# Carbage
> News and stories on the world of automotive, auto repair and modifications, motorsports, and technologies that create the vehicles that take us everywhere.
Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts.
Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`).
## Pages
### About this site
URL: https://carbage.online/about/
Last updated: 2026-08-05T23:59:35.000Z
*Carbage* is an independent automotive publication by Justin Banner. It's dedicated to serving you the latest news, information, and advice in the automotive sphere. From repairs to new car news to technology reviews, Carbage will give you the information you need that both the layperson and the expert will find useful.

### Information Should Always Be Free

Unlike other automotive publications, *Carbage* is independently funded by you, our readers here and our viewers over [on our YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@carbageonline?ref=carbage.online). This means that all this news and information is free for you to view and you'll always have the latest knowledge and reporting on hand at all times and never behind a paywall.

### There Will Always Be a Human Behind the Writing

We're also proud to say that all stories, images, and graphics are all created by a human rather than rely on AI for creation. Not only will this help ensure *Carbage* is an accurate information space, but it will also stop the enshitification of the internet.

### How You Can Keep *Carbage* Independent

But if you like what we do and want to support us, you can do so [through our Patreon page](https://patreon.com/carbage?utm%5Fmedium=unknown&utm%5Fsource=join%5Flink&utm%5Fcampaign=creatorshare%5Fcreator&utm%5Fcontent=copyLink) for as little as $1 per month. There, we'll share some early looks at vehicle features, videos, and grab unique swag only available to supporters. If you're not ready to support us monthly, we also have merch for sale [on our Store](https://shopcarbage.online/?ref=carbage.online).
### Photography Examples
URL: https://carbage.online/photography-examples/
Last updated: 2025-01-27T08:18:40.000Z
![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2024-Mitsubishi-Outlander-PHEV-SUV-37.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2024-Mitsubishi-Outlander-PHEV-SUV-2-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2024-Mitsubishi-Outlander-PHEV-SUV-3-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2024-Mitsubishi-Outlander-PHEV-SUV-4-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2024-Mitsubishi-Outlander-PHEV-SUV-5-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2024-Mitsubishi-Outlander-PHEV-SUV-6-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2024-Mitsubishi-Outlander-PHEV-SUV-11.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2024-Mitsubishi-Outlander-PHEV-SUV-20.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2024-Mitsubishi-Outlander-PHEV-SUV-23.jpg)

2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV shot on a Panasonic Lumix S5IIX

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NHRA Winternationals at Pomona 2013 shot on Canon Rebel T3i

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-United-Pacific-Classic-Ford-1932-Pickup-Coker-Tire-Firestone-Ford-Performance-61.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-United-Pacific-Classic-Ford-1932-Pickup-Coker-Tire-Firestone-Ford-Performance-62.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-United-Pacific-Classic-Ford-1932-Pickup-Coker-Tire-Firestone-Ford-Performance-63.jpg)

United Pacific 1932 Ford Pickup shot on a Canon Rebel T7i

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Jeep_TJ_Wrangler_4cylinder_Manual_GenRight_JohnsonValley_Carbage_JustinBanner-16.jpg)

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Jeep_TJ_Wrangler_4cylinder_Manual_GenRight_JohnsonValley_Carbage_JustinBanner-13.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Jeep_TJ_Wrangler_4cylinder_Manual_GenRight_JohnsonValley_Carbage_JustinBanner-14.jpg)

Jeep Wrangler TJ shot on Canon Rebel T7i

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/CarbageFDLB_JB-7.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/CarbageFDLB_JB-13.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/CarbageFDLB_JB-35.jpg)

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/CarbageFDLB_JB-5.jpg)

Formula Drift Long Beach 2017 shot on Canon Rebel T7i

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage_JB_NHRA_Museum-20.jpg)

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage_JB_NHRA_Museum-58.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage_JB_NHRA_Museum-89.jpg)

NHRA Museum 2018 shot on Canon Rebel T7i

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2019 Mint 400 shot on Canon Rebel T7i

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Ultimate Street Car Invitational 2017 shot on Canon Rebel T7i

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SEMA Show 2019 shot on Canon Rebel T7i

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Grand National Roadster Show 2019 shot on Canon Rebel T7i
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**Justin Banner** has been writing about automotive and motorsports since 2011 but has worked as an auto technician since the age of 18\. From [covering events at Formula Drift](https://carbage.online/formula-drift-starts-the-2025-season-on-the-streets-of-long-beach/) and SEMA to writing about the latest [in automotive technology and repair](https://carbage.online/making-tires-in-the-age-of-advanced-automation/), the breadth of knowledge and experience Justin has is shown in his writing. Equally, his technical breakdowns are easy for the layman to understand all while keeping the tech deep enough for the modern enthusiast to still the information they are looking for. It doesn't matter if you don't know the difference between an alternator and a starter or know the exact part number from your favorite OEM from memory, you will get a rich sense of understanding by reading Justin's work.
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[****Ram has recalled 1.3 Million 2019-2026 1500s over loose seat belt anchor bolts in the rear seats.**](https://carbage.online/ram-recalls-1-3-million-2019-2026-ram-1500s-for-seat-belt-anchor-issue/)

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## Posts
### 2027 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport: Redesigned Look, Upgraded Tech, and More Horsepower
URL: https://carbage.online/2027-volkswagen-atlas-cross-sport-first-look/
Last updated: 2026-08-11T00:01:37.000Z
**Short Summary:**

- **More Horsepower Standard:** The updated EA888 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 delivers 282 hp (up from 269 hp) and 258 lb-ft of torque, with Volkswagen claiming improved fuel economy despite the power bump.
- **Shorter, Coupe-Like Exterior:** Built on the MQB Evo platform, the second-generation model is 5.4 inches shorter in length and 2.1 inches lower in height than the 2026 version, featuring dramatically raked C-pillars, standard power liftgate, and new color choices including Blackberry Metallic.
- **Upgraded Cabin Convenience:** Features a standard 12.9-inch touchscreen (upgradeable to 15 inches with a 14-speaker Harman Kardon system), a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a new Driver Experience Dial, dual Qi2 wireless charging, and 5 USB-C ports.
- **Enhanced IQ.Drive Safety:** Standard Level 2 Travel Assist adds automated driver-initiated lane changes and the ability to steer the vehicle safely to the side of the road during a medical emergency.

The 2027 Volkswagen Atlas, VW’s three-row midsize SUV, debuted in the U.S. in April, but we all knew it was only going to be a few months before the 2027 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was revealed. Well, it’s finally out of the bag and the two-row variant carries on the idea of Volkswagen’s fun-to-drive character that seats up to five, but is shorter than the 2026 version in both overall length and height. However, it also brings along some new features that were missed in that previous model year.

## **What’s New for the 2027 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Exterior?**

![Riding on the MQB Evo platform, the 2027 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is supposed to have an improved, sporty ride to match its exterior character.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2027-Volkswagen-Atlas-Cross-Sport-Crossover-SUV-VW_0018.jpg)

Built on the Modularer Querbaukasten, or MQB, Evo platform, the 2027 Atlas Cross Sport is all-new for this second-generation model. Although built in Chattanooga, Tennessee, both Atlas models are based on VW's Teramont Pro sold in China as part of the SAIC-Volkswagen joint venture for that market and launched in 2025\. The 2027 Atlas Cross Sport is 5.4 inches shorter in overall vehicle length and 2.1 inches lower in overall vehicle height from the 2026 version, which is in part due to dramatically raked C-pillars to give it a more coupe-like appearance.

Save for that, the new Cross Sport shares its overall design with the three-row Atlas, including its all-new front-end design and its double-stacked LED headlights. However, the rocker panels of the Atlas Cross Sport are body color to help separate it from its seven-seater sibling, and the base trim will get silver accents in place of piano black versions when compared to the base-level seven-seater Atlas.

The 2027 will also get three new body color options with Blackberry Metallic, Dark Sage Metallic, and Sandstone, with Blackberry being a new hue for both 2027 Atlas models. The standard Cross Sport will ride on 18-inch aluminum wheels, but all other trims will get all-new 20- and 21-inch wheel options. Those upper-trim variants will also get the option of an illuminated VW badge and door handle puddle lamps. Finally, all models will get a power liftgate as standard equipment on the 2027 Atlas Cross Sport, a welcome feature for anyone who struggles to close their gate with handfuls of groceries.

## **An Improved User Experience Inside**

![An all-new digital experience starts with new digital displays for the instrument cluster and infotainment screen on the 2027 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2027-Volkswagen-Atlas-Cross-Sport-Crossover-SUV-VW_0008.jpg)

For those looking for the latest driver-assist tech, the 2027 Atlas Cross Sport will not leave you disappointed. IQ.Drive is standard across the board and comes with Travel Assist, VW’s name for its hands-on SAE Level 2 semi-autonomous system. It comes with stop-and-go-capable adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist for up to 95 mph, but it can now perform a driver-initiated lane change and has the ability to drive itself to the side of the road if it senses a medical emergency.

This is all punctuated by a revised 12-way power driver’s seat with 4-way lumbar support. Also standard is a 12.9-inch infotainment screen and a 9-speaker audio system, both of which can be upgraded to a 15-inch infotainment screen and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system on the top-of-the-line Atlas Cross Sport. The driver will also be able to check their speed and other important information with the 10.25-inch digital instrument panel with a configurable gauge cluster that’s standard across all trims.

The center console also has new features for 2027 with a new Driver Experience Dial that controls audio volume, drive modes, and Atmosphere features to help set the mood as you drive. Other new interior features include a dual Qi2 wireless charging pad and 5 USB-C ports for all occupants to charge their devices.

## **The Same EA888 Engine but Revised for Power and Efficiency**

![Even with more power under the hood, VW says the 2027 Atlas Cross Sport will be more efficient than it was in 2026.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2027-Volkswagen-Atlas-Cross-Sport-Crossover-SUV-VW_0014.jpg)

One of the major complaints you would have heard about the 2026 Atlas Cross Sport was its engine. It didn’t feel powerful enough and it wasn’t exactly a fuel miser, either. The old tune of the EA888, the 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 found under the hood, was good for up to 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. For 2027, the EA888 will produce 282 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.

Although it hasn’t stated or revealed an estimate on its fuel mileage, VW claims that this new EA888 will provide better fuel economy than it did in 2026 despite its power bump. Back in June, [it was revealed that](https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=noform&path=1&year1=2027&year2=2027&make=Volkswagen&baseModel=Atlas&srchtyp=ymm&pageno=1&rowLimit=50&ref=carbage.online) the 7-seater with FWD would return 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined EPA cycle. 4Motion AWD versions would return 20/27/23 mpg and we wouldn’t be surprised to see very similar numbers for the 5-seater. Volkswagen also says that a hybrid powerplant is coming for the Atlas Cross Sport, but only after its planned midcycle refresh.

Driving power to the wheels from the 2.0-liter turbo engine is an eight-speed automatic transmission, but drivers have the option of manually shifting it with VW's Tiptronic feature. This is a traditional auto and [not the DCT you’ll find](https://carbage.online/what-is-the-dual-clutch-transmission/) in sporty variants from Volkswagen like the Golf R, Golf GTI, and Jetta GLI. In its standard configuration, power is sent only to the front wheels, but AWD will be available across all trim levels and towing capacity will remain at 5,000 pounds.

## **No Pricing and Availability Yet**

![We're still waiting on the price and availability of the 2027 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, but don't be surprised to see it in the low $40,000s.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2027-Volkswagen-Atlas-Cross-Sport-Crossover-SUV-VW_0012.jpg)

Despite its late launch, Volkswagen didn’t release when to expect the 2027 Atlas Cross Sport, nor did it list its pricing. It did say that further details will be announced prior to its launch in early 2027\. Knowing that, we say you should expect those details to come out sometime between December 2026 and January 2027\. We also expect the price to start in the low $40,000s.

## **Before You Go**

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2027-Volkswagen-Atlas-Cross-Sport-Crossover-SUV-VW_0000.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2027-Volkswagen-Atlas-Cross-Sport-Crossover-SUV-VW_0001.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2027-Volkswagen-Atlas-Cross-Sport-Crossover-SUV-VW_0003.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2027-Volkswagen-Atlas-Cross-Sport-Crossover-SUV-VW_0004.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2027-Volkswagen-Atlas-Cross-Sport-Crossover-SUV-VW_0009.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2027-Volkswagen-Atlas-Cross-Sport-Crossover-SUV-VW_0010.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2027-Volkswagen-Atlas-Cross-Sport-Crossover-SUV-VW_0011.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2027-Volkswagen-Atlas-Cross-Sport-Crossover-SUV-VW_0016.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2027-Volkswagen-Atlas-Cross-Sport-Crossover-SUV-VW_0017.jpg)

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### Ram Recalls 1.3 Million 2019-2026 Ram 1500s For Seat Belt Anchor Issue
URL: https://carbage.online/ram-recalls-1-3-million-2019-2026-ram-1500s-for-seat-belt-anchor-issue/
Last updated: 2026-08-10T21:04:10.000Z
**Short Summary:**

- Ram and the NHTSA have recalled nearly 1.3 million 2019-2026 Ram 1500 pickups.
- The reason is the second-row seat belt buckle anchor wasn't tightened properly.
- The repair is simple: inspect and retorque the second-row seat belt buckle anchor.

When your friends, family, or co-workers hop into the rear of your Ram 1500 pickup, all of you expect the trip to be normal and free of worry. But accidents happen, which is why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has rules on occupant safety. Unfortunately, [it appears that](https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=26V495000&ref=carbage.online) 1500s built between model years 2019 and 2026 might not have had the seat belt buckle anchor for the second-row seats attached properly. That issue has triggered a recall affecting 1,271,294 of these popular pickups.

### **What Is This “Anchor”?**

![The second-row seat belt anchors were installed too loose from the factory for 2019-2026 Ram 1500 pickups.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2026-Ram-1500-Pickup-Truck_0004.jpg)

The anchor being referred to here is the bolt that secures the buckle to its body attachment point under the seats. Because it is not properly tightened to specification, it reduces the load-carrying ability of the entire assembly during a crash or even during "certain types of driving conditions." The other issue is that it will continue to loosen over time and eventually fall out. Either way, you could potentially end up with someone severely injured or worse should you find yourself in an accident.

### **It Won’t Need a New Bolt or Buckle**

Thankfully, the repair [for this recall](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V495-1973.pdf?ref=carbage.online) is simple: Inspect and retorque the bolt. Because it was installed loose and normal usage does not result in high stress on the buckle and bolt, a simple retorque is all that is necessary to fix it and the labor will not be charged to you as it's part of a recall service.

If it has fallen out, the technician will likely reinstall it and torque it down to proper specification. However, should there be any evidence of damage to the bolt, it will be replaced with a matching fastener at no cost to you. You can continue driving your 2019-2026 Ram 1500, but we advise you not to seat anyone in the second row until the buckle bolts are inspected and torqued to spec.

![Ram hasn't specified which trims have been affected by this recall of 2019-2026 1500 pickups, but you or your dealer will be able to search your VIN by the time you read this story.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2026-Ram-1500-Pickup-Truck_0010.jpg)

That also means there will not be long downtime for this recall. Simply bring your truck in, let the technician inspect and retorque the buckle anchor bolts, and be on your way. Total time for the repair should be under an hour, so this is a job you can schedule and wait for instead of needing a rental for the day. Still, check to see how busy your dealer is before committing to that.

Dealers should already be aware of the recall, and affected VINs are searchable on [the NHTSA website](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?ref=carbage.online) or [the Mopar service website](https://www.mopar.com/en-us/my-vehicle/recalls/search.html?ref=carbage.online). You will see a notice starting Aug. 18 through Sept. 24.

## **Before You Go**

![A pair of 2026 Ram 1500 pickups demonstrating their cornering ability on Stellantis' test track.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2026-Ram-1500-Pickup-Truck_0002.jpg)

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### Why the NHTSA is Turning Up the Heat on Ford and Its 1.0-Liter EcoBoost Engine Failures
URL: https://carbage.online/nhtsa-investigating-ford-ecoboost-engine-failures/
Last updated: 2026-08-06T00:18:41.000Z
The Quick Answer:

- The NHTSA has seen that timing belt failures occur in 2014–2021 Ford EcoBoost 1.0-liter engines.
- Oil degrades the bonds of both synthetic and natural rubbers, causing the belt to lose structural strength.
- This loss of structural strength creates rubber particles that clog the oil pickup, leading to engine failure due to oil starvation.
- Reports of degradation occur well before the 150,000-mile timing belt replacement maintenance schedule.

It has been nearly six years since the last Ford vehicle came with the 1.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged I-3 engine in the U.S. These little economical engines were equipped on many of the Blue Oval’s popular sedans, hatchbacks, and crossovers between 2014 and 2021, meaning there are hundreds of thousands of vehicles out there with this engine. Unfortunately, owners may have a ticking clock on their hands as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigates these 1.0-liter engines for timing belt failures due to their wet belt design.

### **First, What Vehicles Came with the 1.0-Liter EcoBoost I-3 Engine?**

![Ford cars like the 2015-2018 Focus could be equipped with the EcoBoost 1.0-liter I-3 engine and are part of the investigation by the NHTSA.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2015-Ford-Focus-Sport-neg-CN350202-039.jpg)

Ford introduced the 1.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost I-3 engine in 2014 on the Ford Fiesta and continued to use it until it ended production in 2019\. This same engine was also used on the 2015–2018 Focus and the 2013–2022 EcoSport. Many of these vehicles came with a traditional six-speed automatic transmission [or six-speed PowerShift DCT](https://carbage.online/what-is-the-dual-clutch-transmission/), but the Fiesta and Focus both offered a six-speed manual as an option with this engine.

### **What’s the Issue the NHTSA is Investigating on the 1.0-Liter EcoBoost I-3 Engine?**

The issue relates to [the timing belt and the oil pump pickup due](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2026/INOA-EA26004-16563.pdf?ref=carbage.online) to its wet belt system. Most rubber timing belts sit separated from the engine’s oil as a dry assembly. The 1.0-liter turbocharged I-3 EcoBoost engine instead uses a timing belt system that exposes the belt to the engine’s oil in the oil sump.

### **There Might Be a Recall Coming**

![The 2013–2022 EcoSport crossover was another vehicle that was equipped with Ford's 1.0-liter EcoBoost I-3 engine.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2021-Ecosport.png)

As of right now, there is not a recall pending on 2014–2021 Fords with the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine. But [with 355 reported incidents on record](https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=EA26004&ref=carbage.online), data from Ford, and a preliminary engine teardown, the NHTSA has determined that an Engineering Analysis is needed and there is an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety. This means that the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) will perform component-level and vehicle testing to determine the next steps and whether a recall is warranted.

Timing belts on automotive engines are replaced at specific mileage intervals, and Ford’s 1.0-liter turbo I-3 is no exception. Its usual interval is every 150,000 miles, but 98% of these failures have occurred well before that, with the average failure happening at around 70,000 miles. Regular oil changes are also important in a wet belt timing system, as the used oil accumulates more raw fuel and other chemicals created by chemical breakdown over its lifetime. However, these failures have also occurred when owners have proof of regular oil change intervals.

The other bad news is that neither you nor your mechanic can easily inspect the oil pump pickup because the oil pan cannot be removed with the engine in the vehicle. The only indication that failure is about to happen is when the low oil pressure light turns on, but that is usually too late as engine failure happens almost as soon as it lights up—if the light turns on at all.

### **What Is Ford Doing About the Timing Belt Issue with the 1.0-Liter EcoBoost?**

![The development of the EcoBoost 1.0-liter I-3 came during Alan Mulally's run as Ford's CEO.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/Ford_EcoBoost_1.0_L._Fox_001.jpg)

On June 2, 2026, Ford notified the public that it was reducing its original maintenance interval for timing belt replacement as part of its customer satisfaction program. The new timing is 100,000 miles or every six years, whichever occurs first. Ford will also reimburse “eligible customers” who paid to have their engine repaired or replaced due to a timing belt issue.

### **Why Does It Use a Wet Belt System in the First Place?**

Although it is not common, the wet belt timing system offers a compact design, reduced friction, and quieter operation compared to a dry timing belt. If you compare a dry timing belt engine to a wet version, you will see that the lack of a sealing surface or wall does not reduce the length of the engine assembly, but it does reduce the overall height, allowing the engine to sit that much lower in the engine bay. That is important in countries that require pedestrian injury mitigation, as there is more crumple space between the hood and the top of the engine. This space helps reduce the energy a pedestrian’s body would need to absorb in the case of an impact.

Reduced friction in the timing system aids in making the 1.0-liter engine even more fuel-efficient beyond its diminutive displacement. Oil helps reduce the inherent friction between the teeth of the timing sprockets and the belt in the same way it does with metal-to-metal gears. The oil creates a thin film layer between the two and acts as a liquid bearing. It can also help reduce the heat that naturally occurs as the belt circulates and bends, as the oil will absorb that heat and shed it away. Finally, it also acts like a vibration damper, which is why it is a quieter system over a dry timing belt.

### **What’s Making a Wet Timing Belt Such a Bad Choice Now?**

In [industry practice](https://www.puteken.com/what-is-the-advantage-of-a-wet-timing-belt/?ref=carbage.online), a wet timing belt should lead to a longer service life, but the reality of the automotive world is far harsher due to the chemicals present in engine oil. And we are not talking about just what is used to formulate engine oil. Unburnt gasoline will find its way into the crankcase and work with the oil [to break down the adhesive bonds](https://www.millersoils.co.uk/reducing-damage-to-wet-belt-systems/?ref=carbage.online) of the rubber. Just like the solvents that some race cars use to soften tire rubber—though that potentially reduces tire life (there are exceptions)—this causes the timing belt to start shedding bits of rubber that then end up in the oil pan. These particles then clog up the oil pickup and starve the engine of oil, leading to engine failure.

### **Before You Go**

![The 2014-2019 Ford Fiesta was another vehicle offered with the EcoBoost 1.0-liter turbocharged I-3.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/2015-Ford-Fiesta-neg-CN351110-006.jpg)

If this news on the Ford 1.0-liter EcoBoost helped you make sense of what this investigation is all about, consider backing us on Patreon.

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### Speed Shiftin’: What Is the Dual-Clutch Transmission?
URL: https://carbage.online/what-is-the-dual-clutch-transmission/
Last updated: 2026-08-05T13:00:14.000Z
# Quick Answer:

- It’s a version of an automated manual transmission.
- Many auto manufacturers offer a DCT under their own brand names.
- Instead of a single gear and a single clutch being engaged, two gears are selected and only engaged when that set’s clutch engages.
- One clutch operates odd-numbered gears; the other operates even-numbered gears.

The dual-clutch transmission, shortened to DCT, is the latest craze for auto manufacturers that don’t opt for the continuously variable transmission (CVT) and want to give owners the option to shift their own gears. It has many names, such as the Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG) from Volkswagen, Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK), Ford PowerShift, FCA’s Twin Clutch Transmission (TCT), AMG SPEEDSHIFT, and many others. However, they are all just OEM brandings of the same concept and are often made by the same suppliers if they are not built by the automakers themselves.

### **Who Makes DCTs?**

The main supplying manufacturers are BorgWarner, with its DualTronic used by VW and Nissan; Getrag, which makes DCTs for BMW, Ferrari, Renault, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Smart, and Mitsubishi; Graziano for McLaren; LuK Clutch Systems' Parallel Shift Gearbox and XSG branded as the DQ200 from VW; Ricardo, which is used in the Bugatti Veyron; ZF with Porsche’s PDK; [and finally Tremec and its](https://tremec.com/products-and-services/conventional-drivetrain/dual-clutch-transmissions/?ref=carbage.online) TR-9070 DCT in the Ford Shelby GT500 and the TR-9080 transaxle in the Corvette C8.

### **How Do They Work?**

![How a typical front-wheel drive DCT is laid out and operates.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/VW2013000258_large.jpg)

Whether used as a transaxle, rear-wheel-drive, or front-wheel-drive transmission, most DCTs work the same way. A pair of clutches attaches to the flywheel via a housing that closely resembles a torque converter and wets the clutches with transmission fluid. A concentric input shaft attaches to each clutch where one clutch rotates the outer shaft and the other rotates the inner. These concentric shafts rotate the gears: one shaft handles 1, 3, 5, and other odd-numbered gears, and the other shaft handles 2, 4, 6, and other even-numbered gears.

From here, it operates like a standard manual gearbox with shift forks engaging synchros on each gear. Two gears are always selected simultaneously, but engine power only routes to the engaged clutch and the input shaft attached to it. When you are in first gear, second gear is also selected, but it remains idle until the clutch for even gears engages.

![A simplified image of how the DCT operates with its two clutches.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/DB2019NR00056_large.jpg)

When you pull on the gear selector (which can be a paddle, shifter, or simply a button) or the computer tells the transmission control unit (TCU) to shift into second gear, the clutch for even gears engages and odd gears disengage. Finally, the next gear shift fork engages the next gear, which remains idle until the odd clutch engages. Continue this process as you move up each gear.

Downshifts feature a brief pause as the system instructs the shift fork of the lower gear to engage. However, most TCUs tell the powertrain control module (PCM) to rev the engine to match speed (better known as automatic rev-matching) to make the shift feel seamless. The computer can further predict this by detecting vehicle deceleration and driver braking. Well, in most cases. We will touch on that in a moment.

### **Dry Clutches and Parallel Clutches**

![The wet clutch pack used in many DCTs, but some utilize a dual dry clutches.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/DB02_60781_large.jpg)

The difference comes in several FWD applications that use low-torque engines. In these cases, the clutches are dry rather than wet. There are also diverse ways the clutches lay out relative to the input shaft. One version sets the clutches side-by-side with a gear driving the input shaft. The other also places the clutches side-by-side but uses dual input shafts rather than a single shaft. The VW DQ200 and Kia/Hyundai DCT use dry clutch variations.

The Hyundai DCT, which Kia also uses, employs a pair of dry clutches, but the clutch package and engagement are more reminiscent of a standard clutch. It features a clutch fork, a clutch actuator that looks a lot like a standard slave cylinder stacked together, and a clutch bearing for each clutch. You would think it was a standard dual clutch like you see in performance cars, but it also features a concentric clutch shaft and dual gear shafts. It is worth an article by itself just explaining how it works. However, the principle remains the same as with all DCTs.

### **The Ease of the Automatic**

Almost all auto manufacturers give the owner the option to run the DCT in automatic mode. In this mode, all shifting is handled by the TCU. All you do is control the gas, the brake pedal, and steer the car, just like an automatic. It even acts somewhat like an auto, as it will stay still when you release the brake and shift a gear too high until you hit the gas pedal for a "passing gear." This changes when you press the button or move the shifter into manual mode. From here, it holds your desired gear, will creep forward when you release the brake, and shifting (both up and down) is faster than you’re able to execute in an H-pattern box.

Because of its dual-clutch design, some of these transmissions can exhibit a shudder on takeoff from a dead stop. Some models are quite jarring when they shift. An example constantly brought up that does both is [the Ford PowerShift automatic](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatcarshouldIbuy/comments/1d8jitb/is%5Fthe%5Fford%5Fpowershift%5Fgearbox%5Freally%5Fthat%5Fbad/?ref=carbage.online). Although it does not give an option to shift manually like performance cars, it’s not an automatic transmission in the traditional sense. It is a DCT with the manual shift option removed. Hyundai and Kia also employ an automatic-only DCT but are limited in their applications.

The reason to use a DCT in place of an automatic is typically twofold. The first reason is efficiency: It is hard to beat the reduced friction between two gears driven directly by a single clutch (for each gear) over a planetary gear set, pumps, and its clutches. The second is weight: Given all the fluid, extra metal, and physical size of most automatics, the DCT is usually lighter.

### **The Performance of the Manual**

With a DCT, you get the best of both worlds for a performance car. The owner can place the car into automatic mode for daily driving or shift into manual mode when out on the track or enjoying a fun drive on a country or mountain road. Legal speeds, of course. For giggles, you also usually get the choice of using the "flappy paddles" behind the steering wheel (the only way in the C8 Corvette) or operating the shifter just like you can in a real race car with an inline shift pattern, where pushing it forward shifts down and pulling the stick back shifts up.

![Yeah, that might look like a standard gated shifter, but it's not connected to the eight-speed DCT found on the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale. Both the shifter and the clutch pedal are all by-wire systems and do not directly connect to the transmission.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/12_Cilindri_Manuale_30_e2ce4d2e-273e-4895-ab47-6711c8c9dc33.jpg)

Ferrari, however, is changing this up. Instead of just an inline shifter and paddles behind the steering wheel, it’s offering customers of the 12Cilindri [called the Manuale](https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/auto/ferrari-12cilindri-manuale?ref=carbage.online) that will offer owners a gated shifter and a clutch pedal. You can stall this supercar and can do somewhat of a mis-shift, but both the pedal and the shifter are not connected to its DCT directly. It’s all wires and programming for the 12Cilindri Manuale, but owners will also be limited to just six of the eight gears.

### **Before You Go**

![Yes, both the clutch pedal and the shifter are only connected to the 12Cilindri Manuale by electrical wires. The feeling of both the clutch and the shifter are simulated.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/08/JH-Ferrari167GH--2_624805d7-a3ca-498f-85d2-1ceb29784ed1.jpg)

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### The Camfather, Ed “Isky” Iskenderian. 1921-2026
URL: https://carbage.online/the-camfather-ed-isky-iskenderian-1921-2026/
Last updated: 2026-02-05T04:48:38.000Z
A World War II veteran and innovative valvetrain builder, Ed “Isky” Iskenderian is a legend among hot rodders around the world. The name sparks up images of fast Flathead Fords, engines producing 1-horsepower per cubic inch or better and leading the way hydraulic lifters with the first anti-pump-up lifters. “Mr. Isky” has been making cars fast for over 80-years but has sadly passed away at 104.

### The Move That Sparked His Hot-Rodding Future

Isky wasn’t a hot rodder at birth in 1921, as his Armenian immigrant parents who fled Turkey around 1910 had a vineyard in Tulare, California but frost destroyed their crop. That’s when he and his family moved nearly 200-miles south to Los Angeles – where his father now ran a shoe store – during the very early development period of the hot-rodding culture. Still, he wouldn’t take an interest until around his 12th birthday.

“I didn’t know about hot rods yet,” Isky said to The Shop Mag in 2016\. This publication is a business-to-business magazine for performance shops and businesses. “Around 1933,” he continued in the article, “when I was about 12, I would see older guys driving stripped down Model Ts or ‘Whippets.’” That set him in motion from that point on.

### Isky’s First Hot Rod

In 1939 and attending Polytechnic High School, Isky built his first hot rod, “La Cucaracha.” It was a T-bodied roadster with a Flathead Model T engine, a 177-cubic-inch inline-four cylinder with an L-head (also known as a Flathead). In true, wanna-make-it-fast fashion, he replaced the cam with a hotter version made by another legendary cam grinder, Ed Winfield. The engine also went through two Overhead Valve (OHV) conversions with the Frontenac heads then the George Riley “multi-Flathead.” That’s when he found that it and the Model A and B engines didn’t have the crankshafts strong enough for the power he was making.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/02/LA_Roadster_Show_and_Swap_Pomona_Justin-Banner-132-1-.jpg)

### The Flathead V8

Out those went and in went his first Flathead V8\. With its larger bearings and counterbalanced crankshaft, this engine did far better but still not enough to Isky’s liking. That’s when he installed “Maxi” heads, an F-type cylinder head with overhead exhaust valves, and a Navarro intake manifold. Before installing the Maxi heads, he and Winfield iron-filled and recontoured the combustion chambers. It was around this time that he gained the nickname, “Isky.” “In high school, if your name is long, they shorten it for you,” he told The Shop, “Later, someone said a long name wasn’t good to use on a business, so it became Isky again.” After high school, Ed went to work as an apprentice tool and die maker and continued to build his Model T.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/02/LA_Roadster_Show_and_Swap_Pomona_Justin-Banner-123-1-.jpg)

### More Power

The frame rails were swapped out with a set an Essex version. Then Isky changed to an Edelbrock “slingshot” intake manifold, named because of its “Y” shaped dual-carburetor plenum that looked like a slingshot. At this point, he went to El Mirage Dry Lake for a land speed run and was able to reach 120-MPH. Then he used a set of Jahn’s pistons and in combination of the modified heads, produced a 13:1 compression ratio, a rare thing in its time. This also meant a Vertex magneto and a set of triple Stromberg 97 carburetors. He then found that the Winfield camshaft needed to change and was going to use a Clay Smith cam, but Smith couldn’t produce one in the time Iskenderian wanted. So, Isky decided it was time to try his hand at cam grinding.

### Pacific Service during WWII

Then came the war. He wanted to stay in something fast, so he enlisted with the Army Air Corps and served with the Air Transport Command as a tail gunner. After the end of World War II, Isky came back and wanted to keep building hot rods, but there were so few racing camshaft manufacturers that their times were taxed out. So, Ed bought a used cylindrical grinder and converted it into a universal camshaft grinding machine in 1946.

### The Beginning of Isky Racing Cams

In 1947, Ed started Isky Racing Cams to the delight of land speed, drag, and street racers. However, it wasn’t until his first ad in the second ever issue of Hot Rod Magazine got the attention of NASCAR engine builders on the East Coast. His camshafts produced engines capable of 1-horsepower per cubic inch in Dodge V8 Hemis and 1.3-horsepower per cubic inch in 283 Chevy V8s.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/02/LA_Roadster_Show_and_Swap_Pomona_Justin-Banner-136-1-.jpg)

### Isky Firsts

If you think that computer technology in camshaft design was an 80s or 90s revolution, you’d be wrong. In the 1950s and into the 1960s, Ed became the first ever in the industry to utilize computers in cam designs. This allowed Isky to not only create the 5-Cycle and 505 Magnum profiles but also produce some of the first racing camshafts that would work with hydraulic lifters.

He also created the first ever High-Density Chilled-Iron lifters for Supercharged Dragsters, what we know now as Top Fuel. Self-locking roller tappets, Anti-Pump-Up hydraulic lifters for higher RPMs, both were created by Isky. Do the camshaft kits that include all the components in one package? Isky did it first during the 60s. He was also one of the pioneers of the Specialty Equipment Market Association, SEMA, and was its first president in 1963 and continued there in 1964.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2026/02/37241372_1855492348091804_366286.png)

### Forever the 13-Year-Old Who Loved the Model T Roadster

Ed oversaw the operation of Isky Racing Cams until his death but his sons, Ron and Richard, continue to run the day-to-day of the business in Gardena, California. The modern facility is a four-building complex with over 75 thousand square feet. Even in all that time, in the over 80 years of the business, Ed’s still a hot rodder. During the 2018 LA Roadster Show, I got a rare opportunity to witness his admiration of a car one of his camshafts resides in, the 1926 Mooney/Simkins Special that is featured here. The look in his eyes and the excitement in his voice told me all I needed to know. He was forever that 13-year-old boy that fell in love with the Model T Roadster.
### Shoreline Showdown is a Bye Run to the 2025 Formula Drift Season
URL: https://carbage.online/shoreline-showdown-long-beach-2025-formula-drift-drifting/
Last updated: 2025-10-21T15:56:40.000Z
[With Irwindale Speedway gone](https://carbage.online/shoreline-showdown-replaces-irwindale-speedway-formula-drift/), a new home was made for the final round of the Formula Drift 2025 season. For the first time, the professional slideways drivers would return to where they started with the Shoreline Showdown in Long Beach. But, without the Long Beach Grand Prix, would the city’s residents welcome a standalone motorsports event? From the size of the crowd, it certainly did and they were treated to a rare finish: a newcomer taking home the victory.

### A Rookie Winner

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/10/Carbage-Online-Formula-Drift-Shoreline-Showdown-Long-Beach-57.jpg)

Despite the pressure and unlikelihood, Jack Shanahan [in the Kumho Tire](https://carbage.online/tag/kumho-tires/) BMW 1-Series would take the overall victory at Shoreline Showdown. That victory was far from an easy path as he would face off against Daniel Stuke in the MspeK Performance Nissan S14.9 240SX. Both drivers met once with Shanahan victorious in that battle, but Jack would prove to be the victor again with a consistent run and getting the unanimous vote by the judges. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/10/Carbage-Online-Formula-Drift-Shoreline-Showdown-Long-Beach-41.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/10/Carbage-Online-Formula-Drift-Shoreline-Showdown-Long-Beach-42.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/10/Carbage-Online-Formula-Drift-Shoreline-Showdown-Long-Beach-43.jpg)

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In Top 16, Shanahan and Adam LZ in the Drift HQ BMW E36 3-Series Coupe would face off but the run would end in disaster for LZ. Into the first turn, LZ entered as he normally would, but the right rear of the car drifted too far into the outer zone, resulting in Adam hitting the wall. This instantly stopped Adam’s drift and, with Jack not able to do anything, Shanahan ended up hitting LZ. Adam’s car was too damaged from the initial impact, but Jack’s 1 Series was intact enough to drive back to the pits and take a bye-run into the Great Eight.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/10/Carbage-Online-Formula-Drift-Shoreline-Showdown-Long-Beach-64-1.jpg)

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/10/Carbage-Online-Formula-Drift-Shoreline-Showdown-Long-Beach-73.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/10/Carbage-Online-Formula-Drift-Shoreline-Showdown-Long-Beach-74.jpg)

Next up for Shanahan was Norwegian driver, Simen Olsen in the Kenda Tires Toyota GR Supra. While the great fans from Norway would cheer along Olsen and Aasbo, it was just wasn’t enough to topple the luck of the Irish as Shanahan would get the victory thanks to a far more consistent drive in both his lead and follow runs. He would also face off against Ryan Tuerck in the RainX Toyota GR Corolla. During his follow run, Tuerck would end up hitting Shanahan and led to the Irishman getting the victory against a Formula Drift veteran. This would have set up a huge finale between the impressive young driver, Hiroya Minowa, in the Enjuku Racing Toyota FRS. Unfortunately, the VR38DETT engine showed signs of trouble after besting James Deane in the Final Four.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/10/Carbage-Online-Formula-Drift-Shoreline-Showdown-Long-Beach-75.jpg)

With a five-minute call made, the Jerry Yang Racing team tried to get the FRS revived and were nearly successful. While they beat the clock and Minowa was able to get to the burnout box, the engine expired just before he could get to the start gate. This gave Shanahan the victory and the 2025 Rookie of the Year Honors by finishing sixth in points, 58 points ahead of Connor O’Sullivan.

### Before We Continue

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/10/Carbage-Online-Formula-Drift-Shoreline-Showdown-Long-Beach-2.jpg)

If you enjoy reading this content, seeing the stuff [we’re publishing on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/carbageonline?ref=carbage.online), or just want to support all the creators featured on *Carbage*, we have a new merch store that’s now live. Check it out [with this link and help support](https://shopcarbage.online/?ref=carbage.online) *Carbage* and everyone who makes this website happen. You can also support us [on Patreon at this link](patreon.com/carbage) which offers exclusive rewards for anyone who joins. Outside that, be sure to like our social media channels and [share this and other content we put up](https://carbage.online/social-and-story-links/). Thanks for your support and the story continues below.

### Minowa and LZ Top 5 Points Finish Explained

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/10/Carbage-Online-Formula-Drift-Shoreline-Showdown-Long-Beach-1.jpg)

Minowa’s heartbreak shouldn’t overshadow what he was nearly able to succeed at. As he progressed towards the Finals, Hiroya was in a points comeback to try and secure second in the season. Unfortunately, only a win would have placed him high enough and fellow GT Radial Driver, Matt Field in the Borla Performance Chevrolet C7 Corvette would end up just 20 points ahead, finishing in second place, and Aasbo 10 points ahead and in third at the end of the 2025 season.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/10/Carbage-Online-Formula-Drift-Shoreline-Showdown-Long-Beach-71.jpg)

This put Minowa in fourth place and tied with Adam LZ in points, but Minowa will be credited as ahead thanks to a higher round average finish thanks to having more Great Eight endings. Adam would end up with three Top 16s, one Great Eight, three Final Fours, and one Final in 2025 versus Minowa’s two Top 16s, four Great Eights, and two Finals.

### There Was a Points Battle at Long Beach, But The Champion Was Crowned at Utah

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/10/Carbage-Online-Formula-Drift-Shoreline-Showdown-Long-Beach-12.jpg)

The Pro Championship had been decided back in Utah after James Deane in the Auto Zone Ford Mustang RTR locked it after Fredric Aasbo in the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra was knocked out in Top 32 competition for the second round in a row. This instantly put Deane 90 points ahead of Aasbo and, consequently, dropped the Norwegian to fourth in points. The fight would now be for second place as Hiroya Minowa, Adam LZ, and Matt Field were all within striking distance going into the final round. Another end-of-year battle was brewing as Jack Shanahan, Connor O’Sullivan, Tommy Lemaire, and Austin Matta were still slugging it out to be the 2025 Rookie of the Year. Jack was Top 16 in points after Utah but only ahead of O’Sullivan by 25 points, meaning that race was tight going into the Shoreline Showdown.

### Smoke Proved to be a Problem

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/10/Carbage-Online-Formula-Drift-Shoreline-Showdown-Long-Beach-10.jpg)

One of the unforeseen issues of running Shoreline Showdown was the lack of visibility, particularly as the sun set and drivers with more wheel speed were able to smoke their tires far more. This artificial cloud made visibility hard not only for drivers—a constant challenge for follow drivers, particularly—but also for fans and light winds weren’t helping clear it out. As the course did come back on itself before the finish, tire smoke lingered in the air and blocked the view of the finish. Hopefully, when Formula Drift comes back to Long Beach for round eight, this configuration will be tweaked to reduce that issue. Else, it will ruin the show for fans if there isn’t any wind to help clear the course. Otherwise, it seemed like a huge success that Formula Drift needed to make Long Beach a more permanent home for the final in the future.

### Early Fan Favorite Victory

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/10/Carbage-Online-Formula-Drift-Shoreline-Showdown-Long-Beach-5.jpg)

One of the 12 drivers that would earn their way into the final round was Ryan Litteral, driver of the Sonoco Fuels Nissan S14 240SX. Joining him were other Formula Drift Veterans like Ken Gushi, Vaughn Gittin, Jr, Dan Burkett, and Andy Hately. With four very competent drivers in the field, it was going to be a challenge for Litteral, but he was able to overcome the odds and beat Ken Gushi in the Greddy Performance Toyota GR86\. Rounding out the podium was Vaughn Gittin, Jr, in the Monster Energy Ford Mustang RTR and hot off the official announcement of Ford factory-built 2026 Mustang EcoBoost RTR. Rookie of the Year contender, Connor O’Sullivan in the US Army BMW E46 3-Series Coupe would place fourth, closing that battle to just 19 points between himself and Jack Shanahan.

### A Call to Bring Back Qualifying

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/10/Carbage-Online-Formula-Drift-Shoreline-Showdown-Long-Beach-17.jpg)

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During the 2025 Formula Drift Awards Banquet that happens the Sunday after the final round, James Deane ended his championship acceptance speech with the following: “Bring back qualifying.” The reason it was changed was to speed up a Formula Drift weekend and introduced a seeding format based on finishing position from the previous round. The sentiment to bring back qualifying has been echoed by fans as many feel like it gives those who ranked higher in the previous round the advantage. It also removes a bit of the randomness that qualifying can bring to a Top 32 competition. Formula Drift has already promised that 2026 will bring about changes to the championship, so we’ll need to keep a close eye on developments as we progress to the next season.
### Will the Shoreline Showdown Truly Replace Irwindale for Formula Drift?
URL: https://carbage.online/shoreline-showdown-replaces-irwindale-speedway-formula-drift/
Last updated: 2025-10-17T12:33:21.000Z
For 20 years, Irwindale Speedway was not only “The House of Drift,” but also the final round of the Formula Drift (FD) series. It’s where many got their first taste of competitive drifting in the US, but the Southern California short track ultimately closed its doors in December 2024 and is currently being demolished. This meant that a new final round was needed for the 2025 season and what was revealed was a shock to all. Long Beach would now [not only be the beginning](https://carbage.online/formula-drift-starts-the-2025-season-on-the-streets-of-long-beach/), but also the end of the season. How did it all come together? We spoke to FD president and co-founder, Ryan Sage, to get the story.

### Before We Continue

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/10/Long-Beach--Reimagined-_-Shoreline-Showdown-Official-Sneak-Peek-_-Oct-17---18-0-30-screenshot.png)

Image: [Formula Drift](https://www.formulad.com/?ref=carbage.online)

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### Can You Really Replace a 20 Year Site?

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For so many years, rumors constantly persisted that every final FD round at Irwindale was the last one. When it was rumored again throughout 2024, many brushed it off as if it was the same old story once again. This time, however, Irwindale Speedway management confirmed that the final event in December 2024 would be an all-out celebration and the start of destruction of the legendary racecourse. The news immediately put FD and Ryan in a bind as they essentially lost a track that was a mainstay of the series since 2004\. “Ultimately, losing Irwindale can’t be seen as anything other than a hole that will never be replaced,” said Ryan when we interviewed him about Long Beach replacing Irwindale, “It’s not just because there aren’t many other venues in Southern California, but the legacy and history of the sport is intrinsically tied to that patch on concrete and steel just off the 605.”

While it was devastating, the FD staff were already planning for the inevitable and started searching for a new place for round eight in 2023\. “We knew the term was coming to an end and we also knew that the current lease-holder was thinking about his next steps,” Ryan said, “but it was not until the Summer 2024 that we needed to try and find a viable alternative, that if Irwindale should actually go away, it would possible to have a new course ready [for the 2025 season.](https://carbage.online/2025-formula-drift-championship-halfway-point/)” The major consideration was that the final round not only remained in Southern California, but the replacement also needed the same stature and spectacle of Irwindale to truly be a suitable replacement. That proved to be a needle in a haystack as there just weren’t many other options that could be ready on time.

### Long Beach Steps Up Thanks to a 20 Year Relationship

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That is, until the suggestion of the City of Long Beach sprung up. “It came into question when we were hitting a dead-end everywhere we tried to look,” Sage said, “Of the required criteria, nothing really met those standards. We envisioned announcing the replacement of some of the potential candidates and everything just felt like it was a letdown for the drivers and the public. If we announced X or Y or Z, we envisioned everyone asking: ‘That’s what is replacing the House of Drift?’”

Ryan Sage credits Kevin Wells, competition director of FD, and Andy Luk, director of operations, for helping make Long Beach a viable option. “They were really the driving force behind this because they had gone down to the location and started trying to reimagine round one in that area,” he said, “but in consideration that FD is an overlay on the Long Beach Grand Prix, that means we are the beneficiary of literally millions of dollars of infrastructure and services that includes street closures.” The challenge, according to Sage, was like “getting an F1 car on a Karting budget.”

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Image: [Formula Drift](https://www.formulad.com/?ref=carbage.online)

“When Kevin and Andy measured and looked at the almanac, it was planned around an initial daytime event that would have a sound ordinance,” said Ryan, “They tried to re-envision something distinct and new, but something could also be attainable.” Once a concept was developed, the calls to the city began. Once those three got their voices heard by the city council, the plan began to snowball from there.

Considering that Formula Drift has a long history of a productive event under its belt, getting the City of Long Beach to listen wasn’t a perplexing task. It was the catalyst that helped them prove that running a second motorsports event eight months after the Grand Prix of Long Beach was a worthwhile idea. “Without question as it is impossible to do without the City of Long Beach and the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach (GPALB),” Ryan said, “This is with particular thanks to Tasha Day, the Long Beach manager of special events, as well as Dwight Tanaka and Jim Michaelian of the GPALB. Within the city, there are unbelievably important relationships that supported us at Long Beach Fire Department and Long Beach Police Department. They all know our drivers, how different the lifestyle and passion of a youth athlete is, and how hard everyone works to make a Formula Drift round come together.”

### The Shoreline Showdown Track is Created

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Image: [Formula Drift](https://www.formulad.com/?ref=carbage.online)

Once the idea was approved, it was time to make a proper racecourse layout for round eight, which is titled Shoreline Showdown by Formula Drift. While street closures and impact to traffic flow were required considerations, it also needed to be a compelling competition for fans and drivers alike. The other consideration was that it couldn’t just be a repeat of round one and not just because setting up the same street course would be boring. It just couldn’t be done. “It would be logistically impossible for us to do a city closure of the magnitude the GP does with that section of the course,” said Ryan, “and the surrounding issues created for tenants of the condos, apartments, and businesses with the closure of East Seaside Way and Linden Avenue.”

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Image: [Formula Drift](https://www.formulad.com/?ref=carbage.online)

One feature that will come back from round one will be the Shoreline Drive straight. But unlike the season start drivers will go backwards on that legendary drive for round eight as it will serve as the start and run-up to the first turn. Instead of a hairpin right, it will be a smooth left-hand turn leading into the Seaside Way parking lot that is normally utilized as the car show grounds for round one. Drivers will then transition into a double left hand turn that leads into a much tighter right that creates a hairpin shape. The final left turn will close the run within the parking lot.

### The Pressure is Higher Than Normal for Formula Drift

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Image: [Formula Drift](https://www.formulad.com/?ref=carbage.online)

While Ryan Sage and Formula Drift have a 20-year record with Long Beach, Shoreline Showdown isn’t guaranteed to be the permanent home for round eight. As Ryan Sage told us, “This will make us or break us in a certain sense, and it will either work or it won’t.” If successful, Shoreline Showdown will become only the second motorsports event with a potential no-end tenure in Long Beach. “Or we will tuck our tails and start over again,” said Ryan. “It is quite hard to understand the gravity of the situation if you are a casual bystander.” Formula Drift didn’t start using Long Beach as its first round until after successfully running demos during the Grand Prix of Long Beach and proving it was an event fans wanted. Once Ryan and Formula Drift established themselves, it became a regular round with its own weekend in 2006, which was a monumental achievement for a series that was only two years old at that point.

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First Round track map for reference. Image: [Formula Drift](https://www.formulad.com/?ref=carbage.online)

But still, it was a street course that was already established and part of the Grand Prix. “We are borrowing and overlaying on top of one of the most prestigious, historic and, quite frankly, expensive street racing sites in motorsports history,” said Ryan, “Going from that to doing a weekend by ourselves, without the benefit of the Long Beach Grand Prix while still trying to make it as cool as that, feels crazy and, in a way, it is.” The only other self-hosted motorsports event in Long Beach was the Formula E ePrix held in 2015 and 2016\. While it was an overall popular event, it hasn’t been back since. Considering that it is a series that has the benefit of FIA accreditation and multi-million-dollar budgets, it proves that Formula Drift will potentially achieve the impossible.

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“It’s only even remotely possible because in the City of Long Beach, you have people who absolutely adore motorsports and professional events,” Ryan told us, “The Mayor’s office is an unbelievable supporter of events along with his staff and city departments. Combining that with the love that the GPALB has shown us and the way they have treated us and the sport, all I can say is that entire City of Long Beach are arguably the most pro-drifting, large-body group in the country.” That is a huge commendation being said by Ryan Sage here as the series has toured in 13 different states and went international for three years in Quebec, Canada since formed in 2004\. “The city has done more than anyone to showcase and grow the sport,” said Ryan, “and to honestly believe in a small company and idea when there was really no reason to do that so many years ago. That belief has not waned, it has increased, and it reminds you that what is possible is sometimes bigger than you expected.”
### Holley LS Fest Brought the Best of LS V8s to the Beech
URL: https://carbage.online/holley-ls-fest-2025-east-beech-bend/
Last updated: 2025-09-15T21:38:46.000Z
Tens of thousands of gear heads made the pilgrimage to Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, KY, just down the road from the Corvette factory, to either participate in or bare witness to a grand celebration of GM's venerable power plant in all its variations. With drag racing, autocross, drifting, off-road, burnout contests and a car show spread among the grounds—if you were there and not entertained, you simply weren't trying. From sunup until after sundown, the throaty roar of GM's legendary V8 filled the air for almost three full days, despite some intermittent rain showers on Friday and Saturday.

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It might be an F-150 body, but it's all LS underneath!

### Before We Continue

If you enjoy reading this content, seeing the stuff [we’re publishing on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/carbageonline?ref=carbage.online), or just want to support all the creators featured on *Carbage*, we have a new merch store that’s now live. Check it out [with this link and help support](https://shopcarbage.online/?ref=carbage.online) *Carbage* and everyone who makes this website happen. You can also support us [on Patreon at this link](patreon.com/carbage) which offers exclusive rewards for anyone who joins. Outside that, be sure to like our social media channels and [share this and other content we put up](https://carbage.online/social-and-story-links/). Thanks for your support and the story continues below.

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If it has an engine bay, you can put an LS V8 in it.

### Not Just Hot Rods and Dragsters

Wandering through the car show, one could find an LS-swap in [just about every platform you could think of](https://carbage.online/restorod-synergy-manufacturing-1971-jeepster-commando-jk/). Traditional old-school American cars? By the droves. A Land Rover Defender? Check. Ford F-250? Yep. An '80s Toyota Celica? Why not? There was a good chance that no matter what you drove, one of the dozens of vendors on hand could sell you something to make your LS-powered dreams come true.

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Off the pavement in the [newly revamped off-road course](https://carbage.online/how-do-twin-traction-beams-work/), Ultra4 competition took center stage with Phillip McGilton ultimately taking top honors in the final race of the weekend in the 4400 unlimited class, with Paul Horschel and Bill McGibbon bringing home silver and bronze, respectively.

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Autocross is the most accessible form of motorsports as all you need is enough empty space, some cones, and people to chase them when knocked over.

On the autocross course, competitors in multiple classes ran time attack-style to get the fastest time around the cones. From new C8 Corvettes to vintage square bodies, S-10s to Monte Carlos, the field varied just as wildly as the drag racing staging lanes. Taking home top honors was multi-year winner Danny Popp in a borrowed '25 Corvette E-Ray, with Rob Unser (yes, that Unser family) standing in second place with his Speedway Motors Cobra Kit car. Third place went to Christopher Jensen, piloting his '86 Mazda RX-7 with a smattering of literal Home Depot aero parts.

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Nothing beats the wheels up excitement of quarter-mile drag racing.

Though drag racing is at the heart of LS Fest, the intermittent rain showers Friday and Saturday caused several competition delays and the straight-line shenanigans were forced to call it a day early Friday evening and didn't get to fully resume until late afternoon Saturday. Despite the setbacks, competitors and fans alike remained vigilant and track staff worked tirelessly to dry and prep the track for fierce competition across ten categories, ranging from “run what ya brung” to fully built, seemingly unlimited budget builds.

### Sliding Around the Beech Bend

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The LS V8 has been the top engine of choice among those who live life sideways.

Saturday evening brought the LS Fest Drift Challenge top sixteen competition, an event that is arguably the most popular of the storied weekend. Over 80 drivers registered, just under 50 showed up, and after having completed the Top 32 competition earlier Saturday in the rain, drivers and fans were excited for a complete smoke-show in dry conditions. Talent from grassroots regulars [to Formula Drift and Prospec series drivers](https://carbage.online/2025-formula-drift-championship-halfway-point/) ensured a diverse competition field, with 2024 champion and FD driver Connor O'Sullivan back to defend his title. Regulars and fan favorites Dirk Stratton, Jonathan Nerren, Jonathan Hurst, and Hooman Rahimi made sure no driver had an easy path to victory.

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Raising Hell and Praising Dale is the motto of Taylor Hull as of recently.

Taylor Hull, who last won the 2018 and 2019 drift challenge, emerged on top once again but the win was anything but gifted. Piloting one of the only GM G-body cars in the sport, complete with a Dale Earnhardt-themed livery with the famous stylized “3” on the doors, the former FD driver went to all-out war against current Prospec driver Brian Hoplamazian and his Nissan S13 in the finals. In the first battle of the finals, Hull's follow run was all but flawless and he stuck like glue to Hoplamazian's door from outer zone one until the end. When they switched positions, Hoplamazian dove too deep transitioning to outer zone two and straightened out. He caught up to Hull coming into the final turn in another dive, trying to out-intimidate the Intimidator imitator and making contact, but it was too little too late for the judges who had decided the winner.

### Down Unda Burnouts

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It may not be drifting, but the Burnout Wars were on fire, literally.

As if everyone in attendance hadn't inhaled enough tire smoke for a weekend, after the drift competition was over the Burnout Wars competition started. Arguably this was the rowdiest event of the weekend. Nearly 40 competitors, with several from Australia in their RHD Holdens, lined up to absolutely punish their engines and tires. The format was simple: each had two minutes to enter the burnout area aggressively, pop their tires, and then drive off the pad. Many kept on banging the rev limiter until headers glowed an eerie red, clutch plates liquefied, flames shot out the exhaust or the vehicle itself was on fire.

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Yes, it really was that insane inside the burnout box.

It was, perhaps, the truest torture test of machine endurance of the event. Texas Speed & Performance handled the judging, with Kyle Douglas and Ricky Bass taking first and second, while Craig Bailey, Seth Ritter and Kevin Smith tied for third.

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It was an exciting end to LS Fest East, but Mopar and Ford action comes later for Holley and Beech Bend Park!

It is obvious, but as expansive as LS Fest was for 2025, it only stands to grow larger in 2026\. For those who can't be bothered with the LS engine, Holley also has [the Moparty for the Mopar crowd](https://www.moparty.com/?ref=carbage.online) and Ford Fest [putting all-things Blue Oval](https://www.fordfest.com/?ref=carbage.online) front and center. You can catch all these events in 2026 at Beech Bend Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
### We’re Halfway There: The 2025 Formula Drift Season, Thus Far
URL: https://carbage.online/2025-formula-drift-championship-halfway-point/
Last updated: 2025-06-20T10:00:39.000Z
With Old Bridge Township Raceway approaching, the 2025 Formula Drift season has officially entered its halfway point. To see how it’s shaping up, we spoke to current points leader, Fredric Aasbo in the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra, and Formula Drift judge, Reese Marin, to get their thoughts from their unique perspectives.

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Before the start of the 2025 season, Fredric Aasbo was seen as one of the potential championship favorites coming [into the first round](https://carbage.online/formula-drift-starts-the-2025-season-on-the-streets-of-long-beach/). “At this level of competition,” said Reese Marin, one of the two permanent judges for this season, “I would say that Aasbo, James Dean and Aurimas ‘Odi’ Bakchis are currently guys that get brought up but there’s a lot of young talent that I think is on the come up and I’m looking forward to see how it all unfolds.”

The only catch for Aasbo is that he hadn’t won Long Beach since 2018\. That didn’t deter him from going into the first round of the 2025 season with some confidence. “Long Beach is the event where we get to see how we measure up against the field after the off-season,” Aasbo said, “It’s where people have been working on their cars and driving and we don't know exactly what they're bringing to the season. We always go in with the best package we can and hope to be competitive.” And competitive he was, striking first but not before getting into a One More Time battle against James Deane—driver of the Autozone [Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5D](https://carbage.online/2025-ford-mustang-rtr-spec-5d-convertible-t-pain-drift-car/)—in the finals. “James and I have known each other for a long time,” he said, “and we enjoy battling each other. I think that brings out the best driving from both of us because we both know there’s no holding back.”

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I asked Reese if everyone’s performance, especially the One More Time finals at Long Beach changed his mind on who was on top in his mind. “No,” he replied, “I would say the one more time battles that we’ve seen with Frederick and James just goes to show you that at this level of competition, it’s literally neck and neck and it comes down to who is going to make more of the small errors that accumulate to a loss.”

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Round Two at Road Atlanta threw [one of the first curve balls](https://carbage.online/formula-drift-round-2-road-atlanta-georgia/) in the 2025 season thanks to rain just before and during the finals. Even so, it seemed that Deane and Aasbo just couldn’t be phased out of their competitiveness and performance. Even so, facing Deane once again, he had to do something to change his game plan, right? “I don’t think of it as “having” to face James Deane,” Aasbo replied, “I think of it as ‘*getting*’ to face James Deane. Whenever the bracket stacks up that way, we know it’s going to be a very fun fight and we’ll both be driving at 100 percent commitment.”

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While it didn’t go his way, Aasbo and Deane remained tied heading into the third round at Orlando Speed World, surely even Reese could feel that this was going to be an Aasbo and Deane fight to the end, right? Not exactly, and that comes thanks to his own experience with DriftIndy, “I know sometimes it’s very easy to say that someone could potentially have a dominant year,” he replied, “but over the years DriftIndy has showed me that there is a little bit of luck that goes into this and, at any event, at any given time, it could be anybody’s game.”

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Turns out we would all be thrown for a loop by Florida’s weather and [the first permanent oval for the 2025 season](https://carbage.online/2025-formula-drift-orlando-speedworld-florida/). First, James Deane was knocked out in the Top 16 while Aasbo was able to make it as far as the Great Eight before facing the youngest winner in Formula Drift history, Hiroya Minowa in the Enjuku Racing Toyota GR86\. The kid has been proving that he’s a future champion and shouldn’t be taken lightly, which even Aasbo agreed with by saying, “We learn from every battle and it’s exciting to have a new talent like Hiroya working his way through the ranks. We know he works very hard to improve his skills, and his talent and work ethic inspire us to work just as hard and try new things to continually up our game.”

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After looking at the results from Orlando Speed World, Reese’s options on how the season has been going hasn’t changed, despite the early knockouts by Deane and Aasbo. “Like I said,” Reese replied, “with this sport it’s anyone’s game and sometimes the most unlikely competitor can take it to the top.” However, he did conclude that Castro and Minowa would be the targets for everyone at Old Bridge Township Raceway in Englishtown, New Jersey. “They have the momentum from being on the podium at the last round and that confidence is a huge benefactor going into this round in New Jersey,” Reese explained.

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For Aasbo, however, there isn’t a target on anyone’s back in particular going forward to Englishtown or the next four rounds afterwards, “The championship will go to the team that does the best this year to bring a consistently competitive package to the track,” he replied, “All we can do is focus on that: working well together as a team.” If this were another racing series, the thought of a teammate defeating you while in the middle of a close championship is a hard one to swallow for them. In some unfortunate cases, this has led to a dreaded term: “team orders.” Fortunately, Aasbo and Papadakis Racing teammate, Ryan Tuerck in the RainX Toyota Corolla GR, don’t believe in laying down even for a teammate in a championship battle. “No matter the stakes,” replied Aasbo, “Papadakis Racing doesn’t believe in team orders. It’s always a fair fight when Ryan and I line up against each other.”

While Englishtown is on everyone’s mind, there is a round coming up that Reese is looking forward to. It’s not World Wide Technology Raceway in Saint Louis, Missouri, nor will it be Evergreen Speedway or Utah. “To be completely honest,” he replied, “this season I’m looking forward to the last round because it’s going to be a new layout and I believe that is just exciting and will put everyone on an even playing field for that round.”

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That’s also a round that could play into the hands of experienced drivers who have time behind the wheel of their vehicles. It will also play in the hands of drivers who regularly compete in widely changing tracks across the world like both Aasbo and Deane do. That means it’s very likely that those two drivers will face each other again and Aasbo knows what’s at stake. “When you’re lining up against a four-time champion,” said Aasbo, “you know you’ve got to leave it all on the track.”

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### 2025 Formula Drift Round 3 at Orlando: It’s a Young Man’s Game
URL: https://carbage.online/2025-formula-drift-orlando-speedworld-florida/
Last updated: 2025-06-05T11:10:10.000Z
Heading into the third round of the 2025 Formula Drift Pro Championship at Orlando Speedworld, the scene was beginning to look a lot like a two-driver race. James Deane and Fredric Aasbo were the top two, swapping their order between them. With [rain in the forecast again](https://carbage.online/formula-drift-round-2-road-atlanta-georgia/), the stage was heavily in favor of these two wet track masters but somebody didn’t tell them as they entered the first oval-based track of the season.

### Seeded Qualifying

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First up was settling the 12 open spots for Round 3 and mostly consisted of the same drivers from Round 2, but the podium was far different. For the first time in 2025, Daigo Saito in the Enjuku Racing Toyota GR86 would finally gain a podium spot in seeded competition. Since third place isn’t contested, he and Tommy Lemaire—in the XPN Chevrolet Corvette—finishing positions would be decided on their points ranking and why Saito is credited with third. However, both drivers add six points to their 2025 championship standings.

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The top spots were taken by Jack Shanahan in the Kumho Tire BMW 1-Series and Federico Sceriffo in the Pennzoil Ferrari 599 GTB. While Shanahan is no stranger to a podium, this was the first time that Sceriffo would put the Ferrari into the field in 2025\. When the seeding finals were done, Shanahan would just edge out Sceriffo giving the Irishman 12 points and Sceriffo a much needed 9 points towards his 2025 season.

Other drivers gaining three points were Dan Burkett, Derek Madison, and Rudy Hansen while Ryan Litteral, Andy Hateley, Nick Noback, and Austin Matta all didn’t receive points but qualified for the show. The lone driver to miss round three was Connor O’Sullivan as he was the odd man out and he and Matta just had the opposite experience versus round two.

### Sorry for the Brief Interruption

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### Huge Improvements and History, All in One Round

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After their spectacular performance in round two, expectations were high that James Deane in the Autozone Ford Mustang RTR and Fredric Aasbo in the Rockstar Energy Drift Toyota GR Supra would once again dominate the round. Unfortunately, Deane’s exit came in Top 16 when he faced off against Rome Charpentier in the Garagistic BMW 1-Series. Rome came out swinging in his run against Deane and put his BMW right on the door of the RTR on the first outside zone. Deane had a great transition through “Power Alley,” the straight between the first outer on the bank and second outer on the inner oval. But that gap was quickly filled up again by Rome right at the tail end of the outer zone and at the finish. When Rome took his lead run, Deane didn’t look like his characteristic self as he lost ground on initiation on the bank but made it back up before the end of the first outer zone. Through Power Alley, Rome started a gap against the Mustang and Deane just couldn’t recover proximity and that helped give Charpentier the win.

This early exit meant that Deane would only gain 10 points in the round, but he’s currently second in points at 100 thanks to his performance in the previous two rounds. Charpentier would face off against Matt Field in the Borla Performance Chevrolet Corvette in the Great Eight after Field took out Dan Burkette in the RAD Performance Toyota Supra and Adam LZ in the Drift HQ BMW 3-series. Field would also take out Charpentier on his way to the Final Four.

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Jhonnattan Castro and his Metaldom Toyota GR86 have been steadily improving [thanks to changes made between round one](https://carbage.online/formula-drift-starts-the-2025-season-on-the-streets-of-long-beach/) and two, going from a Top 16 exit to a Fourth Place finish at Road Atlanta. It looks like additional changes have been found and this round has been his best since entering Formula Drift in 2012\. After defeating Ryan Litteral, Ken Gushi, and Branden Sorensen, Castro would face off against Matt Field in the Final Four. Field didn’t make it easy for Castro as they went to a One More Time (OMT) before giving Castro the victory and his entry into the Finals.

This finish would credit Field with fourth place as he would be knocked off the podium thanks to Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis in the Feal Suspension Nissan 240SX having been seeded higher than Field. Regardless of who won between Odi and Hiroya, Field was guaranteed a Fourth Place finish as both drivers on the right side of the bracket were higher seeded than him. Odi took out Andy Hateley, Simen Olsen, and Chris Forsberg in his run to the final podium step.

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Before Odi could be credited for Third Place, he needed to run against Hiroya Minowa in the Enjuku Racing Toyota GT86 in the finals. The 15-year-old phenom was seeded in seventh place and started his run to the finals with Dmitriy Brutskiy, Conor Shanahan, and eventually faced off against the points leader, Fredric Aasbo. With Aasbo leading first, Minowa put his GT86 near the door of GR Supra of Aasbo on the first outer zone. Coming out of the Power Alley, Minowa pulled right up to the door of Aasbo and just tapping the door this time coming out of the second outer and into the finish. With this run, Hiroya Minowa put everyone on notice that he’s ready to bring a real fight to his Formula Drift season.

On Minowa’s lead run, Aasbo quickly closed proximity to the younger driver on the first outer zone, but Hiroya just started to pull a gap by the first clipping point of the Power Alley. Much like Deane, Aasbo couldn’t keep up once that gap opened and Minowa powered his way to a victory and set his right rear tire on fire by the end of the run. With his Great Eight exit, Aasbo only secured 20 points and only 10 more than Deane, just barely keeping Aasbo in the lead of the 2025 Championship with 110 points. After this amazing run against Aasbo, Minowa would get his victory against Odi with a unanimous decision.

### A Spectacular Final Round

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And now we were on track to have a first-time winner at Orlando Speedworld. While he’s been in the series since 2012, Castro has yet to podium in his career and even if he loses, it will be his best finish in his 13-year career. Minowa, however, had several podium finishes in his rookie season in 2024\. I keep calling him a phenom, but the kid has the record of a champion and don’t be surprised if he ends up being a contender for the 2025 Formula Drift championship. Regardless, this Final was a fight between two very hungry drivers that are looking to get their first 2025 win in both the season and at Orlando Speedworld. With a Fourth Place seeding, Castro would lead in their first run.

It was a bit of a false start as a cone was knocked down by Castro at the start gate. With a quick reset, Castro went into the bank tight to the wall along outer zone one but Minowa wasn’t fare behind. Through the transition of the Power Alley and Minowa keep right on the bumper and back to the door of Castro and stayed there as, once again, Minowa’s right rear tire lit up.

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Swapping places, Minowa started by running his bumper against the wall while Castro struggled to get up to it on the first outer zone. This would give the early advantage to the young driver as high tire would once again catch fire into the Power Alley, but Castro didn’t give up and pulled wheel-to-wheel at the front clipping point. By the time both drivers transitioned to the inner oval, Minowa pulled a two-car gap against Castro and remained that far ahead to finish his run. That was all it took to give Minowa the win and become the youngest winner in Formula Drift history. We shouldn’t count out Castro’s effort, at the same time, as he has pulled off an amazing turnaround in just three rounds. Much like Minowa, don’t be surprised to see another podium for Castro in the very near future.

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/06/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-3-Orlando-Speedworld-Florida-2.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/06/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-3-Orlando-Speedworld-Florida-3.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/06/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-3-Orlando-Speedworld-Florida-5.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/06/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-3-Orlando-Speedworld-Florida-6.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/06/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-3-Orlando-Speedworld-Florida-8.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/06/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-3-Orlando-Speedworld-Florida-23.jpg)

For now, however, Minowa is proving his benefactors right as he trails Fredric Aasbo by just 30 points for the 2025 Championship and sits in third place. Equally far behind is Jhonnattan Castro as he moves up to fourth place. Odi Bakchis rounds out the top five in points but tied with the former two drivers. With a victory and high placements in the previous two rounds, Toyota holds the lead in the Auto Cup with 200 points. Nissan trails back by only 28 points in second and BMW is sitting in third at 70 points behind. For the Tire Cup, Kenda remains in the lead thanks to its higher finishes overall from the previous two rounds with a total of 202 points. GT Radial is currently second and trailing by only 22 points and Nitto Tire sits in third only 32 points behind Kenda. [Kumho Tire is fourth](https://carbage.online/making-tires-in-the-age-of-advanced-automation/) with only 61 points in total.

The next round of the 2025 Formula Drift Championship is at the former dragstrip that’s now a drifting complex known as Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey. This [takes place June 19th through the 20th with tickets on sale now](https://fd.torkhub.com/event/381609/tickets?ref=carbage.online).
### What is an Alloy Wheel and How are They Made?
URL: https://carbage.online/what-is-alloy-wheel-cast-flow-formed-forged/
Last updated: 2026-07-16T04:59:55.000Z
**The Quick Answer:**  
**Cast Wheels**: Made by pouring molten aluminum into a mold. They are affordable but brittle, meaning they can crack under heavy impact.

**Flow-Formed Wheels**: Start as a casting, but the barrel is heated and stretched with hydraulic rollers. This aligns the aluminum’s grain structure, making the barrel significantly stronger and lighter than a standard cast wheel.

**Forged Wheels**: Compressed from a solid block of aluminum under massive heat and pressure (typically a 10,000-ton press). They are incredibly dense and light, allowing them to bend under severe impact rather than shatter.

Whenever you look over a specification and equipment sheet of that next new or used car you’re looking at buying, you’ll find a callout for “alloy wheels.” If you’re not dedicated to the automotive industry, you probably wonder just what the heck are they? The look like aluminum wheels, but they are always listed as “alloy.” Are they really the same or are they different? If you’re wondering about that and how those wheels are made, then this is the tech dive for you.

### Alloy Wheels, Aluminum Wheels, What Gives?

![The Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss and the Chevrolet Silverado EV ZR2 Concept](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-18.jpg)

Image: Chevrolet

When you see the term “alloy wheels,” generally speaking these are aluminum wheels on most cars, trucks, or SUVs you’re shopping for. An alloy is simply a mixture of metals to create a better material by taking advantage of the positive properties (usually) of the metals used. Alloy metal isn’t limited to just aluminum, though, and there are other alloys used throughout your vehicle like the stainless steel used for the exhaust piping, titanium where maximum lightness is required, [and bronze bushings used in a variety of places](https://www.ggbearings.com/en/why-choose-ggb/faq/bearings-faq/why-choose-ggb/faq/why-use-bronze-bushings?ref=carbage.online) where slow rotation and movement don’t require ball bearings.

There was another alloy metal once used in the production of car wheels and that was magnesium—commonly referred to as “mag wheels.” Magnesium isn’t used much in the wheel market due to the cost of forging and the cost of this lightweight metal alloy, especially when compared to aluminum. Older mag wheels (and magnesium in general) were also easy to catch fire, but those issues have been solved for many decades. Solved to the point to be used as engine blocks, brake calipers, and even in the cabin of the aircraft you take to fly across country. There’s even magnesium parts that make up your phone that you’re probably reading this story from. High-performance wheel maker, Dymag, were once known for their magnesium wheels on Lola and Reynard Indy race cars and various racing motorcycles but [have recently moved on to carbon and carbon hybrid wheels](https://carbage.online/carbon-wheels-dymag-partnering-aim/).

### How are Cast Alloy Wheels Made (and Are They Safe)?

![The Enkei Compe is part of their Classic Series that is engineered to pass their stringent Spec-E testing, requiring 20 percent more cycles than the Japanese Light Alloy (JWL) standard.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-22.jpg)

Image: Enkei Wheels

There are three processes used in the manufacturing of alloy wheels. The first is the simplest and typically the cheapest is casting. If you’ve ever made a shaped cookie or cake, you’re sort of familiar with the process. You melt aluminum down to its viscous state and simply pour that molten metal alloy into a shaped mold. Once sufficiently cooled, a manufacturer like Enkei Wheels will take that formed wheel and machine away flash—the metal that happened to ooze out of the mold—add features like logos and undercuts, face and set the backspacing (or offset, depending on who you talk to) and drill out the lug pattern. After this, the wheel is sent to be powder coated or painted. Sometimes, certain wheel designers will option to further machine features into the wheels and polish these areas to create a polished aluminum finish to contrast against the wheel color. OEMs like to do this quite often with “black and machined” wheels.

### What is Flow Forming and How Does It Differ From Casting?

![The Enkei Wheels PF06 is manufactured using Enkei's MAT process machine stretching the barrel of a flow-formed aluminum alloy wheel.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-27.jpg)

Image: Enkei Wheels

The next process is relatively new in terms of manufacturing but is a mixture of casting and forging to a degree. This [is known as flow forming](https://enkei.com/engineering/?ref=carbage.online) and it starts with a cast molded into the general shape of the wheel and the fully formed face (minus the machining work). A forming tool is pressed into the area known as the barrel of the wheel and forms it out using enormous amounts of pressure and many passes to not stress the material while forming. This forming process draws out the aluminum and creates a more rigid form without making it harder. A harder metal is usually more brittle and easily breaks apart, something you don’t want from the part of your car dealing with potholes and other road imperfections daily. The reason flow forming makes a more rigid barrel is it takes the chaotic looking grains you’ll see at the microscopic level from the cast metal and forms them into longer, conforming grains. Once the barrel is formed, the wheel is finished just as a cast wheel is.

(This independent, BS-free research is funded entirely by our readers [on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online). No corporate sponsors, ever.)

### Why Are Fully Forged Wheels So Expensive?

![Volk Racing, manufactured by Rays Wheels, are Japanese-manufactured forged aluminum wheels that meet some of the highest standards for wheel manufacturing, including abusive track day use.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-9.jpg)

Image: Mackin Industries

Finally, we come to the strongest and most rigid manufacturing process for your wheels: forging. This process is as old and relatively unchanged since the bronze and steel ages. Most [of the change comes in how we smash these alloys to create](https://www.tfgusa.com/metal-forging-processes-methods/?ref=carbage.online) the strong, lightweight wheels race teams clamor for. Rather than rely on a strong person slamming a hammer down onto the metal, machines now do the hammering. But the result is still the same, forging not only forms the billet into the shape of the wheel but also takes those microscopic chaotic grains that make up the alloy and lengthens them out and conforms them to the same direction. Forging makes an alloy wheel strong enough that less material is needed when compared to casting and flow forming and that results in a much lighter wheel than either.

![Due to Rays Wheel's high standards of wheel manufacturing and testing, forged wheels like the Volk Racing GT090 can have additional light weighting techniques like these machined holes in its spokes.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-10.jpg)

Image: Mackin Industries

Once the forging process is complete, these wheels are finished with machining work—including undercuts and further material removal for further weight savings—and then sent to be powder coated or painted. Again, some additional beauty work can be performed after powder coat or paint to bring about the bare aluminum to be polished and cleared over.

The one disadvantage to forging is the cost. Where a set of cast aluminum wheels might sell for a few hundred dollars—sometimes less than $1,000 for a set of four—a single forged wheel can cost a $900 to $1,500 dollars apiece for something you can get from Volk Racing, and high-end, super lightweight forged centerlock racing wheels can range from $9,000 [to as much as $20,000 for a set](https://www.carscoops.com/2025/02/bmw-ms-new-centerlock-wheels-cost-almost-the-same-as-a-used-e46-m3/?ref=carbage.online).  
  
During my time working [with Mackin Industries](https://mackin-ind.com/?ref=carbage.online)—dealing directly with Rays and Yokohama Advan wheels—I regularly saw the real-world performance data on these processes. While a flow-formed wheel offers a great middle-ground for a street car, track-day abuse is where the grain structure of a truly forged wheel proves its worth.

### Are Alloy Wheels Worth It?

![The Volk Racing CE28RT are the forged wheel standard for motorsports enthusiasts.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-5.jpg)

Image: Mackin Industries

When it comes to wheels, very few steel wheels match the stunning looks of even some OEM cast alloy wheels. You also can’t beat the weight savings an alloy wheel has over steel and that means a reduction in both rotational mass and unsprung weight for maximum performance from your car, if you care about such a thing. There is an argument that the weight of an alloy wheel will allow for better mileage over a steel wheel, as well, though the cost savings in gas or diesel will take a long time to recuperate from your alloy wheel purchase. A steel wheel will be stronger than a cast wheel, but it’s hard to beat the strength to weight of a proper flow formed or forged aluminum wheel. Even many off-road racing teams are utilizing flow formed and forged aluminum wheels while smashing into rocks and boulders in Ultra4 and Trophy Truck racing. If alloy wheels were a significant weak point, these teams wouldn’t bother.

If your daily driver comes with alloys from the factory or is equipped with them when you purchase it used, changing over to steel wheels won’t offer any benefits and may (***may***) be a deficit in your pocketbook in both the cost of buying a set and losing out in fuel economy, however small that might be. Alloy wheels also deal with salt and other forms of corrosion much better than steel wheels, especially newer alloys made with modern materials.

![For those looking for a classic style, but want to retain a forged wheel strength and weight advantage, the Yokohama Advan GT offers a five-spoke design and can better accommodate larger brake systems with its GT Premium variant.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-1.jpg)

Image: Mackin Industries

If you’re looking to upgrade, you’ll want to consider what you’re willing to trade off and your budget. If you can splurge on a set of forged aluminum wheels, go for it—cost is the only downside here. If your car already has alloy wheels and you’re looking to shave time off your lap or quarter-mile ETs, you’re better off starting with a set of tires as your modification here. There are multiple improvements that will immediately be felt and shown on the timing sheets as better rubber on the road will lead to increased forward grip, lateral grip around corners, and more bite when hitting the brakes. After that, then maybe think about your wheels, but there might still be better choices before going with a set of forged alloys, especially when considering the cost of those wheels.

![High quality wheel spacers, like those made by Project Kics, are often made from forged aluminum and machining to the correct bolt patter or conversion. They also offer plenty of strength that equal the best forged wheels available.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-13.jpg)

Image: Mackin Industries

But, man, it’s hard to argue against the change in looks a set of alloys can bring to a car, truck or SUV. If that’s your focus, find a wheel that fits both your vehicle, budget and taste. If you happen to be slightly unlucky, your wheel choice might be limited due to fitment, bolt pattern, or both. We’ll speak about spacers and bolt pattern converters in another story, but when properly installed ***AND*** maintained, these items are safe. It is best to find a wheel that fits and to not rely on those items, especially if the spacer drastically changes the wheel offset/backspacing. If you are someone who just wants to slap something on and forget it, spacers and bolt pattern converters are **especially** not for you.

### Alloy Wheels are a Great Choice

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-2.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-4.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-7.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-11.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-17.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-19.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-21.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-25.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-26.jpg)

Again, it doesn’t matter what vehicle you drive from a slammed-out drift car to a jacked-up off-roading pickup to a daily driving SUV, alloy wheels are a great item for them all. They can improve a vehicles look, reduce its mass, or can even do both at the same time. When you see “alloy wheels” on the window sticker or description of your next car, don’t fear them. You’re getting something good for your new daily ride.

### Before You Go

![The Volk Racing G25 offers motorsports strength in its forged aluminum construction, but the timeless looks of a split five-spoke wheel with a diamond cut rim edge.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Alloy-Wheels-Aluminum-Forged-Cast-Flow-Formed-8.jpg)

Image: Mackin Industries

If this guide helped you make sense of wheel metallurgy or saved you from buying a set of cheap replica "rotary-forged" wheels, consider backing the project on Patreon.

*Carbage.Online* is 100% independent. We don't take money from wheel manufacturers to write biased reviews, and we don't run annoying pop-up ads. We are funded strictly by fellow wrenchers and enthusiasts.

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### Fix a Tesla Cybertruck with Glue? How Structural Adhesives Repair Cars, Trucks, and SUVs
URL: https://carbage.online/how-structural-adhesives-repair-cars-trucks-suvs/
Last updated: 2025-05-26T10:00:42.000Z
While it may seem wild that something like [the Tesla Cybertruck and other modern vehicles](https://carbage.online/first-look-2027-slate-auto-electric-truck-suv/) use glue to not only repair damaged frame castings, but adhesives are also used to manufacture this heavy pickup truck. It’s not the only vehicle on the road today that uses structural adhesives in both manufacturing and repair, but gluing structural parts like your unibody frame isn’t a new technique, either. This is especially true for a frame or part that may [use incompatible materials or composites to create it](https://carbage.online/carbon-wheels-dymag-partnering-aim/).

### Before we go Further

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-1.jpg)](https://www.youtube.com/@JerryRigEverything?ref=carbage.online)

Image: JerryRigEverything on YouTube

As an independent automotive media source, *Carbage.Online* relies on a combination of sources to pay for staff, buying equipment for testing, travel, and more. While turning off your ad blocker is an immense help, an even greater one [is donating to our Patreon](https://patreon.com/carbage?utm%5Fmedium=unknown&utm%5Fsource=join%5Flink&utm%5Fcampaign=creatorshare%5Fcreator&utm%5Fcontent=copyLink). For as little as a $1 per month, you’ll gain access to exclusive stories, opinion pieces, and other features not found here or on our YouTube channel. One of the features you gain access to at this level are comments on these stories that go live on the site. Support our independent work, reduce our need for ads, and let’s all build this site into an amazing collection of automotive tech and motorsports.

### The Cybertruck isn’t the First or Only Vehicle with an Aluminum Structure

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-29-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-30-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-32.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-24-1.jpg)

While there have been a few one-offs and technical demonstrations of aluminum frames, the credit for the first ever mass-market aluminum structural unibody goes to the 1994 Audi A8\. The US didn’t receive it until 1996, but the all-aluminum unibody was [part of Volkswagen Groups D2 platform and marketed as](https://www.audi-technology-portal.de/en/body/aluminium-bodies/audi-spaceframe-en?ref=carbage.online) the “Audi Space Frame.” Despite the use of aluminum, the A8 was offered in a standard wheelbase 113.5-inch and long wheelbase (LWB) 118.5-inch versions, of which the latter gave an additional 5 inches of legroom for the rear passengers. This same unibody technology was also applied to the 1996 S8, the high-performance version of the A8, and even saw use in the R8 LMS racecar.

### Yes, You Can Weld Aluminum, but There’s a Catch

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-19.jpg)

Image: Wikipedia Commons

Before we get into the “gluing,” you probably have a question. “Why wouldn’t you want to weld aluminum alloy wheels and structures together in the first place?” While that might seem like an obvious procedure, welding aluminum has issues in the mass manufacturing world of building automobiles and it’s not the complexity of having a robot weld parts in various lines and contortions. It’s also not that evident when looking at a finished welded aluminum part, either. At the atomic level, welding and the heat generated creates hardened metal. While that sounds like a great idea, hardened metals can be more brittle and break easier than the metal you started with. This can be especially true with aluminum and, in something as important as your vehicles frame, you don’t want that happening as that’s the only thing holding important parts like the body, suspension, brakes, and other critical parts to your car.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-23.jpg)

There’s an additional issue, too. While you might want aluminum in some places, you might want or need steel, a different [and un-weldable alloy of aluminum](https://esab.com/us/nam%5Fen/esab-university/articles/what-are-unweldable-aluminum-alloys/?ref=carbage.online), or even a composite like carbon fiber as part of the unibody structure. Even that first A8 and the R8 both didn’t completely use aluminum in key structures of their chassis. What do you do then? You could rivet those metals together, but that doesn’t work so well on composites and adds complexity and costs to the manufacturing process. Could bolt them together and that might be better for composites as you can add a threaded insert to it, but that again adds complexity and cost to the assembly. What exactly are you left with? Adhesives.

### What is a Structural Adhesive?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-33.jpg)

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Before you start worrying about the glue coming apart because the first thing you think of are super glues and the PVA glues from your childhood, we’re talking about a whole other level of adhesives. At the basic level, they work and achieve the same thing: bonding two materials together. What exactly does that mean, though. The surface of a material you’re looking at isn’t as smooth as it feels. From the microscopic to even the atomic and sub-atomic levels, the surface is jagged and grooved. A metal or plastic may feel smooth after a polish or sanding, but all you’ve done is worn away or burnished those edges down to be so small that your fingers can’t tell anymore. Adhesives work with those small grooves and edges and mechanically lock in and bond to that surface and the other surface you’re trying to glue together.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-6.jpg)

Image: JerryRigEverything on YouTube

While your favorite school glue will hold paper together and you can assemble some amazing models together with cyanoacrylate (CA aka super) glues, these alone won’t provide enough bonding, or the dried glue will simply just not be strong enough for load bearing. This is the difference between those glues and the structural adhesive used to bond aluminum and other structures within your car, truck, or SUV. Many companies [utilize many different chemicals like polyurethanes, cyanoacrylates, phenolics and many others](https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/structural-adhesiv?ref=carbage.online) to create these super bonds and nearly all come as a two-part system that is mixed only when you’re ready to tie the two materials together. Some structural adhesives will cure over time while others require specific heat, humidity, and even exposure to ultraviolet light—it all depends on what chemicals were used to create them.

### The JerryRigEverything Cybertruck Repair

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-18.jpg)

Image: JerryRigEverything on YouTube

What was great about Zach Nelson, [better known as *JerryRigEverything*](https://jerryrigeverything.com/?ref=carbage.online), getting access to document the repair to his Tesla Cybertruck frame was introducing his audience to a process that is common within the automotive repair industry, but is otherwise unknown to the average person. It opens people’s eyes to just how amazing engineers are in our world that help create our vehicles. It also shows that auto repair is more than just turning wrenches and is a huge world of STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathmatics.

It was a huge example of how strong structural adhesives are that are used to repair our vehicles. While rivets are used during the repair process, those rivets are not structurally sound enough to support the loads and impacts that frame might see, they are used to secure the two pieces of metal together as the adhesive cures. Proof of that was in the test that Zach did that didn’t use any rivets and only the adhesive.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-35.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-21.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-22.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-26.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-27.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-28.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-29.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Structural-Adhesives-Bonding-Gluing-Tesla-Cybertruck-Audi-A8-R8-Honda-Acura-NSX-31.jpg)

Utilizing [the adhesive process to install the repair structures](https://service.tesla.com/docs/Cybertruck/BodyRepair/BodyRepairProcedures/en-us/GUID-0611074E-4F3C-417E-86AB-5BBC588393CC.html?ref=carbage.online) on his Cybertruck, Zach made a two-piece shackle using a 2.5-inch diameter round stock of aluminum and [the two-part Parker Fusor 2098 adhesive called out](https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Fusor-Structural-Adhesive-FUS-2098/dp/B01N7D4QRH?crid=1BTGGXOJI9FB0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xRGLd2sn3IVRXZwC-CC81309Z2vPsCDmSMtzDUV9l2eMUaG6-7A5Ohpfzp7dKfObAsBYOO8wc4xjm2c5s-0mcUxQBCMAkkf-pRDQWfjN9axV5yZMYWbFifFJGwpLCQ3aI4N9v3TS0N2QHNo%5FSmLTlLXrNoNFUkhjBdHo5yWjHdKqRuCFUv8t%5FZt4ST7Kkt%5F62qWOZymnvBmy32iRlPGPayKuAQNHN2DxU-%5FZM4VvSiA3mk1fBN1c5qBT7ojVWB16ALQ1xacQl1bKMz-ivq1ZgYoAiyItdt5g-SMlCPnc70o.md7fM48onmppwIrp%5FaYqlYtY7HHTcyDC3-mMDyiZuSI&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=fusor+2098&qid=1748223243&sprefix=fusor+2098%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=carbage0f-20&linkId=0163bb56947d0df8a52a8182f0b37c67&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl&ref=carbage.online) by Tesla to bond its repair structures together. He then put that between two D-rings before hoisting his Cybertruck into the air via a crane. I’ll let you watch the video as the entire process is fascinating to watch, but I’ll just say I wasn’t surprised by the result.
### Are Carbon Wheels Coming to Your Next Daily? Dymag Partnering with AIM Might Make it Happen
URL: https://carbage.online/carbon-wheels-dymag-partnering-aim/
Last updated: 2025-05-22T10:00:40.000Z
While it may seem like the US is planning to change its fuel economy rules, this will not stop OEMs from finding ways to make [their vehicles more fuel efficient](https://carbage.online/how-electronic-fuel-injection-works/) and weigh less than they do now. One of the major areas that influence weight in multiple ways are your wheels. Rotational, static, and unsprung mass affect your car more than you might think and is why OEMs look towards carbon fiber and carbon hybrid wheels from Dymag as a solution. Now, Dymag, a subsidiary Borbet GmbH since 2024, and Advanced International Multitech Co, Ltd (AIM) are partnering up to make mass market carbon wheels a reality.

### Before You Go Further

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Dymag-Borbet-Advanced-International-Multitech-AIM-Partnership-Carbon-Wheels-14.jpg)

If you like the content on *Carbage* and want to see more or [just want to contribute](https://www.patreon.com/c/carbage?ref=carbage.online), be sure to support this site on Patreon. We know that even asking for $1 per month in the time we’re all having now is a lot to ask of you all but know that it will go to some amazing photographers this year as we cover the 2025 Formula Drift season and beyond. And, yes, you have read that right: *Carbage* is hiring photographers for individual rounds the 2025 season. We need some amazing photographers for many rounds of the 2025 FD season. If you or someone you know would be interested, let us know at [staff@carbage.online](mailto:staff@carbage.online) and provide example images of past work.

### Who are Dymag, Borbet, and AIM?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Dymag-Borbet-Advanced-International-Multitech-AIM-Partnership-Carbon-Wheels-13.jpg)

The three players in this story are brands you might not have a lot of direct interaction with, especially if you happen to not work in the performance and aftermarket side of the auto industry. The oldest of the three is Borbet, [a German brand that is best known for its premium aluminum wheels](https://www.borbet.de/?ref=carbage.online). But it started in 1881 as a brass foundry in Westphalia—yes, the same region camper conversion company, Westfalia, is located—but started casting wheels in 1977 and supplying many German and European car brands with aluminum wheels.

Just before Borbet the wheel market, Dymag was founded [in 1974 under the brand name “Competition Wheels Limited”](https://dymag.com/?ref=carbage.online) with Max Boxstrom leading the way. It became well known for supplying racing teams with magnesium wheels before moving on to forged magnesium in the 1980s. By the time the 1990s came along, Dymag developed the first commercial carbon fiber motorcycle wheel for road use. A decade later in 2004, it created the first commercial carbon wheel for cars and supplying Konigsegg, Aston Martin, and others as OE wheels. In 2023, Dymag became the supplier for Hyundais N Performance division with a set of carbon hybrid wheels with carbon barrels and aluminum wheel faces bolted on.

Just last year Dymag was acquired by Borbet to begin its journey towards scaling their wheels towards the production needs of other OEMs besides Hyundai. This expansion, however, still needed another partner and this is where AIM has come into play. AIM, located in Taiwan and founded in 1987, [is a large-scale manufacturer of composites](https://www.adgroup.com.tw/index.aspx?ref=carbage.online), particularly in the golf and bicycle industry. Around 2005 it expanded beyond golf and bicycle carbon manufacturing to include automotive parts at its Kaohsiung Branch.

### What is This Partnership Looking to Solve?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Dymag-Borbet-Advanced-International-Multitech-AIM-Partnership-Carbon-Wheels-12.jpg)

I was curious about why a third partner was needed since Dymag and Borbet—who has a 20% market share as a cast wheel manufacturer—have a long history with working on OEM products, so I reached out to Christopher Shelley, Executive Chair at Dymag, to find out more and he graciously answered my questions. The two key issues were getting the price of carbon wheels to a point that would make sense to OEMs like Hyundai, and the need for increasing production scaling to meet their needs. “We’re streamlining every stage of our manufacturing process and leveraging optimized procurement strategies,” said Chris, “And by partnering with AIM—experts in high-volume carbon component production with an extensive global footprint—we’re securing the cost efficiencies and capacity needed to support future OEM programs.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Dymag-Borbet-Advanced-International-Multitech-AIM-Partnership-Carbon-Wheels-1.jpg)

The need to scale was enough on why Dymag was acquired by Borbet in 2024\. But there was also the realization that Dymag came away [after working with Hyundais N division](https://carbage.online/2025-hyundai-ioniq-5-n-ta-sets-ev-record-at-tsukuba/), one that showed that carbon wheels have a larger place in the automotive world beyond hypercars and race cars. “Hyundai N division was highly involved in leading these innovations,” Chris told me. “There is a developing market across the wider mid-performance market, where performance such as [range extensions through weight reduction are needed](https://carbage.online/first-look-2027-slate-auto-electric-truck-suv/) along with moment of inertia savings for limited and special editions.”

### How Would Max Boxstrom Feel About Carbons on a Daily?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Dymag-Borbet-Advanced-International-Multitech-AIM-Partnership-Carbon-Wheels-8.jpg)

Of course, Dymag started as a high-performance motorsport wheel brand, but I wondered what the founder would have thought about applying his carbon wheels to a street driven, daily use car. There is a huge chance he would have been as excited over that idea as he would have been for race car use. “For the founder—and subsequent owners—of Dymag, it wasn’t a dream of ‘standard’ cars wearing high-tech rims, but of pushing material science and design to new heights—exactly what BX-F achieves today,” Chris said. “While [our patented BX-F carbon wheels are not destined for base-model hatchbacks](https://dymag.com/9223-2/?ref=carbage.online), they are engineered to fit seamlessly into the premium-performance world: BMW M-Series vehicles, exclusive mid-market upgrade packages, and, of course, the supercar and hypercar elites. In every curve and spoke, you will find Max Boxstrom’s original vision alive and well—lightweight strength, innovative technology, and peerless performance—all wrapped up in a name that nods to his legacy, with ‘BX’ being shorthand for ‘Boxstrom.’ This is more than an accessory, it is a tribute. BX-F carbon wheels are the culmination of fifty years of innovation, honoring the past even as they define the future of automotive performance.”

### Carbon Wheels on You Next Daily? Maybe.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Dymag-Borbet-Advanced-International-Multitech-AIM-Partnership-Carbon-Wheels-2.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Dymag-Borbet-Advanced-International-Multitech-AIM-Partnership-Carbon-Wheels-3.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Dymag-Borbet-Advanced-International-Multitech-AIM-Partnership-Carbon-Wheels-4.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Dymag-Borbet-Advanced-International-Multitech-AIM-Partnership-Carbon-Wheels-5.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Dymag-Borbet-Advanced-International-Multitech-AIM-Partnership-Carbon-Wheels-6.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Dymag-Borbet-Advanced-International-Multitech-AIM-Partnership-Carbon-Wheels-7.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Dymag-Borbet-Advanced-International-Multitech-AIM-Partnership-Carbon-Wheels-9.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Dymag-Borbet-Advanced-International-Multitech-AIM-Partnership-Carbon-Wheels-10.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/Dymag-Borbet-Advanced-International-Multitech-AIM-Partnership-Carbon-Wheels-15.jpg)

While we might not find the 2026 Honda Civic wearing all-carbon or carbon hybrid wheels as a factory option, there is a possibility the next Type R or similar level of performance car could. With increased scaling, it is entirely possible that those types of wheels could become a new standard in performance wheels for the rest of us. Why, you may ask, could I be confident in that statement? Because that is what happened with forged and flow-formed aluminum wheels. What was once exclusive territory for high-performance makes are now available at your local performance shop and even found as a factory option on those mid-level performance cars.
### Rain Didn’t Dampen Hot-lanta: Formula Drift Round 2 at Road Atlanta
URL: https://carbage.online/formula-drift-round-2-road-atlanta-georgia/
Last updated: 2025-05-14T10:22:53.000Z
With [round one at Long Beach far behind everyone](https://carbage.online/formula-drift-starts-the-2025-season-on-the-streets-of-long-beach/), Georgia was on everyone’s mind as the drivers of Formula Drift wondered if the heat would play a significant role at Road Atlanta. The 2004 OG circuit of FD would throw a curveball at the drivers with rain impacting practice and the final heats to crown the latest winner. But the downpour wouldn’t throw the top drivers in points off their game as we see some repeats from FDLB.

### Before We Go Further

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-21.jpg)

If you like the content on *Carbage* and want to see more or [just want to contribute](https://www.patreon.com/c/carbage?ref=carbage.online), be sure to support this site on Patreon. We know that even asking for $1 per month in the time we’re all having now is a lot to ask of you all but know that it will go to some amazing photographers this year as we cover the 2025 Formula Drift season and possibly beyond. And, yes, you have read that right: *Carbage* is hiring photographers for individual rounds the 2025 season. We need some amazing photographers for many rounds of the 2025 FD season. If you or someone you know would be interested, let them know to let us know at [staff@carbage.online](mailto:staff@carbage.online) and provide examples of your past work.

### Pro Seeding

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-108.jpg)

Road Atlanta is quite a popular round considering it is the first event that takes place under artificial light and has a true festival atmosphere. That brought out a new but experienced driver to join those who didn’t finish high enough in the previous round to solidify a place in the Top 20\. Drivers like Andy Hateley, Ryan Litteral, Tommy Lemaire, Dan Burkett, Federico Sceriffo, and Dmitriy Brutskiy needed to qualify due to their 21st and under placement from Long Beach, but the notable name that would join them was Vaughn Gittin, Jr, [head honcho of RTR Vehicles](https://carbage.online/2025-ford-mustang-rtr-spec-5d-convertible-t-pain-drift-car/).

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-103.jpg)

The two-time Formula Drift champion is still enjoying his semi-retirement from drifting competition but came out to one of his favorite East Coast rounds to take part. He would meet up with long-time rival, Daigo Saito, in Seeding but Gittin would end up being defeated by Saito due to straightening at the first inner clip. This may have been due to a mechanical issue, as Daigo only briefly touched Gittin after he had already “shut down.” Despite that loss, Gittin was one of the 12 drivers allowed to enter Top 32 competition but that meant he would end up facing fellow RTR driver, James Deane right of the bat.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-280.jpg)

Taking the top of the Seeding win went to Austin Matta and Connor O’Sullivan, as both drivers dramatically improved their performance over Long Beach. Each driver was knocked out of their respective first seeding competition round but would take the top two spots at Road Atlanta. Getting the win, Matta would earn 12 precious points in towards his 2025 season while O’Sullivan gained nine. The next two spots were also improvements over their Round 1 performance as Derek Madison would be credited for third place while Rudy Hansen got fourth, each gaining six points versus their Long Beach performance of fifth and sixth, respectively, and only earning three points each.

### Pro Takes the Saturday Main Event Stage

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-144.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-145.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-146.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-147.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-148.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-140.jpg)

Topping off a full three days of motorsports, Formula Drift would round out the action at Road Atlanta following Gridlife track runs. Rain had started the day but would clear out just about in time for Top 32 and allowed the track to mostly dry out. One of the big battles to start the day were RTR teammates James Deane and Vaughn Gittin, Jr. While Deane was in the long haul for the season and looking to win a championship, “the boss” didn’t let up on his Pro driver. Despite a close battle, James Deane would take the win against Gittin, eventually moving right on to the Final Four and counting on his Irish Drifting Championship experience to deal with a track that would later become rainsoaked.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-181.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-176.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-177.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-178.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-179.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-180.jpg)

While he might be the former youngest driver in Formula Drift competition, Hiroya Minowa just shines like a well-polished veteran. His first battle would be against Rudy Hansen but perhaps his biggest challenge would be the most consistent driver in FD, Chris Forsberg. Well, normally consistent, but the rain completely changed track conditions when Minowa and Forsberg met in the Top 16\. During his lead run, Forsberg made an uncharacteristic mistake and drifted off the wet track. It was only just better during his follow run after Forsberg obliterated the first clipping point. He was able to keep up a good run afterwards, but it was too little, too late and Minowa would move on to the Great Eight against Aasbo.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-184.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-186.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-187.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-211.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-212.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-213.jpg)

After watching his little brother and sister run ProSpec, Branden Sorensen would take his success from Long Beach and find himself in the Great Eight once again. After defeating Tommy Lemaire and Rome Charpentier, he would face off against a rather tough veteran, Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis. Odi was able to utilize his rally racing prowess and take it to Sorensen (who has some off-road racing experience himself). Despite Odi hitting Sorensen in the keyhole during his follow run, the rally vet would move on to the Final Four with a better and consistent lead run. This would also be a bit of revenge for Odi as Sorensen was able to defeat Bakchis at Long Beach.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-193.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-191.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-192.jpg)

When he is on it, Jeff Jones can prove to be someone to watch out against in competition. He would once again find himself in the Top 16 but would face off against a rather dominating James Deane. Jones would have a slight straightening leading into the uphill and lose ground to Deane. Despite this, Jones was able to gather back and catch up to the Irishman out of the keyhole and into the downhill and offer a much better result over Round One. Deane would end up taking the win and facing off against another California boy, Matt Field.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-195.jpg)

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Field’s day began by defeating Derek Madison and Conor Shanahan but would eventually face off against Deane in the Great Eight. However, just like Jones, Field would find it tough to defeat a wet weather specialist. He could, however, take solace in the fact that he had a better round than Long Beach by finishing in the Great Eight.

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Whatever the changes made between his Top 16 finish at Long Beach and his Final Four appearance at Road Atlanta, Jhonnattan Castro and his team found the edge they needed. In his run to the Final Four, Castro would face off against Federico Sceriffo, Adam LZ, and eventually Ryan Tuerck in the Great Eight. With the rain falling, Castro had a rough entry into the first rear zone and lost some ground during his follow run against Tuerck. That all changed going uphill towards the keyhole as Castro made up all the ground and went to the door of Tuerck who had a bit of dirt drop at the touch-and-go. Castro keep the pressure up and only just lost ground again before the final outer zone. On his follow run, Tuerck would contact Castro’s rear bumper and stall out entering the first outer zone. Castron would be able to continue and finish out his run with the judges ruling that the contact was Tuerck’s fault. This gave Castro the unanimous vote to move on to the Final Four.

### The Final Four

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With the finales set, our four drivers would take part on a wet and soggy Georgia night. First pair up were Fredric Aasbo in the Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota Supra Mk IV facing off against Odi Bakchis in the Feal Suspension Nissan 240SX S14\. Both drivers have tons of experience in adverse conditions with Aasbo’s experience from driving on the snow and ice of Norway and Bakchis’ coming from his rally racing background. With a track as slick as Road Atlanta can get in the wet, they both were going to need it to put on a good show and move on to the Finals. Aasbo, the three-time FD champion, would lead against Bakchis first and Odi came in swinging with an aggressive entry and making contact against the Norwegian. It continued to cost him as Odi lost ground transitioning into the uphill run.

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Coming through the keyhole, Odi started to gain what he lost, closing by sacrificing angle and how deep he went into the third outer zone compared to Aasbo. He then just cut the left hander going into the downhill transition but lost a bit of ground again just before the final outer zone. Odi would call a competition time out to check over his S14 before going back out for his lead run. After Deane and Castro made their initial runs, Odi and Aasbo came back out to finish their pairing. Aasbo was undeterred by the pause and came out aggressive against Odi and consistently stayed on proximity against him. This consistent and closer run by the Norwegian gave him the unanimous win and Aasbo would move on to the finals.

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While we didn’t break off the run, the reality is that James Deane in the Autozone Ford Mustang RTR and Jhonnattan Castro in the Metaldom Toyota GR86 would face off against each other during Odi’s competition timeout. Castro’s performance has been stellar in this round, but he was now facing off against a wet track experienced driver in Deane. But somebody forgot to tell Deane he was the damp surface expert as he nearly slid too far following his aggressive entry in the lead. Castro took full advantage and stayed right on without following the Irishman’s nearly disastrous line.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-237.jpg)

Transitioning downhill, Deane did pick up momentum and started to gap Castro until the Dominican took a shallow line to hit the next transition but lost ground again just before the final outer zone and finish. During his follow run, Deane would make some contact with Castro coming into the downhill section but not enough to disturb Castro’s line. While Castro did have a good lead run and decent follow run, two of the three judges agreed to an OMT. Again, we’re not doing the pauses, but this allowed Odi and Aasbo to finish their run before doing the Deane and Castro OMT.

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Learning from his mistake, Deane was able to remain aggressive on entry without sliding off line in his lead run, but Castro would be the one to make the mistake this time. Coming into the uphill section, Castro went too far inside of the corner and clipped the tall rumble strips. This forced his car to pull nose in and high center against the bumper. Normally, this probably wouldn’t have been a huge issue on a dry track, but the rear couldn’t keep up in grip on the wet and spun the Dominican around. By making a complete follow run, James Deane would end up going into the finals to face off against Fredric Aasbo again.

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Odi, by way of his qualifying position, would be credited with third place and 30 points. This also means that he and Branden Sorensen are tied for third in points with 50 a piece after Round 3\. Jhonnattan Castro, however, would greatly benefit from his Final Four appearance. Combined with his 10 points from his Top 16 appearance at Long Beach, the 30 points from Road Atlanta gives him 40 total and is tied for fifth with Ryan Tuerck and Adam LZ.

### The Finals of Wet-lanta

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With the Finals set for a Long Beach rematch, Fredric Aasbo and James Deane would take three OMT runs over the single one between them in the previous round. With the track just continuing to get wetter, the final OMT saw both drivers put down incredible runs despite the inclement conditions. The decision came down to who made the least mistakes during their respective runs. Aasbo kept a tidy line through the course while Deane just remained on the door and bumper of the Norweigen.

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Deane kept an aggressive run during his lead, but this is where Aasbo showed a bit of struggle, sacrificing the driving line for proximity going up the hill and into the keyhole. Aasbo was able to bring back some angle, but Deane was still holding a consistent line through to the exit and transition to the downhill sprint. Finishing out the final outer zone, the winner finally seemed clear, and the slugfest was finally finished after six grueling individual runs. James Deane would take the win and get some revenge against his OMT loss to Aasbo at Long Beach. It wasn’t fully unanimous, though, as only two of the three judges agreed that Deane won, and the second judge looked for another OMT. But the majority rules and Deane gets the Road Atlanta win.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Formula-Drift-Round-2-Road-Atlanta-Luke-Munnell-254.jpg)

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With the back and forth between Round One and Two, Deane and Aasbo are tied for first place in the 2025 championship points standings at 90 apiece. Currently, Toyota has a 31-point lead over Ford in the Auto Cup standings, with Toyota at 140 and Ford at 109\. Nissan (92), BMW (90), and Chevrolet (30) round out the manufacturers being fully represented in Formula Drift. The 2025 Tire Cup standings show Kenda with the lead by only two points over Nitto at 142 to 140\. GT Radial (100 points) and Kumho (29 points) round out the four brands.

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The next round of the 2025 Formula Drift Championship takes [place at Orland Speed World on May 30th to 31st](https://fd.torkhub.com/event/381608/tickets?ref=carbage.online). With Aasbo and Deane tied, this championship still has a long way to go before we can say that only these two are our favorites for the crown. But they are putting on a very commanding performance thus far and the rest of the field needs to start making some headway before it is too late.
### The Nappy Boy Automotive 2025 Ford Mustang RTR Convertible: T-Pain is Skirtin’ in a ‘Vert
URL: https://carbage.online/2025-ford-mustang-rtr-spec-5d-convertible-t-pain-drift-car/
Last updated: 2025-05-12T10:00:49.000Z
If you want a works level drift car, there really are only two camps you can talk to: Papadakis Racing [and RTR Vehicles](https://www.rtrvehicles.com/?ref=carbage.online). With his connections in the industry, T-Pain is no stranger to the world of drifting and knowing one of these two would make perfect sense. Now, during Formula Drift Road Atlanta, we see that his next drift car of choice is a 2025 Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-D convertible. Let’s look at this unique drift car with an equally unique driver owning it.

### Before We Go Further

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Ford-Mustang-RTR-Spec-5D-TPain-Convertible-Sports-Car-Drift-2.jpg)

If you like the content on *Carbage* and want to see more or [just want to contribute](https://www.patreon.com/c/carbage?ref=carbage.online), be sure to support this site on Patreon. We know that even asking for $1 per month in the time we’re all having now is a lot to ask of you all but know that it will go to some amazing photographers this year as we cover the 2025 Formula Drift season and possibly beyond. And, yes, you have read that right: *Carbage* is hiring photographers for individual rounds the 2025 season. We need some amazing photographers for many rounds of the 2025 FD season. If you or someone you know would be interested, let them know to let us know at [jbannerautos@gmail.com](mailto:jbannerautos@gmail.com) and provide example images of past work.

### T-Pain is Drifting

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Ford-Mustang-RTR-Spec-5D-TPain-Convertible-Sports-Car-Drift-16.jpg)

For those unfamiliar, T-Pain has a long history of enthusiasm in the automotive industry and drifting. Around 2018, he took a lesson in drifting with none other than Chelsea DeNofa, former RTR Team driver now but at the time was under Vaughn Gittin, Jr’s Ford-branded banner. Since then, he’s owned several drift-oriented vehicles like a BMW 3-Series E46, a Mazda RX-7 FC3S, a Nissan 240SX S14, [and a Mustang RTR Spec 2](https://www.rtrvehicles.com/pages/mustang-rtr-spec-2?ref=carbage.online). That last one was from 2023 and had a solid roof over his head, but it looks like his next competition level car will be dropping the top. Literally.

### The Office

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With plenty of experience under his helmet, it was time for T-Pain to get something that matched his skill level. But, unlike RTRs usual choice of a hardtop 2025 Mustang, the Grammy winning artist instead chose a convertible. Once the chassis was in the hands of the RTR Vehicles team, it was stripped of the gubbins and rebuilt as [a Spec 5-D Formula Drift Pro car](https://www.rtrvehicles.com/pages/spec-5-build?ref=carbage.online). Nearly all the interior is stripped away to make room for the FD-spec roll cage and required remnants of the dashboard. The steering column is replaced with a competition spec version with an MPI Fun Haver wheel in place of the airbag equipped Ford piece.

A digital instrument panel does remain, but it’s nothing like the original Blue Oval unit. This is a Haltech uC-10 digital dashboard with a Haltech CAN Keypad that controls ancillary functions like the lights, wipers, fuel pump, and other related electronics. Locking up the rear wheels is a DriftHQ hydraulic handbrake that sits just to the right of the steering wheel while a Tremec shifter is just below that. Finally, the seats are replaced by a pair of Recaro race seats and a six-point harness holding he and his passengers in the seat.

### The Convertible Still Needs a Carbon Diet

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Ford-Mustang-RTR-Spec-5D-TPain-Convertible-Sports-Car-Drift-1.jpg)

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Even without the roof and the associated gear needed to raise and lower the top, weight needs to be shed off this Mustang RTR. From the hood, fenders, doors, bumpers, and decklid, everything is replaced by carbon fiber. This includes the custom set of “speedhumps” that do double duty as ducts to drive air into the rear-mounted radiator and other heat exchangers that reside in the trunk area. These carbon parts are then shot in a bright pink exterior that fades into the natural carbon weave and a street map of Tallahassee, Florida–the hometown of T-Pain.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Ford-Mustang-RTR-Spec-5D-TPain-Convertible-Sports-Car-Drift-13.jpg)

Further, the wheels are a set of 18-inch Aero 5 wheels that are used on the FD Pro cars, but the tires for his car are a set of Falkens with Azenis RT660+ units in 275/35R18 wrapping the fronts and Azenis RT615K+ tires in 295/40R18 rear. These Falkens are kept planted to the road with a FD-spec suspension setup from BC Racing.

### This Isn’t a Toy

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Ford-Mustang-RTR-Spec-5D-TPain-Convertible-Sports-Car-Drift-7.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Ford-Mustang-RTR-Spec-5D-TPain-Convertible-Sports-Car-Drift-11.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Ford-Mustang-RTR-Spec-5D-TPain-Convertible-Sports-Car-Drift-14.jpg)

To further drive home that this simply isn’t just a show car for T-Pain to play around in, the original 5.0-liter V8 has been upgraded to its logical conclusion for drifting. Rather than rely on displacement or turbos, the Nappy Boy Automotive RTR Spec 5-D is equipped with a Whipple Gen 5 3.0-liter Supercharger system. This includes an air-to-water intercooler with its heat exchanger joining the radiator in the back. When tuned to its maximum potential, this droptop RTR comp car can hit 1,000 horsepower, well within the same power as [the FD Pro cars that RTR supplies to James Deane and Ben Hobson](https://carbage.online/formula-drift-starts-the-2025-season-on-the-streets-of-long-beach/) for the 2025 season.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Ford-Mustang-RTR-Spec-5D-TPain-Convertible-Sports-Car-Drift-18.jpg)

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Ford-Mustang-RTR-Spec-5D-TPain-Convertible-Sports-Car-Drift-8.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Ford-Mustang-RTR-Spec-5D-TPain-Convertible-Sports-Car-Drift-12.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Ford-Mustang-RTR-Spec-5D-TPain-Convertible-Sports-Car-Drift-15.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/05/2025-Ford-Mustang-RTR-Spec-5D-TPain-Convertible-Sports-Car-Drift-17.jpg)

Again, this isn’t a toy and T-Pain has every intention to drive his new competition car around the nation at various drift and other automotive events during the 2025 season.
### What is the De Dion Axle that Some Cars and Trucks Use?
URL: https://carbage.online/what-is-de-dion-axle-tech/
Last updated: 2025-05-02T08:24:09.000Z
The world of automotive suspensions is filled with interesting, failed, and just rather wacky attempts at controlling the movements of the wheels and body of your truck, SUV, car, and everything in between. One that has recently garnered attention is the De Dion (sometimes spelled as “DeDion” or even “de Dion”) thanks to its proposed [use in the Slate Auto Truck](https://carbage.online/first-look-2027-slate-auto-electric-truck-suv/). The history and use of the De Dion isn’t limited to Slate’s recent announcement and has seen implementation in a few major auto manufacturers like Mercedes Benz, Ford, Alfa Romeo, Smart and others. But what is it and why does it look like a weird sort of IRS or IFS?

### Before We Go Further

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/What-Is-A-De-Dion-Axle-2.jpg)

Image: [Ford Heritage Vault](https://fordheritagevault.com/?ref=carbage.online)

If you like the content on *Carbage* and want to see more or [just want to contribute](https://www.patreon.com/c/carbage?ref=carbage.online), be sure to support this site on Patreon. We know that even asking for $1 per month in the time we’re all having now is a lot to ask of you all but know that it will go to some amazing photographers this year as we cover the 2025 Formula Drift season and possibly beyond. And, yes, you have read that right: *Carbage* is hiring photographers for individual rounds the 2025 season. We have an amazing photographer lined up for Round 2 and Round 8 will be covered by your author, but we need photogs for every other round. If you or someone you know would be interested, let them know to us know at [jbannerautos@gmail.com](mailto:jbannerautos@gmail.com) and provide example images of your work.

### Who Made This Thing and Why?

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/What-Is-A-De-Dion-Axle-1.jpg)](https://www.flickr.com/people/43319534@N00?ref=carbage.online)

Image: [Elmar Eye](https://www.flickr.com/people/43319534@N00?ref=carbage.online)

I won’t bore you with the entire history, but the De Dion Axle was invented sometime in 1894 by the De Dion-Bouton automobile company. It wasn’t Jules-Albert de Dion who created it nor was it made by co-founder Georges Bouton. It was Bouton’s brother-in-law, Charles Trepardoux, that came up with the design. The idea was first used in their steam tricycle and the [entire history of De Dion-Bouton is quite interesting](https://www.dedionboutonclub.co.uk/?ref=carbage.online) but outside the scope of this story.

### Why is it so Weird?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/What-Is-A-De-Dion-Axle-10.jpg)

Patent image of the De Dion axle as viewed from above the chassis.

I promise you–the De Dion axle is designed this way on purpose. The main advantage of the De Dion is in the reduction and movement of mass versus a live axle, better known as the “straight axle” or the “Hotchkiss Axle” that you probably didn’t know was its official name. First, the movement of mass is reduced thanks to the heaviest part–the differential–being solidly located to the frame or subframe of the vehicle. For some vehicles (like those De Dion-Bouton tricycles and quadracycles), that also includes the engine or the motor (like the Slate Auto Truck).

That moving mass I just described is exactly what people mean when you hear them talk about unsprung weight and the advantage of the De Dion axle. The only parts moving are now the hubs that connects to the wheels, the axle shafts that connect to those and the outputs, the solid tube that connects each hub together, and the rest of the supporting suspension components. This can make for a more comfortable ride as well as one that is more predictable for chassis engineers.

### If It’s Like an IRS, Why Put a Hard Connection Between the Wheels?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/What-Is-A-De-Dion-Axle-11.jpg)

Image: [Mitsubishi Fuso](https://www.mitsubishi-fuso.com/en/?ref=carbage.online)

That hub-connecting tube also plays a key role in why the De Dion axle works well for anything designed to carry a load versus an IRS (independent rear suspension). As you put weight over the axle, the body and suspension points connected to it begin to move towards the ground as gravity pulls on that mass. For an IRS, the outer points of the suspension react to that motion by tracing an imaginary arc. Unless these arms are somehow designed with an infinite arc, the arms effectively “become shorter” as these arcs pull the outer points inwards towards the body of the vehicle. This can not only affect the toe (the point of the front of the tire versus a parallel line to the chassis), but also the camber–the point of the top of the tire either pointing inwards for negative camber or outwards for positive camber.

If you’re building a vehicle designed for heavy loads, you don’t want that. You want the wheels to remain straight (or as straight as [the OEM deems for tire wear](https://carbage.online/making-tires-in-the-age-of-advanced-automation/)) in both toe and camber–there is also a catch to this I’ll explain with leaf springs. This is the advantage that both the live axle and De Dion axle have over IRS [or even TTB](https://carbage.online/how-do-twin-traction-beams-work/). By connecting both hubs by a straight tube, camber and toe are locked no matter how low or loaded the body gets. But there is a problem, and you might already be able to see it. If not, grasp a ruler or pen in your hands and try to move just one hand upwards. You’ll quickly find that you can’t unless you also tilt your other hand. That’s also what’s happening to those connected wheels, as one wheel moves up or down, the other wheel must follow.

### What About the “Packaging” That You Keep Hearing About?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/What-Is-A-De-Dion-Axle-14.jpg)

Image: [Geoff Shepherd via Leonard G, Creative Commons Share Alike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/sa/1.0/?ref=carbage.online)

Depending on who you ask, you’ll also hear mentions about how much easier it is to package a De Dion axle. That’s possibly an overstatement in a general regard, but there is also some truth to that. When it comes to using a De Dion, it can be used with the same sort of suspension components that a live axle can use. Leaf spring, coil springs, three link with a Panhard rod, triangulated four link–if you can do it to a solid axle, the De Dion can use it. That also means that you’ll have the same disadvantages those suspension systems have over an IRS system ranging from the need for a lateral link (like the Panhard rod, Watt’s link, or Jacobs Ladder systems) to the changes to toe that happen with a leaf spring system.

### Wait, the Toe Changes on a Leaf Spring Axle?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/What-Is-A-De-Dion-Axle-16.jpg)

Image: [Camburg](https://www.camburg.com/products/camburg-engineering-2004-2014-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-tig-welded-leaf-spring-shackle-kit-stock-length-cam-120018-cam-120018?ref=carbage.online)

Yes, I know that earlier I said that toe doesn’t change with the live and De Dion axles, but that’s not entirely true. The leaf spring can allow for toe changes because of how it works. The leaves of a leaf spring stretch when they compress and that necessitates the use of a movable shackle that you may have seen on the rear portion of a truck’s frame. With the axle (or tube for the De Dion) connected directly to the leaf spring, the axle will also move in the direction of that stretch.

Remember from that demonstration earlier that the wheel opposite of that moving wheel will still move in the same direction, same thing will happen here for toe as the axle moves within the compliance of the rubber in the spring eyes, shackles, and even the leaves themselves. On rear-hung shackles, the wheel on the spring that is stretching will toe out while the opposite wheel will toe in. Front-hung shackles (like old Jeeps and 4WD trucks with front live axles) will work in reverse with the stretching leaf’s wheel toeing in and the opposite wheel toeing out. There are ways to mitigate this toeing, but that’s beyond the scope of this story.

### Is the De Dion Axle Still in Use Today?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/What-Is-A-De-Dion-Axle-12.jpg)

Image: [Smart Cars](https://global.smart.com/?ref=carbage.online)

Yes, it is. The most recent production use has been the all-electric version of the Mercedes G-Class and its rear axle, thus proving that the De Dion axle is suitable for use on a traditional live axle setup. Some city cars like the Smart ForTwo, ForFour, and related third generation Renault Twingo also utilize a De Dion rear axle in both its ICE-powered and all-electric versions. Ford had allegedly considered [using a De Dion on the 2022 F-150 Lightning but elected not to](https://youtu.be/DY8TWJ1I%5FqA?ref=carbage.online). However, its 1998 to 2002 Ranger EV did utilize the system with composite leaf springs and a Watt’s link lateral link. [Now, EV West offers salvaged Ranger De Dion axles](https://evwest.com/ford-ranger-ev-de-dion-axle-for-tesla-and-integrated-drive-systems?ref=carbage.online) for use in EV conversions that want the simplicity of just swapping in this system with a electric motor mounted to the chassis.

Now, with Slate Auto making its debut, it will be the latest OEM to use a rear De Dion axle [over a live e-beam axle](https://www.zf.com/products/en/cars/campaigns/ebeam/ebeam%5F1.html?ref=carbage.online) for the advantages mentioned in this story. That’s despite the many disadvantages this and live axles impose.
### Our First Look at the 2027 Slate Auto Truck, Er, SUV, or Both?
URL: https://carbage.online/first-look-2027-slate-auto-electric-truck-suv/
Last updated: 2025-04-28T07:32:25.000Z
If you’re anything like me, you yearn for the days of cheap two-door pickup trucks that used to exist through the 1990s and early 2000s. It was easy to find a Ford Ranger or Chevrolet S-10 that didn’t start at over $25,000 because it was packed with a four-banger mated to a manual transmission, six-foot bed, and manual crank windows. It was the ideal starter truck for teenagers and businesses alike because it gave you a no-frills package that you weren’t afraid of beating up or worked as that perfect blank canvas for modifying. That’s the exact promise that’s being made by the Jeff Bezos funded Slate Auto and its “Truck.” Let’s see if it will really bring back those days and, hopefully, force other OEMs to develop cheaper entry-level vehicles again.

### Before We Go Further

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-19.jpg)

Headlight and one of the optional front signal lights on the grille.

If you like the content on *Carbage* and want to see more or [just want to contribute](https://www.patreon.com/c/carbage?ref=carbage.online), be sure to support this site on Patreon. We know that even asking for $1 per month in the time we’re all having now is a lot to ask of you all but know that it will go to some amazing photographers this year as we cover the 2025 Formula Drift season and possibly beyond. And, yes, you have read that right: *Carbage* is hiring photographers for individual rounds the 2025 season. We have an amazing photographer lined up for Round 2 and Round 8 will be covered by your author, but we need photogs for every other round. If you or someone you know would be interested, let them know to us know at [jbannerautos@gmail.com](mailto:jbannerautos@gmail.com) and provide example images of your work.

### There is a Need

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-8.jpg)

The Slate Auto Truck with its optional roof rack.

Just look around at what’s being offered right now. The only small pickup truck that can even be classified as “affordable” is the Ford Maverick. At the lowest price, the 2026 Ford Maverick will start around $29,000 as a FWD 2.0-liter EcoBoost I4\. Even as basic as it is, that price is a bit on the steep side and the competition from Hyundai–the only other small truck builder–is only more expensive at just over $30,000\. Both help show that OEMs are starting to lose touch on just how much a basic, starter truck should cost and the need [that Slate Auto might fulfill](https://www.slate.auto/en?ref=carbage.online).

The Truck–it doesn’t have any other name–is an absolutely simplified two-door pickup that promises cheap driving with basic amenities like air conditioning, manual crank windows, and steel wheels. What also makes it unique is that it’s an all-electric pickup and comes standard as a rear-wheel drive whereas Ford and Hyundai are offering their basic trucks as front-wheel drive units without any sort of electrification at that price point. The Truck also comes with the advantage that only an all-electric can offer: a frunk–front trunk for those who don’t know–as there isn’t any sort of inverter, engine, or much of anything under the hood.

### Tricks Up Its Sleeve

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-12.jpg)

The Slate Auto Truck with its optional flatback SUV pack installed.

There’s another unique promise being made by Slate Auto: it can be converted into two types of five-seat SUVs. One with a more traditional flat back and another with a notchback style. These conversions don’t need to be done the moment you buy your Truck. Slate will offer these conversions as a flat-pack you can buy later that add in a roll cage (with airbags), rear seat, and the rear shell. The rear glass and mid-body panel of the truck can be removed and the rear glass re-used as the upper hatch for both types of SUV bodies.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-3.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-21.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-22.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-23.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-24-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-25.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-26.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-27.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-28.jpg)

The world is your customizable oyster, if Slate Auto makes good on its claims for the 2027 Truck.

Further, Slate Auto promises that this truck can be modified in a wide number of ways and not by downloading new software. Body wraps, suspension heights, and about a hundred other items can be added and removed as you see fit for the life of the Truck. In a time when OEMs are locking down their software and making modifications harder without OE tool support, this is a refreshing thing to hear from a new OEM.

There will also be the option of battery size, with the standard range battery being a 52.7-kWh pack that is expected to give the Slate Truck around 150-miles for its 201 hp, 195 ft-lb of torque motor mounted on the rear axle. Slate says that an optional 84.3-kWh pack with an expected 240-miles range will also be offered as another accessory. It will be supported by a 120-kW rate [DC fast charge capability using a NACS port](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North%5FAmerican%5FCharging%5FSystem?ref=carbage.online), offering 20 to 80% range charge times of under 30 minutes. Of course, if you have an exterior outlet at your home, work, or apartment complex, you can use overnight or daytime AC charging instead.

### The Catches

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-1.jpg)

Inside is a spartan experience, but in a good way.

With all this good news, it’s going to be perfect. Right? Before you plunk [down your $50 refundable reservation](https://www.slate.auto/en/reserve?ref=carbage.online), here are some things to consider. The biggest being that this is a brand-new manufacturer without a proven track record in the industry. Slate comes with a couple of good things to compensate for this in the form of funding from Jeff Bezos and hiring people from traditional and former auto startups like its CEO, Chris Barman. She was once the senior vice president and chief technology officer at Eaton and was global vice president for HCL Technologies for their transportation solutions before being hired by Slate.

Slate is also promising a lot for a company just starting out, especially the sub-$20,000 price tag. In reality, that’s including potential federal tax incentives that might not be here for much longer with the current administrations outlook [on tax breaks on environmentally friendly things](https://www.npr.org/2025/02/07/nx-s1-5289922/trump-transportation-department-ev-charging-halt?ref=carbage.online) (among other issues). The actual price is likely to start at $27,000 to $30,000 and much of that will be determined on just how basic you want your Truck to be.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-16.jpg)

The basic wheel and tire option of the 2027 Slate Auto Truck.

Slate Auto might not be sold traditionally, depending on state laws. Much like Rivian and Scout Motors, Slate vehicles will most likely not be sold by dealerships. For many people–largely due to dealers marking up prices during the pandemic and afterwards–this will be a welcome point. What we don’t know is how Slate will sell its Truck and future vehicles. Being tied in with Jeff Bezos and having (sort of) done auto sales with Hyundai before, don’t be surprised that Slate sells everything, including whole Trucks, on Amazon. There’s also the option of just buying off its website like you can with Rivian right now and having it delivered to your house or apartment by rollback.

Towing is a weak point for any all-electric vehicle, but the Slate Truck really isn’t selling a towing vehicle, either. Its payload for the cargo area is just 1,433-pounds and will only tow up to 1,000-pounds. Again, it’s a small truck and the Ford and Hyundai equivalents start at around 2,000-pounds with the Maverick coming with [a 5,000-pound package for the AWD version](https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/santa-cruz?ref=carbage.online) and trailer brake system.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-4.jpg)

One of the more "jacked up" SUV options, but the 2027 Slate Auto Truck will only offer RWD.

It will only be RWD, despite some off-road looking ideas presented by the Slate Auto website. Depending on how the front end is packaged, maybe Slate will offer an AWD pack but there is no mention of such a thing, just to be clear. It also uses a DeDion rear suspension on coil springs, which I have some thoughts on for a follow-up story. Just note that it’s a strange combination of live axle and independent axle. It’s been used in the past, but there are good reasons not many OEMs use this design. Personally, I would have liked to have seen either a traditional live solid axle like Scout Motors is doing or just go fully independent rear suspension. Hopefully, Slate will offer some sort of upgrade down the line to change the DeDion to IRS, but we’ll have to see. [There’s always the aftermarket for that, too](https://www.psiconversion.com/products/vehicle%5Fparts/chevy/1940-1998%5Fchevy%5Fgmc%5Fpickup%5Fsuburban/OBS/OBS-IRS-KIT.html?ref=carbage.online).

Electrics are starting to lose some favor in the public, but that’s mostly because of the pricing of EVs. The Slate Auto Truck could force a fix for that. Currently, the cheapest EV on sale new is the Nissan Leaf and the next cheapest is well beyond the $4,500 mark. If Slate can hold on to the $27,000 price, it would be cheaper than the current $29,280 Leaf and leaps cheaper than the next cheapest EV, the $34,425 Hyundai Kona Electric. With the Leaf also going to a bigger SUV body, expect that price to climb to potentially equal the Kona Electric.

The range of the basic Slate Truck is also not great at 150-miles of range and would only just beat the S trim Leaf by only one mile. The more expensive Kona Electric gets 200-miles of range out of its 48.6-kWh battery pack. Granted, the Kona EV is only powered by a 133 hp, 188 lb-ft of torque motor, but the Slate Truck should shoot for that 200-mile range as only a start.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-9.jpg)

While only the basic version was shown off in press images, the 2027 Slate Auto Truck shows many different options for front treatments on its website.

Finally, it’s a bit of a surprise that Slate Auto didn’t offer some sort of range extender pack like Scout Motors is offering for its truck and SUV. It wouldn’t need to be much like a simple two-cylinder generator with a small fuel tank for an extra 50-miles range can be packaged very neatly. I’d say it could potentially fit within the frunk space with a small amount of room to spare for day bags. Granted, that does take away the frunk party trick, but it would give some potential owners who don’t have the luxury of home or apartment electrical access an option and it wouldn’t take away from the fact that it will be electric first like the Scout Motors vehicles. Again, hopefully Slate is thinking about this. There is still a long time between now and any running preproduction vehicles to start running around for testing and media driving.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-7.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-10.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-18.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-19-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-20.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-2.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-5.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2027-Slate-Auto-Pickup-Truck-Electric-EV-6.jpg)

More concepts on just how customizable the 2027 Slate Auto Truck will be. At least in theory.

We should start hearing more details on the Slate Auto Truck, how everything will work, and the final pricing closer to that late 2026 date that it’s expected to begin production. The first bits of updates will probably start rolling out towards the end of this year and, if the timeline holds, expect media drives and reviews of preproduction Trucks to start between quarter two or early quarter three of 2026\. *Carbage* will be a part of those reviews, so look forward to seeing more about it, soon.
### Hotpit Autofest Drifts in Kevin Harvick’s Backyard: Round 2 Coverage from Kern Raceway
URL: https://carbage.online/hotpit-autofest-drifting-kern-raceway/
Last updated: 2025-04-22T10:00:28.000Z
Drifting on oval tracks is nothing new for the sport of drifting, [but Hotpit Autofest used a rather novel layout](https://www.hotpitautofest.com/?ref=carbage.online) that a track like Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway offered: a keyhole style hairpin on the highly banked front straight. It was also a chance to introduce drifting to a new set of eyes thanks to the inclusion of CARS West Tour Late Models running alongside the drift event. Carbage brings you all that and more in this review of Round 2–Revved Up.

### Before We Go Further

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-3.jpg)

Jeff Jones talking to the drivers during the Driver's Meeting

If you like the content on *Carbage* and want to see more or [just want to contribute](https://www.patreon.com/c/carbage?ref=carbage.online), be sure to support this site on Patreon. We know that even asking for $1 per month in the time we’re all having now is a lot to ask of you all but know that it will go to some amazing photographers this year as we cover the 2025 Formula Drift season and possibly beyond. And, yes, you have read that right: *Carbage* is hiring photographers for individual rounds the 2025 season. We have an amazing photographer lined up for Round 2 and Round 8 will be covered by your author, but we need photogs for every other round. If you or someone you know would be interested, let them know to us know at [jbannerautos@gmail.com](mailto:jbannerautos@gmail.com) and provide example images of your work.

Additionally, if you want to see more images from Hotpit Autofest, Formula Drift Long Beach, or any other event that I personally and don't have room to post here on the site, you can find them on the Patreon, again for a little as a $1 per month.

### Wait, Kevin Harvick Owns a Racetrack?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-7.jpg)

Only the "KCRP" logo remains on the VIP suites of the once "Kern County Raceway Park" name

No, Kevin Harvick doesn’t own a part of what was once known as Kern County Raceway Park. Around 2023, Tim and Lisa Huddleston–the last owners of Irwindale Speedway–took ownership of track and [renamed it in honor of Bakersfield’s NASCAR driver](https://www.kernraceway.com/?ref=carbage.online). He does make appearances at the track and is scheduled to drive with his son, Keelan, [will be driving in a race together](https://tickets.thefoat.com/kernraceway/5+31+25%3A+%E2%80%9CBattle+of+the+Harvick%E2%80%99s%E2%80%9D+at+Kern/tickets/id-f4QYarVgtaXq/?ref=carbage.online) as part of the Spears CARS Tour West Pro Late Model division on May 31st.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-67.jpg)

Coming off the Turn 4 start line and into the first turn of Round 2s course

The track itself is quite impressive and unique in the world of short tracks. While a half-mile oval isn’t the most impressive part, Kern Raceway is a bit like [a reverse North Wilkesboro Speedway in that there is an uphill climb](https://www.northwilkesborospeedway.com/?ref=carbage.online) of sorts heading into Turn 1 and around 10 feet higher in elevation versus the pit straight/eighth-mile inner oval. Going into Turn 3, you descend from that same elevation and increase speed, but both big oval turns feature progressive banking starting at 12 degrees inside and 14 degrees on the outside and connecting them are straights with eight degrees of banking to go along with the elevation changes.

### A Hotlanta Feelin’

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-19.jpg)

The keyhole turn that uses the banked front straight

It's that relatively high banked front straightaway that helped Hotpit create a keyhole hairpin that feels a bit like the keyhole at Road Atlanta as the feature turn and an outer zone that brings you right against the oval’s wall. The drivers don’t start drifting on the oval turns like you would see at Irwindale but instead do a rolling start and start ripping angles coming into the front straight. From there, Hotpit created an inner course using the inner oval but not venturing to the outer K-rails on the outermost portion of the layout. It created a long and challenging transition that required speed to keep your momentum going to swing around the keyhole. From there, they drive back into the inner oval in a slightly shorter transition before driving back onto the front straight that leads back into Turn 4 to finish out the run.

### Hotpit Ain’t No Shootout

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-5.jpg)

Luke Pakula sitting beside Adam Knapik during the Driver's Meeting

The track was one that required either lots of power or a driver that could conserve their momentum to keep their car going, especially along the very long transitions. The [Formula Drift professionals in attendance](https://carbage.online/formula-drift-starts-the-2025-season-on-the-streets-of-long-beach/) had no problems dealing with this track, but the ProAm drivers looking to gain their Formula Drift licenses for Pro2 showed that the game has drastically changed. These grassroots level drivers are no longer just your local guy holding their car together with zipties, hopes, and prayers. They have some legitimate talent and weren’t shy about going toe-to-toe against these seasoned and professional drivers like Trenton Beechum, Rome Charpentier, Kyle Mohan, Corey Hosford, Adam Knapik, and Luke Pakula. All drivers who were in competition at Hotpit Round 2.

Hotpit Autofest itself is also of a far different caliber of drifting event than what I covered and even announced in previous years. If there was a ProAm event on par with the presentation of Formula Drift, this is it. It has a full livestream that covers the action during the eight-round season [that goes live on *YouTube*](https://www.youtube.com/@hotpitautofest?ref=carbage.online). It comes down to the experience of the leader of Hotpit, Jeff Jones. While he is best known for being a Formula Drift Pro driver, Jones also has experience in the entertainment industry and has the knowhow to put on a live event of this caliber and you see it on the ground and online. It even attracts drivers far from California with East Coast drifters driving over 2,000 miles to compete in this series. It’s a legit series and will only continue to grow if Jones and his Hotpit crew can continue to produce this high-level of quality each and every event going forward.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-260.jpg)

Dustyn Farrell leading Rome Charpentier during the Top Eight

That’s not to discount those drivers, either. Even without the FD Pro and seasoned drivers showing up, the Hotpit regulars are no slouches. Again, they put on legitimate battles against some of the toughest drivers that aren’t signed to an OE manufacturer. For Round 2, two drivers exemplified this: Jerry Johnson and Dustyn Farrell. Farrell qualified in the number one position in his 2F Performance Nissan 240SX S14 and was able to make it to the Top 8\. He would be knocked out by Rome Charpentier in the Garagistic BMW 3-Series E36 Coupe, who simply had a much better and closer run in the chase position, but Farrell wasn’t holding back and could have easily taken Rome to a One More Time if he could have kept better proximity.

### A Wild Moment Before the Finals

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-299.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-300.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-301.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-302.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-303-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-306.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-307.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-314.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-315.jpg)

Yard sale as Trenton Beechum and Jerry Johnson make contact with each other, taking off the door skin of Johnson's GT86

Jerry Johnson quickly became a crowd favorite in his Toyota GT86, but it may have been a bit of a NASCAR influence. His Toyota no longer features the boxer four-cylinder it came with and is packing [a Dodge NASCAR-based R5P7 V8 mostly under the hood](https://www.enginebuildermag.com/2018/04/365-cid-dodge-r5p7-nascar-engine/?ref=carbage.online). The tall air cleaner sticks up from the bonnet quite a bit but makes some amazing noises at full bore. What also drew the crowd in on Jerry was his amazing run against Trenton Beechum in his ESR Performance Wheels BMW E46 Coupe in the Final Four. Johnson was able to keep proximity to Beechum during his follow run, so Beechum needed an equally amazing chase run following this. Johnson was able to put some distance on Beechum’s BMW on the transition leading into the keyhole but lost most of that into the fourth outer zone. Johnson went slightly wide and Beechum was able to close but went a little too hard and contacted Johnson’s door with his right front tire and front bumper. Beechum not only lost the fender, but also the bumper while Johnson lost the door skin but was fully protected by his rollcage.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-319.jpg)

Even without the spin, this would have been a hard battle for TJ to take the win on as Trenton was on point in this battle

Beechum would end up competing against the Valvoline Nissan 370Z [of TJ Hunt](https://www.youtube.com/@tjhunt%5F/videos?ref=carbage.online) and won after Hunt over rotated just before going into the keyhole. This would allow Beechum to take third place but to determine if this would be a Formula Drift sandwich podium or not, Johnson would face off against Rome Charpentier in the finals–taped-on door skin and all. While the hopes of the crowd were fully behind Johnson [with “Jerry, Jerry, Jerry” chants](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se1QWcIOKdU&pp=ygULamVycnkgY2hhbnQ%3D&ref=carbage.online) and an amazing looking chase run, all was dashed as Johnson overcooked the outer zone prior to the keyhole and went four tires off course. This would give Round Two to Rome while Johnson would take second. He did take it as a victory, and it was well deserved. Johnson–the everyman of the event–went toe-to-toe against some heavyweight drivers and still managed to make it to the podium and even earned the Hard Charger award for his efforts.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-224.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-235.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-254.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-274.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-297.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-321.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-339.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-341.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/HotPit-Autofest-Round-2-Kern-Raceway-Drifting-California-CARS-Tour-West-Late-Models-342.jpg)

The next round of the Hotpit Autofest series will drift back to Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, California, on July 12th. Tickets will go [on sale a few weeks before the event](https://tickets.thefoat.com/hotpitautofest/host%5Fid-109124/season%5Ftickets%5Ffirst-1/omit%5Fhide%5Fall%5Ffront%5Fend-1/pages/1-2?ref=carbage.online), so stay tuned.
### Formula Drift Starts the 2025 Season on the Streets of Long Beach
URL: https://carbage.online/formula-drift-starts-the-2025-season-on-the-streets-of-long-beach/
Last updated: 2025-04-07T10:54:28.000Z
The 2025 season of the Formula Drift championship starts off every year in Long Beach, California, on [the weekend before the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach](https://gplb.com/?ref=carbage.online). This unique relationship gives Formula Drift one of the only street circuits it takes on as part of its championship season while the rest took place on permanent road courses or oval tracks. Who would tame the bumpy, changing surfaces and walls of the streets and start their 2025 season with maximum points?

### Before We Go Further

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-111.jpg)

LZ hanging out after that wild final battle at Long Beach

If you like the content on Carbage and want to see more or [just want to contribute](https://www.patreon.com/c/carbage?ref=carbage.online), be sure to support this site on Patreon. We know that even asking for $1 per month in the time we’re all having now is a lot to ask of you all but know that it will go to some amazing photographers this year as we cover the 2025 Formula Drift season and possibly beyond. And, yes, you have read that right: Carbage is hiring photographers for individual rounds the 2025 season. We have an amazing photographer lined up for Round 2 and Round 8 will be covered by your author, but we need photogs for every other round. If you or someone you know would be interested, let us know at [jbannerautos@gmail.com](mailto:jbannerautos@gmail.com) and provide example images of your work.

### Seeded Qualifying

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-78-1.jpg)

Daniel Stuke in his Top 32 run at Long Beach

Qualifying in FD has changed from the hours long process to a seeding system based on the results of the previous round for the top 20 drivers. Of course, the start of the season technically means there isn’t a previous round, but Formula Drift bases the seeding on [the previous year’s final round](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hnlMXR3Pd0&ref=carbage.online). With the top 20 set, there are drivers that still need to qualify for every round but that has been changed several years ago to a qualification bracket where drivers compete against one another rather than two individual rounds. This also shows why this has been a mostly welcome change to the weekend schedule from your author’s previous years of covering the sport. For 2025, 13 drivers looked to solidify their spot into the storied Long Beach round.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-11.jpg)

Daigo Saito was looking good during practice

This also marked the first in 10 years [that Daigo Saito would compete on US soil](https://www.formulad.com/drivers/daigo-saito?ref=carbage.online). The legendary driver from Japan still draws a crowd and will always be an ever-present threat to the championship, but started Round One with a 31st seed, defeated by Jack Shanahan who would eventually seed into the 27th position.

Unfortunately, Ferrari fans would be disappointed as Federico Sceriffo failed to qualify for the Long Beach round. It wouldn’t be without a great effort, but Rudy Hansen would knock out Sceriffo in the first round of seeding. Hansen would eventually settle for a 26th seeding.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-17.jpg)

Andy Hateley and Simen Olsen during practice

Another fan favorite, Andy Hateley, marked his return to Pro competition and brought another BMW along with him, [having traded his E30 BMW 3-series for an E46 for competitive driving](https://www.hateleymotorsports.com/about-the-e30?ref=carbage.online). His effort brought about a 23rd seed position and gained six points for his top four finish in seeding competition. Dmitry Brutskiy and Derek Madison would round out the top five of seeding competition.

The top dogs of seeding were Daniel Stuke and Ben Hobson. Stuke has been rising star since his professional debut in 2024 and is a very active driver outside of Formula Drift competition [in his home state of Oklahoma and Full Lock Drift](https://www.fulllockdrift.com/?ref=carbage.online). By winning over Ben Hobson, whose second place seeding was seen as redemption over his 2024 efforts, Stuke gained 12 points and a number 21st seed position. Hobson would start the year with 9 points and Round One with a 22nd seeding positon.

### Top 32 Competition Highlights

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-50.jpg)

Tommy Lemaire battling against Adam LZ in Top 32

Formula Drift rookies Jack Shanahan [in the Kumho Tires BMW 1-Series](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se5hp-4G3eg&ref=carbage.online) and Tommy Lemaire would end up knocked out in Top 32, though this was a double tough round for Lemaire. The XPN/Kumho Tires Corvette C7 wouldn’t make the field after a crash before seeding qualifying. Lemaire would end up borrowing the BMW E36 3-series sedan that Rome Charpentier once piloted, with Rome moving on to the Garagistic Racing BMW 1-Series. Thanks to their qualifying finishes and points, the pair are tied at 3 apiece. Fellow rookie, Austin Matta in the Race Treads Nissan 240SX S14 was also knocked out in Top 32, but would gain no points as he was also knocked out by Daniel Stuke in the first round of seeding qualifying.

In what seems like a repeat for Daigo Saito, the 2012 champion’s year would start off tough for his team in 2025\. Saito’s Bathing Ape/Enjuku Racing GR86 experienced an engine failure during his Top 32 run against Odi Bakchis. Bakchis would finish in the Great Eight, credited with 20 points towards the 2025 championship.

### Top 16 Highlights

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-2.jpg)

Ben Hobson and Branden Sorensen during practice at Long Beach

Thanks to new rules in points, Ben Hobson and [his Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR will start the year](https://www.rtrvehicles.com/pages/ben-hobson?ref=carbage.online) with 19 points towards his 2025 season despite being knocked out in the Top 16\. Normally, drivers who are knocked out in this round would only see 10 points awarded in their 2025 championship run, but with Hobson finishing second in seeding qualifying, he gained nine additional points and currently sits tenth. A far better start than his 2024 season where he didn’t even qualify for Round One.

Daniel Stuke [in the Mspek Performance Nissan Silvia S15](https://www.mspek.com/?ref=carbage.online) would also be knocked out in Top 16, but his 12 points in seeding qualifying and 10 points for his Top 16 finish would earn him 22 points and place him fifth in 2025 standings.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-23.jpg)

Matt Field in the Borla Performance Chevrolet Corvette

While the start of his 2025 season is on par with 2024, Matt Field in [the Borla Performance Chevrolet Corvette is still probably upset with himself](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tefQzW4mjGk&ref=carbage.online) at getting knocked out in the Top 16\. Though, the driver that took him out would go on to the Final Four and be credited with fourth place and 30 points towards the 2025 championship.

With a change to his engine program, Jhonnattan Castro [in the Metaldom Toyota GR86 would end up finishing in the Top 16](https://www.instagram.com/jcastroracing/?hl=en&ref=carbage.online). The new engine is based on the same engine in the Toyota GR Supra but built with Supertech Performance internals among a slew of other changes. Regardless, a Top 16 exit is still better than his performance in 2024 and seems like the changes are working.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-19.jpg)

It's hard to believe that Hiroya Minowa is only 15 years old

At only 15 years old, Hiroya Minowa in the Enjuku Racing Toyota GT86 [is living the dream of most young sim racers around the world](https://www.instagram.com/hiroya.minowa/?hl=en&ref=carbage.online). He’s also proving he has experience beyond his age thanks to his Top 16 finish at Long Beach, a notorious course for many veterans of drifting. He’s well on his way to cementing a long legacy, but those stories do come with hiccups along the way as Minowa finished in the Great Eight in 2024.

### Great Eight Highlights

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-20.jpg)

Odi Bakchis during practice at Long Beach

2024 started out great for Odi Bakchis [in the Feal Suspension Nissan 240SX S14 by finishing Long Beach in the Final Four](https://fealsuspensionstore.com/?ref=carbage.online). 2025 would be less so after being knocked out in the Great Eight by the same driver that knocked out Matt Field in a unanimous decision against Odi.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-45.jpg)

Chris Forsberg leading Dan Burkette in Top 32

Christ Forsberg in [the NOS Energy Nissan Z would be knocked out in Top 16](https://www.drinknos.com/en-us/sports/athlete/chris-forsberg/?ref=carbage.online) by fan favorite, Adam LZ in the Drift Garage BMW 3-Series E36, in a One More Time (OMT) run. While a Great Eight is most likely a disappointment for Forsberg, he’s still showing that he will be a tough veteran to compete against in 2025\. This is also “revenge” for Adam LZ, as Adam was knocked out in Top 32 by Forsberg in 2024\. Though, that revenge did cost LZ [a valve stem and a tire](https://carbage.online/making-tires-in-the-age-of-advanced-automation/) after Forsberg made contact with Outer Zone Three, straightened out, and made just enough impact with LZ to rip it out.

Conor Shanahan in [the Red Bull Toyota GT86 has been drifting for over a decade](https://www.redbull.com/us-en/athlete/conor-shanahan?ref=carbage.online) but made his name famous thanks to Top Gear at the age of 14\. A Great Eight exit would be exciting for anyone at his age of 21 and will mark as an improvement over his Top 32 exit in 2024.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-62.jpg)

Ryan Tuerck in the Rain X Corolla during Top 16

Still rockin’ in the ‘rolla, [Ryan Tuerck finished out Round One with a Great Eight appearance](https://www.youtube.com/RyanTuerck?ref=carbage.online) in the Rain X Toyota GR Corolla and one of the only RWD conversions in the field for 2025\. The driver who took him out would be his Toyota teammate, Fredric Aasbo in the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra.

### Final Four

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-56.jpg)

Branden Sorenson battling Andy Hateley in Top 32

With the Final Four set, two drivers would be guaranteed a podium spot due to their seeding positions. Only Branden Sorensen, [the surprise standout of Long Beach](https://www.instagram.com/branden%5Fsorensen/?hl=en&ref=carbage.online), would be the only one that would have to fight to make it on the steps. While he made an impressive performance for only his fifth year as a Formula Drift Pro driver, Sorensen in the Air Force BMW 4-Series F32, would have to battle against three-time Formula Drift champion, Fredric Aasbo. Despite such a heroic effort put on by the younger veteran, Aasbo would take the win, and Sorensen was off the podium and would settle for fourth place at Long Beach.

The battle between former RTR teammates James Deane in the Auto Zone Mustang RTR and Adam LZ, now in the Drift HQ E36 and [back as his own team for the full 2025 effort](https://lzmfg.com/?srsltid=AfmBOormlmh-pxiaDv97UddQWsb48Z9eV6aBj4E8nehytf4RuL3zW%5FmQ&ref=carbage.online), took place during the Final Four. While LZ’s chase run put him right by the door of Deane, LZ’s lead run would be marked against by a shallower line at all three Outer Zones, but Outer Zone 1 was particularly shorter. A unanimous decision by the judges meant that Adam LZ was on the podium but would have to settle for third place.

### Final Battle

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-99.jpg)

James Deane leading Fredric Aasbo just before their OMT

2024 champion, [James Deane in the Auto Zone Mustang would get there](https://www.instagram.com/jamesdeane130/?hl=en&ref=carbage.online) intact versus 2024\. An engine fire during 2024’s Media Day made the RTR team scramble to get Deane’s Mustang back to running condition in less than a week of time. 2025 was much smoother sailing having gained the number one seed thanks to his results at Round Eight and coming back as the reigning champion.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-104.jpg)

Fredric Aasbo gets the win at the Streets of Long Beach

But his ultimate battle wouldn’t be an easy one going against Fredric Aasbo in his Rockstar Supra and he truly proved that by taking Deane to a OMT in the finals. In what Deane was hoping would be a victorious repeat for Long Beach, he would just be edged out of that OMT and take second place [while Fredric Aasbo would take the win](https://www.toyota.com/racing/tgrna/formula-drift/drivers/fredric-aasbo?ref=carbage.online) in a hard-fought battle of Ford vs Toyota. This would also be Aasbo’s revenge against Deane, who took the Norwegian out in the Great Eight in 2024 and mark only the second time Aasbo finished on the podium in Round One.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-110.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-112.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-16.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-24.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-33.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-96.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-98.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-103.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/04/2025-Formula-Drift-Long-Beach-Round-1-Drifting-Motorsports-California-106.jpg)

Check out all the images from the Streets of Long Beach Round [on our Patreon!](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online)

The next round of the 2025 Formula Drift season heads [to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia](https://fd.torkhub.com/event/381607/tickets?ref=carbage.online). The series will be joined by its Prospec series along with the Gridlife series with Time Attack, GLTC Touring Cup, and Rush SR racing. It all takes place on Mother’s Day Weekend on May 8th to the 10th.
### Cadillac Will Return to Le Mans for 2025
URL: https://carbage.online/cadillac-will-return-to-le-mans-for-2025/
Last updated: 2025-03-04T14:00:59.000Z
## The four-team effort will consist of IMSA and WEC teams for a true global effort at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Cadillac is set to return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the 2025 running and will bring four teams along for the French endurance classic. All four cars will compete for the Hypercar class trophy and challenge the best Europe will offer like Peugeot, Alpine, Porsche, and more.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/03/2025-Cadillac-V-Series-R-24-Hours-of-Le-Mans-ACO-WEC-Hyper-Car-14.jpg)

Image: Wayne Taylor Racing

[Wayne Taylor Racing](https://waynetaylorracing.com/?ref=carbage.online) with the Dex Imaging number 101 Cadillac V-Series.R will be driven by Ricky Tayler leading the team while Action Express Racing will bring the Whelen Engineering 311 car lead by Jack Aitken.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/03/2025-Cadillac-V-Series-R-24-Hours-of-Le-Mans-ACO-WEC-Hyper-Car-3-1.jpg)

Image: [Action Express Racing](https://axracing.com/?ref=carbage.online)

Other drivers for both of those cars will be announced later, but this is the third year that Action Express has raced in France while Ricky Taylor has raced at lemans for multiple teams between 2013 and 2023\. Despite Ricky’s experience, this will be the first time that Wayne Taylor Racing will be racing at Le Mans.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/03/2025-Cadillac-V-Series-R-24-Hours-of-Le-Mans-ACO-WEC-Hyper-Car-10.jpg)

Image: [Jota Sport](https://jotasport.com/?ref=carbage.online)

Jota Sport, meanwhile, will bring its two FIA WEC entries of the number 12 and number 38 Hertz sponsored Cadillac V-Series.R cars [with drivers Jenson Button](https://www.instagram.com/jensonbutton/?ref=carbage.online), Earl Bamber, Sebastien Bourdais, Alex Lynn, Norman Nato, and Will Stevens.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/03/2025-Cadillac-V-Series-R-24-Hours-of-Le-Mans-ACO-WEC-Hyper-Car-V8-1.jpg)

The 5.5-liter V8 powering the Cadillac V-Series.R cars. Image: [Cadillac](https://www.cadillac.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopM7zSMkzjpaYR6M-c-PJn0WTqk4j%5F0e%5FDn%5FPdWGoUMwKvfhzlN&ref=carbage.online)

While the Hypercar class is very close [to IMSAs GTP class](https://carbage.online/2025-imsa-phillips-66-acura-racing-gtp/) with both being hybrid-electric prototype racers, there are differences. The major one is total power output, which is common among all cars in Hypercar and limited to around 670 hp total output. Otherwise, the Cadillac V-Series.R is powered by the same a 5.5-liter double overhead camshaft (DOHC) V8 it is in IMSA GTP. This includes the 67 hp Bosch-supplied Motor Generator Unit (MGU) as per the LMDh ruleset. Unlike a few entries in Hypercar, the Cadillac engine is naturally aspirated and brings about a unique sound amongst the field of V12s and turbocharged V6s.

### Before You Go

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/03/2025-Cadillac-V-Series-R-24-Hours-of-Le-Mans-ACO-WEC-Hyper-Car-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/03/2025-Cadillac-V-Series-R-24-Hours-of-Le-Mans-ACO-WEC-Hyper-Car-2.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/03/2025-Cadillac-V-Series-R-24-Hours-of-Le-Mans-ACO-WEC-Hyper-Car-4.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/03/2025-Cadillac-V-Series-R-24-Hours-of-Le-Mans-ACO-WEC-Hyper-Car-5.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/03/2025-Cadillac-V-Series-R-24-Hours-of-Le-Mans-ACO-WEC-Hyper-Car-6.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/03/2025-Cadillac-V-Series-R-24-Hours-of-Le-Mans-ACO-WEC-Hyper-Car-8.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/03/2025-Cadillac-V-Series-R-24-Hours-of-Le-Mans-ACO-WEC-Hyper-Car-9.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/03/2025-Cadillac-V-Series-R-24-Hours-of-Le-Mans-ACO-WEC-Hyper-Car-11.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/03/2025-Cadillac-V-Series-R-24-Hours-of-Le-Mans-ACO-WEC-Hyper-Car-12.jpg)

I want to encourage [you to support me on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online). *Carbage* is going to be hitting it hard this year and I need your help to bring you awesome coverage and content all year long. All you need to do to support *Carbage* is donate as little as $1 per month. That little amount makes a dramatic difference when more people support the site. You can also sign up [to receive more stories](https://carbage.online/#/portal/account/plans/) on the site to know when they go live, comment, and get exclusive access to our Discord and other unique features to help me create more stories and videos like this and more.
### Making Tires in the Age of Advanced Automation
URL: https://carbage.online/making-tires-in-the-age-of-advanced-automation/
Last updated: 2025-02-25T02:00:03.000Z
## With the rise of AI, more advanced robots, and the need to tightly control inventory, how has Kumho Tire evolved its tire manufacturing process?

When it comes to manufacturing a tire, it’s no longer just a process of creating a mold and compound and just simply hoping for the best or trying repeatedly until it’s right. What used to take years of research and development has now been reduced to just a few months. Where you needed to build a physical prototype or development tire can now be modeled accurately by a computer and iterations changed on the fly before even making the mold. Essentially, when you see the physical tire [at a show like SEMA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se5hp-4G3eg&ref=carbage.online), that tire has already seen virtual years of development. But that’s not all that has changed when producing a tire at Kumho Tire.  
  
**Note**: Some links *may lead* to Amazon pages where I do **make a commission** if you decide to purchase items from those links.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/Kumho-Tire-Modern-Technology-Review-4.jpg)

Image: [Kumho Tire](https://www.kumhotire.com/us/?ref=carbage.online)

When I was [introduced to the Kumho Tire Ecsta](https://www.amazon.com/Kumho-Performance-Radial-Tire-245-Load-ply/dp/B00SRGTHXA?crid=1QHWOP52T734B&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.P%5FT4k8YIuDk2GLZmfyYEGjViPsQqDXYtDAVLpMfrJpCXwZB18xQ76nsq5i0E8bTGyQCpmWLKIZgH%5FLq%5Fd3bevrO2QxJCg7LppfR3P9JMX9Vfabrvcw5%5FPvE9UWXlGBOiUyoX6O3qc2uorcXEvOCfMuF91zm8Lt%5Fp%5Fc9qNNfKrqaQTBIIYWuW%5FVyg8ZlOJYmfNc5HDI4DqVmJI1lGYc%5FUwg4cDsJt%5FRrw1WHK-MIrO9Y.MLcdvvSLn03Axxxhsnpufv1lMRnJpOtmloYXOzhX-OY&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=kumho+ecsta&qid=1740433067&sprefix=kumho+ecsta%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-11&linkCode=ll1&tag=carbage0f-20&linkId=73ea2e65d90816b3130c4d061d840aaa&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl&ref=carbage.online) and Road Venture RT, one thing was rather clear: tire technology has changed since the last time I even looked into it about five to ten years ago. Development time has sped up thanks to new computer models that not only test the ability of tread patterns, but even the way compounds work in real life can be created virtually. Now, with Artificial Intelligence being used for everything nowadays, Kumho Tire expects both their development time and materials costs to reduce significantly. When I asked the Korean tire brand about how the process of making tires has changed it directed me to speak to Rick Cunat, managing director at Kumho Tire USA’s technical center in Akron, Ohio.

### The Digital Twin: A Virtual Tire for Testing

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/Kumho-Tire-Modern-Technology-Review-2.jpg)

Image: Kumho Tire

It’s good to start with the conception of a tire first, as that’s where much of the focus has changed in its development at Kumho. It calls this digital copy the “Virtual Twin” and this computer-generated tire sees the same testing as a physical tire would, just not in the real world. This alone accounts for much of the time and cost reduction mentioned above, but there is a new player in this game: Artificial Intelligence, or AI.

In this case, AI isn’t being used in writing out press releases or creating silly images of impossible tires for social entertainment. Instead, it’s being used in more useful ways that have real world use. The first is digesting research of materials into meaningful, but condensed language for researchers to help choose a potential compound or tire design that will work in real life. Soon, Kumho sees its AI working on tire tread patterns for the virtual twin tires to find the right design that offers the least compromises or the best performance for the goals it sets out for things like wet grip, noise reduction, and more. “In the future, we plan to build a platform to derive new insights through data-driven decision-making for design direction and research data analysis,” said Cunat, “In addition, we plan to shorten tire design time and enhance development efficiency through the development of various AI technologies in the product development process or tire [Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT).](https://www.iotforall.com/what-does-gpt-stand-for?ref=carbage.online)”

### Rapid Prototyping with 3D Printing

Another technology that has seen dramatic rise in all forms of industry is 3D printing. While the process itself is rather old, the rapid scaling of capabilities has changed how everyone–[even readers like yourself](https://www.amazon.com/ELEGOO-Automatic-Intelligent-Detection-WiFi-Transfer/dp/B0D3TMS8DF?crid=1NH674O83H5LZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.cxgJDWTRZoyEa5d7q75tVRLt46aAkjq1SbKwgBRRPIeEZucJr6WmDi9Lo4JHmzOw1hgSHdsCS6dd8sPZGVHFH4wIJ2lTvM-1Mc1qjGUP6olPT8scldu%5FYAoDozm6tfwWt17DsZOHe-aGFC%5FozbOqTE7sB5BdOBkU1hAnmG9%5F%5FvMad%5Ff6BPhvF4j2BnmPZQw5HES6f4QCSB38NW%5FiNidXVqx2ocCq6ayZ8lZ1RAdqWPY.Gs4wKBo%5FMlA%5FaQslksbViIFsz5%5FtUjgHR5uuy6uhLAo&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=elegoo%2B3d%2Bprinter&qid=1740433803&sprefix=elegoo%2Caps%2C179&sr=8-1&th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=carbage0f-20&linkId=999eb180f22d1ebe3214c994fed59b3b&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl&ref=carbage.online)–have been able to make things out of many types of materials from resin to metals and beyond. For Kumho, 3D printing has allowed easier and less expensive prototyping methods for mock-ups on tread patterns and sidewall designs. While a virtual twin will give you valid data, looking at something in real light will help you decide if a design is pleasing to the eye at all angles. It also allows Kumho to test out technologies like the internal spokes for airless tires and how 3D printing might be a direction towards real world production, but Cunat told me that for mass-scale production, “there is no plan, yet.”

### Changes to Tire Manufacturing

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/Kumho-Tire-Modern-Technology-Review-3.jpg)

Image: Kumho Tire

Once a tire has been developed, validated, and approved for manufacturing, more changes to process for Kumho continues. The process of making a tire for consumer use has changed thanks to automation and tracking controls. Raw materials storage and use was once a fully manual process with paper tags and is now tracked using RFID and automated storage and retrieval systems. Mixing compound materials, reeling that material, and even inspecting it is all done by automation. Loading and transporting these raw materials and new Kumho tires are also automated to ensure that every step is precise, repeatable, and as efficient as possible.

Even the raw materials have seen dramatic changes from the past five to ten years as eco-friendly tires have become the demand by all customers of Kumho tires. It’s not just the end product that customers are worried about, it is the entire process of making a tire. “Kumho Tire takes [the environmental issues arising from the production, usage, disposal of tires seriously](https://assessments.epa.gov/risk/document/&deid%3D361070?ref=carbage.online), establishing a circular economy system from product design to disposal,” its media representative told me. To make its tires more sustainable, 80 percent of a tire is made from recycled black carbon materials like recycled PET plastics, steel cord, and synthetic rubber. Silica–that’s mixed into the rubber compound and aids in all-weather traction–is obtained from natural resources like burnt rice husks while resin is extracted from pine tree sap. Even the oils needed to make a tire is sourced from sunflowers. That, however, only makes up 25.7 percent of the sustainable raw materials Kumho Tire uses. In five years, Kumho expects that percentage to rise to 40 percent and to be fully using 100 percent sustainable materials by 2045\. “In realizing these goals, Kumho Tire aims to provide not just products but the value of a sustainable mobility experience,” said Kumho’s media representative.

### Heavier Vehicles are in Our Future

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/Kumho-Tire-Modern-Technology-Review-1.jpg)

Image: [Volkswagen](https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en?ref=carbage.online)

Looking at where we are and where most vehicles on the road will feature some sort of electrification in the future, vehicles will continue to increase in weight. Kumho, for its part, is already well past the development phase for tires for these vehicles. Back around 2021, Kumho was already developing tires for the first true generations of mass production electric vehicles (EVs) like the Nissan Leaf and are already leveraging this developmental [experience on vehicles like Extended Range EVs (EREVs)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ4Dw-NNsec&ref=carbage.online) as well as higher battery capacity, long range electric vehicles.  
Its newest tires will feature compounds that not only allow for 80,000 miles of use but also retain a low glass transition temperature (also known as Tg). This is the temperature at which the rubber goes from a glass-like state to its rubbery state. There are also new belt technologies that allow [the use of mono-wire in the steel belts](https://patents.google.com/patent/US6520232B1/en?ref=carbage.online) over stranded wire that help reduce the weight of the tire, allowing for equal performance with better efficiency and capabilities.

### The Future of Tires is Airless, but Not Right Now

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/Kumho-Tire-Modern-Technology-Review-5.jpg)

Image: Kumho Tire

Future tire talk will always involve the idea of airless tires. It’s a good reason: most tire failures and reduced mileage for both internal combustion engine vehicles and EVs are tires with low air pressure. It’s been a development for decades in the making with no manufacturer really breaking through to the road-going environment. At the moment, [these tires are limited to low-speed vehicles](https://www.amazon.com/MARASTAR-31426-2PK-15x6-00-6-Flat-Free-Replacement/dp/B0D64ZTMXD?crid=29NROHQKG5C5C&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nxdA1NR2pMo8SZyuMrw5FSF6Z6x-12MvEkObcyldFCO6r2-YXss%5FQ0AaOol6u3GKaXKB0SYcFUwfwM%5FEKPAoOXoKe2wRbV5cuCD3Tl9D8sFmBhE5m0cFaGqFNQHJGNDuDT7LQTh7pWQ9QypizDKvM5MJeq-yuDLcP29iv7uAngjSJ-CqnsEh01pg%5Fe0JGxbnN9lZWFEw84F-AqqyRzWtsWYiW7nAZNoZmNp7XzsJqGg.aGP9KQohWNzIps0FtbR6rTmOqd%5FXcc0oxNZxzh6vZX8&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=airless+lawn+mower+tire&qid=1740433743&sprefix=airless+tire+lawn%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=carbage0f-20&linkId=fde33512a543227067d97d336070981a&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl&ref=carbage.online) like micro-mobility, delivery robots, landscaping, and heavy industry vehicles. Kumho has airless tires and–as mentioned before–they are using 3D printing to help develop the technology now but focused on the smaller vehicle uses like unmanned autonomous and robotic vehicles. But they aren’t giving up on transitioning to the cars, trucks, and SUVs we all drive daily. “We are currently focusing on low-speed airless tire technology and are aiming to develop high-speed airless tire technology for passenger cars in the near future,” said Cunat, “For example, we will develop airless tire technology that can achieve performance similar to pneumatic tires by improving the tread band technology obtained from the development of low-speed airless tires and developing new spoke technology.”

For the time being, tire technology will look the same to someone who only views their tires are part of a machine that simply takes them from point A to point B. Nothing radical will be on the horizon in the very near future. But for those of us who look deeper, tires are developing at a rapid pace with interesting evolutions in both development and manufacturing. It’s not just an interesting time for Kumho Tire, it’s an amazing time for every part of the automotive industry. It’s just that tires will continue to be the biggest players in how our vehicles will perform.

### Before You Go

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/Resized-Scout-Terra-Traveler.jpg)

Image: Scout Motors

I want to encourage [you to support me on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online). *Carbage* is going to be hitting it hard this year and I need your help to bring you awesome coverage and content all year long. All you need to do to support *Carbage* is donate as little as $1 per month. That little amount makes a dramatic difference when more people support the site. You can also sign up [to receive more stories](https://carbage.online/#/portal/account/plans/) on the site to know when they go live, comment, and get exclusive access to our Discord and other unique features to help me create more stories and videos like this and more.
### 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N TA Sets EV Record at Tsukuba
URL: https://carbage.online/2025-hyundai-ioniq-5-n-ta-sets-ev-record-at-tsukuba/
Last updated: 2025-02-19T14:00:43.000Z
## Driven by the legendary Nobuteru “NOB” Taniguchi, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N TA Spec car set a record for EVs at the equally legendary Japanese Circuit, Tsukuba.

There are three permanent tracks in the world that represent places to set records: Nurburgring Nordschleife, Buttonwillow Raceway Park Clockwise 13, and Tsukuba Circuit. The latter is credited as the birthplace of the motorsports discipline known as Time Attack and where the globe centers itself for a [brief period in February](https://www.timeattack.co.jp/?ref=carbage.online) to see just who will drop below the 55-second mark around the 1.271-mile course. This year, Hyundai entered as a participant of Attack Tsukuba using the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N TA Spec with the only driver you could have behind the wheel for such an event, Nobuteru “NOB” Taniguchi. It was worth it in the end with a new record for electric vehicles (EVs) set by the team and just missing the sub-55 time by just over 2 seconds.

### The Ioniq 5 N TA Spec

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/2025-Hyundai-Ioniq-5-N-TA-Spec-Tsukuba-Circuit-Time-Attack-Record-EV-Electric-Vehicles-1.jpg)

The Ioniq 5 N TA Spec twins at Pikes Peak. Image: [Hyundai](https://www.hyundaiusa.com/?ref=carbage.online)

The car NOB was driving is the same spec that ran up the 2024 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb originally driven by Hyundai’s World Rally Championship driver, Dani Sordo. While its weight isn’t listed, [the standard 5 N comes in](https://www.hyundai-n.com/en/models/n/ioniq-5-n.do?ref=carbage.online) just under 4,900 pounds and converting one to a racecar would potentially put it closer to 4,600 to 4,700 pounds. This is especially true when you consider that both the TA Spec and road going cars use the same 84-kWh battery pack and the same 641 horsepower dual motor AWD setup.

The changes from road [to racecar are](https://www.hyundai-n.com/en/models/motorsports/ioniq-5-n-ta-spec.do?ref=carbage.online) the use of two-way adjustable coilovers, an aggressive aerodynamics package, stripped out interior with a single Recaro Pro Racer Spa seat and Sabelt six-point harness, and roll cage. [The brakes are also changed](https://carbage.online/how-brakes-work-are-made/) from the four-piston front, single-piston rear calipers on the 5 N to six-piston front, four-piston rear calipers on the TA Spec car. Finally, the tires and wheels are swapped from the 21-inch units wrapped in Pirelli P-Zeros in 275/35R21 to 18x11 inch ASA forged aluminum wheels with Yokohama Advan 005 slicks wrapped around them. This setup was good enough for Sordo to win the Exhibition Class at Pikes Peak with a 9 minute 30.852-seconds. In other words, they are giving NOB one hell of a car.

### The Record at Tsukuba

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/2025-Hyundai-Ioniq-5-N-TA-Spec-Tsukuba-Circuit-Time-Attack-Record-EV-Electric-Vehicles-5.jpg)

The Ioniq 5 N TA Spec ripping around Tsukuba Circuit to set its EV record time. Image: Hyundai

Running in Time Attack means you’re looking to set the fastest time with a clean lap. You’re not running wheel to wheel, it’s the excitement of seeing your car (or your favorite car and driver) get faster with every lap it takes. There is also the appeal of setting a record at the track you’re running for the category or an overall track record.

It should come as no surprise that Nobuteru Taniguchi is the guy you hire to drive Tsukuba if your aim is to set records. You’ll find that his name is littered among the fastest times at the circuit in a multitude of cars, but his most famous–or infamous, depending on your stance–is the HKS CT230R, an all-carbon fiber bodied Mitsubishi Evolution IX. However, he is currently the fastest driver to fly around the track in another HKS-modified machine, the TRB-03 Toyota 86 with a 49.445.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/2025-Hyundai-Ioniq-5-N-TA-Spec-Tsukuba-Circuit-Time-Attack-Record-EV-Electric-Vehicles-4.jpg)

NOB heading into the second turn at Tsukuba Circuit. Image: Hyundai

The [previous record for EVs was set by](https://www.timeattack.co.jp/wps/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/%E3%82%B7%E3%83%90%E3%82%BF%E3%82%A4%E3%83%A4-presents-Attack-Tsukuba-2024-%E7%B7%8F%E5%90%88%E3%83%AA%E3%82%B6%E3%83%AB%E3%83%88.pdf?ref=carbage.online) the Unpluded Performance and Taisan team with a Tesla Model S Plaid driven by the one and only NOB in 2024 with a time of 59.598-seconds. With breaking the 2024 EV record the goal, NOB took the wheel of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N TA Spec car and smashed that Teslas time with a 57.446-second run–beating it by 2.152-seconds. Overall, the Ioniq 5 N TA Spec placed 23rd out of 150 cars and beating out such competitors in cars like the Nissan GT-R, Tesla Plaid, and two other Ioniq 5s entered by DSpec and Cusco.

The [fastest car for Attack Tsukuba 2025](https://www.timeattack.co.jp/8277?ref=carbage.online) went to the B-A-R team in their JZZ30 Toyota Soarer–the 1991 to 2000 Lexus SC300 here in the US–with owner Kunihiko Bando behind the wheel. The outlandish build that’s nearly more carbon than car set a time of 51.086-seconds, topping the Sunoco Voltex GT-R by 2.349 seconds and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N TA Spec by 6.360-seconds.

That may sound disappointing that it wasn’t the fastest car out at Tsukuba Circuit, we must remember that wasn’t the point. It was out to set an EV record, and it did that in spades. But this record run will also encourage [more all-electrics to start showing up](https://carbage.online/the-ford-mustang-mach-e-is-going-racing/) and set times in the future. The day of a competitive sub-55 EV time may come sooner rather than later as more tuner shops around Japan and the world continue to embrace them. We must also prepare ourselves for the inevitable: a sub-50 time set by a car powered by electricity.

### Before You Go

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/2025-Hyundai-Ioniq-5-N-TA-Spec-Tsukuba-Circuit-Time-Attack-Record-EV-Electric-Vehicles-3.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/2025-Hyundai-Ioniq-5-N-TA-Spec-Tsukuba-Circuit-Time-Attack-Record-EV-Electric-Vehicles-6.jpg)

Hyundai celebrating its achievement and the Ioniq 5 at Tsukuba. Images: Hyundai

I want to encourage [you to support me on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online). *Carbage* is going to be hitting it hard this year and I need your help to bring you awesome coverage and content all year long. All you need to do to support *Carbage* is donate as little as $1 per month. That little amount makes a dramatic difference when more people support the site. You can also sign up [to receive more stories](https://carbage.online/#/portal/account/plans/)  
on the site to know when they go live, comment, and get exclusive access to our Discord and other unique features to help me create more stories like this, videos, IRL streams from events, and more.
### Recharging Finally Comes to Formula E With Pit Boost
URL: https://carbage.online/recharging-finally-comes-to-formula-e-with-pit-boost/
Last updated: 2025-02-15T20:00:29.000Z
## The Jeddah Grand Prix was the launch of the long-awaited recharging pit stops that these Gen 3 cars promised and looks to have delivered it.

When it was introduced, one of the main selling points of the Gen 3 Evo Formula E car was its ability to perform a DC fast charge during a pit stop. This idea would not only bring about a feature road going electric vehicles (EVs) already utilized but in an extreme environment where speed is everything. This weekend, we finally got to see this system in action during the Jeddah ePrix round of Season 11 of the Formula E series.

First, the Jeddah ePrix–[in its namesake city in Saudi Arabia](https://jeddahcircuit.com/?ref=carbage.online)–is located on the same street circuit that Formula 1 utilizes during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix but shortened to just 1.865-mile in length and replaces the Diriyah street circuit. While the length is cut down drastically from its usual GP 3.836-mile length, the ePrix circuit adds four chicanes (two on the front straight, two on the back straight) and uses a hairpin to connect the GP circuit’s turn 3 to turn 22\. That said, it wasn’t just being a new circuit that would bring excitement–and boy did it deliver on that with Race 1 on Friday night–this would be the debut of the Pit Boost recharging during a mandatory mid-race stop.

### How Pit Boost Works

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/Formula-E-Pit-Boost-Zeekr-Polestar-XFC-Extreme-Fast-Charging-Pit-Stop-8.jpg)

[The Envision Racing Team](https://envision-racing.com/?ref=carbage.online) practicing a Pit Boost stop. Image: Formula E

Pit Boost is a new way to add extra speed thanks to an increase of State of Charge (SoC) to cars while also creating some race strategy that Formula E was missing since it stopped doing the mid-race car swaps of the Gen 1 cars. It will also only be done at certain tracks that the FIA designates as a place to allow for Pit Boost stops with teams getting notifications 21 days before the ePrix. Attack Mode–where drivers go off the racing line at a certain section of the track for [a limited power boost during a race](https://e-formula.news/wiki/attack-mode?ref=carbage.online)–will still exist alongside this recharge stop, adding even more race strategy to this already unique all-electric series races.

Once the teams decide when their cars will stop within the window Formula E designates, they must also determine which car stops first, as only a single car may be recharged at a time in a pit stall. There will only be three team members to go over the wall during the stop. One to hold the “lollipop” or signboard to stop and release the car, two for the recharging and any other work the car needs while in the pit stall.

### How Fast Is That Stop, Exactly?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/Formula-E-Pit-Boost-Zeekr-Polestar-XFC-Extreme-Fast-Charging-Pit-Stop-6.jpg)

[The Maserati MSG Racing crew](https://www.maseratimsgracing.com/?ref=carbage.online) just before a Pit Boost stop. Image: Formula E

First, don’t come in expecting a Formula 1 or even NASCAR pit stop times. Even without changing tires, this battery recharge session takes around 30 seconds to complete while a full pit stop will be timed to 34 seconds for all cars. Even so, we’re still talking about adding 3.85-kWh of battery SoC in that time frame, about 10 percent of the 47-kWh battery capacity of the Gen 3 Evo cars.

This equates to a 600 kW DC charge rate and, to put that in perspective, your average 800v capable DC Fast Charger system is only capable of 350 to 400 kW. At that rate, it takes around 30 minutes on average to charge from 10 to 80 percent SoC for something like a Hyundai Ioniq 5 with an 800-volt, 74-kWh battery pack. If it were capable of the same charge rate as a Formula E Gen 3 Evo car, that time would drop to as little as 6 minutes if it can hold that 600 kW from start to finish. Anyone who owns or studies EVs and battery packs knows that holding a high charge rate is a challenge due to thermal limits of the battery pack, among other issues with charging that hard.

### XFC Is Here Now, Sort Of

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/Formula-E-Pit-Boost-Zeekr-Polestar-XFC-Extreme-Fast-Charging-Pit-Stop-2.jpg)

Polestar image proving its 2024 Extreme Fast Charging (XFC) attempt on a Polestar 5\. [Image: Polestar](https://www.polestar.com/us/?ref=carbage.online)

The fastest charging road car, right now, is [the Zeekr 7X SUV with its 75-kWh Golden lithium iron phosphate (LFP or LiFePO4) battery pack](https://insideevs.com/news/749125/worlds-fastest-charging-ev-zeekr-7x?ref=carbage.online). It was capable of a 10.5-minute 10 to 80 percent DC fast charge using an 840-kW charging station in China. While impressive, it, too, dropped its charging rate as time went on with a peak of 460-kW before dropping and holding to just 400-kW between the 10 to 80 percent session. Its parent company, Geely Auto, also owns Polestar that tested a new battery pack in 2024 on a Polestar 5 electric sedan. This new pack used StoreDot silicon-dominate cells (a still experimental battery cell design) that went from 10 percent to 80 percent within 10 minutes.

The technology for extreme fast charging (XFC, as Polestar called it) is there, it’s just the need for adoption. Hopefully, the excitement of Formula E and news of these sub-15-minute DC fast charge times from other automakers can help drive public interest in XFCs here in the US.

### Before You Go

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/Formula-E-Pit-Boost-Zeekr-Polestar-XFC-Extreme-Fast-Charging-Pit-Stop-3.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/Formula-E-Pit-Boost-Zeekr-Polestar-XFC-Extreme-Fast-Charging-Pit-Stop-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/Formula-E-Pit-Boost-Zeekr-Polestar-XFC-Extreme-Fast-Charging-Pit-Stop-4.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/02/Formula-E-Pit-Boost-Zeekr-Polestar-XFC-Extreme-Fast-Charging-Pit-Stop-5.jpg)

Images: Polestar and [Zeekr](https://www.zeekrlife.com/global/?ref=carbage.online)

I want to encourage [you to support me on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online). *Carbage* is going to be hitting it hard this year and I need your help to  
bring you awesome coverage and content all year long. All you need to do to support *Carbage* is donate as little as $1 per month. That little amount makes a dramatic difference when more people support the site. You can also sign up [to receive more stories](https://carbage.online/#/portal/account/plans/) on the site to know when they go live, comment, and get exclusive access to our Discord and other unique features to help me create more stories like this, videos, IRL streams from events, and more.
### The Ford Mustang Mach-E is Going Racing
URL: https://carbage.online/the-ford-mustang-mach-e-is-going-racing/
Last updated: 2025-01-31T03:43:04.000Z
## A NASCAR prototype and a Pikes Peak teaser are going to showcase the racing capabilities of Ford’s all-electric Mustang SUV.

Motorsports, it’s one of the crucibles manufacturers use to promote and prove technologies that will eventually make their way into your next road car. Ford used its 2025 Season Launch event to promote two new Mustang Mach-E all-electric SUVs that are destined for the track and the most famous hill climb in the world: Pikes Peak.

### The NASCAR EV SUV

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Ford-Mustang-Mach-E-NASCAR-Pikes-Peak-Racecar-EV-SUV-Electric-Vehicle-32-1.jpg)

Image: Ford Performance

NASCAR creating an all-electric series is no longer a secret and is openly developing the car spec that looks like it will be used when it becomes reality. [Ford has become the first manufacturer](https://performance.ford.com/articles/series/stock-car-racing/2025/01/new-mustang-mach-e-demonstrator-nascar-prototype?ref=carbage.online) to demonstrate a version with a Mustang Mach-E body. Details are a bit scarce, but the NASCAR prototype uses a triple motor setup (single motor for the front axle, two for the rear axle), a full carbon fiber tub, and a 78-kWh battery pack. These were confirmed last year and the power output to expect will be in the range of 1,341 horsepower that can be tuned to fit both driver and track conditions as well as any parity that NASCAR looks to impose.

### An Old Charging Standard?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Ford-Mustang-Mach-E-NASCAR-Pikes-Peak-Racecar-EV-SUV-Electric-Vehicle-1-1.jpg)

Image: Ford Performance

The video Ford showed during the debut shared a few more details like it using a J1772-CCS combo charging port. That is an interesting choice as nearly every EV manufacturer is going to the North American Charging Standard (NACS) or also known as the “Tesla charger port.” I wonder how long that will last, but the J1772-CCS is designed to be capable of higher kW charge rates than the Tesla Supercharger. At least up to the current Version 3 charger. Supercharger Version 4 is set to work with 800-volt systems up to 1.2 MegaWatts of charging output and only are just starting to roll out in mass.

### Common Body Panels, But Still a Unique Look

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Ford-Mustang-Mach-E-NASCAR-Pikes-Peak-Racecar-EV-SUV-Electric-Vehicle-32-2.jpg)

Image: Ford Performance

You can also see that the Mach-E NASCAR prototype is like the current NASCAR Cup car design. That’s not by accident as NextGen was intended to use a variety of powertrains, including all-electric. This was revealed in July of last year with the NASCAR EV Prototype but using a common-design body—a similar approach by NASCAR when it was testing the now Generation Seven Cup car. Just like the current Cup car, the NASCAR SUV EV will utilize common components in the roof, wing, diffuser, and body sides, but the windows, nose, and tail panels will be unique to each manufacturer, if the Ford Mach-E prototype is anything to go by.

### A New Pikes Peak Car for Romain Dumas

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Ford-Mustang-Mach-E-NASCAR-Pikes-Peak-Racecar-EV-SUV-Electric-Vehicle-33.jpg)

Image: Ford Performance

Finally, Ford had another trick up its sleeve for the Mach-E. For the 2025 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Romain Dumas is returning [with Ford in a Mach-E over](https://performance.ford.com/articles/ev-demonstrators/2025/01/ford-2025-pikes-peak-climb-new-ev-demonstrator?ref=carbage.online) the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck they used last year. Despite a hiccup that stopped the truck just after the start, Dumas was still able to top the charts and take the win during the 2024 running. This year, the Mach-E will be the vehicle of choice for the mountain with the current King of the Mountain behind the wheel. Other than the wings, fender rails, and a lit up galloping horse emblem on the nose, Ford’s mum on what’s going on.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Ford-Mustang-Mach-E-NASCAR-Pikes-Peak-Racecar-EV-SUV-Electric-Vehicle-24.jpg)

Image: Ford Performance

The video showcased a few other tiny details like a set of vents on the hood forward of the windshield, a set of giant flared fenders, just how low the nose is relative to the road model, Pirelli racing slicks, and the Mach-E tail panel with a diamond-ish shaped grille between the taillights. It’s hard to tell, but there appears to be some sort of vent or aerodynamic treatment on the rear portion of the roof. This could be for some sort of cooling, or it could assist with making the wing work properly on the SUV body style of the Mach-E.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Ford-Mustang-Mach-E-NASCAR-Pikes-Peak-Racecar-EV-SUV-Electric-Vehicle-23.jpg)

Image: Ford Performance

There’s no word on the motor setup, battery power, or any other details. If there’s any similarity to it and the SuperTruck, I expect a set of Stard six-phase motors and lithium polymer cell batteries again. The presenter and Dumas did hint at more power, so maybe there’s a four-motor setup this year over the triple motor. I expect to hear more around mid-June as that was around the same time as we got more information on SuperTruck.

### Before You Go

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Ford-Mustang-Mach-E-NASCAR-Pikes-Peak-Racecar-EV-SUV-Electric-Vehicle-3.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Ford-Mustang-Mach-E-NASCAR-Pikes-Peak-Racecar-EV-SUV-Electric-Vehicle-4.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Ford-Mustang-Mach-E-NASCAR-Pikes-Peak-Racecar-EV-SUV-Electric-Vehicle-5.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Ford-Mustang-Mach-E-NASCAR-Pikes-Peak-Racecar-EV-SUV-Electric-Vehicle-6.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Ford-Mustang-Mach-E-NASCAR-Pikes-Peak-Racecar-EV-SUV-Electric-Vehicle-9.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Ford-Mustang-Mach-E-NASCAR-Pikes-Peak-Racecar-EV-SUV-Electric-Vehicle-19.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Ford-Mustang-Mach-E-NASCAR-Pikes-Peak-Racecar-EV-SUV-Electric-Vehicle-20.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Ford-Mustang-Mach-E-NASCAR-Pikes-Peak-Racecar-EV-SUV-Electric-Vehicle-21.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Ford-Mustang-Mach-E-NASCAR-Pikes-Peak-Racecar-EV-SUV-Electric-Vehicle-31-1.jpg)

I want to encourage [you to support me on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online). *Carbage* is going to be hitting it hard this year and I need your help to bring you awesome coverage and content all year long. All you need to do to support *Carbage* is donate as little as $1 per month. That little amount makes a dramatic difference when more people support the site. You can also sign up [to receive more stories](https://carbage.online/#/portal/account/plans/) on the site to know when they go live, comment, and get exclusive access to our Discord and other unique features to help me create more stories like this, videos, and more.
### Yokohama Tire to Sponsor the 2025 King of the Hammers Every Man Challenge
URL: https://carbage.online/2025-yokohama-tire-every-man-challenge-sponsor/
Last updated: 2025-01-22T14:00:44.000Z
## Abbreviated to “EMC,” the event takes place the same week as the King of the Hammers and provides entrants an opportunity to race in the big one.

Second only to the King of the Hammers, the Every Man Challenge (EMC) is a fan favorite event at Johnson Valley, California, for two reasons. First, this is the only event that you could potentially drive to and race in your own truck, Jeep, or SUV—provided you meet the rules for one of the classes. The second is that if you place high enough, you would be offered an entry into the main event itself. For 2025, Yokohama Tire has agreed with Hammerking Productions to become the title sponsor of this “everyman” off-road racing event.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/IMG_0492.JPG)

Just a pair of examples of what runs in the EMC

For years, the EMC was sponsored by off-road parts distributor and seller, 4 Wheel Parts, up until its 2024 running. This was possibly due to the financial issues that its parent company faced until its purchase by Off Road Warehouse. This forced Hammerking Productions to run the event without a title sponsor but, for 2025, Yokohama Tire has stepped up to the plate. “Yokohama is honored to sponsor the King of the Hammer’s Every Man Challenge,” said Candace Cogan, Yokohama senior manager of events, partnerships and sponsorships. “It’s an extremely challenging race, designed to test driver, machine, and tires. Every year teams on the Geolandar M/T G003 tires continue to prove the durability and find success in the race. We look forward to working with Hammerking and the dedicated racers to continue to build the EMC race.”

### More Than Just a Title

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2024-Cameron-Steele-action-shot.png)

Cameron Steele's Yokohama-equipped Unlimited TT

Yokohama’s branding will also be seen in more than just EMC promotions. Cameron Steele will race in the UTV division, Unlimited TT, and 4400 classes during the 2025 King of the Hammers with Yokohama tires while 2024 4600 Stock class winner, Bailey Cole, will also race on Yokohama tires in four different classes. Both drivers join Wayne and Kristen Matlock in the Desert UTV class, Levi Shirley and Philip McGilton in the 4400 class, and Jonathan and Jordan Brenthel in Spec TT, as well as Nick and Chris Isenhouer in the Unlimited class who are all on Yokohama tires ranging from the Geolandar M/T G003 (EMC classes), Geolandar SD (UTV classes), and Geolandar MT-R (Unlimited and Spec TT) tires.

### Veteran Support

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/IMG_0851.JPG)

Even the EMC brings in a huge crowd during KOH Week

As if that was all, Yokohama will race alongside Warrior Built Foundation in the Class 11 race. This is a full field of the original off-road race cars: the Type 1 Volkswagen Beetle. This partnership car will race on a set of Geolandar AT/4 tires while a set of Geolandar A/T-XD tires will be given away to a lucky veteran onsite during the 2025 King of the Hammers. Yokohama and Optima Batteries will also host veterans during an evening event hosted by Warrior Built during the weeklong event.

### Before You Go

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Jeep_TJ_Wrangler_4cylinder_Manual_GenRight_JohnsonValley_Carbage_JustinBanner-19.jpg)

I want to encourage [you to support me on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online). *Carbage* is going to be hitting it hard this year and I need your help to bring you awesome coverage and content all year long. All you need to do to support *Carbage* is donate as little as $1 per month. That little amount makes a dramatic difference when more people support the site. You can also sign up [to receive more stories](https://carbage.online/#/portal/account/plans/) on the site to know when they go live, comment, and get exclusive access to our Discord and other unique features to help me create more stories and videos like this and more.
### Phillips 66 Lubricants Joins Acura Meyer Shank Racing GTP Effort for 2025
URL: https://carbage.online/2025-imsa-phillips-66-acura-racing-gtp/
Last updated: 2025-01-22T02:00:05.000Z
## Phillips 66 claims the ARX-06 will serve as a rolling test bed for its lubricants during the 2025 IMSA season while HRC aims for the title.

During the Roar Before the 24 unified testing session for the 24 Hours of Daytona, Phillips 66 Lubricants announced it would be the primary sponsor of the number 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing GTP. This sponsorship, according to both HRC and Phillips 66, will be more than just money changing hands in exchange for the rolling billboard. As both companies have put it, the 2025 ARX-06 will be a “rolling laboratory” for lubricants manufacturer.

That’s not to say that this isn’t a straight up promotion. Phillips 66 will fully utilize the partnership as part of promotions throughout the 2025 IMSA season with activities to include business-to-business (B2B) opportunities, accessories, and merchandise sales.

### Rolling Test Bed

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Acura-ARX-06-HRC-Phillips-66-IMSA-GTP-3.jpg)

Image: Honda Racing Corporation, USA

The other benefit is that new lubricants will find use on the number 93 Meyer Shank Racing GTP car, which will be the ARX-06 to carry the Phillips 66 branding. Additionally, HRC will be the primary engineering team for the 93 while Acura Meyer Shank Racing personnel will oversee the 60, the second team under this umbrella.

The Acura ARX-06 and IMSAs GTP program presents unique challenges for lubricant producers. First is the endurance aspect of IMSA racing at Daytona, Sebring International Raceway, Watkins Glen, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Road America. All five of those tracks will see racing between 6 and 24 hours in race length. The rest of the 11 round season are between 100 to 160 minutes in length.

### Why Development Matters

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Acura-ARX-06-HRC-Phillips-66-IMSA-GTP-1.jpg)

Image: Honda Racing Corporation, USA

Regardless of race length, the only time these engines shut down—for those uninitiated to IMSA racing—are during pit stops. The stop itself is only around 40 seconds for parity between the cars via “virtual energy” filling. Once the stop is done, the engine remains off and the electric motor is the only power to the rear wheels to launch the car away from the pit stall. After pit road speed is reached—around 38 mph, or 60 kph for you metric types—the engine is then “bump started” by popping the clutch via a button on the steering wheel. This then fires the engine just like you would a manual transmission car with a bad starter or a dead battery.­ Stopping and then starting a hot engine can also create many problems and potential failures during those endurance events.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Acura-ARX-06-HRC-Phillips-66-IMSA-GTP-4.jpg)

Image: Honda Racing Corporation, USA

In many ways, this is like many hybrid systems found on road cars. When you come to a stop, the engine shuts off while still warm. In some cases, the starter is activated just after releasing the brake pedal, leading to a quick but sometimes harsh start before accelerating away. In a few other cases—where the vehicle uses an Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) unit—the electric motor will drive it before starting the internal combustion engine.

### The Race-to-Road Pipeline?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2025-Acura-ARX-06-HRC-Phillips-66-IMSA-GTP-2.jpg)

Image: Honda Racing Corporation, USA

That means there is some truth to the rolling laboratory claim. I still wanted to see what the pipeline between race car development to road car—your everyday street car—is like. I asked Phillips 66 for comment on this idea and their reply was, “Phillips 66 manufactures cutting-edge, high-performance lubricants designed for a wide range of racing applications, from drag strips and Baja races to circle tracks. Our partnership with HRC provides a unique opportunity to test and refine the next generation of racing lubricants under the extreme demands of endurance racing. We are thrilled to partner with HRC and Meyer Shank Racing in this exciting venture.”

I pressed for a clarification on the road car portion that was included in the original release by HRC and Phillips 66, but no further comment was offered at the time of publication. Still, it’s not hard to see how this will eventually benefit our road cars as those continue down the same path of electrification and the challenges those present. Hopefully we’ll be able to get examples of these improvements as the series moves forward into 2025.

### Before You Go

I want to encourage [you to support me on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online). *Carbage* is going to be hitting it hard this year and I need your help to  
bring you awesome coverage and content all year long. All you need to do to support *Carbage* is donate as little as $1 per month. That little amount makes a dramatic difference when more people support the site. You can also sign up [to receive more stories](https://carbage.online/#/portal/account/plans/) on the site to know when they go live, comment, and get exclusive access to our Discord and other unique features to help me create more stories like this.
### China Trade, Tariffs, and the Automotive Aftermarket (September 2019)
URL: https://carbage.online/china-trade-tariffs-automotive-aftermarket/
Last updated: 2025-01-18T18:06:04.000Z
## The automotive world is a global economy and one of the major producers has been China. How will current and future tariffs affect the industry?

**NOTE:** I originally wrote this in 2019, when the Trump administration first tried to implement tariffs. Now, in 2025, I feel that this story is worth bringing back because it’s just as relevant now as it was then. Perhaps even more so.  
  
In major media coverage of the tariffs against China, we hear about how it will impact large scale companies like the automotive manufacturers. We haven’t heard how it will affect those whose companies give us the parts to make our projects unique or more functional: the automotive aftermarket. I spoke with three people who will be seeing an impact because of them in many ways – Tony Pellegrino, owner of GenRight Off-Road; Edward Lee, General Manager of Titan 7 Wheels; and SEMA’s Senior Director of Federal Government Affairs, Stuart Gosswein.

### Before We Go Further

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-United-Pacific-Classic-Ford-1932-Pickup-Long-Beach-Virgin-Orbit-Long-Beach-Airport-21.jpg)

I want to encourage [you to support me on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online). *Carbage* is going to be hitting it hard this year and I need your help to bring you awesome coverage and content all year long. All you need to do to support *Carbage* is donate as little as $1 per month. That little amount makes a dramatic difference when more people support the site. Now that’s out of the way, let’s get on with this story on the tariffs that loomed back in 2019.

### What’s a Tariff?

If you don’t remember from school, just didn’t pay attention, or don’t remember, you may not know what a tariff is and how it works here in the United States. In very simple terms, it’s a tax on imported goods. You might also hear it is called a duty or a trade barrier, it mostly depends on who you’re talking to or how they happen to feel about taxes on that day.

According to *Investors.com*, [the purpose of a tariff is to limit products that enter a country.](https://www.investors.com/news/economy/what-is-a-tariff-donald-trump-trade-war-impact/?ref=carbage.online) “The purpose of a tariff,” as they explain in their article, “which a government imposes to raise the cost of a particular import, is to limit or reduce the amount of that good imported into the country. Making an import more expensive can improve the economics of producing that product domestically.” This can be used for good or bad purposes and, again, it depends on who you ask and which side of the trade they are.

In the US, the tariff is paid by the person or company importing the good. If you want to look at it that way, anyhow. The reality is that tariffs and other costs are passed down to consumers in full or partially in some cases. Again, going back to that same Investors.com article, “Yet who ultimately pays the tariff cost is more complicated. Walmart could pay $3 of the $6 cost and pass half of it on to customers (The example in the *Investors* article was using a 10-percent tariff on a $60 bike to make a $6 tariff cost), whose price would rise by $3\. In that case, Walmart profit shrinks and customers are left with a thinner wallet.”

Keep in mind, that article doesn’t go into production, markup, or anything else. It was just about tariffs. There are also other ways countries that export can reduce tariff costs by doing something like currency manipulation.

### What Has Been Going On?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-United-Pacific-Classic-Ford-1932-Pickup-Long-Beach-Virgin-Orbit-Long-Beach-Airport-20.jpg)

When I talked to SEMA’s Senior Director of Federal Government Affairs, Stuart Gosswein, in 2019, tariff negotiations had recently broken down but some improvements were occurring on China’s side. As with a lot in government issues, there is more than just the headline catch going on behind the scenes and tariffs are only a part of the broader issue.

As Stuart told me, “The Trump Administration is seeking to negotiate new trade agreements with China, the European Union, Japan, India, Brazil and other countries. President Trump has used tariffs as a primary tool for gaining negotiating leverage, especially in the U.S.-China negotiations, but with unclear results to date. The U.S. is seeking to lower the U.S.-China trade deficit and deter intellectual property theft and forced technology transfers by the Chinese companies and the government.”

Stuart went into further detail on that last part, “In 2018, President Trump directed the U.S. Department of Commerce to investigate whether these imports threaten U.S. national security, having expressed concern about increases in the volume of auto and auto-part imports over the past three decades, along with foreign barriers to U.S. automotive exports. Specific concern has been cited for protecting U.S. innovations in engine and powertrain technology, electrification, lighter-weight materials, advanced connectivity and autonomous driving.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Justin-Banner-SEMA-Show-2018-PCHRods-Matt-Briggs-Chevrolet-Chevy-Camaro-1971-1968-Heidts-Mothers-Polish-Freeman-Spectre-Performance-KN-Engineering-Greg-Nelson-Detroit-Speed-31.jpg)

While the organization for the automotive aftermarket wants change, Stuart stated, “SEMA supports the U.S. trade goals but opposes the tariff strategy. SEMA has joined the ‘Americans for Free Trade’ Coalition, [which includes hundreds of major companies and organizations that oppose the tariffs.](http://americansforfreetrade.com/?ref=carbage.online)”

He went on to explain that the Coalition believes that tariffs will hurt the country in more ways than just importing goods or even the automotive sector, but the entire US economy. “The fear of trade wars and economic downturns have produced uncertainty,” said Stuart, “with many companies deferring on key financial and investment decisions and being confused whether they should be resourcing their supply chains. Businesses need certainty to thrive.”

### It Just Costs Importers, Right?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-United-Pacific-Classic-Ford-1932-Pickup-Long-Beach-Virgin-Orbit-Long-Beach-Airport-24.jpg)

It’s usually thought that a tariff only affects those who import, but there was a side effect greater than that. I asked Tony Pellegrino, owner of GenRight Off-Road, about how it affected him. Founded in 2006, all GenRight products are manufactured in Simi Valley, CA and specialize in aluminum Jeep Wrangler parts. “We American manufactures got hit 1 year ago,” said Tony, “when President Trump put tariffs on raw materials causing a spike in prices and a shortage of those materials to manufacturers like us.” It was the domino fall of supply and demand as Tony pointed out.

Many US-based manufacturers panicked and sought out domestic-based material providers who didn’t import metals and materials from China. For many, many years, steel and aluminum were sourced out of the Chinese market rather than stateside because it was cheaper. “Many of the other American Made companies in the industry tried to soak up the increase in costs of raw materials. I can tell you it was not possible. We raised prices and it hurt our projected growth for 2019,” he stated.

### Doing Business in China

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-United-Pacific-Classic-Ford-1932-Pickup-Long-Beach-Virgin-Orbit-Long-Beach-Airport-41.jpg)

So, if you are one of those businesses who manufacturer and import from China, how did that affect you? I asked Edward Lee, General Manger and Co-Founder of Titan 7 about that. Titan 7 is an aftermarket wheel brand that launched in late 2016\. They specialize in forged wheels for street-performance and track focused cars but are planning to launch in the street and performance truck market soon.

“This affects our business greatly as our partner factories are in China,” Edward clarified, “Originally, the tariff for our classification of goods was 2.5-percent. Last year it increased an additional 10-percent, and recently, it went up an additional 15-percent to a total of an additional 25-percent.” A yearly increase is usually easier to swallow, but unpredictable and sudden increases in the span of months is hard to deal with for any company.

“Now our President is threatening to increase it to a whopping additional 30-percent,” he continued, “It will obviously put a strain on our business as we must increase prices so that we can still operate. However, we must take a hit on our margins as we cannot expect to increase the price of our product accordingly and stay ultra-competitive in the market.”

### So, What Will Happen Now?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-United-Pacific-Classic-Ford-1932-Pickup-Long-Beach-Virgin-Orbit-Long-Beach-Airport-17.jpg)

When this story was first written (**September 2019**), China had waived some tariffs on US goods coming into their country as President Donald Trump wanted to raise tariffs even higher just prior to that waiver. What many businesses are concerned about is that this may trigger another recession like the one experienced in the early 2000s. Even so, a company will only survive if they can be flexible enough to make it work.

“Obstacles and challenges will either lead to companies failing or, on the flip side, they get resourceful and innovate,” said Edward. “First thing is we look at our existing operation and look at where we can improve efficiencies and streamline processes to save money which can offset cost increases. We also utilize the challenges to think about what else we can do to improve things. Perhaps look at bringing manufacturing back home, or other countries. All cards are on the table.”

“All I can say is that we have a plan in process, and we’ll be fine,” he said when it came to how Titan 7 will deal with tariffs, “I think that’s what will separate ourselves compared to other wheel companies that don't have their ‘ducks in a row.’ We’ll see!”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Jeep_TJ_Wrangler_4cylinder_Manual_GenRight_JohnsonValley_Carbage_JustinBanner-15.jpg)

Tony over at GenRight sees the problem beyond tariffs, “The public has gotten spoiled by all these companies competing for their business based on price alone. Good products cost money. They are better made, and have better features incorporated into them. Companies need to decide what they are doing – making good parts or making cheap parts! My experience is that people are willing to pay for American made.”

Even Edward agrees to an extent, “Really, it doesn’t matter where you are getting products from. If you plan out your product line and how you go about things in a smart and efficient manner and stay within proper ethical and lawful guidelines, you’ll be fine. For example, if you are just trying to sell something cheap and act accordingly in a fly by night manner, you probably won’t last long. If you work on branding, establishing great customer relationships, and you support and participate in the industry, I think there’s a good chance to stay in the game for some time.”

SEMA, though, continues their fight in Washington D.C., as Stuart pointed out, “The threatened tariffs on automobiles and auto-parts are potential bargaining chips as the U.S. negotiates new trade agreements with the European Union and Japan. President Trump provided negotiators until November 13 before deciding whether to pursue these tariffs and, if so, on which vehicles and parts. SEMA and seven other major trade associations representing the broad scope of the auto industry formed the Driving American Jobs Coalition [to oppose the imposition of tariffs on automobiles and auto-parts.](https://www.drivingamericanjobs.com/?ref=carbage.online)”

### Big Bite or Big Bark? The IEEP Threat

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-United-Pacific-Classic-Ford-1932-Pickup-Long-Beach-Virgin-Orbit-Long-Beach-Airport-19.jpg)

Back in August of 2019, President Donald Trump stated on Twitter that he demanded [all US businesses doing trade in China to leave immediately.](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1164914959131848705?ref=carbage.online) When pressed, the then (and now future) President cited the “Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977” on the social media platform. The International Emergency Economics Powers Act, that passed on October 28, 1977 by former President Jimmy Carter, is [as stated on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International%5FEmergency%5FEconomic%5FPowers%5FAct?ref=carbage.online), “a United States federal law authorizing the president to regulate international commerce after declaring a national emergency in response to any unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States.”

While the Congressional Resource Service [states that the Act gives](https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R45618.pdf?ref=carbage.online) a sitting President “broad authority to regulate a variety of economic transactions following a declaration of national emergency,” many Constitutional scholars have stated that the Act cannot force companies out of China as President Trump has stated. Congress also has the power to end any national emergency by joint resolution.

Edward over at Titan 7 believes it won’t happen at all. “This act is used to for more extreme cases where there needs to be a definable threat to U.S. Security.” He admitted, “Our President did Tweet that he wanted companies to look for ways to manufacture outside of China,” Edward continued, “but you can’t force or tell private companies what to do. Instruments of economic change like tariffs will cause plenty of that, and if there aren't any acts of hostility, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act would not come into play.”

While IEEP wouldn’t affect Tony at GenRight, he believes that having businesses in the US is only a good thing. “It is the right thing to do,” he stated.

### Politics Suck, but It Affects All of Us

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-United-Pacific-Classic-Ford-1932-Pickup-Long-Beach-Virgin-Orbit-Long-Beach-Airport-26.jpg)

I’m not here to make a political grandstand on *Carbage*. Even so, this issue hits all of us. It doesn’t matter if we own an import business that has ties with China or wholesale trade in overseas products or just buy them for our vehicles. We’re all going to be impacted, if we aren’t experiencing it already.  
  
Raising tariffs like we have been doing recently isn’t the long-term solution, I believe that. I also believe that we do need more manufacturing here in the US. More jobs here is a good thing, even in a global economy. However, if your belief is that these tariffs or ending production in China will mean better quality and less fake products, you’re sadly mistaken.

We make crappy products; we just don’t make them cheaply. You can buy a terribly made bumper in Florida just as much as you can get one from China. Quality boils down to the company doing the production, not the country of origin.

The biggest thing that would potentially happen in the US is the reduction of forgery products and intellectual property theft sanctioned by the state. Even then, it doesn’t stop it in other parts of the globe. You can still buy fake name brand automotive products produced somewhere other than China, like Indonesia for instance.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-United-Pacific-Classic-Ford-1932-Pickup-Long-Beach-Virgin-Orbit-Long-Beach-Airport-40.jpg)

All this situation reduces to is this: tariffs are only going to hurt the consumer in the end. The costs will be passed on to them no matter if the reason is a tax or material sourcing. While it is good to have major companies manufacture here in the United States, attempting to force them here by tariff or declaration isn’t going to do it. They’ll only go to where it is cheapest to produce and sell where it is most profitable to market.

On the other hand, smaller companies will continue to manufacture stateside. They rely on the marketing of being “Made in America” or “Produced Locally.” However, as we have explored earlier in this article, tariffs will still cause their costs to rise due to sourcing materials here and the supply dwindling. That, in turn, will cause their profits to fall. They will potentially look at laying off or letting employees go to reduce the cost of doing business. They may also look towards more automation, especially as those machines are getting more advanced and cheaper to produce.

The tariffs don’t hurt China, they won’t even hurt companies that look to manufacture outside of the US. They only hurt the American businesses and people they appear to protect.

 If you like this content and want more, sign up [to receive more stories](https://carbage.online/#/portal/account/plans/) when they go live [or support me on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online) to help me create more stories and videos like this and more.
### Reborn – The Synergy Manufacturing 1971 Jeepster Commando JK
URL: https://carbage.online/restorod-synergy-manufacturing-1971-jeepster-commando-jk/
Last updated: 2025-01-13T14:00:35.000Z
## When you search for “restorod," it's always muscle cars with LS-swaps. Synergy Manufacturing did more than a swap with Jeep's original muscle car.

Life for this 1971 Jeepster Commando wasn’t easy. Dave Schlossberg – President and CEO of Synergy Manufacturing – came across it when he was searching CraigsList for a new project. He wanted to showcase their products and purchased it for $2500\. Unfortunately, it needed a lot of work to make it look passable.

That’s when he and his team over at Synergy came up with a plan: remove the cancer, work the body, and install a brand-new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited JK frame. No, this frame didn’t come from another wrecked JK nor did they salvage one. They called up their local dealer and ordered a frame straight from Jeep. You can do this, too, just be prepared to shell out about $1200 or more. Your mileage may vary.

### Before We Go Further

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-81.jpg)

I want to encourage [you to support me on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online). *Carbage* is going to be hitting it hard this year and I need your help to  
bring you awesome coverage and content all year long. All you need to do to support *Carbage* is donate as little as $1 per month. That little amount makes a dramatic difference when more people support the site. Now that’s out of the way, let’s get on with this story on the Synergy Manufacturing Jeepster restorod.

### Frame Mods

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-22.jpg)

You can't just swap a new JK frame on an old Jeep body without some cutting and welding

It would have been awesome if you could just plop a brand new JK frame under an old Jeep, let alone a Jeepster Commando. However, they needed to shorten it to fit the 101-inch wheelbase. Even as you crawl under it, you can’t tell how it was done. Well, if you’re not a JK enthusiast, anyway.

### Body Mods

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-88.jpg)

Bigger wheels means bigger wheel openings, so the Synergy team needed to make modifications to the body, including the fenders

With the metal already cut up to fix rust, the body was further modified to fit the larger, 35x12.50R17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers. The wheels used for mockup were just a set of 17-inch JK Unlimiteds, but it properly sits on a set of Wheel Vintiques 17x9 Smoothie wheels with custom red pinstriping work done on their lips.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-86.jpg)

Though, the body work done to the Jeepster looks nearly factory

Once the body was finished, it was sent to San Luis Autobody in San Luis Obispo, California and sprayed in Firecracker Red.

### The Finished Product

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-71.jpg)

Even the bumpers were modified to fit the look and feel of this mix of modern and retro

The custom front bumper houses a set of Baja Designs LED lights, with their Squadron-Rs flanking each side of the Warn Industries Zeon 8-S winch. The rest of the front body is old Jeepster, but the Be Cool custom radiator hints at what’s lurking under that classic Jeep grille.

### Restorod Worthy Engine

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-47.jpg)

The heart of many restorod builds, a GM LS-based V8 engine. In this case, it's the LQ4

Open that Jeepster’s hood, and you’ll find the GM Vortec 6000 LQ4, a generation three V8 iron block with a displacement of six-liters when it was stock. Fitment required extra sheet metal work done to the firewall, but as you can see, it was well worth it. A custom, straight intake leads to the GM factory intake manifold.

The engine was basically refreshed on the inside by Roslan’s Performance, but the heads were replaced by a better flowing set from Texas Speed and Performance. Rocking their valve springs open is a Tooley Racing camshaft and the Hooker Headers send those spent gasses through a custom, side-exit exhaust system.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-49.jpg)

New lights and electrical options requires a modern battery with current-state controls

In front of the Optima Redtop Battery is a Switch Pros SP8100 system to control the lights, fridge, Accuair on-board air compressor, and other switchable components.

### Driving Comforts

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-60.jpg)

The goal of the Synergy Jeepster is to make it look like it's a classic Jeep without the issues of a classic car or truck

Making sure to keep with the updated, but classic appearance the interior was fully redone using the original seats with custom leather. Even the doors are still factory with roll-up side and pop-out quarter glass windows.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-61.jpg)

A new engine needs new gauges, but Auto Meter knows how to make them look right

Sitting in the driver’s seat, you’re greeted by a wood-rimmed Grant steering wheel on a Flaming River steering column. The classy looking gauges are modern Auto Meter parts while an Alpine Audio system installed by Drive Customs tries its best to drown out the roar of the LQ4.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-65.jpg)

It may look simple, but a diamond double stitch also just looks classy

The diamond double stitch on the seats was done by San Luis Auto Interiors. It may appear to be a manual transmission, but that is a Lokar shifter with matching transfer case shifters for the Advanced Adapters Atlas II.

### Under Chassis

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-19.jpg)

It's hard to beat the strength and aftermarket support of a Dana 44, especially if they are grabbed from a stock JK Rubicon

Stock JK Rubicon Dana 44 axles are used both front and rear, even retaining the stock electronic lockers with 4.10 gears, but are upgraded to handle the abuse like a proper off-road truck should. The front axle has a Synergy Manufacturing truss spanning to each spring seat. A Nitro Gear front cover adds strength over the original Dana 44 front cover.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-5.jpg)

Fox Racing Shocks makes more than just dampers and the Synergy Jeepster uses their steering damper to keep steering movements under control

A Synergy Stage Three suspension system is used on both ends of the chassis with the Fox Racing Shocks steering stabilizer smoothing out the motions of the Synergy Heavy Duty Tie Bar and High-Steer kit.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-3.jpg)

Even if it's a front straight axle, a set of CV joints isn't a bad change over the standard universal joints you'll normally find

A set of RCV Axles axle shafts offer more steering angle and strength over the Dana set. Torque is sent from the transfer case through a pair of JE Reel drive shafts.

### Front Suspension

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-7.jpg)

More Fox Racing equipment keep the front axle in check

Proper ride and height is accomplished by a combination of Synergy Manufacturing three-inch springs and Fox Racing Shocks 2.5-inch diameter shocks that feature remote reservoirs and dual-speed adjustable compression adjusters.

### Under Body Armor

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-11.jpg)

A custom oil pan offers flexibility in mounting a modern GM V8 engine

Protection of critical components, like the Tilden Motorsports oil pan, are all done by Synergy Manufacturing skid plates. Even the Gearstar custom-built GM 4L80E and Atlas II 4.3 transfer case gets protection from rocks and trail debris.

### Rear Suspension

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-38.jpg)

Wheels Vintiques wheels wrapped in Nitto Tires are another great combination of modern and classic parts

Moving to the back – while also admiring the custom Wheels Vintiques and Nitto Tires – we find another stock Rubicon Dana 44 and Synergy Truss System. The Synergy Stage Three kit includes an adjustable track bar and relocated mount for the axle. Heavy-duty shock mounts also allow the longer Fox Racing 2.5 shocks to fit properly under the modified JK frame and Dana axle.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-40.jpg)

Aftermarket differential covers offer extra convenience of locating the drain hole as low as possible for cleaner maintenance

You’ll also find another Nitro Gear differential cover and just see the Synergy gas tank skid plate protecting the custom fuel tank from Tanks, Inc.

### It’s The Definition of RestoRod

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-85.jpg)

You'll be hard pressed to find a better looking Jeepster Commando, let alone a restorod

While Camaros, Mustangs, Challengers, and even the odd Model T will get the restorod treatment, it’s great to see something different. The truck and Jeep worlds need more builds like this. While the ratrod desert truck and overbuilt mall crawler are cool, old trucks with off-road and hot rod modifications like the Synergy Jeepster Commando deserve the same attention.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-78.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-79.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-80.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-82.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-83.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-84.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-88-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-67.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-Synergy-Manufacturing-Poly-Performance-Jeep-JK-Commando-Jeepster-LQ9-77.jpg)

Thanks to Synergy Manufacturing for allowing me to photograph this amazing Jeepster restorod

I think the world needs more builds like this and hopefully we’ll see more.

If you like this content and want more, sign up [to receive more stories](https://carbage.online/#/portal/account/plans/) when they go live [or support me on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online) to help me  
create more stories and videos like this and more.
### Feeding the Fire: The Parts of a Basic Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) System
URL: https://carbage.online/how-electronic-fuel-injection-works/
Last updated: 2025-01-12T14:00:14.000Z
## The modern Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) found on nearly all cars, trucks, and SUVs today are fed by EFI. Here’s how that fuel system works.

EFI, electronic fuel injection. It’s an acronym that’s not discussed much outside the automotive enthusiast space because every modern car since the 1980s has had it while trucks and SUVs have had it in the early 1990s. It’s so common today that any other type of fuel injection system is just something unknown to the average car buyer, new or used. While the way fuel has been injected into the cylinders has changed, most of the fuel injection systems are essentially the same between direct and multiport injected systems. I’ll discuss those similarities and differences in this story on your EFI system.

### Before We Go Further

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Online-Justin-Banner-2020-Chevrolet-Corvette-Stingray-Petersen-Automotive-Museum-Los-Angeles-26.jpg)

The C8 Corvette is the latest example of modern fuel injection technology

I want to encourage [you to support me on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online). *Carbage* is going to be hitting it hard this year and I need your help to  
bring you awesome coverage and content all year long. All you need to do to support *Carbage* is donate as little as $1 per month. That little amount makes a dramatic difference when more people support the site. Now that’s out of the way, let’s get on with this story on how electronic fuel injection systems work.

### Fuel System

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/199r10575rev3.png)

Simplistic example of a fuel system. Source: [Holley Performance Products](https://www.holley.com/?ref=carbage.online)

Most people like to compare their car to the human body. It’s not a bad comparison but it can get some people confused. Especially when you say that the oil is the “lifeblood” of the engine when it doesn’t serve to carry any energy like fuel does. Oil lubricates the engine while fuel, when mixed with air and ignites, creates power and torque. What we’ll be discussing is the now common electronic fuel injection (EFI) system. I’ll discuss carburetor, diesel, and throttle body injection (TBI) fuel systems in more detail in future articles.

### Fuel Pump

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/6ebb2166-5e18-4f9f-910d-26502ebbc8d5.jpg._CB297609869_.jpg)

Cutaway of a typical fuel pump. Source: [Bosch Auto Parts](https://www.boschautoparts.com/?ref=carbage.online)

The modern EFI pump uses an impeller to pull fuel from the fuel tank. Its shape is very similar to the impeller of a jet engine or in an automatic transmission torque converter. Its operation, however, is very similar to how the vanes of a vented brake disc work. The design is a radial fan type, where—in the simplest terms—the blades create a low-pressure area on the outside of the impeller as it rotates. The high-pressure area between the blades flows in to fill in that low pressure area, which then creates a low-pressure area behind that to pull in more fuel.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/s-09-30-01-02-2-copy1.jpg)

A close-up image of the vane pump found in most fuel pumps. Source: [Bosch Auto Parts](https://www.boschautoparts.com/?ref=carbage.online)

This creates a quiet system over a gerotor type pump but with more pressure than a screw type pump. It is a delicate design and if a vane is broken, the pump will fail. There is an initial filter on the fuel pump that’s commonly referred as the “sock filter.” This is the first line of protection from debris and particles that could be in the fuel. It does not filter the fuel from micron-sized particles like your fuel filter does.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/commercial-vehicle-LD-fuelpump2.jpg)

Another cutaway of a fuel pump. Source: [DENSO Auto Parts](https://www.densoautoparts.com/?ref=carbage.online)

Most of the fuel pump body is the electric motor that drives the impeller. Fuel flows around the armature as it spins around to not only lubricate the pump but also keeps it cool. The outlet of the pump features a one-way check valve (number three on that Denso image). There is also an over-pressure relief valve to allow fuel to pour back into the tank if there is too much pressure at the outlet (number four on that same image).

### Fuel Filter

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/aem_universalfuelfilter-10AN_0.png)

While this is an aftermarket example, the basic gist of the fuel filter is still the same. Source: [AEM Electronics](https://www.aemelectronics.com/?ref=carbage.online)

This is the next line of defense against debris for the fuel system and is usually closer to the engine, but not always. The filter is usually rather simple with a paper medium to block debris that can be introduced in the fuel lines to that point. It can also catch many deposits from fuel that the sock filter misses as it’s designed to catch micron-sized particles. It also catches the carbon debris left by the brushes of the fuel pump motor. While you can find filters that attach to the line, most modern engines have their fuel filters inside the housing of the fuel pump. They can be replaced, but with some difficulty for the average home mechanic.

### The Modern Take: Direct Injection VS Multiport Injection

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/pdi-compare-view-2_teaser.jpg)

An example of a dual (or combo) fuel injection system found in some modern engines. Source: [Bosch Auto Parts](https://www.boschautoparts.com/?ref=carbage.online)

Here is where things start to diverge between multiport injection and direct injection systems. Prior to the mid-2000s to early-2010s, most vehicles were fed fuel by multiport injection. This system delivered fuel to the combustion chambers via injectors on the intake ports. Past that point and you start to hear about direct injection and the difference is more than the name. This system injects fuel directly into the engine cylinder though the head in what is known as the “combustion chamber.” This leads to better efficiency of an ICE, easier startup (especially for start-stop operation), and better tailpipe emissions.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/2016-escape-1.6L-31k-valve-befor-4.png)

The carbon build up that can happen on direct injection engines. Source: [BG Products](https://www.bgprod.com/?ref=carbage.online)

It comes at a cost of higher carbon build up on the backside of the intake valves as multiport fuel injection helps keep them clean and lubricated enough to allow the force of the valve closing to break off that carbon. This can also lead to pre-combustion—or “ping,” an event that ignites the fuel before the compression stage of the four-stroke cycle—that can lead to many other issues including engine failure. That’s why you’ll see some engines utilize a system that combines the two, injecting via the port-mounted injectors to help with that carbon build up. The only other option is to media blast—like sandblasting but without the cabinet—the intake valves to remove the carbon, a time-consuming and expensive maintenance procedure as you need to remove the intake manifold to access them and have the special equipment required for the blasting service.

### Fuel Pump Relay or A Fuel Pump Control Unit

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/330-070_HR_0.jpg)

A relay like this is used to control older fuel pumps

The fuel pump relay is basic and just like every relay in your vehicle. It takes a low voltage and current signal from the powertrain control module (PCM) to switch on a higher voltage and current signal directed to your fuel pump. Your PCM can’t handle the high 12-volt and current required by your fuel pump as it’s designed for 3.3- to 5-volt signals. If your PCM did get that same 12-volt signal, it would “burn out,” sometimes very literally. That’s why it must use a relay instead, at least in older vehicles.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/d6a5690999a7582ad4b8d0b3a29ad8c6.png)

In place of the relay is the fuel pump control unit or module. This allows for precise control of the fuel pump for modern engine requirements. Source: [Mopar](https://www.mopar.com/?ref=carbage.online)

Modern cars, trucks, and SUVs utilize a fuel pump control unit—or module, depending on the manufacturer—that takes the place of the fuel pump relay. It still works the same in a basic sense in handing off higher voltage control away from the PCM, but it introduces precise control over the fuel pump via pulse width modulation (PWM) that a relay just can’t do. The reason is due to electromagnetic saturation and we’ll cover that issue next with the fuel injector.

### Fuel Rail and Injectors

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/US5207387-1.png)

Patent image of a port fuel injector, the once common way of injecting fuel into the engine combustion chamber

Once it’s past the filter, your gasoline flows into the fuel rail or rails (in the case of most V-shaped blocks) and those feed your injectors, this applies to both direct, multiport, and combined systems. The injectors are solenoids, meaning they are a type of electronic component designed to move in a single direction when they are powered. For most multiport injectors, a coil creates an electromagnetic force that moves the injector needle to its open position. This allows fuel to flow through the pentel of the injector and atomizes the fuel. This atomization allows the fuel to mix with the air and combust with a spark. Fuel as a liquid does not combust easily, but as a mist it combusts easily.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Cross-section-of-a-second-generation-Bosch-common-rail-injector-Picture-Bosch.png)

The direct injector has allowed for even more engine control thanks to its piezoelectric drive over electromagnetic control. Souce: [Bosch Auto Parts](https://www.boschautoparts.com/?ref=carbage.online)

While still a solenoid, the direct injection injector is driven by the piezoelectric effect rather than the electromagnetism of the typical port injector. The piezoelectric effect is more precise and quicker because of electricity causing the internal crystal wafer set—usually made from quartz—to physically expand. It will also not suffer from the effects of electromagnetic saturation that can lead to a hanging injector. This also means the trigger effect is different between them. Reducing the voltage to open the needle rather than increase the on time of the injector’s duty cycle in the case of the electromagnetic injector.

### Fuel Pressure Regulator

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/512-501.jpg)

While simple, the fuel pressure regulator is a critical part of maintaining the proper fuel pressure of multiport EFI engines

Fuel can’t feel the injectors if there isn’t pressure built into the rails. This pressure is regulated by the aptly named fuel pressure regulator. The most basic regulator is simply a spring with a diaphragm attached to the body of the regulator. When there is enough pressure, the regulator opens and allows fuel to return to the fuel tank via a return line.

However, an engine doesn’t need the same fuel pressure at all loads. Sometimes it needs less when there is a light load, and the fuel injectors are at a very low duty cycle—the rate in which the fuel injectors are open. When you need more fuel, like going up a steep hill, the engine needs more fuel. This means the injectors need to be opened more and will drain the fuel rails much more quickly. That’s why there is a vacuum line on most pressure regulators as engine vacuum will influence how much that diaphragm will open.

### High Pressure Pump

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/71UobzpGglL._AC_SL1500___37301.jpg)

Even with advancements in electronics, the standard in-tank fuel pump doesn't supply enough pressure to feed a direct injection system. Thus, the need for a high-pressure fuel pump driven by the engine camshaft. Source: [GM Parts](https://www.gmparts.com/?ref=carbage.online)

Here again is where the two fuel systems will diverge. The direct injection system requires even higher pressure—up to 29,000 psi versus the 30 to 70 psi of a multiport system—which leads to the need for two pumps and regulators. If you’re familiar with modern diesel engines, you’re probably familiar with this idea as it’s the same with the only difference being the fuel and ignition type.

Initially, the direct injection system is the same as a multiport including the need for a low-pressure regulator and why a dual system can work, it’s just double the parts and why you don’t always find them (despite the valve cleaning advantage). From here, there is a need for away to increase the fuel pressure and that’s done by a secondary fuel pump, usually found close to the fuel rail. The secondary pump will typically be driven off the camshaft of the engine using a special lobe on its camshaft—like old-school carburetor fuel pumps—and raises the pressure from 30 to 70 psi to the staggering 29,000 psi for direct injection. Some manufacturers will drive the pump directly off the camshaft like an old-school distributor, too.

### A Return Line, or Not

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/pr4001_2-1.jpg)

An example of a return style fuel pressure regulator

Carburetors that once ruled the automotive world used returnless fuel pressure systems just due to the low supply pressure—less than 20 psi—in these systems. It was only when you needed more pressure to feed larger or multiple carburetors that a return-style fuel pressure regulator became a requirement and usually only found in the automotive performance world. Once multiport injection systems became common place, the fuel pressure regulator required fuel to be fed back into the fuel tank through a fuel pressure return line. This was due to the finite control of the fuel pump by the PCM.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/0280160597_1_1.jpg)

An example of a returnless fuel pressure regulator. Source: [Bosch Auto Parts](https://www.boschautoparts.com/?ref=carbage.online)

Just before direct injection became common place, a returnless system was reintroduced as control of the fuel pump was now more precise with modern electronic controls like the fuel pump control module (or unit, again, depending on which parts guy you need to talk to). Even with the introduction of direct injection, engine fuel systems remain returnless as pump and regulator control has become even more precise thanks to even tighter regulations on pollution, start-stop technology, and decreasing fuel consumption.

If you like this content and want more, sign up [to receive more stories](https://carbage.online/#/portal/account/plans/) when they go live [or support me on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online) to help me  
create more stories and videos like this and more.
### Catching a Brake: Demystifying Pads, Rotors, and Drums
URL: https://carbage.online/how-brakes-work-are-made/
Last updated: 2025-01-11T14:00:14.000Z
When it comes to performance upgrades, the brake system is often one of the most misunderstood or misinformed portions of the automotive world after aerodynamics.

Let’s start with what your brakes are doing. You need to stop or slow down for that next corner but letting off the gas won’t slow you enough in many cases. In those cases, you need to get on the binders. When you hit your brake pedal, fluid is sent from the brake master cylinder to your calipers and/or drum wheel cylinder to move a set of pads or shoes against a rotating surface. Those pads and shoes are fitted with a friction material that clamps down on that surface to take kinetic energy, in our case that is wheel rotation.

That then turns that kinetic energy into thermal energy from the friction between the friction material and the rotor or drum surface. This friction causes the wheel to slow until it is stopped. While your tire’s traction will determine how effective your braking is, the coefficient of friction of the brake liner will determine how much bite the pads or shoes will have on the rotors or drums. That thermal energy is then radiated away by air flow over the surface area of the rotor or drum.

### Before We Go Further

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Brakes-Calipers-Pads-Rotors-Disc-Brakes-Drum-Brakes-R1-Concepts-Project-Mu-Justin-Banner-2.jpg)

Heavy vehicles and vehicles made heavier, like off-road trucks, will demand more from their brakes

I want to encourage [you to support me on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online). *Carbage* is going to be hitting it hard this year and I need your help to bring you awesome coverage and content all year long. All you need to do to support *Carbage* is donate as little as $1 per month. That little amount makes a dramatic difference when more people support the site. Now that’s out of the way, let’s get on with this story on your brakes.

### How are Brake Pads and Shoes Made?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Brakes-Calipers-Pads-Rotors-Disc-Brakes-Drum-Brakes-R1-Concepts-Project-Mu-Justin-Banner-3.jpg)

While this is a performance pad, how most brake pads are made are similar regardless of their intended function

Prior to modern adhesives, the friction material was pressed into a mold with openings for rivets, which fastened them to their backing plates. You'll still see this done for Original Equipment (OE) style replacement parts for older vehicles and some heavy-equipment vehicles like semis, but modern friction material attachment has moved on to adhesives for some time now.

The friction material of the modern pads and shoes are mixed with their adhesive prior to being flowed into a mold with the backing plates made of steel. They are then pressed to their friction material shape before getting sent to an oven. They are then baked to very high temperatures with their compound and adhesive. This bonds the backing plate and friction material together in the modern brake pad and shoe.

Some brake pad manufacturers will also "encourage" adhesion with raised sections of metal backing material that is attached to the backing plate prior to the addition of the friction material.

### How are Rotors Made?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Brakes-Calipers-Pads-Rotors-Disc-Brakes-Drum-Brakes-R1-Concepts-Project-Mu-Justin-Banner-15.jpg)

Rotors are made the same way, generally, but high-performance rotors will feature unique additions from your standard brake rotor

Rotors are typically made of a type of cast iron known as grey iron. It's a type that features graphite in the mixture and sometimes other compounds such as copper, silicon, or other materials that bond with iron. Early front disc brakes and many rear brakes today are a solid disc, but these discs can have trouble with dissipating heat fast enough for heavy vehicle and high speeds. This is where the invention of the vented disc brake came in to fix that issue.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Brakes-Calipers-Pads-Rotors-Disc-Brakes-Drum-Brakes-R1-Concepts-Project-Mu-Justin-Banner-16.jpg)

Brake rotor vents used to keep the rotor cool

Both types of discs are molded, but vented discs are done in a procedure known as sand casting. The veins of the vented rotor are made of a separate sand core. It’s placed between the cope (top portion of a mold) and drag (bottom portion of the mold) and the metal flows into the mold. Once the metal cools, the core is removed by hammering it out, using air, or various other methods of removal depending on how the sand cast was made and bound. After that, the rotor is then machined for vehicle fitment before final surface finishing and coating – if a coating is being applied. 

Drums are usually made like rotors with castings and grey iron. Equally, grey iron isn't the only material found in use for rotors and drums. We'll cover that for a high-performance story at a later time but don't be surprised [to hear materials like aluminum](https://wilwood.com/rotors/rotorlist1?mktname=aluminum&ref=carbage.online), carbon fiber, and other exotic materials being used in motorsports environments.

### Friction Compounds

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Brakes-Calipers-Pads-Rotors-Disc-Brakes-Drum-Brakes-R1-Concepts-Project-Mu-Justin-Banner-12.jpg)

While not the only thing that makes your vehicle stop, the friction material does have a dramatic effect on your brake performance after your tires

Now that’s out of the way, we can go into the simplest and, quite honestly, one of the most dramatic changes you can make to your brake system without changing your calipers to something more expensive – your brake pad and shoe compounds. To do that, we need to talk about the friction compounds between the most popular types.

#### Semi-Metallic Brake Compound

Semi-Metallic brake pads—also simply called “metallic”—are about 30- to 60-percent metal with other synthetic compound mixtures within the friction material. It is a very good material to look for if you do a lot of braking or do towing on a regular basis. Because of the amount of metal in the friction material, it can be harsh on rotors. These may not perform well during cold brake temperatures as they won’t put out enough friction to make enough heat and won’t "bite" initially. Once you use the brakes several times, they will begin to generate heat and work as intended.

#### Organic Brake Compound

“Organic” pads are made of materials such as fiber, chopped glass, mineral fibers, and even Kevlar mixtures. Organic pads are usually low-dust, low-noise, and are generally better on the rotors, but they do tend to wear out fast. They are also not good for brake environments that see a lot of heat because of their organic materials. Those materials burn or ablate away as you increase the heat with increased or heavy brake use. You’ll usually see these advertised as a “low-cost” or “economy option” brake pad as they are inexpensive to produce over semi-metallic, low-metallic, and ceramic pads. But, because of their compound they are good in low brake temperature environments and where the brakes aren’t used that often.

#### Low-Metallic Brake Compound

The low-metallic pads you see on the market are called so because they don’t contain as much steel as standard Semi-Metallic pads. Sometimes there is no steel at all and will contain a lot of the same mixtures as organic pads. But low-metallic brake pads will perform better because they are mixed with more copper or other types of softer metals. While these pads will be a little noisier when compared to organic, it's not as much as a semi-metallic pad. They less harsh on rotors than semi-metallic pads are, but will still wear the rotors faster than organic pads. These are, as you can probably guess, in between when it comes to brake temperature environments. They work far better at low brake temperatures than semi-metallic and can stand higher temperatures than organic pads, but that does depend on the material mixture.

#### Ceramic Brake Compound

The ceramic brake pad is one that uses ceramic compounds along with some other metals like copper in its mixture. They provide the lowest dust and noise and can have the lowest wear on the brake rotors. While they can take higher temperatures, they are not a desirable choice for a high-performance option. Reason being is that they don’t get rid of heat as well as metallic-based friction materials.

These are the best choice for the show car that sees street duty and wants decent braking performance. There are ceramic compounds that do feature more metal in their mixtures. This means that show and performance drivers can have their cake and almost eat it, too.

#### Full Metallic and Exotic Brake Compounds

Finally, there is the true metallic brake pad compound made of sintered metals with little to nearly zero synthetic materials in the friction material. This compound will have very high fade resistance and high-temperature tolerances, making them the best for racecars and heavy vehicles. This also means they are noisy and are very harsh on rotors and require a higher temperature to begin to operate properly.

There are also exotic material brakes made from carbon fiber, however these types of rotors need to generate even higher temperatures to operate and are best suited for harsh race track environments. Again, we'll touch on these exotic compounds in a story about motorsports brake tech.

### Shapes and Design Features of the Friction

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Brakes-Calipers-Pads-Rotors-Disc-Brakes-Drum-Brakes-R1-Concepts-Project-Mu-Justin-Banner-27.jpg)

While it's hard to believe for the average person, there is a need for that beveled edge and slot molded into a brake pad

Brake pads come in many shapes for many reasons. While caliper and packaging design plays a significant role, it’s not the only reason.

#### Chamfer Edges

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Brakes-Calipers-Pads-Rotors-Disc-Brakes-Drum-Brakes-R1-Concepts-Project-Mu-Justin-Banner-33.jpg)

A squared off edge isn't good for noise, vibration, and harshness in a street-driven car

A common design among street brake pads is the chamfer, an angled cut seen at the ends of the brake pad friction material. However, there are several ways a chamfer is done. This is designed to prevent high-vibration areas around the edges of the brake pads when they contact the rotor. This reduces the noise and vibrations you can feel while stopping when compared to a brake pad without the chamfer. A pad with a straight edge design on the braking area usually causes a high pitch squeal from a phenomenon called “tip drag”.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Brakes-Calipers-Pads-Rotors-Disc-Brakes-Drum-Brakes-R1-Concepts-Project-Mu-Justin-Banner-43-1.jpg)

An example of a piston in a multi-piston caliper

As the piston of your caliper begins to push the brake pads into the rotor, the pads begin to bend and fluctuate. This happens in microns of an inch but can create the high frequency squeal as the pad tips bounce against the rotor. This bouncing can create glazing on the rotors and even increase rotor wear. A straighter edge has the tendency to bounce and grab more than chamfered edges which can lead to noise and can cause pad lift—where the friction material lifts off the backing plate—and this can cause moisture to build up, leading to de-bonding from corrosion of the backing plate and brake pad failure.

#### Cuts in the Friction Material

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Brakes-Calipers-Pads-Rotors-Disc-Brakes-Drum-Brakes-R1-Concepts-Project-Mu-Justin-Banner-28.jpg)

Cuts or slots in the friction material of a brake pad helps increase the life of a brake pad, despite the material loss

The center cut on the brake pad friction that you see in this picture is designed for three reasons: flexibility, cooling, and venting. Even with the chamfer, the pads will still move and bend on their backing plates. If a solid piece of friction material is used on a pad that moves quite a bit, it can lead to chunking of the friction and even full pad failure. The slot also helps the hot gasses that build up to vent out and help prevent the pads from overheating in normal cases. These gasses are from the adhesive degassing during temperature fluctuations from brake use.

This same venting will allow the incandescent material—the unburnable debris from pad wear and road pickup—that builds up as your pads and rotors wear to vent out and away from the rotor and pad for optimal braking performance. In some cases, pads can have more than one cut for the same reasons. It all depends on the design requirements of the caliper and backing plate interaction and venting requirements.

### Rotor Faces

Rotor faces come in four distinct type: solid, slotted, cross drilled, or slotted and drilled. How do each of those work and what are the advantages of each? We answer that in this rotor article.

#### Solid Face Rotors

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Brakes-Calipers-Pads-Rotors-Disc-Brakes-Drum-Brakes-R1-Concepts-Project-Mu-Justin-Banner-50-1.jpg)

As the name implies, there are zero surface features on a solid brake rotor save for any finish machining after casting

A solid face rotor will be the most rigid and can dissipate heat very well. It can take a little more abuse and can also be resurfaced easily from “warping”. It’s the simplest design that all OEs take advantage of because it doesn’t require extra machining or complex work to build or mold it. While it’s simple, it’s still very effective in most high-performance brake systems where pad gassing and debris clearing aren't issues.

#### Slotted Face Rotors

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Brakes-Calipers-Pads-Rotors-Disc-Brakes-Drum-Brakes-R1-Concepts-Project-Mu-Justin-Banner-20.jpg)

Slotted rotors offer excellent degassing and debris removal without much sacrifice to the rotor faces structural integrity

A slotted faced rotor is designed to keep some of the rigidity and heat dissipation of the solid rotor but create a space for gasses and incandescent materials to be wiped away from the friction lining. Gasses come from the natural breakdown of the adhesive that holds the brake friction to the brake pad as it heats up from use. This gassing creates a bearing surface, like how an air gap works, and creates a form of brake fade because the gasses can’t be compressed. The slots transfer those gasses away from the friction and rotor surface along with the incandescent materials to improve braking performance in high-performance applications. A street car normally won’t see this, but if you track yours then you will and is why a slotted rotor is an excellent choice.

#### Cross Drilled Rotors

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Brakes-Calipers-Pads-Rotors-Disc-Brakes-Drum-Brakes-R1-Concepts-Project-Mu-Justin-Banner-52.jpg)

Again, as the name implies, the rotors are drilled though and usually found between the voids of the rotor vanes

A cross drilled rotor has holes drilled straight across each rotor face that also feature chamfered edges to reduce hot spots at those drill points. This design is for maximum degassing as the venting of the rotor helps pull those gasses away from the rotor surface. The problem you start to encounter with a cross drilled rotor is the reduction of surface area for cooling. This can cause heat stress cracks at the drill points and a loss of rigidity overall for the rotor.

With modern adhesives and pad construction, the requirement of a cross drilled rotor has been reduced to the point that they aren’t used that often in professional motorsports. The exception is environments where having high rotor surface temperatures are needed for brake pad friction effectiveness. In other words, you don’t need a cross drilled rotor on your daily driver. The brake temperatures won’t be high enough for pad degassing and the pads you are using don’t need that much temperature to operate. If you’re using a full metallic compound on your lightweight street car or daily driving truck, you’re not doing yourself a favor.

#### Slotted and Drilled Rotors

The combination of slotted and drilled seeks to gain the advantages of both: the maximum degassing of a cross drilled rotor and the wiping of the friction surface of the slotted rotor while also retaining some of the rigidity from the slotted rotor design. However, if you’re not experiencing any degassing issues with solid rotors, you’re not gaining much in terms of performance from switching to either version. You’ll also lose surface area that helps with cooling your brake rotors.

Both a slotted and cross drilled rotor will be slightly lighter, but only by a few grams at best. Unless you’re in a Formula Car or have reduced the weight of your tires and wheels, losing weight at the rotor isn’t going to be of much use to you and can be detrimental if you don’t buy a high-quality slotted or drilled rotor.

### Losing Weight with a Two-Piece Rotor

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Brakes-Calipers-Pads-Rotors-Disc-Brakes-Drum-Brakes-R1-Concepts-Project-Mu-Justin-Banner-19.jpg)

A two-piece rotor offers motorsports and track day enthusiasts the benefits of a replaceable iron rotor and weight reduction via an aluminum or carbon fiber rotor hat

However, if you want the maximum rigidity but want to reduce weight, you should consider a two-piece rotor. The aluminum hat reduces the weight of the rotor significantly since that large mass of metal is of a lighter material. You also gain the ability to change rotor faces and material without changing the rotor hats and this type of hat can allow you to work with a custom design by just changing the hat instead of the whole rotor. This does come at a price increase over a solid hat and rotor but if you’re going for maximum lightness, price usually isn’t a concern at that point.

### Rotor “Warping”

Discs or rotors of the disc brake system do an equal amount of the hot work of the brake system, but they also do more than just transfer heat. Their face designs help the pads do their job, but what about the issue of rotors “warping?” Well, they don’t warp like a wet piece of board does. What’s happening is that the pads are leaving some of their friction material on the rotor surface under harsh braking and drastic brake temperature changes.

#### How a Rotor Vane Cools The Rotor Disc

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Brakes-Calipers-Pads-Rotors-Disc-Brakes-Drum-Brakes-R1-Concepts-Project-Mu-Justin-Banner-18.jpg)

Another look at the rotor vanes on a high-performance brake rotor

Again, rotors come in solid disc or vented disc, with most front rotors being vented. The venting design is a centrifugal (radial) fan type, where the blades create a low-pressure area on the outside of the rotor as it rotates. The high-pressure area between the blades flows in to fill in that low pressure area, which then creates a low-pressure area behind that to pull in more air. That’s over simplifying it, but should give you a gist on how these vanes work. Changing the angle of the blades can increase efficacy but will make the rotors directional. There are also multi-blade designs that direct airflow for better hot spot cooling.

#### How Does It “Warp”

Notice that “warp” is in quotation marks here. Your rotors do not warp in the sense that wood warps when it gets wet and then dried. Instead, what’s happening is that the brake friction material is transferring unequally to the rotor face. This can happen because of unequal temperatures on the surface of the rotor. A hotter spot on the rotor will transfer more friction material onto the rotor surface than the colder spot.

That is what creates an uneven surface of the rotors. That surface is then transferred into the brake calipers and creates the judder and vibrations associated with “brake warping.” When a technician resurfaces the rotor, they are removing that access material along with the rotor surface to create an even face again. That’s not to say a brake rotor can’t warp, but if it does there’s a whole host of other problems going on and usually the rotor will crack and break before that warping happens.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Carbage-Brakes-Calipers-Pads-Rotors-Disc-Brakes-Drum-Brakes-R1-Concepts-Project-Mu-Justin-Banner-60.jpg)

A high-performance brake system on a Honda S2000 with a GM LS swap

Now, when you go shopping for your next set of pads or rotors, you’ll be more educated without the incredibly conceited wording that many marketing people include in their sales ads and pitches. If you’re driving a daily, get semi-metallic or ceramic pads with normally vented rotors. If you’re racing, get aggressive pads that work in the heat temperatures you’re looking for and either use solid faced or slotted rotors. You don’t need drilled rotors and they will not cool as effectively as solid face rotors and if you’re looking to lose weight, get a set of two-piece rotors with aluminum hats.

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### Happy Landings - Bypass Shock Tech
URL: https://carbage.online/how-bypass-shocks-work/
Last updated: 2025-01-10T14:00:10.000Z
## Bypass Shocks just scream off-road runner, but purpose do they really serve on those race trucks?

It’s the key thing seen on off-road trucks that romp in the desert and charge down the straight in short course. It’s also the thing most wannabe mall-crawler “PreRunners” flash to say they have off road cred but probably don’t have any idea on how it works. They just know it’s on a Trick Truck and Unlimited Ultra4 and it needs to be on their truck as well. So, what does a bypass shock do?

###  Just What is a Bypass?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Bypass_Shock_Tech_JB-8.jpg)

King Shocks 4.5-inch Bypass Shock in for a rebuild

The main difference between the standard damper or even a street shock and the bypass shock comes down to this: where a standard shock has a set dampening level through its travel as a linear viscous damper, the bypass changes its dampening based on its position as a non-linear viscous damper. It’s also still different from the “speed sensitive” shocks we see many manufacturers offer to street trucks. Where that damper changed the characteristics by shock shaft speed and valving, the bypass is position dependent.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Bypass_Shock_Tech_JB-16.jpg)

The piston of a 4.5 inch bypass versus a 2.5 inch and a piston you'd probably find in your street truck

The piston is still the same with a linear valve shim setup on the piston along with openings and channels in the piston like the linear shock. However, when it reaches a certain point during shock shaft travel, the damping curve will change. That’s what those tubes are for on a bypass shock.

### The Bypass Tubes

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Bypass_Shock_Tech_JB-6.jpg)

Bypass shock bodies with tubes welded on and before assembly

This is a King Off-Road Racing 4.5 Bypass Damper, [probably one of the most recognized in the entire world](https://kingshocks.com/?ref=carbage.online). Most would assume inside and attached to the shock shaft would be a piston that didn’t offer anything in terms of valving, but you’d be mistaken to think that. It’s still a damper that uses a linear valving stack just like the smaller shocks and coil overs.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Bypass_Shock_Tech_JB-9.jpg)

A view inside the bypass shock body, showing how these tubes bypass the piston

The key difference is that it uses external tubes in several different spots within the travel of the shock shaft and piston to tune the performance precisely. “Everything is still the same, just scaled up for this cylinder,” says Trevor Stark, one of the many talented engineers over at King Off-Road Racing Shocks, “we just have a much larger piston.” Instead of just going through the valve shim stack, the fluid will also flow into and out of those tubes. Doing so changes the dampening curve at that position of travel. “We still have a high-pressure zone and a low-pressure zone like in a regular damper,” says Trevor, “but now the high-pressure fluid can pass through these tubes on the side of the cylinder.”

### The Valves in the Tubes

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Bypass_Shock_Tech_JB-13.jpg)

The valve in the bypass tube isn't just a threaded plunger. The valve is controlled by a spring that gets preloaded by the thread on the bypass tube cap

Inside those tubes are another set of valves, but instead of washer valves, these are machined pistons that rest on the larger section of the bypass tubes. When the fluid flows into the bypass tube, that high pressure begins to push against that piston that’s held shut by a spring. This keeps the tube closed until the fluid pressure overcomes the spring’s pressure to open it up and allow fluid to flow into the tube.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Bypass_Shock_Tech_JB-14.jpg)

The valves inside the bypass tubes are not simple, either

“When there is a minimum pressure pushing on the piston,” continues Trevor, “it can compress that spring and that opens up and allow the fluid to enter the low-pressure area behind the piston.” When the piston is moving the other way, the fluid then flows to the back side of the bypass tube valve and closes it. That prevents that bypass tube from acting on the opposite direction of travel it is intended to work in.

### Tubing Positions

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Bypass_Shock_Tech_JB-10.jpg)

A bypass opening into the bypass tube valve section

To make a bypass shock position dependent, the tubes are welded to the cylinder at different heights and the tubes are also different lengths. This is done to create different zones within the piston’s travel. Trevor explains, “you can also change the dampening by adjusting the valve adjuster on each tube. So, you can change the adjustment and it will only affect the dampening in the zone of the tube.” This applies to every tube in each direction, so that is both compression and rebound. King can set up a long, medium, and short bypass tube so you can adjust each zone to how you like it one by one.

### More Tube, More Better?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Bypass_Shock_Tech_JB-15-1.jpg)

A bypass shock is still a damper, so the fluid will heat up, change viscosity, and require cooling and a tank for expansion. This can also provide the pressure from the nitrogen gas piston to keep the fluid at a constant pressure

You can have as many tubes as you want, but, there is a limit before you encounter diminishing returns. “Normally, seven is the limit on the amount of tubes you can run effectively,” Trevor points out, “we do have guys running eight and nine tube bypass shocks, but you don’t really feel the difference after seven.” He also points out that, if you’re running a longer cylinder, you can have more zones that are spaced out more effectively but running more bypass tubes won’t solve the lack of spacing between zones.

### How Adjustments are Made

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Bypass_Shock_Tech_JB-11.jpg)

Here's how the spring is preloaded from outside the bypass tube

The bypass tube valve is adjustable by the Allen screw after loosening the lock nut. The principal is the same as adjusting your coilover for preload. When you turn the allen in, you compress the spring that seats the valve and require more force to open it. Turning it out will produce the opposite effect. On top of that, King offers springs of different rates for the bypass valves for even further adjustments. A bypass shock is a custom-tailored suspension part by the full definition. While the tubes you see here are as they are for this bypass, different customers will have different requests and King designs each one to specification the customer requests.

### Why Have One at All?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Bypass_Shock_Tech_JB-1.jpg)

A 1400 Class truck equipped with King Shocks. Also notice that while it's a newer Ranger body, it still [utilizes twin traction beams in the front](https://carbage.online/p/78a8f858-8047-424f-b811-242e69269c87/) over dual A-arms. We'll talk about why in a separate story soon

So, why run a bypass tube and a coilover with a standard, linear damper? Wouldn’t that be overkill? Well, not really. Trevor points out, “You still get your velocity sensitivity from your standard shock, but you are able to regulate the dampening coefficient during shaft travel with the external bypass.” So, instead of ramping up dampening force at the upper limit of travel, you can gradually ramp up that force before that upper zone. So, you can get the velocity dampening you’re looking for along with travel dependent dampening, too.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Bypass_Shock_Tech_JB-3.jpg)

A Toyota-bodied truck at Glenn Helen Raceway's Short Course track

Now that you know more about the bypass shock, what other off-road topics would you want to see? Sound off below and look forward to more off-road truck and racing topics coming up soon!

If you like this content and want more, sign up [to receive more stories](https://carbage.online/#/portal/account/plans/) when they go live [or support me on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online) to help me create more stories and videos like this and more.
### Twin Traction Beam Action – An Intro to TTBs
URL: https://carbage.online/how-do-twin-traction-beams-work/
Last updated: 2026-07-29T06:10:36.000Z
## I have taken some interest in the Mistress Racing 4400 rig of Matt Burkett. What makes this unusual from the word go is the fact that it is a Twin Traction Beam front end and for one other reason.

When I first watched Matt take the 4449 up Chocolate Thunder during the Nitto Tire King of the Hammers powered by Optima Batteries, I didn’t quite take in what I was watching. It was only after I started editing the photos that I realized that I witnessed a rarely used Twin Traction Beam four-wheel drive setup.

Before we go any further, I want to encourage you [to support me on Patreon](http://patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online). Carbage is going to be hitting it hard this year and I need your help to bring you awesome coverage and content all year long. All you need to do to support Carbage is donate as little as $1 per month. That little amount makes a dramatic difference when more and more people support the site. Now that’s out of the way, let’s get on with the article.

### What is Twin Traction Beam?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/Bypass_Shock_Tech_JB-1-1.jpg)

This is the "Twin Traction Beam," as this truck uses ball joints on its steering axis. Twin I Beam trucks utilize kingpins like older trucks and some modern semis still utilize

This is a form of swing axle IFS originally made by Ford in 1980\. Yes, there is a difference between Twin Traction Beam (TTB) and Twin I Beam made in 1965\. The Twin I Beam uses kingpin steering while two-wheel drive (2WD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) TTB designs uses ball joints. There are no Twin I Beam 4WD trucks by definition, either, as solid kingpins make it rather hard to put an axle through them. For 4WD trucks made during the original Twin I Beam era, they were solid front axle designs.

### What Makes It Different?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/FrontSuspension.jpg)

A parts diagram of the driver's side of a Twin Traction Beam suspension

Most of the Ultra4 4400 rigs that use IFS use Short Long Arm (SLA), similar to most modern performance Trucks, Cars, and SUVs use. However, the TTB has an advantage in that it's simpler to use as it's like a straight axle - the pumpkin (where the gears are located) travels with the suspension rather than staying static on the chassis.

This means the front drive axles connected to the wheels don't have to deal with extreme steering angles and suspension angles at the same time. So, you get an independent front end without most of the drivetrain stresses you see in a typical IFS. You also get the high steering angle advantage a straight axle rig does because the axle only has one direction it must bend at the hub.

### What Makes It Bad?

However, it does come with some drawbacks. As you can see in the image, the camber changes drastically with wheel travel. In compression, the wheels will camber in (go negative). In droop (the rebound), the wheels will camber out (go positive).

This can make handling interesting as the camber will change as the wheels hit ruts, changes in road camber, rocks, and even changes in steering from suspension travel combined with caster changes. Needless to say, the camber curve is very dynamic. Not as bad as most rear-wheel drive swing axles like you see on bugs (due to the arms being longer on the TTB and Twin I Beam), but still very dynamic.

### Steering Arms

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/steering-illustration_orig.jpg)

The steering setup is rather unique. It uses many similar components from the "box" steering system, but pivoting point between the left and right steering arms matches the central pivot of the TTB

You also must have a very specific steering arm design for TTB. The typical swing-set you see in pitman/idler arm designs don't work because of how travel is done by the entire suspension. Same issue arises if you wanted to use a rack-and-pinion steering. The driver's side axle pivot is attached outboard to the passenger's side of the frame but the passenger's axle pivot is inboard to the driver's side of the frame.

### Long Arm, Short Arm, Same Truck

This also means that the beams in the original Ford design are not the same length. The passenger's side axle is almost always shorter. You can make an equal length TTB axle, but it takes a lot of money, engineering, and an even more specific steering linkage design.

### Radius Arms

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/90/50901f7e-9d88-4f9e-860d-b22a5dbae0d3/content/images/2025/01/0900c15280076f30.gif)

Parts diagram of the radius arm of a TTB

While the design is great for wheel travel, it does introduce a new problem that is usually solved by the linkages of a solid axle suspension: locating the axles forward and aft. This is done by a linkage known as the Radius Arm. This centers the axles as mentioned but also allows them to travel in their arcs. This can be a challenge as the radius arm bushing not only must allow for that twisting motion, but also the forward/aft loading as the wheels hit objects on and holes in the surface.

### Advantages

So, with all this in mind, why in the world would anyone use this design? Especially in a professional racing environment? Because there are several advantages over solid axle and SLA suspensions. One is the steering angle. TTB axles are based on Dana straight axle designs.

### Dana-Like Features

The knuckles and "inner C's" come from readily available axles like the Dana 35, Dana 44, and Dana 50\. You will always find a steering knuckle for these axles in the junkyard and upgrades are very easy to locate. These also use stronger and bigger Universal (UV) Joints that can see more abuse and take the stress of high steering angles since that is the only angle it will see. Constant Velocity (CV) Joints are also becoming a popular upgrade on Dana axles as they continue to gain strength with better metals and casting techniques. Same with the differential carriers, as these are similar to or the same as their Dana straight axle cousins. So, lockers and gears that work on those axles will usually work on the TTBs of the same design.

### Strength of A Straight Axle, Handling of A SLA, Kinda

However, you get a better handling rig than you would in a front straight axle version. Each front wheel can take a bump or surface change without disturbing the other. This is an important feature of the TTB/IFS when you're out in the desert sections as handling rules over steering angle and axle toughness. If you can carve your way through the desert faster, you gain an advantage. If you can take the impacts of boulders and can steer around them, you gain an advantage in the rocks. A TTB, on paper, sort of can do both and is why many home-built and some shop-built race trucks continue to utilize it in off-road racing.

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### Not Everything Will Go As Planned
URL: https://carbage.online/first-blog/
Last updated: 2025-01-08T05:29:05.000Z
Well, I wasn't planning on creating ANOTHER new place to share my musings and photos, but here I am on Ghost. We'll leave out the reason I've left the other "blogging site" and it's suffice to say it wasn't because of someone named **A**lbert **I**van, if you catch my drift.  
  
I'm still at the "day job," it's just that I've been wanting to write for myself again for a few months now—along [with doing video](https://www.youtube.com/carbageonline?ref=carbage.online) and [livestreaming](https://www.twitch.tv/carbage%5Fjustin?ref=carbage.online)—and have finally decided to come out of my shell. There will be auto content here, but you're also going to find some of the other stuff I'm interested in that's related to the auto industry like the aftermarket, gaming, RC cars, and anything else I can even just relate to cars and trucks in even the slightest way possible.  
  
For now, sit tight, [support me on Pateron](https://www.patreon.com/carbage?ref=carbage.online) if you can, and I'll see you again soon.