Quick Spin (Autoweek)

Before 2018, Subaru’s three-row efforts hadn’t exactly been noteworthy. In fact, more people talk about the odd rear seats in the bed of the Brat than think about the short-lived Tribeca nameplate. Despite existing for nearly a decade, the Tribeca didn’t help put Subaru’s three-row efforts on the map. Though, in a market dominated by crossovers, it was only a matter of time before Subaru would take another bite at the three-row apple. Well, that time came in 2018 with the release of the 2019 Ascent. The Ascent takes what makes Subaru crossovers successful and stretches it enough to make space for a third row of seats. Naturally, powering this Ascent is a 2.4-liter boxer 4 that sends 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque through a CVT and into the standard all-wheel-drive system.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the ’23 Subaru Ascent to put it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a guided tour of the Subaru Ascent and highlights some of his favorite features. Murphy also takes you along a live drive review of Subaru’s three-row crossover. Alongside these segments, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about the Subaru Ascent, Subaru’s history with crossovers, and more. The pair also discuss the Subaru Ascent’s position in the perpetually growing crossover space. Closing the show, the two break down what makes the Ascent special.

The Lexus RX might not be the flashiest piece of kit in the brand’s portfolio, but it has been an important piece of the brand’s showroom for over two decades. Entering its fifth generation only a couple of years ago, the Lexus RX has never really deviated from its roots of being a comfortable people mover. While this fifth-generation RX features aggressive-if-not-polarizing styling, it is also stuffed with a predictably comfortable cabin that is also home to the latest Lexus infotainment and media system. Powering the 500h is a 2.4-liter turbocharged I4 that works with the Lexus and Toyota hybrid system to send 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque to the all-wheel-drive system. 

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the ’24 Lexus RX 500h and puts it through its paces. Carone takes you on a guided tour of the 2024 Lexus RX 500h and highlights its styling and some of his favorite features. Later in the show, Carone takes the RX 500h out for a live drive review. Adding to these segments, Carone chats with host Wesley Wren about the Lexus RX, the luxury crossover space, and more. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes the 2024 Lexus RX 500h special.

Ducati might be best known for its ultra-high performance street bikes or its racing pedigree, but Ducati has ventured down different avenues to expand its fan base. The Ducati Monster follows the trend of naked street bikes and lets you see more of the motorcycle’s inner structure and mechanical action. Powering this Ducati is a 937-cc Testastretta L-Twin that makes 111 hp at 9,250 rpm. That might not seem like a ton of power in the superbike world, but it is more than enough power to get you up to speed shockingly quick. Adding to that, this lighter-weight Ducati Monster tips the scales at a mere 414 pounds.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Mark Vaughn hops on the Ducati Monster and takes you along for the ride. Mark narrates his live drive review while he puts this Ducati through its paces. Mark also walks you around the new Ducati to show off and explain some of this bike’s more interesting features. Between those segments, Vaughn talks with host Wesley Wren to expand on his thoughts. Closing the show, the pair talk about what makes this Ducati special.

The 2022 Honda Civic SI joins the rest of the Civic lineup with its transition to the eleventh-generation platform. This new Civic sees a substantial upgrade in the interior and a distinctly different design direction. While the previous generation of Honda’s beloved Civic might have been excessive to some, the latest Civic takes a more mature approach. The 2022 Civic Si adds some spice with sportier styling. Most importantly, the 2022 Honda Civic Si drops five horsepower compared to the outgoing model, which means its 1.5-liter turbocharged I4 sends 200 hp through the six-speed manual. That power drop doesn’t mean this Civic is any less fun.

In this episode of Quick Spin, Executive editor Tom Murphy slides behind the wheel of the 2022 Honda Civic SI and takes you along for the ride. Murphy walks you around this hopped-up Civic while talking about the vehicle’s styling, market position and features. Murphy also takes you along for a live drive review. Expanding on his thoughts, Murphy talks with host Wesley Wren about the ’22 Civic Si. The pair give the Civic some context, and talk about its performance and its position in the marketplace. Closing the show, the two explain what makes this Civic SI special.


#honda #hondacivic #carreview #carpodcast

The BMW 7-Series has sat atop BMW’s sedan hierarchy for nearly five decades. This flagship sedan has changed its look over the years to keep up with trends but has always brought its best to the interior. Despite a shift to crossovers and SUVs in the luxe space, BMW hasn’t ignored its luxury icon. The most recent generation of the 7-Series launched just a year ago and brought along some major changes to the nameplate. Gone is the V12, with a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 and mild hybrid system powering the wheels. The latest 7-Series also is the most tech-friendly interior to date, with no shortage of touch screens to control creature comforts and an available 31-inch monitor that drops down for rear passengers to watch your favorite content.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the 2023 BMW 760i xDrive and puts it through its paces. Carone guides you around the latest 7-Series and highlights some of his favorite features before taking you along on a live drive review. Carone expands on his thoughts while he chats with host Wesley Wren. The pair talk about the changing luxury market, the BMW 760i’s features, and more. The two also discuss the battery-electric variant of the latest 7-Series. Closing the show, Carone and Wren break down what makes the 2023 760i special.

The 2020 Porsche 718 Cayman T doesn’t have a naturally aspirated flat-six, and the engine isn’t at the rear, but it might be one of the best sports cars you can get for the money. This mid-engine, turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four-powered coupe makes hopping in a Porsche slightly more accessible than the pricier 911. This Cayman T model also sports some weight-saving measures like mechanically adjustable seats and fabric door pulls.

On this episode of Quick Spin, editor Wes Raynal puts this Porsche through its paces and brings you along for the ride. Raynal evaluates how the car drives, how it feels and how it sits in the Porsche lineup. Raynal guides you through the car’s features in a brief walk around of the Cayman T before taking you along while he reviews the car. In between those pre-recorded sections, Raynal expands his thoughts in a discussion with host Wesley Wren.

The Lexus RX entered its fifth generation with the introduction of the ’23 RX. Topping the range, the RX 500h is packed with consumer tech, big screens and a hybrid powertrain. This Lexus uses electric door handles to release the doors, the HUD as the multi-function steering wheel controls and a big screen that relays all of your media. Dominated by consumer tech features, this Lexus pushes the brand’s interior styling into the future. Powering the RX 500h is a turbocharged 2.4-liter mated to a parallel hybrid system, which makes a combined 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged four-cylinder mill makes 271 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque without any electrical assistance.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the ’23 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the latest Lexus RX and shows off its features and styling. Later in the show, Wren takes you along for a live drive review of the RX 500h to see how it handles the road. Joining the show, Patrick Carone chats with Wren about the Lexus RX, Lexus’s interiors and the target demographic for this crossover. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Lexus special.

Audi’s S6 takes the tried and true formula of taking a normal, commuter-grade vehicle and adding a dose of excitement with extra power. Nearing its 30th birthday, Audi’s S6 is sticking to the original formula of turning the perfectly serviceable A6 into a highway-eating hot rod. While this S6 eschews the previous generation’s V8 and replaces it with a 2.9-liter TFSI V6. This turbocharged six-cylinder sends 444 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic before it travels to all four wheels.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Audi S6 to put it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the Audi S6 and highlights some of his favorite and least favorite features. Later, Wren takes you along for a live drive review. Expanding on his thoughts, Wren is joined by Autoweek’s Patrick Carone to chat about the Audi. The pair discuss Wren’s experience with the 2.9-liter V6, the Audi S6’s driving dynamics, and more. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes the S6 special.

Toyota’s long-running Corolla entered its 12th generation in 2018. With its 12th iteration, Toyota also rolled out a hybrid powertrain underneath the Corolla’s skin, though that might have been overshadowed by the more raucous GR Corolla. Still, this ’24 Corolla Hybrid packs a 1.8-liter I4 that works with a hybrid system to send 138 hp to the front wheels. This less-potent hybrid also makes its way to the bottom rung of Toyota’s hybrid lineup, where it sits below a $25,000 starting price.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the 2024 Toyota Corolla hybrid and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the Corolla hybrid and highlights some of his favorite features. Later, Wren takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to these segments, Wren chats with Autoweek’s Patrick Carone about the ’24 Toyota Corolla hybrid, the changing landscape of low-priced vehicles, and how this Corolla hybrid stacks up against the latest Toyota Prius. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Corolla special.

The Volkswagen GTI has been a staple of the affordable but fun roster of cars since its inception almost half a century ago. This hopped-up Rabbit or Golf gave folks an affordable outlet for their gear-wringing fun. Well, halfway through the eighth generation of this legendary nameplate, Volkswagen is moving away from the manual transmission and pivoting to an automatic-only GTI in the United States. Before sending it away, VW launched a special stick-shifted celebration version of the GTI dubbed 380. Powering this 2024 VW GTI 308 is the same 2.0-liter EA888 turbocharged I4 that powers the other GTI variants. This turbocharged 2.0-liter sends 241 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque through either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic. Of course, in 380 S and 380 SE trim, the stick is the only transmission available. 

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Patrick Carone climbs behind the wheel of the 2024 VW Golf GTI and puts it through its paces. Carone takes you on a guided walkaround of the last-year stick-shifted Golf GTI and highlights some of his favorite features. Later in the show, Carone takes you on a live drive review of the ’24 VW GTI. Adding to these segments, Carone chats with host Wesley Wren about the GTI, the manual transmission disappearing, and more. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the 2024 Golf GTI special. 

The Lamborghini Huracan recently received a significant refresh and added the hefty “Evo” tag to its name. Evo, for those out of the loop, is short for evolution. Essentially meaning that Lamborghini has taken the Huracan to the next level. While the Huracan Evo debuted with the expected all-wheel-drive system affixed to its driveline, Lamborghini recently added the lighter, enthusiast-focused rear-wheel-drive model to the lineup. Powered by a naturally aspirated V10 making a reasonable 602 hp at 8,000 RPM and 413 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 RPM, this Lambo is sure to put a smile on your face.

Well, on this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Mark Vaughn climbs behind the wheel of the Huracan Evo RWD and puts it to the test. He also joins Wesley Wren in the studio to talk not only about his drive, but to give context to Lamborghini’s position in the world of supercars. The pair talk about Vaughn’s experience with Lamborghini’s lineup and give credit to Lamborghini for the direction the company is headed.

Hyundai’s N division first flexed its muscle with the hopped-up Veloster N in the ‘States. This rally-inspired hatchback showed that Hyundai can build exciting sport compacts and take what is learned from its time on the rally stage and put it on the public road. Well, the Veloster N might be done, but its spirit lives on in sedan form with the Elantra N. The ’22 Elantra N packs the same 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 as the Veloster N and makes 276 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque. That power can travel through a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic before hitting the front wheels.

On this episode of Quick Spin. Autoweek’s west coast editor Mark Vaughn puts the Elantra N through its paces. Vaughn takes you on a guided tour of the Elantra N and highlights some of its exterior features before taking you inside and guiding you through its interior. Later in the show, Vaughn takes you on a live review of the Elantra N. Adding to the discussion, Vaughn chats with host Wesley Wren about the Elantra N’s performance, its features and its competition. The two also talk about the Elantra’s price. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this car special.

When you think of luxury SUVs, the first that comes to mind is highly likely to be Cadillac’s Escalade, even if cross-town rival Lincoln stepped up its game with the latest Navigator. In response, Cadillac launched its next-generation Escalade with some serious upgrades. The 2021 Escalade puts a stronger focus on fit, finish, and high-quality materials, enough to put it back to the top of the luxe SUV list. The new Escalade also sports some significant shakeups with its powertrain and suspension. New for ’21, the Escalade is available with the 3.0-liter Duramax straight-six diesel under its hood. You can still get the 6.2-liter gas-burning V8, and both are mated to 10-speed automatics. At the rear, the new Escalade is now riding on an independent suspension.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Wes Raynal puts the latest Escalade to the test. He walks you around the new Escalade and assesses its interior’s build quality. He also takes it out on a drive and brings you along for the ride. Between those segments, Raynal talks with host Wesley Wren about the Escalade and elaborates on his thoughts. The pair talk about the Escalade’s improvements and the luxury SUV marketplace. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the new Escalade special.

The McLaren 720S is fantastic. It’s a 710 hp aerodynamic wonder car that looks as futuristic as it does elegant. Well, the team at McLaren didn’t stop with the 720S, and cranked up its 4.0-liter turbocharged V8’s power, stretched the body and changed the name. The 765LT’s name is an homage to the legendary McLaren F1 GTR “long tail” race cars. While it’s designed for public roads, the combination of interesting aerodynamic solutions and the brutal 4.0-liter V8’s power would make it interesting to take out on a track.

On this episode of Quick Spin, west coast editor Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of a 2022 McLaren 765LT and takes you along for a ride. Vaughn walks you around the 765LT and highlights some of its exterior features and walks you through its track-focused interior. Vaughn also takes you along for a ride in a live drive review. Expanding on these segments, Vaughn chats about the McLaren with host Wesley Wren. The two talk about the McLaren 765LT, its competition and more. Closing the show, the two break down what makes the 2022 McLaren 765LT special.

The Chevrolet Suburban hasn’t moved too far away from its utilitarian origins nearly 90 years ago. Sure, the ‘Burban is nicer now than it’s ever been, but the point remains that it’s still a body-on-frame, truck-adjacent SUV that can haul plenty of people or whatever else you can stuff inside its massive cabin. Entering its 12th generation a few years ago, the Suburban did get some big upgrades and added an independent rear suspension to the mix. The revised suspension joins massive tech upgrades like the addition of Super Cruise to help the Suburban make an argument for itself at both of its pricing extremes. This High Country example sports a 6.2-liter V8, a ten-speed automatic transmission and nearly every creature comfort you’d want -- regardless of brand. 

On this episode of Quick Spin, Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban High Country and puts it through its paces. Carone takes you around this Suburban to highlight some of his favorite features before taking you along on a live drive review. Adding to that, Carone chats with host Wesley Wren about this Suburban, its features and the competition. The pair also talk about what it’s like driving in New York City, and the Suburban’s hefty price tag. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Suburban special.

Honda’s Civic Type R was a forbidden fruit among Honda fans and collectors until it was formally added to the U.S. Honda lineup with the introduction of the 2017 Civic Type R. This 10th-generation Civic was a watershed moment for fans, but some didn’t appreciate some styling decisions. Well, with the 11th-generation Civic, Honda brought back the Type R with the major styling change that came with the next-generation car. The latest Civic Type R carries over a lot of the major hardware from the previous car. Under the hood is a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 that sends 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed manual transmission. This ’23 Civic Type R also shares the interior updates that came with a new generation but adds red bucket seats for the driver and front passenger.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren puts the ’23 Civic Type R through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the Civic Type R and highlights some of his favorite features on a guided tour. Wren also takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to the conversation, Wren chats with Autoweek’s Emmet White about the new Civic Type R, the experience of driving it, and how it stacks up against its Acura Integra Type S counterpart. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Civic special.

The BMW styling department has likely started more conversations than its team ever considered. The latest polarizing product is the 2023 BMW XM. This plug-in hybrid crossover deviates from the brand's alphanumeric naming structure and leans into the company’s M-Division heritage. Powering this hopped-up hybrid is a 4.4-liter V8 that works with an electric motor to advertise 644 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. The engine itself is responsible for 483 of that hp and 479 of that torque figure. This works with the eight-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive system to launch this crossover to 60 mph in under four seconds. If that’s not enough, the electric motor can move this XM under electric-only power as far as 30 miles with the 19.2-kWh battery.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the ’23 BMW XM and puts it through its paces. Carone guides you around the XM and highlights some of his favorite features before taking you on a live drive review. Carone also chats with host Wesley Wren about the BMW XM to give this hybrid some context. The pair discuss its price, its heritage inside of the BMW brand and more. Closing the show, the two break down what makes this BMW special.

The 2024 Honda Passport Trailsport adds a dash of rugged machismo to Honda’s two-row people mover. Powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that sends 280 hp through a nine-speed transmission, this all-wheel-drive Trailsport has enough oomph to handle tasks. Evolving the third-gen Passport is the Trailsport package, which adds all-terrain tires, revised suspension tuning, and Honda’s i-VVTM4 torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system. This Honda rides the wave of crossover popularity and adds a healthy dose of adventure-ready hardware. 

On the other side of the automotive spectrum, the once-thriving mid-size sedan segment is thinning. Hyundai’s Sonata is seeing a similar reflection with its sales a fraction of its early 2010s peak. That said, this eighth-generation Sonata features a 1.6-liter turbocharged I4 that sends 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque through the front wheels by way of an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

On this episode of Talking Cars with the Boss, Wesley Wren chats with Natalie Neff about two vehicles that couldn’t be further apart in reality but are sitting close on the sales charts. The pair talk about their experiences with these vehicles, the changing automotive landscape, and the proliferation of adventure-focused crossovers. Closing the show, the pair decide which one they’d add to their driveway.  

Kia showed off the Telluride as a concept in 2016 and started churning out these three-row people moves in 2020. This production version of the Telluride loses some of the wild concept styling choices, but still carries attractive styling and a solid list of features. Largely carried over from the 2021 model year, the Telluride sees some light updates. The biggest change: the logo. The latest Kia Telluride sports the new, striking Kia badge that helps set it apart from the models from last year. Kia also adds a 10.25-inch touchscreen to its media system. Under the hood, you’ll still find the 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V6 that sends 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque through the standard eight-speed automatic transmission.

In this episode on Quick Spin, Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Kia Telluride and puts it through its paces. Carone guides you around the Telluride and highlights its exterior and interior features. Carone also takes you along on a drive review of this Kia and shows off how it drives in real-time. Adding to the show, host Wesley Wren chats with Carone about the Kia Telluride, its price and what it brings to the market. Closing the show, the two break down what makes this car special.

The Ferrari 812 GTS takes the grand touring bones of the 812 Superfast and opens the cabin to the elements. This retractable hardtop convertible can morph from a closed-up coupe to an open-air cruiser in a matter of seconds with the push of a button. Powering this Ferrari is a 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 feeding 789 hp and 530 lb-ft of torque to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. From there, the power travels to the rear wheels, rocketing the car to 62 mph in under three seconds from a standing start—and 124 mph in 8.4 seconds, if the road allows. Not bad for a comfortable grand tourer.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Mark Vaughn slides behind the wheel of the 2021 Ferrari 812 GTS and puts the prancing horse through its paces. He gives you a guided tour of this high-end sports machine and highlights its elaborate styling and features. Vaughn also takes you along while he reviews this Ferrari on the California canyon roads. Between those segments, Vaughn elaborates on his thoughts with host Wesley Wren. Vaughn also talks about the history of front-engine Ferraris and where this 812 GTS fits in the current lineup. Vaughn also compares this grand tourer to the other ultra-luxury GTs you can find today. Closing the show, Vaughn and Wren discuss what makes this Ferrari special.

With winter just around the corner, it’s time to get your car ready. For those fortunate to live in moderate climates, that means basically nothing. Though for those living in frigid climates, that means throwing on a set of winter tires. Winter rubber gives you better cold-weather performance than your beloved summer tires and can help give you enough traction to safely drive when the temperature drops. Though, winter isn’t the only reason the change your rolling stock.

On this bonus episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren joins Hearst Auto’s Gear Team member Collin Morgan to chat about all the reasons you’d want to change up your wheels and tires. Focusing on the seasonal shift to winter, the two discuss the advantages of winter tires compared to summer and all-season tires. The two also highlight a way to store your winter or warm-weather tires. Closing the show the two shine a light on the importance of properly reinstalling your wheel and tire assembly when it’s time to swap them out.

Acura’s MDX might not be the most exciting crossover. Even its more stylish RDX stablemate jumps off the page more than the three-row MDX. Though, the addition of the Type S package and its turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 turns this people mover into a more interesting machine. This engine replaces the standard, naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 and makes 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. That’s a 65 hp and an 87 lb-ft bump over the standard MDX. Acura also makes the Type S available with the legendary SH-AWD system that takes advantage of all of that extra power. Of course, Acura also expands the luxury appointments for the MDX Type S, which includes premium leather materials and massaging seats.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Acura MDX Type S and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided walk around that highlights the MDX Type S’s features before taking you along on a live-recorded drive review. Adding to the show, Patrick Carone hops into the discussion about the MDX and the pair talk about its price, competition and market position. Closing the show, the two break down what makes this Acura special.

The Toyota Supra has become a Japanese performance icon since it formally spun off from the similarly iconic Celica in the 1980s. Most notably, the fourth-generation or A80 chassis Toyota Supra has cemented itself as a cultural icon with its starring role in The Fast and the Furious, its inclusion in racing video games, and its success on the race track. The Supra did fall out of the Toyota lineup before the new millennium but was reborn after more than 20 years on the backburner. The reborn Supra launched in 2019 with only an eight-speed automatic behind the BMW-built I6 mill, to the chagrin of manual transmission enthusiasts. Well, Toyota listened to the manual transmission cries and delivered for the 2023 model year. Mated to the 3.0-liter I6 is now a six-speed manual transmission that feeds power exclusively to the rear wheels.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Toyota GR Supra and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of this manual-equipped Supra and highlights some of his favorite parts. Later, Wren takes you along for a live drive review of the Supra. Joining these segments, Wren chats with Patrick Carone about the latest generation Supra, its place in the market, and its spot in history. The two talk about the Supra’s lack of competition in the market, and the joy of adding a manual transmission. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the Supra special.

The Infiniti QX50’s bones were given a stylish makeover and threw Infiniti’s badge into the growing pool of crossover coupes. Of course, Infiniti is no stranger to this cargo-compromising crossover design and launched its own crossover coupe all the way back in 2003. Dubbed the FX45, Infiniti was ahead of the curve when it came to high-riding personal luxury vehicles. Of course, the FX fell in line with the QX naming convention as the QX70 before it saw the end of the road in 2017. Following in its footsteps, the QX55 follows the same formula of slicing away some of the utility from the Sport Utility Vehicle and doubling down on style. Just like its QX50 platform-mate, the Infiniti QX55 sports the 2.0-liter VC turbo. The VC stands for variable compression, which makes this engine one of the most fascinating parts of the car. The variable compression four-cylinder mill sends 268 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque through a continuously variable transmission.

On this episode of Quick Spin, executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Infiniti QX55 and puts it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a tour of the QX55 and shows off its features before taking you along on a live drive review. Murphy also chats with host Wesley Wren about Infiniti, the variable compression engine and the QX55’s competition. Closing the show, the two break down what makes this special.

Stuffing a big engine into a small car has been a formula for success throughout the history of the automobile. Oldsmobile stuffed its new overhead-valve V8 into its 88. Later, Pontiac stuffed 389 cubic inches worth of V8 into a Tempest. While this trend never really went away, it did change – turbocharged, smaller displacement engines squeeze more oomph out of smaller displacements. That said, Lexus looked at its parts catalog, saw the 5.0-liter V8 was available, and stuffed it into the small IS sedan. Of course, there was more to the mating of this 5.0-liter V8 and this small sedan, but it does follow the same formula as some of the most beloved muscle machines of yore. This ’24 Lexus IS 500 sends 472 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. From there, power shuffles to the IS 500’s rear axle, only. 

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2024 Lexus IS 500 and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the ’24 IS 500 and highlights some of his favorite features. Later in the show, Wren takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to these segments, Wren chats with Autoweek’s Patrick Carone about the Lexus IS, this V8-powered version, and how it compares to the competitive set. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes this 2024 Lexus Is 500 special.

Sedans are cool, but wagons are always more interesting. If for no other reason than their relative rarity to their sedan counterpart. Audi’s latest hopped-up wagon is no exception. The Audi RS6 is a supremely capable sedan, but it comes alive in its Avant form as one of the coolest wagons you can buy today. Powered by a 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8, this ultra-stylish wagon sends 591 hp to its all-wheel-drive system. Managing the power in between the engine and the all-wheel-drive system is an eight-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain can rocket this wagon to 60 mph in only 3.1-seconds, which should be good enough to quickly get the kids from soccer practice.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Natalie Neff and Patrick Carone both share their experiences with this special Audi. Neff walks you around the RS6 Avant and highlights some of the major features of this cool wagon. Later, Neff takes you along for a ride while she reviews the RS6 Avant. In between those recordings, Neff shares her experience with Carone and host Wesley Wren. Wrapping the show, the group breaks down what makes the Audi RS6 Avant special.

The Mercedes-AMG Lineup might best be known for its high-horsepower, snarling V8-powered 63 line of high-performance variants. Though, there’s more to the AMG portfolio than just the V8 machines. The Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 might not have the same road presence as its more powerful 63 variants, but offers more than enough oomph to have some fun behind the wheel of a crossover. With a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 making 385 hp, the GLC 43 is more than powerful enough to remind you why you sprung for the AMG badge. The GLC 43 also sports a revised suspension over the standard ‘Benz-badged GLC. Mated to the 3.0-liter V6 is a nine-speed automatic transmission that transfers power to all four wheels.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of this 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 to put it through its paces. Carone takes you on a guided tour of the GLC 43 and shows off its features before taking you along for a live drive review. Adding to those segments, Carone expands on his thoughts with host Wesley Wren. The pair talk about where the GLC 43 sits in the Mercedes lineup, and discuss if springing for the extra power is worth it over the standard GLC 300. Closing the show, the pair talk about what makes this GLC 43 special.

Electric vehicles aren’t coming: they’re here. Mazda’s first dip into the EV pool is, as you’d expect, a compact crossover. While this might not be as interesting as an all-electric Mazda MX-5 Miata, the MX-30 packs a ton of interesting features and an electric powertrain. Eventually, the Mazda MX-30 will be joined by a gasoline-burning, rotary-range-extender equipped variant, but the currently available MX-30 moves exclusively by way of a 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that feeds the electric motor that powers the front wheels. Mazda says this combination is good for 143 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque. The Mazda MX-30 also features reverse-opening rear doors, leatherette coverings on the seat and minimalist styling that’s similar to the rest of the Mazda lineup.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the Mazda MX-30 and puts it through its paces. Wren walks you around the Mazda MX-30 and shows off its interesting features before taking you along for a live drive review that highlights the vehicle’s dynamics. Expanding on these thoughts, Wren chats with Mark Vaughn. The pair talk about this Mazda’s range, its features and its position in the market. Closing the show, the two discuss what makes the Mazda MX-30 special.

Land Rover’s legendary Defender nameplate made its return to the United States just a few years ago. This off-road legend was barred from the United States since it departed before the turn of the century, and made an even bigger space for its off-road-focused competition. In its return, the Defender might be softer than its Series and Defender predecessors. Its increased ride comfort might make your commute easier, but the Defender still offers plenty of off-roading chops if you find yourself out in the wild. Powering this Defender 110 is a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six that works alongside its mild-hybrid system to throw 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque to the wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek executive editor Tom Murphy puts the ’23 Land Rover Defender 110 through its paces. Murphy takes you on a tour of this off-road-focused Land Rover and highlights some of his favorite features. Later, Murphy takes you along for a live drive review. Adding some context, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about the Land Rover Defender’s sales, competition, and more. The pair also discuss the Defender in the greater context of Land Rover’s history. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes this Defender special.

The pickup truck might not be your target performance vehicle, as you’re probably more accustomed to throwing bags of grass seed or sheets of plywood into the bed of your weekend workhorse and using it to help you finish jobs. Well, as tends to be the case: if there’s a vehicle, it can be faster. The world of muscle trucks isn’t exactly new and can be rooted in the same performance fervor as muscle machines of the 1970s. Though, more recently, the hopped pickups of the early 1990s reminded everyone that pickups can also be fun to drive. Fortunately, that idea stuck around and even pushed tuners like the folks at Callaway into the pickup world. This Callaway Silverado SC602 packs 602 hp under the hood from its supercharged 6.2-liter V8. The Callaway Silverado also sports a host of other visual and performance enhancements, but you’ll probably just focus on the supercharged mill.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of this Callaway Silverado and puts it through its paces. Vaughn takes you along with him on a drive review and guides you around this rig to show off its features. Expanding on his thoughts, Vaughn chats with host Wesley Wren about the Callaway Silverado. The pair discuss the price, the experience and the history of Callaway. Closing the show, the two break down what makes this truck special.

Porsche’s legendary 911 ushered in its eighth-generation sports car just a few years ago in 2019. While the 911’s main layout has carried on effectively unchanged since its inception over half a century ago, it has grown up, added some creature comforts and, controversially, added liquid cooling. Porsche’s latest 992-generation doesn’t buck any major trends and keeps the formula the same: engine in the rear, and available manual transmissions. While the base 911 Carrera might catch some criticisms of not being sporty enough, Porsche adds a dose of lightness with the 911 Carrera T. This model ditches creature comforts like a rear seat, removes some insulation, and adds lightweight glass to help shave weight. In doing so, Porsche turned the 911 Carrera into a more sport-focused machine with the Carrera T.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T and puts it through its paces. Vaughn takes you on a guided tour of the ’23 911 T and highlights some of his favorite features. Vaughn also takes you along for a live drive review. Vaughn also chats with host Wesley Wren about this Porsche 911, its price, and where it sits in the pantheon of 911s. Vaughn and Wren also discuss the transmission options for this 911. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes this 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T special.

The Acura Integra Type S might be the most talked about performance Acura now that the NSX is off the assembly line, but it’s not the only hopped-up Acura sedan in the company’s lineup. Acura’s TLX entered the Acura stable in ’14, with its second, and current, generation showing up in 2021. Adding to the second generation’s performance chops was a Type S model. The TLX Type S packs a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 under its hood that sends 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission. From there, power hits the wheels by way of Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive system.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2024 Acura TLX Type S and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the TLX Type S and highlights some of his favorite features. Later, Wren takes you along for a live drive review of this sporty sedan. Adding to the show, Wren chats with Autoweek’s Patrick Carone about this TLX Type S. The pair talk about the state of sedans, how this TLX stacks up against more expensive sports sedans, and more. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes this TLX Type S Special.

Like the rest of the automotive landscape, Volkswagen is doubling down on crossovers and leaving small cars, at least in the United States, on the chopping block. Volkswagen cut the beloved Golf and the Passat from its US portfolio but continues to offer the Audi sibling: the A3. In fact, the Audi A3 sees a new, albeit updated, platform for 2022. The Audi A3 kicked off Audi’s legacy compact for the 1996 model year and offered fans of small Volkswagens a more luxurious option. While the 2022 model dwarfs its predecessor, the latest A3 sticks with that essential formula. Powering this ’22 Audi A3 is a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 that makes 201 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. That power travels through a seven-speed DCT to either the front wheels or all-four wheels if you opt for the all-wheel-drive system.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Wesley Wren puts the latest A3 through its paces. Wren walks you around the outside of the 2022 Audi A3 and highlights its styling and features, and also guides you on a tour of the new A3 interior. Wren also takes you along for a drive review and talks about the A3’s dynamics and driving features. Adding to these segments, Mark Vaughn joins Wren to discuss the compact luxury car world and the new A3. Closing the show, the two talk about what makes the 2022 Audi A3 special.

The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N takes everything you’d expect from a battery-electric vehicle and throws it for a loop. Hyundai’s performance-oriented BEV gives you battery-electric bonafides like 601 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque but throws the brand's N image into the mix. That translates to fake shift points, hilarious engine noise, and a package that is still useful despite the hilarity. This combination of performance and cartoonish enthusiasm makes the Ioniq 5 N one of the most exciting battery-powered vehicles on the road today.

Eschewing battery power, but also stuck with high-strung downsizing, the Toyota GR Corolla takes the tried-and-true enthusiast car path and features gobs of power for not a lot of mass. This GR Corolla packs a turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine under the hood that throws 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed manual transmission and into a standard all-wheel-drive system. Like the Ioniq 5 N, the Corolla shape and the potent powertrain have turned the GR Corolla into an instant enthusiast darling.  

On this episode of Talking Car with the Boss, Natalie Neff and Wesley Wren discuss their respective times in these machines. The two talk about the Ioniq 5 N’s effect on battery-electric cars, the hilarious simulated features, and what makes it so interesting for non-EV shoppers. They also talk about what makes the GR Corolla so special in today’s marketplace. Closing the show, the pair both pick which machine they’d add to their collections. 

Mercedes-Benz isn’t joking with its battery-electric endeavors. The company is rolling out a full line of battery-electric products that are analog to its internal-combustion portfolio. The ’23 Mercedes-Benz EQE and its AMG equivalent fill the battery-electric space for E-Class devotees to make the step toward electric motors and away from internal combustion. Launched last year, the EQE sedan borrows the same styling conventions as the more expensive EQS and follows the established trend of having a hopped-up AMG variant. Starting at the EQE 350+, you’ll get a rear-drive battery-electric E-Class. Moving up to the EQE 4Matic nets you two motors, and the EQE 500 nets you even more power from those motors. Topping the range is the AMG EQE, which throws 617 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque to the wheels and launches you to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the ’23 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4Matic and the ’23 Mercedes-AMG EQE. Murphy takes you on a tour of the EQE 350 and highlights his favorite features. Later, Murphy takes you on a live drive review of this battery-electric ‘Benz. While chatting with host Wesley Wren, Murphy talks about the differences between his experiences with the standard EQE 350 and the Mercedes-AMG EQE. Murphy and Wren also discuss how the cars perform, their respective prices, and more. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes the AMG EQE and the EQE 350 special.

Volvos XC90 might be getting long in the tooth, with its current generation debuting almost a decade ago, but its plug-in hybrid Recharge variant leans into the current electrified discussion. This potent PHEV takes the reserved styling of the family-hauling XC90 and stuffs the Volvo plug-in hybrid powertrain under the skin. This system blends a turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 with electric motors to send a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque to the wheels. 

On the newer end of the spectrum, the smaller Genesis GV60 eschews the gasoline engine and relies solely on electric motors for motivation. This battery-electric crossover packs a 77.4 kWh battery to feed two motors in the Performance AWD trim. This all-wheel-drive performance trim sends 429 hp, or 483 hp in boost mode, to all four wheels. The downside to this power is that this BEV can only travel 235 miles per charge, per Genesis. 

On this episode of Talking Cars with the Boss, Wesley Wren, and Natalie Neff talk about these modern people movers. Natalie Neff talks about her time with this battery-electric Genesis and this plug-in hybrid Volvo. The pair talk about the benefits and drawbacks of each powertrain. The pair also discuss which one of these machines they’d throw onto their driveway. 

The sedan has come a long way over the last seven decades. Once dictated by an adult’s ability to wear a hat, the styling has changed dramatically to reflect the styles of the time. Well, ironically, Toyota has gone back to the modern sedan’s origins in the late 1940s to bring the large sedan to modernity. With a market dominated by high-riding utility vehicles, it only makes sense to try that sensibility out on a sedan. This height bump is reflected in the Crown’s 60.6-inch height, which bests the outgoing Avalon by nearly four inches. This height bump comes with only a half inch more of ground clearance, which means the Crown’s shell is substantially taller. This added height helps give drivers a more utility-like approach, and also helps with climbing in and out of the interior. Joining this new shape is a similarly new Hybrid Max powertrain, which blends a 2.4-liter turbocharged I4 with a six-speed automatic and an array of electric motors to make 340 hp and 400.4 lb-ft of torque.

On this episode of Quick Spin host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the ’24 Toyota Crown and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the Toyota Crown and talks about its styling and highlights some of his favorite features. Later, Wren takes you along on a live drive review of the ’24 Crown. Adding to these segments, Wren chats with Autoweek’s Patrick Carone about the Crown’s space in Toyota’s lineup, what makes it interesting, and how it stacks up against the Avalon it replaces. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes the Toyota Crown special.

The Mercedes-AMG GT is one of the most beautiful sports cars to ever roll out of a factory. Seemingly taking inspiration from the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300SL, the AMG GT has an almost timeless style that will surely age as well as the 300SL. Though, not to ride just on good looks, Mercedes has progressively cranked the AMG GT up notches and produced the AMG GT R.

In this episode of Quick Spin, Robin Warner puts the 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged AMG GT R to the test. Warner tackles how it looks, how it performs and how it feels, all the while bringing you along with him. Warner also hops into the studio to talk about all things AMG GT R with host Wesley Wren, before grinding out the essence of the AMG GT R.

The Lexus TX solves an important problem for Lexus – it gives the brand an upscale, large people mover. This three-row crossover joined the Lexus brand at the end of 2023 as a 2024 model-year vehicle and is the cousin of the Toyota Grand Highlander. The Lexus TX also packs a variety of powertrains, with a 2.4-liter turbocharged I4, a turbocharged 2.4-liter I4 that works with a hybrid system, and the top-flight 3.5-liter V6 that works with the plug-in hybrid system. This particular tester slots under the TX 500h+ trim which moves by way of the turbocharged 2.4-cylinder hybrid powertrain. 

On the Toyota side of the dealership, your three-row options open up. Sure, you can snag a Grand Highlander or Sienna, or you can move to the body-on-frame Sequoia. Based on the latest TNGA-F architecture, the latest Sequoia follows the same pattern as the new Tundra. That means it packs a 3.4-liter turbocharged V6 under the hood that works with the i-Force Max hybrid system to throw 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission.  

On this episode of Talking Cars with the Boss, host Wesley Wren chats with Natalie Neff about these two three-row people movers. The pair talk about their respective experiences with each of these distinctly different people movers, and discuss their merits. Closing the show, the pair decide which one of these two three-row machines they’d want to throw into their driveway.

The Lamborghini Huracan Evo is no stranger to Quick Spin, with it already appearing in one of the first episodes of the show. This V10-powered Italian supercar makes 610 hp in rear-wheel-drive trim and 630 hp in its all-wheel-drive configuration, or enough power to safely make a trip to your local store. The updated Lamborghini also features some styling enhancements that add more visual impact to emphasize that this is the evolution model.

More importantly, this Lamborghini is reviewed by Blondie guitarist and sports car enthusiast Tommy Kessler. Kessler takes you into this Lambo with a walk around and then brings you along with him while he takes it for a spin. Kessler then joins host Wesley Wren and Robin Warner in the studio to flesh out his feelings about the Italian machine.

The Toyota Land Cruiser was ‘Yota’s top-shelf off-roading machine. Sure, the 4Runner is good, but if you’re really trying to go anywhere, especially in style, you’ll want a Land Cruiser. Lexus was part of that game, too, with the LX. Though the Land Cruiser might have overshadowed the LX-Series on the street, the Land Cruiser isn’t hitting American shores. That’s not a problem for the 2022 Lexus LX 600. The new Lexus LX 600 sports many of the same upgrades headed to the Toyota Tundra: a new 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 replaces the outgoing 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8. While it’s dropped cylinders, the turbocharger compensates and helps this 3.5-liter make 409 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. Managing that power is a standard 10-speed automatic transmission, which feeds the standard all-wheel-drive system.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren climbs behind the wheel of the 2022 Lexus LX 600. Wren walks you around the new Lexus SUV and highlights the vehicle’s styling and its interesting features. Wren also takes you along for a live drive review, which shows off how the vehicle feels in real-time. Adding to these segments, Wren chats about the Lexus LX 600 with Autoweek’s west coast editor Mark Vaughn. The two talk about the Lexus LX’s styling, its purpose and its features. Closing the show, the two discuss what makes the 2022 Lexus LX 600 special.

#toyota #lexus #offroad #truck #carreview #carpodcast #car #suv

Six-cylinder supercars historically aren’t that well received. Though, the six-cylinder tides are starting to change with Maserati’s MC20 and the new Ferrari 296 GTB. While it’s fair to argue if this is the first or second V6-powered Ferrari, the 296 GTB is definitely the future of the company and a nod to the current era of Formula 1. If you’re concerned about power from this hybrid V6 powertrain, you shouldn’t be. This combination is good for 818 hp peak power, which can rocket this Ferrari to 60 mph in 2.9-seconds. Even though it has fewer cylinders than previous Ferrari sports cars, it doesn’t seem like it has any less performance.

In this episode of Quick Spin, Mark Vaughn travels to Spain to test the 2022 Ferrari 296 GTB. Vaughn walks you around the latest Ferrari to talk about its styling while highlighting some of its features. Vaughn also takes you along while he tests Modena’s latest toy. Adding to those segments, Vaughn chats with host Wesley Wren about the new Ferrari. The two talk about this Ferrari’s competitive set, the driving dynamics and more. Closing the show, the two get to what makes this Ferrari special.

In the growing battery-electric sports car world, it was only a matter of time for Porsche to jump into the game with its Taycan. Porsche launched the Taycan with its base all-wheel-drive model and a pair of Turbo-badged performance models. Well, Porsche is adding a new entry point into the Taycan portfolio that ditches all-wheel drive and drops the price. This rear-drive Taycan does drop the power, as you’d expect with a reduction in motors, and only throws 320 hp to the wheels with the standard battery. However, the dip in performance is offset by shedding 210 pounds over the standard all-wheel-drive Taycan with the elimination of all of the front powertrain.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Mark Vaughn puts the latest Porsche Taycan through its paces and brings you along for the ride. Vaughn hops behind the wheel and reviews the rear-wheel-drive Taycan around the California canyons. Vaughn also personally walks you around the Taycan and sheds insight into Porsche’s EV. Between those segments, Vaughn elaborates on his pre-recorded comments with host Wesley Wren and sheds insight into where the Taycan sits in the market.

Nissan is no stranger to battery-electric vehicles. The Nissan Leaf has been a staple of mass-market BEVs since it hit the streets in the 2010s. While the Leaf built a foundation for electric vehicles in Nissan’s lineup, the company hasn’t really expanded its offerings. Well, Nissan is joining the rush to EV crossovers with the 2023 Nissan Ariya. This battery-electric crossover hits the high notes you’d expect from a mass-market BEV. It’s available with single and dual-motor powertrains, standard and extended-range batteries and a host of interesting interior features. The Ariya shares its CMF-EV bones with its French cousin, the Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of Nissan’s latest EV and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the Nissan Ariya and relays its features and how it feels. Later in the episode, Wren takes you on a live drive review of the Ariya. Adding to the show, Wren chats with Autoweek’s Patrick Carone about the competitive set, where Nissan stands in the world of car making and the hard facts about Nissan’s new EV. Closing the show, the two break down what makes the Nissan Ariya special.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Wesley Wren talks with Editor Wes Raynal about his time with the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited Ecodiesel. This range-topping Wrangler brings an upscale price thanks to its creature comforts and diesel power.

Raynal takes this well-optioned off-roader around the Detroit suburbs to see what it's like to live with, and you're along for the ride. Despite its off-roading pedigree and prowess, this Wrangler suites the metropolitan streets well, and it might be the most comfortable Jeep to date.

The pair dissect the more posh nature of this Wrangler, then dive deep into its excessive options and high price tag. Ride along with Raynal as he cruises along in his pricy Jeep, then stay for their dissection of the beloved Wrangler.

As you’d imagine, Ferrari just keeps making its cars better. Ferrari’s latest supercar, the SF90 Stradale, honors 90 years of Ferrari’s racing works: Scuderia Ferrari. In case you’re still not up to speed, the name is exactly that, the SF90 is literally a celebration of 90 years of Scuderia Ferrari. Ferrari could have just slapped some extra badging on the F8 Tributo and called it a day, but the team responsible for Ferrari’s road cars decided to celebrate the company’s racing pedigree with one of its best road cars to date. Responsible for moving the SF90 is a hybrid drivetrain featuring two motors at the front axle, an electric motor between the engine and transmission and a turbocharged V8 mounted behind the passenger compartment. The combined output? Well, in Italy: 1,000 CV. That number is slightly less impressive when you convert it to SAE horsepower, roughly 986 hp.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s West Coast Editor Mark Vaughn spends an afternoon flogging the 2022 Ferrari SF90 through the hills of Malibu, the location of some of California’s best canyon roads. Before letting you tag along while he reviews the latest Ferrari, he walks you around the car and highlights its styling and its features, then fires up the hybrid powertrain to show you the different sounds that happen during start up. Between these segments, Vaughn expands on his thoughts with host Wesley Wren. The pair discuss what this Ferrari is like to drive, how much it costs (hint: a lot) and whether Ferrari will limit its production like the company’s LaFerrari. Closing the show, the Vaughn explains what makes this Ferrari special.

The Ferrari 296 GTB and GTS have been in the company’s lineup since 2021 and hold the door open for would-be new Ferrari sports coupe owners. Following legendary machines like the Ferrari 458, 488, and F8, the 296 GTB has expectedly large shoes to fill – as would be the case with any new Ferrari. We spent time with the V6-powered 296 GTB, which featured the track-focused Assetto Fiorano package, a couple of years ago. Then new, the 296 was predictably good. Well, if you want an open-air experience from your Ferrari, you can also opt for the 296 GTS, which gives you all of the hardware from the coupe-bodied Berlinetta, with the ability to move the top away and let the sunshine in. 

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of the 2024 Ferrari 296 GTS and puts it through its paces. Vaughn walks you around the 296 GTS and highlights some of his favorite features. Later in the show, Vaughn takes you along for a live drive review of this Ferrari convertible. Adding to these segments, Vaughn chats with host Wesley Wren about the Ferrari, its competitive set, and more. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes the 296 GTS special. g

The Hyundai Palisade shares a platform with the fantastic Kia Telluride and changes just enough to personalize the experience. While we’ve already discussed Kia’s Telluride, the Hyundai Palisade takes most of the great features from the shared platform and stuffs them in a restyled shell. The exterior and interior styling gives customers options depending on what they prefer, but the bones of each crossover remain the same: solid. Hyundai’s twist on this three-row crossover is an aggressively styled interior and exterior, which falls in line with the rest of its line. The exterior features a massive grill will narrow headlamps. The interior sports a push-button gear selector and more tactile buttons than a space shuttle mission control. Powering this Palisade is a 3.8-liter direct-injected V6 that makes 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque that feeds an eight-speed automatic transmission.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren puts the Hyundai Palisade through its paces. Wren walks you in and around the Palisade giving you a guided tour of the SUV’s styling and features before hopping behind the wheel to give you a live drive review. Expanding on his thoughts, Wren chats with Patrick Carone. The two expand on Wren’s segments and talk about the Palisade’s context in the greater landscape. They also compare it to the Kia Telluride. Closing the show, the pair explain what makes this car special.

The Audi Q5 joined Audi’s lineup right before the start of the last decade. Kicking off in 2009, Audi’s midsize crossover launched to the front of its pack in terms of sales and rode the crossover craze into success. Now mid-way through its second generation, the Audi Q5 sticks to the basic crossover formula of sitting high, seating plenty and carrying even more. Though, Audi also jumped on the trend of trading some of the cargo space for some extra style. This Audi Q5 Sportback does exactly that. This crossover coupe, as some call it, adds more style to the Q5’s bones and gives crossover buyers more options. Under the hood of this Audi is the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that sends its 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque through a seven-speed automatic transmission into the Quattro all-wheel-drive system.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of this 2021 Audi Q5 and puts it through its paces. Wren walks you around this crossover coupe and highlights some of his favorite features. Wren then takes you along on a live drive review and tells you about the Q5’s driving dynamics. Adding to this, Wren talks with Mark Vaughn about Audi, the Q5 and the world of crossovers. Closing the show, the pair discuss what makes the 2021 Q5 Sportback special.

The Lucid Air might not be as ubiquitous as, say, a Tesla Model S, but the upstart EV brand is stretching its legs and making a name for itself. The luxury EV space was once wide open. If you wanted to drive a high-end BEV, you didn’t exactly have many options, and you were going to climb behind the wheel of a Tesla Model S anyway. Well, since Tesla’s flagship sedan launched, the marketplace is vastly different. Between Tesla expanding its lineup, legacy automakers like Mercedes-Benz entering the BEV fray and startups, it’s hard to stand out. Helping Lucid’s Air make a splash, the company launched the base-model Air with big power and impressive range figures. This Lucid Air Touring model sports a pair of electric motors that drive all four wheels. Those motors make a combined 620 hp while advertising you can move along 425 miles on a single charge.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of the Lucid Air Touring. Vaughn highlights some of the Lucid Air’s features while giving you a tour of the luxury EV before taking you along on a live drive review. Giving context to the Lucid Air, Vaughn chats with Wren about the company’s history, the current competition and how the Lucid stands in the luxury car field. Closing the show, the two break down what makes the Lucid Air special.

The Jaguar F-Pace is Jaguar-Land Rover’s answer to the ever-increasing demand for crossovers. While the British car company is best known for its sports cars and luxury sedans, crossovers are now the lay of the land. Taking its sporting past, and the company’s current sporting offerings, Jaguar stuffed its high-performance, supercharged 5.0-liter V8 under the hood of its F-Pace crossover. Dubbed the Jaguar F-Pace SVR, this high-performance crossover takes the commuter F-Pace and turns it into a 550 hp, snarling machine. The Jaguar F-Pace SVR also sees revised bodywork to make it more visually aggressive and an updated brake system to help keep you in control.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2021 Jaguar F-Pace SVR to put it through its paces. Wren takes you around the F-Pace SVR and gives you a guided tour of its features. Wren also takes you along on a live drive review that captures real-time reactions to the F-Pace’s performance. Patrick Carone joins Wren and the two elaborate on those segments. The pair also discuss the car’s price, features and competitive set. Closing the show the two talk about what makes this Jaguar special.

When it comes to luxury cars, it’s hard to picture something more opulent than a machine from Rolls-Royce. The folks at Rolls-Royce have made some of the finest luxury cars on the road over the last century, and it seems like the company won’t slow down as it transitions into electric powertrains. The company’s first BEV bears the name Spectre, which is fitting with its quiet approach. The Rolls-Royce Spectre packs a pair of electric motors that rely on the 102 kWh battery pack for energy. This ultra-luxe cruiser rides on optional 23-inch wheels, which actually cost the Spectre range.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of the all-electric Rolls-Royce and puts it through its paces. Vaughn takes you on a guided tour of the ’24 Rolls-Royce Spectre and highlights some of his favorite features. Later, Vaughn takes you along on a live drive review of this all-electric Rolls-Royce. Adding to these segments, Vaughn chats with host Wesley Wren about this new Rolls-Royce, its price, and its price. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes this Rolls-Royce Spectre special.

The Subaru Crosstrek might be one of Subaru’s best ideas since it brought the WRX to the United States. Subaru’s Crosstrek entered its third generation last year and added the popular Wilderness trim to its lineup. Like other Subaru models that wear the Wilderness badge, this Crosstrek adds some extra ground clearance, cladding, and some more capable all-terrain rubber. Joining those upgrades is a wild badging array that isn’t shy about advertising its Wilderness efforts. Nestled under the Crosstrek Wilderness’s hood is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer that sends 182 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque through Subaru’s Lineratronic continuously variable transmission. 

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness and puts it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a guided tour of this Subaru and highlights some of the changes that come with the Wilderness package. Murphy also takes you along for a live drive review of this Crosstrek. Adding to these segments, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about the Crosstrek Wilderness, where this Subie sits in the sales charts of its competition, and more. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness special.

Ford’s Mustang Shelby GT350R goes back to its road-going-race-car roots. Like its base-model-variant the Shelby GT350, The GT350R is powered by the 526 hp, flat-plane-crank-equipped 5.2-liter V8. Backed exclusively by a six-speed manual transmission, the hardcore-focused pony car is a true enthusiast’s machine. Taking the GT350 further with the R-model, carbon fiber wheels, more aggressive aero and a missing rear seat, the Shelby GT350R is a toy pointed directly at your local track rat. And it’s right on target.

On this special episode of Quick Spin, Robin Warner takes you along for the ride in a 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R Heritage Edition. Warner walks you around the GT350R to give you the details of this special Mustang before taking you along for a drive. In between, Warner talks with host Wesley Wren about the differences between the R-Model and the standard GT350 and elaborates on points made during the review.

Slicing off the back of a crossover SUV is one of the most controversial trends of the last decade, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. BMW showed off the sliced X1 when it debuted the X2 in 2017. This stylized compact crossover also ushered in its second generation last year, with the 2024 model. This second-gen X2 sticks with its formula and is essentially a more stylish BMW X1. Powering the ’24 X2 is either a base, turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 that sends 241 hp through a seven-speed automatic, or a turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 that sends 312 hp through a seven-speed automatic. Both powertrains feed a standard all-wheel-drive system.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the 2024 BMW X2 M35i and puts it through its paces. Carone takes you on a guided tour of the BMW X2 and highlights some of his favorite features before taking you along on a live drive review. Adding to these segments, Carone chats with host Wesley Wren about the BMW X2, its position in the market, and more. The pair also discuss if the compact crossover is the new hatchback. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this 2024 BMW X2 special. 

While unibody crossovers are taking over the auto industry, the body-on-frame SUV of yore is getting harder to find. That said, Toyota’s 4Runner has been since the 1980s and has stuck to its objective of being a capable off-roader. This fifth-generation 4Runner is on the older side of new vehicles, with it hitting the street in 2010. Even though that means the 4Runner’s replacement is probably coming sooner than later, the 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro gives you all the capabilities of a body-on-frame SUV without some of the drawbacks. Unlike the more open-air-friendly Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco, the 4Runner is strictly an enclosed machine, and the TRD Pro variant gives it some serious off-road chops. Powering this 4Runner is a 4.0-liter V6 that makes 270 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro and puts it through its paces. Carone gives you a guided walk-around of this 4Runner that highlights its design and features. Following that Carone takes you on a live drive review where he takes the 4Runner off-road. Expanding on his thoughts, Carone chats with host Wesley Wren. Carone and Wren talk about the 4Runner’s capabilities, position in the market and performance. Closing the show, the two talk about what makes the 2021 Toyota 4Runner special.

It’s hard to believe that Subaru’s Crosstrek is entering its third generation when its first generation kicking off as a 2013 model year. If you can do the math, that shows that this compact crossover has had a lot of growth in a few short years, but hasn’t followed the traditional expansion you’d find with small-but-growing cars. No, Subaru has kept the footprint fairly consistent over three generations, with this most recent example spanning only an extra inch in length. The third-generation Crosstrek also sticks with standard all-wheel drive and a pair of boxers under the hood: 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter flat fours are available, and make 152 and 182 hp respectively. Though, some things did not make the transition into the crossover's third generation. Lost are the manual transmissions and, currently, hybrid powertrains. Though, you can almost expect a hybrid Crosstrek down the line.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Hearst Auto’s deputy editor Jon Langston hops behind the wheel of the ’24 Crosstrek and puts it through its paces. Langston talks about his roles with the Hearst Autos Gear Team before diving into his time with the new Crosstrek. Langston also takes you on a live drive review of this new Crosstrek. Adding to the show, Langston chats with host Wesley Wren about the changes to the third-generation Crosstrek, how it drives and what makes the latest Crosstrek interesting. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the latest Crosstrek special.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover enters continues the company’s push for the fifth-generation Range Rover. Dubbed the New Range Rover, this latest Rangie sticks with the luxurious appointments that have made it a hit among luxury SUV fans and it offers some interesting solutions for comfort off-road. Most importantly, the new Range Rover ushers in some new powertrains. While the hybrid and mild hybrid units might be more popular, this 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 could be the most fun of the bunch. The turbocharged V8 powering this tester sends 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the latest Range Rover to put it through its paces. Murphy walks you around the latest Range Rover to highlight some of its more interesting features before climbing inside to tell you about his experience with the interior. Later, Murphy takes you along on a live drive review of the ’23 Range Rover LWB. Joining the fun, host Wesley Wren chats with Murphy about the new Range Rover, the status of the company and what this car competes against. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes the ’23 Range Rover special.

Nissan’s Pathfinder branched into its new generation for the 2022 model year. This generational shift brought a new platform and fresh styling, but it also gave the Pathfinder a traditional automatic transmission. Expanding the Pathfinder’s footprint, Nissan is rolling the Rock Creek edition back out to the new Pathfinder. This trim level adds more off-road appointments like beadlock-style wheels, more aggressive all-terrain tires and a slight lift. The Rock Creek models also add tubular roof racks to help hold your camping accessories. While this does help make the Pathfinder more adventure-ready, this crossover sports the same bones as every other model. That means powering this Pathfinder is the same 3.5-liter V6 that you’ll find in other models, though this edition does see a boost in output to 295 hp and 270 lb-ft while burning premium fuel. This power travels through a nine-speed automatic transmission.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek edition and puts it through its paces. Murphy gives you a guided tour of the Pathfinder Rock Creek that highlights its features. Murphy also takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to the show, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about the Pathfinder’s sales performance, its competition and more. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Pathfinder special.

When Chrysler revived its Pacifica badge for its reborn minivan in 2017, few would have imagined that a minivan would be Chrysler’s only 2024 offering. Split across a plug-in hybrid powertrain and a traditional ICE powertrain, the Pacifica sticks with Chrysler Corporation’s dedication to comfortably hauling people. Technically split further into the Voyager and Pacifica models, Chrysler’s minivan ascends to near-luxury territory with the top-flight Pinnacle trim. Maybach-Esq pillows adorn the second row, and leather and soft-touch materials appear in droves. Sitting atop the Pacifica hierarchy, the Pacifica Pinnacle is also available with the 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar under the hood or the 3.6-liter Pentastar that works with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. With PHEV power the Pacifica can move over 30 miles on battery-only power and can manage around 540 miles of range per tank of fuel. 

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the 2024 Chrysler Pacifica PHEV and puts it through its paces. Carone takes you on a guided tour of the Pacifica and highlights some of his favorite features. Later, Carone takes you along for a live drive review of this Chrysler minivan. Adding to these segments, Carone chats with host Wesley Wren about the Pacifica, the state of the minivan, and Chrysler’s current lineup. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the Pacifica special.

It’s been a long time coming for a true competitor for Ford’s F-150 Raptor pickup, which has been largely unchallenged in the world of trophy truck inspired pickups. Well, Ram debuted a concept four years ago, which is finally ready for the public. Dubbed the Ram 1500 TRX, this Hellcat-powered pickup sends 702 hp through the eight-speed automatic and then to all four wheels. Add to that, that this truck is suspended by a serious set of shocks and springs and has a host of other desert-racing goodies: this might be the current king of showroom off-roaders.

In this episode of Quick Spin Mark Vaughn takes the TRX’s reins during the truck’s launch event to give listeners some insights into the new truck. Vaughn captures the truck’s exhaust note from the outside of the rig while it’s at full song. Vaughn also captures the experience of launching the high-horsepower hauler with some off-road honing thrown in for good measure. In the studio, Vaughn talks with host Wesley Wren about the truck’s ability to jump and drive on roads.

The Lexus LF-LC Concept was one of the most interesting concepts to roll out of the Lexus design studio. Many doubted its continuation into a production variant, at least one not watered down until it was hardly recognizable. But give Lexus credit: Its designers turned the LF-LC into the LC500 with only minor aesthetic changes. This Lexus grand tourer is not the most powerful machine with the 5.0-liter V8 under its long hood sends 471 hp through a 10-speed automatic transmission and to the rear wheels. But the car offers more than its numbers suggest and gives you a visceral experience.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Patrick Carone puts the LC500 Convertible through its paces. Carone walks you around this beauty and highlights its facts and features before taking you along for a live drive review. Expanding on his thoughts, Carone chats with host Wesley Wren about this stylish Lexus. Wrapping the show, the pair highlight what makes this Lexus LC500 special.

Somehow, the Lexus LC is in the back half of a decade in production. Debuting in 2016 at the Detroit auto show, the LC500 helped give something similar to the legendary Lexus LFA to the masses – well, the masses that could afford a spendy-but-more-affordable grand tourer. Powered by either a 5.0-liter V8 or a 3.5-liter V6-based hybrid system, the Lexus LC 500 can offer a growing exhaust note or the more demure world of a fuel-sipping hybrid grand tourer. In LC 500h hybrid trim, the 3.5-liter works with a CVT and electric motors to make 354 hp of total system output and, according to Lexus, only suffers a 0.3-second penalty in a sprint to 60 mph. For 2024, the team at Lexus overhauled the LC 500’s interior and replaced the old touchpad-based media system with a more modern touchscreen-based media system. 

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2024 Lexus LC 500h. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the ’24 Lexus LC500h and highlights some of its new features. Later, Wren takes you along for a live drive review of this hybrid grand tourer. Adding to these segments, Wren chats with Autoweek’s Patrick Carone about the Lexus LC 500, the changes, and where it sits in the greater world of luxury sports cars. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes the 2024 Lexus LC 500h special.

The 993-generation Porsche 911 was effectively the end of the road for Porsche’s beloved air-cooled boxer engine, which has turned it into an icon of modern Porsche cars. With a limelight already on a popular Porsche, it only makes sense for custom builders to jump onto the 993 911 with both feet. Enter, the Gunther Werks worked over Porsche. Built to your wants and needs, Gunther Werks will make your Porsche 911 into basically whatever you want, be that a luxe-track machine or a cars and coffee stunner. With lots of carbon fiber and other high end components, Gunther Werks takes the Porsche to a high level.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Mark Vaughn who gives you a quick explainer of what goes into these Gunther Werks remastered cars during a walk around of the car. This particular Gunther Werks remastered Porsche leans more towards to track-focused variety. The 400+ hp naturally-aspirated flat-six feeds power to a Getrag G50 transaxle. Power, of course, travels exclusively to the rear wheels. Vaughn also takes you along for a ride while he actively reviews the car. Between those segments, Vaughn talks about this 911 with host Wesley Wren.

Bentley’s Bentayga helped bring Bentley into the modern crossover battles when it surfaced in 2015. Bentley updated its hot-selling Bentayga in 2020 with some styling and tech enhancements to help make it even more competitive in a hotly contested luxury car space. Borrowing the styling direction from the rest of the Bentley lineup, the Bentayga doesn’t look out of place in a Bentley fan’s driveway. Available in standard and long wheel base versions, the Benyaga also packs an array of different powertrains. The top-flight W12 is at home in the Bentayga speed, where it sends 626 hp into an eight-speed automatic. Bentley also offers the Bentayga with its 3.0-liter V6 hybrid and a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8. This Bentayga tester packs the 542 hp V8 under the hood.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Bentley Bentayga Azure and puts it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a guided tour of the Bentley and highlights some of its interesting features. Murphy also takes you along on a live drive review. Adding to these segments, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about the Bentley Bentayga, its competitive set, and if it lives up to the Bentley heritage. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the Bentayga special.

The Mazda Mazdaspeed3 is one of the coolest hatchbacks to roll out of a Mazda factory. It had all the attitude you’d want from a sporty hot hatch and more than enough power. Unfortunately, the Mazdaspeed banner is gone. Though, the good news is that Mazda’s hatchbacks are still kicking. The latest generation Mazda 3 hatchback made its way to the streets in 2019 and has gone the last few years with few major changes. Though in 2021 the folks at Mazda dropped in the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine found in other Mazda products and turned its sensible hatchback into a sleeper hot hatch. The 2.5-liter turbocharged I4 has the same power as we’ve seen in its other products: 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers shrink when using non-premium fuel to a still peppy 227 and 310 lb-ft. Managing all that power is a six-speed automatic, which sends power to all four wheels.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the Mazda 3 to put it through its paces. Wren walks around the 2022 Mazda 3 Turbo and highlights its styling and exterior features before climbing inside the car to show off its interior. Later, he takes you along for a real-time drive review. Adding to the show, Wren chats with west coast editor Mark Vaughn about Mazda’s hatchback history, the Mazda 3 and the current hatchback climate. The two talk about the Mazda 3’s dynamics before discussing what makes the 2022 Mazda 3 special.

The Genesis brand spun off from the Genesis models that were originally part of Hyundai’s lineup. Kicking the brand off, the company launched the G90 -- a full-size luxury sedan that was aimed at undercutting the competition while still giving customers the feeling of opulence. Genesis first showed this flagship sedan in 2017 -- a time before the sedan lost its foothold. Despite crossovers and SUVs taking more and more market share from the sedan, Genesis saw enough value in its G90 to give it a second generation, and stick with a sedan. The second-generation G90 does ditch the 5.0-liter V8, with only a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 underhood. The folks at Genesis tossed on an electronic supercharger for its top model, which sends 409 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Genesis G90 and puts it through its paces. Wren guides you through the G90’s new features and highlights his favorite additions to the G90. Wren also takes you along for a live drive review of the Genesis G90 and discusses how it feels dynamically. Adding to the show, Wren chats with Patrick Carone about the Genesis G90 over the years, the best features of the new model and where it stands in the pantheon of luxury cars. Closing the show, the two breakdown what makes this new G90 special.

Like the Cadillac Escalade from a few weeks ago, GMC’s body-on-frame SUV is predictably posh on its upmarket trim variants. Also like Cadillac’s Escalade, the GMC Yukon is based on the General Motors body-on-frame platform that underpins a Chevrolet analog. Like the rest of this GM family of SUVs, the Yukon entered its fifth generation in ’21 and ditched its rear stick axle. Now sporting an independent rear suspension, the Yukon Denali’s air suspension makes for an even smoother ride. The Yukon Denali comes with 6.2 liters of V8 power under the hood, which sends 420 hp and 460 lb-ft through a ten-speed transmission. Of course, the entry-level Yukon models come with the smaller 5.3-liter V8 as standard equipment, but the 3.0-liter Duramax diesel I6.

On this episode of Quick Spin Hearst Autos Gear Team member Jon Langston hopped behind a Super Cruise equipped Yukon Denali. Langston takes you on a guided tour of a ’23 Yukon Denali and highlights some of his favorite features. Langston also takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to these segments, Langston chats with host Wesley Wren about the Yukon Denali, his experience on a 1,600-mile road trip, and more. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the 2023 Yukon Denali special.

After almost a decade, the folks at Land Rover are moving on from its fourth-generation Range Rover and into its fifth-gen luxe off-road bruiser. While the styling change isn’t as dramatic as you’d expect, the changes are there. The new Range Rover offers a new infotainment system, a slew of new powertrains and, of course, fresh looks. While the new Range Rover is available in plug-in hybrid variants, this tester uses the 3.0-liter I6 mild hybrid for motivation. This 3.0-liter sports a turbocharger, supercharger and hybrid system to help it make 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. That power travels through an eight-speed automatic before hitting the all-wheel-drive system.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover P400 and puts it through its paces. Carone walks you around the next-generation Land Rover Range Rover and highlights some of its new features before taking you along for a live drive review. Adding to the show, Host Wesley Wren chats with Carone about the new Range Rover, its competition and its spot in Land Rover’s legacy. The pair discuss the Range Rover’s price and if its luxury appointments are a good value. Closing the show, the two break down what makes this special.

The McLaren 720S is one of the most interesting supercars on the road largely thanks to its incredible aerodynamic-integrated styling. This potent machine sits near the top of McLaren’s sports car lineup, and slots just below the even wilder McLaren Senna and 765LT cars. That said, this McLaren is far from being a slouch. Powering this supercar is a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 that makes 710 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque. If you’re wondering where the name came from: look at the metric conversion for horsepower. In metric, the McLaren 720S makes a fitting 720 ps.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of this McLaren 720S and puts it through its paces. Adding even more to the conversation, this McLaren is part of the company’s Certified Pre-Owned program, which gives supercar buyers some extra confidence in buying their previously loved machine. Vaughn takes you on a guided walk around the McLaren 720S and highlights some of its interesting features and design elements inside and out. Vaughn also takes you along for a ride while recording a live drive review of this McLaren. Vaughn elaborates on his thoughts with host Wesley Wren and the two talk about the McLaren CPO program, the car’s features and more.

Mercedes-Benz is all-in on its BEV efforts and is almost constantly expanding its battery-powered portfolio. While most pay attention to the higher-end EQ models like the EQS or are waiting to see what the EQG will look like in production trim, the entry point to the battery-electric ‘Benz lineup is its EQB. The ’23 Mercedes-Benz EQB is split into three models, with the most affordable 250 variant giving you a single motor and 245 miles of range from its 70.5-kWh battery pack. This single-motor variant sends 188 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. Jumping to the EQB 300 and EQB 350 nets you more power and all-wheel drive from the dual-motor drivetrain. Of course, those models also will set you back more money.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek Executive Editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the ’23 Mercedes-Benz EQB 250 and puts it through its paces. Murphy guides you around the EQB and highlights some of his favorite features before taking you along on a live drive review. Murphy also talks about his time road-tripping this BEV through more rural parts of Michigan. Joining the show, host Wesley Wren chats with Murphy about the EQB, its competition and more. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes the EQB 250 special.

The Subaru BRZ and its Toyota sibling made waves in the early 2010s. Subaru’s sports coupe bucked the growing crossover trend by simply being what it is: a rear-driven and front-engine sports coupe with an affordable price tag. After nearly a decade on Subaru dealership lots, the folks in charge decided it was time to roll out its replacement. The ’22 Subaru BRZ didn’t deviate from its original formula and just fixed what needed fixing. The big draw is the BRZ’s new engine. While Subaru stuck with the beloved boxer, the 2.0-liter mill is gone. In its place is a larger 2.4-liter four-cylinder. The larger engine and revised tuning help fix some of the previous BRZ’s biggest problems and drastically increases the BRZ’s drivability. The 2.4-liter boxer sends 228 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels by way of a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Subaru BRZ and puts it through its paces. Wren walks you around the new BRZ before climbing in and highlighting the new BRZ’s interior. Later, Wren takes you on a live recorded drive review of Subaru’s new sports coupe. Adding more insight, Autoweek’s west coast editor Mark Vaughn talks with Wren about the BRZ’s price, competition and more. Closing the show, the two talk about what makes the 2022 Subaru BRZ special

For some reason, people don’t think minivans are cool. That means people are flocking to three-row SUVs to handle their family needs, and automakers are happy to build them en masse. Not to miss out on an opportunity to make its customers happy, the folks at Kia rolled out the stylish Telluride concept to the crowd at the Detroit auto show in 2016. The folks at Kia then turned it into a production version for 2020. This 2021 model sports the only available engine: a 3.8-liter naturally-aspirated V6 engine that makes 291 hp. That engine feeds an eight-speed automatic transmission that powers the front or all four wheels depending on the model.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Wesley Wren puts the 2021 Kia Telluride through its paces. Wren walks you around the Telluride and talks about its features, its styling and its details. Wren also brings you along while he does a real-time review of this Kia’s driving performance. Between those segments, Wren talks with Autoweek’s Wes Raynal and expands on his thoughts. The pair discuss the Kia Telluride, where it sits in the market, its price and how it feels. They even solve the age-old question of the Kia Telluride’s ability to haul a couch. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes this Kia special.

After a brief hiatus, Ford brought its once-compact Ranger pickup back to the United States for the 2019 model year. After a handful of years on the market, Ford has given the North American Ranger another lease on life and launched a new generation in 2024. This updated Ranger borrows a lot of the same concepts from the previous-generation model, as well as its global variant, but also brings some serious updates to the table. Namely, the ’24 Ranger ushered in the Ranger Raptor to the North American portfolio. This latest Ranger also expanded the powertrains and now includes the 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 and the 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 mills in various trims. The ’24 Ford Ranger also sees an overhauled interior, with two available digital instrument clusters, and a large standard touchscreen media system. 

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the 2024 Ford Ranger and puts it through its paces. Murphy Takes you on a guided tour of the 2024 Ford Ranger and highlights some of his favorite features. Later, Murphy takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to these segments, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about the 2024 Ford Ranger, Ford’s pickup truck lineup, and the Ranger’s competition. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes this Ford Ranger special.

In truck enthusiast circles, Honda’s Ridgeline has been a great conversation starter since its inception in 2006. The unit-construction pickup took a brief sabbatical after its initial run but returned for its current, second, generation in 2017. The second-gen Ridgeline stuck to its guns with unibody construction and took advantage of its platform with some interesting packaging solutions like some under-bed storage. The latest addition to the Ridgeline family is the off-road-centric Ridgeline Trailsport, which leans into the adventure lifestyle with off-road-tuned suspension and all-terrain tires. Powering this Ridgeline Trailsport, and the rest of the Ridgeline lineup, is a 3.5-liter V6 that sends 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque through a nine-speed automatic and into a standard all-wheel-drive system. 

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2024 Honda Ridgeline Trailsport and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of this pickup and highlights some of his favorite features before taking you along for a live drive review. Adding to these segments, Wren chats with Autoweek’s Patrick Carone about the history of the Honda Ridgeline, its controversial truck status, and more. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes the ’24 Ridgeline special.

Volkswagen’s carved out its brand identity and its portfolio’s familiarity over decades of carefully navigating the often-shaky automotive seas. This experience helps folks understand what they’re stepping into when they climb behind the wheel of their next VW, and it helps give the company’s fans more of what they crave. That said, the shift to electrification can come with a handful of hurdles and it’s easy for a company to pivot its styling to reflect the new experience. Well, the VW ID.4 helps ease Volkswagen fans into the EV experience while still giving them a lot of that VW spirit in the cabin. The VW ID.4 is a key product in VW’s growing battery-electric portfolio and could be a spiritual successor to the perpetually popular VW Golf.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the VW ID.4 Pro S and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the VW ID.4 Pro S and highlights its features and quirks. After that, Wren takes you along for a live-recorded drive review of this battery-electric VW. Adding to the conversation, west coast editor Mark Vaughn joins the show to talk about Volkswagen, the ID.4’s competitive set, and how the ID.4 feels. Closing the show, the pair talk about what makes the ID.4 special.

Even though Volkswagen and Audi are moving quickly to battery-electric propulsion, it’s not cutting the fun internal combustion machines out of the lineup immediately. One of Audi’s more interesting powertrains sits under the hood of its entry-level sedan: the A3. Well, not exactly the A3. Audi’s RS 3 takes the bones of its entry-level luxury sedan and stuffs a 401 hp five-cylinder engine under the hood. Audi tasks a seven-speed automatic to manage that power and send it to the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Aggressive bodywork covers the RS 3’s wider track width and helps funnel air to the right places. Despite the push for performance, the RS 3 still offers the luxurious appointments you’d expect from a high-priced Audi.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Audi RS 3 and brings you along for the ride. Vaughn walks around the RS 3 and highlights its design and features before climbing into the cockpit to take you along for a live drive review. Adding to these segments, Vaughn chats with host Wesley Wren about the Audi RS 3, the five-cylinder engine and the RS 3’s competition. Closing the show, the pair talk about what makes the Audi RS 3 special.

Something that might have started as a joke in a Dodge meeting has transformed into one of the most interesting series of cars to ever come from the brand. With nothing off the table for potential 6.2-liter supercharged V8 Hellcat treatment, the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat was only a matter of time. This ridiculously fun crossover joined the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk in the greater Chrysler-Jeep family of Hellcat-powered SUVs. With the power of a Dodge Challenger Hellcat, three-rows of seating and an all-wheel-drive system that helps turn that noise into motion, the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat might be one of the most ridiculous and fun products to ever leave a Dodge factory.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Wes Raynal hops behind the wheel of this 710 hp all-wheel-drive Dodge crossover and brings you along for the ride. He walks you around the Durango Hellcat and shares its main features, inside and out. Raynal also reviews the performance of this high-horsepower crossover. Between those segments, Raynal expands on his thoughts while talking with host Wesley Wren. The pair discuss the dynamics of this Dodge at length. Then they close the show with a quick discussion about what makes this Dodge Durango Hellcat special.

When it started life in the mid-'90s, it might have been hard to picture the Kia Sportage growing up to where it is now, or having three different styles of powertrain. Entering its fifth generation in 2021, the Sportage badge evolved with the times. The latest Sportage follows the bold and angular styling seen across the Kia and Hyundai lineup, and perfectly matches the stylized Kia logo. Under the Sportage’s hood, you’ll find a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated I4 that makes 187 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque, or one of two hybrid systems that help out the turbocharged 1.6-liter mill. The traditional hybrid powertrain makes 227 hp, while the plug-in hybrid model makes 261 hp. Both hybrid models boast the same 258 lb-ft of torque.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the ’23 Sportage and puts it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a tour of the ’23 Sportage and talks about its features and materials. Later, Murphy takes you along on a live drive review. Adding to the show, host Wesley Wren chats with Murphy about the Sportage, its competition and more. Closing the show, the two talk about what makes the 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV special.

The luxury off-shoot from Hyundai started out with a fleet of well-appointed and well-priced sedans that helped establish its name. Though with SUV and crossover sales only on the incline, it was only a matter of time before Genesis would launch a lifted, luxury family hauler. The GV80 is just that and fills the empty spot in the Genesis lineup with distinctive styling and an opulent interior.

Though, what’s it like to live with? Well, Patrick Carone spent time with the latest from Genesis and put it through its paces: bringing you along for the ride. Carone shows you some interesting features of the GV80 and talks about the overall quality of the car. Carone also records a quick drive review of the GV80. Between those segments, Carone elaborates on his thoughts with host Wesley Wren.

The Ford Bronco might be the most hotly anticipated new Ford since the latest Mustang hit the streets in 2015. Targeting the Jeep Wrangler, Ford will spread its new off-roader across the spectrum of cost and capabilities, with entry-level models starting below $30,000 and fully loaded models costing, well, much more than that.

While Ford has not unleashed these Broncos onto the hordes of salivating fans and car writers, Jake Lingeman had the opportunity to ride along in a Ford Bronco sporting the Sasquatch package. In this episode of Quick Spin, Lingeman is bringing you along on that trek through a special Ford off-road course in the newest generation of Ford Bronco, as well as giving you the details of what this new SUV feels like in the flesh.

Unsurprisingly, Lingeman has a blast riding along in the new Ford Bronco. We’re still waiting to get our hands on a Bronco for our own testing needs, but experiencing a ride-along will the tide us over until that day comes.

On the first episode of Quick Spin, Wesley Wren talks with West Coast Editor Mark Vaughn about the first effort from Polestar. Aptly named Polestar 1, it oozes with style and shows that Polestar — the offshoot of Volvo — isn’t pulling any punches. Vaughn puts the Polestar 1 through its paces in the canyons of California.

Powered by a 2.0-liter inline-4 force fed by way of a supercharger and a turbocharger and joined by a pair of electric motors, this Polestar sends 619 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque to the wheels. You’ll ride around in this powerful Polestar as Vaughn reviews the car and experience a well-seasoned car writer doing his job in real time.

Originally shown as a concept in 2013, the show car was left largely unchanged in its transformation into a production-ready road car. That makes Polestar a dream car turned into a road warrior — and gives Wren and Vaughn plenty to discuss.

The Porsche 911 has stuck mostly true to its origins over the years: sure, it’s now turbocharged, larger and liquid-cooled, but it’s still hanging the flat-six engine out of its rear and hasn’t departed far from its familiar shape. Most importantly, the 992-generation Porsche 911 is still fun to drive. Adding to that fun, the Porsche 911 GTS adds squeezes some extra performance out of the 3.0-liter flat-six mill and sends 473 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels by way of a seven-speed manual transmission or Porsche’s PDK. The extra oomph joins the 911 GTS’s retuned suspension, 911 Turbo brakes and slight weight savings over a standard Carrera. If you want open-air fun, Porsche also offers its GTS in a cabriolet shell, which lets you enjoy the summer fun.

In this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Porsche 911 GTS Cabriolet and puts it through its paces. Vaughn takes you on a guided tour of the ’22 Porsche 911 GTS and highlights some of its features and quirks. Vaughn also takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to those segments, Vaughn joins host Wesley Wren in the studio to talk more about the 911 GTS Cabriolet. The pair talk about how the latest-generation Porsche 911 stacks up against its history, the performance specs of this 911 GTS and more. Closing the show, the two discuss what makes the 2022 Porsche 911 GTS Cabriolet special.

If you just look at sales numbers and available models, minivans are dead and are buried under the crushing weight of crossovers and SUVs. While that might be true on the sales charts, it’s not exactly true on the showroom floor. Sure, fewer automakers are churning out these people movers, but minivans are still here to handle your multi-passenger problem. The 2022 Toyota Sienna entered its fourth generation last year and eschewed its traditional internal-combustion-only approach. This latest generation of Toyota minivan is hybrid only, and available with all-wheel-drive if you want the extra traction. The only available powertrain uses a 2.5-liter inline-four that feeds Toyota’s eCVT. Combing the electric motor with the internal combustion engine, this Sienna makes a respectable 245 hp while making 36 mpg city and highway.

In this episode of Quick Spin, Mark Vaughn puts the 2022 Toyota Sienna through its paces and brings you along for the ride. Vaughn walks you around the ’22 Sienna and highlights its styling and gives context around the minivan world before bringing you inside the Sienna to show off its interior features. Vaughn also brings you along for a live-recorded drive review. Adding to these segments, Vaughn talks about the Sienna and the greater role of minivans in the market with host Wesley Wren. The pair talk about the influx of consumer tech in the Sienna, the reason for minivans and more. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the ’22 Sienna special.

The low-priced car is all but dead. However, taking its place is the low-priced compact crossover. At least, relatively low priced -- the days of the $6,000 brand new car are all but memories. Starting south of $25,000, Buick’s Envista takes the spot of Buick’s new entry point. Sharing hardware with the similarly new Chevrolet Trax, Buick’s latest crossover separates itself from its low-priced stablemate by offering a coupe-ified shape. Leaning more on exterior styling, the Envista borrows some styling elements from the aptly named Wildcat concept car, like the front fascia design. Though, like the Trax, this Envista packs a 1.2-liter turbocharged I3 that sends 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the 2024 Buick Envista and puts it through its paces. Carone takes you on a guided tour of the ’24 Envista and highlights some of his favorite features. Carone also takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to these segments, Carone chats with host Wesley Wren about the Buick Envista, what sets it apart from the Trax, and how it handles the daily grind. Carone also talks about how the Envista manages to load a car seat. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the Envista special.

In a sea of crossovers, SUVs and big-budget luxury cars, the lowly, economically friendly hatchback has started to fall out of favor. Though, Toyota is still throwing its Corolla into the fray, and brought the 12th-gen Corolla into the world in 2018. For ’23, Toyota gave the Corolla a light styling refresh, a new standard eight-inch media screen and an upgraded radio. Powering the ’23 Corolla is a 2.0-liter I4 that feeds 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque through a CVT. From there, power hits the front wheels. Of course, this isn’t as radical as the absurd GR Corolla, but this basic Toyota hatchback handles the daily grind without breaking your bank account.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the ’23 Corolla and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you around the ’23 Corolla and shows off some of its most interesting features. Later, Wren takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to the show, Wren chats with Patrick Carone to give more context about the ’23 Corolla, compare it to its more powerful GR counterpart and discuss how it stacks up with its major rival: the Honda Civic. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Corolla Hatchback special.

The latest generation of Jeeps Wrangler launched as the JL-generation in 2017 for the 2018 model year. Almost immediately, car customizers that specialize in Jeeps were stuffing third-generation Hemi powerplants under the hood of Jeep’s legendary Wrangler. It was only a matter of time before Jeep jumped into the fray and stuffed a Hemi under the Wrangler’s hood from the factory. That call was answered in 2020 with the introduction of the Wrangler Rubicon 392. This flagship off-roader takes the supremely capable Wrangler Rubicon and adds a dose of attitude with 6.4 liters of Hemi under the hood. Most recently, Jeep gave the Wrangler lineup a serious update for ’24 and brought the interior into the modern day.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Patrick Carone climbs behind the wheel of the 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 and puts it through its paces. Carone takes you on a guided tour of the Wrangler Rubicon 392 and highlights some of his favorite features. Later, Carone takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to that, Carone chats with host Wesley Wren about the evolution of the Jeep Wrangler 392, its extremely narrow competitive set, and how the updates affect the Wrangler experience. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Hemi-powered Wrangler special.

Mercedes-Benz had a problem: convertible and coupe variants of almost every car model. While this is good for folks that want an S-Class coupe, or a C-Class cabriolet, it does add complexity to the portfolio. While more options are always better for the end-user, the Mercedes-Benz is shrinking some of its coupe and convertible options and rolling out a one-size-fits-all replacement. Cleverly dubbed the CLE-Class, this cabriolet or coupe-only machine fills the void from its C and E-Class stablemates and still gives Mercedes-Benz shoppers a comfortable, stylish cruiser. Powering the base-model CLE 300 is the 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 that makes 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Stepping up to the CLE 450 nets you the ‘Benz mild-hybrid 3.0-liter I6 that cranks power up to 375 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. 

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 and puts it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a guided tour of the CLE 450 and highlights some of its features before taking you along on a live drive review. Adding to these segments, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about the Mercedes-Benz CLE, its place in the ‘Benz lineup, and why it exists. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the CLE 450 special.

Two-door vehicles are rare these days, even for the tried-and-true world of short-wheelbase off-roaders. Larger vehicles are often easier to live with, and people tend to like to live with their cars and trucks. Well, fortunately for fans of function and fashion over comfort, two-door sports cars and two-door off-roaders still exist. Land Rover’s new Defender 90 faces stiff off-road competition from the likes of Jeep and Ford but offers a more upscale approach that Land Rover Defender fans will appreciate. Powering the new Defender 90 is either a 2.0-liter I4 a 3.0-liter straight 6 with a mild hybrid system or the recently announced 5.0-liter Jaguar V8. Sending power to all four wheels is an eight-speed transmission.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the 2021 Land Rover Defender to put it through its paces. Carone walks you around the vehicle to highlight its styling and features before taking you along for a drive review. Between those segments, Carone elaborates on his thoughts with host Wesley Wren. The pair discuss the world of two-door SUVs, the features of this new Defender and the reality of luxurious off-road machines. Closing the show, the pair discuss what makes this new Defender special.

The Jaguar F-Type is unquestionably one of the most exciting cars to leave Jaguar’s workshop in decades. Maybe dwarfed by the absurd XJ220, the F-Type took inspiration from legendary two-seat Jaguars of yore and brought them into the modern age. Debuting in 2013, Jaguar’s F-Type has had a solid decade in the company’s lineup. Making the F-Type even more interesting, Jaguar made it home to its absurd, supercharged V8. While the F-Type was interesting, and recently saw a styling refresh, it’s going offline after 2024. Celebrating the F-Type, Jaguar gave this model a special 75th-anniversary package dubbed R 75. Formally named the 2024 Jaguar F-Type P575 R 75, you can rightfully decode that this Jag packs the potent 575 hp version of its supercharged V8 under the hood. That power travels through an eight-speed automatic to a four-wheel drive system.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the ’24 Jaguar F-Type P575 R 75 and puts it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a guided tour of this F-Type and highlights some of his favorite features. Murphy later takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to these segments, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about this snarling Jaguar. The pair talk about the F-Type’s run, the car’s inspiration, and how it sits in the market amid shrinking competition. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Jaguar special.

The Toyota Camry is one of the most popular cars on the road, and for good reason: it works. The Camry has shuffled people back and forth from the office to their house for four decades. Though, unlike the beloved Corolla, the Camry’s roots don’t spread too far into the performance side of things. Fortunately, Toyota is pushing to make everything fun, and the company’s 301 hp Toyota Camry is part of that list. Dubbed the Camry TRD, this Camry sports the same 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 that makes 301 hp that fits under the hood of other Camry models. Though, this Camry is lower and features a more aggressive body kit.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Wesley Wren puts this hopped-up Camry through its paces and takes you along for the ride. Wren guides you through the 2021 Toyota Camry during a recorded walk around, and also takes you along for a live drive review. Elaborating on his thoughts, Wren talks with Patrick Carone. These two talk about this Camry’s features, price and its place in the market. The pair also discuss what makes this Camry special.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Wesley Wren is joined by Editorial Director Patrick Carone, who spent time with a 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF. While most enthusiasts would opt for a manual Miata, Carone tested an automatic-equipped MX-5.

Powered by a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated I4, and backed by that six-speed automatic, this Mazda might not be as potent as the supercars we’re often testing. As we find out from Carone’s experience with the Miata, however, the car isn’t about that. It’s about enjoying the drive.

Carone takes you along with him while evaluating the retractable-hardtop Miata. From dealing with stop-and-go city traffic to throwing the roadster around twisty back roads, you’re right there with him in the windy cabin. He then joins Wren to break down his experience, giving you his perspective on the car and its purpose.

The latest-generation Toyota Tundra is a popular full-size pickup. While its 5.7-liter V8 didn’t carry over to the new generation, a turbocharged 3.4-liter V6, and a turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 hybrid take its spot. The top-flight hybrid powertrain shoves 479 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic. This truck also comes with a large touchscreen media system, comfortable seating, tech, and ride quality you’d expect from a full-size sedan. 

Carrying the lower-priced load for Lexus, the ES 300h might not be as exciting as the company’s LC500, but it fills an important, mid-size role. In 300h trim, this hybrid people mover packs a 2.5-liter I4 under the hood that works with an eCVT to make 215 combined system hp. This hybrid sedan might not hustle from stoplight to stoplight, but it also manages over 44 mpg combined.

On this episode of Talking Cars with the Boss, Natalie Neff and Wesley Wren chat about these two vehicles and the evolving passenger car space. The pair breaks down how trucks have changed roles in the marketplace, and how mid-size sedans are losing some ground to crossovers, SUVs, and trucks. They also discuss their experiences with the respective vehicles and close the show by deciding which one they’d add to their stable.  

Alfa Romeo might be best known for its Formula 1 presence, or its sporty convertibles that help stop weddings in major motion pictures. Unfortunately, the two-seat cabriolet isn’t exactly helping major automakers keep their lights on. Steering into the meat of the market, the folks at Alfa Romeo launched a sub-compact crossover dubbed Tonale. The Tonale might not be as exciting as its larger Stelvio sibling, or the long list of sporty Alfas of yesteryear, but it does help spread the brand’s awareness and give shoppers something different in a sea of crossovers. Powering the Tonale is exclusively a plug-in hybrid powertrain that blends a 1.3-liter I4 with a hybrid system to send 285 hp to the wheels.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale and puts it through its paces. Carone walks you around the Tonale and highlights some of his favorite features. Later, Carone takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to these segments, Carone chats with host Wesley Wren about the Tonale’s similarities to the Dodge Hornet, Alfa’s presence in the United States, and more. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale special.

The second generation of Volvo’s  popular XC60 has been running for a while now, which means its mid-cycle update was only a matter of time. Well, it’s finally here and adds serious updates to the mid-sized Volvo crossover. Adding to the XC60's refinement, Volvo makes its 48-volt mild hybrid system  available to certain models in the XC60 lineup. Volvo also ditches its traditional, belt-driven supercharger for an electrically powered unit, which should give Volvo’s tuners more control over how the blower is working and help reduce parasitic draw. Powering this XC60, in B6 trim, is a 2.0-liter I4 that’s turbocharged and equipped with the aforementioned electric supercharger. Helping the XC60 better sip fuel is also the 48-volt mild-hybrid system.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the Volvo XC60 and brings you along for the ride. Carone walks you around the refreshed XC60 with Volvo’s Gaurang Kalsaria. Kalsaria and Carone talk about the XC60s design and its position in the Volvo lineup. Afterward, Carone takes you along for a live test drive of the XC60. Between these segments, Carone talks with host Wesley Wren about the 2022 Volvo XC60. They discuss the XC60’s new features, styling and performance. Before closing the show, they also discuss the Volvo XC60s price and what makes it special.

The 2020 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe takes the bones of a perfectly acceptable C-Class coupe and covers them with brute muscle. Powered by Mercedes-AMG's beloved 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 that makes 503 horsepower, the C63 S is a finely tuned beast. (It also possesses one of the best-sounding exhaust notes of any regular-production V8 available today.)

On this episode of Quick Spin, Wesley Wren talks with Managing Editor Robin Warner about his time with the C63 S Coupe. As Warner takes you along for his test drive, he shines a light on what makes this high-end hot rod something special in the luxury car world. He also asks a fundamental question about its nature: Is the C63 S a true-blue sports car? Listen and find out.

The 2023 Ford Escape Is a Tale of Two Crossovers Ford’s Escape gets a refresh for ’23, but it has tough competition across the room. Ford’s Escape helped it capitalize on the growing interest in smaller ‘utes when it launched in the early 2000s. Ford’s Escape has been a staple of its lineup for over 20 years and entered its fourth generation just a scant four years ago for the 2020 model year. Despite being relatively new, Ford took the Escape back to the drawing board for ’23 and gave it a styling update. This update gives the Escape a new front fascia, which gives the car more attitude. The ’23 Escape still rides on Ford’s C2 platform, which also underpins the Escape’s cross-dealership rival: the Bronco Sport. Powering the Escape is either a turbocharged 1.5-liter, a turbocharged 2.0-liter, or a 2.5-liter engine that works with a traditional hybrid or plug-in hybrid system.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Ford Escape and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the updated Escape and highlights some of his favorite features. Later, Wren takes you along for a live drive review of this updated escape. Joining the show, Patrick Carone chats with Wren about the Ford Escape and where it sits in the market, and where it sits in Ford’s portfolio. The pair talk about how Ford splits the difference between the Bronco Sport and its platform-mate Escape. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes the Escape special.

Volkswagen is looking at the growing demand for electrification, and the shrinking demand for small cars in the United States, and decide to keep the Golf from hitting the U.S. shores. Even though America doesn’t get the Golf, Volkswagen did bring over the eighth-generation VW Golf GTI and Golf R. The latest Golf R doesn’t reset its established formula: it’s still an all-wheel-drive hot hatch with plenty of power on tap. Powering this 2022 VW Golf R is a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 that makes 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. That power travels through either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed automatic before hitting the all-wheel-drive system.

In this episode of Quick Spin, Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R and puts it through its paces. Wren walks you around the VW Golf R to highlight its quirks and features and climbs into the interior to relay the design and ergonomics. Wren also takes you along for a live drive review where he talks about the Golf R’s driving dynamics. Adding to these segments, Wren chats with Autoweek’s west coast editor Mark Vaughn about the Volkswagen Golf, the Golf R and the Golf R’s steep price. Closing the show, the pair discuss what makes the Golf R special.

The Ford Bronco helped expand Ford’s offerings when it first hit the pavement in 1965. Over the years, Ford’s Bronco changed its shape and role in Ford’s lineup and became a pop culture icon in the process. Though, Ford eventually discontinued the Bronco in 1996 when the company focused its efforts on the Expedition. Ford revived the Bronco in 2020 to take on the Jeep Wrangler. Ford’s reborn Bronco is available with two or four doors but both bodies offer the same off-road chops. Powered by either a 2.3-liter turbocharged I4, a 2.7-liter turbocharged V6, or a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 in the Bronco Raptor, the Bronco has different powertrains for different needs. Ford even helps keep manual transmission fans happy, with a seven-speed manual available behind the 2.3-liter I4.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of Ford’s Bronco and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of a 2022 Ford Bronco Wildtrak four-door to show off its features, styling decisions and materials. Later, Wren takes you on a live drive review to show how the Bronco handles in real-time. Patrick Carone joins the show to discuss Ford’s Bronco, how it drives and the competitive set. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Bronco special.

The Detroit Grand Prix is moving away from Belle Isle and into downtown Detroit in 2023. While some are going to miss the Island-based race, the new circuit layout in Detroit is set up to make for some interesting and compelling racing. Most importantly, it’s racing that will take place in the heart of Detroit proper, which means there’s going to be a freight train of race cars traveling down East Jefferson before traveling through some of the more congested parts of the track. To get the best perspective on the new circuit, we hopped in the passenger seat with the Cadillac wielding Renger Van Der Zande.