Let’s say you want to experience the more thrilling side of the automotive lifestyle. You could buy a stock sedan or coupe, spend hours sifting through online research, and get to know the cashier at your local auto parts store on a first-name basis, or you could explore the wide world of high-performance sub-brands. From […]
Author: Matt Dodge
Between spending Father's Day at the local race track and watching NASCAR in his grandparent's living room, Matt Dodge has long been fascinated with all things automotive. Matt has worked at a variety of business magazines, daily newspapers, and trade publications while making time for some unique side hustles, including stints as a tour guide and pedicab operator. Quirky tales from automotive history and helpful how-to guides are some of Matt's favorite topics, though his own D.I.Y. efforts have largely been limited to keeping his 1999 GMC Savana from imploding and removing the backseat of his Honda Accord to make more room for surfboards.
In Motor-Morium: The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson
Few musicians have had a bigger impact on American automotive culture than Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson. While the influential musician is widely lauded for his later, more experimental work on such albums as “Pet Sounds” and “Smile,” it was a steady stream of car-related hits that really thrust the Beach Boys into the mainstream […]
Chevy Sheds Its Civvies With GM Defense Models
Since 1950, GM Defense has been leveraging the experience and production capabilities of the country’s largest automaker to serve the needs of global defense, security, and government buyers. GM Defense not only converts some of the brand’s best-selling models into readymade military vehicles, but it’s also been responsible for developing entirely original offerings like the […]
Seven Sports Cars Cheaper Than Your Average Truck
Today’s pickup trucks have come a long way from their workaday roots. While originally designed to help farmers and tradespeople haul heavy cargo and bulky equipment, the humble pickup has grown into a very different beast since the first Ford Model TT made its debut in 1917. From luxurious pickups with plush leather cabins and […]
Jeep Wrangler Takes It to the Xtreme With New Off-Road Package
While the auto industry is prone to hyperbole, it’s hard to overstate the Jeep Wrangler’s off-road ability. The midsize SUV has long been one of the best models in the adventure-ready segment, with the 2024 Wrangler packing its trophy case with awards from AutoTrader, Cars.com, and What Car? Jeep now looks to cement its reputation […]
AT4 Goes Upscale With New 2025 Yukon AT4 Ultimate Trim
The fifth-generation GMC Yukon has earned plenty of praise since it first hit the market in 2021. Lauded for its spacious design, luxurious interior, and off-road ability, the Yukon has quickly become a favorite amongst drivers and critics alike. It’s easy to understand the SUV’s wide appeal, but there has always been one notable shortcoming […]
Improve Your Off-Road Journey With These Ford Bronco Camping Accessories
The day you receive the keys to your new off-road vehicle might seem momentous, but it’s really just the start of the journey. While many of today’s adventure-ready trucks and SUVs are equipped with a wide range of heavy-duty components right out of the box, further upgrades and customizations are an inherent part of off-road […]
The New 2025 Ford Expedition Tremor Shakes Up the Off-Road SUV Segment
Ford’s largest SUV is being treated to a new off-road option as the Tremor trim makes its way to the 2025 Expedition. Already one of the most compelling options in the full-size segment, the three-row Expedition now makes a bid for adventure-loving families with a fresh trim that includes a full suite of off-road equipment. […]
What Surprises Could the Refreshed C8 Corvette Have in Store?
The Chevy Corvette is the paragon of American automotive performance, but even legends are susceptible to the ravages of old age. The eight-generation Corvette—or C8, in Chevy-speak—isn’t ready for the retirement home after only five years on the market, but it is starting to look a little overdue for a mid-cycle refresh. That refresh looks […]
Is the Dodge Charger Really the World’s Most Powerful Muscle Car?
There’s no denying the Dodge Charger’s impact on the auto industry over the last 50-plus years, but is the new all-electric Daytona model really the world’s most powerful muscle car? That’s Dodge’s claim, though the truth might be slightly more complicated. While the EV version of the classic muscle car boasts up to 670 hp […]
Off-Roading Made Easy With Our Checklist and Top Picks
For many drivers, choosing a used car for sale simply comes down to getting from point A to point B as efficiently and comfortably as possible. This leads many to prioritize fuel economy, convenience features, modern safety, and infotainment technology. That equation starts to change when you look at the journey, not the destination, as […]
American Supercars Unlock a New World Of Performance Potential
There’s no strict set of regulations that separate a supercar from the average high-performance model, but like any work of art, you know it when you see it. If we were to lay down some basic guidelines, we would say that a modern supercar needs to be able to offer a top speed of over […]
The Ford Escape Is Packing a Sporty Secret
In today’s car market, $32,000 doesn’t amount to much. That sort of cash would cover the closing costs, repairs, and moving fees for a new house, a minor heart surgery, or the Princess Diana-themed “Crowning a Lady” package at The Drake luxury hotel in Chicago, but it’s a pretty modest budget when you’re shopping for […]
Slower Pace, Better Race? How Some Recent Changes Could Upend the Motorsport World
We tend to think of professional sports as the ultimate example of “survival of the fittest,” where winners and losers are determined solely by their performance on the playing field, but that’s not really the case. Most major sports tend to have some sort of built-in rules designed to promote parity. In the U.S., this […]
Ford Bronco Stroppes, Drops Wildtrak, and Rolls On With New Off-Road Trim
Limited edition vehicles give automakers the perfect excuse to honor a legendary model, celebrate an anniversary, or recognize an important historical figure. The last approach is particularly popular with companies naming their cars after former racing champs (McLaren Senna, GMA T.50s Niki Lauda), a pioneering patriarch (Ferrari Enzo), family members (Lotus Elise, Ferrari Dino), and, […]
The 2024 Charger Daytona: A History Lesson That Embraces the Future
The muscle car segment enters a new era with the debut of the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona. While muscle cars have long served as a platform for V8 evangelism, the Daytona represents the dawn of an all-new, all-electric age in the historically gas-powered segment. With the ability to produce up to 670 hp and 627 […]
Tracking 30 Years of Off-Road Innovation In the Honda Passport
They say everything that’s old is new again, and as we kick off 2025, that certainly seems hard to deny. From prequels and reboots to retro fashion and more, today’s pop culture is firmly infused with a sense of nostalgia. Whether it comes down to a matter of familiarity and comfort or an effort to […]
The Good, the Rad, and the Muddy: GMC Off-Road Power Rankings
Off-road trims have become an increasingly popular way for automakers to spice up an existing SUV or pickup, but few brands can match the sheer scope of the GMC lineup. This comes as little surprise when you consider GMC’s unique approach to the market, with the automaker eschewing the typical sedans, coupes, and hatchbacks in […]
Unpacking a Prelude of Things to Come With Honda’s Newest Hybrid
The last time the Prelude was available at your local Honda dealer the iPod had just come into existence and “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” was dominating the box office and the first mass market hybrid had just hit the U.S. market. A lot can change in 20-plus years: the iPod is now a […]
Find Off-Road Success With These Simple Tips
Off-roading gives drivers the opportunity to test their vehicle’s limits while exploring exciting new environments, but it’s not without its risks. From boulders and mud pits to logs, steep inclines, and other obstacles, off-roading is a far cry from your average Sunday drive. While most rides go off without a hitch, accidents do happen. That […]