Large, truck-based sport utilities like the Expedition exist to serve several roles: people haulers, trailer pullers, stuff carriers, and sometimes off-road beasts. The people who buy them expect them to do all of these things at one time or another. The Expedition Timberline won’t disappoint there.

In the 1960s and into the 1970s, vehicle design was changing rapidly. During that time, the most innovative designs were considered those being made in Italy and the supercar revolution was becoming fast paced. Not to be outdone, other European makes like Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin were putting forth their best work to compete.

Hyundai has announced the opening of a new safety laboratory at their Hyundai American Technical Center in Michigan. The lab, which represents an investment of $51.4 million, was a requirement of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in a settlement made in 2020 over the automaker’s mishandling of engine recalls. Which had nothing to do with crash safety or safety investigations.

Our cars are a significant part of our lives and one of the most important pieces of safety equipment on them are the tires. We expect hassle-free service, reliability, and long life from our car’s tires. To get these things, we need to pick the right set for our vehicle and its needs alongside tires that match our driving habits and climate.

Stellantis has unveiled a range of electrified, compact commercial vans for its various brands. The twelve vans are renewed and electrified for the Citroen, Fiat Professional, Opel, Peugeot, and Vauxhall brands as part of the company’s Pro One offensive for commercial vehicle penetration.

Infiniti unveiled a new Vision Qe concept sedan in Tokyo as a look at its future EV designs. The Vision Qe “embodies Infiniti’s evolved design language and sets the tone for its first all-electric sedan.”

We tend to think of batteries from our experiences interacting with them. Most of us know what an AA or AAA battery looks like and how we use it everyday. We’re also familiar, though less tangibly so, with lithium-based batteries such as those in our phones and other devices. Some of us can even scale up those ideas to imagine a battery in a car. 

The new Lexus TX has been unveiled and will be the first Lexus sport utility to include a plug-in hybrid powertrain option. The three-row SUV includes three powertrain choices and Lexus’ new Lexus Safety System+ 3.0.

The new, all-electric eActros 600 from Mercedes-Benz Trucks has been unveiled. Shown previously in camouflaged prototype testing, the eActros long-haul battery-electric truck is fully unveiled. It holds over 600 kWh of batteries and has a 311-mile (500 km) range. Its fast intermediate charge time promises double that range daily.

Have you ever noticed that nearly all full-sized pickup trucks and commercial vans are rear-wheel drive? Ever wonder why that is? If not, Now you do. Haha! Our trap worked! The reason for rear-wheel drive being the norm, after most other vehicles moved to front-wheel drive, is three-fold: frame design, weight distribution, and powertrain size. The first two reasons work together while the latter is because of the requirements of the others.

It is now time to release our inner curmudgeons. Except this time it’s justified and goes well beyond Clint Eastwood memes telling people to get off his lawn. This is pure 1970s-level protest march worthy stuff. In-car infotainment systems, those screens that are used to interact with the radio, streaming options, navigation, and all the rest, are terrible. Not because they are huge distractions from the road (which they are). Nor because they are often break points for new cars (they are). But because they are the least intuitive item with the smallest amount of actual impact on improvement in today’s vehicles.

Four models of the Jeep brand have a Trailhawk trim level associated with them. These are the more off-road-focused trim points for these particular models. Already off-road-ready out the gate, most Jeep models need little persuasion when heading off the pavement. But to get to the next level, comparatively, some added equipment certainly doesn’t hurt.

Honda has introduced a prototype electric Autonomous Work Mower, a battery-powered zero-turn riding mower. The mower features a teaching mode for manual operations and playback for autonomous operation. Proof of concept testing was undertaken with a leading commercial landscaping company in the U.S. and is now looking for pilot program participants for the 2024 season.

Towing a trailer can be a daunting task for someone who isn’t experienced with the process. Even the best of us still have to stop and think for a second before doing a maneuver or figuring weight balances. From fundamentals like steering from the bottom of the wheel to braking early and long, it’s easy to forget the most important part of trailer safety: weights.

Indian’s ebike is made by SUPER73 and branded as an Indian eFTR Hooligan. I took Indian Motorcycles’ ebike for a spin both on and off the pavement and found it's well-named for what it is: a street-OK electric bike that really shines on the dirt trail. It’s also a good introduction to motorcycles without actually getting a motorcycle, which would require separate licensing.

ZF presented a new, purely electro-mechanical braking system at its Next Generation Mobility Day in Shanghai. The system uses braking force generated at each wheel by electric motors rather than through a conventional hydraulic system using brake fluid. The system was co-developed by ZF’s Chinese, American, and German engineering centers.

Yokohama Tire has introduced its first high-performance all-season tire specifically designs for electric vehicles. The ADVAN Sport EV A/S will be offered in ten sizes ranging from 18 to 20 inch wheel diameters. The tire officially goes on sale in January 2024 in the United States.

Two surveys involving consumers and electric vehicles have shone some light on the market. As electric vehicle sales begin to slow, or at least fail to meet the grand expectations of pundits and carmakers, it’s important to understand why. A poll from S&P Global Mobility and another J.D. Power & Associates survey may help provide answers.

The new-generation Hyundai Tucson offers lots of options and great style against its rivals. With the choice of two gasoline engines and two hybrids, this small SUV makes a good case for itself.

Ram has unveiled its first electric pickup truck, aiming for 2025 model year production. The 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger features a series hybrid powertrain with a targeted range of 690 miles per charge/fill up. The truck boasts a 92 kWh battery pack and an on-board 130 kW generator. Two drive modules, a 250 kW up front and 238 kW in the rear, power the truck.

Teaming with former GT1 world champion Andrea Bertolini, Maserati has crafted a blacked-out, nighthawk version of the MC20 supercar, only 50 copies of which will be made.

Toyota unveiled the new Crown model in 2022 in several body styles. Today, the Crown Sedan model launched in Japan with production beginning on November 13.

Evoke Electric Motorcycles, a China-based company, has launched a new grand touring motorcycle in North America. The Evoke 6061-GT is the longest-range battery-electric motorcycle on the market with an estimated range of 370 miles per charge (30 kWh battery).

Mercedes-Benz debuted a new generation (the second) of the GLC Class in 2022 and follows this year with the addition of a second trim model for the GLC. The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 and AMG 43 bring two options to this luxury midsize crossover-SUV.

For a couple of weeks, I had the one thing my 12-year-old self would have sold his soul for. I had an electric bicycle from Indian Motorcycles that has a top speed of 28 mph and fat, knobby tires for throwing up dirt and flying across the countryside.

Kia has completely redone the Kona from the ground up. Still a compact, the Kona is now a bit larger to accommodate more rear-seat legroom, cargo space, and to make for a more EV-focused platform for electrification.

NextBase has announced a new artificially intelligent dash camera called the iQ. The smart device combines AI-powered technology with 4G technology to connect vehicles and owners with "more than real-time" crash detection.

Fiat will auction three bespoke 500e electric vehicles at Art Basel Miami Beach 2023. Proceeds from the auction will benefit an unnamed environmental non-profit. The beneficiary will not be named until after the auction, which may dampen some interest. Fiat joins other brands such as Armani, Bvlgari, and Kartell in designing the special 500e models.

DynaCERT has entered into an agreement with French racing team HoleShot Competition to support their MAN Dakar Rally race truck at the 2024 Dakar Classic event.

One of the lowest-priced vehicles on the market in the US is the Nissan Versa. Though the term "econobox" has negative connotations to it, it’s a descriptor that fits lot of entry-level vehicle models, including the Versa. But this little Nissan has redefined the term. In a good way.

For the 2023 model year, GMC redesigned its Canyon midsize pickup truck. This third generation Canyon adds an off-road suspension and turbocharged engine as standard equipment and upgrades technology to match. These changes coincide with interior and exterior design revamps as well.

With suicide doors, a dumping utility bed, and solid off-road capability, the Can-Am Commander Max is a powerfully useful and fun UTV. That sums up our experience with it after a couple of weeks in the wilds of Wyoming.

Lucid Group has unveiled its latest electric sport utility, the Lucid Gravity. The luxury EV will be priced at about $80,000 and will compete as a high-performance, seven-seat option. Projected driving range is 440 miles per charge with production beginning in 2024.

Automotive writer Aaron Turpen writes, “The new 2023 Mustang Mach-E drives really well, can blow the doors off almost any other vehicle around it and it’s comfortable. Plus, it has somewhere between 247 and 312 miles of range, depending on which model you choose."

Subaru pulled the covers off an all-new Forester sport utility at AutoMobility LA, the pre-show to the LA Auto Show. The new Forester features new exterior and interior designs and improved chassis components. The 2025 Forester will be in dealerships in North America in the spring of 2024.

Hyundai has unveiled a new generation of the Santa Fe sport utility at the AutoMobility LA show. The company says that the new SUV was developed under an "Open for More" concept for expanded utility.

In a surprise that came to no one, survey results published during the Los Angeles Auto Show (aka AutoMobility LA) shows that California buyers are pretty bullish on electric vehicles. The survey was conducted by polling previous attendees of the LA show.

Hyundai has unveiled its first N branded electric performance vehicle. Unveiled as a precursor to the AutoMobility LA show (aka the LA Auto Show), the Ioniq 5 N features 641 hp (478 kW) of output potential with a two-stage inverter and 84-kWh battery.

Toyota completely redesigned the Tundra for the 2022 model year and it remains largely unchanged for 2023. Though it’s a completely rethought truck, the Tundra retains its unique Toyota quality as a basic option for everyday use.

The Toyota Tacoma has been a mainstay in the midsize truck segment for a long time. The current generation remains a very popular choice for buyers in this market.

The RAV4 Prime is the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of Toyota’s most popular crossover. It boasts 42 miles of all-electric range complemented by a gasoline engine and better drive dynamics than its standard gasoline sibling.

The Toyota Highlander is one of the most popular three-row crossover-SUV models on the market. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t cost much to get into and offers excellent fuel economy for the class with little compromise compared to its gasoline counterpart.

The gasoline-fed Highlander is a strong and confident three-row family hauler. Toyota’s reputation does the rest to make this a solid choice for consumers.

The 4Runner first debuted in the 1980s and was an immediate hit amongst buyers looking for an off-road sport utility vehicle. The current-generation 4Runner is now 13 years old in design, but sales are still strong for this truck-based SUV.

Introduced this year, the Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 is a new battery electric model based loosely on the popular compact GLB model. The EQB seats up to seven and has an EPA-rated range of 243 miles per charge.

The 2022 Honda Civic marks the eleventh generation for the subcompact car and is one of our favorite options in this category. Skip the expensive options, though, and stick with the basics here and you won’t regret the budget price of this one.

Stellantis has filed a petition accusing the California Air Resources Board (CARB) of retaliating against the company via an “underground regulatory scheme” that put the automaker at a competitive disadvantage. The filing comes after Stellantis began facing stricter greenhouse gas emissions requirements than some of its competitors who were part of the secretive agreements made between CARB and a handful of automotive companies.

Over a year after the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was passed into law, the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making for commentary on a key portion of the IRA. The “Foreign Entity of Concern” (FEOC) is a designation that disqualifies some imported parts and supplies related to the tax credits involved in the IRA’s credits and discounts for electric vehicles.

Tesla unveiled the new delivery-ready Cybertruck at its Texas gigafactory to launch the highly-anticipated new electric pickup truck. Three model variants will be offered, with the lowest-priced coming in 2025 at $60,990–more than $30,000 over the base price Tesla claimed when the Cybertruck was first announced.

The 2023 Kia EV6 comes in a couple of good flavors, both of which are good day-to-day vehicles that happen to be electric. We like the option to drive a fun car on the daily or to go with a performance-oriented, throw the license out the window version.