America on the Road

If you’re counting, the 2023 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack Swinger is the fourth of seven special-edition Dodge “Last Call” models and it offers a nostalgic look back to the unique style of the Dodge brand’s “swinging” musclecar lineup of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The original Dodge Dart Swinger was part of the Dodge “Scat Pack,” packing big-time horsepower into a compact package at an affordable price. It offered the aesthetics of the era that included green-on-green interior/exterior color combinations, gold color accents, and plastic wood interior trim. The Charger Scat Pack Swinger reaches back to that past for inspiration, delivering a throwback exterior and interior appearance, whether you want it or not.

Only 1,000 2023 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack Swingers will be produced, as a Widebody model. If you want the classic green-on-green Swinger you can choose from F8 Green and Sublime Green exterior color options, with a White Knuckle option also available. More important is the naturally aspirated 392 Hemi V-8 with a best-in-class 485 horsepower in the Scat Pack model tested by co-host Chris Teague.

Host Jack Nerad has a completely different road test this week. It’s a road test that doesn’t examine a particular car but, instead, an entire transportation infrastructure. On their recent road trip in Europe, Jack and his wife used only public transportation during their two weeks of traveling in Denmark, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. With so many calling for fewer passenger cars and more public transportation in the United States, they did it as an experiment to see how it would work. We think you’ll find their conclusions illuminating.

One of the most important European auto shows is currently underway, and we’ll have reports on the most significant cars introduced there. Volkswagen is showing an all-electric GTI Concept, while MINI has unveiled the new-generation MINI Cooper, and it’s all-electric too.

Hyundai introduced its newest version of the Sonata midsize sedan with a digital press conference, and we’ll have details on that. Meanwhile, RAM is saying goodbye to its most powerful production truck ever. And it is marking the occasion with a special edition of the RAM 1500 TRX.

Instead of buying or leasing your next car, are you interested in subscribing to it? Car subscriptions haven’t been very successful in the U.S. up to now, but a company that is very successful in Europe is bringing its car subscription model here. Our special guest this week, Jan Hansen, will tell us all about it. He is in charge of U.S. operations for a company called FINN, and we welcome him to the show in the weekly interview segment.

All that and more coming up in this episode of America on the Road.

America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, YourTestDriver.com, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Dance in the Dark, which is available HERE on Amazon.com

[As hosts Jack Nerad and Chris Teague take Labor Day weekend off, this is the repeat of a popular episode that originally aired in July. Jack and Chris will be back with an all-new episode next week.]

While many claim the future is electric, statistics indicate the present day is ICE. Further evidence of that came this week with reports that inventories of newly introduced electric vehicles are piling up on dealer lots and in manufacturer inventories. While this is a cloud for many in the industry, it might represent a silver lining for all those who have been hankering for an electric vehicle, but either couldn’t find one at all or were unwilling to pay well beyond the suggested list price to get one. So this could be an excellent time to buy a Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck, a Ford Mustang Mach-E crossover, a Kia EV6 small utility, a Lucid Air luxury sedan, or a Cadillac Lyriq SUV, among many others.

While, according to Experian data, EV registrations rose 68 percent in the January-to-May timeframe, some vehicles that were in short supply last year are much more available right now. EVs have risen from four percent market share in 2022 to seven percent share now, but the influx of new electric models could be flooding the marketplace with more choices than carbuyers can process.

How do Americans feel about electric cars? A lot of people have opinions, but J.D. Power has data from real consumers. And our special guest this week, Stewart Stropp, executive director of EV intelligence at J.D. Power will tell all about it in his interview with Host Jack Nerad.

In the road test segment, Host Jack Nerad will evaluate the pluses and minuses of the Infiniti QX80 full-size luxury SUV. The QX80 isn’t the freshest vehicle in the segment, but it checks most of the boxes a luxury SUV needs to check. And compared to others in the class, it could be an excellent buy.

Co-Host Chris Teague will test another three-row SUV this week, the 2023 Hyundai Palisade. The likable midsize crossover SUV has been a popular choice since its introduction as a 2021 model, and it’s even better for 2023.

Self-driving cars have always seemed to be about 10 years away, but we might be getting closer if the National Highway Traffic Administration rules favorably on a request from General Motors. The Detroit-based automaker has asked to be allowed to test its self-driving technology on public roads, and now it is waiting for an answer. NHTSA says that a ruling might be forthcoming soon, and we’ll have the details.

Fans of big SUVs — and that’s most Americans — will be happy to learn that Volvo has just introduced a battery-electric three-row, seven-seat vehicle. We’ll give you the details on the 2024 Volvo EX90 later in this segment. All that and much, much more will be there for you in this edition of America on the Road.

America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, YourTestDriver.com, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Dance in the Dark, which is available HERE on Amazon.com

After a week in one of the most enjoyable vehicles he’s driven this year, Host Jack Nerad concluded that the 2023 Subaru WRX performance sedan might be the best performance bargain in the land right now. If it’s not, it comes very close. The current WRX is based on a stiff chassis that contributes to its all-around handling. Its standard all-wheel-drive gives it a very connected feel, no matter the conditions. And its turbocharged engine provides enough go-power to keep things interesting.

Whether he was shuttling his daughter to a Taylor Swift concert or blasting through canyon roads, Nerad discovered the WRX to be a willing and able companion. Yes, it does a few mildly annoying things, but with the amount of goodness it provides for less than $45K, we can live with them.

In the other half of this week’s road test segment, Co-host Chris Teague got to have his way with the all-new Dodge Hornet R/T+. The top-of-the-line Hornet, based on the Alfa Tonale, shows a definite European influence. You would, too, if you were born in Naples, Italy. One of the many things we learn in Chris’s road test is how his manly 6-foot frame fits into its compact SUV cabin. Oh, and then there’s handling and performance that put it at the pinnacle of the new Dodge Hornet lineup.

In the news this week, a top BMW executive says the company is meeting its global targets for electric vehicles. But at the same time, he said it isn’t yet time to abandon internal combustion engine cars.

General Motors execs might be feeling the same way this week. GM is betting on EVs big time, but right now, it’s having trouble building them, as one of its top managers admitted recently. We’ll tell you why and what that means coming up.

And the next time you see someone pulled over for speeding, the policeman writing the ticket might be driving a Tesla. We’ll tell you about the move to Tesla police cars in this episode.

Many of us would like to know what the highest quality vehicles in America are, and this week’s special guest can tell us. Frank Hanley is senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power, and he’s in charge of the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study that measures vehicle quality. Are cars getting better or worse? He’ll have surprising answers coming up.

America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, YourTestDriver.com, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Dance in the Dark, which is available HERE on Amazon.com

We have an unusual road test for you in this week’s episode of America on the Road. Instead of testing a car provided to us by one of the car manufacturers, Co-Host Chris Teague will road test a car he recently purchased, a 2023 Volkswagen Golf R. Chris considered two other great performance cars before he decided on the Golf R — the Toyota GR Corolla and the Honda Civic Type R. He’ll tell us why he settled on the Golf R and how it’s been working out for him so far.

In our other road test this week, Host Jack Nerad is going big and going home. His road test vehicle is the Ram 2500 heavy-duty pickup. Available with two terrific engines, including a Cummins turbodiesel with immense amounts of torque, the Ram 2500 is the perfect upscale toy hauler. It’s not cheap, but it’s fitted out like a luxury SUV. Among its many niceties is one of the best infotainment systems on the planet. Jack will tell you all about his time at home with it in his detailed report.

It’s Monterey Car Week, and we’ll give you a report on some of the important news coming from that event. BMW is showing a very interesting vehicle that could have big ramifications aboutits future. Audi is saying goodbye to an old friend with laps at Laguna Seca, and we’ll have news on Audi's entry into F1 racing. And Texas-based hypercar maker Hennessey  is showing off its new wares. The horsepower rating of its newest car will blow you away.

What gets into your car can hurt both you and your car’s engine. It’s something to be very careful about. Our special guest this week is an expert on that. Daryl Benton is a vice president at Purolator, the 100-year-old auto filter brand. In this episode, we’re going to talk with him about how auto filters can improve the life of your engine and improve your day-to-day life at the wheel.

America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, YourTestDriver.com, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Dance in the Dark, which is available HERE on Amazon.com

Tesla is facing two new lawsuits, and they concern issues we’ve just talked about here on America on the Road. We’ll give you all the details in just a few minutes. Is your car spying on you?

Toyota is bringing back a legendary vehicle after a hiatus, and we’ll give you an in-depth look at it coming up. It looks like Toyota is poised to go head-to-head with another legendary brand. Porsche has pulled the wraps off a cool new version of the 911, and Audi has introduced a new pair of performance-electric vehicles. We’ll have the details on all of that coming up.

Our special guest this week we’ll be giving us a look at the collector car market. John Kraman is one of the hosts of the Mecum Auction coverage on Motortrend TV, and we’ll talk with him about the run-up to the annual Monterey Car Week that includes the famed Pebble Beach Concours.

In the road test segment, Co-Host Chris Teague will detail his findings after driving the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe plug-in hybrid. Was it able to stand up to the rigors of summer in Maine?

At the same time, Host Jack Nerad road-tested the 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost. After reviewing the V8-powered Mustang GT a couple of weeks ago, he also got extensive seat time in the turbocharged four-cylinder model. And we’ll tell you all about it coming up.

America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, YourTestDriver.com, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Dance in the Dark, which is available HERE on Amazon.com

Does a midsize crossover EV need to be as quick as an exotic car from a specialty carmaker? Probably not. But the 2023 Kia EV6 GT is that quick, as Co-Host Chris Teague discovered in this week’s road test. It offers its driver access to a staggering 576 horsepower. From a standstill, it will rocket to 60 miles per hour in just 3.2 seconds. That’s supercar territory. It's an incredible performance from a mass-market vehicle with a sub-$70,000 pricetag.

But the EV6 GT will also perform the more mundane tasks of toting five occupants and their luggage, getting kids to school, and making runs to the big box stores. Yes, the GT gives up considerable amounts of predicted range in exchange for its ultra-performance abilities. But it does so without sacrificing its basic nature. Is this the EV6 to buy? We’ll give you our opinions in this episode.

We also talk performance with Mustang Brand Manager Jim Owens. Host Jack Nerad recently got the chance to road test both the 2024 Mustang GT and 2024 Mustang EcoBoost, and afterward, he sat down with Owens to discuss the seventh generation of the legendary car. Nerad also tests the 2023 Subaru Outback, one of the original crossovers, in this episode.

The top story in the news asks the provocative question: Is your car spying on you? A California agency charged with policing privacy issues thinks it might be, and we’ll have the details.

Despite reports that electric vehicle sales are leveling off, Ford has just ramped up the production of its F-150 Lightning battery-electric pickup truck big time. We have the details and our comments. Lexus has just pulled the wraps off a plug-in hybrid version of its most popular vehicle. And Maserati has announced the name of its most powerful car ever. The only issue is you’re not allowed to drive it on the street.

America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, YourTestDriver.com, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Dance in the Dark, which is available HERE on Amazon.com

This week we discuss what we discovered when Host Jack Nerad was among the first journalists to drive the seventh-generation Ford Mustang. While the “all-new” 2024 Mustang offers buyers the choice of a turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a naturally aspirated V8, it’s hard not to view the V8 version as "the real Mustang." The turbofour does offer a reasonable dose of horsepower — 315 to be exact — but the 5.0-liter V8 in the 2024 Mustang GT delivers 480 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. Certainly more power = more fun.

The added ommph isn’t the only reason to prefer the Mustang GT over the Mustang EcoBoost either. In terms of overtall drivability and response, the V-8-engined GT just feels better than the four-cylinder version. Steering, braking, and even throttle tip-in are smoother and better sorted-out. Of course, the GT’s standard six-speed manual transmission also moves the needle in the V8’s direction. With automatic rev-matching, the manual trans gives the driver another satisfying way to interact with the new car. We’ll tell you about others in this week’s road test segment.

As Nerad tested the Mustang GT, Co-Host Chris Teague got to put the 2023 Jeep Compass through its paces. Over the past three seasons, the Compass has got what amounts to nearly a full makeover. First, Jeep revamped the compact SUV’s interior; then, they gave it a new, much more satisfying turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Teague will tell us how he likes the changes in this episode.

In the news segment, we’ll take a long look at the limited-edition Mopar Dodge Challenger and Charger models that were just announced. Dodge won’t make many of them, but they could be an excellent bargain for the 200 or so carbuyers who snap them before the showrooms are bare.

Also in the news, we’ll have the details on the heatwave battering many sections of the country this summer. Not only is the heat causing unprecedented levels of sweating, deodorant purchase, and news media whining, but it is also playing havoc with the range of electric cars. Turns out EVs like extremely hot weather even less than you and I do. We’ll give you the details of a comprehensive study documenting that.

In this week’s True Crime Files - Automotive Edition, a Stellantis engineer has pleaded guilty in a diesel emissions case here in the United States. You won’t believe the sentence he’s getting. We wouldn’t mind taking his place, and we’ll tell you why.

Do you wonder whether you should buy a synthetic or a conventional motor oil? Want to know what the differences are? We’re here to help. Our special guest this week is Sean Nguyen, Lubricant Science and Technology Specialist at Pennzoil. He has the answers to all the questions you have about motor oil, plus he introduces us to the most advanced formulation in the Pennzoil portfolio of products yet: Pennzoil Ultra Platinum, now available at your local Advance Auto Parts or AdvanceAutoParts.com.

America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, YourTestDriver.com, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Dance in the Dark, which is available HERE on Amazon.com

While many claim the future is electric, statistics indicate the present day is ICE. Further evidence of that came this week with reports that inventories of newly introduced electric vehicles are piling up on dealer lots and in manufacturer inventories. While this is a cloud for many in the industry, it might represent a silver lining for all those who have been hankering for an electric vehicle, but either couldn’t find one at all or were unwilling to pay well beyond the suggested list price to get one. So this could be an excellent time to buy a Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck, a Ford Mustang Mach-E crossover, a Kia EV6 small utility, a Lucid Air luxury sedan, or a Cadillac Lyriq SUV, among many others.

While, according to Experian data, EV registrations rose 68 percent in the January-to-May timeframe, some vehicles that were in short supply last year are much more available right now. EVs have risen from four percent market share in 2022 to seven percent share now, but the influx of new electric models could be flooding the marketplace with more choices than carbuyers can process.

How do Americans feel about electric cars? A lot of people have opinions, but J.D. Power has data from real consumers. And our special guest this week, Stewart Stropp, executive director of EV intelligence at J.D. Power will tell all about it in his interview with Host Jack Nerad.

In the road test segment, Host Jack Nerad will evaluate the pluses and minuses of the Infiniti QX80 full-size luxury SUV. The QX80 isn’t the freshest vehicle in the segment, but it checks most of the boxes a luxury SUV needs to check. And compared to others in the class, it could be an excellent buy.

Co-Host Chris Teague will test another three-row SUV this week, the 2023 Hyundai Palisade. The likable midsize crossover SUV has been a popular choice since its introduction as a 2021 model, and it’s even better for 2023.

Self-driving cars have always seemed to be about 10 years away, but we might be getting closer if the National Highway Traffic Administration rules favorably on a request from General Motors. The Detroit-based automaker has asked to be allowed to test its self-driving technology on public roads, and now it is waiting for an answer. NHTSA says that a ruling might be forthcoming soon, and we’ll have the details.

Fans of big SUVs — and that’s most Americans — will be happy to learn that Volvo has just introduced a battery-electric three-row, seven-seat vehicle. We’ll give you the details on the 2024 Volvo EX90 later in this segment. All that and much, much more will be there for you in this edition of America on the Road.

America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, YourTestDriver.com, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Dance in the Dark, which is available HERE on Amazon.com

The 2023 Toyota Camry isn’t a performance car. It doesn’t offer sizzling acceleration or knife-edge handling. In fact, it is exactly what we used to describe as a family car. But as Co-Host Chris Teague found when he drove the Camry for a week in and around Washington, D.C., the current Camry reminds all of us why we enjoy driving. Admittedly, it doesn’t offer the versatility of the ubiquitous crossover SUV, but it does offer a connection to the road that few crossovers can match.

The Camry hybrid’s 208 total horsepower certainly won’t blow anyone away. There are scores of cars that offer more. But that doesn’t factor in the almost instant torque available from its electric motor. Not only does it provide a quick boost of acceleration, but it also smooths out shifts so the Camry Hybrid provides a driving experience that nearly simulates an EV.

While Chris Teague was testing the 2023 Toyota Camry, Host Jack Nerad and the entire Nerad family were spending their summer vacation testing the mettle of the 2023 Toyota Sienna minivan. Every Sienna is equipped with a hybrid powertrain offering 245 combined horsepower, and it has all the benefits just described in relation to the Camry hybrid. The Sienna proved itself to be a substantial vehicle that can transport as many as eight passengers, and the Nerads found it a perfect vehicle for their sojourn at a northeast Texas lake house. Whether traveling the potholed roads of rural Texas or the most pristine Interstate pavement, the Sienna offered excellent ride quality, more-than-acceptable acceleration, and surprisingly good handling. We’ll tell you more about both Toyota “vacation cars” in this episode.

In the news this week, just as the auto industry is recovering from COVID-19 and parts shortages, a big strike looms that could derail all the progress. And nearly 100 all-new electric vehicle models are set to come to market in the next three years. But there’s only one problem, and we’ll tell you what that is in this episode.

We’ll take a long look at the electric vehicle market and the government’s plans going forward. Are the expectations realistic? Meanwhile, Tesla has rolled out a new incentive plan that could earn buyers some extra money. We’ll have more info on that.

Right now many folks want to know if this is a good time to buy a new or used car? Or should you wait? We have a great guest who has the answer to that question. Sam Fiorani is Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting at Auto Forecast Solutions. At the halfway point in the year, he and Host Jack Nerad are going to take a look at the industry to see if it's a propitious time to jump into the car market

All that and more are coming up in this episode.

America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, YourTestDriver.com, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Dance in the Dark, which is available HERE on Amazon.com

The Nissan Frontier started what promises to be a parade of all-new midsize pickup trucks over the course of the next year. General Motors has already started to sell its brand-new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Soon Ford will follow suit with its completely new 2024 Ford Ranger that we detailed for you last week. And Toyota has revealed its 2024 Toyota Tacoma, the completely revamped version of the sales leader in the segment. So how does the 2023 Nissan Frontier stack up in this flurry of activity on the midsize truck front?

To find out, Co-Host Chris Teague put the Frontier through a series of grueling and practical tests in his home base of Maine. And he discovered that the V6-powered Frontier is not only a good choice among the current competitors but will also hold its own against the newcomers as they arrive in showrooms over the next several months. He’ll share the details in this episode.

While Chris Teague was wringing out the Nissan pickup, Host Jack Nerad took on a different challenge. He and his family used the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid as their vehicle of choice to move his youngest daughter out of her college apartment. The trek involved about 500 miles of driving on freeways, rural roads, and city streets. Was the minivan able to swallow up all the accumulated possessions of a fourth-year college student? We’ll have the answer for you coming up.

Were you thinking of buying a low-priced Chevy Silverado battery-electric pickup when they come to market next year? Well, you might want to think again. There’s a lot going on in EV Truckland these days, and we’ll give you the details.

Also in the news, two big names in performance cars are teaming up for what should a very exciting collaboration. We’ll tell you what brands we’re talking about and what their plans are coming up.

And in the True Crime Files Automotive Edition, the highest German federal court has ruled that the companies responsible for Dieselgate owe their customers compensation. It could cost them tens of millions of dollars. We’ll tell you more later in this episode.

Our special guest this week is Brad Gieske, chief UX designer at Dodge. Infotainment is something we talk about a lot of the show because it is so important to so many of us. So we’ll chat with Brad about the latest trends in vehicle entertainment and information. And we’ll take a special look at the UX in the all-new 2023 Dodge Hornet.

America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, YourTestDriver.com, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Dance in the Dark, which is available HERE on Amazon.com