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Jack Daniel’s Racing celebrates 10 years in V8 Supercars

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Jack Daniel’s Racing has kicked off a year of celebrations, with the livery launch of Rick Kelly’s Nissan Altima for season 2015, which pays tribute to a decade in the sport for the world’s leading Tennessee Whiskey brand.

A man working on his laptop and writing in a notebook at a desk.

In ticking over 10 years of involvement in Australian V8 Supercars and a total of 316 races to date, Jack Daniel’s is now one of the longest serving major sponsors on the grid.

Since the commencement of this support, Jack Daniel’s has used the V8 Supercars platform to promote a responsible drinking message, with the “Pace Yourself, Drink Responsibly” phrase being widely promoted, including on the race car livery and merchandise.

A man working on his laptop and writing in a notebook at a desk.

Away from the track, the commitment to responsible drinking has seen the brand work closely with government bodies, such as the SA MAC (Motor Accident Commission), largely focusing on the promotion of safe driving initiatives.

Jack Daniel’s entry into the category came in 2006 on the Perkins Motorsport cars of Steven Richards and Paul Dumbrell, with Richards taking the first victory for the brand that year in the Australian Grand Prix support races, while also claiming the overall round victory at Barbagallo Raceway.

Todd Kelly joined the outfit in 2008, and took the first Championship race win for Jack Daniel’s at Symmons Plains, before the sponsorship moved to Kelly Racing in 2009, with Todd joined by younger brother Rick.

Highlights for the duo include a pair of victories for Rick in 2011 at Hamilton and Sandown where he was joined on the podium on both occasions by Todd.

Rick also took Jack Daniel’s to victory lane that year at Hidden Valley with a stunning late race move to climb from fifth into the lead.

Nissan returned to top-flight Australian motorsport in 2013, with Jack Daniel’s continuing with the squad.

A man working on his laptop and writing in a notebook at a desk.

Over the past decade, several top international drivers have joined the squad including Marco Andretti, Jorg Bergmeister, Alex Buncombe, Scott Dixon, Graham Rahal, Richard Westbrook, and Ben Collins who played the role of the “The Stig” on the popular television program Top Gear.

The 2015 livery design takes in cues from the 2007 Jack Daniel’s Racing theme, which is complimented by portions of the 2013 filigree design, with the combination based on the one-off livery which debuted at Townsville in 2014 in celebration of Jack Daniel’s 300th V8 Supercar race.

A man working on his laptop and writing in a notebook at a desk.

The full-season livery follows on from an interim testing color scheme, which paid tribute to the original 2006 Jack Daniel’s Racing design.

The V8 Supercars Championship kicks off with the Clipsal 500 Adelaide from February 26 to March 1.

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TEST DRIVES

Callaway Returns With a 602-HP Silverado Street Truck

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Callaway and Waldoch Crafts have teamed up on a limited-edition Chevrolet Silverado with a supercharged V8, lowered suspension, and a stealthy appearance.

Callaway is back in the street truck business, partnering with Minnesota-based Waldoch Crafts on a heavily modified Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

The new truck combines Callaway’s performance upgrades with Waldoch’s custom styling.

602 HP From a Supercharged V8

The centerpiece is Callaway’s SC602 package, which adds a 2.65-liter Roots-type supercharger to GM’s 6.2-liter V8.

The result is 602 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque, with power sent exclusively to the rear wheels.

The Callaway-Waldoch Silverado produces 602 horsepower from its supercharged 6.2-liter V8.

A stainless-steel Callaway exhaust adds a selectable Sport mode for a more aggressive sound.

The truck also gets a lowered suspension, coil-overs up front, and adjustable dampers.

Performance Hardware Goes Beyond the Engine

The upgrades continue with 22-inch Callaway-Waldoch wheels wrapped in 305/45 Toyo Proxes ST III performance tires.

Stopping power comes from a Callaway big-brake package with six-piston front calipers and 15-inch rotors.

The Silverado gets a lowered suspension, 22-inch wheels, performance tires, and upgraded brakes.

Because the truck sends all its power to the rear wheels and weighs considerably less than vehicles such as the Cadillac Escalade-V, Callaway and Waldoch are aiming for serious straight-line performance.

Just 100 Launch Edition Trucks

Waldoch handled much of the visual transformation.

The Silverado gets color-matched exterior details, rocker extensions, a custom grille, and a leather-and-Alcantara interior.

The Launch Edition combines a subtle exterior with a customized leather-and-Alcantara interior.

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2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition

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Few modern sports cars generate as much debate as the Toyota GR Supra. Some enthusiasts still point to its collaboration with BMW, while others see that partnership for what it ultimately produced: one of the most compelling rear-wheel-drive sports cars available today.

2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition Review: One Week With the Last Supra

After spending a week with the 2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition, our conclusion is straightforward: the BMW connection does not diminish this Supra. In many ways, it helps make the car better.

2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition Review: One Week With the Last Supra

Our test vehicle was particularly special. Finished in Burnout Matte Silver with a black Alcantara-and-leather interior, its window sticker showed a $73,300 total suggested retail price, including the Driver Assist Package, GT4-inspired equipment, carbon-fiber mirror caps, matte graphics, and other accessories.

What Do You Get for $73,300?

Under that long hood is the heart of the modern Supra: a 3.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged inline-six producing 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. Our car paired it with the six-speed intelligent manual transmission, sending everything to the rear wheels. Toyota also gives the Final Edition additional chassis, suspension and braking development intended to make this the most focused version of the MkV.

2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition Review: One Week With the Last Supra

The numbers only explain part of the experience.

During our week with the Supra, what impressed us most was how usable it remained. This is a genuine performance car that doesn’t punish you for driving it normally. The inline-six delivers effortless torque, the manual gearbox adds the involvement enthusiasts increasingly struggle to find, and the compact two-seat cabin makes the Supra feel like something you wear rather than simply drive.

2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition Review: One Week With the Last Supra

Push harder and its personality changes. The short wheelbase, low seating position, rear-wheel-drive layout and near-ideal weight distribution make the Supra eager to rotate through corners. Toyota originally engineered the MkV around classic sports-car fundamentals, including a very low center of gravity and 50:50 front-to-rear weight balance. 

Yet you can still commute in it, enjoy the JBL audio system, heated power seats and modern driver-assistance technology, and even return surprisingly reasonable fuel economy. The sticker rates our manual Final Edition at 19 mpg city, 26 highway and 21 combined.

2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition Review: One Week With the Last Supra

Yes, There Is BMW Underneath. That’s Not a Bad Thing.

Let’s address the elephant in the garage.

The fifth-generation Supra was developed in collaboration with BMW and is related to the BMW Z4. Toyota itself acknowledges that the Supra was developed in collaboration with BMW and based on the Z4 platform. 

2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition Review: One Week With the Last Supra

It also uses BMW’s excellent B58 inline-six architecture, and both cars are assembled by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria.

But calling the Supra simply a “BMW with a Toyota badge” misses the point.

Toyota developed the Supra as a fixed-roof sports coupe with its own body, chassis calibration, steering character and driving mission. Toyota Gazoo Racing engineers have continually refined the MkV through motorsports and track development; the Supra has competed in Formula Drift, Super Taikyu and the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition Review: One Week With the Last Supra

Think of the BMW partnership less as compromising the Supra and more as giving Toyota access to one of the best modern turbocharged inline-six powertrains available.

Why This Supra May Hold Its Value

This is where the 2026 model becomes especially interesting.

Toyota is closing the chapter on the MkV with the Final Edition, and Toyota says only 1,300 Final Editions are planned for North America. That combination, Final Edition status, limited availability, 382-hp inline-six, rear-wheel drive and an available six-speed manual is exactly the formula enthusiasts tend to remember.

2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition Review: One Week With the Last Supra

There is already evidence that the Supra holds value unusually well. Current iSeeCars analysis estimates the GR Supra retains approximately 76.1% of its value after five years, ranking it among the strongest luxury two-seat sports cars for resale value.

2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition Review: One Week With the Last Supra

That doesn’t guarantee appreciation, and we wouldn’t buy one purely as an investment. But a low-mileage, original, well-maintained manual Final Edition has several characteristics that could make it particularly desirable years from now.

The Carsfera Verdict

The 2026 GR Supra Final Edition isn’t perfect. Visibility is limited, cabin storage is minimal, entry and exit require some flexibility, and buyers looking for four seats should look elsewhere.

But none of those things change what matters.

The Supra feels special.

2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition Review: One Week With the Last Supra

For $73,300 as tested, you’re buying one of the final examples of an increasingly rare formula: a compact, turbocharged inline-six, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe available with three pedals.

BMW supplied some of the ingredients. Toyota turned them into a Supra.

And after living with it for a week, we’d argue that instead of worrying about who baked the cake, enthusiasts should enjoy a slice while they still can.

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2025 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands: The Adventure SUV You Can Drive Every Day

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If you are considering a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport, the first thing to understand is that it offers more than rugged styling. After four days behind the wheel of a Bronco Sport Badlands, traveling between Port St. Lucie and Miami, visiting the beach, dealing with Florida’s summer weather, and attending a Shakira concert, we discovered an SUV that combines genuine capability with everyday usability.

Our test vehicle arrived in Ruby Red Metallic with a Dark Space Gray leather-trimmed interior. With its squared-off body, upright stance, and Bronco lettering across the grille, it has a stronger visual identity than most compact crossovers.

More importantly, the Badlands has the performance to support that appearance.

The Bronco Sport Badlands Has the Right Engine

While most Bronco Sport trims use Ford’s smaller 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, the Badlands receives a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and an advanced four-wheel-drive system.

That extra power makes a noticeable difference. Highway merging feels confident, passing requires less planning, and the engine has enough low-end torque to make the Bronco Sport feel energetic despite its upright shape and off-road equipment.

The steering is easy enough for Miami traffic but still gives the driver a reassuring sense of control. Its suspension feels firm and substantial, particularly with the Sasquatch Package, but it remains comfortable enough for longer trips. Buyers should expect a slightly more rugged ride than they would experience in a Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V, but that firmness is part of what gives the Badlands its more purposeful personality.

Easy to Live With in South Florida

The Bronco Sport’s upright seating position and large windows provide excellent visibility. During the drive between Port St. Lucie and Miami, the seats remained supportive, the cabin was comfortable, and the Bronco Sport felt stable at highway speeds.

Its compact exterior dimensions are another advantage. It feels tougher and more substantial than many small SUVs without becoming difficult to park or maneuver through crowded city streets.

For 2025, the Bronco Sport received a major technology upgrade. A 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster are standard across the lineup, bringing its cabin closer to what buyers expect from a modern SUV. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, remote start, multiple USB connections, and Ford Co-Pilot360 driver-assistance technology make it an easy vehicle to use every day. Ford’s 2025 update also introduced the available Sasquatch packages and additional off-road technology.

After spending the day on the highway, the Bronco Sport transitioned naturally into Miami nightlife. It may be designed for the trail, but it did not look out of place arriving in the city for a Shakira concert.

Where the Badlands Separates Itself

The Bronco Sport Badlands is not simply an appearance package. Its advanced four-wheel-drive system uses a twin-clutch rear drive unit capable of directing torque across the rear axle. It also includes seven G.O.A.T. drive modes, Trail Control, and off-road-focused 1-Pedal Drive.

Our vehicle added the $2,990 Sasquatch Badlands Package, which further emphasizes its trail capability with more aggressive all-terrain equipment and the HOSS 3.0 off-road suspension.

These features may be more capability than the average Florida driver needs, but they provide extra confidence when dealing with sand, muddy access roads, heavy rain, or uneven terrain.

The interior is equally suited to outdoor use. Rubberized flooring, a washable cargo area, rubber-backed rear seats, under-seat storage, adjustable liftgate floodlights, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat make it easier to carry sandy towels, beach chairs, wet clothing, and luggage.

This is an SUV designed to be cleaned after an adventure, not protected from one.

How It Compares with the Competition

The Subaru Forester Wilderness is one of the Bronco Sport Badlands’ strongest competitors. It offers more passenger space, 9.2 inches of ground clearance, and a lower starting price of $34,995. However, its naturally aspirated engine produces considerably less power, and its continuously variable transmission does not deliver the same punch as the Bronco Sport’s turbocharged engine and conventional eight-speed automatic. Subaru’s official specifications confirm the Forester Wilderness’ pricing and ground clearance.

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition is the better choice for drivers focused on fuel economy. Its 219-horsepower hybrid system and EPA estimate of 38 mpg city and 35 mpg highway easily outperform the Bronco Sport at the gas pump. It also started at $36,070 for 2025. However, its electronic all-wheel-drive system and trail-focused upgrades are intended more for light off-road use than the more advanced hardware found in the Badlands. Toyota describes the Woodland Edition’s hybrid system, TRD-tuned suspension, and trail equipment here.

The Jeep Compass Trailhawk is another alternative for buyers seeking authentic off-road ability. The Jeep is capable, but the Bronco Sport counters with a stronger personality, cleverer cargo-area features, and a more modern infotainment system.

Fuel Economy and Price

The Bronco Sport Badlands is rated at 21 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. Those figures are reasonable for a 250-horsepower compact SUV with genuine four-wheel-drive capability, but buyers prioritizing maximum efficiency should consider a hybrid competitor.

Our Badlands started at $40,115. After $5,010 in options, including the Sasquatch Badlands Package, and a $1,595 destination charge, the final MSRP reached $46,720.

Nearly $47,000 is substantial for a compact SUV. At that price, buyers should be certain they want the stronger engine, specialized off-road equipment, and distinctive Bronco character. If most of your driving involves paved roads, a less expensive Bronco Sport Outer Banks may provide a better combination of comfort, style, and value.

Should You Buy the Bronco Sport Badlands?

Buy the Badlands if you want the most powerful Bronco Sport, plan to explore beyond paved roads, or simply prefer an SUV with personality and legitimate capability. Consider the RAV4 Hybrid Woodland if fuel economy is the priority, or the Forester Wilderness if you need more interior space at a lower price.

After four days of Florida highways, beaches, summer rain, Miami traffic, and an unforgettable night with Shakira, the Bronco Sport Badlands proved that it can handle both sides of an owner’s life.

It is comfortable enough for the daily commute, compact enough for the city, practical enough for beach weekends, and capable enough for a real adventure.

The competition may offer more space, better fuel economy, or a lower price. What the Bronco Sport Badlands offers is something harder to measure: it makes even an ordinary drive feel like the beginning of a trip.

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