Daily Drivers : Car News And Reviews

May is right around the corner, and that’s when Audi’s e-tron electric crossover is expected to roll into showrooms. The e-tron is billed as a “right-size” and “right segment” electric vehicle, and Audi hopes its driving range will match up with those expectations.

We just saw a patent application for removable doors that are thought to be headed to the 2020 Ford Bronco. Now, another Ford patent app turned up that shows may hint at how a dual-layer retractable roof on the new Bronco might work.

When Land Rover first released the Evoque back in 2011, it broke new ground for the brand, proving it could make vehicles that were not only utilitarian, but that were elegant and highly desirable for urban dwellers, while keeping the price more accessible than its other Range Rover SUVs.

What you are looking at here is the first step into the Mercedes-AMG performance realm. This is the new Mercedes-AMG A 35 4Matic sedan. It’s a four-door performance family car, based on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. What we do know is that it has a 2.0-liter turbo four making 306 hp and 295 lb-ft.

Despite its aging platform, Dodge continues to keep its four-door muscle car fresh. After releasing a widebody Challenger, rumors were swirling that a new Widebody Challenger might be next. Now, those rumors have come true – at least in concept form.

One of the most anticipated entries into the mid-size truck segment is the Jeep Gladiator. The Gladiator is the only convertible truck on the market, and Jeep claims it’s the off-road capable pickup too. Now, Jeep is officially in production with the Gladiator with the very first one rolling off the assembly line at their Toledo assembly plant.

In a recent interview with UK publication Auto Express, FCA CEO Mike Manley all but confirmed that a new three-row Jeep SUV is in the works. The new SUV will slot in the line between the existing Grand Cherokee and the upcoming larger Wagoneer.

If you’re like me and aren’t an SUV fan, but understand the need for space and hauling capacity, a wagon is a great option. Wagons, or shooting brakes as the Europeans call them, are pretty rare these days in the US, with cars like the VW Golf Alltrack or Subaru Outback being the most common.

While those in some parts of the globe are getting an official Ford Ranger Raptor, here in the States, Ford has yet to announce plans for one. Seizing on a clear market opportunity, Hennessey Performance wasted no time turning its hand to the 2019 Ford Ranger truck.

Recently, Volvo spun off its performance division to create the new Polestar brand. Now, the automaker has revealed its first production vehicle, the Polestar 2. Set to go into production in early 2020, the 5-door pure electric wants to give the Tesla Model 3 a run for its money, and look great doing it.

As cars fall by the wayside and people wanting SUVs and crossovers, more and more automakers are offering up performance-oriented versions of these vehicles. Ford has done it with the Edge ST and coming Explorer ST models, and now Volkswagen is getting in on the action, with the reveal of the T-Roc R.

One of the most coveted ratings for many automakers is the “recommended” rating from Consumer Reports (CR). Tesla wanted that rating badly for its “more affordable” EV, the $42,900+ Model 3. It initially missed that rating due to poor brake performance.

In the last five years, Volvos have gone from being cars that you bought because of their safety and reliability, to being true objects of desire. Starting with the redesign of the XC90 back in 2014, the Swedish automaker has dramatically upped its game in terms of design both outside and in, offering a complete new lineup of sedans, crossovers, SUVs, and wagons which all look fantastic.

I recently had the opportunity to drive the 2019 Toyota RAV4, and was extremely impressed with the improvements Toyota has made in overall ride quality, versatility, and capability for its popular daily driver. And while the RAV4 is already better than one might expect off the tarmac, Toyota wants us to know it can do even more with the announcement of a new TRD Off-Road trim for the 2020 model year.

The only two car commercials I recall from the Super Bowl over the weekend were for the Toyota Supra, a car I’m not particularly attracted to, and the Kia Telluride. It took most of the Telluride commercial to figure out it was for a Kia, but the full-size SUV looks fantastic.