Month: September 2021

2021 BMW 330e Sedan Review by Ben Lewis

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2021 BMW 330e Sedan review by Ben Lewis We recently tested the Audi Q5 PHEV Plug-in hybrid, and found it gave near the performance of the pricier SQ5, with a price and efficiency closer to the base Q5 – especially when the federal and state tax breaks were added in. So, we were equally excited to driver the BMW 330e – the 3-series sport sedan with plug-in hybrid powertrain. While the previous gen had a similar version, the 2021 features the all-new 3-series that came out a couple years ago. Was this another plug-in we could love more than a …

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Rolls Royce Makes Electrified History, Confirms That Spectre EV Will Be First Production Rolls Royce EV

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Rolls Royce has always been a very consistent entity in how it handled core aspects of its business. All of their models focused on being the best luxury cars globally, the company focused on achieving symbolic perfection, and the V12 reigned supreme in the engine bay. That third item has always been a central pillar for Rolls, with company execs getting hot and bothered when the subject of green technology is raised. However, it appears that the V12’s dominant reign could soon be coming to an end with the unveiling of the all-new Spectre model.   Ghostly Spectre Signals All-Electric …

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Jeep Unveils 2022 Grand Cherokee Two-Row Model, Trailhawk Debuts And 4xe Gets 25 Miles Of EV Range

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The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L served as a very interesting prequel to the full rollout of the revamped Jeep Grand Cherokee lineup. But the three-row Jeep is only one piece of a broader puzzle, and the off-road brand has finally unveiled the remaining core pieces in the lineup, the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee two-row model and the fuel-sipping 4xe variant.   Exterior And Interior Continues Following The Script, But Add New Features The exterior and interior design of the two-row version of the Grand Cherokee follows the same footprints left by the larger L model, with the exterior and …

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Maybach Celebrates A Century Of Existence With S-Class Edition 100, Only 100 To Be Built

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Mercedes-Maybach is celebrating 100 years of building bespoke ultra-luxury models. The brand has seen its fair share of ups and downs since Mercedes revived the moniker in the early 2000s. Its current iteration as a sub-brand (versus a slow-selling standalone brand) has allowed Maybach to have a renewed vigor and an impressive amount of success not only with its established S-Class-based creations but also in the SUV market with the Maybach GLS600 showing what it can bring to the growing market. Maybach has prepared a special birthday present for its unique clientele with the unveiling of the all-new Edition 100. …

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Ford Announces Massive $11.4 Billion Investment, Plans For Blue Oval City

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It’s no secret that Ford plans to put all of its chips into making and selling EVs moving forward. But while past investments have focused on existing plants and models, they were mere stepping stones towards a larger objective, in this case, an $11.4 billion investment that will see the creation of the first-ever “Blue Oval City,”   Tennesse Campus To Be Called “Blue Oval City” The fore-mentioned investment will be split into two parts, with the first chunk being used in a $5.6 billion “mega campus,” which will be called “Blue Oval City.” The name is not a mere …

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Genesis Confirms GV60 Reveal, Will Unveil Bespoke EV On September 29th

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The Genesis GV60 has led a mysterious existence up till now. First appearing as a concept, the GV60 merged controversial styling elements with the E-GMP platform that also sees duty in the Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6. However, Genesis chose to keep many of the technical aspects of the GV60 close to the vest. However, a new teaser video that the Korean luxury brand released earlier today sheds some new light on the production version of the GV60 concept and confirms that it will be making its debut on September 29th.   GV60 Set To Make Its Mark On …

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Chevrolet Releases First Teaser Photo Of 2023 C8 Z06, Looks Ready To Hunt Ferraris

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We have always wondered what it would look like if Chevrolet decided to go hunting for Ferraris with the 2023 Corvette ZO6, and thanks to a newly released photo of the 2023 Corvette ZO6, we have a look at the sharper and more ferocious member of the C8 Corvette family ahead of its October 23rd debut.   Core Vette Design Gets Beefed Up With ZO6 Add-Ons When you compare the standard-issue Corvette with the new ZO6, you’ll see that GM’s changes to the car are not as extensive as some might have expected. The core design is still present and …

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Electrification Coming To Grand Cherokee, Jeep Confirms 4xe Model And Confirms Other 2022 Grand Cherokee Details

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When we last saw the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, it was in its stretched L form, which brought three-row seating to the GC for the first time, made the Dodge Durango instantly irrelevant, and promised to be the best one ever made by Jeep. However, the giant elephant missing in the room was the standard-sized Grand Cherokee with Jeep repeatedly saying that it was still undergoing development. Thankfully, the wait is almost over, with Jeep confirming that it will be unveiling the short-wheelbase version and the 4xe model on September 29th.   A Return To Form For Jeep’s Bread And …

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2022 Nissan Frontier Shows Off Nismo Off-Road Parts At 2021 Overland Expo

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Nissan first promised a whole suite of Nismo branded accessories for the 2022 Frontier when the revamped mid-size pickup made its global debut earlier this year. But the company kept the bulk of these accessories under wraps, until now, with the company debuting the first wave of these accessories at the 2021 Overland Expo.   Nismo Parts Trail Ready And Eager To Please The Frontier that Nissan will have on display at the event comes loaded to the brim with accessories. It appears that the truck has even more accessories than the original number that the company announced late last …

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Ram Unveils Three New Special Edition Ram Models, Spicy TRX Igntion Edition Leads The Charge

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The State Fair Of Texas has unofficially become ground-zero for the pickup wars with the Domestic Big Three (Ford GM and Ram) using the festivities to show off their latest wares. Ram has chosen to go to a familiar but welcome chapter in their playbook with a wave of special edition models, with the trio being led by the Ram TRX Ignition Edition TRX Ignition Edition Adds Bright Color To Unchanged Performance Hardware The 2022 Ram TRX Ignition Editon leads the way, which adds some unique trim applications to the truck. The firebreathing 702 hp Hellcat V8 and the performance …

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Ford Confirms Rumored Bronco Raptor Model, Will Appear In 2022

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We should’ve known that Ford would have a huge surprise in its bag of tricks when we listened eagerly to the brand’s announcement of the 2022 Expedition lineup. What seemed like the typical conclusion of a press conference diverted in an exciting direction when Ford reps revealed that not only is the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor a production reality. But that we wouldn’t have to wait very long for it either, with the beefed-up Bronco expected to make its appearance sometime in 2022. Brief Teaser Provides A Literal Glimpse Of The Bronco Raptor And Not Much Else While our glimpse …

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2021 Audi Q5 55 TFSI e quattro review by Ben Lewis

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We recently tested the all-new VW ID.4 EV and loved a lot about it. But there’s part of us that still loves the sound and feel of a good old gas engine. Is there a best of both world’s vehicle? Well, we just tested the Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid to find out if we can have our EV thrills and conventional engine cake all in one bite. Let’s look. Fresh Face For 2021 Audi has freshened the looks of what was already a handsome SUV. Up front, you’ll see the octagonal Singleframe grille is thinner and wider, with taller side …

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Ford Unveils Refreshed 2022 Expedition, New Trim Levels And Technology Form Bulk Of Changes

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The current generation Ford Expedition is entering its fourth model year of service. But while the big utility is still a top go to for family buyers, some aspects of its game were starting to age badly in the face of relentless competition. Ford has taken note, and has given the family hauler a light refresh for 2022 that aims to sharpen its resolve while also allowing it to stay on the curve with rivals like the Chevrolet Suburban and the Jeep Wagoneer family.   Light Exterior Refresh Nips And Tucks The Expedition’s Functionality At first glance, the exterior revisions …

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Lotus Unveils 2022 Emira Packages And European Pricing, U.S. Gets To Wait

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The 2022 Lotus Emira will serve as the final swan song for ICE-powered Lotus offerings before the storied British sports car maker embraces an all-electric future. But while the Emira looks gorgeously elegant and seems to have the performance essentials to make it stand out from the crowd, we still had some questions especially surrounding the final price tag. Lotus has been listening and has put the Emira’s configurator online that gives us a look at the various packages on hand and initial pricing.   Emira Pricing Puts It In The Running With Porsche And Others Before we go on …

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Road Test Review – 2021 Karma GS-6 – Karma’s Entry Level Hybrid Rises From Fisker’s Ashes

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In mythology, the legendary bird known as the phoenix symbolizes rebirth and a new beginning. In the case of Karma Automotive, it’s the rise from the ashes of the original doomed iteration of Fisker Motors. Henrik Fisker promised to bring a revolutionary take on the plug-in hybrid when the original Karma first appeared a decade ago. But a combination of outside factors, as well as Henrik’s errors, doomed it all to fail. The car itself, however, remained a viable platform for creation, with the newly formed Karma Automotive buying the pieces via a Chinese firm. But has Karma finally created …

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Toyota Debuts 2022 Tundra Pickup, All-New Twin-Turbo V6 And Optional Hybrid Sharpen Focus On Rivals

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The truck wars in the U.S. remain a hotly contested battleground for automakers. While the bulk of sales are focused almost exclusively on the Domestic Big Three (Ford GM and Ram), a few disruptors are trying to shake up the system. One of them is Toyota, who used the power and appeal of the NFL to formally unveil the 2022 Tundra, which is the most extensive reboot that the truck has ever received. Here are a few things you should know about Toyota’s revamped pickup.   Exterior Styling Is Major Departure From Past Tundras The exterior styling of the 2022 …

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Road Test Review – 2021 Hyundai Venue Denim – As Capable And Value Filled As A Pair Of Slick Jeans

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The sport utility market seems to be at its breaking point when it comes to the sheer number of offerings that are available in the market today. From big to small, it’s apparent that the world’s automakers are trying to fill every possible niche in the battle for SUV dominance. The Hyundai Venue is one of those that are trying to make its mark in the compact SUV segment. But does the Venue still have what it takes to bring it to competitors looking to trounce it on value? And why does our tester look like a pair of blue …

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Ford Brings Green To Crimefighting With Creation Of Mach-E GT Police Interceptor Concept, Will Enter MSP Trials

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Fighting crime is tricky for many police departments, and it’s natural to assume that electrification and green motoring might not fit into the script at first glance. However, while the bulk of the spotlight is focused on creating EV entries for the civilian market, Ford wanted to cover all angles and unveiled an all-new Mach-E Police Interceptor, which will be spending some time with the Michigan State Police Department.   Mustang Mach-E Will Have Very Formidable Shoes To Fill The latest Mach-E Police Interceptor concept will have two sets of shoes to fill if it gets full approval for police …

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2022 Ford F-150 Lighting Enters Pre-Production Stage, Company Confirms 150,000 Reservations For EV Pickup

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The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is still not ready for full consumer consumption, but the Dearborn-based company has confirmed that the Lightning has entered a key step in its development with the all-electric truck entering the pre-production phase, which also signals that it will begin real-world testing before it makes its way to dealerships in 2022.   Rouge Electric Vehicle Center Preps For Mass Production The first few pre-production examples of the Lightning are rolling out of Ford’s Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, a recently added expansion to the broader Rouge plant where the gasoline-powered F-150 is made. The start of …

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Road Test Review – 2021 Volkswagen Arteon SEL Premium R-Line – CC Replacement Does An Even Better Audi Impression

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The Volkswagen Arteon had alot on its plate when it first appeared in the U.S. in 2018. Not only did it have to replace the languishing CC in the U.S., but it also showed that top-notch Volkswagen design could move beyond the GTI and Golf R hot hatches and into other nameplates that might not have as much firepower under the hood. But does the Arteon truly succeed in finally bringing cohesive luxury to buyers in this regard? We followed up our west coast encounter of the Arteon with a sequel here on the east coast to see if the …

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2021 VW ID.4 PRO S review by Ben Lewis

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We really admire VW. After the Dieselgate trauma, the brand was really on the ropes, especially here in the U.S. We wouldn’t have been surprised if the German brand would have pulled out of the US market. But they didn’t. Instead, the fixed what was wrong with the Diesels, and started building exciting new models, like the all-new GTI and the Jetta GLI. VW also threw itself into being one of the leaders in EV tech. The first offering we saw was the E-Golf that we really enjoyed, but like many other carmakers, it was taking an existing vehicle and …

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Mazda Unveils Updated 2022 CX-5, Tweaked Styling Promises To Elevate Elegance And Sportiness

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The Mazda CX-5 is one of the few in the utility vehicle segment that has managed to nail the perfect balance of sport-inspired performance and value-focused luxury that can actually blur the line between mainstream and luxury when equipped properly. But even the ultimate jack of all trades needs to be refreshed once in a while, and the company has unveiled the updated 2022 CX-5, which follows closely on the heels of its recently unveiled Chinese market cousin.   Subtle Evolution Focuses On The Essentials The exterior styling of the 2022 CX-5 shares a lot of its basic traits with …

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Rivian Builds First Customer Bound R1T Pickup, Marks Signficant Step For Company

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The electric pickup segment has been rapidly growing over the past few years, with entries from Tesla, Ford, and others aiming to take full advantage of this new frontier. The big question on everyone’s minds, though, was which of these companies would succeed in producing a truck that was ready for consumer consumption? It appears that we finally have the answer, with Rivian revealing that it has produced its first customer-ready version of the R1T pickup in a historic day for the electric pickup market.  Being First Came After Years Of Hard Work After months of building pre-production vehicles, this …

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Toyota Confirms September 19th Debut For 2022 Tundra, Will Make Physical Debut At Motorbella

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The 2022 Toyota Tundra‘s teaser campaign has been a very interesting ride for us over the past few weeks. Marred by multiple leaks, the Japanese auto giant has been teasing the world with subtle glimpses of its next-generation full-size pickup over the past few months, with each one being more intriguing than the last. Thankfully, it appears that we are in the home stretch, with Toyota confirming that the new truck will make its global debut on September 19th.   Kicking Off The Truck Wars In Style According to Toyota reps, the new Tundra will make its official debut as …

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Nissan Unveils GT-R T-Spec, Features Callbacks From The Past And T-Spec Exclusive Styling

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The Nissan GT-R has soldiered on in some shape or form since 2008, with two facelifts in 2011 and 2017 helping to keep Father Time away. In addition to these facelifts, special edition models (along with potent performance numbers) have also played a big role with Nissan using the latter reason to take the veil off of its newest special edition GT-R the all-new T-Spec Edition.   New T-Spec Colors Bring Back Memories Of The Past The exterior styling of the GT-R has not changed very much, and the T-Spec leaves the core albeit aging design alone. Instead, it focuses …

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2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing vs 2022 BMW M3 – A Battle Of Numbers And Bragging Rights

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In our last Blackwing-related slice of coverage, we took a look at the numbers surrounding the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing and compared it with one of its rivals to see how the big bad Caddy fared when it came to benchmarking the competition. While we did find some surprises when we compared it to the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, Cadillac’s insistence on making this model a tweener forces it into a grey area when it comes to rivals. This time around, we chose to take a more direct approach and crunched the numbers to see whether the 2022 CT4-V Blackwing …

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Subaru Unveils 2022 WRX Sedan, Promises New Performance In Familiar Wrapper, Debuts GT Trim [Gallery]

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The cancellation of the 2022 New York Auto Show due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns forced automakers to completely rethink how they unveiled products that were originally intended to shine under the spotlight in the Big Apple. Subaru was a firm affected by the abrupt cancellation, but that did not stop them from unveiling the 2022 WRX, which aims to bring new performance to buyers and embrace the familiarity that has become a hallmark trait of the model.   Familiar Impreza Lines Are Enhanced In WRX Transformation When you first look at the 2022 WRX, you can see that it shares …

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2022 Nissan Pathfinder Drive Review

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Heading Back To Its Roots For many, the R51 Pathfinder is the peak of the Pathfinder era. It had a stout 4.0 V6 and an optional V8. Power was run through a reliable 5-speed auto to a transfer case with a true low range. Finally it had body on frame architecture, making modifications for off-road much easier. So how does the 2022 Pathfinder stack up? Nissan sent us a pre-production model to test for a week. As such there may be some minor flaws that are still in this vehicle that will be worked out before production begins. 2022 Pathfinder …

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Chevrolet Unveils Refreshed 2022 Silverado, Super Cruise And ZR2 Model Highlight Updates

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Evolution, it seems, will be a very prevalent theme for the full-size pickup segment. The 2021/2022 Ford F-150 is reaping the benefits from its suite of updates, and it appears that Chevrolet is eager to throw its hat in the ring, too, with the bow-tie brigade unveiling the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado. Here are 3 things that you should know about this sleeker Silverado.   Reworked Silverado Front Fascia And Interior Aim To Address Weak Points When the outgoing Chevrolet Silverado appeared a few years ago, it was obvious that the truck had some notable weaknesses, with the front fascia and …

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Toyota Announces Official 2022 Corolla Cross Pricing, Sales Start In October

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The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross was initially an international market-only model, but the Japanese car giant unveiled the U.S. spec version of the model back in June. We had some questions about where the Corolla Cross would fit in the company’s utility lineup. Still, the Japanese auto giant has dropped a hint with Toyota reps revealing the official pricing ladder for the Corolla Cross before it goes on sale in October.   Value-Conscious And Proud Of It The Corolla Cross helps Toyota fill a budget-sized void in its crossover lineup. Base models start at $23,410 when you include the $1,215 …

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2022 CT5-V Blackwing vs 2021 Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio Market Comparison- A Look At The Numbers In The Sport Sedan Segment

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The Cadillac Blackwing series of performance cars promises to be the last true swan song for performance in the world of Cadillac, with the performance mantle being taken up by EV models over the next few years. While we covered the Blackwing models in-depth here, we wanted to see how the Blackwings stacked up against one rival selected at random. We ran the numbers, crunched the prices, and set out to see how Cadillac did benchmarking their competitors. For this go-around, we chose to start with the CT5-V Blackwing and find out how it measured up against the 2021 Alfa …

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Lexus Leaves RC F and RC F Fuji Speedway Edition Virtually Unchanged, You’ll Have To Look Real Hard To Spot The Updates

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The Lexus RC F is arguably Japan’s version of the iconic muscle car. Like Detroit’s best, the RC F has a long hood, short rear deck, ad a large 5.0 liter V8 lurking under the hood. The RC F Track Edition pushed the envelope further when it appeared two years ago. It then evolved into the Fuji Speedway Edition, with some of the lessons learned from its predecessor being infused into it. But while the rest of the segment is going through a state of flux due to strong demand for performance SUVs, Lexus revealed that it’s making minuscule changes …

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2022 Toyota 4Runner Debuts Wild Lime Rush Color, Adds New Model And Safety Tech Too

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The Toyota 4Runner has been a rugged off-road warrior for Toyota over the years. While the current generation 4Runner is long overdue for a redesign, the current generation model is still a popular choice among off-roaders. The Japanese auto giant has revealed some notable updates coming to the 4Runner for the 2022 model year.   Lime Rush Adds Boldness To Color Pallette   A big change that many buyers might notice on the TRD Pro model is the all-new Lime Rush exterior color. This hue first made its appearance on the Tacoma TRD Pro, and the vivid green is one …

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Cadillac Adds Light Changes To All Of Its Models For 2022, Smart System Comes To All Models

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While Cadillac is focused on preparing for the future with all-electric models like the Lyriq EV (which we had the chance to see up close recently) the luxury brand hasn’t forgotten about its ICE powered production vehicle lineup and has revealed a lighting dusting of changes that will hit all of their models for the 2022 model year.   Entire Cadillac Lineup Gets More Safety Gear With New Smart System Before we dive deep into some of the individual changes for each model, we might as well focus on the one addition that unifies them together the addition of the …

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Cadillac Aims Higher With 2023 Cadillac Lyriq, Musical Moniker Is More Than A Gimmick

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When Cadillac unveiled the 2023 Lyriq EV SUV, it promised that the model would elevate the levels of luxury that a Cadilac model could provide while also serving as an elegant example of its Ultium technology in action. The Lyriq certainly appears to have the goods to pull it off and it even looks elegant in pictures, but how does it measure up in the real world? Cadillac invited us to GM Tech Center to spend some time with the Lyriq in-person to see some of its inner workings in person.   Near Production Exterior Radiates With Lighting, State Of …

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Road Test Review – 2021 Rolls Royce Cullinan Black Badge – Rolls Makes A Performance SUV And The World Takes Notice

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Rolls Royce is rolling the dice in the SUV segment with the 2021 Rolls Royce Cullinan Black Badge. When The Cullinan first appeared in 2019, it rewrote the definition of the pinnacle in luxury automobiles. It wasn’t long ago that owning a Phantom or even a Ghost sedan signified that you made it in the world. Still, with SUV demand rising globally, the British ultra-luxury carmaker knew it had to adapt to rapidly changing times. Our initial taste of the Cullinan was brief, with our 30-minute encounter doing little to answer how the large SUV would fare in long-term ownership. …

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2021 Honda CR-V 1.5T AWD Touring review by Ben Lewis

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Sometimes you wonder about something that’s a best-seller. Are they really good, and everybody knows about it? Like all those Marvel movies. Or maybe they’re just cheap and convenient. Like convenience store coffee from the pot that’s been there since the Clinton administration. So, here we have the 2021 Honda CR-V, Honda’s best-selling vehicle, and one of the best-selling vehicles of any kind. But what do those numbers really mean? Is this a superhero you can cheer for, or a nasty cup of joe that’s going to take a whole lot of sweeteners to get down? Let’s look. Clean and …

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Road Test Review – 2021 BMW Alpina XB7 – An X7 M In A Fine Velvet Suit

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BMW usually has a pretty consistent game plan when it comes to making performance models. It’s willing to sprinkle the vaunted M badge on all kinds of models, but it leaves the largest models (X7 and 7-Series) alone. Those models get a special trip to BMW tuner Alpina where they are transformed into exceptional performance luxury specials. Alpina is making history in 2021 by unleashing the Alpina XB7 onto American shores for the first time. But can Alpina’s first U.S. bound SUV entry to shake up the ultra-luxury performance SUV segment? Alpina Exterior Touches Transform XB7 The BMW X7 is …

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Ford Goes For A Swim With Ranger Splash Package, Is Tribute To 1990’s Era Special

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Fans of 1990s nostalgia (or those that actually grew up in the decade) will undoubtedly remember the Ford Ranger Splash package. The Splash was Ford’s attempt at channeling the west coast design trends that defined the 1990s. It came with package exclusive decals, a lightly tweaked interior, and a flare side bed. Ford is looking to channel some of this magic for the current Ranger and has revealed that it will be reviving the Splash treatment for the new Ranger.   Tamer Styling Package Still Spices Up Ranger’s Game With Sharp Graphics Unlike the original Splash, Ford designers chose to …

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Morgan Confirms All-New 3-Wheeler, Will Use Ford Sourced Three Cylinder Engine

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When Morgan Motor Company revealed that the current generation Morgan 3-Wheeler was going away with the P101 Edition, the British carmaker confirmed that it was not the end of a three-wheeled Morgan having a place in the current lineup. The company has confirmed that an all-new 3-Wheeler is coming and released a lone teaser image and some early details about its upcoming cyclecar.   A 3-Wheeler In Everything But The Name Morgan stopped short of whether it will be using the long-running “3-Wheeler” moniker, but we suspect that it will continue to do so when this new iteration makes its …

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