Exploring Organ Pipe National Monument With the 2021 Sierra Denali
Jun 19, 2024
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Exploring Organ Pipe National Monument With the 2021 Sierra Denali
When the folks at Cadillac put the three-row-SUV XT6 Premium on my agenda a few weeks ago I wasn't sure what to think except that it is probably popular with the folks that need a mini-van but don't want the stigma. Let's face it, three-row SUVs are hugely popular and practical if you have a family but I've never once experienced one that was enjoyable to drive and made you smile while approaching it in the garage. That is, until now. The moment I first tapped the accelerator when leaving my garage I realized this was not merely an upbadged Traverse.
I like all things fast and while I've never had the chance to actually ride a motorcycle, there's a sense of extreme thrill that they embody and no bike manufacturer is as synonymous with elegance and refinement as Ducati. The level to which the engineers push both style and technology is simply incredible and now they've introduced the Superleggera V4, boasting 224 horsepower (street) and 234 (on track with racing kit) but weighs only 336 pounds. That is an insane seven horses per pound, even better than an F1 car. With a price tag of $100,000 and only 500 being made, I know what some of you are going to have on your letters to Santa this year!
The Jeep Grand Wagoneer that has been rumored for months now is finally public and official. Set to launch next year this king of the Jee's will be priced at more than $100,000 and is designed to compete with other full-sized luxury SUVs on the market including Cadillac Escalade. Jeep will also be offering a less grand model named unsurprisingly simply the Jeep Wagoneer as well. I can't wait to hear more soon.
By this point in the year I normally would have racked up 10s of thousands of miles in the air and have wrapped up at least a few different road trips. This year, is different. While we've been doing a lot of auto reviews recently, the focus has been distinctly different and focused more on local driving. However, I'm glad that I got a chance to let the Hyundai Palisade stretch it's legs a bit because it was one of the best all-around SUVs that I've driven in a long time.
Expanding on the Bronco family’s Built Wild™ innovative design and capability pillars, these five adventure-inspired concepts further highlight the brand’s readiness for customization at launch. Beyond the standard options, there are more than 200 available factory-backed accessories for Bronco two- and four-door models, and more than 100 accessories for Bronco Sport models.
When we look at cars, many are completely unique - for instance, the Toyota Sequoia doesn't have a Lexus version and there's sadly no Toyota version of the Lexus LS. Other models though have near-identical twins and sometimes you have the same bones but completely different personalities. That's what I discovered recently while testing out the 2020 Lexus LX followed by the 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition. These two vehicles are fundamentally the same but have been configured to feel completely different with each having a unique personality.
Purchasing OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts is often recommended by car manufacturers and for a good reason. Only an OEM part can be guaranteed to be the correct part and have the dependability, strength and service life that the manufacturer can put their name behind. However, there are a lot of times when you don't need that... and even more times when an aftermarket part might be superior for your needs. Let's take a look at some pros and cons of using OEM vs aftermarket parts and when you should use one over the other.
Chevy's Tahoe SUV is historically one of the favorite full-sized SUVs. When you lump it together with stablemate GMC Yukon these brothers are absolutely my favorites. While the industry has brought a huge amount of innovation to the world of 3-row family haulers, nothing can touch the poise and presence of these two truck-based SUV giants. When Chevrolet invited me to be among the first to drive the 2021 Tahoe Z71 this month I was thrilled for the opportunity. Here are my thoughts...
Buellton, California is better known as a wine destination but the more I explore, the more I discover that (unsurprisingly) motorsports and wine go hand in hand. While there are some amazing car collections on estates up and down the California coast, Jack Mendenhall's story is a bit different. Instead of being wealthy gentry, a tech billionaire, or a movie star, he was the owner of Richfield Service Station. After selling the station in the late 70's, he began life as a traveling salesman selling signs, and later began collecting them. Now his incredible collection of signs, cars, automotive artifacts and memorabilia is open to the public to enjoy.
There's a lot of bad stuff that we as Americans are working through right now, but fast, powerful, affordable sports cars are not one of them. The Ford Mustang is truly and icon of everything that is right about America and so it was the perfect car to borrow for a celebration of the Fourth of July.
In this age of trucks, trucks and more trucks Mazda is working hard to put some “zoom-zoom” into its sedans and crossovers. I’ve always thought that Mazda vehicles are underrated, but also a little underpowered. Recently, Mazda announced a new power upgrade to one of its vehicles that you might not expect.
Mission accomplished: Ford introduces Mustang Mach-E 1400, an all-electric road rocket that shows just how much performance can be harnessed without using a drop of gas. Coming hot on the heels of the 1,400-horsepower all-electric Mustang Cobra Jet 1400, this one-off Mustang Mach-E with its seven electric motors and high downforce is ready for the track, drag strip or gymkhana course – anywhere it can show how electric propulsion promises extreme Mustang performance.
The original Indianapolis 500 race date has passed, the 27th Brickyard 400 has passed and we’ve now seen a preview of most of the changes to IMS that spectators and TV audiences will experience on race day. The race date for the 104th running is Sunday, Aug. 23, albeit with reduced capacity.
Toyota was always "my parent's car brand" it was safe, dependable, affordable, and while all of those things are positive attributes for a car brand it was also boring and conservative. While Toyota is still among the more conservative brands out there, in the past couple years they have begun to introduce more power, improved designs, and tried new ideas. When they introduced the Avalon TRD last year it was a bit confusing since the Avalon had always been a "grandpa car". Now though, it fills a unique spot in the marketplace and so I was excited to take it for a spin.
The Ford F-150 is America's top light-duty truck in numbers such as towing and sales but with the launches of the new Silverado and RAM upping the game, all eyes are on Ford. Will they be able to maintain the crown? Will they be able to innovate like their competitors or just chase stats for their chance to maintain glory? The good news is that the answer is that things look very good for Ford as they introduce the 2021 Ford F-150. Let's take a look!
Ok, so this is a bit silly perhaps but in an era - at least short term - where gas prices have been knocked back down, the argument for why you should invest in an electric vehicle is a bit tougher to make. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Bolt EV. It's a great car and electric vehicles are absolutely the future of personal transportation. However, in a time where eliminating touchpoints and reducing anxiety is more important than cost - here's one more reason I love EV's like the 2020 Chevy Bolt.
All-Season Tires... they are the boring cousin to racing slicks and big knobby offroad tires. Some of your trucks may have "All Terrain" tires but nope... these are just plain old tires designed for use on the pavement across all four seasons. They aren't fancy but they may be the most important tires to keeping your family safe across a variety of different conditions. Let's take a look at why these might be the most important tires for your car and when you might need something different.
Feeling comfortable in a car could come in two ways. As a passenger, you want to be transported away from the bumps and twists in the road. As a driver, you want to feel everything possible. But, in newer cars, the technology is such that there’s not a lot of feedback. In more ‘analog’ cars you could feel the road through the tires and into your feet. You can feel the chassis slipping around on the road through your rear and hips. You could feel the moaning and stressful conditions the tires are experiencing through your hands. What happened to all of that? It's largely due to a lack of driver-focused setups in cars, but thankfully, the aftermarket is full of choices.
As the off-roading season began on the Rubicon Trail over Memorial Day weekend, local law enforcement was able to patrol the trail with more capability thanks to a donation from BFGoodrich Tires.
At this point, most of us realize just how hard it is to sanitize all the surfaces of your house and car. No matter how well you scrub, getting every piece clean is near impossible with spray and wipes. Plus that just takes a ton of time so Ford developed a solution. They have designed a new heated software enhancement to pilot with its Police Interceptor Utility – one that law enforcement agencies across the country can utilize to help reduce the footprint of the COVID-19 virus.