During the 1970s, Mercedes-Benz experimented with many engine and aerodynamics ideas. Many of those were conducted with the C-111 prototypes. There were sixteen C-111s produced over that decade of experimentation.

The current-generation Grand Cherokee is the return of the beloved, bigger Jeep SUV. As a utility, it ticks all the boxes, with a roomy interior, good ride quality, and useful nature. The plug-in 4xe model is the most efficient of the Grand Cherokee model lineup, but it does have a couple of downsides.

Templeton has a limited-release Stout Cask Finish for their world-famous rye whiskey. It’s a completely different feel for an American whiskey. And I like it.  The formula is pretty simple. Take the straight rye whiskey that Templeton is already known for (95 percent rye, 5 percent malted barley) and age it six years or so in a charred new American oak. Then it is finished in a cask that previously contained a barrel-aged chocolate coffee stout. This aged barrel adds some stout to the whiskey, bringing it a cocoa edge.

A long time ago, in a trucking school in a galaxy much like our own, I learned the most important driver’s safety lesson there is. “Never be in a hurry,” was what my instructor at the time, a no-nonsense import from Liverpool, said. “Nobody taking their time gets in a wreck.”

Every year, the north end of the sand dunes near Glamis, California, turns into a small city as hundreds of off-road enthusiasts congregate for Camp RZR. This event is exciting and fun as Polaris fans come together to celebrate in the desert. The party atmosphere of Camp RZR is, surprisingly, very family-friendly.

In 1929, Chevrolet introduced a new inline six-cylinder engine to replace the company’s capable four-cylinder foundation block. For the next 70 years, the “Otto” engine would be the building block for most of Chevrolet’s vehicles, including sedans, trucks, and more. The inline six Otto went through three generations of development and was not fully replaced until fuel injection became common. Even then, the Otto had a fuel injected version in its last generation. It was finally replaced by the newer Atlas engine designs.

For most of its history, the Cadillac marque had been a luxury brand without any kind of sports car or competition heritage. Known mostly for its posh designs and as the most well-regarded Detroit luxury brand, Cadillac was becoming associated with older buyers.

The Hyundai Elantra sedan was redesigned in 2021 to good effect, with smart styling and a good enough interior for the price point. This year, Hyundai has added a performance-oriented N model, boasting a turbocharged engine and suspension upgrades.

The American Motors Company was a spunky little automaker that competed with the giants of Detroit. One of the most ground-breaking vehicle designs to come from AMC was the AMX/3 (or AMX III), which debuted in 1970 as a promised 1971 model. It was a lower-cost supercar meant to compete with Italian offerings of the time.

The Palisade has been a game-changer for the three-row segment. Unlike other popular crossover-SUVs in the three-row game, the Palisade (and its Kia sibling, the Telluride) changed how people think about roomy family sport utilities. Previously, the segment only offered glorified minivans if you wanted a real third row, usable by adults, and space enough for cargo besides that. Think Dodge Journey and Ford Flex. Hyundai changed that.

The Lexus RX is the luxury brand’s most popular model in North America. And for good reason. It’s a right-sized, well-balanced, and luxurious offering. At a price that’s realistic for many. A large portion of this Lexus model’s sales are in the hybrid option, which despite its premium adds a lot of balance and efficiency to the RX. In short, there’s a lot of reasons for the RX to be a top seller.

A lot of people in Wyoming are turning to automotive auctions as a way to get a vehicle. It’s easy to screw this up, though. Especially if you’re new to vehicle auctions. Let’s talk turkey so you don’t look like one. With the used car market the way it is, a lot of car buyers are looking elsewhere for deals. Unfortunately, we can expect the new and used car markets to remain high for some time, thanks to supply chain shortages and the resulting glut of inventory. Because new cars are harder to come by (and thus more expensive), used cars are in high demand and also fetching premium prices. Some buyers see auctions as a potential way out of that. While it’s true that vehicle auctions can be a way to save a lot of money on a vehicle purchase, it’s even easier to get stuck with a high-priced lemon instead. There are many types of vehicle auction, but many of them are only open to those holding an automotive dealer’s license. For the rest of us, there are public auctions.

Mercedes began introducing its EQ line of electric vehicles with the EQS sedan, which was followed quickly by the smaller EQE sedan and the EQB small crossover. All three share a common platform and Mercedes-Benz says there are more models to come. We’ve now driven all three and here's how they compare.

The Infiniti QX50 is most well known for its consistency in daily drivability and sporty luxuriousness. The 2023 model year brings only a few changes to this crossover-SUV, which was last revamped in 2019. It’s still a splendid vehicle.

The fifth-generation Range Rover has debuted as the 2022 model of Land Rover’s luxury model. An updated look, improved on-road driving feel, and more British flair are added. In typical Rover fashion, the new model debuts alongside the old one to make things more confusing.

I recently visited the Department of Motor Vehicles building here in Cheyenne. It’s now up at the old rest area near the Flying J truck stop and that wrong-way monstrosity of a freeway overpass at exit 7. The DMV is affiliated with neither of those things.

We were recently sent a sample bottle of Dos Hombres new Espadin Mezcal. Mezcal is a less abrasive form of tequila for those not in the know. For people like myself, who aren’t straight tequila fans, it’s a more palatable option with less sugar in the taste and more smoothness to the pull.

The Toyota Tundra has entered its third generation with the all-new model for 2022. Changes made were much needed and very welcome, keeping the Tundra in its slot as the "everyday truck" for those not tied to a Detroit brand.

Oh, the roundabout. Harbinger of evil and dissector of driver intelligence. Wyoming has several roundabouts, most of which are located at major intersections where traffic is often busy only at intervals rather than all the time. Roundabouts will, theoretically, reduce vehicle emissions, improve traffic flow, and decrease accidents. In the real world, according to Wyoming drivers, it’s not that cut-and-dried.

Debate erupted in the Cowboy State Daily office over Wyoming’s gasoline. A contingent said that 85 octane gasoline is terrible and should never be used. Another said it’s fine and that they use it all the time. Arguments about how long-lived various people’s vehicles were, what nefarious organizations must be behind the push for higher octane fuels, and vaguely coherent ideas about what the octane rating actually means were abundant. Holiday parties. They can get hardcore around here. As the resident transportation expert, I was called upon to come up with something answering this question. And to do it in readable form so you, dear reader, can participate. So here’s what my expertise tells me: it’s not a great idea to use it, but it’s not likely to destroy your vehicle if you do.

In the mid-1960s, Jaguar’s engineering director William Heynes wanted to build a race-winning car for Le Mans. While he got his dream of building the car, it was never raced or produced beyond the single, gorgeous, and powerful prototype XJ13 V12 Prototype Racer.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has decided that steering wheels can go the way of the dodo bird. New finalized rules from NHTSA create occupant safety standards (aka “crash testing standards”) for vehicles without driving controls, specifically giving a pass to the requirement of having driving controls to start with. For safety.

In the time before “sport utility” was a vehicle category, there were vehicles like the Land Rover. We in America had the Willy’s Jeep, the British had the Land Rover. The Rover eventually morphed into various models of the same bent, some being larger, some being pickup trucks, and so forth. The Defender sprouted from that in the 1980s. The 2023 Land Rover Defender 90, 110 and 130 are models which came from that 1980s series of storied off-road machines. The 2023 model is far more luxurious and refined, of course, but retains most of that capability in its DNA.

The second-gen Volvo V60 Cross Country arrived in 2020 and has remained one of the few station wagons still available in North America. The V60 combines crossover-like utility and off-pavement capability with solid all-weather performance and the car-like drive dynamics of a wagon.

The current-generation Chevrolet Equinox was introduced in 2018 as a completely redone and improved design. Now, seven years later, it’s still relevant, matching most of the expectations of those buying in the lower-cost small crossover segment. For 2023, the Equinox gets a little more horsepower and a couple of new package options.

Most of us in Wyoming are familiar with urban cowboys. They show up during Frontier Days, drive through on their way to Yellowstone, or they show up in Hollywood renditions of our state. Most of us in Wyoming either know actual cowboys or are them. It’s easy to spot the urbans from the actuals. Now we can spot the pickup truck equivalent. It used to be that there were two kinds of pickup trucks: full-sized and everything else. The full-sized trucks, be they half-tons or heavy duty, do the work, tow the boats, and go to the supply yard.

I have big man feet. My son Aidan also has big feet. Finding good shoes that don’t wear out quickly, constrict our feet too much, or otherwise just generally suck isn’t easy. Aidan runs cross country and likes athletic shoes, which aren’t a great choice in bad weather or during the winter. I don’t like bending down to tie my shoes and prefer slip ons I can shove my feet into instead. Also not a great bad weather option.

The Escalade V is a muscle car with an SUV body. It makes loud noises from its pipes, it drives fast, and it is stylistically and physically humongous. Even if none of that appeals to you, we'd argue you should try one anyway – if you can afford one, that is.

I attended the Chicago Auto Show during its press day presentations as an unofficial ambassador of Wyoming. The Chicago show is the largest of the shows in North America and, by attendance and square footage, one of the biggest in the world. Because I was representing, I decided to wear long pants and a golf shirt. You know, to keep it professional. The Chicago Auto Show (CAS) is held every year in downtown Chi-town at the McCormick Center. Those who have been to McCormick know that there are ranches for sale in Laramie that have smaller footprints than that place does.

The Chicago Auto Show is the oldest and largest of the North American automotive shows. Held annually, the show features a host of ride-and-drives where consumers can get into the vehicles to try them out without dealership pressure.

I recently visited Belize and found the culture and circumstances of that country to be very familiar. Especially in driving habits and general attitude. Getting stuck in a traffic jam there because of a horse made me think of home.

The 2023 Nissan Altima carries forward as the torch bearer for Nissan’s sedan and small car fleet. Last updated in 2019, the 2023 model year Altima gets a few tweaks such as changes to front fascia styling, a new touchscreen option, and a few other features. Gone is the top end Platinum trim, which pushed into luxury territory to compete with the Infiniti Q50.

The Ford Bronco Raptor is new this year and it satisfies a need that most people probably weren’t aware is there. It’s a big, turbocharged, fast-paced rig with the off-road goodies and fat tires everyone wants. Like Jeep, Ford saw the kinds of mods people make to rigs like this and said “Hey, we could sell that from the factory and make bank!”

The Ford Bronco Raptor is new this year and it satisfies a need that most people probably weren’t aware is there. It’s a big, turbocharged, fast-paced rig with the off-road goodies and fat tires everyone wants. Like Jeep, Ford saw the kinds of mods people make to rigs like this and said “Hey, we could sell that from the factory and make bank!”

Hyundai’s luxury arm, Genesis, launched with the G90 sedan as its flagship. Now that car has entered its second generation, with the 2023 Genesis G90 seeing a full redesign including engine, interior and price revamps. The G90 is now competing with the high-end European offerings in the luxury full-sized sedan market.

For 2023,  Mitsubishi has added a plug-in hybrid model to match the redesign made to this fourth-generation Outlander last year. The all-new 2022 Outlander, which we reviewed last year, was one of Aaron’s top picks in our SUV lineup for 2022. Now the plug-in hybrid model has been updated to enter the fourth-gen Outlander as well.

After a week with the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning in a place where trucks are actually needed, we learned that it is in fact a good truck. Provided you don’t have too far to go, that is.

I was recently schooled in the fact that the only sport utility suitable for use in Wyoming is one which can haul six bales of hay and pull a horse trailer. Probably while plowing snow while not drinking drinks with umbrellas in them. Given this vital information, I attempted to find a Snowcat to review. I did not find one. I did,  however, find the oldest-school SUV still being sold as new today. That would be the 2023 Lexus GX 460. The last redesign for this sport utility was in 2010. A time when you couldn’t conceal carry a weapon in Wyoming without asking permission first. AKA “The before times.”

Genesis has redesigned the flagship G90 sedan for the 2023 model year. This second-generation of the car has a beautiful cabin, an impressive list of standard equipment, and new six-cylinder engines to replace an outgoing V8. It’s also much more expensive. The 2023 Genesis G90 competes with other luxury options such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the BMW 7 Series, the Lexus LS, the Tesla Model S, the Volvo S90, and the Audi A8. These are just a few of the plentiful options in the large luxury sedan category. Compared to most of these, the G90 is somewhat middling, with some of these options being better choices for most buyers and some being worse.

In my career as an automotive journalist, I have driven a lot of cars, trucks, and SUVs. I’ve driven them in the snow, on race tracks, on frozen lakes, in the pouring rain, and in the high heat of the desert. I’ve driven in sand, dirt, mud, on rocks, and through streams. Never have I met a small family sport utility as perfect for Wyoming as the new Mitsubishi Outlander in its plug-in hybrid format. And that’s saying something. I don’t normally endorse in unequivocal terms like that. I like lots of adjectives and flowing verbiage. Not with this one.

For those who’ve been looking at used cars lately, there’s some good news. The overall used car market saw some cooling, when it comes to prices paid. The past four months have seen used car prices drop an average of about 12 percent, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association. It’s worth noting, however, that this is down from a high point and doesn’t put used cars anywhere near their price points prior to COVID-19 shutdowns.

The big Lexus LX is now in its fourth generation, the new LX 600 marking this newest rendition. It is Lexus’ largest SUV, and this generation sports some huge changes. A turbocharged V6, lighter-weight chassis, and improved interior layout are just some of them.

The Toyota 4Runner appeared in 1984 as a glorified pickup truck with a shell on it. The early 80s were a time when America was fresh off the Arab Oil Embargo and the fuel crisis that ensued. In typical American style, we were flipping the bird to the sheiks by driving ever bigger vehicles with tinier and tinier fuel efficiency numbers. Despite the still new to the game Environmental Protection Agency’s best efforts to change our minds. The new 4Runner quickly became a success. And from that first generation to the current fifth, it’s eaten fuel like a champ.

Automotive writer Aaron Turpen writes: “The 2023 Telluride has a 3.8-liter V6 that outputs about 1,309,500 hamsters (aka 291hp) to an eight-speed automatic transmission. This is a solid combo that feels good in most driving situations. The all-wheel drive models are good goers, but aren’t as sure-footed as some rivals in the snow and ice."

Your kneejerk reaction to an electric car aside, the Nissan LEAF is the longest in production, most affordable and most realistic electric car. Made in Tennessee, the LEAF is now in its second generation and offers what many people actually need. And it has a use in Wyoming, despite what naysayers will claim. Way before electric cars were “cool,” the Nissan LEAF was one of the only options for a production EV from a mainstream manufacturer. Initially, it had a short battery range, making its potential for most common use as a commuter-specific vehicle for those needing a cheaper alternative for transportation. The LEAF was a simple hatchback model with seating for five and a useful amount of cargo space. It was cheap, easy to maintain and had no frills, including few places to put your spit cup. Fast forward to today and the second-generation LEAF has evolved, but keeps most of those core values.

Business up front, party in the back, and they’re making a comeback. Compact trucks and mullets have a lot in common.

The Mitsubishi Outlander was fully redesigned for the 2022 model year, but its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model was not. That came this year, with a total reconfiguration of the small sport utility. The result is a much-improved Outlander plug-in, but with a few caveats.

The 2023 model year kicks off the second-generation of the Honda HR-V. A full redesign of the compact crossover means changes to seating configuration, new body styling, and other updates. The HR-V remains an entry-level, low-cost option for those looking for a compact who aren’t interested in a sedan.

The 2023 model year kicks off the second-generation of the Honda HR-V. A full redesign of the compact crossover means changes to seating configuration, new body styling, and other updates. The HR-V remains an entry-level, low-cost option for those looking for a compact who aren’t interested in a sedan.

Cowboy State Daily Automotive writer Aaron Turpen writes: As young adults, we tend to chase after the blingy eye candy. The pushup bras and bare midriff shirts. The football muscles and coiffed hair. Then, as we get older, we realize that those things are fleeting and that there are more important attributes to aim for. Boring can actually be a good thing. The steady partner who may not have a midriff worth bearing or a full head of hair becomes a realistic option. Enter the Chevrolet Equinox...