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From the Archives: OG Hummer vs. Six SUV Icons in a 1990s Torture Test!
The reveal of the new GMC Hummer electric pickup had us digging through the archives for more Hummer stories. Here’s one of our favorites, a 1999 Death Valley torture test pitting the AM General Hummer (also known as the Hummer H1) up against the Ford Excursion, GMC Yukon XL, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land Rover Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz ML430, and the Toyota Land Cruiser. Enjoy it; we sure did.—Ed. Our premise for this test is simple: Today’s mega-dollar, leather-swathed, SUVs are as prevalent as BMWs in Beverly Hills, but are they any good when the road turns to rocks and scorpions outnumbering Starbucks a million to none? Simply put, are luxury SUVs merely tarted-up wimps or the vehicular equivalent of James Bond outfitted in his best tux? To put seven pricey SUVs to a thorough ...
2021 Subaru Crosstrek Sport First Test: When Power Solves Everything
Being a segment leader is hard work, especially in a segment as hot as subcompact SUVs, which continues to grow rapidly. Subaru already has a solid foundation to stay on top, and now, the Forester‘s 2.5-liter flat-four engine is finding its way under the Crosstrek‘s hood in Sport and Limited trims. Will a more powerful engine be enough to keep this crossover relevant and fend off new rivals? We got a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Sport in to find out. Does the Subaru Crosstrek Drive Better with More Power? We’ve been begging Subaru for a more powerful Crosstrek since it made its debut as a 2013 model. Seven years later, the automaker finally obliged. So does the 2.5-liter’s 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque make a noticeable difference over the base 2.0-liter’s 152 hp an...
The Mitsuoka Buddy Is a Rebodied Toyota RAV4 That Puts the Fun in Funky
It was only a few days ago that Suzuki revealed the Across, a rebadged and lightly restyled Toyota RAV4 (and not sold in the United States). We thought it was strange, interesting, and unique. Unfortunately for Suzuki, Mitsuoka just dropped its own restyled RAV4, the Buddy, and it makes the Across seem positively ordinary. Mitsuoka is most famous for the exquisitely bizarre Orochi, a mid-engined V-6-powered sports car named after a Japanese dragon and looking for all the world like a mad science experiment: What if a kaiju’s DNA was spliced into a car? But the company’s products have historically been all over the map—pedestrian Nissans wearing bodywork that vaguely recalls 1960s Jaguar sedans, a Mazda-powered Lotus Seven clone, the outrageous Neo-classical Le-Seyde (...
The History of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Although luxury trucks are a key profit center for modern automotive manufacturers, there was a time when only a single brand on the American market was brave enough to make the leap from ski station to valet station. It was the early ’80s when AMC decided to go all-in on an aging platform by transforming its already decades-old Wagoneer into the Grand Wagoneer and open up an entirely new segment for U.S. buyers. The Jeep Grand Wagoneer beat the (still Spartan but nevertheless high-priced) Range Rover to the American market by a handful of years, and while Land Rover was able to outlast its underfunded rival in the long run, as contemporaries there was no question who was first, and in the minds of many sport-utility fans, who also did it better. Ancient Roots A bit of backstory firs...
2021 Nissan Frontier: Everything We Know About the Midsize Pickup
After more than 15 years on the market with only minor styling tweaks, the Nissan Frontier finally receives a notable revision for the 2021 model year. Despite its age, the midsize pickup‘s mechanical bits are due to carry over largely unchanged. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the Frontier’s frame is a stout piece that affords the Nissan truck class-competitive towing and payload figures . The 2021 Frontier’s new exterior and interior designs ought to fix the current model’s most egregious shortcomings. Adopting modern aesthetics and proven underpinnings is also the same basic strategy adopted by arch-competitor Toyota for its heavy redesign of the Tacoma for the 2016 model year. See all 21 photos 2021 Nissan Frontier: Lookin’ Truckin’ Good...
2020 Nissan Sentra Road-Trip Review: The Pros and Cons of Compact Car Travel
Can a car get pudgy? That was the question I asked myself every time I saw our long-term 2020 Nissan Sentra languishing in my driveway. Without a commute to MotorTrend headquarters, for the time being, the Nissan had been making jaunts no more demanding than the half mile trip to the supermarket and the mile drive to my favorite Mexican drive-through joint. It brought to mind images of a bored, cooped-up dog in desperate need of a change of scenery and a good, long, vigorous walk. Or, wait, was that me? After its first couple of months’ service as strictly an around-town car, the Sentra finally had a chance to stretch its legs on the open road. Piloted by MotorTrend SEO guru Thomas Rosquin, our Nissan made the round trip from Southern California to Arizona and back again, p...
40+ Photos at the RCR NASCAR Museum! Saving Racing History One Car at a Time
MotorTrend Group visits Richard Childress Racing’s massive NASCAR museum to check out some cool history and some cooler cars! While we were at Richard Childress Racing (RCR) waiting to shoot a story in connection with MotorTrend’s new docuseries, NASCAR 2020: Under Pressure, we decided to check out the Richard Childress Racing Museum and, man, we’re glad we did since it’s overflowing with vintage race cars and NASCAR history, especially if you’re a Dale Earnhardt fan. So come along as we check out some of the cars from the golden age of NASCAR. See all 40 photos Here’s one of the cars that put the RCR on the map with the racing team’s first two NASCAR Winston Cup Championships in 1986 and 1987. Dale Earnhardt was the driver, with primary sponsorshi...
2021 Hennessey VelociRaptor Ford Bronco: $225,000 but V-8, Amirite
We expect Ford will introduce a Bronco Raptor at some point. But it probably won’t match the output of the new 2021 Hennessey VelociRaptor Bronco, which enters production next year. Hennessey dropped in a 5.0-liter Ford V-8 delivering 750 hp, allowing the SUV to reach 60 mph in a claimed 4.5 seconds. Power is routed through Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission. New fuel injectors, air-to-water intercooler, and performance intake and exhaust systems make up some of the key upgrades. The improvements continue with an upgraded off-road suspension and beefy off-road tires. A hood scoop, along with the custom livery and unique front grille, provide extra flavor. Hennessey didn’t forget about the interior, where you’ll find special touches including embroidered hea...
1981-1988 Chevy Monte Carlo: 60% of the Time, Driving One Worked Every Time
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo is like your dad. Chances are you think of it in its later years—uncool, unremarkable, and incapable of getting a second look from the hottie that your mom once was. No question, the 1995-2007 front-drive Monte Carlos were about as uptight as a car could possibly be. But the earlier Montes—1970-1988, and particularly the 1980s cars—now those were hot stuff for young Cassanovas like your dad. Birth of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo The Monte Carlo first appeared for the 1970 model year as a follow-on to Pontiac’s first “personal luxury” car, the Grand Prix. The Grand Prix was the brainchild of John Z. DeLorean, who by this time was running Chevrolet, though he wasn’t involved in the Monte’s development. The latter was a response to new tren...
Watch Out Hummer EV, Ram’s Working on an Electric Pickup
We confess we like listening to earnings calls because there are always product tidbits sprinkled among the numbers. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ third-quarter earnings call did not disappoint, and chief executive officer Mike Manley confirmed an electric Ram pickup is in the works. “There will be a Ram electric pickup in the marketplace, and I would just ask you to stay tuned for a little while, and I will tell you exactly when that will be,” he said. There is some urgency given the importance of the Ram brand to the automaker and the onslaught of electric trucks on the way in the next two years. General Motors has the 2022 GMC Hummer EV electric pickup coming next year, Ford plans to bring an electric F-150 to market by mid-2022, and Rivian hopes to have salable...
2021 Audi A6 Gets More Standard Power and a Sportier Look
Audi isn’t waiting for a new model year to give A6 customers more horsepower. Having undergone a mid-model year refresh, the 2021 Audi A6 features a more powerful four-cylinder engine as standard equipment. The base model’s 2.0-liter mill pumps out 13 extra ponies for a total of 261 hp. Torque remains constant at 273 lb-ft. Fittingly, the model adopts the Sport 45 moniker. Once again, the A6 features a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that routes power to all four wheels. See all 17 photos A bolder appearance matches the extra power. The Black Optic package is now standard equipment on the entry-level A6. This appearance package brings along a black grille, black air intakes, black mirror housings, and black window trim. The Sport package can now be had for less coin, addin...
The Wolf of G Street: 1991 Mercedes G-Wagen Cabrio Restomod Is Stunning
The Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen only recently saw a meaningful evolution. For decades, its roots as a military vehicle were barely disguised, but in America, we only saw a small sliver of the G-Wagen’s potential. Abroad, do-work short-wheelbase models roamed the European countryside, much as contractor-grade pickups do here. And yes, there were even convertible versions, which offered the charming possible combination of austere interior fittings, open-air motoring, and a clattery diesel—and uncompromised off-road prowess, of course. Enter Expedition Motor Company, which sources G-Wagens such as the one above, and subjects these Benzes to the sort of intense restoration and modification regimen we’ve seen Land Rovers and Land Cruisers put through. This particular G-Wagen, a...
