This week, we at America on the Road have two very impressive performance vehicles to talk about. Host Jack Nerad slipped behind the wheel of the 2025 Volvo XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered plug-in hybrid, while guest co-host Matt DeLorenzo put the 2025 Ford Ranger Raptor pickup truck to the test.

🚙 Road Test #1: 2025 Ford Ranger Raptor
 The 2025 Ford Ranger Raptor, road tested this week by guest co-host Matt DeLorenzo, is a high-performance midsize truck built for serious off-road action. Powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 pumping out 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, it features a 10-speed automatic transmission and a full-time 4WD system with locking front and rear differentials. Fox 2.5-inch Live Valve shocks, a Watts-link rear suspension, 33-inch all-terrain tires, and 10.7 inches of ground clearance make it trail-ready right out of the box. Its aggressive exterior includes a bold “FORD” grille, flared fenders, and Raptor-specific bumpers, while the interior offers sport seats, a performance steering wheel, and rugged design touches. Despite its Baja roots, Matt found it impressively comfortable and composed on pavement, calling it one of the most versatile and fun-to-drive trucks in the segment. Starting around $55,800, the Ranger Raptor delivers serious capability and value.

📰 In the News

NHTSA Under Fire:
 Major automakers slammed the federal safety agency for being outdated and inefficient during a House hearing, calling for sweeping reforms in safety regulations and EV/autonomous tech policy. Industry leaders claim NHTSA is holding back progress and failing to act on urgent safety issues, with critics pointing to leadership gaps and regulatory delays.

Stellantis Seeks Direction Under New CEO:
 Antonio Filosa takes the helm at Stellantis, replacing Carlos Tavares after a rocky year of missed targets and shrinking market share. Filosa’s first move? A full review of the company’s ambitious “Dare Forward” strategy, signaling potential changes in EV plans, product focus, and global goals.

❓ Listener Question of the Week:
 Oliver from Butte, MT asks: “Is manual transmission dead or is there still a loyal fan base? I’ve never had a car with a manual. What’s that like as a daily driver?”
Jack and Matt weigh in on the fate of the stick shift and what it’s really like to drive a manual every day—especially in today’s increasingly automatic world.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe
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📚 Check Out Matt’s Book:

Pick up a copy of co-host Matt DeLorenzo’s terrific new book How to Buy an Affordable Electric Car: A Tightwad’s Guide to EV Ownership.

📚 Check Out Jack’s Newest Crime Novel:

Jack is now offering his newest crime novel, Only One Thing Stays the Same, at a pre-publication price of just $4.99. Click here to buy from Amazon at this special limited-time price.

Thanks for joining us, and don’t forget to look for new content on our YouTube and Rumble channels. Please subscribe. If you do, we’ll like you forever.

America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Only One Thing Stays the Same, which is available HERE on Amazon.com