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Ducati Lenovo Team Remote Garage Crunches Data in High Gear

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:54:14 GMT

Trackside with Ducati Lenovo Team at COTA

This past weekend, I received a unique invitation to spend time with the Ducati Lenovo Team at the Circuit of the Americas. Not to watch the race, I was invited a day early to watch and learn how the team uses the latest in Lenovo tech power to streamline Ducati’s horsepower on the track. During the MotoGP US Grand Prix, I sat trackside watching the team and the rest of the grid run practice laps to dial in their land rockets before the race.

This was my first time experiencing MotoGP in person. One thing that caught me off guard, due to my ignorance, was the level of security involved. Security at COTA is tighter than a US embassy, with multiple checkpoints and dedicated staff ready to scan one of over a dozen different credentials, determining where you can and cannot enter.

But that’s only the beginning, the pits are an entirely different ordeal with each team constructing a literal maze of walls to prevent anyone’s wandering eye from seeing their mechanical 11 herbs and spices before the race.

Usually, a media pass is a golden ticket that can get you anywhere and get away with taking video and photos of anything. Not here.

I was not allowed to take video of the garage while I was learning about the Ducati Lenovo MotoGP bikes. Nor was I allowed to post photos without the approval of the team’s organization, so the photos you’re seeing have been approved. Granted, it’s understandable why the teams go through such lengths to protect the secrets of their speed.

Lenovo’s Remote Garage

One detail we were allowed to see in depth was Ducati Lenovo’s Remote Garage. Every bike on the grid is loaded with cameras to capture the action, but what you won’t see are the dozens of sensors monitoring the bike’s vitals, gathering valuable information for engineers to make educated decisions while hunting for an extra tenth of a second advantage.

Ducati Corse began its partnership with Lenovo in 2018 and launched what it calls the Remote Garage in 2020. This innovative software puts a direct line between the rider, trackside engineers, and the engineers at HQ in Italy.

When a bike is brought into the pits, engineers will dive in with socket wrenches, and one will plug a wire into it to begin the download process. Lenovo’s Remote Garage processes the information, providing split-second data analysis of the bike’s engine performance, electronics, and environmental effects like Texas heat.

The Remote Garage can also create aerodynamic simulations and scenarios to help set up the bike since MotoGP has limited practice sessions before qualifying.

Ducati Lenovo Team at 2026 MotoGP US Grand Prix

One thing I noticed during my time in the garage with Ducati Lenovo Team is the ambiance. I’ve spent my fair share of time in garages, and they typically have the same soundtrack. Profanity being shouted, the ringing of metal tools falling onto cold concrete, power tools echoing off the walls, and music blaring from an ancient speaker covered in dust and paint overspray.

The Ducati Lenovo trackside garage was a surreal scene to witness. Four bikes were being worked on simultaneously, and it was quiet.

Nobody was talking, no music, no power tools. The only sounds I heard were the subtle ratcheting of socket wrenches and a vacuum cleaner running across the carpeted floor. Even the engineers looking through the data were stoic in tone, busy looking through the information. The entire team was running in sync. No need to talk when everyone knows exactly what needs to be done and how to go about doing it.

If only life were this organized.

2026 Dodge Charger Six Pack is AWD Power with RWD Attitude

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 06:05:00 GMT

Patience is a Virtue

Patience becomes a necessity when waiting is your only option. I’ve been impatiently waiting to drive the new 2026 Dodge Charger since Stellantis started dropping hints about it in 2023.

A new Dodge Charger? With two doors, electric power, and straight-six engine options? As a traditionalist when it comes to the definition of a “muscle car,” I was doubtful at first. But I’m also a believer in “Mopar or No Car,” and unlike many who abandoned the brand when Stellantis announced the end of the Hemi V8, I stayed, willing to give this new strategy a fair shot before considering a departure.

2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack Six Pack

Now, my loyalty was being rewarded with the key fob to a brand-new 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack with a thunderous Hurricane “Six Pack” engine crammed under a bright orange hood. The Charger nameplate is classic, and this new generation is a reboot on a popular franchise. Does it live up to the iconic name?

I say yes.

It Looks Like a Muscle Car

One thing photos won’t justify is the car’s size. This is a contemporary land yacht. It’s wide, long, tall and brawny, with clear evidence of past Dodge Charger generations inspiring its exterior design. The front end, marked by a dark rectangular grille hiding dual square LED headlamps and a full-width light bar, is a dead ringer for a 1968 Dodge Charger. The car’s profile, with glass Coke-bottle curves and a razor-sharp roofline, shows a family resemblance to the 1969–70 Charger, especially dressed in Peel Out Orange ($795), shown in photos.

The sleek fastback and full-length LED taillight will make muscle car historians think of the first Dodge Charger from 1966–67. In a way, the 2026 Dodge Charger’s design is a tribute to all the greats that paved the way for it to be here.

The model shown in the photos is the two-door Scat Pack, but a four-door variant is coming soon. As a result, this two-door coupe offers interior space more commonly found in a four-door sedan.

Evidence that this sports coupe is preordained to be a sports sedan is apparent when you open the door and notice that it’s long enough to take up a parking space. The back seat is easier to access when the front bucket seat is moved forward, and once you you’re in, you’re greeted with ample legroom and little fear of bumping your head.

2026 Dodge Charger Interior Has Attitude

The front bucket seats are the standout seats inside. You get a dashboard with so much space between your seat belt and the windshield it could double as a family mantle.

The door panels flow into the dashboard, creating a wraparound effect complete with ambient lighting Dodge calls “Attitude Adjustment Lighting,” with a default color of blue to inspire a sense of calm for the driver while under constant temptation of horsepower.

The interior presentation is impressive, with an optional full-glass roof ($1,395) and leather and suede bucket seats accented with carbon fiber texture and suede on the center console and dashboard ($2,095). Those looking to spice up the interior can opt for Demonic Red seats ($495) or an 18-speaker Alpine premium audio system with a subwoofer ($1,795).

Another interior highlight is the large hatch, which opens like a clamshell to reveal the rear cargo area. There’s plenty of room for essentials, and if you need more, the rear seats fold flat. One detail I appreciate is the easy access to the car’s battery by lifting the trunk floor panel.

Interior Design Quirks with the 2026 Dodge Charger

As cool and contemporary as the interior design may be, it isn’t without its faults. The buttons for the power seat memory functions are located where a driver would rest their knee. More than once, I accidentally placed my left knee on these buttons, causing the power-operated seat to come alive and shape-shift while driving. It’s enough to give you a fright and momentarily make you think the car is possessed and trying to get you.

Then there’s the steering wheel, and the microscopic paddle shifters tucked behind it. These are the smallest paddle shifters I’ve encountered, smaller than a kitten’s ear, letting you shift with only one or two fingers. Directly under the paddle shifters are controls for the audio system, so you risk changing radio stations instead of changing gears in the heat of a fierce battle with speed.

The PRNDL shifter on the center console looks like a video game controller minus a little red button to fire missiles. It feels ergonomic when you grab it, but it only functions as an automatic shifter. It does not let you slide it over to manually shift gears like a semi-automatic, nor does it have a mechanical, ratchet feel as you’d expect in a performance car — a wasted opportunity.

550HP Hurricane Six Pack Packs a Punch

These interior nitpicks are noticeable but don’t distract from the Charger Scat Pack’s intended purpose — power. This variant runs using Dodge’s Hurricane 3.0L twin-turbocharged inline-six engine dubbed the “Six Pack,” producing a hearty 550 hp and 531 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive is standard, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission to propel this large car from zero to 60 in 3.9 seconds and onward to a top speed of 177 mph (manufacturer claim).

How to do Burnouts in 2026 Dodge Charger Six Pack

Best of all, the car is smart enough to direct all this power to the rear wheels only if you desire. In sport mode, the center screen displays a tab labeled “RWD.” Pressing that directs all power to the rear wheels and turns off the traction control.

If you follow this by holding the traction control button for several seconds, you’ll hear a bong, and a message on the instrument cluster appears letting you know the Automated Emergency Braking (AEB) is turned off. The Charger is now a fully-fledged muscle car ready to rip the Goodyear rubber off the back tires in a frenzy of circles.

25 MPG on Premium Fuel

On the road, the Charger Six Pack moves like a meteor entering the atmosphere. It swallows 91-octane fuel to slice through the air at triple-digit speeds, making acceleration feel effortless. You get the impression this car could easily maintain a comfortable pace of 150 mph until the gas tank runs dry. Fuel economy ranged from 20 to 25 mpg, depending on how heavy my right foot was that day.

The starting price for the gas-powered 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack stands at $55,000 and climbs to $60,000 for the Scat Pack Plus, which offers more features as standard. Go crazy with the options, and you’ll see the MSRP pass $70,000.

I was relieved to enjoy this car. Not only did it check off my personal marks for approval, but it also serves as a solid foundation of potential. There’s so much more to be squeezed out of this platform. The car’s impressive ground clearance and all-wheel drive system had me imagining this Charger with some all-terrain tires, metal skid plates and an off-road drive mode for some high-speed trail blazing.

This is only the beginning, and I can’t wait to see what Dodge has planned.

Road Testing the Electric Ford F-150 Lightning in Cowboy Country

Jesus R. Garcia — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 06:43:07 GMT

Everyone Looks Good in Western Wear

They say anyone can pull off a cowboy hat, wrangler jeans, and a quality pair of boots. I believe it. It is only a matter of finding the right-sized hat, the correct length in jeans, and boots that don’t have that ugly square-toe look. Sorry to those who have a pair, I find them hideous. They look like Bigfoot stepped on them, but I digress.

Whether you grew up watching reruns of Gunsmoke on TV Land or catching up on the last season of Yellowstone, there’s a recent and growing surge in fashionable ranch wear. It’s hip to be a cowpoke.

Cowboys Ride in Trucks

What is a pickup truck but a steel horse? Work vehicles designed for the do-it-all and look majestic in the process. It makes sense that pickup trucks are a draw for car buyers of all types, not just those who wear blue collars. Texas is the truck capital of the world, and you don’t need the eyes of a hawk to spot a pickup with a scratch-free, spotless truck bed. Plenty of people buy trucks with no intention of ever using the tow hitch or dropping the tailgate for anything other than a tailgate party.

Ford understands this logic and moves a fair bit of F-Series trucks under that mindset. So, recently, I was invited by the good folks at Ford to the cowboy country of Fort Worth, Texas, to road-test the latest variant in pickup truck technology, the all-electric F-150 Lightning. The goal of this journey was to experience the instant torque and versatility of an electric pickup truck outside the city, out of its comfort zone of having charging stations at close range.

At the Ranch with the Ford F-150 Lightning

The drive consisted of 100 miles out of the city limits to spend several nights on a 9,000-acre ranch. Called the Rough Creek Lodge Ranch & Resort, a working ranch complete with a luxurious, family-friendly resort offering every five-star amenity one could desire. Everything from hunting and clay shooting to bowling and zip lining, and everything in between, so I wasn’t exactly roughing it like a cowboy on a cattle drive under the big Texas sky. Nevertheless, this venture was far enough away to get some seat time in the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning.

On the highway, the all-electric Lightning is a fantastic, elegant cruiser with a truck bed. The truck’s platform creates a low center of gravity, with dual electric motors placed at the front and rear for balance, and it features a rear independent suspension. On the road, it looks and feels like an F-150 truck that went to etiquette school. It is more poised, graceful as it hugs the road.

In my opinion, the Ford Lightning should be wearing a Lincoln badge instead of a blue oval.
Naturally, the cabin is quiet enough to mediate with a living room’s worth of space for the rear passengers. The silence of electric power means you can hold a conversation without needing to raise your voice or lower the audio volume. Plus, the air conditioning and heating activate much faster.

It is also quick with power outputs ranging from 452 to 580 horsepower, capable of pushing the Lightning from zero to 60 in under four seconds. That puts it in the same league as the high-performance, supercharged 5.2L V8 F-150 Raptor R.

My favorite detail about this truck is the frunk, which can hold up to 400 pounds, is large enough to store five carry-on bags, features multiple power outlets, and features a large cubby area that can double as an ice chest. Not to mention the Lightning’s most important party trick, acting as a backup power source to keep the lights on in your home during an emergency.

Does the All-Electric F-150 Lightning Work as a Ranch Truck?

The short answer is, yes. The honest answer is yes, but…

The F-150 Lightning has the muscle you’d expect in a pickup truck, with a max payload ranging between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds. Towing capacity is limited to 5,000 to 7,700 pounds unless you opt for the Trailer Towing Package, which boosts its towing performance to 10,000 pounds.

The standard range of the Lightning’s entry-level 98 kWh battery pack is 240 miles, which is plenty for running errands around town. The available extended-range battery packs, 123 kWh and 131 kWh, will boost the range to 300 and 320 miles, respectively.

When it comes to electric vehicles, drivers can often experience “range anxiety,” the fear of running out of battery power. Understandable considering that a dead EV can’t be revived with a jerry can full of unleaded. You need a flat-bed tow truck, a charging station, and, most expensive of all, an investment of your time to recharge.

Towing or hauling with an electric pickup truck significantly affects the total range, as do other factors such as wind resistance, elevation, and speed. Of course, all these factors also affect gasoline and diesel trucks. Still, currently, it is much easier and quicker to refill a fuel tank than to recharge a battery from 15 to 80 percent if the journey is several hundred miles away.

What I’m saying is I’m glad the Rough Creek Lodge Ranch & Resort had level 2 charging stations in their parking lot. Otherwise, the 200-mile round trip from the ranch to the Dallas airport wouldn’t have been as comfortable or enjoyable.

Home Charging is the Key to EV Living

So, to answer the question, yes, it can work, but it requires some accessories. To get the most out of an electric pickup truck, you need to have an EV charger on site. That is the checkmate move to get over range anxiety.

I love my V8-powered truck, but I can’t refill the tank from the comfort of home. With an EV, I can plug it in as routinely as plugging in my phone to charge overnight while I sleep. So, having a charger at a ranch, let’s say next to the barn, would definitely allow electric pickup trucks like the F-150 Lightning to put in a hard day’s work without worry.

Is it expensive to install an EV charger in your home or property? Not as much as one would assume. Advances in technology are making it easier to install home chargers without upgrading an older home or incurring expensive installation costs.

A quick search for EV home chargers on Amazon generated multiple results priced well under $1,000. Moreover, companies like Emporia offer a wide variety of devices that can charge an EV and convert a house into a smart home using an adapter that installs into the home’s fuse panel.

It can sync the home’s electrical grid to an EV and transfer power accordingly between them. For example, if the power goes out during a storm, you’d be able to keep the lights on by using the EV as a giant battery to supply power to the home. In addition to providing users with a detailed report of where every penny’s worth of electricity is being wasted to maximize efficiency.

Ford F-150 Lightning Trim Levels and Pricing

Speaking of money, Ford offers five trim levels for the Lightning, starting with the fleet Pro model at $55,000 and the entry-level XLT at just under $64,000. Higher trim levels like the Flash and Lariat reach $70,000, and the top-tier Platinum exceeds $80,000. So, it’s priced on the heavy side, but you do get a luxurious ride and premium technology for your money.

I only wish Ford would invest more in the truck’s visual presentation. All the trim levels look too similar beyond a badge that says it’s a Flash, Lariat, or Platinum. I drove the mid-range Flash and the Platinum, which have about a $15,000 price gap. If it wasn’t for a plaque on the center console stating the trim level, I’d be hard-pressed to notice the difference. Offering three different shades of white for these trucks doesn’t help matters either.

It needs more color! Add some spark to the Lightning’s calm and collected personality.

Cosmo Tires New GRIPIT XT Off-Road Review in Peru

Jesus R. Garcia — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 04:55:00 GMT

South of the Equator with Cosmo Tires

Among all the legacy tire manufacturers with a history dating back to the industrial revolution, the young brands are trying to leave their mark on the pavement. Companies like Cosmo Tires, a tire brand making a name for itself with style woven into the tread – literally. Style with performance designed to go the distance.

A statement I can write with confidence after spending some time south of the equator in the scenic sand dunes of Peru, getting a grip on the new Cosmo Tires GRIPIT XT light truck off-road tire.

An Overseas Off-Road Adventure

Good friend of JBW, Michael Satterfield, aka The Gentlemen Racer, deserves honorable mention for this article. In his wisdom, he sent me to represent TGR and JBW on a round-trip ticket to Lima, Peru, with Cosmo Tires.

They say travel broadens the mind, but whoever came up with that saying never flew Delta. Flight delays, runaway taxing traffic, and a check engine light on the cockpit’s dashboard all came together to extend my stay. I didn’t take my first breath of Peruvian air until 2am. Trying my best not to look like a dumb American tourist was difficult while wearing a cowboy hat, and bags under my arms and eye lids.

By that time, I was ready to experience the hospitality of a soft bed. However, before that, I had to get to the hotel from the airport. I needed a ride, and a man named David, driving a manual-shift Hyundai, answered the call.

Ride sharing (Uber) isn’t too popular at airports thanks to taxi drivers, so a lot of the drivers are “unofficial”, meaning they will drive you but not through the app. They are drivers, but think of them as independent drivers.

Night Drive through Lima

I had heard that Lima, Peru, was famous for its traffic. However, based on my late-night commute across town, the traffic isn’t nocturnal. We made good time getting to the hotel with streets crowded with nothing but the fluorescent glow of overhead lights. Fighting to keep my eyelids up and awake was a struggle, but David, the driver, helped by gnawing my ear off about where to go, what to see, and more importantly what to eat in the city.

The JW Marriott Lima, Peru

The summit of the night meant I couldn’t see the ocean view that would greet me a few hours later, come daybreak. When I arrived at the hotel, the JW Marriott in the upscale district of Miraflores, I exhaled into the pillow with a sense of triumph from a long journey completed. Exhaustion overpowered the anticipation for the unknown that the morning and the following days would bring.

This chosen lifestyle of writing has provided me with more than a justifiable amount of opportunities to sample breakfast at luxurious hotels. They all fail in comparison to the breakfast buffet I enjoyed at the JW Marriott in Lima, Peru, with a range of options like scratch-made waffles and quesadillas to beef stew and fresh-squeezed orange juice. You wanted to chew the air. A friendly wait staff that made an effort to remember your name the following day was the cherry on top.

The Cosmo Tire Family

Founded in 1995, Cosmo Tires has strived as a family-owned business spearheaded by the brothers Tony Gonzalez, CEO and founder, and Joaquin Gonzalez, President of Cosmo Tires. Many of Cosmo Tires managers and chief operators are lifelong friends and family who joined the team over the years building an internal infrastructure with deep roots.

Tony is unlike any CEO I’ve met before with talents and job titles that unravel like tools on a Swiss Army knife. An Artist, designer, songwriter, film, and music producer, and car collector, Tony is unlike any CEO I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. The same goes for his inner circle of the Cosmo Tire family.

A decade of interviewing and working with corporate types has created fatigue from their PR-approved responses, which are designed to cover whatever lies between the lines. The Cosmo Tire Family is different. I was able to have genuine conversations with a mutual trust that it wouldn’t be on the record.

As a result, I gained a personal understanding of how this tire company maintains its signature style without losing sight of the challenges often caused by success.

During a night spent at an oasis nestled in the Paracas Bay in Ica, Peru, The Legend Paracas Resort, we were treated to an after-dinner bonfire. Being the introverted sociological scribbler that I am, I stayed back under the cover of a palm tree to observe the scene through a cloud of cigar smoke that made the beer in my other hand taste even better.

Witnessing a company run by family and lifelong friends enjoying the results of their collective hard work that earned them a night around a bonfire in a faraway land became a source of inspiration for me.

Surfing the Dunes with Cosmos Tires GRIPIT XT

A night around the bonfire turned into a morning of strong Peruvian coffee, no cream. Get our collective minds prepared for the day ahead of a long but comfortable bus trip deep into the heart of the Paracas, Ica, desert dunes.

Upon arrival, we walked several football fields from the edge of the desert towards what looked like a mirage among the dunes. The mirage was real, the Cosmo Tires desert off-road test track, complete with a full bar, bathrooms, and floor seating under a sun-shielding tent.

After the official global debut of the GRIPIT XT tire, hosted by Cosmo Tires CEO Tony Gonzalez, we were allowed to try it out first-hand on a designated desert sand course.

The vehicles we would be trying out these tires on were the Chinese-imported, Ford part-borne, JMC Grand Avenue mid-size pickup truck. The off-road course incorporated the use of low range 4×4 to navigate the loose yet suffocating sandy terrain.

Cosmo Tires GRIPIT XT Highlights:

Unique Sidewall/Shoulder Claw Design: Hand-drawn by the CEO himself, Tony Gonzalez.
Quiet Kat Technology: Geometric isolation™ grooves designed to break up airflow and reduce road noise on-road during highway and city driving.
Scalloped Shoulder Lugs (patent pending): Protrusions and intrusions for improved traction in sand, mud, and snow.
Bead Claw reinforcement (patent pending): Heartbeat-shaped extrusions improve bead retention for better performance over loose surfaces like sand and snow.
Direct Super Silica (DSS) compound: Durability designed to resist cuts while boosting grip on wet surfaces and lowering rolling resistance to improve efficiency.
Ultimate Tire Technology (UTT): Reinforced bead and internal structure for optimal strength in all-terrain.
Construction strength: Constructed using a 3-ply sidewall and up to 12 plies of under-tread reinforcement.
50,000-mile warranty + Hassle-Free Warranty: Cosmo Tires’ warranty includes road hazard protection and workmanship coverage.

My favorite detail on the GRIPIT XT is the hand-drawn tread design. It adds an artisan quality to the meticulous engineering, testing, and technology it took to design these tires. Moreover, it highlights why Cosmo Tires stands out from the competition.

They understand that tires can offer more than grip. They can serve as the final piece of the puzzle in completing the look of a vehicle. A shiny chrome or alloy wheel is nothing without the sealed rubber compound that surrounds it, so why not add some style? Give the sidewall some character with names like El Jefe, Mucho Macho, Mud Kicker, and RoadHunter, to name a few from the expansive Cosmo Tires catalog.

Clawing the Dune with GRIPIT XT Cosmo Tires

The Cosmo Tires GRIPIT XT performed excellently off-road, traversing the sand dunes.

The vehicles used for testing were the Grand Avenue, built by Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC) Group. This mid-size pickup truck resembles an off-brand Ford Ranger, as it shares many components, including the 2.3L turbocharged engine from Ford. The JMC Grand Avenue is new to South America, having debuted in 2024.

The trucks ranged in trim levels from the base model featuring a 2.3L turbo-diesel engine with a six-speed manual transmission, and the top-of-the-line off-road focused Grand Avenue Pro. This model comes loaded with a snorkel, a premium interior, better ground clearance, and a 254-horsepower 2.3L turbo gasoline engine with an exhaust note that sounds like a robotic Rottweiler.

It also comes standard with an eight-speed automatic and a dial to select one of seven drive modes. Including features like crawl control and “tank turn” which reduces the truck’s turning radius down to 16 feet. Not bad for a pickup truck that retails for under $30K.

The 2.3L turbo diesel engines in these trucks don’t crack 200 hp, so we had to keep our foot firmly on the throttle for the GRIPIT XT to claw, dig, and grip like the feet of a camel.

Where to Buy Cosmo Tires GRIPIT XT

Find a Cosmo Tires dealer near you using the Locator feature on CosmoTires.com. Check out their wide selection of tires for SUVs, trucks, off-road, high-performance, and commercial vehicles like buses and trailers.

You can also order through online sellers like Priority Tire, Walmart, and Amazon.

I’d like to end with a sincere thank you to the Cosmo Tire Family for this memorable adventure.

Can the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van Steer You Away from an SUV?

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:06:00 GMT

2025 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 Passenger Van

In the past, I’ve been adamant in my admiration for modern minivans. I adore their plush driving personality and Swiss Army knife versatility while offering decent fuel economy. Now I had the chance to drive the full-size alternative. A 2025 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 passenger van with the optional extended roof and wheelbase to accommodate a wedding party of passengers and all the stuff they bring with them.

This is the kind of van most of us never think about unless we’re traveling to an airport or arriving at a vacation resort. It’s a fleet vehicle used for commercial transport designed to carry as many passengers as possible without being classified as a bus.

I was surprised to see this big blue box parked outside when I arrived home from work. Its towering roofline and extended length prompted a week of challenging parking situations and anxiety-triggering blind spots.

To my surprise, I spent 500 miles in motoring bliss while traversing the hustle and bustle of congested city streets. Undeterred by the stress zooming around me, thanks to the Sprinter van’s gallery of mirrors, windows and cameras, ensuring I never lost sight of its corners. Cruising the asphalt like a sailboat surfing a summer breeze, symbolized by a small and powerful diesel engine.

This is One Cool Van

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 van was so impressive that I found myself debating why anyone would spend the equivalent amount of money on a full-size luxury SUV. Of course, that honeymoon mindset returned to reality after the road test was over. Several obvious factors prevent it from being a suitable alternative to a minivan, a crew cab pickup truck or an SUV. But that doesn’t distract from the fact that this is one cool van.

There is not much to say about its exterior styling. A box designed to be functional. The Sprinter van shown in photos wears a shade of Brilliant Blue ($766) with optional 16-inch light alloy wheels ($1,029). While researching specs on the official Mercedes-Benz website, I was genuinely surprised to see 22 color options for this van. That’s more than most SUVs, minivans, sedans and pickup trucks.

The combination of sky blue, light-colored alloy wheels and chrome grille ($329) helped polish the van’s commercial fleet appearance into an upscale residential aesthetic. Although several people confused the optional power-operated sliding door step ($1,708) with a retractable ramp for transporting wheelchairs.

This particular Sprinter van came equipped with a leatherette interior ($488) instead of the standard cloth seats. The upholstery felt tight as a drum and as dry as an elephant’s skin, inspiring a texture of durability.

The option to extend the wheelbase and roofline ($9,600) adds two feet to the van’s length, providing enough interior headroom for a six-foot-tall passenger to stand upright inside. The 15 passengers are seated among four rows of seats plus two front seats.

The model shown in the photos did not have the way-back bench with four seats. That’s because each bench can be removed simply by undoing some plastic tabs and unfastening them. So, while its primary focus is hauling passengers, it provides the option to have its seats taken out for a quick conversion into a cargo van.

A Van is Van No Matter What

Now, because I’m not a farmer in the 18th century or moonlight as a rideshare driver, I didn’t have a party of 12 to transport. Nevertheless, this dilemma led to a theory on whether a van is a van, regardless of its classification.

Can a passenger van be used as a cargo van without dismantling its interior? Yes.

I used it to haul a variety of car parts from bumpers to body panels, glass and a smorgasbord of trim pieces. I did not remove the seats because the thought of lumbering those heavy benches made my lower back flinch. So, I decided to place the cargo on top of the upholstery and in the back of the van. As suspected, everything fit. I never felt like I needed a truck bed, given that the Sprinter van offers a maximum payload of 3,100 pounds.

More importantly, driving this van around the city, in traffic and on the highway, was a pleasant ride. It drives like a car with an enormous windshield. The steering is light and smooth. The optional digital rearview mirror and 360-degree backup camera help you navigate parking situations with ease. Additionally, the seat is positioned high, allowing you to be at eye level with most pickup trucks.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Powertrain

Power is supplied by a 2.0L turbocharged diesel four-cylinder engine that produces 170 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive is available, but not for the extended roofline and wheelbase models.

There’s also a high-output variant ($2,850) of the diesel engine offering 211 hp and 332 lb.-ft of torque. These engines send power to the wheels using a nine-speed automatic transmission. The drivetrain is designed to get you and the cargo up to 60 mph as swiftly as possible.

The model I tested had the high-output engine, allowing me to push the van into the fast lane at 80 mph and continue to a top speed of 90 mph. Not that I would advise going that fast, as strong winds can remind you that you’re driving a potentially leaning tower of Mercedes-Benz steel.

I was impressed with its fuel economy, averaging 23 mpg at its highest and 18 mpg at its lowest during the road test.

Sprinter Van Pricing and Options

Initially, I mentioned that this van had me considering it as an alternative to a full-size SUV. It was merely a romance. In reality, the main reasons this doesn’t fit the mold of a family vehicle are its size, rear passenger ride quality and price.

The high roof can be optioned with a heavy-duty roof-mounted air conditioning unit ($1,276) to keep everyone cool, but prevent you from visiting your favorite drive-thru and double-checking the height of parking garages, or any garage for that matter. Then there’s the question of ride quality, as the few passengers I did have riding in the back commented that it felt like they were on a shuttle bus.

Price is the leading factor in why these are typically only sold to commercial businesses or converted into high-dollar recreational vehicles. The starting price of a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter passenger van with a standard roof and wheelbase is about $51,000. After adding options as basic as heated seats for the driver, cruise control, an overhead control panel and the helpful digital rearview mirror, you suddenly realize you’re paying over $80,000 for a van.

Ready for Work

For what it is, the Sprinter passenger van is exceptional in being both comfortable and capable. But it’s a vehicle that demands purpose. It may be dressed like a civilian with its cheerful paint and shiny alloy wheels, but it’s always on duty – ready for work.

Engine: 2.0L Twin-turbocharged four-cylinder diesel

Transmission: 9-speed automatic

0 to 60: 12 seconds

Starting Price: $56,930 (Passenger 2500)

Price as Shown: $80,766 (Passenger 2500)

2026 GMC Terrain AT4 Fails to Make the Grade

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 05:07:00 GMT

GMC Terrain Joins the AT4 Lineup

The GMC Terrain has been on the market since 2010, offering buyers a compact crossover alternative to the brand’s better-known full-size SUV and pickup trucks. I’ve always liked the Terrain because it’s a small SUV with ample interior space, thanks to a wide stance that makes it look like a bulldog in more ways than one.

GMC expanded the Terrain’s lineup for 2026 by introducing two new variants, a luxury-clad Denali and an off-road-focused AT4. The ladder is what I’ll be discussing. I had plenty of time to learn if the new-generation Terrain had the chops to be an off-roader or merely wears the AT4 badge symbolically.

To my surprise, the Terrain failed to meet professional-grade standards as an off-roader. It served as a prime example of an ongoing issue in the compact SUV market regarding fuel economy.

GMC Terrain AT4 Features

The new 2026 GMC Terrain is the third-generation model, debuting in 2025, with a redesigned exterior and interior.

The Terrain has never been a beauty queen, but this latest evolution makes a gallant effort with rugged styling that presents an adventure-seeking profile with fenders and wheel arches that bulge out like a lumberjack’s forearms. Its signature wide body and narrow roofline project a broad-shouldered, muscular appearance.

The GMC AT4 trim level encourages buyers to select two-tone colors, such as the model shown in the photos wearing Riverstone metallic ($495) with a Twilight roof ($495). AT4-branded Terrains come equipped with red tow hooks at the front and capable-looking all-terrain tires wrapped around a set of 17-inch machined aluminum wheels to support the increased ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive.

Interior Highlights and Features

The interior, although spacious, lacks style. The only eye-catching aspect of the cabin is the massive 15-inch diagonal center screen which projects a geographical-inspired greeting display when you enter the vehicle. It certainly looks cool, but I would argue that having a large screen do all the heavy lifting of a car’s interior design is lazy.

I will give credit to GMC for including analog buttons at the bottom of the screen as a secondary option for managing audio volume and climate controls. The only problem is that these analog toggle switches can be pressed unintentionally when dropping items directly into the tray in front of them.

The headlight controls can only be accessed via the touchscreen. General Motors has been doing this for years and still annoys me when I look around the dashboard for a physical switch and remember I have to look for the light bulb icon on the center screen.

Big Space in a Small SUV

On the bright side, the Terrain AT4 cloth seats offer excellent support with a forgiving softness in the material. The optional all-weather floor mat kit ($350) ensures spills, and anything stuck under your shoe stays on the mat and off the carpet. The rear cargo space is great for the compact classification, rivaling the amount of space found in a mid-size SUV.

The wheel well humps will prevent you from sliding a sheet of plywood but overall has plenty of room to transport supplies for a weekend expedition. I used it as a mobile garage carrying tools, a hydraulic jack, impact drill, jumper cables and an air compressor to bring my newly acquired 1971 Ford Thunderbird back to life after a 15-year slumber.

Not Enough Power for a Professional Grade

The real disappointments lay under the hood. The Terrain features a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 175 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. Entry-level models, like the Terrain Elevation, with front-wheel drive feature a CVT transmission, while the AT4 and other variants with all-wheel drive utilize an eight-speed automatic transmission.

For city commuting, this engine is adequate if not mundane. The Terrain’s driving personality will not leave a lasting impression. It does its job as a personal means of transportation and nothing less, but nothing more either. It felt fine until I ventured onto the open highway, using cruise control and lane assist, and was shocked to see the average MPG.

Lackluster Fuel Economy

Driving the GMC Terrain AT4 for over 380 miles, I averaged 22 mpg overall. I don’t understand how a so-called compact SUV with a tech-savvy turbocharger, monitored by an engine management system that could power the Apollo lunar space missions, can fail to average 25 mpg in the futuristic present of 2025.

The trip computer indicated that it had previously achieved a “best” average of 28 mpg. I couldn’t imagine how that was accomplished, short of driving as if you were transporting nitroglycerin. Its saving grace is the modest-sized 14.8-gallon fuel tank, which doesn’t require much to fill up.

Off-Road for Show

This SUV has the ground clearance, tires, drive modes, and all-wheel drive to suggest it can handle a bit of abuse on the road less traveled. As part of the road test, I took the Terrain AT4 out to the ranch to find out if I could cash the check it wrote.

The test was within reason, nothing crazy, consisting of 45 minutes traversing dirt hills and uneven trenches near a pond. The kind of terrain you’d expect on a camping trip far from the paved parking lot of a National Park’s visitor center.

The GMC Terrain AT4 handled the rugged trails better than expected. It did not hesitate, nor did it feel like I needed to strain its mechanical components to tackle obstacles.

Everything was fine until I got back on the highway and noticed the SUV pulling sharply to the left if I let go of the steering wheel. A mild stroll at a ranch was enough to throw off the SUV’s wheel alignment. I’ve taken several test vehicles through the same off-road routine with no lasting effects. It caused me to lose confidence in the SUV’s proclaimed all-terrain capability.

What good is a sports utility vehicle if it loses its composure after 40 minutes of playing in the dirt?

An SUV that Works Best with Less

The entry-level Terrain Elevation (with front-wheel drive) starts at a rounded-up $31,300, offering its best attribute of interior space without the overly ambitious promises of luxury or off-road prowess that the AT4 and Denali can fail to achieve.

The GMC Terrain AT4 shown in this review is priced over $43,000. While not overly expensive, I don’t think you need to spend that much to enjoy the benefits of this particular SUV.

Engine: 1.5L Turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

0 to 60: 7.9 seconds

Starting Price: $31,295 (Elevation FWD)

Price as Shown: $43,380 (AT4 AWD)

New Maserati MCPura is 621 Horsepower of Pure Italy

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 16:14:17 GMT

Facelift for the Mid-Engine Maserati Flagship

Maserati debuted the new and improved 2026 MCPura super sports car at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed. This is the first official facelift for the Italian automaker’s current halo car since its premiere launch in 2020. It’s a big deal, so much so that I had to sign a legally binding contract to ensure I keep my mouth shut until the big unveil.

Why is it so important? Because the MC is no ordinary mid-engine sports car, this is Maserati’s halo car. The essential symbol of what the brand stands for in this new era of passion-fueled performance and elegance.

2026 Maserati MCPura Facts and Specs

Let’s get down to brass tax. The former Maserati MC20 is now the MCPura and available as a sports coupe or a convertible, designated by the charming Cielo moniker. The key difference between the two variants, apart from the retractable glass roof, is about 500 pounds added to the Cielo’s curb weight compared to the MCPura coupe’s 3,043 pounds (dry weight).

All the other tanzeling performance specs surrounding the cars are identical:

Engine: Twin-turbocharged 3.0L Netturo V6

Transmission: 8-speed Dual Clutch

Max Power: 621 hp

Max Torque: 538 lb.-ft

0 to 60: 2.9 seconds

Top Speed: 202 mph

In addition to its speed and power, the 2026 Maserati MCPura debuted sporting a stunning new color called AI Aqua Rainbow, as shown in press photos.

This color joins an expanded color palette offered by the Maserati Fuoriserie Program, featuring over 30 vibrant hues in various finishes, including matte, metallic, three-layer, and four-layer paint.

Pricing and Availability

Official pricing for the 2026 Maserati MCPura is set to be announced towards the end of 2025 once it goes into production during Q4. However, those with fortunate bank accounts can pre-order the MCPura right now through Maserati.

Given that a current MC20 can fetch over $250,000, use that as a ballpark prediction for what the new MCPura will set you back.

Money aside, I got to drive the best Maserati has to offer on a full-on race track like the fabulous handling MC20 and laser-sharp GT2 Stradale. If the MCPura is meant to improve on these fantasy-inspired machines, I look forward to seeing them in action.

It is also worth mentioning that these cars are entirely built in Italy in the historic plant in Viale Ciro Menotti, Modena.

Duster Season Finale Review: End of the Dusty Trail

Jesus R. Garcia — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 00:13:00 GMT

End of the Road

The Duster season finale recently aired on HBO Max. The eighth and final episode of this 1970s cosplay crime thriller TV show.

As you’d expect, the show ended with a cliffhanger with the hopes of a second season to continue the saga of FBI agent Hayes and criminal wheelman Jim Ellis.

Throughout the season, I kept wondering how they would tie up so many loose ends and plot lines. It turns out it’s pretty easy, just include a big shootout and end those complicated storylines with a single bullet.

Huge Spoiler Alert

This paragraph will discuss the massive bomb dropped at the end of the show concerning Jim’s dead brother, Joey. If you don’t want the twist to be spoiled, scroll to the following paragraph.

Throughout the entire show, we’ve been hearing about how great Jim’s brother is and would have continued to be if he hadn’t smoked near propane, or been double-crossed by Saxton, or assassinated by the CIA.

Well, as it turns out, none of that mattered because Jim isn’t dead – apparently. Everyone thought he was dead, including Howard Hughes, but it turned out to be a hoax. Joey, the famed good brother, is living under the name Xavier.

Another character name that seems to be pulling the strings long enough to reach the White House. But is he a good guy pretending to be bad, or a good guy who went bad? That’s the cliffhanger, as now Hayes and Jim will have to continue their investigation and dive deeper.

Other spoilers and unresolved plot lines included Saxton, who saved Royce’s life by taking two to the chest. The show made it seem like he died, but later, Jim mentions that Saxton is at the hospital instead of the morgue.

Then there’s the cowboy suit at the White House who should be in trouble for sending a nerdy, corrupt FBI agent to do his dirty work.

Not to mention the lack of investigation into the fact that FBI agent Nina Hayes has killed multiple people, including a fellow agent, and isn’t under investigation. Justified or not, that’s not protocol.

No Big Car Chase?

It was disappointing that the season finale of a show marketed as a “car show” didn’t feature a cinematic car chase scene. Nobody even breaks the speed limit. No big car chase involving the Plymouth Duster, no big car stunt – nothing.

The most we got to see was some sloppy peel-outs on dirt and an AMC Matador crashing through a gate and tackling a bad guy.

The big shootout was shot poorly with terrible sound effects that made .44 magnums and .45 autos sound like a .22 knocking out beer bottles.

I’ll give it points for one realistic moment involving the cartoonishly evil Billy character, but otherwise, this was B-movie-level filmmaking.

Final Verdict: The Show is Too Slow

My expectations for the TV show Duster were not overtly high. I expected good music, great leather blazers, and some decent car action, considering the budget and talent behind the wheel, like legendary stuntman Corey Eubanks.

But what I got was lazy writing that drags its feet instead of moving the plot forward. The characters that appear cool from a distance lack personality and charisma. Slow-paced car chases and rolling shots. Except for two impressive rollover crash car stunts involving characters that didn’t matter to the plot.

My opinion still stands. The show wasted its potential.

Duster Episode 7 Review: Last Stop Before the End

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 11:06:00 GMT

The Most Interesting Character on the Show is a Dead Guy

We’re almost at the end with episode seven of HBO’s Duster TV show. As predicted, the show is now trying to throw all the action it can muster to create a big enough cliffhanger to keep our attention for the season finale.

Thus far, the most interesting character in Duster is Jim’s dead brother Joey (I finally remembered his name). There’s only one problem: we have no idea what he looks like or what exactly makes him so great. Everything we know about him has literally been hearsay and posthumous brown nosing.

Spoiler Alert: Episode seven of Duster reveals that Joey Ellis was killed by the CIA.

So, just to recap, Joey was a smooth-talking war hero with all the criminal underworld connections to earn a right-hand-man spot in an organization while working with the CIA. What a character, shame we have no idea what he looks like or what made him a jack of all trades.

Duster’s Main Character is an Idiot

Jim Ellis is meant to be the leading star, as he is driving the car the show is named after —the car that belonged to his late, oh-so-great brother.

The show wants you to believe Jim is a fast driver who’s quick on his feet when there’s trouble, but many of his actions suggest otherwise.

While there are scenarios where Jim has treat his ass like Mary Poppin’s hand bag to find solutions to problems, a lot of these problems the result of his dumbass behavior. Luna is a prime example, as we now know she is his daughter. Episode seven reveals that Saxton had no idea about Luna and meets her for the first time.

I find it hard to believe that Saxton, who has been a father figure and boss for Jim’s entire life, had no idea Jim was a father. Does Jim’s actual father know about Luna? Did he also have to keep it a secret?

Another reason is the pervy cop who got shot at the beginning of the season. We saw Jim attempt to check in on his status at the hospital. He took the word of some nurse who vaguely said it didn’t look good, which was enough for old Jimmy to presume he was dead and never bothered to follow up and make sure.

Now that the cop is back from limbo, he is furious for revenge like a true religious hypocrite.

The Duster in Las Vegas

The best scene in episode seven of Duster is the recreation of Las Vegas in 1972, with the strip beaming with neon lights of Sin City during its Fear and Loathing era. Another scene shows Luna watching the famous car chase scene from Bullitt, of which the show spends nearly two minutes showing us footage of the movie.

I found it hilarious that the show thinks it’s in the same league as Steve McQueen. Besides the opening credits, my favorite scenes in this show are when we see the Plymouth Duster traveling on the desert highway. I could watch 48 minutes of this car driving in a desert sunset or sunrise.

Will There Be a Season Two of Duster?

At the time of this article, the jury is still out on whether or not HBO will green light a season two for Duster. I’ll be surprised if they do, and I’ll be even more surprised if I take the time to watch.

New Mothers California Gold Ceramic Helps Restore Old Paint

Jesus R. Garcia — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 23:51:00 GMT

DIY Paint Protection with Mothers California Gold Ceramic

Mothers Polish introduced a new line of California Gold Ceramic washing and detailing products to pamper our cars during the summer months.

These new products offer DIY paint protection for those who don’t want to spend thousands for PFF or professionally installed ceramic coating. Yes, PPF and ceramic coating offer longevity if applied correctly. But not everyone can afford to spend that kind of money to maintain a shiny, clear coat.

Some still enjoy hand-washing their cars on a Sunday morning in the driveway. The therapeutic activity of washing your own vehicle by hand or using specific tools hasn’t gone out of style.

With Mothers California Gold Ceramic products, you can treat your car’s paintwork with a luxurious lather of paint protection and shine without breaking a sweat or the bank.

Mothers Polish California Gold Ceramic Product Line

The new line of Mothers Polish California Gold Ceramic consists of three main products designed to perform as a team.

California Gold Ceramic Wash & Wax

California Gold Ceramic Paint Correction Compound

California Gold Ceramic Spray Wax

How to Use Mothers California Gold Ceramic Products

The proper way to use these products and achieve the ultimate results is to start with the California Gold Ceramic Wash & Wax. Ensuring the painted surfaces are scrubbed, cleaned, washed, and free of any contaminants or pollutants.

Then, using an application pad or buffing tool, use the California Gold Ceramic Paint Correction Compound solution.

The product works like most polishing compounds. Apply in small sections and allow it to haze before removing it with a microfiber towel. Repeat until the entire vehicle has been treated. This product helps remove unwanted imperfections, such as light scratches or staining from acid rain, from painted surfaces while leaving a saturated, glossy shine.

Afterward, you have the option to apply California Gold Ceramic Spray Wax for an additional shine. The application is straightforward, using the spray bottle to coat small areas and removing it with a microfiber towel.

The result of using all three Mothers California Gold Ceramic products is a paint finish that is not only clean and shiny but also protected with hydrophobic properties, helping to prevent rain and road grime from sticking to the surface.

Reviving the Old Paint on My Ranch Worn 1969 Camaro

I tested the new Mothers California Gold Ceramic products on my 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 tribute. The paintwork on this car is pushing 30 years old, 10 of those years being exposed to the harsh conditions of a South Texas ranch.

I chose this car to give the Mothers Polish ceramic products a real test. Applying them on a modern car with a young clear coat is easy. But suppose they could revive the many paint imperfections on my old muscle car. A true testament of quality.

A bit of backstory on the state of my Camaro. From a distance, the car appears to be a pristine, period-correct example of a red-blooded muscle car. But standing close, it’s impossible to ignore the dents, scuffs, and gashing scratches caused by varying living entities on my ranch.

For example, a significant dent on the driver’s side door is thanks to our male goat, Maverick, who liked to rest by leaning on the side of the car. The hood and front fenders are littered with scratches because one of our dogs decided she enjoyed taking naps on top of the Camaro and constantly jumped on it using her razor-sharp paws.

Easy to Apply, Great Results

Full disclosure, I am not a car detailer. I’m not even an experienced car polisher. I loathe washing and waxing cars, and most of my personal vehicles don’t have paint worthy of stressing over.

I’m happy to say that using Mothers California Gold Ceramic products was an easy and painless experience. If I can do it, anyone can. Moreover, I achieved the desired results by simply following the directions listed on the product bottle.

Photos will show how using Mothers California Gold Ceramic Paint Correction Compound and Spray Wax helped vanish away the ugly scratch marks on my 1969 Camaro. It didn’t take hours of buffing to achieve these results because the products are fast-acting or work as smoothly as the finish they leave behind.

I’m pleased with how these products work. My Camaro is not in a condition to justify the cost of professional ceramic coating or PPF. So, products like Mothers California Gold Ceramic allow me to treat my car to look its best without needing to hire a professional detailer.

2025 Maserati Track Day at COTA

Jesus R. Garcia — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 11:59:00 GMT

An Extraordinary Track Day

Sometimes you have a day that is better than most. It doesn’t take much to make a day good. It could be finding a 20 in your pocket, hitting three green lights in a row, an extra French fry in your bag. Or, receiving an unexpected email with a fantastic opportunity.

Mine was getting a spontaneous email from Maserati North America inviting me to track test their entire lineup at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Driving Italian performance cars around an F1 race track, “Is the bird dropping on my car;s hood white?” You betcha!

If the Track Shoe Fits, Send It

Those who don’t know may think of a Maserati as a “fancy” Italian sports car maker for people who enjoy showcasing commas in their bank accounts. But Maserati is way more than a brand to stir envy, it cut its teeth on the same race tracks as Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and its neighbor Ferrari.

In 2026 Maserati will celebrate its 100th birthday. So having the chance to be on a race track surrounded by Maseratis felt really fortunate, like being at the right place at the right time by the only magic in the world – dumb luck.

Among the fleet I would be allowed to drive around COTA was one I could only ride shotgun, a menacing example of the Maserati MCXtrema. One of only 62 built, the MCXtrema is a purpose-built hypercar stripped down to a race car fighting weight to stab corners with a trident.

It is the most powerful car Maserati has produced to date with a rated 730 horsepower squeezed out of its Netturo V6 engine. Delivering a riding experience, I would describe as feeling like a Hot Wheels toy car in the hands of a nine-year-old, more on that later.

The 2025 Maserati Lineup on Track

What I found interesting about Maserati is how efficient the brand has become with its drivetrains. Everything from the swanky GranTurismo and GranCabrio, the supercar chic MC20 Cielo Spyder and GT2 Stradale, the hardcore MCXtrema, and even high-tier variants of its luxury SUVs are powered by the Nettuno 3.0L twin-turbocharged V6 engine.

The Nettuno is a Maserati-developed engine built in Modena, Italy. The powerful twin-turbocharged V6, introduced in 2020, marked a new era for the brand.

They are proud of it, and they should be, as it serves as the heart of Maserati with a finely tuned output for each vehicle. For example, the luxury sports car-oriented GranTurismo produces between 490 and 542 horsepower, depending on the variant. The super siblings, the MC20 and track-star GT2 Stradale produce 621 and 631 hp, respectively.

Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo

The first car I drove around COTA was the Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo (starting price $157,000). This sun-bright luxury sports car ages like a vampire, maintaining the same exterior design silhouette since it debuted in 2007. Nevertheless, the interior has the right materials and presence to make you feel like you’re in a premium means of transportation.

Once in sport mode, we were given the green light to punch it and throw it around the 20 turns COTA has to offer. But! We were warned to “go easy” on the brakes.

A reasonable request, as the GT is not a full-on race car or supercar, but rather a plush sports car for long-distance travel in style. Great on a coastal highway overlooking a sun tucking itself beneath the Mediterranean Sea, but here on this challenging F1 track, I found myself fighting with the car – breaking a sweat in the process.

Learning the Moves

The car strives to be smooth while offering both luxury and performance. However, when you throw it into a corner at speed, you can feel the symmetry going slightly off balance, as the plush seats lack the rigid side bolstering to hold you in place.

Moreover, if you miscalculate the turn, you’ll quickly notice that Maserati GranTurismo’s body rolls like a belly dancer. As fast and responsive as the car was, I struggled to master its handling. It has the right hardware, but I needed more time to read the manual on how to use it properly.

Furthermore, I was halfway through the first lap when the dashboard warned me the brakes were at risk of overheating. Alarming because I thought I was being gentle and still had 15 minutes of high-speed driving ahead of me.

Call it bravery or stupidity, I decided to keep going. I went flat out down straight away at over 120, seeing if I could outrun the anxiety of the flashing red warning light on the dash.

Eventually, I learned the car’s rhythm and was able to conserve the brakes without triggering the car’s computer warning icon. The GranTurismo Trofeo has the power and grip to tackle curves. But I found it more enjoyable looking fast at 30 mph than going fast at 130.

Maserati GT2 Stradale

After the GranTurismo, I set my sights on the MC20 Cielo Spyder and GT2 Stradale. The MCs are a totally different breed of thoroughbred that becomes apparent the moment you open the butterfly door. This is no common sports car. It’s a supercar!

Choosing to drive the purple matte finish GT2 Stradale (estimated starting price $314,000) before the tequila sunrise yellow MC20 Cielo Spyder (estimated starting price $277,000) gave me the chance to experience the uncut, unfiltered version first. The GT2 Stradale is the track-focused variant, featuring less weight and more power than the standard MC20.

Street Jet Fighter

You feel like a pilot stepping inside the Maserati GT2 Stradale with a brightly colored pull tag in between your legs used to adjust the seat – or bail out of an F-16 fighter jet. The floating center console keeps it simple with large analog buttons and a hard-to-miss rotary dial to select drive modes that should be labeled as “Fast,” “Faster,” and “Mama Mia!”

On the track, the GT2 Stradale composes itself with the agile grace of a trained K-9 police dog responding to your slightest command with pinpoint precision.

A light touch at the wheel allows you to sit back and let the suspension do the heavy lifting. The acceleration and braking, combined with the liquid-smooth steering and lightning-fast agility, create a recipe that satisfies the need for speed and leaves you craving more.

Maserati MC20 Cielo Spyder

Stepping into the Maserati MC20 Cielo Spyder, the toned-down, top-down variant provided a totally different but equally exciting experience.

I drove this car on a weak stomach, slightly dehydrated, and mentally trying to keep my brain from spinning. They say beauty is pain, and I wasn’t going to let a little case of crippling nausea stop me from driving this captivatingly gorgeous supercar.

This was the car I feel best represents what Maserati offers its customers – balance. It moves like a classically trained ballerina holding a submachine gun.

The handling is graceful yet disciplined with rapid-fire performance hurling you and a passenger from zero to 60 in three seconds flat, accelerating smoother than sipping champagne on a private jet during takeoff.

Maserati MCXtreama at COTA

Yet, the most memorable time spent on the track was riding shotgun in the MCXtrema (estimated price $1,500,000), driven by Masterai’s in-house professional racing driver, Daniele Manca.

I would describe my three laps in the Maserati MCXtrema at COTA as being tied to the back of a racehorse and having its tail set on fire. I’ve never felt so helpless and at the mercy of inertia in my life.

When I wasn’t holding on for dire life in the turns, my chin was perforating the center of my chest under the instantly brutal braking power that sounded like cast iron bear traps clapping down to slow the car.

How fast were we going? G-force prevented me from glancing at the speedometer, but I would wager 150-160 mph before needing to slow down to make a turn.

A Physical Reaction to Speed

Whatever the speed in the MCXtrema, it was fast enough to turn the contents of my stomach into projectile shrapnel the moment we stopped in the pit lane.

This was easily my most embarrassing moment on a racetrack, compounded by seeing the pit crew removing the windshield so they could clean it properly. Maserati says it builds cars with passion and emotion, and I can attest the MCXtrema’s performance and handling provoked a very emotional reaction out of me.

I want to extend special thanks to everyone from Maserati for going above and beyond to ensure I was all right. Thank you!

Maserati’s Reputation

Hot laps aside, I was genuinely impressed by what Maserati is bringing to the highly competitive segment of luxury-performance cars.

On the drive home from COTA, I couldn’t help but feel a slight melancholy because I knew that no matter how much I praised these cars, people would only think of one thing regarding the brand – deprecation.

All cars depreciate the moment they roll off the lot, but Maseratis have a reputation for sinking faster than the Titanic.

According to iSeeCars.com, a website dedicated to analyzing vehicle sales, the Maserati Ghibli sports sedan (starting price: $109,500) and Levante SUV (starting price: $102,000) ranked in the top ten of 25 vehicles with the worst depreciation over five years, losing more than 60% of their value. Ouch.

But! The list did not mention any of the models I tested, so don’t let one or two sour grapes prevent you from enjoying a fine wine.

Duster Episode 6 Review: Shallow Action

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 11:44:00 GMT

Making Process But Missing the Mark

Episode five of the crime thriller series Duster provides some tense action and answers, while few, to one of the story’s lingering plot lines. However, even machine guns and one million in cash aren’t enough to bring the show home.

Sorry to say, the show’s writing and production value fail to live up to the quality from the same network that brought us The Sopranos and Game of Thrones.

Flash Over Substance

This is what happens when you force your audience to invest several hours of watch time before explaining the plot or providing action. By the time it happens, those who are still watching find it difficult to care. The payoff loses its worth.

The show Duster does a poor job of providing a payoff.

Everything that has happened on this show up until now has been done better many times before in other shows. You have cheesy lines that aren’t cheesy enough to be charming. You have car chase scenes that look too slow to inspire a rush.

The series is full of characters that initially look promising but lack any sort of depth beyond clichéd tropes. Even the violence is unsure of itself as Duster tries to have it both ways with terrible gun audio effects that sound like BB guns while also showing a man’s head crushed at a bowling alley.

I feel sorry for the actors who are trying their best with the uninspiring dialogue they’ve been given. You want to believe it in their eyes, but the lines they say take you out of the story. This is a show that falls to suck you into its universe and relish every moment, every scene with anticipation. I just don’t care about this show.

Spoiler Alert

This paragraph will contain a major spoiler that was revealed in a remarkably unremarkable line. Ready? Okay, Duster episode five confirms that Luna is Jim Ellis’ daughter.

He admits it to Nina during a shootout, asking her not to tell her that he is her real dad if Jim doesn’t make out alive. Great, now we know, but why would Nina care? She’s never met Luna and isn’t aware of the drama beyond the fact that she’s part of Jim’s family.

On the same note, we don’t even know why this is such a secret as up until now, it was led to believe that Luna was the daughter of Jim’s dead brother.

Again, one answer raises more questions, forcing us to wait and find out.

Two Episodes Left in Season One

Given how much story needs to be told with only two episodes left, I’m assuming season one will end with a cliffhanger for the next season. At the moment, I doubt the show has the momentum to carry it through another season of content.

It’s not exciting or engaging enough, nor have I seen a lot of press surrounding the show other than similar reading headlines referring to the show as a “throwback car chase” series.

Even that’s only partly true because the car action is weaker than a vegan diet.

Duster Episode 5 Review: Finally, Some Context

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 23:40:00 GMT

Finally Out of Second Gear

It only took five episodes for HBO Max’s Duster TV show to shift into second gear and reveal some key plot details.

We know Jim’s brother died “two years ago.” We see the show’s government conspiracy plot line reach all the way to the White House during the Nixon administration in the depths of the Watergate scandal, which places the show in the summer of 1972. I’m wondering how nobody in the show ever looks sweaty, considering it’s Phoenix, Arizona.

Sidenote, this show has the best Nixon portrayal I’ve ever seen. Spooky good.

Episode Five Should Have Been the First

This episode of Duster offers more context, character depth, and intrigue for the story than the previous four episodes combined. Granted, there is still a trunkload of questionable actions and writing, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Duster episode five begins with the aftermath of Jim giving away Howard Hughes’ custom Lincoln V12 to Enrique the Blade to save his own skin. That car, according to the show, was worth one million dollars, and Jim’s cover story is that it was stolen, and they got away. Where’s Royce in all of this? Why isn’t he also taking the heat? We don’t know. He does not appear in this episode.

Saxton, in a state of rage, “fires” Jim from the organization, putting a wrench in his work as an FBI informant for Hayes, who experiences verbal consequences for acting like a loose-cannon agent. Of course, this show of discipline only lasts 90 seconds before giving a “48-hour” chance to prove her case.

Gangsters in Phoenix

One would never think of the city of Phoenix, Arizona, as an urban hub for organized crime, but you’d be wrong. This was the town where Miranda Rights were born after the landmark case Miranda v. Arizona of 1966. Moreover, Phoenix has a history of dealing with crime waves and being the set piece for mob types to conduct their business due to its strategic proximity to Mexico, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.

We get to see a bit of this real-life inspiration in Duster episode five when Jim helps Saxton’s daughter break up a wedding for a Greek mob boss. Although Greek sounded too New York, and since the show is fictional, it could have been an opportunity to instill a more culturally appropriate fake mob group like bloodthirsty cattle ranchers or Mexican cartels.

While on the subject of crime, we still don’t know how Saxton made the switch from Philadelphia to Phoenix.

The Car Chase – Duster vs BMW

I’m not an accountant or television producer, so I have no idea how many millions were spent to produce each episode or Duster. However, the car chase scenes stand in stark contrast to the rest of the show’s visual aesthetic in terms of budget.

In episode five of HBO’s series Duster, Jim’s cherry red 1970 Plymouth Duster is chased by armed henchmen in a BMW sedan through the night of a major Southwest town. On paper, it sounds visually exciting, but every scene shows the cars running on empty streets as if they were the only cars around for miles.

You see the Duster burn rubber with the BMW in hot pursuit at speeds that look like 40 mph. A car traveling at a high rate of speed can often look boring on camera, which is why car stunts play such a vital part in the action.

Capturing Speed on Camera

It’s more exciting to watch a car sliding sideways into a turn at 30 mph than traveling at 150 mph in a straight line. Yet, the car chase scenes in Duster repeatedly show cars traveling for long periods in a straight line, and it is clearly evident that they are not driving as fast as the story is trying to convey.

Not having any other cars on the street also makes the chase feel dull because there’s no perspective of speed. I can’t tell how fast Jim’s Duster is going because there’s nothing else in the frame. This is a mistake I’d expect to see in a college student film, not a full-scale production with millions backed by a major studio.

Duster continues to be a wasted opportunity when it comes to showcasing gritty car action, paying homage to the wild cinematic car stunts viewers watched on their TV screens during 1970s and 1980s.

Three Episodes Left

Only three episodes left in the first season of the Duster HBO Series, and there are still plenty of plot lines that need to be solved and explained. Given how lackluster the show’s writing has been up to this point, I’m curious to see how it plans to tie everything up in under three hours.

Duster Episode 4 Review: Dragging Instead of Hauling

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 10:44:00 GMT

At the Halfway Point with No Direction

Duster episode 4 means we’re officially halfway through season one of HBO Max’s nostalgic crime thriller. Yet, we are still very much in the dark when it comes to plot points. This habit of merely teasing rising action as a way to stir anticipation for climatic payoff doesn’t work if you force your audience to wait too long.

For example, Breaking Bad starts off with a bang in the first episode but takes a bit of dedication to plow through the rest. However, by the second episode, the show thanks you for sticking with it, offering captivating suspense, engaging conflict, and fascinating character study.

Duster is four episodes deep, and I still don’t understand why I’m supposed to care about any of the characters besides cookie-cutter personality tropes I’ve seen in shows with smaller budgets and far better writing.

This episode continues its hamster wheel approach to storytelling, going around and around through drawn-out sequences of dull dialog and random action scenes that go nowhere while waiting for the hamster to get thrown off and deliver snippets of the plot.

The only reason I’m still watching is because I’m committed to reviewing this show.

Ankle Deep Character Depth

The show’s problem, among many, is the lack of character depth.

Duster Episode Four introduces Enrique the Blade, a professional hitman for Mexican cartel boss Mad Raoul, another character about whom we know nothing except that he’s a madman named Raoul.

Enrique the Blade could have been a fun character considering how he’s introduced, walking into a store unbothered by the blood on his suit and showing a sword tucked into the sleeve like a Mexican Samurai that he then uses to stab a… candy bar? Nevertheless, his notorious reputation as a hitman is enough to make Jim hallucinate from worry while watching Saturday morning cartoons.

Yet, when we finally see Enrique and Jim meet face to face, they roll around in the bathroom without zipping up and stop fighting for no reason other than the screenplay demands they stop and bond over a warm bottle of Kentucky bourbon.

We gain some insight into Awan’s character, who left the Navajo reservation to join the FBI. We learn his dad disapproved and disowned him. Sad, but again, why should we care? Was Awan’s dad a bad father prior to this? Was he a good father, and did Awan’s decision break their relationship? How long has it been since Awan talked to his father or visited the reservation? All valid questions with no answers.

Awan mentions his mother was a “white lady from Detriot,” making him a “half-breed,” another trope done to death, but no information as to how Awan’s father, who apparently spent his whole life on the reservation, ended up marrying someone from Detriot. Nor do we find out if she’s still alive or around.

This show loves to leave us in the dark with only a match stick to guide the way.

Saxton’s son Royce, who underwent a heart transplant less than a week ago, according to the show’s confusing timeline, is eating steak, watching movies, and running around. I had no idea modern medicine was so advanced in the early 1970s.

I think he’s 18, but he could be 28 for all I know, as the show doesn’t bother to mention a line of dialog about college or draft dodging to give us a clue as to what age he’s portraying. This character is the worst so far because we haven’t gotten any insight into how he’ll play into the story.

We know he had a bad heart and feels his crime boss father doesn’t respect him as a man as a result. But does he know his father is a crime boss or merely a “businessman” running a legitimate company?

Moreover, he says he wants to be taken seriously but folds like a paper bridge and whines like a child at the first sign of trouble. What’s the point of this character?

Howard Hughes Lincoln Model K Boattail Speedster

One pleasant surprise in this episode is a touch of accurate automotive history with Howard Hughes’s 1930s Lincoln Model K boattail speedster. Howard Hughes, the famous push-up bra inventing aviator, was known for personalizing his cars with aviation-inspired upgrades. By the early 70s, Hughes was buying hotels in California and Las Vegas to live in and would pass away by 1976.

Seeing a representation of his custom fuselage-inspired boattail speedster Lincoln limo with a flathead V12 was a great visual.

This was also the second time the show dropped an iconic figure of the era name without showing us an actor’s portrayal of them. Relying instead on revolving the story around a personal item they owned. This car, like every crumb of interesting plot devices, comes and goes by the end of the episode, but not without introducing two random antagonists.

Traveling Vacuum Salesmen Bandits

While on a joyride in Hughes’ Lincoln, Jim and Royce accidentally run a Ford Galaxie sedan off the road driven by two presumed traveling vacuum salesmen. I say presumed because the only clues we get are a bumper sticker that says “Vacuums Suck” and actually seeing a vacuum cleaner in the trunk, pushed to the far corner to make room for the dozen rifles and shotguns they carry.

These two young guys dressed like Mormons are bandits – apparently.

We never learn their names or why they have a trunk full of guns and dressed like 1960s salesmen in the 1970s. Their only role in the episode is to steal the Lincoln from Royce, who cries like a true nepo baby, prompting Jim and his new friend Enrique, the Blade, to chase after them.

Chase ends with Enrique pulling off a bull shit move by tossing a throwing knife across the interior of the Duster, past Jim’s face, into the bandit’s car, across that interior, and landing right between the eyes. Why Jim didn’t pull up on the other side so Enrique’s door was next to the bandit, I’ll never know.

The other bandit driving the Lincoln gives up immediately and is rewarded with a knife between the shoulder blades. So we’ve now seen Jim involved in three murders, but it’s okay because he’s the main character the show wants us to root for and cheer.

The One Interesting Plot Line

The only plot line of any interest in the show Duster lies with Izzy’s character. She’s a single mom working as a long-haul trucker in the early 1970s, a tough job made tougher by gender inequality. It’s not trying to be “woke” it merely points out the facts these women faced during this time in history.

She plans to start a movement within the truckers’ union to unite over 100 female truckers and secure fair treatment. That’s a great story! It’s compelling and historically accurate. The trucking industry during this time was approaching a critical shift from owner-operators ruling the road before corporations beat them into the submissive mules of the industry it has become today.

The 1970s saw dozens of movies showcasing truckers as rebellious heroes fighting against the establishment. Movies like White Line Fever (1976), Smokey and the Bandit (1977), and Convoy (1978), to name a few.

By the rate this show is going, I’m sure this interesting plot line will go nowhere aside from some protest scenes and finding out Izzy has some kind of cancer with the less-than-subtle foreshadowing the show keeps dropping.

A Chore to Watch

Duster has less than four hours to tie up a Twizzlers’ bag of plot lines. If the season ends with a teaser cliffhanger for season two, I’ll be furious. This show insists on dragging ass instead of hauling it and I’m losing my patience.

It shouldn’t take this long to get hooked on a show. This has officially become a chore to watch.

Duster Episode 3 Review: Get On with It Already!

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 10:36:00 GMT

What’s Going On?

We’re on episode three out of eight in the season, and I still don’t care about any of the characters in HBO Max’s far out thriller Duster.

The frustratingly vague storytelling, which introduced too many characters at the beginning, is spinning its wheels, trying to move forward while leaving many unanswered questions behind. At least now we know a small detail about the cherry red lead, the 1970 Plymouth Duster. In a scene where Saxton mentions to Jim that he remembers when his dead brother bought the Duster.

Considering the show is set in the presumed year of 1972, and the car is 1970, that would mean Jim’s brother has only been dead for less than two years

I can never remember the brother’s name because I simply don’t care because the only things I know about him are incredibly vague. Apparently, he was the best dude to ever live but I don’t know because I’ve never seen his face.

Moreover, if the car represents a sentimental vessel of his brother’s memory, why is Jim using it as a work car? Why risk having such an emotionally valuable car getting wrecked or turned into evidence?

A Wasted Time and Potential

It’s incredible how a show with nearly hour-long episodes set in an organically captivating era, can waste so much potential with skin deep character depth.

It’s a show about a wheelman, yet I haven’t seen any cinematic car chase scenes in the last two hours of combined show time. The cinematography is flash over substances, revving the engine but never shifting into drive. Even the fight scenes seem to drag on, with every punch feeling like it takes 30 seconds to land.

They keep teasing a government cover-up, which prompts the question, why are two rookie FBI agents allowed to continue their investigation? Reassign them to a different case.

Speaking of FBI agents, what happened to the two dorky-looking white FBI agents introduced as possible bullies to the minority characters; we haven’t heard from them in ages. The same goes for the supposed Mexican cartel boss Jim signed a contract to work for in his own blood. No consequences for Jim flaking? How many days have passed? Has all this happened in the span of a weekend?

The pacing of this show is frustrating, wasting so much time setting up more questions instead of answering questions we’ve been wondering for weeks.

The most prominent criticism is with the Duster itself, which, up until now, has not been treated like the star of the show. It’s a main character without any good lines or action. By now, I’ve already forgotten the two-minute car chase scene from the first episode.

Cringy Dialog and Characters

There are so many great movies and TV shows from the early 70s the Duster‘s writing and production team could have watched as research. The dialogue in Duster comes off sounding inauthentic and corny. It sounds like the writing team wrote the episode and forgot it took place in the 70s and went back to add a, “dig it.”

What little humor in the show is confusing. I’m unsure when or what is supposed to be comedic relief – if any. The lead wheelman, Jim, has zero charisma, letting his smile do most of the talking. As a character, he’s not suave like Jim Rockford or funny like Colt Seavers, and definitely not clever like Kojak; he’s just blonde hair and bleached teeth.

Plus, the show made the only Native American character a comic book nerd with a thing for Superman. That’s incredibly lame and a wasted opportunity for an interesting character. The comic book fan trope is dead.

He could have been given an edge like maybe he’s into Pink Floyd before Dark Side of the Moon hit the charts in 1973, or a big fan of Redbone, which was moving in grooving in the early 70s, delivering hits like “The Witch Queen of New Orleans”, “When You Got Trouble”, “Jericho”, and their most famous song, “Come and Get Your Love” – although that single didn’t release until 1973.

Speaking of music, episode three features the song “Foxy Lady” by Jimi Hendrix, a song from 1967, and doesn’t fit the vibe of the early 70s as Hendrix died in 1970 with the 1960s. This is another wasted opportunity to introduce an underrated musical gem to a new generation.

No Turning Back Now

I’m three episodes deep into reviewing this show. I can’t turn back now, but I’m not happy about continuing either. The show desperately needs to pick up the pace and stop dragging its feet. Any action that happened in episode three left us with more questions and I’m getting tired of waiting for a pay off in a show about a fast driver.

Panther Magazine, a Literary Tribute to Body-on-Frame

Kris Black — Wed, 28 May 2025 05:38:00 GMT

The Best Car Ever Made

I’m often asked, “What is your favorite car?” by people who don’t know a lot about cars.

This is a challenging question, as it varies by month. But when people ask me, “What’s the best car?” I know exactly what to say, the Ford Crown Victoria, which some people understand, but if they don’t, I follow up with, “those old police cars.”

Of course, it is merely an opinion I’ve set in stone. Is it the correct answer? In my world, the Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln sedans built on the Panther Body chassis are the best cars ever made. Pound for pound in terms of reliability, durability, and versatility. It’s why I own a 2009 CVPI and love it dearly as a daily driver, road trip cruiser, practice stunt car and amateur rally cross racer – using the same set of tires.

I’m not the only one who thinks so, as a growing community of enthusiasts shares a deep affection and respect for these classic sedans. Steel-framed relics stand stoically compared to the modern car, which continues its downward evolution into overpriced data-collecting appliances vulnerable to fragility if a single sensor fails. Every fandom needs a voice, and one man is taking charge of speaking for the Panther Body community.

Deric McCottrell, the founder, CEO, and managing editor of Panther Magazine.

Panther Magazine

The name might lead some to think it’s a magazine on big cats, but no, it is literature devoted to the car built for any occasion.

Forget the Miata and Tacoma; the one vehicle that checks all the boxes for durability, comfort, wrench-ability, motorsport-worthy, and affordability is the Ford Crown Victoria sedan. This righteous belief extends to the other Panther chassis models: the Mercury Grand Marquis, Marauder, and Lincoln Town Car.

The “Panther” refers to the body-on-frame steel chassis Ford engineers introduced in 1979 as a platform for upcoming Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln models. Why did they choose the name Panther? My research did not provide me a definitive answer, so there’s the possibility that Ford engineers simply thought it sounded cool – and it does.

FoMoCo has a reputation for naming products after fierce animals.

CEO Deric McCottrell Road to Publishing

Panther Magazine’s editor and founder, Deric McCottrell, didn’t start as a Panther fan. His origin story in the world of automotive lifestyle started with Low Riders. Born in La Mesa, California, and raised in San Diego, McCottrell’s introduction to cars was the iconic West Coast lowrider scene.

His childhood household had a subscription to LowRider magazine, which greatly influenced his taste in cars as a youngster, and who could blame him? Many among us remember being kids loitering by the magazine rack at grocery stores, trying not to drool at the scandalously dressed buxom model leaning over the metallic flake hood of a Chevy Malibu.

While most consider the Chevrolet Impala the quintessential low rider, McCottrell’s eyes were drawn to the Lincoln Town Car. However, it wouldn’t be until his late teens before he had the opportunity to ride inside a panther body, a Mercury Grand Marquis, which instantly became his second favorite car after the Lincoln Town Car.

At the time, he never heard of these cars being called panthers. It wasn’t until 2019, while browsing Instagram, that he noticed a “panther body” hashtag, sparking his curiosity to research its meaning.

Upon learning that his two favorite vehicles of all time, the Town Car and Grand Marquis, shared the Panther name, he decided to start an Instagram account focused on his 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis.

This endeavor evolved into creating a FaceBook group for Panther vehicles and managing it as an admin with a friend based in Massachusetts.

The year 2020 ended with him buying an “Aero” 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis and relocating to a studio apartment overlooking Nantasket Beach in Hull, Massachusetts, during the spring of 2021. The communal respect and attention people showed for these vehicles stayed on McCottrell’s mind during the pandemic.

Living near the tranquil soundtrack of beachfront waves helped inspire McCottrell to take the plunge on an idea to publish a magazine for fans of Ford’s Panther sedans.

By May 2022, he had the 100 printed copies of Panther Magazine issue #1 delivered to his doorstep. Since then, McCottrell has been judging his time working as a United States Postal Service letter carrier and running a magazine.

Did McCottrell have any prior experience in publishing, writing, editing, or running a small business? No.

All he had was an idea to create something around a passionate subject. Some people wait for divine inspiration or the “right time” to put a dream into action, but you only need the guts to take the first step into the unknown.

Since its launch in 2022, Panther Magazine has been distributed across all 50 states and various countries worldwide.

We Yanks aren’t the only ones obsessed over these blue oval-branded land yachts.

A prime example is Daniel Drawners, based in Stockholm, Sweden, with a Crown Victoria Police Interceptor powered by a WWII-era Rolls-Royce Meteor V12 aircraft engine. The car is known as The Meteor Interceptor and is worth a Google search.

Find Your Absolute Favorite Car

I asked McCottrell if he had any advice for someone looking to start their own niche car magazine, he said, “Find your absolute FAVORITE car and make everything about that car – create memes about that car, share everyone’s car whether it’s a modified showroom car or a rust bucket. It’ll create that family feel. There’s endless potential to meet people from other places you’ll meet and the other ideas you’ll come up with to grow and strengthen the brand.

McCottrell’s ambition has no need for brakes, as he states, “I’ve met so many people that drive these Panthers from all over the world and made so many positive connections and networks – it motivates me to be the best CEO I can be and expand not only my business but my personal life as well.”

One of his goals was to organize massive panther car meets in major cities. Create a center point for owners to journey in their full-sized sedans to celebrate shared mindsets. As of 2025, Panther Magazine has helped sponsor, host, and co-host car meet events in over 15 major cities from Houston, Texas, to Boston, Massachusetts.

I tip my cowboy hat to Deric McCottrell for self-funding a business that brings Panther fans together to share their appreciation for these cars.

One can take inspiration from McCottrell’s story. There’s no excuse not to indulge in an idea that sparks ambition in the mind. The beauty of the internet is that no matter what you’re into, at least two other people share that interest.

A written statement only needs another reader to be successful.

Origins of the Ford Panther Platform

The Panther platform’s origins came from a necessary downsizing among Detroit’s Big Three during the closing years of the Malaise Era.

By the late 1970s, four-door sedans measuring 20 feet long wheezing through smog emission-choked big block V8s were getting too long in the tooth. Ford introduced the Panther platform as a shorter-length successor to the 1969 platform used by Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln at the time. This new frame would be rear-wheel drive, featuring a live rear axle, and provide ample room for a V8 engine at the front.

By 1992, the Panther platform was assigned exclusively to sedans. The last Panther-bodied sedan left the Ford assembly line in September 2011, cementing its legacy as one of the longest-running vehicle platforms in automotive history. Every Lincoln Town Car, Mercury Grand Marquis, Marauder, and Ford Crown Victoria sedan built after 1979 is a panther body.

The Source of Its Power is Steel

The big frame makes them unassuming to the untrained eye. Yet, it’s this steel spine that makes it suitable for just about anything. Want to go off-road? Lift it. Want to go racing? Send it. Want to barrel roll through a city bus while on fire? Add a roll cage and strap on a crash helmet. It can be anything you need it to be, from a sideways drift missile to a demolition derby brawler.

These cars are beloved by members of law enforcement and Hollywood alike. If you don’t see them on the street, you’ll see them getting destroyed in cinematic chase scenes and shootouts on the big screen.

The point is that these cars often carry an emotional response. Whether it’s a sudden reminder of a bad night in the backseat of a Crown Vic patrol car, a good night in the back of a stretch Town Car limo, or an early day memory of the bouncy leather seats of Grandma’s Marquis.

Today, the Panther Bodies are finally starting to show their age, but not their work ethic. Nearly 15 years since their production ended, you still see them on duty serving their community or parked around the block. They haven’t faded away like other vehicles from the 2000s to 2010s.

They represent the last of a breed, relics of a formal norm.

Today, Ford, Chevrolet, and Chrysler no longer build body-on-frame, rear-wheel-drive, four-door sedans. Future generations will likely look upon these old cars with bankable nostalgia.

Duster Episode 2 Review: I'm Already Bored

Kris Black — Mon, 26 May 2025 17:28:48 GMT

No Answers, Only More Questions

I spent the Memorial Day weekend catching up on the second episode of HBO Max’s retro-themed crime thriller, Duster.

The story is set in the early 1970s. The show doesn’t clarify what year it is beyond snippets of historical references to Watergate and the death of J Edger Hoover. This episode mentions Elvis Presley’s live satellite show Ahola from Hawaii as an upcoming event. So, I assume Duster is set during the fall months of 1972.

Trying to guess the year through context clues is the most entertaining aspect of the show. We’re only in episode two and already dealing with filler episodes where nothing gets resolved and used as a literary device to set up more questions to create mystery and anticipation.

The Worst Wheelman

In the first episode, we saw Duster’s lead character, Jim Ellis, wake up, check his watch, and realize he’s running late. The second episode opens with Jim Ellis waking up next to a woman we still haven’t been introduced to; he checks his watch and realizes he’s running late – again. This is a professional getaway driver?

People drop zero-star ratings on Uber drivers if they are five minutes late. This veteran wheelman who could be called for a job at all hours, day and night, doesn’t use an alarm clock?

I’ve invested the equivalent of a full-length movie into this TV show, and I still don’t know anything about his driving skills.

He hasn’t done anything worth wild besides some handbrake turns and low-speed power slides – stuff I can do in my old truck. How did he learn to drive? Where did he learn how to drive? Did he race? What makes him the “best” wheelman in the West?

The show is called Duster, and you see plenty of gorgeous shots of the car in action. But why is the show named after this car? Is there a special condition Ellis has with the Duster? Why does he prefer to use this car over the others?

It’s a hero car, a leading character of the show, and I still don’t know a damn thing about it other than it’s “a cherry red 1970 Duster” they don’t even say Plymouth.

We’ve Seen It Done Better

I’m hard on this series because there are many great examples of the wheelmen character trope: The Driver (1978), Drive (2011), White Lightning (1973), Faster (2010), The Transporter trilogy, Baby Driver (2017), and even John Wick – technically.

The Jim Ellis character comes off as just a guy with a cool car. We don’t know anything about him other than that he’s been driving for a crime boss for 15 years, presuming by the age on his face that he still lives like a broke teenager. How old is Jim supposed to be, if its anything younger than 30 I’ll laugh.

Hazy Timeline

The timeline is confusing on this show. For example, Jim’s niece Luna appears around 10 years old, or at least old enough to drop F-bombs in the proper context.

She questions Jim about his brother, her father, to make it seem like she never knew him. But, according to the show, Jim’s brother died in a questionable accident only a “couple” of years ago.

Patrick Warburton as Sunglasses

Patrick Warburton, yeah that’s right, plays Sunglasses in Duster episode two. I won’t spoil too much about his character, but it was the most entertaining part of the episode. Sunglasses agrees to do Jim a favor in exchange for Elvis Presley’s blue suede shoes, which he can verify due to a secret message written inside the shoe.

Spoiler Alert – we never learn what the shoe said.

Jim gets the shoes by going to Elvis’ Palm Springs, California house. He crashes a party where he ends up conversing with the Colonel, but we don’t see Elvis? In his own home? Not even as a blurred background cameo.

A wasted opportunity to have fun with the setting since the concept is already ridiculous – stealing Elvis’s blue suede shoes? Imagine if someone asked you to steal Beyonce’s shoes from her house during a party – tonight.

I loathe JJ Abrams’ writing style, because makes it a chore to watch and wait for the plot questions to be answered.

Duster Needs to Kick It into Gear

It all rests on the shoulders of episode three. It has to be the charm. People are willing to invest in two episodes to see if they like a show, but they will switch to something else if the third one doesn’t tantalize the mind.

Duster Episode 1 Review: High Hopes for Nostalgia

Kris Black — Tue, 20 May 2025 06:10:00 GMT

A New Car Show with Nostaglic Inspiration

The first episode of Duster, HBO Max’s latest episodic adventure, premiered on May 15th. Set in the 1970s Southwest, the show follows the life of a gusty getaway driver from a growing crime syndicate as it goes from awful to wildly, stupidly, dangerously awful. At least, that’s how IMDb describes the show.

When the show first started marketing the show through teaser trailers, it immediately caught my attention for all the right reasons. It’s set in the 1970s and stars a muscle car as the lead character.

It’s a nice throwback to the 1970s and 1980s era of television, where you had shows like: The Fall Guy, Knight Rider, The Dukes of Hazzard, Starsky and Hutch, Miami Vice, Magnum PI, Rockford Files, and The A-Team. All these TV shows gained a multi-generation audience thanks to the cars stealing the scene from their human co-stars.

We haven’t seen a hero car in modern television in quite some time. The last one I can think of is Walter White’s Pontiac Aztek from Breaking Bad. So, a cherry red 1970 Plymouth Duster plastered on the poster and trailer thumbnail of a new TV show creates positive intrigue.

Should You Watch Duster Episode 1?

That depends. Do you like visuals of early 70s music and fashion, but can’t be bothered to watch TV shows filmed in the 70s? Duster is for you, delivering a rose-tinted, Instagram-filtered view of the 70s, complete with perfect fitted wardrobes and not a single cigarette in sight. It’s supposed to be set in 1972-1973, yet nobody is openly smoking in the show.

It’s also set in Phoenix, Arizona, yet nobody is sweating. Damn your dry heat, it’s still hot.

Do you like ethnic minority characters? That’s good because Duster has some playing lead roles. One of the main characters is rookie FBI agent Nina Hayes (Rachel Hilson), a double-hitter as being one of the first female FBI agents who also happens to be black.

Historically, Aubrey Lewis and James Barrow became the first African American FBI agents in 1962. Moreover, the feds didn’t allow women to become agents until 1972. Bonus points to Duster for historic accuracy.

What bothers me is how they address the lack of political correctness of the time period. They sort of dance around it, making sure we, the audience, are fully explained that this type of stuff is “not cool” anymore. But here’s the thing: It wasn’t cool back then either. You watch shows like Kojack, All in the Family, and The Jeffersons, where they often addressed social issues with blunt language.

It’s frustrating watching these characters take verbal abuse from the cliché straight-white-dude character instead of dishing out a witty comeback, like they would have in the 1970s. We already know the main characters are on the right, so let them be badasses instead of taking the bullying on the chin to show they are morally superior.

This isn’t an afterschool special. It’s a crime thriller set in the 1970s, a time when everyone, much like today, was angry, exhausted, and frustrated. The 1970s were a lot like today. You had glam rock stars confusing straight men, economic turmoil with rapid inflation, conflict in the Middle East, unpopular wars, controversial presidents, and NASA was sending astronauts to the moon to play golf.

SPOILER ALERT

Moreover, Hayes’s character is dead set on chasing after the mob boss in the show because her father worked for him in the past and was killed by him. So, her wanting this case is personal, but nobody at the FBI noticed this conflict of interest? Is the show saying nobody noticed because nobody bothered to look because she’s black?

One would think a federal agent fresh out of the academy, breaking protocol by requesting an assignment on a criminal organization that may or may not have killed their father, would get a second glance. But nope, it’s just waved away in the first five minutes of the show as a staffing coincidence.

So far, my second big issue with this show is Jim’s motivation for turning FBI informant. It is believed that Saxon had Jim’s younger brother killed during an operation gone bad. Yet, he can’t believe that it would be possible, going so far as to say he’s becoming an informant to prove Saxon didn’t kill his brother.

That’s stupid. You’re saying the Driver, who has worked for this crime boss for well over a decade, has never helped move a body? Gotten blood on his hands or on the upholstery? Come on…

END OF SPOILER

Duster is a Show About a Wheelman Who Uses His Personal Vehicle

One cannot judge a TV show based on its first episode because it spends most of the time setting up the universe and characters and introducing the conflict that kicks off the rest of the season. So, while I won’t say Duster is a great or bad show yet, I see one glaring issue that will hopefully change over the next few episodes.

The show is called Duster because that’s what the lead character, Jim Ellis, the “best” getaway driver in the Southwest, drives. Fair enough. But from a technical standpoint, it doesn’t make sense for a getaway driver to use their personal vehicle for work.

Especially if the car is brightly colored and has its name literally spelled out throughout the bodywork. I know cameras weren’t as plentiful in the 1970s as they are today, but witnesses and law officials can remember a red Plymouth Duster leaving a crime scene.

Other TV shows, like Magnum PI, The Dukes of Hazzard, The Fall Guy, Miami Vice, and Starsky and Hutch, got away with using a less-than-subtle vehicle to mock traffic laws because they were doing so for the “right” reasons and working with law enforcement in some capacity.

Duster is different because Jim Ellis isn’t an undercover cop or private detective standing up for the little guy and putting bad guys away. He’s a driver for the leader of Ezra Saxton’s (Keith David) crime synthetic.

He does crime. So why is he using his personal ride?

The point of a good wheelman is that they can steal the right car for various crimes and drive anything, anywhere, at anytime.

SPOLIER ALERT

The only reason the FBI has leverage on Ellis is because he used the Duster to run illegal cargo for his mob boss, Saxon. Can Ellis not drive as well if it is not his own car?

END OF SPOLIER

Real Car Stunts Done with Real Stunt Drivers

I’ll credit the show for paying attention to the car stunts and filming them like they did “back in the day” in 4K. The Plymouth Duster can be seen sliding, kicking up dirt, and smoking tires. In one short chase scene in episode one, the “bad guys” crash their car in a violent roll over.

It reminded me of all the classic scenes from shows like CHIPS, where every traffic collision turned into a Cirque De Soleil of twisted metal with cars flying through the air and exploding on impact.

If nothing else, this show is eye candy for spotting classic cars.

The Plymouth Duster Finally Gets a Lead Role

The Plymouth Duster was never a varsity athlete during the muscle car craze of the early ’70s. It was the more affordable, second-stringer in the shadow of the Plymouth Cuda and Road Runner, the Dodge Challenger and Charger, and even the Chrysler 300.

It was a Plymouth Valiant with two doors and a snazzy name slapped on the hood of a straight-six engine. Unless you splurged for the 340ci V8, putting down 275 hp and 340 pound-feet of torque.

The point is the Plymouth Duster has never played the hero on TV or in film. It’s always played a supporting role for a lead character down on their luck. Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore drove a beater 1974 Duster in the film, and who could forget watching Al Bundy’s million-mile Dodge on Married with Children.

I like seeing this car getting the chance to star as the anti-hero bad ass for once.

I’ll Keep Watching, For Now

Duster episode 1 is streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering every Thursday. The show’s first season is eight episodes long. This first episode left me with more questions than answers, as J.J. Abrams’ lazy “mystery box” style of writing tends to do by dangling clues in front of you to keep you moving forward to a lackluster climax where the characters explain everything instead of showing it through cinematic storytelling.

Nevertheless, I’ll keep watching… for the cars.

2025 Mazda CX-90 Review: Promoting High Luxury for a Lower Tax Bracket

Kris Black — Sat, 17 May 2025 06:05:00 GMT

Mazda’s Big SUV

The Mazda CX-90 is the largest SUV in their lineup, with three rows of seating for a maximum capacity of eight passengers, although most people don’t call shotgun for the middle seats. Regardless, this mid-size SUV packages its practicality and performance in a luxury box tied with a silver bow.

It’s not actual silver, but it can fool most into thinking that it is and isn’t that what really matters?

Mazda’s current design language is of high value at a reasonable cost. These vehicles punch above their weight class when it comes to presentation.

2025 Mazda CX-90 Review

This 2025 Mazda CX-90, in its top-tier Turbo S Premium Plus trim level, is a prime example boasting a Nappa leather interior, silky smooth straight-six engine and 21-inch chrome wheels with an MSRP under 60 grand.

The exterior design is one of the easiest on the eye in the mid-size SUV segment. It looks like it cares about its appearance, taking the time to style its rear roof spoiler and polishing the chrome accents so they flash in the sunlight.

One detail that warmed my heart is the “Inline 6” emblem positioned high on the front fender with pride like a war metal. The cat-eyed headlamps are paired with a large front bumper with buxom air intakes that come off like chubby cheeks if you stare at the CX-90’s face directly.

The rest of the SUV’s contemporary styling flows like an arrow heading for a bull’s eye before ending at the rear in a curvaceous tail end.

The shape of the CX-90 rear can change depending on how the light hits and where you stand. It looks longer and slimmer at certain angles, and sometimes the rear window pops outward like a bubble.

Interior Design Treats Your Sense of Sight and Touch

This model hosted the best interior offered in the CX-90’s lineup, a tan Nappa leather upholstery matched with suede and contrasting dark leather and wood accents.

Your sense of touch is treated to a new texture wherever your hand lands while dazzling the eye. In one instance, I was pulled over for speeding by the state’s finest, and after thanking the Trooper for issuing me a warning, he asked me to feel the suede running across the dashboard.

A fancy-looking interior is only as good as the comfort it can provide. So, to give the Mazda a proper shakedown, I used it on a 400-mile, overnight family road trip.

Family Road Trip with the Mazda CX-90

All SUVs are great when quiet and empty but show their true character when the seats and cup holders are full.

A 400-mile road trip provides ample opportunity to experience Mazda’s 3.3-liter turbocharged inline-six engines with a 48-volt hybrid system, of which the CX-90 is the first to debut. Entry-level models get a 280-horsepower variant of the engine.

Higher trim levels get longer legs with 340 hp when burning preferred but not demanded premium fuel. All-wheel drive is standard across the lineup, using an eight-speed automatic transmission. Mazda also offers a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant of the CX-90, but that’s a review for another time.

The loveseat third row, offering four cup holders and USB ports without invading the valuable rear cargo space. When the third-row seats are down, you have the utility of an SUV; when they are up, you still have enough room to stack luggage. A good mark for Mazda.

I’m happy to say the CX-90 passed the road test with flying colors apart from two hiccups.

My Issue with the Gear Selector

The first is the short, knobby gear selector that operates like a bolt-action rifle, requiring the user to engage a lock-release button before sliding the lever to the right to disengage the parking gear and slide up and down for reverse, neutral or drive.

Getting used to this mechanism felt like learning a card trick; sometimes, it was magic, but most times, it was clumsy as my muscles tried to develop some memory.

In my early working career, I spent years handling strangers’ cars as a valet, used car salesman, rental agency associate and in the bays of a 10-minute oil change service garage. In this unwritten thesis on humanity, I learned that most people are not gentle with vehicles.

The mules pulling covered wagons on the Oregon Trail saw more sympathy than some of the cars I’ve seen, sat in and driven. CSI crime scene flashbacks of swampy cup holders, grime-layered center consoles and grease trap steering wheels, without getting to the bloody gore under the hood.

I thought about these memories every time I forgot to slide the shifter to the right and felt the lever jam or the car roll backward because it was still in reverse gear.

The lever is not made of steel and has a very faint but noticeable give if you apply firm pressure and wiggle. This led me to believe that someone under the right amount of stress could break the lever.

That’s not a jab at the CX-90’s build quality, but at how humans react to the compounding layers of everyday life. This little lever has the weight to break a camel’s back on a bad day.

Little Issue with the Second Row Seats

The other hiccup occurred when rear passengers tried to recline the second-row captain’s chairs and were abruptly halted after two inches of travel. These seats offer the same false sense of reclining tranquility as a commercial flight. It’s enough for you to fall asleep but not enough to be comfortable doing so with your head inevitably resting on the side of the window or your neighbor’s shoulder.

Smooth Straight Six Performance

Open the hood, and you’re greeted with a charming feature of a hook system to lift the plastic cover off the engine and save the trouble of tossing it on the ground or letting it clutter the engine bay. It made me laugh the first time I saw it, a-hat-on-a-hat.

Aside from that, the engine behaves like a con man with a silver tongue – smooth. It provides a potent response when you punch the throttle. The only times I felt it slip up was when the overzealous stop/start feature disrupted its rhythm.

I averaged 27 mpg on the highway and 24 in the city during a 780-mile week of road testing.

If you include the PHEV models, the CX-90’s lineup starts at $38K for the entry-level with nine trim levels. For my money, I aim for high-middle variants with the best qualities, like the 340 hp engine spec, triple-zone climate control and heating for the second-row seats.

Great Presentation Overall

While a couple of qualities rubbed me the wrong way, the 2025 Mazda CX-90 made a great overall impression.

People notice it when you drive by, and if they get close, they’ll ask what it is and be surprised when you say Mazda. It drives like it cares, looks like it aims to impress and handles family matters with grace.

Engine: 3.3-liter Turbocharged Inline Six

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

0 to 60: 6.3 seconds

Starting Price: $37,845 (Turbo Select)

Price as Shown: $57,905 (Turbo S Premium Plus)

2025 Toyota GR Corolla Review: A Family Hatch and Rally Car in One

Kris Black — Wed, 14 May 2025 05:25:00 GMT

Born to be a Classic

Some cars are born to be instant classics through their captivating design, overachieving engineering or unanticipated high sales numbers.

These days, it’s getting harder to surprise the online automotive community. We’ve reached a point where someone “leaking” images or details about a new upcoming model has become so routine that one assumes its part of the brand’s marketing campaign.

The Toyota GR Corolla debuted in 2022 for the 2023 model year, but the only surprise we got was outrageous dealer markups. Because we expected this car in one form or another after seeing its predecessor, the smaller Toyota GR Yaris, which debuted at the 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon.

The GR Yaris shook the digital auto world by storm. It was an unexpected and welcome return to high-powered hatchbacks that used to rule the roads before the crossover takeover.

Yet, this three-cylinder turbocharged marvel wasn’t going to be available in the United States. But with desire comes demand, and nothing moves a product faster than hype. Anyone with a basic sense of business and appreciation for cars knew Toyota would figure out how to monetize the viral hype in the North American market.

The GR Corolla, a Mighty Mouse of Speed

A couple years later, the 2025 Toyota GR Corolla is still bearing profitable fruit as a fun, practical, and exclusive high-performing vehicle. Part of its charm is being a rally-bred four-wheel-drive, three-cylinder, four-door hatchback.

It’s a compact car boasting more power than most mid-size sedans and SUVs. It has performance stats on par with vehicles double the number of cylinders and turbochargers. It’s a mighty mouse of speed that can handle its power on asphalt or gravel.

Updates to the 2025 GR Corolla

Changes for 2025 include a new GR Direct eight-speed automatic transmission with launch control, featured in the model shown, as an alternative to the standard six-speed manual.

Styling tweaks include a functional power bulge hood scoop, improved airflow styling on its fascia and suspension tuning to increase traction. Moreover, front and rear limited slip differentials are now standard across the GR Corolla’s three trim levels: Core, Premium and Premium Plus.

The model shown is the chart-topping Premium Plus, sporting a lovely shade of Super Sonic red ($425), accessorized with a forged carbon-fiber roof and a set of 18-inch matte black 15-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport rubber. Red GR brake calipers look attached to the massive 14-inch front disc brakes and 11-inch discs at the rear.

I would compare the GR Corolla’s aggressive styling within its cute dimensions to a hamster sporting a Mohawk.

Small with attitude and its three-pipe exhaust system poking out from the rear diffuser does a good job of vocalizing its punk rock aggression. It’s just a shame that red is the only vibrant color available on this limited production model, with the other three exterior colors being white, black and a shade in between.

Interior Keeps It Simple

Black is the only interior color option on the GR Corolla, but the Premium Plus adds red stitching to the synthetic leather-trimmed upholstery for a bit of flare. In addition, a chassis base ($720) located in the rear hatch provides motorsport chic.

Vital information for the driver is displayed on a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and via an available heads-up display.

I appreciate Toyota’s restraint in not gluing a desktop monitor to the center of the dashboard. Instead, it opts for a modest 8-inch screen with one dial for audio volume and a series of analog buttons and dials to manage the climate controls.

The center console consists of a manual handbrake ideal for situations where you need to perform a three-point turn in one cinematic rotation.

More importantly, a rotary dial is located behind the gear lever and next to the handbrake to select the GR four-wheel-drive system from Normal asphalt to Gravel or push down in the center to engage Track mode.

This 4WD system works by distributing power to the front and rear wheels in a 60/40 split during normal driving conditions, favoring the front wheels. However, the driver can change it to 30/70 to swing the tail out like a blue-blooded rally car or maintain a 50/50 split to maximize track day fun.

A detail I absolutely love is the word “EXPERT” appearing on the instrument cluster when you turn the traction control completely off.

Four Wheels, Three Pistons, Big Power

The heart of this car’s appeal is the G16E-GTS turbocharged 1.6L three-cylinder engine, which sounds like a wasp nest kicked by a steel-toed boot.

It buzzes with fury as it climbs the tachometer, sprinting from zero to 60 in five seconds and all the way to a top speed of 143 mph. Speeds between 60 and 143 mph come and go faster than you’d expect, so be wary of speed traps in your area.

You won’t understand this car, or its price, driving in congested streets. To achieve enlightenment, you’ll need to travel on a road that looks like a crazy straw on a GPS map.

It doesn’t matter if the road is paved so long as you traverse it at speeds that shouldn’t be disclosed to any authority. Then, you’ll get it. You’ll feel the effort Toyota Gazoo Racing put into this car in live action as it zigs-and-zags letting you drive it to the edge without flirting with disaster.

The only drawbacks are economical, with fuel economy rated at an average of 22 mpg, demanding a steady diet of premium fuel. I managed to drive 225 actual miles before the gas tank was sipping on fumes. The little engine’s manic demeanor makes it thirsty.

A Limited Supply

Toyota stated it would produce “approximately” 1,500 GR Corollas for the year, so finding one will require time and money, with a starting price of $38,860 for the entry-level Core model.

Good luck finding one for a price close to what Toyota’s official website is asking because dealerships love adding fees on top of the MSRP for hot cars in demand.

Engine: 1.6L Turbocharged three-cylinder

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

0 to 60: 5.1 seconds (automatic)

Starting Price: $38,860 (Core)

Price as Shown: $50,433 (Premium Plus)

2026 Genesis GV70 Gets a Tech Savvy Facelift

Kris Black — Mon, 12 May 2025 05:38:00 GMT

Genesis Best Selling SUV

I recently had the opportunity to try out the newly updated 2026 Genesis GV70. This compact luxury crossover SUV received its first generational update since its debut in 2020.

The GV70 is the smallest, gas-powered SUV in the Genesis lineup, representing the brand as an introductory model. Yet, it accounted for 35 percent of Genesis’s total sales in 2024, making it their most popular model.

The demand for these SUVs is so great that the Alabama-based production plant can’t produce them fast enough. To make up the difference, about 30 percent of GV70’s production is imported from a secondary plant in South Korea.

This prompts the question of why. Is it because it has a relatively low starting MSRP compared to the larger GV80? Or is this vehicle’s profitable popularity the result of a well-designed style, performance, and luxury?

I wanted to find out, and Genesis provided me with the key fob to a top-spec GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige and a planned route through the Sam Houston National Forest to conduct research one mile marker at a time.

Why Houston?

Genesis picked the city of Houston, Texas, to host this press first-drive event because they felt H-Town is a good representation of the brand.

Like the 10-year-old automaker, Houston is on the cusp of what’s happening in the world of fashion and style, with the traffic to prove its popularity. Furthermore, while Houston’s downtown can offer the latest in hip and trendy, the lush wooden areas surrounding it offer scenic peace and tranquility.

After spending a day with the 2026 Genesis GV70, the symbolic logic of the terrain makes total sense.

Athletic Exterior Design

To the untrained eye, comparing the redesigned 2026 GV70 to the outgoing model can be like spotting the difference between two identical pictures in a child’s activity book. The fun is scanning the fine details before giving up and looking at the answer key at the back of the book.

Changes to the SUV’s already stellar-looking exterior include new MLA (Micro Lens Array) quad headlamps with the brand’s signature crest front grille ordained as part of a redesigned, bolder front fascia. Larger front air intakes on its new front bumper and a more aerodynamic hood emblem dressed in chrome, or dark chrome on Sport trim models, dazzle the eye when reflecting light.

The GV70’s profile emphasizes flowing lines to symbolize athleticism in performance. It made me think of the waving effect of an Olympic swimmer slicing through the water just above the surface without breaking the threshold.

These smooth but agile body lines continue until the SUV reaches the curved tailgate, which features a set of quad taillights, a new roof spoiler, and dual exhaust ports hidden behind new trapezoid-shaped vents embedded into the bumper.

The new dress color code for 2026 is Ceres Blue, named after the first dwarf planet discovered by humanity. It comes across as a grey but dances in shades of blue under different lighting, like an ocean reflecting an overcast sky.

Superfly Interior with a High Regard for Style

I’ve said it many times already, but Genesis makes some of the best car interiors in this era of automobiles. The level of comfort and style in this 10-year-old car maker can go door-to-door with luxury brands nine times their senior.

Sitting inside the GV70 shown, with its quilted pattern Nappa leather upholstery in Ultramarine blue with orange stitching and carbon fiber trim, listening to the tranquility of silence thanks to the cabin’s active noise cancelling technology, I thought, “Why would I pay half a million for a Rolls-Royce?”

Changes to the interior include the vibrant 27-inch OLED screen placed horizontally across the dashboard. The center console features a new push button to switch between drive modes and the newly added Terrain Modes: Snow, Sand, and Mud.

These modes will come in handy for navigating less-than-ideal weather conditions by utilizing the SUV’s all-wheel drive (AWD) system to maximum effect.

How Do You Take Your Genesis? With One or Two Turbos?

Moving on to performance, the GV70 comes in six different trim levels, motivated by the same drivetrains featured in the larger Genesis GV80. Four of the six trim levels are powered by a 2.5L single turbocharged four-cylinder engine, providing a satisfactory 300 horsepower with available AWD.

The remaining two top-tier Sport trim levels feature the brawnier 3.5L V6 with a matching set of turbochargers, delivering 375 horsepower with AWD as standard. The model shown was powered by the latter, much to my delight.

The funny thing about Genesis products is that I’m usually too comfortable cruising to think about going fast.

But in those rare moments when the red mist descends while trying to merge onto one of Houston’s lovely, chaotic highways, these engines respond like a K-9-trained German Shepherd hearing the command to attack. The rapid response helps ensure you won’t need to keep your foot pressed down on the gas for too long.

New Hydro Bushings and Sophisticated Suspension

Another piece of hardware you’ll never see but appreciate is the new hydro bushings, which replace traditional rubber suspension bushings with ones filled with fluid. These bushings, along with shock absorbers also filled with fluid, work together to actively reduce vibrations and the harshness of the road before reaching the leather seats.

The SUV also has the technological ability to scan the road ahead using cameras and sensors to adjust its suspension before hitting speed bumps, potholes, or ruts.

The goal of this system is to reduce the severity of the jolt you’d feel driving over these pavement imperfections, which would otherwise ruin the ride quality.

The Volume of Silence

To give you an idea of how focused Genesis is on delivering the absolute best ride quality. The GV70 features acoustic laminated glass to reduce outside noise. The steering wheel has a built-in damper to reduce vibrations and provide a silky feel at the wheel.

Even the 21-inch wheels shown in photos, a new design for 2026, are constructed with hollow resonators inside the rim to reduce road noise. The result of all this engineering effort is an interior space you could meditate in while stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

I drove from Houston’s crowded downtown streets to the scenic two-lane highway in the Sam Houston National Forest and back through afternoon rush hour. The entire trip, I never felt the urge to turn on the Bang & Olufsen 16-speaker sound system. I was perfectly content enjoying the smooth ride and hushed, library-like silence around me.

When I finally finished the day-long road test, I didn’t feel exhausted as one typically does driving through hot and humid rush hour traffic.

Pricing

The 2026 model of the GV70 should arrive at local Genesis dealerships later this year. According to Genesis, pricing for this SUV starts at $48,000 and continues upwards to $59,000 for the 2.5T engine variants. The higher-spec 3.5T models start at $63,000 and $70,000 before adding options.

Engine: 3.5L Twin-turbo V6

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

0 to 60: 5.0 seconds (estimated)

Starting Price: $47,985 (AWD)

Price as Shown: $72,225 (3.5T Sport Prestige)

Ford Employee Suspected of Stealing Millions From Assembly Plant

Kris Black — Sun, 11 May 2025 08:13:05 GMT

One Piece at a Time

As Johnny Cash once sang, “I’d get it one piece at a time and it wouldn’t cost me a dime.” It appears a group of individuals took that lyric to heart, but it wasn’t to build a dream car. According to the Dearborn, MI, Police Department, an employee of Ford Motor Company is one of four individuals arrested in connection with what is suspected as a large-scale theft operation involving stolen vehicle parts from a Ford assembly plant.

This alleged seven-figure crime ring has affected several Ford plants, including the Rouge Complex truck plant in Dearborn, the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, and the Ford Flat Rock Assembly Plant. These facilities are responsible for cranking out the Ford F-150, Bronco, Ranger, and Mustang.

Sources say suspects have been ripping off parts from these plants for over two years.

The Smoking Gun

Parts stolen from these plants weren’t nuts and bolts smuggled in jean pockets. The items included hoods, bumpers, running boards, headlights, and taillights, making one wonder how the thieves walked out the door with these parts. They wouldn’t fit inside a lunch box. Moreover, the Detroit police department stated they found parts stacked to the ceiling during one of the searches, so it wasn’t a handful of parts either.

After the five-finger discount, the stolen parts were put up for sale on eBay. Not exactly the subtlest method for fencing stolen goods, considering it leaves digital fingerprints.

What happened to the good old days of buying hot items from the trunk of a Mercury Grand Marquis?

At the time of this article, charges are still pending. But the list of charges these aftermarket bandits could be facing includes grand theft auto, running a criminal enterprise, and good old-fashioned racketeering.

Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin told the local news station. “Such criminal plots will not be tolerated in Dearborn and we will employ all resources to bring them down.”

So, it may end up costing these criminals more than a dime.

2026 Hyundai Palisade Debuts with an All-New Look and Built-In Dash Cams

Kris Black — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 15:40:26 GMT

2025 New York International Auto Show Debut

Hyundai unveils the second-generation of its flagship SUV, the Palisade, for the global market last year. At this year’s 125th New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), we yanks got to stand and witness the premium of the 2026 Hyundai Palisade in our very own U.S. spec. The crowd for the debut was so vast that it spilled over into the floor space of other automakers during the presentation.

After forcing my way through the crowd through a mosh pit of selfie sticks and press passes, I got to see the new-gen Palisade with my own eyes.

All-New 2026 Hyundai Palisade

The new 2026 Hyundai Palisade arrives sporting a fresh exterior design. It achieves a sense of elegance with a nonsense approach utilizing straight lines that slice through the mid-size SUV’s profile, flared fenders, front fascia, and even its LED head and taillights. I especially like the Palisade’s front end, with a row of horizontal lines slicing through the grille and headlamps.

Hyundai states this new design enlarges the overall size of the SUV with a focus on increasing the space in the third row and improving outward visibility.

Looks aren’t the only things new with the Hyundai Palisade. It features a new powertrain, improved capabilities, additional safety technology, and its first off-road XRT PRO variant.

More Power and More Range

The 2026 Palisade’s standard engine is the naturally aspired 3.5L V6 making 287 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This amount of brawn is enough to give the SUV a towing capacity rating of 5,000 pounds, motivated through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The standard V6 engine can also be equipped with Hyundai’s HTRAC four-wheel system.

In addition, Hyundai added a new hybrid 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine incorporating two electric motors to produce a combined 329 horsepower. This new source of power can keep the SUV moving for an estimated range of 619 miles at over 30 mpg and still tow anything under 4,000 pounds.

2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT PRO

A great portion of Hyundai’s NYIAS presentation was devoted to the Palisade’s new and first off-road capable trim level, the XRT PRO. A Palisade XRT PRO can be spotted by observing the canyon red tow hooks peeking out from its dark accented front grille and fender cladding.

If that doesn’t provide a clue, then look for the exclusive 18-inch dark-finish alloy wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires that do their part in raising the SUV by one inch to provide 8.4 inches of ground clearance.

XRT PRO Palisades come standard with Mud, Sand, and Snow terrain modes to traverse the road less traveled. The HTRAC all-wheel drive system allows the SUV to monitor what each wheel is doing and send power where and when it needs it most.

Other off-road goodies include an exclusive electronic rear limited-slip differential, an OEM tow hitch with downhill brake control, and surround view monitoring with a forward ground view for an up-close view of the terrain ahead.

A Safe View from Inside

The new 2026 Hyundai Palisade features 10 airbags as standard, including dual-front driver and passenger, dual side-front and rear, center-front, knee airbags for the driver, and side-curtain airbags. The full-length side-curtain airbag also extends to cover third-row.

I appreciate Hyundai’s design choice of housing the dual 12.3-inch digital screens under glass and tucking them flush into the dashboard, it looks much more visually appealing.

A standout interior feature and a first for Hyundai are the two built-in dash cameras that provide continuous recording while driving. It uses the vehicle’s 360-degree view sensors and automatically records movements while parked.

The intention is to give the driver better peace of mind for all life’s driving and parking scenarios, from panic stops to fender benders. Video clips can be accessed using the SUV’s center screen display or the MicroSD card in the glovebox.

Moreover, this SUV comes loaded with a host of safety features as part of Hyundai’s Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS):

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
Blind-Spot Collision Warning
Safe Exit Assist
Forward Attention Warning
High Beam Assist
Navigation-Based Smart Cruise Control
Lane Following Assist
Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist-Reverse
Remote Smart Parking Assist

At the time of this article, pricing has not been announced for the 2026 Hyundai Palisade, partly due to the recent and chaotic news surrounding tariffs. However, according to Edmunds, Hyundai would not be raising the prices of its models, opting instead to do away with its maintenance-free program.

The new Palisade will reach dealerships by summer 2025, and hybrid models in the fall.

2025 Audi RS 6 Avant Performance is Supercar Speed for the Whole Family

Kris Black — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 05:45:00 GMT

My First Audi

I have to thank the good people of Audi’s PR team for giving me the green light to road test one of their four-wheeled products. Moreover, I express great gratitude that my first Audi road test is not a typical mid-size sedan or crossover SUV but an Ascari Blue 2025 Audi RS 6 Avant Performance. A car known by those of good taste as an all-wheel drive (AWD) wolf in sheep’s clothing.

The RS 6 Avant may be categorized as a luxury wagon, but underneath the family-friendly interior layout and ample rear cargo space is an angry mechanical maniac itching for a fight.

A Brief History Lesson

The Audi RS Avant has a history of performance dating back to 1994 with the RS2 Avant. Back then, the sports wagon was developed in a joint venture with Porsche, creating a 310 horsepower, AWD, turbocharged five-cylinder Autobahn cruise missile.

Since then, every generation of the Avant has only gotten faster, increasing the number of pistons from five to eight, at one point it had ten, but has returned to eight since 2020. Besides its performance, its premium price tag is the only other quality that has stayed constant over the generations.

A “Low Riding SUV”

At first glance, the RS 6 Avant comes across as what one neighbor described as a “low riding SUV.” However, take a second glance you’ll notice subtle features not typical on a station wagon. The large pizza size brake rotors peeking behind the 21-inch wheels wrapped in high-performance summer tires and the protruding bodywork with a double barrel exhaust at the rear.

If that doesn’t get your attention, then look for the bright silver and red RS badge on the gloss black front grille.

Avant Interior

The wagon’s interior is prime Audi luxury with Valcona leather upholstery featuring Mercato blue honeycomb stitching and RS badging.

This vehicle came equipped with the RS Design Plus ($3,500) interior package which adds an Alcantara leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter with blue stitching, RS logo floor mats, blue carbon twill pattern accents on the doors and dashboard, and my favorite interior detail, blue seat belts!

All vehicles should offer blue seat belts as an option. Moreover, if you spoil yourself with the optional Bang & Olufsen advanced sound system ($4,900) you’ll be able to appreciate every sound note and vocal on your playlist. Because this is still a wagon, you have plenty of space in the back for storage with power operated folding rear seats to load up with whatever catches your fancy at IKEA.

More V8 Power for 2025

For 2025, Audi gave the RS 6 Avant’s 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 a power bump, crossing the 600 pony border to an official output of 621 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. This achievement is celebrated by the addition of the word Performance at the end of its nameplate.

An eight-speed automatic transmission distributes the engine’s power to all four wheels as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Two available options that should be added to the final price if you want the best experience are the RS Sport Exhaust System ($1,000) and RS Sport Suspension Plus with Dynamic Ride Control ($1,250). These will not only help the Quattro AWD system handle the wagon’s weight better, but it’ll sound better when you hit the “RS” button located on the steering wheel and set this land ship to full power.

Running Into a Porsche Rally in the Hills

Through a series of fortunate events, the morning I tested the RS 6 Avant’s handling and performance on a scenic canyon road was the same day a group of Porsche enthusiasts were having their annual Texas Hill Country Rallye.

This rally consisted of over 300 vintage Porsche 911s exploring the small towns of Texas for three days. These nimble air-cooled collector cars provided the perfect benchmark for the Avant to give chase and keep up in the twists and bends, which it did gracefully with a thunderous V8 roar.

Quattro Driving Impressions

This is one of the angriest vehicles I’ve ever driven, and it moves like a car one thousand pounds lighter with fewer doors. It tackles the tarmac like it wants to iron out every turn into a straightaway as it propels you and the family forward with Quattro power from zero to 60 in three seconds and 100 mph in under eight seconds.

From 100 to its electronically limited top speed of 155 mph takes less than four seconds. Of course, its actual top speed is 190 mph, but to access that level of speed you’ll need to equip the carbon ceramic brakes.

As angry as it may be, it keeps a cool head when driving in the city, playing the part of a comfortable luxury vehicle. Plus, knowing that you can overtake anything on the road and put a Corvette to shame is intoxicating.

Nitpicking

The only negative details with the Avant were found in the interior. The center console cubby has a wireless phone charging pad that nobody will use and storage space for a pack of gum or a toothpick, but not both.

While offering four-zone climate controls, the air conditioning system may not be strong enough to handle a Texas summer, as I discovered during the first triple-digit temperature day of the year. I started to sweat with the AC set to max, and the cooling, ventilated seats failed to prevent my shirt from sticking to my back while driving.

A Touchscreen You Have to Click

However, the one feature I disliked the most was the center screen infotainment system, which looks like a government-run website and is annoying to navigate. I also dislike that there’s an app store that you’ll need to connect your personal phone to using the myAudi app to access. If there’s one thing I do not want to do in a car is download an app.

Moreover, Audi managed to make the touch screen even more annoying because you can’t simply touch an icon on a screen you have to apply pressure and press it to mimic the act of clicking a button. As a result, you’ll get frustrated when you glide your finger across to adjust the temperature or change menu screens and nothing happens because you didn’t press down hard enough to activate it.

Two Cars in One Wagon

Technical nitpick aside, the Audi RS 6 Avant Performance is a wagon with two personalities. At one end is a mellow Bob Ross, and at the other is a bodybuilder juiced to the max on caffeine and creatine supplements.

The luxury is having total control and switching between the two whenever you want. But with great power comes great fuel consumption, as the big V8 wagon likes to drink top-notch gasoline at an average of 17 mpg during the 600-mile road test.

It’s also not cheap, with the starting price for the Avant Performance set at over $125,000. The model shown had a grocery list of options, setting its final MSRP at a few dollars short of $148,000. This isn’t even the most expensive variant. The Avant GT, a special edition limited to only 660 units, starts at $200,000 with a carbon fiber wardrobe, 22-inch wheels and a motorsport heritage paint scheme.

Family Sized Supercar

However, the Avant is special because it’s a supercar for the family—not a high-performance SUV that is so common these days. It commands a premium in performance and exclusivity for those looking for a stealthier approach to speed.

Engine: 4.0L Twin-turbocharged V8

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

0 to 60: 3.3 seconds

Starting Price: $127,895 (Performance)

Price as Shown: $147,990 (Performance)

Genesis X Grand Equator Concept SUV is a Glam Off-Roader

Kris Black — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 07:09:52 GMT

Debut at New York’s Genesis House

The night before the 2025 New York International Auto Show, I had the pleasure of being an invited guest at the Genesis House. Within the comfort of this beautifully designed event space/ restaurant/ library, while stuffing my face with authentic Korean finger foods and cocktails, we saw a first-hand look at Genesis’s latest addition to its fleet of X Concept vehicles.

The digital auto world is still buzzing over the Genesis X Gran Coupe and X Gran Convertible concepts unveiled earlier at the Seoul Mobility Show. The Gran Equator Concept stands out as an elegant SUV designed for only the finest sand and mud. Moreover, it symbolizes a satin glove to slap the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon and Lexus GX across the face.

The X Grand Equator Concept

The SUV made an eyebrow-raising impression at first glance through its minimalist exterior, smoothed out while highlighting Genesis signature “Two Line” dual LED strips wrapped around the front, continuing past the flared wheel arches. Its profile silhouette and proportions reminded me of a sawed-off shotgun crafted by an expert gunsmith. A long hood line with a narrow roof ending in a short curved tailgate.

I especially liked the massive 24-inch beadlock wheels and chunky peanut butter tires that would look at home on a Lego building set, which could also be considered a luxury brand.

Other exterior details include a split-opening tailgate and integrated roof rails with a lattice-like pattern. The roof tails alone prove little details make a big difference.

Interior Elegance

Inside, the Genesis X Grand Equator Concept offers exclusive seating for four passengers, each getting their own private captain’s chair and individual skylight via a four-panel sunroof design. Other eye-catching details include dual, leather strapped boxes as an abstract approach to the traditional glove box.

One interior detail many might find radical is the swiveling front seats. Those of you who know their history will see this as a welcomed throwback to the days when American cars used to have swivel seats for the driver and front passenger – very cool.

Recently, Genesis has offered some of the best-looking steering wheels, and the X Gran Equator is no exception. Appearing like the master control on a mad scientist’s doomsday machine with a terrain mode selector mounted in front of a cluster of four circular digital displays said to be inspired by vintage camera dials.

A Charcuterie Board of Design

Genesis stated the X Gran Equator is “not confirmed for production,” as evidenced by the lack of information regarding its powertrain. Most suspect it would, or could be, electric due to the SUV’s front-grille-less fascia. Personally, I hope not. Its long hood is ideal for shoehorning a twin-turbo straight-six, or straight-eight power plant. Plus, something this gorgeous should definitely make a noise.

Nevertheless, this concept SUV could be taken as a charcuterie board of design elements for the Genesis line of SUVs in the near future. We may not see the full Gran Equator, but we will see some design elements in upcoming production models. I hope we get to see those swivel seats.

McLaren 750S Spider Gave Me Insomnia

Kris Black — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 05:43:00 GMT

Finally Getting Past the Velvet Rope

It’s taken me 9 years to reach a level in my automotive career where a supercar is being delivered to my house so I can document how it drives and if the seats are comfortable. While there’s no official ruling in the world of automotive journalism, most would agree that gaining access to supercars means you’ve achieved a level of success (and trust) in the business.

Supercars, like this McLaren 750S Spider, are generally regarded as the top shelf, parked on a pedestal in our daydreams, screen savers, and social media algorithms.

The vehicle of choice for those wanting to expressing success and wealth even if it says “Rent Me” on the license plate frame. Supercars prove that some of us never outgrew our race car beds (yes, I had one) and Hot Wheels collection. Supercars cause an inherent reaction regardless of whether viewed from the perspective of ultimate desire or vulgar distaste.

Now I had the chance to get a taste of the high (speed) life. The velvet rope had been pulled opened for me without needing to tip the bouncer.

The 2025 McLaren 750S Spider

The supercar that turned this dream into a memorable experience is the 2025 McLaren 750S Spider. This mid-engine marvel of engineering wrapped in Alcantara and carbon fiber flexes like Mr. Universe and carries a reputation cool enough to freeze Vodka.

It’s a car that literally gave me insomnia because any time I needed to go to bed I couldn’t… because there was a McLaren outside my window waiting to be driven. Life is for the living and nothing makes you feel alive like sprinting from zero to 60 in under three seconds. So, I most of the miles I put on this thing were between the hours of 3am and 5am, the only time where a major city can feel yours with no traffic on the concrete maze of interstates.

The McLaren 750S is the successor to the successful 720S, debuting in 2023 as a lighter, faster model showcasing the British native brand’s continuous effort to raise the bar. McLaren offers a choice of a coupe 750S or the spider with a metal retracting roof that folds into the back quicker than a competitive origami master at the touch of a button.

The Praying Mantis of Supercars

Regarding design, McLarens have always reminded me of a praying mantis with their dihedral doors that swing up, appearing like blades, and dark gloss accents around the deep-set headlamps tucked into narrow, bug-eyed housing. One walk around the car is not enough to appreciate the hours upon hours of research spent on aerodynamics to ensure it slices through the air like a stealth bomber behind enemy lines.

Every inch of the car’s exterior is designed with a purpose to channel the air as efficiently as possible. It’s business first, vanity second. Luckily for McLaren, being slippery in the wind requires sleek and curvaceous bodywork that appeals to the eye. The model shown wears a captivating color called Belize Blue, which shines in the light like the Mediterranean waters of Greece.

A Super Comfy Supercar

Going fast is one thing but being comfortable while doing so is a challenge. Getting into the McLaren for the first time had me searching for Pilates studios near me as my leg muscles rebelled while lowering myself down into the cockpit. It feels like you’re plopping down on the street itself.

However, once inside the car, the view is more confident and conveys a sense of safety rather than feeling anxious and worrying that you’re only three inches from getting road rash on your backside.

I was surprised that I didn’t feel like I had to look up at the other cars. Yes, the 750S is a low-riding vehicle, but it doesn’t feel like that when you’re driving. Moreover, the interior is surprisingly comfortable compared to the car’s Olympian exterior.

McLaren Interior Features

The lightweight bucket seats cradle you, and the cabin is wide enough to prevent rubbing shoulders and elbows with the passenger next to you. Because the car takes performance seriously, the steering wheel has no buttons to distract your hands.

The center screen is just seven inches and placed vertically with only a handful of necessary buttons to keep your eyes focused on the task at hand. McLaren’s signature Papaya Orange start button is the only visually distracting detail and standard on all 750S models.

Located left and under the steering wheel is a small lever the driver can use to navigate and select settings on the digital instrument cluster. This is a clever workaround to keep buttons off the wheel.

The More You Know

One important detail to know if you’re driving a McLaren for the first time and don’t want to look like an amateur is that these cars do not have a traditional “Park” gear due to their sophisticated seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

There are three buttons on the center console to select drive, neutral and reverse. The parking brake, located on the dashboard left of the steering wheel, holds the car in place when you pull into a parking space. Knowing this will save you the embarrassment of looking for something that doesn’t exist before setting off or arriving during your first drive.

Mid-Engine Driving Impressions

As for the drive itself, the justification for its high price of admission is an all-aluminum 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 located in the middle of the car, directly behind your spine, producing a whopping 740 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque.

That amount of fury translates into teleportation from zero to 60 in 2.3 seconds and a claimed top speed of 206 mph. I can’t say how fast I personally went in the 750S without incriminating myself, but it makes speed feel effortless.

However, all this power being sent to only the rear wheels encourages you to pay attention and ignore any sense of ego during spirited driving. I like that it doesn’t immediately give you the full bore unless you smash the gas pedal like you’re trying to kill a mosquito (which I do not recommend).

This threshold allows you to drive the supercar normally around town like any other without feeling like you’re holding on to the leash of a German Shepherd who just saw a squirrel. And just like in any other modern vehicle, the stop/start feature is equally annoying, so be sure to turn it off.

Exercising Common Sense on Public Roads

When exercising common sense and rolling on the throttle, steadily feeding the beast. In that case, it will reward you with an eye-peeling thrust of acceleration supported by a symphony of power that is perfectly manageable and can be kept in a straight line.

However, a few times, under hard acceleration, I felt the rear wheels slip during gear changes as the engine tried to kick the traction out from under the tires using blunt force. That fraction of a second where the rear of that car slithered like a runaway copperhead will cause your glutes to clench together like a bear trap. Thank god for traction and stability control.

If You Have the Means, Go For It

The McLaren 750S can achieve 20 mpg on the highway and averages 17 mpg overall. Of course, that mileage will drop into the low 10s, depending on how much fun you’re having.

This car falls into the “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” territory. With a starting price over $300,000, it can easily draft a bill for half a million with personalized interior, exterior, and performance packages.

I understand why these cars are popular with professional drivers and professional showoffs.

The car is comfortable to drive around and be seen without causing fatigue, priced at a point that warrants recognition for business or tax laws, looks like something a comic book hero would drive while in costume and the front frunk offers more depth than a Christopher Nolan movie to store travel bags.

It’s a supercar that can handle ordinary life with extraordinary grace.

Engine: Twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8

Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch

0 to 60: 2.3 seconds

Starting Price: $318,085

Price as Shown: $365,500

The Case for Eco-Friendly Coolants and What Car Owners Must Know

Kris Black — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 07:55:14 GMT

Coolants have seen quite a revolution in the automotive industry. The sector has come a long way from standard air cooling to liquid-led cooling. In the 1950s, when automotive components started using PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, cooling systems became even more potent.

The primary advantage of PFAS comes from the high-temperature resistance of these chemicals. They made cooling more powerful and efficient, extending the life of the engine and batteries.

As of 2025, the situation has sprung up with troubling aspects. Many coolants contain these “forever” chemicals, which bear deep-seated repercussions on the environment. They also have connections to serious health concerns, from cancer to reduced immunity.

Now that the automotive sector has recognized this situation, ongoing discussions in relevant industry circles center on eco-friendly alternatives to conventional coolants. What does this mean for car owners?

PFAS in Automotive Cooling Systems

These chemicals help automotive components withstand adverse conditions and last longer under duress. So, along with improving cooling efficiency, PFAS can extend the lifespan of various parts, such as radiators and water pipes. Moreover, automotive parts comprising PFAS offer better corrosion resistance and electrical insulation.

The problem is that PFAS can have nasty health and environmental impacts when they accumulate over time. Take the example of AFFF, an aqueous firefighting foam used to put out liquid fires. It infamously contains PFAS and is responsible for subjecting many firefighters to bladder and liver cancer. In fact, AFFF lawsuits and their plaintiffs’ plights are a vivid example of the potential damage PFAS can cause.

Their environmental impact is equally distressing. The US FDA notes that the persistent nature of these chemicals (bioaccumulation) has contaminated the air, soil, and water in many regions.

According to TruLaw, individuals must be proactive in making manufacturers accountable for the possible side effects of PFAS-containing products. It includes companies that manufacture coolants and other heat management components in vehicles.

What Are the Alternatives to PFAS-Based Coolants?

Besides the automotive sector, other fields like data centers and refrigeration are also worried about the business impact of phasing out PFAS. In late 2023, the European Chemicals Agency proposed a ban or large-scale restriction on PFAS production. If such proposals go through, companies will feel compelled to seek replacements and prepare for a change in business as usual.

Ongoing research has found a few possible alternatives to phase out PFAS from automotive components. However, there are apprehensions about their safety in high-temperature conditions.

Synthetic heat transfer fluids have emerged as a possible substitute in the electrical and semiconductor industries. These coolants use silicone oils (polydimethylsiloxanes). The idea is to keep them free of not only PFAS but also of fluorinated hydrocarbons.

An MDPI report suggests that short-chain PFAS can be good alternatives for their long-chain counterparts as their bioaccumulation is lower. Moreover, their risk of acute toxicity is also less. The paper also discusses telomer-based fluoropolymer as a possible replacement. The focus is on finding biodegradable options manufactured from non-perishable resources.

Some automotive experts recommend immersive battery cooling as a safe approach for managing battery thermal runaway. It can also offer quick charging and a longer lifespan.

When Will PFAS Alternatives in Automotives Become Viable?

At present, we know the gravity of the damage PFAS can cause to our health and the environment. However, substituting them in the automotive sector is long-drawn and complicated.

Chemistry World observes that PFAS are ubiquitous in the global automotive supply chain. Besides coolants, they prevail in engines and fuel components. Their replacement must meet safety and durability standards to become commercially viable.

However, since the movement to ban these chemicals has picked up gusto worldwide, we can expect more momentum in the coming years. Car connoisseurs can anticipate substantial developments in this area, from alternative coolants to greener electronic components.

How Can You Limit PFAS Exposure as an Automotive Enthusiast?

In the meantime, one can opt for automotive products with lower or zero PFAS levels. Alternate coolants may not be feasible yet, but you can avoid using waxes and sealants that contain these chemicals.

Some car washers also use tire shines with PFAS. The advantage for service providers is that PFAS helps create a barrier that makes dirt and grime easier to remove from the vehicle. However, the current context demands that we ask if this solution is indispensable.

Similarly, we recommend checking the stain-resistant coating on car seats. Even dashboards and other interior areas may use these chemicals for heat resistance. Some companies have come forward with PFAS-free options for vehicular coatings. They are worth exploring the next time you service or upgrade your vehicle.

As the world advances toward heightened environmental and health awareness, a lot will change in the automotive sector. As responsible car owners, we cannot afford to be dismissive about the chaos caused by the excessive use of PFAS. Let’s hope alternate solutions pick up steam and become more readily available.

Stellantis is Killing Me, But Thank God the HEMI Isn’t Dead

Kris Black — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 08:56:50 GMT

I Called It!

According to MoparInsiders, word has officially dropped that Stellantis plans to reignite the Hemi V8 engine production in August 2025 at the Dundee Engine Plant (DEP) in Michigan. Since 2023, I’ve been saying and predicting Dodge’s eight-cylinder cash cow would not be dead for long, repeating myself like a broken record with each last call and special edition Hemi V8 announcement. However, I did not expect its hiatus to be this brief.

Hell, I drove the “Final Edition” Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 a few months ago and the 20th Anniversary Dodge Durango RT in January.

The Hemi Comeback 2025

MoparInsiders’ report states that Stellantis is bringing back the entire HEMI V8 family, including the 5.7-liter Hemi, the 6.4-liter 392 Apache, and the supercharger-howling 6.2-liter Hellcat. Moreover, rumors of a new “big displacement” engine are also in the works, which is no surprise considering it’s a golden opportunity to drop an H-bomb on the competition.

Moreover, the Dodge Charger’s engine bay could also be reunited with its eight-piston heart.

While many are rejoicing over the news of the Hemi comeback, I suspect those who threw down a 401k worth of cash on a “Last Call” or “Final Edition” model are probably gritting their teeth and looking to unload their future collector’s item on Bring a Trailer before it’s too late.

And yet, amidst all this fantastic news, I can’t help but feel a growing frustration for Stellantis. It’s killing me emotionally.

Why Stellantis is Killing Me

What really grinds my gears about all of this is the emotional turmoil Stellantis has put me through over the last three years.

I’m a diehard Mopar fan, I went through the five stages of grief to accept what I thought would be several years of a Hemi-less future in order to uphold the oath of Mopar or No Car.

Finding acceptance meant taking a mature look at the all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona EV from my first initial shock of blasphemy to fully embracing its 670 horsepower, instant-torque performance, and the turbocharged Hurricane straight-six variant.

But now that the HEMI is making a comeback, I sort of feel foolish for shedding a tear over the “end of an era” marathon we all collectively went through last year. It’s like watching a season of television or a movie franchise, getting emotionally invested in a character, watching said character killed off in a climactic scene, only to have them return in the following season/sequel under some lazy-written excuse motivated by marketing.

It makes the emotional journey a total waste of time.

Granted, I understand this situation is more about damage control and keeping its profitable fan base happy, so they come back to the dealerships, but still.

These last few years of flip-flopping are the result of poor decision making by suits in high places which put thousands of employees in an awkward and difficult position. I’ll invest my assumptions and trust that this announcement is a new phase for the company on a better path.

An Unbiased Review of the Dodge Charger EV

I can’t wait to experience the Dodge Charger EV for myself and not be swayed by what other so-called automotive influencers have said about them.

A lot of the negative comments I’ve read on posts, videos, etc., have been as original as proclaiming it’s not the heat; it’s the humidity. Meanwhile, I’ve seen many YouTube thumbnails proclaiming the car in a negative light for the sake of views.

Remember, folks, we live in an age where bad news gets more attention than good, and influencers’ livelihoods depend on getting the most views possible at the expense of integrity and authenticity while hiding behind the paper shield of doing it for the sake of entertainment.

It’s an unusually impatient time, and success is measured by unreasonable factors. Thanks to overzealous influencers and their easily amused following, a product is often considered a success or failure before it is even released to the consumer.

A movie is considered a flop if it doesn’t make a billion dollars in its first opening weekend, and a TV show isn’t considered quality programming if its content isn’t used to produce viral memes.

Whether a product is good or bad should be left up to the consumer, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult for them to form their own thoughts when they’ve been bombarded by the financially motivated opinions of the content creators they follow.

Side note: Those who mock the Hurricane straight six engines for not being a “true muscle car” need to do a hard Google search on what their beloved Charger and Challenger models looked like during the 1980s. Back when they both marketed as subcompact hatchbacks and rebadged Mitsubishis. History matters! It provides context.

My Promise to You

When I get the chance to road test either the Dodge Charger Daytona EV or Hurricane Six Pack, I will conduct an unbiased review based on simple criteria:

Is it comfortable?

Does it feel fast?

Do I feel compelled to look back and admire it when I walk away from it?

Does it let me drive how I want to drive it?

Who Killed the HEMI? Carlos Tavares

So, who started all of this? Who’s to blame? Apparently, the former CEO of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares.

According to Car and Driver, Tavares showed “little understanding” of the North American market, which is surprising considering Tavares isn’t just a business degree in a suit. He’s a legit car guy with a collection of desirable rides and years of experience in motorsport, managing his own racing team, Clementeam Racing.

Maybe not spending enough time in the US and observing our love for the V8 was an oversight in his leadership, but hell, everyone with a general sense of cars knows that Americans love V8s. It’s kind of our thing.

He is now being labeled as the person responsible for killing the Hemi V8. Maybe he’s the scapegoat? Does it matter? Regardless of who’s to blame for the dimwitted idea to kill the golden goose at the height of its popularity, the point is that it became a PR disaster, and pulling the cooked goose out of the oven seems like the only way to put out the fire.

Will the HEMI Save Stellantis?

Dodge, RAM, and Jeep are at a critical crossroads right now in terms of marketing. One of the aspects I did not like about how they marketed the Charger EV was as savor to “soulless” EVs.

That was a misstep because while it does technically make noise, at the end of the day, it’s still a battery-powered car, the same as the other “soulless” electric vehicles that can sprint from zero to 60 using instant torque and AWD.

So you alienate EV loyalists by insulting their preferred method of transport, and ICE (internal combustion engine) loyalists don’t take it seriously because they, in their mind, are already driving the real savor to a “soulless EV,” so why do they need to buy this one?

They need to stop marketing these vehicles politically. Stop with the “love it or leave” demo targeting. Instead, embrace that these vehicles can stand on more than one side, especially now that consumers are willing to set a product on fire solely based on political affiliation.

Don’t make the HEMI Political! Bring back Looney Toons decal graphics and produce funny campaigns like RAM’s Goldilocks and the Three Trucks Superbowl ads. Given Chrysler’s prominent footnote in popular culture, there is also much material to work with.

Promote these vehicles for the reasons most people want them—to have fun. Work or play is more fun when you enjoy what you drive, and eight cylinders thumping along at 2,000 RPM have a historic habit of putting a dumb grin on most people’s faces.

Will the HEMI save Stellantis? I don’t know, but it has the muscle to lift it up.

2025 Dodge Durango RT Review: Refusing to Let the Hemi Die

Jesus R. Garcia — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 05:37:00 GMT

Celebrating 20 Years of Dodge Durango

The Dodge Durango is currently the only full-size, three-row SUV under the Stellantis brand umbrella that isn’t a Jeep. The dawn of 2025 also signifies a milestone for the Durango as it celebrates 20 years in production.

Thanks to continuous backlash from the automotive community over Stellantis’ less than wise decision to kill off its best-selling engine, the Hemi V8, the 2025 Dodge Durango is the only model offering the famed 5.7L and supercharged 6.2L variant of the Hemi V8. You can’t even buy a new Ram 1500 with a V8 anymore.

UPDATE: Ram announced in June 2025 the 5.7L Hemi V8 is returning to the 2026 Ram 1500 lineup.

So how is Dodge honoring the Durango as it single-handedly carries the brand’s eight-cylinder reputation on its roof rack? By killing it off next year to be replaced with a new SUV called the Dodge Stealth.

That name may strike a chord with some of you who remember the Dodge Stealth nameplate as a rebadged Mitsubishi 3000GT sports car from the early to mid 1990s.

Is the Hemi Making a Comeback? Probably.

However, this news is objected to change since the last couple of months have been turbulent for Stellantis with headlines filled with enough drama to rival a Spanish soap opera.

In December of 2024, Stellantis’ CEO Carlos Tavares resigned after heading the company for four years. That same month the former CEO of Dodge and Ram trucks, Tim Kuniski, announced he would be coming out of retirement (seven months after leaving), to lead the Ram Truck brand for 2025.

Kuniski is known for champion for the Hemi V8, and his return has already started the rumor mill of the engine being checked out of hospice care and put back in action. Kuniski pushed back the REV, Ram’s first all-electric pickup truck, to 2026 to focus on the 647 horsepower, plug-in hybrid Ramcharger set to debut in the latter half of 2025.

UPDATE: Announced in July 2025, Tim Kuniski will continue as CEO of Ram Trucks and oversee all Stellantis American brands (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram). In addition to leading Stellantis North America’s marketing and retail strategies.

Because the Durango is meant to be the brand’s bread and butter for the near future there’s a strong possibility Dodge will keep the Durango name into 2026 for expected all-new SUV.

Until then, we are left with this 2025 Durango equipped with a 20th Anniversary Premium package that promotes the SUV’s sporty capacity to being a practical, high-performing, family vehicle.

A Family SUV with Some Muscle

There’s one word that could describe Dodge’s design language over the last decade, assertive. All their vehicles look born with a chip on their wheel arch looking for a reason to show aggression and the Durango is no exception.

This family SUV features bulbous fenders and hood vents giving it the appearance of a body builder one bicep flex away from ripping their T-shirt. Its frontend carries a dark, arched eyebrow grille with square, angled LED headlamps on both sides and a wide, shark mouth bumper with giant air intakes.

The 20th anniversary Dodge Durango premium edition comes fitted with satin black “HEMI” graphics on the hood contrasting nicely with the model shown Destroyer Grey ($395) and 20-inch forged Brass Monkey wheels.

In addition, a “345” badge can be found stamped on the front fender like the caliber size engraved on the barrel of a Smith and Wesson revolver. The 345 moniker is a reference to the engine’s size, 345 cubic inches.

Special Edition Interior

Inside, the interior of the special edition Durango R/T comes fitted with SRT Performance bucket seats with suede inserts and the 345 logos in gold along with gold stitching around the leather wrapped steering wheel and center console. New for 2025 is the 10.1-inch touch screen providing a crisper view of the infotainment options and digital rear-view camera.

This special edition includes the optional 2nd row captain’s chairs which limits the seating to six passengers instead of seven. The third-row seats eat up a significant amount of cargo space leaving room for maybe two carry-on bags placed standing up. However, if you leave two passengers at the bus stop you can fold the third-row seats flat and take advantage of its 1,350-pound max payload capacity.

Its factory sound deadening does a great job of leaving the roar of the outside world at the door to better enjoy the music of eight cylinders playing a symphony of gasoline fueled explosions rumbling through the exhaust.

5.7L Hemi V8 Power

The heartbeat of this SUV is the 5.7L Hemi V8 producing a more than capable 360 horsepower. In the 2025 model year lineup, this is one of three available engines for the Dodge Durango’s ten trim levels.

The entry GT and GT Plus feature the 295 hp 3.6L V6, followed by the 5.7L V8 for R/T variants, ending with the furiously powerful supercharged 6.2L V8 producing 710 hp in three limited edition SRT Hellcat Durangos. All variants use the same 8-speed automatic transmission with standard all-wheel drive expect for the entry level GT which is offered as an option.

The 5.7L Hemi may not be as powerful as the supercharged 6.2L V8 but its strong enough to tempt and tickle a mischievous smile across your face. It’s got the athletic heart of a quarter-mile sprinting muscle car in the body of a seven seat SUV with a top speed of 145 mph and max towing capacity of 7,400 pounds.

Dodge Tow N Go Package

You can increase the towing capacity to 8,700 pounds if you check the box for the Tow N Go package ($5,990), which I highly recommend because of the hardware included.

This package include safety features like a Tow drive mode, a trailer brake controller, on-demand 4WD and automated headlight leveling for situations where towing a heavy trailer can sometimes push the rear down and elevate the front of the SUV.

Moreover, the Tow N Go package includes sports tuned steering, a high-performance suspension, 160 mph speedometer and a performance exhaust system that increases the V8 decibels in Sport and Track mode.

Dodge Durango Driving Impression

On the road, you can feel the sport tuned suspension and steering working hard to keep the Durango’s hefty 7,100-pound curb weight in check. I was surprised how attentive it was to my steering and throttle inputs when I threw it into a turn at 65 mph while also being as docile as a dairy cow cruising through congested city streets.

The only major downside with a V8 Durango is the fuel economy, particularly in the city where it averages 14 mpg but is a little more frugal on the highway where it can average 22 mpg. In the real world, I was able to squeeze 350 miles from its 24.6-gallon gas tank before needing to stop for a refuel.

Pricing

The starting price for a 2025 Durango (according to Dodge’s official website) is a few bucks under $42,000 for the entry level GT with rear-wheel drive and 6,200 pounds of towing capacity. The R/T variants start at $55,000 and $66,000 for a 20th anniversary edition. Those wanting more power will need more money because the SRT Hellcat editions start at over $110,000.

What you can take away from the Durango is that it encapsulates the righteous desire to have our cake and eat it too. Something our nation has been consumed by ever sense they marketed the phrase manifest destiny.

This is a vehicle that can tow a weekend’s worth of toys while hauling a family that will perform like car with far fewer seats and doors.

America’s Military Past Reimagined for Modern Travelers

Jesus R. Garcia — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 14:13:21 GMT

Military bases across America are being transformed into unique tourist destinations, offering glimpses into the nation’s defense history. These sites offer visitors a chance to explore the military heritage that presents a compelling story of transformation, challenges, and revival.

In this article, we will examine its architectural, topographical, and environmental histories. Base camps are equipped with different materials and substances that leave a much longer and bigger environmental trace than anything else.

From Historic Defense to Modern Tourism

Transforming military installations into tourist attractions represents an innovative approach to historical preservation. Let us look at some of the famous ones.

The Presidio

The Presidio in San Francisco stands as a shining example of this evolution. According to Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, it was originally established in 1776 as Spain’s northernmost military outpost in western North America. This historic site has witnessed centuries of military advancement.

During the Civil War, the Presidio helped defend San Francisco Bay from Confederate raiders. World War II saw it become a crucial command center for the Western Defense. Currently, this 1,491-acre site welcomes over 5 million visitors annually, offering military heritage and natural beauty, states the National Park Service.

Visitors can explore the Main Post, where restored Victorian-era officer’s quarters line the parade ground. The historic airfield Crissy Field, once crucial for coastal defense, now serves as a stunning waterfront park. Military architecture enthusiasts can examine the distinctive red-brick Montgomery Street Barracks, built in the 1890s.

The Walt Disney Family Museum, housed in one of the converted barracks, adds a contemporary twist to this military landmark. Hiking enthusiasts can traverse the Presidio’s 24 miles of trails, including the popular Batteries to Bluffs Trail. This path connects visitors to former coastal defense batteries while offering spectacular Golden Gate Bridge views.

Lowry Air Force Base

The former Lowry Air Force Base in Denver presents another remarkable transformation story. Established in 1937 as a technical training center, Lowry trained over 1.1 million troops in its 57-year history.

The base played a crucial role in World War II, training bombardiers and teaching vital photography skills for aerial reconnaissance. As per Sasaki, this 1,866-acre space now hosts thriving residential communities, parks, and cultural attractions.

The Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, housed in a 1939 hangar, showcases over 70 historic aircraft and space vehicles, reports Colorado. Visitors can explore the B-52 bomber display or try their hand at state-of-the-art flight simulators. The Fire Station Museum preserves the base’s emergency response history through interactive exhibits.

The Lowry Beer Garden, set in the former officer’s quarters, offers a taste of local craft brews in a historic setting. Art enthusiasts can visit the Art in Public Places program, featuring thirteen installations throughout the community.

Fort Worden

Fort Worden in Port Townsend, Washington, represents yet another successful conversion. Built between 1898 and 1920, this coastal artillery fort was designed to protect Puget Sound from naval invasion, states FortWorden. The fort’s massive gun emplacements and extensive tunnel systems remain largely intact.

According to CityofPT, modern visitors can explore 434 acres of historic buildings, beaches, and woodlands. The fort offers unique accommodation options in restored officers’ quarters and artillery barracks.

History enthusiasts can tour the Coast Artillery Museum, housing one of the nation’s finest collections of coast defense artifacts. The site also hosts the Port Townsend School of Woodworking in former military buildings.

Centrum, a renowned arts organization, offers year-round workshops and performances in converted military spaces. Visitors can hike to artillery batteries offering panoramic views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains.

Environmental Challenges and Community Impact

Behind these successful transformations lies a complex environmental story. Many former military bases face significant contamination issues from decades of defense operations.

The use of firefighting foams like AFFF containing PFAS chemicals, particularly in training exercises, has left lasting environmental concerns. These challenges have led to increased community awareness and legal action.

According to TorHoerman Law, the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps used AFFF materials for several decades. Several cancers have been linked to AFFF exposure, and military personnel has a high chance of developing cancer. Different types of cancer linked to AFFF exposure are:

Testicular cancer
Bladder cancer
Breast cancer
Mesothelioma
Kidney cancer

Many residents near former bases have filed the AFFF lawsuit, seeking accountability for potential health impacts. This growing environmental consciousness has shaped how these sites approach their dual role as tourist destinations and remediation projects.

The former Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, offers valuable insights into this dynamic. While part of the base operates as Portsmouth International Airport, extensive cleanup efforts continue. Local authorities have implemented innovative water treatment systems to address groundwater contamination.

The Massachusetts Military Reservation on Cape Cod demonstrates successful environmental stewardship as per DVIDS. Their groundbreaking cleanup program has restored natural habitats while maintaining public access. Visitors can now enjoy guided ecological tours highlighting both military history and environmental restoration.

Responsible Tourism at Military Heritage Sites

Today’s military tourism emphasizes both historical appreciation and environmental awareness. Here’s how visitors can maximize their experience while supporting conservation efforts:

Research before visiting

Understanding a site’s history enhances the experience. Many locations offer detailed online resources about their military past and current restoration projects.

The National Park Service provides comprehensive guides for converted military sites under their management.

Support local conservation

Many former bases host environmental education programs. The Fort Ord National Monument in California offers guided nature walks explaining habitat restoration.

These programs help visitors understand the delicate balance between preservation and public access.

Respect Restricted Areas

Some sections of converted bases remain under active environmental management. Following posted guidelines ensures both visitor safety and the protection of sensitive cleanup areas. Many sites offer designated viewing areas for observing restoration work.

Focus on Educational Opportunities

These destinations excel at combining historical learning with environmental awareness. The former Fort Worden in Washington State offers programs exploring coastal defense history and marine conservation.

Their approach demonstrates how military heritage and environmental education can complement each other.

Planning Your Visit

The best times to visit converted military bases often depend on seasonal programs and weather conditions. Spring and fall typically offer comfortable temperatures for outdoor exploration.

Many sites provide guided tours during peak seasons, offering deeper insights into their transformation stories. Advance reservations may be required for specialized tours or educational programs.

Some locations maintain partnerships with local hotels, offering package deals for extended stays. This allows visitors to fully explore both historical features and natural areas.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can civilians visit active military bases?

Some active military bases allow civilian visits under strict protocols. Access requires advanced approval, background checks, and adherence to regulations. Guided tours may showcase specific areas like museums, memorials, or historical sites within the base. Civilians should check base websites for visitor policies and required documentation before planning their trip.

Are there concerns about AFFF contamination at military tourism sites?

AFFF contamination is a concern at some military bases that are now tourist destinations. Sites like former airfields and naval bases have reported groundwater and soil contamination. Visitors should stay informed about potential risks by consulting site management. Understanding these issues emphasizes the need for responsible environmental stewardship.

How does military tourism contribute to local economies?

Military tourism significantly boosts local economies by attracting visitors who spend on lodging, dining, and other services. Sites like Fort Sumter in South Carolina and Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia draw millions annually, supporting small businesses and creating jobs. Seasonal events, like reenactments or commemorative ceremonies, further increase tourism revenue.

America’s converted military bases offer more than just glimpses into the defense history. They represent ongoing stories of community resilience, environmental restoration, and innovative public space use.

As these sites continue evolving, they provide unique opportunities to understand both our military heritage and environmental responsibilities. Through thoughtful tourism, visitors can support these dual missions of preservation and restoration.

Each visit contributes to the sustainable future of these remarkable places. Their success demonstrates how military history can be honored while addressing environmental challenges for future generations.

Nissan Sentra SR Review: A Compact Sedan with Mid-Size Room

Jesus R. Garcia — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 05:14:00 GMT

The Nissan Sentra Has Been Around for a While

The Nissan Sentra is a compact sedan parked on our society’s street curbs since 1982. That same year, Michael Jackson released the Thriller album, and the compact disc, aka the CD, was introduced to the masses. This car has been around for long enough to impact several generations of drivers to the point that many of us have at least one story of running in or being run into by a Sentra.

For me, it brings up childhood memories of visiting Mexico and seeing the roads littered with the third-generation Nissan Sentra known across the border as the Tsuru. First introduced in 1992, the Tsuru stayed in production until 2017 and held the title of Mexico’s most popular car from 1997 until 2011.

An impressive accomplishment considering the car’s entry-level model, with no airbags, earned a whopping zero stars across the board in crash testing from the Latin New Car Assessment Program (Latin NCAP) in 2013.

2025 Nissan Sentra

Thankfully, the 2025 Nissan Sentra SR shown has multiple airbags, including side curtain airbags for front and rear passengers, side impact airbags embedded in every seat, and knee airbags protecting the driver and front passenger. In addition, blind spot warnings, forward collision warnings, rear automatic braking, lane departure warnings and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection are standard.

This latest Sentra remains virtually unchanged for 2025 in its current eighth generation, first introduced in 2020.

On the outside, there’s not a lot I can say about its exterior styling other than that it is inoffensive and meant for a broad audience to look upon it and say, “It’s nice.” The SR trim package adds a set of 18-inch alloy wheels, a cute rear lip spoiler and a touch of chrome around the exhaust tip.

Big Impression Inside

Like a pinata, the Nissan Sentra’s party tricks are located inside, where you’ll be surprised how much interior space the compact sedan offers. Passengers at the front are treated to a set of Nissan’s Zero Gravity car seats designed to reduce stress and muscle fatigue by putting your body in a neutral sitting position.

Step into the back seat and you’ll find plenty of room to place your head, legs and elbows without feeling like your chin is touching your knees. When you open the trunk, you’ll understand why these cars are popular with airport rental fleets – there is lots of space for carry-on bags.

The top-tier Sentra SR model shown adds a touch of color to the interior with leatherette-upholstered seats decorated with orange striping.

The SR also includes power seats, a leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel, a power moonroof, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. All of this supports the car’s already comfortable interior, making it suitable for long-distance driving or errand-loaded commutes around town.

Driving Impressions and Performance

Driving it on the highway, you do hear the constant hum and roar of the pavement as the rubber meets the road, especially if someone else in the car points it out to you. However, it is not loud or intrusive enough to be a deal breaker. Plus, you can always turn up the volume on the stereo to drown out the noise.

Powering the mighty Sentra is a non-turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque to drive the front wheels. A CVT automatic transmission manages the engine’s output to the wheels.

Its 0 to 60 time may read slow on paper, 8-9 seconds, but behind the wheel, the little car has moxie and gets out of its own way with a little buzz from the engine, letting you know it’s working hard.

Your eyebrows will lift with amusement at how quickly this car gets up to 30 mph in a school zone and has no trouble maintaining a set cruise control speed of 80 mph on the interstate.

Averaging 37 MPG for Under $25K

One of its leading factors is fuel economy. I averaged 37 mpg over a 450-mile road test, managing to squeeze out 200 actual miles before the needle on the gas gauge reached the halfway point. Not bad for a sedan without turbochargers or a hybrid battery pack to help it sip gas.

Available in three trim levels, the entry-level Nissan Sentra S starts at just under $22,000, with the mid-range SV raising the price slightly to $22,290 before ending with the SR at $24,590 (according to Nissan’s official website). By the way, if you stop to see the Sentra at your local dealer, ask about Nissan’s promotion, which includes up to three free oil changes for two years or 24,000 miles.

Nitpicking

If I had anything negative to say about the car, it would be the bong sound effect Nissan used for the center touchscreen to signify a click when you tab something on the screen. The sound effect is identical to clicking on an icon on a 2005 desktop computer and disgusting to the ear. But it’s not a real issue because there’s a setting to turn it off.

Would Make a Great Getaway Car

My favorite feature on the Nissan Sentra is the manually foot-operated parking brake. It’s a joy to see it, as so many modern vehicles replace these emergency/parking brake mechanisms with a tiny electronic button that doesn’t let you “rip it” whenever you want to spin a car 180 degrees.

When you include the straightforward shifter, its popularity allowing it to blend into the background, ample trunk space and zippy performance, the Sentra is high on my list of vehicles if I ever need a getaway car for a bank heist.

Why? Because a good getaway car should be quick, nimble, provide plenty of interior space for the crew and loot, and blend into its urban surroundings.

Engine: 2.0L Four-cylinder

Transmission: CVT automatic

0 to 60: 8.8 seconds

Starting Price: $21,590 (S)

Price as Shown: $29,635 (SR)

Jeep Rubicon 392 Finale Edition is an Action Movie on Wheels

Jesus R. Garcia — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:15:00 GMT

To Be Continued?

If it feels like I’ve been writing about “the last of the Hemi V8s” for years, it’s because I have. The Shark Tank masterminds at Stellantis have been dragging out the death of Chrysler’s famed V8 like a film studio refusing to let a movie franchise die.

A prime example is the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Finale Edition. Given the recent news of Ram and Dodge hinting of a Hemi resurrection don’t count out the V8 Wrangler as gone for good.

This variant of the Jeep Wrangler is based on the Rubicon 392, first introduced in 2021 as a response to years of Jeep owners begging, pleading, and threatening to get a Hemi engine option for their beloved 4×4.

The Charm of a Hemi V8

Now, asking why some people adore the Hemi V8 is like asking why some people prefer watching the films Die Hard and Lethal Weapon during the holidays instead of Home Alone or A Christmas Story. It is an action-packed experience that can make anyone feel a sense of patriotism regardless of political affiliation. Performance aside, the V8 has mechanical magic and rhythm that tickles your adrenal glands into producing adrenaline through an audible soundtrack when it ignites fuel.

What happens when you infuse that magic with 80 years of proven four-wheel-drive capability? You get a wild ride that challenges the laws of physics over any terrain.

But, like everything in life, it’s not without drawbacks.

The Final Edition

Jeep produced 3,700 Rubicon 392 Final Edition units as a farewell to the Hemi V8, of which 3,300 are designated for the U.S. market. As you might have guessed, they sold out faster than hot cakes stapled to Super Bowl tickets.

But here’s the kicker: power costs money, and the Rubicon 392 debuted in 2021 with a $75,000 MSRP. The MSRP has continuously increased since, with the 2024 Finale Edition crossing over the $100,000 mark.

So, what do you get with a six-figure Jeep Wrangler?

A Six-Figure Jeep Wrangler

Standard Rubicon 392 Final Edition equipment starts with a steel front bumper brush guard with embedded fog lights and a WARN-branded electric winch strong enough to pull 8,000 pounds and includes 100 feet of synthetic rope.

The Jeep Wrangler’s fascia is coated in gloss black in a theme that contrasts Hydro Blue Pearl exterior paint and Finale Edition exclusive bronze color accents featured on the vehicle’s emblems and graphics. Jeep calls it bronze, but it looks more like gold to me.

The hood features a functional hood scoop to help channel air into the naturally aspirated V8. This particular Wrangler stands tall with a half-inch lift kit to make room for its 35-inch set of BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A tires wrapped around 17-inch beadlock wheels.

This hardware gives the 4×4 SUV 11.6 inches of ground clearance and the ability to ford through up to 34.5 inches of water. The model shown also came equipped with optional Rubicon Rock Rails, which are steel guards to help protect the underside while trailblazing over boulders.

At the back, the Wrangler’s swing gate featured the optional drop-down tray table and onboard air compressor with dual outlets to inflate two tires simultaneously.

Other standard goodies included the 83-piece tool kit featuring everything from a roll of electrical tape and knife to a hammer and set of socket wrenches, all branded with the Jeep emblem. One feature I found particularly assuming is the retractable folding roof that extends to the rear passengers so everyone can enjoy an open-air cockpit.

The Rubicon 392 Final Edition interior is celebrated with full Nappa Leather upholstery decorated in gold stitching and an exclusive medallion on the gear shifter. My favorite party trick on the Rubicon 392 is a little button on the center console to activate the performance exhaust, which turns the Hemi V8’s volume up to eleven.

More importantly, once you activate this feature, it stays on even if you turn off the vehicle and return later. I love that because it can be annoying having to turn it on every time I get back into a car, like in the Ford Mustang GT and any Mercedes AMG.

A Mule with a Firecracker on its Tail

So how does a Jeep Wrangler with 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque drive? Like a mule with a firecracker tied to its tail. Unlike other Hemi-powered products, which have a suspension setup to handle the excess power, the Rubicon 392 has to be a Jeep first and a super SUV second.

This means it still drives like a Jeep with thick off-road tires and a buckboard ride to traverse the road less traveled. But now it has the muscle to accelerate from zero to 60 in under five seconds and boasts a limited top speed of 112 mph.

I can attest that this 4×4 is quick. Shockingly quick! It creates a surreal driving experience on the highway when you plant your foot on the throttle and get pushed back in your seat as this Jeep lurches forward with righteous fury like it’s trying to accelerate the earth’s rotation with four-wheel-drive.

However, extra caution is required off-road because of its high center of gravity, which can easily cause you to see the world upside down if you tempt the laws of physics with a sudden burst of throttle.

The fuel economy was better than anticipated, averaging 15 mpg on the highway and 13 mpg overall. That might sound bad, but consider that this is a lifted, off-road-focused SUV with a large, thirsty engine. Moreover, its modest 21-gallon fuel tank means your wallet doesn’t take as big of a hit during fill-ups.

A Hemi-powered Jeep Wrangler is meant to be ridiculous. Is it expensive? Oh yeah! But you get an experience every time you fasten your seat belt and hit the ignition button. Vehicles like this aim to enhance the commute, whether driving to the corner store or tackling a canyon trail at Big Bend National Park. Overall, this amusement park on wheels is designed for thrills if you can afford the cost of admission.

Engine: 6.4-liter Hemi V8

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

0 to 60: 4.5 seconds

Starting price: $92,140 (Rubicon 392)

Price as shown: $108,380 (Final Edition)

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited, a Fuel-Efficient Cruiser

Jesus R. Garcia — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 05:37:00 GMT

The Challenge of Contemporary

“Modern cars all feel the same,” they say, and by them, I mean me. When you test drive dozens of 2.0L turbocharged compact SUVs and sedans with electronically controlled power steering and numb-feeling gas pedals, it can sometimes be challenging to distinguish them beyond the color of the menu screens in their infotainment systems.

As a self-proclaimed professional, I need to be somewhat of a driver seat sommelier, detecting the subtle differences in a vehicle’s character to better inform you, the consumer.

Yet, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles deliver a uniquely tranquil driving experience. This was recently confirmed when I took a Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited sedan on a middle-of-the-day drive from San Antonio to Austin through peak traffic hours.

If sports cars get the blood pumping and large pickup trucks make you feel stronger than you are, hybrid sedans (and SUVs) are a chill pill to sedate the frustrations of urban travel.

Facelift for the 2025 Hyundai Sonata

The Hyundai Sonata has been undergoing a style evolution since the eighth generation debuted in 2019 as a 2020 model. A standout design cue was its radical daytime running lights that ran up the car’s hood line. The 2025 Sonata’s exterior design carries over from the 2024 model year refresh featuring new front and rear bumpers, as well as new headlights and taillights that completely change the car’s appearance.

The Sonata’s front end now has a slim daytime running light bar running across the width parallel to the hood. The car’s actual headlamps are located underneath, tucked within the air intakes and open-mouth grille.

At the back, the sedan’s taillights continue the design pattern, incorporating a width-long light bar across the trunk with a digitalized textile pattern and aggressively large exhaust ports for an otherwise soft-spoken hybrid powertrain.

Overall, I like the car’s look, acting as a mirage of a large luxury sedan from a distance that lingers even after you reach the door handle.

Hyundai Sonata Interior Design

Inside, the Sonata gained an upgraded dashboard layout consisting of two 12.3-inch screens mated together under glass displaying the car’s instrument gauges and infotainment menu.

I like the fit and finish of the center console’s climate and audio controls that come across as sharp with contemporary styled dials and buttons.

In addition, there is a new steering wheel with an elegantly simple three-prong design and round center. Poking out from the right side of the wheel is a new gear selector knob that you operate by twisting towards and away from you to select drive or reserve with a push button at the top to engage park.

It’s intuitive after the first try, although it may be hard to spot if it’s your first time in the driver’s seat. The model shown is the Limited trim level, offering upgrades like leather-trimmed seats with heating and ventilation for the front passengers. In addition to dual climate controls, adaptive cruise control, a panoramic sunroof and a 12-speaker BOSE audio system.

Plenty of Power for Modern Traffic

Under the sculpted hood, the Sonata Hybrid features a 2.0L four-cylinder engine and AC electric motor, producing 192 horsepower combined to drive the front wheels. Not exactly a speed demon by today’s standards, but potent enough to get moving and keep up with modern traffic.

The Sonata’s efficient and quiet demeanor encourages a mellow driving style, which got me through the nightmarish lunch rush traffic and construction zones littered with debris and tire-scarred orange barricades.

For fuel economy, the Sonata Hybrid boasts an EPA rating of 44 mpg in the city and 51 mph on the highway, resulting in an average of 47 mpg.

When I received it, the car’s range stated 560 miles with a full tank, and with a 13.2-gallon fuel tank, it’s possible to extend that range into the 600s with some careful, slow driving. But if you drive with heavy shoes like I do, you’ll still easily average over 45 mpg.

A Tranquil Aesthetic

Good fuel economy is one of the factors behind the Sonata Hybrid’s signature aesthetic of tranquility. Driving the Sonata was like taking a deep inhale in a room spiked with a lavender scented candle.

It’s a relaxing car to drive. Granted, like a massage or vacation, the relief is quickly ruined by the demands of reality, meaning the car’s driving personality doesn’t leave a lasting effect until you return to the driver’s seat.

The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited sits at the far end of the lineup with a starting price of over $37,000. The second-tier Sonata Hybrid SEL starts at $31,000. At the other end of the spectrum is the Sonata SE (gasoline), starting at $26,650, and the performance-oriented N Line, in the middle, starting at $35,250.

Engine: 2.0L four-cylinder engine with electric motor

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

0 to 60: 7.8 seconds

Starting Price: $31,000 (SEL Hybrid)

Price as Shown: $38,600 (Limited Hybrid)

Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain, a Station Wagon with High Performance Swagger

Jesus R. Garcia — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 05:24:00 GMT

The Modern Exclusivity of the Station Wagon

There once was a time when the family station wagon ruled the carpool lane. Looking out at an asphalt sea of fake wood paneling with kids shooting the bird at passing truckers from the comfort of a rear-facing vinyl bench seat. Now, with minivans, SUVs, and even pickup trucks offering the same level of practical legroom and cargo space, what’s left for the station wagon? Exclusivity.

The sudden sight of a stylish sports wagon can be a refreshing treat for the eye in a constantly revolving background of pickup trucks and SUVs.

This is something I learned while road testing the Mercedes-Benz E 450 All-Terrain. Granted, its deliciously vibrant Cardinal Red exterior paint and 20-inch AMG wheels helped to maintain the attention of onlookers, but overall, people reacted positively to this vehicle, while others had a puzzled look of surprise upon seeing a contemporary station wagon in the present day.

Head Turning Wagon

The E450 All-Terrain boasts a design that sets it apart from the crowd. With an arched half-moon roofline and bulging wheel flares, it exudes a powerful low-riding stance like a panther preparing to pounce on its prey.

The front grille and headlamps are surrounded by gloss black, contrasted with the paintwork and chrome. It’s a sports wagon that masterfully blends elegance and aggression into a design that I caught myself admiring constantly.

IT Trouble with MBUX Hyperscreen

Inside the E450 All-Terrain, you get plenty of exterior lighting with a dual-sunroof, and the rear seats fold flat to increase the already ample cargo room. The leather-upholstered cabin can be equipped with the MBUX 56-inch Hyperscreen, which converts the dashboard into a glass case housing three digital screens for the driver and passenger.

The presentation is impressive, as it looks state-of-the-art, with the entire dash appearing as one seemingly giant screen.

However, presentation aside, there was one case where the center and passenger screen froze like an aging computer minutes after starting the vehicle. As a result, I could not adjust the audio source, volume, drive mode, or climate controls.

Interior Design in the E450 All-Terrain

I resolved the issue the same way any IT professional would, by turning the car off, waiting for the screen to shut down entirely, and turning it on again. The issue was resolved, but it left a frustrating bad first impression that festered as I glanced at the odometer showing less than 2,000 miles while basking in a fog of new car smell.

While on the subject of interior design, this new trend of adding a screen for the front passenger still makes no sense to me. The idea is that someone riding shotgun can adjust the music and climate controls from their seat.

The option to connect their phone using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is also available. But passengers could easily reach over and make these adjustments from the center screen, so what’s the benefit beyond the visual aesthetic of having a screen on top of the glove box? It seems more of a distraction for drivers since so many of us are under Pavilion’s control to look at a screen when presented with one.

But I digress.

All-Terrain All-Wheel Drive Turbo Straight Six

Under the hood, the E450 All-Terrain is propelled by a 3.0L turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt hybrid system. This engine delivers 375 horsepower and 396 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters available. The result is a family wagon that can go from a standstill to 60 mph in under five seconds, even with all four doors loaded with passengers.

Experiencing the mood shift when this seemingly elegant and poise estate wagon darts off the line like a sports car with an iron foot on the throttle is part of the charm of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain. Moreover, it offers an off-road drive setting that adjusts its adaptive air ride suspension to cope with challenging terrain.

I’d be surprised if anyone actually took this wagon out on a camping expedition, even though it could carry all the necessary supplies.

The average fuel economy for the E450 All-Terrain has an EPA rating of 25 mpg, with 22 in the city and 31 on the highway.

I averaged 26 mph overall, which is decent and competitive against many mid-size SUVs with less performance and rear cargo space. But those SUVs don’t have a starting price of $75,000, and if you start adding options like additional USB ports and an illuminating front grille, you’ll find yourself paying well over $80,000 for this German import sports luxury wagon.

Final Thoughts

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain offers a unique alternative for those seeking a large, luxurious, and speedy vehicle without blending in with the sea of SUVs and sedans. It manages to exude a sense of performance-backed luxury without being ostentatious, hiding its premium appeal in the modest silhouette of a family wagon.

Engine: 3.0L Inline Six Turbocharged with 48-Volt

Transmission: 9-speed automatic

0 to 60: 4.6 seconds

Starting Price: $76,100

Price as Shown: $88,400

Gene Hackman’s Off-Screen Racing Career

Jesus R. Garcia — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 05:25:00 GMT

Gene Hackman Dead at 95

Motorsports and acting often go hand-in-hand with many celebrities who get their kicks off-screen at the track. James Dean, James Garner, Steve McQueen, Kurt Russell, Paul Newman, Kneau Reeves, and Patrick Dempsey are the go-to name-drops of Hollywood actors with a need for speed.

However, Gene Hackman is rarely mentioned as the two-time Oscar winner. He is primarily known for his extensive list of memorable movie roles and for publishing five books after retiring from acting in 2004.

The sudden and tragic news of Gene Hackman’s death at the age of 95 was released late at night on Wednesday, February 26. Police responded to a wellness check and discovered Gene Hackman, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, deceased in their home in New Mexico. The internet has been grieving with video tributes to the actor’s extensive catalog of great movies.

Stunt Driving in The French Connection

One film that stands out is his first leading role in William Friedkin’s neo-noir crime film The French Connection, which earned Hackman his first Academy Award for Best Actor for his depiction of a hard nosed NYPD Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle.

The film’s famous car chase scene shows Popeye Doyle commandeering a brown Pontiac Le Mans and taking it on a balls-to-the-walls pursuit of an assassin in an elevated subway train.

Among the great scenes in that car chase, the one that stands out the most is when Popeye’s car gets sideswiped by a passing motorist at an intersection. In reality, Gene Hackman was driving, and the crash was not planned. It was the result of a civilian, an average Joe, unaware there was a movie being filmed on their morning commute, driving through an intersection only to be met by the sudden and violent impact of speeding metal.

Professional stunt driver Bill Hickman did the really hairy driving in the film but it’s always cool when an actor has the guts to put the pedal down without losing face in front of the camera.

This video is an interview with Gene Hackman, filmed in 2008, where he discusses everything regarding The French Connection including driving in the movie.

Gene Hackman’s Racing Career in the 1970s and 80s

Those fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to feel the sides of their face pressed by the security of a crash helmet and raise RPM in the name of mother speed understand the heart-pounding thrills racing can offer. For the late, great Gene Hackman, it technically started in a 1971 Pontiac Le Mans doing his own stunt driving for The French Connection.

In the mid-70s, Hackman was invited to partake in a celebrity race in Long Beach, California—a race that would turn into an ongoing pursuit for the actor. He competed in Sports Car Club of America events and honed his skill driving Formula Fords at Bob Bondurant’s driving school in North California, leading to joining Dan Gurney’s race team in the endurance racing circuit. Hackman was scheduled to compete in the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1978 and 1981 but dropped out before the race began.

In 1983, Hackman made his official IMSA GTU debut at Daytona, driving a race-prepped 1983 Toyota Celica for Dan Gurney’s All-American Racers. His number 99 Celica was shared with two Japanese drivers, Masanori Sekiya and Kaoru Hoshino. His second year of IMSA racing started behind the wheel of a Mazda RX-7 for Preston & Son Enterprises at the 12 Hours of Sebring and Riverside which ended in DNFs.

Hackman would continue to compete and win several Toyota ProCelebrity races in Long Beach and Watkins Glen. In a 1988 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Hackman was asked if he had ever considered choosing racing over acting:

“Would I have chosen racing over acting? I’ve thought about it quite a bit. I have a feeling I wouldn’t have stayed in racing. I don’t think I have the personality to be a real racing professional. You can learn some of the skills of racing, you can learn all the mechanical things, but there’s a certain part of it that really no one can teach you — that killer instinct. You have to be very competitive. You need to have that edge about you. The good ones all have that.”

“At what point did I realize I was good at it? Well, I won a couple of races and I thought I could do it,” he said. “But, then, I realized that if I wasn’t really serious about it, and if I couldn’t commit to 15-18 races a year, that I couldn’t really compete at a professional level. At least at a decent national-class level. I never went through a period when I felt I could really do it.”

Gene Hackman, the Driver

While Gene Hackman’s racing career was brief, it shows us that he was an enthusiast with the skill to reach the podium. I’m a driving enthusiast who respects those who can drive well. The fact that I’m also a movie buff only adds to the reasons of why I’m such a fan of Gene Hackman and was shocked by the news and its unusual circumstances.

Needless to say, I’ll be watching his movies for the next few days, starting with my personal favorites:

Bite the Bullet (1975)

The French Connection (1971)

The Birdcage (1996)

Mississippi Burning (1988)

The Replacements (2000)

The Quick and the Dead (1995)

Get Shorty (1995)

1000 Miglia Historic Rally Comes to Florida for the First Time

Jesus R. Garcia — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

Miglia in the Sunshine State

People with more than one pair of driving gloves who smile when the sweet scent of high-test gasoline tickles their nose have heard of the 1,000 Miglia race. A road rally turned historic event that holds the title of the “Most Beautiful Race in the World,” given by Enzo Ferrari himself. The original 24 races boggle the mind by today’s congested road standards but could be summed up as the spaghetti Cannonball Run.

This historic road rally has reached the shores of the never-boring state of Florida. The first edition of the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida will take place February 22-25, 2025, in Miami.

This fully booked event will see 80 crews consisting of 160 driver/navigators travel from the starting point in Miami across a 1,000-mile loop of the Floridian landscape, passing through the Everglades, Tampa, Cape Canaveral, and West Palm Beach before crossing the finish line in Miami.

Two original 1000 Miglia veterans, the 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza, and the 1953 Ferrari 250 MM, are among the hedge fund of cars expected to be on the starting grid.

The 1000 Miglia Experience Florida’s official website describes the event as “an unforgettable experience for a chosen few,” which holds true considering the class of vehicles and the $12-14,000 registration fee (plus tax). This is no Gambler 500 or 24 Hour of Lemons—it’s top shelf all the way.

Those competing in the race will be categorized among three classes:

1000 Miglia Original Class: Car that participated in the 1000 Miglia Speed race between 1927 and 1957. Car models produced before 1957 that, at the organizing team’s discretion, are of special historical or sporting interest, even if they were not entered into the 1000 Miglia Speed race.
Classic Icons Car Class: Cars manufactured between 1958 and 1994.
Hyper-Car/Supercar Class: Sports, Grand Touring, or Supercars manufactured from 1995 to the present.

What is the 1000 Miglia?

Imagine a race where the track is 1,000 miles across the most photogenic roads of Italy. The fastest race cars of the era wheel-to-wheel on public roads through town squares and vineyard-lettered countryside at 140 mph to beat the clock and the grid. The first 1000 Miglia race debuted in March 1927.

The winners, a pair of young Counts named Francesco Mazzotti and Aymo Maggi, completed the 1,000-mile marathon in 21 hours, averaging a speed of 47.8 mph at a time when most cars broke a sweat trying to reach 45 mph.

The 1000 Miglia was hosted another 24 times between 1927 and 1957 before retiring due to the increasing life-threatening risk of having 200 mph capable cars racing across the country on public roads. Nevertheless, the event experienced a resurrection in the 1970s and has lived on as a historic rally (and lifestyle brand) for enthusiasts to embrace and partake in a spiritual successor of the glory days.

It’s a wonderful excuse to enjoy these high-performance collector cars instead of keeping them parked in a museum or private garage.

Video: Stirling Moss Interview with 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR

The video below is one of the best representations of the history and energy of this race. It shows the late-great Stirling Moss being reunited with the iconic #722 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR he piloted to victory in the 1955 1000 Miglia. If this video doesn’t stir your feelings, I suggest seeking pharmaceutical help.

1000 Miglia Experience Florida February 22-25

So, if you happen to find yourself on the scenic routes of South Florida from February 22 to 25, be on the lookout for a pack of vintage race cars and exotic supercars trying their best to obey the speed limit.

Lexus LC 500 is a Near-Perfect Sports Car

Jesus R. Garcia — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 06:37:05 GMT

The Qualities the Make a Sports Car

A true sports car needs to fulfill a specific set of requirements. It has to deliver a high degree of performance that can boggle the mind and elevate heart rates even when standing still. It must wear a design bespoke with radical lines and seductive curves to turn heads and provoke envy while garnering praise from anyone who posts a photo of it on social media.

The last quality is performance, often at the sacrifice of comfort and practicality. A modern sports car should offer first-class interior amenities to cushion the strain from the centripetal force when taking corners at speed.

One of the Best Luxury Sports Car Ever Made

Today, choosing a sports car is like wandering through the perfume section of a department store. There is a wide selection of sweet, musky, fresh scents accompanied by slick advertising and lavish bottle designs to help justify the price within a wide range of costs.

Among the herd of athletic and leather-appointed coupes and convertibles is the Lexus LC 500, a car I’ve praised for years as one of the best sports luxury cars ever made.

Every time I road test the LC 500 it ends up with me filling out credit loan applications online. I fall into a deep trance of desire to purchase one for myself broken only by the harsh reality of my bank account.

It’s easy to fall in love with this sports car because it gives you the main character syndrome of a Michael Mann film (Heat, Thief, Ferrari, Collateral). It’s a seriously cool luxury sports car for people who don’t care about clout. Yes, it will attract attention but that’s not what this car is trying to do unlike other car brands which market the lifestyle more than the experience.

Subtle Changes for 2025

The most significant change on the Lexus LC 500 for the 2025 model year is the upgraded interior infotainment system, new front and rear bracing underneath for improved rigidity, and the Bespoke Build package that includes options for red and blue soft tops.

The updated infotainment system is by far the most visually apparent and appreciated change. Until now, the car’s interior interface has been its main criticism. However, the new 12.3-inch touchscreen features Lexus’s latest software interface, making navigating through the menu tabs much easier and intuitive.

The most used features like audio selection and climate controls are managed by a set of toggle switches positioned below the screen for quick access.

Ultrasonic Blue Lexus LC 500

The car seen in this article wears a vibrant shade of Ultrasonic Blue Mica, accessorized with a set of 21-inch wheels. The new Lexus Bespoke Build program offers buyers to personalize the look of their LC 500 with exclusive options like a carbon-fiber roof panel and a wider selection of colors.

An available Touring package turns the car into a plush cross-country bomber with features like a heated steering wheel, a windshield wiper de-icing feature, and a 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.

Behind the Colgate chrome grille sits the standard 5.0L V8, which serves 471 horsepower and 389 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission. This naturally aspirated engine has been in production for years in multiple Toyota and Lexus models and boasts high reliability while offering that rock-n-roll rumble enthusiasts love with razor-sharp responsiveness.

On paper, the LC 500 accelerates from zero to 60 in an estimated 4.4 seconds but feels much quicker. The silent interior cabin provides just enough exterior audio to enjoy the V8’s baritone voice singing through its active exhaust system. When strapped into the cockpit and leaning hard on the gas, it can feel like you’re charging a runway in a private jet.

A Sports Car with Rear Seats Suitable for Humans

Speaking of the cabin, the LC 500 is one of the few two-door coupes with rear seats that people can actually sit without feeling like origami. Standing at a stout five foot ten, my father volunteered to sit in the back after having a full meal and said he felt comfortable.

He did mention that he would duck his head slightly when driving over speed bumps to avoid tapping the rear window with his skull, a design drawback to a low fastback roofline. Nevertheless, having a sports car that can actually fit more than one passenger is a bonus.

Evasive Maneuvers on a Night Cloaked Highway

Toward the end of the road test, I had to drive late at night on I-35 for a considerable amount of time and miles. The car’s triple-beam LED headlamps sliced through the moonless night, showing me the way with each passing white line on the road.

The red sea of semi-truck taillights in the distance reminded me to stay alert and scan the road for large pieces of shredded rubber. Sure enough, in one instant, the headlights illuminated a half-moon-sized piece of a truck tire in the middle of my lane. With both hands on the wheel, I turned sharply to the left and the car dove out of the way. The low-profile tires vibrated over the shoulder’s rumble strips momentarily before steering the car back on the road.

It all happened so fast that I had to ponder on whether it actually happened or merely a hallucination brought on by exhaustion and white-line fever.

The LC 500 handled beautifully thanks to its adaptive variable suspension, allowing it to glide through the evasive maneuvers without losing composure. It was so smooth that if I had been holding a cup of coffee my Wrangler jeans would have stayed dry. When I arrived home on the last night of the week-long road test, the trip computer stated I had traveled 550 miles and averaged 28 mpg – with a V8!

Beauty, Style, Comfort, Speed and 28 MPG with a V8!

The starting price for the 2025 Lexus LC 500 is $101,100 officially crossing the six-figure border from last year’s starting price of $97,700. Expensive for most, yes, but this is a true sports car that can offer the practicality of daily use, providing decent trunk space, usable rear seats, comfortable ride quality, and surprisingly good fuel economy with an exhaust note worth the price of premium unleaded.

Engine: 5.0L V8

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

0 to 60: 4.4 seconds

Starting Price: $101,100

Price as Shown: $107,680

New Nissan Z NISMO is a 420HP Greatest Hits Collection

Jesus R. Garcia — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 09:45:42 GMT

My Fair Lady, Z

Nissan unveiled its Z-series sports car to the world in the fall of 1969. When it arrived on American shores, the car known in Japan as the Fairlady Z had acquired a new marketable alias and became the Datsun 240Z. Since then, the Z has undergone several iconic eras while maintaining a reputation as a premium six-cylinder coupe with chops sharp enough to carve a canyon road and give America V8s a run for their money.

Its latest incarnation debuted in 2023 with mixed reviews on its styling and choice of transmissions. Some said it looked too restrained, while others called it a greatest hits collection incorporating design bits and pieces from its over 50-year catalog.

This hit-or-miss reaction was further ignited when headlines confirmed that the top-tier NISMO edition would only shift gears in an automatic fashion. I finally had the opportunity to drop my two cents into the driver’s seat of a Passion Red Nissan Z NISMO.

“Is That the New Z?”

You don’t see too many of these cars in my part of South Texas. You’re more likely to spot a six-figure McLaren or Porsche than a late model Nissan Z. As a result, people took notice when I drove this bright red with mirror gloss black roof Japanese sports car around the block.

One citizen told me to “enjoy it” while walking away from it in a parking lot. Another person crossed a busy street to ask if it was “the new Z” because he hadn’t seen one in person yet.

For 2025, the Nissan Z stays pretty much the same from its 2024 model year with no significant changes.

Exterior Styling

I look back with puzzling concerns on all the comments I read saying they don’t like the styling of this car. Poor souls may need to check their eyes because the Nissan Z looks great.

The designers created a tasteful visual cocktail by mixing elements of the past, like its signature Z emblem on the side of the roof pillar from the 1970s and full-length taillight bar inspired by the 300ZX from the 1990s, into a silhouette that manages to look contemporary while maintaining a shape that could only be recognized as a Nissan Z.

Twin-Turbo V6

Under the hood, the Nissan Z lineup features a 3.0L V6 engine aided by twin-turbochargers to produce a commendable 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. Buyers have a choice among seven trim levels with the option of a traditional six-speed manual transmission or a nine-speed automatic with paddle shifters.

The model shown is the top-of-the-heap NISMO edition offering a slight power increase to 420 hp and 389 lb.-ft of torque in addition to a grocery list of exclusive add-ons.

NISMO Performance Package

On the outside, the NISMO performance package features a rear spoiler and side sills, with the front and rear body kit to distinguish it from the lineup. In addition, vented disc brakes featuring NISMO front brake rotors and brake calipers peek out from behind a set of 19-inch lightweight forged aluminum wheels wrapped in Dunlop Sport MAXX GT600 tires and a sports muffler to enhance the V6’s singing voice through its dual exhaust system.

The Nissan Z NISMO interior features Recaro bucket seats, a red ignition button, branded floor mats, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and an exclusive Sport + drive mode with a unique digital gauge display. It also features an 8-speaker BOSE audio system that’ll come in handy when you want to drown out the noticeable road noise leaking into the cabin.

However, apart from a noisy cockpit, the Nissan Z’s interior space achieves the fighter jet aesthetic one looks for in a sports car. You feel nestled in the bucket seat while overlooking a long hood line, with a set of three analog gauges mounted on the center of the dashboard facing in your direction.

Push the red ignition button, and the engine growls into life with a steady hum vibrating through the steering wheel. The car’s NISMO-tuned suspension and power steering further enhance its direct and hyperactive handling.

Twin-Turbo Power on Twisted Sister Highway

During the week-long road test, I managed to log just a shade over 800 miles on the Nissan Z’s odometer. Achieving that meant driving across central Texas from San Antonio to Dallas, catching both the sunrise and sunset. The real test, however, was done early in the morning on a route known by sports car and motorcycle enthusiasts alike as Twisted Sisters. A ribbon of asphalt draped alongside a mountain overlooking a valley near the Frio River.

On this special road, I was able to get a grip on the Z NISMO’s tuned suspension and premium fuel-burning horsepower. Navigating the challenging twists and sharp turns on this two-lane road with body-crushing rocks on one side and a tumbling free fall on the other kept my heart racing with fear of oncoming traffic lurking behind every blind corner.

Thankfully, the car’s nimble handling and compact size allowed me to drive it fast without hogging lanes. Paddle shifters in Sport + mode meant I could keep the RPMs high, apply the power to the road immediately upon exiting a turn and enjoy the smile provoked by rapid acceleration.

The Z NISMO’s recorded zero to 60 times put it under four seconds and continues into felonious speeds faster than you can say, “Is that a cop up ahead?”

Nissan Z Pricing

Regarding pricing, the 2024 Nissan Z NISMO is like ordering a pizza. Extra toppings come at a cost, putting the two-door sports car at nearly $70,000. However, according to Nissan’s official website, the entry-level Z Sport starts at a competitive $43,000.

Moreover, the middle-of-the-pack Nissan Z Performance provides many of the NISMO’s desirable options, like 19-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension with upgraded brakes and a faux-suede interior with the option to select a manual transmission for a starting price of $53,000 (rounded up).

Engine: 3.0L Twin-turbocharged V6

Transmission: 9-speed automatic

0 to 60: 3.9 seconds (Z NISMO)

Starting price: $42,970 (Z Sport)

Price as shown: $68,690 (Z NISMO)

Subaru BRZ tS Holds Its Own Against Supercars in Sunday Road Rally

Jesus R. Garcia — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 09:37:40 GMT

One of the Last Manuals Under Six-Figures

Only a handful of few new vehicles offer a naturally aspirated engine sending power to the rear wheels using an available manual transmission priced for under six figures. Yet, against all the marketing focus groups and SUV bean-counting statistics, the Subaru BRZ is still in production and looking better than ever as an alternative to the Mazda MX5 Miata and Ford Mustang.

The planets were aligned in my favor when I got the key fob to a blue Subaru BRZ tS the same weekend I needed to travel 500 miles to attend the second annual Wheels | Watches | Whiskey event. This motoring lifestyle event helps raise money for OnRamp, a non-profit organization that donates refurbished vehicles to families in need. However, the real test for the BRZ would come the following morning at the Round Top Rally.

A full weekend of automotive activates on the slower, curvier two-lane highways of central Texas. The planets had aligned themselves for me to give this sports car a road test worthy of its performance.

Standing Tall Against Supercars on Twisting Roads

This road rally was an opportunity for like-minded car enthusiasts to take a Sunday morning drive through the maze of scenic country roads that litter the outskirts of every major city in Texas.

Bitterly strong cup of coffee in hand, I surveyed the other vehicles at the early morning meeting point. The Pearl Blue Japanese sports car stood out among the Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche, Cobra, and Mercedes-Benz emblems.

The little Subaru was by far the most affordable vehicle in the convoy, but I wasn’t outgunned. Subaru introduced the tS trim level to the 2024 BRZ lineup, which adds desirable go-fast goodies like 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels to house larger Brembo brake rotors with upgraded brake pads and Hitachi suspension dampers.

Add on an STI sport-tuned suspension, a limited-slip rear differential, and a set of Michelin Sport Pilot Sport 4 summer performance tires, and I had enough gear to keep up with these high-powered rollers.

Anytime you get a group of high-performance vehicles together on the road, there is a tendency to reach the posted speed limit as quickly as possible.

I raced the Subaru BRZ’s 228 horsepower Boxer four-cylinder engine up to 7,000 rpm before each gear change to keep pace with the herd of stampeding supercars through the twisty double-yellow line country roads while dodging small town speed traps and getting stuck behind a local riding John Deere tractor.

Plenty of Space Inside the BRZ

I was not alone in this rally. Riding shotgun was a 240-pound Texas A&M University student standing over six feet tall with shoulders large enough to qualify as a walk-on for the football team. He had no trouble fitting inside the compact Subaru sports car once the front seat was pushed back a few inches.

Usually, vehicles like this sacrifice interior comfort for the sake of speed and agility, but that was not the case in the BRZ. Not only was I able to keep up with supercars on challenging roads with added weight, but the interior’s ergonomics meant I wasn’t unintentionally brushing my passenger’s knee when I reached for a change gear.

A Proper Driver’s Car

The Subaru BRZ is a good sports car because it focuses on the bare necessities. Steering that lets you feel what the front wheels are doing through a smooth texture, well-sized steering wheel not wrapped up in a gimmicky material like Alcantara leather for the sake of visual aesthetics. Next, Subaru keeps the car light with a curb weight of under 3,000 pounds- a featherweight by today’s modern standards.

Lastly, the engine raises RPMs like it swallowed 13 nicotine pouches and washed them down with a can of Red Bull. It may only have 184 pound-feet of torque, but it gives it to you quickly in a punchy manner that is engaging and lively as you accelerate from zero to 60 in under six seconds.

The rear wheel drive lets you play fast and loose to easily slide around at low speeds. Or, use its sport-tuned suspension to hug the road with the security of knowing those large brakes will slow you down in a hurry.

Best of all, the BRZ gets good gas mileage. The EPA rates the BRZ at 20 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway, but I saw mpg averages as high as 33 miles per gallon on the highway and 25 mpg during the hard-accelerating rally.

Save Money for Premium Fuel

During a 600-mile road test, I averaged 28 mpg overall. However, the BRZ only consumes premium fuel, which is disappointing for a non-turbocharged engine in what is meant to be an affordable sports car.

But besides paying extra for good gasoline, the Subaru BRZ is a practical sports coupe. The rear seats may not be suitable for legs and kneecaps, but they fold down to create more room in the already spacious trunk. I’ve seen people carry a full set of wheels and some tools in the trunk with the seats folded down at track day events.

Each BRZ comes standard with an 8-inch center touchscreen offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, analog dials for the radio and climate controls and a 7-inch instrument screen with a big tachometer placed center stage. Even with the sports suspension, the BRZ was comfortable driving over hastily constructed interstate lanes with rough, lumpy surfaces.

Not Perfect, But Highly Lovable

My one negative comment about the car’s interior is the notable road noise, which rivals the same decibels as sitting on a commercial flight. But much like being on a flight, having access to your favorite audio can help drown it out.

Pricing on the 2025 Subaru BRZ starts at $30,000 (according to Subaru’s official website) for the base model dubbed as the Premium, and over $35,000 when you reach the TS trim level. A savvy shopper can walk out of a Subaru dealership with a well-optioned BRZ for under $40,000 if they resist the urge to add options like a trunk spoiler, BRZ mud flaps, and a $215 STI shift knob.

The BRZ is not a perfect sports car, but it checks enough boxes to be an instant classic and should be on every driving enthusiast’s radar when it comes time to shop for a new “fun” car.

Engine: 2.4L Boxer four-cylinder

Transmission: 6-speed manual

0 to 60: 5.5 seconds

Starting Price: $31,210

Price as Shown: $36,465

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Debuts in the Hollywood Hills

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 17:20:40 GMT

Recently, I had the rare and always appreciative opportunity to indulge in one of the few perks of being an automotive journalist, which was being invited to attend the launch of a new vehicle. Sometimes, these invitations involve being flown out and put up by an automotive manufacturer to ensure that we, the media, get a front-row seat when it comes time for the big unveiling.

This trip involved flying to Los Angeles, California, to witness the unveiling of Hyundai’s latest addition to its successful all-electric brand, the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9.

The event was held at a rather impressive venue: the James Goldstein mansion, an over 4,000-square-foot residence built between 1961 and 1963 with an 11,000-square-foot nightclub perched on a branch of the Hollywood hills. It’s a great location for private parties, weddings, or electric SUV unveilings. Fun fact: This mansion had a supporting role in the 1998 Colen Brothers film The Big Lebowski, starring Jeff Bridges. But I digress.

Photo by Hyundai

As the hor d’oeuvres were being passed with the city of angels in the backdrop under the spotlight of a setting sun, I couldn’t help but feel impressed by how far the once humble South Korean automaker has come in the US car market.

Hyundai first introduced the Ioniq nameplate in 2016 as a small compact sedan available in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric variants. However, with the retro-futuristic design of the 2021 Ioniq 5 electric crossover hatchback and, more recently, the high-performance 2025 Ioniq 5 N, enthusiasts and consumers began to take notice.

The Hyundai Ioniq brand has passed milestone after milestone with consecutive World Car of the Year awards for the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6. The new Ioniq 9 is designed to fill the role of a large, family-sized electric SUV serving as an EV alternative to the three-row passenger Hyundai Palisade.

Photo by Hyundai

When the silk cover was pulled from the SUV, the crowd was treated with the slight of a handsome design that reminded me of something John Z. Delorean would have drawn on a sketch pad in the 1980s if his Delorean DMC-12 had survived long enough to reap the publicity of the Back to the Future film franchise.

Genesis and Hyundai’s design departments have been on a hot streak of exciting vehicle designs in this post-pandemic era. I like the Ioniq 9’s pixelated checkered pattern headlamp styling and the air stream sculpted silhouette. In addition, the rear styling closes in at the end, creating a teardrop effect at certain angles. Part of me would like to see it sporting a set of old-school fender skirts, but then I wouldn’t be able to enjoy looking at the jet-turbine-inspired 19-inch wheels.

Photo by Hyundai

Inside, the Ioniq 9 emphasizes the luxury of space with flat floors and second-row captain’s chairs. One unique feature that may not be available in the US market as of right now is the second-row swirl seats, allowing them to rotate 360 degrees to create a lounge atmosphere. Another feature that stands a better chance of making it stateside is the “Relaxation” seats, which allow the first and second rows to fully recline with leg support and massaging functions.

Photo by Hyundai Photo by Hyundai

As of the time of this publication, Hyundai announced three powertrains for the Ioniq 9: Long Range rear-wheel drive (RWD), Long Rang all-wheel drive (AWD), and Performance all-wheel drive (AWD). Starting with the entry rear-wheel drive model which uses a single, rear-mounted 214 horsepower electric motor developing 258 pound-feet of torque.

Models with AWD gain a second electric motor on the front axle, increasing power output to 308 hp and 446 lb.-ft. The Ioniq 9 Performance AWD comes out on top, making a rapid 429 hp and 516 lb.-ft utilizing a 110.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack.

Performance aside, the key selling point in Hydundai’s announcement was that every trim level of the Ioniq 9 offers over 300 miles of range and is equipped with a charging port compatible with Tesla Superchargers. That’ll come in handy when proving the Ioniq 9’s claim of charging from 10-80 % in 24 minutes using a 350 kW charger.

Those interested in seeing the Hyundai Ioniq 9 in person can expect these 2026 models to arrive during the second quarter of next year. Pricing will be announced before it goes on sale in spring 2025.

Photo by Hyundai

Car Crashing Clinic is a Crash Course in Cinematic Survival

Jesus R. Garcia — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 11:05:29 GMT

Sitting In on the Only School of Its Kind

You can attend a class for just about anything in this world. Whether you want to learn how to fight, cook, paint, handle a gun, use a welding torch, operate on the human body, drive a race car, edit a photo, or create a spreadsheet on Microsoft Excel. But there’s only one school that can teach you how to crash.

In late October, I had the privilege of sitting in and observing one of the most unique teaching experiences on a ranch in Stephenville, Texas. The Car Crashing Clinic is a stunt school that teaches students the art of cinematic survival using high-impact resources.

Founded, organized, and taught by professional stuntman Corey Eubanks, utilizing his wealth of knowledge from over 40 years of experience to prepare the next wave of stunt performers in a turbulent industry.

It is the only school of its kind.

The Underappreciated Art of Car Stunts

I often get frustrated with moviegoers and self-proclaimed film buffs when they watch a scene involving a spectacular car stunt and they don’t react.

I’ve sat in theaters wanting to give a standing ovation after seeing a well edited car chase sequence with practical stunts and precision driving. Yet, car stunts are often low on the credits when it comes to cinematic admiration, with top billing going to any actor who can cry on command, colorful makeup, and a director’s ability to yell action after a team of people set everything up.

The art involved in coordinating car stunts should be recognized and appreciated. It’s one of the few artistic endeavors that requires putting a human life on the line every time. Clever camera work and editing will only get you so far if it weren’t for a brave SOB sitting in the driver’s seat, fully prepared to send it for some cash and personal glory.

For people like professional stuntman Corey Eubanks, making a living crashing in front of a camera is more than a job. It’s a lifestyle that comes with the ultimate tax if done incorrectly. With over 40 years of experience beaten into his crash helmet, Eubanks has collected a wealth of knowledge on a very niche subject through a school of literal hard knocks.

People with this level of expertise have an unwritten responsibility to pass it along. It’s the only way humanity can move forward without wasting time making the same mistakes.

Every master eventually needs an apprentice.

Stunt Survival Curriculum

The Car Crashing Clinic is the only stunt school in the world focusing on stunt crashing fundamentals. It provides a hands-on, full-contact experience of the safety and brutal sensation of performing dangerous vehicle stunts like pipe ramps, barrel rolls, cannon rolls, and car jumps, as well as practicing getting out of vehicles under time-sensitive circumstances.

It’s a vital course for anyone new to the stunt industry looking to gain firsthand experience in a safe, controlled environment taught by one of the best in business.

Typically, one would have difficulty finding a way to practice jumping or rolling a car. Short of buying a car, investing in material and labor to install a sturdy roll cage, renting or borrowing a field wide enough to set up a ramp, asking a buddy to stand close by with a fire extinguisher, and hope for the best.

At the Car Crashing Clinic, students get two full days learning the physicality of car stunts. The real benefit comes from being strapped into vehicles fitted with nearly $10,000 worth of steel and getting tossed around like a flapjack to experience the crushing g-force.

One of the tools used to educate is the car jump simulator (the only one in the world). Designed by Corey Eubanks, the simulator provides a view from 20 feet up before being dropped to the earth. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels to land a car after it sailed through the air for 150-200 feet without needing to call AAA, this is the ride for you.

The last lesson of the course involves riding the ultimate mechanical bull – the Brain Shaker! Another creation from the mind of Mr. Eubanks, the Brain Shaker is an all-steel vessel meant to simulate a large wheelbase, heavy vehicle like an SUV or military truck often seen being rolled, crashed, and blown up in action scenes.

The bare metal frame means students get an extreme, harsh experience compared to a stunt-prepped vehicle because there are no body panels to crumble and absorb some of the impacts for the driver.

This gives them the full bore of what it’s like to summersault a Chevy Suburban off a pipe ramp in a safe, controlled environment. The impacts from riding the Brain Shaker are meant to deliver an extreme experience to build a student’s confidence.

The ideal result from this abuse is that students will leave the clinic mentally prepared for the day a second unit director comes to them and asks, “Can you barrel roll this ice cream truck?”

Confidence is the goal of the Car Crashing Clinic, and the only way to achieve it is through physical knowledge. Teaching stunt performers how to inspect a roll cage, demand for safety requirements, how to brace and secure safety harnesses for a stunt, and how to get out when after the stunt is over.

Listening to Corey Eubanks’ lectures and stories, you can tell his method of doing things has been inspired by traumatizing experiences on the job.

How Intense Are the Car Crashing Clinic Simulators?

Eubank’s car crashing simulators are no pony ride. One student bravely kept his iPhone in his pocket during the car barrel roll simulator, and it triggered an automated emergency response. His phone was preparing to call 911, thinking he had been in a car accident, which is technically accurate.

That same student would later forget to take his phone out before being strapped into the Brain Shaker. The aftermath he pulled from his pocket was an Apple-branded heap of twisted plastic and shattered glass.

Next Car Crashing Clinic Scheduled for 2025

Corey Eubanks and his team are getting ready to host their 10th Car Crashing Clinic in early 2025. This course is open to anyone with an adventurous curiosity, but seats are limited. Visit Carcrashingclinic.com to learn more about the school’s upcoming dates and rates.

A Different Breed of Athlete

Attending the Car Crashing Clinic as an observer was an absolutely surreal experience. I like to assume I’m the only automotive journalist moonlighting as a car stunt film fanatic. That puts me in a relatively small league. So often, I’m staring into the polite facial expression of someone hearing but not listening as I ramble on about how many Pontiac Trans Am cars were used to film Smokey and the Bandit (1977).

It doesn’t matter if I’m talking to a car or film buff; it’s rare when I meet someone who “gets it” without me having to give an improvised TED talk to introduce the subject matter.

Spending time at this clinic with Mr. Eubanks and the stunt performers felt like being at Comic-Con dressed in a high-quality Batman suit, taking a selfie with Robert Downey Jr.

The people attending this course are life-sized action figures with resumes that read like adventure novels. Retired military combat veterans, retired and active firefighters, rodeo stars, martial arts experts, extreme sports athletes, gear heads getting an adrenaline fix, and one data analyst on an epic side quest working part-time as a stunt woman.

Their skill levels ranged from industry veterans with several decades of experience to newcomers with less than two years of experience in the stunt business.

It’s the only place where you’ll hear sentences like “I’ve only been set on fire 13 times” or “My collar bone was poking out underneath the skin” with a nonchalant tone while exchanging stories, showing off scars and passing screenshots of X-rays featuring broken bones. Absolutely wonderful people!

Stunt Drivers Steer into the Chaos

Within the diverse world of motorsport, stunt drivers and riders are mechanical mavericks. Every racing driver is determined to avoid a wreck, while a stunt driver steers into the chaos. They don’t follow a racing line or worry about conserving fuel and tires. They have other concerns, like hitting their mark a few feet away from a crowd of camera operators and crew.

They make sure their safety gear is secure enough to keep them in the seat but easy enough to undo to get out when the car is underwater, upside down, or on fire (sometimes all at once).

The only other drivers I know with similar priorities are the cowboys running demolition derby, a story for another time.

So, the next time you see a car or truck flying through the air in a ball of fire while watching a movie or TV show, appreciate the fact that there’s someone in that car taking the hits for our entertainment.

Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo RS Takes Off-Road Recreation to the Limit

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 12:20:19 GMT

Hard to imagine that it took me over 30 years to get behind the wheel of a Can-Am UTV. Considering my upbringing in the dusty, thorn infested brush of South Texas on a ranch raised on old pickup trucks and wood grain stock rifles. Yet, all those years living the ranch life and listening to the sound of the often two stoke powered battle cries of ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes and such, I never partook in the experience – until now.

The good folks at BRP Can-Am loaned me a Maverick X3 RS Turbo RR side-by-side (SXS) to play with on the family ranch. Not only did I get properly acquainted with this go-anywhere-fast machine, but it also educated me on why they are so popular among weekend recreationists, thrill seekers, and professional off-road racers.

Can-Am Maverick X3 RS Turbo RR

The model seen in this article is a Can-Am Maverick X3 RS Turbo RR. This is a higher-performance variant than the entry-level Maverick X3 DS Turbo, which provides more horsepower and suspension travel.

The Maverick X3 RS Tubro RR is powered by a rear-mounted turbocharged 900cc three-cylinder engine producing an even 200 hp. The engine’s power is distributed to the wheels via an automatic CVT transmission operated by a standard pull-down gear selection lever, allowing the driver to keep both hands on the wheel.

Designed to move over all terrains, the Can-Am Maverick uses a sophisticated suspension setup. Can-Am claims it was inspired by desert racing trophy trucks. The front wheels are held on using double A-arms with a sway bar, and the rear uses a 4-link torsional trailing arm with a sway bar, which translates to 22 inches of suspension travel and plenty of ground clearance.

What really surprised me about this UTV was its comfortable ride quality. The bucket seat offers little in terms of plush comfort, but your lower back won’t feel the abrupt and bunt force of rugged terrain thanks to the Maverick’s aggressive-looking Piggyback shock absorbers developed with the help of FOX Shocks. In addition, the 14-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in Maxxis all-terrain tires allowed me to drive over sharp rocks and needlepoint mesquite bushes with confidence at speed.

Can-Am Maverick X3 Driving Impressions

Pull the tag on the inside of the suicide-style opening door and climb over the steel roll cage chassis into the driver seat. Once inside, get ready to be bombarded by a library of safety warning stickers placed throughout the open cockpit.

Then, you’ll notice a 4.5-inch digital display screen with a keypad that provides all the information you need to know. The Maverick X3 RS Turbo RR also provides a satisfyingly clickable array of buttons to engage its exclusive Smart-Lok front differential and select between drive modes offering two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive with locking front differential and performance off-road modes labeled as 4WD TRAIL and 4WD TRAIL ACTIV.

After securing your helmet and seat belt, drop the lever into high gear and floor it! Brace yourself as the turbocharged engine charges forward, shoving you back into the seat in a chain reaction triggered by brutal acceleration.

The open-air cockpit lets you feel every second of the Maverick’s fast paced performance, giving you a rush of air sensation similar to riding a motorcycle or 4-wheeler. If you’re brave enough to keep your foot down on the gas the digital speedometer will reach a top speed of 80 mph, which leads to the Maverick X3’s main selling point – speed over all terrain.

Power steering keeps the wheel light and nimble in your hands. No ABS means its excellent disc brakes clamp down hard on the wheels, locking them up if you’re not careful. Slowing down quickly without plowing into the dirt on locked wheels requires a smooth touch. Nevertheless, the Maverick’s brakes did an excellent job under pressure and helped me keep the UTV’s wheels the right side up on more than one occasion.

20 minutes of driving the UTV can feel like a workout with your arms, legs, and core being tested against the resistance of gravitation force. Your mind is strained from concentration and noise from the screaming hi-power engine sitting behind your seat. Yet, underneath the dirt-polluted visor of a helmet is a sweat-soaked face with a smile beaming from ear to ear.

A Born Racer

The Can-Am Maverick X3 is more than a premium recreational UTV for civilians to traverse off-road trails and bunny hop over sand dunes on weekends. It has won the iconic Dakar Rally six consecutive times since 2018. The Dakar is a historic off-road rally consisting of 12 grueling stages over a 14-day event that pushes man and machine to the absolute limit—and then some.

The UTV’s impressive motorsport resume is due in part to the Can-Am Maverick, which is a popular vehicle among off-road race teams competing in the SXS category. It’s the Xenox of SXS UTVs.

International off-road rally racing driver Christine “GZ” Zonca has done her fair share of racing in a Can-Am SXS. Over the last six years, she has piloted a Can-Am UTV in the Mint 400, Baja 500, Baja 1000, Dakar Rally, and other off-road rallies around the world.

I asked her why these vehicles are so prevalent in off-road racing. Her response, followed by a chuckle and smile with reflection in her eyes, was, “Racing is never cheap, so these vehicles provide an affordable competitive edge for smaller race teams. Besides being durable, they are relatively easy to work on and, of course, very fast. I started racing rally cars, but I owe my biggest achievements in my racing career to the Can-Am SXS for providing me a platform to win.”

A Premium Experience

Because of its popularity among professional racers and active lifestyles, Can-Am has continuously expanded the Maverick SXS family tree offering a staggering 22 variants as of 2024. Not including utility transport variants like the Maverick Trail and Maverick Sport. The most recently introduced model is the 2025 Maverick X3 Max lineup, which adds two seats to allow four passengers to experience the turbocharged off-road thrill ride.

The Can-Am Maverick X3 has a starting price of over $21,000, which is a lot for a non-street-legal vehicle that falls into the toy category. However, you can’t see this SXS with practicality in mind. It’s a premium product. In the same way, one doesn’t need to fly first class but would jump at the chance if the opportunity presented itself. Or choose to add bacon to their sandwich even though it costs extra.

Whether you need to race across a desert or kick up dirt on a family ranch, the Can-Am Maverick X3 SXS provides the power to send it priority express.

Special thanks to BMG Xtreme Sports for their excellent customer service with the Can-Am Maverick X3 test vehicle.

Treadwell, An Innovated Tire Buyer Guide by Discount Tire

Jesus R. Garcia — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 13:59:01 GMT

Have You Looked at Your Tires Lately?

Generally speaking, nobody looks at their vehicle’s tires until it’s too late. I can remember being 15 years old sitting in a classroom for Driver’s Education watching an instructional video stating, “one should always walk around and visually inspect a car’s tires before venturing on a journey.”

Yet, it’s something I’m often guilty of overlooking. I’m more likely to check the oil, clean the windshield, and ensure I have the proper road trip snacks before checking the tire pressure. Unlike my father, whose engineer mindset always makes time to inspect and confirm the vehicle’s tires are rolling with the correct recommended amount of air.

Discount Tire’s Treadwell Tire Buyer’s Guide

Buying new tires can be as unpleasant as going to the dentist because they’re expensive and you’re often at the mercy of whatever the expert recommends. Unless one actively researches tire technology, most consumers’ knowledge about tires is limited to knowing that they round and require air. We all know at least one person who would be totally clueless if they needed to change a flat tire, let alone shop for the best set of tires for their vehicle.

That’s where Discount Tire’s Treadwell comes into play. This online tire buyer’s guide takes the stress out of deciding what kind of tread you need to buy. It goes beyond listing the price and warranty thanks to Discount Tire’s proactive investment in offering their customers, and the consumer at-large, a simple and effective guide to learn about the product they are buying without obligation. It’s a retail tool that puts the control in your hand when it’s time to buy a new set of tires.

How Discount Tire Treadwell Works

When you visit the site, you’re asked to fill in information about your vehicle:

Year

Make

Model

Trim

Driving Location

Driving Type

The Driving Location is filled out through zip codes so the system can provide vital information about how the tires it recommends perform in a specific region. Why? Because no two roads are the same. Highways and city streets in South Texas can be dramatically different from those in New Jersey, Wyoming, or Florida, which means tires wear differently.

The Driving type section goes into further detail, allowing the buyer to select from three driving environments:

Suburb & City

Highway

Tracks & Traction

There is also the option to customize one’s driving style and prioritize what matters most to the customer. These factors help determine the best tire recommendations based on fuel efficiency, stopping distance in different weather conditions, steering precision, tread life, and ride quality. In addition, Treadwell includes an option for those shopping specifically for snow tires.

After the click, the results are shown like any other online retail page, with a photo of the product, its price, and product information. Clicking on each product takes you to its webpage, showing the tire’s Treadwell statistical results broken down into easy-to-understand bits of information.

You can read about a tire’s stopping distance on dry roads and wet roads, in new and worn conditions based on a 1 out of 5 rating scale. For perspective, a rating of 3 or better is considered good, with a perfect 5 out of 5 being virtually impossible.

It also provides an overall winter rating for snow performance.

Scroll down through the webpage to learn about the tire’s fuel efficiency, and ride quality. In addition to the tire’s tread life based on how many miles you drive in a year (which is adjustable) compared to the tire’s mileage warranty. There is also a tab explaining how many miles per dollar you can squeeze out of these years during the tire’s life span.

Ride quality is determined based on three factors: Noise level, Comfort, and Handling. Each plays a critical role in the driving experience that most people don’t notice until it’s brought to their attention. The rest of the webpage includes a detailed description of the product and any available reviews from other drivers who have purchased that same tire and the vehicle it was installed on.

The target audience for the Treadwell system are people who don’t have knowledge or interest in tires but need to know which ones are the best for their vehicle. In the same way that one doesn’t need to learn how to cook but should definitely know what they are eating.

The Treadwell Research Park

If you’ve scrolled this far, you’re probably wondering where and how Discount Tire gathers its data for Treadwell. A few years ago, Discount Tire acquired a nearly 900-acre facility owned by Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., which purchased Cooper in 2021.

This facility is located in Pearsall, Texas, less than an hour’s drive from San Antonio. Since acquiring the property, it has been renamed the Treadwell Research Park and now serves as a proving ground to test 95% of the tires sold by Discount Tire retail stores.

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Treadwell Research Park to learn and experience how the rubber meets the road. The massive complex has everything one needs to put a tire through its paces, including 14 on- and off-road test surfaces for test drivers to conduct braking, speed, and handling trials and record the data.

Additionally, every Discount Tire retail store plays a crucial role in supporting the Treadwell database. Every new or regular customer who visits a location has their tires scanned to measure wear and tear, giving a survey on how a particular brand of tire is coping on a specific vehicle in an exact location.

A technician being able to scan your car’s tire with a handheld device and instantly know everything about its condition sounds incredible. It makes you think. Wouldn’t it be cool if an app on your phone could do that?

During our visit to Treadwell Research Park, we had a chance to meet and listen to Discount Tire CEO Dean Muglia, who articulately summarized the Treadwell program: “We’re empowering the customer with the right data and information so they can make the best choices. It’s tire buying made easy.”

As the system continues to evolve, I’ll be excited to see what new features will be added to provide more information to the consumer.

Check out the Discount Tire Treadwell tool for yourself and see what tires fit your ride.

2025 Chevy Tahoe RST Performance Edition is a Family Sized Camaro

Jesus R. Garcia — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 13:29:08 GMT

Few SUVs can boast that they are popular go-to vehicles for large families, law enforcement, and the criminal underworld. If three black-painted Chevy SUVs with dark-tinted windows suddenly roll up to your driveway, chances are your day is about to go bad, depending on who steps out, which could be anyone from an FBI agent to a button man for the cartel.

These big, V8-powered full-size SUVs offer Costco levels of utility. I was recently invited to test drive the mid-cycle refreshed 2025 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and experience the new changes and performance updates. After spending two days driving them through the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I learned that when it comes to the full-size Chevrolet SUV, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it—just make it faster.

We’ll begin the highlights of what’s new on the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe and Chevrolet Suburban:

New front grilles specific to trim levels and LED headlamps
New wheel designs are available for every trim level, including 24-inch wheels for the RST and High Country
A new optional AutoSense Power Liftgate allows users to open the rear hatch by merely walking up to it with the key fob.
New 17.7-inch diagonal center touchscreen display and instrument cluster and optional 15-inch head-up display
Chevy’s hands-free Super Cruise technology now available to the LT and RST trim levels
3.0L Duramax Turbo Diesel V6 Engine power increased to 305 HP / 460 lb.-ft and available with Z71 Off-Road Package

Powertrains

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe lineup’s powertrains remain the same: two gasoline V8s and an updated version of the 3.0L Duramax turbo diesel V6. Each engine is monitored by a 10-speed automatic transmission with available four-wheel drive.

You can still option your Tahoe or Suburban with the 355 hp 5.3L V8 or the 420 hp 6.2L V8. The dubbed “Babymax” turbo diesel engine increases in performance from 277 hp to 305 hp, with 460 pound-feet of torque delivered in a steady stream of acceleration. In addition, the 3.0L Duramax diesel engine is now available for Z71 4×4 models.

2025 Chevrolet Tahoe RST Performance Edition

One interesting trim level is the RST Performance Edition, which turns the Chevy Tahoe into a family-sized Camaro. Featuring the 6.2L V8, the optional performance package turns the screws to increase power to 433 hp and 467 pound-feet of torque and adds a set of Brembo heavy-duty disc brakes decorated with red calipers.

In addition, it features a “performance calibrated” steering wheel and brake pedal to let you feel the SUV’s upgraded suspension setup, which includes a lower ride height on a Police Pursuit Vehicle (PPV) spec chassis with upgraded springs, dampers, and a stabilizer bar. The Tahoe RST Performance Edition also rolls on standard 22-inch wheels wrapped in Firestone Firehawk Pursuit tires. The cherry on top of this muscle SUV is a Borla tuned exhaust system that adds significant decibels to the 6.2L V8’s rumble.

Driving the Tahoe RST Performance Edition on the highway had me yearning for any gap in the relentless Dallas traffic to lean on the throttle and enjoy its intoxicating V8 howl. This SUV qualifies as a sleeper as only a trained eye would notice the upgraded brakes and subtle RST badge with the letter T painted black.

If you want a muscle car aesthetic but need room for little league practice, this is one family vehicle that may check all your boxes.

2025 Chevrolet Suburban 9 Passenger SUV

However, if you’re looking for space over speed, the Suburban can offer three rows of seating with room for nine passengers. The entry-level Chevrolet Suburban LS I drove featured cloth upholstery with a center console that lifts up to unveil a third seat belt for someone to ride between the driver and the front passenger.

The second and third rows also provide seat belts in sets of three, and there is enough room in the rear to accommodate baggage from a party of nine.

Still a King of the Road

Overall, I was impressed with how these large SUVs handled the road, even with 24-inch wheels. One would assume the ride quality would be hampered, but GM engineers made sure the suspension ironed out all the ruts, potholes, and bumps before the vibrations reached your seat.

2025 Chevy Tahoe interior

Additionally, I like that you can buy a naturally aspirated V8 at a time when so many rely on fewer cylinders and more turbochargers.

These covered wagon-style trucks offer plenty of reasons to feel like the king of the road. They can haul families while towing more than 8,000 pounds and provide the satisfying surge of power only a muscle car can produce with a lumbar cuddling ride control.

Pricing for the 2025 Chevy Suburban starts around $63,000 for the entry LS and crosses over the $80,000 mark in the top-spec High Country models. Similarly, the 2025 Chevy Tahoe starts at $60,000 and ends in the $80,000 range.

Set to arrive at your local Chevrolet dealer before the end of 2024.

Testing the All-New Hoosier Track Attack Pro Street Tire

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 07:39:59 GMT

Track Day at Thermal Club with Hoosier

Until recently, the only time you’d see the word “Hoosier” written across the sidewall of a tire it was fitted to a race car of varying motorsport. However, now, Hoosier has ventured into a new road with the all-new Track Attack Pro performance summer tire. Branded as the “Ultimate Track Day Weapon”, these tires are essentially street legal track tires designed to handle the demands of daily commutes and weekend track days.

To gain the full depth of what these tires can do, I ventured to the sometimes brutally sunny skies of Palm Springs, California, to spend a day with Hoosier at the Thermal Club race track. A team of expert driving instructors from the BMW Performance Driving School made sure we had the proper vehicles to lay down rubber – safely.

Handling the Hoosier Track Attack Pro Tires with BMW M Power

I was greeted by a fleet of gleaming, factory fresh Bavarian beauties sporting M badges when I stepped off the shuttle bus. It was difficult not to drool over the array of M3, M2, and M4s sporting Hoosier Track Attack Pro tires. Some of the vehicles wore a decal that read “Competitor,” signifying that they wore Michelin Pilot Sport Plus and Yokohama ADVAN A052 tires. This meant we would have the opportunity to do direct comparison testing.

Rarely do manufacturers show that much confidence in a new product.

After a driver’s meeting, we eagerly left to find our assigned groups and pick a driver’s seat. The track’s facility and vehicles were divided into four different courses to test the tire’s braking, handling, and durability.

The last test of the day would involve suiting up and driving hot laps in a full-fledged GT4 race car at the track as the ultimate test for a road legal track tire.

The Tire Stress Tests

The Hoosier Track Attack Pro was tested on four different handling courses to stress test the tire’s handling, cornering, braking, and durability.

My first test involved driving a 2024 BMW M3 and accelerating up to 50 mph until I reached the designated braking point. Then, I had to apply the full weight of my right foot to the brake pedal to engage the car’s ABS system while making a sharp, sudden steer to the left to avoid the theoretical obstacle represented by a set of traffic cones and thread the needle between another set of traffic cones to safety.

This obstacle avoidance simulation would allow us to feel the Track Attack Pro tire’s grip and handling in a panic stop situation.

We ran the course a handful of times in the M3 fitted with Hoosier Track Attack Pro tires before switching to another BMW M3 wearing Michelin Pilot Sport Plus tires. Between the two brands, the Track Attack Pro was more composed under stress compared to the Pilot Sport Plus.

During the panic stop, I felt the Michelins had a bit more slip with the ABS on as I threaded the needle between two traffic cones. The Hoosiers felt like they crawled into the pavement like a frightened cat, allowing me to steer without a hint of lost traction.

The difference between Michelin and Hoosier is enough for even a non-racing driver like me to notice.

The second test was a slalom course in a 2024 BMW M2. Under the clock, we took turns charging a slalom course with traction control to experience a tire’s grip under fast, evasive maneuvering.

Again, the Hoosier Track Attack Pro tire felt significantly more comfortable than the competitors’ tires. By comfortable, I mean the margin of error, the distance between grip and loss of traction. The Hoosier tires gave me more confidence and peace of mind while throwing the car into the turns and pushing for more speed.

The tires handled so well that motion sickness set in way before I felt like I was close to the edge of losing control.

The final test before the full track day run was taking a BMW M3 around a short track. Here, we had the opportunity to propel the Hoosier rolling BMWs along a racing line with a heavy foot, throwing the car into the turns and leaning on the brakes to stay on the fastest line.

The Hoosier Track Attack Pro held its grip to keep my overzealous driving ability safely away from the edge, like a parent’s hand on the shirt collar of a hyperactive child.

The BMW M4 GT4 Track Day Test

My group was the last one to be out on the track in a BMW M4 GT4. That meant putting on a racing suit and HANS device for the first time. A childhood dream came true as I stepped over the roll cage and fastened the five-point safety harness.

We ran laps around the Thermal Club race track following a BMW Performance Driving School instructor who expected everyone to keep up or risk getting the embarrassment of being told you were driving too slow in a race car.

The fear of a bruised ego kept my foot firmly on the gas down the straightaway, flat out. Reaching the end of the straightaway, I stomped on the non-power-assisted brake pedal to activate the brakes while flicking the paddle shifter down into third gear before diving the M4 GTA into the turns.

My eyes target-locked on the lead car while my brain frantically surveyed the gauges to make sure I was in the right gear for every turn. Confirming the car’s tires were pointing straight before jumping back on the throttle, trying my best not to lose focus because what is 100 years away can become 10 feet in an instant if your mind begins to wander.

The pressures of the task at hand meant I wasn’t paying attention to how the tires were coping with this kind of extreme testing. Nevertheless, nobody at this event went off the track, spun out, or put themselves in a situation that alarmed the instructors.

Afterward, we found out that the M4 GT4s we drove were running the same set of Hoosier Track Attack Pro tires for the entire day of testing and the test day before us. That means two full days of punishing high speed test trials with a spectrum of driving skills and not a single blowout or wear that would force a tire change. That’s impressive! If that doesn’t stir up enough curiosity to kick these tires at your local dealer, I don’t know what will.

What’s the Point of a Street Track Tire?

Anyone with even the briefest experience in motorsport and the automotive world will tell you that this lifestyle is anything but cheap. Performance summer tires are typically the best solution for those who want to enjoy their vehicle in good-weather daily commutes and the occasional weekend track day without needing to haul a jack stand or splurge on multiple sets of tires.

A dual-purpose street legal track day tire means the rubber needs to excel in durability, handling, and braking. It needs to be strong enough to handle boulevard potholes and 120 mph straightaways without losing composure or grip.

During the multiple tests in BMW M-powered cars, you could feel the dedication and quality control Hoosier invested in developing the Track Attack Pro tire.

Hoosier Track Attack Pro Construction

What makes the Hoosier Track Attack Pro a leading contender in the street legal track tire segment? For starters, Hoosier has been making racing tires since the Kennedy administration. You don’t stay in business for that long without learning a thing or two about tire technology.

Hoosier has infused its extensive knowledge of motorsport into this street performance track tire. The Track Attack Pro is constructed with extra-wide shoulder ribs to maximize cornering ability and a center rib to increase braking performance. The tire is also lightweight and UTQG 200 rated.

Moreover, it’s available in 46 sizes, ranging from 15 to 21 inches in diameter, to fit a variety of performance vehicles.

You can shop for a set of Track Attack Pro tires to fit your ride at any retailer carrying the Hoosier brand.

I sincerely want to thank the good folks at Hoosier Tire for letting me participate in their historic product launch.

Thank you to BMW Performance Driving School for keeping us all safe and informed during the day of high-speed testing.

1971, the Year of the Road Movie

Jesus R. Garcia — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 04:22:14 GMT

In the Year 1971

Those conscious in 1971 longed for escapism to exhale from the turmoil of witnessing two public political assassinations, a man walking on the moon, and watching the Vietnam War conflict broadcasted on evening news be explained through enemy kill ratios.

The same year Hunter S. Thompson roamed the Nevada desert searching for the American Dream on a handful of LSD and a Mint 400 press pass, the former Senior Editor of Car and Driver, Brock Yates, was racing across the country with his son in the “Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash.” Meanwhile, many Americans piled into their big block powered station wagons, or Volkswagen Beetle, and headed to the local drive-in to catch the premiere of one of four films with a motorized cast.

Birth of the Road Movie

1971 should go down in digital history books as the year the Road Movie was born.

It was the year the Detroit horsepower war peaked, as the Big Three shoehorned super-leaded V8s into some of the most desired pieces of sheet metal ever designed. The same year, Hollywood released a handful of movies that would become cult classics in the minds of car fanatics by screening some of the best cinematic car sequences ever filmed.

Vanishing Point (1971)

The first road movie to premiere in 1971 was Vanishing Point, released on March 13. It is the greatest road movie ever. I’ll charge any hill to defend that statement.

Vanishing Point captured the mood felt at the time—exhaustion. A sense of people being tried of the war, social conflicts stained with spilled blood, the economy embodied by Barry Newman’s Kowalski, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, ex-police officer, and former stock car and motorcycle racer whose only job is to deliver a “supercharged” 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 Six Pack from Denver to San Francisco over Easter Sunday weekend.

Burnt out by life, he only wants to live at his own pace – 110 per.

This road trip requires only one travel snack, a pocket full of West Coast turnarounds (methamphetamine) as he sets off late into the night – pistol grip shifter in hand. The movie is one long car chase as Kowalski evades Colorado, Nevada, and California state police using the glory of American V8 muscle. The cops don’t know why he’s running, but they are hell-bent on stopping him – permanently.

“This radio station was named Kowalski in honor of the last American hero to whom speed means freedom of the soul. The question is not when’s he gonna stop, but who is gonna stop him.”

– Super Soul, Vanishing Point (1971)

Coincidentally, the spring of ’71 ended with a five-day demonstration by the Vietnam Veterans Against the War on April 23, 1971. The week-long protest saw an estimated 1,000 veterans throw their medals and ribbons on the Capitol steps in Washington, D.C., denouncing the war.

Le Mans (1971)

The summer of ’71 began with the premiere of Le Mans on June 23, 1971. The film starred Steve McQueen as Michael Delaney, a speed-addicted racing driver for the Gulf Porsche Le Mans racing team. Le Mans was filmed using real race cars captured at real speed, edited with actual racing footage from the previous year’s 24 hours of Le Mans race to create some of the most visually harrowing racing and crashing scenes from an era of practical stunts, heavy-mounted cameras, and guts made of solid brass.

“When you’re racing, it’s life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting.” – Steve McQueen, Le Mans (1971)

Before the film’s release, Steve McQueen competed in the 12 Hours of Sebring race in 1970, driving a Porsche 908/2 with Peter Revson. McQueen ended up winning the three-liter class with a cast on his left leg from a previous motorcycle accident.

Naturally, he wanted to chase this high to a more significant race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving the insanely fast Porsche 917K. However, the movie studio did not want to risk their big name actor and forbade McQueen from entering the race. So, a compromise was settled that allowed McQueen to go full-send in a Gulf Porsche 917 at Le Mans for the film instead of the actual race. Speed is speed.

Two Lane Blacktop (1971)

The following month, people crowded around the big screen to watch the premiere of Two Lane Blacktop on July 7, 1971. Another road movie with a primarily silent anti-hero-type piloting a high-caliper V8 across the country for no real reason other than it’s something worth doing. This film stars James Taylor as The Driver and The Beach Boys’ Dennis Wilson as The Mechanic riding in a primer black 1955 Chevrolet 150 two-door post powered by a far-from-stock 454 big block V8.

“Just color me gone, baby!” – Warren Oats, Two Lane Blacktop (1971)

Traveling the road as highway drifters, they pick up The Girl, played by Lauren Bird, and run across GTO, played by Warren Oats, another mile marker nomad driving an Orbit Orange 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge.

There’s a scene in the movie where The Driver and GTO agree to race across the country to Washington, D.C., for pink slips. However, that plot device is abandoned by the end of the movie. This is another road movie that doesn’t emphasize a destination. The journey is the goal, representing freedom of expression to roam regardless of whether it’s running away or simply trying to get away.

Honorable Mention, The French Connection (1971)

The French Connection premiered on October 9, 1971. While this Academy Award-winning neo-noir crime thriller is far from a road movie, it deserves an honorable mention for its car chase sequence. The heart pounding chase was filmed guerilla style with little to no permits or supervision.

The fast-paced scenes were done with stunt driver/actor Bill Hickman at the wheel of a Pontiac LeMans and director William Friedkin sitting in the back seat, holding the camera steady as they torpedoed through New York City traffic at 70 mph to get the shots they needed for the movie.

One iconic scene showed the Pontiac sedan getting T-boned by a passing Ford sedan at an intersection. This scene wasn’t scripted or planned. It was a real accident, with Gene Hackman behind the wheel, taking the hit and totaling the Pontiac.

Fun Fact: The Police Motor Pool mechanic Irving Abrahams, who helps dismantle Frog One’s Lincoln Continental in the garage in search of the heroin, wasn’t an actor. Abrahams was the real NYPD mechanic who helped the real detectives Eddie Egan and Sonny Grosso crack the “French Connection” case the film is based on.

Duel (1971)

By November 1971, Brock Yates and Dan Gurney had made history driving a Ferrari Daytona from New York to California in 35 hours and 54 minutes. The same month, a made-for-TV movie directed by a young unknown director named Steven Spielberg premiered on the ABC Movie of the Week on November 13, 1971.

The film was called Duel, and it starred Dennis Weaver driving an orange 1970 Plymouth Valiant being terrorized by a faceless, nameless homicidal truck driver in an oily patina 1961 Peterbilt 351 tanker truck. In keeping with the pattern of road movies from this year, the plot is paper thin, with no clear destination, only the journey, which, in this case, is a deadly game of cat and mouse brought on by a moment of road rage.

“Come on, you miserable fat-head, get that fat-ass truck outta my way.” Dennis Weaver, Duel (1971)

Spielberg cuts his teeth with this film using camera movements that would become his signature. This takes the viewer on an anxious, suspenseful rollercoaster ride as we’re placed in the shoes and mind of Weaver’s everyman character of an average man pushed into an extraordinary situation. The orange Plymouth plays David against the diesel-burning Goliath in a battle that ends in a spectacular ending fight.

The Calm Before the Storm

1971 was a great year to be a car fanatic. You could keep a thirsty V8 running and humming at 36 cents a gallon and strut down the main street drag listening to Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 on the radio. Blissfully unaware of the looming storm over the horizon that would ruin the party by 1973 with the oil embargo, slapped with the national 55 mph speed limit in 1974, which would last through all of Generation X and into the Millennial birthdays of 1995.

Nevertheless, these road movies carved a niche in the cinematic landscape. It paved the way for movie producers and studio executives to green light a seemingly endless run of road movies with a mixed bag of fantastic car stunts and cringe worthy acting like Dirty Mary and Crazy Larry (1974), Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), Gone in 60 Seconds (1974), Cannonball (1976), The Gumball Rally (1976), Eat My Dust (1976), Grand Theft Auto (1977), Speedtrap (1977), Smokey and the Bandit (1977), and Convoy (1978) – to name a few.

This includes maverick short films like Claude Lelouch’s masterpiece C’était un Rendez-vous (1976), which continues to inspire filmmakers today with its ultra-realism style. This zero-fat, single-take short film puts the viewer at the very edge, riding the front bumper of a speeding car across the center of Paris.

So, if you appreciate all things fast and on wheels, you owe it to yourself to check out these films and pay respects to the directors and stunt coordinators who made them possible.

Why the All-Electric Dodge Charger Matters

Jesus R. Garcia — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 10:49:00 GMT

Seeing and Hearing the New Dodge Charger Daytona EV in Person

The annual State Fair of Texas offers more than deep-fried Twinkies and carnival rides. It’s also home to the Texas Auto Show. This year, I tackled Interstate 35, currently suffering from a case of traffic barrel infestation that seems to be spreading throughout central Texas. Nevertheless, I pressed through the traffic and construction zone debris to attend the Texas Auto Show media day. Among the exciting and anticipated 2025 model year vehicles on display, one in particular has been gnawing at my curiosity since 2023.

Dodge’s all-new generation Charger Daytona, the dubbed electric muscle car.

Those who have read my work or known me longer than 5 minutes have noticed that I’m a diehard fan of fuel chugging V8 engines. I love the way they sound and can boil the blood into an adrenaline frenzy moments after you start one up and hear it idle.

I even love saying “V8” as it slips through the lips like silk on buttery smooth skin. So, when Dodge announced the end of its famed Hemi V8 and announced an all-electric powertrain under the Charger nameplate, I, like many, was skeptical and angry.

A few years back, I wrote an article denouncing the concept of an all-electric muscle car with the righteousness of a Southern Baptist preacher who had just read Nicki Minaj’s song lyrics.

However, 2024 has given me ample reasons to be constantly irritated by the state of the world. As a result, I’ve been trying to adopt a more Zen-like mindset, making efforts to gradually train and remind myself not to be outraged by things I have no control over.

The exhaustion witnessed in people who are hell-bent on a one-way opinionative mindset serves as an abundance of cautionary tales to avoid. One can be open-minded without being labeled, which is ironic considering many social debates revolve around new labels created to replace existing labels and calling it progress. But I digress.

I decided to keep an open mind and wait until I saw this electric muscle car in person before passing judgment.

The Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack

The example on display at this year’s Texas Auto Show is a white 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack. This all-electric variant features a Direct Connection Stage 2 upgrade distinguishable by a remastered Scat Pack Rumble Bee emblem on its front fender, symbolizing an increase from the standard Daytona R/T’s 496 horsepower to 670 hp and 627 pound-feet of torque.

Other performance options included the Track Pack, which allows the Daytona Scat Pack to sprint from zero to 60 in 3.3 seconds and sprint down a quarter mile in 11.5 seconds.

Putting the power down to the wheels is a 400-volt dual-motor configuration with a mechanical limited-slip differential sending instant torque to the car’s standard all-wheel-drive system. One of its many signature features is the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust, which provides users an adjustable soundtrack to Daytona’s performance.

Dodge is releasing the all-electric models of the Charger first before the twin-turbocharged Hurricane 3.0L inline-six variants dubbed the “Six Pack” in 2025. These gasoline engines will offer a high-output tune of 550 horsepower. The new-gen Dodge Charger will also be available in two and four-door configurations.

Familiar Outrage

There hasn’t been this many all-caps written opinions about the Dodge Charger since the mid-2000s, when Dodge announced that the Charger would be returning as a four-door sedan. Back then, my preteen self partook in the outrage while doodling flying General Lees on my notebooks in 6th grade.

Yes, saying the words electric muscle car produces a sour taste like a mouth full of vegan barbeque. But how much of that is based only on nostalgia and tradition? The “muscle car” genre is merely a marketing tool invented to promote high-performance vehicles. Technically, any vehicle with enough torque to smoke its tires could qualify as a “muscle” car. In the same way, any vehicle with a slightly raised ride height and more than two seat belts suddenly qualifies as a crossover SUV.

All-Electric Dodge Charger Makes a Good First Impression

I walked around the Charger Daytona EV, studying the design and mentally disagreeing with online comments describing the car as ugly and unbalanced. People need to realize that the Daytona is not meant to be a retro retelling of the late 1960s. Yes, the design takes inspiration from the first, second and third generation Dodge Charger, but it isn’t meant to be reboot – it’s an evolution.

I like the long fastback roofline and rear LED light bar inspired by the first-gen 1966-67 Chargers. The hatchback trunk opening offers a new level of practicality, giving this performance car some family values. I like its full-size dimensions that command respect with a broad-shouldered wide-body stance and flared arches to house a series of available wheel/tire combinations. But my favorite angle of the car’s design is its front fascia with its nod to the second-gen 68-70 Chargers with a blackout “grille” and new R-Wing meant to channel airflow at the front.

I like that it looks like a muscle car.

Inside, the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona features an all-new interior with mood-enhanced ambient lighting and contemporary digital screens. These touchscreens providing easy access to the car’s selection of torque settings calibrated to scratch specific itches like Track Mode, Drift Mode, Drag Mode, Donut Mode, and Sport Mode. One interior design aspect I hope to see in the near future is an option to select a “classic” instrument gauge layout like the ’87-’93 Fox Body setting on the 2024 Ford Mustang. I’d love to drive while looking at a digital rendering of a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 140 mph speedometer.

It also features a modern interpretation of Mopar’s iconic pistol-grip shifter that looks like the handle of a sci-fi plasma pistol over the Dirty Harry-era magnum revolver wood grain finish.

Whether you love or hate it, you can appreciate Dodge’s effort in making an electric vehicle that appeals to muscle car enthusiasts.

Hearing the Sound of Silence

Listening to the Charger Daytona’s Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust soundtrack was an experience in itself. Even though videos showcasing the car’s electronic rumbles have debuted on social media, it’s hard to get an accurate representation when funneled through an iPhone speaker.

After listening to it in person, I can confidently say it sounds terrific. It starts up and idles in the same spirit of a V8 and revs like a synthesized tiger trying to scare off an intruder.

Granted, the one missing piece of the puzzle is the vibration from feeling eight cylinders rocking and rolling in sync, but perhaps Mopar engineers will figure out a way to mimic the sensation using an air ride suspension and call it the “Shaker mode.”

Dodge, if you’re reading this, I have plenty of ideas. If you’d like, let me know, and I’ll send my resume.

Why This Car Matters

It’s easy to dismiss the car by mixing it with the toxic political sludge tainting every aspect of modern life. But I’m here to remind you that not everything is meant to be a statement or declaration of a proposed agenda. Sometimes it’s just a movie, just a car, just a product looking for an audience.

Whether you dismiss or champion this car because you think its electric powertrain symbolizes a mobile soapbox, you are wrong. This is not a politically charged (no pun intended) muscle car meant to challenge and change our emotional attachment to V8s.

Who’s to say Dodge isn’t secretly working on a hybrid V8 concept? Or a Hemi-branded generator that can fuel an electric vehicle’s batteries to an 800-mile range and give people an authentic V8 sound with EV performance? Scrollable politics has infested and twisted our psyche into seeing everything through a with-me-or-against-me filter, and I’m sick of it.

I want to like the new Dodge Charger Daytona because it tries to be different. It’s not a rolling jelly bean with a non-existent dashboard, ridiculous yoke steering wheel, and lackluster driving dynamics promoting a generation of ignorant drivers like a certain EV automaker.

No, Dodge is trying to give you a cake and let you eat it too—even if it’s sugar-free. I don’t see it as the end of muscle cars, but it is a new chapter filled with hot rodding potential. After all, isn’t speed the underlying goal here?

If you disagree, it’s your free will, just as it’s mine, to ignore your comments.

Looking Forward to the Road Test

My honest first impression of the Dodge Charger Daytona EV is positive. I like the way it sounds and looks. However, the final hurdle will be the road test, where I’ll find out if it can channel the feel of the road into the driver’s seat and see if it sparks that little devil to sit on my shoulder and whisper naughty thoughts of encouragement to go faster in the name of fun. We’ll see.

WATCH: 27 Liter Meteor V12 Powered Crown Vic Burn Rubber

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 15:19:02 GMT

The Meteor Interceptor

The Meteor Interceptor is an ambitious automotive project I’ve been following since the dawn months of the pandemic. The concept is straight out of the mind of a madman with a sense of humor: stick a WW2-era-designed V12 tank engine into a Ford Crown Victoria.

Why? Because life is too short not to invest in wild ideas, and Ford’s Panther body chassis can handle the weight. All of this is being done out of Sweden, bringing many geographical problems people like Cleetus McFarland never have to face.

Since the story broke in 2020, the automotive internet community has been watching Daniel Werner and his talented crew of Swedish gearheads triumph in engineering battles, overcoming the obstacles one would face when trying to shove a 27 Liter V12 engine into the frame of a four-door sedan.

The ultimate goal is for the Meteor Interceptor to tackle land speed records in excess of 200 mph. However, there is still a heap load of work to be done before taking that first full throttle run. Nevertheless, the team’s passion for automotive engineering is evident in every step of their journey.

Nevertheless, the Meteor Interceptor’s YouTube channel keeps us entertained with the various tests being done on the car. Most recently, the Meteor crew took the Interceptor to a scenic Swedish field to test the car’s highly modified gearbox and stress test the tires.

This video lets viewers hear the big Meteor V12 chug away in fury as it flexes its 1,500 pound-feet of torque through the rear wheels to cover the nearby forest in a fog of tire smoke.

The massive thrust of power pushes the Crown Vic sedan every which way but loose. You also get an interior view of the cockpit with the modified firewall which was extended further back to fit the engine.

This car, more than anything, proves that engineering and imagination are truly a match made in heaven. The team’s creative solutions to the challenges they face are truly impressive. They are the vital tools needed to make fantasy a reality. I wish Daniel and his team nothing but the best as they near the finish line of their project build and look forward to the opportunity to see the Meteor Interceptor in person.

Ford F-350 Super Duty Diesel is a High Output Power Trip

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 02:51:06 GMT

“I want the biggest, most powerful truck my LLC can buy!”

Imagine a scenario where you walk into your local Ford dealership. You step into the showroom and are greeted by a wave of refreshing air conditioning as you step on the Ford blue carpeted welcome mat. Before you can even say a word, your hand is being shaken by a sales rep with eagerness in their eye. They start rambling through their rehearsed greeting, complimenting your shoes to try and become your friend as quickly as possible. You stop them from wasting their breath and say, “I want the biggest, fanciest, most powerful pickup truck my LLC can buy!”

The sales rep pauses for a moment and gestures to this Iconic Silver Ford F-350 Super Duty 4×4 dually crew cab in Limited trim with the high-output 6.7L Power Stroke turbo V8 diesel engine. The large and in-charge luxury work truck is tastefully appointed with an Admiral Blue Slate leather interior and an optional retractable pickup bed tonneau cover ($2,200).

500 HP Power Stroke High Output

Ford gave its Super Duty trucks a technological makeover for the 2023 model year, which carried over into 2024. The most significant upgrade is the 6.7L Power Stroke turbo V8 diesel engine, available in two variants for the F-250, F-350, and F-450. The standard variant offers 475 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet of torque, while the optional high output gives buyers 500 horsepower and a whopping 1,200 pound-feet of torque.

Standing well under six feet tall meant I was slightly intimidated by the size of the F-350 Super Duty and dreading having to maneuver this wide-hip, commercial-sized vehicle through the center of the second-largest city in Texas. However, once behind the wheel, it felt like second nature. One thing I’ve always admired about Ford’s pickup trucks is their drivability. They offer enough give to make them comfortable without feeling cumbersome or ham-fisted. The first drive home, I was impressed by its grace but doubly impressed by its speed. This diesel pickup truck is quick!

Six Figure Work Truck

Since I couldn’t race for pinks in the underground street racing circuit, I decided to use the F-350 for work instead. Ford rates the F-350 Super Duty max payload at 8,000 pounds. However, I could only afford 3,000 pounds of livestock feed to toss into its 8-foot bed.

The plan was to load the feed bags on two neatly wrapped pallets for easy transport. It would have worked except for the retractable tonneau cover, which enhances the truck bed’s aesthetic and security but eats up one foot of air space when retracted. So when they loaded up the two pallets end-to-end, that one-foot difference prevented me from closing the tailgate, and I had to load up 100 50-pound bags of livestock feed individually by hand. Nevertheless, the truck yawned while carrying 3,000 pounds and averaged 17 mpg on the highway.

Next was a towing test. Max towing on the diesel F-350 is 13,700 pounds, or 40,000 if pulling a gooseneck trailer. Since nobody I knew had a forklift or excavator on hand for me to drag around, I loaded up a flatbed trailer with a Can-Am Maverick X3.

The various trailer-assist features include onboard scales that can estimate the cargo’s weight in real time and provide trailer tongue-weight distribution guidance. The 360-degree backup camera features a trailer hitch view, making lining up the tow hitch to a trailer a breeze, even for novice truckers. All you have to do is line up the connections with the guidelines on the screen.

All work and no play makes for a dull road test. So when the truck was unloaded and untethered, I took it upon myself to find out what happens when you turn off the traction control, select two-wheel drive and bury your foot into the accelerator.

This big steer of a truck bucks like a rodeo star when you unleash its high output torque and feel the surge of turbocharged power being sent to the wheels to create a dual set of tire marks. You can feel yourself succumbing to the intoxicating allure of power as this big truck accelerates through its 10-speed transmission.

In real world conditions I averaged 15.7 mph overall with highway driving (loaded and unloaded), pulling a trailer and commuting in a city with some heavy-footed driving. At a full tank, the estimated range was a shocking 875 miles! However, by the time the gas gauge was at half a tank that estimated range had dropped to 300 miles. I drove 575 actual miles when I finally stopped for a refuel with 80 miles of range showing on the instrument gauge.

The only real nitpick I have with this truck is the ride quality. While the top-tier Limited trim level offers massaging front seats and a standard Bang & Olufsen–tuned stereo system with up to 18 available speakers, it doesn’t mask the stiffness of its Super Duty suspension built for work. You will feel the bumps as the truck bounces when it’s not weighed down with cargo.

Then there’s the price—six figures in this luxury trim level. However, IRS tax code section 179 states that any vehicle weighing between 6,000 and 14,000 pounds qualifies for up to a tax deduction with a $25,000 ceiling as of 2024. That includes a “heavy” SUV, pickup truck, or transportation tool. This is a nice incentive if you’re in the market for a new company work truck.

Engine: 6.7L Power Stroke turbo V8 diesel

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

0 to 60: 5.5 seconds

Starting Price: $46,015 (F-350 XL)

Price as Shown: $104,755 (F-350 Limited)

2024 Chevrolet Trax ACTIV is 30 MPG for Under 30 MSRP

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 02:09:02 GMT

In a year where a gallon of milk rivals the cost of a gallon of gasoline, finding a bargain is becoming an art of survival. Especially when it comes to buying a new car. Avoiding a mortgage-sized monthly payment and factory recalls that tingle the senses of bus bench lawyers. There are still new cars wearing MSRPs for under $25k in 2023.

The problem is that these vehicles can’t fit a typical family of 4 unless they ride in car seats and will struggle to carry the bounty from a trip to IKEA. This is where I praise the all-new 2024 Chevrolet Trax. A crossover SUV that drives like a mid-size sedan offers the cargo space of a wagon and sips fuel like a hatchback with a starting price of $21K.

Chevrolet completely redesigned the Trax for 2024 like the six-million-dollar man. It’s bigger, longer, and lower than its predecessor, significantly improving rear legroom and cargo space. The space in the back seat is so substantial you’d think you were riding a Chevy Impala. In addition, the dropped ride height provides a sedan-like feel when you sit in the driver’s seat. Upon opening the liftgate, you’ll find an area large enough to pack a four-day weekend camping trip and a space-saver spare tire under the floorboard.

However, what truly surprised me about the new Trax is the ride quality. Most vehicles at this price point have a lightness to them. The doors feel light, the road noise is hard to ignore and constantly reminded that you’re driving a budget-conscious vehicle when you drive over a pothole. That is not the case with the Trax. The wagon-like SUV glides over pavement and you can feel the suspension taking the brunt of force before reaching your lower spine. The ride is soft enough to be called luxurious.

Powering the 2024 Trax is an endearing turbocharged three-cylinder engine borrowed from the Chevrolet Trailblazer. The 1.2-liter engine sends its 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. I’ve heard other motor journalists say that Trax lacks pizzazz when you hit the gas, but I disagree. For a little engine, it scoots pretty good, providing more than enough brawn to stay in the passing line.

The model shown is the top-of-the-line Trax Activ presented in Cayenne Orange with 18-inch glass black aluminum wheels. Photographing this vehicle was a treat as the Trax has no bad sides thanks to styling inspired by the larger Chevrolet Blazer. I especially like the rear taillights and the sculpted profile lines that give the SUV the appearance that it was shaped by hurricane-force winds.

The Activ is one of five available trim levels with the LS, 1RS, LT and 2RS standing behind it. Despite its top-tier status, this Trax Activ had a starting price of $23k. After adding options like a power sunroof, adaptive cruise control and the sharp Cayenne Orange paint job, the total cost is a few dollars under $27k.

Critics about this vehicle are too few and insignificant to mention. If you’re looking for a stylish crossover SUV that can average nearly 30 mpg and haul the essentials of parenthood while providing the rear legroom of an Uber Black for less than $25k, the Trax has a deal for you.

Engine: 1.2-liter Turbocharged inline 3

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

0 to 60: 8.8 seconds

Staring Price: $21,495

Price as Shown: $26,935 (Activ)

Aston Martin DBX707 Offers Supercar Performance with Plentiful Seating

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 03:17:12 GMT

When Product Placement Strikes Gold

It’s a rare accomplishment when you can market a vehicle to financial success through well placed product placement in media. When Burt Reynolds drove a 1977 black Trans Am in Smokey and the Bandit, Pontiac saw an increase of 25,000 units for the Trans Ams in 1978. Vin Diesel’s Fast and Furious Dom Toretto has certainly played a part in moving Dodge Chargers and Challengers off the lot (many without paperwork).

But they can’t hold a candle to the lifestyle fantasy Ian Fleming’s James Bond ignitied when he stepped into an Aston Martin on the big screen. A name symbolic with top shelf luxury, exotic grand tours, and shaken cocktails since 1962.

Aston Martin First SUV

The Aston Martin DBX debuted in 2020 as the brand’s first SUV and first all-wheel-drive vehicle with off-road capability. Since then, the brand celebrated its 100th birthday in 2023, and the DBX has continued to be a high-dollar option for those looking for an ultra-luxurious, grand touring supercar with leg room for five people- plus luggage.

When Aston Martin asked if I wanted to take the latest DBX707 out for a spin, I thought it was a cruel prank. My disbelief continued until I felt the weighted key fob drop into my hand. Carefully climbing into the green leather interior being careful not to get my humble middle-class stank on the upholstery. Reaching for the glovebox to check its monroney label. The nervous butterflies in my stomach were instantly vaporized by acid reflux when I saw the price tag for this British luxury SUV.

At nearly $300,000 (with options), this is the most expensive vehicle I’ve been entrusted to operate in my career as an automotive journalist. Driving it home from work on the first day of the road test, I was sweating ice on a Texas summer day, worrying about the protecting the pristine condition of this beautiful DBX707. Anxious knowing that my liability-only car insurance policy my only financial defense if any harm came to this 23-inch wheel high roller.

But ultra-luxury is unsurprisingly easy to get accustomed to, like acclimating to a heated pool or cutting into a perfectly cooked steak. After the first day, I had my bearings and focused on the SUV’s outstanding performance, alluring interior cabin, while relishing the envious stares from BMW and Porsche drivers.

Racing Line Green Paint and Pompadour Roof Spoiler

Fun fact: the DBX has the largest grille ever fitted on an Aston Martin, bearing the wide, shiny, grin of someone trying to sell you a timeshare. In other parts of the world, the SUV is marketed as a full-size model, but our value-sized US standards consider the DBX707 a mid-size SUV.

The sculpted, European-cut fit exterior styling gives it an athletic presence making it look smaller than other high-performance SUVs. Moreover, the exterior’s styling features all the cues of a go-faster product like large air intakes, flared wheel arches, and a duck tail roof spoiler that tips the swooping roofline like a freshly combed pompadour.

Dressed in the optional Racing Line green paint color ($8,400), it acted as a lasso that captured people’s attention and pulls tight.

The lovely shade of green was complemented by yellow-painted carbon ceramic brake calipers ($1,800) tucked behind the upgraded 23-inch forged satin black / diamond-turned wheels ($5,900). However, like other sport utility vehicles crafted by supercar OEMs, the DBX707 looks like an Aston Martin coupe stretched to fit the dimensions of an SUV.

2025 Interior Updates to Aston Martin DBX707

Inside, the 2024 Aston Martin DBX707’s interior came appointed in duotone upholstery ($8,400) with a Q Special green leather color ($6,500). Grabbing a steering wheel result in feeling a mix of leather and Alcantara ($1,00). The dashboard features a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.2-inch infotainment screen in the center. But, the 2025 Aston Martin DBX model year, available now, features a redesigned interior layout compared to the 2024 model shown.

The decision to redo the interior cabin came straight from the Aston Martin’s CEO after the media and customers complained about the outdated and quirky layout of the 2024 DBX. For starters, the 2024 Aston Martin SUV has a push button gear selection located on top of the infotainment screen in the center of the dashboard. So, to select drive, park or reverse you must extend your arm and reach out to press a button, which could be a problem if you have short arms.

Moreover, the infotainment screen is not touch-sensitive. It can only be controlled using buttons on the steering wheel, a rotary knob on the center console, or a small touchpad located behind the knob. Three methods to navigate one screen and it’s still awkward to use.

For 2025, Aston Martin improved the DBX’s interior by getting rid of the center dash push button gear selector for a more user-friendly center console shift lever, leading to a redesigned dashboard. Plus, a new steering wheel, upgraded infotainment software, and the option to have a 23-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system.

Aston Martin DBX “707” Meaning

The 707 attached to the DBX name represents its Mercedes-AMG derived twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8 power output. If you use the metric unit for measuring horsepower (PS or PferdeStarke), the output figure comes out to 707 hp, which is equivalent to 697 hp here in the United States. However, DBX707 rolls off the tongue smoother than DBX697. Nevertheless, what this math jargon translates to in the world of physics is an SUV that can travel from zero to 60 in 3.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 193 mph.

The best thing about the DBX707 supercar performance is how it vocalizes its acceleration through a set of dual double-barrel exhaust system further amplified by pushing a little button on the console labeled with an icon of an exhaust tip. Put your foot in it, and this thing unleashes a Barry White baritone rumble that’ll stir the blood into an adrenaline frenzy.

When you add an adaptive air suspension, an all-wheel drive system with an active transfer case, a 9-speed automatic transmission and massive carbon ceramic brakes, you get a super SUV that can talk the talk and walk the walk when it comes to dynamic driving characteristics. If you’re curious about fuel economy, it averages 17 mpg using only the finest premium fuel.

More Style Than a G-Wagon

With a starting price of a quarter million, the Aston Martin DBX707 is not intended to be a modest purchase. However, if you’re in a fortunate position and want a super family hauler that stands out better than a Mercedes-AMG G-Wagon with the same proven German engineering, the DBX707 will tickle your fancy.

Engine: Twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8

Transmission: 9-speed automatic

0 to 60: 3.1 Seconds

Starting Price: $242,000 (2024 Model Year)

Price as Shown: $285,886

Largest Lamborghini Showroom in US Opens in San Antonio Texas

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 21:42:51 GMT

Lamborghini kicked off Labor Day weekend with the grand opening of its largest dealer showroom in the United States. Located off the I-10 in Boerne, Lamborghini San Antonio is the fourth Lamborghini dealer to call Texas home out of a total of 50 across the country – and counting.

I was invited to attend the VIP grand opening and walk around the 40,000-square-foot showroom using cocktail napkins to wipe away my drool over the collection of Italian supercars on display. Among them was a ready-to-buy example of the all-new successor to the Huracan, the 2025 Lamborghini Temerario.

Lamborghini San Antonio Grand Opening

I rolled up to the glass building of Lamborghini San Antonio in my press car of the week, an elegantly practical 2024 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle PHEV van. Being part of the media means arriving fashionably early to get a lay of the venue before the crowd of tailored suits and designer gowns filled the showroom.

My cowboy boots clicked on the polished floor while admiring the classic and future classic examples of the raging bull. Pristine examples of the Lamborghini Miura and Countach kept me distracted in a daydream haze of sunsets in the French Riviera at 6,000 RPM until someone handed me a champagne flute and a plate of pasta.

When I wasn’t looking at cars I could only afford in a game of Monopoly, I was window shopping the variety of licensed merchandise on display. A black Italian leather Lamborghini jacket caught my eye, and I thought about how lovely it would complement the black snake-skin cowboy boots I wore to this event.

2025 Lamborghini Temerario Texas Debut

The grand opening prompted an ideal opportunity to unveil the all-new 2025 Lamborghini Temerario to a room full of automotive fans and potential buyers. This new sleek aluminum-bodied supercar carries the torch for the outgoing Lamborghini Huracan and packs a serious performance punch.

The Lamborghini Temerario uses an aluminum space frame to house a twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8 producing a healthy 789 horsepower, further aired by three electric motors to produce a combined output of 907 hp with a combined torque spec of 590 pound-feet. Managing the power to the wheels is tasked to an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Yes, the Temerario is a hybrid supercar. These electric motors are strategically placed within the chassis. One motor is mounted between the engine and transmission and the other two are separated into each of the front wheels.

The engineering result of this hybrid powertrain allows the Temerario to sprint from zero to 60 in 2.7 seconds and onward to a top speed of 213 mph. Reaching the claimed top speed means pushing the needle to its redline at 10,000 rpm and basking in the V8’s fire-spitting soundtrack from its bespoke exhaust system.

Lamborghini says the Temerario offers more interior leg and headroom than the Huracan. Claiming that the Temerario’s interior provides enough room for someone standing at six foot five to be able to ride inside the car while wearing a racing helmet. The new interior layout features an 18-way adjustable driver’s seat with heated and cooling ventilation, standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Sonus Faber audio system. The car’s dashboard features three display screens – a 12.3-inch instrument panel with three selectable views, an 8.4-inch center infotainment screen, and a 9.1-inch screen for the passenger.

An available Lamborghini Vision Unit (LAVU) uses three cameras to record memorable track day experiences without needing a Go-Pro. This system can also serve as a security camera to record up to one minute of incident history and two minutes of off-track recording. One feature that really impressed me was the 13 available drive modes, which include everything from launch control to three levels of drift mode to slide the tail out—if you dare.

Pricing for the Lamborghini Temerario is estimated at $290,000. But for that kind of money, you get over 400 custom colors and special liveries, including the new Blu Marinus and Verde Mercurius. Plus, you can opt for the Alleggerita (lightweight) performance package, which shave 55 pounds off the curb’s weight by utilizing carbon fiber interior door panels, splitter, underbody panels, and side skirts. Other options include a titanium muffler and carbon fiber wheels.

Engine: Twin-turbo 4.0L V8, Three Electric Motors

Transmission: 8-speed Dual-Clutch

Performance: 907 HP (combined)

Top Speed: 213 mph

Starting Price: Est. $290,000

Designer Kitchens by Lamborghini

The grand opening of Lamborghini San Antonio included a booth showcasing a new avenue in the Lamborghini ownership lifestyle. La Dolce Vita, an Italian design firm based in Milano and Miami, Florida, has partnered with Lamborghini to offer buyers the option of custom designer kitchen decor by Automobili Lamborghini Bodacious Kitchen.

This means you can now remodel your kitchen with Lamborghini. This program offers quality materials like marble countertops said to have been sourced from ancient Roman quarries, sustainably harvested wood, and forged composite carbon fiber. Essentially, you can enter this showroom and order a custom Lamborghini and wooden kitchen cabinets and drawers lined with leather to match the interior of your bespoke supercar.

Lamborghini San Antonio

Lamborghini San Antonio is located at 27605 I-10, Boerne, TX 78006. Attending the grand opening of a luxury supercar dealership was a great experience. It’s not every day I get to observe people in this specific social setting, and after speaking with several members of the Lamborghini San Antonio team, I’m envious of the level of customer service buyers will receive when they walk through the glass doors.

One day, I’ll get the chance to walk in and haggle the price on a classic Lamborghini Miura (he said optimistically).

Can-Am Can-Am Unveils New Electric Bikes, 4Door Maverick R, and Rugged Three-Wheel for 2025

Jesus R. Garcia — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 05:35:29 GMT

A Host of New All-Terrain Machines to Blaze Trails

In the dog days of Summer, Can-Am unveils a trio of new wheeled products for the 2025 lineup. In a lump sum of information, Can-Am introduced the highly anticipated 2025 Can-Am Pulse and Origin electric motorcycles, the 2025 Maverick R Max four-door side-by-side ATV, and the 2025 Can-Am Canyon three-wheeler. Each vehicle caters to enhance and amplify an outdoor adventure, whether carving through rugged trails, enjoying the open road, or rallying with the crew in hot pursuit of the horizon.

Ride Lightning with the new Can-Am Pulse and Origin Electric Motorcycles

The highly anticipated electric two-wheelers from Can-Am are finally here! The Can-Am Pulse and Origin electric motorcycles offer riders a cutting-edge opportunity to enjoy zero-emission thrills on streets or trails.

Starting with the 2025 Can-Am Pulse, this electric street motorcycle features the Rotax E-Power unit, consisting of an 11-kW Rotex electric motor powered by a 9-kWh liquid-cooled battery pack to develop 47 horsepower and 53 pound-feet of torque. Using a silent chain to drive the wheels, this powertrain propels the Can-Am Pulse from zero to 60 in 3.8 seconds. The estimated range for the Can-Am Pulse is 100 miles in the city or 80 miles combined per charge.

Both electric bikes come with a 6.6 kW charger and Level 1 and 2 charging capabilities. Can-Am claims a Level 2 charger can refill the battery from 20 to 80 percent in 50 minutes. This e-bike is suited for zipping around the hustle and bustle of urban terrain. It even offers Apple CarPlay connectivity with four different ride modes: Normal, Eco, Rain, and Sport+ with a reverse function.

2025 Can-Am Pulse Specs

Motor: 11-kW electric motor
Battery: 9-kWh liquid-cooled
Horsepower: 47 Hp
Range: Up to 100 Miles (City)
Top Speed: 80 mph
Weight: 390 lbs
Starting Price: $18,299

The 2025 Can-Am Origin electric motorcycle is a dual-sport model. It uses the same Rotex E-Power as the Can-Am Pulse, an 11-kW Rotax electric motor powered and 9-kWh liquid-cooled battery pack developing 47 horsepower and 53 pound-feet of torque. The battery range is slightly lower on the Origin compared to the Pulse, with a city range of 90 miles and 71 miles combined. Acceleration is also marginally lower, sprinting from zero to 60 in 4.3 seconds. This e-dual sport motorcycle lives for varying terrains with long-travel suspension (nearly double compared to the Pulse), larger-diameter wheels, dual-sport tires, and two extra riding modes: Off-Road and Off-Road+.

2025 Can-Am Origin Specs

Motor: 11-kW electric motor
Battery: 9-kWh lithium-ion
Horsepower: 47 Hp
Range: Up to 90 Miles (City)
Top Speed: 80 mph
Weight: 412 lbs
Price: $14,499

New 2025 Can-Am Canyon Rugged Three-Wheeler

The Canyon is a new addition to the Can-AmCan-Am’s three-wheeler lineup, holding the title of the most off-road capable three-wheeler to wear the Can-Am name – yet. It combines the practical stability of a three-wheel motorcycle with the rugged capability of an ATV or side-by-side. In terms of size, the Canyon stands about the same dimensions as the Spyder and Ryker models. However, the Canyon boasts a more rigid design to announce its off-road nature with a tall stance and aggressive fairing.

The 2025 Can-Am Canyon is powered by a Rotax ACE 1,330cc inline-three-cylinder engine producing 115 horsepower and 96 pound-feet of torque. It’s managed by a six-speed semi-automatic transmission with paddle shifters and a reverse gear. Brembo disc brakes with ABS allow the rider to drop anchor in a hurry when needed with standard stability and traction control. All models ride on two 16-inch wheels up front and a 15-inch wheel in the rear, wrapped in XPS Adventure tires.

It offers 6.3 inches of ground clearance with up to 10.2 inches of suspension travel at the front and 9.2 inches at the rear to handle varying terrains. It rolls on all-road wheels with enduro anti-slip foot pegs and a handlebar riser for better control and comfort. A 10.25-inch screen with Apple CarPlay connectivity manages the controls. For all-terrain adventures, the Canyon is capable of carrying up to 650 pounds with a max towing capacity of 400 pounds.

Standard features include LED headlights, hand guards, adjustable windshield, an adaptive foam seat with lumbar support and removable backrest, a metal radiator grille and drive belt protector.

2025 Can-Am Canyon Specs

Engine: 1,330 cc
Transmission: 6-speed semi-automatic
Horsepower: 115 Hp
Weight: 1,036 lbs (dry)
Starting Price: $30,099

2025 Can-Am Maverick R Max Debuts with Room for Four

The new 2025 Can-Am Maverick R Max answers the call of ATV buyers who want to share the all-terrain thrills of the Maverick with more than just one passenger. Available in four trim levels, the R Max stands 34 inches longer than its two-seater sibling at 172.5 inches and 460 pounds heavier.

However, the extra room comes with plenty of power to move it, a 999cc turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 240 horsepower, motivated by a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Can-Am claims the Maverick R Max has a 40 percent shorter low-gear ratio to give it extra bite when you punch the throttle.

2025 Can-Am Maverick R Max Specs

Engine: 999cc turbocharged inline-3
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch
Power: 240 hp
Torque: 160 lb-ft
Weight: 2,610 lbs (dry)
Starting Price: $39,199

2025 Genesis G80 First Drive Review: Elegant Velocity

Jesus R. Garcia — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 05:35:25 GMT

The Genesis of Genesis

Every automaker has a vehicle they’ve never admit is the favorite within the lineup, but have more photos of it the mantle than the others. Specific vehicle models or nameplates sitting at best seat in the table by breaking sales records, setting a trend, or being the reason motorsport fans wear their logo on ball caps.

For Genesis, the unofficial golden child is the G80 sedan because its the first model to wear its name when it debuted in 2008 as the Hyundai Genesis. It had a glow-up in 2017 when it official became the Genesis G80. Since then, this sedan has spearheaded the brand’s continuing evolution as South Korea’s premiere and only automotive luxury brand.

I traveled to the horse fenced land of Lexington, Kentucky to test drive the 2025 Genesis G80 and find out what’s new with the OG of Genesis lineup.

What’s New with the 2025 Genesis G80

Genesis gave the G80 sedan a facelift inside and out for 2025. New changes include a redesigned front and rear fascia, with the front end featuring a Micro Lens Array (MLA) inside its signature two-line headlamps, said to magnify the lamps’ performance in low light without affecting the visibility of other drivers on the road. In addition, a new wheel design complements the G80’s 10 exterior color options, including the new Vatna Gray, said to have been inspired by the volcanic landscapes of Iceland.

2025 Genesis G80 Interior Features

The G80’s interior gains a new 27-inch OLED digital screen displaying the instrument gauges and infotainment. Plus, a reconfigured center console with the brand’s signature crystal rotary dial shifter surrounded in premium materials and a new three-spoke steering wheel. The car’s interior is available in four color options: black monotone, camel monotone, beige/gray two-tone, and my favorite, the two-tone red and black exclusive to G80 Sport trim levels.

Other interior goodies include a premium Bang & Olufsen audio system, which is enjoyed thanks to the cabin’s excellent sound deadening, quiet enough to hear a church mouse to sneeze. Higher-spec trim levels feature a retractable power rear window sunshade controlled by the rear passengers. However, my favorite feature is a button located on the side of the front passenger seat that allows the driver or rear passengers to access the power seat.

This interior design detail can be easily overlooked until the rear passenger needs more legroom. Having the controls to adjust the front passenger side within arm’s reach saves you the trouble of straining your sciatic nerve trying to adjust the seat by reaching over to the other side of the cabin. In addition, the 2025 G80 sedan offers heated armrests for the front passengers, which will earn its appreciation come January.

Genesis G80 AWD Turbo Powertrains

Powering this luxury sports sedan is one of two engine options fitted to an eight-speed automatic transmission with standard all-wheel drive (AWD). Entry level models like the 2025 Genesis G80 2.5T Sports Prestige, feature a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder producing a potent 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. Higher tier models, like the G80 3.5T Sport Advanced AWD are motivated by a twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 producing a brawny but suave 375 hp and 393 lb.-ft.

Other performance upgrades include rear-wheel steering, an electronic limited-slip differential and four-piston monobloc brake discs to enhance the G80’s responsiveness and handling. I took great delight in stress testing this performance hardware on the switchback roads of rural Lexington, Kentucky.

2025 Genesis G80 Performance Driving Impressions

The model I tested was a full-spec Capri Blue ($650) Genesis G80 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD with Vanilla Beige Ash Gray interior. A recent rain storm had cooled the area down to the low 80s with a crisp breeze keeping any potential sweat at bay. It was a refreshing change from the pre-heated oven sensation of Texas in August.

On these Kentucky hill hugging roads, I discovered the G80 felt more comfortable in Sport+ compared to its default Comfort drive mode. The car’s plush body weight could be felt in the bends. The stiffened suspension of Sport+ gave me better control and confidence to throw it into the turn at speed.

The car’s rear-wheel steering allowed it to feel planted to the road without the uncomfortable sensation of your head being pulled by gravitational force. Moreover, my co-driver, Stephen Rivers from Car Scoops, was riding in the backseat, putting out fires in his email inbox while I drove. This improvised chauffeur test proved the Genesis G80 to be a well-balanced sports luxury sedan because he did not get car sick typing on his laptop while I tackled sharp bends at 50 mph.

The car’s twin-turbocharged V6 makes an audible but soft-spoken rumble when you feed it a healthy dose of gasoline. I tip my cowboy hat to the interior designers for giving the G80 an atmosphere that can help prevent road rage and anxiety through quality sound deadening, adjustable lumbar support, and interior materials that don’t squeak, rattle, or flinch when you apply pressure. Everything you touch inside feels sturdy and well-made with the slickness of a polished marble countertop.

G80 Fuel Economy and Pricing

Fuel economy is standard for a vehicle of this type. The V6-powered G80 I drove averaged 17 mpg during the dynamic test drive, which is on par with its EPA rating of 17 mpg city and 25 highway.

The single turbocharged 2.5L models perform a little better with 22 mpg city and 30 highway. Pricing starts near the $60,000 mark at $57,100 for the G80 2.5T AWD entry model. You get 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats with power lumbar, a 12-speaker audio system and Apple CarPlay as standard for that kind of money.

Move up one tier to the 2.5T Advanced AWD, starting at $61,900, and you gain 19-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, matte finish wood trim, a rear window sun shade and three-way climate controls.

Skip ahead to the top-of-the-line G80 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD at $77,000 with all the bells and whistles riding on 20-inch wheels, and a cabin loaded with Nappa leather wrapped dashboard tastefully decorated with carbon fiber trim and micro-suede headliner. In addition to a digital heads-up display, the 375 hp V6 powertrain, 360 view monitoring and remote start with parking assist, which allows the driver to park the car without being in the driver seat.

Genesis is still a relatively young company cementing its reputation. So far, they are doing the right thing but building vehicles that stand out aesthetically with hyper-visual attention to quality details.

1,000 Miles Across the Desert in a 2024 Mustang Dark Horse

Jesus R. Garcia — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 18:41:00 GMT

A Dark Horse with No Name

I made sure I was on company time when I opened a personal email from Ford. My eyes widened when they scrolled across the words 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, motivating me to jump out of my desk chair and fast walk to the boss’s office to inform him that I would be taking a few days off.

Some people save their paid time off for a vacation or a spontaneous day of playing hooky. I reserve it for special occasions like taking Ford’s Crown Prince pony car on a mid-week escape from the concrete gridlock of city living to the unforgiving but scenic landscape of West Texas.

Sometimes, you need to drop a gear and bellow out of town for at least 48 hours, leaving only a set of Pirelli elevens in your wake. A car like this deserves more than to sit in rush hour traffic. By coincidence, I was feeling cooped up by the city and its maze of traffic cones and had a sudden yearning to travel across a desert on a Dark Horse with no name and feel the relief of being out of the figurative rain that is corporate life.

I set off in the morning and pointed the Mustang Dark Horse’s satin hood graphic west. Why west? Because it’s far away from major cities and their ever-expanding populations that turn interstates into treadmills of chain restaurants and mascot-marketed gas stations. I didn’t want population; I wanted isolation. I wanted empty mile markers with time to think, space to breathe, and room to run.

Driving through the desert during peak summer months in Texas meant I could feel the sun’s UV rays stinging my hands, face, and forearms through the windshield. I was grateful the car’s indigo-blue suede Recaro bucket seats weren’t wrapped in shiny black leather. It was so hot I had to use leather driving gloves as ergonomic oven mitts to operate the stainless steel gear shifter.

Davis Mountain Scenic Loop, a Paved Paradise

This V8 ramble across the desert was not without destination. I was searching for a paved paradise that offered the fundamental essentials of a great driving road: no traffic, scenic views, and a series of dynamic bends, turns, and straightaways to exercise a vehicle’s brakes, steering, and RPM vocal range.

I found that slice of motoring heaven near Fort Davis, TX, known as the Davis Mountain Scenic Loop. This 75-mile route travels along Highway 118 and 166 between the rural town of Alpine and the 80 mph section of I-10 interstate heading towards El Paso. It cuts through the valley of the Davis and offers a direct path to the McDonald Observatory.

It’s a route that offers twisting bends and rising elevation as you travel up and down the mountains before charging down a straight two-lane blacktop with inspiring views that never leave the windshield. It was sunset when I reached the scenic loop, which gave me just enough time to get acquainted with this hidden gem wrapped around a mountain. At night, I lay restless in the cheap motel bed, anxiously waiting for dawn so I could ride again in golden hour light.

Morning Mountain Run

The morning was spent driving up to the observatory to get a full lay of the land and admire the view while taking mouthfuls of fresh air. It was still too early for the heat, and I enjoyed being out in the sunlight without feeling beads of sweat across my face.

However, it was time to get on with the task at hand. I turned off the AC and gave the seat belt a reassuring tug before selecting Track mode to alert the Dark Horse’s adaptive suspension, Brembo brakes, and 500 horsepower tuned Coyote V8 that it was time to run before stabbing the throttle with my spurs.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse is a prized pony that runs like a champion thoroughbred. Driving down the mountain at speed, ear popping from the change in elevation, focused on the next bend, remembering what gear the shifter is on. Down into second gear, feeling like McQueen with the car rev-matching for me. Hard on the brakes with smooth movements at the wheel to keep the car planted through the turn.

All natural V8 muscle screaming to 5,000 rpm before slipping the short-row shifter into third and feeling the continuing surge of acceleration down the straight before jumping back on the brakes and into second before the next turn.

At the base of the mountain, there are a couple of miles of straight temptation to keep your foot glued to the floor at full gallop. Past 125 mph, I felt the Mustang’s acceleration go linear, meaning I’d need way more distance and a better lawyer if I wanted to reach its claimed top speed of 168 mph. So, I backed off and exhaled with the mischievous smile of someone who got away with highway delinquency.

The Other Half of 1,000 Miles

For the most part, every trip involves a return. Not wanting to ride the mind-numbing interstate back home, I went the same way I came across the Chihuahuan desert along the Mexican border. I played it cool for the cowboy hat-toting Texas Highway Patrol, looking for a bright red excuse, and respected the 18-wheelin convoys along the way.

In one brief situation, a wide-load truck carrying oil rig machinery was being escorted along the two-lane highway at 40 mph. Too slow for my liking, but not an excuse to be a hot dog. I waited until the solid yellow line dotted before shifting into second gear and charging into the opposite lane to overtake the commercial-grade procession. I made sure to flash the high beams at the first semi-truck coming the opposite way to warn them of the lane-hogging traffic up ahead.

On the road, the Mustang’s V8 averaged 24-25 mpg. During the one-week road test, I traveled a total distance of 1,460 miles, averaging 22 mpg in the Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

The Mustang Dark Horse Performance Upgrades

The Dark Horse sits at the top of the six-horse stable in the Mustang lineup. It builds on the GT with multiple performance upgrades like larger rear sway bars, heavy-duty front shocks, and magnetically controlled adaptive dampers as standard.

Under the hood, the 480 horsepower 5.0L Coyote V8 featured in the Mustang GT gets fitted with forged connecting rods from the Shelby GT500 and a stronger camshaft to bump the power output to 500 hp. A set of 19-inch Pirelli P Zero PZ4s tires, Brooklyn style pizza sized Brembo brake discs and a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission are standard equipment on the Dark Horse.

The interior’s arsenal of options included the new electronic Drift Brake introduced for the 2024 Ford Mustang. It comes standard on the Dark Horse and can be optioned on the EcoBoost and GT variants as part of a performance package. It works like a hydraulic handbrake typically seen on professional drift race cars and stunt vehicles.

You have to select a specific setting to activate this feature. Otherwise, it just operates like a regular hand brake. Once engaged, the drift brake’s action works remarkably smooth, instantly locking up the rear tires to slide the car around like a professional stunt driver. Unfortunately, Ford didn’t supply me with a spare set of tires, so I could only “play” with the drift brake a handful of times before the guilt of destroying these expensive Pirelli tires got to me.

The Drawbacks of the Dark Horse

These drawbacks are not limited to the Dark Horse model alone. They affect the 2024 Ford Mustang in general, and they start with the new dual-screen digital dashboard layout consisting of a 12.4-inch instrument cluster and a 13.2-inch infotainment screen. Dual screens are a popular trend in automotive interior design that I do not appreciate because they make me feel like I’m sitting at an office desk while driving.

I do like the new Fox Body 87- 93 instrument setting, which turns the screen behind the steering wheel into a digital throwback to the analog gauges of a Fox Body-era Mustang with the option to customize the color of the gauges—I went with green.

The car’s infotainment screen gave me a few headaches. For instance, when I turn the car on, I immediately want to change the exhaust setting from quiet to sport mode to fill my ears with that rock-n-roll rumble. Yet, I had to wait for the computer to load up and meet my demand. Being impatient resulted in a soul crushing notification on the screen that reads “not available, try again,” which is the last thing you want to see in a car that runs on nostalgia.

Moreover, the Pony button to access all the drive mode settings is located on a small panel below the screen and feels cheap compared to the outgoing model’s silver, aviation-styled toggle switch. In another instance, the backup camera stayed on after I had shifted out of reverse and continued to project what was behind me until I arrived at my destination and turned the vehicle off. The infotainment screen was my least favorite feature of this car.

The 2024 Ford Mustang is Still a Pony Car

Mechanically, the V8 Mustang is still a guaranteed, one-way ticket to fun. The engine, brakes, clutch, transmission, exhaust, and air conditioning are top-notch. Apart from some electronic bugs, the essential character traits that make a Ford Mustang fun, stylish, and exciting are still going strong at 60.

Pricing varies significantly across the Ford Mustang lineup, starting with the EcoBoost at $32,000 and jumping to $42,860 for the V8 GT Premium. The Dark Horse starts at $60,635, and $64,630 for the Dark Horse Premium, which means you can easily spend over $70,000 on a top-tier Ford Mustang when you include options and taxes.

Engine: 5.0L V8

Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission

0 to 60: 4.1 seconds

Starting Price: $42,860 (GT Premium)

Price as shown: $69,210 (Dark Horse Premium)

2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe is a Personal Performance SUV with 409 HP

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 09:06:53 GMT

New 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe

Genesis Motors introduced a new SUV for the 2025 model year lineup, the GV80 Coupe. This slicked back variant of the GV80 SUV harmonizes supercharged performance with head turning elegance. The new 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe is currently being delivered to dealerships across the country. Moreover, the odds of finding a Genesis dealer near you are better than ever, with over 50 facilities across 26 states.

I recently had the opportunity to try out the GV80 Coupe in the evergreen setting of Minneapolis, Minnesota, to find out if it had the moxie to stand on in the cutthroat world of sports luxury SUV market.

First Impressions Matter

I test drove the refreshed 2025 GV80 earlier in the summer, so I had a vivid idea of what to expect from the GV80 Coupe. Both models share a great deal of DNA but differ aesthetically. The most significant change in styling is the swooping fastback roofline that travels all the way to the SUV’s liftgate ending in a ducktail lip spoiler like Elvis Presley’s pompadour. Slick with a fresh set of 22-inch Diamond cut finish wheels.

Admiring the exterior styling with a keen eye will unveil subtle but important design cues, such as the more aggressive-styled front bumper, with 3D effects on the air intakes to help pronounce its performance in bold. The front crest grille, wearing its signature G-Matrix pattern, is also modified with a dual-layered design. Photos don’t do the grille justice. You have to walk up and observe the contrast of laying a black mesh behind the dark chrome pattern.

The rear of the SUV sees slightly reworked taillights, dual or quad exhaust ports integrated into the rear bumper, and an integrated auxiliary brake light decorated with a chrome garnish.

My favorite detail on the GV80 Coupe’s exterior styling is the parabolic gesture, a deep-cut body line running across the vehicle’s profile. Among the nine available exterior colors are the exclusive Bering Blue, said to be inspired by the Ice Bering Sea, and the passionate Mauna Red.

2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe Interior Features

This sports luxury SUV makes a grand effort to provide the driver and occupants with a feeling of arrival upon opening the door. Genesis’ design team achieved this using a great deal of color. Obsidian Black Nappa leather with Gray stitching is the standard upholstery. However, the GV80 Coupe offers exclusive interior color options like Ultramarine Blue with Orange stitching, Smokey Green with Vanilla Beige, and Sevilla Red with Obsidian Black. Each interior color option comes with a carbon fiber or newspaper wood trim.

The steering wheel also features a D-cut, or flat bottom, with perforated molding at the ten-and-two-hand positions to promote its performance-focused nature. If that doesn’t tip you off, your shoes clicking on the SUV’s metal pedals may give you a clue. Furthermore, the Genesis G-Matrix pattern can be spotted throughout the interior, but the 27-inch OLED screen displaying crisp, vibrant graphics captures the eye more than anything. Physical controls for the most used features like audio volume, tuning, radio, media, track selection, and GPS navigation are available for those who prefer analog controls to touchscreens.

Interior space for second row passengers is comfortable for people under six feet tall. Additionally, the swooping roof design does not sacrifice cargo space for the sake of vanity. There is plenty of room to stack luggage or other life objects like baby strollers, backpacks, and boutique shopping bags.

My favorite interior design feature is the active noise cancellation system, which keeps the outside world down to a whisper so I can better enjoy the GV80 Coupe’s standard Bang & Olufsen 18-speaker sound system with a 14-channel amplifier cranking out 1,400 Watts.

GV80 Coupe e-Supercharged Performance with 409 HP

The Genesis GV80 Coupe is available in two powertrains with a strongly recommended preference for premium fuel. The standard 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6 produces 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque, and the top-tier 3.5T e-Supercharger adds an electronically powered supercharger to support the twin-turbo 3.5L V6, boosting its performance to 409 hp and 405 lb.-ft.

Both variants use an eight-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel-drive as standard. Moreover, it features a Sport+ drive mode, which adds tension to the driving feel, like a cat with its hair standing up before a rumble.

Genesis also allows the driver to adjust the brake feel between comfort and sport mode. I noticed the brakes in general are a little sensitive and required a bit of practice before I could pull up to a stop light smoothly without feeling the sudden head jerk associated with good brakes.

Touring the Twin Cities in the Genesis GV80 Coupe

The driving route took us on a hop-scotch path along the state line between Minnesota and Wisconsin through 50 shades of green scenery. A body of water never far from sight navigating rural two-lane roads with the appropriate number of bends to test out the SUV’s Sport+ drive setting.

The left-hand side, of the screen displays a digital speedometer ignited with a red flame to symbolize that the GV80 Coupe has rolled up its shelves and turned its hat backward. The red flaming graphic burns around the speedometer the faster you go. Visually exciting, but I was surprised this graphic was not used as a tachometer.

Because you already have a digital speedometer telling you the speed and the head-up display on the windshield. Plus, my brain struggles to register the engine’s revolutions by looking at a two-digit number system reading “1.3 RPM” instead of seeing a gauge with a needle, analog or digital, charging across the dial towards the taboo redline.

Genesis stated that the GV80 Coupe enhances the driving experience by channeling the engine’s exhaust note through the interior speakers so you can hear its V6 raise its voice. Other manufactures pipe in a fake audio track, but Genesis told me the Coupe’s sound is authentic and not an audio file. It’s a workaround to let the driver and passengers hear the engine’s vocal performance without invading the cabin with a droning road noise. I like that.

The 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe is not the type of vehicle to tempt you into blending the rules of state-enforced speed limits, but if that kind of behavior is already in your blood, it has the muscle to be an enabler while averaging 18-22 mpg.

The GV80 Coupe is a “Me” SUV

This first drive event was done with a co-driver, Adam Ruggiero, editor-in-chief of GearJunkie, whom I hadn’t met before but quickly bonded over being niche-minded automotive writers. During the long drive, Ruggiero and I agreed with Genesis when they described the GV80 Coupe as a more personal SUV than a traditional family vehicle.

I can’t imagine someone loading up the lush red leather interior with a cumbersome car seat, cup holders filled with season-old gunk, and food crumbs on the plush carpeting. You get the sense that this is an SUV for empty nesters. A sleek, silver-tongued styled luxury vehicle for career-oriented sharks looking to splurge or couples with no kids and plenty of time to try out new restaurants in a gentrified business district.

In many ways, the 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe channels the same vibe and lifestyle of a personal luxury coupe from the 1970s. It’s plush with plenty of power and enough room to carry a family, but not specifically designed for the carpool lane. It’s a stealthy performance vehicle with standout looks and a starting price of $79,950 for the 3.5T AWD and $85,750 for the 3.5T e-Supercharged AWD.

Chevrolet Suburban High Country Duramax Travels 600 Miles on One Tank

Jesus R. Garcia — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 03:32:48 GMT

In the days before pickup trucks with two extra doors became the norm, full-size SUVs like the Chevrolet Suburban were the only way to get maximum towing and passenger capacity. Big, plush, powerful, with available four-wheel-drive and more cup holders than a movie theater.

The Chevy Suburban is road royalty, older than the American interstates it once ruled. It’s the oldest vehicle nameplate in U.S. history, dating back to 1934 as a 1935 production model. To give you an idea of how long people have been riding in the back of these half-ton haulers. The Chevy Suburban is older than the A-bomb, Chuck Norris, antibiotics, and the aerosol spray can.

Ninety years later, the Suburban is still one of the largest passenger vehicles on the market. However, thanks to the ever-increasing options in the SUV and pickup truck market, spotting one in traffic is becoming a rarity. Getting access to a 2024 Chevrolet Suburban High Country with the optional 3.0L Duramax diesel powertrain and Super Cruise hands-free cruise control provided an excellent excuse to hit the road with No Particular Place to Go.

Key Highlights

Performance: 3.0L “Babymax” turbodiesel engine making 305 HP and 495 lb.-ft, capable of towing 8,100 lbs.

Fuel Economy: Traveled 600 miles on a single tank of fuel averaging 23 MPG overall.

Favorite Detail: Great interior acoustics and a quiet cabin to talk to passengers without needing to shout.

Nitpick: Push button automatic gear selector is unappealing.

The 2024 model year is the last before the mid-cycle refresh. Major changes for the 2025 model year include new wheel designs, with a premium 24-inch option, a new 17.7-inch infotainment screen as standard with a larger 11-inch digital gauge display and new towing-assist tech features. Hardware changes include improvements to the chassis for improved ride quality and the 3.0L Duramax diesel, nicknamed by some as the “babymax” engine, gets a power bump from 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque to 305 hp and 495 lb.-ft.

The commanding presence of the Suburban’s size makes it difficult not to refer to it as a boat, bus, or cruise ship. The model featured came dressed in a lovely shade of Silver Sage Metallic (light green) rolling on 22-inch Sterling silver painted wheels and sand gold accents in the grille so light you’d think it was a mirage. The exterior color combination contrasted beautifully with the Mocha brown cabin with Jet Black interior accents. When parked and hearing the diesel engine tick away at a low decimal, the Chevy Suburban comes across as stoic as Teddy Roosevelt’s mustache.

The interior offers cathedral headspace with a center console that slides back to give passengers in the second row an easier reach to the cup holders. Doing this created an opening between the front seats that was perfect for my mother to place her purse. However, it takes away a valuable resting place for your elbow. Having deployable armrests in the front seats would resolve this issue.

For an extra $1,995, you’ll get a pair of 12.6-inch entertainment screens for the second-row passengers. One nice feature about this big SUV is that I could converse with someone sitting in the third row while driving without shouting. If comfort is your prime directive, consider splurging on the Magnetic Ride Control air suspension to iron out road wrinkles.

The spotlight feature on this vehicle is Chevrolet’s Super Cruise hands-free cruise control for highway use, included in the optional ($2,700) Advanced Technology Package. According to Chevrolet, it only works on “compatible” roads, which include over 200,000 miles in the United States and Canada – primarily interstates.

When engaged, you can take your handles off the wheel and allow the Suburban to sail along the highway. It uses the adaptive cruise control system to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. If the Super Cruise system detects slow traffic approaching, it will switch lanes and overtake. The system is designed to be a driver’s aid, not a chauffeur—a walking cane instead of a crutch.

Speaking of driving, the Suburban’s ample wheelbase and size may come across as intimidating, but this behemoth is a gentle giant with intuitive handling. Driving becomes second nature once you’ve raised, lowered, or reclined the seat to that “just right” position. Having a 360-view camera on demand is practical when you need to be aware of your surroundings, especially on inclines when you can’t see what’s in front of the massive grille.

The ultra-low sulfur diesel chugging Duramax under the hood felt sluggish the first time I drove it. A side effect of testing driving zippier cars. The Suburban Duramax is not meant to be a racehorse, but a powerful steer capable of towing up to 8,100 pounds, which is only 100 less than the 6.2L gasoline V8 powertrain max towing capacity. Its real saving grace is fuel economy. I was able to drive 600 actual miles from its 28-gallon tank before the low fuel warning light came on – averaging 23 mpg overall.

The model shown is the top-tier High Country trim level with a starting price just over $80,000. However, the 3.0L Duramax engine is available across the six trim levels, with the four-wheel-drive equipped Suburban LS starting at $65,190. Pricing for the 2025 model will be available in the fall of this year.

Engine: 3.0L Duramax turbocharged inline-six diesel

Transmission: 10-speed automatic transmission

0 to 60: 8.4 seconds

Starting Price: $83,395 (High Country)

Price as Shown: $92,750 (High Country)

2024 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is the Last Cat Standing

Jesus R. Garcia — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 07:40:47 GMT

Those who have been reading my stuff over the years may have noticed that I have a soft spot for eight-cylinder powertrains. Like a favorite brand of fermented suds or those select handful of songs that never grow old on the ear, V8s are my preferred preference. I’m aware that these engines are not known for their efficiency, subtlety or political correctness in modern times. Yet, whatever the V8 lacks in grace, it makes up for in showmanship, and no other brand capitalizes on that like Dodge and its signature HEMI V8.

For most of my life, Dodge has supplied a steady stream of V8s to the masses. But, after 2025, it’ll all change for a new era of thrilling horsepower and torque specs achieved with fewer pistons, more turbochargers and lithium-ion batteries. But until that approaching future arrives, I had the opportunity to drive one of the last examples of what certain members of future generations will refer to as a “golden age” in automotive performance – an Octane Red 2024 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat.

Key Highlights

Performance: 710 hp supercharged HEMI V8!

Fuel Economy: Does it really matter? 14 mpg averaged over 1,000 miles.

Favorite Detail: Accelerating from zero to 60 in under 4 seconds.

Nitpick: Low quality resolution backup camera.

Split Personality SUV

This three-row, seven-seat family SUV carries a split personality. One that caters to family car values like big gulp hugging cup holders, snappy folding seats, wide-opening rear doors to lug bulky car seats into and side curtain airbags to keep all three rows safe. Then there’s the other side triggered by heavy throttle input that turns the SUV’s docile demeanor into a red mist of supercharged wrath. Unleashing a fear curdling fury propelled further with the sharpened grip of an all-wheel-drive system clawing at the pavement, accelerating adrenaline into your blood.

Source of Power

The source of its power lurks under the hood. A growling 6.2L supercharged HEMI V8 mixing air and premium fuel into 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. This results in an SUV that will see 60 mph in under four seconds and sprint into felony traffic stop speeds according to its 200-mph speedometer and the two buttons on the center console labeled “SRT” and “Launch.” It elevates its speed so effortlessly that it highlights the worst thing about driving a high-performance vehicle – sharing the road with everyone else. Nevertheless, the Durango SRT Hellcat can use its muscle for other purposes besides speed, such as towing up to 8,700 pounds.

Superman’s Cape Red Interior

The model I tested came with Superman’s cape red upholstery accented with forged carbon fiber trim and a suede headliner as part of the optional Premium 2XY Package ($11,205). This top-shelf premium pack also included a 19-speaker Kardon Harmon audio system with a subwoofer to turn any song up to eleven.

One feature that delighted me every time I was in the driver’s seat was the center console-mounted automatic shift lever. This lever is identical to what you’d see in the Dodge Challenger and Charger. Pulling that lever down into drive and feeling the V8 vibrate under your right foot as you set off is incredibly satisfying.

However, this vibrant interior is not without faults. Compared to other 2024 model SUVs, the Durango’s rear backup camera looks low-res and grainy, like watching a video captured by the 2007 Motorola Razr flip phone. But I like the bright red pull-cords used to operate the easy-folding rear seats, which make you feel like you’re pulling the ripcord on a parachute.

Matters of the Heart

Unsurprisingly, the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is not a fuel sipper. It’s rated at 12 mpg in the city and 17 mph on the highway. Throughout a 1,000-mile road test, I averaged 14 mpg. Then there’s the elephant in the room, the price. Granted, this is one of the “last of the V8s,” and that comes with a certain future-collector premium Dodge is looking to squeeze out of every model, but asking six figures for a vehicle built on an aging platform and drivetrain doesn’t make it a great value. You don’t buy a Hellcat powered Durango with your wallet; you buy it with your heart because that’s the only way you’ll be able to justify the expense.

However, price and constant fuel stops aside, the Durango SRT delivers as a family SUV. When my two-year-old goddaughter was buckled into her car seat, the sound of the V8 starting up and revving excited her curiosity. A few miles later, that steady V8 rumble and gentle ride put her to sleep.

Engine: 6.2L Supercharged HEMI V8

Transmission: 8-speed Automatic

0 to 60: 3.4 seconds

Starting Price: $95,995 (SRT Hellcat)

Price as Shown: $109,190 (SRT Hellcat Premium)

Jeep Grand Wagoneer Series III is a Luxury Land Ship

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 10:22:03 GMT

Leather Appointed Land Ship

A full-size SUV can be a refreshing experience after testing a fleet of sub-compact, compact, mid-size and slightly larger than mid-size but not quite full-size crossovers. My sepia-filtered childhood memories consist of mammoth-sized, gas-guzzling SUVs taking up space in the carpool lanes of post-Y2K era America. Today’s full-size family trucksters are sleeker, quieter and quicker thanks to the magic of turbochargers and transmission providing more gears than a competition mountain bike. Among the elite selection of leather-appointed land ships is the 2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Series III.

More specifically, the crest-topping Grand Wagoneer Series III Obsidian. This ultra-lux 4WD comes with three rows, four-wheel-drive, a six-figure price tag and up to seven digital screens. Jeep pulled out all the stops and threw in the kitchen sink for this flagship SUV. So much so that you don’t see the word “Jeep.”

Unlike the Grand Cherokee, which comes loaded with Easter egg shrines to its Willys World War liberating heritage, the Wagoneer pays tribute to the original Grand Wagoneer from 1963. These Easter eggs include a retro-inspired two-spoke steering wheel and an “EST. 1963” inscription on the edge of the dashboard when you open the door.

Interior

I applaud Jeep for providing two color options for the Grand Wagoneer at no extra cost besides traditional ebony. The Tupelo (tan) upholstery emphasizes the grandness of the SUV’s name by saturating the spacious cabin in color. There’s also a Blue Agave interior color option. You’ll also notice the number of digital screens that break up the leather and genuine walnut or aluminum trim.

Jeep claims this SUV has 75 inches worth of digital screens if optioned with the second-row entertainment package ($2,595), which adds two 10-inch monitors for passengers to hook up gaming consoles or stream content. Other interior goodies include a ventilated center console cubby to keep juice pouches chilled on the road. You can even have a safe beneath the center console to store valuables.

The best way to test a vehicle like this is to fill it with people and hit the road. Thankfully, there was no shortage of friends and family members looking for a ride in the Grand Wagoneer. Two young adults in the third row, plugged in with USB ports, a young mom and her two-year-old daughter reclined just-so in the second-row captain’s chairs with the father riding shotgun and yours truly behind the wheel.

The interior’s first-class amenities and lavish seats cast a spell on my passengers. In the time it took to pass a handful of mile markers, the gentle sway of the SUV’s adjustable air spring suspension had rocked everyone to sleep, forcing me to turn up the volume on the 23-speaker McIntosh audio system to drown out their snoring.

Performance

For 2024, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer (and Wagoneer) drops the 6.4L Hemi V8 for a twin-turbocharged 3.0L inline-six. Dubbed the Hurricane, this six-banger is the new standard engine for the luxury SUV. The Grand Wagoneer-spec 3.0L Hurricane produces an impressive 510 horsepower and 500 pounds of torque in its top-tier specs.

The standard Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive system is managed through an 8-speed automatic transmission. Unfortunately, this premium-fuel-recommended six-cylinder engine has an appetite of eight with an average fuel economy rating of 17 mph, with 14 in the city and 20 highway. I averaged 16 mpg but managed to squeeze over 380 actual miles before refueling.

Off-road hardware includes a two-speed transfer case with selectable low-range, hill-descent control and an electronic rear locking differential. You can raise the SUV’s ride height by up to 3.6 inches (or lower it by half an inch) for a maximum ground clearance of 10 inches. Additionally, Jeep claims the Grand Wagoneer can wade through two feet of water. Furthermore, it boasts a max towing rating of 9,860 pounds.

The Grand Wagoneer shares chassis DNA with the Ram 1500 but doesn’t drive like a truck. On the road, it glides over the pavement like a sailboat catching a breeze in a calm sea. The fast-responding Hurricane engine puts over 500 ponies at the front of this stagecoach. Poke the throttle and the burly SUV moves like a grizzly bear. Off-road, I worried its long wheelbase would feel awkward and oversized when the road turned into terrain. However, it handles and tackles a trail like a Jeep should with vigor and ease.

The 2024 Grand Wagoneer starts at the $94,000 benchmark, so be prepared to see six-figure MSRPs. However, Jeep also offers the Wagoneer at a reasonable-by-comparison $63,000 price range. The main differences between the two variants are engine output and interior amenities. Regardless of trim level, this SUV provides a graceful ride with performance worthy of its iconic nameplate.

Engine: Twin-turbocharged 3.0L Inline Six

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

0 to 60: 4.7 seconds

Starting Price: $92,540 (Grand Wagoneer)

Price as Shown: $119,380 (Series III Obsidian)

2024 Subaru WRX TR Keeps it Real with a 6-Speed Manual

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 17:36:30 GMT

Straddling the Line Between Practical and Performance

The pickings are slim for car buyers looking for something that can accommodate a child’s car seat, deliver high performance, be equipped with a manual transmission, and cost under $45,000. Yet, against all odds, the Subaru WRX remains a shining option that straddles the line between practicality and performance.

I was thrilled to get my hands on a 2024 Subaru WRX TR dressed in a signature WR Blue Pearl paint job with an authentic manual transmission and DIY handbrake.

Key Highlights

Fuel Economy: I averaged 25 mpg, which is about 300-350 actual miles per tank (premium fuel preferred).

Performance: Turbocharged 2.4L Boxster four-banger producing 271 hp and 258 lb.-ft.

Starting Price: $33,855 (Base)

Favorite Detail: It has a traditional, grip-it-and-rip-it, handbrake.

Nitpick: Recaro sports seats are not easy on the lumbar.

Styling

The WRX is still in its fourth-generation design, which debuted in 2022. One thing that quickly became apparent was the hard nosed opinions Subaru owners and fans had for the car’s styling. Many don’t approve of its bland exterior design compared to previous, classic, generations, which featured more livery, smoother body lines, and bug-eyed-shaped headlamps. This modern interpretation is much more rigid, with sharp-edged sculptured fender flares, pointed headlamps and bulbous bumpers.

The rear end styling, in particular, is a hot-button topic of criticism for many Subaru fans and loyalists who feel it looks like a Honda Civic. Moreover, the plastic fender moldings that wrap around the car get mixed reactions, with some preferring they were painted the same color as the body. Nevertheless, the car does stand out with a trunk lip spoiler, dual port exhaust tips, a functional hood scoop, 19-inch aluminum wheels and large front air intake vents.

For 2024, you can choose between five trim levels, from Base to the top-tier GT. The model I tested was second to the top, the WRX TR, the highest trim level that offers the desirable manual transmission. The GT only comes with an automatic. This TR-spec Subaru WRX came equipped with plenty of interior décor details to remind passengers that this is no ordinary sedan.

Interior Features

The interior features ultra suede-trimmed Recaro performance bucket seats and aluminum billet pedals. Red stitching is featured throughout the cabin on the seats, the dash, around the shifter and the steering wheel. The bottom of the steering wheel features a carbon fiber piece of trim with a black “WRX” badge. The thick rubber floor mats help keep outside elements off the carpet and distinguish themselves from the rest of the black upholstery interior with bright red WRX emblems.

Placed vertically in the center of the dashboard is an 11.6-inch infotainment screen with a layout that’ll become intuitive to anyone who’s ever used an iPad. This model also came fitted with an 11-speaker sound system by Harman Kardon, suitable for drowning out the engine’s throaty rumble – if you want. This car also has excellent visibility if, like me, you turn your head to check your blind spot.

Rear seating is decent for a car of this size, with LATCH systems to secure child safety seats without hassle. The rear seats fold down in a 60/40 split to create more cargo room from the trunk, which itself offers enough room to place two 50-pound bags of dog food side by side with space left for groceries and a roadside go-bag.

Performance Specs

Under the hood scoop is a turbocharged 2.4L Boxer four-cylinder engine developing 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission sends power to Subaru’s world rally championship-proven all-wheel drive system. One of the many iconic details of a Subaru WRX is the muscle-bound rumble of its Boxer engine, which produces smile-provoking soundwaves for the ear.

Maneuvering the six-speed shifter is like dancing with someone who loves to dance. It engages your movements and delivers a satisfying sensation when you feel it slip into the next gear with ease. The clutch pedal feel is firm but won’t wear out your left knee in stop-and-go traffic. Moreover, it’s forgiving enough for novice drivers to learn the dying art of manual shifting. Traditional hand-operated parking brakes are quickly becoming extinct in modern vehicle interiors, so seeing one in the WRX was a delight.

On the highway, the Recaro seats provided a secure feeling to indulge my wannabe racing driver fantasies but lacked lumbar support. I expected the sports tuned suspension to leave me feeling fatigued after 140 miles on the road, but the WRX offers a good balance of sport and comfort. That being said, if you’re used to riding in plush SUVs, the Subaru’s suspension will feel rough at first.

During moments of weakness, when my right foot suddenly felt heavy, and the road turned to dirt, the Subaru WRX switched from Dr. Jeykll to Mr. Hyde. Off the leash and at high RPM, the car moved through loose surfaces with the agility of a cat chasing a laser pointer. Red Brembo brakes came in handy when I needed to slow down in a hurry.

The dynamic all-terrain handling was limited by the dress shoe rubber band thin tires and my fear of damaging the stylish wheels. Ripping the handbrake to slide the car into a quick 180-degree turn and feel the AWD system grip and launch me forward allowed me to fully understand why these cars are so good at rallying.

Fuel Economy and Pricing

Gas mileage is on par for a hot-performing sports sedan. At a full tank, the fuel range will show 450 miles, but in real world miles, it’s closer to 300-350, depending on driving style. I averaged nearly 25 mpg over a week of city commuting, highway travel, and dirt road hijinks. If you want the best performance out of the drivetrain, premium fuel is recommended.

Pricing starts at the $33,000 mark for a base model WRX. The TR model starts at $41,000 and can stay under $45,000 if you go easy on the options. The middle tier variants, Premium and Limited, are well equipped and can keep the MSRP under $40,000 if you don’t care about having Ultrasuede trimmed Recaro seats.

The Subaru WRX is a jack of all trades, playing the part of both racer and family sedan. It offers a balance of safety features and performance perks. Is it perfect? No. But it’s fun, and that makes up for many of its shortcomings.

Engine: 2.4L Boxer Turbocharged Four-Cylinder

Transmission: 6-Speed Manual

0 to 60: 5.5 seconds

Price as Shown: $42,907 (TR)

Mercedes-Benz CLA250 Coupe Gets 38 MPG in Style

Jesus R. Garcia — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 07:01:08 GMT

The Entry Level Introduction

The CLA-class is the first step in the spiral staircase of the Mercedes-Benz hierarchy. Meant to introduce car buyers to the brand with the hopes of establishing lifelong loyalty. It’s like playing a game of catch with your child before handing them a Houston Astros baseball cap to spark an interest that’ll lead to a full-ride scholarship. First impressions matter because an individual’s opinion hardens quicker than fast setting concrete and changing it after the fact takes a herculean amount of effort.

That’s a lot of pressure to put on the fenders of a compact sedan from a brand with an extensive and historically varied reputation. Yet, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 4Matic bears the weight of this responsibility with grace, exceeding my expectations for style, comfort and performance efficiency.

Key Highlights

Fuel Economy: 35-38 MPG, drove 425 actual miles on a full tank.

Performance: Turbocharged 2.0L mid-hybrid producing 221 hp and 258 lb.-ft.

Starting Price: $43,200

My Favorite Detail: The color! Starling Blue is the way to go!

Nitpick: Does not make a great getaway car.

A Four Door, Coupe

Right off the bat, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 greeted me with a confident handshake with its newly available Starling Blue exterior. You don’t often see the German three-point star dressed in a vibrant shade of blue and totally worth the $750 tax to the MSRP. Perfectly matched with a set of 18-inch multi-spoke wheels for that executive suite look to attract eyeballs when you pull up to the valet for a power lunch.

MB labels the CLA250 sedan as a coupe, but I refuse to acknowledge it because the Oxford dictionary defines “coupe” as a car with a fixed roof, a sloping rear and two doors! Granted, the sedan’s full-rack-fastback profile does a great impression of a stylish GT coupe but unless you shave off the rear door handles the CLA250 is, in the Queen’s English, a saloon.

Mercedes-Benz gave the CLA-class a styling tweak for the 2024 model year, giving it a shot of Botox to revise the front bumper, grille and new rear diffuser. The most significant change comes under the hood, with its 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine receiving a 48-volt mild hybrid technology and a belt-driven starter-generator to boost performance and fuel efficiency.

Genuine Leather Interior

Inside, the standard black and available beige MB-Tex upholstery feels like leather and is decorated with brushed aluminum trim, a carbon fiber looking finish, or two variants of Natural Grain Linden wood. Those looking to splurge can opt for genuine leather upholstery in all black or two-tone in either red or titanium grey for an extra $1,450. The optional AMG-Night Package ($3,150) will dress the CLA250 in an AMG wardrobe with sports seats, AMG-steering wheel, gloss black exterior accents and AMG-body styling topped off with a set of 18-inch twin-spoke AMG wheels.

Speaking of performance, the CLA-class lineup consists of the 250 and 250 with 4Matic all-wheel drive system sharing the same 2.0L turbocharged inline-four with mild-hybrid drive technology. The compact and complex engine produces 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, managed by an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The performance numbers do not give the CLA250 justice, as the sedan feels lively and agile when you snap the reins and kick it in the gut with your spurs. Off the line, you can feel the turbo and mild hybrid tech working to give you a direct power ballad of effortless acceleration with a grin provoking burbling exhaust note.

The Other CLA Variants

Sitting above the standard models are the AMG-tuned CLA35 and CLA45 S. These high-performance variants flex a spicier spec of the turbocharged 2.0L engine. The AMG CLA35 boasts a power output of 302 hp, while the CLA45 S delivers an eye-widening 416 hp and 369 lb.-ft. Of course, more power means more money, with the latter capable of reaching and surpassing the $70,000 price point depending on options—a significant gap compared to the CLA250’s $43,000 starting price.

Five Star Fuel Economy

The car’s best attribute by far is its fuel economy. I averaged 35.6 mpg over a 600-mile road test and got as high as 38 mpg on the highway during long distance travel. Starting with a full tank the estimated range projected an optimistic 470 miles, but much to my surprise was able to drive 425 actual miles before pulling into a gas station with the reserve fuel light on and 33 miles of range left. These are impressive numbers for a gasoline luxury sedan.

Another noteworthy feature is its rearview backup camera. Most vehicles have a camera lens mounted on the trunk lid or tailgate, but this sedan takes it up a notch by adding some pizzazz to an otherwise standard safety gadget. When you shift into reverse, the center-mounted three-point star emblem on the trunk lid lifts, allowing the camera lens to poke out like a machine gun barrel on a James Bond spy car. Once you’ve completed your traverse in reverse, the camera lens ducks back into its hole like a groundhog.

Not My First Choice for a Getaway Car

My few nit-picks with this car are its transmission and trunk. The column shifter, while smooth to operate, has a noticeable delay in engagement when shifting out of reverse and into drive. Impatient or hurrying drivers wanting to get going as soon as possible will feel the otherwise suave sedan fumble over itself clumsily like a student driver learning how to drive a stick shift.

Then there’s the trunk, which offers a surprising amount of space to fit a set of golf clubs if you can get past its narrow opening. Moreover, when opening the trunk via the key fob or release button inside, the lid flies open like the last note on a jack-in-the-box toy, which could lead to embarrassing or incriminating situations depending on the cargo. For these reasons, I wouldn’t recommend the CLA250 as a good getaway car, but it gets high praise for being a competitively priced, fuel-efficient luxury sedan.

Engine: 2.0L Turbocharged Mild-Hybrid Inline-Four

Transmission: 8-speed Dual-Clutch Automatic

0 to 60: 6.3 seconds

Price as Shown: $47,550 (4Matic)

Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss Prefers the Dusty Road

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 13:54:59 GMT

For those who didn’t grow up watching reruns of Bonanza and Gunsmoke, a trail boss is the foreman of a cattle drive. It’s their job to keep them doggies rollin’ (rawhide!). It is not an easy job as it involves long hours in an unforgiving work environment where mistakes can be fatal. You have to be tough to be trail boss, which makes it a perfect marketing term to christen a mid-size pickup truck with a factory lift, all-terrain tires and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with plenty of true grit – The Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss.

The Chevy Colorado is the paperback version of the hardcover GMC Canyon. The pages have the same content, but the finish is different. The Colorado’s front design looks like Charles Bronson staring directly into the camera with more lines than Tommy Lee Jones’s face.

GM designers must have looked at a Ruffles potato chip and thought eureka because the entire exterior of the pickup truck is littered with body lines, dimples and creases to give it a masculine aesthetic. For example, the flared fenders look sharp enough to shave with. The Glacier Blue exterior color with matte black trim and 18-inch black wheels provides the look you want in a broad-shouldered pickup truck.

It’s the interior where the Colorado Trail Boss lives too much to the job title it’s named after. The work truck cloth seats and dry plastic trim don’t match the extra cost for this trim level. The center console feels flimsy and awkward to operate. Plus, the only place you’ll see the words “Trail Boss” is on the rear fender, a tiny badge on the front grille and the pink slip. However, you do get a six-speaker audio system, Google connectivity, 8-way power seats, and a hitch view backup camera.

Another thing you’ll notice is the absence of a lever typically reserved for operating a vehicle’s headlights. That task has been reassigned to the 11-inch diagonal Driver Information Center touchscreen, forcing you to unlearn a common habit. Several times, I reached for a phantom lever that wasn’t there.

Driving dynamics felt more comfortable than the stylish but rough-riding GMC Canyon AT4 thanks to the 32-inch all-terrain tires absorbing road imperfections. It’s a nice ride, even when the road runs out.

Off-road goodies in the Trail Boss package include a factory two-inch lift and beefier variant of the Colorado’s 8-speed automatic transmission. It has an electronically controlled overdrive and altered shift points to help with towing, adaptive cruise, and hill descent control – all standard. In addition to selectable four-wheel-drive, a two-speed transfer case, and a sensor that manages wheel speed. If it detects an increase in wheel speed like when driving in mud, the rear differential locks the rear wheels to travel in unison for added traction.

I had to dive into the center screen’s settings to turn off the truck’s stability and traction control. Then, I could unleash the turbocharged 2.7L engine’s 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque on the back roads of rural Texas. This pickup truck will slide on dirt roads like a moonshine runner fleeing from the law – briefly.

Past 35 mph, the truck’s stability control panics and reengages. This shuts down the fun faster than a helicopter parent seeing their kid climbing a tree. Is it safe? If you’re in a bad weather situation, yes. However, some of us understand the concept of car control and like sliding around corners. If I consciously decide to turn off an electronic driver safety aid, I expect it to stay off until I say otherwise. Of course, this is a very specific nitpick for an otherwise capable and comfortable pickup truck.

My biggest criticism of the Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss is fuel consumption. It’s rated at 17 mpg in the city, 19 highway for a combined average of 18 mpg with a 21.4-gallon fuel tank. In the real world, I averaged between 16-17 mpg. That puts it in the same league as a full-size truck with more cylinders, towing capacity and legroom. In terms of efficiency, what’s the point apart from taking up less space in the garage?

Lucky for the Colorado, its MSRP is far lower than its Silverado sibling. With a starting price for the entry level Work Truck and LT trim levels under $35,000 and the Trail Boss starting at $40,000.

Engine: 2.7L Turbocharged Four-Cylinder

Transmission: 8-Speed Automatic

0 to 60: 6.5 Seconds

Starting Price: $33,495 (LT 2WD)

Price as Shown: $41,055 (Trail Boss 4WD)

CTX Bolt-In Custom Truck Bench Seats by Distinctive Industries

Jesus R. Garcia — Fri, 24 May 2024 09:35:36 GMT

Nothing instills a warmth sepia-toned nostalgia like sliding across a vinyl bench seat on an old truck. The sound of fabric rubbing against skin and denim as your weight bounces on the spun seat. It is the cherry that tops the experience of driving an old pickup truck, complete with a thin-rim steering wheel and column automatic or floor-mounted manual shifter that can double as an armrest. CTX Bolt-In Custom truck bench seats by Distinctive Industries provides a quick solution to completing that last detail for a finished restoration or replacement on a patina survivor.

Old trucks are becoming fashion accessories in addition to work vehicles and collector’s items. Thanks in part to the increasing contrast in style and size of modern pickup trucks which have become inflated shells of their previous generations with frontends that tower over anyone under five feet tall, tech saturated interiors and curb weights make handling feel like a container ship in rough seas.

Many consumers seek an “old truck” to reconnect with the past or fulfill a rose-tinted fantasy for an era they never saw. Whatever the reason, old trucks are here to stay, and we need a place to sit and enjoy them. CTX Bolt-In Custom Truck Seat offers simple, easy-to-install bench seats for the most popular truck models from the big three: Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge.

Key Features of CTX Bolt-In Custom Truck Seats

Tailored Fit: Available in two width styles to perfectly fit classic pickup trucks for seamless integration.

Catalog of Options: Choose from three different upholstery patterns, dozens of vibrant colors, and contrast stitches for countless combinations. And yes, they have the option to include cup holders.

Enhanced Comfort: CTX seats are ergonomically designed to provide superior comfort beyond the original factory spec.

Premium Build Quality: Crafted from high-quality materials, including premium-grade upholstery, supportive molded foam cushions, and a durable framework, these seats are built to look good while handling the weight of daily use.

So, whether you need a new bench for your old F-100 or C-10, Distinctive Industries has you covered.

The CTX Bolt-In Custom Truck Seats are now available for purchase through authorized Distinctive Industries retailers, including Classic Industries, CJ Pony Parts, Eckler’s, and more. Contact a dealer near you for more information about the CTX Custom Truck Seat.

2025 Genesis GV80 Gains All-New Interior Design

Jesus R. Garcia — Fri, 17 May 2024 11:12:41 GMT

The Proof is in the Fit

Price does not guarantee style when it comes to design and fashion. A $5,000 pinstripe suit can look like a bed sheet without a tailored fit, while a $20 straw cowboy hat from a gas station can pass for a Stetson if it sits symmetrically with the face. Style is about the fit and finish and the attitude you carry with it, a design philosophy Genesis has capitalized on to create vehicles that punch above their MSRP weight class with considerable force.

I recently had the opportunity to spend a day with the newly redesigned 2025 Genesis GV80. This mid-size luxury SUV received exterior styling touch-ups, focused primarily on an all-new interior layout that adds premium audio, innovative tech, and eco-friendly materials.

The Genesis Brand

For context, Genesis is currently the only luxury car brand from South Korea and has steadily been growing its presence in the United States with 35 dealerships across 17 states. Its target audience is car owners looking to trade in their German and Japanese-built leather interiors for something fresh with a premium feel. They’ve managed to stand out in the crowd with a signature diamond-crest front grille and build quality that performs as well as it looks.

Styling Touch-ups on the 2025 Genesis GV80

Spotting the differences between the 2025 Genesis GV80’s redesigned exterior and the outgoing model is like studying an oil painting. Take the time to notice the subtle but critical changes, like the redesigned Genesis emblem featuring a bolder engraved texture. At the front, the GV80 cuts through the night using the brand’s iconic two-line headlamps design equipped with the latest MLA (Micro Lens Array) technology that allows headlights to be smaller, lighter, and more efficient. The diamond crest G-Matrix grille has an enhanced double mesh design resembling a Glen Check pattern suit.

Underneath the glamor grille are larger air vents and a lower skid plate design decorated with silver flare. Other design cues include Monobloc front brake calipers as standard, and two new optional wheels designed sized 20 and 22 inches. In addition to the new Storr Green and Storr Green matte finish exterior color options. However, be aware of the delicate requirements for maintaining a factory satin or matte finish because satin paint is hand-washed only, like a cashmere sweater or lingerie.

My favorite exterior touch-up is the G-Matrix design in the rear body-colored bumper covering the exhaust tips. Nothing short of a political bumper sticker ruins a vehicle’s rear design like the sight of untreated, corroding exhaust pipes peeking out the bottom. A smooth profile and wind tunnel sculpted roofline give the SUV a sporty flare while maintaining a graceful presence that commands attention. It’s the kind of vehicle that motivates you to dress up because people are going to look in your direction.

This is the kind of SUV that’ll make you want to shop for pocket squares.

Inside the All-New Genesis GV80 Interior

Once you step inside, you’ll notice the most significant change in the GV80’s interior, a 27-inch OLED digital screen placed horizontally from the driver to the center console. This massive screen houses the digital gauge cluster and infotainment to look like one continuous display. Even on a bright sunny day, the display was crystal clear and vibrant, but I wish the designers had opted to tuck the screen into the dashboard molding for a better visual aesthetic. Doing so would also help distinguish Genesis digital displays from Hyundai models, but I digress.

Other interior design changes include a new steering wheel design, a different wireless charger location, touchscreen HVAC controls with aluminum vent grille covers, and a B&O premium audio system that allows you to control the sound levels based on location throughout the cabin.

Fingerprint recognition is standard on the GV80, providing a third method to start the vehicle without using a smartphone app or a key fob. One detail I did not like is the double dial on the center console. One manages the infotainment settings, and the other is the gear selector. Both dials look similar in size and texture, so be ready to grab the wrong one.

Driving the new GV80 allowed me to test out the new and improved B&O sound system, which has an intuitive interface that gives me complete control over where the sound goes. However, I also enjoyed driving it in the tranquility of silence thanks to Active Road Noise Control, which detects road noise coming into the cabin. I nestled in the luxuriously appointed Nappa leather upholstery and lumbar cuddling power seats.

Genesis introduced three new interior colors to the 2025 GV80: Earth Brown, Bordeaux Brown, and Glacier white. These colors contrast beautifully with the Smokey Green and Ultramarine blue two-tone options. Further accenting the allure of the cabin are new textile materials like Newspaper Wood, made from compressed recycled newspapers to create an eye-catching striped pattern, and Basalt, made from basalt stone that’s been melted, processed into a yarn, and woven into a crosshatch pattern.

Performance and Fuel Economy

All this talk about luxury and I have yet to discuss performance. The GV80 engine options carry over from the 2024 model. The standard engine is a turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. Out of the seven available trim levels, only the top two get to flex a twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6, making a stout 375 hp and 391 lb.-ft of torque. Both engines are managed by an eight-speed automatic. All-wheel drive and a 6,000-pound tow rating are standard across the board.

In Sport mode, the plush SUV uses its ADAS road-reading electronically adjustable suspension to stiffen the ride and tighten throttle response to the degree that passengers will feel every minor adjustment you make when steering, braking, and accelerating. Be wary if you’re traveling with passengers prone to motion sickness. Comfort and Smart mode provide plenty of pep in its step to live in the fast lane with a preferred ride quality.

You feel the weight of the SUV when the road twists and bends, but its AWD performance assures you that it will hang on if you throw it into a turn at speed.

Fuel economy is one area where it fails to surpass expectations with mediocre MPGs. The 3.5L V6 has an EPA estimated rating of 19 mpg combined, 22 highway and 16 city. The 2.5L four-banger turbo performs slightly better, averaging 21 mpg, 24 highway and 19 city. The GV80 would greatly benefit from a hybrid or plug-in hybrid variant.

Six Figure Luxury at Under $80,000

For pricing, the entry model starts at $59,000 and reaches the $80,000 mark at the top of the range, with well-equipped variants in between.

A top-of-the-line 2025 GV80 3.5T Prestige AWD has a starting MSRP of $79,300. It comes loaded with 22-inch alloy wheels, Nappa leather upholstery with a microfiber suede headliner and pillar trim, power heated and ventilated second-row seats, heated front console armrest, soft power door closure, power rear door sunshades, a digital rearview mirror, vanity mirrors for the second row, and a rear electronic limited-slip differential.

The 2025 Genesis GV80 is available now.

2024 Buick Envista ST Delivers Efficiency in Style

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 14 May 2024 08:17:54 GMT

The Envista is the latest addition to Buick’s all-SUV lineup. It stands proudly at the front as the brand’s entry model. It’s a subcompact “Baby Buick” with a considerable amount of style for value.

The 2024 Buick Envista is available in three trim levels: the Preferred, Sport Touring and Avenir. They all share the same turbo-aided three-cylinder engine to drive the front wheels. So, distinguishing between the three comes down to interior features and the caliper of bling on the wheels. For example, the Envista ST wears 18-inch gloss black painted wheels compared to the standard 19-inch Pearl Nickel aluminum wheels on the Avenir. But you can opt for 19-inch black painted aluminum wheels on the ST like the ones shown in this article. Buick allows customers to choose top-tier features on lower trim levels, which is something I appreciate in an automaker.

That’s not to say that the mid-range Buick Envista ST doesn’t come pre-loaded with a silver tray of bells and whistles. Standard interior features include front and rear USB charging ports, keyless ignition, a noise-canceling interior cabin, Bluetooth with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD rear vision backup camera, lane assist, and automatic emergency braking. The dashboard consists of an 11-inch color HD touchscreen and an 8-inch digital gauge cluster housed in one elegant diagonal panel. The rear seats fold down to give you station wagon levels of cargo space.

Moreover, the ST trim includes blue stitching on the seats and interior, providing a hint of color to the Ebony seats. Speaking of color, the Ocean Blue Metallic exterior color garnered many compliments from the general public. I am pleased that Buick offers two shades of red and copper tan in addition to the usual black, white and silver options.

The blue paintwork allowed sunlight to dance across the small SUV’s chiseled design. It almost looks like a sci-fi inspired escape capsule from the back with its wind tunnel shaped roofline. At the front, the sharp angled headlights and leading role jawline bear a striking resemblance to the robotic mask of Tony Stark’s Iron Man suit.

Under the hood beats an endearing 1.2L three-cylinder engine breathing through a turbocharger to produce 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission. The Envista shares the same platform and powertrain with the 2024 Chevrolet Trax, and like the Trax, this little SUV scoots and scampers through traffic with ease. Granted, it won’t win a drag race, but from zero to 50 mph, you’ll be surprised at how hard those three pistons can pump. It almost gets decent fuel economy with an EPA-rated 28 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway, and it projects 400 miles of range with a full tank.

Driving impressions are better than expected. The Envista balances a light touch steering and a forgiving ride with responsive controls. However, you better call shotgun as the front seats are more comfortable than the rear. But there’s plenty of leg and headroom to make up for the occasional thump felt when driving over a pothole or speed bump.

This baby Buick delivers the essentials regarding interior space, fuel economy, and value. MSRPs start in the low 20s, with $25,000 for the Sport Touring and $29,000 for the Avenir. Savvy shoppers can choose a lower-tier model with specific options to get the most plush for their buck while keeping their heads under the $30,000 ceiling.

Compared to other reasonably priced subcompacts in this vehicle segment, the Buick Envista stands out in style.

Engine: 1.2L Turbo Three-Cylinder

Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic

0 to 60: 9.3 seconds

Starting Price: $23,495 (Preferred)

Price as Shown: $29,070 (Sport Touring)

Bertha Benz, the Mother of Car Culture

Jesus R. Garcia — Sun, 12 May 2024 15:21:01 GMT

The Mother of Car Culture

Mother’s Day is the annual holiday when we show appreciation to the moms and maternal figures in our lives. Greeting cards, fresh-cut flowers, homemade gifts, bubbly champagne at brunch, burnt toast on a tray of breakfast in bed—we all have our own way of expressing gratitude to the person who brought us into this world.

What better holiday to celebrate Bertha Benz? The woman whose support for her husband, Karl (Carl) Benz, would unintentionally spark what we now partake in as car culture. Bertha Benz became the mother of car culture on August 5, 1888, when she embarked on the first-ever road trip with her two sons in her husband’s no.3 petroleum-powered motor car—without telling him.

Bertha Benz’s influence in the production of the Patent-Motorwagen goes far beyond taking it on a test drive. She financed her husband’s work and paid for the original patent (German patent number 37435) granted in November 1886. At the time, a married woman in Germany was not allowed to hold a patent or be considered an inventor. Nevertheless, her contribution continued in areas Mr. Benz was too busy or uninterested in focusing on, such as generating publicity and marketing their invention into a successful business.

Nothing Sells a Car Like the Car Itself

In terms of marketing, nothing sells the product like showing the product in action. So, if you want to sell the idea of private motorized transportation, people need to see it working. That was the core ideal for Bertha Benz when she took her two sons, Richard and Eugen, and drove the Patent-Motorwagen prototype from Mannheim to Pforzheim 65 miles (106km) away to visit her mother. She did so without telling anyone, including her husband, following the age rule of being easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Besides, what good is an invention if you don’t believe in it, right?

Sneaking the car out of the workshop meant having her sons push it out while Karl Benz was asleep. Those who enjoy the freedom of the automobile can appreciate or remember sneaking a vehicle past supervision using leg power. But, being a lady, she left a note on the kitchen table informing her husband about the journey and reassuring him that they would be back in a few days. Of course, the note didn’t say what method of transportation they would be taking, and one can only imagine the mixed flood of emotions he must have felt when he became the first victim of grand theft auto.

History’s First Road Trip

The significance of Bertha Benz’s mission to drive a long distance in 1888 cannot be understated. This was an era when these rudimentary machines could only travel the equivalent of around the block with a mechanic riding shotgun for when it eventually broke down. The Benz Patent-Motorwagen prototype Bertha Benz drove was powered by a 954cc single-cylinder gas engine producing under two horsepower, allowing it to reach a break-neck top speed of 10 mph. A 4.5-liter carburetor housed the car’s fuel supply instead of a designated fuel tank.

The first fuel stop was in the town of Wiesloch. Back then, the only way to purchase the petrol solvent Ligroin to run the Motorwagen was from the local chemist at the town pharmacy. Buying fuel turned the pharmacy into the first gas station in the world. History records of breakdowns included a blocked fuel line, which Bertha Benz fixed using a hat pin. She also used her garter to insulate an ignition wire.

How many of us have been forced to MacGyver or Jerry-rigged a temporary fix using whatever was at hand to stay roadworthy?

Along the journey, Bertha Benz asked a town’s local shoe cobbler to install shoe leather on the failing wooden brakes, thus inventing brake pads to help reduce friction and heat buildup. Moreover, this road trip served as a shakedown to highlight weak areas that could be improved, like the two-forward gear transmission that wasn’t strong enough to carry the Motorwagen up hills, requiring a third gear.

Bertha Benz and her sons reached Pforzheim after sundown and informed her husband via telegram that they had made it safely. Three days later, they made it home, completing the estimated 120-mile round trip successfully and proving that the Patent-Motorwagen worked as a means of private transportation. The Benz Patent-Motorwagen went on sale later than summer in 1888 with a third gear and brake pads as standard.

But beyond that. Her test drive essentially paved the way for how we test, promote, and enjoy cars today.

Bertha Benz Legacy

Modern vehicles undergo thousands of miles of road testing to fix issues. Car companies advertise and market their vehicles using the media and car writing geeks like me to garner publicity for their performance, design and versatility. Most importantly, we use cars to explore and travel as we please through the freedom of personal transport.

Car culture is expressed globally through personalized pieces of glass, rubber, and treated metals. It’s not unreasonable to say that if Bertha Benz had not taken the first road trip, someone else would, but she beat them to the punch.

So, we owe her a thank you when we point our car at the horizon and travel on seemingly endless miles of paved roads littered with convenience fuel stations, restaurants, and hotels in route towards our destination. Someone had to take the first drive, and that someone was Bertha Benz.

Noovo Plus Camper Van Embraces the Nomadic Lifestyle with Premium Comfort

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 06 May 2024 13:00:00 GMT

As summer dawns in 2024, Noovo unveiled a new variation to its fleet of camper vans: the Noovo Plus. This new nomadic vehicle is the first campervan in the United States to offer a 7-foot ceiling and is the company’s most luxurious model to date.

Noovo unveiled the new Plus camper van at the Adventure Van Expo in San Juan Capistrano. Like the rest of the fleet, the Plus is built on the durable and compact RAM ProMaster 3500 Van Super High Roof chassis. It is powered by the 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine, producing 276 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque bolted to a 9-speed automatic transmission.

Noovo states that the interior décor of their camper vans is inspired by Parisian apartments for their use of style within a limited space. Among the many utilities and creature comforts this van can hold is the RV Industry Association (RVIA) certification, signifying that it meets more than 500 safety standards in electrical, plumbing, heating, fire and life safety, and construction. In addition to two warranties, RAM’s 3-year/36,000-mile warranty and Noovo’s 1-year/15,000-mile warranty.

Designed to keep you connected and comfortable, the new Noovo Plus is equipped with Starlink-powered Wi-Fi, an induction stove, an elevated refrigerator, and on-demand air conditioning. It also features a full private bathroom with a hot shower and LED-powered fan, a queen-sized lift bed, and a convertible sofa, ensuring a comfortable journey for four people.

All of these are powered by the van’s gasoline engine or 660Ah to 1320Ah lithium battery power. On the roof are 400W solar panels that can charge the lithium battery system with the van’s engine. Tanks capable of holding up to 40 gallons of fresh water and 40 gallons of greywater further support off-the-grid living.

Noovo co-founder Paul Aubert described the vehicle as “a great option for those seeking alternative real estate options to an adventurous lifestyle.” A vessel for those who want to experience living off-the-grid while staying connected.

The Noovo Plus campervan starts at $178,000, with financing as low as $1,182. Now is a great time to plan a summer retreat on the open road that can easily extend into the fall in a vehicle designed for the getaway.

2024 Mazda CX-50 Meridian Amplifies the All-Terrain Aesthetic

Jesus R. Garcia — Wed, 01 May 2024 09:37:22 GMT

A New Wave of Soft Roaders

Today’s crossover SUV market spans as far as the ice cream aisle at a grocery store. There is so much variety, sharing the same core goal of satisfying our consumer need to enjoy a frozen treat. Variants like the 2024 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Meridian fall into a niche subcategory of compact SUVs with rugged trim levels designed to provide a weekend’s worth of off-road capability. Featuring all-wheel drive as standard with jagged all-terrain tires and some adventuring accessories like undercarriage skid plates, a heavy-duty roof rack, or a snazzier paint scheme. It’s gotten to the point where these vehicles are categorized as “soft roaders.”

I understand why fellow car geeks refer to the CX-50 as a soft-roader. Even though it offers 8.6 inches of ground clearance, the car’s demeanor does not inspire a desire to blaze a trail in wild terrain. It’s a boy scout wearing military fatigues. Its rugged appearance feels more suited for a mindset that buys Red Wing boots and Carhartt jackets for fashion rather than function, which is perfectly fine.

AWD with Your Choice of Turbo or Non-Turbo

The Mazda CX-50 offers eight trim levels with standard all-wheel drive. These trim classes are evenly split between non-turbo and turbocharged variants of the 2.5L four-cylinder engine. The naturally aspirated models produce 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, and the turbocharged models get a power boost making 256 horsepower and a brawny 320 pound-feet of torque (with 93 octane fuel). If you burn 87 octane gasoline the performance figures drop to 227 hp and 310 lb.-ft.

Opting for the turbocharged engine also increases the max towing capacity from 2,000 to 3,500 pounds. However, regardless of trim level, every CX-50 model uses a six-speed automatic transmission. Driving impressions speak to Mazda’s reputation for engaging handling, and the turbo-aided engine will quench your thirst for dynamic trills when you put your foot down.

CX-50 Styling Includes Eye lashes

Mazda’s current lineup of SUVs follows a Russian nesting doll pattern in size and styling. However, the CX-50 Meridian Edition could be seen as the family’s black sheep thanks to its rugged approach to exterior styling with matte black hood graphics, 18-inch matte alloy wheels and black cladding around the fenders and rocker panels. These dark accents contrast aesthetically with the Zircon Sand Metallic exterior color ($450). One design detail I find particularly charming is the texture lines in the headlight’s housing that give the appearance of eyelashes dripping with mascara.

The interior of this CX-50 Turbo Meridian features a delightful Terracotta design that will impress anyone who steps inside. Moreover, the seats manage to retain their upscale look and comfortable feel as you ease into them. Folding the rear seats down gives you a better view of the CX-50’s wagon-like cargo space with plenty of real estate to fill when you visit Costco, the beach, or a regional state park.

I appreciate that in this day and age of trying to reinvent the wheel to claim contemporary design, Mazda gives you a straightforward, down-and-up, PRNDL-style automatic shift lever. Everything inside the CX-50 feels well put together with a sense of lightness, from the velvet smooth but responsive steering to the dense clicking sensation of its toggle switches and buttons.

Fuel economy is less than I expected from a four-pot, subcompact SUV with an average of 25 mpg (23 city and 29 highway). It’s not exactly a fuel sipper and has a taste for premium fuel. Moreover, the optional roof platform ($899), which goes over the roof’s cross bars, certainly doesn’t help conserve fuel aerodynamically and makes an annoyingly hard to ignore wind noise at highway speeds.

Nitpicking the Mazda CX-50 Turbo

However, the seat belt warning alert system is my biggest pet peeve with the CX-50 and all current Mazda vehicles. When I sit in the driver seat, I start the car first before settling into the seat and then fasten my seat belt. But in a modern Mazda, you better click it before hitting the ignition button or you’ll be greeted with an ear-pinching dinging from the dashboard demanding that you put on your seat belt with an intensity in decibels that can trigger irritability before you shift into drive.

A Well Styled Soft Roader

Nevertheless, the CX-50 Turbo is a well-styled crossover with beauty sewn into its details. The Meridian Edition is an all-terrain glamor package meant to enhance character of the crossover. Its capability is more than enough the handle the rain soaked highways, muddy trails, and seasonal weather. However, its perfectly fine to stay in the city.

Engine: Turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

0 to 60: 7.2 seconds

Starting Price: $30,300 (Select)

Price as Shown: $43,860 (Meridian Edition)

2024 Toyota Crown Platinum – the Full Size Prius

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 09:19:57 GMT

In 2024, car buyers yearning for a big “family sedan” are stuck buying used or researching options from Korea, Japan and Germany. The new Toyota Crown made its North American debut last year as a full-size plug-in hybrid sedan with standard all-wheel drive and the elevated stance of a crossover SUV. For us Yanks, the Crown is a new nameplate, but in the land of the rising sun, people have been arriving to business meetings in the back of a Toyota Crown since 1955.

For Toyota, the Crown sedan represents the summit of its capability in engineering luxurious transportation. In 2022, Toyota unveiled the Crown series, offering a sedan, sports SUV, luxury SUV and station wagon model. However, we are only getting the sedan, dubbed in English, for the American market.

“Is that a Tesla?”

Starting with styling, the 2024 Toyota Crown makes a powerful presence with a gaping front grille topped off with quad LED headlights, an aerodynamically sleek silhouette with a fixed panoramic roof, elevated ride height and broadness that makes it appear more prominent when parked next to other vehicles.

The model shown is dressed in an eye-catching Supersonic Red and Piano Black bi-tone paint option ($975), complimented by a set of 21-inch 10-spoke machined alloy wheels with black accents. The stellar wheels come standard on the top-tier Platinum trim level and are available in the mid-tier Limited as a part of the optional Advanced Technology package.

Inside, driver information and entertainment are displayed on two 12.3-inch digital screens. I appreciate that they tried to tuck the screens into the molding of the dashboard rather than simply sticking them on top like a child’s iPad. Unsurprisingly, the center console-mounted gear selector and steering wheel bear a striking family resemblance to the interior components featured in the new generation 2024 Toyota Prius Prime. Standard creature comforts on the Platinum trim level include an 11-speaker JBL stereo, 8-way power seats, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality and lane assist.

I expected more color and visual cues for a sedan bearing a prestigious name, but snazzy upholstery has never been Toyota’s strong suit. Nevertheless, you could feel the quality of the materials; nothing rattled, and the interior’s sound-dampening ensured the decibels of the outside world didn’t get past the door.

The Crown’s elevated height made entry and exit easy and provided a plush ride. Rolling through the downtown district at low speeds allowed me to survey people’s reactions to the big red platform shoe-riding sedan. One man shouted, “Nice car!” from the crosswalk, while more than one person asked if it was a Tesla.

340 HP Combined Hybrid Power

Under the hood, you’ll see the word “TURBO” engraved across the small plastic engine cover of the Hybrid Max powertrain consisting of a turbocharged 2.4L four-cylinder engine aided by an electric motor placed on the rear axle. The top-spec for this powertrain is a noteworthy 340 horsepower, managed by a six-speed automatic transmission. Lower trim levels like the Toyota Crown XSE and Limited use a similar 2.5L four-cylinder engine and three electric motors to produce 236 horsepower with continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Don’t Mess with the Crown

The power delivered is quiet but potent, as I experienced firsthand when I called upon the hybrid sedan to full gallop when I needed to outrun a road-raging driver. It occurred during a Saturday morning commute. An older model sedan apparently took offense to the Crown’s Supersonic Red paint scheme because it aggressively swerved into my lane when I tried to overtake the car on the left. My muscle memory reacted by steering back to the previous lane only to see the old sedan flip-flop like a presidential candidate back and cut me off again. I couldn’t see the face of the driver but saw his head tilted and fixed on the rearview mirror.

Not wanting to deal with this synonym for a donkey, I slowed down to create some breathing room before selecting the Sport+ drive mode. A red mist descended across the digital dash, giving me the signal to floor the throttle. The three car lanes I allowed myself was ample space for the Crown’s turbocharged drivetrain to spool up and give me the punchy acceleration needed to psych out the angry driver ahead.

I faked to the left before snapping hard to the right and charging across two empty lanes under full power. The driver attempted to cut me off again, but the Crown’s intimidating size and speed forced the driver to stay back or risk getting body checked into the concrete divider. I kept my foot pressed on the gas and glanced in the mirror at the older sedan, failing to keep up and growing smaller in the rearview mirror.

Nit Picking the Toyota Crown

One real criticism of the Toyota Crown is the Eco Score display, which monitors and grades how efficiently you’re driving. I don’t need my car judging me. Also, the current driver safety aids and alerts in 2024 Toyota models are intrusive and annoying if you take driving seriously. It got to the point where I had to pull over and turn off eight different safety alerts so I could drive in peace without the car beeping or distracting me with a warning display at every intersection.

Just Glad to be in a Full Size Sedan

Don’t feel guilty about missing the funeral of the American full-size sedan. We all missed it. However, in our defense, many urgent matters have been going on since 2019, when Ford announced it would no longer be producing sedans. Chevrolet ended the production of the famed Impala during the 2020 pandemic. Dodge closed the coffin on the Charger in 2023, and while it is returning as a 2025 model, it’s not the same. It’s a reboot of the series with a new cast of characters and plot line. Surprisingly, the last American sedan standing was the Chevy Malibu, which will end its production line on May 30th, 2024.

As someone who loves and owns a big V8, body-on-frame, four-door, “how many bodies can you fit in the trunk” sedan, it’s a little sad seeing all these generational nameplates brushed into the digital web pages of history. You can still get a big sedan from the Germans, but those are premium examples for a specific tax bracket. You rarely hear someone referring to a BMW 5 Series or Mercedes-Benz S-Class as a “land yacht.” So, I appreciate cars like the Toyota Crown for keeping the memory alive in an overwhelming era of crossover SUVs and dual-identity pickup trucks.

I like that the Toyota Crown is a full-size sedan and appreciate that it offers the comfort of a “land yacht” while averaging 28 mpg and priced below the $60,000 benchmark. The Crown is a suitable promotion for people who like and want the efficiency of a Prius but need more room to stretch their head, shoulders, knees and toes.

Engine: 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder with rear axle electric motor

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

0 to 60: 5.1 seconds

Starting Price: $40,350 (XLE)

Price as Shown: $55,540 (Platinum)

Behind the Visor: Rahal Ducati Moto Team’s Riders Kayla Yaakov & Patrick Jacobsen

Jesus R. Garcia — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 09:44:10 GMT

Rahal Ducati Moto Team Debut in MotoAmerica 2024

This 2024 season of the MotoAmerica SuperSport sees the debut of a Rahal Ducati Moto, a new race team spearheaded by Graham Rahal and his father, Bobby Rahal, as team owners. Managing the team is five-time MotoAmerica champion Ben Spies, and two young but highly experienced riders, Patrick “PJ” Jacobsen and Kayla Yaakov, armed with a set of bright yellow XPEL sponsored Ducati Panigale V2 superbikes.

XPEL is no stranger to motorsports. It has worked with Team Penske Racing, sponsored events in NASCAR and IndyCar, and sponsored race teams for the Rebelle Rally and Pike’s Peak Hill Climb.

Jacobsen pilots the No. 15 XPEL Ducati, and Yaakov is on the No.19 Ducati Panigale V2. Both riders have mile-long resumes in racing but are new faces in MotoAmerica. Kayla Yaakov only recently met the age requirements to compete in the supersport class when she turned 16. Meanwhile, Jacobsen’s debut in MotoAmerica earned him a third-place finish in the 2023 season.

Team Rahal Ducati Moto Visits San Antonio to Tour XPEL HQ

MotoAmerica supersport riders PJ Jacobsen and Kayla Yaakov toured the XPEL training headquarters to gain a firsthand impression of the brand supporting their team. They met with CEO Ryan Pape, training instructors, veteran installers, and design specialists behind XPEL’s industry-leading surface protection film products. They got hands-on experience applying XPEL paint protection film on a sizzling red Ducati motorcycle.

Afterward, I had a chance to sit down with both riders and gain some insight into the mind behind the helmet visor. My first interaction with these talented motorsport athletes was a vice-like handshake grip and steely-eyed greeting. Clear signs that these were people who spent their time surfing tarmac at triple-digit speeds for a living.

Certain people seemed destined for specific paths in life. Professional motorcycle riders PJ Jacobsen and Kayal Yaakov are case examples. Both riders were only a few years short of being born on two wheels, starting their racing careers at an age when most kids were learning to color between the lines and tie their own shoes.

Kayla Yaakov was Born to Race

To say that Kayla Yaakov was born to race is an underestimate. She’s been moving fast since before she started preschool. Her first experience with speed was a go-kart around age 4, but the peddle didn’t start snowballing down the mountain until Kayla rode her first bike ride and discovered her father’s past in motorcycle racing. She started riding competitively at age five and racing at an expert level by age 12. She’s been making history in motion ever since. For example, she’s the first female road racer to achieve a podium win during the MotoAmerica era of AMA-sanctioned professional road racing.

“From the beginning, I knew my goal was to become a pro,” said Kayla Yaakov. Given her extensive motorcycle knowledge, we wanted to know her favorite aspect of riding. “I like diving into the corner and feeling the bike move around under you,” mastering the dance of throttle and braking to get in and out of a corner as fast as possible. During a race, Kayla Yaakov is focused on creating a rhythm to follow while her muscle memory handles the physical task of riding. While on the topic of velocity, we asked her if she had a favorite speed, and her answer was as swift as her response, “faster.”

When she isn’t riding or being an older sister, she’s plucking strings on her bass guitar and acoustic guitar and even has experience playing the saxophone for the school band. She says practicing music is a great mental escape from the stress and fatigue of travel and racing. Meditation has also served her as a therapeutic method to unplug and recharge.

Kayla Yaakov’s ongoing career has seen over 47 regional championships and 410 race wins. Someone with that kind of winning record prompts others to approach her for tips and advice. It became a habit, so much so that Kayla now offers private coaching sessions to riders and racers looking to sharpen their edge. She’s happy to lend her expertise to help those desiring to improve.

Kayla’s career goal is to be in the MotoGP padlock by her 21st birthday, and I have no doubt she’ll get there faster than expected. Her advice to any young rider with dreams of going pro is to enter as many amateur-level competitions as possible and build upwards. Fortune favors the bold, but practice makes perfect.

Patrick “PJ” Jacobsen is the Veteran Prodigy

Like Kayla, Rahal Ducati Moto rider Patrick “PJ” Jacobsen started making headlines in motorsport at a young age. He was 11 years old when he earned the AMA Youth Dirt Tracker of the Year title in 2005 and was drafted into the Red Bull MotoGP Academy by 2007.

After meeting the age requirements, he began his first professional racing year in 2010 and earned the 2010 Progressive American Flat Track Rookie of the Year award. He would go on to compete in the MotoAmerica Superbike division during the 2023 season championship and finished third. Jacobsen hopes to bring that winning momentum to the Rahal Ducati Moto team for this 2024 debut season.

Spend enough time around the same circuits, and you’re bound to encounter like-minded people. We asked if PJ Jacobsen knew Kayla Yaakov before they signed on with Rahal Ducati Moto. It turns out they’ve known each other for years but from a distance. This 2024 season is their first time getting to know each other. “I think people are going to be very surprised by her,” said Jacobsen when speaking about Yaakov as a rider in her first season of MotoAmerica.

When it comes to honing his skill, PJ Jacobsen’s method is straightforward, “I ride as much as I can.” If he’s not sleeping, you’ll usually find him doing laps on his supermoto bike, practicing the trapeze act of sliding into the turn and hitting the throttle to carry as much speed as possible. Ultimately, the thin line in the sand separating talented riders from pros from talented is a devotion to consistency.

In a race, he likes to be firmly in the moment to prevent careless mistakes. He states that it can be easy with muscle memory to zone out and start thinking about post-race events, podium celebrations, or dinner plans. Those brief mind-wandering moments can cost a rider half a second, a slight skew from the racing line, or being overtaken.

When he’s not racing, PJ Jacobsen works with young riders as part of the Jacobsen Motorcycle Training Establishment. We asked PJ Jacobsen what made him start his training program for the next generation of riders. “I know what it’s like to be a young rider and look up to someone.” He understands the responsibility of now being in a position where people look up to him to set the example of a positive role model.

If you’re fortunate enough to be in a position of accomplishment, the best way to show appreciation is to pass on the acquired wisdom.

2024 MotoAmerica Schedule

The 2024 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship season kicked off at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on March 7-9. The first round of the Championship took place at Road Atlanta, Georgia, on April 19-21. The eight more rounds on the season calendar will take the Rahal Ducati Moto team across the country, competing on tracks from iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to Austin’s Circuits of the Americas, ending at the New Jersey Motorsports Park in September.

XPEL proudly supports PJ Jacobsen and Kayla Yaakov on their journey with Rahal Ducati Moto in their first MotoAmerica season. We’ll be with them at every race, ensuring that the bright yellow livery on their Ducati Panigale V2 superbikes is flawless during qualifying and race day. Follow us and the team on social media to keep updated during the 2024 season as we watch history at over 170 mph.

2024 Lexus ES300h Gets Over 40MPG with Absolute Comfort

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:13:57 GMT

Luxury sedans have a VIP pass to my heart regarding vehicle preferences—more than sports cars, super trucks, off-road-ready SUVs and even rebel-yelling muscle cars. Because you can enjoy a luxury vehicle every day more than the rest, a sports car can be fantastic when traffic is light and there’s no cop in sight. However, bookoo horsepower and towering ground clearance have no significant advantage in the unforgiving bumper-to-bumper traffic of the urban landscape. Lumbar support, a noise canceling cabin, and an interior that feels like a home away from home are commodities when your daily grind includes hour long commutes through the hustle and bustle.

The 2024 Lexus ES300h Ultra Luxury is a modern carriage, a barouche, that offers a satisfactory amount of elegance and comfort with a bonus. A hybrid powertrain that matches luxury with fuel economy for the ultimate concrete cruiser priced well under the $60k benchmark.

This sedan sits at the same table as the likes of the BMW 5-Series in terms of size, wheelbase and interior legroom. However, on paper, you’ll find that the performance figures on the Lexus ES lineup don’t measure up to the competition. For example, the ES350 features a 3.5-liter V6 generating a respectable 302 horsepower compared to the 375 hp straight-six you get in a BMW 540i. But that’s okay. Again, power means little in the city and sporty handling can often translate to feeling a joint in your spine when driving over potholes.

The Lexus ES300h features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine packed by two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors and a 0.9-kWh lithium-ion battery pack for a combined output of 215 hp to power the front wheels. By modern standards, that may seem frugal, but on the road, it feels plentiful. Moreover, the available Sport mode gives it an extra kick, allowing you to feel the engine and electric motors propel you forward with ease. But the best quality the ES300h offers is its fuel economy, estimated at 43 city and 44 highway. I managed to average 45 mpg commuting around San Antonio and driving to Austin and back – with a heavy foot.

This model’s top-tier Ultra Luxury trim level offers all the bells and whistles, starting with a beautiful Palomino semi-aniline leather upholstery accented with open-pore brown walnut trim. It came fitted with the optional Mark Levinson 17-speaker premium surround sound audio system and 12.3-inch touchscreen display (a $1,080 package) and Triple-Beam LED headlamps (a $1,215 option) in addition to the standard creature comforts like a sunroof, radar cruise control, Apple Carplay Android Auto and dual-zone climate controls. Creating an interior atmosphere that’ll have you wishing your commute was longer.

On the outside, the car’s Caviar black exterior paint contrasted beautifully with its focal point chrome grille and 18-inch polished aluminum wheels. The car’s dimensions provide that “big car” aesthetic you want in a luxury sedan. A subtle lip spoiler at the back and the optional Triple-Beam LEDs, which appear like three square diamonds under glass, further complement the car’s elegant presence when it rolls through a parking lot.

Other motoring journalists have stated that the Lexus ES300h feels “slow” compared to its German competitors. Granted, it takes 8.1 seconds for the 300h to reach 60 mph, but that’s not the car’s character trait. This luxury hybrid sedan is perfectly capable of overtaking traffic in the fast lane in sport mode while achieving over 40 mpg. If there’s anything negative about this car, the rear seats don’t fold down. Beyond that little nitpick, the Lexus ES300h delivers luxury and efficiency with little to no compromise.

The starting price for the Lexus ES250 is $43K, and $44K for the ES300h. Stepping up to the Ultra Luxury trim variant, you’re looking at $53K. Considering the car’s excellent ride quality, spacious interior, catalog of standard features, elegant styling and great fuel economy, the ES300h makes sense.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel melancholy when returning the car to Lexus. I wanted to keep it. I wanted to continue chasing the horizon, slipping deeper into the plush seats, muting the outside world with a fool’s grin across my face. The 2024 Lexus ES300h is top shelf luxury at a bargain price.

Engine: 2.5 L inline four cylinder

Transmission: CVT automatic

0 to 60: 8.1 seconds

Starting Price: $43,190 (ES250)

Price as Shown: $55,775 (ES300h Ultra Luxury)

2024 Kia Telluride X-Pro, the Three-Row People Pleaser

Jesus R. Garcia — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 08:22:48 GMT

Kia’s flagship SUV has been in the market for five years and has consistently received critical acclaim from consumers and motor geeks like myself. Why? Because it simply delivers on what it proposes. A well-styled, well-equipped, midsize SUV that can hold up to eight passengers, achieve decent fuel economy with satisfactory performance and is available in a wide range of trim levels for a reasonable MSRP.

The Kia Telluride has filled trophy cases with awards since it hit the market. It won Car of the Year in 2020, five consecutive 3-Row Midsize SUV Best Buy awards from Kelley Blue Book and was most recently voted Best Family Car of 2024 by Cars.com. The first time I drove a Telluride in 2019, I remember being impressed by the amount of car you got for your money. Five years later, I’m driving a 2024 Kia Telluride, and my opinion still stands.

This 2024 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige X-Pro is a fully loaded example with an orchestra of bells and whistles. The names within its trim level hierarchy are confusing and verbally cumbersome, which is one of its few criticisms. It starts with the LX, then the S and EX and starts to resemble a conga line: SX X-line, SX X-Pro, SX Prestige, SX Prestige X-Line, ending with the model shown, the SX Prestige X-Pro, which sounds like a high-level ranking in a pyramid scheme sales pitch.

Every variation of the Telluride uses the same engine, a naturally aspirated 3.8L V6 producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission distributes the engine’s power to the front wheels or optional all-wheel-drive, available across the entire lineup.

Three driving modes come as standard: Comfort, Eco and Sport. Kia has always done a fine job of letting you “feel” the difference between Eco and Sport, aided by the visual change in its 12.3-inch panoramic digital screen as it turns the digital instrument layout from a cool blue to race-ready red. Kick the throttle and brace for the sudden rush of g-force as the Telluride scampers like a scared cat off the line with a six-cylinder growl.

One of the many reasons the Kia Telluride wins popularity contests is its pleasing styling. Inoffensive and contemporary, the midsize SUV looks upscale without being smug. Meanwhile, the interior features cushy Nappa-leather trimmed captain’s chairs in the front and second row, with the latter providing an effortless mechanism to move the seats forward and provide generous access to the third row.

The SX-Prestige X-Pro includes heated and ventilated seats for the front and second-row passengers. The premium Harman/Kardon audio system kept me in sync with my favorite music. Other popular options include stop-and-go cruise control and carpeted floor mats that feel plush to the touch.

The X-Pro package caters to those who want versatility, giving the Telluride a little lift in its standard eight inches of ground clearance up to 8.4 inches. A heavy-duty cooling system increases its max towing capacity from 5,000 pounds to 5,500 and includes a towing drive mode. Self-leveling rear suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels dressed like Johnny Cash help the Telluride X-pro trim level stand out from the pack. One feature I found incredibly useful off-road is its backup camera, projecting a 360-degree bird’s eye view track of every corner of the vehicle.

Kia has a reputation for safety, evidenced by the Telluride’s five-star overall crash test rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Peace of mind for those on board comes in the form of a full-length side curtain airbag and outboard side airbags mounted in the seats. Moreover, the Telluride is more American than you may think. Only 30 percent of the SUV’s parts are made in South Korea, while more than half of its components, like its engine, were made in North America and assembled in the state of Georgia.

Fuel economy, with all-wheel drive, is rated at 18 in the city and 24 on the highway for a combined average of 20 mpg, which is fair for a non-turbocharged V6 pushing over 4,000 pounds of SUV. Pricing is another positive attribute, as the 2024 Kia Telluride starts at $36,000 and stays under $60,000 by the time you reach the summit of the lineup. However, I’ve heard horror stories of people paying close to $80,000 at dealerships, which defeats the purpose of buying a Kia. I know dealers need to make a profit but that’s an expensive amount of undercoating rust-proofing. So be wary because vehicles in high demand are blood in the water for sharks with gold fountain pens.

Engine: 3.8L V6

Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission

0 to 60: 7.0 seconds

Starting Price: $36,190 (LX)

Price as Shown: $55,540 (SX-Prestige X-Pro)

2024 Toyota GR Supra 45th Anniversary Edition is Six Degrees of Nostalgia

Jesus R. Garcia — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 09:16:30 GMT

The Toyota Supra celebrates 45 years of supplying thrills, inspiring materialistic dreams and starring roles in Hollywood films. Born to compete against the Datsun/Nissan Z, the Supra has earned “dream car” status among many in the automotive community after co-starring alongside the late Paul Walker in a film about street racing. But the car’s 45th anniversary is earned through a technicality. Yes, the Supra nameplate is 45 years old, but Toyota stopped selling the fourth-generation Supra in 1998 and ceased production worldwide in 2002.

The world had to wait nearly 20 years before the fifth-generation Toyota GR Supra debuted in 2019. It shocked loyalists when rumors were confirmed and saw BMW-branded parts in the engine bay. The GR Supra was co-developed with the BMW Z4 roadster, creating a rift among fans on whether it is an actual Supra or a German sports car in Japanese cosplay. As evident by the fact this this iconic Japanese import is assembled in Austria. Geographic semantics aside, the only thing I was interested in is finding out how the GR Supra delivers.

This GR Supra is one of 900 limited production 45th anniversary editions built for 2024. Available only with the 3.0L turbocharged inline-six engine and in one of two colors: white or Mikan Blast, which leans towards red or orange depending on the time of day. In addition to matte-black wheels, a nostalgia-grabbing “Supra” graphic stripe on its profile, and satin-black manually adjustable rear spoiler.

Right off the bat, I wish Toyota could have added more glitter to the interior of this 45th-anniversary sports car. Inside, the only shred of evidence proving its exclusivity is a plaque on the edge of the dashboard visible when the driver’s side door is open. There’s no custom embroidery on the seats or a splash of color on the dash apart from a sliver of carbon fiber around the center console housing the short-row six-speed manual shifter. But once you’re strapped inside the cockpit, you feel like a Top Gun graduate commanding a fighter jet.

The car’s voluptuous curves got me plenty of catcalls from fellow males who knew what the car was and its legacy. Not exactly the target audience I was seeking when driving a car like this but at least it does what a sports car should do – make people turn heads and take notice.

During the 500-mile road test, I was pleased to experience a forgiving ride as its pole-position bucket seats kept me in place while supporting the vulnerable areas of my lower back with adjustable lumbar and bolstering. Side note, the Supra’s fastback roofline means its rear pillars create a sizable blind spot, making you dependent on its blind spot monitoring system.

The entry-level GR Supra features a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine pumping a commendable 255 horsepower and 292 pound-feet of torque. Then the car’s trim level moves up to the Premium trim level, providing a turbocharged 3.0L inline-six, sending 382 hp and 368 lb.-ft to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.

This model had three pedals and six gears to play with, but sadly, no manual handbrake. If you want this car to act like it does in the movies, you need to go through the process of selecting the right settings. Thankfully, locating the car’s Sport Mode button is easy being the most prominent button on the center console.

Then, you’ll need to locate the traction control button underneath the sport button and apply pressure until you see a notification on the gauge cluster saying it’s off. These steps unlock a world of fun or Pandora’s box, depending on your reflexes, because the Supra has zero tolerance for ham-fisted pussy footer drivers. Something I learned firsthand during the second and third spin-out.

Off the line, the GR Supra accelerates with the steadfast intensity of a gunfighter’s hand at high noon. It says 382 horses on paper, but it feels more like 450 as it reaches triple digits before you say, “Wow, this thing is fast!”. It delivers a similar sensation of speed to a high-performance electric vehicle, only better because it’s supported by a vibrating six-cylinder symphony conducted by a twin-spooling turbocharger. You can lay rubber while shifting from first through third gear like a muscle car charging down a quarter mile.

Flick it into a corner and you can feel the Michelin Super Sport tires glue themselves to the road like a climate change protester. If you say the wrong line while flirting with disaster, the manhole cover sized Brembo brakes can pull you back before getting slapped. The high-performance disc brakes take some getting used to as they are ferocious sensitivity. There’s a definite sweet spot where one can achieve counter-steering bliss with this car. But its calculated performance means it’s easy to overstep and suddenly find yourself turned around in a cloud of tire smoke.

Fuel economy is more than reasonable for a sports car, as I averaged 26 mpg. Pop open the gas cap and you’ll find a warning label, written in German, informing you that the GR Supra prefers 93 octane but will settle for 89 in a pitch. Pricing for the Toyota GR Supra starts at over $45,000 for the base four-cylinder engine and $58,000 for the 3.0L engine. As for the limited 45th-anniversary edition, the retail price starts at $65,000, but that’s before the dealership tacks on its supply-and-demand / future collectible fees.

The 2024 Toyota GR Supra satisfies the wants and desires expected in a two-seater sports car using four or six cylinders. It’s tight as drum driving characteristics may be too serious for some but it certainly conveys a sense of security knowing it’s a Toyota supported by German engineering.

Engine: 3.0L Turbocharged Inline-six

Transmission: 6-speed Manual

0 to 60: 3.9 seconds

Starting Price: $46,440

Price as Shown: $65,470 (45th Anniversary Edition)

Movie Cars for a Rom-Com at NASA Launches Internet Conspiracy Theories

Jesus R. Garcia — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:49:57 GMT

During an election year it’s nice to take solace in the fact that no matter how divided things may seem the internet supports all theories and ideas. Whether based on scientific fact or ten miles out of left field, if you submit a theory into the Wi-Fi abyss, someone is going to agree with you. None proves this more than a good old conspiracy theory – a gift that keeps on giving.

The beauty with most conspiracy theories is that even when debunked, one can double down and claim that it’s all part of a larger “cover-up.” We know that they know, because they want us to know that we know, to deflect from the real thing that they don’t know we already know, you know?

Recently, I stumbled across a nugget of tin foil conspiracy through a classic means of communication – by eavesdropping on a conversation at a bar.

It occurred while watching the foam settle on my third pour of fermented suds, parked on a stool, listening to my inner monologue rant when an exterior voice from two fellas next to me interrupted. “Yeah, man, NASA has a fleet of old school cars. They are maliciously maintained in case a solar flare comes and wipes out all our technology. We’re already overdue for one; when it hits it’ll erase all our digital photos, GPS, internet. Stone age!” The other man listening nodded with agreement and sealed the conversation with a four-letter sample of profanity.

The idea of NASA hoarding project cars peeked my interest enough to turn over my phone and conduct a quick Google search. The first result was an article from Florida Today that debunked the whole theory, followed by several links to Reddit and TikTok supporting the hoax theory – as is customary in the modern internet climate.

This whole thing started in March 2023 when a fleet of vintage cars were transported and parked at the John F. Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida, to be used as props for an Apple TV produced film titled “Project Artemis.” Described as a romantic comedy, Project Artemis is set during the late 1960s at the height of the Space Race, starring Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Woody Harrelson and Ray Romano. Nothing sells the imagery of Cold War era tension like chrome bumpers and filled ashtrays placed in the background while actors say their lines. The film is scheduled to be available for streaming in July of this year.

During production this fleet of camera-ready-classics stayed at the NASA facility. In January of 2024, a POV-style video clip of NASA’s parking lot was posted on social media. Set at night under the amber glow of streetlights, the camera pans around a variety of classic metal with a giant NASA logo in the background set to ominous music. The voiceover addresses the “creepiness” of the environment and states, “Why does NASA have all these old school cars? My thoughts are they’re cars without computers in them.”

Update: The original viral video has seen been removed. This video shows the footage with a different voiceover.

https://www.instagram.com/imtheimprobabledreamer/reel/C2F6bzcO0KT/?hl=en

The voiceover then mislabels the vehicles as being from the 1970s before proposing the idea that NASA is preparing for an “EMP blast” as the video shows a charcuterie board of vehicles from Detroit’s Big Three ranging from tractor-trailers, ambulances, a news station wagon, and cargo vans with NASA decals. The video ends with a statement about these cars somehow being funded by a “50 million dollar a day budget” that’s clearly not going towards sending taxpayers on a luxury cruise to the dark side of the moon.

The NASA car collection conspiracy gained traction on the formerly known Twitter, X social platform, and TikTok as other users reposted the video to drop into any NASA related government conspiracy or electromagnetic pulse EMP cyberattack rabbit holes.

Scanning through the comments, a lot of people took it on face value and believe that NASA is betting on old F-100 and C-10 pickup trucks as potential life preservers in case the satellites go down. Comments stating the cars are just movie props were meant with replies of NASA being cozy in bed with Hollywood, referring to one of the greatest hits collection conspiracy theories that Stanely Kubrick filmed a project called the “Apollo Moon Landing” starring Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.

Classic car movie props being mistaken for a government funded doomsday conspiracy theory is just another day on the internet. However, the deep state and propaganda machine theories aside, it’s funny to imagine a worst-case scenario where an EMP wipes out all modern communication, and the only people capable of helping are delayed because they flooded the carburetor on a 1966 Dodge Polara.

Then again, for all I know, this whole thing is part of a larger multi-media marketing campaign to spread awareness about the movie.

The Second Muscle Car Era 2013-2023

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 09:54:43 GMT

End of an Era

This foul year of our lord, two-thousand twenty-four, dawns with several historic nameplates left in the dark from night of before. The Chevrolet Camaro, the Dodge Charger, and the Challenger are gone, leaving only the Ford Mustang to ride solo on borrowed time. The second muscle car era is officially over.

The V8 may still be alive, but regardless, the last page of this chapter has been written, and what a damn good read it was. Action-packed paragraphs filled with dynamic characters that captured the spirit of the pre-oil embargo era while advancing the limits of what a “muscle car” can do.

This article will not detail the automotive history between 2013 and 2023. Nor is it a politically charged rant on the car community doomed to a Orwellian dystopia of anti-street-takeover supported-city-driving bans. Instead, it’s a personal essay reflecting on the second muscle car era witnessed and experienced as an automotive journalist.

A Desire to Drive History

I wear a thick pair of rose-tinted glasses for an era of time between 1963 and 1973. When the roads of America roared with lead-burning high-test V8s that broke sales records, raised insurance premiums, and cemented a reputation.

When John Z. DeLorean decided to stuff a full-size V8 engine into a mid-size Pontiac Tempest, he created the muscle car. Granted, a big engine in a lightweight car wasn’t a new idea, but this new segment of “pony cars” served as the bottle to capture the lightning of a new generation of consenting baby boomers with money to burn and youth to exploit. Performance was no longer a luxury; it was a marketing campaign.

Among the countless media documenting the muscle car era, few cover it as uniquely as the book Muscle Car Confidential: Confessions of a Muscle Car Test Driver by Joe Oldham. In this book Oldham recounts his best test drives through the highs and lows of the muscle car era while working as an automotive journalist.

Each chapter in Muscle Car Confidential focuses on a car Oldham test drove. One in particular gave me chills the first time I read it. He described a scene of walking through a parking garage at night in late 1968 to pick up a prototype model from Pontiac, a vibrant masterpiece that would go on to be the 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge. His first impression of the car made mentions being put off by its outrageous burnt orange paint scheme, obnoxious rear wing, and gimmicky presence.

Oldham tested muscle cars like a true professional on the street racing scene. Flexing the latest from Detroit’s big three against the locals in their modified machines in front of a target audience of potential buyers.

Photo by HVA/Casey Maxon

When the GTO Judge hit the street, Oldham’s previous opinion about the car changed people’s eye-widening reactions. What impacted me about this story is the concept of going to a parking garage and getting a set of keys to a new car that you can drive with nearly no strings attached. No credit card on file. No mileage cap. No refills before return. Just the keys and a return date in exchange for some words about the car afterward.

I discovered this book in 2012 as a still-learning writer and it changed my life. It taught me a priceless bit of information. That test driving muscle cars could be a viable career path.

“650 HP 200 MPH BONE STOCK”

People still debate when the first muscle car started, and this recent sequel will bear the same keyboard disputes. I believe the second muscle car era started when the 662 horsepower, 202 mph Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 hit the street. That car symbolized the shot heard around the world, reigniting the horsepower wars.

I remember walking past the magazine racks of a local grocery store in 2012. A boldly lettered headline stopped me in my tracks. It was the latest issue of Hot Rod Magazine published with a glossy cover of a Grabber Blue 2013 Shelby Mustang GT500 with a headline that read “650 HP 200 MPH BONE STOCK.”

Mopar, Ford, and General Motors had plenty of muscle in the market before 2013, but the 662HP 5.8L aluminum block in the GT500 came with the title of “the highest horsepower engine ever produced in North America” and a 200+mph top speed bragging right. This was a declaration of war. Two years later Dodge shot back with the 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat flexing 707HP – the rest is (now) history.

Muscle Car Era Reboot 2013-2023

I grew up daydreaming with envy about those who grew up with Hemi Cudas, Yenko Camaros, and Hertz GT350s cluttering the background as common traffic. A car scene locked and loaded with Day Two street machines rolling on magnum wrapped in Mickey Thompsons rubber wearing mile long CB radio antennas and running on premium gas for cents on the dollar. Big block power obtainable to anyone earning minimum wage.

One could argue that the second muscle car era of 2013-2023 served as a renaissance period. The average motorist had access to V8s that could sprint to over 150 mph with supercar acceleration, average 18 mpg, and cut an apex like hot steel through butter. A massive step in evolution from their drum brake, bias ply-tire predecessors.

It took me years to realize that my generation was living in a reboot of that era. Today, you see plenty of Mustangs, Camaros, Chargers, and Challengers that stand out in traffic like M&Ms in a bag of SUV/truck trail mix.

Mission Accomplished

I’m grateful and a little proud for the opportunity to test drive the muscle cars of my heyday within and sometimes beyond the limits of the law.

History has a habit of repeating itself, so much like the old street brawlers of yesterday, these modern muscle cars will begin to clutter used car and police impound lots across the nation. Desirable models will be labeled assets and banished to the collector car market . Others will be converted into time capsules and shoved into a barn to collect dust. A lucky few will live out their drivetrain in the hands of appreciative caretakers who will keep their digital odometers active.

No matter what the future holds for personal transport and performance, I’ll treasure the digital and physical memories I’ve collected: Taking my family to a racetrack in a black 2019 Bullitt Mustang, testing a 2017 Shelby GT350R at Texas Motor Speedway, perfecting the donut in a 2021 Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye, catching white line fever in a 2020 red Camaro SS, experiencing COTA in a 2017 Challenger T/A 392, or seeing the red needle pass 170 mph mark at 4am in a 2023 Challenger SRT Hellcat.

Maybe I should write my own confession book…

2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee, a Gold Watch Send Off

Jesus R. Garcia — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 14:59:19 GMT

December 22, 2023 – The Day the Music Died

The last HEMI V8 echoed throughout the Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, on December 22, 2023, serving as an eight-piston salute to the Chrysler 300, the Ram 1500 TRX, the Dodge Challenger and the character-driven Charger. I spent the last full week of the year in a 2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee Last. A limited edition B5 blue Charger Scat Pack packing heat in the form of a naturally aspirated 6.4L HEMI and branded with a drag racing bumble bee.

Last Call Edition Dodge Charger Super Bee B5 Blue

This Last Call edition model is limited to 1,000 units split between B5 blue and Plum Crazy purple. Underneath this Charger’s B5 blue paint and special edition Super Bee graphics is a 392 Scat Pack. That means 485 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque at your disposal to spin the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Details separating the Super Bee from an off-the-rack Scat Pack include MOPAR branded hood pins, red Brembo brake calipers, 20-inch low-gloss black Knurled wheels wrapped in drag-ready radial tires, and black exhaust tips in addition to a “Last Call” plaque under the hood.

Inside, the Dodge Charger Super Bee comes with the Carbon/Suede interior package, a suede headliner and authentic carbon fiber accents on the dashboard. The seats have a sparkling effect that dances in the light but can easily be mistaken for glitter. A detail I didn’t particularly appreciate because it makes the seats look like I’m a regular at the local gentlemen’s club.

Nevertheless, the thick and plush bucket seats cradle your lumbar and head when the car’s brutal acceleration shoves you back.

The car’s V8 power is its main selling point and the root of its infamous reputation among law enforcement. The Dodge Charger’s 180-mph speedometer is not just for show. This 4-door muscle car can reach 175 mph if given the chance.

A quick search on YouTube shows a pattern in high-speed police pursuit videos showcasing an R/T, Scat Pack and Hellcat variant of a Charger or Challenger racking up felony evasion charges and giving Johnny Law a run for its money.

Born to Run

After driving this, and other HEMI powered Challengers and Chargers, I totally understand why many suspects chose to run. Moreover, I understandThe engine’s performance is all consuming and taunts you to fly too close to the sun.

The 6.4L V8 rumble and its almost direct response to your right foot’s input embodies the weight and balance of wrapping your hand around the grip of a loaded high caliber handgun. You fall prey to the corruptible sense of absolute power as it creeps up your spine and wraps itself around your better judgment.

Apply pressure to the throttle and after a while you hear a devilish and seductive, intrusive thought whisper in your ear, “faster.” Under the spell you shove the loud pedal up against the firewall like a bookie making a collection. The Dodge Charger responses vigorously and motivates through the air like a defensive lineman hell bent on sacking the quarterback. The excitement of fear makes you grip the wheel tighter as the lines on the road blur into a solid white line. Brembo brakes and high-performance suspension keep the car planted as you flirt with disaster.

If you’re lucky, you snap out of the trance before the consequences catch up. Like the Hulk returning to Bruce Banner, the Charger’s bellowing howl mellows to a big cat’s purr as you ease off the gas and return to normal cruising speed. The car’s cylinder deactivation system kicks in and starts averaging 18-20 mpg on the highway.

Needed More Razzle-Dazzle

My only criticism of the Dodge Charger Super Bee is the lack of razzle-dazzle. This is a Last Call—the supposed end of the HEMI V8, an iconic engine dating back to 1951. Dodge and Chrysler could have done more to make these limited edition vehicles a novelty, considering the brand’s extensive catalog of visual aesthetics. Rich Corinthian leather upholstery for the last Chrysler 300C, a redesigned automatic pistol grip shifter, mop top flower pattern vinyl roofs, vibrant colored interiors with Wild E. Coyote chasing the Road Runner across the dashboard and a Lil Red Express package for the TRX. But alas, this is just my Santa’s list of wishful thinking.

These cars will continue to stand out in traffic like M&Ms in a bag of trail mix in the foreseeable future. Built to emphasize fun over political correctness, they will become symbols of an era as time marches on.

Christine GZ Gears Up to Compete in the 2024 Dakar Rally with TC Racing

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 14:08:47 GMT

Chasing an All-Terrain Dream

Ideas come and go every day, but they never blaze a trail without ambition and sacrifice.

For Christine GZ, her ambition and sacrifice to become a professional off-road racing driver has taken her around the world pursuing one underlying dream – to race the Dakar. After years of constant hard work with a never-give-up mindset, Christine GZ will compete in the 2024 Dakar Rally with TC Racing.

Christine GZ at Dakar 2024

Christine GZ motorsport’s career started with a homebuilt rally car in Spain. Since those humble, self-funded beginnings, she’s competed in historic races like the Baja 1000, the Mint 400, and the globetrotting Extreme E racing league. The source behind her motivation is her unwavering ambition, which has led her to this milestone, the chance to compete in one of the most demanding racing events in the world.

Joining GZ is someone who knows the unforgiving landscape of the Saudi Arabian desert well, Ricardo Torlaschi. With ten Dakar participations under his racing belt, Torlaschi is an ideal match to co-drive with Christine GZ at the Dakar Rally, a grueling 12-stage, 5,000-mile endurance off-road race.

TC Racing Off-Road Rally Debut

TC Racing, owned by Real Madrid international goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, will kick off its crossover from paved track circuits to off-road racing with the Dakar Rally. TC Racing has confirmed its team for the 2024 season of Spanish Formula 4, in addition to entering the World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC). With Christine GZ behind the wheel, chances are more vital than ever for an off-road winning season.

Chasing a Dream is Half the Race

Anyone involved in motorsport will tell you that battles are won and lost getting to the start line. But once that checkered flag drops, the war begins. A war that’ll put GZ’s nearly ten years of racing experience to the ultimate test across the terrain that punishes the weak and the slow.

Follow Christine GZ on social media as she prepares for the 2024 Dakar Rally on January 5-19.

I have no doubt Christine GZ will make it. All she needs is fuel, tires, and a little luck. The rest is in her capable hands and feet. She’s a born racer with the heart of a prizefighter. Add horsepower, and you have the makings of a champion.

Why Beef Jerky is the Essential Travel Snack

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 08:00:58 GMT

The Season of Planes, Trains & Automobiles

The song’s lyric chimes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” through the loudspeaker at most shopping malls, superstores, and grocery stores. It is a popular lyric that holds true so long as you don’t count the woes and worries associated with the holidays, like traveling.

Traveling can be a hassle whether you move by land, sea, or air, private or commercial. Dealing with it all can be made worse on an empty stomach. Thankfully, among the seemingly endless options of snacks there’s one that’s essential when it comes to traveling: beef jerky.

A good travel snacks helps avoid the fast food menus or waste time waiting in understaffed restaurants with the ambient noise of people trying to talk over one another. It keeps you moving! Recently, Old Trapper sent me ¼ pound of their old fashioned recipe beef jerky for me to try it on the open road.

Every journey requires supplies, and among the list of essentials should be beef jerky. Today, you can fill an entire aisle in the supermarket with the variety and flavors of cured meats. However, the origins of this dry, salted source of protein date back thousands of years. It is said to have been created by the southwestern Quechan Indian tribe to preserve meat. Beef jerky dates back as far as 1550.

It’s the food of travelers.

Old Trapper Old Fashioned Beef Jerky

Timing was on my side when the package from Old Trapper arrived. I was gearing up for a solo road trip that would require at least 4 hours of driving. In Texas, we measure the distance between cities by the number of hours instead of miles. So, any trip taking longer than an hour means adding a snack to the bill at the gas station. Usually, beef jerky is my go-to when traveling on the road. Why? Because it’s tasty, filling, convenient, and easy to eat with one hand.

A travel snack can be a lifesaver in avoiding the drive-thru temptations of fast food at every rest stop. In addition to helping your eyes stay open. Beef jerky is a source of protein that’ll keep hunger at bay when you’re on the go. Chewing on a thick piece of Teriyaki or Peppered jerky can help you stay awake and stave off white line fever.

On the road, Old Trapper’s beef jerky goes down easy with tender cuts of well-seasoned meat that won’t leave your mouth feeling dry. It’s savory and delicious. More importantly, opening a bag doesn’t fill the cabin with a beef jerky aroma that other passengers may not enjoy. During my road trip, munching on bits of Old Trapper jerky allowed me to focus on making time and not waste it looking for a place to eat.

Bliss of Passing Mile Makers

Road trip, grand tour, excursion, escapism, whatever term you prefer, there’s nothing like pointing your car at a horizon and driving. Granted, not everyone feels the same way. Some find it tedious, tiresome, and torturous if there’s isn’t Wi-Fi or a charging port. But they can stay home or fall asleep in the back seat. Those who enjoy the open road and the freedom it represents understand the bliss of passing mile markers at 75(ish) mph.

A good long drive can be therapeutic. In the moments between A and B, everything else is just waiting. It must.

View the full savory line of products Old Trapper offers here. Check out their range of flavors like Hot and Spicy, Peppered, Old Fashion, Teriyaki, and Zero Sugar.

2024 McLaren Artura Steals the Show at WHEELS | WATCHES | WHISKEY Event

Jesus R. Garcia — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 07:34:39 GMT

August in Texas can feel like God is watching you through a magnifying glass, with triple-digit temperatures hot enough to cook a five-course meal on the sidewalk. Nevertheless, the punishing heat doesn’t prevent us from enjoying the finer things in life, like fine spirits, quality timepieces, and admiring bespoke collector cars. That was the vibe at the Wheels | Watches | Whiskey event hosted by McLaren and Michael Satterfield, aka The Gentleman Racer.

Armed with my father’s 1968 Omega Seamaster, a Rolex Oyster Perpetual, and a vintage Russian train conductor pocket watch, I arrived at the event to bask in the privilege of fine mechanisms and concentrated alcohol.

Photo by Satterfield Group Photo by Satterfield Group Photo by Satterfield Group Photo by Satterfield Group Photo by Satterfield Group

The venue for this curation of luxury was The Stella Hotel Autograph Collection in the scenic town of Bryan, Texas. On August 19, the humid summer evening cooled down long enough to enjoy a gathering of custom, vintage, and elite supercars at the hotel. Inside, guests were treated to a collection of tastings from Chapelton Vineyard and Still Austin Whiskey Co. while shopping for a new Tudor timepiece, and bid on a host of bespoke items in a silent auction with proceeds going to benefit a local non-profit. Among the collection of desirable internal combustion metals was the all-new 2024 McLaren Artura.

Photo by Satterfield Group

All-New 2024 McLaren Artura, a First for the Brand

Titled as the brand’s first-ever high-performance hybrid production vehicle, the 2024 McLaren Artura blends efficiency and performance and wraps it in Alcantara. Showcasing the automaker’s new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA), the Artura’s construction features super formed aluminum panels to keep its curb weight down to 3,303 pounds.

Sitting behind the headrests is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 supported by an electric motor powered by an energy-dense battery pack. The gas-burning engine produces 577 horsepower and 431 pound-feet on its own. Throw in a 7.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack fueling a 94 hp electric motor, and the total output on the Artura is 671 hp and 531 lb.-ft. Managing all that power is a new lightweight 8-speed transmission and McLaren’s first electronic locking differential.

Photo by Satterfield Group

These performance figures translate into a zero to 60 time of three seconds flat. McLaren claims the 2024 Artura can reach 186 mph in 21.5 seconds. But when you’re cruising around town, the Artura uses its hybrid tech to be the most efficient McLaren to date, with 39 mpg and 11 miles of all-electric range.

Power and acceleration are only good if you can keep it right side up. To do this, McLaren fitted the Artura with a newly developed multi-link rear suspension, upgrading the electro-hydraulic steering and Proactive Damping Control system to improve the car’s agility and stability. A set of next-generation Pirelli P ZERO CORSA tires further aids in putting the power on the road. The results of all this engineering translates into a sensation that can only be experienced sitting in the driver seat.

Photo by Satterfield Group

Inside, the interior of the 2024 McLaren Artura is all new, with essential controls on the steering wheel and 8-inch HD touchscreen hosting features like smartphone mirroring and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

Non-Profit OnRamp Gives Reliable Vehicles to Those in Need

OnRamp was founded in January 2017. It’s a 501c3 non-profit corporation with a core purpose of helping individuals and families in Texas who urgently need personal and reliable transportation.

Working with local charities and religious organizations, OnRamp finds candidates who need a vehicle but lack the funds or are sincerely seeking self-sufficiency. A growing network of donors, partners, and volunteers helps OnRamp locate and purchase reliable cars to donate to candidates.

In addition to providing them with stable transportation, OnRamp includes a full year of free vehicle maintenance. That includes hands-on teaching on the basics of vehicle care, ranging from changing a tire and inspecting vital engine fluids to navigating the bureaucracy of auto insurance forms.

If put into the context of the proverb, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime”, OnRamp provides the fish and then teaches you how to bait a hook.

Photo by Satterfield Group

Finer Things Support a Worthy Cause

Plans for next year’s Wheels | Watches | Whiskey events are underway. The Stella Hotel announced August 17 as the save the date. Given this year’s success, I have no doubt that 2024 will bring more cars, exclusive watches, and higher shelf spirits to further aid non-profits like OnRamp.

Up All Night with the 2023 Dodge Challenger 392 Shakedown

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 06:05:41 GMT

Last Chance with the Last Call Edition Dodge Challenger 392 Shakedown

We are halfway through what is meant to be the last year of the gasoline-fed HEMI V8. A count down to the evitable change.

In 2022, Dodge announced a fistful of special edition Challenger and Charger models to celebrate the end of the HEMI in style with a series dubbed, the Last Call. One of special edition models to debut on this list of vividly painted Mopars is the 2023 Dodge Challenger 392 Shakedown—the first note in the eight-cylinder symphony swan song.

Unlike the others, the Challenger 392 Shakedown doesn’t wear a saturated shade of color to amplify its supercharged exhaust note. Instead, it goes back to its roots as a naturally aspirated 6.4-liter HEMI V8 breathing through a functional Shaker hood and kept locked in its cage using retro hood pins.

It is not the fastest variant of the Challenger, but it is the closest thing to a traditional muscle car rolling off an assembly line in 2023 with a factory warranty.

What you get with the Last Call Shakedown Package

The Shakedown Last Call edition starts out in life as an R/T Scat Pack. Starting with a shade of deep space black with exclusive hood graphics, red 392 badging, matte black rear lip spoiler, and a set of 20-inch carbon black wrap speed wheels wrapped in Pirelli all-season performance tires 305/35ZR20 with six-piston Brembo brakes peeking behind them. The iconic matte black Shaker hood crowns the 6.4-liter 485 horsepower HEMI V8.

Inside, you’ll find carbon/suede bucket seats with monochrome rumble bee graphics embroidered into the seats, matched with contrasting red seat belts. A Harmon Kardon sound system with a subwoofer in the trunk ensures songs like Deep Purple’s Highway Star and the guitar solo from Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird engulf the cabin in a rich, throttle-stomping temptating melody.

Production numbers on the limited-edition Dodge Challenger Shakedown Last Call is 1,000, with 500 being widebody variants like the one shown.

A Ferris Bueller Day Off Grand Tour with the Challenger 392 Shakedown

Getting the chance to sit behind the wheel of a Last Call Edition Challenger was a pleasant and unexpected surprise. I was allowed one whole day with the Shakedown, meaning I had to savor every mile like a last meal on death row.

Having driven one of the last stock Challenger SRT Hellcats a few weeks prior, I wanted to see how its naturally-aspirated sibling would differ in personality. Given the limited seat time, I knew the only way I would get my time’s worth was to drive it – a lot.

That day, I had no job, no emails waiting for a response, or social plans. Everything took a back seat as I gave the Challenger 392 Shakedown my full undivided attention. Armed with a full tank of gas and a heart a full of free will, I ignored the responsibilities of life and went on a Ferris Bueller Day Off grand tour in the midnight-coated Mopar.

Blue Bonnets and Black Angus on Willow City Loop

Not wanting to waste any time on the super slabs surrounding San Antonio, Texas, I drove out of the city in search of scenic routes. I ended up at the locally known Willow City Loop, a public road stretching 13 miles through private lands.

This route takes you through multiple signs warning you of free-roaming cows and private driveways to ranches larger than your neighborhood. However, what draws locals and visitors to the Willow City Loop is the chance to cruise by fields of Texas BlueBonnets and other wildflowers when they are in full bloom in the Spring.

On that day the weather was cloudy and the ground was moisturized with light drizzling rain. The Challenger Shakedown’s mirror-finish black paint stood out like an Angus steer in contrast to the water-soaked greenery and vibrant blue wildflowers. Hidden away from the roar of interstate traffic. The tranquil soundtrack of light rain landing on raw earth, glass, and painted metal made it easy to ignore work-related emails.

Up All Night with the Challenger Shakedown

A full day of driving wasn’t enough to satisfy my hunger for mo-power.

I lay in bed, wide awake, unable to rest, knowing that parked downstairs was a prime example of something unique to this era of motoring history. With no time like the present, I slipped my flannel pajamas over my cowboy boots and reached for the key fob.

That night, the streets were damp and shiny from recent rainfall, and the air chilled by a steady breeze. In a city as large as San Antonio, it’s rare to find breaks from traffic. However, if you’re looking for pavement isolation, 4 am is the magic hour. The time of night when the graveyard shifts are at work, the drunks are home or sleeping it off in jail, and everyone else is asleep or wishing they were.

Staring over the bulging shaker hood at the empty road illuminated under the amber, sometimes purple, glow of streetlights. I couldn’t help but smile, relishing the moment granted to me, prowling the streets in a limited-edition muscle car, taking mental snapshots of the sound, the mood, the lack of lighting, and the feeling of freedom to roam and having the torque to defend it.

Every stop light became a shining opportunity to paint the town red with a set of tire marks. Not looking for a quarter-mile fight, just enjoying the night with only the next mile in sight. The Challenger 392 Shakedown is a night owl ready to chase the sunrise.

A Lasting Impression

Whether you love or hate these cars, one thing they’ve consistently thrived at is leaving a lasting impression.

One thing I appreciate about the 6.4-liter HEMI compared to its 6.2 supercharged Hellcat is how it delivers the same thrills without the added temptation. There’s no little red devil whispering supercharger noises in your ears. Yet when you open the throttle, the mix of shock and adrenaline is like comparing classic coke to coke zero.

Plus, the R/T and Scat Pack variants offer cylinder deactivation, which helps boost fuel economy. During my brief but memorable drive, I averaged 18 mpg in the 2023 Dodge Challenger Shakedown.

There’s a dark side to these cars. The fan base is not exactly subtle or quiet. There are concerns about how easy they are to steal and are often the main character in street takeovers and police pursuits. But don’t blame the car for people’s mistakes.

The Dodge Challenger is one of the last analog production muscle cars, and after 2023 it will be one of many examples for aging Gen X and millennials to point at and say, “They don’t build ’em like that anymore.”

Lexus LC 500 is the Outsider's Sports Car

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 13:14:05 GMT

The Daydream Comes True, for a Week

The Lexus LC 500 is easily one of the most stunning vehicles in the post-Y2K century. This four-seater sports car captivated my gift of sight the first time I laid eyes on it at a media event in 2017. But, unlike other cars of the sports and super variety, I wasn’t interested in how fast the LC 500 went around a track or what kind of cutting-edge technology lurked under the dashboard. Instead, I was distracted by its good looks.

I was and still am starstruck by the Lexus LC 500. Even after over half a decade in production, the glam and elegant sports luxury car still ignites my daydream-drive- fantasies whenever I see one in public. Now, I had the opportunity to make that fantasy a reality, if only for one week.

My Week with Lexus

The exterior color of this Lexus LC 500 is called Caviar, contrasting beautifully with its carbon fiber roof and Circuit Red interior. Its 21-inch forged alloy wheels sparkled in the Texas spring sun as I walked around the car, vibrating with excitement holding the key fob to this rolling sculpture for the next seven days.

Head turning is how I sum up my week with the Lexus LC 500. Driving down to see the Rio Grande River and skip rocks across to Mexico, cruising through the one-percenter downtown districts of San Antonio, and basking in the sunset of rural ranch roads.

The LC 500 always stood out no matter the background, and people always took notice. Most had bewildered looks, not knowing what kind of car it was but knew it came with an expensive price tag.

The few who knew what it was were either pleased or incredibly excited to see one up close. The term “dream car” came up on several occasions while speaking with strangers that came up to ask questions about the car.

This Lexus LC 500 can part crowds and leave an air of mystery in its wake. Most people can recognize a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Corvette, but they’ll scratch their heads when looking at an LC 500. That’s the key feature of this car – effortless exclusivity.

This sports car doesn’t need a saturated vinyl wrap, fancy opening doors, loud exhaust, motorsport pedigree, or a trunk that can fit a set of golf clubs to be validated.

Efficient and Satisfying Performance

Under the sculpted hood lies a proper 5.0-liter V8 engine generating 471 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission with magnesium paddle shifters providing smooth and responsive gear shifts. The LC 500 can sprint from 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds in Sport S+ mode.

What I like most about the Lexus V8 is the fine-tuned quality that can be felt and heard when you lean on the throttle. It shifts through RPMs at a moment’s notice by your command.

The LC 500 also features a rear-wheel drive system with excellent handling and agility. It has a sport-tuned suspension system offering a comfortable ride and precise handling, with 21-inch forged alloy wheels to match its performance with style.

Furthermore, the V8 gets surprisingly decent gas mileage under normal driving conditions. I averaged 24 mpg during my weeklong road test in the Lexus LC 500. But more importantly, this is a V8 sports coupe that does not provoke or tempt you to push the boundaries of city or state traffic laws. Instead, it presents the option to do so on a silver platter while wearing white gloves.

Too Cool to Be Mad

In one instance, I found myself 140 miles from home on a Texas interstate during a moonless night. A tranquil driving setting if it weren’t for the unexpected road construction that slowed the 80 mph traffic to a dead stop. I felt microscopic sitting in the LC 500, looking up at the giant diesel-gargling commercial trucks surrounding us on all three sides.

Ordinarily, having my V8-powered midnight drive ruined by stationary traffic would trigger my inner monologue to start ranting manifestos rivaling history’s most vile dictators. But on this night, I was inside the Lexus’ cozy cabin. So, I folded the side mirrors and tilted the rearview to block the blinding LEDs from the diesel-chugging Kenworth behind me and settled into the dark cabin.

Nestled in, I begin scrolling through my phone for a podcast using Apple CarPlay. A testament to the level of comfort a Lexus LC 500 can deliver.

A BMF Sports Car

Few lines are as depressing as the popular saying, “You can’t have nice things.” It usually comes from a bleak state of mind when something gets ruined by the world’s most chaotic force of nature – humans. However, while that saying may hold some truth, it shouldn’t stop one’s desire to obtain said nice things, especially when considering buying a Lexus LC 500. While its $95k starting point doesn’t pitch pennies, it is worth every dime.

What you get for your money’s worth is an elegant sports coupe that is as quick as it is pleasant to look at. Gorgeous styling that can easily fool the automotive ignorant into thinking it’s worth double its MSRP.

It’s a sports car in its purest form. It’s not trying to be a star in the country club valet or set a new track record. It’s a lone wolf, an outsider too strong to be an underdog and not interested in being a contender. It just walks the Earth like Jules Winnfield at the end of Pulp Fiction, and what’s cooler than being a BMF?

Last Hemi V8 Howls with 1,025 HP of Alcohol-Fueled Fury in the SRT Demon 170

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:02:43 GMT

One for the Road

Here it is, the gas fueled Hemi V8 is on a countdown to December 31st, 2023 when the last one will leave the production line and head straight to the nearest Barrett Jackson auction. But before that, we celebrated with one round before closing time, and Dodge did not disappoint with a light pour. On March 20th, 2023, Dodge unveiled its seventh son, the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, the last of the Last Call edition V8s.

Photo by Dodge

Dodge’s Seventh Son

The 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 follows the Mopar code to the tee. It is MO-PARwe! Delivering 1,025 horsepower and 925 lb.-ft of torque, burning 170-proof E85 ethanol mix fuel. Its new flex of power comes from what you expect, more. SRT engineers gave this 6.2-liter Hemi V8 new stronger internal components, a larger three-liter supercharger, and a bright yellow coat of paint. Feeding it 91 octane fuel will still deliver a healthy 900 hp and 810 lb.-ft of torque.

At the unveiling, the SRT Demon 170 laid down an 8-second quarter mile time running at 151 mph on a prepped track surface. Nevertheless, the SRT Demon 170 is a factory 8-second capable production car. It’s Dodge saying, “come at me,” over a game of Monopoly after buying a hotel for Boardwalk and Park Place. Game over.

Like its Max Wedge super stock ancestors, the Challenger SRT Demon 170 is a drag car with a license plate. Standard equipment includes one driver seat (cloth) and two audio speakers because luxury adds weight. Buyers can opt for the passenger and rear seats and other creature comforts. To better sink its claws and grip the road, the SRT Demon 170 comes standard with Mickey Thompson ET Street R drag radicals rubber measuring 245/55 R-18 at the front and 315/50R-17 rubber at the rear.

Gas mileage for the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 is estimated at 13 mpg city and 21 mpg on the highway for a combined 15 mpg average (but who cares about that?).

Starting price for the Challenger SRT Demon 170 is 100 grand, and that’s not including taxes and dealer markup. Production of SRT Demon 170 will not exceed 3,300 units. So, when production starts in July, Dodge will crank them out until they reach 3,300 or try to get close to it before pulling the plug on December 31st.

Photo by Dodge

The Hemi Hangover

If you’re like me, you get a faint but sharp feeling in the center of your chest whenever you read a headline about a car manufacturer declaring the “last V8” on one of the most beloved models or nameplates. It’s normal to feel sad and maybe experience signs of grief. Change, for better or worse, is a process. Fans of Dodge’s fire breathing, tire smoke blenching supercharged eight-fists of fury V8s are celebrating the achievement of the SRT Demon 170. However, once 2024 starts, a lot of us will be experiencing the Hemi hangover after so many Last Call celebrations. I’ll be the first to admit that I am still in denial about a world without a Hemi V8, and I’ll need time to go through the five stages of grief before accepting it.

Photo by Dodge

Why? Because I was 16 years old when Dodge brought back the retro-styled Challenger. The first ever track day experience and first media car I sat behind the wheel as a baby-faced 23-year-old automotive writer was a 2016 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat at Texas Motor Speedway. I’ve been fortunate enough to test drive nearly every variant of the Hellcat Hemi from the Trackhawk to the Durango SRT, the monstrous Ram TRX, the 392 Hemi-powered Jeep Wrangler, and even a Redeye-equipped Charger.

These engines have been a constant in my life and career, so I’m reasonably emotional to know that this chapter is ending like watching your pet grow old and knowing the end is near. Of course, you’ll eventually accept it, but nobody says you have to like it.

Photo by Dodge

The What's and How's of Car Clutches

Jesus R. Garcia — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 08:34:41 GMT

Since most cars in Australia come with an automatic transmission, relatively few drivers know what a clutch is or how it works. Clutches are the physical link between the engine and transmission. They come in different forms, but all with the same purpose – to transfer power from one component to another.

What a Clutch Does

Clutches take the rotating force or torque produced by the engine, connect it to the drive shaft, and from here to the wheels. Since the engine is constantly spinning, there must be some way to break or discontinue that link, so the wheels and vehicle can safely stop.

This is where the clutch pedal comes into the picture. When pressed, the clutch disengages the link between the engine and transmission is severed, allowing the driver to change gears up or down. Releasing the pedal reconnects the engine and gearing, and the power transfers to the wheels again. A torque converter does the same role in cars equipped with automatic transmissions.

Clutches, in general, may be moving towards obsolescence, but for many, they’re the primary part that allows for a bit of driving fun. Many car brands bring back manual transmissions in at least one model trim in their higher-end sports cars. And while autos have become so technologically advanced, allowing for better efficiency and quicker gear changes, they can’t replicate the connection between driver and vehicle as a manual does.

How a Car Clutch Works

These components are necessary for devices that transfer power using two shafts. One shaft is driven by an engine or pulley, while the other’s role is to drive another device. The clutch connects the two. It enables the shafts to be disconnected and spin at various speeds or locked together and spin at the same rate.

In cars, the engine spins constantly. So, if the engine was directly connected to the transmission with a single, continuous part, stopping would be impossible without inflicting damage or requiring to turn the engine off. However, the clutch allows the gearbox and engine to engage and disengage while controlling the friction between the two parts.

It may sound complicated, but it’s really a simple design with three essential parts. One of these connects to the engine and another to the gearbox. In between is a friction plate that transmits torque between the two.

The flywheel is the part bolted to the engine crankshaft and spins at engine speeds. The flywheel and disc press together when the clutch is engaged, enabling a smooth transfer of power from the engine to the transmission.

The pressure plate pushes the disc against the flywheel. A diaphragm spring or cover assists in this. It consists of sprung metal fingers facing inwards and provides the required clamping force to keep the plate and flywheel connected and prevent slippage. When the auto clutch is disengaged and the pedal depressed, an arm pushes a release bearing against the center of the diaphragm spring, which releases the clamping pressure.

The Different Types of Car Clutches

There are different types of car clutches available. The setup described above is the single-plate friction type found in most cars. However, vehicles with more power can use a multi-plate variant with several friction plates stacked together, thus increasing the exerted friction and allowing higher torque output. The assembly is no larger than a single plate clutch but maximizes efficiency and, at the same time, prevents potential damage.

Clutches can be further divided into dry and wet. Wet types use oil to keep them cool and lubricate the components. They also mostly have a multi-plate design and are found in performance vehicles. Dry types forego lubrication (which can cause them to slip) and are usually single-plate.

While most types use hydraulics or cables, there are also electromagnetic or power-assisted options. These use a coil and electromagnetism to engage and disengage. You’ll often find them in cars with paddle shifters.

Lastly, dual-clutch transmissions are a newer electromagnetic type consisting of a small clutch for even gears and a larger one for odd gears. This means one is always engaged, allowing for crisp shifting to maximize engine performance.

Can Car Clutches Fail?

Most factory car clutches will outlast the quoted warranties, meaning most will be good for 100 thousand kilometers or more. But this all depends on how you drive.

Changing gears at unreasonable RPMs, lugging the car in high gear, low speeds, and hard starts with the engine revving are just a few driver habits that will wear down parts quicker than expected.

Worn plates can lead to slipping, gradual or instant loss of power, the car holding onto unusually high RPMs, and difficulty changing gears. This can be accompanied by grinding noises, burning smells, and a soft pedal feel.

While replacement parts and kits are easy to find, costs depend on the type. OEM clutches are direct replacements for a worn factory model and bring the same or similar performance. Look to the aftermarket if you need more.

The Right Clutch Option for Your Car

OEM models are designed to work with the power the engine provides. Increasing torque and horsepower through tuning puts additional friction, and components will start to wear down more quickly. This is when to start looking for aftermarket auto clutches rated for the power numbers the engine puts out with the changes.

Performance variants can better transfer torque and can cope with higher demands. Keep in mind that although there might be changes to the pedal feel and general drivability, it’s a price to pay for the additional performance.

Single plate models can be updated with better materials in the friction plates, moving from the organic materials in OEM plates to carbon or Kevlar in uprated designs. The latter also has better heat dissipation and increased clamping. Ceramic components in automotive clutches are even better but prohibitively expensive and only seen in racing applications.

While not uncommon to upgrade from a single to a multi-plate clutch, other parts may need to be changed. Lighter flywheels mean less moving mass, which is beneficial for reaching higher RPMs and aids with quicker gear changes. You’ll also need an uprated release bearing if you want faster actuation. Look for packaged kits with flywheels, bearings, friction plates, and cover assemblies from reputed parts suppliers.

3 Reasons Why the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is a Supercar

Jesus R. Garcia — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 05:18:59 GMT

Let’s Get Down to Brass Tax. The Challenger SRT Hellcat is More Super Than Muscle Car

I had the honor and pleasure of road testing a Smoke Screen Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody. This 2022 model year Mopar meant it was one of the last ‘normal’ Challenger SRT Hellcats before the Last Call model year, which means it hasn’t been influenced by a swan song melody or collector’s item serial number slapped on the dashboard. Instead, it’s just a 717 horsepower supercharged Hemi Challenger that anyone with a down payment could drive off the lot.

Throughout my week of testing and recording the historical significance of, what is being led to believe, one of the last gasoline-powered Hemi V8s, I started to see this marketed muscle car as something much more – a supercar!

The frequent fuel stops gave me plenty of time to think about what this car was as I ignored the annoying gas station TV ads and waited for the beast to fill up with 93 premium. My argument for why the SRT Hellcat qualifies as a supercar can technically be applied to the entire Dodge SRT Hellcat lineup. However, I will focus on the Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody for this article, as its two-door coupe configuration makes it the sportiest out of the wild bunch.

The Dodge Challenger, even with the widebody, is not shaped like a traditional supercar. Its doors do not open radically, the bodywork is not forged from carbon fiber or space-age material, and you don’t have to remove the engine to change the oil. But what makes the Challenger SRT Hellcat a supercar is how it delivers its performance and the emotional response it provokes.

I’ve never driven a car that simultaneously thrilled and scared the living soul riding shotgun or made me feel like a bad neighbor for greeting the apartment building with a bass quake of Hemi engine warm-up early in the morning. It can be as subtle as a neon colored Lamborghini but at a fraction of the cost, and with the same anxiety when driving over speed bumps and steep driveways thanks to its front chin spoiler (with or without bumper guards). On the other hand this two-door car has plenty of room in the back for a child’s car seat.

What Makes the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat a Supercar

If you took a Family Feud survey on what makes a supercar “super,” they’ll probably say it has to be faster than common sense, styled to dazzle the eyes, loud (figuratively and literally), and wear a price tag that most can’t afford to ask. A supercar has to have the right look, deliver the right speed, and carry a particular reputation. Three character traits this Dodge Challenger met with ease.

The Look

Wherever I drove the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody, people took notice. Other Challengers and Chargers respected the Hellcat emblem, acknowledging the supercharged Hemi hierarchy. During slow moving traffic, I noticed a family man in a Chevy Malibu full of kids ignoring the traffic ahead rubbernecking at the Challenger SRT Hellcat with an empty nest twinkle in his eye. In school zones, members of Generation Z would unplug to listen to the Challenger rumble past. When cruising the post-last-call streets of downtown San Antonio, figures lurking in the shadows of alleyways would step into the amber glow of a streetlight to shout, “Spin ’em, brother!” a request that felt rude to ignore.

The Speed

On an undisclosed stretch of highway, under the cloak of a moonless night, the Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody showed me what it could do when the throttle is set to full power. Hands wrapped tightly around the leather dressed steering wheel, I gave the gas pedal a shove and kept it pinned to the floor for the next mile and a half. That night I reached speeds that could set a Cannonball Run record as I fell into a white line fever induced trace—the fluorescent dotted lines on the road scrolling into one solid glow as the tachometer needle spun clockwise.

One day, after the statute of limitations, I’ll disclose how far I got on the Challenger’s 200-mph speedometer. However, the point of this test wasn’t to dance with the devil but to gain a first-hand perspective on what it feels like to have 717 horsepower and 656 lb.-ft of torque at your beck and call.

Sensational acceleration and intoxicating speed aside, what impressed me is how easy the Challenger SRT Hellcat makes it seem. No harsh vibrations, no ear-piercing shutter of rushing wind, just the sound of a supercharger force-feeding air into a synchronized symphony of rhythmic explosions as the car felt planted with confidence, seemingly unfazed by the laws of gravity. It’s no wonder these cars have earned a reputation with law enforcement.

The Reputation

Another thing I experienced when driving this Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody was instantly becoming a blip on every cop’s radar. Whether waiting at a stop light or traveling the speed limit, every silhouette behind the tinted glass of a police cruiser turned to look at me. Not at me directly, but at the car. Waiting. Waiting for an excuse. One chirp of the rear wheels, one slightly loud exhaust note, or any sudden movement that could be considered leaving the parameters of the traffic code. They were ready and willing to shut me down.

I do not blame the officers because if you search for ‘police pursuits’ on YouTube, you’ll find several videos of SRT Hellcat spec Chargers and Challengers fleeing and, in some cases, outrunning the firm grasp of Johnny Law. It’s not an avocation, just an observation of how accessible speed can be when behind the wheel of a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi—further cementing its rebellious reputation while writing its legend in tire marks.

What Makes a Supercar Super?

Is it just the expensive price tag, Nürburgring lap time, and spine compressing ride height? Or is it a character trait instilled in intimidating yet seductive performance embedded in a chassis of legacy supported by a proven reputation? Personally, I think it’s all about the speed, a valuable commodity that the Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody supplies in surplus for under $100k.

On a side note, the Harman Kardon sound system in the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody is fantastic! One of the best I’ve tested in my career.

New for 2023, the Jailbreak

Introduced in 2022, the Jailbreak package is the latest name to be added to the mile-long train of syllables on these supercharged Dodges. Like electronic devices, the Jailbreak removes all restrictions allowing SRT Hellcat buyers to choose any exterior and interior color available. It’s Dodge’s way of closing out its gasoline burning model year with a bit of color and style. Among the list of colors for paint, stripes, brake calipers, and interiors are five available colors for the Hellcat badge:

Light Black Chrome
Brass Monkey
Satin Chrome
Midnight Metallic
Devilish Red

Top-of-line performance requires the 797 hp Redeye package. However, those wanting to reach the summit of the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat lineup can opt for the 807 hp Super Stock, which starts at $89k.

The seventh and final Last Call special edition Dodge is scheduled to debut at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 20th, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a comma in its horsepower rating.

Quintessentially American

There is something quintessentially American about a rear wheel drive, v8 powered muscle car. It’s not apple pie or baseball; it’s stuffed crust pizza, self-righteous entitlement, and alternative facts. Nothing matches the singular sensation of dropping the hammer on a V8 and feeling the torque vibrate under your seat while the rear end darts from side to side, like a basset hound’s nose, looking for traction. All while knowing that whatever’s behind you is being fumigated with tire smoke.

That may be why many popular movies and television shows depict characters solving their problems with a Mopar V8. Whether it’s Kowalski outrunning the police, and his demons, in a white supercharged ’70 Challenger R/T, Dom Toretto using a heavily modified ’70 Charger to stop a nuclear submarine, or the Duke boys fighting small-town corruption one jump at a time in their orange 440 packing ’69 Charger, these cars have a flair for the dramatic. They even have a catchphrase – Mopar or No Car.

Kicking Tires at the 2023 North Texas Auto Show

Jesus R. Garcia — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 06:37:59 GMT

You’ll rarely find me in the center of downtown Dallas, TX, but if you do, you’ll see my media pass for the local auto show. This year was no different as I left my home at 5:00 am to tackle the I-35 super slab for 300 miles to attend the 2023 North Texas Auto Show. As I entered through the doors of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, I was greeted by the latest gas and electric powered people movers on the market.

One can learn a lot by listening at auto shows, as conversations are loud and plentiful. A man of a certain vintage talking up an elegant General Motors PR rep next to a 2023 Corvette C8 Z06. A toddler demanding to see the photo his Millennial father phone took of him next to a Dodge Challenger R/T so he can “see how cute I look.” A wide-eyed chocolate Labrador expressing joy in the arms of a new home at the Subaru Loves Pets adoption center. A young woman professing her love for a Tuxedo Black Ford F-150 Lightning after experiencing battery-powered torque at the EV Test Track.

Remembering I had a job to do, I made my way to Toyota to take a gander at two new models making their Texas debut, the 2023 Toyota Crown sedan, and the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander crossover. The 2023 Toyota Crown is a family sedan on a fitness kick flexing 5.8 inches of ground clearance and standing tall on 21-inch wheels. Moreover, the Toyota Crown’s motivation derives from its 2.4-liter turbocharged Hybrid MAX powertrain producing 340 horsepower and a brawny 400 lb.-ft of torque.

The all-new 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is an eight-passenger crossover SUV designed to fill the gap between the Highlander and Sequoia. The Toyota Grand Highlander’s extended wheelbase allows for a third-row seat that won’t feel like you’re flying coach on Southwest. Moreover, the Grand Highlander offers an alternative to parents who need a minivan but don’t favor sliding doors. Available with a 362 horsepower, 400 lb.-ft of torque Hybrid MAX powertrain.

The new generation 2024 Ford Mustang GT was on display in its own private booth gleaming under FoMoCo blue LED lights. Dressed in Race Red with black wheels and a matte finish ‘5.0’ badge on its front fender. The new pony car bears a family resemblance to its World’s Fair ancestor as it lassoed people’s attention just like in 1964. Lifelong fans of the Ford Mustang will be happy to know that a naturally aspirated 480 horsepower V8 and manual six-speed transmission is still on the options list.

Snack bar aside, auto shows offer a unique experience. The fun of a dealer showroom without the hassle of an always closing sales rep. A stress-free environment to find out if the kids are comfortable in the third-row minivan and sit behind the wheel of an empty nest two-door daydream.

Legendary Black Ghost 1970 Hemi Challenger R/T is Heading to Mecum

Jesus R. Garcia — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 05:13:30 GMT

A Black Ghost For Sale

If you’re a fan of big block V8s, then you’ve probably heard of a triple-black Hemi 1970 Dodge Challenger they call the Black Ghost. In the early 70s, this car terrorized the street racing scene in Detroit. Under the cloak of darkness, the midnight Hemi would leave’em all choking on leaded exhaust fumes.

It wouldn’t race often, and nobody, at the time, knew who the driver of the triple black Challenger was as it would disappear for months at a time. By 1975, the Black Ghost Challenger stopped showing up in public – until recently.

The internet shined a national spotlight on this mystery Mopar in 2020 thanks to the Hagerty Drives Foundation, which earned it a spot on the National Historic Vehicle Register. Then, it stayed in the spotlight when Dodge announced one of its “Last Call” special edition Hemi Challengers would carry the “Black Ghost” name as a tribute to the original triple black. Now, the retired Detroit streetlight brawler will roll across a different sort of line, the Mecum auction block.

The news that the Black Ghost 1970 Hemi Dodge Challenger R/T SE was cosigned for auction by the car’s original family owners was announced during Mecum’s Kissimmee, Florida. The car is set to roll across the auction block during Dana Mecum’s 36th Original Spring Classic event in Indianapolis on May 12–20.

On its own, the car’s options list put it high up on the muscle car desire-o-meter. However, the car’s story makes it a one-of-a-kind collector’s item, and it’s worth a retelling.

The Anti-Hero Muscle Car

Before becoming the Black Ghost of Detroit, this Challenger had to be ordered by the original owner, Godfrey Qualls. Family and friends have described Qualls as a genuine definition of a good man. Moreover, he was a man who knew exactly what he wanted when it came to cars.

When Mr. Qualls got his hands on a Chrysler order sheet, he checked every box. R/T package, check. Special Edition (SE) package, check. Super Track Pak, check. Four-speed manual with Hurst pistol grip and a Sure-Grip Dana 60 rear end with 4.10 gears, check-check. Lastly, the big orange cherry on top, a $778.75 upcharge Hemi 426 ci V8 engine option… check.

Other options included a white Bumble Bee stripe on the car’s tail, hood pins, a houndstooth interior, and the now ultra-rare Gator Grain black vinyl top. Of the 23 Hemi four-speed R/T SE Dodge Challengers built for 1970, this is the only one loaded with all these options. With the title in his name, Godfrey Qualls had the keys to Thor’s pistol grip hammer. But Mr. Qualls was no stranger to adrenaline, being a former paratrooper for the United States Army 82nd Airborne, with a Purple Heart to prove it.

The Black Ghost didn’t race for money or pinks, just pure sport. A dead sprint from one streetlight to another, rowing first, second, and third gear, but while most cars stopped at the next light, the Black Ghost charged into fourth and vanished into the night.

When Qualls wasn’t humbling egos on the streets with his Gator Grain black Challenger, he patrolled them as a Detroit police motorcycle cop. Cop by day, street racer by night, with his secret identity protected behind the glass of his triple-black Hemi Dodge. However, by the mid-70s, the Black Ghost retired from racing when Qualls relisted in the Army and became a Green Beret.

Photo by HVA/Casey Maxon

Selling a Family Heirloom

Godfrey Qualls died of cancer on Christmas Eve, 2015. In an interview with Hagerty from 2020, Qualls’ son Gregory stated that on December 21st, his father asked to bring him the documents to the car. He signed over the title, handed him the keys, and gave him a final thought, “Don’t give my f—ing car away.”

I imagine Mr. Qualls said it with the stoic integrity of a veteran/ex-cop/retired Green Beret. Furthermore, the article continued to state that Gregory Qualls vowed to keep the Black Ghost in the family with the hope of passing it along to his son.

Now, it is no place for us to openly question why the Qualls family decided to sell an incredibly rare and original Hemi Challenger R/T SE family heirloom. It could be to pay for multiple college tuitions or wanting to put their cherished machine in the hands of someone with the resources to maintain its museum originality for another 50 years.

Whatever personal reasons for selling the car, the main point now is speculating what the final bid will be when the hammer drops at Indianapolis in May 2023.

Why This Car Matters

This car is not just a Hemi Challenger. It’s a running survivor that perfectly symbolizes the romance of the 1970s muscle car wars. A brief but memorable era when young people with part-time jobs could walk into any dealership and finance a purpose-built street machine disguised as a family coupe.

A time when the streets were littered with big block hustlers wearing underrated performance specs to fool insurance companies, cartoon graphics on the paint, and burning cheap leaded fuel idling to a Jimmy Page guitar riff. An era too good to last but lives on in the cast iron relics left behind.

Photo by HVA/Casey Maxon

Ken Block, the Father of Hooning

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 10:06:22 GMT

A Tragic Loss in the Car Community

On Monday, January 2, 2023, Pro rally driver and Hoonigan co-founder Ken Block was killed in a snowmobile accident in Utah. The tragic news was confirmed by local authorities from the Wasatch County Sheriff’s office.

This tragic loss is a sudden and brutal hit to the motoring community worldwide. His impact on car culture spans from pioneering automotive filmmaking to adding words to our lexicon.

Known by many as a gentleman, Ken Block’s legacy as a professional driver will be immortalized on our digital screens. No matter what the future of personal transportation has in store for our community, his content will live on as a snapshot in automotive history when outrageous stunts, mind-bogging performance figures, and energy drinks were a staple of the internet’s ever-expanding catalog. An influencer by definition, Mr. Ken Block is the father of hooning who’s work will continue to inspire for generations.

My deepest condolences to the Block family and their close friends as the car community mourns the loss of an iconic driver.

Nissan Frontier Pro 4X and Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Were My Favorites in 2022

Jesus R. Garcia — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 07:05:20 GMT

Highlights of 2022

In the words of Hunter S. Thompson, in this foul year of Our Lord, 2022, I was fortunate enough to get behind the wheel of various vehicles. Two stood out from the rest of the list of trucks, SUVs, and cars. A new-generation midsize pickup truck that proved that it hadn’t lost the personality that made it iconic, and a plug-in hybrid 4×4 that showed me the tranquil perks of stealth off-roading. These vehicles are the new generation Nissan Frontier and the equally new Jeep Wrangler 4xe PHEV.

Testing the new-gen Nissan Frontier Pro 4X at the ranch allowed me to discover that this modern truck is an old soul where it matters most. Moreover, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon plug-in hybrid 4×4 managed to forge through my deep-rooted personal opinions and create a path for me to see the tranquil benefits of stealth off-roading.

Nissan Frontier Pro 4X

On the dirt roads near my home, the Nissan Frontier Pro 4X proved it could handle the work and make it fun too. Its 3.8-liter V6 (standard on all trim levels) produces 310 horsepower and 281 lb.-ft of torque with a nine-speed automatic transmission to send power to the rear wheels. Off-road focused trim levels like the Pro and Pro4X offer on-the-fly selectable four-wheel-drive via a dial on the dashboard. On dirt roads, the mid-size truck was happy to spin its rear wheels and produce Foghorn Leghorn size rooster tails with a trunk bed full of ranching supplies.

One aspect that left a positive impression on me was how quick the 2022 Nissan Frontier pickup truck feels. On paper, the Frontier Pro4X sprints from zero to 60 mph in the seven-second range, depending on its body style configuration and drive setting. But in the real world, the sensation feels snappy as the truck’s nine-speed gearbox runs through its gears in rapid-fire secession.

The Pro4X package has all-terrain tires and Bilstein off-road shocks to absorb the road’s imperfections. In addition, the Nissan Frontier has notably firm steering, which does require getting used to, like a new workout routine. Other features I enjoyed on the new Nissan Frontier was its Fender sound system, its traditional pull-down gear shifter, its manually operated parking brake, and the integrated LED lights in the trunk bed that can illuminate a moonless night.

The few things I didn’t like about the Frontier were nitpicky, like the lack of color in the solid black interior and a desire for a better exhaust note from its V6 engine.

The 2023 Nissan Frontier is available in 12 variants with two and four doors and an optional long bed. Off-road-focused variants like the ProX and Pro4X come standard only in crew cab configuration. Pricing starts at $32k for a 2023 Nissan Frontier King Cab S. The Pro4X trim starts at $36k, and $39K for the Pro 4X.

Both variants come equipped with off-road goodies like front and rear stabilizer bars, Bilstein shocks, electronic locking rear differentials, skid plates for the truck’s oil pan, fuel tanks, and a two-speed transfer case. The 31.6-inch (265/70R17) all-terrain tires improve the truck’s ground clearance to 9.4 inches. In addition, the Frontier offers a 360-camera view and a forward-facing camera to see the trail ahead when shifted into 4LO.

Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon’s ride quality was notably comfortable while driving over loose gravel, dry dirt roads, and off-road trails overgrown with greenery. At low speeds, I could embrace the North Face jacket wearing lifestyle envisioned by marketing teams and listen to the sounds of nature as the Wrangler 4xe moved silently through the Texas wilderness.

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe features a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. On its own, the turbo four-banger cranks out 270 horsepower. However, with the aid of electric motors, the small two-liter engine’s total power output rivals naturally aspirated V8s with 375 hp and a whopping 470 lb.-ft of torque.

For comparison, a 2022 Dodge Challenger R/T 5.7-liter HEMI V8 offers 375 hp and 410 lb.-ft of torque. Moreover, the 4xe produces the same torque figures as the supercharged 6.4-liter HEMI V8 in the top-tier Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392.

Tire spinning levels of turning force are sent to the rear or all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission to a set of Heavy-Duty Dana 44 axles. In terms of being a city commuter with off-road prowess, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe is an example of having your cake and eating it too. In addition to a max towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.

When I gave the throttle a boot full, the electrified torque propelled the SUV forward with confident brutality. The perk was enjoying the V8 levels of torque without the regret of seeing the fuel gauge drop like a bad stock tip. According to Jeep, the Wrangler 4xe achieves a combined 20 mpg using gasoline only and up to 49 mpg combined with electric and gasoline.

In addition, the SUV’s battery pack is sealed behind a waterproof casing allowing the Jeep Wrangler 4xe to safely cross through 31.5 inches of water. Thus, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe can keep up with its ICE variants without compromising performance. The plug-in charge port on the Wrangler 4xe is located at the top of the front fender near the windshield. Jeep engineers designed the charging port to be strong enough to hold the windscreen when it’s folded down.

When the Wrangler 4xe is in its default Hybrid Mode, it uses its gas engine and electric motors to provide maximum performance and efficiency. The combination of its hybrid drivetrain allows the compact engine to deliver surprising amounts of power and acceleration thanks to instant torque provided by the electric motors while delivering an estimated range of 370 miles.

In eSave Mode, the Wrangler 4xe favors using the turbocharged 2.0-liter gas engine to save the battery’s life for later use. This mode helps charge the battery using the Max Regeneration feature, which remaps the Jeep’s gas pedal to work similarly to regenerative braking or “one-pedal driving.” As a result, when the driver takes their foot off the gas, the Wrangler 4xe slows down without using the brake pedal.

The last setting is Electric Mode which works even when the battery is at 1%. This drive mode will run the Jeep solely on battery power. According to Jeep, the Wrangler 4xe can run for up to 21 miles on all-electric power, making it convenient for running short distant errands around town or silent off-road cruising. Pricing for the standard 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon starts at $47K and $61K for the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe. However, the entry-level Jeep Wrangler Willis 4xe starts at $54K.

Honorable Mentions 2022

Honorable mentions for 2022 include cruising around Houston, Texas, in the fully electric 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning and carving the Texas Hill Country with surgical precision in the 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing.

I want to thank Jeep, Nissan, and every automotive manufacturer who allowed me to test their products over the year. Thank you.

Stunt Stories – Best Car Podcast You Should be Listening To

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 06:18:00 GMT

A Podcast for Film Buffs and Gearheads

If you’ve watched live-action TV shows and movies within the last 40 years, there’s a card-counting chance you’ve seen Corey Eubanks. He’s a man with a mile-long IMDb page showing credited and uncredited work as a writer, actor, producer, director, and, most famously, a stuntman. But recently, he’s added a new title to his list, podcaster. Stunt Stories by Corey Eubanks is a car podcast for cinephiles and gearheads. It’s available on his YouTube channel, and each episode involves Mr. Eubanks telling tales from his extensive and ongoing career as a Hollywood stuntman.

A-list actors may get the best lines, but stunt performances usually have the best stories. Corey Eubanks’ podcast takes listeners down memory lane and straight off a pipe ramp as he recalls the life of a stuntman and all that it entails. To give you a proper context of stuntman Corey Eubanks’ influence on pop media, here are a few titles he has worked on over the decades:

Better Call Saul

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)

Horrible Bosses (2011)

Pineapple Express (2008)

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

Starsky & Hutch (2004)

Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

Memento (2000)

Me, Myself & Irene (2000)

Mars Attacks! (1996)

Midnight Run (1988)

Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)

Cobra (1986)

The Dukes of Hazzard TV Series (1979-1985)

The list does not include stunt driving in every Transformers movie and more than a handful of Fast and Furious movies, including 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), Tokyo Drift (2006), and Fast Five (2011). While researching Corey Eubanks for a future article, it quickly dawned on me that I’ve unknowingly been a fan of his work my entire life.

So, naturally, when I discovered his Stunt Stories podcast, I binged it like the latest streamable Disney-produced show.

Stories About Your Favorite TV and Movie Cars Told by the Man Who Drove Them

Some of the must-hear episodes of Stunt Stories by Corey Eubanks involve him simply talking about his early days as a fresh-faced 18-year-old stuntman on the set of The Dukes of Hazzard. For example, in the episode “Stealing the General Lee,” he admits to trespassing and joyriding a 1969 Dodge Charger stunt car under a moonlit night with a buddy. It’s an entertaining story that will leave you comparing it to your less-than-legal youthful adventures.

His days as a stuntman on The Dukes of Hazzard continue in the episode “Picking on the Rookie,” which involves pranks that make college fraternity hazing seem like whoopie cushions.

The episode “Stunt Doubling Sly on Cobra” is precisely what the title suggests. Corey Eubanks did all the stunts for Sylvester Stallone on the 1986 action film Cobra. He got to drive the custom 1950 Mercury coupe. Another episode I recommend is “The feature film STARSKY & HUTCH,” where he doubled for Ben Stiller in the 2004 film Starsky & Hutch and drove the Ford Gran Torino striped tomato.

In fact, you’ll get the insight story behind the famous J-turn crash blooper shown in the end credits. A mistake he did not realize was going to be included in the film until he saw it at the premiere – much to his disappointment.

Besides learning how various stunts are prepped and coordinated you also get some insight on how stunt cars are uniquely modified to do certain stunts. Mr. Eubanks was one of the first stunt drivers to use nitrous oxide on the set of The Dukes of Hazzard.

In this case, the nitro button was fitted to the Dodge Charger’s foot operated high beam light switch. As a result, Mr. Eubanks had his right foot on the gas and the other on nitrous, which is the equivalent of double fisting Jager bombs before jumping off the roof into a pool.

In addition, a lot of episodes involve interviews with other stunt performers and professionals in his life. That alone provides a source of filmmaking insight that you don’t get on Inside the Actors Studio, talk shows, or the most exclusive collector DVD commentary.

But, more importantly, it gives a voice to the often unnoticed. People can name award-winning actors like Jeopardy champions, but most would struggle to name one stunt performer that isn’t Evel Knievel. This is a shame because while we revere certain actors for their line delivery, many iconic movies and TV shows would be unwatchable without stunt performers.

Listen for Yourself

The ending of every year often means travel. Driving and flying to gather or escape from with friends and family over the holiday season.

So, if you find yourself slumped in an uncomfortable chair at an airport terminal, elbow deep into a bag of Cheetos during a long distance drive, or simply yearning for a car podcast that isn’t rich guys complaining about the latest McLaren. I highly recommend the podcast Stunt Stories by Corey Eubanks.

Its a great audio show for the film buff who loves learning the ins and outs of video production. The gearhead who grew up watching an orange Dodge Charger fly through the air on TV. Or someone who appreciates the art and skill involved in filming cars.

This is one podcast that you should be listening to.

A Short Clip of Corey Eubanks Sending It

Mike Satterfield's Ranch Relic SEMA Build is the Perfect Texas Truck

Jesus R. Garcia — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 07:43:06 GMT

Growing Up with Old Trucks

Old trucks can run on many things: gasoline, diesel, oil that seeps through worn gaskets, propane, modern batteries, and above all, nostalgia.

Those of a certain age have sepia filtered memories of staring at a gear shift or cassette player while bouncing on a bench seat. The sound of a straight-six diesel or V8 turning over in the morning before the sun was out. The loud bash of a metal tailgate being dropped or a door being forced shut because it’s slightly misaligned. Maybe they remember sitting on the wheel well of an engine bay holding a flashlight while a guardian tinkered away on points, plugs, or carburetors.

It’s no secret I have a passion for old pickup trucks. They were a constant in my upbringing on a small ranch in rural South Texas. As a result, most of my life has been spent pulling old trucks out of fields, taking them apart for restoration, using them to learn how to hoon on dirt roads, and loading their beds with everything from dirt to livestock.

So, when I stood in front of Michael Satterfield’s 1969 Ford F-100 Ranger SEMA build, The Ranch Relic, my heart fluttered with pure joy. This truck perfectly captures why people love old trucks and how they often blur the line between fashion and utility..

The F-100 Ranger left the assembly line as a “premium” trim with factory A/C, a bench seat, a column automatic, and a 360 ci V8 under its spring-loaded hood. Mike, the Gentleman Racer, was looking for a bonafide “farm truck” to use as a canvas for his latest SEMA build.

When Mike asked for help finding a truck with the right look, I was pleasantly surprised at how many old trucks were still available. Like a scammer ad for hot singles in your area, there is a wide selection of old Ford, Dodge, and Chevrolet trucks from the 70s and 80s ready and willing to be restored, resto modded, preserved, or put to work – again.

The Ranch Relic is the Perfect Texas Truck

The concept behind The Ranch Relic is to capture the essence of ranch trucks roaming the backroads of Texas.

Over the years, I’ve enjoyed exploring the four corners of this massive state: the unforgiving mesquite trees in the South, the salty air of the gulf coast, the rolling hill country in the center, lush greenery in the east, the desert mountain range in the west, and the tail end of the Great Plains in the north. Old pickup trucks are littered among all these diverse landscapes. Put out to pasture, parked behind antique buildings in sleepy towns off the interstate, on the road, or resting in driveways with dried oil stains underneath.

The Ranch Relic used to be one of these trucks before Mike Satterfield gave it a new life and some accessories that’ll add another 20 years of service, or show, to its chassis.

Starting with the engine, a refurbished 360 V8 mill dressed in FoMoCo blue pops like a diamond in a coal pile in the dark engine bay. BedWood supplied the material to restore the Ford’s truck bed with that classic wooden bed with stainless steel frame rails offering both style and function. A worn horse saddle and spare wheel complete the truck bed’s seasoned functionality.

Mother Nature added a splash of oxidized brown to the truck’s once glossy two-tone Caribbean Turquoise and Pure White paint. Artist Sean Starr from Starr Studios added lettering to the truck’s doors and tailgate, creating a fictional backstory for the old truck. In addition, Starr gave the F-100 Ranger a dash of timeless style with hand-painted pinstriping on the truck’s hood.

But above all these aesthetics, nothing cements the truck’s true grit personality more than its eBay sourced, grille-mounted Texas longhorns that tower over the truck’s fascia. The position of the horns makes the old Ford seem like a docile steer happily eating oats out of your hand.

Upholstery by Poe restored the truck’s bench seat with black and cow hide leather that works well with the Turquoise painted cab and black dashboard trim. The gun rack draped across the rear window looks period correct and doubles as a suitable hat rack. Lastly, the truck’s original patina-stained wheels are wrapped in Cosmo El Tigre AT tires, serving as the cherry on the bottom of this chef’s kiss pickup truck.

eBay Motors is Giving You the Chance to Own The Ranch Relic

The Ranch Relic spent the first week of November on display at SEMA Show 2022. Since then, The photogenetic ranch truck has been touring the country in the Parts of America tour organized by eBay Motors. The tour ends later this month, and this Texas flex pickup truck will be going up for auction on – you guessed it – eBay!

The Gentleman Racer recently launched the online auction on eBay, set to end on November 26, 2022. That means one lucky bidder will be celebrating Christmas early with keys to the perfect Texas truck.

Don’t be surprised if you see me bidding on this truck. I love it so much that I featured it in my latest automotive digital artwork.

How Digital Dashboards Promote Lazy Vehicle Interior Design

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 07:17:41 GMT

Disclaimer

The following is an opinionated article. This is a written rant. If you agree with me, great, and if you don’t, great because it all reads the same to Google analytics.

The Spread of Screens

There’s a rapidly growing trend in vehicle interior design today. From pickup trucks to sports cars and everything in between, this trend is spreading like germs at a daycare center and enabling our increasing dependence (some call it an addiction) to screens under the disguise of innovation. Of course, I’m talking about digital screen dashboards.

It wasn’t too long ago that giant touchscreens in cars were restricted to the center of the dash. Now, this fingerprint-collecting eye-sore is spreading in a dual-front manifest destiny. Why is this a problem? Am I merely yelling at the clouds like a man three times my vintage? – Probably.

However, there is logic in my madness as I write this rant on a digital screen, trying not to be distracted by a digital screen buzzing in my pocket, so I can go home to stare at a 50-inch entertainment streaming digital screen. Do you see the pattern here?

Cars have always represented freedom, a privileged means to go anywhere at any time. Digital dashboards represent fantastic technological advancements but at the cost of style, imagination, and personal privacy.

All Flash and No Style

Mounting a giant monitor across the length of a dashboard, or behind the steering wheel, as the primary (sometimes only) way to manage systems like the stereo, climate control, glove box, and GPS means interior designers no longer need to worry about organization.

Why worry about a defrost button’s shape, feel, and location when you can just code a graphic on a digital screen? Who cares about placement when you can add another icon to the home screen and let the driver figure it out?

Think about smartphones. Before they took over, cell phones needed style to attract customers. Buyers had a choice of flip phones, compact phones, phones with slidable keyboards, toggle switches, etc.

Now, all smartphones look the same, with giant rectangle screens at the front and an increasing camera lens collection at the back. The same will eventually happen to car interiors as OEM manufacturers adopt this mute design language.

Yet, that is not my biggest problem with digital dashboards. My job as a writer means I spend all day looking at computer monitors getting blue-light tan lines. In addition, when I work on a digital design, I spend hours staring at the screen with the brightness set to high to see color and texture correctly. A lot of people (regardless of age) spend most of their waking time staring at a screen for one reason or another.

This social norm is part of the reason why OEMs felt it was appropriate to add digital screens to another avenue in our lives – the daily commute.

Another speculation is auto makers giving up on trying to prevent us from texting while driving. Legally, OEMs cannot provide a stand or place to mount a phone because it promotes distractive driving. So, they turned the dashboard into a giant smartphone.

Not all, but most digital screens in modern cars interiors resemble desktop monitor screens. An example of this can be seen in the 2024 Ford Mustang or the recently unveiled spy shot of the refreshed 2023 Volkswagen Golf.

Sitting inside a vehicle with a giant infotainment / digital instrument screen makes me feel like I never left the office, which translates into a personal hell. If I wanted to spend my day driving around with a laptop in the car, I would have joined the police force.

2024 Ford Mustang GT Interior

Then comes the question of hygiene. We’ve all seen the news stories about how gross our phone screens are because they are constantly in our hands, on tabletops, and around bathrooms (don’t deny it; we all do it). Do you want that problem all over your car’s dashboard? Bad enough we coat the dash every day with our DNA by talking, eating, and coughing while driving. Now we need to worry about fingerprints and sun glare.

It’s Distracting and Complicated

Then there’s the issue of muscle memory. Analog controls are easy to remember, like letters on a keyboard. You get to a point where one doesn’t need to look down to type. But, on a touchscreen, the lack of feeling means it takes longer to remember the precise location of controls and functions.

I’ve owned my current smartphone for nearly two years, and I still have to look down to see which app I’m tapping on because there’s no feeling or texture. Having all your vehicle’s controls on a screen prompts the same problem but while driving through a school zone, highway, or busy intersection.

Drivers will have to look down and navigate pages of icons to find what they need. But what about driver aids? The key word is “aid,” as they are there to help not take over.

The driver is still the ultimate decider on whether a vehicle stays on the road or plows through a storefront window.

If you think explaining how to increase the font size on a smartphone to your parents is annoying, imagine trying to teach them how to do it on their a new car.

Recently, while test-driving a 2023 Kia Sportage, I gave up on finding the volume control for the stereo and just used the analog control on the steering wheel.

When testing a 2022 Land Rover Evoque, it took 10 minutes to find the windscreen defrost because it was a tiny icon in one of the multiple screens hidden by the morning sun glare.

During this, I kept thinking, “How is this better? What does it save? Improve? Is it merely to justify a higher MSRP?” as I counted to ten to settle my rage.

New Tech, Same Wreck

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published its 2021 report in May. Their annual study showed a 10.5% increase in traffic fatalities compared to 2020. Of course, one factor is the 2020 COVID lockdown that grounded many drivers.

Nevertheless, early estimates from the NHTSA already see a 7% increase in traffic fatalities during the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021. According to the NHTSA, 9,560 people died in traffic accidents in the first quarter of 2022, making it the highest number since 2002.

Nearly 10,000 deaths before the summer on roads where many vehicles came standard with: forward collision warnings, automated braking systems, traction control, stability control, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warnings, and cross-traffic alerts.

What I’m trying to say is that if a car has a steering wheel and pedals, humans will find a way to crash regardless of how advanced safety features get. And, unfortunately, having touchscreen controls does nothing to help nullify the situation. When it comes to cars, touchscreen controls lean more towards gimmick than utility.

Going Against the Algorithm

Digital screens offer a seemingly endless potential to dazzle the eye with retro-themed instrument gauges and graphics that rival most video games. But beautifully designed gauges mean nothing if they are encapsulated in a curved or flat screen.

It doesn’t matter how artistically rendered the graphics are or how well they stimulate our nostalgia cravings for the past. The point is I don’t want to feel like I’m looking at a computer while driving.

I refuse to march forward to a sci-fi predicted, WALL-E, Ready Player One, virtual reality scenario backed by targeted advertising and algorithm sorted marketing agendas. Bad enough I get a monthly email from my email provider / search engine telling me how many miles, which cities, and restaurants, I visited during the month. Enough apps know how to find me. I don’t need my vehicle being a snitch too.

I don’t care if this makes my 30-year-old self sound like I’m saying the music is too loud (which it is, and my generation should be worried about a hum in the drum in our later years).

Whenever I see a giant screen in car interiors, I sympathize with Elvis Presley as I fight the rage-fueled urge to shoot it with a custom Colt .45.

Photo provided by Rightware.com

I may be an automotive journalist, but I’m also a consumer and potential car buyer, and I will not sign a lease on a vehicle that makes me feel like I’m sitting at an office desk. Performance and ride quality be dammed. I get tired of being online all the time, and the car, beyond transportation, should be a vessel of escapism, not another device.

End of rant.

2024 Ford Mustang Goes Against the Grain with a Naturally Aspirated 5.0 V8

Jesus R. Garcia — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 09:12:35 GMT

It’s Not Over, Yet

Exciting news from FoMoCo is the unveiling of the seventh-generation 2024 Ford Mustang. The headline detail in the latest evolution of Ford’s original pony car is a 5.0-liter V8 with available manual transmission. No battery pack, no fake noises, no 48-volt hybrid handicap, and no twin-turbochargers.

With Dodge serving a literal last call on the Hemi V8 and Chevrolet treating the Camaro as a middle child in boarding school, it appears that the Mustang is the last of the V8s as we step into the mid-2020s.

Pricing and performance figures on the 2024 Ford Mustang won’t be known until later, but apart from those essential details, there is a lot to address with the new stallion in Ford’s stable.

2024 Ford Mustang GT

New Generation Coyote V8 and Turbo EcoBoost

While press releases refer to the Ford 2024 Mustang S650 platform as “all-new,” the reality underneath is more familiar than new. It’s been confirmed that the S650 is an updated version of the current S550 chassis. The wheelbase is the same, but the new S650 chassis wears a different suspension architecture to cope with the increased performance.

But honestly, given today’s automotive trends, I could care less if Ford had used a chassis from an 1890 stagecoach. All I care about is the naturally breathing V8 under the hood.

The 5.0-liter Coyote V8 enters its fourth generation with the 2024 Ford Mustang GT. Ford claims this is its most powerful, naturally aspirated variant yet, thanks to some good old fashion tuning. It features a dual-throttle body design, with dual air intakes to increase airflow while minimizing induction loss.

The current 2022 Mustang GT V8 offers 460-hp, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this new stallion offers 480-500-hp. In addition, Ford’s 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost returns for 2024 as the second engine option for the Mustang.

Again, the details are slim, but the new EcoBoost should offer more bang for the buck. Besides the number of spark plugs, the most significant difference between these two engines is that EcoBoost buyers won’t don’t have the six-speed manual transmission option.

Performance Pack with a “Drift Stick”

With a new Mustang also comes a new performance package. The optional Performance Pack adds wider rear tires and wheels, Recaro bucket seats, and the popular active exhaust feature. In addition, the Performance Pack includes a front Tower Brace, Torsen Limited Slip Differential, and an optional MagneRide active suspension.

However, the most exciting add-on is an electronic drift brake located where you’d expect a standard handbrake.

The Performance Electronic Drift Brake (EDB) works like a hydraulic brake used in drifting. Once pulled to lock the rear wheels, the EDB shoots back down to its resting position saving the driver time and hassle to better focus on executing the perfect slide.

If nothing else, I want to praise Ford for bringing this option to the Mustang. It shows customer appreciation and attentiveness to what we want, and plan to do, with these cars – on a closed course… wink, wink.

One other new feature included in the 2024 Mustang Performance Pack is Active Pothole Mitigation. This system works by continuously monitoring the car’s suspension, body, steering, and braking input to adjust the ride quality accordingly. I will surely enjoy testing this feature on Swiss cheese city roads.

Oh! And you can now rev your V8-powered Mustang using the key fob. This feature is called Remote Rev and works the same way one hits the panic button to sound the alarm and locate a vehicle in a crowded parking lot. Hit the button, and the Mustang will bellow and announce its presence. A neat gimmick with the potential of being overused by show boaters.

Slicked Back and Serious

As with most things, the internet’s reaction is a mixed bag of likes and dislikes supported by comments written in all caps. Personally, the new Mustang looks excellent. The styling gives the pony car a look of serious determination one only sees in athletics moments before hitting the field.

The headlights are flat-angled and aggressive with redesigned front splitter and hood vents. The car’s rear is slicked back with crisp, clean lines emphasizing its flared fenders and a redesigned rear diffuser housing its dual exhaust tips.

At this point, I’m just glad the new Mustang isn’t an AWD crossover SUV being called a coupe. Instead, we get a fastback sports car, available in convertible, with an old school V8 enhanced by modern technology.

With a fan-favorite stick shift shown promptly in press photos, the seventh-gen Mustang’s interior looks dramatically different for 2024. Ford used a jetfighter’s cockpit to inspire the car’s interior design.

The pony car’s trademark double-bubble instrument cluster housing is gone in favor of digital screens. Base trim level Mustangs receive dual screens, a 12.4-inch instrument display, and a 13.2-inch center infotainment. Well-equipped variants gain a one-glass-piece dual-screen setup that takes up two-thirds of the dashboard’s length.

The dual curved screens are the one thing I can see myself not liking on the 2024 Ford Mustang. Why? Because my day job involves me staring at two computer monitors. Based on the press photos, the Mustang’s dashboard reminds me of a twitch streamer instead of a muscle car.

However, one benefit of a digital dash is enhanced customization. One key feature is letting drivers configure the car’s gauges to look like the analog instruments on a 1987-1993 Fox body Mustang as a little thank you nod to multi-generation loyalists.

Those looking for a more visual approach can opt for the Mustang’s Bronze Design Series Appearance Package. This package includes Sinister Bronze alloy wheels with bronze badges that match well with 11 exterior colors, including Vapor Blue and Yellow Splash. Buyers can also choose the color of their Mustang’s Brembo brake calipers from either black, red, or Grabber Blue.

Behold, a Dark Horse

In celebration of the seventh generation, Ford unveiled a new variant of the Mustang dubbed the Dark Horse. This factory hot rod features a brawnier 5.0-liter V8 Ford confirms will produce “at least 500-hp” with a unique six-speed Tremec manual transmission.

The V8’s added performance is thanks to borrowed connecting rods from the Shelby GT500.

A transmission oil cooler, larger rear sway bar, bespoke radiator, rear axle cooler, and auxiliary engine oil cooler keep the Dark Horse Mustang performing at full gallop. In addition to a set of 19-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tires and standard MagneRide shocks.

A Return to Le Mans

In addition to a new generation Ford Mustang GT. Ford announced the Mustang GT3, a race variant to compete in GT3-spec racing. That means the Mustang GT3 is eligible to join the grid at Le Mans in 2024, representing the brand with a 5.4-liter variant of the Coyote V8.

Managing this fleet of racehorses is Multimatic, the same people responsible for the current Ford GT and won at Le Mans in 2016.

Plans are set to build GT3 and GT4 racing spec Ford Mustangs and compete in prestigious events like the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The Mustang GT3’s official motorsport debut will be at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2024. Other race-bred ponies include the Dark Horse track cars, Australian Supercars, NHRA Factory X, and NASCAR spec Ford Mustangs.

2024 Ford Mustang Available in Summer 2023

More details are expected before the 2024 Ford Mustang goes on sale in summer 2023. Those that criticize this car for “looking” like a Camaro or for not being an entirely new chassis are missing the point. This seventh-gen Ford Mustang represents resistance to a battery-charged future held by many car enthusiasts.

Telling us to give up on V8s cold turkey is like asking a career two-pack-a-day smoker to kick the habit using positive energy and pure willpower. This Ford Mustang serves as a high-revving nicotine patch that will keep us going forward (literally) into whatever the future may bring.

I can’t wait to see the 2024 Mustang GT in person, get behind the wheel, and feel the organic rumble of eight-cylinder processed torque.

Illustrated by Jesus R. Garcia

Watch a Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge Chase Down Bad Guys in the Old West

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 10:03:37 GMT

A New Spin on the Classic Western Movie Trobe

The western film as we know it today dates back to 1903, with the first recorded western movie titled The Great Train Robbery. Fast forward 120 years since that first cowboy flick, and “the western” is still a popular genre of storytelling with a modern interpretation like Disney’s The Mandalorian. But, of course, the fundamental concepts stay the same whether you set your western in 1880 or in a galaxy far far away.

You need an antagonist dressed in black, a protagonist with a quick wit and faster draw, and of course, a fast horse. Finding a new way to tell a familiar story can be challenging, but film director Jeremy Heslup with Valkyr Productions have done so with their latest project, The Gunslinger (2022).

This five-minute-long film takes the viewer on a feature-length experience on the American Frontier with the aid of a 592-hp V12 Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Its black powder against horsepower in the chase for gold and justice.

The Gunslinger (2022), Directed by Jeremy Heslup

Set in a small mining town in late 1800s Montana, a gang of armed bandits has taken over. The local saloon gal, Isabel, watches in horror as violence sweeps over her town like a fog. Sensing the evitable, she sends a message to a gunfighter of few words but many bullets.

When the gang plucks the town’s stockpile of gold from its iron nest, Isabel takes arms and stands her ground against the gang’s leader, a man in a black hat. But, before you can say Mexican stand-off, the ground begins to tremble as the sound of approaching thunder echoes over the horizon.

Itchy trigger fingers pause in fear at the sudden roar of 592 horses stampeding in perfect synergy into town. Then, in a grandiose entrance, a black badged Rolls-Royce Cullinan storms into the center of town, spooking the bandits as they flee with sacks of gold stuffed in saddle bags. Stepping out of the V12-powered stagecoach is the gunfighter. Isabel wastes no time riding shotgun with a lever-action rifle in hand.

The two heroes give chase in their black badge V12-powered steel thoroughbred on dusty trails, over photogenic hills, and across crystal clear rivers in the Montana wilderness. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan steals every scene as it pursues the thieving bandits at full gallop, proving that it’s more than a super land yacht as it brushes dirt, gravel, and mud off its 22-inch wheels.

A Nugget of Cinematic Gold

Filming a great western movie takes more than a horse and sepia filter. Valkyr shot the period correct locations seen in The Gunslinger at Yellowstone Film Ranch, located near Livingston, Montana. This place provides an ideal setting for media productions in need of capturing the American Frontier on film.

Valkyr’s production quality on this film is nothing short of professional. Watching the Behind-the-Scenes video on the film gives you a sense of the logistical scope that Jeremy Heslup and his team undertook. Costumes, travel, actors, props, original music, and securing the hero-car from Rolls-Royce all needed to come together for the film to be completed, which was shot in less than a week. The finished product offers the viewer cinematography that rivals multi-million-dollar budgets.

Moreover, the film stays true to being an authentic western. Certain scenes can be taken as homage or direct inspiration from all-time classics like Sergio Leone’s iconic Dollars trilogy. The lack of dialog, for example, and allowing the eyes to do all the talking, made me think of the pages of unspoken scripts between Charles Bronson and Claudia Cardinale in Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). The actor’s face becoming a character of their own is a classic Leone trademark.

In addition, Heslup’s extensive experience filming high-speed automotive content shows how the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge comes across on the screen. As an automotive journalist, I’m amazed that Rolls-Royce loaned Jeremy a Black Badge Cullinan to kick up dirt in Montana for several days.

Ask any automotive writer or influencer, and they’ll tell you that Rolls-Royce keeps a tight grip on their key fobs – as they should.

On a related side note, the concept of a modern vehicle chasing down cowboys in an old west setting is a captivating idea and one that should be studied further.

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge Stagecoach

The real star of the film is the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge. The hero luxury stagecoach storms onto the screen with all-wheel drive and a gleaming black-chromed grille. The Black Badge is technically considered a performance package within the expanding Rolls-Royce variant lineup.

Apart from an added shadow of curb appeal, the package bumps the Cullinan’s V12 brawn from 563 to 592 horsepower and updates the suspension to handle its increased power output.

More notably, the Black Badge drapes over the Cullinan’s trim in a shadow of black chrome that includes the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament. The appearance side of its performance package is topped off with a set of 22-inch black chrome wheels, a Black Badge exclusive.

The theme continues inside with Technical Carbon trim, unique trim options, and a bespoke Starlight headliner, which has a memorable cameo in the film.

It’s Highway Cowboy Approved

As a fan of both film and cars, I commend Jeremy Heslup and the entire production crew for their work on The Gunslinger. In an era where Hollywood is leaning heavily on politically influenced flashy nostalgia over originality, it’s refreshing to see independent filmmakers like Heslup being able to produce quality work without a blank check from a streaming service.

However, to justify a new project, he needs support where it matters most, viewership.

Every artist needs an audience. So, click the link and watch Jeremy Heslups’ short film The Gunslinger on YouTube.

392 Hemi V8 Comes Full Circle with the 485-HP 2023 Chrysler 300C Limited Edition

Jesus R. Garcia — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 14:21:28 GMT

Stellantis has been unveiling a series of special edition Dodge and Chrysler models as part of a farewell tour for the famed Hemi V8 engine. The latest example is the limited edition 2023 Chrysler 300C featuring a Scat Pack-derived 392ci Hemi V8. Only 2,000 examples of the 485-horsepower Chrysler 300C will roll out of the assembly line, with an extra 200 heading for Canada.

2023 Chrysler 300C Limited Edition

Those of us, me included, with a lifelong enthusiasm for Mopars, are currently going through the five stages of grief, trying to prepare ourselves mentally (and emotionally) for a future without showroom fresh Hemi V8s. As part of the process, we sink neck deep into the pools of nostalgia, looking back at the four-wheeled highlights that made the hemispherical combustion chamber engine famous.

Now, it is easy to criticize Chrysler for not giving the 300 a supercharged Hellcat badge as a proper send-off to its 18-year-old sedan. The Drive recently investigated the logistical reason for this, which is simply a case of high demand and low supply.

However, I believe using the naturally aspirated Scat Pack 392 Hemi to be a far more appropriate option for the 2023 Chrysler 300C. Historically speaking, this limited-edition muscle sedan is the final chapter in a legacy spanning nearly 70 years.

Chrysler’s First Overhead V8, Spawn by War and Built to Race

Mopar historians will tell you that the tire melting Hemi engine we enjoy today can trace its roots back to World War II. In the beginning, Chrysler developed an experimental hemispherical engine for the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft. Chrysler would ultimately put the experience gained during wartime to use in civilian life in the post-war atomic age.

In 1951, the once experimental aircraft engine had evolved into Chrysler’s first overhead-valve V8 engine dubbed the FirePower. This 331ci mill took up 5.4-liter of engine bay space and produced 180 horsepower. Then, in 1955, Chrysler sourced its parts bin and debuted a stylish coupe with the intent of racing it in NASCAR.

Under the hood, the Firepower V8 featured dual four-barrel gas chuggers to boost the power up to a cool 300-hp. Thus, the 1955 Chrysler C-300 was born, a car many will argue (in all caps) as being the first muscle car.

By 1957, Chrysler had further developed its Hemi V8 to a 392 ci mill, and the top-tier chrome-dressed luxury coupe was officially named the 300C. In an era when gas mileage was a secondary priority, the 1957 Chrysler 300C drank leaded fuel through a standard set of dual four-barrel carburetors to encourage the 6.4-liter 392 V8 into turning 375-hp. Only 2,402 Chrysler 300C models were built in 1957, including 18 special edition models flexing 390-hp.

After that, the rest is history as the Chrysler continued to tweak and tune the Hemi V8 from 392 to the Max Wedge to the first street legal 426 ci and onward to this century’s popular 392 Scat Pack and supercharged SRT Hellcats.

6.4-liter 392 HEMI

2023 Chrysler 300C Will Not Go Silent into the Night

Buyers, and presumed collectors, of the 2023 Chrysler 300C will get the last in a lineage of American-pride gasoline power land yachts. Chrysler states the 485-hp muscle sedan can sprint from zero to 60 in 4.3-seconds before crossing the quarter mile marker at 12.4-seconds and continue accelerating to a top speed of 160 mph. An eight-speed automatic transmission sends the Hemi’s 475 lb.-ft of torque to the rear wheels through a limited-slip differential. Adaptive damping helps keep the rubber on the road – where it belongs.

My main and only criticism of the 2023 Chrysler 300C Limited Edition is the decision to equip this glorious swan song of a Mopar V8 with a dial shifter. They could have given the car the same shifter as the Challenger to match its gentleman’s muscle car aesthetic.

Igniting 6.4-liters of controlled explosions and feeling the vibrations manifest into butterflies in your stomach at the acknowledgment of being in control of V8 power—a hint of fear mixed with adrenaline circulates through the bloodstream, pulse beating in sync with the engine’s idle speed. Reaching for a dainty knob to select a gear spoils the mood of an otherwise Deep Purple Highway Star fantasy.

Those who order a limited-edition Chrysler 300C can choose from three colors: Gloss Black, Velvet Red, and Bright White. Each exterior color matches its standard red Brembo brake calipers and 20-inch wheels. In addition, black chrome accents, round black exhaust tips, tail light bezels, and a black headlight add flare to the muscle sedan. At the back, a tastefully sized spoiler adorns the trunk lid. Lastly, its front grille design and 300C badge pays tribute to the original C-300 from 1955.

Times They Are A-Changing

With batteries marketed as the silent savior of polar bears and air pollution of the future, 2023 will be full of headlines involving the phrase “the last of the V8s”. But, regardless of what the future holds, there is no time like the present, and in the twilight years of the authentic, raw, unapologetic rumble of controlled chaos, there is only one thing to say – smoke ’em if you got ’em.

When the last Hemi V8 does finally arrive. I, and every like-minded fan, will take comfort in knowing that it will not go silent into the night. Instead, it will paint the asphalt with its mark as it bellows and howls in a mad dash at the horizon in a full-throttle show of Mopar fury.

2023 Chrysler 300C Limited Edition

All Trucks Go to Heaven at John’s Salvage Company

Jesus R. Garcia — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 07:37:04 GMT

Cardio Car Spotting

Earlier in the summer, I visited John’s Salvage Company in Seguin, Texas, to explore its yard of derelicts and take in the sights. This open field is the final resting place for hundreds of former traffic jams. The exposed area creates a unique spectacle as stacks of rusting metal fall into mother nature’s warm embrace.

I started my hike at ten in the morning, which meant the South Texas climate was still preheating to its triple-digit temperature setting for the day. Based on the parking lot, I was the only visitor that day. Walking through tall grass, with only singing cicadas for company, the eerie silence of this automotive cemetery sat like still water.

The rumble of a tow-mater-looking Ford F-100 wrecker with matching smashed headlights disturbed the tranquility. The tow truck’s sheet metal wore more dents than a crushed beer can as it clanked about the yard jangling its rust-coated chains, clearing its throat of oil as it rumbled through the garden of patina.

Garden of Patina

The overgrown greenery, fresh and hydrated from a recent rainstorm, seizes the landscape with clumps of brown and orange metal peeking out. Thick healthy vines sprouted in engine bays create a waterfall of foliage. The symbolic imagery makes me think, “All trucks go to heaven,” while feeling a sense of melancholy for these forgotten heaps of metal. The source of this sentiment is rooted in childhood memories of Thomas the Tank Engine, Pixar’s Cars, and the junkyard scene from The Brave Little Toaster. Each dilapidated vehicle is a continuous work of art as gravity sculpts it into new shapes over time. Chrome effortlessly reflects sunlight giving cars a twinkle of potential.

I strongly encourage people to visit places like John’s Salvage Company. Classic car junkyards are open-air museums with metal sculptures and patina works of art. Furthermore, maintaining a business like this is not for the fate of the heart. It’s tough being a junkman, and who knows what the future holds for places like this in an era of condo-addicted developers treating real estate like a game of Hungry Hungry Hippos.

This place is not too far from I-10 and is in the scenic hills of East Texas. It is possible for a faceless corporate entity to stumble upon this field of wrecks and envision a horizon littered with overpriced “rustic” themed apartment towers. In that scenario, these cars would be disturbed from their above-ground graves, dragged onto a flatbed truck, and whisked away to the crusher.

Nothing lasts forever, not even steel-bodied cars from the 1930s, but they endure longer than expected. So, before they fade into the earth, why not make a plan to visit your nearest classic car salvage yard and witness the other end of the classic car spectrum – the ones that didn’t get saved. Plus, it’s a great way to get your steps in if you’re bored with treadmills.

Here's Why the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe is Worth $142 Million

Jesus R. Garcia — Mon, 23 May 2022 07:06:25 GMT

On May 5th, 2022, a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR prototype dubbed the “Uhlenhaut Coupe” sold at an invitation-only auction for $142 million (135 million Euro). A statement like that, without context, is enough to make you reach for a pitchfork and find the nearest guillotine. Those of sound minds and modest wallets probably shudder at the thought of spending that much money on a single, old car. However, thankfully, this military defense budget priced Mercedes-Benz is not just a tax write-off for an unnamed Illuminati cardmember.

Mercedes-Benz has stated that proceeds from the auction sale will be used to establish the Mercedes-Benz Fund. This worldwide organization will offer scholarships to engineering and environmental science students. Plus, as a bonus, Mercedes-Benz now has significant bragging rights over Ferrari as to whose name is on the world’s most expensive car. However, philanthropy aside, why is this car worthy of such a colossal hammer drop? Like most high-ticket items at an auction, this object is rare, historically significant, and captivating.

The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe

This 300 SLR is one of only two prototypes developed for the 1956 racing season. Unfortunately, these cars would never go on to race because that same year, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR would be involved in the deadliest crash in motorsport history resulting in the death of its French driver, Pierre Levegh, and 83 spectators. After the crash, Mercedes withdrew from racing for several years.

As a result, the two 300 SLR coupe prototypes were left in limbo. So, what do you do with a brand-new race car that’s now out of work? If you’re Chief Engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut, you turn it into a company vehicle and drive it! Of the nine 300 SLR developed by Mercedes-Benz, only two were coupe prototypes, and this is the only one nicknamed after its creator. Until now, these coupes were part of the private Mercedes-Benz Classic collection, reportedly comprising over 1,100 cars dating back to 1886. Essentially, the new owner of the Uhlenhaut Coupe bought it from Mercedes’ personal collection – the top shelf of the private wine cellar.

Chief Engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut and His 300 SLR Coupe. Photo by Mercedes-Benz

However, it’s the car’s performance that ultimately dries the ink on the check. Under the long hand-made bonnet sits a meticulously maintained 3.0-liter M196S straight-eight engine producing 310-hp and 229 lb.-ft. With a curb weight under 2,500 pounds, the 1955 300 SLR coupe could reach speeds over 180 mph. By today’s standards, the 67-year-old Benz could give a modern sports car a run for its money. Its German-engineered reputation and a nostalgic “what if” speculation about its racing potential helped stoke the fire of a bidding war that ultimately reached the $142 million closing bid.

The Auction

RM Sotheby’s hosted the invitation-only auction at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. RM Sotheby’s posted a brief video on YouTube of the auction with clips of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe stretching its wheels on a racetrack. Reports say that while the Uhlenhaut Coupe is now in private hands, the owner agreed to display the car publicly on special occasions (Concours D’Elegance comes to mind). The car’s twin sibling will stay on display at the Stuttgart Museum.

The Mercedes-Benz Fund

According to the Mercedes-Benz press release, this organization will be divided into two sub-categories. The first is university scholarships to encourage environmental science students to conduct research projects. The second sub-category is school scholarships, financial aid to individuals in need to fund their projects and career paths. Moreover, the Mercedes-Benz Fund support goes further than mailing checks. Extracurricular programs like Mercedes-Benz mentorships aim to open new opportunities for future engineers. More details about the Mercedes-Benz Fund are scheduled to be announced later this year.

Enjoy My Comic

This news story inspired me to create this digital drawing. To see more like it, follow my art page on Instagram @auto.toonz.

Jesus R. Garcia Digital Drawing 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe

2022 Nissan Frontier Pro4X Gets a Taste of the Ranch Life

Jesus R. Garcia — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 08:59:00 GMT

My Favorite Pickup Truck Currently on the Market

The modern pickup truck in America carries a heavy load of responsibility. Not only do pickup trucks need to perform the primary needs of towing and hauling, but they also need to provide ample legroom for families, offer luxurious amenities, bend into their local country club parking lot, and launch off the line–in any terrain. Oh, and get decent gas mileage. Unfortunately, this list of demands is impossible to retail at a reasonable price, so we (the consumer) often have to compromise. Ask anyone what their favorite pickup truck is, and their response will usually follow with two to three reasons and at least one story that cemented their loyalty to the brand. With that, the 2022 Nissan Frontier is my favorite modern pickup truck. Earlier in the year, I had the opportunity to live with a Nissan Frontier Pro4X for a week. During this time, I discovered that the Frontier is faster than it looks, capable off-road, and offers full-size curb appeal at mid-size prices.

Rugged Good Looks

The new generation Nissan Frontier pays tribute to the original D21 Hardbody pickup truck. Evidence of this can be seen in its exterior styling. This new 2022 Nissan Frontier carries a bold look with squared angled lines, from the LED headlamps to its flared fenders. On its own, the Frontier looks excellent. However, the Pro4X trim package adds a Sports Bar, step rails, red tow hooks, and burly all-terrain tires to let the world know it can handle a weekend adventure in the woods, mountains, or desert.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro4X, while more minor in size, offers a similar visual presence and performance experience of a pea-cocking 4×4 super truck, but without the stigma of big-truck stereotypes. Granted, a Frontier will probably struggle to beat a Ford F-150 Raptor in an as-the-crow-flies race across a desert. But the Frontier will stand tall parked next to it at the local grocery store and keep up in off-road trails for a fraction of the cost.

Living the Ranch Life with the Nissan Frontier Pro4X

Here on the dirt roads, the Nissan Frontier proved it could handle the demands of a farm truck while also providing a surprising amount of thrills. The Frontier’s 3.8-liter V6 (standard on all trim levels) produces 310-hp and 281 lb.-ft of torque. Furthermore, it uses a nine-speed automatic transmission to send its power to the rear wheels. Off-road focused trim levels like the Pro and Pro4X offer on-the-fly selectable four-wheel-drive via a dial on the dashboard. During dirt road testing, the mid-size truck was happy to spin its rear wheels and produce Foghorn Leghorn size rooster tails.

What I found surprising was how quick the 2022 Nissan Frontier pickup truck feels. On paper, the Frontier Pro4X sprints from zero to 60 mph in the seven-second range, depending on its body style configuration and drive setting. But in the real world, the sensation feels quick as the truck’s nine-speed gearbox runs through its gear in rapid-fire secession. I frequently had to ease off the throttle to avoid unintentionally breaking the speed limit. Surprising performance is a common characteristic of Nissan vehicles that is not limited to the Z and GTR. Anyone driving a Nissan Altima can attest to the brand’s wolf in sheep’s clothing brisk acceleration.

As a result, I could blast down bumpy, slippery dirt roads at high speeds with total control. I felt the wheel go numb in a few instances and my seat went light as the truck lifted off the ground. The Pro4X package all-terrain tires and Bilstein off-road shocks absorbed the force of gravity upon landing. The Nissan Frontier has notably firm steering, which does require getting used to, like a new workout routine.

Like a high-performance super truck, the 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro4X offers fun with functionality. It accelerates like it wants to impress you with a subtle but noteworthy V6 hum as it propels forward to a limited top speed of 114 mph. The satisfying acceleration causes a surge of unexpected joy on par with finding a 20 in a winter coat.

Pros and Cons with the 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro4X

There are a few things I did not like about the 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro4X. First, the Sports Bar ($1,095 option) increases the truck’s curb appeal with a touch of tactical ruggedness but makes it harder to reach objects stored at the back of the cargo bed. The off-road step rails ($950 option) look great, but their sandpaper bed liner texture makes scuffing a pair of boots as easy as spraying mud off them. Also, considering the Pro4X is a premium trim level, I expected more colors in the interior. Lastly, the Pro and Pro4X trim levels should offer a better exhaust system to give the V6’s voice some baritone.

Now for the pros, starting with the quality sound of its Fender audio system will have you sitting in parking lots waiting for songs to finish before opening the door. The rear seating legroom is ample, with storage space under the seat. Moreover, the LED lights in the cargo bed are powerful enough to turn night into day. I appreciate that Nissan decided to stick with a simple pull-down gear shift lever instead of a dial. This kind of shifter is easier to use and feels almost nostalgic. My favorite thing about the 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro4X is how it drives. Its handling characteristic promotes joy even at school zone speeds.

Pricing and Gas Mileage

During 700 miles of heavy-footed road testing involving long-distance highway travel and barreling down dirt roads, the 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro4X averaged 18 mpg. The Frontier’s exterior design may feature a sculpted physique, but underneath, it is big boned with a curb weight of nearly 5,000 pounds.

The Nissan Frontier is available in 12 variants with two and four doors and an optional long bed. Off-road-focused variants like the ProX and Pro4X come standard only in crew cab configuration. Pricing starts at $27k for a 2022 Nissan Frontier King Cab S. The Pro4X trim starts at $37k and comes standard with many off-road goodies. These parts include front and rear stabilizer bars, Bilstein shocks, electronic locking rear differentials, skid plates for the truck’s oil pan, fuel tanks, and its two-speed transfer case. The 31.6-inch (265/70R17) all-terrain tires improve the truck’s ground clearance to 9.4-inches. In addition, the Frontier offers a 360-camera view and a forward-facing camera to see the trail ahead when shifted into 4LO.

The Nissan Frontier Pro4X shown in this article has an MSRP price of $46,965 thanks to options like the sports bar, bed access retractable step, and off-road step rails. In addition, the Technology Package includes the latest driver safety aids like lane departure, rear braking assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and intelligent cruise control. Nissan’s Pro Convenience Package features a spray-in bed liner, heated front seats and steering wheel, and the off-road mode camera monitor. Lastly, the Pro Premium Package adds leather seats, a sunroof, ten speakers worth of Fender audio, and 17-inch Beadlock style alloy wheels.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier is Still the Last Honest Pickup Truck

The 2022 Nissan Frontier checks all the boxes. It’s reasonably priced, looks good, offers a decent array of trim levels and configurations, and features a drivetrain that can work hard and play harder. Since writing this review, the new Nissan Frontier is starting to appear more and more in traffic, and in all colors. I take it as a sign that my opinion is shared by other car buyers who want an honest mid-size pickup truck. A truck that keeps it simple without being simple.

Read more Reviews and Stories Here.

The What's and How's of Harley-Davidson Ignition Coils

Jesus R. Garcia — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 09:30:00 GMT

There are countless reasons why your Harley won’t start, has rough idling or even stalls. The battery might be reaching its end or is completely flat, the carburettors might be clogged, or you might be running it on bad fuel. The

There are countless reasons why your Harley-Davidson motorcycle won’t start, is idling rough, or stalls out. Causes can range from a battery reaching its end or being completely flat, the bike’s carburetors might be clogged, or having lousy fuel in its system. Then, there may also be issues with the internals, like off timing or the engine failing to tick over since it’s seized. Finally, blame poor maintenance and, more commonly, lack of proper lubrication.

But how many of us have considered that it might be down to problems with the ignition? After all, starters can fail, spark plugs get dirty or foul up, electric writes corrode, or the ignition coil may be acting up. These mechanical issues are more common than you think but can usually be resolved quickly and cheaply.

Motorcycle Ignition Systems

The purpose of the ignition system in motorcycles, and any vehicle with an internal combustion engine, for that matter, is to deliver enough current to the spark plugs to create a spark. The spark ignites the air and fuel mixture, pushing the cylinder head downward. The whole process needs to occur precisely to create proper combustion and power delivered to the back wheel.

As a piston nears the Top Dead Center (TDC) on the uptake, the spark plugs are readying to do their thing. All of this is within milliseconds and happens thousands of times each minute. Timing that is slightly off, or spark plugs with faulty voltage, will cause your engine to cough up unburnt fuel through the exhaust and lose power.

If the other electrical system components are okay, including the battery, switchgear, and parts responsible for charging, then the issue lies with the ignition coil. Older bikes use a different kind of ignition coil. For example, a “points” coil for Harley Davidson motorcycle generally uses two mechanical points that open and close the circuit as they spin around a shaft tasked to move them. Here engine speed plays a part. The faster the engine turns, the more voltage is delivered to the plugs. Unfortunately, points ignition systems had one major downfall – advanced wear, which meant more issues and more maintenance.

Harley Davidson started introducing electronic ignition in its bikes in the early 1980s. This differs considerably from mechanical systems. Reliability is improved, especially in parts wear and timing, hence better overall consumption and emissions. There is also room for increased performance with more current going to the spark plugs, creating a bigger bang. The critical role here is that of the ignition coil.

n, there may also be issues with the internals, like off timing, or even the engine failing to tick over since it’s seized. Blame poor maintenance and more commonly lack of proper lubrication.

But how many of us have considered that all might be down to problems with the ignition? The starters may fail, the spark plugs can get musty, the wiring may be damaged, or simply the ignition coil may be acting up. These issues are more common than you think. Luckily, they can usually be resolved quickly and cheaply.

Photo Credit: FixMyHog.com

How Ignition Coils Work

Ignition coils are part of the motorcycle’s ignition system. Their job is to increase the voltage coming from the battery. Twelve volts won’t get you anywhere, so the coils increase the battery’s input voltage to a proximity 30000-Volts.

Essentially, a Harley Davidson motorcycle coil is a step-up transformer. It consists of two separate wire coils, called a ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ coil, each wound around a central iron core. The primary coil has several windings of thicker wire, whereas the secondary coil has thousands of windings in thinner gauge wires. When a spark is needed, the 12V from the battery is cut off. As a result, it causes a drop in the magnetic field in the primary coil but induces a much higher voltage in the secondary coil necessary to work the plugs.

As with everything, timing is crucial here. The right amount of voltage at the right time is controlled by the onboard computer that receives input from a series of sensors. These sensors respond to changes in the magnetic fields in the coils. Computers sync the work of the injectors, so the right amount of fuel is ignited at the correct temperatures and at the right time.

Types of Coils Found on Harleys

Most Harley Davidsons are V-twins, so there are two types of coils found on Harley bikes – dual fire and single fire. Dual fire coils provide stepped-up voltage to both cylinders and spark plugs simultaneously, no matter if one cylinder is in the compression and the other cylinder in the exhaust stroke. Single coils send current only to the cylinder in the compression stroke. This should provide smoother engine performance, particularly when idling.

However, there won’t be evident performance gains in using either type. Though there is a price difference – a dual coil setup is often cheaper.

A recent variation of single coils is the Coil on Plug (COP) units. These have coils positioned directly on top of each spark plug, doing away with the spark plug wires and distributors. The result is that there is no inherent resistance and voltage loss from the wires, so the voltage is consistent. In addition, electronics improve the timing during the combustion stroke, so less fuel goes to waste.

Nina Mercado (@nina_mercado) | Unsplash Photo Community

When to Replace Your Existing Coils

In general, stock coils should last throughout the lifetime of the motor. But you might be out of luck and have a defective coil after a couple of thousand kilometers showing on the odometer. I mentioned a few of the typical signs in the bike when the coils play up, but let’s get into some detail.

• Backfiring – an engine that backfires has either a timing issue, not enough spark for the fuel/air mix, or an incorrect air to fuel ratio. As a result, the exhaust emits a popping sound and expels white smoke, followed by a loss of power. Coils that cannot produce enough current to create a spark for optimal combustion are one place to troubleshoot if your Harley-Davidson motorcycle begins to backfire.

• Sudden loss of power and stalling – extremely low voltages signify that the coil is defective. This will result in a gradual or sudden loss of power that can cause the motorcycle to stall. In worse-case scenarios, you won’t be able to start the bike again.

• Poor fuel mileage – higher fuel consumption over the same terrain and your usual riding speed is a worrying sign. Dozens of things can cause it but worn spark plugs and faulty coils are some of the main factors. Over time, issues related to fueling and timing can arise.

• Rough Idling – Harleys are not known for the smoothest idling due to the engine design, but the engine shouldn’t be choking or jolting when idling. Defective coils have a hand in this one. If the engine stalls at idle, then certainly check the condition of the coils.

There are three paths to fixing coil issues in Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The first path is hiring a specialized Harley-Davidson dealer or certified technician to replace the ignition coil. If you’re mechanically apt, the second option is to try and fix/replace the coil yourself. Lastly is the replacement of the entire ignition control module.

Thanks for reading. Click Here to see more automotive-related news, car reviews, and gearhead stories.

Cover Photo credit: Austin Neill (@arstyy) | Unsplash Photo Community

2023 Mazda CX-50 – Using All Wheel Drive to Escape by Any Terrain Necessary

Jesus R. Garcia — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 09:30:00 GMT

In recent years, one of my most repetitive jokes has been comparing the SUV market to Russian nesting dolls. It starts with third-row full-size SUVs, then opens to mid-size, crossover, crossover coupe, compact, sub-compact. Then you find plug-in hybrids, high-performance, luxury-focused variants, and miles of panoramic sunroofs. Mazda’s collection of nesting SUVs recently received a new edition, the 2023 CX-50. This new compact SUV sits next to the Mazda CX-5 but takes the brand’s reputation for “fun handling” in a new direction, off-road.

To find out if the 2023 Mazda CX-50 has the torque to handle the active lifestyle market, I flew to Santa Barbara, California. Sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez Mountains, Mazda handed me the keys to a new CX-50 and pre-programmed the GPS for a southern-Californian grand tour. The nine-hour road trip provided ample opportunities to test out the CX-50 Mi-Drive modes and the new G-Vectoring Control system. According to Mazda, the CX-50 intelligent all-wheel-drive system is capable enough to take the brand’s unique responsive throttle and sharp steering off-road.

The Hotel Californian

When I wasn’t driving the new Mazda CX-50, I partook in California’s hospitality at The Hotel Californian. This 121-room hotel overlooks a surf n turf view of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The Hotel Californian’s interior design inspires nostalgia with a gold, white and black color palette. Surrounded by restaurants and a block away from what is referred to as “the American Riviera.”

The room I stayed in was comfortable and spacious, which provided restful sleep after days filled with air travel and off-roading.

In one instance, while walking through the hallways back to my room, I saw a housekeeper walking out of a room. As I got closer, a guest walked up to the housekeeper to ask an all-too-common question, “where’s the ice machine?” The housekeeper replied by reaching into his supply kart, pulling out a freshly chilled pre-packaged bag of ice, and handing it to the guest – that’s service.

Mi-Drive Modes and G-Vectoring Control

Mazda aims to bring its reputation for canyon craving throttle-response and track-day steering to an SUV with off-road and towing capabilities. To do this, Mazda developed the G-Vectoring Control system (GVC). This, matched with Mi-Drive modes, create a consistent performance profile no matter what drive mode or terrain the CX-50 is on. As a result, the compact SUV is exciting to drive whether on a highway, off-road, or pulling a trailer. Moreover, the Mi-Drive provides the driver with four modes: Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing.

Mazda developed the VGC by studying rally drivers and weight transferring logic. Depending on the drive mode, the GVC works by adjusting the transmission’s shift patterns and managing how power is sent to the wheels. More importantly, it does this while not letting the driver notice the change in how the CX-50 feels as it goes from Sport to Off-Road to Towing and back to Normal Mode. All the driver has to do is focus on navigating terrain and corner entry speed.

Off-Road in the Mazda CX-50

My California adventure took me to a working cattle ranch littered with photogenic hills and narrow valleys to cross. When Off-Road Mode is selected, the GVC changes the shift matter in the Mazda CX-50’s six-speed transmission. In addition, the engine’s idle speed is increased. Moreover, the GVC is capable of diagonal torque transfer. Lastly, the Traction Control system works by applying the brakes to wheels in the event of spinning or lifting off the ground. It stops the wasted power and redirects it to the wheels that need it to keep the CX-50 moving up and over the hill. As a result, the Mazda CX-50 is user-friendly while driving up slippery hills and alongside the valley.

Hitting the Apex in Sport Mode

In Santa Barbara’s wine country, I tested Sport Mode in the 2023 Mazda CX-50. Here, in the twisty one-an-half lane roads, the CX-50 proved it has a Mazda’s performance and soundtrack. Selecting Sport Mode directs the GVC to send more power to the front wheels. Doing this helps prevent the rear-powered wheels from plowing forward while turning. The transmission’s shift pattern is also changed to hold gears for longer to avoid shifting mid-turn. All this translates to is a compact SUV that likes to follow a racing line.

The Mazda’s CX-50 turbocharged 2.5-liter (naturally aspirated available) rumbles as it revs over 3,000-rpm. The torquey engine races like an excited Jack Russell terrier. The CX-50 downshifts and holds the gear, like a racing driver, until it is out of the corner. Push down on the throttle, and the CX-50 propels forward with all-wheel drive. The steering feels alive and lightweight going into the turns, and throttle input is satisfyingly responsive.

Towing Mode with 3,500 Pounds

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 has a max towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. I confirmed this stat in California when Mazda attached a 3,500-pound trailer to the back of my test CX-50. Towing Mode becomes available when weight is dropped onto the CX-50 trailer hitch. Upon doing so, the Mi-Drive menu replaces Sport Mode with Towing. The GVC adjusts the transmission’s shift patterns for heavy loads while towing. Moreover, it compensates for the additional weight on the vehicle’s rear, which tends to raise the front end.

Having power sent to the front wheels offers improved steering while towing. I found it easy to make precise wheel adjustments and turns on narrow roads. As a result, it is hard to tell that you are towing a trailer without checking mirrors as the Mazda CX-50 works to maintain its driving characteristics throughout its range of drive modes.

Pricing and Engine Options

Mazda announced it would be unveiling new plug-in hybrid and electric drivetrains soon. For now, the 2023 Mazda CX-50 is offered in two variants of its Skyactiv 2.5-liter engine, both using a six-speed automatic transmission. Lower tier like the CX-50 S uses the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter producing 187-hp and 186 lb.-ft of torque. Higher trim levels receive a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with 256-hp and 326 lb.-ft of torque (93 octane fuel). The turbocharged engine can burn regular 87 octane gasoline, but that does decrease its performance to 227-hp and 310 lb.-ft of torque.

Pricing for the 2023 Mazda CX-50 starts at $26k with the entry S trim which comes well equipped with Apple CarPlay and Radar Cruise Control as standard. The other end of the spectrum is the CX-50 T Premium, with a starting price of $41K, featuring heated rear seats, a 360-view camera, and wireless charging. In addition, all CX-50 variants come standard with all-wheel-drive and more standard safety features than any other current Mazda vehicle.

An SUV with a Key Personality Trade

Engaging steering feel and responsive throttle aside, the 2023 Mazda CX-50 exterior and interior design is purpose-built for active lifestyles. Mazda intends to build a compact SUV that conveys toughness and power. Moreover, its rugged nature has proven that it is not just for looks. The Mazda CX-50 is meant to be a vessel to escape the anxiety-inducing hustle and bustle of concrete poured society. Using all-wheel-drive, the CX-50 can take its occupants out of the urban and into nature, whether it’s a ski resort, national park, or a place where the stars are visible at night.

To help better pack for a weekend adventure or escape the CX-50 is shorter than the Mazda CX-5 but broader. The logic behind this was to create interior space that mimics a station wagon with up to 56.3-cubic inches of cargo space when the second-row seats folded down. Moreover, the rear doors open 90-degrees to make loading up camping gear or car seats easier. The lower roofline makes accessing roof accessories easier as well. The CX-50 exterior design features flared fenders with wrap-around black clapping and large intakes in the front and rear bumpers from the outside. As a result, the exterior design exudes the rugged confidence of a North Face jacket.

What separates the 2023 Mazda CX-50 from the herd of compact SUVs is its focus on providing a fun journey on its way to the destination with excellent handling. Alloy wheels and black accents through the exterior further complement the CX-50’s go-anywhere personality. However, its styling belongs wherever it’s parked, whether outside the fancy hotel underneath an expertly manicured palm tree or covered in dust on a ranch home to California happy cows.

2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Review: A Twin-Turbo Spooling Swan Song

Jesus R. Garcia — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 15:40:36 GMT

The new V-Series Blackwing Cadillacs can trace their origins all the way back to the 1990s. At the time, Cadillac was starting to realize that it needed to infuse some new blood into its target audience. So, like the autobahn, the American car company looked at Germany’s sports saloons and decided it needed to make its own. Thus, in 2003 the Cadillac V-Series division was born, and with it, a new identity for the brand often associated with cloud-like suspension and gold pinky rings. The 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, and its V8 CT5-V Blackwing sibling, are the last characters in Cadillac’s premium fuel-burning performance era. After this future fast Caddys will get their go-go juice from a power outlet.

Cadillac gave me a key and seven days to determine if the CT4-V Blackwing has what it takes to achieve instant classic status. Throughout 900 miles, the CT4-V Blackwing played me a twin-turbo spooling swan song on the twisty roads of the Texas hill country. During the experience, I discovered that this track-wolf sedan carries the spirit of a black sheep ancestor.

A Track-Wolf

The CT4-V Blackwing is the fastest subcompact to wear the Cadillac crest on its front grille. Behind its blacked-out grille is a 3.6-liter V6 producing 472-hp and 445 lb.-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via an enhanced electronic limited-slip rear differential. According to Cadillac, the CT4-V Blackwing can reach a top speed of 189 mph (on a racetrack) and will sprint from zero to 60 in 4.1-seconds (with manual transmission). However, if you opt for the 10-speed automatic, the time is cut to 3.9-seconds.

The stats on this car make for a good read on paper and translate even better in the real world. The CT4-V Blackwing delivers its power with exceptional timing. Get it past second gear, and you’re suddenly knocking on 70 mph. By fourth fear, you start looking further down the road as a car this fast requires plenty of forward-thinking. Soon you’re easing off the throttle before crossing the limit between traffic fines and bail money with two gears left to go.

The Twisted Sisters Leakey, Texas

Flat-out speed in a straight line is one thing, but a car like the CT4-V Blackwing deserves to have some curves put in its way. A stretch of road, out of the way from major interstates, rests neatly in the Texas hill country as a slice of paved paradise near the small town of Leakey, Texas. This two-lane highway hugs the side of a hill as it travels across and around the bend with no room for error. One mistake or momentary loss of traction puts drivers at risk of kissing the jagged side of the hill or free-falling into an unforgiving forest of mesquite trees and cacti.

Upon approaching the start of this route, I reached down on the steering wheel and pressed a small button labeled with a red V. Doing this skips the driver mode selection process and turns everything up to eleven. Immediately the CT4-V Blackwing goes on full alert. The steering, in particular, feels like parallel parking with no power steering – heavy. However, like a Colt 1911 .45 handgun, it has an excellent weight in your hand and allows you to get a better feel for what the front tires are doing. Match that with a traditional six-speed manual stick, and suddenly you feel like you should be wearing a racing helmet as you start to build up speed before the first turn.

The brakes on the 2022 Cadillac CT4-Blackwing are superb, allowing you to drop the anchor with total control when needed most. The car hardly even dips as you stand on the brakes before leaning into the narrow turn. The steering feels like it’s in tune with your mind as it follows your lead like a cat chasing a laser pointer. Exiting the turn and back on the throttle, the CT4-V Blacking does not growl or howl. Instead, it keeps it subtle with a turbo spool and a faint rumble under your seat.

After charging the hill, I arrived in Leakey, TX. The adrenaline rush slowly being replaced with fatigue and a sense of relief. While pumping premium fuel at a gas station, an older man sitting in an SUV across the pumps from me noticed the Cadillac Blackwing.

The man asked me if it was “one of the new Caddys.” I responded yes. He then began to tell me that a “buddy” of his owns a CT5-V Blackwing that “hasn’t been beaten yet.” A brief chat with man unveiled that he was a classic rock-n-roller veteran of the pre-oil crisis horsepower wars. He mentioned his age, 70-something, and couldn’t help but mention his home-built 2019 Dodge Challenger with a Mad Max-style supercharger and blower set up. Sometimes old habits evolve with new tricks.

Pricing and Fuel Economy

The 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing shown in this review wears a Satin Steel Metallic paint job with a two-tone Natural Tan and Jet Black interior. The Blackwing starts at $58k; however, this model came equipped with over $17k worth of add-ons. These options include two carbon fiber packages and 18-inch alloy wheels with a graphite finish. In addition, interior features like massaging front seats, carbon fiber trim, digital heads-up display, sunroof, and a video/performance data recorder, bring the total “as shown” price to $71,095.

Throughout 900 miles, I averaged a few decimal points over 18 mpg running on 91 premium fuel. A light-footed driver could easily granny-shift this manual transmission Cadillac into an average mpg in the low 20s.

Nitpicking the CT4-V Blackwing

While the interior of CT4-V Blackwing is photogenic, the feeling tells a different story. The sporty bucket seats are too firm for a Cadillac. The side bolstering, while supportive, is as stiff as a board and unforgiving. Moreover, the seat’s optional massaging feature feels like a cat making muffins on your lumbar. Not enough pressure to justify calling it a massage. My lower back and knees felt the nine-hour drive in the CT4-Blackwing long after I arrived home.

Another noteworthy nitpick is the layout of the CT4-V’s center dashboard screen and buttons, which look like they were sourced from the Chevrolet Camaro parts bin. Road noise was also noticeable, but at least I had a 14-speaker AKG audio system to drown out the noise. The day’s adventure was certainly felt in my lower spine and knees when I arrived home after a long day sitting in the CT4-V Blackwing driver seat.

Final Thoughts on the CT4-V Blackwing

The 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing is an imperfect masterpiece. While the interior lacks the luxury that built the brand, its performance puts it in a higher class. However, during my week of testing, I kept thinking one thing. This V6 Blackwing bears a family resemblance to another turbo-charged GM sedan with a blacked-out grille – the Buick Grand National. Now, the odds of Buick announcing the return of the GNX is slim to none, but if they did, it’s safe to assume it would offer this exact engine and boast some impressive carbon fiber bits. We may never see the revival of the Grand National GNX, but at least its reputation lives on in a reincarnated Cadillac.

Sidenote: mark your calendars to celebrate Cadillac’s 120th anniversary on August 22, 2022.

Artist: Jesus R. Garcia