Mazda's CX-70 PHEV is The Perfect SUV For Fun Loving Couples With No Kids
Oct 20, 2024
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Mazda's CX-70 PHEV is The Perfect SUV For Fun Loving Couples With No Kids
Since the mid-1970’s Chevy has teased us with mid-engine Corvette concepts. Some of the styling cues and technology bits were used here and there on later gen Corvettes. GM cited the low volume/higher development, engineering costs, and the resulting sticker shock to customers as reasons for not making the switch.
We tried the Mazda CX-90 PHEV last fall while moving in San Diego and fell in love with the vehicle. It was the first time that I began to consider the possibility of selecting a luxury 3-row crossover instead of a truck. However, to be completely honest... that rapid two-week whirlwind of packing and moving also wiped our mind clear of some of the specific details so when we got the opportunity to try it out again we jumped at the opportunity. Doubly so since we were going to be doing a bit of a road trip to Port Clinton, OH to watch the eclipse from near the center of the path of totality.
Don't worry... I still love my big burley trucks, but EVs fascinate me. They are, without a doubt, the future of personal transportation. However, the future is here already. While it can be challenging today while charging infrastructure catches up, even in a less than ideal environment, a weekend getaway in an EV is possible. To illustrate this, Nissan sent me a Leaf S Plus and we drove up to Oceanside, CA.
History channel has got another hit on its hands! We just got a preview of their newest show, Truck Night in America and I absolutely love it. They managed to capture everything I love about the off road truck community and combine it with competitive sports-TV shows like American Ninja Warrior. One of the competitors featured in the first season is Teresa Lummus from Idaho and we got a chance to chat more with her about her love of trucks and the experience of being part of Truck Night in America.
Trucks are clearly being used as more than just tools to haul and explore, and today that means that there are LOTS of great options out there. Last month, we got the chance to test out one of the best - GMC's 2018 Sierra 2500 Denali HD. Our route would be the five-hour road trip from San Diego to Vegas, plus a few detours! While I would have loved to test out the truck hauling some toys into the desert, this wasn't that kind of trip. Instead, we were looking for something that would look good pulling up to the valet and cruising the strip - but still be capable of cruising down some back roads through the desert.
Usually I'm pretty cool with any truck, car, or SUV that I get to review and as they say... there's an ass for every saddle. That's true for 2500 trucks too. They are designed to haul, they are work trucks, and there is a segment of guys who just simply want the biggest truck they can find to showcase their superiority over all other men on the highway. That's how I felt while driving the 2023 RAM 2500 Rebel around Toledo and North West Ohio for a week. While it checks all the boxes that an HD truck needs to have... the personality was just a complete miss-match for me and my wife's style.
There aren't many more iconic vehicles out there than the iconic Jeep Wrangler... and while that is absolutely my favorite for off-road driving, the Jeep brand has done an impressive job of expanding on that. Jeep invited us up to Malibu to experience pretty much their entire stable, from the fast and shockingly nimble Trackhawk to the rock crawling beast known as the Rubicon and everything in between.
For generations, people have escaped to the mountains of North Carolina to avoid the stresses of everyday life. While some settled here in the mountains permanently and become the subject of legend and myth, others come here with the intention of resetting, recharging, and reconnecting with what it means to be man in a society that is ever-changing. These mountains possess untold beauty all year round but are especially enjoyable in the summer and fall. Whether you are looking for fishing, hunting, craft beer, artisanal food, or just fresh air - it's all hear and ready for you to take your share.
While modern off-road trucks have some incredible technology, almost nothing compares to the classic Landrover Defender. So when the folks at E.C.D. Automotive Design sent us this "All-American" take on the classic British icon we just had to share it with you.
Bigger, stronger and smarter - that's how GMC is describing their newest trucks - the 2020 Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 due out late summer 2019. Building on one of our favorite trucks because of how easy it is to maneuver around tight spaces and the existing reputation for focusing not just on the raw numbers game but actually making towing easier and safer. This includes a variety of technologies that we're looking forward to spending more time exploring when it comes out. Here's a summary of the key updates that you can look forward to when it hits dealer lots in just a few short months.
There's a lot of options in the market for off road-trucks right now but most focus on ulta-ruggedness, while others are honestly more of an appearance package than anything else. With the launch of the GMC Sierra AT4 though, there's a new option for those that want to spend time trail riding in comfort and style, but still have great capability including a 2" lift, off-road tuned Rancho shocks, locking rear differential, skid plates, and more. To test test it out, GMC invited us to join them on a trail ride in San Diego and we had a blast.
When vacationing in an RV, you don't have to worry about where you're going to stay and adding those costs into your trip. In many cases, if you plan on a mancation involving the great outdoors, you'll be able to stay closer to nature when you bring along an RV.
I love EVs. Electric vehicles are undoubtly the future and while there are some enormous obstacles that some say are unsurmountable, I am an optimist. Technology is advancing so fast that issues such as range anxiety and battery production will be resolved quickly. However, I'm also a realist and some issues such as needing more power generating ability to support the paradigm shift to an all-EV future will take longer. Regardless, while I try to be balanced in my views - many people only react to what they see from detractors who like to spread false and unflattering news about EVs. So, let's take a look at eight myths about EVs that too many people simply assume are true.
Summer is almost over but that doesn't mean we can't savor every last moment. Despite what some may say - right now is a great time to be alive and I'm always ready to celebrate some of my favorite things. When Chevrolet invited me for an afternoon that included a tour of a baseball bat factory, batting practice, and an opportunity to drive a Silverado truck through Orange County, CA traffic... I said heck yeah!
Here in the United States, trucks are one of the most popular choices for vehicles. What is not to love about these cars? The bed itself is already a great addition because of the various ways one can use it. You can put stuff inside and travel along with all of it. It can also be an extension so that more people can ride.
We came, we learned, we plowed. That was pretty much the order of events when Chevrolet teamed up with Boss Snowplow and hosted us for a truck-n-plow event on the very frozen tundra of Marquette, MI at Marquette County’s (MI) Sawyer International Airport. Chevrolet brought a small fleet of 2020 Silverado HD 6.6-liter Duramax diesels in LTZ trim and several of their new Alaskan trimmed models.
Maybe you are already a VIP who travels the world evading nefarious gangs and international spies trying to kidnap you and steal industrial secrets - if so, you probably already have your procurement department reaching out to INKAS to inquire about when your new armored SUV will be available. For the rest of us though, we can only dream of riding around in style knowing that we're fully protected in this beautiful Lexus LX 600 that comes complete with ballistic protection designed to withstand simultaneous attack by 7.62mm assault rifle ammo and not just one but up to two grenades at the same time.
Have you ever thought about taking a trip to Europe but you really do not want to waste all your time just walking around seeing the tourist spots and looking at museums and old government buildings all day?
Sometimes it is silly fun games that are the best distractions. You know, those games where you simply pick up the controller and connect with a friend and play for half an hour and then go back to work. That's the experience that I had when checking out Monster Truck Championship recently and it renewed my passion and interest in racing games... something I had lost many years ago due to them being overly complicated.
Well... it's official now and while we're thrilled to see the Raptor evolve, we're still looking for the V8 version that will hopefully be here next year in the Raptor R. That being said, the current Raptor is still the king of offroad trucks as far as we're concerned since it is as nimble as it is aggressive. I've been in several tight squeezes where the maneuverability was more important than raw horsepower, so we're excited to see how this new version performs in situations like that as soon as we can get our hands on one!