Apple may have abandoned plans for an electric vehicle but Sony is forging ahead. Reservations for the Sony Honda Mobility AFEELA should begin in 2025 with deliveries expected in 2026. Powered by Amazon AWS cloud technology, AFEELA is stuffed with tech, both ADAS and entertainment. Options include music and movie streaming plus remote PlayStation gaming from your home PS5 (hey, it’s a Sony). Tom Voelk gets a preview as it rolls through Seattle on a west coast tour. And learn where the AFEELA name comes from! This is a pre-production prototype, many things may change on production vehicle.

For years, the Supercharger network was a singular reason to buy a Tesla over other brands of electric vehicles. With loads of locations and a reputation for reliability, it’s been the charging provider to beat. Now Musk and Company are opening it up to other manufacturers like Ford, GM, Hyundai, and Kia. Tom Voelk loads the Tesla app into his phone and takes the new Volvo EX30 to a Supercharger station to check out the experience. Adapters are needed (unless you’re at a Magic Dock terminal). Tom uses a Lectron NACS to CCS Vortex Electric Vehicle Adapter that's rated to 500 Amps / 1,000V. He also explores the Level 2 Tesla Destination Chargers found at hotels and restaurants using the Lectron Tesla to J1772 EV Charging Adapter. FYI, you’ll need both to cover your bases.

Tom originally purchased these adapters for personal use. Afterwards, Lectron reached out and provided sample units for testing.

Looking for a compact machine to rule the city? Volvo’s EX30 is the perfect tool. The brand might be known for safety, but the all-electric EX30 with Twin Motor power is a pocket rocket, the fastest accelerating Volvo ever. Built on Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (or SEA) it’s E.P.A. rated at 253 miles as tested. Tom Voelk checks out a loaded Ultra Twin Motor model and finds a fun runabout that could use a few hard controls. Get used to saying “Hey Google”. A lot. 

Take 15 vehicles, 15 automotive writers and two days of testing and you have Drive Revolution. Put on by the Northwest Automotive Press Association (or NWAPA), it's a competition to find the best ICE, HEV and BEV vehicles. NWAPA members also vote on best value and choose the NWAPA Drive Revolution Vehicle of the Year.

Here's the list of competitors-

2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack

2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

2026 Genesis GV60

2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 Calligraphy Design

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy

2025 Jeep Wagoneer S Limited

2025 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD

2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige AWD

2025 Lucid Air Pure

2025 Mazda MX-5 Club

2025 Polestar 3 Dual Motor

2025 Toyota GR Corolla Premium Plus

2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Nightshade

2025 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line 4MOTION

2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz 1st Edition

Special thanks to the manufacturers that took the time to bring their vehicles and representatives to Ilani Casino Resort in Ridgefield, WA. Special thanks to the staff of DriveShop and Page one for logistics and organization. A shout out to John Vincent, Nik Miles, J.R. Chocco, Bengt Halvorson and Kristen Brown for their support.

Every year, Northwest Automotive Press Association members get together to hold Mudfest, the NW Activity Vehicle of the Year competition. It’s a real world look at the kinds of vehicles people are buying today, not just crawling over rocks and trees. 19 automotive Northwest Automotive Press Association writers assembled at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, WA for two days of on-pavement and off-road evaluation. Check out the category winners and see which machine takes home the grand prize of NW Activity Vehicle of the Year!

Also, you’ll want to watch to the very end…

Special thanks to Aaron Hanson, Erin Kemp, the staff of DriveShop and Page One Automotive, Connie Peters, Kristen Brown, J.R. Chocco, John Vincent, Jim Redden, Bengt Halvorson, Nik Miles, The Ridge Motorsports Park and Alderbrook Resort for their part in making Mudfest 2025 a huge success.

The Porsche dealership delivery experience is significantly different than picking up a Toyota. What’s it like? Tom Voelk flies from Seattle to Ontario, CA to grab the keys to his new-to-him 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S to find out. Flying standby. Airport pickup. Touring the car for the first time. Checking out swag and aftermarket gear. Learning how to spec out and order a new Porsche. Setting up the apps and interface for the drive back to the Pacific Northwest. If you’re thinking about pulling the trigger of just want to day dream about it, here’s a taste.

Part two of Tom Voelk’s road trip from Ontario, CA to Seattle begins at 10AM in Woodland, CA with the Taycan’s range reading just 10 miles. With no overnight charging available, Tom puts his trust in the Porsche Intelligent Range Manager to steer him towards charging stations along the I5 corridor. How easy is it to navigate the infrastructure? Will Electrify America leave Tom stranded? How many Walmart bathrooms can a guy use? It’s a $75K cinematic video months in the making.

Think road tripping in an electric vehicle in 2025 is a gamble and charging takes too much time? Tom Voelk gets into his new (to him) 2021 CPO Porsche Taycan 4S in Ontario, CA and points it towards Seattle. Will full faith in the Porsche Intelligent Range Manager he hits charging stations along the I5 corridor. It’s a $75K video months in the making! Will Electrify America deliver over 1,200 miles? Will Plug and Charge work? Will Tom find any decent food? All that, original music from Chadashi and more in Part 1.

Lincoln’s Nautilus is new for 2024 and the big news is a huge screen. 4 feet wide, it dominates the interior. Does it work or is it just a gimmick? Tom Voelk checks out a loaded AWD Reserve III trim with the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine ($1,500 will buy the more powerful hybrid powertrain). The display is impressive but hardly the only thing to like about this 5-seat SUV.