on a five-window Henry Ford body and was modified by the previous owner in 2005 with a Buick 425ci Nailhead V8 topped by a 6×2 Weiand intake and linked to a Turbo 350 automatic. The body is painted yellow with a custom green flame job, a checkerboard firewall, and a tilt-out windshield below the chopped top, and it is mounted on a Pete & Jake’s chassis with a Super Bell drop front end, a four-bar setup, a Flaming River Vega steering box, and So Cal Buick-look front discs, while out back are coilovers and a four-link set up for the Ford 9″ rear end. It was acquired by the seller in 2011, and further details include staggered 15″ GENNIE wheels, Sanderson headers, a B&M shifter, a tilt column, and Dolphin gauges. The seller tells us that the two active Stromberg carburetors were rebuilt in 2023 and the transmission was resealed in 2025. This Model A is now offered with an Arizona title in the seller’s name listing the car as a 1931 Ford.

The seller believes the body is an original Henry Ford ’31, and it was built into a hot rod by Nightmare Street Rods in New Jersey. The top was filled and chopped ~3″, and the body was painted pale yellow with a green flame job and a checkerboard firewall. A ’32-style grille and a chrome spreader bar were fitted up front, and custom flourishes accent the paintwork.

It is mounted on a Pete & Jake’s chassis with a Super Bell drop front end, a four-bar setup, a Flaming River Vega steering box, and So Cal Buick-look front discs, while out back are coilovers and a four-link set up for the Ford 9″ rear end. The 15×6″ and 15×8″ GENNIE wheels are painted to match the flames and mounted with staggered BFGoodrich whitewalls.

The contoured bench seat has black tuck-and-roll upholstery, and speakers are mounted in the side panels. A fire extinguisher is affixed next to the B&M shifter, and red belts are provided for occupants.

Dolphin gauges were added along with a wood-rimmed steering wheel mounted on a tilt column. The seller has added ~500 of the 2,900 miles indicated.

The Buick 425ci Nailhead V8 is topped by a 6×2 Weiand intake. The two front and two rear carburetors are blocked off and for show only, and the two remaining middle Strombergs were rebuilt in 2023, per the seller. Sanderson lake-style headers are linked to a dual exhaust system, and a Griffin radiator was used.

The seller tells us the Turbo 350 automatic was resealed in 2025, and it is linked to a Ford 9″ rear end.

The car is titled as a 1931 Ford using VIN 439360231. The title carries a “Not Actual” odometer remark.

Among the most popular muscle cars is the 1970 Chevelle Super Sport, whether stock or built to the hilt. It’s like the planets aligned for Chevrolet that year as the car was restyled to good effect and General Motors removed its edict limiting cubic inches, allowing the inclusion of the new LS6 454. What’s not to like? Gas Monkey Garage and the founder of System X like, and their collaboration led to a marathon build just in time for the SEMA 2025 Show.

Image courtesy of Gas Monkey Garage

As you can see, a slightly modified Champagne Gold 1970 Malibu (the upmarket trim level for the Chevelle) with white top was the basis of the build. Though not specified in the videos for the build, this Bow Tie had a White vinyl top, though if it painted Classic White top, it would have been one of 995 Chevelles painted in this fashion by the factory.

Image courtesy of Gas Monkey Garage

System X’s Todd Rudovich once owned a 1970 Chevelle in his youth and was pining for another one, of which Gas Monkey was only too happy to oblige. Once Gas Monkey bought the Chevelle and brought it from California to Dallas, next on the agenda was to determine the direction of the build. As enthusiasts, you know builds like these are all about style, power, performance, and braking. What color should it be? Transmission? How does it put down its power? What about tires and wheels? And how will it be driven? They all got together to discuss, with Todd determining he wanted a black-on-black supercharged driver with as much horsepower as possible while running on pump gas. In other words, a sinister Chevelle that evolved into Synister!

As bought, the Chevelle drove well and featured original sheetmetal and interior, including a solid dash pad. Starting with a good mule was key—a fine car to start with.

Image courtesy of Gas Monkey Garage

Then came the SpeedTech Performance chassis, which Rawlings claims to have the most bad-arse chassis for the Chevelle. This one features an independent rear suspension with overhead cantilever shock mounts plus adjustable QA1 Mod Shocks.

Image courtesy of Gas Monkey Garage

For several months, parts were ordered and gathered. Now, with SEMA 2025 approaching, the goal was to rally the team and finish the project in under 30 days. Makes for good television, of course, but what about the product?

Allow us to show you the finished product, which was unveiled earlier this week at SEMA. Stats include HRE wheels and Wildwood disc brakes, one-off custom Titans of CNC grille and headlight bezels, one-off CNC MagnaFlow rear exhaust tips, custom DTS interior, Sparco carbon fiber seats, Audison Thesis audio system, and more. However, the pièce de resistance is a 1,200-horsepower LME 427 LT4 with 2.7 Magnuson supercharger with Ultimate Headers and 3-inch MagnaFlow stainless exhaust.

The Synister Chevelle is on display in the System X booth (#52211) at SEMA in Las Vegas. Visit YouTube to view the serial build process, with the series finale dropping on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 11 a.m. (CST).

Image courtesy of System X

There was a time when the sound of a high-compression V8 echoing down Main Street was the heartbeat of America. When gas was cheap, Saturday nights were loud, and every young driver dreamed of owning a car that could take the quarter-mile by storm. Those days may be long gone—but Dream Giveaway is bringing them roaring back to life.

This time, one lucky winner will take home two of Chevrolet’s most legendary muscle machines—a 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 and a 1969 Camaro Z/28 Cross-Ram—each restored to concours perfection and ready to reclaim their rightful place as kings of the street. Click here to enter now!

Prize #1: 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6

When Chevrolet engineers unleashed the LS6 in 1970, they didn’t just build a car—they created a statement. The Chevelle SS454 LS6 was the apex predator of the muscle-car era, boasting a monstrous 454-cubic-inch big-block rated at 450 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. It was the most powerful engine ever stuffed into a midsize Chevy, and even today, its numbers command respect.

This Autumn Gold Chevelle SS454, painstakingly restored to its original glory, brings that legend to life. Under the functional cowl-induction hood lies the factory-spec LS6 engine paired with a Muncie M22 “Rock Crusher” four-speed manual—a combination that made the car both a boulevard bruiser and a drag-strip dominator. Its deep-throated idle and explosive acceleration once earned it the nickname “King of the Street,” and half a century later, that title still fits.

Every inch of this car reflects Chevrolet’s golden age—from the gleaming chrome bumpers to the black-striped hood and the perfectly restored interior. For muscle-car purists, it’s a rolling time capsule from the most exciting year in Detroit history.

Prize #2: 1969 Camaro Z/28 Cross-Ram

If the Chevelle was Chevrolet’s brute force, the 1969 Z/28 was its precision instrument. Built to dominate the SCCA Trans-Am racing series, the Z/28 was designed around a high-revving, small-block 302 cubic-inch V8, officially rated at 290 horsepower—but insiders knew the real number was far higher.

The car offered in the Super Chevy Dream Giveaway is an Olympic Gold Z/28 equipped with the rare Cross-Ram intake—a dual-four-barrel carburetor system mounted on an aluminum manifold with long runners designed to boost high-RPM power. This setup was a race-ready option making this example one of the most coveted Camaros of all time.

Paired with a Muncie four-speed gearbox, Positraction rear end, and dual exhaust, this Z/28 is as exhilarating to drive today as it was in 1969. Inside, the cockpit is pure vintage performance: black bucket seats, a full gauge package, and that unmistakable 160-mph speedometer daring you to go further than you should.

It’s a car that captures the raw, mechanical essence of American racing—a machine built not for comfort, but for glory.

Plus, Bonus Prizes

Dream Giveaway didn’t stop at the cars. The grand-prize package also includes a Wildfire Lifts Exotic automotive lift, made in the USA and engineered for professional-grade performance, plus a $250 Legendary Auto Interiors gift certificate.

And because Dream Giveaway wants the winner to enjoy the thrill without the tax bill, the team will also cover $44,000 in federal prize taxes.

Two Golden Legends. One Lucky Winner.

The 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 and the 1969 Camaro Z/28 Cross-Ram—two icons from the height of the muscle-car era, reunited in one unforgettable giveaway. Both are museum-quality restorations, both are ready to drive, and both could soon be sitting in your garage.

Don’t miss your chance to own the muscle-car duo that defined an era. Enter today!

Currently listed for sale on AutoHunter is this restored 1968 Buick GS 400 Sport Coupe. As configurated by a previous owner, this is a car Buick should have built as it’s currently powered by a rebuilt 430 V8 from a full-size Wildcat or Electra. It is paired to four-speed manual for bottomless fun. Features include red racing stripe, aftermarket Alpine stereo, aftermarket mags, and more. Painted Regal Black with a white vinyl interior, this “Flint Flyer” is offered by the selling dealer with receipts and a clear title.

The Regal Black paint is complemented by a red lower-body racing stripe. Other features include simulated front fender air extractors, simulated hood scoop, driver-side chrome mirror, and red GS badges on the grille and front fenders. A set of US Mags wheels is wrapped in 235/60 Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/T radials.

The recently upholstered white vinyl interior features bucket seats up front. Mounted on the floor is a Hurst shifter. Other features include aftermarket steering wheel, power steering, AM/FM Alpine stereo with CD player, USB, SiriusXM and Bluetooth compatibility, and aftermarket speaker system.

Instrumentation includes a 120-mph speedometer flanked by a fuel gauge and clock. A Sunpro 8,000-rpm tachometer is mounted on the steering column, and a cluster of Bosch auxiliary gauges (measuring oil pressure, temperature, and voltage) is mounted underneath the dashboard. The odometer shows 81,906 miles, though the title reads mileage-exempt.

The rebuilt 430ci V8 was transplanted from a full-size Buick. It features a four-barrel carburetor atop an Edelbrock intake manifold. Also part of the supporting cast is an MSD ignition. All this is tied to a four-speed manual transmission.

The undercarriage features power front disc brakes and a dual exhaust system.

General Motors had a strange edict that limited cubic-inches depending on the platform—in this case, 400ci was the best an A-body could get from the factory until 1970. However, somebody down the line took a 360-horsepower 430 from a full-size Buick and dropped it in today’s AutoHunter Spotlight, thereby creating a proto-GS 455 of sorts. With solid GM styling and the low-end torque that Buick was famous for, here you have a street bruiser par excellence. Wanna have fun with your classic? Then this 1968 Buick GS 400 Sport Coupe is the car for you, so place your bid before 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 (MST), or you’ll miss out.

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery